Rudy Day, Bible gift idea

It is Rudy Day again, the 25th of each month and a good time to think of Christmas gifts.
Here is an idea I love.

This is the "ESV Daily Reading Bible: Through the Bible in a Year". I treated myself to a copy last Christmas and I find it very easy to read about 15 minutes a day in this Bible. At the end of one year you will have read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice. Today I looked at Christianbooks.com and it is only $6.99.
No, I have no connection with that online store, but love that low price!
A wonderful Scottish pastor, Robert Murray M'Cheyne (1813-1843) created this reading plan. I was stunned to see he lived to be only 30 and yet left this lasting treasure.
I think this Bible would be a great Christmas gift to yourself or anyone on your gift list, and then they could start in reading on January first.
What gifts are you planning to buy or make?
This was posted by Terra Hangen.

Top 10 Frugal Christmas Gifts - by Trish Berg

I was driving home from a weekend at my parent's lake cottage last weekend, and suddenly was taken back by a radio station playing all CHRISTMAS MUSIC. They called it Christmas in July, and since it was July 25th, I guess it fit.

So I have had Christams on the brain.

WIth so many loved ones, family and friends to buy Christmas gifts for, it can be difficult to stay within your family budget. So here are 10 tips for frugal Christmas gifts under $10 each.

TIPS FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS UNDER $10

1. A bag of flavored coffee and a mug (You can get the coffee for around $9 and the mug at the dollar store for a buck)

2. For grandparents, frame one of your child's BEST artwork pieces. They will treasure it always.

3. For the tea lovers, flavored tea and a good book to read

4. Poorman;s Mocha Mix in a Jar:

Poorman's Mocha Mix

2 cups powdered milk

8 tablespoon cocoa powder

1 cup sugar

1 cup instant coffee

*Mix all of the powders together and put in mason jar.

5. Home baked bread and sweet jam in a jar

6. Cookie Mix in a Jar (Simple Recipes here)

7. Gardening gloves with a plant or flower seeds

8. $10 Starbucks (or Tim Horton's) Gift Card (MY FAVE!!!)

9. Muffinb mixes and a new muffin pan.

10. Manicure Pedicure basket filled with files, polish and lotions

Who Would Have Guessed?

By Trish Berg

Who would have guessed that my most favorite Christmas gift was the gift that was free. 

Mike and I had just gotten married. It was Christmas 1992, and we were as poor as dirt. Mike was working at a furniture store delivering furniture, and I was in graduate school earning next to nothing as a grad assistant. We were living in a tiny duplex, and we knew we would have no money to buy each other something for Christmas.

So we agreed to not get each other a gift.

But Mike, as he usually did, surprised me with a gift.

He built me a hand made creche, a manger box where I could put figurines depicting the story of Jesus' birth. Of course, at that point, we had nothing to put in it. But it was beautiful nonetheless.

He made it out of old barn siding, nailed it into a box shape, and glued old hay on the bottom.

Now, eighteen Christmases have passed since that year, and that is still my most treasured gift. And it has been filled over the years with the most beautiful figurines reminding us of the true gift of Christmas - the gift of Jesus.

I guess the lesson there is not to worry about spending money on the perfect gift this Christmas. The perfect gift usually has no financial cost at all, rather emotional blessings. Memories, things shared, moments you have lived.

As you start to think about Christmas shopping, start think about blessings. What can you share with the ones you love that don't cost a thing?

I guarantee those will become the most treasured gifts of all.

Everything I Need To Know I Learned On Christmas Break - By Trish Berg

It has been a long time since I have been in Kindergarten, but I have been schooled by my family over Christmas break this year. Life is a journey of learning and loving, forgiving and forging ahead in spite of challenges. So, here are 5 things I learned over Christmas break in 2010.

#5 TWO WEEKS FLY BY - Time flies. We looked forward to Christmas break all month long, and the time just flew by. So enjoy what you have while you have it.

#4 BEST LAID PLANS SOMETIMES FAIL - No matter what you plan, it might fail. Santa brought our kids sleds and snow tubes this year, and at Christmas, we had no snow. Like washing your car causing it to rain, plans schmlans.

#3 TRADITIONS MEAN A LOT - We have had several family traditions, and its funny how our children hold on tightly to those familiar things every year. Our family traditions mean a lot to our children, even the small ones. They bring consistency to your life and bond you together.

#4 THE BEST GIFT IS TIME - All the presents that were under our tree were great, but what our children wanted most from us over Christmas break was our time. So spending time with your family will mean more than anything you can wrap up.

