Christmas on a Budget can be Sweet!

Miguel and I are saving for a down payment on a house. With that comes certain sacrifices, one of which is finding more affordable Christmas presents this year for our friends and family. The project I worked on all day is one of our cost effective and sweet tasting solutions. I baked an assortment of cookies for the couples in our Bible study.

Sugar cookie dough... simple to make and budget friendly!

I always have trouble rolling out the dough, even with tons of flour!

Success! 

One of my favorite parts! I feel like I accomplish something every time I use the cookie cutters! I guess it's the joy of seeing something start to be created out of nothing.

Luckily I already owned an assortment of sprinkles. I had to buy the icing, but that only put me out around $10 to purchase the different colors and quantity I needed.

I bought these tins at Dollar Tree... for $1 obviously.

Then I filled them up. I put a couple of each type of cookie in Christmas cupcake liners .  

So far I have six done. Baking all those cookies and then decorating them is time consuming!

For the larger of the cookies I used these little snack boxes (also from the dollar store). I put some of the candy cane, stars, and snowmen in each box. Then I put these boxes on top of the tins and placed them all in cellophane Christmas bags.

Continuing with the Dollar Tree trend, I purchased these sets of ornaments to tie up the cellophane bags. They add a touch of whimsey as well as a memory for the recipient of the gift if they choose to hang it on their tree.  

Tah-dah! Homemade Christmas goodies all wrapped up and ready to go! 

What are your Christmas on a budget gift ideas?

Christmas Memories

Our First Christmas 2010

Every Christmas Santa brings me a special Christmas tree ornament in my stocking. Each ornament reflects something special or meaningful from my life in that past year. My family also has a tradition of collecting ornaments when we travel. Some of my favorites are on my parent's tree, but I've started getting my own on my travels. I've been enjoying looking at the ornaments on my tree this year and remembering each one and the time of my life they represent, I thought I would share some of my favorites.

Graduating from undergrad 2010

Graduating from high school 2005

When I rescued my puppy Luke in 2006

Baby's first Christmas 1986

My first house 2007

First Full-time job 2007

Playing basketball in middle school

Berry College 2005

Volleyball Freshman year of high school 2001

Trip with my mom to Philly... Benjamin Franklin nutcracker

The year I was in my middle school's production of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever... this
represents Gladys

From the High Museum

First year of school 1992

Our cat Puff

Every year growing up my family spent time at Hilton Head each summer. This ornament is like the lighthouse in Harbour Town. My sister HATES this ornament because it blinks. It used to drive her crazy so she would move it to the back of the tree so she didn't have to see it. =)

I hope this year Santa brings me an ornament about Emma. And I also can't wait to add more ornaments that represent Miguel and our life together! Yay for Christmas time!!!!! 

You've seen this before

Just some more pictures of Emma at the park. But this morning I made them in black and white to "mix it up". I can't seem to get enough pictures of the puppy. Oh lord, just think about when I have children! Sooo many pictures I'm sure. But Emma is my baby girl for now and here are our pictures from the park this morning.

Another gorgeous day!

I have no idea what she was digging for... but it makes me nervous
about how well a fence would work to keep her in our future yard.

Looking at a plane flying over