Mother's Day Gift Ideas:Loving (And Lovely) Aromas Of Fabulous Fragrances

If you're trying to sniff out gift ideas for Mom, it can help to start with an elegant fragrance-something the nose knows, and something that can capture Mom's personality in a scent.

Here are a few of the popular choices for Mother's Day:

• DOLCE & GABBANA for Women. Introduced in 1993, this fine fragrance contains petitgrain, tangerine and basil and is accented with freesia, musk and rose, making it exquisite for evening use.

• MARC JACOBS for Women. Think fresh gardenias floating on water, enhanced by creamy musks. This lush floral essence includes velvet gardenia blended with white pepper and hints of sheer Egyptian jasmine and honeysuckle.

• WHITE DIAMONDS, created by Elizabeth Taylor in 1991, is the result of the following top fragrance notes: neroli, lily and tuberose. The middle notes are orris, narcissce and amber, and the base of the fragrance is sandalwood, patchouli and oakmoss. This scent is recommended for evening use.

• BOSS INTENSE for Women. Launched by Hugo Boss in 2003, this fragrance possesses a blend of spice, kumquat, vanilla orchids, Turkish rose, woods, amber and musk.

• BIJAN for Women explores essences of tuberose, carnation and jasmine and is blended with notes of honey, vanilla and musk. Try pairing it with Bijan Body Lotion for an exhilarating fragrance experience all over the body.

• SHI for Women. A luminous floral fragrance reflecting a true sense of calm and well-being. The initial impression of water lily and fig leaves infuses this Alfred Sung creation with pure clarity, while the mid-notes of orange blossom and frangipani create an aura of feminine tranquility. A unique water musks accord breathes a whisper of softness around silver birch, ending the cycle with a renewing calm.

• PARIS HILTON for Women opens with sheer sophistication. Chic enough to be worn on the runways of Milan while retaining a brilliant flirtatious charm, this head-turning fragrance can be dressed up or down for both day and evening wear.

These and many other fine scents are available-at discount prices, in individual bottles and in gift sets-from Perfumania, America's largest fragrance store. To learn more and to browse the aromatic collection, visit the Web site at Perfumania.com.

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Celebrate Mom This Mother's Day

Ever since Woodrow Wilson's official proclamation of Mother's Day in 1914, nervous husbands and eager children have struggled to find the perfect gift for Mom.

One of the most traditional and appreciated ways to celebrate Mom is to shower her with gorgeous flowers. And according to a recent survey, some of Mom's favorite plants include gardenias, hydrangeas, and miniroses. Topping the list of favorite blooms are lilies, gerbera daisies and roses.

When buying a beautiful bouquet for mom, show off your smarts and give her these handy tips from the floral and gift giving experts at 1-800-FLOWERS.COM:

• Arrange the flowers in a deep vase filled with cool water, and then mix in the floral preservative provided by the florist

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• Remove all leaves from the stem that fall below the waterline in the vase, as they will promote bacterial growth.

• Use a knife or shears to cut an inch from the bottom of the stem on an angle while holding it under water. This allows the stem to draw in the water, instead of air.

• Keep cut flowers and arrangements looking fresh by adding cool water to the vase every day and keeping it in a cool spot. Always keep the vase full, and change the water every three to four days.

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Mother's Day is a great opportunity for the kids to get creative, too. All moms appreciate a personalized gift, and they will love this pseudo flower arrangement: a bouquet of handprints made with lots of love. Here's how it's done from Celebrations.com, a Web site that offers expert advice and fun, simple planning tools for your next party:

• You will need colorful paper, scissors, pens or colored pencils, green craft paint (optional), small vase, craft glue, floral foam, and for the stems use either small dowels, wooden skewers or straws.

• Trace and cut out each child's handprints using different colors of paper. Make as many as you want. Ask kids to write one thing he or she loves about Mom on each handprint. Paint dowels or skewers with green paint, if desired. Glue handprints to the front of stems. Put florist foam in the vase and insert flowers. Place decorative grass or candies around the base of the flowers to cover the florist foam.

