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| MomFinds Daily Blog
Thu Jan 03, 2008
Holiday Break Down: Tips for Painless Holiday Clean Up
Category: Holidays For the Home Seasonal
It was fun while it lasted, but it’s time to take down the decorations and pack it up for next year. Here are some tips to ease the pain of getting back to normal.
 • Clean up dried greens and flowers before tackling other decorations. Compost the ones that you can. The longer they sit, the messier. And try to reuse or recycle your tree.
• I’ve seen some neat looking storage containers for ornaments, but I’ve done fine using plain plastic storage crates along with leftover tissue paper and bubble wrap. If you want an ornament box, try this gorgeous box from cooking.com. More economical choices come from the Container Store and Lowes.
• I have had success wrapping strings of lights around a cardboard tube or a piece of rolled up newspaper. Let us know if you have a better idea or have used some of the contraptions on the market.
• If it’s not too late, go through your holiday cards and save the envelopes with the addresses. Do what you will with the cards (scrapbook, chuck or something in between), but the envelopes are key to keeping your addresses current. Update your digital address book, or just save the whole envelopes in a big envelope for when you do your cards next year.
Do you have any holiday break down tips? Please share.
Posted by:
on Jan 03, 08 - 9:00 am | Profile
Fri Dec 21, 2007
Last Minute Holiday Decorating Tips
Category: For the Home Decor Seasonal
Streamline Your Holiday Décor Before the Guests Arrive
Whether you are hosting some relatives for a few days or entertaining a crowd, here are some ideas for easy decorating that can be done in a half a day or so.
1. Think monochromatic: Choose a color and either gold or silver. Then collect ribbon, candles and glass balls in that color. You don’t need exactly the same shade of your color. In fact, variants of the same can look great together. Combinations of the items can create a put-together look on tables or mantles. Bigger items like vases and candles look best in odd numbered groups, think of balance instead of symmetry. If you are using them in a place little kids can’t reach, those glass pebbles used in flower vases look cool sprinkled around a centerpiece or mantle with pieces of ribbon.
2. Decorate with fresh flowers: I use a lot of flowers when decorating for holidays. Instead of buying an arrangement, I like to get a lot of one flower in white, red or green. In years past, I have headed to Costco and Trader Joe’s where flower prices are good and have always found something great. I did white tulips one year, those funky looking South African proteas another. This year I got my act together and ordered bulk flowers from Costco.com. For the price of an arrangement or two from the florist, I can fill a dozen vases. You can find inexpensive vases at the crafts store or online (for next year?). I like arranging identical vases in groups of three or five. This year I am using assorted green ceramic vases I gathered at discount stores to hold fluffy white hydrangeas. For filler, I’ll use evergreens from the yard.
3. No need to display all of your decorations at once. If something doesn’t “go”, don’t feel guilty about not displaying it. If it is an heirloom, just keep in the box for another year. If its is just some Santa knick knack, freecycle it or give it away. I weeded out last year and am thrilled.
Happy Holidays!
Posted by:
on Dec 21, 07 - 12:00 pm | Profile
Tue Dec 18, 2007
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Top Five Aromatic Gifts in Wild Scents
Category: Mom Bath and Body Seasonal Top Five
Who doesn’t love products that smell good? These fragrances, bath products and candles come in wonderfully exotic and intriguing scent combinations. It makes me drool just reading the names. You are sure to find a special scent for everyone (grownups) on your list.
1. Fresh: Find fragrances, soaps and body care products in amazing flavors. The beautiful packaging makes them elegant gift ideas. Here are some of their daydream-worthy scent creations: Fig Apricot, Pomegranate Anise, Sugar Lychee, Gardenia Magnolia, Coriander Lavender, Violet Moss, Orange Chocolate, Sake, Pink Jasmine, and Currant Marine.
2. Winks Body Butter: Winks is a new company which makes very rich body butters. They come in small tubs, perfect for a stocking. And at $10 you can stock up. But the best part is their extensive list of unusual flavors such as: Awapuhi Seaberry, Blackberry Peach, Coconut Lemongrass, Guava Berry, Mandarin Raspberry, Pomegranate Star Fruit, Raspberry Mint, Ruby Mango, Tangerine Pineapple and White Coral Nectarine.
3. Jimmy Belasco Candles: Top notch soy candles in luscious scent combinations, these candles last for hours and hours and smell great even when they aren’t lit. Experiment with these sophisticated aromas: Tuscan Sun, Absinthe, Thai Ginger Citrus, Mango & Cream, Tangerine/Pear, Red Cedar Clove, Green Green Grass, California Jasmine, Orange Cranberry, and (my favorite this time of year) Merry Merry Cranberry.
