We’re really trying to keep the holiday spending to a minimum this year. The budget has really forced me to get creative in regards to gift giving.

I decided to give the kids some coupons in their stockings for ‘on-demand’ fun outings and of course ‘free passes’ to get out of chores. I searched the internet high-and-low for printable coupons and couldn’t find anything. I decided to create my own.

Although we’d most likely do most of these things anyway. I think they’ll enjoy the ‘redemption’ process. It’s always fun to be in charge.

It is my intention to hole-punch and tie them together with ribbon, BUT … guess what? I can’t find either {ERR}. Imagine them cut out a little more neatly and tied with holiday ribbon.

Please feel free to DOWNLOAD the coupons and create some holiday fun of your own.

Supplies needed:

DOWNLOAD Free Printable Holiday Coupons
Color printer
Heavy card stock paper for best results
Scissors
Hole-punch and ribbon (optional – for stringing together into booklets)
Sharpie for labelling.

Directions for use: Simply print out your file onto the paper of your choice. Cut around coupons. Fill out the coupons and you’re done!

If you have any fun and inexpensive gift ideas, please share!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

MK xo
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NOTE: I’ve been having trouble with the comments. If you can’t comment PLEASE let me know at kim (at) mommyknows (dot) com. Thank you!

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Lizzy and I spent the evening making this gingerbread house log cabin.

They have a gingerbread display at school, and of course tomorrow is the deadline. I wouldn’t want to take my time, plan, that would be too easy.

We started with a kit and embellished (and embellished and embellished). I need to remind myself (often) that ‘less is more’. OH WELL!

We built the chimney out of Honey Maid Graham Crackers and white chocolate, the bricks are Nabisco Shreddies and just like last year our roof shingles are Frosted Mini Wheats.

Are you making a gingerbread house this year? If you have … share a photo with us (leave the a link in the comments or email it to me and I’ll share it for you).

MK xo
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If your kids are like mine, their holiday wish-lists and my wish-lists for them are never quite the same.

I wanted to make Georgia a handmade waldorf style baby doll. I showed her many, many photos and tried to talk her into it, but she’s firmly convinced that she wants this doll.

The Little Mommy Walk & Giggle Doll needs tender loving care. Little girls can nurture, play and help the doll take her very first big girl steps. Try to keep up as the Little Mommy Walk & Giggle Doll goes from sitting, to standing, to walking. This doll also loves to play peek-a-boo, drink from her bottle and take her puppy pull toy for a walk.

I remember ‘always’ wanting a Baby Alive and never getting one, so I am putting my love of natural aside and Little Mommy Walk & Giggle will have place under the tree.

For Sam and Lizzy, I’d love to buy them artistic and creative toys lovingly handcrafted in wood that promise to get them using their imaginations and increase brain power. Instead they’ve both listed these on the very tops of their lists:

The new Nintendo DSi is a high-powered hand-held video game system in a sleek, folding design — loaded with powerful features like touch screen control for a unique gaming experience. Snap great photos with the built-in camera, edit and send them to friends, play back your music with Nintendo DSi Sound, or browse the Internet with the Nintendo DSi Browser. From playing games to just playing around, the Nintendo DSi does it all.

Who am I to crush dreams? If the truth be told, I’d like to turn my own DS in for one of these New DSi’s. Anyone who’s ever been on a road trip with kids knows that Nintendo DSi’s save lives. REALLY MommyKnows!

This year, I am making my life easy. I’m going to do the bulk of my Christmas shopping online. I’ll buy the toys above at Toys “R” Us.

Toy Tuesday
On December 8, Bill Me Later is hosting “Toy Tuesday”. Visit www.toytuesday.com to find great deals on the holiday’s most wanted toys and gifts from leading retailers such as Toys “R” Us, Walmart.com, Step 2, Little Tikes, eToys, Drugstore.com, FAO Schwarz, HP, Overstock.com, MacMall, Mercantila and more.

What is Bill Me Later?
Bill Me Later is a quick, easy way to shop without using your credit card. To use Bill Me Later, simply choose Bill Me Later as your payment method at checkout at the merchant’s website, answer a few quick questions, accept the terms and you’re done. Approval only takes a few seconds. Then you’ll receive a bill in the mail (or online if you prefer).

Here is the really great part! Bill Me Later is going to give one of you a $250 Gift Card to Overstock.com a Toy Tuesday participating merchant and a $500 Gift Certificate (merchant to be decided based on the charity and their needs) to a local charity of the winner. That’s $750!

One winner will be chosen from the comments December 4th, 2009 @ 1 p.m. ET. Official Rules

There are five more days of Toy Tuesday GOODNESS and of course five more prizes. Make sure to visit Jodi @ MomsFavoriteStuff for tomorrow’s Toy Tuesday giveaway.

What’s on your kid’s holiday wish-lists? Comment for your chance to win!

MK xo
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Disclosure: I received a $500 gift card for this post promoting Toy Tuesday.

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I’m en route to Alaska … somewhere in the Hecate Strait on the Coral Princess.

When I wake up tomorrow I will be in Ketchikan. I can’t wait to take photos!

(Sam my boy if you are reading this, I’ve found you a bear claw! — Girls, I miss you all)

 

MK xo
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Thanks for all the emails making sure that I am alive and well! With my memory the way it is, I’m pretty sure I would have forgotten I have a blog if you all hadn’t reminded me.

