Not Your Average Under $10 Gift Ideas for 2011

With Black Friday approaching it's time to start thinking about holiday shopping. I have a huge holiday gift list - 37 people, not including the 4 under my own roof. I know, I know...the easiest way to save money at this time of year is to cut people off the list. I could; but I won't.

I also know the "cheapest" gift is home baked goods. I love to bake, but I typically avoid this gift. In the first place, it's labor intensive. Can you imagine baking 37 dozen cookies?!? That's 444 cookies, my friends.

In the second place, I think people aren't really considering the cost of the ingredients they use. A nice tin or box costs about $3 which I agree is inexpensive. However chocolate isn't cheap, neither is butter. A batch of cookies, depending on the type, probably costs $2-5 to bake plus the cost of the packaging.  It is a personal and heartfelt gift. I like the idea, but I need back up plans for this busy time of year.

Purchased food is always an option, assuming you know the recipient's personal tastes. For instance, I detest chutneys and jellies. If I received these as a gift they would go straight to the local food bank. I know other people who love these items.  Women assume that everyone loves chocolate, but my husband could take it or leave it. He'd rather get nuts or something salty. However most people have family or guests who will gladly eat up the things they pass along.

You can also buy plants, ornaments, small kitchen items....I like to receive cut flowers, but some folks are allergic. Plants are theoretically a longer lasting gift. Unless the recipient, like me, forgets to water them regularly.

A teacher once told me that she has an entire box of Christmas ornaments that her students had given her. While she treasured them she didn't use them on her tree - she's Jewish! 

Our babysitter said that her mom (a teacher at my daughter's elementary school) typically receives multiple dish towels and potholders which they turn around and donate to the local soup kitchen. Nice of them. but probably not what the givers intended.

When I searched for inexpensive gift ideas I came up with the predictable soaps, candles, candy, mugs, note papers and socks... If I could knit I might make socks or mittens. But I can't. Aloe infused socks are a possibilty for the dance teachers since their feet take a beating.

I like the idea of gifts that are both practical and whimsical or unique if possible. Here are some off the beaten track ideas that I've come up with. These are suggestions for adults. There are lots of toys and books for children that cost less than $10; you don't need my suggestions. And as far as I can tell all that teenagers want is cash and no matter how much you give them it won't be enough.

These could be stocking stuffers or inexpensive gifts. If you are considering ordering online ALWAYS search the site name and "free shipping code" before ordering. Shipping costs will push these items over the $10 limit. Order from Amazon and you can normally get free super saver shipping with a $25 purchase. If you register and shop through GoodShop a they will make a donation to the charity of your choice. Consider one of these:

•  Instead of another picture frame consider ordering a Cable photo holder from Amazon. Available in several colors. It's about 5 feet long and comes with 8 magnets.
•  How about a stapler that doesn't need staples? Try the Pencil Grip The Classics Staple Free Stapler, (less risky for the little ones). It will only attach 2-5 sheets of paper, but that should work fine for homework, tests, etc. Pier One also carries a panda staple-free stapler for $5.
• Try a variation on the traditional pen and pencil set - You can get a  Smencil and Smen (smelly pen) Set for $5. I've found these at Michael's, Target and other local stores.
• Colored mechanical pencils from Crate & Barrel are available online only for $8.95
• or Smencils - pencils that smell good and are made from recycled materials. You can get a pack of 5 for $7
• These Drumstick pencils   are a little pricey at $8 for a pair, but fun and still functional
• To go with the pencils how about a battery operated pencil sharpener? You can pick one up at most grocery stores for about $4.
• A box of tea bags is okay - a tea infuser stick is cool if the person uses loose tea. There are several brands to chose from. I liked the Crate & Barrel model because it pulls apart rather than hinges so it is easier to use and clean.
•  If you know the person's hobbies you can go for a themed gift. Pier One sells a trio of golf club shaped pens for $5. You can get sports team playing cards for $7 if the person is a fan. (I had to chose NFL Atlanta Falcons Playing Cards since I'm from Atlanta, but there are lots of others.) 
• I think a tiny USB car charger is potentially useful for most people...
• I am also intrigued by the Credit Card Size Survival Pocket Tool. Among other things it claims to include: 1) Can Opener 2) Knife Edge 3) Screwdriver 4) Ruler 5) Cap Opener...
• Do something nice by ordering an item that supports a cause. Ten Thousand Villages is a fair trade retailer with dozens of unique items for under $10.
• These silly file folders from Crate & Barrel won't fit in a stocking, but should bring a smile.

