Thursday, September 29, 2011

Created to be His Help Meet

This week has been slow and painful for a certain someone in my life.
Jake got his wisdom teeth cut out Tuesday and has been home everyday since. We went in at 7:15 and the doctor's said that he would be done at 9:15 unless there were any difficulties. Around 10:15 I finally am able to pick him up. I have heard of stories about people who have just gotten there wisdom teeth cut out and how they act so I was a little nervous. Jake is very calm. I rarely see him act unreasonable or without control. However, when I went in there he stood up and listened intentivley to whatever the doctor was saying. She then told me that Jake is in the 1% of the population who does not react positivley to the medicine that is administered before surgery. He just wouldn't fall asleep. They ended up just working on him while he was awake and fully conscious of what they were doing to him.
I would have passed out and died.

So we have been home trying to learn to eat certain foods and watch hours of tv. I am just about finished with my stocking and will probley take a final photo when it is all done.
I made a special treat for Jake since he has been sick:
Pioneer Woman's Chicken and Rice soup!!! Oh it was so good! The sad thing is, is it actually had 6 T of butter in it and it made me sick! Twice last night I felt very sick to my stomach. You know that feeling, after you eat something too rich? I can't really remember the last time I had cooked with that much butter? But, it was so good!
Jake and I babysat a beautiful German Shepherd last weekend for some friends of ours and she did the sweetest thing for us! She came over Monday with my favorite Yankee candle (Home Sweet Home), a Starbucks coffee, a beautiful Winnie the Pooh card, and an Edible Arrangment!
How nice!!? We devoured it! When she came over to give us these precious gifts she said that she knew we ate healthy and thought this would be the perfect gift. She also thought Jake would appreciate a little bit of choc. in his life! haha.
I enjoyed the choc. too :)

I had my first meeting with my book club Monday. It was really nice. I sat there with about 8 other women, drank some hot tea, ate some biscotti, and listened to them. I mentioned before I was the youngest woman in there my at least 25-30 years so it was nice listening to these women. A lot of the struggles that are addressed in this book I haven't reached because I just absolutly love spending every moment of the day with Jake and never get tired of his sweet face, voice, or actions. 
I have learned several important facts while reading this book and have read several scriptures that I haven't ever read before that were kinda a slap in the face.
In today's world, we live in a feminist society where the women of the family sees themselves just as equal as the man. However, we were not created that way.

Some of the passages made me serisouly think:

"For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man" (1 Cor. 11: 8-9)

"But she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband." (1 Cor. 7:34)

"Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord" (Proverbs 18:22)


"I know that as you read this it almost sounds like blasphemy, because it is so weird to think that your husband deserves you as his help meet. But who said anything about what he deserves? You can only realize your womanhood when you are functioning according to your created nature. To covet his role of leadership is to covet something that will not make God, you, or him happy....It is far better that the job be done poorly by your husband than to be done well by you.....men were created to be helpers of God. God made you to be a help meet to your husband so you can bolster him, making him more producive and efficient at whatever he chooses to do. You are not on the board of directors with an equal vote. You have no authority to set the agenda. But if he can trust you, he will make you his closest advisor, his confidante..-all at his discretion."

"Do you wake each morning ready to make your husband happy and blessed, to serve him to the best of your ability--to be his helper?"

This is just from one page from this devotional. Several of the sentences stirred angry emotions in me. I thought what about me? But I continued to read that it is my nature to serve my husband, that I shouldn't fight it. We are made as one. That fact keeps coming to my mind; however, God created my husband to be the leader of the household.
This fact is becoming more real to me each day as we sit and discuss our future. I may have emotional desires to do what 'i want' but Jake is the ultimate decision maker. I will trust in his decisions and follow whatever he decides. If he decides to pick up and move to the farthest places away from 'home' then I will follow and wake up each day with the purpose of being his help mate. I know that in order to be able to trust such a man, he must walk in God's path so that those choices and decisions in life honor God.
I trust my husband with our future but furthermore and most importantly I trust in God with our future.

The woman that leads this book club has continuely proclaimed that many woman will judge you or belittle you for what you learn in this study, its because there is a difference between a christian wife and a religious wife. It is because woman these days want to be found equal to their spouse when sadly this is just not true. Many woman believe that they have just the same amount of 'rights' to make decisions ahead of their husband. That is sad. Also, that makes me angry because many men don't step up to the plate. Many men decide to waste their money on things that are inappropriate for their financial means. Many men stay home and drink beer while watching the sports/hunting channel instead of taking their family to church. Many men spend their money of 'toys' with the consequences of furthering their family in more debt. In these instances, the wife is left to pick up the 'trach or bondange' and then lead their family. That is where my struggle comes out. But I have to remember that God created the man and then the woman to be his helper. Not the other way around.

