Thrifty Thursday: Brown paper packages...

..tied up with string...

Try not to hum (or loudly belt) and channel your inner Julie Andrews today.  It can't be done - she is just infectious!

Speaking of brown paper packages, I have really enjoyed my take on christmas wrapping this year.  I've saved money, and our gifts have a classic, simple flair that really puts me in the spirit.

Enter standard packing paper from Target.  I think my roll was around $5.

Enter cheap ribbons: You can stock up with Michael's weekly coupons or at the Dollar Store.

Enter Gloss Finish Scotch tape: Gives it a nice, clean finish.  I found regular scotch tape didn't have enough stick power to hold the heavy paper.

The paper lasts -forever- and even after all my wrapping, I still have a huge roll left.  My only complaint is that it does curl up and I have to weight it down to get it cut and folded the way I want.  But, hey, no biggie.

I had some fun Christmas stamps I got on clearance last year, so I jazzed some of them up a bit.

Now, I did want something pretty that the kids on my shopping list could really rip into.  I don't think the brown paper will have that satisfying riiiiiiip that I was going for.  But, I managed to get all kiddie gifts wrapped with a small roll of colored paper.  When usually, I'm going back for several rolls each year.  And honestly, the more trips I make out this time of year, the more tempted I am to overspend.

What style did you go with for Christmas wrapping this year?  Sunday comics DO count.  In case you were wondering. :)

8 Christmas Gift Ideas for the Fabulous Frugalista

Are you a Frugalista?  Or are you just married to one?

Either way, I thought it would be fun to share some ideas for shopping for that frugal someone in your life. And if that person just so happens to be you, no judgement.  Merry Christmas to you, from you.

1.  ALL YOU magazine subscription - TONS of high value coupons and fabulous articles about frugal living.  Added bonus?  Delicious and affordable recipes.  They have amazing deals year round.  Here's the latest one.

2. Printer Ink & Paper - Printing coupons eats up a good amount of ink and paper.  Keep your Frugalista stocked up so she can print and save to her heart's content.  If this doesn't sound very warm and fuzzy to you, maybe go with a gift card to an office supply store.   

 3.  Mason Jars - Amazingly frugal accessory.  From canning in season veggies to planters to catching those quick, summer fireflies.  Fill them with cookie ingredients and she can recycle the jar.

4.  Local produce co-share or co-op membership - Rising produce prices will hurt even the most careful Frugalista's budget.  Research options in your area, and give her the gift of saving on fresh fruits and veggies year round.  Some even deliver to your door!

5.  Sewing Machine - A cornerstone to a frugal lifestyle is learning to upcycle or recycle clothing and household fabrics.  An art form I haven't attempted since the 7th grade, but am anxious to learn how.  Here's a beauty I've been eyeing....

(Source)

6.  Baking/Cookware - Why buy it when you can bake it?  Fresh cookie sheets, mini loaf pans, muffin trays, and cooling racks will freshen up the cupboards and be an inspiration to cook from scratch more.

7.  Dave Ramsey Cash Envelope System - Paying with cash is a powerful tool when living on a budget. I love my wallet and what it does for my accountability.  Start small and use cash for all your groceries.  You'll be amazed to see how much you save when you know you can't swipe that magical card.

8.  Journals/Planners/Organizers/Sticky Notes - A true Frugalista likes to make lists and plans.  She scouts sales, coupons, and has attainable goals.  Help her on her journey to greatness with a new 2012 calendar or planner.  Be sure to see what she uses now, she'd hate for you to waste your money on something she won't really use.

Your Fabulous Frugalista will love a purposeful and meaningful gift this Christmas.  Somehow this list represents a truer meaning to Christmas than a new Lexus topped with a giant, red, bow.

Note to Self:  Stop watching car Christmas commercials.

Thrifty Thursday ~ Frugal Christmas Decor

I love Christmas decorations.  I love the glitter, the shine, the pretty.  I love the ceramic Santa and the dancing snowman.  I love it all.

I could spend hours at Target or Michaels perusing the holiday aisles.  It is my most favorite time of year.  Forgive me for using every superlative I know to express this love.

Anyway, you can imagine my strong desire to buy new, shiny Christmas decor every year.  But, this simply isn't possible.  We've been gifted most of our decorations (which I love).  However, I did want to pick up a few items to add to our holiday sparkle.

Enter Target Dollar bins!  Most of my life's dilemmas can be solved in the $1 bins at Target.  I snagged a ton of these mini ornaments.  I just didn't know what I was going to put them in.

I am a woman with lots of flower vases.  I guess that speaks to the chivalry of my husband, but don't tell him I said so ;)  However, the ornaments only half-filled my vase, and I thought it looked silly on my mantle.

I salvaged some old colored tissue paper from the holiday bin. It nearly called out to me for a new home.

 I took our frame that usually holds our wedding photo and slipped in this cute little printable.  I love Elf!  I'm pretty happy with the result.  

Since today is December 1st I've been trying to decide on an advent calendar to do with Amelia.  I thought this looked just my style.  Simple and cheap.  But, what happens if I want to make mini-muffins in December? Hmm...could get tricky.  

Happy December everyone! 

Getting out in front of it!

