I'm ready...

I, The Princess of Christmas, am ready to take down the tree.  Say WHAT????

We have some wonderful things going on right now,  After 3 months in our new home, our Little Lady's room is finally being transformed from a dinosaur world into a pink and purple princess paradise.  She is SO excited, to say the least.  What's the most special is how excited she and her brother are to be sharing a room again until her room is finished.  I'll cherish that while it lasts.

Additionally, as some of you may know, I own a small, home-based craft business.  I have only sold to family and friends in the past but will be expanding to include online sales in January.  Somehow... I already have 21 pieces to fulfill in January, along with a project for a friend... you'll have kitchen curtains soon, Kim!!!  I promise!!!

I'm also having a spring open house and planning a 2yr old's birthday party.  Phew...

So, I'm ready.  I'm ready to turn off the Christmas music (for now) and trade it in for a little Rat Pack. I'm ready to clear the pretty Christmas stuff out of the dining room and set up my sewing machine. I'm ready to catch up on laundry so I can craft instead.  I'm ready to stay up late with Adam, yarn and a hook, and a good TV show.

I'll cherish the memories we made this Christmas, like every Christmas, but I'm unusually excited for the new memories to come.

Bring on the cold snowy days, snuggling inside with the kids.  I want to make new projects and cook new things together.  I want to play and giggle in perfectly-pink bedrooms... sigh... it's the little things.

Whenever I feel overwhelmed by my to-do list, I try to remember Proverbs 19:1."Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry."  Being busy is a blessing!  I find comfort in Proverbs 31:1."She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks."  I'm blessed to be capable.  Moreover, 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds me, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."  Every item on my to-do list is an opportunity to serve my Newborn King.

In the words of my wise mother, Do your best and God will do the rest.

So, I'm off to get everyone out of their PJ's and into clean clothes.  I'm off to clean and do laundry. I'm off to snuggle and kiss my toddlers.  I'm off to enjoy the tree and the joy Christmas has brought us for just a little longer.  Praise be to the Newborn King!  Wise men still seek Him!

Cheers,
Alyssa

Pony Bead Ornaments

These were the biggest hit during our big project day!

Line a cookie sheet with foil and place cookie cutters on the foil. Fill the interior of the cutters with a single layer of beads. Bake at 300 until melted. They will pop right out!

We decorated with sting, ribbon, beads, bells, etc and attached those items with hot glue. This is a FAST project so you still have time!

Hope you enjoy this one as much as we did!
Cheers,
Alyssa

We packaged them all up and gave some to family and some to friends.  We added candy and chocolates to other packages and brought about 30 to our local police department.  It's one of our kids' favorite traditions!

Project Palooza Update

Well, my friends, I made it. We started at noon and the kids made it until 1:45. I continued for another  hour (including clean up) and here's what we accomplished:

     25 Ornaments
     30 Little gift packages for our local police department's records division.
     33 Gift Tags
     15 Decorated Christmas Cards.


I'd be full of bologna if I said I wasn't totally worn out by the end but... IT WAS WORTH IT! I made a big cheese platter and we all snacked as we worked. We listened to Christmas music, talked about giving with a joyful heart, and laughed. Boy, did we laugh. Yes, there were dishes to do. Guess what? They were still there in the morning.  Oh, for sure, dinner was casual that night. Guess what? No one went to bed on an empty belly. I'll say it again... IT WAS WORTH IT!

All our supplies, including wine!

Chunky Monkey

Little Lady

Hard at work

The aftermath...

One. Tired. Mom... BUT... One. Happy. Mom.

More projects and pictures coming soon!
Alyssa

25 Days of Christmas Update

So, do you remember my "25 Days of Christmas" post?  I packaged up all of these activities to do with the kids over November and December.  I had intended that the kids would choose a package every few days but... We have been SO SICK!  Good health is one of those blessings that is very easily taken for granted, in my opinion.  I'm thankful things appear to be on the up-swing for us!

As I looked at that basket FULL of activities this morning, I realized there was NO WAY we would make it through all of them by Christmas. So... I'm planing a "Project-Palooza" for this afternoon and I'm a little scared.

I opened 10 packages and set them all out at the dining room table.  If things go well, I stashed another (slightly more involved) project away, too.

I'll post short updates and ideas with simple instructions, including photos! Expect to hear more from me over the course of this week and into the next.

Wish me Godspeed, people.  All joking aside, I'm looking forward to a really special day with my kids and all the new memories we will create.  That's really what days like today are all about.

Cheers,
Alyssa

Yes, that's a bottle of wine next to the glitter glue. Yes, I need to iron my table cloth. 

Halloween

You know, I've never really gotten into Halloween. Maybe that's because the Lutheran Reformation falls on the same day? There was always more emphasis placed on that on the Christian day school I attended; the school where our oldest now attends.

I remember talking about it with other kids but I don't remember ever having a classroom party. I can also only remember going out to trick-or-treat 3 times as a kid. We always had off of school the Thursday and Friday before and we would go "up north" to our cottage for a long weekend. I guess I just associate this time as being family time. Don't feel bad for me. I can pretty much guarantee that my grandparents provided me with 10x the amount of candy and treats than I would have gotten if I'd actually gone trick-or-treating.

I know there are MANY Christian families who chose not to partake in this holiday because of its pagan roots. Others choose to focus on the reformation. I'm glad they have chosen to remain true to their personal convictions!

Adam and I have talked about it and our opinion is this: almost all Christian holidays have roots in pagan traditions. Frankly, I'm glad the Christian emphasis is what's prevailed in most circumstances.