I am still on the fence with some of the things that I am learning in this book, but I cannot be on the fence with the scripture that is purely written.

It is a lot to take in at my age and with the decisions Jake and I face.
*Long exhale*






Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Low Fat Pumpkin Spiced Chocolate Chip Cookies-4 pt

I love cookies. I love pumpkin chocolate chip cookies even more! Especially since they are low fat, whole wheat, and weight watchers certified!
I got the recipe from skinnytaste.com but I tweaked just a couple of ingredients. I only had whole wheat pastry flour and accidently added more than 1/2 c of brown sugar...but it was sooo worth it!


  • 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp butter, melted
  • 1 egg white
  • 2 tbsp pumpkin puree
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract -forgot to picture this
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
 
In a large bowl, combine the flours, baking soda, salt and pumpkin spice; stir to blend.



In another bowl, whisk the sugars, butter, egg white, pumpkin puree and vanilla together until light and fluffy.
 
Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in two additions until the batter is very well blended. If the batter looks more “crumbly” than smooth, add just a drop of water at a time (ONLY if needed) until it smooths out.
 
Fold in Chocolate Chips
  
Drop by level spoonfuls about 1 inch apart onto baking sheets.


Thank you again mom for all the canned pumpkin! It's still not in stores here :(

Yum.....yum....yum....
  http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/09/low-fat-pumpkin-spiced-chocolate-chip.html

Saturday, September 24, 2011

I Love...

I love watching movies. More so, I love watching movies under a quilt, beside my husband, and with a warm bowl of soup.
I love only specific types of movies. We do not allow ourselves to watch R rated movies. We always read the parental guide before every movie. You might be ok with watching trash beside your husband but I am not. You might say, "Emily, your both 22, come on!?" It is NEVER ok to sit and watch filth and let it sit in your minds. Yes, I watch Family Guy. I do. I felt like I needed to say that.
After that rant,
I have my favorite movies. Movies that I would watch over and over and over again. When I was little I would have night terrors. My mom told me that if I would watch a good movie right before bed or drink hot milk/tea I would not have them. It was all a psychological ordeal but it worked. Momma knows best. So I just became accustomed to watching movies before bed when I was afraid I would have a nightmare or when I was having a bad day I would put a movie in.
Movies that are a for sure bet to keep you from having nightmares include the following:


Father of the Bride both 1 and 2



As Time Goes By television series


Grumpy Old Men both 1 and 2
We all have our favorites like Hatari, Robin Hood, How to Train Your Dragon, McClintock, Lord of the Rings; you know really good movies. But don't certain movies make everything seem just a little better in life? The answer is yes. Yes they do. You may seem utterly astonished that I didn't add Harry Potter in this list. Harry Potter in film quality can not even begin to compare to Lord of the Rings. Harry Potter movie quality can't even match up with John Wayne, Doris Day, or Tony Randall. The books=pure awesomeness, however.
You may be asking yourself, "What is the point of this post, Emily?"
There isn't one.
I'm bored.
Jakes playing his video game.
I want to watch a good movie.

The End.

What I love about Today

Today I love the fact that it is Saturday and that means Pioneer Woman Day!!!!
Also, I got to watch the Arkansas Razorback game with my husband for the first time in 4 years. But that was kinda sad.

I was introduced to the Pioneer Woman by my mother-in-law a couple of years ago. Jacque gave me her cookbook for Easter and when I moved out here last May went all out with her meals:

My top 6 favorite Pioneer Woman Recipes are:
  1. Perfect Pot Roast
  2. Red Velvet Sheet Cake
  3. Enchiladas
  4. Delicous, Creamy Mash Potatoes
  5. Spicy Orange Garlic Shrimp
  6. Orange Mini Muffins with brown sugar glaze
I mean serisously, I have only made 1 thing of hers that I just couldn't stand and that was the olive spread french bread. I LOVE her potatoe skins, chicken speghetti, asparagus, chicken salad, and everything else I have tried.
I would LOVE to go into the kitchen right now and pull out that book or look up on her blog and begin cooking whatever I want! I loved cooking when I cooked her meals. Everything tasted so wonderful.

Stupid Weight Watchers.

