Wow it's been a really really really long time!

It has been a really, really long time since I posted!

I don't have any excuses except that Life has been busy!!

I have many many things to be happy about....

I completed my bootcamp at the gym and lost 10lbs and 14 inches in 2 weeks...yay go me!

I celebrated my 34th birthday and was Baptized 4 days later.

Such an emotional week!!

My self portrait...this really shows how happy I have been!

Now for a run down of events happening in our lives from now back to April (my last post was March).

September:

Soccer and Camping!

It's that time again....soccer season is upon us and we are excited that Rachel and Charlotte are playing on our team!!!

My mom made the banner again and did an awesome job!!

First game: September 10, 2011

Kara is the little blondie.

Camping: Labor Day weekend!

We joined the Rawlings for some more camping fun this year!

Adrian is all smiles because he caught some fish.

Wayne and Adrian took the kids fishing while Sally and I enjoyed the peace and quiet at camp....actually we worked out!

the kids and Wayne with that day's catch.

August:

Lots of firsts!

Michael's first day of Pre-K

First soccer practice!

Rachel and Charlotte enjoyed their first practice ever!!

We took the kids to Discovery Kingdom and we rode an elephant named Valerie.

First time on and elephant...it was fun!!

July:

Summer time fun!

Happy 4th of July!

William's 1st 4th of July (love this little guy)!!

lots of fishing with daddy!

July 20: Kara lost her 1st tooth!

July 25th: First day of 1st grade!

June:

I spent a week in Monterey at a Science Institute!

I spent a week in Monterey at a Science Institute. I had a blast whale watching, taking a transect survey at the Tide Pools, disecting fish, and more!

My coworker and friend Gorett was my roommate.

The kids loved this tank.

Wayne brought the kids up on the last day and we met up at the aquarium. It was Michael's and Kara's 2nd time time there (well Michael was only 12 days old the first time) and their first time visiting the ocean.

Kara had been to the ocean before but doesn't remember it at all.

May:

This handsome little guy turned 4!

My big boy turned 4!!

April:

Coloring Easter eggs with friends!

We gathered at my mom's house to color Easter eggs with Rachel and Charlotte.

Little William joined in on the fun!!

Sorry I've been gone...

It's been be a month since I've posted! My last post was about my Thirty-One Gifts package I received to set up my business.

Since then I have had a successful Open House, thank you to everyone that came and or ordered!

I had my very first party as a consultant this past Sunday and have another one tonight!

Very excited to be doing so well this early on...hope it keeps going!

Next Wednesday my very good friend, Sally, is having a party at her house.

Can't wait to meet all the wonderful ladies!

I was also asked to participate in 2 Spring Open House's in April...

I wish I could post some pictures but my stinky little laptop is being cranky so it's in time out!

If you are ever interested in hosting a party please contact me by clicking on the button on my sidebar.

Finally!!

It's here!!!!

I had been waiting ALL week long for this to arrive!!

I was warned not to make a scene with the UPS man....I made no promises!

I think he knew something was up.....ran up to the door, set the package down, and ran back to the truck......or maybe he was just wanting to get his deliveries done..without being accosted by me!!

Isn't this a lovely shade of pink?!?!

Can't wait for my open house on Wednesday and hopefully start booking some parties!

Check out my website by clicking on the button in my side bar.

Week 2 and Week 3

Ok so I'm combining week 2 and week 3 of the weekly challenges for A Bowl Full of Lemons
I had my week 2 challenge done..I just forgot to take a picture of it and blog about it.

Week 2: Launch Pad...a place where things are to get out of the door faster.

Our coats get hung up in the newly organized coat closet that I did during the 21 day challenge. My purse hangs on a side table (keys are always inside my purse..well most of the time) near the kitchen...I grab it as I leave the kitchen in the morning.

All of our shoes...mostly mine and the kids go in this red basket that I picked up at Michael's last summer.

While getting the kids ready for school in the morning it is easy for them to get in the basket and pick out their shoes for the day.

Week 3: Recipe Binder

I don't actually have a ton of loose recipes laying around. Honestly I think I have maybe 4.

Most recipes I find online I just bookmark them and refer back to them when needed.

So I simply added a new tab to my Home Management Binder from week 1 challenge.

It's right behind the meal planning tab..which will come in handy, especially when I start to add more recipes.

I do have my recipe books that I refer to many times. I mostly use the famous Better Homes and Garden book that I got when we were married.

I actually used it today to make peanut butter cookies from scratch!
These books sit right next to my microwave.