•  Visit One Hope Wines - While these wines exceed my dollar limit, they are worth mentioning for someone special. Half of the profits from each bottle are donated to charity. The site is very clear and specific about the amount of the donation - and you can even select your own charity to receive a portion.

Happy Holiday Shopping!

My Evil Twin

Every daytime drama or sitcom uses the plot device at least once - the evil twin. I know I have one. Or at least a decidedly evil side.

The other day I ran into a woman who doesn't like me. She used to be super-friendly because we did some business with her. By the end of our transaction I hated the fact that she showed up for every meeting in skin tight pants and teeny, tiny tank tops. I hated that she air kissed me when she saw me. I hated that she included a business card with her sympathy card when my mother passed away.

In essence, I hated her but I had to be nice to her because we shared common friends. She was a frenemy. You know as in, from the Urban Dictionary, "someone who you pretend to like but really you both know you hate each other.."

She has since moved away and I no longer see her. However, I ran into her at the mall the other day. She quickly grabbed her cell from her pocket and faked a phone call. I waved and ran up to her, pantomiming that I'd wait. I air kissed her while she carried on her one-sided conversation. I smiled and pretended to drink while mouthing "want to go get some coffee?" Finally she ended her fake conversation in desperation and hugged me. I said, "Oops! Didn't notice the time - gotta go" and walked away.

I laughed til tears ran down my face as I drove away. It was one tiny little bit of payback for all of the times she snuggled up to my husband in her itsy bitsy wardrobe, her boobs popping out while he signed papers. Now if only some one would leave a bag of flaming dog poop on her doorstep I'd feel I'd had my karmic revenge.

Where will my evil twin appear next....

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
With thanks to http://www.neatorama.com/2011/09/07/evil-twins-from-60s-television/ for the images

The Santa Claus Syndrome

What is it about a mall Santa Claus that turns parents into idiots?  We've all seen it - the crying children with the parents desperately pleading for a smile.  One of the funniest Christmas cards I've ever received was from my friend Kerrianne. It featured her adorable twin girls sitting on Santa's lap - each lunging in opposite directions with looks of terror on their faces. Fall on the floor funny. However, the kids will probably be in therapy some day.

Just Google "santa with scared children" and you'll come up with hundreds of images.  Here are some of the funniest I've found. http://www.bite.ca/bitedaily/2010/12/top-10-photos-of-traumatized-kids-on-santas-lap/

Have you ever seen the famous Santa Claus scene in the 1983 movie, A Christmas Story? If you haven't seen it, spend three minutes to watch this YouTube clip. It sums up the basic insanity of lining children up to sit on a strange man's lap. Any other time of year we'd drag our kids away as quickly as possible.

Santa arrived at our local mall on Sunday. I accidentally witnessed it. I was on the second level with Danielle & one of her little friends so we could look down as Santa rode a tiny train through the mall. I thought it was charming. The two kids were terrified. The literally covered their ears and hid behind me. So much for photos with Santa this year - guess I just saved 20 bucks.

Other, less emotionally volatile kids, were lined up to be among the first to see Santa. I was horrified by how some of them were dressed. I wished I'd been able to sneak out my camera phone so you could see some of the hideous things these poor children were forced into. Kevin said I should have boldly walked up and said,"Your daughter's outfit is so distinct, unique (substitute your own superlative...) Do you mind if I take a picture to show my Mom?"

I'm torn between which was worse - the 3 or 4 year old boy forced to wear a green velvet little Lord Fauntleroy suit (cringe) or the 7 or  8 year old girl who was apparently wearing her mother's vintage 1970s Christmas outfit complete with white leather jazz oxfords. This poor unfortunate child was dressed in nifty black and white checked overalls with a large Santa applique and a red turtleneck.  I'm hoping that there was a family tradition or at least a funny story to explain this sartorial disaster. At five Danielle has enough fashion sense to fight her way out of such an atrocious outfit. Honestly, people, these were bad looks way back when. Trust me, they have not improved with time.

My thought for the day," Going to see Santa is scary enough,

don't add to the horror by dressing your children like demented elves."

Soy Free Simple - Its Not Only Edamame

When I first tell people that Amanda is allergic to soy their typical reaction is to laugh and say,"okay, I won't feed her any edamame."  Then I get them to read the labels of anything they happen to have hanging around their kitchen. Surprise! Soy is in almost everything.

