Save the Paper

We had a birthday party for Kassi and Noah this weekend. I was folding up the gift bags and tissue paper, when I fondly heard my grandma's voice in my head saying, "Be sure to save the paper." I smiled as I folded each piece of tissue paper into nice neat squares and placed them into my gift wrapping box that I keep under my bed. In the slow economic times we are experiencing, I anticipate that I will be using more and more of my grandparents' tips for cutting corners. Those margarine containers are looking like the thrifty way to replace my dwindling rubbermaid containers. I recently tried my hand at canning jam and found myself telling the kids to save the jars and rings (man, those things are expensive.) because I can reuse them. These are all things I've seen my grandmother do to save money. Now it's time to use those tips and pass them on to my own children. I saw an Oprah about 10 yrs ago where someone said that whatever financial obligations you have, you will pass on to your children. For instance, if you pay for cable your children will feel it's a necessity. Ok, so I do have satelite. This is a case of do as I say, not as I do!! LOL! But it is giving me a moment to reflect on what we spend money on that I don't think my kids need. Another thing I have learned in all my years of wisdom ;) is that you can save time or money, but very seldom both at the same time. It's very much a juggling act to see what is more important, and every case is different. For instance, when I tell people I use coupons to save money, they say they don't have time for it. But my problem is that I don't have the money to save the time. On the other hand, I do pay for a website that tells me what coupons to use, where, and when to use them. This costs me a little bit of money to save time that is worth it to me. So as threats of the flu in Mexico get closer to restricting our trade and making our recession even worse than it already is, it's time for all of us to reevaluate our spending and where we can cut corners and be more thrifty like our grandparents. If anyone has any tried and true tips from generations past, please share them!! Thanks!

Temple photo gallery

Hi everyone! I've been soo busy lately. Especially with my photography class. I have an assignment this week to make panaramic pictures. I made a gallery out of the ones I did of the Mesa temple. Please check this out.  Tell me which one you like the best: night time, day time, day and night merged, day and night pasted together.  I can only pick one to print up.  Which one do you think it should be??  Thanks!  I promise to post more of my photos later.  

Renaissance Festival

Hi all, it's been awhile since I updated. For our anniversary, Mike and I went to the Renaissance Festival. Most of you know that my book starts with a girl who attends the festival, so I really needed to go for research. It was very beneficial and is helping me A TON on my latest rewrite. I took pictures of everything, so that I won't forget what they looked like. I especially took pictures of the costumes people were wearing. Enjoy some of my pics.

I had to take pictures of the bleachers and jousting area too. I loved going to the dress shops. I was so ecstatic when I found the very dress that I described in my book. It was red velvet that parted at the skirt revealing a shimmering gold triangle of material. So of course I had to try it on. It didn't fit me, but it was fun to wear either way.