SPT - Fuel or Shopping Spree?

Our spt challenge this week is: your challenge this week? find your last receipt from the gas station (or if you are filling up over the weekend, make note of what you spend.) how'd you do? $35.00? $70.00? $100.00+?? what if you could take THAT amount and spend it on something for you?? to make it a little more challenging, let's just say that you can only buy ONE item, and the cost of that ONE item must be within $5.00 of what you spent at the pump.

I have between $48.10 - $58.10 to go shopping with.

My first thought in this imaginary shopping spree was to buy a new outfit. I'm sure others get sick of seeing me in the same few outfits week after week. I know I do. But (although this may surprise all females out there) I don't like shopping! It's such a hassle finding something that looks good, not only on the hanger, but on myself too, and then have that item be the right price for our low budget. The sizes drive me nuts too! How can I be a size small, medium, large and X-large in the same shopping trip? It makes no sense! Maybe one day, when money is not such an issue, I'll like shopping. Maybe.

So, because I x'ed out the clothing idea right off the bat, I had to think of something else I wanted (most of which were either way below or way above my target price range). There was one item that I have been toying about getting, but have been putting off until our next long driving trip. I would buy Chronicles of Narnia boxed set on Audio CD.

It turns out that the cost of this item is $54, which is only $.90 over the amount I paid for fuel this last weekend.

How would you spend your money, if you didn't have to pay the outrageous price of fuel?

SPT - Earth Day

Lelly's SPT challenge for this week is:
this week, go out and plant a tree. carpool. invest in a good water bottle. at the very least, take a moment and figure out your ecological footprint. if you participated last year, are you doing anything *greener* this year? if this is your first earth day spt, do you consider yourself a part of "the green generation?"

Although I don't do as much as I should, I do what I can. Year by year we are getting better at being part of "the green generation". But I still have room for improvement for next years spt :)

I Reduce:

These babies were purchased last November. Oh, how I love front load (high efficiency) washers & dryers! Saves time, saves money, saves water, saves electricity.

This was installed last summer. CPS regulates a/c usage by turning it off for 10 minutes at a time. I didn't even notice it, and it supposedly saves a "ton" of electricity.

Our "bright idea" of a year ago. These light bulbs "Save Money. Save Energy. Save the Environment." - or so I've been told :)

I Reuse:

My kind of Tupperware.

I Recycle:

Today not only is earth day, it just so happens that it's recycle pick-up day too. How convenient! It makes me feel like I've helped out a little today.

Do you have any great, inexpensive ideas that you do to help save the earth?
HAPPY EARTH DAY!!!!

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - Nature Parks

I've lived in big cities all my life. With all the hustle and bustle of the city it's nice to be able to retreat into the woodlands.

We fortunately don't have to go far to get away. I love all the nature parks and trails in and around San Antonio. We try to go hiking at least once a month in different parks around town.

This last Saturday we enjoyed a picnic and hike at Friedrich Park with some friends, Bob & Becky and their children came with us.

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - My Hands to Create

I enjoy doing all kinds of crafts. Lately I've been working on cards / paper crafts and cake decorating. Because of all this creative fun I've been having, I've realized how grateful I am for my hands that are able to do what I want to do.

These are peppermint patty duos. Two York mints fit in each box. I did these for the card swap in the surprise / anything category.

This is for a young girl's birthday, I made for the card swap in the birthday category.

The bags with tags I made for the spring category.

Three of the children in my primary class had birthdays last week so I made each of them the above card and the whole class got treats last Sunday (below - one of each)

Last Wednesday was our Crafty Clique night. We had Lindsay teach us cake decorating. Lindsay put so much work into it. She was amazing! She made about 30 cakes and all the icing to go with it, planned two different cake designs / techniques to teach us, she bought all the supplies, did all the setting up & cleaning up, and taught a fabulous class. We all had so much fun. I learned so many useful decorating tips.

Working on the flower cake

Working on the dot cake

The finished products

My work of art!

What do you like to create with your hands?

Me In Threes Thursdays - Weeks 11 - 15

Again, I have to catch up. I should just say I'm doing it monthly, than I'd right on target doing four to five questions each time. That's that, it's settled, I'm doing Threes Thursdays monthly now.

Week 11
What are three of the books you've read this past year?

1. Twilight series (to date)
2. Love Comes Softly series (vol. 1 & 2)
3. The Work and the Glory (only vol 1 so far)

Week 12
What three books do you want to read?

1. Twilight series: Breaking Dawn (comes out on August 2, I can't wait!!!)
2. The Work and the Glory (vol 2-9, they should be coming in the mail soon)
3. Love Comes Softly series (vol 3-8, I need to get them from the library)
   

Week 13
What are three sounds you like?

1. Children laughing and giggling
2. Men's Quartet
3. Compliments (I know it's not a specific sound, but I do hear it, so it counts)
   

Week 14
What are three sounds you don't like?

1. Children whining
2. The violin
3. Country / folk music
   

Week 15
What are three smells you don't like?

