Buying a Car

Steven and I have been very blessed this past week. I received a promotion at work which gave me almost a 3 dollar raise, and Steven was hired to work in an electronic department. In just a few days we doubled our salary! This is great news for us, but left us with one challenge. We needed another car, and we needed it quick! We have been looking for cars for a while, but it was difficult to find what we were looking for. A car with low miles, a body that is in good shape, and a great price! Last Thursday we found just the car though. It is a 1995 with only 80,000 miles on it! The body is in great shape and it runs really well. The weird part about it though is that it is the EXACT same car that we already had. A white 4 door Chevy cavalier. We bought it and are very happy with our purchase, but today's task has been trying to find auto insurance for a reasonable rate. I don't know anything about insurance at all, but I do know that we have cars that are 12 and 15 years old, so it isn't really worth it to put a whole lot of coverage on them. Does anyone know what is needed, or what company is good to work with. I've been entering data into a lot of different companies websites to compare rates and so far Progressive seems to have the best rates. Anyone heard anything about them?

What's For Dinner Tomorrow?

A couple of times each week Steven's youngest sister comes over to spend some time with us, keep in mind she is four and will talk your ear off, but she asks me the same question every night she is here and sees me cooking dinner. What's for dinner tomorrow? Today is clearly taken care of because she sees me cooking, but she's already looking ahead at tomorrow. I never have an answer for her and it makes me think that I should really plan our meals better. My mom threw meals together every night and always seemed to have everything she needed at all times. It also seemed that as long as she had hamburger to brown anything was possible. I've tried this approach and it pretty much leads me to burgers, tacos, spaghetti, or sloppy joes, each and every time. So my question is how do you go about planning meals better and what are the pantry staples that make creative cooking possible. Keep in mind we grocery shop on a budget and I can't buy everything under the sun. I just need the core essentials. My poor lack of meal planning often leads to us just eating out because by the time I get home at 7pm each night it's far too late to thaw out meat, and my desire to run to the grocery store to pick up the missing pieces is never there. This whole thing leaves me lost and looking for answers. I have the desire to make better dinners!

Big Blog Beginnings!

I know my audience isn't huge by any means, but I want to get back into blogging again and I want to cover more than the ups and downs of the week. I want to create a place to share together and to voice opinions. For the new overhaul I started with a new background. I have a list of ideas in my head that I want to cover, but I would like to hear your ideas too! More to come very soon!

Holy Cow It's been a month...

....I think it's time for some Cheers and Jeers!

CHEER: The wedding is 19 days away and I cannot WAIT! It is going to be the greatest day of my life no matter if everything goes perfectly or not!

JEER: I hate all of the little details of finishing up plans for the wedding. I just want to give up on them and call it a day.

CHEER: Work honestly hasn't been all that bad lately. Moving to the Toddler room has actually been a blessing I think. God definitely had a plan when he moved me there. I feel like I have much more room for growth and leadership in that room.

CHEER: We have been hanging out with my soon to be Sister-in law Tiff and her boyfriend Matt. Even though it's family it's so much fun to have a couple to hang out with that is a lot like us. We have a blast together.

JEER: Money is always an issue. I'm not making as much as we need and it makes things tough.

CHEER: Steven has been working and has had the ability to bring home a lot of extra cash which is definitely helping us out!

CHEER: I had an awesome bridal shower. I was a little nervous about it. I don't really enjoy to be the center of attention like that, but it really did go great.

JEER: This heat is ridiculous. I'm dying today.

CHEER: We went to the lake this weekend with Tiff and Matt to see some of Stevens family and watch fireworks. It was a lot of fun and a nice random little get away.

It's Been A While..

Lately updating a blog has been pretty close to the bottom of my to-do list. But, I've managed to scrape up a few minutes tonight and would like to shed light on what's happening in this Delta Residence.

Money is getting tight around here, so I've been working as many extra hours as I can get my hands on. Literally open-close some days. Steven has been applying for jobs like crazy. Anywhere and everywhere. He has an interview on Tuesday so we need prayers that it turns out well!

