Our Christmas

Our Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas. I have to say this has been one of the most relaxing and stress free Christmases we have had. Mike works for our church so I wasn’t sure if it would be that great since he had to work both Christmas Eve and Christmas but it turned out to be just fine.

We had a snack foods type dinner on Christmas Eve and my brother, his wife, 2 kids and my mom all came over. We had the kids do a treasure hunt while we waited for Mike to get off work. We opened presents after he got home.

Christmas Eve night the kids didn’t go to bed until 12:30! Man was Santa tired! He came by while I was laying down with the kids trying to get them to go to sleep and we heard him HO, HO, HO outside the window and jingle bells and the reindeer land on the roof. ;-) He had to come back later because the kids weren’t asleep yet. The kids left oatmeal out on the deck for the reindeer and Santa tracked it all in the house! LOL


Here are the gifts we received just so everyone can see what kind of things we give.
My kids got a new blanket that mom sewed for me from Mike and I. They were always fighting over using the one throw we have on the couch watching TV so I got everyone their own so they don’t have to fight over it. They were $5 for the fleece and we used an old comforter to sew in the middle to give them some bulk.

We also gave them some “new” slippers. One pair was from the thrift store for $1.98 and the other from Wal-Mart for $5.

Mike and I did spend more on each other. He got me a new set of towels for the bathroom. I’ve had the same set for 10 years and they were still fine but I just really wanted a new color. He also gave me a life size gnome and a gnome house, which are just adorable! He spent about $100 on me.

I gave him cash. His DVD player broke and he’s saving up for a new one so I gave him the cash so he could go buy one. It turns out that my brother had one that he wasn’t using and he gave it to us so he is going to use his money for something else.
Santa was good to the kids. Elly wanted a small white Christmas tree and a stuffed penguin and BJ wanted a robot he saw.

Her tree was $10 but he found a large penguin at the thrift store for .75 and on another day a pair of penguin p.j’s for $1.98. She then got a baking set also, since she is like her mom and loves to bake. It was about $10 for the cake mixes, mixing spoons, measuring cups and spoons and baking pans. She also got 2 cookbooks from the thrift store for .75 . Santa filled in with some of their favorite foods that they don’t get on a regular basis. Hot cocoa packets, juice boxes, candy bars, gum, goldfish crackers etc.



Elly's loot

BJ’s presents were more. His robot was $40, which he broke the next day! Augh. It’s a good thing Santa left the package to take it back! :-) He got several lights, since he loves lights. They were on clearance after Halloween for $2.
And he got a cat clock for $10.

We ended up spending about $350 for everyone including our extended family’s presents.

All in all, it was a really great Christmas!
Tawra
www.LivingOnADime.com

After Christmas Sales.

I was so excited with my after Christmas sales finds!! I went on the 26th to Wal-Mart and I found several good things.

Gift Bath sets for teachers and little girls for birthday presents. They were all $2-$4 each.

The best find for me was they had make-up sets for $2-$4. I have been searching for some blush that would work for me for 6 months now. I’ve tried MaryKay, Avon and store brands and none were the right colors. Well these sets had 4 blushes and about 20 eyeshadows and 4 lipsticks. Almost all the colors are perfect!! I was so excited. Here I got new blush, eyeshadow and lipstick for $4! The stuff is even lasting all day long and not wearing off.

I also found some serving trays for $2. I don’t have anything to take cookies and cupcakes on when I take them for the kids at school so these will work perfect!

A huge roll of wrapping paper was $2. I used a half of a roll this year so that should last me 2 years.

I was out of candles and they were .10 each so I got me 10 which should last a while too.

I also found some ornaments for my small tree I change each holiday for .50 each package.

I found some gift sets to give to my brother-in-law and sister-in-law for $4 and my fruitcake ingredients, which are good until 2007 so I can make my Christmas fruitcake for ½ price next year!

I was really excited because we found some great deals and part of my birthday and Christmas shopping is already done. Yeah!!

I'm not MIA.

