Christmas Cards

If you know me well, you know that I plan big events way in advance. I can't contain my excitement that I have to get going on things right when I think about them. So it's probably not shocking that I started thinking about Christmas cards the beginning of November. I have ordered photobooks and calendars from Shutterfly before and they have been absoutely beautiful, so I'm not shocked they have amazing Christmas card designs to choose from. Here are a couple of my favorites.

Can you tell I think simple and classy? Now I just have to decide which one to use!

Bloggers get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly… sign up:http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Penelope

Remember my uber creative Aunt Taija who made these darling cookies when Avalynn was born? She turned a forgetable porcilin doll into glam Halloween witch.... only problem she didn't have a name! So she hosted a giveaway for a dozen of her AMAZING sugar cookies to the person who had the best name for the nameless witch. Well, guess who won, ME!!! My cousins who are 9 and 5 were the ones picking the name (and no, they didn't know who had submitted each name!) and chose Penelope as her first name. Yesterday in the mail these ceautiful and delicous cookies arrived!

Print Your Blog

If you have ever wanted to print your blog into a book I found an awesome deal on Groupon today (buy the deal through Wednesday). Blog2Print has a deal for their hardcover book (usually $24.95) for only $12!! Click HERE to get the deal.

New Bookmarks

I love when I find a site or blog that I just can't get enough of. Here are a few of my new favorites:

The TomKat Studio-

A.MAZ.ING party and decorating ideas. Every time I see her site I want to go and throw a party. I have a few in the works, and some of the inspiration is from this site.

House of Smith's-

If you have any sort of interest in home decorating you will most likely become slightly obsessed with this blog. I want my house to be like her's when I grow up! That's probably why I just painted our living room the same color she has in her entry way, this girl has wonderful taste!

Asking Jane-

A mother of 11 children answers questions submitted by readers. I love her outlook on everything and how real she is.

Do you have any websites you can't get enough of?

Worth a Thousand Words

My friend Noelle did an amazing job with these pictures of Avalynn. I am just in love with how they turned out. I guess it doesn't hurt when the subject is quite possibly the most beautiful little girl ever! ;)

The ones of her in the pink polo dress were some that Noelle took of her while she was watching her one day. I love how these ones seem to capture her every detail.

If you are in the Rexburg area and looking for a photographer give Noelle a call. She is so much fun to work with and does an awesome job!

Get your GROUPON

I have a new favorite website.

Groupon

If you aren't familiar with groupon every day there is a daily deal, and if a certain amount of people by the "coupon" then everyone gets the "group" deal, hence we have a "groupon". These aren't just save a dollar or two, most days it is a HUGE savings. There have been a few that I haven't been able to pass up like $100 to Shabby Apple for $40 and $100 to Picaboo for only $25!! Today they have a pretty sweet deal as well $50 to GAP (includes babyGAP, kidGAP, and bodyGAP) for $25, and it can be used on sale items!

So head on over and get your GROUPON!

$$$

{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?

Swag Bucks

Has anyone heard of or use SwagBucks? I read about lots of people in blogland using their SwagBucks to get Christmas presents. I figured I would use it as my search engine to earn some points. If you want to check it out click HERE.

Can you say "DARLING"!!

Remember my super talented Aunt Taija I have blogged about? Well, she has done it again with super cute cookies! Look what she sent us when Avalynn was born! Be sure to check out her blog to see all her other creative cookies.

Blog Book

Remember this post where I said I am using my blog as my journal/family history? Well I got our blog published into a book! I LOVE how it turned out and am so excited to be able to have a hard copy of it. I used Blurb.com and it was super easy to use. I had a coupon code from them for 20% off and free shipping, so the total was $40. Not too bad for 2 years worth of memory preserving!

Connor's Journey

My good friend, Tiffany, has a 12 year old son with a liver disease called Congenital Hepatic Fibrosis. I got an e-mail from Tiffany yesterday and I just wanted to share it with you.

"This past year has been a particularly difficult one with more trips than I can count to the hospital. Through all of this Connor found something that keeps him motivated and inspired, bike riding. He has made the decision to compete in Race Across America this June. It is dubbed the hardest bike race in the world. He had to get special permission to compete as he is the youngest person to ever attempt it. Connor has a team called “Connors Hope” and I am honored to be on it with him as well as Jared and Jared’s brother Ryan. Connor set a goal of raising $100,000 to go towards research, the registry, and a benevolence fund for those in need during transplantation. Last year Jared competed in this race and he personally had a goal of $10,000. So you can see the stretch here. Connor recently was told that he would be needing a major surgery that would take him off his bike for 9 weeks. Connor was very concerned that doing so would halt his progress in bike training as well as raising money for the race. Through many tears I shared with him that I will be doing everything in my power to continue to help him raise money during this time of recovery.

