Saving Money in the New Year

We are on a big saving money kick around here these days.  Our Christmas this year was a family decision to be a handmade Christmas. Honestly, I felt like I was channeling  a little Laura Ingalls Wilder (Christmas at Plum Creek, when they make a button string for Carrie because they have no money for christmas gifts)
and while I am thinking of the book, you can find the tv link here http://www.tv.com/shows/little-house-on-the-prairie/christmas-at-plum-creek-57178/

Anyway, the Influenza A and the new job put a little bit of a damper on my gift making, as I had planned on getting a lot of stuff done during my maternity leave, but we all know how that went down. So, I procrastinated and left all of my gift making up until the last 2 weeks until Christmas.

Here's what I was able to get done. I'm sorry, I didn't take any pictures, I was too busy coughing! I will see if my family will lend me a few so I can post photos later. I'm such a bad blogger!

from the kids:
handplate print plates (Christmas Trees and Moose) find tons of ideas here http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=handprint%20plates
handprint hats similiar to the plates

little girl "made" everyone plastic bag holders from her formula cans and reindeer ornaments from her formula scoops

little man made painted picture frames from the dollar store for everyone


I made this
button on kitchen towels find directions here http://treyandlucy.blogspot.com/2009/12/hanging-dishtowel.html

and scrapbook/fishing lure supply holders by spray painting baby food jar lids with chalkboard paint and then putting them in square cake pans from the dollar store

Coffee cup cozies and homemade cappucino and french vanilla coffee mix

I also made a pillowcase doll for little one and play food out of felt for little man- he wants to be a "cooker" when he grows up.

I made some canvas bags for my hubby to take with him when he goes hunting every fall, and I got him a googlechrome cast. I have been trying to get him to get rid of our expensive cable for several years to no avail. But I think this might change his mind!  We are having some problems with the tv screen lagging behind when someone else is on the computer, I think we need a better router, but now I need to hear from all of you, what shows do you love to watch on Hulu plus? I have amazon, but it won't stream, so I am trying out hulu. I have also been watching lots of reselling themed videos on youtube and have watched the every episode of American Horror Story, Dowtown Abbey, Coupling, Downstairs, Upstairs. . . I'm afraid I'm going to run out of shows to watch while I am listing, so I need to know, what are some good girly shows to watch?  I don't want to cancel our cable until I know for sure that are things we will still enjoy watching.

This is the first Christmas that we left December 25th without any extra CC debt!  We are starting the new year in the black, I love that! Now, hopefully I didn't just jinx us.

I will be posting later this week about how my Christmas sales were this year. I only have 6 days left of Christmas break before I head back to the day job.

Quarantined!

Feeling a little de ja vu here . . .
remember this post from last spring. right before the baby was born
http://grannyshoard.blogspot.com/2013/03/does-it-ever-end.html
Here I am again. I have influenza A. I had to leave work on Wednesday with orders from my Dr. that I was to stay home away from the public until December 23rd. Which means I missed the last 3 days of school, an inservice and my students Christmas party. It made me very sad!
I have had a stressful few weeks at work with my formal observation, the regular flu and not very much sleep. This is always what happens when I get too run down. I've hit my brick wall, so I'm going to take it easy, rest, and get things ready for Christmas at my house (especially since I can't leave it for a few more days!)

I am finally able to sit upright, but coughing still makes me see stars!

So far my hubby has gotten it also, my son started with a few symptoms, but so far hasn't had the full blown thing and finger crossed baby girl is doing fine so far with no symptoms. I am the first case in my county in someone who had gotten their flu shot, aren't I a lucky girl?

On the sales front, I had two awesome weeks on ebay and amazon and now sales have slowed down to a trickle. It's been hard to keep going with being sick, so I'm okay with it.  Every year I say that I need to get more listed sooner and this year is no different. So I am listing Christmas items right now, because that's what's in the house and ready to list. If they stay listed until Christmas next year, I'm okay with that.

So, now you know why I've been away from the blog for a while. I'll leave you with some recent sales:

paid $1.99, sold for bid of $45

paid $2, sold for $76 bid

Fisher Price Voice Warp Tape Player 

paid $4.99, sold in two days for $40

Ralph Lauren Numbered Polo Shirt 

pd. $4.99, sold in 3 days for BO of $40

I picked up these two Christmas under the tree trains at different garage sales last summer for $5 and $3 each. I wasn't able to test them when I purchased them, but figured I'd take a chance. When I got them out to list I discovered neither of them worked. So I listed them for sale as is, for parts and they both sold within a month, I didn't make a huge amount, but I was able to pay for them and still make a little profit, I'm good with that!

Ugly Christmas Cardigan with Christmas cats, paid $3.99, sold in 3 minutes for BO of $24

Hope Christmas Sales are living up to your expectations!