Back from the {Blogging} Dead

Yes, I am still alive! The last month has been a whirlwind and not having internet on top of it has given me a much needed break from the www and blogging. We have been in Austin for 3.5 weeks and have not had internet, yes for 3.5 weeks! We get a connection every now and then which has allowed for the necessities to be done, but other than that my computer has been put away. I actually am not into blogs like I use to be. I still love checking friend's blogs, but the party, fashion, life style, etc. blogs, I have realized I can do without. I would rather spend my time doing other things like playing with Avalynn. So I have a lot to catch up one, lots of pictures and posts to come!

Brain Dump

- I have been in a blogging rut lately, just really don't have the energy or anything to really post about

-I'm not working at APX (now Vivint) anymore. I can't tell you how nice it is. I have pretty much done a whole lot of nothing the last 3 week

-On that note, I have A LOT to do before we leave for Texas:

Paint our room and bathroom

Deep, deep clean the house

Pack

Plan and Decorate a party for Miss Ruby Sue

Help host a baby shower for TWINS, for my sweet sweet friend!!
Go to Utah twice

Miss Rexburg Pageant

-I'm already ready to be on that plane to Austin

-I'm trying to be on facebook less, have you ever realized what a waste of time it is?

-I can't believe how much Avalynn is growing and learning. She is a little girl now.

-I am over the 30 degree weather, I need to be in TX right now where it's 75 every day

-Avalynn has been on an eating protest lately, you never know from one day to the next if and what she is going to it

-I have been sleeping with a sleep mask lately so I don't wake up when it starts to get light, Brennen laughs at me every night

-He also laughs at the Disney theme park shows I watch on Netflix

-Maybe I will get a real blog post done this week, but for now I am going to bed

Turning it Over

Amazing!

Be sure to have your tissues ready.

$$$

{image via here}

A couple weeks ago a friend asked me what we do to save money. I started thinking about some of the things we do and wanted to document them for journaling purposes, and to see what other people do to save a little here and there.

-We limit eating out- probably only once or twice a month

-Brennen is a stickler on turning lights off, water off, and keeping the heat/air turned down

-We have 1 credit card but only use it for large purchases to earn miles and then pay it off immediately

-I have been couponing for the last year or so. I haven't been too hard core about it since we move so often it's hard to take a big "stockpile" with us. But I haven't paid for toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, floss, & body wash in the last year... it has all been FREE!

My favorite coupon website is Hip2Save

-Buy second hand.

I would say 80% of Avalynn's clothes have been second hand and you wouldn't even know it. I have bought many things at consignment sales and you would have thought they were brand new. Some things have even had tags on them still, BRAND NEW! This dress Avalynn is wearing is from The Children's Place and still had the tags on it, and was $7 at a consignment sale.

Craigslist is another awesome resource for second hand items. I bought a like new Graco highchair on craigslist for $17! Brennen is a Craigslist fanatic, especially when it comes to car parts. Most of the the parts he has bought for his Camaro have been off Craigslist and he restores them to like new condition.

Garage Sales are another one of my favorites! There are so many blogs out there with ideas on how to take some average items and turn them into something fabulous. I got a laundry hamper similar to this for Avalynn at a garage sale for $3 that was hardly even used.

Remember ones man's trash is another man's treasure!

-We have paid cash for all of our cars which saves hundreds a month not having a car payment and a ton in interest too

Some of my favorite money saving websites are:

Dave Ramsey

Money Saving Mom .... they paid CASH for their house!!

Fabulessly Frugal

Those are some of the main ones I can think of right now. What do YOU do to save money?

No Bake Cookie Kisses

A few nights ago Avalynn was tucked snugly in her bed so Brennen and I were taking some time to get a few things done. He was planning his week and I was sitting on the couch looking at some things online. Brennen came over with a half chewed No Bake Cookie in his mouth and gave me a big kiss! "Wow, thanks babe, smells like cookies" I said. We both then sat there enjoying a few rare minuets together since summer is our busy time. I asked Bren "What are we doing?", he responded, knowing full well I meant what are we doing with our life after the summer, "we're having No Bake Cookie kisses". He always knows how to make me laugh! But as we talked about our plans come October I kept thinking how I really do need to enjoy life in the moment. Even though some of our plans for the next year may not be set in stone I need to enjoy what we are doing here and now, and enjoy those No Bake Cookies kisses!

What We're Up To...

Life has been kinda crazy around the Ames house lately, hence the lack of posts. We are loving being parents, Avalynn is just so much fun! She is such a happy baby and we love to just sit and play with her. Here are some things we have been up to lately:

~ Our 2 townhouses are on the market so we have been working hard at trying to get those sold. We have shown the one we live in about twice a week for the last month so we have spent a lot of time cleaning and getting it in order.

~ Brennen is trying to get his Camaro finished before we leave for the summer so lots of hours are spent at the shop working on it (oh and in our kitchen too! I came downstairs this morning and our kitchen smelled like a car shop!)

~ I'm still working at APX so that keeps me busy during the day. Avalynn comes to work with me and you will often find her flirting with the boys there!

