Etsy Finds

I love Etsy! It's so great for a bargain shopper like me because there are so many choices! I like style and fun things for less money of course every now and then! The shirts from Little Button Designs came in a few weeks ago and I LOVE them.

Karoline has one too, but she took it off and put on her "performance" shirt. She has a habit of changing clothes 20 times a day...
I add this picture to show that this little man can change his attitude on a dime and please someone tell me there is a manual for raising a strong willed, too cute to discipline 2 year old boys! PLEASE :) (I do discipline but sometimes it is hard because he is so cute... I just want to laugh- and cry at the same time).

I got this for myself! I have been wanting one for a while but could not find a company that was a price I could afford. MCKMAMA featured Oak Hill Designs on her blog and I sent over to her Etsy shop to check it out! I LOVE her stuff! I told TJ I wanted it for my birthday. He said if you really want it get it now because there is NO WAY I'll remember it in May. So happy Valentines to ME! I LOVE IT! Sarah and I also got this one for Barna for her birthday with the grandchildren's name on it in birth order. I can't wait to see it in person. But here is mine...

Aquarium

Monday, which was GiGi's birthday by the way (HAPPY BIRTHDAY GIGI), Karoline's preschool 3 year old classes went to the aquarium. We had a great time except for the fact that Karoline does not like LIVE animals :) There was a full blown panic attach near the shark tank. Other than that, it was lots of FUN!

Karoline, Abby, & Chloe

Karoline and Sydney

Karoline with her sweet, funny friend Rose- she always makes us laugh.
Karoline & one of her teachers, Mrs. Swezey

Domestic Ease

Dear family and friends,

We are writing to ask a favor of you. Our website,
www.domesticease.com is going to be officially launched in
February, 2010, and right now we’re trying to generate as
many hits as possible to the site to lure sponsors. What we’re
asking is that you go to the site as often as you can in the
next weeks and months. You don’t even have to read anything;
we just want as many people as possible to visit it to
get the maximum number of hits.

Would you please do that for us if you have time? We would
be most grateful! If you know of anyone who would enjoy
this type of site, feel free to pass it on to them. Of course,
you are welcome to comment on anything if you like because
we would love the feedback.

We pray you and yours are doing well!

At That Moment

On the night my Mama Perkins went to be with the Lord I was busy making teachers gifts for Christmas. I DO NOT BAKE and I thought for some crazy reason I would try. It was fun at first but like I said, I DO NOT BAKE. I will not be making teachers gifts, well anything food oriented, again next year (though they tell me it was all very good).

But what was special to me was I was using my Mama Perkins mixing bowls. I grew up using these bowls at Mama's house. They were so special to me that she gave them to me at our wedding. I never use them because I don't want to break them! But I pulled them out that night...

Did I tell you about the funeral? It was wonderful. An amazing celebration of my grandmother. Dad did most of the service, I spoke, then my brother concluded the service and spoke at the grave side. It was perfect. Mama was layed to rest next to her mother, and her twin brother who died in WWII. I am thankful my sister in law remembered her camera.

My brother, cousin Jennifer, and I

Cousins, Pressley & Karoline

Uncle Steve, my brother, Brent, and nephew Jackson

I miss my grandmother. But she will always be with me and I have so many memories to focus on... Thankful that she's with Jesus!

Little Drummer Boy

This precious boy is our little drummer boy! Anderson has a passion for loud and fast music like his daddy. He LOVES to DRUM! ALL DAY LONG... using anything and everything as drumsticks...

... cars
... fire engines
... Cinderella wands
... books
... dvd's
... shoes
... remote controls
... water bottles

I think you get it.... ANYTHING! Our furniture gives "scratch and dent" new meaning! I wonder when this phase will end... and I realize it might never end! But I love it because he really already has such a passion for wonderful worship! Forget singing a soft lullaby at bedtime! He can be completely crazy and the fast, loud worship songs calm him down for bed in two seconds. I have his three favorites below; Rise And Sing, Take Take Take It All, and Sing Sing Sing. They are great songs! So here he is... little drummer boy with a water bottle before school...




Rise And Sing


Take Take Take It All


Sing Sing Sing

Excess

Definition:

an extreme or excessive amount or degree; superabundance:more than or above what is

necessary, usual, or specified; extra

The Lord has really been teaching me a lot about EXCESS! I have started two big things in 2010.

