Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Merry Christmas to everyone out there and Happy New Year! I can't believe Christmas is over and 2013 is over in just a few days!

I hope everyone had a great Holiday! This year has been full of ups and downs.

2013 has by far been the hardest year of my marriage. Somehow we survived and the year seems to be ending on a positive note!

A little recap of this year:

Work
I dove head first into the crazy world of small engine repair and outdoor power equipment sales. Although I technically started in 2012, I missed the busy season.
I started selling Tupperware. I LOVE Tupperware! At first I was skeptical about it- but I'm sold (and selling, hehe)!!!!

Friends
This has been such a great year! April, Lyndsey, Michelle (when around) and I have had so much fun locally!

I have t been able to spend as much time with Amy, Candy,& Julie this year but we have had our fair share of good times!! 

More to come later........ 

Bug

Well, we have expanded our family and added another 4-legged fur child. This adorable little kitten we call Bug. Matt wanted to call him, Bageria, but I shortened it to Bug. Look how precious, he's SOOOO tiny. Not sure exactly how old he is, but he's just a little guy. Not even two pounds! He came to us via my brother. His girlfriend brought the kitty to his house but he didn't want another animal, so I took him. The husband was not happy, but the little guy won him over. Our eldest fur child was not thrilled at first, but the two of them have adjusted quite nicely. As long as bug doesn't try to play with Tucker while he's sleeping, they are friends! 

  

Surprise!!

I've been so busy the last few days preparing for my best friends SURPRISE 30th Birthday Party!! April does everything for everyone and no one deserves this more than her!! 

We went with a country theme...... Sunflowers are her favorite and we built the theme from there! 

*** I wrote this post the end of October/beginning of November, sorry for the late post! ***

OnLine Shopping

I LOVE Ebates! It is the best way to shop on-line! I mean they PAY you to shop like you normally do, do how can you go wrong? With the holidays coming up, make sure you SIGN UP HERE !!

'B' is Back

NEVER, and I do mean Never in a million years did our family think Brittany would ever be returned. However, by some miracle, Brittany, my brother's dog who was 'taken' in June is back.

This story is so far fetched, it really is hard to believe. On Friday, a dog was found in Youngwood and taken to a shelter there. The shelter posted her picture, I saw it, and my first thought was Brit! However, I thought she looked a little to gray to be Brit and she was on the chubby side. I didn't do anything, and now I regret it! Sunday morning my mom texted me to say the girl who had found Brittany the first time, and unknowingly handed her over to the wrong owner sent my brothers girlfriend a picture showing a dog and asked if it was Brit! Immediately everyone thought it possibly could be! Adam tried to reach the shelter all day Sunday, but they were not in. He spoke to them today, Monday, and him and my mom went up. They had to take photo proof and vet records.

Adam explained the who story to the lady and when she brought B out I guess she got so excited to see my brother. The lady was convinced it was her. However, my mom and Adam were still hesitant. B had a bare spot of skin on one of her elbows, and the hair was now long enough and covering it. Also, she is much darker brown. The lady at the kennel said that is probably because she was kept indoors and did not spend a lot of time outside. The true moment of truth came though when another couple walked in to look at dogs. The lady working at the kennel spelled out Brittany and asked the lady to call her name. Brit immediately responded and went to her. She remembered her name!!! :) That convinced everyone!

The lady working told my brother she had goose bumps for such a happy ending. Poor B! It seems like she was cared for, she got a little chubby, but she is in shock. She's just wondering around my brothers. Hopefully she gets comfortable and adjusts sooner rather than later. She also looks a lot more aged! She definitely has a lot more gray hair than she did in June.

My niece is so excited to go to her daddy's house to see B! It truly is a happy ending! Miracles do happen, especially when you least expect them!!

I've added another job title!

