A Christmas Card from the Morgans

Prepping for Christmas on a Budget

Christmas?! Yeah, I know. You just barely sent your kids back to school and it is no time to be thinking about Christmas, right? Wrong! If you want to spend a small fortune on gift giving for this mega-bucks holiday, do it during December. If you want to do it without breaking the bank, start early.

In my normal world, where I know I am not leaving the country before Christmas, I would be about done right now. We thought we might be leaving in the fall and planned to send gifts from our new home. Now we are leaving after Christmas and I am grasping at straws a bit. I can swing it though and if you haven't started your list yet, you can swing it with me.

One thing to take into consideration right off the bat is why we are giving. If you celebrate the commercial Christmas where Santa brings toys to all the children and we buy each other expensive stuff because it is good for the economy, go ahead and keep it up. If you are celebrating Christmas because of Christ this particular paragraph is for you. God gave us the gifts of love, grace, and eternal life through Jesus. We share gifts with each other to remind us of the gifts that God gave us. Keep that in mind as you go forward with your list. Your gifts should be thoughtful and meaningful to the one you are giving it to.

Now that you have taken a moment to sort out your gift giving mentality, lets hop into the frugal giving tips.

1. Nix the Budget!

What?! I know you are thinking I am going to go hog wild, but that is not what I mean. I receive gifts from people who spend a particular amount of money on me. I tend to get one or two thoughtful gifts from them and then a pile of stuff that was purchased to fulfill the budget. When we went through three years of purging our stuff, those things were the bulk of what we were getting rid of. It adds up over the years. It doesn't make that person feel special, just curious as to where they will put the new doodad.

 

2. What Price do You Count?

So you really want to spend a minimum amount? I know some of you feel obligated, I do too with some people. Stop looking at the price you paid for a gift and start looking at the value of it. We often find awesome sale/clearance prices or maybe even something for free. Instead of looking at what we actually paid we look at what the gift is actually worth. If I got a book for free but it normally costs $14.99, look at the $14.99 and give the gift that price mark.

 

3. Consumables Make Great Gifts!

Food, soaps, candles, they get used and then they are gone! The recipient enjoys your gift and it doesn't take up extra space in their home. Win, win!

 

4. Shopping for the Hardest Person.

Do not wait on this one! Always keep this person in the back of your mind. You might still get them a gift at the last minute, but at least you will not have missed an opportunity to get them something that shows you care.

 

5. Someone Wants Something Specific.

It never fails that someone has a gift request. If you want to give them the one thing they want begin looking for it on sale. Our son wanted a specific Lego set for Christmas this year. We found it on clearance at Shopko. Shopko, at least in our area, tends to have crazy stuff on clearance. You just never know what you will find there.

You have my best tips for getting your mentality in the right place. Now it is time to obtain some gifts. Here are some of the ways that I get gifts to give.

1. After Christmas Clearance

It is the best clearance of the entire year! Just remember not to buy things because they cost so little but because they would be perfect for the person you plan on giving it to. A couple extra things for impromptu gifts are ok, but let's not go crazy here.

 

2. Trading

In the past I have done many trades with fellow Etsy shop owners. You never know who will be up for a trade though. If you have a toy, movie, or whatever that you no longer need, there may be someone who is in the same situation and would like to make a trade with you.

 

3. Handmade

Cook, sew, or whittle your way to your next gift. The options for handmade gift giving are pretty much endless. Not only do you make something for less cost, you make something that is one of a kind and may become a beloved family heirloom, or get eaten and that's good too! Just make sure you give yourself enough time to get your projects done. Check out Pinterest for a plethora of DIY ideas.

 

4. Freebies

Yesterday I raved about Money Saving Mom. Last year I signed up for every freebie I could. I got k-cups, tea samples, makeup and more. These I was able to add to small gifts to basically make a little gift basket for people. This year I am doing book reviews for Blogging for Books and Tyndale Blogging Network. I receive a free book in exchange for doing an honest blog review. Some of those books are being gifted forward this Christmas. I share how much I like a book and now someone else will spread the word about it as well.