Jake and I are in the process of making some major decisions about our life. Decisons that will effect our entire life. If you hadn't had to make those types of decisions yet, there's really nothing I can say to prepare you. God opens doors and closes others. Sometimes God's speaks to us in Merciful whispers or in His Majestic Booming voice.
I am more particular to the Booming voice but thats probley because I am not always listening to that Holy whisper.
Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.
Knowing that a crucial part of your life is at risk with whatever we decide is very emotionally draining. In my book I am reading for my book club it particularly points out that I am NOT the head of this family. It has compared the wife as the Vice President. I am here to support and help my husband with life decisions. I am here to accompany him with his decisions. A wife that tries to lead her family does a far worse job than a husband who barley leads his family.  This is a quote from my book. At first I was defensive, laid the book down, and just thought about that for awhile. I thought, "what the crap is that supposed to mean?" But God made the man to be His helper. He made the woman for the man. We are our husband's helper. Our purpose is to support them in whatever their decisions are and when they have made their decisions in the realization of God's will, I have to support him. I made the decision to marry this man.
Did I mention how happy I am with the choice I made of marrying Jake? Well I am very happy. I am joyful and proud. I love him so much.

I have to believe that God will truly be with us every step of the way. I mean, when I look over the past, I specifically see God's hand over EVERY area of our life. It is humbling and breath-taking.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

A 4 Day Weekend

This past 4 day weekend was awful/wonderful and relaxing/stressful. Ha. Before Jake got back home last Tuesday evening the car died on me twice. I was really blessed that it didn't die after grocery shopping in the parking lot or when I went to Kailua to the beach. But it did die and I have no idea what to do with cars. So anywase, Jake used it throughout the week and it finally died again thursday. We were hoping to not have to get it towed and hoping it would start again that night. Which it did (thankyou so much Jesus). Jake got off of work Friday and the car decided to die again so we were stuck at the house. We do have a motorcycle but it wasn't registered off of base yet so we couldn't go anywhere. The first day was kinda nice but I have been in this house for 2 weeks straight!
Firestone finally said we could bring it in on Monday. Saturday Jake and I started talking about purchasing a 'new' used car. We looked for hours online and got into several little arguments.
Jake wants a truck.
 More precisely this truck:

Trucks are really nice. I'm not going to sit here and say they aren't. HOWEVER, trucks are not the most economically practical cars out there. Gas is over $4 here and trucks get like 17 MPG. This is where our arguments come in. I wanted to get a car that was small, practical, and had a good price tag with a good 35 MPG. This apparently is not a man car.
We have been budgeting for almost a year now and have budgeted for a 'new' used car. Dave Ramsey says to not EVER buy a new car. New cars deppreciate in value like 10 fold once you drive it off the lot. Used cars are already deppreciated. Are orginal plan was to put back a 'car-payment' each month until we EAS so that we could put down more than 1/2 for a car so we would be able to pay it off sooner than later. This is a smart plan. This is a good plan.
But our car keeps breaking.
This is a major decision for us. Combined with decisions like whether or not to reenlist and not being able to buy a beautiful golden retriever is a lot to handle (isn't it?). The golden retriever breeding farm offered us a deal that would have been 1/2 the price of the North Shore puppies. We had to turn them down. Being responsible is miserable sometimes.
We finally got our car fixed. This has been the 4th time since January that we have put it in the shop. Auto Repair is NOT affordable here. I don't really know if it is anywhere.
We have come to a conclusion. If the car breaks down again before we EAS, then we will invest in a car. I'm praying that it doesn't. I have also come to the conclusion that I already have my dream car and why should I take away Jake's dream car? Even if it impractical.

In other news, I have been working on Jake's stocking and it is beginning to come together!

not even half way through yet....
I have really been enjoying this project. My fingers and patience haven't but I have! It has also really put me into the Christmas spirit and it's only September! Oh goodness. I am going home in 2 weeks and I am needing to finish this one so I will be able to bring it home with me to finish up sewing the back of it on.

Even tho it is a perfect, sunny 80+ here on Oahu, Fall has hit the Gordon house. Well, kinda..



It's not a lot but it's enought to get in the spirit of things. Sometimes, it get a little windy here and I can pretend its cold outside! I wonder if there will be kids coming to our house for Hollaween? I hope they aren't expecting me to have candy for them! No, but seriously.....maybe I can hand out chocolate covered prunes? lol
I'm just kidding......
maybe....

I start my book for my book club today. I'm pretty excited. I will be the only one there under 40 but thats fine.
Anything I learn I will surely put in my blog!

Other than watch NCIS this weekend, I spent the majority of my time watching my husband do this:

He's so cute tho. He got this new game with a Christmas gift card I have been hiding from him (yes, I do that so that we can have gifts all year long) and it is such a good game. I don't care for COD or Metal Gear Solid or any games that has the sole purpose of blowing people up, so he got this Sly Cooper game. He's so sweet. I do like that Red Dead Redemption game tho!
Talk with ya'll again soon!

