Eat Clean Pizza

Super easy & Super good

Ingredients:

Low Fat Italian Shredded Cheese

Turkey Sausage

Crushed Tomatoes

Marinara Sauce

Whole Wheat Pizza Crust

Veggies

mmmmmm...Goodness!

1. Preheat over to 425 degrees.

2. Brown sausage in a pan (optional).  I like mine crispy. 

3. Spread marinara and crushed tomatoes over crust

4. Top with veggies

(I did not, because I had used the veggies I had bought for another meal this week)

5. Sprinkle cheese over top & arrange sausage

6. Top with any remaining herbs and bake for 10-15 mins.  Let cool for 5 mins before cutting.

7. Enjoy! 

No more posting about HOUSES

After this latest tragedy...

& yes it was a complete tragedy,

I have decided I WILL NOT post about houses until we have bought one. Then I will update everyone on the houses we have looked at and our NEW HOUSE. 

I am devastated to say the least, especially when you put in 5% over asking price and someone still outbids you. ugh. I told my husband I wanted to find that person who outbid us and

  punch them in the face! 

I guess it's a good thing they don't let other bidders know the buyers names because I would hunt them down. 

Goodbye 2011

Holy cow, where has this year gone!? I can't believe it's going to be 2012 on Sunday. It felt like this year was gone in a blink of an eye. We had some pretty memorable moments this year and I am sad to see it go but happy to bring on another year! I am excited to see what God has in store for us and what adventures we will tackle. I hope everyone has a very happy & blessed New Year's!

Bring it on 2012!

*********

Some of our most memorable moments in 2011 were...

1.) We experienced unemployment. What a stressful time that was but I am happy we went through that to realize we have a lot to be thankful for.

2.) We adopted a new kitty!! Minnie has been such a wonderful addition to our family & has been the best thing to happen to Mr. Behr since discovering his love for Purina Cat Chow! She is such a cuddler and loves to be around people. I am so happy we rescued her!

3.) We both got NEW jobs & we really love what we do. When you spend sooooo much time at work I think that is so important. It has been better for us from a happiness & financial point of view.

4.) We celebrated our (2) year Wedding Anniversary! Yeah I know we're practically still newlyweds but that was something memorable for us. I believe we got carry out from Pei Wei & just sat at home and watched a movie. To be honest, I would chose that over a fancy dinner any day.

5.) We got pre-approved for our very FIRST HOME! This has been so exciting for me! Though, I have realized the stress & not so fun part of home hunting, I am excited nonetheless.

House #3...Gone Already!!???

Who would of thought that houses would be going so darn quickly with all the "experts" telling us the economy is in the tank. I swear within 24 hours that I had informed our agent we would like to make an offer it was gone. 

&&&

This usually happens EVERYTIME I want to look at a house. It goes a little something like this:

See a new house on the market that's PERFECT!

Call/email realtor asking to view the home

Get a response shortly after that it's either

A.) SOLD

B.) Multiple Offers already

C.) Under contract

No one ever told me buying a house would be a emotional roller coaster ride until you purchase.
When you put in an offer you instantly get attached. How could you not!? 

BUT GOOD NEWS!! I have a appointment to see a even better house tomorrow morning in CLARKSTON (Where I secretly really want to be)

It's a newer build- 2007

4 bedrooms

2 full, one 1/2 bath

Updated throughout

2057sq ft of living space

FORECLOSURE!! & If everything goes well...

I WILL MAKE AN OFFER TOMORROW- ASAP! I do not want to lose another house before I even get a fair fight. :-) I also haven't seen a house I LOVE in months within our price range.

House #4

Clarkston, MI

It's so cute I can't stand it!!

Living Room

1/2 bath

Dining Room

Kitchen

All we need to do is install Granite!! :-)

BUT I could most definitely live with the counter tops if need be.

Another view in Kitchen

Stairs

Master Bedroom

Master Bath

Another Bathroom

And 3 more bedrooms that look just like the first so I won't post.

