A Tisket, A Tasket...a frugal Christmas Basket

From Thanksgiving, to Christmas.

It's finally time to deck the halls.  Or in my case...the living room, kitchen, front porch and maybe a few other touches here and there.  I picked up a little basket a few weeks ago at the Goodwill for $1.21.

I decided I would use it for the holidays.

So I whipped out my can of Colonial Red.

After it was dry I dropped in a few Dollar Tree huge jingle bells and red ornaments, pine cones, a jute ball (that I made myself!) and a few cinnamon sticks.

It matches the 'theme' I am using throughout the house this year.

Simple, country, down home Christmas.

My Christmas basket costs about $3; using some leftover Dollar Tree ornaments,

plus the cost of one package of jingle bells.

This is my afternoon snack today....

A leftover slice of Mom's Sweet potato pie with a cup of coffee topped with whipped cream and cinnamon.

That CUTE Snowman mug was picked up this week at the Goodwill for $1.01.  I purchased 2.

Wanna know what else I'm working on?

The tree is UP!  It's naked and unshapely at the moment.

I am working on the ornaments and such.

Making them.

Painting them.

Hot glue is involved.

I'll be sharing by Sunday evening.

Today I'm linking into...

The Inspired Room's Holiday Linky Friday.

On December 4th, you'll find me over at ReDeemed for a guest posting!

She is hosting a unique 12 Days of Christmas and I will be doing 4 Calling Birds.

You don't want to miss out on all the fun!

Happy Thanksgiving my Friends!

Where ever your feet may travel today...

Be it far from home

back home,

Or just around your own home

May you be mindful of all your blessings

great and small.

I am ever so grateful for each of you!

I am blessed that my family will be celebrating Thanksgiving

in my home this afternoon.

May your day be filled with an abundance of Love & Joy!

(photos made by my daughter)

A Quick Sweet Tater Recipe

Mom makes the best Sweet Potato Souffle.

The photo is from my phone.  Mom is making two of these this week.

Today she served this (and a heck of a lot more!) at her old folks apartment luncheon.

Mom asked if I wanted to stop by.  Well, of course!  Who wants to miss out on good cooking?

Thought I would share the recipe.  You still have time to serve this for Thanksgiving!

Sweet Potato Soufflé

Sweet potatoes, cooked  (6+ depends on size)

¾ stick of butter

2 eggs

1 small can pet evaporated milk

1 ½ cups sugar

Mix – put in a pyrex dish and cook 15-20 minutes

Topping

1 cup crushed corn flakes

½ cup chopped nuts

½ cup light brown sugar

¾ stick butter (melted)

Mix and put on top of sweet potatoes; brown in oven for a few minutes.

So what is one of your favorite Thanksgiving recipes?
Linking in to Beauty and Bedlam's Tasty Tuesday.

Thanksgiving Dinner, Menu & Craft

I didn't forget about Thanksgiving.

No really I didn't.

Even though, I have to admit I am into the magic Christmas excitement this year.

What's on the menu for this week and our Family Thanksgiving menu to share.

Sunday - Easy Chicken n Dumplings (with egg noodles)

Monday - Leftovers

Tuesday - Vegetable Soup

Wednesday - Leftover Soup with Grilled Cheese/PBJ Sandwiches

Thursday - Thanksgiving (menu below)

Friday - Leftovers or dinner out!

Saturday - Hot dogs, chili, ranch potato wedges

For other great weekly menu's check out I'm an Organizing Junkie

A simple Thanksgiving Table is set.

That pretty green table runner? (Dollar Tree)

Our menu will be:

Turkey & Ham (yes, we have to have both)

Mom's famous Chicken~n~Dressing

Sweet Potato Souffle

Hashbrown Casserole

Corn, peas, cranberry sauce

Pistachio pudding (the kids LOVE this)

Cake & sweet potato pie for dessert

Banana bread for snacking

I don't know about you, but do you see anywhere for ALL that food?!?

Plans are to set up a folding table buffet.

As my entire family will be here, 15 give or take a boyfriend or friend in the mix.

See the napkin rings?  Made them.

A toilet paper roll, cut in half (used these before here)

A bit of leftover burlap (from my monster frame project, posted yesterday)

With cute foam leaves from Hobby Lobby on clearance.

I just hot glued my fingers together it all together.

Kinda cute for cheap.

See that cute leaf plate under the napkin?

Here's a closer look

My weekend find at the junk store (88 cents each!).

