New layout

I have been wanting a new layout for my blog but really didn't want to pay for someone to help me design it. I am so thankful I found a super cute layout for free! I have really been lovin zebra print lately, so this is perfect! I am loving it! I wanted to put a little shout out to my new etsy shop! Check it out on the left side of my page! RASberryDesigns.etsy.com
I'm super excited about all these fun new things going on in my life!

7 years together

Seven years ago today, James asked me to be his girlfriend. On our walk today, we were trying to remember the exact words that we said to each other. We each have our own memories of how it went down. It doesn't really matter now. We've stayed together seven years now! We started dating January of 2005. We were engaged July 5, 2005 and were married June 3, 2006. We wanted to get married sooner, but my parents thought it would be best for me to get one year teaching under my belt.

These seven years have been wonderful! I can't say every day has been perfect, but overall, it's been great! I know that we have gone through hard times, but we have become stronger from them. I thank the Lord for the man he gave me!

Here are some pictures of us over the years!

This was the good old college days eating at The Waffle House.

Here we are engaged.

Our wedding day

We were married about 2 years here.

We went to the races! Ha!

This was during pregnancy with JJ!

Moments after bringing JJ into the world!

Family vacation 2010

Family vacation 2010

Our getaway to Baltimore (just the 2 of us) 2011

This was taken just last week!

I hope you enjoy these pictures! It was fun for me to go back and see how much we've changed! I look so much older now!

Thrift Store Style

I know everyone is not into thrift shopping, and that's just fine. But, for me, I love it! It's like finding buried treasure. It's my way of looking cute on a very tight clothing budget. I don't buy everything from thrift stores, but I do get most of my clothes from from them. I can wear name brand clothing and pay quite a fraction of the price. I found a few pieces a couple weeks ago and wanted to post pictures to share what I did with them.
Here are a few pointers for thrift store shopping:
1. Be open minded.
2. Remember, you will not find something every time you go.
3. Look for name brands.
4. Have specific items in mind you're looking for. You may come across something you just have to have and that's okay too!
5. Go on sale days. Some Salvation Armys have 1/2 off all clothing and accecories on Wednesdays. Some thrift stores have a color of the week that will be 1/2 off!
Here's some things I came up with on my last trip!

I got this cute vest from Salvation Army on 1/2 off Wednesday. I paid about $2 or $3!

This is me with the hubs! I made the jewelry I'm wearing. Available by RASberry  Designs!

I got the belt for $2 and the skirt for about $2. By the way, this was a little snug when I bought it, but now it fits great! Also, the boots were $8 at Target! They were an online return and were my size! Amazing!

This is just another angle.

This is not my best pic, but I wanted to show my necklace and earrings. These are also handmade by me!

Does anyone else shop thrift stores? Have any tips?

Quick and Easy WW mini pizza recipe

I started WW again a couple weeks ago and have been trying to make some new meals. Today, for lunch, I wanted something different, so I came up with pizza with things I had on hand. Here's how I did it and what I used. I'm sure you could change things up a bit to lower the points plus value.

Ingrediants:
Grands Jrs.
Turkey pepperoni
part-skim mozzerella cheese
pizza sauce

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400*F
Set out biscuits on baking sheet. I used the Pampered Chef cookie sheet. It's my all time favorite!
Smash biscuits down and spread out.

Spread a little bit of sauce on each biscuit. Each biscuit is 3 points plus.

1/4 cup of sauce is 1 point.

Sprinkle cheese on each biscuit. It's 2 points for 1/4 cup, so I used that between every two biscuits for my points value.

Then, put four pepperonios on each biscuit. It is 2 points for 17 pepps., so 8 is about half for 1 point.

Bake 8-10 minutes and enjoy!

For 2 pizzas, it's 9 points plus!

RASberry Designs

I have been making jewelry for a few months now and just started a Facebook page to promote my business! Check out what I have available!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/RASberry-Designs/242572019152647?ref=ts
Here is a taste of my designs!

Diane bracelet and earrings

Diane necklace

Sarah necklace

Terri necklace

I am so excited to get started with this new adventure! It has taken some time to get it all together, and I still have so much to work on! If you see anything you'd like, let me know! I can ship anything to you!

Linking Up

So I have been following Kelly's Korner for a while now. I've always wanted to link up but have never fit any of the titles. My husband enlisted in the army about 2 months ago and will leave for basic in May. We have a two year old boy who kees us busy! I NEVER thought I would be an army wife, but God has shown me many times that it's not my handbook we're going by. I'm hoping to follow other army wives and have army wives follow me as well! I hope you'll enjoy my little blog!

Style update

So, I made a few resolutions this year and have been doing pretty good so far! I joined Weight Watchers with my mom and have lost 6.8 lbs. so far! I don't have too much more to lose and am feeling great about myself! I haven't been working out as much as I should, but I did do Walk Away the Pounds two times last week.

I got my hair cut a couple weeks ago and put some blonde back in it. I just couldn't handle the dark hair anymore.

I've been trying to put cute outfits together. I love shopping at thrift stores. I went a couple weeks ago on all clothing 1/2 off day! That's the best time to go! I picked up a few items for super cheap and will do a post about that soon.

Here's a couple pics of my hair (after cut but before color) and a cute outfit!

front

back

All dressed up!

New Year's Resolutions

I'm usually bad about keeping resolutions, so the past couple years I have not made any to avoid personal failure. However, this year I have decided to give it a try! I have to catagories. One is for personal and one for spiritual
Personal:
1. dress cuter
2. get in shape
3. get my jewelry business up and running
4. potty train Jman

Spiritual:
1. read my Bible more often
2. deepen my prayer life
3. be a better light in this world

This morning's message was asking to  look back over 2011 and check your growth in the Lord, your relationship with others in the church and with others who are not Christians. It was convicting and encouraging in one, which I love! Then, tonight, several men from the church preached short sermons. I remember these as a child and was not looking forward to it tonight, but God changed my heart and had soemthing for me! It was great to hear from several men who love God! Sometimes hearing those basic things again can be such a refresher we need!

Looking back at 2011, it seems that there are more negatives than positives, but I'm thankful I made it through and God has continued to provide for my family and wrap His arms around us. I hope that through Him I can make a difference in this world in 2012!