stocking stuffers (& punk rock mama giveaway)

Most of my Christmas shopping these days consists of hunting for fabulous stocking stuffers.  My girls each get one "big" gift from "Santa", along with a gift from mommy & daddy (someday those two categories will be combined, but we are still deep within the midst of the "I believe in Santa Clause" phase.  I love it.  I hope it lasts forever.)

Any adults who spend Christmas with us--aunts, uncles, grandparents--just get their own personalized stuffed stocking, also filled by "Santa." When we first switched to this system, I thought I was doing myself a favor and making things simpler.  And I guess in some ways it is simpler.  But surprisingly it can also be a bit of a challenge to find worthwhile & unique gifts that are still small enough to fit into a stocking.  As such, I am on the lookout all year round for stocking-worthy fillers.



With all my thrifty coupon shopping in the past year, I have accumulated a nice little pile of stocking-appropriate drugstore finds.  I am not ashamed to admit that everyone on my list this year will be getting electric toothbrushes, hand lotion, lip balm, & lots of other goodies.  It might seem a little goofy, but taking this approach leaves a little wiggle room in my gift budget for finding a few really special things for each person as well.

A few months ago, while hopping around the blogosphere, I came across a fun little blog called PunkRockMomma.com.  Punk Rock Momma, aka Jessica, is a super cool & funny gal who just happens to make some of the coolest, most adorable, I-want-them-have-to-have-them handmade accessories you have ever seen.  Her Etsy shop and Artfire store both make me drool,  almost all of her items are sized perfectly for stuffing stockings, and her prices?  Totally affordable.

I ordered this adorable makeup clutch with someone specific in mind, but I have to admit, when it arrived I only wanted to keep it for myself.  It is absolutely gorgeous and would be equally cute as a makeup bag or small purse for a night out on the town.  The fabric is nice and sturdy, the little pearlized button is the perfect addition, and the contrasting lining gives the whole thing a funky retro vibe.

And just because it is 30 days of holiday cheer and happiness and Christmas spirit is in the air, Jessica has generously offered to give one lucky reader a makeup clutch of their very own.  Lucky you!

Here is how to enter:

Mandatory Entry:

-Visit Punk Rock Momma's Etsy Shop or Artfire Store and tell me what your favorite design is and whose stocking you would stuff it into.  (1 entry)

Optional Bonus Entries:

-Become a follower of Living Well, Spending Less via Google Friend Connect, Networked Blogs, or RSS feed.  Leave a separate comment below to tell me how you are following. (1 entry)

-Become a follower of PunkRockMomma.com (1 entry)

-"Like" Living Well, Spending Less on Facebook.  Leave a separate comment below. (1 entry)

-Follow me on Twitter.  Leave a separate comment below. (1 entry)

-Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter or post it on your Facebook wall.  Leave 3 separate comments below. (3 entries)

-Post a link on your blog to this giveaway.  Leave 3 separate comments below.   (3 entries)

Entries for this giveaway will be accepted through Thursday, December 16th, and I will draw a winner at random using Random.Org on Friday, December 17th.

And finally, make sure you don't miss out on any of the other great giveaways going on right now.  A few of them were posted over the holiday weekend and have low entries, making your chance of winning very high!

Here are all the current giveaways:

Choice of "Pennies from Heaven" Necklace from Wired Whimsey (ends 12/4)

Click here to enter.

Choice of Stampin' Up product package or assortment of 12 Handmade Greeting Cards (ends 12/6)

Click here to enter.

Source Toothbrush & Cranberry Silk Floss from Radius Toothbrush (ends 12/8)

Click here to enter.  (low entry!)

Scrabble Tile Pendant from TKI Designs (ends 12/10)

Click here to enter. (low entry!)

4 Handmade Cards from Kimono Cards (ends 12/12)

Click here to enter. (low entry!)

Retro Christmas Apron from Nissa Lynn Designs

Click here to enter (ends 12/14)

Did you vote today? click here!