Mom laughed when I told her she was bringing a sweet potato pie too!  We never have been pumpkin pie eaters in our family. So which is it for you?  Sweet potato or pumpkin?
Linking in to:

Just a little Christmas....

 It's Thanksgiving week and Christmas is really just around the corner.  As a child and a teen, our family had Thanksgiving lunch, then we decorated the Christmas Tree.  It was pretty much an every year tradition, because our Grandparents were there and we all got in on the fun.  Perry Como and Gene Autry albums played music, while we hung silver tinsel strand by strand.  No tossing in clumps at our house!  Does anyone still use tinsel?

Today I made up a quick frugal Christmas wreath. Why yes, I do realize Thanksgiving is this week and I am 'breaking' the tradition rules of my Mother.  I hung the wreath.  Do the "You can't put that up before Thanksgiving police show up?" 

Months ago I had this monster of a framed picture that I didn't really like, but loved the frame.  So one day I took out the print and just hung the empty frame on the wall.  Wire showing.  It became quite the conversation item in my living room.  Why is that there?  Where is the picture?  I kept looking for something to add to it; another frame, mirror ...anything.  Nadda happened.  Until the burlap craze took over decor blogs.  Voila!

I still felt it was missing something .... until now.

Wreath - Dollar Tree

Christmas Balls - Dollar Tree

Burlap 'ribbon' and 2 berry picks (bought on 50% off)

Total, less than $5

Now I am thinking I like the idea of changing my frame focus to something different with each season.

I still want a cute oval mirror to hang in it too, but until then...

I'm loving this inexpensive Christmas addition.

What about you?  Come on you can tell.  Got some Christmas peeking out at your house yet?

Linking to:
Red Writing's 12 weeks of Christmas wreath party.  For other beautiful and creative holiday wreaths.
Make it Monday at Cottage Instincts, for anything you made!
Met Monday with Between Naps on the Porch, tons of made over projects.
DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land with wonderful DIY projects!

$5 Christmas Decor Project

Target ain't got nothing on me! (My HS English teacher just moaned).  I teased you the other day with a photo of an unfinished project.  Here is my knock off of a pine cone Christmas Tree I saw in Target last week.

I started with this:

A cardboard tree cone from Hobby Lobby at 40% off ($2.49)

Sorry I'd already painted it brown when I took this photo!

I used leftover American Accents Expresso from my Hall Decor Project.

Gathered pines cones and a glue gun.

Careful holding the pine cones!  I ended up with a pointy tip in my finger.

Thankfully I have a friend that surgically  removed it with a needle and glasses.

Ok so it was tiny but it hurt!
I didn't cry though. *wink*

I just kept stacking on pine cones with hot glue.
I also cut the tip of the cardboard off for the top pine cone. 

I took raffia and made it into garland.
The pine cones held it into place.

One floral sprig of berries from Hobby Lobby (.99 cents @ 50% off)
I just pulled the berries off the sprig.

And stuck them around the pine cones.  The bendable wire on them helps.

Here was the inspiration I saw at Target

(sorry the photo is from my phone!)

Can you see that price? $14.99 for about the same size I made.
Again, here is mine...

I purchased the cardboard form ($2.49 and the berries $.99)
I had the paint, raffia and glue sticks.
Estimated cost around $5.
I love it!
A outdoorsy country feel for Christmas that didn't break the budget.
This is a huge hint to the theme I will be using for my big tree this year.
I can't wait to put it together and share it with you all!
I will be linking in to the following tons of Christmas and DIY blog parties, so be sure to check them out for more ideas:
Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Made it with what I had over at Cottage Instincts
DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land
12 weeks of Christmas at Red Writing
Proverbs 31 Living ~ A Handmade Christmas
The Inspired Room (Holiday Friday Link Love)

The DIY Show Off Holiday Highlights

I'm Blissfully Domestic !

We interrupt Sherri's work day for a super fantastic Announcement ! 

WOWZERS!  Can you tell, I was certainly surprised and in awe to find myself featured with some amazing other blog ladies over at Blissfully Domestic's  FIRST Fall Tour of Homes?!?  There is still time to link up if you would like to enter their random giveaway for a $250 Visa Check Card.  Who couldn't use that right now with the holidays around the corner!?  Be sure to stop by and see all the blissfully delightful decor.

I LOVE this quote from their page about the tour, " Help us prove it doesn't matter how much money you have (or don't have) or how big (or small) your home, we can all have Blissful Homes this Fall."

Isn't that just the Blissful truth?
  Back to your regularly scheduled day....

