Day 4: Tips to a budget/friendly holiday season

I hope y'all had a WONDERFUL thanksgiving! I know that I'm still feeling the affects of the turkey [I hope the tryptophan wears off before too long or else this will be a looooong day at work!]

Today's topic of the 12 Days of Christmas is

Day 4: Tips to a budget/friendly holiday season


[1] If you have read my blog long enough you know that I'm a list maker - for the holidays my list includes ideas I have for them, my budget, and how much I actually spent.. that way I know how close I am to my overall budget

[2] I also pick up little items throughout the year for stocking stuffers or small gifts
When Bath and Body Works runs their specials on their small candles - I go crazy and buy anywhere from 10-15 right before the holidays. I pick up some holiday scents but also some that will last me throughout the year. These are perfect for host/hostess gifts.

[3] Shop around! There are perks to shopping and not immediately buying - or you can always go back to price adjust!

[4] Shop on line first - know what your after. If you go to the store [without a list or without something in mind of what you were going to buy] you will be more likely to impulse buy!

I hope these few little tips helped! I hope you had a wonderful holiday!

Now head on over to Molly and Aly's blog and link up with your tips/ideas!

Happy Black Friday!

**random thoughts for a wednesday**

i have recently discovered that keebler has created a year round samoa - coconut dreams
this is bad news!
when Justin nods his head and says
"I wish you wouldn't have bought these again"
its kinda hard to resist
we will be lucky if this package of 15 cookies make it through the weekend

i wish it can be the 5 weeks between thanksgiving and xmas all year round - it is undoubtedly my favorite time of the year
and this is why:

christmas carols
snow
family
friends
holiday parties
christmas cookies
decorating for the holidays
holiday shopping
wrapping presents

only 148 days left until christmas

i'm ready for a smart phone again... although i don't mind rocking out the flip phone... the inability to get picture mail is about to make me break down and buy the black iphone.. i have missed friends texts and they think i'm mad at them...and then i have to tell them the pathetic story about how i ruined my smart phone and i'm back to the old school flip phone

i'm thinking about finally starting an etsy site to sell the headbands that i make
and i'm really excited about it!
as soon as i get it up and running i'm thinking about celebrating in true blogging fashion
by having my FIRST give-a-way!!

i'm starting to have a love/hate relationship with big brother... 3 days a week is a bit excessive, but its still addictive - i have it scheduled to tape on the dvr - so it means i HAVE to watch it.... however the suspense of wondering who the 2 cast mates who know one another is killing me... who do you think it is?

Happy Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July!

We have been busy celebrating America's Independence the past few nights by attending local fireworks.

Friday night we went to downtown Columbus and watched Red, White and Boom. We pack a picnic dinner, people watch (even played people watching Bingo), and then watched the fireworks

Ever since we were little, we packed my Radio Flyer wagon to carry all of our stuff down to the fireworks.. and we still use my Radio Flyer to carry our stuff down to the fireworks - however in the few short 27 years... we have outgrown the trust worth wagon... so now we look like nothing more than the beverly hillbillies rolling down the street with our wagon (that happens to include 2 coolers, a radio to listen to the soundtrack for the fireworks, and two bag chairs) all tied down with a boating line and 2 bungee cords!

Here's my dad pulling ol' trustee and Justin helping him get under construction fencing - I had to laugh!
JM and I waiting for the fireworks
and this years fireworks did not disappoint!


Last night we went to my hometown's fireworks, which are nice, but nothing compared to red, white and boom... a MUCH smaller scale. We went up with Justin's mom, watched them from a parking lot and headed home
(i do however love that the sky is red white and blue in this picture!)

We have been beyond fortunate with perfect weather -80 degrees during the day, getting down to the low 60's at night and no humidity! We're off on the boat for the rest of the day!

I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful 4th of July!!!

4th of July Weekend Plans... and a Sweet Treat :)

Happy Friday!

I can't believe its already the weekend of July 4th!
I absolutely LOVE this holiday, its a time to realize how fortunate we are to be American's, to be thankful for our freedom, and a time to reflect upon all of those who are currently serving and who have served so that we can be free.

I can't wait to celebrate... with family, friends, and lots of firework displays!

in honor of this wonderful holiday, i thought that i would make a cute little "snack" for some of my co-workers today... white chocolate covered strawberries with a little blue :)
Ingredients:

Strawberries
White Chocolate
Crisco or EVOO [in case you don't watch Rachel Ray - thats Extra Virgin Olive Oil]
Blue Sugar Crystals [i found mine at Homegoods, but I'm sure any baking store or Craft store would have them]

Clean your strawberries and let them dry [very important step!]
Melt your white chocolate on the double boiler.. add a little crisco [or EVOO] to prevent the chocolate from "sweating"
Dunk your strawberry into the white chocolate and immediately dunk it into the blue sugar
Voila you have a cute little snack for this holiday!

