Inexpensive Valentine's Day Date Ideas

Valentine's Day can be a wonderful time to spend with your husband. The only problem is, the Big Date can cost a bundle, expecially if you go out to eat at a fancy resturaunt or see a show. I've found that it is really easy to come up with cheap Valentine's Day dates, and most of the time, these types of dates are much more fun anyway!

Valentines Day doesn't have to cost a fortune. Choose budget friendly Valentine's Day ideas for a romantic and meaningful date with that special someone...

Read more at Suite101: Valentine's Day Ideas on a Budget: Inexpensive Date Ideas

This post is linked to: Works for Me Wednesday

Clearing Clutter in 2010

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the amount of clutter in your home? Even if it's "organized" clutter, it can still make one feel as though he or she is trapped in a swirling path of chaos. I've felt this way recently about our home, and I've seriously begun to re-evauluate the amount of "stuff" we own. With the influx of Christmas gifts, our small apartment has quickly morphed into a place that brings more headaches than calm.

So in effort to streamline both everyday living and relaxation, I am making clutter clearing one of my new year's resolutions. This will surely be a year-long journey, because, frankly, if I knew what I was doing then I wouldn't feel such desperation. And with a new baby on the way, a mound of new "stuff" could easily take over. So it's expecially important that I tackle this pesky problem now.

What are some of your new year's resolutions for 2010?

Putting Christ Back in Christmas

I really love the Christmas season. Not only does it mark the beginning of winter around here, but it brings delight through things like music, eggnog, decorations, evergreen trees and family. While all of these are great things in and of themselves, it is possible to get swept up in it all, forgetting the reason we celebrate in the first place- the birth of Jesus Christ, the long-awaited and promised Messiah who brings radical and lasting change to those who believe.

One of the ways to help remember Jesus while all the hype is on Santa is to incorporate traditions that bring the focus back on Him. These can be as simple as reading the Christmas story from the Bible (You could do it on a particular day or break it up. My personal favorite account is from the book of Luke). Or it could be more involved such as helping others with a spirit of servantude emulated by Jesus. Emily, from Inspired Homemaking suggests deliberately listening to music that centers around the birth of Christ.

By deliberately putting Christ into your tradtions, you'll discover a more meaningful Christmas.

I've personally found that with the secular focus of "Happy Holidays" increasing, the term Merry Christmas has a stronger meaning for me. I feel the joy of His birth much more when I say this to a stranger or friend. Although they may not feel the same way, it helps to keep my focus where it needs to be!

What traditions do you have that center on Christ? How have they changed your view and/or experience of Christmas? Share your comments below!

A Homemade Christmas: Ideas and Inspiration

This Christmas, our budget for gifts is a little more tight than we would have liked. So we've decided to make quite a bit of our gifts for family this year. Since I love to make things, I wasn't saddened by this idea but excited! With the economy is such a downturn right now, I know many other families may be feeling the squeeze as well. If you've never had a homemade Christmas, here are some ideas that your loved ones are sure to enjoy:

• Scarves- If you crochet or knit, these are really easy to make. Since I've been crocheting for about 6 years now, I can crank out a scarf in a couple hours. Even if you've never crocheted or knitted before, it's fairly simple to learn. There are countless online videos that can show you the simple stiches. Another option is to purchase a knitting loom. These are inexpensive alternatives to knitting with needles and are typically much easier to work with faster results. Scarves make perfect gifts year after year since they easily become worn and wearers crave the change in color and texture. (Tip: use a larger needle if you're just starting out)


• Drink Mixes. These are fast and easy to throw together in a mason jar, and make the perfect inexpensive gift for a friend or coworker. Add a decorative ribbon and attach a card with instructions. Try layering the ingredients for a festive look.


• Personalized Totes. Plain canvas totes are incredibly cheap at craft stores, and they make perfect gifts when decorated with your special touch. I like to applique the recipient's name or initial in a decorative fabric (think fabric scraps!). Sew on rickrack, buttons and flowers with the recipient in mind, and they will have a sturdy, personalized tote to accompany on their shopping trips.


• Jewelry. Think button necklaces. Many people are actually surprized to discover how easy it is to make their own jewelry. Get creative and put those long forgotten beads to good use.


• Candles. Make your own by melting together the leftover wax in your own. One idea is to put the new wax in a decorative tea-cup (think thrift store). For women, you really can't go wrong with candles.


