Simplifying Christmas Winner!

I have drawn a name for the winner, and it was someone who commented on here that doesn't have a blog. Mrs. M! Thank you to all who participated! Please check in for more fun stuff that I am planning on doing with my blog.
I am very sorry it took me so long to announce the winner. The new year has already started with a "bang" and I have to purpose to keep my priorities straight. :D
Have a Happy New Year!!!

Simplifying Christmas Day 13~Christmas Crafts

We are on day thirteen of the Simplifying Christmas Meme! Today's topic is "Christmas Crafts"Click on the Christmas Button above to get details on this meme, and join in on the fun! To see the prize you could win CLICK HERE. To win this prize, either write about this topic on your blog, and link back to here, and post your link in the MckLinky at the bottom of this post, or leave a comment about this topic. :)

First off, I am *SO* sorry that I have skipped the last couple of days. Things have been *very* busy around here. Some unexpected plans have come up, and in order to simplify things, I had to skip blogging.

I am thinking I will do one more post for the meme. Tomorrow's theme will be to share what you have learned *THIS* Christmas in the area of Simplifying. So be thinking about that. :)

So this is partly what we have been doing this week. Making crafts. A few of these were unexpected.

Sweetie really wanted to make a few gifts for her cousins. I don't want to discourage her creativity and willingness to give, so I took her to the fabric store, and have been working with her to make the gift.

Being flexible with our plans allows things to become more simple I believe. I had to put aside some things that I thought we would be doing to allow her to do this. But the benefits are better than my plans. I am spending time with her, and encouraging her.

So this is what Sweetie has been working on:

This is one of those polar fleece blankets that you cut into fringe and then tied together. Sweetie picked out the fabric. She LOVES monkeys. Sweetie is hoping that her cousin will enjoy the monkeys as well. ♥

This is really a quick and simple "craft" for six to ten year old to do. Just cutting and tying.

Sweetie also has plans on making a pillow case for her other cousin. Which I will be working with her on today or tomorrow.

Another thing we have been doing is making salt dough ornaments. These are just waaay to fun to make. So *SIMPLE* and easy. Messy? Yes. But wonderful memories and fun! These aren't finished. I had just pulled them out of the oven in this picture. Now they are cooled and waiting to be painted. Another thing we will be finishing today or tomorrow. (hopefully ;-) )

So how about you? Have you done some special Christmas Crafting this year? Please show pictures!

I will be visiting every one's blogs and catching up on the last few days that I have missed. Thanks for understanding! ♥

Simplifying Christmas Day 12~Share A Favorite Ornament

We are on day twelve of the Simplifying Christmas Meme! Today's topic is "Share A Favorite Ornament"
Click on the Christmas Button above to get details on this meme, and join in on the fun! To see the prize you could win CLICK HERE. To win this prize, either write about this topic on your blog, and link back to here, and post your link in the MckLinky at the bottom of this post, or leave a comment about this topic. :)

I am so very sorry that this post is up late today. I have been dealing with some things for the past two days. But better late than never, right? ;-)

Today I am going to share with you some favorite ornaments of mine and my kids.

The first one is an ornament that is pretty self explanatory. It's first Christmas together. My mother in law got it for us. I LOVE that it's a precious moments ornament.♥
This one is Bean's Ballerina Bear. It has her real name on it, but I blurred it out. It's her favorite ornament. Grandma got her that one.This one is Sweetie's. It's a Church. It lights up when you put a Christmas light inside of it. But the light burned out. It has special sentimental value to it, because Grandma also got her that one, and it has to do with something about our family name. :D
I am anxious to see every one's favorite ornaments and the stories behind them. Be sure to sign the MckLinky below. ♥
I'll try to get the next post up tonight. I am planning on a busy day ahead, so we'll have to see. Thanks everyone for participating! :D

