I have to tell you about these new shoes for Llany, that I am Lovin’.

They’re cute right?

Sporty.

Practical.

But that’s not the only reason why I’m Lovin’ them.

Check this out…

This is why I love these shoes!

Brilliant right?!

This takes the guess work out of trying to find the next new size shoe while in the store.

It’s also going to really come in handy a few months from now, with figuring out if he’s fussing because he’s grown out of the shoes and his toes are truly scrunched and hurting, or if he’s just pulling my leg because he’d rather be barefoot.

Been there, done that.

I also just really like looking at his cute little toes through that window. It tickles me inside. I know… I’m weird.

I’m always excited when I see people thinking outside the box and putting good ideas into action. Shoes have been around forever and it would be easy for executives to huff and puff and “nay” the proposal to implement a new idea like putting a window in the bottom of little kids shoes to help mom’s out. Mom’s have been, and will certainly still, buy shoes without this extra feature.

But I sure do appreciate this extra feature.

Thank you Starter, and thank you Walmart.

And by the way… no… I wasn’t paid or solicited for this review in any way. I just came across these while shopping at Walmart this week, and I loved them so much I had to share it with all of you.

Have a great weekend! And go buy some of these cool shoes!

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Does your city have an “Old Town”? What’s it like?

You may have heard of Old Town San Diego, a well known historic district in Southern California. It’s made up of museums and historic buildings such as preserved adobe homes, an old schoolhouse, a historic blacksmith shop, San Diego’s first Newspaper office, and a super creepy old mansion called the Whaley house.

I was taken to the Whaley house in 4th grade on a school field trip, and the problem with the Whaley house is that it has a reputation for being haunted. At the beginning of the tour they tell you all about the evil criminals which were tried in the house’s courtroom, and hung outside as a result of a guilty verdict. They also tell you about two of the Whaley children who died in the home due to disease and an accident in the backyard. They tell you all about the haunting and ghosts that have been seen, photographed, smelt, and felt in the house and then they send you… in my case an 8 year old… off to explore the house and take pictures.

FREAKED… ME… OUT!!! For days! And nights. Yep… it was mostly the many nights after that, when I was especially FREAKED OUT!!!

Old Town San Diego has some GREAT Mexican Food and there are always neat artisan booths and shops to explore, but for Family Fun we prefer an Old Town that you’ve probably never heard of, located about 60 miles north east of San Diego, in the city of Temecula.

As a young child living in San Diego, my family and I would take trips to the city of Ontario, about a two hours drive north, nearly every other weekend to visit my Grandparents and everyone else on my dad’s side of the family. On most trips we would make a stop half way in the little horse town of Temecula to take a bathroom break and eat pizza at Scarcella’s, feed ducks in the duck pond, or grab soft serve ice cream cones from the Corner Deli in Old Town.

The city of Temecula has boomed from a population of a few thousand residents in the 1980’s, to a population now of over 90,000. Thankfully amidst all the growth, the residents, businesses, and city officials have embraced the history still preserved in Old Town, and have maintained much of the authentic look and feel of the Wild West.

Old Town Temecula today has retained a collection of buildings, still in use, which go as far back as 1890, when the small town was built up by wealthy cattle ranchers. Prior to 1890 Temecula was one stop on a Southern California stage coach route, and before that, it was settled by Spanish ranchers who received California land grants as a result of the Mexican American War. Perhaps the oldest group of citizens native to the area however, are the local tribe of Pechanga Indians. Their tribe claims to have been present in the area for more than 10,000 years and their mythology teaches that life on earth began in the Temecula Valley, which was named “Exva Temeeku” meaning the union place of Sky Father and Earth Mother.

Indians, cowboys, stage coaches, and the Old West… COOL!

I mean come on! You can’t get a more authentic Old West feel, than in a town where the street (first paved in 1915) is lined with a wood planked boardwalk, and a pile of fresh road apples.

AU-THEN-TIC!

Did I mention you need to watch your step?

Each year Old Town Temecula is host to several festivals that draw crowds from San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, and other neighboring cities. Some of our family favorites include the Rod Run, Bluegrass Festival, Hot Summer Nights Concert Series, Old Western Days complete with Bank Robbery re-enactment, and the Street Painting Festival shown above.

Along with the festivals, weekend farmer’s markets, and amidst the town’s old west charm, there are several great places for families to eat, shop, learn, and play.

