Peanut Blossom

Stock Your Stash: 5 last-minute gifts under $15

With Christmas just over a week away, I know you might be starting to feel the panic for those last few tricky people on your list. Today's Stock Your Stash series is focusing on the special people in your life and I'm here to share my list of 5 last-minute gifts under $15.

1. For your kids' teachers: Spice Assortment gift box $8 - 12

Long-time readers know my love for Penzeys Spices. This year I'm stocking up on their mini gift boxes for the preschool teachers at the Peanut's school. They even have a teacher-specific box that includes a sweet apple themed print and a booklet inside with an ode to teaching. Check out their gift boxes page and you'll find baking, grilling, and essentials themed gift boxes as well.

 

2. Anyone with small children: Precious quotes journal $12

For the new parents in your life, consider this five year journal. Each page records 5 years of the same day in list format. Perfect for comparing the growth and milestones of the family. I wrote an entire post about it here. I'm just finishing up our first year and this has easily become the single thing I'd save in a housefire.

 

 

3. For the college student or possibly an adult struggling with unemployment/workplace discontent: The Art of Nonconformity $10

Times are tough out there and I would not be surprised if every single person reading this post has at least one person on their list who is worrying about their job future or is wishing they could make a major change. I read this book last summer and it is no small part of why I've had the courage to go after some of my bigger dreams and goals. Super inspiring book with very practical tips on making the most of your life. Even more perfect for anyone who loves to travel and is a superfan of education and lifelong learning.

4. New iPad owner: Magazine subscription. Everyday Food $12

It really seems like the iPad is THE hot gift this holiday season. I know several families getting one this year. If one of those people are on your list, consider gifting a digital version of a magazine! The interface is gorgeous on the iPad. There are many magazines available for varying interests but I love that Martha Stewart's magazines also include the snail mail printed version. Buy a hardcopy at a store for wrapping up in the gift box.

5. For the lady in your life: Red stripe slippers $15

I saw these adorable striped slippers at Bath & Body Works the other day. They are fantastic in person. Whimsical, slightly ridiculous, but fantastically festive. My Peanut begged for these but they were just too big for her. I think they'd be pretty darn popular with any girl on your giving list from young child right on up through a grandma with a sense of humor. Just perfect for Christmas morning.

None of these seem just right? Be sure to check out the other Stock Your Stash lists at:

Diet & Ridicule: 7 fitness accessories under $20

Let's Lasso the Moon: More great teacher appreciation gifts

 

Stock Your Stash: Beginner DSLR gift guide

Today's edition of our Stock Your Stash series of holiday gift guides is focusing on that special lady in your life. There are many women I could choose to focus my contribution on but I'd like to take this opportunity to be a little bold. Today I'm sharing a gift guide for You!

If you've been watching my photo projects unfold for the last couple years and you're yearning for better equipment, now is the perfect time of year to take that leap. There are so many great deals out there on camera gear.

If you don't know where to start and are overwhelmed, today I'm not holding back. I want to tell you exactly what I would buy without sugar coating it! Because even though I'm a big proponent of needing to know how to use your equipment, sometimes it really is the better equipment that makes the photo.

Peanut Blossom's Official Gift Guide for the budding photographer wanting a DSLR:

Camera body: 

Canon T1i, T2i, or T3i series (I'm not even going to discuss Nikon. Not because they're not wonderful cameras but because I'm a Canon girl and don't want to steer you wrong with something I don't know enough about.)

 This series of camera bodies is a step up from the absolute beginner Rebel series. It is a fantastic place to start and has plenty of features for you to grow into. In the end though, it's not so much the body as it is the lens you put on it. The lens makes a far greater impact on the image, so keep on reading here. 

