Extra ways to save money this Christmas...

Sometimes, it gets really hard to save money. However, Tiny Prints is offering an amazing deal that could help save you money on your Christmas cards... it works like this:

Buy a $25 Tiny Prints gift certificate and spend $100 on your holiday cards, and we’ll take $30 off your holiday cards order—plus, ship it for free. Use code 30OFFHOLGCERT at checkout until 11/27/11 at 11:59 pm (PT).Read more: http://blog.tinyprints.com/contests-and-promotions/an-exclusive-deal-you%e2%80%99ll-only-find-here/#ixzz1ep0Z6YsZ

That's an AMAZING deal! Now, what are you waiting for?!

It's that time of year again... :)

I absolutely LOVE the Christmas season. And yes, I say Christmas season...instead of Holiday season. I just feel like we can't lose sight of the real meaning these days. I use "Christmas" as much as I can, instead of Holiday.

With Christmas season comes family get togethers, decorations, remember the true meaning of Christmas, and one of my all-time-favorites: Christmas cards! I love receiving them...and even better, I love sending them!

Now, I like to have a unique card...something that sticks out. And this year, we have an amazing addition to add to our card. Our beautiful Lil' B! That being said...of course I wanted to show her off!

There are a lot of great places that have Christmas cards but, the one place that has caught my attention this year is Tiny Prints. They have such unique and adorable Christmas cards...I have such a hard time choosing which one would be my favorite! They make it really easy to find what you are looking for by having a filter on the left hand side. So, if you are wanting something with one photo, in portrait, and a 5X7 card... you can filter that! I added some pictures and played around with a few designs. This is the one that I think fits our family the most:

The reasons I really liked this card is because it really highlighted all of the members of our family. But, the one thing that is a priority to me is for the card to read "Merry Christmas"...and this one did!

Most of their cards allow you to have a back side printed as well. This would be the inside of my card as it would have a tri-fold. It's neat because, I was able to add a picture of our Lil' B when she was born with a little blurb on the inside. We never sent out birth announcements so, it's nice to combine a Christmas card and the announcement into one...after all, Christmas is truly about little miracles ;)

Do you have criteria for your Christmas cards? What are things that MUST be included?

Busy!!!

We have been so busy with having a new baby - but, loving every minute of it!

I had every intention of going back to work following my maternity leave...boy, did things change! You can now call me a stay at home Mom. And I am loving every minute of it!

Brielle, was born on August 11, 2011, at 4:52 a.m. She is our pride and joy!! She is now cooing, rolling to her side, sleeping through the night, sucking on her hands, playing with toys, grabbing at toys, and smiling and *almost* giggling!

We lovvvve it! Can you tell there isn't much else going on in my life?! ;)

Lazy, Lazy

Today, we are being lazy. And I love it. My husband, on the other hand, is going stir crazy. Poor guy :S

Either way, we spent an enjoyable weekend with friends in Detroit Lakes, MN. We woke up at 430 this morning to get on the road to beat the blizzard that was going to be hitting southern MN. Thank goodness we did -- it's been interesting so far! I am glad we made the decision we did!

Anyway, this is my sad attempt to get back into my blog writing. Come on Heather, you can do it!!

It's the most wonderful time of year...

I am not going to lie...I TOTALLY get into Christmas cards. I love receiving them, I love sending them, and I love creating them!

This year, I will be ordering our Christmas cards through shutterfly. I will be completely honest here, I have only used shutterfly once. And that was to order my sister-in-law large prints of the pictures I took of my niece and nephew. But, let me tell you, I was soooo happy with my decision! The coloring was amazing, the edges didn't cut off the image and there wasn't any distortion what-so-ever! Besides their Christmas cards, there are some other products I'd love to try of their's. Their photo albums and calendars. I know from my experience with their prints that the quality of these two products would probably be fabulous! And the other product I cannot wait to use is their photo story cards. And the reason I use the term "cannot wait" is because, I would never use them until I have an active family. Who wants to hear about the best chicken I ever made? Yep, no one...that's what I thought!

I have a few different things that are important to me when creating my Christmas cards.

The first thing:

It must say "Christmas" within the card or at least reference to "Christmas". I know, I know, some of you may choose to disagree but, my reasoning... we are Christians. And this is the reason we celebrate this holiday...for Christ. So, :P

The second thing:

I like to have a signature of some sort. Such as, "The B's", "Love, The B Family", or "Merry Christmas from M, H & R". I like to make it personal that way...and show that it's directly from us. Plus, as a newly married woman, I like to see my "new" last name everywhere! ;)

The third thing:

We don't have children...so, yes, I am "one of those people". I prefer to have our pooch on the card. He is family. And everyone that receives our card knows this too -- so, why not show a picture of our "child"? What? He's cute too!

So, with all of those standards...here are a few of the cards that I think our family would select as our Christmas card for 2010. What do you think?

This one I'd probably be more likely to choose...why? Because it meets all of my criteria :)

I love, love, love this one. But, if I were to choose it, I would want a different picture. One a bit fancier...prettier...don't you think?

And this one was just so simple. Like us...it got the message across. Plus, it fit the picture the best. Oh, now the choices!

Where will you be making your Christmas cards? Do you send out Christmas Cards? Do you have criteria for your cards?

Photography...

I am super excited about possibly advancing my photography hobby. And by doing that, I mean taking more pictures. I have been keeping extremely busy with it, and I am loving it!!

But, I have no clue on where to start! Someone, please help me!? Guide me?! HOLD MY HAND!

Desperate, huh?

Anyways, so much going on. We are getting closer and closer with our upstairs remodel. I can't wait to post pictures!

Until then, check out my super cute niece who just turned three today.

Adorable, right?

Kids are wayyyy too cute!

What a hot day...I love it!!

This weekend, my sister-in-law and her husband are spending the weekend in Michigan - that means we got to have the kids for the weekend! So, since I knew I would have the kids for a couple of day I called my brother and asked if I could borrow a few of his SLR lenses. Man, I captured all of this in about an hour...LOVE THEM!

Little A looking very innocent...behind the lense she kept pouring very COLD water on me. BRRRR...but, like I said it was hot and it felt nice!




















We also had a fish fry for lunch...and tonight maybe cook up some homemade pizza. I really could get used to the genuine laughs that come from having little people around 24/7 -- their imagination is incredible...and the random comments that come from their mouth. *Sigh* I love being an Auntie!!