Lilla Rose

Hi!  So, no, I'm not having a little girl named Lilla Rose, although that would be a pretty name for a little girl!  Maybe someday... I have dove into something that I have no experience in, but something that I thought might help our home finances (75% stay-at-home mom, new house, ten acres, lots of projects!).  It's worth a shot, huh?!  It's an awesome company called Lilla Rose.  They sell different kinds of hair jewelry, but they are know for what is called a "flexi-clip". 

Some information about the flexi-clips:

1) They are sturdy.  Very sturdy.  If you can see in the picture, the two parts are attached, so you are not going to lose part of it.  These are not flimsy, as many of the store brand clips are.  So you don't have to worry about breaking it! 

2) They are comfortable!  No pulling at the hair, no breaking your hair, no giving you headaches by the end of the day. 

3) They are versatile.  There are six different sizes, ranging from mini-small to mega.  And trust me, the mega can hold a LOT of hair (see picture below!). 



You can also wear these at home while you are doing house work or for something in which you have to dress up a little fancier.  Casual but elegant at the same time. 

Lilla Rose also sells other "hair jewelry" as well.  There are the boppy pins:

There are the u-pins:

There are the headbands:

 

As well as hair sticks (look at the top picture):

 

They also sell o-bands (fancy "rubber" bands), as well as beautiful badge holders. 

If you are interested in purchasing a Lilla Rose product, you should watch the size and styling video to make sure you order the correct size -- http://www.youtube.com/user/LillaRoseVideos

Also, go to www.lillarose.biz/ShawnaTunnell to see and buy products and https://www.facebook.com/#!/LillaRoseShawnaTunnell for new products, sales, and any other important information. 

Alternative to traditional health insurance

There is a lot of talk about Obamacare, healthcare, insurances, and such lately. Health insurance just puts a bad taste in my mouth, personally. After Nathan was in the hospital in Missouri for a week during our "vacation" and battling insurance for six months before anything was settled, I became really frustrated with the idea of "insurance". I know that some people have really good health insurance, so if you do, this is not for you. But if you are looking for an alternative to health insurance, here is one that I have recently joined...

Christian Healthcare Ministries -- www.chministries.org This organization is based on Galatians 6:2 (Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ) and Acts 2 and 4. Their mission statement is: The mission of Christian Healthcare Ministries is to glorify God, show Christian love, and experience God's presence as Christians share each other's medical bills.

Qualifications are simple:
 • be Christians living by biblical principles
• abstain from the use of tobacco and the illegal use of drugs (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
• follow biblical teaching on the use of alcohol
• attend group worship regularly if health permits (Hebrews 10:25)

And on a side note, everytime I had to call about a question, I was sent directly to someone who could help me, and they were friendly, helpful, and very personable. So, how it works (per person):

There are three levels in which you can choose from. 1) $150 a month -- $500 personal responsibility per unit, per year. Anything over $500 will be covered 100%. Of course, there are certain things, like annuals, that they will not cover, but if you are interested, you can find out for yourself. This plan does cover maternity, however. 2) $85 a month -- $1000 per unit per incident -- covers mainly major incidents 3) $45 a month -- $5000 per unit per incident -- covers mainly major incidents

Here is the cool part. You can go to ANY doctor, ANYWHERE. There is no one telling you which doctor or hospital to go to.

There is a pre-existing clause, meaning if you have a pre-existing condition, it will only be covered a certain percentage, the percentage growing after each year you are a participant. I think after 5 years, it is fully covered...I think...don't quote me. But here is another cool part about that. There is a monthly newsletter sent out, and inside of it, it shares all the pre-existing conditions and financial burders that members have (for example, heart surgery due to a heart condition previously had before joining CHM). They ask members to contribute (in addition to their monthly giving), if led to, to these members that need extra help. It's amazing to read how reductions, discounts, and donations make a difference in these bills! Many times, these people end up paying a few hundred on a surgery that cost thousands -- and this is not coming from CHM but directly from members paying over and beyond their monthly giving.

