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Monday, February 8, 2016

A Worry-Free Date Night and a Better For You Pub Mix Recipe #DataAndAMovie #ad #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #DataAndAMovie #CollectiveBias
There are a lot of things about my kids growing up that make me a little weepy and nostalgic, but it's also really great to watch them maturing into responsible young men and women. In the last couple years, I've had to give up a bit of my mommy freakout and let my teens grab hold of a little independence. One great thing about having older teens is the freedom it gives Jamie and I to have a date night now and then. With our affordable Walmart Family Mobile PLUS plan, we feel comfortable leaving our teens in charge because they have a dependable way to reach us, if needed.

The Walmart Family Mobile PLUS plan features Unlimited Talk, Text, and Data. It includes up to 10GB of 4G LTE data PLUS a free movie rental on VUDU every month per line for just $49.88. Sometimes I need to keep up with my social media while I'm out, so I love having the extra data. The affordability of the plan means we can have an extra phone at home so the kids can reach us while we're out. Even though we have contacts saved in the phone, I still leave a list of numbers and info. for them. This makes it easier for them to just pick up and dial if there's an issue and they're upset. It's also easier for the youngest kids to just type in a number rather than try to navigate my contacts. 

While nights out are fun, usually we want to stay in and have a date night at home. We put the kids to bed early, make a simple snack, and play a game or watch a movie. 
If you're like us and prefer an at-home movie night, this is a great time to take advantage of the new Walmart Family Mobile PLUS plan and get a free monthly movie rental to boot!  

Back in the day, (like 1998) Jamie and I loved to browse the video rental stores and pick up a stack of VHS tapes to watch over the weekend. The 5 for $5 nights were the best! It's funny---we're the only generation who experienced that. Our teenage selves never imagined we'd soon be able to rent a movie and watch it without ever leaving our home. Usually our teens choose what's on the TV in the evenings but we'll have to wrestle it away from them when it's time for our VUDU movies!

We love putting together fun snack mixes for our at-home movie nights. Here's a great one that features some of my favorite better-for-you snacks.

Better For You Crunchy Pub Mix
2 c. veggie chips
3 c. sour cream & onion puffed corn
2 c. miniature pretzels
1 c. mixed nuts

I found the LG Leon LTE on Rollback for $69.82 (originally $99.82). When you go to pick up your phone, make sure you get a $25 starter kit, as well (located right above the phones). You can set up your service in the store or online. You can find a selection of phones and Walmart Family Mobile plans in the electronics section of your local Walmart.

Be sure to check out the Walmart Family Mobile PLUS plan and let me know what fun things you like to do on a date night at home!

Disclaimer: All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to http://cbi.as/28aqc or your local Walmart for current pricing.


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Monday, February 1, 2016

Homemade Chicken Stock & Broth -- Trim Healthy Mama Recipe

So what's the difference between stock and broth? Aren't they interchangeable? No. It's all about the seasoning. Stock is what you get from simmering the scraps of the meat, along with any vegetables you throw in. Broth is made when you add herbs and spices to season the stock.

Much of my cooking the last few years has involved various forms of soups and stews. When you've got a good broth base, a little bit of food can stretch a long way in a hearty soup. At first, I'd buy cans of broth---but when I was buying eight or more cans per meal, storage became an issue. Then I switched to bouillon cubes or granules---but the additives made me nervous and I had little control over the flavor. Last year, I started making my own stock and found it to be the least expensive, most flavorful, and healthiest option I'd tried. In fact, I spend just pennies every time I make a huge stock pot full, as I use scraps* that I've saved in the freezer.