Hi Everyone! Just a note to let you know I'm still around. The kids were sick the week before Christmas and now they are out of school for Christmas break and are getting sick, again, so I haven't had much time to post. I'm sorry I am behind on posting. I will try and catch up in a day or two. Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm still alive and kickin'. :-)
Tawra

Gift Wrapping Ideas

Gift Wrapping Ideas


Store bows and ribbons in a plastic bag and hang with a clothespin from the hanger. Or just put the handles of the bag over the hanger hook.

Cut leftover or old Christmas fabric into strips to make ribbons.

Use toole or shredded color paper (recycled of course) to stuff in gift bags.

Buy white butchers paper or brown paper (found at home improvement stores, called "“contractor'’s paper") to wrap gifts with; simply add a colorful ribbon, twine and or decorations such as pinecones, leaves, silk flowers, small toys, candy or cookies. Tie small jingle bells on packages for a festive ring!

If you can’t find butchers paper, use the backside of ugly Christmas paper. You can often find some for very cheap at garage sales. Use the back side of ugly Christmas paper to wrap birthday presents.

To wrap extra large presents such as bikes use a twin sheet or plastic tablecloth. Both can be found for about $3 at the local discount store or at a garage sale for .50.

Make the wrapping material part of the gift. You can use a blanket, photo storage box, scarf, basket, jewelry box, coffee mug, vase, watering can, terra cotta pot etc.

Wind ribbon around old wrapping paper tubes or toilet paper tubes to save for next year.

Use Christmas material on clearance to wrap gifts. Sometimes it'’s cheaper than paper.

Cut out Christmas pictures out of magazines. Paste on bags or the outside of packages.

Save Christmas cards and use on packages also. Cut out with pinking shears for a lace effect.

Use Christmas cards as gift tags. Cut out a section on the card that is blank on the back. Punch a hole in the top to tie on the package. Use the back to write To: and From:.

To freshen wrinkled Christmas bows, put in the dryer with a damp washcloth. Put the machine on the delicate cycle for two minutes. The bows look like new.

For odd shaped gifts, cover a oatmeal container or cereal box with wrapping paper. Place item inside and place a bow on top.

Line a berry basket with tissue and tuck a small gift in it.

Save crumpled gift wrap and use it for packing to mail packages.

Peanut Butter Cups and Toffee

Peanut Butter Cups

2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 pkg. (12 oz.) chocolate chips, any flavor
1/4 cup paraffin, shaved

Cream butter. Add peanut butter, sugar and vanilla. In a microwave safe dish, place chocolate chips and paraffin. Microwave until melted, stirring frequently. Pour a small amount of melted chocolate in bottom of paper holders. Put in filling and pour more chocolate on top until filling is covered. Let chocolate harden before serving. Makes 2 dozen.

Peanut Butter Balls
Shape into small 1 1/2 inch balls. Dip peanut butter balls into chocolate and place on wax paper to harden



Toffee

1 cup nuts, chopped
(pecans or walnuts are best)
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Butter an 8x8 inch pan. Spread nuts in the bottom of pan. On medium heat bring to a boil sugar and butter 7 minutes. Spread into pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Let sit a few minutes. When melted, spread evenly. Let cool before cracking into pieces. Makes 24 pieces.

Our Christmas fun.

Each year we go to Bontanica and see all the Christmas lights. The kids just love seeing the lights and warming up by all the chimminegas. We take hot cocoa and cookies and sit down and enjoy them for a break from walking around about 1/2 through. (Saves $10 buying stuff there!) Usually it's $15 for all of us to get in. We don't normally spend much to do things but this is one we like to spend the money on.

A local bank was running a promo that if you signed up for a new checking account they would give you $50, plus a $10 gas card, plus 2 free tickets to the lights at the Botanica! What a deal! We signed up and got a new account, which we did need and were going to get anyway. We were able to enjoy Botanica 2 weeks ago for only $5 plus got an extra $60 to boot! Yeah!!

