You need a...

BUDGET!

Keep reading...don't give up on this post just because I said the "B" word!

For the last few months I've been on the hunt for the perfect budgeting software. Up to this point I've been using (you guessed it) a good old pen and paper. And while there's nothing wrong with this method, I figured I might as well take advantage of the ease and accuracy of modern technology.

The only problem was that after I asked a bunch of people what program they used, I didn't find anyone who LOVED their current system. I found people who were using Microsoft Money, Quicken etc...but everybody I talked to had certain concerns about the various programs they were using.

So I got online and Googled "Microsoft Money" and began a search for a budget program that would work for my little family and our oh-so-tight budget.

I quickly came across a program called "YNAB" or You Need a Budget. I got on their website and read about it, watched a bunch of the tutorials, read the testimonials etc, I even sent an email to my mom so she could check it out and give me her opinion.

Anyway...I ended up spending the $50 to buy the YNAB Pro software, downloaded it immediately and I have been LOVING it ever since. No, I am not being paid for this advertisement, I just know how great this has been for Dan and I over the last few months and I wanted to share. I know there are a lot of us out there who are having to be really careful with our finances right now and this program is very user friendly, the tutorials are very helpful and I've even emailed a few questions and have gotten a reply very quickly.

If you already have a system that is working great for you then ignore this post, but if not I would go check this website out:

youneedabudget.com

I wanted to use it for a while before I felt comfortable recommending it to others, but now I can safely say that I love it and it has made my life so much easier!

Wait for it...

A few months ago I heard the announcement that Taylor Swift was coming in concert to Mandalay Bay on May 23rd. I thought to myself, "Oh man...would my little girls love to go to that concert!" As soon as the tickets went on sale I got online 'just to check'. But when I saw the ticket prices, even for the nose bleed section, I knew it wasn't going to happen. Poor us...

Last week I even got an email from Amanda telling me that someone was advertising 2 Taylor Swift tickets in the Mt. Express. I checked it out...$175 for 2 tickets. My response was, "I'm sure my girls would love to go, but I'm buying two weeks of groceries with that money instead."

However, for the past couple of days I've been a Craig's List stalker...just checking to see if anyone got desperate to dump their tickets. Last night the prices started to drop, I even woke Dan up from the dead of sleep to tell him how low the prices were and to beg him to agree to going. He said, "I love you honey, but we can't afford it." (name the conference talk)

All day the prices dropped, but I kept getting the "NO" from my wise hubby. Then at 7:15 (the show started at 7:30) I saw a posting that said 'cheap, make an offer'. So I called. I asked, "How much?" He said, "$55 a ticket". I said, "Ok, no thank you." He said, "Hold on...it's late make me an offer. $100 for all four tickets and they're yours." I said, "I already found some for $100 and my hubby said no." He said, "Name a price." So I did, and he declined and I hung up and gave up. Two minutes later my phone rang and he said, "We'll take it. I'm emailing you the tickets right now."

Ha! Yay! So we ALL went to Taylor Swift for the original price of ONE ticket! Can you tell I'm a little proud of myself. True we shouldn't have spent any money on the tickets at all, but I will just "borrow" it out of my grocery budget next month. Who needs to eat anyway? Besides...memories last WAY longer than food! If you could have seen my girlies faces (and I must admit mine too) you would have agreed with me that it was TOTALLY WORTH IT! If we look a little thinner next month you'll know why :)

Even though we were making the mad dash...we had to stop in front of the bus for one photo!

My girls are a little....shall we say, 'sound sensitive'. Ears were plugged for the ENTIRE concert!

But they were happily plugged that's for sure!

Pretty darn good seats for 15 mins before show time...

And low and behold in the middle of the concert, who should appear right at our sections entrace?!? I know it's a bad picture..but we couldn't believe she was singing right in front of us.

Lesson learned...never pay full price for tickets. What a great show, we loved every minute of it! How fun that we can all enjoy a concert together...will we be able to say the same thing when the girls are teenagers???

Yoo Hoo...

We're still alive and well, just a little too much coming and going and not enough time to blog it. My girls are off track and we've been here a little and there a little...just wanted to let you know we were still kickin'.

The happenings that I haven't blogged about (yet)...

*Dan's 35th b-day
*Mother's Day
*Quick visit from Diane and family
*Girls trip to Phoenix
*Dan & I trip to Phoenix to pick up girls
*Iowa friends passing through town :)

And right now...I'm in Utah for a few short days for Dan's brother's wedding. (Poor, poor Dan had to stay in Vegas and work :(

I'll update (with photos) soon!

Turned 9 in '2009'!

Kallie did it. Without permission from her mother, she went and got another year older. Why? Why must these little ones grow up too fast? Can we please just freeze this moment in time forever? I probably won't say that when they're teenagers...but for now I wish time could just stand still.

So the festivities went as follows (in chronological order):

Friday (May 1st) we skipped out of work a little early (after a major chemical spill at the office courtesy of Syndey- but that is a WHOLE other story for another day...or not). At Kallie's request we packed up the car and headed for a 1 1/2 day, 1 night mini get-a-way to St. George! I must admit we were all ready for a fun change of scenery.

Here is Kallie opening her present that Grandma Patti & Grandpa Charlie mailed her. She was too excited to wait until her birthday and grandma gave in and told her she could open it early.

'BOLT'...yay! A new movie to watch during the drive :)

We were so excited to have Sam & Maci come stay in the hotel with us for the birthday celebration. By the time we made it through Vegas traffic and visited with Nate and Jeni for a while, we were too late to go swimming on Friday night. We walked across the parking lot to Wendy's and got frosties instead. But first thing Saturday morning, you can bet what was on these girls' mind! They swam and swam until we had to check out of the hotel :(

For lunch Kallie picked Pizza Factory and I wasn't complaining! Yum! Had to get a picture of their matching hair do's! (courtesy of the hair blog once again)

This one's for you Amy...a picture of beeeeeautiful Jeni 29 weeks pregnant with little girl #3.

Next we were off to Fiesta Fun for a little minature golf (look online...buy one get one free coupons, hooray)!

Dan being the golf "bumper". Let's just say we didn't necessarily play by the rules :)

Last stop at Fiesta Fun...the bumper boats! These were hilarious, they shot water out the front and by the end everyone was SOAKED! I wish you all could have witnessed them in person.

Look at Syd's face, she has been taken over by the bumper boat demon :)

Sunday, as is tradition, breakfast in bed! This was tough to make on fast Sunday (we decided the b-day girl didn't have to fast on her b-day).

Sydney was the honored guest at the breakfast in bed party!

Sunday night we invited a few friends over for cake & presents. Don't ask me what's wrong with me...I forgot to get pictures of the whole crew. Here is Kallie working hard on her barbie cake. No comments from those of you out there who are professional cake decorators (you know who you are), Kallie had tons of fun with the frosting.

Finished product...Kallie was thrilled to say the least! And if she's happy...I'm happy!

Happy Birthday dear Kallie...Happy Birthday to you!

Can't help but think about life exactly one year ago, it feels like a whole lifetime ago. Kallie got baptized, we put our house up for sale and we were preparing for the big move. What a crazy year... Oh how we love you Kallie Ann!!!