Fun Project: Print Your Own Wrapping Paper

A couple of weeks ago, Pinkerbelle had a birthday party to attend, and it wasn’t until the last minute that I realized I didn’t have any appropriate wrapping paper for the gift.  I did have a roll of plain white, but that seemed a little boring.

So, I got out some of my rubber stamps and ink, and let P. create a pattern on the white paper.  Because I’m a control freak, I guided her use of colors and stamps, otherwise it would have been a complete mish-mash.  Though I guess there’s nothing really wrong with that.

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We did purple and green polka dots, with lavender “It’s Your Day” interspersed throughout.  I sold most of my stamps on ebay a few years ago, so I didn’t have too many available choices.

Nevertheless, tied up with a purple ribbon (didn’t take a photo), it made a cute package, and P. was proud of her work.

I have done this a few times in the past; once when Firstborn was a preschooler, I let him run the wheels of his toy cars in paint and roll them across brown mailing paper.  It was perfect for his little car-loving friend’s birthday gift.  Another time I used a 1/2” paint brush and blue paint to paint a gingham design on white paper for a small baby shower gift.

It’s fun and unique.  It would be a great little project for the kids to design wrapping paper for a few special Christmas gifts.  You could use ideas similar to mine, make potato stamps, hand prints, finger print characters a la Ed Emberley… the possibilities are endless.

Have fun!

Monday’s Money-Saving Tips

Today’s tip is probably not new to all of you, but there still may be some out there who don’t know about it.  Hopefully, this will be useful to you for your Christmas shopping.

Whenever you shop online, do a search for “{store name} coupon codes”.  You will get several sites listing all kinds of promotional codes, anything from a percentage off to free shipping.  When you check out, look for the “promo code” box.  Type in the code you’d like to use and click “apply”.  It will show your discount, or if for some reason the code isn’t valid, it will let you know and you can try a different code.

I have a Tracfone, and when I buy minutes I’m always able to find a code for free additional minutes.  I also have great results for Children’s Place; I shop their sale pages, then I’m always able to find a code for an additional percentage off my whole purchase (usually 15%).  I have often been able to buy articles of clothing for around $3, or even less!

A Google search will come up with many such lists, but here are a few that I especially like:

• Retailmenot
• Coupon mountain
• Mom's View

Happy shopping!
Now it’s your turn.  Party rules:

• share a money-saving tip that will help others
• you must link back to me in your post, preferably using my button code, which you can get in my right side column
• link to your specific party post, and not your general home page
• please be polite and visit several other participants and leave a nice comment
• I will delete entries that don’t link back to me or do not fit the party theme; I’m not mean, I just gotta follow the rules

Linky open until Monday Nov. 29 at 11:59 pm central.

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Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

                                            Artist: Pinkerbelle

Memories Make the Best Gifts

The winner of the Make 5 Dinners in One Hour giveaway is #21, Kim.

You may have seen this around on other blogs lately, but I wanted to get in on the 50 free cards deal from Shutterfly.  Partly because I feel slightly guilty that I didn’t send out cards last year, and partly because Shutterfly has such a huge selection of really cute Christmas cards!

I’ve been sending out photo cards for several years (except last year), but have always got them from one of the big box stores.  I’m looking forward to choosing from Shutterfly’s vastly superior variety this year.

I played around with some of their holiday photo cards and our past Christmas photos.  These memories are precisely why I do photo cards.

2002

2005

2007

I have to confess that I’m not very good at sending pictures of the kids to relatives otherwise.  And that is why photo calendars make such a good gift for both sets of grandparents!

Other reasons I like sending calendars:

• grandparents often don’t really need or want anything, but pictures of the grandkids are always appreciated
• you can personalize it with all the family’s important dates
• it lasts all year long, and when the year is over can be saved as a memory album
• we aren’t able to get together with the grandparents for the holidays, and these are easy to mail (in fact, Shutterfly will do it for you)

I thought I’d also point out that right now, calendars are buy one, get one 50% off, plus there’s free shipping on orders over $25 (enter code SHIP25).

Time to wrangle the kids into posing for this year’s Christmas shot.  Hopefully they’re old enough now that I won’t have to bribe them with candy.

Christmas Wreaths

We usually start the Christmas decorating Thanksgiving weekend.  When I was a kid we didn’t put up the tree until about a week before Christmas, so Thanksgiving always seemed a little recklessly early to me.  But now that the commercial Christmas season starts around Halloween, or even sooner, I guess I’m on the later end of the spectrum.

