A New Year

Happy New year! Wow- 2011? Really? Im going to get married, my baby is turning two and I will become a registered nurse this year. I'm thinking its going to be a good one! Im bound for it. I decided I need to start the year with a lot of SWEATING, STUDYING, and SAVING. Yes...all "S"'s:o) Not intentional, but a nice fit. The gym needs to become a priority this year, I mean really. Last year I did great for awhile, Im going to try to beat that record and make it past April. Studying- Ive got a lot of it coming in the next 17 weeks or so (15 weeks of actual class- not counting or anything minus this week and minus spring break).
Oh did I mention Im going on a cruise this year too?! WOW. Lastly, saving..its essential. I think I am going to start by making a weeks worth of meals with what we have on hand...Im going to try though we are to bare minimum right now.

I hope all of you have an amazing 2011!!! I will let you know how the week of pantry meals goes.

Tddler making me nuts

Okay so I know, or well have learned that being the mom you imagined isnt always possible. I love that I am mostly the mom I imagined, but not today. No today I was the mom I never wanted to be. I sat on the couch for much of the day and wanted to be left alone. I did have a tea party and went for a walk but I was lazy. I guess what I should have learned by now is that sometimes when you are an excellent (yeah, I do pride my mothering skills) mom you need a break to be a mediocre mom. I think just about all moms are great in their own way. I cant keep up with some moms in some situations but ya know- I do what I do and I do it well and we keep on rolling with the times. But these times, boy oh boy. Its Sass this and Sass that and whine over this and stomp over that. Arrrgh. Poor girl I know she is just bored sometimes and she isnt feeling real good. I think she is getting an upset stomach from antibiotics that she is on for the ear infection, but I cant always handle the whining. Hah- I guess the quote from my friend hits home today- The true reflection of yourself will be in what your children do and say (or close to it). As I sit here and whine. Ahhh, feels good.

Bradley has been gone since yesterday. He seemed to really be missing home last night but he was able to keep busy today golfing 12 hours and forgot about all his mushy homesickness. He didnt miss me that much when I was gone, but he leaves and its waterfalls of emotion. Ah, I love him. Im gonna marry him, yep on October 14, 2011! Love it! This golf trip is his vacation and I get to go on vacation with some girls in March- a cruise- SOOO EXCITED!

Well I guess Ill end with the wonderful thought of the cruise because that will be nice to dream about. I had to add the picture, its just so nice to dream about. Whats better is I think Im the only one going from North of the FL/GA line and Michigan in March is the worst of the worst weather- dreary, cold, blah! I will sooo need this weeked.
Night
-Aimee'

I WANT IT BAAAAD

Blogging would be so much easier and waaaaay better if I could just get the new Samsung Vibrant and do it right from there. The amount of fantastic pictures I could take and share with the world would just be fantastic. Not to metion the Kindle app, liveoffice, etc. Well any Android phone would work- but if your going to go big...might as well go flippin expensive too, right??

Oh and how about the new jeggings craze? Yeah, I got some..will I ever wear them? Not sure. Ive decided I may try to dress like it looks like I care from now on...you know on some days. I say this now- before the 6 a.m. alarm clock days have begun. Ahhh well.

Okay off to bed for an hour or so until my bad sleeping wakes me.
Here is an updated picture of the little cupcake:

God I love her<3<3

Summer

Hi all. I wish I could for once start a blog without the introduction of how I am so bad at blogging and staying on it. My summer is coming to a halt in one swift motion. I came into this summer with the main intention to be to spend as much time as possible having fun with Evelyn and to do some really fun stuff with her. So we went to 2 different zoo's, a beach, 4 road trips, aquarium, turtle cove, water parks, lots of parks, libraries, and of course many trips to JoAnn's! This summer has been so amazing with her. She is so spirited and funny and smart. I cant get over the sarcasm that just shines through her smirks and her glaring eyes as she points that chubby little finger and says "No No Momma, No No". Cute....its a good thing! We have gone to KY a lot this summer and its been so fabulous. So much more space for E to run around in and of course its great for her to see her family that cant be here all the time.
I start the last year of the nursing program this week. Im excited to get back in gear. Im just concerned that the support system that I finally built last year isnt ready for the drastic change coming...yeah that means Brad. lol. Poor guy, I know he (nor anyone) hasnt a clue what its like going through this program unless you are the one doing it. Anyways, this year there is no wiggle room for getting the family used to it for a semester before I get the much needed help, these first 8 weeks are probably going to be the most brutal of them all. I didnt get PM clinicals like I wish for, instead I will have to be downtown detroit by 7 a.m. Oh sure....cake.
My aunt and I started an etsy shop and we are loving it. Its not horribly over whelming and we are doing something that we love to do. I am getting much more business than I ever expected with the Boutonnieres I have been making out of buttons. They are super fun to make and my prices so far are pretty competitive. Im thinking about doing a giveaway on a wedding blog, hopefully a Michigan wedding blog. Any ideas?
Lastly Brad and I are getting started into some really fun wedding planning! I am so excited. We have the venue for the reception/cocktail hour/reception booked. And it is just what I had imagined to find, and I actually found it! We will be taking care of the catering next, mmm foood. That should be good.

My little angel is sleeping right now so I am going sit and listen to this fabulous pandora radio and catch up on my blog reading. Hope to be back soon!
-Aimee'

The big 1!

Well today its is the tru medical test of one year. Evelyn turned one almost a full month ago and today we go to the Dr. for the one year check up. What an amazing change...over the course of one year this tiny baby grew up more than she will in the next 20 years of her life (or so it seems). She is cruising around on two thick thighs that I love to squeeze and kiss! Im hoping for a positive appointment, I have no doubts.
The first birthday party was a blast in all its cupcake glory! I had a cupcake bar complete with cute little cupcake boxes so that all of E's party guests could decorate a cupcake and take it home. Of course we had cake for eating there as well!

We have a big week planned, since mommy is off of school! Tomorrow we are going to visit our very favorites to sew, and late this week we are going again to make some play-dough out of kool-aid(organic!).

I will update after the Dr. Appointment. Oh and Evelyn LOVES the outside, Ill have to take some pics today when we go out to play as it is sooo nice:o)

Busy

Where have I been? I have so badly wanted to be a great blogger, and I cant even keep up. Well one semester down and a three week break to boot. I am working on so many projects right now, I hope to keep them done in time for Christmas- CRAP Christmas is next week- no literally a week from tomorrow is CHRISTMAS DAY. Man O Man I need to get going. Anyways I have a couple of non sewing projects as well. Time to put in the storm windows, do a top to bottomw scrub of the house, and to get this baby back to sleeping normal again. Lets guess how much of it will get done? hah. Well I am working on a fabulous dress for Evelyn, I will post pictures; it is the style and under the assistance of Tiffany Jewel who is so talented! Well I hope to be frequently updated this blog world with my life:o)

Canning!

Can I just say how fun and rewarding this was. We first spent the morning at Eastern Market in Detroit and then came home to CAN!!! It was my dad and I and soo much fun:o)
First we started with LOTS and LOTS of tomatoes! All grown in our garden in the back yard.

Then we peeled, seeded, and SQUEEZED....
Then we cooked and simmered for hours and seasoned with our own blend of seasoning ((yumm))
Then we processed the cans....and we are done!

In addition to spaghetti sauce (above) we made jam with strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and rasberries....al bought from EM for super cheap.

We also bought 75 ears of corn for 10 dollars and boiled, husked and froze the corn. And we have since eaten in and YUMM-O!!! This frozen corn tastes JUST like corn on the cob...didnt even need butter. Mmmm talking about it makes me want some.

We also bought a bushel of fresh picked green beans. We took some to all of our family members and friends in the area, and still has 13 servings (enough to go with dinner) to freeze. For these we just put them in triple thick brown paper bags and rolled them up and froze them in the deep freeze. These also taste AMAZING:o) Oh and did I mention the entire bushel only cost $4.00!

So here is the breakdown of what we bought/made

Tomatoes -Free
Spices-On hand
Fruit-8.50
Corn-10.00
Green Beans-10.00
Canning Tools-12.00(reuseable)
Cans-15.00 (reuseable)

Total Spent-55.50

If bought at store:
15 cans of corn- 15.00
13 cans of beans- 13.00
20 jars of jelly -44.00
14 jars of spaghetti sauce - 28.00 (on sale)

Money saved: 45.00!

I'd say that is a great deal, and time worth spending..not to mention how much fun it was!

Oh and of course, much of the Jam will be presents.