Christmas Decorating Ideas Frugally

Face it. Year after year people, intelligent, responsible, creative and mature people, go into loads of debt over Christmas. Special foods, gifts, and decorating take their toll when, in January, the bills start rolling in.

But there are ways around that. Decorating a home with beautiful holiday decor does not have to be expensive. Beauty is a combination of aesthetics and the stirring of people's memories and emotions. Stores intentionally scent the air with cinnamon and spices to make people feel good and recall their past memories. You can do the same thing in your Holiday Home!

Candles Are Inexpensive
Simplicity is elegant. That is why Coco Channel sold so many versions of her "little black dress". A simple pillar candle can be beautiful if it is setting in a bowl of cranberries, or peppermint candies. Some candle ideas are:

1. Fill a mason jar with cranberries, or starlight mints (or even cinnamon candies) and set a votive on top. Make a grouping with several jars of varying sizes.

2. Use a basket to fill with red and green apples. Put a pillar candle on a holder in the middle of the basket. You may need to raise it up some with an overturned jar. If your basket is big enough, use three candles of varying heights.

3. Use a large pillar candle centered in some greenery in the middle of a table.

4. Set pillar candles of various sizes on saucers and surround with potpourri. Arrange across a table or mantle.

5. Put a votive in a antique tea cup and sit it on a saucer atop several vintage holiday books.

Use What You Have
You probably have alot of things around the house that would be happy to get some attention as Christmas decorations. Think about your own memories and what they include.

1. A rag doll or teddy bear seated atop a stack of your favorite holiday books (even cookbooks!)

2. A basket or bowl filled with metal holiday cookie cutters and decorated with a festive bow.

3. Have a toy wagon or sled? put it by the front door filled with wrapped gifts (or even wrapped empty boxes). Add a few wooden or vintage toys and stuffed animals if you like.

4. Use your Christmas cards! Display them in groups, varying the height with books..or display them in a big wooden bowl or basket.

5.Hang ornaments or even cookies on ribbon in the windows

6. Download a Christmas screen saver on your computer

7. Bowls of in shell nuts are great, either with just nuts or with oranges in the bowl as well.

8. Fill a glass or crystal punch bowl with Christmas balls that you don't need for the tree or that have lost their hangers.

Bring the Outside In
Most people have evergreen trees of some sort available to them. Even the twigs and small branches of hardwood trees can look festive with a little care.

1. Gather pine cones and arrange them in a basket or even a Christmas gift bag. For a casual look by the fireplace set the bag on it's side and allow the pine cones to spill out. You can spray paint them bronze, or gold, or you can glue glitter on them for a frosty look, or spray them with fake snow.

2.Cut boughs of evergreen and wire it together to make long swags to go up the banister or around the door. This takes a little practice but the results are beautiful.

3.Make an evergreen wreath in the same way.

4. Mass evergreen boughs on a fireplace mantle, atop kitchen cabinets or on china cabinets and armoires. Run the small twinkling lights through them if you like.

5. Spray paint twigs and small branches gold and gather them in bundles tied with ribbon.

Thrift Shops and Garage Sales
Thrift shops are an absolute treasure chest when it comes to holiday decor. Some people get new things every year and cast off their old. Sometimes the old ornaments and decorations just need a little sprucing up like the poor little tree on Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!

1. You can paint old glass ornaments. Clean ornament and use a little fine sandpaper to get the loose paint off if necessary. Spray paint with your color of choice.

2. You can also roll in glue and cover with glitter

3. Spray with fake snow to flock it.

4. Glue ribbon around it.

6. Decoupage Christmas wrap on it

Old fake greenery can be transformed with some fake snow, some ribbon and a hot glue gun. Just spray the snow on the greenery and hot glue bows to it.

Old magazines and books may have just the pictures or ads that you are looking for for decoupage projects or for laminating and turning into ornaments.

Conversion FHE

Thought:
In our world today, each [person] needs his or her own conversion to the truth. Each needs his or her own light, his or her own “steadfast and immovable” faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Neil L. Andersen, “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus,” Ensign, May 2010, 108–12.)

Song:
“I Will Follow God’s Plan,” Children’s Songbook, p. 164.

Scripture:
And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
(Alma 5:14)

Lesson:
Show a birth certificate of a family member and ask if they know what it is. Can anyone have two of these? Then show a baptismal certificate and ask how it might be considered a second birth certificate. Invite a member of your family to read John 3:3–7 and ask your family to look for what might have been on Nicodemus’s mind. Ask:


What does it mean to be “born again”? (See Alma 5:14; Mosiah 27:24–29.)
How can a person be born of the water (baptized) but not born of the Sprit?

