Feelin Crafty

Today is my day off. I am feeling SO crafty. I bought some chalkboard paint and anything I thought to use it on, I DID! Chloe now has a new chalkboard top table in her room, all my spice jars are topped with it, and well...you get the picture

I have also been making new products for my Etsy store, so if you get the chance, please take a look! Hoping to start selling some of the fun new pieces I have made. I am loving creating new things and just hope people love them as much as I do!

Hope you all have a wonderful hump day! Happy Wednesday all :) 

Chloes new chalkboard table!

Spice jars!

Crafting away.

New Banners for my Etsy Shop :)

Coupon Mom.. and an additional note

I have previously before tried to coupon, and did okay. Nothing like what I want to. I want to coupon EXCELLENTLY! I want to cut my monthly bill in at least half and have found a few great sites to follow to help me with that.

I have started collecting coupons. I get at least 3 Sunday coupon sections and organize them by category and date. I am learning to stack with products on sale at different stores and with any in-store coupons I find. I am hoping y grocery shopping trip this week I can save at least 60% on my bill.

Here are a few of the blogs I follow with helpful couponing tips:

The Krazy Coupon Lady

Living Well, Spending Less

On another note, I am so loving spending a little more time on my blog. I have been adding to my Etsy shop, updating my Pinterest and of course, trying to increase my Scentsy sells. I would LOVE to help with anyone looking to add that cute touch of decor for the holiday to their home, to get some great new Spring / Summer smells or for any creative touch I can help with!

Thanks for all the support from my loved ones in my journey the last few years!

My Etsy Shop

I have had my Etsy shop, {Pretty Ginger} Designs, open for about a year and a half and haven't done much with it! But that's going to change. I make things all the time and would love to make it a part-time, for fun, business. I sell Scentsy because I enjoy the products. Well, why not sell stuff I enjoy to make? So here it is, my shop. Take a look. I am adding new things this week and next. Lots of fun things :)

{Pretty Ginger} Designs <-------CLICK HERE!!

Marrying My Best Friend

Lately, we have gotten a lot of invites to friends weddings this summer. Its crazy, actually, to think about. 5 already and it's only March. So I have to say that I am GLAD we decided to wait to next Summer. Really, it's a good idea.

On that note...

Marriage. Yeah, I said it. I'm doing it (again) and I have to say it's very strange and the young age of 26 to say that. I don't know how else to say it. It's the truth. I cannot believe that I was married before. And that I no longer have been for over 5 years. I know the story. I know it's not the way it sounds and that there are circumstances beyond my control that made it that way. Still, not everyone knows that. To some I am that "26 year old girl who will have been married twice and her baby isn't her fiances." I say that this way cause that IS what people say. It's the truth. I've heard it all before. I know the stories and I know the way things work. Funny thing is it's not all black and white. Or it's not all pretty roses and butterflies and happily ever after all the time. I'm not one of those people anymore. I was. For quite a while. It's weird to me even now as I type this how silly ALL OF THE ABOVE sounds. But its coming from my brain, to here.

Sigh.

I had this great need to be loved after "he who shall not be named" died. (had to, its from Harry Potter!) I felt like no one would like me the way he did and that I could never be happy. I would always be alone. And so I needed to find love for myself and boy, did that NOT work. Pathetic.

But I got lucky. I met a great guy. Didn't know at first how great he was. Lot's of stuff. Up's and downs. At at that time I was only 21. How do you know at that age things will last forever. Clearly at 18, I was wrong and at 21 I knew better than to plan on forever, but I am a go-getter. I don't give up easily and I a VERY VERY stubborn. (I know my mom is reading this and nodding agreeing with 100% of it.)

Now, 4 1/2 years later and after having been through enough of the crap that we have been through over the years, I know. I have never been MORE SURE of anything in my life. He IS my best friend. He is the father of my daughter. He loves us more than anything in the world and I know, without a doubt in my mind, that he would do anything we ever needed. How lucky am I, to be marrying my best friend. Pretty darn lucky. It took me along time to find him and ever longer to know he was the one. And boy am I glad he is. I can't wait for forever with him. Forever is along time, I know. But I know I found the one I am supposed to be with. I am the luckiest girl alive. Marrying my best friend. Seriously!

HAPPY DAYSS!!

Love you all,

End of Winter Blues

I have been spending most of my days busy. Busy with work, school, my 5 year old, finace, and the day to day housework. It feels like its never ending.

I love being a mom. It's the greatest choice I have ever made and the best thing that has ever happened to me. I live for my daughter. She is my heart and soul. All my choices, affect her. She is so fun. Very energetic (almost TOO much), very funny, friendly, and not to mention, extremely adorable. From her bright red hair, to her brown eyes, to her long gangly self and her long feet! Every single inch of her is perfect.

That being said, sometimes I just need some me time. Me time. What the heck is that?!? Work doesn't really seem to be it cause if I am not working for her, I am working for someone else. I have decided a mini vacation is in order. So we are going to Ocean Shores this weekend. Just Shavik and I. This is a much anticipated, much needed break. I don't remember the last time I had a vacation. I think as a kid with my parent's. So to have one as an adult, I think I might be just as excited as I would be if I was 12! I am going to miss not being with Chloe this weekend, but I think I'll be able to come back refreshed and ready to take on Spring and Summer with lots of fun things in mind for our little family!

I will post pictures following our trip. Can't wait to share!

Life Right Now

Hello all. Things around our house have been very busy. Between school, work, and all the other life things going on in our world, we haven't had much time to keep in contact with our loved ones.

Shavik is working hard. Lots of overtime and call in's. With this extreme cold, wind, and rain, he is gone early and home late. We appreciate him though for all the time he puts in!

Chloe is doing great! Second year of pre-school and she is learning so much! We can't believe how much she has grown. She amazes us everyday. She is so intelligent and is always listening and watching what we do. It scares us a bit cause we think she knows TOOO MUCH!

I have been working a lot, and doing school. On top of that trying to run a household. I have put off planning the wedding a bit as I have been so caught up in other things. Life has been so busy for me I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. Never thought I would be happy about that though.

We entered a contest in January to win a wedding at the venue we fell in love with, and we didn't win. So we decided to wait until next summer, 2015, to get married. We want to have the time to really plan and save. We have some home improvement projects we want to get started this summer as well.

Its amazing how when I look back on my life over the last 5 years, how much has changed. How much I have changed. I am proud, now, of who I am. It took me quite a bit of searching, learning, and growing to achieve that. It was hard cause I was very hard on myself and didn't give myself credit when due. I didn't think I deserved what I now have. I have a great support system in place with both my family, Shaviks family, and my wonderful friends. I am so lucky!

Hope you all have an amazing week. This is my moms birthday week! YAY! :)

I Met You.

I spent a lot of time searching for affection in shallow spaces. 

I gave people bits of me they didn't deserve and I let myself be hurt, 

because I thought that's what I deserved. 

But once I let go of trying to shove puzzle pieces in places that did not fit, 

once I let go of all the hate I secretly had stored in the gashes that decorate my heart. 

I met you.