I have loved Cooking Light for years — and many of my staple recipes are those that started out as Cooking Light recipes. Not only is their magazine fantastic, but they have a great website as well.

If you have any cooks on your gift list, or people who want to be cooks, or just people who like to eat — a subscription to Cooking Light would make a fabulous gift. And they don’t need to know it only cost $5! I rarely see it for less than $17.

I do what I can to provide opportunities for my kids to be self-sufficient, and that includes making their own toast. We have a toaster oven, and he has burned his fingers (slightly) a couple times on the rack. Which means that he won’t remove his toast from the toaster oven anymore . . . and there goes my self-sufficiency lesson.

When I saw these Toaster Tongs, they seemed perfect. The right size, made of hardwood, and easy to hold. They are simple, but very well-made. I am pleased and I know he will be as well!

And, no, that’s not all we got him for his birthday. His other request? Books.

We’ve been sleeping on them since the beginning of September and I’m happy with them. These come in both standard and king size. We have the king size and they fit the king-size pillowcases well. They fluff nicely in the mornings and have held their shape well so far.

They are soft, which I like, but if you prefer a firm pillow then you shouldn’t buy these. They are not as comfortable as I find high quality down pillows, but they are more comfortable (to me!) than standard pillows. Overall, I am very pleased with the purchase!

A is for Anniversary Gifts and covers traditional and modern anniversary gift ideas for every year.

B is for Birthday Gifts and gives you a list of wonderful ideas on what to give.

Y is for Young at Heart – Gifts for Seniors.

The Giftionary: An A-Z Reference Guide for Solving Your Gift-Giving Dilemmas . . . Forever! covers gifts such as:

• get well and expression of sorrow
• birthstones, jewelry
• last minute gifts
• new homes and hostess gifts
• new moms and babies
• right-from-the-heart gifts
• wedding or shower gifts
• zero cost gifts

This book presents a wealth of information on gift giving and covers a wide variety of gifts, from zero cost to more extravagant, as well as effort levels needed to put together the appropriate gift.

The Musical Toy Box Storage Bench is a wonderful addition to any child’s bedroom. It looks stunning with its bright colors, can be used for storing

favorite toys, blankets, noisemakers but is also a great bench to sit on and make music.

The Musical Toy Box Storage Bench features:

• Entertainment backrest with 2 spinning bell drums, an eight note xylophone and 2 wooden mallets
• Slow closing metal hinge that will not slam and injure your child’s fingers
• Red and blue color finish with hand painting

The box measures 32” W x 13” D x 16” H. The total height of the bench is 28”. The storage bench is manufactured by Levels of Discovery, winners of the 2003 JPMA (Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association) Innovation Award, a leading manufacturer in the field of hand decorated kids furniture.

The storage bench is recommended for ages 3 to 8 or up to 100lbs.

The bookcase I purchased measures 15”D x 33”W x 60”H. It comes with two adjustable shelves, one fixed bottom shelf and a storage bin at the base.  It is made with gently rubbed edges and the classic beadboard styling looks gorgeous in a child’s bedroom.

Assembly is required to set up the bookcase.

Some people are still wary of shopping online.  It could be because it is new to them or because they aren’t computer savvy.  However, with the ease of navigation on many websites, even a child can find what they are looking for.

If security and safety are an issue that prevents you from shopping online, the important thing to remember is to be aware of what constitutes safety and not to deviate from it.  Here are a few things you can do when shopping online to ensure you are shopping safely:

• Find security certificates on the site and be sure they are up-to-date
• Look for a closed lock symbol on checkout pages where you supply financial information
• Enter your personal and financial information each time instead of storing it in the browser
• Delete cookies after you finish your shopping for that day
• Implement the highest security that you have for Internet browsing

Once you know how to shop safely online, the Internet becomes a fun way to complete your Christmas shopping.  Here are a few reasons why it is less stressful to shop online rather than leaving your home:

• No traffic jams
• No long lines outside the store or in check out lanes
• Greater product availability
• Ability to comparison shop many stores for the best price
• You can shop anytime you have a few spare minutes
• You can have items delivered anywhere you need to

Have you ever visited a local store to find the product you wanted is sold out?  Traditional stores only carry a certain number of items.  This is how they drum up demand.

