the 'think you're so hott' desk

When Ben and I were only a few weeks away from getting married, we went to Walmart and bought our first 'home' purchase together. It was a white computer desk with a detachable hutch, and I was feeling pretty hott.

It was a big ole' desk. At the time, I was so excited to be buying something so grown-up with my husband to be, I could have cared less what it looked like. It really wasn't that bad, though. It wasn't made of real wood, but it was still pretty. It was white with a brown desk top.

I felt so cool buying that desk. I must have flashed my engagement ring at the checkout counter a zillion times.

We sold that hott computer desk about a month ago. It was just too big for our tiny house, and it really wasn't functional for us anymore. It had too many open shelves that PB could get in to. I'll admit, though, I was a little sad to see it go. I got a little sentimental about it.

I started searching for a new computer desk when I ran across this beauty, in my parent's basement:

And guess what this is? It's my mom and dad's 'think you're so hott' computer desk!

This desk has been sitting in their basement for at least 20 years (it's at least 30 years old). I never paid any attention to it until I needed a really cheap (or free) computer desk. And then, all of the sudden, it looked like a million bucks to me.

I asked mom if I could have it. She said yes. And then she went on to tell me that this was the first thing that her and dad bought as newlyweds. She said she thought she was so hott when they bought that desk.

I had to laugh when she told me this, as I had felt the same thing about our old computer desk. Something about your first 'home' purchase as newlyweds that makes you feel like you are just the coolest thing since sliced bread. You kinda feel invincible. You feel so grown up and giddy about your new life with each other. You have so much pride in all that you do together.

I hope we always feel like that.

So, I went to work. First, I washed down the whole desk, removed the hardware, and then sanded it with 80 grit sandpaper. Then, I painted it with 1 coat of primer and 3 coats of paint. I originally thought the whole desk was real wood, but alas, the top of the table was not. I was a little bummed because I had planned on just staining the top of the desk. So I improvised, and painted the top of the desk a deep brown. And then I sanded a little more, and added some stain to the edges to give it an antiqued look. Finally, I added a clear coat of polyurethane to the top of the desk and let it dry for about 3 days.

The finished 'think you're so hott desk':

I spend about $25 on paint and rollers. I also spent $4.50 on new knobs for the top drawers. I spray painted the old pulls to save some money.

Maybe one day, PB and his wife will ask if they can have this ole' desk as newlyweds. And maybe they'll think they're so hott when they bring it in their house together. And then I'll tell him how his grandparents thought they were so hott when they got the desk, and how Ben and I thought we were so hott when we bought our first computer desk.

And then he'll tell me that we're nerds.

What about y'all, do you have any 'think you're so hott' newlywed purchases? Did you feel like a million bucks when you made your first purchase together? Or are we just really nerds?

Have a blessed Wednesday :)

that oreo stuff.

I'm not much of a summer gal. I blame it on the heat. And bees. And mosquitos. And summer clothes. Shorts and tanks are this pasty girl's least favorite. I prefer the pits of fall and winter when I can cover my bandaid-colored skin with sweaters and jeans.

But there's one saving grace every summer.

That oreo stuff.

For many moons, my momma has been making that oreo stuff every summer. It was the quintessential summer dessert growing up. It made all that sweat and pasty skin bearable. I love it. It's the fiber to my summer being. This is my second favorite dessert of all time (second to the apple cake, no less). I mean, o.r.e.o.s. Can it get much better?

I needed a little something to wash down the turkey and dressing and winter pies and cakes. This did the trick. Most of you have probably made this dessert before or at least tried it at some church function. And it probably has a better name than 'that oreo stuff'. My momma has been making this baking dish full of deliciousness for years and we've always simply called it 'that oreo stuff'.

So without further ado, here's the recipe, friends:

That Oreo Stuff

1 bag/box of Oreos
1 1/2 stick of butter
8 oz. cool whip
8 oz. cream cheese
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar
2 small packages instant chocolate pudding
3 cups milk

First, crush up all of your oreos (I usually save about 3-4 oreos to crumble up on the top. And then I always eat 1 or 2. If you can make this dessert without sneaking and eating an oreo, then you are the queen on the world).

Then, add 1 stick of melted butter to the oreos and mix it around. Press the oreos into a 9x13 baking dish.

Next, mix the cool whip, cream cheese, and 1/2 stick of butter together. Then add the powdered sugar. Spread this over the crushed cookies. And, oops, I forgot to take pictures of the next steps. Probably had something to do with the fact that I kept sneaking and eating oreos.

