My Christmas Shopping Secrets

Are you still working on finishing up your Christmas shopping?  I'm currently sitting on the couch looking over my list of what's been purchased and what can still be gotten that will fit within the budget we've set.  We've been very fortunate this year with our kids' wish list containing very simple and heartfelt desires: to be with family, be with friends, visit our previous home town, package of gum, first loose tooth...... But, it really leaves me in a spot trying to get them gifts they will like and enjoy when they give me nothing to go on!  And while I would love to take everyone back to Missouri for a visit, time and money won't allow it.

This year will be different, too, because we live so much farther away from family.  Our travel accommodations will be different. which means our packing will have to be different.  In other words - I have no space for packing presents!

Since all these other things have been or will be different, my shopping has been different, too.  I want to enjoy this time of year and not fret.  

So, I've done all my shopping online.

Yep.  ALL OF IT.

Here are some of my little secrets for keeping my stress to a minimum and my budget on track this Christmas.

Amazon

Amazon Prime has been a wonderful tool for our family.  There is a yearly fee, but with the amount we order through the year, it more than makes the fee worth it.  (IF you don't order a lot or won't take advantage of the other services, I don't recommend it.)  

Not only have I gotten free shipping on all our orders, but I've also gotten some great deals!  Even better has been the ability to ship gifts for extended family right to their home (or to the grandparents place) so I don't have to worry about packing them for our trip.

Prime also made things really simple for giving gift ideas for my kids to the grandparents.  Simply create a wish list and then you can share it via email.  Made everything so easy!

If you are wondering if it would be good for you - there's a 30 day free trial.  You can give it a go and see if it would be worth the investment.  Other things we take advantage of through Prime are the videos, books, audiobooks, music, pantry and lightening deal early access. 

Here's a glance at the order schedule if you want to guarantee delivery for Christmas through Amazon Prime.

EBATES

This is a new thing for me to be doing this holiday.  I confess, I hadn't payed much attention to this site previously.  Thought it would be too complicated with too many hoops to jump through.  I was surprised, though! Really, REALLY simple!  

There's a convenient button to put on your browser window.

And a pop-up notice of possible cash back offers when you land on an eligible site.

I've only used Ebates for 3 purchases, but I already have a balance of cash back!!

GROUPON

I have found a few great deals here.  What I like most about Groupon.com is being able to find some pretty unique items for special people in our lives.  Items and gifts can be found either by looking in a specific location for local stores or by getting coupons to use online.  Last year we gifted an outdoor heater.  This year we've found a beautiful wall decoration.  (And I have a window open on my computer to see if I can find one more gift.)  

Sign up is free and easy, too!

Okay......

Those have been the most helpful sites in my Christmas shopping this year.  I would love to hear what you've been doing this year to help keep your shopping fun and as stress free as possible.  Comment below or comment on our Facebook page.

Remember to look for our Tips & Tricks Link Party starting up at 8 pm tonight!

**Many of my post contain affiliate links.  When you make a purchase through these links, I get a small percentage back at no extra cost to you.  The small monetary amount I get compensates me for the time I spend blogging and sharing with you.  Thank You!!

Pin The Nose On The Snowman

It's that time of year once again when all the holiday activities, concerts and parties start happening is quick succession.  The kids are excited, but for me it just ends up being more work in my already busy schedule.  {Is that too cynical?}  I always try to get over myself and step up the the proverbial plate for my little ones - whether at home or in helping with school activities.

I ran across some pictures on my computer from either my son or daughter's preschool party game.  Even though this is a classic game, the kids had so much fun with it being made over into a snowman!  Best thing for me was how quick and easy it was to get ready for the party.

Supplies:

Posterboard
Pencil
Markers
Stencils or compass
~ 13.5", 2 1/4", and 1 5/8"

Place plate on poster board leaving enough room on top for a hat and below for body.

Trace around plate with pencil
(using a pencil on this step will keep your plate clean and allow corrections to be easier)

Free hand top hat and body (hard to see, but it's there)

Trace around medicine bottle lid for 'coal lumps' for the mouth and eyes. (1 5/8" circle)

Use small cup for buttons down the body (2 1/4" circle)

Cover pencil lines with markers.

Design a nose for your new snowman.  Or use this free printable I whipped up for you.

And make enough to have for each of the kids participating. Names on the front or back to keep track of who put which nose where is a big help.  (ahem.... experience)

Color in areas you want with markers and embellish however you like.

Now sit back and enjoy watching all the kids' faces light up when you hang the poster on the wall and  give them each a nose of their very own.  AND........ don't forget the blind fold.  😉

If you do this, please share with us over on the Facebook page!  I would love to see any other ideas you all have done as winter or Christmas classroom games, too.

Happy 4th and Link Party #74

*This content my contain referral links.* 

Did all of you have a great 4th of July weekend? Even though we're in a new location this year, we were able to have some great family time over the long weekend.

Much of it was spent at home just being bums and relaxing.