We had a great holiday filled with grandmas, grandpas, great-grandmas, uncles, aunts, great-aunts, great-uncles, cousins, baking (BAKING), presents, the rockies and even some skiing. Santa was kind, so kind that I am going to have to ‘ship one of the children to an orphanage’ or ‘purge and organize’. It’s sad, because we really, really enjoy Georgia and will miss her.

Speaking of Georgia, this is my favorite holiday photo. Even though I came down with a chill, in early December and have had to be forced out of the house ever since, I did do a bit of skiing and went on a wee winter hike over Christmas, hence the opportunity to take an outdoor photo.

Here’s my Sammy, cuter than a speckled pup in a red-wagon wearing my dad’s crazy hat.

Lastly, here’s our Lizzy aka MISERY GUTS. Honestly, too many late nights, sweets and doting grandma’s turned her into a BEAR over the holidays. Hmmm … maybe she’d do better in the orphanage than Georgia. Hmmm … I’ll have to think on that one.

OH YEAH, I bought YOU a gift in Canmore too, but I’ll tell you about it next time. Kay?

MK xo
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Winner is: Jennifer C —> email me @ kim (@) mommyknows (dot) com.

We’re all in a panic. Well everybody but Sam that is.

He’s as cool as a cucumber. Relaxed, laid back even, and getting nothing done in a hurry! ‘Nothing’ being the operative word.

We’re off on a BIG ‘ole holiday tomorrow. The kids have a whole week off for the new (and much appreciated) November break. I’m not excited yet, I have way too much left to do. Is there anybody besides me who hates to leave the house a mess when you head out on holiday? In a perfect world, I’d like to vacuum my way out of the house. Don’t hate me, it won’t happen. It’s bad enough for the holiday to end, but to have to come home to a messy house too, UGH … horrible!

I’m making lists (like the lovely Angella) and ticking stuff off as I go. They’re long, long, long lists. I feel like I am making very little headway.

Silly me! I signed up for NaBloPoMo (Mr. MK not impressed –> blogging when I should be packing). I guess that means you’re all coming along on the holiday too! I’ll give you a hint to the location tomorrow.

OH and the drugs, what a pain in the ass (no pun intended)! Obviously, they have to come as well. In a cooler and I need a mini bio-hazards container, syringes, alcohol swabs and bandages. BLECK that means the side-effects will be there too.

Enough whining already –> I LOVE ME A ROAD TRIP!

All comments and back-links for this post will be entered to win a $10 Starbucks Gift Card (includes shipping and handling) in my ‘Have a Coffee on Me’ Contest. If you comment and blog about the contest you’ll receive two entries (too easy). I have a whole ‘schwack’ of Gift Cards to give away, so make sure and come back often for a chance to ‘have a coffee on me’.

MK xo
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Ahh, just look at my girl …

She’s quietly sorting sea shells. No doubt she’s dreaming of all the wonderful creations she could make. IF her mother allowed glue and paint and crafts (aka HUGE frickin’ mess), more frequently than the semi-annual 1/2 hour craft making sessions she has scheduled now.

Then again, maybe she’s just thinking about all the fun she had collecting them. YEAH, I am pretty sure that’s it (crafts-schmafts).

So what about you all? Do you do a lot of crafty things with (or without) the kids??

MK xo
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4 Moose
4 Bear
3 Deer

All spotted in the ditch by MK. The Nikon was in my suitcase, so I had to take photo’s with my little Fuji point and shoot. I didn’t take one decent photo. They’re all horrible, but here’s a nice BIG blurry moose for you anyway. I swear the Nikon will be in my lap all day tomorrow.

We’re in a dumpy motel in Prince George, B.C. I suppose the best part is the fact that I am in Prince George and it has nothing to do with tree planting. I believe that’s a first.

Anybody want a take a guess at our final destination? There might be a prize …

MK xo
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Don’t forget T-Mobile is giving MommyKnows readers 16 prizes. Enter HERE!

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Tired, sore, wind and sun burnt. That’s just the tip of the ice berg (pun intended).

I am shuffling around barely able to walk! I bought new boots this a.m., they are making me use muscles I didn’t know I had. I am starting to seize up — REALLY!

I wish I could put you all on the top of the mountain, so you could see this in person. It sounds hoaky, but it makes you feel just a little closer to God. It’s breath-taking! My Fuji-pix just doesn’t do it justice.

Lizzy and our ‘nanny’ Mel on the top of Goat’s Eye.

Wish you were here.

MK xo
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Georgia’s away for the weekend. I miss her (but I also enjoy the break).

I snapped this picture as we loaded the mom-mobile up for the drive to Grandma’s (& Poppa’s).

I’ll be happy to have her home tomorrow, although I feel no guilt leaving her with my parents. It’s the one place besides home where I know she comes first and that she is loved. My mom says, “she is a perfect angel”. Hmmmf, doesn’t sound quite like ‘my’ Georgie!

The worst part is … she’ll demand a full pancake, egg and bacon breakfast the first few days she is home. She gets a bit spoiled.

Re-training begins tomorrow!

Do your kids spend much time with their grand parents?

All commenters will be entered to win a pair of Bical Grippers. I will randomly draw a winner on Monday, March 17th, 2008.

MK xo
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