Fresh Vision and Thrifty Decor December 31, 2008

As the New Year looms on the horizon, many people make resolutions, stay up late and party in the New Year watching the ball drop, find someone to kiss at the strike of 12 and pop the champagne/sparkling cider.

I am not one of those people.

With a husband that works in the hotel industry, I am typically at home with my little one snoozing when the ball drops ringing in the New Year, yet I am not entirely without tradition as a fresh year begins.

I am reminded of a quote from Anne of Green Gables, “Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it.” This is how I view the New Year: A fresh slate waiting to be written on. It inspires me to clean, organize and plan. Armed with a to do list a mile long, I begin today: Cut Paul’s Hair, Laundry, Spot treat and soak the white tablecloth with chocolate icing on it, Organize and put away the last of the Christmas presents lingering in the living room, Vacuum, Mop the kitchen floors, Organize the garage, Take out the upstairs trash, the list goes on and on. I may even scrub the bath tub.

I just finished a very apropos book in time for the New Year entitled, “Passionate Housewives Desperate for God“- Fresh Vision for the Hopeful Homemaker. It truly was “fresh vision” and inspired me to reevaluate my days and look at how I can best invest my time at home.

Throughout the day, as I make my way through the to do list, I will attempt to post pictures and share some ideas for thrifty decor. IF I can get my picture uploader to work with Windows 98. Our computer bit the dust and we are working from my parent’s old cpu. Thanks Mom and Dad :).

Tales from the HomeKeeper December 18, 2008

Now, I realize that as her Mama I have the tendency to think that my child is a genius no matter what comes out of her mouth; however, my two year old said something that made me smile so big yesterday that I had to share.

Ara: Mama, are you eating soup like me?

(Ara is eating chicken soup- I am eating mushroom with rice noodles)

Me: I Am eating soup, but I’m eating a different soup.

Ara: Does yours have chicken in it like mine does?

Me: Nope mine has mushrooms.

Ara thinks.

“Well, if you were expectin’ chicken- I bet you’re disappointed.”

Now I didn’t realize that my daughter understood expectations or disappointment so I ask her, “How did you know that?”

Ara: “Like, remember when you expect me to be a good girl and I am mean and you are disappointed?”

🙂 You know what that means? When she is in trouble, she listens to what I am saying AND understands it! 🙂 Happy Mama!

She continues saying many other things, many don’t make sense at all but every once in a while my child says something that blows my socks off and I realize, she’s listening! This makes everything worthwhile!

Now if only I could get what I tell her about potty training to click 😉

A Very Merry Mason Jar Monday December 15, 2008

Mason Jar Lid Ornaments

So, what are we to do with the lids to the mason jars we make into candle holders?
Turn them into ornaments!

Pick whatever image you want to make an ornament of.  Take the inside lid and trace it over the image to cut the perfect size.  Hot glue the image onto the lid and then hot glue that inside the ring and tie a ribbon or some other prettiness around the outside ring.

Here are some examples I found in a google search:

And some without the outer ring:

Sale Saturday December 14, 2008

Walgreen’s Deals December 14-20th

Progresso Soup is on sale for .99 cents with WA coupon minus .50 off (2) manufacturer’s coupon=2/1.48 or .74 cents ea.

Money Saving Mom found this:

Progresso Soup–$0.99 cents after in-ad coupon
Use $1.10 off one internet printable coupon
Free plus possible overage after coupons

Coffee Mate Liquid Creamer is on sale B1G1 with WA coupon=2/2.49 minus (2) manufacturer’s coupons for .50 cents off= 2/1.49 or approx. .75 cents ea.

UPDATE: 1.00 off coupons can be found at http://www.coffee-mate.com/

Energizer Max 4 pack AA Batteries is on sale with WA coupon for 2.99 minus 1.00 off manufacturer’s coupon= 1.99

Colgate Toothpaste 6.4 oz. is on sale for .99 cents with WA coupon minus manufacturer’s coupon for .75 cents off= .24 cents ea.

