What a difference one year has made..

Just wanted to take a moment and express my gratitude for all of the things I have been blessed with this past year. What an amazing year it has been! And although it has been such a blessing, 2013 started out how every year the past few years have started out. Broke. Scared. And back to the drawing board. We had big dreams of moving out of our studio basement apartment, running our own businesses one day and becoming the successful people we always believed we could be. But we were once again pushing our dreams aside because with nothing changing, why would our circumstances?

End of year party. We're in such a different position financially at this time last year!

My husband is the hardest worker I know and is willing to work any hours he possibly can for our family. But being in the construction industry, those hours are never promising and sometimes we would see weeks go by with no pay check. Without stable income, our dreams were seeming a lot more far fetched. I remember sitting down with him on January 1st and writing down our goals for the new year. We came up with some great things but they seemed a lot more like "wishes" then attainable goals. With money still being the main issue, we seriously talked about him joining the Navy Seal program and moving to California for a few years. We were so serious about it to the point Thomas had done everything he needed to do to join BESIDES sign his life away. After a week of seriously praying about it, we both felt that wasn't the answer for us. I remember crying because we needed SOMETHING else to happen for us! I was tired of the same routine we currently had and we just needed a change. 

My husband (on the right) after work. Seem's like fun, huh?!

Fast forwarding now to April. We celebrated our twins 1st birthday and one week later we found out we were expecting! No, this wasn't planned. But it was the best thing that could of happened to us, timing and all. With 1 year old twins and now expecting a new little one, I no longer "wanted" things to change, it now needed to. We needed to tackle this whole money thing! We needed to start bringing in income from another source. We both decided me getting a job wasn't the answer. Daycare for 2 babies would suck up almost everything I would earn and that wasn't worth it to either of us. 

Simon and Cohen on their 1st birthday!

Announcing our 3rd pregnancy

I remember praying a LOT for something to come along and bless our little family. Looking back now, I realize I was praying for something to fall into our laps. I wasn't praying for an opportunity for something to come along that I would have to work hard for. So I'm surprised my mind was open to the idea of joining a home-based business with It Works. 

To say It Works fell into my lap would be an understatement. The way I came across the business was completely random and if I had not come across it the day it did, I might not have ever been open to it. I believe with all my heart this was the answer to months and months of prayers. I joined without my husbands blessing (he thought it was a terrible idea) but I had an indescribable feeling about it and I just KNEW this was the answer for us.

Day 1 I remember looking at the pay scale chart and seeing the rank of Ruby. An average person at the rank of Ruby earns $599 a month in commission. I thought "WOW! If I could earn that, that would do wonders for our family!!" I believed It would take me a few months to get to Ruby and I hit it in my first 23 days. I wont lie and say I didn't do anything to hit that rank, because I worked my butt off. But I was able to do it from home! I was making real money all while being home with my kids 24/7! I couldn't have asked for anything better. I threw my first wrap party and I brought home $400 cash in ONE night. My husband would never admit this, but I will never forget the night I came in with a jar full of $20's. He got really choked up, gave me the biggest hug and thanked me for not listening to him. If anyone needed that money right then, it was us!!

My first party-$400 in one night!

Beginning to see a bright new future..

A few more months went by and I had the opportunity to earn a $10,000 bonus with the company. We had to hit the rank of Diamond by August 31st to earn it and never in my life have I ever been as focused as I was that month. The day before the deadline I was still really short of hitting that goal. I remember my husband saying "It's ok, you tried and that's all that matters!" But I wasn't taking no for an answer! A few hours before the cut-off I hit the rank of Diamond and earned that $10,000 bonus! I couldn't believe it!! Things like that don't happen to me. <---That was my mentality for the first 24 years of my life. After working extremely hard and earning the money I finally felt we deserved, I realized very quickly that YES great things can happen for me! If you're willing to do the work, anything is possible! Open your mind to other ideas. If you have only worked a 9-5 job and have never worked from home but need another income, why not try that?! put your efforts into something that YOU decide the hours and the pay. If you have been praying for something to come along and bless you and your families life, maybe this is the same answer it has been for me. The end of 2014 could look a lot different than it does this year if you're willing to make the change.

Earned my $10,000 bonus!!

