I am so, so, so, so, excited! I was chosen to host a DiGiornio Pizza House party! And of, course, since we love board games in our house, we are having a game night to go along with the pizzas! This is my first House Party, so I am a little nervous, but it was easy to plan, and it should be fun. For details about the party click on this link below!
House Party My Party
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Monthly Financial Checkup
So, who else is in disbelief March is here already? I just wish spring would come! I'm anxious to get started on our garden (hopefully another way to save money), and get out and about more on our feet (to save gas money and of course, get exercise!)
I am totally seeing how God is honoring our debt snowball, and trust me, February was a difficult month! I just hope paying off my school loans remains this easy. I think as long as we stay focused on our goals and continue to ask God for His provision, He will provide! We put 35% of our monthly income towards my school loans! What a huge blessing! We were able to do this because we earmarked our tax refund specifically for our debt snowball. However, right after we got our refund we had a very costly repair to our car. Yes, at first I was so bummed that we couldn't put all of of refund towards the snowball. I got discouraged thinking about how we could have been "this much closer" to our goal. However, God's timing is perfect. The car's repairs came after we got our refund, so we decided we should use part of our refund for the car. It's amazing we didn't have to tap into our savings (which we would of, if we had to of course because that's what our emergency savings is for.) But we are so thankful, we had this "extra" money. And in the end, we still put way more towards our debt than we would have thought (part of it was do to the excess we had in January). Regardless of where it came from, we are giving God the glory and thanking Him for helping us in this journey!
I am totally seeing how God is honoring our debt snowball, and trust me, February was a difficult month! I just hope paying off my school loans remains this easy. I think as long as we stay focused on our goals and continue to ask God for His provision, He will provide! We put 35% of our monthly income towards my school loans! What a huge blessing! We were able to do this because we earmarked our tax refund specifically for our debt snowball. However, right after we got our refund we had a very costly repair to our car. Yes, at first I was so bummed that we couldn't put all of of refund towards the snowball. I got discouraged thinking about how we could have been "this much closer" to our goal. However, God's timing is perfect. The car's repairs came after we got our refund, so we decided we should use part of our refund for the car. It's amazing we didn't have to tap into our savings (which we would of, if we had to of course because that's what our emergency savings is for.) But we are so thankful, we had this "extra" money. And in the end, we still put way more towards our debt than we would have thought (part of it was do to the excess we had in January). Regardless of where it came from, we are giving God the glory and thanking Him for helping us in this journey!
Monday, February 22, 2010
It's Not a Porsche
Actually it is quite the lemon.
It does come equipped with a steering wheel though.
However, no ignition (much to Charlotte's dismay.)
And it is very clean...
...coming equipped with its very own garbage bag. (And yes, we keep a garbage bag in our car!)
It does come equipped with a steering wheel though.
However, no ignition (much to Charlotte's dismay.)
And it is very clean...
...coming equipped with its very own garbage bag. (And yes, we keep a garbage bag in our car!)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
My Little Guy
I feel like I don't write very much about my Elijah on this blog and figured I better start! There are just so many cute things he does that I don't want to forget, so here goes.
Almost always calls for daddy when he wakes up in the morning, except it usually sounds like "Daaaaaaddyyyyyyyyy." (This I don't mind!)
When I do get him up (and yes, it's usually me, since Greg is getting ready for work), if there are any blankets left in his crib, he will gather them all up and I'll have to pick him and all the blankets up (which then end up downstairs, disbursed throughout the house)
After dinner, when he's all done eating, and if he's tired, he'll run laps around the dining room. (It is the cutest thing ever!)
Thought he was advanced for walking/running on his toes, until it was brought to my attention at his 18 month appointment that he really shouldn't be doing that, and is now set to get assessed by a physical therapist.
Will give Charlotte a hug whenever she asks for one (I mean, he'll give any of us a hug when we ask for one, but there is just something very cute about two siblings hugging!) Unfortunately no pictures of this since I never seem to have my camera handy for those moments.
Loves water and will do anything to get his hands washed.