A funny side note. When mom was explaining to my grandfather what were going to see she said "Well, we are going to Botanica which is where they grow a lot of flowers but the flowers are dead right now so we are going to see a bunch of dead flowers with lights on them." LOL It's doesn't sound so glamorous when you put it that way! hehehe


Last weekend we went to Old Cowtown museum. It's an outdoor living history museum. Mike is doing a documentary for them because he needed it for a demo. (He's a video producer in case some of you didn't know.) Because he has put in so many hours they gave us a free season pass so we have been going for all their fun weekends. This weekend they had a Victorian Christmas and it was beautiful. It wasn't as entertaining for the kids so if we go next year we might just leave them with a babysitter and Mike and I just go but it was still fun.

BTW, Mike's video for them turned out great!! This was the one he was working on when he broke the camera. The TV station is going to air it in Jan. and next spring so if you're in Kansas be watching for it!


Tawra
www.LivingOnADime.com

Christmas Scent

Christmas Scent

1 lemon
1 orange
6 bay leaves
1/2 cup whole cloves
3-3 inch cinnamon sticks
2 qts. water

Combine all ingredients except water in a clear bag or jar.

If giving as a gift, attach the following instructions to the jar:
Cut lemon and orange into slices or quarters. Combine fruit, spices, and 2 quarts of water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer. Add more water as needed. Cover any left over mixture, refrigerate and reuse. Makes 8 cups.

Scented Coasters

These smell so wonderful! Add them to a gift basket of tea or coffee.
Tawra

Scented Coasters

9x12 piece of felt
1/4 yard cotton material
1/4 yard muslin
2 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. ground cloves
2 tsp. ground nutmeg


Mix spices in a bowl. Cut out eight 5 inch squares from the fabric using pinking shears if possible, four 4 inch squares of felt and eight 4 inch squares from the muslin. Lay 4 pieces of the printed fabric right side down on the table. Top each with a felt square and then with one muslin. Sprinkle a spoonful of the spice mixture on the center of each square. Glue* the edges of the muslin. Top with another muslin square, pressing the edges together so they will hold. Apply glue* to the edges of the printed fabric. Place another piece of printed fabric and press together until they hold.
*If you prefer you may sew these edges instead.

Homemade Ornaments

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Clay Christmas Ornaments

4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 tsp. powdered alum
1 1/2 cups water

Mix ingredients well in a large bowl. If the dough is too dry, work in another
tablespoon of water with your hands. Dough can be rolled or molded and can be colored
with a few drops of food coloring. To roll: Roll dough _ inch thick
on lightly floured board. Cut with cookie cutters dipped in flour. Insert wire or make hole
in top about 1/4 inch down for hanging. To mold: Shape dough no more than ½ inch
thick. Bake ornaments on ungreased cookie sheet for 30 minutes in 250 oven. Turn and
bake another 1 1/2 hours until hard and dry. Remove and cool. When done, paint and seal
with spray varnish. You can lightly sand before painting. *Alum can be found in the spice
section of your store.

Scented Cinnamon Ornaments

1 cup cinnamon
1 Tbsp. cloves
1 Tbsp. nutmeg
3/4 cup applesauce
2 Tbsp. white glue
ribbon

In a bowl, mix the spices. Add applesauce and glue, stirring until well blended. Work
mixture until dough is smooth and ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Divide into 4
portions and roll each portion between 2 pieces of waxed paper to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut
dough with cookie cutters of desired shapes. Using a straw or toothpick, make a small
hole in the top of each ornament. Place on wire racks and allow to dry at room
temperature for several days. (For more uniform drying, turn ornaments over once each
day.) Thread ribbon through holes to form garland. You can also glue to a wooden hoop,
forming a wreath and decorate with ribbon as desired. Makes approximately 32 two-inch
ornaments. DO NOT EAT!

Found A Toaster!

I found a proctor silex 4 slice toaster. It was recommended by Consumer Reports. It's the cheapest one out there and it works great! I finally found one at K-mart.

I never knew I was so picky about toast until I got bad toast! LOL When we get a bigger kitchen I will get a toaster oven to just to heat stuff. I would have never thought that buying a toaster could be such an ordeal! LOL

Tawra
www.LivingOnADime.com

I just can't let it go.