I suppose as a protein it makes sense that it is in most hot dogs, processed meals like Beef-A-Roni, frozen meatballs and chicken nuggets. But why is it in bread, hot dog rolls, brownies, frosting, spaghetti sauce, instant oatmeal, crackers....

The FDA has identified eight foods major food allergens:

• Milk
• Eggs
• Fish (e.g., bass, flounder, cod)
• Crustacean shellfish (e.g. crab, lobster, shrimp)
• Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans)
• Peanuts
• Wheat
• Soybeans

These eight foods, and any ingredient that contains protein derived from one or more of them, are designated as “major food allergens”.

  

When you have a family member with a soy allergy you also learn the hidden code words for soy in foods. These other terms include "natural flavoring", "vegetable broth", "hydrolyzed protein", "vegetable gum" and "vegetable starch." Some people with a soy allergy are sensitive to soy lecithin and soybean oil. Luckily, Amanda can tolerate both of these in moderation.

Anyone with a food allergy quickly learns to cook. So many processed foods contain one or more common allergens. What happens when you don't like to cook? or don't have the time to bake from scratch? Most allergy blogs seem to be written by gleefully self-sacrificing women who have dedicated themselves to preparing all of their meals from scratch.

Sorry, folks, I'm not one of them. Maybe I'm lazy. Maybe I just want a life outside of the kitchen, but I refuse to make every morsel that passes through Amanda's lips from scratch. Among other things, its nice for her to have foods that other kids have.

I've searched for soy-free processed and take out foods. It took A LOT of work.  Not surprisingly, manufacturers of items that are almost exclusively "junk food" (Hostess, Little Debbie, Kraft, etc.) don't list allergen information on their websites. They simply suggest that you read each product ingredient list every time that you shop. And, of course, almost all Japanese & Chinese foods are elminated due to the prevalence of soy sauce.

Here is my list of "Amanda Approved" soy free junk foods. Most of it isn't "organic" or "all natural" - since many of those manufacturers routinely include soy. Besides, organic and all natural products tend to be priced significantly higher than their counterparts. While the list isn't inclusive, it's a good starting place for other "lazy" moms and dads.
 
My disclaimer: Please be aware, that manufacturers and restaurants change their recipes and you should always check the label or the company's website before eating a food which may contain an allergen.

Quick Fix Foods & Snacks in the Grocery Store:

• Chicken Nuggets: Allergy Free Foods brand frozen chicken nuggets; Perdue Original refrigerated chicken nuggets (may contain soybean oil)
• Frozen Pizza: Trader's Joe's Three Cheese Pizza
• Hot Dogs: John Morrell, Coleman Natural Beef  and interestingly, a very inexpensive entrant Bar S (which I can find at WalMart for $1/pack).   If only I could find a soy free hot dog roll...
• Fries: Alexia Yukon Gold and Sweet Potato fries are both excellent and soy free
• Mozarella Sticks: Alexia Italian Herb and Olive Oil
• Cake Mixes: yes, almost all of these contain soy flour. Dr. Oetker Organics mixes are soy free and good. best of all most grocery stores carry them at only about 40 cents more than other cake mixes.
• Frosting: Again, try the Dr. Oetker mix or make your own. Skip canned frostings.
• Spaghetti sauce: Prego Traditional Sauce is one of the few without soy
• Canned Meals: there is no Beef-A-Roni substitute (not a bad thing, really) but Annie's makes a few soy free canned pasta meals if your kid just has to have "spaghettios." Amanda really likes the Cheesy Ravioli.
• Peanut Butter: some companies use soybean oil to stabilize peanut butter. The "natural" formulations are more likely to be soy free. Skippy Natural and Jif Natural are both soy free!
• Sandwich bread is still a huge concern. Apparently manufacturers add soy flour to breads to keep them soft. Artisan breads from grocery bakeries may be soy free (check!). I've also tried Rudi's country morning white. It's not as soft and squishy as WonderBread but its okay.  
• Mac and Cheese: What is childhood without mac and cheese? Annie's Natural Mac & Cheeses are delicious and all soy free - even the super quick microwave version.
•  Chips : Lay’s Potato Classic chips
• Chocolate bars: Boom Choco Boom from Enjoy Life
• Cookies: any Enjoy Life softbaked cookies , Back To Nature Vanilla Wafers , Walkers Shortbread, Jennie's macaroons
• Candy: Most sugar-based candies are soy free. We like Sunkist Fruit Snacks, Fruit Rollups, Peeps and Charms Fluffy Stuff cotton candy 
• Most frozen "popsicles" like Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade and Icee Frozen cherry/raspberry

Takeout

Pizza

• Happily we have a Johnny's Pizza near us. Their pizzas are soy free and so are most of their entrees.
• Pizza Hut, Little Ceasars & Dominos all include soy according to their websites. Go for some other form of take out if these are your only options.