Share the following by Elder Bruce R. McConkie: “Church members are not born again by the mere fact of baptism alone; rather, after baptism, they must so live as to experience a ‘mighty change’ in their hearts.” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:142.)

Share an experience in your life when you felt a change of heart or spiritual rebirth. Explain that the process of spiritual rebirth happens over time. Testify that the sacrament allows a wonderful time to recommit one’s self to following God. Encourage family members to always seek for a change of heart by becoming a little better each day.
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The New Testament, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006], p. 116.)

Story:
The “mighty change” of heart (Alma 5:14) is a process that takes varying amounts of time for different people. Let me tell you about a man I will call Sasha to protect his personal privacy. He is a man in his early forties who describes himself as having previously been a very hard, cynical man.

Sasha’s cynicism came from his background, which he describes in detail:

“I was born in the north of Russia, in a worker’s family in a small town. I spent my childhood and youth in a place where many criminals had been deported, as well as soldiers who had been captured and accused of treason. Cruel and wild morals reigned there.

I learned that a strong man always rules and a weak man always submits. My years of studying in an institute confirmed this statement. Three years of working in a colony of a special regime for dangerous criminals amazed me. I saw and heard unbelievable things. Now it is hard for me to understand how a man could do such things.

I did not wait for help from anybody, and I also did not help anybody, either. I often thought about the question of the meaning of life. What do we live for? I asked everybody about that, but nobody could answer me. People were busy with their own problems.”

One evening two young missionaries met Sasha on the street of a city where he still resides. They asked whether he believed in God. He continues:

“I was confused. I knew from my experience that when someone comes to you in the darkness and asks for ten kopecks, your answer does not matter much, because there is going to be a fight within a
minute or two. Earlier, I had considered religious believers to be mentally sick people, and yet these young men seemed like quite normal people.

I agreed to make an appointment with the missionaries. Oh, I tortured them so much! I asked them many silly, cynical questions, and I even supposed that they were agents of the CIA.

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately!), I had lost my job then and had time to read the Book of Mormon and the Bible all day long. The experience of reading these two books of scripture hour after hour, day after day, completely transformed my life. I found the truth. As I met with these wonderful young men, my cynicism gradually but fully dissolved. In our meetings and through my personal reading of the scriptures day after day, I became a new person, with a new outlook on the world.

Since my baptism and the receiving of the gift of the Holy Ghost, I have committed to our Heavenly Father that I will always try to help lift others throughout the rest of my life. As Alma explained [see Mosiah 18:8-10], when I accepted baptism I promised to be a comfort and a strength to others. And I will.”

Sasha is a dedicated servant of the Lord who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood. He is a man who shows great love to others. He now manages a new private company in his city.

(Howard L. Biddulph, The Morning Breaks: Stories of Conversion and Faith in the Former Soviet Union, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1996].)

Activity:
Give each family member an old magazine or newspaper, a blank piece of paper, and some glue (younger children can be paired with an older family member). Ask each person to think of a word or phrase that describes the changes that can happen after a person has been converted. Have them find and cut out the letters to spell this word in the magazine. Then paste them onto the blank paper. After everyone is done, have them share their words.

Refreshment:

Kleiner

6 eggs
1⁄2 c. butter
1 1⁄2 c. sugar
1⁄2 c. canned milk
1⁄2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
5 c. flour
3 tsp. baking powder
Powdered sugar

Combine eggs, butter, sugar, milk, salt, and vanilla. Then add dry ingredients. Roll dough into a triangle, and cut through dough to make long strips. Cut across strips diagonally to form smaller diamond shapes. Cut a slit in the center of each diamond shape. Pull the bottom corner through the cut in the center to make a twist. Deep fry the twists until light golden brown. Place on paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, or eat plain.

Local Coupons

Want to use some local coupons? Yes you do ..... stop fighting it.

here's your chance to get some click here

FREE P O T T E R Y B A R N classes

Pottery Barn has a few free holiday decorating classes coming up over the next few weeks. When you attend you will also receive a 10% off coupon for your next purchase off any of the products featured during the class.

November 14 at 10am – Entertaining With Style – This class will cover the basics of holiday entertaining from sit-down Thanksgiving dinner to a casual buffet for a party.
November 28 & December 5 at 10am – Holiday Decorating & Entertaining – Join their experts who will provide you with great ideas for the holidays season from trimming the tree to setting the table.
December 11 from 11am- 4pm – Decorating and Gifting with Frames Demonstrations – Learn how to decorate your home and create great gifts with frames.
Find a participating store and RSVP! when you click here

Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Every Wednesday until Thanksgiving, I will be posting either Thanksgiving Recipes, or ideas. Today is side dishes enjoy !!