Simplifying Christmas Day 11~Simple Recipes

We are on day eleven of the Simplifying Christmas Meme! Today's topic is "Simple Recipes"
Click on the Christmas Button above to get details on this meme, and join in on the fun! To see the prize you could win CLICK HERE. To win this prize, either write about this topic on your blog, and link back to here, and post your link in the MckLinky at the bottom of this post, or leave a comment about this topic. :)

Sorry about getting this post up later than usual. Yesterday was a crazy busy hectic day. I was out of the house by 7:30am and home by 3:45. Then I was just too burned out to "think". I played on facebook a bit, and made a simple meal of hot dogs, and played a game of Uno with my kids. ♥ Then I vegged out on watching The Duggars on Youtube. ;-)

Today's post is pretty simple though. Just share a recipe or two that is a fun simple thing to make around the holidays. For us that means Thanksgiving and Christmas

These two Recipes I got from ladies in our old church. So I want to give credit to them.

First Recipe:

Corn Bread Casserole

1 Stick of Melted Butter

1 Egg
1 Can of Creamed Corn

1 Can of regular Corn

8 oz of Sour Cream

1 Cup of Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Preheat oven to 350

Mix together melted Butter, egg, creamed corn and regular corn including liquid. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake for 30-45minutes. Stick in knife to test. Should not be "wet" but still a bit sticky. You don't want it dry.

Pull out of oven, and spread Sour Cream on right away. Then Sprinkle on Cheese.

This is always a hit everywhere I bring it. I brought it to our MOPS meeting yesterday and there wasn't a crumb left! Whoa. ;-)

It's so simple and easy. I am not a fan of cooking, but this is quicker than cleaning up the dishes for it.

And if any of my MOPS ladies are reading this, now you have the recipe. ♥

Next Recipe:

Cream Cheese Cookies

1 box of yellow cake mix

1 block of softened cream cheese

1 egg

1/4 to 1/2 Cup of softened butter. (Depending on how "rich" you would like it to be)

1 tsp of vanilla

Cream together Cream Cheese and Butter. Add in cake mix, egg and vanilla. Mix together to get a stiff cookie dough. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

Spoon onto cookie sheets about tablespoon size or a tad bigger.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes. You want the bottoms slightly brown.

Remove cookies from cookie sheet immediately. They are very fragile when hot, and firm up once cool.

Simplifying Christmas Day 10~ Homeschooling During Hectic Times

We are on day ten of the Simplifying Christmas Meme! Today's topic is "Homeschooling During Hectic Times"
Click on the Christmas Button above to get details on this meme, and join in on the fun! To see the prize you could win CLICK HERE. To win this prize, either write about this topic on your blog, and link back to here, and post your link in the MckLinky at the bottom of this post, or leave a comment about this topic. :)

I find it very difficult to home school through hectic seasons in our life. It seems like this whole fall semester has been hectic.

This is what I have been doing this fall, but I am planning on doing a little more in the Spring Semester.

Just sticking with the Three "R's", Reading, Writing and R'ithmetic. This week for fun though, I am planning on doing a "Christmas Learning Folder" from Hands Of A Child along with the Three "R's"

So, what do y'all do for homeschooling during busy and stressful seasons? I *REALLY* need help in this area myself.

Simplifying Christmas~Weekend Break

Let's take this weekend to enjoy our families and focus on being "simple" Simplifying Christmas will start again on Monday. In order to start thinking about what's coming up for next week here is a mini "schedule"

Monday: Simplifying Homeschooling during Christmas
Tuesday: Simple Recipes to make. Meals, Cookies, whatever that is *easy* yet tasty!
Wednesday: Show and Tell. Take a picture of a sentimental ornament and tell it's story
Thursday: A Simple Kid's Craft
Friday: Simple Grown Up Craft

See you Monday! :)

Simplifying Christmas Day 9~ Giving to Those in Need

We are on day eight of the Simplifying Christmas Meme! Today's topic is "Giving To Those In Need"Click on the Christmas Button above to get details on this meme, and join in on the fun! To see the prize you could win CLICK HERE. To win this prize, either write about this topic on your blog, and link back to here, and post your link in the MckLinky at the bottom of this post, or leave a comment about this topic. :)


I believe part of Christmas is the old adage of "It is better to give than to receive". I also believe that we should have giving hearts everyday of the year besides Christmas.