Sugar Babies is a Children’s Boutique that always has items I go “ga-ga” over. Their selection of handpicked items include children and babies clothing, shoes, hats, socks, blankets, plush animals, specialty wood toys, puzzles, and more.

One of my favorite items at Sugar Babies is this Tootles Crayon Holder Apron for the little female artist. They also carry fabulous handmade tu-tus and embellished onesies.

The Old Town Sweet Shop carries all the great nostalgic candy you will remember from childhood. The owners say the most popular phrase you will hear from happy customers is “remember these?”

Some of our family’s favorite treats from the Old Town Sweet Shop are samples of their “Fresh Made” Fudge, the retro candy, the wide assortment of Jelly Bellies, and their ice cream cones.

My kids will not accept a trip to Old Town Temecula  without a stop at the Sweet Shop.

The Temecula Fruit Market is the perfect place for those fresh picked cravings. With an assortment of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and honey from local growers it’s tough to walk out, without something tucked into a brown paper sack for later.

Temecula’s first Bank, built in 1914, has been preserved and turned into a restaurant with great Mexican Food, now simply known as, The Bank. If you make a reservation you can actually request seating for your family inside the original bank vault.

The best family BBQ restaurant on the planet… in my humble opinion… can be found at Sweet Lumpy’s BBQ. My kids love eating the peanuts and getting to throw the shells right on the floor. And the BBQ sauce is sweet and delicious… even my picky toddler loves it. I highly recommend the Pulled Pork Sandwich or Ribs. Yum! Yum!

For a fantastic Hamburger, a delicious Vanilla Coke with the most perfect tiny balls of ice (I’m weird) and an an outdoor seat with a view of everything happening on the street, we love eating at Mad Madeline’s Grill.

And, when visiting Old Town with kids, you can’t miss out on Professor Pennypickles Children’s Museum and Gift Shop. It’s stepping out of the Old West and into a playful lab of children’s experimentation with all kinds of fun exhibits and activities. We could spend half the day in here alone!

My kids LOVE this place!

Old Town is also home to the Temecula Museum where you can find out more about the stories behind the buildings that still remain, and the exciting details of generations of cowboys and Indians who have called Temecula, “Home.”

Also, a nifty little detail easily missed is this authentic jail cell tucked back in between some shops. You’ll probably have to ask somebody to point you towards it because it’s easily missed if you don’t know where to look. I wont tell you what’s inside… you’ll have to find that out for yourselves.

And Mommies… after a day of treats and entertainment for the kids, don’t miss out on something for yourself from the Cafe Bravo Coffee House. They provide amazing home baked goodness, fantastic in house roasted coffee, and a charming and relaxing atmosphere.

On a hot summer day, one of my personal favorites, is their Ice Shivered Caramello topped with homemade whipped cream.

And one more great place for Mom is the The Spice Merchants which is the cutest little gourmet store that carries a selection of over 300 spices & blends, as well 65 loose-leaf teas. I can always find great gifts here, especially for those hard to buy for people who seem to already have “everything.” The Spice Merchants staff are great at helping to assemble gift ensembles of complimentary spices and cooking accessories. I’ll admit, it’s tough to walk out without a little something for myself too.

So… we’ve been meandering through Old Town, shopping, eating, and enjoying the summer sun in the wild west.

What has your family been doing?

Link Up, and tell us all about it!

This post linked to: Summer’s Simple Things

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I love supporting creative Mompreneurs!

This is Jessica. She’s a wife, Stay-at-home-Mom, Homemaker, Blogger, and among many other things, the creative hands and mind behind the beautiful accessories at Surfer Dudette’s Spot on Etsy.

Her creations are handmade, customizable, and beautifully feminine.

Like this…

Feel beautiful with a flower in your hair. Perfect for adults and children alike. Completely hand sewn onto a silver clip. Has a little bit of glue for reinforcement and can be ordered in different colors.

And this…

This romantic bracelet is completely hand sewn. Just tie the ribbon in a bow around your wrist and add some charm to your outfit.

And this…

I love this piece. It’s totally unique, super stylish, a little bit edgy, and still perfectly feminine.

And this one.

This beautiful one of kind necklace is sweet and sultry.

The ribbon ties in a bow and runs down your back for a dramatic effect.

And… if you love it too, then you’ve stumbled upon the right post, because Surfer Dudette is generously giving this one away to one lucky winner!

All you have to do to enter this giveaway is visit Surfer Dudette’s shop on etsy, and then come back here and tell me your favorite piece from her collection.

It’s as simple as that.