Another interesting thing is they have medical consultants that you can speak directly to that will give you advice about whatever you need as well as contact doctors/hospitals to get discounts and reductions that we could not do ourselves.

  I just gave out a lot of information but if anyone is interested and have questions, you can email me (rnea1982@yahoo.com) or look up the website yourself. If you happen to join, put my name in as a referral. It will help me out ;)

Also, another ministry that is similar and just as good is Samaritian Ministries -- http://samaritanministries.org/

Grateful

Today, while driving home, I noticed that gas has once again gone up...to $3.79. That hurts. Bad. And what hurts even worse is the forecast of gas for the summer. The other day, Nate began to tell me about the predictions for the summer, and I stopped him and said "I just don't want to know. It will just make me depressed, so just don't tell me." It's so easy to get down and depressed about finances and the economy. It's really easy when you don't have a lot of flexibility in your budget for increases like gas...or food (which I have noticed some prices going up lately)...or medical bills. Other than our first year of marriage, this past year has been the first time we have really had to watch our budget and spending. It was actually the first year since our first year of marriage to have rent and utility bills! Makes a huge difference in the budget!

The other day, I asked Nate something that had really been bugging me. We both are very giving people and have a strong heart for missions and the needs there, and I feel that if we had more financially, we would be really good about giving and supporting where there are needs. Then why doesn't God bless us with more? Does He not trust us to be responsible and giving if we had more money? Nate thought for a while and answered with this thought -- "At this time in our lives, if we had more money, do you think it would be a temptation to spend it on ourselves? More on a house down payment, more for a nicer car, more for our kids? What if He is teaching us what is really important and what we can really live with? What if He is teaching us that we don't need the best of everything or what everyone else has? Maybe this is a teaching time for us." Interesting...and maybe very true.

Even with finances being so tight, when I really think about it, we are still very very blessed with what we have. When we first moved into this rental house a few months ago and our rent went up $350, I was scared we wouldn't be able to afford it. We shouldn't be able to realistically, but somehow, we have never come up short. At least not yet! We have a nice down payment for a house, when that right house comes along. We have some in retirement. We have some in a car fund...for we desperately need a new car for Nate in the near future. We have an emergency fund and a 3-6 months fund (can you tell we listen to Dave Ramsey? :). We have everything we realistically need. Not everything we want. We have two "small" cars with two kids instead of a larger, more convenient van/SUV. We have one prepaid cell phone that we share (no internet/apps/camera/etc...). The only I-thing we have is an old ipod from years ago. We are very old-school in technology. But that's very ok with us. We live a simple life...because that is what we can afford. But that is also what we want for our family. We don't need a complicated life, filled with lots of things to divert our attention. I get distracted enough with what I already have! And I have so much more than what the majority of the world has. I have to remind myself daily about where we used to live, how we saw people live there, and the rest of the world that we have never been to but know their lives are so much harder than my own. I seriously doubt that no matter how bad the economy gets here, that my life will ever compare to many around the world. I am blessed and grateful for what I have. Even if that means I never take my kids to Disney World or have the latest technology. Life is so much more than that.

And I'll probably have to remind myself of all this again tomorrow when I see that the gas prices increased overnight...again... :)

Four Months and Growing!

My sweet baby boy is four months old...and a few days. We've been out of town, celebrating Tristan's birthday with family, so I'm a few days late doing this. Four months old!! Noah is a sweetheart! A chubby sweetheart, but so incredibly cute. Honestly. He LOVES to smile, and he's starting to laugh a lot more. He's one of those babies that you loves to take naps with because he's so cuddly. I do every once in a while while Tristan's napping, but if I did it all the time, I would never get anything done! He had his four month check-up and is doing great. Only downer is that he has eczema on his arms and back, so we're trying to lather him up with some strong lotion every morning and night. He was 15.15 lbs (78%) and 25 inches (62%). He's just taking after his momma, being the even-chubbier baby that she was! Here's some random facts about Noah this month!

