Wrappings on the Cheap

In the spirit of simplicity, and sticking to the budget, every year I find myself looking for new ways to wrap presents without spending much. In the past, I've been really disappointed with the cheap wrapping papers that are out there, because they look just what they are. If I was really on the ball, I would snag some great paper on clearance post Christmas for the next year. My mom always does this, and hope springs eternal for myself, but it usually just doesn't happen for one reason or another. 

So that's how I find myself, every year, days before Christmas, with lots of things to be wrapped and little time or inclination to go running around to find that perfect wrapping paper. And if this was true before, now that I have little kids... the thought of venturing to the busy mall (with them) makes me quake in my boots!

Well, I had my first wrapping session the other night, and I thought I would share what I came up with in case you, too, have some naked gifts. 

First, save those cuttings from the Christmas tree. You know the ones, those random branches that need to come off the bottom for it to fit into the tree stand. They make a beautiful center piece en masse, or a festive touch when spread around hither and yon. Bonus? You can snip a bit at a time to dress up a simply wrapped gift.

Buy a roll of Kraft paper at the dollar store. It's inexpensive, durable, and classic. Sometimes you can find printed Kraft paper, which is printed on one side and brown on the other. This is a great product, because it's really a two for one. You can wrap gifts in brown, the print, or use strips of the printed side to embellish the plain packages (see below).

Choose inexpensive ribbon that curls, twine, or even yard. Get creative in how you wrap it around packages. Tie it in bows, circle it around the package multiple times, or alternate it with the printed paper. 

Tuck something into that ribbon. Use whatever you have around: candy canes, pinecones, a bit of evergreen.

Have an irregularly shaped object? "Wrap" it in a brown paper bag of whatever size.

You probably won't be hearing from me anymore this week, so have a Merry Christmas!

15-17 December

WEEKEND DIARIES

and beyond.

Christmas is just about a week away, and the snow and the tree (along with the stress of things procrastinated) are making it feel so. I'm trying really hard to keep my eyes on the prize, on the reason for the season. 

Some of my favorite ways of doing this are by reading the daily Mass readings, saying the Rosary when possible, praying a Christmas novena, and through Advent and Christmas songs. My absolute favorite, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, is sung at my parish almost every Sunday of Advent (which is actually six Sundays in the Maronite Church, just a little trivia for you). I find the words, sung or read, to be a most beautiful and comforting meditation for the hectic days of the season. 

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

and ransom captive Israel

that mourns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appear.

R: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

shall come to thee, O Israel!

O come, Thou Wisdom, from on high,

and order all things far and nigh;

to us the path of knowledge show,

and teach us in her ways to go. R.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,

who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height

in ancient times did give the law

in cloud and majesty and awe. R.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse's stem,

from ev'ry foe deliver them

that trust Thy mighty power to save,

and give them vict'ry o'er the grave. R.

O come, Thou Key of David, come

and open wide our heav'nly home;

make safe the way that leads on high

that we no more have cause to sigh. R.

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,

and cheer us by thy drawing nigh;

disperse the gloomy clouds of night

and death's dark shadow put to flight. R.

O come, Desire of the nations, bind

in one the hearts of all mankind;

bid every strife and quarrel cease

and fill the world with heaven's peace. R.

Whatever the troubles in your life, the anxieties in your heart, remember that we have a God who is with us, who wishes to comfort, to guide, to deliver, and to cheer. So let us rejoice!

Easiest Homemade Candy. Ever.

Every year we make some type of candy to have on hand for little gifts. The usual recipients are my husband's coworkers, but it also comes in handy as a contribution for that last minute holiday party. The first couple of years of marriage, I made truffles of various sorts. They were always a big hit, but at this stage in my life, they are just too time and labor intensive to make in large quantities. The substitute? Candy bark.

I usually buy good quality chocolate chips of the dark, semi-sweet, or white variety, and one or two kinds of goodness to mix into said chocolate. If you are wondering whether the chocolate chips are of a good quality, ask yourself, "Are these good enough to eat solo, by the handful?" If yes, then you're good to go. For the mix in, you can use crushed candy canes, Heath toffee bits, nuts, really just about anything that sounds good. This year we visited a local shop that sells bulk food (most grocery stores have a bulk section as well), and picked up some peppermint crunch candy (see pic below) and toffee bits.

