Scar Face

One evening Tovi was laying on the sofa with all 4 paws straight up in the air. Cute right? Well I thought so too, so I snuggled my way onto the sofa and was cuddling him for about a second until some loud noise came from the basement. Tovi got startled and then this happened........

Craziness right?

Well the next morning all that was left was a little scratch under my eye and a tender lip (he gave me a bloody lip - which I didn't take a photo of).  So all in all I'm lucky because this welt went away and there was no damage that was done. Woo hoo!

xox m.

Four Eyes

Headaches are the worst! I've been known to get severe migraines. Migraines that are so unbearable they disable me. The past few weeks I’ve been getting minor headaches and I have been thankful that they are just that. Well those minor headaches turned into blurred vision instead.... and other funky tricks that were being played on my eyes, or brain for that matter.

It was time….

Time to go get my eyes checked. I guess every 2 years adults get their eyes check – who knew!? Well it was my turn. I now need glasses when I am on the computer, reading, and doing any type of craft :(

Don't mind the glare....

Oh well, I guess I’m lucky that I’ve been fortunate to not need them until now. Also lucky that these minor headaches didn’t turn into migraines, because when that happens I’m telling ya they are not fun at all.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! I’m still in the mood since I am now purchasing everything Christmas like for our home since we weren’t able to decorate due to construction. I just purchased trimming and a few ornaments for the tree for next year! Saved 75% - gotta love that!
xox m.

A Child is Born

xox m.

Wonderful Weekend

This past weekend was a HUGE success! Don't you love productive weekends? I sure do!

I got to hang out with the Miller family (love them!), catch up and take some fun family photos.

Steve got to hang out with Josh and make some additions to their twins.... I mean Jeeps.

I got to purchase a few things for our guest bathroom! I am very excited about this. I am going to try and do the whole bathroom myself.... tile and plumbing included. Tune in to find out how that goes! Ha-ha! (Anyone have experience in cutting mirrors down to size? Just tossin' that out there!)

Here is a sneak into what I've been planning....

The mirror, lights and tile I have yet to purchase because I'm doing my bargain hunting and have to find the best price/ greatest deal.

And we started the man-cave construction. Which couldn't have been done without Nick, such a great friend we have. And Ryan joined in on the construction as well. Thanks Ry!!

But man o man, when Nick says he is coming over to help, that means business and also means production! My heart smiles at how generous he is to us, and how he kicks our butts into working mode. I am thinking up ideas on how we can repay him since he wont give me an invoice.....hmmmm.....

So far we have done the following this weekend:
- Cleaned out the basement.
- Made ONE trip to Home Depot. (That is amazing because I think the record is 5 or 6 in one day!!)
- Knocked down the bedroom wall.
- Knocked down the closet wall.
- Put up new wall for home server and more storage.
- Did all electrical for new area.
- Figured out where new overhead lighting will go.
- Ran PVC for cables.
- Ran wires for speaker system.
- Figured out where bench would work its way in.
- (in my mind) Figured out color scheme and little details of the room.

WHEW!!

Next on this list for this week:

- Install overhead lighting.
- Remove gas line from the non-existing fireplace location.
- Purchase more wood for bench seating and table top that goes around the whole room.
- Possibly start drywall and bench construction.
- Figure in more ideas for 'man-cave theme'. (Yes, I get to pick out the 'style' even though it's Steve's land!! Ha-ha.)

Can you believe it?? Then before you know it, Christmas will be here, then New Years - which means new carpet and furniture and then BAM basement is complete! Wow... one room out of the 9 complete! Makes me smile! Also makes me praise God for how blessed we are to have such amazing friends and family, to have great jobs that provide, and the creativity and skill he has blessed us all with. So the real thanks goes to him. Can't wait to celebrate his birth this Saturday!!

xox m.

A Social Network Christmas

Found this video via Facebook.... you should watch it. It's pretty awesome!


xox m.

Christmas Thought

This Christmas Thought was emailed to me from my Aunt Sally. I really enjoyed it and I hope you do as well.

xox m.

_____________________________


One Christmas, a woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front garden. She did not recognize them. She said, “I don’t think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat.”


“Is the man of the house home? They asked.

“No” she replied. “He’s out.”

“Then we cannot come in” they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.

“Go tell them I am home and invite them in!”

The woman went out and invited the men in.

“We do not go into a House together,” they replied.

“Why is that?” she asked

One of the old men explained: “His name is Wealth.” He said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, “He is Success, and I am Love.” Then he added, “Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home.”

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. ”How nice”, he said. Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth.”

His wife disagreed. “My dear, why don’t we invite Success?” Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion,” “Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!”


“Let us heed our daughter-in-law’s advice,” said the husband to his wife.

