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Are you on a tight budget, but have an important baby shower that you dare not miss? Don’t worry…here are ten items that you can give as a gift, without breaking the bank.

Books. Buy baby board books online for less than $5 a pop (shipping included). Get discounted rates when buying on a bundle.

Baby Clothes. Any new Mom will appreciate a set of clothes as a baby shower gift. However, if you plan ahead, you can give the Mom-to-be toddler clothes instead of infant sets. She’ll surely appreciate the vision. Another tip is to buy off-season, while the clothes are on clearance. You can surely fit more than a piece for under $10.

Engraved Charms. If a silver or gold bracelet is out of your budget, why not give a personalized jewelry charm? Choose from several shapes, with heart as being the most popular. It can be used as a pendant or bracelet charm. Have the baby’s name and birth date engraved at the back of the charm.

Basket of Goodies. In dollar stores, purchase an inexpensive woven basket and decorate it with leftover holiday ribbons. Line the basket with pastel confetti and fill the basket with goodies, like purse versions of lotion, cologne, powder, diaper pins, wet tissues, anything that the baby needs. Some of these miniature items are grocery give-aways, so the over-all price comes really low.

Painted Pots. Paint clean clay pots with pastel colors and use stencils to place simple designs. Give a set of three to give the Mom-to-be a handy desktop storage for cotton balls, Qtips, diaper pins, etc.

Hand or footprint kit. These are kits that have materials to imprint the baby’s hands or feet onto framed shadowboxes. Most kits are at $10.

Framed Cross-Stitch. For a personal touch, buy cross-stitch materials and sew the baby’s name and birth date on a rectangle piece of cloth. Have it framed for a lasting gift. If you are short of time, give her a short and sweet note written on a copy of the pattern to say, “gift is work-in-progress, will be done in time for his/ her birth.”

Plant a Tree. Various government-sponsored companies are promoting tree planting and this is definitely a great gift for a baby shower. Most tree planting gifts come with a certificate complete with the baby’s name and a personalized dedication. Some companies offer a dollar for every tree, so your $10 can buy 10 trees. Now that’s a guarantee of fresh air for the baby’s future.

Baby Website. For the tech savvy Mom-to-be, create a free website for the future newborn. This gift will last until the baby grows up and can personally edit his or her website. If you know that the parents already have a web host, why not pay for the domain registration of the baby’s name so for the next five years, the future new born will have his or her own e-niche.

Pamper Mom, Too! Who says baby shower gifts are only for babies? Be creative by giving the Mom-to-be a gift, instead of the baby. After all, the occasion is, in fact, a celebration of her strength and dedication in carrying another life for nine months. Dollar stores frequently offer pampering gift baskets or customize your own, similar to the basket of goodies described above.

Vegetable Fried Rice Recipe

1 cup instant brown rice
1 cup vegetable broth
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons canola oil
6 ounces asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1/2 bunch)
1 medium red bell pepper, thinly sliced into 1-inch pieces
4 scallions, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
4 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Hot red pepper sauce, to taste

Combine rice and broth in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover, reduce heat and simmer until the liquid is absorbed, 12 to 14 minutes. Spread the rice out on a large plate and let stand for 5 minutes.

While the rice is cooling, coat a large nonstick wok or skillet with cooking spray and place over medium heat. Pour in eggs and cook, stirring gently, until just set, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Transfer to a small bowl.

Heat canola oil in the pan over medium-high; add asparagus and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add bell pepper, scallions, garlic and ginger; cook, stirring, until the vegetables are just tender, about 2 minutes. Add the cooked rice, soy sauce and vinegar to the pan; cook until the liquid is absorbed, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Fold in the cooked eggs. Remove from the heat; stir in sesame oil and hot sauce.

Makes 2 servings, 2 cups each

Chocolate Cherry Layer Bars Recipe

Base
1 (18.25 ounce) box dark chocolate cake mix
1/3 cup margarine or butter, softened
1 egg

Filling
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/4 cup cold water
1 can ready-to-spread vanilla frosting
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries, well drained

Glaze
1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons margarine or butter

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 9x 13-inch pan.

Combine all base ingredients at low speed until crumbly.
Press in bottom of prepared pan. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes
or until set.

In small saucepan, combine gelatine and water, let stand 1
minute. Warm over low heat until gelatine dissolves. In
small bowl, combine dissolved gelatine, frosting and
cherries at low speed until well blended. Spread evenly
over cooked base.

In small saucepan, over low heat, melt chocolate chips and
margarine, stirring constantly until well blended. Drizzle
over filling. Refrigerator until firm; cut into bars. Store
in refrigerator.

Makes 48 bars.

This gift in a jar M&M cookie recipe makes a great gift. Valentine’s Day is coming up soon and this is a nice gift idea for someone that loves cookies and M&Ms too.

M & M Cookie Mix
1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup M&M candies

Layer ingredients in the order given, combining flour and baking powder and baking soda. Pack each layer in place before adding next ingredient. Attach the following directions to the jar.

