The Real Cost of Having Kids

I have seen repeatedly the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice, really nice!

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into $8,896 a year, $741.38 a month, or $171.08 a week. That's a mere $24.24 a day! Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice says don't have children if you want to be "rich." It is just the opposite.

What do your get for your $160,140?

Naming rights,--- First, middle, and last!

Glimpses of God everyday.

Giggles under the covers every night.

More love than your heart can hold.

Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.

Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.

A hand to hold, usually covered with jam.

A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites, building sand castles, and skipping down the sidewalk in the pouring rain.

Someone to laugh yourself silly with no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up.

You get to fingerprint, carve pumpkins, play hide-and-seek, catch lightning bugs, and never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, watching Saturday morning cartoons, going to DisneyLand, and wishing on stars.

You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck.

You get to be a hero just for retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof, taking the training wheels off the bike, removing a splinter, filling a wading pool, coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to history to witness the first step, first word, first bra, first date, and first time behind the wheel You get to be immortal.

You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren.

You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there with God.

You have all the power to heal a booboo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost.

ENJOY YOUR KIDS AND GRAND KIDS!!!!!!!

I love my little man ♥

Most Wonderful Time of the Year...With Tiny Prints!

Have you ever heard of Tiny Prints? If not, you're missing out! Today I stumbled upon their site in search of some ideas for our Christmas cards this year, and boy do I have my work cut out for me...so many options! They're not your go to source for just holiday cards, they also carry baby announcements, birthday invitations, photo stationary, address labels, and even photo books!
I'm super excited about Tiny Prints Holiday selection, and I can't wait to start my search for the perfect card to send out :) I'm currently in the process of getting our family portraits captured and I'm going to need just the right card to accompany our picture.

I'm really loving the Circle Card Ornament option! What better way to be to display your cards then on your Tree. This is their Dream Damask, it's so sophisticated, yet simple! Definitely in my top list

I know a lot of people are into documenting their year together or just the holiday season, how about the Christmas Letter as an option. I'm lovin' this idea of a Tri-fold card!!

What about the flip card! Who doesn't love a little twirl for the holidays? The Christmas Chambray Card is a beauty.

Don't forget to order your Return Address Labels, tons of options to choose from...even ones to match your Holiday Card! I'm still lovin' the Dream Damask!

Also, may I suggest their free Mailing Service, all you do is pay the cost of stamps and your return address labels ($.35). With the hustle and bustle of the season, this may take the stress away and your cards arrive to their recipients on time! No worries of seeing those cards still sitting on your kitchen counter at New Years :)

And for those of us who like to go Rummage shopping or if you happen to have an old shutter lying around...Paint it a festive color and Display your Tiny Prints cards beautifully! I know my Holiday cards will have a special spot in one of these this season :)

image from here

So what are you waiting for?! Scurry on over to Tiny Prints and take a look around, I know you won't regret it. Tiny Prints has an abundance of options to help you through spreading the cheer this holiday season!

**I was offered 50 free holiday cards in exchange for this post. The opinions, however, are my own. **Would you like to receive 50 free holiday cards? Sign up here

(While you're vising Tiny Prints, don't hesitate to read their story. I found that their explanation on the tiny elephant was truly inspiring! "Tiny things in life are actually the big things in disguise!" I'm happy to endorse this company and I think their service, quality and prices can't be beat)

New Blog

As I've come to a new beginning, I've decided to start fresh with a new blog. It's similar to the Harbor, for it is now a Haven! Please join me there, as things have definitely changed for the better.

Giveaways and Reviews to come, stories and life lessons revealed!

www.thissafehaven.blogspot.com

I look forward to sharing and inspiring at our new Safe Haven :)

Reading Rocks~ 4 Books!

If you would've asked me 3 years ago to list my favorite 4 books, I couldn't tell you. I've recently become addicted to reading and I'm currently in search of the next one to read. Also, I've caved and jumped on the E-reader bandwagon and I love my Nook :) I've read about 7 books this year, doesn't sound like much, but that's a lot for me! So I'm gonna share my all-time favorites.

The Help- Amazing Storyline and being able to watch it come to life made the story even better! There were a couple of laugh out loud moments and some tear jerkers, too. Definitely a must read.