“Go out and invite Love to be our guest.”

The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, “Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest.”


Love got up and started walking towards the house. The other two also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success; “I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?”

The old men replied together: “If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would have stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!”

So let us have LOVE filling our homes at Christmas time and every day! Whether our situation is in the bosom of a loved human family or on our own, let us be entertaining the angels of Love, and in this way we will have the Christ presence right in the midst of us.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like....

a Kitchen!!

And you thought I was going to say Christmas!

All uppers have been installed. Woo hoo!!! We just purchased a new microwave so my dad can continue with the cabinet above the stove. Then he moves onto the pantry (which will be left of the fridge) and then.... the base cabinets!!! How blessed am I? I have an amazing father who God has given such great talent. He has done such an amazing job, and is such a hard worker.

Other house updates?

Steve and I will be heading to Menard's to purchase the last 5 pieces of plywood for the cabinets. We will also be getting a few doors for the bedrooms. Currently the doors are the classic oak doors and some are broken, missing all together, and damaged. (Remember, when we purchased our home it had been foreclosed on, and the previous owners did quite a number on it. So everything basically has to be fixed, updated or replaced.) We also are going to be getting some 2x4's and drywall for the basement! Yes, you read right. The basement will be fully cleaned out by this weekend and we will start knocking a room and closet down to expand space. Then we will put up another wall for storage. Steve is very excited about this man cave of his.

As far as Christmas goes, we sadly don't have any decorations up because of the construction. However we just started to receive Christmas cards in the mail and I love it!! This is our first Christmas as our happy little Bach family. We didn't send out cards this year, we have been a little busy every weekend and couldn't get time to take a family photo. Hopefully next year. Here is a quick phone photo of some of our Christmas cards!! :)

xox m.

Mail Time

Today was the best mail score ever. Check out what I got all for FREE!!!

A pair of Madden Girl boots
An issue of Martha Stewart Living
An issue of Family Circle
A box from CoupSmart which included:
   All natural pop chips
   Annies Mac & Cheese
   Coupon for free FIT fruit and veggie cleaner
   Endangered Species Chocolate
   Earl Grey black tea


How did I do it?  Well I got those boots from Swagbucks (taking 5 mins out of my day paid off!) and the box full of goodness was from a giveaway I won (I entered and I was one of the 15 winners who got a surprise box). The two magazines.... I have no idea how I got them. I might have signed up for a freebie, or someone signed me up... either way I don't mind getting them in the mail. :)

Yea for mail on Monday! Did you get anything good in today's mail??

xox m.

Flip It

 

xox m.

First Snow

A photo update of our first snow this season. And a photo from two days before the snow fell....

A view out our front window.

Our backyard.

Our sweet Tovi

Tovi helping dad on the mini z.

Let it snow!!

And what did it look like two days before this wonderful winterland?

xox m.

Cake Final

Sadly I don't have a photo of my 'final decorated cake'. Why? Because as I was trying to open my front door, while my hands were full, I turned my cake carrier at the same time as I turned the door handle. That makes for a half smashed cake. I actually didn't care that much because it was just one of those days... lost wallet or left it at home, needed drivers license to pay by check, left Tovi's papers at home so he couldn't get groomed, forgot we rented 2 blockbuster movies (for free) and was a day late at returning them, left cake class without my cake and had to turn around to go back after I'd been driving 20 minutes already.... so yea, one of those days.

But enough of my rant, we are talking about my cake final here! On our last day we learned how to make ribbon roses and how to print and write in cursive. Pretty fun stuff. Here are a few cupcakes that show my ribbon roses.

xox m.

Homegoods

I received a gift card to Homegoods a few months ago and I've been holding on to it and waiting for something good. I don't live that close to a Homegoods, so it was easy for me to not spend it. However since it is conveniently located right next door to Michael's (where I've been taking my cake classes) I decided to take a peek and see what's in store. Boy o boy I wish I had $500 (the total of all items pictures below) to buy all this stuff for our home.

............................................................

An awesome chair for our reading nook up stairs. The colors are PERFECT. It's the perfect transition going form the white/tan living room to the green and grey kitchen....up the stairs to the reading nook which leads into the yellow and grey nursery and my orange and brown office/craft room! And that table lamp could go perfect in my office, the color is spot on. However, I am a little reluctant to make my purchase of the lamp because I feel like I could find something like it at a thrift store and spray paint it this color. Hmmm.... BUT my gift card does cover the lamp, but not the chair. Sigh...

This floor lamp and table lamp are the perfect dual for the reading nook as well. Just picture the floor lamp a little behind the chair above. Then maybe a side table with the table light on it? Hmmm.... gift card would cover either or, but not both.