#5 JESUS ROCKS - I asked the kids what their goals were for 2010, and my teenager told me this morning that she wanted to not be as influenced by her friends, and make better decisions in 2010; making decisions Jesus would be proud of. Your faith matters to your kids. Know that the gift of Jesus, the love He gives, is the real joy of Christmas, and that lasts all year long.

An Apple for the Teacher

If you are looking for a last minute gift for teachers, try these easy to make chocolate covered apples:

6 medium sized sweet-tart apples
Popsicle sticks or wooden meat skewers
1 lb. semi-sweet chocolate cubed or morsels
1 cup M&Ms, chopped nuts, coconut, or crushed Oreo cookies

Insert sticks in apples and refrigerate. Apples will coat better if chilled.
Melt chocolate in double boiler or in microwave oven until warm not hot. Stir to make a smooth consistency.
Dip and roll apples in chocolate using spoon to help cover hard to reach areas.
Roll coated apples in desired topping and put on waxed paper on a cookie sheet in refrigerator to set the chocolate.
Wrap the apple in colored cellophane and secure with a twisty around stick. Add curly ribbon for decoration.

Give Yourself by Brenda Nixon

It's sheer joy to be a co-author on this book. The six of us have laughed and learned as we discussed, developed, and delivered our "baby" to the world. Thank you for visiting our blog and buying our book. We deeply appreciate you sharing our enthusiasm with your support.

This week, each of us is to share an inexpensive gift idea for an educator; classroom teacher, Sunday school teacher, your child's teacher, etc. I've learned from teachers I talked to that they'd prefer a gift card. Many times they're given candles, mugs, and things they're already overloaded with. While they appreciate the gesture, they'd benefit from something else.

People often confuse price with value. In today's economy many don't have the money to buy high-priced gadgets but, can still give a valuable gift. Consider gifting your fav teacher with a certificate for your services. "What service do I have to offer?" you ask.

• Yard Maintenance
• Housecleaning
• Pet Sitting
• Snow Removal
• Sewing
• Bringing in a Homecooked Meal
• Free Childcare
• Small Engine Repair
• Window Cleaning
• Computer Tutoring

You see, YOU have a lot to offer! How about sharing the best gift - yourself - with a teacher this year. And, share your comment for a chance to win a FREE COPY of A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts. Everyone who comments on a blog this week will be entered into a drawing for a free book! If you already have one, use the freebie as a Christmas gift (I even gave an autographed copy for a December wedding gift).

Brenda Nixon, www.BrendaNixon.com
Co-author, A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts

Treasured Dress Up Clothes

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite things to do was dress up. I remember one particular "bride's dress" that was made by draping a set of sheer curtains my mother was done with around my waist and over my head. There's something about dressing up that tickles most every kid.

With that in mind one year, I put together quite an ensemble for my young nieces. At a resale shop in our area, I found several fancy dresses, some white gloves, evening bags, high heels, and a couple of hats as well as some very cheap jewelry to assessorize the outfits. At the local K-Mart, I found two very inexpensive wigs--probably left over from Halloween. It all fit into one of those cardboard storage boxes you assemble.

They were delighted and played for quite a few years with those things. Alas, as all little girls do, they grew up and discovered their own fashion statements and put aside the childhood dress up fantasies.

Did you find a gift at a yard sale this year?

Hi friends.
Did you find a gift at a yard sale this year? There is still time to browse the sales.
A church in my area had a big group yard sale in their parking lot last week, and I was thrilled to buy 2 adorable picture frames that completely look brand new, with the original store price tags on the back.
Each one is decorated with blue flowers, one is white ceramic and made for a 3" x 3" photo size and one is faux distressed wood, for a 4" x 5" photo.
Someone I know is going to love receiving these, I hope, I hope.
The grand total price was $1 each.
Don't you just love a bargain?

Easy Gifts for Men or Women

A couple of years ago, I gave my brother a fun gift. Men are hard to buy for aren't they? After scratching a bald spot on top my head, the light bulb finally lit (guess it must have been one of those energy savers that takes a while to get bright). I decided to give him a Fiesta Bowl Party--in a box.

I bought corn chips, salsa, soda pop, mixed nuts, and various other non-perishable snacks as well as a pom-pom in Ohio State colors of scarlet and gray. After all I did want him cheering for the right team. Total cost was in the twenty dollar range. You can ratchet it up or down by what you put into your "Fan Box".