Bic Lighters are on sale for 2.50 ea. with WA coupon minus 1.00 off manufacturer’s coupon for Bic Luminere or any multipurpose lighter= 1.50

Girls Tights are on sale for .99 cents with WA coupon.

Ladies Pantyhose are on sale for .69 cents with WA coupon.

Oral B Stages Toothpaste or Manual Toothbrush are on sale for 2/4 minus 1.00 manufacturer’s coupon off (2)= 2/3 minus 2.00 rollover=2/1.00 or .50 cents ea.

Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is on sale for .69 cents with WA coupon.

Green Giant Vegetables are on sale for .59 cents with WA coupon.

Feminine Friday- Holiday Decor on a Shoestring Budget December 12, 2008

Beautifying the house for the holidays!

Alright, this Christmas we had basically no budget for Christmas Decor but I wanted to share some ways I tried to add Christmas cheer to the house inexpensively.

Living Room

My Stepmother-in-law gave me this beautiful wreath that I hung ornaments on to make it festive for the holidays. It hangs above our green sofa.

(The light through the window made the wall look yellow but it is actually renter’s white.)

I hung garland around the edges of our two bookshelves on both sides of the couch and hung tiny ornaments on that as well.

I made three matching stocking out of scraps of Christmas fabric and hung them on the stairs along with garland.

Our mirror behind the chair features a festive ornament :).

And the window seat will eventually hold the display of packages once I get them wrapped.

Kitchen

I tossed some ornament balls into my lime green pedestal for a centerpiece.

My lime green tea kettle matches perfectly with my Red, Green and White kitchen color scheme.

The striped kitchen towels.

Our memory verses written out in red and green to match.

Bedroom (AKA the Christmas Room)

Our living room is too tiny to fit the Christmas tree so it is in our room this year.

Ara bought this sock monkey ornament with her own money this year.

Here we are! Well, Hubby and I.

Christmas quilt on our bed.

So, that’s what I have up this year on a shoestring budget. If you blogged about your Christmas decorations, leave a comment in the comments section with your blog URL. Merry Christmas and a happy Feminine Friday!

Tales from the HomeKeeper December 11, 2008

Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house we go!

Today we went to my Grandma’s house (so Ara’s Grandma Great) to make a special surprise for Daddy who has been working lots of overtime this week.  She made and decorated these cookies all by herself!

And for your laughing pleasures today, a conversation I had with Aralyn last Saturday:

Me: Ara, today we are going to go with Grandma and Grandpa to cut down a Christmas tree.

Ara: Well, OKAY! but I better go get my scissors!

Checking In and Inspiration December 10, 2008

Posy’s Studio at Posy Gets Cozy

It is Aralyn’s nap time at our household and she is actually, blissfully sleeping.  So, what am I doing?  Browsing blogs and flikr absorbing so much of other people’s creativity my head hurts.  Literally.  But not really because of the blog jumping, I woke up with a migraine.  Tylenol in… and more browsing.

How cute is the above Crafting studio?  I absolutely love it.  All of Alicia Paulson’s photographs of her house and crafts make me smile and want to do spring cleaning even in winter.  Here is her kitchen:

These make me want to go to the flea market.

This almost erases the fact that my camera’s battery charger is broken and I am having camera withdrawals even though I can’t upload pictures on this old CPU.

More picture browsing… yep I feel better.

Have a wonderful day!  See you tomorrow for Tales from the Homekeeper.

A Very Mery Mason Jar Monday December 8, 2008

Winter Wonderland

Country Living Magazine has a great resource for homemade Christmas decor here.  This was one idea that I came across that reminds me of the song, “Walkin’ in a Winter Wonderland”.  Here are the directions:

“Create a cobweb candle holder with wire, beads, and a glass jar — a Mason or yogurt jar will work well. Start at the top, and make a wire loop around the jar lip. Thread beads on this loop; twist ends to secure. Fasten another wire to this loop, and begin to crisscross the jar surface with wire. To create a cobweb effect, alternate plain wire with wire threaded with beads. Loop wire once at each juncture, to hold web in place. Insert small candle.”

