Happy Halloween!

Before...

Here are some "before" pictures....

Before:

During:

 

And now for some MORE before:

 These are of our room...we are painting, replacing windows, etc.

Hallway upstairs...to the left our room, behind me is the upstairs bathroom,

to the right the 3rd bedroom, then A's rom...then this strang nook...

Part of our basement...it is the part were we will put coupon stuff and storage!

A's built-ins...We will be painting her room PINK

The island...or what will be the island.  

And we will be getting rid of the lights and wallpaper...

YUCK

 

So....these are some before...and as soon as I take "during" photos I will post...and then will be posting "after" photos too!

THE NEW HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We CLOSED on our HOUSE yesterday!!!!!!!!!!  

Here are things that we have committed to:  

1. Tearing down the wall between the living room and backroom.  We are making a half wall so that it is open, and I can put my couch against the half wall!  
2. We are replacing the existing heating system, well half of it, and putting in a hot water heater, electric, so that I do not use the oil heat as much...the oil will just take care of the heat...nothing else!
3. We have to paint, and picked out our colors!  Very neutral.
4. We picked out our flooring, lighter tile with dark grey grout.
5. We measured windows...we need to replace two in our bedroom.

We ORDERED: 

• These cabinets (the Ivory is awesome)!

• This counter-top for the cabinets (not the island):

• Stainless steel appliances from GE (the Adora Series), that we got from HomeDepot because of their huge sale right now!   I wanted a dishwasher that did not have the buttons on the front...and really wanted to have a full basin wash, so I LOVE the Adora series!

• This Washer (By LG): Oh it is sooo amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!

•  A dryer from GE (did I mention that not only did we get discounts because Home Depot is having a buy more get more sale?  AND that Dave gets a discount from GE!?!?!? WAHOO.  Yes, I did buy ONE appliance that was NOT GE..but I wanted that washer...I realllllly wanted it, and I didn't order the matching dryer...so pshhh....Dave can NOT get mad!).

And that is it so far...I think...So wish us luck!  :)  We should be moving in TWO weeks from now!  Let the count down begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Closing

We are on our way to closing!

Budget & Meal Planning

I know that things are tight everywhere and for everyone.  So I am looking for new ways to continue to save money or cut corners somewhere so we can rebuild our nest egg (having a baby and buying a re-construction house can really hurt your savings account)

I am a crazy coupon person that is on a break (living at my inlaws and couponing wont work, and I have missed so many amazing deals, le sigh); I don't spend my money on frivolous items (I used my birthday money for a snowsuit for my daughter...and the rest on my new ugg slip-ons); and I am not going on lavish weekend retreats (I wish I was...le sigh x2). 

So until we can coupon like crazy, and freeze meals in bulk....I am going to be putting myself on a tighter budget.  How do you all make meal plans?  How can I use/reuse my food/leftovers for new meals?  I am going to give this a try and hopefully get it going for the rest of the time that we are living here...and really do it when we are at our own home.

SO HELP?  Where do I start?

Calling All Weekend Moms

I live in NH (well, I will again soon), I have a husband who works weekends so we do not need daycare during the week when I work, and I have plenty of friends.  But I can not find ANYONE to hang out with on the weekends... because all of my friends have husbands who work normal hours they are home on the weekends and they have their family time (like Dave and I used to have)...

I really want some other babies for A to play with.  I want her to socialize more, and understand that when babies go to daycare they socialize, but it is expensive.  Dave can have an opportunity that most dads do not have and spend more time with her soooo daycare is out.

So what do I do?

Renting Textbooks

Being in College again for what, the third time (yes, I got my Bachelors, did a stint for a year in Law School, but am back at it again to get my Masters in Education), I know how expensive text books are...seriously expensive...and then when you are done with the class (one that probably doesn't even apply to your major but have to take...yeah I am talking about you Philosophy 101) you go to re-sell your books to the book store and you basically get nothing. You can sell your books online yourself, but really, who has the time for that!?!?!?!?!

So there is another option: 

Renting textbooks saves you money plain and simple and gets the same result in your classes as buying your books. Rent textbooks without the risk of your books becoming worthless by the end of the semester. Rent college textbooks from the comfort of your home or office. Don't lose money at your school bookstore anymore. Rent textbooks along with customers on over 4,000 college campuses that have used our service so far. Join the movement.

Campus Book Rentals offers new and gently used textbooks for typically less than half the price you'll pay in your school bookstore. Search for the college books you need and save money today!

Not only that but there issss...

AND being a mother....I am in love with the fact that CampusBookRentals.com supports The Children of Operation Smile!

