A Contest Winner!

Wow, I won a contest. Or, I should say, I was one of the winners over at totallyfreecrap.com. All I had to do was brag about totallyfreecrap on my blog and link to it. Since I had already thanked the site for freebies in my Christmas post I thought oh what the heck, I'll enter the competition. Figured I wouldn't win anything but, hey, maybe someone might discover my blog.


Well, a few days later I learned I had won a prize! And what did I win? A totallyfreecrap.com mirror! Wow, I have never won anything before - just too cool! And a couple days later the postman delivered my cute little pocket mirror. Will I use it? No, it's now on my "Cool Things" shelf in the computer room - gotta display my fabulous prize ya know!

Totallyfreecrap really is a great site for acquiring Freebies. You don't always get what you sign up for. Manufactures only have a set amount to give away and requests often exceed the supply. Still, it's worth the try. After all, what could be better than "FREE".

Toy Hunt Theme: Toy/s received on Christmas Day

I told Santa not to bring me any toys this year but to give Beth, Wullie and Henry a few extra presents Christmas morning. He agreed, but he surprised me anyway with these cute items in my stocking - a little sock coin purse, a Winnie the Pooh glitter pen (lights up when you use it), and a white chocolate snowman.


Beth got this huge gumball bank. We will encourage her to SAVE money. And Wullie is opening the nice tool kit we found at a garage sale. Handyman skills come in mighty handy and he will learn from the best teachers - his Daddy and Grandpa!

See all the toys that Santa delivered at Toy Hunt.

PhotoHunt Theme: SqueakyToy Hunt Theme: Christmas Toys

Wullie: Grandpa my wagon wheels are "squeaky"!

Grandpa: Not to worry Wullie, I am going to fix them so they won't be "squeaky" any more!



Wullie: Thanks Grandpa!


Beth: Grandma, are the little red wagon wheels "squeaky"?

Grandma: No Beth, you can take the Ziggy Santas for a nice quiet ride!

For more photos and this week's Photohunt check out tnchick.com. And to see all the wonderful Christmas toys from around the world go to whenmomtalks.com.

A Waa Hoo Christmas!

We enjoyed a wonderful, happy Christmas. The best part was that we were all together. I often take that for granted because the boys live so close. This time of year I have to remember other families are missing loved ones, especially those who are serving in the armed forces. I thank all those who are diligently working to keep us safe and free.

Every Christmas Eve we host an Open House. Family joins us. Then neighbors and friends pop in for a dram or two to celebrate. Local folks don't have to worry about driving - they just walk home after imbibing in too much holiday cheer.

Christmas morning, hang-overs or not, we go to watch the grandchildren rip into all their presents. The garage sale gods favored me yet again this year and fun presents were plentiful.

After observing the traditional ritual of "open it, open it" we retreated home with Sonny and Junior to indulge in a quiet gift exchange and long afternoon nap.

Now, I am not about to tell you that our Christmas is totally cheap frugal. We actually went to real stores and purchased a few real gifts. Charles asked for a boot dryer which we gave him in advance. The thing looks really stupid but let me tell you Charles says it works terrific. With all the snow we have had he said it's a marvelous feeling to go off to work in the morning with dry feet. Sometimes you have to pay full price but getting a quality product that is used frequently is worth the cost.

There is nothing like being appreciated for my freebie acquiring talents. Every time Sonny opened a stocking stuffer/gift that was questionable he'd say "I hope you got this cheap". I'd answer "I got it better than cheap". With that he'd give a loud "Waa Hoo" and a big thumbs up. He did it so many times I was just bustin' with frugal pride.

I wish to thank Walgreens, Menards, Freecycle and Totallyfreecrap.com for making my "Waa Hoo" Christmas possible.

Oh, and about the picture. Charles got the kids sleds and hung them on the Christmas tree. I guess Santa had a dram too many at Grandma & Grandpa's Open House! "Waa Hoo!"

Wrapped Up With A Christmas Story

Sonny splurged on the awesome "A Christmas Story" wrapping paper (found it at Kmart). But what's a frugal uncle to do when he runs out of cellophane tape? Use duct tape of course!

Merry Chistmas!

Yes, we are having a very "White Christmas" this year! Junior came over this morning and built Frosty. The eyes, mouth, buttons and carrot nose are from a handmade "Snowman Kit" my sister-in-law Becky made for us. Yes, she is one super crafty gal!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas! God Bless!

Photohunt Theme: FavoriteToy Hunt Theme: Christmas Toys or Decor

My pictures this week show my "Favorite" "Christmas Decor". I love the Peanuts Gang and "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is such a special holiday classic. I wish I could say this outdoor display was ours - it's not - but we pass it everyday on our way to town. Gotta love Charlie Brown, Linus, Sally, Lucy, Schroeder, Snoopy and Woodstock!


My sister-in-law gave me this ornament set several years ago (she's such a sweetie!). It's from Hallmark - made to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the television special 1965 - 1995. I dispaly it as is all year long.



These are the six miniature ornaments I bought at a garage sale last summer - 25 cents - A Charlie Brown Christmas to me!

For more photos and this week's Photohunt check out tnchick.com
And find this week's Toy Hunt here!

PhotoHunt Theme: Breakfast

OK, I am not one for the traditional breakfast. Forget bacon and eggs - instead give me a bacon cheeseburger!

One of my favorite morning meals is left over pizza. And it just so happened this week that orange juice was on sale for $2 a carton and I had a 75 cent off coupon (ah, if it could only be that way every time). Anyway, cheap and nutritious = a great frugal breakfast!

For more photos and this week's Photohunt check out tnchick.com

Toy Hunt December Theme: Christmas Toy or Decor

I just bought this Christmas Spongebob a couple days ago. I found him at our local Tuesday Morning. This is a national chain that specializes in selling closeout merchandise at discount prices. Sometimes you can find a pretty good deal. Spongebob was priced $3.00 so that's 50% off regular retail. He was too cute to pass up and now sits on our Christmas tree along with other Spongebob and cartoon character ornaments.

For more photos and this week's Toy Hunt check out whenmomtalks.com By the way Joy is having a toy giveaway this week - see how you can have a chance to win The Bratz Swimwear Collection. (Of course I would love to win this for Beth's Christmas so wish me luck!)