Christmas Gift for the Grandmoms: Photo Albums

WE ARE SO CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS.

I hope you are all finishing up your holiday preparations and getting ready for that jolly ol' chubby elf to slide down your chimney!  A word of advice:  Don't leave a fire in the fireplace that night... a charred Santa is no bueno.

I don't know about any of you out there, but I have trouble figuring out presents for the grandmas... they are hard to shop for!  And my mother-in-law made matters even worse this year by requesting, "Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men".  That's a tall order, even for my vast capabilities.

I decided early this year that a photo album of the kids would be a good idea.  Through the year, we take lots of photos, so I thought I would make that their present: a grandkids year-in-review, if you will.  And if you do it right, it can cost only a few dollars!

I found some little photo albums at Walmart for $3.00 each.

Next, I took a whole bunch of pictures throughout the year.  Now here's where you can save some money:  Instead of developing pictures a bit at a time and paying full price for them, save them to a special folder on your computer and wait for a sale.  Walgreens has deals every few weeks for free pictures, usually 25 or so for completely free if you pick them up in store.  Wait for those deals and develop your pictures during those times.  If you time it just right, you can pay nothing for those pictures... awesomesauce.

That's what I did and then I had all sorts of cutie pictures to include in the albums.

I should mention that these are just regular ol' pictures... our year-in-review is not always photogenic, but that's real life around here.

I added the kids Santa picture at the end...

And then I added a vinyl label to the front.

Really simple, totally inexpensive, and the grandmas are going to love it.  I added a sweet little bow to complete the package:

And after all, don't most grandparents have everything they want already?  They appreciate the memories and this is perfect for that!
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Christmas Binder Weekly Lists

Hey everyone!  I hope you are gearing up for the holiday!

I had several of you ask to see the lists I included in my holiday binder.  I'm just too happy to share them with you, along with explanations of list items that might seem a bit strange to you.

Weeks one and two are pretty straight-forward:  a lot of planning and list-making, which I love.  Buying the supplies for homemade gifts should be done early on too, since you'll need time to craft up a storm.  And if you aren't sure what a Venti Box is, check it out here and here.

Week three adds a bit more work, including putting up outside lights and sending out party invites.  Week four really kicks up the intensity, with trips to see Santa and shopping with the kids.  And don't forget to send out the Christmas cards!

Weeks five and six are where we separate the women from the men who just lay on the couch and count on their wives to do everything... I'M LOOKING IN YOUR DIRECTION, DAVE.  Ahem.  In week five, all the gifts and stocking stuffers get purchased as well as the cookie-making supplies.  Week six is the home stretch!  You'll basically be doing nothing but baking and cleaning that week... but at the end, you will hopefully get some happy faces to reward all that hard work.  And maybe an awesome present.

If anyone wants their own copy of these lists, I have a Word file at my fingertips... send an email to thriftycraftygirl@yahoo.com and I'll email it to you!

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Fabulously Festive Family Room

Hello everyone!  We're only a week away from Christmas.  I'm so excited, but I also get a bit sad this time of year.  It goes by so quickly, and I always get a case of the 'OH MY GRAVY, ANOTHER YEAR HAS GONE BY AND I STILL HAVEN'T WON A PULITZER' blues.  I think they're setting in a bit early this year.

To decorate for the holiday, I decided to really pull out the stops.  Of course, I have a two-month old, a four-year old, and an eight-year old, all with their own little needs... so I had to dedicate my decorations to one room: the family room.  Let's take a tour, shall we?

I love this pretty ornament and tinsel wreath from Jo-Ann Fabrics.  The hubs thought it should be a candle wreath and sit on the table with a pretty red candle... maybe next year, my bishop of love.

I added some simple ornaments to a length of garland to decorate the door casing...

And added lights to another for over the dining room doors.

And the stockings are hung near the furnace door with care... LOOK AT THE LITTLE ONE! I die.

The tree was decorated by the kids and Grandpa while they were waiting on Thanksgiving dinner.  They had such fun and it reminded me how awesome Christmas was when you were a kid.

And of course, Lily's ornament is hung on the tree...

Along with some the Beady Yarn Tree from last year.

And a simple canvas with some stenciled lyrics always looks nice on the wall...

Up the stairs is another length of garland with some poinsettias... I'm really digging those this year.

And in a pinch, with some fabric scraps and jute, you could always throw together a little garland for the bookcase like I did...

On the dining room table, I took a holiday bucket and filled it with scented pine cones and a candle... so simple but very festive.

And with the stuff I didn't have a place for?  I threw it on a cabinet.  'Cause that's how I roll.  YOLO, YA'LL.

