My Best Experience of Giving a Holiday Gift

Teens


Learning from A Bad Teen Shopping Experience

Giving holiday gifts can be dicey if you don't know your audience. This is true, for sure, especially if you are buying gifts for teenagers during the holiday season or other special occasions throughout the year.



MBE partnered with the SWAGG App for this story

I found that out myself at Hanukkah this year when I bought my girls(triplets, age 13) several outfits online that were non-returnable. Long story short is that these rather discriminating teenagers HATED what I chose for them even though I was sure they were going to be thrilled.
Now they're refusing to wearanythingI bought them without their pre-approval. So I've decided to lighten up and give these unworn clothing items away. I'm also going to be giving all four of our kids (all teens) gift cards from now on instead.

Now let me tell you about my best gift giving experience: it's what I've learned from this fiasco I've just told you about.  The take away is that when you want to give a gift that they'll love, you probably shouldn't guess what your teenagers will like.

As anyone with teens knows, this fickle bunch of adolescents likes and dislikes vary hour to hour. I have already bought my girls each gift cards to Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and they are thrilled -- so this later experience has turned out to be the BEST shopping tactic I've ever tried.  But to even the score, I still need to get gift cards for both my boys too.

With all the gift cards I'll now be buying as gifts and well as all the ones I have laying around, it's lucky there's a new app called SWAGG.This just launched app lets you shop smarter and in my case (saner and happier too) using your mobile phone. With this you can easily buy, send or swap gifts and organize all those so-yesterday plastic gift cards you might have in your purse, junk drawer, dresser, and who knows where else.

To use this new little wonder of a shopping tool all you do is bring your mobile hand-held with you to the store and show the Swagg info on your phone to the sales clerk at checkout. You can use this online, too. Without a question this is a great way to get all those bulky cards into a neat digital file that goes everywhere with you.

I know I have a horde of plastic gift credits myself -- here, there, and every where -- that I'm going to upload to my iPhone as soon as I can find them.  And, since I still have a lot of shopping to do between now and January I'd better find them quick and enter them all into SWAGG so I can finishing making all my planned purchases.

This app is a breeze to learn even for tech-challenged moms like me if you watch their Demo Video before you dive into the handy life saver of an application which really helped me get up and running in a few minutes. If you are a tech genius (most kids under 40 these days are) you can just start using this without any ramp up time at all.

I know I'm going to be in gift card heaven with SWAGG always standing by like a good friend to get me through the holiday buying season. If you'd like to streamline your life and make it less stressful, you might want to give this a try too.

FTC Disclosure: I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

12 Tween Girls from Texas, Oklahoma & Arkansas Sought to Model for & Contribute to Discovery Girls Magazine Special Issue


Discovery Girls Magazine is coming to Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas and is seeking 12 tween young ladies from each state between the ages of 8 and 12 to be featured in an upcoming issue.

My 13 year-old girls love the fringe benefits of attending events with me.  Watch for a separate post soon about the new line of exercise products Jane Fonda announced at this event.
Jane Fonda's Workout Relaunch Party, Hollywood, December 2010
Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Discovery Girls, a national publication now in its 11th year -- if you didn't already know -- was created by girls, for girls in the tweenage years from 8 to 12.  Each issue features real girls from one state. 

The girls chosen are not only the magazine’s models, they also contribute significantly to the content of the issue in which they are featured, allowing readers to easily relate to and be inspired by their own peers.

Applying is easy and fun – and any girl in this age group that lives in Texas, Oklahoma, or Arkansas is encouraged to apply.  The magazine looks for girls who are creative, caring, confident and who love to have fun!

Application questionnaires must be postmarked by January 31, 2011 and can be found at http://discoverygirls.com/sites/default/files/questionnaire.pdf

The winners will be invited to participate in a photo shoot in late February 2011.

For more information about this tween opportunity, or to schedule an interview with a representative of the magazine, you may also contact Tatiana Guertin at Tatiana@discoverygirls.com or 408-753-9365

This San Jose, Calif.-based bi-monthly publication is distributed throughout the United States and Canada, with a readership of nearly 1,000,000.  The magazine features real girls between the ages of 8 and 12 dealing with real-life situations and strives to empower girls to celebrate who they are and to realize their potential.

FTC Disclosure: MommyBlogExpert did not receive payment or other compensation associated with this particular post.   See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Two PRSA Webinars in Early 2011: Helping Brands and PR Reps Develop Social Media Policy and To Know & Abide By Copyright Laws


Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) is holding two Webinars in early 2011 that will be of interest to both to brands and their PR representatives especially those seeing to maximize the use of social media to reach key influencers.

Jan. 27, 3–4 p.m. EST
PRSA Members $150/Non-Members $250

Deirdre Breakenridge outlines what you need to know to develop a social media policy that fits your organization.

Attendees will learn how to
  • Develop a matrix for comparison to your organization’s social media environment
  • Fit the policy to your company’s code of ethics or code of conduct
  • Understand and abide by legal issues like intellectual property rights and invasion of privacy
Feb. 17, 3–4 p.m.EST
PRSA Members $50/Non-Members $75

Keith Kupferschmid teaches the ins and outs of copyright law, and what you need to do in order to comply while still effectively doing your job.

In this webinar participants learn
  • Fair use and attribution of online content
  • How to avoid risks and damages
  • How to combat piracy
FTC Disclosure:  I disclose that I am a long-time member of Public Relations Society of America.  However, I did not receive payment or other compensation associated with this particular post.   See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Her Interactive's 80th Anniversary Nancy Drew Contest - What female inspires you and why?


