Thanksgiving Highlights

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Festive Thanksgiving Placecards

We were asked to bring placecards for Thanksgiving dinner this year, and Emily thought these turned out so cute! She cannot wait to show them to all our family and friends. If your child is old enough to write, this is a great way to get in some handwriting practice. Emily enjoyed learning how to spell all of our relatives names.

I found votive candles (both the candle and the glass votive holders) came in packs of 12 at Big Lots for $6. They were intended to be used for weddings, but I thought they would work perfectly for Thanksgiving dinner too.

We used card stock in fall colors, and Emily wrote out the names with black marker.

Then, she wanted to decorate the names to make them look fancy!

I used pinking shears on the edges, and a hole punch at the top. Threaded through some ribbon and they were done!

Simple and easy! We cannot wait to see them all lit up around the table!

Wishing everyone a very safe and happy Thanksgiving!!

Loving...

I mentioned a few days ago that we took a trip to a local plant nursery to prepare for our next activity from our Gratitude Jar -- Flowers: Make a special flower delivery! Emily and I had so much fun with this!

At the plant nursery, we found bags of fall bulbs that were 30% off or about $2.00 for several bulbs. Then, Emily asked some of our elderly neighbors if it would be okay to plant some bulbs in their flower beds.

What's that? You want to plant flowers in our yard? Ummm.... Yes, please!!

The reaction was absolutely fantastic! I wish I could have gotten some more photos, but Emily was just so excited and could not wait to get started! After deciding where the bulbs should be planted, we eagerly got to work.

At one point, she was talking to each of the bulbs as she was planting them, "I think you're going to do just fine over here, little flower. You'll grow up big and strong."

Afterwards, we were invited inside for what was probably the best tasting hot cocoa and chocolate chip cookies ever! What an unexpected treat!

This was such a wonderful way to get to know some of our neighbors, express gratitude for flowers, and let Emily get involved with a small service project.

A few things:

1. Always ask for permission first!

2. Discuss what you will be planting and where.

3. I wish we had brought a slightly larger shovel, and another set of gardening gloves. Some bulbs need to be planted about 5" deep, and ground conditions can make that difficult in November.

4. Have fun!!

Gratitude Activity Jar

Around Thanksgiving we try to do crafts and activities that promote gratitude and focus on the things we have to be thankful for. Last year we did gratitude journals, but this year we're trying something a little more active -- Gratitude Activity Jars!

I asked Emily to name some of the things she was thankful for, and together we came up with a coordinating activity to go along with it. At first, we were just going to type these up and print them out, but I like to think that by physically writing these things down it sends more positive energy out into the universe. Mark would probably say that's just a bunch of new-age crap, but that's how I like to picture it, anyway!

Decorate your cards with stickers!!

Some of the cards we wrote:

I am thankful for.....

:: Dad -- Do something nice for Daddy.

:: Friends -- Make 1 new friend today.

:: Hugs -- Hug 3 people today.

:: Books -- Visit the library today.

:: Home -- Clean the guest bedroom, and invite a guest over to stay.

:: Play Time -- Invite a friend over to play.

:: Good Health -- Make a "Jared Box" to donate to the hospital.

:: Toys -- Donate a toy to Goodwill.

:: Clara -- Spend some time playing with your sister today.

:: Good Food -- Donate canned goods to the food pantry.

:: Pies -- Bake a pie for a neighbor.

:: Flowers -- Surprise someone with a special flower delivery.

:: Nature -- Play a fun game outside today.

.... and so on. The idea is to pick one card from the jar every day between now and Thanksgiving and do the activity on the card. Emily is looking forward to this with great anticipation!

Fill your jar with the cards....

...tie with a pretty bow....

.... and remember to take time to appreciate all the wonderful things in your life!

More on Thanksgiving Leftovers

Getting tired of turkey yet?  Give your leftovers some fresh appeal with these great recipes:

1. Paula's Home Cooking -- Includes recipes for Pumpkin Bars and Turkey Pot Pie.
2. Leftover Cranberry Sauce -- Mix with Cream Cheese for a great bagel spread.
3. CD Kitchen -- Easy recipes for leftover turkey.
4. Turkey Casserole Recipe -- Uses leftover turkey and stuffing.
5. Leftover Sweet Potato Cake -- Use up those leftover sweet potatoes and make a delicious dessert.
6. Sweet Potato Biscuits -- Another creative way to use up those leftover sweet potatoes.

