Crazy Busy!

School is back in session and life has gotten hectic! I am usually at work for about 10 hours each day, making sure lessons plans are made and materials are ready to go. That means getting home about 6 and whipping something up for dinner. Then, finally, some relaxing time. Sometimes, it means more planning and/or grading while the tv is on.

The husband has started is new set of classes for police academy. He has to be there at 7am and is off at 4pm. Early day for him, but he's off in the late afternoon. He likes that part, been able to work in the garden more and make sure his yard looks nice. But the mornings aren't any fun for him!

County Fair is in Town!

This week, the county fair is in our town. Talk about (mostly) free entertainment! My husband and I have been down to the fair a few time this week. We even entered some items into the open judging (non-4H). We got ribbons for our items!

 Remember this bag from when we visited my grandma's house? It got Grand Champion!!

BIRTHDAY!

My birthday was Tuesday, August 6th! I turned 28 this year and had a pretty good day. My parents are out of town visiting my sister and my husband was at work, so my day didn't start out too exciting. I went on my summer morning walk that I've been trying to do three times a week before school starts. I FaceTimed with my mom and niece to open my cards. I got a Beauty Brands gift card from my parents. The next day, I went for a pedicure, brow wax, and haircut before school starts on Friday (teachers only til next Wednesday).

My husband and I went to dinner with his parents to celebrate. Here is the hubby and I with my birthday cookie cake! I love cookie cake more than regular, "real" cake.

 

I used my birthday gift money to shop for new school clothes. I shopped Target's clearance so that I could get more bang for my bucks! As summer is winding down, I was able to get two pair of sandals for less than $20, a dress for $18, and a skirt for $17. I am excited to show off my new items of to my colleagues!

 

August Birchbox

Happy August! This was my birthday week, so getting my Birchbox this week was like another present!!

 

Juice Beauty: oil-free moisturizer to be used morning and night to hydrate skin

Whish: exfoliating body wash with a coconut-rich scrub

*I have previously received a Whish shaving cream product and LOVED it, so I am looking forward to this product very much!

 Curly Hair Solutions: weightless serum to keep my curls defined

*I have naturally curly hair and with the humidity of Kansas summers, I'm looking forward to this

 

 Whish: hair inhibiting deodorant swipes for underarms

 Coastal Scents: eyeshadow for the perfect smoky eye

Goals Update: August

My husband and I took time to make goals for ourselves for 2013. We tried to be specific and will hold ourselves to these goals. After three months, we have begun 11 out of the 13 goals, with 5 fully accomplished!

1. Plan a vacation for just the two of us - With my husband starting a new job, we won't be taking a vacation any time soon. But we are keeping up our saving so that when we have vacation time, we will be able to go somewhere great!!
2. Pay off 100% of student loans!
3. Save and buy a "new" vehicle - $4,034.87 saved as of August 1, 2013
4. Save 100% of emergency fund!
5. Get basement and garage ORGANIZED!
6. Floor the attic (more storage) - still haven't thought about this at all, too far down on the list to do anything -- thinking this might not be accomplished this year...
7. Bret to purchase the firearm of his choice
8. Organize a Legacy Drawer  - About 90% completed! Still need to write legacy letters & think of funeral plan
9. Make wills for each of us
10. Build a 72-Hour emergency kit (here and here) --> We have a few items in our emergency kit, working on it slowly by surely
11. Be intentional about finding opportunities to give to others --> I have tried to find opportunities for random acts of kindness
12. Plan our meals by the week - so far, so good! We do this on Sunday night for the following week
13. Keep communication open and loving between us --> We have been trying to pray together at least once a day. Especially with the school year starting up again, we discuss our days with one another in the evening. We are going eat more dinners at the dinner table than on the couch. Usually we are good about this, but got a little lazy over the summer.