1) Get Some Vitamin D…the old fashion way…That’s right, get some rays! Now I’m not talking about basting in the sun all day, more like just sitting outside for 15 minutes and getting a healthy glow. You can just feel the magic healing powers of the sun’s rays while you take in a few deep breaths of that cool crisp air…everybody say yeahhhhh.
2) Workin at the Car Wash… All that salt and grime has got to go, but instead of just driving through the local car wash put on some tunes, your favourite cut off jeans and lather up your ride. Lose the grime and dirt and maybe even a few pounds as you make washing your car your latest work-out.
3) Buy some crisp new Sheets and Pillowcases…If you’ve survived another winter with those flannelette sheets, its’s time to leave that sandpapery feel and buy an exquisite set of a high thread count of cotton sheets. There’s something about the coolness of cotton that says “bring on the summer weather”.
4) Stop living the Broke N’ Life…Do you have one of those homes that after a long winter is full of broken things? It’s amazing how broken things almost become invisible after awhile. You know what I mean… the broken screen door, the interlocking brick work that shifted out of place with the ice and all those burnt out light bulbs. I finally realized that all of those broken things were secretly making me feel like I was brok n’ life and without getting into all the psychology…just fix the stuff and you’ll feel better.
5) Jazz up the Pantry… Oh yeah, it’s outdoor cooking time again! Time to get out to the home shows and neighborhood gourmet shops and stock up on all the newest sauces, marinades and cooking ingredients. Try to make a meal from a different country once a month. There’s at least 900 ways to cook up that steak. Have fun and discover something new and delicious.
6) Out with the Old…Time to de-clutter and donate. If you want to actually save money on clothes, go through your closet and discover what you actually have. You’ll be amazed at how many white shirts you own. Somethimes we just buy the same look over and over again. Throw out the repetitive clothing and the outfits you’ll never wear again, or better still, donate them to a local charity. You might just find that you really don’t ned to buy new clothes this Spring at all and can get by with just a few new stylish accessories.
7) Redecorate on a Budget…by watching T.V!…Wow those home designing shows have saved me a fortune on decorating costs. I’ve changed my country look to contemporary with just a few pails of paint. With money tight these days we really should be tightening up the budget on that fancy new kitchen and outdoor living area. Before you sit in the drivers seat and head out to the neighbourhood home decoration store, sit in front of the T.V. and cut your budget down to half with some of this country’s best decorators and their design-on-a-dime advice.
Take $50.00 and re-vamp your Look… Take a good look in the mirror and see what old man winter has done to you… then smile and head out to the local drugstore and start looking marvelous again. There are so many shiny hair products, teeth whiteners, skin moisturizing products to make you feel alive again and give you back your healthy glow.
9) Get Green…Ever clean your home and get a headache afterwards? I found out that all those chemicals that I was using around the house were really making me sick. I discovered that by helping the environment and buying organic green products I not only helped the earth but helped my own health as well.
10) Get out there… Dig out those running shoes and get out for a brisk walk with your spouse, yourself or your kids. Enjoy the spring weather and all the healing aspects the cool fresh air can give you. “Spring is in the air” for such a short time, enjoy it while you can, after all…staying inside again with the air conditioner on full blast is just around the corner.

As for the other members of the group, you could always get a tray of fancy cupcakes, or boxes of chocolates to put out in the lunchroom with a big card attached that says “Happy Holidays and all the best to all of you for 2012! “–From…etc.. You can make the message as formal or funny as you wish. Christmas is a time for enjoyment. Just make sure that if it’s funny…it’s really in good taste or else it will be the office gossip at the next get-together. As for the bosses, that’s up to you. If you’re on a team, best to know what others are doing. Maybe go together on some gourmet goodies for each of them, or if no one else is doing anything, perhaps just a card would be the best choice. Make sure that it’s a nice one though, the dollar store one’s stand out and can be recognized in a second.

Gifts for other Groups… Groups such as clients, hospital staff and the like need to have one gift to share. Decadent fruit arrangements, gourmet gift baskets with grab and go items or trays of gourmet cupcakes or chocolates are always welcome during the holiday season. Just ask the company that makes up the gifts how many they will serve for the various price ranges. Remember that taxes and delivery are usually added so budget for this. Also find out when offices are shutting down for Christmas, you don’t want a fruit arrangement sitting in the mailroom for two weeks.