Online, your supplier may have a warehouse full of that same item just waiting to ship.  Online shopping sites can also check product availability weeks and months before Christmas.  This allows you to buy early to avoid the rush.  Also, some product colors and styles are only available online – making your gift more unique!

If you aren’t fully convinced to shop online yet, maybe you’d like to remember the line at the post office the week before Christmas!  Online merchants allow you to fill in a billing address and a shipping address.  The addresses don’t need to be the same.  This allows you to send your gifts automatically to family far away without needing to visit the post office at all.  Simply let the merchant know the item is a gift and request that the invoice not be included in the package!

After all these great points, I’m willing to bet you’re already changing your plans to include Christmas shopping this year, aren’t you?   In fact, I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised at everything you accomplish and vow to shop online every holiday season after this!

At this site, you can print FREE letters from Santa that are personalized for your children.  You fill in the personalizing information, and then print the PDF file. It even includes an envelope addressed to your child!

What a fun, free addition to the holiday spirit. I think I’ll print 3 for my kids and see if I can stretch out the belief a little bit longer.

The coupons range in value from $1 to $25, and some are percentages off. If you prefer shopping online, just enter the code from the coupon during checkout and it will be applied to your purchase.

Have you made your Christmas toy list yet?

When you check out, you’ll be offered a 7×9 photo book for only 1/2 price ($8.00)!  Their new service slurps all the photos in your shopping cart into a book.  You can modify, customize and edit the book at that point, but it is so easy!

I took the kids out yesterday in their holiday finery to take the picture for our Christmas card. I shot off 253 pictures and narrowed it down to 43 that I ordered so that I could choose the final shot, and have a bunch of pictures to throw in notes and cards in the coming months.  Shutterfly took those pictures and made a photo book from them.  I spent about 10 minutes changing the template and moving around a few pictures, and I have a really neat gift for my mom’s birthday in a couple weeks!

I have used Shutterfly for 10 years now and have never been disappointed.

Marie Callender’s has launched a new product — shelf-stable meals that are microwavable. I was sent a few samples to try out, and I enjoyed the meals I tried! The meals have 2 separate sections — so the noodles or rice can be steamed separate from the sauce. Once both are heated up, you mix them together and enjoy!

While my kids can eat peanut butter & jelly for lunch 5 days a week, I admit that I enjoy something else. These meals were the perfect thing to pop in the microwave while I made sandwiches, and then we all sat down to eat together.  I loved that all the varieties I tried had a good flavor, and weren’t overly bland. The rice & the noodles cooked up perfectly, and there was plenty of sauce to mix with the starch.

I had the chance to try: Traditional Stuffing & Turkey, Garlic Herb Chicken, Classic Stroganoff and Sweet Sesame Beef varieties. The Sweet Sesame and Garlic Herb Chicken were my favorites!  I made my husband eat the Stroganoff because it includes mushrooms.  He liked it, but felt that he needed 2 to make a meal.

These meals don’t require refrigeration or freezing. They are shelf-stable, and can sit in your pantry until you’re ready to heat them up in the microwave. You’ll find them near soups, or other shelf-stable meals in your grocery store.  The suggested retail price for them is $3.49.

I have TWO meals to give away to one of our readers!  In your comment, let me know which two you would like to try from the following: Traditional Stuffing & Turkey, Garlic Herb Chicken, Classic Stroganoff and Sweet Sesame Beef. A 2nd entry can be earned by tweeting this giveaway. (Be sure to leave a 2nd comment with a link to your tweet, or your twitter name!)  Another entry if you subscribe to the newsletter! (And, again, please leave a comment that you subscribed, or are already a subscriber.)

Comments will be open until midnight on Monday and the winner will be announced in this post on Tuesday!  Open to US residents only.