Go to Celebrations.com for more inspiration for life's most important celebrations, and visit 1-800-FLOWERS.COM for a beautiful selection of gifts including the Mother's Embrace arrangement.

Lilies, gerbera daisies and roses are among American mothers' favorite blooms.

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Tips To Help Wedding Guests Say "I Do" To Savings

An invitation to a wedding is generally considered good news, but the expenses associated with attending one-especially an out-of-town event-may present more than a few financial challenges.

Fortunately, there are ways to save on your expenses as a wedding guest or member of the bridal party. Here are a few tips for travelers to avoid wedding guest debt:

• Do your homework when it comes to travel arrangements. If you have to fly, book as far in advance as you can to take advantage of discounted rates, which can be found by visiting a Web site that compares prices. Keep in mind that you may be able to get cheaper rates if you are prepared to fly early in the morning or late at night.

When deciding whether or not to rent a car, first crunch the numbers and consider all the expenses involved in getting around while you are there.

In some cases, it may actually save money to rent a car for a couple of days, especially if you have other guests to share expenses with. But in other situations, you may save by taking public transportation to and from the airport.

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• Explain your situation to the bride and groom. If you are a bridesmaid, for example, you may be able to persuade the bride to choose an inexpensive option for bridesmaid's dresses, preferably a dress that can be worn more than once. Or perhaps the bride can help you find an inexpensive place to stay, or suggest other guests you might be able to share a room or transportation with.


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Brides may be interested to learn how to take advantage of group booking Web sites that some hotels offer for guests. At Hampton hotels, for example, brides can manage group reservations on its online group booking site at hampton.com/wedding.

Brides can book five to 25 affordable guest rooms online and then use the Guest List Manager to review and update reservation information 24/7, and the Personalized Group Web pages to keep everyone updated on details for the big day, such as important times and directions.



• Save on food expenses. Some accommodations offer a coffeepot and a microwave for heating up food-or better yet, a free breakfast buffet.

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For meals other than those eaten with the bridal party, make sandwiches or snacks in your room. Also, pack an individual refillable water bottle to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day and to save on beverage costs.

• Use loyalty program points such as Hilton HHonors, Hertz #1 Club and/or Delta SkyMiles. Depending on the loyalty program, travelers can save on car rental costs and hotel accommodations, or even purchase wedding gifts with extra loyalty points.

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• Gift wisely. You don't want to scrimp on a wedding gift, but your friends will understand if you don't go overboard. Find out where they are registered and shop from their registry, which should offer a range of prices. Purchase a more inexpensive gift or split a larger wedding gift with a friend. All New Gifts on Sale at Things Remembered

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Another option is to offer helping out with the wedding if you have any special skills or talents the happy couple might like to use. If you're a photographer, for example, you may want to donate your skills to take the wedding photos. If you are a caterer, you may want to donate some of the wedding day food.


Being practical about planning can help keep your friend's special day from leaving a lasting dent in your wallet.

When you say "I do" to attending a wedding, you don't have to spend more than you can afford. A little advance planning can help you save on travel and hotel expenses.

Shop Wal-Mart Great Value Brands in the Food Aisle

I like to purchase 100% Juice and obviously this costs more than juice drinks.

Here is the tip of the week:

If you shop at Wal-mart, the best purchase you can make is to purchase its Great Value brand 100% juice. The 96 oz bottle of apple juice or apple fruit punch blend averages $2.27. I have not found a better buy for 100% juice at any super market in my area.

This week, the Great Value brand Apple Juices were only $1.97. I shop at Wal-Mart every other week and I buy three 96 ounce bottles that last.

If you want to buy healthier drinks for your family check out the Great Value 100% juice at Wal-Mart.

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Eating Right When The Budget Is Tight

When household expenses are under the knife, a few simple changes in the kitchen can help you cook up many beneficial savings and health advantages. Consider these money-saving tips from the Cookware Manufacturers Association:

• Save on lunches. Large-capacity cookware lets cooks prepare soups and stews that provide extra portions for freezing and reheating for next-day meals.

