Hey Rocky , watch me pull a gift out of my hat!

Ahh..... the topic was bound to come up eventually. Gift giving, parties, toys oh my!

Do you have a gift closet? For those from frugal this needs no explanation, but for others new to the subject I will explain.

A gift closet is a spot where you pick up items you see at considerable discount, in anticipation of using it later for an event. for example. I have a lot of toys in my gift closet that are age appropriate for friends of my daughters age group or friends of my son's age group. so I a party comes up unexpectedly or there are several at the same time and multiple presents are not in the budget. or Even if shopping for presents can represent a time crunch for you.

So in a nutshell that is a git closet ( can be a tote a box does not have to be in a closet lol) it can be one geared towards kids, Christmas, charity, ( I buy toys throughout the year that is good for the toy drive at Christmas)


now my gift closet is an area behind my furnace room door and it is messy there right now because I was searching for something yesterday. but I will brave all this and post a picture. it will be a little later on this morning, I challenge everyone who has a gift closet to post your pics.

In amongst my gift closet I also put the items I have for goody bags for parties I throw or things I use for gift baskets (another favorite thing of mine to do) will post more on that in the future.

gift wrapping station craft and challenge

With our new house we have to rebuild /organize the laundry room. in the laundry room plans dh is building me a gift wrapping station. it is super cool. but sadly it will not be ready for this christmas season.

Now i like many of you have an organizer bin i put all my wrap into ( that i usually buy after christmas) it is a big plastic thing i bought for it. but when i get ready to start wrapping. i usually sit on the floor with a few rolls some tape and scissors. during the wrapping i look for my scissors twelve times. get up 6 times for ribbons and bows. and tags.

so this christmas and for other holidays. i am making a gift wrapping take along organizer. I saw this on hgtv

one that i can load up with my things. and take with me to eliminate the time wastage and help ensure perfect parcels.

if you want to make one as well. you will need some common around the house items.

Materials:
sturdy corrugated cardboard carton

two or three cardboard cores from bathroom tissue

two or three small boxes (cut-down tissue boxes, etc.)

scissors

stapler

dowel (1/4 iuch or 1/2 inch in diameter)

Note: The size of the carton and the individual small boxes is arbitrary. The carton need only be high enough that when you stand rolls of gift wrapping paper up in it, they will not tip out. This carton was about 14 inches high, 14inches deep front to back and 12 inches across. If you want to house more supplies, use a bigger carton.The directions are for cutting and assembly. You will no doubt want to paint and decorate the carton in some way and cover the inside cardboard containers, as well, with paint, fabric, or Con-Tact paper.

i will be getting my supplies together this week. if you want to join in the crafting fun. get your supplies together and we will make it together. post a pic of your finished product and journey on your blog sending me a link and picture and be entered in a draw for a mystery gift. and look forward to a less stressful wrapping season.

EdITED TO ADD LInk

http://www.hgtv.com/cr-occasions-gift-wrap/gift-wrap-center/index.html

Busy mommy-ing

Well after shuttling sarah to dance and chris to drawing and then to soccer all with my littliest in tow. i am fatigued. it is on saturdays so of course dh works every saturday so it is all down to me. But to see them trying new things and meeting new people is so worth it. These are opportunities i never would have had as a kid. I went and got Sarah little ballet slippers while she was in dance class. although they were too big. i will have to look for smaller ones. they would also like her to have tap shoes. but i never saw any even remotely close to her size.

Chris said he really liked his drawing class. He is a fantastic little artist. and draws wonderul pictures so i thought that class would be great for him. Then he just walks down the hall to the gym where soccer is. Our recreation department offers fantastic opportunities for a great price. maybe your local recreation has things they offer to.

so what super foods are we eating today: organic broccoli, cauliflower, salmon, and mxed veggie salad( spinach, bell pepper, cucumber, red onion, button mushroom, grape tomato. and more.

vitamins i am now taking are omega 3, and a womens one a day. i am thinking of starting a b12 vitamin. but am still researching it. Any thoughts on vitamins.

I am in the market for a recommendation for whey protein, if anyone has one they want to recommend.