Christmas food bank donation shopping list, Thanksgiving holiday food drive tips

Thanksgiving and #Christmas are seasons for giving and a food bank or soup kitchen is a great place to donate. Is your workplace or church hosting a food drive? Here are the best food bank donations. If you work at a mission, homeless shelter or food pantry, you know that some items you get too much of and others, never enough. Use this Christmas shopping [VIDEO] list to donate when food basket collection comes around.   Christmas food bank donation shopping list, Thanksgiving holiday food drive tips

100+ Halloween candy alternatives: non-food treats, prizes, giveaways for trick-or-treat

Halloween is an ironic celebration: all year parents teach kids to eat healthy. They tell them not to take candy from strangers. Then on Trick or Treat, parents dress kids in costumes and tell them to beg for candy door to door! Then all that candy has to be sorted and half gets thrown away. Then kids eat too much sugar and get wild or sick. So, here are 50 Halloween candy alternatives and cheap non-candy Trick or Treat giveaways kids will love. Non-candy giveaways work for kids with ADHD, allergies, special needs or health conditions. Use these ideas for the classroom, scouting activities and Halloween party planning. These ideas will work for Trick or Treat handouts at libraries, banks, businesses, restaurants and any other places. These treats will be less messy and cost effective as well.

All non-food Halloween candy alternatives can be found for $1 per dozen or less. Check the Oriental Trading catalog. Many are available at local dollar store chains. Check the bulk section and clearance shelves at party supply stores for birthday prizes. Party City and Party America sell many of these cheap. Online sites are offering free shipping around the Halloween season.

Give school supplies for Halloween candy alternatives. Pass out pencils, rulers, mini marker sets, crayon sets (look for glow-in-the-dark Halloween crayon packs), colored pencils, mini stampers, pens, tablets, note pads, stickers, scissors, glue sticks (from back to school sales). Little coloring books and reading books are always well-received in Trick or Treat bags.

Give pocket toys and birthday prizes as Halloween candy alternatives. Pass out adjustable rings, tops, bubbles, glow bracelets, squirt guns, friendship bracelets and rings, key chains, compasses, slide flutes, sticky hands, little yo-yos, tiny decks of cards, whistles, puzzle games, Chinese handcuffs and parachute toys. Give Halloween themed toys like fake fangs, spider rings, skeleton rings,glow-in-thedark bugs, fake fingers and squishy eyeballs.

Give little game sets: ball and jacks, ring toss, finger puppets. Noisemakers are popular, Give science gadgets like magnifying glasses, prisms, putty, play dough in little cans and kaleidoscopes. Kids love the "growing"creatures in capsules (sponges in pill capsules that expand when put in water). Give out

Cheapest Halloween candy alternatives are balloons, sticker sheets, temporary tattoos, rubber band bracelets, mini notepads, plastic rings, bouncy balls and play spiders. These sell for about $6 a gross from Oriental Trading. Kids might like Trick or Treat candy alternatives better than Halloween candy!

Best Valentines Day gifts for women: Valentine presents for moms, girlfriends and wives

Did you put off Valentine's Day for your gal? Now at the last minute, Feb. 14, you grab chocolates and flowers. Sorry guys, thanks for the thought, but boring. Here are frugal, thoughtful Valentine gifts for women--wife, mom, girlfriend--that will delight. Use for women's birthday, Christmas, Mother's Day gifts.

First what not to buy: candy (she may be dieting and it's
impersonal), bouquet of flowers (she may have allergies, it's also impersonal, they die quickly), sexy lingerie (unless you know her size FOR SURE, you'll either get it too small or too big. Both cause seven levels of drama), stuffed animals or other stupid tchotchkis (childish, impersonal), sex toys (unless she specifically asked for a vibrator, it's just a bad idea).

Also avoid anything that represents work. Women work all the time. So you get her a waffle iron--oh how nice. She can jump right up and go make everyone waffles. Seriously, guys, would you want a weed whacker for Valentine's Day? On heart day, women need to be pampered.

How about a spa Valentine's Day gift, suggested the Christian Science Monitor Feb. 13. Women love long soaks in a hot tub. If you can't afford to treat your woman to a spa day, no problem. Make a spa kit. Include any or all of the following: plush bathrobe, slippers, spa head wrap, eye patch, loofah sponge, back scrubbing brush, wooden massage beads, body scrubber, natural sponge, spa scrubbing gloves, bath pillow, neck roll, bath oil, bath salts, spa mud face mask and of course, cucumbers for eyes.

Bed. Bath and Beyond carries the above spa supplies and bath tub caddie. This metal or wooden rack attaches to the side of the tub. The bath book holder has an easel to hold her book upright. There's a special holders wine glass, candle, flower vase and a surface for spa treats. Remember to include a wine glass, bottle of wine (or tea mug and favorite tea), fresh rose bud (you may give one), chocolates (just a couple) and a copy of the newest book by her favorite author.

You will win that special woman's heart with this gift from the heart.