I have made a real effort this year to get out in front of Christmas.  Meaning not waiting to the last minute (for once) and making December a month for enjoyment.  I was so uplifted to read this post about just that idea!  November was a busy month filled with planning, parties, and sickness for my whole family.  High and low moments for sure.  Here's a quick recap.

My husband turned 30 the week before Thanksgiving, and we enjoyed a fun morning at the park with a (thankfully) healthy Amelia.

I can't believe he's 30!  I know it's still young, but I've been dating my husband since we were 16 and it's just amazing to me how quickly the years have flown.

I sent him out that afternoon so I could work my trickery.  He was pleasantly surprised to come home to family and friends!  I even found his college roomie who he hadn't seen in over 6 years.  Score one for me!  He truly deserved to feel loved and blessed, and I'm so happy he had fun.

Dirty 30 Pudding cups!  Thank you, Pinterest.

A collage of pics on the front door to greet him.

Another Pinterest score!  Had to make it my own with these delicious organic pops!

Thanksgiving!  Mission accomplished.  If you read about my fear of cooking a large, dead, naked bird you will be pleased that we succeeded in roasting it to a golden brown.  I'm not ashamed to say that I hid in the other room while my husband prepped it.  I was just relieved to shove it in the oven!  But, man, it was delicious.  Well worth my fretting.

We had a lovely holiday weekend with my in-laws.  Amelia was content to check out the Black Friday ads and build play-doh every morning.  

I have a few more Christmas goals to mark off my list before December rolls in next week.  

• Complete decorating the house
• Get Christmas tree next weekend (if available from our favorite church)
• Buy stocking stuffers
• Wrap Christmas gifts 
• Mail gifts 

That sounds like a tall order, right?  I'm just relieved to have the major shopping completed (I love you, internets) so I can stay out of the malls and not suffer from a case of Want-itis this year.  It's challenging not to impulse shop for everyone right until the last frenzied moment.

We are working hard on baby step 2 and are getting close to getting that credit card down to a $0 balance - hooray!

What are you goals this week?

"It was once..... ALIVE!"

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!  I hope you've got a feast of plenty in your future and lots of time with friends and family.

This is the first year I will be hosting Thanksgiving, and the FIRST time roasting a turkey.  Needless to say I am afraid.  Very afraid.

I bought the turkey last week and have been mildly obsessing about it since.

I shoved him to the back of the fridge in hopes he wouldn't ask me for a drink or a snack.

(Don't judge me by the copious amounts of beer in my fridge.  We just celebrated my husband's 30th birthday, more on that later!)

Am I the only person afraid of 18 pounds of dead bird just sitting in my fridge?!?  Maybe I'll be okay once he's roasting.  But, we're about to get pretty personal... and let's just say... I'm on edge.

Thankfully, my husband and mother-in-law will be available to wrestle the "thing" into the oven.  I'm just more of a baker and sides individual.  No harm in that, right?

Here is the recipe I'll be following for the turkey.  I was smart to assign everyone a dish, so I'm only doing stuffing and cranberry sauce.  Don't want to bite off more than I can... ahem.... chew.

It's also helped to keep us on somewhat of a budget, although it's challenging whenever a holiday meal presents itself.  I was thankful for my binder of coupons this week as I stocked our cabinets.  It's a really smart time of year to stock up on baking goods, chicken stock, canned fruits and veggies, and delicious in season produce.  You know you'll use it (or donate it) so shop smart and strategically now.

What are your turkey day plans?

Motherhood Monday: 'Tis the Season

...to be snotty??

Ugh.

The most wonderful time of the year.  The time of year where it will take an act of God to keep your family well.  With Amelia's asthma it's stressful anytime she gets a bit of a runny nose or cough.  We break out the nebulizer as soon as we hear her wheeze.  She's a good sport most of the time, so I'm thankful for that.

See the purple canister in the background?  That's my giant, mother-load, canister of Boogie Wipes.  I love those things!  Saline wipes for runny, raw noses.  Check here to get a coupon and give them a try :)

I'm just hoping to get us through the holidays without any more illness.  Santa, all I want is to be healthy this year!

P.S. - Be sure to like She Lives on Less on Facebook and Twitter to get more deals, coupons, and frugal living link-ups!  I only post what I love and use. Promise.

Make Haste, Make Waste

Since our move into the new digs, I've been battling my need to hurry up and decorate.  I want to be intentional with our attempts at design.

But with Thanksgiving in less than a week (eep!), house guests, and general life madness... I'm just ready to get this decorating checked off my list. Yes, I want the pictures to be straight.  No, I do not want to spend another weekend staring at a blank wall.

(Found this little tip for hanging frames on Pinterest.  Oh, how I love it!)

With my new impatience, I find myself more called to buy simple fixes.  Instead of carefully following a plan and executing it frugally.

It makes me remember that planning and being intentional in most areas of life, will in fact, save you money.  For example, using the frames we already have instead of buying new sets, is frugal and purposeful.

I might not have the pretty details or clean finishes in my home, but I like my frugal and repurposed finds.  Who knows, maybe this frugal quest will make me more of a DIY-er then I had once thought possible.

I'm remaining optimistic ;)