Sunday, April 29, 2012

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Friday, April 20, 2012

Earth Day Freebies!!


Earth Day Freebie: April 22 Free Reusable Bag at Target


Earth Day Freebie: Plant a Free Tree




Earth Day Freebie: Plant a Free Tree – Get your Free Tree Code, and use it to have a tree planted on your behalf.

Now We Are Cookin!

Claim your free copies of American Family Cookbooks.
I just signed up to get mine. I love trying new recipes. I am all over the slow cooker book! Busy Mom's best friend!










Gift Giving Etiquette and Gift Basket Savings


Gift Giving Etiquette

by Trent Armstrong from Modern Manners Guy

With all the wonderful things to be thankful for this holiday season, it's a shame that giving gifts can cause us so much stress. The economy isn't helping much, but I've got some quick and dirty tips that should get you in the spirit just in time.

Gift Giving Etiquette

A lot of the momentum for this set of tips is going to based on a simple rule of thumb: Gift giving is not about you. Gift giving is about the person who is receiving the gift. If you keep that in mind you will find that--though your job of finding the gift might not be easier--it will certainly be more exciting. Let me explain what I mean by offering a couple of situations.

Can You Give Gift Cards as Gifts?

Your sister has just emailed you and asked for a list of things to get you and your family. The last part of the email includes her list since she just wanted to go ahead and get that out of the way. Listed very prominently at the top spot are gift cards: gift cards for iTunes, movies, and gas stations. You sit and fume as you think about how impersonal and self-serving it is to request a gift card! How dare she!

Before your blow a gasket and need your own auto-repair shop gift card, think of the ways in which you can make the gift more personal. Think about why your sister has asked for this particular gift. Does she like to go to the movies but doesn't want to ask for cash? Many folks are cutting down on their entertainment budgets lately and would love an excuse to go to a movie. They are far more likely to use a gift card than to spend their hard earned money.

Also, there are a number of businesses that are willing to let you personalize gift cards with your own image. To show how excited you are about giving this gift, you can stick a photo of you and your sister doing the most fun thing you ever did together or, at least, a picture of her with braces and a goofy sweater.

Should You Ask for Gift Receipts for Your Gifts?

I am pretty sure each of us has a family member or friend who, upon receiving a well-thought-out gift, always asks for a gift receipt. He or she might even just go ahead and let you know to include it with the present before you even go shopping. What nerve!

Gift receipts are not evil. In fact, they are very thoughtful.

Well, I think it's time we stopped worrying about our own feelings of frustration and inadequacy when handing over the gift receipt. Gift receipts are not evil. In fact, they are very thoughtful. Imagine your brother or mom standing in the return line trying to exchange their fancy new sweater for a fancy new sweater that fits a little better. He or she might be stuck with a lot of hassle trying to make the return without that receipt.

Gifts are not about you! A gift should be something that makes the receiver happy-- something that conveys your feelings for them and not your feelings for yourself. Gifts are not about you! A gift should be something that makes the receiver happy-- something that conveys your feelings for them and not your feelings for yourself. The gift receipt is a way to say "I tried. But if I didn't get it quite right, here is a handy little do-over slip that will keep us on speaking terms."

How to Give a Thoughtful Gift

There will be times when you are expected to give a gift to someone. This person may be a boss, a coworker, or a daycare worker. These can be the most taxing gifts because most of us don't like to be told to give a gift to somebody. Plus, giving gifts should be an outpouring of the heart, right?

These kinds of gifts can still have that warm feeling associated with them. Ask someone who knows the person better than you what you could get. Pay attention to what sports team the person likes. You might even simply ask people if there are small items they have been eyeing but can't bring themselves to purchase. Then when you shop, bend the cold iron bars back from your heart and think of the reasons you are thankful for that person. 

Your joy will be as much a gift to you as it is to the receiver and you will truly know why it is better to give.

