There were many resolutions this New Year’s.� Resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, and start a new career are just a few.� Did you know that becoming organized could help you achieve nearly all your goals and dreams for yourself?� I am going to list the steps to start controlling the clutter in your life.� Clutter can take many forms and only one of them is material.� In addition we clutter up our time and our mind.� As you read through the following steps, you may see examples of stumbling blocks that you have put on the pathway to becoming clutter controlled in the past in your own life.� This is the year to make these small changes, which will have a huge impact not only on your life, but also on the life of the ones that you love.

1.� Stop with the blame and guilt- Often we live our lives out of fear, guilt, blame, and shame.� Try very hard to realize that you cannot control what you did yesterday, but you most certainly can change your tomorrow.� If you spent more than you should of at Christmas, now is not the time to beat yourself up!

2.� It is not about perfection!� If you aim for perfection you are bound to find disappointment.� Your goal should be to simply get your clutter under control.� It is not about owning things; rather it is about not allowing things to own you. If you set your goals to unreachable heights you will only be left disappointed in the end.� Be realistic with what you can and cannot do and what you can and cannot control.� So often we perceive others to have a tighter grasp on their life than we have on our own, and we use it as a way to put ourselves down.� Be the best person that you can be today, that is all that any of us can really do.

3.� Prioritize your life and goals- Make a list of what and who are really important in your life and start basing your decisions on how they reflect your prioritize and goals.� Take a moment and think of how you would live your life differently if you knew the exact time and date you would die.� Live the life of the person that you truly want to be!�

4.� Stop Buying Stuff to Store Stuff- Please resist the temptation to run out and buy bins!� Spring is prime marketing target for stores to advertise their clever storage ideas.� Before you even think about how to store your stuff, I want you to really analyze what you keep and why you are keeping it!� If after you have purged you decide you still need to place it into a container, check around your home first to see if you have something already that will work.� Get creative!

5.� Allow yourself to let go of the things that are not inspiring you (pertains to both material items and obligations).� You cannot possibly go forward if you’re only looking backwards.

6.� Shop your home- I want you to walk around your home and look at your items with a different perspective.� If you were at your local mall or store and you saw the items that you currently own, would you like them enough to purchase them?� Would you buy it today?� If the answer is “yes” make sure you truly are cherishing the item.� If the answer is “no” perhaps you could give it to someone who would appreciate it, or perhaps you have been putting off throwing it away.

7.� Learn the definition of clutter- Clutter is simply a result of put-off decisions.� What are you putting off doing?� Is it the clothes in the attic that you know you need to donate?� Are there piles of paperwork that need to be gone through?� Start today!� It’s ok to take little baby steps.� You don’t have to do it all in one day, because it certainly did not take one day to get that way.� Baby steps forward are far better than standing still.�

Make a large list of all the things that are cluttering up your world, and slowly start crossing them out.� Better yet, photocopy your list and give it to at least one friend and ask them to do the same.� Be one another’s cheerleaders!� Help someone else achieve all that life has to offer, while doing the same in your own life.� Learn to become content with all of life’s blessings this year.

Betsy

Finding the perfect gift for your Valentine is always a challenge, especially on a limited budget. With this year’s grim economic outlook, putting together the money for dinner and a gift is an extravagance that many simply cannot afford. Consumers are expected to spend about around $102.50 this year on Valentine’s Day, which is down about $20 from last year according to the National Retail Federation. CouponChief.com wants to make sure that everyone is still able to enjoy Valentine’s Day and can help consumers save some extra cash so they can make all the purchases on their list. To get you started on your shopping, CouponChief.com has put together its best deals to help you save on all your purchases this holiday:

For her –
• Flowers – Save 25% off your purchase at Teleflora
• Chocolate – Check out Godiva Chocolate’s sale up to 60% off
• Cookies – Get 10% off your entire order at Mrs. Fields Cookies
• Jewelry – Get $50 off your purchase of $200 or more at Zales
• Restaurant – Get an extra 60% off any order at Restaurant.com

For him –
• Sports – Get 15% off your order on MLB.com
• Outdoor – Check out the Cabelas.com site for online exclusive deals
• Games – Get free shipping or a percentage off any used games at GameStop.com
• Electronics – Get 5 – 15% off TVs, software and more at BestBuy.com

Single this year? Valentine’s Day is a great time to show all the people you love how much you care. Take the time to give your friends and family a little something. Cards are a fast and easy way to show you care and customizable gifts take gift-giving a step further. Here are a few discount codes to help you give the perfect gift without breaking the bank:

• Save 20% off your purchase at Hallmark
• Save $10 of your $25 purchase at Snapfish.com

It’s important in tough economic times to watch spending but coupon sites helps users enjoy holidays like Valentine’s Day by offering simple ways to save. Make sure to visit CouponChief’s special Valentine’s Day page before making all your purchases this holiday.

Your little Valentine will most likely be content with a simple hug on February 14th, but we know how hard it is to resist showering your baby with a little more. So we’ve rounded up the sweetest Valentine’s Day gifts that will make your baby (and you!) giggle with glee.

Editor’s Pick for Baby Boys: Kee-Ka ‘Lovebug’ Organic Bodysuit Outfit. What’s not to love about this ‘Lovebug’ gift set? Besides being adorable and easy to wear, it’s also made from 100% certified organic cotton and comes packaged in an eco-friendly gift box. ‘Lovebug’ Organic Hooded Towel and Washcloth Set also available.

Editor’s Pick for Baby Girls: Metallic Mary Janes from Sweet Shoes ($28): Start baby’s love affair with shoes early on with these tiny Metallic Mary Janes from Sweet Shoes. The gorgeous metallic red channels Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and the skid-resistant soles make it easy for baby to walk to her next adventure. Machine-washable to boot.

