Holiday Card Checklist -- what to do to ensure the perfect family holiday card

The holidays are coming, the holidays are coming! It's time to start planning your annual holiday cards! Here's a checklist of things to do in the next 3 weeks or so:

1. If you haven't had your family holiday photos taken, now is the time. Book a photographer or set up a tripod and do it on your own. 
2. Go through last year's card list. Make sure all mailing addresses are current. Don't forget to add all the new friends you've made in the last year!
3. Family newsletter: yes or no? Some people love 'em, some hate 'em, but if you're on the love side it's time to start thinking about what you want to include.
4. Buy holiday stamps at the post office before the rush begins
5. Print out holiday address labels or order personalized ones online.
6. Last but not least, choose your holiday card designs!

Speaking of holiday card designs, check out AdoramaPix's  AdoramaPix's holiday collection. Choose from a wide range of stunning designs and paper options. Then, upload your photo and customize any holiday card with your own personal touches. Holiday snail mail has never looked so good!

Shop Now: http://bit.ly/2d7blyf 40% off greeting cards. Use code:. PXUSFAM40 Sale ends 12/20/2016 11:59 PM EST


Disclosure: I will be receiving sample cards from AdoramaPix for review.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Minted Gift Tags: Give your holiday presents an extra special touch with Minted Gift Tags

You know how babies and kids sometimes end up loving the big cardboard box that their present came in more than the present itself? It's not so different with grown-ups -- a beautifully wrapped present can generate as many oohs and ahhs as the present itself.   Bright wrapping paper, a cascade of curling ribbons, a luxurious bow, a teeny gift charm or an original gift tag -- all of those little extra special touches can go a long way towards showing your gift recipient that he or she is special to you.

For me, personalization is key. I love personalized gift tags as much as I love personalized holiday cards; not only are they ultra-convenient, they look so finished and classy-- as long as they're printed by the right company, of course.

That's why I was so delighted to discover Minted's collection of personalized holiday gift tags.  They're hanging gift tags, with a hole on one end so you can thread a ribbon through and tie it to a gift bag handle or a ribbon on a boxed present.  These are the first hanging gift tags I've seen from ANY stationery company!  I've seen (and ordered) personalized sticker gift tags as well as personalized card gift tags (with envelopes), but these hanging gift tags are so much cuter.  

Minted invited me to personalize and order any of their stationery products, and since the holidays are just around the corner, I ordered gift tags in a variety of designs.

Honestly, the hardest part was choosing a design.  I blame Minted's community of thousands of designers; as with all of Minted's stationery products, the design options for the gift tags are unparalleled.   They run the whole range of styles, from rustic to whimsical to funny to vintage to classic and more.

The level of personalization is impressive.  These gift tags really let your personality shine!  All designs come in 2 or more color schemes.  All designs let you add your name.  Some designs let you alter some or all of the text: a holiday message, the year, etc...  Some let you upload photos. Some are square. Some are rectangular.  Hopefully they'll add circular tags soon.

You can also choose from a variety of options for the back of the gift tag.  You can opt for a patterned back (which varies by design), a solid color, plain white, or you can upload a photo or logo.  It all adds up to a gift tag that's as special and unique as you are.

My gift tags have just arrived, and I couldn't be more pleased.  Everything from the paper to the printing is superb.

Just 2 things I'm bummed about: first, ribbons are not included so you have to get your own, and second, practically all the gift tags are holiday themed.   I need more non-holiday designs. -- do you know how many birthday parties my 3 kids attend each year? That's a LOT of presents to wrap and tag! Oh well -- at least I can rest easy knowing that I'll have the cutest gift cards and most eye-catching presents this holiday season.


