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2:06 pm
November 20, 2008
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Belladonna
Member
| | Bossier City, Louisiana | |
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| posts 734 |
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Okay, this is not a CHRISTMAS NIGHTMARE, as the topic suggests, however it DID remind me of a joke my dad loved to tell. He would say “I had a nightmare last night. I dreamt that Dolly Parton was my mother and she weaned me”. LOL LOL LOL
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2:31 pm
November 20, 2008
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epona4
Big Chicken
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| posts 14 |
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A few years ago I suggested that we stop buying everyone gifts on my husbands side of the family. Boy did I get in trouble. The following year I suggested that we draw names out of hats to cut back on $$ (he has 4 siblings and they are all married) They didn't like that either. It took another year for that to catch on.
NOW, this year at Thanksgiving, I am telling the family that DH and I are no longer going to be involved with that. We will continue buying gifts for all the nieces and nephews (till they are 20 yo) and we will go in on joint gifts for Mom and Dad, but we're no longer exchanging with sibs. (yet I plan on buying stocking stuffers for everyone! Little things like votive candles for the ladies, good bottles of beer for the guys) ;)
It's too much stress AND more than that, this is not what it's all about. I complained on another thread about the commercializim (sp) of Christmas. I hate it. I'd love to see Christmas brought back to a simpler time. With more focus on getting together and less focus on buying stuff.
All that being said…I DO enjoy getting stuff for the kiddos! Got my 1yo niece (who's 2 now) a great big stuffed horse last year. She LOVED it! And the nephew got a John Deer tractor tryke. (Every big truck he would see was a “Tractor! Tractor!!”
b
who's really not a grinch!!
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5:41 pm
November 20, 2008
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GeorgiaZ
Moderator
| | Rockdale, TX | |
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| posts 929 |
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Belladonna said:
Okay, this is not a CHRISTMAS NIGHTMARE, as the topic suggests, however it DID remind me of a joke my dad loved to tell. He would say “I had a nightmare last night. I dreamt that Dolly Parton was my mother and she weaned me”. LOL LOL LOL
NOW whos a hoot!!! lol Thats a good one!
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1:37 pm
November 21, 2008
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Amanda
Super Chicken
| | Charleston, WV | |
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| posts 258 |
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Kathy,
I love the first picture. I would love to have that enlarget to an 8×10 or a 10×13 matted, framed and hanging on my wall.
Amanda
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12:11 pm
November 23, 2008
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MissyinWV
Big Chicken
| | Hurricane WV | |
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| posts 21 |
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Here are some ideas I found in this book “Dining on a dime”. These are mixes to place in a jar. When you finish adding your ingredients you then you tie something pretty around the top and attach the recipe.
there are so many its hard to pick!
SWISS MOCHA MIX
1/2 cup instant coffee , 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup nonfat dry milk, 2Tbsp. cocoa and 1/2 tsp. vanilla
Stir all ingredients together. Process in blender until powdered. Makes 2 cups of this mix. Attach this to jar.
Swiss Mocha Mix
2 Tbsp. Swiss Mocha Mix
1 cup hot water.
Place the Swiss Mocha Mix into mug. Add hot water. Stir until mix is dissolved. Garnidh with whipped cream as desired.
HOLIDAY MUFFIN MIX
3 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup dry milk, 1Tbsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp cloves.
Combine all ingedients. Place mix in one quart Jar. Attach the following to jar.
Holiday Muffin Mix
1 egg slightly beaten
1 1/4 cup water
1/4 cup oil
1 jar Holiday Muffin Mix
Preheat oven to 400 and grease muffin tins. Combine all ingedients until moistened. Do not over mix. Fill muffin tins 1/2 full. Bake 10-15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pan and serve warm. Makes 15-18 muffins.
SWEET CHRISTMAS POTPOURRI
3 Tbsp. Whole Cloves, 2 Bay leaves, 3 cinnamon sticks, 2 cups water, 1 handfull pine needles, 3 peices dried orange or lemon rind.
Mix all ingredients and place in jar. Attach the following to jar.
