Gifts for the Grandparents (1st of 3 BONUS posts)

So, when I set out to post the Cool Moms Rule! Holiday Gift Guide, I wanted to focus on the 'tweens and teens. A lot of folks have ideas about what to get the toddlers and pre-schoolers, and I felt that the older kids missed out, especially since they are such a tough group for grandparents (who might live across the country) to shop for these days, unless they are up on the latest music and videogames.

But I didn't want to neglect the people who make Christmas happen for their families, either: the parents and the aforementioned grandparents. (I know, "aforementioned" is a really strange-looking word, but spell checker says I'm good, so go with it, okay?)

So, here is the first of three BONUS sections to the Cool Moms Rule! Holiday Gift Guide. Today, we are focusing on the grandparents, while the next section will have ideas for Dad. Finally, last but not least, we will have gift suggestions for all you Cool Moms, so tell your family to come here and check them out, and maybe you won't be spending the day after Christmas returning stuff!*

Now, on to our recommendations!

For the grandparents that can't be with you this holiday season, consider giving them a bit of nostalgia by investing in a gift from Foods Across America.

Maybe Grandpa has fond memories of the Vienna beef hot dogs in steamed poppy seed rolls he enjoyed while taking in a ballgame. For grandma, it could be the delicious chocolate pecan pie that satisfied her sweet tooth when she was a girl. This year, they can savor all their favorite foods again with a little something from Foods Across America.

My personal favorite are the Vienna beef hot dogs I mentioned above, which come with all the fixings including that fabulous green relish. And the chocolate pecan pie got raves this last Thanksgiving when I brought it out for our family.

But they aren't the only offerings from Foods Across America, which brings regional favorites from all over the country to your own doorstep. Try the Philly Cheesesteak or the New York deli gift set, complete with corned beef and a cheesecake for dessert! (Foods Across America, prices vary.)

Grandparents can never get enough of their grandkids, even when those same kids are driving us crazy ; ). One thing they are always asking for are up-to-date pictures of the kids. With the Optimus Digital Picture Frame, it's easy for grandma and grandpa to update those home shrines they have designated for their little angels by simply taking the memory card out of their camera and inserting it into the picture frame. So easy! A PC isn't even required. The wood-grain finish will fit in well with Nana's furniture, too. Best of all, the Optimus 7" Picture Frame is available at your local Radio Shack through December 13th for just $49.99, $30 off the regular price!

For the personal touch, consider getting the kids together to make a one-of-a-kind holiday plate at La Plates. Full of fun, kicky designs, all kinds of color combinations, and the ability to add names or initials, the melamine plates will brighten up their dinner table with every use and are completely dishwasher-safe. BPA-free, all La Plates are made in the USA. Browse through the gallery for ideas from other creators to find your own inspiration. You can have the kids each make their own, or create one with all their names on it! These plates also make great anniversary and birthday gifts (La Plates personalized melamine plates, $20).

*Which, by the way, is a pet peeve of mine. I really try to take the time to find the right gift for each person, and the idea that some of them might go out the very next day to return what I got them just kills me inside. So far, though, if they ever have, they haven't let me know. So, see, you can feel good, taking gift-giving tips from me! ; )

Heroes: They'll Come, and Then Delgo

In the magical world of Jhamora, two races chafe under an uneasy truce--the Nohrin, winged creatures who dwell among the clouds and rule the skies, and the tortoise-like Lockni, terrestrial guardians of the mystical power of the land.

When a chance encounter throws Delgo, a Lockni teenager (voiced by Freddie Prinze, Jr.), together with the adventurous Nohrin Princess Kyla (Jennifer Love Hewitt), sparks fly between the couple--and their respective races, threatening the truce. The growing unrest paves the way for an exiled Empress (Anne Bancroft, in her last role) to return in an attempt to enact revenge for her banishment and regain the throne.


But when Princess Kyla is captured, hope comes from a surprising quarter: an unlikely alliance formed between Delgo and his best friend Filo (Chris Kattan) with their sworn enemy, Bogardus of the Nohrin (Val Kilmer). On their quest to rescue Princess Kyla, the trio learn the value of different cultures and the importance of working together.

Such is the story behind Delgo, a new animated film set to release this Friday, and one which I didn't even know was in the offing but now plan to go see *immediately* upon its opening, because it really looks that good.