I work in a unique situation. I work for my brother who owns his own business. He sells tractors, outdoor power equipment, repairs small engines, and provides lawn care and landscaping services. Our retail location happens to be located inside Laurel Valley Hardware, the local hardware store. As part of their continued effort to bring more female clientele into the hardware store, a hardware store employee and myself will be starting a craft section to demonstrate what can be done with simple supplies from the hardware store! We will be setting up our area tomorrow and I'm so excited about it!! Once we have a few crafts made, we will be putting together crafting kits and selling them as well! :) I can't wait to see how well this works!! Wish us luck and stay tuned!!

30 Sucks.....

Or so they say! I'm not quite there yet, but so many I know are reaching 30! (I should note I only have 8 months left in my 20s- better start living them up!!) anyways, one of my best friends J threw a surprise 30th for her fiancé P. the party was great! He had NO idea! I made him a little gift card holder..... It turned out really cute!! Of course my inspiration came from Pinterest I just modified to make it work for me! Enjoy! 

Overall it was really easy! I used a small box, cut to size- filled it with spray foam, cut the expanding foam down to size, wrapped the box, an stick the lollipops in, 30 of the suckers are shoved in the box, along with a dowel rod holding an envelope containing the gift card. Such an easy gift! 

Now to figure out what to do for the rest of the 30th birthdays over the next year.... 

Suggestions are welcome! 

Update to 30X30

I'm not going to sugar coat it but I'm also not to dwell on it.... The last five months have been challenging!! 

However, I am happy to report my list is getting accomplished! 

1. This is HUGE!! I. HAVE. TRIM. My life is close to complete! The pic below shows the outside trim, but i have it inside also!! Now if I can just get the curtain rods hung up and curtains up.....

2. I was doing SO good with this, but then Matt's company went on strike and he didn't work for two weeks..... Ugh- so what little I had put away- we used to cover his loss in wages--- so now I'm trying to get my savings built back up to where it was... And grow it from there! 

3. I just finished my fourth book of the week! I'm at 6!! Only 24 more to go....

4. See #2 and the small set back......spending is shut off for now! 

5. I'm working on this-- I've gotten rid of SOOO much so far- I've probably cleared out 1/2 my clothing, 1/4 of my jewelry, 1/2 the yarn that I had and SOOOO MUCH MORE!! 

6. Right now I have 48 auctions up- I don't know if I will ever clear $100/month- but I'm trying!! I think at this point if I clear $50 one month I will consider myself a success!! 🏆

**** I did it!!!! Free and clear- after all fees $100+++ 

7. As I mentioned earlier I substituted jewelry with Tupperware! I must say- its been good to me so far! :) I just earned an IPad!! I can't wait for it to come in! Yeah me!! 

8. I definitely haven't stared a Facebook page yet, and I definitely haven't crafted any thing recently. I really need to get back to crocheting! Winters coming and I have 'orders' to fulfill!! 

9. Blog posts- I clouding this one I'm up to 11! 

10. I'm hoping in November to take a Saturday trip to Ohio. September is over and October is Upon us and just tooo busy, So November it is!! 

11.Niagara Falls is just a dream--- I tried to plan a weekend trip here but Matt said 'No'. 😥 Anyone want to go with me?!?!?

 

12. Matt's Grad Party 🎓was August 24- and we had such a good turn out!! So much of his family and mine were able to make it!

13. Landscaping is started!! Matt borrowed my dads tractor and destroyed the yard, but definitely got a lot done!! He landscaped in front of the front porch and out by the road, along the driveway! It's coming along..... 

14. The addition fund is lacking.. See #2- and how Cleveland Brothers got in the way!! 

15. I've had some interest in a Pinterest Party--- def need to get that planned-- SOON! Maybe in November with a thanksgiving or Snowman craft! 

16. I'm pretty sure I could get at least 5--- I just need to get on the ball and planning!! 

17. I still didn't order a Pens Jersey- less than a month until Hockey games start.... I can't wait!! The Pens have already reported for training camp!! LGP!!

