Holiday Gift Guide - tips and ways to save

I love Christmas but the truth is that sometimes (most of the time) the gift-giving can be stressful.  I put way too much pressure on myself to find the perfect gift.  A gift that is unique and special while still being useful and of course - affordable.  This year, I found two really great tools that help us save money so we can maximize our gift giving budget.  And while those tools don't necessarily help me search for the perfect gift, at least I know I'm getting it for a great price when I do find one.

1.  Poach It 

First of all, you have to check out Poach It.  It is a website that allows you to "poach" or pin items as you shop and they will email you when it goes on sale AND tells you if there are any current online coupons or promo codes.  I've saved a lot of money with little to no effort because they do it for me.  You just put the poach it button in your toolbar and use it like "pin it" button from Pinterest.  And the Poach It website also has a page that shows some of the most popular things people are poaching and it is a great place to go for gift ideas.

2.  Ebates

I just discovered this but have already made $15 in one week off Christmas gifts I have been ordering online.  It also is super simple.  Ebates offers cash back for purchasing items at many popular online stores and sends it to you through paypal or a check.  I installed the Ebates button in my toolbar and it automatically tells me if a website is offering cash back and if so all I have to do it click the activate button before ordering and they take care of the rest.

And to help you in your gift search, I have put together some of my favorite gift ideas this year.  All you have to do is poach them and then purchase them through Ebates and start saving.


1.  Unisex duck boots 

2.  Reversible double griddle

3. Leather toiletry case

4.  External battery charger

5.   Capri Blue Iridescent Jar Candle

6.  24 oz. Mason Jar Tumbler

7.  Tree Trunk Planter

8.  Woolrich Plaid Throw

9.  Rifle Co. Notebooks

10.  Ice Cream Maker

11.  Flora and Fauna Children's Memory Game

12.  Cow Scooter

13.  Wood Animal Puzzle

Emerging from a thick fog with a halloween update

Sorry I have been so MIA.  I blame this adorable little guy.

We were coasting along great until he reached 4 months.  Then boom.  We stopped sleeping, didn't nurse well and became generally needy.  Apparently this is a thing - the four month regression.  It is blamed on some sort of developmental phase.  Either way, he wasn't sleeping, I wasn't sleeping, the two year old wasn't sleeping and therefore the hubby wasn't sleeping.  

But we made it (are making it) and now this cutie is 5 months and doing so much better.  The past few weeks haven't been a total loss either.  We've managed to enjoy most our fall.

Especially Halloween.

The cutest little piggy and bernese mountain dog ever!

Our little piggy had so much fun tricking or treating this year.  We practiced saying "trick or treat" and she seemed to get the hang of it until she reached someone's door, then it came out as "happy birthday" or "thank you".  At least she was happy and appreciative.  She also insisted on taking baby Star trick or treating with her.  I don't think she shared her spoils with her though.

While the little bit of trick or treating we did was fun, what Ella really loved was greeting the trick or treaters.  She watched for them at the door and when she saw them coming she would stand on the porch and shout, "friends!"  Then she would put handfuls of candy in their buckets untilI intervened.  Which I hated to do because it was so fun to watch and we barely had ANY kids come by our house.

Well that was our super fun Halloween.  I am already planning for next year!