Deals & Steals (Holiday edition) – 12/18/09

Here’s the information I’ve come across this week and want to pass along to you! 

Note: Many of these are not in my own words, but taken straight from the e-mail or press release that I received. I have re-worded or re-written where I thought it was necessary or helpful, but am not responsible for the content of these items or anything that may be posted on their sites.

With only a few days left for holiday shopping, Walmart announces more big savings plans, now on the smaller and in some cases most requested gift items. Starting Saturday and through next week, stores will have incredible savings on last minute gifts, including a Monday through Wednesday offer of $8 Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters. Speaking of $8 toys, Walmart is also rolling back the price on many perfect stocking-stuffer toys and last-minute gifts to $8 and adding a special offer with this year’s new iPod Nano to last through Christmas Eve.

• Sat., Dec. 19: iPod Nano with $50 iTunes Gift Card – Walmart will offer the new 8GB iPod Nano for $145 with a free $50 iTunes gift card with purchase, while supplies last, starting this Saturday through Dec. 24. While many parents remember when yo-yos and candy were the typical stocking stuffer, shoppers now say that stocking gifts today are going more hi-tech.  Forty percent of moms say they will add in gift cards to stockings this year, and almost 45 percent of moms are planning to purchase music related gifts. Research conducted by BIGresearch for Walmart, December 2009.
• Sun., Dec. 20: $8 Toys and More Stocking Stuffers for Kids: This weekend Walmart stores will introduce a new price message – $8 toys, at 20 – 50 percent savings, including:
  • Jenga Hand Held game
  • Barbie Fashionista Dolls
  • Pixos Starter Pack
  • Moon Sand kit
  • Nerf-n-Force Sword
  • Little Pet Shop Deco pets
• Mon. – Wed. Morning Events for Zhu Zhu Hamsters – Today, hundreds of thousands of these sought-after robotic hamsters are making their way to Walmart via airplanes and trucks across the country, as Walmart stores prepare to help find them a new home for Christmas.  Starting at 7 a.m. each morning of Dec. 21, Dec. 22 and Dec. 23. Walmart stores nationwide will un-cage the popular Zhu Zhu Hamsters in special morning sales events.  Anticipating high interest, stores will be organizing lines in the hours before the 7 a.m. event each day as needed, and customers will be assigned numbers as lines build, as supplies last. Customers will be limited to one per person, and distributions will vary, with a minimum of 20 per day at smaller stores to more than 60 per day in most stores.  Sales limits void where prohibited. Store allotments vary from a minimum distribution of 20 per day to more than 60 per day for most stores for each daily event. Quantities are limited.  No rain checks.

More Savings on Last Minute Gifts in Entertainment and Hardware

In addition to $8 toys, Walmart will be carrying a selection of favorite hit movies of the past, now on DVD, for only $4.  In addition, Walmart’s savings of $10 on select video games and $19.96 Blu-ray hit movies of the season continues through Dec. 24.

Additional features to start this Sunday include an assortment of great Tools and Gifts for Dad, including:

• A $5 Roadmaster 12-volt Heated Stainless Steel Vacuum Mug
• $5 Stanley 25’ Lever Lock Measuring Tape with 3 inch Mini Tape
• $5 Winchester 12-Function Multi Tool
• $19 TaylorMade Burner TP golf balls (pack of 12)
• $25 Black & Decker ReadiWrench with rotating socket heads in 16 sizes

Customers can find more information about more upcoming holiday savings at Walmart stores by visiting www.walmart.com/holidaysavings.

Walmart’s ad match program promises to match the price of any local competitor’s printed ad for an identical product, ensuring our customers get unbeatable prices through the holidays.

A Christmas Dinner for Eight, Less than $30: According to a survey conducted by MomCentral.com on behalf of Walmart, 71% of moms surveyed expect to pay $10 to $20 per person for the big holiday meal.⁴ This year, Walmart is offering a Christmas feast for eight for less than $4 per person, including a select hickory smoked, spiral cut half ham, potatoes, and pumpkin pie (calculation is based on manufacturer’s suggested serving sizes). The holiday meal includes:

• One 10-pound select hickory smoked, spiral cut half ham
• Three 8-ounce cans Del Monte green beans
• One 10-pound bag of Russet potatoes
• One 12-count package of Sara Lee dinner rolls
• One 10-inch pumpkin pie

Customers can find more information about recent Walmart price reductions and holiday savings at www.walmart.com/holidaysavings, including special recipes by celebrity chefs.