Groups for Couples… Unless you’re invited over during December or at New Year’s, I think the whole idea of buying gifts for your couple friends is a bit over the top in this economy. If you are socializing with them and they are the host or hostess, give them gifts that suit that moment. A nice bottle of wine, a batch of home-made cookies, a Christmas C.D. or gourmet gift baskets or Christmas flowers should be a welcomed gift to the party atmosphere. If you’re not seeing them then perhaps a well thought out card with a few words that reflect a few things you did with them over the past year would be something they might enjoy receiving in the mail.

Just remember not to stress out too much over getting a gift for everyone. Group gifts still say that you took the time to appreciate everyone and wish them all the best for the holiday season. Once you’ve given the first group gift you can relax. Saving some money with your budget and the extra time you save by not wrapping or standing at the checkout lines will make this a merrier Christmas for you and give you the much needed extra time with your family and loved ones.

Boys 12 and Up… (to twenty)

Well unless these boys are into a favorite sport, you might as well set a high budget for this one. Fan gear, sports items and clothing are all within your means, but chances are that your little baby boy now has his eyes on the latest electronic gizmo and that means money. The best thing to do is set a budget. I know it sounds un-Christmasy but in the long run you’ll be glad you did, especially if he’s not an only child.  It’s amazing how kids can adjust their expectations from a big screen T.V. to a MP3 player or tablet clone if they know they might actually receive it under the tree. As for clothes… socks, gloves, and fan-gear are usually O.K. but stay away from jeans, shoes or jackets. They know cool, and unfortunately it’s true.. you don’t.

Girls 12 and up… (to twenty)

Girls are a little easier because they usually have a list a mile long of what they “need”. You can usually establish that they are generally “wants” but at Christmas splurge on the “wants” because you know they’ll never get them at other times of the year. You still need to set a budget as the odd big screen T.V. or car might be on the list. If they really want a fancy purse that costs $400.00 how about getting them a change purse or cell phone holder from the designer? Magazine subscriptions from age-appropriate publishers might be a good idea for your friend’s daughters or nieces. Although I try not to give money, I usually would give my daughters money to spend on the after-Christmas sales but still include it in the budget as a gift. You can even wrap it up in a box and put it in a change purse.(maybe even the designer one). Ditto for my advice for buying clothes, as mentioned for boys, …even with girl’s you’re still not cool.

A special note… All those gifts that used to work on kid’s such as calendars, CDs, movies and books are all been taken over by some of the electronics they use. Just take a look at how many kids today wear watches. Think about whether their phone is a camera, clock , day-timer or whatever before you buy. The last thing you want to hear is…what am I going to do with this???

For great ideas for kids and things that are actually on their list visit…

Online Shopping Mall Canada.com or Online Shopping Mall America.com

There comes a time of dread in every man’s life a few times a year when he absolutely has to buy a gift for his special lady.

Bombarded with T.V.,newspaper and online ads this trusting fellow heads off into the unknown in search of the advertiser’s gifts…Little does he know that he needs to follow a few guidelines or else he’s doomed to fail…for all you guys out there..here’s a little help with the next gift…

Don’t buy the Advertised Perfume…
Perfume is a very personal choice. Even though the ads seem to suggest that she’ll turn into a sultry supermodel or a new woman who can’t keep her hands off you, don’t believe it. Many women have their trusty fragrance that they’ve used for years and will never change. It’s better if you check out the makeup area where she gets ready and maybe get a new bottle of old faithful. Also, notice if she’s still wearing perfume in the next few days. Many women have developed allergies to fragrances or have been told at work not to wear it anymore. Old faithful that sits beside the make-up mirror might just be kept for the pretty bottle.

Don’t Buy any Face Creams or Cleansers…
Unless you want to hear “Whatdoya think I look old?” leave these selections alone. Intensive wrinkle cream means that you want her to look younger, which means you want a younger woman in her eyes. This is a conversation that you want to stay miles away from.

Forget about the Nurse Nancy or French Maid Outfits…
Remember this is the time you buy a gift for her, not for yourself. Lingerie and costumes should be bought when you are together and on the same page. Chances are she’ll not be too happy opening the gift in front of the kids, and even worse, she’s probably going to make you take it back, and hey… most of the places you got these gifts at, don’t give refunds!