The ladies on my list often get a purse or tote full of surprises. Find an inexpensive small tote or purse and then fill it with sample sized lotions, soaps, candles, etc. that you can find at your local drugstore or dollar store. Toss in a fashion or women's magazine or two. One year, I themed a tote with a flannel throw, a book, a package of hot chocolate, and a small box of cookies for a friend.

It's fun being creative. How about you? Any themed ideas you can send along for gifts in that $20 or less range?

Gift Lists and Name Exchanges - By Trish Berg

This year, Mike and I are getting a joint gift for each other...no surprises this year. We want to have an elliptical/treadmill to use at home. We have been running and biking together, and losing weight, and want to have a treadmill or elliptical to use at home this winter.

But we also have extended families on both sides, and we have celebrated Christmas gift giving many different ways. Here are some tips.

5 Tips for Gift Exchanges

1) SWAP NAMES ONLY - With my husband's family, we swap names at Thanksgiving for Christmas gifts. Each person, whether child or adult, draws one name out of a hat and that is who they purchase a gift for.

2) SWAP NAMES & GIFT IDEAS - A friend of mine has a different take on their name swap. They swap names, but include a list of gift ideas. So when you draw a name out of the hat, you get a list included of some things they would love to get for a Christmas gift.

3) THE GIFT GAME - In years past, we have had everyone bring a gift for extended family worth $25-$30 and wrap it anonymously for a man or women. Then everyone draws a number on Christmas day and you start at 1 and go up. When your number is called, you pick a wrapped gift to open and keep. But everyone who has a # bigger than yours can choose to "steal" your open gift, or choose an unwrapped one to open. If your gift is stolen, you can steal someone else's gift or choose an unwrapped gift.

4) THEME GIFTS - Decide as a family of a gift theme for this years Christmas celebration for extended family gatherings. i.e. Swap names, and then if you are all Ohio State fans, have everyone everyone purchase an Ohio State themed gift for the name they draw. You could have themes like: jewelry, sports, theatre tickets, night out on the town, etc.

5) EVENT INSTEAD - Instead of buying gifts for extended family, do something together, Create a family event and spend the money you would have spent on gifts on that event. You could all go to and indoor water park/hotel, an amusement park, take a Christmas train ride, or simply go out to a fantastic dinner at an area restaurant. Memories are made at events that last far longer than many gifts last.

Whatever you do for your gift exchange, remember to stay within your spending budget. Set limits, and stay within those limits. Shop sales and clearance outlets. And when you set price limits for gift exchanges, make that for the GIFT VALUE not what you actually spent. That way, you can shop on sale for a $45 valued gift and only spend $20 when you find it on sale, saving you a ton of money.

Creative Gift Wrap by Brenda Nixon

Everyone likes an elegantly wrapped gift. It's like they say in the restaurant industry, "Presentation is everything" or those in marketing say, "Sell the sizzle."

One way I use my my creative energy and save a buck is through wrapping gifts in unusual ways. First, it doesn't have to be paper (what a waste of trees anyway); try wrapping a gift in a clean, new hand towel and tie with brightly colored cord. Artistically place your recipient's gifts in a beautiful basket. She might like the basket so much, she uses it to store soaps or misc items. For kids gifts, I might wrap a box with the newspaper's comic strip page.

My daughter "makes" personalized wrapping paper by stamping birthday or seasonal images onto butcher paper. You can also look for recycled paper if you're eco-conscious.

Or don't wrap it at all. A couple of Christmases, I placed notes with clues around the house so my daughters had to scout out their hidden gift.

How do you get creative with your gift-wrapping? Share your tip with me here; I'd love your feedback.

Brenda Nixon, www.BrendaNixon.com
Co-Author, A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts

Now Where Did I Put. . .?

This could be a lean Christmas for many of us. But this is also a great time to get creative with ways to celebrate the season. Years ago (we won't go into how many), I worked a summer job for a family that had a unique tradition at Christmas time. What money they made with their seasonal business had to last the whole year and so they came up with a fun way to spend nothing on Christmas gifts.

Throughout the year and especially as time got closer to the season, family members would hide away little items that belonged to another member of the family. Usually it was something that they would not miss right away and/or wasn't essential--a pair of socks, a pen, a hairclip. Then at Christmas time they would wrap it up with a pretty bow and present it back to the owner. I imagine they heard "I wondered where I'd put that!" a lot.

Of course this probably works better with older kids and there would certainly have to be some rules set down. Or maybe this just might give you an idea to start thinking about some other creative ways for gift-giving that don't cost anything.

Think Outside the Gift Bag

Since I love helping moms simplify motherhood, saving money is a part of my everyday life. And, as a stay-at-home-mom, I have had to get creative when it comes to Christmas shopping.

