Next time we have all the family in town, I might throw together this Feed a Crowd Chicken (@Quick & Easy, Cheap & Healthy). Just on a smaller scale.
These Artichoke Triangles would be perfect for a holiday gathering (@ Betty Crocker).
Pear Butter and Honey sounds like a great way to use up the delicious fruit that's on the market right now (@Pilgrims at Oak Ridge).
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Frugal Friday: Thinking Long Term
Christmas can be one of the biggest financial drains of the year. Advertising, store window displays, discounts at the mall, Black Friday all add up to a financial crash waiting to happen. Parents buy into the philosophy of buying their kid's love. Grown adults buy into the guilt of returning the favor. Office parties, secret Santa's, teacher gifts, big families, expectant kids (or spoiled kids), and overworked adults. Where did the joy go?
Even if you don't buy into the philosophy of Advent Conspiracy, this debt and consumerism still has has to be stopped. Who wants to start off a new year panicking over credit card debt? Who wants to start ANOTHER year panicking over credit card debt?
One of the keys I've recently learned is keeping my eye on long term goals. Every time I want to spend a little money, every time I want to make a big purchase, every time I want to completely go overboard on my kids, I just have to remember, "What's the long term goal? What's the bigger picture?"
And the bigger picture is:
* Keeping my new home
* Keeping a nest egg in this economy
* One day putting aside money for college educations
* Having a little extra to get away with my kids
* Having some money set aside to help out where God would have us help out
What's the long term goal? And making that purchase will do what to your long term goal?
Spending money on Christmas is not a bad choice. Spending money is an inevitable consequence of our life on earth. And blessing your family with a few gifts is not going to be the end of the world. I've been scanning ads and looking for something my 2 and 4 year old will love. But it's the hording and the stockpiling and the debt that needs to avoided. It's the buying at all cost. It's ignoring the debt, ignoring that poverty of others around the world. It's forgetting the long term goal.
For more money saving ideas, check out LIfe as Mom.
Homemade Christmas #5: Glittered Ornament
I never realized how much of a "bling" girl I was until very recently. Although often found in jeans and a t-shirt, I love my jewelry. It's just that unique little touch that makes outfit "you". And somehow it's not stopping there. I'm into this glitter thing, too. How 80's is that?
A couple of weeks ago, I tackled making Christmas ornaments for my kids. I love the tradition of giving my children a new ornament every year as they grow up. For me, one of the highlights of every Christmas is taking out my own memory ornaments and reliving their Christmases as I put them on the tree. So these were the ornaments I made my kids, little cups of cocoa to commemorate the hot cocoa dates we go on.
And now back to the "bling." This was a very fun little project. I had a "candy" ornament that I painted in pretty girlie colors and then smeared with glitter glue from the Dollar Tree. Quick, easy, and very "blingy." With a fun message on the back and the year and sealed with acrylic sealer (easy to find at Wal-mart).
So just wanted to pass on this fun project. These ceramic ornaments are easy to find at Jo-ann's or any craft store. Just pick up a few colors and some glitter, and get started. What girlfriend wouldn't be proud to add this to her tree!
Submitted to the Monthly Craft Challenge @ Blue Eyed Blessings.
A couple of weeks ago, I tackled making Christmas ornaments for my kids. I love the tradition of giving my children a new ornament every year as they grow up. For me, one of the highlights of every Christmas is taking out my own memory ornaments and reliving their Christmases as I put them on the tree. So these were the ornaments I made my kids, little cups of cocoa to commemorate the hot cocoa dates we go on.
And now back to the "bling." This was a very fun little project. I had a "candy" ornament that I painted in pretty girlie colors and then smeared with glitter glue from the Dollar Tree. Quick, easy, and very "blingy." With a fun message on the back and the year and sealed with acrylic sealer (easy to find at Wal-mart).
So just wanted to pass on this fun project. These ceramic ornaments are easy to find at Jo-ann's or any craft store. Just pick up a few colors and some glitter, and get started. What girlfriend wouldn't be proud to add this to her tree!
Submitted to the Monthly Craft Challenge @ Blue Eyed Blessings.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Homemade Christmas #4
I've been cooking again this week, cooking with my sewing machine that is. More felt food to go with Baby Girl's birthday present. I can't believe it's coming up so quick. I'm almost done with the present, but the problem is, I keep finding more and more cute felt food patterns that I want to try. My mind is racing with all the possibilities. I fear I may end up playing with this food more than anyone in the family. SHHH! Don't tell.
Anyways... I have a couple of quick ideas for ya and one that took a little more thought.
