I need your help. Do you think it’s okay to give or receive a gift card on Valentine’s Day? You KNOW I think it’s a good idea. But perhaps you’re after more traditional sentiments from your sweetie.

Click on this link to take a poll then leave a comment and you’ll be entered to win a $25 Michael’s Gift Card.

We have a winner! “Shenais” is the winner of the Family Playtime gift card giveaway. She gets to choose from the following online games gift cards, compliments of Gift Card Mall:

• Nexon
• Sony Playstation
• Xbox Live
• Adventure Quest
• Neopets
• Stardoll

You know I’m a fan of the gift card kiosk. I did almost all of my Christmas shopping this season while at the grocery store. I saved time by not not making trips to a variety of stores. I saved money by taking advantage of gift card promotions. And I also stuck to my holiday budget (possibly the first time, ever) because gift cards are always available in my target amount. No more combing the aisles looking for a gift that fits and is priced right. Phew!

Thanks to all who voted in last week’s poll. As this press release shows, people waste time and money buying gifts that are ultimately returned or stuffed in a closet. I don’t want to sound greedy here because I truly appreciate the effort made by thoughtful gift-givers. It’s just that in this economy, when people are stretched for both time and money, I hate to see either resource go to waste.

What a Waste

We waste time and money several ways, such as:
- Time spent shopping for gifts that are ultimately returned
- Time spent standing in return lines
- Time spent looking for replacement items that may or may not cost the same amount
- Time spent online calling or cybershopping to find the given item in a better size or style
- Money spent but never recouped when a gift is returned without a receipt
- Money put on store credit that may never get used
- Money spent on shipping that isn’t refunded when an online purchase is returned

And the BIGGEST sin of all (in my opinion)

- Time and Money spent on gifts that are kept but will knowingly never be used.

I’m guilty of all of these crimes. Gift cards aren’t the perfect solution because a poorly selected gift card can be just as wasteful. But if you follow my 5 Steps to Better Gift Card Giving, you’re sure to save yourself time and money on the giving end and I’m betting that the recipient will do the same.

A Toast

So, here’s to gift cards, my friends. May we give them. May we receive them. May they afford us the chance to buy the things we really want or need without wasting so much time and money.

The saying, “The family that plays together, stays together” is one of my favorites and is something I try to foster in our home. But achieving family camaraderie is not always easy. Some of the most harmonious moments in my home happen when the kids are each doing something on their own—no fighting, no tattle-taling, no wrestling—just peaceful coexistence. But there’s no laughter or bonding going on either.

Go Giants!

Being that we’re a Bay Area family, the thing that united us most these past months has been following the Giants through the pennant race and the World Series. Even my daughter, who isn’t at all interested in baseball, got into the spirit. For at least eleven magical nights, we sat on the couch as a family, watched the games, talked about “the Beard,” explained baseball strategies to the little ones, and ate hot dogs, nachos, and other ballpark inspired foods for dinner. I didn’t want it to end in part because we had so much fun and because I didn’t have to work that hard to make it happen.

Now What?!

Here we are on the threshold of the holidays and I’m thinking about ways to help us unite as a family again. Since we’re not planning to travel, I need ideas for getting everyone engaged here at home. The folks over at Gift Card Mall must have read my mind because Safeway, Vons, and other affiliated grocers have a promotion going on through the end of the year called, “Treat your Family to Playtime!” Buy a participating Coca-Cola product plus Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn and get $5 off an online games gift card—like Xbox, PlayStation, Adventure Quest, Stardoll and others. (See in-store details for specifics).

Win a Gift Card

In honor of that promotion, Gift Card Mall is giving away a $50 Online Games gift card to a participant here on Gift Card Girlfriend. To enter, simply tell us how you promote family playtime at home. Although the winner will be chosen at random, I really need your ideas! So send in your tips and you just might find a $50 gift card under the tree this holiday season!

Legal Stuff: Contest open to continental US residents only. Contest ends December 31, 2010 at midnight PST. Winner will be posted on the site for one month and notified by e-mail. Be sure the address shelley@giftcardgirlfriend.com clears your e-mail filter. If winner doesn’t respond within one month, a runner-up will be chosen.

My girlfriend Shannon just turned 40 and she’s amazing. She’s one of those gals who has style–you know who they are. Her house is arranged just so, she’s always dressed nicely without being overdone, and everything she does looks artistic and polished. I love being around her.

So Shannon’s mom threw a surprise birthday brunch complete with fresh squeezed juice and a frittata fresh out of the oven. Everything just as delightful as the guest of honor. As much as I loved the atmosphere, though, a gift from Shannon’s sister captured my full attention! So simple, so personal, so gift-cardable!

This sweet sibling filled a jar called “40 Things I love About You” with sentiments about their relationship as friends, as sisters, as daughters of God, and mothers of little angels. We all oohed and ahhed as Shannon read a few of the notes through weepy eyes.

I love the idea and wanted to add a gift card spin–drop a $40 dollar gift card into the jar of 40 sentiments. And don’t be caught up on age. This idea can be tailored to any birthday – 23 things I love about you and a $23 gift card to the yogurt shop. 38 things I like about you and a 38 dollar gift card to the sandwich shop. Or change it from a birthday gift to Mother’s Day, a thank you gift, or a group gift where everybody adds a note to the recipient.

So clever. So stylish. So Shannon. I love it.

I enjoyed reading all the ways in which your pops rock. I noticed something as well.

As moms, we’re just supposed to be there all the time–doing, making, supporting, lifting, uplifting, and doing a number of things to keep the cogs in the family wheel moving. Dads, on the other hand, seem to have a simpler roll: earn a living, be the heavy when needed, and nod in agreement to whatever mom decides.

What is apparent from reading your comments, however, is that when Dad comes up strong–offers a shoulder to cry on, says the right thing at the right time, tells you he loves you, or forgives you for doing something stupid–we notice. In fact, everything men do above basic parenting is a gift that appears to be recognized and appreciated. I’m saying this in a loving way. I’m saying this with new found insight as to the impact a father (or father-figure) can have on a child.

So I’m happy to announce the winner of the “My Pop Rocks” gift card contest is Jill who says not only does she know her dad rocks, but the whole community has it figured out as well. Congrats to Jill for winning and to her pop for being such a good guy. It really does matter.