Monday Mom-Preneurs and My Town

I have THREE fab mom-preneurs to showcase today, right in time for the holidays! Two of them online and one in "My Town" (Boise, ID)...


Cathy over at Simply Happy Designs does personalized, custom digital photo cards for a very resonable price! Now's the time to get your holiday greetings ordered, so go check out her site for more details!





Smitten Blog Designs by Kate and Heather make chic custom blog designs and have lots of free templates to choose from as well! They are even doing a really fun-looking "12 Days of Christmas" giveaway that I am definately going to enter. They are going to start showing off the prizes every week starting this Wednesday, so you've got to go check it out!



Cherella is located in Boise at Emerald and Milwalke, by TGI Fridays. They are having their One Year Anniversary sale today Nov. 17 through Saturday the 22. Everything in the store will be 20% off all week! You will also be entered into a drawing for a $75 gift cert. with your purchase. Yay! Cherella is open Mon. thru Sat. 11am to 6:30pm and closed on Sundays. If you haven't been in, you'll have to go check it out! Very chic and classy!



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Friday Fave- Bizzy Bee

I have to take you over to BizzyBeeCreations and show you some real creativity. Beth is SO creative and always so good to blog about her projects and teach us how to do them. I LOVE her blog, and always feel so inspired by her. Girl's got talent! Go get inspired for Thanksgiving. I'm looking forward to seeing all of her Christmas projects soon!

Also, Christmas is coming quickly! I'd better spend some time and take some pics of my own Christmas ideas and traditions. Do you have some too? Do you make and sell something we would love to see? Do you have a great holiday tutorial that you'd like to share? Know of a Christmas shopping secret or deal? Please share the love and send me your link! Pin It

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity.... It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow."
-Melodie Beattie

I love and agree with this beautiful, well-put quote. Happy Thursday! Pin It

Money Saving Info

I went to Albertsons last night and came home with hundreds of dollars worth of groceries for $125, including boneless/skinless chicken breasts for $1.68/lb and a ton of non-parishables!! I was gitty!! Albertsons had a week-long General Mills sale, where you buy $30 worth and they will kick you back $15 in coupons! (And if you do it right, you pay each time you hit $30 and get to use your coupons for the next $30 and so on.) Then if you have manufacturer coupons to use, it's just that much better for you and you get the items for next to nothing!

It all makes my head spin, but there are others who have mastered the art of frugality and have spelled it out for us. There are too many links to mention, but on my right sidebar I have a bunch of them listed under "Deal Finders". Two of them are my friends' Cathy's and Tammy's. I am just a beginner, but I've been doing a lot of reading online at some great blogs and websites on how to pinch pennies and save a lot of money. With Christmas coming quickly I need all the help I can get!!

Walgreens is another store to get great deals from! I just read here about HOW it's done.

Do you know of some other places to go for info, coupons, freebies, etc?? Please share!

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Tuesday Tute on Turkey Traditions

I mentioned last week about my poster that I made last year for the month of November... Well, here is finally a picture of it. (I've been looking for it all week, but finally found it yesterday just in time for "family night".)

How to:
1. Draw a bare tree on a poster board and put wording on it. (I used fall leaf scrapbook paper and traced the letters from some other cardboard ones I got from the scrapbooking store.)
*I think I drew the tree, then painted it brown with my craft paint.
2. Get it laminated.
3. Cut orange, red, yellow and brown leaves with a die-cut machine. (I just used the school's machine and brought my own paper.)
4. Have a family lesson on Thanksgiving and being thankful. Have everyone think of everything they are thankful for and write (or draw) them down on the leaves. Then tape the leaves to the tree. Every day add leaves to the tree as a family and talk about what you are grateful for.

My friend Jessica made something similar a year or two ago. Instead, hers is a turkey with thankful feathers. You can see how she did her's here.

Now it's your turn... I want to learn from you, so please send me some of your Thanksgiving ideas and traditions! (email is on the right sidebar) Pin It

My Town Monday After All

I have FOUR events in my town (Boise, ID area) happening this very week that I want to shout out about...
1. A photography class this Friday and Saturday (Nov. 14th & 15th) by a professional. The class cost is $125, and I heard it is well worth it if you want to be able to take better pictures and understand photography! Contact Natalie D. 884-4229 or 272-0529 ASAP for info and to sign up!

2. Pie Baking classes from Mindy's Pie Pantry... She's doing a couple classes this week that are already full, but because of popular demand she is offering more classes to those who would still like to sign up! Yay!! The class cost is $35 and is a hands-on pie making training with your pie to take home- yum! There must be a minimum of 4 people for a class. A great idea for a group of girlfriends, I think!! Just email Mindy to schedule a class with her, mindyspiepantry@yahoo.com or call her at 475-4282.

Mindy is also taking orders now for Thanksgiving pies!

Order by November 15th to receive $2.00 off every pie ordered!
PLUS Free Delivery on any order of 6 pies or more (within a 20 mile radius)
Place your orders at mindyspiepantry@yahoo.com or call 475-4282
All pies $14.00 ($12 with early order)
These are 9 inch pies! (larger and deeper than Marie Calendars and fresh, never frozen)

*I finally got to sample one of Mindy's pies several weeks ago, and OH MY GOSH!! Mouth watering to say the least! Sorry Marie C. I've got my new gal!!

Choices are: Apple, Pumpkin, Very Berry, Sour Cream Lemon, Lemon Meringue, Chocolate Cream, Banana Cream, Coconut Cream, Chocolate Coconut Cream, Peach, Blueberry!

3. Graples Home Decor will be having their Christmas Decor Event this Saturday (Nov. 15th) from 10 am to 3 pm. Bring a canned food item to donate and go see all their great holiday stuff!!

4. "Home for the Holidays" holiday concert at the Nampa Civic Center next Monday, Nov. 17th at 7 pm (preshow 6:30) by an amazing musical family group called e11even. Tickets are available online for only $15 per family (or $5/adult and $3/child or senior). e11even will also be collecting canned food items to donate to the less fortunate.

Have a great week!!

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Monday- Mom-Preneur Whitney

Instead of "My Town Monday" today I want to show you one of my readers, Whitney's etsy store called Genuine Accents. Her stuff is SO creative and classy, you just have to go check it out! I LOVE her cute button earrings, the beautiful necklaces and beaded earrings, and the SO darling pacifier holders!! I need another baby just to have one of those. (Well, I guess I don't need another baby), but these would sure be a cute gift idea for my sis-in-laws!






Okay ladies... Since the holidays have approached, let's support our fellow mom-preneurs! I want to see your cute stuff!! Email me your etsy store or blog link (email address on right sidebar) and I will check it out for myself and mention you on The Creative Homemaker for all to see!! Can't wait to see what you have to share! Pin It

Holiday Bazaar in My Town

The Deaf Center of Idaho is having their 2nd annual Holiday Bazaar this Saturday, November 8 from 10:00am - 4:00pm. It will be held at CDHH at 1720 Westgate Dr. Boise. Come check it out... There will be some fab things to see!!

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Friday Faves- Cinnamon Chips

I found Hershey's Cinnamon Chips the other day, on sale at Winco for $1.68 for a 12oz package! I made bread yesterday and threw these chips into the dough. I got the idea from a my friend, Shana who made me some bread with these chips inside.

When I put in the cinnamon chips, most of them melted right away because the dough was so warm and I didn't have all the flour in yet. So the chips melted and turned the dough to an orangy brown color. Next time I will wait to put in the chips. It still tasted delicious! I used my sister's bread recipe, found here. Pin It

A Thought for Thursday- Thankful

There really is SO much to be thankful for! Thanks Josh G., for reminding us of this.
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Whatever Wednesday- Teaching Children (and Ourselves) Gratitude

Yesterday parenting class was on Teaching our Children Gratitude. The classes preceding were Teaching Children to Work and Teaching Service. Today she summed it up that the basis for true humility is through hard work, service and gratitude. Teaching and acting upon these three things takes the ME factor out and helps us focus OUT.

Sadly, I have misplaced my parenting notebook temporarily (in the move), which has all my notes from class in it. (They are last year's notes obviously.) But basically, to inherit true humility and selflessness, we must learn (as do our kids) to work hard until it's uncomfortable, serve others because we love God and His children (our fellow men), and feel gratitude for all that we've been blessed with; which if you really sit down and think about it, we are SO blessed just living in the United States alone.

We were warned against giving our children things all the time. It's the going without that builds gratitude in our hearts. This economy has given me so much gratitude for what I have. I feel so very blessed.

Part of teaching our children gratitude is to teach them proper manners and respect for others. Role play practice is my favorite way to teach these things to my kids. (They love it, and it seems to sink in better!) We learned that as parents WE must be the ones to provide/create experiences for our children to learn these things.

A few great ideas for practicing gratitude in our homes, that I got from class today were: 1. From now until Christmas, make a paper chain as a family; each link with something you are grateful for to be taken off and discussed at dinner every night.
2. Have a gratitude box that gets passed around all month for family members to write down what they are grateful for and every night taking one out to talk about as a family.
3. Decide as a family something you can do help a needy family for the holidays, and carry out the plan.

Last year I made a poster of a bare tree and had orange leaves cut out for us to write down things we are grateful for and post onto the tree. We hang it on the wall in clear view, so we can read and discuss easily.

What do YOU do to teach your children gratitude?? I want more ideas!! Please leave a comment on this post or do a post on your own blog and let me know. Thanksgiving Traditions? Please share! Email me...
(Email link is on right sidebar.)
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Tuesday Tutorial- Planning Thanksgiving

My friend emailed me the link to this great website called Organized Christmas. They have a whole section of Thanksgiving tips, from organizing your feast to cute gifts and childrens' coloring printables. I love organized people who are willing to help us out during this crazy time of year!! Pin It

Are You Ready to Vote?

Are you ready? Did you register? Do you know where to go to VOTE tomorrow?? If not, click HERE. Pin It

Preserving Marriage in Arizona!

If you live in Arizona, it's very important to get to the polls on Tuesday and stand up to preserve marriage!! Vote YES on Prop 102 in Arizona!! Pin It

Friday Faves- The Best Candy

I found the most delicious candy in the bulk food section at Winco (aka Food 4 Less, etc)! They are called High School Musical Pop Rockin' chocolates. Chocolate and Pop Rocks together?? Definately worth a try! I don't remember ever seeing these in years past, so I decided to get some to pass out this year. And oh my gosh... I think I have lost count of how many I have eaten... It's terrible! They not only taste yummy, but it's pop rocks, so they sizzle too... So cool! So if you love Pop Rocks and you love chocolate, you are in for a real treat with these. Just don't think about the calories!! You can get these at [my] Winco for $2.48/lb.

What is YOUR fave candy???

Happy Halloween!!! Pin It

Preserving the Institution of Marriage

ProtectMarriage.com Pin It

Launch Party Giveaway Winner!!!

We have a winner of my giveaway items on Leelou's blog...
Congrats to Andrea and her cute family!! Can't wait to send you my stuff!
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Tuesday Tutorial- Last Minute Halloween Projects

This craziness in my life the last 2 weeks has gotten me behind on my fun post ideas... But I just had to show you a couple of cute, easy projects from my friend, JoJo's blog called Second Rate Pursuits. She is such a creative homemaker. She's a simple, darling, talented gal and I love her blog!
JoJo made this adorable cheesecloth ghost that looks so simple and cute!
She also made this darling candle holder that I just have to throw together for this Friday!! She got the idea from another awesome blog called the Inspired Room. Thanks for the inspiration, ladies!! Pin It

Leelou's Launch Party Giveaway!!

Ladies, I'm back with a bang!! I am taking part in Leelou's Giveaway Party... Yes, SO exciting!! You won't want to miss Leelou's blog all week long for some FABULOUS FREEBIES and giveaways!!

I am giving away 3 things!!!! (Eventhough Leelou has only 2 of them posted on her blog. I am throwing in a bonus something that I don't have pictured yet. This lack of internet thing is driving me crazy! hehe)

My THREE things:
1. A set of Behavior Punch Cards
2. A Bathroom Reminder Card
3. A set of Set of 2 Flower Hair Clips!!!




How to enter:
Go to Leelou's blog and leave a comment on her post about me!! Then take one of her Launch Party linkies to put on your blog. Oh, and don't forget to grab one of mine while you are here too (if you don't already have one {{wink-wink}}).

Hurry! You only have until 9 AM on Tuesday the 28th!! Good luck! Pin It

Leelou's Launch Party!!!!

