New Years Eve – Party Like It's 1949! Free Old Time Radio Downloads

"Get out your noisemakers and top hats, it's a New Year celebration at OTRCAT.com. Please enjoy these Holiday-themed old time radio shows free downloads from the New Years Collection. Read about each episode and listen to these special New Year's shows" here. (Right click on the audio links and "save link as" or "save target").

Fibber McGee and Molly are tickled pink when they are invited to the exclusive Country Club New Years Eve Dance Party. Miss Brooks struggles to find a party to celebrate the New Year and gets stuck babysitting while everyone else, including Ms Davis, attends parties.

The Whistler follows a couple married under false pretenses on New Years as they attempt to celebrate their first anniversary. In Gunsmoke, Ira Pucket decides on a New Year's resolution to become a new man - a bank robber.

Happy New Years
The first Rose Bowl Parade was organized by the members of the Valley Hunt Club in 1890 and included horse drawn carriages decorated with flowers. The Rose Bowl Parade was popular New Year's Day attraction, and Jack Benny had many programs with a Rose Bowl theme."


Coupon code for purchases: HOLIDAY2010 through 1/13/11. Save $5 off all online orders of $35 or more. Many interesting vintage history and documentary radio shows offered at this site for reasonable prices.

Also: Free Old Time Radio downloads and streaming audio here at Internet Archives.

Clever Jeans Repair Idea for Torn Knees

See here for tutorial.

Voluntary Simplicity

SUE TRUMAN is all shades of green. Makes her curtains from bedsheets, the rods from twigs, gets her clothes second-hand, grows her own food, makes her own gifts, drinks out of glass jars, and gets her books and movies from the library.

But this is no fad. No new way of thinking. No reawakening. Truman, her husband, Richard Twomey (to whom she has been married longer than she can remember), and their college-age son, Michael, have always lived like this. In their 880-square-foot cottage in Seattle's Bryant neighborhood. Read more here.

Feast Day in Remembrance of the Holy Innocents

Today is a feast day in remembrance of the Holy Innocents, early martyrs of the church. Matthew 2, recounts that Herod, after learning of the birth of a new and all powerful king - our Lord Jesus and outwitted by the Magi, ordered the massacre of all male children of two years or under in Bethlehem.

More Snow!

We got a white Christmas this year. : )

Christmas Blessings and Peace

To carry in your heart always...the gift of Jesus .

Source: The Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus in the 1977 television mini-series Jesus of Nazareth,a Franco Zeffirelli film.

Homemade Paper Gift Bag

Save you ribbons(and brown paper) from gifts! This bag can be made to suit any occasion. See here for instructions.

Simple Vintage Cookie Recipes

 My daughter and I made some of these super easy cookies this afternoon. Sprinkles were flying!

Reposted from 2007:



From the Economy Cookbook, published in 1910, in public domain, free to print, read, and download. Click here for cookie recipes. To print/save recipe page at left, simply click on image to enlarge.

See more tips at Kitchen Tips Tuesday.

Cute Children's Felt Sewing Crafts

Many more ideas, tons of them for the holidays and beyond, here at Craft Gossip.

Children's Short Story: How the Poinsettia Came to the United States and the Origin of its Name

The Flower of Christmas, Boys' Life magazine, 1967. Readable online only - one page article.

Abstract Three Kings/Wise Men Printable Coloring Page

Click to enlarge and save/print.

Original

Snow Angels

We got a bit of snow last week.

O Morning Star

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!  

O Morning Star, splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.  

Isaiah had prophesied: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined." Isaiah 9:2

Printable Victorian Children's Color-Cut-Paste Christmas Tree

My young daughter and I finished this today. Black and white templates here. Free and in public domain. The ornaments and tree are on separate pages. We used water colors and glitter glue from the Dollar Tree.

Recycled Craft: Make Your Own Snowflake Ornaments

This one is made with toilet tissue or paper towel rolls. See here.

Seven Days of Prayful Reflection and Praise

The O Antiphons, used prior to 1970 in the Catholic church, and still used in, among others, the 1962 Latin-rite Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican churches. They are traditionally sung or recited at Vespers(evening services) from December 17 to December 23, seven days.