4. Laura Mercier Gourmande: A lot of lines make bath products that smell like desserts. Some are successful while others smell fake or sickly sweet. One line that translates the aroma of amazing desserts to something you would actually want to wear is Laura Mercier. All of these flavors are mouth watering: Almond Coconut Milk, Crème Brûlée, Tarte Au Citron, French Vanilla, Chocolate Truffle and Marrons Glaces.
5. Mistral Soaps and Bath Products: Their line includes soaps, candles, bath salts hand cream, body lotion and more. Shop by scent or design your own gift basket at the website. Their fabulous fragrance mélanges include: Balinese Vanilla, Grapefruit Red Currant, Kumquat Grapefruit, Linden Lettuce, Lychee Rose, Melon Pear, Milk, Orange Blossom, Vanilla Apricot, Verbena and Wild Blackberry.
Posted by:
on Dec 18, 07 - 9:00 am | Profile
Fri Dec 14, 2007
Top Five Gifts for Teacher
Category: Poll Seasonal Top Five
Teacher gifts are tough. You may not know much about the individual, especially after just a couple of months, so you can’t go too personal. So when giving teacher’s gifts, think utility and disposability. Think of things that they can actually use or use up.
Don’ts include paperweights, pencil holders, picture frames, especially ones with apples or other school motifs. And forget the candles and soaps. Although there are some amazing ones out there, teachers get a lot of them, and choosing one that’s right for your child’s teacher’s tastes is tricky. Do include a note or picture from your child to add a personal touch to a purposefully impersonal gift. Of course if you and your child want to make the whole gift that’s swell, and you probably aren’t reading this right now.
And before you shop, make sure your school allows teacher gifts, as some schools have restrictions and others do not allow gifts at all.
Here are some gift ideas:
1. Note Cards: They’re small, and most people are going to have a bunch of thank you notes to write after the holidays. Find gorgeous ones at the Met’s online shop.
2. A Flowering Plant: Teachers can use them to decorate their homes over the holidays. An amaryllis or paper white bulbs are easy for you and your child to plant. Or you can buy one planted, although it costs more. And if you give a plant, remember that your child can’t carry them in his or her backpack, so it may require a special trip to school (by you).
3. Quality Kitchen Items: Most people cook, at least a little, and everyone can use a good quality potholder or two, or a new spatula. Select a couple of things or just one. Stay away from things with candy canes or other cutesey stuff on them. Black is a good neutral that will compliment most anyone’s kitchen.
4. Inspired Candy: It gets eaten so the recipient doesn’t need to keep it forever. Think of interesting color combos or retro candy. Dylan’s Candy Bar in NYC has some neat gift selections as well as nostalgia candy. Endangered Species Chocolates have neat wrappers with animals on them, and come in great flavors like Dark Chocolate with Cranberries and Almonds.
5. Gift Cards: Most teachers wind up spending their own dough on school stuff, so somewhere like Target is good since it has school supplies. If you give a spa service or restaurant meal, don’t forget to add on extra for the tip. Get discounts on many gift cards at Plastic Jungle.com.
Posted by:
on Dec 14, 07 - 11:00 am | Profile
Thu Dec 06, 2007
Holiday Travel: Keep Skin Fresh on the Road
Category: For the Home Bedroom Mom Beauty Seasonal Travel
 
What: Borba Atomizer, Boots No7 Quick-Thinking 4-in-1 Wipes
Why: Taking a road trip with little ones can be a strain. Not just on your nerves, but on your skin as well. Two simple products to take along the way are the Borba Atomizer and Boots No7 Quick-Thinking 4-in-1 Wipes.
Use the Atomizer to freshen your skin, a stuffy car, a stale hotel room, or musty guestroom. When misted over clothing the atomizer deposits antioxidants that will literally soothe your skin while you sleep. Mist pillows and linens just before bedtime. I’ve used it on my car upholstery after transporting a wet dog and it really made a difference. (Note, because its contents are under pressure, you can’t bring it on the plane).
The Boots wipes come in a handy pack of 30. Not too many load you down, but enough for a trip. The wipes are gentle and fragrance-free wipes. They remove makeup, but don’t dry out your skin. So while staying with relatives, you can skip your whole cleansing, toning and moisturizing routine and just use these. I especially like the size of these wipes, not so big that I’m tempted to stuff half back in the bag, nor too small that I need several.
Price: Atomizer $21, Wipes $6.99
Tip: Traveling with kids? Read our Holiday Travel Guide packed with kid-friendly travel essentials.