So, I'm sure that there are lots of tutorials on how to do this, but I'll share my method with you because its so very easy and quick, and I've honed it down to a mom friendly science. And just FYI, because of the kids I don't have large blocks of time (and maybe you don't, either?), so I do this in batches while I'm doing something else, like waiting for dinner to come out of the oven. It really is that fast.

Empty 2 bags (24 ounces) of chocolate chips into a heavy bottom pan (I use the dutch oven), and place on low heat. Stir occasionally. 

When melted and smooth, remove from heat and stir in 1 cup of whatever you choose. 

Spred evenly across a sheet of parchment or wax paper. I usually place the paper on a large (14x17) cutting board, which is the exact amount of space needed for this size batch.

If you don't have grabby hands around and/or overly warm indoor temperatures, you can let it cool and harden on the counter. Personally I slide the whole cutting board into the freezer until I have another spare minute or five for the next step (which may be 20 minutes or 6 hours later. See the beauty of this recipe?).

When hardened, break into pieces. Store in a gallon size ziplock bag in the freezer until ready to use.

To make individual portions, I divide the candy into clear bags similar to these.

Obviously these photos are from various batches and combinations...

Christmas Cranberries and Whatnot

I was going to do a style post today, but then I decided to let you in on what the kids and I have really been doing all week. Cleaning and Christmas decorating. As a child, we always cleaned the house and put up decorations (minus the tree) by December 5th. That way, the mood was set for the first big celebration of the Christmas season, the Feast of St. Nicholas. 

The name of our decorating game this year was pinecones and cranberries. I have it from various internet sources that the cranberries will behave nicely as they senesce, cleanly drying to wrinkly old age. The husband, on the other hand, suspects they may pull a pumpkin and rot. But let's hope for the best.

I love pinecones and cranberries because they are so inexpensive, but also safe for the kids. They can manhandle those cones all they want, and... nada, nary a shard of glass to maim or be cleaned up (visualize me cleaning up, not maiming things or people, just in case that sentence was unclear). As for the cranberries, after the initial taste, gag, and spit, I don't think the kids will go there again.  And to my surprise, my oldest (5 years) actually made some of the garlands. She was very pleased with her work, and so was I!

So, without further ado...

Christmas Already and Pinecone Projects

Normally, I don't even start thinking about Christmas until Thanksgiving is over. This just won't  work, though, now that I'm a fatigued pregnant lady with three little children. And well, honestly, it didn't work when I wasn't pregnant, or even when I only had two children...

Also, there has been some major traffic to this post from last year (A 12 Days of Christmas Gift Gift Guide) starting weeks ago, which indicates to me that some of you ladies are hardcore Christmas Pinteresting already! And as much as my last minute self hates to admit it, you're on to something. So I've decided to change tactics this year, and work on projects gradually to avoid all that last minute stress that is the enemy of peace and joy.

Our first project is pinecones. It's great to start the season off with a stockpile of ready to use pinecones. They are perfect for decorating wreaths, making centerpieces, garlands, place settings, and adding that extra touch to a simply wrapped gift. They're classic au naturel or glitzy when spray painted. We also use them to make fire starters to give as gifts to family members who have wood burning stoves or fireplaces.

Since we had a day near 60 degrees earlier in the week I took the kids to the park, gave them each a bag, and told them that the one who gathered the most pinecones would win a prize. I'm brilliant, I know. Within minutes, we had quite a load.

The next day we layered them on cookie sheets covered with foil, and dried them in the oven for about 90 minutes at 250 degrees. This drying step is imperative, because the pinecones have a messy sap that can get everywhere, and they may have tiny bugs living in them. The low heat solves these problems and causes them to open up beautifully.

Once the pinecones have cooled completely, they can be stored in ziplock bags (for years, even) until they are called into holiday action. We went ahead and made a batch of fire starters, since our ball was already rolling. There are "recipes" all over the web, but basically we melt leftover candle remnants (I save them throughout the year) in a double boiler, dip the pinecones into the liquid wax/paraffin, and then dry on wax paper. And voila, an easy, free, practical and stylish gift. The best of all worlds, if you ask me!