Friday, September 16, 2011

Products I Love: Post 4

While I was sitting here drinking my coffee and completly ignoring the fact that I haven't looked at my school work since Monday, I was just struck by how good my coffee was and I thought, "This needs to go in the posts!"
First, I want to just say how much I love our Keurig:

If it wasn't for Christmas presents, this little machine would not have found it's way on top of our countertop. BUT, Tanta Kringle did decide to graciously give it to us. You don't know who Tanta Kringle is?? WHAT!!!
Here let me introduce you:

Ok, now that everyone knows who she is.....(completley random but true)....I can tell you all about this new product that has just recently came out for the Keurig from Folgers. Folgers In Your Cup *theme song version*
They come in a 12, 18, and 24 count box. All you have to do is pop one of those in your machine, press the serving size you want and ShaZaam, you have your coffee made in under 1 min. I have tried the flavored coffee-gross. My husband LOVES the flavored coffee. If it's going to be flavored, I'm the one going to flavor it. I have tried others that are 'ok' but Folgers just seems so right and good. And for some reason makes me think of Christmas...which is also right and good. Everyone remembers the Christmas commercial where the soldier comes home for Christmas and walks into a house smelling of Folgers and suprises everyone that he got to come home....well why not have that feeling each morning at my house all year around?!
 I am not an avid coffee drinker. But coffee is 0 points for weight watchers and it does taste good with an english muffin and my next favorite product:

I love how this all ties in together...
I LOVE this butter! After going through my nutritions class I went head on into the grocery store with a mission to find a great tasting, satisfying, spreadable-not-so-bad-for-you butter. My husband LOVES this butter also and literally smiles everytime he sees me putting it on to something. I know butter is just horrible for you, I understand that but with about 1/2 t on each slice of bread (or pumpkin bread-definitley great on a piece of fat free, whole wheat pumpkin bread) you don't feel bad. I have told Jake that I WILL NOT buy Nutella. He is really ok and pleased with this instead and thats makes me a happy camper.

Ok, So I have fallen in love with Aveeno. I have already shared with everyone about my love for their shaving cream (thankyou again momma). Well, have you every tried their facewash or shampoo?? I haven't tried their lotions-still a faithful Johnson & Johnson, as well as, Oil of Olay lover- but I'm sure its fantastic.

I don't know if it is just the ocean air here or what but my skin loves this facewash. Amanda (who I got my facial's from back at home) says that ocean air is very good for the skin but I also want to believe that this little product also needs to be given some credit. It was so funny because after awhile, Jake used this other type of facewash and looked at me afterwards and said, "my face doesn't feel as clean with this one..." Need I say more. This statement came from a man. Not a girly man, one of those men who thinks its ok to go out in a field for a week or more without taking a shower, who comes home sometimes smelling of guns and grease, and who rides a motorcycle while looking extremely attractive. Ooops I got sidetracked, but anywase I love this facewash. :)
I also love their shampoo which leaves my hair fresh looking for 2 days after I washed it! 2 DAYS!? Aussie, Pantene, Herbal Essence, and Suave don't cut it for my hair. I have a sensitive head and a LOT of hair. It isn't my 'favorite' shampoo when it comes to smell (that would be Pert Plus...I know odd huh?) because it is very neutral? in smell but it does the trick.
I have some more but I won't continue to bore you guys any longer today. I guess I will sit back and begin to work on this stocking some more. Yesterday Jake comes home to me listening to Christmas music, baking a pumpkin loaf, and sewing christmas stockings! He didn't even see the Christmas movie I had on before he came home......
What month is it again?????

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Christmas Stockings are from the Devil

I love watching the Food Network Channel. Each morning I watch Giada at Home and am just so inspired by everything she makes! It also makes me realize how much I am lacking in the kitchen. This in turn makes me want to drive to Bed Bath and Beyond and gather up all these beautiful items and go back home and set to work. Things that would look so great in my kitchen include:



and



and


But anywase.....I am still currently living in Hawaii and unable to buy a beautiful animal and am still on Weight Watchers so I really don't 'need' a standmixer.....
Oh Weight Watchers.... I really do love the way Jake and I are eating. I love that are meals are healthy and well thought out and I do love that I have lost a total of 6 pounds. Even it is 6 measley pounds (I have been on this blessed diet for 3 1/2 months) thats like 6 sticks of butter right? The lady at the grocery store looked at my ID card and said that I was looking good and that I don't look like the same person. However, you need to understand that I was wearing glasses at the time and wasn't laughing like a complete idiot like I am in my ID photo. It was awkward but at the same time made me smile inside even if she was exaggerating. I can't tell any difference and probley no one can tell but the little scale machine claims that I have lost the weight so that makes me a little happier.
I have been working on a completley hand-made Christmas stocking. Let me just tell you the directions come in tiny print and cover 2 sides of a sheet of paper longer than the average piece of computer paper. EVERYTHING is hand-stitched. There are approxiamtley 20,000 little felt pieces to sew on to this stocking. And 100,000 little sequins and beads to stitch in. It is still pretty pathetic looking. I have spent a total of 5 1/2 hours on it and have sewn... about 10% of the thing together. No make that like 5%. BUT, my mom hand-made all of our stockings when we were born and hand-made hers and daddies so I want to be just as cool has her and my memaw. Even if Jake doesn't understand all that is going into these blessed stockings, at least I DO and they BETTER look just as good as the PICTURE! It has gotten to the point where I have to keep my fingers under warm water because that happens to be the best feeling ever for purple,ugly, pin-pricked fingers. :)



