I admit whole-heartedly that I am GLAD that 2013 is OVER. I am ready for a change. I realize that New Years Resolutions are cliche! We write stuff down on a piece of paper or declare it publicly, find accountability partners...and we still fail at most of what we write down. Although, one year, I wrote down 100 things I wanted to do and I looked at my goals EVERY SINGLE DAY, and ya know what, I accomplished most of them. So perhaps, I should do that again, or perhaps I should write down the things I didnt like about 2013 and remind myself that I want to change them.
I rushed too much and missed some pretty important things because of it.
I over-analyzed alot and didnt enjoy everything that I could have because of that fact.
I complained WAYYYY to much, and missed alot of blessings because I had my eye on what I didnt have and not on what I have been abundantly blessed with.
I said yes when I really should have said no. I undertook things I didnt do with a grateful heart.
I spent too much time wasting time, avoiding important things I really should have gotten done.
I was angry alot. Anger sometimes is where my heart has seemed to settle, and so I walked around with a dreadful, cynical, stubborn, closed heart. And although I have had moments where I have realized it, I havent fixed it! I am not even sure what I am angry at most of the time.
I have taken too many steps backward when it comes to putting my health first. I need to get myself in check and KEEP myself in check.
I have made myself too busy and not given myself enough time to JUST BE!
I havent read to Audrey as much as I would have liked. or taken her to the park as much as I should have, or just sat down on the floor and pretended to eat her imaginary cake and drink her imaginary tea.
I have worked at my business just to prove that I could be busy and not thrown myself into every moment that I could have and captured everything as perfectly as I would have liked.
I have been a hard to live with wife and a unreasonable daughter and the relationships with these, my Most Valuable People has suffered because of my attitude and self-centeredness!
I have cried too much and not laughed enough.
I have been a keep-my-distance friend and a god-talker and not a god-listener and god-follower. Oh My word, I am a Chreaster! There I said it. I realize it and I am ever so sad because of it.
The good thing is, God loves me anyway, and I know that. But I also know I have to spend some time focusing on my relationship with him and alot of the the stuff will fall into place naturally...funny how he works that way!
The resolution I am making is simple:
BE STILL
and
Think before I speak, before I judge, before I preach, Before I yell.
BE STILL
and weigh my words and actions.
BE STILL
and be OK with myself
BE STILL
and know.
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Friday, December 13, 2013
Life according to FINN
We have adopted. It has been 3 weeks since Audrey and I walked into a Homeward Bound Animal Rescue on November 23rd and chose to adopt a then 7 week old German Shepherd/ Lab Mix puppy. After a few episodes of begging Jim, he finally said yes. We left our house at 10:30 am with Molli in tow in the back, and were set to meet and pick up "Francesca" or "Fletcher" one of Finn's 8 brothers or sisters( 9 puppies) with no intention of coming home with Finn. He came to us, was interested in Audrey and I, shy, but silly, one kiss to Audrey and we picked him out and paid the $300 adoption fee on the spot, after a good meeting with Molli. I felt 10 minutes of crazy buyers remorse. What had I done? A puppy?That meant potty training in the cold, puppy teeth, barking, getting along with a new fmily member in an already crazy household.
Has it been worth it? DEAR LORD ABOVE, YES!!
He is smart and sweet and growing WAYYYYY Fast!
They said a projected 65 lbs...and I am thinking 80 lbs!
His teeth are like daggers, and he has drawn blood on each of us.
He has peed and pooped on the carpet...all cleaned up nicely!
He has irritated Molli.
He has chased and annoyed Jagger.
He has gnawed his puppy teeth into Kendalls hair. Run amuck in the car as we drove.
He has done great in his crate at night. If he waked up after 4 am, we allow him to sleep in bed with us for the last few hours of sleep.
He has learned sit and stay and Fetch and he starts his puppy training on Monday.
He has brightened our day in every way! What a beautiful addition to our family.
WELCOME to OUR LIFE Finn Tiller Salter, your life. <3 p="">
Monday, December 9, 2013
Our 2013 Christmas Letter
Since I didnt add it to the Christmas Cards this year, and I feel like if you are on social media, which 90% of our Christmas Card Recipients are, then you already know all of this. But just in case, here goes:
Our family has had a wonderful year, filled with so many
great adventures and fun!
We enjoyed camping this year! We spent 2 weeks at Pettecote
Junction Campground in Cedar Run Pa at the beginning of June. It was wonderful
and relaxing, and we got to spend much of our time with friends who also love
to camp. Jim bought he and I Kayaks for
our 5 year anniversary, so we made good use of them during our time here, as
Pine Creek was right behind our camper.
This was our 3rd camping season and we have continued to
enjoy it as a family. We get to
"get away" but do it close to home, enjoying places like Gettysburg
and Cedar Run.
We also enjoyed a few weekends in Kent , NY where my dad has
his fishing boat and camper. It is along
Lake Ontario, so we enjoyed all of the attractions close-by.
My cousin Amanda and her family went along with us this year
and I checked one thing off my Bucket List: Maid of the Mist. It was
breath-taking and something everyone should experience. It was such a wonderful day spent with some
of my very favorite people.
Audrey and my mom and I then toured the other highlights of
the regions: Rochester and Buffalo zoos, the National Museum of Play, Butterfly
Gardens, and so much more. RELAXING!
Summer was also spent in our small garden and in our back
yard, sliding on our slip-n-slide.
Visits to the park, the zoo,
Hershey Park, Land of Little Horses. Audrey and I also made a trek to
the Dewey Beach Delaware with my friend
Jen and her daughter Alli.
The final adventure was a Halloween Disney Cruise that we
took with my mom at the end of October.
To say it was amazing is an understatement. We loved it, but I do
believe Audrey loved it most of all!
As you can see, we are always on the go! I am happy for that. I love my down time, but
I don't give myself much of it, because in the back of my mind I am reminded
that my kiddo will be headed to Kindergarten soon enough and I will never get
these precious days back.
Audrey continues to grow like a weed in stature and in
spirit. She is now a BUNNY at her Preschool. We are so blessed to have such
amazing teachers in our kiddos life. She loves school! Every day, she comes home and tells me
something new she has learned. To hear
this kiddo sing, "God Bless America" melts my heart. She is so active and has such an
imagination. She loves dress-up and
singing and dancing.