We have been meeting with the pastor doing our marriage counseling sessions. I was nervous about what he would have to say to us considering what we had been through in the past, but it has been GREAT! He is saying exactly what we believe and the things he is warning us about we are already on top of. It gives me great faith that this marriage is going to last a good 70 years at least ;)

Wedding Plans have been at the top of my list this week. I feel like it has been on a back burner for a while and this week I've been really pushing through. Getting invitations ready to mail has been the focus of my week. It takes so much more work than you would think!

The business is going decent. I sort of mentally took a break from it this week because I feel like I keep hitting the same brick wall when I try to work with it, but I know that June will be a great month full of growth! I'm determined to make it happen!

We are doing a weight loss challenge at work, well the Pre-k room is and I've been surprised with my results. Since starting carb blocker I've lost about 12 pounds. I'm hoping next week is more than my 2.5 pounds I lost this week since I've been doing a lot of swimming and walking this weekend! No matter what I just can't gain weight. We decided that the person who gains weight has to dress like a cow and let people moo at them! AHHH! Now if that isn't enough to keep you working I'm not sure what is!

Steven and I keep watching the oil spill out into the ocean and we keep waving goodbye to our honeymoon! Our boat is supposed to leave from tampa...We want blue water not the muddy maumee!!

Owning a Business...

When Steven and I were first told about the idea of joining this business team I was very skeptical. I knew nothing about it and the junk that I read online scared the crap out of me! We then sat down with an absolutely fabulous couple who were able to explain to us what it is really all about and it was exciting. For me I thought it would be a great way to make a couple hundred bucks a month to help pay bills and to help us save up to buy another car. The more I learned about the business the more I wanted to get started. We've only been doing it for a little over a month now, but it is truly a blessing in disguise. It has given me a sense of purpose and a desire to want more out of life. I have always wanted the teaching job in a school, but I was content in waiting around here for one to pop up. I don't want that anymore. I WANT that teaching job and I'm going to go to where the job is. This business isn't about selling a couple products each month it's about changing people and giving them the lifestyle they have always dreamed of. It is making me want to be a better person, it is making me want to connect with other people, it is making me want to work on my self-image. And without it I would be stuck in the same rut that I was stuck in before it came along. It is hard work and it takes a lot of time but it is completely worth it. It doesn't have to be hard and it doesn't have to take a lot of time, but we want to be successful fast. We don't want to wait around for it to show up. I feel so much more alive with something to look forward to and something to really work for!

A random mess...

1. The wedding is coming in a little over 3 months and that is SO exciting! Having found a church I feel much more relaxed, but now other things are causing issues. If it's not one thing it's another! I know in the end it'll all work out somehow, but I just wish it would go smoothly for a short period of time!!
2. I love my job, I really do, but there is one particular individual who is just driving me bonkers! She is so difficult to work with because she can't see anyone else's point of view. She will walk into my class and question everything that I'm doing even though everyone is happy, learning, and safe! Who cares how I do it as long as it gets done!! Blah!
3. Job searching is scary. I want so badly to get a great paying job and be able to feel comfortable financially and I'm applying all over the state, but I feel like I'm going to be a mega failure if not one single town in Ohio wants me!!! I'm SO excited about the opportunity to move and to start fresh and to really make something with our lives, but my impatience is getting the best of me.
4. Friends are difficult sometimes to deal with. When I feel like I'm making great strides in my life and doing things to really make me a better person they are there saying things that make me feel like I shouldn't be doing whatever it is. Confusing, I know. I just have to let myself be happy and do what is best for ME!
5. Speaking of me I have been reading a couple of books and listening to some Cd's with Steven that are supposed to help us in our business. They really truly are too. I feel like I'm growing as a person by reading and listening to these things. My self image and confidence are rising which business or no business is just a good thing!
6. Sales aren't exactly where we need them to be yet. We need a bigger customer base and I believe that we just haven't hit the right people yet. So if you are in the market to buy anything hit us up first! Even as simple as a new deodorant, dish soap, or face cleansers!