This is supposed to be a little cake on it's cake stand...

This will hopefully turn out to look like a gingerbread house

I wasn't exaggerating about the instructions...
 
The one of the right is 'supposedly' going to turn out  and look like the one of the left.


Jake gets a four day weekend!!!! PRAISE THE LORD! I am so excited because he has been home for a couple of days but still has been working so long and I can't wait to just sit and talk and talk and talk and watch Sons of Guns, Burn Notice, and American Chopper! I would love to go see the Lion King this weekend and enjoy some Ruby Tuesdays. Maybe go up to BBB and buy some new dishes and their new Harvest and Pumpkin Spice Yankee Candle! I just got their coupons in the mail today :). 
I leave 3 weeks from today to go home and see my family! I'm so excited! I don't like seeing them only 3-4 times a year. Aubree will be coming in the exact same day as me and hopefully we won't be at each others throats after the first weekend! I really do love my sisters :)
We are busy that week I am home tho. We have Sarah's shower, Sarah's Bridal portraits, and Leslie is SUPPOSED to have little Brooks! I am so excited tho. The only thing missing is Jake.... and a golden retriever..

Well I am off to make some Weight Watchers Pumpkin Bread! Aren't you jealous?? Maybe I'll be a little crazy and put some fat free cool whip on it!!! Yes, this is my life.....

BTW......HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMANDA SHOOK!!!!!!!!


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Golden Retrievers are God's Special Gift

Today is going to be a good day! Why? Because Jake comes back home today!!!!!
I'm pretty excited.
It has been hard without him here. Everything that has gone wrong went wrong:

  • car died...twice
  • internet shut off
  • plumb line broke in half
  • Motorcycle Retailer was still withdrawing payments from us. Motorcycle was paid off in July.
  • Christmas dates have been changed...we already bought tickets
  • Ant infestation
I had a break down last night. I was supposed to start my book club last night but I had to call and tell them I couldn't because of the car. Someone offered to come pick me up but I told them I was basically an emotional basket-case and just wanted to stay home. She then precedes to tell me it will be good for me because I haven't been to church in 2 weeks. I know she didn't know the circumstances. I went to church with a friend of mine last Sunday and this past Sunday I didn't feel safe driving our car that far away. It dies every so often and Jake isn't here to rescue me if I get stuck on the side of the road. I know she didn't know any of this but it still really hurt my feelings. At least she noticed I wasn't there, right?
I'm not the type of person who wants to be around people when bad things happen. I am the type of person who takes a nice bath, gets into pajamas, wraps up in a quilt, and watch British shows while I pout and mope around. This makes me feel better...honestly. Being clean and comfortable, and a little PeptoBismol always does the trick for me. 

Anywase, I want everyone to know that I am REALLY wanting to buy one of these puppies:

Yes, they are beautiful but they come with an UGLY price tag! $1550 dollars for one of them. UGHHH. The cheaper ones on the NorthShore are only $1200. But I did find some in Kailua for $800!! He also said he would offer us a military discount.
Basically the only thing wrong with buying a Golden Retriever puppy is transportation. Only thing. We have tile floors here and parks everywhere. I am here all day by myself and would love to have some company. Dog training here (well the one I looked into) cost $2500 for a 2 week course. NOT even exaggerating. They have training out at PetCo so I might look into that.
Golden Retrievers are basically one of the most beautiful creatures God ever created. You can't honestly look at one and try to argue against that.

I got another box sent to me! After my mom read one of this Products I love post, she sent me 3 whole cans of Aveeno Shaving cream! Also, my Aunt Stephanie bought me the CUTEST jar decorations when she and Uncle Rex went to Branson. I can't wait to make a trip to Walmart and get some Mason Jars and work on them. I would show a picture but I havne't been able to find my camera for the past couple of days....ooops. I have such a wonderful and special family!