M&M Cookies
1 jar M&M Cookie Mix
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 375. In a large bowl, cream butter, eggs and vanilla. Add M&M Cookie Mix and stir until mixture is well blended. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool.
YIELD: 3-4 dozen cookies.

By Deborah Taylor-Hough

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner And just in case you’ve forgotten, it’s always celebrated on February 14th. (Now you have no excuse for ignoring it again this year.)

But if you’re thinking, “Well, I have no excuse … except for the fact that I don’t have much money to spend on an elaborate gift or dinner out at a fancy restaurant right now.”

No worries. Here’s a list of inexpensive — and often free — ideas for spending some quality romantic time with your Valentine.

Outdoor Ideas
If the weather outside isn’t frightful this time of year where you live, Nature’s a romantic spot to spend some snuggling time together.

You could always have an exercise date if you’re both fitness nuts: a brisk walk on a tree-lined lane, a game of Frisbee in the park with your favorite view, bicycling along the waterfront, a hike to a local destination. One of my favorite things to do is rent a canoe and meander slowly around the local waterways.

For a less physically demanding outdoor idea, slow the pace down and stroll leisurely through the park rather than power-walking. Hold hands, look at the flowers, watch the birds, listen to the sounds of nature. Go somewhere you haven’t been for ages … maybe an arboretum, beach, game reserve, or Japanese gardens.

And don’t let a bit of rainy drizzle stop your plans. A romantic stroll under a shared umbrella followed by a cup of coffee or tea in a local coffee shop is definitely a romantic alternative to the typically more expensive dinner and a movie. Plus, most parks are less crowded on rainy days, so you’ll have more privacy for your romantic walk.

Even in the winter, it can be fun to wander through the local zoo. Many times the animals are more active this time of year rather than in the summer when they’re all hiding in the shade, escaping the summer heat.

Your local newspaper is always a great resource for inexpensive date ideas. Check out the “What’s Happening” section for information on local heritage festivals, film showings, street fairs, home tours, fireworks displays, musical events, and county fairs.

Indoor Activities
If it’s too cold or wet to spend Valentine’s Day outside, try taking a romantic drive together into the countryside, perhaps stopping for coffee and pie at a diner along the way. Mmm.

Spend the afternoon browsing through antique stores together. Talk about the things you remember seeing in your grandmother’s house when you were a child. It’s amazing the memories that can come back looking through things from long ago. You might discover things about your loved one you never knew.

Museums are often a fairly inexpensive way to spend time together. Check around for history and art museums you’ve overlooked in the past. Many of them have free days, too.

If it’s winter in your area and winter consists of sunny skies and palm trees, you might want to consider going ice skating together at the local skating rink. The change in temperature is invigorating, and it’s fun to bundle up in a scarf and gloves if it’s not something you do very often. Plus, it’s always appropriate to hold hands while skating together. Instant romance.

Stay-at-Home Ideas
Breakfast in bed is a fun wake-up on Valentine’s Day morning. Maybe cook some heart-shaped pancakes to complete the theme?

You could also have a tea party, just for the two of you with a selection of delicious gourmet teas, a variety of cakes and cookies, romantic music, and of course some fragrant flowers (they can just be ones picked from the yard … you don’t have to go overboard — and over-budget — with a dozen long stemmed roses).

Try having a picnic in the livingroom by the fireplace. Spread a blanket or tablecloth on the floor, light some candles, pack traditional picnic food items into your picnic basket, turn on some soft music. Maybe feed each other fresh strawberries.

If you have a series of movies you both enjoy, a movie marathon can be a fun way to spend the day. Stock up on snacks ahead of time, cuddle under a blanket on the couch, and watch a day full of Lord of the Rings, the Matrix, or a variety of romantic comedies). Turn off the ringer on your phone and just spend the day getting lost in the stories together.

Have a happy Valentine’s Day!

Copyright 2008 Deborah Taylor-Hough
Used with permission. All rights reserved.
http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
–Deborah Taylor-Hough (freelance writer and mother of three) is the editor of the Bright-Kids and Simple Times e-newsletters. She’s also the author of ‘A Simple Choice: A Practical Guide to Saving Your Time, Money and Sanity,’ ‘Frugal Living For Dummies(r)’ and ‘Frozen Assets: How to Cook for a Day and Eat for a Month.’ Visit Debi online at: http://thesimplemom.wordpress.com

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Glazed Pork Roast Crock Pot Recipe

1 - 3 lb boneless pork shoulder, trimmed
1 - 1 lb bag baby carrots
1/2 cup BBQ sauce
1/4 cup honey
3 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup BBQ sauce
1/4 cup flour
1 cup frozen corn

Place the pork in a crockpot and place carrots on top. Mix half of cup of the BBQ sauce, honey, vinegar, and salt in a bowl. Pour over meat and carrots. Cook on low for eight hours or high for four hours. Remove pork and carrots and keep warm. Mix 2/3 cup BBQ sauce and flour in a bowl. Stir into the crockpot with heat on high. Cook for 25 minutes or until thickened, stir occasionally. Stir in the corn and cook for 30 minutes longer and then pour over the pork and serve. Serves 6.