Read here and fall in love with our favorite Valentine’s Day outfits, accessories, toys and books for Baby’s First Valentine.

Click here to read our guide >>>

I’ve found that re-connecting with the magical wonder the season brings gives true meaning to the word “joy”. Share the holiday joy through the eyes of children and take in all this season has to offer.

Lights. Have you made a trip down a lighted street? It’s so much fun to see! We visited a street called “Candy Cane Lane”. It was so neat to see the different celebrations blended together with lights. I had so much pleasure from my two boy’s reactions. We must’ve gone down the street 5 times!

Music. I loved listening to my older son, Ty performing holiday songs at his school. He had a special role as Santa (see photo). I felt so proud, I wanted to shout, “that’s MY son!”

Imagination. Listening to my older son share his beliefs about Santa made me smile. He asked, “How is he going to fit down our chimney? He’s too fat!”

Tradition. I enjoy sharing our traditions with our children. I share the Hannukah tradition of lighting the menorah and singing each of the seven nights, while Brad shares his Christmas traditions. Together we’ve created our own tradition which we call “The “Holliday” Dinner”. Brad makes his famous stir fry and mom always brings her delicious homemade brownies!

Happy Holidays! Wishing you much joy and magical wonder!

Here we are at the end of our Christmas Missions. Hopefully you have found some inspiration in these missions and your Holiday season is just a tad bit less stressful! This week we will be focusing on cleaning, organizing, relaxing, and enjoying this wonderful time of the year…

Week #4: FINALE

Here we are at the end of our Christmas Missions.� Hopefully you have found some inspiration in these missions and your Holiday season is just a tad bit less stressful!� If you have not finished your shopping, hopefully your list is not too great.� If you are finished, stay away from the malls and the temptation to buy more! This week we will be focusing on cleaning, organizing, relaxing, and enjoying this wonderful time of the year!

When I say cleaning, I do not mean that this is the week to deep clean anything!� You merely want things presentable…not perfect!!� This is certainly not the time to start a project.� Do your laundry mid week and press any clothes (if needed) WAY before they are actually needed!� Stock your fridge with milk and other necessities, buy plenty of bread, diapers, batteries, blank videotapes, Tylenol (for you and the kids), and anything else that you won’t want to be running out for at the last minute!!

Organize all your gifts by separating the gifts in bags or boxes as to where they are going.� It would be terrible to forget someone’s gift at home!� Now is also the time to place your bows on top of your gifts.� Pack up all of your paper and gift-wrapping supplies.�

Now is the time to plan your Christmas breakfast.� A great idea is a breakfast casserole that you make the day before and keep in the refrigerator until you put it into the oven in the morning. We always have baked goods for breakfast on Christmas morning.� I take some sweet breads out of the freezer on Christmas Eve and they are all ready to eat Christmas morning.� My daughter loves the Pillsbury type of cinnamon rolls and I always bake up a batch of those.� The great thing about doing that is it smells up the whole house with the warm sweet smell of cinnamon and there is absolutely no effort on my part!�

Now is the time to relax a bit.� Take lots of pictures and give tons of hugs.� Tell the people around you how much you love them, as there are no guarantees when it comes to life.� Remember how blessed you are.� Focus not on what you did not receive; rather treasure the things you have not lost!�

Merry Christmas!!
Betsy

When friends and family members welcome a 7 or 8 pound bundle of joy into their lives, we rush out to the retail baby mega stores for that “perfect gift.” We fill our carts with clothes, toys, books and products that claim to make baby eat, sleep and poop better. We’ll drive all over town searching for miracle blankets and twirling mobiles. Maybe we should stop and consider that sometimes the most “unique gifts” are acts of kindness. When I look back at our first days at home with our 7 pound bundle of joy, I have a hard time recalling who brought our son the lion and who sung lullabies, but I can remember clearly the faces that appeared above a steaming plate of spaghetti.

When your friends bring home a baby, they are not bringing home the bacon. (Literal translation= no one in the home has time to cook!) It’s actually very ironic: At a time when parents need the energy from a good meal, they simply don’t have the energy to prepare one. If you make a meal that can be frozen and prepared quickly and easily with little effort from the parents, you are giving a thoughtful gift in the form of an act of kindness. Show up with lasagna and a note to freeze until ready, bake at 350, you have friends for life. If you think to bring paper plates and napkins so as to avoid making dirty dishes, your friends would probably take a bullet for you.

One responsibility that falls off the new parents’ radar is the maintenance of the lawn. If you spent one Saturday afternoon at the new parents’ house mowing the lawn, trimming the edges and raking the leaves, you would be giving the whole neighborhood a gift. If you’re the organizing type, you could even arrange to have a few friends rotate this responsibility so that it was off the minds of the parents for a month or so.

Although a baby is a tiny creature, he can create a lot of laundry. Offer to pick up the new family’s laundry one week and return it washed, dried and ironed the next day. Just be sure to wash the baby’s items in a dye free scent free laundry detergent as their new skin is very sensitive.

It’s difficult for women to ignore the mess that is created in their home. New moms battle between letting the mess pile up and leaving it for another day. The exhaustion that comes with a new baby makes it difficult to keep the house clean and the love that comes with a new baby makes you want to spend your time cuddling and cooing the new one. Give the new mom a break by spending a few hours cleaning up her house. Mop or vacuum the floors, do the dishes and some light dusting and you’ll see the weight lifted right off the new mom’s shoulders.

