12 Weeks of Christmas {Week 2}

Alright, now that I have my list of things we want to do and things we will need to do all done I am moving on to week 2. I am keeping my lists of things to do on my phone, so much easier, no chance of losing it. I always have it, etc. 

 I also wrote some down though, things we need to decide on as a family.

Week 2 for me is about budgeting, and scheduling! Now that we have some ideas of what we want to do, we can narrow the budget down and start getting things on the schedule (flexible) before things get crazy!

There are a lot of methods to budgeting, or saving year round for Christmas.

$5 Method

Weekly Savings

Monthly Savings

Whichever way you do your budgeting, having it in place is kind of freeing and a great guideline to get started!

And if you are like me and don't like to cross stuff off in your planner, you can print off blank calendar pages and use them until things are more set in stone. We have to wait for basketball schedules, family parties we aren't hosting, etc.

 

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12 Weeks To Christmas {Week 1} Your Plan

12 weeks is all we have to plan and prep! Why start so early? For me, I want less hustle and bustle and more time doing the things I want to do and love, and more time to be with our family!

Prepping a little at a time for a more PEACEFUL season.

So I am starting this 12 week countdown plan. Starting with a PLAN to not over schedule, over commit or over do.

I am using this week to get things planned out.
A list of what NEEDS to be done, things like.
~ Meal plan
~Cards if that is something you do
~Housework
 ~Wrapping

Activities we WANT to do
~New traditions we might want to try out
~Old Traditions we love
~Making cookies
~Service projects we plan on helping with

These will be different for every family but it's a good idea to get a list started! You don't want to miss out on something because time got away from you, or spend all night wrapping and be groggy in the morning.

Maybe you want to really go overboard on your planning, get a binder! There are plenty of sections you can keep organized and spend a bit more time.
Minimal effort more your style? Writing ideas on a piece of paper is a good start! 
It doesn't have to be intense and take hours of time to get organized.

Anyone want to join me?!

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34 Stocking Stuffer ideas for him!

Some years we ONLY do stockings for each other, we don't set a specific amount, but no jewelry or electronics so it doesn't get out of hand either. I still put some on here, sometimes they make their way in them anyway. What I really try to do with stockings is not JUNK, if it isn't edible it had better be relevant past January! We are on a never ending mission of reducing the STUFF at our house.

Don't know where to start? Sometimes I will go with a theme, that helps streamline all those options. In the past I have done all
Oregon Ducks Stuff (or whatever team he likes)
Baseball
Golf

Here are some things I have used in the past, and some that will for sure be in there this year.

1.Big League Chew

2. Astronaut cheese

3. Jerky

4. Dollar Shave Club Subscription

5.Wallet
6. T shirt
7. Socks
8. Tie
9. Tools (screwdriver, hammer)
10. Baseball Hat
11. Pocket Knife
12. Movie or CD
13. Key Chain
14. Travel Cup
15. Flashlight
16. Headphones
17. Workout watch or pedometer
18. Fun sticky notes
19. A nice pen
20. Grill Tools
21. Fun Bottle Opener
22. Sunglasses
23. New Hot Sauces to try
24. New Phone Case
25. Chromecast or Roku Box
26. Ice Scraper
27. Gloves
28. Essential Oils
29. Lottery Tickets
30. Date Night gift cards
31. Golf Balls and Tees
32. Specialty Beer
33. Car air fresheners
34. Car Wash certificates


We are keeping things much simpler this year than we have in the past but the Mr. will still be getting a fun stocking!
Is there something you add every year?

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Biscuits and Chocolate Gravy!

That's what we had for breakfast Christmas morning!

I was a little scared to try a new recipe on Christmas but I am so glad I did, they turned out great!

The kids had theirs with whip cream and sprinkles 

BUT, I am fond of bacon, so bacon on top for us!

I found a couple different variations of the recipe, all basically the same so I decided to try it until it looked/tasted right. I made a LOT, easily could have made half this I think!

In a bowl I mixed together

1 1/4C sugar

1/2C Coco Powder

1/2C Flour

1 1/2 tsp Cinnamon

I stirred those together well to make sure there was no lumps

you could use a sifter if you needed to, I just used a whisk.

oh and salt, a couple pinches!

Then in my pot I measured 4 c of milk,  I used nonfat but I am sure any will work fine.

I warmed the milk up a little before adding the dry mixture in and whisking like crazy.

I just kept stirring it on med/high heat until it thickened up and there were no lumps.

Once it was done I added about two tablespoons of butter (I didn't measure it, but all of the recipes called for butter) 

And then about 1/2 tsp of vanilla.

It was pretty easy, just took a few minutes and the kids all liked it! Not an everyday breakfast, but fun for a special treat! 

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Half done Christmas Decorations!

Well if I don't share them now I'm not sure I will at all!

I think I am having a reaction to our tree, I was already getting sick and now it's just getting worse, the closer I am to the tree (and it smells SO good) the worse I feel.  I am kind of behind but I am ok with it! Learning to let stuff go is HARD but I am getting better. 

I had to decide between getting the chores done or heading to the craft store. For now, the chores win.

After our youngest was born 2 years ago I decided to change the Christmas stuff we had, I had already kind of outgrown the other stuff and I really prefer matching stockings and couldn't find one with his initial to match. That's how it all started! Every year I add a little more but it's obvious it's not finished.

Like these obviously are missing a candle! I found some that are perfect, but they are out at our Target and I just can't justify trekking the extra half hour to get them, they just aren't THAT important right now.  But I do love the little Michael's $1 section frames, that need pictures in them!

I love the lime green! Can't really tell in the picture but the little snowballs are shimmery (and ALL over if the fan gets turned on!)

I tend to be attracted to Elf Shoes! They are just so stinkin' cute!

