appy friday

Nowadays, there is an app for pretty much anything. All you favorite social media sites, major retailers, games, magazines, and on and on. I have tried really hard to limit the apps I put on my iPhone so I can put some sort of limit on how often and what I use my phone for. Technology is great, but I really don't want to be someone who can't function with out it. However, I have been on a recent search to find some apps that help me with budgeting. We are trying very hard to be conscious of how we spend our money so we are able to save more for things, like a house. Life is expensive, so I'm learning, and one of my biggest budget busters each month is groceries.

Ugh, I guess I just really love food and therefore think that I must have all of it. Then, I end up wasting produce that has gone bad from sitting in the fridge too long. Thankfully, there are only two of us right now so it makes it easier to manage. But someday there will be more of us and I know that I will be a sucker for wanting to constantly have some sort of baked goods or something sweet to feed to those who are at my house. I've learned that food is one of my love languages, pretty sure it is in my genetics, but I feel like a failure if you ever leave my house hungry. So if I can get this somewhat figured out now, we'll all be better off.

To combat my impulse grocery buying, I have found a few apps that have been very helpful. First, I start by planning out the weeks worth of meals before I go shopping. I try to take inventory of what we have and what we would need and being mindful of finding recipes that include items we already have in stock. This has been a HUGE money saver. Once I've made my list, I turn to my trusty iPhone for help.

Out of Milk

I love this app because you can use it for grocery lists, pantry lists and to-do lists. You can also create lists either on your phone or computer and it will sync up to both devices. Once you have created the lists, if you enter the price of the item it will automatically calculate how much you have spent, once you've checked it off your list. The only downfall is that you have to manually enter the price, but once you've entered it for a certain item, it will remember it for the next shopping trip. There are many other features within this app but it was really nice to know what my bill was going to be before I was at the cash register. And it even help me put a few items back that weren't necessities to our kitchen.

*There is another app called GroceryIQ that is very similar but I prefer OOM.

CardStar
This app is more helpful for keeping yourself organized, but it also keeps all your rewards cards in one location. It's super easy; just collect all your rewards/discount cards (mine were all annoyingly on my key ring) and you can either enter your account number or just scan the bar code. It keeps a database of all the cards that you have in one app. There are lots of stores that use this and the cashier can simply scan it from your phone when you check out. It can also really save the embarrassment of searching through your whole bag when you "know it's in there somewhere."

Mint
Ok, if you haven't discovered this site, you are seriously missing out. A financial genius created a site where you can link your bank account (now before you start freaking out about giving that information to a website just hear me out) and it will track all of your income and expenses. It's free and it's completely SAFE; it has the same protection that online banking has and you can read more about their safety measure on their site. You can set up budgets, track monthly spending, and even set goals for yourself. When I was first starting to pay my own bills, this site was one of the best things I could have done for myself. Its more like a game to me now, to see which budgets I can keep in the green and how much money I can not spend. I may have a problem. But seriously, it's is such a great tool to use and it helps you stay aware of where your money really is going. Because seriously, how do you think I realized that my monthly grocery budget was out of control. Oh, and there is an app for that, too!

Check out these great apps and they are all iPhone and Android friendly. Enjoy!

Happy Weekend!

on friendships

This past weekend, I traveled to Lexington, Kentucky for girls weekend. A group of girls from college get together every three or four months for the, always enjoyable, girls weekend. We travel from at least six different states and find a central location to meet up. From Friday to Sunday, we spend hours upon hours talking, laughing, eating, wine drinking, and sharing in life updates. One of my most favorite things about girls weekend, is that regardless of how long it's been since we've seen each other, it's like no time as passed and we pick up right where we left off.

One thing I've realized recently is the importance of friendships. Since we've moved to a new area, it is becoming more apparent that we don't have the same kind of friendships up here. I have been really blessed in my life to have some really incredible friends. I love being surrounded with people that I am comfortable with and who you can just share in life together. As we move away from college, get married, start working and having kids, friendships have to adjust and change. A lot of us move away from one another which makes it harder to keep in touch regularly.

I am so thankful that I still have a group of friends that can get together and just enjoy our time together. I definitely wish we all lived in the same town, you know...like in college, but it's just not the reality of the situation anymore. But it's really refreshing to spend time with those lovely ladies and I am so thankful for each one of them.

Making friends as a "grown-up" is tough. It's definitely not like going to the playground and just deciding that that girl is going to be your new best friend. My new challenge is to meet new people and find people to share in the day to day life with one another. We were not created to do the life alone. And I love my husband and he truly is my best friend, but really, he doesn't get as excited I do about my new shoes or what to dish out all the best girl talk topics. And I appreciate that because I can't be his "guys" either.

