Tiny Tots Concerts at Robinson High School on 12/14

Time for another round of concerts!

Robinson High School Symphonic Band's Annual Tiny Tots Concerts
Tuesday, December 14, 2010 ~ Russell Theatre
Performances at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Ticket information - email bandwebmaster(at)robinsonband.org

Holiday Tunes for Tots Concerts at W.T. Woodson 12/1 &12/2

Holiday Tunes for Tots Concert

Wednesday, 12/1 at 7 pm and Thursday, 12/2 at 10 am
W.T. Woodson High School
9525 Main St.
Fairfax, VA
Geared for preschool and early elementary students.
Tickets $3
holidaytunesfortots at gmail.com ~ 703.352.7715

Tiny Tots Concerts at Robert E. Lee High School 11/30 and 12/1

It's time for free holiday tunes for tots concerts already!

I've taken my toddler to 2 different area high schools in past years for these concerts.  I've been impressed by how professional the music quality has been & how interactive the high school students are.  My son has especially enjoyed seeing & touching the instruments after the concerts.

If you haven't tried your local high school's concert yet with your kid(s), give it a try this year! Sometimes parking can be a challenge, and you'll have to check in as a visitor at the school office.  But I think it's a neat experience, and you can't beat low-cost or free indoor activities now that it's cold!

Tuesday/Nov. 30Tiny Tots Concert. 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. at Robert E. Lee High School, 6540 Franconia Road; Springfield. Holiday music and costumed characters from animated movies and cartoons. Tickets available at the door. $2. Reservations required for 10 a.m. performance. 703-956-0447 or 202-767-2046.

Wednesday/Dec. 1Tiny Tots Concert. 10 a.m. at Robert E. Lee High School, 6540 Franconia Road; Springfield. Holiday music and costumed characters from animated movies and cartoons. Tickets available at the door. $2. Reservations required. 703-956-0447 or 202-767-2046.

Thanks to Connections Newspaper for the posting!

$2 "BOO-rritos" (Burritos) at Chipotle on Halloween!!

I love this deal! When you dress up as a "horrifying processed food product" and hit up Chipotle after 6 p.m. tomorrow night (Halloween), you can get a burrito, bowl, salad, or an order of tacos for only $2! Considering these normally range $5-$7, this is quite a deal! Details on Chipotle's site. Thanks to reader Jen for the email tip!

Works for Me Wednesday: Laptop Lunches Bento Lunchbox

It's Wednesday, and that means it's time for another "Works for Me Wednesday" tip, as hosted by the blog carnival at We Are THAT Family. See this week's Works for Me Wednesday here.

I love my preschooler's Laptop Lunches Bento-style lunchbox. Laptop Lunches did not contact us to ask to be mentioned, nor did they give me a lunchbox - I bought one for my daughter of my own initiative this past spring, and I am just telling you about how much I adore this lunchbox system.



The system is American-made, and the pieces are BPA-free and lead-free. The features (two lidded containers - large and medium, two unlidded containers - large and medium, one tiny lidded "dip" container, plus a slot for silverware and room in the carrying case for the included water bottle) all add up to a very lunch-packing-friendly setup that encourages fresh ingredients.

Some things that you could put in the dip container:

• Almond butter or peanut butter (to go with sliced fruit)
• Creamy dips (I usually make with yoghurt or sour cream plus some other seasonings)
• Raisins or other trail-mixy stuff
• Nutella
• Cream cheese dips

The whole set cleans like a dream in the dishwasher, and you can also buy additional container sets so that you don't feel pressure to get the items clean every night.

I also (of course!) love that I don't need to spend additional money on plastic baggies or other items to make lunches.

Using a Laptop Lunches bento-style lunchbox works for us!

What do you use to increase the love for packing lunches?

We are Amazon.com affiliates, and this post contains our affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Redemption Unlimited!
All opinions in this blog post are honest and my own, and I was not asked to provide any reviews, favorable or otherwise, by Laptop Lunches

Regal Free Family Film Festival Starts June 29!

