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Christmas Traditions: Santa’s Reindeer and Personalized Call

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Christmas Traditions

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

With Thanksgiving festivities coming to a close, I am ready to focus from the fall season to our Christmas traditions. In our home, Santa Claus is fun. My children understand who the real Santa and Mrs. Claus are, but we still have fun pretending.

One of our Christmas Eve traditions is putting out the reindeer food because the reindeer need energy while Santa is stopping by. 😉 With baggies of oatmeal and glitter (so Santa can find our house from a distance), we scatter the contents in our front yard.

If your family enjoys the Santa traditions, then you may like the reindeer cam where one can watch Santa’s reindeer while daily feedings occur at 11:00 a.m., 6:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. (EST).

For another fun opportunity, schedule a personalized phone call from Santa to your child for free. You get to choose the message and the time to call.

In kicking off the holiday season, enjoy these fun activities while using time wisely. Happy planning!

Family Fun: Thanksgiving Activities

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Thanksgiving Activities

Photograph Credit: NVT OfficeClips

As my children get a week-long fall break at Thanksgiving, I have been looking for fun activities to provide at home. With so many talented and giving bloggers, I am thrilled to highlight my favorite Thanksgiving activities from around the Internet. Enjoy!

Decorations

Recipes

Free Thanksgiving Printable Packs

Crafts

For more planning ideas, visit this list of 70 free Thanksgiving resources by The Better Mom or the list of Thanksgiving Planners from Amy’s Wandering.

As this fall season is very busy for lots of families, these resources are highlighted for your information. If your plate is full, then bypass these activities. In using time wisely, I only present this list to help those looking for Thanksgiving resources this fall season.

My plate is quite full, but I am printing lots of these Thanksgiving packs for my daughter. She loves the games and puzzles. By reinforcing her desire to learn and decorate, these printables bring lots of fun to my family. Enjoy your family activities around your table, your house, and your community. Happy planning!

Question: What Thanksgiving activities is your family planning?

2012 CardStore.com: $.99 Grandparents’ Day Card

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CardStore.com: $.99 Grandparents' Day Card

Photograph Credit: CardStore.com

Time got away from me last weekend. I created one Grandparent’s Day card, but I needed more time to capture the pictures from my files for the other card.

With a little more time this weekend, I found them. Thankfully, CardStore.com came to my rescue with another promotional code good for a $.99 Grandparent’s Day Card. Whew!

I hope you got the free card last week, but if not, then you can use promotional code CCK2099 to get one Grandparent’s Day card for $.99 with free shipping.

With Grandparent’s Day fast approaching on Sunday, September 9, I chose to have the card mailed directly to Paul’s parents. My total came to $.99 exactly.

You have until 11:59 p.m., Sunday, September 2 to order your card. In using time wisely, place your order this weekend because time is running out. 😉 Happy creating!

Question: Are you ready for Grandparents’ Day?

*EXPIRED* CardStore.com: Free Grandparents’ Day Card

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Free Card for Grandparents' Day 2012

Photograph Credit: Cardstore.com

Without Grandparents, Paul and I would burnout. Our parents actively interact with our children and truly help us train and instruct them.

In honor of Grandparents’ Day on September 9, 2012, CardStore.com released promotional code CCK2248 for a free card. I used this promotional code to snag a free Grandparents’ Day card, chose shipping to recipient, and paid nothing.

Free Card Ordering

When I ordered, I chose a photo card, uploaded the selected pictures, personalized the text, and selected checkout. After making my shipping selection (self or recipient) with the correct address, I added promotional code CCK2248 in the promotional code box. My total was $0.00 with free shipping.

Ordering Deadline

This offer is valid until Sunday, August 26. Remember, Grandparents’ Day is September 9. In using time wisely, take 10 minutes to design and order your free card from Cardstore.com today. Happy creating!

Question: What type of card will you create?

What Do You Think?: Establishing a Designated Family Night

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What do you think? Establishing a designated family night

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Around the blogosphere, many bloggers share their perspective on life. As I contemplate these many ideas (and some are really out there), sometimes I’m not sure what I think.

During this week of What Do You Think?, I share a topic and give you my 2¢. Please share your opinion.

The topics chosen will follow the posting schedule. Thanks in advance for your contributions on this journey to Using Time Wisely!

What Do You Think about Establishing a Designated Family Night?

Tracy’s 2¢: Our family does not have a single night dedicated to family night. I know of a family that declines all invitations on Monday evening to honor their family night. This arrangement works for that family, and I applaud them for building their family unit.

If you have a designated family night, how do you determined what you will do together? My children would choose a movie or play a game. However, my choice would lend more to a theme.

For example, with the Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics occurring tonight, I would choose an Olympic theme complete with games, like this long jump contest or online scavenger hunt, medal cookies, puzzles, and mazes.

At this time, our family incorporates weekly outings into our schedule, but the day, time, and activity changes from week to week. I often wonder if establishing a designated family night would help in planning and investing in our family relationships.

Though each family operates differently, I would love a designated family night. However, our schedule changes from week to week. What do you think?