Whatever Happened to the Twelve Days of Christmas?

• She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
• She looketh well to the ways of her household

It's almost time to pack up the Christmas decorations, but I for one am not ready for it yet.

Back in the "olden days", the "Twelve Days of Christmas" was more than just a song--Advent may have started the four Sundays that preceded Christmas, but the actual season of Christmas ran from Christmas Day through Twelfth Night--January 5th, the day before the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th. The tree and decorations went up on Christmas Eve and was taken down around the 6th.

These days trees and decorations go up the weekend after Thanksgiving, if not before, and by Christmas everyone is tired of looking at them. Maybe because I didn't get home until a week before Christmas, but I feel a little bit like I missed part of the season this year. My sweet son hung one of my wreaths and put some lights up on the porch railing, and got out all of our nativity sets before I got home, so things would look a little festive when we got there. He put the tree up and helped me decorate it around the 22nd or 23rd, so I got to enjoy it for a few days, but the time to pack it all up again and get the house back to "normal" before we leave is rapidly approaching, and I'm sure I'm ready yet.

In the meantime, let me share with you some of my favorite decorations from home...

This is my newest nativity set--I should have put something next to it so you could see how tiny it really is--the stable is probably 3 inches high, the tallest of the figures maybe 1 1/2 inches. I think I bought this at Walgreens a couple of years ago.

This is an ornament of the three wise men--can't remember where it came from, we've had it for a couple of years.

This little cutie a Merry Miniatures set that came from Hallmark about 20 years ago


This is another favorite, we bought this at the Christmas Store at North Pole, Alaska three years ago.



I bought this glass set through the mail about 18 years ago, it's another inexpensive set.

Can't remember about this one

This one has a place in the back for a tea light candle

And last but not least, another of my favorites, these range in size from about two to eight inches tall. One of these days I'm going to make a stable setting to place these pieces in.

Hoping you enjoyed this little glimpse of a few of my favorite home decorations of the season. I should be back to more regular posting in another day or two.

Until next time...

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Wishing you a happy and joy-filled holiday

for you and for you family

Merry Christmas!

Candy Cane Reindeer

• She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands

Look! It's a reindeer...

No, not there....

THERE!

In fact....

...there's a whole herd of 'em!

Here in the South, we don't have reindeer running around, so we have to make our own.

To make some for yourself, you'll need:

• candy canes
• googly eyes
• green and/or brown chenille sticks
• little red or black pom poms (I couldn't find the small ones in the colors I needed so I bought a variety pack and picked out the ones I wanted)
• Glue (I dont use hot glue for these for two reasons--one, the little eyes and noses are so small, I know I'd end up burning my fingers, and two, I'm afraid the hot glue will melt the cellophane on the candy cane. So I use quick dry Tacky Glue, but school glue would probably do just as well)
• A pen or pencil to form the antlers

1. Take a chenille stick (I still call them pipe cleaners), fold in half, then twist around the top of the candy cane
2. Twist each end around a pen or pencil, corkscrew style, to form antlers
3. Put a drop of glue at the tip and add a pom pom for the nose. Let dry for a few minutes.
4. Use two small drops of glue and add the eyes.

I think it works better to put the antlers on first--they help to hold the candy cane up off the table while the glue for the nose and eyes has a chance to set. And if I did the features first, I'd probably end up knocking them off while I was working on the antlers.

I personally like the red noses with the green antlers--all Christmas colors and all Rudolph-y, then I do some with black noses with brown antlers--more like a "real" reindeer...

...don't you think?

Look how handsome (s)he looks...

Is this my best side...

...or is it this one?


Come closer.

I'm working on my curl


It's a reindeer maternity ward...



...assembly line style!

Just hanging with my homies...

This post it linked to:

Holly Bloggy Christmas Bash, Christmas Crafts Edition, hosted by Blue Eyed Blessings
Christmas Post Link-Up at Southern Domestic Goddess

Penny Pinching Party at The Thrifty Home

DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land

Until next time!