This year, I was thinking I need to change up my front door wreath.  For the last 3 or 4 years, I’ve had this.  I like it okay, but it’s just time for a change.

So, I went to the Better Homes and Gardens website to look for inspiration.  And look what I found!  Their snowflake wreath bears a striking resemblance to mine, no?

But I still want something different, so I kept looking.  I lean more toward a wreath with traditional bones.  The Bountiful Beauty has a pretty nature-inspired look.

The Satin Cuff wreath is traditional without being boring or stuffy.

 

The Peppermint Twist is fun, though I’m not sure that it would survive damp weather outside, and if I hung it inside, I think it would gradually be denuded of many of its candy canes by my 3 elves.

I think I saw several versions of this type of Sparkling Ornament wreath on the blogs last year.  It’s fun and fabulous!

But I love this Wild Berry wreath!  It’s fresh and woodsy and still has sparkle.  This one just went to the top of my list.

You never know what I’ll end up with, though.  I’ve got a lot more inspiration to comb through.  

What do you hang on your front door for the holidays?

Monday’s Money-Saving Tips

 Make 5 Dinners in One Hour giveaway is still open. 

For the last few months, I’ve been coloring my hair with Clairol’s Natural Instincts.  Each box comes with a 2 oz tube of conditioner.  I rarely, if ever, use the conditioner on my hair.  I stopped conditioning my hair a couple years ago when I decided that it was weighing down my hair’s natural tendency to curl (well, wave).



Rather than just throw it out, I’ve started using the conditioner for shaving my legs.  I actually read about doing that eons ago, in one of Amy Dacyczyn’s Tightwad Gazette books.  Since I have the tube of conditioner I wouldn’t otherwise use, this is free for me.  You can always buy a big bottle of cheap conditioner at the dollar store, or use up products you purchased for your hair and then decided you didn’t like.

It really makes the razor glide smoothly, and doesn’t all rinse away in the shower before you’re done shaving like soap does.  You only need a very little bit, so I believe you use less and therefore it lasts longer, relatively speaking, than shaving cream (though I haven’t scientifically proven that theory).  It has moisturizing properties, so it leaves your legs soft.  And, it comes in all kinds of scents!  (After Beverly's comment, I thought I should add that it can definitely get slippery, so be careful!)

Now it’s your turn.  Party rules:

• share a money-saving tip that will help others
• you must link back to me in your post, preferably using my button code, which you can get in my right side column
• link to your specific party post, and not your general home page
• please be polite and visit several other participants and leave a nice comment
• I will delete entries that don’t link back to me or do not fit the party theme; I’m not mean, I just gotta follow the rules

Linky open until Monday Nov. 22 at 11:59 pm central.

Favorite Things

Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday’s Knock-Off Party.  Check out the links to the awesome Pottery Barn and Ballard recreations if you haven’t already!

Today, I’m joining the party at 320*Sycamore.

I have to start with something that is more than a favorite; it’s more like an addiction.  In fact, one of my very first blog posts was about this product and the title was “My Addiction”. 

In that post I said I was going to stop drinking it every day, and I did, for a while.  I’m back at it now.  (And I’m back to skim milk.) Except that they’ve changed the name to Maxwell House International Cafe French Vanilla Iced Latte.  I think the taste changed a little, too, but it’s still good.  I must, must have the whipped cream and sprinkles.  I’ll skip an afternoon if I’m out of whipped cream.

The next item is also edible.  Can you tell I have a sweet tooth?  My sister introduced me to Popcorn, Indiana Original Kettle Corn this summer.  It’s sooooo good!  Sweet, with just a little salty.  My Walmart has it for just under $3 for the big bag, which is a really good price, but they’re often out of the original…it’s that good.

If there’s anything I love more than sweet treats, it’s sleep.  Recently, Craig began selling The Bed Boss Memory Foam Mattresses in his office.  Our mattress was pretty old, and if he was going to recommend his product, he decided he needed to use it.  So we have one, and I love it!  It doesn’t jiggle like a spring mattress; you can barely feel it when the other person flops around or rolls over.  That means better sleep for me. 