Hopefully, my next blog post will contain a new little Gordon...a little Patrick puppy :)

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Budget Awareness: Post 1




Many of you who read this blog (which I want to say thankyou for even considering reading it because it most likely bores you to death!) have possibly noticed how often I mention the prices of items or what is and what isn't 'budget' worthy.
This is because when I married my husband, my mom and dad weren't paying for everything anymore.

Now, either the government is paying for 'it' or the money is coming out of our pockets. This was a huge eye opener for me. I never had to pay for anything when I was home. Which sounds every bit as spoiled as it looks. It is just a fact that I took for granted. I was never in want or never without anything.
Now fast forward to now.
I am still not in need of anything BUT that is because my needs and wants have entirally changed. I don't go to the mall each or every other weekend to get new clothes. I don't go to Sonic (well, there isn't one here...) to get a drink or some fast-food every few days of the week. I don't just drive anywhere I want because gas is over $4 here. Grocery shopping has COMPLETLEY changed. Having my nails done ever few weeks is a NO..( more because I am afraid they will cut me and I will pass out in the salon....again.) Just every day things.
I wish I had sat down and began budgeting long before I moved out here. So much money was just wasted on clothes (which are in Arkansas), shoes (which are in Arkansas), movies (which you can rent now for $3), school books..seriously..., and etc.
If you are getting married soon...please start changing you spending habits. Your husband will think its the most attractive thing ever! lol

I thought I would post a little series about how Jake and I choose to budget. Completly boring I know but Jake is off doing training sessions and I am alone in my house. I needed something to do! This Christmas Stocking project is getting a little HARD!

We follow the Dave Ramsey Monthly Income Budget forms. <----- just click on this link to take you there.
Let me just say, I don't even know if we are doing it right..haha
I do know that I have been to one of his conferences, bought and read his book, and looked at his websites.
He knows what he is talking about.

Being on a budget is hard and really not that fun. You have to restrict what you do each and every day so that you know where your money is going and what it is being spent on. Recording what you spent your money on has helped Jake and I. After anything is bought, I go home and write it down. This helps you see where your money is going. After several months of doing this, you will get the hang of where most of your money is going and how you need to responsibly distribute that money. I know everyone has probley heard this but I also know, not many people do this. In fact, the only other person that I have ever heard of doing this (besides you Aubree) is Jeff Ivey. Jeff Ivey is probley one of the most smartest and "role-modeled?" men I know. It's something to think about.
My mother-in-law does the envelope system. You allow yourself whatever the amount is contained in the envelope and when it runs out...no more. You wait till next month. You will WAIT till next month.

So for this post, I encourage everyone this month to write down EVERYTHING (yes, even that $1.99 app you bought on itunes) you spend your money on. Its basic and really easy. Probley more easier for me because I don't really do anything so it's easier for me to remember to DO IT! But really it is not that hard.

Another point that Dave Ramsey made clear is when you 'want' to buy something, wait 'I think' 72 hours before you buy it. If it is as important to you in 72 hours, then look at your budget form and see if you are able to afford the item's'. You will be suprised how much your 'wants' and 'desires' change after a couple of days.
Many people don't want to 'wait' for that item. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, and what a 'great' one at that! I'm talking evey bit to myself as well. I WANT THINGS TOO!!! But, waiting is 'fun' also, really...no really!
The only exception to this rule of waiting is when there is a beautiful Golden Retriever puppy that is wanting to be picked up, bought, and loved on....then the waiting part is MISERABLE! I might need longer that 72 hours in this case in order to think clearly...

Just be frugile with the money GOD has GIVEN you.

Bet you can't wait till my next post! haha

Products I Love: Post 3

I LOVE the new yoplait smoothie mixes!
A few weeks ago, my husband bought me a beautiful blender. I went to the grocery store that week and bought fresh blueberries, bananas, strawberries, and greek yogurt.....in addition to a pretty nice grocery bill considering how much produce is here.
I had a coupon for the yoplait mixes in some clippings mom sent me so I thought I would give them a try.
OMYWORD!

This is the nutritional values:

Yoplait Frozen Smoothie Mix Nutrition

CaloriesFatCarbsProteinSodium
1101.5g14g5g80mg

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But here is the GREAT thing!
Each serving (using skim milk...) is only 2 Weight Watchers Points!
I use 1/2 c of 2% so its probley more like 2.5 or 3pts but they are so good and so filling! Which is a key thing when doing Weight Watchers.

Here the mixes run about $3.88 for a package. Remember each package contains 2 servings.
Strawberries alone here run about $4.
I'm pretty happy


Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Happy Birthday Jake!

