Happy Thanksgiving!

               

                Happy Thanksgiving! Hope yours was wonderful. We just finished taking the turkey apart, and we’re going to be eating turkey for a while. Our guests just left too, we had Cale’s parents here with their little dog. They showed up yesterday, we had a good feed last night, and of course today too. There are so many leftovers and so much to be thankful for.

                We also started a new tradition. We have a white faux pumpkin, and we all wrote what we were thankful for on it. This is a tradition we’re going to keep going until we fill the pumpkin…then it will just be a nice fall decoration.

                We have no assignments today. When we land on a special day during our preparation, our assignment will be to sit back and recognize the day. So instead of ticking something off your list today, enjoy the food and family time that comes with Thanksgiving!

                K, Luv ya, Bye!

                Nancy, Cale and Alice 

Home To-Do List

             

              Well I would be lying if I said this was a fun post, because to date it’s my LEAST favorite. It’s time to make a home to-do list. These are household projects I’m not excited for. For me, it’s my Bathroom. I need to caulk the tub, paint and put in new baseboard. Of course where I’m pregnant, painting the baby’s room is on my to-do list, but the baby isn’t due until the end of March, so we have time. No, my eyesore is the Bathroom for sure. To be fair, some of it was our own fault. A LONG time ago, we bought a paint, and splotched it on the walls, and point blank, hated the colour. This was a bit discouraging, but it’s time for round two.  Also we have a couple Christmas decorations that we always have in the bathroom, so we’d like it to look decent (matter of fact I think they’re all Cale’s decorations…).

                Now is the best time to look at this stuff because then it’s done. There are a few posts I will do in this series that I just hate with a passion. This is one of them…though the reality is the ones I don’t like, I’m not going to be able to do so much this year ( I have a get out of chemicals work free card growing). But Cale will still have to tackle these things, so it’s still in my head.

                This is your next assignment, list the projects, and schedule accordingly, hopefully before decorations go up.

                Quick note, my next post will be a little late. So when I do these posts, I know what I want to say in advance, have them typed, and start these projects before I assign them so I can take pictures and stuff too. As a result, my next post is my Thanksgiving post, and I’d like to share pictures from the day. Instead of an early morning post, it will likely be the evening (maybe the next morning depending if I slip into a turkey coma).

                K, Luv Ya, Bye

                Nancy, Cale and Alice 

Master Grocery List

               

               Today we get into one of my BIGGEST money Savers! I mentioned back in the budgeting to budget for food, and here is where we really stretch that budget. We’ve made our menu at this point, now we put it to work, and make a grocery list. It’s best (if you can) to make this list on the computer, because there are some things we’re going to need to rearrange after.

                Once you’ve put this together (and do not kick yourself if you forget something because there is always something that pops onto the last min list), you break the list down to 3 categories. The Categories are Non- Perishables, Frozen, and Fresh. Money Saving step #1, we’re going to start on the Non- Perishables now.

                A couple tips for that, #1, Have a designated spot for this stuff, because it’s off limits, and not part of your weekly grocery trip.

                #2 Buy on Sale. Most of these are little things that will pop up on sale from time to time. For example, Gravies and Stuffings are popping up like crazy right now because of how close we are to Thanksgiving. I also use the App Flipp. Flipp shows me what’s on sale, and what store has the best deal. Often for me, a store across town has the best deal, but one of the closest stores to me has a price match promise, I generally save money weekly there.

                #3 Buy a couple things a week. If you only get a few things on each grocery trip, you won’t notice a BIG difference in your grocery bill either, so not only does it spread out the cost, but you also barely notice it.

                #4 Redeem points. Most grocery stores have you collecting points, redeem them. I use this closer to Christmas because that’s when I will have bigger trips, and ones that have the things we forgot along the way too.

                That’s your latest assignment

                K, Luv Ya, Bye!

                Nancy, Cale and Alice 

Making Gifts

               

                Making gifts can be super special. One gift I will never forget, is a gift my brother made me one year. When we were little, our mom had a vhs of a bunch of holiday specials she’d recorded us, and every year we watched it. My brother found files of them and made me a collection of them on DVD. This is still a big deal to me, and one of the very first to be used at our house every year. It’s still super special to me, highlighting how special it can be to make some one a gift. Look at your personal talents, and take it from there.

                I make at least one gift every year, and I’m working on it already this year. I’m pretty excited about this post this year. Last year, I made gifts for a few people, and I couldn’t share them. Needless to say, I’m not sharing what I’m working on this year, but last year, I painted ceramic trees for family members. Most of my family had these, and my mom made a couple of them, so I thought it was special for me to make them. I made one for my Uncle who always wanted one, and my in-laws who are now my family, so I included them in the tradition.