 

Lenses:

There are pros and cons for buying the "kit lens" that comes as part of a camera package. This decision is ultimately up to you. I did purchase a kit with the 18-55mm lens. I don't really regret it but I almost never use the lens. If money is an issue, just buy the camera body and then follow the next recommendations:

 - 50 mm f/1.8: CRUCIAL if you really want to experiment with photography and capturing that blurry background. Your kit lens will NOT give you that look because the aperture doesn't open wide enough. You want the f-stop number to ideally be below 2. The smaller the number the better (also the more expensive.) This is a fantastic and affordable place to start with the higher quality lenses beyond the kit. It's running about $100 right now and is by far the cheapest option available. 

- 35mm f/2: If money isn't as tight for you, splurge and get the 35mm lens. If you can afford it, you can skip the recommended 50mm altogether and just go straight for this lens. On the Canon T1i you will really appreciate the extra wiggle room this lens provides. For more info, you can see my entire post about it here. I LOVE this lens and I'd say the majority of the pictures of my girls you see on the blog are taken with it.

- 85mm f/1.8: If you're going all out, THIS is the dream lens I'd put on my wish list. The focal length is TIGHT on a crop sensor body like the T1i but it is an amazing lens. It is definitely a secondary lens though. Be sure you have either the 50 or the 35 listed above first. Most of my food photography was taken with this lens but I've also used it for some beautiful portraits. It's known as an outdoor portrait lens but I use it indoors as my "stealth lens" meaning I can capture my peanuts from so far away they don't know I'm taking their picture. Great for candid shots of real moments.

NOTE: All three lenses I'm recommending to you are prime lenses, which means they do not zoom. To "zoom" you need to move physically closer to your subject or back up and away. It takes a little getting used to but I don't even think about it now. It all becomes worth it when you find how incredibly crisp your subject becomes with these lenses as compared to most zooms in simlar price ranges.

A bag to put it all in:

Handyman Tim bought me the Kelly Moore 2 Sues bag in raspberry when it was on sale for Black Friday. I love love love it. It's big enough to fit my camera, 2 spare lenses, my new planner, my wallet, and tons of other purse items without being too big. For the hobbyist, the 2 Sues or the B-Hobo are exactly the perfect size for an every day purse/camera bag.

I'm addicted to the bright fun colors she offers but she has the standard black, grey, and brown style bags if you're more of a neutral girl. 

 

Polish those pictures:

Lightroom 3: This software by Adobe is truly the only software you really need. It is amazing, user friendly, and relatively affordable. It serves as an editor and a photo library organizer. I discuss it in far more detail here.

Photoshop CS5: If you already have Lightroom, Photoshop makes for a great piece of design software. I do blog layouts, our annual Christmas card and digital scrapbooking with it. You also can't beat it for major edits (like swapping heads and cloning out objects in the background.)

I could (and probably will) go into far greater detail on the items in this list over time. This guide is meant to be a quick and easy shopping list for someone overwhelmed by all the options out there. I'm happy to answer any questions you might have, just send me a note or leave a comment and I'm happy to clarify anything!

And be sure to stop by and check out the other gift guides for the special women in your life:

Diet & Ridicule

Let's Lasso the Moon

Flee Fly Flown

Stock Your Stash: St. Nick's Morning

 

Welcome to the second post in the Stock your Stash series. If you missed the first round, you can get all caught up here.

This week we're talking stocking stuffers for St. Nick. Does your family celebrate St. Nicholas Day? I know not everyone is familiar with this tradition, so you can check out a little snippet of an explanation here.

Growing up, St. Nick always brought my sister and me a wall calendar for the coming year and a box of chocolate covered cherries. He usually filled our stockings with Lifesavers and chocolate coins and tubes of M&Ms. My mom always said it was a perfect little teaser holiday to get us in the Christmas mood. 

Now with kids of my own, St. Nick has taken on a little bit of a change. When the Peanut was just a year old, a wall calendar and cherries didn't seem exactly appropriate. St. Nick came up with a substitute that was much more fitting and luckily it has grown with her over the years. 