18. My sister in law Liz and I had a yard sale in July. We did really good!! I made over $100! We are having another sale this coming weekend, so if I make another $100 I will be SOOOOO satisfied!! But first I need to clear out some more 'treasures' to sell! 

19. Accomplished!! Plus FIVE!!

20. I really want someone to follow my Blog. Soon, I can feel it- a couple more posts and I will take off!! 😋

21. Still need to try this! 

22. Ugh- every time I pick up yarn and crochet hooks I get distracted and just can't work on anything. We are heading to Florida in October and I will try to finish up some projects on the way! After all, I have 14 hours in the truck! 

23. It will be three years on October 15 since my Granny's death. I need to get these done, yet I can't bring myself to finish them! The boxes are all laid out, they just need the items attached! Soon, very soon, I WILL finish them! 

24. I found the command light hooks on clearance at Walmart yesterday!! So now I really have no excuses!! 

25. Christmas Party- I really want to host but we shall see- it may just be a small gathering of friends! 

26. I now own TWO pink Elephant Vera pieces! I bought a purse on EBay and a duffel bag off of my friends sister in law! Yeah for social media and reselling sites! They have the best deals! 

27. I'm such a procrastinator and I really need to get on this! But it's pumpkin season..... I need to get my will power in check and start restraining before I gain another 15 pounds!! 

28. Well the garden didn't do so hot this year. I tried to keep up with the crab grass but it kicked my butt! We did get zucchini, watermelons, kohlrabi, onions, beets, and some beans! 

29. Again, because of the strain of the strike this is slightly delayed! I'm hoping soon! I'm not getting any younger and I don't want to be an 'OLD' parent, NOTHING against that- it's just not what I want!! 

30. So far I've been trying to have as much fun as possible! Taking life to seriously is for the birds these days! You have to live life to the fullest for the last year of my 20s! 

✌💗💋

~Amanda

"B"

Last week while my mom and I were on vacation my brother's two dogs got out of his yard and went on an adventure. Daisy, the younger of the two, returned without her older counterpart Brittany. We feared the worst as Brittany is known to attack anything that crosses her path (she has had more than one run in with a porcupine and snakes and well a chicken)! We feared she may have met her match. However, two days (Wednesday) after Daisy returned there was hope as one of my brother's friends saw a picture of B on Facebook with a posting from a girl who had found her.

The rejoicing didn't last long. When the girl was contacted, she said the dog had been claimed the day prior (Tuesday). The girl said a man  had called her from a blocked number, said he lived in Youngwood, and that the dog was his. He made arrangements to meet her at her work that day and he came and took Brittany. The girl knew very little about him, other than he drove a green car, said he lived in Youngwood, PA, and was probably in his mid thirties. He called the dog 'April'. The girl did say that B growled at him and did NOT want to go with him. Proof that dogs really can sense awful human beings when they encounter them! Poor B.

We have been told two theories. One she was taken and used to train pit bulls for dog fighting, in which case I hope that the dog they are training one day turns on the vicious excuse for human beings training them and they get everything they have coming to them. The second is people are snatching dogs and waiting for reward money to be offered and then collecting the money. Either theory is sick and twisted and the person responsible deserves every bit of bad unfortunate luck that is thrown their way.

Regardless of what happened to B, I just hope she did not have to suffer, and I can only hope she first turned on the poor excuse of a man that stole her from my brother and my four year old niece, because frankly, explaining to a four year old that her dog 'ran away' and you don't think shes coming back isn't easy. Especially when *Sparkles* my niece dreams B came back out of the woods every night and she gives her dog treats and puts her back in her pen, but B always escapes by morning and Sparkles gets sad all over again.

Beach Therapy

My mom and I are heading to Rehoboth Beach Delaware on June 16 for 4 days!! I can't wait!! I'm long overdue for some beach therapy!! 

Although I had some amazing vacations and experiences last year throughout Europe, none of them involved me laying on a beach soaking up harmful sun rays!! 

Progress......

