Mommy and Ethan Seaside, OR July 2010
Pebble Beach California July 2010
It doesnt quite seem fair, for the summer to be nearly over. I am pretty sure i could only count the number of hot days on one hand...
I really shouldnt complain, some days it gets so hot, and many people dont have air conditioners. But i can tell you, camping in the rain with a 14 mth old is not ideal. And so, we will plan ahead next year! Yurts are definetly the way to go!
Well, despite the lack of sunshine, things have been very busy around the Holmes household. Seth and I went on our first vacation without Ethan. My parents and In-law's took turns watching Ethan for us, and we had such an amazing trip! We flew down to sacramento and drove to Monterey (I grew up in this area and had always wanted to take Seth there) continued on towards Valencia, and stayed there 2 nights. We spent a whole day at 6 flags magic mountain and had a BLAST! It was wonderful to be able to spend some one on one time with my hubby. We love our son dearly but have learned that time away can be necessary for sanity's sake. And you know by the 3rd day, i was wanting to be home! :) I kept catching myself looking in the back seat to check on that little munchkin that wasnt there!!!
Anyways, Seth and I have started listening to the Dave Ramsey series and are inspired and excited to become debt free...A venture that we "coulda, shoulda, woulda" started a long time ago, but better late then never... (wow could i put any more cliche' phrases in there??)
We are excited to be working together on this new project in our home, and in the process i have become quite the coupon-queen. Those that know me well, are already sick of hearing "what i got for free at rite-aid this week" or how many samples i got in the mail today... But its just so exciting to me, to be able to save money and get things for such low prices, when all our lives weve been paying retail. Never again my friends. :)
God has truly inspired me to become more frugal in my home (thanks dad for the genes to go along) and it makes me feel so accomplished as a wife, and a mom when i can bring home $100 worth of groceries for $40. It makes me feel blessed to be able to use the money that we work so hard for, and make it stretch. It has become a game almost. "Just how far can i make this $20 bill go?" I even started a blog, to consolidate all my findings and ideas. Click Here to visit my blog Coupons Into Cash!
Also in our venture to save money, I have been getting more into photography. Friends have been nice enough to refer me to THEIR friends, for wedding photography. I did one wedding in April, and I have 2 coming up at the end of this month. I took one couple up to the Portland Rose Gardens for some Engagement shots, and they turned out really great! For more on how that is going visit my Photography blog by clicking here. (Finally created one)
Some of my goals, are to someday have a home where I can have a GARDEN. At the moment we only have a porch and driveway. So we arent there yet. I want to someday have a pantry where i can purchase bulk baking goods and cook using bulk. Make my own "bisquick". Bake bread from scratch. Learn how to can. Freeze. Cook in bulk so that we can have healthy freezer dinners ready in minutes. I want to raise my own hens, and have my own eggs. These are the things i aspire to do...One goal, one day, at a time.
We hope that this summer finds you as busy and blessed as we are!
Seaside, Oregon July 2010
We need to get together so I can see how this coupon stuff works!!! You rock girl!!! We got our Dave Ramsey stuff, but didn't get the DVDs. We did get three of the books with the workbooks. So much to relearn, but we are getting there!!! Have fun with this 90+ degree weather.
ReplyDeleteya. yikes. its HOT and wouldnt you know it? were going to the coast NEXT weekend.. the forcast is rain. fantastic.
ReplyDelete