                Making a gift can take longer though, that’s why you need to get on this one now. You don’t want to rush to find all the supplies you need, or worse, it all falls through. Get on it now, so you’ve got it ready to go.

One of my favorite of those kids Christmas specials is Santa Claus is Coming to Town. I may have even mentioned this last year, but there is a quote at the end of the movie that I always think of when I’m making gifts. “What if we all learned to give like Santa, with our hearts, with our Talents”. This is why making gifts is such a big deal to me.

K, Luv Ya, Bye

Nancy, Cale and Alice 

Travel and Guests

               

                 Christmas is about Family, who is going to argue that? Unfortunately, we don’t live in a time we’re all terribly close to family. Ours lives a minimum of 4 hours from us, but Christmas, we try and get together.

                This post is about planning travel, and for guests. Starting with travel, this may seem like it might be a bit early, but you’re going to want to do this sooner rather than later. If you’re flying especially, get it booked, have yourself set to go. Also aim for as early as you possibly can so you’re not in the midst of a mad scramble, when everyone is trying to get home at the exact same time, and keep in mind, mother nature doesn’t always play nice either. Some times this isn’t an option, but if it is, you’ll be happy you did. If you’re driving, make sure you have the car set to go, with the winter tires, and have a check up. Then of course keep in mind options on the way if, again mother nature doesn’t help.

                Cale and I both work in Retail, as a result we tend to be the hosts, not the travelers. Getting ready for guests, obviously includes having accommodations all set. This year for us it will include some new linens, and probably some new towels. Seems early to be figuring out guests, but the sooner the better. I know we’ve got at least two guests this year already. Beyond that, think of things people might forget, tooth brush, soap, stuff like that, it's nice to have on hand in case. Beyond that, what are little things you can do for guests? My Father in-law loves Diet Coke, so we have that on hand. My Uncle has a sweet tooth, so we have stuff for him there. Just think of little things that can make it more pleasant when your family gets there. 

               K, Luv Ya, Bye!

               Nancy, Cale and Alice

Planned Menu

               Today’s task, is actually one of my favorites. I love making lists, and these ones are coupled with tradition. It’s planning the menu. The master list can come in handy for this. I went back a circled everything that was food related, it made things easier to breakdown. I ended up with 3 categories.

               

                Things I need to have set in November. I don’t know this category will be for everyone, but for me, it’s important. Stuff really starts going for Christmas in our house in November, I have at least one potluck to get ready for, and the hot chocolate from scratch gets going, after sales, decorating, and parades. This is a short list, but it’s there.

                Next is what I need in early December. This is my baking stuff, and anything else that is important before Christmas, one of these things will be popping up in future posts.

                Finally the actual Christmas menu. One thing I will point out, December 23^rd this year is the last Saturday before Christmas. For me this means, I will either avoid stores like the plague that day or be going exceptionally early. Meals around these days do tend to be traditional, which makes charting it out pretty easy. Keep in mind things that aren’t your typical meals, like Christmas day, if you have you’re big meal at dinner, you’re probably still going to need to eat earlier in the day. And boxing day is so often overlooked. As for me, I also work ALL day on the 27^th, so we need to factor that in too. This list tends to be very personal, but do your best to figure out your menu. For me I always buy way more than I need, so I tend to simplify each year, but then too, I love having a tone of food options for everyone.

                 Let me stress, this is NOT the grocery list, this is the menu only. The grocery list will be in a future post, and I will share how to tackle it, and save you money along the way!

                K, Luv Ya, Bye!

                Nancy, Cale and Alice

Gift List

                Seem a little early to be looking at Christmas gifts? Let me paint a picture for you. Final Saturday before Christmas, stores and malls are packed, most of this gifts you wanted to buy are sold out, and you have to max your credit card to get all those things on the list. So personally final Saturday before Christmas (which is the day before Christmas Eve this year by the way) I’d rather sit at home and watch Christmas specials and drink hot chocolate. And the way I prepare, I typically get my way.

                This is why you make a list of people you’re buying for, and start brainstorming ideas. Then you watch for the sweet deals on the gifts. Also keep in mind if you plan on making any gifts, there will be a post about this, but now you can start getting ideas together.

                Most of us  know who we buy for every year, but there are a couple things we often overlook. Secret Santa, most work places have this. Also some of those gifts you keep on hand so you don’t feel stupid when people have something for you. If you’re anything like me, you can get a variety of things, like chocolates, wine, maybe a kit you put together to make Christmas a little easier for them. I generally don’t get confronted with these often, I’m generally well over prepared, but end up deciding I want to give gifts to people who I didn’t have on my list (or I want chocolate).

                Now is the time to start, and start tackling the list…I’m usually done by the second week of December, and let me tell you, it’s glorious! 

                K, Luv Ya, Bye!

                Nancy, Cale and Alice