In a bowl, mix the 2 packages of instant chocolate pudding and 3 cups of milk. Let it stand for about 5 minutes, then spread it over the cream cheese mixture. Add a thin layer of cool whip (I usually reserve about 4-5 tablespoons of the cool whip) and the 3-4 (or less, if you ate a few) crumbled cookies on top. Pop this baby in the fridge for a little while if you can stand it. And enjoy!

Have a blessed Tuesday :)

staycation recap.

Hello, friends!

I feel like I was a little MIA last week. Ben and I took a little 'staycation' over Thanksgiving, so blogging got the backseat. What is a 'staycation', you ask? A 'staycation' means you spend x amount of days at home doing whatever the heck you want to do. It was niiiiice. This was one of the very first times we've ever done that. Usually, we are traveling to see family during any time off, so this was new to us.

We did a lot of cleaning and organizing on our staycation. I know, we're wild. We also did a lot of eating. And a lot of PB-playing. We took him to the mall for the first time since he's been a 'big boy'. I really don't think he'd been to the mall since he was 3 months or so. Bless his heart, he lives a sheltered life. He ran wild. He must have thought we took him to Vegas or something. He was particularly interested in the mannequins. He stared at them at least half the time we were there and he kept running up to them and waving at them, probably wondering why they weren't waving back.

We had Thanksgiving dinner with my family, and we really stuffed ourselves. Sometimes, I think I could take a bath in mashed potatoes and gravy. I really don't think there's a better food. Somewhere during the course of Thanksgiving Day, my momma managed to persuade me into black Friday shopping with her at midnight. I've really never been black Friday shopping before. About 4 or 5 years ago, I went with her, but we didn't go until like 8 a.m. on Friday, so I don't really count that. We headed out at 11:15 p.m., to get to the stores by midnight.

I wanted to cry.

I'm such a sleep baby. If I don't go to bed by a certain time every night, and get at least 7-8 hours of sleep, I pout. And if I don't wake up by 8:30 a.m. at the latest, I pout and feel like I've wasted the whole day sleeping. Like I said, I'm a sleep baby!

It was an experience to say the least. I was so confused that night. What time is it? Why am I not sleeping? Should I eat? Could I lay in the bed display at Kohl's and not be noticed? Who am I? Why am I here? What is my name?

Needless to say, I'm not a night owl. My body and mind shut down about 10 every night, and reopen around 7 the next morning. If I'm awake during those hours, it's not a pretty picture. We made it home around 6 that morning. As I attempted to brush my teeth with Ben's comb, I vowed I'd never do black Friday again. At least not until next year ;)

Ben and I had a date night over the weekend. We were home by 8 p.m. We went to eat and decided we were too cheap to pay for dinner and a movie, so we rented a movie and came back home. We sat on the couch and ate ice cream in our pajamas. Good choice!

Sunday was church and my dearest friend Whitney's baby shower. Baby Emery Kate (don't you just love that name?) will be here in 4 weeks or so, and I am beyond excited for her. Whitney and I go way back to kindergarden. I'm so blessed to have her as my friend. Not many people can say they've had the same best friends since kindergarden. We grew up together, roomed together in college, and were in each other's wedding. And now, I've decided our kids should get married. It's the next logical step.

So that was my Thanksgiving staycation. What about you guys? Did you eat yourselves silly? Did you brave the black Friday madness?

Have a blessed Monday :)

thankful thursday: feliz thanksgiving

Happy day of thanks, friends!

Today is Thursday and Thanksgiving, and I'm a very thankful gal.

I'm thankful for the blessings in my life.

I'm thankful for my salvation, provided for FREE, by my main man Jesus.

I'm thankful for my sweet son.

I'm thankful for my Ben.

I'm thankful for another year of life.

I'm thankful for my parents and my extended family.

I'm thankful for my health and for the health of my family.

I'm thankful for YOU.

I'm thankful for my church family, our little old house, my bed, food, my hometown, the country, my friends, fresh air, the military, crockpots....ahhh I could go on forever, baby.

I hope you have a wonderful day, celebrating all of God's blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving from mi familia to yours!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving :)

my thrifty life: saving on the shoestring budget

Hello, gang! I've got another treat for you today. I'm sharing the mic with my blogging bud Erika, of Newlyweds on a Budget. I don't even remember how I landed on Erika's blog, but it was right around the time I started going back to school and our pennies were getting pinched. What perfect timing! Erika shares her family's challenge of getting out of debt and balancing a healthy budget. Today, she's sharing her tips for saving money when money is tight. Take it away, Erika!

Hi, my name is Erika and I blog over at Newlyweds on a Budget. Here is my post on How to save BIG on a Shoestring Budget. 

I am a big believer of saving money. There is always something that money can be saved for, rather than relying on credit cards to bail you out during emergencies.