Crafty Sneak Peek

Christmas is Coming!

Here is a little sneak peek of 2 projects I am busy planning and crafting.

First up a bit of this and that.

A touch of nature along with berries, red and cream.

Uh huh and a bit of that oh so loved Burlap too.

Doesn't it have a country Christmas feel to it?

And more pine cones...

This one is proving to take a little more time than expected!

Ouch! and prickly too.

My heart is set on an old fashioned Christmas at my home.

Homemade goodness, lots of laughter, fun and the warmth of love.

All with a little bitty price tag.

I can't wait to share it all with you!

Another hint?  What is your decorating Christmas 'theme' in your home?

I'm changing mine up a bit this year.

See the tiny birdies?  Aren't they cute?

I'll let you in on a secret...

Dollar Tree

They have them in white and red.

Gifts for me and a gift for You!

I am so very blessed! and it feels like Christmas came EARLY!

Here's the bad part of today - my right foot is giving me FITS.  I have a hard spot on the ball of my foot and it hurts to walk.  So I wore flats to work and still limped.  I am hoping some inserts and no heels for a few days works it all out.  Currently it feels as if there is a knife sticking through it every time I step.

Now for the GOOD news!  

There is a LOT of it to share.
First, check out my NEW blog button!

Can you guess my favorite flower? ;-)
You can grab it over there --->>>>>

I can not tell you how grateful I am to Sharon at Good, True and Beautiful

who made my blog button and sent directions to me to get it all set up!

She did it as part of this...

 THEN imagine my surprise when Lakeitha from Home to Three Duncan Boys left me a comment stating my mailbox would be getting lots of love soon.  I WON her magazine subscription give-away and guess what is coming to my mailbox?????!!!!!

I have ZERO magazine subscriptions.  So this is SUCH a TREAT for me!

I promise to share any ideas, recipes and such I use from the magazine with all of you.

I.can.not.wait!

So while I'm checking my email to make sure I have Sharon's blog name right ...I read where I have today in fact won another SWEET giveaway from Abbi at Proverbs 31 Living for linking in my recycled candle jar votive to her Homemade Christmas Link Party!  She made these beautiful Christmas tags which will be PERFECT on gifts under my country Christmas tree theme I am planning FRUGAL style (more on that to come *wink*).  Aren't they pretty?  Be sure to drop by her blog as she has more Homemade ideas in the coming weeks.

To top it ALL off, my blog has now surpassed 100 followers!  I am sending off a little surprise to my 100th follower, Sarah of The Fifth Street Academy. She is a crafty Mom of 2 little ones and I can't wait to put a small token of appreciation in the mail to her.  SOON I will hit my 100th post and I'm going to toss a Party with another give-away. 

You ALL have warmed my heart more than you could ever imagine.  EACH one of you that stops by, reads, leaves a sweet comment, follows or just shares your creativity with us all.  So I found this today and wanted to share it.  Even if you are not a coffee drinker it's a free sample paired with a cute Dollar Tree coffee mug would make a sweet little gift.

Bloggers are really a SPECIAL community of wonderful women and some men.  I felt that spirit as many prayed for little Stellan, who had heart surgery today.  I had tears in my eyes to know he pulled through and read the story from his mom's blog.  If you've not met MckMama then let me say, if you visit her blog take a box of tissues and enjoy their miracle story.
Give and Take
Whatever you give comes back to you. Whatever you take will not stay with you.

What's Cooking?

Last week we did the menu shuffle around and around.  Monday night ended up being a 'freebie' dinner provided by a friend.  Then my grown son came for a visit Wednesday and requested his favorite meal.  I found a roast on sale at Publix, so that was Sunday's meal (shown above).  Food Lion ran out of the whole chickens for 49 cents per lb.  So I worked up this week with two carryovers that weren't used last week:

Sunday - Roast and potatoes in crock pot, broccoli with rolls

Monday -  Leftovers

Tuesday - Tacos and black beans

Wednesday - Taco salads (from left overs)

Thursday - Sweet n Sour Chicken  with home made fried rice

Friday - Leftovers or Pizza rolls (we LOVE these! plus fast n easy)

Saturday - Hot dogs, chili and ranch potato wedges

Sunday - Chicken and Hash Brown 'fancy' potatoes

I still came out of the grocery store at $49 and some change, LAST week.  This week's menu should not cost me very much because I have most of the items in the freezer or cabinet.

Check out I'm an Organizing Junkie for hundreds of linked in menu plans.