When each of my girls empty their stockings this year they will discover:

- a new Christmas picture book
- a single holiday movie for the family to enjoy
- matching Christmas pajamas
- an ornament for the tree

And in lieu of too many candies I don't really want them indulging in (anyone else STILL have Trick or Treat bags laying around?!) St. Nick brings us a family treat platter for sharing. 

Oddly enough, this treat basket was the item that was the most memorable for the Peanut last year. She has specifically asked whether I think we'll be getting it again this year.  

Items found on our festive red platter include: 

- "Snowballs": white cheddar puff balls
- Yardstick of popcorn kernels
- Red velvet pancake mix
- Raspberry white chocolate & Eggnog flavored scone mixes
- Eggnog streusel muffin mix
- Holiday shaped pasta
- Peppermint chocolate piroutte cookies
- Peanut butter filled, chocolate covered pretzle bites 

I use this collection to make several festive weekend breakfasts during December and we celebrate will little holiday themed meals and snacks all month long. These are all treats I'd likely find myself buying anyways over the course of the month. Bundling them together and putting them on a bright red platter underneath our stockings just makes them stand out as that much more special. I love that it also promotes sharing our treats together. 

What does your family enjoy most? Your gift basket could include:

- Hot cocoa and new mugs with fun pepperment stir sticks and marshmallows

- Holiday baking basket with packaged cupcake wrappers, mixes, and various sprinkles or cookie cutters and parchment paper

- Gingerbread house decorating basket with plenty of candies for coating it roof to base

Chances are likely these are things you'd be doing this season anyways. It's just all in the presentation!

Are you looking for other St. Nick ideas and Advent inspiration? 

Let's Lasso the Moon is sharing a fantastic printable with activities and games to do with your kids that will make more of the Christmas season.

Diet & Ridicule is sharing some healthy ideas to fill stockings for St. Nick. 

Then be sure to check back again the coming weeks as we really dig in on the holiday shopping lists!

Stock Your Stash: Gift guide for kids

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? I have several friends who are already done but I haven't been quite that on the ball this year. Since I know I'm not alone, I've partnered up with some blogging friends to bring you a fantastic gift buying guide starting today and running right up until the end of December.

We'll be featuring guides by recipient, today's theme is what to get for your peanuts! Or, should I say for the peanuts on your list.

For years, I've taken the route of quality over quantity with my girls. They have more than their fair share of toys, but I try to limit the clutter and find more memorable items even if it means spending a little more and buying a little less. My list of suggestions will not necessarily be found on Amazon or Toys R Us but if you're looking for something memorable or unqiue, I hope you'll be pleased with what you find here.

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Pint-sized Paparazzi:

My 1st Camera: Think your child is ready for their own camera? I wrote an entire post about our experience here. Christmas is a wonderful time for this very special gift. 

Custom Camera Strap: With that first camera, this is nearly essential. If you can sew in a straight line, you can do this project in an hour. See my DIY camera strap tutorial here.

Just Like Mommy Camera Bag: Is mommy toting a fancy camera bag purse? Why not let the little one join the fun? Vera Bradley carries tiny padded purses (the Little Betsy style is featured in the photo to the left) that are just the right size for her to tote her camera and other small items. Be sure to check out the colors on sale for the best deals. This turquois one is available for $29. 

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Kitchen Helpers:

The Right Tools: Every kitchen helper needs the right tools for the job. I'm a big fan of these adorable aprons from Chasing Fireflies. The Peanut loves her kitchen apron and at some point I'll be buying a set of personalized ones for the girls to match. I also love this tiny tool set from Paula Deen. They are the right size for little hands but are actual kitchen utensils, dishwasher safe. You can buy similar small and colorful items from World Market if you're want to customize exactly which tools come in the set.

Cutie Cupcake Kit: Assemble a cupcake kit for your tiny baker and fill it with cute paper liners, candy sprinkles, a small frosting spreader, and a sweet little plate to put her masterpiece on before it is devoured. I always wanted an Easy Bake Oven but a brightly colored kit like this along with the promise of baking together would definitely suffice.

