Mama’s Holiday Wish List Meme

TodaysMama and GameStop are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What is your holiday wish for your family?

I wish for them to always believe in the magic of Christmas and to have a deeper sense of love for eachother and those around them.

2. What is your Christmas morning tradition?

We always do a Christmas morning photo of the kids in their new PJs and then we take turns opening the gifts one at a time so every one can see and there is the opportunity to show gratitude for what we have received.

3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish for yourself, what would it be?

An all-expense paid trip to France.

4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money?

Well, I try to get the big gifts out of the way before Thanksgiving and then we can truly enjoy the season of family and baking. On Christmas eve we always read the Nativity story. It reminds us of the true meaning of the season.

5. What games did you play with your family growing up?

Swat the Fly was our favorite!

6. What holiday tradition have you carried on from your own childhood?

Family Photo on Christmas morning. Taking turns opening presents, and Volcano Potatoes!

7. Where would you go for a Christmas-away-from-home trip?

We don't do Christmases away from home. We set down a rule early on in our marriage, that we don't travel for Christmas so that we can enjoy the Holiday. It has been wonderful. However, we do have a goal that when our oldest graduates from high school to try to do Christmas in Paris.

8. Check out GameStop and tell us, what are the three top items on your GameStop Wish List this year?

Epic Mickey

Lego Rock Band

Lego Harry Potter

EVO 10

This past weekend I went to the Evolution of Women in Social Media conference. It was amazing. I saw some old friends, met some new friends and learned a lot along the way. It was very inspiring. So many tears were shed during the conference. we heard heartbreaking stories such as Maddie Spohr's story, and inspiring stories from the Make a Wish foundation. I learned a lot about how to make things I do for my job better. I always come away so inspired from these conferences. There are also so many amazing women in attendance. I wish I had the time to personally recognize them all, but I know I would forget someone. The ending keynote speakers were Brene Brown & Karen Walrond. I was so touched by what they had to share about being authentic. They shared some thoughts about parenting that I really enjoyed. One thought was:

As a parent it is important to help our children be ok with being imperfect. Our children shouldn’t see us questioning our own worth.

I really like that thought. I am reading the book The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin right now and her chapter on her children really goes hand in hand with this.

Another quote was:

Who we are as people is more important for our children than what we know about parenting

My favorite part of the weekend though, was getting to see my family again. The organizers of Evo threw an amazing Party at the Park City Mountain Resort. We had a delicious dinner and we rode on the Alpine Slide multiple times and the kids got to rock climb and Aaron & Nathan went down the zipline. It was an amazingly great time. I wish it could have lasted longer.

Where to Find the Sweet Life

My friend, April, just lost her .com and wants to get the word out where to find her util she can get her domain name back. She has a great website with lots of fun ideas and products to try out. She is bursting with ideas. So please go visit her at http://www.sweetlifeinthevalley.blogspot.com/.

Giveaway: Birthday Bash at I Never Grew Up

My friend, Vanessa, is having a birthday bash with lots of great giveaways like a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer, PRVCY jeans, children's books, Dough Girls cookie dough, Tankini Swimwear and a free embership to her MomsMakeMoneyBlogging.com course! You have to check it out and wish her a Happy Birthday!
Giveaways end Feb 27th at 7pm MST.

Pink Dandy Chatter: Set of 6 Monkey Greeting Cards Giveaway by MyDearDarling

My daughter's nickname is Monkey so I know she would go crazy over these cute little Monkey cards. I can just imagine her writing Thank You notes for Christmas with her own personalized "signature monkey" cards! How cute are they? Go take a look at the giveaway at Pink Dandy Chatter!
Pink Dandy Chatter: Set of 6 Monkey Greeting Cards Giveaway by MyDearDarling
Giveaway Ends Thursday, January 7th at noon MST

5 Minutes for Mom Christmas Giveaway

I can't believe I wasn't noticing this one sooner! But it's not too late! 5 minutes for Mom has over 30 individual giveaways! But they end this Friday--Tomorrow! So go enter your favorites or all of them! Hurry!

OUR 2009 CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY PRIZES


• $150 SHOPPING SPREE in our two stores, Pedal Cars and Retro Collectibles and A Rocking Horse to Love
  
  


• Veggie Tales Entire DVD Library


• Rock Candy Princess Electric Guitar Pack


• Shred Sled


• Hasbro Giveaway


• Epson Workforce 600 all-in-one Printer


• $75 Maukilo Gift Card


• Snapfish Photo Cards


• Sesame Street:Celebrating 40 years of Sunny Days DVD


• Band Hero Super Bundle


• Melissa & Doug Grocery Store/Lemonade Stand


• Young Scientists Club Science Kit


• Tickets to see Finian’s Rainbow on Broadway


• Wiggles Prize Pack


• Kids Trayblecloth and Activity Center


• Moody Mamas Maternity Wardrobe


• Doll House Building Blocks


• 5-in-1 Tasty Baker


• RUVAcards Giveaway


• Things Remembered Giveaway


• Oreck Halo Vacuum


• Child’s Sewing Kit and a Twelve Days of Christmas Ornament Set from The Land of Nod.


• Minky Dinky baby blanket


• $250 Gift Certificate to Mommy Tags


• Pillow Pet


• Dayspring Jesus Is The Gift Snowflake Home Collection


• minui Handysitt portable high chair


• Playskool/Hasbro Toys For Boys


• Hasbro Toys for Girls


• Playskool Explore ‘N Grow Toys for Baby


• Lands’ End Cashmere Blend Throw


• Spa Robe and Gift Certificate to EdibleGiftsPlus.com


• Ben 10 Alien Creation Challenge


• French Toast School Uniform Wardrobe


• Personalized Jewelry from Isabelle Grace


• Trunki Ride-on Suitcase


• Gifts for baby


• Cheeky and Swank Magnetic Bibs

Giveaway: Personalized Photo Keepsake

My friend, "Gert," over at Chicken Scratches is having a great giveaway from her Etsy Shop! Perfect for this time of year! How cute is this ornament? And of course you get to personalize it with your own photos! I am thinking it would make a beautiful keepsake of your past year. A new baby? Wedding? Family Portrait? I love it. She is so talented! Go take a look at all of her fun stuff at her Etsy shop and then go enter her contest! She's asking that you spread the word about her contest and shop through your blog or facebook, etc. and that is how you get an entry (don't forget to tell her about it in the comments). The winner of this giveaway will be announced on November 20, 2009!