Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Refreshed

Well the holidays are over and we are off to a new fresh start to a new year! Wahoo!
Nate has started school again and I actually feel confident that there is light at the end of the tunnel this time. :) I can't wait for the next few years to see where life takes us.
Desi has been loving going to preschool, where she has learned so much! She comes home singing new fun songs and cute projects they've worked on and she even is teaching us a little bit of sign language. She is sure growing up quickly.
I told her the other day, "Desi, you are sooo cute" and she responded with, "It's because I look like my dad!" If that is not the truth!

I recently listened to someone talk about how they used to teach their children through discipline and how hard parenting seemed to be. And yet this man found more success by teaching through example. This really hit me, because I can't tell you how many times a day I felt discouraged because I was constantly threatening my child to "be good" or "do this" or else... you'll sit on the stairs or have no more movies.. on and on. I have found that by taking those small simple moments to spend time with Desi or even have her involved in what I am doing, has really helped her learn that I am here for her. That I am not just always mad at what she does.
So now I feel refreshed!
Maybe I am just trying to figure things out as a parent and I am sure I have tons to learn! But do you ever feel like you get a sense of accomplishment when you recognize moments like these?
I like this picture, as my brother put it.. "It says so much"


Anyway, work is overwhelming busy and I feel constant pressure. However, I am learning tons and I say.. "Bring it on!" I've realized that I like excitement and a little stress in my work life. It keeps me motivated and challenged to do better. And it has really helped me try and keep positive! Life's full of tests and trials and I really think our attitude makes the difference.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Monday, November 17, 2008

Life is sooo GOOD!

Here to our side of the story, Life is good! I am realizing more and more everyday how grateful I am for sOooo Many things. I honestly, cannot say I have much complaints. With Thanksgiving approaching and the heart felt emotions of being close to family and recognizing each one of our family members I honestly have to say I love and adore each and every one of them. From parents to siblings to in-laws, every single one of them I cannot imagine not being apart of them. They are all a big factor in who and what I am. I AM FAMILY. It is amazing to me how much they all infuluence and are truely a great inspiration to my life.
Nate & I are recognizing a lot of our blessing and how grateful we are for our health and the things we have to fullfill our needs and desires in life. Especially grateful for Eachother and our sweet little girl. Desiree brings so much Joy into our lives! More than I could ever express. We have some great goals ahead of us. But how Joyful we are for what we have! I am so grateful for this time of year to really reflect on the Good in our life! The ugly can sure be ugly sometimes, but boy do our Blessings always outweigh the bad.

I have come to LOVE the Dove chocolates, not only do they melt in your mouth, they are so devine! they Have these fun and tender messages inside the wrapper...

In my Dove chocolate Promises Message today: Count your Blessings, not your worries.

This really hit me. It is awesome how focusing on our blessings, really makes our worries seem so little. :)

Friday, November 14, 2008

Scentsy Candles

I am having an Open Basket Scentsy Party. Great for Christmas gifts.
You are welcome to stop by to see what's new. I'll have the samples and everything until Thursday, November 20th. I am willing to bring them by to you as well.
Call me with questions.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Budgeting and Christmas approaching!

Earlier this year Nate and I have set ourselves goals and determination to get our life bugdeted and in order to be financially careful in our spendings and our paying of debt.
This is very sad to admit but after being married for 5 years we still hadn't known the basics of money. We have learned things as we've grown with adulthood, but I can't recall being sat down and actually shown how important or even how to track my $$$. If you are anything like we were, we often found ourselves frustrated monthly with eachother in why we came up short every month! With our recent discovery.. (it took almost a year for me to realize!) We were always spending more a month than what we actually were bringing in! YIKES!!! Of course our overdraft became our best friend and we are forever grateful for the savings in overdraft fees and any other kind of extra money we were spending by going in the hole! With some guidance with a couple of GREAT!!!friends, we were introduced to Quicken. This program has allowed us to talley up our bills and spendings and the best part is this.. we run reports on what our spending habits are and categorize what each reciept was for. This has allowed us the opportunity to actually BUDGET!
Nate and I sit down and we talk about and now have an understanding of what money we really do have and really make conscience decisions together in what our wants and our needs are and we now motivate and help eachother in where our money is spent each month. We found unusual and very unhealthy spending habits, And a lot of unnecessary purchases... okay I love shopping! and we ate out A LOT! I have now learned what my limits are anyway, to make a long story short!
We recently went through and budgeted for the rest of the year, especially with the holidays approaching rapidly we found that we have very little to spend. :( Sad day for me.
I have found a few specific blogs that I reference to frequently for inspiration and guidance in my life. Some of them, happen to be a relative of a friend or a friend of a friend but I am hooked at the constant reminders of life these blogs bring me. And I have to share a link to a site that was up on one of them that freshened my whole perspective on my budget and the spirit of Christmas. check it out here:
http://theerrandofangelsblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/blog-slacker.html.

I would love to hear any ideas you may have on budgeting.