Kiddie Cookbook: There are tons on the market but I have my eye on You Can Cook by Annabel Karmel. I love Annabel's books and used them when feeding the girls their first foods. Most recipes were big hits and the photo/illustration stylings are so sweet and appropriate.

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Art vs. Craft:

My 1st Sewing Machine: Ever since reading Fanny to the Peanut I've been waiting to give her a very first sewing machine just like Fanny receives for her birthday. We're not quite there yet, but I've bookmarked this tiny sewing machine for when the day comes. Include her own copy of Fanny and some fabric and thread and this would be an amazing holiday gift.

Coloring Outside the Lines: Another book on my wishlist for the Peanut this year is The Coloring Book by Herve Tullet. The reviews on Amazon are fantastic and I love the concept of teaching her color theory. She is such the little artist and spends hours with her art box. I bought an old-fashioned metal lunchbox with Hello Kitty on the front and filled it with crayons, colored pencils, and markers in every color. She has a safe "Little Pea-proof" place to store her tools and totes it all around the house. Make your own art box and include it with this book for a fabulous kit.

Paint Your Own Fairy House Kit: Collect an unpainted birdhouse from a craft store, some paints and some glitter and label it Tinkerbell's new abode. Perfect winter craft that can be saved and put outside in your garden come spring time.  

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Simple Stocking Stuffers:

Stripey Straws from Shop Sweet Lulu: The Peanut went NUTS for these when I got a care package of them from my mother-in-law for my birthday. Santa will be bringing a package all her very own in her favorite color. 

Doodle Roll: Perfect for tossing in your diaper bag or purse, this Doodle Roll is the perfect solution for your artist on the go. 30 feet of paper rolled up into the dispenser with a spot to stash some crayons. 

Flower headbands by Banner Boutique: I stocked up on a few of these last winter and the girls look darling in them. Unfortunately, ours are all pink and clash with their Christmas red outfits. I'm scoping out the sweet white and sparkly versions they have available, we just love them.

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Looking for more inspiration?

You're in luck. Go check out:

Zina at Let's Lasso the Moon who's sharing her educational take on children's gifts today.

Carrie at Diet & Ridicule is sharing her fitness themed gift ideas for your kids. I love the creative ideas for keeping the whole family healthy!

And be sure to come back again in the coming weeks as we cover the rest of the recipients on your list! 

How to perk up a doll bed

All the Peanut wants from Santa this year is a "dolly and a cart." Translation: a miniature grocery cart with a doll to place in the child seat. She saw it in a catalog in early October and has been 100% consistent with her singular request ever since. This is only slightly miraculous since the Peanut has shown ZERO interest in dolls her entire life. She adores her stuffed animals and plays with them intensely but quickly tosses any doll we give her off to the side.

While I really don't mind if she likes dolls or not, a part of me is super happy she has finally shown some interest in what was one of my favorite things to play with as a young girl. So, assuming that Santa's elves have been accurately reporting back with news of just how good the Peanut has been, we're expecting said dolly and cart to be showing up in a couple days.

And what is a dolly without a place for it to sleep, right? You may remember my holiday shopping spree at Ikea a couple months ago where I picked up this doll bed.

It is the perfect size and such a simple shape. But, I think it is perhaps lacking in the character department. I couldn't leave well enough alone, I had to tinker.

And this is what will be wrapped up and waiting for the Peanut's dolly on Christmas morning. I made the doll quilt out of "Bliss" by Bonnie and Camille for Moda. It features the Peanut's all time favorite color--blue--spruced up with some festive red, pinks, and greens. I love how it turned out and I can't wait to see what the Peanut's reaction will be. This could truly be a hit or miss item. Maybe it was a little bit more for me than for her, I guess we'll find out soon enough!