And as a bonus, Surfer Dudette is offering a special bonus to ALL MommyTopics.com readers…

When you make a purchase at Surfer Dudette’s etsy shop in the month of July 2010, simply mention that you saw her on MommyTopics.com and receive one of these hand made flower clips with your order, absolutely FREE. (Colors and fabric may vary)

So what are you waiting for?… Start shopping!!!

And, after you’ve shopped around on Surfer Dudette’s site, don’t forget to come back here and leave a comment about your favorite items, for a chance to win that awesome necklace.

- This giveaway is open to all residents in the USA and Canada.

- Please only one comment per person.

- You may leave a comment between Tuesday, July 7, 2010 and Monday, July 19, 2010 at 10PM, PST to be eligible to win.

- One winner will be randomly selected and announced here on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 10AM PST.

Jessica can also be found blogging about her life at Stay At Home Mommy Saga.

Linked to: Blue Cricket Designs, The Boardwalk Bragfest, Show Us What You’re Workin’ With, Look What I Made, Make It Yours, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Fireflies and Jello, Thrifty Thursday, Beyond the Picket Fence, Things I Love Thursday, Strut Your Stuff Thursday, Make It Wear It, I’m Lovin’ It Fridays, Frugalicious Friday, Look At Me Party, Check Me Out Saturday, Weekend Wrap Up, Craft Schooling Sunday, Toot Your Horn Tuesday, New Nostalgia, Tip Me Tuesday

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Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday, May 9th 2010.

I’m a Mom and I run a site called “MommyTopics” so I figured… who better than ME to take the guess work out of shopping for Moms! All I have to do is list the kinds of things that I, and my other Mommy friends, would love to receive. So… here they are…

(For the Mom’s who are reading this post, here are some great ideas to pass on to hubby and the kids when they start asking for clues as to what you might like. You can even send the link for this post to your husband in an email or on Facebook and I’m sure he’ll appreciate the road map!)

And of course this post is also full of all kinds of great ideas for Grandma, Sisters, Aunties, and Friends who are great Mothers and Mothering Types that need to be celebrated this coming weekend.

Here are three great lotions with fantastic scents for Spring and Summer from Bath and Body Works. Coconut Vanilla, Lemon Vanilla, and White Citrus. All three scents can be purchased in array of products from perfume sprays, to lotions, to soaps, and more.

Available only at Bath and Body Works - Each lotion retails for $10.50 and is currently part of a special in store and online promotion of “Buy 2, Get 1 FREE” or “Buy 3, Get 2 FREE.”

This is a collapsible Salad Spinner. It removes all the water from washed produce and this one collapses for easier storage. If Mom loves making salads, she’ll love this! I know I would!

Walmart $24.96

MommyTopics online store - $20.99 - eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping

You can see pictures and read my RAVING REVIEW of the prequel to this book titled “Hello Cupcake.” I just received “What’s New Cupcake” last week for my birthday and my whole family has loved sitting together and looking through it. We are all so amazed by their cupcake creations and I can’t wait to tackle some of them.

Kids will be thrilled to give this gift to Mommy and to spend time looking at it with her and making some of the treats in it together.

Barnes and Noble $12.10 in store or online

MommyTopics Store $11.53 – Ships in 24 hours – eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping

Speaking of Cupcakes… Maybe you’d like to whip up a delicious treat for Mom to enjoy on Mother’s Day. You can get my recipe for these AMAZING Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes that are so irresistable and so easy to make.

These three new candles from Bath and Body Works have great spring and summer scents of Summer Melon, Sunflower, and Strawberry Patch. They are so adorable and would look great anywhere in the house as well as outside for warm summer night meals on the patio.

Bath and Body Works online or in store – $12.50 each – and party of a “Buy 1, Get 1 50% OFF” promotion

This is a nifty new tool for Mom from the Martha Stewart Kitchen Collection. It’s a cutting board that is long enough to fit across the kitchen sink with each end resting on the counter, and the colander hanging over the drain. The colander is removable for easy storage or for when cooks want to brush scraps off the board and strait into the disposal. This is such a great gadget for washing, and cutting  fruit, vegetables, and other foods, right over the sink.

Macy’s in store or online $29.99

These are external hard drives and if you have a Mom in your life who loves taking digital photos and videos, this may be just what she needs. An external hard drive can be hooked up to her computer and used to store photos and videos that take up a lot of memory. Having this handy little accessory will free up hard drive space on the computer and create a safe place for photo and video storage that can travel with you and be accessible in the unfortunate event of a main computer hard drive lock-up or crash! We’ve all been there right! Don’t lose photos again!