Operation Smile is an organization that performs life changing cleft lip surgeries on children whose families could not otherwise afford it. The long term Improvement in quality of life for the children that receive these surgeries is almost incomprehensible. CampusBooks is committed to donate enough to cover a minimum of 1,000 life changing surgeries.  For EVERY book rented they donate a portion of those proceeds to Operation Smile.

So go check them out!  They might be the answer to your "I don't have any money because I am in college" blues!


*I was compensated for writing this blog post.

Farm Rich Review

I recently tried Farm Rich's Cheese Sticks.

Who does not love mozarella sticks? Really, I know, they are amazing. Add your own marinara sauce or eat them plain...And now you can have them at home thanks to Farm Rich!

They are:

- Made with 100% real mozzarella cheese

- Breaded and seasoned to perfection
- Good source of calcium and protein

- 0g trans fat per serving

They also come in 10 oz snack pack or 52 oz value pack, so you can have as little or as many as you want!
I am a stickler when it comes to appetizers.  I need them to be easy to make, not greasy, tastes amazing and I would not feel bad giving it to my child!

•  Well, it was easy to make!  I could make them in the oven or in my toaster oven (geared to big or small amounts, obviously if I was to feed a large group I would be making them in the oven, but because it was just A and I ...we put them in the toaster oven)!
• It was not greasy (so right then and there I thought, wait a minute, how can these be tasty if they are not greasy), and when I tasted...I was very VERY glad that I had!  
• Also, A loved them!  The girl really is mine, we love cheese...so of course...fried and cheese....amazing! :)  

I would differently recommend this product for others to purchase!  I was able to pick up the Farm Rich product in my local Market Basket (grocery store) and although we have not tried other Farm Rich products, we will be trying the Mini Philly Cheese Steaks, and the Stuffed Pretzel Bites!


* I was provided a sample of a Farm Rich Product and all opinions expressed in this post are honestly and truly mine.

I quit.

I am NEVER posting about closing again.  After being told that we were closing at 4pm on Friday...we are NO LONGER closing...

Unfortunately our well water test came back bad...so we had it treated...and when it was retreated....it didn't clear out all of the bacteria.  So now we need to add a UV treatment to forever scan and treat our water before we use it.  This is a $2200.00 extra.  BUT this means that the bacteria will be gone.  And we will just have to have them come out yearly to change the filter, etc.  I am glad that we are taking care of it now though....but this means that we need the bank to say that they are going to pay for this...or at least give us that much more at closing.  So now closing has been pushed to next week.

I am really having a hard time with this.  I have almost had a complete breakdown.  I miss our townhouse.  I almost feel like we should have forever stayed there.


SO tonight I will be meeting with our contractor who was MIA for a few weeks to discuss what he will be doing when we do close.  And crying.  LOL... or atleast watch The Wiggles and drink LOTS of wine tonight ...(does anyone else sing "play the guitar with Murray" song while they are in the shower?  Thought so...LOL)!

Closing

We should close this week.  There.  I said it.  We should close on the house THIS WEEK. 

The NEW appraisal came and we are walking into SO MUCH equity!  We are very THANKFUL!  This means we are getting the house for a steal, putting money and sweat into construction for fixing it up....add that construction and the appraisal price and in 6 months when the appraiser comes back we should be looking at a HUGE investment return!

THANK GOD!

Keep us in your prayers that we close!

October 15th... Pregnancy Loss and Infant Loss Rememberance Day

Today is Pregnancy Loss and Infant Loss Rememberance Day.

Today I did not think about our losses more than I normally do, because everyday I think about our losses. 

I have received so much support from my family, my friends and even strangers here on my blog, my previous blog and on my twitter account.  And I hope that someone who also is going through a loss, or has gone through one and just needs some support can come to me.

Our story has a happy ending.  We were able to conceive, I was able to carry a full term pregnancy and give birth to our healthy daughter Arabella .  I thank God everyday that she is here.  And we are hopeful that when we decide to try again for another pregnancy  that we will be able to have another miracle.
Our story can be found in the About Me section of my blog.

A great resource and a great support system can be found at Remembering Our Babies
(Remembering Our Babies was created to provide support, education and awareness for those who are suffering or may know someone who has suffered a miscarriage, an ectopic pregnancy, a still birth, or the loss of an infant)

Working for the ...(next) weekend?

Like I've said before, I am in classes to get my M.Ed.  So that means one weekend a month I am taking classes Saturday and Sunday 8-5.  This class is stressing me out, and I am so excited to almost be finished with it! With Dave working on the weekends my Mom will take her for me, which helps me tremendously... but again....stresses me out, and makes me sad because I don't get to see A!  And so I am not looking forward to this weekend...but I am looking forward to next weekend!

