Just in time for holiday travel, Choice Hotels is offering twice the rewards to guests at any of its nearly 5,000 hotels nationwide.

The company kicks off its Airline Miles + Choice Privileges Points promotion Dec 1, enabling travelers to earn either airline miles plus Choice Privileges rewards points or double Choice Privileges points for every qualifying stay with arrival between Dec. 1, and Feb. 29, 2012.

Travelers can participate in this promotion as often as they like. To qualify, they must register at ChoiceHotels.com and select the offer they want to earn. Reservations must be made at ChoiceHotels.com or 800-4CHOICE.

This promotion is available at all Choice Hotels properties: Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, and Ascend Collection member hotels. Great for families, couples and business travelers, these lodgings offer affordable rates and appealing perks like free Wi-Fi and free continental breakfast for additional savings.

Joining Choice Privileges is also free. Members can redeem their points for complimentary stays at Choice hotels as well as other benefits like retail gift cards, dining, entertainment, sporting events and airline miles, making travel all the more rewarding. For details, visit http://www.ChoiceHotels.com.

 Taco Bell Gift Card promotion, which offers one of the best options for anyone waiting until the last minute to stuff stockings: a gift and a meal, all without having to leave your vehicle.

Tapping into the spirit of giving, Taco Bell is offering a free chicken flatbread combo with a $20 gift card purchase at participating restaurants. The brand joins the popular trend of restaurants giving back to their consumers via including an added incentive for purchase.

$10 Gift Cards are also available and no expiration or fees apply to the gift cards. The offer is valid now through December 27, 2011.

Why?

Well to start with my sister in law. Who owns a vintage clothing boutique here in Arizona — well I could see her wearing the glasses (above). She would look super fabulous in them and they are the vintage style.It would make a great gift to include in a gift basket I would be making for her, or to put in a stocking with other goodies. I know she would never ask for them because it would seem like she is asking for an unfair gift item. But think about it, glasses would not only be a usable Christmas gift, but also something very chic.

Next up is my mom. The above eyeglasses are a designer style. Something she would absolutely never pick out for herself because she is far too frugal and hard on herself. But c’mon, my mom needs to look hip and hot. And I for one know she is in dire need of some new glasses and she refuses to ask for anything for Christmas. I think it would be a great surprise for her. Plus as I said, she would look way good in them!

When it comes down to it, you don’t have to spend a lot on glasses. And you don’t have to just get prescription. I am dying for several pair of sunglasses and I don’t need a five hundred dollar pair. A nice set of cheap glasses would do just fine. And like I said I truly can’t stress enough how great of a gift this is. From a stocking stuffer or what you can deem a filler gift. You know those gifts that you need to hurry and find that will balance the budget of what you’ve spent for each family member on gifts this year?

Don’t hesitate this year to consider buying gifts that are extremely usable and logical gifts like glasses. We spend our times bending over backwards to get that one huge amazing gift, but how often does the person really use it? Probably not that often huh? And if you do consider purchasing glasses, check out GlassesUSA.com for affordable and stylish glasses this year!!!

Plus as an extra gift to you from me:

GlassesUSA.com offers a 110% lowest price guarantee and a 100% satisfaction guarantee along with a generous refer-a-friend program. Additionally, you can stay up-to-date on all GlassesUSA happenings through their Facebook page and Twitter feed (@GlassesUSA).

AND

Early Holiday Sale:
Take 20% off any frame in our iSee Eyewear collection and get free shipping within the US. Code: iSee20FS
Take 10% off any order of prescription glasses. Code: Blog10

So head out and get your glasses this holiday season and don’t forget to use the discount code to save!!!!

Disclosure policy per FTC guidelines.

Christmas was amazing. Brent and I wanted Christmas, just one, with ourselves. Every year we travel here, we travel there and we don’t just enjoy the kids’ excitement etc. I even cooked a meal just for us – my first turkey. We had turkey, ham, sweet potato pie, potato casserole, corn casserole, fruit salad, veggie platter, a cheese ball and much more. We munched all day, played Wii, watched the kids ride their bikes and had a good family time. It was special. It was our first real Christmas just us and it being intimate made it so much more special.

We bought the kids a decent amount of toys, things we knew they wanted but didn’t go over what we budgeted. Santa brought them new bikes and they have been extra careful in taking care of them. I didn’t know that Tristan could peddle a big girl bike so I was so shocked and proud to see her get on her bike and take off! They had a great Christmas and over and over again kept telling us, “This is the best Christmas ever!”. Which was worth everything to us!

Here are a couple pictures from Christmas! Enjoy!

And I added this video because this had to be put on my Top 20 but couldn’t find it for the playlist – so you get a video!!!

And hopefully the angel doesn’t fall off.

Good news is, it’s still alive and smells oh so good!

Also on the bottom of this page is a link to all our current giveaways – be sure to check those out too!

Have an amazing week!

(This post will now go sticky – if you are looking for the previous sticky post about Project 200 Toys, you can find that here!)

One idea is a secret Santa style of giving mixed with the 12 days of Christmas.

Find a neighbor. (You need some ninja skills for this – but it’s quite fun!) Go to the dollar store (you don’t need anything expensive) and buy items. But you need to make sure you have enough to go along with the 12 days of Christmas. (1 of X item, 2 of X item etc)

Have the kids wrap each item or put in a gift bag, with a note. The note doesn’t have to be anything special but something cute like “On the first day of Christmas you get this”.  Then place the gift by the front door of said neighbor. (Preferably one with children)

Do this for the next 12 days. The kids will learn to give and the receiving children will not only enjoy this delightfully but appreciate it!

Christmas Eve they come over and help wrap gifts, put together the Santa gifts and more. (They don’t have kids yet)

Well Anna and I started a thing that we do every Christmas Eve. I’ve been hesitant to share, as it has always been so neat for the kids and is a very special tradition.

We go and buy cotton balls. Then tear them up and stretch them out in certain parts of the house. Near the presents, near the door and near the stockings. (Santa’s beard got tore off a little since he was in a hurry!)

Then you need to make some mud and find someone with big feet. Have them put boots on, get the boots muddy and make boot prints on the rug (or where Santa would have come in) and outside in a line near where Santa and the reindeer’s would be.

Then…buy a small bag of carrots. Chew, chew, chew those carrots. But DO NOT swallow. Spit them out on the ground. Those darn reindeer make quite a mess when eating their treats!

Of course we also take a bite out of the infamous cookies we all baked as a family for Santa. And leave just a tid bit of milk left in the glass of milk we left for him.

It is so much fun to keep the Santa belief alive in our kid by doing this! Not only are their faces shining and excited from the gifts…but because Santa truly came to the house to see them!