But, Operation Christmas Child is such an awesome way to demonstrate giving at this time of year. These kids have little to nothing in the way of worldly possessions. And showing them that someone out there cares and loves them, softens their hearts to listen and hear the gospel. Watch this and prepare to bawl your eyes out!




OK. So now I need a tissue...again! But that's a good thing. ♥

Almost every year since Sweetie was around three years old, I have been participating with my MOPS group in packing a shoe box. I LOVE doing this with my kids. We go to the dollar store and find all sorts of wonderful goodies to put in a shoe box. I love seeing my kid's hearts for the other boys and girls come out. They want to pick the best for the person they are packing for.

We write a letter and color some pictures to the child that will be getting the box

Then we pack it up and shut it good and tight
Next, we deliver it to a drop off area
We are excited to believe God is going to do something special with the shoe box we packed....well us girls are excited. Tiny Boy on the other hand is in dire need of a nap! ;-)
Giving doesn't have to be complicated. I read a story that was posted by a friend on facebook about her little girl giving a necklace she made out of straws to a demo lady at the grocery store. The demo lady cried because someone had broken into her home and stolen all of her jewelery. The Straw necklace made her so happy! Wow! A little girl's craft brought a lot of joy into someone's life.

I also think that giving simplifies things in our lives. It helps put things in proper perspective. Some of the children in Operation Christmas Child live in a garbage dump. A literal garbage dump. They scrounge around the dump for their food and rare items to be sold.




It really shows how MUCH we have already doesn't it?

What about you? Do you participate in something like Operation Christmas Child? Do you do something through your church, or as a family? I would love to read and hear about it. Be sure to sign the MckLinky. :)

Simplifying Christmas Day 7~Simple Gift Ideas

We are on day seven of the Simplifying Christmas Meme! Today's topic is "Simple Gift Ideas"

Click on the Christmas Button above to get details on this meme, and join in on the fun! To see the prize you could win CLICK HERE. To win this prize, either write about this topic on your blog, and link back to here, and post your link in the MckLinky at the bottom of this post, or leave a comment about this topic. :)

I need to apologize for the MckLinky not working right yesterday. I think something was off with the html coding. So today, just link your the post you posted yesterday in today's post. And then link the post you do today in here as well. Just label yesterday's post "Traditions" and Today's post "Gifts" next to your name.

Ok, so lets talk about gifts, Especailly in the area of children. At least for me anyway I know it's hard not to go all gung hoe.

Several people have meantioned that you do three gifts apiece for your children. I really love that idea.

I decided to adopt that idea myself this year. And it truly has really has simplified things. But it was *REALLY* hard not to get more.

This is my gift list for this year:

Sweetie, seven year old girl:

1. A whole set of American Girl Books

2. A knitting loom and ball of yarn

3. Easy Bake Oven

Bean, five year old girl:

1. A Jewlery making kit

2. A real tea set, painted by mommy

3. Snow White the movie

Little Tiny Boy, 3 year old boy:

1. Legos

2. Buzz Light Year movie sized action figure

3. Spiderman action figure with spiderman car

So here goes my philosphy on my "simple gifts"

I will be reading these books out loud to Sweetie and Bean will most likely listen in. The Knitting Loom can be used by everyone. ;-) And So can the Easy Bake oven. Although Sweetie will most likely be in charge of it. These gifts are all good for the mind and creativity

Bean's gifts will also be used by the others. She will be sharing her tea set as she serves tea, and the girls have anxiously been awaiting Snow White to come out on DVD. The jewelry making kit is something that Bean especially requested. And it's also good for creativity.

