Christmas Is Coming

One of the sure signs that Christmas is getting nearer is the appearance of the Christmas Book Box.

We have been collecting Christmas books since the kids were little and each year add at least one new one to the collection.

The box comes out after Thanksgiving and goes back into hiding on New Year's Day. In between, bedtime stories are given over almost completely to the exploits of Santa and the reindeer.

We have the classics, this AMAZING Pop-up version of The Night Before Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Little Drummer Boy, Frosty the Snowman...

But even more fun are the lesser known stories:The Christmas Crocodile ,
The Chicken Who Saved Christmas, How Santa Got His Job, and Olive, the Other Reindeer.

Now that the kids are getting a little older, they like more involved stories, especially if they have "extra" features. One that they have enjoyed for the past few years is Dear Santa Claus, which has actual letters from Santa in little envelopes. They fight (of course) over who gets to read which letter and who gets to hold the tiny advent calendar and "Reindeer Guidebook" while we read.

Today, after we got the box out and placed it in its place of honor by the fireplace, we went out and found the book for this year. Santa Claus is a very impressive book with lots of fold-out sections that give lots of hard-core factual information about the North Pole and the "magic portal" that leads to Santa's headquarters. We only got through about four pages tonight, but we are all set to work on it for the next few nights!

The kids spent part of the afternoon sprawled out on the floor revisiting their old favorites. They love the tradition of getting the books out each year.

This made me think of the kids that First Book is helping, who don't have collections of books to bring out each year and pore over. I can't even imagine a life without more books than we know what to do with, but I know that there are lots of kids who aren't as blessed as we are.

It is easy for you to help kids get access to books. During this holiday season, as always, 2% of any on-line orders from Stuff for Sprouts are donated to First Book. In addition, you can add extra donations to your shopping cart. While everything is on sale (40-50% off!) you could consider donating some of those savings to helping make books available to needy kids.

You could also click through on any one of those links up above. Any purchases from Amazon through a link will result in a percent of the price of the book going to First Book.

If you don't want to do any of those things, and are donating gifts for children through some other organization, consider making books part of those donations. Kids who learn to love reading can learn anything.

And that is the best gift there is!

Tagged

I think I am flattered to be "tagged" by Caroline at Shop Because.

That does mean that I am not entirely speaking to an imaginary audience here - which is cool. So, thanks!

I am supposed to reveal 7 things about myself here...and then pass the tag along to 7 others.

The pressure is immense to not make myself sound like the most boring (or most insane) person ever...so here goes with 7 things that most people probably don't know about me.

1) I hate top sheets and don't allow them on any beds in my home. If you are a guest, I let you have them - but people who live here need to suck it up and deal with a comforter.

2) I also don't believe it making the beds. Who is going to see them? You are just getting right back in. Big waste of time and effort in my opinion.

3) Touching slimy things skeeves me out - so it is a major labor of love that I cook chicken for my family. Because touching raw chicken? Yucky.

4) I love love love love love Christmas music. I have about 30 Christmas CDs and load them all on my iPod and subject my family to Christmas songs from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day. I would start earlier, but Mike might leave...and I like him more than I like Christmas music.

5) I used to skip class in college if my hair didn't turn out right that morning. (Shhh...don't tell my parents)

6) I can't stop buying lip gloss. I've tried to convince myself I have enough. Can't.

7) I check People.com about 20 times a day - just in case something happened. But I haven't read a newspaper in about 10 years.

OK - so who am I tagging?

Lisa - at DarlingLisa
Jamie - at J. Leigh Events
Colleen - at Classy Mommy
Janie - at Wee Green Toddler
Jenny - at Suburban Jungle
Margie - at Chesapeake Ribbons
Jamie - at Precious Peas

Tag-ees - you need to post a list of 7 things about yourself along with a link back here to this post. Then tag 7 more people and put in links to their blogs. Have fun ladies!

Can't wait to see what they have to say for themselves!

Paranoid? Or really creepy?

I am all about customer service. I like being treated well. I try to treat customers the way I would want to be treated.

I like that the people at the Dunkin' Donuts know that I want a large iced coffee with skim and Splenda.

I like it when I get discounts at Old Navy and Target for using my credit card.

But faux-friendly marketing creeps me out. Like when the checkers at the grocery store read my receipt and call me by name (Generally pronouncing it incorrectly. BTW, I am NOT Mrs. Basic - I am actually quite complex).

This ad was in the middle of my Real Simple Magazine. It calls me by name (first name, very familiar) and points out a store near my house that carries this coffee machine (which does look cool - and yet - not the point!)

I guess the idea was that it got my attention. But it is, "Who are you and why do you know where I would shop?" kind of attention. Paranoid attention. Not good attention.

Now I would be a little frightened to go to Macy's. Like they are waiting for me and would immediately point me in the direction of the upscale coffee machines. "Ah, I see you got our note...right this way..."

Ick. Creepy.

I know enough about technology to see that this was easy for them to pull off. My name in the subscription file - a quick zip code look-up. Fairly un-scary technology. And yet - just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

I don't even shop at Macy's. Like - ever.

Now, if Target wants to send me a personalized note in a magazine, that would be cool. We are tight.

Blogger Love

Thanks DCMom!

Anniversary

Tomorrow is the one year anniversary of my last day of "real" employment. A whole year. Wow.

Looking back on the year, I wish I had done some things differently. Been a little more organized. Been a little more aggressive. Been a little more goal-oriented. Or maybe a lot of those things.

But overall, no major regrets. I am proud of what I accomplished. Excited for what lies ahead, whatever that may be.

And my hands feel great!

You win!!

The winner of the second blog carnival is Kristan of Pierce Best Babies.

Thanks to all who entered!

Hello Early Show!

This gift basked went to the Early Show...no, I haven't heard from them...but a girl can dream. See Sprouticus down there on the right?

Election Day Results

Unfortunately, Sprouticus didn't make it in his bid for the White House. Although I think he is probably relieved to not be the first President who is just a head with legs. He is better of focusing on his area of expertise - being cute.

Today marks the end of our Campaign to Conquer Crunchiness - although the campaign goes on in spirit with the big Winter Sale Days continuing...

Congratulations to our winners - Teresa Holder and Patricia Nieh. Each will receive a $50 Visa Gift Card and $50 in Stuff for Sprouts products.

And we now have 899 (!) people signed up for our newsletter...so that's exciting!

Welcome to ANOTHER Carnival!

This is very deja vu...

I am participating this week in the Holiday Gift Fest Blog Carnival. You can click through there to see the other folks participating and enter their contests.

Our prize is the Stuff for Sprouts Nostalgic Memories Gift Set (pictured over there). A retail value of $43!

Let this set take you back to summer days at the seashore, playing out in the yard on a spring day, and picnics with your favorite lunch. Share these memories with your crunchy kid or keep them all to yourself!

Includes our cuddly Sprouticus Plush toy - a perfect gift for your favorite little Sprout!

This set includes:
Lotion for Crunchy Kids - Beach - 4 oz
Cream for Extra Crunchy Kids - Front Lawn - 2 oz
Lip Stuff for Crispy Kissers - PB&J - .35 oz
Sprouticus Plush Toy

All of our great natural skin care products for kids, together in a set to allow you to sample each of the fantastic formulas! The benefits of great natural ingredients for dry arms and legs, feet and hands, lips and cheeks! We've got you covered!

To enter the contest - comment on this post or come follow me on Twitter. The winner will be contacted on Saturday morning, November 8th!

Good luck!

And the winner of the Blog Carnival is...

Jinxykb who joined us a a follower on Twitter!

Thanks to all who entered the contest - stay tuned for another one starting tomorrow!!