2010 Holiday Gift Guide & Giveaway Event!
Now that we’ve eaten our turkey and hit the Black Friday sales, there’s no denying that the holiday season is in full swing! As you cross off the names on your shopping list, here are a few unique gift ideas for you to consider sharing with the folks on the receiving end of your holiday cheer (and enter for one of these 18 fab giveaways!!):
For the Hostess:
The Swiss Colony specialty food gifts
In this techno-hectic era, everybody’s craving a calm, classic Christmas. But who has time to make traditional goodies, much less ship them to far-flung family and friends? Fortunately, there’s a deliciously easy answer…From decadent Butter Toffee to dramatic Red Velvet Cake, The Swiss Colony offers tasteful inspiration for anyone with an appetite for tradition. This Wisconsin-based, family-owned bakery and confectioner is truly America’s Holiday Bakery, delivering culinary delights to more families than anyone in the United States.
Happy holiday snacking!
GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below and enter to win a gourmet item of your choice from The Swiss Colony (up to $30 value).
For the Foodie:
There are enough things to worry about, so why should dinner be one of them?
Simply Suppers has a recipe for every occasion, from casual weeknight dinners to elegant gatherings, and all the potluck suppers in between. With simple, easy-to-find ingredients and step-by-step instructions, Jennifer Chandler will have readers in the kitchen cooking up those comfort foods from childhood in no time. Even those complicated recipes are made easy with Chandler’s cooking tips. Braised Short Ribs, Butternut Squash Risotto, and even Creme Brulee will be a breeze. Fabulous recipes include:
- Crock Pot Beef Stew
- Baked Rigatoni with Sausage Meatballs and Spinach
- Potatoes Au Gratin
- Shrimp, Chicken, and Sausage Jambalaya
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Yellow Squash Casserole
With entrees, side dishes, and some simply fantastic desserts, Simply Suppers will be your go-to cookbook for all occasions.
GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment and enter to win a copy of Simply Suppers (a $16.49 value).
For the Gentleman:
Supplying today’s men with the products they need to look and feel great is new male grooming company, Hey Dude Skin Care. The company offers a premium line of products that are designed to give the modern man the essential tools to combat the natural effects of aging and external conditions affecting his skin. Made from high quality organic ingredients like hyaluronic acid and essential nutrients, Hey Dude Skin Care products perform the most vital of functions to help a man protect, repair, and maintain his skin.
GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment and enter to win one full-sized product from the Hey Dude Skin Care line.
For the Techie:
BitDefender Total Security 2011
Fight back with the software used by millions. BitDefender starts working and keeps working—around-the-clock and around the globe, continuously protecting your privacy and defending your digital world. BitDefender Total Security 2011 provides comprehensive, proactive protection, system maintenance and backup, all without slowing down your PC. The newest feature included in BitDefender Total Security 2011 is online cloud backup because it’s often hard to remember to back up your computer until it’s too late!
Features:
- Antivirus
- Anti-spyware
- Anti-phishing
- Chat Encryption
- Home Network Protection
- Anti-spam
- Firewall
- Parental Controls
- Online Backup
- Tune-up
- Performance Optimizer
- File Encryption
- File Shredder
GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment and enter to win one of TWELVE downloads of BitDefender Total Security 2011 for your PC. A $59.95 value!
For the Kiddo:
The brand new KIDZ BOP Christmas Party album includes some of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time, such as White Christmas and Jingle Bell Rock, sung by kids for kids. KIDZ BOP has refreshed both traditional and contemporary favorites ensuring that this is the best KIDZ BOP holiday release yet!
GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment and enter to win a copy of KIDZBOP Christmas Party. A ~$12 value.
New this fall, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced the launch of Sesame Street: Elmo’s A-to-Zoo Adventure and Sesame Street: Cookie’s Counting Carnival, two fun and educational console video games for preschoolers based on “Sesame Street,” the award-winning children’s television series, for Wii™, Nintendo DS™ and PC. The complementary learning games encourage early literacy and math skills and introduce kid-friendly “gameplay helpers” to simplify gameplay controls making them more accessible for children’s small hands and developing skills.
Elmo and Zoe head to the zoo in Sesame Street: Elmo’s A-to-Zoo Adventure, where they explore exciting zoo habitats and play games based on a variety of literacy skills. Players learn such skills as letter identification, letter sounds and word families in the Aquarium, Savanna, Jungle, Wetlands and Arctic habitats.
In Sesame Street: Cookie’s Counting Carnival, kids join Cookie Monster and Big Bird at a fun-filled carnival with gameplay steeped in math skills, including number identification, counting, shapes and pattern recognition.
On Wii, the exclusive gameplay helper is a soft and fuzzy Elmo or Cookie character cover with special grips that slips over the Wii Remote, minimizing unnecessary buttons and making it easier and more fun to hold. For Nintendo DS, there is a jumbo click stylus designed for smaller hands, simplifying interaction with the touch screen.
GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment to win your choice of Sesame Street: Elmo’s A-to-Zoo Adventure or Sesame Street: Cookie’s Counting Carnival, for Wii, DS or PC. A value of up to $39.99.