Ok, I just have to know. Am I toaster oven impaired? Everyone said such great things about them and how much they love their black and decker toaster ovens. When I used it the first time with 1 piece of toast it did just fine but then when I did 4 pieces the bottom half by the door and the top half by the back of the oven weren't browned. I was just using regular bread.

I toasted it until it was pretty brown on the parts that did get brown but I just hate toast that is done on one end and not on the other!

Did I do something wrong? I don't think I should have to turn the toast around half way through toasting.

Any suggestions? You can email me or post here. Thanks!
Tawra

editor@livingonadime.com

Truffles

Tonight we are going to celebrate a small Christmas with my grandparents who are visiting from Colorado. We are going to open their presents but I thought I would make up some candy to snack on. My brother and his family will be here too so I won't be stuck eating it all myself! LOL

I decided to make up some Truffles, Caramels and Glazed Nuts.

These are all really simple and pretty quick to make.
Here's the Truffle recipe.
Enjoy! Tawra
www.LivingOnADime.com



Chocolate Truffles

1 Tbsp. sugar
¼ cup whipping cream
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
2 Tbsp. desired liquor (optional)
(brandy, amaretto, kahlua, rum etc.)
or any flavoring (orange, mint, raspberry, coffee)
½ cup nuts, finely chopped
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder*


In a 1 quart saucepan combine the sugar, whipping cream and butter. Cook and stir until butter is melted and mixture is very hot. Remove from heat. Stir in semi sweet chocolate until melted and well blended. Stir in liquor. (If desired, halve the batch at this point and stir 1 Tbsp. of 2 different liquors into each portion.) Cover and chill 1 hour or until mixture is completely cool, stirring often. Drop mixture from a rounded teaspoon onto a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Chill 30 minutes or until firm. Roll balls into nuts or unsweetened cocoa powder. Store in a cool, dry location. Makes 15-20 pieces.
*you may roll truffles in coconut, sprinkles, powdered sugar or dip in melted white, dark or milk chocolate.

Glazed Nuts

These are yummy! Be sure you have someone around to help you eat them. :-) Tawra

Glazed Nuts

1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup water
½ cup honey
1 lb. mixed unsalted nuts
½ tsp. vanilla

Mix sugar, honey and water in saucepan. Bring to boil and cook, without stirring to 252 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove from heat and stir in nuts and vanilla. Let cool slightly. Stir again until creamy. Place on waxed paper and separate nuts with fingers. When cool put in small jars and decorate. You can use just one kind of nuts if you like. Can be stored in airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Makes one pound.

Elfred has been visiting.

Our family elf Elfred has been visiting.

He's always hiding to make sure the kids are being good. Every night they leave a note with some cookies for him a snack. He leaves them a little treat and an encouraging note then the next morning. Usually it's things we don't normally buy like Twinkies, Ding Dong's, cocoa in the packets, microwave popcorn, gum or candies.

He even helps out now and then. This summer he made a surprise visit and cleaned the kids room. He helped me and painted my gingerbread ornaments that I made out of craft clay for my small tree. Sometimes he gets into mischief and will make snow angels in flour. I think tomorrow the may make a mess and toilet paper the house. :-)

It's a fun way to spread out the Christmas season.

Tawra
www.LivingOnADime.com

Shortbread

These make great gifts. Just slice and dip in melted chocolate for a fancy but very easy treat.
Enjoy! Tawra
www.LivingOnADime.com



Shortbread

½ cup butter, softened
1 cup plus 1 Tbsp. flour
¼ cup plus 1 Tbsp. sugar (do not use self-rising flour)

Whip butter. Add sugar and flour and beat until light and fluffy. Pat dough ½ inch thick into a 9x9 inch pan. Prick with a fork and sprinkle a little sugar on top. Bake at 375 for 15 20 minutes until light brown. Cool before serving. Makes 9 pieces.

Toaster Oven Fiasco

Ok, I give up.
I was so excited to find a toaster oven that finally worked. Well come to find out it doesn't. When I tested it the other day I put one piece of toast in and it worked great. When I went to put 4 pieces of bread in, it toasted only half and the other half was still un-toasted. This was on the Black and Decker Toaster R Oven. Apparently it will only toast around the heating element when 4 pieces in there.