Each antiphon mentions Scripture which prophesizing the coming of Jesus using the various names of Christ. They are:

* December 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
* December 18: O Adonai (O Lord)
* December 19: O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
* December 20: O Clavis David (O Key of David)
* December 21: O Oriens (O Dayspring)
* December 22: O Rex Gentium (O King of the nations)
* December 23: O Emmanuel (O God is with Us)

The first letters of the titles taken backwards form a Latin acrostic of "Ero Cras" which translates to "Tomorrow, I will come", mirroring the theme of the antiphons.

Today mentions the Tree of Jesse:

O Radix Jesse
Latin:
O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum,
super quem continebunt reges os suum,
quem Gentes deprecabuntur:
veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

English:

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;
before you kings will shut their mouths,
to you the nations will make their prayer:
Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.

Isaiah had prophesied:

•  "A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots." Isaiah 11:1
•  "On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious." Isaiah 11:10

Jesse was the father of King David, and Micah had prophesied that the Messiah would be of the house and lineage of David and be born in David’s city, Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Also compare Isaiah 45:14, Isaiah 52:15 and Romans 15:12.

Read more.

Vintage Reindeer Coloring Page

This high quality black and white reindeer image printed out beautifully using the 8x10 cropped to fit page setting with Google's Picasa image editor. The image was a freebie offered at The Graphics Fairy, and was painted with brown water colors.

Free Vintage Children's Gift Tag

Click on image to enlarge and save. You'll be able to see entire image. I found this in a 1909 School Arts Magazine. Free and in public domain.

Google Maps The Human Body

"Google, which gave people a closer perspective of the world through Google Earth and Street View, on Thursday brought people a new way to view themselves with the beta release of Body Browser, a three-dimensional model that lets users zoom in and out of the human form, remove layers, and explore the body." Read here.

A Price Comparison App Called TheFind

"Tri Tang, a 25-year-old marketer, walked into a Best Buy Co. store in Sunnyvale, Calif., this past weekend and spotted the perfect gift for his girlfriend.

Last year, he might have just dropped the $184.85 Garmin global positioning system into his cart. This time, he took out his Android phone and typed the model number into an app that instantly compared the Best Buy price to those of other retailers. He found that he could get the same item on Amazon.com Inc.'s website for only $106.75, no shipping, no tax.

Tri Tang uses his mobile phone app, TheFind, to scan product bar codes and immediately troll online for the best price at various retailers.

While many holiday consumers refuse to pay full price, retailers are trying to outdo one another by encouraging shoppers to spend more, but without giving away the store. Elizabeth Holmes discusses some of retailers' most popular discount tactics." Read more.

I don't use a mobile phone with apps; however, I can still price compare from home before I either head out to a store or shop online.

Creative Gift Wrap - Recycled

 See here from the Country Living magazine.

We are using fabric bags as gift wrap this year. I found a good number of them ready-made at the thrift store this week! Someone had donated a bucket full of drawstring gift bags made from vintage sheets and fabric.

Frugal Neck Bone Stew

This is an old Southern standby. I make the stew base with the neck bones(pork) by slow cooking them all day in a pot of water(fill to cover meat) with some salt and pepper, and a little vinegar. When the meat falls away from the bones, I let it cool, and then skim away the fat layer that floats to the top. The soup will need straining, so use cheese cloth to catch all the grizzle and bones. Return the meat to the stock and add whatever you like. Traditionally, cut up potatoes are added with lima beans(good source of high fiber), *collard greens, and sauteed onions and garlic. I add a few bay leaves, sage, and hot sauce(or a small can of spicy tomatoes) to mine. This gets cooked until the potatoes are soft and served over some homemade corn bread. Add a side of baked sweet potatoes sprinkled with a little sugar and cinnamon. Yum-o!

Other variations substitute rice for potatoes, and add chopped tomatoes with chili peppers to the pot. I like this with black-eyed peas cooked in the stock with sauteed onion and garlic, frozen collard greens, and corn. The rice is added during the last 30 minutes. I season this dish with Adobo, a Latino seasoning with turmeric. Hot sauce is added to individual servings as preferred.

You can make this stew or stock with a leftover ham bone, but the neck bones give off a good amount of savory meat if slow cooked. Even more tasty is leftover turkey bones/parts cooked down with the neck bones - yummy! It's good eating for a fraction of the cost - comfort food at its best.

