A new beginning *Post note

I cannot believe it is time to review how I did last year and set new goals for the year. I have mentioned before that I hate setting goals for 'new year's' so I use January as a month of reflecting on how I would like to better myself. So I guess it is time to write it all down but first lets review how I did last year. My first goal was to finish school: Check! I not only finished school but I made it legal by taking all of the state test for it. That was my second goal. 2 for 2! My 3rd goal was to not text while driving. I did awesome in the beginning. towards the end of the year I made more slip ups then I should have but I tried to resist. I could work harder to make that a no tolerance rule. As a couple we decided that we would not work on the house during the summer. I think we did pretty good at this. We did take time to finish the deck but we did not spend our whole summer doing that. I would say we made this a 85% complete. Overall not a bad year.
I have put alot of thought into what I would like to make as this year goals. I want something realistic and that is hard for me because I get all excited and when I don't do it I get really bummed and just quit all together. So here are some goals that I think are realistic:
1. Wear some form of make up at least once a week to work. Preferably eye shadow. Since my alarm goes off at 5:30 I would rather sleep that extra 10 minutes than put on makeup. I guess I pass it off well :) but I really need to try harder to put effort into myself.
2. No texting while driving. I know I did this last year but I really need to buckle down on it 100%.
3. I want to start back up kick boxing. You always here 'I wanna lose weight' that is not the case here. I felt like I could concur anything when I went to kick boxing. I felt like I could take on the world. It is not a matter of losing weight, it is a matter of feeling better about myself. Simple enough, right?
I may add more to the list but for right now I think those 3 are achievable but we cant stop there, we need to have a goal as a couple!
Our goal as a couple is this: We want all of our emergency supply by the end of the year, preferably by August. Each month we have a 'quota' of what we need to buy to make this goal. We have signed up for mailers so we know what is on sale and when to buy it. January went off well. We had made that goal by the 7th! WOO HOO!!!

I think 2010 went great so lets hope to an even better 2011!!!!!!

*Post note: I have 2 more that I forgot to add. They are small but I still want to do it.
4. no soda. period. I have taken to soda more than water in the month of December and I am done. I don't need it.
5. I have several bank accounts and one in particular is not suppose to be touched. I even have it at a different credit union for the purpose of not going there and not using it. I have failed miserably so as of Feb 1st there will be NO TOUCHING it at all. That is suppose to be my new car fund for when my car hits the crapper (which I hope isn't for at least another 5 years , at least!)
5 is a good round number...

A Give Away!

Ok so my friend had these amazing pictures done for her bridals by Sassafrass photography. I love following different photographers work and she is truly gifted. Please go check her out and enter to win a give away from her! Good Luck!!!!!

http://www.sassafrassphoto.blogspot.com/

Awesome deals!

Good luck seems to be following me around lately. I have been finding some awesome deals that I just have to share. Some of these are from the day after Christmas but they are some awesome that I just gush about them. Thanks to my sister who just happen to share some of her 'secrets' about deals on deals. So here are my deals!

Green and tan towels - Target: $2.50 each. They are so soft too!!!!!!

Plug Timers - Target: $1.50 each

Wrapping paper - Target: $1.00 (for all 4!)

Tissue Paper - Walmart $0.50

Boxes (in packages of 10 boxes each) Target and Walmart: $1.00 You can never have enough of these!

Sharpie Metallic Pens - Target: $1.00

All of the above were from the day after Christmas. These next few are also from the day after Christmas which makes these already a great deal but on the package there were coupons that made them even better. No expiration and no restrictions!!!!! (all were from target)

Paper cutters $1.00(without coupon) zip, zilch, nadda, free with coupon!!!

Scissors - $1.50 (without coupon) $0.50 with coupon.

Tape - $1.50 (without coupon) $0.50 with coupon

Perfect precut tape wrist bands - $1.00 (without coupon) Free with coupon!

Refills for your tape wrist bands - $1.00 (without coupon) Free with coupon!

Ok ok I know that is just weird to buy stuff like this but you can never have enough handy for projects and such so it is worth it. We also pick up things like paper towels, toilet paper, ziplock bags, tissues and dish soap that is all killer deal. It is a tradition for my entire family every year that will continue on year after year. We are nuts.

