Bookswapping and Frugal Gifts

After Christmas Sales

After Christmas sales can be a great way to save money on things you would buy anyway, without paying full price.

If you want to get some great deals but you also want a lot of selection, you'll want to show up in the store pretty early on December 26th. You can get deeper discounts if you wait several days or a week for the stores to mark items all the way down to 75% off. The down side of waiting is that the item you want may be gone if you wait too long.

You can often find good buys at grocery and drug stores a week or two after Christmas because there's not as much demand for after Christmas items in those stores.

Here are some of the things to consider as you visit after Christmas sales:

Buy new Christmas decorations for next year.

Buy "Baby's First Christmas" items (pajamas, bibs, ornaments, etc.) for those friends and relatives expecting babies in the next year.

Purchase holiday craft items. Christmas ribbons, needlework, and other craft supplies are often marked down to 75% off. Get started on those projects and get them done early. Don't forget to get enough red ribbon and craft supplies for Valentines day.

Buy Christmas chocolate to freeze for year-round baking.

Christmas isn't just red and green any more. You can get every color under the rainbow now. If you are decorating a room or having a special party, such as an anniversary you can purchase your supplies for 75% off.

Purchase gifts for next Christmas, birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day and teachers' gifts.

If you have a wedding coming up, look for decorations with your wedding colors after Christmas.

You can also get tablecloths and napkins for your household on clearance after Christmas. You can buy these at up to 75% off and use them every day.

Look for wrapping paper for other occasions. Stores have colored and white tissue paper and wrapping paper that isn't necessarily just for Christmas. You can also buy Christmas paper for next to nothing after Christmas and save it for next Christmas.

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup o' kindness yet
for auld lang syne.

And here's my hand my trusty frien',
and gie's a hand o' thine;
we'll take a right gude-willi waught
for days of auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup o' kindness yet
for auld lang syne.

GIFT GIVING

50 Great Green Gifts

http://www.greenlight-digital.com/greenlight/iss05/?pg=18
Reused Gifts are Better

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art25720.asp
101 Gifts to Make

http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/giftgiving/a/120400a.htm
Crafty Moms Homemade Gift Ideas

http://www.crafty-moms.com/gift_giving.shtml
Five Christmas Gift Baskets You can put together

http://notmadeofmoney.com/blog/2006/11/5-christmas-gift-baskets-you-can-put-together-for-an-inexpensive-but-thoughtful-gift.html
Christmas Items to Knit & Crochet

http://dishandwashclothmania.wordpress.com/christmas-items-knit-and-crochet/

Holiday Gifts to Charity

FirstGiving.com is a Web site that allows you to select a recipient charity and then set up a giving page where friends and loved ones can donate to your cause, in lieu of purchasing gifts. The FirstGiving.com site is good for birthdays, anniversaries, as well as the holidays, and can also be used in memory of someone or to fundraise in connection with a sporting event or personal goal.
Altgifts.org is the creative gift-giving Web site of Alternative Gifts International, which helps you divert your holiday giving dollars to someone in need in all parts of the world. For example, for the price of an iPod you can purchase supplies for a hospital in North Korea, or for the price of a video game you can purchase a wheelchair for someone in Cambodia. Altgifts.org provides an entire online catalog of creative giving options.
NetworkforGood.org makes it easy to give to any nonprofit you like – or several all at once. They keep track of your donations and provide all the tax information you need.

Helpful Hints for all Holidays

Living on a Dime Helpful Holiday Hints for all Holidays http://www.livingonadime.com/holiday-articles.htm

HOW MANY DAYS?

