Dollar makes you... HOLLA!

The Simi Valley Dollar Store on Cochran is the BEST.

School supplies, household supplies: plastic baggies, foil, dish towels, forks, spoons, hairbrushes, toothbrushes.

I actually ate their food. It's decent. Spaghetti sauce, spaghetti, spices, breakfast sausage, chorizo, tortillas, almond cookies, maple cookies, sodas... all for a dollar!

Be there or.... be broke!

Free Science Experiments at Simi Library

Weather Balloon Experiment? Sign ups are happening now, today, at the Simi Valley Public Library. I am not sure of the presentation: I am awaiting my chance to experience this on Saturday June 27th. Based on my delighted surprise at discovering a "Paper Airplane Contest" which happened in May, on the last Saturday, I am venturing a guess that this may be a monthly event. Anyway, free... and no age limit. Check it out today! Simi Valley Public Library 805-526-1735.

Cheap Entertainment for 6 and 7 year olds

Watercolor paint on the cement patio. Big brushes, lotsa water and cool designs. Dries up.

Sidewalk chalk on the brick wall behind our house. A masterpiece that will wash away with the next Spring rain.

$2.00 canvas tote bags from Big Lots on Cochran Street and fabric markers. Wowza. Add some fabric paint, and you have a fabulous future parent gift (you know you are begging for your own...).

Rock collecting. This really is fun during a hike.

Leaf collecting. This is very educational as we learn about all the different leaves and trees in our area. If you spread paint on the leaves, then press the leaves onto paper, you'll create a memorable backdrop for a photograph.

Woah. Rock... Paint... Father's Day paperweight. So far, it's a tradition in our house.

Build a graham cracker house.... and EAT IT. Use up leftover cereal, marshmallows, candy pieces, and stick it with frosting or marshmallow fluff. MUNCH down on a hedonistic treat. Prepare for the sugar crash nap. Once in awhile... WHY not?

Play a board game. We don't spend enough time with our children as it is... and we complain about their using video games. Well, dang it! Be a part of the solution...! Show them how to play Crazy 8s, Old Maid, you name it! Charades! The sky's the limit!

Speaking of skies, cloud watching is awesome. Ask questions: What does that look like? what do you think a cloud tastes like? Can we sketch that cloud? Make a book of clouds. Make a model of cloud with cotten balls and glue (not tape... it looks terrible...just a light application of glue is okay..). Hang it in their room above their bed with some star cut outs. Very cool.

My personal favorite: Find the Matching Sock Game. Once you find its partner, ball them up together and Make a Basket! Two points for making it. 1 point for missing and then putting it in the basket. Loser puts them ALL away! WOO HOO!

Too Cute! Christmas Low On Dollars, High on Love

Save these ideas for next year!

Our children colored and glittered wooden photo ornaments for their grandparents. This turned out to be such a nice gift. The ornaments were a nice quality, and currently on sale for 39cents, down from 99cents each at Joann's Crafts on Tapo Street. We used markers on one set of ornaments and discovered that smearing glitter glue onto the freshly colored surfaced spread the ink around, and created a nice watercolor-effect. We used colored pencils on the other set and that also turned out pretty. We "painted" on those with dots of iridescent glitter glue and that was a charming effect as well.

My daughter helped me spray paint silver some fallen magnolia blossoms and gumfruit. If you haven't seen these, they might look like nature trash at first. But after a good dollop of silvery or gold spray, they magically turn into festive centerpieces, great for single items of decor, or grouped for a centerpiece on a pretty plate, or further (we never got to this point, but the potential is there) arranged with hot glue (and I'm thinking) on a rounded coat hanger wire to form an interesting wreath (I'll do this next year). I also noticed the gumfruit had convenient holes in which we could stick foil pipe cleaners. My daughter made a "Christmas Ant". I am thinking Christmas Bugs for next year might be nice

My mother-in-law created very striking holiday decor by (somehow) inserting strings of light into a glass block (her husband helped). Tied with a crisp, elegant bow, the overall look was magical. I always think that holiday decor is a guaranteed hit, at least with me. I don't have enough, and what I do have, is eventually broken and will need to be replaced.

My other mother-in-law (I am blessed with two) had an interesting "Christmas Auction". She had arranged several nice gifts on a table, handed out packets of fake money, and the family members had a great time bidding on their desired gifts. It was not only fun, it was a guarantee that everyone got something they liked. Of course, there were moments when in the heat of bidding, a few family members were caught up in battle, and you are left wondering who truly was the victor.

My sister-in-law and her husband gifted families with their bottles of homemade wine. I should mention, however, this is not a holiday hobby, but a serious part time venture, which they've been doing for years. In other words, this is no "grow your beer in a box" experiment. I always enjoy homemade items, in one way or another. Especially when the gift is the result of something they passionately love to do. Several years ago, my father-in-law made sets of nice wooden chopping blocks. He loves to work with wood, and his gifts were cherished and useful.

