Frugal & From the Heart

Mother's Day and Rob's birthday fall on the same day this year... :0) I have been really working hard at making things MUCH more simple and frugal around here, so I thought of some frugal gifts that come from the heart to give on these special days...

Rob's B-day:
* kids will write and sing him a song
* We will make him a chocolate mayo cake w/ peanut butter icing...his FAVORITE!
* kids will make him cards
* I will clean his car
* we will make a video having each person state reasons why we love and appreciate him...we will watch it on the computer together, saving the money on a dvd...
* we will have a cook out for mother's day and his b-day together!

Mother's Day for my mom & my MIL
* kids will make cards
* I am going to paint a small flower pot (we have it) and have kids put their fingerprints around the rim in bright colors...we will create a Mother's Day poem and put it in the pot.
* the kids will bake something
* I will take a picture of all the kids together and print, laminate and put a magnet on the back
* I am going to put scrapbook paper in a frame and print some scripture to add to it.

For my Mother's Day
( Yes, I am planing my own day as my husband has a lot on his plate right now...and it's not his "thing"...he would spend money, and I don't want anything...just my family...but the kids will want to do something...my oldest daughter will head all of this up)
*kids make cards
*clean my can
*go for a nice drive to look for deer
*make fuse-a-bead crafts
* and the cook-out

All of these things INVOLVE the kids DOING things...not just going to the store with money and picking something out. These gifts will cost us nothing...but love and thoughtfulness :0)
I am looking forward to gearing our lives toward a more simple way of living...not everything needs to come from a store to be special!

December Fun!!

For every day in December I made up a small card, and on the card has a special thing to do that day! These are simple and free things to do...easy enough that I know I'll do them...but special enough the kids will love them :0) Here's my list:
1. Welcome to December talk, new song to learn, and a piece of candy
2. Decorate paper gingerbread men to hang up (I hope to make a garland)
3. Drink hot cocoa
4. Make decorations to hang on your bedroom door
5. Introduce the candy calender
6. Christmas movie at rest time
7. Window painting
8. Make Christmas pictures to mail to Unlce Bill
9. Christmas book at story time
10. Snowman craft
11. Listen to Christmas music
12. Dinner with grandma and grandpa (we already had this planned)
13. Eat candy canes
14. Make Christmas pictures to mail to Uncle Jeff
15. Christmas photo shoot (will use these as gifts later)
16. Deliver cookies to a family
17. Make Christmas gifts for teachers
18. Family Christmas parties
19. The Christmas plat at church
20. Make a gift for someone
21. Write to Santa
22. Christmas computer game
23. Make Santa cookies
24. Party at Aunt Jen's & read the Christmas story from the Bible before bed & family prayer time
25. Christmas!!!
We will do most of these during our morning circle time, that way they will be sure to get done! These are easy enough to do...and fun!

Shopping Trip

I went shopping with my sister on Saturday....we left home at 5:00 a.m. and didn't return until 11:00 p.m.!! We shopped the whole time! We got to the stores at 6:00 a.m.....and shopped until 10:00 p.m.! We didn't even stop to get anything to eat....we ate finally at 10:00 p.m. on the way home! What a LONG day! It was fun, and I got most of my shopping done. I spent that many hours and didn't even get it all done...LOL...That's a lot of shopping! I'm glad to say that I have stayed on my budget. Things have been shifted around, but the lump sum I was planning on spending was met. I still have about $100 left to spend and that should be about what I need. Maybe a bit more, not much though! Now for all the wrapping!!!

Decorating for Valentine's Day

Today I spent some time decorating for Valentine's Day! The picture above is kind of dark, but it's my mirror in the living room ...it has a berry garland, but I added a garland of hearts for a little bit of a "lovely" touch :) I stuck a window cling to the mirror as well.

This is a candle and roses I threw together

I quickly sewed up these cute hearts and stuck them in a basket with some fillers....it sits on my buffet in the dining room.

This jar with Valentine Candy Corn sits on my kitchen table for the little ones to enjoy!

and heart gummies....also for little ones...and ME! I LOVE these!!! I really enjoy decorating for the holidays and seasons, but can't seem to make myself spend much money on something like this. So, all of my "decorations" are either sale items, I like to shop for Valentine's Day things after Christmas as red is a main color for Christmas, I shop after Valentine's day for the following year, and some things are handmade....I have a few more things to put up, and have a few things up I didn't take pictures of. Our house is full of Valentine's cheer! I think that is MUCH needed....winter has been long and cold here! I'm ready for some color and cheer! Have a great night! Enjoy the Lord's Day tomorrow!

I know this is late, but here is a pic of our tree!!! We had a great Christmas!!!