Need a movie break?

Go to Amazon's Video on Demand page and use the code AVODGIFT to get a free online rental.   I'm hoping to find some down time tonight (after our last Christmas party of the year) to relax and watch something fun with my DH!

Thanks to Econobusters for sharing this deal!

Kneeling Santa Prayer

Kneeling Santa Prayer by Juelie McLean

The sleigh was all packed, the reindeer were fed,

But Santa still knelt by the side of his bed,

"Dear Father," he prayed, "Be with me tonight.

There's much work to do and my schedule is tight.

My sack will hold toys to grant all kids' wishes.

The supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes.

I can do all these things, Lord, only through You.

I just need your blessing, then it's easy to do.

I do this only to honor the birth of the One,

That was sent to redeem us, Your most Holy Son.

So to all of my friends, lest Your glory I rob,

Please, Lord, remind them who gave me this job."

Frugal Stocking Stuffers

One of my favorite things to do at Christmas is fill the family's stockings with small gifts. This could quickly become very expensive if I let it... but I don't. Instead, I pick up little trinkets and free samples throughout the year and put those back for stockings.  My rule of thumb for stockings is that items have to cost less than $1, and they can't be junk that will just wind up in the bottom of the toy box.

Here are some of the frugal stocking fillers I'll be using this year:

• a free GeoTrax DVD for my son 
• two children's books that I received free for review (Ok, technically these may not fit into their stockings, but they were still free!)
• animal shaped measuring tapes for each child-- $.39 on clearance in Target's party aisle over the summer
• Jonas Brothers pencils- $.10 for four from WalMart's clearance aisle after school started
• fun socks for each child to coordinate with the clearance sweaters they will receive
• gum, bought on sale/ with coupon
• a $1 photo album/ brag book for each child, using favorite photos from the year (if I had planned ahead a little more I would have had them printed for FREE when I signed up for SeeHere)

Frugal stocking stuffers work for me-- what inexpensive items will you be putting in your stockings this Christmas?  I'd love to hear more ideas! 

Good Reads: 40 Loaves

Forty Loaves: Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day is exactly my kind of book: it asks questions about faith and belief.   It doesn't apologize, or try to gloss over the fact that we, as Christians, have real, honest, important questions.   It's not one of those "just have faith and things will be perfect" preachy types of books (which I hate)... instead it probes the reader for a deeper understanding of his/her faith. 

The book is broken down into very short chapters (typically 3-5 pages), making it perfect for a daily reflection time.  (Though I must confess that I usually read more than one chapter at a sitting.)  Each chapter addresses one particular area of faith, starting out with brief illustrations of people who are facing an issue in that area.   The chapters are full of Bible references and each one ends with a related prayer.

I really enjoyed Forty Loaves: Breaking Bread with Our Father Each Day and would highly recommend it to any Christian.

My copy of this book was provided by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group in return for my honest review during this week's Blog Tour (December 14-18). 

Sunday Scrappin': SS Number Swap page

This is the page I created last month for a swap.  Everyone did a page with a Sesame Street character for a different number, and when they were all swapped out, we have a whole little book.  Mine will be a Christmas present for a certain little guy I know.  ;)

Share your own creations over at Sunday Scrappin'!

Six Word Saturday: Cooties!

"too many cooties, 

not enough Christmas"

That describes my life in a nutshell these last two weeks.  Pink eye, ear infections, flu, coughs, and colds.... we've had all of that here.  I don't think I can ever have too much bleach, OJ, and cold medicine on hand!

$4.25 children's sweaters!

The Children's Place has select Rugby sweaters on sale for $5 each right now.   If you shop through CashBaq, you can use their coupon code for an additional 15% off, in addition to your 3% CashBaq rebate.  

And, if you place an order totalling $50 or more in the next two days, use code FSholiday to receive free shipping.  If your order is smaller and you want to bump it up to qualify, I'd recommend checking out the plush penguins they have with scarves that match the girls' pink Rugby sweaters or the boys' gray sweaters  for $5 ($4.25 w/ Cashbaq discount).   Which would you rather pay-- $5 in shipping, or $5 for a cute color coordinated penguin?  ;)   You can guess which I chose!

Thanks to Money Saving Mom for posting the $5 sweater sale.  (The other discounts I tracked down myself.)  The Children's Place is one of those stores that I'd normally pass by, thinking they are out of my price range.  With the sales and discount codes, though, I actually paid less for sweaters, a hat, and mittens (all needed) than I would have for the same items at a local discount store.   It definitely pays for me to spend a little time each week reading frugal blogs!