This year, Eric and I had 8 months to prepare to become a one-income family while Eric attended a training academy for four months. We decided that in order to cover all of his school expenses, and also have an emergency fund, we needed to save about $8,000 from January to August, or roughly $1,000 a month.

So how did we accomplish this?

Downsize

We had to move. Luckily, our lease was up, but we ended up moving from a swanky one-bedroom apartment to a shack that was located in someone's backyard. I'm not joking. We literally live in someone's guesthouse that doesn't even have a bedroom, but rather a loft. We found it on Craigslist.

I often hear all these excuses about how you can't move and other areas aren't safe, and how it's just too expensive where you live, and I'm here to say that unless you have a mortgage, you can move when your lease is up. We live in southern California, less than a mile from the beach in one of the notoriously known expensive areas--and we managed to decrease our rent and utilities by 14% simply by moving down the street.

It sucks living in this situation and we can't wait to move (one day), but for now, we make these sacrifices so that we can afford Eric's schooling.

Eliminate the extras

In these past two months of living on one income, we have brought down our monthly expenses for all those "extra" categories, such as dining out, entertainment, gifts, etc., from an average of about $800+ to about $550. We always assumed we just couldn't squeeze anything else out of our budget, but it turns out we can! No more clothes shopping, no more dining out (or if we do, it's usually less than $50 a month), we take our lunch to work every single day, we are even eliminating our internet this month and using our phones for wireless.  

I clip coupons and keep our food budget to about $250 per month.

Find extra sources of income

We've held three garage sales in the past year. I babysit on weekends, I market my blog, I mystery shop and I fill out surveys. If there's an extra way to make money and it doesn't involve taking my clothes off, I've done it! I've taken every single overtime opportunity available at my job, and I've even held side jobs as a social media specilist for other companies, and as a check-in person at a local gym. Yes, working so much has its downside, but these are sacrifices we have to make. You can even get side jobs online through ODesk.

Keep your eye on the prize

Sometimes, I get really upset. It is hard to be putting in so much effort and hard work, and still be living in a shack. There are moments I get fed up and want to just splurge. But I have to keep my eye on the prize--which is eventually to own our own home. This year was all about saving up for Eric's schooling. Next year, it's all about saving for a down payment. I always look at the newspaper real estate section every Sunday to remind myself that one day we will have our own home.

Find more tips on frugality, and simple living at Newlyweds on a Budget.

Erika lives in a shack in Orange County, California with her husband of a year, Eric, and their eight-year-old Wheaten Terrier, Bentley. They are paying off debt, and saving up money to purchase their first home. You can read all about how they try to manage finances, pay off debt and live a big life on a small budget at Newlyweds on a Budget.

Thanks so much, Erika, for your tips on saving on a shoestring budget! Make sure to check out Erika's blog for other money and budget goodies! As a one-income family right now, we are always looking for tips to save and cut back. I can also say that it NEVER hurts to be prepared. A lost job, an accident, a sickness, a downsize, we are all really just one step away from being one income families. It's always good to plan for the unexpected!

Have a blessed Wednesday!

the-christmas-tree-putting-up tradition

We put up our Christmas tree Saturday night. I know. It was still several days from Thanksgiving. I'm not trying to steal Thanksgiving's shine, so until Thanksgiving is over, I'll call it my Thanksgiving tree. And I'll give thanks AND celebrate Jesus on Thanksgiving day. See? Works out perfectly.

PB went to play at his granny's for a little while on Saturday while we put up the tree. So it was just Ben and I, putting up our 3rd little Christmas tree together. The first year we were married, I thought I was so stinkin' hott when we put up our tree. Putting up a tree together was like marital rite of passage. So we went all out that first year. We had all the time in the world, listening to Christmas music, making Christmas cookies, taking lots of pictures, meticulously decorating the tree, and watching what else but National Lampoon's Christmas vacation, you know, like they do on those Hallmark movies.

And I determined that this would be our Christmas-tree-putting-up-tradition.

So last year, with a new baby in tow, we put up the same tree, ate store-bought Christmas cookies (because I was lazy and sleep-deprived), turned the Christmas music down real low, threw some ornaments on the tree, and watched about 10 minutes of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation before we fell asleep.

This year, folks, it was like a scene straight out of a Hallmark Christmas movie.

We got the tree out of the box, and got to work.

Hark! Is that National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation?

Look a little closer.

Gasp. Why, no! It's a football game!

I managed to squeeze a little 'Mele Kalikimaka' in on YouTube. We scarfed down sugar cookies during halftime, tried to strategically place the ornaments out of PB's reach, and I reminisced about our first Christmas tree as Ben yelled at the refs.

The only thing missing was the Christmas sweaters.

Things have changed since our first Christmas. And things will continue to change. I like to think our Christmas-tree-putting-up tradition reflects the time in our life. The first year, we were hott stuff, newlyweds, trying to have a Hallmark Christmas. The second year, we were exhausted, new parents, still trying to have that Hallmark Christmas. And this year, we got real. We had about an hour to ourselves so we tossed up the tree, watched football together, ate an obscene amount of sugar cookies, and laughed at our newlywed selves.

It was probably the best Christmas-tree-putting-up to date. Though I can imagine next year's Christmas-tree-putting-up will probably top this one. I have a feeling PB is gonna be one nasty Christmas tree decorator.

What about y'all? Do you have any not-so-Hallmark Christmas-tree-putting-up traditions?

Have a blessed Monday :)

busted: the butt scratcher

The scene:


Ben has just come home from work. We've chatted, and he's walking away to go change his clothes. 

"Hey Ben, what's that on your pants?"

"Huh? Uummm, what are you talking about?"

"Your pants. You've got something on the back on them. Come closer and let me see."

"Oh my gosh, Ben, you've got a huge ink stain on the back of your brand new pants!"

"Um, yea, about that......"

"Well what in the world happened?"

"Well........"

"Yea?"

"Well I either sat on a red ink pen, someone marked on me, or, I was scratching my butt with what I thought was the closed top of an ink pen, only to pull it away after I was finished scratching to realize that the red ink pen was open. Those are the choices, and the first two don't count."

Lesson learned:


Don't scratch your butt with an ink pen unless it's closed. Or you will leave behind evidence of said butt scratching.

Have a blessed weekend :)

thankful thursday: maternity leave

It's been almost three weeks now since I quit my job. I'm thoroughly enjoying my time at home with PB. I feel like I missed out on so much while I was working, I'm trying my best to play 'catch up'.

I will admit, I was a little nervous about staying home with him. Initially, I had a hard time during my maternity leave. After I had PB, Ben stayed home with us for a little over a week, which was a real lifesaver for me. I had a little bit of a wonky epidural, and had all back labor, so my back was in some pretty bad pain. I couldn't stand completely upright and I couldn't walk very well. So Ben was a huge help that first week.

I dreaded when he went back to work. I admit I was scared to be left alone for the first time with a brand new baby. What happened if he got choked? What if he wouldn't stop crying? What happened if he had an explosive poop?

I did have a tough time after he went back.  It was totally overwhelming for me. Although each day seemed to get a little easier, I was still beyond frazzled and frustrated by the time Ben came home from work. Sometimes I would just hand PB off to Ben, and go in the bathroom and cry. I cried because I felt guilty for crying. I cried because I felt guilty for feeling so frazzled. And I cried because I was still so stinkin' hormonal.

About 6 weeks in to my maternity leave, I broke down in prayer. I was having a really hard time. PB and I weren't on any type of schedule. There was no 'routine' to our days. My house was a total wreck. Some days, I wouldn't even change out of my pajamas until Ben got home.

I was confused. Before I gave birth, I dreamed of my maternity leave. Four months off from work? Boo-yah! I had a laundry list of things I wanted to do. Play with my new baby. Dress him up in cute clothes and take him to the mall. Take some naps. Sleep late. Clean out the junk drawers. Organize my closet. Paint some furniture. I imagined glorious days at home, with a clean smellin' house, a smiley baby, and dinner on the table every night.

Haha. Haha. HAHA.

I prayed and saw three problems right away. First, I had no idea the sheer amount of work it took to care for a baby. I completely underestimated it. In my defense, I've never been around little babies that much, so I had no reference point. But at any rate, I thought babies just layed around, slept, and smiled all day. Haha. I literally just laughed as I typed that last sentence. The second problem was that I had placed expectations on my maternity leave. I had 4 months off from work and I, never having 4 months off before, thought I could tackle a lot on my to-do list. Of course I would spend most of my time with my baby, but all he would do was sleep and smile alot, right? Haha, again. And the third problem was that I didn't get into a routine. I know it's tough to get into a routine with a new baby, but anything was better than nothing.

After that, I threw all of my maternity leave expectations out the window. And most importantly, for me, I got on a routine. I'm a routine-oriented person, so not having a schedule was killing me. I started getting up about an hour earlier than PB woke up, so I could eat, and have a little 'me' time. I changed my pajamas right away, washed my face, and even put on a little mascara. It made a world of difference. I worked on getting a couple of nap times set for PB and during those, I was able to do some cleaning and even work on that to do list (which never shrank, by the way ;) Not every day was dreamy, and some days I didn't have a spare minute, but we were much better off than before.