Nothing can be more difficult on new parents than the sleep deprivation. The best thing you can do for a new parent is to provide them with a long nap. The way you can do this is to insist on coming over and holding the baby so mom and dad can go lie down. If the baby is being breast fed you can wake mom for feedings; if the baby is bottle fed, you can offer to feed the baby and allow the parents to take a longer nap. Who knew that sleep would be the biggest act of kindness you could offer to someone?

Christmas falls on December 25th every year. Every single year. It never changes. Then why is it that as the date rapidly approaches dads all around the world find themselves with nary a gift? If you’re a dad and you’ve found yourself in this predicament (once again), follow this guide to getting your shopping done quickly.

First, fuel up. Put gas in the car and food in your belly. You might be in for a long day and it’s possible that you might be driving all over town today. Make sure your family knows you’ll be away from the home all day. (Be prepared for your wife’s disappointed look when you tell her it’s because you’ve waited this long to get your portion of the list crossed off.)

Second, try to hit as many shops at once. Malls can be a dangerous place as the 25th approaches, but it’s also a place with many stores and many sales. Be systematic about your shopping while all the mall. Start at one department store and make your way around the entire mall, one floor at a time, returning to the original department store you began at. Outdoor malls are a gamble at this time of year; if you live in a cold and snowy place you might find yourself wet and miserable as you trudge from place to place. While outlet malls might be a place to get great deals, they are often not as organized as traditional indoor malls, and right now you just don’t have the time to be getting in and out of your car to go from store to store.
Thirdly, as you’re shopping, think about purchasing gifts that the whole family can enjoy. Have you ever heard the expression, “Kill two birds with one stone”? At the very least, purchase gifts that 2 or more of your family members can use together. Some examples include board games, sporting equipment or electronic devices.

Next, if you’re unable to make all of your purchases at the mall location, think about a store that carries a large variety of items. Many retail mega stores carry toys, games, clothes, and electronics all in one location. Most of these stores even sell gift cards to other retail stores; you just have to ask the cashier to activate them for the amount you desire. Retail mega stores are also great for finding stocking stuffers such as accessories, candy and CDs or DVDs.

Finally, don’t forget that you need to have all of these items wrapped before Santa’s impending arrival. Some stores along the way might have offered to gift wrap them for you. This is a fantastic option, as long as there isn’t a long line of dads in front of you. Make a list of the gifts that still need to be wrapped. Think about their sizes of the objects and visit a dollar store. Purchase as many gift bags as you need for the items in your car. Purchase festive colored tissue to stuff in and around the bags. Gift bags are the quickest way to wrap last minute gifts! They’re also great because they can be used again and again. The tie your teenage daughter buys you next year might come in the same bag that held the perfume you bought her this year- now that’s recycling!

If you follow these guidelines, you might find yourself pulling back into your driveway before the sun sets on Christmas Eve. You better hope so anyway!

What’s in your oven? There is nothing like a batch of homemade cookies baking in the oven to invoke the holiday spirit. Spend some time in the kitchen this week and create special memories for your children and share the bounty to fill the tummies and warm the hearts of those around you….

Week #3:� WHAT’S IN YOUR OVEN?There is nothing like a batch of homemade cookies baking in the oven to invoke the holiday spirit!� If you are involved in a cookie exchange you have a whole lot of one type of cookie to make. � Resist the temptation to not want help during the baking and decorating process.� I know it would be a lot easier to bake without little hands getting in the way, but these memories will last a lifetime to the little ones in your life! Make sure you snap a few pictures, as these photos will be greatly treasured in years to come.� � �

There is nothing like a batch of homemade cookies baking in the oven to invoke the holiday spirit!� If you are involved in a cookie exchange you have a whole lot of one type of cookie to make. � Resist the temptation to not want help during the baking and decorating process.� I know it would be a lot easier to bake without little hands getting in the way, but these memories will last a lifetime to the little ones in your life! Make sure you snap a few pictures, as these photos will be greatly treasured in years to come.� � � This is also a great time to make a few sweet breads and muffins.� These make great gifts, or you can put them into the freezer now and take out Christmas Eve and you’ll have delicious baked goods Christmas morning.� You can make easy delicious spreads to go with your homemade breads such as mixing together preserves or apple butter with softened cream cheese.� � � On a “Clutter Busting” note:� make sure you check your cabinets before heading to the grocery store for your baking ingredients.�

It can be very inexpensive to make a gorgeous baked goods gift presentation! Go to your local Dollar Store and pick up trays, baskets, and tins and fill with your homemade creations.� Also, I am the first to admit that I reuse tins, baskets and trays that were given to me in the past! � � Have fun handing out your Holiday baked goods and make sure to include your children.� Don’t forget those elderly relatives and neighbors who no longer have the ability to do their own holiday baking.�

Look at this time not as a chore and have fun creating traditions with your children, nieces and nephews!� In a blink of an eye the little ones in your life will be grown up and we will ache for these precious years!� It is not the gifts that will be remembered rather the time spent creating memories!

Looking ahead to next year:�

I normally make tons of sweet breads throughout the year and place them in the freezer for gifts.� Zucchini, pumpkin, apple, banana (and many more) breads actually taste better after they have been frozen.� In addition, I make pear butter and pear jelly and keep jars in my basement to give as gifts.� A basket of sweet bread, preserves, and cookies is a gift you can be proud of, yet it does not break the budget.

Happy Baking!

Betsy

Note: If the video does not appear below, click here to watch it on Disney’s site.

Right around Thanksgiving, while I was five states away from home, I learned a valuable lesson. I think it occurred somewhere in between the argument with my mom, the disbelief at seeing my 94-year-old grandmother with her new “Alzheimer’s” personality, and the fact that, though I was having a good time in general, underneath I was still kind of pissed that I had to spend Thanksgiving (again) without a husband because he’d recently left me. And who is now “dating,” I might add. Anyway, the point is, I was feeling sorry for myself and did not feel like there was much at all to be thankful about. Au contraire.

