NoJoMo1

I am a frugal Franny. Cheapskate. Tight a$$ (No, I don’t squeak when I walk). Whatever you want to call it. I am an avid second hand shopper, love the clearance racks, savor homemade toiletries, such as body wash and bath salts, make most of my food from scratch…you get the point. When it comes to the holidays, I don’t much veer from the path of cheapness…well, with the exception of groceries. Somethings you just cannot always get at a good deal. Anyways, even for the holidays I do what I can to save money. Those beautiful linens I use on my tables that everyone oohs and ahhhs over? Estate sales. (Oh the excitement of a good Estate sale!! It is a mixture of sorrow for the departed and the excitement of beautiful, and cheaply prices, items.) All those tools I always buy for Martin? AMAZONdotcommmm.(They have a DeWalt week where all DeWalt tools are 50% off their already LOW prices.) Clothes for my rather unfashionable sister in law(s)? CLEARANCE and EBAY. Oh, such delight it brings me!! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- I am THEE ultimate gift giver. I give gifts that make people gasp, cry and sigh all while thinking silently to themselves that I must have spent a fortune. I am sitting here smiling at the thought. 🙂

Even with all of the money I save, I overspend. I have a tendency to go a bit overboard  just like everything else I do in life. On top of that, rather than appreciate the effort by offering up a simple ‘thank you’ people constantly repeat ‘you shouldn’t have spent so much’ or other similar sentiments. You know, that just drives me INSANE when people say that. I spent a lot of time seeking great gifts, at reasonable prices, and then spend just as long wrapping them all (in obsessively themed paper, ribbons and decor. Last year was was red, silver and a hint of polka dot. Oh my lanta…it was like a silver glitter bomb exploded in my house. *sigh* It was freakin’ FABULOUS!). But my point in all of this? I am DONE! I am sick of people not appreciating the efforts or the sentiments. That and I am suffering from a bit of nostalgia over the non-commercialized Christmas scene. So? This year I decided I am somehow going to manage to create a variety of homemade gifts. I am going to force myself to find the time- I would find the time to shop, why not find the time to create? Personally, I LOVE a homemade gift. Those that don’t? Well, maybe they don’t deserve beans. Besides…the economy is tight this year and with all of the tuition and book fees I am paying for college, I could stand to pinch a few pennies.

I already have a list of gifts to create. In conjunction with an abundance of my home made goodies, I am thinking homemade spa baskets that will have themed bath items. For example? A red and white peppermint spa basket will include alternating red/white peppermint bath salts, peppermint scented body scrub, a red loofa or body gloves (store bought- I’m not attempting that one) a red and white peppermint candle, etc.  Also, homemade food baskets- have you ever seen those food in a jar gifts that look so awesome? I’m seeing a chili jar, a cornbread jar, a bottle of hot sauce, 4 big chili bowls and a wooden spoon. I have SOOOoo many ideas, I just have to pinpoint the right gifts for each person on my list. That is going to be the tricky part, I think. :o/

I sure wish I could sew and knit. That would be even better! I can cross stitch though. Hmm…

Am in the process of trying to figure out Thanksgiving. The past few years we have invited 50+ people and I have made enough food to feed the Army, the Marine Corps and some of the Navy. Unfortunately, I have had many people RSVP then not show and many others, most whom I did not know but Martin invited because he knew they had no where to go, that acted all entitled and put on such airs then ate and ran without a thank you. I seriously almost b*t(h slapped a chick last year- my temper had to be reigned in. (And I have a picture that just happened to be shot of me as that thought process was crossing my mind. Unfortunately I have a very expressive face and my face was saying it all! lol) I love cooking for a lot of people, but I just don’t want the hassle and aggravation. I was thinking about just inviting Martin’s parents…but if I invite them the little SIL has to come (the one that sneezed directly into the punch last year and then hawked a loogie at the table. Ummm eww!!) and then I’m sure I’ll catch grief and have to invite my other hooker SIL and her loser daughter and husband, both of whom went UA in the Army. If I am tolerating their BS (and then despite me doing all of the work, I’ll be left on the sidelines while everyone talks in German or about the past. I HATE that.) I might as well tolerate the 50+ people BS. I thought about just Martin and I…but then I cannot make the variety of items I like so much because the two of us couldn’t eat so much!! We’d be so tired of it and our freezer would be beyond full! Oh decisions, decisions. I wish we had a local soup kitchen or I could sponsor one for the day. Then I could cook up a storm and feed people who would appreciate it. How glorious would that be?!?

Boy…aren’t I rambling. Great start to the Nojomo, eh?

So. How has everyone been doing? Hopefully this will get me back into the habit of writing here on OD!