With less than 10 shopping days left until Christmas, Toys“R”Us offers more incredible savings than ever before throughout the month of December.  The special offers continue throughout December with the company’s in-store “Deal of the Day,” which provides exceptional discounts on specific products, as well as entire product categories. To make holiday shopping even more convenient and savings more accessible, Toys“R”Us stores are opening earlier and closing later to accommodate early birds and night owls alike. For those who choose to shop around the clock, the world’s largest online toy store, Toysrus.com, is always open and currently features free shipping on thousands of items.

“Our goal is to provide our customers with the deals they want most, and the convenience they need, during this final countdown to Christmas,” said Greg Ahearn, Senior Vice President, Marketing and e-commerce, Toys“R”Us, Inc.  “We know that both quality AND value matter to families, and throughout December Toys“R”Us will be the destination for parents and gift-givers who want to find the right gift at the right price to fit their budget.”

Additionally, online shoppers can take advantage of free shipping on thousands of items with purchases of $49 or more at Toysrus.com until Sunday, December 20.

An Unadvertised In-Store “Deal of the Day” Every Day Until Christmas

As an ode to the traditional Christmas countdown, Toys“R”Us is offering a “Deal of the Day,” which presents customers with a new in-store deal every day through December 24 on the most sought after toys this season.  Each day, customers who visit Toysrus.com/DealoftheDay can click on “Get Deal of the Day” or “Get Tomorrow’s Deal of the Day” for a sneak peek of the following day’s deal, and access downloadable, printable coupons to use in store.  Today’s deal offers shoppers a coupon to save 50% on the Barbie Storyteller Clock Radio, Barbie MP3 Player, Barbie Portable CD Bloombox, Hot Wheels CD Player and Hot Wheels Alarm Clock Radio*.  To make accessing these deals even more convenient, customers can sign up for alerts to receive the “Deal of the Day” via e-mail when they visit Toysrus.com/DealoftheDay.

Do you love shopping, secrets & surprises?

If you do, you’ll love 6pm.com’s Days of Joy promotion!

6pm.com, the sister site of Zappos.com, is the best kept secret for one-stop, online source for brand name shoes, apparel and accessories for women, men & kids – all at up to 80% off.

So what’s the big surprise?

Each day between now and January 1, 2010,  6pm.com will be offering surprise of the 36 days, 6pm.com will offer a different “deeper deal” item at a price that will make you giddy!  Simply visit the website each day, click on the gift package, and unwrap the mystery deal!

Don’t panic!  There’s still time to shop for your last minute gift items right from the comforts of your home or office!

Zappos Housewares has hundreds of fantastic gifts in stock – AND ready to ship for FREE!! That’s right; Zappos always offers two way FREE SHIPPING – and a 365 return policy.

Also, as long as orders are place by 1:00 PM PST on December 23, 2009 – Zappos will guarantee delivery by December 25, 2009!

Okay, so now you can exhale and devour some holiday chocolates & sip cocoa – yah, right!!

The images below are just some sample ideas; click the links to see all other offers products within the category:

Ever documented the craziness of Black Friday before?  Best Buy enlisted  the VIP winners of their Black Friday contest to capture their day and compiled it into a video: Check it out and find out more information on the Best Buy Black Friday VIP Contest at  http://www.bestbuyvipcontest.com/. And don’t forget to check out their Deal of the Day at http://www.bestbuy.com/site/null/null/pcmcat196400050009.c?id=pcmcat196400050009!

Here are some discounts for Radio City Music Hall and Madison Square Garden events in New York City this holiday season!

