8 Unique Last Minute Valentine's Day Gifts on the Web

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and for those who haven't bought a gift yet for your loved one, have no fear, I've found 8 gifts from all around the world wide web for you. Some are fun, some are romantic and all are unique.

1.) Personalized M&M's

This isn't a new idea, but that doesn't make it any less cool. Write a message to your significant other or just put their pretty little face on it. They won't forget this gift anytime soon, and will probably want to keep a few for the rest of year. You can find them on Mymms.com.

2.) World's Largest Gummy Bear

Weighing in at 4.5 LB, this chewy candy will back childhood memories, and the size will make it something an adult can appreciate. For the boyfriend/girlfriend expecting chocolates, this is sure to surprise them and bring a smile. You can find them on Amazon.com as well as gourmet candy shops near you.

3.) Lovopoly

This is a cool twist on Monopoly which is designed to set the mood for couples. It can also be personalized by adding your own pictures and choosing the names of the properties. If you don't want something detailed, there is a standard setup that all couples can enjoy. You can find it on Lovopoly.com and numerous other websites.

4.) Love Pillowcases

These adorable things also bring back simple and childlike love. Hopefully this charm will rub off on you and your husband/wife each time you climb into bed, especially on Valentine's Day. They can be found in several different designs on several sites including Amazon.com.

5.) Photo Rubix Cube

For some entertainment that will last, this is a fun gift for guys or girls. As you can tell by the name, it is a customizable toy where the cubes are your picture rather than colors. There are some that are digital as well that can display up to 10 pictures. This is perfect for your nerdy spouse that thinks they're much smarter ;-) and is sweet and sentimental at the same time. You can find it on Kleargear.com as well as several others.

6.) Fake Roses

I know this sounds odd, but there is a reason behind it. There's a great line that can only be said with fake flowers. It may be corny, but if you're sentimental, it is sweet. The line is simply 'I will love until the last petal falls off'. Not too shabby, eh? This is a very simple gift and as people are scrambling to find roses under $70 on Valentine's Day, you can wander into a craft store or buy more high-end silk flowers on Alforal.com or Overstock.com.

7.) American Gothic Painting by Grant Wood Recreation

For those with a sense of humor, this a the perfect silly gift. Solidify your relationship by immortalizing it in the work of art that is the epitome of bland. If you want to make your boyfriend, laugh, you have found one of the most unique ways to. You can find it on Findgift.com.

8.) Create Your Own Chocolate

I love this website dearly. At Createmychocolate.com you can build chocolate bars your way, or should I say your Valentine's way. You can choose your chocolate type, confections, spices, contents and decorations. Ingredients range from rose petals, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and bacon to gummy bears, mint leaves and gold flakes. It's truly the best source for chocolate. Tell your loved special someone that you got them chocolate and then surprise them with this amazing treat.

It's the last major shopping day on the internet before Valentine's Day, so buy quick and good luck! If you buy one of these gifts, I hope it makes you look as if you put some considerable thought into it.

15 Reasons to Love the Holidays

Christmas and New Years are the greatest time of the year. Why are they so great, though? There are so many reasons, that it's difficult for most to choose just one. I've compiled a list of the top 15 reasons to love the most wonderful time of the year to bring some cheer!

1.) Snow

Snow! Snow! Snow! SNOW! If you can't hear Bing Crosby when you read that, then something is wrong. You might be slowly turning into a grinch. It's time to get in the Christmas spirit! There are so many amazing things you can only do in the snow. Snowball fights, forts, snow angels, snowboarding, skiing, watching pets and little kids have fun struggling to move through it and most of all: waking up to a blanket of white on Christmas morning. Wake up your inner child and go enjoy it :)

2.) Sledding

I know it's something you can do in the snow, but this one extra special. It's the only time of year you can rocket into soft powder just by sliding. This is a fun, free activity for everyone in the family. My entire family goes every year, no matter what age. We're slowly making daredevils out of my little nephews, which we started to do at the age of 2 :-)

3.) Christmas Tree

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, how lovely are your branches. There's nothing quite like going to get the tree together, weather you cut it down yourself or buy it from a lot. No matter if your family fights strapping it to the roof or getting it through the door, everyone always comes to together for fun to pick it out and decorate it. You'll remember at least one year for your entire life, even if it is something like Ralphie saying "oh, fudge". Also, I love how the Christmas tree stays up through the entire holiday season, for weeks before Christmas until New Years Day. That give plenty of time to fill up your home with scent of pine tree and a constant glowing reminder of the season.