Tiny Boy's gifts. Well, the Lego's can be shared by all. The last two toys aren't exactly "simple" but they didn't cost a lot. I got them on sale. And the poor boy is sorely lacking in some really manly toys. He plays with his sister's Poly Pocket car at times, good grief! ;-)

None of the gifts are "practical" but my personal opinion is that Christmas is a time for "special". I don't buy toys for my children much during the year. Not because I think it's wrong to, or am I gearing up for "Christmas".

But since they go shopping with me (ALL. THE. TIME) I don't want them to come to expect that I'll pick up stuff for them every time we go out. I am proud to say that I have never had a tantrum in the store over a "must have toy". I just simply say, "I can't buy that right now" they put it back, and that's that.

So Christmas and birthdays are a nice excuse to give them toys. ;-) It simplifies things during the year this way too.

Also clothing. Clothing I view as a necessity. I buy it as we need it. And sometimes that isn't during Christmas. Now last year for Christmas I did buy the girls Disney Princess panties instead of the generic panties that are like three dollars cheaper. :)

And this year I think I am going to get some fruit roll ups and other "snacky" items to put into stockings instead of candy. Because that is something that I NEVER buy. Only Nana buys that kind of stuff! ;-)

They somehow pawn candy off of complete strangers sometimes. Not joking. I went to the dollar store the other day, and the check out lady asked if she could give them candy. Crazy!

Another thing I do to simplify gifts is to give the same gift to immediate family, but give a few variations or none at all.

One year I painted a red plate with the words "You are Special Today" with special glass paint. I have even made these for bridal shower gifts

Another year I made photo quilts like this for the grandparents:

So those are a few ideas on how I try to simplify gifts. How do you Simplify Gifts?

Remember if you reading from my facebook page please visit http://www.heartofamommytoo.blogspot.com/ to see what others are writing about in blog land.

Simplifying Christmas Day 6~ Share Some Simple Family Traditions

We are on day Six of the Simplifying Christmas Meme! Today's topic is "Simple Family Christmas Traditions"

Click on the Christmas Button above to get details on this meme, and join in on the fun! To see the prize you could win CLICK HERE. To win this prize, either write about this topic on your blog, and link back to here, and post your link in the MckLinky at the bottom of this post, or leave a comment about this topic. :)

Well, first off, I gotta mention how I got some comments that I do more than a lot of other people do in the way of decorations. Really!? It seems like in every other house I have been in their decorations are waaaaay more than what I put out?

Then, I laughed when I got the pictures to share with you some of our favorite family Christmas traditions. It all has to do with food, LOL!

But that's OK. I guess. ;-)

There are some non-food traditions. But I'll start with the food ones first.

As soon as it comes out in the stores, my husband gets egg nogg. He loves to see the kids drinking it for some reason. I am not a big fan of egg nogg. I can tolerate a sip of it, but more than that it's way too rich for me. But the kid's like it.

The other day, I caught them sneaking a cupful. They thought it was "Daddy's Special Milk" and were raving about how good it was. Crazy Kids! LOL!

Another Tradition that we do, is make the cut out cookies. Some years I just buy Pillsbury and give them a jar of icing to frost them with. Last year, I made the dough and the icing. Frugal for sure. Maybe not very "simple", but it was a lot of fun. I had them up until midnight that night. They thought it was great that they could stay up that late making cookies.

And pictured above is Sweetie's MOST requested thing for us to do for Thanksgiving and Christmas morning. Homemade Cinnamon Rolls. These are so awesome! (if I do say so myself) My husband even asked me to make some for a special thing at his work. But alas, I don't have the time.

These extra "bad for you" cinnamon rolls, are partially made ahead, to cut down on the time. I make the dough the night before, and put on the cinnamon, and butter and sugar, roll it up, and place it in the fridge overnight.

The next morning I let it sit out for an hour and then slice the roll up and bake. While baking I make the icing.

Yeah it's a long process, but oh so delicious! I only make them for special occasions. Like Christmas and Thanksgiving. :)

OK. Now for some non-food Christmas traditions.