~ We leave for Austin in just 2 weeks! I am so excited to be moving there, but when I think about all I have to do in the next 2 weeks it is kind of overwhelming, not to mention we have no idea what we are doing with our stuff, where we are putting it, if our houses will be sold, etc!

A post wouldn't be a post without a picture of Avalynn!

Ironic?

On Monday for FHE Brennen and I discussed ways that we could "be a little better". One of the things we talked about was how we used our time, and how even though there were "good" things we were doing, we could be using our time doing "better" things. Spending time on the computer is one of the things we decided we could cut down to be doing more productive things. I decided that my goal would be to not be on the computer at home because I am on it all day at work. That way I could actually do some of those cute projects I find on different blogs rather than just looking at them online!

Well, yesterday my computer died! I have no idea what happened and why, but I am SO mad, annoyed, sad, & frustrated! I decided to cut back time not quit it all together!! Last night after our friend John tried to play around with it to see what might be wrong and it still not working, I was even more upset. Brennen could tell I was mad and said "I'm sorry Babe! I know you must be upset, your computer dying is like my Camaro being totaled"! Luckly I don't delete pictures off the memory card so I still have all our picture, but I have tons of things I have found on the interent saved in my bookmarks on Safari! Does anyone have a way they save things they find online besides in their favorites?

John thinks that it is the hard drive, and is going to take it to Utah with him on Friday to the Apple store. I really hope they can somehow fix it!

A Few Things

1. We found out today that we are going to be selling in Austin, TX this summer! I am so excited! For some weird reason I have this thing that I have always wanted to live in Texas, yet I have never even been there! Anyone been to Austin and have some good recommendations for shopping, eating, etc?

2. Shantay let us borrow her DVD of the Dunstan Baby Language and it is seriously AMAZING! We watched the DVD last night and just in the last 12 hours I swear Avalynn has cried 10x less than normal because we are able to tell right away what she needs. If you haven't seen it you should defiantly check it out!

3. My sister, Cami, is a Fashion class this semester and her teacher has encouraged them to participate in "Fashion Week". If she gets other people to participate as well she gets extra points applied to her final! So I thought I would help her out and pass the info along if anyone wants to help her out. Here is what she said in her e-mail:

"Hello my friends and family!

I am taking a fashion fundamentals class this semester and from this Tuesday the 19th through the Tuesday the 26th is FASHION WEEK! whoot whoot :) This means that I get to dress up all 8 days for the purpose of improving my image and building confidence. I am contacting you to ask you to join me. Sorry i should have sent this yesterday to give you a few days notice but I didn't so please forgive me. So if you'd like please dress up with me...if you do the incentive for me is that I get a point on my final for each person who participates and the incentive for you is I will be a better friend to you! great deal huh?

So dressing up means...kick it up one notch from what you usually wear. example...church dress everyday

Don't go buy anything new, just use what you got. Use makeup everyday, accessories, those ties boys, and nice shoes!

If you'd like to participate...awesome! If not no worries, i will still be your friend!

Hope you have a great week! Email or text me YES i will participate in fashion week with you Cam!

Thanks all! Love ya lots!

CAMILLE

p.s. if you think of anyone else that might want to participate please forward this email and then have them let me know please! camillestagg@gmail.com"

I told her I am doing my own version (I'm not wearing church dress everyday), I guess you could call it "not wearing mom clothes"! I decided to wear nicer shirts, heels (not slippers!), jewelry, and do something extra with my hair everyday. So for me thats stepping it up a notch because I would rather wear a sweatshirt everyday! If you want to play along for the week you can leave a comment here as well and I will pass it on to Cami!

2009 in Review

January-

APX trip to Cancun

Brennen's sister got married

February-

Went through our 2nd miscarriage

St. George for Valentine's Day and the Parade of homes

March-

Hosted Carly's Baby Shower

April-

Found out we were pregnant!

Moved to Nashville

May-

Trip home to California

Trip to Utah for my cousin Shandee's wedding

June-

Shantay visits Nashville

July-

Family comes to Nashville/Nauvoo Trip

August-

Drove 28 straight hours back to Rexburg

September-

Sold our house

Brennen worked in Kentucky all month

Cami came home from her mission

October-

My dad had a heart attack

Saw Wicked in Denver

Baby Shower

November-

Ready for baby to arrive!

December-

Avalynn is born!

Christmas with Brennen's Family

Avalynn's Blessing

Goodbye Mark Ave

The last month has been crazy to say the least. Mostly because we sold our house. About the middle of July we started talking about our plans after the summer, and decided to test the waters with selling our house since it is what kept us tied to Rexburg.

We put it on Craigslist to see if we would get any lookers. Well within a week we had some people interested, and 4 weeks later we had sold and closed on the house! We have moved back to our townhouse we lived in before and trying to go from 3200 sq ft and a 3 car garage to 1200 sq ft and a car port has been quite the challenge!

It's been sad to leave our first real house, but we know that with how everything has happened the Lord's hand has been in the process and it is meant to be.