* If you use mixed greens such as mustard and turnip, add a little white sugar to the stew. The milder taste of collard greens taste best.

Free Resource: Following the Saints

You can follow and learn more about some of the better known saints with the Domestic-Church.com by season. They offer free to read online: "Brief histories of the life of a saint, most in three accounts: young families (children 0-8), practiced families (children 8-14), and experienced families (children 14-adult)." I've copied and pasted these histories(for personal use) into a three ring binder to share with my children each year.

Even if your Christian denomination or religion does include the saints, these brief histories may be beneficial for recognizing saints in art, and in history/cultural studies. Our Lady of Guadalupe is not only a saint, but a cultural symbol of Mexican heritage. Sadly, some gangs have picked up on this, so now it's important to know this Our Lady of Guadalupe for criminology. Saint Lucy(Lucia) Day is a culturally significant feast day in some Scandinavian countries, particularly Sweden. Then there is Saint George of England, Saint Patrick of Ireland, Saint Nicholas; Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr(stoned by Saul who later became Saint Paul), and other well known Christian saints tied specifically to countries of origin and cultural heritage.

A little late, but here are the saints listed for Advent/Christmas. Winter is here.

Feast of Saint Lucia(Sweden) Unit Study Freebies

"Saint Lucia, with her bright shining candles, reminds us to be the light in the darkness. And her offerings of food and drink remind us to be giving and kind to others. The white gown symbolizes the young woman's purity and the red reminds us of her martyrdom." See the "Ultimate Saint Lucia Day Post" at The Paper Dali with a paper doll, history, and a unit study(Sweden).

I had a childhood friend whose father was Swedish, and we were always invited over to their home for the Saint Lucia Day festivities. It's quite beautiful, and I loved to watch her father beam with joy when his eldest daughter wore the candles and white dress, singing traditional song with cakes in hand.

"Around Christmas time in Sweden, one of the biggest celebrations is St. Lucia's Day (or St. Lucy's Day) on December 13th. The celebration comes from stories that were told by Monks who first brought Christianity to Sweden.

St Lucia was a young Christian girl who was martyred, killed for her faith, in 304AD. The most common story told about St Lucia is that she would secretly bring food to the persecuted Christians in Rome, who lived in hiding in the catacombs under the city. She would wear candles on her head so she had both her hands free to carry things. Lucy means 'light' so this is a very appropriate name.
December 13th was also the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, in the old 'Julian' Calendar and a pagan festival of lights in Sweden was turned into St. Lucia's Day.
St. Lucia's Day is now celebrated by a girl dressing in a white dress with a red sash round her waist and a crown of candles on her head. (Normally electric candles are used for safety!) The crown is made of Lingonberry branches which are evergreen and symbolise new life in winter. Schools normally have their own St. Lucias and some town and villages also choose a girl to play St. Lucia in a procession where carols are sung." Read more here.

"A newer theory, requiring more research is that St. Birgitta (1303-1373), during her stay in Rome (1349-1373) in her effort to get papal approval of the Bridgittine Order for women, probably wrote home to Sweden telling of the Lucia legend which was widely known in Italy. As Lucia Day comes at the darkest time of year, the candies of the ministering Santa Lucia portend and witness to the True Light-the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the morning of the thirteenth of December, the strains of 'Santa Lucia' are heard everywhere in Sweden as the white-robed maiden comes out of the night with her burning crown of candies dispelling the darkness. In honor of her martyrdom, It has long been the custom to donate money on Lucia Day to institutions working for the blind." Read more here.

Printable December Themed Multi-grade Stories and Lessons

All are free and in public domain here. This list includes Christmas stories, art history, nature studies, and other December themed literature.

Boys' Life Magazine Readable Online: 1910-200

Boys' Life is the official youth magazine for the Boy Scouts of America. Published since 1911, it contains a proven mix of news, nature, sports, history, fiction, science, comics, and Scouting.
Dec 1935
60 pages
Vol. 25, No. 12
Published by Boy Scouts of America, Inc.

Other years 1910-2000. All free to read online. See here.

