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A Very Frugal Christmas Part II

While making wool gloves for my husband, I was inspired to make a pair of matching wool gloves for my son.  When the first miniature glove was complete, I tried it on my sleeping son only to discover that it is quite impossible to effectively put gloves on a sleeping toddler.  The next morning I had my son try on the glove and he did not like it.  I guess I should have made mittens for him instead, but with one day left until Christmas morning, I decided to save that task for next year (whereby I would have more … Continue reading →

Love in a Jar

How do you jar love? I’ve yet to find a manufacturer able to mass produce the feeling of joy and goodwill that we’d all like to experience during the holiday season… and beyond. For me, a jar of love would smell like Bath and Body Works’ Dancing Waters shower gel, taste like Crème Brulee swimming in Raspberry Coulis and feel like my daughter’s marshmallow cheek gently pressing up against my chest. Love in a jar doesn’t have to drain your bank account.  In fact, when it comes to giving the gift of love this Christmas, you don’t have to spend … Continue reading →

Thinking Of A Seasonal Home Based Business?

As I was out shopping today, I saw workers in one of the stores putting up Christmas trees in their home decorating department. My first reaction was to feel disgusted that Christmas merchandising seems to happen earlier every year. Seriously people, it is not even officially fall yet. My second reaction was that if I were someone who wanted to operate a seasonal business around the holidays, now would be the right time to start planning and preparing for it. The holidays can take up a lot of time and energy for many people. If you have the time, energy, … Continue reading →

Sharing Holiday Laughs

Christmas is no fun when the laugh’s on you. Whether guests are giggling because your seasonal souffle took a nosedive on the kitchen floor or the dog dove into the Christmas Prime Rib before you got the chance to carve it, you never want the highlight of your holiday get-together to be a mishap. Instead of the laughs centering on an accident, let your guests make merry playing the following fun games with a seasonal twist: Gift Swap: This is not your traditional gift exchange with family members. Rather, the game features a candy bar (or other small item that … Continue reading →

Toydle: The Toy for Imagination

American made. Hand crafted. No batteries. No screens. High quality construction. Sounds like the perfect toy, right? Toydle just may be that for your family. I should not fail to mention it is the creation of a father. Dads make the best playmates. They also play hard and appreciate toys that are tough and last the test of time. The story of Toydle began with a broken toy. Robert Brownfield, purchased a toy for his son which broke in the first five minutes. We have all been there. Looking at a broken toy we just purchased with our hard earned … Continue reading →

Frugal Holiday Ideas for Leftover Wrapping Paper

You know all of those little extra pieces of wrapping paper that are too small to use? Do you save them anyway? I do. I always feel guilty throwing them out, but it is very rare for me to find that I have presents small enough to use them. Most of the presents under our tree are for the kids, so they tend to be larger and usually made out of plastic, not small like jewelry. Then there is the time after the gift are unwrapped. What do you do with all of that leftover gift wrap that winds up … Continue reading →

Deck the Halls Without Breaking the Bank

TLC’s new holiday program is trying to convince me that I should drop $25,000 on a Christmas tree made from deer antlers. No offense to the Kentucky cowboy who hand crafts these extreme trees, but even if I had 25 grand, I still wouldn’t fork it over for a pointy structure made from 100 dropped deer antlers and a bunch of PVC pipes. Heck, I’m not even spending 25 bucks on my seasonal decor. Rather, I’ve found ways to make my home look festive for the holidays without draining my wallet. With a little time and even less crafting skills, … Continue reading →

Homemade Holiday Decorations for the Craft-Challenged

I am no Martha Stewart, but that doesn’t stop me from having fun tackling artsy holiday projects to display during this magical time of the year. Shortly after Thanksgiving, my 7-year-old and I took on a candy cane craft project we first saw hanging at a Ben Franklin store. Nearly three weeks later we are finally done putting together the seasonal showpiece. Okay, it didn’t really take us three full weeks to craft the minty, blinged out wreath. It just seems that way. Truth be told, you could easily construct the sweet masterpiece in a single afternoon. Here’s what you … Continue reading →

Get Your Holiday Game On

It’s the most wonderful time of the year; time to make merry, rock around the Christmas tree and fa-la-la-la in perfect harmony with friends and family members. The holidays are known for festive get-togethers complete with music, laughter and fun. If you are hosting the clan this year for the holidays, now is the time to get your game plan in order. While you don’t have to construct an elaborate itinerary of activities, you should have at least a few games on hand, especially if you are hosting a party with young children. Keep the seasonal shindig joyful by having … Continue reading →

Cool Candy Cane Creations

They are the quintessential Christmas candy that will hook you with a simple lick. However, these days candy canes are not just for eating; rather, your entire family can have fun by using the sweet treats as decorations during the holiday season. With the economy still in the dumpster, many people are looking for affordable ways to spruce up their homes in time for Christmas. Candy canes are an inexpensive item that can be purchased in bulk and used to create the following festive items: Candy Cane Vase: Unwrap mini candy canes and glue them end-to-end around the top and … Continue reading →