You know, nothing makes you feel quite as bad as seeing something you bought for Christmas on sale the day after. But, how can you explain to your kindergartener that Santa needed to get the toys on sale? Perhaps these toys can be for a birthday, or for friends, but snap them up, because they are at a great price.

Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel Save almost sixty percent on this great easel by one of my favorite toy brands.

Playskool Dream Town Sweet Lily Castle with Dress Up A cute little playhouse, which has the added advantage of being easily set up and taken down. It even comes with a frog prince!

MEGA Brands Struxx ROBOTRIXX Build your creation and have it come to life! Meanwhile, save over seventy percent off the original price!

High School Musical 3 – Sing along microphone She can sing along to songs from the movie, or on her own. Either way, it’s a steal at at $9.99.

Barbie Girls 1GB MP3 Player She can sotre up to 240 songs on this special 1GB model, and you pay less than fifteen bucks!

EyeClops BioniCam This very cool toy was $79.99 before the holidays, and now you can buy it for less than $20.00!

U-Dance No mat necessary! Instead, you hook an innovative, customizable band around your shoes and get ready to execute almost any dance move you can think of! By waiting, you save 60%!

LeapFrog Didj Custom Learning Gaming System Taking the popular portable Leapster to the next level. It offers a computer interface to continue the learning online. Now you can have one for less than $50.00.

(Image may or may not be an approximation of Glinda’s wrapping-fest last night)

The past couple years have found me at midnight on Christmas Eve, cursing and wrapping a bunch of gifts that needed to be under the tree, stat. This year finds me doing a bit better, with all presents wrapped or put into their adorable little bags. And yes, they are all adorable bags. I am so not biased at all. I’m even more proud of myself that I only had to go through two bottles of wine as opposed to my normal three.

Kidding.

It was only one.

And a half.

So on this Christmas Eve, I would like to wish all of our dear readers a wonderful holiday.

I know that weather is an issue for many, so stay safe and take care.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Not everyone is made of sugar and spice and everything nice. And “not everyone” will let you know it, every single time you try to force him/her to play nicey-nicey. Perhaps, as a peace offering or extortion piece, you may wish to incorporate the following into your holiday carol rituals. A single insect-ridden tune can often pacify the restless through two whole servings of fruitcake and perhaps even a stab at Good King Wenceslas, although not one soul on Earth remembers all the words.

From  Bug Girl’s Blog:

City cellars
Moldy cellars
We have just ventured down
To the basement to get things for Christmas
Lots of boxes, stacks of boxes
I think this one’s the tree
As we move them we’re likely to see…

Silver fish, Silver fish
Its Christmas time in the cellar
Centipedes, race with ease
Soon it will be Christmas Day.

To the tune of (of course) Silver Bells

“Never trust an Elf!” said Gimli the Extraordinarily Perspicacious.

And now, we see why.

Poor Santa must have stepped away from his computer for a moment, or possibly these pointy-eared minions of darkness simply used their deluxe Darth Vader laptops to hack in wirelessly. However they did it, they did it.

Those twisted little homunculi actually hacked Santa’s Gmail account. Behold the shocking revelations within:

This shocking news comes to us by way of Gizmodo

Tonight marks the first night of Hanukkah, may it be the beginning of a wonderful holiday!

Could I technically have any of these things at any time of the year?

Yes.

But holiday foods are associated with the holiday, and somehow it just doesn’t seem right to eat candy canes in July. Or, at least it doesn’t seem right to me. So here are my favorite goodies that I only indulge in once a year.

Thumbprint cookies

If you’ve never had these, bake some or find someone that will bake them for you. Soooo good.

Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Ahhh, mint and chocolate. Never a bad combination.

Russian Tea Cakes

Now some may say that these are not holiday cookies, but in my family they are. And it’s my list, so there.

Fudge

Again, most people I know only do homemade fudge at this time of year. I’ll take mine with walnuts, please.

Gingerbread

I will admit to not actually liking the taste of gingerbread. But I enjoy looking at things made with gingerbread, so on the list it goes.

Candy Canes

Yes, they are totally ubiquitous, but it isn’t Christmas until somebody breaks out the candy canes.

Cut-out and decorated Sugar Cookies

Angels, bells, Santas, stars, all of them taste great and are fun to make with the whole family. Silver pastilles on them scream Christmas to me.

Pizzelle

I am part Italian, so these bring back lots of memories of Christmas at Nonna’s house. Light, not-too-sweet, and tinged with anise, they are a great complement to a heavy Christmas meal. Or, uh, before a meal. Or sometimes during a meal…

Hanukkah Doughnuts

Fried dough, jelly, and powdered sugar? I’m all over that.

Peanut Brittle

Why is this candy associated with Christmas? I don’t know, but it is, and I’ll take some any time somebody offers it.

What about you? What foods do you look forward to?

Last week I asked about holiday shopping, and it seems you don’t care how you get your gifts, as long as you get the best price. I’m totally with ya, sisters. Although I will admit to there being a bit of a preference toward web ordering, simply because it seems there is more variety, as well as more hand-made items, on teh nets.

This week I want to know about wrapping. Or, uh, not wrapping, as it were.

I think I am in some sort of denial about there being less than two weeks until the holidays. I’m trying to hold the panic at bay, but not doing a very good job so far.

But do you know what makes me happy? Sales! Bargains! Knowing that often, good things come to those who wait. Feeling that I’m pulling one over on “the man” and buying something for less than someone paid two months ago. Bwaaahaaahaaaa! I’m totally evil that way. You?

Check out some of these amazing deals for the last-minute shopping you need to get done.

Melissa and Doug Deluxe Standing Easel This company makes great products that have the added bonus of being completely non-toxic. We love Melissa and Doug! And we love it even more when we can save 57%!

FurReal Friends Butterscotch Pony The pony that started the whole FurReal Friends craze. Can actually support a rider up to 80 pounds! Fulfill her dreams of a pony without needing a paddock. Originally almost $300, you save 50% and pay only $150.

I-Dog Dance White Just plug in your mP3 player and watch him dance! You will also find yourself dancing a bit after saving 50%.

Matchbox Power Scouts Skull Mountain Playset Boys love these Matchbox sets, which usually hook up to other sets for even more fun. And at 66% off, it’s a great bargain.

LeapFrog Explorer Smart Globe This highly rated learning toy has multi-level games for up to four players, a world clock, interactive pen, and plenty of geography! You save 50% off the regular price.

Polly Pocket Ultimate Party Boat Playset So many girls love Polly Pocket, and this is the biggest playset offered! Comes with three of Polly’s friends, who can have great adventures, including parasailing! I’m jealous! You can have this toy for less than eight dollars at 68% off the original price.

Littlest Pet Shop Digital Electronic Interactive Organizer A popular brand, this toy helps her manage her interactive pet and have her own personal organizer! Buy it and save 50%!

The Dangerous Book for Boys Game Did you know that the best-selling book is now also a game? They’ll willingly give up the video games for this one! At only ten dollars, with a savings of 50%, I think I’m going to buy one for myself!

Radio Flyer Turbo Turtle Less than thirty dollars for a ride-on toy? From Radio Flyer? Are they crazy? Meanwhile, you save 60%!

Playskool Mr. Potato Head Indiana Jones Taters of the Lost Ark, Idaho Jones Spud Shhhhh, I won’t tell that you’re really buying it for your hubby! And why wouldn’t you, since it is only six bucks! I’m sort of amazed!

Hasbro Playskool Honeybee Hop A fantastic game that will get everybody in the family moving! Can be played indoors as well for lots of inclement weather fun. Get this highly rated game for 60% off!