Using Coupons to Purchase Christmas Gifts

In seeking to follow my own advice about preparation this week, I've begun stepping up my Christmas shopping. Since I normally purchase the Sunday paper for the grocery coupons, I also get the craft stores' weekly sales flyers (Michaels and A.C. Moore in our area) with their coupons for 40% or 50% off of a non-sale item.

Since my daughters enjoy all types of crafts, I've been stopping in once a week to purchase items I will use for Christmas gifts at a great deal. After paying at the register, I often receive another coupon along with my receipt.

Taking advantage of these coupons is also a great way to save money when purchasing gifts for classmates' birthdays. Giving craft kits to children who seemingly have everything works well, too, as these are gifts which can still be used even if they already own one!

I realize that it's not convenient for everyone to visit these stores regularly. It just so happens that there is a Michaels and an A.C. Moore within a couple of miles of my daughters' school, which makes it convenient for me to make a quick stop before picking them up.

So how are you doing on your Christmas shopping? Do you typically save by buying ahead or by waiting to grab last-minute deals?

Find many ways to save money at Frugal Friday hosted by Life as Mom.

Pockets in the Freezer

Remember how I said that I was relieving myself from the pressure of blogging every day so that I could spend more time doing other things I enjoy - like baking?!

One of my favorite new recipes comes from Laura at Heavenly Homemakers. Her pizza pockets and apple pie pockets are delicious and I love that they can be made ahead and frozen, then reheated as desired.

The crust is the same for either version. The main alteration I made was in using a combination of flours instead of only whole wheat. Our family's not quite ready for that yet! I also replaced part of the butter with coconut oil.

Crust

2 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup coconut oil
1 cup plain yogurt

Stir ingredients together until thoroughly mixed.

You can read her instructions on how to form the pockets by rolling a small ball of dough into a circle here. For the pizza version, I simply put a tablespoon full of spaghetti sauce on the circle of dough, sprinkled it with mozzarella cheese, topped that with two slices of pepperoni (you could use sausage, ground beef, cooked vegetables, etc.), then folded the dough over and sealed the edges. I placed the finished pockets on a large baking sheet, froze them for an hour, then sealed them in a large plastic bag and returned them to the freezer. These are great to have on hand for a quick lunch or snack!

Laura shares the apple pie version as well. I have a bag of these in the freezer right now; if you had a minute to stop by, I'd be happy to serve you one hot from the oven with a glass of cold milk or a steaming cup of coffee!

Just Call Me Her Mom

It was a perfect day for a drive in the country, following a busload of fourth graders headed to a field trip.

Field trips are an adventure my daughters and I embark on together, visiting places and experiencing things we otherwise might not.

As the years pass, I realize that these opportunities will come less often, so we revel in the sunshine, study snakes in the reptile house, feed the animals, learn about honey bees, enjoy a picnic, stumble our way through the fun house and visit the gift shop.

She's happy that I'm here. She walks beside me, sometimes running off when a friend calls, but always finding me again. I enjoy talking to her classmates, seeing her interact with them. I am thrilled that they know me as her mom, because that's one of my most cherished titles.

These days are precious; her ears, her mind and her heart are open to the principles I seek to convey. I long for it to stay this way, and pray that the teenage years, approaching all too quickly now, will only bring us closer.

For in the tilt of her nose, the flutter of her eyelashes, the smile on her lips, I see the same baby girl I held in my arms what seems like just moments ago.


Linked to Tuesdays Unwrapped hosted by Chatting at the Sky.

How Prepared Are You?

As cool weather finally begins to arrive here in the South, Proverbs 31:21 is timely in its message: "She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet."

The Virtuous Woman is Prepared.

The Proverbs 31 woman is not caught off guard by the changing of the seasons. It is something that happens every year and she is ready for it. This involves the mental aspect of preparation, assessing the needs of each family member and ensuring that she has on hand what is required. There's the physical aspect as well, the actual process of getting clothing and other items ready, mending, repairing or purchasing new as needed. She obviously does her job well since the verse states that they are clothed with scarlet; she has provided to the best of her ability, supplying them with warm clothing that is proper and befitting for the season.

What a challenge it is for us as wives and mothers to be prepared to meet the needs of our households! How much more I can enjoy my family if I learn to prepare in advance for things that I know are coming. Examples of this range from the mundane to the major. Mornings in our house flow much more smoothly if we have clothes laid out and lunches packed the night before. Having a menu of meals planned for the week saves a last-minute stop at the grocery store. If there is a certain season where I know money will be less plentiful, then putting money aside for the future becomes another aspect of preparation.

While I often have good intentions in this area, I don't always follow through. Even now, I need to finalize Christmas plans, including a budget and gift list, as well as brainstorm ideas for celebrating our daughters' birthdays in just a month. As overwhelming as it seems at the moment, I know that preparation is key to doing the job well and relieving stress.

In what areas do you tend to be well-prepared? Share any tips that help you plan ahead either for daily occurrences or special occasions!