Holiday Gift Guide: Last minute gift idea

I think parents can be the trickiest people to buy presents for around the holidays. What they haven't already purchased for themselves, they either don't need or don't want. Trying to find a surprise gift for those tricky folks takes more thought and energy than anyone else on our list.

That's why I am thrilled to have found a perfect last-minute gift for the tricky  lady on your list. In my case it is my mom. In your case it might be a hostess, mother-in-law, aunt, grandma, who knows. This works for anyone over the age of 25 in my opinion.

I know when I'm cleaning house I'd like to think I look as good as this lady. Sadly, I don't come close to being this put together. BUT now thanks to discovering these crazy gloves, I can imagine I am.

My mom and I both have horribly dry chapped hands that tend to crack and bleed. Mine have gotten significantly worse since Little Pea's arrival (bottle washing anyone?) and my doctor strongly encouraged me to find gloves to do my cleaning in so that I can lather up some lotion and keep my  hands out of water as much as possible. I went searching for gloves that were form fitting enough to allow me to manipulate the small baby bottle pieces. My normal cleaning gloves were far too industrial and clunky for this purpose. That's how I stumbled upon Gloveables.

The ruffled cuffs and bows made me laugh. The color variety just makes me happy. I ordered these for myself:

And a second pair in red for my mom for Christmas. I'm pairing her gloves with a really fancy bottle of repairing hand creme I found here.

The Peanut is thrilled with the gloves and has been begging to try them out. Now we'll see if she can keep her mouth shut while Grandma opens her gift later this week. 

There's still time to order your own glove set for someone special. Just sign up for a free 30-day trial of ShopRunner while you're on Organize.com and you'll get free 2 day shipping. Plenty of time to wrap and get them under the tree!!

Holiday gift guide: Christmas picture books

I absolutely love that the Peanut's attention span and respect for paper paged books have both grown over the last year. While we still enjoy a good board book now and then, we can finally venture on to the gorgeous picture books available for her age.

In our household, we celebrate St. Nicholas' Day on December 6. Growing up, St. Nick always brought my sister and me a wall calendar for the next year and a box of chocolate covered cherries. We knew what we'd find by our stockings, but it was a fun and exciting consistency. The Peanut has no need for a calendar just yet so St. Nick wisely decided to begin the tradition of bringing Christmas books and movies to our house every year. His selections this year were just perfect:

Christmas Cookies by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

This is part of the "Bite Sized Life Lessons" series. Complex concepts taught through the process of baking cookies. The artwork is absolutely lovely, the Peanut and I enjoyed reading it over and over again this week.

Olivia Helps with Christmas by Ian Falconer

I LOVE Olivia. We have the original story in board book form and it has been one of the Peanut's favorites for a while. This Christmas story follow up keeps right with the same personality of that precious Olivia. I found myself laughing a couple times during reading while the Peanut enjoyed pointing out all the family members. 

I'm so excited to add these two books to our growing collection. At the end of the holiday they'll be packed away with the rest of our Christmas decorations. I know they'll be just as fresh and exciting to read next year when we pull them out again!

Holiday Gift Guide: First Christmas ideas

A baby's first Christmas can sometimes be a little tricky to pick presents for. I remember with the Peanut, she was at an age where most toys were too much for her and she was completely unaware of what was going on. We didn't want to spend a bunch of money on things she would only use for a little while before outgrowing so I made the decision to look for longer-term things she'd appreciate later. 

Now that Little Pea's first Christmas is upon us, I'm looking back and really appreciating what a good idea that approach really is. So despite the fact that babies may vary in age at a first Christmas, here's a list of suggestions that would still make a perfect present if you want your money to go towards something more "practical". 

1. Growth chart: We bought this cute floral one from Eeboo to match the Peanut's nursery theme.

2. My First Anywhere Chair: This miniature overstuffed armchair is just the right size for crawling babies up through at least 4 years old. The Peanut adores her chair. It has been used in almost every room of the house. I debated whether to get her the bigger size this Christmas and just get a new cover for Little Pea with her name on it but this chair gets so much use that we went with a second mini chair so the girls will match for a while. It has been a fantastic photo prop for some precious pictures of the Peanut. (How's that for alliteration!) 