Doors of Welcome--December Installment

It's time for the December edition of Doors of Welcome, sponsored by Karen at Some Days are Diamonds.

For myself, I'm going home in three more days and I can hardly wait! I'll only have a week to settle in and get ready for the holiday, but it will be great to be back home among my own things and decorations, if only for a short time!

Meanwhile, I set myself a challenge to see what I could do to add a little Christmas cheer for the tidy sum of $20. So come on in and see what I found!



Because my door here is dark green to start with, I had hoped to find a thrifty wreath in either snowy white or berry red, but alas, it wasn't to be. It may not be a stand out against the dark door, but I was happy with the way everything turned out.

The wreath came from Dollar General for $3.50, and the bells, bird, and berries all came from Dollar Tree, Total cost, $8.50

This is the top of the armoire that holds the television--the little suitcase thingie is part of the regular apartment decorations and is the same one I used as part of my fall decorating.

These little houses are actually cardboard boxes, $1 each from Dollar Tree. The "roof" lifts off, and I plan to use these later as gift boxes for small items or "goodies" from the kitchen.

The "presents" are empty boxes, wrapped in newspaper, and inexpensive ribbon. The "greenery" on one gift was originally attached to one of the bells I used on the wreath.

I know a lot of people decry the use of gift bags, but I think that as long as you pick pretty ones they can add a spot of color to an empty corner and be useful at the same time. $1 from Dollar Tree.

I already blogged about the different versions of this centerpiece. This version was $2 for the charger, $1 for the berries, and maybe $.50 for the candy, on sale at CVS.

And last but not least--a couple of dollars worth of candy canes in a canister, and this cute little mini-lunchbox I got at Dollar Tree for $1--this is another piece that will probably end up doing double duty as a gift box for "goodies".

It's not a lot, but I smile every time I see each and every little touch of holiday cheer.

Be sure to visit Some Days are Diamonds--Karen is showcasing her beautiful home and lovely Christmas decorations, indoors and out. Then on the left hand sidebar of her blog is a list of all the other participants of Doors of Welcome. The are well worth visiting to see a variety of decorations, from simple to extravagant.

Thanks for visiting!

This post is also linked to:

Thrifty Thursday to Tales from Bloggeritaville

Penny Pinching Party at the Thrifty Home

Holiday Linky Friday at the Inspired Room

Frugal Friday at Life as Mom

Until next time...

Thrifty Centerpiece--Four Versions

• She worketh willingly with her hands
• She maketh herself (and her home) coverings of tapestry

I know it may seem like a bit of a stretch to use the "coverings of tapestry" verse to apply to home decor, but to me that verse is symbolic, even in clothing, of wearing (and making) clothing that's beautiful, or pretty, or becoming, but certainly attractive and appropriate to the occasion. I think the same principle can apply to making our homes attractive.

I'll be going home for the holidays on the 18th, where I'll have access to all of my "stuff" I've collected over the years. Meanwhile, I don't want to see all of the pretty decorations everywhere while I live in an apartment with none; neither do I want to spend a lot of money for decorations for a temporary home. So in keeping with the spirit of the season and my frugal thriftiness, I set myself a limit of $20 for all holiday decorations.

Here are four different versions of a simple and thrifty centerpiece.

First is the basic version. The red charger was $2 at Dollar General; the bowl is a vintage 1951 Homer Laughlin we found at a thrift store for $2. The candle is part of the permanent apartment decor, and the candy I got for almost nothing at CVS a few weeks back. I already had the bowl, so I count this as $2 in actual holiday specific spending.

Version # 2, I added a rolled up square of Christmas fabric I bought at Joann's--I think I got 6 pre-cut pieces for about $6, so estimate an additional $1 for the fabric. Total, $3

Version # 3--take off the fabric, add a couple of berry stems, also from Joann's, bought on clearance for $.50 each. Total, $3

Version #4--full and pretty--the greenery is a plain wreath from Dollar General, $3.50; the berries are the same ones as above, $.50 each from Joann's, and the bird, $1 from Dollar Tree. This still has the red charger underneath, although you can't really see it, but you could do the same thing on a plate. Total, $3.50; $5.50, if you count the charger.