But today was a great Family Day!  For my Birthday my boss gave me a bunch of amazing things, one being a Longchamp bag (in black, a color that I already have) so I went back to Nordstrom to return to get something else...I wasn't sure what to get...a different bag, new shoes...and so I thouggghhhtt I new just what to get....

BUT instead of getting these with my store card:

 I decided to get A this North Face winter coat and snow pants:

Pink side....

Yes...reversable!

Adorable and I am in LOVE!

So...yes, instead of spending money on myself, and using my money for me...I just like other Moms I know now spend all of my money on my baby! :)  She is worth it!!

My Birthday

Tomorrow is my birthday.  My 26th Birthday.

Tomorrow I want to sleep in, get a pedicure, relax, and maybe JUST maybe do what I want to do.

But, I know that sleeping in, and getting a pedicure probably wont be happening at all.  And let's be honest...that is okay now becuase I am a MOM!  I wont get to sleep in, I wont get to get a pedicure...

BUT I WILL:

1. Get extra cuddles, loves and kisses from my baby and my hubby!!!
2. Get to see my family (Dave decided that we should have our family dinner birthday party here....yup...so no dinner out.. but I do get a cake.  Maybe I will even make it myself  so I don't have to eat a store bought one, because most people don't know...I hate cake and frosting).
3. (At lunch because dinner is out), Get a Margarita.  Everyone knows that this is my drink of choice.  I love tequila.
4. Get to go to the movies!  Dave and I used to go to the movies EVERY SINGLE weekend.  That was our thing.  We loved it.  And we used to do this after A was born on date nights.  Well, we don't do date nights at all anymore.  At all.  And although it has only been a few months, I miss it.
5. I will eat A LARGE Bucket of popcorn! :)

I know I probably sound crazy, and selfish.  But,  it is my Birthday.  Dave gets one every year too...and that day he gets to have fun, sleep, eat, and have a day for himself....soooooo it is MY turn tomorrow! :)

...my favorite things...

There are a few things right now that I am loving....

1. My crockpot.  Lets get real, it is hard to cook dinner when you are not home in time.  And since I am stuck at my inlaws and my crockpot was in my moving pod I went out and bought another one.  The same one that I had before....but the newer version.  So far I've made potroast, lemon chicken...and have a lot of other amazing things I am going to be cooking from my BIGOVEN app!
2. The scale.  Yes, I am loving that my weight keeps going down!
3. Under the Tuscan Sun...it is and has been one of my favorites...but I saw it again today...so obviously I am dreaming about Italy... Ciao Bella!
4. How I scored $6 jeans!  Yes...only $6!
5. The colder weather!  Fall is here...(well, not this weekend, but it is here)....and I love love LOVE this weather!
6. That my Birthday is MONDAY...and that I have only requested ONE thing for my Birthday...a nap.  And I willllll get one!

Those are my favorite things! :)  As of today...

Everbody's working for the WEEKENDDDD! (a Birthday weekend at that)

{well...Dave is actually working on the weekend...unfortunetly that is what always happens in our household...}

BUT I don't have to work on the weekend.....but I can tell you...spending the start to my Birthday WEEKEND at the doctors office while A got 4 shots...and then 2 1/2 hours at the DMV was NOT fun!  Yeah...SERIOUSLY 2 1/2 HOURS....so today was an "ehhhhh.....maybe tomorrow will be a better day" kind of day.

BUT I do have to say...from what I can see on the temporary license...it's a GOOD picture...Not the best...but good!  I did do something horrible today though....I lied on my license...only a few small lies...like MY WEIGHT.......but when they asked about hair color...I said light brown...even though I am blondish...yea...I know...rebel.....

This weekend will be fun!  First tomorrow we are meeting up with a bunch of the girlies that I love!  All of us have little girls....and the best part is that our girls share September as their BIRTHDAY month (except Natalie...but she is part of our group if she likes it or not...and she shares MY Birthday month....so she is in!) and we decided that instead of going to all the parties that we would just have our own big one!  So we will exchange gifts, eat, drink...and have fun!  

I am so excited to not only see the babies play together, but actually get to talk to other moms that I get along with so well!  Not being originally from S.NH...it was important for me to make friends, and after A was born, our Breast-Feeding group was the best thing!  I got out of the house, connected with other moms...and now not only do we do Girls Night Out's, we have playdates (we try for monthly or everyother month), butttt we email daily!!!!!  I love these girls (and yeah, they read my blog...so HI ladies!  Very excited about tomorrow!)

Then I get to have my birthday breakfast with my Dad, his fiance and A!  He always takes me to breakfast on my Birthday (or around it).  See my mom and get my present...which is my yearly membership of AAA!  Andddddd then Monday will be my birthday celebration...and Dave and I will do dinner and a movie I think (my pick, my favorite, my movvvvvvie)!

