Skip to main content

December Joy

December Joy

Slowing down and taking the time to enjoy our surroundings is essential to Living The Sweet Life On A Budget.  Whether it is enjoying nature or the beauty of city architecture, taking time to stop and appreciate beauty wherever you find it is important.   Our Rich Backyard Life series looks at the beauty that is surrounding us, whether it is animals, flowers, buildings, locations, or anything else that we can appreciate in our daily travels.  Let’s take a look at the beauty of December in the Mountz House.

December has the shortest day of the year and tends to be dark and a little gray.  However, our
neighborhood has gas lights that lines the street and tends to light up the evening sky with holiday
lights.  


Sunrise over the lake with holiday lights


Neighborhood house lights


We also enjoy lighting up our space with our Christmas Tree, Village and fireplace.

Christmas Tree 2018

Our Fireplace

I fell in love with the Christmas Villages last year and decided to start one in my home.  After
Christmas I was able purchase a nativity scene and small Christmas house at Michael's for 70% off.
So this little house and nativity scene cost me $21.28 which is considerably less than the original price.
The Christmas tree was my mother’s and I enjoy it being part of this new venture.  It reminds me of her
each time I light it. The Nutcrackers were a gift from my husband’s grandmother several Christmas’ ago
and we love how they guard the tree. The silk flowers I have had for at least a decade and just add to
the scene this year.  I know it is small this year, but over the next few years my village will grow.


Christmas Village 2018

Nativity Scene


We hope you enjoyed the pictures and have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Menu Planning #132

Our meals need to be nutritious, clean, flexible, quick and cost effective. Between our work schedules and after school activities, we need to carefully plan our meals so that we do not end up ordering out.   The news is very scary at this time because of all the news of meat plants shutting down, grocery stories limiting the amount of meat a family can purchase and all of the talk about a depression on the horizon.    We have decided to keep our grocery budget the same, but to economize any way we can.     This week we tried to pick up some shrimp that was on sale, but the store was out of shrimp and not expecting to get any more in.    We were grateful to find wild caught salmon for the same price, so we picked that up instead for our Mother’s Day Dinner.    What did we spend?  Week 1: $96.44 Kroger: $96.44 Rebates: $3.55 IBOTTA: $1.35 Kroger Cash: $0.45 Checkout 51: $1.75 ...

Frugal Five: #133

  With inflation rising and salaries staying the same, our ability to make ends meet is becoming increasingly difficult. Therefore, we must be more careful with our money. The Frugal Five is a series that celebrates the daily or weekly activities that help us live a frugal life.     This year, my focus is on Simple Abundance , so finding ways to live well while staying on budget will be challenging.    Come along and enjoy my journey of elevating joy, enjoying what you have, and finding luxury in my local area.    1- Giving Back to the Community  Supporting your community can take countless shapes. Some people choose to write a check, and that generosity absolutely matters. But many outreach efforts require more than funding—they need time, hands, and hearts willing to show up. I’m grateful that I’m able to participate in several programs that make a real difference for the people around me. One of the most meaningful ways I give b...

Keeping Cool without an AC- Part 2

  The news is full of headlines indicating that energy shortages are on the horizon for most of the world. Over the decades, we have become reliant on the coolness of our air conditioners and have forgotten how we survived without them. It is now time to rediscover how to stay cool without our AC. Our 5 part series provides ideas on how to beat the heat this summer without the AC.     Water to the Rescue Sweating is the body's natural defense to combating the heat, so staying hydrated is essential to maintaining your core temperature. I enjoy drinking ice-cold drinks in the summer. Keeping your drinks to water or herbal tea is also helpful.    Since your blood flows close to the surface of your feet, ankle and toes, cooling down this area is helpful to cool your entire body. I like to soak my feet in a shallow bowl with a cool herbal water mix. My mix includes Epsom salts, eucalyptus, and/or peppermint oils.    Taking a cold shower and g...