Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone! 

I don't have a big post but I wanted to share a blessing with you. A blessing from the sermon series at my church this month.

May the love, joy, and hope of this season fill your hearts and home this season! 

In all the eating, present opening, traveling, and family don't forget to be thankful and to praise God for his blessings all around. 

Mele Kalikimaka! 

P.S.  Just so you know.....blogger has this awesome thing where you can write a post in advance and have it pop up when you choose. That is what this is but the message is all the same! 

Christmas Blog Share Day 25

Join Parga's Junkyard as we Share Christmas with some of the web's best bloggers!

25 Days of Christmas

Featured Blog - Parga's Junkyard

Christmas Morning and all the packages have been opened! What did you get? The question on everybody's tongue.....

I asked some family and friends what the craziest, dumbest, silliest and/or most stupid and/or annoying gift they ever got was! Here are the answers!

Do you have a Christmas blog post you would like to share with our readers? Sign up on our linky below to share your posts! Or if you are one of our readers just click on the Linky to see more Christmas posts to check out!

Christmas Blog Share Day 24

Join Parga's Junkyard as we Share Christmas with some of the web's best bloggers!

December 24, 2011

Featured Blog - My Crazy Bliss

There are so many fun things to make for the holidays. I wanted to think of something unique and fun to put in my windows this year. This craft is great because it can be used all winter long, not just at Christmas time. I'm happy that we don't get snow here too often, but snowflakes go along with the cold weather!

Continue reading post at My Crazy Bliss

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Christmas Blog Share Day 23

25 Days of Christmas

December 23, 2011 

Features Lee, Me, and the Girls 

Well, hello there!

I'm McCall from Lee, Me, and the Girls,

and I fully believe that no part of the year carries more traditions than Christmas.

From the food to the family, we all want the holiday season to be special and fun.

On December 23rd, I'll be posting about some of my  favorite traditions

 as well as some I wish were my traditions.

And most importantly, I'll be talking about the traditions that help us keep in mind the true meaning of this wonderful time of year.

I hope you'll join me, and I wish you all a very merry Christmas!

Christmas Blog Share Day 22

25 Days of Christmas

December 22, 2011 

Features La Familia Aissa 

Christmas is just right around the corner and normally the last thing that everyone is shopping for are those small gifts and stocking stuffers. All those little things you kept saying to yourself that you'd pick up later..... Well 'later' is NOW! Here is a great list of OVER 100 small and inexpensive gift ideas! I don't know about you, but I hate filling stockings and buying small 'filler' presents only to be throwing away those things within weeks, because they were junk! This year I've decided that instead of wasting money, I'm buying things that are either needed, useful or consumable!

Another great idea for coworkers, friends or family is to group some of these items together for a "theme basket". I tried to group the items together as best I could! Here are a few suggestions... Baking, coffee, makeup, nails, art, golf, spa, electronics, car care, etc. Also, considering that most of these items are $5.00 or less this would be a wonderful way to bless a family in need! We will be filling a stocking to send to our World Vision child, but you could also drop off with a charity, a church or a specific family that you know! What a wonderful blessing to someone you could be! And what a lesson it would be for your children!

To read more go here 

Christmas Blog Share Day 20

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25 Days of Christmas

December 20th, 2011

Featured Blog - Allergy Free Vintage Cookery

One of the best parts of the holiday season is the chance to share special meals with friends and family... but what can you do if some of your loved ones are allergic to your favorite traditional foods? It can be tricky to avoid gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, fish and nuts... the most common food allergens. But take hope! I've searched the internet to find delicious recipes that are free of the top 8 allergens, and I've collected them here with photos and links to inspire your own holiday feast! (click for more).

Do you have a Christmas blog post you would like to share with our readers? Sign up on our linky below to share your posts! Or if you are one of our readers just click on the Linky to see more Christmas posts to check out!

Christmas Blog Share Day 19

Coupons For Wisconsin has joined up with Parga's Junkyard and many other holiday-lovin' blogs to bring you tips to get you through the craziness of this season!

25 Days of Christmas

December 19, 2011

Featured Blog - Coupons For Wisconsin

Even with everyone looking for a little more help in tight economic times, individuals seem to be feeling extra charitable over the last year. I am not going to go into all the details, but to make a it short, dollars donated have increased 1.3% from 2010 to 2011. Surprising, right? But as more is being donated, more is also needed. Holidays tend to bring more awareness to charities, and donation opportunities are presented at almost every retailer you visit. How do you react to these opportunities?

