In the Home Stretch 2

Christmas break is coming to a close. It has been a full, busy and wonderful two weeks. The baking, sewing, crafting, parties, family gatherings, gift-giving, celebrating, wrapping, unwrapping, preparing and recovering will likely blend into one blur of a memory. It will also become part of a larger memory of our family when it was young. Years from now, I doubt we'll remember Christmas 2008 as anything extra-special, but it will be remembered fondly because we spent it together. We ran the race as a team. We're now embarking on a new path in a new year. Who knows what life will bring to us from this point on, but we will surely tackle that as a team, too.

School starts back up Monday. We'll have plenty of activities and events to keep us busy. There is no such thing as a holiday let-down in this house. We have about 6 birthdays in January that need celebrating and many hours in our days are being claimed by basketball practices and games. That will soon morph into baseball and eventually football with various holidays and birthdays sprinkled in for good measure. Though it may require different uniforms and protective gear, life goes on.

One thing the boys were disappointed about was the lack of snow over their break. We had a bit of powdery dust, but not once were they able to get out and make snow angels or use their new snowball fight shields they got for Christmas. I'm sure good ol' Mother Nature will live up to Northeast Ohio's expectations, though, and we'll have a snow day or two soon. Then they can shovel play to their hearts' content.

If you're looking for something fun to make for your kiddos, visit my latest Saturday Craft post at Make it From Scratch pictured above. The boys and I have had a blast playing with our new Hand Hacky Sacks! I'm getting pretty good at it, too!

I Swore I Wouldn't Do This.

Maybe its just the new year. Maybe its the fact that the holidays are over and I've got some downtime. It may also be a cycle of some sort, but I'm reevaluating my blog.

I often work in spurts and have no real schedule as to when or what I will write. I love the Sunday Reflection posts, Works for Me Wednesday and Nifty Thrifty Thursday, but the in-between is what gets me stumped. I get inspired some days and go crazy with post ideas and other days, I am so rushed for time that I don't' even get 30 minutes on the computer.

I keep thinking a laptop will solve my dilemma, but in all seriousness, it probably won't help. I need to make time each day to sit down, collect my thoughts that float around in my head and organize them in some fashion.

I really feel like Dory in Finding Nemo. I think of something I want to write about, but don't write it down because I am busy with something else and just figure I'll get it written down later on. By the time later on rolls around, though, the idea is gone. *POOF!* Vanished into thin air. But don't worry, it will be back as soon as I am too busy to write it down again.

For instance, as I was brainstorming a few minutes ago, an idea popped into my head. I hadn't even had time to process the idea let alone write it down (I have pen in hand at this point, so we're talking milliseconds here) and the phone rang. The idea- GONE! It may be back later, but I won't hold my breath.

My hope for 2009 is not to post everyday, although that would be nice, but to post more often than I do and to post even more meaningful content. Not just frivolous fluff.

Did I just make a resolution?

SIGH. Yeah, I guess I did.

Well, if that's my resolution, I will now have to start breaking it down into manageable goals. Maybe that can be my next post... now THERE'S an idea! :o)

Not to worry, though, I'll still include some frivolous fluff just for fun. Really, its just for fun. That's not my excuse for posting about nothing once in a while. Not at all. Nope. Really. Sounds good, right? Yeah, that's believable. Uh-huh. Yeppers!

In the Home Stretch

As 2008 winds to a close, we are tuckered out. We're taking it easy and enjoying our time together.

I would like to thank each and every one of you for visiting us here, for reading, commenting and entering our giveaways. We are truly blessed to have made friends with so many wonderful people from all over the world through this little blog of mine and I only hope that will grow.

I have some exciting things lined up for 2009 including more great Nifty Thrifty Thursdays, more great Works for Me Wednesday tips and all new giveaways!

We send the warmest wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year for all of you and your families.

Somebody Get These Cookies Away from Me!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas is over, but the rush continues. I have only one gift to exchange (I'm flattered that my Sister in-law thinks I wear a small, but I have to exchange it if I want to be able breathe), but I think I'll wait till a weekday when everyone goes back to work. Also, Santa must have forgotten to leave my laptop. Maybe the Easter Bunny will remember *wink*.