4.) Christmas lights

Each house lit up in a different array of lights, manger scenes, Santa on rooftops, red ribbons on lampposts and so much more. As with the rest of the list, it’s only done once a year, and it lasts the entire season from beginning before Christmas and lasting through New Years. Christmas lights truly have to embody Christmas itself.

5.) Watching classic Christmas TV shows/movies

I don't know about your family, but mine has a tradition of watching certain movies and TV shows every Christmas. We have to watch A Christmas Carol, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, It's a Wonderful Life, A White Christmas, The Little Drummer Boy, A Christmas Story, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, A Very Mickey Christmas (we recorded 15 years ago, commercials and all) and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. They bring you back to childhood instantly, almost like a time capsule. Everyone loves Christmas favorites, and it's great to pass the tradition to the young ones.

6.) Carols

The songs you only hear one time a year. I love singing songs that I know have been sung for hundreds of years, and my entire life. If you don't want to sing, it's also neat to just listen to carolers make their way down the street singing sweet melodies and wishes to all who hear.

7.) Seeing old friends

Most people head home for the holidays, back to their hometown where they grew up. It's always great to see people you've spent your entire childhood, or at least part of it, with; to see what they've done and how they have been since the previous year. And you may just run into a long lost friend that you haven't seen in years.

8.) Family together

This best time of the year brings one the greatest things people can have: family gathered together. If you're fortunate enough to be able to have your entire immediate or extended family together, enjoy the greatest gift you have in life. Time with them may sometimes be annoying or trying for you, but look deeper and see how precious it really is to be with the only people you're related to. After all, is is the time to be together and it only comes once a year.

9.) Parties

So many festivities this time of year! There are office parties, parties with your friends, some with your parents, some for homecomings, and of course, the biggest party on New Years Eve. It truly is the season for celebration and togetherness.

10.) The meals

Part of the greatness of parties during this season, coming home and just Christmas overall is the food. For some, it's the one element of Christmas they look forward to the most. Usually, people have a big feast on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas. In my family, we have a banquet on Christmas Eve of seafood, steak and sides then eggnog french toast and eggnog on Christmas morning. I look forward to it all year every year. Christmas just wouldn't be right without these meals. So, make Whoville and roast up a roast beast :-)

11.) The presents

Everyone loves presents, and this aspect of Christmas. Giving and receiving are part of what makes the season so grand. And there's nothing like little kids shooting out of bed that one day of the year and jumping for joy and the sight of filled stockings and gifts under their glowing tree. Now that I've relatively grown up, I love seeing my nephews' reactions as they sit under the tree with the presents waiting to open them and their excitement when they do. And, I love to see each person's face when they open my gifts and the ones that were exactly what they wanted as well. It's great to get what you want, even greater when it's from your family and the greatest when you give that perfect gift.

12.) Desserts

To me, the sweets are better than the meals. Like the other things on this list, there are things you will only get one time of year. Sugar plums, candy canes, gingerbread cookies, bread pudding and countless other sweets help to make the season bright. Of course, I look forward to this. And it's heat-warming to give and receive a plate of goodies from your friends and neighbors.

13.) Shopping on December 26th

It's the most wonderful deals of the year, with the store doors jingle belling and every shopkeeper telling you " here is a steal!" It's true, the absolute greatest discounts of the entire year occur on December 26th. Not to brag, I've actually gotten a brand new wool winter coat for $25 marked from the normal price of $200. It's thee day to do any necessary returns and exchanges or just shopping in general to get the most bang for your dollar.

14.) Not working/no school

Hopefully, you're part of the majority of America that gets Christmas Day off. And if you’re really fortunate with your career, you’ll have the entire week of Christmas off. If you’re a student, you get at least 2 weeks off around Christmas and New Years. It’s always good for everyone to take time away from the hustle and bustle, especially all together.

