When I make my annual wish list for Christmas gifts I tend to go for items I would not normally buy myself.  I go for luxury over practical items.  I make the most of “wish” when choosing what I want.

For example, I might request a top of the line Kenmore dryer  that I don’t really “need”, but would love to have to replace the dryer I have now.  It’s a wish, a want, even a desire, but since my current washer and dryer are “fine” it would be a luxury for me to get one.  Kenmore knows homeowners want convenience along with style, ergonomic design and ease of use.  They have stainless steel refrigerators that provide ice and filtered water through-the-door, ranges with sensors that control the cleaning process, dishwashers with anti-bacterial cycles, microwave ovens that cook with waves of radio frequency and washing machines that fluff clothes at the end of the cycle.  They are the creme de la creme of appliance brands.

Kenmore is a brand  available exclusively through Sears’ 870 full-line department stores, retail outlets and a variety of online offerings accessible at the company’s Web site at www.sears.com.

What other brands does Sears carry that are exclusive?

Sears has a long list of brands that are exclusive to Sears.  Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard, LANDS’END, JACLYN SMITH, JOE BOXER, apostrophe, COVINGTON, COUNTRY LIVING, BONGO, BEVERLY DRIVE, Canyon River, Everlast and Sofia by Sofia Vergara to name a few.

Win It!

A Sears gift card valued at $100!

Entry Requirements

Go to Sears.com and choose an item from the brands listed above that you’d like to have for Christmas?

The Fine Print

No purchase necessary to enter.  Open to legal residents of USA, must be least 18 years of age to enter. Winner will be selected randomly through http://random.org. Detroit Mommies writers and contributors are ineligible to participate. Entries that do not follow all of the entry requirements will not be considered. Detroit Mommies is not responsible products shipped from outside vendors or sponsors.  The contest will close on Tuesday, December 13, 2011 @ 11:59:59 p.m. EST and winners selected on Wednesday, December 14, 2011. Winners must respond to Detroit Mommies within 24 hours or an alternate winner will be selected.

SEARS DEALS:

Sears continues to offer great deals for customers looking for gifts of all shapes and sizes – this Fri and Sat only, Dec 9-10, Sears stores nationwide and online will offer additional savings, including:

• Save 60% on sweaters, coats, and fleece for the whole family
• Save 50% on flannel sheets, down comforters, heated blankets and throws
• Save up to 50% off ALL Craftsman Mechanics Tool sets — get a 200 piece tool set with molded carry case for just $99.99 (Reg. $199.99)
• Save on ALL treadmills, including as 40% off the Nordic Track C 900 treadmill for $899.99 (Reg. $1499.99)
• Save $350 on Zenith 50″ class plasma HDTV for $549.99 (Reg. $899.99) — Available now, Dec. 4-10, 2011

And the popular People’s Pick sales are still going on weekly through Dec. 24. This week’s People’s Pick showed that the RCA 42″ 1080p FULL HD LCD TV received the most votes across the country, making the product available for $479.99 (Reg. $529.99) this Friday and Saturday only. The Oster Electric Wine Bottle Opener also received an overwhelming number of votes from the Northeast (dropping the price to $19.99 from $24.99), while home decor and apparel items were more popular in the southern and midwestern regions. Additional information on the popular People’s Picks items in your area is available upon request and to view all the products customers voted on this past week visit, Sears.com/pick.

Disclosure:  I was given a Sears gift card to check out the Sears exclusive brands and was compensated for my time.  All opinions are my own.

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

15

Timestamp: 2011-12-14 16:08:50 UTC

Come out and join in on the FREE fun on December 3^rd in downtownPontiac.

Where:          30 N. Saginaw Street

When:                        December 3^rd from 8:30 to 10:30.  Parade at 11:00

What:              Children’s crafts

Face Painting

Horse Drawn Carriage Rides

Petting Farm

HotCocoa

Gallery of Ice

Art Action Experience

The Parade starts at 11:00 heading east on Huron to Saginaw Streetand then ending at the PhoenixCenter. For information please visit:  http://www.holidayextravaganza.org/

Here are a few of my favorites bargains of this week.