• Pressure cookers and slow cookers save time and money. Each cooks foods economically, requiring less energy. Because they tenderize and heat foods thoroughly, you can use inexpensive or less-prepared cuts of meat.

• Size the portion to the pot. Pots or pans too large for the amount of food cooked use more energy than necessary.

• Consider multiuse pans that pull double duty. An oven-proof skillet, for example, can be used for baked casseroles. This reduces the number of pieces used and later cleaned. Check labeling to prevent going over a pot's or pan's temperature tolerance in oven heat.

• Baking bread at home is easier than many people realize. A few cups of flour, water and yeast combine with heat and turn into golden brown breads. The warm, inviting aromas fill the home. Today's bread makers make the task of kneading even easier.

• Measure out all the dry ingredients for several loaves of bread at one time and store the mixtures in plastic resealable bags. Just add the wet ingredients to the premade packs when it's time to bake.

• Don't stop with bread--The steps in making pies and cookies are surprisingly simple, too. As an added bonus, baking at home from scratch helps you avoid processed ingredients and preservatives.

• Using a lid when boiling water and other liquids takes less time, therefore less energy in heating.

• Inspect kitchen equipment and replace items without lids, with poorly fitting lids, loose handles or a damaged cooking surface.

• When replacing kitchen equipment such as pots, skillets and baking pans, get durable materials. Quality cookware makes cooking more enjoyable, and the products are easier to clean.

• Learn more. Much more information on cooking and cookware can be found in the "Guide to Cookware and Bakeware" offered by the Cookware Manufacturers Association at www.cookware.org.

Keep a selection of pots, pans, skillets and other items of various sizes in your kitchen to meet different needs.

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Your Recipe Creation Could Be Worth $1 Million

The 44th Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest is now open for entries. One hundred finalists will compete for the $1 million grand prize. The entry deadline is April 20, 2009. For contest details, visit www.bakeoff.com. This recipe example from the 43rd contest fits the Entertaining Appetizers category. The simple step of spraying the pan with no-stick cooking spray helps create a crispy, nicely browned crust.

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Mango, Prosciutto And Goat Cheese Appetizer Pizza

1 tablespoon CRISCO® pure olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped (½ cup)

1 firm ripe mango, seed removed, peeled and cut into ¼-inch pieces (1 cup)

⅓ cup SMUCKER'S® sweet orange marmalade

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 to 2 teaspoons soy sauce

1 can (13.8 oz) Pillsbury refrigerated classic pizza crust

4 oz thinly sliced prosciutto

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 oz)

1 cup crumbled goat (chèvre) cheese (4 oz)

Heat oven to 400°F. Heat 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add oil and onion; cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened and starting to brown. Reserve ½ cup mango. Stir remaining mango into onion. Cook 3 minutes, stirring frequently.

Stir in marmalade, mustard, vinegar and soy sauce. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens and most of liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat; cool while preparing crust.

Spray large cookie sheet with CRISCO® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray. Unroll pizza crust dough on cookie sheet; press dough into 15x10-inch rectangle. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges just begin to brown.

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Spread mango-onion mixture over crust. Top with prosciutto; sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and goat cheese.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes longer or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted. Sprinkle with reserved ½ cup mango.

Makes 24 appetizers.

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Free Debt Help Is At Your Fingertips

If the time ever comes when your debt outweighs your income or you're able to make only the minimum payment on your credit card or cards, be concerned. These are some of the standard warning signs of out-of-control debt.

There are many free services and tools available to bank customers who are looking for new ways to pay down debt or save more. These tools and solutions help customers take action, take control and manage their money better.

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The first step is easy: Go to your bank's Web site and take an online tour. Or you can head to a branch and speak with an expert about personal financial management tools. These services can provide guidance to those who feel weighed down by debt or have a hard time setting up and managing a budget.

Here's what you will find at one major bank:

Wells Fargo has a new online Smarter Credit resource center. It includes a wide variety of tips and tools and a section called "Reduce Debt." This is aimed at helping consumers start to pay down debt, reduce interest costs or lower their payments.