Mike and I have a party to go to tonight and tomorrow my Grandma Margie is coming down from Cleveland to exchange gifts with all of us. I hope she likes what we got her. Monday, Applehead and Stephanie are visiting for a bit, next week the New Year begins and the eating will continue. :o)

Okay, I may be misleading you a little with that last statement. The eating hasn't actually stopped yet. Our house is so full of cookies, pies and other leftovers that I may not have to grocery shop for anything other than toilet paper and dish soap for a month. Nothing is more tempting to me than nut roll and chocolate chip cookies. They call to me!

Here's a question for all of you. Someone I know got a very expensive and very beautiful gift from a friend that she has never exchanged gifts with before. She feels bad because she didn't get her something. She feels like she should reciprocate, but she doesn't want to start making the friend feel like she has to do the same every year.

I say the friend knew they don't usually exchange gifts and I'm sure she doesn't expect something in return. Write a very nice thank you card and leave it at that. Don't start something you aren't willing to keep up with year after year. I also partially feel this because it may have been a re-gift. I don't know this for a fact, but it could very well be and then what? The friend will feel like she has to buy something every year that lives up to the original gift that was a white elephant of sorts to her in the first place. What do you think?

Before I go, I have to wish my Aunt Teri a Happy Birthday! Hope its great!!!

Do You?

I rarely make New Year's resolutions.

Sure, I'd like to lose a few extra pounds, but I don't think starting a new diet or trying to find help form the best diet pill on the market at the beginning of the year is going to be the magic ticket. I never want to hear myself utter the words, "I'm starting my new diet tomorrow."

I am always trying to be a better person. I often look at what I don't like about other people and do my best to not be like that. I try to top the last nice thing I did for someone with something even nicer or I look at the things I do and say and try to improve on them.

One reason for not making resolutions is to avoid disappointment when 31 days later you haven't even taken the first step. Another reason may be that you don't want to go through the work and planning necessary to actually bring a goal to fruition. Yet another may be laziness. I'm not sure which description fits me. I feel that if something is that important, why wait until January 1 to start? Do it now.

Take that first step by exercising a bit each day- starting today. Drop that letter in the mail that you've been wanting to send- even if you just sent the person a Christmas card last week. Don't wait until the perfect time or until you have the perfect supplies or whatever. Before you know it, the perfect moment has past or may never come.

Sunday Reflection

Each Sunday, I post a poem, photo or quote that I love or that speaks to me. Feel free to comment or post your own. See more here.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanza, Happy New Year, Happy Festivus, Happy Boxing Day, Happy Regifting Day and whatever else you may be celebrating this time of year. Make it special and enjoy the time with your family and friends.

Thank you for reading,

The Lessiters

P.S. Don't forget to sign up for my "Moose" Wonderful Time of the Year Giveaway by midnight tonight!

It's the 'Moose' Wonderful Time of the Year GIVEAWAY!

This contest is now closed. The winner is announced here.

What if I told you that there was one place you could get something for everyone on your Christmas list this year? You could run right out and get your shopping finished up- and have fun doing it- with time to take the kids out to see Christmas lights afterwards. The weight of what to get for all your loved ones would be off your shoulders and you could actually relax. WOW!

Now, what if I told you that you already know this place and that if you keep reading, you can find out how to win a $10 gift card to it?

I won't keep you in suspense any longer. The place is the Build-A-Bear Workshop and they have something for everyone from cuddly bears to frolicking moose to personalized gifts galore!

Let me introduce you to the newest member of our household, Hal the Moose. Hal's antlers light up when you squeeze his hand and he can be dressed in the latest furbulous seasonal fashions. He is one half of the imaginative pair of moose siblings, Holly and Hal Moose and they have a fabulous adventure to take you along on in their book, Holly and Hal Moose: Our Uplifting Christmas Adventure.

The book is FREE when you buy both Holly and Hal Moose which are only $12 each! The book can also be purchased separately for $15.99. Then, you can take the fun a step further by enjoying Holly and Hal's adventures exclusively online at buildabearville.com- the Build-A-Bear Workshop virtual world that is stuffed with fun (parental permission may be required, see store website for details)!

So, what about the sports fan or the Disney's Hannah Montana and High School Musical fan or the gamer on your list? What does Build-A-Bear Workshop have for them? I'm so glad you asked! Along with Holly and Hal, you can choose Chilly Cheeks Penguin or one of the more than 30 furry friends and dress them in the latest Hannah Montana, High School Musical or authentic team uniform. The gamer you love will be thrilled with their own Bear Bills game cards. Bear bills are the official currency of buildabearville.com and can be spent on virtual clothing, accessories and decor for their buildabearville.com Cub Condo house!