So…I’m standing in line at a bustling Panera Bread in New Jersey with my mom, my three children, and my 23-year-old sister. My sister is young, attractive and full of life, has just begun a promising career as a nurse at a busy northeastern hospital, and everything I wish I could be again. As we’re waiting our turn to order lunch, I realize the guy ahead of us, who is about my sister’s age, has no right leg from the knee down. What’s left of it is wrapped in bright white gauze. I don’t know that he’s military, but it’s my best guess. And though this is extremely upsetting and sad to me, because I live in North Carolina and see military personnel somewhat regularly, it’s not the shock it might be to someone else.

I see my children also surveying the young man, trying to process what might have happened to his leg, wondering how someone so otherwise healthy and normal-looking could have had such an accident. I’m proud of them for keeping their sadness and curiosity to themselves. I realize that, unfortunately, they’ve also seen this type of thing before. The other folks in Panera though had obviously not. Stares toward the young man were rarely discreet. Heads turned, whispers lingered. In a sea of gossip, the young man remained comfortable and mature, and I felt a sudden surge of pride for this random guy I didn’t even know. I wondered if I could ever do that—rise above the emotion of the crowd, particularly when it’s directed at me. But this was a man obviously made of incredible bravery and courage, as I was about to find out.

“Tommy,” my sister cries. “Hey, Mom, it’s Tommy!” She and Tommy strike up a conversation and remove themselves from the Panera line to catch up on old times. Wow, I think to myself. He’s my sister’s age. One of her friends. A regular guy with dreams and aspirations and a whole life ahead of him, and now, an amputated leg. They talk for about fifteen minutes. Smiling and laughing, just being young and finding out what the other one’s been up to. My sister introduces us to him, and he in turn introduces his friends. Then we go to our separate tables, and I find out his story.

“I didn’t realize that was Tommy,” my sister says. “He went to church with us. Went off to Afghanistan, fought in the war. Do you know he just got a Purple Heart? President Bush came and visited with him, and talked with his family, and sat down beside him. Tommy was a medic. Got a bunch of shrapnel in his leg. He saw his men getting pummeled and he kept going out to save them, one after another, even though he was badly wounded himself.”

Wow. There are no other words. I was speechless. Suddenly my divorce and my anger and my sorry-ass ex-husband and my self-pity and my wishing I could keep up with the Joneses that much better… instantly dissolved, and I realized that here was a kid (yes, a kid when you think about it) who had thought only of others in a time that truly meant life or death, was fighting with all he had to give me freedom (to wallow in that self-pity I’d just mentioned), and was more grown up than I’ll (or any of us, really) will ever be. Here was a kid, more courageous, more selfless, more sacrificing, more “Man” than anyone else I know, and much more mature than myself, who was almost but not quite twice his age. Who had given his leg, and probably most of his soul, so that I could have freedom. Freedom. Something every single one of us probably takes for granted. Because I know I do.

And it hits me. Not only do I have an incredible, mind-boggling amount to be thankful for, I owe much of it to him—and to all the men and women who fight for us. And I am very, very grateful.

So I vow never to be so self-absorbed again. That part, I’m still working on, because I think it’s an American habit that’s hard to get rid of. But I’m getting there, partly thanks to Tommy. And it occurs to me, I wonder if he’ll ever realize how many people he really saved, and continues to save, just by going around to Panera and all the other places in our world, and continuously rising above? Someone like him, he’ll probably never realize. But I do. And I’ll bet a lot of other people that day did too.

Before the packages are opened and your home is overwhelmed with new things, take this challenge to clear out the clutter now. A super simple system to let go and purge. Also, the three most important reasons to do this now…

Week #2:� PRE-CHRISTMAS PURGE

We are on our Holiday home stretch.� This week continue to work on your Christmas list, get your house decorated and mail out your holiday cards.� Your list hopefully is dwindling, but if it is not-� stop the madness if you are holding onto grand plans of finishing projects that will really stress you out in the weeks to come.� It is so not worth it!� Stop trying to impress others at Christmas!� Give from your heart and give what you can really afford…not what you want others to THINK you can afford.� If you are finished with your list, beware of the ever-present temptation to buy more.

We are on our Holiday home stretch.� This week continue to work on your Christmas list, get your house decorated and mail out your holiday cards.� Your list hopefully is dwindling, but if it is not-� stop the madness if you are holding onto grand plans of finishing projects that will really stress you out in the weeks to come.� It is so not worth it!� Stop trying to impress others at Christmas!� Give from your heart and give what you can really afford…not what you want others to THINK you can afford.� If you are finished with your list, beware of the ever-present temptation to buy more.I have a very worthwhile project for you to tackle this week.� Donate your unused clothes and toys before the Holidays!� The three most important reasons to do this are

1. Get rid of the clutter before more clutter comes into your home.

2.� Get a good idea of what you and your children really need before the January clearance mega sales begin and

3. TAX deduction!!!�

Here are the steps in knowing what to keep, what to toss, and what to donate:
Keep:� Those items that you truly love

Donate/Give away/sell: The items that are good, but not right for you

Toss:� Items that are truly not good for anyone

I have found a super simple way of sorting through my items.� When I pick up an item, I think to myself, “Would I buy this today?”� Don’t think about how it made you feel when you purchased it.� Look past whether someone gave it to you.� Forget how much (or how little) you paid for it. If the item would not interest you TODAY for purchase, it is time for it to go!� Stop wasting your hangers and closet space on clothes that you don’t plan on wearing!�

Don’t make the very common mistake of dumping unwanted things into a large bag and tossing it into a dumpster at the Goodwill! You are just throwing money away!� Donating to the Goodwill and other charitable organizations (make SURE that the organization has a tax-exempt status with the IRS) is one of the BEST things you can do for yourself.� Not only do you clean out your clutter, BUT you get the money you deserve for your items as a tax deduction!� � You can get fair market value for your items.� Fair market value is defined as “the price at which property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither having to buy or sell, and both having reasonable knowledge of all the relevant facts.”� A good rule of thumb for fair market value of an item is 25% of what the purchase price was, but it is always advisable to check with your tax professional/� It is a good idea to take a picture of the contents of the bag (Just do this as one big group shot).� Make sure that the organization gives you a receipt!� As always, please contact your Accountant for any specific questions regarding your donations.

