Stress Free Holiday Tip of the Week

OK, stress free holiday pledges: This is where it all begins. If you start now and work on the tips each week, you'll have a calmer, more organized holiday season with more time for fun. This week:

CARDS: Purchase or plan your holiday cards. Create great online cards from photos from the year at www.tinyprints.com or shutterfly.com. Or, if you take a holiday photo - take it or schedule it (now - really!)

LOOKING PRETTY: Do you/kids need holiday outfits? Peruse your favorite stores online and order. Most offer free shipping. There are some great sales this week. For you - through Nov. 22, Ann Taylor Loft is running it's Friends & Family sale, 30% off everything. Use coupon code FRIENDS at checkout. Old Navy is offering 25% off orders of $100 or more through 11/23. Enter code ONSAVE15 at check out. Do you know of other great sales for holiday outfits in progress? Reply to this post and share them!

Happy holidays everyone!

Savings News - The Gap Give & Get Campaign

The Gap Give & Get campaign is in progress, 30% off Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy, from 11/12 – 11/15, with coupon (obtain at link: http://www.gapinc.com/giveandget/lls/) The coupon can be used multiple times. The best part is that 5% of the profits go back to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. This coupon is a good way to save some money but more importantly to help out a good cause. A great sale!

Decking the Halls

As I'm sure everyone can see, malls and main streets are already decked out for the holidays - signaling the start of the season. PlayingSmarter is sponsoring the "StressFree Holiday Pledge" - take the pledge (that you'll have a less stressful, more fun season by being more organized).

Each week, we'll notify you when we post our "Stress Free Holiday Tip of the Week." If you prepare for the holidays along with all the other pledge takers, we promise - a more joyful, less hectic holiday. Sign up now: http://tinyurl.com/ygk36qc.

Happy Birthday Sesame Street!

Can you believe Sesame Street is 40? So many of us remember watching the show as a child -- pre-cable, pre-TiVo, pre-video games, pre-DVDs...I think at one point every child of a certain age with a TV was a viewer. Sesame Street took (and takes) its responsibility seriously, producing shows that are not only fun and entertaining, but educational. They share messages of kindness and acceptance. I hope that many generations to come enjoy Sesame Street. The Horizon's Blog has posted some favorite clips from the show - check them out at: http://tinyurl.com/yckcevq.

After the Suger Rush

Hope everyone had a GREAT Halloween. Most of us have enough candy to last until next Halloween. After a week or so, when the novelty has worn off, you can contribute candy to many shelters, soup kitchens, and food banks, giving your kids the experience of helping those in need. Let them pick out what to donate from the stash and, briefly and simply, explain that they can make someone who does not have enough food to eat very happy with a contribution of a few special treats.

To find a place to donate, type "food bank, yourcounty, yourstate" into Google.

Welcome!

Welcome to PlayingSmarter. We'll share ideas about how children learn and grow through play, plus many fun family tips - recipes, travel, crafts, holiday ideas, and more. We welcome appropriate contributions/guest writers, so, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Beyong the fun tips, we'll share news that matters to parents and families. We will keep things short and sweet (you're busy!), but will help keep you informed AND make your life a little more sane. Stay tuned.