Why I Love Our California Home (And How We Made It Happen)

When Lauren and I originally created this blog, a lot of readers wanted to hear about home buying. I haven't said much about the subject because, quite frankly, I feel like it's a miracle my husband and I were able to buy in the beautiful (aka PRICEY) Bay Area at all.

We started the house hunting process by creating a budget (you know I love budgets). Looking around at what was available for sale on our own, we thought we'd only be able to afford a small, two-bedroom condo at best. Luckily, we found a great REALTOR® who helped us figure out how we could get what we really wanted (a single family home) within our budget! He found a great neighborhood with no HOA fees, which increased the monthly amount we could put towards a mortgage. Our house is definitely a fixer-upper, but we've had fun putting in our own sweat-equity. (Details of our renovations here: bedroom, bathroom, and living room).

One of my favorite DIY upgrades to our home: our painted fireplace and mantel. (See the "before" picture here)

We still have a few more renovations to do, but we're enjoying the journey! And even though I'm not a native Californian, I'm loving it here.

My Favorite San Jose Spots

If you're ever in the San Jose area, check out some of my favorite spots:

Budget Boot Camp - To Do #4: Budget for Monthly Recurring Expenses

Give yourself a pat on the back for getting to this point-- the actual BUDGET part of the budget boot camp!

So far, you've

• Calculated your net worth,
• Set financial goals, and
• Tracked your spending for a month.

I know it took us a while to get to the point of actually creating a budget, but now that you've done those other three things,

Master Bedroom Makeover: Architectural Detail (and Budget!)

That awkward moment you realize you never posted the 3rd part of a 3-part post...

Well, here it is. The last time I'll make you listen to me blather on about our master bedroom makeover. (Part I - How to Brighten a Room, Part II - Making a Small Room More Functional).

Part III: ARCHITECTURAL DETAIL

Wall Panels

Our 1970s home is plain and boxy--it lacks architectural detail. So, my #1 plan of attack for our master bedroom was to

Turn Your Toddler into an ABC Genius--The Easy Way

Can we all agree that being a parent is HARD? And for things like potty training, discipline, and healthy eating, there are no shortcuts. Diligence and consistency are key. But not everything has to be hard. And when I find out there are parenting shortcuts, you can bet I'm going to share them here. So here's my shortcut, lazy-parent, EASY way for your toddler to learn letters and their sounds. Minimum effort for maximum results. (Hint: No flashcards required, although I actually tried those--Ha! What a joke.)

Here's what you need:

Budget Boot Camp - To Do #3: Track Your Spending

Welcome back! If you've stuck with us so far, you've (1) faced your fears and figured out your net worth and (2) set specific and achievable financial goals to motivate you through the budgeting process. But before we actually set up our budget, we're going to track our spending for a month so you have a better idea of what categories and amounts to use in your first budget (which we will be setting up next month-- promise!).

To Do: Track your spending for one month


Step 1. Pick and set up a tracking method.

There are a lot of different methods you can use to track your expenses. Look through the list and see what fits you the best.

Mint.com or yodlee.com. I've listed these two first because

Budget Boot Camp - Financial DREAMS vs. Financial GOALS

First of all, thanks to everyone for sticking with us! We've actually picked up MORE campers since last month's e-mail (for those of you who missed it, your assignment was to List all your accounts and their balances. Now, onto the next step . . . writing down your financial goals!

This is BUDGET Boot Camp, why are we talking about goals? 

Like anything that requires consistency and diligence, budgeting can be hard. Goals will keep you motivated by reminding you what you're working towards. Just like dieters who post motivational pictures and quotes on their fridge, financial goals will help you push through the tough parts. Endorphins are not limited to marathon runners. Just wait until the first time you get your budget in place, start checking it regularly, and watch how it puts you on track to reach all of your financial goals!

Do you have financial goals? 

I hope so! Let me ask you this--Do you have financial GOALS or do you have financial DREAMS? What's the difference? DREAMS live in our heads. GOALS are written down, planned for, and reviewed often. Which do you think is more likely to happen? The answer is obvious, so read on to find out how to turn your financial dreams into financial goals.

One of my financial goals: Get these cute little kiddos to college (and stay sane in the process). Occasionally, both goals feel like a long shot.

Kids Doing Their Own Laundry by Age 8--Here's How!

PIN THIS FOR LATER--> http://www.pinterest.com/pin/195765915026639789/

About me: Hey there! My name is Shauna Klippel. I have a wonderful husband and together we have seven children. While I love things like, vintage fashion, keeping organized and exercising, what I love even more is dedicating myself to this family we have created. Helping my children to be happy and successful in their lives is number one on the list for me right now. Together, my husband and I work hard to instill a good work ethic, love and spirituality in our children's lives and in our own lives as well. Part of what makes life busy is homeschool, frequent travels to San Francisco, and regular old household work that has to be done in order for our home to run happily and efficiently. And this is the life that I love the most! Check out my blog at klippel.blogspot.com.

Here I will share with you, tried and true tips and the belief I have behind having children do consistent "work" in their homes. 

Like most of us, as parents we are always looking for opportunities for our children to work. We want our children to be productive people. Gone are the days where we work from sun up to sun down, performing hard tasks that could actually be described as labor. Except for some, this just isn't our reality anymore. So, while manual labor may not be on the back porch, we can expect our children to do major household tasks such as laundry. And this is just what we've done. We've taught our children to do their own laundry from a young age and they are expected to do it weekly. Keep in mind that these tips are tried and true. And, I'm not going to share anything that's rocket science, really. Read on to find out how I get my kids to do their own laundry...it's really quite simple. 

Shauna's Four Oldest Kids

AGE 5:  

First off,