*He nurses every 3-4 hours...but he's a FAST eater. Probably the cause of his frequent spit-ups (Tristan was the exact same way).
*He goes to sleep pretty easily around 7:00, but still wakes up once to eat. He's been waking up an additional time lately because he's been unswaddling himself, and he is definitely a swaddle baby. I'm trying to transition him out of that, but we'll just have to see.
*He's rolled over a few times but isn't consistent yet.
*He's really starting to play with his hands and grab for things now. He likes his paci but also really likes to chew on his hands. One thumb knuckle is actually getting a little raw from his chewing.
*He LOVES his brother (and his brother tells him constantly "I wuv you Noah!"), but Tristan still can scare him every once in a while. He's starting to toughen up around Tristan though -- getting kind of used to Tristan constantly hugging/kissing/laying beside him.
*Noah is quite a peaceful baby. He's usually happy as long as he's not hungry or tired. He can get quite mad when he's tired.
*Nursery workers LOVE him. They are always telling me what a perfect baby he is. I'm glad he is like that for them...because I know he has that sleepy/hungry temper :)

Noah is such a fun baby. Having two young children is hard, especially when the oldest wants your attention 24/7 (thank goodness for naps!), but Noah makes it a little easier. I will have to confess, there has been many a times when the TV is on for Tristan due to a screaming Noah. But that is how life goes at times, I guess! Here are some recent pictures of my precious boy: (forgive the out-of-order sequence)

Two Years Old!

How is my first born already two years old?! And don't you know it...he is PROUD to be two! He went to the doctor this past week for his well checkup and everything looks great. His language has sky-rocketed since the last checkup (I was actually worried about his language at that time -- now he doesn't STOP talking!). He is 28 lbs (52% -- gained some weight!), and 35 inches (68%). What is funny is that his head measured at 39% while Noah's head measured at 75% -- who's gonna have the brains in this family!? ;)

Tristan is still a live-wire. He has LOTS AND LOTS of energy! Luckily for me, he's still taking a (roughly) two hour nap, and at night, he's in his room from 7:00 to 6:30-7:00. I say "in his room" because before naps and before bed, he's allowed to read or play with some toys in his bed with his lamp on. Doesn't really interfere with his naps (he'll go to sleep on his own) and I think it's a good way for him to learn how to play independently. At night, we'll go in his room about 7:45 and sometimes he's asleep and sometimes he's still doing this or that, but we turn off the light then and he's ok with that. We thought maybe this would help him sleep in in the mornings...but no. Still wakes up at the same time. Oh well...

Tristan loves to eat! In his Mother's Day Out class of eight students, he's usually the only one that eats all his food. Every time. He loves:
pasta
avocados -- wonderful food!
fruit -- all...but right now his favorite is pineapple
peanut butter -- maybe it's because his mother is obsessed with it right now -- we also make our own, and he loves to make it with us...and eat it as we go...
plain yogurt
eggs -- great way of getting vegetables in him is by making frittatas
tomatoes
cucumbers -- pickled especially
oatmeal
blueberry muffins, but not much other bread
Oh, he likes when Dad makes pancakes and we mix peanut butter and syrup as the topping (gotta get in some protein!).

Tristan is our comedian. Our "class" clown. Our jokester. He keeps life exciting...and exhausting. He loves anything that goes -- trains, tractors, airplanes, dump trucks, etc. And he still loves books, which I'm very thankful for. However, he could care less about "artsy" stuff, so crafts, coloring, drawing -- not his cup of tea. At least not yet. I'm hoping he'll start liking that eventually -- it seems like it would be a quiet activity :)

Another thing Tristan loves is his brother. He LOVES and ADORES Noah. The first thing he'll ask when he wakes up is "Noah sleeping? Noah wake up!" He still likes to touch and roll on and pester Noah, but Noah is getting a little more tough...or less fragile?...so I don't worry as much. But still gotta keep my eye on him!