We also hit a couple of stores to take advantage of the sales to ready three of the kids for camp. (I'll share some more about how we shop for 5 kids and keep the costs down in later posts!)

Another portion of our time was spent at the pool. (Are you surprised?!)

It's always extra fun when Daddy is able to join us, too!

We wanted to find something fun to do to keep all our minds off the fact that our normal 4th of July activities and spending time with friends wasn't possible this year.  Fortunately, Canyon, TX was having a big bash down there for everyone to enjoy!  We got to sit in the shade at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium, have some food and a snow cone, listen to some really good music by Next to Kin and Little Texas, and then ended the evening with fireworks.

It was a bit hot standing in line waiting to get into the stadium, so snow cones helped cool us all off and put smiles on everyone's faces.

He really enjoyed his!!

Unusual, but I did think to get a picture of the two of us!

Since it was a smaller concert, there was a dance area down right in front of the stage that anyone could go to.  The kids had a blast getting in closer to the fun. (We got a couple of videos, but I'll spare you that here. If you want to see a little snippet of a song, there's one on my Facebook feed.)

Below is a picture of how close the kids were able to get to the stage.  A highlight from the night for them was watching Little Texas sing Kiss The Girl, one of the few songs they recognized. Ha!

I loved that there were multiple kids that looked at me through the evening and said "This is really fun!".  Definitely made my heart happy that the kids were enjoying themselves despite not being with our best friends.

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Ok!  Are you ready for this week's Tips and Tricks Party?!

Last week was, as usual, a lot of fun!  Here's the recap of all the favorites.

Most Clicked:

DIY Garden Decor by The Navage Patch

This week's favorites are:

Red, White and Blue Sangria by Cooking with Carlee - Krysta (KrystaSteen.com)

Patriotic Pinwheel Headband by Sunshine and a Summer Breeze - Kathleen (Fearlessly Creative Mammas)

DIY Teacup Succulent Planter by My DIY Envy- Cassie (Southeast by Midwest)

Summer Activities for PreSchoolers by Parental Journey - Ang (Juggling Act Mama)

Peanut Butter Cheesecake by Marilyn's Treats - Jessica (My Life By Jess)

Lots of Candy Monster Cookie Bars by Cooking with Carlee  - Heather (Stringtown Home)

Summer Bucket List by No Small Life - Gabby (Not Too Shabby Gabby)

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Now it's your turn!!  Follow the rules below and link up with some of your own favorite blog posts you've created.  Can't wait to see what everyone has to share this week!

An InLinkz Link-up

Mint Oreo Truffles

Oreos are a huge temptation for me.  I try really hard not to go down the cookie isle at the grocery store just so I'm not tempted.  I was unable to avoid the pull during a couple of my pregnancies and ended up with a 40 lb weight gain.  Not a comfortable thing during a Georgia summer!

The Original Oreo Truffles are yummy, but the Mint version are extreme - and I'm not really a mint person!  And how can you go wrong with a recipe that has cream cheese in it?

Mint Oreo Truffles

Ingredients:

6 oz Philly Cream Cheese (softened)

1 pkg. (15.25 oz)  Cool Mint Oreos, finely crushed

1 pkg. (24 oz) white almond bark


Directions:

1.  Mix crushed mint Oreos and softened cream cheese in a mixer until smooth.

 2.  Using a cookie scoop or spoon, roll into balls (about the size of a walnut). Chill for 30 minutes or more.

3.  Follow directions on Almond Bark package for melting in microwave.

4.  Dip balls in melted Almond Bark and let set on wax paper or in mini muffin cups.

5.  Refrigerate.

These are great for get togethers and sharing with friends and neighbors.  Although, you may want to make 2 batches if you are wanting to sample and share - just to make sure you have enough.

Christmas Gifts For Teachers

**This is my last post from my previous blog. Such a simple idea, but everything is usable and the teachers loved these gifts. Hope this gives you a great idea for your teachers or even just a starting place to create a meaningful gift. Cheers!


I always try to make sure I get the kids' teachers a little something to say 'Merry Christmas' each year. It's  also a good time to say a big 'Thank You' for all the work and time they put into teaching.  We've been blessed to have great teachers who do so much to make sure the kids realized their full potential.  I'm not going to lie, though.  It can get expensive! 4 kids in school and 6 teachers.  Ack!  (can you hear the cha-ching?)

Here is what we are doing this year.

Antibacterial soaps from Bath & Body Works (purchased during a 7 for $20 sale), chocolates and $10 gift cards to Starbucks.  Even if you left out the Starbucks card this is still a great little gift for anyone.

Let's put it all together to make it pretty, as well as useful.

I decided to use a hole punch so the gift cards will be secured to the gift.  I know my kids, and the potential for a card going missing on the way to school is greater than 50/50.  This will take some muscle!  It does help if you wiggle the card side to side as you are trying to punch.

The chocolate goes in to a Christmas-y bag.  (I ended up buying a second bag of chocolates to help fill the Christmas bags rather than just the one bag shown a few pictures earlier.) 

