Christmas Ornament Tradition
Every year we give each of the girls a new ornament to hang on the Christmas tree. When it is time to decorate for Christmas they have a lot of fun pulling out the ornaments with their names on it and talking about the memories from that year. Once they leave home and are out on their own they will receive all of their ornaments that they had accumulated throughout the years to put on their tree in their new home.Every year the ornament is unique. We write the child’s name and the year on the ornament. Any homemade ornaments they make at home, school, church or at another event we put their name on it so they can add it to their collection of ornaments. Sometimes on craft nights we put together fun items to hang around the house and share with family and friends. The girls enjoy seeing ornaments that Mommy made as a little girl too. They giggle at the ornaments I put together and love knowing that they will have their ornaments on the tree as well.
Our tree doesn’t have to be perfectly color coordinated. We have had branches with 6 ornaments on it and others that have several bulbs of the same color right next to each other. It is not necessarily “how” it looks but that it is an expression of fun times together as a family. Having the kids help decorate the tree that is full of memorable ornaments is more important to me then the perfect tree. They have been known to rearrange the ornaments almost daily some years. In our house decorating the tree is a fun time of listening to Christmas music, reminiscing, and decorating together as a family.
Do you have a fun family tradition when it comes to decorating your family Christmas tree?
Save A Lot | Rite Aid: Deals for the week of December 8-14, 2010
Here are this weeks deals at Save A Lot | Rite Aid stores.
Meats and Seafood
Whole Fryer – $0.89 per lb
Hillshire Farm Lit’l Smokies – $2.59
Use $1/2 coupon from 12/5 Red Plum (Expires 1/22/11)
Use $0.75/2 printable coupon from Red Plum
As low as $2.09 each after couponGround Beef (5 lb) – $8.45
Fridge and Freezer
Creamy Whip Whipped Topping – $0.79
Chef Antonio Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza – $2.99
Banquet Family Size Entrees – $1.79
Use $0.35/1 coupon found in Banquet Package (Expires 2/1/2011)
Use $0.60/6 coupon found in Banquet Package (Expires 2/1/2011)
As low as $1.44 each after couponGold Leaf Frozen Pie Shells (2 Ct) – $1.79
Coburn Farms Sour Cream – $1.19
Bologna – $0.99
Chicken Nuggets, Patties or Strips – $4.49
Banquet Pot Pies or Fruit Pies – $0.50
Use $0.35/1 coupon from 10/24 Smart Source insert (Expires 12/15/2010)
Use $0.60/6 coupon found in Banquet Package (Expires 2/1/2011)
As low as $0.15 each after couponHousehold
Gift Wrap (50 Square Feet) – $0.99
Ajax Dish Detergent – $0.99
Grocery
Pepsi & Pepsi Products (12 Packs)* – $2.50
*You must buy 4 to get this priceHoney Nut Cheerios – $1.79
Use $0.75/1 coupon found in package (Expires 12/30/2010)
Use $1/2 coupon from 10/31 Smart Source insert (Expires 12/11/2010)
Use $1/2 coupon from 11/7 Smart Source insert (Expires 12/18/2010)
As low as $1.04 each after couponLucky Charms – $1.79
Use $1/2 coupon from 10/31 Smart Source insert (Expires 12/11/2010)
$1.29 each after couponCookie Crisp – $1.79
Use $1/2 coupon from 10/31 Smart Source insert (Expires 12/11/2010)
$1.29 each after couponTrix – $1.79
Use $0.55/1 printable coupon from Betty Crocker
Use $1/2 coupon from 10/31 Smart Source insert (Expires 12/11/2010)
As low as $1.24 each after couponWylwood Vegetables (Corn, Peas, or Green Beans) – $0.49
Shelby’s Grove Canned Fruit – $0.89
Ginger Evans Yellow Cake Mix – $0.89
Coburn Farms Evaporated Milk – $0.69
Crisp Orange Juice – $2.99
Bay Mist Cranberry Juice Cocktail – $1.99
Theodoro Bagels – $1.39
J. Higgs Classic Crackers – $0.89
LeCour’s Sandwich Cookies – $1.59
Cowboy Billy’s Baked Beans – $0.69
Simplify Water (24 pack) – $2.49
Morning Delight Pancake Mix – $1.00
Morning Delight Syrup – $1.00
Red Gold Ketchup – $1.00
Russell Stover Bowline Boxed Chocolates – $.399
Whitman’s Sampler B1G1F
Use $1/1 printable coupon from Red Plum
Bob’s Candy Canes – $0.88
Health & Beauty
PharmAssure Vitamins & Supplements – B1G1F
Get $5 UP Rewards when you buy $20Colgate Sensitive Toothpaste – $3.50
Get $3.50 UP Rewards
