Dh and I are stumped. She’s the youngest, she’s basically happy to be along for the ride. Very social, loves to sing, doesn’t like to craft unless it’s doing it with somebody. Most things she likes to do is with somebody, which is not always appreciated by the others in this house. She loves little toys like hatchimals, calico critters, etc. last Christmas was the year of the calico critters, so I’m thinking that repeating that might be lame. I’m stuck.

Yes, Aldi carries most of this stuff too. Lebkuchen is okay IMO, I’d probably like it more if my ILs didn’t by us near cases of the stuff every Christmas. They are Germophiles. 🤣, no other place does Christmas right. (Seems pretty typical of retired US Army). They give us Gluhwein too even though DH doesn’t drink and I can’t stand the stuff.

Thanks for the input you all! Merry Christmas!

Another fan of October. New Year’s Eve was my second choice, but impractical and DH didn’t want to wait that long (engaged in May).

If you have Fresh Market, go there. Lots of stuff, including Sees Candies.

Of course. They were packed in treat bags by type, and arranged on a plate. I don’t like to put cookies of different flavors and moisture levels in the same package. I have some bakery experience, which I’m trying to pass on to the kids. Annie G - thanks for the reminder that it’s worth it for the girls to put effort into blessing their neighbors. It really shouldn’t matter whether food ends up tossed or not, but my frugal side loses sight of that.

My girls were eager to assemble cookie plates for all of the neighbors on our (short) street today. While we were baking and assembling, I couldn’t help but wonder how much would end up in the trash. Based on the potluck thread. I didn’t say anything to the girls, but would you eat a dozen assorted homemade cookies from neighbors? Is this not appreciated or worth our time?

My kids love these, but I never use the same recipe year over year. There’s a lot of variation, some a more expensive mix of ingredients than others, some stale a lot faster than others. What’s the best recipe in your experience? Thank you!

There is very little you can do after a point I think. We have been involved in the life of a man whom my DH met in jail ministry. Our church has gone above and beyond to encourage and support him when he got out of jail and turned to us for help. Providing work, help with rent and food when things got bad, counseling, character witness in probation hearings, etc. He has ADHD I believe, and in our attempts to get him on his feet and independent, dh and I found ourselves practically parenting a guy only a decade younger than ourselves. He can’t make sound decisions as far as time management, work management, financial management. I’ve insisted he will do no more handyman work on our house based on his poor estimation of time needed and the workspace mess he leaves behind. It breaks my heart. He thinks he’s going to make it as a handyman service, I just want him to hold onto a reliable job. Dh believes his former life of running after one mind altering substance after another has permanently addled his mind. He’s a smart guy, but he can’t think longer term than today or shorter term than some future in which he’s got it all.

Boo, on the interview glitch. DH was contacted by a company that wanted a couple of hours of consulting about workflow streamlining. They’d seen him quoted in an article about a particular software solution and proceeded to find him through LinkedIn. So that’s pretty cool. Extra $100 or so helps.

Right. Even your local UPS driver relies to some extent on Amazon’s success. UPS driver is not bad money. (Better than restaurant jobs, which is what my township seems to focus on for community development. What they don’t seem to understand is that new dining options are an after-effect of economic growth, not a driver.)

Depends entirely on the recipient, I think. Some are just so stuck in the cycle of generational poverty, it makes no impact. Some need that little bump that sends them on their way to improved situation. There’s not much way of knowing other than to be in the trenches with them. You could look at it as sowing seed. Some will not sprout, some will.

There is probably a bit of talking past one another here. I don’t think Mom in AZ expects the elderly to live like monks in a tiny house with two changes of clothes. On the other hand, consider the older couple that “downsizes” to 2000 sq feet, lives only on the first floor with two guest rooms on the second floor. The second floor is so full of stuff that having guests is a hardship for them, and so people who visit stay in a hotel. There is no true enjoyment in those possessions. This is what I will likely get to clean up one day. There is a (generous -that’s why all the stuff) pension but very little assets, so there will be no hired help.

https://www.npr.org/2019/12/04/784702588/the-best-thing-you-can-do-is-not-buy-more-stuff-says-secondhand-expert

I use the one gallon cracker jars you can buy from WalMart or Target. They are squarish, so they line up neatly, inexpensive, and they hold more than one five pound bag of flour or sugar. I have a chest freezer that I don't regularly fill up, so it holds the extra flour, coffee and other dry goods. Freezers operate more efficiently when full, so win-win.

😭

Mostly just piped royal icing decorations for me.

Someone at Nelson Publishing should be fired. This is a so-called Christian publishing company.

I regularly get hit up for money for the local public school clubs and sports, even though I’ve never sent my kids there. I don’t find it surprising. We live here.

Yes, dh really likes the job, it’s been good for him in several ways. He’s going to update his LinkedIn profile and set it to an “available” status. But not actively look yet. It’s a small company with very recent tragedy with a boss (car accident resulting in her paralysis and loss of her dear friend in the passengers seat.). Dh understandably doesn’t really want to feel like he’s abandoning them all. On the positive side, DHs boss put together that DH has never contributed to 401k because we’re barely making it. No other reason. So he can think on that.

No raises until February. No promise of one. Lots of good, positive affirmation of great work and being well-liked by co-workers, but that doesn't buy anything.

Dh will be asking for a raise today. Since finding employment almost two years ago, we’ve been living on 20% less from pre-unemployment. It’s not sustainable. The delayed necessary expenses are coming due. Our kids have very little in terms of physical things and experiences. We have each other, but amid stress, shame, and delaying real needs, that’s not quite enough. Please pray for a raise. I’ll pray for the rest of you facing similar circumstances.

Maybe you just need a mother’s helper? Sounds like you can swing it financially?

What rug? I’ve been looking for something nice-ish, cheapish, 7x9ish.

Word of warning, this tip organizer is junk. You are much better served with an embroidery floss organizer from the craft section.