Our First Christmas In Our Tiny House

Loads of gifts and Santa hadn't come yet.

Our family Christmas officially begins on Christmas Eve.  We try to get all of our gifts delivered to our friends and family before we head home to our traditional supper of homemade clam chowder, garlic cheddar biscuits and a nice big salad.  This year I surprised the girls with sliced pineapple rings (oldest daughter's favorite) and a can of jumbo olives (youngest daughter's favorite) in place of the salad.  They were pretty happy about skipping the salad course.

 

Once the dishes were washed and the chowder pot was put on to soak we bundled up and headed out in the car to check out the Christmas lights, another tradition.  We like to drive around for about an hour then head home to get ready for bed, check the NORAD site to see where Santa is at and set out a plate of treats for him.  About the time he is set to hit the east coast my girls scurry off to bed. 

Where's Santa?

Christmas morning the stockings were first and then we each took turns opening gifts so we can see what everyone gets.  Plus it drags it out a little longer.  This year, as always, there was no shortage of nice gifts.  While gifts were being opened I collected trash and bows, bags, boxes and tissue wrap that could be recycled and used next year.  It helped tremendously to keep down the clutter. 

We normally put our gifts under the tree when we are done opening them but this year, with space at a premium, we all put our things away afterward.  Then it was time for breakfast.  Cinnamon rolls, orange rolls, bacon and scrambled eggs.  Always a favorite.

 

The agenda for the day was pretty much to do whatever we wanted with no pressure to go anywhere or do anything in particular.  Getting dressed was also optional.  I settled in to do some writing after running a load of laundry and washing the breakfast dishes while the girls enjoyed their new treasures.  The girls called exception to me doing the laundry but it was already started so I had to finish it.  I don't like to fall behind because it takes me several days to get caught back up.  No fun. 

Dinner is different every year.  Sometimes I do a rib roast or we grill steaks.  This year the vote was for lasagna, rolls and green beans.  It was delicious and I love that there are leftovers to enjoy later. 

It's so good to be loved!

For our first tiny home Christmas we all agreed it was really nice.  We loved how everyone took into account that our gifts needed to be on a smaller scale too.  It really was a wonderful day.

Merry Christmas

 

Our family wishes your family the merriest Christmas ever!

My Very Favorite Fudge

 

Hands down my favorite no fail fudge recipe is the one from the back of the Kraft Marshmallow Crème jar.  I've used it for ages and this year my oldest daughter made it for the very first time. 

Fantasy Fudge 

3/4 cup butter or margarine

2/3 cup evaporated milk

3 cups sugar

1 pkg. semi sweet chocolate chips

1 jar of marshmallow cream

1 tsp. vanilla

1/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional) 

In a large saucepan over medium heat melt butter with milk.  Stir in sugar and continue stirring until it comes to a full boil.  Continue to cook and stir for five minutes or until a candy thermometer reaches 235° (soft ball stage).  Remove from heat.  Continue stirring and add the chocolate chips until completely melted into the sugar mixture.  Add marshmallow cream and beat in until thoroughly combined.  Pour fudge into lightly buttered 9" X 13" oblong pan.  Allow to cool to room temperature. 

Cut into 1" squares.  Store in an airtight container in a cool place. 

Easy Peanut Butter Fudge:  Substitute Reese's Peanut Butter Chips in place of the semi sweet chocolate chips. 

I usually omit the vanilla because I think it makes it extra fudgy that way. 

We'll eat plenty I am sure and share with friends as well.  If you need and easy foolproof fudge recipe then this is the one to try.  Enjoy!

 

Need some delicious last minute cookie recipes?  Try these!

Last Week’s Thrifty Moves

On Sunday I used one large overripe banana to make a loaf of chocolate bananabread. 

My oldest daughter and I made jewelry to give as gifts.  We used items we already had on hand.  I repurposed a couple of lone earrings I'd been given.  I used them as pendants and made necklaces for the girls for Christmas. 

I also helped her to make Christmas cards for her friends and teachers using items we had on hand.  They turned out really nice. 

A friend of mine brought me a big stack of ads and coupons from the Sunday paper.  I clipped a couple coupons and used the ads to make a grocery list. 

On Monday I shopped the Albertson's ad in order to stock up the pantry on a few items.  Total spent $19.88 ($6 of it comes out of our gift budget): 

·         Four packages of cream cheese - $1 each

·         Two cans of olives - $1 each less a $1 off coupon = 50¢ per can

·         Chocolate bars - 5 for $5 (Christmas gifts)

·         Four cans green beans - 49¢ each

·         Two cake mixes - 99¢ each (one is a birthday gift)

·         Four 16oz. bags of pasta - 79¢ each

·         Two bottles cranberry juice cocktail - $1.39 each 

I made each of my girls a Christmas hair clip using items I had on hand and an artificial poinsettia bouquet purchased at the dollar store for $1.  My oldest used my leftover blooms to make three more for her friends to give them as Christmas gifts. 

