Hey guys! Today I have something neat to share on the blog: an easy patriotic dessert. I won't pretend that I love to bake desserts. Cuz I don't. I am a good cook and a decent baker, but baking is just NOT something I enjoy to do. If you do happen to enjoy it, then more power to you! I'll eat your delicious baked goods if you make them for me. :) What I do love is a good summer cookout. And especially for the three major U.S. summertime patriotic holidays - Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. This year I decided I would make a dessert for our cookout, but I didn't want to Keep Reading
26-Week / Extra $1,000 by Christmas Savings Plan – Start with $26, End with $1,000 to Buy Christmas Gifts!
This Christmas Savings Plan will prepare you for the holiday shopping season! Hello! If you've never been to my blog before, let me introduce myself. My name is Lena, and I'm so glad you're here! This blog is where I share all the creative money making and family budgeting ideas that pop into my head, as well as other fun stuff like recipes and coloring pages. Today I want to share with you something I created to help us make a game out of saving money. It's a 26-WEEK EXTRA $1,000 BY CHRISTMAS SAVINGS PLAN that starts with $26 and ends with exactly $1,001. You start with $26 the Keep Reading
30 Cheap Date Night Ideas – Budget Friendly ROMANTIC Ideas!
Everyone loves doing something with their boyfriend or husband on Valentine’s Day but sometimes our wallets don’t keep up with our desires. What can you do to have fun with your significant other, but not break the bank? Here are thirty ideas that can be done fairly inexpensively but will still create fun memories! 30 Cheap Valentine’s Day Date Ideas I find that the key to dating on the cheap is being flexible on timing. If you MUST go out on a certain day at a certain time, you will be limited in options. But if you can be flexible on timing, inexpensive dates are yours for the Keep Reading
Free Printable “Pop Pop Pop” Valentine’s Day Card
Today I have a super cute printable Valentine's Day card to share with you. This is a cute card to exchange with friends in playgroups or a school classroom Valentine's Day party card exchange. Free Printable Valentine's Day Card - Alone or with Candy! I just got a new at home, and now I'm all about printout out things like cards and artwork so I don't have to buy them at the store! I hope you're able to print these out at home as well. What you'll need: Card stock paper (or label paper if wanted to make a sticker) Paper cutter (scissors) Tape if you want to tape a Pop Rocks Keep Reading
12 Months of Date Night Ideas with Your Husband (with free printable tags!)
One of my favorite gift ideas for my husband for Valentine's Day, his birthday, and our anniversary, is to give him vouchers. He thinks they're cool; I like that they're meaningful. 12 Months of Date Night Ideas with Your Husband or Boyfriend This year for Valentine's Day I am giving him a set of date night vouchers as a sort of promise that we will regularly take time off of our jobs as mom and dad and just go out on a real date like we used to before we had kids. In fact, I would go so far as to say I think keeping up with regular dates with my husband makes me a much better Keep Reading
Valentine’s Day Conversation Heart Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
You guys. I am seriously sooooooo excited! Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays, and I thought it would be a great idea to put together some cute treats for the blog. I am all about making themed desserts these days. Meet my new favorite Valentine's Day treat: Conversation Heart Rice Krispie Treats These are so cute and easy to whip together for a classroom treat, or just a fun lunch box addition. These Conversation Heart Rice Krispie Treats are a little piece of nostalgia in a little, crunchy (heart-shaped) package! I love the sweet pastel coloring, but you can leave Keep Reading
Cute Redbox Neighbor Christmas Gift Idea
This post was sponsored by Redbox as part of a program with Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. Happy holidays everyone! This year I’m taking a different approach to the holidays. Instead of stressing myself out by rushing around to create & mail Christmas cards and do other things I don’t necessarily want to do, I am focusing on the things that make me happiest. So that means I’m inviting people over for potluck dinners, visiting with friends, and giving gifts to people I care about. Normally, I only give gifts to family, but this year Keep Reading
Easy Christmas Cookie Recipe – Sugar-Free Snickerdoodles