Price Range is $70 – $150 and can be purchased at Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and pretty much anywhere else computers are sold.

Check out this cute Chalk Board Coffee Cup for Mom. You can write a special “We Love You MOM” message on it, fill it with a bag of her favorite candy, and Viola! A Cute creative gift she’ll love and use again and again.

MommyTopics online Store – $10.00 – Available for FREE Super Saver Shipping

You know what goes perfect with a great cup of coffee? This Lemon DREAM Cream Cake! Grab the simple recipe, make it for Mom, and trust me… this cake will change her life!!!

Here are two very popular and FANTASTIC cookbooks for Mom.

“The Pioneer Woman Cooks” is a book full of good ol’ down home country comfort food like fried chicken and red velvet cake.

“The Steamy Kitchen” takes the mystery and guess work out of creating delicious Asian cuisine at home.

Barnes and Noble – $17.39 PW Cooks and $20.12 The Steamy Kitchen

MommyTopics online store - $16.50 PW Cooks and $18.45 The Steamy Kitchen – both available for FREE Super Saver Shipping

This fantastic Mentha Body Wash by C.O. Bigelow can make leaving the shower almost as enjoyable as being in it. This body wash contains a bit of Peppermint oil, so after you’ve lathered it on, washed it off, and stepped out into the cool air, your skin tingles all over. It’s one of my personal favorites and I always have some on hand.

Bath and Body Works -  $12.00 and this week part of a “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” promotion

Also at Bath and Body Works you can find these fantastic sweet tasting Mentha Lip Shines by C.O. Bigelow. They come in several different tinted shades as well as clear, add great shine, and contain peppermint oil that makes your lips tingle.

The last friend I recommended this to said she put it on for the first time when she got in her car right after buying it and… it changed her life.

I swear.

That’s what she said.

“It changed my life.”

Bath and Body Works – $7.00 – $7.50 ea. and this week part of a “Buy 2 Get 1 FREE” promotion

And last but certainly NOT LEAST, a nice Gift Certificate that can be redeemed at a day spa for a facial, pedicure, or good long scalp massage is one of my personal favorite gifts. What’s great about this choice is you don’t have to decide which treatment to purchase for Mom. Just find a nice day spa and request a gift certificate that fits the price of your budget. Then Mom can view the services available and decide which one to order for herself! Perfect!

I hope this post has helped with some great ideas for Mom this Mother’s Day. For even more ideas and ideas specifically geared toward “expecting” Mommies, click here.

Also, check out my MommyTopics online Store for so many ideas it will make your head explode! Be careful! Have Fun!

And Dads… Maybe you aren’t a confident baker but you really would love to get the kids involved in whipping up a fun treat for Mom on Mother’s Day. Look no further!

This Barrel Cake is so easy to create, can be made with Mom’s favorite candies, and the kids will remember the FUN they had making it, and eating it with Mom, forever!

Or…

Mom, gather up the kiddos and make this cake for Grandma! Click here to get the simple recipe and easy step by step instructions!

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

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Thank you so much to everyone who visited my Amazon Store, and a double thank you to those of you who made purchases.

I need to make 20  more sales to be bumped up into the next commission bracket through the Amazon Associates program.

Take a peek today if you have some time. I’ve added several new items to most of the categories.

I’ve also been so inspired by the warmth of Spring, I can hardly wait for summer, so I’ve created a “Summer Fun” category full of great items for families to use as the days get warmer.

Okay… the part you’ve all been waiting for…

And the winner of the $50 Amazon Gift Card is….

MessyMommy: Submitted on 2010/03/09 at 7:42pm - “I would love the Bringing Up Girls book! I have Bringing Up Boys and love it!”

Congratulations Messy Mommy!!! Send an email to me at giveaways@mommytopics.com.

Happy Easter everyone!

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…

This week I’m launching the opening of my new Online MommyTopics.com Amazon store.

And in honor of this grand opening I’m giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Card… no purchase necessary.

But first… Did you know that when you make a purchase through my Amazon store or the links on my site, I receive a commission? Ads and this new store help me to turn my blogging hobby into a profitable venture for this Stay-At-Home, Home-Schooling-Mom.

So, if you’re going to purchase books and products online anyway, why not do it through me and make a contribution to my little family? It will cost you the same and it will really help us out.