I finished shopping for stocking stuffers at the dollar store.  While I was there I also found the girls each a nice scarf to wear to school and help keep them warmer.  I spent a dollar on two foil baking sheets so we can bake Christmas cookies in our toaster oven.  Our baking pans are way too big. 

The girl's used wrapping supplies we had on hand to wrap the gifts they had purchased or made for their teachers.  They raided my sewing supplies for ribbon to tie around their little packages.  We helped the youngest make handmade Christmas cards for her teachers. 

I added a little water to the dish soap bottle in order to get a few more washes out of it. Then I recycled the bottle. 

I used up all of my eye shadow.  I replaced it with another one I had bought last year with a coupon and a gift card. 

We squeezed every last bit out of a sample tube of toothpaste I received in the mail for free.  Surprisingly it lasted two weeks with all of us using it.  I replaced it with one of my large tubes of toothpaste I got for free last year at the store when it was on sale and I had a coupon.  I have one more large tube of free toothpaste and three samples left in my stash. 

I was invited to join in a gift exchange at a client's office on Friday.  I made a pair of earrings and a matching necklace for my recipient.  I added a small bottle of lotion and shower gel from my gift box stash too. 

I used the last of our Christmas budget to purchase a few extra grocery items to make cookies and share them with our neighbors. 

I went through the gift wrap tote and reorganized what I had left over.  I was able to condense everything down into one large gift bag and thus eliminated the tote.  I also did the same with my gift box.  For now they both take up much less space. 

I finally got to use up a roll of cellophane that had been in the gift wrap tote for forever.  I can't count how many times I was going to get rid of it but kept thinking I'd use it.  I finally did! 

We watched a lot of Christmas movies on Hulu for free while we worked on various projects.  The girls loved it. 

How was your thrifty week last week?

BONUS POST - Behold The Power Of Prayer!

 

Not to sound like a religious zealot or anything but OH MY GOSH, we've been blessed! 

Yesterday I got this crazy hair to turn the refrigerator on just to see if anything would happen.  The last two times I did I got nothing.  But it had sat, non-running, for an entire week so I decided to see if maybe… 

I awoke this morning to frozen spinach and celery and a running refrigerator!  Whoo hoooooo!  While I did my happy dance and thanked the big guy multiple times over my girls just grinned at me.  Never before have I been so happy to pull out a brand new unopened bag of spinach and find it frozen. 

We had yet to determine why the bugger had conked out in the first place.  None of the usual reasons applied.  No stinky ammonia smell or yellowy powder on the back of the refrigerator to signify it was done in.  No apparent electrical issues.  But we did find out in all our research that these puppies can be temperamental.  I guess so! 

My youngest asked me if I was happy to have to replace the spinach rather than the refrigerator.  Oh yes indeed!!  I will happily buy new produce. 

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas!  Thank you Lord!

Quick & Easy Christmas Hair Clips

I was Super Mom the other day and stopped at the dollar store for a poinsettia bouquet which I cut up and made festive Christmas hair clips for the girls to wear to school.  I used my wire cutters to cut the blooms off flat against the underside.  I used my glue gun to attach them to the hair clip then quickly opened them so they didn't glue shut.

 

I already had the clippies and hot glue so all I spent was a dollar for the flora.  My oldest was very impressed with my handiwork and thrilled to have a little something extra to put in her hair for her Holiday Band Concert last night.  The youngest was pretty happy about it too.  Who knew this could garner so much excitement? 

This project took me five minutes to complete.  Four minutes and forty five seconds was spent waiting for the glue gun to heat up.  Not difficult to do either, I think I could have managed it with my eyes closed. 

Do you think you'd make some of these?

Orange Marmalade

 

I made Orange Marmalade to give away at Christmas this year.  I had never made it before so I was excited to try it and hopeful it would turn out well.  Thankfully it turned out great and tastes delicious on top of a toasted whole wheat English muffin. 

If you would like to make some marmalade here is my recipe: 

Orange Marmalade 

4 large naval oranges

2 large lemons

2 cups orange juice

2 cups water

7 cups sugar 

Wash oranges and lemons very well, remove any stickers.  With a very sharp knife slice fruit into 1/8th inch slices then chop into small pieces.  Remove any seeds.  Place fruit and any residual juice into a large stock pot.  Add orange juice and water.  Stir thoroughly. 

 

Over medium low heat bring fruit and juice to a boil.  Reduce heat and allow to simmer, stirring occasionally, for 45 minutes to 1 hour until fruit rind is completely soft.  Add sugar and turn heat up to medium.  Bring to a full rapid boil for 2 to 3 minutes.  Mixture should be fairly thick. 

Test on an ice cold plate by dropping a dab onto the surface.  If it starts to set up immediately marmalade is done.  If not, continue cooking until desired consistency is reached. 

Pour hot marmalade into hot sterilized jam jars.  Top with sterile lids and rings.  In boiling water process jars for ten minutes.  Remove jars and allow to cool completely on a folded towel.  Lids will ping to alert you to their seal.  Test lids on cooled jars by pushing with your finger in the center.  They should not spring back.  Remove rings and store in a cool dark place. 

The best part of making this was, hands down, how good it made our kitchen smell.