And then...did I mention that I have to test on Monday for ...you know....pregnancy.... (just keep wishing...but could it be that easy)

I will keep you updated! :)  It will be a great weekend!

Autumn is fun!

Arabella and Dad had the day at the park! 

Hope you enjoy the pictures!

:)

So WHAT Wednesday

Today is Wednesday!!!!!!!!!!

And I am participating in 

Over at Shannon's lovely blog:

Life After I "Dew"

So hereeee we go....

"SO WHAT", if:

• A isn't using her sippy cup full time.  Honestly, my friends have their babies trained to drink everything out of the sippy.  We are good with water and juice for now!  There is so much going on, the last thing we need is for her to have a complete and total melt down because she is drinking her breastmilk/cows milk concoction from a bottle.
• I put the television on when A wakes up so early in the morning...seriously...momma needs some extra winks every once in awhile!
• My husband and I both take turns rocking or singing our baby to sleep every time she goes down.  She doesn't cry. We get extra cuddle time....and lets be honest, it is easier...she goes RIGHT down!
• I schedule long car drives for nap time...yeah, if we have to drive for a few hours or even justtttt an hour, I wait until A needs a nap to go.  I don't call that anything but SMART.
• I am 25 (almost 26), and still don't know what to do with myself!  I am in school to get my Masters, but I miss Law School, and I want to have more babies....yeah...I am a fullll mess!
• It takes me oveerrrr a year to loose the rest of my baby weight.  WHO has time to loose it?  Well, I have 13lbs left to go to get down to BEFORE I was EVER pregnant.
• I too NEVER get things dry cleaned...or hand wash things....lol....following along with the guest post...I always use the gentle cycle...and the large huge blankets that say dry clean...they make it into the wash and are NOT ruined for it!

Hope you enjoyed! :)

Worries about NOT closing...

I was worried, upset, sad, in denial...you name it because TODAY we found out that we are NOT going to be closing on Friday. 

We had an appriasl last week, that we waited two weeks for...and the lady who did the FHA 203k appraisal WAS NOT LICENSED IN NH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SERIOUSLY...the waiting was enough to drive someone batty...but paying $550.00, waiting for them to write the report, talk to them about part of the report, revise our 203k plans due to the appraisals findings, getting estimates and then REsubmitting everything HOPING to go to underwriting AND THEN FINDING OUT that she was A MORON....well...that did DRIVE me batty! 

She KNEW that she could not do this appraisal but did it anyways.  I thought that the listing agent was horrible for not doing what she said she would on time...but for this to happen?  Oh deeeeear gosh golly I am just tuckered out.  I just want to call the EVILBITCH nice lady, and screamatheruntilIamblueintheface ask her why she did this....

I need a Xanax

It's been hectic

A:

• Can now find her nose, and feet when you ask her.
• Is obsessed with books, babies and her dad! :)
• Is on 3oz of cows milk and 1 oz of me when she is with Dave and my mom...but when she is with me, she eats from just me.
• She likes juice...but LOVES water with ICE in her sippy cup.
• Has been eating EVERYTHING from meatloaf to cantaloupe.
• She is now a size 4w in shoes!  (Stride Rites)

School:

• My M.Ed is starting to get CRAZY!
• I am very stressed out about my Literacy class.  My teacher has been great...but I am still stressed.  This is the first class that I am feeling it.  The past classes were a lot of work, but this one is the hardest so far.
• I went for an observation and met an amazing teacher, who makes me feel excited to get into the classroom, but also nervous that I wont be a good teacher.
• I started tutoring...this has to do with school because she is in the 4th grade and my degree will be 1-6.  She is currently working on study skills, but I am also helping her with all of her homework...today we worked on her book report and the teacher did not give her clear directions...so I made up a form...and we did it! :)

House:

• We had our appraisal.  We are going to underwriting (we should have on Friday), and should be cleared to close on FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Cabinets are picked out.
• Appliances picked out.
• Color for paint....PICKED OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me:

• My birthday is 10/10.  I will be 26.  EEK!  26!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  
• We have not started "trying" to have a baby, but we have decided to let things happen the way that they will happen.  It took us a long time to get pregnant and have a viable pregnancy...so I do not want to wait too long to start trying again.  I am not tracking my schedule...and it is off anyways because of nursing...so we shall see what happens!  AND...I will be testing on my birthday to see if I am pregnant.  
• It is hard to not get excited...but at the same time.....we have mixed emotions.  We are so excited about the house...and are excited to have our family there.  But we want to work on the house (being pregnant wont allow for me to really help)...AND then there is Arabella.  Do we want to wait and have a baby now, or spend more time with just her?  SO like I said...if it happens it happens.