CyberMonday Deals

I love doing my Christmas shopping online, especially on CyberMonday. Online shopping sure beats fighting the crowds in the stores, plus most stores offer great incentives on CyberMonday, including free shipping.

Here are the deals I found online today:

One of my daughter's favorite mall stores, Aeropostale, had great CyberMonday deals on their website. Everything was 50%-70% off, with free shipping on orders of $75.00 or more. I took advantage of the free shipping, and I saved $ 158.14 off my total order (not including the free shipping)...whoo-hoo!



Next, I visited oldnavy.com, for a few items for my husband and son. Old Navy, Gap, Piperlime and Banana Republic's CyberMonday deal is 20% your entire order from any of their stores , plus free shipping (promo code MONDAY). Including the free shipping, I saved $22.00 total. Now, that's a great deal!

My mother wears plus-sized clothing, so my next cyberstop was www.womanwithin.com. Their CyberMonday deal is 30% off your entire order (promo codeWW39241). I bought her a couple of nice fleece pants sets, which are perfect for her to wear while she is at the Life Care Center. I saved $12.00 on my order.

I also saved $20.66 at walmart.com, which brings my total frugally fine CyberMonday savings to $212.81! Best of all, I was able to shop from the comfort of my sofa wearing lounge pants!

A Natural Christmas

It's the day after Thanksgiving; let the frugal decorating begin! Here are a few low cost/no cost nature-inspired decorating projects I created last Christmas. Many of the items can be found in your own backyard, while others can be purchased inexpensively at your favorite craft store.

 
Rustic Tree

The rustic Christmas tree is decorated with twig reindeer, pinecones, and pinecone and nut cluster ornaments, all made from natural elements. A Star of David made from twigs serves as a tree topper, while white lights and red gingham ribbon garland finish the look.

Natural Ornaments

Reindeer ornaments were made from twigs found in the yard. Nuts and small pinecones were hot glued to Styrofoam balls to form cluster ornaments. Larger pinecones were hung with gingham ribbon on the tree as additional ornaments.

Download printable directions for making the ornaments.

Birch Centerpiece

Three birch tealight holders were grouped together in a basket surrounded by fresh pine sprigs and large pinecones. The tealight holders were made from a birch tree that had fallen in the yard during a storm. To make them, the tree trunk was cut into sections. A hole large enough to accommodate a tealight was drilled into the top of each section. Using tealights is a safe alternative to candles, as the hot wax is contained within the tin liner.

Pinecone Wreath 

 

To make this wreath, moss was hot glued onto the Styrofoam wreath form. Next, pinecones were glued to the moss. Berry stems were inserted into the form for some additional color. The wreath was finished with a large red gingham ribbon bow, and some of the gingham ribbon was looped at the top to hang it.

Pine Swag

This pine swag was made with fresh white pine branches and pinecones. It can be used indoors as a table arrangement or on a mantel. It can also be fastened to the outside of a window using suction cups. The base of an LED candle with an automatic sensor was glued to the center of each. Once the candles with batteries are inserted in the base, the candles turn on and then off automatically eight hours later, making them maintenance-free.

I'm linking this post to Cheri's It's So Very Christmasy Home Tour. Be be sure to visit Cheri's blog for more Christmas cheer.

Happy Decorating!

Attention Casting Crowns Fans

I'm still taking a blogging break, but I just had do to a quick post on Casting Crown's new CD, Until The Whole World Hears, which will be available for purchase on November 17. Right now, you can hear a preview of the entire CD online at http://new.music.yahoo.com/programs/earlyedition/#. I'm listening to it right now, and it's awesome!*

Enjoy!

*I am not affiliated with the group Casting Crowns.
I am simply a fan who enjoys great Christian music.

The Praise God Challenge

Thank you so much for all your kind words and prayers regarding my parents. As I write this, on top of everything else that has been going on, I am lying in bed with a bad case of the H1N1 virus. I had been washing my hands frequently and using hand sanitizer at both the hospital and the rehab center. I hope and pray my parents do not get this, as I had been visiting them daily right up until yesterday, when I started developing symptoms of the virus. Please pray that they do not get sick, as they have multiple health problems that suppress their immune systems.

It seems like there has been so much happening in our lives lately, as well as in those of the lives of family and friends. This makes me think of James 1:2-3, ^"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." As difficult as our trials may seem, I still want to be able to praise God through them. For the last week or so, amidst the trials, I have been able to find a praise God moment every day. For this reason, I have started a group on Facebook called The Praise God Challenge. If you are a Facebook member and would like to join, please click here.

I'm linking up with Charlotte and Ginger's Spiritual Sundays this week. Please visit their blog for some great spiritual food!

Thanks for stopping by!

Homemade Turkey Soup

Today I am participating in Jane's pantry party over at The Thrifty Countrywoman. Today's recipe theme is one using leftovers from Thanksgiving, along with items already in your pantry.

I use the bones from our Thanksgiving turkey to make a big pot of turkey soup. The rest of the ingredients are items I usually have on hand in the pantry and refrigerator.

Like chicken soup, it’s good to have on hand if someone gets sick, so I freeze it in individual containers.

Ingredients:

• turkey bones
• 5 carrots
• 5 stalks celery
• 2 medium onions, cut in quarters
• 3 tbsp. chicken bouillon flakes
• 8-oz. can diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 cup chopped fresh spinach
• 8 cups water
• 1 1/2 tsp. round sage
• 2 crushed garlic cloves
• 1 box Barilla Plus rotini

Directions:

1. In a large pot, add the turkey bones, water, bouillon flakes and seasonings.
2. Peel and slice carrots; chop celery and onion. Add all vegetables to pot; cover and cook on high for 1 hour or so, until the turkey falls off of bones.
3. Remove all bones from pot.
4. Add rotini and cook for another 10 minutes.

Enjoy!