I have learned a few lessons over the years.

Lesson #1 DO SOMETHING

Kids will remember memories much more than gifts.
-DO you really remember what you received for Christmas when you were 8? Probably not. But you might remember a trip you took with your family. So one year, we cut the clutter of gifts in half, and took the kids on a fantastic train ride in December. We told them the train ride was a part of Christmas, and they were great with that. And now they have a neat memory to share.

Lesson #2 BUY USED

Kids don't need everything new under the tree. My sister-in-law was married last year, and she and her husband are selling a bunch of things they had double of, like a very nice digital camera...for $50. So we are buying that for Hannah for Christmas . Shhhh...don't tell her. Be sure to check out garage sales, used clothing stores, even Goodwill. I once found a beautiful cashmere sweater for Sydney at Goodwill for $3. Yep, that was a find.

Lesson #3 WRAP EVERYTHING INDIVIDUALLY

My kids love coming downstairs and seeing the gifts all wrapped in piles under the tree Christmas morning. And since we open one gift at a time, one person at a time, we can enjoy each one. So, I wrap everything separately. If I buy several books for my child, I would place each book in a larger box, cover it with tissue paper, and wrap it up. I wrap each shirt, or pair of pants separately. The kids simply love the excitement of opening the gifts.

Lesson #4 BUY AFTER CHRISTMAS

I know it's too late for this year, but buy all your wrapping paper, ribbons and bows AFTER Christmas has passed. You can find rolls of wrapping paper for under $1, and tons of bargains you can put away for next year.

Lesson #5 SIMPLIFY

Most of all, keep life simple during the holidays. Don't eat out when you go shopping, that wastes money. Eat and then go. Make homemade gifts when you can, like Cookies in a jar, and just relax. Your kids don't want a stressed out mom. They want mom - happy and content. And your attitude reflects through the entire family. Simplify what you can, relax and enjoy the time with your family.

Enjoy the journey-Trish
Psalm 118:24
www.TrishBerg.com

Snuggle Up Under a Soft Blanket

By Trish Berg

I have been blessed with some of the best friends in the world. Yep, I am a bit biased, I know.

And I have learned a lot over a lifetime of friendships. But some of the best advice has come from my mom and my dad.

You see, my dad always told me that the world was made up of 2 kinds of people: warm fuzzies and cold pricklies. All you have to do is figure out who the warm fuzzies are and hang around them.

The older I get, the more warm fuzzies I surround myself with.

My mom always told me that I should give to the givers. And I have tried to do that as well.

As a Christian, I also know that God calls me to give to others, no matter what their status. And I do try to do that as well.

But as for close friendships, those see-you-without-your-makeup-on-bra-less and love you anyway friends, those are the warm fuzzy givers in my life.

One of my best friends is Teri. My husband grew up with Teri since she lives on the dairy farm next to the farm where he grew up. The farm we live on today with our own four kids.

But Teri and I became even closer about nine years ago when my son, Colin, and her daughter, Jae, were both born around the same time.

Over the years, we have just grown up together, in our friendship, our marriages, and our mothering. I adore Teri, and am so blessed to have her in my life.

So, when Christmas time came around a few years back, I searched and searched for the perfect gift. And I found one I knew she would adore. (And I didn't have to spend a fortune on it either.)

I bought her a beautiful soft blanket/quilt from Lakeside (http://www.lakeside.com/)

Lakeside has many unique gifts, very reasonably priced.

And, because I loved the blanket so much, I bought one for myself as well.

So now Teri and I have these gorgeous snowmen hanging on the back of our couches all year round reminding us of our friendship, all warm and fuzzy.

Though the exact throw I purchased is no longer available, they have a ton of beautiful ones ranging in price from $5.95 to $15.95. And the quality is top notch.

To see all the Lakeside throws and quilts, click here.

So warm up a friend or two this Christmas with a Lakeside throw, and remind them of your warm, fuzzy love all year round.

****ATTENTION***

I just wanted to share with you all that I am fantastic contest this week at my individual blog.

I am giving away a BLUETOOTH JAWBONE HEADSET WORTH $129.99.

All you need to do is post a comment (or two, or ten) to any of my blogs by Sunday night. Every comment posted is a new entry into the drawing.

Tell all your friends, and log onto www.TrishBerg.com, then click on blog, or go straight to

www.SimplifyingMotherhood.blogspot.com.

I'll see you there!

Enjoy the journey, Trish

Psalm 118:24