Our little family was able to move out into a beautiful 100 year old historic home in the Eccles district after only working this business for 6 months. My husband no longer had to go to work after only 7 months of working and It Works is both of our full-time jobs! To be 25 and BOTH stay at home parents is more than a dream come true. For once in my life, our 2013 goals were not only accomplished but surpassed by a long shot! Retiring my husband was not one of my goals for this year. (Having a 3rd child was also not one of our goals) But it was achieved all because we took the risk, worked hard and changed our circumstances!

Our new home!!

With my husband no longer needing to work, he has been able to put his hobby of fighting into a potential career. Training every single day has never been an option for him. But now that he has so much more free time he has been able to take it more seriously and follow his dreams of becoming a world champion and opening up his own gym one day! He's had 5 fights since June of this year and is still undefeated!!

Not only has this allowed him to train daily, but he was also able to go be apart of the worlds very first MMA draft this past June!

We were blessed with our 3rd little boy on Thursday, December 12th. My how things have changed since the day we found out we were expecting him. 

Simon, Daddy, Cohen and daddy holding baby Miloh

Bottom line is.. If you want your current circumstances to change, YOU have to be the one to change them. You've got to do something different if you want things to be different. I don't know why we all have the mentality that "Oh yes, things will be different next year!" If we are un-willing to do something different. Hate to be the bearer of bad news but you are going to be in the exact same spot you're standing in today. Decide what it is you want out of life and don't let anything stand in the way of achieving your goals!!

Marble Sugar Cookies

When it comes to frosting sugar cookies, it's usually what I dread because it takes SO long! Especially when you've made a few batches, you can expect to be there all day. These cookies are the fastest frosting job i've ever done! I probably frosted over 50 in under 10 minutes and you would never know because they are so darling!

Ingredients:

Favorite Sugar Cookie Recipe

Frosting Recipe:

1/4 C Margarine 

4 C powder sugar

1/4 tsp Cream of Tarter

1 tsp Vanilla

2 egg whites

(food coloring I used: Wilton- No taste Red and Wilton- Sky blue)

Step 1:

Separate frosting into 3 bowls, leaving a little more for the white then they other 2 colors.

Add 1 tsp water to each one and mix around. Continue adding 1 tsp until it forms a syrup-like consistency.

 Step 2:

 In a flat bowl or deep plate, drop in some white

(It kind of looks like a pancake here)

Step 3:

 Add in some color by dripping your spoon over the white

 Step 4:

 Using a knife, swirl it into a design.

Step 5:

 Dip in sugar cookie

You will need to keep adding in color every few cookies, and it really doesn't matter what it looks like. My bowl was extremely sloppy at the end but the cookies still turned out super cute!

ENJOY!

Firecracker Funnel Cake

This is such a fun patriotic cake to serve as a yummy dessert on the 4th or Memorial day! The best part about this cake though, is the flavor!! This entire cake got eaten within 20 minutes (and between 3 people who aren't cake lovers!) So i'm telling you, if you want to surprise your guests with something truly delicious, this is the cake!!

(to see the recipe for the layered drink, go HERE)

Recipe:

1 box Pillsburry white cake mix (or use your favorite)

-Mix as directed

Frosting Recipe
(Sugar Cookie Recipe) ;)

1/4 C Margarine

4 C. Powdered sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

2 Egg Whites

1/4 tsp. Cream of Tarter

(food coloring I used was Wilton- no taste red and Wilton- sky blue)

Step 1:

 Seperate batter into 3 bowls, add in food coloring. 

(blue is wilton sky blue)

Step 2:

 Spray pan and layer the batter

 Leave the blue like this, don't spread it over the top!

After it's been cooked

Step 3: 

Seperate frosting into 3 bowls, add food coloring 

 Step 4: 

Add 1 tsp water to each frosting. Mix with spoon. Continue adding 1 tsp water until your frosting has this consistency. (Runny enough to drip on cake, but not too runny!)

Step 5:

Using your spoon, drip from side to side all over the cake. This is supposed to have a messy look so no need for perfection here! Add sprinkles to the top and your done! :)

DIY Layered Drink!

Ah... Nothing excites me more then a food or beverage magic trick and thats exactly what this is! I know its a wee bit early to be demonstrating 4th of July treats, However; Memorial Day is just around the corner and this would be a GREAT drink to serve guests at your BBQ or whatever you have planned that day!

So how does it work you might ask? It all has to do with the sugar content. The heaviest in sugar content goes on bottom. Easy as that! 