WFMW: Gifts for Nursing Home Residents

After 15 years as Chief Elf at work (AKA: Activity Coordinator in a nursing home), I am frequently asked for ideas on what to give to residents as Christmas gifts. With limited storage space and limited abilities, it can sometimes be hard to come up with ideas for loved ones. Here are a few of the best tried and true ideas that I have seen and given myself over the years:

• magazine subscriptions Nearly every resident enjoys receiving mail. Amazon has some GREAT deals on subscriptions for $5 or less this week!
• favorite bath & body products Many facilities provide soap and shampoo, but it's much like the stuff you get in a hospital. Many residents appreciate having old favorites that they used at home (Ivory? Camay?) just as much as they appreciate the fancy stuff. Shower gels are usually easier to use in the special tubs and they often come in the same brands as favorite bar soaps.
• favorite snacks Think outside of Christmas cookies, and think back to the resident's favorite snack at home. Put it in a resealable container (those disposable containers are perfect) with their name on it. It's a good idea to check with the staff ahead of time if you are uncertain of the resident's current diet order- there's nothing worse than giving a tin full of nuts to someone without teeth!
• a birdfeeder and seed (if they have a good window view) Even better, offer to fill it whenever you visit.
• a small photo album, filled with family photos Write captions about the photos and include names/dates to avoid any awkward moments.
• seasonal decorations for their door Check with the facililty first, but most allow a wreath hanger over the door or a hook with a small wreath or other decoration to be hung. Having a new wreath for each season makes a room feel more like home... assuming that's what they did at home, that is!
• walker/ wheelchair bags These are very handy for toting tissues, phones, etc. any time the resident leaves their room.
• And the #1 requested gift in nursing homes: visitors. Seems simple enough, right? If it's not possible for you to visit in person, a phone call or handwritten letter is always welcome.

Remembering loved ones in nursing facilities always works for me!

Check out more great WFMW tips at We Are THAT Family!


P.S. Something else that works for me is helping a friend win a contest. My friend Sarah is a finalist in a Christmas tree contest. I'd love it if you'd go Vote for "Growing For Christ: decorated by little hands"-- thanks! :)

Vote for Sarah's Tree

My good friend Sarah is a finalist in the Mama Buzz contest for best decorated Christmas tree. Her family's Christmas tree, decorated by her children, is so pretty... won't you go and vote for her? I know she would appreciate it! Vote for "Growing For Christ: decorated by little hands"-- thanks! :)

Do you pump?

Tonight, we're headed to a meeting at the endocrinologist's office to learn about the various insulin pumps available and what all pump therapy will entail if we choose to go that route. I'm still on the fence, honestly, and so I'm very interested to go and see what they have to say.

Kerri at Six Until Me posted today about a little boy that looked just like the rest of them.... touching on one of our big concerns about DD wearing pump and it making her feel/ look different from her friends.

If you're a parent of a pumping child, I'd love to hear about your experience!

Book Tour: Treasured...

Treasured: Knowing God by the Things He Keeps weaves personal anecdotes together with Biblical stories to illustrate that God is a very real presence in our lives, and if we really look, we will find the tangible evidence of his presence.

From the back cover: Leigh McLeroy considers tangible reminders of God's active presence and guides us in discovering evidence in our own lives of His attentive love.

I enjoyed Leigh McLeroy's writing style- I felt like I was visiting an old friend from the very beginning. She has a way of telling personal stories and linking them with Bible stories that doesn't feel forced or fake... just very warm and real. I'd recommend this book to anyone who longs to be more aware of God's presence in their everyday life.

The kind folks at WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group have provided me with a copy of Treasured: Knowing God by the Things He Keeps in return for this honest review.

Book Tour: God Gave Us...

The kind folks at WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group sent these two books to me for my honest review as a part of this week's blog tour.

God Gave Us Christmas and God Gave Us Love are beautifully illustrated tales that explore the values of a Christian family in everyday life. In both stories, the animal characters ask questions, wondering if Santa or God is more important, and if we really have to love the people that seem to be unlovable. The answers are written on a child's level, but they open up the concepts for family discussion.

I'm holding these back as Christmas gifts for my kids, but I'm sure they will love these beautiful stories. I'd definitely recommend these two books if you are looking for a great story to share with the little ones in your life!