Something Borrowed & Something Blue- Although they count as 2 books, I'm putting them together as 1, they go hand in hand. This is also another book turned movie. I couldn't put either one of these books down, I finished them both in record timing for myself. If you like love stories with comedy, then these books are for you! Plus, if you're like me..you're opinions of the girls will change...especially when you read Something Blue. Don't forget!

Twilight Saga- Um, once again...had to combine them and make it 1 choice of course :) Who doesn't love Twilight. I originally thought it was a lame story after hearing about the movies...but after watching the first one I decided to read the books. I couldn't put these books down either!! Who doesn't love a good sci-fi love story. I know it's lame to say, I can't wait for the last installment of the movies come out. By the Way, I'm Team Switzerland... (if you've read the book then you know what I mean)

Water for Elephants- This was such a heart wrenching story and I loved every page of it. Water for Elephants had you on your toes throughout the whole book. Ok Ok, another book turned movie, I know. The ending was the best of this book, definitely made you cry happy tears.

Tomorrow: 3 Films

TGIF- 5QF

It's finally Friday!!! Woo Hoo It's also finally fall-like. The weather is amazing here. And while I'm trapped inside working until 6, why not join in with Mama M for 5 Question Friday :)

1. If you had a weekly newspaper column, what would you name it?
hhmmm, I wouldn't even know what I'd be writing about. So, honestly, I don't have an answer to that...unfortunately.

2. Who is your mentor/inspiration?
My mother. She's the reason I am the person I am today, flaws and all. She's also a very strong and motivated individual and I love her very much. She is my inspiration :)

3. What is your wake up beverage of choice?
My usual go to is milk, but if I had my choice it would be a large mocha frappe from McD's of course!!

4. Would you wear your mom's clothes?
Although she is my ispiration, she lacks a little fun in the style department. Sorry, Ma :( I won't lie though, we have gone shopping and I've pushed her towards more stylish options. Plus, the places where she shops are getting better with their clothes and I used to shop there...so I guess you could say Maybe, HAHAHAHAHA

5. When you were a kid, did you put posters on your wall? If so, what were they of?
Um, what girl didn't in the 90's, it was the cook thing to do!! Let's see, where do I begin....New Kids on the Block, Johnathan Taylor Thomas (Home Improvement days), N*Sync, Backstreet Boys..I'm sure there's more, but that's all I can remember :)
And boy has my taste changed, if it were cool now...Patrick Dempsey and Ryan Gosling would grace my walls!! Maybe throw in Ryan Reynolds and Johnathan Rhys Meyers

Yummy Foods, Just 5?!?

Nutella :) I love this hazelnut yummy greatness! I mostly eat in on my strawberries because I have yet to venture out. Anyone know of other foods I could mix with Nutella?

Cookie Cake :) If you know me, then you know I haven't gone a year without having a cookie cake for my birthday. They closed for a couple months here and I traveled 2 hours WITH A GROUPON to get my cookie cake for my birthday!! It's also an addiction...

Salads :) I've recently become obsessed with eating salads. The best part, super healthy (unlike the last 2) I could go for a salad now...California Dreaming's or Ruby Tuesdays' salads are calling my name


Subway :) I love anything and everything from Subway, so we'll just leave it at that. It may count as more than 5 here because of the numerous options. Let's not forget their cookies!

Hamburger and Beans :) My mom has this recipe down; maple syrup, little bit of ketchup, little bit of mustard, mix it in with the beans and cooked hamburger and you've got the lunch and dinner of Champions. I know it sounds weird, but it's delish!

Tomorrow: 5 Books

Traveling We will Go..My 6 places

Bora Bora! Look at that clear blue, pristine water...and who wouldn't want to vacation in a hut over that?! This is my dream vacation....

GREECE! The architecture and the ruins call my name :) I've always been intrigued with Greek mythology, this would be a fun trip

AFRICA! I would love to go on an African safari. Also, I've read blogs of the people who have gone on Compassion trips to Africa...so I'd love to go there and help where needed, too.

CHINA! I would love to go witness the hustle and bustle of where ever in China....and I'd love to see the Great Wall of China :)

IRELAND! A little luck of the Irish, why not!? The land seems to be a little greener over there too.

DISNEY WORLD! I can't wait to take K...this is more of a realistic place to go and I'm super excited :)