31 {Fri}day Blog Challenge - If I Won The Lottery

If I won the lottery ... my answer isn't going to be a fun one, I 'm going to be honest.  I would be sensible with the money.

I would pay off my mortgage and pay off any debt / mortgage of mine and Mike's family.  I would send anyone in my immediate family to college if they wanted to go and set up college funds for my future children.  I might even go finish college myself.

I would give each of my close friends and my mom $5,000.00 and go on a shopping spree to TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Home Goods.

I would plan a trip for Mike and I to go to as many places over seas that is on our list to visit. 

And honestly I would trust Mike to make the decision on what to do with the rest, he is a financial adviser after all :) 

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A while back when I did Dr. Oz's 3 Day Cleanse there were three different smoothies that you would drink for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Now the lunch drink was absolutely horrible but the other two weren't that bad.  

I've noticed recently that I don't have a very nutritious diet and decided I was going to start working on that this week. The problem is all the breakfast food I love is pancakes and waffles and cinnamon rolls and bagels and sugary cereals and so on.  So I decided to try out the breakfast smoothie again .... and I have had it quite a few mornings this week.

Its pretty easy too just put some raspberries, banana, water, flax seed and almond butter in a blender and your good to go.  Since I'm not actually doing the cleanse I left out the spinach :-|  {be sure to at least rinse the blender as soon as your done - much easier to clean that way}

Whats Happenin' Around The Shop

I wanted to implement a new type of post called "Whats Happening Around The Shop". Something that I'll post here and there to let you know whats been going up on Wamp Design's Etsy Shop. 

Recently I have been working on 2015 Graduation Announcements/Invitations. 

Graduation is right around the corner and its time to celebrate those hard working seniors! These beautiful custom graduation announcements can be proudly displayed on refrigerators and push-pin boards of all your friends and family! 

     

     

  

     

     

     

This could be made as just an announcement or as an announcement/invitation to a Graduation Party.

{click any of the images and it will take you directly to the listing in the shop}

{Some of the photos shown were taken and graciously loaned to us by Brandy Rose Photography}

A Little of This ... A Little of That

I got a little bit behind last week so today's post will be a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Let's start with the next number on the 31 Day Blog Challenge.

My most proud moment ... this is a tough one ... I would have to say when we bought our house.   I was twenty-six years old when we bought our home and I had finally come back from a little financial trouble {a teenager with a credit card ... $200 jeans ... check!}.  

While Mike and I did buy the house together and split everything down the middle I still became a home owner on November 21st 2012 and I was very proud of myself.  Not only for no longer renting and throwing my money away but also for making a good financial investment at such a young age.

Not only was I proud to own the home, I was also proud of doing all the work {paper work} it took to buy it!  Scheduling appointments, filling out forms, appraisals, inspections, etc.  It was a lot of work but I was proud of how organized it all!

Our home was a short sale that only took two weeks to go through the bank.  I think it may have been a sign though because our lease was up on the condo we were renting December 1st and we got to move it on my birthday! 

The top one is a picture the day we put an offer in
The bottom was our housewarming card from Grandma Barb - she hand painted!


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Even though it's Monday I'd still like to share my Friday's Favorite from last week.

I came across this site though and Amazon Deal email, they were offering a WordPress Course for only $39.00.  I've been working on Website Development at my day job and I thought this could be some great information for only $39 and I could go at my own pace.  I just finished the online class and I loved it! Very informative, visual, and helps you get started with great resources.

About a week ago I received another Amazon Local email highlighting a Skillsology class for Interior Design ... for just $39! I am so excited to take it!  I have always loved Interior Design {and we wont go into why I didn't pursue it} and I think this is a perfect platform to learn something ... even if it just helps me make my home more beautiful.

They offer an array of different courses from Technology to Computer Programs to Beauty School and more. I would check out Amazon Deals to see which ones they offer at a discount.

**This post is in no way sponsored by Skillsology {or Amazon Local} - I just loved it that much**

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I finished my March book {Wild} to stay on track with my resolution of reading twelve books this year {one per month} and it was a really good book.  It is a story about a woman who has gone through a difficult time with her mother dying.  After turning to sex and drugs she is inspired to hike the Pacific Crest Trail alone, along the way she learns how to get back to herself and the woman she wanted to be.

As soon as I finished the book I rented the movie .. with Reese Witherspoon.  It was no where near as good as the book! Not even close ... I know more times than not the book is better than the movie but this time the book was better by leaps and bounds.  If you are going to watch this movie, I highly recommend reading the book first.

My April book is ... The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty.  One of the blogs I follow is Mix and Match Family {Shay Shull} and she just finished this book {see her review here} so when I saw it at Target I figured it would be a great read for April.

