Some Things To Think About For Any Holiday

After watching people prepare for the holiday season, I felt the need to remind all of you about some things for this holiday season. These are a few reminders that may make Christmas or any holiday easier.

1. You do not need to say yes to everything and everyone. Yes, people may come to you to help with things, but when you say no enough. It is a holiday, and you should enjoy it as much as everyone in your family. Do not be afraid to say no.

2. This year, something that I had to deal with myself was the lack of gifts. If you cannot buy that gift, do not stress over it. Did the person know you were going to get it for them? Do you have the money to buy it? Do not feel guilty because you can't! This year has been crazy, and people are barely making ends meet. If you cannot afford or get the expensive gift, either they understand or are selfish.

3. Remember, being unable to do everything is not bad. Do what makes you and your family comfortable. An example is if Aunt Greta is having a family dinner, but she expects the children to sit at the table and stay there all night. Well, Aunt Greta, my kids are young and do not have the patience to sit for hours in your fancy dining room. We will have to decline respectfully. That's it. No other words have to be said. If Aunt Greta pushes you on the subject, tell her you will not force your children to stay still and follow that rule when it makes them unhappy to be there.

4. If you share custody of your kids, ensure you make plans early with the other parent, and If you need to email or text the final plans to each other, do it. Make sure your expectations are low. That way, you ensure you do not have any anger or surprises. Also, as much as you don't want to try to compromise, save yourself the headache and think about doing it for the holiday and make it clear the compromise on things is ONLY for the holiday.

5. Be ready to have your feelings hurt. No matter what, someone will say or do something to ruffle your feathers or hurt your feelings, no matter how little it may be. Prepare yourself for it, especially if the person is known for being less-than-stellar. Do the smart thing for your mental health and be no contact if it means a better mental place for yourself.

6. Not everyone will want to come see you or want to meet up. Even if you thought they would. If someone says no, do not stress over it. Make other plans and move on.

7. If you have young kids or babies, remember you are not obligated to take them to everyone's house. When my kids were younger, I made it very clear to everyone that they were small and would not drag them to everyone's home. If people want to see my children and us, they can visit us during the day. But please do not be mad if the kids are more interested in their toys or are taking a nap. One of my children's Aunts would nap with them, and they loved her for it.

8. Do not worry about making a large meal for Christmas. Have you been cooking for different events the whole holiday season? Then cook something easy, Such as finger foods, platters of sandwich meats and cheese, or sliders. You do not need to make complicated foods to have a great Christmas. Do something simple and enjoy the holiday.

9. You do not need to decorate your house so it explodes Christmas or whatever holiday you are celebrating. Holidays are about who you're with, not how much you decorate. Remember, the more you put up, the more you need to take down. Also, I say this as a person who loves to decorate but has not had the urge to the last two years due to the space.

10. If you want to binge-watch Christmas shows, read books, or game all day on Christmas, then more power to you. Do what works for you and your family, and do not worry about what others want!

11. You do not need to be around people who do not make you feel good about yourself. Some say that Christmas and the holidays are about family. No, the holidays are about the people who make you feel good about yourself.

12 Moms, do not expect to have a gift under the tree. Same to the Dads. Unless you discuss this with your partner, do not expect the other to buy you a gift or to receive a gift from the kids. Buy yourself something and stick it under the tree from Santa. Also, take your kids to the store and have them buy siblings and parents gifts. Then there should be no hurt feelings.

No matter what you do, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas or Holiday Season!

 

Merry Christmas!!!

 This year we are having a significant Christmas for us! Why you may ask? We had a pivotal family thing happen in July along with a few medical emergencies and two major hurricanes. We do not know what the new year is going to bring but we can at least spend this holiday spending much needed time together.

So wherever you are and whoever you are with I hope you have a day full of peacefulness and calm. 

Blessings to all of you,

Angie

TODAYS POSTS and STORIES are....

 Brought to you by....

STRESS

and

ANXIETY

Don't worry things will be okay!

A Change is in the Air!

