I can't believe another year has come and gone!

I hope 2011 was filled with many wonderful memories for you, and wishing you many, many more great moments and memories for 2012!

Have a happy new year!

If you want to wish friends and family a happy new year, Punchbowl, Inc. has some really cute and festive digital New Year's Cards you can send to wish them a blessed new year.

Several months ago I launched Savvy Gem, a blog focusing on finances, deals, coupons, etc., but after a few months, I decided to change focus because it was TOUGH to keep up with all those deals and coupon match-ups every day!

So I decided to relaunch Savvy Gem in the new year, and it will focus on my family and my life in general.

I'll be posting my personal posts there, along with Wordless Wednesdays, recipes, crafts, etc.

Sage and Savvy will continue to be dedicated to reviews, giveaways, and discounts, and you can also still find me on My Island Views for all things Hawaii-related.

Hope you'll visit me at Savvy Gem in 2012!

Although Musician's school doesn't prohibit birthday treats, such as cake, ice cream, etc., they encourage bringing in healthier treats, so I tried to think of something the kids would enjoy, and I ended up making fruit kebabs.

I used marshmallows, grapes, and strawberries, and the kids loved it, and so did the teacher!  The teacher even explained to the children how there was an "A, B, C" pattern on the sticks, and she commented how it helped them with their fine motor skills too (taking the fruit off the kebabs).

As for the goodie bags, I ended up buying books from the Scholastic Book Club and tracing stencils from Walmart (total for each "goodie bag" came out to less than a $1).
I'm already searching for ideas for next year...so if you have any good ones please share!

Have you made your New Year's cards yet?  If not, you can take advantage of Tiny Prints' current promotion:

Enjoy Free Shipping + 15% Off Any Order or 20% Off When You Spend $149+ with code EOY20; offer expires 12/28/11 at 11:59 pm (PT)

HarvestMark, the fresh food traceability solution from YottaMark, Inc., is the industry’s leading traceability solution featured on more than 3 billion fresh food items to date, from more than 3,000 farms and growers from Canada to Argentina. With this new App, consumers can gain peace of mind about the foods they eat – in an instant, from a smartphone.

With the introduction of the App, consumers can now enjoy immediate access to the following information:

· Food Safety Notification: Customers can rely on this feature to receive updates on a food’s safety status to provide an immediate line of communication to the shopper in the event of a recall

· Trace Food: To trace food, shoppers simply download the free HarvestMark App for iPhone, look for the 16-digit HarvestMark code on participating fruit, vegetable and poultry brands, and scan or type the code to instantly retrieve harvest information specific to the package of food they’re holding

· “Talk to the Farmer”: Shoppers can ask questions and give feedback to the people who grow and sell their food using this feature, which connects them with the source of their food


Click here to download the HarvestMark Food Traceability App (Free).

After our trip to Disneyland a few weeks ago, my boys are just fascinated by all things Disney, and already we've been planning future trips to Disneyland, and also doing research on Disney World and Disney Cruises!

I just requested a FREE Disney Cruise Line® Vacation Planning DVD, and you can request one too by clicking here.

Maybe I'll see you and your family on a cruise one day!

Here are some coupons being offered on RedPlum: 

SAVE $1.00 on ANY Sundown Naturals® Vitamin or Supplement product

SAVE $1.00 on the purchase of any FERRERO ROCHER® or FERRERO COLLECTION PACKAGE 5.5 oz or larger.

$0.50 OFF any ONE (1) all® Laundry Detergent (28 Load or Larger)

Up to 75% OFF On Prescription Medication at Your Pharmacy

$1.00 OFF Buy any TWO (2) Dorot products and receive $1.00 off your entire purchase

SAVE $0.35 On the purchase of any SUPERPRETZEL® product (In Your Grocer's Freezer!)

SAVE $1.00 when you buy TWO (2) boxes of Quaker Life® Cereal

Apparently, amongst a group of friends, DH is in the minority when it comes to wedding rings, as in he wears his wedding ring and most of my friends' husband's don't.

I know one person who doesn't wear his wedding ring and never intended to wear it beyond his wedding day, but I honestly thought that he was an exception.

Turns out DH is an exception!

We were actually at a wedding one day and a friend's husband, "K," happened to notice DH was wearing his wedding ring. K said he doesn't wear his because of work.

Now, I can understand not wearing your ring while AT work because of possible dangers, but to not wear your ring outside of work?

I thought it was pretty funny...

And we actually polled the table and two other husbands didn't wear their rings either (and neither of them gave a good reason).

So I posed the question on Twitter, and most replies stated they found it strange that the husbands didn't wear their rings.

Well, I'm sure everyone has his/her own reasons...

Do you wear your wedding ring?  Does your spouse?

Holiday bargains can still be found at the Tea Collection!

Starting today Tea Collection is offering up to 60% off on pants, dresses, and shirts. Let the little girl in your life bring in the New Year with style in the Corzo Chambray Dress. This dress will sparkle and shine and is sure to make any little girl feel like a star. Your little boy will look so handsome and grown-up in the Alegre Aztec Sweater Vest. Even moms are allowed to dress up! Treat yourself to the Chiapas Tunic Dress. Perfect to wear around the house or out to dinner. Make sure to shop Tea Collection and save up to 60% only while supplies last. This is a deal you definitely don't want to miss. 


Happy Shopping!

Photo taken at Downtown Disney (yes, I need a new camera - the boys wouldn't keep still...they're a blur!).

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday!

Last month I posted about NurturMe, a brand of baby food that I discovered while searching online for convenient baby foods to pack while traveling.

NurturMe is the first and only certified-organic, all natural and gluten-free baby food made from nutrient-rich, quick-dried fruits and veggies. Our revolutionary approach feeds off our basic instinct to nurture. That’s why our food gives your baby better nutrients, provides you versatility and takes care of Mother Earth.