Disclosure: Minted supplied  me with a gift card to review the holiday stationery product of my choosing.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Holiday Gift Guide 2012: Personalized Products

Do you have someone on your gift list every single year? Does it seem like you've already given every present left to give? When in doubt, give a personalized gift.  It's much more special than a gift card, and even if they already have the same item, making it personal makes it special.  The simple act of adding a name, or even an initial -- to a mug, a bracelet, a set of notecards -- lets them know they're not just one of 12 people who got the same gift because it came cheaper by the dozen.  Here are some of my favorite personalized gifts:

	I made my first Shutterfly photo book ($12.99 and up) in 2009, and I've been a big fan ever since.  Their software makes it so easy to add photos, and you can customize layouts, text and icons to your heart's content. For my mother-in-law's birthday I gave her a photo book of our holiday together in Belgium, and she was overjoyed to the point of tears. ** Giveaway alert:  Enter to win a free Shutterfly photo book at the end of this post!
	Photo canvases are gorgeous, and they're more inexpensive than you think!  Believe it or not, 8x10 canvases from Mailpix.com start at just $35! You don't have to give people photos of your kids: how about a photo of the Eiffel Tower to remind them of that perfect Paris holiday? ** Giveaway alert: I'm giving away a personalized 8x10 photo canvas from MailPix.com!
	I've always been a sucker for personalized ornaments.  I love the clay cartoon ornaments you get at craft fairs where they write your names down, but if you can't find them at a craft fair, you can get them from Personal Creations ($10 and up).  They have options for different-sized families (usually 1 through 5 family members), and you can personalize them with first names, family names, or year.
	Tired of cheap stocking stuffers that take up space and get thrown away after a week? Name labels make a practical alternative. The Mabel's Labels Tween Pack ($21) has a variety of designs, so they're not only practical, they're cool.
	I'm so in love with the individual monster letters in this Psychobaby personalized monster tees ($26), I not only gave a shout out to them in my Babies & Toddlers Gift Guide, I had to include them in this Personalized gift guide as well!  If monsters aren't your thing, check out the other personalized clothing at Psychobaby's Custom Shop. * Giveaway alert:  enter to win a personalized monster tee from Psychobaby at my Babies & Toddlers Holiday Gift Guide!

Win a Shutterfly photo book!
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a code good for a free hardcover, 8x8, 20-page Shutterfly photo book (shiping and taxes not included).

Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which Shutterfly product you would most like to give as a present this holiday season.

Bonus Entries

1) Follow bonggamom on Instagram (5 entries)

2) Follow bonggamom on Pinterest (1 entry)

3) Pin this giveaway on your Pinterest board (1 entry -- you can use the "Pin It" button at the bottom of this page!).

4) "Like Bonggamom Finds" on Facebook and tell me which item on my Personalized Products gift guide you would most like to give/receive (1 entry)

5) Follow @bonggafinds on Twitter and tweet this (1 entry):
RT @bonggafinds Check out the Bonggamom Finds Holiday Gift Guide for 2012: gifts for all ages & stages (plus giveaways!)   http://ow.ly/fezLR

6) Follow @shop_psychobaby on Twitter and tweet this (1 entry):

RT @bonggafinds Enter to win a code for a free Shutterfly photo book!  Giveaway ends 12/3 at http://ow.ly/fpQj4  #giveaways

The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on Dec 2, 2012; I will draw a winner at random on Dec 3 and post their name after they confirm acceptance. Continental US  residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here.

Disclosure: I have reviewed select items in this gift guide in the past.  Inclusion in this guide was based solely on my personal preferences; no review samples or compensation were received for this gift guide post. Free Shutterfly photo book code was provided by Shutterfly for a past promotion.  Free Shutterfly photo book code does not include shipping or taxes and expires on Dec. 31, 2012.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.



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Psychobaby Custom Shop for the Holidays

Sometimes it feels like all the kids' clothes at the mall are made in the exact same clothing factory.  No matter which store you go to, you'll probably find ruffles sequins and flowers and fruit and candy and kittens for the girls.  You'll find trains and dinosaurs and guitars and denim and khaki and blue-and-green plaid for the boys.

If you want to break out of the cookie cutter clothing mold, look no further than Psychobaby, a line of edgy, cool babies' and children's clothing.  They carry clothing and accessories that are a little bit irreverent, a little bit funny and a whole lot of fun.  Think sushi-print bibs, Pop Art placemats, bulldog undies, Mexican Lucha Libre wrestler beanies (complete with mask!), and little black dresses for girls.  Talk about street cred!

