A Valentines Day Save

A few weeks ago it struck me that Valentines Day was coming. Usually Mitch and I don't do much for holidays, in our typical frugal mentality, but with kids it's nice to do some kind of craft and make a special treat. But I had a problem- My husband suddenly doesn't have a job. Which means I don't have money to spend. What to do? So I took inventory.

-Cheap craft idea using toilet paper rolls on my pinterest? Check.
-Cookie mix that was discovered to be slightly stale before Christmas that I can't take back to the store now- check. It's not expired, not by a long shot, so I felt like it would be OK to make do with.
- Free redbox code? Check!
-Stashed away Valentines Day Card I bought at a garage sale years ago? Check.

I invited a friend and her daughters over for the craft- Here is the link: http://www.thethriftress.com/2011/01/valentines-day-wreath-tutorial.html

We had a great time with the kids! They helped cut the toilet paper rolls and form hearts. Then my friend and I hot glue gunned them together. Later my son helped me spray paint them red, and we used a little glitter glue to outline just one of  the hearts. Turned out very cute, in my opinion. We had everything on hand but the $4 spray paint!

Yesterday I decided to brave the gluten free shortbread cookie mix. Gluten free foods can be FINICKY, which is frustrating. They are typically made with high quality grains that are processed from the complete grain, so they can go bad a little more quickly than a white flour. If one of the 4 flours used goes a little stale, it affects the whole mix. But only a little- It IS just one of 4 flours in the mix. My husband (Mr Incredible) couldn't even tell there was anything off, so I felt confident it would be fine. My son and I had a great time rolling out the dough and cutting out the hearts. He helped me make special train Valentine cookies for himself, his friend who came to visit yesterday, and Mr Incredible. The train he made for himself was shunting- pushing the caboose. Very important Mommy! Don't forget that mine is shunting! We used cinnamon sugar rolled onto the top of the dough to help with the flavor. We made icing from coconut milk solids left over in the fridge, about a cup of organic powdered sugar and a little extra finely ground sugar. A special treat, and they turned out wonderfully. Praise God, I was worried!

Take home point of our day? God cares for his children. Life may not be perfect right now, but He can make perfect from the imperfect. He can even take my stale outlook on life and give it new, cinnamon-sugary life. Come Lord Jesus Come.

Now I'm off to ready clothes for consignment and try to sell this Mamaroo swing we have. I am woman, hear me roar! I need to share a post about how I'm dealing with my husband's job loss. There is a lot to do around here! And hopefully a Valentine's Day Latte will be coming my way soon...(Update: there wasn't. BUT we got a free redbox movie! Yay! Roll with the punches...)

~FrugalMegan
Hmmm maybe I should call myself elasta-girl....I make money stretch? LOL. Is THAT a stretch? :D