Coupons for this week and next; Gap; Aeropostle, etc.

Here are some coupons for you to use this weekend and some for next weekend. Hope this helps as you are out shopping!!!!
Yankee Candle: 11/30.
GAP: $20/75 11/23
Aeropostale: 30% off 11/23
American Eagle: 11/23

Deal of the Day

The Graveyard Mall has a Deal of the Day that is usually pretty inexpensive. Today it is the TheraShower that is usually $29.99 and today, while supplies last, is $3.99!!! Good way to get Black Friday prices without the crowds!!!

Today's party question is:

Do you shop on Black Friday? What time do you start? Do you complete your shopping this day? What's the best deal you have ever found? What's your shopping strategy?

Well, I used to......die hard, plan out my attack on Thanksgiving Day and be on the road by 4:30am!!!! The crowds didn't bother me, I thrived on them!!!! I never finished my shopping that day. I am always finding something "cute" to finish off a gift. The best deal?....One year I was thrilled to find my niece a "Tickle Me Elmo" when no one could get their hands on them. As for strategy? I am pretty sure I don't have one. I don't go shopping on Black Friday anymore. My husband is now a state trooper and usually works on that day and once I started having kids, I just couldn't put them through the torture. I still have a lot of crazy relatives that do go out so if I see something that I have to have, I will add it to their shopping list.

Sponsors: Day Eight Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Koshas, Leapfrog and Soda Club.

HFH Update

Well, we are almost to the holiday party time and my friends over at Baby Tea Leaves and I have been attempting to drop a few pounds so we can be HOT for the Holidays!!! Many of us are running into a wall, a plateau, but each week we check in and it gives us new motivation for the coming week. This week I am down a pound which I am happy with. I am not going to over indulge at Thanksgiving but I am not going to deprive myself either. All in moderation girls!!! Have a great Thanksgiving!!

Aloha Friday

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
If you’d like to participate, just post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!
Today’s question is:

I have to make a side dish for Thanksgiving. Do you have any mouthwatering recipes? I mean one that at least 3 people will ask me for the recipe.

Check out more aloha friday questions at An Island Life.

Day 7 at Mom Dot's Blog Party brings the question of who is on your Naughty List and Nice List?

I am pretty sure that after reading many blog posts this morning, I am the ONLY one with a naughty list!!!! I agree with many that the economy, the wall street bailout execs and now the big 3 execs (with their $20,000 private jet trip to D.C. to ask for $25 billion) all top my naughty list. However, I have a few in-laws that are pretty high up on that list as well. Oh, it shouldn't be a surprise, I'm sure they know who they are. However, I will leave them nameless for now and if they are reading they can wonder which list they have "earned" the right to be on!!!!

Now, my nice list is quite extensive as well. My immediate family and my "nice" in-laws (the ones that would give you the shirt off their back and freeze but would make sure you were warm) . You know who you are Susie girl!!!! I would even include everyone who has struggled through the tough times this year through this economic crisis. I do use the whole "Santa" is watching phrase. Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much. I love Sarah's post on Mom Dot where she says the camera's in the stores are there for parents to say "click" and the video of the "bad" behavior will be sent to Santa immediately!!! I might use that one!!!

Sponsors: Day Five Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Sillymonkeez and My Baby Bump

Day #6

Today's question is:

What is your favorite Holiday memory from YOUR childhood?

This is really hard to pick. I am one of the lucky ones out there who have wonderful parents that are still married. My parents went to the extreme to make sure every holiday was what it was supposed to be. We had traditions and consistency. We knew that we always went to grandma's on Christmas Eve and opened presents from Santa on Christmas morning and then would go eat left overs at Grandma's and play with our favorite toy that we received. We always made Christmas cookies the week before Christmas and would take them to our neighbors, friends, teachers, etc. I know that I want to add that "tradition" and consistency to my family and build on it each year. We never got a TON of Christmas gifts but we were lucky enough to get the top 3-5 things on our list and yes........we made a list every year from the catalogue!!!! We were lucky and I know that, just like I want my kids to know that they are lucky........not to expect it but to appreciate it.

Today's sponsors are Flying Colors Baby, Uncommonly Cute and Lollipop Book Club.

Wordless Wednesday

I already miss the bonfires, SMORES and 70 degree weather!!!!

Check out more at Punky Monkey's and 5 Minutes for Mom.

It's Day 5 of the Blog Party and today's question is.... make a blog post about what you do to give back during the holidays..... Do you volunteer your time? If so, please tell us where. What do you do to teach your children the true meaning of the holidays?

What do we do to give back? My husband was in the Marine Corps and we religiously, every year donate to Toys For Tots. This year is a tight year for us, just like everyone else, but we will still donate toys to this organization. We realize, that even when it is tight, we have more than most and are grateful for it!!!

How do you teach your kids the meaning of the holiday? When my husband was small, my mother in law gathered all of the kids and dressed them up to do a play about baby Jesus and the manger and she has continued this tradition on with her grandkids. It seems we always had a new baby and they each took turns playing baby Jesus and then she has angel wings that the girls would put on and then there were the wisemen. It is really cute, the little kids love it and it helps to teach them.

Sponsors: Day Five Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Baby Pop and Chic Covers

So, day 4 of Mom Dot's Blog Party is here and my internet is finally up and running!!!! Today's question is:

What is your favorite Holiday recipe?

It just wouldn't be Christmas without our sugar cookies!! They are soooo yummy that I have found every excuse imaginable to make them for different occasions. You can check out the recipe here. My grandma decorates them perfectly (almost too perfect to eat) and my kids, well.........decorate like kids do!! Either way, they soooo good!!

What does your Holiday table look like?

MY holiday table has a runner down the center (that my great, great grandma made) with a gorgeous vase filled with Christmas bulbs and a candle in the center, 2 tealight snowflake candle holders on each side and pictures of my kids.

Now, when we are at my grandma's for Christmas Eve dinner, there is no room for decoration. We have over 30 people there and we are lucky to find a chair!!!

Biggest Holiday cooking disaster?

We have been pretty lucky. The closest thing to a disaster that I can think of is when we had a bright idea to cook "breakfast" for Christmas Eve dinner for something "different". We were all at my grandma's house, which is an old farm house. Everyone was working on cooking something different instead of bringing a dish with them and we overloaded the circuits several times and the lights kept going out. Once the cooking was finished, we all ate, the lights stayed on and Christmas went on as normal.

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Sponsors: Day Four Blog Party Question is Brought to you by Bottlewise and Glow Mama

My 2nd AWARD!!!!!

My great friend, Kristen, over at La Dolce Vita (who has some great jewelry pieces for Christmas gifts!!!) has given me this cool "Sparky Blogger Award!" I love awards and am so psyched to add this one to my list. Thanks Kristen!!!!

All I have to do is pass it on to 5 Sparky Bloggers!!!

Christie at Baby Tea Leaves

A Beautiful Mess

Ordinary Housewife

An Island Life

Mommay's Mayhem

Then I received this great Kreative Blogger Award from Sanni-licious, who is one of my Hot For The Holidays Buddies who has lost over 59 pounds in the last 5 months!!! Wooohooo!!! I need to state 6 things I value and pass onto 6 bloggers.

I value:

*Time with my kids

*A HOT bubble bath with a glass of wine

*a 2 hour uninterrupted nap

*date night with the hubby

*a home cooked meal

*a clean, de-cluttered house

I am now passing this onto:
The same 5 bloggers from the first award PLUS Sisterly Savings