Monogram holiday wreath

Saw this on a few blogs (sorry I don't remember which one). a copy of the very $$ ballard alphabet wreath. I made mine for .74 plus tax!  just spray painted a cardboard S and wrapped some garland around it. super easy and I am in love with it!!

A Nice Surprise

Pop Pop has been asking me for a picture of the girls for who knows what. I knew I didn't have a good one so I planned on taking one on my own that of course would be so good it would fool everyone into thinking I paid a real photographer for it (yeah right). Well my camera has been dying a slow death this year and being me, I put it off so when he called to ask again today I just searched my hard drive for a suitable pic. I was sick to discover I had few pictures of the kids in general this year, none of the girls at all. After going all the way back to late july, I found this gem. I don't even remember taking it or editing it but it brought a smile to my face and in fact, was just what pop Pop was looking for. I think it was from our trip to the New Jersey aquarium with grandma and Makayla.

Its Beginning to look alot like Christmas...CRAP!

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Christmas. I love everything about it. the family get togethers, the gifts, the decorations, the crafting, the caroling, the food. but this year is different, as in we are BROKE! In the past, I have been short and always charged my gifts to be paid off (or not) later. This year I am trying to avoid that like the plague. I have worked so hard to pay off the few small credit card balances I was able to this year and I don't want to wind up in the same spot this year just so my kids can have the newest "bauble" out there. So I am trying to get creative, get crafty, and get back to the true meaning of the season. Will the kids appreciate it? Probably not, they may be upset that they didn't get the latest toy but years from now they will hopefully remember a new tradition, a homemade gift, an experience, much more than what toy they opened. I"m counting on it!