Still stumped? There are too many furry friends to choose from? A Bear Bucks gift card is the perfect gift! The recipient can take you along to help them make their new friend and a special memory! Each new furry friend comes with a special code that lets you bring them to life online for FREE at buildabearville.com. From turtles to bunnies to bears, monkeys, dogs and cats, there is something everyone will love to make at Build-A-Bear Workshop!

Now for the giveaway!

To be entered to win your very own $10 gift card to Build-A-Bear Workshop, simply leave a comment on this post by midnight Sunday, December 21 telling me what you'd make with your card or who you'd give it to for a special treat! Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you're the winner.

One winner will be drawn from comments received and will be announced in a separate post here on Monday, December 22. The winner will be contacted via email by me and will have 3 days to respond at which time another winner will be drawn. I reserve the right to remove any duplicate, rude/crude or spam comments.

Leave a comment, tell all your friends so they can join in and Good Luck!

Where Has the Time Gone?!?

The days are flying by like a flash! Being a supermodel/world-class chef/novelist can sure keep you busy.

WHAT?!?! I'm not any of those things?

Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?

Aside from housework, working, babysitting and chauffeuring my kids around to practices, I've been trying to get as much of my Christmas gifts made/bought and wrapped as possible. I'm making some real headway and wearing my sewing machine out in the process. :o)

I've got quite a few of my Christmas decorations out of their boxes beside the Indian meal moth traps and up inside the house, but I still have several to get to. When and where did I get all of this stuff? WOW!

I'm taking today to work on Christmas cards and laundry. I did put up my weekly craft post at Make It From Scratch. You should check it out! We also have a birthday party to go to for my nephew Brayden. I can't wait to see how he likes the gift we got him! I'll tell you what it is after I get a picture!

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend!

Make Your Own Christmas Gifts!

Have you entered my Perfect Recipe Basket Giveaway yet? You have until December 2nd! Three lucky commenters will win!!!

As you may know, I post a craft or sewing project every Saturday at the very popular Make It From Scratch blog. I try to post simple things that anyone can make and things that the kids can help with as well. My love of crafting came from being taught by my Mom and Grandmas and I am hoping to pass on that love to my children.

With Christmas quickly approaching, I thought I'd take the opportunity tonight to round up some of my craft posts into one tidy little list for you. There are many people who will be looking for Christmas gifts to make this year, so this is for you.

No-Sew Fleece Scarves

No-Sew Fleece Pillow

Chinese Yo-Yo

Mitten Gift Bag/ Decoration

Christmas Crackers

Old-Fashioned Ball & Cup Game

Basic Pillow

Fabric Gift Bag With Ties

Christmas Gift Tote

Stephanie has also posted several ideas for food items to give as gifts at Make It From Scratch. Be sure to check them out!

This Season's Bounty, Next Season's Gifts

Quick Breads: a treat for now, a gift for later

For Coffee Lovers

Here are a couple of my past posts from It's all for the best and The Fat Bottomed Girl that would be great for gift-giving as well.

Edible Christmas Ornaments

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Homemade Noodles

Homemade Croutons

Banana Bread

So cut down on the gifts that require going through barcode scanners first and make some of your gifts this year. You'll save a ton of money and your family and friends will be really impressed that you took the time to make something just for them.

How to Have a Cookie Dough Day

I can't believe we have a Saturday at home with nowhere to go. That hasn't happened in I can't remember how long! I have a million and one things I want to get done while I have the time, but number one on the list is a "Cookie Dough Day".

Today I will make cookie dough to freeze so that when things are all crazy in December, I can just pull the dough out of the freezer and bake it. It is nice to make the different doughs all at once while I already have the ingredients out and the kitchen is a mess. If I can get it all done today, I will only have the mess once.

Some other tips for a good Cookie Dough Day:

1. Fill your sink with hot soapy water and empty your dishwasher before you start. Wash dishes or load them as you go. It makes clean-up a snap and your measuring cups will be clean for the next recipe.

2. Make sure you have lots of bowls for mixing, wax paper and freezer containers ready to go. You don't want to have to dig for this stuff in the middle.

3. Decide how you will freeze your dough. Will you freeze it in one package or will you drop the cookies onto cookie sheets to freeze? This all depends on how you will bake them. If you know you'll bake them all on one day, freeze the dough in one package. If you plan to just pull out a few at a time to bake, drop them on cookie sheets.