As if the clothing they stock isn't original already, Psychobaby also has a line of personalized kids' clothing that takes the world unique to a whole new level.  You can customize onesies, shirts, sweatshirts, blankets, hats, and so much more by adding a name or selecting your child's favorite color, to create a truly one-of-a-kind item.  Here are five of my favorite personalized products from the Psychobaby Custom Shop:

It's never too early to become a football fan!  The Football Gift Set will have your MVB (Most Valuable Baby) eating, sleeping and living football from his very first coo.

Kids can rock themselves to sleep after they lay their heads on this cute personalized pillowcase, available in pink or red.

Would-be superheros can don this Hero Tee and save the world.  It has a red cape already printed on the back of the shirt, so he won't have to steal your new pillowcases.

Older kids will love this personalized skull hoodie. Check out the cool red flames on the sleeves!

My favorite for little girls:  the Beastly Babe tee!  It's the perfect combination of sweet and sassy.  It's girly, with attitude.  And since each letter is a different monster, each shirt is as unique and special as the little girl who wears it.  Psychobaby was kind enough to personalize a pair of the Beastly Babe tees for my nieces.  I've decided to give them to the girls as holiday presents -- yes, Psychobaby Custom Shop items make wonderful holiday presents!   I can't wait to see the smiles on their faces -- and the smile on my brother's face as he sees his little girls wearing them.





Win a PsychoBaby Personalized Tee
I'm giving away a PsychoBaby Tee on my Holiday Gift Guide for Babies and Toddlers! That's right, one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a personalized PsychoBaby Beastly Babe (for girls) or Beastly Boy (for boys) Monster Tee in their choice of size.  Click here to enter the giveaway!

Disclosure: I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Mixbook Calendar Review and Giveaway

Now that we're on the last month of the year, calendars have been appearing in all the gift shops and bookstores. Much as I love the beautiful photos on store-bought calendars, I always prefer the personal touch of photo calendars. Like everyone else, our photos are all on our computer or online, so it's really nice to be able to showcase our favorites on a calendar that anyone can see when they walk into the kitchen. It also makes a great holiday present for Alfie's parents and mine. I was recently invited to create a photo calendar on Mixbook, and I've been having so much fun creating it that I decided not to wait until my calendar arrives before sharing it with you.

Here's some information about Mixbook:
Mixbook was started with the idea that friends should be able to create books together. Though Mixbook software makes book creation easy and fun, it also allows groups of people to build books together. Now friends finally have a way to share their memories online! As the creator of the book, you can control every aspect of the book and edit or delete any page, but your friends can still give the book their own personalized stamp. Using our collaboration technology, events can now be captured from different points of view in a single book.

And here's some information about Mixbook's latest product, photo calendars:
Mixbook is the only place where you can collaborate with your loved ones and build calendars and books together. Also, unlike other photo book companies, all products are 100% customizable in that you can choose to start with blank pages or use a template that can be edited to your liking. Mixbook even has “stickers” and other personalized elements.

Creating a photo calendar with Mixbook couldn't be easier. You can start with one of 26 photo calendar designs -- and each is customizable so you can change text, layouts, holidays, events and photos -- or you can start with a blank calendar and build your own from scratch. Mixbook has an array of stickers, backgrounds, and layouts for you to add to your calendar. Their drag-and-drop interface is really easy to use, and you can stop, save and continue anytime you want.


