Day after Christmas sales

The malls are crazy today. There are 50%-75% Sales everywhere. As I walked through the stores this morning, I realized that people are returning. The lines for returns are longer then for purchases. Does that mean that people are not happy with their gifts?
Anyway, I wanted to let everyone know that “Bath and Body Works” is having 50% to 75% off sales today. http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/home/index.jsp

Merry Christmas

Gifts, gifts and more gifts

With every season come new holidays. I love buying a perfect gift, or what I think would make a person happy. I really am not into the idea of re-gifting, therefore I try to give with thought and a receipt.
With the economy the way it is now and me without a job, its tough to find a good gift and it not being too expensive. I did make a few scarves for my youngest daughter’s teachers. I do hope that they like it. What do you think?

Back to reality

This is my first day back to reality. I have been sick with a flu and my girls were sick with a stomach virus, while my husband was working all weekend. Today the oldest is still home with me, while the youngest went to day care. This gives me a little time to write.
On Saturday we were all too sick to move, but Sunday I made meatballs in my slow cooker.
I also had some time to wrap a few gifts for my school staff, pictures are attached.



With that being said here is my recipe for meatballs:
½ pkg. of stove top for turkey
1 lb of ground turkey
½ lb of ground beef
1 egg
½ cup of water (I used purified)
½ pkg. of baby bella mushrooms, sliced
½ pkg. of white mushrooms, sliced
½ white onion, chopped
1 jar of spaghetti sauce

Sauté the mushrooms with onion in a frying pan. Combine: stuffing mix, egg, water and shape into 1 inch balls. Place the balls in slow cooker, top with sautéed mushroom and spaghetti sauce, cover and cook for 5 hours.
Tip: I garnished with parmesan sauce.

Weekend Agenda

My favorite holiday is New Years. This is the time that we decorate a tree and exchange gifts. This tradition came with my family from Russia. I would love for my daughters to enjoy the holiday as much as I do.

When the New Year begins, you get a chance for a fresh start. It gives me a crisp breath of air as the New Year begins. With that, come more gifts. I love giving gifts. The look on the persons face when the gift you chose to give makes someone happy. I personally believe that the presentation of the gift is also important.
At this point I am almost done with getting the gifts and some are even wrapped but not finished.

Please send links with beautiful wrapping ideas!!!
I will keep you posted on my progress.

P.S. need cool recipes for the New Year’s celebration dinner.

Pictures from last Birthday

These are the pictures from my oldest daughter’s 9th Birthday Party, last year. It was a spa/dress up party and the theme was Pink Poodle.

Birthday Party Planning

My last post was my candy centerpieces. I really do love making beautiful things that people appreciate and remember after the party is over. My true passion is party planning. I have done many parties for family and even tried Event Planning business (which did not make it). Usually in mid December I start planning my oldest daughter’s birthday, which is February 7th. This year I have no idea what to do for her. She wants a sleep over party for a few girls. It will be fun for the girls, but I am always concerned for the boys. I try to make the parties and even the gift bags to suit girls and boys. (Ex. My youngest had a princess theme party and the girls got everything princess, but the boys got pirate theme stuff).

From now until the party I will be blogging about the party and preparations as well as the holiday related things that are going on in my “stay at home” mom’s life.

For the sleep over party I was thinking cupcake theme. If anyone has a cute idea, please share with me.

Here is the link to the cupcake theme: http://www.birthdayinabox.com/party-themes/boxbuilder.asp-tab_cat_id-1-cat_id-5-dept_id-416 . I think I will make my own invitations.