Homemade Chicken Stock
Chicken, Vegetable, & Herb Scraps (frozen or thawed---doesn't matter)
3-4 bay leaves
splash of vinegar
water
large stock pot

Making your own stock is so simple that I feel a little silly writing this out. Still, it's something I didn't start doing until my mid-30s so I've got to assume this information will be valuable! So basically, just put your chicken, veggie & herb scraps, splash of vinegar (to draw out more nutrients from the chicken carcass) and bay leaves in the pot and fill it with water within 3 or 4 inches from the top. You don't have to cut anything up---just put it in there frozen, if you'd like. Put the pot on a back burner to boil. Once you've got a good boil going, turn it down to simmer and leave it for several hours. You'll know it's done when you've lost a few inches of water and the water has turned a beautiful golden color.

I use two straining methods to remove the scraps from the broth. I use my vegetable colander for the first straining, gently pouring the stock, a little at a time, through the colander and into a roasting pan. I throw the scraps away at this point, and then I clean out the stock pot and pour the mixture back into it---this time using a fine mesh sieve to get out the smaller stuff.

Now you can bag it in quart size bags and freeze, or preserve it in jars with a pressure canner. I'm thinking I'll start saving plastic food containers to reuse, but for now I use quart size bags. I usually get 5-6 quarts of stock each time I make this. I stand them up inside a baking pan and let them freeze, then I retrieve my baking pan and I'm good to go.

Using the stock is simple...just remember to thaw first!

When you're ready to use it as a broth base, add your own blend of seasonings. Some that we love include: salt, pepper, bay leaves, garlic, thyme, basil, and marjoram. I don't add any extra salt or seasonings when I'm making the stock because I don't always know what I'm going to use it for. This also helps me not over-salt the soup as I don't have to remember whether or not I salted each batch.

*A note on scraps:

Chicken: Oftentimes, I pick up a rotisserie chicken from Walmart to use in chicken taco salad or our favorite creamy chicken soup. If I go during the right time of day, I can get one from the day before at half price (about $2.50). I save the bones and skin from these in the freezer in a gallon-size freezer bag until I have saved up enough vegetable scraps to make the broth. Of course, you can always just pick up some fresh chicken on sale---but be sure to buy it bone-in and boil for awhile to get all the important nutrients out of the bones.

Vegetables: We always have a simple vegetable tray made up to serve with lunches. Usually just carrots and celery, with a separate bowl of cucumbers. When the carrots and celery start to dry out or turn a little brown at the edges, I put them in the freezer bag with the chicken bones. Onion scraps often come from leftovers on hamburger night (tomatoes, too) or from the other half of the onion when a recipe only calls for a small bit (this is becoming rarer---ha!).

Herbs: use stems and "less fresh" herbs from your garden.

Once you get in the habit of saving scraps, you'll find that there are actually lots of things you'd normally throw away that can be saved for a soup base or even a casserole.

Thanks for visiting the Homemaking Party! Have a beautiful week!

Looking for more great Trim Healthy Mama Recipes? Try these! 
Got one to share? Let me know and I'll add it to the list.

 THM Lunches & Dinners

 Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken
Pork Egg Roll in a Bowl
Spaghetti Squash Casserole (No Pasta Spaghetti)
20 Squash Recipes
Baked Spinach and Pepperjack Chicken

 THM Breakfasts

 List of THM Breakfast Ideas
Chicken Ranch Omelette

 THM Treats
Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy

 THM Misc.
Homemade Ranch Dressing
Make Your Own Chicken Stock & Broth
Zesty Burger Spread

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Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Homemade Ranch Dip & Dressing Mix

Long ago, I discovered that my children will eat all kinds of fresh vegetables if they've got ranch dressing to dip them in! 

My kids love dipping carrots, celery, cucumbers, and more in ranch dip. When I was a younger mom, I thought this was a great idea and bottles of cheap, store-brand dressing were a necessary item on each week's grocery list. Now that our family has become more health-conscious, I'm trying to replace much of the processed, chemical-laced, sugar-filled products we used to use with things that are homemade. This saves money, uses a safer recipe with ingredients that I've put in myself, and gives me a sense of accomplishment knowing I've taken the time to make a healthier alternative for my family.

