Tradition

Our tradition is to decorate the house after Thanksgiving, this year I let the kids do it all. they put the tree together. decorated it and decorated the house they had a blast doing it. And I just sat back and took pictures

We have an early Christmas present, (that is Sandi she is so darn cute)

Turkey Buckets

I found this cute and easy craft to make with your kids so easy, I didn't have to buy any of the supplies, I improvised and it turned out just as cute.

Terra-Cotta Pots or any you have around
Brown Paint
Paint brush
Paper (of your choice)
Google Eyes or drawn on paper
Chalk
Ribbon
Black permanent Marker
Glue gun and glue sticks

Paint your pot, several coats depending on the color of your pot.

Cut out feathers, turkey head, eyes, beak, I don't know the term but cut out the piece that hangs on the side of the turkey face.

Glue Feathers on the back, I tied ribbon around mine to cover the back and give it a finished look then glue on the face and your done.

We are going to use ours as our thankful bucket. at dinner time we will wright down all we are thankful for and put into the pot.

The Writings on the Wall

I love Vinyl Lettering, it adds something new to your wall or what ever you want to put them on. My next project is my living room. You can even make your own saying and they will customize it for you, check out the web site http://www.vinylletterdecor.com

Jamies Money Saving Ideas Part 2

Here are a few more moneywise ideas for you as we head into the holiday season. I love Real Simple Magazine. It always has terrific recipes and ideas for your home, but best of all, great budget tips. This month there is a great article on saving for the holidays. You can go to http://www.freeshipping.org/. It is a site that has codes for hundreds of on line stores including toys where you can get the shipping for free with the code. The other interesting tip I found was the Toy Industry Association says that November is the best month to shop for toys. It says you can get alot of them for up to half off the regular price because stores try to figure out in November what toys are most popular and what to stock on their shelves in December leading up to Christmas.

The holidays are my favorite time of the year, but they can also be budget busters for alot of families. Here are some more penny pinching ideas to get you thru the holidays without spending any more than you have to. Many people, including me, have family and friends that live around the country and around the world and shipping can be expensive. Which is the best way to ship? There is a site that checks everything from the Post Office to Fed Ex to UPS. Go to www.shipgooder.com and enter your zip code and the one where you are sending the package and it will give you a price comparision. And if you are traveling for the holidays, you can price out your trip by going to a great site by AAA called www.fuelcostcalculator.com this is another great site that adds up the cost before you head out on the road. I'll have more holiday money savers to come and if you have any to share with the rest of our viewers, add them to the comments or e-mail them to me and I'll share them in an upcoming blog.

Can't keep it to myself any longer

Ground Turkey Stuffing over Garlic Mashed Potatoes Casserole

Your home with be filled with an AMAZING aroma while baking this delicious “comfort foods” casserole. The smell will remind you of the holidays and spending time together with beloved family and friends. The taste will have everyone lining up for seconds in no time at all. This recipe is sure to become a family holiday favorite! It has at our house, so I want to pass it on to you.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes:
8 Large Potato’s – Peeled
1T Garlic Salt
16oz Sour Cream
¾T Salt
8oz Cream Cheese

Preparation:Boil and drain potatoes. Add remaining ingredients to potatoes and mash together. Place mashed potato mixture in 9x13 baking dish and set aside.

Ground Turkey Stuffing Ingredients:
2 C Ground Turkey
1 t Onion Salt
¾ t Poultry Seasoning
½ t Dried, Crushed Sage
1 Lg Box Mrs. Cubbison’s Herb Seasoned Bread Cubes
¼ t Pepper
1 C Pine Nuts
½ t Salt
1 ½ C Craisins
2 C Chicken Stock
¾ C Butter
10.5 oz Can Cream of Chicken Soup
½ t Celery Salt

Preparation:Season ground turkey with ¾ t poultry seasoning and brown. In large mixing bowl place bread cubes, pine nuts, craisins and browned turkey. Melt butter. To melted butter add celery salt, onion salt, sage, pepper, salt, chicken stock and cream of chicken soup, stir together. Pour liquid mixture over bread cube mixture and gently fold together. Pour stuffing over the top of the garlic mashed potatoes, cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes on 350 degrees. After 30 minutes, remove foil and continue baking for 15 minutes to allow stuffing to brown.
Remove from oven and enjoy!(Serves 10-12 people)

Election

Dallins class had the opportunity to help with the voting, He was very excited.

Loves and Hugs

I love this web site, great alternative to those low cut jeans or turn your short sleeves into long

Loves are fashionable accessories for your arms! So we say that they are loves... not gloves. You can dress up any t-shirt, dress or blouse. Keep your loves tucked away in your purse like a pair of gloves for warm relief on a chilly evening. Nice to have a pair handy around the house just for warming up a cool pair of arms. Too warm for a heavy sweater? Is the air a little cool at the office? Do you just want to make a snappy quick fashion statement? It's loves that you need. Come on.... Loves makes the world go round!

Hugs are a dynamite splash of color to accent your hips waist or chest. A very delightful fashion statement. Hugs are hip at your hips, peaking out of the bottom of your blouse. Hugs are perfect for that blouse or t-shirt that is too short. Everyone needs a hug now and then. Only Jillie Willie can hug you all day!

They also have the cutest aprons, accessories and much, much more there are a bunch of great gift ideas check out their website

http://www.jilliewillie.com/

Halloween Hangover

Yes it's true, there is term for it. I can proudly say it did not happen is our house. We are not the type of parents who take the candy as soon as the kids come back from trick r treating, we also are not the type who let them gorge until they puke either. We have found a happy medium, they come home we give them fifteen minutes to go through their can eat what they want, then we put it up and spread throughout the week, it's good for snacks and school lunches. They like the system.

We had a fantastic Halloween, the kids and I went trick r treating while my husband stayed behind to give the little kiddies a fright, his theory is "If I'm going to buy candy just to hand it over I'm going to get my moneys worth."

Here how it went, he sat on the front porch with his frightful costume, and a bowl of candy and waited for the kids to come, Some kids did not even want to come up the porch there parents had to give them a little shove, some just kept walking by, and others weren't afraid at all.

One little girl was so brave, she walked up, took her candy, as she walked away, she turned and said "Thank you satin" no joke, that was the funniest thing Austin had to keep from laughing. It was a great night. we had a lot of fun.

Family Photo

Austin