3. Embroidered "big girl" towels: We had a nice stack of cute hooded towels for the Peanut when she was a baby, but for Christmas she received her first set of "big girl" towels and washcloths with her name on them. She didn't start using them for quite a long time later but now she loves them. 

4. Cute table setting: The Peanut was barely eating solids at her first Christmas, but we got her a cute tabletop set with matching placemat. It was the first of many and she loves her special plates.

5. Tooth fairy box: This was actually a gift we received for the Peanut's baptism but it would also make an awesome Christmas gift. I love the ones I've seen over on Chasing Fireflies. They have boxes, pewter boxes, pillows, themes for both boys and girls. Fantastic!

 

Holiday gift guide: Mini kitchen supplies

When the Peanut turned 2 years old, grandma and grandpa gave her a little kitchen set from The Land of Nod. Over the next year and a half, we've continued to add to her kitchen set bit by bit. Santa brought her the matching refrigerator for last Christmas and we've been giving her playfood and dishes over various holidays so she has a well stocked pantry, just like mommy.

This little kitchen is my absolute favorite toy we've ever given to the Peanut. It has accounted for hours of playtime and is still going strong. It is just so darn cute, I've been particularly picky over which things we add to the kitchen--going for quality over quantity every time. 

For those of you considering kitchen equipment for your little ones, here is a list of our favorite items in the Peanut's kitchen:

1. This year under the tree she is going to find a mini red colander which is an exact duplicate of one I use myself. I almost flipped when I stumbled on it over at World Market. I think it cost me $2. LOVE it.

2. Melissa and Doug wooden cookie set. More than any other playfood, this simple cookie sheet with cookies has gotten the most attention. In the beginning, she just loved to stack and unstack the cookies on the tray. Now she finally understands to pretend to "cut" the "cookie log" and mimics serving them to guests. 

3. Pots and pans set. I love that this is made out of realistic looking metal! The whisk and tiny measuring spoons are just darling.

4. Melissa and Doug food sets. We have the refrigerator and pantry sets as well as the fruits and vegetables.

5. Chef hat and apron set. I purchased a priceless hat and apron from Target when we first got the kitchen. I so wish I had bought a second one but I didn't know Little Pea would be joining us then. It was a special Valentine's seasonal item and I'm already stressing over not having a second one. I did see this adorable apron at Chasing Fireflies, but I'm sad there is no chef's hat to match. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for something!

I know that with two girls in the house, these toys will be put to the test with much attention. However, even those of you with little boys should not underestimate how excited the kids get about miniature foods and utensils. When we host playgroup, the boys are just as intrigued as the girls! 

It has also made shopping fun and easy for several gift-giving occasions. I swing by the seasonal cookware aisles looking for festive potholders or spatulas and shop for anything bright and colorful and small enough for little hands. The more real it looks and feels, the more popular the item has been. 

And as much as I love the little kitchen itself, I can honestly say that the cookie sheet and pots and pans, etc. would all still be very well received without it! Perfect small gift ideas for the little ones in  your life.

Holiday Gift Guide: Ikea!!

The Peanut is 3.5 years old now and for the last couple years we've been trying to introduce some interest in dolls with little luck. She's received a few as gifts from us and from her grandparents. She plays with them a little but generally would prefer her play kitchen or stuffed animals over everything else. Our pediatrician insisted that the Peanut would grow an interest in dolls once Little Pea arrived as she starts to play act the types of things that I do for the baby. Wrong again. 

So I was filled with complete and utter surprise when the Peanut announced that she wants a "dolly and a cart" for Christmas this year. She is referring specifically to a miniature grocery cart and a girl aged doll, NOT a baby. I'm guessing that Little Pea is all the baby the Peanut can handle right now. 