15.) Jesus is born!

Above all the great things of Christmas, it is ultimately the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Considering that most of the Unites States and the western world is Christian, it’s our greatest celebration time of the year. A time to rejoice and gather at church with family and close ones.

I hope you can find 15 things, if not more to love about the holiday season. We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Love Groupon? Here Are 35 Other Sites with Amazing Deals!

Do you love Groupon? Of course you do, who doesn't? Do you think that one deal isn't enough for each day? Then listen up! You may have heard of a few websites similar to Groupon, but there are actually many, many more that offer deals just as great as Groupon. I thend ot root for the little guys and love to give readers amazing deals, so it've rounded some of the best just for you! Each site listed is available in at least 2 major cities in the US, so they're at least somewhat nationwide. I've highlighted what I consider the 10 best (in no particular order) and listed the rest.

1.) yipit.com

This site is great, because it is an accumulation of all the daily deals from 19 major websites. It allows you to sort through them by price, percentage saved and days remaining in the offer. You can also choose what types of categories you look at such as restaurants, fitness, haircuts, etc. No matter what, you have access to minimum 19 deals a day.

2.) homerun.com

This one is cool, because it gives a few offers each day in several areas. Not only that, it will also have some sweet free deals here and there as well. Just be on the lookout, because you never know when they'll put up a freebie!

3.) dealon.com

The cool thing about this one is that for each deal of the day, the already slashed prices will lower as more and more people buy the deal. Don't worry when you buy though, because the lowest price at the close of the day will be the price that everyone pays.

4.) bloomspot.com

For those looking to score on some more pricey stuff, this is your site. You'll still be doling out the dough, but much less than you would on regular prices. And for savvy buyers, every dollar counts, especially when you're buying expensive goods.

5) jasmere.com

Jasmere.com offers one deal each day along with a few features. Firstly, also like dealon.com, the price lowers as more people buy the deal. Secondly, the administrators select one fan to give the deal to each day. Just be a fan on Facebook, follow them on Twitter or receive their daily email. Nothing quite a daily contest. Lastly, they also give out little tidbits of information about events around town, especially when concerning their deals. It's definitely a cool little website that has features you won't see in other places.

6.) specialdeals.com

This one has a cool way of finding deals. It's an interactive map where you find deals on a map, so you can see what's closest to the address you enter. This way, you can get several deals by the location that's nearest to you.

7.) thedealmap.com

This is also an interactive map, but has had deals all over the nation. It also breaks deals down into several categories and symbols for each, so you know which symbols to look for when searching for specific deals. I don't know how they gather deals for all of the country, but this site has done a tremendous job of it.

8.) giltcity.com

Like Bloomspot, this one aims to have deals on expensive things. It usually has around 10 deals per day, which are also available on the iPhone app.

9.) dealsforschools.com

This site is neat for a few reasons. Like an awesome daily deal site, it has more than one offer available at a time. The really cool thing is for each deal that you buy, you get to donate 10% of money paid to a school of your choice. There's not much that beats getting a great deal on discount items AND giving back while doing it.

10.) dealradar.com

The reason for liking Deal Radar is quite simple. It simply has the most deals laid out in front of you. No searching, no hassles, no navigating necessary. Just scroll down the page and you'll see each deal in each category going on in your area that day.

For those wondering about the other sites that offer deals as well, here you go:

atcost.com

blackboardeats.com

buywithme.com

clicknshout.com

crowdsavings.com

dailydealster.com

dailyq.com

dealgulper.com

dealpop.com

eversave.com

freshguide.com

halfoffdepot.com

ideeli.com/events

kgbdeals.com

lifebooker.com

livingsocial.com

mydailythread.com

nimblebuy.com

scoutmob.com

socialbuy.com

specialdeals.com

tippr.com

townhog.com

weforia.com

zozi.com

Now that you know about many places to help you save, go out and prosper! If you're wondering if there's a site made just for your neighborhood, there probably is! Do some searching, because as I did my research, I found many websites like this. Enjoy!