My Family

As my children began to grow up, I would sometimes regret not having a closer relationship with my cousins, aunts, uncles and even my brother, sister and nieces and nephews.  I would look at other families whom had those types of relationships and wonder how they did it. I longed for those relationships. To say that one of my cousins was my best friends, and that we could never be tore apart.  I longed for those relationships for my children like I had when I was a very young girl.  As a child, and before we moved away from our childhood home I did have some of those relationships. And for a while I still wanted that. Now, it seems so much less of an issue.

Don't get me wrong. I don't love those people any less, but for one reason or another we have become a little less familiar. A little more distant. The miles and even the feeling that we have for each other are not the same that they once were. We have our own families and our own friends. We have different political views and different religious views and that comfortable feeling of being able to spend all hours of the night talking goes away. I look back and I realize that sometimes life happens and it is all that you can do to stay close to those people. Those people that you love with all your heart but know that it is o.k. to just simply be family...not close family...but just family. 

And then somewhere along the line, something amazing happened,  I realized that I made relationships with some amazing people that treated my children with more respect and love than I could have ever have hoped for.   The people that did not replace those titles of traditional family, but created relationships that were unique and wonderful in their own way.  I realized this even more after a recent visit from own of my military family members (No, not blood...but you see the point I am forming here.) came to visit from New Mexico. We had not seen each other in years but it was if I had seen her yesterday. This resonated with me. I have some of the most wonderful people that are more than friends, that are more that "best" friends. Personally I dislike the word best friend, only because that is a cheapened word any more. Best friends are thrown away. Family friends stick around no matter what even if you make them angry, or don't always agree. (It's called talking and getting over it!) 

So thank you to those who stuck around and never gave up on me, my husband or my children. To those that love to spend time with me and are o.k. with my weirdness, because guess what? I am o.k. with your's too. For those people that believe differently than me, but you know that does not bother me, because I am o.k. with you having different belief systems too. If you are my "family" then you are my life.  I am grateful for you! I chose to walk the road less traveled with you, I love you for who you are, and I will never take you for granted. 

For those of you who may be reading this that are a part of my traditional family and we have lost touch, please know that I love you and I am always here. I do miss you with all of my heart. My hope for you is that you have these same amazing family friendships in your life. 

Review of Motorcycle Keychain Tag High Quality Fabric #cgkeytag

I originally got this key tag because I was going to give it to my brother as he has a motorcycle that he rides during the warm months and I thought it would be a nice gift for him. but once I got it and my husband saw it that was not going to happen. We were both impressed with the fact that it is embroidered on both sides and the quality was amazing. so here is a side of effect of this keytag...my husband now wants a motorcycle! It was a very funny conversation to hear my husband justify why we should keep this product and not give it to my brother. Needless to say, it is hanging in our key holder. :)

I always feel that if my husband really likes a product that it is a good quality product. He does not hold anything back and he loves this keytag. It is very sturdy and high quality product. We are impressed!

#cgkeytag  Get yours here!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018R5F39W

I received this item for free to review for my honest opinion.

Review of Sports Reusable Food Pouches

 When I first looked at these pouches the first thing that I thought of was my granddaughter would love these. But after thinking about it for awhile I then began to think about how good these would be for smoothies that I could pre make then grab and go. At the time I did not even realize that the bottom opened and was resealable. I love this about them. Makes them easier to fill and rewash. I know that this is going to save me a lot of time and trouble and I am super excited on what this will do to help with my bad snacking habits. 

It is a very sturdy package and I know that it will also save me money in the long run as well because I will choose things I have made and less of the fast food options that I might pick while out at lunch. I am currently also in the process of making different recipes. If you all would be interested in any please comment below and I will do another blog featuring those recipes. 

Here is a link to the product here. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B014C5WDI0 6 pouches are included in the price. Very good value.

I received this product to review free of charge.

Review of Pet's Mum Dog Whistle

Sometimes taking care of your self is hard enough, let alone a pet. One of my new year goals is to get my dog healthier. Of course we love him, we feed him and we bathe him. We give him attention and all the basic things. But we know that is sometimes more to pet ownership. I don't like seeing him suffer. He suffers allergies and we have him on meds and working on a few other things but he was continuing to chew. We got this dog whistle package to help with some of his barking...but who would have thought that it would help with the chewing? It is!!!!!

The main reason why we had requested to review the item is because our Rottweiler barks at crazy things in the middle of the night. Especially during the windy seasons. Anything that creeks or pops he is barking at. I thought if it is good for helping with that it is great for helping with the negative chewing as well. And I was right. I love this little tool!

What makes me even happier is that I think this is going to make him more comfortable as well. So today I am a very happy pet momma. I have only used it a couple of times when he was chewing and he has not chewed now for the greater portion of the day. I cannot wait to see the continued results.

Want one of your own? Check out this link. Very inexpensive and comes with a full set of directions.
http://www.amazon.com/Pets-Mum-Dog-Whistle-Training-Clicker-Pet-Stop-Barking-Bonus-Lanyard-Adjustable-Ultrasonic-Aid/dp/B017RYDHG0

Grateful is Different than Pride

It has been 25 years since the ship I was stationed on departed for the Persian Gulf. Seems so real and close but still so far away.

NOW, I hear certain people in my life tell me, "You should be proud. Proud that you served in our Military. Stand up and accept it."  I do not like those words sometimes. Because at one time there was a then.