What thrifty decorating are you doing this year? Be sure to come back tomorrow for the Doors of Welcome, December edition, where I'll show you my thrifty wreath I made for less than $10!

This post is linked to:

Three or more Tuesdays at the Gypsy's Corner

Christmas Tour of Homes at the Nester

DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land

Trash to Treasure Tuesday at Reinvented

Vintage Thingie Thursday at Coloradolady

Until next time...

Homemaker's Haven--Christmas is Coming Edition

• She looketh well to the ways of her household
• She worketh willingly with her hands
• All of her household are clothed in scarlet
• She maketh herself (and her home) coverings of tapestry
• The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her

It's been another up and down week around this household--I'm starting to wonder if there's really any other kind!

One thing I've learned about myself over the years is that I'm the kind of gal that likes to have a plan. It may not be carved in stone, and I may not follow it exactly, but when things don't go according to plan I tend to get out of sorts.

My plan for my holiday decorating, for one, has gone awry. The plan was to buy a few things from the dollar stores, and to supplement with holly branches and pine boughs cut from some wooded areas around our apartment complex and outside of town, and probably a few pine cones picked up at the same time. Good plan, right? But my husband, who would have been the cutter while I was the gatherer, has been working six and seven days a week; the weather has been rainy and dreary and not worth getting out in; then hubby got sick to boot, so guess what--no holly branches, no pine boughs, and no pine cones picked up. Everyone all over the blogosphere has been decorating and showing up their lovely homes and Christmas trees and mantles and everything else, and suddenly my dollar store decorating ideas seemed--well, not as pretty as those I've been seeing.

One day when the clouds had cleared off a bit, I finally ventured out to do a little shopping--I did my Mission Possible shopping at Walgreens, and I found myself sitting in the parking lot outside of Dollar Tree, feeling sorry for myself because I was alone and had no one to shop with and all I could afford were cheap decorations anyway and what was the point when we're going home on the 18th and then I'll have all the decorations I need anyway and besides it'll be my own decorations at home and these will be cheap looking anyway and, and, and...not quite the pity party on the order of last week but heading that direction! And then...I got ahold myself and thought, why not just go see what they have? And I did.

And not much later, I found myself --still alone--but singing "Jingle Bells" as I drove down the road.

Remember the 4 "P"'s that we talked about a few weeks ago? Well, another thing I've learned about myself is that sometimes the

• Pity comes from the
• Pressure that I
• Put on myself because of my
• Procrastination

Luckily, though, once I get out of my negative "P" cycle, I do okay. Maybe the

• Pressure
• Pushes this
• Person to
• Persevere

Sorry, I know it's kind of cheesy, but I could resist! But this week I

1. Made fudge--for the first time in years
2. Tried a brand new cookie recipe
3. Made some useful and attractive jar mixes for my gifts from the kitchen series--and decorated them, too!
4. Made a pretty wreath for my door (see my Doors of Welcome post tomorrow) for less than $10
5. Made a pretty and thrifty centerpiece for about $5
6. Finally opened up my ancient sewing machine and sewed up two of hubby's shirts that needed it--luckily my husband was home when I did this--as soon as I plugged in my machine it started running at what seemed like 90 miles an hour and wouldn't stop--we finally traced it to how it was plugged into the case--we had tried (unsuccessfully) to fit it into my vintage sewing machine table a while back, and apparently when we put it back into the case we plugged some things in backward. Oops. He's now (figuratively) clothed in scarlet--or at least shirts with no unraveled seams.
7. Took good care of my hubby while he finally rested and tried to recuperate from his head cold.

My goals for the week coming are:

1. Finish my candy making and what baking I can do ahead of time
2. Catch up on laundry to make it easier to pack later in the week
3. Make my packing list
4. Pack for home (!)
5. Order the final couple of small gifts that I still need and have them sent home
6. Clean out the fridge for being out of town
7. Work on my decorating and cooking posts for this week--while I still have high speed internet!