So, we celebrate both. We talk about the freedom and encouragement our church body gives us to own a bible and to study it daily, as our Savior commands within His word. In Luther's time, bibles were only available to laypersons at the local library and they were chained to the floor. Each year, I make a paper bible and attach it to the floor with a paper chain. Then I have the kids rip the chain. We also "nail" 95 Theses to our front door. I've included a couple of pictures from severs years ago.

Later on, we DO trick-or-treat and spend time with family and friends. There is no violence or gore and modesty will always be a rule in our house.

I hope you enjoy the holiday in whatever way you've decided is best for your family. My only hope is that you keep Christ in the center of your celebrations, as always, and that you enjoy being together!

Cheers,
Alyssa

95 Theses

Bible and Chaim 

True Fulfillment

There are so many things in this life that I find fulfilling.

I find fulfillment in being a wife.
Proverbs 31:10-12 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good not harm all the days of her life.

I find fulfillment in being a mother.
Psalm 127:3 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

I find fulfillment in maintaining my home.
Proverbs 31:17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.

I find fulfillment in being busy running errands, crafting, blogging or cooking.
Proverbs 19:15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry.

I find fulfillment in being a friend.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have better return for their labor; if either one of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

I find fulfillment in being a big sister.
Philippians 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you.

I find fulfillment in the relationship I have with my dad and my mom.
Ephesians 6:1-2 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" -which is the first commandment with a promise-
Proverbs 31:28a Her children arise and call her blessed.

These things in life are blessings, as you can see.  That's the way God intended them be.  But... we live in a world corrupted by sin.  Husbands and wives argue.  Children disobey.  We run short on time and patience and are often quick to anger and slow to love.  We put ourselves before others.  Loved ones are called to their Eternal Home and we miss them.  Good health comes and goes.

Yes, these things are truly blessings but they do not last.  Not always.  Not perfectly.  Not 100% of the time.

Do you know where you can find TRUE fulfillment?  The unwavering, lasting, eternal kind?  You'll ONLY find it when our Heavenly Father speaks to you.

His love is constant.  His promises are binding.  He is the same... Yesterday. Today. Forever.

If you are searching for fulfillment, look to Him:

• Attend worship services, as commanded (the 4th commandment).  God loves us and wants only what is best for us.  The blessings he provides are far greater than the hour of sleep you're missing out on.
• Exudos 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 
• Hebrews 10:24a&25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another- and all the more as you see the Day approaching

• Open your bible.
• Psalm 119:15-16 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your Word.
• Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword,  it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart
• Deuteronomy 8:3b ...man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the Lord.
• Pray.
• Is this a daunting idea for you?  Try this acronym I learned from a Sunday School Teacher

• A - Adoradion.  Praise God for who and what He is.
• C - Confession.  Confess your sins before Him with a sincere heart.
• T - Thanksgiving.  Thank Him for all He has done for you.
• S - Supplication.  Ask God to supply your needs and the desires of your heart.

• Psalm 116:1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.

This time of year is something I long for and look forward to for months.  I cherish special memories and enjoy creating new ones.  My love for this season and celebrating my Savior's birth is part of who I am.  I'm not oblivious to the fact that so many struggle through this time of year the most.  It's my prayer that God spoke to you today and brought you some encouragement.

Happy Holiday Season and Merry Christmas!
Alyssa

25 Days of Christmas

You guys, I'm so excited that I think I might pee a little!!! Hahaha

Have you seen that post floating around social media about wrapping Christmas books for the month of December? The idea is that you open one each night with your kids at bed time.  I really LOVED this idea from the very first time I saw it a couple years ago.  Every year, the expense is what holds me back.  Even if I wrapped some of the Christmas books we already have, I'd still be buying at least 20 more.  I might start buying some end-of-season or at the dollar store and stashing them away to do in the future.  For now though, I wanted to come up with something else.

The reason I love this idea is because it's Christmas related, hello??? and also because the emphasis is on setting aside quality time with your little ones.  It really doesn't NEED to be reading-related to be a cool tradition, right?

I decided to head to the dollar store to see what I could find, giving myself a limit of $20.  Guys, I found all of this for $16.80, including tax.

I bought the supplies to make several different projects and I also went around the house, looking for ideas.  Here's What I came up with:

• 2 clear, plastic ornaments and styrofoam "snow".  I packaged these with a black and an orange Sharpie that I already had on hand. (Snowman Ornaments)
• A 4 pack of puzzles.  I wrapped these with mod-podge and paint brushes from my craft stash.
• An ornament kit that came with paint and a brush.
• Green pipe cleaners and red bows.  I packaged these along with other pipe cleaners I already had, ribbon and beads.  (Wreath Ornaments) 
• 2 Christmas books.  I wrapped these with cups I bought end-of-season last year for $0.99 and hot chocolate packets from our pantry.
• Coloring books crayons and stickers.
• Ornaments and stickers.  I packaged these with ribbon.
• Foam gingerbread boys. I packaged them with black pompoms (for eyes), bells, and ribbon that I already had in my craft stash.
• Foam Christmas balls. I packaged these with sequins, ribbon, and glitter from my craft stash.
• I filled snack bags with popcorn from our pantry for our air-popper and wrote, "popcorn and a movie" on the outside.

• Christmas card kit.  I wrapped cards I bought end-of-season last year with colored pencils and stickers.
• I wrapped cookie cutters.  When the kids pick this, I have a huge box of plastic beads to melt and make ornaments.
• I packaged a set of Christmas stamps a friend gifted me along with the kids' ink pad and some brown-paper gift tags left over from a birthday party.

I was able to make 25 packages out of the list above so there are some duplicates.  This reaffirmed to me that my craft hoard is worth having.  My husband thinks some of the things I save are senseless but it all paid off.  All of the craft supplies I added to my dollar store finds were left over from other projects.  Save everything.  Be organized and dedicate a corner of the basement.  It's worth it! Right Adam??? Right???