Our good friends Keith and Tasha, as usual, had very creative gifts. I should say Tasha. Keith just tags along and adds humor. For example, Tasha made a tin of fudge, to which she attached "family conversation starters" cards, where families would use them to start talking at a dinner table, for example. Tasha is very creative. Check out their company website, which she created http://www.beyond-images.com/. Keith gave us Vienna sausage. See?

However, I should mention we gave Keith Coconut Milk and Top Ramen noodles. There are stories behind these foods BUT the reason I mention these items is that, in all honesty, between good friends, it's much simpler to give a canned good (which may recall a personal story) or an imported (single) bottle of beer with a bow.

Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas, Blessed Kwanza!

Other Uses for Christmas Cards

Got a bunch? Okay, let's check out the possibilities, in no particular order of preference.

1.) Hang a long piece of strong yarn across ... somewhere. Hang all your cards so we can enjoy the pretty colors.

2.) Use same method, but string it over your Christmas Tree.

3.) Cut cards in half, use the front cover (which usually has a blank side) as a Christmas postcard.

4.) Same as above, except use for a Thank You note to the gift giver

5.) Use cards and scissors to create a Christmas Village for your children to enjoy. Sure, you can use glue and tape, but wouldn't it be cool to simply cut slits and slide the cards together?

6.) Out of really pretty ones you can make snowflake ornaments, with the special picture or message showing.

7.) Chop into pieces and use them to make a giant collage of collage for fun. This is great to occupy children on vacation. It's especially challenging for older children or young adults to attempt to use the pieces as "colors", for example, using darker pieces to "paint" dark areas of a larger picture. Sort blues, greens, etc into different piles and let them have some fun!

Worried about saving the crafts? No need. Take a picture for your scrapbook. Then, as the adult, you can soak the pieces (or tired out projects) in rubbing alcohol and use them as an economical fire starter for your fireplace.

$1.00 Makes Me Hollar!

The Dollar Store on Cochran, in the Albertson's shopping center, is a true, bonafide bargain center. Other 99 cent or thrift stores smell funny or simply look trashed. This one generally appears clean and the clerks are pleasant. Although not stocked with everything in creation, it has 12 pks of Christmas pencils for $1.00; pairs of girls' socks for $1.00; children's books for.. uh.. $1.00; stickers, 2 pks for ... $1.00; well you get the picture. Other nifty finds are batteries, locks, magnets, candies, interesting lotions and bubble baths, cleaners for the house, energy drinks, plastics for the kitchen, party supplies, coffee cups, bathroom items, Santa hats and holiday decor. They even have what I call "Hannukah Socks" (dark, glittery blue stockings for the fireplace... very pretty, too!). Two dollars can get you a nice gift of scented powder or lotions for your child's classroom teacher; a child's book for your neighbor; a few socks for your own children's stockings...holiday pencils for a neat treat for your child to proudly pass out to their friends this week. This store is worth checking out periodically. The buck definitely stops HERE.

Gifts for the holidays... small or handmade, who'da thunk it?

Recession has an up side: since we're all so broke, we actually have to put more thought and feeling into our gifts than ever before, more twitter than glitter, so to speak. I welcome it as a chance to revisit the spirit and meaning of the holidays.

Our children are truly blessed, and like most children, don't appreciate it. This year I purposely chose to donate toward one of the many toy charity drives in the neighborhood, taking time to explain to my two angels are they are being a "secret santa" to a little one, just like them, who may not have money or parents who can provide a present at Christmas. Emphasizing the needs of others over our own is perfectly in tune with this hailed 'season of peacegiving'.

Handmade gifts can be easily done, especially with the artwork of children. Using their art from school, you can make creative giftwrapping for presents. Children can handpaint frames for showcasing photos of family. My own children enjoy painting plaster ornaments which are purchased cheaply from an art supply store, like Michael's or Jo Ann's. Handmade prints or art with season's greetings can be photocopied onto Christmas cards and make a cherished memory.

Baked cookies are a treat, but have you thought about homemade frozen dinners? Busy parents can really appreciate this timesaver, especially if you have a recipe that they have raved about. Adults can swap "babysitting" hours for gifts, no questions asked.

Items for families include kitchen items: not gadgets, which take up shelf space, but practical and pretty always are a hit. Some examples are:
*a new set of wooden spoons, tied with a bright ribbon and your favorite pancake recipe
*splatter screens with a your favorite fried chicken recipe or include a sealed jar of the actual dusting flour
*canvas cloths can be successfully painted in thick, bright patterns and then edged even by the most basic sewer and used as cloth trivets
*painted dishes can be given as spoon rests
*collection of family recipes with optional family photos

Other, random items:
*Movie Rental Card and a Box of Microwave Popcorn
*Starbucks Gift Card in a Charming Mug
*Pretty Sparkly Headbands
*Laundry for a day or Windows for a Day (an intense labor of love)
*Grandparents will appreciate their grandchildren's efforts at landscaping and gardening (with parent supervision - this is not a day for grandma to babysit!)

A personal favorite of mine are plants and seeds to look forward to growing, in the future months of warmth and sun.