Budget Progress

So, you might remember that we're trying out a budget. We're trying to get a better idea of where our money goes so that we can redirect it to where we want it to go.

Source

Well - one month in, I'm happy to report that it's going really well!  The coolest part has been to stop using our credit card.  We have always put everything on our credit card and just paid it off at the end of the month. Those of you who do something similar know that sometimes, that's pretty overwhelming!! This month, we used our debit card, and it's cool to look in the bank account and see money, and know that it doesn't need to pay off any bills!

We also have gotten more conscious about what we're spending. We are certainly not starving, and I even bought some new shoes this month.  But... we both have thought twice before purchasing things, and because of that, we have more money in our account.

I'll keep you posted on our progress. Oh - and those shoes? Pink Kate Spade heels for $40. I can fit that into the budget any day!

Do you like my blog?

I am so excited to be part of a very unique blog hop. Gail @My Repurposed Life and MeganDVD @ Beauty in the Attempt are hosting “The Bold and the Beautiful-your blog reviewed”.

Please take a look around my blog, check out the layout, pages, buttons,  sidebar and gadgets. I would love for you to gently critique my blog. I’m hoping you will leave me some positive feedback about my blog. It would be great if you could give me constructive criticism but be sure to tell me what you like about my blog too! Do you like my pictures? Does my blog load quickly for you? How about the font?  All tips and tidbits welcome!

So blessed!!

This weekend is my first bridal shower, and I am feeling totally overwhelmed by the generosity and support from those who love us.  I am so excited to see my friends and family and celebrate!

My sister Emily is on her way home from Delaware today for the shower. This morning, she sent me a picture from the airport with the caption, "Look who I found in the airport!"

You guys - that's my gramma from New York, coming in to surprise me!!!

I have got to get it together, because I'm assuming that the guests at the shower do not want to watch me cry repeatedly about how loved I feel. This is totally overwhelming and amazing.

This wedding is getting real you all -- I am the BRIDE!!

Wedding Accessories

The days are ticking by folks... this whole wedding thing is going to be here before we know it. Can anyway say "only74daysleftuntilthebigday"??

Since most of the big stuff is taken care of, we are starting to think about the smaller details. Specifically, I am starting to think about my wedding day accessories.

Without giving anything away, my dress has a lot going on, and I've decided to forgo a necklace completely. I'm not much of a bracelet wearer, so right now, my wrists will be bare too. That just leaves earrings.

Because the dress really is pretty busy, everyone suggested simple earrings. I get that. But I don't want to be too simple. So I just ordered these:

They are from Emma Stine and they are $32. Seriously? You should immediately go to her website and look at all of her beautiful jewelry - because it is stunning and surprisingly affordable.

I'll let you know how they look when they arrive... fingers crossed that they can be a little something extra! Does anyone have something old that I can borrow??

Checklist:

Something old

Something new

Something borrowed

Something blue

When do you create?

I've been thinking a lot lately about when people sew (or craft, or whatever).  I am blown away by the bloggers who create a new project nearly everyday - who are constantly sewing or creating or crafting.

Who has the time to do that?? It seems like people fit it in at different times during the week.  My friend Brandy often sews for her Etsy shop in the evenings (after working at her full-time job and putting her sweet son to bed. Sheesh!).

I don't usually sew in the evenings unless I get home unusually early from work.  I tend to start sewing when Zac isn't home - mostly weekends. My favorites are the Saturdays he works a double, when I can start sewing in the morning and sew straight through until 9:00 PM! He isn't willing to hang out in the sewing room with me, unfortunately.

When do you sew? How do you fit it in with your busy life?

(Photo credit)

Look - a Nook!

I just realized that I never told you about one of my very favorite Christmas presents - a Nook!! I had mentioned to Zac a few times that I thought they were super cool, and that if someone gave me one I would love it, but I'd probably never buy one for myself. I'm a BOOK person... but I could be persuaded otherwise, right?

He passed that message along to my favorite future in-laws and I was totally surprised to open one on Christmas Day!

Ohmygoodness this thing is SO cool!  And it is exactly like I thought it would be - I totally love it and use it all the time. 

My favorite things about it?

