Ravens Fans in Packer Nation

We may be Ravens Fans @ 2950... but it's true we've joined the Packer Nation!

Lunch Packers that is!

 Living on a budget with hopes of paying off my car, student loans, and some credit cards in the very near future we are doing all we can to save more money.

 

Sometimes with my busy schedule tutoring I'm packing breakfast, lunch and dinner, but it is keeping us on a strict food budget. We've also been shopping at Aldi and have cut our grocery bill! WITHOUT cutting Coupons cause let's get real... I don't have time for that!

 

 

This Coffee Area in the kitchen also keeps me from stopping for coffee in the mornings. It also helps to make sure that I am not loading up on caffeine to get through the day and is limiting me to one cup a day, a much better choice!

 

Oh yeah, It's all John Deere, I mean who would not want a handsome farm boy on a John Deere Making your Coffee.. DUH!

 

Getting chores done during the week is essential since every second of the weekend is always packed with family time since Nate and I are on opposite schedules all week

 

. By putting all the weekly chores on Popsicle sticks Nate and I choose a few a day, from the Un Done jar, and then they move to the Done jar. It shares the chore responsibility and makes sure the whole house gets clean every week!

 

 Doing this ensures that by the weekend all the chores have been done, there is not looming sinks of dirty dishes... and that DAMN laundry does not pile up ( I loath laundry!)

 

There is also a certain excitement (lame I know) about choosing a chore at random to do. Makes it feel more like an award or something.

 

Tonight I receive to coveted Wash Dishes ( only use Palmolive it was the only thing Grandpa Vaughan would allow in his kitchen!)

 

And.. the prestigious clean downstairs bathroom....( still like scrubbing the toilet more than laundry!)

 

 

And... wouldn't you know it.. I jinxed myself... just drew a laundry stick... damn!

Till next time here are some things that this little wife are finding to help have a smooth running household where we get it done... even the laundry!

Much Love,
Said Wife

So how's married life??

 

So everyone we meet says... "So... How's married life?"

Magical... usually my response...

So how is it?

Here is a peek into married life @ 2950

I am adapting to being called Mrs. Roland, Mrs. Vaughan-Roland (legally and paperwork name) and Miss. Vaughan and numerous variations there of including HEY! During the kick off to year 7 of my teaching career!

Being a farm kid and even though neither Nate and I are on the farm working full time,,, I stillam a farm wife through and through!

Farm wives are thrifty, turn chores into a job, and buy stock in the Ball Mason Jar company!

 I took the opportunity to can EVERYTHING I could get my hands on. The pressure cooker was a wedding gift and I've taken full advantage of it! Like all newlyweds we are not by any means rich so this will be a great stockpile for winter. THere is also plenty of veggies in the freezer, 1/4 of a steer and a pig coming soon!

 I've started stalking Pintrest for lots of great ideas, and for around $50 I've started an awesome kitchen make over that made even my sister think that I got new cabinets put in... WIN!~

 Oh and yes.. there is still that damn laundry!

 



But... for a little over $2.00 I was able to make 5 gallons of homeade laundry soap that I am in LOVE with! And boy does it do a great job cleaning the grungy farm clothes of my now handsome farmer like husband!


Settling in to our new back to school schedule, a fine balancing, tight rope walking, roller coaster that includes us working  full time jobs, a house with a big ol' yard, pigs to feed, cows to feed, a 2nd Master's Degree in progress, case managing 18 special education students, tutoring 4 hours a week, being dutiful Grandchildren on birth and of choice, and occasionally finding time for hygine and sleep.
Shew,,, when I look at it like that boy I'm exhausted!
TIll next time...
We are Rollin Down the Road of Roland and the answer to the question... Married life is by far our greatest adventure yet!

Much Love,
Mrs. Vaughan..... Roland.... Vaughan-Roland... HEY HEY....

Married People...

Does being married really change things? I think in fact it does...

Married people... do LOT more laundry than unmarried people... I think it's the idea that you are now supposed to be a domestic goddess and channel your inner June Cleaver...

Married People... Make Jams and Jelly and dig potatoes when it is 100+ degrees outside... and bake pies... Oh yeah Betty Crocker... I'm coming for ya!

As a result... Married People SWEAT A LOT! Could just be a coincidence that it's been 100,000 degrees since the wedding... but I blame it on being married! :)p

Married People... Take a house that was once for one... and make it a home for 2... I've lived here for 7 years so we are enjoying making it our home together!

Married People... don't go to bars ... instead they spend the time spoiling their nieces and nephews with to much sugar and carnival fish... You are welcome Jason and Megan!

And... when married people go on dates... sometimes their moms tag along... and it's really OK!

Married life is just what we hoped for... A BOLD adventure of making 2 lives into one, planning for a future, and learning to sign a new last name!

Stay Tune for adventures from our Honeymoon... We leave in 32 hours...

Much Love!

The ROLANDS

Well in the past 2 weeks we welcomed almost 400 visitors to the home farm, put several hundred bales of hay up, and oh yeah... WE GOT MARRIED!!!!

When people ask about the day all I can say is that every vision I had in my mind was surpassed! Down to the last detail it was exactly what Nate and I had hoped and worked for!

They say that the day flies by and boy does it! A friend from school Tina reminded me all along to make sure to take moments to take it all in and capture the memories... Great advice Tina! Some things that will stick with me forever:

*  Just how handsome Nate looked when I first saw him :)
* Walking hand and hand through the corn field misty eyed with my equally as misty eyed Dad.
* The Snake that chased the bridal party through the field.
* How GORGEOUS all the girls were, but especially my sisters Kim & Kelly!
* Catching fireflies with best friend Robin's 3 year old Mallory <3
* Having my best friend Jen give the same wish I gave at her wedding a few years back.
* The sweet sound of the bluegrass band playing I'll Fly Away for our lost loved ones as it echoed through the valley.
* The Indigo Bunting ( Grandma Vaughan's Favorite Bird) that perched on the tree just beyond the preacher and stayed until the moment my Dad gave me away.
* Having Alex play the Chicken Dance for our cousin Joey who danced the night away!
* Aunt Marla breaking her foot dancing the apron dance with Nate
And...

All the wishes that were sent just for us :) Oh and the fact that they landed in a cow pasture the next farm over... Sorry Rutledge Brick House Farm We <3 You!

Today the last of the wedding gifts got put away, and as I did my tidying of the house I also noticed that the flowers had begun to fade. What is a bride to do when her flowers begin to wilt... You find someone who would love them, who you love and who you know who loves you and your new husband more than words  !

Much Love,

Construction Ahead!

This Sign hangs on the door of our Spare Room... Now Wedding HQ. Right now every flat surface including some floors in our 1897 farm house are engulfed in full wedding construction.

I've been collecting items for 6 months to give the perfect touch to our big day, so now it's time to organize all those yard sale, and goodwill boxes in preparation for the big day. The only "new" item I bought for the wedding that did not come from either consignment, Goodwill, or a Yard Sale, is the Cake Plate Nate & I will put our wedding cake on. Doing this has helped to keep the cost down, and you'll see on the 30th, that it all comes together to make our dream day come true!

When at David's Bridal my girls saw headpieces and tried a few on. We all had sticker shock and the $50 tag on each one. So we opted for an afternoon of wine an DIY and made our own from supplies I found at Joanne's. Everyone is embracing the vintage style, right down to the hairstyles.

Everyone is being SUPER helpful, which makes me a very unstressed Bride... For now anyway... Even my beloved Shams came to help. He was really good at throwing, um.... organizing some of our craft materials. <3

Even Nate is doing his part to ensure that everything is perfect for our BIG day. We made sure his part including heavy equipment operation and he was one happy guy! We have been adding 3 loads of stone to the driveway to ensure our guests don't have to re enact a scene from Dukes of Hazard in order to make it to the reception. Although, a Dixie Horn would be encouraged ;)

As we make our final preparations and the countdown gets to 9, we are reminded of all the amazing people here and resting on high who have worked hard right beside us to ensure our journey on the Road to Roland is one of memories, good friends, and good wine.

Until Next Time,

Future Mrs. Amy Vaughan- Roland

Romeo and The Juliet Cap

Here is my Grandmother Mary Elizabeth Rittenhouse Vaughan and her "Romeo" Charles Hadley Vaughan on their wedding day in 1954! She is wearing the Juliet Cap I will wear on my wedding day!

Here is a picture of the Juliet cap ! This cap is from the Rittenhouse-Byrne side of our family ( Grandma Vaughan's Family) and has been worn by brides in our family for 127 YEARS!
This style of cap gets its name from Romeo and Juliet when pictures of the ever lovely Juliet were shown she wore a cap of this style.

After the I do's the bride signs her new name for the first time and puts her wedding date on the card in the box and adds a picture of her big day and then hand the box back to the "Box Keeper" currently my sister Kim!

For now I am settled in with my Romeo getting ready for the big day!
The "Hat" remains safe in the box with "the keeper" until then!
June 18th will be my first chance to wear it with the hairstylist for a practice run!

So excited for the amazing traditions that will come with our big day some 127 years old!
We also look forward to our own Road to Roland traditions in the days, months, and years to come!

See you soon!
Almost Mrs. Amy Vaughan-Roland!!!!!!

:)