Here goes getting my hopes up...yet again!
Oy vey... 

House #3

Yes, I skipped to house #3...I sadly did not take pictures of house #2, but we didn't end up liking it anyways. 

House #3

Lake Orion, MI

(Keatington Subdivision)

Now I am not crazy about the location ONLY because I grew up in Lake Orion and it feels kinda weird to be back. I also remember spending a lot of time in this particular subdivision because it has a lake in the subdivision with beach and lake privileges. It's just weird to be contemplating being back here. 

BUT

The house seems nice. It is a short sale and needs some work, 

but I do really like the curb appeal.

Kitchen

Updated kitchen is nice (don't mind the weird paint job in the next room..weird). We would however tear up all the flooring on the main level and put in hardwood floors throughout and replace the counters with granite.

Living Room

BUTT UGLY! 

Try to look past the cosmetic things. We would paint the walls a neutral color, re-do the lighting to have just a ceiling fan, new carpet, and notice the built-ins around the fireplace- those would be painted as well.

Backyard 

It's do-able. Small deck area that we might eventually extend to make an actual deck or probably a patio. Some of the trees we would take down as well.

I would post more pictures but they are just of rooms. Nothing exciting. 

House #3

4 bedroom

2 FULL baths

One 1/2 bath on main floor

1st floor laundry

decent asking price

ability to have a 203K renovation loan

Lake access for boating & beach access

When the economy turns around we would make around $100,000 if we sold

IF we bought this house I would want the colors to mimic this house.

So Beautiful

And their house started like this

Very similar to House #3's color scheme :-)

A Very Drwencke Christmas

These past few days have been such a whirlwind! I feel like Christmas just blew by this year. We had such a good time this year with both families. My heart is so full of gratitude for both our families and all they do for us. We received WAAAAaaaaAAAYYYyyy too many gifts this year. Thank you Thank you Thank you!! What a wonderful time of year to celebrate the birth of our savior and no better way then to spend it with the people that mean the most to you. 

This is how we spent Christmas this year... *photo overload*

Christmas Table

Place Settings

Mackenzie helping my mom fill waters

My mom busy in the kitchen cooking

Brandt (can't take a serious picture to save his life) &&& Ashley

My Parent's Christmas Tree

Attempt #1 for a sibling photo

fail

Attempt #2 for sibling photo

fail

Attempt #3 for a sibling photo

FAIL!

Mackenzie & Dan up in his messy bedroom

My Mom & I- Her hair is a little "wild" from cooking haha

-----------------------------------------------------------

House Update

No house. Sad face.

We put in our best and final offer and in the end they just wanted too much. We will continue to watch the home to see if it stays on the market for a while. If it does the bank will drop the price and the plan is to "swoop" in and snag it. But until then we will continue our search.

-------------------------------------------------------------

WiCkEd!!!

My Mom bought Ashley & I tickets to go see Wicked  @ the Detroit Opera House. We went a couple days before Christmas and it was AMAZING! No really it was. I have never been to a off-broadway show and to be honest I can't wait to go to another. It was so good. 

Thank you Mom!!

Waiting for the show to start

Ashley, My Mom, & I

(Sorry for the bad quality. We weren't "allowed" to take photo's inside so I used my camera on my phone.)

Another house #1 update

So the bank flat out rejected our counter offer. Very disappointing!! WAAAA! We put in our best and final offer yesterday and probably won't hear anything until Tuesday or Wednesday. I do not have high hopes. It is $10,000 more but still I think the bank just wants too much for the amount of work and updating we would have to do.  I guess what I have learned from bank owned homes is that they are VERY competitive and are not always the best deal. It truly is somewhat of a tragedy to me. Pathetic. Especially since nothing else is out there currently. Oh well, here's to hoping and praying. Once again I tell myself,

"If it's meant to be it will happen."

12 Goals for 2012

Our 2011 goal was to ultimately save up a down payment for a house. With 2011 coming to a close and being in the middle of purchasing our first home it's time to make new personal and financial goals for 2012.