Here are the 3 things I love best about Mixbooks:

1) There are so many ways to populate your calendar with photos. You can upload them to Mixbook; or, if like so many of us, you already have a bunch of photos online, you can get them from there, too. Mixbook lets you add photos from your Flickr, Facebook, Yahoo!, My Photos, SmugMug, PhotoBucket and Picasa accounts

2) Lots of photo calendar products let you add personalized events and holidays to the calendar grid (i.e. your kids' birthdays, your anniversary, the school auction, spring break, etc..) -- but Mixbook has the only photo calendar I know of where you can actually put photos on individual dates in the calendar grid! So you get a chance to showcase even more photos. To illustrate, check out my November layout:

The predefined layout only allows for 2 photos, but I wanted to show off some of the yummy foods we love to eat in November, so I added another photo and put a circle sticker behind it to really make it pop. I also added a photo of Alfie and me on our wedding anniversary date, and a cute turkey graphic on Thanksgiving day. I've been having so much fun putting photos of the kids on their birthdays, photos of couples on their anniversary dates, a photo of the kids licking ice cream on the last day of school, and more.

3) Even better, Mixbook is the only site I know of that allows a group of people to collaborate on the same project. So now my sister and I can create a photo book or a photo calendar for my parents, and we can upload photos of our kids separately, instead of me mailing my photos to her or vice versa. We can each design half of the book, and the collaboration feature makes it easy to keep our designs consistent and give it a nice flow. Since she lives in the Philippines and I live in the US, it's absolutely perfect!

I have nothing but good things to say about Mixbook at this point, and I'm looking forward to receiving my new Mixbook photo calendar!

Save 20% at Mixbook
Save 20% off your purchase at Mixbook with the code BONGGAMX20. This coupon does not expire!

Win a Mixbook Calendar
One lucky Bonggamom Finds winner will receive a free Mixbook fully customizable calendar with free US ground shipping (the prize will be mailed in the form of a code, which expires 01/31/11 at 11:59 pm PST). What a great chance to get a 2011 calendar just in time for the New Year!


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me which of Mixbook's 26 fully customizable photo calendar designs you like best. This entry must be completed before other entries will count.


Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment on this post for each extra entry, with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, blog comment link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.).


1) Grab my blog button and post it up on your blog (1 entry).

2) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates (1 entry).

3) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook wall (1 entry):

I entered the Mixbook photo calendar giveaway! http://ow.ly/3oJOm

4) Write this on the Mixbook Facebook wall (1 entry):

I entered the Mixbook photo calendar giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://ow.ly/3oJOm

4) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (1 entry).

5) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger (1 entry).

6) Follow Mixbook on Twitter (1 entry)

7) Tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):

Enter to win a fully customizable photo calendar from @mixbook and @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/3oJOm #giveaway

8) Join any of the other open giveaways on Bonggamom Finds (leave a comment with the name of the giveaway you joined, 1 entry per giveaway you've joined).


The Rules
This giveaway ends at midnight PST on December 24, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on December 25. I will post the winner's name in the comments section after he/she confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. Note, prize will be mailed in the form of a prize code -- code expires on 1/31/2011. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!


Disclosure: I received a code to create my own free Mixbook calendar, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Cafe Press Apron Giveaway

It's summertime, and one of our favorite summer activities is getting out the grill, slapping some chicken or fish on it, and eating dinner on our back porch. Somehow grilled meat and vegetables tastes so much better outdoors! But grilling can get messy, so I like to don an apron to protect my clothes from all the grease and charred bits. This month's Cafe Press giveaway on Bonggamom Finds is perfect for those summer barbecue parties -- a personalized apron!

Cafe Press is The place for personalized items. You can find millions of personalized gifts at CafePress – for any topic, interest, or brand! They offer a multitude of styles, colors, sizes and designs for a multitude of products -- mugs, bumper stickers, bags, hats, umbrellas, baby onesies, hoodies, shirts and more. They have a great line of bag styles that include messenger bags, beach bags, gym bags and tote bags. They have so many designs to choose from, and if you can't find a design you want, you can upload your own.

Here's one of the cute apron designs you can get on Cafe Press:
It's such a stylish way to protect your clothes, you may not want to take the apron off :)


Save 20% off your Cafe Press purchase
Use coupon code SUMMER20 to save 20%* off your next Cafe Press purchase! The discount ends July 11 so you need to act quickly!
* Save 20% off minimum orders of $40 USD, £35 GBP, $50 CAD, or $60 AUD, excluding shipping charges, gift wrap charges and applicable sales tax. Excludes Gift Certificates, Flip Minos, CafePress Groups purchases and bulk orders. Coupon code SUMMER20 must be entered at check out. Promotion starts on July 7, 2010 at 12:00 a.m. (PST) and ends on July 11, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. (PST). All orders must be from the CafePress Marketplace. Offer cannot be combined with any other coupons or promotions and may change, be modified or cancelled at anytime without notice.



