Search Results for: blog a small gift with a big impact

Big Wedding Versus Small Wedding

It seems that for a long time, big weddings were expected. Guest lists of 200 to 300 people with large elaborate receptions were the way to go. After all, it is your day, so why not celebrate? I used to love looking through bridal magazines at all of the beautiful over-the-top dresses, cakes, and favors and getting all of the great wedding advice for a large wedding. But with the economy changing, some people are discovering the joy in small weddings, too. Engaged couples may now find that a large wedding with all of the trimmings is seen as ostentatious, … Continue reading →

Practical Gifts for a Frugal Family Part 2

Are you looking for some practical gift ideas for someone who is frugal? We are continuing with our brainstorming. If you missed the first post in this topic, click here to catch up: Practical Gifts for a Frugal Family. And, now on to some more ideas… Freezer bags or containers Chances are that a frugal family is buying in bulk and freezing ingredients and meals. And chances are also good that they may be using the same freezer bags over and over again. Give them the gift of freezer bags and containers to help them keep on track. Since this … Continue reading →

A Small Gift With a Big Impact

Christmas shopping this year was made a little easier. Along with the gifts bought for family and friends, I included for each person a copy of ‘The Singing Silence’ by Anne Hamilton. Earlier this year I felt privileged to have been asked to edit this book. It’s only a little book but it packs a great wallop. It is filled with interesting detail and information. I was blown away by what I read. You can read a review of it up on my ‘Write and Read with Dale’ blog or under non fiction at Aussie Reviews-a great site that reviews … Continue reading →

Frugal and Creative Gift Wrap Ideas

‘Tis the season to start thinking about holiday gifts. Have you noticed that gift wrap is getting pretty elaborate and expensive? My son brought home a school fundraiser that featured gift wrap for $12 a roll! And the stores aren’t too much better these days. But why spend so much on wrapping the presents? Use that money instead to buy bigger presents or to save toward other holiday bills. Here are some frugal and creative ways to save on gift wrap, but still provide gift wrap that has impact. The secret to great gift wrapping is to let your imagination … Continue reading →

Inexpensive Gift Baskets

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Have you ever received a gift basket full of goodies? They are wonderful gifts and some can even seem quite elaborate. When I was pregnant, a friend of mine gave me a big wicker basket full of baby care items and even a few special Mommy care items. It was the best gift I had ever received. Gift baskets are easy to put together and can really be quite personal if you take the time to pick the right items. The best thing about gift baskets is they don’t need to be wildly expensive to make a huge impact. Whether … Continue reading →

If I Had My Life to Live Over

I believe in stockpiling. I really do, but what happens when saving something for someday means that you never get to enjoy it? Erma Bombeck was a well-known humor writer who succumbed to illness. When she found out she was dying, she wrote a poem called “If I Had My Life to Live Over.” One of the lines of the poem was “I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.” Isn’t it so true? How many of us save stuff for someday? Someday comes in many forms: someday when there is scarcity … Continue reading →

Post Holiday Boredom Busters for Kids

The clichés are true; kids really do enjoy playing with boxes more than their contents and wrapping paper really can fly if folded just right. Prior to becoming a mother I never gave much thought to boxes, paper and tape in regards to keeping kids busy. How quickly things change. This year I seriously contemplated purchasing my 6-year-old a case of Scotch tape and calling it a Christmas. The kid burns through tape like she’s possessed by Martha Stewart. Still, I don’t expect her to sit in a room designing Scotch tape chotskis for the remainder of her Christmas break … Continue reading →

Eco-Friendly Mowing

It is still late morning here, and I can already hear various lawn mowers puttering away in the yards of my neighbors. Unfortunately, mowers contribute five percent of air pollution, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. About fifty-four million Americans mow their lawns each weekend. Fortunately, we aren’t one of that number, at least not yet. We live pretty much in the woods and don’t have a grassy space. Once our landscaping is done, we do plan on having a grassy yard for at least a portion of the yard. And, we will be looking in to eco-friendly options … Continue reading →

Books Can Provide An Opening

How do you choose what to read? And more importantly how do you choose what books to buy? Are you influenced by the opinions of others? In the February 11, 2008 Publishers Weekly published an article called Word-of-Mouth Top Book-Buying Decisions. It statistics which were the result of a survey among African-American readers. The online survey found most readers chose books recommended. In fact 55% bought books recommend by a family member or friend. In my case, I might read something recommended by a friend. More often though I search out particular authors I like or I read the blurb … Continue reading →

Engaging the Emotions

On the whole I’m not a huge fan of Christian fiction. But last year I picked up a book by Karen Kingsbury and found myself searching for the rest of the Firstborn series. Over the next week or so, I read the rest, even when it meant ordering the middle book of the series in and paying $2 which I thought steep for a reservation fee. Our old library in Orange used to charge 55 cents. When trying to read a series where the middle books never seem to be on the shelves, or work through the novels of a … Continue reading →