1.) Contribute full match to 401K

Both of our employers offer full match. I have a 401K but have not contributed in a long time. Since starting with a new employer 6 months ago I have yet to consolidate my previous 401K plans with my current one. Dan has never had a retirement fund so this would be a good time to begin one.

2.) Officially move out of the "itty-bitty" Apartment we call home

In order for us to save for our first home we decided to get a smaller less expensive apartment when we got married. We didn't want to be "house poor" OR pay a lot of money for a place that would never be ours. After living here for 2 years I am ready for our own space. No washer or dryer, 1 bathroom, 1 bedroom, I AM READY!!

3.) Come up with a "side-gig" for some extra cash

I would like to come up with something I can do to bring in a little extra cash to contribute to our savings goals that doesn't take to much time and something I enjoy. I have seriously considered jumping back into the babysitting business again. That takes me back to my high school days, oh boy, but it was something that I enjoyed and it's easy money.

4.) Start exercising routinely again...

Enough said!

5.) Begin saving for a Baby Drwencke!

Dan and I have made the decision that in the next 2 years we will begin to expand our family and that I will stay at home and raise our children and Dan will be the sole provider. Neither of us were brought up in daycare and we prefer our children not either. Not saying that daycare is bad but we just prefer they be at home during those years of their life. So that is going to take careful planning on our part and be financially ready when we decide to take that step!! :-)

6.) Pay off STUDENT LOANS!!

Dan and I's student loans together equal about $2000.00. This next year we plan to pay those COMPLETELY off. Cutting that expense out alone would give us a couple hundred "extra" a month. This could go towards savings, home improvements, vacations!!

7.) Wear my hair down more and say  BUH-BYE SNOOKIE POOF!

I work somewhat in the "cosmetic industry," it's cosmetic surgery and dermatology. We are required to wear our hair down at work and look professional. I have been stuck in this 1/2 up 1/2 down phase for a LONG time now. It's so much easier for me to have 1/2 of my hair pulled back and out of my face at work. Some of the girls even joked that they wonder what I look like with my hair completely down. Now that's bad. I want to make it a goal to get my hair cut in a style that makes me feel comfortable to have my hair down without the "snooki poof." But hey, I like BIG hair!

My GO-TO hairstyle for the past 6 months...

8.) Plan a VACATION

Every year we say we're going to go on vacation, and every year comes and goes without one. I would like to actually take a FULL week off from work with my husband and go up north to my parents cottage. I want to lay out in the sun, swim, go jet skiing, bike, hike, relaaaaaax!

9.) Double our Savings Account

Having a good savings account is CRUCIAL!! Really, it's the only thing you have to rely on times in need. I have made it a goal to have a 6-month emergency fund. We have worked pretty hard to build ours up and I would like to double it this next year.

10.) Cut down on my computer time

Lets face it, Facebook can be very time consuming. You log in, read your newsfeed, click on something, which leads you someplace else, and then click on something else, and before you know it its been an hour. 

11.) Try some of the things on pinterest.com

I LOVE that site. So many good ideas. It would be nice to actually try some of them instead of just thinking about it.

12.) Be nice-r to thy husband

I could work on being more patient and not so "bossy" :-) Love you hunnie!

Christmas Cards 2011

Just mailed our Christmas cards for 2011! Love Shutterfly.com.

Snowflakes Ribbon Christmas Card

Seasons greetings with personalized Christmas cards from Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Counter-offer

Surprisingly this afternoon, while catching up on Harry Potter 7, I got an email from our agent saying we received a counter-offer!! EXCITING!! They were willing to pay up to 3% of closing costs but did not come down enough on the price for us to accept. So, with no other offers on the table we countered them back. Hopefully the bank comes down more because I really, really, really want this house now. 

It's funny, at first I wasn't too impressed then I wanted the house and saw all the potential it could have and now I dream of this house...seriously, I dream of this house. UGH... I CAN'T WAIT!!

But once again, If it's meant to be it will happen.

 I just have to keep telling myself that. 

