When I saw this meme on Facebook last November I was struck by its accuracy: I initially felt a little self-righteous as I read it. After all, I don’t complain on Facebook. In taking a good, honest look at myself, though, I see that my complaining occurs in person or via phone. What about you? Do you give thanks around the … [Read more...] about Be Grateful Throughout the Year
holidays
Affordable, Easy-to-Prepare Meals for Large Groups
We have several family members coming to spend the week of Thanksgiving with us. As much as I love cooking, I’d rather spend time visiting with my loved ones than in the kitchen preparing meals. We’re also on a tight budget, so I don’t want to break the bank when purchasing foods for us to eat. I’ve been brainstorming and have come up … [Read more...] about Affordable, Easy-to-Prepare Meals for Large Groups
Christmas in July: Christmas Planning Printables
Lists are one of my favorite tools for planning in advance. In today’s installment of Christmas in July 2014, I’m sharing some planning worksheets that I created that are even more useful than lists! If you’ve missed the previous installments in this year’s Christmas in July, you can read them here and here. One list I usually start … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Christmas Planning Printables
Christmas in July: Paying for Christmas Gifts with Credit Card Points
The cost of Christmas gifts can really add up. In today’s installment of Christmas in July 2014, we’ll look at a novel way to pay for Christmas gifts. If you missed the initial installment (which describes the purpose of Christmas in July), you can read it here. Credit cards are a contentious subject, especially among individuals who … [Read more...] about Christmas in July: Paying for Christmas Gifts with Credit Card Points
Christmas in July 2014
No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. It is only July, but I am already thinking of Christmas. As I explained in last year’s introduction to Christmas in July, I am not attempting to minimize the celebrations that occur between now and Christmas, nor am I promoting “Christmas creep” (the phenomenon of retailers exploiting the … [Read more...] about Christmas in July 2014
The Birth of Hope
Are you in a situation where you need hope? I won’t even speculate if your answer is affirmative because we’re all facing situations where we need it. Take heart! We’re about to celebrate the birth of hope personified. Hope is defined as “someone or something that may be able to provide help.” Early in Jesus’ ministry, long before his … [Read more...] about The Birth of Hope
Frugal, Practical Stocking Stuffers for Kids
Last week we looked at ideas for low-cost, useful stocking stuffers for adults. Now let’s look at some for the kiddos on our lists! Though I have identified a couple of toy items, I tried to minimize my focus on these because most little ones already have plenty. Stocking stuffer ideas for kids Snack containers. I initially saw these … [Read more...] about Frugal, Practical Stocking Stuffers for Kids
Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping
I absolutely love wrapping gifts! There’s something about lovely wrapping paper and shiny bows that sparks creativity in me. I’ve become increasingly aware that wrapping gifts in traditional gift wrap and using disposable bows isn’t particularly beneficial to the environment. Fortunately, I’ve discovered several creative, eco-friendly … [Read more...] about Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping
