source: huge cool

Merry Christmas, sweet friends!
Hope you have a wonderful day rejoicing in the best present of all: Jesus!

love, Amanda

Merry Christmas is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
:: :: ::

Related posts:

1. Christmas STUFF: Top Ten {Tuesday} I love Christmas. I love lists. I love Christmas lists....
2. Christmas Cards? Or No Christmas Cards? I usually send out Christmas cards around December 23rd. But...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I’m not opposed to singing Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer or making stocking-shaped cookies at home. But I am opposed to making these things the center of our Christmas celebration when the story of Jesus can be just as fun, exciting and “magical”!

{Read my full post at the Tommy Mommy blog…}

Source: buddingbaketress.blogspot.com via Patsy on Pinterest

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
:: :: ::

Related posts:

1. Happy New SCHOOL Year Resolutions: Making Dinner as a Family (*giveaway*) This is one of those posts I committed to writing...
2. Ebooks for the New School Year: Top Ten {Tuesday} As the school year begins (we’re almost ONE month in!...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I have been so amazingly overwhelmed and excited about how much everyone is loving (and sharing) Truth in the Tinsel! It’s been so fun to get to know everyone on the Facebook page and see them do the activities with their own kids–people from all over the world!

So many awesome bloggers have posted about the book and I’ve even had a few interviews and guest posts about the book. So, I thought I’d share some of them with you today!

I’m over at Sharing the Journey today, contributing to a series about Christmas traditions. It’s a great series with some really fun ideas–and of course, I’m talking about advent calendars and Truth in the Tinsel. And I’ve even got a picture of our very first advent ornaments from when Lydia was just 1 year old!

I was interviewed at Hive Resources about (are you ready for this?) THEOLOGY and kids! So, if you wanna hear some theology and philosophy when it comes to kids and Christmas, you’ll like this one!

And just a few days after the book came out, my dear friend Kat let me post on her blog about the story behind the book. About how God (yes) spoke to me about doing the book! It’s the most-heart-felt post I’ve written about Truth in the Tinsel. And I’m so glad I had the opportunity to write it.

OK. Enough plugging of my ability to write a billion and a half words on the same subject! Back to your Christmas shopping! See you tomorrow for Top Ten {Tuesday}!

Where am I? is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
:: :: ::

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

When I was in New York with Operation Christmas Child I met Clair from Mummy Deals. And I liked her instantly! She has a fabulous deal blog, but also a huge heart for others, a great sense of humor and a fun accent! Today, she is going to share an amazing and very timely guest Top Ten {Tuesday} list.

She emailed me and said, “Maybe I should edit it a little so it’s not so long?” I emailed her back and said, “Don’t worry about it, my readers are used to my long-windedness!” And I promise, you will love every keystroke in this post. Ready? Here are Clair’s…

TOP TEN TEACHER GIFTS FOR UNDER $2

1) Oreo Balls

I’m a gift giver and somewhat of a perfectionist when it comes to baking but one thing is true: I love my 3 year old helping out so I tend to pick easier things like these scrummy oreo balls. We made them together and although we got a little “messy marvin” as he likes to call it, we had fun dancing to Christmas tunes and smashing oreos!

Ingredients

• Oreos (I used store bought ones)
• 8oz softened cream cheese
• Candy melts, almond bark, sprinkles to decorate

1) Use about 3/4 of the pack of oreos and smash them up. I used a can of unopened vegetables but a food processor would work fine too

2) Add those to the cream cheese and stir well.

3) Roll into balls and place on wax paper (a tray works fine too!) and put in the fridge to harden.

4) Once they’re hard (give them about an hour) dip them in melted candy melts and add sprinkles. To save money I just dipped one side and I still think they look good!

5) Add them into a pretty container. I had this one on hand and I know you probably do too!

Cost
Store bought oreos (I didn’t use the whole container) $1.25
Cream cheese $.99
Candy melts and sprinkles: $.75
Final Cost: $2.99/4 servings or about $.75 each

2) Unique Paper and Pen

Although on the surface this just looks like candy canes, one of them is actually a Candy Cane Pen that I thought would pair nicely. Teachers need pen and paper at all times and this gift is a nifty treat.

Cost
Magnetic Notebook: $1 at a craft store or dollar store/section
Candy cane pen: $.50
Candy canes: $.25
Final Cost: $1.75

I put mine in a bottle bag folded down but any piece of material or bag would work great.

3) Foot Spa

I truly believe it’s all in the presentation and I don’t know but teachers seem like they’d need some foot pampering, right?

These cozy socks were just $.99 and the lotion was free after Register Rewards at Walgreens a couple of weeks ago but you can use any small lotion for around $1. To add a little extra something, I recommend a candy cane and a note: “Thanks for being on your feet all day impacting children. Now take a load off!”

Cost
Socks $.99
Lotion: $1
Final Cost: $1.99

4) Car Kit

Besides a plate of cookies what do you give a male teacher? How about a car kit for cold winter days. My Grandma always kept a blanket and chocolate bar in her car in case she broke down and when I saw this blanket for $1.49 it made me think of that.

Tie the blanket with some pretty ribbon and attach the candy bar and a candy cane. Add a note: “Keep in your car just in case. Thanks for everything!”

Blanket: Less than $2 at Menards or other stores
Candy bar: $.50 (bonus prize for anyone who guesses the name of the English chocolate I used!)
Final Cost: Mine was $2

5) Natural Spa Tin
Teachers need pampering but this would also make a great hostess gift. This mini spa tin with ingredients to do natural spa treatments is the idea of my good friend Trish whom I’ve lovingly nicknamed “Martha S”!

Items Needed

• Small tin. These can be purchased inexpensively at a craft store or Target.
• Two teabags of caffeinated black or orange pekoe tea
• Small bag of oatmeal

Add these items to the tin with the instructions below and a small note: “Thanks for being such a swell TEA-CHER!”

Instruction Card #1

1. Simply mix the tea leaves from one bag of tea and your favorite cream cleanser in your hands and apply liberally to the face. Don’t be shy – you want to use as much of the tea in the bag as you can.
2. After you gently massage as much of the mixture as you can onto the skin, let it sit for 3-5 minutes (remove if you feel it begin to tingle). Rinse with warm water and pat dry – that’s it!
3. Be sure to apply a light moisturize when you’re all done

Instruction Card #2:

* 1/3 cup of regular or quick cook oatmeal
* 1/4 cup of honey
* 1/2 cup of water
* 1 teabag of Black or Orange Pekoe tea

1. Put the teabag into a microwave safe cup with water and microwave for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Steep the tea for at least 30 seconds.
2. This tea should be hot enough to cook the oatmeal – pour the tea slowly into a bowl containing the oatmeal. Stir until the mixture thickens to a mucky texture.
3. Add the honey and blend by stirring thoroughly.
4. Let the mixture stand until cool.
5. Apply the mask and allow it to dry. Rinse with warm water, and you’re done! This mask exfoliates and removes excess oil from the skin, as you know. However, this version of the mask also infuses caffeine into your skin as it works, giving a boost of vibrance as it removes oil and impurities!

Cost
Tin: $1
Tea bags: $.25
Oatmeal $.25
Final Cost: $1.50

6) Cupcake Socks.

Who doesn’t love a pair of fuzzy socks? Not only are they practical but they’re cheap and you can snag a pair for less than $2. I got these for $.99 but even now Target has cute regular socks for $1 that would go great.

1. Simply wrap these around to make a cupcake shape.
2. Grab a piece of scrapbook paper and use about a quarter of it to make a strip. Cut with scissors that make a nice edge if you have them.
3. Wrap around the socks and tape.
4. Place a marble on the top for the cherry or ball of some kind.
5. Add tulle and a ribbon. We used ribbon tulle that I got for $2.99/roll at Michael’s.

This is a great gift for family too as you could add a bottle of nail polish in the center. If you got some last week during the Walgreens sale, you’d have paid just $.27 including tax!

Cost
Socks $1
Scrapbook paper 1/4 piece $.15
Tulle: $.25
Nail polish $.27
Final Cost: $1.67

7) Essentials Kit.

1) Teachers are essential and so is this gift as it’s perfect for the winter and for your car! Simply grab a pair of magic gloves ($1 for 2 pairs at Old Navy and other stores) and add practical items such as gum, lipgloss, tissues.

2) Stuff gloves with the items and then tie with a bow.

3) Add a note like, “Teachers are essential, so is this gift! Thanks!”

Cost
Gloves $.50
Gum 2 pack from dollar store: $.50
Chapstick: Free from drugstore deal (or $1 if not)
Tissues or hand sanitizer $1
Final Cost: $2

8 ) Spiced Nut Cone.
In Chicago people go crazy for spiced nuts from a certain store but you can make them inexpensively yourself and they look store bought. This recipe makes 10 servings of about 4 TBS each.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup walnut halves
• 1/2 cup whole unblanched almonds
• 1/2 cup raw cashews
• 1/2 cup shelled pistachios
• 1/2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tbsp packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tbsp dry mustard
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp black pepper

Directions

1. Add nuts and oil and dijon in a bowl
2. In another bowl add the other ingredients and then mix the two together.
3. Bake on parchment paper at 300°F for about 20 minutes. Stir mid-way through to ensure it cooks right.

1) Then grab a sheet of pretty scrapbook paper for around $.59 and roll into a cone.2) Add the nuts.

3) Cover with tissue paper.

Add a ribbon and gift.

Cost

Nuts: As nuts aren’t cheap I would recommend buying some mixed nuts from the store if you’re making a bulk batch of this. It may be cheaper and easier that way and you can get around 22oz (more than enough) them for around $7.50
Cone: $5.90/10
Final Cost: $13.40/10 or $1.34 each

9) Berry Ornament.
This ornament is super easy to make and very easy to personalize. It is a great gift idea for a hostess or family as well as a teacher gift.

1) Buy a plastic clear ornament from a craft store – Mine was $.74.

2) Add some berry balls from the dollar store or craft store.

3) Tie a ribbon on the top.

Voila!
Ornament: $.74
Berries: We used half a bag from the dollar store.
Final Price: $1.24

Other Ideas

• Fill with hot pink feathers for a tween or fashionista.
• Add a hospital bracelet or lock of hair for new parents.
• Put a few light candies in (like tootsie rolls) for the sweet tooth.

10) Potpourri

As I walked into Michael’s recently I spotted this spiced potpourri. Combined with some tulle and a ribbon this is a very inexpensive way to send someone a little thanks and right now is sitting nicely in my bathroom.

Cost
Potpourri was $1 for the bag but I used half: $.50
Tulle, ribbons etc: $.50
Final Cost: $1

Other Ideas
** Buy a bracelet and feed a child in Indonesia for a week: http://www.give-jewelry.com/
**Donate money to a charity with a note explaining.
** Put together a small photo album of your children doing something for a charity and a note: “We gave time in your honor. Thanks for your impact on our lives, we want to make a difference too!”

One of my FAVE deals ever has to be Restaurant.com. Plus I think they make aweeeeeeeeeeeesome stocking stuffers and help you with your grocery budget. Can someone say “WIN-WIN”? Go to their site today only. Use code STOCKING and Pay Just $2 for 1 certificate through 12/14/11. These are perfect teacher gifts/hostess gifts and stocking stuffers.

Clair is a Hubby lovin, bargain shoppin, frugal livin, coffee drinkin, British-born Mum to 2 and daughter of The King. Check out Clair’s site for more fabulous homemade Christmas gifts. And make sure to LIKE Mummy Deals on Facebook so you can stay connected!

{Do you love Clair or what?!!}

:: :: ::

Link up your Top Ten list and join in the Top Ten {Tuesday} fun! All you have to do is WRITE a top ten list, PASTE it  below, LINK back to me in your post & then start LOVIN’ on the rest of the participants with facebook likes, stumbles, pins, comments and tweets (#toptentues)! For better and more succinct guidelines see my Top Ten {Tuesday} page!

Teacher Gifts For Under $2: Top Ten {Tuesday} is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
:: :: ::

Related posts:

1. Best BFF Gifts: Top Ten {Tuesday} I’m a gift-giver. It’s one of my love languages. Not...
2. Accents & Kids Books: Top Ten {Tuesday} Sometime in between my shy elementary school years, my awkward...
3. Nursing School Graduation Party: Top Ten {Tuesday} Catie & me at her Pinning Ceremony (she isn’t really...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I usually send out Christmas cards around December 23rd. But last year I was so good and had them done  in like October. And I was hoping to continue that trend.