4. Work on one recipe at a time. It is too easy to mix up measurements and ingredients.

5. Mark your frozen dough clearly with date and amount. You can even write the baking time on them so you won't have to dig out your recipe later.

***********************

Today I also posted my weekly craft post at Make It From Scratch. This week, I show you how to make your own cute Christmas Gift Totes. They would be great for giving homemade cookies in, don't you think? Wink Wink!

Whew! After all those cookies (I have to test at least ONE of each, you know) I think I may need some alli!!

I am SO Late in Doing This!

I'm on a roll! I'm taking part of this weekend to get my Christmas planner ready. I have put it off too long and now I am behind.

You know I've already started shopping- stocking stuffers, sports gifts (which are cheaper during the season), interesting items I find and cute gifts for unexpected guests. Now I need a place to list everything I've bought, where it is and who it is for. I will also include things like clothing sizes for the whole family, foods I usually make for holiday gatherings and a grocery list for those things, gifts I plan to make from scratch, gifts for teachers and service providers and cleaning or household tasks I need to complete before Christmas.

One year, I bought one of those fat little notebooks for this. It was small enough to fit in my purse, but had plenty of pages. Whenever I created a list in it for that year, I made a duplicate blank list in the back and I automatically had my planner ready to fill in for the next year. That was the way to go. There may still be pages in it that I can use and not have to buy a new book for this year!

Don't forget to sign up for my Savory Giveaway!!!

Its Almost Over

Tomorrow is Election Day in the US. I am passionate about politics, but I have decided to leave my opinion out of my blog and I thank other bloggers who have done the same. I have actually quit reading a couple of blogs because of things they have posted that are political in nature.

I will tell you that I think voting is one of the most important things we can do. It is a way to voice our opinion and do our part to keep this country great. We all have an opinion of our government one way or another and we need to make sure we are backing that up by going out to vote EVERY TIME!

I have a neighbor in his 60's who was always complaining about the local government. He had some very strong opinions and took every breath he had to let everyone know how he felt. Then one day, I asked him if he voted on the school levy since he lives in another voting district than we do. He said he had no idea because he wasn't even registered to vote! I told him that I didn't want to hear him complain again until he was registered. It didn't take long for him to register after that. He's back to his old opinions, but at least now he's walking the walk and not just talking the talk so to speak.

My point today is to let you all know that you can go online to your local board of elections and you can actually see the issues and candidates you'll be voting on tomorrow. You can write down the things you want to vote for and take that piece of paper with you when you vote. If there is an issue or a race you are undecided on, simply leave that one blank. It is okay.

After tomorrow, the face of the US will change. History will be made and the ads will stop... at least until the next election. Will you be part of it?

*************************

Remember to check back here this Wednesday for another great giveaway!

Nifty Thrifty Thursday: Christmas In July Part 1

Celebrating the birth of our Lord should be a time for peace, family and celebration. Unfortunately, Christmas is one of the most stressful holidays for many people.





I hope to ease some of that stress for you by giving you as many ideas and resources as I can possibly squeeze into two posts. Wouldn't a debt-free Christmas be so much less stressful? A debt-free Christmas is possible, but it takes some early planning to make it happen. By no means do you have to start this right NOW, but DO start early. Let's get to it!



PS- I really tried to keep this short, but I get excited about Christmas! :o)

PLANNING FOR THE BIG DAY
~Start by setting your budget- yes, you have to have a budget. It doesn't have to be so tight it squeaks, but you at least need to write down a ballpark figure of what you want to spend. Having it in writing will help you solidify your commitment and make it more real.

If you don't have a Christmas club, you might want to divide your total budget amount by how many weeks left until Christmas and put that much away each week until the big day. For example- as of today, there are about 23 weeks until Christmas. If you put away just $25 a week, you'll have about $575 by Christmas! Put away $40 and you'll have $920!!!

Have trouble saving the cash? Buy gift cards or buy one to two gift(s) each week to label and store away. To help even further, wrap it and tag it before you store it! Just be sure to keep a list of what you bought for whom, keep the receipt in an envelope just for Christmas gifts and most importantly, WHERE YOU STORED IT! :o)


~Commit time each week to do a little Christmas prep. Take the time to do something each week that will save you time and stress later on. Some ideas:
-Find those Christmas cards you bought on clearance last year.
-Start addressing Christmas cards a few at a time when you have a minute or two.
-List all of the gifts you've collected in your gift closet or tub.
-Go through your wrapping supplies and figure out how much you'll have to buy this year.
-Work on gifts and cards you want to make.
-Make a batch or two of cookie dough and freeze the dough or the cookies!
-Gather stockings in a storage box and have them ready to fill.
-List and/or buy stocking stuffers.