Words of Wisdom

I have recently come across a few quotes that I really liked and thought I would share.

"On those days when we're not ready to stop being offended, not ready to forgive, still determined to dish out the silent treatment, what we're actually saying is, "Thanks, but I don't want to become more like the Savior today. Maybe tomorrow, but not today."

-Sheri Dew

"Challenges that tax our faith are usually opportunities to stretch and strengthen our faith by finding out if we really believe the Lord will help us."

-Sheri Dew

1) Live joyfully in the moment

2) Accept the circumstances God has allowed in your life

3) Look forward with an eye of faith and a hopeful heart to tomorrow

-Kathy Wood

Garage Sale Lovin

When I was younger I never understood why my mom liked garage sales so much, but now I get it! You can get some awesome deals on great things. Some people may think I'm weird for wanting to buy other people's stuff, but theres not much a waching machine, dishwasher, or a little bit of hot water and soap can't clean up! Here are some of my recent finds.

The pink writing is hard to see- Like New Boppy $5, books and clothes .50 cents each

All this for $22

I'm Lovin On..

Design Dazzle

Check them out! Darling ideas for baby, kid, and teen rooms. I already know what I will do for a girl nursery, so if its a boy I will be on this site even more!

I cam across this girl's blog and she is just darling along with her family. She has so many creative ideas, and I hope I am a super cool hip mom like her! Of course I fell in love with all the BLING so does to things! Like look at these cute Valentine's Day shirts she made for her girls!

Waring: You will want to look at every post!

With not feeling so great Stouffer's Easy Express Skillets have become my saving grace! They are SUPER quick and tasty as well. The first time I made one Brennen thought it was homemade!

I signed up for Nexflix since I am at home most everyday all day. I love that you can watch movies online instantly too!

So, what are you lovin on right now?

Some Girl Time

When Shantay and I saw this sale, we knew for sure we had to take advantage of it! So naturally we booked Shantay a ticket out here for some much needed girl time!

Here were our adventures

Cupcakes in Downtown Franklin

Gender experiments!

Ate lots of good food compliments of Logan's, Hard Rock, and Qdoba

Went to Opryland

Broadway Street Downtown

Pedicures

{Image from here}

And of course got some good "Retail Therapy" in!

Coming to Realizations

For the longest time I have told myself that I am a "scrapbooker", well I have come to grips with myself and realized just because I have a bunch of scrapbooking stuff sitting in my closet it doesn't make me a scrapbooker. You actually have to do it! I also am not a traditional, write in my journal every day/week, journal keeper. 

I was thinking the other day about how my blog is a form of journaling and scrapbooking (pictures) and that I am OK with that! I really need to focus on doing the things I enjoy and can do instead of thinking I am something else. So from now on folks I don't do the traditional scrapbook or journal! I was thinking that every year I would get my blog printed into a book and call it good. So stay tuned for a little more day to day documentation for the future Ames posterity.

 I'm so happy to get that all off my chest! 

Pregnancy Joys and Woes

This is totally how I am feeling right now... FAT! Not pregnant, but fat. I guess I'm in that in between stage and I am ready to be done, at this point I would rather have a little bump than a little extra baggage! 

So for now here our my joys and woes:

Woes-

-HEADACHES- Please tell me they will go away! Waking up with one is the worst.

-Sleeping for 9-10 hours at night and then 2 hours after getting up being ready to go back to bed.

-A sudden urge of hunger and then NOTHING sounds appetizing

-100 trips to the bathroom a day

- Having to get up in the middle of the night to pee

-Crying over the stupidest things

-Feeling fat

-Having the desire to do NOTHING but lay in my bed all day long!

Joys-

-Seeing Brennen excited about things related to the baby

-Having an amazing husband who has tolerated the house being a disaster and less than amazing meals

-Having an "excuse" as to why I need new clothes

(that might be stretching it!)

-Knowing that on Dec. 10th (hopefully sooner) it will all be worth it,

 and the joys will far out weigh the woes!

Utah and Idaho Trip

I guess this post is better late than never since it has been 2 weeks since I have been back! My cousin, Shandee, got married in the Draper LDS Temple on May 22nd and her reception was that night in Provo. It was a fun couple days with family that I hadn't seen for a while, and I am so excited for Shandee and Aaron!

My favorite cousin, Phe, picked me up from the airport!

Shandee and I

My parents and me at the temple

Younger sister Nicole

On Saturday morning my dad, Nicole, and I got up early and drove to Rexburg. We found a lady who wanted to rent our house just until August, so I needed to go up and put our stuff away and get it ready for her. I am so glad that they came with me, it would have taken a lot longer without their help!

I couldn't be in Rexburg and not go get a snow cone!

Since we have been in Nashville we had our yard put in. It looks SO good!

And yes, the parts car had to be built into the landscaping! UGH!

I was so excited to see this cute little thing! Isn't she a doll!

It was bitter sweet to go home and hard to leave. Probably a good thing I was there less than 24 hours or I might not have come back to Nashville!