Have fun this week cleaning out your clutter!!!

Betsy�

Santa must have an unlimited supply of money. How else would he be able to afford gifts for all the children of the world when we struggle to purchase gifts for the dozen or so people on our list? At a time of the year when goodwill should be abounding, our debts are the only thing mounting. Below are some suggestions for how you can reduce the cost of buying Christmas years this year.

Step 1: Start shopping early in the year. Make your Christmas list during the summer and decide on your budget at that time. There may be some additional people to add as you get closer to the holidays, but chances are you already know who needs to be on your list. Now that you’ve created your list early, begin making gift purchases at least 6 months before the holiday season. If you commit yourself to purchasing at least 2 gifts a month until Christmas you won’t feel the money crunch that other shoppers feel come December.

Step 2: Pick up the Sunday newspaper. The Sunday newspaper is full of ads and coupons. Some stores publish a 40%-50% off coupon on one item each week. Because you have begun your shopping early, it should not be necessary to pay full price for any of your gifts. There will come a time that the items you have your eye on will go on sale. Be patient.

Step 3: You’ve begun your Christmas shopping during the summer. That means there are many holidays that happen between summertime and Christmastime. Large retail stores will have sales at the 4th of July, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, etc. Take advantage of these sales to mark some items off your list. If you’re courageous enough to brave the Thanksgiving weekend sales, there are deep discounts during this time.

Step 4: Don’t be afraid to explore venues other than retail stores. You can find new items at garage sales, Goodwill or the websites www.Craigslist.com or www.ebay.com. If you go this route, make sure the item is in fact new and comes in its original packaging.

Step 5: Consider removing some of the “items” from your list and replacing them with opportunities to spend time together. For instance, does your husband really need that new watch, or would he appreciate concert tickets instead? The tickets might be something he would have purchased for himself, so you’ve effectively cut that future cost from your family budget while still giving him what he wants. And, it’s an event that you will be able to attend together!

Step 6: Don’t use credit cards to make Christmas purchases. This is the biggest mistake consumers make during the holidays. Not only are you responsible for the cost of the purchase itself, but you are also responsible for the interest that your credit card will charge you.

Step 7: Keep track of your purchases and the amounts that you spend over the course of the several months of shopping. Once you see your expenditures written down, you will be able to evaluate and re-evaluate your purchases for the next holiday season. If the total costs scare you, don’t be afraid to start looking at where you can make cuts to your list for next year.

It’s amazing how many people we give gifts to during the holidays. If only we had unlimited funds and we could give generously to everyone on our list.�

But, unfortunately, that is not the case for most of us. In these harsh financial times, I know very few people who can comfortably give as much as they would like this year.

The fabulous news is that you can still give meaningful and appreciated gifts to all the people on your list and do it on a reasonable budget.� Frugal giving is the way to go this year and so is staying out of debt.

We all know that you aren’t doing your family any favors if you have to struggle to pay bills for months because you bought gifts you could not afford in December. Even if you have a good job today, being frugal now will help you later if that good job goes away as so many others have in the last few months.� Take a look at the following frugal gift ideas and start thinking about the people on your gift list.� I’ll bet you can find some great matches.

Homemade goodies from the kitchen: Some of the most popular (and loved) frugal gifts during the holidays are edible treats. Choose from cookies, fudge and brownies baked from scratch, hot chocolate mixes in a mug, soup mixes in a bowl, fudge, pies, homemade bread, fudge, a bottle of wine, quick bread mixes in a loaf pan and little gingerbread men. Did I mention fudge?!� See http://southernfood.about.com for a number of recipes including brownies in a jar and fudge, of course!

Hobby related gifts:� Many folks have hobbies they love.� Some people collect coins, stamps or glass horses. Some are train enthusiasts or enjoy taking pictures. If someone on your gift list has a hobby, find a gift that will contribute to that hobby, without breaking the bank.� Buy a� magazine subscription for the train enthusiast, rolls of film or photo paper for the photographer, specialty scissors, paper or stickers for the scrapbooker, exotic spices for someone who loves to cook.

Picture perfect:� Some great ways to share your family with loved ones is through framed photos, scrapbooks, photo albums and digital photo frames (split the cost with siblings for a gift for the parents or grandparents).� Many photo centers in malls (like JCPenney) offer high quality, low-cost portrait packages for around $20. These often include multiple sheets of the same picture with larger and smaller photos, excellent for gift giving in an inexpensive frame from a craft store like Michaels.

Arts and crafts: Nothing says love like a piece of artwork from a child or a handmade scarf (which would take me 800 years to produce!).� Drawings from the grandkids in inexpensive frames, handprint concrete stepping stones (these can be found in kits for under $10 at most craft stores), knitted scarves, and crocheted blankets all make for impressive and lasting gifts.

