By now, your husband has probably returned from a last minute dash to the mall (mine made one this morning). Hopefully you have completed your shopping and also the food prep for tomorrow's meal. In any case, it's time to turn your attention to your family. Christmas isn't about giving the "right" gifts or cooking the perfect (fill in the blank). Tell your family how much you love them, and share God's love with others as well. There are so many people hurting this December due to job losses, retirement fund downturns, and the bumps and bruises that happen no matter what Wall Street's condition is.
Take stock of all the blessings you have. While you're at it, on a practical note, make note of what worked for you this holiday season, and what you want to do differently in 2009. Pick up only the items you know you'll use next year if you shop the post-Christmas sales.
If you're like me and dread "undecorating" the house, host a tree "untrimming" party. Ask friends to bring their leftover appetizers and cookies, make a crock of spiced cider (email me if you'd like a recipe for spiked maple cider) and have fun telling the story behind your ornaments as you pack each away. I put mine into red and green plastic totes, easily identifiable even in the garage rafters. I also have orange and black totes for autumn, a blue one for birthday paraphernalia and a pink one for Valentine's Day items.
May God bless you greatly, as he has already done with the gift of his Son.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
More holiday helpful hints
It's December (already!), so Christmas preparations are in high gear.
1. Skip the homemade cookie dough if what the kids enjoy is the decorating. Use refrigerated sugar cookie dough and get to the fun part in mere minutes.
2. Ask each family member for their favorite holiday dish. Make those and skip all the others. If everyone's favorites fall into the dessert category, make a quick pot of soup and some rolls for your holiday dinner and spend more time baking (and savoring) the sweets.
3. To discourage present shakers, use color coded dots for each member of the family instead of writing their names on tags. Be sure to make a key for yourself and tuck it away.
4. Send out Christmas cards to others as you receive theirs. Not only will you have their current address, but you will also save time by not sending cards to so many people. Let go of the guilt of not sending cards to your neighbor (from 18 years ago) and your dentist.
1. Skip the homemade cookie dough if what the kids enjoy is the decorating. Use refrigerated sugar cookie dough and get to the fun part in mere minutes.
2. Ask each family member for their favorite holiday dish. Make those and skip all the others. If everyone's favorites fall into the dessert category, make a quick pot of soup and some rolls for your holiday dinner and spend more time baking (and savoring) the sweets.
3. To discourage present shakers, use color coded dots for each member of the family instead of writing their names on tags. Be sure to make a key for yourself and tuck it away.
4. Send out Christmas cards to others as you receive theirs. Not only will you have their current address, but you will also save time by not sending cards to so many people. Let go of the guilt of not sending cards to your neighbor (from 18 years ago) and your dentist.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Resolved to get organized in 2009?
Register now for our next study of The Busy Mom's Guide to a Happy, Organized Home (Fast Solutions to Hundreds of Everyday Dilemmas) beginning Thursday, 1/8/09, at Mardel. We'll meet for eight weeks (9:15-11:15am, no childcare available) and benefit from discussion, accountability, and coffee! $30 includes the book and all sessions. Registration is limited to 11, so don't delay! Email cari@thecluttercutters.net for registration details. If this day/time/location doesn't work for you, we can also do a study group at another location just for your friends!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Organized holidays
Christmas is fast approaching, so I'd like to share some of my favorite tips for enjoying a less stressful holiday season.
1. Write down what each present is on the gift tag as you open it. Save the tags in a sandwich bag until thank you note writing time.
2. Host a swap party: invite friends to bring their unwanted items, such as bath sets, clothing and toys, set up areas indoors like you would for a garage sale, and "shop" from each other's discards. At a recent swap, new owners went home with candles, Barbies, a dress, a slow cooker, loaf pans, scrapbooking tools and recent magazines, among other items. Some were brand new and can be given as gifts!
3. Share rarely used spices and such with neighbors. Compare what each of you has before buying pricey items that will lose their flavor before being used up. Then, divide the shopping list.
4. Compare shipping rates at www.shipgooder.com to find out which service is cheapest for your destination. Or, let online merchants ship your purchase directly to the recipient.
Check back soon for more tips!
1. Write down what each present is on the gift tag as you open it. Save the tags in a sandwich bag until thank you note writing time.
2. Host a swap party: invite friends to bring their unwanted items, such as bath sets, clothing and toys, set up areas indoors like you would for a garage sale, and "shop" from each other's discards. At a recent swap, new owners went home with candles, Barbies, a dress, a slow cooker, loaf pans, scrapbooking tools and recent magazines, among other items. Some were brand new and can be given as gifts!