Put Sweet Christmas Potpourri Mix in a saucepan. Add water. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer all day if you wish. Add water as needed. When finished you may refrigerate and reuse.
I have so many it was hard to pick which ones to post. But if any one wants I have the recipe for Hot Chocolate Mix, Mexican Hot Chocolate Mix, Mint Coffee Mix, Spiced Cocoa Mix, Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix, Brownie Mix, Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Mix, Oatmeal Cookie Mix, Raisin Cookie Mix, Shortbread Mix, Snickerdoodle Mix, Turkey Soup Mix, Bean Soup Mix, Cornbread Mix, Ceasar Dressing Mix, Mexican Dip Mix, Leppon Pepper Mix, Ranch Dressing and Dip Mix, and Funnel Cake Mix… I should have posted that One!!!
Just let me know and I will post the recipe's here if you want!!! These ideas can be expanded on like the drink mixes can be in gift bag with a mug from the dollar store….ect.
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12:36 pm
November 23, 2008
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Leah
Super Chicken
| | Newburgh, IN | |
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| posts 383 |
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beeyourself said:
Jaymi said:
I don't know about you all, but this Christmas is scaring me. I have 15 nieces and nephews alone on my hubby's side, 6 on my side, a Christmas Tea to attend, Mother, Grandparents, et cetera to buy for. The gas to drive the 2 hours to get there..ugh the list goes on. I suggested that the adults don't exchange presents ( I mean didn't we out grow the need for stuff?) and that we give the children small presents or gift cards for a set price. The family is NOT feeling that.
What I want to know is….what do you all do to cut costs at Christmas? What are your favorite gifts to make or favorite gifts that have been made for you? What are some of the traditions/experiences that made your Christmas' very special that cost nothing to little?
I am trying to teach my kids that Christmas really has nothing to do with gifts. My 10-year-old daughter said that all the kids should give up their gifts and 'adopt' a family to buy for them. She's so sweet. I hope I have something to do with that..haha.
Jaymi - Tell your family that your family has decided to adopt a family that needs help. (Ask them not to buy gifts for you and your husband - and let them know NOW.) Tell them that because of the economy (use it!) you are doing things differently this year. Go to the Christmas Party - have a wonderful time. You don't sound like the type of person that needs a gift to have a good time. (If someone insists on giving you something, thank them. Don't feel you need to run out and buy something for them - they'll get the hint for next year!) I would still buy small gifts for the children this year. Maybe ornaments? Gift cards given in small stockings? I know that when it comes to families and children it seems to be about money - and everyone keeping everything even. One person has to be a maverick! It starts with one.
BEEYOURSELF: IF YOU FIND THIS, COULD I HAVE THE PEANUT BRITTLE RECIPIE? WANT TO MAKE SOME FOR CHRISTMAS. LEAH
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1:55 pm
November 23, 2008
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beeyourself
Moderator
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Leah said:
BEEYOURSELF: IF YOU FIND THIS, COULD I HAVE THE PEANUT BRITTLE RECIPIE? WANT TO MAKE SOME FOR CHRISTMAS. LEAH
Leah - not sure (reading my old post) what you were referring to - but - I have posted a wonderful recipe for Buttery Cashew Brittle - and I use the same recipe to make Peanut Brittle (using raw Spanish peanuts). You can find it by going to “Just Recipes” - then go to “Favorite Christmas Candies” - scroll down to “Buttery Cashew Brittle.”
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3:35 pm
November 23, 2008
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Leah
Super Chicken
| | Newburgh, IN | |
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| posts 383 |
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beeyourself said:
Leah said:
BEEYOURSELF: IF YOU FIND THIS, COULD I HAVE THE PEANUT BRITTLE RECIPIE? WANT TO MAKE SOME FOR CHRISTMAS. LEAH
Leah - not sure (reading my old post) what you were referring to - but - I have posted a wonderful recipe for Buttery Cashew Brittle - and I use the same recipe to make Peanut Brittle (using raw Spanish peanuts). You can find it by going to “Just Recipes” - then go to “Favorite Christmas Candies” - scroll down to “Buttery Cashew Brittle.”