Corny coupons:� It may sound corny to give a coupon you made on the computer to someone but it’s not corny to the new mom who could really use two hours of free babysitting so she can go to the store all by herself.� Or consider a coupon for a homemade dinner for that same new mom who has no time or energy to cook.� Sometimes just helping with the everyday responsibilities is the best gift of all. Coupons are also great for kids. Consider a coupon book with coupons for an afternoon at the park, dessert at the local ice cream shop, a trip to the museum, their choice of movie rental, etc.� None of these outings needs to be expensive and they are great ways to spend time with the kids or grandkids.�

Gift Certificates: Gift certificates are an excellent choice when you aren’t sure what someone would want or you want them to be able to choose something they can really use.� For the college students on your list, those big box stores have just about anything they could ever need. For the kids, certificates to book stores make great gifts. For the person on a fixed income, a grocery store certificate would be very appreciated. You don’t need to spend much. Even a $10 certificate can go a long way.�

Donations to charity: Some folks would rather not receive a gift themselves but would love for the money to be spent on a donation to a favorite charity.� You don’t have to donate $10,000 for the gift to be meaningful. Any donation is deeply appreciated when it is to a charity the person cares about.� For instance, we give to the Gynecologic Oncology Program at Duke Medical Center in North Carolina each year in honor of my mom, who has ovarian cancer and is being treated at Duke.�

Gift Baskets: People love receiving gift baskets.� It is just so much fun to see all the goodies packed into a cute container and then get to take out each item and “ohhhh” and “ahhhhh”. Look for bargains all through the year and make themed gift baskets geared towards the people on your list.� For the person who loves to watch movies (or any teens on your list), put together a Movie Theme Basket with movie rental certificates, microwave popcorn, candy bars and soda.� Other themes include a Baker’s Basket, Chocolate Lover’s Basket, Coffee or Tea Basket, Sewing or Knitting Gift Basket, Gardening Gift Basket, Bath and Beauty Gift Basket (great for college students) and Kids Craft Basket.� See http://rubyglen.com/gifts/giftbaskets.htm for ideas on what to include in many themed gift baskets.� She also has creative ideas on containers to use.�

Holiday cards: The high cost of holiday cards is shocking to me. I love to send cards to all our friends and family and I would go broke sending cards purchased at full price.� For the last 10 years, I have bought my cards in January when the boxed sets are marked down to 75% – 90% off. The selection is still surprisingly good at many stores (including Target, CVS and Walgreens) and the cost is excellent.� For those who still need to purchase cards for this year, consider letting the kids make cards out of high quality construction paper, some stencils, stampers and holiday stickers. Have everyone sign the cards and you will be giving a handmade gift your family will love.�

Most of my shopping is now finished for this year and I am already thinking about next year.� I’ll hit the clearance sales in January and stash away cards, decorations and many gifts to use next December.� One of my favorite websites for finding out about holiday clearance sales is Hot Coupon World at http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/after-christmas-clearance-deals-discussions-2008/. In the next few weeks, they will be posting the best clearance deals after the holiday.
For a list of 63 inexpensive gift ideas under $10, see http://www.betterbudgeting.com/articles/money/63giftsunder10dollars.htm.

Just think of all the happiness you can bring to your friends and family with thoughtful and frugal gifts.� Don’t forget the joy you will feel because you stayed within your budget and avoided those high credit card bills after the holiday.� As I always say, it’s your money, spend it wisely. Happy spending, happy saving and happy holidays!
�

Is it your turn to host the holiday dinner this year? Lucky You! The holiday season can be stressful enough without the extra added pressure of making one of the “big” holiday meals for 15 of your closest relatives or friends. We wish we could give you an “Easy” button for your holiday meals, but the best we can do is offer you a few terrific tips that will help you get through it smoothly!

Write down the menu: The best way to get started with the task of planning a big meal is to develop the menu. This can be lots of fun. Start this task with the guest head count divided into adults and kids and before setting the dinner menu, check with your guests about any food allergies. Buy a few magazines or look through cookbooks for ideas. Unless you have a lot of cooking experience, we don’t recommend picking all new dishes. It’s best to pick a few new items and few stand-bys that you know how to make.

Don’t overdo it: Holiday meals should be feasts, but you don’t need to make an entire cookbook worth of side dishes. Side dishes are often the most time consuming part of making the meal. Select a menu that includes 4-5 side dishes that compliment your main entrée.

Accept help: When you call your relatives and friends to extend the invitation, be ready when they offer “What can we bring?” Most people grew up with holiday meals where everyone pitched in. Try to match up people with things they do best. Have a suggestion ready, but don’t be too specific. Ask your friend to bring a vegetable dish, not broccoli with hazelnuts in a sherry cream sauce. Or you can ask if they have a special dish and let them tell you what it will be. Adjust your menu accordingly. If your relative does not cook, ask him to bring a no cook item – wine, juice, dinner rolls, etc.

Select make-ahead foods: The less you need to do the day of the event, the more you will enjoy it. Most foods can be made 2-4 days ahead and warmed up prior to serving. Many foods often taste better when they have a chance to set. Review your menu and identify the dishes you will make ahead of time and set aside the time to make them a few days before the event.

Buy prepared foods and ingredients: It’s a holiday meal not a test to see if you can perform the culinary act of making dinner for 20 completely from scratch. Don’t be afraid to buy prepared ingredients that will make meal prep easier – canned soup stock, chopped nuts and dates, stuffing mix, etc… If you don’t know how to make gravy, buy it. If you are not a baker, ask someone to bring desserts or buy them at the bakery.

Get the table ready: Set the table the night the before. Get your serving dishes ready too. Write down your menu items on small pieces of paper and place each piece of paper in the serving dish you plan to use for that food. If you are serving buffet style, set out the serving dishes as you want them for the meal. This organization allows guests who volunteer to help get dinner on the table to be most helpful.