The NurturMe packs took up a lot less space and weighed a lot less than other brand of baby food pouches I took with me on our trip to Disneyland (I had to pack another baby food brand because Baby eats poultry and NurturMe offers only fruits and veggies). 

At our hotel, after buying a bottle of water,  I simply opened up the pouch...

and mixed the contents with water until the desired consistency was reached.

Although I did have to buy a bottle of water to create to stir in with the baby food, it was so convenient to pack the pouches.  One pouch of another brand took up the same amount of space that 4 or 5 pouches of NurtureMe did.  And that many NurturMe packets still felt lighter than a single pouch of the other brand (this is something to consider when packing - every pound, even ounce, counts, as airlines charge for excess baggage weight; even if you decide to carry on the food--you don't want to be weighed down, especially when having to carry a baby too!).

NurturMe is GREAT for traveling and I highly recommend it - for travel, for dining out, or even for eating at home! 

Shop: Click here to purchase NurturMe (SRP $9.99 for 8 pouches).

I signed up to bring a dessert to a potluck, and I wanted to make something that primarily the kids would enjoy, so I ended up making Oreo Pops (Oreos on a lollipop stick covered in vanilla almond bark).

Originally I was going to make Snowman Oreo Pops that I saw on The Idea Room (I used mini chocolate chips for the eyes and mouth, but instead of candy corn for the nose, I used a single orange sprinkle), but it turned out to be a bit more difficult and time-consuming than I expected.

So I ended up dipping the Oreo Pops in red and green sprinkles!

They were a hit!

Maybe next year I'll make the Snowman Oreo Pops...

Just in time for the holidays, Oceanhouse Media, Inc. announces the release of Picture Me Christmas Cutie on Apple devices at the special introductory price of 99 cents. For the first time in an omBook (Oceanhouse Media digital book), parents can incorporate their child’s photo into the app making them the main character of the story.

“Parents and children will enjoy this Christmas-themed omBook as they themselves become a part of the story,” said Michel Kripalani, President of Oceanhouse Media. 

Picture Me Christmas Cutie is such a fun app!

Although Smiley was initially very reluctant to have his picture taken, resulting in a photo of him with a frown for the app, once he realized why he was getting his picture taken, he was anxious to take another picture and eagerly yelled "cheese!" (you can use a photo from your image library, but we had just deleted all the photos from the phone so we had to take a new photo). 

Seeing his reaction when he first saw himself onscreen as a little elf was priceless!

He loved the story, and of course he loved seeing himself as party of the story as an elf, bear, snowman, and so much more!

He also really enjoyed all of the Christmas and winter images, and how they were interactive when he touched them.

Picture Me Christmas Cutie is an engaging, amusing, and fun app that your own cutie may end up enjoying just as much as my cutie did!

Shop:  Click here to purchase a download of Picture Me Christmas Cute (SRP $.99)

If you've forgotten to send someone a holiday card, or perhaps you ran out or didn't even have time to send any this year, you can still send your holiday wishes with free digital holiday cards from Punchbowl.


Send beautiful, free digital holiday cards today!

After our recent trip to Los Angeles, I'm already planning more family vacations and researching family-friendly hotels, and these TRYP Hotels by Wyndham sound like they'd be great for families! 

TRYP Quebec Hotel PUR, TRYP San Jose Sabana and TRYP New York City Times Square South. Each hotel offers a host of features specially designed to fit the needs of traveling families, including, but not limited to:

· Signature Family rooms – over-sized at more than 400 square feet each, featuring:

o Bunk beds for kids and two queen beds or a king bed for parents

o In-room amenities to entertain the entire family, including Nintendo Wii, free high speed WiFi and two large HDTVs

o Living room to make you feel right at home, with sleeper sofa and oversized closets, wet bar, microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker

· Professional concierge team extensively trained with insider knowledge of the city, who can direct guests to a variety of truly local kid-friendly restaurants and activities

· Additional family-friendly touches including: coloring books, children’s dental kits, themed bedding and sheets, Lego Star Wars Game for the Wii, and special snacks, like a glass of milk with Chocolate Magic Milk Straws (specific amenities vary by property)

For more information on TRYP Hotels by Wyndham, click here.

LivingSocial is currently offering a 2-year subscription to Parents Magazine for only $7!

While your mom and dad could pull parenting advice from The Cosby Show and The Brady Bunch, you aren't likely to find any answers by watching reality programing. Instead, take counsel in today's deal: Pay $7 for a two-year subscription to Parents Magazine (a $24 value). Peruse this monthly magazine cover to cover, and you'll learn everything you need to know about children's health, education, and behavior, as well as better parenting practices, family dynamics, pets, money, nutrition, and more. With more than 16 million readers, this premier publication helps guide parents through all stages of child development -- from pregnancy onward. Thanks to expert advice and in-depth articles that touch upon every aspect of your life, your cast of characters will enjoy healthy, happy lives -- just like the families in your parents' favorite programs.

Click here to purchase or for more information.


A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventure:

Born on a Baja, California beach in 1959, new hatchling Sammy must do what his fellow newborn sea turtles are doing: race across the beach to the ocean before a seagull or crab captures them. Thus begins Sammy’s incredible fifty-year ocean journey.  Along the way he meets his best friend, a fellow turtle named Ray, and overcomes obstacles both natural and man-made while trying to fulfill his dream of travelling around the world.  Throughout his travels, Sammy never forgets about Shelly – the turtle he saved on his first day and loves passionately from afar.  Based on the actual course of a sea turtle’s life, this story of one creature’s breathtaking journey is a thrilling voyage the whole family will enjoy.