Don’t get the alternative to Lingerie…pajamas…
My husband made the mistake of buying me toasty flannelette pajamas one year with little penguins on them. I thought they were sooo adorable and wore them whenever I could. As I shuffled around in this hideous outfit, he couldn’t even say a word since he bought them for me. Same goes for snuggly outfits that look like baby sleepers. If you buy them…they will wear them

Don’t get her a Purse…
Again it’s another gift that’s so personal chances are she’ll hate it…and you know what that means?…The refund line-up. Another store to stay clear of is the shoe store. Again, it’s a personal preference and getting the size right can be difficult.

Anything that says… “Here use this in the kitchen”…
Pots and pans, blenders and cookware are all staples in the kitchen and not gifts. If her blender breaks, she buys a new one, same for the old cookware. Most women find that they spend way too much time in the kitchen anyways, so unless it’s assorted herbal teas or a new expresso coffee machine that has the “wow” factor best to stay away from anything that says “Make me dinner.”

… so there you have it… a few ideas to help you make a better choice the next time you need to buy her a gift. If you’re now totally lost, just read my top 10 gifts for a woman and you’ll do O.K.
Happy shopping guys, and I hope you all can stay away from the refund clerk.
Heather

2. A Game… Games are fun (just let her win a little). They can be as big or small as you want. Even crossword puzzles are great to share. How about one of those DVD games , you know, the ones where you guess the movie clips? Set up a time for the two of you on a Sunday afternoon(before the football game, of course) Make sure the game can be played by only two players and you have “her” in mind… Bubble hockey, darts and pool tables don’t count.

3. Kitchen Gifts… the one’s that say..This is just for you… It’s got to say that or it won’t do… example: A turkey roasting pan says “cook my dinner” while a Chinese tea set with specialty green tea selections says “reeelaxxx”. You’re definitely looking for the relax stuff. Mugs with inspiration messages, espresso and cappuccino machines (the simpler to operate, the better) and other kitchen items that won’t land you in hot water are great gift ideas.

4. Surprise her… with something good this time…I’d love my guy to send me a dozen roses at work. The whole presentation from the delivery guy is sooo romantic. Hint, Hint, the flowers arrive at her work a few days before she leaves for her Christmas break. You still need to put a few gifts under the Christmas tree… but believe me, you’ve made brownie points!

5. Make her Laugh… Most women love a guy with a sense of humor. But if you’re coming up short in this department there’s a whole bunch of comedy T.V. sitcom DVD’s out there that will make her smile. Just don’t forget the cuddling, sharing a laugh part during the Christmas holidays or she won’t be smiling at all.

6. Comfy Clothes… Since she’ll be curling up on the couch at Christmas, enjoying her flowers, un-stressed from the Spa and enjoying her DVD’s what about a great soft robe and comfy slippers as a gift idea. Us women wear out a robe and slippers making breakfasts, running out to get more garbage to the curb and all the other things we do before 8 a.m.

7. Car Stuff… For many women their car can be their second home. Now remembering that most of the time their car is a cab-ride for the kids or a grocery delivery service, there are still times when she’s going somewhere for herself. Maybe make up a car gift set (no guys..that doesn’t mean jumper cables) with a beautiful travel mug, a new favorite CD with CD holder and maybe a GPS and any other car gift ideas that you think she’d like to travel with.

8. Something Electronic… There’s something about getting a new gadget at Christmas that’s really exciting. A new MP3 player, camera or one of those super cool electronic gizmos that download books. She’ll be so excited to get it working… caution… emphasis on “getting it working”… unless you’re willing to help to set it up, it may just remain in the box for awhile.

9. A Magazine Subscription… Wrap up her favorite magazine and put it under the Christmas tree. Now if you don’t know her favorite, help unloading the groceries next time, there’s usually one hiding in the bag. Get her a yearly magazine subscription online and in January she’ll be getting her first of 12 magazines. Hey you’ll look like a hero at least one day each month!

10. What not to get… Thought I’d make #10 on the Top 10 Christmas Gift Ideas what “not” to get her. Forget about anything that is obviously just for you, such as Nurse Betty or French Maid outfits or a boat-load of cooking appliances, or anything that says “I’d like to help you clear up your skin” Here’s a little more help to find Christmas Gift ideas…

Heather Sinclair – Online Shopping For Canadians
A Canadian 10 level online shopping mall at www.onlineshoppingmallcanada.com
Good Luck and have the best Christmas ever!!