Well, I am feeling a change in the air. What is that change? Well, I am working on the next stage of my life. The plan is to buy an RV and become a digital nomad. Just kidding, I am getting an RV, but then I will give up my rental. Why should I have to pay someone for someplace to live when the owner of the property I live at now does not even do repairs? I still need hardwired internet for work and pay rent for the RV to park on. But it will still be cheaper than paying rent for a home, and we can move around a bit to go to different places. I do have stipulations for when I buy an RV. My animals need a space, and I need an office. Hopefully, this will be happening in the next year, and I will finally have a path to my future, which includes travel and adventure. I cannot wait for this new adventure that is coming my way in the next year. After this, you never know where you may find me after this.

Blessings everyone!

Starting Fresh

I have had a lot of changes lately in my life. My newest change was I started a new position in my career. I feel like a baby bird leaving the nest. So, I do apologize that the stories are behind. Keep an eye out for new content that is coming soon. Until then, I hope you're having a great November, and blessings to you all.

Truth!

 

This quote from Marie Curie was my quote of the day. As I am going through some big life changes, I feel I saw it when I needed to.

"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."

Would Rather Have The Hurricane!

I debated posting about everything, but I have always been fully transparent. So please be aware this post may trigger anyone who cannot handle stress-related topics. Buckle up, everyone! At the end of July, I went to the hospital thinking I was having a heart attack. I was having all the symptoms. It was not a heart attack, thank heavens. But I was diagnosed with Pneumonia. The staff that I saw that night was great, and at 4 am the following morning, I was sent home with a pile of prescriptions and told I needed to rest and stay calm because I was in the running for a heart attack. The pains I felt were a pre-curser warning me about Pneumonia and what could happen if I did not slow down.

During this time, we had an event happen at my home, which I was not involved in or was even home during. This event shifted our entire home, and we are still dealing with it. Then came Hurricane Helene, which caused me to miss a lot of work. Thankfully, we only lost power, work time, and food. Thankfully, that was all for that hurricane.

I missed a few days worth of work. But with that and the Pneumonia incident,  I was already financially struggling. I am behind on all my bills and am working on getting caught up. Then, Hurricane Milton decided to join the party. Three days before Milton hit, I discovered I had a filling fallout. Well, I went to get one of these nonpermanent caps because I was worried about the nerve exposed or more damage to the tooth. I can hear people ask, why didn't you get into a dentist before the storm? I tried to contact and find a dentist for emergency care, and all Dentist's offices were closed in preparation for the hurricane.

Then Hurricane Milton struck. I worked the best I could until the internet dropped, and I could not work anymore. We relaxed as the storm rolled in, and my mouth hurt so much. The power went out right after we finished cooking dinner, and we watched the storm as we fell asleep. Let me rephrase that. My partner fell asleep watching the storm. I was up all night due to the pain. That night, I wanted to sit in the hurricane wind gusts instead of having the pain in my mouth. The next day, I went to the ER at the hospital near me, and the Doctor on duty said, "It's infected, and here is an antibiotic that should help."

The Doctor said, "You should go to the dentist that put the filling on and have them fix it instead of coming to the emergency room." 

Not that I didn't already try that before the hurricane. I was angry, exhausted, and sarcastic. I said, "Got an Ouija board? He passed away over ten years ago."

I was sent home from the ER after being told to find a dentist. This task was nearly impossible because all offices were closed due to the hurricane. I was able to fill the prescription after finding an open pharmacy and started taking it right away. 

Waking up at three am the following morning, I felt so sick, and my face had swollen to the point I was having difficulty breathing. My neighbor took me back to the ER. The ER Doctor dismissed my claims of having issues breathing and said, "You walked in here just fine. I will give you a pain shot. See a dentist."

It was three in the morning on the Saturday after Milton. I even asked, "Well, do you know a dentist open on a Saturday after a major natural disaster?"

She told me that was not her problem, and after they gave me a shot for pain, I was discharged and told again to find a dentist. They ignored my problem. I mentioned that the space underneath the tongue swelled, and I received shrugged shoulders and no assistance. That shot they gave me gave me three hours of sleep. 

After those three hours of sleep, I woke up still swollen and called my neighbor. I asked her to take me to the other hospital near us because the swelling scared me a lot. She did. I explained everything that had been happening to the next hospital, and the new PA was pissed. She explained that with the swelling in my face, the breathing issues could be a precursor to a larger and not dismissed. She agreed that I did need to see a dentist. She also said that  I needed to function. Both the PA and the attending Doctor in the ER decided that I needed pain meds and advised me to keep up with the antibiotic.

On Monday, I went to make an emergency dental appointment. I was scheduled the following day and tried to work the best I could in a lot of pain. The following day, I got to the appointment, and the Dentist tried to do X-rays. The Dentist couldn't get a good X-ray because my mouth and jawline were so swollen that I could not open my mouth much. The Dentist did not tell me to return when the swelling went down to try another x-ray. However, she insisted that we needed to have the tooth removed.

I was given the referral and went to the place to get an appointment to get the tooth pulled. The office said the swelling had to go down so we needed to wait till today. I arrive and get new x-rays and the Dentist tells me they cannot pull the tooth. Why? Because now I have jaw bone exposed and need to see a dental surgeon consult as the case now needs surgical intervention. I do not have dental insurance. I do not know what I am going to do at the moment. From what I have read the bone could be exposed due to delay in medical care and the infection.

I went to one last Dentist appointment this past week. During the visit, the jawbone exposed is more than likely from the infection. However, due to the exposed jawbone, the regular office cannot pull the related teeth. The Dentist referred me to a bunch of different offices. A lot of these offices are supposed to be income-based. However, more than half of the offices are out of the county, and those offices do not accept people from our county. The last two referrals are for a charity group that no longer does dental and Shand's in Gainesville, which does not return calls. So, unless I get a call by Friday, I will return to the trauma hospital on Saturday and see if I can get assistance.

If anyone wants to help with the medical expenses, my cash app is $angelaelting123, or PayPal is mycrazylifeagain2@gmail.com.

Usually, I would never put that there, but this adventure in my life is well beyond what I can do. I will need to pay for the surgery and all my bills, and at this time, I do not have it due to missing work due to not being able to talk. When I joked that I wanted an adventure, this is not what I was talking about.

Also, I had let this post sit unfinished for a few days because I had a few appointments. As of today, Halloween, nothing has been resolved. Unless I come up with the funds, I cannot get this fixed and will have to live with this pain. With everything going on in my life, I am at the point where I want to lose it. But I can't lose it. There is no option.

Please pray for the situation my family is going through and for my health. I have never felt like this before, and I am scared.

Friday The Thirteenth

HAPPY Friday The Thirteenth 

So do you believe that Friday the thirteenth can be an unlucky day? I do not. While looking over the history of Friday the thirteenth, I saw many people have higher-than-average luck. I guess this day will be a matter of opinion. So, what is your opinion on today? Sound off in the comments below!

Combating Waste

This post is about a matter today that I think is a growing issue, so if you do not like to hear about waste of any kind, I suggest you scroll away. I have had insomnia the last few days and scrolled through the book of faces. I have seen many videos of dumpster diving. If it's legal in your area, I say go for it. I am one hundred percent behind in keeping items and food out of landfills. 

What upsets me is big corporations would rather throw out dumpsters full of food and items when they could donate them to charity. If I knew a corporation was donating food or items to charity instead of adding to a landfill, I would be more inclined to shop with them. I know which stores in my town donate to food banks and pantries, and they get my business. So, shout out to Walmart, Winn Dixie, and Publix in my area. These stores do get my business. 

When I was growing up, my Grandma taught me to use everything. I still am that way. If I have fruits or vegetables at the end of their shelf life, I dehydrate them. If I make too much soup, stew, or meat, I  use my pressure canner to save them. My favorite pair of pants gets a tiny hole I patch up. With the costs of everything skyrocketing, I cannot justify buying new ones.

When I was younger, I spent a lot of time with my Grandparents, and my Grandma taught me to reuse everything. I reuse food jars to store dry goods. Containers are great for leftovers and sending home with people. Old towels and shirts get turned into rags. Does anyone else have any suggestions?

What is your opinion on waste?

Bigfoot. Is he real?

Okay, all. So last night, during the hurricane, I ran some paranormal shows on YouTube because I had to have background noise to fall asleep. Yes, I did have my hot spot going, but if you are like me, there is no sleep unless you have the noise in the background. But I guess my path on YouTube went from Amazon Top Tens to Bigfoot. If you read any of the stories on the book's page, you will know that I believe in cryptids and most things paranormal. Where do you fall on the Bigfoot debate? I would love to know.

Weathering The Storm

Well, everyone, as you know, I live in Florinda, and we have a tropical storm ready to hit us. We live south of where it is supposed to make landfall. But I ask you all to pray for everyone in the affected areas. If the power does not go out, I will see about posting some pictures and videos from my security camera! Be safe, everyone!

Phones charged

Lanterns and candles ready

Crafting supplies ready if power goes out

Mini stove ready if the power kicks it

Food and drink ready

Tylenol ready if power goes out and no AC

Okay little Debby please be kind.

Be safe everyone!!!

Beautiful Florida Nights

We might feel like we are baking in an oven most days, but these skies at sunset are so beautiful!

What Do You Think?

My neighbor knows I love all things paranormal. These pictures are from her front door camera. She watches her cameras and gets alerts when someone or something goes past. This green light appeared in the pictures. Both she and I had no clue what it was. She has never seen anything like this before. We do live in a haunted mobile community.

Do you have any idea? Please comment below and I would love to know what you think.

July Check In!!!!

 Happy July 1st, everyone! So, this week is for a holiday filled with chaos and alcohol. I am not against partying, but please, if you are going to a party, be safe. Other than that, we will rock July, and remember that we have this!

Be safe!

Angie

The FARM is HERE!!!

Thirty-five years ago, I was sent to the Young Writers Conference by my middle school English teacher. While at the conference, they had us create a story that we could work on and develop after we left that day. However, at the conference, they helped us bring to life a short story version of our future book. That short story I created all those years ago still sits in a case in the middle school library I attended. How do I know? Visiting the school for an academic event for my middle daughter years later, they had a parent rest station in the library. I spoke to the librarian and told her that I had created the short storybook at the conference. She took me to the case and showed me the book was still there with all the other books created that day. Sitting among all the short stories created that day. It is still there, with all the other works added by the writers who attend the yearly conference. The pages have yellowed, but it's still there.  

So, with that, I am pleased to announce the official release of the farm! Join Amelia as she races against time to stop the legacy of the farm.

Available on Amazon Now!

Why We Are Obsessed With Bridgerton

So, before I start with this post, let me say I am not a professional in any capacity. I do not have a degree in relationships. I am a woman navigating this world where most relationships are battlefields.

Ready? Dear Gentle Readers.

Okay, sorry I couldn't help myself. But let me channel my own Lady Whistledown because she is in each of us. Also, Pen is my favorite character, so I related to her and this season. But enough of that, let's start. Be forewarned when it comes to love and everything that goes with it. I can be a blunt person. Was I once scorned by love? If you only knew. I was married once. But I am thankful he caused me so much misery and pain. I thank heavens he was such a horrible husband and did what he did because I would not have found the love of my life without him being the person he was. Sounds weird? I know it does, but because of him, I found my favorite fisherman, also known as the love of my life. This article may be blunt and bold. Also, the hearts and rainbows will be taking a back seat. If you are easily offended and want a fluff piece, you may want to read another article.

So why do we love Bridgerton so much? Well, for most women, it's not for the eye candy (which there is) but because romance is a dying art. Simple romantic gestures that used to be the norm, like opening a door or escorting a lady around a gathering, are non-existent. Most men will romance a gal until he has her, and then nothing. But it's not just the men's fault readers, it's ours too. Women have stopped putting an effort in as much as men.

Women had to become independent and strong to survive. Most of the ladies out there can handle their shit without needing a man. We can handle things so well that we forget to let romance happen. We ignore red flags and forget we are Queens, and if we want to attract a King, we need to give the same amount of love and attention. But I want to say this to the men, so listen. If you have a strong-willed, independent lady in your life. she wants you for you and NOT for what you can give her.

Even though many of us ladies may have our baggage, many of you do as well. If we do not accept each other for our past, present, and future, what is the point of being in a relationship with someone if we cannot do that?

