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!!