A couple years ago, I started making my own ranch seasoning mix and I use it whenever I need dressing, dip, or a ranch flavor in a meat or salad recipe. I buy very inexpensive seasonings at Walmart or Aldi for less than a dollar each---but I don't scrimp on my dill. The dill is what makes or breaks it, in my opinion, so I use the best quality I can find. If you grow your own, that's even better! When I'm ready to mix up a dressing or dip, I use sour cream, liquid cream or milk, and lemon juice. 

Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
1 1/2 c. dried parsley
3/4 c. onion powder
1/4 c. each of salt, pepper, dill, and garlic powder

Mix all dry ingredients together (I use a whisk) well and store in an air-tight container (I use a Mason jar with a screw-on lid). Do not store dry mix in the refrigerator or freezer.

Homemade Ranch Dip
2 c. sour cream
1/2 c. milk or liquid cream
1 TB. lemon juice
2 TB. ranch seasoning mix 

Homemade Ranch Dressing
1 c. milk or liquid cream
1 1/2 c. sour cream
1 TB. lemon juice
2 TB. ranch seasoning mix

Both recipes must be stored in the refrigerator. You can substitute mayonnaise or yogurt for some of the sour cream, if needed. I've even used water for some of the liquid, in a pinch. As far as expirations go, I just use the closest expiration date between the dairy products.

I like to use full-fat dairy products in my home. Often times, fat is replaced with sugar in low-fat products and healthy fats can be very beneficial to our bodies---definitely more so than sugar! The recipe will turn out fine whether you choose to use full-fat or nonfat products, so don't let that keep you from making your dips and dressings in a way that suits your unique family.

Thanks for stopping by The Homemaking Party! I can't wait to see what you've got to share!
Classical Homemaking
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Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Easy Meatloaf from Your Pantry -- Family Frugal Recipe

Grab some fresh ground beef and you're ready to make this Frugal Family recipe. You likely have everything else you need on hand already!

Welcome to The Homemaking Party! As you can see, I've rebranded from Hope In Every Season with a new name and look that I feel better portrays what I'm wanting my blog to be. Thanks for stopping by and make sure to grab the new party button at the bottom of this post! Can't wait to see what you've got to share!

My kids aren't picky eaters---well, they'd like to be but this mama only makes one meal for everyone. Around here we've adopted the mantra, "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit". Still, it's rare to find a recipe that pleases everyone. 

But this. This meatloaf makes everybody happy! It's simple, frugal, flavorful, and the leftovers make great sandwiches. You probably have everything you need to make it already in your kitchen---minus the meat, maybe.

I make enough to fill two bread loaf pans but have found that serving is easier if I just press the mixture into a 13x9 pan instead. I use my fingers to make a little well all the way around so it's easier to remove the grease as the meatloaf cooks. Use a turkey baster to suction up the juices several times while this is baking. It will make for a nicer tasting meatloaf without all that grease and I think it helps it cook faster, too.

Easy Meatloaf
3 lbs. ground beef (you can use other ground meat, but at least one pound of it should be fattier beef to hold it together)
3 eggs
2 sleeves saltine crackers or 2 cups oats
2 c. milk
2 TB mustard
2 TB Worcestershire sauce
1 TB sage
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Mix everything together very well---you'll likely need to use your hands to mash it all up. Form into two loaf pans---or one 13x9 baking pan. Bake uncovered at 350º for one hour or until meat is cooked completely through. Check on it after the first 30 minutes, and again at 45 minutes, to suction off any extra grease. The combination of ingredients in meatloaf often makes the meat look pink, even when it's cooked through. If you're unsure, use a meat thermometer to test it for doneness. 

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Kids in the Kitchen: Nesquik® Memories and Nourishing Possibility #Nesquik #ad

One thing I love about being home with my kids is the opportunity it gives me for facilitating their creative dreams and nourishing possibility. My mom was the same way with my brother and I and, like her, I try to say "yes" more than "no".  I want my kids to have happy memories of our simple home life so I try to give them lots of time to use their imaginations and have beautiful adventures---right here at home!

