That's right, we are!! A 52" flat panel LCD television. Actually I am only excited because my husband is excited. He's wanted a new TV for longer than I can remember. I'm really indifferent about it for myself. The TV we have now is 30-some inches and is a huge contraption. It's almost 13 years old and still works great so we'll just move it into another room for those occasions when football is on and I feel like watching something that makes sense to me. : )
Can you believe that it is less than 3 days till Christmas? How does it sneak up so quickly on us? Thankfully we are done with our Christmas shopping - well pretty much done. We do have to go pick up a few groceries, by I'm designating my husband to go do that since he has this week off from work. See how nice I am?!?!
For Christmas Eve at my in-laws house I am bringing a vegetable pizza & cheese ball. The vegetable pizza recipe I got here. The cheese ball is a made up recipe containing cream cheese, dried beef, green olives, pineapple, and green onion. For Christmas day at their house I am taking a veggie and dip tray & a broccoli salad. The dip will be store bought. For Christmas with my family I am making some crock-pot augratin potatoes.
Today's tip: When holidays are coming make it easy on yourself, bring dishes that contain many of the same ingredients. A few of the dishes (veggie pizza, veggie tray, & broccoli salad) require many of the same items. I can buy the veggies and use them in multiple dishes. Broccoli is the only item I will have to buy more than 1 of. For the pizza I am replacing the tomatoes with radishes, because they last longer and because I can use the radishes on the veggie tray also.
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....
Brrrr. That sums up the weather today in one word. The temperature here right now is -1, feels like -25 with the wind. Gotta love that - well, not really. The worst part is that I haven't gotten groceries yet and we don't have much here in terms of food. Looks like supper is probably coming from a can - unless I can get super creative with what I have on hand. (Praying for a miracle here!) I also have to finish my Christmas shopping. I guess Liz is going to be doing some shopping this week after work!
Friday the school called me at work and said we needed to pick April up from school because she was running a fever. Luckily for me Layne had taken the day off. So he picked her up and brought her home where she slept for 2 hours and then was up playing for the rest of the night. You could tell by the way she looked that she was sick, even the though she said she felt good. Saturday morning she was still sick looking so we decided to take her in to the doctor just to play it safe. Guess what she has? Strep throat. This is the 3rd time since October - at least I think if was October when she had it before.
Today's tip: I don't know about you, but it seems like this time of year we burn candles a lot more than during any other time. Did you know that if you place your candles in the freezer for a few hours prior to burning they will burn longer? And that if you have wax melted inside a candle holder that you want to get out by placing it in the freezer for a couple hours it will come out much easier! (Supposedly it will just fall out if you turn the candle holder upside down. I haven't tried it because I usually buy jar candles so I don't have to mess with the wax in the bottom of the candle holder.) : )
Friday the school called me at work and said we needed to pick April up from school because she was running a fever. Luckily for me Layne had taken the day off. So he picked her up and brought her home where she slept for 2 hours and then was up playing for the rest of the night. You could tell by the way she looked that she was sick, even the though she said she felt good. Saturday morning she was still sick looking so we decided to take her in to the doctor just to play it safe. Guess what she has? Strep throat. This is the 3rd time since October - at least I think if was October when she had it before.
Today's tip: I don't know about you, but it seems like this time of year we burn candles a lot more than during any other time. Did you know that if you place your candles in the freezer for a few hours prior to burning they will burn longer? And that if you have wax melted inside a candle holder that you want to get out by placing it in the freezer for a couple hours it will come out much easier! (Supposedly it will just fall out if you turn the candle holder upside down. I haven't tried it because I usually buy jar candles so I don't have to mess with the wax in the bottom of the candle holder.) : )
Sunday, November 30, 2008
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree.....
2 years ago we had a very sad looking Christmas tree, trust me it was sparse and falling apart. So last year we decided that we would have nothing other than a real tree. It was actually our first time having a real tree. It was kind of nice - it smelled good. But it was a pain in the rear with the needles always dropping, ornaments dropping over the weeks as the tree started to droop, and of course it hurt like crazy when trying to decorate the tree with all the needles poking at you.
This year we found a tree that truly looks but real, but it's not. No more ornaments crashing to the floor in the middle of the night. No more pine needles getting stuck in our socks as we walk through the dining room. The finished product?
This year we found a tree that truly looks but real, but it's not. No more ornaments crashing to the floor in the middle of the night. No more pine needles getting stuck in our socks as we walk through the dining room. The finished product?
April had seen the trees when the started showing up in stores (what was it, like August?!?!?) and wanted a little tree for her room. Well, her room was a terrible mess. We had been trying to bribe her with a surprise for a week or more before she finally cleaned her room (although honestly it needs to have some things tossed!) yesterday. Here she is standing next to HER tree that she decorated all by herself:
I know, I know! Her tree looks little sparse. We didn't have too many decorations that were lightweight and not breakable, we gave her the "extras" that fit into that category but we will still need to buy her some additional ones. She is very proud of this little tree!