On a recent family movie night, we watched A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures, and it turned out to be a really great movie that was not only entertaining, but it was also very educational in terms of marine life and the environment.

Sammy was such a cute little turtle that the boys immediately loved to watch. They cheered him on throughout his various adventures, such as when he struggled to get out of the big hole in the sand after he hatched from his egg, or while he was being chased by birds or other predatory marine life. 

The animation was very engaging.  My boys had fun identifying all of the various sea creatures and other animals that Sammy encountered - the penguins, seahorses, jellyfish, and so much more!

During the movie they were also introduced to two other characters - Ray, Sammy's best friend, and Shelly, his true love.  He went on various adventures around the world with both of them, and during these adventures my boys learned a lot about the environment.

It was sad seeing how the marine life is affected so much by humans and their actions.  We hear and read about it all the time, but for my boys to see the visuals of many environmental concerns, such as how plastic bags can endanger sea life, how oil can contaminate the sea, and how innocent marine creatures can get caught up in fishing nets, gave them a better idea of why it's important to protect our environment.

I thought it was great how Sammy's Adventures taught lessons in a way that most kids would be able to understand, and I also thought the soundtrack was awesome!

Although I felt the story itself was a bit hard to follow at times, overall Sammy's Adventures is a great family movie, allowing for thoughtful discussions about friendship, love, and the environment.

Shop: You can purchase A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures at various retailers online and nationwide (SRP $19.95).

Win: One lucky winner will receive a copy of A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures!

• To enter, comment on why you'd like to win.
  
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and  A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway--you may tweet once per day based on HST (leave the link in your comment) 
• The deadline for entries is January 3, 2012 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about January 4, 2012 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to respond.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Here are some current coupons being offered on Catalina's Coupon Network:


Baby

60¢ off when you buy any ONE (1) box of Beech-Nut® Baby Cereal

$1.10 off when you buy any FOUR Beech-Nut® Stage 2 1/2™ Baby Food Glass Jars

$1.85 off when you buy any FIFTEEN Beech-Nut® Stage 2 1/2™ Baby Food Glass Jars


Baking

50¢ off when you buy ONE LouAna® Product

40¢ off when you buy any ONE package of Stevia In the Raw 100% Natural, Zero-Calorie Sweetener Products

50¢ off when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Crescent Dinner Rolls

30¢ off when you buy TWO CANS any size/variety Pillsbury® Refrigerated Grands!® or Grands! Jr.® Biscuits

40¢ off when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Refrigerated Pizza Crust, Breadsticks, Loaves or Dinner Rolls

40¢ off when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Sweet Rolls OR Grands!® Sweet Rolls

$1.00 off when you buy two any flavor/variety Betty Crocker® Box Muffin Mix or Fiber One® Box Muffin Mix

50¢ off when you buy ONE 28 OZ. OR LARGER Bisquick® Baking Mix or Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix

$1.00 off when you buy TWO POUCHES any flavor 17.5 OZ. OR LARGER Betty Crocker® Cookie Mixes

$1.00 off when you buy TWO PACKAGES any variety Pillsbury® Refrigerated Cookie Dough

75¢ off when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor Betty Crocker® Supreme Brownie OR Dessert Bar Mixes

50¢ off when you buy TWO packages of Pillsbury® Rolled Refrigerated Pie Crusts


Books & Magazines

$2.00 off when you buy any PEOPLE® Magazine


Breakfast

$1.00 off when you buy ONE box of POST GREAT GRAINS Cereal

$1.00 off when you buy any THREE BOXES select General Mills cereals


Candy

$1.00 off when you buy any TWO Wonka® Holiday Sugar Candies (7.5-12 oz)


Health & Nutrition

$1.75 off when you buy any TWO Ester-C® Items

95¢ off when you buy any ONE Slim-Fast® Ready To Drink Shake Multipack

$2.00 off when you buy any TWO GoodBelly® Quarts

$1.60 off when you buy any TWO Slim-Fast® Ready To Drink Shake Multipack

$2.00 off when you buy any THREE Slim-Fast® Ready To Drink Shake Multipack

$3.00 off when you buy ONE REFRESH OPTIVE™ Product (any size)

$1.25 off when you buy any ONE LISTERINE® SMART RINSE® Anticavity Flouride Rinse 500ml

$1.10 off when you buy any Children's Advil® product

$2.00 off when you buy any Osteo Bi-Flex® Supplement or Powder

$1.50 off when you buy any TWO Sundown Naturals® Product

$1.10 off when you buy any ONE Nature's Bounty® Vitamins or Supplements

$1.40 off when you buy any NatureSmart Ester-C® item


Personal Care

$3.00 off when you buy any ONE TUCKS® product

$1.35 off when you buy any TWO AXE® 4oz Bodysprays, 2.7 oz Anti-perspirants and Deodorants or 3oz Deodorants (Excludes Trial & Travel sizes, Bonus packs)


Pets

$1.50 off when you buy any TWO Snausages® or Snaw Somes!® dog snacks

$1.00 off when you buy any ONE Snausages® or Snaw Somes!® dog snacks


Snacks

50¢ off when you buy any ONE YoCrunch® 100 Calorie Pack or Fruit Parfait Multipack

50¢ off when you buy any FIVE YoCrunch® Cups (Parfait, Granola or Candy/Cookie Crunch)

Tiny Prints has a special offer through tomorrow - Buy One Christmas or Hanukkah Greeting Card, Get One Free!

Tiny Prints has a great variety of cards to choose from, including a lot of fresh designs that are perfect for helping to spread some joy during this festive season!

There's still time to send some holiday cheer to loved ones, so take advantage of this great offer from Tiny Prints while you can!



Use code BOGO12; offer expires 12/20/11 at 11:59 pm (PT); not applicable to previously placed orders or stationery.