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My weekend was pretty laid back, Mike's dad is in town and we helped him in his search for a home to buy since they are moving down this summer.  I also did some chores, work, church and resting.

Want to know what Wamp did? 

She'll do anything to get a lizard

Amanda's Baby Shower

One of my very favorite things to do is throw a shower ... Whether it be a baby or bridal shower they are always so much fun and the best places to do cute little decorations.  I had the honor of being involved in my Cousin Amanda's baby shower {which is why I went to Buffalo a few weekends ago} and got to do so many cute little decorations for her.

How cute does she look??

Her theme was Chevron with Navy Blue and Grey

This was her invitation I made .. and can be found HERE on my Etsy Shop.

The center pieces were white and blue balloons anchored down by these cute vases.  I also made each table a grey chevron table runner to match the theme. 

B is for Boy Baby Shower Centerpieces 

This is all could see of Amanda when we picked up the balloons 

and this is all she could see of me!

Each setting got a little diaper packet that included ... Pretzel Favors, Wishes for Baby, An Envelope {to address for Thank You cards}, a little blue or grey circle, a pen, spoons {for the baby food tasting game} and instructions for everything in the diaper! You can find out how to make these cute diapers with a template from Martha Stewart {Here}

And all those little circles everyone had to write their name on ended up being this:

Baby Shower Balloon Guest Book

Each diaper also had a favor of four hand dipped chocolate covered pretzels

We did 280 of them!! 

I dipped in chocolate and Amanda covered with sprinkles 

Gram and Aunt Amy came by to help with all the prep too! 

 Here are a few more pictures of things from the shower ... it really was a great time! 

The Berchou Family {Left to Right: Donald, Aunt Dee, Amanda, Uncle Don}

Amanda and all her close friends

I also made her a gift, something I started when Brandy had her first child and carried on with Marie's first child and now Amanda's.  I like to tailor the alphabet for the baby's room and what they will most likely like {take a close look at Letter B} 

Weekend Wrap Up - Steak, Flowers and Easter

I did better this weekend and took more pictures! 

Thursday was Mike and I's one year anniversary of being engaged and we didn't even remember until we were going to bed! Luckily we already had dinner plans for Friday night to go to Flemmings.  Of course Mike took pictures of the food for us :)

Crab Cake Appetizer

My Petite Filet and Scalloped Potatoes

Mike's Ribeye

Overall the meal was ok, but I don't think it will be one of the places we like to go.  We've had a lot better food other places for a lot less money.

Saturday I caught up on a lot of housekeeping ... I had neglected doing it all week :/

When I finished my chores I went shopping for Easter dresses and plants with my Sister-In-Law to be, Nicole.  {you'll see our dresses a little later in the post}

I decided it was finally time to replace this potted plant by the front door.

Yes, I know its a Poinsettia Plant in April ... Don't Judge :) 

We replaced it with this arrangement that we came up with all on our own! I was so proud.

White Begonia's in the middle, Purple Potato Vine, and
some curly plant the sign just said Corkscrew Annual.

Then we moved around to the backyard and I refreshed the pots on the deck with these pretty red flowers. If you look closely you can see a cute little kitten cat in the window. 

I also refreshed the herb garden with some new plants.

1. Sweet Basil 

2. Culantro*

3. Chocolate Mint

4. Jalapeno Plant

5. Rosemary

Yes, Culantro ... its a heartier, more robust, stronger form of Cilantro.  They were also out of Cilantro at the store so I thought I'd try it out.

While I was at it with all the planting I got some succulent plants to put on my desk.  I'm not very good at keeping indoor plants alive and succulents are almost death proof.

Oh and I've also been wanting a nice bird bath for the front yard, a strong one, made of concrete or stone so that it can stand up to the weather and rain.  My mom has a beautiful one and I always threaten to steal it! Well my Dad found the exact same one at Home Depot and surprised me with it!

Also on Saturday ... in keeping with all the plants ... my little brother Luke {who works at a Flower Shop} brought me this :) 

How cute is that???? Sometimes if they can't deliver the flower's and its a weekend they get to keep them since they will most likely die before they can try and deliver them again.

On Sunday my brothers and Mike's sister Nichole went with us to Easter Service.

Oh, and these were Nichole and I's Easter Dresses that we got from Ross.  

After church Nichole and I went and brought Easter flowers to my parents and grandparents.  Then we met up with Mike's family at Olive Garden for Easter Dinner.

I also received this picture from my family up in Buffalo at their Easter Meal ... I so wish I could have been there with all of them ... don't they look like a fun bunch?

Over all we had such a fun family weekend! How was your Easter Weekend? 

Oh and just in case you were wondering what wamp did this weekend ... she was key in supervising all plantings that went on.