I let the kids help me decorate the tree with me. This can be a stressful time, because of the breakable ornaments. Usually, I give them a box full of plastic or unbreakable ornaments, let them hang the things, and come back later when they are in bed, and rearrange them if they are all clumped together in the same spot.

While we are decorating, I play some old timey Christmas music. ♥

Every year since we have lived here, a local church does a live reenactment of the Christmas Story. But instead of sitting and watching it on a stage, it is set outside at different "stations" and we walk to the different scenes, and watch it played out before our eyes.

It is held at night and the pathway is lite with hurricane lanterns, and they have live animals, and everything. At the end of the "journey" we get hot chocolate and cookies. And the kids get a little candy filled stocking.

My kids really enjoy doing this. They were supper duper excited when they knew we were going to do it "again" (The year before that, it was only a vague memory)

Another tradition we do, is make a Christmas ornament for the tree. I am not sure what we are going to make this year, but I have a few ideas up in my head.

Well, that's all I can think of for now. Be sure to comment or sign the MckLinky if you wrote on your blog. Remember there is a prize to be won! :)

And again, if you are reading this from my facebook account, come to http://www.heartofamommytoo.blogspot.com/ to read the other blogs that have linked to this post. ♥

Simplifying Christmas Day 5~ Simple Christmas Decorations

We are on day five of the Simplifying Christmas Meme! Today's topic is "Simplifying Christmas Decorations"

Click on the Christmas Button above to get details on this meme, and join in on the fun! To see the prize you could win CLICK HERE. To win this prize, either write about this topic on your blog, and link back to here, and post your link in the MckLinky at the bottom of this post, or leave a comment about this topic. :)

OK. I have a confession to make. I didn't do any decorating this weekend like I had hoped too. But the beauty of keeping things simple, is to not to stress the small stuff. Decorations isn't what Christmas is about. They will get put up. Most likely between today and Tuesday.

So until then, I have pictures of a previous Christmas. All of these are really simple and inexpensive decorations.

Since the first thing people usually see is the outside of a home, here is my humble abode, and the Simple decorations on the outside
Electric Candles in each Window, A wreath on the front door. I made the wreath at one of my MOPS meetings. The candles each cost about $1.00 at Wal-Mart. And a Snowman Windsock hangs by the door. I also have some fake red poinsettias in a snowman flowerpot. The flowerpot, was given to us by my husband's office I think.


Here is a closer view of the door

Usually the first thing you see when you walk in is our tree. Our tree this particular year was real. That was because we could not find our fake tree hidden in our garage. I got the smallest tree at a tree lot, and asked if I the guy would take $25 for it. Even the small trees were like $35 and up. He said yes! :)

So the tree went on top of an end table.

You can also see that we decorated our tree with a cranberry and popcorn garland. We always have fun making those together. :)

This is a shelf above our couch. I just put pine colored candles in the votive holders I already had, and a fake poinsettia between them.
These sat on the end of my piano. I won these at a Home Interiors party. :) Also, when I bought the tree, I asked the man at the tree lot if I could have some of the branches that they had trimmed off of some of the bigger trees. I used those extra branches to adorn the top of my piano, and end tables

Another view of the branches, with a Candle stuck in the middle of it.

This piece was also on my piano. I took a plain white pillar candle and put it in my crystal hurricane lamp. (A Wedding Gift) Then I put cranberries between the candle and the glass. A very simple yet stunning effect in my opinion. ♥

In my kitchen I put up lights on the top of the cabinets. Last year I put up white. I like white lights better. Another simple thing, is that last year I didn't take my lights down, so they are already up. They are beautiful year round, and I don't have to climb up there and put them up again this year
This is my dining room table which is also in the kitchen. A simple plaid plastic table cloth is on top. Plastic is the best bet with our family of small children. :)

For my center piece, I took a doily I already had, and placed on top of it it, a milk glass bowl. I already had the bowl. Then evergreen sprigs were placed in the bowel and then more cranberries. On top of the evergreen and cranberries I put silver Christmas Balls.
My mom gave me the Christmas candle holders, and the red candle sticks were from the dollar store.

