Trying some thing new . . .

My mom and I are going to try some thing new over Christmas break. We have two couches in the living room. One from Brett's Nana and one from Brett's parents. The are in great condition, but the fabric is out of date. So mom and I are going to try to recover them.

We will start with Nana's couch. It has straight lines and a simple frame. The fabric is a dark brown diamond pattern with a khaki dot at the points of the diamond. I'll try to get a picture of the fabric up here soon.

Wish us luck!! I'll post pics later to show our progress.

We said good bye to more debt

The final payment is in the mail for our mattress. When we got married we both had full size beds. We very quickly upgraded to a queen with a pillow top. We lovingly call it the cloud.

When we bought it we got a year and half interest free - same as cash. We took advantage of the offer and have paid it off in full before the interest kicked in. I would recommend this method of purchasing big ticket items - as long as you know that you can pay off the full amount before the interest takes effect. The interest rate would have been 27.99% that is $500 extra!

We also bought our washer and dryer this way. But we got two full years to pay it off. It was an amazing deal that Sear offered for about two weeks. I think the plan is to pay this one off even earlier and then we will be debt free!!! That is a wonderful feeling!

I encourage any one who is in debt to take action to pay down your debt. It is possible to live debt free.

It so hard to say good bye . . .

We have said bye bye to some debt!!! It feels so good. Brett and I are both savers and don't like to take on debt. It was a wonderful feeling to pay this item off early. By doing so we are saving almost $1,000 in interest payments.

Murphy's Law Part 2

So it was 80 degrees in our house, my Dad and his wife were going to be here in 20 min. I had already messed up the lasagna and Cheese Biscuits. Murphy's Law was in full effect.

Brett went outside to check the breaker. It was not tripped. He turned the AC breaker off and back on. He came back inside and nothing happened. He said he would go to the other side of the house and check the AC unit.

Here is a pic of me putting the lasagna together . . .



Brett walked back into the yard and starting yelling, "Come here, you have to see this!" So I go out side and this is what I find.

I freaked out!!!

Murphy's Law

Last Thursday we had my Dad and his wife over for dinner. I really wanted to make a good impression. I only had 1 hour to put dinner together and clean up the house. I started to put the lasagna together. Brett got home and I asked him to make the Cheese Biscuits. Well I was trying to tell Brett and story and I got the lasagna layers all out of order. I got mad at myself! I have made lasagna a million times . . . I told Brett that I couldn't talk I had to concentrate. As I am focused on the lasagna Brett asks where the baking soda is. The thing is Cheese Biscuits don't need baking soda. Brett realized that he was making the recipe at the top of the page - not the Cheese biscuits at the bottom of the page. He had put in a Tablespoon and a half of salt in the mix. He just doubled the recipe and it end up being fine.

Needless to say I was flustered!!! I was sweating bullets - literally. I was sweating. I went over to the thermostat and it was 80 degrees in our house!!! I turned it down to 60 degrees. Nothing happened. I turned it off and back on. Nothing happened. I turned to fan only. Nothing happened. I started to panic! My Dad would be here in 20 min and it was 80 degrees. I ran around and turned off all the lights and turned the fans on high. Brett ran outside to check the breaker.

But the trouble didn't end there. . . .To find out what happened you will have to check back tomorrow . . .

Polk-A-Dot-Pumpkins

The ladies at my office made polk-a-dot pumpkins this week. You need an orange pumpkin and a white pumpkin, an apple corer, and some ribbon. First you “punch” a hole in the orange pumpkin with the apple corer. Twist the apple corer as you pull the circle back out. Push the circle out of the apple corer. Then do the same for the white pumpkin. The put the white dot in the orange pumpkin and the orange dot in the white pumpkin. Repeat in any pattern that you like. Tie a ribbon on the top or around the middle. The pumpkin will last around a week or so. You could just punch holes in the pumpkin for a neat looking jack-o-lantern.

Menu Planning

Last week I posted about how I have been in a groove. One of the big things that has really helped me out is menu planning. As a new wife meal planning has been a challenge to me. My mom always planed our week of meals, made a shopping list and went to the store on Saturday. She always seemed to have it together. (Thank you mom for being "Wonder Woman")

My first few months of menu planning were bumpy. I would plan a meal and something would come up and plans would have to change. Or I was always having to go to the store to pick up last minute items. But I seem to have found a system that works. Here is what I do.