She participated in a Pony Clinic in the spring, where she
rode ponies and learned how to care for them. She took dance class for a few
weeks this summer, and now she wants to learn how to ice-skate. My plan is to
take her skiing for the first time this year.
I look forward to every new experience we can provide for her. She is,
as I have said in every letter for the past 4 years, truly the JOY we so
rightly gave her as a middle name.
As for Jim, this is his 9th year at Equipment Depot, selling
and renting lifts. We are so grateful
for the flexibility his job offers and also for the great benefits. He enjoys working there! He is also always busy, so Audrey and I love
when we have Daddy home for a day with nothing to do. Typically, the fire pager goes off just as we
sit down for dinner, but I think this year I finally settled in to that fact,
not embraced it, but am ok with it! The
Fire Department is still my husband's heart. He continued his tenure as Fire
Chief for Upper Allen Township. After
this long, I really can't imagine life any differently. I never thought 6 years ago, I would have
found a man who could take care of his family so well and allow me the blessing
of being able to stay at home with our daughter. In return, I just try and keep
up with the laundry and vacuuming..lol!
In addition to those duties, my Photography Business has
taken off to new heights. I could be
busy every day, but choose to keep a schedule that allows me to be a mom first.
I will most likely pick up the schedule that is waiting for me once Audrey
starts school. I LOVE what I do. I get
to see amazing moments in people's lives that others miss: marriages, the birth
of children, adoptions, birthdays, milestones.
This has been a VERY busy year, and sometimes, the last thing I do is
want to pick up my camera, but then I get a rush from what I capture behind the
lens. I feel like I get to tell the
story of so many lives, especially since some of my customers have given me 3
full years of their lives.
I also continue to work for W A DeHart as a contractor once
a week. I hold 1 dozen customers that continue to buy their candy, ice cream
and paper gods from me. It keeps the
"sales spark" in me and I enjoy the work!
Just this month, we made an addition to our family by
adopting a German Shepherd/Black Lab Mix puppy named Finn, from a wonderful
local rescue group. I forgot that having
a puppy is sort of like having a newborn baby all over again. Molli( our 9 year old Dachshund) and Jagger (
Our 2 year old Cat) have welcomed him into our home. He completes our little family. By next year's letter he will no longer be
the 12 lb little fur ball he is right now, and instead a potential 75 lb lap
dog...just what we hope for.
We look forward to the new year ahead! We wish your family a
year filled with God's greatest blessings: Health and Prosperity, Love and
Family
Always a Merry Christmas!
Stacy, Jim & Audrey Salter
Christmas 2013
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Updates
Wow, I need to get back to blogging on here.
Lets see, we headed to the beach with Alli and Jen. We definately needed more time there. We took Alli's Senior Portraits and just enjoyed some peaceful beach time together.
Lets see, we headed to the beach with Alli and Jen. We definately needed more time there. We took Alli's Senior Portraits and just enjoyed some peaceful beach time together.
Audreys second year started at Early Childhood Center. WOW, the amount that she has learned in the first month is INSANE. Maybe red-shirting her for Kindergarten isnt the right decision! The Leapfrog Learning Factory has helped her learn her alphabet and sounds, but her teachers have taught her SOOOO much...and when that kiddo of mine busted out God Bless America with her little hand over her heart...aahh...perfection!
We welcomed a new baby into our family On September 14th. My great nephew Landon was born healthy and happy. Kendra was great in that hospital room. I spent 16 hrs with her and unfortunately had to leave, so missed his debut by a few hours, but I got to be a big part of the day and birthing process, so I feel this beautiful connection with this absolutely perfect little boy.
I, of course, got to take his newborn pics and have since got to babysit once.
We are ramping up for fall in our house We visited our zoo one last time for the season today. The camper is getting winterized and the boat too in a few weeks.
Fastest year of my life.
Better be blogging more.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
To my Daughter on her 4th Birthday
Dear Audrey:
YOU are 4! And I dont know how yet another year of your life has come and gone.
This has been a crazy year.
You started preschool and I gained 5 grey hairs. The start was rocky and so were some in betweens.
As the first full year comes to a close, I have seen you grow in ways I just sometimes cant believe.
You love your little classmates so much, and you have been beyond blessed with such loving and amazing and godly teachers.
I have done some changing in your food and that seems to have helped you to overcome some of your stumbling blocks.
You have grown....not just in age, but in heigth. 43 inches tall and 46 lbs.
You make me smile.
You say the funniest things...and I promise to do better with writing them down so we both can look back and laugh at them.
No more diapers, that was a big book closing.
You finally got to take your dance class that you begged for. 5 weeks of princesses. You never did manage to stay on the dot assigned to you. But I have managed to stop freakin out every time you dont stand in a straight line and veer off onto your own path.
You tend to do that OFTEN. You are certainly on your own path more often than on the path laid out before you. AND, I try my best to be ok with that. I'm not the best at it.
I dont want you to ever think for one second that who you are doesnt make me so proud! Even when you veer off my path, I am always proud of who God has shaped you into.
You are kind. You are inquisitive. You are smart. You love puzzles, and pretending, and dress up. You love Mary Poppins and Annie and every Broadway show and Musical.
I love to watch you sing "feed the bird", "Tomorrow" and "Memories.
In your 3rd year of life, you have: Seen Disney on Ice( TWICE), Mary Poppins, Annie ( TWICE), Cats, The Little Mermaid. You have: Been to a butterfly farm, played Mary in your school CHristmas Pageant, the National Toy Museum, rode your first amusement park rides at Dutch Wonderland, and been to a Carnival. You have spent alot of time at "our" zoo, and some extra time at Paulus Farm with the Bunnies and Pigs, You have learned how to spell your name and ride your scotter. You color inside the lines MOST of the time. You have ridden a pony at Pony camp, gone to see your first movies) Crudds, Monsters Inc, Despicable Me and Turbo)
You saw Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia, and traveled to the beach. So many things AND
I am looking forward to what the year ahead has planned for us.
With Love Always,Mom
YOU are 4! And I dont know how yet another year of your life has come and gone.
This has been a crazy year.
You started preschool and I gained 5 grey hairs. The start was rocky and so were some in betweens.
As the first full year comes to a close, I have seen you grow in ways I just sometimes cant believe.