Vintage Seventh Grade December Ethics Lessons

From Ethics for Children: A Guide for Teachers and Parents, 1910

DECEMBER: FREEDOM AND
OBEDIENCE

Learn: Mrs. Hemans's "The Pilgrim Fathers." Questions: Why did they seek freedom to worship God? What was happening in England at that time? Do we have freedom now? Do we use it? In what way? If a boy does just what he feels like doing at every moment, is he free? What does it mean to be a slave to habit? What are the hardest habits to get over? Give an example of a good habit? In what way does a good habit make you freer? Read accounts of the life of William Penn, in Eva M. Tappan's American Hero Stories. Penn was imprisoned many times for disobedience to authority. The accusations against him were: (l) That he insisted on preaching the Quaker doctrine; (2) That he would not take off his hat, even to the King; (3) That he would not take the oath of allegiance. Was Penn right to disobey in these three cases?

Why is the government of the United States of the people, by the people, and for the people, as Lincoln said it was?

Learn: "He that is greatest among you, let him be your servant."

Is it a title of honor to be called a servant? Is it a title of honor to be called a servant of the State? What men are now servants of the State? What is the meaning of "to serve"? Is it honorable to be idle? Is it more honorable to be of service, or to live in luxury?

Read stories of the Prophet Elijah (I Kings, Chaps. xvii, xviii, and xix).

Read the story of Miles Standish, in Eva M. Tappan's American Hero Stories.

Read: Longfellow's "The Legend Beautiful," and "Robert of Sicily."

All are free and in public domain. To print individual pages at the links, simply right click on the images of the pages to save, or download entire book. There is also a plain text button at the links.

Vintage Children's December Picture Study

From Primary Education, 1917. Free and in public domain:

 Reads: "This month the picture study is a reproduction of an illustration in an ancient Missal painted for Martin de Beaune, Bishop of Tours. The artist was Jean Bourdichon, who lived in Tours in the latter half of the fifteenth century. He entered the service of Louis XI, and was court painter to three successive French kings. His art is quiet, graceful, tender. His saints and virgins all have the same gentle faces bending a little downwards, with fair white coifs and blue veils. Much of his work is found in illuminated books and some of his figures are among the most exquisite examples of this form of decorative art."

Click on image to enlarge and save, or go to link, right click on image of the page and save. Free and in public domain.

There is No Greater Joy

"There is no greater joy at Christmas than coming into a relationship with Jesus. Too many times we have worn ourselves out, driven by our expectations to have the “perfect” Christmas. It’s a set-up for disappointment.
All of the shopping, decorating, entertaining never fully meets our deepest longings. For Christmas to be special, we simply need to receive Jesus’ gift to us…a relationship with him. Knowing him brings great meaning and enjoyment at Christmas, no matter who knocks over the Christmas tree." ~ Thoughts About God

Whichever your denomination, it's a personal relationship with God which comes before all else. If the secular Christmas rituals are getting in the way of your relationship with Him, cut back or drop them, and create new traditions with your family that reflect the reason for the season. This is a season for quiet reflection, to be still, and hear His message of peace, joy, and hope.

Vintage Children's 1916 Christmas Memory Gem

Memory Gem(Early Elementary)

Not what we give,
But what we share;
The gift without the giver is bare;
He gives but worthless gold
Who gives from sense of duty.

Give aid if thou canst;
If not, a kind and gentle word.
It's loving and giving
That makes life worth living,
It's loving and giving
That makes life a song.

What is the thought of Christmas?
Giving.
What is the spirit of Christmas?
Love.

~Primary education, Volume 24, 1916 Free and in public domain. Copy and paste, if you like.

DIY Printable Nativity for Children

Template here.

Printable Early Elementary Short Story: The Legend of Saint Christopher and the Christ Child

From Kindergarten Stories and Morning Talks, Ginn & Co., 1890. Free and in public domain.

Copy and paste to your own word processor, or print here. I've added it to Google Documents. Image is from Wikipedia Commons.

SAINT CHRISTOPHER.

Saint Christopher wished to do something to serve the King of earth and heaven ; and he went to the cave of a good hermit, who said : —

" Knowest thou a certain river, stony, and wide, and deep, and often swollen by the rains, so that many people perish who attempt to pass over ? ",

And Saint Christopher answered, "I know it."

Then said the hermit, "Go to that river, and use thy strength to aid and to save those who struggle with the stream, and those who are about to perish." To which Christopher replied joyfully, —

"This I can do."