Melissa mentioned her favorite Christmas music in her list.  I love most Christmas music, but my childhood memories, the ones that mean “Christmas” to me, are the Goodyear Great Songs of Christmas series.  We had several of the LPs, and I know the songs complete with scratches.  The tire company put out this series in the 1960s, and my dad says he remembers his dad going to get the year’s album at the gas station.

They are pretty easy to find at thrift stores, usually for about 50c.  I got several last year, and then bought a thrift-store stereo with a turntable, and Craig was able to put them on CD (you’re legally allowed to do that if you own the album).  Or you can order them here.

I’m not quite ready for Christmas, though!  One more week (I’m a Christmas-starts-after-Thanksgiving gal).

PB, BD, RH Knock-Off Party

Still time to enter the Make 5 Dinners in One Hour giveaway!

After last month’s knock-off party, I received an email from a reader who does not have a blog, but had a knock-off she wanted to show me.  I asked if I could feature it this month, and she agreed.  Prepare to be impressed!

Cindy recreated PB's Bucket and Branch Advent Calendar, which sells for $299.  (Really?)

And here’s Cindy’s knock-off.

  

Cindy’s cost breakdown:

#1. Sticks (from the backyard!) free
#2. Twine (from the garage!) free
#3. Little pots, 3 per pkg for the Dollar Store, originally white,I sprayed painted them Oil Rubbed Bronze $1x9 pkgs total $9.00
#4 1 can of Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint, $5.45
#5 Can fillers: Candy Canes box of 60 $1.99, Greenery(picked apart) from Michaels, $1.99, Red Berries(picked apart)$1.99 from Michaels, wrapped boxes with lunch bags and red yarn to tie (already own) free!
That makes her total just over $20!  Wowza!

Seriously, can you even tell the difference between the two?  Not much!

I’m eager to see what awesomeness the rest  of you have for me!

Party rules:

• your knock-off entry must be made by you
• it must inspired by Pottery Barn, Ballard Designs, or Restoration Hardware
• you must include a picture of the original item from the catalog so we can compare
• it must be a specific comparable item, like my lamp shade, and not just a “this kind of has the PB look to it”
• you must link back to me in your post, preferably using my button code, which you can get in my right side column
• link to your specific party post, and not your general home page
• please be polite and visit several other participants and leave a nice comment

If you need more details, see this post.  Though I hate to do it, any entry that does not follow the rules will be deleted.  List will be open until Thurs. Nov. 18 at 11:59 pm central.

Make 5 Dinners in One Hour--Giveaway

I’m super excited about my new sponsor!  Michelle has created a plan to Make 5 Dinners in One Hour!  She says using her plan has saved her time and money, and her family is eating more healthfully—no more last minute drive-thru dinners.  I could have used that last night when I was a little under the weather and had Craig bring home Taco Bell.  How awesome it would have been to have my fridge full of Michelle’s dinners so I could just pop one in the oven!

Michelle’s blog is full of tips and tricks and recipes.  These Coconut Chicken Strips with marmalade dipping sauce are going on my “to try” list.

The Roasted Sausage, Peppers and Onions would be a nice change of pace at our house.  Michelle is all about making substitutions to fit your family, and I think I would try turkey or chicken sausage with this recipe.

This Spinach Quiche looks delicious!  I’m not sure if I could get my kids past the “spinach” (though I’m not above trying) but if not it would make a lovely lunch to serve some girlfriends.  

Now here’s the really great thing:  Michelle has planned out the menus, shopping lists, cooking directions and heating instructions for you!  For just $15 you can get a 3 month subscription.  Each month you will receive 4 weeks of menus (5 dinners each) for 4-6 people.  Once you have done the shopping and set out all your ingredients and tools, it should only take about one hour to assemble all 5 meals.

She gives suggestions for side dishes, but you are free to make adjustments for your family’s preferences.  Each week also includes at least one freezable meal so if you don’t need all five that week, you’ll have one ready to go in the freezer for a later date.

This whole idea sounds awesome to me!  I’m eager to give it a try.  I’ve signed up for the free trial week menu, and you can too, but one lucky reader will win a one-month subscription!

To enter, visit Michelle’s blog then come back here and tell me which of Michelle’s recipes you’d like to try (look on the archives list for post titles).  For a second entry, follow her blog, then leave a second comment.

This giveaway will be open until Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 11:59 pm central, with the winner announced Wednesday the 24th.