~Go through your lists from last year. If you haven't kept them or don't have one, grab a small notebook you can take with you easily and start a new one.

If you want a ready-made, free printable organizer:
OrganizedChristmas.com
Flylady Holiday Control Journal
Mint Printables
Family Fun


Here are some of the lists I make in mine (or use the links above as a guideline):
People to buy for- include family, friends, service people, coaches, teachers, etc.
Who to stuff stockings for
Travel plans
Parties & events we usually attend
Foods I usually make


Menus for parties we host here
Gift checklist (bought or made/wrapped/where stored)
Attach an envelope for receipts!


THRIFTY HOLIDAY TIPS
~Buy a gift card for the grocery store you use most often. Put an extra $5 (or the amount you save with your coupons!!!) on it each time you go grocery shopping and by Christmas, you'll have an extra stash for baking ingredients or Christmas dinner!

~Make reusable gift bags out of fabric. Simple straight-line sewing and some pinking shears are all you need to make large and small fabric gift bags that can be used over and over. Make them plain or fancy them up by adding drawstrings or tie them with ribbon, yarn, cording or twine! What a great way to use your ribbon and yarn scraps! You might even find holiday print (or holiday colored) fabric at yard sales and thrift shops.

~K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Sweetie)! Don't worry about totally knocking the socks off of every gift recipient. The gift isn't as important as what the gift says. If the gift relates to a hobby or a moment you share with the recipient, it will be more of a hit than a random item that will just collect dust.
-Buy or make practical or consumable gifts if you aren't sure what to give.
-Give car wash or oil change certificates. Who wants to wash their car or change their oil at home in the winter?
-Give cash or gift cards, but do it in an unconventional way. Attach it to an ornament, give rolls of coins in a cool box, holiday cup or homemade fabric gift bag.
-Sign up for giveaways or freebies and use what you get for stocking stuffers or gifts! (BTW-Next week is the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival!)

So there you have Part 1 of Nifty Thrifty Thursday: Christmas In July. Be sure to come back next week when I'll pass on some more great tips to help ease the strain on your wallet and mind this coming holiday season.


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Join me every Thursday for more thrifty tips and links! Now get out there and $ave $ome money!!!

Coming Soon To It's All For The Best...

There's lots of things happening soon that I'd like you all to know about! Check them out!

Did you know that the next Bloggy Giveaways Carnival is coming up??? I have some things in the works for my giveaway, so make sure come back to find out what they are! You don't have to have a blog to win either!!

I'll also be hosting a giveaway at my food blog, The Fat Bottomed Girl. You won't want to miss it!

Also remember that this Thursday is Christmas in July here at It's All For The Best! I'll be passing on lots of great ideas and links to get you all ready to save some money, time and stress this holiday season in my Nifty Thrifty Thursday post!

Its never too early to prepare for Christmas! If you have any ideas of your own you'd like to pass on, email me and let me know!

August 12th is another big day here because I'll be hosting the Make It From Scratch Carnival that day. Write a post about something you've made- food, crafts, whatever- and submit it using the blog carnival submission form between August 5th and 11th to make sure it's included, then stop by here on Tuesday 8/12 to see what everyone else is making!

Eat, Eat! Rush, Rush!

I am so thrown off when there is a long weekend. All day today has felt like a Sunday.

We've been buzzing all over the place like busy little bees this holiday weekend! First, There was Mom's cookout Friday at noon. We ended up being a hair late, but we got there in time to eat. I got some of Mom's macaroni salad!!! MY FAVORITE!!! I'm still thinking about it! I'll have to make some and post the recipe at The Fat Bottomed Girl.

I felt kind of bad, but we had to rush off from Mom's and go to another cookout that our friends from church were having. This is one party we don't want to miss for sure. They have their own private fireworks show that Mike and his Dad help set up. They play patriotic music and there is no traffic to fight at the end. Also lots of good food at this party!

