Dave Ramsey Told Me To Do It!

*Pictures don't really go along with the words in this post... Just, as usual, I have some cute ones of Bubba to share... and He's (kinda) wearing clothes in some of them!

Last Saturday John and I used one of our favorite wedding gifts. Tickets to go see Dave Ramsey live. This gift was a favorite because it wasn't just something we needed for our kitchen or home... but knowledge to help us better our lives and our future! 

I had heard of Dave before (I think most people have?) and because the tickets were accompanied by his book, The Total Money Makeover, John and I both read it before going to the show. 

Dave mainly preaches about being debt free. About the power of OWNING things OUTRIGHT. About the lie that our country tells us about needing and depending on debt. 

The best part? It all makes perfect sense. It's not a get rich quick scheme, he isn't manipulating information- it is cold hard facts. Both John and I cannot deny that. 

I don't think that we have been "stupid" about money in the year that we have had a joint bank account, but we aren't really being "smart" either. We made a budget "in theory" but it was never on paper. There was no teamwork going into what we were spending each month, barely any communication, and that has left us feeling unorganized - and guess what? We are spending WAY too much on stuff we DO NOT need. 

We are lucky to not have any student loans (yet), car payments, or mortgages. We are in a position to get really aggressive with our savings and realizing that dream of putting a really large downpayment on a house within the next five years! But in order to get there, we need to do without... this is hard.

The blogging world is great for many things... but materialistically it is NOT good sometimes. It is so easy to compare yourself to other people with their HOUSES and their NICE CARS and cute clothes and all the shopping sprees they go on. And honestly? Sometimes I find myself saying, fine, lets be in lots of debt so I can have all of these nice things! And for this... I feel ashamed! 

So it's time to change some things around here. Time to get serious about sacrificing - so the house and the cars and the shopping sprees can all be mine- guilt free baby! The thing is... we are making ABOVE the average household income, yet we definitely aren't living like it! What the heck?!

But I think it's easy to say we are going to get aggressive about saving and sacrifice and then half ass it. One of the few things that John and I own OUTRIGHT that is of any worth is our rings. Now our wedding bands? Those are off limits. They were blessed by my great uncle on our wedding day and are precious and not replaceable. But my engagement ring?! John didn't pick it out or create it, we always said it would get upgraded eventually, and my band is gorgeous all on it's own - so why not SELL IT! I know, I know... but really?! I want a house and a nice SUV and mostly FINANCIAL SECURITY more! 

So this week is a trial run. I am wearing only my band and if at the end of the week I miss my ring, then we won't sell it. 

So what do you think? Am I completely crazy?! 

The Face.

Now, Bubba has made some cute faces in his 8 months of life. But this, THIS FACE, will forever be known as "THE FACE" because there is nothing like it. 


It all started yesterday... We were minding our own business, playing in the bouncer, when homeboy hit me with this face:

He's working HARD on it too. There is EFFORT behind that lip pucker. I died of laughter, snapped a picture, sent it to Instagram and every single contact in my phone, and then thought, "Oh, what a funny moment in Bubba's life.. so glad I captured it!" 

Then it was naptime. I couldn't resist a few pictures of his sweet sleepy face.

And there it is again! Apparently it's not just for playing, it's for whining too! 

It didn't end there. Bubba rocked that face out at the store, when his Daddy got home, and even before bed. 
The thing is, I have NO idea where this face came from. Why now? Regardless... It is my favorite. Even if it was only for one day, I will show those pictures and that video to all of his friends and girlfriends for the rest of time.  P.S.Bonus material! John busted out his guitar last night (RARE) and Bubba showed off his sweet dance moves and musical talents (Why, yes, he is still in his white trash, dirtball, outfit.. it's just how we roll lately) 

Also, husbands with guitars? Swooning to the moon and back :) 
P.P.S.Becky is giving away credit to Blog2Print... that "Baby Book"?! Yeah, this is a must have! 

Perspective

There are two kinds of days that put your whole life into perspective:

1) Horrible days, where horrible things happen - to you, to family members, to friends - That remind you that the small things don't matter and that health and safety are all you and your family needs to be complete
OR
2) Wonderful days. That remind you that the simple things are all you need. That a walk in the park, a clean house, a delicious dinner, & a happy baby can make you feel a happiness that any other material thing couldn't ever provide.
Option 2? That was our Sunday. 
John slept in, I enjoyed a BIG cup of coffee while Bubba squealed, and laughed, and played. 
I meal planned for the week, preparing for John and I's YEAST FREE diet that starts tomorrow. (We are following the plan that Stephanie put on her blog, it makes the most sense for our lifestyle & feel like it is SO do-able)
We went to the grocery store as a family, and because we only had to go through produce & meat, it took barely any time at all. 
We then spent our afternoon at a local park. It has a nature center, and we walked all the way around the lake! 
I, of course, forgot my camera. Thank God for Instagram!