Did any of you pick up any fantastic deals on Friday or Saturday? I didn't do a whole lot of shopping. I did pick a few things up Friday late afternoon, but there was no way I was going out to brave the crowds in the morning! Part of the reason is I really don't know what to get for presents this year. Usually by now I have my shopping at least half done. Not this year, I've barely even started. Next year by this time I swear I will be done!!!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Christmas and Babies
I'm trying something new. I have been waiting till the night to update my blog, and it seems that things get so busy and I don't get around to it, or I think all day of all kinds of stuff to blog about and by the time comes that I get around to it I have forgotten. I should make a list - I do love lists! But I never get that far. I am going to try to do some of the writing in the morning and then finish it up and actually post it at night. We'll see how that works.
Last weeked we were out of town visiting my brother and his family again. I actually accomplished a minimal amount of Christmas shopping for April. It's so hard to come up with ideas for a child that has everything. She is the only grandchild on my husband's side of the family and 1 of 2 on my side. So needless to say, the girl wants for nothing. We have a smallish house and her room is packed with stuff. I keep trying to talk her into giving some of her things away to less fortunate children, but right now she is having none of that. Most the stuff in there she never even plays with! And of course with all the time I've been off work with whatever mystery illness hasn't helped the bank account to prepare for Christmas either!
This morning at about 6:15 I got a text message from my friend, Rhonda, that she is in the hospital and should have her baby later today. I'm so excited for her - she has wanted this for about 15 years and her dream to be a mom is finally coming true. I know she will be fabulous and is very excited to finally meet the little person - they don't know what they are having so everyone is waiting to see if they should buy pink or blue! (I wrote this part this morning. When I spoke to her earlier this afternoon she was only dilated to 2 cm. Afraid it's going to be a long labor. - Sorry Rhonda!)
Tonight over supper Layne decided he was going to work on cleaning our junk room - you know that one room of the house that ends up being a catch-all for everything that you really have no idea of where to put but you aren't ready to get rid of. I decided I better jump on the wagon because a LOT of that STUFF is mine! So I have been a freecycling fool all night! I separated the items into postings and am awaiting to people to arrive as I type this to pick up some of these items. Woohoo!! I tell you, it really is invigorating to get it cleared out. Too make it really fun I even broke out a bottle of beer that has been in the fridge for a couple months. Boy am I fun or what?!?!?
No tip for tonight- sorry. I probably owe you guys a whole book of tips! Gotta get back to tossing while the feeling is still fresh!
Last weeked we were out of town visiting my brother and his family again. I actually accomplished a minimal amount of Christmas shopping for April. It's so hard to come up with ideas for a child that has everything. She is the only grandchild on my husband's side of the family and 1 of 2 on my side. So needless to say, the girl wants for nothing. We have a smallish house and her room is packed with stuff. I keep trying to talk her into giving some of her things away to less fortunate children, but right now she is having none of that. Most the stuff in there she never even plays with! And of course with all the time I've been off work with whatever mystery illness hasn't helped the bank account to prepare for Christmas either!
This morning at about 6:15 I got a text message from my friend, Rhonda, that she is in the hospital and should have her baby later today. I'm so excited for her - she has wanted this for about 15 years and her dream to be a mom is finally coming true. I know she will be fabulous and is very excited to finally meet the little person - they don't know what they are having so everyone is waiting to see if they should buy pink or blue! (I wrote this part this morning. When I spoke to her earlier this afternoon she was only dilated to 2 cm. Afraid it's going to be a long labor. - Sorry Rhonda!)
Tonight over supper Layne decided he was going to work on cleaning our junk room - you know that one room of the house that ends up being a catch-all for everything that you really have no idea of where to put but you aren't ready to get rid of. I decided I better jump on the wagon because a LOT of that STUFF is mine! So I have been a freecycling fool all night! I separated the items into postings and am awaiting to people to arrive as I type this to pick up some of these items. Woohoo!! I tell you, it really is invigorating to get it cleared out. Too make it really fun I even broke out a bottle of beer that has been in the fridge for a couple months. Boy am I fun or what?!?!?
No tip for tonight- sorry. I probably owe you guys a whole book of tips! Gotta get back to tossing while the feeling is still fresh!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Christmas - the Shopping has begun! (Barely)
Today mom took April for a couple hours in the afternoon. Layne & I ate some lunch at home then went to a couple stores. I picked up a couple little things for April for Christmas. One of them was from the $1 section at Target, it was some nail polish and nail stickers for her stocking. We made our way to Barnes and Noble after that and picked her up a cute diary with a lock and key. She has so much that its hard to find presents for her. I did get a couple coupon books today that they were selling for a fundraiser at church also. They are for Younkers and cost $5 each. Each coupon book has 1 $10 off any purchase of $10 or more and numerous 20% off coupons. I'm hoping to be able to use these to pick up some gifts as well. Only 5 more paychecks till Christmas! Yikes!! Boy are things going to be tight this year. Hopefully I can come up with some creative gift ideas that are easy on the wallet. Luckily I do have ideas for most of the people on my list. Which helps. Some of them are even homemade gifts, but none of them are real time consuming - definitely a good thing!