If you were to purchase everything on this list, including the cups, a couple of cookie cutters, a stamp or two, ink, etc, I think you would be spending at least $50 total.  If you do it this way, great.  It should come out to $2/project, which is far less than entertaining the kids at the zoo, play-cafe, out to eat, etc.  Plus you have a cute little treat to give to a loved one or to tie on a package.  Awesome, right?  Yes... but you might be missing my point... use what you have!

If you're not a crafter and have no "stash", here are some other ideas for you:

• Wrap names of Christmas movies you own or can DVR
• Wrap a note that says, "Trip to the park!"
• Wrap a note that says, "Get your blankets and pillows, we are building a fort!"
• Wrap hot chocolate packets
• Wrap a small treat you don't normally buy for your kids, like a candy bar.
• Wrap a package of store-bought muffins to bake together
• Wrap a container of pancake mix and have breakfast for dinner

I put all 25 of my packages in a laundry basket and will allow the kids to choose one every now and then through December.  I would love to hang on to these and start Dec 1 through Christmas but I know myself.  Some days I'm lucky if the bed gets made... you know what I'm getting at, right?

I hope you have just as much fun thinking up ways to make this idea your own as I did!  I'll be breaking down some of these crafts, along with a couple others, in future posts.

Cheers,

Alyssa

P.S.  All of the gift bags were purchased last year, end-of-season.  Each December and/or January, I work a small portion of shopping money into our family budget and stock up on bags.  I usually make my own tags and I buy character wrapping paper at the dollar store.

Being a stay-at-home-mom and the future of the blog

Hello to all of my loyal readers and a very warm welcome to new followers of "The Princess of Christmas"!  I'm quite sure by now that my long-time readers have noticed some changes recently.  I hope you love the new look as much as I do! Glees!!!

I'm flattered that so many have taken an interest in the way we do things around here.  I started this blog last year after receiving so many questions on my personal social media pages.  I would post something like, "Drinking coffee and working on my meal plan." and I'd have people messaging me and asking for a copy, recipes, or to explain how I did it.  I would post a picture of some craft project I did with the kids and I'd have all these comments and questions. I cannot tell you how many people I've had ask for tips/tricks to living on one income while one parent stays home.  I knew a blog would not only be the most time-efficient way to share and respond, but I also knew I'd find it fulfilling on a personal level.

First, let me say, Adam and I were married nearly five years ago and shortly after our honeymoon, we got one heck of a surprise.  A positive pregnancy test, a whirlwind of emotions, and 9 months later, I was an interior designer/call center employee turned stay-at-home-mom.  Talk about a beautiful shock!

Initially the decision was made out of practicality when analyzing the cost of daycare in relation to my salary.  Towards the end of my pregnancy, it became more of a personal conviction that one of us should stay home and it has since become a lifestyle.

We realize that this lifestyle we've chosen is one that's not possible for all families.  At times, it was BARELY possible for us.  As I previously mentioned, this is a personal conviction and we learned to sacrifice and adapt to attain what we felt was best for us as a family. Regardless if you are employed outside of the home, you work from home, or you work as a stay-at-home-parent, we all have that one thing in common, don't we? We work to the best of our abilities, make educated decisions, and sacrifice when necessary for the sake of our families. Like so many parenting topics, there is no right or wrong answer.  The right answer is the one that YOU decide is right for YOUR family and YOUR children.

If you find yourself debating this topic, the one thing I can say is this: We have NEVER regretted the decision we made.  Even during the months when the budget got just a little too tight... we never regretted it.  There were days I held back tears of frustration as I cleaned up GIANT messes.  Messes I knew they could have made at daycare instead of my living room. Or bathroom. Or dining room. Or bedr... you get the point.  There were days I wondered what it would be like to do the dishes ONCE in 24hrs.  There were days I really wanted a break from diapers, puke, snot, constant tantrums, and the like. There have been many days when I longed for adult conversation.  Never once, not for a split second, did I ever regret giving up my career for this life.

With that being said, living on one income is not for the faint of heart.  I have learned to become a master-budgeter and a crazy-organized grocery shopper.  I have learned how to shop thrift, clearance, and end-of-season.  I've learned how to make my own laundry soap, to operate without a dryer all winter long, and how to avoid traditional cable TV.  I've learned to cook, and cook well, for the sake of my family.  I've learned how to prepare all meals from scratch to increase our cash flow.  I've learned to make my own fancy coffee drinks and taught myself how to stop going through the drive through. I've learned how to CREATE MY OWN FUN instead of going out on expensive excursions. I found special ways to create romance at home when we just couldn't fit a night out into the budget. These things I learned out of necessity have become a passion of mine (can you tell?).  I look forward to sharing even more of what I've learned with you in many future posts.

It has been a struggle but IT HAS ALL BEEN WORTH IT.  These babes God gave us will only be small for this time in our lives and we will not get this time back.  This lifestyle has also made me a better person.  I know what it's like to want and I know what it's like to have.  When we know what it's like to "have", God's grace (undeserved love) motivates us to give. Time, talents, and treasures alike.  God has tested my faith in Him to provide.  He has taught me to exercise patience.  He has humbled me before Him when I needed to be humbled.  He has lifted me up when I have cried out to Him.

This life is beautiful and I cannot wait to share more with you.  More budget tips and meal planning ideas.  More crafts to do with your "littles".  Inspiration for gifts and service opportunities and of course, more CHRISTMAS!!!