MARK THE CALENDAR!

I know I'm not the only mom excited about Regal's Free Family Film Festival. In Northern Virginia, it starts next week (June 29) and runs every Tuesday & Wednesday at 10 am through

August 25. Woot!

Two summers ago my toddler couldn't sit through a whole kids' movie without walking around, but this summer I think he'll do well. If you haven't tried Regal's free movies out, I(Mel) highly recommend it. There are quite a few participating theaters in Northern Virginia. Movies start at 10 am, and movie snacks are discounted. I've seen moms with sleeping or nursing babies, and the movies can be a bit loud with all the kids. But it's a great way to get out on hot days, and we've enjoyed meeting friends at movies so share the fun. Can you beat free, air conditioned entertainment during the summer?!

I've marked my calendar for the movies we can attend all summer and look forward to taking my toddler to the Veggie Tales movie, "Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" in 2 weeks. Let us know if you go!

To find a participating Regal theater near you, click here.

Works for Me Wednesday: Ice Cream Scooping My Watermelons!

It's Wednesday, and that means it's time for another "Works for Me Wednesday" tip, as hosted by the blog carnival at We Are THAT Family. See this week's Works for Me Wednesday here.

Now that watermelon season is here, my family can easily plow through one or two melons each week without even trying. Loss leader price on full sized melon in our region is around $3.50-$4, whereas retail is around $7, so if you're in the mood for a melon, you might want to check the ads for the stores closest to you; one of them is bound to have watermelon on sale any given week throughout the summer. As a matter of fact, watermelons are going for $3.99 at Giant this week!

The only thing I really used to dislike about watermelon was how space/time intensive and messy the whole operation seemed when cutting slices - and once cut, the slices took up a couple of shelves in our fridge. But I figured out a shortcut that works for us:

I use our ice cream scoop to scoop large bites of watermelon out of the melon halves into a big bowl!

Definitely not quite as dainty as a tiny-sized melon-baller, but it gets the job done. Reasons why I love doing it this way:

• Less juice everywhere! With the bowl right next to the halfed section of melon, the scooped bites barely have a chance to drip anywhere. (Compare this with slicing into wedges, which pretty much invites juice to drip all over my cutting board and the countertop.)
  
  
• Faster! I can scoop out both halves of a watermelon in less than five minutes - definitely less time than it takes me to figure out the visual math of dividing it into reasonable slices.
  
  
• Less energy-intensive. I ask you, what takes more effort: using your most mammoth kitchen knife to slice through watermelon rind again, and again, or scooping lush, soft bites of watermelon?
  
  
• It takes less fridge space! Once I have a big bowl full of bites of watermelon, I can either clear one part of a shelf, or spoon the watermelon scoops into smaller work-lunch-friendly Rubbermaid containers. Definitely less fridge space taken than when I have the slices stacked in bowls and trays.
  
  
• It makes for a great snack without all the mental effort/prep. Once I've scooped a watermelon, we have ready-to-eat watermelon on hand for 2-3 days - a favorite, healthy snack for all of us, cold from the fridge.

How do you dish up your watermelon?

Get Your Cow Costume Ready - Chick-Fil-A Dress Like A Cow Day = Freebies!

July 9, 2010 is Dress Like a Cow Day at Chick-Fil-A. If this year's DLACD is the same as past DLACDs, a cow "costume" (loosely defined) will get you some freebies - this year's is rumored to be a combo meal for a head-to-toe cow costume effort, and an entree item for a cow accessory effort.

We mention this now so that you can ponder ahead of time how to coax your entire family (bonus points if you get your teenagers to do it) into earning a nearly-free meal at Chick-Fil-A.

Mmmmm chicken!