Todays tip: Do you like to use those daily shower sprays to help get rid of the day to day grime on your shower walls? Did you know you can make it yourself for about 1/10th of the price that you pay when buying it? I have come across a couple different versions of this of this normally pricey cleaner.
Recipe #1:
Mix together 1/3 cup rubbing alcohol for every cup of water you add to a spray bottle.
Shake, then spray on, no rinsing is required.
Todays tip: Do you like to use those daily shower sprays to help get rid of the day to day grime on your shower walls? Did you know you can make it yourself for about 1/10th of the price that you pay when buying it? I have come across a couple different versions of this of this normally pricey cleaner.
Recipe #1:
Mix together 1/3 cup rubbing alcohol for every cup of water you add to a spray bottle.
Shake, then spray on, no rinsing is required.
Recipe #2:
Mix together 3 cups hot water, 1/2 cup Vinegar, 1 Tbsp Dish Detergent, 1 Tbsp Borax
in a spray bottle. Shake then spray. Note: Do not use this version if you have tile and grout in your shower. The acid in the vinegar can cause the grout to break down!
Monday, September 15, 2008
3 months and 11 days till Christmas
Hard to believe isn't it? Seemed like Christmas was only a couple months ago. However I do love Christmas and can't wait for it to get here again. I love the cold weather, the snow, the festive mood most people have, the crowds (well, sometimes I love the crowds), the shopping, the food, the family get-togethers. I'm sure you get the idea. So I've decided that I would really like to make a lot of the gifts I give, not everything but as much as possible. I know that I really like to get gifts that are handmade.
Last year I got the best present ever. My sister-in-law, Karen, gave me a collage picture frame filled with pictures of the family. I love it! It was honestly about the best present ever. So I just need to come up with ideas of things that can be made that are not too complicated or expensive. The hardest gift to come up with is the one that my husband gives to the gals who he works with. He is a supervisor and every year we give the gals a little something. It can't be food that is ready to eat though (they work in a food manufacturing facility). I would love ideas!
Today I found out that the Creative Writing class I was going to take has been canceled. I am in mourning. I was really looking forward to that class. I emailed my disappoint to my mom earlier and she said not to be too disappointed that it just meant there was another plan for me. Well, I'm not very patient so I hope whatever it is it would just hurry up!
Right now the weather is cooling off in this area. This means spiders coming in doors. In our case this is a very bad thing because our daughter has a very bad reaction if she gets bit by a spider. Last year I had read somewhere that putting hedge apples in different areas can repel spiders. We decided we had nothing to lose so I bought a couple and put them under her bed and in her closet. I don't know if it was coincidence or if it really worked but she did not get bit at all. So my tip for today is to buy a few hedge apples (they are ugly green warty looking things, also may be called osage oranges) and put them around the house. I have already bought a few for this year and have stashed them around the house, just in case it was the hedge apples that kept them away last year. You can find these at most supermarkets and maybe even your local fruit and veggie stand (that's where I get them). The most I have ever paid was $0.75 for one.
Before I sign off I also wanted to bring attention to the fact that you can sign up to be a follower now. The location to sign up is on the upper right area above my profile. Sign up today so you can get notification when I update my blog!
Last year I got the best present ever. My sister-in-law, Karen, gave me a collage picture frame filled with pictures of the family. I love it! It was honestly about the best present ever. So I just need to come up with ideas of things that can be made that are not too complicated or expensive. The hardest gift to come up with is the one that my husband gives to the gals who he works with. He is a supervisor and every year we give the gals a little something. It can't be food that is ready to eat though (they work in a food manufacturing facility). I would love ideas!
Today I found out that the Creative Writing class I was going to take has been canceled. I am in mourning. I was really looking forward to that class. I emailed my disappoint to my mom earlier and she said not to be too disappointed that it just meant there was another plan for me. Well, I'm not very patient so I hope whatever it is it would just hurry up!
Right now the weather is cooling off in this area. This means spiders coming in doors. In our case this is a very bad thing because our daughter has a very bad reaction if she gets bit by a spider. Last year I had read somewhere that putting hedge apples in different areas can repel spiders. We decided we had nothing to lose so I bought a couple and put them under her bed and in her closet. I don't know if it was coincidence or if it really worked but she did not get bit at all. So my tip for today is to buy a few hedge apples (they are ugly green warty looking things, also may be called osage oranges) and put them around the house. I have already bought a few for this year and have stashed them around the house, just in case it was the hedge apples that kept them away last year. You can find these at most supermarkets and maybe even your local fruit and veggie stand (that's where I get them). The most I have ever paid was $0.75 for one.
Before I sign off I also wanted to bring attention to the fact that you can sign up to be a follower now. The location to sign up is on the upper right area above my profile. Sign up today so you can get notification when I update my blog!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