I am one of the giveaway gals!! I will be giving away a set of punch cards and a bathroom reminder chart!! Yay!!! Pin It

Home Sweet Home

It's been a crazy couple of weeks!! I am still using my husband's cell phone modem and laptop to use the internet. Our phone line and internet will finally be up and running this Wednesday. (I'm SO ready for that!) Then I will have my own computer back so I can post back to normal.

Here is our new home. I love it! It's been constant work since we moved 2 weeks ago, because we downsized by 1,200 square feet. Yep, the real estate market took a dive as we all know, so my husband got sucked down with it, since he works in that market. But we are loving the change and loving the monthly payment even more!! And this house is lovely and cozy. We are so happy here!

Bye-bye to my nice craft room. {{sniffle-sniffle}} That's really the only thing I'll miss, other than my wonderful neighbors and friends. We just moved down the road a couple miles, so it's not bad.

Anyway, I'm back!! Pin It

Still in Transition

We moved into our new place just over a week ago. Since we moved into a smaller place, it's been quite a job figuring out what to do with or where to put all of our STUFF!! And I didn't realize how MUCH stuff we actually had. So we spent all week going through it all and getting rid of a lot of it. We had a huge yard sale this last Saturday and were able to get rid of a lot. We still have some things to sell on Craig's List, but we can almost fit our van inside the garage again which is SO nice! I cannot tell you how great it feels to de-junk and simplify!

These last several weeks have been a complete whirlwind for me, but I can see the light at the end and things are finally falling into place... literally! My house is still not completely in order, but we are alive and well!!

I want to apologize for my lack of posts. I have hardly been on the computer in over a week. We still don't have our phone or Internet hooked up at our new place, and I've been using my husband's cell phone modem and laptop to get online briefly and check my email, etc. We've been waiting for the phone company and they are not very fast! I will be back to posting very soon. Thanks for baring with me!! Pin It

Favorite Holiday Things Swap

Jenni over at My Happy Little Life is hosting a neat fundraiser Holiday Swap to help raise money for the Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation. Her sweet little daughter has this life threatening disease. This sounds like a fun opportunity to share and recieve! Go check it out here.

Also, Jenni's mom makes these beautiful nativity sets out of river rocks and is donating a set (worth $150) for this cause. You can buy raffle tickets to enter the drawing for it. Click for more info!

I also noticed on Jenni's blog, a great weekly post she is doing to help us get ready for Christmas in 10 weeks, starting October 12. Thank goodness for gals like her that are willing to help the rest of us stay more organized! Thanks Jenni. You are definately a creative and organized homemaker! Pin It

Friday Faves- The Best Blogs

I just set up my side bar links in categories. I put my fave blogs (and websites) on that list. If you have a really great homemaker-type blog and think I should add you, please email me at TheCreativeHomemaker@gmail.com!! I don't want to leave anyone out. I don't get a lot of time to sit down and "blog-jog" very often, so I know I'm missing out on some great talent and inspiration! Please share yours with me, and I will place you on my link list!

I have several of your personal/family blogs bookmarked in my faves on my computer, and I do visit you once in a while. So if you've got some talent and inspiration to share, I want to know about it!! If you do something creative and don't mind me lurking and linking please let me know! If you are one of my readers, you are probably creative (or aspire to be). So it's time to show and tell. I want to see!!

Please email or comment with your link! XOXO

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A Thought for Thursday- Interfaith Fast

My friend Linda sent me this emial forward. If you want to participate in fasting and prayer for a great cause as a nation with other faiths, here's a wonderful oppurtunity! And hey, if you have any extra personal blessings you are praying for as well, an extra incentive!

INTERFAITH FAST
There will be an interfaith fast on Sunday, October 12th. People from all over the United States and from all faiths will be joining together to fast for the "building block of society," the Family. Religious fasting involves both prayer and fasting (abstaining from food and drink for a period of time). Whatever your professed faith may be, your faith and fasting can bring forth the powers of heaven. On Sunday, October 12th, and please pray for a positive outcome for California Proposition 8, that hearts may be softened, that understanding and wisdom will prevail, and that marriage will continue to be defined as between a man and a woman to protect families.

Isaiah 58:6,8-9
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am."

