Although the “12 Days of Christmas” normally occurs the day after Christmas, December 26 leading to the Feast of Epiphany, on the twelfth day, on January 6, the following retailers and talk show hosts are offering 12 days of giveaways, discounts, and prizes to get you in the holiday spirit!

Check back daily from now until the 12 of December (depending on the website…) and take advantage of their that day only sale or surprise. Enter to win giveaways or use special coupon codes! Online only.

FOODIES

Godiva

Starbucks 12 festive holiday gifts

RETAILERS

Dell

Netted

CELEBRITY GIVEAWAYS

Ellen Show Tune in to see these fantastic prizes and watch all show long to see the names of the 25 lucky winners.

Oprah Twelve lucky readers will win the Favorite Things chosen by Oprah

TRAVEL

Norwegian Cruise Line

Thai Airways 12 days special fares

So, I should be ashamed because after living in San Antonio, TX since 2001-ish, I have never been to drive through the Windcrest Light Up (link to official website…) and marvel at the Christmas lights.  This year’s Light Up theme was “A Star-Studded Christmas” and there were tons of “stars”!  One yard boosted everyone from the Beatles to basketball players and everyone in between!  One house had music that you could tune into while you watched the lights flash in time w/ the music.

WARNING:  I went on Christmas night and it was pretty bumper to bumper.  Some people walked through the neighborhood which was fairly good sized.  I know though, the people walking made GREAT time and although they may have been chilly, they would have enjoyed the lights far more quickly than anyone sitting in traffic.  I’m not sure how residents deal w/ the traffic, Fenwick was bumper to bumper for 45 minutes!  Bring snacks, activities, and don’t go before the kids have gone to the restroom.  The lights were incredible and even the side streets w/o winners had many neighbors in the holiday spirit.

Check out the google map below, based on the winners list found on the website, I have plotted where each of the houses is for easy Garmin GPS entry.

According to their website, the City’s official map of the lighted neighborhood is here.

View 2010 Windcrest Christmas Lights – San Antonio, TX in a larger map

City of Windcrest

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/CityofWindcrest

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/City-of-Windcrest/356850095710

Last year I wrote a Day After Christmas Sales post on my blog and got over 1500 visitors that day after Christmas. Here are the deals, sales, and coupons I found for 2011 to start the post-Christmas, ready to save money season off right. As I find more deals I’ll add them to this post, check back frequently!

*Post-Christmas is one of the BEST times to buy large electronics and appliances…just saying…

Added 12/26/2011:

Did you wait until the last minute to purchase a Christmas present this year?  No fear!  UNICEF is here.

The best gift is a gift that keeps giving…and what could be better than a gift that literally saves lives, natural resources, and makes the world a better place!

A couple of Sundays ago, at my church Oak Hills in San Antonio, Max Lucado quickly showed a video of missionaries from our church sent to different parts of Africa to build fresh water wells w/ money raised from the Bibleland Children’s Sunday School classes.  Not only were the children there laughing and thanking us, they are now able to enjoy clean, fresh water without worrying about contamination, disease, and travelling many miles to fetch a tiny amount.

Check out all the ways to give back to children around the world:

About UNICEF:

Working in over 150 countries, UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, protection, emergency relief, and more.

22,000 children die EVERY DAY from preventable diseases.  Imagine being able to buy a gift that saves the life of one or many children in poverty stricken parts of the world!  Several, charitable organizations like UNICEF let you do just that!  Dedicate the purchase in the name of a loved one or friend and send/print notification.

Right now the featured gift is a “Winter Child Survival Pack” that includes:

• supplies to sustain child for 6 months!!
• vitamins and minerals to grow healthy
• measles and polio immunizations
• enough water purification tablets for 50,000 liters of water!!

ALL of that is possible w/ a small donation of $81.35!  And if that’s too much they take general donations of $5 and more.

• Education & Play - school supplies, soccer balls, and more give these children a chance for quality educations!
• Immunizations – vaccinations for diseases that don’t even exist in modern countries ($20 buys 412 tetanus shots)
• Water – water pumps, purification, and family water kits
• Nutrition – baby scales, ready to eat food, vitamin powder ($18 buys 604 individual doses of vitamins and minerals!)
• Emergency – high energy food, water kits, tents and more to help during emergencies
• Health - first aid kits for field workers, mother/baby packs, for $80 save 1000k from deadly diseases

Did you know that as you’re shopping for people on other sites you could still be helping children fight preventable diseases?!

American Airlines | Causes on Facebook | Delta Air Lines
FEED | Gucci | H&M | IKEA |  Western Union

Click on the links for more details!  American Airlines is fighting diseases w/ incentives to donate to UNICEF by offering 2 AAdvantage miles in return for EACH dollar donated.  Donate right now!

The special edition “Gucci for UNICEF” Sukey bag, designed by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini in grey “La Pelle Guccissima” leather, is being sold in Gucci stores in over 20 countries and from April 15, 2010 through February 28, 2011, Gucci will donate 25% of the retail price!

UNICEF Social Media

• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/UNICEF-USA
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/unicefusa

TeachUNICEF is a portfolio of UNICEF-focused resources designed and collected by the U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s Education Department for educators, afterschool instructors, and parents. The units, lesson plans, stories, and multimedia cover topics ranging from the Millennium Development Goals to water and sanitation.

*Teaser for my next blog “Teach UNICEF”

The holidays are sweeping the Hill Country by storm.  First stop on Santa’s sleigh?  The Westin La Cantera!

