Just in time for Mother’s Day, we’ve got a new giveaway. Keep it for yourself or share it with your mother, we won’t tell.

KLEAN has created an easy way for you to group a selection of KLEAN products together in any combination and any scent that you wish…the KLEAN Kit (a $63.00 value). This is a great way to try the different KLEAN bath and body products or create to create a great smelling travel kit.
read more from "Giveaway: Time to Get KLEAN!"

Do you need a quick and easy gift that you can make with the kids?  Decoupage is nothing more than gluing stickers or pictures onto something such as a box, an ornament or a frame.  You’ll spend more time heading out to your local craft store to pick up the (inexpensive) supplies than you’ll spend actually taking the time to create the project. It can be a fun way to add a personal touch to a favorite photo.
read more from "Decoupage - A Quick and Easy Gift Idea"

All My Memories Tote-ally Cool! Tote 2 - I can’t think of a scrapper wouldn’t love this tote (unless they’ve already got one). It’s the perfect size for the top of your scrap workspace. It holds pens, craft knives, scissors, and other small tools. There are 21 pockets and pouches, and a lazy susan on the bottom for easy access to all sides. It even has a pull out drawer and a place to hold your cell phone. It’s absolutely perfect!

Cherish by Jeanette Lynton - This book is fantastic, and a sure-cure for scrapper’s block. In it are 50 two-page layout ideas and step by step instructions on how to cut your paper and assemble each one. Great page designs, easy to create. It’s sure to give new life to your favorite scrapper’s pages!

Emschwar

Crock Pot – I wish I’d gotten one of these years before I did. You can make a huge variety of things in it beyond just soups, stews and casseroles. I’ve made sauces, appetizers, side dishes, and you can use it for hot drinks (like cider) or even desserts. Use it for parties and it’s one more thing you can prepare ahead of time. It’s a great gift for someone with a baby, too. I can quickly prepare dinner early in the day, during a nap or when my daughter is playing, and avoid having to cook in the evening when babies and toddlers are usually so clingy and fussy.

Rice Cooker – Throw away any ideas you have about rice cookers being a big waste of counter space. We use ours to cook varieties of rice, but if you’re adventurous and trying to improve your diet, you can also use it to explore other whole grains, like quinoa, spelt, bulgar, or millet. Cooks perfectly every time. You can steam vegetables in it, as well. You can mix in spices or veggies in to make Mexican rice or a pilaf. Unlike most of them, this cooker does not have an aluminum pot, which is a big bonus.

Scooter

As every cook knows, a knife is an essential kitchen tool. And most cooks I know have a whole rotation of knives they use on a regular basis, so the question becomes how to store them. Sticking your good knives in a drawer will inevitably dull the blades, and those fancy (expensive) wooden knife blocks tend to have only one or two slots wide enough for a chef’s knife or santoku knife, the ones used the most often, and a million and twelve slots that are only big enough for a boning knife. Those magnetic strips hold a variety of knife shapes, but don’t work with ceramic knives and seem awfully lethal for anyone who is even a little bit klutzy.
read more from "Kapoosh! It’s a Knife Block"

Believe it or not, you can give people etched glass gifts this holiday season that you made yourself. It’s much easier than you’d think!

read more from "Glass Etching - It’s an Easy Gift!"

The iLap by Rain Design has to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. Seriously, if you don’t believe me, just check out those Amazon reviews. If you know anyone that uses their laptop either in bed, or while on the couch, then you know someone that has complained of nearly burning their lap from the heat.

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Originally uploaded by ahmedriaz.

If you have a book lover on your gift list this holiday season, here’s a handy guide to a few hot gifts that are sure to make their day.

read more from "For the Book Lover on Your List"

 

While Memorial Day is traditionally a time to celebrate those who have given their lives in military service to the United States, it only makes sense to treat it as an opportunity to honor the current troops for their dedication and sacrifices.

 

There are many options for supporting the troops and their families. Here are just a few of them.

 

• Send them your paperbacks and magazines:

 

If you have paperback books or magazines around the house, consider sending them to the troops. Visit the website Give Books or Operation Paperback to learn where to send your items and any other information you might need to know to participate.

 

• Volunteer with your local USO location:

 

There are many opportunities to assist the USO as a volunteer. To find the nearest USO location and learn how you can volunteer, visit the USO website at the following link: USO.

 

• Send a care package:

 

There are easily hundreds of groups out there offering to help you send care packages to deployed soliders.

 

Here are just a few of the options:

 

Operation USO Care Package

Treats for Troops

Any Soldier

 

• Adopt a troop or unit:

 

Adopt a Platoon is one group that facilitates adoption of individual soldiers and groups and promotes other special projects to meet pressing needs.

 

To adopt a troop, you must make the committment to send him or her one card or letter a week and at least one care package a month. You can adopt up to four troops. There are programs that allow companies, religious organizations and civic groups to adopt entire units of soldiers.

 

You can also offer one-time support for holidays or other special campaigns promoted by Adopt a Platoon. Right now the group is asking for donations of sunscreen, bug spray, anti-itch cream and other related items as part of its Don’t Bug Me summer campaign.

 

You can find more information about all of these options at the following link: Adopt a Platoon.

 

• Donate to the American Legion American Legacy Scholarship Fund:

 

This program provides college scholarships to the children of servicemembers killed in service to our country on or after Sept. 11, 2001. More information is available at this link: American Legacy Scholarship.

 

• Support Fisher House:

 

Fisher House provides a place to stay for the family members of sick or injured troops being treated at military and VA hospitals all across the U.S. I don’t need to tell you how stressful it is to have a sick or injured loved one, so this is a great way for us to make that time a little easier for their families. Visit the following link for more information: Fisher House.

 

 

Regardless of your political affiliation or thoughts about the our involvement in Iraq, I think we can all agree that we support our troops and they deserve to be reminded that we care about them.

 

If you have other ideas or suggestions for what to include in care pacakges, please share them in the comments.

 

Lawyerlee

Looking for some last minute gifts? If you want to be the “True Love” in classic 12 Days of Christmas style, it will cost you 3.1% more than it would have last year!

If you were to buy just one of each of the items mentioned in the song, it would cost you:

1st Day: Partridge, $15 and Pear Tree, $129.99
2nd Day: Turtle Doves, $40
3rd Day: French Hens, $45
4th Day: Calling Birds, $479.97
5th Day: Gold Rings, $325
6th Day: Geese-a-laying, $300
7th Day: Swans-a-swimming, $4200
8th Day: Maids-a-milking, $41.20
9th Day: Ladies Dancing, $4759.19
10th Day: Lords-a-leaping, $4160.25
11th Day: Pipers piping, $2124
12th Day: Drummers drumming, $2301
Total for all 12 days: $18,920.59!

Want to buy the number mentioned in each verse and that number goes up to $75,122!

I consider myself lucky that DH just wants a new tool chest! Happy Holidays!

Emilie