Advent and Ways to Celebrate!

Growing up, my mom didn't just focus on Christmas coming, but also celebrated Advent. Every year, I received one of those chocolate filled Advent calendars-I was the envy of my friends-lol! She would purchase them from a local German store, which seemed to be, back then, the only place to buy them. It was awesome. But, she also focused on Advent in other ways.

When I had kids, and they were old enough to really experience Christmas, I wanted to focus on more than just presents and such. I wanted to focus on family, friends, and what Christmas really meant to us-the birth of Jesus. I decided that, along with those wonderful chocolate filled calendars, we would do a different activity each day of Advent. Originally, I made a paper chain, one chain for each Advent day, and it would have a different activity on it. The kids loved it, and still do (even my 3 teens :)! But, I noticed last year, certain children were sneaking peeks ahead to see what activity was coming up. Humph! Momma doesn't like that, so this year, I wanted to do something to make each day more hidden. I came up with the idea to make different Christmas shapes and making pockets with them. Then, I can add the slip of paper with the activity into each day's shape.  Here is a close up of one of the shapes. See the slip of paper?

Then, just using paperclips, I slid each shape onto a piece of ribbon, which I then hung on one of my walls:

I chose to mark down the days. I also killed time whily my husband watched a movie we have seen several times already and decorated each little shape :)

Each day, one of the kids (and we go in order from youngest to oldest) gets to take that day's shape down and read the activity. Some of the activities we do are : ride around looking at Christmas lights while drinking hot cocoa, watch a special dvd, watch a Christmas special on tv (I love getting advance notice on some of these through ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas), making treats for the dogs, making treats for neighbors, crafts, making presents for grandparents, help a charity, write letters to Santa (the older kids might help the younger with this), going to a special place to see lights, and many more. I try to add in atleast one new thing each year to keep my older kids surprised since they have done this for so many years, and well, because they are teens and well....ya know... ;)

If you are looking for a special way to bring some fun family memories this year, try celebrating Advent. You cna do it so many different ways. We have even learned about other cultures' celebrations during this time of year and the kids learned so much (it can be a great homeschooling tie in ;) Here are some great websites to help you get more ideas or learn more about Advent:

Family Fun's Countdown to Christmas

20 Fun Family Ideas to Fill Your Advent Calendar

24 Ways to Countdown to Christmas

PS-Advent begins that Sunday after Thanksgiving. This year, there are 28 days :)

Pumpkin Pie Squares

We love these and if you have a big group to feed for the Holidays or a pot luck you are attending, these are terrific! They go far!

Pumpkin Pie Squares


Crust:

1/2 cup butter or margerine, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup rolled oats

Cream butter/margerine with sugar until creamy. Add in flour (you may find it does not all incorporate). Then, fold in oats (same with oats-it may not all work itself in-that is ok). Then, put this mixture into a 9x13 pan (I like to use glass because then I can just keep the squares in there for easy trasport/fridge storage). Using hands, pat the mixture out as evenly as you can. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 15 mins or until set. Basically, until set means make sure you are not seeing much butter in your crust just sitting there. I don't let it get very brown if that helps you more :)



Filling:

This is your basic pumpkin pie filling-so if you have a favorite, use it here. If not, here is what I have used for years (probably from a can of Libby's Pumpkin :) You can easily use skim evaporated milk to help lower the calories

2 eggs

3/4 cup white sugar

1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin

1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

*on spices, I use 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice in place of individual spices above*



Beat eggs and sugar. Add in pumpkin and evaporated milk. Then add salt and spices and mix until you can see spices are blended evenly into mixture. Use a spoon or rubber spatula to help it along. Pour over baked crust (the crust does not have to cooled first-it can be warm from the oven). Bake at 350 until pie filling is set. I usually turn the oven down to about 300 after about 20 mins. but that is with my oven. I remember doing this often with pumpkin pies too. With these squares, I find it helps to not overbake the crust. Let cool before cutting into squares.

Still Looking for Christmas Clearance Deals

In Owasso, the Home Depot has some Christmas items on clearance. It is only 75% off, but I was able to find some icicle lights priced at $1.62. They rang up $2.40 but the cashier corrected the price, so pay attention as they are ringing up :) They also have some shatterproof ball ornaments which were less than $2 for sets of 9-would be cute for outside decorating, or, if you have kids who have Nerf guns like I do and accidentally shoot toward your tree and hit one of your favorite glass ornaments...ummm..moving on... There were stocking, mini stockings, light hooks, and even some electric candles (those I remember the price being 99 cents). This was last night, and there were still many, many items left, so check them out :)

Santa is Coming to Walmart-Yippee!!