Legendary Holidays

December 13 through December 24: Join Bandera-native and storyteller and singer “Makin’ Dust”.  When:  Nightly, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Where:  Gather in Tio’s Lobby Lounge, outdoor walking tour.

Celebrando Navidad

The Esparza library converts into a folkloric-themed gathering spot for holiday story book readings.

When:  Monday – Friday at 3:00 pm; Saturday & Sunday at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm

Enjoy light refreshments like Mexican Hot Chocolate and Churros!

Frost

November 18 through January 8, enjoy outdoors ice skating from 11am through 8pm.

“Is it real ice? No. The skating surface is constructed of a unique, environmentally sound, Hybrid-ice®. It is made of a non-toxic mixture of recyclable plastics and polymers.”

You can bring your own ice skates or borrow a pair while you enjoy the magic of Christmas.  The cost is $10 for 45 minutes!

Look for my blog post about Frost’s Tasting Menu!

Family Activities

Trip to the “North Pole” –  Westin Kids Club converts to the North Pole from 11/18/10 to 1/8/11, where kids can create seasonal arts and crafts. Daily from 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

Santa’s Workshop (in the San Augustin room 12/13 to 12/24) to make a personal keepsake holiday toy with the elves.

Visit Santa (San Lorenzo room 12/13 to 12/24 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm).

Decorate cookies (San Jacinto room 12/13 to 12/24).

Nutcracker

A holiday comedy performed by The Magik Theatre. 7:30 pm on November 20, 27 and December 4, 11 and 18. Cost is $5.00 for adults; children under 5 are free. Cash or room charge only.

Toys for Tots

The Westin La Cantera Resort is proud to be a drop off location for Toys for Tots again this year.

Bring a new and unwrapped gift to The Westin La Cantera Resort for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to collect and distribute as Christmas gifts to needy children in our community.

Westin La Cantera Social Networks:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/westinlacantera

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/westinlacantera

Back by popular demand (from this article last year), here’s all the gift card purchases you can buy for loved ones (or yourself!!) that are accompanied with extra incentives to buy.  Gift cards can still be an incredibly thoughtful gift without taking up too much space or time.  Since you’re going to be getting the gift cards anyways (or if you want to save additional money when you make purchases for yourself…) check out these great seasonal offers that will not only bring a smile a friend to the person receiving the gift, but also the one giving (FREE stuff for you!!):

*For those gift cards that I missed, here’s a link to 54 more gift cards w/ a comparative checklist.

Everyone’s done shopping for the year…right?!  Ya…me neither.    Just in-case anyone is planning to do a little last minute, end of the year shopping, I have compiled a list of 45 retailers (online, in-store, or both…) that are set to expire within the next week or two.  Check them out, plan accordingly, they are sorted by expiration date.

*As another helpful hint, I bought a model Christmas tree from Bed, Bath, and Beyond last year the day after Christmas, early in the morning.  It is a pre-lit, 9 foot tree and I was able to snag it for $25 after using my Bed, Bath, and Beyond EXPIRED 20% off a single item coupon.  Don’t be afraid to ask, it was a great deal for me!  They even threw in the red and gold, assorted sizes, ornaments!

*

Expiring Really Soon!

*

Expiring by End of the Year!

*

Expiring After the New Year!

*

Unknown Expiration Date, Use Sooner than Later!

UPDATED (12/15/2009):  Parking Information

The Institute of Texan Cultures suggested parking at the city lot on Durango which doesn’t close.  It’s Tower & ITC parking. Last they heard, $8.

Also, the Downtown Alliance San Antonio’s Twitter group @BeDowntown suggested the 2 parking lots near La Villita, 1 block away. Enter Park + Central Parking found on their handy map.

Finally my tweep, @RachelKeller (of renowned catering company @theRKgroup) saw event parking on the grass “Event Day Only” by Refugio Place apartments!

————-

I am incredibly excited about attending Mix 96.1′s Not So Silent Night 2009 at Hemisphere Park!  Here is everything you need to know!

-Schedule of Performers-

Follow the bands through different social media channels!

Band	Twitter	Facebook
	@thefray	http://www.facebook.com/TheFray
	@BoysLikeGirls	http://www.facebook.com/boyslikegirls
	@blueoctoberband	http://www.facebook.com/blueoctober
	@jasonderulo	http://www.facebook.com/jasonderulo
	@DOWNWITHWEBSTER	http://www.facebook.com/downwithwebster
	@jaysean	http://www.facebook.com/jaysean
	@owlcity	http://www.facebook.com/owlcity
	@3OH3	http://www.facebook.com/3oh3music

With less than 25 days until Christmas, I wanted to post an advent calendar of deals and activities.  I wanted to post ways to save or kill time until the big day comes!  This post will include links to other sites offering daily freebies as the countdown continues, it also has activities for young and old to take advantage of!

In no particular order…Merry Christmas, Frohe Weihnachten, Mele Kalikimaka, and Joyeux Noel!

With great discounts, online shopping, and busy schedules, it’s hard to know what to get your friends and family for the holidays…and then make time to go find it.  Gift cards can still be an incredibly thoughtful gift without taking up too much space or time.  Since you’re going to be getting the gift cards anyways (or if you want to save additional money when you make purchases for yourself…) check out these great seasonal offers that will not only bring a smile a friend to the person receiving the gift, but also the one giving:

UPDATED 12/11/2009 with EVEN MORE offers found:

UPDATED 12/4/2009 with MORE offers found:

Previously mentioned, STILL GOOD, gift card purchase rewards!