1. Radio City Christmas Spectacular – 40% Off Orchestra/1^st Mezz Seating – Code: SNCHEER Link: http://www.radiocity.com/tickets/promotion.html?p_id=SNCHEER – Runs now thru 12/21
2. Radio City Christmas Spectacular – Buy One, Get One Free on Orchestra/1^st Mezz Seats – Code: SN50  Link: http://www.radiocity.com/tickets/promotion.html?p_id=SN50 – Expires: 12/27
3. Walking with Dinosaurs – Presale – Code: HEWWD10 Link: http://www.thegarden.com/tickets/promotion.html?p_id=HEWWD10 – Runs now thru 1/21
4. Wintuk from Cirque du Soleil – Kids Go Free! With the purchase of one adult ticket, a child can go free. Code: 50MAGIC  Link: http://www.wamuatmsg.com/tickets/promotion.html?p_id=50MAGIC – Expires: 12/24

The offers above are valid on select performances.

To avoid Ticketmaster surcharges, you may purchase directly from the Radio City/The Garden Box Offices.

Here are this weekend’s Bluelight Special teasers from Kmart for this weekend December 19^th and 20th:

• Boys/Girls Licensed Hoodies $8 (reg. $18.99)
• Essential Home 10 pc Sets $29.99 (reg. $49.99)
• Rollercade $49.99 (reg. $79.99)

Don’t forget to follow @KmartDealsnNews and use the #KmartBLS hashtag for a chance to win every day!  For more info & rules: http://tr.im/KmartBLS.  Good luck! Remember the sweepstakes ends on December 23 so keep the tweets coming and use the #KmartBLS hashtag for a chance to win every day!

With the holidays around the corner, Kmart has extended their shopping hours from 6am-12am through December 23^rd and 6am-10pm December 24^th.

Iams Home 4 The Holidays has the mission to help place 1.5 million pets in loving homes by January 4^th, 2010.  Last year, the program’s goal of helping 1 million pets get adopted within three months was outdone when 1,202,701 pets were placed in homes — including Rumi, adopted by two-time Academy Award® winner and this year’s IH4TH ambassador Hilary Swank.

With nearly 8 million homeless animals in the U.S. today, and almost half scheduled to be euthanized this year alone, our help is needed now more than ever.

They’re already off to a great start, with 808,147 pets adopted to date, but every bit helps!

RETAILERS AND CONSUMERS TURN TO YOWZA!! MOBILE COUPONS TO SAVE MONEY FOR THE HOLIDAYS

WHO?

Free mobile coupon application Yowza!! continues to add blue-chip retailers to its roster of merchants across the U.S., with GAP Outlets and Banana Republic Factory Stores signing on with 16 locations in the San Francisco and Austin areas added in time for the weekend.

WHAT?

Two of these retailers’ initial offers include:

• 15% off a purchase of $75 or more at GAP Outlets
• 15% off a purchase of $100 or more at Banana Republic Factory Stores

WHERE ELSE?

GAP Outlets and Banana Republic Factory Stores join Guitar Center, Sports Authority, The Container Store, REI, Pier 1, Toys R’ Us, Babies R’ Us, Robbins Bros., Hobby Lobby, ULTA Beauty, Crate and Barrel, CB2, Gelson’s Supermarkets and many other retailers – a total of 200 in 13,000 locations offering mobile savings to Holiday shoppers.

WHY?

• According to the National Retail Federation, 55% of consumers will be shopping for sales more often than last year, 41.7% will be using more coupons than last year.
• Digital coupon use (Web and mobile) grew 25 % in the first half of 2009 compared with 2008, with 10 million redeemed, according to coupon-processing company Inmar.
• 81% of smartphone users use the phones while shopping, according to a Universal McCann research study.
• Juniper Research is forecasting that by 2014 more than one mobile subscriber in 10 in developed regions will use mobile coupons.

For more information on Yowza!!, visit www.getyowza.com or www.twitter.com/yowza.

Toys“R”Us, Inc. has announced the release of the 2009 Toys“R”Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids, an easy-to-use toy selection guide that matches specific skill sets with a wide range of everyday playthings.  Released annually, this complimentary resource will be available in Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores nationwide and online, in English and Spanish, at Toysrus.com/DifferentlyAbled.  Whoopi Goldberg, mother and grandmother, Oscar^®, Tony, GRAMMY^® and Emmy^® Award-Winner and child advocate, is featured on the cover along with Grace Kurowski, a five-year-old girl from Skillman, NJ.

New this year, the Guide features a special section dedicated to providing critical safety tips to help parents and caregivers avoid playtime injuries.  While the 2009 edition includes updated features and an enhanced website, the fundamental elements that remain family favorites year after year, like the recognizable skill-building icons, still appear in this beloved resource.

“I am honored to appear on the cover of the 2009 Toys“R”Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids and advocate on behalf of children of all abilities who persevere in their efforts to reach new heights,” said Whoopi Goldberg.  “With the help of the Guide, caregivers can find appropriate toys for a child’s individual abilities, providing an equal opportunity for all children to enjoy playtime.”

“All children regardless of ability can imagine new worlds and share the joy of learning through the magic of play,” said Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO, Toys“R”Us, Inc.  “We love kids and, as part of our ongoing mission to help keep them safe, we’ve included safety tips in the 2009 edition of the Toys“R”Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids, ensuring playtime is a positive, memorable experience.”

Helping Kids with Special Needs Enjoy Safe Play

Research shows accidental injuries occur more frequently among children with special needs, and most significantly among children with cognitive, emotional or social limitations.  To help those who care for a differently-abled child prevent accidental injuries during playtime, the 2009 edition of the Toys“R”Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids features safe play tips for children with special needs.  Tips range from basic advice about supervision to suggestions for effective communication.  These safe play tips include:

• Never Leave a Child Unsupervised: It is especially critical that a child with special needs is properly supervised by an adult or trusted caregiver at all times.
• Survey the Play Area: Designate a specific area of the home for regular playtime – one void of hazards, such as electric wires across the floor that a child could trip over, hanging cords that could cause strangulation and pools or windows that may pose a threat.
• Use Visual Warnings: Post notes with phrases, such as, “Don’t Touch!” and “Off Limits!” on toys for older children, as well as power tools, the stove, the kitchen drawers or any other potential source of injury.
• Review and Repeat: After setting playtime rules, create visual reminders to post somewhere in the house or play area to serve as a constant reminder to the child.

National Lekotek Center Partnership and Toy Selection Process

Since 1994, Toys“R”Us, Inc. has partnered with the National Lekotek Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making the world accessible to children of all abilities, to assess the play value of hundreds of toys for children with special needs.  Through therapeutic play sessions with some of the toughest toy critics – kids – the National Lekotek Center assigns at least two skill-building traits to each toy that appears in the Guide. Color-coded symbols signify the specific benefits of each item.  Following are examples of the toys and corresponding skills and symbols featured in the Guide:

Auditory: Rock ‘n Rollin’ Piano from Sakar

Creativity: Fold & Go Barn from Melissa & Doug^®

Fine Motor: My First Duplo Set from LEGO^®

Gross Motor: Fold-2-Go Trike from Radio Flyer^®

Language: Laugh & Learn^™ Say Please Tea Set from Fisher-Price^®

Self Esteem: Yo Gabba Gabba Muno’s Groovin’ Guitar from Spin Master^™

Social Skills: Spongebugs Kids Fun Bowling Set from Gamenamics

Tactile: Color-Fillz^™ from Crayola^®

Thinking: Disney Netpal^™ Netbook from ASUS

Visual: Nerf^™ Cosmic Catch^™ from Hasbro^®

To further assist consumers, the Guide also includes a list of the “Top Ten Tips for Buying Toys” from the National Lekotek Center.

Offering a Virtual Guide Experience for Online Shoppers

Gift-givers who prefer online shopping can still enjoy all of the resources available in the printed copy of the Guide when they visit Toysrus.com/DifferentlyAbled.  The online functionality allows shoppers to search by skill, price and age range to select and purchase toys directly from the digital pages of the Guide.  This year, personal commentary from families of children who served as models for the Guide will be incorporated into the updated online website.

Ellen, mother of Annie [featured on page 12] writes, “Annie wants to do everything her older brother does, and it’s wonderful to see her follow his lead without any concept of limitations.”  Edward’s [featured on page 16] mom, Sharay, expresses her emotional connection with her son by sharing, “Edward was born deaf and now has a cochlear implant. It brings such joy to my heart when he says, ‘I love you, mommy’ and hears me when I say, ‘I love you, too.’”

A Long History of Support for the Special Needs Community

Toys“R”Us, Inc. has a long history of supporting the special needs community through the Toys“R”Us Children’s Fund, a public charity affiliated with the company. Organizations which receive support include: American Society for Deaf Children, Autism Speaks, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Down Syndrome Society, National Lekotek Center, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, Special Olympics, Spina Bifida Association and United Cerebral Palsy.

Whether its that cute tricycle, Lego playset, or even the latest Playstation 23,000 video game   seeing your child’s eyes sparkle, when they work through all the wrapping, unearthing the toy they wanted is a priceless.  That said, Parents.com reviewed hundreds of the best selling toys.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Best baby toys for 2009 – includes photos, descriptions and pricing for toys recommended for developing baby’s hand-eye coordination, such as Spin-tacular Play Center, Sort n’ Learn Pelican and many others
• Best toddler toys for 2009 – toys for kids age one and up. These include such educational toys as Puzzle Stacker, High Sea Symphony
• Classic toys – dozen of the classic toys inducted into the Strong National Museum of Play’s National Hall of Fame. These toys, many of which have been revamped for today’s kids, include basic Crayola crayons, Legos, and even the Radio Flyer wagon

Also Parents.com has an updated Toy and Product Recall Finder.  Making sure no icky dangerous toys creep under your Christmas tree this holiday season.

After the toys, comes the second holiday staple – TRADITIONS

Parents.com has plenty of activities to make the Christmas holidays a special time for the family….

• Christmas traditions – Family activities that can grow into Christmas traditions, such as visiting a tree farm each year, giving to people in need outside of the family, and participating in neighborhood Christmas caroling.
• Christmas printables – Cut outs of paper ornaments for kids to color and decorate, easy-to-make gift tags that kids can personalize, and a perfect template to write a letter to Santa
• Christmas crafts – ideas for handmade gifts and ornaments, featuring everything from handmade ribbon ball ornaments, light bulb snowmen, gingerbread ornaments, to felt stockings and creative wreaths.

To share your families gift and holiday craft ideas and hear what other families are doing, Parents.com invites parents to follow them on Twitter @parentsmagazine.

Bandai America Incorporated’s newest girls fashion design activity, Harumika™, is now considered one of the hard-to-find toys for the holidays due to its immense popularity.  The innovative dress-form fashion doll, already a huge phenomenon in Japan, lets girls ‘style their imagination’™and easily design attire with colorful fabrics and fashion accessories – all with no sewing required.  New for this holiday season, Harumika™has been one of the hottest toys of the season.

“When we first saw Harumika, we knew it would be a hit among fashionistas everywhere,” said Richard Barry, Divisional Merchandise Manager, Toys“R”Us.  “The Runway Showstopper Set provides a unique fashion element and online play pattern, making it one of the must-have items on kids’ wish lists this holiday season.”

Always on the cutting edge of technology and trends, Bandai is catering to the trend that 73% of tween girls (ages 6-11) have used a website/search engine in the last month, according to the Experian Simmons Spring 2009 Kids Study. Harumika’s™ website provides girls the opportunity to take their offline play to a safe online community to show off their creations through virtual fashion boutiques, look books, and runway challenges.  The Harumika™ Runway Showstopper Set is even sold with a USB camera and tripod stand, so photos can immediately be uploaded.

To create “ready to wear” looks, all girls have to do is chose a swatch of the exclusive Harumika™ fabric, style it by wrapping the fabric around the dress form, then secure the look using the stylus design tool with the patent-pending Style Lock System™on the back of the dress form.

“Tween girls are reaching a phase where they are expanding their fashion play options beyond just doll play. They are becoming more trend conscious and fashion forward,” said Reyne Rice, Toy Trend Expert. “Yet parents don’t have the funds to continually buy the latest and trendiest clothes. This is why we’re seeing such success with fashion toys like Harumika™ where girls can still engage their imagination and express their inner “Fashionista” style without breaking their parent’s pocketbooks.”

Harumika’s line includes a variety of fashion-forward fabrics to allow girls to create their own fashion collection.

