An Update on Life

It is officially winter! We have snow on the ground (that hopefully won't melt), the Christmas tree is lit, and of course our utility bill just increased by $100... yep, winter must be here! I have a love hate relationship with this season. Love the snow and the joy that comes with the Christmas season, but can't stand the windy days that give you chills even when you are bundled, and of course I never actually appreciate paying my heat bill. On the bright side, I am thankful to be living in a home that has heat, even if it can be a struggle to pay.

The past few months have been kind of rough as our income has decreased substantially.  Thankfully we have not fallen behind on any bills.  We have had to put over $100 into each of our cars, which has not been fun. I had a leaking gas line in the engine area (not something to put off fixing) and today we brought Jarrett's car in to get the tires rotated so it's ready for our trip next week and ended up having to put new tires on his car. At least I have been putting extra into savings!

We are also approaching the 3rd trimester... that means Baby will be here in 3 months! We have been working hard to hang sheet rock and get the room painted, now we just need to get the carpet put in. I am hoping to be done at one of my jobs the end of January, this will save us gas money, and since I only work 17 hours a week there, we won't be losing too much income... AND I have been saving up my paid time off that we will be able to get once I'm done! My other job I will be working at through February unless I am told otherwise, but so far it has been a good pregnancy, so we are praying that no complications arise.

After the baby comes I am hoping to be a stay at home mom. We realize that this will be tough, but do not want to have our child in day care. We have been continually sharing Shaklee, as this is how we are hoping to help support our family. Please take a look at our website! I have also taken time over the past month or so to pick up a hobby that had been pushed aside a long time ago.

As I will be taking the spring semester off and finishing my A.A. next fall, I figured I would have more time to have a hobby since I am not going to be studying and working. So I have been knitting and crocheting A LOT! I have mostly been making Christmas gifts, but in between I have also been making some items for the Etsy shop I plan to open sometime after Christmas (hopefully in time for the new year!) I will keep you all posted and let you know when it officially opens. I plan to have several knitted, crocheted, and other handmade items for sale!

Oh, and I also plan to blog more once the new year starts...maybe it will be a resolution :)

FAB Friday!!

So excited to have the day off my my hubby today! We are getting caught up on cleaning our house. LONG OVERDUE! Laundry, dishes, bathroom, etc! I am so excited to use all my Shaklee cleaning supplies in full force! They are WONDERFUL! 

I am hoping once the rain passes we can run to the driving range. I am learning to golf this summer! It is coming along pretty well I think. Then we are off to the fish fry! In northern Minnesota, every Friday night at every restaurant, there is a fish fry. I love to go to the Wilbert in Cotton. My mother-in-law works here and it is delicious!! 

Also this weekend I get to spend with my dear friend Catlin. She was in my core and was one of my room mates at the Honor Academy.  She was here for my wedding in August to do the reading and be my personal attendant and I was able to see her at another good friend's wedding in October! So excited to see her for a third time in less than a year :) We are heading to the cities to go to church at Bethany on Sunday and then hanging out with friends. It is going to be a wonderful girls weekend out :)

(pic by Laurel Lee)

I am also looking forward to getting coffee with Steph @ Sharing the Pages of Life. This will be the first "blog friend" that I have met!! I am also excited to hang out with my sister-in-law, Raschelle!!

This is definitely going to be a FABULOUS weekend! Hope you all have a fabulous Friday :)

I got my blog made over by Kelly's Avenue Designs! Check out her page - she is offering 20% off a full blog design through June 15th!! She is AWESOME to work with!

House Update: On Wednesday I helped install another new window in our home! The glass is so clear, and we can actually open them! 5 down; 2 to go... it is coming along!