Old Fashioned Bread Stuffing

Ingredients:

3-4 loaves of white bread (or 5 if you like leftovers)
water
chicken broth
insides of the turkey
2 bunches of celery
1 or 2 onions
2 TBSP butter
1/2 tsp. sage
mushrooms (option)

Instructions:
The night before you want to eat the stuffing, break the bread into small pieces (about 1 inch squares) into 2 huge bowls or pots. Let the bread sit overnight to dry out.

The next day, after you remove the insides of turkey, boil them in water in 2/3 qt. sauce pan until cooked (about 20/30 minutes). Remove insides for later use or discard. Keep water and put aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Chop onion and celery and place into food processor until minced.

Melt 2-3 tablespoons of butter in large saucepan.

Saute onion and celery until heated through. Do not brown! (Saute mushrooms also at this time if wanted). Depending on how much stuffing you want and how much celery and onion you've chopped, you may have to saute the onion and celery in two parts.

Once cooked, pour the onion/celery mixture directly over the dried out bread.

Pour 1/2 tsp. sage over bread/onion/celery mixture.

Then take your reserved water and pour slowly over bread. The bread will shrink as you do this.

Be careful not to pour too much water in.

Mixture thoroughly and smell/taste for perfect stuffing.

If you need more liquid, open a can of chicken broth and pour over bread. If you need more spice, add more sage.

Once stuffing is of a consistency that it will stick together and does not look too dry, do not add more liquid.

Either stuff in turkey to be baked in oven, or put in 9 x 13 pan.

Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to an hour. You want the stuffing to have a nice brown crust on top.

Wild Rice Dressing

Ingredients:

4 Slices turkey bacon cut into 1-inch pieces
1 Cup onion chopped
1 Cup celery chopped
1/2 Pound mushrooms sliced
1 Package (4 ounces) wild rice cooked according to package directions
2 Cups bread crumbs
1/2 Pound turkey breakfast sausage, cooked
1 Teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 Teaspoon dried sage
Salt
Pepper
Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325.

In medium-size skillet, over medium heat, saute bacon until almost crisp.

Add onion, celery and mushrooms; continue cooking until vegetables are tender.

In large bowl combine bacon mixture, wild rice, bread crumbs, sausage, oregano and sage.

Season to taste with salt and pepper if desired.

Spoon dressing into lightly greased 2-quart casserole dish.

Bake, covered, at 325 degrees F. 35 to 40 minutes

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled
1 tbsp. butter
1/4 cup milk
3/8 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

Instructions:

Boil water.

Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes.

Put in boiling water. Let cook until potatoes are soft.

Remove potatoes, place in bowl.

Mash potatoes with potato masher or mixer.

Add butter and milk; stir.

Add brown sugar and cinnamon, stir.

Dish onto bowl or plate.

Sprinkle cinnamon lightly over top.

Roast Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:

8 to 10 cloves garlic, peeled
1 cup olive oil
4 russet potatoes
2 tbsp. butter
1/3 to 1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup Asiago cheese, grated
2 tbsp. Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, grated
Salt and pepper, to taste


Instructions:

Put the garlic and olive oil in a heavy saucepan over lowest possible heat and simmer until soft; 30 to 40 minutes.

Drain off oil (reserve for marinades or vinaigrettes).

Puree garlic; set aside.

Meanwhile, prick potatoes with a fork and bake in a 400°F oven for 1 hour, or until soft. While still hot, peel and mash, or pass through a potato ricer.

Melt butter in heavy cream; whisk in puréed garlic.

Stir into potatoes.

Stir in cheeses and season with salt and pepper.

Spoon into a gratin dish.

Place in a 400°F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or until browned and bubbling.


Thanksgiving Cranberry Relish

Ingredients:

4 c. cranberries
2 oranges
1 1/2 cup sugar.

Instructions:

Wash cranberries and oranges.

Cut oranges into quarters and core.

Put cranberries and oranges through a food processor or blender.

Add sugar and mix well.

This is best if made at least 2 days before Thanksgiving.

Cranberry Sauce

Ingredients:

1-1/2 C sugar
1 navel orange
1/2 t grated ginger
4 cup cranberries
1/2 C (2 oz.) toasted pecans.

Instructions:

Grate the orange peel and add to a pot with the sugar and ginger.

Add the juice from the orange into the pot and simmer over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.

Add cranberries and cook until they pop - about 5 minutes.

Add pecans and cool sauce.