It is my sweet husband's birthday today! He is 22 years old and is growing into such a handsome man! I wish I had a picture of today, or last year's...or the year before...or the year before...BUT I will take pictures of the day we do decide to celebrate his birthday! haha
I know today must be hard on his family also. Jake is out on training and isn't even able to use his phone or internet for communication. It is hard enough for me not to be there with him so I can't imagine how hard it is for his parents.
Being in the military is hard. People take everyday things for granted, not to mention holidays or other celebrations.
There are some benefits of course
  • healthcare
  • steady paycheck
  • travel
  • money...
  • new experiences
There are some consequences
  • too many to list
I HATE when Jake leaves. When Jake is here, at least I have some kind of purpose for waking up and doing something like cooking for him, cleaning, talking with him, and spending time with him. When he leaves, I sit here and think of things to do and cry or want to go back to bed and watch As Time Goes By. Don't you dare judge me. If I was home around family it would be different. Missing birthdays like today just reminds me of how hard this life is.

Yes Jake passed his ASVAB, yes we could reinlist and have a financial secure life. We could buy a nice car, have 'free' babies, live very comfortably...but...we would be seperated for months upon months at a time. We would miss our family every day. We would miss certain holidays and worry about the others that we are getting to go home to. We would be lonely. We would soon become a 'phone conversation' marraige. Get used to not haveing one another in each others life. Then become readjusted with each other when we are together again.

Today I hate the military because it is my husband's birthday and it means NOTHING to the Marine Corps.

Happy Birthday Sweetheart, it means something to me

Monday, September 5, 2011

My neighbors are so LOUD

Well I was doing homework but I have had to set that aside do to the extreme LOUDNESS coming through my walls due to my extremely LOUD neighbors. I can clearly hear each and every word and sometimes they are simple yelling for the fun of it. I am not exaggerating when I say my walls are shaking and my couch is moving. Last time I had to yell shut up "which took at least an hour of hearing them yell" for me to gather the courage. I am about to bang on the wall but I see them all the time. Jake and I are giving up GOOD money in order to live here and I should NOT have to put up with this. UGHHHHHHH

Anywase, since Jake has left my internet has shut off and a 'plumb line?' in our upstairs bathroom broke in half and flooded our little sink area. I at least got the internet to start working (after an hour and a half on the phone with foreign speaking people) and maintance has graciously put my situation under the emergency category and will fix my problem Friday afternoon. So kind of them to put me as a top priority....'sarcasm'. So i have some towls shoved up under my sink, and the wood is beginning to buckle and swell.

At least I will be leaving this house in a couple of hours to enjoy a dinner party with some of the other wives.

yup...there goes my walls again...

                                                           

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Santa Fe Ravioletti Soup-4 pts

Before I even begin to tell you how to make this soup, I want everyone to understand something:
This soup is the most wonderful weight watchers soup I have ever eaten.

I have a list a favorite soups: Edna Cambell's Potatoe Soup, Western Sizzlin Broccoli and Cheese soup, and now this Santa Fe Ravioletti Soup.

I did tweak a few ingredients because I had my own chicken in the freezer.

Prep: 3 minutes                Cook: 12 minutes



Ingredients:

2 (14-ounce) cans fat-free, less sodium chicken broth
1 (7-oz) package three-cheese ravioletti (such as Buitoni)
1 (16-oz) container refrigerated fresh salsa
1 (15-oz) can no-salted-added black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (10-oz) package diced cooked chicken (such as Tyson)
1 t bottled minced garlic
1/4 c chopped fresh cilantro


  • I did not use the 10-oz package of cooked chicken. I used 3 frozen, skinless chicken breast strips and boiled them in 4 c of water with 3 chicken boulloin cubes for under an hour. I used the broth instead of the canned broth. Saved me some money and tasted wonderful.
1. Bring broth a a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add ravioletti, and cook 3 minutes. Stir in salsa and next 3 ingredients. Cook 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring occasionally; stir in cilantro.

2. Ladle soup into bowls; top with sour cream, if desired. I did not add sour cream. Really it doesn't need it and its just added points.
   YIELD: 6 servings (serving size: about 1 1/4 cups soup)

Friday, September 2, 2011

Date Night


My wonderful husband came home early yesterday and told me he wanted to treat me to something special. He decided to take me to our favorite resturant in Kailua. We went on the Haiku garden trail behind the resturant and it was just so romantic. For one night we didn't care about the price of the food or what wasn't in our budget for the month (even tho we are saving money by Jake leaving for awhile....) or anything about any of that crap.
Jake has been gone since 3:45 AM this morning and I am just sitting here waiting for him to come back home. He leaves tomorrow at 2:30 AM so we are def not looking forward to that.

