My Holiday Memories with Shutterfly

I love Shutterfly!  I have used it and loved it since before my first child was born almost 5 years ago, so when I had the opportunity to blog about Shutterfly and share my experiences, I was happy to do it!  Shutterfly is easy to use and a wonderful place to store and print those precious family memories.  I have gone to Shutterfly for so many occasions:  photo books, birth announcements, birthday invitations, thank you cards, calendars, photo gifts, and of course picture prints.  Every year at this time, I start examining every picture I am taking…will this one be cute enough for my Shutterfly Christmas cards?  Can I use this one in my personalized calendar?  Part of the joy of using Shutterfly is that you can be so creative with so little effort…and it looks so good! 

Shutterfly has so much more than just holiday cards.  One thing I am known for within my family is the family calendar I do every year as a gift for family members.  I compile pictures from my kids and also from my sister’s children and dump them into Shutterfly’s calendar program.  I do spend some time arranging the photos, but not nearly as much time as it looks like it took!  I love it because I can have several projects going at once, for different family members.  When complete, I can have them shipped directly to the recipient with a gift note…done!  And it is a very personal gift for each person.  Of course, I have to order one for myself as well! 

This year I am excited about our Christmas cards.  I can’t always decide which design to use, so sometimes I experiment with different options.  I am often torn between traditional colors and funky mod holiday designs.  In the past, I have gravitated toward the flat holiday photo cards, but this year I am excited to try the folded stationery cards!

With Love Chartreuse Christmas 5x7 folded card

Make a statement with Shutterfly Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Since I am a procrastinator, it is good to know that even though it is first week of December (can you believe it?), I still have plenty of time to get those cards, calendars and gifts finished.  They have a handy shipping chart that tells you exactly when you need to place your order to have your various products or gifts shipped in time for the holidays.   If I am really pressed for time, I can have Shutterfly address my cards and mail them directly!  Check that off the to-do list!  Wahoo!  Thank you, Shutterfly!

This week Shutterfly has some AMAZING discount offers on photo books, holiday cards, calendars and more!  Plus free shippiing on orders of $25 or more (code: SHIP25).

Coming Soon!

I am happy to announce our All American Christmas Event with some exciting upcoming Reviews, Giveaways, and an all-inclusive Holiday Gift Guide…with ALL American-made products!  There are many holiday shopping guides out there, but ours is unique in the fact that everything is Made in the USA!  We have some great product reviews and giveaways planned to help you get ready for the holidays with safe, high quality, American-made toys and accessories.  We will be spotlighting some of the many toys available on our retail website, but also sharing our insider tips on how to buy American-made in your local stores and (yes, elsewhere!) on the internet.  If you are tired of poor quality products of questionable safety cluttering your child’s play area, then this is the place to be in November.  Please check back often as we add products and links.

If you have an American-made product that you are interested in having included in our Holiday Gift Guide, or would like us to do a review or host a giveaway for you, please contact me.  Open to Made in the USA products only.

Toys Made in the USA for Christmas 2008

It’s unbelievable that the holidays are already just around the corner. Last year, the focus for Christmas was on safe, quality, American-made toys for the children…avoiding potentially lead-tainted Chinese-made products at all cost. But what about this year? With financial times so challenging, budget is definitely a major consideration. It’s tempting to run out to the nearest Target or Wal-Mart and buy all cheap plastic toys to make sure there are lots of toys and gifts under the tree, while still keeping to the budget. But what is that teaching our children about quality vs. quantity? And how long will that Chinese-made plastic toy really last? Are you certain of its safety? It is still important to remember the many reasons for buying American-made items wherever possible. Here are a few reminders:

1. Safety – American-made toys and products have much stricter safety requirements than many foreign made toys. The recalls for lead paint last year are still fresh in the minds of parents, and when it comes to our children…safety trumps all.

2. Quality – American manufacturers have a high standard of quality, and as many are still smaller, family-run operations, the focus on the quality of the products remains top priority.

3. Supporting our Country and Economy – Any shopping money that is dropped into our economy at this time will be helpful, but when you spend your money on products that are made in the USA, so much more of your hard earned cash is going directly to Americans, instead of supporting huge US corporations that pour the money in foreign economies.

4. Your Child's Development – Have you noticed how much noise those plastic toys of today make? American-made toys are typically more classic, and yes, quiet, toys…just like the ones you grew up with. How much more freedom does your child’s imagination have if they are not being “told” by a toy exactly what to do and how to play? So many skills can be developed by a simple set of blocks or a wooden train set: creativity, problem solving, critical thinking, collaborative skills, science skills, math skills, motor skills…just to name a few! And the time YOU spend interacting with your child and their “quiet toys” has so much more developmental impact than any songs or lessons a talking toy can teach.

So how can I make this a classic, quality holiday season for my children and myself, and still stay within my budget? It may not be practical to think that every item you place under the tree this year will be American-made, but you might be surprised at the wonderful, reasonably-priced gift ideas that are out there! Here are a few suggestions. Many of these items can fit in a variety of categories.

Holiday Gift Ideas from All-American Baby:

Boys
Train Sets
Floor Cars
Floor Trains
Trucks
Building Blocks
Alphabet Blocks
Boy Rag Doll
Art Easel
Puppet Theater
Personalized Books
Clothes


Girls
Tea Set
Cooking Set
Dolls
Stuffed Animals
Play Kitchen
Art Easels
Puppet Theater
Blocks
Music Boxes
Personalized Books
Clothes


Infants
Wood Rattles
Plastic Rattles
Stacking Toys
Pull Toys
Soft Blocks
Soft Knit Dolls
Soft Knit Animals
Bonding Dolls
Hats and Blankets
Clothes

Remember that with American-made gifts all the batteries, blinking lights and loud sounds are NOT required… but IMAGINATION is!!