Put together your own homemade gift baskets

Baby Gift Basket Items:

$1.50 off when you buy any ONE AVENT Pacifier Pack$1.50 off when you buy any ONE AVENT Pacifier Pack

$3.00 off when you buy any ONE AVENT Multi-pack BPA-Free Baby Bottles$3.00 off when you buy any ONE AVENT Multi-pack BPA-Free Baby Bottles

$1.50 off when you buy any ONE AVENT BPA-Free Toddler Cup$1.50 off when you buy any ONE AVENT BPA-Free Toddler Cup

Candy Lovers Basket:


Sunday, April 15, 2012

Hand Painted Watermelon Flower Pot

I made these watermelon flower pots with my kids for both Grandmas for Mother's Day from the kids. They were planters that bloomed all summer and they were so darn cute. I shared how you can make one too.



Do you have a cute painted Mother's Day Gift Idea? Share it!! Make a comment and share!


Here's a few other not so homemade gift ideas for Mom!


                                                 

Mother's Day is coming! Are you ready?

Mother's Day is coming! Are you ready?
This is one of my favorite gifts to make with little ones. A keepsake for sure!




Thursday, April 5, 2012

I Have A Dream! Do You??

LIVIN THE DREAM!!


Ok, I'll admit it... I am hooked on the show Fashion Star. I am! I watch each episode and think,"How great is it that people who have basically designed clothing in their basement are now designing clothing and some of the contestants are now SELLING their designs to huge retailers!" They are everyday people who have families, have other full time jobs, have started on a different path in life and have decided to take a detour to make a dream come true. Some have quit their jobs and put all of their hopes on making it as a clothing designer! How many of us are that brave? Why do we not try to fulfill our dreams more often? We may be afraid to fail, but really are we afraid we will succeed?

Attempting something new takes guts and is scary. You "step out of your comfort zone". I am really sick of hearing that phrase by the way! What is a comfort zone? No more challenges? No more growth? We've reached the end where we are no longer growing and we consider this the comfort zone? How boring!

I know most people don't welcome change into their life. But what happens after we get used to the change? It becomes the comfort zone.  I often look for change. I just can't help it, I'm like a gypsy. Once things become "normal" I look to change and shake things up. It keeps my brain thinking forward and wondering,"What if?" I LOVE what if's! What if's are just another word for possibilities. GROWTH, LEARNING, MOVING FORWARD!

Well, guess what? I have a dream! I know I am certainly no Martin Luther King, but I really want to make some change happen and I want to bring others with me. I am looking for people who are creative bloggers who are interested in working together. Promoting each other, encouraging each other and helping each other grow. It's about LIVING THE DREAM BABY!! If you are creative, and I don't care what it is you make, you just make stuff and are willing to share, we want YOU! ALL CRAFTERS WELCOME! Sewers, card makers, scrapbookers, knitters, painters, etc. WE WANT YOU! Are you a Jack of all trades, but a master of none? We want YOU too! Get your ideas PUBLISHED!! Not only will you be published here, I will also publish your instructions, tutorials, videos, etc. on The Best Homemade Gift Ideas Website
Working together with lots of "what if" kind of ideas being thrown around is a great way to brainstorm and help each other get to where we want to go. Share, share, share, that's what it's all about.


Leave me a message here, or e mail me: thebesthomemadegiftideas@gmail.com


If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door!

Have a super great rest of the day everyone. 

Brenda


Infinite Possibilities: The Art of Living Your Dreams




Just living the dream




The Secret




The Magic  (I'm currently reading this right now. Great ideas. It has made me look at my life much differently!)






















Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Easter Basket Fillers on SALE!!

I was looking for Easter Basket fillers and I came across coupons for candy as well as other items to fill those baskets right up!!

Candy First!

Non Candy Basket Items
My kids get so much candy from the Grandma and Grandpa's houses and the Easter baskets they get there, I like to try to fill our baskets with less candy "stuff" but still items they will enjoy. I also have teenage nieces and nephews that love to get Axe or makeup type items. To find coupons to purchase these items is just a BONUS! Watch for store match ups as well and save even more!



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$2.00 off any Sally Hansen Lip Product