3. Share rarely used spices and such with neighbors. Compare what each of you has before buying pricey items that will lose their flavor before being used up. Then, divide the shopping list.
4. Compare shipping rates at www.shipgooder.com to find out which service is cheapest for your destination. Or, let online merchants ship your purchase directly to the recipient.
Check back soon for more tips!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Free food - you'll thank me when you try it!
When was the last time you found a restaurant you like so much that you HAVE to go there once a week (OK, I went twice last week)?
Rod and I love Mu-Shu's (http://www.mushus.com/). Not only is their "fresh Chinese cuisine" served up fast (and steaming hot), but it is the best darn food this side of P.F. Chang's, our former favorite. For only $5.99, you can try a lunch sized entree (no skimping here, it's plenty) with your choice of brown or white rice, and a spring roll or soup. But, don't miss the turkey potstickers. The sauce is so good, we order extra to bring home - not that there are ever leftover potstickers - but that stuff is great on just about anything. I was only half-joking when I suggested that Rod try it on his morning cereal.
Now, the free part: Mention my name, Cari Pemberton, and that you saw this on my blog, and you'll recieve free Crab Mu-Goons (several of their dishes have fun names) with the puchase of any entree. This offer expires 12/31/08, but don't wait to try them out. We need to support our locally owned businesses!
Rod and I love Mu-Shu's (http://www.mushus.com/). Not only is their "fresh Chinese cuisine" served up fast (and steaming hot), but it is the best darn food this side of P.F. Chang's, our former favorite. For only $5.99, you can try a lunch sized entree (no skimping here, it's plenty) with your choice of brown or white rice, and a spring roll or soup. But, don't miss the turkey potstickers. The sauce is so good, we order extra to bring home - not that there are ever leftover potstickers - but that stuff is great on just about anything. I was only half-joking when I suggested that Rod try it on his morning cereal.
Now, the free part: Mention my name, Cari Pemberton, and that you saw this on my blog, and you'll recieve free Crab Mu-Goons (several of their dishes have fun names) with the puchase of any entree. This offer expires 12/31/08, but don't wait to try them out. We need to support our locally owned businesses!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Patriotic Girls
Publication:The Colorado Springs Gazette;
Date:Nov 1, 2008;
Section:Parent;
Page Number:72
Election FEVER
Presidential campaign offers opportunity to expand kids’ political awareness and teach the responsibilities of citizenship
By Kate Jonuska It’s a subject that’s usually complex, often passionate and always controversial. It’s a topic that you probably don’t want your child to learn about on the street or from TV. No, we’re not talking about birds and bees, but something almost as volatile and important in your child’s social education: politics. In this election year, when the presidential campaign invades our daily lives, more families are finding political issues cropping up at home and are using that opportunity to broaden their kids’ political awareness. For many families, talking about politics and government is an important way to shape a child’s moral character and their perspective of the world. “It’s our personal belief that just as you pass down your faith, you should help inform your children’s political outlook, explain why we believe what we do,” says Cari Pemberton, mother of this month’s cover models Bethany Salgado, age 12, and Erin Pemberton, age 6. Pemberton has gone to great lengths to get her daughters involved during this historic election year — they attended a McCain-Palin event as a family — because she wants them to grow into passionate and informed citizens. “Don’t be lukewarm. Be passionate about something,” she says to her daughters. “Apathy is a huge problem in America. If people were as passionate about politics as they are about football, our country might be in better shape today.”
Date:Nov 1, 2008;
Section:Parent;
Page Number:72
Election FEVER
Presidential campaign offers opportunity to expand kids’ political awareness and teach the responsibilities of citizenship
By Kate Jonuska It’s a subject that’s usually complex, often passionate and always controversial. It’s a topic that you probably don’t want your child to learn about on the street or from TV. No, we’re not talking about birds and bees, but something almost as volatile and important in your child’s social education: politics. In this election year, when the presidential campaign invades our daily lives, more families are finding political issues cropping up at home and are using that opportunity to broaden their kids’ political awareness. For many families, talking about politics and government is an important way to shape a child’s moral character and their perspective of the world. “It’s our personal belief that just as you pass down your faith, you should help inform your children’s political outlook, explain why we believe what we do,” says Cari Pemberton, mother of this month’s cover models Bethany Salgado, age 12, and Erin Pemberton, age 6. Pemberton has gone to great lengths to get her daughters involved during this historic election year — they attended a McCain-Palin event as a family — because she wants them to grow into passionate and informed citizens. “Don’t be lukewarm. Be passionate about something,” she says to her daughters. “Apathy is a huge problem in America. If people were as passionate about politics as they are about football, our country might be in better shape today.”
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