Hope everyone had a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!  If you have a great leftover recipe to share, leave a comment and tell us about it.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Don't forget to get your entry in for our coupon giveaway, and be sure to check out my recipe for Turkey Chili to use up those leftovers.

Have a great Thanksgiving money-saving tip to share?  Leave a comment and tell us about it.  You will automatically be entered for the coupon giveaway too!

Thanksgiving Leftovers

Making the most of your Thanksgiving leftovers can save you money, and there is no reason why leftovers should be boring.  

Here is my all-time favorite turkey chili recipe.  It's so easy!  Make a batch of corn bread to go with it, and you have a fabulous post-Thanksgiving meal to use up that leftover turkey!

Turkey Chipotle Chili

2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

1 medium onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

1 can diced tomatoes

1 small can tomato paste

2 cups cooked turkey, diced

2 cups chicken or turkey stock

2 chipotles in adobo, finely chopped

1 can kidney beans

1 can navy beans

In large pot or dutch over over medium/high heat, add olive oil and saute onion and pepper.  Add tomatoes, stock, beans, chipotles, and tomato paste.  Season with salt, pepper, oregano, and cumin to taste.  Let simmer for 20 minutes.  Serve with shredded cheddar cheese and sour cream.

Saving Money on Thanksgiving

Since the cost of food as risen, Thanksgiving dinner could cost you 6% more this year than previous years.  Here are some of my favorite ways to save money on Thanksgiving, while having a festive dinner the entire family will enjoy.

1. Kid Art -- Try not to spend money on decorations for your holiday table.  Instead, get the kids busy with some easy craft projects to help decorate.  This year, we are having Emily stamp a solid tablecloth with leaf stamps using fabric paint and fabric markers.  Kids can also make centerpieces, and place cards.  They can even make Thanksgiving Wreaths.  Get creative!
   
2. Planning  -- This is probably the most important aspect of having a Thanksgiving on a budget.  As with most of the frugal life, planning is crucial to getting the best deals at the best possible time.  Plan your side dish menu around items that are on sale and that can be combined with a coupon for maximum savings.  Couponmom.com can be a great resource for planning your Thanksgiving menu.
3. Potluck -- Consider hosting a potluck Thanksgiving dinner this year.  Ask your guests to bring a side dish, bottle of wine, or dessert to share.  This helps foster a sense of community, and helps lighten the load for the host.
4. Frugal Recipes -- For more money saving tips and great Thanksgiving recipes, visit MoneySavingMom.com.  She includes recipes for Orange Ginger Cranberry Sauce, Pumpkin Dinner Rolls, and more!
5. Buy What You Need -- Try not to go overboard buying too much food.  If you need help with this, see Estimating Food Quantities for a Party.
6. Volunteer -- Your entire family can help out at a food kitchen.  Not only will your Thanksgiving dinner be free, but you will also cultivate a better sense of what Thanksgiving is all about.

Have a good Thanksgiving money-saving tip to share?  Leave a comment!

Save Money on Airfare and Travel

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year, and it is rapidly approaching.  Traveling does not have to be a huge expense with these money saving tips. You can enjoy a relaxing vacation, even while on a budget. 

Here are some great ways to travel without breaking the bank.

1. When to Book -- The best time to book your airfare is Wednesday from midnight to 1a.m. in the time zone of the airline's headquarters. For example, United is headquartered in Chicago, and Delta is headquartered in Atlanta. This happens to be the time when the computer systems of most airlines purge the records of the reserved but unbooked lower fare reservations. Take advantage of these low rates immediately after this occurs and you will save big bucks.
   
2. When to Travel -- Traveling during the off-peak season can have many perks. Not only do off-peak seasons offer considerably cheaper hotel stays, they also offer fewer crowds, less traffic, and shorter lines.
   
3. Coupons -- Consider purchasing an Entertainment coupon book for the city you will be visiting. These books are usually around $25, and can save you a considerable ammount of money on hotels, car rentals, restaurants, shopping and more. The Entertainment Book is also a great resource for ideas of things to do, and places to go.
   
4. Vacation with Friends -- One of the most memorable vacation experiences can be those shared with other family or friends. Split the bill for a large beach house, or a cabin in the woods. If there is a kitchen available, and you cook your own food, you will save even more money.
   
5. Food & Dining -- Again, the Entertainment Book can be a great resource for dining or eating out. All-you-can-eat buffets usually offer great deals. Also, filling up with a big brunch, skipping lunch, and going someplace nice for an early dinner can save you money while traveling. Find out if any restaurants near your destination offer an early-bird dinner special.