1) I made a menu planning "worksheet". One side of the page has the days of the week and the food I will cook on that day. The other side of the page has lines to write out my shopping list.

2) I sit down with the menu planning worksheet and my calendar. I look to see if there are any special events (birthdays, potlucks, etc) or night I won't cook for the up coming week. I make note of these.

3) I start picking out meals. I try to alternate between chicken and beef. I'll throw in a fish or pork, but we mostly just eat chicken and beef.

4) As I pick out meals I will check the pantry to see what additional ingredients I will need and write those on the other side of the page.

5) If I get stuck and don't have any ideas of what to cook I go to my "cheat sheet". I have a single page with easy, favorite meals and I pick one.

6) I finish by checking the fridge, freezer, and pantry to see if there are any staples I need to restock and add those to my shopping list.

7) I tear the paper in half. The menu list goes on the fridge (Brett loves to see what is coming up for the week) and I take my list shopping.


More ideas and tips to come next week . . .

2nd Freezer

I would really like a 2nd freezer. There are so many times that I could make an extra portion of our meal and freeze or or I could buy meat on sale and freeze it. Brett and I have talked about this a few times and he is ok with getting one, but we want to save up the money for it.

Do you have a 2nd freezer?
Where do you have yours located?
Do you have an upright or a chest freezer?
Was it worth the money?

Thanks for the input!

Always have a back up plan

First - I found out yesterday that my mom really does read my blog. Hi Mom!!

Second - Mom taught me to have a back up plan. Thanks Mom.

Now that is out of the way - I might have bitten off more than I can chew. I will be cooking dinner for my in-laws on Friday night. Also all day Friday I will be cooking BBQ pork and BBQ beef to serve on Saturday for about 20 people. And on Tuesday we are having our small group over for dessert.

But never fear - I have a plan and a back up plan. I am very confident that I can pull off dinner for the in-laws. If it all goes up in smoke (ha ha ha, get it?) then we will just take them out to eat.

I am not so sure about the BBQ. I have never cooked my own BBQ before and I choose my first time to be when I have to serve 20 people!! (I never back down from a challenge!) But the back up plan is to go buy meat from a BBQ restaurant if it doesn't work out.

I was getting a little panicked about the small group coming over. My first plan was to make about three or four different batches of cookies. But that is very time consuming. So my back up plan for that is dump cake. What is dump cake you ask?? The easiest dessert I know how to make.

So in conclusion - I have bitten off more than I can chew, but I have a back up plan! I'll let you know how it all turns out.

In a groove

Lately I have been in a groove. Things have been clicking and moving along smoothly. By just doing a few small things, I have been able to lower my stress. I have been setting out my clothes the night before, picking up all the dirty clothes/shoes/misc. items each night before bed, and keeping the dishwasher loaded and unloaded. (If my mom read this she would say, "But that is what I taught you to do!")

Just these small changes have taken some of the last minute craziness out of my life. Let me know what you do to help life run smoothly.

Working from Home

I have been working at home one day a week this year. It has been a really good experience so far. Here are some things that I have observed.

* It is really quiet in my house! Not having the office noise and co-workers to talk to makes the day very quiet. I usually turn on music to not go crazy from the silence.
* I would not be able to work 8 am to 5 pm at home with kids. There is no way a baby, toddler or pre-schooler would sit still for 9 hours. So working from home with kids would look and work very differently.
*** NO I AM NOT PREGNANT****
* Skype, cell phone, and e-mail make communicate very easy.
* I am able to throw a load of laundry in while working. I use my lunch break to clean house or cook dinner. It has made managing work and home easier.
* Working at home takes a lot of self motivation.

You know it's bad . . .

You know it is bad when you have a nightmare. It's really bad when that nightmare has your biggest fear - snakes. But it is really bad when your nightmare is so realistic that you wake your husband up!

So last night I dreamed that some how a snake had gotten into our house. A big, mean, going to eat you snake. In my dream I ran to the bedroom to tell Brett about the snake and have him save me. I woke up myself up and realized that I was shaking Brett and that I was telling him there was a snake in the house.

Sadly he went back to sleep right away, I did not.

Cousins of Love

This weekend is the 2nd annual Cousins of Love and Melody Sisters weekend. My two aunts, and seven cousins, one second cousin and I will be having the ultimate girl weekend! Movie, food, pedicures, making crafts, and giggling!


