Give the Gift of Self . . . Not Stuff

It’s a gift-giving occasion! Often gift-giving time is stress time. Especially if the recipient "already has everything!" Doesn't want anything! Or you are short on time and/or money!

Give a gift that keeps on giving—in the form of personalized coupons.

An offer for a future service is usually, and universally, most welcome.

An offer for a future service is usually most welcome. 

To get started just think of things you would appreciate in a given situation, consider what you are willing to do, like to do or do well, and combine the two.

IDEAS to get you started:
Since we are usually deluged with goodies during the holiday season, consider giving your friends a  coupon for that goody--- redeemable about mid-January, when their larders are depleted and your time is freer.

Bride to Be: Copies of your favorite simple, seasonal treats, redeemable at the appropriate month throughout the year.

New Mother: What new mother wouldn’t appreciate an hour or two of babysitting (either with the new baby or if she has other children, taking them for a designated period of time), a casserole or special dessert at a time down the road when the attention has worn off and she is back in the grind, or maybe even a vacuuming of her home.

Young Family: An offer to take the children to the park or the library or wherever suits your fancy for an afternoon. The kids would love it, the parents would adore you.

Elderly or Home Bound: Coupon for lawn mowing, errand running, housecleaning, a special treat, or just simple periodic visiting.

Care Giver: If the situation is such that the care giver can leave you in charge for a period of time, they would truly appreciate an hour or two for themselves. If they cannot leave, you can offer to come over and read to, write letters for, brush the hair of, simply visit with the confined individual, or do whatever is needed—giving the care-giver an at-home break.

Child’s Teacher: Teachers need help with projects, bulletin boards, tutoring, or other classroom assistance, much more than they need “stuff.” Just pick the activity/help you feel comfortable with and the time you are available. Or, if  you are game for anything, give a coupon letting the teacher choose what she could use help with.

New Neighbors: If they are not familiar with the area you can give a coupon offering to show them around the town and a tour of the area; provide them with a list of local businesses and services that you have found economical and satisfactory; help for a project around their new home; a meal on a hectic day; or an invitation to come over and visit with you and some of the neighbors.


RE-Gifting!!!!

This is a post from October 2011 that I am "re-gifting" !

We Start Early to Teach Our Children Respect . . . for Heavenly Father, Jesus, Others and Self

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  and Jesus said,
   "Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not;
   for of such is the kingdom of God."
  Luke 18:16

• I am a child of God.
• • I know Heavenly Father loves me, and I love him.
  • I can pray to Heavenly Father anytime, anywhere.
  • I am trying to follow Jesus.
  • I will remember my baptismal covenants and listen to the Holy Ghost.
• I will be honest with Heavenly Father, others, and myself.
• I will seek good friends and treat others kindly.
• I will dress modestly to show respect for Heavenly Father and myself.
• I will only read and watch things that are pleasing to Heavenly Father.
• I will only listen to music that is pleasing to Heavenly Father.
• I will use the names of Heavenly Father and Jesus reverently. I will not swear or use crude words.
• I will keep my mind and body sacred and pure, and I will not partake of things that are harmful to me.
• I will do those things on the Sabbath that will help me feel close to Heavenly Father.
• I will choose the right.
• I know I can repent when I make a mistake.

especially in these troubled times.  Wishing (real hard) that we can all
learn to be like Jesus and love one another regardless
 of race or religion or circumstances.

• Until next time. May there be peace and gratitude in your heart and in your home.
• I am Simply, Gail

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My Quiet Book Project Follow-up

Thankfully my on-going quiet book project* is going to be successful if the prototype was any indication.  We gave it to our granddaughter Wren for her first birthday.  Using 9x12 felt squares for the pages made it almost as big as she was, but as you can see that didn't stop her. 

17 month old Wren and her "special book"

Her parents save the book  for special occasions like when it is necessary for her to sit quietly and be occupied for long periods of time.

On Thanksgiving Day we received a call from our grand-daughter and her husband ---- we are going to be great-grandparents!!! Our first!  Three other grandsons are of marriageable age and I, for some reason, am

not getting any younger, so I must get back on the ball and finish up the rest of the quiet books while I am still around and still able.

*all of my quiet book pages, and how to's, are included on this blog site.

This desert snake page is one of the most popular

But . . .

 I have gotten side-tracked.

Background: My sister, from the time they were little, gave each of our children an ornament for Christmas.

With six children that was a lot of ornaments over the years.  And they all loved it and looked forward to putting their own on the tree each year.  As they got married they took their ornaments with them where they appear each year on their trees. 

We have done the same for our grandchildren (usually buying the ornaments when they are on sale after Christmas for the next year.) 

You wouldn't expect anything else from Simply, Gail the cheapskate would you? !!!