Six year old Avalon has always loved to help me in the kitchen. Her curious nature leads her to pull up a stool and peek into the mixing bowl when I'm baking---and she always wants to know what's for dinner and whether she can help prepare it. When we bought this container of Nesquik last week, she knew it was something she'd be able to mix up easily on her own.

I have happy memories of my mom serving us Nesquik at breakfast time. It was always a special thing when she'd purchase it on grocery day and surprise us in the morning. It made breakfast time fun! With 45% less sugar than the leading syrup brand and no artificial colors or flavors, I like to surprise my kids with it too.

Nestle Nesquik Chocolate Powder is a nutritious beverage mix that contains 7 essential vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin B, Vitamin C, and Iron. When you mix it with lowfat milk, you're giving your kids 8g of protein per 8oz. serving. In fact, research shows that lowfat chocolate milk may contain the perfect 3:1 ratio of carbs and protein that help restore and refuel your kids' tired muscles. That's why it's also great to serve after school or sports practice. 

Making breakfast fun can be super simple. There's no need to spend a lot of extra money---you can be creative with the things you're already serving. Use a cookie cutter to cut out the center of a piece of buttered bread and then cook them, butter side down, in a pan. Crack an egg into the center of the bread and it will cook right onto the bread. You can serve the center with peanut butter and raisins.

When Avalon gets creative in the kitchen, she likes to wear her homemaking uniform. I have an assortment of aprons for my girls to wear while they're cooking, but Avalon is the only one who also has a hat! She made one of my childhood favorites, ants on a log.

When I was little, my mom taught me how to make my sandwich look like a butterfly on my plate. Who says you can't play with your food? Sailboat eggs and ants on a log were two snacks she made special for my brother and I. I'm thrilled to share them with my kids too.

Many thanks to Nestle for sponsoring today's story and reminding me of some of my fun times as a kid. You can find a lot more creative ideas on Nestle's Pinterest page. Check it out!

How will you inspire creativity in your home this week? Let me know in the comments below!


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Monday, January 18, 2016

Saving Money & Making Memories with Homemade Pizza

Today my mom, Christy, is guest posting with some great memories and a yummy recipe you can get the whole family involved in making. 
                     




Some of my favorite memories as a kid are when the entire family was together in the kitchen making fudge, popcorn and Kool-Aid. Spending quality time together is the best way to keep strong family ties. I believe you should encourage your children, especially your teens, to join in the fun!
Both kids and adults will enjoy this money saving way to have pizza night without ordering out for an expensive pizza---and make happy memories to last a lifetime! Why spend big bucks to have your pizza delivered, when in the same amount of time you can make your own and eliminate the stress of spending more than your budget allows?

Here is an easy pizza dough recipe that can be ready to top and bake in an hour. Your family can choose whatever topping you like. One of my favorite and least expensive combinations is cheeseburger with mushrooms, black olives and green peppers.

Kneading dough is a great stress reliever! I also make my own sauce instead of buying the processed, expensive kind in the jar. I use 12 ounces of tomato sauce and add my own spices such as, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, basil, and crushed dried peppers.

I always put a little grated cheddar cheese on the pizza after the sauce, add toppings and then use grated mozzarella on the very top.

Pizza Dough
Dissolve 1 package or 2 1/4 tsp yeast in 1 cup hot tap water. Add 2 TB oil and 1 tsp salt. Mix in 2 cups of flour and knead until smooth (you might need a little more flour so dough is not sticky). Let the dough rise, lightly covered with kitchen towel, for 45 min. in a greased bowl. Knead again on a floured board and roll into the size of pizza pan your using. (You can roll out on a cookie sheet if you don't have a round pan). Add sauce and toppings and bake at 425º for about 20 minutes.

 What are your favorite pizza toppings?
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Friday, January 15, 2016

Cocoa Raisin Cookies

Today my mom, Christy, is guest posting with a great recipe she developed last week. Enjoy! (photo courtesy Christy Virgil)



Now that I am working full time, it is harder to find the time for homemade cookies! Recently, I made up a recipe from items I had in my cupboard. They turned out soft like brownies. It is amazing how much more we appreciate the little things when we take the time to enjoy them!



