One of the best things about Christmas is its magical quality that has not only the little kids mesmerized but also overgrown adults like me .

It makes me happy to see the kids happy, and the magic of Christmas somehow does that without fail each time. They’re so innocent in their belief that Santa is really the one who leaves them that special gift they’ve been wishing for.

Imagine if that special gift were a personalized package from Santa himself? Wouldn’t they be all wide-eyed in disbelief and excitement?

I’m sure you’ve heard of PackageFromSanta.com where you can order genuine, personalized Letters from Santa in a special package that comes with a nice Certificate, Reindeer Food in Collector’s Tin, Letter from Rudolph, Santa Photo, and lots of cute, little bonuses.

Those parents who gave this gift last year loved those squeals of delight from their kids (read what they have to say in their own words here) and will be ordering more packages from Santa this year.

You can now save 10% off all orders. Just be sure to use the coupon code - SNOW10 - during checkout. Offer ends December 25, 2008.

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I’m so happy we finally got around to taking the kids to The Ship. I’m always telling my kids about my life before they were born. I want them to know me as a real person, not just their mom.

And so for a year now, they’ve been hearing stories about The Ship and how DH and I used to go there “long ago”. There were several favorite places we used to have dinner at when we were dating, but The Ship is, of course, my favoritest steak restaurant from as far back as when I was a kid myself.

Well, everything about the restaurant is exactly as I remember it from the cruise ship decor to the arrangement of the furniture to the dim lighting. Loved the food then, love it now (go here to see what we ate) and I just knew the kids would love it too.

After lunch that day, we decided The Ship will be the new Friday’s where we’ll be celebrating birthdays, good grades and whatever excuse we can dream up to celebrate . Can’t wait to go there again!

Those who know me well know I love ugly unusual bags, the more unusual the better. At least this Melie Bianco Woven Duffle Bag is not ugly. I love its bold fiesty color, woven texture and the dual carrying handles.

This one’s Melie Bianco too but it’s a Melie Bianco Braided Large Hobo. Extremely cute in a way that makes you want to cuddle it, right? Okay, I’m wierd but see…

If I had to choose between the two, I honestly don’t know which one I’ll take because they’re both interestingly gorgeous in their own way and have their own unique personality.

Looking for interesting bags to dazzle your friends and family this Christmas? Baghaus’ designer inspired handbags are even more affordable now that they’re having a Special Holiday Double Deal where you can get an extra 20% off plus free shipping on orders over $50!

Be sure you use the coupon code - DOUBLEDEAL - when you place your order. This offer expires December 31, 2008 and there are so many great choices it’ll be hard to decide, I warn you .

Like most kids, my kids girls really take festive celebrations seriously. When they were younger, they would hound me endlessly to start shopping early for their new clothes and stuff.

And everything must be brand new, mind you, from their Beanie hat…

… to their pajamas. Even their underwear had to be new . I could hear them talking in hushed tones planning what they’re going to wear on the first day, second day… girls!

I always indulge them by buying them cute co-ordinates that they enjoy putting together. So what if they’re mismatched, they still look cute .

I found these cute kiddy gifts at LittleMissMatched where nothing matches, but anything goes! and you can get them at 25% OFF plus FREE Shipping. Use coupon code - 25FORALL - with your purchase. Offer expires tomorrow, December 17, 2008.

Lots more gift ideas under $25, under $15 and gift certificates where these came from so be sure to get there quick as you can!

Guess what, I have a brand new baby niece born just days ago. I got a text message from my cousin, the excited new daddy, a couple of days ago… and it got me into shopping mode right away. I love shopping for baby stuff especially when they’re this cute…

Okay, I’m torn between this heart-themed set and the adorable baby tutu here . It is, after Christmas month so that makes my little niece a Santa baby, ho ho ho.

I’ve been flipping through the pages of oh-so-cute baby gifts at Pink Taffy Designs and my eyes are getting bigger. Help, I can’t decide! What would a fashion-conscious baby want her aunt to give her ?