Here's your chance to win this gorgeous vintage style Nancy Drew leather business card holder by Alicia Klein, valued at $55.  Contest ends 1/31/2011

This contest celebrating 80 years of Nancy Drew is sponsored by Her Interactive in conjunction with the recent MommyBlogExpert review on Her Interactive's latest game Nancy Drew - Shadow at the Water's Edge.
Nancy Drew continues to inspire women one generation to the next.  Countless women celebrities and elected officials, and every day women (both career-oriented and stay-at-home moms) were inspired by Nancy in their own youths and lives.

Who inspires you, your daughter, grandaughter, or niece?  Is it Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, young actress Taylor Swift, seasoned thespian Gweneth Paltrow, or an uber successful entrepreneur like Martha Stewart?  Or is it some other public female figure that motivates you?

The winning entry will be selected by Megan Gaiser, CEO of Her Interactive, who will choose the best comment below this post based on content and clarity. 

This giveaway, which is hosted by MommyBlogExpert and sponsored by Her Interactive, is open to legal U.S. residents only.   See details below.  Contest ends January 31, 2011 at 11:59 PST. 

How to Enter - Follow these simple steps

1.  Leave a brief comment (100 words or less) telling which female inspires you and why.  Remember to include your email address or Twitter contact info with your comment(s) so that we may reach the winner.

2.  Follow
MommyBlogExpert on Twitter and Facebook
AND
Her Interactive on Twitter and Facebook
 

3.  Retweet the following message about the contest

Nancy Drew has inspired generations of girls. Who inspires you? http://tinyurl.com/2e37dlv #HerInteractive #contest #mommybloggers

FTC Disclosure:  I disclose that I am an AmbassadHer for Her Interactive.  Also, Her Interactive is providing the prize for this giveaway.  However, I did not receive payment or other compensation associated with this particular post.   See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Build & Color DIY Kids Fantasy Toy Castle

Creative Kids Toys

Named a Top Natural Toy of 2010
by Mothering Magazine

Fantasy Castle Tower Giveaway - Ends 1/1/2011.



This is no fairytale.  Every child can have a castle of their very own for this holiday season with this innovative product from Imagination Box Company (IBC).

American-made and green, IBC's Castle Tower for ages 3 and up is designed with a child's creativity and imagination in mind.  This product, for certain, lives up to the company's motto, "We Make Toys Children Remember."


Fantasy Kids Toy Castle

As we discovered, this is no ordinary kid's castle.  This structure, which comes unassembled and printed in black and white ready to color, is made partially with post consumer material, is all non-toxic, and is 100% recyclable.  It measures 39" tall and 18" in diameter when it is put together and can be colored with the included watercolor paints or your child can use crayons or magic markers to make this uniquely their own.  Included with the castle tower are 6 miniature cardboard shields to add to the fun.




After this castle tower project arrived, I thought this would consist of 30 minutes maximum of crafting and play time for the kids.  But, when my daughters (13 year-old triplets) and their little 6 year-old friend opened the box and saw everything that was inside, they were ecstatic.  

As it turned out, this was so entertaining that the time they spent working on this stretched into multiple sessions of a few hours each over 3 weeks.  I could see from the outset that this project would be fun for even a single child to do or for cooperative play with siblings or friends.  It would also make an excellent manipulative for you and your child to enjoy some quality time together.  As a homeschooling mom (like the mom who invented this) I think that this is a really brilliant product that helps build motor and creative skills in a super fun format.

From the results pictured here you can see that they really went to town coloring the sturdy cardboard castle tower and the little cardboard shields that came with it.  But, there's no reason why little boys won't like making the castle and playing with this too as the brother of this little girl discovered.


 
Regularly priced at $40, the Castle Tower is currently on sale online for $31.20 plus shipping at Imagination Box Company.


About Imagination Box Company
Imagination Box Company, www. imaginationboxco.com is based in a yurt in Sandpoint, Idaho and is run by Kim and Russ Cash who are homeschooling their 3 children.  This small business has won multiple awards such as Dr. Toy Green Product and Mothering Magazine's Top Natural Toy, among others.  All IBC green toys currently available -- the Castle Tower, A Country Cottage, and Barn -- are made with sturdy double-walled corrugated board and are made to last.  Toys are printed inside and out with IBC's unique and original play time designs. 

ENTER this Giveaway NOW by leaving one or more comments below this post.

Contest ends January 1, 2011 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only.


For the Required (Mandatory) Entry
Simply leave a comment below this blogpost with your email address, Facebook or Twitter contact info so we may contact the winner. 

Optional Extra Entries
Get extra entries for following MommyBlogExpert and/or Imagination Box Company on Twitter and/or Facebook.  Remember: Be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert to leave an additional comment after each individual action you do to confirm them so we can record all your extra chances to win.

Follow MommyBlogExpert (1 or 2 extra entries)
on Twitter
on Facebook 

In ADDITION to doing any or all of the extra entries above, you can earn one extra entry each time you Tweet the message exactly in the paragraph immediately below (limit 3 separate tweets for 3 extra entries per day).  Don't forget to return to leave a comment on MommyBlogExpert with the direct link to right after every Tweet so you'll receive entries for all your RTs.

Award-Winning Child Size Castle Tower Toy @imaginationbox GIVEAWAY http://tinyurl.com/2bf59uj #xmas #kids #eco #contest #gift RT 2 WIN

Remember, for each of the above entries to count, be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert to leave an additional comment after each of the above actions to confirm them so your extra chances to win will be tabulated. 

   
FTC Disclosure: I received the Castle Tower reviewed from Imagination Box Company to facilitate this review blogpost.  Also, IBC is providing an additional Castle Tower for the giveaway being hosted on MommyBlogExpert.  However, I did not receive payment or any other compensation associated with this particular post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.