• Framed puzzles. We did this one last year, and it was a big hit. All you need is a dollar store puzzle assembled(the funnest part by far)and glued with puzzle glue. Then go to the thrift store and find a matching frame from an old print.
  

The possibilities for homemade gifts really are endless when you use your imagination and creativity. Last year, I wrote a cookbook for my older sister who was clueless in the kitchen, and that gift meant more to her than any store bought item. Christmas is a time for giving, and when you give homemade gifts, you give not only a little of your money but also a little of your time. The people you give to will appreciate and see the love in the things you make for them more so than the things you buy for them. It really highlights the true spirit of Christmas when your focus is on each other, rather than on the malls and your unpaid credit card bill.

Morning Sickness and the Holidays

If you've noticed a huge absence of posts lately, it's because I've been blessed with a bout of morning sickness. For those who have not experienced it, there is no way to really describe it. Constant nausea and vomiting have prevented me from doing anything, and I'm thankful that my first trimester will be coming to a close in the next few weeks! My house has been neglected, menu plans have been thrown out the window and the Christmas Countdown has been suspended. Until I am feeling better, life will be a little chaotic!

I did manage to take down all my fall decor today, which is a huge feat for me. Everything seems so bare! I am going to wait until the weekend to begin putting up the Christmas and winter decor since all of the stuff must be dragged out of storage. I'm a litle sad to realize how far behind I am (I put up fall decor in September!) with all my holiday planning, but I know that it's totally worth it. I'm still ahead of a lot of folks who wait until after Thanksgiving! lol

How is your holiday planning going? Have you put up any decor or lights yet? Leave a link to your Christmas posts here!

Week 2: Christmas Countdown

Can you believe it's already week 2 of our Christmas countdown?! I hope you were able to accomplish the goals from last week, as there is much to think about this week. Here is the list:

• Divide Christmas card list into five groups. Write and address one group this week.
• Make a holiday budget. Work together with your spouse to set a comfortable level of holiday spending. We make it easy with our printable holiday budget form. Add a printable master shopping list to speed errand days.
• Do your visual field a favor with a quick decor declutter. A clean sweep now makes holiday decorations all the more impressive!
• Set up a holiday housework plan. Print our chore checklist form. Post it publicly and hold family members accountable for delegated tasks.
• Make a family wardrobe check. Fill out the family wardrobe worksheet, and put any "To Buy" items on your shopping list.
• Print a master shopping list, to organize shopping excursions through the holiday season.
• Do you keep a gift closet, adding new gift items year-round? Take inventory now, before you shop for holiday gifts. Use our printable gift closet inventory form.
• Establish good health habits to cushion you and your family from holiday stresses. Focus on regular bedtimes, proper diet, mild exercise and stress reduction.
• Perform a tabletop check. Inventory serving pieces, table linens, china and flatware. Check store flyers for sales. Will you be ready to set a pretty holiday table?
• Schedule family haircut appointments.
• Check smoke, carbon monoxide detectors on Time Change Sunday. Change the batteries and test detectors to keep your family safe.

-from the Christmas Countdown webpage

If you haven't already, now is the perfect time to get your Christmas planner organized and ready. I confess, I am still working on my planner! I've been struggling with morning sickness the past week, so I may be running a bit behind. But I encourage you to stay on task!

Start buying gifts now while the lines at the mall are still short and traffic is light. Since Halloween is over, most stores are in full-scale Christmas mode, so there is sure to be plenty of decorations to help get you in the mood!

I personally love the idea of breaking the Christmas card writing into a groups. That makes it so much more manageable. A holiday budget is also essential. My husband and I began saving for the season in August, so we are prepared to spend a set amount of money. Avoid using credit cards for gifts, since this can cause great financial strain if not paid in full.

Be on the lookout for special early sales a store might be having in attempt to ring in more customers. This is also the perfect time to start looking at decor in places like Hobby Lobby, since inventory tends to run out fast and it may not be stocked as high this year because of the recession.

Don't forget to link to your current Christmas countdown projects here!

Christmas Countdown Begins

November will be here next week, so now is the time to get organized for the holidays. This year, I am preparing for Christmas by following the Christmas Countdown. It's a six week journey to have everything ready for the holidays by the first weekend in December. Will you join me?

This week's assignment is to get organized. This includes printing and/or making a Christmas planner, gathering addresses and greeting cards, designating a Christmas planning space, starting a master gift list and making travel and photo reservations.

