Our Plans for Christmas!

I said I would share the project that I made for my son for Christmas, and I am keeping true to my word!


Here it is.  I took an old frame that I picked up at a thrift store some time ago.  Took the original photo out and turned it around and used it like poster board.  The frame was originally gold.  I was going to paint it blue with a sample I had, but a friend who loves to craft probably more than anyone I know happened to have spray paint.  She spray painted the frame for me and added glitter cuz well everything should sparkle if you ask me.

I filled the frame with photos that my step dad gave us two years ago to my son for his birthday. They are photos taken during his military service time.  I have a case full of scrap book paper that I bought a couple years ago from a thrift store for like 7.00.  I talked to my step dad and since his service was Navy and Army we decided that red white and blue were the best colors to use.

I fished through other stuff I had and we added little details like sparkly back ground behind some photos, cut stars out and added little arrows etc.  Below you will see the finished project.  If you notice the letters that say Navy Man and Army well when i put the glass back in the frame I cracked it.  That was my creative way of hiding the breakage, i don't think my son will know.

I also filled the kids stockings up with some of their favorite treats, and created bags like that for some other kids.

I could not afford the kids school pictures this year with the changes in my life (yes I know I chose those changes,)  but for two gifts maybe three by the time I am done I cut out the tiny proofs I was given to give to a friend, and the kids made a home made photo out of them for their Dad for Christmas!

I will also make peanut butter blossom cookies, and peanut butter balls covered in chocolate as gifts.



For some added decoration to the house, I hung up art things my kids made at school.

For Christmas dinner, we decided to make what I call mock Chinese food.  I make white rice, we add soy sauce, diced ham, and sweet peas.

I also purchased green sherbet and lemon lime soda for Grinch punch.



So may I encourage you, if you need to save money or don't have money to spend this Christmas, look around and see what you may have around the house that you can already use.  Talk with family and friends perhaps they have something laying around that you could make something out of.  You can cut cute photos our of magazines or take family photos and pass them down in a creative way. I mean i borrowed our Christmas tree this year.  We were going to maybe draw one on a mirror or try building one our of books, but someone lent me one.  Don't despair.  Dinner doesn't have to be traditional, do what you can afford. It is the time and memories made that will really be what last forever!  Cuddle up make some popcorn and watch some Christmas movies.



 Here are ideas from Christmas' past.....lol


http://mjscomingundone.blogspot.com/2014/12/sharing-simple-gift-ideas-as-we-get.html

Hope this helps someone and offers some inspiration!











 

Sharing Ways We Save

along with all the abundant blessings!!!! It's a daily struggle adjusting to a new life even with a new roommate...financially life is interesting.

My daughter had surgery on her mouth and a friend came over with a small bag of feel better treasures...a little mirror, some jewelry and clothes.

I picked up an extra hour at work today.  Wohoo....lol. I really am happy to have a job!

I went to the company Christmas party, and ended up with a 10.00 gift card to the Olive Garden, and a tin of Christmas popcorn.  It was fun.

We were supposed to bring a $10.00 gift.  I really didn't have the cash to spend but a friend shoved 10 bucks in my bra...lol when she was leaving...(I was just going to gift a set of my jewelry.)  I took the 10.00 to Michael's craft store.  I bought a cup.  Saw the price was 13.00 but knew it would be under 10.00 with a 40 percent off coupon.  When i got to the register that sucker was $3.50.  Score!!!!!  (No one has to know I only spent 3.50 the cup had a value of 12.99!) Used the rest of the money to purchase the creatology cups that you can paint and bake because my son wanted to make one for his dad, I made one for my roommate, and then my daughter made one for my son for Christmas.  So that $10.00 went far. 

My friend dropped off another bag of clothes for my daughter and several pairs of shoes, there was also a purse and a book bag in there!

For teacher gifts we did cookies, with peanut butter candy home made, and one teacher got a pair of my Christmas cutie earrings! nothing spent there .


I earned two 5.00 virtual visa cards for some research things that I apparently participate in and used it to pay the internet bill.  

Google play gave me a free $3.00 credit so I downloaded two songs!

Cut off my cell phone so I save 25.00 a month.