Just last week I went shopping at harmons. I have been trying to decorate the house so when I am out and about and I see things that are great deals I will pick them up. There has been no rush on decorating our house since I am so very specific as to what I am looking for. We have 4 rooms total in our house, 1 of which is Bryce's. I told him he could have that room and do whatever he wants with it and I wont touch it or put my 'girlie style'. In turn he cannot have 'clutter/junk' in our other rooms. I grew up in a clutter house so I hate clutter. Not even organized clutter. With the other 3 room we (and by we I mean me and I just informed Bryce this is what I am doing) have decided to do the theme of 'live,laugh and love' since I love that whole saying. Our room is obviously love. My room (the purple room) is laugh, lots of laughs will be in that room and the last room will be live and that will be our relaxation/piano room (yes I am getting a piano!!!!) All of the themes of the rooms will evolve around those words. I am very excited to get these rooms completed and share them all with you, but for now I will get back to my story. While in harmons, Bryce pointed out this cute 'dream' that would go perfectly in my purple room but it was more than I wanted to pay. The next day I had to run to the store to get some last minute food. I decided before I went that I couldn't let that go. It was just too perfect for my room. When I went to the place as to where the kept them they went for $11.99 to $4.99! WOW!!!!!! They also had some more decor that I couldn't resist. This is all still available for the same great deal! I am very excited to hang up all of these in my purple room.

This is my 'dream' that was only $4.99. It is more purple than the picture appears

This is my 'laugh' for the purple room. It was only $2.99! Such a killer deal!

I got these cute wall hanging there too. There were a bunch of different 'words' and they come in either black or red. These were $1.50 each...

One last great deal is a website that I was referred to. Our goal for the year is to get all of our food storage. Every month we will spend so much money to put towards our food storage. More of that later (end of January) This website helps you figure out what you will need for everyone in your hosuehold in case of an emergency. and it is FREE!!!!! I encourage all of you to try it out. I am very excited to be setting goals this year to better myself, Bryce and to better us as a couple. Click HERE for the website

Such an overload of great deals. here is to the new year and good luck setting suite for the rest of the year to follow.

... And....

My goodness! Where has time gone??? It would be so much easier to update this thing if my computer was working properly. and now it is...

There is so much to update. December came and went so fast I don't think I managed to blink. This post will be an overload of pics. Next post will be about the great deal we got AFTER Christmas. I could care less about black Friday but when December 26th comes I am ready. So hang on tight and here we go....

Early in the month of December, after we decorated the house and trimmed the tree we kicked off the Christmas season with making gingerbread houses. I didn't get any pictures during the process but here is the ending result:








During the month of December we always attend the 'lighting of the candles' This is at the cemetery where my best friend is at. It always tends to be on her birthday or within a day of her birthday. We always stop and leave her some flowers. This year we were running really late and due to the rain/snow the majority of the candles were out but I still tried to get a picture. After that we decided to head over to Christmas Tree Lane to help get in to the Christmas spirit. Here are just a few pics:






This Christmas was our first Christmas alone! There was much anticipation. It was very exciting for us. We usually have a full house for 3 days (and nights) straight. It was really nice to have our alone moments. For Christmas Eve we did a candle lit dinner. After dinner we did chocolate fondue and watch Christmas Vacation (A tradition). Our 'traditions' are still evolving...

and here is the recipe... You are welcome!!! (for those who are worried about the alcohol, you don't have to use it. It is just as good without)

Christmas morning we woke up bright and early (can't you tell in the first picture???) I am such the kid in the relationship! but this year Bryce was up before me... It was really nice to spend the morning opening gifts together and going back to bed...




After a relaxing morning we headed to Aunt Eileens house to open more gifts. I didn't take any pictures and I didn't stay long. I made my first ham this year so I had to come home to finish dinner. Later in the afternoon everyone came back to the house to enjoy a yummy dinner and open even more gifts.






After all of the Christmas celebration we had Grandma's 80th birthday. Since you only turn 80 once in your lifetime we had to throw a surprise party. Oh boy was she surprised, she was like a giddy school girl!











The holidays were busy but they were fun. Now here is to things slowing down...