Cheers,
Alyssa

Photo Credit: Amelia Grace Photography
Amelia Flunker
Green Bay, WI

Gift Giving - Tips and Ideas

Oh boy, touchy subject...

First, let me share with you why my family has chosen to give gifts.  We give because He gave.  God gave us His very best; His Son.  We give gifts to those around us in thanksgiving and honor of that gift. So, for us, that does NOT mean we decide to spend "x" amount on someone, head to the mall and burn the money on whatever.  We put A LOT of thought into gifts.

With that being said, we also believe we have a responsibility to be good stewards of the financial blessings we've been granted.

Here's my two cents worth:

1. Pay attention ahead of time - What have your loved ones mentioned that they need?  Did your dad's jeans have holes in them when you saw him last?  Does your mom have a desk at work?  Could she use some updated photos?  Is your sister a coffee fanatic?  Does your brother love to golf?
2. Plan - There is no reason you have to wait until December to start your shopping.  We would seriously be hurting financially if we did that.  Consider setting up a separate fund in the summer and stick what you can away.  Make a list and decide what is comfortable for you to spend on each person.  Even if it's only $5, make the list and stick to the plan. There's also a neat idea floating around on social media, which I think is great for "Santa Planning".  It's along the lines of fulfilling one need, one want, something to read, and something to wear.
3. Shop Early - Instead of saving money and shopping closer to the Holidays, we start shopping within our budget in July.  I have learned an awesome trick... what to hear it???  Go to your favorite store's website after the Holidays and search "Christmas". What's left of last season's merch (which I found to be a vast selection) will show up at a deep discount.  That's how we purchased our kid's gifts this year.  I'm sorry... they do not NEED this year's version of the same toy that sold last year in a different color. They will have wonderful, new toys for their new stage of development and new-found interests.  They'll have no idea that they were purchased on sale. 
4. Consider Supporting Small Businesses - There are SO MANY direct sales companies out there! Consider hosting an online or in-home party through a friend and use your hostess credits towards something you know a loved one will appreciate.  It's a generous and economical way to buy for loved ones and you will be supporting a friend in his or her small business.  Craft shows are a treasure-trove for good deals and thoughtful gifts, especially if you are not a crafter but love the hand-made touch.  
5. Use the talents you've been blessed with - Bake a platter of cookies. Crochet a blanket. Write a heart-felt note.  Create a craft project. Offer your time to shovel snow or to help someone run their errands.  These are often some of the very best gifts, in my opinion, because they come of one's own self.
6. Thoughtfulness DOES NOT equate to "expensive" - Remember the reason we give at Christmas. This should NOT be a popularity contest.  Your love and appreciation of your family and friends does NOT correlate to the amount of money you spend.  Some of the most precious gifts I've been given have been thoughtful notes, small trinkets that reminded someone of me, photos and cards.  For example,  I have a dear friend who often mails me cards.  I can tell she took the time to select the best one and her notes inside are from the heart.  I've actually kept many of them and framed them.  They're hanging on the wall next to my work space and now I'm smiling as I look at them and write this.

I Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Cheers, 

Alyssa

Snow People

Hello again!  More ornaments comin' at ya!

This one is great if you're short on time but still want to get creative with the kids.  If you don't exchange ornaments in your family, these would also be adorable attached to Christmas packages. You could even do these just for fun decorations.  My daughter would LOVE to set a little family of these cute snowmen on her window or her desk.

Please, don't forget that these projects are not only for moms!  Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, sitters, teachers, etc. can all get involved with the "littles" in their lives!

This project includes the use of a glue gun.  Do not let that discourage you from involving young children.  My Chunky Monkey is 1 1/2 and he still had a blast.  Think of different ways you can encourage their involvement.  As you'll see, this project uses pompoms.  I had the kids roll them in their hands and"fluff" them.  Obviously they don't need to be fluffed... but they didn't know that. From their perspective it was a VERY IMPORTANT task and they laughed and giggled while they set out to "work".

I bought these large pompoms, 15 for $2.49 (I bought 2).  The small black pompom I used to mimic a hat came 25 to a package for $0.99, as did the tiny ones we used as eyes.  The ribbon came 3 colors to a spool for $2.50 and the carrot nose is a pipe cleaner.  There were maybe 25 or so to a package for $0.99.  Considering I will be using half the ribbon for another project, These came out to $0.63 per ornament!  We used hooks and poked them through but you could just as easily use a needle and embroidery floss or thread.  I'm actually thinking about doing it that way next time.  If you want these to stand on their own, try gluing them to a base.  I would suggest wooden rounds (they even sell these with the tree bark still on, which would be ADORABLE) or craft foam.

Have fun together!

Cheers,
Alyssa

Priorities and S'mores Ornaments

Hi all!  So much has changed for us since I last wrote.  We purchased our first home and thanks to our loved ones, we are all moved in and unpacked. Unreal.

The housing market in Green Bay is INSANE.  Let me just put this out there... We called a broker on July 5th to inquire if home ownership was even a possibility for us.  Our offer was accepted on July 22!

In the midst of packing our family of 4 and moving, our Little Lady also started 4K.  It has been a blessed whirlwind.

Yesterday, Little Lady asked me why we don't do projects together anymore.  Guys, my heart seriously broke.

Just the day before, I had planned a blog post all about how the Holidays would be different for us this year... fewer craft projects, less home-made gifts, etc.  With a new house, there just wasn't time for all of that.  When our daughter pleaded with me to spend the afternoon making Christmas Ornaments "like we usually do when it gets chilly out", I realized these traditions matter to her,  It's special to her.  She needs that time with me as much as I need that time with her and her little brother. That's exactly what I had hoped for.

These posts are 0% about how beautiful your project is in the end.  They are 100% about the time you spend together as a family, creating something to show your love for others.

