❈Sac Thrift Chick❈

California Automobile Museum, 2012 It's that time of year in Sacramento: 30 museums will offer free or half-price admission on Saturday, Feb. 1. Check out Sacramento365 for a list of participating museums and all pertinent details.

I will admit something. I was mad at my husband around Valentine's Day of last year. Why? I don't remember. I just remember that I procrastinated on making his gift because I wasn't feeling very lovey-dovey. But then I got over myself and wrote down 54 reasons why I love my husband and pasted said reasons onto a deck of cards for this simple DIY Valentine's Day gift. As I wrote each reason, I smiled more and more. I have one pretty amazing partner. And he absolutely loved my last-minute gift. If you want to make this gift yourself and add to the package, consider buying a poker set for your guy. I actually used the cards from the poker set I bought Aaron for our one-year wedding anniversary, so I really upped the ante on the sentimental value.  Warning: Sexy, hot strip-poker may ensue. 

I didn't do my annual baking this past Christmas, but I was still busy in the kitchen, making cocoa cups. I bought Dixie hot beverage cups and filled each one with a baggy of Swiss Miss hot chocolate, a baggy of mini marshmallows, and three individually-wrapped caramels. I attached a peppermint candy cane to punch up the flavor and presentation. Very simple and very inexpensive. I decided to go with the Dixie cups because they were portable, practical and affordable. I toyed with the idea of doing dollar mugs, but if my gift recipients are anything like me, they don't really need another mug taking up cupboard space. (I paid about $0.50/cup on Amazon, but later found the same 14-count package for about  $0.25/cup at Winco and Target! Target also sells a 26-count package for just $4.39.)

If you've ever fought with tangled cords, you need to head to the 99 Cent Store and buy these simple, yet fantastic, orange, plastic storage units. They are perfect for wrapping up all those Christmas lights. Just remember to start wrapping from the end of the cord you'll use last. Since we start our Christmas tree lights at the top, that means the end that plugs into the wall goes first. For our outside lights, the opposite end wraps first. Easy peasy.