This weekend reminded me of the importance of old friendship and thankful for the opportunity to make new ones.

happy birthday husband

j-

today you turn 26. welcome. i hope you enjoy it as much as i have so far. i know birthdays aren't as big of a deal to you as they are to me, but my prayer is that you feel loved and celebrated today. you deserve every bit of it. you work so hard and i am so proud of all you do. i am so thankful that God had a different plan for my life than i did because that means i get to share it with you. you are my favorite part of each day. whether its spending the whole day together or talking over dinner, it doesn't really matter. all that matters to me is that you are there. i never really imaged a husband as good as you. neither of us is perfect but at least we can fail at being perfect together. and so far it has been pretty fun. so i look forward to all the birthday to come in our lifetime together and i hope that this one is extra special...because it's today. happy birthday babe.

love you,

sha

(P.S. - Another Happy Birthday shout out to this dear friend!)

friday finds

Happy Friday! There isn't a whole lot going on in the Bend today (minus the Te'o girlfriend hoax). A little reading, yoga, cuddles with the pup...not too shabby. One of my most recent reading finds is this book. I am loving it. It's a really easy read and I am just zipping through it. As a new wife and homemaker, I am constantly searching for idea, tips, and musings to help me find my niche in taking care of my home. Growing up, I helped out at home with dishes, laundry and general cleaning, but for some reason now that I have my own home to take care of I have taken a special interest in different ways to do so. (This could also be because I have extra time on my hands since I'm not working. I'm sure my desire will change once I'm back to the eight to five grind.)

What I am loving so much about this book is the ideas are simple and have been around for some time. And to be honest, I've probably heard my mother and grandmother share some of these tid bits with me but it wasn't something top of mind at that stage of life. I haven't come up with any new cleaning methods or products, but I am getting a lot of satisfaction out of using household items versus harsh store bought chemicals.

And if there is one thing that I have learned so far it's that vinegar and baking soda can basically solve all of your problems. Seriously, it seems as though those two ingredients hold so much power and they easy and cheap!

So today, I am attempting to get the moldy smell out of my bath towels and also cleaning the inside of the dishwasher. And I'm accomplishing both with just those two miracle products. I'll let you know how both ventures turn out. If you are a fan of a more old fashioned and simpler way of doing life, I'd suggest you check out this book, or maybe you could even borrow mine when my nose isn't stuck in it.

And just because I think she's cute...here is Winnie's rendition of a downward dog.

resolutions

There is lots of talk these days of resolutions. Exercising, eating healthy, spending less money, getting organized. So many changes we want to make in ourselves in the fresh start of a new year. Truth be told, I am not much of a resolutions person. I figure if there is something that I want to change in my life that I should do it when it is necessary, especially since the new year only comes once a year. So I don't have any great new exciting resolutions to share with you. In fact, it's quite the opposite, I feel.

The past year has been a great one, no doubt. Yet, it has also been a bit exhausting. A whole lot happened in a matter of just 365 days. So many weekends traveled, friends and family visited, boxes packed and unpacked, and wedding activities galore. It was wonderful and I truly loved each and every moment that came with it. But now, I am ready for some rest. Days with nothing planned, evenings at home with my hubs, weekends where I don't have to get out of my pj's if I don't want to. This year I want to spend it being a twenty-something wife. That's it. That's all there is to it.

I am still in the process of finding a new job, but the search is  going very well. Two interviews in! However, I am a bit hesitant to jump back in to work just yet. As much as I enjoying having a career, the past few weeks have been so welcomed. Now, thankfully I have a husband who works very hard and is able to provide for us while I am in the job hunt, or this story might be a bit more panicked. Yet, there have been many days where I can simply rest and do those normal things that I enjoy. I have loved getting our new home set up and feelin' like us. Of course, it's not finished yet, but it's definitely getting there. I am finding new recipes and making yummy dinners. I've even started my second book and second puzzle. (Come to find out, I love puzzles)

So as this new year begins, I look forward to a year of just plain ole' married life. 

first Christmas as mr & mrs

thank you 2012

2012 has been good to us. There has been lots of wonderfulness this year. Between my brother marrying one of my best girlfriends, to me marrying my best friend, moving to a new town and getting settled into our married life, we have been so blessed over this past year. I think 2013 has it's work cut out for it but, none the less, I am looking forward to a new year and all that is in store.

I hope you have a wonderful, safe New Year. See you in 2013!

dinner dilemma

Since I have more time than usual on my hands, I've put extra effort into my creativity in the kitchen. Over the weekend, Jake and I made some delicious chicken parmesan and with just the two of us, we typically have a decent amount of left overs. And there is nothing that I love more than being able to re-purpose left overs for another great meal. After an extensive online search of how to use the chicken, I became inspired to recreate my favorite dish from Noodles & Co.

Amazingly, I had all the necessary ingredients (sort of) to make truffle mac & cheese. If you've never had truffle oil before you are missing out. It's delicious but a little bit goes a very long way.  I took the recipe from this blog and adjusted it a bit.

Truffle Mac & Cheese with Chicken

• 2 cups pasta
• 1 tablespoon truffle oil
• 1 3/4 cups chicken or vegetable stock, warmed
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, finely grated
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1/2 block cream cheese

 Cook the pasta according to the package. Drain the pasta, place in a bowl and toss with truffle oil.

 Cut pre-cooked chicken into bit size pieces, warm in skillet or in microwave. Set aside.

In a sauce pan, heat the stock on medium. Mix together the parmesan and flour, so that the flour coats the parmesan. Add to the stock and stir until the cheese has been melted and it thickens slightly. Add the pasta and cream cheese and stir until the cream cheese is completely melted.

Pour pasta and cheese mixture over chicken and mix gently. Add freshly, grated parmesan. Serve and enjoy!

It was delicious and thankfully there are still leftovers!