First up: Raviolis.
Aren't they cute? And so simple. We eat a lot of whole wheat pasta and grains in our house so I went with the browns, but you could easily adapt this to ivory. I don't like the look of white, but ivory would convey the idea quite nicely.
Super simple. Simply cut two similar size pieces of felt. Don't worry about being exact just yet. In fact, cut them slightly bigger to accomidate trimming. Simply align the edges and sew together with a straight stitch, stuffing before finishing the fourth side. Double stitch at the end. Then trim up the sides to the size you want with your pinking shears.
And there you have them. Cute, easy, and delicious... I mean, they look delicious. :-)
These orange wedges took a little more time, but once I got the hang of them, they went very smoothly.
I started with the pattern I found here, cutting the larger circle in dark orange and the smaller circle in a lighter orange. Start by folding your larger circle in half and sewing around the open edge.
The original pattern didn't call for stuffing, but I thought it would be cute if they were "juicy" oranges. Just remember to stuff before your finish your edge.
Fold the smaller circle in half over the top of the larger circle. Line it up so it's even on both sides and sew a straight line through the middle of the smaller circle to the edge of the lighter orange.
Continue sewing one more line on each side of the center line, giving yourself four sections. Sew around the edge of the smaller circle to complete.
There they are. My smaller circles weren't as even as I've have liked them to be. But still cute. Figured this would be a good way to complete either a breakfast set with eggs and bacon, or a lunch set with sandwiches.
Finally, I had a few pieces of ivory laying around and was trying to come up with something to do with them. Thus, the tea bags came to mind.
Just cut two simple square slightly smaller than your raviolis, stitching them in the same pattern with stuffing. Before sewing up the final edge, insert a strip of ivory for the string. I cut mine with the pinking shears to give them a fancier edge. After adding the string, sew a smaller single square on the end for the tag. And now tea time is all set, possibly with those oranges you've already made.
For further ideas, check out Felt Food Tutorial #1 and Felt Food Tutorial #2.
Just a few more pieces left (If I can stop myself). Check out my blog next week for felt popsicles (ok, there'll probably be some sugar cookies in there too. I just can't stop!).
For more Works for Me ideas, check out We Are THAT Family.
For more Frugal Friday ideas, check out Life as Mom.
Anyways... I have a couple of quick ideas for ya and one that took a little more thought.
First up: Raviolis.
Aren't they cute? And so simple. We eat a lot of whole wheat pasta and grains in our house so I went with the browns, but you could easily adapt this to ivory. I don't like the look of white, but ivory would convey the idea quite nicely.
Super simple. Simply cut two similar size pieces of felt. Don't worry about being exact just yet. In fact, cut them slightly bigger to accomidate trimming. Simply align the edges and sew together with a straight stitch, stuffing before finishing the fourth side. Double stitch at the end. Then trim up the sides to the size you want with your pinking shears.
And there you have them. Cute, easy, and delicious... I mean, they look delicious. :-)
These orange wedges took a little more time, but once I got the hang of them, they went very smoothly.
I started with the pattern I found here, cutting the larger circle in dark orange and the smaller circle in a lighter orange. Start by folding your larger circle in half and sewing around the open edge.
The original pattern didn't call for stuffing, but I thought it would be cute if they were "juicy" oranges. Just remember to stuff before your finish your edge.
Fold the smaller circle in half over the top of the larger circle. Line it up so it's even on both sides and sew a straight line through the middle of the smaller circle to the edge of the lighter orange.
Continue sewing one more line on each side of the center line, giving yourself four sections. Sew around the edge of the smaller circle to complete.
There they are. My smaller circles weren't as even as I've have liked them to be. But still cute. Figured this would be a good way to complete either a breakfast set with eggs and bacon, or a lunch set with sandwiches.
Finally, I had a few pieces of ivory laying around and was trying to come up with something to do with them. Thus, the tea bags came to mind.
Just cut two simple square slightly smaller than your raviolis, stitching them in the same pattern with stuffing. Before sewing up the final edge, insert a strip of ivory for the string. I cut mine with the pinking shears to give them a fancier edge. After adding the string, sew a smaller single square on the end for the tag. And now tea time is all set, possibly with those oranges you've already made.
For further ideas, check out Felt Food Tutorial #1 and Felt Food Tutorial #2.
Just a few more pieces left (If I can stop myself). Check out my blog next week for felt popsicles (ok, there'll probably be some sugar cookies in there too. I just can't stop!).
For more Works for Me ideas, check out We Are THAT Family.
For more Frugal Friday ideas, check out Life as Mom.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