I have no idea when my Time of Grace will end and when my Lord will call me home.  Do I want to spend it frantically cleaning, organizing and constantly short-tempered???  Nope.  I'd much rather balance my responsibilities of maintaining our household with great, QUALITY time with my husband and children.  I'm so glad that little 4 year old girl helped me reevaluate my priorities.  I'm BLESSED that she looks forward to these days together, preparing to celebrate the birth of our Savior.  I hope her brother will feel the same one day.

 After I dropped her off at school yesterday, I took my Monkey to the craft store and bought supplies to make Christmas Ornaments.  I found a pre-planned/pre-cut project in a bucket for $7.99.  It had all of the parts and pieces necessary to make 24 s'mores characters out of craft foam.  They were so stinkin' cute!  I immediately started thinking about how we could turn them into Christmas ornaments.  A trip down the aisle with pompoms, bells, glitter, etc. proved to be fruitful.  I found beads that looked like snowflakes, red bells, and gold bells.  Each were only $0.99. I also found some ornament hooks for $2.  If you're keeping track, that comes out to only $0.54 an ornament!

This project is, admittedly, one of my less imaginative and probably one of the more expensive but let me explain.  Sometimes I just do not have it in me to make three batches of "Better Thank Salt Dough" on the stove and cut out ornaments for an entire day.  You know what? That's okay.  It's about the time spent together.  That time I had with them was simply priceless.

After we finished up for the day, we went outside to get the mail and 5 minutes later, the neighbor girls came over with snacks...  enough to share with my kids, too!  I sat outside and had a great talk with their mom; my new friend.  These are the things I prayed for.  The dishes will wait.  (Maybe your husband will even do them when you fall asleep early after a long, special day... Love you, Adam.)

Cheers,
Alyssa

In most craft stores, there is typically a section dedicated to kid's craft projects.  That is where I found this kit. There were several options.  Never use something the way it comes.  Think of ways to make it yours.

These pieces are all craft foam.  This made it very easy to poke the hooks into the back.  I secured the hook with a dot of hot glue.

We wrote on the bottom of the ornament,
"Merry Christmas! Love R & J - 2016"

A Christ-Centered Ornament Project

   If you've been following this blog for a while (thank you!), you know about our ornament tradition. My original blog post "Christmas Ornaments" remains one of my most popular posts to date. Check it out, if you haven't already!

   To summarize, we have a tradition of the children in the family receiving ornaments each year and then those ornaments go with them when they get married or leave home. Cool tradition, right? What newlywed or recent grad can afford to deck out their first tree? Not to mention the value of each memory tied to every ornament that's unwrapped and hung on the tree. Priceless.

   We began the tradition in reverse when we noticed how empty my parents' tree was after Adam and I got married and my sister moved out into her first home. We chose to give handmade ornaments and get the kid's involved. The tradition grew when last year, our Little Lady listed off all the people she wanted to give an ornament to. Last year, we gave about 100 ornaments to family, friends, and our local police department. You'll find ideas and recipes in the original post but here's another idea:

   Pipe Cleaner Candy Canes! I cut red and glitter-white pipe cleaners in half and Little Lady  did the winding on her own. I helped shape them and tied the ribbon on to hang them. We talked about how the red stripe was like the red of Jesus' blood on the cross and how the white was just like how He washed us clean as snow. I turned them upside down and showed her that they made a letter "J" like "Jesus". We had a great talk, special time together, and got a jump start on our 100 ornaments. It's a great way to encourage a child to share his or her faith, too.

   I said it yesterday and I'll say it gain...We give gifts as a reminder and symbol of the gift God gave us. I truly ENJOY these preparations. I truly ENJOY making special things from the heart. That takes time. So... I start in July and everything gets done in time.  We worked on this project together at Great-Grandma's while my Chunky Monkey napped.  It was a memory I will treasure always.  Here's a picture of the napping babe... just because sleeping toddlers are adorable.

Yes, he will only take a bink upside-down...

 The supplies for this project were about $6 and will make about 50 ornaments.  The next batch will be something we can involve little brother in.  Stay tuned for more ideas!

Cheers,
Alyssa

Christmas in July??? Why???

   It may sound crazy to talk about Christmas in the midst of summer. I am the Princess of Christmas, though ;) All kidding aside, I love to celebrate Christmas because of WHAT we are celebrating - JESUS. All His work on earth began with the birth of a helpless babe. For the Adam Fleischfresser Family, Christmas preparations begin in July for a variety of reasons.

   First, we give gifts as a reminder and symbol of the gift God gave us. I truly ENJOY these preparations. I truly ENJOY making special things from the heart. That takes time. So... I start in July and everything gets done in time.

   We also begin preparing in July for budgetary purposes. Yup, we know we could save money and shop in December but did you know summer sales are often better? I recently found some wonderful, thoughtful gifts for our kids online that were on sale from last Christmas! It isn't about how much you spend, how many wrapped packages are under the tree... It's about WHY they are there and WHO we are celebrating.

   Our society has commercialized the season, put the emphasis on all the wrong things, and drives many Americans further into debt.  However, Jesus can be found, even in the secular world, if you CHOOSE to put Him there.  For us, starting our preparations now helps us to avoid the commercialized hustle and bustle, to an extent. It's a choice that allows us to focus on The Baby, come December.  It's been a wonderful thing for our little family and perhaps it's something that you might find beneficial, too.

   In the coming months, I hope to share with you exactly how we incorporate our Savior into all of our holiday celebrations.  Yes, even the secular ones.  Stay tuned for craft projects, tips, and ideas. Giving handmade gifts from the heart means so much and you have plenty of time! Thank you for following me along another wonderful season!