I will be back to post much more about this exciting weekend! We are going to the BIG fireworks display tonight with my parents - Red, White and Boom, Saturday we are going to my hometowns fireworks, Sunday we are going boating, and Monday grilling out with friends. I am so excited to have a relaxing weekend!

What are your holiday plans?

I hope you and your family have a safe and fun weekend!

Merry Christmas..... times a lot!

Sorry that I have been MIA lately, we have had a lot going on the last few days. With Christmas just around the corner, and my family leaving for vacation Christmas morning, we practically celebrate Christmas one weekend a month from the beginning of December until December 24th.

My parents parent's are all divorced and 3 out of 4 are remarried - which makes for many xmas celebrations, which i love, because i love nothing more than to be with my family (and friends) during the holidays.

This weekend was no exception... Friday night we celebrated Christmas with my Dad's dad, his wife Janet, and my Great Grandma Millie, along with my dad's siblings and all of their kids (my cousin's).... so in all there were 22 of us...

Aunt Lu, Janet and Brooke

Here is the kids table... i'm pretty sure the adults in the dining room were jealous of the fun we were having at our table!
My Grandpa always took my great grandma to a little place in Westerville called Jillians. My great grandma is a very sophisticated lady, who is always prim and proper however she called Jillian's fine dining - which always made me laugh, because it was nothing more than a hole in the wall pub. But Jillian's was going under renovation, and they called to ask my aunt if she would want to purchase the booth my grandpa and grandma always sat at for lunch, and of course my aunt said yes.. so we set up the booth down in my parents basement for them to enjoy a fine dining experience at Jillian's pub (disclaimer - my mom did not make them eat their xmas dinner downstairs!)
Most of the cousin's waiting to open gifts

My cousin Jeremy recently got engaged to Jen, and my aunt got their name in blocks for Christmas.

Alli just realized that her name was in ranALLI and decided to hold up her name as well... she is special alright!

Here is my great grandma Millie rocking out my aunt's glasses (she is too stubborn to go and get her eyes checked at 95)... isn't she adorable!
Sunday I started my day with exchanging gifts with Justin, well the gifts that I didn't already open (hehe) and the ones that he didn't already get/open. We always set a spending limit on what we can buy one another - which I really think helps - it allows us to be creative as well as helps us both with our budgets!

Justin's Gifts for Moi:

*ugg slippers*a wallet*a watch *2 Homage Tee's* and a few shirts from Kohl's*


Gifts that I received from JM:
*Julie and Julia (a movie about cooking and blogging - whats not to love!)* a can opener (because mine was AWFUL!) * a pair of charcoal chuck t's * and a new Coach purse* (and the pink shirt that I posted about a few days ago - that I had to have!)

After we exchanged gifts it was off to a cookie exchange with at one of my friends mom's house. I was quiet embarrased of what I attempted to bring to the cookie exchange. I called Lauren 15 minutes before I was supposed to be there telling her that I had a cookie casuality and that I would not be able to make it.... she said just throw whatever you have on a plate and come, it will be fine, and my response to that was that is my problem! I can't throw the Turtle Bars on the plate because they are just falling apart. So after a near breakdown JM came to the rescue to help me... we broke the crumbles down a little bit more and put them in bags and called them ice cream turtle topping.... nothing like improvising! I think I watch too much Food Network because I was embarrassed to serve them with my name on it - hopefully someone out of the 15+ that were there enjoyed my ice cream topping! ha
Here are just a few of the girls who participated in the cookie exchange. Lauren and her mom did such a great job of hosting it!
We ended the Sunday at my parents house for our Sunday meal and Gift Exchange. I absolutely love my parents house during the holidays. It always feels like home to me but it just feels so much warmer when the house is decorated for Christmas.

My mom had set the dining room table for dinner
J and I in front of the tree

Alli with her new pair of Uggs from my grandma (my mom's mom who is in Florida)
My Uggs from my grandma - thank you Nonna... we had a very Uggy Xmas around our household

The boys opening up their gifts from Brad and Laura ... their very own suitcases - so they no longer have to borrow theirs or ours when they travel
Alli with all of her red "glassware stuff" for on top of her cabinets in her kitchen
Here is Lilly, Alli and Doug's beagle, and her xmas toy from J and I
Lily really did not want J to leave my parents.. as he walked - she walked on her back 2 legs all the way down the hallway

Tonight we had J's parents over to celebrate xmas - and I wasn't very good at taking pictures, I did get one picture of his parent's dog, Boomer with one of his T-Bone treats and walrus stuffed animal.
Jaci also stopped by tonight because she had a "crafty" gift for me... she thought this is just what my mantle needed.... isn't it AWESOME! thank you jaci - you are so thoughtful!