Today, Mike had to work in the morning and as soon as he got home, we were off to his cousin's house for yet another cookout. This time, we had to bring our own steaks and a side dish. I made some pasta salad and a chocolate chip peanut butter cake. I am still STUFFED!

Mike's mom also invited us over for ribs tomorrow night, so we aren't quite done yet. Whew! I don't know if I can handle another big meal three days in a row... but I'm willing to give it a go! *wink*

With all this leftover cake, cookies, a whole steak and some blackberry tarts I made somewhere in there, we are set for a while for breakfast and desserts!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day!!!

Back In The Game!

We're back from vacation!

Actually, we came back a couple of days early because the fishing wasn't very good.

Okay, it was terrible.

We basically got skunked by the Bluegill. We caught a few Crappies and a couple of Perch, but nothing like we usually do. We were plagued by sunburn (Matthew), and fever (Steven) and when we got home Tuesday night, Matthew vomited about 3 times. Thankfully, everyone is on the mend and back to normal. Well... back to our usual anyways. :o)

Isn't it funny how you can go away for just a few days, but come back to a totally different world? It's the same ol' home you left mere days before has changed so much. Events that happen while you're gone change the way you look at things. Your whole schedule and plan for getting back to your normal routine is thrown into chaos by having to sort through the pile of mail, listen to all of the phone messages and go through the emails about auto insurance comparisons, catching up on laundry, finding a home for things you bought on your trip along with dealing with whatever situations pop up in the days after returning home.

So is a vacation really worth all of the preparations and all of the aftershock? My answer is a definite YES. I was glad to get away for a while- to take a break from the 'norm' and come back to the 'almost norm'. Despite returning sans huge cooler of fish, we had a nice time. The weather was hot, we spent time with family and friends and we relaxed. And that was the entire point.

Where Did The Weekend Go???

I have been so extremely busy!! I can't believe that the weekend is over and that I haven't posted in so long! CRAZY!!!

First of all, I have to say Happy 8th Birthday to my nephew Brandon! We got to his baseball game just in time to see him smack one into the outfield and turn it into a triple! His party was fun, too and the boys hated to leave. I'll have to post some pics tomorrow.

Secondly, a Happy Mother's Day to all of the Moms out there and most of all to my Mom and Mike's Mom. We got to spend time with both sides of the family this weekend, so it was great!

So what else did we spend our weekend doing? In a nutshell, I went to a church event with a friend and got to play Family Feud!! It was so fun!!! Both of the boys had baseball pictures Saturday morning and we spent most of the AM getting those done. Matthew's cancelled game from Thursday night was rescheduled for Saturday at 2, so back we went to the same place pics were taken and watched a great game. Matthew hit 2 doubles! He also tried to steal home after being walked once, but the backstop at that field is closer than the one we usually play on and he got tagged out at the plate. It was a nail-biter! His team was down by 4, but came back to win it by 2! After that, it was off to Mandy's for Brandon's birthday party. Today we had lunch with Mike's family at his sister's house and headed back home so I could finish making cookies for tomorrow night's tee-ball snacks.

WHEW! :o)

Just a reminder that I'll be hosting the Make It From Scratch Carnival on Tuesday this week. Make sure you come back for that!!!

If you haven't gotten your Mom anything for Mother's Day yet, why not try a Parmigiani? It's sure to impress!

Happy Earth Day & An Announcement

Here are some links for a busy Earth Day! Enjoy!

Earth Day Activities at Kaboose!

Make It From Scratch:Lighten your footprint edition

The full edition of Make It From Scratch

More Earth Day for kids!

Earthday.gov

Now for my announcement...

I've got a GIVEAWAY lined up for tomorrow that I can't wait to tell you all about! I'll give you a hint: They're YUMMY and they're SUPER COOL!!!

WFMW: Vacation Prep Tips

Vacation should be relaxing and fun. Below are some tips that I hope will take out some of the stress of preparing for vacation.





TIP #1- Start early





We're going on vacation in June and I start my preparations for it now. We share a cottage with Mike's parents and another couple. We have to bring all of our soaps, toiletries, food and such, so we get together early and divide up the list.



Getting started this early allows me to add one item to my grocery list each week. I don't even notice the extra cost for one item anyway. It prevents me having to do a major shopping trip right before we go and it allows me to wait until the item comes on sale.