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Within that section you can find the company's new Debt Pay Down Solution that can help consumers get out of debt faster. First, it suggests that people consolidate high-interest debt and potentially get lower monthly payments through a personal loan.

Then, people can use the free online tool called My Spending Report with Budget Watch to find opportunities each month to spend less. It's an easy-to-use, automatic budgeting system that, in addition to tracking deposits and spending, helps customers create a budget and monitor their progress toward meeting it.

My Spending Report with Budget Watch offers quick setup, budget alerts and a variety of charts and graphs to analyze and track spending. A unique "What's Left" feature shows any surplus at month's end and allows customers to apply it to long-term financial goals such as reducing debt, building savings or planning for retirement.

Finally, customers can transfer some of their "What's Left" to the principal of the new loan to accelerate the pay down of their debt. Another tool called My Savings Plan makes it easy for customers to put "What's Left" to work for them through savings.

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You may be able to save money and pay down your debts faster with help from an online budgeting tool.

Recession Tips: Value Programs Help Consumers Shop Smarter

In these challenging economic times, consumers are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their spending without drastically altering their lifestyles. What many may not realize is that the key to stretching dollars isn't always about spending less; sometimes it's simply a matter of shopping smarter. Here are a few tips:

• Compare prices to find the retailer that offers you the most savings.

• Buy the staples you need first, then re-evaluate your budget for additional wants.

• Plan a shopping list in advance to avoid buying items you don't need.

• Seek out in-store sales and look for coupons, many of which are posted online. Stay on the look-out for special online-only deals as well, such as free shipping.

• Buy store brand/generic when possible. They generally have the same ingredients but can cost up to 50 percent less than name-brand items.

• Shop for groceries after you've eaten and while you have a full stomach. You'll be less inclined to purchase food you don't need. At supercenters like SuperTarget, it's possible to shop for fashion, electronics and groceries in a single location-and even have lunch at the food court.

• Look for in-store savings programs designed to help consumers get more out of the money they spend. For example, some grocery stores offer special pricing for consumers who sign up for a discount card.

• Look for specially marked areas on retailers' Web sites that call out value and sales. Some Web sites such as Target.com have areas where you can search product categories by price.

• Consumers can get even more for their money by using store credit cards such as the Target Visa. Each time you use it on Target purchases, you earn reward points toward 10 percent off an entire day of shopping.

• Shop for items before you run out. Buying in bulk when the unit price is less can help you save money.

• Take advantage of rebate offers.

• Shop discount retailers that offer not only trend-forward products but also competitive pricing.

Smart shopping is all about getting quality products at the right prices.

Looking for special value programs can be a useful, convenient way to get more for your money.



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Increase Your Paycheck, Reduce Taxes With Your W-2

The key to a bigger paycheck is Form W-2, the tax form you get from your employer in January.

The American Payroll Association, a leader in payroll education, offers these W-2 tips to save you time, money and headaches during tax season:

A. Is your W-2 correct? Check it against your final 2008 pay stub.

If any figure on your W-2 seems incorrect, contact your payroll department.

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Things to watch include:

• Box 1 should differ from your final 2008 pay stub year-to-date gross pay if you participate in a 401(k) or other employer-sponsored savings plan.

• Box 3 total should not exceed $102,000--the 2008 Social Security wage base.

• Boxes 1, 3 and 5 should be less than your final 2008 pay stub year-to-date gross pay if you use pretax deductions like medical and dependent care spending accounts.

B. Did you get everything you need for accurate taxes?

You should receive a W-2 from every company that paid you in 2008. Contact payroll in any company you worked for in 2008. Have your full name, Social Security number (SSN), employee number, and address--especially if you have moved--ready. Request a "reissued statement" to replace any lost W-2s. If you earned more than $600 from a single company for any freelance work, you should receive Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income instead of a W-2.

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C. Does your SSN match your Social Security card?

