A New Beginning

I have been wanting to start a new blog for some time.  I have had a personal blog for a few years now, but have kind of fallen off the bandwagon and rarely post anymore.  I think most people have stopped reading it by now (except my mom, who I really don't need to blog for).  I've been brainstorming ideas of what I want to blog about and can't seem to focus on just one topic.  So I've decided to just jump right in and see where it takes me.

My name is Andrea.  I am 29 years old and married (going on 5 years) to the love of my life, Rudy.  Together we have 2 beautiful boys - who I will call "R" & "B" for privacy purposes.  R is turning 3 next weekend and B just turned 5 months.  Getting used to life with 2 kids has definitely been an adjustment, but we have gotten the hang of things and so far, everyone is still in one piece. :)  We have 3 dogs - Pluto, a yellow lab, as well as Peanut & Little Boy who are both chihuahuas.  Peanut and I are surrounded by an awful lot of boys!  

I am incredibly blessed to be able to stay home and take care of my boys.  Before having babies, I was a fitness & dance instructor at a world-renown health resort and also taught at a dance studio for many years.  I have danced my whole life and it is truly my passion.  I miss it so much and am determined to get involved with it again, one way or another.  Anyway, being a stay at home mom is the greatest, hardest and most rewarding job there is.  Somedays I feel lonely and bored, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I get to raise my children and I feel so lucky for that!

Being a single income family of four, finding ways to save money is huge for us.  While I am not an "extreme couponer" (who needs 150 boxes of tic tacs anyway?), I certainly love good deals and coupons.  I rarely shop without them and almost never pay full price for anything.  One of the highlights of my week is getting the grocery ads in the mail .... lame?  Maybe.  But we save a lot of money around here!

I have a long list of diy projects that I have been wanting to do forever.  Maybe having this blog will make me more accountable and I will actually get things done so that I can share them here.  I have a love for scrapbooking.  It's such a fun way to preserve photos and memories and I just love the feeling of looking at a completed page.  I will definitely be sharing some of my work here.

What can you expect to see on this blog?  Reviews of my favorite baby & kid products, diy projects, scrapbook layouts, maybe a recipe here and there (links only, because I sure don't have a talent for creating recipes) and the adventures of my day-to-day life with 2 little boys.  If you happen to find this blog, I hope you will enjoy it and stick around for awhile. :)