Is it too late to cancel Christmas?

I feel like such a party pooper! This really is my favorite season - and not just cuz it's an excuse to bake all the time.  I love the giving spirit people are in.  I love Christmas music (been blaring over here since Thanksgiving, poor hubby).  I love the glittery decoration, the twinkly lights, and the smell of a real tree. (Wistful sigh, we have a fake this year.  But we do have a huge tree outside! Decked out with lights.  I'll go sniff that.)

There is one thing this Christmas season I'm scrooging about - gifts.  I thought I'd be that wife/mother/sister/aunt this year that was AMAZING and had everything handmade, wrapped and ready before Christmas.  I guess it doesn't help that I see new and exciting ideas on etsy and through the blogs I read - and want to start on those projects.  Maybe I've just set the bar to high - and I need to be happy with what I've done, and not strive for perfection.  Everyone will love their gifts, even if they're not perfect - cuz Santa just can't do it all.  Here's hoping they love it more for me not being frazzled.

So today I'm starting a campaign...laid back Christmas.  Here's to taking it easy, going with the flow, and enjoying the shine in your children's eyes as they see the wonders of the holidays :)

Etsy Shopping

This morning, my son woke up at 4 am. Usually we just go back to sleep, but for some reason this morning we are watching Toy Story at 4 am. So, my son is snuggled up laying on the floor watching the movie and I am browsing Etsy.  The first thing I had to do, was head back over to Notes from a Very Red Kitchen blog and her post about Winter Peach , a SUPER CUTE etsy shop with super cute patterns. This is what I bought this morning:

a 4-pack pattern for the Mary Jane Flats in sizes newborn to Women's 11.  I am really excited to try these out (as soon as I get my Christmas projects done!).  Go Check out this really cool shop! She has cute bag patterns too!

MY NEW TOY IS HERE!

And I just had to use caps!  My beautiful accuquilt has arrived, thanks again to Linda at LavenderRidge for hosting the giveaway.  So excited!

I'd be showing you pictures of this baby in use - but my oven kind of exploded. (I had it self clean, and there was white ash/dust everywhere.  We've been taking turns wiping it down, etc.  It's very sad!)  So, once my oven is whipped back into shape - pictures will abound!!!

<3

How many presents do you give your kids?

The main reason for writing this post is to get YOUR opinions! Please help me out!




Each Holdiay season, since I've been married, I have participated with my in-laws in the thrill of Black Friday shopping. The anticipation of the ads coming out, the pouring over them to decide what is best for my husband, and then recently what I should get for my son, the pain of standing in the cold, the rush of getting the perfect toy or the perfect outfit at the perfect price.



This year, I'm not quite sure I'm feeling it. I've looked at ad previews, and nothing catches my eye for my little two year old munchkin. Sure, I will wake up early and grab some great deals on PJ’s and a couple of things for Jesse that I have decided on. But I've been thinking. Will he appreciate these things? Do I go Christmas shopping for him, or for myself?



Recently I have found some great ideas on blogs about how others give gifts to their kids. Some have an all homemade Christmas, Some give the four gifts on Something you want, need, wear, and read.



My favorite idea (and if my husband would ever agree to it I would start right away) is the Three Gifts of Christmas. Jesus received three gifts, it should be enough for us right? There have been two ways that I have seen it and I really like both:




Gold – G – Garment/Clothing

Frankincense- F – Fun

Myrrh – M – Mind



Gold – Want

Frankincense – Spiritual Growth

Myrrh – Body (clothes)





I have also heard of three presents. One from mom, one from dad, and one from Santa. I think I would stick with the three themed presents above, keep Santa in the picture for his Present and stocking stuffers, and then have the traditional PJ’s opened the night before. I really like the idea that it concentrates on the Birth of Christ, rather than present giving, and it gives more time and money to Family Traditions.



How many or How do you give gifts to your Children? Any ideas would be great!



Happy Early Thanksgiving! Good luck to the Black Friday shoppers out there!

Ornaments to be Exchanged

My three ornaments (instead of just one!) to be exchanged. I'm going to send them out today.  I made three ornaments becuase I wanted to play around with a couple of different types.  I hope my exchange partner loves them!



Sew Many Ways shows us a Great Tree Skirt

I haven't been able to keep up with reading my blogs lately, so I'm trying to slowly catch up instead of just skipping over it. This morning, while on a break at work, I found an amazing tutorial.  I love tutorials that are easy to follow, easy to recreate, easy on the pocketbook, and easy on the eyes (lots of pictures!).  Karen's tutorial has it all.  Check out this great tutorial for a No Sew Tree Skirt for $2.50! 

Tupperware

If you didn't see my previous post about Heidi's Tupperware store:

Here is a deal for you: for everyone that purchases anything from Heidi's Tupperware site from now until the end of November, email me and I will send you a small homemade gift made by myself. I will just double check with Heidi first that your order has gone through and then I will send off your little surprise.  No better thing that tupperware and a free gift right? Go check it out!

Heidi has decided to double this offer! For the end of the month, if anyone one mentions you saw this offer on Honey Bee Bzz, you can get a free tupperware goody from Heidi with your order. You just have to let both of us know so you can get your free goodies!  Now go check out some great things you can give (or get!) for Christmas or the Holidays!

Blogging Friends

Sometimes you meet someone online, start to read their blog, and really feel like you start to get to know them too.  Sometimes you read a blog and wish you could meet someone IRL because they are super cool.  I want to introduce you to Heidi from Craft Monkey. She, my friends, is super cool. I'm serious.

I recently had a question about Tupperware. I remembered that she had a link on her website to her store. She was super helpful and answered all my questions and even sent me a sample.  Can you believe that? So great!  You should all check out her website and her Tupperware store!

Tupperware always reminds me of growing up. Who didn't have Tupperware in their house growing up? But now, they have a whole lot more! 

Seriously neat products out! I love it. Go check out some of the new things.  Here is a deal for you: for everyone that purchases anything from Heidi's Tupperware site from now until the end of November, email me and I will send you a small homemade gift made by myself. I will just double check with Heidi first that your order has gone through and then I will send off your little surprise.  No better thing that tupperware and a free gift right? Go check it out!

Now, back to 

She has Sugar Free Sundays with great recipes

Apple Streusel Muffins

Cute Holiday Crafts:

Halloween Lanterns

Crafting with our Kids ideas too!

Homemade Salt Dough Ornaments

She has a lot of cute ideas, so go check out my friend Heidi!

Cha-Ching on a Shoestring

Have you heard of Cha-Ching on a Shoestring?

Its a great website that has great deals. I love their Target deals and have been able to get a couple of great buys before, but today was a wonderful deal!  After my son's doctor's appointment, we ran over to Target with some coupons. See, I wanted to get the LeapFrog Tag reading system for my son, and I needed to get some stuffing for the work potluck on Thursday.

Here is what I bought:

With the coupons I found at the Cha Ching Website (I get the email) I got Stove Top for FOUR CENTS EACH and the Toy Story 3 Tag Junior System for $4.98!!

Can you believe that? It was truly an amazing shopping trip! And, I was so excited about the deals, I forgot to pick up a gallon of milk! So, check out that awesome website! And don't miss out on some great deals!  

P.S. This website also reminds me about Disney movie deals. Like when Toy Story 3 came out with the 4-disc combo pack, they had an $8 off coupon so I scored my Blu-ray and DVD edition for $17! 

Toy Story Birthday Party

My son turned two his past week. Happy Birthday Jesse!  Here is the party that I threw together.

Some of the food:

Buzz's Space Ranger Fuel and Bullseye's Watering Hole

Rex's Veggies

Slinky's Hot Dogs

Mr and Mrs Potato Head Chips 

  

Hamm's Pasta Salad 

Pin the tail on Bullseye

See how many Army Men you can drop into the Jar

I'm a winner!!!!!

Ah! I'm sooooooo happy! *dances* I won an accuquilt go!! From this lovely lady's blog!!  When it comes in the mail (and I'm done drooling over it) I'll cut up some lovelies and post for everyone to see!!

<3

Entering giveaways pays off! I'm proof! :D

Birthdays are Fun!

Dear SD will be 14 (ahhh!) tomorrow, and we had family dinner this past Saturday.  She chose chocolate pie over birthday cake!!!  She even had a super fancy flower candle with sparklers and music! :D

Look what I found!

Stumbling upon blogs, I found this giveaway.... everyone go click, enter, and good luck! :D

go-giveaway

Need your Opinions

Lovely Lovely Readers...

If you had a choice, for a giveaway, would you rather:

1. Fabric
2. A mini quilt
3. Table Runner

If you could please click and comment, and let us know whether you'd prefer a Christmas theme, or an all year theme.  Thanks! :D

Happy Halloween!

Yes, I realize Halloween was yesterday. But alas, I spent the day with my family, and am finally transferring pictures to computer :D

Here is our final jack-o-latern : Brobie, from Yo Gabba Gabba (the trick or treaters loved it)

 And here is my son, dressed up, hating his hat. (He didn't wear it when we went door to door.)

Hope everyone enjoyed their halloween as much as we did!
<3

Easy Wipe Off Placemats

My family is going to visit my sister Tiffany in October, so I have scheduled this post for then so that she won't know about these beforehand.  I wanted to share you an easy project that my toddler and I put together as a small gift for his cousin and family.  We wanted to make Easy Wipe off Placemats.  This is how they turned out:

We used the Yo Gabba Gabba Characters because that is what my nephew is into.  One character for each family member is on the front. Then "We love you" and Jesse's scribbles on the back with a border. Two sided! They are laminated in Contact Paper so you can just wipe them down and reuse them.


Jesse and I first cut a regular posterboard into 4 equal parts

Then we cut out our printed characters, glued them on, and named them for family members:

Then decide what you want on the reverse side, and if your child is helping, let them have at it:

Crafting in style:

Then cut out a big piece of contact paper that will fit over both sides and apply it (make sure the kids aren't putting bubbles in it if they are helping with this step).  Smooth out and there you go:

Simple but it will make dinner time more fun and remind them that their Cali family Loves them!