Put the missed appointments, belated birthday wishes and overdue library books of 2006 behind you. Now's your chance to pick up the slack and put important dates and times down in writing. No matter how high-tech you may be, there's something to be said for the good, old-fashioned paper calendar. My top picks for 2007:

From movie posters to Matisse to modern art, MomaStore.org has it on a beautiful 2007 calendar, and many are on sale for only $1.99. Then there are the unique, modern selections at UnicaHome.com. The 3-foot by 4-foot classic Stendig Calendar, designed in 1966 by Massimo Vignelli, is perfect for a large office wall or kids' playroom. The 300-year Astro Calendar by Piet Hein lets you easily find dates in the past, plus the near and distant future, thanks to its one-of-a-kind tabbed design.

Fancy something a little plainer and simpler? ContainerStore.com offers Filofax personal organizers, large desktop calendar sheets — and a 3% discount from ConsumerClub.com. OfficeMax.com has plenty of At-a-Glance desktop and wall calendars to choose from, in addition to a 2% rebate from ConsumerClub.com.

Prefer to look at familiar faces and places each month? Maybe even your children's award-winning artwork? Visit KodakGallery.com, upload your own digital photos and create a custom calendar in your choice of interesting styles. You'll get 20 free prints just for signing up with the site, plus a 7% rebate from ConsumerClub.com.

Posted by Paige Price at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The gifts have been bought. The tree has been decorated. The cards have been sent. What's left to do? If you're lucky enough to live where there's snowy weather right now, your kids are probably itching to get out there and jump in. Here are some of the best toys and tools I've found for playing in the snow right now.

HearthSong.com has an incredible Inflatable Igloo on sale for only $55.99. It's 6 feet wide and 38 inches tall with a front door and a trap door on top. This site also has inflatable Snow Shields (only $6.99) to block incoming snowballs, a Junior Snow Board — and for the little artist, some environmentally safe spray-on Snow Paints. All those great toys at great prices and you also get a 5% rebate from ConsumerClub.com.

Visit RestorationHardware.com for the $14 Snowman Kit that comes with wooden coal for the eyes and mouth, a wooden carrot nose, three buttons, a pipe and a knit hat that also acts as a carrying case for all of the above. This site also has the ever-popular Sno-Ballers, which of course come in sets of two. These plastic contraptions lightly pack snow into perfect spheres that apparently fly far and explode on contact.

BacktoBasicsToys.com has plenty of sleds and other ways for your kids to fly down the neighborhood hills. The Scooter Board, a cross between a scooter and a snowboard, has a tread base to keep feet in place (no special boots required!). The Flexible Flyer Sled (a classic since 1900) and the Flexible Flyer Saucer (resembling a red, plastic garbage can lid) let them sit back and relax as they whiz past you.

Go to Target.com for a couple more snow-safe play spaces. The Aviva Snow Bunker Jr. 2 Tunnel and Aviva Arctic Bunker with Tunnel can help you create a virtual North Pole village for the kids. Target.com also has plenty of snow sleds, slaloms and tubes for cruising through the powder, as well as a 3% discount from ConsumerClub.com.

Posted by Paige Price at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Even the smallest of presents should be carefully selected. So whether you're stuffing family stockings or thanking a gracious hostess, here are some helpful little ideas that will leave a big impression this holiday season.

Looking to impress your favorite food connoisseur? Cooking.com has fine chocolate, measuring tools, cookie cutters, coffee, wine openers, cheese tools and more. Indulge yourself in a 3% rebate from ConsumerClub.com while you're at it.

Give the gift that gives something new every month: A magazine subscription through AllZines.com. Choose from hundreds of titles, ranging from Disney's Princess to Car & Driver. Get a 20% rebate from ConsumerClub.com while you're at it.

The ladies in your life will love something fun from Sephora.com. For example: The L'Occitane Harvest Soap Set, Philosophy Candy Cane Shower Gel, Sephora Tropical Lip Butters and the Bliss Foam for the Holidays value set. All have reasonable prices that seem even more reasonable thanks to the 3% rebate from ConsumerClub.com.

Shopping for your favorite discerning sweet tooth? You'll find the keys to their heart at DylansCandyBar.com. Browse stocking-sized assortments of gummy treats, chocolates, gumballs and a whole lot more in every imaginable format and flavor.

Stop by UncommonGoods.com for creative ideas like Flowers in a Can (simply pop the top, water and watch them grow), Environment Karma Cards, colorful luggage tags, Nomad Travel Silverware and many more equally uncommon gifts. Earn a 5% rebate from ConsumerClub.com for yourself as you stock up on stocking stuffers.

Still stumped? You choose the store and let them choose the gift. And you can do it all online. Buy from GiftCertificates.com and earn a 2% rebate from ConsumerClub.com. Buy from GiveFun.com, another online resource for gift certificates, and earn a 3% rebate from ConsumerClub.com.

Posted by Paige Price at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You spend 40 hours a week together. Doesn't that warrant a little gift for your closest co-workers this holiday season? Even if your interactions revolve mostly around productivity reports, I've got a few gift ideas for your office buddies.

Great sense of humor? Get them a book titled "50 Jobs Worse Than Yours," by Justin Racz. They'll gain a whole new appreciation for mundane tasks like typing and stapling after reading about what it takes to be a sherpa or a rat catcher. Find this book and many others at BarnesandNoble.com, where you'll earn a 2% rebate from ConsumerClub.com.

Modern design type? Shop RetroModern.com for too-cool desktop accessories that'll give them even more reason to show up every morning. From sleek letter openers and desktop organizers to funky staplers and pencil cups, this site has plenty. Expand your search for modern desktop fun at MomaStore.org, home of the rainbow Snap-It organizer, the cute Dozi paperclip holder and much more.

How about a little stress relief for your office mate? RedEnvelope.com has the answer in various forms. Check out the Mini Zen Garden, the Feng Shui Desk Set and the Lucky Bamboo in a Glass Vase. You'll also find a little stress relief for yourself, in the form of a 5% rebate from ConsumerClub.com.

And while you're clicking all over the web, give your co-worker a new stylish accessory for his or her desktop: A custom-engraved, gold or silver computer mouse from LillianVernon.com, now on sale for just $16.98. Add to that a 4% discount from ConsumerClub.com and you can afford to throw one in for yourself.

Posted by Paige Price at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Running out of room for stashing gifts? Make them the center of attention with wrapping paper that doubles as holiday cheer.

The selections at KatesPaperie.com are so darn charming, people won't really care what's hiding inside. There's wrapping paper that looks like a map of Florence, as well as options that feature vintage wallpaper designs, rainbow leaf patterns, retro children's images, whimsical martini glasses and plenty of other fun themes.

For even more delightful paper options that reflect the best of the season, visit http://www.LuxePaperie.com. The modern, minimalist "birch" pattern and the downright darling "mittens" motif are two of my favorites for enclosing Christmas gifts this year.

Then there's the feminine charm of everything on ShopHeidi.com, where you'll discover the Dovey and Pinecone gift paper designs, both fit for framing — or wrapping.

Finally, PlumParty.com, a site that never disappoints, brings you cool, retro Tree and wrapping paper at 50% off, as well as the green Floral Honeycomb pattern, the light pink with black flowers (now 30% off) and much more for your holiday celebrations.

Happy wrapping!

Posted by Paige Price at 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)