The BIG White Elephant

Is having a Party at My house....yep...he decided that his pad was just too small to accomodate all his friends and family...so now I'm playing hostess to house full of loud, crazy...totally fun chicks with attitudes....



So the housefull part is a slight exageration on my part....maybe its more like 5 or 6...but their personalities make up for the lack of bodies......trust me...



This Christmas season has definitely been the epitomy of the double edged sword....you know the one....that annoying, can never get anywhere but where you are....yeah...well I'm totally there.....This being the first year since I graduated college where I didn't have to work an average of 60 hours a week from black friday up until New Years (who knew the week after Christmas was actually almost bigger in revenue for retailers than the week before). You never know how important spending holidays with family can be...until you are forced to make the decision between career....and paycheck...or fun and family....



The dealio though is that now frugal and creative are two words that are at the top of my vocabulary....Wherever we go...or whatever we do....I have to say to myself..."Frugal and Creative"....so those really great gifts I purchased at Nordstrom's last year....or the nice big budget I had to work with....gone faster than Cheech Marin smoking a blunt....



But I've found that creative is actually a heck of a lot of fun.....So I'm giving as my fab find Friday...the Frugal and Creative things I'm doing this Holiday Season.....



1) The White Elephant meets Dirty Santa Party.....The deal-i-o is....everyone brings two things.....thing 1) a thing from their house they think is a good "regift"...I always say the dumber and uglier...the better....2)...the Dollar store gift....Have to go to the dollar store for the dirty Santa present...can only Be $1...no more....then the fun begins....you put the white elephant and dirty santa gifts together to make one...really dirty elephant)....I've decided the provisions for said party are all really easy....A Waffle Party....Cheap Waffle mix.....then Just have some frozen fruit (blueberries, peaches, strawberries)...syrup and whipped cream.....voila.....



2) F.F.G.....(or Fab-u-li-cious Frugal Gifts).....For all the friends and Neigbors that I have had to cut out of my Holiday budget...I found two Amazing ideas from good Ole Martha...


Honey and Walnut Topping...I think will make a super yummy addition...and perfect on Ice cream, yogurt...(or even my waffles)

Yummy Body Scrubs...after I saw this...I thought this would make not only an amazing gift...but another party idea....have your friends over and make bath salts, fizzies, oils and scrubs....

Cinnamon Orange Swirl Bread...With a twist. Found this amazing recipe off of Taste Of Home...but I have a strong aversion to those plastic bags you wrap them in....yuck....so I found at a local antique store...5 vintage towels for $1 a piece...and I was able to get them down to $3 for the lot....I'm wrapping each loaf in a towel....and then the gift tags are actually old Christmas cards from last year that we received...I cut them to make them snazzy...and voila....

I have surprisingly had MORE fun this year with trying to step out of my snooty, designer wrapped box...and giving meaningful...worthwhile....funky gifts....

I think the elephant should be very happy....