Do you donate every chance you get?

Do you throw a handful of coins into the Salvation Army's red bucket once or twice?

Do you do whatever you can to avoid contact with the donation seekers because you literally don't even have a penny to give?

Just last year, I was in the last category. In a way, I still am in that last category! But I have discovered alternative, more creative ways to give to others besides pulling cash out of my pocket. Join me in the joy of helping strangers celebrate this magical season, and explore how you too can donate on a dime.

Do you have a Christmas blog post you would like to share with our readers? Sign up on our linky below to share your posts! Or if you are one of our readers just click on the Linky to see more Christmas posts to check out!

Christmas Blog Share Day 18

Join Parga's Junkyard as we Share Christmas with some of the web's best bloggers!

25 Days of Christmas

December 18, 2011

Featured Blog - Larissa Hill Designs

Christmas is about traditions, old and new. Whether it is the sweet smell of holiday delights originating from the kitchen, the treasured Christmas ornaments, everlasting Christmas movies or the simple stockings hung over the fire with care, each and every holiday tradition, reminds us of the Christmas spirit in our hearts. Here are a few of my favorite traditions that I look forward to every holiday season....

To Read Entire Post Go to Larissa Hill Designs...

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Christmas Blog Share Day 17

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25 Days of Christmas

December 15, 2011

Featured Blog - Childhood Myths

Finding Joy and Happiness in Family Traditions

Christmas is a time of joy and happiness, right? Now don't get all "Bah! Humbug!" on me! Concentrating on what makes the holiday special for your family does take some work - mostly mental!! Do you know what traditions are important in your family? Can you find and share your own joy and happiness with those closest to you?

Here are some of the things that our family has come to value and love over time.....

Read Complete Blogpost HERE!

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Christmas Blog Share Day 16

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25 Days of Christmas

December 16, 2011

Featured Blog - ClipperGirl's Saving Spot

The Christmas season can be stressful if we feel that we have to spend lots of money on gifts for friends and relatives. My family has decided to eliminate some of that stress by including hand made gifts this year. I will show you how to use the items below to make a gift that any grandparent, parent, aunt or uncle will cherish more than all the electronics that money can buy.

Click Here to Continue Reading Post...

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Christmas Blog Share Day 15

Day 15 features My Simple Walk 

In just 10 days it will be Christmas! Please come join me over at My Simple Walk, for a countdown. I will have my family's top 10 all-time favorite Christmas movies, the 10 best songs of the holiday season, and 10 last minute, make in less than a day, gift ideas with patterns and instructions for each! Shhhhh....There may be a few other surprises as well.

Grab a warm mug of cocoa, turn on those Christmas tunes, and sit a spell with me on December 15th, for the 10 Day Christmas Countdown!

Christmas Blog Share Day 14

 It's a pleasure to be sharing in this special blog share, The 25 Days of Christmas,  started by the Parga's Junkyard Blog. I hope you check out the other blog posts sharing the holiday season with 24 bloggers who have joined forces to make this season a bit more magical..

25 Days of Christmas

 The Bunnies of Christmas...

 Often the Holidays can be a difficult or lonely time for those who have no family or friends nearby, or are left behind because it is difficult to manage having one come to visit for a holiday visit-perhaps due to constraints of illness.  Or sadder still, whether through ill family relations or neglectful family, the elderly or disabled family member is left behind.

It is usually difficult for an elderly or sick person in a nursing home, hospital, or assisted living facility, who receives few or no visits, to watch others receive visits or go out during the holiday season.  I have seen this first hand, having worked in nursing homes, a rehab hospital and mental health facility for about 18 years. Even the smallest gesture is appreciated by these people and can mean a lot.

On the other hand, the warmth of a hug, for example, is nice when given by perhaps a staff person or visitor from a church, it is not always the same as when these people participate in interactions with animals.  There is something about animals, that for most people will let them feel even more relaxed and free to enjoy the interaction than with people they aren't as familiar with. Often times the results are amazing!

For years, I have participated in pet therapy programs with various animals owned by facilities or more often with bringing in my own houserabbits (litterbox trained and all!).  Come share this recent holiday season visit at an assisted living facility and feel the holiday magic yourself with....