 Burgers & Fries

• McDonalds - any of the chicken & burgers -  except the 100% Angus that ironically contains soy protein. However all but the "bakery style" buns contain soy. The American cheese also contains soy, but the Swiss seems to be fine. I couldn't be certain that any of the breakfast items are soy free as most seem to contain "natural flavor."  http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/getnutrition/ingredientslist.pdf
• Burger King - chicken tenders, chicken fries and french fries are soy free as are the oatmeal, sausage biscuit  and  the hash browns.  http://www.bk.com/cms/en/us/cmhash%20s_out/digital_assets/files/pages/NutritionInformation.pdf
• Wendys - order the Jr. Hamburger or the hamburger kids meal ONLY - even the roll is fine. Just avoid American cheese. Do NOT order most burgers at Wendy's - they contain soy. However most of the chicken options are soy free. http://www.wendys.com/food/pdf/us/nutrition.pdf

Mexican

• Taco Bell - only the rice and the nachos are soy free - most of  the salsa even contains soy. Skip Taco Bell and move on to another place would be my advice.
• Chipotle works for us as they carefully note which items contain soy but then go on to specify," The only soy-derived ingredient is highly refined soybean oil, excluded as a major food allergen." However if you are sensitive to soybean oil avoid this as well.

Chicken

• KFC - Original Extra Crispy chicken is soy free. So are the potato wedges, potato salad and macaroni salad. The hardest part about KFC is that there are a number of variations on each product so in some cases or areas an item may be soy free while in others it may contain soy. These are the only "safe" options that seem to be consistent.
• Chik Fil-A - The chicken strips, nuggets and waffle fries are all soy free - nice for kids! They use peanut oil so soybean oil isn't even a concern. The cheesecake is soy free and one of Amanda's favorites.

Other Take Out Treats

• Dunkin Donuts: Oatmeal Raisin cookie, biscuit, most of the flatbread sandwichs and wraps are fine. Tragically, the actual donuts all contain several forms of soy. You can search their site by allergen.
• TCBY: all items are soy free as far as I can tell.

Hopefully this list has given you a starting place for easy, lazy food options if you or a family member has a soy allergy. I'm not advocating eating only processed foods, but as I said its nice to have a fall back plan for busy nights or when you're traveling. Remember, Grandma's delicious homecooked meals might easily contain soy without her even knowing it!

Other sources of information regarding soy sensitivity or allergy:
http://www.fooddomain.msu.edu/pdfs/Ethnic%20Food%20Allergens%20Flyer.pdf

http://www.choa.org/menus/documents/Wellness/teachingsheets/soyfreediet.pdf
http://ynsppcsoyfreeedition.blogspot.com/p/soy-free-foods.html
http://www.fda.gov/food/resourcesforyou/consumers/ucm079311.htm
http://www.organicconsumers.org/Organic/soyaisbad.cfm

I'm a Shutterbug -- or maybe a Shutterfly

I am obsessed with photography these days. I took 151 pictures of the girls this month between trips to the pumpkin patch, Special Olympics and Halloween. To compare, I took a total of 96 photos during a 3 week trip to Kenya back in the dark pre-digital age. I can only imagine how many I would take if I'm ever lucky enough to return to Africa. I love the era of digital photography!

I not only love the ability to take so many pictures I love all of the things you can now do with your photos.  I don't make prints and stick them in albums. I create beautiful, archival quality photo books with creative layouts and captions.

I've also used the photo books to create gifts for special friends. My favorite was a children's story called "The Tale of Two Snuggle Turtles" that I wrote for a friend and her daughter.

And lets not forget holiday cards! So much better than the dry old Christmas letter filled with brags and boring facts- as they say,"a picture is worth a thousand words". Let your friends and family SEE what you've accomplished over the past twelve months.

My latest project has been to create a shower invitation for a dear friend about to have her third little boy.

Elegant Script Blue Baby Shower Invitation

Create chic bridal shower invites at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Shutterfly is easy to use and lots of fun. Right now they have great promotional offers for free shipping and even free cards. Check them out and get creative!

This is typical! I always have a camera in my hands