1. I read more! I am a huge reader, but when I don't have a book to read, I don't read. And sometimes it takes me awhile to find another book. No longer the case - as soon as I decide what to read next, I am reading it five seconds later.
2. I can get books from the library. Our library is investing in a ton of new e-books, and with the Nook, I can borrow e-books and don't have to buy them.
3. Same with friends with Nooks - we can share books! If you have one, let me know!
4. It's a space saver. I can take multiple books with me without filling a bag. I can take thousands of books on vacation and just carry this little guy.
5. It has crossword puzzles and sudoku puzzles on it. Fun!
6. It is unbelievably easy to read. I thought it might take awhile to adjust to it, but it didn't. Love it!
7. I don't have to find a place to store books that I don't really want to keep forever - but I can still buy books that I do want to keep forever.

Have you made the switch to an e-reader yet? Do you have any suggestions for books that I should read next? I just finished The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, and loved Water for Elephants too!

Some random stuff

1. I had my first wedding dress fitting on Sunday. She has like 8 cats. I trust her implicitly and can't figure out why?
2. I am taking a new medicine and I think it's giving me weird dreams. I say I think because I can't really remember them, I can just remember that I had them. Ugh.
3. School started again this week. Bleh.
4. The fact that Sarah Jessica Parker does the voice for the Nook commercial totally validates my choice of a Nook over a Kindle.
5. We might get another snow day tomorrow!
6. I love the radiator heat in our house but my feet are constantly freezing because the floors are too cold. I have two pairs of slippers - one slightly too big, and one slightly too small.
7. Yeah, this is what it's like to be in my head for 2 minutes.

Belle's Flower Girl Shirt

I had this idea for a flower girl shirt awhile ago, but just got a chance to actually make it this week. Our little flower girl is so sweet, that I thought she deserved a shirt as sweet as she is!

I free-handed the design, and just appliquéd it onto a cheap t-shirt I got at Target. If you don't know how to appliqué, you can see my tutorial here.

Close-up of the applique

And the shirt in action: 

What do you think? She liked it! I thought about making it the first item I list in my (currently empty) Etsy shop. Thoughts on that??

Did you make anything this weekend? I also had a chance to throw together a quilt top - and I literally mean throw together. Details later this week!

I'm linking to:

C.R.A.F.T. * The Girl Creative * I Heart Naptime * Under the Table and Dreaming * Kuzak's Closet * Young and Crafty * Tatertots and Jello * Sew Much Ado * Creations by Kara * Night Owl Crafting * Polkadot Giraffe * Not Just a Housewife * Sugar Bee Craft Edition * Polly Want a Crafter * The Train to Crazy * House of Hepworth's * My Repurposed Life * It's Fun to Craft! * Remodelaholic * 504 Main: Tickled Pink * Simply Designing * Freckled Laundry * KoJo Designs * Creation Corner * Simply Step Back *

Blog Award!

I am so excited to have received the Trendy Blog Award from the lovely  Biz at Busy Biz Blogs! Her blog is tons of fun, and you'll love the recipes she shares!

In order to accept this award, I need to pass it on to ten of my favorite bloggers. In no particular order of wonderfulness, I'm sending it to:

Kim at Newly Woodwards

Clare at A Day in the Life of Clare (a friend in real life, too!)

Jenny at DIY Newlyweds

Brandy at Jumping Jack

Beckie's new adventure, Knock Off Decor

The lovely ladies at Kojo Designs

Rae at Made by Rae

Mary Ellen at Mostly MEllen (another friend in real life!)

Sarah at The Ugly Duckling House

Amanda at Kuzak's Closet

Go visit some of my favorite blogs to read - I bet you'll find some that you love, also!

We're officially budgeted.

Last weekend, we had some friends over for dinner. Talk turned to money (not sure how??) and it came out that we were the only couple not on a budget. Oh - and the only couple who had no idea where our money goes each month.

We're fortunate that we aren't carrying any debt.  But - we truly live paycheck to paycheck, and for no reason. We can't figure out where our money goes each month, and that is definitely not a good thing.

So we're officially on a budget. Not a can't-have-anything-you-want sort of budget, but definitely a saving-is-the-most-important-thing budget.  First, we have to get through January, pay off the credit card, and start February off with a clean slate.

Think we can do it? Anyone out there with a budget have any budgeting tricks that might help us be successful??

And because pictures of our budget would be boring, here's some pictures of our cutest dinner party guest: