Rewind to Christmas time

We went to an ugly Christmas Party...here are the proud winners...and the newly engaged :)
Family Christmas with the Mendoza side
These twins are giving me major baby fever. Our newest cousins Gavin and Gibson
We toured this beauty of a home
We enjoyed watching the kiddos tear into their stockings!
Matching sisters
Now me and my big sister
Me and my sister-in-law outside the Blue Gate Restaurant in Shipshewana (YUM)

Easy Christmas Craft

Looking for something fun, super cute, and easy to give to someone this year? I got this tree at michaels craft store for 2.50 and then got the balls for .50 cents! The balls came all together with wires that were easy to take apart. I originally was going to get all different colors of buttons and glue them on, then saw these instead. I'm thinking this was much easier. They have all different colors at Michaels! Go on...get crafty!

Some Christmas Cheer

Blog Designs by Jamie is giving away free Chritmas banners until Friday 12am. These are super cute, so hurry on over to here and get your blog ready for the holidays!

Show us what you make day!

I made this diaper wreath for my cousin for her hospital door after she had her baby.
cute. as. a. button.

Once again I'm joining in on Kelly's Korner Show us your life Friday's. This week we are showing things we make/sell. I just started making these last year when some friends and family started having babies. They are quick and easy. I got these plastic buttons from Target in the craft section and just sewed them on! There you have it....Cute as a button onesies!

I heart coupons

Want to score products like this for FREE??

Keep Reading!

After coupons I was able to get all the above products for free....free!! I used to think couponing was for the birds! Way too time consuming! After reading a few different money saving blogs, my opinion instantly changed. It becomes somewhat of an art. If you can take the time to organize you coupons before heading to the store and have a game plan in mind things will go much more smoothly. I like to tackle just one store per day so I don't get too coupon crazy! :) I like to wait until I see items on sale and then use the coupons. Also remember that on most products you can buy the smallest size. So even though you may go through the product faster, you are still getting it for free! Here a few additional tips:

You can download coupons for free to your Kroger card from the following websites:

http://www.pgesaver.com/

http://www.cellfire.com/

http://www.kroger.com/

Kroger is great because the let you use an unlimited amount of coupons. You can also print of coupons and double them with your card coupons from great websites like this:

http://www.coupons.com/

My favorite daily coupon check comes from this blogger who got this all started for me:

http://hip2save.blogspot.com/

She updates her site many times a day with the best deals around. She also store specific coupons and guides along the right side of her blog, and additional tips and deals along the left side under information station. She has started a new video series called Follow me Monday,where she takes you inside target, walgreens, cvs, etc and shows you how to get the most out of your money at each store.

Another money saving blog I follow is here:

http://dealchaser.blogspot.com/

She does not update as frequently as the other blog, however she has a list of her fav money saving blogs all linked to the right of her blog that you can click on it to take you directly to their website.

I hope this is helpful to you all...now go out there and save some money!!

Dave Ramsey Live

A couple things I learned from Dave Ramsey's The total money makeover: 1.) Marry someone who loves numbers, and enjoys taking care of the budget!

(thanks honey!)

2.) Do not display your love for eachother for all 10,000 people to see at a christian financial conference. It's just plain weird!

OK, really here are some key points to remember (BABY STEPS)

1.) Get 1,000 to start an "Emergency Fund"

"68% of Americans could not cover a 5,000 emeregency with cash without having to go into debt for it."

2.) Pay off all debt using the "Debt Snowball" from smallest balence to the largest to help keep you motivated and stay on track. Every time you pay a debt off, you add its old minimum payment to the next debt in the snowball.

3.) Build 3-6 months of expenses in savings. (use money markets b/c the often had no penalty for early withdrawals, and have check-writing privileges)

4.) Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement. "It has been said that Albert Einstein called compound interest the eighth wonder of the world" $100 a month from age 25 to 65 at 12%= 1,176,477!

5.) Prepare for college funding withe an Educational Savings Account funded in growth stock mutual funds. The average college student graduates with $42,406 in student loan debt. We just paid ours off this past year!!

6.) Pay off your home early

MYTH- It is wise to keep my home mortgage to get the tax deduction

TRUTH- Tax deductions are no bargain!

Best option is a 15 yr fixed, and payments should be no more than 25% of your take home pay.

example: a $200,000 mortgage at 6% interest

30 yrs: you pay back the loan amt, in addition to $231,683 in interest

15yrs: you pay back the loan amt, in additioan to $103,797 in interest

cash: you pay 0% interest (wouldn't this be nice!)

7.) Build weath and GIVE

"No one would remember the good samaritan if he didn't have money" Margaret Thatcher

I would highly Dave Ramsey books/events to EVERYONE!! They have a great children/teens series also. If you are thinking about getting married or engaged, this is a must!!!

Monon Center Waterpark

Mya in the lazy river

wanting to be just like the big kids

being brave

Blayn fell half way through b/c he couldn't reach the next rope

Mya made it all the way across

This place was great! It was like a mini wet and wild...my fav place as a child!

It had a few big slides, diving boards, lily pads, a lazy river, and a fun play pool for kids.

I only wish I would've discovered it sooner than this past year!