We have one more xmas to celebrate at my dad's mom's house xmas eve... and then we will attend christmas eve service at church, where it will truly feel like the holidays....

Only 4 more days!

Show Me Your Life Christmas Cookies

Its the holidays, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this time of year. Today's post worked out really well because I had a cookie exchange yesterday at work and I'm having a martini party tonight for all of my girl friends, which also means I make lots of goodies, so I have 3 different cookies to share with you... I apologize now for the picture and recipe overload!

Remember the containers I made on Tuesday for Thrifty Tuesdays

Well I placed these cookies inside of the containers

Hazelnut Cocoa Coins

Makes:60 cookies
Prep: 1 hour
Chill: 1 to 2 hours
Bake: 6 minutes per batch

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 3/4 cup finely chopped toasted hazelnuts
  
• 6 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon shortening

Directions

1. In large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and salt. Beat until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and cocoa powder until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour and the hazelnuts.
2. Divide dough in half. Shape each portion of dough into an 11-inch-long roll. Wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper. Chill for 1 to 2 hours until firm enough to slice.
3. Preheat over to 375 degrees F. Cut rolls into 1/4 inch thick slices. Place slices 1 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 6 to 8 minutes or until tops are firm to cool to the touch. Transfer cookie to a wire rack; let cool.
4. in a small saucepan, combine chocolate and shortening. Cook and stir over low heat until melted and smooth. Generously drizzle melted chocolate over cookies. Let stand until chocolate sets. Makes about 60 cookies.

Here is the completed product for the cookie exchange

And here are all the other wonderful cookies that I received... I will be sharing these with all of my girl friends tonight

Martini Sugar Cookies

Here are the ingredients that you will need for the cookies

Cookies

• 1 cup butter
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 1/2 cup sifted flour

Frosting

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar (sifted)
• 1 tb butter
• 1 tb milk
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp lemon juice

Cookies:
Cream 1 cup butter and 2/3 cup sugar together. Beat in 1 egg. Add tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 1/2 cup sifted four. Mix until all ingredients are well blended. Chill dough for 3-4 hours before rolling.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll out and cut. Bake about 8-10 minutes or until barely colored.
Frosting:
Melt butter. Combine all ingrediens, and beat until smooth. Add food color if desired.

I also added a toothpick to the cookie to make it look a little more realistic.

White Chocolate Dunked Oreos

Ingredients

• Oreos
• 1 block of Bakers White Chocolate
  
• 1/2 tsp shortening
• Candy Canes

Unwrap candy canes


Place them in a food processor

Melt the White Chocolate in a Double Broiler - but i don't have a double broiler (i'm hoping one day to register for one *hint hint*) so I have to create a make shift one with one big pot and one smaller pot


Set up assembly line for cookies



(I would recommend two people for this - I started the line with the oreos and sat them down on the cookie sheet covered and then have your friend cover the oreos with the crushed up candy canes - we worked from right to left based on the picture above.... don't ask me why - perhaps Jaci and I are a little backwards in the kitchen! ha)

Let set for 30 minutes until white chocolate is set.

Thank you for joining me today on my own little cookie tour.. I hope you have a sweet weekend!!! Only 14 more days until Christmas :)!!!!! Stop by Kelly's Korner to get other great cookie ideas!

Thrifty Tuesdays - Cookie Exchange Containers

Every year in the office we do a cookie exchange, and although the cookie part is supposed to be the exciting piece of the exchange, there is a bit of a "challenge" to see who can have the most creative presentation. Well I'm quiet excited about my contribution this year for my containers. Not only is it thrifty, but its pretty darn cute if you ask me...


Here is all you need (Plus Soup Cans)

I measured each piece of scrapbook paper, based on the size of the can and then cut to the correct size

I kept each piece separate and in their individualized cans because the cans are not all the same size

After cutting all the paper to the exact size, I had a lot of left over paper that I could use to decorate the cans

And then I just used a glue stick to attach them to the big piece of paper to make each can design different

I used a glue gun to attach the paper to the tin can


And voila - the finished product


I will place the cookies in the cans, and then wrap the entire fan with cellophane and tie it with a coordinating ribbon. I will post a picture when I complete the project Wednesday night.

The best part about this project is that it took me less than a 1/2 hour to create, it was fun and the entire thing cost me $2.64 in scrapbook paper - much cheaper than buying individual containers!