Praline Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients:

4 C. mashed sweet potato - canned or fresh
1/2 C. white sugar
2 T. vanilla extract
4 eggs - beaten
1/2 pint heavy cream
1/4 lb. butter or margarine
1 C. brown sugar
1/2 C. flour
1 1/4 C. chopped pecans

Directions:


Butter one 2 quart casserole dish. Preheat oven to 350° F.

In a mixing bowl, combine potatoes, sugar, vanilla, eggs, and cream. Blend well.

Spread into casserole dish evenly.

Prepare the topping by combining the butter, brown sugar, flour, and pecans.

Mix until crumbly and sprinkle over top sweet potato mixture.

Bake for 30 minutes.

FREE FOOD on NOV 3rd, Joe's Farm Grill

A free lunch? Yes it's true ... tell all your friends and head on over to Joe's Farm Grill Wednesday

On Wednesday, Nov. 3, Joe's Farm Grill in Gilbert is shaking up the natural order by staging a Customer Appreciation Day that features a free midday meal.
Get in line anytime between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. (if you are in line by 3 p.m., owner Joe Johnston promises that you will be served) and get ready for a no-cost cheeseburger, fries and beverage (soft drink, tea or water).

Please note: One meal per person. No other food is available. No phone orders. And Joe's will not be serving breakfast or dinner that day.
Details: Joe's Farm Grill, 3000 E. Ray Road, Gilbert, 480-563-4745. joesfarmgrill.com

FHE on Fasting

A few years ago a high-ranking official from China visited Salt Lake City. . . . Fasting and giving the value of the meals not eaten to help the poor captured his attention. . . . He said, "If we all loved each other like this, the world would be a more peaceful place."
(Keith B. McMullin, "God Loves and Helps All of His Children," Ensign, Nov 2008, 75-78.)


Song:
"Because I Have Been Given Much," Hymns, # 219.

Scripture:
Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.
(Doctrine and Covenants 59:14)

Lesson:
Do an activity with your family that involves things that go together, or pairs. As you say the first word or show the first item, have your family fill in the blank with the name of the second item.


"Salt and ________" (pepper)


"Table and _________" (chairs)

"Husband and ________" (wife)

"Shoes and _______" (socks)

Tell your family that Jesus demonstrated the power of "pairing" two important principles. Have your family look for the important pair as they read the story in Mark 9:14-29. Ask:

After Jesus had cast out the evil spirit, what did His disciples ask privately?

What was Jesus' response?

How does prayer make fasting more meaningful?

How does fasting make prayer more meaningful?

Ask family members if they have had an experience with fasting and prayer they would be willing to share. Invite the family to unite in fasting and prayer next fast Sunday.


(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The New Testament, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006], p. 69.)


Story:


"He Fasted, and He Prayed"


Matthew Cowley


Two boys in New Zealand graduated from a high school down there. The principal came to me and told me this story about one of them.


"This young man came to me one day. He was living in the dormitory. He was what they called the monitor. It wasn't a native high school, but he was a native. He came to me one day, and he said, 'Mr. Hogan, I want to go home for three days.' I said, 'Why, you can't go home, you have a job here. What do you want to go home for?' He said, 'Well, I am preparing to take my matric,' [as they call it down there, matriculation examination for entrance into a university]. He said, 'I want to go home for three days and fast and pray.'


"I was astonished. I excused myself and went to my office and called up one of your members, one of our native members, and I said, 'Listen to me, do you people have in your Church something you call fasting?' He said, 'Yes.' I said, 'What do you do it for?' 'When we want a blessing, we fast and pray.' I said, 'Well, I have read about it in the Bible, but I have never heard of anybody doing it.' I went back to the young man and said, 'You go home for three days.' He went home, and he fasted, and he prayed, and he was the top man in passing his matric examination."


(Jay A. Parry, Jack M. Lyon, Linda Ririe Gundry, editors, Best-Loved Stories of the LDS People, Vol.2, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1999], 63-64.)


Activity:


Divide your family into two teams. Give each team a paper and pencil. Set a timer for a predetermined amount of time (2 or 3 minutes) and have each team write down as many "pairs" as they can think of (like the examples in the lesson). Give one point to each team for items on the list that the other team didn't think of.


Refreshment


Chewy Chex Mix


This treat is a hit with all ages.

8 cups Rice Chex (or the Chex cereal of your choice)

1 cup coconut

1 cup sliced almonds

1 cup chow mein noodles

1⁄4 cup butter or margarine

6 cups miniature marshmallows

Combine Chex, coconut, almonds, and noodles in a large bowl. Melt butter over medium heat; blend in marshmallows and stir until melted. Pour over cereal mixture; spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in
an airtight container or individual plastic bags. Makes about 10 cups.