• Harumika™Style Starter Sets ($9.99 SRP) – includes dress form, stylus tool, fabric swatches, fashion accessories, and fashion stickers; six fashion themes to choose from
• Harumika™Style Accents Sets ($6.99 SRP) – includes three fabric swatches and a charm bracelet; eight fashion themes to choose from
• Harumika™Super Style Accents ($9.99 SRP) – includes six fabric swatches and a charm bracelet with two charms; three fashion themes to choose from
• Harumika™Designer Dress Form Sets ($14.99 SRP) – includes two uniquely decorated dress forms, stylus tool, fabric swatches, fashion accessories, and fashion stickers; three design themes to choose from
• Harumika™Fashion Show & Go Sets ($19.99 SRP) – includes dress form, stylus tool, formal dress length fabric swatches, fashion accessories, fashion stickers, a fashion tote bag and a sparkling beaded handle that can be worn as a bracelet; three design themes to choose from
• Harumika™Party Dress Sets ($19.99 SRP) – with three fashion forward themes these sets include a corset, deco plate for creating ribbon flowers, dress form, stylus tool, formal length fabrics, fashion accessories, fashion stickers and rhinestone sheet
• Harumika™Bridal Collection ($29.99 SRP) – includes 2 dress forms, 2 stylus tools, 12 formal-length fabric swatches, veil fabric, lace trim, stick-on appliqués and mirrored fitting room display, available exclusively at Toys“R”Us
• Harumika™Mannequin ($16.99 SRP) – mannequin includes stylish wig in either blond, brunette or pink shade, four exclusive fabric swatches, accessories, fashion stickers and rhinestone sheet.  The 12” mannequin-style fashion doll has additional tucking features in both arms and legs to create pants, jackets, sweaters and more
• Harumika™Runway Showstopper Set ($39.99 SRP) – includes pink dress form, stylus tool, exclusive fabrics, accessories, fashion stickers, two Harumika charms, USB camera with tripod stand, and fashion show packaging that turns into a runway stage

For more information about the Harumika™product line and interactive online community, please visit www.harumika.com.

The holiday gift-giving season is an appropriate time to involve children in charitable giving and teach them why the old adage, “It is better to give than to receive,” is true.  Here are five great ways for parents to lead by example and teach their children the true spirit of the holidays.

Five ways for parents to teach children the true spirit of the holidays

1. As a family, select a charitable organization you’d like to support.  Use online tools like Charity Navigator to find an organization that you trust.  Give your children a budget and encourage them to decide how your family will donate to that organization this holiday.
2. Cherish the stories of your family. Have your children talk to their grandparents and write down the stories of their past. Create a book to share with the entire family or record it online through Story Corps.
3. Consider do-it-yourself gifts, like no-sew fleece blankets, that you can make with your children. Donate those blankets to a local homeless shelter. Find other homemade gift ideas at About.com’s Family Crafts page.
4. Work with your children to create a coupon book for your neighbors that might need an extra hand this year.  Coupons could include shoveling their sidewalk, watching their children, or providing a meal.
5. Bake cookies or sweets with your children and deliver them to your local nursing home or school-in-need. Get started with this list of holiday recipes.

Devin Hermanson, a charitable giving expert and national director of World Vision’s Gift Catalog, is seeing a return to meaningful giving through the Gift Catalog. Despite the recession, Gift Catalog sales are higher than last year’s figures at this time.

“The holiday season can be a stressful time of year. There are gifts to purchase and wrap, cookies to bake, and family and friends to visit, but when we pause to help our neighbors in need, we all experience Christmas in a more meaningful way,” says Hermanson.

For each item in World Vision’s Gift Catalog, the giver makes the purchase in the name of a friend, family member or business associate. World Vision then sends special cards to those individuals, describing the gifts and their impact. Last year alone, World Vision’s Gift Catalog raised $25 million and provided assistance to more than 500,000 people worldwide. The Gift Catalog launched in 1996, and while a goat ($75) is still World Vision’s number one seller, there are many affordable items for $35 or less.

As reports of sagging retail numbers roll in this holiday, it’s easy to conclude competitive bargain-hunting is the dominant trend among families who have spent the year making only purchases of necessity. But if cost is the only concern for these spending-savvy “frugalistas,” it could mean they compromise safety.

Underwriters Laboratories the world’s oldest and most-trusted product safety testing organization, knows that money savings will come in the form of reusing old decorations, shopping at thrift stores or deep discounters, and celebrating and cooking more at home. But if not done carefully, seemingly cheerful activities could quickly put a damper on holiday spirits – December and January are peak months for home fires, deaths and injuries.