Works for Me Wednesday: Rating Library Books for Future Gift Ideas

It's Wednesday, and that means time for another "Works for Me Wednesday" tip! Check out this week's WFMW carnival, hosted weekly by We Are THAT Family.

I just discovered our local library this spring.

...

...

I know. I KNOW. How is it that a supposed frugalista just now discovered the local library? *Momentarily smacks forehead...* To tell the truth, I'm not entirely sure what took me so long. (And to Mel's credit, she's been a longtime patron of her local library.)

But there was a major catalyst at play that spurred us to finally join: me getting sick of reading my three-year-old daughter the same books over and over. (And this, believe me, despite the fact that she has TONS of books via gifts, yard sales, etc.)

Now over the past few months we've averaged borrowing about 7 childrens' books or so per week. We've also discovered our library's once monthly book sale, wherein they liquidate excess inventory. Kids' hardbacks are just $0.50/each on the first day of the sale! (I really need to consider remodeling my daughter's bedroom to feature 20-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling bookshelving, and a freely gliding library ladder, a la Belle's library in Beauty and the Beast. But first, we should, you know, get a new water heater. Priorities!)

Every time we come home from the library, I take just a moment to document which books we've borrowed. As we read them, I put one star next to titles that I'd borrow again, and two stars next to titles which were so wonderful that I'd buy or gift.

This ongoing list gives me a quick reference for when a child's birthday or other occasion is approaching - I can quickly eyeball the "two-starred" books for inspiration. (Of course, this concept would be sweetened if I could then subsequently snag said titles brand new with a "30% off one item" Borders coupon, since there is a Borders just around the corner from me.)

Writing down the week's titles takes very little time, and the rating takes even less, since of those seven there are usually just a couple that get one star, and one or two that get two stars. I love the idea of giving books - but especially stories which we've also read and thoroughly enjoyed - to the kids in our life!

(And...when I one day return to the fold of those do lots of recreational reading...I'll probably apply this concept to grown-up oriented selections, too. :-p)

Rating library selections works for me!

$5/$20 Cox Farms Coupon, Good 05/04-05/09

In honor of Mother's Day, Cox Farms' website has a printable coupon good for $5 off a $20 purchase available to all registered members, good May 04 through May 09.

Cox Farms is at:

15621 Braddock Rd,
Centreville, VA 20120

(703) 830-4121‎

coxfarms.com

This would make for a great outing! If you can make it there before the weekend, things are sure to be less crowded. Happy farm shopping! :)
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Frugal Fridays: Dirt Cheap Yarn

Admittedly, I am not a knitter. But, I recently heard a fantastic story from my college roommate, who was visiting with her husband. Apparently my roommate's mother-in-law peruses the racks at a deep-discount retailer which sells imperfect or security-ink-stained clothing; essentially one level below the likes of Ross or TJMaxx. She is not shopping for clothing - she's shopping for yarn in the clothing racks.

Since size or small imperfections are no hurdles, she can pick up knit sweaters for pennies on the dollar, whereupon she returns home and unravels the sweaters. (If it were me doing this, I'd totally do it while watching reruns of my favorite show...) SO, as I understand it, she is essentially getting entire skeins' worth of yarn for a buck or two per skein, which she uses to knit hats and mittens. (Compare this with buying yarn at the craft store, where even with a sale or coupon the yarn could cost around $4-5 per skein.)

I am pretty sure my jaw had hit the floor by the time my roommate had finished telling me about this practice of her mother-in-law's. Once I'd fully absorbed the story, I said, "With your permission, I'd like to blog this..." :)

If you were a person who was very crafty with knitting winter accessories, especially for rapidly-growing kids who were only going to use them for a few months, this could be an extremely frugal way to go about it!

5 Reasons to Visit Giant - 04/30-05/06

There are dollar doubler coupons in the Giant ads! Take yours in to use 4 in a transaction of $15 or more to double the value of four $1 coupons.

