Great Bargains!

So while Nicolette was taking a nap I wanted to post another blog. I haven't do so in a very long time. Not much has changed for me. I'm still working on preparing my paper for publication and applying for schools. I'm really hoping to get into a research program at Ohio State University. My GRE scores are horrible though. Hopefully they don't care about those too much. I just wanted to talk about 3 great opportunities.

1. Anyway, I wanted let people know that different options are finally here for cheaper cell phone service. I was told about a deal at Cricket Wireless that was $25 a month unlimited text and talking without a contract, and now they use Verizon's network. That was so cheap! I signed up and bought a phone. When I tried to call Nicolette my phone wouldn't connect. Come to find out that plan from Cricket only allows you to make local calls. Remember back in the 90's when your stuck-to-the-kitchen-wall land line was charged extra money when you tried to call someone out of state...yeah that's how this cell phone plan worked (long distance was an extra $5 a month). I didn't even know companies still sold such ridiculously useless cell phone plans. They also failed to inform me that they don't offer voicemail either (also an extra $5 a month). After some searching online I found only terrible reviews with Cricket. I returned the phone.

Don't worry though, there are still great options. The best one for Nicolette and I was PagePlusCellular.com. They also use Verizon's network. They offer 1200 minutes and 1200 texts plus 50 MB data for only $29.95 for 30 days! If you talk a lot there is also the unlimited talk and text plant with 20 MB data for only 39.95 for 30 days. The only way this isn't the plan for you is if you use a lot of internet on your phone, or if you need a phone for every family member (they don't offer family discounts). You can use any CDMA phones (i.e. they don't have a SIM card). GREAT DEAL!

If you decide PagePlus is not for you make sure that you DO NOT SIGN UP FOR A CONTRACT. The cell phone world is changing and using cell phones will become much cheaper. Do not chain yourself to any cell phone plan and miss out on the cool new stuff that is just around the corner.

2. I really like a review based website call yelp.com. They have great reviews on local restaurants and businesses. If you don't know about this website it is great. Anyone can start "yelping" if there are places they would or would not recommend. The more people that know about this site and use it the better it becomes. Nicolette and I use it all the time to see if a restaurant will be worth the money. The reviews are really fun to read too.

3. dealnews.com is such a powerful website that I love. It complies all of the great deals of the day from so many different internet-based companies. You wouldn't believe the deals I have seen this Christmas season. They are very comparable and even better than the deals in the stores on Black Friday. What I really like is how they compare the posted deal with deals from the past. They also have printable coupons to so many stores that are actually worth printing out (even in full inkjet color) and using.

I hope you can save a lot of money this Christmas season on these great bargains. Merry Christmas.

Christmas time is here!

Christmas time is one of my favorite times of year! I love all of the music, I love how excited the kids get, (one big kid being my husband) and I love Christmas lights and decorations! This past weekend we met my parents in SLC to check out the amazing Temple Square. It never disappoints! It was REALLY cold, but beautiful!!

Who needs mistletoe when you have a cool fountain?

(left: My little brother, My mom, me, and Shaun)

Temple Square has several international Nativity Scenes.

This one isfrom Mexico. My brother is serving his mission in

Mexico right now. This picture is dedicated to him! Ü

Here is the whole crew! Such fun memories!!

Now for our cozy home!!

I lOVE how our Christmas tree turned out this year! So Cute!

If you click on the picture you can see the little baby owls. They were too cute to pass up!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

update

I wanted to give you all an update on our crazy, good lives...

About a month ago I was asked to teach a Praxis Prep Class. This is a teacher test that all teachers have to take within their first three years of teaching. There are several types of Praxis Tests but this one is based on all of the content taught from K-6. (If you haven't reviewed 6th grade math, world history, etc. in a while there are some pretty tough questions.) Luckily I don't have to know ALL of the answers. Another teacher and I present information on how to reduce testing anxiety, the teachers take a practice test and the remainder of the time we all study together. Although it has added a little stress planning for something extra I have enjoyed getting to meet more people from around the district. I only have one more class to prepare for and then I will teach the same course again in the Spring.

This year at school I am also a mentor. I have a new team of teachers (there are 7 first grade teachers total). They are such awesome teachers!! It has been a lot of work but also a really fun year. I am so grateful my mother taught me how to be organized, to plan ahead, and how to be on top of stuff. I have needed it more this year in teaching than ever before! thanks mom!

My class this year is SO cute! I have had a string of rough classes the last few years so it is so refreshing to have students who behave, love school, get along, and crack me up. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by these cuties!!

Shaun is very busy with school, TA genetics, writing papers, doing his research, and being the Elder's Quorum President. He is such a hard worker! He is so good to still make time for me and our sacred date night, too. That means SO much!

