The West Michigan Bloggers have teamed up with local Etsy shops to bring you the Handmade for the Holidays blog hop.  You have until the end of the day today (December 3, 2010) to visit each of the participating bloggers via link above and enter some awesome giveaways of locally made products!

For this super fun blog hop, I was partnered with Designs by LaShelle, who makes beautiful and affordable custom jewelry from sea glass and crystals.

However, I dropped the ball and wasn’t able to get in touch with LaShelle until yesterday, so I don’t have a fabulous giveaway for you.  Sad, I know.

But…her stuff is very pretty, and unique, and if you place and order from her etsy shop, she’ll send you a coupon code for 50% off your next purchase.  Something for a friend, something for yourself.  Sounds pretty nice, even without a fancy giveaway, doesn’t it?

There are LOTS of great giveaways on the other Handmade for the Holidays blogger’s pages, though.  So go blog hop, and enter to win something fabulous!

So it’s the time of year for SALES and BUYING and GIFTS!!!

Is anyone else worn out by the 8000 emails coming your way, offering “up to” 60% off, but rarely on the item you (or your kids) are coveting?

I’m just about done with my shopping, and I’ve only been to one actual store.  If I could marry online shopping, I think I might.

While I am a happy gift-giver, I also find myself walking a fine line, that thin parenting line between buying the gift I know my child will love, and helping that child to understand that Christmas is about much more than gifts.  He knows this, of course.  But to feel it, to truly understand it, is entirely different.

Towards this end, I’m searching for something new this year.  Not a gift, but an opportunity.  Like many of you, our family has participated in various charitable acts throughout the years.  But this year I’d like my kids to be able to participate more fully–not just choosing gifts for another family, or donating the money they’ve saved up to give away during this time of year (we will do those things, too), but to serve someone in a tangible way.

Ideas, parents?  Have you done something hands-on with your kids to help them see the bigger picture?  To help them truly comprehend that giving really is more rewarding than receiving?  If so, I’d love to hear your ideas.  Comment away!