WINNERS FROM YESTERDAY: Here are the 3 randomly chosen winners of the Restaurant.com 
1. cindysherritt
2. Steph
3. Mari
Winners...please email me your full name, the state you live in and the email address you'd like me to email the certificate to. I'll be contacting you in case you don't see the blog this morning. :)
ENTER AGAIN THIS ENTIRE WEEKEND for another chance to win one of THREE $10 gift certificates to Restaurant.com! I'm switching it up for the weekend. Just leave as many comment entries as you want on this post (any comment) today, Saturday and Sunday (by Sunday, midnight PST) as well as a way for me to contact you. I'll pick 3 winners and post them on Monday. GOOD LUCK! I'll be doing more of this, so come back!
That's right...enter as MANY times as you want on THIS post until Sunday night. I'm taking the weekend off from blogging so I thought I'd make this one fun. ;-)
--------------------------------------------
One thing I'm finding while I blog browse is that people are thinking a lot more about being frugal this Christmas. I have to tell you that I'm refreshed by this. We (my hubby and I) have never been ones to go all crazy over Christmas gifts...I just don't feel like it's right. The season is not about presents, it's about the birth of our Savior.
Growing up, we always had very simple Christmases. I never felt deprived. Several times, while visiting friends homes, I realized that some people go absolutely bonkers over Christmas. I had a childhood friend who received at least 40 (not exaggerating) gifts and then proceeded to complain that she didn't get three things on her list. Sad.
I just don't like seeing people become materialistic monsters this time of year. I believe one of the good things that has come out of this country's recession is that people are going back to the simple way. People are focusing on spending TIME not money on their loved ones. I love that. Time. When money runs out, you can always earn more, but when time runs out...it's out for good. Spend time on your loved ones.
Here are a few FRUGAL CHRISTMAS IDEAS I've come up with on how to spend more time with your loved ones this season...
1. Read the Christmas story.
2. Turn up the Christmas music and dance with your kids.
3. Play in the snow or if you don't have snow, sled down a hill anyways!
4. Pray at dinner for the people you've sent Christmas cards to. Let the children say prayers for their friends.
5. Attend a Christmas pageant in your community. Most churches have them. Look one up and take your family. 
6. Turn on your fireplace, pop popcorn in it and then have a slumber party! We used to do this when we were kids and it was a BLAST!
7. Help your kids string popcorn and then wrap it around the tree.
8. Bake as a family and give the goodies as gifts! Who doesn't like homemade goodies? 
And its very frugal. Family Fun has some great recipes. (See recipe for wine cake below...its what I'm making for my neighbors. It's SO good.)
9. Drive around looking at Christmas lights.
10. Have a Christmas potluck! Invite friends over for a simple dinner and let them bring their favorite Christmas dish!
11. Make some Christmas decorations with your family. Here are some ideas from Family Fun.
12. Read about the history of Christmas, Santa and how other countries celebrate Christmas. click here
13. Track Santa on Christmas Eve. click here
14. Throw a simple White Elephant party. The gift can have a price limit ($5 or less) or something that is around the house. Here are the rules for a White Elephant party.
15. Instead of going nuts on the Christmas gifts, talk to your extended family and either agree to get gifts for the kids only or if that doesn't work, put a price limit on gifts. I've always thought that a Christmas drawing is great. Pick a name out of the hat and get that person a gift instead of the entire family...works great in large families.
16. Wrap and recycle ... use brown paper bags that you've received from the grocery store and wrap your gifts with them! Go for a pine cone hunt with your kids (our neighborhood park has tons on the ground) and decorate the gifts with them! You can dip the tips of the pine cones in glue and then glitter. Pretty. Let the kids color on the wrapping...how cute. :)
17. Go through photos of your children with them. Let them pick out their favorite recent picture of themselves and then frame it for the grandparents, aunts/uncles, etc. Great frugal gift that they will love!
18. Set the stage for a homemade play...Let the kids loose in your closet to dress up for a Christmas play! Give them ideas for a theme and then let their imagination flow. They can perform for the whole family. (My mom and her sisters did this when she was a kid.)
19. Find out where the locals are going. There are many public places that hold special events and Christmas festivals for free.
20. Go to a Christmas Eve service.
--------------------------
Here's the recipe I mentioned that I'm baking for the neighbors. It's fabulous and SUPER easy to make...
(makes 4 small cakes)
INGREDIENTS
1 Box of French Vanilla Cake Mix
1 Package of Instant Lemon Pudding (3 oz or so)
4 Eggs
3/4 cup Vegetable Oil
3/4 cup Cream Sherry (Dessert wine section of the grocery store)
1 tsp nutmeg
DIRECTIONS
Mix all ingredients well. Pour equal amounts of mixture into four 8"x3" or 9"x4" loaf pans. Cook for 45 minutes at 350. It will look a little brown when ready. Be sure to check center to make sure it's done. Let it cool. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
I double the recipe to make 8 cakes. I have lots of great neighbors. :)
Variation: You can also "flour" the pan after it's been greased with cocoa powder or a cinnamon sugar mixture for a textured crust. This will eliminate that "white stuff" on the outside of your baked cake which makes for a prettier cake.
-------------------------
I'm going to do a really fast peek at the FRIDAY SALE. It's late and I'm tired, but help yourself to more if you want to browse around...click here
.
Fancy coffee...
Bodum Chambord 8-Cup Press with Bonus Pavina Thermal Glasses
List Price: $80.00
Today's Sale Price: $19.99 - 75% off
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Whole lotta fab dishes...
Circulon Infinite Circulon 10-Piece Cookware Set
List Price: $550.00
Today's Sale Price: $209.99 - 62% off
FREE Super Saver Shipping
We have a set just like this and it's AWESOME! Great gift for the wine lover...
Pinzon Matte Chrome-Plated Corkscrew and Foil Cutter Set
List Price: $60.00
Today's Sale Price: $14.99 - 75% off
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
OK these get the CUTEST little boots award!!Chill Chasers by Buster Brown Toddler Lil' Summit Boot
List Price: $39.95
Today's Sale Price: $19.90 - 50% off
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Don't forget...80% off Savings on $25 Gift Certificates. $2 when you use code SANTA - Ends Sunday, 12/22/08
Do you have a frugal tip for Christmas?
Do share. :)
--
- several on sale.
This weekend I caught one of my favorite Christmas movies on TV...
and 
on sale, too!