Pink Taffy Designs is a kiddy boutique with a wide range of Pink Taffy as well as designer baby wear and accessories. In fact, they also have some cute stuff for moms too. Go check them out for great holiday gift ideas.

We’re done with our back-to-school shopping, or at least that’s what I’d like to think. We usually do it after Christmas. Let’s face it, back-to-school shopping is a drag and there’s always more exciting shopping I’d like to get to first. Bad mommy .

But that’s not the only reason I delay doing it though. The first couple of years our kids were in school, we were so dumb kiasu (afraid of losing out) we bought everything right at the beginning of the school holidays in November. By January, the kids had outgrown their brand new shoes and we had to suffer another round of back-to-school shopping! That was crazy. No more of that!

At any rate, we don’t have much to buy this year. We’ve got more than enough white shirts and PE t-shirts and sweat pants including some of Steev’s old ones. The girls swear they look like bats when they wear Steev’s shirts which are way too large for them, the poor things. I’ll have to give those away .

Skye will be taking over her sister’s hand-me-down pinafores. I had her try them on and they fit, yay! So I only bought pinafores for Raine, new shoes for Skye and new socks for both of them. We had a look at the backpacks and they were either too childish or too friggin’ gimmicky and cut-throat.

My kids have been in school long enough that we’ve become much smarter now. The stuff they recommend to be good for kids, many times, those things are nothing but gimmicks. Anyways that’s that. Are you done with your back-to-school shopping yet?

How would you like a one-year subscription to Cookie Magazine? Well, you get your subscription free and shipped with your purchase of $75 and above from Tiny Prints.

Frankly it’s not hard to spend $75 at Tiny Prints at all because they’ve got the cutest and most irresistible collections of fun holiday and family stationery.

Once you get to their online store, you’ll be like a kid in a candy store. Honest. I’m not kidding. They have card designs for any taste, any occasion and they’re eco-friendly, surely you can’t beat that!

Cookie Magazine is jam-packed with parenting and home management tips for the modern mother with features on fashion, home decor, travel, entertainment and health for the entire family.

Quantities are limited so you want to get there fast. All the details are on this page, so go now!

Lisa of Mommying on the Fly tagged me on this random list of 100 activities/things that she’s accomplished. I’ve bolded the ones I’ve done. Being a hillbilly in the city, I’ve been under a coconut shell too long .

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walk to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon (a half marathon)
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated Blood, Platelets or Plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (but not the same animal)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

If you’d like to give this list a shot on your blog, consider yourself tagged .

Let’s put it this way, you can never have enough handbags! Especially when it’s so trendy to be ‘Madagascar’ this season.

Giraffe Print Drawstring Boardwalk Purse - $ 55.00
Retail Price: 67.00
You Save: $12.00

Oh yummy, I love the red accents on this, don’t you? It’s so hip I’m sure your girl friends won’t stop raving. And check this out. This is so classy it would go great with any outfit, even a semi-formal one.

Giraffe Print Braided Shopper - $ 55.00
Retail Price: 73.00
You Save: $18.00

If you want one of these, you’d better move it, move it!! From now through December 15, 2008, you can save an additional $5 off the already discounted price.

Go here and check out all the other cool designs. Just remember to use the coupon code - GP5OFF - during checkout.

Don’t dally now or your favorite design may be sold out. Stocks are limited and they go quick because giraffes are in, so you gotta mov’it, mov’it !

If you love shopping for holiday cards (like me), well, the deal just got sweeter, much sweeter!

I’ve got a great offer here where you can get these beautiful holiday card kits at 40% off !

Well, this is just one of many designs you can choose from. It’s nice to know they’re eco-friendly too.

But you have to hurry!! This offer expires tonight, at 11:59pm December 9, 2008. Remember to use the coupon code - SAVE40 - at checkout to save big!

Go take a look at the other designs quick (you’ll love them ) and grab them before they’re all gone!