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Puppet Theater
From puzzles to puppets, plush to play food, magnetic activities, music and more, Melissa & Doug® is one of the leading designers and manufacturers of educational toys and children’s products. Started in 1988 in their garage, Melissa & Doug® has something for everyone, with nearly 1000 unique and exciting products for children of all ages!
I was fortunate to be given this Theater for my kids to review. As soon as they saw the box hit our doorstep, they were beyond excited (they even abandoned their Wii obsession to play with it, which is saying big things). Hubby took on the job of putting it together and it took him about 25-30 minutes. The kids immediately got to work creating shows and using items from around the house as puppets. The clock on the front of the theater is a favorite and they are constantly asking each other what time it is and changing the clock hands around. I love this toy since it encourages them to use their imagination and turn off the tube. It’s good old fashioned fun for the entire family.
Here is Melissa & Doug®‘s description of the Theater: It’s always show time! This wooden puppet theater has been designed with a sturdy, non-tip base and plenty of room inside for a puppeteer or two! The stylized theatrical graphics and plush, velvety curtains will inspire creativity and expression in any child. Including a clock with movable hands and a chalkboard panel for playbill information, it’s a stage just awaiting imagination!
GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment to enter to win your very own Melissa & Doug® Deluxe Puppet Theater (puppets not included). A $89.99 value!
Giveaway Event ends Sunday, December 12th at midnight! Winners will be selected at random. By leaving a comment, you will be entering to win one of any of these prizes (not a particular one).
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!
*Disclosure: I was given complimentary samples of most of these items to review and giveaway.
Tags: gift guide, holidays
11.30.10 at 1:00 am
Kendra Tillman
Twitter: TheSavvyWAHM
comments:
Yay! I’m the first to leave a comment! Or maybe it’s just that you haven’t approved the ones before me. Either way.
Happy Holidays to you ladies! I’m hoping 2011 will be the year I’m able to attend Blogalicious.
God’s richest blessings to you and yours!
Kendra Tillman´s last post: The Ruby Slippers Principle- “You’ve always had it- my dear”
11.30.10 at 8:27 am
K. Rock comments:
Cool!! Thanks for this giveaway!
K. Rock´s last post: Little bit o this – Vol 3
11.30.10 at 8:40 am
Ivette Santiago comments:
Wow, this is an amazing idea!!! love all the gifts ideas……
11.30.10 at 9:23 am
Tara Hammons comments:
Mamalaw, congrats on all of your success! As your former HUSL classmate, I am so proud of you all. Thanks for the giveaways. Please enter me for the puppet theater giveaway. Hope you all are well and have a blessed holiday season.
11.30.10 at 9:30 am
maureen comments:
What a fortunate person who wins any of these. They are all amazing items.
11.30.10 at 9:33 am
Dawn K. comments:
Oh wow, any of these would be awesome to put under the tree for the holidays this year. Thanks for your generosity!
11.30.10 at 9:54 am
Kathy Sykes comments:
I would be happy to win any of these prizes.Love the Melissa and Doug puppet show and if I won the Wii games, that would give me the incentive to buy one (No, I don’t have one yet :-(). Still enjoying your blog so much. Thanks for the opportunity and keep up the good work.
Kathy Sykes´s last post: Christmas Decorating Ideas!
11.30.10 at 10:40 am
Wendy Watkins comments:
Awesome ideas.
11.30.10 at 10:46 am
Lisa Pizza comments:
ooh, would love the cookbook or bakery treats! i can play with all the other stuff at your house :)
11.30.10 at 11:25 am
J.Loud comments:
Cool giveaway – especially the Wii games
11.30.10 at 11:50 am
Elaine comments:
Wow! Love the foodie gift ideas.
11.30.10 at 11:51 am
jodifur
Twitter: jodifur
comments:
Awesome giveaways
11.30.10 at 11:51 am
Joanne Bamberger aka PunditMom comments:
Wow! Look at these goodies! You had me at BitDefender! ;)
11.30.10 at 11:55 am
Delora
Twitter: delora
comments:
Other than the KidzBop (which I may have to kill you for), this is a great list!
11.30.10 at 11:55 am
ilinap comments:
Love the food gifts! I read cookbooks like they’re novels.
11.30.10 at 11:57 am
Kimberly/Mom in the City comments:
Great picks. Melissa and Doug products are a favorite at our home. (The techie and hostess gifts also look great!)
Happy Holidays!
11.30.10 at 12:05 pm
Glennia comments:
Great prizes & gift ideas!
Glennia´s last post: Family Travel Advice- Now on My Life Scoop
11.30.10 at 12:17 pm
c2cmom
Twitter: c2cmom
comments:
Red Velvet cake, Sesame Street, a puppet theater and more?! It’ll be a fantatic holiday for one very lucky winner :-) Thanks!
c2cmom´s last post: GIVEAWAY- Win The Hot Holiday Gift Kinect for Xbox 360!
