I admit~

I am absolutely addicted to Pinterest. Yes, I'll admit it; the thing is, I knew I would be addicted to it and I stayed away from it as long as I could. The instant I joined the site, I was hooked. I mean, come on! It's too easy to whip up a new recipe or dream of a future home with picture after picture to reference. With this addiction in mind, I started a little page on Facebook called "Tried and True". Hopefully, those who join can exchange Pinterest ideas that were successful and get great variations from others who also tried it. So...check it out...Tried and True. See you there https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tried-and-True/387996061295437

Family Finances

It's amazing to me that so many people struggle with money and how to spend it. Couples we know have a hard time communicating when it comes to how to spend money, and even more are drowning in debt. "I'm not worried about that (insert expenditure here), I put it on the credit card!" Ummm...well, you do realize the you will have to pay it off, right?? There are lots of schools of thought on how to budget and use money. Some will say that absolutely NO debt is best, some people use credit as their weapon of choice when visiting the bank...meaning, I know how good my credit is, now please finance this purchase for me. Some couples use envelope systems and deal only in cash. Some couples use only a credit card and pay it off monthly. The key to all of this is just to find what works for you, as a couple. Yes, it is hard to pound out a budget and agree on how to keep your family financially secure, but it is worth the effort. Once you see some progress, whether it's paying down debt or stocking up savings, you and your spouse can really begin to reap the benefits. It's vital to start TODAY...not tomorrow. Sit down (away from the kids) and get through it. Sure, it's scary and unnerving at times, but being on the same page with your finances will strengthen your relationship in the long run.

BEACH!!

After two weeks of vacation, we are officially addicted to the beach and the "beach bum" lifestyle. Seriously, living in swimsuits and only donning flip flops to go around town in is the life. What is really cool about the whole idea, is that even our two year old son is on board with the "BEACH!!" lifestyle. Every morning, he grabs his swim trunks and yells "BEACH!!" Poor little dude...we live in Central Texas. But hey, we do have a splash park and well, a sprinkler that thankfully are filling the beach void in our lives. Just looking at the bright side!

Day Dreaming

Today, I have to focus on three papers that are due this Friday, normal everyday cleaning, cooking etc, and two sweetie pie kids that need attention. But, I keep finding myself day dreaming about other things. For instance, we're heading to Florida soon and I just keep picturing myself on the coast, feeling the cool ocean breeze and the rush of salt water on my feet. Gotta stop day dreaming gotta stop day dreaming! Oops, here I go again!!

Something Wonderful

Often, as a mom, I question whether my choice to stay home and raise our kids was worth the emotional turmoil that goes on in my own head. Sometimes, I think about the "what if's" in my life. What if I had

done my college years differently? What if I had a great job somewhere? What if? What if? Then something wonderful happens. Through the noise of kids arguing and my own doubts running crazy in my head, I hear my two year old son yell, "MOMMM!" Yep, that's all it takes. I am a mom. The little moments of sweetness that fill my life would not be possible if I worked in a skyscraper somewhere. The flowers (i.e. weeds) that my son brings me would not collect in a cup by the sink if I had done life differently. My four year old daughter who still struggles with being a "big girl" and not a "little tiny mommy's baby" makes me smile when she cheerily sings "Jingle Bells" in the shower...in April. Those little moments collect and blossom into...something wonderful.