Winning

I don't listen to the radio that often anymore. I have built up a pretty decent music library in Itunes and pretty much listen to my own music through my cell phone in the car, but I do follow a Top 40 radio station in Nashville on Facebook/Twitter. I like their morning dj's and will listen to them sometimes. They do alot of contest and they usually have some pretty good ones. I've actually won a contest through Twitter once from a former DJ of the radio station. He was turning 30 and had a private party in a club downtown Nashville a couple years ago and I got to go with a guest. Even though it wasn't my normal scene it was alot of fun! Last week I entered through Facebook and Twitter mine and Cameron's email address to be entered to win a private mini concert with Tegan and Sara. If you aren't familiar with them they are a twin sister singing duo from Canada. I actually discovered them a couple years ago on The Grey's Anatomy soundtrack. (yes, another way to discover music now is through your television!) I never got any of their albums I just liked the song they had on the soundtrack, but then discovered them again early this summer when they were on another television show I watched and I really liked the song they sang on the show. So I downloaded their new album and LOVED it. So, when I got the call that I had won tickets to the mini show I was excited! Cameron and I went up yesterday and the lounge was inside the radio station where they had set up bean bags, lounge chair seating, food/drinks. They sounded amazing and I got to hear some older songs I had not heard before plus two off their new album. Then we got to meet and get our photo with them. 

Look at those cute pocket sized Canadians!

 My hair also looks long here! Didn't I just get it chopped off?!

My two cents

I'm not an avid couponer, but lately with our budget I've been trying to use them a little more. The ones I really like are the restaurant coupons! One of my favorite fast food places is Arby's, but it's can be pretty pricey. Actually Cam and I joke that we have to take out loans to eat there. So, lately I've been stashing the Arby's coupons and going about once a week at lunch. Our local Arby's is amazing. Seriously, it's one of the best fast food places as far as customer service and overall experience.  At lunch the manager is almost always there and she is very professional, fast, and friendly. The food is always served quick and taste fresh and warm. Yesterday, when I went they were having a bake sale to raise money for the "No Kid Hungry" foundation. It appeared that the staff had baked homemade goods to help raise money for this program. I was impressed by that! For one, it showed teamwork. The staff took time out and baked cookies and brownies and were working together to raise money.

I know this is weird going on about a fast food place, but what I'm getting at is that I thought because I've been going there pretty consistently and every time I go I get the same great service I decided to let them know. I took 10 minutes out of the day to send the corporation a note letting them know our specific store was doing a great job. It seems like in today's world we just feed off the negative and it's so EASY to complain about things and that just spreads. I think one of the scariest attitudes that we have sometimes is that we want someone or something to fail and we are usually pretty quick to voice it. Sadly I've fallen into that many times in my own personal life. I've gotten news about someone and have thought "well, that will never work for them" or "I'll give them til ___ then that'll end" How awful to feel that way about someone! 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says "Therefore encourage one another one another and build one another up, just as you are doing".

Is there someone or somewhere that you've been recently that impressed you by their service? If so, maybe take a few minutes and let them know!

Under Construction

Today was a big HUGE day! We've been sitting on our property that we purchased back in February and today we were finally able to hand over the first check to start our process on our house! It's been a very exciting..and nerve-wracking couple of weeks. The loan process has been smooth and I am VERY thankful that Cameron has the knowledge and patience for what is involved in that.  I hate math and numbers :/  Today at the bank I watched as the lady was flipping through all those papers and knowing which ones we needed to sign and initial and which ones we didnt, and which ones were her copies and which ones were ours....and wow. I just thought "thank the Lord for people who were born with love for this because it would be a nightmare for me"! So, the next step is for the tree stumps to be removed from the lot. This has to be done before the permits are given. That should happen within the week or two! As of now, we are estimated to be in before May 31st. Which works our perfectly for the kids school year.

Thanking the Lord for blessing us with this house and praying over our builder and anyone who has a hand in it!

Mug Swap 2013

Hello friends! It seems as though weekly blogs will be more likely than daily blogs. :/    <------my kermit the frog face. So lately I've been finding myself more invovled online through Instagram than any other social networking. I love Instagram. I love how creative people are through photographs and it's amazing that from a cell phone you can capture so many amazing things and memories. Plus, I think Instagram is pretty much the most drama free social network there is and I'm all about that right now in my life! I've connected with several people through Instagram that seem like they are really great and creative people and it's interesting to see their life in photos. I've talked on Facebook before that I have connected with my real life doppleganger on Instagram and we are still commenting and liking each other's photos.

Recently, a friend on Instagram posted about a mug swap that she had discovered and posted the details on how to be involved in it. Me not only being a coffee lover, but also a mug lover, I needed to be involved in this. A wonderful lady named Kim created a blog and started this mug swap three years ago though her blog at:

http://www.acuppakim.com/

This year she had almost 900 participants in the mug swap! Kim organizes the swap and assigns you a person to buy a mug for. The person sends Kim a little bio about themselves along with their address. She then dispurses the names/info out and she sends you a partner to buy a mug for. My person was named Andrea and she was from Missouri. She put her style was "Vintage Scandonavian". I wasn't sure what that was exactly, but it was so fun hunting for her. I also took a peek at her Instagram to get some ideas on her lifestyle, likes, etc. I found her a mug and included a little bracelet and card with a photo of the family. She posted in Instagram that she recieved it and she loved it! Today, I received my mug along with a TON of other goodies that my partner included in the package. 

On my bio sheet I put that I was currently obsessed over chevron and anything that had birds on it! My partner ended up being a sweet lady named Katie from Akron, OH and boy she really spoiled me! Inside the box was not only a very cute and unique mug, but chevron flip flops, notepad, scarf, stickers, Buckeye chocolates, coffee, nail polish (all colors I mentioned I was also currently into) and a package of Hello Kitty stationary for Julia. How sweet is that??? She doesn't know how much she was truly a blessing to me today. This box really came at the perfect time. Thank you Katie. 

If you are on Instagram look me up! I am under the profile saraliner. 

New Beginnings

Julia and Elijah 1st day of school 2013

I did not wake up this morning and think "Hey, I think I will create a new blog today!", but here I am sitting with my coffee and creative juices flowing! Hence the name of my new blog 

"CreativeChaosandCoffee.blogspot.com" 

 My life right now is about new beginnings. I am in a huge transition in my life. My youngest child, Julia has entered the world of education as a new Kindergartner. Her and my 7 year old son, Elijah are now in school full time. I've graduated from "Stay at home Mom" to "Not sure what I'm going to do now Mom". If I am honest I am feeling a little lost. Before having children I was a registered dental assistant and had a good start to a promising career. I really love the dental profession and educating the public. It has it's ups and downs like any career, but overall I was happy. After having Elijah I decided to stay at home and I am truly grateful for that, but in the 7 years I have not worked the progression of my field has passed me. The dental assisting field has really grown and they have added alot of extra credentials to the license and I am now not nearly as qualified as the other assistants out there. The office that I was employed at has always been very supportive of my decision to leave and has welcomed me to come back. I am working part time mainly as a receptionist and "floater assistant". It has been nice to be back, but part of me wishes I had kept up with my license and gained the extra credentials.

There is definitely a wind of change in my life. Some changes I am going through are positive ones. I think I am becoming a stronger person emotionally. Don't get me wrong..I still cry over the craziest things, but I do not let my emotions control me. Another change in my life is the free time I now have. At one point last year I had a commitment every single day or evening. I overcommitted myself and honestly I lost joy in the things I was doing. Right now, I am not committed to anything. Part of me is a little relieved at this. I feel I can breathe a little easier and I'm not stressed all the time. The other part of me is scared to death. I want to use my freedom in a good way, but I just don't know what that is yet.

So, to wrap of my first blog post on my new blog I would say that I'm not sure what my life has in store for me today, tomorrow, or even this year, but I do know it will involve alot of creativity, chaos....and of course coffee!