Thanksgiving is over and now it is time to focus on the upcoming holidays.� Follow along on these missions as Betsy shows you how a little bit of organization can really help with the holiday stress.�

Week #1:� START WHERE YOU STAND

Are you feeling overwhelmed already? You are not alone!� The best way to combat stress is to gain a bit of the control back. First, get yourself a December Calendar (if you don’t already have one) and start planning your Holiday festivities. If you are looking for a free online calendar perfect to organize your entire family throughout the year, I highly recommend Google Calendar:� google.calendar.com.� Does your church have a banquet? Is there going to be a party at the school, daycare, or office? Put these on your calendar now so you don’t double book yourself!� Also, do a little research in your area for fun things for the family. �

Possibly consider planning a Christmas cookie exchange party. They are so much fun, and a terrific way to get a variety of cookies without a whole lot of work! Plan the date now, and let people know that you’ll be having it!� Another fun party is a tree trimming party.� Invite a few friends and/or relatives to watch or help you decorate your tree.� Take a task that may be daunting and make a party out of it!

Your second mission for the week is to get your gift list in order.� Make sure to include everyone on this list.� Often times it is the little purchases that can really add up in the end.� Make sure to make a budget and stick to it!� Once this list is done, tuck it away in your wallet and make sure to refer to it while shopping, and take special care to keep it updated so you don’t overbuy.

How to start organize a cookie exchange:

Would you like to do a cookie exchange but don’t know how?� Here’s how mine works.� Every year it is hosted at my Mom’s house, usually 1 week before Christmas. We make at least two big pots of soup, my Mom makes homemade bread, and of course we have cookies. Ours is with kids, but I have heard of adult-only parties which would be fun, too.� I usually invite around 12 people and it is very important that I am sure of the RSVP number so everyone knows how many dozens they must make. Each person brings a dozen cookies for each person, and each dozen is separately packaged on a plate w/plastic wrap or in a tin.� It really does not matter how it is wrapped; just so that there is 1 dozen of each cookie for everyone to take home. We bring an extra dozen un-wrapped and we pile them on a big platter and enjoy them during the party!� Usually when people RSVP I ask what type of cookie they are going to make so we have a variety of cookies!

When I come home from the party I open up all the packages and make little platters or tins for the neighbors. Juliet delivers the cookies and they are always gladly welcomed! It is so nice to have a variety of cookies when people visit and we have cookies for Christmas Eve and Day. It’s nice to have a Martha Stewart looking spread when I actually only made 1 type.

CLEVER GIFT-GIVING

Although I was not born especially talented in the crafty department, I do like to add a special clever touch to the gifts that I give.� A great way to turn several inexpensive items into a creation all your own is to make a gift basket.� You can personalize the basket to the recipient with all sorts of special touches.� Have a special mom friend who is overwhelmed by life?� How about a Mommy SOS Kit: tea bags, chocolate, relaxing CD, bath beads, journal or chick lit fiction, wine, etc.

Some other ideas: � �

• Chocolate Lover’s Gift Baskets
• Crafters Basket
• Gardener’s basket
• Pasta Lover’s Basket
• Pizza Lover’s Basket�
• Tea Lover’s Basket� �
• New Baby’s Basket�
• Book Lover’s Basket
• Baker’s Basket
• Barbecue Lover’s Gift Basket
• Candle Lover’s Basket
• Coffee Lover’s Basket �
• Couch Potato Basket
• Dinner and Movie Basket
• New Parents’ Basket
• Fiesta Basket�
• Health Food Basket
• Office/Work themed Baskets
• Spa Gift Baskets
• Naturalist’s Basket
• Vegetarian Basket

Finally, here are my thoughts on re-gifting.� I spend a lot of time working in people’s attics and basements, closets and drawers, and I can honestly say that I have seen PLENTY of gifts that were unwanted, unneeded, and have remained unused. Many of these gifts are still in the original packages. I understand the perplexing conundrum as to what to do with these gifts that you don’t want, and so I am giving you permission to let them go!� It is not serving any purpose being tucked away indefinitely; it is quite simply a waste.� Want a creative way to re-gift?� A group of my friends and I are doing a re-gift exchange; the gift brought to the exchange must have been a previous gift.

Have any other suggestions?� Post them below!

Have Fun!
Betsy
�

The Friday after Thanksgiving kicks off the official start to the holiday shopping season. Black Friday, as it’s called, is the day when a number of brick and mortar retailers open their doors early and draw crowds of people to their stores by offering the best deals and discounts of the year. However, a lesser known shopping holiday is Cyber Monday, the biggest online shopping day of the year. Cyber Monday falls on the first Monday after Thanksgiving and retailers once again offer great deals, this time at their online stores.

Despite the recent economic crisis, both Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are expected to grow 1.2% and 2.4%, respectively, according to a new study conducted by BDO Seidman, LLP. While this growth is not as large as the last few years, consumers will be looking for the best deals both in-the-store and online to try to cut their holiday expenditures while still fulfilling their holiday wish lists.

While every shopper’s needs differ, the National Retail Federation predicts personal and practical gifts will top holiday shopping lists, including clothing, accessories, books, CDs, DVDs and video games. Other popular categories include toys, electronics, jewelry and gift cards.

Consumers looking for great deals and an easy way to avoid the crowds and long lines will surely take advantage of Cyber Monday offerings. Savvy online shoppers will take their savings a step further by using coupon sites. CouponChief.com offers online discount codes that can help save additional money on top of Cyber Monday discounts. To make Black Friday and Cyber Monday deal searching easier, CouponChief.com has created special sections of its site to showcase relevant coupons for each day:

Black Friday: http://www.couponchief.com/tags/black_friday
Cyber Monday: http://www.couponchief.com/tags/cyber_monday

Be sure to check out CouponChief.com before making any online purchases this holiday season to keep on budget while buying all the things to make this holiday special. Users can search the site to find deals on a variety of items including apparel, toys, furniture, home décor, and much more.