1. Ball Park Beef or Meat Franks, BOGO (Save at least $4.49)
   Angus Franks, $0.75/1, 03/14 RP
   Franks product, any, $0.75/2, 03/14 RP
   Final price: If the $0.75/1 doubles, as low as $1.49 for two packs, or $0.75/ea.!
   
   
2. SunnyD Citrus Punch 64 oz. bottle, 10/$10
   $0.25/1, any, 02/07 SS
   Final price: $0.50/jug
   Man, if you have a soccer game or other gathering requiring snack sign-up, this could be the way to go...
   
   
3. Barilla Pasta, 10/$10 (Save $4.90 on 10)
   $1/2 Piccolini, 03/07 SS
   $1/2 Whole Grain, 03/07 SS
   Final price: $0.50/box! OR, dollar doubled, FREE!
   OK: Pot luck sports banquet after the above soccer game?!
   
   
4. Keebler Chips Deluxe Cookies, or Pecan Sandies, or Oatmeal Cookies, BOGO (Save at least $3.29)
   $0.55/1 Pecan Sandies, 04/18 RP
   Final price: If you use two coupons that double, $1.09 for two packs, or $0.55/ea.!!!
   P.S.: I'll bet if you pulsed these with some butter in a food processor they would make an awesome crust for cheesecake or a cream pie. :) Y'know, in case you were assigned a dessert for the sports banquet.
   
   
5. SUPER G Homestyle Roasting Chicken
   *or*
   SUPER G Drumsticks or Thighs, all $0.99/lb. Also a freezing/stocking price!
   
   
6. Smokin' deal on Tostitos chips and salsa! 3/$10
   Buy any 3, get 4th FREE
   $1/2, 04/25 SS
   Final price if dollar doubled on two $1/2 coupons: $6 for four!
   

Other reasons to visit Giant this week:

Porterhouse or T-Bone Steak, $5.99/lb. (Save at least $4/lb.)

Fresh Pork Spareribs, $1.99/lb. (Save at least $2/lb.) Also a freezing/stocking price!

Extra Large Shrimp, $6.99/lb. (Save at least $4.49)

Oscar Mayer Bacon, 2/$7
$0.75/1, 03/21 SS
Final price: $2/pack!

Oscar Mayer Lunchmeats, 2/$6
$1/2, 03/07 SS
Final price: $2/pack

Al Fresco Chicken Sausage, $3.99
$1/1
Final price: $1.99

Cheap Produce - $0.88
California Navel Oranges, by the lb.
Orchard Perfect Ripe Avocados, ea.
Sweet Vidalia Onions, by the lb.

Bananas, $0.49/lb. (Save $0.09/lb.)
Side note: I've never seen bananas on sale at Giant! Will wonders never cease...

Tribe Hummus, BOGO

Bagged Salads (Giant and Dole), 2/$5

Dannon Activia 4-packs, 2/$4
$1/1, 03/28 SS2 and 05/02 SS
Final price if dollar doubled: FREE!

Tropicana Pure Premium, 2/$5
$1/2, 02/21 and 04/25 RP, or $1/1 Trop0, 03/14 RP
Final price: As low as $0.50 for the Trop50 if you dollar double it!

Kettle Chips, 2/$4
Krunchers! Kettle Chips, $1/1, 04/18 SS (not sure if this is the same brand)
Final price: If the same brand and dollar doubled, FREE!

Breyers Ice Cream, 2/$5 (Save $2 on 2)

Stouffer's Entrees, 4/$10
$1/1 possible from registering
Final price if dollar doubled: $0.50!

California Pizza Kitchen Pizzas, 2/$9
$1/1, 05/02 SS
Final price once dollar doubled: $2.50/ea.!

Bertolli Frozen Meals for two, $5.99
$1.75/2 when you register
Final price: $4.62/ea.

Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwiches, $4.99
$0.75/1, 05/02 RP
Final price: $3.49

Giant Oil - Corn, Canola, or Vegetable, 128 oz, $5.99

Charmin 24 Big Roll Bath Tissue, $10.99 (Save at least $4)
$0.25/1, 03/07 P&G and 04/04 P&G
Final price: $10.49

Tide 2X Liquid Laundry Detergent, $15.99 (Save at least $3/ea.)
$1/1, 03/07 and 04/04 P&G inserts
Final price if you dollar double it: $13.99 (compare retail of $18.99)

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Meal Deal: Enjoy a FREE Coke 2-Liter when you buy a Bertolli Complete Dinner for Two and Breyers Ice Cream.

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This post is part of BeCentsAble's Grocery Gathering

What other Giant coupon matchups and deals did you spot for the coming week? Did we make any deal-calculating hiccups? Post a comment to let us know!

IHOP - Kids eat FREE every day in April, 4-10 p.m.

I just saw a very exciting ad on TV. IHOP is willing to feed your younguns free dinner every night in April!

This is why I LOVE my DVR!

With the screen paused, the fine print read:

Receive one free kid's meal with each adult entree purchase. Offer valid on "Just for Kids" menu items only. For a limited time at participating restaurants.

Needless to say, this is a great way to snag some cheap eats, especially in scenarios (feeding visiting family, post-sports-practice dinners) when you need to feed a bunch of kids cheaply and quickly. Just remember to tip your hard-working server based on the would-have-been value of your check.

Find your local IHOP location here - and remember to call ahead to make sure that your location is participating!

Tuesday Deals Roundup: FREE Gillette Razor, Johnson's Baby Shampoo, and Proctor and Gamble coupons!

Here are some of the hot deals we've seen lighting up the frugality blogosphere:

Get a coupon for free kids' meal with adult meal purchase at Friendly's (or a $5/$25 coupon!). Thanks to Mommy's Wish List for this one! Mommy's Wish List also recently shared a post with a smokin' hot $10/$25 coupon for Yankee Candle Company.

Bath and Body Works has a $10/$40 coupon out, which could make holiday clearanced items even cheaper! Thanks, Jodi!

Frugal Coupon Living has a phone number to call to get your FREE Gillette Fusion razor - good for one per household while supplies last! Thanks, FCL!

Christy of The Bargain Jargon has the scoop on where to sign up for a Proctor and Gamble coupon booklet featuring $15 worth of coupons. Thanks, Christy!

Money Saving Mom's Crystal shared (thanks!) how to score free Johnson & Johnson's travel-size baby shampoos. Great for diaper bags and overnight bags - and not just for babies!

Some FREE Christmas Tracks Currently Available on Amazon

I am lovin' these free Christmas and holiday MP3s on Amazon! Some talented acts have posted free and (yea!) family-friendly MP3s, some part of the 25 Days of Free Downloads, and others whose freebie MP3s took a little more work to find. Consider buying other tracks or the whole albums from the artists whose tunes you fancy!

You're sure to find a version of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" here that tickles your fancy. :)

"Joy to the World" by Casting Crowns
"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" by Casting Crowns
"Snow Angel" by Tori Amos
"The Coventry Carol" by Mediaeval Baebes
"God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen" by Jars of Clay
"No Room" by Todd Agnew
"Wishing for This" by Leigh Nash
"Silent Night" by Sixpence None the Richer
"Silent Night" by House of Heroes
"O Come O Come Emmanuel" by Annie Moses Band
"Oh Come Emmanuel" by Aliqua (this one is particularly beautiful harmonized a capella)
"Oh Come, O Come Emmanuel" by Big Daddy Weave
"Winter Wonderland" by Point of Grace
"I Celebrate the Day" by Relient K
"The Nutcracker Suite, Waltz of the Flowers" by the Bonn Classical Philharmonics
"Joy to the World" by the Stroudavarious Orchestra
"Carol and the Kings" by the Allison Brown Quartet with Joe Craven (folksy banjo and piano flavor!)
"The Night Before Christmas" by Brandon Heath
"Pat a Pan" by Mannheim Steamroller
"It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" by MercyMe
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Some Can't Miss Deals and FREEBIES: $5 Hallmark freebie, MORE FREE Amazon MP3s, Robeez, Vera Bradley, Burt's Bees, World Market, etc.!