Do you have some great tips of your own for doing Christmas on a budget? I would love to hear them!

December Recap

Things got a little crazy at the end of December, especially with our taking a leap of faith and starting the missionary process. So here is a bit of what happened.

Little Guy took me "out" on a date. It was so sweet. Adam played the waiter and movie theater attendant. It was the best and most memorable date at home I will likely ever have.

Little Guy played trains with the chairs while I did some pre-Christmas cleaning.

We do 3 gifts each Christmas, one to wear, one for spiritual growth, and a gold gift (something fun). Here  he just opened his bible and is wearing his new PJs.

For his gold gift we gave him a Kindle!

Watching the original TMNT on his Kindle after Lunch...and still in his PJs.

I also got this super cute shot of our little doggie, Tucker!

Art, School, and the End of the Year

 We have been having a blast doing lots of pintrest inspired artwork this month! I even got Little Guy to let me paint his hand, a big step for a kiddo that doesn't like anything messy. We have been off of school for the entire month and it is going well. I continued to write down anything "school" related we did over our break, and if you look at the list it hardly looks like a break at all.

We have done many art projects, advent devotionals, read tons of books, and Jayne even read a few stories to me to keep up on practice. We also did some research on goblin sharks after reading about them in one of his picture books. You can see our favorite goblin shark video below.

It is only a few days till Christmas and it has been a huge month for us! Honestly, it has kind of felt like some sort of crazy dream between good news, bad news, and just good old fashioned fun. This year is certainly going out with a bang. The biggest event for us is our upcoming missionary activities, which I am sure will be keeping us quite busy in the coming year. Right now it hasn't exactly sunk in yet. I am still cleaning and cooking and doing all my normal everyday activities. For now I have to focus on those till we get the date of training, because if I don't I will wile away the hours wondering and waiting. We have had a few people ask us about details of the future and we really don't have the answers right now. God will provide a way, support us, and sustain us. He has our faith 100%

Advent

I did a review of Everyday Emmanuel a while back now and thought I would share our calendar. It cost less than $1 to make! We used wrapping paper that we already had as the back and the pockets are made of envelopes. We had a lot of fun making it! It is filled with fun things to do and learn about. Little Guy is really looking forward to making Pepperkaker (Swedish gingerbread cookies). We also put the magnets from our Christmas tree countdown magnet in the pockets. It has been a great way to focus our holiday. We want Jesus to be the focus of our Christmas, and this is helping a lot. Christmas is all about Christ after all!

So far we have learned about advent, who Santa was, played board games together, and made hot chocolate.

Holiday Showcase: Fischer Images

It's time for another showcase! Today is Fischer Images, fine art photography by my fantastically creative Aunt.

Where can we find you?

Etsy- http://www.etsy.com/people/fischerimages
Facebook- Http://www.facebook.com/fischerimages
Twitter- http://www.twitter.com/LFischerimages

What is life like in your studio?

My studio is my home office. I have some of my favorite englargements on the walls for inspiration.It is well organized,so I have no distractions when working or creating.
My favorite giftable item in my shop would have to be my book markers, they are waterproof & last almost forever! They can be custom made to fit ages 4 to 99 ! All though all my prints would make great gifts also,with many to choose from.
I love homemade things, knowing that someone put their heart into making it, & knowing I am getting quality work!

Share a handmade gift anyone can make.

These card notes are easy to make & anyone can make them. Take your favorite 4x6 inch photo print. Get some cardstock, sold at most department stores & craft stores. Fold in half, mount (double-sided tape) your picture on the cardstock, Cut any extra cardstock away.(Giving a 1/4 to 1/2 inch border).Personalize your card. Ta-Da you are done!
Here is the link to one of my favorite..http://www.etsy.com/listing/103034715/live-laugh-love-card-fine-art?ref=pr_shop

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I live in south-west Wisconsin, I enjoy the beautiful scenery all year long. My husband & I have been married for 32 years. We have two wonderful children, & they have blest us with 5 beautiful grandchildren. They all are the joys of my life!
Linda Fischer on Etsy

Holiday Showcase: Our Children's Earth

Today we are visiting Our Children's Earth, enjoy!

