How to Serve Those in Need- on a Budget

Hello Everyone!!

With the holidays upon us, I am realizing that with this new chapter of our life, we are going to have to find new ways to help those less fortunate than ourselves! We are so lucky to have a warm place to sleep and yummy food to eat, but sadly there are those who are not so fortunate. In the past we have always adopted a family for Christmas- we bought the Santa gifts for the little ones, made sure the grown-ups had a little something to open up and provided  the makings for a delicious holiday meal. There have also been times when we have been lucky enough to pay off someone else's Christmas lay-a-way!

This year there really is just no possible way for us to do those things, so I am looking for ideas  on how to take part in what the holidays should really be about - helping the less fortunate.

Here is the beginning of a  list of  some of the things we can do to serve that won't cost anything but time:

1.  Clean out our pantry and take some food to the local food pantry.
2.  Serve at the local homeless shelter on Thanksgiving or Christmas.
3.  Take any extra coats, gloves, hats to the fire station.
4.  If you have extra fabric hanging out (most crafters do) you can make blankets for the babies in the
     hospitals.
5.  Take extra blankets and clothes to the Homeless Shelters.
6.  Write a letter of thanks to someone overseas in the service.
7.  Visit the elderly at a local rest home.

I am still looking for more ideas. Do any of you do something special to serve this time of year? Please share your ideas!


Until later,
Hugs,
Shelly

Surviving and unexpected Start Over....

Hello Everyone, You may remember me from my previous blog "Nama Halacy's Comfy Cottage"I am so excited to begin this new blog and document my new adventure!

Sometimes life feels like chapters that begin and end with certain events. For example one chapter may be before you had children, or before you moved out on your own, or for some it may before or after a divorce. Well the hubster and I are at the beginning of a new chapter in our life. We didn't choose this chapter but how often do we get to choose? I am the type of person tho, that looks at each challenge as a new adventure!

Before we start with this new chapter, let me update just a bit of my past chapter. I am married to my soul mate, I know that may sound cheesy to some, but I know it to be true for me and the the hubser. Mike is my best friend and I would not want to do any of this without him. I just know that he was meant to be mine and i was meant to be his. Together we have a blended family of 8 amazing adult children and 11 adorable little grandies, all of whom I truly adore! Not too long ago we were living the American Dream, both of us working and earning not a huge but a decent living. We owned a cute little cottage in the country, had toys and were affording comfort and fun. Unfortunately, while hubster was serving in the Army, in his younger years, he injured his back, and through years of working, playing and living, it became unbearably painful. After many doctors visits, much discussion, alot of research and a ton of praying we decided that back surgery was the answer. At that time we were assured that after six weeks of recovery, hubster would be released back to his job as a Heavy Equipment Mechanic. Guess what? THAT-NEVER-HAPPENED!! After the surgery the doctor informed us that hubster would never be returning to his 36 year career!! We were stunned! Not only that, but a year or so after the surgery it became apparent that it didn't help with his pain, in fact it made it much worse. So this began the loss of our American Dream. I don't blame anyone but ourselves. We should have been prepared, we should have had a savings. The fact is that we didn't. Hubster instantly applied for his Social Security Benefits, and they did come - 3-years later. In the mean time we sold everything we could and tried to skimp by, but with the hospital debt and other debt we already had, we finally had to claim bankruptcy and our cute little cottage was foreclosed on.

So here we are today. Learning how to start over. This will not be a depressing blog, but it will be truthful. My life is still fun, I still love living and like I said, this is just another adventure, and I look forward to adventures. There is not a little book out there that tells you how to begin again, so I am hoping that this little blog will be helpful to people that find themselves in the same situation or one similar to this. I am certainly not claiming to be the expert, if I were I wouldn't be here now, but I am aleady starting to see things I should be doing differently. If I write as I go it may be helpful or at the very least comical!!

So please follow as I go, offer advice, ask questions or just laugh along with me as we rebuild our American Dream.

Until Later,
Hugs,
Shelly

Look what I made!.....

For Mother's Day this year I made these really adorable, really easy jewelry frames for my daughters, daughter-in-laws, Mom (of course), two of my lovely friends and also as a B-day gift for a teenager -whew, seriously I made about ten of these babies!



I started with this-

Alot of scrapbook paper and modpodge.



and this -

Plastic canvas and many colors of Krylon Spray paint.



and this -

Fabric, fake flower wire, gorilla glue and/or hot glue.



and this -

Frames and again, many colors of Krylon Spray paint.



