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Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Getting Ready for Christmas & October Giveaway

Yes, yes I know it is not even Halloween yet. However my kids' birthdays are in November and December and if I don't start planning for the holidays way in advance, the holidays aren't fun. They're busy, stressful and more expensive.
 Here are some of the things that I've been stowing away over the past few months:
  • a couple Littlest Pet Shops from Target (used a B1G1 coupon combined with a sale) 
  • eight books (including some activity books) gathered from various sales (I generally only spend $4 or less on children's books)
  • a wooden alphabet abacus from GraveyardMall.com ($7)
  • a few Tag reader books from Walmart clearance & LeapFrog.com (used my coupons and the LF.com sale is still going through the end October)
  • a couple movies (great deals + coupons)
  • a few Melissa and Doug puzzles from B&N.com (@ 70% off)
  • a couple M&D magnifying glasses from B&N.com (same sale)
  • coloring books and new crayons (at $1 each or less)
  • a Toy Story Lego set from B&N.com (that sale is still going through 10/24)
  • multiple small items for stocking stuffers and "shoe gifts" (In my husband's family they have a tradition that on the 12 Days of Christmas, an elf left a tiny present in one of their shoes. It's one that we continued.) 
  • plus I found a really great idea to make for the extended family (I'd share here, but once in awhile my family does read my blog and that would ruin the surprise.)
And this is the one that I am really excited about.
 One day my super cute friend sent me a text asking if my daughter like Disney Princesses. Of course. She collected porcelain dolls when she was young, was getting rid of stuff and was wondering if I would be interested in taking them off her hands. There were these, plus two others that aren't in the boxes. It is going to make a fantastic set-up for Christmas morning. My husband  plans on making her a cabinet to keep them safe from her little brother. I'm so excited for how excited she's going to be! I'm done with my shopping for her and some for my son and I've spent about $120. I'm pretty happy thus far, some items they have requested, a few they wouldn't have thought of, and several 'learning toys'.

Now for the October giveaway: Beauty and the Beast Diamond Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo pack plus Disney Princess soundtrack, to take one more item off your Christmas shopping list.  (Were you as excited as I was, to hear that this one was finally coming to DVD again?)

Here's how you can win it: 1. (Required) Be a follower and leave a comment stating your interest. 2. (Extra) Share one way you get ready for the holidays without losing your sanity. Be specific, not just 'I shop early', for example 'I hit x sale at y store', or 'I make z dish and freeze it' 3. (Extra) Share a deal you have found on one of your Christmas gifts for this year. 4. (Extra) 'Like' this post on Facebook (Button at bottom of post) and leave a comment here. 5. (Extra) Read one of these these posts Be A Hero, Be the Match or Folic Acid- A Key To Healthy Babies, share the info with someone and leave a comment here. (Because these are issues I care about, and I want people to be aware of how simple actions can make a huge difference.) Giveaway runs through October 31, 2010 at 23:59. The winner will be announced on November 1, 2010. The winner be selected using a random number generator. Only residents of the United States are eligible. Good Luck.

62 comments:

  1. I'm a follower!!! And I love what you share. We just had a brainstorming session for FHE this week about how to keep Christ the center of our Christmas celebrations! I'll share our ideas soon...

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  2. I like to do Family History gifts for my siblings for Christmas...so you better believe that I start working on those early in the year. It takes all year, but only a little bit of work spread out over the months, so that Christmas is less about hunting down a gift at the store and more meaningful in the gift-giving ...for me anyway!

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  3. I got a TON OF great deals for my Christmas gifts this year for my kids by shopping the July Target Toy Clearance sale. I was there for something else and noticed women LOADING up their carts...I asked, "Are you doing your Christmas shopping or something?" You betcha. There were 75% off stickers all through the toy isles. So I filled my cart too...with Star Wars, Transformers, Sesame Street and Princess stuff! Awesome!

    Oh and did I mention how much my little girls LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST?????? And we DON'T OWN THE MOVIE!

    Please, please, please pick me! You'd be making two little girls (and one boy) very very happy!

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  4. Oh yeah the 75% off toy clearance runs at Target in July AND January...it's not advertised!