Since the request has already been put in with the Man in Red (during a chance accidental meeting the other week) I'm guessing Santa's elves are already busy at work on the dolly and cart. I don't want to push the whole doll thing too hard, but when I found out that Ikea has these sweet little doll beds, I knew it would be the perfect accessory for her new friend. 

My favorite part about this bed is that it is made of unfinished wood. I have plans for this baby that will be featured in another  post or two.

I made the pilgrimage down to our nearest Ikea to pick up the doll bed and see what else I might find for the girls. I was shocked at all the cool finds their kiddie department has. The options far outnumbered my budget but I did pick up a couple extra things.

For Little Pea, I found this bead chase toy and an adorable 3-piece dinnerware set (not featured on their web site, sorry!) 

Just a few of the other items that caught my eye but didn't make their way into my shopping cart were:

This adorable rocking moose:

A couple versions of this train play mat along with their simple wooden trains:

But more than anything, I was shocked at the number of fantastic baby toys they had available: floor gyms, mobiles, stuffed animals, and tons more. Most of it was already too young for Little Pea's age and interests but if you're expecting, Ikea would definitely be worth checking out. 

A Holiday Gift Guide Introduction

There are many ways of preparing for Christmas. Here are just a few:

1. Save a little money all year long in a holiday account, then do your shopping in December.

2. Start your shopping early and hit sales as you see them, stash your gifts around the house where no one will look.

3. Whip out the credit cards in a frenzied last-minute rush to pull your gift giving together.

For many many years, number 3 was the way we rolled. Once we started trying to pull ourselves out of debt for good, I decided I needed to do a better job preparing for the time of year where a lot of money gets spent. I'm just not dedicated enough to try item #1 above. It feels odd to be saving for Christmas in February - May. I just know that if I set that money aside, once it accumulates I will be tempted to send it somewhere as an extra car payment or something. 

Instead my plan for the last few years has been to try #2: Shop early buying one thing here, one thing there over the course of a few months. I start thinking about my list in September and the actual purchasing starts in October when I see the things I want going on sale.

So my early planning and gift shopping is here to inspire you! I figured while I'm hunting down deals, why not share them here? You may not have an infant and/or a 3 year old girl on your holiday list, but maybe it will spark other ideas for you. If you have little boys on your shopping list, I'd be more than happy to post a Boy Gift Guide edition. Just email me your ideas over the coming weeks! (peanutblossom at yahoo dot com) I'm specifically hunting for clever, creative, and unique ideas. You are less likely to see toys that end up on recall lists here.

So with that introduction, here is:

Item #1 of the Peanut Blossom Holiday Gift Guide:

Hand-me-down Dress-up Bin

Last Christmas, Auntie Moe gave the Peanut a wonderful gift--a large blue storage box filled with hand-me-downs from her own closet for use as a dress-up bin. She filled it with old high heel shoes, costume jewelry, hats, and a couple dresses from her closet that weren't getting any use. She also threw in a fairy costume she found on sale at Target. The costume came with a set of wings that never really worked properly and that we ended up getting rid of.

The dress-up bin itself is a fantastic idea for a gift and costs nearly nothing if you're willing to raid your own dresser. The Peanut has found it thrilling to use "real clothing" mixed in with the costumes for her dress-up.

But this year, I'm adding to her dress-up bin with a pretty pair of blue replacement wings for her costume. I found them in the Halloween section at Joann's on sale for $5. Keep an eye on that department at many stores and you could have your own fantastic dress up bin of costumes with items that go on clearance once Halloween is over.

But a word of caution on this method of holiday planning: Find a solid hiding spot for your items. I've already met failure in this department for the year. The wings above were hidden in Handyman Tim's car trunk and before I could remember to move them somewhere more secretive, she stumbled upon them while helping Daddy to pack up our stroller for an outing. Oops. I'm just happy it was on a smaller item, and not one of her bigger gifts. Lesson learned!