Thanks to Marie Callender for providing me with 4 meals to try, and sending the winner 2 meals!

FREE trick-or-treat pail from Michaels!
Plus enjoy a free coloring activity, FREE Crayola Model Magic Fusion and a Make-It Take-It Halloween frame. Children will also receive a balloon and candy. 10/31/2009 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM while supplies last.

Which is where FreeShipping.org comes in. This site has free shipping coupons to 1717 stores right now! No matter what online retailer has your necessary gifts, chances are they have a free shipping code to help save you some money.

They break down their listings alphabetically by store, as well as by category. You can sign up for email alerts for new coupons added to their site. They even have a section which allows you to compare prices, to ensure you are getting the best possible deal. (Which brings up another reason I like shopping online — I don’t have to get back in my car and visit different stores to find the best prices!)

Have you started shopping yet? How much more do you have to do? My goal is to be done by December 1 this year — so I can bake and play all through December and not worry about shopping and wrapping!

On Halloween, visit Sonic from 5 – 10 PM and get a corn dog for only fifty cents!  2 of my kids love corn dogs, and I think this might be the perfect post-trick-n-treat snack!

Do you still need to prepare your house for the cold and flu season?
Here’s my personal cold and flu shopping list, just print it and go!

I’m bummed because none are needed in my area, but maybe you’ll be in the right spot to qualify!

Panel membership is free. In addition to making your product opinions count, all panelists have the opportunity to win cash and other terrific prizes. On top of that, you can also earn points that can be used for getting great gifts!

Influence the products made and sold. Join Nielsen’s Homescan Consumer Panel.
Click Here

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that for less than $20, this diffuser did a wonderful job at diffusing the scent through the rooms of my home. Even though I had it in my bedroom, the scent permeated through more than half of my house (about 1600 sq ft) after a few hours.

The oils that came with the diffuser did not smell good, but I have plenty of great oils from Nature’s Gift to drop into the small cup. The flameless candle is actually quite pretty, and I don’t have to worry about a flame around my children. The unit must be plugged in so that the cup with the oils is warmed, but you can also enjoy the flickering light with a battery. There is an auto-shut-off after 6 hours so you don’t have to worry about it running indefinitely.

The AromaSpa Flameless Candle Aroma Oil Diffuser would make a lovely gift for anyone, espeically accompanied with a few high quality oils.

Hurry, though, since the deal only lasts until Saturday! Each week Amazon offers an amazing magazine deal! Magazine subscriptions are great for gifts — and any ordered now will likely start right around the holidays.

Flexible Dates:
One thing that many travelers don’t think of is changing their dates of departure. This can make a huge difference in your fares. The day before Thanksgiving tends to be the most popular day for departure, so leaving two days ahead of time could possibly save you money. And if you’re willing to catch a flight on Thanksgiving Day, you could save big bucks since there won’t be many people flying. Fly back on the following Monday or Tuesday, and you could also save money on your return trip.

Comparison Shop Airports:
Another way you could save is by flying to a different airport. You’ll have to travel further by car to get to your destination, but if you can save enough money on your flight, it will be well worth the trouble. Just plan to land a little earlier than you would have at the closest airport, and you’ll still get to spend plenty of time with the family

Online Booking Agencies:
If you’re planning your trip just a week or two in advance, you could find a great deal through an online booking engine such as Lastminute.com. They help airlines book seats that would otherwise be empty, so they usually come at a significant discount. The biggest drawback is that you can’t be certain that you will be able to get a flight to where you want to go, but if you’re flexible there’s usually some way that you can make it to your destination.

Consider Fees When Calculating the Best Deal:
The cost of the ticket itself can vary significantly, but it’s also important to consider fees. There are usually more fees charged when you buy through a third party than when you purchase your ticket directly from the airline. So make sure to read the fine print before completing a transaction online or through a travel agent. You’ll also have to pay an additional fee if you check a second bag in most cases, and that fee can be rather hefty.

Air travel during the holidays has a reputation for being expensive, unless you know a few savvy shopping tricks.  Keep these pointers in mind, and you could get a flight at a fraction of its normal cost!