A few months ago I mentioned how Musician was diagnosed with PDD-NOS.

Since then he's met with a couple of autism specialists and he continues to make progress in certain areas (communication, socialization, etc.), but he still needs help with focusing on tasks and making eye-contact, among other things.

I'm constantly doing research to find out what kinds of things I can do for him on my own, and it seems as if autism resources in Hawaii are very limited compared to in the mainland (on our recent trip to LA one of the first commercials I saw when I turned on the TV was for autism support--never saw an autism commercial here in Hawaii!).

It's frustrating.

Fortunately, I discovered Treating Autism Positively, and Kalma Wong, the woman behind the site, has been a tremendous help thus far.

She's a wealth of information and she's already given me valuable insight and advice.

Well, I just wanted to give a quick update on Musician since a few people have asked...

I hope he continues to make progress and I will continue to do all that I can to help him live as normal of a life as possible.

The Sing-Off” season two finalists, The Backbeats, released their self-titled debut CD on Arrival and Madison Gate Records. The record, “The Backbeats From The Sing-Off,” will feature a mix of hand-selected cover hits, including the group’s rendition of Beyoncé’s “If I Were A Boy,” which helped seal their top three position on season two of the show. The disc also includes a track featuring the Grammy nominated and season three judge from “The Sing-Off,” Sara Bareilles, who guests on the group’s version of Sara’s hit “Uncharted.”
Drawn together in Los Angeles by their televised adventure in 2010, the group is comprised of baritone Kenton Chen, soprano Kelley Jakle, tenor Eitan Nir and alto Rachel Saltzman from USC; bass Todd G. Levin, a USC alumnus; soprano Joanna Jones from UCLA; alto/vocal percussionist Courtney Jensen from Brigham Young University; and Jordan Pharoah, an alumnus of the Los Angeles County High School of the Performing Arts.
 
The bonds of trust developed rapidly as they began rehearsing for “The Sing-Off.” “We didn’t know what our group’s sound would be like when we came into it,” Saltzman says. “Like I said, our first performance ever was on the show, so we went on this little retreat before the taping. For a week we lived in a house together and just sang and ate and got to know each other more. You could tell even then there was something special here. We had no idea how people would react to us; we didn’t even think it would last past this summer. But it has and we wanted to keep it going.”

That’s what brought them into the studio. Ben Bram and Kenton Chen, who arranged and produced the album together, kept the magic alive by combining careful execution with spontaneity. “In the recording studio, options are limitless,” Bram explains. “On ‘The Sing-Off,’ The Backbeats only had their ten voices. In the studio, we could track as many times as we wanted. So we arranged everything carefully while also using the strengths of the studio, to maintain the soul and passion of the individual voices and the group sound as a whole. This gave us a chance to explore new songs and dig deeper into a variety of styles.”

Track listing:

1. THINKING ‘BOUT SOMETHIN’
2. BORN THIS WAY
3. EVERY TEARDROP IS A WATERFALL
4. TURNING TABLES
5. ‘TILL THE WORLD ENDS
6. FIREWORK
7. CRY ME A RIVER
8. NEED YOU NOW
9. WHO YOU ARE
10. IF I WERE A BOY
11. MONSTER
12. UNCHARTED (feat. Sara Bareilles)

DH and I love The Sing-Off, so I was really excited to review The Backbeats' Self-Titled Debut CD.

Overall I thought the CD was wonderful, as it featured The Backbeats' covers of some really popular songs, such as Born This Way and Firework.

I really enjoyed Thinking 'Bout Somethin' and Till The World Ends, two songs that I weren't familiar with at all, but now I love those songs after hearing The Backbeats sing it.

My favorite track on the CD is Uncharted.  I love the lyrics and just the whole vibe of that song.  I could listen to that song over and over again (in fact, I keep doing so!).

It's just amazing how The Backbeats used only their voices to create everything heard on the CD. I'm sure many people who are not familiar with The Backbeats may not even realize that it's just their vocal talent if they were to listen to the CD.  It's so impressive!

If you're a fan of The Sing-Off, a cappella, or simply want to listen to some great music, The Backbeats Self-Titled Debut is a CD you should check out!

After searching online for classroom Christmas treats, I found a cute idea for Reindeer Noses on the A Personal Touch blog.

I ended up using Whoppers and Gobstoppers for the reindeer noses, and printed out my own simple labels for each bag.

They don't look nearly as cute as the ones on A Personal Touch, but I think they turned out fine!

What creative classroom treats have you given or seen recently?

For the first time, all of Bob Seger’s top hits have been gathered for a career-spanning 2CD and digital collection titled Ultimate Hits: Rock And Roll Never Forgets. The 26-track collection includes “Night Moves,” “Turn The Page,” “Hollywood Nights,” “Mainstreet,” “Old Time Rock And Roll,” “Like A Rock,” “Her Strut,” “We’ve Got Tonight,” “Against The Wind,” “Still The Same,” and many other Seger classics, as well as the Detroit rocker’s two #1 radio singles from this year, “Downtown Train” and his current #1 Classic Rock hit, “Hey Hey Hey Hey (Going Back To Birmingham).”

The collection also includes Seger’s timeless rendition of the Holiday classic “Little Drummer Boy,” its first appearance on a Bob Seger album, as well as the original mono version of Seger’s first hit “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man.” All songs on the album have been meticulously remastered from the original master tapes.

Shop: You can purchase Ultimate Hits - Rock and Roll Never Forgets at various retailers online and nationwide (SRP $11.99)

Win:  One lucky winner will receive a copy of the Ultimate Hits - Rock and Roll Never Forgets CD + Lithograph.

• To enter, comment on your favorite Bob Seger song.
  