Dear Readers,

Question: What do you get when you mix zillions of folks flying with lots of crazy weather conditions?

Answer: A flightmare!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, except if you’re flying. The holiday season is an especially challenging time to fly due to iffy weather and overcrowded airports and flights.

Even if weather and crowds don’t pose problems, you still have to deal with packing and luggage. One solution to the luggage crisis is, of course, not to check your luggage but carry it on. Many airlines have a per bag fee that strongly encourages careful packing.

Carry On!
But, packing a single carry-on bag is easier said than done. I’m not a light packer. Not too long ago, an organizing colleague and I were heading for a conference, and she challenged me to a packing throw-down. She dared me to pack only one bag, a carry-on bag no less. Long story short, I did pack one bag but it was far from a carry-on. Plus, I left a lot of necessary goodies behind and missed them dearly while I was away from home. It wasn’t pretty!

Since that one challenge, I have improved my ability to pack a single bag, but I could never master the carry-on. Until recently. Now, I have discovered the wonders of ZUCA luggage. I’m totally smitten with the whole line – the Pro, the Sport and especially the backpack. ZUCA is tough stuff. And, tres chic. ZUCA bags have lots of pockets for gadgets, thus appealing to my organizing bias. Their stuff is very well-organized. Let me repeat that – very well-organized. Although ZUCA isn’t cheap, it isn’t over the top either (under $100.00 for the backpack, under $300 for the carry-on in the Pro line).

The Pro and Sport suitcases are on wheels and glide (and I do mean glide) effortlessly (and I do mean effortlessly) on all sorts of surfaces. Even staircases are a snap with these wheels. Best of all, all the ZUCA products fit in the overhead bin on airplanes. The wheels retract so they don’t poke out and catch other people’s hats, coats, scarves in the overhead compartment. Besides effortlessly rolling up and down airplane aisles, the fabric, frame, handles, hardware, wheels and zippers are durable and workable – critical elements to consider when buying a piece of luggage. ZUCA cases are designed to sit on, too, and come with stackable pouches that you can pull in and out like drawers. If not ZUCA, do your homework and check websites for information related to any luggage product you may be considering before your next trip.

Packing Cubes for Containing Clothing Clutter
The very first time I saw these individual packing bags I thought they were a waste of money. Then, I was given one as a gift and discovered just how valuable they are when it comes to keeping the contents of a suitcase neatly organized. Not only do I pack one for socks and undergarments, but now I use one for electronic-cord clutter and another two for long-sleeve and short-sleeve tops. It makes finding things much, much easier. ZUCA calls theirs “packing pouches”, and they’re included in the PRO model, which retails for $285.00, or you can buy a set separately. They’re color-coded and especially perfect for business travelers.

Lost Luggage
My luggage is lost. My very own sons stole my ZUCA luggage! (I said this stuff was cool, right?) Both boys are into paintball, and it just so happens that they can load all their gear into the ZUCA bags and wheel them on the fields. These bags have a built-in seat on top that they use when putting on their protective gear. (Although my boys aren’t there, the seat holds up to 300 pounds.) At the airport, this can be the best seat in the house if your flight is oversold and you’re waiting in long lines. ZUCA also carries a Sport line, which I really need to tell my boys about, so they can return my lost luggage!

One thing the boys are forbidden from using is my ZUCA backpack. I have never owned a better backpack. My Macbook Pro computer fits in it perfectly, and I still have lots of extra room for all sorts of necessities, such as file folders. I have retired my old laptop case! My ZUCA backpack goes with me everywhere. The straps are thick and padded. The zippers have big, fat pulls on them. The pockets are generous and well placed. It is without a doubt one of the very best things I own.

Flying high in the sky isn’t always a well-organized adventure but it sure doesn’t have to be a flightmare!

SPECIAL OFFER: Use Clever Parents coupon code, DSRGT09, through December 19th, to save 15% on ZUCA products. Must use coupon code when ordering online @ www.zuca.com

VIDEO: tinyurl.com/5odp4m

When I think of Thanksgiving I think of family togetherness and lots, and lots of food. Most of us enjoy our family and food, but don’t enjoy the way we feel after eating. Many of us experience uncomfortable bloating, and a stuffed, “heavy” feeling. Here are a few tips to beat the holiday bloat so you look back at your Thanksgiving with fond memories.

*Serve Yourself: Usually when others serve us they want to be gracious and have a tendency to give large portions. By serving yourself you’ll know exactly what you have on your plate.

*Don’t Go Hungry: If you come to dinner really hungry you’ll be likely to eat too much too fast. Have a healthy snack before you leave to avoid over eating.

*If You Don’t Want It, Don’t Eat It: I know you want to be polite, but it you don’t want something, don’t eat it. Use the calories on something you REALLY want!

*Pace Yourself: After you have your first portion, get up and walk to another room. This way you’ll make sure that you’re still hungry before you grab another plateful.

*Remember the Bloat: Oh, I know it tastes SOOOOOO Good, but do you want to feel the bloated feeling all night long? Didn’t think so. Before you grab another bite, remember the bloat.

*Savor Each Bite: Often when we eat with others our minds are everywhere except on what we’re eating. Take your time and enjoy all the great flavors. When you savor your food you’ll enjoy it more and eat less!

Having trouble losing weight? Lacking connecting with your partner? Feeling out of balance or overwhelmed? I’m here to help. Contact me at info@fitbysara.com or call 800-568-3820 for a free 20 min. consultation.