For Wren's first two Christmases we gave her cute, but commercial, bird ornaments.

This year I found a true treasure in Susan and her blog  

Downeast Thunder Farm.  

www.downeastthunderfarm.com 

Susan designs and creates life-like (and almost life-size) birds using felt and generously provides the patterns free of charge! You can even request a bird if you want one that is not already in her on-going collection.

Her only stipulation is they can be used to make a profit.  

When I published this post  yesterday the three below photos showed up in separate places where they belonged. When I looked at it today, where these photos had been, were blank spots with tiny jpeg symbols.  How can/did that happen? I've been trying to fix it for over an hour and this is the best I can manage.  The three are now joined as one!  And probably too small to really see.

Once again, sorry. And thanks for bearing with me.

On the right, Wren is 19 months old and sitting in her car seat with the quiet book
when she was in the car for over an hour on a long drive. Her parents sent this
photo saying "she spent one-half hour on just the mitten page."

The photo on the left is the winter wren ornament I made for Wren for this Christmas.

The middle photo is now-27-month-old Wren hanging her wren on the tree. 

I happened on Susan's site the very week our local fabric/craft store had felt squares on sale for 20 cents each!

No more after Christmas ornament sales for Simply, Gail!

Almost daily, I watch one-to-two hour block of  television and weekly, spend one and one-half hours in a support group for the loved-ones of addicts where we learn and teach how we can  live life without us being addicted to our addict.  (that's  another series of my posts)

Now this down time is being put to additional use!!  So far I have "under construction" cardinals, robins and a "fantasy bird" using the wren pattern in three shades of blue and turquoise.  I do the initial handwork during the TV hours and the around-the-edge blanket stitch during the support group.

Still need to add the beaks on two of them.
I am leaving openings at the bottom of each for the stuffing---
I'll add the stuffing to them later and then finish stitching them up.

Life is good!
Have a happy, peaceful, grateful day!

I am, Simply Gail

Noah's Ark Quiet Book Page Redesigned ...

because  I haven't been happy with the original way I tried to keep the animals "penned" in (using felt straps) on the ark's ramp.  


I doubt if it has been a bother for our  little granddaughter Wren but I am sure it has been a bit of a pain for her parents when it's time to close that page.

In the middle of last night, an idea came to me on the way to revamp the ramp!

Velcro and shoestrings!

The entire page is constructed the same way as the original except  I cut  both sections of 3/4" wide  velcro in half length-wise to make the sections narrow. Then I sewed the loop parts along the sides of the ark and the smooth parts along the sides of the ramp. 

I only sewed the velcro pieces down the middle of each, not along the edges.

I used shoelaces to string the animals.

You can go to the original instructions for the Noah's Ark page by copying the below into your search bar.  

Be aware, however, that for some reason the first page to come up will be the counting page. Simply scroll down and the ark appears.

http://thecreativecheapskate.blogspot.com/search?q=quiet+book+noah%27s+ark

Yes, I am Simply, Gail and I am cheap and I can be creative but I am certainly/obviously NOT computer savvy. 

 Have a grateful and peaceful day.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the                          world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,                         neither let it be afraid”            
                                                                                                            John 14:27

Nine Quick, Easy + Budget-Friendly Non-Chocolate Goodies for . . .

Serving, Giving and Eating !!! 

Did you notice my last two posts --- yummy chocolate overkill !!!

Today I am going to share my favorite other-than-chocolate treats ---also yummy + quick and budget friendly !!!  Including a couple that are also mail-friendly!

Mexican Wedding Cakes made from  Bisquick

OOPS, sorry about the formatting. I don't know how I did it and I can't find a way to undo it!

• 1 cup powdered sugar + additional for covering
• 1 cup softened margarine
• 4 cups Bisquick baking mix*
• 1 cup very finely chopped walnuts or other nuts
• 2 teaspoons almond extract (or vanilla)
• 4 Tablespoons water

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• Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine sugar and margarine. Mix in Bisquick. Add nuts, extract and water. (if not moist enough, add a tiny bit more water. ) Shape into balls.  Place on ungreased baking sheet  and bake for 10-12 minutes.
• When slightly cool, roll in confectioners' sugar, then roll again. Makes approximately 6 dozen.

* I often use my home made bisquick-type baking mix---find in my cookbook section along the right side of the blog under Master Mixes. 

Meringue Kisses

These meringue kisses were always in demand. Our children and all of the

many brides who asked for them for their receptions referred to them as

Grandma Jennie's white cookies.

3 egg whites

3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 heaping cup "filling" of your choice -- crushed peppermint sticks, chopped nuts, chips, etc.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover large cookie sheet with foil and set aside. With electric mixer on high spead, beat egg whites to soft peaks. Add sugar 1/4 cup at a time beating after each addition until sugar dissolves (mixture will feel smooth). Continue beating until high peaks form. Fold in vanilla and chosen ingredients. Drop by teaspoon full onto foil. TURN OFF OVEN. Place cookie sheet in oven and let set until oven is completely cool, about 45 minutes.  They should be dry to the touch. Let cool. Peel off paper.
Food coloring can be added if desired.
Note: They will stay sticky (but still good) if made during times of high humidity.

Dipped Peanut Butter-filled Ritz-type Crackers

Simply  spread peanut butter between two Ritz-type crackers or mini-cracker sandwich style. . Dip each sandwich into melted white almond bark or other candy coating. Place on foil or waxed-paper covered try.
Dip a second time if more coating is desired.

Quick Easy-Peasy Peanut Butter Pinwheels

Combine one stick melted margarine with about 2-3 cups powdered sugar. Place between two squares of waxed-paper. Roll with rolling pin until you have a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Remove top paper and spread surfce with creamy peanut butter. Starting at long side, gently roll up jelly roll fashion, Cut into slices. Chill.

Glasss Candy

Very Pretty and Very Yummy

3-3/4 cups granulated white sugar
1-1/2 cups light corn syrup
1 cup water
1 teaspoon oil flavoring*  (cannot use regular cooking flavors)
food coloring to compliment flavoring
powdered sugar

Cover large cookie sheeet with heavy alumunum foil. Lightly dust with powdered sugar. Set aside.

In  large, heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup and water. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Boil, with out stirring until temperature reaches 300 to 310 degrees. Remove from heat and stir in oil and coloring. Pour evenly over prepared foil. Let cool. Break into pieces. Store in airtight container.

Cooking this makes your home smell wonderful!

This makes a great gift which stores and ships well.

*Oil flavorings are available in small bottles (that makes a lot) where craft and cake and candy making/decorating supplies are sold. Lorain is the most common brand.  It comes in zillions of flavors!!

You may also want to check out
Peppermint Bark and More under Candy in my cookbook column on the right. 




Mailing treats didn't use to be a bank-breaking experience. But alas, now it is. If  you have a loved one that is away from home and craving homemade goodies, here are a couple that travel well and relatively cheaply.

Popcorn Cake

One 6-ounce can of  cocktail peanuts

One 12-15 ounce package plain M&M's or other small candy pieces

One 16-ounce package miniature marshmallows 

1 stick margarine

Approximately 1 cup unpopped corn (enough to fill a bundt pan or an angel food-type tube pan when popped)

Melt margarine and marshmallows over low heat. Mix peanuts and M&M's into marshmallow mixture. Pour over popped corn and mix well. Butter hands generously and press mixture into well-buttered pan. Let cool in freezer to make it easier to remove from pan. Wrap tightly in clear plastic wrap. Pack in additional plain popped corn to mail.

• This also makes great popcorn balls!
• You can form the popcorn balls around peppermint candy sticks to make popcorn pops.
• Or, unwrap lollipops or suckers and form small popcorn balls around the lollipop, letting the stick handle protrude.

This recipe, or the forever popular crispy rice cereal with marshmallows treat recipe, can be formed into many shapes to fit special occasions. We've made a "plaster" cast with protruding toes. Years ago, our daughter Heidi made a giant tooth and a surprise visit to the dental college on her husband's birthday. Both the plaster for the cast and the tooth enamel were made with melted white almond bark. We tinted the almond bark pink to cover the toes. 

White Chocolate Popcorn   

The simplest way is to buy a large bag of already buttered popcorn. Melt white almond bark over very low heat or in microwave, stirring until smooth. Pour over popcorn, stirring well as you go. Spread out on waxed paper to dry. Can add peanuts if desired.

Some of our grand kids call this next one "Sugar Shrimp" and others call it "Pirates Booty"  I call it by its description: Sweet & Salty Corn Pop Stuff!

We ALL call it great!                                               

This type of corn pops,
not the cereal type.

1 entire stick  plus 1/3 of a second stick of butter or margarine
2/3 cups white sugar
2 Tablespoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring 
1 very large package of Barrel O' Fun Corn Pops (about 15 ounces)

Preheat oven to 225 degrees. Melt butter in large sauce pan. Bring to a fast boil for 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Pour over corn pops, stirring as you go. Spread on cookie sheets or in a large roaster-type pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and pour onto flat surface to cool. Break up as needed. 

Handy Hint: Cut open the empty Barrel 'O Fun bag and spread it flat on a counter or table. Pour the finished snack onto the bag to cool.  (Our dog loves it when a few overshoot the area and fall on the floor!)

Cheapskate Hint:  Watch the weight of the mailing boxes themselves!!! When mailing unbreakable items, I often mail in large cereal boxes or soda cracker boxes or similar. 

'til we eat again,

I am Simply, Gail