So coming in to these few weeks at home with PB, I was afraid it would be reminiscent of those first few weeks at home. But I learned a couple of big lessons during my maternity leave that have helped to better prepare me for these weeks as a stay at home mom. I learned first and foremost that this time will pass quickly (those 4 months flew by) and I want to spend all of the quality time with him that I can.

Secondly, I learned that it is so important to carve just a little me time in to each day. I think it's kinda necessary for my sanity. So, just like during maternity leave, I get up every morning when Ben gets up for work, and I have my time. I get ready for the day (just like if I were going to my job), and then I do whatever I want for 45 minutes or so. Usually, I clean. It's blissful.

I also learned that it's important to have a little bit of a routine and some structure to our day. Though it doesn't always work out, I try to have PB's nap time at the same time every day, and then we try to eat and have snack at the same times, too. We try to read a little and play new games as often as we can. And if the weather's good, I try to take him outside every day.

So today is Thursday, and I'm thankful. Today, I'm thankful for my maternity leave. My coveted maternity leave. The maternity leave that I thought was going to be 4 months off from work to do whatever the heck I wanted. The maternity leave that ended up showing me how to balance life at home with my boy. And the maternity leave that showed me how to be so appreciative of every day that I am blessed to spend at home with PB. Every day at home isn't a walk in the park. Most days are hectic, and my house is dirtier now than when I worked. And lots of times, he skips naps, and I don't have a free second all day. But, I'm still so thankful for this time I'm blessed to be spending here with him. I know it will fly by.

P.S. I've brushed my teeth today, AND put on mascara. It's a good day, y'all!

Have a blessed Thursday :)

the easiest wreath you'll ever make

A couple of weeks ago, the ladies at my church got together to make fall wreaths for the church door. We had youth that night, so I couldn't participate, but I snuck in to check out their creations (in case you haven't noticed, I have a thing for wreaths). Teresa, our pastor's wife, had the most brilliant idea for a fabric wreath that I've ever seen. I mean I knew our church ladies could cook, but they can craft too? They're legit, man!

I had to try one of these babies for myself, and it didn't disappoint. It was so easy to make and will be so versatile. Plus, I didn't use any hot glue! That was a first for me. 

You'll need a straw wreath, fabric squares (I used burlap, go figure), and a screwdriver. Yep. That's it. Unless you want to add some doolittles to yours.

First, cut your fabric into squares. I cut my burlap into 2x2 inch squares. 

And then, take the screwdriver (I used a very small flat head), and simply punch the fabric into the wreath.

That's it! It's painfully easy. Burlap may be a little tricky to punch in, though, so make sure you position your screwdriver on a cross stitch before you punch it in.

Keep punching the fabric in all the way around the wreath. I tried to punch mine close together. 

And you're done!

It's pretty as it is.

But you can dress it up a little, too.

I added a few spray-painted burlap rosettes and a piece of Christmas tree greenery. I attached them with floral wire, so I can change out the adornments when I want. 

I kinda like it plain, though, with maybe a little ribbon or bow added to it. And after I found out that you could successfully spray paint burlap (!), I started dreaming of the possibilities with this baby.

A red painted burlap wreath with a simple white ribbon for Valentine's day.

A yellow painted burlap wreath with a 'springy' ribbon for spring. 

I'm getting excited.

And, the wonderful thing about this method is that it works for other fabric, too. Teresa and the ladies at church were using plain colored cotton fabric. They cut their squares with pinking shears, which made for a really neat presentation as well. 

You'd be surprised how well the fabric holds in place, too. Obviously, it will come out if you pull hard, but that's part of the beauty of it too. If you get tired of it, just rip it all out and start all over! Simple stuff, man!

Have a blessed Wednesday :) 

the one income family

We're a one income family right now. In case you missed it, I quit my job, changed professions, and will student teach in the spring. At the least, we'll be a one income family for 8 months. Whew. 

We knew this was coming, though, as I went back to school last year to get my teaching certificate. It was just a matter of time before I would have to quit my job to student teach. We started talking about potential quit dates last year, and then we started preparing to be a one-income family.

It's scary to lose half of your family income. But, fortunately, it was our choice, and so we had time to prepare for it. Here's what we did:

1. We socked more away into savings. Ben and I are incredibly blessed to have no rent or mortgage (read why here). We did spend quite a bit fixing up the little old house, but after we paid to fix it up, we essentially started paying rent/mortgage into our savings. We put away X amount of dollars into a savings account every paycheck as if we were paying a mortgage or rent. And, those X dollars came out first, before we paid for extras. Once we made the decision that I would quit work this year, we started upping the amount we 'paid' into savings.