I donated blood today and received a $10.00 gift card to Publix, and I used it for toilet paper, dish soap, and laundry detergent.

Still using no heat or air.  Been pretty hot lately.  Trying go get the electric bill way down!

In all honesty, I am so scared, only working part time, I am afraid that I won't make enough to pay my part of the rent, but I work for a great company that will work with me on the hours I need since my kids are in school and child care is super expensive.  One day at a time is how I am taking things.

Tomorrow or Wednesday I hope to show you guys the home made gift I made for my son for Christmas!

I have a wonderful long distance friend in New York that was super sweet and has sent each of the kids a big item they wanted for Christmas! It was so awesomely sweet of her. I have to be honest, my son as we decorated the tree, that a friend let us borrow, said he is now aware that Christmas is not all about gifts, and he attempted to share the meaning of Christmas with his sister.!  Hope you all are doing well and staying debt free for Christmas!
 
What did you do to save?

Sharing Ways We Save

and what we have been up to.  So I was not feeling so festive, but that is me every year.  Slowly starting to get there.

In order to have internet I qualified for the ATT 9.95 program. It is for all low income families.  There are no equipment or connection fees. I pay 9.95 plus tax.

I have absolutely been avoiding using the heat or ac because the weather flip flops.

We had a selfie for a shake promotion at work. I have had like three free peppermint chocolate milk shakes lol.

To decorate for Christmas, a friend let us borrow a tree.  We decorated it using the ornaments we had.  At the bottom of the tree is a train set that my "dad" gave my son when we went up to say goodbye to Belinda when she entered hospice care over the summer. I think he did a great job setting up he added some hot wheels and little houses we had around the house for decoration.

We painted and decorated wine bottles and put some Christmas bulbs in a bin to make a table centerpiece.  And of course we are using the wonderful table runner that a beautiful reader sent me a couple years ago.

My son spotted a fire place set by the side of the road and I was thrilled cuz we do have a fire place, and we have had a couple of fires.

We were also given some snow flake ornaments and we hung those from the ceiling along with some of my old records for something different. I am planning a night of baking and dancing in our winter wonderland.  Cookies and candy are going to be our teacher gifts this year.

After much consideration.....I have decided to select a roommate.  You will see him sort of in the fire place photo.  Yes I said he....yes that is a source of tension for people who have opinions, it is simply a matter of two people living together paying bills to keep a roof over our heads.

I am home making my son a Christmas gift which I hope to give you a peak at later this week.  I am almost done, but my daughter has surgery on her teeth tomorrow, and emotions have been high with all the changes in life and sometimes it is hard to get things done.

That about wraps it up for now.  I colored my own hair, and the school blessed us with a few gifts for the kids since a part time pay check only goes so far.  I feel like God is giving me favor despite some of the choices I have made and now have to live with.  How are all of you.  Have you decorated?

Out of the Ashes

Sometimes comes beauty.  I know I have been soo silent, for soo long. Soo many things have changed.  I asked my husband for a divorce, I have been struggling to find my way ever since.

I am waiting to see what beauty comes from the ashes of the bridges I chose to burn. There has been heart ache, and pain.  I now work part time. I really like the job I found.  I would like to launch an official blogging business and very much wish I could work from home.

I have been rebuilding my jewelry business and I have made some treasures.  I have priced earrings at 3.00 bracelets at 5.00 and chokers at 10.00. Shipping is 3.00 usually.  I made a couple sales, with one order going all the way to New York.  This is my facebook page, I accept paypal and people have just sent payment by mail....lol

I have pretty much nothing to spend on Christmas per usual.  I did find my son a tshirt that looks brand new with Uncle Si from Duck Dynasty on it for a dollar at a yard sale.  We do not have a tree we have decorated instead the fire place mantle using items we had already.

We will probably do some baking and home made candies this year.

I have a couple home made projects to complete for the kids, I hope to share those with you guys...if there is anyone still reading....lol.

So I am alive.  Life has been an adventure.  A stressful adventure lately, such a roller coaster ride.  Not being a stay at home mom, trying to find work, and a baby sitter when needed.  I am thankful to those that have supported me and checked in on me.

Stay tuned, as I trudge along!!!!