Determined

This gentleman in our ward several weeks ago gave a talk about how much convenience is costing us. He is an accoutant and mentioned that people keep wanting to pay him to do their taxes despite the cheap/easy software available every year. I got to thinking about this and realized I waste a lot of money by choosing convenience over saving money. Actually this is partly Ben's fault too. Everytime I think of the fact that he's driving a car that cost him a dollar, it just makes me that much more determined to see what I can do to save a buck. Our 3 boys' haircuts cost us around $30 but now that we'd have to do the 1/2 hour commute to post just to get that price--that just adds to the cost. Clippers at Walmart were $20, so I'd save money on one run-through of haircuts......Here's Nick before I experimented on him.....

And here's Nick after I ruined his life :-).... Honestly, I don't think they look that bad, do you? I only showed Nick's before picture because he had the most hair. I told him he looked like a missionary when I finished and there was some grumbling about "I'm only 13, I have 6 more years before I have to...."--Whatever. Too late.

I also decided I really wanted to make some handmade Christmas presents this year without spending a lot of money. Actually without spending any money. I know people might be worried that we have their "name" this year now. :-) But really, what on earth could I do? Then I remembered one of my family's favorite gifts/keepsakes ever were these salt-dough ornaments made by Sis. Freeman from down the street. I don't know if my mom still has them but we loved them. I've never made salt-dough before but Family Fun magazine just had a recipe for it in their recent magazine. I started looking at pictures of wood or polymer clay crafts and realized I could simply copy them in salt-dough, bake them, them paint them. I have a little artistic talent (I know, I'm bragging again) so I figured it might just work. The first picture is a FHE activity where our family had fun. The second picture is all me. Ha, ha! There is no second picture--you think I'm going to let you see your Christmas presents ahead of time? I don't think so.