Museum Day

A few weeks ago, we went to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens to see the tree house exhibit. The Rainbow Fish tree house was my favorite. The scales were made from old CDs and the lips were made from pool noodles. So creative! (Of course, we had to stop for fish kisses.)

The Frazier Museum is currently running a Princess Diana exhibit. I cannot wait to go! Princess Diana (and all of the royal family for that matter) fascinates me. I think she was the epitome of poise and class (based on her wardrobe, service work, and interviews). The museum is also hosting princess teas. Tiara anyone?

Anyways, I say all that because you should check into your local museums and gardens this weekend. The 29th is the Smithsonian Museum Day so many museums are free! What a great way to spend time with your family for free.

Homesick

J and I both agree that we are a little homesick. We miss our families.

Yesterday, we were able to spend the day in Nashville for pottery shower for the soon-to-be Ellis family and for a birthday party for this cutie... Jakson (my nephew) turned 4. The time went by too fast.

We are missing so much. Next week my sweet cousin Katie is getting married, but I will be here helping with a wedding at the inn. I have not gotten to hold/meet J's nephew and by the time I see him, he will probably be talking (apparently he can already "moo" ;) ). It stinks.

Being a grown up isn't always fun.

Anyways, if you could say a little prayer for both J and I we would both appreciate it.

It's All About The $

Having a job with very few bills (no rent, no utilities, no phone!), I knew it was past time to get a hold of my finances when we moved here. I was even more motivated when I heard about some acquaintances paying cash for their house. (Yep, you heard me right... 30 year olds paying cash for their house.) Growing up, I was not really taught about money so it was time for me to learn.

Enter Dave Ramsey.

I went to the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace website and found a class that was about to start in Louisville. J and I signed up and 13 weeks later we are finished.

Dave has "7 Baby Steps" for financial freedom.

• Step 1: Save up $1,000 to start your emergency fund.
• Step 2: Pay off all non-mortgage debt using the debt snowball.
• Step 3: Save up 3 to 6 months of expenses to complete your emergency fund.
• Step 4: Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement accounts.
• Step 5: Work on college funding for children.
• Step 6: Pay off your mortgage early.
• Step 7: Build wealth and give!

In Financial Peace, you will learn how to accomplish these steps, but you will also learn how money works in general, how to be gazelle intense in paying debt off, and so much more.

While honestly, J and I have not followed everything we learned (not that we disagree, but we just haven't), I will say that I think we both agree this is the best thing we have done as a couple. We are able to speak more openly and honestly with each other. We have been able to share concerns, fears, hopes, and dreams with ease. We are more on the same page now then we have ever been. We have already completed step 1 and now are working on step 2. :) (Step 2 is going to take a long time.... oh student loans.)

No matter your financial status, I would encourage everyone to take these classes. We had people in our class making more money than I could dream of and people who were on the verge of bankruptcy and everyone benefited.

Thank you, Dave Ramsey for changing our lives.

Fall To-Do List

photo credit

(1) Try a new soup recipe
(2) Re-read The Great Gatsby (Need a refresher before movie comes out)
(3) Visit a nearby winery
(4) Pop up dinner party
(5) Decorate pumpkins (Can't decide if I want to paint or carve)
(6) Take a mini-vacation (This does not include Nashville, Tennessee, but possibly might include Nashville, Indiana. ;))

What is something you must do this fall?

Review of Summer

At the beginning of the summer, I wrote out my summer rules. Let's review...

My favorite summer day spent at the State Fair

1. Pick berries.
2. Make homemade ice cream to enjoy on the back porch. (I really want to use my Jeni's cookbook.)
3. Attend a concert. (Forecastle anyone??? J and I went to several concerts: Trampled by Turtles, The Vespers, Shovels and Ropes...a little bluegrass in the Bluegrass state
4. Visit a horse farm. (When in Kentucky...) Well, we went to the Derby Museum for the first time and saw a horse so we might can say this one is half done ;)
5. Stay at another B&B (Looking at Symphony Hotel in Cincinnati.)
6. Play tennis with J. (We have a court right across the street that has appealed to both of us.) We finally bought tennis rackets and have gone to play late at night when there is nobody to laugh at us. :)
7. Picnic lunch and nap in a park.
8. Host a dinner party. (Hopefully we will have friends soon!) We'll count the Julia birthday dinner. ;)
9. Go antiquing. Went to Jo-Lay's with my parents.
10. Ride my new bike often. (I might add purchase a basket for bike too.) I did get a cute basket and ride my bike pretty often.

5.5 out of 10.

It's hard to believe that summer is gone. Apparently it flies by even when you do not have a summer vacation. Already looking forward to next summer. Maybe I will finish my list. :)

Honey Cake Therapy

This morning, my Southern-ness was questioned by a lady. I would like to blame my lack of sleep last night for getting teary eyed, but her words hurt a little bit too. (The comeback could have been me questioning her Southern-ness because in the South women like to pretend they like each other to their faces.) Anyways, whatever brought on the silly tears I knew it was time for a little kitchen therapy.

A couple of days ago, I read Nancy's post on a honey cake. She always writes about food in ways that make you regret reading because you want whatever she is making right then. The honey cake was no exception. Luckily, the next day I found some great local honey at the State Fair. I jumped in line to buy a bottle because I knew exactly what I wanted to use it for.

This afternoon, I made a terrifically, wonderful honey cake. The nuttiness of the butter browning. The surprise of thyme. The motion of the beaters. The fluffiness of the icing. It soothed the soul. My day became infinitely better. The perfect dessert with decaf coffee (or tea!) right before bed.

If you are a foodie or just enjoy a good read, check out Nancy's blog  http://nancyvienneau.com/blog/

Happy Birthday, Julia!

This week we celebrated a birthday....

Julia Child's 100th! 

We made our way to Carmichael's earlier in the week so I could pick up Dearie, a new affectionately written biography. On Wednesday, Julia's birthday, I decided it was time for me to make beef bourguignon. I had heard it was one of her easier dishes (lie.) and it the dish that she might be most well known for thanks to the movie Julie and Julia. 5 hours later, it was ready. All was worth it though to settled down on the back porch with J and our lovely friend S for a yummy dinner. We cheersed (new word?!) my favorite chef and finished the meal with Julia's Chocolate Almond Cake. So, so good.

  
You all know I will find anything to celebrate. :)

Happy Birthday, Julia! Bon appetit.