Undaunted I went and got another one. This time a cheap Sunbeam. I brought it home and it does the same thing. After reading the directions on it, it says that one piece of toast will brown darker than when 4 pieces are in there. It also says it "may" fit up to 4 pieces of toast.

I am just so frustrated! Am I doing something wrong? I really want the toast to be a uniform color. I guess I am going to go out and just buy a normal toaster.

Tawra
www.LivingOnADime.com

Gourmet Foods

Gourmet foods look so good at the store and on TV but they really are easy to make. The trick is in the packaging. Just buy some clear cellophane bags at the hobby store or from your florist. Put the treats in these and tie with a pretty ribbon. An assortment looks wonderful in a basket lined with a red napkin and a pretty Christmas bow tied on top.

Sprinkles can be found at Walgreens for .40 a bottle on sale.

Look for Candy Bars on sale to use for melted chocolate. Compare prices it might or might not be cheaper than the bagged candy melts.

Add 1 tsp. paraffin wax to 2 cups melted chocolate to make the chocolate shiny.

Here are some ideas that we have done in the past.
Tawra
www.LivingOnADime.com


These sell for $6-$8 EACH on the home shopping channel. They look wonderful but they can be made fresher at home and for around .50-$1.00 each instead.

Caramel Apples

Dip in caramel and then roll in:

crushed candy bar pieces

M&M's

mini chocolate chips

Flavored chips: peanut butter, white chocolate, dark chocolate, cherry, butterscotch

Nuts and then drizzle with melted chocolate of your choice

crushed chocolate-covered toffee squares

crushed milk chocolate-covered toffee coated almonds



Dip Oreos or Fortune Cookies in melted Chocolate. Roll in sprinkles for added flare.

Make extra large Peanut Butter Cups by making in a regular sized muffin tin.

Drizzle melted chocolate, caramel or both over popped popcorn.

Gift Wrap for large items.

I thought I would share how I wrapped the kids body pillows a couple of years ago.

We got them both a body pillow for Christmas. I needed some way to wrap them but didn't want to use a bunch of wrapping paper. I found a large white trash sack. I stuffed the pillow inside and tied off the top.

I then drew a face on the front with permanet marker. For the hair I took curly ribbon that I had got on clearance for .10. I curled a large wad of it to make long hair for Elly's pillow and did a short bunch for BJ's. Then I just taped it to the top.

They turned out so cute!! For about .10 I got a really unique gift wrap.

I have a list of other cute ideas. As soon as the program gets here to open my documents on the new computer I will post them.

Tawra
www.LivingOnADime.com

Christmas Pillows

This is a great idea sent from Roxie. Thank you! Tawra


As I was putting them out this year I thought I would share the idea with you. A couple of years ago at an after Christmas sale I picked up several stockings that had been marked down really low. I think less than a dollar each. These were nice size stockings that would look good on most any fireplace...however I make the stockings for my kids and grand kids to hang. These were just so darn pretty and had many do dads and thing a ma jigs on them that I knew I could not sew on a home made stocking for the price...so I got them and stuffed them with fiber fill. Then I just whip stitched the top closed. I have some of the cutest Christmas pillows for our sofa and chair...for less than $5.00....

Party Mints

Party Mints are a Christmas staple in our family. They also taste great frozen! Enjoy!
Tawra

Party Mints

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 egg white -OR- 2 Tbsp. milk
2 tsp. butter, melted
4 small lids peppermint flavoring
1/4 cup paraffin, shaved
1 pkg. (12 oz.) chocolate chips

Mix powdered sugar, egg white or milk, butter and peppermint flavoring. Make into small balls about the size of a quarter and then flatten on a cookie sheet. Put in the freezer. Melt chocolate and paraffin over a double boiler. When melted take mints out of freezer. Put a toothpick though the center of the mint and dip into chocolate. If mints on the cookie sheet begin to soften and thaw, refreeze because they are easier to dip. Put back on cookie sheet and let chocolate harden in the freezer. Wrap each mint in a piece of 5x5 inch foil.