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Bob Seger (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway--you may tweet once per day based on HST (leave the link in your comment) 
• The deadline for entries is December 30, 2011 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about December 31, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to respond.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

I decided to throw a Disney Cars Birthday Party for Musician and Smiley this year (their birthdays are a day apart) after being inspired by a bunch of fellow bloggers (see below for list), and here is what I ended up making/doing:

Cozy Cone Motel Munchies:

• Sheriff's Straws (served in orange paper cones)
• Chuki's Chips (served in orange paper cones)
• Siddeley's Soybeans

Drinks:

• Dinoco Oil (Apple Juice)
• Fillmore's Organic Fuel (Water)
• Allinol (Sprite)
• Rust-eze (Pepsi)

Activity: Ramone's House of Body Art (Temporary Cars Tattoos)

Flo's V8 Cafe:

• Luigi's Pizza
• Sally's Salad
• Finn's Fruits
• Guido's Pizza Bites
• Chick's Chicken Nuggets
• Mack's Mac & Cheese

Sarge's Surplus of Sweets:

• Dipsticks (Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Rods)
• Spare Tires
• Cars Cupcakes from Sam's Club

I forgot to take photos of many other things, like the invitations (tickets to a race), the goodie bags (black paper bags labeled with each child's name printed on the Cars chevron logo and filled with lots of Cars pencils, bubbles, candies, etc.), and the other Cars games that were out for the kids to play.

It was a fun, but exhausting day!

Thank you to the following blogs for their tips, ideas, and inspiration:

A to Zebra Celebrations
The Purple Patch
Mad in Crafts
Miss Edumacated
Yvonne Byatt's Family Fun
So Wonderful So Marvelous
Pearce Family

Are you one of those procrastinators that have yet to make holiday cards?

If you are, there's still time to create and order your holiday cards from Tiny Prints, and you're in luck, because from now until the 21st of December, Tiny Prints is offering a 40% discount on its exclusive Super Rush delivery service.

Regular price is $39.95, but it’s now available for just $24.95. No code is necessary.

Don't hesitate any longer! Check out Tiny Prints and order your cards today!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Slim-Fast for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Ever since the birth of Baby I've been trying to shed the pregnancy pounds.  I've almost reached my pre-pregnancy weight, but lately I've been stuck on a plateau.

I exercise every day during the week, which has really helped with the weight loss, but I know I could probably lose more weight even quicker if I watched what I ate and consumed less calories.

With that in mind, when I had the opportunity to try out the new Slim-Fast shakes, I jumped at the chance!

Shake things up with our best tasting shakes ever, now in convenient new bottles. With 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, all 5 flavors provide up to 4 hours of hunger control, making it easier for you to stick to your plan and achieve your weight loss goals.

I tried Slim-Fast shakes - the ones in the cans, years ago, and I don't recall enjoying it too much, so I was really eager to see how the new Slim-Fast shakes would taste.

I received a coupon with which I picked up a 4-pack of Strawberries N' Cream Slim-Fast Shakes ($6 in Hawaii).
If I had to sum up my thoughts on the shake in one word, it would be DELICIOUS!

I was pleasantly surprised at how yummy it was.  It actually reminded me of strawberry shakes that a relative would make me after school everyday that I always looked forward to drinking.

It was fruity and creamy, and if someone had given the Slim-Fast shake to me in a regular glass, there's no way I would have ever guessed it was a Slim-Fast shake.

Not only does the new Slim-Fast Shake taste good, but the bottle makes it convenient to take with you wherever you go so you can drink it on-the-go.

The Slim-Fast shakes also come in the following flavors:
• Creamy Milk Chocolate
• French Vanilla
• Rich Chocolate Royale
• Cappuccino Delight

These shakes are perfect for Slim-Fast's 3•2•1 Plan.
• 3 Snacks: Three nourishing snacks a day such as Slim-Fast 100-calorie snack bars, fruit, nuts or veggies
• Slim-Fast 100-calorie snack bars provide a delicious calorie-controlled snack to help curb sweet cravings between meals
• 2 Slim-Fast Shakes or Meal Bars per day: Slim-Fast shakes and meal bars are delicious and satisfying, providing the balanced nutrition of a meal and up to four hours of hunger control
• 1 Balanced Meal: Enjoy one balanced 500-calorie meal per day. As a rule, try to fill half your plate with veggies, a quarter with protein, and a quarter with whole grains

Now that the holiday season is upon us, it's inevitable that I'll be faced with lots of edible temptations, and if I do end up gaining a few pounds during the holiday feasts, hopefully by following a plan, such as the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Plan, in which I eat lots of healthful, nutritious foods and drink the delicious Slim-Fast shakes, I could lose any pounds that I end up packing on.

And maybe I'll even bust through this plateau that I'm currently on.

Whether you want to try Slim-Fast's 3-2-1 Plan, are looking for a meal-replacement shake, or maybe even want a healthy, delicious shake for a dessert, try Slim-Fast's new shakes, and you may be as pleasantly surprised as I was at how delicious it is!

For more information on Slim-Fast products, visit their website or Like them on Facebook.

Shop:  You can purchase the new Slim-Fast shakes in the pharmacy sections of grocers and retailers nationwide, including Wal-Mart, Target, Safeway and Kroger and online at Amazon.com and the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Store on Facebook.

We’re in the thick of the holiday shopping season and we’ve all got gifts on the brain. All this leads up to the “most wonderful time of the year”. Yet for many of us, this season of giving is spoiled by the stress of overspending.

Though the economy is still pretty fragile, many of us will still fall prey to spend, spend and spend over the next few weeks. In the face of financial insecurity and job instability, we continue to allow both external pressures –Gifts! Parties! Kids! – as well as our own internal crabs to guide how we spend our own money.

