This is it! The very last of this year’s huge list of 100 Christmas gifts worth giving that will cost you less than $25. We’ve come a long way since day 1. If you’ve missed any of the previous posts, here’s your chance to go back and catch up. And if you hurry, Amazon might still be able to get something to you in time for Christmas. [Read more…]
Archives for 2014
100 Days of Christmas Gifts $25 or Less (Day 85-91)
He knows when you are sleeping! He knows when you’re awake! He knows if you’ve been bad or good…dude, Santa is a STALKER.
Well – we’re almost done! Next week I will have the remaining days of Christmas gifts all listed…including a few gifts that are easy to pick up at the LAST MINUTE for those of you who procrastinated and need a gift NOW. Although I have never done such a thing in all my life. *Cough* [Read more…]
Our 2014 3 Gift Christmas
As you all know, we celebrate a 3 gift Christmas in our home. I am already able to tell that as our family expands, this will keep things simple at a time of year when things can easily get out of hand – or out of house, if you catch my drift. I’m not sure about you, but I don’t have time to clean up oodles of toys every day…I’m just excited when I have time to brush my teeth. So, yeah. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify.
Some have asked if we still do stockings – and yes we do. I love tights and pantyhose. Hardy, har, har. But anyway – yes we do stockings. I don’t spend an arm and a leg on them – I am usually buying stuff throughout the year as I find clearance…then I just trot down to the basement and fill their stocking up.
I buy clearance and used items for my kids…because I’m cheap and I’m making them suffer. 😉 Or at least that’s what I’ve been told. Or maybe it’s because I know they might break it in approximately 5 seconds, and I”m less likely to cry if I only spent $.50 instead of $10.
So without further ado (what’s ado anyway?), here are the gifts we decided on this year for our suffering kiddos. [Read more…]
100 Days of Christmas Gifts $25 or Less (Day 78-84)
I think this has turned out to be a great idea! Unlike some of my other ideas, like Shrimp Pot Pie or white comforters for the kids. I’ve had so much fun putting this Christmas gifts list together! Already my wheels are turning for another idea next year. Let me know if you have any ideas for that…unless it involves vast amounts of time, making something straight on the wall, or scary kinds of glue. [Read more…]
Please don’t say THIS to your children
A joint post from Barry and Stacy
I’m sure you’ve heard someone else say it to their child. Or maybe you’ve even said it yourself, not really thinking of the ramifications it might have. I know I’ve heard it – and I know Barry has heard it…and really, it needs to stop.
Barry came home and had recently heard this, and it just lit a fire under me. What am I ranting about?
Picture this: A child is being unruly in the store – not listening to mama. Maybe he is throwing a fit or being mean to his sister. Whatever the issue, mom doesn’t feel like taking care of it herself…so, she lays the responsibility on someone else with the following line (or a similar one): [Read more…]
100 Days of Christmas Gifts $25 or Less (Day 71-77)
It’s December!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kinda snuck up on you, didn’t it? Did you know that “snuck” wasn’t a word? Lame. Most of the time I don’t figure out a word I say isn’t a real word until I try to type it out – maybe I should stick to video. There is no such thing as spell check for video – unless you count comments from people who like to correct your twang.
Really, you still have plenty of time. Especially if you have Amazon Prime – which is one of my favorite things about Amazon. Two day shipping?! Yes, please. That means you can procrastinate a loooooooooooooooooooooong time. Not that I condone procrastination – I gave that up in college. Ahem.
So, here are seven more days for you. Maybe if nothing has tickled your fancy yet, today will fix you right up. 🙂 [Read more…]
2014 Advent Activities
It’s that time of year again: Advent and all the Advent activities are upon us! Which I’ll admit feels strange, because wasn’t it just Easter yesterday? You know you’re starting to age when you start saying, “Man, where did the time go?” You never hear a teenager or a 20-something say that, do ya?
Celebrating Advent together is something our family looks forward to every year.
As the kids get older, it has become even more fun because they are all able to participate a lot more! Most of our activities stick around from year to year as we find what really works for us, but we have changed things up a bit based on the ages of the kids.
I’ve got these activities dated, but let’s be serious here – we all know sometimes life gets in the way!
Kids get sick – there is poop to deal with – crazy family members schedule things at the last minute just to mess with your head. We almost always end up moving some things around – that’s why it’s important to make sure you have a few activities that are really fun, but don’t take much time.
Our Advent Activities this year include:
- Decorate Christmas Tree – December 1
- Christmas Interview – December 2 (a list of questions to ask Annie and Andy and repeat each year to see how they have changed.)
- Fridge Snowman – December 3
- Game night – December 4
- Watch Elf – December 5
- Barter Theatre to see Jingle All The Way – December 6
- Shoebox online – December 7
- Candlelight dinner – December 8
- Gingerbread house – December 9
- Family Fingerprint Reindeer – December 10
- Homemade Hot Cocoa/Eggnog – December 11
- Blessing another family (families) – December 12
- Cracker Barrel and yearly ornament – December 13
- Wooden Snowman – December 14
- Finish Christmas cards – December 15
- Homemade cookies – December 16
- Homemade ornaments (snowflakes) – December 17
- Story of St. Nicholas– December 18
- A Muppet Christmas Carol (on Netflix) – December 19
- Food pantry donation – December 20
- Car ride to see Christmas lights – December 21
- Nativities – December 22
- Candy (turtles) – December 23
- Read Luke 2 from the family Bible – December 24
Make sure you check out the Advent Activities posts from prior years, so you can see what calendar we use and to some other photos to get great ideas.
100 Days of Christmas Gifts $25 or Less (Day 64-70)
Christmas is coming!!! This is the last week of November – so don’t let it sneak up on you. Because guess what? Christmas is December 25th this year. Who knew?!
Even though our family chooses not to break out the holiday decor and music before Thanksgiving, we are always shopping all year long to get our gift purchased early and at a good price. That leaves time for me to bake and craft with the kids during the holidays without losing my mind. Except I’ve already lost my mind, so I guess that didn’t work out so well.
Here are the other installments of the gift series, for your convenience. Because I’m awesome like that. [Read more…]
Postpartum Freezer Meals List
My friend Erinn from Embracing Everything asked for a list of the freezer meals that I used after this pregnancy, so I thought it might be helpful to a few other people as well. Why kill two birds with one stone when there are eggs in your bush that you shouldn’t count?
I started too late preparing for Eli Benjamin. I felt like doo-doo for most of the pregnancy, so I blame it on that. In all honesty, you should start prepping freezer meals in the middle of your second trimester. Most meals and foods will be fine for 6 months in the freezer. Even starting late, I managed to get quite a bit put away. I used a lot of meal components this time so I would be able to throw a meal together quickly instead of making a vast amount of fully cooked meals.
Also, 4 weeks before my due date, I made a HUGE shopping trip and stocked up on everything I might need: snacks, condiments, nuts, butter, etc. After my babies are born, I don’t get out much…I usually take a 2 month hiatus from shopping and gallivanting around the countryside. My mom went with me on this trip and I literally filled the car up with supplies and groceries. [Read more…]
100 Days of Christmas Gifts $25 or Less (Day 57-63)
The heat is on! The heat it onnnnnnn. I think that means it’s getting closer to Christmas. At least I think it is, because my neighbor totally has her Christmas tree up and everything.
How is your shopping list going? All that remains for us is a little gift or two. I”m tickled that we finished our Christmas gifts so early this year. Now I will be able to relax and enjoy the holidays. 🙂 I hope these lists are helping you finish your list as well. Get on it!
Days 64-70
Days 85-91 [Read more…]
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