Santa will be coming to Walmart November 28th & 29th and December 5th & 6th! Go here to check if he will be visiting your local Walmart :)

Home Depot LED Light Deal

Home Depot has a great deal happening right now through Nov. 15th. Bring in your old lights-up to 5 sets- and get a $3 voucher for led lights. You can trade in up to 5 sets per customer. I am thinking early Christmas present for my hubby who has been wanting some of these to hang outside :) Thanks to Sisterly Savings for the heads up!

102 Days Til Christmas!!!

Yikes! It is coming up fast and I have not started any sewing-not that I have alot to do but I don't want to be rushing my sewing at the last minute in December and would rather take that time to do some fun Christmas things with my kids!

Here are some more ideas for things you can make for Christmas gifts:

21 Free Sewing Patterns

Christmas Craft Projects including some kids can make :)

Crochet patterns

Gift Baskets-Not Just for Christmas

Gift baskets can be a terrific gift anytime of the year-they can be frugal too! Especially if you are able to find the contents on a good sale throughout the year. Or perhaps, you could even throw in some of those free samples you have gotten over time to add with store bought items. For instance, right now would be a great time to stock up on school supplies that are on sale (or in some parts of the country, clearance!). Many kids are into drawing, coloring, writing, etc... and would really enjoy a gift basket-or, perhaps, a nice pencil box or craft box-full of supplies! I have set back a few school supplies such as notebooks, colored pencils, and crayons for my little artists and journalists for Christmas presents this year. I plan to decorate the covers of the notebooks with stickers, scrapbooking paper, or whatever else I can find-this gift box will end up costing me much less than $1 per child, but I know will give them quite a bit of pleasure!

How to make gift baskets? First, you need to keep in mind the person(s) you are going to be making the basket for. Are they a busy mom, or dad, who would love an easy dinner night? Are they a college student? Perhaps a new 16 year old who just got her first car? See where I am going here? :) You can make a gift basket for anyone, at anytime! You do not have to be super creative-just look around. Or, even get good ideas online.

For the 16 yo, I would include some of those handy car items we have all come to appreciate over the years. A flashlight, a small notebook to record oil changes and other minor car keep ups, a nice cd holder, some nice car scent doo-dads, etc....you could even throw in a cute keychain and some car cleaning supplies. Even a nice little holder for important things like insurance info and important phone numbers would be nice.

You are getting the idea...the options for gift baskets can be endless.

If you are looking for more ideas, here are some great frugal ideas from the friendly web to help you out :

Dollar Stretcher Gift Basket Ideas
BabyZone-Frugal Gift Ideas  Scan down to the Gift Baskets section or read the whole article as there are many good ideas here!
Family Finance Cheap Christmas Gift Baskets
8 Reasonably Priced Gift Basket Ideas

Getting Ready for Christmas-Doll Houses

We are going to be blessed with a doll house for my two younger kids this Christmas. The friend I am buying it from insists it needs to be painted and fixed up a bit. No problem....look online and you can find great ideas, a wealth of info on how to do it (if you are not very creative, like me :) and even some ideas on how to make little things to go in the doll house!  Perhaps your child does not have a dollhouse-maybe some of these ideas can be used for Barbie and her house. Or, maybe you can make this a neat project to do with your child all year long-get some wood and make your own dollhouse. It could just basic and then add on. Look at yard sales for small dolls to go inside :) The past couple of years, some dollar stores have had small doll accessories, such as small tables, dressers, etc.

Here are some links I have come across:
How to Decorate a Doll House
Laura Anne Doll Houses
Jennifer's Doll House Printables
Flipping Freebies Eh-Doll house printables
Jim's Printable Mini's
Get Started With Miniatures
Doll House Parade

Picture of Jess...

With Jess :) Here is that shirt, on Jess, that I made and forgot to take a pic of before wrapping it. I had some happy little (and big) girls on Christmas over their American Girl items I made for them and that made me happy :) Katy was happy how well the cape fit Felicity. That made me feel good since I didn't really think at her age, she would get too excited over something like that anymore-lol!

The pants I made Josh worked out great! I had to make them using some other jammie pants since the pattern I had was too small for him. I went on a wing and a prayer with those but they turned out terrific! I thought they would be too big, but they are almost perfect, with a little growing room! YAY! I was unable to find him a shirt at Walmart when I went on Christmas Eve-could not believe I could not find a single long sleeved t-shirt or sweatshirt in his size--ugh! I will look after the Christmas crazies are over :)
Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas!