Freshness of a New Season!

Today, My house is order, my floors are semi-clean, all the dishes and laundry are put away, and I'm sitting next to a pile of devotion/marriage books and new pens...and I feel so excited about my goals and plans! Mostly I have these because I've not succeeded in all the ways I've wanted to this summer! Last night we had a great planning session using a great FREE website called Mint that helps you organize your spending, gives you charts and trends and predicts your bills/payments! Basically it helps a visual girl like me really SEE where I am spending money...namely...at the GROCERY store! BOO!! I have no idea where all the money goes because up until this month we pretty much ate what we bought and had empty shelves by the end of the week! We got a deep freeze for our wedding, and this has inspired us to buy things on sale and freeze them! That comes in handy, but it sure makes your grocery spending sky rocket! Yikes!

I have also copied my sister`s meal planning calendar and have been writing out ideas on the side of possible meals and then writing in the squares what I make! This is helping me know what I have stored away in the freezer! This month I was also BLESSED by one of my dear friends who was moving away with TONS of meat...like...TONS! I got ribs, chicken fingers, chicken, pork chops, soups, just so much and it has also helped me feel like I have so many more options for meals! I hope it never runs out!

But I really need to get strict with myself and last night my dear husband sat down with me and we both set some spending goals for ourselves with Groceries, Date Nights and Fast Food (or in my case, Starbucks) that we can spend weekly! We also made a great reward system that if we spend below our budget we can put the extra money into a travel account and maybe someday we can take a dream vacation to Hawaii or somewhere really exotic!!

Anyways. I have to continually be inspired, and I find I start out with alot of gumption, but I need to continue on and FINISH WELL! Start strong, Finish strong!

I know that there is alot of other people in the same mode as me this Fall, trying to gather up ideas and inspiration on starting a new season well! I love the new school supplies, fresh wardrobe change and new plans that Fall brings! I am also trying and PRAYING for the perfect part time job that will help me put payments on my loans, but won't take me away from my BFF for too long! I'm trying to think that this is a season that we have so much freedom with our Time and if there was ever a time that I could easily work in the evenings or on the weekends that this would be it! I just hate thinking of it right now! I only have 2 more full days of work, and the precarious subbing days will be upon me! So this is really important for me to figure out soon!

Hope you can send any tips or ideas or suggestions that work well for you! I need all the help I can get!

'

A little shot of Danny and I near the East Point Light house, PEI

Conflict Magnet

I actually do not like talking to people openly and honestly about things that annoy me about THEM but I have heard my fair share over the years of what I do that annoy some people! But recently (maybe since being married, lol!!) I've had more conflict then usual! What have I learned from it?

1. If I think about it, stew about it, worry about it, journal about it....instead of directly talking about it.....IT MAKES IT WORSE!

2. When I get it out there, even though it stings in the beginning, its ALWAYS better!

3. There is a TONE....there is a sharpness that Danny's made me notice that I use, and of any one in the world He hears it most, that I am getting used to realizing I use alot! I am not always (or maybe, EVER) graceful when he tells me I'm using it....but I am definitely aware of it now and slowly learning how to avoid it!

4. I am maybe not a conflict avoider....maybe more of a magnet, but at least its really showing me how to deal with things that bother me!

5. I still have ALOT to learn! There are still situations that make me mad *that are in the PAST now, but make me boil up when I think about them* that I need to deal with! I am slowly but surely becoming more sensitive to God's heart to me and that shows me how to love and accept other people. 

Anyways. I am sitting in my freshly cleaned floor, looking at my freshly laid living room floor and remembering how much my dear husband loves me! I love him too! And I do love to get along and have peace with the person I love the most! On another note: Here's a few pictures of our Living Room Progress from Day One to now!!!

We had alot of help taking off our border, painting the ceiling and laying down the floor!

Pink Carpet!

We took out the built in shelf, and I am dreaming about a HUGE bookshelf there some day!

Danny and I just went to town one night at about 8 pm and tore up the carpet and staples!!!

 Messy spot!

We are still waiting for 2 more blinds to complete our window to be in stock!!! hope they come soon!

Old dirty floor.....(above) 

Nice new dark brown click flooring! We wanted real wood, but we will wait for our next dream house!

And our new couch will be here next week so we still have alot to do to decorate this room and make it feel like home, but its coming!!!