I'll admit that it's exciting to realize how much retailers are competing for our hard-earned dollars. :) Every weekend 'til Christmas is sure to have hot Black-Friday-level deals - woo! Here are some deals hurtling through the blogosphere.

A $5-off-any-purchase (no minimum!) coupon good for Hallmark Gold Crown stores. Won't last long - print now. Expires 12/24.

Amazon keeps on giving away the music! I've downloaded so many free holiday MP3s that I've almost doubled my Christmas music collection. Freebies 4 Mom gave the scoop on 3 freebies available today - thanks, Heather!

Today you can get 30% off Robeez and free shipping at Endless.com. Robeez deals are harder to find, so if you like the brand, shop this deal! Thanks, Baby Cheapskate!

Use code 20offsale to get an extra 20% off sale items at VeraBradley.com this weekend. Clicking through ebates to get to the Vera Bradley site will get you an extra 3% cash back.

Whooowee, I love it when you can stack coupons and discounts. Dana of Mrs. Moneysaver posted a great scenario for ending up with LOTS (and lots!) of Burt's Bees products for a scant $25. This is is an ideal opportunity to split up the variety for stocking stuffers. Thanks for the tips, Dana!

Mommy's Wish List posted a coupon good through tomorrow, December 6th, for 25% off your purchase at World Market. Thanks, Lea Ann!

Bargain Briana says if you go to Denny's, you can use her linked coupon to get a free Peppermint Pancake Puppies coupon with any purchase at Denny's through 12/11. Thanks, Briana!
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Disclosure: If you join ebates using any of our referral links, you'll get a $5 bonus to start, and so (thanks!) will we..

New Redbox Freebie Rental Code, Expires Wednesday 12/2

The code SPNSV9 will get you a free Redbox rental, and it expires tomorrow, Wednesday 12/2. Find your local Redbox locations (and there are many) here.
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NEW Redbox Freebie Rental Code - Use ASAP!

Inside Redbox just reported that the code DLLNS26 will get you a free rental, and while so far it seems to be working everywhere, the expiration on it is unknown. Suggestion? If you're out running errands today, stop by the nearest Redbox and give it a shot. You have nothing to lose but about 30 seconds of your time. Find your local Redbox locations here.
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Toys (and Other Gifts) with Staying Power: Books Edition

A soon-to-be-well-loved book can be one of the greatest gifts that you can give a child. While a standard list of classics and award-winners is undoubtedly a great place to start, we thought that we'd add a few inexpensive suggestions (perhaps unfamiliar to you) to spice things up. The recipients' parents will thank you in the long-run, too, because to fit this "Staying Power" series, the books must:

1. Be a good value - No $100 easily-destroyed treasuries here
   
2. Be long-lasting/resilient - The story does not lose its appeal after just a few readings
   
3. Inspire creativity - The story sparks conversation and interaction
   
4. Span age groups - Any age group reading the book will enjoy it
   

So here we go:

Cinder Edna
$6.99 paperback, $12.23 hardcover
This take on the Cinderella story reveals the parallel life of Cinderella's next-door neighbor, Cinder Edna: a take-charge kind of girl who cleans parrot cages in her spare time in order to afford to put a dress on layaway so that she, too, can go to the ball. Those familiar with the traditional Cinderella tale will also delight in meeting studly Prince Randolph's younger, more pragmatic brother Rupert.

Anything by Mo Willems, like...

