Great Christmas Gift Idea!

Every year we wonder what we should get family, and with the kids growing, the budget gets tighter each year. A great idea that we came up with is to give everyone a calendar of the kids. It's a gift that they can enjoy all year, and then the next year, they want another one! We try to get a few great pictures at all different seasons during the year to get us ready for the calendar that we are going to make, and the rest are all candids.

We use snapfish.ca. We've also tried vistaprint.ca and kodak.ca. Here are the reasons that we love snapfish:

• It's extremely simple to use. Even the most un-savvy tech person can use this website and create a wonderful calendar
• You can put up to 15 pictures on each calendar page. WOW!! Vistaprint, you can only put one picture per page, and Kodak had 3 or 4 max.
• The paper quality is top notch. Kodak also has great photo quality.
• You can customize days of the year during the calendar. For our birthdays we add a picture of ourselves on that day. We also like to customize Christmas and our anniversary.
• Their shipping costs is minimal. We ordered 12 calendars this year and our shipping (for 1-2 day delivery) was $16.49. Each calendar comes in it's own box for easy shipping if you have to send it to a relative.

The only thing that I would love to see from Snapfish is more background colours/designs to choose from.

Also, if you're like me, you don't have time to go pick up pictures, but like to have pictures printed, this is a great place to get your pictures printed at the same time. They ship for $5.00, and they are only $0.15 each. Our total order this year with 12 calendars INCLUDING shipping was around the $250 mark. This paid for all of our relatives presents and then we only have to buy for the kids.

It's a thoughtful gift, and is also very customized. This is a great gift if it is your baby's first Christmas, or second Christmas.

Snapfish has a website for different countries, so make sure you are on snapfish.ca. They also do greeting cards.

Savings!! 
Until Dec 12 use code xmasca106 to get 25% off all calendar orders
Until Dec 12 use code xmasca107 to get FREE shipping off any order of $20 or more!

Happy Shopping!!

Interact with Santa!

There are a few ways you can contact Santa Claus during the holidays to let him know what your child wants for Christmas. The first, and most traditional, is visiting Santa at your local mall for a picture. Here are a few tips that I've come across:

• Try to go in the evening, early in the Santa season. If you go too late in December, the lines will be crazy, and the kids will be cranky!
• The best mall in the Vancouver area that I've found is Metrotown. They have a great Santa look-alike, and the pictures are only $2 each, and the money goes to charity. At most malls, the pictures range from $9.99 to $19.99. At Metrotown, you can pick up your pictures the next day.
• Make sure your kids are comfortable. If you are going to have to wait a long time, don't try to put them in a suit and tie to see Santa. Save that for the professional pictures that so many families get this time of year.

Another way to contact Santa is to send him a letter! There are two ways that families can do this: through Canada Post (which is free), or get a personalized letter from Santa to your child where you can order a Letter From Santa. You can order to today and choose a future mailing date. (available from $5.99)
To mail a letter to canada post, send to this address Santa Claus, North Pole,  HOH OHO Canada. You can also email Santa a letter through this website http://www.writetosanta.ca/send-santa-letter/ and receive an email back! (also free) **Don't forget to include your mailing address to receive a letter back!!**

One more way to interact with Santa that I just foud out about this year is a phone call from Santa. I hope it reminds the kids to be good! Check it out here Order a phone call from Santa here.

Good luck this holiday season getting in touch with Santa. I hear he's very busy!

Christmas Gifts - What to ask Relatives for

I've had many conversations that begin with "Relatives are wondering what to get for my baby/child/toddler, but we have so many toys and not enough room!" And to that conversation, weather it be for birthdays, Christmas, or any other holiday where presents are involved, I have the following two tips: (We will focus on Christmas, as it is fast approaching)

1. Ask for Books! For your child's first AND second Christmas, I recommend asking for books to start building your child's book collection. You can NEVER have enough books! They will be read, and re-read over and over and over again. Books will be broken, riped, chewed, and loved. Children need books. Your child is too young to be disappointed that they have not gotten a new toy, and there will be many upcoming years when they can have toys from relatives. Many older kids love reading and enjoy books too, or will need a good book for a roadtrip, school project, or summer read, so don't forget the older ones when buying your books for Christmas.


2. Ask for Clothes, one size up! If you have enough clothes for your child currently, get clothes for your child for next year. Hopefully, you won't have to buy too many things the year after.

Remember that if it is your child's first, second, third, or even fourth Christmas, usually they are just as excited to open presents, as they are to see what's inside. Most won't say "I really don't want this gift", or "this gift is stupid", but if they do, you'll get a good sound bite for later. Chances are that you will make sure that if your child really wants a certain toy that they get it, but grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, and everyone else wishing to get something for your child could pitch in and get books or clothes.

Happy Holiday Shopping!!