Happy Howlidays!

In my rush to get ready for Christmas, I can't forget my sweet little dogs.  Gift giving to dogs may seem odd to some, but they are a part of the family.  I can't forget a gift for a family member!  

They don't need another toy.  They are kinda funny in that they are each a one toy dog.  Gingersnap loves her ball and Cinnabar loves his stuffed elephant.  I could spend an entire blog post just telling you about their funny toy stories...but I won't.  Yeah...I just spared you.  Whew!

However, they both are chowhounds!  Seriously, in retrospect, I should have named them Hoover and Dyson.  So what to get two doggies who love to eat and save some money while I am at it?  

Doggie cookies!

I came across this recipe for Doggie cookies from my bestie who first introduced them to my dogs a couple of years ago.  I modified the recipe a little bit since the original recipe called for milk and one of our dogs is milk intolerant.  Most importantly, I had all the ingredients already on hand...so there was no added cost or shopping for "special" ingredients.

Oatmeal Cookies with Peanut Butter

3 cups whole-wheat flour

1/2 cup uncooked rolled oats

2 t baking powder

1 3/4 c fat free reduced sodium chicken broth

1 T molasses

1 1/4 creamy peanut butter

1.  Combine all ingredients until well mixed.

2.  Turn the dough onto a lightly floured flat surface roll out to 1/4 inch thick.  

3.  Cut out as many cookies as you can.

4.  Bake for 20-25 minutes at 375 degrees.  

5.  Remove trays from oven and cool to room temperature.  Turn off the oven.

6.  When cookies have cooled, put them back into the cooling oven.  Leave them undisturbed, without opening the oven door for 8-16 hours.  

7.  Store cookies in an airtight container.

My dogs love, love, love these cookies.  Cinnabar kept going to the oven and sniffing the air.  He then would look at me and "ruff".  As if to say..."Are they done yet?"  

I hope all of you are having a wonderful Christmas season!  

Happy Howlidays!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Are you done with your Christmas Shopping yet? 

I finally finished last night!  

I did a little happy dance and a celebratory jig. 

Right there in the store.

Not really...but in my head I did.

As I was humming carols to my car, I realized that although my gift quest was over there were still gifts to acquire.

There are gifts to people that I always give to...neighbors, the mail carrier, the gardener...

Ahhh!  Christmas is about showing others how you appreciate them...not being sent to the poor house! 

I came across this idea from my 1st grade buddies at my school.  I sure would like to take credit for this fabulous idea, but I can't.  Teachers are the some of the most frugal creative people I know.  

That's said with the utmost awe and admiration.   

Isn't it ca-ute???
Wait...you don't know what it is.
Just sit back and be amazed!

You just open it up and there are 4 little sleeves to put "little" gifts into.  

My mind is racing with ideas of what to fill this wonderful little gift!  

You could fill the sleeves with little "love coupons" for the receiver...such as..."I will wash the car for you"..."I will do the dishes for you"...you get the idea.  
You could also fill the sleeves with little scriptures or prayers for the receiver.  
You could put little notes in the sleeves about what you admire or like about the receiver.
You could put little candies in the sleeves.
You could put gift cards in the sleeves.  

The ideas are limitless.  It could be as inexpensive as you like or as costly as you want!

Here is a little tutorial on how to create this little idea:

1.  First you will need lunch bags. You will need 4 of them.  Easy huh?

2.  Next lay out the bags like shown with the open end on the outside.  Glue the ends together with hot glue.  Easy smeasy!

3.  The next step is the most fun part! You get to decorate.  Decorating can be as elaborate as you want.  On this one,  I used an old birthday card
for the center and some scrapbook paper supplies.  

4.  Decorate all sides of the sleeves,front and back.  You can use scrapbook paper, wrapping paper
or old cards.  For my Christmas one, I used scrapbook paper and clip art images I got off of the
internet.  Cost to me so far...zilch..zip...big fat ZERO!  

5.  Fold it together and add a little button to the front. Add  a ribbon to the back to tie the booklet together.  

Isn't it cute? 

I have made two already.  A Christmas and a birthday version. 

I think that the idea would lend itself beautifully to a little scrapbook.  Every sleeve could have a photo on it and the inside of the sleeve could have the journaling.  

I also think this could be a great way to give gift cards to a grad.  Each sleeve could have a gift card in it to various fast food places and stores to ready a dorm room.

Oh my mind is racing! 

Have a Merry Christmas!

Have A Sweet Christmas!

It's my favorite time of year!  I hope that you are having a wonderful holiday season as well!

I have put away all of my DIY tools and all my projects are on hold during the season.  Trust me, it was hard!  Very hard!  I think I started to have some withdrawals.  But the thought of sawdust and power tools amongst the Christmas decorations was a bit much...

even for me.

But of course, I just can not do nothing! 

So, I thought of a inexpensive, easy wreath.  I was inspired by some of the wreaths I have been seeing using candies.  I have seen them made out of candy corn and recently saw one made out of mini candy canes.  Here is my version of the wreath:

Isn't it sweet?!

It was so easy too!  I just took a green styrofoam floral wreath that I found at the Dollar Tree for a...what for it...dollar!  Then I wrapped it with white duct tape.

After that, I just hot glued the starburst candies on the wreath!  Easy, smeasy!  

Then, a ribbon around it to hang it up and viola!  A sweet little wreath!

The wreath was inexpensive to make.  It was $1.00 for the wreath form, $2.50 for the candies and I used a ribbon I already had.  So the final cost was $3.50!   Sweet!

I hope that all you have a wonderful sweet Christmas!