Posted by:
on Dec 06, 07 - 9:00 am | Profile
Wed Dec 05, 2007
Top Five Cold Weather Warriors to Take With You Everywhere
Category: Seasonal Solutions Top Five
The cold weather has a tendency to wreak havoc with our skin and our health. At home we moisturize more and dress in warm clothes, but we need to take care of our skin and our health when we’re away from home, too. Here are five must-have products to take on the cold when you’re on the road.
1. You’ll get double duty from Handlclens, a sanitizer and moisturizer. It’s alcohol free so its gentle for everyone’s hands, and since it’s a foam the kids will love it. Handclens has a nice clean scent and it makes your hands feel soft not sticky as it fights off nasty germs, so important when the weather turns. It’s on sale now at woodwardlabs.com.
2. I have about 10 hand creams at any one time in my handbags, in the car, in the kichen because I can’t stand it when my hands feel dry. Thank goodness for Avon where I can stock up on mini hand creams on sale for less than $1. My favorite is the Oatmeal but there are several formulas, so choose the one that’s best for you.
3. Blistex has been around for a long time but they keep adding new products. I love the brand new Lip Infusion Soothing Splash. It has menthol so it feels great going on and SPF 15 which we still need in the winter. The rollerball applicator means you can’t mess up and don’t need a mirror. Your lips feel great and have just a hint of shine. It’s on sale for $2.29 at drugstore.com.
4. Simply Gargle is simply brilliant. It’s a natural salt water rinse with herbs, vitamins and antioxidants packed in a sealed individual treatment to fight and soothe sore throats and coughs that you’re bound to get this time of year. You just break it open, gargle and spit, and if you want to see if your kid will use it, you can request a free sample.
5. You know that scene in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” where the dad explains how Windex cures everything. That’s how I feel about shea butter. I use it on my knees and elbows, on blemishes, to soften my cuticles and even on mini-breakouts and skin abrasions. The African Shea Butter ($38) by Quench Bath and Body is unprocessed and high in vitamin A and comes in a tin so there’s no way it’s going to leak in your bag.
Mon Dec 03, 2007
Christmas Trees: Do You Fake It?
Category: Eco-Friendly Holidays Poll Seasonal
 Real or Artificial Tree?
Ever since my kids were old enough to want a Christmas tree, we have had a real one. I love the smell and the fact that it is from nature. Do I feel guilty for using up a carbon absorbing tree just for a holiday tradition? Yes. But not enough to buy what I consider a giant plastic monstrosity. Artificial trees come with their own set of environmental no-no’s, mostly the fact that they are made of plastic.
Dissenters say real trees spread needles all over the place, activate allergies and can catch fire. To ease those concerns, my family puts the tree outside on our covered deck. Since it is cool outside, the tree lasts longer and needles are less of a hassle.
There are ways of having a “greener” real tree. One is to buy a pesticide-free one. The Sierra Club website recommended using localharvest.com to find a local organic or pesticide-free tree farm. I was skeptical, but found there is a tree farm listed in my area. I’ll do my best despite the holiday madness to get over there and check them out.
After the holiday, be sure to reuse or recycle your tree. I will leave my dead tree in a woodsy corner of my yard for wildlife to use as shelter. If you don’t have a yard with space for abandoned trees, look into recycling it. Most communities have pickups or places you can take trees to be made into wood chips.
Some folks suggest using a live real tree with roots and all, and then planting it later. We did that once, but once we planted the tree, it died anyway.
What about your family?
Posted by:
on Dec 03, 07 - 1:00 pm | Profile
Mon Nov 26, 2007
Tell Us: Do Gift Cards Make Good Gifts?
Category: News Poll Seasonal
 According to Consumer Reports, more than one in four recipients of gift cards last season did not buy anything with them, and the value of the unused cards was estimated at $8 billion. While Consumer Reports recognizes that gift cards are popular—sales are expected to reach $100 billion this season—they warn about strings attached, such as fees, expiration dates and taxes. Even though consumers say they want them, many forget about them, or just don’t get around to redeeming the cards. Learn more about the pitfalls of gift cards at www.comsumerreports.org.
I remember these types of warnings last year, but I still bought and received several gift cards. In fact, I found one for $25 in a toy box the other day. Oops. But for some folks on my list, I’d rather give them a gift card than a gift that will just gather dust or be re-gifted. I imagine my children’s teachers being crushed under piles of coffee mugs and picture frames. Will I give out as many this year? Ask me December 24th.
What about you?
Posted by:
on Nov 26, 07 - 12:00 pm | Profile
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