Fun Crafty Christmas Gifting!

This year, the kids are giving handmade gifts to the special people in their lives.  They love being creative and it's a great way to make a personalized gift! 

The kids and I had fun putting together a "guy gift basket" for their older sister's boyfriend.  We hadn't met him yet, so we didn't know what he might like...this was a way to still show that we cared.  We picked out guy-food and piled it in a microwave popcorn bowl.  The kids loved the way it turned out and they couldn't wait to give this gift!

They both enjoyed making photo ornaments.  I let them pick them out and then choose the self portrait that they wanted to make them with. Their sister got one ornament of each of them.

Another really cute one was the little angel necklace that we made out of beads and a pipe cleaner!  It was adorable and could be hung over the rear view mirror, a key chain, necklace, or just hang from a handbag, etc...

Our very favorite one is a special memory jar they are making for their dear Aunt Sissy.  It consists of a jar/container filled with 52 special memories, songs, jokes, pictures, etc that she can open weekly.  Every Monday morning, she can reach in and grab out a special surprise from one of the kids.  We took time over a couple family dinners to talk about Aunt Sissy and how special she is to us, I jotted them down and then the kids took little cards and created "memories" for her to open!  This is a gift that will keep giving ALL YEAR!  (can't show pics, because we will ruin the surprise! lol!)

Charter Rewards!!!

If you use Charter for your home phone, internet, or cable provider, chances are...you have Charter Rewards,  if you don't, you need to sign up for it.  They just posted all kinds of neat gifts on their shopping page.  I got a paddle ball set and a magic singing microphone for the kiddos for Christmas for FREE! 

SQUEEZING some fruit into breakfast!

My kiddos love waffles for breakfast, but I hate the fact that the syrup and carbs alone are NOT a healthy way to start the day!  I had been trying to serve sausage and fruit on the side, but guess what was always left on their plates...the fruit.  Even the tastiest fruit will seem sour if you've just licked maple syrup off your fork, so....

I decided to make my own blueberry syrup to cover their waffles with....ta-da!!!!  Fruit served "on" waffles was, obviously not my very own idea! lol!  But making my own "healthier" version is working to get the fruit into my kiddos with less syrup...

berries heated in syrup and left whole

I always have ample frozen wild bluberries around,  i use them in my smoothies everyday, so I just decided to blend some up with a tad of the normal maple syrup, heat for a few seconds in the microwave and pour atop the waffles.  Sometimes I leave the bluberries whole, and sometimes I puree them in my blender to make a smooth syrup...either way "squeezing or sneaking" good stuff into meals is always a challenge for parents, but this is easy and they LOVE IT now!

berries totally blended up with a tad of syrup

Food Deals

I am loving the deals that local supermarkets are running lately!  They are family meal deals!

Dierberg's is running their "Family Style Savings" this week.

You buy a rotisserie chicken and you get FREE mashed potatoes, side of gravy, 1lb green beans, and King's Hawaiian dinner rolls!  That's a super easy dinner for the family!

Schnuck's has a "MEAL DEAL" offer this week!

Purchase a package of Buddig lunchmeat and get FREE american cheese singles, loaf of bread, and a box of Mac n'cheese!

Schnuck's also has a "Dynamite Deal"...you buy a 12oz prepack of chili or soup and get a Torpedo sandwich for free!

Enter to win 25,000 BOX TOPS for your school!!!

Register at  BTFE.com/Hero for a chance to WIN 250,000 BOX TOPS for YOUR school!!!  Wouldn't that be so cool?!?!?!?

Food Deals and Box Tops!!!

Shop n' Save has an awesome deal going on right now...

Totino's pizzas and pizza bites are on sale for 10 for $10....but....you get $5 off your bill when you buy 10!!!  That's only 50 cents each!  PLUS you get double box tops on each box AND a bonus 25 electronic box tops with your receipt!!   Looks like we may have some pizza nights to line up!

btw...you do not have to buy 10 pizza items...there
is an entire page of products that qualify and you
CAN mix and match them!!!

Healthy and smelling good!

I have been on a search for a good deodorant that is aluminum-FREE.  I started out looking on the ingredient list of each and every deodorant at Walmart, Target, and Walgreen...each and every one of them had aluminum as the main ingredient. I figured there would be a really expensive, all natural choice somewhere local that I would splurge on...no find. I have even looked up recipes for making your own deodorant from arrowroot powder, coconut oil, and baking soda or cornstarch, just thought it would be easier to make that splurge of a purchase for the first try. 

Now, as silly as this sounds...I'm not even sure what has prompted this "all of a sudden" opposition to deodorant containing this ingredient.  I do know that in the past I have heard that it can cause breast cancer.  With freshly shaven skin and lymph nodes near...putting such an ingredient so near breast tissues and then harnessing ourselves (keeping the harmful chemicals that have been absorbed) right around the generalized area...I really have no data to back this up(although there are endless studies and Internet articles arguing it). I know that I will not want Taylor, when the time comes, to wear this type of deodorant near her newly forming little body.  Why not just make the change and be safe???

I finally stopped in an Organic Nutritional Shop and found an all-natural deodorant.  At first I liked it, but it was a bit sticky and smelled...weird.  Eventually I couldn't stand the scent.  Believe it or not, I found the perfect aluminum-Free deodorant.  TOM'S 24 hour odor protection natural deodorant.  This particular one is aluminum-free with no artificial colors, fragrance, or preservatives. The scent is "fresh apricot" and I do not like the smell of apricot, but this is light and I love it!  It goes on easily and smells good all day!  Even working in the yard and an all day outing to the zoo on a  near 100 degree day...I'd say it passed the test!  Wanna know the coolest part?!?!  It was at both Walmart and Target all along.  It was at the very top isle and regularly priced.  I believe it was around $4...that is why i missed it...who would think that a natural based product wouldn't cost and arm and a leg?!?