You love your little classmates so much, and you have been beyond blessed with such loving and amazing and godly teachers.
I have done some changing in your food and that seems to have helped you to overcome some of your stumbling blocks.
You have grown....not just in age, but in heigth. 43 inches tall and 46 lbs.
You make me smile.
You say the funniest things...and I promise to do better with writing them down so we both can look back and laugh at them.
No more diapers, that was a big book closing.
You finally got to take your dance class that you begged for. 5 weeks of princesses. You never did manage to stay on the dot assigned to you. But I have managed to stop freakin out every time you dont stand in a straight line and veer off onto your own path.
You tend to do that OFTEN. You are certainly on your own path more often than on the path laid out before you. AND, I try my best to be ok with that. I'm not the best at it.
I dont want you to ever think for one second that who you are doesnt make me so proud! Even when you veer off my path, I am always proud of who God has shaped you into.
You are kind. You are inquisitive. You are smart. You love puzzles, and pretending, and dress up. You love Mary Poppins and Annie and every Broadway show and Musical.
I love to watch you sing "feed the bird", "Tomorrow" and "Memories.
In your 3rd year of life, you have: Seen Disney on Ice( TWICE), Mary Poppins, Annie ( TWICE), Cats, The Little Mermaid. You have: Been to a butterfly farm, played Mary in your school CHristmas Pageant, the National Toy Museum, rode your first amusement park rides at Dutch Wonderland, and been to a Carnival. You have spent alot of time at "our" zoo, and some extra time at Paulus Farm with the Bunnies and Pigs, You have learned how to spell your name and ride your scotter. You color inside the lines MOST of the time. You have ridden a pony at Pony camp, gone to see your first movies) Crudds, Monsters Inc, Despicable Me and Turbo)
You saw Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia, and traveled to the beach. So many things AND
I am looking forward to what the year ahead has planned for us.
With Love Always,Mom
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
summer lovin...had me a blast
Come on now, I know you're singing it!. Or should it be Lovin Summer??
Either way, we are surely havin a blast!
Whew!
So its already past the 4th of July? WHAT?! A record fastest year of my life
Seriously!
We have filled this summer with so many fun days.
Lets see... camping, kayaking, Dutch Wonderland, the zoo( in fact what might have really been a small zoo tour, we hit Catoctin, Seneca Park and Buffalo Zoos) National Museum of Play, a week at Pop Geigers Camper in Kent New York... I took a day trip with Amanda, Jim, Emilee, Liam and Brynn to Niagara Falls and rode the Maid of the Mist. That was certainly something that wasnt on my bucket list but should have been. we have spent the day at Boiling Springs Pool, also a wonderful new place that we enjoyed.
Our garden is growing, with tomato plants up to my next and a zucchini plant that isnt producing any veggies, but has leaves the size of an amazon plant. I am looking forward to eating the veggies, but more so, sharing the bounty of our garden, I hope.
We have made homemade ice cream, spent the day with the animals on the Paulus Farm, visited, Land of Little Horses....I dont think I can even remember it all. But it has been glorious. Audrey is doing great at Summer Camp at her Preschool.
And TODAY, we had her first dance class.
My friend Andrea Hoffman is her teacher and she is in class with my friend Mary Wakefield's daughter Natalie.Tonight was Snow White Princess dance Class. We watched from a television in a separate room. I watched her run and leap and twirl...and more than a few times, make her way to the front of the line, ahead of her teachers and watch herself in the wall of mirrors. All in all, she did great!
So many more fun days with friend and family to fill them ahead. Summer Lovin Happen so fast
Either way, we are surely havin a blast!
Whew!
So its already past the 4th of July? WHAT?! A record fastest year of my life
Seriously!
We have filled this summer with so many fun days.
Lets see... camping, kayaking, Dutch Wonderland, the zoo( in fact what might have really been a small zoo tour, we hit Catoctin, Seneca Park and Buffalo Zoos) National Museum of Play, a week at Pop Geigers Camper in Kent New York... I took a day trip with Amanda, Jim, Emilee, Liam and Brynn to Niagara Falls and rode the Maid of the Mist. That was certainly something that wasnt on my bucket list but should have been. we have spent the day at Boiling Springs Pool, also a wonderful new place that we enjoyed.
Our garden is growing, with tomato plants up to my next and a zucchini plant that isnt producing any veggies, but has leaves the size of an amazon plant. I am looking forward to eating the veggies, but more so, sharing the bounty of our garden, I hope.
We have made homemade ice cream, spent the day with the animals on the Paulus Farm, visited, Land of Little Horses....I dont think I can even remember it all. But it has been glorious. Audrey is doing great at Summer Camp at her Preschool.
And TODAY, we had her first dance class.
My friend Andrea Hoffman is her teacher and she is in class with my friend Mary Wakefield's daughter Natalie.Tonight was Snow White Princess dance Class. We watched from a television in a separate room. I watched her run and leap and twirl...and more than a few times, make her way to the front of the line, ahead of her teachers and watch herself in the wall of mirrors. All in all, she did great!
Saturday, June 8, 2013
I dont think I am ever going back...
to my addiction to social media. THERE, I said it. Although I broke my FB fast for like 3 minutes 3 times now and for pretty important reasons. AND, no guilt here. I scrolled down to where I needed to go and didnt keep scrolling.
I dont miss it! Not one bit. In fact, it is freeing!
In place of all the endless hours of looking thru grumpy cats pictures and listening to folks who I am really just afraid to delete complain about their jobs, I spent the last 2 1/2 weeks soaking up time with my family.
It was joyous.
I spent time with my feet in Pine Creek catching tadpoles and frog eggs and salamanders and minnows with a net, just my lil girl and me!
I watched a beaver build his damn, rode my bike for miles with Audrey watching the view from the bike trailer, had a box turtle "Pokey" as a pet for one day thanks to Aunt Robin. Spent hours kayaking on the creek with good friends and my husband, sat around a camp fire and roasted bananas and marshmellows and popcorn, ate at some pretty off the beaten path and FABulous places, laughed alot, read alot, spent time dreaming and enjoying the simple things. I even got to snuggle up with Jim and Audrey and enjoy a movie in bed once or twice.
Goodness knows I may have enjoyed that food wayyy to much, but I dont care about that either.
I went to my class reunion and saw many good friends I havent seen in 20 years.