Sale Saturday December 6, 2008

Between spending time with Paul’s family cutting down a Christmas Tree today and making up a dessert for small group tomorrow, I am hurriedly posting the deals that stuck out to me in this weeks Walgreen’s ad.  So, if I miss some, bear with me and add them in the comments section.  Thanks ever so!

Walgreen’s Deals December 7-13

Puffs Facial Tissue on sale for .89 cents minus manufacturer’s coupon for .25 cents= .64 cents

Salt or Baking Soda on sale 2/1.00 with WA coupon (WA=Weekly Ad).

Carnation Evaporated Milk on sale for .99 cents with WA coupon.

Swanson Chicken Broth on sale for .59 cents with WA coupon.

Packaging Tape on sale for .99 cents with WA coupon.

Poster board on sale 3/1.00 with WA coupon.

Wax Paper or Reynolds Wrap on sale for .99 cents with WA coupon.

Dove Bar Soap is on sale for .99 cents with WA coupon minus 1.00 off 6 bars manufacturer’s coupon= 6/4.94 or .82 cents ea.

Mitchum Deodorant is on sale for 1.99 with WA coupon minus 1.00 off manufacturer’s coupon= .99 cents.

Barbasol and Pure Silk Shaving Cream is on sale for .99 cents with WA coupon.

Angelsoft Bath Tissue is on sale 12 rolls for 2.99 minus manufacturer’s coupon here for who knows how much off because it wouldn’t show me and we are out of ink but even .25 cents off 2.99 is a good deal for 12 rolls.

Maybelline Lipsticks, Lip Glosses and Lipliner are 3.99 ea and on a B1G1 sale this week= 2/3.99 minus (2) manufacturer’s coupons for 4.00 off = FREE plus 4.01 overage!

(STOCK UP ON THESE FOR STOCKING STUFFERS!)

Schick Intuition Plus, Quattro, Quattro Titanium and Quattro Disposable Razors are on sale this week for 6.99 minus esaver coupon for 3.00 off=3.99 minus 2.00 off manufacturer’s coupon=1.99

WALGREENS WEEKLY AD .39 CENT MADNESS!!!

With WA coupons the following items are .39 cents:

Walgreen’s Toothbrushes

Tissue Paper or Gift Wrap

Curling Egg Ribbon

Miniature Stockings

Salt/Pepper Shaker

Holiday Waterball

4 Loop Red Velvet Bow

Taper Candle Rings

Mini Candy Container

Peel and Stick Gift Tags

Bows

Mini Christmas Candles

Vinyl Placemats

Gift Bags

Light Set and Cord Organizer

Disney Mini Puzzle

Mini Sticker Book or Clings

Snowman Paper Serving Tray

Peeps

Van Camps Pork and Beans

Walgreen’s Soda

Palmer Candy

Holiday Candy

JELLO

Toothpicks

Nestle Holiday Candy

Jiffy Muffin Mix

Plastic Cutlery

Christmas Candy

Speed Wheels

Pure American Water

Armour Vienna Sausage

A Very Merry Mason Jar Monday December 1, 2008

Who could resist a gift like this? Martha Stewart explains how to make one:

“The shimmering magic of snowfall is always transfixing, whether it’s outside your window or inside this classic toy. Homemade globes let you create a wintry scene straight out of your own imagination. Almost any jar works for this project: Baby-food, pimiento, and olive jars are good choices (WE like mason jars). Look for plastic or ceramic figurines (metal ones are prone to rust) at flea markets and hobby or model-railroad shops. Synthetic evergreen tips are available at many floral-supply stores. If the jar lids are not in seasonal colors already, paint them with oil-based enamel paint. Sand the inside of the lid until the surface is rough. With clear-drying epoxy, adhere the figurine to the inside of the lid, and let the epoxy dry. Fill the jar almost to the top with distilled water; add a pinch of glitter and a dash of glycerin (available at drugstores) to keep the glitter from falling too quickly. Don’t add too much, or the glitter will stick to the bottom of the jar when it’s flipped. Screw on the lid tightly, being careful not to dislodge the figurine. Turn the jar over and back again — and let it snow.”