1) Counting Calories: I am working out regularly, made it to 3 miles last week running & did it again today, and counting calories! WOW... writing down my calories really shows me how much I had been over eating! So I do want to lose a little weight but I really want to learn what amount I should be eating a day so that I can live a healthier life! I highly suggest doing this if over eating is a struggle for you. I also recommend the Eat This Not That books! It will really open your eyes to what we put in our body when we eat out but also show easy ways to make eating out better for you.

2) Spending CASH only! : We have moved to CASH ONLY except for bills & gas. WOW... this is HARD & has really shown me how easy it is when you are using plastic to over spend. So we have an envelop and budget for Target/ CVS, Costco, Grocery, Gifts... you get the picture. It has made me so much more conscious of my purchases (and I thought I already was doing that, but no). I desire to honor the Lord with our finances & pray this year that we really will put Him first and cut out the excess "stuff" we really don't need!!

If any of you have done the above two and want to leave a comment of encouragement PLEASE DO!

What does the Lord wants you to work on this year. Are their area's in your life He wants you to work on? Pray about it... find an accountability partner.... and cut out the EXCESS!!

Will It Snow?, Will It Snow?, Will It Snow ? (To The Tune Of Let It Snow)

We don't know, but if it does, this girl will be happy!

Here's The DEAL... It's FREEZING!!

Yes, It's COLD! I am a WIMP when it comes to cold weather. Only tollerable in my book if I am on top of a mountain with snow all around and ski's attached to my feet! I do love to ski! I took the picture above today! It might snow a little Friday. So since it is so cold we have been inside a lot! While working on various things while my kids nap I have come across two amazing DEALS. One you can get for yourself... sorry, the second is just for me :)... the third thing below you won't care about but Im THRILLED!

1) Little Button Designs- I came across this PRECIOUS Etsy store on Facebook because a few of my friends became "fans".... I am now a HUGE FAN! Precious, precious stuff and wonderful prices! Her personalized precious long sleeve shrits are for $14!! I love cute stuff for my kids at good prices... much better than Ragsland at $28 a shirt. Check it out! So I got one for Karoline & Anderson as their Valentines gift. I just had to share!



2) SPA!- I got myself a $100 gift certificate to the spa...for only $25! Our news station, now TJ's employer, had them on sale on their website and I got one! I told TJ he was off the hook for getting me a Valentines gift :) Since 2009 has been the most stressful year I need a massage!

3) I FOUND AN ACCOUNTANT!!- I have always done our taxes but with having 8 employers this year between the two of us having odd jobs to make ends meet & me being an "independent contractor" for real estate and Premier my head was about to explode with the stress of doing our taxes! I have found a wonderful Mom, also a CPA obviously and a former Premier Designs Jeweler as well, how is going to do them for us! PRAISE THE LORD!

I hope everyone has a great week!
If you like to keep up with Wellspring visit our Wellspring blog for new posts!

New Years & Resolutions

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We spent News Years Day hanging out around the house playing puppet show...

My parents got this for the kids for Christmas, well I found it, they paid for it. It's from One Step Ahead and we LOVE it. It is very good quality and the puppets they have area amazing. They are very well made! I highly recommend it. It fits in the door frame then rolls up so its easy to store.

We also of course watched the Auburn game! I thought I was going to have a heart attack4 different times but we finally won the game! Way to go Auburn... a good way to start 2010! TJ had to work until 10pm like usual so mom and dad came over for an hour so we have a puppet show performance for them.

Resolutions

I am not good at making resolutions but one of my resolutions is to keep my resolutions :) But here is a list of a few things I would like to see happen in 2010...

* New family budget (even tighter than last year!) and use the cash system! Sites like SouthernSavers.com and Freebies 4 Mom, and Restaurant.com (amazing deal at local places that participate!!) have helped SO much with saving money... I am a Coupon Queen now! Great sites if you are not already using them!

* Do a Beth Moore Bible Study (or 2)

* Committed to praying for specific families God has on my heart that they might come to Wellspring and start a relationship with Christ!

* Continue to work out & my goal is to run 3 miles by May 14th (my 30th birthday!)

* Really think before I eat :)

* Play with my kids more... what can be done now can also be done tomorrow!

* Enjoy the beach more this summer

* Learn more about my camera and start saving for a wide angle lens & Lightroom 2

* Our family attend an Auburn game

* TJ and I go to New York City around Christmas time next year (Our 30th birthday gift to each other since we both turn 30 in 2010!!)

There are more things I desire to do but these stand out the most right now :) We'll see how I/ we do with this list in 2010!