The mantle is definitely lacking the FLUFF I am hoping to add to it. 

I used to love greenery but it just doesn't match the lime I like and its usually too full and blocks the TV (darn TV!) so when I get to the craft store and have some extra coupons I will be adding some white boas! 

Our Elf Cookie just happened to be hanging out there today.

All looks unfinished but I love where it's going! (cept that one is kinda crooked)

These are the stockings that started a new look, good thing I still LOVE them!

Random fluff from around the house

I did get some outside stuff done! I still don't have the monogram wreath I have been lusting over. I did try a DIY version.. TOTAL fail.. all it did was break the big G! Soo no wreath yet cause I can't decide what to do instead!

No lights up yet, maybe this weekend!

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It's almost time!

To start those Advent calendars!

We have a little ginger bread house one that we put little things in, it's this one.

But we also got a couple new ones this year at the Lego Store! They had 2 different Advent Calendars this year, a Lego City one



And a Lego Star Wars one

The kids don't know about these yet, they will be SO excited!

And Pinerest has SOO many cute ones!

This one is a free printable!

SO many cute ones, and lots are DIY! Check out the rest on my Christmas Pin Board HERE!

What do y'all use?

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More Elf Stuff

This year Cookie (our Elf) is bringing the kids some Elf Pajamas and an initial ornament to tell them he/she missed them (and because they need some Christmas jammies)!

These are the Pajamas Cookie is bringing

They are from Crazy8 but are mostly sold out (18-24month is left online). The stores might have some still. I Cookie just thought the kids would love some Elf jammies. These came out in the end of Summer, picked them up then, not knowing that Pottery Barn was going to have seriously cute stuff, check these out!

And a sweet little set of matching DISHES?! So cute!

I can't wait to see what else comes out with Elf on it!

Does your Elf bring anything for the kids?



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Elf On The Shelf!!

We got ours last year, the kids LOVED it! Ours is named Cookie, and last year we didn't do much with it, moved it every night, read the book. Nothing like what some other awesome families are doing! Can't wait for the visit this year!

Pinterest (of course) has all kinds of amazing ideas!

Found all these via Pinterest!

This Flickr page! Such cute ideas, like this one

This site has 101 ideas!

This family has a Elf named Melvin and they share his adventures, cute ideas like

And I have a bunch more saved on Pinterest, where I am sure I will be adding more and more, find my Christmas board HERE.

When does your Elf come out to play? 

What's your Elf's name?

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Christmas decorations 2010

Last year I found the stockings I was looking for (even if I didn't know I was looking for them!) It was Finnley's first Christmas and he didn't have a stocking and I couldn't find one to match our old ones so we got the new ones.. which then led me to stop using the more country style Christmas stuff we did have and start to look for some more whimsical stuff to match these stockings!

I took these pictures Sunday.. and I should have taken them Tuesday after I dusted! I can't believe how much dust there is after 5 days, the bad part about black furniture I guess.

I am lovin' the $1 ornaments this year, seems like all the major stores have some! I wanted to put some fake snow on here, but Finnley can reach this and I am sure he would eat it!

I made this little tree from a Goodwill topiary find and some $1 section boa from Michael's. I wish I remembered where I got the little elf shoe, also another $1 ornament. Lovin all the glitter!

oh the dust is SO bad in this one!

But the snowballs are cute, I got them at a local craft store a few years ago on clearance, the kids love them!

Glitter candle from Home Goods.

Another Goodwill topiary covered in boa!

And a full boa on the mantle, I think I use one of those for EVERY season now!

mini snowballs in a $ Tree hurricane/candlestick Pottery Barn knock off!

There is more coming once I get some batteries for the camera !


Linking up

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Looking for Christmas stuff..

And it's HARD to find stuff I love!

Our stuff is non traditional, very funky and whimsical which makes finding crafts a challenge. While I was browsing for some ideas I came across these which are all VERY cute! I think I can attempt 1 of them for sure, the sewing ones, probably not so much!
This one from HERE

These stockings are more our style, luckily I found some at Home Goods Last year!



source

This wreath is gorgeous! It doesn't really go with our Christmas stuff but I like it! Found via HGTV.com

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Getting ready for some Fourth of July Decorations.. and crafts!

I have been looking for plain individual chipboard letters.. NO idea how hard they were to find.. Finally found some at one of the scrap booking stores in town. These are the BoBunny Brand ones.. ONLY 50 cents each! I thought that was a good deal.. I have been wanting to make the cute banners since I wont pay 25 dollars for one.. so glad I waited until I found these!
This is what they look like before..

I love Martha Stewart Glitter.. it really is the best in my opinion, and now that Walmart carries smaller containers with 3 colors it is a little more affordable.. So I just used the glitter glue and covered each letter with glitter.. I think I am going to spray with a sealer to keep the glitter on a little better, but I am worried it will take some of the sparkle off.
This is what they look like after glitter. Please excuse my horrible photography!

Now I just need to hole punch and string ribbon to make a banner for the fireplace ( I think I am going to use a star shaped punch and coordinating ribbon ) I am getting ready to change this farm stuff out and get my Fourth of July stuff out... which I have even less of! I try to get or make 1 or 2 things a year for each season, since Ive only been doing this for almost 2 years some seasons only have a few things.

I am REALLY already looking forward to Halloween.. Hoping it will get here a little faster.. I figure by then the baby will be here and we will have a nice schedule going... HOPING!

I have been getting tons of clearance emails from

lillianvernon.com

terrysvillage.com

countryhome.com

ANd they have some really great deals.. it's hard for me to think about Christmas already though.. it seems TOO far away.. BUT I did find this a couple years ago and have been putting off buying it..serious regret when the "G" was sold out... Just checked today and its BACK! Well in October it will be.. I will be saving for that for sure this time!

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