So that's about what it looks like every year, with a few variations here and there. This year, to save money, we will most likely use our fake tree. I finally found it. ;-)

Well, your turn. Write about anything to do with Christmas decorations. :) And be sure to sign the MckLinky below. ♥

Simplifying Christmas Weekend Break

Tomorrow and Sunday the Simplifying Christmas Meme will be taking a break. Starting Monday the topic will be Simplifying Christmas Decorations.

Let's get creative with this one! This topic seems to be all about keeping up with the Jone's it seems.

Share pictures of your simply decorated house. I have a few simple tricks that I will be showing. I am planning on doing some decorating this weekend.

Please be sure to read other's blogs that are participating in this meme. And leave a comment too so they know you stopped by. The purpose is to encourage each other, and get inspired to have Christmas be about the right reasons. ♥

If you are reading this from my facebook notes page, hop on over to, http://www.heartofamommytoo.blogspot.com and scroll down each blog entry and will find that other bloggers have linked their blog to my blog. Click on those links and you can read what others are doing to simplify their Christmas. Be sure to leave a comment. It does a world of encouragement when someone leaves a comment, letting you know that someone out there is actually reading your blog.

Until Monday, have a safe and restful weekend! ♥ And remember to keep things *SIMPLE* :)

Simplifying Christmas Day 4~ Share a Favorite Christmas Memory

We are on day four of the Simplifying Christmas Meme! Today's topic is "Share A Favorite Christmas Memory that was something that was Simple"

Click on the Christmas Button above to get details on this meme, and join in on the fun! To see the prize you could win CLICK HERE. To win this prize, either write about this topic on your blog, and link back to here, and post your link in the MckLinky at the bottom of this post, or leave a comment about this topic. :)

Let's step aside from all the practical stuff of Simplifying Christmas, and let's dwell on our own favorite memories.

I believe when we think back to our own special moments during the Christmas season, we will see how we enjoyed and cherished the simplicity rather than the Martha Stewartish details. ;-) Which will in turn to help us keep our focus on the important things, instead of the commercialism. Which is so easy to get caught up in.

I am really looking forward to reading every one's favorite memories. ♥

So here goes mine.

There are soooo many memories that I could share, and it's hard to pick just one.

One year, when I was about 12, my mom said I could pick one present on Christmas Eve, and open it. I opened up two simple hand bands. They were hot pink and neon purple, LOL! They probably cost about $2.00 total.

But they matched the outfit I was wearing. I had gotten all dressed up to go to a candle light Christmas Eve service at our church. I can remember sitting in church holding my candle, and feeling extra pretty in my new headband.

My mom, dad, sister, and grandma were all there with me. It was late at night, and I loved the how the candle light glowed and lit up the whole auditorium. I felt safe and secure in my families love, and anticipated the fun that was to follow the next morning.

Another memory just came into my mind that I want to share.

We traveled from Georgia to New Jersey to visit my Grandma and spend Christmas with her. My cousins were also going to be there.

My Grandma had an awesome, huge house that my Grandfather had built for her. It had amazing nooks and crannies. The perfect place to play hide and seek. I can remember the *best ever* game of Hide and Seek after Christmas Dinner at Grandma's house.

I also remember my cousin and I mixing different flavors of soda to give to adults to try and see if it tasted good.

Then my sister came prancing down the stairs in her newly crimped hair, after she crimped it with her new crimping iron she got for Christmas.

You remember those? LOL! My sister also did my six year old hair, and I believe my cousin's as well. We probably looked like hideous beasts, Oh my goodness! Can you imagine!? The adults probably had a rough time holding back the laughter. (Giggles)

Oh there are just too many good, happy memories for me to write about. Now I am just itching to read yours. Please share! And be sure to sign the MckLinky below. :)