Chicago Healers Practitioner Julie Murphy Casserly shares tips to reel in spending during the holidays:

· Avoid charging every credit card to the max – Take a load off by not racking up too much debt. Lay off the credit card by not charging things you can’t afford.

· Use cash – Try to use cash as much as possible, within reason. Studies have shown that when people spend cash they are most likely to think twice about purchasing something major.

· 50/50 split – Try setting aside 50% of your holiday spending to cash and putting the rest on credit cards.

The goal here is to lessen the load on you financially and emotionally during the holiday season. During this season of giving, give to others what you can. But give to yourself the gift of less stress and more holiday love.

For information about holiday spending and Julie Murphy Casserly visit www.chicagohealers.com.

Layla Grayce has launched a fabulous new website, Zinc Door,which features modern, yet livable decor perfect for any space. 

The Lazy Susan German Royal Mirror would be an amazing addition to any room. Hang it above a hallway accent table or in the dining room. This mirror, inspired by a masterpiece of art, is sure to bring elegance to any space.

A silver finish leaves a vintage touch to the Blythe Glass Decanters Set by Arteriors. This set of four bottles recalls the glamour of a design era past. These decorative decanters combine a timeless, traditional look with urban class.

Add a distinctive touch to your workspace with the Malibu Loft Vertical Bookcase. Showcase your favorite books or trinkets in this asymmetrical bookcase that's sure to turn heads and complement every space!

You can find many more pieces - rugs, vases, coffee tables, and more on Zinc Door.

Here are some coupons being offered on Catalina's Coupon Network:

$1.00 off when you buy any ONE Snausages® or Snaw Somes!® dog snacks
$1.50 off when you buy any TWO Snausages® or Snaw Somes!® dog snacks
$1.40 off when you buy any NatureSmart Ester-C® item
$1.10 off when you buy any ONE Nature's Bounty® Vitamins or Supplements
$1.00 off when you buy any ONE Johnson's® Baby Soothing Vapor Bath product
75¢ off when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor Betty Crocker® Supreme Brownie OR Dessert Bar Mixes
50¢ off when you buy ONE 28 OZ. OR LARGER Bisquick® Baking Mix or Complete Pancake & Waffle Mix
75¢ off when you buy any ONE BOX Cocoa Puffs® cereal
75¢ off when you buy any ONE BOX Golden Grahams® cereal
30¢ off when you buy TWO CANS any size/variety Pillsbury® Refrigerated Grands!® or Grands! Jr.® Biscuits
$1.00 off when you buy TWO POUCHES any flavor 17.5 OZ. OR LARGER Betty Crocker® Cookie Mixes
40¢ off when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Sweet Rolls OR Grands!® Sweet Rolls
$1.00 off when you buy any THREE BOXES select General Mills cereals
$1.00 off when you buy two any flavor/variety Betty Crocker® Box Muffin Mix or Fiber One® Box Muffin Mix
40¢ off when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Refrigerated Pizza Crust, Breadsticks, Loaves or Dinner Rolls
50¢ off when you buy TWO packages of Pillsbury® Rolled Refrigerated Pie Crusts
50¢ off when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Crescent Dinner Rolls
$1.00 off when you buy TWO PACKAGES any variety Pillsbury® Refrigerated Cookie Dough
$3.00 off when you buy any ONE TUCKS® product
$1.00 off when you buy any TWO Wonka® Holiday Sugar Candies (7.5-12 oz)
50¢ off when you buy any FIVE YoCrunch® Cups (Parfait, Granola or Candy/Cookie Crunch)
50¢ off when you buy any ONE YoCrunch® 100 Calorie Pack or Fruit Parfait Multipack
$1.10 off when you buy any Infants' Advil® product
$1.10 off when you buy any Children's Advil® product
$1.25 off when you buy any ONE LISTERINE® SMART RINSE® Anticavity Flouride Rinse 500ml
$1.10 off when you buy any Junior Strength Advil® product
$1.85 off when you buy any FIFTEEN Beech-Nut® Stage 2 1/2™ Baby Food Glass Jars
$1.10 off when you buy any FOUR Beech-Nut® Stage 2 1/2™ Baby Food Glass Jars
60¢ off when you buy any ONE (1) box of Beech-Nut® Baby Cereal
$2.00 off when you buy any THREE Slim-Fast® Ready To Drink Shake Multipack
95¢ off when you buy any ONE Slim-Fast® Ready To Drink Shake Multipack
$1.60 off when you buy any TWO Slim-Fast® Ready To Drink Shake Multipack
$1.75 off when you buy any TWO Ester-C® Items
50¢ off when you buy ONE LouAna® Product
$1.00 off when you buy ONE box of POST GREAT GRAINS Cereal
$3.00 off when you buy ONE REFRESH OPTIVE™ Product (any size)
40¢ off when you buy any ONE package of Stevia In the Raw 100% Natural, Zero-Calorie Sweetener Products
$2.00 off when you buy any TWO GoodBelly® Quarts
$1.50 off when you buy any TWO Sundown Naturals® Product
$2.00 off when you buy any Osteo Bi-Flex® Supplement or Powder

The Chick-fil-A Cow Watches are now available in Kid’s Meals!






So cool aren't they?

They are available while supplies last, so check with your local Chick-fil-A restaurant for availability (http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Locations).

In the meantime, you can check out the fun widget below and get some great ideas for family holiday activities, or take a holiday quiz to find out if you're a Holiday Hero or not.






Win: One lucky winner will receive a Chick-fil-A Prize Pack consisting of five Cow Watches and two Chick-fil-A Plush Cows!

• To enter, take the Holiday Quiz in the widget above and comment on whether your answers revealed you're a Holiday Hero, Friend of the Frost, or Holiday Humbug.
  