Just a reminder that the next Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Ballard Designs Knock-Off Party is this Thursday, Nov. 18.  Christmas items would be fun, but not mandatory.

Here are the main rules:

• your knock-off entry must be made by you
• it must inspired by Pottery Barn, Ballard Designs, or Restoration Hardware
• you must include a picture of the original item from the catalog so we can compare
• it must be a specific comparable item, like my lamp shade, and not just a “this kind of has the PB look to it”

Hope to see you there!

Monday’s Money-Saving Tips

Buttermilk pancakes, buttermilk biscuits, cornbread, salad dressings…there are many recipes that may call for buttermilk.  I don’t keep buttermilk in the house, as I don’t care for the taste on its own.  I would end up pouring the rest of it down the drain after I had used the portion needed for a recipe.  Very wasteful.

Fortunately, it is easy to make a substitution.  For one cup of buttermilk, put 1 Tbsp of white vinegar or lemon juice in the measuring cup, then fill to the one cup line with milk.  Allow it to sit for a couple minutes, and proceed with the recipe.  That’s it!

Sometimes, you will come across an old recipe that calls for “sour milk”.  Though different from buttermilk, you can use this same method as a substitute. 

Now it’s your turn.  Party rules:

• share a money-saving tip that will help others
• you must link back to me in your post, preferably using my button code, which you can get in my right side column
• link to your specific party post, and not your general home page
• please be polite and visit several other participants and leave a nice comment
• I will delete entries that don’t link back to me or do not fit the party theme; I’m not mean, I just gotta follow the rules

Linky will close Monday Nov. 15 at 11:59 pm central.

Email

Hey, peeps, I believe my email is fixed.  However, if you've sent me an email in the last few days, I didn't get it, and it may be lost forever.  If it was important, please send it again.  Thanks!
holly {at} homebodyholly {dot} com

Fun Times

Yesterday my stepmom took Pinkerbelle and me to the nail spa for pedicures.  It was a first for P. and only my 2nd one (I posted about my 1st pedi here).

Ahhhh! Luxury!  The girl did a fantastic lower leg massage with scrub, and lotions, and warm rocks.

P. got coral polish, with a sparkle topcoat and a flower detail on both fingers and toes.  My walk on the wild side was choosing this bright teal polish.  I thought I would never buy that color, so I’d just try it for fun.  But I actually really like it, and I think I will pick some up after all.

It was also Firstborn’s birthday.  He is thirteen, and I am officially the mother of a teenager.   Here he is on his first birthday with a scraped nose from a fall, and on his thirteenth birthday with a bandaged nose from wrestling with his brother.

We had a nice birthday celebration with Nana and Papa, a DQ ice cream cake, and several cool presents, all of which he liked, which was a bit of a minor miracle.  One of them was a cell phone.  You can’t be a teen without one.

Have a great weekend, y’all!  (BTW, my email is not working, just in case anyone was trying to communicate with me that way.  Hopefully it’ll be up and running soon.)

Homemade Pita Chips and Hummus

My dad and stepmom are in town this week.  We are having lovely weather for November, mid-70s and sunny.  The fall colors are pretty and we are really enjoying our visit.

My parents like to eat supper a couple hours earlier than we do; we don’t usually eat until around 7:00 because that’s when Craig gets home.  So when they’re here, they need a late afternoon snack to tide them over.

Yesterday we made pita chips and hummus…so yummy, good for you, and easy to do.

For the pita chips, preheat your oven to 400*.  Cut the pitas (I like whole wheat) into wedges; use kitchen shears to make the job easier.  Pull them apart so they are a single layer.  Lay them on a foil-lined cookie sheet, spray with olive oil cooking spray, and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.  Bake for 7 minutes, or until slightly browned and crispy.  Watch carefully, as there’s a fine line between done and burned.

I use this tahini-free hummus recipe I found on allrecipes.

• 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained, liquid reserved
• 2 ounces fresh jalapeno pepper, sliced (I omit this)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

Directions

1. In a blender or food processor, combine garbanzo beans, jalapeno, cumin, lemon juice, garlic and 1 tablespoon of the reserved bean liquid. Add more of the liquid as necessary for blending to a smooth consistency.

The nutritional information says the hummus has 3 calories and 0 fat and cholesterol per serving, and of course it has protein and fiber.  

This is a delicious and healthful snack, no guilt involved!