New Year, New Blog!

I think it's time for some changes around here!

While frugality is always on my mind - I don't think I will ever NOT be frugal - at one point I had four blogs. One for my sewing, one for my gardening, one for my frugal living, and one for my boys. Needless to say, it was kind of a pain.

My boys' blog will always be a separate entity, but even though I have merged my other blogs onto this one - you will find old sewing and gardening posts here - Frugality only encompasses one of the aspects of all we do. Sure, I make pants for my boys because it's so cheap, but also because they LOVE their cozy warm pants; I grow my own veggies because it's cheaper, but also because I prefer homegrown quality and taste and want my boys to learn where their food comes from.

So, to make a long story short (too late!) come the new year I will have a new blog - and I hope you will follow me there as well!

More details to come!

Merry Christmas!

To quote Speed

I must have "felt like [I] needed another challenge or something" because I made 18 placemats for Christmas lunch.
We didn't have enough of any one color, so we figure, since we'll be hosting from now on, might as well have a big set ready. And these will go with every color tablecloth for the holidays - cream, bright red, dark red, gold, green, etc.

Off to make 18 napkin rings. Just kidding. I think.

Our ornaments

These are just a few of the ornaments we have that mean so much to us, some new, some with lovely memories, but all welcome on our tree:

I found this one at Target, and since my oldest loves dinosaurs and blue is his favorite color, I just HAD to get it!

He had previously made a liopleurodon ornament, so there's plenty of dino-age company around.

This one I got at Disneyland last year, it was the boys' first trip ever.

For the francophile mama, a glittery Eiffel tower.

This one we got the year our youngest was born. Our complete little family.

Last but not least, something Peruvian on our tree. I was born and raised there, and I love to see this hanging on the tree. It's not actually an ornament, it's something you hang up on the wall, but hey, it works, right?

Fun @ Gilroy Gardens

Gilroy Gardens is a local park that puts on a show for the holidays - we've gone for the past few years with Gran and Grandpa (my husband's parents) and have always had a great time.

This year was no different, it was actually quite warm, so we all started peeling off coats and heavy sweaters, and the boys romped around the park freely. In fact, I might say, a little too freely.

I am not sure what the finances are like for Gilroy Gardens, but it felt like we had the park to ourselves. We didn't wait in a single line, were usually the only ones on the rides, and had the train to ourselves. Twice. Sure there were other people around but not the crowds of years past. A few of the rides were not operating, either. I just hope that we have years of Gilroy Gardens to enjoy!

A tale of two cats . . . and a Christmas tree

After seeing a dark lump beneath my Christmas tree, I went to investigate and discovered it was my cat, Bernie.

Then another lump scampered out, it was my lardass one-eyed cat, Willie-Boo.

"Who ya calling lardass, lady?"

And this is the reason we don't put gifts under our tree. Because the cats have taken over the "under the tree" area. Le sigh.

Pantone color of the year 2011

It's been a couple of years since I've been following Pantone's choices and I have to say, their color of the year for 2011 is lovely!
A rich, saturated pinky red, honeysuckle is no pale, pastel-y shade waiting to be overshadowed.

Pantone 2011 Honeysuckle by pontmarie featuring old navy tops

Shoulder Detail Sheath Dress
$98 - anntaylorloft.com
Sheath dresses »

Old Navy Womens Textured Tunics
$22 - oldnavy.gap.com
Old navy tops »

Old Navy Womens Micro Performance Fleece V-Neck Pullovers
$8 - oldnavy.gap.com
Pullover tops »

Floral Print Scarf
$39 - anntaylorloft.com
Ann Taylor LOFT scarves »

SEPHORA COLLECTION Nail Lacquer L34 - Myrtille
$5 - sephora.com

twentyone black lip gloss
$1.99 - rue21.com

How do you like Pantone's choice?

The boys decorate!

My boys LOVE to decorate the Christmas tree, although my little one loves to take stuff down as much as he loves to put things up!
I think their efforts were top notch and the tree looks fabulous, don't you?

Check out all the other wonderful trees at Sarah's Christmas Tree party!