By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor

Spring is definitely in the air! And I am sure that I am not the only one thinking about my garden. Since Easter is so early this year, why not fill up those baskets with some cute gardening gifts. The results might just be more satisfying than chocolate!

 
Sunny Side UP Gardens: These egg carton gardens includes everything you need to start your very own garden. Choose from four different themes, Little Bunny Garden, Little Pizza Garden, Kaleidoscope Flower Garden or Little Good Night Garden. Each egg carton garden includes six packets of heirloom seeds, starter [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
As we all know, Easter celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection and it is considered to be one of the most important Christian holidays. But what we may not all know (I did not) is that Easter falls on the first Sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox (when there is exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness), which was March 21st. Thus, Easter can fall on any Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th. This year, Easter is on Sunday, April 8th. And after 40 days of Lent – the time [...]

Goodbye 2011.
 
Viva 2012. Happy New Year to all!
 

Eeeeek! Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and you just realized that you still have a few people you need to buy for!! No need to panic. Here are some great ideas that keep on giving up to a full year (although monthly, three, six and nine month subscriptions are also available) – showing them that you did not forget them after all. Whether you put a card under the tree of send them an e-card from afar, these gifts will thrill anyone on your list. And, p.s. you may just want to treat yourself! We’re totally ok with that.

 
Not Another Bill [...]

 
Last but most certainly not least is our final Gift Guide for the season: The Stocking Stuffer Gift Guide. For many, stockings are the best part of Christmas. Don’t you love finding those little gems for each member of your family, especially those that do not cost a fortune?
Here are some great finds to fill everyone’s stockings:

 
FOR HER

 
Hopscotch Necklace – Do not let the price fool you. This chunky geometric wooden bead necklace would be a stylish complement to a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Buy from Fleet Collection. $16.00

 
Password Book – If she is anything like me, I [...]

By Amie Valpone, Culinary Marketing Consultant & CEO of the gluten-free blog, The Healthy Apple.

When it comes to making healthy holiday choices, things can get complicated. Restaurants and food stores are stocked with processed foods and the items on sale are often the worst for us. This time of year, our schedules can get a bit hectic and crazy; we’re running around wrapping gifts, shopping for last minute presents, traveling and baking hundreds of Christmas cookies. If your head’s not spinning already it surely will be in a few weeks. It’s important to sit back, take a deep breath and [...]

If you have any plans of shopping online, make them for tomorrow, December 16, 2011 which is – more or less officially – Free Shipping Day around the country.  It’s the fourth annual of such events which, this year, will feature over 2200 merchants (that’s double that of last year) who will offer free shipping for a delivery by Christmas eve. It’s a “universal” one day agreement by some of the top (and some serious favorite) online merchants. This year Free Shipping Day is happening tomorrow, Friday, December 16.
See the whole list of participating merchants here.
The merchants include the classic [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
Every year at this time, we scour the internet looking for websites that bring out the child in all of us and help us (and our kids) get into the spirit of Christmas. Last year we found several Ho Ho Holiday sites and the year before, some Creative Christmas Magic Sites.
This year, we found another free site, PortableNorthPoleTV which creates a personalized video from Santa. What makes this one different? It’s not just for kids, but also works well for non-believers, aka teens and adults. Santa will tell them if they are on the naughty [...]

By Audrey van Petegem, Senior Editor
It is not only the time of year when we decorate the house, buy and wrap presents for everyone on our list, bake goodies, entertain friends and family and attend Christmas parties (I am exhausted already), but it is also the time to send out the obligatory Christmas card!
As the countdown begins, the pressure is on to get those Christmas cards labeled, posted and mailed in order for friends and family to receive them BEFORE Christmas. I took the stress out of this annual ritual by sending my this-is-what-my-family-has-been-up-to-and-see-how-the-kids-have-grown Christmas letter via email.
Now, I know [...]

Every day, our kids are bombarded with commercials for toys they must have! Most of these toys will probably hold their attention for about five minutes and end up at the back of their closet. I try to never fall prey to these crazes (well, I did with the zu zu pets but only because I thought it would be a substitute for the real thing which the girls desperately wanted) and always try to come up with gift ideas that are far more 1. meaningful 2. high quality with lasting play power and 3. interesting which will guarantee lots [...]