I am not writing to you asking for money or a donation towards the team, however we always appreciate it if you choose to. I am writing to you asking that you please start reading daily Connors blog and that you forward his blog address to all of your friends and so on. If Connor gets enough readers on his blog finding corporate sponsors will be much easier. As well as he will be able to sell space on it that can go towards his overall goal. I can tell you reading his blog will most likely put a smile on your face he always has clever ways of seeing the world and all of its challenges.

I continue to learn so much from Connors example and both Jared and I try to make sure that he is learning to take his personal trials and turn them into something good. Two days ago on our way to another doctor appointment Jared and I asked Connor his feelings about his Liver Disease and his exact words were “well I know I wouldn’t be the same person I am if I didn’t go through this and I know I wouldn’t even attempt the things I do if it wasn’t for this challenge”. I thought that pretty much summed him up always looking for the blessings."

You can visit Connor's Blog by clicking HERE

Great Christmas Gift Idea

How Does She?, which by the way is an awesome new website, posted about a free canvas photo print from Canvas People. This would be a great Christmas gift for grandparents or yourself! I just wish I had some darling newborn pictures already done to make one.

Lovin On Lately

I came across Beautiful Baby Boutique last week and instantly had a cart full! They have awesome prices on their things. Be sure to check out their Deal of the Week where they have items usually half off!

One of my biggest (ok I have a lot!) domestic challenges is making dinner. I just am not a fan. I think it's because I don't usually plan things out and so I come home from work wondering what I am going to make, then think of something, and don't have all the ingredients, etc. Well last night I found this website... Pocket Perfect Meal Planning. I looked into it, saw the recipes were actually normal ones (I have got some meal plan things where there is no way we would eat half the recipes) and decided to try it out. It seems so easy, and I love that the shopping list for the month is already made for you! Through the end of October if you buy one of the Monthly Pocket Packs you get another free month of recipes... that's 3 months worth of recipes and shopping lists for $15. I'm planning on just rotating the plans every 3 months and hoping I will never have to plan another weekly menu on my own!

Samster Mommy- She always has great tutorials for cute things, I can't wait to make this for the Little Miss!

Somewhat Simple- Just another lovely blog I have found lately

Forevermore Events- Have I told you that my mom is one AMAZING wedding/event planner and decorator?!? Check out this wedding that is screaming my name... pink, black and white with Zebra!

Feel free to leave some of your fav blogs...I love finding new ones!

Taija's Sweet Shoppe

My aunt Taija, is an amazing cook! She has recently started a business selling many of her fabulous sweets. Dandelion Wishes is doing a giveaway for 2 dozen of Taija's spooky sugary goodness! Head on over to Dandelion Wishes to enter to win these.

P.S. If you win and live in Rexburg you get to share 1 with me!

eMPERFECT

My darling friend Amanda just launched a new jewelry line she created. I am loving the simplicity and versatility of the bracelets! She has a website and also an etsy site, so be sure to check them out!

I'll tell you mine, if you tell me yours...

Favorite blogs or websites that is!

I always love finding new blogs or sites, there are so many amazingly talented people out there I love to see their ideas. So here are a few that I'm lovin on right now.

Be Different Act Normal

C Jane

Creative Parties and Showers

Our Best Bites

Personally You Parties

Saucy's Sprinkles

Tidy Mom

So what are some of your favs right now?

SKYPE

I have been loving on Skype lately! We finally got it all figured out and had our first video chat with Brennen's dad last Sunday, and since then every chance we get my mom and I are on talking. It's so amazing to think that we are 1800 miles away but can sit and have a "face to face" conversation. We usually talk at night when we are both in bed and then again in the morning as she does her hair and makeup before work. It's so freakin awesome! 

Does anyone else Skype?

Totally Tabletops

I have enjoyed reading Totally Tabletops  for a while, and today she featured my "Baby Gone Wild Shower"! Check out her blog, she always has something cute to share.

Create Your Own Font

Do you Twitter?

I just signed up for Twitter and am trying to learn what it is all about. Does anyone else Twitter out there? Follow me- Cassiemae04.