So he went as the hermit had directed, and he dwelt by the side of the river; and having rooted up a palm-tree from the forest, — so strong he was, and tall, — he used it for a staff to support and guide his steps; and he aided those who were about to sink, and the weak he carried on his shoulders across the stream; and by day and by night he was always ready for his task, and failed not, and was never wearied of helping those who needed help.

Christopher one night heard a voice which called to him from the shore; it was the plaintive voice of a child, and it seemed to say, " Christopher, come forth and carry me over!"

And he rose and looked out, but he saw nothing : then he lay down again ; but the voice called to him in the same words a second and a third time; and the third time he sought round about with a lantern; and at length he beheld a little child sitting on the bank, who entreated him, saying,—

" Christopher, carry me over this night."

And Christopher lifted the child on his strong shoulders, and took his staff and entered the stream.

And the waters rose higher and higher; and the waves roared, and the wind blew; and the infant on his shoulders became heavier and heavier, till it seemed to him that he must sink under the great weight; and he began to fear. But nevertheless, taking courage, and staying his tottering steps with his palm-staff, he at length reached the opposite bank; and when he had laid the child down, safely and gently, he looked upon him with astonishment, and he said, —

"Who art thou, child, that hath placed me in such peril ? Had I carried the whole world on my shoulder the burden had not been heavier! "

And the child replied : —

" Wonder not, good Christopher; for thou hast not only borne the world, but Him who made the world, upon thy shoulders. Me wouldst thou serve in this work of charity ; and, behold, I have accepted thy service and thee; plant , thy staff in the ground, and it shall put forth leaves and fruit."

Christopher did so, and the dry staff flourished as a palm-tree in the season, and was covered with clusters of fruit; but the Christ Child had vanished from sight.

Printable Chinese Paper Dolls and Homeschool Curricula Giveaway

Jimmie at Jimmie's Collage is giving away some interesting China homeschool resources from Currclick as a part of the Christmas Around the World Series. The giveaway closes on 12/12/10. I thought I'd post these cute Chinese paper dolls which I found a while back. Click on images to enlarge and save. Originals here and here.

Mary Queen of Scots Paper Doll

Since today is Mary Queen of Scots's birthday, I'll share this paper doll of the queen which I happened upon some months ago. See here to download free, an 1890's McLaughlin Coffee freebie.

From Wikipedia:
Mary was born on 8 December 1542 at Linlithgow Palace, Linlithgow, Scotland to King James V of Scotland and his French second wife, Mary of Guise. She was the only legitimate child of James to survive him, and she was said to have been born prematurely. A popular legend, written by John Knox, states that James, hearing on his deathbed that his wife had given birth to a daughter, ruefully exclaimed, "It came with a lass, it will pass with a lass!"


The House of Stewart, which originated in Brittany, had gained the throne of Scotland by the marriage of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert the Bruce, to Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland. James thus felt that since the crown came with a woman, a woman would be responsible for the loss of the crown from their family. This legendary statement came true much later, but not through Mary, whose son in fact became King of England. Eventually Sophia of Hanover, daughter of Elizabeth of Bohemia, became the heir to Anne of Great Britain and with her son George Louis of Hanover becoming King of Great Britain, replacing the House of Stuart in England.

Jean Plaidy wrote an interesting historical fiction series which covers the women of the House of Stuart, and King George's exiled wife, Sophia Dorothea of Celle.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

"Therefore, with her immaculate heart, she tells us: Trust in Jesus, He will save you!”