To ensure the holiday traditions are remembered for the right reasons, UL suggests families follow these easy-to-remember tips:

• A fresh tree is key: If the needles are not fresh, it can lead to a greater risk of fire. Remember to ask your tree lot attendant to make a fresh cut to the base of the tree and place it in water as soon as you get home. Place tree in a tree stand that holds at least one gallon of water and check moisture level frequently.
• Light it right: Carefully inspect each electrical decoration – new or old — before plugging it in. Look for cracked sockets or frayed, exposed wires that could become a shock or fire hazard. Replace damaged items with new, UL-LISTED decorations.
• Indoor or outdoor? Look for UL Mark: Indoor-use only light strings are marked with UL’s green holographic label. Indoor or outdoor-use light strings are marked with UL’s red holographic label.
• Shop at retailers you know and trust: Whether you are shopping online or heading to the mall, make sure it is a source you know and trust. Reputable retailers require their products to be UL-LISTED, confirming they have been tested according to UL requirements and are evaluated for potential risk hazards.
• Look for the UL Mark: Look for a reputable certification mark on the product and packaging to decrease the odds of buying counterfeit products.
• Examine packaging: Consumers should thoroughly examine every new product prior to use and pay particular attention to products in packages and boxes that do not display brand and product name and a safety certification label.
• Exercise candle care. If you have children and pets, place candles out of reach and away from heavy traffic areas in your home. Never leave a room with candles lit.
• Stand by your pan. Cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Stay in the kitchen when you are cooking, frying or broiling.
• Practice makes the holiday perfect. Use the holiday season as an opportunity to practice a fire escape plan with your children. Every family member should know at least two ways to get out of each room in the home.
• Gift donations. If you plan to give to those in need, think safety. Consider donating toys your children no longer play with – but are in good condition for second-hand use. Before donating toys with electrical components, make sure they do not have frayed or bare wires/cords as they can potentially cause fire or shock hazards.

For families, money savings can come in the form of reusing old decorations or shopping at thrift stores and deep discounters. It is also a time of year when families are celebrating and cooking more at home. But if not done carefully, seemingly cheerful activities could quickly put a damper on holiday spirits. Old products like light strings can become worn after years of use. If not carefully evaluated, items like these can pose a risk of fire or electric shock.

“Decorating the tree, lighting the menorah and other holiday traditions are what every family wants to remember,” said John Drengenberg, director of Consumer Safety at UL. “Unfortunately, all can be a fire hazard or cause an electric shock or injury, so families should take a few minutes to think about the most precious gift of all when celebrating with loved-ones: safety.”

For more information on holiday decorating and gift-giving safety tips, go to www.ul.com/consumers.

If you decorate a tree, Safe Kids USA and the United States Fire Administration recommend these precautions:

• Never leave a lighted Christmas tree or other decorative lighting display unattended. Inspect lights for exposed or frayed wires, loose connections and broken sockets. Do not overload extension cords or outlets and do not run an electrical cord under a rug.

• Natural Christmas trees always involve some risk of fire. To minimize the risk, get a fresh tree and keep it watered at all times. Do not put the tree within three feet of a fireplace, space heater, radiator or heat vent.

• Decorate with children in mind. Do not put ornaments that have small parts or metal hooks, or look like food or candy, on the lower branches where small children can reach them. Trim protruding branches at or below a child’s eye level, and keep lights out of reach.

• Do not burn Christmas tree branches, treated wood or wrapping paper in a home fireplace.

• Do not put candles on a tree or a natural wreath, or near curtains or drapes, and keep matches and lighters locked out of reach of children.

• Battery-operated flameless candles are an alternative that does not have a fire risk. Decorative lighting should be labeled with the seal of an independent testing lab and should only be used outdoors if it’s labeled for outdoor use.

Safe Kids USA also offers these tips to prevent poisoning:

• Keep alcohol (including baking extracts) out of reach and do not leave alcoholic drinks unattended.

• Color additives used in fireplace fires are a toxic product and should be stored out of reach. Artificial snow can be harmful if inhaled, so use it in a well-vented space.

• Mistletoe berries, Holly Berry and Jerusalem Cherry can be poisonous. If they are used in decorating, make sure children and pets cannot reach it.

• In a poison emergency, call the national Poison Control Hotline at 800-222-1222 to be routed to your local poison control center.

