Simple Christmas Ideas

Lots of talk lately about simplifying Christmas, making gifts, etc. I wrote this for something else, but thought I'd post it to inspire some of you to make some gifts this year. Ian and I LOVE to give gifts, and these are some of the things we've done over the years for people we love.

Memory Jar: Write or type out as many memories as you want. Put each memory on a separate piece of paper. Put all of the memories in any kind of jar. Your recipient will enjoy reading them for years to come.

Picture Book: You can make an elaborate scrapbook, or simply gather meaningful photos and put them in a simple photo book. Add notes about each picture or let the picture speak for itself. What’s important is that you spend time finding pictures that are valuable to the recipient.

Handwritten Letter or Note: Handwrite (it’s more personal) a letter. Tell him why you are thankful for him, why she’s special to you, or simply record some of your favorite memories from the past year.

Empty Picture Frame with Note: Give someone an experience as a gift. Instead of just telling them about what you have planned, use a small frame and make a note to put inside. Tell him or her about your adventure and then promise a picture of it to remember it by.

Picture Calendar: This provides a year of smiles. You can make your own using your computer and printer or you can find websites to create and print them. They cost less than you think. Some programs let you personalize the dates as well so you can put a picture of your mom on her birthday and wish her a happy day!

Family Recipe Basket: Homemade treats are always fun around the holidays. Add a little extra touch by sharing family favorite treats along with the recipes. Again, this can be very elaborate with homemade boxes and handwritten recipes, or more simple with re-usable containers and a printed list of recipes. Either way, you are sharing something special with those around you.

New Tradition Gift: Develop your own new tradition to do with the recipient each year and make that part of her gift. Maybe you will fondue every December, or go for coffee on the Saturday before Christmas. Whatever it is, make it meaningful for the recipient and something that can be repeated year after year.

What do you do? I'm always looking for new ideas!

Celebrating 5 years of Amelia Marie

We celebrated Amelia's 5th birthday this past week. It's cool to think that I have a 5 year old! I'm so thankful that God gave her to us to raise and enjoy. I thought it would be fun to talk through her past birthdays and see how she's changed. I enjoy making her birthday cakes each year and included those in the pictures also.

Her day of birth.




When she was born Ian and I talked about the theme of her first birthday party. We decided Care Bears would be fun and it was a perfect theme. Here is her cake (which she didn't eat by the way).




One of my favorite family pictures. Taken at her 1st birthday party.




Celebrating year #2 with a Strawberry Shortcake cake. Love the hair!




Just like the picture says, Amelia turns 3!




Year number 4- here I come...




The caterpillar cake for year 5.




Celebrating her special day with cousins.

Grocery Shopping Lists

Grocery Shopping Lists
I read about this idea in Real Simple about 4 years ago and built my own food shopping lists. I have 2 shopping lists for the stores where I do most of my shopping, Fry's and Costco. You can access these Word files if you'd like to use them yourself. I tried to make the lists in order of how I walk around the store, but some things have been moved and I have not updated the list. It's pretty close though!

How I use Them:
I hang them up on the fridge and as I run out of things or think of things I need to buy I mark it on the list. When I do my weekly menu I already have my staples on the list and can easily mark the boxes as necessary. Having a list simplifies the process and keeps me from buying things I don't need or just plain want and can't afford.

If you have a list and would like to share it I would love to see it. Also, if you use your lists differently and want to enlighten me I'd love it! Always looking to improve my process...

Vote- get free stuff!

You should not vote just to get free stuff, BUT if you are voting tomorrow, or already voted, why not get some free rewards. Below is the text from an article on USA Today's website. Call ahead to the store of your choice just to make sure they are participating.


Coffee. Starbucks expects to hand out "hundreds of thousands" of free 12-ounce drip coffees (valued at about $1.75 each), says spokeswoman Jenny McCabe. "If everyone who votes comes in for a free cup of coffee, we'll have some lines," she says.

•Doughnuts. Some 85 of Krispy Kreme's 231 locations in the U.S. will hand out star-shaped, red-white-and-blue sprinkled doughnuts "while supplies last," says spokesperson Dana Hughens. The chain will give out about 200,000 doughnuts valued at 99 cents each. "People are definitely talking about the brand as a result of this," she says.

•Ice cream. Between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. in each time zone, Ben & Jerry's ice cream shops will hand out single-scoop ice cream cones (a $3.40 value). "What better way to encourage people to be politically active than to give away free ice cream?" asks spokeswoman Liz Brenna.

•Sandwiches. In a local market promotion, several hundred of the nation's 1,400 Chick-fil-A stores will hand out $2.70 chicken sandwiches to adults who show proof that they voted, says spokesman Jerry Johnston.

I think I'm going for chicken and ice cream......

Halloween Fun

What a great week. We went to a pumpkin patch and celebrated Halloween in our neighborhood. Enjoy the pictures:

The preschool class learning about farming. Look at the corn in the background! I LOVE it. Reminds me of home.... We went through the corn maze. It would take about 45 minutes if you're good at stuff like that, but we learned the trick and "escaped" after about 15 minutes. It was 95 degrees outside- a little warm for a corn maze.



Sisters at the pumpkin patch.



Emery did not like the straw/hay. Can't say as I blame her!



Our little piglet. All 4 girls (2 nieces, Amelia and Emery) have been a pig for their first Halloween. Emery had her first sucker and loved it- of course.



Trick-or-treating at Grandma and Grandpa's 5th wheel.



What a great smile!



Our "family circus" for Halloween. The girls wanted to be a circus. So Jess was an acrobatic cat, Macie was an Acrobat/Gymnast and Amelia was the Ballerina that dances on the Elephant. Emery was the pig- don't you know they have one of those in every circus!! Lisa was the ring master- Not fair, she always gets to be the boss :). I was... the clown- of course. Per a vote by the girls I got to walk around all night with a funky wig and red cheeks and nose. No- I do not have a picture of that. I'm usually taking the photos and am lucky enough to not have to be in them!