Kitty update: the three cats are doing great. They are eating a lot! Tiger and Patches have jumped on to the roof of the workshop and explored around. Tiger has also learned to jump over the fence. But so far he has always come back.

Paint Paint Paint

Tonight we will finish the kitchen!!!! I am so happy because the major painting projects will be finished. Brett did an awesome job this weekend. He got on the extension ladder to peal the last bit of wallpaper off and paint that corner. I really feel like the house is "put together" and I can finally relax. Also the guest bedroom and office are about 80% unpacked. :)

I need a new nose

I am sick. Well I am on the up side of being sick. It seems that there are forces keeping me from unpacking - sickness - helping friends move - more sickness - helping other friends move - movies - TV.

It is Labor Day weekend and we are going to try to paint the kitchen. Brett tried to install our new kitchen faucet, but rusty bolts are slowing him down. Any suggestions??

Still working to get Internet on my lap top. It hasn't be high on the list.

A little of this and that

The wedding thank you notes are finished! Just in time to start on Christmas and Brett's birthday thank you notes. (and before you say anything, yes Brett will write his own thank you notes for his birthday gifts).

We had a wonderful Christmas. We spent time with family and friends and food! Now January is here and we are trying to work off the holiday fun.

We are excited for our friends Josh and Erin. They got engaged in December and are getting married on March 21, 2009. Brett is the best man and I am a bride's maid.

We have done some work around the apartment. I have some pictures to show of Brett's handy man work. Also I have a new hair cut - pictures to come.

We wish you a wonderful 2009!

Date Night

Tonight is date night for Brett and me. We have decided that at least once a month we will go out on a date. It might be dinner and a movie, it might be pick up fast food and play a board game at home, it might be going to a play at the Rep. But we want to continue to date while we are married an build a strong foundation for our married and family.

Any suggestions for future date night activities?

One month and wedding pictures

Brett and I have been married for one month today! Here are some things I would like to share about my wonderful husband . . .
1) He forgives me quickly and easily.
2) He makes me laugh.
3) He has some quirks that I didn't know about until we lived together.
4) He is my best friends and I am blessed to have him as my husband.

Also, we have gotten our wedding pictures. Grant and Kim did a wonderful job. I'll post some favorites later.

Another Saturday

This week flew by. I felt bad on Monday, Brett felt bad on Tuesday, we had friends over for dinner on Wed., we cleaned and cooked on Thursday, had a shower for a co-worker on Friday and ended with a Christmas dinner with Kristyn and Stacey. December is going to be over before I know it!

I hate that we didn't get a picture last night. If I figure out how to do pictures, I'll get one posted from last year's Kris, Stacey and Jill Christmas dinner.

Well another Saturday is here. It is noon, we are still in PJ's and not moving very fast. There is list of things to do that is a mile long. Such is the story of my life. And the ever looming task of thank you notes. I am under 70 left to do!!!!

Rachel and Joie will be married tonight. We are so happy for them. This will be our first wedding to go to after Brett and I have gotten married. We are looking forward to enjoying it and not being the ones who are the center of attention.

Speaking of weddings, we have been married for four weeks. We plan on eating our cake topper this weekend. We can't wait a year to eat it for two reasons 1) it takes up half of our freezer 2) it is so good we can't stand to go 365 days of not eating it. However, we are going to save two small pieces for our 1 year. That will take up less room in the freezer.

PS Laura left for the other side of the world. I haven't heard from her so I am guessing that no news is good news. Wishing you a wonderful time with your hubby!

The Thank You note battle

Well Saturday was not so successful with Thank You notes. Brett got a virus on his computer first thing Saturday morning so we (really he) spent most of the day fighting that. But the good news is that we got a new external hard drive and Brett backed up all his files. He reformatted his computer and we are back to normal. Next we hope to back up my lap top.

We are getting ready for a busy Christmas season. We have parties and weddings coming up. But more than gifts and food this time of year is about Christ. Epoch (our church) has been focused on the season of Advent. It helps to keep me focused on the reason for the season, Christ and his first coming and look forward to his second coming.

Finally, a shout out to Laura!! She leaves tomorrow to go see her best friend and husband on the other side of the world. I pray for a safe flight and wonderful time with her hubby!