And that's how it looks around here.  It's sort of like Christmas threw up, but we kind of like that around here.  How are your holiday decorations coming along?  Do you need a few craft supplies to make them happen?  Use this Jo-Ann's coupon to bring some extra cheer into your home!  And check out the Jo-Ann craft catalog to find some holiday inspiration!

I received a gift card to Jo-Ann Fabrics for my participation in this campaign.  All opinions are my own.


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Holiday Binder

I love a good binder.

The holidays can be so stressful.  That's my excuse for eating way too much on Christmas... and the weeks leading up to it.  I'm an emotional eater, don't judge.  This year, I wanted to make the holidays less stressful and more fun.  So I made a binder!

I bought a mini binder from Staples.  Seriously, mini binders are my favorite-est thing ever.  I wrapped it in fun holiday fabric:

I didn't really need to label this puppy, since the fabric is clearly holiday.  Saving steps in the crafting process, I rule.

I used some scrapbook paper to make little folders for the weeks leading up to Christmas:

I have six weeks in the binder but I didn't take a picture of all of them... I thought it would be redundant.  THAT'S A REALLY BIG WORD FOR ME TO USE, SOMEONE CONGRATULATE ME.

And inside the little folders, I added a laminated checklist of what to do that week.

This little binder was so fun to make and it actually kept me on track!  I'm done with my holiday shopping already, all the presents are wrapped and all that's left is the candy for the stockings!  I have so much extra time this year!

Did you make a holiday binder to help stay on the holiday track?
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Accounting Major Turned Business Major Turned Blogger

I recently shared with you my experience changing majors in college.  I went from being an accounting major to a business major, a field that was much more in line with my skills and interests.  But what good did it do my career, you ask?

I am a blogger.  When people ask what I do, I tell them: "I am a blogger".  I also tell them I'm anticipating a modeling contract any day now, but they mostly believe the blogger stuff.  Blogging has given me business connections and has made me money.  And I firmly believe that switching my major to business has helped me succeed where many have not.

Blogging is not easy business.  It takes real work and dedication, and even when you've given your all you still may not make it any more than a hobby.  To turn my love of crafting and writing into an actual money-making enterprise, I have had to utilize what I learned in college during my business classes.

The lessons I've learned the most from were learning how businesses operate.  In order to collaborate with a company for my blog, I have to know what they are really looking for.  In order to pitch myself to a company, I have a better chance of gaining their business if I know their lingo.  In short, those business classes help me succeed at what I really want to do: blog and get paid for it.

If I had stayed in my first major, accounting, would I be able to network as effectively as I can now?  Maybe... but it would be a higher climb for me, for sure.  Maneuvering the tricky waters of blogging is so difficult, especially when you don't have any business training.  By using what I've learned, I've been able to contribute to my family in ways I didn't know were really possible.  So, as it turns out, all that book-learnin' actually did come in handy.

Have you ever considered a change in career or major?  If there is something you've always wanted to do and it's not in your field, maybe you should take a chance!

Whether you’re seeking further success in your current role or a new opportunity, Kaplan University can help you prepare for the exciting possibilities ahead.*

As an accredited university built on more than 75 years of experience,† Kaplan University offers a wide range of career-focused programs designed to develop the skills and knowledge leading employers seek. Our focus: to offer you the most direct educational path to achieve your goals.

Are you ready for a change?  Learn more at kaplanuniversity.edu. 

* Kaplan University cannot guarantee employment or career advancement.

† Kaplan University is regionally accredited. Please visit http://www.kaplanuniversity.edu/about/accreditation-licensing.aspx# for additional information about institutional and programmatic accreditation.

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Lily's First Christmas Ornament

Hi everyone!  We're almost two weeks away from Christmas... I think I've got it all under control: the cards have been sent, the presents are all purchased and wrapped, the decorations are up, and my husband is humbugging as usual.  Happy holidays too all, except him.

I saw a cute idea on Pinterest for an ornament for new baby Lily.  I bought a large clear ornament and grabbed the little hat she came home from the hospital in.  I threw it in the ornament along with her ID bracelets and a little bead bracelet a nice lady made for her.  Look how cute!

I just love it!  I'm thinking about finding the boys' things from when they were born and putting theirs in an ornament as well.  Yes, they're eight and four years old, but I will just pretend I made them years ago.  Let's keep that between us, shall we?
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Changing Majors: My Road to Business

Allow me to drive you around in the way-back machine for just a minute...