What are you doing to make your home a haven this week? Be sure to stop in at A High and Noble Calling and check out the other homemaker's haven posts.

Until next time...

Mission Possible Walgreens

• She is like the merchant's ships, she bringeth her food (and other things) from afar
• She looketh well to the ways of her household

No picture this week of my Mission Possible "steals and deals" shopping--I had drugstore bounty, a few things from the grocery store, and some things for my dollar store decorating, so I brought up what I could in one trip up the stairs and left the rest for later. Hubby came in from work sick with a bad head cold and it's cold and dreary out and wet out today, so neither of us have made the trip back downstairs and out to the parking lot to bring it all inside, so you'll have to use your imagination(!).

Walgreens has a four day deal going on through today, spend $25 and get a $5 Register Reward good on your next purchase. The secret is to buy things that you and your family want, need and can use, and to get as close to $25 as you can without going too far over. There wasn't much in the 4-day sale flyer that I really needed, but luckily the regular weekly ad circular had some good deals. There were lots of in-ad coupons, too, and the good thing about in-ad coupons is that you can also "stack" them with manufacturer's coupons. This is what I bought:

2 Arm & Hammer laundry detergent, on sale $2.49 each
1 Northern bathroom tissue 9-roll pack, $4.29
1 Hallmark tissue paper, $.99, $.39 with in-ad coupon
2 pkgs Chinet lunch plates, $2.50 each, on sale $2.99 B1G1, or $1.50 each
2 bags Chex mix, on sale $.99, less two $.50 MQs, or $.49 each
4 pkgs Hefty zip-lock bags, on sale $3.29 B1G1, or $1.65 each
2 jars Ragu spaghetti sauce, $3.29, on sale 2/$3 with in-ad coupon, less $1/2 MQ, or $1 each
1 box dried cranberries, $1
2 bags Nestle chocolate chips, $3.29, on sale $1.99 with in-ad coupon, less 2 $1 MQs, or $.99 each
1 box Kleenex tissue, $1.39 (this was for hubby's cold--I had tissues at home, but I got him a box of vitamin E lotion tissues that are super soft on the nose)

Total: I paid $26.02 after sales and coupon, and received a $5 RR good on my next Walgreen's purchase, or $21.02 net OOP. According to the register tape I saved $34.29 compared to full price (which I wouldn't have paid), or total savings after RR of 65%.

How have you done your Mission Possible shopping this week?

Until next time...

Happy Hannukah

Happy Hannukah!

Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.

And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.

John 10:22-23

This is from last year's Hannukah--and I realized when I looked at the picture that I put the prayer book upside down--Hebrew is read right to left, not left to right--so excuse that error. (not that I read Hebrew--I "cheat" and read the transliteration") I wasn't thinking when I was setting this up for the picture.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

John 1:4-5

I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

John 12:45

Until next time...

Bloggy Awards

• She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
• Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates

I've had several gracious bloggers pass some blogging awards along to me in recent days and weeks--and for one of them, I'm ashamed to say months! As with most of these "bloggy awards" as they're called, you pass them along and link to other blogs of interest or that meet the criteria of the award theme. I had just done a linking post not long before I received the first one, so I decided to wait a couple of weeks before I did another. And now, low and behold, six months later.....I knew I had procrastinated, but this is ridiculous--so sorry, Elizabeth.

I do thank these ladies and appreciate the kindness they've shown by passing these along. Unless you're a big-name blogger, having a blog can seem a bit like talking to yourself--you wonder if anyone else even notices or cares about what you have to share. And so I would love for everyone to visit these kind ladies and share a little bloggy love back to them.