2. We pinched our pennies. Since we were adding more to savings, we had very little to spend elsewhere. That meant I packed my lunch/breakfast most every day. I was amazed at how much money I saved by packing my lunch. I'm talking at least $30 a week. I cooked more and we ate our less. We also started watching our consumption of gas and electricity. Again, I was impressed at the money we could save by making sure we turned a light off if we weren't using it.

3. I paid more attention to couponing. I will admit, I have never ever ever ever been a couponer. I mean someone could hand me a coupon for a free loaf of bread and I wouldn't use it. I don't know why. Laziness? Forgetfulness? At any rate, I started looking into couponing. I researched different coupon sites and had my girl Lindsay do a quick couponing rundown for me. Now, I am nowhere near a star couponer. In fact, I'm still pretty pathetic. But, I've come a long way. Now I try to only buy things on sale or things I have a coupon for. I notice at least $20-40 savings each trip. That adds up, man!

4. I've upped my 'diy' game. A while back, I featured a post from Aryn for the My Thrifty Life series. She shared homemade cleaner recipes. At the time I was a little skeptical to use any homemade cleaner, thinking it wouldn't do the job. But, I've been using homemade cleaners for a couple of months now, and I'm very pleased! Not only does it save money, I feel much more comfortable using it around PB. I used many of Aryn's recipes, and then I found others, too. I'm planning a cleaning supply post soon, so I'll share what I'm using.

5. I've spent more time in consignment shops. I've always loved to go to thrift stores for home decor (paint can change anything), but now I've found a new love for clothes consignment shops. For PB, consignment shops are a must. I do buy him new clothes occasionally, but it seems so pointless to buy him brand new clothes that he will either a) never wear, b) stain immediately, or c) outgrow in 2 months. So I've hit consignment stores/sales hard and have really racked up. I've also been able to rack up for Ben and myself at consignment stores. I love to get dress pants and skirts at thrift stores because they seem to never look 'dated'. One of my favorite outfits for work was a $1 pencil skirt from Goodwill, a $5 clearance plain black scoop neck t-shirt from Target, and a $5 scarf from Walmart. An $11 outfit? That's my language!

So that's what we've done to help prepare ourselves to become a one income family. Nothing really inventive, but rather just plain common sense. Save more, spend less, cut corners where you can.

One thing that really cushions the blow, though, is our emergency savings. Ben and I both worked in college, and we started saving a little of our paycheck then (good thing I married him, huh?). We kept the money in shoebox under Ben's bed (smart, I know). Birthday money, graduation money, and spare change went into that box. When I graduated college, we put the shoebox money onto a certificate of deposit (CD), and we forgot about it. We haven't touched our CD in 4 years. We've probably got 3-4 months worth of living expenses on that CD. And now, being a one income family, I can't stress enough the importance of having an emergency fund, especially if you're just starting out. Though I hope we don't have to use it, it's been such a relief to know its there.

Are any of you part of a one income family? What do you do to help save money and cut corners?

Have a blessed Tuesday :)

a list of matters

Right now, I have 7 loads of laundry that need to be done. How in the world did we have clean underwear while I was working? Maybe we didn't? Oh my gosh. Maybe we didn't......

I don't have a productive post today. I'm just going to make a list of things I want to say. Is that okay?

1. I've had several questions about food/dessert served at PB's birthday party. We (my mom, my neighbor, and myself) did all of the cooking for the party. Here's what we had:

Pulled pork bbq sandwiches
Chicken tenders
Potato Salad
Baked Beans
Slaw
Fruit tray
Vegetable tray
Mama's rotel dip
Chips
Chocolate cupcakes
Vanilla cupcakes
Granny's holiday party cookies (chocolate chip cookies)
Cow patty cookies

Everything but the chicken tenders and the fruit and veggie trays was homemade. And guess what? I didn't take a single picture of the food. Go figure. But I'll post recipes soon!

In the meantime, here's the link to the cupcake recipe I used. I used the same recipe for my chocolate cupcakes, except I added a box of German Chocolate cake mix. I was very pleased with how this recipe turned out. The cupcakes were more dense and moist compared to regular cake box cupcakes. They reminded me of bakery cupcakes.

As for icing, I don't have 'set' recipe for you. For the vanilla cupcakes, I did made an icing from butter, heavy cream, powered sugar, vanilla extract, and a little almond extract. I don't have the exact proportions, as I really just make icings to taste. For the chocolate cupcakes, I used cream cheese, heavy cream, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a little caramel flavoring. Again, no proportions (sorry) because I made it to taste.

For PB's smash cake, I took leftover batter from each batch (vanilla and chocolate) and baked it in a small dish. I made a small, two layer cake from the leftover batter, and covered it with icing. I added black sprinkles to the smash cakes and cupcakes. To save money on sprinkles, I used sugar in the raw, and added food coloring. It worked perfectly. In fact, I don't ever buy sprinkles. I just use sugar in the raw and color it however I need.