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
$10.19 hardcover, 2003 Caldecott award-winner
Even very young toddlers who are just learning the meaning of, "No!" themselves will get a huge kick out of this book, in which a crafty pigeon tries every trick in the book to get behind the wheels of a nearby bus. His lines ("Let's play 'Drive the Bus'! I'll go first.") will have the older readers laughing out loud. Just one of many in the hilarious pigeon series.

Anything by Graeme Base, like...

The Eleventh Hour
$7.99 paperback, $9.32 hardcover
As with all Graeme Base creations, The Eleventh Hour is a visual feast that readers of all ages will enjoy. Horace the Elephant throws himself an 11th birthday party, and invites all of his animal friends. But the party takes an ugly turn when it emerges that the birthday feast prepared for the occasion has been secretly gobbled up by one or more in attendance. Now the questions are: who has an alibi? Will less-obvious clues from the pages exonerate other party guests? From the lush, intricately detailed illustrations, to the hidden clues and puzzles, to the overarching whodunnit mystery (with an officially sealed answer section at the back), The Eleventh Hour could easily become a family favorite, even for older children.

What authors/books do you enjoy giving children for Christmas?
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Holiday Series: Toys (and Other Gifts) With Staying Power

Some toys last approximately 3 nanoseconds - or less - after Christmas. You know the ones I'm talking about: they have teeny tiny, breakable, and/or irreplaceable pieces that are lost before that second cup of coffee on Christmas morning. Or they don't match your child for age-appropriateness or size. Buying Christmas toys for today's marketing-savvy kids only adds to the challenge. We are a million light years away from the Laura Ingalls Wilder Christmases featuring a single penny, and orange, and a tin cup.

With this post, we're kicking off a holiday series on toys (and other gifts) with staying power. Generally speaking, the items will:

1. Be a good value
2. Be long-lasting/resilient
3. Inspire creativity
4. Span age groups

Without further adieu, here are some toys with staying power:

Makit's Make a Plate Kit
$12.24

My brother and I made a few of these back in the day, and they are still in their original format today on Amazon.com: "Each Make A Plate® Kit contains 5 drawing sheets and markers, plus one pre-paid certificate for processing artwork into one (1) 10 inch melamine plate at the Magic Factory™."

The recipient can send one sheet they have colored with the kit's markers in to the Magic Factory™, and after about 10 days, their design comes back in the mail emblazoned on a melamine plate that they can use again and again! These plates are oh-so dishwasher safe, and I am proud to say, still hold their colorfast properties decades (eek!) later - remaining bright and enduring (not to mention useful) tributes to the child's artwork. (My mom still treasures the ones she has at home that we colored for Christmas way back when.)

At just over $12 for one Make a Plate kit, this could be a stocking stuffer or part of the gifts under the tree - OR you could collude with the kids to color and process their own plates as a Christmas gift to their parents.

IKEA Lillabo train sets
$14.99 for the biggest basic set (found in the Woodbridge IKEA)
$9.99 for 12-piece train/track set
$6.99 for 10-piece supplemental track set
$3.99 for the basic 3-piece train with engine and cars

Let's face it: shopping for train sets for your kids can be like shopping for cars - there is a basic A to B function, and if the set delivers on that, most kids will be deliriously happy to build, rebuild, and choo-choo away for at least long enough for you to grab a shower or rustle up some dinner. Train sets that go beyond this A to B function with extra options and characters are cool, sure, but the costs can run away quickly, as any parent whose child owns an entire complement of Brio or Thomas the Tank engine sets will attest.

Word on the street (and on the IKEA website's Lillabo page) is that the IKEA train track sets, including the main Lillabo set, are compatible with higher end toy train engines, like Thomas the Train engines. So if the little one on your Christmas list is nuts about Thomas, consider buying some Thomas engines, and one or more of the extra track sets from IKEA.

And: Shhhh...it's OK...we won't tell if you're buying the train sets for the kiddos so that you can choo-choo on Christmas morning. Find your local IKEA here.

Note: We have not been paid or asked to endorse the gifts in these series; we just plain like the gifts!
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