For more information, visit http://www.usa.safekids.org/fire/.

FunnySpoon, the cooking site for real life, is donating $1 to Toys for Tots for every new fan they receive on their Facebook page.  They provide easy recipes and cooking tips via their Facebook page, making it super easy to get the info you’re looking for.

Their goal is to reach 1,000 Facebook fans by the end of the year.   So join in the fun and help make the holiday season a little more special for some deserving children!  You can become a fan at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/FunnySpoon/52193828137?ref=ts#/pages/FunnySpoon/52193828137?ref=ts.

You can read the full contest rules here: http://www.funnyspoon.com/18/about-us/the-funnyspoon-toys-for-tots-facebook-challenge.php.

Surviving the holidays is hard enough without adding bladder weakness into the picture.   The abundance of rich foods and drinks can irritate the bladder, and the hours spent shopping can be nerve wracking if you don’t know where the nearest bathroom is.

To help the 1 in 4 women that suffer from bladder weakness survive the holidays, TENA offers bladder-friendly recipes and an online bathroom finder.

For bladder-friendly recipes including Double Cranberry Nut Muffins, click here.

And for the times when you just gotta go on the go, the TENA Bathroom Finder is sure to come in handy.  Plan a day of holiday shopping without stress by checking where the closest bathrooms will be.

Check www.tena.us for more tips and resources.

A recent study showed that that 61% of the US population admitted to be stressed out because they feel that they don’t have enough money to deal with the holidays, while 42% are worried about gift giving, 34% are stressing over not having enough time to get things done, and an additional 23% are anxious about running up their credit card debt!

We’ve all witnessed what it’s like to go to a party and see the hosts gritting their teeth behind pasted smiles…you can feel what’s happening even if it’s not spoken. Our energy transmits our true feelings – more than we know.

Let’s face it, not many people have extra money to spend on themselves during this time of year, and often turn to unhealthy alternatives like drinking more alcohol or over eating.

Marlise Karlin offers Six Positive Tips to release holiday stress:

1. Express: Become aware of why you are stressed and speak about what’s not working – try pacing in your living room – until you’ve said everything you needed to say (Do this when you are alone – so you can really shout it out in a ‘I’m mad as hell” kind of way.) Keep pacing until you have nothing left to say. At this point, you will feel a shift in the stress.
2. Write: If you haven’t formulated what the upset is – or have a hard time expressing yourself, then get out a pen, or sit in front of your computer – and just begin writing. You will be amazed at what pours out.
3. Reboot with The 3 Breath Awareness® – Take 3 DEEP breaths, each one focused on releasing any tension in your body – and focused on connecting to that tranquil place of Stillness within.  Envision the silent power of a red rock mountain in Arizona, or the calming blue waters of the Adriatic Sea – and with each breath feel that infinite peace expanding.  Take it with you as you continue your day.
4. Get Going:  Change locations – get a different perspective – move away from your desk, your home or your environment and feel the mind relaxing as you get involved in other activities.  Take a walk, a drive, or even go shopping – holding the vision you are going to find the perfect gift at the perfect price. Enjoy the festive surroundings.
5. Smile & Laugh:  Sadly, sometimes we’re in such a rush or so distracted, we need to remind ourselves to smile and enjoy the holiday season.  Heart to heart conversations with friends, or even complete strangers, can change our state of mind so quickly.  Talk to the sales person, the woman waiting in line, the child trying to decide what they want, the young person trying on new clothes. Watch your worries fade away and a warm smile engulf your beautiful face.
6. Gift Yourself: Buy one for yourself – you deserve a treat. You have added enjoyment to people’s lives today simply by smiling and spreading a bit of good cheer, heart to heart.  At this time of year when so many people are depressed, you have gotten out of negativity and discovered tools to shift the stresses we live with daily.  Even if it’s only something simple – reward yourself.

Marlise Karlin teaches people how to reboot their lives through The Simplicity of Stillness®, a simple method she created after having a series of profound experiences shift her perspective on life. The   Practices have benefited thousands of people all over the world.  To find out more about Marlise and the Stillness Sessions audio work, go to http://www.marlisekarlin.com.

That’s it for this week, happy Friday and check back next week for more ‘Deals & Steals’!