2. I also had a question about the centerpiece I used:

It was totally easy, greasy! I took leftover terra cotta pots from my wedding and painted them black. Then, I took marshmallows and painted 'cow spots' on them with black food coloring, so they were completely edible. It was really simple and cheap!

Then, I put floral foam in the vases, and stuck skewers in the marshmallows and then put the skewer in the floral foam. I covered it with leftover crinkle paper from my wedding.

3. I tried to imitate a picture I saw on pinterest for PB's birthday this week.

It didn't work out. He thought he was supposed to 'hide' behind the chalkboard.

4. My child fights naps now. I mean ferociously fights naps. He screams bloody murder every time I try to get him to nap. I finally give up and let him down from the rocking chair. When his feet hit the ground, he flashes a big mischievous grin and runs away. Boys........

5. I saved $46 at the grocery store yesterday with coupons/sales. I got so excited at the checkout I thought I might hug the bag boy. I refrained and they gave me a balloon instead. Well, actually they gave it to PB, but I called it my own.

6. Last night, I was sitting on the rug in the living room, and noticed a bunch of dirt on the floor beside me. I casually pushed it under the living room rug, only to notice an even bigger pile of dirt under the rug. Hmmm. I must have done this before. It was the right thing to do, though.

7. I'm going to eat potato soup, blueberry muffins, and stuffed shells this weekend, in no particular order.

8. Okay, I'm done now.

Have a blessed weekend :)

thankful thursday: those who serve

I know, I know. I'm late getting my thankful Thursday up today. PB and I have been running errands all day. We're both pooped. He's nonstop right now. Would you believe I've lost 2 pounds since I've been staying at home with him (2 weeks)? Staying at home with PB = one killer workout!

I digress.

Several years ago, I went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic with a group from college. The trip was great, and was really an eye-opener for me. It showed me how much I take for granted. While we were there we met other missionaries, who, gulp, actually lived in poor conditions by choice. They moved to the DR to serve as missionaries to the people there. They live now to serve others. Gone were the comforts of home, the familiar faces, and the clean water. They gave up everything they knew to serve others for the glory of God. Wow.

As Veteran's Day approaches, I think about all of the veterans and our current service men and women who serve our country. I think about their families, too. I have to say, with shame, that I have always taken my freedom for granted. I don't think about the day in, day out sacrifice that many people are making for my freedom.

I follow some blogs of some military families. I read about their struggles adjusting to a move to a new military base, or a new country, for that matter. I read about the time they spend away from their spouses and families. I've unfortunately read about their losses, too. I've never met these people before, and don't know (most) of them. Yet, they are living in a strange place, away from their loved ones, for me. 


So today I'm thankful for those who serve others. Whether they serve in a missionary capacity or a military capacity, I'm so thankful for the sacrifice they are making. I have to think that God will really bless those who serve others. After all, His precious Son was the ultimate humble Servant. It really puts me in my place to think about what these servants are doing for me. I'm quite a terd sometimes. I don't have a servant's heart like I should. I get mad at myself because sometimes I'll do something for someone and subconsciously 'expect' something in return. Can you imagine if our soldiers and their families expected something in return for every hour they served? They should expect our prayers and appreciation, though.

So thank you. Thank you missionaries. Thank you veterans. Thank you current service men and women.  Thank you for all who serve with the Servant's heart. Thank you for protecting me. Thank you for being uncomfortable so that I am comfortable. It hardly seems fair. I'm so sorry that I take your service for granted.

I pray that God will really bless you for all that you do. YOU are seriously LEGIT!

Have a blessed Thursday :)

Pepper Steak Dinner

When I was a youngin', one of my all-time favorite meals was 'beef and noodles' (preferably served with mashed potatoes, please). It was a simple dish: noodles, brown gravy, and diced steak. And I was in love.

When I was older, I realized that my mom only made the brown gravy for my brother and I (we both tend to have the palate of a 4 year old). What she was making was pepper steak dinner, but because we were wussies and didn't like onions, peppers, or tomatoes, she would pick out some plain steak and add a little gravy for us. None of those nasty peppers. Or onions. Or chunky tomatoes. My momma spoiled us.

At any rate, I loved my brown gravy and beef, so when I got married, one of the first dishes I made was my 'beef and noodles'. I was so proud. Ben ate two plates. Score!

After dinner, he came to me with a slightly timid look on his face. He mumbled, "Britt, I really liked your beef and noodles, but next time, could you make it like your mom does, with the onions and peppers and stuff?"