Now onto the Giveaway…

All you have to do to be eligible to win this Amazon gift card is check out my store and leave a comment on this post about an item you liked or found interesting, or an item you didn’t find, but think should be added.

Simple as that!

One entry per person please. All entries must be in by 10pm pacific time, on March 31, 2010. One winner will be randomly selected and announced on Friday, April 2, 2010 by 10am.

Once confirmation emails have been exchanged between MommyTopics.com and the winner, the $50 Amazon gift card will be delivered immediately through email.

And remember… anytime you make a purchase through the MommyTopics Amazon store, you’ll be sending a commission my way. And if you don’t find anything you’re interested in today, come on back another time as I will be adding exciting new items regularly.

I really appreciate your support!

Click here to start shopping. There is also a tab titled “Store” at the top of this website next to, “Home” “About” and “Contact.”

Happy Shopping, and Happy Commenting!!! I can’t wait to see who wins the $50!

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An hour north of San Diego, California, surrounded by mountain ranges in a quaint little valley, is the pituresque shopping and dining delight of Old Town Temecula.

I first started visiting Old Town Temecula as a very young girl. Twice a month my parents would take my brother and I to visit our grandparents in Ontario, California. One of my favorite things about making the trip from San Diego was stopping in Old Town Temecula on our way and getting an ice cream cone from the Corner Deli. That particular shop closed down years ago, but Old Town Temecula has continued to grow and develop into a popular Southern California destination.

Old Town is a wonderful place to visit for unique shopping, fine dining, and a quaint small town atmosphere reminiscent of the Old West. Some of the fabulous vendors include: The Temecula Olive Oil Company, the Rancho Fruit Market, The Farmer’s Wife Gifts, Cafe Bravo Coffee House, The Gambling Cowboy’s Chophouse and Saloon, the Dog House Hot Dogs, Sweet Lumpy’s Western BBQ, Saturday morning Farmer’s Market made up of locally grown produce and products, several antique stores, the Temecula Cheese Company, Cactus Flower Apparel, Rosa’s Cantina Mexican Food, The Rootbeer shop,  Palumbo’s Italian Bistro, the Swing Inn Cafe, The Edge Fine Dining Restaurant, and among many, many more vendors, one of my personal favorites… the Spice Merchants.

This is one of my favorite places to shop. Every time I visit I always find something new and amazing!

At the Spice Merchant you have a chance to experience a sensory journey through the spices of the world!

Over 350 fresh, high quality spices, herbs, and blends.

A variety of rices from around the world.

Here is a perfect example of the inspiring ingredients you’ll find that you never even knew existed.

At least, I never knew green bamboo rice existed.

Unique gifts including unusual utensils, spice racks, grinders, mortar and pestles.

A variety of honey.

I bet you never thought about Honeys having different flavors based on the different flowers bees who make them, retrieve pollen from.

Orange Blossom Honey, Clover Honey, Mountain Sage Honey, and by golly out here in good ol’ California we even have Avocado Blossom Honey.

Who knew?

Not me… that’s who… er… not knew…. I mean….

Never mind!

A wonderful assortment of loose-leaf teas and accessories.

And beautiful gift boxes for all occasions.

And speaking of gift boxes…

The generous Spice Merchants are offering this great gift box, to one of YOU!

Let’s see what’s inside shall we?

Oooooooh! Aaaaaaaah!

Want to see more?

I knew you would.

Now let’s take an even closer look.

This is a bottle of Tahitian Vanilla extract. I used some (not out of this bottle… I have my own Baker’s Gift Box) in my Christmas sugar cookies, and it was wonderful. You might think Vanilla is Vanilla is Vanilla, but you are mistaken. This Vanilla tastes and smells wonderful. It makes you sit up and take notice.

Yum, yum, yummy!

You also get a bottle of Dutched Cocoa and Allspice. I’ve been experimenting with these two in a recipe for New Year’s. I can’t give you the details now, but it’s gonna be GOOD.

This is Vietnamese Cinnamon. It’s much stronger than most… perhaps all… cinnamons you’ve dealt with before. This bottle will last you quite a while and the taste and smell is wonderful.

And last, but CERTAINLY not least is this magical stuff.

Cinnamon Sugar.

It’s pure cane sugar in a raw crystal form that has been infused with cinnamon flavor. Just imagine this sprinkled on whipped creme in your coffee, gracing the surfaces of Snicker-doodle cookies, or beautifying the top of an apple pie, crumble, or crisp.

