Happy Holidays!

Well, we have survived our first winter holiday season as a family with an infant. I stayed up very late more nights than not sewing, painting and gluing. V was very patient and let me use her tiny hands to stamp shirts and press ornaments without fussing. Everyone had a wonderful time and no one went too crazy with the gift giving, except my father, who gave us a very nice digital camcorder to record these precious moments. Of course V refuses to roll over on camera now that she's been rolling for a little over a week. :)

I hope everyone has had a nice and comforting holiday and that they are looking forward to the new year with hope and positivity.

Holiday giving on a budget

So as you have probably figured out, I don't like to spend a lot of money. Especially on things I can't guarantee the recipients will like. So this year I decided to make, or customize, every single give I'm giving.

I am a huge fan of Michael's craft stores.  I know, not very eco, but if you hit a good sale, it can be very frugal.  I found some amazing jewelry supplies this year that I swear I've been waiting for.  I snatched up several pieces for the women in my family and have made them all little pieces of wearable wonderfulness (details after they receive them).  Then there was the three for $6.00 photo ornaments. I had to have those. And there are going to be wearable pieces of baby related stuff for the men... It was a very nice way to create keepsakes for the family of the first baby holiday.  So I've (obviously) been staying up very very late the last few nights playing with scissors and glue and paper and model magic and my baby girl.

For wrapping paper I intend to snag a newspaper from my parents and use leftovers that my husband has hoarded over the past year. I am not spending any money on fancy holiday paper ever again. Maybe I'll dip her hand in non-toxic tempera paint and make baby print paper. ;)

Tea for four

As part of my UU Church's annual Service Auction, I offered up a
Saturday afternoon tea and two people signed up. It turned out that my
Gram was going to be here for the event when she came down to meet
V for the first time.

I was lucky that my hubby has been paid well for some jobs recently but
I also wanted to have this event without spending a lot of money.
I ended up buying tea using my husband's employee discount. I baked a
simple, few ingredient cake and chai tea biscuits, and made cucumber
sandwiches. Not expensive, but well presented. What mattered most wasn't
what was on the plates (even though my food was awesome), but what
happened around the table. We had four generations of women sharing tea
and snacks and life stories. It was wonderful.

Fun with friends

V and I had a wonderful, and affordable, day with friends
yesterday. My Friend Jess and her daughter Grace came over and we baked
cookies using ingredients I've had for ages, assembled a gingerbread
house and played with V. She even got to experience her first
snow.
This gem of a day was proof that you don't have to spend a lot of money
to have a wonderful time. All you need is good companionship,
conversation and if you are lucky, cookies.

Hair cutting at home continued

So I decided after several days to revisit my hair cut and take about four or five more inches off, mostly in the back because I like my hair at least as long in the front as it is in the back, if not longer.  My darling husband didn't even notice the change.  He claims he hadn't noticed how long it had gotten.  Okay fine.  Anyway, he is planning on cutting his almost shoulder length locks in order to be more promotable in his job in the discount department store that shall remain nameless.  Since he finds his hair to be a vital part of his external personality, he has decided to live vicariously through me and has requested that I now "have fun" with my hair since I am no longer in the public workforce and accountable to no one but myself.  His request?  "Pink with green tips." Seriously.  My 43-year-old husband really wants me to chop off my hair and dye it crazy colours.  I'm not ready to go as short as he wants it yet, it did after all take two years to grow out some bad bangs, but I think there might be some discount hair colour in my future.  I told him green doesn't tend to take very well, but if I can find a bluer green maybe it won't look too much like baby poop when it starts to fade.  I wish he had requested purple.  Maybe I'll go purple anyway.  I know crazy hair colour tends not to be very eco, but it is fun and does sometimes make me feel better about myself.  And since I'm already a non-traditional mother in a lot of ways, this won't shock anyone.  

Black Friday

Is there anything less eco-frugal than Black Friday? Stores open since 3:00 a.m., delivery trucks making extra trips, people driving all over town, targeted/time limited display advertising...Not to mention the
potential injuries and even deaths in the crowds. I feel terrible that my mom is actually going to be working 14 hours today at a Walmart. I'm just glad she's a pharmacist and therefore out of the crowds a bit.

My response to Black Friday? Participating in "Buy Nothing Day." I will be spending time with my daughter and my dad, working on computer things and relaxing while a huge portion of humanity goes insane for 24 hours.

I am planning on making holiday gifts anyway. I would elaborate on those plans, but my family reads this blog and that would ruin any surprises. ;)

Friends with food

So the most fun way to be eco-frugal I've found so far?  Have a wonderful friend cook food for you.  I have a dear friend, Serena, who has similar eating habits to mine who enjoys coming to our house to cook for me and play with V.  We always end up with leftovers for everyone and a wonderful time together.  Next time she comes over, I'm cooking for her though because I'm starting to feel guilty. :)

Today's menu:

Lemon Leek Frittata

Mixed Green Salad with Citrus and Red Onion

Citrus, Olive, Shallot Salad 

Yummy!!!!