The Yoplait Smoothie package provides one full serving of fruit in 2 servings. There are frozen fruit pieces and frozen yogurt pieces in the bag. Throw that in the blender with one cup of milk, and you have a cold, fruity, drink that feels great on sore throats. I use almost 2 cups of milk when making ours so that it is easier to drink through a straw, and also to stretch the 2 servings across all 3 kids.

We tried the Strawberry Mango Pineapple version — and all three of my children declared it “yummy!” At over $3 a bag, it is a bit pricey, but the convenience factor is very high. While I could definitely create smoothies from scratch using frozen fruits, yogurt and milk, it was great this morning to know that it was already mixed together and all I had to do was add milk to the blender.

Other flavors include Strawberry Banana and Triple Berry. You will find it in the frozen section of your grocery store, near the frozen fruits.  I will buy it again in the future, probably when I have a coupon to bring down the per-serving cost.  While I don’t see a coupon this month, be sure to sign up with Pillsbury coupon offers.  Each month they offer a wonderful selection of coupons for various General Mills products.

These meals are great to have in the freezer for those crazy-busy days when I can’t figure out what to prepare for myself — or those evenings when I realize I carefully fed everyone in my house except for me!

Let me know if you win!!

3 years later, he still pulls out a few of the tricks from that set. When we were looking for a gift for a 5yo friend, I immediately thought of this kit. I was right, and it was big hit with her as well!

The Melissa & Doug Discovery Magic Set has four tricks to master. The directions are easy to understand, and the tricks are fun for all!

The tricks are simple, however, and this set is for the beginning magician. If they have other magic sets, then this is not the one to purchase. Melissa & Doug offer a few different sets for magicians as they become more proficient — we also like the Melissa & Doug Enchanted Rings ‘n’ Things Magic Set and the Melissa & Doug Deluxe Magic Set.

The price is right for these sets as well! The basic set is usually under $15, and the deluxe under $30. Highly recommended by this parent as a wonderful gift for 5- 7 year old girls or boys.

Crocs.com is still offering free shipping on all new fall models, so if you’re in the market for a new pair, head on over!  They keep adding new great styles, so if you haven’t looked at their site in a while, you should check them out.

Do you have a favorite pair of Crocs?  Which do you love?

You can enter once each day, and each day someone will win a bottle of Wisk HE Laundry detergent!

I don’t own a high-efficiency washer, but I can always dream (and enter the daily contest!)

Here’s how to enter:

1. Just listen to one or all of the Whole Foods Market podcasts and leave a comment telling us what you think of our work.
2. To listen to the podcasts please visit:
   http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/category/whole-body-podcast/
3. Comment on one or more of the following podcasts:
   -Breathe and Meditation for Stress Relief
   -Herbal Approaches for Healthy Mood
   -Boost your Back to School Brain Power
4. Type: www.momsloveshopping.com in the “website” field on one or more of the comment forms.

P.S.
Good luck! Hope you learn healthy tips and the gift card!

*** Comments are now closed!  T hanks to random.org, comment #5 from Chris was selected to win the pink pajamas!  An email has been sent to her.  Thanks again to KN & their PR firm for donating the pajamas for this giveaway! ***

You’re probably aware that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  You can’t miss the pink ribbons everywhere, or all the merchandise in stores that has suddenly turned pink.  While the awareness is important, it is also important to remember that funding breast cancer research is necessary and expensive!

A PR firm recently contacted me to let me know about Pink Parties — which are being thrown at Dillards stores across the country in conjunction with KN Karen Neuburger.  For every pair of pajamas purchased, 30 minutes of research will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  You can also purchase pajamas directly from KN Karen Neuburger. Their goal is to fund an entire month of cancer research — with the ultimate goal of developing lifesaving treatments and an eventual cure.

