Cyber Monday: Make Online Shopping Work for You

Cyber Monday: the biggest online shopping event of the holiday season. After the post-Thanksgiving Black Friday shopping spree, we can enjoy the safer and more peaceful online shopping of Cyber Monday. But even online shopping can be challenging. Every store and merchandiser is vying for your shopping dollar. They ply you with coupons, free shipping and "great deals." How do you navigate the ocean of internet commerce? Here's your shopper's guide to Cyber Monday deals. Read more

Skips the Cellphone Apps, Games for Kids this Season

Popular items for the holiday shopping season are cellphone games and applications for children. Education and health experts say parents should skip all apps. Developmentally, they say, kids need unstructured, creative play, not games like those played on a tiny, digital screen. Here are facts about kids and cellphone apps. Cellphone apps are being used as the new "plug-in babysitter," too. All this digital interaction may hurting kids, not helping them. Read more

Free Barbie Doll and Tawny Horse Set with $15 Purchase

Check your local retail store toy department for "Free Barbie Doll & Tawny Horse" offer. So far, I've seen it at Meijer (in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois) and Big Lots. It may be at Walmart, Target, Costco and Toys R Us, too. Here's how to get it:

* Spend $15 on Barbie products (from the toy department only) and you'll get a coupon for a free doll and horse set ($19.99 value) like the one shown at the left. Products can be clearance and sale items.

* Mail: The original sales receipt (s) with products purchased between 10/1/11-12/31/11 (look for receipts on Barbie products you've already bought). Be sure to get a gift receipt.

* The coupon, available at purchase.

* The UPC codes on the product (if giving as a gift, just cut the code away from the package.)

* $3 check for S/H

Mail to the address on the coupon. Mine says Meijer Free Barbie Doll and Tawny Horse Promotion, P.O. Box 1229, Aurora N.Y. 14052. (Different stores may have different addresses). Must be postmarked by 1/15/12.

Free Printable Coloring Page Manger Scene Nativity Set

Are you looking for great Bible, religious and Christmas crafts for little ones? Here is a free printable nativity scene with cut and paste coloring pages to make a complete manger scene using paper towel tubes. Catholic Icing is a nifty mom-made website for young and old. Lacy designs some beautiful coloring pages for children. She's really outdone herself on this advent nativity scene craft. She created eight coloring pages that you can click and print directly from her blog. Each page features different characters from the nativity scene. Read more