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  5. I really appreciated your folic acid post the other day and made sure to check my daily vitamin for it...just in case! ;)

    I just shared the story on FB too! Thank you!

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  6. I'm a follower. Thanks for the giveaway!
    jltreasure at gmail

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  7. I make most of my Christmas presents, and begin looking for tutorials/ideas in September. Sewing happens in October/Nov and I try to be done by Thanksgiving.
    jltreasure at gmail

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  8. I would totally love to win this! Our entire DVD collection was stolen or trashed when we moved and had a break in. It has taken me forever to find the ones that I have to have. I loved Beauty and the Beast growing up and I watched it all the time on the VHS, would love it in my collection again.

    chitownchicas at gmail dot com

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  9. I bought one of those key locked large rubbermaid storage chests with three shelves. As I buy things for each child I wrap it and sit it on their shelf. This way I can shop all year and not have a huge closet stashed with gifts I have to dig out.

    chitownchicas at gmail dot com

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  10. I'm a follower, and I'd love to win! My daughter hasn't seen Beauty and the Beast yet, but I'm postive that she'll love it!

    Debbie: rebbiedeed(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  11. I do most of my Christmas shopping on Black Friday, to make the holidays more stress free and enjoyable. I'll usually hit Target and Walmart and any other store that has an item I want or need.

    Debbie: rebbiedeed(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  12. I can't remember where I got this, probably Shutterfly or Snapfish, but I got a free photo book that I got to create, and I'll be giving it to my in-laws for Christmas. All I had to pay for was shipping, which was just a couple dollars.

    Debbie: rebbiedeed(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  13. I liked this post on facebook.

    Debbie: rebbiedeed(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  14. I shared the post about folic acid with my sister, who just found out that she is pregnant.

    Debbie: rebbiedeed(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  15. follower and love this! I start planning for Christmas well in advance. I really try to make it as home-made as possible. I'm having my daughter embroider a felt picture for her Grandma. And I have tons of sewing in the works.

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  16. I am already a follower and I would love to be your winner because my Delilah would love this! Thanks so much
    jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

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  17. Well,I am always a little insane during the Holidays but this year I started shopping for Christmas really early.I have entered some giveaways to try and win some stuff to cut down on the spending because we are super bad off this year since I am not working.I am also trying to plan all Holiday meals on a budget.
    jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

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  18. Like this post on facebook
    Wish I had some great deal to share with you but I don't,DARN!
    jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

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  19. I follow you via gfc as DG and my niece asked for this movie for christmas! I would love to see her excitement over opening it on christmas morning :)

    deeg131 at gmail dot com

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  20. I like this post on fb as Dee G.

    deeg131 at gmail dot com

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  21. I get ready for the holidays by clipping out coupons for best buy and the target and then I also wait for cyber monday for amazon (electronic deals).

    deeg131 at gmail dot com

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  22. deeg131 at gmail dot com

    15% off coupon for shoes.com for my mom! I wanted to get her a pair of nice shoes and myself as well so this coupon is great! :)

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  23. shared Be a Hero, Be the Match on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=170942779586351&id=1449584700

    Definitely a great post and raising awareness so double plus.

    deeg131 at gmail dot com

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  24. I am a follower and I would love to win a copy of Beauty and the Beast. It is our absolute favorite Disney movie.

    Thank you so much for the opportunity to enter. dizzybloom(at)gmail(dot)com

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  25. I like the post on Facebook.

    dizzybloom(at)gmail(dot)com

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  26. we have the original on vhs. I would love to "upgrade" :)

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  27. shared your be the match post on twitter
    http://twitter.com/misaacmom/status/28648140454

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  28. I'm a new follower and i'd love to win this for my niece!!
    dgoodridge84@yahoo.com

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  29. I shop for the Target toy clearance in July and get tons of stuff 75% off.. I also go to Target atleast once a week throughout the year and check out clearance for stuff that can be stored until Christmas.
    dgoodridge84@yahoo.com

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  30. The latest deal I found was this past weekend.. I picked up a Thomas & friends early engineers rock & roll quarry set for my 21 month old son for only $20 (originally $40). It was on pricecut for $30 at Target and I had a coupon from November's issue of parenting magazine for $10 off an early engineers set.