Cheers,
Alyssa & Family

 

Meal Planning

Wow.  Long time no-type...

Hope you have all been enjoying time with family since I last wrote... AT EASTER!  Talk about neglect.  If any of my readers follow me on social media, you know that I've recently started a small, home-based business.  It's been taking up so much of my time but I'm so thrilled to be doing it! That's a post for another day, though.

Today, I'm talking meal planning.  I meal plan religiously and NEVER grocery shop without doing so.  So many of my girlfriends have been asking how I do it so I thought it would make for a good post.  Most of us are too busy enjoying the gorgeous summer weather to be focused on craft projects anyway, right?

I am a proud stay-at-home-mom.  Adam and I made this decision when I was pregnant with our first. Initially, it was a decision made of practicality when considering the cost of child care in comparison to my salary.  The more we talked, however, it became a personal conviction that one of us stay home with our children.  It's what was right for US and OUR family.  I firmly believe that each family's circumstances are unique.

With that being said, we are by no means affluent and we changed our lives dramatically to accommodate this lifestyle.  Thus, I meal plan!  Even if you are not on a tight budget, why not save where you can?  I think this is an excellent way to be good stewards of the money God has blessed us with.

Before you start:
Before starting a meal plan, I think it's important to start with a family budget, in general.  I'm sure most of you have a dollar amount, at least an approximate one, that's set aside each month for groceries.  Meal planning is simply applying that dollar amount in the most beneficial way possible.

Have you ever come home with $100 worth of groceries but still didn't have everything you needed to make dinner?  So then you ordered take-out or ran back to the store a half-dozen times over the month?  Are you constantly eating out?  Do you go grocery shopping each. and. every. time. you. want. to. cook.? While you're there, how many extra things get tossed in the cart?  Yeah... not good for the pocket book OR the waistline.

In a nutshell, the benefits of meal planning are:

• Saving money. Meal planning isn't something I necessarily WANT to do (though I do enjoy it)... It's something I MUST do for the sake of our finances.
• Saving time.  Have you taken 2 kids under 4 to the grocery store?  Yeah, I'm only dealing with that noise 1 time a month, not 17, thank you. Plus, it's only fun when you do it once. After that, no thanks.
• Saving my waistline. Preparing great meals at home is SO much healthier than eating out/take out.

Below is a step-by-step list of how I prepare a meal plan:

• Budget - As I alluded to previously, Start with a family budget and decide how much you are going to spend each month on groceries, household items, and toiletries.
• Count - Look at a calendar and decide how many dinners you need, how many lunches you need to pack and how many lunches you will have at home, and what you want to have on hand for breakfasts.  I do 18-20 dinners/lunches at a time and grocery shop every 3 weeks, for example. I rarely have any food spoil.  (There will be some tips below.)  However, you can easily shop weekly, just divide your budget for the month accordingly.  The point is to organize your funds in a way that is manageable for your lifestyle.
• Choose - Select your meals.  TV, magazines, online, and friends/family are all great resources.  Just be sure to get it on paper.  Try building off items you already have, if you can.  This is a great way to eliminate waste and save you money!
• List - Make a list of your meat and decide, roughly, how much this will cost.  This is the biggest portion of most grocery budgets.  If you find it's adding up too fast, go back and change out a meal or two for something more economical.
• Expand - Fill out your list with all other necessary ingredients for those meals.  Take a look at what you already have! Don't forget pantry/stock items and your household items/toiletries.
• Wants - Once your "needs" are on paper, add the things you "want" like snack items or paper plates.
• Add - Write a $ amount/price next to each item.  Think about what you paid approx, for that item the last time you shopped. Now add these numbers.  Are you within budget?  Revise if need be. It is rare that I need to do this.  It will be for you, too, the more you do this.

Here are some additional tips to save you cash:

• Avoid prepackaged meals.  It's rare to find prepackaged anything that isn't loaded with salt and calories and if you do find a healthy option, it certainly is NOT cheap. We do our very best to keep this type of food to a minimum.  To give you an example, I can buy a whole chicken and veggies for the same price as a bag of chicken nuggets.  That being said, there's a time and a place for everything.  Just something to consider, if you can.
• Cook at home.  You can easily prepare a meal in 30 minutes or less,  There are at least 3 TV programs I can think of right this second that are devoted to the topic.  You'll find recipes on their websites for FREE.
• Use your freezer and a slow cooker
• Become passionate about cooking.  Know what's going into your body and on your children's plate.  Cooking can be SO relaxing and a great stress reliever.  Best of all, it's a learned skill.  You don't have to be the next Iron Chef, just someone who wants to feed your family.
• By half your produce fresh and half frozen to last you through an entire month or split your meal plan in half and shop twice.
• Add what you're tossing into your cart as you shop and cross items off your list.  If you came in under budget at the end of your list, THEN you can toss extras in the cart.  Otherwise, if it's not on the list, it doesn't go in the cart.
• Shop where you know you can get a good price.  I have my favorites and will share them with you if you ask ;)
• When planning your meals, choose dishes that will feed you twice or even 3 times.
• Consider adding vegetarian dishes to your meal plan.
• Make this FUN!  Grocery shopping is one of my favorite things to do with the kids.  I always pack a picnic style lunch for the kids, go at lunch time, get a mommy cart (the kind with a bench seat and is the size of a semi), and they eat while I shop.  It's once a month people... we eat good lunches at the table every other day of the month so spare me... lol
• Once you're home, write down your meals in order (approx.) of food spoilage.  You'll rarely have any rotten food to throw out, thus saving you money.  Plus, you'll always know what's for dinner.
• Cook with your children.  Being able to prepare a meal is a life skill.  This is something your children will need to know how to do one day.  Provide them with those skills.  This is time to bond.
• Adam is rarely home when I cook but I know how much it means to him to come home to a good meal.  That's a source of pride for me and I find it fulfilling.  If he is home, he keeps me company and plays on the kitchen floor with the kids while I cook.  Bottom line, this time is special because we make an effort for it to be that way.
• Eliminating paper products is not only a trendy thing to do as it's "green", it's also practical.  We use towels, not paper toweling, cloth napkins, and I wash dishes.)

Final thought:

• If, even after trying to get into cooking, it's not your thing... look up "minimal ingredient recipes", "15 minute dinners", "slow cooker recipes", "dump recipes", etc.  You've gotta eat, people. haha.
• Most slow cooker recipes rarely require anything more than putting raw food in the cooker.  It is your best friend if you hate to cook.
• Start small. Try to buy half the amount of prepackaged meals as you usually do and start there. 

  

They say that the proof is in the pudding and here is mine:  I did my budget, meal plan, and grocery list in 1 hour today and immediately went grocery shopping.  I shopped for 3 wks for our family of 4 and came in $15 under budget, even after tossing a few special things in the cart.

I wish you all lots of success with your next trip to the grocery store and hope that I gave you some good ideas.  Please... if you have questions, ASK! You CAN do this!

Cheers,
Alyssa.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

HOPPY EASTER!!!!

Oh my goodness!  It's here!  It's here!  It's here!  My second most favorite holiday of all time! EASTER!  Why yes, I do believe I'll have some chocolate bunny ears for breakfast, thank you.  Why yes, I am going to eat half the jelly beans while I fill all of the plastic eggs for my kids' baskets.  Welllllll... most of them, anyway.  I am going to giggle like a kid while I watch my little ones on an egg hunt and I am going to have a blast dying eggs.  Sigh.  I love Easter.

As much as I love chocolate, candy, and silly family traditions, that's not why I love this holiday so much.  I love Easter because... It is finished.

Just a few short months ago, we celebrated the birth of our Savior and King.  God made manifest in a tiny babe; humbled to live life as a human.  He did it and He did it perfectly.  He knew the horrific and painful death that awaited him yet, He went willingly to the cross.  He suffered the death I deserve.  He did it in my place.

On Good Friday, I dress in all black and I dress our children in all black, too.  It's an easy object lesson for them and a good reminder for me.  Wearing black, for me, is a sign of mourning and a sign of the love and respect I have for my Savior.  On Friday, we mourn and we reflect.  Thank God that's not where the story ends.

On Sunday morning, our Savior rose triumphantly in perfect fulfillment of scripture.  Everything that tiny baby came to do was finished.  Because of His gift, we have the promise of eternal life.  I do not fear my death; I know where I am going. What a thing to celebrate!

I've said over and over and over again in this blog... You can find Jesus anywhere if you CHOOSE to put Him there.  So, yes, we do celebrate Easter in the secular sense, too.  Chocolate bunnies, baskets, and tacky plastic grass, included.  Our children are taught what Easter is, why it's important, and THEN... IN SECOND PLACE... the bunny thing.  While we totally respect that many Christian families have chosen to do away with Santa, the Easter Bunny, and Tooth Fairy, we have not.  I believe that these things are a matter of christian freedom and there is no right or wrong answer. Each family should discuss what their motivation is in such matters, pray, and come to a decision that's right for them.  With that being said, if you are a family like ours, one that may be looking for ideas to teach kids to prioritize the season, here are some things we do:
 

•  We regularly attend church, study scripture, and discuss our Savior.  The Holy Spirit works in the tiniest of hearts and if I ask my 3 year old right now, "What's Easter?" I am confident the bunny won't be the first thing she brings up.
• The day revolves around going to worship.  We wear our best, most special clothing to honor Jesus; much like you would if any distinguished person were coming to visit.  I'm not insinuating that you need to spend all kinds of money.  We bought our kids' outfits used.  It isn't about it being new or fancy; it's about wearing our best because God gave His best.  For some people, that might mean you wear your very best play clothes :)  God looks at the heart. 
•  We do allow our kids to search the house for their Easter baskets and we include a note which reads, "Find the empty egg! It's there to remind you of the empty tomb and the gift God gave." Obviously, we have a mess of filled, plastic eggs in their baskets and there is 1 which remains empty.  As a side benefit... no jelly beans to pick out of the previously mentioned, wonderfully tacky, Easter grass. ;)   
•  My mom is our "cake lady".  She makes the most beautiful and tasty cakes EVER.  She puts so much effort and love into them and I think that's what's the most special.  Each year on Good Friday or Holy Saturday, she bakes a special "Lamb Cake" with my kids.  We talk about how Jesus is our perfect lamb and the symbolism behind it.  It's a special tradition that I know they will come to appreciate more and more each year.

I hope these few ideas bring some inspiration to your Easter celebrations!  I've included a photo of my "Empty Egg" note cards below.

Happy Easter.  He is risen.  He is risen indeed!

Alyssa

St. Patrick's Day Shenanigans

   By Now, I'm sure you all realize that my faith is important to me.  In fact, my Savior is THE most important thing to me with my husband, family, and friends right behind.  I don't believe in luck, destiny, or chance; I believe in God's divine plan.  I saw something once that really stuck with me: "I have a God not a genie.".  So, for that reason, I really struggle with what St. Patrick's Day.

   We simply don't believe in luck.  We've even gone so far as to remove that term from our vocabulary.  We don't say, "Oh my goodness!  You're so lucky you get to go on that vacation!".  Instead we say, "Oh my goodness!  What a blessing that you get to go on that vacation!"  It might be excessive to some people but for us, it is a matter of living our faith and maybe in a small way, letting our light shine.

   With all that being said, we ARE decendants of Irish immigrants. My mother-in-law's family is Irish and in my ancestry, an Irish boy was adopted into our family.  I think it's important that our children realize where they came from, how our family came to live here, that it is a privilege and not a right, that it was earned through sacrifice and we are only here in the U.S. by of the grace of God and the hard-work of people before us.  This is worth celebrating.

   I decided we will use the day as an opportunity for such a discussion with our oldest AND for an opportunity to have a little silly fun... without the word "luck".  Most of my ideas below are totally, 100% lifted from another mom; one whom I really admire. Our next-door neighbors growing up were AWESOME.  My parents still live next door to this wonderful family and I really miss them when we go without seeing one another for a spell.  They are the family that would, and have, dropped everything to help their friends.  Raising a child takes a village and they are absolutely part of mine! They are devoted to their faith, family, and friends and their children have grown in to wonderful, contributing members of society.  If Adam and I do half as well, we will be really... blessed... see what I did there???  haha

   Here's what we will be dong on the 17th:

• Green outfits
• I'll surprise the kids with green milk - food coloring kind, not the science project kind...
• Green pancakes for breakfast
• I'll use green food coloring in the potty
• I'll change some of the light bulbs to green ones for a surprise as the day goes on
• Mommy will have a green beer... or two...

I hope you enjoy celebrating the holiday!

Cheers,

Alyssa

Happy Valentine's Day!

   I've been out of sorts as of late and haven't done very many original crafts with the kids in a while.  We've been enjoying some time together reading, coloring, and helping mommy organize after a VERY chaotic couple of months.  We've begun crafting for Chunky's 1st birthday party and can't wait to share some of those ideas with you soon!

   In the mean time, here are a few ideas for those of you in the Valentine's spirit:

Go Pre-Packaged!
Check the seasonal departments of your favorite craft stores!  We recently found project kits for $1-$3 and they provided HOURS of entertainment for the Little Lady.

Keep It Simple!
Chunky Monkey is too little to really enjoy art projects so I will often put him in his highchair with a spoon or a truck and flour.  It keeps him busy long enough to do the dishes and that's a big deal, people.  It wipes up faster than you'd guess, too. Add some colored sprinkles to jazz it up for any holiday.

Dough!
There are HUNDREDS of dough keepsake projects on pinterest.  We made some candle holders and the Little Lady made "Love Bugs" with the scraps.

Biblical Conversation Hearts
Jesus can be anywhere, even in Valentine's Day, if you CHOOSE to put him there!  We made biblical conversation hearts last year.  They kept well and look great on our table again this year!

   I've included a few pictures below and dough recipe ideas can be found on my "Christmas Ornaments" post!

Cheers and Lots of Love,
Alyssa

Love Bugs - I spy a cute green one!

Flour!

We made some small hearts and painted them to use as fillers in my jars.  I also used a heart punch to make confetti out of colored card stock, as you can see!  Enjoy searching for your favorite biblical passages about love.  Think about God's love for us, the love we have for our children, and the love we have for our spouses.  You'll find a wonderful variety.  May the Lord bless your search and your study of His Word!

Biblical Conversation Hearts

More Winter Projects and Party Ideas

   This past weekend, it was our honor to celebrate my parents' 30th anniversary with one heck of a party!  Mom and dad rented a space and our incredible family and extended family PACKED that place with food, cocktails, dancing, and because we live in Packer country, a big screen TV to watch the game.  We may be out of the running this season but that didn't stop us from having a blast!

   When my mom asked if I would help out with the decorations several weeks ago, of course I jumped for joy.  You all know by now how I thrive on this stuff.   What I wasn't expecting was all the fun I'd have with my mom and sister.  It took some sweat but there were lots of laughs, good conversations, and I even found a new drink; have you ever heard of hard orange soda?  Oh. My. Yum.

   The moral of the story?  TIME.  Spend time with the people you love.  Build a life, make some memories. Don't sit around the living room, each on your own phones.  Talk.  Play cards. Make something together.  We are never promised another day, after all.  I was reminded over the course of this party and all the planning along the way, that I was blessed with some fantastic memories with my parents and you better believe I want that for my children.

   As I type this, I'm exited for my husband to come home from work tonight.  I'll be happy to put my phone away and listen to all he has to say about his day.  I'm looking forward to sharing a meal together with our children.  I'm looking forward to lots of evenings like that, in fact.  I'm curious to see what memories we will have on our 30th anniversary.  Heaven knows we have a wonderful example of a successful Christian marriage...  Thank you mom and dad. xoxo

   We made SO many things together but two particular projects stand out.  The first were jars, made from dough.  Each was decorated and had a name printed on them.  They served as both a place card and a party favor.  I think they added a little charm, personally.  I also made this family tree and hung our immediate family's jars there.  In the background, you'll also see a cross hanging at the highest point.  The idea was to symbolize that a marriage should be a marriage of three, with Christ at the center.  I wish I would have printed that on the cross though our immediate family all knew what it meant.  For the cinnamon salt dough recipe, please see my blog post, "Christmas Ornaments".

   I also enjoyed making these signs out of old scrap plywood, rope, and paint.  I used stencils for the lettering and once I got over trying to make them absolutely perfect, they were fun!  Actually, the little imperfections made them fit into our "rustic winter" theme.  Embrace the imperfections, people!

   I hope you enjoy these ideas and will consider using them for your next big celebration!

Cheers and Happy 30th Mom and Dad!
Alyssa

Mark 10:8-9 "The two will become one flesh." So they are no longer two; but one.  Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.