Any of you local people interested in a photo shoot? I'm holding a special right now!

You choose your session fee! Session fee is usually $50 for 60-90 minutes but you can change that for a limited time!

When you spend $0-$49.99 on photos, you get 25% off your session fee!
When you spend $50-$124.99 on photos, you get 50% off your session fee!
When you spend $125-$174.99 on photos, you get 75% off your session fee!
When you spend $175+ on photos, you get a FREE session!!

Plus save 20% on all photo purchases when you book and hold your session by April 1st. No fooling about that. :)

Check out this Kroger Gift Card Giveaway. I love giveaways!

It's time for serious couponing/budgeting! We found out that we are expecting #2 recently. I need to start stockpiling so we won't have so much to buy after baby gets here. I'm due in August....sometime between the 16th and the 20th. I have a small subchorionic hemorrhage that they're keeping their eyes on but I'm hoping it will continue to do well and clear up just fine. I had an u/s last week when they first noticed it. I had a follow-up appt today and it's still the same. That's good news though cause it's not getting worse. I'll keep you updated as I can. I don't go back for another 4 weeks.

I was pretty excited about my deals I found today! I was only going to Target to get Electrasol powerballs since they're on sale for $3.25 and I had a $2.50 coupon. Well, then I headed to the baby dept to see if there were anymore good clearance deals. I bought a double stroller weekend before last cause they had it 50% off for $63! Best deal I've found so I couldn't pass it up. Today I found the Christmas baby stuff for 90% off!!! So I snagged up some for baby...I just hope it'll fit. :) I got 2 sleepers, 1 santa suit (in case it's a boy), 2 hats, and a pair of slippers. With all of that and my dishwasher detergent I only spent $6.04! Savings of over $45! Sweet! I'll double at least the slippers and hats as photography props next Christmas.

Still trying to book photography shoots so if you're local, give me a holler! :) http://www.daniellesmithphotography.com

I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Hope you all are able to get together with family and friends who love you to enjoy the season. Hope you are able to eat lots of food. Hope you get to watch people's faces light up when they receive a gift. I hope you experience all of this and more.

Corgan did so good opening presents this morning. He knew just what he was doing. It was so cute! He's playing with them right now and has been since he opened them. He's such a smart cookie. He got a gas pump that has shapes with it. He is doing so well with putting them in their holes. I love seeing him learn. He's getting good at me asking him where something is and he can point it out or go get it.

Marshall just bought Corgan another gift after watching an informercial today. He bought him Your Baby Can Read. I'm excited about it and can't wait till it comes in.

Wow it's been so long since I've posted. Sorry about that. We've been so busy. We celebrated Thanksgiving Day with my Dad's side of the family at my Aunt's house. Corgan had a blast! My cousin, his wife, and their 3 boys got to come so Corgan and the boys played....but 4 boys under one roof was CRAZY! hehe We then celebrated with my Mom's side of the family the Sunday after Thanksgiving at Ryan's Steakhouse. We weren't able to celebrate with Marshall's family. His uncle is in the hospital. He's not doing well. Please keep him in your prayers. His name is Glenn. He has 2 strands of staph infection and deading of his heart. Last I heard they're looking at moving him into a home and said he'll never be the same. It's sad. Marshall's grandmother has been up there a lot. His grandfather isn't doing well so he hasn't been going up there. We're going to visit with them for his grandfather's birthday on Sunday. Not sure what Christmas will look like for us. We won't be celebrating with my Dad's side of the family. We may have to start some traditions at home with just the three of us....while praying for our loved ones.

This past Friday I got my Photographer's business license and made my dream a REALITY! I've started my photography business. I'm so excited about it. My background stand, backgrounds, and lighting equipment is coming in today. I need to order my business cards. My website is being worked on by Marshall. http://www.daniellesmithphotography.com I LOVE it but can't wait till it's completely finished out. I have a session tonight. I'm doing family portraits and then 6 months portraits for the baby. I can't wait. This is such a photogenic family. Then I'll be doing a newborn session on Friday and another one next week.

I've been having problems with someone taking our newspaper. I'm tempted to call the newspaper to see what we need to do. It's upsetting to have your newspaper taken when you're a coupon cutter. I've made do though. I have several that I need to cut and put in my Couponizer (see link on right to order one!) to make the most of my savings.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!!!

Got this from Jordan's page and I thought I'd do it too!

Have you ever?

(Bold the things you've actually done.)
And I will elaborate on some for your viewing pleasure.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity -You can never out give God.
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo - many times...I love to sing.
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - who hasn't? :)
24. Built a snow fort -Great memories.
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person - no but I want to!
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language - haven't taught myself but I took 3 years of French in HS
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - no but DH has and we want to take Corgan someday
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater - at church
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - about to start another one too
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check -unfortunately
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car - well I leased it but then we paid it off
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life - not that I'm aware of
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit - not really but sorta....just some of those where you get a letter than you could be involved. never had a reason to fully do it.
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee - nope just wasps

At playgroup today we had our attachment parenting topic which was toddlers and nutrition. I really needed to get help from other moms with ideas for nutrition for Corgan. It's gotten rather hard pleasing him to eat. There was lots of talk about eating organic. I've always wanted to eat more organic but was convinced it was too expensive. So when I got home I did a search on eating organic frugally. I was convinced there's a way to make it happen. I came across several articles on About.com by Erin Huffstetler. She has a page on organic coupons. I plan on printing out several of those.

I'm sharing next week at playgroup on saving money and using coupons. I'll share The Couponizer system as well. I am going to start working on handouts to share as well. I don't want to overwhelm the ladies since it's a playdate as well and our kids will have most of our attention.

Enter to win a free tutu! I thought this would be cute to have for photo shoots...and hopefully for a future baby girl (if God blesses me with a girl).

Looking for a Christmas gift that will save you money? I have just what you're looking for! With the way the economy is right now more and more people are turning to coupons. Coupons can help you cut your grocery budget in half or even more. I have recently gotten into couponing myself. However I came across the problem of not having a good system for them. I had coupons going to waste because I wasn't organized enough. It felt like I was throwing money away everytime I threw an expired coupon away. It is! Companies are basically giving us money to use on their product....so why aren't we using it?

Well I found the solution to my organizing problems and I wanted to share it with you! It's called The Couponizer. It was created by Amy Bergin - a SAHM who wanted to save money.

What is The Couponizer? It's a system that compiles of a wire-bound coupon holder that has a sorting chart, shopping list pad, coupon tracker (so you can see how much money you're saving), scissors and a nice clear carrying case so you can always have it with you.

How much does it cost? $19.95 + $5.75 S&H. You'll be able to earn your money back quickly when you shop with coupons.

I will be placing an order of these soon so please let me know if you're interested in purchasing one (or more for gifts). If you are local, send me a message and I'll get it to you. If you are not local you can order off of this website: The Smart Way to Organize Savings

Just a video of interest to share. I have the book that was written by her and I frequent her website. http://www.couponmom.com She's a smart woman!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF8BKYtBX8Y

I took engagement pictures today of Flora and her fiance Anthony. It was my first time taking pictures of anyone like that. I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out. I hope Flora and Anthony are pleased.

That brings up a fact. I'm highly considering starting my own photography business. It's something that I love. Marshall said that if it's something I really want to do he will invest is more equipment for me. I think I may look more into it. First I need to learn more about my camera and how to use it better.

I need to get more experience so I'll probably be doing more photo shoots soon! :)