12/08/2010 13:11
VATICAN
The Immaculate Conception, source of hope, more powerful than evil, Pope says
During the Angelus, Benedict XVI underscored that evil, which we all experience, is rooted in the hearts of men, who cannot heal themselves. Mary is instead “full of grace”; she urges us to trust Jesus, who will “save us”. Next event is in Piazza di Spagna this afternoon.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) – “The mystery of the Immaculate Conception is a source of inner light, hope and comfort. In the middle of life’s trials, especially the contradictions that man experiences in and around himself, Mary, the Mother of Christ, tells us that Grace is greater than sin, that God’s mercy is stronger than evil and can transform it into goodness,” Benedict XVI said in today’s Angelus.
In his address, the Holy Father stressed the value of the Solemnity celebrated by the Church on 8 December, that of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, according to which Mary was never touched by original sin and evil. This dogma was proclaimed in 1854, a few years before the apparitions in Lourdes, where the “Lady” described her as the “Immaculate Conception”.
“Sadly, every day we experience evil,” the Pontiff said, “which manifests itself in many ways in relationships and events, but is rooted in the heart of man, a wounded and sick heart, incapable of healing itself. The Holy Scriptures tell us that disobedience to the will of God is the origin of each evil and that death has taken over because human freedom has succumbed to the temptation of the Evil One. However, God does not fail in his plan of love and life. Through a slow and patient journey of reconciliation he has prepared a new and everlasting covenant, sealed by the blood of his Son who, to offer himself in atonement, was “born of a woman” (Gal 4:4). This woman, the Virgin Mary, benefited in advance from the redeeming death of her Son for she was preserved from the contagion of guilt since conception. Therefore, with her immaculate heart, she tells us: Trust in Jesus, He will save you!” ~ Source
HT to Mrs. L

How to Transfer a Laser Printed Image to Fabric

This works with laser printer images only. I've been wanting to add some of my vintage images to fabric for so long! See here for the easy tutorial. All that is needed to a gel called Gel Medium.

Pearl Harbor Day

HT to Mamasays for the image.

Monday Night Netflix Movie: Bertie and Elizabeth

Bertie and Elizabeth: The Reluctant Royals - The Story of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth
A fabulous heartwarming film about King George VI(Bertie) and Queen Elizabeth from their early years as courting couples through his untimely death in 1952 at the age of 56. Theirs was a love match, and a love story much the same as Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. After his death, the eldest daughter, Elizabeth(current queen) ascended to the throne. Queen Elizabeth, then the queen mother, outlived her husband by 50 years. More about his illness and death from Wikipedia:

The stress of the war had taken its toll on the King's health, exacerbated by his heavy smoking and subsequent development of lung cancer among other ailments including arteriosclerosis. Increasingly his daughter Princess Elizabeth, the heiress presumptive, took on more royal duties as her father's health deteriorated. A planned tour of Australia and New Zealand was postponed after the King suffered an arterial blockage in his right leg, which was operated on in March 1949. The delayed tour was re-organised with Princess Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, taking the place of the King and Queen. The King was well enough to open the Festival of Britain in May 1951, but on 23 September 1951, he underwent a pneumonectomy where his left lung was removed following the discovery of a malignant tumour. At the State Opening of Parliament in November, the King's Speech from the throne was read for him by the Lord Chancellor Lord Simonds. His 1951 Christmas broadcast was recorded in sections, and then edited together.

On 31 January 1952, despite advice from those close to him, he went to the airport to see off Princess Elizabeth, who was going on her tour of Australia via Kenya. On 6 February, George VI died from a coronary thrombosis in his sleep at Sandringham House in Norfolk, at the age of 56. His daughter Elizabeth flew back to the UK from Kenya, as Queen Elizabeth II.

Amazon Review

James Wilby (Gosford Park) and Juliet Aubrey (Middlemarch) portray the reluctant royals who became king and queen of England when Edward VIII gave up the throne for the woman he loved, on Bertie & Elizabeth. Albert, Duke of York, called Bertie, married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923 after a storybook courtship. Expecting a life of genteel obscurity, they were thrust into the limelight in 1936 when Bertie's older brother, Edward VIII, abdicated to marry the twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. Shy, modest, and a habitual stutterer, Bertie was crowned King George VI just as his country faced the onslaught of World War II. With the help of his devoted Elizabeth, he rose magnificently to the challenge.

Saving on Food Purchases: The One Dollar a Pound Limit

Set a per-pound price limit for food purchases
Yeager used to swear by a $1 per-pound limit, but rising food prices — he lives in high-cost-of-living metropolitan Washington, D.C. — have driven his bottom line up to $1.19. Consider the cost of living in your community and your own frugal tolerance before picking a number, but pick one. You’ll find it’s a good strategy for paring down your weekly grocery bills.
To make it work, you need to be a creative cook and base your household’s menu on sales and store specials. For instance, this week you might be able to get mangos for $1 per pound, but next week, when they’re twice the price, you will have to choose another fruit that is on sale or in season.
“You’ll find it tends to steer you toward a healthier diet,” Yeager said.

