Tis the season to feel overwhelmed with gift giving. I am mainly speaking about the people you encounter outside of your family on a regular basis.  I wanted to share some ideas to save some money, but not make people feel that you are forgetting them.

A Close Group of Friends

If you socialize with a regular group of friends, get together and put names in a hat. Have everyone over for lunch or go out and exchange your gifts then. Don't feel bad about setting a price limit either.

Birthdays are fun, right? And sometimes stressful. Like when you can't decide what to do for the party, and time just won't stand still for you. Or when you decide to have the party at your house and then stress about preparing the house for the guests.

For the most part, I think moms are a creative, resourceful bunch. We have to be. Someone has to find a way to amuse the little ones on a rainy day, or make the long wait in the doctor's office entertaining, or get the siblings to cooperate with each other (yeah, ok, I'm still working on that one).

Periodically I have a burst of inspiration... some great new idea for a fun activity or a better way of doing something or whatever. Sadly, I find myself long on ideas and a bit short on follow-through.

For most new moms, and mothers who suddenly realize their children need more physical activity, it's nice to have fresh  ideas on ways to get the kids moving.

At yesterday's YMCA Kiddie Run, dozens of children in their free YMCA t-shirts took to the street in a sprint of friendly competition.

From babes in the arms of athletic parents, to pre-teens at the head of the pack, the children experienced not only the heart-strengthening rush of a good run, but also comraderie and positive association with exercise.