A Little Bit of Luxury (or Lipstick 101)

Want to change your look, but don't have money for a shopping spree or a trip to the salon? Try lipstick. Seriously. You don't wear lipstick, you say? Even better, more bang for your buck, so to speak! What's that? You think you look clownish in lipstick? Your lips are too big? Your lips are too small? Don't insult me with that one, you don't know small lips until you have met me, or at least my upper lip... Okay, okay, just hear me out. I'm new to the lipstick game myself, but I've tried it, and I love it. Let me give you a few basic pointers, and then give it a go, please. It may make you feel different. It may be the key to adding a bit of glamor to your holiday get ups without breaking the bank.  Just try it. You be the judge.

First, pick a color. It doesn't have to be too matchy - matchy with your outfit. A better rule of thumb is to stick with something that flatters your natural coloring. If you have cool coloring, go cool. Warm coloring, go warm. If you're new to this, and nervous, choose a color that is just a bit darker than your natural lip color (give your lip a little bite to actually see what this color looks like).

Next, exfoliate those lips. There are lots of suggestions on how to do this, some involving Vaseline, coffee grounds, and other such ingredients. My favorite way to go is to use a bit of white sugar - just gently rub on wet lips. In 20 seconds you will have soft lips and a sweet taste in your mouth!

Now, moisturize. Use a moisturizing lip balm on those babies. I like Smith's Rosebud Salve, but whatever you have will work.

And apply. There is some debate out there about whether to line or not. In my brief experience with lip stick I have not used liner. From what I've read, the pros include prevention of "feathering", or lipstick bleeding into the fine lines around your mouth, and the ability to give greater definition to your lips. Giving definition to lips via liner went scarily awry in the 90's; just be aware that this is a fine line to walk (I can't help myself). If you decide to go this route, choose a liner in nude or in a color very similar to the lipstick you plan to use. You can either apply the lipstick straight from the tube or with a brush. A brush gives you greater control and you use less lipstick, so it lasts longer. I use the one from my Sephora brush set (great Christmas gift from my sister in law, Nicole, once upon a time). There are inexpensive options out there, such as this one from e.l.f ($3), or this one from Sonia Kashuk ($6.99).  Apply evenly over lips, staying within God's boundaries (i.e. don't draw a new pair).

Blot with a tissue. Perfect lips! I will leave you with a few budget lipsticks to try. I have the first one on the list, so I can vouch for it. The others have received consistently high reviews and seem to be great options in the budget category.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick ($6.99)

Revlon Color Burst Lipstick ($7.49)

e.l.f. Essential Lipstick ($1)

e.l.f. Mineral Lipstick ($5, no parabens, preservatives or chemical dyes)

NYX Round Lipstick ($3.99)

Maybelline NY Color Sensational Pearls Lipcolor ($7.49)

A Twelve Days of Christmas Gift Guide: Part II

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, I bet you are ready for Part II of the Twelve Days of Christmas Gift Guide: Chic Wrapping and Presentation [for next to nothing]. You may have to do a bit of modification based on the gifts you have chosen, but here are the basic ingredients: 

Tape

Scissors

Glue Stick

Index Cards

Standard white envelopes

Red Sharpie (or even just a red crayon)

Roll of Kraft Paper

Twine or Ribbon

Optional: Boxes (again, depending on what you have chosen to give, you probably have some sort of boxes around the house that can be used)

my supplies

I am guessing that you will have most of these items in your home already, except maybe the Kraft paper and the twine/ribbon. Kraft paper comes in rolls and is often used to wrap packages for mailing. In my experience, cheap wrapping paper (think dollar store) feels cheap. Kraft paper looks and feels classic, but is cheap (you can find it at the dollar store). I have used twine, also for a classic package feel, but if you go with ribbon, I suggest picking some up while you are at the dollar store. Stick with one color; simplicity is elegant.

The How-To

Gather your gifts and wrap them in the Kraft paper, just like you would wrap anything else. 

For bottles, I suggest cutting a strip of the paper and taping it around the bottle to hide the label (see below).

For the Love List or the coupons, place them in a regular white envelope. Cut out a rectangular piece of the Kraft paper and glue it to the front of the envelope. You will be putting a number over this paper, so size it accordingly (just look at the pic below and you'll catch my drift).

Create a label for each gift. Simply cut 6 index cards in half and number them. You can copy my numbers below (Freehand, or you can click on the image, and then right click to download the numbers to print). Feel free to do so, or get creative on your own. I think Roman numerals would also look very cool (and they are easy to write). Need to brush up on your Roman numeral skills? See this chart.

the numbers. nothing too fancy. 