I was young.  And confused.  And thin, but that's neither here nor there.  I was in college, majoring in Accounting.  Ah, those were the days.  I lived and breathed my accounting classes, firmly believing I had found my calling in life.

And then, I found myself falling asleep during my homework.  I wasn't exhausted or anything... I was bored.  Now, before I get a thousand emails from accountants and bookkeepers about how exciting their job is, I'm not saying you're boring... in fact, if you can make that job exciting, you are a truly awesome person.  It just wasn't for me, and that was all there was to it.

So, a change was in order.  I really wasn't sure where to go from there, to be honest.  I wanted to stay in the same career family because I knew I could thrive in an office setting.  I just knew I could perform well at any business in town.  And when I said those words to the college counselor, he checked a couple of boxes on his change of major form, signed it, and handed it to me.  Without even realizing what had happened, he enrolled me in the Business major.

And life was no longer boring.

It can be a really scary thing, switching from one field to another.  For me, since the majors were a bit overlapping in many ways, the transition wasn't terrible.  For those of you who have changed careers and went in a completely different direction than you had originally planned, you have a bravery the likes of which I'll never understand.

The transition to business from accounting could have been a bit harder, I suppose.  I was lucky in that I had a great support system at my college: I had several professors and the counselor that kept me motivated and in-check when it seemed like I was going off the academic rails.  Having people to watch out for you, even when your decisions don't impact them directly, is a great comfort when you're treading the waters of academic transition.  Because of that great support system, I got my degree in Business and now have a job in which I can network and use my skills to benefit my family and myself.  If I had stayed in accounting, I don't think I would be where I am now.  And where I am now makes me happy.

Have you ever changed majors or careers?  Would you do it again?  What advice can you give to people who are thinking about making a big change in their lives?

Whether you’re seeking further success in your current role or a new opportunity, Kaplan University can help you prepare for the exciting possibilities ahead.*

As an accredited university built on more than 75 years of experience,† Kaplan University offers a wide range of career-focused programs designed to develop the skills and knowledge leading employers seek. Our focus: to offer you the most direct educational path to achieve your goals.

Are you ready for a change?  Learn more at kaplanuniversity.edu. 

* Kaplan University cannot guarantee employment or career advancement.

† Kaplan University is regionally accredited. Please visit http://www.kaplanuniversity.edu/about/accreditation-licensing.aspx# for additional information about institutional and programmatic accreditation.

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I link up at these great parties!

Venti Box or How I Saved Christmas Money

Happy December!  Christmas is three weeks from tomorrow.  For the love of Pete, this year just flew by.

So, earlier this year, I showed you my plan for saving some Christmas money.  It was a simple as gluing a cardboard box shut and shoving $20 in it every payday.  I called it the "Venti Project" because venti means 'twenty' in Italian and I'm far too dramatic to just call it 'The Saving Money for Christmas Project'.

And how did my efforts work out?

Thanksgiving morning I let my oldest child take a hammer to the box.  It would have just been silly to pull it open normally, you see.

After he ripped the cream cheese out of that sucker, the fruits of my savings were displayed.

It amounted to $440.  Which was awesome... but the really awesome thing was that I didn't have to budget for Christmas money.  I took $20 every paycheck, which wasn't really missed, and shoved it away.  It was really easy and I'm totally doing it again for next Christmas.

How are you paying for the holidays this year?  Tell me all about it!

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Napkin Strings

 

That's right, I said napkin strings, not napkin rings.  Oh, I'm just so clever I can hardly stand it.

So, I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year.  Actually, I didn't exactly volunteer for this position... people just sort of started asking what I would be fixing and at what time should they show up.  I don't have the heart to turn them away.  I keep picturing my family alone on Thanksgiving, eating tuna fish out of a can, and lamenting their terrible family member, who wouldn't let them come over for turkey and pie.

I've gotten melodramatic again, haven't I?

To accommodate my free-loading relatives, I've decided to use paper plates and napkins this year.  I know, I know, I should be using fine china.  Listen, the fine china is still at the store until someone lovely buys it for me.  Until that happens, I'm using paper plates and napkins.  But I want to spruce up the table setting to make up for the lack of regal-ness.  So, I made some napkin strings.

I bought some autumn-colored embroidery floss.

And then I braided 'em, 7th grade best friend style.

And then, I wrapped some cutlery... cutlery-wrapping montage, here we come:

And viola, a wrapped set of utensils.

And then, I wrapped my friendship bracelet around a few times and tied it with a bow.

See? Napkin strings.  Easy and thrifty.  Here's hoping that my Thanksgiving guest appreciate them before ripping them apart and discarding them next to the empty pie plate.

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