But today I’m finally home from Disney World and just realized that I have about 3 Christmas parties to go to THIS WEEK, about 4 guest posts to write and oh, I don’t know UNPACK MY SUITCASE and I don’t want to do Christmas cards. I mean, is there really anyone on my list that doesn’t see me Facebook, tweet or blog 8billion times a day? I think I’m a little bit of an over-share-er. I highly doubt anyone would be surprised by anything in a newsy newsletter from me.

This is coupled with the fact that while at Disney World, I kept trying to get a good Christmas picture of the 4 of us. And it just didn’t happen. Wanna help me choose one?

This is option #1: the one where Asa stares at Minnie’s hands and says, “Why is she wearing gloves if it’s not snowing?” (True story.)

Or maybe this one where Asa and Lydia were both so terrified of Woody and Buzz that they had to move to the very back of the room while we moved to the very front and tried to hold the kids so they wouldn’t bolt out of the room…

Or maybe one of these where Asa isn’t looking at the camera AT ALL…

I’m actually leaning towards this one…

Because at least Asa is looking at the camera. Albeit with tired eyes. It’s not like it’s Day 5 of 10-hour days at the parks and we made him get out of his stroller at 8:00 at night to get a picture or anything.

So, whaddya think? Christmas cards or no?

Christmas Cards? Or No Christmas Cards? is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
:: :: ::

Related posts:

1. Christmas STUFF: Top Ten {Tuesday} I love Christmas. I love lists. I love Christmas lists....

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

source: shereen84

I love Christmas.

I love lists.

I love Christmas lists.

Here are some of…

My Best Christmas Top Ten Lists

{for all you that need a good dose of Christmas!}

1. The Best Christmas Books Ever {seriously, I love me a good Christmas book!}

2. The Only Christmas Gifts You Should Buy This Year {these are gifts that give MORE!}

3. The Coolest Christmas Card Ideas You’ll Ever See {and yeah, I came up with some of these on my own!}

4. Christmas Albums You Probably Don’t Own But Should {that title speaks for itself}

5. Best Advent Calendars EVER {the 2009 edition}

6. Christmas Printables, Websites & Other Cool Online Tools {really & truly, I love the internet}

7. Handmade Christmas Gifts for Kids to Make & Give {get ready to pin ‘em, baby!}

8. Best Advent Calendars EVER {the 2008 edition}

9. How To Wrap and Detangle Christmas Lights {ok, this isn’t a Top Ten list, per se. But it is a list. And it is Christmasy. And it is pretty awesome.}

10. Presents Without Bows Are Just Wrong {ok, this isn’t a Top Ten list either. But it is a list. And it is Christmasy. And yeah, it’s way awesome.}

And now you can see just a glimpse of how much I love Christmas! (Oh, and I may have updated the titles of these to make them a tad more interesting…)

:: :: ::

Link up your Top Ten list and join in the Top Ten {Tuesday} fun! All you have to do is WRITE a top ten list, PASTE it  below, LINK back to me in your post & then start LOVIN’ on the rest of the participants with facebook likes, stumbles, comments and tweets! For better and more succinct guidelines see my Top Ten {Tuesday} page!

Christmas STUFF: Top Ten {Tuesday} is a post from: ohamanda.com
Happy New Year! Here are some of my favorite resources to help you make the most of 2012! One Bite At A Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler, an ebook by Simple Mom!
Create Your Perfect Cleaning Schedule, finally get your house under control!
E-Mealz, online meal-planning with shopping lists! {20% off with code SKINNY when you choose one of their healthy menus}
:: :: ::

Related posts:

1. Top Ten {Tuesday} There’s been some holes-in-your-roof-won’t-sleep-in-her-bed-I’m-going-to-Disney-tomorrow kinda craziness around here. So, I...
2. The Thought Process of a Top Ten {Tuesday} Post I literally do not have a list for you. I...
3. Top Ten {Tuesday} 1. You know what happens when your daughter gets sick...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.