Coming Home

Every day I wake up and love that sunshine. I love getting my best friend's lunch all packed and do our morning routine...complete with Danny grabbing his morning bubblegum from our machine before my kiss! hahaha (I should do the same for him, eh?) Anyways. I have been given alot of grace and kindness from him the past few weeks. There has been a few heavy things on my heart and I'm the kind of person that lets things affect me...I take things into our marriage that don't belong there...and he is so smart to figure that out WAY before I do. I am so thankful for grace and mercy that is new every morning. I like mornings, but I always hate saying goodbye to Dan.

I love coming home though! It`s my favorite time of the day. I am always excited to just hang out with my best friend. One of my goals is to have supper ready for him when he walks in (HUNGRY) and I feel so satisfied when I can! (if I have to make even one stop I usually can`t!)

This has been a summer of rest for me. We haven't had too many activities except enjoying our time together: We've had lots of beach nights, relaxing movie/TV series nights, supper on the deck, grabbing a treat from the drive thru, making our first blueberry pies in our new house (and finishing after 11 pm because of all the steps), using our BBQ as much as possible, and doing (a little) home renos. We haven't done a lot but I am so thankful for the way we work together.

 Our home is not a stressful place (unless I'm being cranky). Its happy, full of light and as clean as I can make it (although there feels to be incessant crumbs on my floor!!!). I have been encouraged lately to make my home a peaceful place and even though I haven`t done this every day, I know its a place I LOVE coming home to,

I look forward to driving in my driveway every day. It still feels like a dream that I get to see Danny all the time and be his wife forever!

My fave way to relax...with a coffee, a fan and a computer! 

At my little bro`s wedding!

Our fave little beach, with our new to us chairs and my deluxe pool mattress!

A picnic (and tunes from iphone) on the water!

Brothers

I'm so glad I have brothers! I am a little nostalgic this morning as there is a huge event happening in my littlest brothers life this weekend! He's getting married! I feel like this is surreal! Its crazy knowing that 2 months ago all this magic and preparation and jitters and stress was MY life and now its me looking on as Mike and Ally wrap up their final details! I feel amazed that our family has celebrated these 2 weddings so close and the HUGE effort that has been made by everyone is truly a GIFT and a BLESSING!

Kristi and Jay are travelling home for a whirlwind trip from New York.
Matt's flying in (second time this summer) from Toronto.
Lori and Brian are trying to manage celebrating Brian's 50th anniversary and then cruising down to make it in time for the Rehearsal dinner.
Mom has made (literally) a FREEZER full of goodies and meals and treats for the next few days that would be a feat that would knock you off your feet if you tried to do it! hahaha
Dad was mowing the lawn last night and making last minute adjustments to his Weed..ahem...Veggie Garden!

And I am trying to just support my mama as she tries to not forget anything!

I'm remembering my own wedding week and the UNBELIEVABLE support I received from my family and friends. I didn't even have to ask. My friends and family just swooped in and wrapped up any details and did things to this day I probably am STILL not aware they did for me!

My brothers helped me down the aisle. They opened the doors, helped me down the steps (so I didn't trip) and supported us down the aisle (just in case either my dad or I stumbled! hahha) Over the years these MEN have become my favorite people to be with. I am ashamed sometimes when I remember how we treated eachother. How World War 3 would ensue if one of us didn't top up the gas that we put in the night before (typically a $5 debt). I remember not letting Matt borrow my Lion King soundtrack and when Mike was a little boy I'd turn out the lights so he'd be scared and hug me! (Isn't that terrible?) OH man Brothers are just something that not every one gets to experience and when you have them you really know what a blessing (even when it feels like a curse!) they can be.

I really do admire my brothers. They are both smart, intelligent, athletic, funny and generous. I can't tell you the amount of times my brother Matt slipped me money when I was poor. He loves to give and although he used to be stingy with gas money...hahaha...that has certainly changed and he can hardly accept a 5 mile drive from me without throwing cash on my dashboard! Danny was shocked the first time he hung out with me and my little bro Mike together! We looooove to tease (harshly joke???) eachother and I just can't help myself...I revert back into this crazy silly immature Sister when I'm around him. Danny has said over and over to me "You really love Mike." I'm glad it shows. I know I am crazy and weird and fake-fight him all the time but I would do anything for that guy! I am so proud of him. He is so smart, level headed and wise for his age! He reads more than anyone I know (except maybe my Mom) and has found a TREASURE in his almost-wife Alyson! She is the perfect match for him! I am so excited to see how their wedding unfolds and to live so close to them as a married couple is a gift that I am so thankful for!

I love my family and I am so grateful for them all!