The name and SSN on your W-2 must match your Social Security card to receive your Social Security benefits. Ask the payroll department for a corrected W-2 if they do not match.

D. Are you eligible for any tax credits?

Read the back of your W-2 copies B, C and 2 to determine if you are eligible for any tax credits. You could be missing out on hundreds or thousands of dollars in tax credits.

E. Can you increase your paycheck?

If you get a big tax refund each year, it means you are overpaying your taxes--the average person overpaid by $200 a month in 2008! Making just a minor adjustment to your W-4 form could give you more money each payday.

The W-4 assistant at www.nationalpayrollweek.com/W4 can help you determine the proper withholding allowances to claim on Form W-4.

For additional tips to help you get more from your paycheck, visit www.nationalpayrollweek.com.

Both your income tax and Social Security benefits for 2008 are based on the Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement.

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Rosy Tips For Valentine's Day

Roses reign supreme for Valentine's Day. A well-known statement of love, for many, sending roses is the perfect way to say "I love you."

To make this loving gift a long-lasting one, follow these tips from Julie Mulligan, lifestyle expert from 1-800-FLOWERS.COM:

• Always use clean vases or containers.

• Fill the container about ¾ full with warm water and floral food.

• Remove leaves that will be under the water while in the vase, as they will rot.

• Give each stem a fresh cut on an angle while holding the stem under water to prevent air from getting into the stem.

• Place the vase in a cool spot, away from heat.

• Change the water and flower food every three to four days and recut the stems.

From roses to tulips to orchids to lilies, there are flowers to please all the important people in your life this Valentine's Day, says Mulligan.

More holiday inspirations are at Mulligan's floral and lifestyle blog at 1800flowers.com/Julie.

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Roses are a tried-and-true way to say "I love you" on Valentine's Day or any day.

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Valentine Gifts: Finding The Best Fragrances For Less

While a shaky economy may wisely inspire you to do without some extras, one item a woman would be foolish to forsake is her favorite perfume.

For many women, perfume is an essential accessory that elevates the mood and inspires self-confidence. Fortunately, if you know where to find fragrance for less, you can keep your favorite scent and economize, too.

Great sources include stores that specialize in fragrance at reduced prices. Some fragrance sites offer the most popular scents at a significant reduction.

For example, Perfumania.com
, a prominent online fragrance retailer, specializes in the sale of genuine designer fragrances, bath and body, cosmetics and skin products and related gifts and accessories for men, women and children for less.

The site's fragrance consultants are trained to provide customers with personalized service and expert advice about today's most popular fragrances, as well as the classics and hard-to-find fragrances.

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.

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Support Women's Heart Health This Valentine's Day

Giving a gift from the heart is a lot easier this Valentine's Day

Help a leading fashion accessories brand, Swarovski, raise awareness about women's heart health by purchasing red and heart-shaped jewelry items from its 2009 Go Red For Women® Collection. The company will donate a minimum contribution of $150,000 from the sales of this collection to the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement.

The company has donated more than $1.6 million to the issue of women and heart disease awareness through partnerships with the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement and national sponsorship of The Heart Truth campaign's Red Dress Collection.




For the fifth year, it will co-sponsor The Heart Truth's Red Dress Collection 2009 Fashion Show at New York Fashion Week to raise awareness about women and heart disease. The show will debut red dresses, including a one-of-a-kind Daniel Swarovski dress, and jewelry created exclusively for The Heart Truth.

To help achieve better heart health, the American Heart Association offers a few tips:

• Choose good nutrition. A healthy diet is one of the best weapons you have to fight cardiovascular disease. A diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole-grain and high-fiber foods, fish, lean protein and fat-free or low-fat dairy products is the key.

• Be physically active every day. Research has shown that getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity on five or more days of the week can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol and keep weight at a healthy level.

For more information, visit www.swarovski.com.

The pendant is part of a collection that includes pins, earrings, bracelets and charms.

This red dress pin is part of a collection that will help benefit women's heart health.

Find a very special gift! Try the new Swarovski Gift Finder at www.swarovski.com