Loves brushing his teeth, which makes getting him ready for bed very easy, because all we have to say is "Want to brush your teeth?" and he'll cooperate.
Loves bath time, especially if we get the jets going on the tub. (Charlotte doesn't like it so much since it is "too loud" but Eli always asks, for "Bubbles!")
Can say lots of words, but sorry folks, I haven't kept track with how many he does actually say. His first string of words though is "I don't know."
Can sing Old McDonald Had a Farm as evidenced here:
Almost always calls for daddy when he wakes up in the morning, except it usually sounds like "Daaaaaaddyyyyyyyyy." (This I don't mind!)
When I do get him up (and yes, it's usually me, since Greg is getting ready for work), if there are any blankets left in his crib, he will gather them all up and I'll have to pick him and all the blankets up (which then end up downstairs, disbursed throughout the house)
After dinner, when he's all done eating, and if he's tired, he'll run laps around the dining room. (It is the cutest thing ever!)
Thought he was advanced for walking/running on his toes, until it was brought to my attention at his 18 month appointment that he really shouldn't be doing that, and is now set to get assessed by a physical therapist.
Will give Charlotte a hug whenever she asks for one (I mean, he'll give any of us a hug when we ask for one, but there is just something very cute about two siblings hugging!) Unfortunately no pictures of this since I never seem to have my camera handy for those moments.
Loves water and will do anything to get his hands washed.
Loves brushing his teeth, which makes getting him ready for bed very easy, because all we have to say is "Want to brush your teeth?" and he'll cooperate.
Loves bath time, especially if we get the jets going on the tub. (Charlotte doesn't like it so much since it is "too loud" but Eli always asks, for "Bubbles!")
Can say lots of words, but sorry folks, I haven't kept track with how many he does actually say. His first string of words though is "I don't know."
Can sing Old McDonald Had a Farm as evidenced here:
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Monthly Financial Checkup
It's the end of the month, and a long month at that, so I wanted to report how we did on our debt snowball. We paid 10% of our income to my school loans! Yes, 10%! And that's not it (yet)! First of all, we were able to do this because this was a 3 paycheck month. Because we are so used to living on 2 paychecks a month, the plan was to use the third paycheck for the debt snowball, which we were able to do. However, because it was a third paycheck month the last paycheck came near the end of January and we needed to keep some money out for February bills and budget. (We're still working on the whole cash flow thing.) So, when the next paycheck comes we'll be able to put another big chunk toward our debt snowball! (And we're keeping track of how much we are "lending" to February).
I must say, at first I was bummed, because I really wanted it to be more, but Greg really put it into perspective for me, telling me we should celebrate because we put in X amount of money, and X amount of money really is a lot, and he's right. It is a lot of money AND (I just had to figure this part out now) the 10% of our debt snowball pays off 11% of my school loan, so that is happy news.
So, how did you do this month?
I must say, at first I was bummed, because I really wanted it to be more, but Greg really put it into perspective for me, telling me we should celebrate because we put in X amount of money, and X amount of money really is a lot, and he's right. It is a lot of money AND (I just had to figure this part out now) the 10% of our debt snowball pays off 11% of my school loan, so that is happy news.
So, how did you do this month?
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Monthly Financial Checkup Addendum
Already God is honoring our debt snowball! Greg got a check in the mail from one of our health care providers because he overpaid a bill! When does that ever happen?!? And since this is extra money, right away it's going into the checkbook, only to be taken right out to pay off more of my school loan. Isn't that awesome? Isn't God awesome? Woo hoo!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Monthly Financial Checkup
It's a new month and a new year, and if you remember from this post each month we are going to report on how well we did on paying off my school loans. I am happy to report that in December we put 2% of our income towards our debt snowball! Now, before you gawk at 2% thinking that just sounds measly, to put in in perspective it is more than a date night out would cost us. Plus, 2% is better than nothing! I doubled checked my school loans (I have 2 of them) and we believe we can pay the one off by June, so we are working towards that! And of course, we know that nothing is too difficult for God, and we trust He is going to help us along the way get to that goal!
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