I'm working on my 30x30 goals. So far I haven't made that much progress.... But I did make some (along with some modifications also!!)

2. I put my last check directly into savings!! My goal for one check a month!

3. I've read 1.5 books. Although it wasn't a paperback book that I finished, I did read a book I had waiting on my Kindle. Only 13.5 more books to go!!! I promise, the next 13 will be actual print books, not the electronic kindle books!

7. I decided to sign up with Tupperware for now! My sister in law Liz wanted to do it so we signed up together. It was a win, win situation for us! It only cost $30 to sign up and as long as we have $900 in sales by July 15, we owe nothing else! I already have 2 parties booked from my friends and Liz has been collecting orders from the hospital! Although I really like jewelry, I will probably stick to Tupperware for now, and maybe add jewelery in the future!

9. This will be my 3rd blog post since my goals were laid out! Only 27 more to go!!

12. I started to get a list together of people to invite to Matt's graduation party. I'm trying to talk my mother into hosting at her house, but she doesn't seem to be biting the bait!

13. I started to build a rock wall, to do something with all the rocks, but so far that is the extent of where we have made it.

17. I still didn't get myself a Jersey, but I did get a James Neal shirt since they made it to the second round of the playoffs (and now the third!!! 4 more wins to the cup finals!!) Its a black and gold Eastern Conference Finals! Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Boston Bruins. GOOOO PENS!

26. This is huge!! I FINALLY won and EBAY auction for a BRAND NEW VERA BRADLEY PINK ELEPHANTS PURSE!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! I'm so excited!!!

28. The garden is planted and starting to grow. Here's hoping it continues!!


Matt found out I made a 30X30 list and he now wants to make one. HA! He doesn't even have time to go to dinner, let alone make a goal list and complete it! I can't wait until August when he is done with school! Maybe we can actually spend some time together and have a life again!

Until Next time~
Amanda

One Stepping Stone at a time...

$66.30... That's what I need to earn by May 31 to put myself on target with my 2013 goals of earning an additional $50/month for the first 6 months of the year, and then upping it to $75/month the last 6. I had a great week last week on eBay, almost everything sold. Now I just need to get some more auctions started.

I must disclose also that if I hadn't bought as much as I have this year off of eBay I wouldn't be so short of my goal. Oh well, you learn and keep going forward!

This year is all about goals for me. I have set goal after goal after goal for myself to accomplish. Here's to hoping I make it through some of them sooner rather than later!

Let the playoffs begin.....

LETS GO PENS!!!

Adoption

Many people don't Know that I'm *mildly* obsessed with the idea of adoption. Matt and I want a family. No if, ands, or buts about it, we want a family. However, the 'traditional' methods of starting a family are not working out for us. To put it bluntly, We had not been preventing pregnancy for OVER five years. (And if you do the math, yes, that is longer than we have been married!) While its not something either of us like to talk about, its become such a part of our lives and we have been dealing with for many years. I've always thought Adoption would be in my future, however, I never thought it would be our first step.

I've come to realize there are a lot of people out there that do not support adoption. I'm not sure why, but at the same time I'm sure they don't understand why I DO support adoption. 

A vast majority of people have never dealt with infertility and they don't realize what it's like. There is a HUGE difference between choosing not to have children and not being able to. 

I've had so many people recently try to talk me into fertility treatments, but I must say- for me that's not the route I want to take. I don't believe taking a pill will 'fix' our problem when the do toes can't tell is what our problem is to begin with. 

I want nothing more than to be able to conceive a child , carry the child, and five birth, however, it doesn't seem like this will be in the cards for me. Trust me when I say this has tested my faith. I don't claim to be a devout follower but I believe in God and all he stands for, however, my trust in him has been questioned. I often wonder if because I doubted him while he tested us if that's why we can't conceive or if in the end we can't conceive because we are to open out hearts and home to others. 

If I ever figure it out, I will be sure to pass it on! But for now, I save to cover the high cost of adoption, and pray for a miracle in between. 