Punch a hole through the bag to be able to secure it with ribbon to the soap pump in a little bit.

I used some red curling ribbon to loop through the gift card.  You could also use an elastic pony tail holder or a rubber band.  The ribbon just seemed to be a better hold for me.

String the ends of your ribbon through the holes in your bag and then secure them around the neck of the soap bottle.  I worked the ribbon up under the cap to make sure it stayed on the bottle all the way to school.  Add a few more strings of ribbon and then use your scissors to curl the ends.

Keep in mind a more neutral sent will be liked by more people.  Let's face it, not everyone wants to smell like a Christmas tree or peppermint all day long.  It's a pretty safe bet, if you stay with a lighter fragrance, the teacher (or anyone else) will like it.

A pretty, useful and yummy present!  I have no worries about these gifts not be used.  Even better, each gift cost about $4.50 (minus the Starbucks card)!

And, yes, the Bath & Body Works bag from the previous facelift post, is what all these hand soaps came home in.  I knew you were wondering.

It's WHAT day?! And Some FB Drawings Coming Your Way!

Can you believe it's already the LAST day of November?! I mean.... where has the time gone?!

Before I go any farther I want to make sure you know about this.  My Cyber Monday gift to you!  This is a great opportunity to get a few things on you gift list taken care of and pamper yourself at the same time.  If you are one of my members, just simply go to your myshaklee site and shop.  If you don't have a membership, go to my site and start shopping.  Want to save on membership?  Contact me and I can help you - I know lots of ways to get your membership FREE.  This offer ends TONIGHT, though.

As you know, tomorrow is the first day of December.  I hadn't planned on doing much for the holidays since we were planning to be out of our home no later than the 10th.  I hadn't even planned on doing any decorating.  Well..... that's not how things are working out. {bummer}

Since plans have changed, I got the Christmas tree out and put up today.  The kids and I will work on getting it decorated one evening this week.  {I'll share when it's finished.} Little by little, I'll work on getting a few holiday items set up around the house, too.  It can be a little odd working out a balance of holiday decorating and keeping a 'show ready house' - but, I'm sure I'll manage.

I also decided to have some fun on my Facebook page and I wanted to give a little heads up from the blog.  Hopefully, the fun will help bring on the Christmas cheer.  Right now it's more like the Grinch is in residency around here.

So...

Starting tomorrow, I'm going to have drawings for freebies - products, a book or two, maybe even a gift card.   The more participation, the more days this can be done.  If you want to be able to participate, make sure you go on my Facebook page and like it.  Make sure you also set it up to get notifications or else Facebook won't let my posts show up for you to see.  Very important step!

I'm really looking forward to seeing how this little experiment goes.  I love sharing with you all and have enjoyed getting to 'meet' more an more people through my work and time online.  This is going to be just a little way for me to say 'Merry Christmas' and 'Thank You' for following me and letting me share just a little part of your life.

Cheers!

**I'll be posting our Link Party #44 a little later tonight when it goes live at 8 o'clock.  

Tips & Tricks Link Party #33

It's that time again, friends!  Things are really turning toward fall around here and the party is no different.  Glad you could join us this week!

1) Kathleen & Heather - Fearlessly Creative Mammas

2) Karissa - A Fresh Start

3) Krysta - KrystaSteen.com

4) Heather - Stringtown Home

5) Gabby - Not Too Shabby Gabby

6) Jessica - My Life By Jess

Here's a quick recap of last week's party.

Most Clicked:

Harvest Home Tour from Fearlessly Creative Mammas

Features:

Kathleen and Heather: Pumpkin Pie Smoothie from Krysta Steen

Gabby: Caramel Apple Crisp Pie from Angels Homestead

Krysta: Pumpkin Spiced Muffins from Eat Drink and Save Money

Heather: Fall Home Tour from Lilac Drive Designs

Jessica: How to Make a Burlap Wreath from Logan Can


Now it's your turn to link up and share your latest project, recipe, tip, or anything else you want!  Can't wait to see what shows up this week!

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An InLinkz Link-up

Happy Easter (a little early)

The long weekend is coming at me quickly, and I'm really not sure I'm ready!!  Ah, the story of my life!

Here are just a couple of things I've seen around the internet that would be ideal for our family to do to get ready for Sunday.

Bunny Butt Cookies (by Pillsbury)

Kings Hawaiian Rolls Copy Cat Recipe (by Fabulessly Frugal)

We'll be doing eggs (I think), but I'm pretty sure they won't look anything like these at Family Sponge.  Beautiful!

Sara at momendevors.com has gathered 20 different egg dying ideas.  We should be able to do at least one of these, right?!

We won't be giving the kids as much candy as usual this year, so that will be a little different for them.  (Us too, since we usually get at least a little for ourselves.)  Maybe we'll just go do something fun or get some summer fun things that we need anyway.

Have a wonderful Easter Weekend, everyone!  And safe travels to any of you traveling!


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