Hello 2011!

First of all I am going to say that I am pretty ashamed that I didn't blog once in 2010! I mean really? A whole year and I missed out on so much to blog about! So here I am in 2011 ready to start a new year, new me & blog more! This post will just be a bunch of rambling of 2010 happenings since I failed to share anything in a year!

2010 was a pretty great normal year! We still live in Kannapolis, I still am a major couponer & photographer, Jake is still is a manager @ Autobell, Rhylan turned 4, my photography business blew up, and I manage to create awesome friendships.

This year I have already started a 365 project that I miserably failed in 2011. I think I got to like day 150 and stopped. So this year I plan to continue it to the end even if my pictures are boring some days. I also plan to loose weight, or hope to! I seriously need to get back to my old body. You know the skinny me, hello I was a cheerleader all through high school. I miss that body & I’m sure my husband does too (although he wont admit it). I want to become a better mother & do more activities with Rhylan, become a better wife & do more laundry! Haha I know the laundry is never ending though seriously. I promise some days I just want to throw away all the clothes and go buy new ones!

Some good news that we received last week is that Jake got a new job! A new better paying job. Something that he will probably enjoy also! He is working @ Rim Guard Extreme where he will go around restoring factory wheels. He will have his own company truck, company cell phone, and be his own person on his own time. Although he will still be working the wash on the weekends just to keep the awesome benefits. I am proud of him! I know he will be hap

pier, and the wallet will be ecstatic!

Our lease will be up in the middle of the year at this house & I believe that we are not going to renew it. Although I love this house we just can’t eat the rent we are paying anymore. It’s a bit much & really we need to better our budget. So that will be fun house shopping. We aren't going to buy just yet because honestly we have no clue where we want to live and settle down. That day will come though & probably be hard.

My photography business has taken off nice. The end of 2010 was one busy year! I think I managed to do over 20 sessions in like 15 days. It was pretty crazy but I am pretty blessed! Now that the holidays are gone it has slowed down. It’s nice though to take a rest. I am thankful for all my wonderful clients who have supported me through it all! I did get a little portable studio that I can set up in my home or take with me on shoots. Its actually came in handy. Maybe one day when I when the lottery I will open my own studio!

Friendships. Yes those awesome ones that I have created! I have also lost some good ones though. But they say people come into your lives and leave for a reason. I am thankful for the ones I have though! They are an awesome support system too! We are all doing a 365 project and it’s actually nice to have someone doing it with you makes you try harder to keep at it!

Rhylan..I cannot believe he started preschool! He totally loves it, loves his friends & loves his teacher. I love his school & love the things he has learned. I can already tell a huge different in his speech & his interactions. Its sad though that my little baby is now in school & all grown up!

Ohhh and I cannot forget about the most exciting thing! I got a new car!! Yes af

ter 3yrs of trying and over 20 let downs we finally got a brand new car! 2010 Honda Civic to be exact. I love it! Thanks to my awesome hubby for having awesome friends who made it happen. Jake was so excited that after all that hard work it finally paid off.

Coupons....Ahhh yes those lovely things! I am addicted. I love them & don't know what I would do without them. I seriously cannot understand why anyone in this world would want to pay full price for anything! Tonight at the grocery store a man picked up a $4 bottle of soy sauce and I really wanted to slap him silly! I bought a whole cart of food for $4.57 and that man got 1 little bottle of soy sauce for around the same price. They seriously are a life savor though. They have made our grocery budge under $150 a month! Yes you read that right! That includes everything. I couldn't tell you the last time I paid full price for shampoo or razors. I still run my coupon blog & my facebook fan page. I more use the fan page though because it’s so much easier!

I just made a YouTube account and want to start teaching coupons through it. Since so many people are eager to learn and they are all over the world, or don't have enough time to make it to a class I figured it would be easier. Plus I could show my shopping trips, tips & tricks!

Ohh and I cant fail to mention our new pup! Or should I say whiner! Mr Mason. He is our Harlequin Great Dane. A little brat is what he is! He was a rescue that was abused & neglect. Poor thing just turned a year old and has had a rough start. He was bought as a show dog, had his ears clipped & then was neglected. The owner gave him to many immunizations in to little of time. Which then in return created him to have HOD. Which is a bone disease caused my several different things. There is much more to his story but after all he is here now living with us. Such a wonderful family. He still has a road of recovery & maybe one day will gain the weight he needs too. Till then he still looks starved. Poor guy! But he has fit in well & him and princess get along just fine.

Now since its 4am and I am still rambling on I guess I will finish off this post with some pictures from 2010.