Cocoa Raisin Cookies

 3/4 cup butter
6 tbs cocoa powder
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup raisins

 Cream butter, cocoa, and sugar together, then add egg and vanilla. Stir in flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Then stir in raisins. Drop by large spoonful onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375º for 10 minutes. Frost as desired.
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Wednesday, January 13, 2016

The {Not Just} Homemaking Party

Good morning! I recently took this picture very early one morning when my 3 and 4 year olds came in to say hello! Does it get any better than this? I don't think so.

Thanks for linking up! Hope you're having a beautiful week!


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Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Oven Barbecued Chicken 1960s Style --- From Great Grandma's Kitchen

Welcome to The {Not Just} Homemaking Party! I've been going through my great grandma's recipe boxes and having a blast making some of the recipes she cut from magazines and newspapers in the 50s and 60s. It's fun to imagine her at her table, planning her weekly menu based on the fun new things she wanted to try out on her family.

I've made this Barbecued Chicken recipe twice this month and my family loves the way it tastes. I love it because I know what's going into the sauce mix. I think I'll move from using canned soup to using tomato sauce, though. It will be less expensive and that way I can say I made it completely from scratch!

Oven Barbecued Chicken--1960s Style
2 lb. chicken parts (I use legs)
2 TB. shortening
1 can tomato soup (or 10 oz. tomato sauce + 1 TB sugar)
1/3 c. each chopped onion and celery
1/2 tsp. minced garlic (1 clove)
2 TB. brown sugar
2 TB. Worcestershire Sauce
2 TB. lemon juice
2 tsp. mustard
2-4 drops red pepper sauce

 Brown chicken parts in shortening and mix remaining ingredients in a bowl. When chicken is browned, stir in sauce, cover, and simmer 45 minutes or until the chicken in tender, stirring occasionally.

I served ours with mashed potatoes and salad. Yum!

Thanks for linking up with The {Not Just} Homemaking Party! Have a beautiful week!

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Monday, December 28, 2015

New Years Eve Cranberry Lime Party Punch #NaturallyCheesy #ad #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NaturallyCheesy #CollectiveBias
2016 is just a few days away! Have you been making some new resolutions and goals for the new year? I've been working on my reading goals for 2016 by joining some fun reading challenges and making lists of all the great books I want to devour this coming year. We're looking forward to a fun celebration with friends on New Year's Eve and my Cranberry Lime Party Punch will be great to bring along---especially paired with a Cracker Barrel Cheese Tray from Walmart.

Our family enjoyed this cheese tray over the weekend. It features four varieties of cheese: Pepper Jack, Cheddar Jack, Asiago, and Extra Sharp Cheddar. Each of us had a favorite and I had more than one request to buy another one soon.

I found the Cracker Barrel Cheese Tray in the cheese section at Walmart. It was in the bottom of the display near the large cheese bricks and bags of shredded cheese.

This Cranberry Lime Party Punch is a family favorite. I first made it at Thanksgiving as a substitute for a fizzy cranberry drink that Jamie and I have made a part of our festivities ever since our wedding. We've had a hard time finding it since we moved to Arkansas so I decided to come up with my own version. 

I start by thawing a can of frozen cranberry juice and pouring it into a glass container. I love this pretty drink dispenser Jamie got me for my birthday. Then I add a 2 liter of lemon-lime soda to the juice concentrate.

Next, I add a bag of fresh cranberries. These are so festive-looking and are very inexpensive.

Then I add a couple of sliced limes. Not only do they add a pretty contrasting color, but they give the punch a wonderful flavor.

I fill the rest of the container with ice and my punch is ready to serve. Such a fun and simple drink to add to my New Year's Eve table. All I need now is some meat and crackers to go with my flavorful cheese tray and I'm ready for guests.