This year I am attending my friend's annual Christmas cookie exchange. I try to take at least two different recipes so I have a variety to offer (we have to take 6 dozen total!). I usually take my go-to no bake dark chocolate truffles, but I've been on the hunt for a second easy recipe that everyone will love. I found out that a few of my friends are on diets during the holidays (including me!), so I searched high and low for a cookie exchange-worthy recipe that won't break the calorie bank or load us up on sugar. I think I found the winner today....it's a SUGAR-FREE SNICKERDOODLES Keep Reading
7 Make Ahead Christmas Brunch Ideas
Christmas is fast-approaching, and the last thing I want to do is stress out while family is visiting. I like to relax and have a good time. This includes not getting up ahead of everyone on Christmas morning to make breakfast. :) So I've decided this year I will make Christmas breakfast ahead of time. Depending on our schedule the night before, we might eat later in the morning, so I guess this is officially my Christmas brunch plan! Here are 7 recipes I'm considering...I'm strongly leaning toward something cheesy and delicious, in case you hadn't noticed! 7 Make Ahead Christmas Keep Reading
Ten Personalized Christmas Ornaments That Make GREAT Holiday Gifts
This guest post is brought to you by my friends at the Ornament Shop. I did not receive compensation for this post, but some affiliate links below are mine. Visit the Ornament Shop They say there’s an art to gift giving and that a gift’s meaning isn’t tied to its price tag, but to the story and intent behind it. If you subscribe to this philosophy and feel that the best gifts aren’t about cost, size, or quantity, but the thought and love that goes into them, you're certainly not alone! The best holiday gifts take time, consideration, and a strong intuition that comes with an understanding Keep Reading
ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas Movie Schedule
Tuesday, December 1 (7:00 AM-11 AM ET/PT) The Preacher's Wife (11:00 AM-1:00 PM ET/PT) Disney's A Christmas Carol (1:00–2:30 PM ET/PT) Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas (2:30 PM–3:30 PM ET/PT) Life And Adventures Of Santa Claus (3:30–4:00 PM ET/PT) Frosty's Winter Wonderland (4:00–6:00 PM ET/PT) Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (6:00–7:00 PM ET/PT) The Year Without a Santa Claus (7:00–9:00 PM ET/PT) The Polar Express (9:00 PM–12:00 AM ET/PT) DR. SEUSS’ Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (12:00–1:00 AM ET/PT) The Year Without a Santa Claus (1:00–2:00 AM ET/PT) Keep Reading
Tips for Having a Healthy Holiday & 5 Healthy Side Dishes
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sam's Club. The opinions and text are all mine. With the holidays upon us, I’m excited about spending time with family we don’t see very often, but I’m also a little nervous as usual about the potential for holiday weight gain! I don’t have the best track record when it comes to keeping off the pounds around the holidays. I think I average 7 lbs between Thanksgiving and Christmas and depend on getting back to my regularly planned diet & exercise schedule in January. So many sweets, so many savory dishes, so much time Keep Reading
Free Printable Christmas Menu Shopping List
It's a few days until Thanksgiving, and my sister-in-law and I are already discussing Christmas plans. It seems like time speeds up on you at the end of the year, doesn't it? We barely have time to breathe, and then we're on to planning the thing after next! Oh boy! So to stay ahead of the game, I decided to start thinking about our Christmas menu. We are not only having family stay at our house, but we are likely going to be hosting a church gathering on Christmas Eve. So I better get planning! :) Whenever I have lots to plan, I always throw a checklist at the issue. This occasion is no Keep Reading
10+ Easy Ideas for the Lazy Elf on the Shelf
Sometimes we have the best intentions around the holidays before real world time issues mess them up. Let's face it, Elf on the shelf is a cute idea and fun for the kids but when exactly am I going to set that scene up? The gist seems to be that the elf hides (or is in plain sight) around the house and watches children to make sure they are on their best behavior for Santa. Who wants to get on the naughty list? The trend I see with other moms on social media are elaborate mini stages and cute handmade props that are pretty enviable but I do Keep Reading
Free Printable Letter to Santa Template ~ Cute Christmas Wish List
I just love getting into the Christmas spirit. I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but our kids just love Christmas, learning about Jesus, and of course, getting a visit from Santa Claus! My oldest is almost old enough to find out the truth...I'm sure we only have another year or two before the magic is over for her, so while it lasts, I'm hanging on to it! If you have little ones who believe in Santa Claus, you'll need this printable. Print it out, have them fill it in, and mail it to Santa according to these directions. They'll love it! Free Printable Christmas Wish List ~ Letter Keep Reading