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Tuesday Tutorial- Terryaki Burgers

My baby brother Aaron makes the biggest, best, juiciest hamburgers ever. I asked him to show me how last week since he was over watching our Boise State football game a couple weeks ago. He uses soy sauce (a whole bottle- not pictured), and adds some sesame seed oil, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic powder, and brown sugar (not pictured)- all to taste. (You'll have to just wing it, I guess until it's right.)

You can do just a small amount of brown sugar and use sweetener if you want, to keep the sugar calories down a little.

Then you crush Triscuits (reduced fat/low sodium) and add them to the soy mixture along with the ground beef. Mix with hands like you would with meat loaf.

Now you can throw those puppies on the grill after you've formed them into thick patties.
Time to enjoy your burger, that is IF you can get your mouth around it! My mouth is watering just looking at these pictures! Thanks Aaron!

Oh, I love my hamburgers the most on homemade buns!!

Here's my recipe:
Homemade Hamburger Buns
4 c flour
2 T yeast
2 c warm water
3/4 c oil
3 eggs (beaten 3 min high speed)
1/2 c sugar
1 T salt
4 c flour again
Sticky dough- Knead till smooth. Let rise till double, punch down. Rest 5 min. Form hamburger or hotdog buns. Let rise. Bake at 375 for 10 min.
(Sorry... this is directly from my mom's recipe card from years ago, so I'm sorry the directions aren't more detailed. If you have any questions, just email me at thecreativehomemaker@gmail.com I've made these many times.)

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My Town Monday- Other Mother's Off-site Sale!

Okay ladies... Welcome to the Main Event! Other Mothers is having their semi-annual Off-Site Sale this Friday and Saturday, October 10 & 11 starting at 9:00 AM. There will be tons of baby, kids and maternity clothing and shoes (all for 25 cents each) along with toys, furniture, strollers, bedding, baby accessories, etc for ridiculously low prices. They're all used items, un-accepted things that people have donated. After this weekend, the items leftover will be donated to charities.

I have seen the Other Mothers storage unit and WHOA... It's busting at the seems!! You are not going to want to miss this sale! The sale will take place indoors just two doors down from Other Mothers on Fairview/Five Mile. (Just look for the signs and lots of ladies!)

Of course there are still Halloween costumes on the racks, as well as winter coats, gloves and hats. All racks are packed full of fall and winter clothing. This is a great time to shop!!

One more exciting thing that I did forget to mention in my last Other Mothers post...

Our newspaper, The Idaho Statesman does a "Best of the Treasure Valley" insert once? a year. It shows the best stores in town for different categories. Old Navy was voted best children's clothing store, then for the 3 honorable mentions...


Listed with two other first-hand clothing stores, Gap and Children's Place, is my fave Other Mothers. I know the owners and they were tickled pink!! They have worked very hard to get there, and they deserve it! Way to go OM! What an honor! That tells ya something for sure! Pin It

Friday Faves- Goo Gone

Do you all have this stuff? If not, go get some! It's not very expensive and you can find it anywhere. Only buy one bottle though, because it will last you forever. I love it in this spray bottle.

It gets anything sticky out of everything. The other day I used it to get gum out of my 3-year-old's hair before washing it. I also use it to get price sticker goop off store bought items. It's a must have!! DO you love this stuff too? Pin It

A Thought for Thursday- General Conference

Since so many of my readers are members of my church, I thought I would share a General Conference packet to download for your kiddos. I got different packets from two different friends, that are both great. Thanks Jeni and Linda!! I am linking to one of them, because I can't figure out how to get to the other one. You can also go to Sugardoodle (my fave ideas website) for more conference ideas.

In case you are not a member of my church and wonder what the heck I'm talking about, General Conference is a world-wide broadcast from Salt Lake City that happens twice a year... the first weekends in April and October. It airs on the BYU channel on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 12 noon, and from 2 to 4 pm Utah (Mountain time) (4 different sessions). (If you are from my town, it also airs on "24/7"). The conference packet is for the kiddos to keep them entertained while they listen.

Also, it's always good to have special family traditions to make General Conference a special, enjoyable time. I like to make cinnamon rolls or "monkey bread" for one of the days. I always print off a packet for the kids as well. We let the kids set up their sleeping bags and get cozy while we watch together.

Sugardoodle always has great ideas to share. What are some of your semi-annual conference traditions?? Please share!

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