When I became a mom, I had no idea how hard it would be to come up with birthday and Christmas gift ideas for my kids. At times I struggle trying to think of what my husband and I want to give them, let alone a whole wish list to hand out to grandparents, aunts, and uncles! I'm thankful that our families hand out wish lists. It is nice to offer some ideas of things our kids need. Plus, as a green and crunchy mama, it is great to suggest gifts that I am excited about and toys that I can trust to be safe. I prefer that my kids have toys that are made of safe materials and that encourage real, creative play. Some toys seem to take away … [Read more...]
5 Easy Christmas Decorating Tips
Today's guest post and giveaway comes from my real life friend, Sarah. Sarah runs an amazing home decor blog called Church Street Designs. She has a knack for decorating that I simply do not have. Sarah also sells hand painted signs in her Church Street Designs etsy shop. It is a privilege to have her share some of her Christmas decorating secrets. Plus she is giving away one of her beautiful signs. Lucky you! 5 Easy Christmas Decorating Tips We all want a touch of "magic" when it comes to decorating our house for Christmas. We all page through the Better Homes and Gardens magazines or scroll through countless blogs of perfect, … [Read more...]
Frugal Photo Friday: Save Money with a “Gift Box”
Welcome to Frugal Photo Friday! This month I am partnering with Crystal, from Money Saving Mom. Each Friday we are sharing pictures of simple ways that we save money. This week I'm sharing how having a "gift box" saves money. Hidden away in a closet is this fabulous box of fun. It is a collection of items just waiting to fill a Christmas stocking, go in an Easter basket, or get wrapped up in fun birthday paper. I save money on gifts by setting aside items I get at a discount and saving them in my "gift box" until the next big celebration. Here are 6 ways I've filled my box with discounted gifts: Book Sales - Every year my … [Read more...]
10 Religious Easter Basket Ideas
This post contains affiliate links. Chocolate bunnies and jelly beans are great, but the reason we celebrate Easter in my house is because of Jesus! If you are looking for something with a religious theme to add to your Easter baskets along with the peeps, this is the post for you. 10 Religious Easter Basket Ideas: 1. Bible - You can find Bibles appropriate for any age. In our house we own and love Baby's First Bible. It is a board book with 2-3 sentence versions of popular bible stories and a few bible verses. Recently we were gifted The Jesus Storybook Bible and l-o-v-e it!! This is an amazing way to read the Bible … [Read more...]
Love Letter Journal: a Cheap, but Meaningful Gift for a Wedding, Anniversary, or Valentine’s Day
One of my favorite wedding gifts that Nate and I received was a simple journal. The enclosed card included instructions for how to use the journal: take turns writing each other a love letter. Nate and I started out writing back and forth to each other quickly. It was fun to scribble a one page letter of adoration to my young husband and even more thrilling to find the journal waiting for me on my pillow at night. As time has passed, the letters have slowed down, but they will never stop. Since journals can easily be found for less than $15, a love letter journal is a great cheap gift for a wedding, your anniversary, or Valentine's … [Read more...]
Why I Asked 71 People to Write My Husband a Love Letter
Valentine's day is traditionally when we express our love, but why limit ourselves? Today I'm sharing a love-filled gift that is perfect for anytime of year. For my husband's 30th birthday, I surprised him with a box of love letters written by 71 of his friends and family. I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate and honor Nate's first 30 years of life. The gift cost me very little, but was worth so much. My husband's letters weren't filled with lines of romance. Instead, I asked his family and friends to express how much they appreciate Nate. It was touching to see the letters come flooding into my mail box and to know that … [Read more...]