The Bunnies of Christmas in the Rabbit Slippers Blog  

Christmas Blog Share Day 13

Join Parga's Junkyard as we Share Christmas with some of the web's best bloggers!

25 Days of Christmas

We are celebrating Christmas with "Cowboy Style" this year. Stop by The Freshman Cook and see what we have rustled up, as we prepare 5 different food gifts "For the Cowboy in all of Us "!!

Do you have a Christmas blog post you would like to share with our readers? Sign up on our linky below to share your posts! Or if you are one of our readers just click on the Linky to see more Christmas posts to check out!

 

Christmas Blog Share Day 12

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25 Days of Christmas

December 12, 2011

Featured Blog - Tiara's and Bowties, Think Smink!

Shimmery Christmas Ornament

So I had planned on knocking your socks off with an amazing tutorial for a wintery glitzy lamp shade for Christmas decorating. You know how it is, you have this idea in your head and it's going to be simply stunning... then you set out to recreate your vision and... big fat fail! Ended up looking like a big white glittery blob! What's one to do when they get oh so stressed out over not one but 3 failed attempts?

Move on! So move on I did!

I bring you the glitz in another wonderful little trinket anyone can do, even got the kids involved to make one too!

Click Here to Continue Reading Post...

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Christmas Blog Share Day 11

Join Parga's Junkyard as we Share Christmas with some of the web's best bloggers!

25 Days of Christmas

December 11, 2011

Featured Blog - Empty Nest

Having an empty nest can make the holiday season not quite as festive as it was when the kids were growing up. It has now become an annual event that is not only a low-country tradition but also assures the nest won't be empty during the holidays!

Join me at Empty Nest for a Christmas celebration that began once our nest became empty three years ago.

Do you have a Christmas blog post you would like to share with our readers? Sign up on our linky below to share your posts! Or if you are one of our readers just click on the Linky to see more Christmas posts to check out!

Christmas Blog Share Day 10

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25 Days of Christmas

December 10, 2011

Featured Blog - Smitten by Abigail

A Christmas Tablescape with Thrifty Treasure Finds

I've always marveled at tablescapes walking past them at fabulous restaurants, store displays and of course, the internet. I love all the details, the tiny touches that bring an entire table setting together. They always looked so pricey though. So my big mission for myself was to create a Christmas Tablescape... on a budget of course.

Read More on Creating a Christmas Tablescape

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Christmas Blog Share Day 9

25 Days of Christmas

December 9, 2011

Featured Blog – Pounds4Pennies

I am so happy to be able to participate in this Blog Share with so many other bloggers. I love Christmas time, because it was always about spending time with my family. It is the one time of the year where we all try to make an effort to get home to mom and dad’s (nana and papa’s) house to enjoy time with each other. When I was a single mom I was able to purchase a set of 3 trees of different heights for my Christmas tree. We now use these trees to put in the three kids rooms. These are their Christmas trees to decorate how they choose each year. They get to place their handmade ornaments on it each year. In order to count down to Christmas we make a paper chain advent calendar for them to put on their trees to count down to the birth of Jesus. Here are some variations on this easy frugal advent calendar.

To read more go here. 

Christmas Blog Share Day 8

Join Parga's Junkyard as we Share Christmas with some of the web's best bloggers!

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25 Days of Christmas

December 8th, 2011

Featured Blog - Radcrafter

I did it. Oh yeah, I can cross hang the Christmas stockings off the checklist. Yay! For those of you who read this little blog, you know I mentioned previously that this was a major TO-DO on the Christmas checklist this year. If you're just checking in, you can read more about that here. And, after lots of online oogling and book reading (I' m always reading crafting, decorating books, etc) it finally came to me. My idea was to merge a simple stocking pattern found online with a pillow design that discovered in an old Martha Stewart decorating book.

These stockings are lined, only require a few supplies and require minimum sewing skills to create. Visit Radcrafter to create your own ribbon Christmas stocking...

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Christmas Blog Share Day 7

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25 Days of Christmas

December 1, 2011

Featured Blog - By the Brook Designs

Here is my mantle currently

I love it!

I wanted to do a little more though.

I love to change with the season and usually add a new sign but I am adoring the silver platter in the middle so I decided to paint it with chalkboard paint so that I could write whatever seasonal saying I would like.

Read the remainder of this post from By the Brook Designs!