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and Chick-fil-A (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway--you may tweet once per day based on HST (leave the link in your comment) 
• The deadline for entries is December 27, 2011 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about December 28, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to respond.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Redbox, America’s destination for movies and games, is making gift-giving easier with the introduction of Redbox® gifts. Gift givers now can share the gift of thanks, laughter, big stars, the hottest new games or hours of relaxation with friends and family. Big gifts at low prices, discounted from the regular price of $1.20 per night, Redbox gifts are available for purchase at redbox.com in bundles of 5 first-night DVD rentals for $5 or 10 first-night DVD rentals for $10. Additional DVD night rentals are $1.20 per night.

Redbox gifts can be shared via email, text or Facebook. Each Redbox gift is accompanied by a personalized message and one of many design options. Redbox gifts can be redeemed at any of the more than 34,400 kiosks nationwide and are valid for the first night’s rental. Redbox gifts cannot be applied to online rentals.

With a Redbox kiosk located within a five minute drive of more than two thirds of the U.S. population, Redbox gifts make creating movie or game nights easy. Share screams or laughs, Smurfs or Kung Fu Panda 2, Horrible Bosses or Friends with Benefits to bring fun, say thanks, or celebrate. Those with gamers on their lists can now give the gift of a night of dancing, saving the world or reliving youth with games like: Just Dance 3, The Black Eyed Peas Experience, Sonic Generations and more. Perfect when friends and family gather for the holidays!

Finding the nearest Redbox location is easy at www.redbox.com, or via the Redbox iPhone® and Android™ apps, or by texting FIND to 727272.

Have you finished your holiday shopping yet?

I haven't.

I still have several gifts to buy, especially for friends and family who live in other states.  If you're in the same situation as I am, and you'll probably end up buying most, if not all, of your remaining gifts online, Best Online Coupons has a handy reference guide of Christmas Shipping Deadlines for a variety of merchants so you can make sure your gifts get to their recipients on time.

Not only does Best Online Coupons have a helpful list of Shipping Deadlines for Christmas 2011, but they also have numerous coupons so you can save money on those holiday gifts!

I found so many coupons for some of my favorite merchants.  There are Old Navy coupons, Amazon.com Coupons, and even Target coupons!

You can find coupons by merchant or by category, or even find the most popular coupons by clicking on the "Hot" Coupons.

I don't know anyone who wouldn't want to try and save money on their holiday shopping list, so visit Best Online Coupons to find coupon codes to save at your favorite merchants, and don't forget to check the Christmas Shipping Deadlines to make sure your gifts will be delivered just in time for Christmas!

We just returned from our first family trip to Disneyland, which I'll post more about later, but I wanted to share some of the things I witnessed while at Disneyland.

Just from my own observations, for the most part, almost all of the people we encountered or observed were absolutely wonderful - from the Cast Members at Disney to the other thousands and thousands of guests. 

There were a few Cast Members that were not very pleasant, and I understand - it's the holidays, it's busy, and it's just human nature.

But what really shocked, even appalled, me was the behavior of some of the parents.

I'm not talking about parents scolding or yelling at their kids who were having meltdowns.

I'm talking about parents having meltdowns themselves.

I saw one dad get really upset, swearing up a storm, in front of his own kids and other kids around him (even my own) because of people invading the space he staked out for the parade.

I saw a mom yell at a man "Get your a** out of my daughter's face!" instead of asking him to please move because he's blocking her daughter's view.

I saw a mom act like a child when a man blocked her child's view of the parade dancers - she then grabbed her child and stood in front of the man after yelling at him to get out of the way.

It was really sad.  I was shocked to see such behavior.  Especially from adults.  Especially at Disneyland.

Yes, maybe they were having a long, bad day and was irritated at having to sit in their spots for two-plus hours, but hundreds of other parents did the same thing, and they didn't have outbursts like those other parents did.

Have you ever witnessed similar incidents?

Still looking to make a unique holiday card? Check out Snapily and all they have to offer, including their popular 3D effect cards!

Snapily also offers other great gift ideas like backpack tags, customizable bookmarks (perfect for classroom gifts!), and even personalized ornaments.

And now through December 31st, Snapily is offering Free Shipping with promo code SHIPFREE.

So whether you're still looking for that perfect holiday card, or want to find some cute stocking stuffers or classroom gifts, check out Snapily for some great ideas!

Mixbook is here to make sure you have gifts for everyone on your list!

For their Last Holiday Sale, Mixbook is giving you 25% off EVERYTHING on their site. Have a Photo Book that's almost done, or thinking that your special someone would love a Calendar to remember those great memories? Hurry on over to Mixbook to order those great gifts and still have them arrive in time to be wrapped under the tree! But don't wait, because the sale only lasts until December 14th!

Save 25% at Mixbook today when you use code LASTSALE25 (This offer cannot be combined with other coupons, vouchers, Groupons, or applied after an order has been placed. Shipping and taxes apply). 

It's the holiday season, which means lots of yummy treats to make and eat.  One thing that I always look forward to making and eating is Chex Party Mix.

With so many varieties of Chex Party Mix, hosting a Chex Party Mix-Change is a fun and sweet way to get together for the holidays.

I recently went to Sam's Club to purchase some ingredients to make a couple of varieites of Chex Party Mix.

I made Muddy Buddies (my boys' favorite).

And I also made Furikake Chex Mix (a local favorite).

I served the party mixes in red cups, but if you check out ChexPartyMixChange.com, there are super cute ideas on how to serve and package Chex Party Mix.  You can also find other delicious Chex Party Mix Recipes as well as fun invites!

So find the perfect Chex Party Mix recipe at ChexPartyMixChange.com, head to Sam´s Club to pick up all the ingredients, and invite your friends and family over for your own Chex Party Mix-Change!