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  31. I like this on facebook.
    dgoodridge84@yahoo.com

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  32. Hi! I'm a new follower! I loved Beauty & the Beast when I was younger and I would love for my daughter to see it too! sunrutsw at gmail dot com

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  33. One way I get ready for the holidays is by doing a lot of my shopping online close to Christmas. This may sound insane, but lots of online stores, especially Amazon, will have amazing deals on all kinds of gifts for steep discounts with free shipping right after Thanksgiving. We have Prime on Amazon, so shipping is always free! Saves me a lot of crazy trips to the stores. sunrutsw at gmail dot com

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  34. I scored a musical Snow White doll that my daughter is going to flip over during the recent Mattel.com Cyber Monday in September sale for 75% off! Woo hoo! sunrutsw at gmail dot com

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  35. I'm interested, just started following!

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  36. I get ready for the holidays by doing my shopping early, specifically I shop online, right now the stores are so competing for your business and if you look around you can find great deals.

    I also don't travel more than twice in december and never back to back weekends.

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  37. My favorite deal I found was the medium tote at LL bean for 12 dollars, so I bought one for all the women in my family and got them all embroidered, a very nice gift, personalized for under 20$ Yeah!!!

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  38. I am a follower and am very interested. I love this movie!

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  39. For the holidays, I make a list of all the goodies and extra traditional snacks. Then I decide which ones to make this year. Then, I put them all on the calendar for which days I will make which things.

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  40. I subscribe with Google. What a wonderful giveaway! I can definitely think of some girls on my Christmas list who would be ecstatic to receive the Beauty and the Beast DVD.

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  41. I look all year for gifts for Christmas. Whenever I see something that someone would like, I file it away mentally or make a note of it. I start doing actual shopping in September or October, usually, and it takes a lot of the stress off.

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  42. I always get deals by shopping for books I plan to give as gifts either online, with discounts off the list price, or at used bookstores. It saves a bundle, and used books have extra character.

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  43. I am follower and very interested in winning! :)

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  44. I'm a follower. I would love to win this for my daughter!

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  45. I shop online mostly. Not having to deal with shopping malls keeps me sane...for the most part. ;) I try to have all shopping done by Halloween. I stock up on the Target toy sales throughout the year and store them until Christmas.

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  46. Toys R Us sent out coupons for $20 off bikes. I was able to pick up my twins' bikes from Santa at a $40 savings!

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  47. I'm a follower, I'd love to win! Thanks.
    countrycookinmama@gmail.com

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  48. I follow and love the blog! The movie would be a great way to have a family night at home during the hetic holiday rush.

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  49. i am follower, would love to win for my daughter!
    emmy1981 at aol dot com

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  50. i try and make my mother in laws photo calendar that she always requests in October!
    emmy1981 at aol dot com

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  51. I'm a GFC follower and would love to win this DVD for my little girl

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  52. One way I save for the holidays is by buying all my baking ingredients in bulk during the big loss leader sales in November.

    Usually I can get butter, flour, sugar, a ham and/or turkey, evaporated milk, pumpkin puree etc for a steal on November and stock up for Christmas. Just knowing we have all of our ingredients ready is a money and sanity saver!

    Check the store flyers in November and plan ahead!

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  53. I found a great deal on Christmas gifts at CVS (of all places). They had a pancake puff pan for $1.99 (for me from kids, lol) a telescope for $1.49, and a make up kit for my little girl for 49c - all the clearance was on 90% off this summer and I nabbed this three things thinking ahead to Christmas. It was awesome!

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  54. I love this movie and am trying to collect all the Disney movies to share with our kids! This would be perfect because our current finances prohibit us from being able to purchase it at this time! Thanks for a great giveaway!

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  55. This is my favorite Disney movie ever! I'm a new follower.

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  56. I also liked this on Facebook

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  57. I'm following and I would love to win this for my daughter.

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  58. I'm a follower- I love beauty and the beast!
    k k g r a y 8 8 @yahoo

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  59. I stay sane by making most of my gift- I love to knit
    k k g r a y 8 8 @yahoo

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  60. A good deal I found was rescue me on amazon for a great price
    k k g r a y 8 8 @yahoo

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  61. liked on fb
    k k g r a y 8 8 @yahoo

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