 

Beautiful right?! It was the perfect weather. Not to hot, a little breeze, the sun just barely peaking through. We made a pit stop at the swings - nothing makes life feel complete like your child laughing and smiling with pure, uninhibited joy.

For dinner we had our "last hoorah meal" with breaded sauteed onions, steak, grilled asparagus, & french fries. HEAVEN.

We actually sat at the table and talked, while Bubba enjoyed blueberries in his highchair!

Can we talk about a mess?! Seriously...

 

We were dying of laughter! 

Now the day is coming to a close... I don't want John to go back to work in the morning. It was honestly a PERFECT day. I love our family of three and think we often take it for granted. 

My house is clean, my boys are content, our bellies our full. We smiled more than not today. And that, puts life into perspective :) 

The Girl Behind the Blog VLOG!

As promised, I am here linking up with Jenna & Ashley for my very first vlog! The deal was that I had to share my two most favorite beauty products. AH!
A few sidenotes:-I only did two takes (this being the second) because I really wanted to sound like ME and not scripted
-I realized that when I say "for" it sounds like "fur" and this deeply saddens me... I honestly thought my MI accent wasn't that bad... it is.
So... without further delay... my vlog

I hope you enjoyed it... .
If this gets positive feedback it might become a regular occurrence (oh dear...)!
I am also participating in Hollie's Follow Friday linkup, so if you are visiting from there, hello! welcome! Oh yes, quite the eventful Friday here on "Life After..." Never a dull moment folks!
Happy Weekend!!!

Diaper Boy

We've been having a lazy week around these parts.

Although... the past two days I have actually showered/gotten dressed/done my hair/put on makeup - that's an accomplishment of sorts!

Jack on the other hand has been pretty consistently naked.And by naked, I mean diaper and nothing else..maybe a t-shirt.
He is ferociously working on popping out those top two teeth so it's buckets of drool.Not to mention the 70 and now 80 degree weather we have been experiencing (homeboy is a sweater).Both of these factors paired with a lazy feeling mama equals a very happy and naked Jack.

Excuse me while we head outside so Jack can get his daily intake of grass...

P.S. I am linking up with Jenna & Ashley tomorrow for their "Girl Behind the Blog" link up... aka I'M VLOGGING. Yes, it's true. Make sure you check it out in all of it's awkward glory!
P.P.S. I've finally been blogging long enough to join Top Baby Blogs, I have found some of my FAVORITE blogs through this site so I am really excited to finally be a part of it! Vote for us :)

Moments Turned To Memories

I have this little book in Jack's nursery.

I am supposed to document his major milestones with a quick sentence or two on the date in which they occurred.
I am terrible at doing this.
I am just not the kind of person that is going to stop and remember to do it.
When I try to go back and fill in the gaps from the last few months I find myself referencing THIS BLOG to get the exact dates. 
This blog is an outlet. It is a purpose. It is a hobby. It is my new favorite social network. It is FUN!But mostly... it's one heck of a baby book!
So one day when my Bubba is grown I can look back on this time and know exactly what I was feeling on the day after he slept through the night for the first time! Or what it was like when his first tooth finally popped through!
At the end of the day I know it's not about how many followers I have, whether my layout looks right, or if my design looks professional - it's about the moments that are turning into memories every time I post! 

*Lately Bubba has figured out how to pull himself up in his crib.. I can't help but snap some pictures each time I catch him in the act!

UPDATE: I've deemed this my favorite post of the week, and I am linking up with Aunie for Just Because Friday! 

Back to School!

Contrary to popular belief (or all of my tagged Facebook pictures from 2008-2010) I actually did quite a bit of studying in my undergrad days. 

When I wasn't tailgating, attending some sort of greek function, or bar hopping I managed to find the time to crack open a text book or two...
I was one of the few and EXTREMELY lucky students that had parents funding my studies! But I wasn't COMPLETELY spoiled (just mostly, and I am SO grateful). I was still responsible for my living expenses, and those included... books. WOOF!
This time around?! Things are a bit different. Other than the obvious (no more bar hopping for me!) John and I are taking on full financial responsibility for the cost of my master's degree. It's all on me. Books included.
One of the most frustrating parts of purchasing text books is the ENORMOUS price tag and the slim to none chance that you will get ANY of the money when you sell them back at the end of the semester.
That's when this awesome company, Campus Book Rentals, comes into play! I am so excited to know about this company and the awesome option of RENTING my books. They make everything in the process extremely simple and easy! There's even FREE shipping both ways! An added perk?? With each book rental, their company donates to Operation Smile - an amazing organization that donates surgeries to needy children with cleft lips!
Campus Book Rentals is a great solution to my book buying woes and a much needed resource when John and I painfully restructure our budget to get ready for the next two years!
As I sit here and register for classes, it's really starting to sink in that I am going back. I am so excited! I am so blessed! 
P.S. Do you read Erin's blog? Probably, because it's awesome! But she has a friend currently undergoing an extremely risky brain surgery as we speak. I cannot stop thinking about her and her friends! Extra prayers for them today please!!