Category: Family

Life with the Murphy’s!

Family

#SheReadsTruth

The Merfett

Last week I started doing a new morning devotional. I’d read about it on Peas And Thank You a few weeks ago.

You don’t have to do it in the morning, but I find that it’s a really nice way to start out your day. Before the gym, before work, before chaos ensues and your day starts getting cut into pieces. It’s calming to spend the morning quiet, with some coffee reading in your jammies.

It’s been a while since I’ve done a daily devo, and I really wanted something that focused on women. I’d been browsing Amazon and Target looking for a good devotional book to get me going again. But,since we’re Living Like No One Else I’ve been trying not to buy any new books – it’s a weakness I have.

So, I thought…the internet MUST have something right? I mean there’s an App for everything.

Then, I found She Reads Truth. I love it. It’s just what I wanted and everything I needed.

My favorite part? When you’re done you can Instagram or Twitter your thoughts with #shereadstruth and there’s an entire community of women to share with! I love reading their thoughts and seeing photos of the notes and drawings in their journals. It’s like the largest small group ever :)

Oh, and to curb my book buying issue I’m getting a library card this week :) I’m so excited.

Family

But I WANT it!

The Merfett

Last week I shared how Merfman and I are Living Like No One Else. Part of that idea is separating the NEEDS from the WANTS.

Dang, that’s hard. My Dad calls it your “want-o-meter” when you just WANT something so bad!

I’ve never been a big shopper. I was never the girl that when someone asked what my hobbies were I listed Shopping at the top of the list. No thank you, I would much rather be on a bike ride or reading a book then combing through the department store clothing racks.  That’s my idea of torture.

But, I still have wants like anyone does. My “want-o-meter” really gets charged up when I enter TARGET. That store. I love it. But man, that places can take $50 bucks from you like nothin’!!

For example, this little guy:

I was at Target grabbing some items for my Bossman and I spotted this AMAZING lamp on an endcap. I didn’t NEED it, but man-oh-man I WANTED it. There wasn’t a price tag on the little fella so I carried it over to a scanner (while talking TO said lamp) and discovered that she priced at $68!!!!! That WANT very quickly dissolved. I said my goodbyes to her and went on my way.

Dave Ramsey often talks about how much money is spent on making you spend your money. Make sense?! Marketing and Advertising is a massive industry and they are sneaky little buggers. Don’t ever think that the store isn’t laid out that way just by chance, it’s all planned out. Every endcap, each clothing section, the layout it’s a trap! I’ve fallen victim to that trap many times. You know how it goes…you just need to make a quick stop at Target to grab toilet paper and you end up leaving with a new mascara, pair of shoes and a blender. And $50 seems to be missing from your wallet.

How to avoid the trap? Well, I’ve found what works for me:

– Make a LIST. I love lists, they make me happy, and calm. If it’s not on the list, it’s not in the cart!

– Bring your CASH. Buying with cash is obvious and finite. If you only have $XX to spend, that will keep you away from the doggie lamps.

-You can LOOK but don’t TOUCH. I heard once that when you touch a new item your percentage of purchasing goes way up.

– BROWSE. I really like Target, they have some really fun and cute things. I was there last week and I walked the store looking at all the fun Fall things. I saw some really cute Plaid shirts that were calling to me, but it wasn’t on the agenda. I think I’m going to hit up the thrift store and see if I can find a knockoff version for fraction of the price :)

Dial back the “want-o-meter” and focus on the NEEDS.

Family, photo

InstaFriday

The Merfett

life rearranged

So, I LOVE this weekly blog post on one of my favorite blogs The Pleated Poppy. Merfman thinks I’m a goober because I have a girlcrush on all the blogwomen I read about. What? It’s totally normal to admire women that are creative, fun, crafty and keepin’ it real yea?

So, here’s InstaFriday, it’s pretty straightforward…If you’d like to follow me on Instagram I’m DaniellaJoyy.

When we had our house painted a few months ago we had to remove the one, pre-historic, rusty, leaking rain gutter on our house. Once we saw rain was in the forecast for this week we ran to Lowe’s on Friday to buy Rain Gutters with our Wedding Gift Money. Thanks friends and family – you helped us prevent water damage!

Merfman isn’t much of a sweets person, which is a bummer because I LOVE to bake. I asked him what his favorite cookie was and he said sugar cookies. I found this recipe on Joy the Baker, had all the ingredients and pulled a batch together. You MUST make these Brown Sugar Cookies ASAP.

Before we started the rain-gutter-hanging-extravaganza on Saturday I made Waffles. Betsy couldn’t understand why I didn’t make her one. Those big brown eyes are too much!

We ended up back at Lowes on Sunday after Church to grab some more gutter supplies and spotted this menagerie. I was concerned when I realized the Christmas Tree was singing me “Jingle Bells” in OCTOBER. Not cool. I love Christmas to the max, but it’s just not the same when stores start hyping it when it’s 90 degrees outside and I don’t even have my jack-o-lantern yet.

Monday when I was driving home from the gym in my post Spin Class glow (read: nastysweaty) Merfman requested bagels. I had just burned about a zillion calories and I’ll never turn down a carb so I stopped by to grab our usual orders.

I started doing this morning devotional after reading about it on Peas And Thank You (another girlcrush) and I’m loving it. After you do your devotional you can tweet or instagram your thoughts with the hashtag #shereadstruth and there’s a whole community of women to share with. Supporting my idea that Social Network should be used for good and encouragement.

Brown sugar cookie(s) post lunch. Totally counts at 1 serving. I went back for number 2(3) just to make it even.

 

Happy Friday!