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JDaniel4s Mom

growing & learning with him

Tree Ornament Collection for Your Child’s Future Tree

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My friend Caroline started a Christmas ornament collection for each of her children when they were born. Each year she gave them an ornament that represented them, a place they had visited, or was something they really liked. Her plan is to give each child their collection when they grow up and start their own homes. I remember her saying that they wouldn’t have an empty tree for their first Christmas. Each of her children would have a tree that was filled with memories of their childhood and they could build on it .

I started this tradition for each of my sisters’ children . Each year I send an ornament to them along with their gift. I like to give the Hallmark ornaments. (I buy them the day after Christmas for the next year at 40 % off.) I don’t know if my sister’s will put them together in a collection for them when they are grown up or not. I hope they do.

JDaniel will have two ornaments of his own this year. I think I am going to keep a list of the ornaments for his “Future Tree” in the ornament box so I will remember which ones they are.

Right now lots of stores have ornaments 40-50% off!

Thrifty Holiday Spending- Reusable Bags for Giving, Shopping, and More

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Reusable bags might be a great gift for someone on your list. You might want to include a gift card to the store printed on the bag. I have even given gifts in decorative ones. If the person is very green friendly, they love that the can use them again.

I take the reusable grocery bags everywhere. We use them whenever we go shopping even if it isn’t for groceries. We take them to the library to carry books. We pack toys in them when we travel. We take them to the pool when we go to the Y. They are great for wet suits and towels. JDaniel even used one decorated with Frankenstein for his Halloween bag.

I try to keep some in the trunk of the car and some in the kitchen. JDaniel knows right where they are. If I tell him we need one, he goes off and gets one. Sometimes he doesn’t bring them to me. When he doesn’t bring one, I know I will find him standing at the door to the garage with one over his shoulder ready to go.

Some stores will give you credit for bringing your own bags. Target and Bi-Lo take money off for each bag you bring. I love seeing five cents taken off my total for each bag at Bi-Lo.

Consignment Shopping for Shoes and Toys

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Many of you probably go to consignment sales for clothes. I do that too. I have found the best deals on shoes and toys. JDaniel has little feet. He wears shoes that children who are just learning to walk are wearing and he is twenty- one months old this week. That means that the size 4 ½ or 5 that he needs have barely any wear expect for a few scuff marks on the toes. I was able to get him Timberland hiking boots for ten dollars and Nike sneakers for seven at a local consignment shop.

How about toys? I have done well in that department too. You have to shop around your local consignment store to know which one clean up the toys well and you have to test them out at the store. I have found great deals that would have cost so much more at the store. JDaniel got a toy laptop for seven dollars.

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