Or I could use the gift card to purchase this beauty. It is kinda hard to tell in this picture (sorry all photos were taken from my phone). The base of this lamp is all wood, and the shade is the perfect color that would go wonderful in our living room. Also I think the lamp is more modern but since it had the wood it would tie in well with the modern country theme we have going on. Decisions decisions....


 
 
xox m.

Baby Kyle - Part 2

I previously posted a few photos of the opportunity I got to photograph my first 1 month old. If you missed it you can check them out here.

Here are just a few more from our photo opt. Enjoy!

What's A Coupon? (Part 2 of 2)

Alright I am going to talk about part 2. If you missed my part one on my couponing look here: What’s A Coupon?

So moving right along. The real question is HOW. The real trick is to get the items that you want to purchase when they are at their lowest price point. So each store item has a 12 week cycle where the product will hit its highest price and its lowest price. The key is to buy the items at their lowest point with coupons, and not to just buy one item… purchase MANY at one time. That way when you run out of something you can go ‘shopping’ at your own home. Makes sense right? Because who wants to run out of something and head to store to buy that ONE item when it’s at its highest price point? Not me! Also if an item goes on sale and I have a coupon I will buy it if I don’t really need the item at the moment, but I know I will in the next few weeks. Still making sense?

So how do I figure out what items are going to be great deals?

Well I take the ads I get from Tuesday and Wednesday’s mail and figure out what coupons match with what items. And I only get what I need, unless it’s free then I’ll take it home and put it in my bin for the food pantry.

Example: So lets just say Boxed Cake Mix is usually $3.99, but this week it’s on sale for $1.99.

So you find your coupon that is $1.00 off a cake box and now the cake is only $.99. Ok so you paid $.99 vs. the usual $3.99, wow 3 dollars saved! Well it can get better my friends.

(This is the confusing part but I promise once you do this a few times it will be easy breezy).

Lets say Jewel is running a Catalina deal at the same time (Catalina’s are the coupons you get after your recipe prints out at checkout) and this deal is: purchase 4 boxes of Cake Mix and get a custom coupon for $3.00 off your next order.
Oh how awesome this deal just got.

So…. you purchase 4 mixes at the sale price of $1.99 because that meets the CAT requirement = $7.96




BUT you have a $1.00 off coupon for EACH box =$3.96. (yes you got a coupon from your paper and printed out 2 coupons from coupons.com, and your mom gave you her paper 2). :)

So now you check out and you get a coupon for $3.00 back which makes the total deal $0.96 for ALL 4 boxes, that makes it $.24 for each box.

Breakdown:
1.99 x 4 = 7.96
(-1.00) (-1.00)(-1.00)(-1.00) = 3.96
PAY 3.96 and get $3.00 back = .96 for FOUR boxes of Cake Mix

Now think about it…. If you were to only buy that ONE box because it went on sale you would pay .99. BUT since you use coupons and ‘stocked up’ on this low price, you get FOUR boxes for $.96! Now when you go to bake a cake, you don’t need to run to the store because you already have a supply at home. Brilliant? I think so.

Now who wants cake?!

______________


Alright so you don’t want to figure out the deals on your own. No problem! There are sites out there that TELL you the upcoming deals. Remember when I mentioned Jill Cataldo? She posts all the deals on Monday morning on her blog. However, the deals she posts are only good for Monday-Wednesday. Well I shop at Meijer/Jewel and those deals run from Thursday to Wednesday. So I followed Jill’s deals I would only have 3 days to shop. So what I’ve been trying to do is figure out the deals on Wednesday night and shop on Thursday when the deals start (so that the items are in stock and ready to be purchased!). Jill has a HUGE following and if you see a ‘free’ deal on her blog, forget about getting that deal unless you go to the store on Monday morning when the doors open. (Or at least around McHenry County that’s what I have noticed). So for ME trying to do the deals on my own is better, and then on Monday I can check and see if I missed any deals.

Confused yet?

The world of couponing can be very overwhelming. I remember when I first started out. I had my coupons in hand, my scenarios ready and I was so excited! Then I went to pay and nothing lined up as I planned and that deal cost me more time and money than I had wanted. I've come a long way since then but I still make mistakes. The idea behind these past 2 blog posts is to help make it easier on you! There will be frustrations along the way but if you stick to it, you'll be amazed at the deals that you can get! Pay for floss or toothpaste.....never again! :)

If you have ANY questions please feel free to ask, I am more than willing to try and help out. Or if you need help to get going, like I said, just ask!

Happy Couponing! And if you score a great deal, be sure to let me know!! One of my best friends just jumped on the coupon train and she called me after her first coupon use... she saved over 50%!!!

xox m.