Affix a number label via glue stick to each gift. Et voila, it's as easy as that!

And the final product:

And a little bonus: my Love List heading.

A Twelve Days of Christmas Gift Guide

I know, I know, we haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving yet, but there is a reason I'm busting out the C word early. Now that I'm an adult, I realize that the "magic" of Christmas - the sights, the smells, the traditions - don't just happen. Behind the magic is planning, creativity and effort on the part of someone. Now, to avoid becoming crazy right around the day itself and distracting from its true meaning, it helps to think through some gift ideas a wee bit beforehand. Let's focus today on the most important man in your life and the twelve days of Christmas.

The twelve days of Christmas occur from December 25 to January 6, the feast of Epiphany (even if you think you know about Epiphany, check out this article - beautiful). The idea of giving a gift on each of the twelve days has always had me smitten. Beyond the fact that we all love thoughtful gifts, this approach to Christmas gift giving strikes a chord for another reason. By really living up December 25 and the days that follow, it allows Advent to remain a time of spiritual preparation. 

Hence the idea of this post: a 12 days of Christmas gift how-to for that man in your life (you can thank me later, gentlemen). This how-to will be two parts - Part one: ideas for  small gifts for each of the days and tips on how to do this on a tight budget, and Part two: chic wrapping and presentation for next to nothing.

THE GIFTS

A book

iTunes gift card

An alcoholic beverage

A homemade book of coupons

A framed pic for his workplace

A coupon for an activity together

A gift certificate to a restaurant for a future date

A "love list" (a list of the things you love about him)

A toiletry bag filled with minis of his favorite toiletries

A cup for his morning beverage, with a love note tucked inside

Beer or wine or rocks glasses (depending on your man's style)

Something for personal comfort - slippers, a throw (because I monopolize this!)

A homemade treat

A kind deed for someone in his family

So that is actually fourteen gift ideas, but everybody is different, so maybe some will be more feasible than others. It may seem like a lot of time and money, so let's break it down. 

A book - check the local used book store.
iTunes gift card -I actually cash in my change jar as part of my pre-Christmas cleaning. I discovered last year that Coinstar machines (usually at your grocery store) will convert change to gift cards for NO FEE! There are many options, including iTunes, Amazon, Gap, Old Navy, Starbucks, Lowe's, Regal Cinema, the list goes on and on...
An alcoholic beverage - this one is easy.
A homemade book of coupons - a little bit of labor, but free. Here is a free printable.
A framed pic - thrift a frame and print a pic at the drugstore, all for about $1.25.
A coupon for an activity - sign up to receive emails from Groupon, Living Social and other such sites (I recently paid $15 for a day of indoor climbing for two, including all gear). You also might get $5 off your first purchase.
A restaurant gift certificate - again, go with Groupon and such, but also check out Restaurant.com. This site has discounted certificates to local restaurants, and occasionally runs promos for even further discounts. So far this year I have purchased two $25 gift certificates, one for $4 and one for $1.60.
A "love list"- list what you love most about him, gloriously free.
Toiletry bag - make trips to the gym or out of town easier. Amazon has some leather options for under $20, and I actually love this canvas one (only $6.76 - who needs rounded numbers!). These bottles ($7.20) have a nice masculine look. Another option is to buy minis of the products he already uses.
A cup for his morning beverage - a to-go mug or a tumbler, with a love note tucked inside. Both of these items are ubiquitous and inexpensive. The love note, on the other hand, is priceless.
Glasses (the drinking kind) - surprisingly inexpensive. We just bought a 12 pack of pint glasses at Wal-Mart for $9.99. Four packs are $5. Or, if your man likes specialty beers such as barley wines, check the local thrift store for brandy snifters (these are fairly expensive new, yet I always see them in thrift stores). 
Something for personal comfort - use your imagination (and budget) here, think slippers, cozy throws, and the like.
A homemade treat - inexpensive and self-explanatory.
A kind deed for someone in his family  - either free, or the most expensive item on this list, you be the judge!

Since the original publication of this post, Hallie over at Moxie Wife created a link up so other bloggers could share their man gift ideas. Head on over and check it out! Or, looking for some other Christmas on a budget ideas? Check this link up.

Don't forget my Part II if you need some budget wrapping inspiration to complete this project!