I would like to thank... Elizabeth at Elizabeth's Treasure Chest for the Lemonade Award, for people who exhibit an attitude of gratitude in their lives and on their blogs. (I'm sure I always exhibit this as I should)

And to Kalea at Enroute to Life for the Bingo Blog Award--given to blogs that are:

• Beautiful
• Informative
• Neighborly
• Gorgeous
• Outstanding

A Virtuous Woman was picked for being "Informative"

And last but certainly not least, Cindy from Life at Lakewood has graciously passed on this "Kreative Blogger" award. For this one, I'm supposed to share 7 things about myself that you may not know.

1. I grew up being called by my middle name. Every year at the beginning of school, the teachers would call me by my first name and I would have to tell them that I didn't go by that, I went by my middle name. When I got to college, where everything is always "first name, middle initial", it seemed like too much trouble to change, so I learned to answer to my first name. When I started my first job, I was so used to going by my first name by then that I used it on my application and introduced myself by it. Now, after all of these years, I think of myself as "Charlene", but that is not the name that my family or anyone who knew me in school calls me.


2. Although I was born and raised and lived almost my entire life in southwest Louisiana, I've also lived in Kansas, Alaska, Colorado, and now in Georgia. In every case, I hated it was not impressed when I first got there, but grew to love it and was sad to leave when it was time to go.


3. My favorite every now and then pamper treat for myself is getting a spa pedicure. I smile for weeks afterward when I look down and see pretty toes.


4. My favorite food of all time is fried chicken.


5. My second is my Nanny's fried okra--no one else makes it like Nanny used to make it.


6. My favorite time of ministry was when I pastored a small tiny-town church with five members, who's average age was 68. I loved my elderly members and they loved my family more than anyone who isn't related to us has every loved us.


7. I'm the "good" sister. (Hah--are you reading, sis?)

All of the bloggy awards then tell me to pass these on--I have so very many blogs that I enjoy reading, I find it hard to limit my list, so what I would like to do is ask my readers to visit not only the blogs I mention in this post, but as many of the blogs on my three blogrolls (found on the left sidebar) as you can in the coming days and weeks. I have them divided up in some semi-descriptive categories, but don't let that limit those that you visit--many blogs, like mine, are difficult to define and fall into more than one category--in those cases, I just picked one area and went with it!

Many thanks again to Elizabeth, Kalea, and Cindy for their thoughtfulness!

Until next time...

Giveaway Alert

Just a note to my faithful readers--you may or may not be aware that I have a food blog, Secrets of a Southern Kitchen, where I share simple recipes for everyday foods.

This week at the Southern Kitchen there's a giveaway going on, sponsored by Bryan Foods. Two lucky winners will each receive a prize package with a bbq style apron and two products from the Bryan Food line-up--cocktail smokies and smoked sausage.

Right below the giveaway post I have four different posts showing step-by-step photos of quick and easy finger foods I made with their products--perfect for holiday parties and family gatherings, as well as recipe of sorts for red beans and rice with sausage.

Please click over and check it out--browse these recipes as well as the others, and be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win!

Until next time...

Homemaker's Haven--the Reaching Forward Edition

I'm running behind with this week's Homemaker's Haven post. I've had an up and down week all week, and, I'll admit it, a bit of a pity party for myself on a couple of days. Not that things were so bad, I just let myself get caught up in a downward spiral of "oh poor me". Do you ever have days or weeks like that?

I started off well--last Monday I did my Homemaker's Haven post, cleaned out the fridge, caught up on laundry, made a pot roast and generally got my week off to a good start. My plan was to do some shopping the next day--for the recipe/review posts for my food blog that I needed to do, and to start scouting out or gathering things for my budget holiday decorating that I mentioned last week. But as often happens with plans, things go awry in spite of our efforts--my husband made an appointment at the dealership to have some necessary maintenance work done on our vehicle-which meant no vehicle, no shopping for me. Okay, I can handle that. I decided not to start my Christmas baking yet--too early to keep it all without freezing, so that was postponed until late this week or early next week. Next, the weather got yucky--cold and damp and drizzly. I hadn't done any shopping yet, so I couldn't start decorating, or cooking or anything really creative. I got some news about an acquaintance that opened up a big can "what if's" and "if only I'd"--not bad news, just something that made me start to look at my own achievements--and lack thereof. My husband worked some extra hours last week, too, so I was alone most of the time-it was a snowball in the worst way! By the end of the week, I didn't even want to do anything fun or interesting or enriching. And so I didn't. And felt even worse.