 

Where can we find you?Website: www.ourchildrensearth.org
Etsy: www.etsy.com/people/ourchildrensearth
Ethical Community: www.ethicalcommunity.com/shop/our-childrens-earth
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Our-Childrens-Earth/109367279088893
Twitter: twitter.com/#!/rchildrensearth
Blog: ourchildrensearth.wordpress.com/ 
Pintrest: pinterest.com/rchildrensearth/

What is life like in your studio?Our studio is full of a huge variety of items. I like to figure out how to make new things so I am constantly coming up with new creations or gifts. Some days, I want to sew so I make our Recycled Sweater Coats or reusable sandwich bags, some days I want to make jewelry so I make our bottle cap earring or vintage record jewelry, some days (ok most days on this one) I love to shop and find awesome vintage items or supplies at Thrift Stores, Yard sales or from friends. Our shop has become this great eclectic place to find treasures and our studio definitely reflects this.

What is your favorite giftable in your shop?I love our Recycled Crayons. They come in a huge variety of shapes and colors. That way you can give them for any occasion. The thing that is great about them is that children and adults love them.
www.etsy.com/listing/89821868/recycled-heart-crayons-hearts-weddings

Why is handmade important to you?I think that we lose the heart in items when we just make them by machine or from someone who just clocks in to work and does not care about the outcome of the products. There is truly something magical about creating an item from designing it to actually finishing the product. I love to support other artists also since I know how long it can take to make something. The other great thing about homemade is that it gives us a chance to use Eco Friendly products and recycle. Like we only use water based glue in our shop but if it was mass produced I am sure many of products would be made with harmful chemicals.

Share a handmade gift anyone can make.I love our Button Hair Accessories:
www.etsy.com/transaction/59306119
These are fun and easy to make. 
1. Get a hair barrette from the craft store.
2. Find some great vintage buttons or use old buttons off shirts that you can't wear anymore
3. Take your glue gun and glue the buttons onto the barrette. Becareful not to burn yourself and do this over newspaper incase the glue drips off the barrette.
4. To add something fun you can also glue material or ribbon on the barrette to create some fun designs.

Is there anything else you would like to share?We can all make a difference in the world. It can be little or big, it is up to us to make the world the way we dream it should be.

Holiday Showcase: The Crazy Elephant

The holiday showcase is back for another year! I will be honest, I almost forgot all about it! I'm glad I didn't though because I will be featuring some awesome handmade shops to help you with your handmade holiday. As usual I am starting with me, especially since there have been so many changes this last year.

Where can we find you?

thecrazyelephantboutique.com
facebook.com/thecrazyelephant

What is life like in your studio?

Generally, I try to cut a series of pads, or what ever I am making that week, one afternoon a week. I get about 4 hours a week after little guy's bed time to do sewing, marathon style. I do my best to get about 20-25 listings up or restocked per week. I take care of my blog and online work to the sound of a 5 year old singing the Star Wars theme at the top of his lungs...very motivational!

What is your favorite giftable in your shop?

My favorite gift item in my shop this holiday is the penguin marble maze! They come in many prints but the one in the pic is my absolute favorite. They can go with you anywhere and they are a great quiet toy for the kids. Adults love them too and play with them as much as the kids!

Why is handmade important to you?

It is special! Handmade items hold meaning to people. A machine made plush is easily tossed out or forgotten, but something that has been made with love for someone with their own hands is just special. Plus it just feels good to have something that no one else can just run out and copy.

Share a handmade gift anyone can make.

Last year we made my in-laws a homemade pizza kit. We included a jar of pizza dough mix I made from scratch, a mini can of tomato sauce, and a package of pepperoni. It was a big hit and since it was consumable it did not take up space once it was used.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

We have grown and changed so much in the last year and I just have to say thank you to all my fantastic fans and customers! You guys are simply awesome!

Christmas Letter 2011

I am okay with admitting it...I don't feel like mailing out Christmas cards this year. It isn't that I don't care or am not in the Christmas spirit, I just don't have time or energy for it this year. So I am at least writing up this virtual letter for everyone to enjoy.