I also have a recipe box that I had registered for when we got married.

it holds all the recipes my guests wrote down on 3x5 cards and gave to me at my bridal shower.

Maybe someday I will get these printed up onto regular paper and added to my recipe section of my binder...but I do love looking back at these cards from time to time.....
brings back memories from that day!

Linked to:

Happy Valentine's Day

The kids and I had fun making their Valentine's this year.

I found these on one of the many blogs I follow...
We filled the inside of them with Skittles.

Kara's were done in pink (didn't get a picture) and these are Michaels.

I found the to my valentine stamp at Michael's for only $1

I found my next idea for the kids on Family Fun.

They made a t-shirt with a snowflake on it so I decided to make a heart one for Kara.

love it!

I'm honestly not crazy about Michael's....it didn't turn out how I wanted it to.
But he loves it and honestly it looks like something he would draw!

.......and just because they are too cute:
waiting to go fishing with Daddy and Adrian.

Linked to:

Valentine's Day Wreath

The other day I was browsing through many different blogs and stumbled across this one:

Sweet Little Smoothie.

She had a tutorial on how to make a winter wreath out of plastic shopping bags.

I am ashamed to admit that I still have my Christmas wreath hanging on my door----that is until today.

I had a bunch of Target bags stored in my pantry...and since they are red and white in color I knew they would work out perfectly.

First: I took about 14 Target bags and cut the handles off and then cut the bottom off right next to the seam.

after cutting the handles and bottom off, I then folded the bag over and cut it. Then cut out strips about 1 1/2 inches wide.

I then stacked 4 strips on top of eachother and then tied them onto a wire coat hanger formed into a circle.

The final product!

I bought 2 packs of mini clothespins with small hearts glued on at Michaels.

They came in a pack of 16 and I paid a total of $2.40 for both.

I attached them randomly to the wreath.

I love how it turned out and the fact that it cost me less than $3.00!!

Linked up to:

My new business adventure!

After many months of discussing back and forth in my own head I have decided to become and Independent Rep for Thirty One Gifts.

If you haven't heard about Thirty One Gifts then you are in for a real treat!

If you have already seen the product, then you know how nice it is!!

They have products that can be used for organization, sports, a fun day at the beach or park, and some that can be very fashionable!

They also have an adorable 31kids section.

The new Spring Catalog has some cute prints!!

If you are interested in shopping then take a look at this month's special:

Maybe you might be intersted in hosting a party at your house.

Thirty One parties are very casual and laid back!

Hostesses can earn awesome rewards and free product!!

I'd love for you to stop by my website and check out the catalog!!

http://www.mythirtyone.com/SabrinaButler/

Let me know what you think!!

Shaklee is heaven sent!

Ok, so I already have the Shaklee Basic H Cleaner and I love it!

I've been curious about the Scour Off and my lovely friend Sally was kind enough to give me a small sample....

So I tried it on my stove...I was nervous about it because we do live in a rental and I didn't want to mess the top of the stove up..but something needed to be done to get rid of this ugliness!!!

I have no clue what it is from but it's there and must be removed!!

...and after! Isn't it amazing!!!!

Just took a small amount of scour off and some elbow grease!!

I would show you a picture of the scour off but I don't have one...yet.
..but if you click on Sally's name in the post you can see it there!

A Bowl full of Lemons Weekly Challenge: Household Binder

Completed my first challenge on A Bowl Full of Lemons weekly challenge!

Our challenge was to create a household management binder.

I picked my binder up at the Dollar Store. Found a cute scrapbook page and here it is:

makes me think of Spring and Summer...

My tabs include:

*Calendar

*Cleaning

*Meal Planning

*Budget

*School

*Birthday

*Phone Numbers

*Shaklee (my cleaning guide)

I'm already putting it to good use!

Linked to:

Kara turns 6!

Kara turned 6 on January 27th.

I can't believe she is already 6!! Seems like yesterday I brought my little "sweet pea" home from the hospital.

She is now in kindergarten(thinks she can go to first grade now that she's 6), reading, and is amazing to talk to!!

Daddy and Michael brought these balloons to school for her.

She chose to wear this to school (minus the headband)

...and because it was her birthday she decided she needed to wear a party dress and party shoes (a bit scuffed from playing at school).
She added the jacket and pants because she wanted to go to the back yard with Daddy.

love this face

singing...

make a wish....

this little guy was our youngest birthday guest!

Michael loves his cousin!

Kara loves him too!!

William is such a handsome boy..just like my brother!