I other news..I am seriously contemplating getting a major haircut when I go home in October. When I was in my freshman year at college I just decided one day out of no where to chop ALL OF MY HAIR off into a bob. I absolutley loved everthing about it. Jake loved it too. 4 years later, my hair is as long as it has been since probley junior high and I cannot bring myself to cut it. Jake has already informed me that he would love for me to get a bob again but I know he is just saying whatever he thinks I want to hear. I felt lighter and so much more prettier with a bob than I do now; however, having long hair has serious advantages. You know that my life is so interesting when one of my biggest issues is deciding whether or not to get a haircut.

          

Any suggestions??? This has been an issue since Jake's deployment and I have just let it get longer and longer.

I finally have all of my fall decorations together and am wondering when a good time will be to put them up? Not that it really matters here because it like 80 degrees everyday but I still want it to feel special. A lot of my purchases were made with gift cards and from GoodWill so I am feeling pretty good about it. We have decided not to get a tree this year for Christmas. This year is going to be so strange. I am so used to the Christmas season starting the first week of November and this year it won't be starting really untill December 23rd. Christmas decor is just way too expensive. I'll put up a few things but after living with my mom for 22 years, it won't even compare. Aubree does a good job putting up Christmas decorations too and she is usually home from Thanksgiving past Christmas. It just comes to the same point that this is an in-between home. We went to the Christmas parade 2 years ago and Santa was wearing a Hawaiin short-sleeve shirt. They had palm trees with christmas lights. And it was hot. I'm not trying to be a downer but it  just looks silly.
I'll post pics soon of my decor...maybe...haha.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Craft Day and Other News

Since Jake will be leaving here Saturday for 10 days, my mom sent me some craft supplies to help keep me busy!
I love my momma.
A few weeks ago, she and Aubree sent me some canvas' and I began working on one this past week.


I am NOT an artist by any means. Really. But I do have little craft spurts every so often. This week I wanted to make an Arkansas Razorback sign because apparently the season starts Saturday. lol. My sign was completely free handed and looks the part at each angle but at least we have some color going on in our living room other than brown.




In other news, I have the most awesome husband ever! He passed his ASVAB test with an outstanding 114! In order to apply for the Air Traffic Control package, one needs to have a GT score of 110 and he got a 114! I am so proud of him that it still brings tears to my eyes. We haven't fully decided whether we want to re-enlist. Somedays it seems like the best thing to do. Other days its like "WHAT?! REENLIST?" but we are fully relying on God. Trusting in Him each day. Speaking of eyes tho, I finally went to the doctor yesterday to have my eyes looked at. Ughh I hate the doctor. Growing up, we NEVER went to the clinic unless we were about dead, broken, or (in Sarah's case) pathetically sick. So I wasn't ever 'trained' to go. Some of my friends would seem to be going for check ups once a week! Now that we are given free prescriptions (I use the term free 'freely', Jake does sacrifice his life by being in the military), free health care, free check ups, eye exams, etc., Jake believes I should use it to it's full advantage. Which I should. But I am never really sick. Last year when we believed Jake had a tumor or cancer, it was such a blessing with all of his tests but I never needed to go. Until my eyes began feeling like hot sauce was being poured in them 24/7. I could not even go outside without severe pain. Good thing it rained all of last week. I couldn't watch television, read, or even use Clear Eyes. Don't even get me started on the evening I had to chop up an onion! So yesterday I went to my appointment. It was AWFUL. The horrible doctor puffed, stained, and stuck wooden sticks in my eyes. Twice. I sat an almost cried like a baby. I would have if I could have produced tears. I swear Jake was trying not to laugh. He knew I was about to break down. I even began shaking my head and telling the doctor to get that crap out of my eyes! Anywase, I guess I had a Viral Infection in both eyes that led to severe dryness, and then a case of pink eye. Thank goodness that is over with.

Last week I had a post about 'What in Your Grocery Cart'. One of those items was goat cheese. I hate goat cheese. I will never buy it again. It was rancid. I loved the blueberries, yogurt, and panko crumbs!
This week the only exciting purchase was my Oil of Olay oatmeal soap :)
 I finally had a grocery bill under $100. I realize things are more expensive here. Jake keeps informing me of this.
Jake's birthday is coming up! Of course, he won't be here to celebrate it. Last year he was at Mount Fugi, the year before he was here in Hawaii, and the year before that he was training in California. He told me he doesn't think of his birthday as anything special anymore, just feels like its another day of the week. That is sad. That is SO SAD. Hopefully we can do something special when he gets back home. Speaking of special, he was really excited about having Mcdonalds for breakfast this morning. He had to be at work at 3:45 AM so I didn't get to make him his breakfast. The highlight of his day was a Mcdonalds breakfast. It makes me feel like I deprive him of it! lol
I had a banana...
I'm hoping to work on my stockings my beautiful mom sent me pretty soon!

They are precious!
Hope everyone enjoyed reading about my interesting life today! haha