A lot has gone on this year! Back in January I stepped down as bra specialist at Victoria Secret which meant that Jayne would be able to stay home instead of being shuffled back and forth to daycare, no easy task with us only having 1 car. It also gave me the opportunity to put more attention on my shop (http://thecrazyelephantboutique.com). In the spring Adam, Mitchiel, Steven, Jayne, and I started training for the 28 mile Tour de Cure ride. I also did several, relatively uneventful, craft shows. We continued riding our bikes all through the summer with frequent rides in to the movie theater for their free shows. We also started attending Grace Church down the road from our house. We really like it there and have been enjoying all the adult and kids programs they have. We even started running the projection booth!

This fall is when all the excitement began though. Jayne turned 4 and we kicked his preschool program up a notch. He is doing very well with homeschooling and did great during his preschool screening. In September, the brake line went out on the car. Everyone was fine and the car was fixed. It was also the launching point the result of 5 years of hard work, my being a stay at home mom! I started staying home on October 1st and it has been great! We have done some amazing progress getting rid of all the excess in our house. I am cooking almost entirely from scratch now, the house is looking better than ever, and The Crazy Elephant is keeping me very busy these last couple of months.

Jayne is having a blast learning. He also started going to speech class twice a week. He really enjoys it and is picking everything up very fast. We have been walking to class, but now that it is getting colder he is going to start taking the bus...all by himself! He is a little nervous, probably not as much as I am, but he is excited about it too.

One of the biggest changes this year is that we can actually go to all of our holiday events this year with no real issues. I have missed almost all of the Christmas get togethers the last 2 years because of working in retail and I am very grateful not to be enduring that again this year. So I will finally get to visit with all of our friends and family this year, weather permitting.

We are all really looking forward to the new year. It should be a great year filled with new experiences and lots of family time. We wish everyone a very merry Christmas!

The Morgans

Jingle Bells

Here is a special christmas jingle from our little guy, Jayne...

Festival of Trees

The festival of trees has begun! We took the whole day as a family on Monday to set up our Holiday Glam with Barbie tree and were very happy with how it turned out. Jayne was our garbage transporter and had a blast doing it. We took some time touring downtown as well. That included a trip to Carrol's Cup and Corn shops, our favorites! We even had a lady tell us that it really meant a lot to her that we put my childhood holiday barbies on the tree.

For those that do not know, the festival of trees is an annual event that supports Hiawatha Homes. The organization provides housing and other programs for people with disabilities. They provide us with the tree, but everything on and under the tree we donated.

The opening night gala was fantastic as always. There was more food than I would ever want to eat. We got to look at all the trees in the dark lighting and sitting in the "snow". They always do lots of auctions and entertainment and it is the one night of the year that Adam and I get to dress fomally and go out alone. I even got 2 compliments on my dress, which is esspecially cool.

The festival runs through Sunday and we have to pop in to check on it throughout the time it is up. I have not been there a single day without hearing someone talking about the Barbie tree. I am so glad that my dolls are giving everyone so much joy. Plus the Post Bulletin bought our tree at the second highest price bracket, so I know they helped Hiawatha Homes financially as well.

Holiday Approaches

Owie Fixer from The Crazy Elephant Boutique

The Etsy holiday bootcamp starts today. It is bound to be a very busy time for the Crazy Elephant. This is the first year that I will be able to focus on our shop for the holidays. I have been in retail for the last 10 or so holiday seasons and being away from that will be a breath of fresh air. My main goal this year is to see what traffic and sales are like this year so I have an idea of what to plan for and anticipate in the coming years. It is more of an experimental time than anything. I am working on building up my inventory and getting my shop nice and full. The only problem, and it's a good problem, is that people keep buying the listings as fast as I list them. I clearly need to start listing more. I am planning to launch my pad line in October. I know it is something that many have been looking forward to. As always you can expect great customer service and quick shipping from The Crazy Elephant. We are still taking custom orders. We did several sock monkey hats for christmas last year. Make sure to place your custom orders early though, as they are all hand made and you want to get them in time for your holiday celebration.

What are your goals this holiday?