Ok...I guess that is enough about Tristan. He's a joy. And overly active joy...but a joy :)

An Angel...and Sugar-Free Headaches

This will be two parts -- absolutely not related at all. Just two things on my mind at the moment!

1) An "Angel" -- As many of you know, I stay at home with the boys. I do work at a Mother's Day Out program ten hours a week, but for minimal pay. So, the huge majority of our income comes from my husband...on a state employee's salary. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm so thankful he has this job. He is good at it, and it fits him to a tee. I mean, he gets to shoot guns and study bullets all day. Maybe not always exciting...but it's a puzzle...and he likes puzzles. Anyways, I'm chasing rabbits. What I'm getting at is, we are on a very tight budget. We don't have a lot of wiggle room, and especially now that we are buying a house soon and trying to save money for a new (and bigger) car. One thing about us -- we WILL pay cash for a car. No debt for us...other than a house, that is. So, we made it to February 28 with some money left over for the month. Yea! Then noticed that Noah's rash on his arms was getting worse. Hmmm...better go to the doctor. So, February 29 and a doctor's copay and off to buy expensive lotions and cleansers for Noah. Boo...not so much money after all. Off we go to Walmart. I'm looking in the lotion aisle, and Tristan sees a bottle of bubble bath that resembles a car. He wants to play with it, so I let him while we finish shopping. As we get in line to pay, I remember that he has it and put it aside, not intending to get it. Of course, Tristan gets a little upset that I took his "car" away. Well, the lady behind me gets the "car" and comes up to me and asks how much the car is. I tell her that it isn't necessary to do this for us. She said that when she was a stay-at-home mom, money was tight, but now that her kids are grown, she can't do this for her kids anymore, and she has a full-time job now, so she would really like to. So, the car rang up to $4.00, and she digs in her purse and pulls out a $20 and gives it to me and tells me to "keep it". I just about cried. Not that $20 is all that much money but that someone would do that for me. I came home and told Nate and said that someday, I want to be that person. She was my "angel", and I can't wait to be an "angel" to someone else.

2) Sugar-Free Headaches -- Anyone that really knows me knows that I LOVE sweets. It comes from my family. Both sides. We always have desserts...and more desserts. Lately, with Valentine's and special lunches at work and random this' and that's, I've been eating A LOT of sweets. So, lent came around, and I thought, this would be a good time to make a change, at least for a time. I decided to exclude sugar for the 40 days of lent. The only exception (other than fruit, because really, you don't give up fruit) is sweetener in my coffee...because I need my coffee. We don't keep a lot of sweets in our house anyways, so it's been fairly easy so far. Now, we go to see family next week, so that will be the real challenge! Anyways, the past several days, I've been getting these HORRIBLE headaches. Couldn't figure out what was causing them. Then I put the two and two together. My body is going through withdrawals because it is so used to having a diet with sugar! It struck me how addicted our body can get to certain things. Crazy, huh? Now, after the forty days, I'll gladly have a piece of pie or some ice cream, but hopefully I'll have better moderation of it, knowing the pain my head went through to get off of it!

Valentine's Day!

For the past several Valentine's Day's, Nate has made an elegant meal. He lights candles and we sit at the coffee table to enjoy dinner and conversation. He prints off a menu, which includes questions for each section of the meal. Of course, we had already put the kids down for bed, so we could enjoy the time to ourselves. The menu is showed below (you can make it bigger by clicking on it):




Funny story -- I got about 6 cans of smoked oysters on clearance a while back, thinking I could use them in gumbo. However, realized later that you don't use SMOKED oysters in gumbo. Being creative, Nate found this recipe that used smoked oysters. It was SO good!


Dinner was wonderful! The couscous was a big hit -- keeper recipe!


LOVED the dessert. Seriously, I want to make it again tomorrow!


What a great husband to do this for me!