Since we tend to run out of ink rather quickly, I won't be printing the actual worksheets. Instead, I will be decorating a composition-like notebook and inserting tabs where needed. I got the idea here. Much cuter than a 3-ring binder!

If you plan to participate in this countdown, leave a link to your blog using Mr. Linky. Share your thoughts on the Get Organized week, your Christmas planner and your Christmas planning space!

Getting Organized for Christmas

I know, it isn't even Halloween, and I'm talking about Christmas! Yes, it is time to start thinking about that eventful time of the year. With parties, family get-togethers, shopping and gift giving along with a plethora of other activities, the holiday season can get very stressful very quickly. If you're not careful, the season can sneak by you, leaving feelings of panic throughout your body.

But I digress. There is help. Organized Christmas is getting ready to launch their 6 week Christmas countdown for free. Think of it as a personal assistant to help you prepare for the holidays. The countdown begins the last week in October and goes through all aspects of Christmas planning until the first Saturday in December, leaving you free to enjoy the holidays with little stress.

The countdown includes 6 weekly themes, a free printable Christmas planner, and daily inspiring messages.

Although your family will likely have more to do than what is just included in this plan, I thought it was a wonderful way to get and stay organized for the upcoming holidays. Passionate Homemaking recommended an e-book, The 12 Week Holiday Planner for Christian Families, which I have been eyeing for a while. However, I have been reluctant to spend the money, so the Christmas Countdown is a wonderful budget-friendly alternative.

I will be blogging here about this countdown and my progress, and feel free to join me in this endeavor! Let's make this Christmas full of fun loving memories and leave stress behind!

Fall Recipe Swap: Pumpkin Seeds

Continuing on with the fall blog festival, I'll be sharing one of our favorite fall snacks!

I mentioned in my last post about our fall traditions that we like to buy pumpkins and roast the pumpkin seeds. We literally ate them up as soon as they were out of the oven. Perfect for a fall-themed trail mix or snack while hiking and enjoying the brilliant colors of autumn!

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups of raw whole pumpkin seeds
• 2 teaspoons of butter, melted
• 1 pinch of garlic salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Toss seeds together with butter and garlic (after rinsing)
3. Spread on a single layer baking sheet
4. Bake 45 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally

Join in this fun bloggy fall festival! Today we are sharing our favorite fall-themed recipes! Click on over to Life As Mom to see some great recipes and be entered to win a fantastic giveaway!

As a side note, craft fairs are starting this weekend in our area. Going to high school craft fairs has long been a fall tradition for me! I am so excited!

Fall Traditions

As the weather slowly begins to cool down and the nights come sooner, fall brings several traditions that my husband and I enjoy. One of these is visiting our local farmer's market for pumpkins, apples and gourds for decorating.

Last year I baked a pumpkin pie and roasted seeds from our pumpkins, and I think we will do that again this year considering both were so good!


We also take a fall backpacking trip for 4 days and 3 nights during 'fall break' at our school. Last year we went to Mammoth Cave National Park and had a wonderful time watching the leaves fall all around us as we hiked.

We also got to see horses that shared the trail with us!
This year, we are planning a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or Shenandoah National Park (still deciding!).

Some other traditions we are hoping to start this year:

• Planting a fall garden
  
• taking more hikes
  
• running a couple 5k road races (since Fall is perfect running weather)
• visiting a pumpkin patch or farm

What does your family do every year? A fall vacation? Apple picking? Watching the leaves turn? A visit to the Pumpkin Patch? Special foods? Special events that you always observe? Share your family's fall traditions at Simply Sugar and Gluten Free where participants will have a chance to win a set of 3 Wilton Baking Racks.

4th of July: Cookouts and Fireworks

This 4th of July, are you hosting a cookout or backyard BBQ? I would if I could! Unfortunately, we are without a grill and without a backyard. We could still improvise, though, which we've done many many times. From my experience, it is relatively easy to do, but much more fun if you can be outside. Click here to learn how to host a 4th of July cookout without the stress.

While we are still deciding on our plans for the 4th of July fireworks, I am leaning heavily on Red White and Blue Ash. It is supposed to be Cincinnati's biggest firework show complete with live bands and festivities. However, we may or may not travel to Columbus for their annual Red White and Boom. But that feels like a betrayal of our hometown! So we'll see.

At the very least, you can expect us to be eating hotdogs and hamburgers, corn on the cob and slushies and enjoying a well planned firework show snuggled up on a quilted blanket.

My readers, what are your plans for the 4th of July?