I know, Halloween hasn't even gotten here, but my boss is already buying Christmas gifts. When she starts doing that, I know the winter holiday season is right around the corner. I need some new ideas. I'll share some of mine, and please help me with sharing some of your holiday gift ideas.

I really love homemade gift ideas and one of the most loved gifts that I share at this time of the year is fresh produce from my garden, and in Arizona it's our best planting season of the entire year. I pick lettuce and Swiss Chard, wrap them with a pretty red bow and the recipients are always very appreciative. I bring bunches to work, and to church and everyone just loves to see me coming.

Check out my Make Your Own Vanilla post, and make up some vanilla to give to friends and family. Hurry with this gift idea, because the vanilla beans have to steep in the vodka for at least one month to make nice vanilla. Once you get the vanilla steeping, shop around for some small bottles at your local thrift store, and pretty red ribbon.

Do you serve turkey at Thanksgiving? Don't forget to keep the carcass and make stock when you've picked all the meat from the bones. If you're fortunate enough to have purslane (a common weed) in your garden at this time of year, it makes a great soup.

Do you have a holiday potluck at your job? This is the recipe I brought to last year's potluck Christmas party at my job: Kittencals Baked Potato Salad Casserole. I deviated from the recipe by using 3/4 cup mayonnaise and 3/4 cup plain yogurt, and although I love butter, I eliminated it from the recipe altogether. It was fabulous, even with my modifications. I had several people ask for the recipe and my boss said I will probably be asked to bring it again this year. This Pear Crumb Cake recipe which I modified so it's 100 less calories per serving makes a perfect holiday brunch treat.

One year I gave away microwave marmalade and quick bread and butter pickles. It was so simple and easy and well received.

Another year I participated in a cookie swap. That was really fun! You just find some friends who want to get together and exchange cookies. Everyone makes a dozen or two of their favorite cookies, and then everyone shares. You leave with a dozen or so different kinds of cookies.

Mrs. Money shared some great do-it-yourself gift ideas last year, I am definitely going to make some of her candy cane scrub.

If you're planning to do online shopping, don't forget to visit Ev'reward.com before you make any purchases! You're going to save money when you check Ev'reward first. It lists all the rebate sites and lets you know where you'll get the best rebate. No more clicking from rebate site to rebate site, trying to figure out who has the best deal.

Please consider signing up using my links if you are new to the different sites. You can also find my links under my Earn Rewards tab at the top of my site. For example, currently if you are going to shop online at Target, you can earn back up to 6.3% if you use Big Crumbs! That's quite a savings!

Ebates: $5 signup bonus!

Mr. Rebates $7.50 bonus for new members! Even if you aren't planning to shop today, you should click through just to get the $7.50 because who knows when this offer will end.

CashBaq $5 signup bonus!

Big Crumbs Click my link, or use outofdebtagain as the referral name when you sign up.

If you're shopping at Amazon.com, please consider clicking through my affiliate link on my left sidebar. Just enter in whatever you're looking for and click on through.

Please share your holiday ideas! I need some new ones for this year! 🙂

Yours Truly,