Christmas Crossroads

When do you stop adding your grown up children to the family Christmas card? Especially when it comes to photo Christmas cards. 

When they are living out on their own? When they get married? What happens if they never get married? This has been my Christmas dilemma. And this is why you won't be receiving a Christmas card from The Smith Family this year.

Normally I'm all over our Christmas cards well in advance. Envelopes are addressed and ready to be sent to Noel, MO post office for that extra special magical Christmas touch. Cards arrive well before Christmas and I have yet again, stayed ahead of my Christmas schedule. But this year I felt so guilty about leaving off our older children from the Christmas card, that I never did settle on my decision. Leave them on or off? It's more than just their names, it's all of them! 

For most Mom's leaving out our children from any greeting card is like throwing away their art work. You completely feel like you are abandoning them! For myself, I was absolutely worried that it would look like favoritism. Why only a photo of Mary Kate and Will? Where are Ryan and Matthew? Why aren't their names even on the card? Dreaded questions I hated to answer, because you know people are going to ask. Some will understand, others won't. And those that don't understand just love to make you feel horrible about your life choices. Then you're left to feel bad about yourself not only as a human but as Mom. Even though your intentions were pure and you are simply trying to let your older children grow up and let them send out their Christmas cards if they'd like. 

But nothing can never come easily, at least not in my world. My life is a living damned if you do, damned if you don't continuous loop. I cannot win. So instead I'm going to talk with my older children during our Christmas Eve festivities and ask their opinions. Not Facebook, not other Moms, I'm asking the people that matter most, Ryan and Matthew. Face expressions can tell me far more than a text or phone call. And I want to make sure that any decision I make for our family isn't hurting anyone...ESPECIALLY during Christmas. 

So if you are like me and at a Christmas crossroads, hoping to get those precious family Christmas cards delivered by Christmas, try not to stress about it. One Christmas not sending out cards isn't the end of the world. But do ask yourself the above questions and then talk it over with the ones who will potentially left off of the Christmas card. Christmas is about love, family, togetherness and most importantly the birth of our Savior. Don't let Christmas get ruined over a card. 

Merry Christmas!

Kat

By the way...Yes, I'm aware I can always send out regular Christmas cards and just write The Smith Family...problem solved. But I'm talking photo cards:)

Products I Love: Personalized Money Envelopes

Happy Holidays! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Now that we're done stuffing  ourselves full of turkey and fixings, it's time for Christmas shopping and stuffing stockings instead.

And today is one of the best shopping days of them all....Cyber Monday! But what do you do for the people on your list that need cash for the holidays and not an actual gift? We have a son in college, a sister and brother-in-law who are installing wood floors in their new home, and a nephew and niece-in-law who are expecting their first baby. For some cash is much appreciated during the holidays. Because you can only fit so much into a dorm room, who needs more candy, and more baby clothes just becomes over whelming.

I don't necessarily mind giving cash, I understand it's much needed for some. But it's hard to make giving cash fun and festive during the holidays. So how can we make giving cash fun for you to give? Well, I'm glad you asked!

A few years ago I found these darling personalized money envelopes from Littlebeane Boutique on Etsy, that dress up your Christmas cash for gifting to your favorite people. And they're not just for Christmas, they also make personalized money envelopes for Birthdays, Graduations and even the Tooth Fairy! Plus they take custom orders too.

I purchase these money envelopes every Christmas and every Christmas they are a hit. People love to see their names on products and people love money even more. It's a win, win really.  And seriously, most people just toss the card that you spent all that time searching for. People tend to keep a hold of these personalized money envelopes to put in a scrapbook, or they hand it right back to me to use for another Christmas and Birthday.

If you're looking for a fun way to give out holiday cash to your family, teachers and adult children, go to this link and purchase yours today! And they are about the same price as a card, at $3.99 each and can be purchased from this link at www.littlebeaneboutique.etsy.com PS turn around time is great too!

So while you're shopping on this fun Cyber Monday, go to Littlebeane Boutique and purchase some of these cute personalized money envelopes for your favorite people on your list.

Products I Love: Ayesha Curry Bacon Grease Can

Ah, Bacon. The sizzle, the crackle, the smell. Just the smell of bacon makes gives me all the feels. The smell of bacon brings back childhood memories of camping, my Mom cooking in the kitchen on a Sunday morning with the smells of fresh coffee and pancakes lingering in the background. Bacon is a comfort food we can all appreciate.

And I like to save my bacon drippings for other added flavor and seasoning. If you've never saved your bacon grease but want to start, make sure you strain the bacon grease with a cheese cloth and then transfer it into an air tight container. After you transfer your bacon grease into an air tight container make sure to put it into the refrigerator. Storing your grease in the refrigerator can actually stay good for up to 1 year! But you never want to store the bacon grease with bits of meat because it can turn rancid with a few weeks. So strain that bacon grease!

I love to use this ADORABLE bacon grease can by Ayesha Curry. You can get yours on Amazon Prime for $11.55 Click on this link to order yours: Ayesha Curry Bacon Grease Can other colors are available but at different prices.

Save your Bacon Drippings using this adorable can! Click on link above!

I just love this little bacon grease can, it's way cuter than using a coffee can and it's air tight, just what you need! Plus, when digging through your refrigerator, you always know where your bacon grease is thanks to Ayesha Curry's super cute design on the front. 

So with that said, Christmas is coming up and I know some of you have Mama's that still use bacon grease like I do. So why don't you gift your favorite bacon loving Mom with this Bacon Grease Can from Ayesha Curry sold on Amazon

Still not sold on saving your bacon grease drippings? Check out these 8 uses for bacon grease! Enjoy!