Cranberry Lime Party Punch

12 oz. frozen cranberry juice concentrate
2 liter lemon-lime soda
12 oz. fresh cranberries
2 limes

Thaw juice and mix all the ingredients together. Add ice and serve.

Make sure to look for Kraft coupons and shop Walmart for your Cracker Barrel Cheese Tray this New Year's Eve. Will you use it as part of a savory appetizer or enjoy it alone? 

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Monday, December 21, 2015

Victorian Reading Challenge

Hello! Welcome to Vintage Show & Tell #5. Wow---can it really be the week of Christmas already? Unbelievable! Other than one quick obligation tomorrow and a very short shopping trip, I plan to stay home all week and enjoy my family! Today is our youngest's birthday---miss Brenna Evangeline turns 3 today!

For this week's Vintage Show & Tell, I'm doing something a little different. Each year, I love to challenge myself to read at least 50 books. The past couple years, I've joined more specific reading challenges and had a blast! This year, I'm hosting one of my own on my book blog, Belle's Library.

With an upcoming trip to England, including a visit to the Brontes old stomping grounds, I've got Victoriana on the brain. This year's reading challenge will be all about the Victorians. Make sure to visit Belle's Library to check it out and sign up. There will be prizes and lots of reading inspiration!


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Friday, December 18, 2015

Holiday Prep and Everyday Essentials Made Easy with Sam's Club Pickup #fullhomehappyhome #ad


There are all kinds of great challenges that come with having a big family. One of them is shopping. When I was a kid, my mom did the grocery shopping every two weeks---but she didn't have nine children! It used to be that I'd have to go out twice a week for at least a cartful, but since moving to NW Arkansas two years ago, I've really been utilizing our Sam's Club membership. I love how I can buy bulk packs of products that will get us through a week or two. "Family Size" isn't really family size when it comes to our family, but stocking up on everyday essentials at Sam's Club allows me to take the phrase to a whole new level.

What's even better is that I can take advantage of the Club Pickup option. It's so simple to go online and put in my order, pay, and schedule a time to pick it up. Then I just pull up to the pickup area and load up my purchases. Super easy and so convenient!

Sam’s Club is helping shoppers maximize their money this season, offering great deals on things we use every day. Be sure your home is ready for the holidays by stocking up on bulk sizes of brands like Bounty, Olay, Swiffer, Febreze, and Gain at Sam’s Club. Members who stock up on participating essentials will save about $97 this season.

A couple weeks ago, I used the pickup service for the first time---just to check it out. It's really great for bulky items that you don't want to carry or cart around the club and especially awesome if you know what you need and just want to get it fast. I'd been wanting to try out these Tide Pods, as well as the Swiffer Dusters, so I ordered a box of each. When I arrived at the club, my order was sitting here waiting for me to pickup. I've used them for a week now and am loving them both! I really like finding new products that make homemaking easier and more fun. 

Sam's Club has some super cute holiday gifs and fun items to make your home more cozy this season. Each Christmas, I like to buy a new book and a new DVD for the family to share. I love this Christmas ABC book illustrated by one of my favorites, Eloise Wilkin. And how did we ever have Christmas without, A Charlie Brown Christmas? I have no idea.

I found a few gifts for Lynzie, including this fun book of hairstyles inspired by FROZEN's Anna and Elsa. She's really into fun hairstyles and I know she'll love it! Also, our family has a tradition of getting new pajamas for Christmas each year and our family welcomed a new kitty this year so these pajamas will be perfect for her!

I also bought Lynzie a super cozy purple throw blanket to go with the new bedding set we got her. Then I thought, I want one of those! So, I splurged and bought myself a red one to use when I'm curled up watching Christmas movies. I love it!

Have you used the Sam's Club Pickup option? If not, give it a try and see how easy it is to save time by ordering online and grabbing your purchases at your convenience.

Sam's Club is giving away 5 gift cards so make sure to enter the giveaway below!

