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Christmas is already sneaking up on me...

So, who has started their Christmas shopping yet? 

I am SO far behind this year!  Not only have I not been using my coupons to their full extent, I've totally been slacking off on tucking things away for Christmas.  I have put a few things in my closet for the husband and the girls, and I just ordered a couple of things the other day when the Disney Store was having a sale (free shipping too, yeah!), but usually my closet is overflowing by now with Christmas gifts, and this year it's sooooo not. 

I haven't really been out much to find and scoop up clearance deals, and on top of that, I just don't know what to get everyone this year.  The girls have a super long list (and they want everything they see in commercials, of course), but our house is already overflowing with toys.  I just don't know where I could put much more of them.  I need to do a major toybox and playroom clean out and declutter before the holiday season, for sure.  The husband only wants super expensive things (I bet he'd be thrilled with a PS3).  Then of course there are our parents, and I never know what to get them...I usually end up baking for them and putting together a gift basket.  Any ideas?

Holiday Cards from Shutterfly

I have always loved receiving holiday cards, and my absolute favorite are the more personal photo cards.  Years ago I thought it was so expensive to send those cards and so I never even attempted to have them made, but for the past couple years I have found such great deals on the photo cards that I haven't been able to resist ordering them.  As a bonus, I actually *remember* to mail my holiday cards out when I am sharing sweet photos of my children with family and friends. 

Shutterfly is a great website you can use to order copies of your precious memories from, and I have used them with great results in the past.  You can check out their lovely selection of Christmas cards here: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards. I just love the Royal Elegance card.  I really like the Family Wall cards as well.  So simple, elegant, and beautiful.  They also have Holiday cards:
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards, and Hanukkah cards: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/hanukkah-cards. They even have options for other holidays and events...so many to choose from, you just have to check them out. 

Did you know, that Bloggers can actually receive 50 holiday cards for FREE?  Talk about a great deal!  I just got my girls their Christmas dresses yesterday and I am so excited to play around with the camera and try to get some good pictures to use for this years cards.  I love looking at the cards from years past and seeing just how much the girls have grown.  We may even try some family photos this year!

I hope everyone had a great Halloween!  It's one of my favorite holidays.

In the spirit of frugality (okay, okay, more-so because we couldn't find what we wanted in the stores, hehe), I made my daughter's costumes (with a little help from my mother in law on the ears and tails!).  I really didn't pay attention to the total cost, but I doubt it was more than $20 total for both.  Just tulle, felt, ribbon, $3 shirts from Walmart, and a few other odds and ends to pull them together.

I think they turned out ADORABLE!  Daddy is a firefighter so our girls dressed as Dalmatians this year.

 Do you make your own costumes?  I had so much fun with it this year I just may try it next year too.