The lush animation of Delgo--which is just phenomonal--combined with the star power behind the voices of the movie's intriguing characters, make the film a real winner this holiday season.

In addition, I applaud the family-friendly message behind the movie, which acknowledges the rich diversity between the different cultures of the Nohrin and the Lockni, while still stressing that, in the end, 'folks is folks', and we need to learn to all work together.

The parallels to our own lives, and the lessons to be learned therein, will make this gorgeously animated, exciting adventure romp of a movie an educational outing for your family as well.

Check out the Delgo website for more information about this movie from Atlanta-based Fathom Studios, the design studio that won a coveted "Best Feature Film" award for their efforts (their very first time up at bat!).

Review written for Team Mom. Cool Moms Rule! does not accept monetary compensation for their reviews.

Free Kooky Klicker Collector's Club Membership for YOU!

Just the other day, in the Cool Moms Rule! Holiday Gift Guide, we recommended Kooky Klickers pens as cute stocking stuffers for kids. There's a whole range of Kooky Klickers pen "families", and each pen in the family is unique.

Now, Kooky Klickers wants to award one of you with a special Kooky Klickers Collector's Club membership for your kids, including a Collector's Club exclusive Kooky Klickers pen, and lots of other fun stuff!

To win, just go to the Kooky Klickers website, then come back and be the first to leave a comment with the name of the pen which is reserved EXCLUSIVELY for Collector's Club members!

Good Luck!

Easy Entertaining

So, this week the Engineer and I are getting new carpet, and he has totally TORN UP THE HOUSE, because he suddenly had this wild hare that the baseboards must ALL be painted before the new carpet goes in. Which would be fine, but he started yesterday and they are putting in the carpet tomorrow. I pointed out to him that the still-wet baseboards might get scuffed, but he didn't want to hear it.

And, honestly, you guys, I spent most of yesterday crying because the house was in such chaos. Everything had to be moved out of the rooms to get the baseboards painted, and of course all of our old mess is on display all over the place until the new hotness gets moved in and there's no way to organize it. Our carpets are over twelve years old, the same age as the Rhino, for heaven's sake, so we needed new ones!

Then, on Friday, we are having a new TV delivered. I have to say, in this case, we don't really NEED a new TV, we just want one really badly. ; )

And did I mention that with all this going on, we were supposed to host Poker Night this weekend?! Ack! I need something easy that I can just whip up and serve, no fuss or hassle.

Luckily, I have a new recipe to try out, Ultimate Party Meatballs, which looks SUPER easy, and I know the poker buddies will love them. I'm going to make mine in the slow cooker and just let them go while I am cleaning up the chaos!

I'm sharing the receipe with you below, and if you want more easy recipe ideas, you can find them, too, at the Ultimate Party Meatballs site. When you check out the site, you'll also have a chance to win $3000 from Heinz and Ocean Spray!

Ultimate Party Meatballs

• 1 16-ounce can Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce
• 1 12-ounce bottle Heinz® Chili Sauce
• 1 2-pound bag frozen, pre-cooked, cocktail-size meatballs

Combine sauces in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth. Add meatballs. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally.

Makes 30 appetizer servings.

Slow cooker Preparation: Place meatballs in a slow cooker. Combine sauces and pour over meatballs. Cover and cook 4 hours on HIGH.

Quick Reminders!

Just a reminder that today is the last day to enter the Amazing Lands' End giveaway! Remember, all you have to do is pick your favorite of the three choices from the Lands' End site and comment on it to win!

Also, if you were one of my Lee Jeans winners and haven't given me your info (jean wash, size, inseam and shipping info, I MUST have it all by noon tomorrow (EST) so that I can get it out to the fantastic folks at Lee, who gave us those TEN FREE PAIRS of One True Fit Premium Bootcut jeans to give away!

And make sure you subscribe to our feed for a chance to win the Nintendo DS Princess Debut game from Natsume, which will also be decided tomorrow, so subscribe now!

Finally, you can still WIN a year's free membership to Kidzui, the Internet for Kids, and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teens Talk Tough Times if you enter by this Thursday. Winners will be announced on Friday, December 12th.

Whew! Okay, that's it for now, but stay tuned, because I'll be announcing some NEW contests to enter within the next couple days!