I've been thinking for the last couple of days about where I went wrong--I started off well, but went downhill fast--each little thing built on the next--to paraphrase Song of Solomon--it's the little foxes that spoil the vine. I was also thinking about when the apostle Paul wrote (my paraphrase, again) "Those things I that I know to do, those things I don't do; and those things that I know I ought not to do, those things I do". Can I get a witness?!

But God is faithful and brings us encouragement and the good sense to know that His loving kindness is new every morning. And I think about some other words of the apostle Paul, found in Philippians, chapter three--"Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Going up, anyone?

Until next time...

Mission Possible 12/05/09

• She is like the merchant's ships, she bringeth her food (and other things!) from afar
• She looketh well to the ways of her household

$15.97 net OOP

It's time for another Mission Possible--where we ask (and answer) the question--is it possible to save money and shop wisely in this economy?

Our mission, should we choose to accept it, (and you know we will!) is to take the resources we have available to us--coupons, rebates, Extra Care Bucks (ECB), Register Rewards (RR) and weekly ad circulars--to get the things our families need and can use, all while keeping our total out-of-pocket (OOP) as low as possible. We fulfill our tasks at drugstores, grocery stores, dollar stores, and wherever we can find those bargains and frugal finds that benefit our families.

I thought I was going take a pass on Mission Possible shopping this week, but after staying cooped up inside almost all week, I decided to venture out and pick up a couple of things I knew we needed and see what other deals I could find. I ended up hitting all three major drugstores (Rite Aid, CVS, and Walgreens) and this is what I bought:

Rite Aid

1 Gillette Fusion Razor, on sale $9.00, less $4 MQ, or $5; eligible for a $5 SCR (single check rebate), making this free after rebate

1Crest toothpaste, on sale $2.49, less $.75 MQ, or $1.74; eligible for a $1.50 SCR, making this $.24 after rebate.

Total: I paid $7.43 OOP (out-of-pocket) and will receive $6.50 in my rebate check for December

CVS

I wasn't planning on shopping at CVS this week, but I had ECBs from Thanksgiving week and decided to stop and get something cold to drink and a couple of filler items and use some ECBs. Although it was still fairly early on Saturday afternoon, this location had already changed their shelf tags for next week's deals, and I bought three Mennen Speedstick anti-perspirants at $1.99 each, and a Diet Coke (not in the picture-I drank it immediately!). I used $6 in ECBS and paid $1.34 OOP

Walgreens

1 Northern bathroom tissue, $4.29; this generates a $1 RR(Register Reward), making this $3.29 after RR

1 Dentek floss picks, on sale $1.99, less $.55 MQ, or $1.44; this generates a $2 RR, making this free after RR and actually a small money-maker because of the coupon

2 Arm & Hammer laundry detergents, on sale B1G1 at $6.99, or $3.50 each

1 roll Tuf paper towels, $.89

1 Softsoap Ensemble hand soap, 5.99, less $2 MQ, less $2 store coupon (in the December coupon booklet), or $1.99

Total: I paid $16.70 OOP, and received $3 in RR for next time, making this net OOP $13.70

Grand Total: $55.36 in full price merchandise, after RR and rebates my net OOP is $15.97, for a 71% savings.

Note: The % of savings is not exactly accurate, because I wouldn't have bought some of these things at full price, but that seems the easiest way to calculate my merchandise total "worth".

Saturday nights can be a good time to shop both CVS and Walgreens--this week's deals are still valid, and in most cases next week's deals are already working, too, so you can catch both sales cycles at the same time, if you're lucky. The drawback is that the current week's sale items may be gone, and the exact time that the new deals go into effect can vary, but you can often catch some excellent deals that way.

How has your deal shopping been going? Done any "Mission Possible" deals for you family?

Until next time...