Every Penny counts, and I save them all!! 

Until Next Time--

Amanda 

30X30

I turned 29 on April 11 and I've been having some issues with it...... I can't believe THIRTY is right around the corner!!! Oh My Goodness! To me that is crazy! So, I've decided to create myself a 30X30 list..... please help me hold myself accountable....

1.   Install Trim in house.
2.   Build up XXXXX into Savings (Sorry I'm not going THAT into depth!)
3.   Read AT LEAST 15 books before I turn 30! ( I only have about 100 sitting around un-read)
4.   Sign up for Pittsburgh Penguins Season Tickets Waiting List
5.   De-Clutter Home
6.   Earning $100/month on Ebay *Net Profit*
7.   Start selling Jewelry, and host at leaset 2 parties a month. All funds go to pay principal on car.
8.   Start selling Crafts. Start a facebook page to sell them.
9.   Have at least 30 more blog posts before April 11, 2014
10. Go to Ohio Amish County Wineries.
11. Visit Niagria Falls.
12. Throw Matt a massive Graduation Party-He should graduate in August 2013!!
13. Landscape around the house.
14. Start a 'House Addition Fund'.
15. Host a Craft Day/Pinterest Party.
16. Get at least 5 people to attend my Pinterest Party.
17. Get a Penguins Jersey.
18. Have a MASSIVE Yard Sale. (Make at least $200)
19. Get at least 200 Followers on Pinterest (Currently at 167)
20. Get at least one other follower on my blog, come on, someone follow me?!?!? Please?!?!?!?
21. Make Sangria. Candy- can I have your recipe??
22. Finish some Unfinished Crochet Projects.
23. Finish the Shadow Boxes for my Great-Grandmother.
24. Decorate Outside for Christmas. I mean I have to do it one year, right?!?
25. Host a Christmas Party! December 21- Mark your calenders!
26. Get a Vera Bradly Pink Elephants Purse.
27. Say Goodbye to 15 pounds I'm not attached to!
28. Fresh Veggies from my garden (co-op Garden at Mom's House)
29. Start an Adoption Fund.
30. Have FUN!!!

The above is my quirky take on how I want the next 11.5 months to go....... lets see how it plays out!

~Amanda

My New Subaru

I finally convinced Matt a new Subaru was the way to go! Yeah for me! Check it out below!





Yeah for having a reliable car, but BOO HOO for having car payments for the next 5 years..... to begin the cycle again!

House Makeover

Although the house isn't finished, and probably never will be.....

Here are some 'completed' photos!

100. This is a picture of the back bedroom. We took the door out with the two windows  on the sides and put in 5 windows. We also took the deck off (it wasn't safe anyways!) 

028. the pendant lights we put going up the new steps we put in

085. the new tile we laid when you enter the front door

117. the new kitchen island

123. kitchen

130. looking into the back bedroom upstairs

154. kitchen with backsplash

376. Matt hanging a light fixture in the dining room

445. New Front Door

491. Bar between kitchen/dining/living rooms

523. the cedar we used in the entire upstairs

 530. the cedar and the opening to the 'attic' above the bedroom.

Please keep in mind, most of these photos are from the fall and a lot of these projects have been finished up since then, I just haven't taken new photos!!

~Amanda

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained..... Right?

******* This post was written and apparently did not publish in February******* I have since traded the POS XTerra in for a beautiful new Subaru Impreza.*******



I'm on a quest.... I want my vehicle paid off in the next 4 months so I can save up to buy a new one!! (Unless I convince Matt to let me get a new one beforehand!!)

I have 10 months left on my loan, I think anyways. I'm not really sure how I'm going to make/save extra money to make this happen, but, I'm going to try!! (This is going to be especially hard with it always breaking!!!)