1. Hot Holiday/ Christmas Toys Lists with Coupons – Are you starting to already get the questions from grandparents and others about what is on your child’s Holiday/ Christmas toy wishlist? Here are a few place to check out that can help you get those list started. Amazon Holiday Toy List, The Great Big Toys R Us Book, Top Toys at Target.com. Plus there are some coupons and FREE shipping on many items.
2. $10 Credit at Plum District – Personalized Disney Books for Just $6 Shipped! Plum Distict is offering new members a $10 credit when they sign up through Monday. This can make for some great deals. My favorite one today would make a great Holiday Gift! Get two Personalized Disney Princess or Cars books for only $22, shipping included. If you are sign up for a new account, you will receive a free $10 credit to use. This makes your total only $12 or just $6 per book! You can put your child’s name, birthday, neighborhood, and friends into the books! There are other offers to check out too!
3. Amazing Holiday Entertaining Guide plus More For Just $1.99! – Looking to enjoy yourself, not just survive, this holiday season, then you need this amazing new Holiday Entertaining ebook. It is written by Erin Chase, the same women who brought you $5 Dollar Dinners. This guide is the antidote to every other holiday entertaining guide out there. And it’s packed with the same help and love you get from $5 Dinners every day.
4. Nordstrom Half-Yearly Women & Kids Sale – So just I love shopping at Nordstorm! I especially love shopping there when the Half Yearly women & Kids Sale starts! I love the selection Nordstrom carries especially on women and kids shoes. Shopping the Half-Yearly Sale is my chance to get bargain prices on high quality items. Did you know that Nordstrom now has FREE shipping and FREE returns? So you can buy as little or as much as you want and not worry about shipping. Also if something doesn’t work out, just return it for FREE! That takes the risk out of clothing and shoe shopping online.
5. Tons of New Printable Coupons - Savings on organics, dvds, toys and more!

If you like the deals I share, I would love a vote for the Cheap Sally Bring Home The Bacon contest. There is no sign up just an easy click to vote and you can vote once per day. I really appreciate all votes!!! I made it to round two thanks to all your votes!! Thank you so much! Now the hard part winning the state so please continue voting.

If you have a gaming fan in the house you may be interested to know about the new games offered by Nintendo for the 2011 Holiday.  These games are for Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo 3DS.

Here is the run down on one of them; Pokémon Rumble Blast is an action-packed Pokémon adventure and the first Pokémon game for Nintendo 3DS. This game lets player’s battle against more than 600 Toy Pokémon in full 3D without the need for special glasses.

Here’s the list:

Nintendo 3DS
• Super Mario 3D Land
• Mario Kart 7
• The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ 3D
• Star Fox 64™ 3D
• Tetris®: Axis
• Pokémon Rumble Blast
• Shinobi™ by SEGA®
• Sonic Generations™ by SEGA

Wii
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
• Fortune Street™
• Kirby’s Return to Dream Land™
• Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure™ by Activision Publishing Inc.

Nintendo DS
• Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker™ 2
• Professor Layton and the Last Specter
Read on for some background information on the Nintendo Company.

Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console, Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.7 billion video games and more than 600 million hardware units globally.
It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.
 

Crafts and theater make the holiday fun for everyone.  Check out these family friendly events.

Kids Holiday Ornaments ~ December 15

Brighton Community Education invites kids ages 7 and older to come and create a holiday keepsake ornament for themselves or to give as a gift.  Children must attend with an adult and the supply fee is $5.  The class is held at Miller Center in Brighton at 850 Spencer Road.  Call 810-299-4130 ro visit www.brightoncommunityed.com

“Schoolhouse Rock, Jr.” ~ December 18 -20

The Community Theatre of Howell presents “Schoolhouse Rock Jr.” the tale of Tom, a teacher quite nervous about his first day of teaching school.  With memorable songs “Just a Bill” and “Conjunction Junction” you can see this play come to life at 7:30 on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Howell High School Freshman Campus, 1400 West Grand River in Howell.  Visit www.cththeatre.org or call 517-545-1290.

The Phoenix Players present “Kid Sized Family Shows” ~ December 19 -22, 27 – 30

The Youth Phoenix Players Ensemble present two “kid sized” family shows at the Historic Green Oak Township Hall.  “Scrooge has left the building” & T’was the night before Christmas?” or “Who stole the stocking hung by the chimney with care?” will be performed with hot chocolate and cookies included in the ticket price of $8 for adults and $5 for children.  All shows are at 2 p.m., call 810588-3662 for more information.

Stacy Swann is a mom of two, wife of one and a freelance writer and blogger living in Brighton.  She worked in the world of Detroit advertising for over 12 years before starting her own Rights Clearance business.  You can contact Stacy at swanngirlz(at)gmail(dot)com and follow her on twitter @swanngirlz.

I love to make cookies with my daughters during the holidays.  We make sugar cookies and the spread butter cream icing and top with m&m’s, sprinkles, red hots and other delectable treats.

We use all sorts of holiday inspired cookie cutters.  We have angels, stars, trees, a cross, gingerbread men, teddy bears and candy canes.  One year I made my dough from scratch and another year I bought store bought dough….all depends on how much time I have and energy as well!

I love the snowflake cookie cutters shown above.  They would be so pretty with white icing, sprinkled with clear sprinkles…the kind that look like ice flakes.

Cookie cutters also make a great addition to a gift and the smaller cookie cutters are cute as ornaments as well.