I watched the memorial day parade in my home town.
Our friends Joe and Joann took us under their wing at Pettecote Junction Campground for 2 weeks. Audrey learned what an orange blossom is and she can find them on her own now. We ate ice cream in the hot sun, so fast you had to keep licking the cone. We waded in in the creek. Aunt robin visited. My mom and Dad came. So many friends met us there.
There was not the greatest cell phone service, and it was THE BEST!
I watched an eagle fly between the mountains and eat a fish. I let my feet soak up the dirt.
Yep, I dont think I am ever going back.
I dont miss it! Not one bit. In fact, it is freeing!
In place of all the endless hours of looking thru grumpy cats pictures and listening to folks who I am really just afraid to delete complain about their jobs, I spent the last 2 1/2 weeks soaking up time with my family.
It was joyous.
I spent time with my feet in Pine Creek catching tadpoles and frog eggs and salamanders and minnows with a net, just my lil girl and me!
I watched a beaver build his damn, rode my bike for miles with Audrey watching the view from the bike trailer, had a box turtle "Pokey" as a pet for one day thanks to Aunt Robin. Spent hours kayaking on the creek with good friends and my husband, sat around a camp fire and roasted bananas and marshmellows and popcorn, ate at some pretty off the beaten path and FABulous places, laughed alot, read alot, spent time dreaming and enjoying the simple things. I even got to snuggle up with Jim and Audrey and enjoy a movie in bed once or twice.
Goodness knows I may have enjoyed that food wayyy to much, but I dont care about that either.
I went to my class reunion and saw many good friends I havent seen in 20 years.
I watched the memorial day parade in my home town.
Our friends Joe and Joann took us under their wing at Pettecote Junction Campground for 2 weeks. Audrey learned what an orange blossom is and she can find them on her own now. We ate ice cream in the hot sun, so fast you had to keep licking the cone. We waded in in the creek. Aunt robin visited. My mom and Dad came. So many friends met us there.
I watched an eagle fly between the mountains and eat a fish. I let my feet soak up the dirt.
Yep, I dont think I am ever going back.
Sunday, May 26, 2013
For Daddys and Daddys Girls and mamas
This is the most beautiful words I have ever read:
50 rules for dad's with daughters by Michael Mitchell
A MUST read!!!
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Confessions of a Social Media Addict and a Hopeful Mom
I constantly talk about simplifying my life....I mean always. But, I live everyday almost like it is groundhogs day. I have yet to clean out the junk and take it to the goodwill. I have yet to organize the rest of it. Each time I check something off my "Big to do" List, I add 2 more things. Each time I make a plan, something comes up and the next day I don't remember the plan. The truth is I leave the house everyday and I hope nobody notices that I havent shaved my legs for a week. I run my fingers through the mop on my head, throw on leggings and a tshirt and a pair of flip flops and look just barely ok enough to be seen outside my home. I run to the store, the post office, to drop off customers orders, to pick up customers orders. I unload the dishwasher, take the dog for a walk, feed the fish, do a load of laundry, fill the bird feeder, write the bills, budget the checking account, make meals, weed the flower bed, compost the garden, sweep the porch, take photographs, edit photographs, feed the cat, do the dishes, put the laundry away......DO YOU GET THE FULL PICTURE? This is all before I pick up the kid; take her to the park, try to get her to take a nap, do a craft with her, read to her, help her clean up her toys, make her snacks, make her lunch, watch her play on her playset. THAT IS ALOT of stuff and I DO try to streamline it all. BUT in between all of that I dont fit in learning the alphabet, practicing hopping on one foot, or even sitting down to eat a meal together
And I am forever posting the cute little crafts that I do and the recipes that I concoct and share with friends.
BUT, I have a few confessions....last Tuesday was the first night that I have ever played "baby dolls" with my daughter. She is almost 4. THAT IS A SIN! THAT ISNT remotely acceptable....and I didnt realize it until I was midway through my persona as Princess Merida!
And you know what , when I confessed this all to a few of my closest friends, they told me that they too had moments just like this and that I was "NORMAL". It is, they are right.
BUT, it doesnt have to be this way.
I have a choice.
Tonight, I turned off my FB account on purpose for 90+ days.
For the first 5 minutes after I posted that I was FB Fasting til September 1st I wanted to log back on and see what everyone thought. How many LIKES did I get? Ya know what? My friend Nichole sent me a text message and said: "You have inspired me mama, and I am JOINING you!"
I betcha if my computer counted, it would tell you that I WASTE HOURS on social media. AND if my kids toys counted they would tell you they dont even know who I am.
How sad is that? How sad?
My daughter, who I describe as the most precious being in my life is actually falling behind an update from a person I may not have seen in 20 years. I love old friends, but as much as my daughter??? And really do they care that I saved a bunch of money by switching to Geico! NO!
So, I havent turned it back on in 1 hr and ya know how I feel? ya know how Nichole said she felt after doing the same thing? FREE!
My Gram baked pies with me, she showed me how to use the washer with the wringer. We planted seeds and picked vegetables. We painted rock and went swimming in the creek. My parents were busy...for the first 15 years of my life. I remember vacations with them. I remember spending time with them in their restaurant. They didnt have FB then...they had WORK!
I broke the back on this damn I phone twice in 1 week! Smart phone = dumb mom! There I said it.
I have gone to numerous kid events and watched 50% of the parents updating statuses about being at the place with their kids the entire time they are at the event. PUT your PHONE AWAY! BE with your kid!
Mine is sleeping right now. Before she fell asleep, I played Lincoln Logs with her. And WE loved it!
She said, you are the best mom ever and I am sorry for yelling when Lathan was here! She breathed a sigh and she got it....and ya know what...THAT is what counts!
Val and I went over REAL food ideas for our families today. And perhaps my husband will never "get it" but in the last week I have seen to many changes in my crazy daughter just by taking away artificial flavors and colors to not believe that she is what she eats...so I am running with that. She is SMART and I am going to feed her brain food. And guess what....I dont need to tell 486 friends about it. This blog is my diary and I just want her to know someday the journey I have been on as her mom!
This summer I am saying no to photo sessions on a Sunday and saying YES to sitting down and hearing JESUS talk to me. I miss him! I miss the person I am when I am filled to the brim with him! My tank is almost empty! Thank GOD he is patiently waiting to fill me up! I need him to fill my family up.
Jim and I dont always see eye to eye, and thank God that HE helps us stay heart to heart!
SO, goodbye FB and Thank God I dont tweet. Goodbye Kim Kardashian as my headline news! Buy maternity clothes! Goodbye the background news of TV...I dont need you! Goodbye Crappy food from my cupboards. HELLO LIFE...HELLO LIFE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY6VAy9y_iQ
HERE I AM!
Thank You God for renewing me!
And I am forever posting the cute little crafts that I do and the recipes that I concoct and share with friends.
BUT, I have a few confessions....last Tuesday was the first night that I have ever played "baby dolls" with my daughter. She is almost 4. THAT IS A SIN! THAT ISNT remotely acceptable....and I didnt realize it until I was midway through my persona as Princess Merida!
And you know what , when I confessed this all to a few of my closest friends, they told me that they too had moments just like this and that I was "NORMAL". It is, they are right.
BUT, it doesnt have to be this way.
I have a choice.
Tonight, I turned off my FB account on purpose for 90+ days.
For the first 5 minutes after I posted that I was FB Fasting til September 1st I wanted to log back on and see what everyone thought. How many LIKES did I get? Ya know what? My friend Nichole sent me a text message and said: "You have inspired me mama, and I am JOINING you!"
I betcha if my computer counted, it would tell you that I WASTE HOURS on social media. AND if my kids toys counted they would tell you they dont even know who I am.
How sad is that? How sad?
My daughter, who I describe as the most precious being in my life is actually falling behind an update from a person I may not have seen in 20 years. I love old friends, but as much as my daughter??? And really do they care that I saved a bunch of money by switching to Geico! NO!
So, I havent turned it back on in 1 hr and ya know how I feel? ya know how Nichole said she felt after doing the same thing? FREE!
My Gram baked pies with me, she showed me how to use the washer with the wringer. We planted seeds and picked vegetables. We painted rock and went swimming in the creek. My parents were busy...for the first 15 years of my life. I remember vacations with them. I remember spending time with them in their restaurant. They didnt have FB then...they had WORK!
I broke the back on this damn I phone twice in 1 week! Smart phone = dumb mom! There I said it.
I have gone to numerous kid events and watched 50% of the parents updating statuses about being at the place with their kids the entire time they are at the event. PUT your PHONE AWAY! BE with your kid!
Mine is sleeping right now. Before she fell asleep, I played Lincoln Logs with her. And WE loved it!
She said, you are the best mom ever and I am sorry for yelling when Lathan was here! She breathed a sigh and she got it....and ya know what...THAT is what counts!
Val and I went over REAL food ideas for our families today. And perhaps my husband will never "get it" but in the last week I have seen to many changes in my crazy daughter just by taking away artificial flavors and colors to not believe that she is what she eats...so I am running with that. She is SMART and I am going to feed her brain food. And guess what....I dont need to tell 486 friends about it. This blog is my diary and I just want her to know someday the journey I have been on as her mom!
This summer I am saying no to photo sessions on a Sunday and saying YES to sitting down and hearing JESUS talk to me. I miss him! I miss the person I am when I am filled to the brim with him! My tank is almost empty! Thank GOD he is patiently waiting to fill me up! I need him to fill my family up.
Jim and I dont always see eye to eye, and thank God that HE helps us stay heart to heart!
SO, goodbye FB and Thank God I dont tweet. Goodbye Kim Kardashian as my headline news! Buy maternity clothes! Goodbye the background news of TV...I dont need you! Goodbye Crappy food from my cupboards. HELLO LIFE...HELLO LIFE!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY6VAy9y_iQ
HERE I AM!
Thank You God for renewing me!
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Little girl growing
I need new pics on our walls. Seriously, I love my wedding pics...but this month I have been married 5 years. So, I helped my update along a little. At least I got a few pics of Audrey out of the way. She is growing so fast. Her legs are long and her smile is from ear to ear. All this for a piece of gum. Mommy's Girl
Monday, April 29, 2013
Planning a Simpler Summer
That's it. I am not talking about it anymore....I'm doing it!
I waste too much time of this computer telling other people what I am doing. And I am pretty sure 90% of these people could really care less if I am going to the Apple Blossom Festival. I should be spending more time just doing this "Mom thing". I have 16 months until my beautiful baby that I feel I just gave birth to goes to kindergarden. WHAT?! Yep, this kid of mine will be 4 years old in 3 months.
So, starting June 1st, that is just 1 month from now....I am turning off Facebook, switching off the TV, going outside in the sun, reading more books to my daughter, spending more time in my garden and at the park, and camping and putting my feet in the creek...and well everything that I remember doing as a kid...we are doing it!
Included in all this is eating healthier and local, getting outside more, buying local, visiting local.
When I was a kid, the tv went off and it didnt come on until like 1 hr or maybe 2 hrs before bedtime. My feet were filthy from playing outside, my nose was sunburn and half the time my mom couldnt find me....and it was WONDERFUL!
I dont need FB to run Just So Stacy. I dont need Living Social Deals and I dont need Pinterest( although, that does help..lol)
I need, WE need, sunshine and fresh lemonade, Drive In movie nights and bike rides.
30 days and counting....
Doesnt mean I cant blog it to keep record, but it doesnt mean I have to.
What a great gift to give my family this summer. For the 10% that want to know...that is what pen pals are for.
Stacy
I waste too much time of this computer telling other people what I am doing. And I am pretty sure 90% of these people could really care less if I am going to the Apple Blossom Festival. I should be spending more time just doing this "Mom thing". I have 16 months until my beautiful baby that I feel I just gave birth to goes to kindergarden. WHAT?! Yep, this kid of mine will be 4 years old in 3 months.
So, starting June 1st, that is just 1 month from now....I am turning off Facebook, switching off the TV, going outside in the sun, reading more books to my daughter, spending more time in my garden and at the park, and camping and putting my feet in the creek...and well everything that I remember doing as a kid...we are doing it!
Included in all this is eating healthier and local, getting outside more, buying local, visiting local.
When I was a kid, the tv went off and it didnt come on until like 1 hr or maybe 2 hrs before bedtime. My feet were filthy from playing outside, my nose was sunburn and half the time my mom couldnt find me....and it was WONDERFUL!
I dont need FB to run Just So Stacy. I dont need Living Social Deals and I dont need Pinterest( although, that does help..lol)
I need, WE need, sunshine and fresh lemonade, Drive In movie nights and bike rides.
30 days and counting....
Doesnt mean I cant blog it to keep record, but it doesnt mean I have to.
What a great gift to give my family this summer. For the 10% that want to know...that is what pen pals are for.
Stacy
Monday, March 25, 2013
Christmas in Springtime FUNDRAISER
Dear Friends:
Each Christmas, in cooperation with Mechanicsburg’s
Operation Wildcat and Project Legacy,
the Upper Allen Fire Department adopts a family in need.
The process and outcome is so rewarding. We get to
see the kindness of our members and their friends and neighbors. More
importantly, we get to see a family who would otherwise not have gifts under
their tree, a warm winter coat, and food in their bellies, be blessed by it
all.
In 2013, we want to give MORE! Each year, we see an
unmet need that the families have throughout the year. Last year, we supported
a family of nine: 8 children, 2 to 18, and a single mother.
This year, with early planning, many activities, and
your help, we can do SO MUCH MORE!
JOIN
ME
CHRISTMAS
IN SPRINGTIME
FUNdraising
EVENT
with
Tastefully Simple and Silpada
Thursday, April 24th at the Upper Allen
Fire Department
104 Gettysburg Pike
Mechanicsburg PA 17055 (Across from Hoss’s and
Stauffers)
Doors open at 6:30 pm.
Sample and buy great food provided by Tastefully
Simple.
Spring fashion forward with beautiful Silpada
Sterling silver jewelry and accessories.
Proceeds from your purchases from either company will
benefit the 2013 UAFD Christmas Family in BIG WAYS!
Give the 2013 family a SOUPER CHRISTMAS
Purchase one of the following Tastefully Simple
Items for ½ price (we will pay the tax and delivery too) to provide to our Christmas
Family (Not for personal purchase)
Perfectly Potato Cheddar Soup Mix: Christmas Family
Price $4.00
Bountiful Beer Bread: Christmas Family Price: $3.00
Nanas Apple Cake: Christmas Family Price: $3.50
Or buy all 3 and provide a full meal to our family
for just $10.00
For every $20 in Tastefully Simple or Silpada, you
spend; you earn a raffle ticket good toward amazing donated prizes!!
ANYONE that books a party to be held within 90 days with
Tammy spends OR $100 or more, $20 will be donated to the 2013 UAFD Christmas
Family Fund.
Bring an uninvited Friend! Extra ticket for those
who do!
Can’t make it?
Take advantage of specials anyway!
Outside
orders received prior to the party will be assigned a raffle ticket # as
well.
Orders can be placed at mysilpada.com/tammy.tosti or tastefullysimple.com/web/ttosti
Or
by contacting Stacy at 385-2118 or Tammy at 691-6304.
RSVP to Stacy
Salter 717-385-2118 by April 19th.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Spring is just around the corner
....unless you count this giant snowstorm we are supposed to be getting this week.
Otherwise, Audrey and I are ready for Spring.
ZooAmerica is having $5 Fridays. This past Friday, we headed the 30 minutes to Hershey to enjoy the zoo on a cold, but manageable day. we had a wonderful time, despite the amorous Mountain Lions that I had to say were "playing", maybe in 20 years I will tell her about that. LOL
Then, we headed to Wendys for lunch. I gazed across to the Outlets at Hershey and decided to head to the Disney Store to see if they had any deals. They did.
Our Disney Cruise takes place over Halloween, so we need costumes. I got em. 3 of them to: Pocohontas, Mulan and Belle. I cant wait for the trip...which is a little over 9 months away.
Other than that, we are spending alot of time indoors, and watching too many Care Bear Episodes.
Last week, we went to Family Fun Night at Audreys school, which included great pot luck, a wonderful glow in the dark puppet show, and face painting and crafts. It was so much fun!
But alas, I am looking ahead to camping and nights on the boat in the middle of the Susquehanna, spending spring with my gal and her dad.
Otherwise, Audrey and I are ready for Spring.
ZooAmerica is having $5 Fridays. This past Friday, we headed the 30 minutes to Hershey to enjoy the zoo on a cold, but manageable day. we had a wonderful time, despite the amorous Mountain Lions that I had to say were "playing", maybe in 20 years I will tell her about that. LOLThen, we headed to Wendys for lunch. I gazed across to the Outlets at Hershey and decided to head to the Disney Store to see if they had any deals. They did.
Our Disney Cruise takes place over Halloween, so we need costumes. I got em. 3 of them to: Pocohontas, Mulan and Belle. I cant wait for the trip...which is a little over 9 months away.
Other than that, we are spending alot of time indoors, and watching too many Care Bear Episodes.
Last week, we went to Family Fun Night at Audreys school, which included great pot luck, a wonderful glow in the dark puppet show, and face painting and crafts. It was so much fun!
But alas, I am looking ahead to camping and nights on the boat in the middle of the Susquehanna, spending spring with my gal and her dad.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Just Being
Dear Audrey:
The last few weeks, away from the camera, and "just being" with you have been incredible. I have managed to slow down and just enjoy the slow paced days with you...no running here and there, sometimes never getting out of our pjs. These have been the best days for me.
I love working, but there is nothing more that I love than "just being" your mom.
We have painted and colored and baked and had movie marathons, and read books and played games. We have played dress up and dressed the house up for Valentines. I have managed to "feed" my soul and "feed" your dads belly. It has been simple AND JOYOUS! It is everything that I always say I am going to do, and I have!
My promise to read you a new story every night has turned into 2 and 3 stories a night, and it has been ALL GOOD!
I must say, being able to curl up on a recliner with you and also read a good book for myself has also been a plus.
So, as the new month comes into the horizon, I realize that my plans to slow down need to be even more concrete. I really CAN still enjoy some independence and do my job and STILL keep myself centered around you and home. I really CAN say NO and the world doesnt end. Saying no to everything else and saying YES to you is so much more rewarding.
The calendar for my business was such a good first step, and I am surely sticking to it, for you my SQWEETHEART( your silly way of saying it) and for me.
Thanks for being my most precious constant companion.
Love,
Mom
The last few weeks, away from the camera, and "just being" with you have been incredible. I have managed to slow down and just enjoy the slow paced days with you...no running here and there, sometimes never getting out of our pjs. These have been the best days for me.
I love working, but there is nothing more that I love than "just being" your mom.
We have painted and colored and baked and had movie marathons, and read books and played games. We have played dress up and dressed the house up for Valentines. I have managed to "feed" my soul and "feed" your dads belly. It has been simple AND JOYOUS! It is everything that I always say I am going to do, and I have!
My promise to read you a new story every night has turned into 2 and 3 stories a night, and it has been ALL GOOD!
I must say, being able to curl up on a recliner with you and also read a good book for myself has also been a plus.
So, as the new month comes into the horizon, I realize that my plans to slow down need to be even more concrete. I really CAN still enjoy some independence and do my job and STILL keep myself centered around you and home. I really CAN say NO and the world doesnt end. Saying no to everything else and saying YES to you is so much more rewarding.
The calendar for my business was such a good first step, and I am surely sticking to it, for you my SQWEETHEART( your silly way of saying it) and for me.
Thanks for being my most precious constant companion.
Love,
Mom
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Another New year, another bunch of unfulfilled resolutions, right?
I am 37 years old.
I have made resolutions each new year for just about 25 of those years.
One year, I think it was like 1997, I actually made a checklist and I actually STUCK to and CHECKED off every one of those resolutions.
Alas, that was before I was a Wife and Mother and business owner, and everything else I am in between.
Lets face it, sticking to your goals is hard.
One year, a coworker, Jason and I wrote down 100 things we would accomplish in 1 year and we shared our lists...and ya know what...I accomplished MOST of it.
So basically, 2 out of 25 years, I have stuck to the proverbial resolution list and won.
But this year, I thought, what the heck, why not go for 3. It is a charm, right?
So, here it is January 13th, 2 weeks into the new year, and I am ready to share my "resolutions" with whoever reads this...maybe just my mom, or aunt, or cousin Amanda, and Val ( she stalks me...lol!)
But, here it is, none the less.
It isnt really a list per say, as much as it is a new year realizations compilation.
I waste $ on crap, er crafts really. Yep, me, the girl who gives so many others money saving advice and sticks to a budget. NOPE, turns out, I dont! I went to Michaels twice so far this year, and I have spent approximately $65 on well....nothing ....crafts that I have good intentions on doing, and well, I dont.
It gets worse. I wrote down my spending on an index card. I spent nearly $45 on bagels and burritos and fruit and nut salads. So, I wrote an eye opening, truth be told list to myself, based on these "realizations". And I made notes as to how I was going to change it. It goes a lil something like this: A: I LOVE lottery tickets. I walk out the door with $5 extra change at the grocery store and I spend it on scratch offs. If I do that 5 times a month, I waste $25 on the lottery, which has yet to make me a big winner! B: I am an uneccessary clearance buyer. Last week, I bought 20 Reindeer pez dispensers, because they dont go bad and I will give them to Audreys classmates next year. You're laughing right?! C: If I have a coupon for Gymboree, I HAVE to use it. I have $25 Gymbucks waiting to buy $50 worth of stuff this week. My kid could go 4 months without wearing the same outfit, so what am I buying it for? Because, its Gymboree, and I cant afford their stuff when I dont have a coupon! BUT, Audrey cant wear two outfits a day. D: I need yardsalers anonymous. I guesstimate that I spent $500 on yardsale stuff last year. I love it, its exciting to me...many of those things were in my yardsale in October. E: I LOVE catalog parties because I love friends. So I host one to see my friends and get free stuff...and then I spend another $100 on the other stuff I didnt get for free. F: My guesstimate on K Cups @ $6.99 on sale for 4 weeks a month. I bet I spend $35 a month on K Cups. I need to drink coffee out of the pot more often! G: I have GAS ASS( pardon my bad word) I need to group my errand running and I ALWAYS have to be on the go...what's that spell??? A full tank of gas in a Silverado with the gas point discount $75! Whew! So I am planning better with errands and visits and client runs, etc... a schedule. H: Applesauce costs $1.49 for 6. It costs $2.49 for 4 for the drinkable kind! What am I saying, easy and cheap is more expensive. I: I use my freezer alot....the problem, the food I buy gets pushed to the back behind the food that I use, and I waste great meals because the ingredients get freezer burn...what does this mean??? This week, I went thru what I HAD before I went to the grocery store. I spent $37. Most weeks, I spend $125, and if I hadn't have stopped and built meals around my current ingredients, I would have spent the $125 again! I also waste by not freezing the leftovers for a following week or two. I forget them in the fridge and then viola....yuck! AND last on this list, but goodness knows there is so much more J: BIG IDEAS: Lets see, the garden, the pool, the bike stroller...yeah, they are just a few of my BIG IDEAS...guess what? The pool doesnt work on a slanted yard, splash and spill, right down the back hill, the garden managed to yield 6 zucchinis and 2 tomatoes....and I dont even want to think of what I spent on setting up the 20 some plants. ALTHOUGH, I did like the garden. The Bike Stroller, $50 , for the beach. 1 trip and screaming later and the kid weighs 45 lbs....have you ever tried to pedal a bike with a 45 lb kid and 10 lb stroller attached. Well, good for you Lance Armstrong. These chubby thighs cannot do it!
So what do I plan to do to fix this?
I already had a FAMILY budget in place...but if the bills were paid and we could still do everything we like, I dont follow it. HOW TO FIX THIS IS EASY. I make the budget a DAILY chore for myself. AND GUESS WHAT? The BUDGET IS the FIX to all of this...well that AND a simple INDEX CARD.
I carry it around like a cell phone, always at my reach. Both of those things and a whole lot of HONESTY with myself. If I buy it, I have to write it down....yes, even the $200 Disney on Ice Tickets! If I write it down, I have to type it into the budget. EYE OPENING...IT IS!
So really my resolutions are all tied to one BIG CHANGE( no pun intended) that I have just noted.
What does this change provide to me:
1. Better Health( Eating out or eating at home...you do the math) Eating healthy, less eating fast food
2. Family Dinner/More Quality Time. Make a point to make a menu and sit down with my husband and kid.
3. More $ into Savings and Jims 401 K, BIG THINGS: I want to pay for my kid to go to college before college starts and I dont want to have to work everyday til I die.
4. Simplify Everday, less running and more reading, more time on the playground and less time in the car. This is perhaps my biggest struggle. I like to Go Go GO. But ya know what I realized as of late. My kid likes me to play puzzles and practice letters with her and we dont have to go anywhere other than the living room hassock to do that.
5. BUDGET my own time more, I love everyone, but I dont need to know what they are doing 24/7. So, I am going to try to limit my FB time to 30 minutes each day, 10 min morning, noon and night. AND, I have created a schedule for my business. I have to say NO and refer when its not on my schedule.
I am looking forward to this being 3 times a charm.
Realizations and Resolutions.
I have made resolutions each new year for just about 25 of those years.
One year, I think it was like 1997, I actually made a checklist and I actually STUCK to and CHECKED off every one of those resolutions.
Alas, that was before I was a Wife and Mother and business owner, and everything else I am in between.
Lets face it, sticking to your goals is hard.
One year, a coworker, Jason and I wrote down 100 things we would accomplish in 1 year and we shared our lists...and ya know what...I accomplished MOST of it.
So basically, 2 out of 25 years, I have stuck to the proverbial resolution list and won.
But this year, I thought, what the heck, why not go for 3. It is a charm, right?
So, here it is January 13th, 2 weeks into the new year, and I am ready to share my "resolutions" with whoever reads this...maybe just my mom, or aunt, or cousin Amanda, and Val ( she stalks me...lol!)
But, here it is, none the less.
It isnt really a list per say, as much as it is a new year realizations compilation.
I waste $ on crap, er crafts really. Yep, me, the girl who gives so many others money saving advice and sticks to a budget. NOPE, turns out, I dont! I went to Michaels twice so far this year, and I have spent approximately $65 on well....nothing ....crafts that I have good intentions on doing, and well, I dont.
It gets worse. I wrote down my spending on an index card. I spent nearly $45 on bagels and burritos and fruit and nut salads. So, I wrote an eye opening, truth be told list to myself, based on these "realizations". And I made notes as to how I was going to change it. It goes a lil something like this: A: I LOVE lottery tickets. I walk out the door with $5 extra change at the grocery store and I spend it on scratch offs. If I do that 5 times a month, I waste $25 on the lottery, which has yet to make me a big winner! B: I am an uneccessary clearance buyer. Last week, I bought 20 Reindeer pez dispensers, because they dont go bad and I will give them to Audreys classmates next year. You're laughing right?! C: If I have a coupon for Gymboree, I HAVE to use it. I have $25 Gymbucks waiting to buy $50 worth of stuff this week. My kid could go 4 months without wearing the same outfit, so what am I buying it for? Because, its Gymboree, and I cant afford their stuff when I dont have a coupon! BUT, Audrey cant wear two outfits a day. D: I need yardsalers anonymous. I guesstimate that I spent $500 on yardsale stuff last year. I love it, its exciting to me...many of those things were in my yardsale in October. E: I LOVE catalog parties because I love friends. So I host one to see my friends and get free stuff...and then I spend another $100 on the other stuff I didnt get for free. F: My guesstimate on K Cups @ $6.99 on sale for 4 weeks a month. I bet I spend $35 a month on K Cups. I need to drink coffee out of the pot more often! G: I have GAS ASS( pardon my bad word) I need to group my errand running and I ALWAYS have to be on the go...what's that spell??? A full tank of gas in a Silverado with the gas point discount $75! Whew! So I am planning better with errands and visits and client runs, etc... a schedule. H: Applesauce costs $1.49 for 6. It costs $2.49 for 4 for the drinkable kind! What am I saying, easy and cheap is more expensive. I: I use my freezer alot....the problem, the food I buy gets pushed to the back behind the food that I use, and I waste great meals because the ingredients get freezer burn...what does this mean??? This week, I went thru what I HAD before I went to the grocery store. I spent $37. Most weeks, I spend $125, and if I hadn't have stopped and built meals around my current ingredients, I would have spent the $125 again! I also waste by not freezing the leftovers for a following week or two. I forget them in the fridge and then viola....yuck! AND last on this list, but goodness knows there is so much more J: BIG IDEAS: Lets see, the garden, the pool, the bike stroller...yeah, they are just a few of my BIG IDEAS...guess what? The pool doesnt work on a slanted yard, splash and spill, right down the back hill, the garden managed to yield 6 zucchinis and 2 tomatoes....and I dont even want to think of what I spent on setting up the 20 some plants. ALTHOUGH, I did like the garden. The Bike Stroller, $50 , for the beach. 1 trip and screaming later and the kid weighs 45 lbs....have you ever tried to pedal a bike with a 45 lb kid and 10 lb stroller attached. Well, good for you Lance Armstrong. These chubby thighs cannot do it!
So what do I plan to do to fix this?
I already had a FAMILY budget in place...but if the bills were paid and we could still do everything we like, I dont follow it. HOW TO FIX THIS IS EASY. I make the budget a DAILY chore for myself. AND GUESS WHAT? The BUDGET IS the FIX to all of this...well that AND a simple INDEX CARD.
I carry it around like a cell phone, always at my reach. Both of those things and a whole lot of HONESTY with myself. If I buy it, I have to write it down....yes, even the $200 Disney on Ice Tickets! If I write it down, I have to type it into the budget. EYE OPENING...IT IS!
So really my resolutions are all tied to one BIG CHANGE( no pun intended) that I have just noted.
What does this change provide to me:
1. Better Health( Eating out or eating at home...you do the math) Eating healthy, less eating fast food
2. Family Dinner/More Quality Time. Make a point to make a menu and sit down with my husband and kid.
3. More $ into Savings and Jims 401 K, BIG THINGS: I want to pay for my kid to go to college before college starts and I dont want to have to work everyday til I die.
4. Simplify Everday, less running and more reading, more time on the playground and less time in the car. This is perhaps my biggest struggle. I like to Go Go GO. But ya know what I realized as of late. My kid likes me to play puzzles and practice letters with her and we dont have to go anywhere other than the living room hassock to do that.
5. BUDGET my own time more, I love everyone, but I dont need to know what they are doing 24/7. So, I am going to try to limit my FB time to 30 minutes each day, 10 min morning, noon and night. AND, I have created a schedule for my business. I have to say NO and refer when its not on my schedule.
I am looking forward to this being 3 times a charm.
Realizations and Resolutions.
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