Beeyourself,sorry I clicked the wrong post to relate to. Thankyou so much. I'll check the recipe out now. Leah
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3:17 am
December 3, 2008
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Leah
Super Chicken
| | Newburgh, IN | |
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| posts 383 |
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I “hear” ya all! I only bought my grown children and their significant other one nice gift this year. I'm getting childrens books for my little neices. Will give my 2 young nephews a little cash. That's It! The most important thing is to enjoy the time together on the holidays, and of course the food! I'll cook a Christmas Eve Dinner for my kids and take a Cherry Delight to the family dinner Christmas Day. Of course this is my grandbaby's first Christmas, so she gets many cute little outfits and LOTS of toys! HA!
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9:50 am
December 3, 2008
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jane
Super Chicken
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I hear you!!!! I think to not buy the adults is a good idea. You can give to a charity and put that in a card and tell them what you did. Even Oprah's friends do that with her!! Getting the kids some something is fine but I agree with the conversation here - too much money and too much stress on buying and buying. it is ridiculous and out of control. I get my sister and her husband small things like this year I got her some socks with dogs on it and will do the same for him. Cost 3.00 each. I give my 24 yr old son money since that is what he wants. I make gifts for anyone else or find things for way less. AT work i spent 5.00 on each one and some only 3.00.
The recipes posted are a great idea. I love that too. Drawing names is key in large families. We do need to go back to simplier times - I mean 2 people died when Wal Mart opened the day after Thanksgiving!!!! I think Wal-Mart is partially to blame. I was so upset by that and so shocked. How shameful we are as Americans that we rush and crush people to save a few dollars. Unreal.
I love the Cherry Delight recipe too and will take it to our church dinner on the 14th. Great discussion here. With the economy down, charities are hurting too. Adopt a family, an angel off the treat - great ideas.
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9:57 am
December 3, 2008
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Suzanne
Admin
| | Stringtown Rising Farm/Walton, WV | |
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| posts 478 |
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I'm not buying a single gift for any adult this year. I'll be making and baking handmade and homemade, and that is IT. I have no money for purchased gifts, and it is seriously a relief to Not have money for gifts. No shopping, LOL. I am even sending a box of homemade jam to my parents all the way to Texas.
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10:02 am
December 3, 2008
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jane
Super Chicken
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Absolutely - you go girl!!!!! Who wouldnt love one of your jars of jam!!!!! I love it - being creative.
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10:10 am
December 3, 2008
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Suzanne
Admin
| | Stringtown Rising Farm/Walton, WV | |
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| posts 478 |
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One important thing I've found that is keeping Christmas spending in perspective for me this year is that I have NO CREDIT CARDS. Which is NOT the same thing at all as saying I have no credit debt-because I do-but I have no credit cards anymore. I cut them up, closed accounts, got rid of them, blew them to smithereens. Every year at Christmas I end up overspending and doing it on credit. This year, I can't do that. I love not having credit cards anymore. You can do just about anything with a debit card that you can with a credit card as far as ease of use (online, for example) but with a debit card, you can't spend more than you have. Perfect. It's the way I want to live from now on. I never want to have a credit card again.
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10:13 am
December 3, 2008
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JeannieB
Big Chicken
| | Columbia, South Carolina | |
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| posts 87 |
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We don't buy many gifts. I have a large family and for years it was madness, finally I stopped it all. When we have our family dinner, each parent brings a small gift for their own child, it goes under the tree and is unwrapped after dinner. The adults just enjoy being together and watching the little ones. My boys are grown, unmarried and I don't have grands, Girlie is almost 18, so we give little gifts to each other and we do more for Girlie, after all she is the baby. I give gifts that I make, jams, soup, breads, pillowcases, totebags to my sisters and others during the year at random times. I think I was too focused on the commerical side of the holidays and not enough on the “Reason for the Season” , so I may seem to be a grinch, but I try to show people who I love, that love all times during the year.
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2:40 pm
December 3, 2008
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Leah
Super Chicken
| | Newburgh, IN | |
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| posts 383 |
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Amen! to the Reason for the Season and showing Love all through the year!
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