Win A CafePress Apron
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive a CafePress apron in their choice of design!


Required Entry
Check out all the great aprons available on CafePress, then come back here and leave a link to your favorite design. Choose carefully, because this is the design we'll be sending you if you win! This entry must be completed before any extra entries count.


Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following, (you can only do each extra entry once; please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

1) Grab my blog button and post it up on your blog (1 entry, leave a comment with your blog URL).

2) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates by email (1 entry, leave a comment with your email address).

3) Write this on the CafePress Facebook Fan Page wall (1 entry, leave a comment with your FB id):

It's grilling season, and I entered to win a personalized Cafe Press apron on Bonggamom Finds http://tinyurl.com/332vmjc


4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook Fan Page wall (leave a comment with your FB id):

I joined the CafePress apron giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://tinyurl.com/332vmjc

5) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (1 entry, leave a comment with your FB id).

6) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(1 entry, leave a comment with your Blogger profile name).

7) Leave a comment on any of my blog posts on Finding Bonggamom (1 entry, leave a comment here with the link to the post that you commented on).

8) Join any of the other giveaways currently running on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry, leave a comment here with the name of the other giveaway you joined).

9) Tweet this up to once a day (leave a comment with a link to your tweet, 1 entry):

Enter to win a @cafepress apron in the design of your choice on @bonggafinds http://tinyurl.com/332vmjc #giveaway pls RT


Rules
This giveaway ends at midnight PST on July 25, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on July 26 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Simply Bags Personalized Totes

I love personalized tote bags, but these days it seems that everyone is already lugging around the same square canvas bag, with colored canvas straps and a monogram or name embroidered in the same color as the straps. So I was delighted to discover the huge selection of personalized styles at online retailer Simply Bags, and even more delighted to be invited to review one of their bags.

The Basics
Simply Bags makes personalized bags in a variety of styles, colors and fabrics. You can find them at www.simply-bags.com.

Here's how Simply Bags describes themselves:
Simply Bags is a specialty monogram shop offering personalized tote bags and monogrammed totes. Beautiful, personal and useful gifts. Colorful and bright combinations. Creative gift ideas ... unique laptop totes for women, couples wine tote, fashionable travel totes, monogrammed boat totes for the beach and so much more. Finished with fine detailing and professional monogramming.

The Bongga
I am simply delighted with Simply Bags! Their bags are anything but simple. They have a great choice of styles, ranging from the ubiquitous canvas tote to travel totes, lunch bags, duffel bags, beach bags, laptop bags, you name it. They come in so many cute colors and fabrics and patterns, and you can personalize any of them.

Simply Bags sent us an adorable Canvas Boat Tote in hot pink. The bag is so unique -- it has rope handles and black-and-white web striping, and I had The Pea's name embroidered on it in a black classic font.

The bag is huge, so The Pea can take it to sleepovers or to the beach or to a friend's house for a playdate (yes, she needs a bag this large for playdates because she has to take all her play paraphernalia!). It is so stylish and we've already received so many compliments on it that I kind of wish I had put my own name on it!

The Blah
The bag's handles are made of twisted rope that has been knotted at the ends so it doesn't slip out of the grommets. I love this detailing, but the ends of the rope have untwisted and frayed, and I'm a bit concerned that the rest of the rope might un-twist itself as well -- so I hot glued the ends. Alfie says you can also burn the edges so they melt into each other. Problem solved!

The Bottom Line
Simply Bags has a great line of personalized bags, with unique styles and high quality details. I've never seen such a great selection of cute personalized bags. What a wonderful gift idea!

Disclosure: I received a product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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