I think many people use this strategy who are living a frugal lifestyle. We've been doing this for years now, and it really does work well. You acclimate to the food choices at this price point and get creative. I agree that it can be healthier because you are cooking from scratch, and learning to cut back on fats and sugars. We use a lot of spices instead of salt, oils, and sugars. Our discount shopping stores offer a limited selection of Mrs. Dash, which has a much tastier formula than in earlier years. We get the Grilling Chicken Mix and use it in regular stove top and oven meals.

See more tips from Mr. Cheapskate here.

Fun Printable Paper City

See here at Made by Joel. Check out his sidebar for more free printables.

Make Your Own Natural Winter Bath Salts

Base ingredients:
2 cups finely grained sea salt(dollar store)or Epsom salts
1/2 cup baking soda
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup unscented body oil(I use almond oil - check Mountain Rose link below and search: "Carrier Oils") 

Scent:
4 TBS Pumpkin Spice and/or Allspice
15 drops vanilla essential oil(Vanilla extract works although not as well)

Mix all together until holds well together. Add more oil if necessary. Roll into balls or cookies, place on a cookie sheet, and bake in 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes.

If you have hard water or very dry skin, add a 1/2 cup of powdered milk to recipe for a skin softener. Sugar is a good skin softener as well. Brown sugar would smell nice for winter.

Experiment and have fun with this recipe. I've tried different versions with coffee, tea, and chocolate in the past. Combine what you think would taste and smell good together, just like baking your own holiday treat.

I use organic essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs, pesticide free. This year I am purchasing Spikenard essential oil to add to my plain body oil and homemade deodorant. From Mountain Rose herbs:

Aroma: Heavy, sweet-woody, spicy-animal odor, somewhat similar to valerian oil.
Blends Well With: Clary sage, clove, cypress, frankincense, geranium, juniper, labdanum, lavender, lemon, myrrh, neroli, oakmoss, palmarosa, patchouli, pine, rose, and vetiver.

Of Interest: Spikenard is one of the early aromatics used by the ancient Egyptians and is mentioned in the Song of Solomon in the Bible. It is also the herb that Mary used to anoint Jesus before the Last Supper: ‘Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.

Make Your Own Soft Panda Toy

Tutorial here.

Crime and Coupons

It's a sad state affairs when you begin to witness shoplifting on a regular basis. Today my coupons wouldn't scan. I couldn't use a few of them without the manager there to override the register. She wasn't available after she took off in a police car in search of some shoplifting suspects. Sigh. I did get to use my one-day-only $5.00 off coupon, so I'm good with that. I'll try using the other coupons next week, unless there is another shoplifting incident! 

I would have saved $10.00 at Dollar General today. Only $7.00 went through before the cashier needed the manager's help. Check out the coupons at their website. The $5.00 will expire today; however, there is a good one for Suave shampoo - $1.00 off two,  Hanes Men's Briefs - $1.00 off any pack, and coupons for Theraflu and Alka Seltzer cold formulas. Rexall brand cold medications have coupons as well.

Family Dollar also has store and manufacturer coupons on their website.

Also used:  Smartsource coupons and RedPlum coupons

How to Make a Super-Simple Recycled Quilt

Repost from May 2010.

Check out this super tutorial for a fast and easy quilt using flat sheets. This is how I make quilts, only I use light batting(it never gets that cold here).

If you want to tuft it, here are easy directions for tied quilts.

A Free Printable Christmas(Story of Christ) Unit Study

A free printable Christmas unit study courtesy of Funschooling Units, a ministry of Heather Idoni:

INTRODUCTION
Every year from December 1 - January 6, we do a unit study about Christmas. This is one of the many we have done. This unit study is about the Symbols of Christmas. Every Christmas symbol ought to point to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our entire focus for this season is on Christ, His character, our service to Him, and our opportunity to spread His light to others.

See unit study, A Blessed Christmas here.

Vintage Lower Elementary Christmas Blackboard Copy Work Story & Project

Click to enlarge and print. There is copy work for the story of Christ, and some suggestions for cut and paste work. Free and in public domain from a 1909 Primary Lessons teacher's periodical.

Templates for some vintage cut-outs here:

Camel

Manger, wise men, star, etc.

Vintage 1909 December Children's Calendar/Blackboard Drawing

Click on image to enlarge and save. Free and in public domain. We print them out and use them as "classroom" calendars.