1. Vomit
   
2. Manure (or any dung)
3. Wet dog (or any wet animal)
   

I Got Tagged

It was actually a long time ago that I was tagged, but better late than never right? With the pictures I'm including, this looks quite long.

A- Attached or Single: Attached forever and it couldn't be better!

Isn't he HOT!!!

B- Best friend: My husband Brad

When I first met Brad (14), it's the school picture he gave me. Brad now. He was very cute then and is extremely handsome now.

C- Cake of Pie: Cake definitely - I'm not a big cooked fruit person.
D- Day of Choice: Saturday's because I usually get to see Brad more and hang out as a family (walking, hiking, cycling, playing games, etc)

It looks like Brad has a big load, but that is only fair since he cycles everyday.

E- Essential Item: The scriptures. I don't want to know where I'd be in my life without them and the gospel.
F- Favorite color: royal blue (as a kid i use to love the colour orange - but fortunately I grew out of those awkward stages).
G- Gummi Bears or Worms: Neither, just give me good chocolate.
H- Hometown: Calgary, Alberta. I lived there for 19 years altogether.

I miss those mountains!

I- Indulgence(s): My frozen cookie dough (mmmm)
J- January or July: January in Texas, but July in Canada.
K-Kids: Three very energetic children. Two boys and one very girlie girl.

Caleb, Matthias & Seija

L- Life is Incomplete Without: The gospel of Jesus Christ and my family

My family on our latest hike in Bourne

M-Marriage Date: July 13, 2000 (which makes the years we've been married very easy to remember)

Us with the Cardston Temple in the background

N- Number of Siblings: 4 brothers and one sister (also 8 sister-in-laws, almost 3 brother-in-laws, and 5 step siblings-in-law)

Old family pictures with (I'm the one with a pink bow and then the one upfront)

The most recent family picture (we've grown)

O- Oranges or apples: If they are mandarin oranges then I definitely pick oranges.
P- Phobias or Fears: My husband dying young.
Q- Quotes: "That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing itself is changed, but that our power to do is increased." Ralph Waldo Emerson
R- Reason to Smile: Seija's antics

Seija stuffing her shirt with a whole container of wipes. Seija being very girly - a tutu, jewellery, and a baby in a stroller.

S- Season: In Texas I like late autumn, winter and early spring. In Canada I like the summer.
T- Tag Seven: Kalina, Jami, Jill, Alyson, Lindsay, Cynthia, Jenni
U- Unknown Fact about Me: The birthmark on my calf is in the shape of lips.
V- Vegetarian or Meat Lover: I eat meat, but "love" is going too far!
W- Worst Habit: I have excema and I scratch and pick at the dead skin.
X- X Rays or Ultrasounds: I may not like what has happened to need an x-ray but getting an x-ray is way easier than getting an ultrasound (I get really sick during my pregnancies so trying to keep water down is impossible and then to try and hold it in while they do the ultrasound is also very challenging)

I broke three toes (just before EFY)

Y- Your Favorite Food: Anything I don't have to make or clean-up.
Z-Zodiac: Scorpio (I actually had to look it up to find out)

Sunday's Weekly Blessing - General Conference

I love watching general conference. I receive so much inspiration for my life (how I should live, what I should do, how I should change) from those who speak. It was very interesting that one of my favorite talks this conference was Elder Richard G Scott's. Interesting, because his talk doesn't pertain to me and my life. It was on abuse, and I've never been abused in any way nor do I abuse others. Even still it was one of my favorite talks this year. Anyone who has been abused or has done the abusing should seriously read or listen to this talk. It was wonderful. I also liked President Monson's words and Elder Ballard's talk on mothers.

inside the huge conference center

The outside view of the conference center

Ashley's Visit

Brad's sister Ashley came to visit us for a week and a half. It was so much fun to see her again. The last time we were able to spend time with her was before she left on a mission to Houston. We love you Ashley! Thanks for coming to see us!!

When Ashley got here the morning of the 21st we headed straight to the playground - even though she had been up all night traveling :(

On the 23rd we enjoyed a day at the overcrowded SeaWorld in San Antonio.

We squeezed ourselves into the Viva show and visited other areas of this amazing theme park.

Easter Sunday was an enjoyable, relaxing day. Our friends, Jim and Kristi, invited us and Scott over for a fabulous dinner and super fun games. They got us completely hooked on the "Ticket to Ride" board game. Love it!


We spent another day at SeaWorld on the 26th, which was fortunately a lot less crowded. We were able to see Shamu in "Believe",

a scuba diver feeding the sting rays (sorry bad picture) and the ski show that day.


Wednesday we went up to the San Antonio Temple to take some pictures (Ashley was able to attend a session the night before) and then went shopping.




That night Grandma came into town also. It was fun to get to spend time with her the one whole day she was in town!!! We packed Thursday full of activities since Grandma and Ashley were leaving the next morning. We were able to go to Caleb's school and have lunch with him (at 11 am, what's up with that?!).

Then we headed to the zoo for the afternoon,

and when Caleb got home from school we went to the park.
We really enjoyed having you here Ashley! Your welcome to come anytime!!