Here we are in process:

First the letters - I just ripped the paper and modpodged it to the letters.

Then the flowers - I just wrapped the fabric around the wire and rolled it, gluing as I went. I discovered half way through that I really didn't need the wire. Oh well, what ever works best for you is the way to go!

The plastic canvas covered with lace - I spray painted some of the canvas and some I didn't, then I covered them with lace, but you don't have too.

The frames - Just sray painted the frames, they don't have to be perfect, you want them to have character.

I added this Krylon glitter to some of the frames -

Then I put them all together and added little hooks for necklaces, bracelets or rings.

Here are the final results -

Here are some close-ups -

Earrings hook to the canvas. Rings, necklaces, bracelets and watches hang on the hooks. They look so cute hanging on the wall, just like artwork that serves a purpose. How awesome is that?!



I hope you enjoy looking at these as much as I enjoyed making them! I am linking to

and One Month To Win It and and Patches of Pink and





Until later,

Hugs,

Shelly

Ch-Changes are a comin....

So it has been quite a while and so many things have been going on. I am going to start this post with a reminder of things from the past that lead to where we are today. About 3 years ago the hubster had a back surgery. Before he had it the Dr. said he would be able to return to his job as a mechanic. Well he wasn't able to, the Dr. would never release him to his job of 30 years as a mechanic. This was the beginning of a huge snowball that would finally end up sending us on an adventure we never thought we would be on, at this time in our life. First we went for about 4 months living on only my income. I do make decent pay but we had a lifestyle that took two incomes and of course we weren't smart enough to have anything in savings -big lesson learned! Then finally he was able to get disability for awhile. In the mean time we decided that to save our house we would need to file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Well by the time they had everything worked out it would be a monthly payment of $700 each month, Ughhh! There really was just no way especially because the disability ran out. My sweet hubster did try to go back to work for awhile as a utility locator, but it really was just way to hard on him. He had to get up at 6 am and sometimes I wouldn't see him until 7 pm, plus he had to work many weekends. He was in so much pain, so he decided with my total support to quit. We are in the process of trying to get him Social Security Disability, but as most of you know, that is a very long process. We talked with our attorney and decided to stop the Chapter 13. We are now going to lose our little Country Cottage. :( I am also losing my cute little Sucker Orange HHR.:( So this is where the adventure begins. We have lost alot, but I am going to do my best to put a positive spin on it!! I have never in my life lived in an apartment complex and there is one in my area that is so beautiful! It is brand new, has granite countertops thhroughout, tons of storage, a dog park, a swimming pool, a wading pool, and so much more! It would be like living in a very nice hotel! I am hoping to move there for about 2 or 3 years and then we will buy something where the hubster won't have a ton of yard work, like a townhome or something. We will hopefully be filing a Chapter 7 and just starting over. This really is not where we thought we would be, but it is where we are, so we are going to make the best of it! Sorry this is so long, but I have decided that I am going to write about this new adventure and I would love it if you would come along! Until later, Hugs, Shelly

Made by Me Monday...

An Oldy but Goody.... While I am blogging about my projects I am also adding to my pinterest account, so I want to put some of my favorite projects up over there so I thought I might as well post them here too. So first for my all time favorite I am going to present my Space Saving Vanity -

Remember it started with this-

Here are a couple of close ups -

To find the directions on how to make this fun vanity, just click over on the side bar under Vanity and you will find it easy peasy! Until later, Hugs, Shelly

Thursday thank yous....

On September 16, 2012 my Grandpa Linford died at the age of 84. I really wasn't sad, I will miss him, but I wasn't sad. My Grandpa was a big man, a strong man and an honest man. He lived an amazing life. He raised 6 kids who grew up to be awesome people. One of them I am lucky enough to call Dad. He owned a business with his brothers and he had a reputation with his competitors of being absolutely honest in his dealings. He was very active in his church and was very dedicated to his God. He never said no to a church calling or a request for service. Grandpa met the love of his life in highschool and was married to her for 68 years at his death. He considered her needs above all else in his life. He was such a great grandpa, he called me Shelly-belly puddnin pie until the very end. On the Tuesday before he died I went to visit he and grandma and I sang a song to him that I knew he loved. As I have loved you, love one another. He thanked me and told me it was nice, with his weak and raspy voice full of love. I will miss him. My Grandpa had been in so much pain for the last years of his life and he was living a life where people had to help him with everyday activities, this was hard on him. He was always a very proud man. I am so thankful that my Great-Grandma Linford was able to take her youngest son in her arms on that Sunday morning and welcome him home. I am so thankful that my Uncles now have the last of their brothers with them. I am so thankful that my Great-Grandpa Linford finally gets the chance to tell his youngest son how proud he is of him and how much he loves him. I am so thankful that my baby Julia is sitting on her Great-Grandpa Linford's lap getting her tiny knees tickled. Of all these things I am most thankful that my Grandpa is again whole, strong, and pain free. I am honored and thankful to be the Granddaughter of Dale Hodges Linford. I miss you grandpa, until we meet again, I love you.