Win:  One lucky winner will receive a $25 Sam's Club Gift Card and a box of Chex Cereal.

• To enter, visit ChexPartyMixChange.com and comment on your favorite recipe or which recipe you're most eager to try.
• You’ll get one extra entry each if you do any of the following (be sure to leave a comment for each “entry”):
• 1)Blog about this giveaway and link back to Sage and Savvy and ChexPartyMixChange.com (leave the link in your comment)
• 2)Subscribe to my feed
• 3)Add my button to your sidebar
• 4)Follow me on Twitter (leave your Twitter name in your comment)
• 5)Tweet this giveaway--you may tweet once per day based on HST (leave the link in your comment) 
• The deadline for entries is December 26, 2011 11:59pm HST.
• If you submitted an eligible entry and it is chosen by random.org as the winner, you will be notified via email on or about December 27, 2011 (make sure your email address is in your profile or comment and be sure to check your junk/spam, etc. folders) and will have 3 days to respond.
• Valid for US addresses only.
• By entering in this giveaway, you have read and agreed to Sage and Savvy’s policies regarding giveaways.
  Good luck!

Several weeks ago when I read about the couple who were suing an airline after they saw roaches on the plane reminded me of some of the complaint letters I've read when I was working in the airline industry.

I wasn't in the consumer relations department, but at one point my boss was the head of that department so I had to keep her informed of the complaint and compliment statistics.

Of course, when it came to complaints, most of the letters referred to service (or lack thereof), delays, lost baggage, or things you'd expect one to write about.

However, there was one letter that I personally thought was a bit silly. 

Someone had written a letter about how he was expecting a certain movie to be shown onboard, but it turns out there were technical difficulties with the movie, so another movie had to be shown in its place.  However, this person was looking forward to watching the original movie, and because another movie was shown, it really distressed him for the remainder of the flight, and he requested a full refund of his ticket.

Is it just me, or is that silly?

I know there are legitimate circumstances that warrant a full refund or perhaps some other kind of compensation (free upgrade, free meal, etc.), but I agreed with the department manager - that the above circumstance did not warrant a full refund.

Have you ever had a truly bad experience on a flight before? 

Frosty the Snowman has become very popular in our home lately thanks to the Frosty the Snowman Record a Story book we recently received!

This fall and into the holiday season, military parents about to deploy will have the chance to arrange for shared story time with their children even after they leave for their tours of duty, through United Through Reading’s Military Program. Operation Record a Story, a program sponsored by Publications International, Ltd. (PIL), has donated thousands of books, many from its award-winning Record a Story™ collection, to the nonprofit United Through Reading®. Through this organization, service members can record the stories for their children before they deploy. 

The books, along with a DVD of the parents recording the story, will then be shipped to the kids for the holidays. For more information on Operation Record a Story, click here.

The Record a Story books make reading a whole lot of fun, and they offer a wonderful way for parents and children to bond, whether they are together or apart.

THOMAS & FRIENDS™: STEAM TEAM COLLECTION 4-DVD PACK:

It’s the perfect holiday gift for your little engineer at an incredible price! Enjoy a trainload of fun and adventure with Thomas and his friends in stunning CG animation when this new collection of DVDs pulls into stores just in time for the holidays. Sixteen fun-filled tales – including exclusive content never before seen on TV – take you once again to the Island of Sodor to ride along with Thomas and all his engine friends as they play in the rain, make special deliveries, work together and celebrate friendship and good fun.

DVDs Include:
Thomas & Friends: Splish Splash Splosh!
Even when it’s wet outside you can still have plenty of fun, especially when you share your adventures with Thomas & Friends! Grab your galoshes and join your favorite engines as they prepare for rainy-day visits, sudsy spills, snowy situations and more in these stories from the Island of Sodor.

Thomas & Friends: The Lion of Sodor
Join Thomas as he roars down the tracks with his most special delivery yet, the Lion of Sodor. But can the other engines convince Thomas in time that his special is not a real lion? Hop on board and learn the importance of listening to others in these lionhearted tales.

Thomas & Friends: Creaky Cranky
Crank up the fun as the Island of Sodor prepares for the Spring Party. There are engines to mend and decorations to deliver, and Thomas is on the fast track to finish in time. But when there’s too much heavy lifting to do, Thomas realizes it takes a team of friends to reach his true destination.

Thomas & Friends: Thomas & The Runaway Kite
High-flying fun waits ahead with your favorite engine friends! Get ready to rescue buzzy bees, catch a runaway kite and unwrap the biggest present of all. Thomas is on track to reach new heights in these exciting railway adventures.

It's no secret that my boys love watching Thomas & Friends, so they were excited to check out some new DVDs in the Thomas & Friends: Steam Team Collection!

One of their favorite DVDs is in the collection - The Lion of Sodor, so they were eager to watch that DVD.

Musician still showed his concern when he saw that the lion that Thomas was transporting was not real, and was instead a statue covered in sticky syrup, fish, and straw, but was happy to see the statue end up looking nice and shiny again.

On The Runaway Kite DVD, Musician enjoyed the Toby's New Whistle Episode.

When Toby's bell couldn't work, he had to get a new 3 chime steam whistle and was afraid to use it, but once he learned it came in very handy, he found himself and the new whistle to be very useful.  Musician really liked hearing Toby's new steam whistle!

Another of Musician's favorite episodes was Snow Tracks on the Splish, Splash, Splosh! DVD.  He was amazed at the huge snowball that Gordon created!

The Steam Team Collection DVD episodes offered many great lessons as well as hours of entertaining episodes and fun bonus features.  It's a perfect gift for the holidays for any Thomas & Friends fan!

Shop: You can purchase the Steam Team Collection 4-DVD Pack at various retailers online and nationwide (SRP $24.98).