Buying a house is stressing me out!

& this isn't even the hard part--

When/If we get it, that's when all the hard stuff starts.

Toy For Tots

It really makes me sad to think that some children will not have anything to open on Christmas morning.

I remember growing up with the "magic" of Christmas and my parents always made it special. But some parents just can't afford to do that for their children. We all should be willing to sacrifice just a little to make that morning special for another family. Toys for Tots is an excellent way to do that OR many churches have there own presents for kids programs going on. Either way we should all be pulling together to help. 

Please Follow this link to the Toys for Tots website :

 http://novi-mi.toysfortots.org/local-coordinator-sites/lco-sites/default.asp

  and you can donate $$ online or purchase toys and drop them off at any Toys "R" Us or Babies "R" Us location. Or if you are a family needing some assistance they make it really easy. Just follow the link above and go to the "request toys" tab. 

Thank you everyone!! Every little bit helps- no matter how small. 

House #1-- "THE" House?

So...after a lot of talking, stressing, and viewing more houses (meaning 1 more) we have decided...

To make an offer!

AHHHHH!

Well lets hope this post doesn't "jinx" our luck, but if it's meant to be it will happen.

How did we get from Gross, gross, GROSS- to - making an offer??

After pretty much writing this house off the list I scheduled another viewing for a different home in the subdivision across the street from this house. Dan had to work so I invited my mom to come with me. After the walk through I continued to think about that house and my mom wanted to see it too. So Michele, our realtor, checked if we could drive on over and check it out, we could, so we went. My mom and Michele really felt strongly that this was a great investment for us if we could get the right price. 

I for sure agree, BUT buying a house is so scary!! And this house was so big, I was intimidated.

BUT

I began to think about the fact that when all was said and done the house would be brand spanking new with all new appliances, with all new paint, carpet, bathrooms and kitchen for right within our budget. What more could you possibly want? Is it going to take hard work- yes. But I think we can do it. 

So in the next couple days the bank will receive our offer and will probably counter-offer. We have a long road ahead of us and it is very possible we may not end up with this house. But you will never know if you don't try. 

I'm excited, stressed, nervous, anxious, AHHH!

Are you our future home???

Front

Kitchen

Dining Room

Living Room

Family Room

Kitchen Nook

Master

Update on House #1

Pros

Bank Owned- get a lot of house for less

Walkout basement

Hardwood throughout

4-5 bedrooms!!

over 2500 sqft

backs up to a golf course

located in the beautiful Clarkston

Clarkston Schools

Cons

Needs a gut job- like $30,000 at least

some mold in basement- at least it was localized

wood on outside- more upkeep

multiple offers already on house

Needs all new windows

When its all said and done the pros outweigh the cons...I guess the problem was the worry of money. Even if we made a low-ball offer to have more for renovation costs we may still not have enough. Things go wrong and change during a huge gut job. It was a HUGE house, do we really need that much house right now? I wish I was more adventurous when it came to this house thing. But honestly after seeing one bank owned house I think I've seen enough of those. GROSS gross GROSSSSSSSS! 

I always thought I could be someone with "vision" and look past all the imperfections of a house like that, but I quickly learned I did NOT want a bank owned house no matter how much potential it may have.

What we really want is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house.

Hardwood throughout with carpet in the bedrooms

2 car attached garage

Updated kitchen with granite and stainless steel appliances

A master bath with walk-in closets

Small yard

Deck

Practically the perfect house...

I am finding looking for a house can be discouraging. Many people must not be listing there houses right now because of the Holidays b/c there is NOTHING out there. I mean nothing I am even interested in looking at. There are a lot of cute houses in Waterford but honestly I am not looking to live in Waterford. We want to stay in the Clarkston, Shelby, Rochester Hills, Macomb Twp area.

So back to square one we go...

The house search has "OFFICIALLY" begun...

We are going to look at this beauty first thing in the a.m.

I am pretty excited. SO much potential!! EEeeekkkK!

:-)

Clarkston, MI