Until later, Hugs, Shelly

Made By Me Monday...

So I am trying to get here more often, but I guess I should be proud that I am at least here once a week. I will try for more but won't beat myself up if I don't make it. So first things first - Happy House cleaning goals, I am doing pretty good so far, been making my bed and emptying the sink almost every day. It is amazing how fast things fall apart if I miss a day. So this week it is those two plus clearing clutter everyday for ten minutes, I know that will make a difference. Now to share one of my newest projects with you, it is my "H" wall,

It actually grew to be an "H" corner, and I love it!! It really is one of my favorite things in my house! What do you think? Until later, Hugs, Shelly

Made by Me Monday...

So I really am wanting to get back into this blog stuff heavy duty, but my life is sooo busy right now that I am having a heck of a time fitting it in. But I will not give up. So first things first, for the second week of Happy House Rules we are making sure our sink is clear when we go to bed. So we are now 1. Making our beds and 2. Emptying our sinks. Now for the more fun business I am going to try to put something I have done on every Monday, keep me motivated right? So hear is my latest window project

What do you think? I really like it and it was so simple to do, I have a few things that I haven't shared yet so please come back each Monday. I have noticed that I have lost so many followers and how can you blame them I have been on invisibility for so long. But to those of you who have remained Thank you, I promise to keep on trying. Until later, Hugs, Shelly

Fall.. a new beginning...

Hello to all my long lost bloggy friends!! It has been soooo long and I have missed you all so much! I haven't been here for way to many reasons to mention in one post but maybe over the next little while we will peel away at that onion one layer at a time. The most important thing tho, is I'm Baaack!! and I am here to stay. I have done quite a few projects, so I have some to share and my mind is full so there will be more!! First and foremost it is time for me to reorganize my life, there is just something about the season of Autumn that makes me want things to be organized, clean and cozy. So to start in that direction I am going to start the Happy Homes Organization plan again! It worked so great the first time that it is time to jump right back on that horse again! My Happy House has such a simple and effective organizing plan that anyone can do it, and with my hectic life that is exactly what I need. So who's going to do it with me? Come on lets all get ready for a cozy fall and an organized holiday season! Week one: Make your bed every morning, or evening, just make it- everyday. Easy peasy, right? Its amazing how much better you feel to climb into a nice warm MADE bed every night!

Look how comfy that looks, I can't wait! Well lets see if we can do it for the entire week! Until later, Hugs, Shelly

Awesome giveaway going on over at...

A Little Tipsy
I am not kidding you have to check this out!

So did you ever hear the one...

about the kids from Utah who decided they were going to go to Seattle when Kurt Cobain died to attend his funeral? Well, seriously that was kind of joke on the radio stations around here back when Mr. Cobain passed. Unfortunatly, it really happend and my little brother Ryan was the driver of the group of kids on this little adventure. I have to tell you about my little brother, he is very handsome and amazingly talented in so many ways, I really think he could have been a movie star if he would have persued it. Instead he persued drugs. I am not kidding when I tell you that literally one week before Kurt Cobain died my brother stood at my niece's blessing and bore his testimony. So you can imagine our families shock when he took off on his little excursion. Honestly, the little trip was just the beginning of a long and difficult journey for my baby brother. Drugs really took a liking to him. But this is really a story with a happy ending, my brother is now a college student very close to graduating with a job on the other side of the camera. He does the filming and editing and all that fun stuff. The very best part of my story though is this....

Ryan and his love have been blessed with this little angel. She is so lovely and amazing. The moral of the story is this- no matter where life takes you, you can make changes and when you do you are rewarded with the greatest blessings. I am so unbelievably proud of my little brother. I love his little family so much.