7 Quick Takes: December 4, 2009 (Volume 23)

~ 1 ~

I. must. clean.

In just a few days, I will be hosting a baby shower for my sister-in-law at my home.  Nothing like a party to force you into really a nice deep cleaning around the house, I suppose.  I actually have a bunch of things to do before the shower, but it should be a nice afternoon.

~ 2 ~

We are gearing up for St. Nicholas Day this weekend.  My kids are very excited, just like I always was when I was a kid.  Although we only do one small gift (between the three kids, the gifts averaged at right about $5/kiddo), they are eager to see what will await them.

On the topic of small gifts though, what are some of your favorite stocking stuffers for kids?

~ 3 ~

We just got our paperwork for Eric's health insurance for next year.  We have just a few days to make decisions and get it all turned back in.  I'm not sure why it has to be that way every year, but it is.

More importantly, I don't understand why we have to pay more for our monthly premiums each year, yet we also get an increase in our copays and introducing this year -- a deductible as well.  Oh well, I guess I can understand the increase in price, because they are cutting some of what they cover and making us financially responsible for more of it.

Yeah, it makes perfect sense.

~ 4 ~

I know that a lot of people around the U.S. right now are probably at the point where they are tired of coming up with creative ways to use leftover turkey.  But do you know what?  I only got to have turkey on Thanksgiving and then a few rolls with some turkey on them on the drive home the next day (from my grandparents house).  So, darn it -- I'm in the mood for turkey.

Good thing I went to Aldi's for the first time ever and picked up a Butterball turkey at a great price.  I have to decide when to make it (so I know when to start thawing it), but then I'm all psyched to have some turkey at home.

In preparation for when we get tired of turkey though, anyone have any great leftover turkey ideas?

~ 5 ~

I was excited to get to change my ringback tone on my cell phone to "Carol of the Bells" by Straight No Chaser just after Thanksgiving.  It was apparently a whole family event, because the kids had to call my phone and then so did my Mom.  Then the kids made me play the song on my iPod several times.  I didn't know it, but it is apparently Noah's favorite Christmas song.

~ 6 ~

I recently searched around town and the Internet for this Pastry Chef set from Step 2 for Molly for Christmas.  I just thought it looked so cute after reading about it in the most recent issue of Family Fun Magazine.

Much to my displeasure, what I thought was going to be a single click on Amazon.com actually ended up being an all-out search.  I have not linked you to Amazon, as a matter of fact, because they are out and there are third party sellers trying to get almost $60 for the set right now (which should be around $25).

I was thrilled to then find that Step 2 sells them on their website!  But, the catch is that they only sell a two pack of this toy on their site.  Get this though -- it was on sale for $29.99 for the two pack!  (Right now, it's up to $49.98 for the set of two, but that is what retail price would be for two.)

So, not only did I manage to get a toy that I wanted, but now we have another gift just waiting to be given to someone else!  WooHoo!

~ 7 ~

I recently heard this passage from Matthew's Gospel (when my friend Amanda put it on a mixed media painting) and I realized that I need to think of it a lot more often than I do:

Learn from the wildflowers in the field, and behold the birds in the sky.  Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will wear.  Your Heavenly Father knows what you need before you even ask Him.

This post is linked to 7 Quick Takes Friday.

Photos by: cleaning by The Shopping Sherpa / turkey by Another Pint Please... / flowers by Martin_Heigan

Be Sure to Check Out the Giveaways at Joyful Holidays!

Brenda, the super homeschooling Mom that is the powerhouse behind Tie That Binds Us, The Curriculum Choice, and Our Lifestyle of Learning (as well as a writer at a number of others sites), has started back up writing at her fabulous holiday blog, Joyful Holidays.

I have really been enjoying following along with Brenda as she shares fabulous ideas for Thanksgiving and Christmas preparations!  One very cool thing that has been happening for the last couple of days is a series of giveaways from wonderful Etsy sellers.  There are eleven days of giveaways -- so you definitely have time to visit! 

So, don't hesitate to go check out Joyful Holidays, not only for the fabulous giveaways, but for the great holiday ideas too!  Thanks for inspiring me to have an even more wonderful holiday season, Brenda!

A Non-Knitter Makes Knitted Christmas Gifts!

I'm so excited to read the Works for Me Wednesday posts this week, as the theme this week is all about Christmas gifts!  Although I'm trying to finish up my shopping (within the next week, I hope!), I still love getting ideas, especially since I'm sure many of them will be handmade goodies.

Speaking of handmade goodies, be sure to check out my ideas for baking goodies to give out as gifts, as well as making not so edible cookies (felt ones, actually) for Christmas as well.

Here's my offering for this edition -- knitting Christmas gifts for the knitting-challenged.

Just a year and a half ago, I had never used a sewing machine, and I had absolutely no idea how to do any needlework types of crafts (like embroidery or knitting).  I'm still far, far, far from being a pro, and I have to use some aids at times, but I'm happy to say that not only am I making and giving those handmade felt cookies, but I am also giving some knitted (on a loom) gifts this year too!  So, take heart, if you have always wished you could be more crafty, there definitely is hope for you!

I used the Knifty Knitter round looms to make the two completed hats shown, and am working on another one that is still on the loom.  I used super soft yarns for all of those projects -- the pinks are bamboo and the brown is alpaca.  As far as I'm concerned, nothing makes knitting better than using wonderful yarn.  And my big challenge for this Christmas?  On the long loom (also by Knifty Knitter) is a blanket!  It's taking a lot longer than a hat, but I'm keeping at it!

So, if you're like I was just not too long ago and you long to create but think you're hopeless, maybe try something like the kit I used for learning embroidery or the looms sets (round would be easiest to start with, but the long ones are a great addition).  Another major help to me was having my Mom around to help me (and Eric to help me with figuring out loom directions), but YouTube videos can help too.

Making handmade things for Christmas not only blesses the receiver, but as far as I'm concerned, it really can bless the giver too.  It's really hard for me to be in a bad mood while I'm using bamboo yarn.  I'm hoping that at least one of my bamboo hat receivers (who lives in my house) will also find it hard to be in a bad mood wearing it! 








This post is linked to Works for Me Wednesday and Finer Things Friday.

Starting a Homeschool Preschool Co-op

Join me over at The Homeschool Classroom to read tips about how to start your very own homeschool preschool co-op.  Even if you're not interested in homeschooling in the future, a homeschool preschool co-op may be a valid alternative to a pricey private preschool.