Christmas Photo Favorites!

We had a very blessed Christmas season!

We were able to spend a record 5! days in Evansville/Owensboro with my family. We very much enjoyed getting to see most of my aunts, uncles, and cousins. We also had a wonderful evening celebrating with our Family Group Bible Study. We came home Christmas night and have spent the past four days with Mark's side of the family. We have been able to celebrate with his parents, grandpas, and brothers as well as their families. We were especially excited to see the SD Rileys - our first time seeing them since August and we loved cuddling with our precious nieces and nephew.

Here is our Christmas, in our favorite photos:

Some of us Group Kids and our Kids. 

Our parents were part of an assigned Advent Group when they were "Young Marrieds." That 6 week Bible Study has resulted in more than 25 years of friendship, studying the word, and creating our own special family - now three generations deep in love. 

Aunt Lu and Annabeth enjoying a McDonald's playdate/lunch date on Christmas Eve.

Our goal was to wear her out - Lu succeeded!  

Christmas Morning with Grandmama-Mimi and Grandpa Kuhn  

Christmas Afternoon in Kentucky. We enjoyed special time with my cousin's wife/my friend Jill and their sweet son Cooper in from Florida. We had such a wonderful afternoon! ALL of my cousins and their children were in town! It was the first time we all have been together as a new baby was added just this fall! God is so good! 

The Riley Cousins! Annabeth was so happy to see the SD Rileys! 

Cousin Love.

They spent a lot of time just holding hands.

The Three of Us.

Just as we are.

Annabeth being crazy and us just laughing.

We love the  Christmas season and love seeing all of our family and friends. Even more, we enjoy celebrating the birth of our precious Lord and Savior. For from Him, all blessings come.

Merry Christmas Time!

Frugal Friday 19

Here is how we saved money/spent money wisely/worked to make extra money this week:

- My sister and I did some last minute Christmas shopping at Target and were able to save 10% off our order. The store was giving all customers a 10% discount off their total order to help make up for the credit card issue their shoppers had. Thanks Target! Saved: $3.90

- LucyAnne and I decided to take extra advantage of the extra 10% off by purchasing our shopping trip snacks (Starbucks) Saved: $.40

- Christmas Eve we did not have plans with friends or family until the evening so we had a LONG, cold day to fill. Mark, Lu, and I took Annabeth to a McDonald's for lunch and to play in the indoor playground! Not totally free fun but under $10 for lunch, entertainment, and a good long nap that followed

- I received an e-mail from the Here We Grow Again- Indy South Sale owners that it is registration time for the Spring 2014 Sale. I signed up and will begin transferring tags from last fall's unsold items to the spring sale AND tagging new items. My goal for this sale is 75 items and $100. We shall see...

Another short one this week! We have simply been enjoying precious time with family and friends!

Merry Christmas Week to All! We pray you have enjoyed celebrating our Savior's Birth!

Happy Savings to All!

"Buy Used and Save the Difference!"

Frugal Friday 18

Happy Frugal Friday!

Here is what we have been doing to save money/spend money wisely this week:

- I mended my black leggings and one of Annabeth's solid shirts. Both are staples and just had small holes. I couldn't see buying new so I just fixed them up.

- We met friends at The Commons playground in Columbus. We first enjoyed a lunch out and then had FREE fun playing on the playground and exchanging Christmas gifts!

- After a lengthy wait and even longer sick visit exam at the doctors, I treated Annabeth to Apple Juice at McDonald's. FREE thanks to a coupon from her Auntie Cassidy and Uncle Luke. Saved: $1.00

- Mark's mom sent over some yummy Christmas goodies! So kind of her!

- We checked out lots of dinosaur books and some movies for movie night at our library. FREE!
*Good thing because Mark and I both have something we are affectionately calling "The Death Flu." We have called in Nana (Mark's mom) to come get Annabeth and for the first time I am letting Annabeth spend the night away from us. Pray for me!*

Due to "The Death Flu" this ends this Frugal Friday because it feels awful to be in a sitting position.

Happy Savings to All!

"Buy Used and Save the Difference"

Monkey Arms

Happy Last Throwback Thursday!

I have enjoyed sharing some points from my past that have helped shape who I am today. I hope you have enjoyed reading!

I feel like, writing as a woman, body image issues have to be addressed. I decided to be really brave and share what I am most self-conscious about.

My arm hair. (Please note: This picture does not do it justice! There is so much!)

My parents both plenty of arm hair so I am doubly "blessed" and have even more than both of them! It really started showing around my middle school years - perfect timing right? In the 7th and 8th grade, a group of boys started calling me "Monkey Arms" and as us girls waited in the lunch line (they separated each grade into two lunch sessions - boys and girls) they would point, laugh, and comment. Around that same time, those boys saw a movie called "Congo" which features an ape named "Amy." Oh the irony...

I took to wearing long sleeves. I once shaved my arms and quickly realized I didn't want to have to do that every day for the rest of my life so I went back to the hairiness.

In high school, I became somewhat more okay with my hairy arms but I still did my best to hide them under long sleeves and especially in pictures. Then, around junior year, my Mama found this amazing Avon product that bleaches dark hair without turning it orange! It was a huge turning point, we invested in many bottles of it, and I finally felt like I didn't have to worry.

Then...

As I led a tour of future students and their parents, I asked if there were any questions or comments. One parent raised his hand. "Yes?" I said. He replied, "Dang girl! You have the hairiest arms I have ever seen!"

Yes. A parent said that!

Geez.

By college I stopped caring and quite honestly with the exception of wedding pictures and holding Annabeth pictures I have forgotten to hide them. Then...

Last fall, my best friend and I went to a new nail salon to treat ourselves to pedicures and manicures. All was going well until the manicure, I rolled up my sleeves, the manicurist began the process. Then she giggled. A tiny, little giggle. I immediately thought of my arm hair. Then I thought, "No. Amy. Stop. It's not about that." More tittering, giggling. Finally, in a Cambodian accent, "Oh. You have hair like monkey." Fits of laughter.

So...there you have it...I am most self-conscious about my arm hair. My monkey arm hair to be exact. But, in the end, Mark says he doesn't mind it and Annabeth loves to brush it so I guess it's okay with me :)

Dinosaurs, Dragons, and Monsters!

Dinosaurs.
Dragons. 
Monsters.
Annabeth's Three Favorite Things.

Our conversations are currently about these three things.

Example 1:
We have been working on getting Annabeth to say her name and age. Today practice went like this:
Me: What is your name?
A: "AB."
Me: "Annabeth what?"
A: "Din-saur."
Me: "How about Annabeth Sage Riley?"
A: "Syeah. Monser." (aka Monster)
Me: "Okay. How old are you?"
A: "Dragon!"

Example 2:
We went to lunch with friends today. As we were leaving this happened:
Me: "Okay, let's go Annabeth."
A: "No. I dragon. RAHAHRHRR!" *Puts hands in front of her mouth and waves. "FIRE!"

The love of dragons came from a children's show that she and Mark have been watching since last spring, "Jane and the Dragon." The monster interest came when she learned about Cookie Monster because he is on her Pampers diapers and she now loves saying things in a "monster" voice which consists of jumbling a bunch of letters together and growling. As for the dinosaurs, she just loves picking out every library book she can find about them. I can say that I am learning a lot about all three! 

Annabeth: Toddler Fashion Diva

I am not a fashionista. I like to look nice. I like to be presentable and appropriate for the occasion. I LOVE jewelry and accessories like scarves and hair bands/barrettes. However, I am not ever one who looks like a fashion spread or the displays at the mall. In fact, today I have on 8 year old leggings, simple tanks, and a hand-me-down cardigan from my younger sister.

BUT we do have one fashionista in our house and she is only 2!

Annabeth LOVES to pick out her clothes in the morning. As soon as she is up, she is in her closet looking for things to wear, finding shoes, and yelling "Bow! Bow!" until I get one out for her hair. She loves playing with my makeup and has even claimed a few of my purses as her own.

Need an example?

Here is what she picked to wear today:

Frugal Friday 17

Here is how we saved money/spent money wisely this week:

- We enjoyed free fun at home in the snow! We also made Snow Ice Cream

- Marked ordered Chinese on Sunday so we did pay for "eat-out" food but we also ate it for three meals. So yummy!

- We went to Target to shop for our quarterly round of items there. We really like their different snacks for Annabeth. When I got to the toddler food section someone had left their good coupons for what we needed!! Saved: $2.00

- We decided it was time to get rid of Annabeth's funky chunk/rat tail piece of hair. We cut her hair at home and also did the "first haircut package" with pictures and keepsake locks of hair. Saved: $17.95

 The funky chunk/rat tail reason for the haircut

 Chop Chop!

 Nanners and her new do! Looking too old! :(

- We cleaned out Annabeth's toys in preparation for the Christmas gifts that she will have coming soon. We ended up with three "give-away bags" - one went to Goodwill, one to my aunt and uncle for their new granddaughter to enjoy when visiting their house, and one to a teacher friend's Prize Box in her classroom. We pray that when Annabeth is older she will truly understand what we are doing when we clean out and that she will love giving better than receiving.

- I am still earning points on Swagbucks and money through advertising on this blog. Thank you for taking a moment to click on the ads - every click adds a little money to Annabeth's college fund!

Total Saved: $19.95

What have you been doing to save money? Do you clean out before Christmas?

Happy Savings to All!

"Buy Used and Save the Difference"