11.30.10 at 1:34 pm
Regina comments:
Happy Holidays to all! Will someone please make me that fabulous ornament wreath!?!? I saw instructions on the website, but I am way too lazy to put all that time and effort into making it myself. But I love it and would totally pay for it. It is so beautiful – I can see it on my front door now… sigh. Okay, if I can’t have that wreath, give me a free giveaway goodie! I like food, I like toys, I like games, I like stuff for my hubby, I like it all! And I think you Mamalaw gals are the cat’s meow!! Big hugs!!
11.30.10 at 1:37 pm
bonggamom comments:
It’s not Christmas to me until the Swiss Colony catalog arrives in the post. Thanks for the great giveaways!
bonggamom@Yahoo.com
11.30.10 at 1:45 pm
Stimey
Twitter: Stimey
comments:
Seriously, after that first photo, I was gone. I NEED tiny chocolate cakes. Need.
Stimey´s last post: This Would Be Easier With Fewer Children
11.30.10 at 1:47 pm
morninglightmama comments:
Ooh- you’ve got some great giveaways here, count me in!
Happy holidays!
11.30.10 at 2:08 pm
amy @teachmama comments:
WOOT! Love these ideas, especially the puppet theater and the *beaded wreath*…which I’m guessing isn’t in the guide.
But great ideas–many thanks for sharing!
amy @teachmama´s last post: just 1 book- author guest post–tara mcclintick and book giveaway
11.30.10 at 2:33 pm
aimee @ smiling mama comments:
Awesome! Lucas would LOVE that puppet theaater!
11.30.10 at 3:00 pm
Susan @Whymommy comments:
Yummy! I haven’t thought about Swiss Colony in years … They used to make the most amazing little petit fours!
What do you think of the Sesame Street wii games?
11.30.10 at 3:54 pm
Leticia- Tech Savvy Mama
Twitter: TechSavvyMama
comments:
Mmmm…Swiss Colony, a great puppet theater, and a new fun cookbook would all be on my list! Well BitDefender too but you know I’m already well supplied with antivirus software!
Leticia- Tech Savvy Mama´s last post: Holiday Gift Guide- Bloggers & Gadget Geeks w giveaways
11.30.10 at 4:12 pm
Leighann of Multi-Minding Mom comments:
My son would love the Wii games because he’s too young to play any of the other games we own.
Leighann of Multi-Minding Mom´s last post: Autumn Sky
11.30.10 at 4:28 pm
Liesl comments:
i love all of this! : ) thanks for this opportunity
11.30.10 at 8:40 pm
Nicki comments:
What a nice assortment of goodies! Don’t you love hosting giveaways? Hope the Swiss Colony was one of the ones you were able to enjoy…
Nicki´s last post: Answers…
11.30.10 at 10:24 pm
Julie comments:
Wow! Awesome list AND fantastic giveaways. Please pick ME ME ME!!!
I didn’t even know about the Wii Sesame Street games. And Simply Suppers looks great for my Menu Plan Mondays.
Julie´s last post: 5 things&8230 I have to do before Hanukkah starts this week
11.30.10 at 11:13 pm
Marysa comments:
These are all such great gifts! Wonderful giveaway!
marysa at marysa dot com
12.1.10 at 10:51 am
melanie comments:
thanks for the great giveaway. my kids would love any of those kids’ things. i would love the cookbook!
12.1.10 at 11:01 am
Lexi comments:
Yay! Great giveaways! Happy holidays!
12.2.10 at 11:04 am
YUMMommy
Twitter: yummommies
comments:
That Simply Suppers cookbook is certainly for me. With this pregnancy progressing in full effect I am in no mood to make long meals that require lots of prep time and standing and stirring.
YUMMommy´s last post: Black Friday
12.2.10 at 4:32 pm
Desiree comments:
Shut the front door!!!!! So very strategic to put The Swiss Colony goodies up front!
Desiree´s last post: My grandma makes banana bread — what does yours do
12.5.10 at 7:38 am
Courtney comments:
I would love to win any of these, really! I am so behind on my shopping this year! :) Where are the instructions for the wreath at the top? I would love to have one of those too!
12.5.10 at 8:18 pm
Nancy comments:
Mmmmmm . . . nice photo of chocolate petit fours to reel us all in! Thanks for the chance at a giveaway!
Nancy´s last post: Advent and waiting
12.6.10 at 10:49 am
Thien-Kim
Twitter: thienkim
comments:
That puppet theatre looks awesome! Sophia was creating puppets and a back ground for a Hanukah puppet show yesterday!
Thien-Kim´s last post: Sshhhh! Im Cheating on Foursquare With Whrrl
12.7.10 at 12:32 pm
pam comments:
Love all the ideas, thanks!
pam´s last post: Our gotcha story part the deux
12.8.10 at 4:40 pm
Rachel
Twitter: raperez129
comments:
Great ideas! We love the Melissa & Doug stuff at our house!
12.10.10 at 8:45 am
Jonez comments:
Adding my name to the pool…
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11.11.11 at 1:30 pm
Jordan Garden comments:
I like the idea of the chocolates.
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