$100 Sam's Club Gift Card Giveaway for Everyday Essentials

Vendor calculation based on proprietary methodology comparing average non-promoted retail price per unit from a combination of leading U.S. retail outlets vs. average retail price per unit at Sam’s Club® for 2 months ending September 26, 2015. Pricing and item availability may vary in Alaska, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Wisconsin, and on SamsClub.com.


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Thursday, December 17, 2015

Gift Giving Made Easy at TheGiftCardShop.com #eHolidays #ad #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #eHolidays #CollectiveBias

By this time tomorrow, I should be totally done with my Christmas shopping! Sometimes it takes awhile for me to find the perfect thing for all the people on my list. Everyone has loved ones who seem to have everything, want nothing, or are otherwise difficult to buy for. My Dad is the most mind-boggling person to buy for in the entire universe. On top of that, he lives 1,800 miles away, so it's not super convenient for me to just make him a plate of goodies. Gift cards are the perfect gift for him and digital cards are the best. He lives alone so he often doesn't check his mailbox for up to two weeks at a time. If I send him a Home Depot, Bass Pro Shops, or Cabela's card by email, he'll actually get it and spend it before the year is out.

In the past, I've been one of those who felt guilty for "just" giving a gift card---but I love receiving them myself so why wouldn't others? In fact, the majority of people ask for them over any other gift. When it comes to gift cards, 70% of Americans would prefer a digital gift card over a physical gift card because of all the unique ways you can send it.

Digital gift cards are extra special when you attach photos and a message. They're the perfect solution to the question of what to get for that one person that's always tough to buy for. Buying my dad and others gift cards helps keep me from feeling like I'm wasting money on something random just to get a name crossed off my list. Instead, I'm giving a heartfelt message, a few fun photos of our year, and a gift card that they can use however they'd like.

TheGiftCardShop.com offers memorable ways to customize gift cards, such as personalized digital Holiday Photobooks, Santa Videos, and eCards. All you need to do is add photos and memories for a unique touch to your gift. Best of all, they’re free, easy to design, and convenient.
There are lots of stores to choose from so you'll be sure to find something for everyone on your list. TheGiftCardShop.com has a couple great promotions going on:
  • Receive a FREE personalized greeting card and a $5 eBay Gift Card when you purchase a $100 eBay Gift Card.
  • Receive a FREE Triple Chocolate Meltdown dessert when you purchase a $25 Applebee’s Gift Card.
I've given more gift cards this year than ever before---and I've experienced less stress about my loved ones liking their gifts. What about you? How would the customized options from TheGiftCardShop.com bless you as you prepare for these last few days before Christmas?

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Wednesday, December 16, 2015

52 Little Lessons from A Christmas Carol #FCBlogger

Special thanks to Family Christian for sending me this book to enjoy. All opinions are my own.

Thanks for stopping by the {Not Just} Homemaking Party! Today I'm sharing a fun Christmas book.

Charles Dickens', A Christmas Carol, is probably the most beloved Christmas story of all time---second to the Biblical accounts of Jesus' birth, that is. Who doesn't love the characters of Bob Cratchit, the nephew Fred, Tiny Tim...and who doesn't relate to Ebenezer Scrooge now and then? 

My annual reading of A Christmas Carol this year has been much more enriched by this short book from Bob Welch: 52 Little Lessons from A Christmas Carol. I'll be honest---I usually shy away from compilations like this as many seem contrived and sort of old-lady-perfumish, but this one really reveals the hearts of Dickens' characters and shows me how much Dickens understood humanity when he created them. 

I wish I would have discovered this humorous study a couple months ago as it would have been fun to read one daily leading up to Christmas. It's definitely something I'll keep in mind for next year, though. Actually---why wait? I've been looking for a great Bible study so why not use one based on a beloved classic?

You can find 52 Little Lessons from A Christmas Carol online at Family Christian or in your local Family Christian store.

Now it's time for the party! Can't wait to see what you all have got to share!
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