THEN, not knowing we would soon be leaving for the Persian Gulf, I had just been attacked on base not to many months before (Even now I have trouble saying the "R" word).  I had spent the most part of those months sheltering myself on board the ship, barely leaving. I made decisions that would affect me the rest of my life. I just wanted to forget. I thought about suicide, developed an eating disorder, partook in self destructive behavior. You name it...I did it. Wanting to forget that I had trusted someone that should have been considered a brother in arms, but yet betrayed every trust and hint of protection that I was taught to believe existed.

When we found out we were leaving for a war zone,  I welcomed it as a way to forget about the personal hell that I was putting myself through at the time.  It was a way to escape the inside of my mind and forget who I was if even for just for a little bit.  So, I don't think that pride is a good choice of words to celebrate the things that I did.

Now these many years later, I have learned to deal with some of the things that happened. Not Pride but instead I feel GRATITUDE. I am grateful that I was given the honor of serving with some of the most amazing people I have ever had the honor of knowing. I am grateful that I felt the presence of so many men and women who gave more than I could ever possibly imagine. I am grateful for those who continue to serve to protect us and our freedoms. 

This means Veterans Day for me is a little different than it may be for some. I have a hard time thinking of it as "Happy" Veterans Day. I am sure there are others that feel this way as well.  The next sentence you read may shock you....but I am Grateful that I was attacked on base that night. I have struggled with what I could have done, should not have done or any other scenario you can image in my head over the years. Discovering that servicemen like the one that attacked me that dark night were actually few and far between. I have learned most military men and women were those of honor. Trying to heal I have made friends and met other Veterans who have touched my life beyond words. I am reminded that there are Veterans that suffer from things that even I may never understand. I am grateful for them, but we are forever changed. 

So if there is a Veteran out there just wants to talk...I am here to listen. Saying Thank you is just not enough.  All these years I think I just wanted to get some things off my mind. We all have our served our "own stories". I am GRATEFUL for you fellow service members. Maybe one day I will heal enough to say that I am proud. 

Get the Dirt Off of My Floor!

I have never really been someone who cares about making guests take their shoes off at my door. But the older I get the more I hate sweeping.  We have hard wood floors so this is not as bad as those with carpets. 

Plus, if I am going to be completely honest it really does not matter to me if guests take their shoes off or not...this is really about my husband and the dog!  My husband is the worst tracker of mud that has ever existed. It never fails. As we are into fall and what I like to refer to as the "slop seasons", I get the wonderful gift of muddy yucky feet prints from snow and yuck.

NOW, don't get me wrong, I love the beauty of all that is fall and winter.  I just particularity do not like the trail that Shawn (My Husband) and Roscoe (My Rottie) bring in with them and track all the way up the stairway in the front of our home.  So in order to get them to comply with this I will have to get everyone. I apologize in advance for all those whom enter my home. 

I can't be the only one whom has this problem.  So, I have decided to make a printable graphic that you can spice up and print for your self. Directions are below the photo below.  Mine printed off a little light so I grabbed a black sharpie and a green marker and spiced it up a bit. Put in a frame and it made my world a better place.  Now....I just have to train the troops and come up with a solution for the dog. Wish me luck. 

If you do this craft, please feel free to share with me by commenting or sending to me on social media, etc. I would love to see your versions!

PRINTABLE VERSION : Right click and save to your computer. 
Resize to appropriate Size. Sometimes this can be done from the print screen.
 I sized mine to fit into an 8" x 10" frame.

ONE OF THE BEST JOBS I WILL EVER HAVE IS BEING AN AUNT

More than anything in this world, I love being a mother.  But running closely, I also love being an aunt. The minute my first niece entered my life I was hooked.  It was also a bonus that she was named after me.  With each new little one that entered our life it made the desire even greater to be the best Aunt that I could.

I am not perfect at it.  I even fail miserably at times but that does not mean that I do not get back up and keep trying.  To be honest, I do not have the best relationship with all of my nieces and nephews. This is something that I am not happy about.  I would be closer to them all if I could, and one day I will be if they like it or not. Of course there are those select ones that I am closer too, there is no use hiding it.  Probably because I see them more. Maybe because they allow me to be all kinds of crazy up in their face (Insert evil grin here) .  It does not change the fact that I love them all the same.  To me they are all so special and I am proud to say I am their Aunt.  Even those that come from my sister's blended family.  Ones that entered our family not by blood but by marriage. It is no different.  I love them just the same and they have accepted me as well.  Referring to me as "Aunt Chelle" when they do not have to. The greatest form of compliment and respect when no matter how old they get they still refer to me as this.  I know they don't realize it, but when they refer to me in this manner all I hear is "I Love You." It warms my heart.

When I was younger I had those amazing kind of Aunts, most of them are gone now and I miss them everyday. In particular, I remember how Aunt Darlene would even make sure the tooth fairy found her house if I there while I lost a tooth.  Her hugs were the best and I miss her smile so much. She never treated me different or made me feel like I was not important.  She was always the first person to hug and kiss us at family gatherings and always made me feel like a million bucks even when her life was kind of crazy. I want to be that kind of aunt. I want to be that safe place if my nieces or nephews ever need it.  I want that for my children as well.  As a mom, I try my hardest to make sure that my children can tell me anything but I think it is equally as important to have that person in your life that make you feel like my Aunt Darlene did.  I want these kind of amazing Aunts and Uncles for my children, and I am blessed to say that I think they do.

So nieces and nephews, if you are reading this.  Know that I love you with all of my heart.  God has placed you in my life for all the love that I can give you and silliness that you can endure.  You are stuck with me and I am not going anywhere.   

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