First up, I just started my own online jewelry boutique! Check it out!!
Www.qutequirky.kitsylane.com
I LOVE jewelry and there in something for everyone in my shop!! The jewelry is all by up and coming designers.... So get the bargains before they get too pricey!! I have a sale that starts every Wednesday!!
So next time you buy a piece of jewelry for yourself or someone else, keep me in mind!!

I've also been selling on EBay! When you buy a smaller house you have to downsize--- big time!! I've been slightly successful! Now I just need some big ticket items!!

I'm also planning on a yard sale this spring, I know they are a lot of work, but it's a little extra cash I didn't have prior- right??

Any other ideas on how to make a little extra money??? I will probably cave and end up looking for another part time job, but I'm trying to be creative in my approach.....

So here goes, I'm saying by July 3 ( I'm picking the 3rd because that was my Great-Grandmas Birthday and She ALWAYS supported/believed in/brought me good luck!!!), I want the X Terra paid off!!! (Unless of course Grumpy Pants Matt lets me get rid of it first !!)

WISH ME LUCK!!!

Baby Booties

My cousins wife is due to give birth any day now and I thought I would try to crochet a pair of baby booties for the newborn.

I've never attempted booties before so I figured this would be quite the adventure. In not very good at reading patterns, but thankfully I found a patterns that had a you tube video to go with it!!

Through Pinterest I found the link to 'Crochet Hooks You' the tutorial I used can be found at.....
http://www.crochethooksyou.com/posh-crochet-baby-booties-pattern/

I used a 2 ply white baby yarn that I had from my great grandmothers stash.

I must say they turned out better than expected. The second one I screwed up a bit but not enough to notice!!

I used the following chart to check my sizes- to make sure I was in the ballpark!
http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/size-chart.html

I decided to add a pink flower, using Bernat Softee Baby Yarn!

Look how cute they turned out!!

10 Ways to Craft with Old Sweaters + 5 New Ideas | FaveCrafts.com

Sooooo........I stumbled upon these craft ideas for old sweaters (which I happen to have a million of) and really like some of the ideas!

Anyone want to have a craft night?!?!?

10 Ways to Craft with Old Sweaters + 5 New Ideas | FaveCrafts.com

Wow... It's been awhile

Hard to believe I didn't write at all in December, and January 2013 is over already!

So much has happened, and yet nothing seems different!!

Lets start with an overview of the holidays!
Christmas was good. We celebrated with my moms side of the family on Christmas Eve. My dads parents also came along. It was a low key evening for all. After my brother took my niece back to her mother I had to go play Santa's helper and wrap Christmas Gifts. After we finished that Matt and I headed to Church before heading home.
Christmas morning was more like Christmas at lunchtime! I think we slept until 11am. Matt did not want to get up, but he eventually did! We exchanged gifts, and then got ready to go visit the Criado family! His Aunt Cindy and Uncle Bruce always have Christmas Day, so we headed there for a couple of hours. When we left the Criado's we headed to Stahlstown to stop at Grandma and Pappy Monticue's to round out our Christmas visiting!!
Matt was able to get some work done around the house while on break from school! He finally got the cooktop installed and running in the kitchen!! We can cook now!!!!

Also in the month of December Alex moved his business down inside Laurel Valley Hardware! What an experience that was. Everything looks great now, but getting there was quite a challenge!!

We rang in the New Year with the Dumnich family playing Wii games and Hunter singing us his rock star songs!!

January started much better than last year, and lets hope 2013 stays that way!!

Matt started back to school, he will graduate in December 2013 FINALLY!!!!!! This semester he finally got around to taking all of his elective classes. His choices are, naturally, all over the board. He has Astronomy, Archeology, and the Bible as Literature, in addition to one engineering class.

Matt should only have to take two classes in the summer and two in the fall then before he GRADUATES!! I really didn't think he would ever to get to the point of earning his bachelors, but it is so close!!

January was a calm month full of snow and work!! My anxiety about driving in the snow is easing although I'm still not used to it!! But living on the top of the Mountain we get hammered and they never clear the roads!!! Blah!!

February is in full swing and moving right along......