I didn’t realize how important each minute of research is, until I read the following statistics:

• One hour of research allows a breast cancer biopsy to be performed
• One day of research allows a clinician to conduct genetic counseling for one woman
  
• One week allows researchers to compare ten tumor samples

I did a little research about the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I found that they support scientists at top universities and academic medical centers around the world. A minimum of 85 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to breast cancer research and awareness programs. To give you an idea of the breadth of their program — in October 2008, 166 scientists from the United States, Australia, Canada, Latin America and the Middle East were awarded $34.5 million. They also received the Charity Navigator’s highest rating of four stars, which puts them above 99% of the evaluated charities.

To help increase awareness of this program, I was generously given a pair of pajamas and pink socks to give away to one of my readers! Please help spread the word about this worthwhile cause, and maybe you’ll be the lucky winner of a cozy pair of pajamas!

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below telling me if you know anyone who has battled breast cancer. For up to 3 additional entries, please:

* Tweet this post, and leave a comment letting me know you tweeted. You can even copy this tweet: Check out @MomsLoveShoppin pink pajama giveaway for Breast Cancer Awareness Month! http://bit.ly/1pPx5B
* Post a link on Facebook, and leave a comment letting me know.
* Blog about this post, and leave a comment letting me know.

I will use random.org to choose a winner Monday, October 19, 2009. Winner will be notified via email, and the pajamas will be sent directly to their home from the PR firm.

Thanks for helping to spread the word!

For more information, visit Karen Neuburger’s site. You can also donate directly to the Foundation by visiting the Time For Research website.

(Disclosure: The pajamas were generously provided by the PR firm, for KN and Dillards, for this giveaway. No additional compensation was received.)

Starting Oct. 5, 2009, customers will have a chance to enter one of the themed Wish List sweepstakes. Just create, add to, or share a Wish List, and you’ll be invited to enter.

Click here to enter the Amazon Wishlist Sweepstakes (and learn more)

Prizes in this sweepstakes include:
• Week 1 (Oct. 5-11):
The Twilight Saga: New Moon Premiere Wish List — A trip for two to Los Angeles to see the premiere
• Week 2 (Oct. 12-18):
Dream Kitchen Wish List — New appliances include a range, refrigerator, dishwasher, and espresso maker
• Week 3 (Oct. 19-25):
Meet the Jonas Brothers in London Wish List — A trip for two to London to hear the lads in concert and then meet them in person
• Week 4 (Oct. 26-Nov. 1):
Kindle Love Wish List — 10, count ‘em, 10 Kindles
• Week 5 (Nov. 2-8):
Ultimate Backyard Theater Wish List — $15,000 for a backyard makeover, plus all the equipment needed to start the show
• Week 6 (Nov. 9-15):
Yellowstone Photo Expedition with Canon Wish List — A trip for two to Yellowstone National Park, and a private lesson with a professional photographer
• Week 7 (Nov. 16-22):
The Magic of Disney Wish List — A trip for four to explore the wonders of Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., plus a $2,000 Disney gift card
• Week 8 (Nov. 23-29):
High-Def Heaven Wish List — A 55-inch HDTV, a Blu-ray home theater, and a Wii
• Week 9 (Nov. 30-Dec. 6):
Glamorous Life Wish List — A stunning set of 1½-carat diamond stud earrings
• Week 10 (Dec. 7-12):
This one is under wraps until it launches!

Click here to enter the Amazon Wishlist Sweepstakes

What I love about this travel mug
is the quirkiness of it. It looks like a disposable paper cup with plastic lid, but it’s actually a porcelain cup (double-walled to keep your hands cool when it’s full of hot coffee or tea) with a reusable plastic lid.

I am saving this and plan to give a few as gifts this year. I am trying to give things that are useful and/or consumable. This cup fits the bill. My only concern is that it is porcelain, and in my house it would probably end up shattered before a week was out. But, for my friends and family without little ones? It’s on the list!

Fill out the form for a free Juicy Juice refillable bottle being offered for a limited time. You can also find other special offers and coupons on the same page.

It can be expensive to eat lunch there, so I’m happy to see that they have released another $10 off of $25 coupon! This one is good until the end of December.