Monday, December 8, 2008

A few of my favorite Christmas things...and a give-a-way!



We are having a low budget Christmas this year (I know that is true for many people) but there are still a lots of fun inexpensive ways to make the season festive. Our favorite things include:

Christmas milk (a great nickname for eggnog)






$9.99 Ribbon from Sam's...for 50 YARDS (!) and hand stamped gift tags. I've used this ribbon on my garland, on presents, and around vases of flowers. It's 2 1/2" wired ribbon and has endless uses!









Jingle Bell Garland...$4.99 at Michael's (use your 50% off coupon!)

Chipboard ornaments and rub-ons from Stampin' Up! I'm hoping to make a whole garland out of these ornamnets- would't that be cute? (pictured below)

And now for a Christmas Give-a-Way! Leave a comment by 8pm Wednesday evening telling about your favorite Christmas find and be entered into a drawing to win 10 yards of the whimsical ribbon pictured above, as well as a package of hand-stamped gift tags. Winner will be announced Thursday morning. Merry Christmas!
Posted by Picasa

16 comments:

jax said...

A giveaway! Now it's a real, bona-fide blog! :)

Mrs. Pittman said...

can I win? acutally, I'd rather win a couple of those ornaments with my garndkids pictures on them (hint, hint)

MOM

Anonymous said...

Of course you can win...although you have to mention your favorite Christmas find/deal. :) It's always good to have a hint as to what we can send you for Christmas.

You need to post some "mature content" so these poor readers don't get overloaded with preschooler stuff. Please, post soon!

Anonymous said...

As you know, Dads can be hard to shop for - so, when I found a sweatshirt that reads "Just resting my eyes....." (which is what he claims to be doing while in his recliner ASLEEP), I knew I had found the perfect present for my Dad!

Thanks so much for posting, Brite!

Brielle

Anonymous said...

i found some GREAT used books and games that look BRAND NEW (one game was still wrapped in plastic) at goodwill. it is incredible how much stuff they have at goodwill (i was there to get my tacky christmas sweater for the book club and i have already been back because i wanted to look through the books)...

i think i have a new favorite shopping place...

and i really want to win the hand stamped cards...

Anonymous said...

i forgot to mention that YOU, YOUR MOM, and i have one thing in common (well, we have lots in common, but only one thing featured in the photos from today)...

we all only use brown wrapping paper and then add ribbon to match the occasion. great minds think alike (and don't have much room to store lots of different wrapping papers). i love the brown paper...

do i win now...

Laura said...

Wait just a minute...It isn't Wednesday yet, Lea!

I usually like to use gold metalic wrapping paper with different wired ribbon for Christmas. Not the overly shiny kind, but the kind that looks like brown paper with a gold wash on it. Tres chic if you ask me.

I also have this gold mesh-type fabric (kindda like an open-weave tulle) that somehow always ends up on my mantle. I have had lights strung through it, have used it under my nativity scene or behind the window. It is just great and I don't know what I'll do when it wears out.

Anonymous said...

Brite: this picture reminded me to tell you, you were looking great this Thanksgiving ... I don't know if it's the post-baby glow or what! (The kids are cute in that photo, too.)

Anonymous said...

Okay, Shep wins! Just kidding...we play by the rules here. :)

Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt said...

Thanks for the heads-up on this, my reader has about 200 unread items... :) Although, I don't think Drew and Madeline will QUITE appreciate hand-stamped tags and my box already was shipped to my folks. I'm sure I'd find a use tho.

Oh, favorite find. I always go the day after Christmas and shop for deco, ribbon, whathaveyou at 50-75% off for the next year. Last year I got these cute deep red glittery blocks that spell out "Be Merry."

Anonymous said...

It's so fun seeing and reading your posts! I love that you're occasionally posting on your moms site!

As for some fun holiday item we've found and enjoy using...it is hands down the vintage ornaments and postcards. We bought about 12 vintage and antique postcards recently. We have color copied them and then we save the originals. We hang them in our garland across a window and attach them with little baby wooden clothspins we spray painted red. We also use them as gift tages. You can get them reduced and fit a ton one one page, saving money. We use these same postcards and reproduce them and make them larger, embellishing them with craft glitter...which by the way Martha Stewart at Michael's craft store has in an abundance of colors which makes it so fun! We've also used them as place cards on that table.

Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

my favorite christmas find is to find out that brite is looking so good and slim and well rested and YOUNG! even though she just had baby #3 and is blogging everyday....

have i won yet?

Anonymous said...

well, i hate to break it to you, but i got 50 yds of ribbon at costco for $4.97 (and i'm thinkin' your mom did too since the present of hers that i picked had one of the ribbon choices on it, or maybe she just re-ribboned, kind of like re-gifting, but different)

and a special shout out of thanks to your mom reminding me to check her blog even though she herself isn't posting.

and brite--your pictures bring back sweet memories of our christmas 15 years ago when we added our 3rd child (1st boy), with 18 month old and 2.5 yo older sisters. the christmas picture was a challenge. but he's taller, has hairier arms and a deeper voice than they do, but is protective of them and they are good friends. and it really is true (sadly) that the years fly by too quickly.

merry christmas to you on the mountain
jodi

brite said...

Lea, you're now a serious contender. Jodi, I threw my receipt away but I think I actually paid 7.97 or something like that for the ribbon, but I just wasn't sure. Was the Costco ribbon as cute? I've heard Costco is the "Target" of warehouse stores.

melissa said...

It seems silly but we love Coke at our house and we sound these coke bottles that when you are done they are ornaments.

Last year at the sales after christmas I bought Kathryn some new Rudolf decorations and she was so excited this year when she decorated her room that she had the Rudolf decorations.

BTW I plan on making those cookies. love the pictures and the humor that accompanied them. Ever thought about having you own cooking show.

Anonymous said...

it is thursday morning... i am waiting...