Flavored sugars are one of the most inspiring things I’ve seen at the Spice Merchants.

Cinnamon Sugar, Lemon Sugar, Lime Sugar…

Raspberry Sugar – recommended for sprinkling on cookies, cupcakes, and cakes. Also can be used to coat the rim of a glass of lemonade or other beverage. Try mixing some into a green salad with Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar Dressing.

Hello! Are those awesome ideas?

And check out this one…

Sweet Onion Cane Sugar – I knew I had to have this the moment I laid eyes on it. I love savory with sweet dishes and this one opens up a whole new realm of possibilities. Some of it’s suggested uses are to sprinkle it on buttered popcorn, cooked asparagus, or grilled prawns.

Now these last two lovely sugars – raspberry and onion – are not part of the giveaway. But… don’t worry your pretty little head.

Anything mentioned in this post that has caught your attention can still be yours.

Just call the Spice Merchants and place an order – Mon – Sat 10am – 5pm and on Sunday until 4pm: 951 587 2223

Mention that you saw the Spice Merchants on MommyTopics.com and get a 10% discount on your order when you call or stop in!

You can also view available products at www.spicemerchants.biz, then make the call to place your order from the Old Town Temecula, California Store.

They love it when people call and place orders… really… they do. They are waiting for your call.

The Spice Merchants products make fantastic Christmas presents and of course will add flavor and flair to any of your holiday dishes.

Now… back to the GIVEAWAY.

All this can be yours.

All you have to do is place a comment at the bottom of this post telling me how your Christmas shopping and gift wrapping is going. Inquiring minds want to know… Have you been done with all of it for weeks and is it all neatly placed beneath the tree? Are you still in need of some last minute gifts? Are you like me and haven’t even started yet? Are you completely stuck wondering what to buy for that one person who already has everything? Or, are you someone who doesn’t purchase Christmas gifts… if so, tell me what you’ve been doing with yourself lately, instead!

This GIVEAWAY is open to all U.S. residents and runs now through Thursday, December 17 at 9pm Pacific Standard Time.

Only one comment per person please.

One winner will be chosen randomly and announced in the GIVEAWAYS section of this blog on Friday, December 18, 2009 at 10am. Please check back then to see if you won and to exchange information so I can get this lovely Gift Box to you before Christmas.

Happy Commenting! And shopping… and baking…. and wrapping… and shipping…. and…. all the craziness that is your life during this wondrous holiday season!

Happy, happy, happiness to you!

And by the way….

If you can make it to Old Town Temecula this weekend you wont be disappointed!

Outdoor Ice Skating in the New Town Square begins this Friday the 18th and runs through Dec 31. The whole street is decorated in Christmas Cheer and when the sun goes down, Old Town is all aglow with Christmas lights everywhere. Take a horse drawn carriage ride, enjoy the music of strolling Dickens Carolers, Visit Santa’s Cottage and take a family picture, shop till you drop, and enjoy dinner out… in Old Town Temecula!

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I visited my local Berean store last week and the owner told me that they are absolutely open and getting in new inventory every week. She asked me to pass the news along and encourage others to shop there this Christmas.

So, while I was in the store I decided to meander around and see what kinds of things the store had to offer that I thought would make good Christmas gifts.

There was waaaaaay too much great stuff to list it all here… But… I thought I’d at least mention a few things just to get your mind moving in that direction and help you consider making Berean one of your Christmas Shopping destinations.

I love this. It’s the kind of thing that would look beautiful in any home and set a tone of peace and faith. It’s also the kind of thing that a lot of women would love to have, but might not spend the money to purchase it for themselves while so busy budgeting to spend on socks for the kids, groceries for all, car repairs, gifts for friends, and on and on the list goes.

Here’s another one. This one would look so neat on a bookshelf with books stacked around it, and smaller books stacked on top of the little shelves over the words.

I love this one. What a beautiful message to be seen by your whole family, day in and day out on a mantle above the fireplace in the center of your home. It’s a great reminder that I would love to pass by throughout my day to remember not to get huffy and puffy and caught up in the hustle and bustle of my own plans but to keep God’s plans as my focus. It would look beautiful with little tea light candles on it’s shelves.

These are neat too!

You just peel them off and stick them on any bare wall that needs a little sprucing up.

The home decor section at Berean is filled with many beautiful accessories that would make great gifts this Christmas… Clocks, paintings, welcome signs, candles, plates, throws, tree ornaments, the list goes on and on.

And, I know… I know. All these gifts have been for women.