THE CRAFTY CHRISTMAS

Decorating and Project Ideas

Christmas Items

http://www.greatgreengoods.com/

Craft Ideas and Projects for Busy Moms

http://www.crafty-moms.com/christmas-crafts.shtml

Craft Site Directory Christmas Crafts

http://www.craftsitedirectory.com/Christmas/index.html

Craftbits Christmas Crafts

http://www.craftbits.com/viewCategory.do?categoryID=XMS

Christmas Craft Creations Free Projects

http://www.craftcreations.co.uk/pages/magazines/issues/issue39.mhtml

Freebies from EZ Craft Show

http://ezcraftshow.com/holidayfreebies.html

Christmas Place mats and runner to sew

http://mccallsquilting.com/golden/mg40_pattern/

Believe Magnet in Plastic Canvas

http://www.anniesplasticcanvas.com/features/feature_page.php?_id=122

Silver Bells Wreath

http://www.eco-artware.com/crafts/crafts_11_05.shtml

Candy Cane Potholder Knitted

http://www.anniesattic.com/knitting/content.html?content_id=446*

Wood Scrap Snowmen

http://www.fabulousfoods.com/holidays/xmas/scrapsnowmen.html

Snow Folks made from mittens

http://www.fabulousfoods.com/holidays/xmas/snowfolks.html

Make Earth Friendly Gift Wrap

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art25408.asp

Wrap Up Your Holiday for Free

Shirt Boxes: If you purchase clothes as a gift this year, remember that during the holidays many department stores offer at least one free box with your purchase. Decorate the box with existing pens, pencils, stencils, glitter, or paint you already have on hand. Use holiday pictures from magazines or newspapers and glue them in a collage around the box or feature just one on the top lid. You can also use duplicates or scanned copies of old family photos for decorating the box to give it a more personal touch.
Paper Bags: Gift bags are always popular, so why not decorate your own? On paper sacks use pens, paint or glitter you already have on hand and either staple or tape the bag closed to hide the contents.
Aluminum Foil: Chances are you already have this in your kitchen cupboard. In a pinch, it will make elegant gift wrapping.
Newspapers: This is an old stand by that works all year round. Use the comics, the sports section, the arts and entertainment section, etc. The newspaper also makes great lettering for gift cards. Just cut letters and holiday pictures from the paper and arrange on solid colored paper you already have on hand or recycle envelopes from opened mail by cutting out squares to make "To" and "From" labels.
Yarn: Chances are you have a few skeins hidden in a closet somewhere that can be used for wrapping. Use it for tying up the other packaging ideas listed here or as a wrapping paper alternative. When using it as packaging, wrap the yarn all around the item until it is completely covered and then tie off. You can even embellish the yarn with beads or feathers if you have these items left over from previous craft projects.
Calendars: The year is almost over, so put that old calendar to good use and recycle the pictures from the calendar for wrapping paper. You can also cut the calendar pictures into squares and add a smaller square of white or solid colored paper on top to create unique gift tags or thank you notes.

My Birthday is when?

Thanksgiving Day Interesting Facts

1) Every year the President of the United States, "pardons" a turkey on the night before Thanksgiving. This tradition began more than 50 years ago with Harry Truman and has continued ever since. The pardoned turkey lives its remaining days at the Kidwell Farm, a petting zoo in Virginia.
2) Americans consume about 18.5 pounds of turkey each year.
3) There are three U.S. cities named after the turkey: Turkey, TX, Turkey Creek, LA, and Turkey, NC.
4) There are eight cities in the U.S. named after the cranberry.
5) There are 20 U.S. cities named Plymouth.
6) At one time, both the turkey and the bald eagle were national symbols of America.
7) According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one-sixth of the 300 million turkeys sold each year are sold for Thanksgiving.
8) Turkeys have great hearing, but no external ears.

October 31st - What to Do

This is a very good article all Christians should read. Especially if you participate in celebrating Halloween. Click on the title to go to this article.

The Pilgrims' Menu for the First Thanksgiving

Foods That May Have Been on the Menu
Seafood: Cod, Eel, Clams, Lobster
Wild Fowl: Wild Turkey, Goose, Duck, Crane, Swan, Partridge, Eagles
Meat: Venison, Seal
Grain: Wheat Flour, Indian Corn
Vegetables: Pumpkin, Peas, Beans, Onions, Lettuce, Radishes, Carrots
Fruit: Plums, Grapes
Nuts: Walnuts, Chestnuts, Acorns
Herbs and Seasonings: Olive Oil, Liverwort, Leeks, Dried Currants, Parsnips

What Was Not on the Menu
Surprisingly, the following foods, all considered staples of the modern Thanksgiving meal, didn't appear on the pilgrims's first feast table:
Ham: There is no evidence that the colonists had butchered a pig by this time, though they had brought pigs with them from England.
Sweet Potatoes/Potatoes: These were not common.
Corn on the Cob: Corn was kept dried out at this time of year.
Cranberry Sauce: The colonists had cranberries but no sugar at this time.
Pumpkin Pie: It's not a recipe that exists at this point, though the pilgrims had recipes for stewed pumpkin.
Chicken/Eggs: We know that the colonists brought hens with them from England, but it's unknown how many they had left at this point or whether the hens were still laying.
Milk: No cows had been aboard the Mayflower, though it's possible that the colonists used goat milk to make cheese.
Source: Kathleen Curtin, Food Historian at Plimoth

Thanksgiving: Ideas, Crafts, Clipart, Food, etc.

1) Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids - Turkey Craft Ideas
http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/thanksgiving_crafts.htm
2) Fall and Thanksgiving Crafts
http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/thanksgiving.html
3) 4Free Thanksgiving Arts and Crafts!
http://rats2u.com/thanksgiving/thanksgiving_crafts.htm
4) Thanksgiving Crafts
http://www.makingfriends.com/Thanksgiving.htm
http://www.womansday.com/holidaycrafts/7109/thanksgiving-crafts.html
5) DLTK's Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/thanksgiving/
6) Craft Library: Thanksgiving Recipes & Crafts ...
http://www.homeschoolzone.com/pp/turkyday.htm
7) Thanksgiving Crafts for kids.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/thanksgiving/
8) Kids Domain Crafts - Thanksgiving Crafts
http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/_Thanks.html
9)Native American Thanksgiving History and Recipes.
http://www.2020tech.com/thanks/temp.html
10) Pumpkin Recipes and History
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art24245.asp
11) Knit Turkey Hat Pattern (free)
A fun hat that knits up to look like a turkey can be "stuffed" for a centerpiece.
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/fiber_arts/54084
12) Great Pilgrim Site: Sail 1620 all sorts of history.
http://www.sail1620.org
13)Thanksgiving Coloring Pages
http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/thanks/color.html
14) Info on Native Americans & their culture including the Fall Harvest Festival.
http://www.nativetech.org
15)Cheap --but Fun -- Thanksgiving!!!
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art6618.asp

16)Thanksgiving for All

http://thanksgiving4all.blogspot.com/
17) Moms Break Thanksgiving

http://holidays.momsbreak.com/Freebie-Thanksgiving-Sign.html

18) Plaid’s Thanksgiving Projects

http://www.plaidonline.com/projectSearchResults.asp

19) National Day of Thanksgiving

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art46488.asp/zzz
20) Thanksgiving Invitation

http://www.modpodge.com/projectDetail.asp?projectID=1683

THANKSGIVING CLIP ART
1) Designed to a T
http://www.designedtoat.com/thanksgiving.htm
2) Free Christian Clip Art & Thanksgiving Pictures
http://clipart.christiansunite.com/Thanksgiving_Clipart/
3) Free Clip Art of Holidays: Thanksgiving Directory
http://www.iband.com/clip/cliparttgdir.html
4) Free Thanksgiving Powerpoint Template
http://www.templateready.com/Specials/Thanksgiving.html
5) Marvelicious Thanksgiving Borders
http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/9402/bg11.html
6) My Free Clipart - Thanksgiving
http://www.myfreeclipart.com/clipart/thanksgiving/turkey.html
7) Thanksgiving Clip Art from A Kids Heart (Zip Files)
http://akidsheart.com/holidays/thanks/tclip1.htm
8) Thanksgiving Graphics and Wallpaper
http://www.holidaygraphics.com/thanksgiving/

Food for the Thanksgiving Feast
1) Thanksgiving Feast
http://www.womansday.com/holidaycooking/10866/holiday-cooking.html
2) A Mom’s Love Thanksgiving Menu http://www.amomslove.com/hg-recipes-thanksgiving.html

3) Family Fun Thanksgiving http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/special/minisite/thanksgiving-main/

4) Quickest and Easiest Thanksgiving Dinner Menu http://busycooks.about.com/od/thanksgiving/a/quickThanksgivi.htm

5) Making your first Thanksgiving Dinner http://20ishparents.com/holiday/thanksgiving/firstthankgivingdinner.shtml

6) A Low Fat Thanksgiving http://lowfatcooking.about.com/od/holidayrecipes/a/lowfathols1104.htm
7) Vegetarian Thanksgiving Dinner http://www.fabulousfoods.com/holidays/thanksgiving/vegetarian.html
8) The First Thanksgiving http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=872&display_order=1&mini_id=1083

9) Diabetic Friendly Pumpkin Tart
http://www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes/dessert/piestarts/pumptart.html
10) )Brite Ideas Thanksgiving Recipes

http://www.brightideas.com/thanksgiving/recipes/

Smith Reunion

We will be having the first Smith Reunion on Saturday, November 25, 2006 at the old homeplace in Augusta, WV. Bring a potluck dish to share and a lawn chair for sitting. We will eat around 3:00 p.m. All family and friends of the Amos Henry and Lorena Edna Smith Family are invited to attend. Come fellowship and enjoy a great day. All hunters are welcome to come earlier to hunt. If you have any questions or comments , you can email me at karekountry55@yahoo.com.

Get the Best Deals for Black Friday

www.blackfriday.info
http://personal-finance.savingadvice.com/2006/11/12/how-to-get-the-best-black-friday-deals_17161/
bfads.net/adscans
http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com
http://bfads.net/www.blackfridayads.com
http://www.dealtaker.com/

America Recycles Day

Please remember that November 15th is America Recycles Day! Be sure to get all of your recycleables together!

Visit http://www.americarecyclesday.org/ for info on America Recycles Day.

Other sites that recycle:
Sandals handcrafted from used tires, recycled bicycle inner tubes, and hemp. http://www.splaff.com/
A unique range of drinking glasses fashioned through the ingenious patented method of inversion of reclaimed bottles http://www.greenglass.com/
Handbags made from recycled candy wrappers, food packages, and soft drink labels. For every bag they sell, they plant a tree. http://www.ecoist.com/
Outdoor fleece blankets made from post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. http://www.bluelotusblankets.com/