Nenette Alejandria Mayor writes about her sweet life with her 2 adorable, silly kids at Life Candy and has been known to send risque yet festive devices to unsuspecting relatives.

You know the saying: “It isn’t all about the presents.” The 6-year-old in me would call that a big fat lie and demand that Santa have my Barbie Camper toy under the tree as previously agreed upon.

My mini-me has a rather extreme opinion, but I must admit that the Holidays just wouldn’t be the same without a box to open on Christmas morning. Especially if that box is international in origin. I have family scattered all over the globe, and getting a box of chocolates from my aunt in Seattle or a carved wooden trinket from my godfather in The Philippines is always such a treat.

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Marilyn Belsham writes about her life with two young kids at A Lot of Loves. She still believes in the magic of Christmas, even if it does arrive accompanied by flashing lights and singing ornaments.

I triple heart Christmas. It really is my favorite time of the year. Because I love it so, I never miss the chance to count down to the Big Day. I’ve had advent calendars for every Christmas that I can remember, and you can bet that I’ve continued the advent calendar tradition for my kids as well. Of course, it’s possible to purchase cheap advent calendars filled with waxy chocolate, or the über expensive name brand toy calendars (I found one that was selling for $40!), but if you prefer to have a bit of a personal touch with your calendars, it’s pretty simple to make your own.

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By Miss Britt from In Pursuit of Happiness

I used to travel with an incredibly large suitcase, just-in-case shoes, and enough hair products to style an entire bridal party. Then airlines started charging for checked luggage and my frugal habits required me to change my packing patterns. Whether I’m traveling for a weekend or a week, I almost always get everything I need into a single carry-on suitcase. Here’s how.

1. Use the hotel’s toiletries. There’s no need to pack even tiny bottles of shampoo; the hotel you’re staying at will almost always have what you need to wash and moisturize yourself from head to toe. Remember that hotels also have hair dryers.

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By Britt Reints from Miss Britt

I’m a firm believer that travel is much more affordable than most people think - and that a lot of “money saving ideas” suck the fun right out of traveling. Sure, you can save money by staying at the motel an hour outside of the most popular tourist attractions and eating PB&J for a week, but you’d probably have more fun staying home! How can you fit more traveling into your budget and still find ways to actually enjoy the places you’re visiting? A little creativity and prioritizing is all you need.

1. Pick one or two must-see’s and must-do’s. It’s so tempting to try to “do it all” when you visit a new place, but that’s a recipe for blowing your budget and stressing everyone out. Instead, have each member of your group pick one or two priorities. Leave the rest of your time free for relaxing (which is inevitably when the best moments will happen).

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By Shawn Burns of Backpacking Dad

One Halloween, when I was six years old, I went across the road to the twins’ house. The twins were English, living in Carp, Ontario with their older sister, father, and their father’s new, young, wife. Whenever I would visit the twins’ house, their father seemed to be home. This could have been a function of his actually being a homebody, or it could have merely been that I rarely went over to the twins’ house.Whatever the truth, it always seemed like he was home, and he always seemed to have some stake in what the twins were doing. He was home, of course, on Halloween.

I went across the road to the twins’ house, and begged some candy from their father as he sat on his front step.

“Do you want to see me wiggle my ears?” he asked, pointing to the rubber ears he was wearing as a costume that night.

“Sure!” I said, and he shook his head vigorously.

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By Dee Brun from CocktailDeeva and www.twitter.com/cocktaildeeva

Unless your holiday party guest list includes Kid Rock , Lindsay Lohan, P Diddy and Amy Winehouse, stocking your bar for these festive events is really quite simple. The key thing to remember, is that just as in life…you canʼt make everyone happy. If Uncle Ted enjoys a nip of a good 100 year old scotch every now and then…Uncle Ted is just gonna have to B.H.O.S. (bring his own scotch) . Your goal is to create a warm, inviting atmosphere for friends and family to come together and enjoy an evening of good cheer. If that bombs, you definitely donʼt want to be stuck with a liquor cabinet full of crap you will never drink…

Here are the top 5 must haves for your swanky holiday home bar:

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By Jason Mayo of Outnumbered

I am not a breakfast in bed type of guy. It’s uncomfortable. It doesn’t make any sense to me. It never has. Why the hell would anyone want to eat a stack of flapjacks and a pound of bacon, while lying horizontal under the covers? It’s bad enough I find remnants of Goldfish crackers under my pillow. I don’t need maple syrup stuck to my sheets. It also makes the room smell and it gives me a headache. Oh and there’s no place to put the Orange Juice either. Please don’t bother.

I don’t carry a ton of cash on me. It’s not my nature. I usually have less than $10 on my person at any given time. I’m also not allowed to use the ATM without my wife yelling at me. Maybe the two have something to do with each other. For whatever reason, please refrain from buying me any sort of money clip or wallet. I don’t care if it has a silk screen of my favorite team’s logo on it. Not interested.

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By Emily Cassee from Not That You Asked…

I think I have probably earned a reputation as a crappy gift giver. And not because I give awful, thoughtless, insensitive gifts, but because I rarely give gifts at all. I happen to be a SENTIMENTAL gift-giver, to a fault, so when a special occasion passes by and a friend receives nothing from me, it’s not because I forgot. On the contrary, it’s likely because I have BEEN looking for the perfect thing for SIX ENTIRE MONTHS and still haven’t found anything remotely good enough. I am particular and picky and I do not want to give you another room-cluttering trinket or ill-fitting pair of gloves just so I can say I gave you something.

Ahem. Sorry for getting all personal on you, there.

But let’s be honest, sometimes Sentimental Gifts can border on… well, being kind of… cheesy. Especially when we’re talking about guys. But here are a few ideas that – while technically more  personal than a new tie or another pair of cufflinks – won’t make you roll your eyes or gag, either. (And if they do, DON’T TELL ME, please.)

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By Jennie from She Likes Purple and Style Lush

Even though most moms I know would appreciate nothing more than a nap, a clean house and the dinner (and drink!) of their choice for Mother’s Day, gifts are the icing on the cake.

So, here’s a list of ten gifts for all the mothers in your life. Even if that mom happens to be you.

1. Spoon recipe cards from Rifle, Co.

If you know a mom who loves to cook, encourage her to start a recipe collection with these pretty cards.

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Katie, aka motherbumper, is co-founder of The Bad Moms Club and Canada Moms Blog. With her friend, she recently drove from Toronto to Orlando with 3 kids under four and last year she travelled across Canada with the same circus, all in a vain attempt to prove she actually is insane. She succeeded admirably.

How does a parent actually survive a road trip with small kids? Because sometimes it really is survival. No matter how wonderful and well behaved the children are at home, when on a road trip with those same children there will be blood, I mean conflicts. Obviously it’s hard being strapped in a car seat just to go to the grocery store so it must royally suck to be strapped in there for hours on a road trip. I really do understand why small children voice so many travel frustrations while on route — I just wish they didn’t have to do it so loudly. Since tele-portation hasn’t happened yet and installing sound proof pexi-glass between the driver and passengers isn’t always an option, I try to adhere to these ideas when hitting the road with small children.

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