Use $1/1 printable coupon from Colgate
Use $0.75/1 coupon from 12/5 Smart Source (Expires 12/25/10)
Use $0.35/1 coupon from 12/5 Smart Source (Expires 12/25/10)
FREE + Overage after Up RewardsAussie Shampoo, Conditioner, or Stylers – $2.29
Use $1/1 coupon from Red Plum 2 (Expires 12/31/10)
Use $1/1 coupon from 11/28 Protector & Gamble (Expires 12/31/10)
Use $0.50/1 coupon from 11/14 Red Plum 2 (Expires 12/31/10)
As low as $1.29 each after couponRite Aid Balanced Nutritional Drinks – 2 for $10
Get $2 UP Rewards when you buy two
$4.00 each after UP RewardsRobitussin or Dimetapp – $6.49
Use $3/1 printable coupon from Robitussin
Use $2/1 printable coupon from Robitussin
Use $1/1 coupon Robitussin from 11/14 Red Plum (Expires 12/31/10)
Use $1/1 coupon Dimetapp from 11/14 Red Plum (Expires 12/31/10)
As low as $3.49 each after couponCrest Toothpaste or Mouthrinse – $3.49
Caress Body Wash, Dove Bath Bars, Sauve Lotion, Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion – $2.49
Use $0.50/1 Caress coupon from Coupons
Use $0.50/1 Caress coupon from 11/14 Red Plum (Expires 12/12/10)
Use $1/1 Vaseline Intensive coupon from Coupons
As low as $1.49 each with couponOral – B Refill – $19.99
Get $5 UP Rewards
Use $1/1 coupon from 11/28 Protector & Gamble (Expires 12/31/10)
$13.99 each after coupon and UP RewardsEnroll in the free Rite Aid Wellness Rewards Program and earn up to 20% off drugstore purchases as well as UP Rewards. Remember to use any UP Rewards you currently have to get additional savings on your purchase.
For more information about Save A Lot | Rite Aid’s coupon policies go here.
If you discovery another coupon for additional savings let me know and I will add it.
Save A Lot: Deals for the week of December 12, 2010 – January 1, 2011
Here are this weeks deals at Save A Lot. Sign up for the Smart Shopper Club, by doing so you will get a $5.00 off of $25.00 coupon!
Meats and Seafood
Hillshire Farm Lit’l Smokies – $2.59
Use $1/2 coupon from 12/5 Red Plum (Expires 1/22/11)
Use $0.75/2 printable coupon from Red Plum
As low as $2.09 each with couponAssorted Pork Chops – $1.99 per lb
Pork Loinback Ribs – $2.99 per lb
Pork Spare Ribs – $1.69
Sugardale Sliced Bacon – $1.99
Frozen Cooked Shrimp – $9.99
Pick 5 for $19.99 promo on going: Pick any 5 specially marked packages of your favorite cuts of fresh, frozen or smoked meats and pay just $19.99 (about $2 per pound).
Fridge and Freezer
Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese – $0.89
Use $0.55/1 coupon from Kraft Food & Family (Expires 12/31/10)
Use $1/3 coupon from Holiday Cravings Kraft Foods Booklet (Expires 1/2/11)
As low as $0.34 each after coupon.Bright & Early Breakfast Drink – $0.79
Kraft Chunk Cheese (10 oz) – $1.79
Use $1/2 printable coupon from Kraft
$1.29 each after couponCreamy Whip Whipped Topping – $0.99
Household
Wrightware Foam Plates – $0.99
Axis Liquid Bleach – $0.99
Produce
Mini Carrots – $0.79
Grocery
Ritz Crackers – $1.79
Use $1.50/1 printable coupon from Kraft
Use $1/2 coupon from Kraft tear pad in stores (Expires 12/31/10)
As low as $0.29 each after couponLibby’s Pineapple – $0.99
Maruchan Ramen Cups – $0.33
Baymist Cranberry Juice Cocktail – $1.99
Enhance Coffee Creamer – $1.49
Ginger Evans Graham Cracker Crust – $1.29
O’ Day’s Mac & Cheese – $0.33
Senora Verde Tortilla Chips – $0.99
Ginger Evans Frosting – $1.25
Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix – $0.39
Ginger Evans Cake Mix – $0.89
Shelby’s Grove Applesauce – $0.99
Portmann’s Cocktail Sauce – $1.29
Theodoro Plain or Cinnamon Raisin Bagels – $1.39
Senora Verde Dice Tomatoes with Green Chiles – $0.63
Remember you can use the $5/$25 printable coupon to sweeten these deals! Plus you can earn up to 5 additional $5 off $25 coupons for sharing the coupon with your friends.
For more information about Save A Lot’s coupon policies go here. If you find additional deals or savings please let me know and I will add them to the list.
Gift Giving: Allowing Kids to Give from the Heart
My husband took the girls out recently to pick out gifts for my birthday. They had a certain amount of money and found the presents with a little Daddy supervision. They came up with practical and fun gifts which made my day. It was sweet hearing about their adventure shopping to find the perfect gifts.