Berean has a huge selection of gifts for everyone…. particularly books. I won’t even begin to attempt to list ALL the books that would make great gifts… there are soooooo many, but I will mention a couple that newly caught my eye on this visit.

This is an excellent book for any man. I think it’s great for women to read as well, to understand men. I’ve read it myself and I loved it. Kind of a weird gift for a woman though. Just give it to a man, and then his wife can sneak away with it and read it too.

Here’s the latest and greatest DVD for the kiddos, just released this past November 2009. It has a silly little message that helps convey the truth about who St. Nicholas was and how that relates to who Santa Claus is.

This is a huge floor puzzle with large pieces for little hands just learning to put puzzles together, that also teaches the ABC’s, and has Noah’s Ark at it’s center. Berean has tons of toys, games, and books for kids of all ages…. so many in fact that it’s hard to decide which ones to buy.

This is a great new CD for the teenage crowd with a little sampling of songs from all of their favorite Christian artists.

The boys will like this new CD from Skillet.

The girls will like this new CD from Francesca Battistelli.

Now this is something I already have and LOVE! This is a Chronological Bible. I recommend it for the well trained Bible student who has been reading and studying the Bible for years.  This Bible offers a new understanding and perspective by taking every single original passage found in the New King James Bible and organizing them into Chronological order.

So for example, when you are reading about the life of David in the book of 2 Samuel, there are Psalms that David wrote mixed in with it.  When you are reading the gospels, instead of being divided into Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the four books are mixed and spliced together in chronological order.

It’s a really neat new way to understand the timeline of events and comparisons between passages that get overlooked in the original bible when the relating passages are spaced so far away from each other.

I also love this new bible. It’s called the Notetakers Bible. It’s beautifully bound on the outside. This one is the Men’s Edition.

Inside it’s laid out with wide, lined, margins on every page so that you can take and keep notes right inside your Bible.

This is a great gift for that person in your life who is always taking notes in Church or who loves to journal along with their Bible study.

Can you imagine what a treasure this kind of Bible would be years down the road to a son, daughter, or grandchild after it has been well used and written in by a parent or grandparent through their years of Bible study. Whoever you give it to can use it to create their own little Bible commentary that can be passed on to loved ones for generations.

This is the Women’s Edition of the Notetakers Bible. I’m pretty sure the only difference between the Men’s and Women’s Editions is the difference in the cover artwork. Both are beautifully bound and would make great gifts.

Here’s one more bible that caught my attention and could be given to someone who already loves the bible and could take away something from this new and very different version. I’m so interested in American History and understanding our Christian heritage in this nation but to be honest I have a hard time, finding the time to really study both my bible and then separately, American History. This Patriot’s bible offers a chance to get snippets of great moments and quotes from the history of America’s Christian Heritage right along side studying the Bible.

And, if that last suggestion makes you crazy because you believe American Patriotism and God’s Holy Bible have no business coexisting in the same book… you might like this one…. Jesus for President. Looks… thought provoking.

A lot of people have been hit hard by the economy this year and therefore are planning on a very different Christmas than usual. I know in my family that this year’s Christmas spending budget is minuscule compared to how it has been in years past. But the dip in our incomes as Americans has created an opportunity for a lot of us re-prioritize our lives… rethink our debts, reorganize our budgets, and refocus on the things in life that really matter.

This year, consider the small businesses in your area… the spice shops, children’s boutiques, small bookstores, and specialty markets that are also struggling to make ends meet. They don’t have the marketing budgets like huge retail chains who can afford to keep commercials in your face, and their names at the forefront of your shopping mind. Small businesses could use a boost this time of year by you doing some of your Christmas shopping with them.

This year, instead of only going to the mall and spending on highly sought after, high priced labels, consider a store like Berean that offers gifts that will have a lasting impression on someones soul.

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The Musician’s Toolbox, LLC

www.1stpersonguitar.com

Ah, Christmas. The perfect time of year to buy that guitar your spouse / child has been wanting.  Christmas is the season of sales and discounts, and this is especially true when it comes to guitars.  So, sit tight and stay with me, I’m going to try to impart years of guitar-shopping into one practical article by anticipating some great questions along with links to www.MusiciansFriend.com (Which is essentially Guitar Center Online.)

Question #1: “How much is this going to cost me?”