WHAT?!?!?

Defeat. Bittersweet defeat.

After I pouted for an hour or so, I called my mom and got the recipe.

3 years later, I still make the pepper steak dinner often for Ben. And I still make myself a pot of brown gravy, and pick out some plain meat sans the gross peppers. And onions. And chunky tomatoes.

I'm still a wussie.

This dish is easy to make, takes little prep time, and is budget friendly. It goes a long way, too. And the males in my family with grown-up taste buds say it tastes pretty good!

Here's the recipe:

Pepper Steak Dinner

1 1/2 pounds of round steak
1 green pepper
1/2 onion
2 beef bullion cubes
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon garlic
1 cup water
Salt
Pepper

Dice up your pepper and onion. Cut your steak into 1 inch cubes. I use round bottom steak because its cheap, but you could use breakfast steak, stir fry, or whatever else floats your boat. Add a little olive oil to a skillet, and add your chopped veggies and steak. Let it simmer until the meat is fully cooked.

Then add 2 beef bullion cubes and 1 cup of water to the skillet on low to medium heat. Add your Worcestershire sauce, diced tomatoes, and garlic next. Let this simmer until the beef bullion cubes are dissolved. I let mine simmer for about 10-15 minutes on low-medium heat after I've added all the ingredients. Salt and pepper to taste.

Serve this over rice or noodles (I usually use whole wheat egg noodles) and enjoy!

Have a blessed Wednesday :)

diy burlap banner

I've had a couple of requests for the instructions for the DIY birthday banner I made for my baby's 1st birthday party. It was so incredibly easy and cheap to make, and very versatile, too.

Here's what I did:

I started by cutting burlap triangles. I was in a hurry, so my cutting was a little sloppy. But hey, it's a 1 year old birthday party. Who cares?

Next, I freehanded the letters with a Sharpie marker. Yep, I just used a Sharpie and drew the letters on the burlap triangles (I used a paper plate to write on so I wouldn't have any bleed-through). You could really dress this baby up with some stencils, but freehanding was the quickest solution for me.

Then, I trekked into the deepest pits of my parent's basement to my trusty ole' sewing machine. I had to pause for a moment of silence when I stumbled on this glamour portrait of myself, hidden in a shoe box:

Ahh....folks, as you can see, I am the poster child for bad hair styles. After my mom scarred me for life by giving me a mullet, she tried to redeem herself with the ultimate feathered bangs. Some poor, innocent soul took 'glamour' pictures of me. Nothing screams 'glamour' like feathered bangs, buck teeth, and gigantic clip-on earrings.

 I need counseling. 

Anyway, I sewed the burlap triangles to ribbon using a basic stitch. I spaced the triangles about 1/2 inch apart.

I am in no way a whiz with my sewing machine, so this was really easy and simple and took very little time. The stitching doesn't have to be perfect, it just needs to hold the burlap in place. 

Finally, I trimmed any loose ends from the burlap.

This was super easy to make, and it can be made much neater than I did it. I'm working on a 'Merry Christmas' banner right now, and for it, I've measured the triangles, and cut them more carefully. I've also made font stencils by printing letters on cardstock and cutting them out. So you can really dress this baby up.

I actually really liked using the Sharpie for the letters. It made the process easy. It worked well, plus it gave it a little more 'rustic' look. 

'Happy Birthday', 'Merry Christmas', 'Give Thanks', 'Children of Bad Haircuts Anonymous'......the banner possibilities are endless, friends!

Have a blessed Tuesday, and don't forget to vote :)

birthday partaaaaay

We partied this weekend. Like seriously partied.

We celebrated the big numero uno, y'all, and we had a blast!

We ate, we sang, we opened presents, we played with friends, I ate a little more, we played with toys, and we had fun.

We had a farm party, partially because PB's favorite word at the moment is 'moo'.

We played with friends...

And ate birthday cake......

And opened presents.....

We had such a good time surrounded by our families and friends. PB didn't quite know what to think. (By the way, PB's real name is 'Parker Boone', so that's where 'Boone's Barn' came from). I think he was a little overwhelmed. It was sensory overload. Balloons to look at, friends to see, new toys to play with, he was one happy and overwhelmed kiddo!

You know, I've heard many people who say they've cried on their baby's first birthday. I didn't. I couldn't. I was just too excited for him. Do they grow up fast? Heck yes. Do I wish he was still a little baby? Absolutely not. It's too much fun to watch him grow and learn new things. And honestly, this week when he turns one, we'll celebrate it with pure joy that the Lord has blessed us with this little man for one whole year. And we'll pray for many, many more birthdays to come.

More birthday details and fun to share tomorrow!

Have a blessed Monday :)