Here is what they gave me:
- 2 Christmas Hand Towels – practical and pretty (love them)
- 2 Jar Candles – Vanilla Cookie and Spiced Apple (they smell awesome)
- 2 Adorable Bars of Soap – Ice Cream Cone & Gingerbread Man (pictured above)
- Set of Colored Pens – so I can write notes
I think the girls were more excited than I was to celebrate my birthday and they had a lot of fun going shopping with Daddy. It is a great opportunity to teach them about money and giving. If you haven’t done this with your kids, even if they are little, try it! Explain to them how much money they have (you will probably have to remind them at the store) and guide them in the choices but allow their creativity to shine through. We typically stick to one store to make it more manageable for the girls. They truly give from the heart and love it.
Christmas Song: “How Many Kings” by Downhere
December is a full month with the Holiday celebrations, traveling, and gifts. May we remember the ultimate gift that was given to us. I look forward to celebrating my Savior’s birth while creating new memories with family and friends.
Book: “The 5 Lessons a Millionaire Taught Me” by Richard Evans
The first time my husband and I listened to this book was several years ago The Five Lessons a Millionaire Taught Me About Life and Wealth by Richard Paul Evans. It is a short book, but packed with great information. Even if you have heard all the principles it is to good review.
Recipe: Grandma Doris’ Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake & Peanut Butter Frosting
Grandma Doris makes an amazing Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake with Peanut Butter frosting! Although it sounds interesting the cake is moist, delicious, and easy to make. It was one of the first cakes I made as a kid. When Grandma Doris made this cake for dinner and family Holidays there was rarely ever any cake left by the end of the meal.Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- 1 cup warm Water
- 1 1/2 cup Sugar
- 2 cups Flour
- 2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- 1/4 cup Cocoa Powder
Mix all ingredients together and bake in 9 x 13 dish at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes.
Peanut Butter Frosting
- 2 cups Powder Sugar
- 1/2 cup Butter
- 1/4 cup of Milk
- 2 tablespoons of Peanut Butter (either smooth or crunchy)
Mix frosting ingredients together. If necessary add more milk until frosting has a smooth texture. Spread frosting over the Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake.
Free Audio Book: “Handel’s Messiah” by Calvin R. Stapert
FREE Audio Book Download:
For the month of December Christian Audio is offering a free download of their audio book “Handel’s Messiah: Comfort for God’s People” by Calvin R. Stapert. His music is well known, the book gives more insight into this great musician’s life and masterpieces. Make sure to submit your order by December 31, 2010 to get your free audio book. Thanks Christian Audio!
Gift Giving: Homemade Handprint Ornaments
Are you looking for great gifts to give but are on a tight budget? This is a simple recipe that uses a few items from your pantry and makes a thoughtful Christmas Gift. Last year for Christmas gifts we made Homemade Cinnamon Handprints for Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and extended family members. They were inexpensive, easy to do, and the girls had a lot of fun. You probably have all the ingredients already.
Cinnamon Handprint Ornaments:
- 2 cups Flour
- 1 cup Salt
- 5 teaspoons Cinnamon
- 3/4 cup Water
Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Stir in water gradually to make dough. If it is sticking to your hands, add more flour or if it is too crumbling add more water. Knead dough for approximately 8 minutes until smooth. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Roll out dough to desired thickness (typically between 1/4 to 3/4 inches thick).
We used a football cookie cutter for the oval (you can use a circle or anything big enough that they can fit their hands in) than lightly floured their hands before making a slight indention on the clay. We took a stamp and pressed their first initial in the bottom of each palm to help us remember who it belonged to. Since my girls are twins their hand sizes are almost the same!
After making the handprint in the clay use a straw to make a hole in the top so you can hang the ornament.
Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hour. (Thicker dough will take longer to bake). They are done when the clay is dry, you notice a slight change in color. Cool and add a ribbon of your choice!
Optional: Once cooled you can use spray on polyurethane for extra shine.
Ours still smell great even after a year. We made more than one batch since we have a large family but you can do as many as you want. With the extra dough we made Christmas ornaments so we could hang them on the tree.
New Upromise eCoupons for December 2010
Upromise has posted their new eCoupons for the month of December 2010. Remember to activate them to get additional savings. If you have not yet signed up for Upromise you can get more information regarding on our experience or at directly at the Upromise website.
This month they have 47 coupons you can activate for bonus savings. Here are some of the name brand items you can buy and get bonus cash back from using your eCoupons in December:
- Sister Schubert
- Krazy Glue
- Elmer’s Glue & Craft Items
- Resolve
- BIC
- Karo Syrups
- Fleischmann’s Yeast
- Argo
- Wacky Mac
- No Yolks
- Fisher
- Jays
- Snyder’s of Hanover
- Farmland Meats
- Chiquita Bites
- Suave
- Caress
- Charmin
- Bounty
- Cabot Cheese
- NY Bread
- Lucky Leaf
- Marzetti Dips
- Country Crock
- Lipton Tea
- Ragu
Earn a bonus $0.25 and up (several are for $1 or more) for purchasing items on the eCoupons list from these companies. You may already buy some of these products!
Once you activate your eCoupons all you have to do is scan your rewards card at the store and it will add the cash to your account. You don’t even have to carry any coupons to get the rewards!
You can go to their website for more information on the Upromise program, it’s free to join.