We are loving life and doing great! This weekend we broke the rule and decorated for Christmas. Usually we wait until Thanksgiving is over but not this year. I have a book club group coming over to my house on Wednesday and I wanted it to look all festive for the event...Shaun didn't argue one bit. I will post pictures soon!

Happy Halloween

 

Shaun and I had a really great Halloween this year! It started out on Wednesday at our ward party. Shaun dressed up like Edward and I was a little cute cowgirl. We didn’t win the costume contest but Shaun’s lemon bars won 2nd place. Ü I was SO excited!

I got to dress up that day during school. It was such a fun day! I wish I could post a picture of my class but then I would have to have each parent sign a wavier saying it was okay to put their child on my blog. So just imagine 20 cute little 6 year olds all dressed up.

Saturday night:

This is a group shot of our mini Halloween get together. Sterling was Indiana Jones, Michelle was Kelly from Saved by the Bell, and then the cowgirl and Edward also made an appearance.

 

This was the flaming cake I made. It was   tasty!!

  We didn’t have time to carve real pumpkins so we just had to draw some faces.   

Happy Halloween Everyone! I can’t believe November is already here!!

Windows 7 is almost here!

I'm so excited about Windows 7 coming out on the 22nd (just 2 days!). Microsoft took a huge blow for their terrible operating system Vista. They lost billions of dollars and learned some lessons. Now they have something amazing about to come out...Windows 7 (notice it's not called Vista 2). Not only are they fixing their mistake, but this system is cheap. You can get it if you are a student for only $30 dollars--Home Premium or Professional addition. Just go to win741.com to order it. If you're not a student, Home Premium is $110 and Professional is $200. It's got some amazing features. PS Nicolette only let me post this if I reminded you to look at the fall pictures below :)

Fall Break Fun

Fall break was so much fun this year!! besides just deep cleaning my house and catching up on random things I was also able to try some new crafts. My friend, Michelle, and I attempted Martha Stewart glitter pumpkins. Mine aren't perfect but they were a lot of fun to make. Here is a website describing it. I just used plastic pumpkins, instead of real ones so I can use them next year, too.

http://www.marthastewart.com

New Halloween Decor

You can't see very good in this picture but the black

BOO letters also have black glitter on them. They turned out so cute!

Bridal Veil Falls, Provo Canyon

Aren't we a cute couple?

These are our good friends the Stauffers.

We had a great time with them during our picnic up the canyon.

Happy Fall everyone!

Y hike?

Shaun and I decided we needed to take

advantage of the beautiful weather.

And, although Shaun was born and raised in

Utah he had never hiked the Y.

Friday night turned out to be a perfect evening.

Enjoy the pictures!

Cheering at the end of the hike! It was a really fun date!

Thanks Honey!!

Birthday Fun!

I had a way fun birthday this year! I just want to thank all of my friends and family for making it so special! You guys are the best!!

This is the card I got from the teachers I work with. They are so sweet!

One of them also decorated my classroom door and my students thought they were

throwing me a surprise party... my student's really got into my birthday as well!

This is the amazing cake Shaun made for my birthday!

It is a homemade chocolate cake, made with dutch chocolate! YUMMY!

We had just gotten back from dinner and a movie. I was getting really tired. I guess I'm not the party animal I used to be. Ü haha!

I got to meet up with my dear friend Malia for breakfast. She is such a cutie!!

So you may have been wondering what we did to celebrate my big day... Well, I talked Shaun into re-doing our Master Bathroom. New paint, new rug, new shower curtain, new rounded shower rod (thanks Seleta). new towel rod, so both of our towels can hang up at the same time... The Works! This bathroom needed to be updated, so it is SO nice having something fresh and new in there! Thank you Shaun for all of your work with this project.

He also surprised me the morning of my birthday with a new blow dryer. Mine was getting a little smoky. Thanks Babe! Love ya!!

Jacqueline's Wedding

This weekend Shaun and I headed to Rexburg, ID for my cousins wedding. We had a great time, even though it was a really quick trip. We didn't stay for the reception so we could be back for our church responsibilities on Sunday but here are some pictures at the temple and before the reception. My sister is back in NY and couldn't make it so I took so many pictures so she could see the festivities!

Is my shirt too loud for the temple?

Rexburg, ID Temple

Stacia and Kristi-Two of Jacqueline's sisters

The Reception: Jacqueline's yard, Idaho Falls, ID

Thank you table

Cake Table

They Served Strawberry Short Cake

I loved this look...the pictures on the fence. It was so cute!

On the way home Shaun and I took a detour through Aberdeen, ID

so he could meet up with a guy working on the same plant that Shaun is working on. We drove past this sign and had to take a picture! If you look really closely you can see the tater tots are actually wearing diapers! Ü

Congrats Jacqueline and Jordan! We are so happy for you guys!!