R & R starts tomorrow!

Today is my Friday, as we are going on a little anniversary trip for the next couple days. So you may not hear from me for a few days. Where are we headed you might ask? We are headed to Iowa; I know glamorous right? Well there's a story of coarse.... on our wedding night we stayed in the glorious suite in the Jordan Creek Marriott. My cute hubby got us the exact same suite and everything that we stayed in that night again, to spend our 1 year anniversary at. So, we will be headed to Iowa early tomorrow morning to stay for a weekend of shopping, eating, and fun. I thought it was such a cute idea that we came up with. I was so excited that we were able to get the exact room we stayed in. When Orion called the hotel they remembered us and everything from that night. And of coarse the receptionist that was taking the reservation thought Orion was so cute and thoughtful. Which, he is! It was my job to plan the weekend in Iowa, which I was more than happy to do. We will be coming home on Monday July 14th, which is our actual anniversary. Orion's job is to plan that one. So I have no idea what's up his sleeve! I got Orion the sweetest anniversary gift...I'm so excited. It's a surprise, or of coarse I would tell you what it is. You'll just have to wait and see come Monday.
Toodles-
oxox
Mrs. W

Local Pageant Season has begun!

The new local pageant season is now upon us, it's like baseball season: only better! Now that Miss Minnesota is now complete it's time to kick off the locals in grand style. Already a few new local queens have been crowned. We're in the planning stages, and it's so exciting to see everything come together.

The Miss Twin Cities 2009 pageant is being held October 11, 2008. If you would like to come and be apart please let me know, and we'd love to have you volunteer. There are many ways you can help by selling tickets, or being a hostess back stage with the contestants. These are just a few options to help. A Silent Auction will be held the night of the pageant, if you would like to donate and items or services please get in contact with us. It's going to be a great night!

If you would like more information about the show, the contestants, or the organization please visit our website at http://www.misstwincities.com/

She's a saver.

If you know me, you know I am cheap, I am a saver, I clip coupons and have them organized. Since moving into our house I've been trying to figure out ways to save and make sure things do not get out of hand. With a from an apartment to a house comes bigger electric bills, more to clean, and more ways to figure out how to save. I came across a few articles, that I thought were helpful, and I thought I'd pass them along:

10 Ways to Cut Monthly Bills


13 Tips from Financial Planners





Before I got married I had some debt, (a lot, actually) It was my goal to pay it all off before we got married, I didn't want to bring any debt into our marriage that was ultimately a result of my irresponsibility, I didn't want that in my new life with my husband. I set some real goals, and made a plan to get all my debt paid off. It took time, planning, and a lot of hard work that wasn't easy. But in the end, I paid it all of 4 months before we got married.
More and more I am seeing young people today throw their money away, or make silly decisions with their money because of lack of education on the subject. Debt at any age is serious, but when you are a young twenty something graduating from college is enough debt to carry. You shouldn't make it any worse by making silly decision that will effect you and your credit for years to come.

I learned this lesson the hard way, and I am grateful for it. Even though it wasn't fun at all, I learned a lot about myself, my spending habits, and the ways to correct it all. I am no expert by any means, I just know what I've been through and how I did it. And I know now that with lots of hard work and determination everyone can have the life they have dreamed of without going into dept. I don't mean to rant, but I really believe that if more and more people cared and were educated more about money matters we would see less debt in America.

Here's some tips that I learned:
- figure out how much you make, and then how much all your bills are.
- make a budget.
- figure out what items in your life you can live with out/or cut down (eating out, shopping trips, lower your monthly cell plan, etc.)
- make a list of credit card debt, if any. pay the lowest one off first, and then keep working from there till they are all payed off.
- open a savings account. If you don't have one already. Even if you just save $20 every pay check it will add up to a lot over time.

Some resources:
http://www.jeanchatzky.com/
8 Simple Ways to get out of Credit Card Debt
Money Moves for 2008

Happy Saving!
xoxo-

office space.

Hubby and I decided that we were going to paint the room that we're using as our office. I picked out the paint colors, and Orion came up with the design idea! He did all of the painting and hanging of shelves while I was gone at camp. To my surprise I came home to an amazing office. He really did a great job with it. It's something straight out of HGTV! Our home is really turning into something special. Here's a few pictures of the newly painted and designed office space: during the painting process.
finished, with shelves.

our lovely space.

this is where I will write, pay bills, and hopefully scrapbook.

Eventually we want to get a chair and use this space as our prayer room too. It's nice to finally have a place where you can go away from the t.v. and do something else. I payed bills there yesterday and it was so nice to have everything in one place, and just be in there and know that this space was reserved for those things! BIG thank yous to my Hubby for taking on this project, he's so good to me!

Sweet Summertime.

I'm finally home from MN Family Camp! 10 long days, and I am finally home. I took Monday off to re-coop, unpack, and feel like I have a life that doesn't revolve around lunches, camp office work, a hard mattress, and to many late nights. It was good day of waking up late, house work, and visiting the doc. It was back to work today for 3 more days at the office before Orion and I head off for our little anniversary trip! Here's a few things rolling around in my head:

- hubby finished the office painting, it's soo nice to finally have a working space.

- I bought hubby's anniversary gift, so proud of my idea. but now I have to figure out a way to get it home. :(

- my house is a mess, I spent all day cleaning it. (hubby lives like a bachelor when I'm not around) how do we change this? ;)

- all my pretty flowers are now dead, my green thumb isn't working for me.

- there's to much work to do, I don't even know where to start in my office.

Here's a few pics from my time at Family Camp:

Orion and I at camp; it was a little sunny that day!

Eunice and I at camp.

The guys; playing a game of frisbee golf.

I *Heart* America!

Happy 4th of July friends! I started out this day in an amazing youth service here at Family Camp, and am now enjoying the sun and relaxation that I should have enjoyed days ago! I love the 4th of July, everything about it! The parades, the BBQs, and the people you get to spend it with. Usually it's with Family but this year it was spent with a different kind of family; at Family Camp. All of us, one big BBQ under a big white tent, classic and so much fun. And afterwards, fireworks with friends. There's nothing like being with a three year old experiencing fireworks for one of the first times. It puts life and freedom all into perspective!

13 days....and counting!

13 days and counting till our 1st Anniversary! It's getting close and getting exciting that we're only 13 days away from celebrating!

I can hardly believe that it's been almost a year, all week I've been thinking about how this time last year I was at my home in Iowa making wedding favors, and waiting for my bridesmaids to get there.

It's all flown by so fast, it's been one amazing year! Orion and I will be making a little anniversary rendezvous next weekend. I can't wait 4 days just with my hubby, all to myself will be perfect!

Plus, I can't wait to surprise Orion with my anniversary gift to him. He has so idea what it is....it's going to be so fun. You'll just have to wait till July 14th to find out all about it!

Orion and I just 9 days after we were married!

Yeah for marriage, one good year deserves many more!