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