TIP #2- Make a list






Even if you don't go to the same place each vacation, the list can be modified each time if need be. I use an attendance-type grid and list the items down the left side. Each smaller column becomes a year and I check off each spot as the item is packed. Use it on the way back to make sure you've packed everything you brought. These lists come in handy when we just go for a weekend as well.





One page of this list is also for things like, stopping the paper, paying bills, unplugging the coffee pot, hang up the cordless phone, arm alarm system and anything else you don't want to forget before you leave. I double check it before we drive away.


TIP #3- Roll clothes together

As I pack, I put whole outfits together- Top, bottom, undies and socks. Lay it all flat on top of each other and roll it up tight. It will fit better into your bag or suitcase (I promise) and you can just pull out a new outfit each night for the next day. It is a time and sanity saver.



TIP #4- Pack an overnight bag and put that bag in LAST

Sounds silly, but if you make an overnight stop on the way to your destination as we do, it makes perfect sense. I pack one change of clothes for each of us, our toothbrushes, toothpaste and other necessities and put it in last for easy access.



TIP #5- Take extra bags and laundry bags

I always pack a couple of empty tote bags or duffel bags. These come in handy if you buy any souvenirs or if you lose or damage one of your other bags. I take two laundry bags. One I hang in the kids' room and one goes in our room. The day before we leave, I dump the dirty clothes out and sort them into the bags- one has lights and the other has darks. As soon as I get home, I throw in a load and don't stop until they are all washed.


TIP #6- Call ahead and find out prices in the area

My in-laws went to a different island in NC last year than they usually go to and found that everything was two to three times MORE than the place they usually go to. They would have packed more food had they known.

Even though we go to the same place each year, we call ahead to find out the gas prices at least. It helps us to know how much spending money to bring and prevents any unpleasant surprises.



TIP #7- Clean before you go

I know I'm going to get some flack for this one. Who wants to clean when you're getting ready for vacation? My response is, "Who wants to come home to a big mess?" You don't have to go hog wild, just get the basic clutter off the floors, run the dishwasher, make the beds and get rid of the junk sitting on the counter. If you have someone house-sitting, maybe you can enlist them to dust and run the vacuum for you :::wink:::.



I hope my tips are helpful to you. Please feel free to add any you can think of in the comments section.

WFMW is hosted by Rocks in My Dryer.

The Real Spring Break Begins

Well, Easter went off without a hitch. The food was fabulous- as always, the kids finished their egg hunt in record time and everyone had fun. I love it when everyone stays for the whole afternoon after we eat. Its nice to just sit around and talk while we graze over rich desserts and coffee or tea. It makes me want to have every holiday meal at noon so we can do that every time.

I had fun and, other than cleaning a little, had very little to do. Even still, I ended up having a splitting headache after everyone left. I'm chalking it up to my allergies which have been bothering me all week. I took something for it and took a nap, but it didn't help. I took something else and kicked back in my recliner for a while until it went away. I can still feel some sinus pressure, but I feel a million times better now.

So the cookies were a big hit! There are still quite a few left, so between that, the nut roll Mike's Mom made and the candy the boys got in their baskets and eggs, I feel confident in saying this week will be fueled on sugar.

The kids and I are on Spring Break this week. It doesn't really feel like Spring yet, but that's the usual for our Spring Break. They always have it during the last week of March and it's always crappy weather. My expectations are low for any outdoor activities, but I'm sure we can find plenty of stuff to do. I'd actually like to figure out what flowers I'll be planting this year and maybe even start some seeds for them. I have some pots to plant and I'd like to plant something back by our woods. I'm thinking I'd like to get some of my Grandma's peonies which she got from her Mom's farm to put by the woods. They'd look so nice from the house since they have such nice, big blooms.

I'll probably be doing some Spring cleaning over break, too. The list for that is long and daunting, but if I break it into smaller tasks, I'm sure I can manage to get some of it done.

Some people I know will be traveling this week. If you are, too, you might want to check into some travel health insurance. It can't hurt to find out about it just in case.

:::SIGH::: I can't wait to be able to hang my clothes out on the line everyday and sit on my swing and listen to the birds. I want to put my screens in and open the windows each day. I want to have a cookout and sit in a lawn chair and chat all evening with neighbors I haven't seen in a while. It'll be here soon, I just know it!

So, Spring, if you're reading, try your best to get to Ohio sometime within the next week. Yes, I know you're "officially" here according to the calendar, but I'd like some proof. You know, like some warmth, sunshine and perhaps some green grass. I'd surely appreciate it!