Answer: Less than a lot, but more than $100.00.  Two things to keep in mind:  there are acoustic guitars and electric guitars.  Both are acceptable as a first guitar, but I would recommend an acoustic guitar.  It’s portable, (you don’t have to plug it in) and therefore you don’t have to spend the extra money on cables, amps and the like.  That said, if you know your spouse / child wants an electric guitar, there are cost-effective ways to purchase one. (Including all the accessories). More on that in a minute.

There are essentially three price categories of guitars:

1.) $99-$250

2.) $250-$500

3.) $500–3rd mortgage.

Question #2: “What brand should I buy?”

Answer: Choose one of the following, and you’ll have made a good decision, regardless of the purchase price.

Acoustics:

1.) Fender

2.) Gibson

3.) Taylor

4.) Epiphone

5.) Takamine

6.) Yamaha

Electrics: (the “Starter-Packs” are a cost-effective way to get the guitar, cables, and an amp so your loved one can start playing Christmas morning)

1.) Fender

2.) Gibson

3.) Epiphone

4.) Ibanez

5.) Gretsch

The basic rule is, the big brands are usually big brands for a reason, because they have a history of producing instruments that last. Stay away from “obviously cheap” guitars.  If it looks like it will fall apart in a couple of months, it will.

Question #3: “Ok, so where do I buy the guitar?”

Answer: Either Best Buy, Sam Ash, or Guitar Center.

If you buy the guitar from a big retail chain, you can haggle with them about the price and the return policy.  Always try to get the sales person to throw in picks, straps, tuners, or other accessories with the purchase of the guitar. Walk in, say, “I have exactly $XXX amount of cash to spend, and I want the hookups. If you hook me up now, I’ll come back and find you personally and spend more money during your New Year’s Sale.”

Question #4: “What else should I buy?”

Answer: You need to buy a chromatic tuner if you want that guitar to sound good and not like a train wreck.  A chromatic tuner is the easiest way to tune that guitar, and it’ll be an extra $15-40. You also need some guitar picks and a good starter DVD that teaches the basics.

Chromatic Tuners:

Korg

Boss

Beginning DVD:

The Musician’s Toolbox Learn Guitar Chords DVD

Guitar picks can be purchased for a few cents each wherever you buy your guitar, but you should be able to get your sales person to throw those in for free.

If you have any questions, you can email me and I’d be happy to help:

1stpersonguitar@gmail.com

Happy Shopping!

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Don’t you just love Pat and Oscar’s breadsticks?

Yum, yum, yummy!

Once in a while I stop by there, just to pick up a bag of breadsticks and bring it home for the family, to eat with dinner.

Last week I was out running errands and I decided to make just such a stop for some breadsticks because I knew it would send my children and my husband into happy little fits of joy when I walked through the door with those piping hot garlicky soft sticks of yumminess.

When I pulled into a parking spot, I realized I was super thirsty and that I hadn’t eaten all day. I still had a few more errands to run so I decided along with the breadsticks to buy myself a salad for lunch… the Lemon Chicken Salad to be exact… and a large drink.

And this is when I learned about a remarkable deal!

The woman behind the counter handed me this cup.
And then she said something I’ve never heard in my entire life.

She said, “Keep this cup because it is good for FREE Refills for an entire year.”

Wait. “What?” I asked.

“The cup,” she said, “Just bring it back with you anytime you come in over the next year and you can use it to get free refills.”

“So wait… let me get this straight. Anytime I am out running errands and I need a drink because I’m just parched, I can grab my cup, walk through these doors, mosey on over to the soda fountain, fill it up, not pay a dime, and no one will stop me?” I asked.

“Well, you do have to buy something,” she said.

Aha! That’s what I was waiting for. The catch. I knew there was a catch. There’s always a catch.

“But a breadstick is only fifty-nine cents,” she said.

And when I thought about stopping in to get a drink for free and also getting a breadstick for fifty-nine cents, I realized there was no catch, because that fifty-nine cent breadstick is a BONUS!

I mean really… how could I ever pass through the doors of Pat and Oscar’s and not get at least one breadstick?

What a deal!

I’m telling you…  Head into Pat and Oscar’s this week and get yourself a cup. You wont be sorry.

Busiest shopping day of the year… I see you coming at me in a few weeks and I’m more ready now than ever. I will not be taken down this year by thirst, hunger, or lack of caffeine. I’m armed with a Free Refill Cup from Pat and Oscar’s. When I’ve got errands to run and shopping deals to conquer… I’m ready. More ready now than ever!

Thank you Pat and Oscar’s. You just made my day! Nope… You just made my year!

A year of free refills!

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