I messed around a lot with this drink to see if soda might work and it was a complete fail.. So stick with the drinks listed below!

Needed Drinks:

Minute Maid- Cranberry Apple Rasperry 57g sugar (YIKES!)

SoBe- Pina Colada 25g sugar

Gatorade- Glacier Freeze 5g sugar

The following steps are CRUCIAL!

Step 1: Poor in your minute maid drink about 1/3 of the way. 

Step 2: Stick in some ice cubes. Make SURE the ice cubes are basically covering the top of the red drink! (I actually poored some red drink out after the ice went in because it filled it a little too full!)

Step 3: Ever so slowly, start dripping in the white drink, making sure it hits the ice cube and not the drink. (Not doing so will cause it to mix)

Step 4: Do the same with the blue drink, dripping it (literally, this needs to be slow) onto the ice cubes instead of the drink

and TA-DA!

 I even set my drink out over night and when I woke up in the morning, it was still seperated!

Mothers Day Flowers

WOW it has been forever since my last post! I've sure missed doing crafty things on this blog but I have been the busiest person the last few months! 

I know its probably too late for anyone to do this for mothers day, considering its in about 6 hours, but this could be a super fun DIY project for the summer! It's REALLY easy, and requires little money (my favorite part) yet it's so bright and bold and makes a huge statement for your yard!

My mom has the most gorgous backyard, but theres a corner thats lacking in cuteness... We originally had a shed in the back corner of the yard and ever since we tore it down, nothing seems to be able to grow back there. So I figured, if we put something in a planter (and not in the ground) it should do just fine! I knew one little planter wasn't going to do the trick, so me and my husband came up with this..

(see that, even new grass wont grow back there!)

Here's the supplies you will need:

Walmart:

4 medium pots: $0.97 each

1 small pot: $0.79 

1 large pot: $1.92

4 ft rebar: (3/8 thick) (lows) $2.50

Spray paint: $3.27 each

Flowers: $2.50 each (a little goes a long way, I had a ton extra)

Potting soil: $1.92 (this whole project used about 1/4 a bag)

STEP 1 : PRIME

This step may be skipped if your using ceramic pots. I sent my husband off to get the supplies and he came home with plastic pots (and I had ceramic pots in my mind.) However, either will work! These plastic ones definitely needed primer, but ceramic wouldn't!

STEP 2: PAINT

The fun part! I'm a horrible spray-painter so I left this job to my husband. If you're doing this yourself, heres a tip from the master himself- "Stand as far away from whatever your spraying! Standing too close causes dripps and an uneven spray job!" ;) 

STEP 3: ASSEMBLE 

It looks like I skipped a few steps here but this whole next part is easier than it may look! First, hammer your rebar into the ground so its sturdy enough to hold all of these cute pots. Then using your large pot, fill it up with some dirt and arrange the flowers on the ouside only! The second pot should sit directly in the bottom pot but tilt it as much as you can. Once you put flowers on the tilted side, it stays a lot easier because of the weight! Leave the other side free of flowers (because the next pot will be sitting on top of that area.)

Keep doing these steps until you've finished! If you have more rebar hanging off the top, simply hammer it into the ground more! 

Also, if your pots dont have holes or your holes are too small, just drill them more! My husband had to drill holes in every single one because none off these plastic ones had holes. (Ceramic ones do, so i'm telling you if you can get ceramic, DO IT! It will save some time!)

Here's the end result again..

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!

Easter Ideas!

Carrot Wreath tutorial (HERE)

Make rice crispy treat baskets and fill them with Easter candy!

Get your own print (HERE)

Fill mason jars with Easter grass, candy and chocolate bunnies!

Simple cupcake with m&m's

Recipe (HERE)

Hot glue easter eggs and grass to a styrofoam cone

Simple Spring wreath

DIY Reese's Egg- Recipe (HERE)

Bunny Bait (Recipe Here!)

Cute and simple way to display utensils!

Smore's using peeps instead of regular marshmallows!

"peep's" Sugar cookies! Frost and dip in sprinkles.

Jelly Bean Easter Bark- (Recipe HERE!)

What a fun tradition to start with your kids!!

We did this last year and it was a HUGE hit!! Stick glow sticks inside eggs and have an Easter egg hunt on Easter Eve!

Make an Easter bunny village!

Apothecary jars filled with eggs and grass