Women of the world want romance and not a kiss and a slap in the ass. Don't get me wrong, they are nice, but watching the man you love do that and then do their own thing can be disheartening to most women. This author included. We want that great romance or to be with someone who accepts us for who we are and not for what others want us to be.

This author has seen a lot in her years on this planet, and I was blessed to see a few, not many, but a few great love stories play out in front of me. My Grandma was married twice before she found my Grandpa. Their love for each other taught me more about relationships than most relationships I know.

I will say I am no winner, and the man who loves me has to have nerves of steel. Can I handle my shit by myself? Yes, I had to during my first marriage. True romance is hard to find, especially when some ladies and men exploit it and what it is supposed to be. Because of this, many of us slink back to the walls and hide in the shadows. Am I giving up on romance? Never, I am the hopeless romantic who wants a carriage or mirror scene.

Do I want to have a man declare his love for me and let everyone know how much I am loved and cherished? Of course, This brings me to one of the reasons we all love Bridgerton. When the men or women finally realize they are in love, they go after what they want. They want passion and romance with their beloved as much as the one they are chasing.

Am I giving love advice here? Not in a million years, I am not qualified and do not want to touch that with a ten-foot pole. But I will say to all of you, dear readers. We may need to bring back a bit of that Regency romance to the modern day. We all need a little Bridgerton in our lives, regardless of our gender

Be gentle with yourself, dear reader, and be gentle with the ones you love.

Best wishes to your own Bridgerton,

Angie

Being Creative On Cooking

I have a ton of hurricane supplies and add to it monthly. Yes, I do rotate my supplies. I want to be creative with the meals. If any of these recipes come out good, I will post them on the recipe thread. I am trying to figure out things to do with my hurricane supplies once hurricane season ends, and we need to rotate them back to my pantry. I hope to come up with some creative ideas. Happy Cooking!

So Where Did The Year Go?

Being the first week in June, I need to ask? Where did the year go? Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like we blinked, and now it's June 4? I mean, we are one month out from the Fourth of July. If you feel like I do, you are not alone!

HAPPY JUNE EVERYONE!

Being Prepared for Hurricane Season

Does anyone want to answer where in the world May went? We will be heading into June in less than ten days. It means we are heading into hurricane season. What does that mean? Well, for most of the United States, nothing at all. But we should watch the weather and check our supplies in hurricane-prone states. Does that mean to go into full prepper mode? Not at all. My family keeps supplies on hand year-round and rotates through the stock. Being prepared is the key to any situation. Most people in Florida, such as myself, will keep supplies on hand. But if you are new here or did not know there was a list of supplies, click here to see what Floridadisaster.org recommends.

Also, if you do not live in a storm-prone area and have any upcoming trips to any location that could be affected by Hurricane season, Watch the weather. Why? Because hotels and resorts will shut down if they are in the direct path of a storm or if outside an evacuation zone, they may open up to residents who are in the evacuation zone so people can be safe. Last year, I saw many videos and TikTok's of people who came to Florida during a major hurricane or weather event and thought they could check in even after the property contacted the customer multiple times to tell them that the resort or hotel would not be available.

Honesty, I understand that people want a vacation, but people also need to realize that storms and hurricanes are not to be messed with. So my advice is to have a plan. Try to have supplies on hand so you can be safe and well-prepared. Also, remember, as much as you think you're prepared, you may forget that one thing, so ensure you check your supplies and list once a month to stay on top of things.

Be Safe Out There Folks!

Angie

Happy Monday Everyone 5/20/2024!

Well, how was your weekend? If you were off, did you get rest? If you worked, I hope you didn't have to deal with Karen's or Ken's! This weekend was a busy one for me as I tried to get cleaning and things done here. Did I get everything done? Not at all. Am I stressing about it? Nope. However, the power went out as I started work this morning. So, I ended up being thirty minutes late for logging in. Thankfully, the workplace was very understanding.  I hope this is not a prelude to the week to come. What does this week hold for you? This week's goal is to work and get things sorted, cleaned, and organized. May the odds be in my favor.

As we are creeping into June, I did want to put a gentle reminder out there. Hurricane season starts on June 1, so please start preparing if you live in areas that could be affected. Even though we have supplies, I try to add more hurricane supplies to the pile just in case. So be safe and remember to keep your heads up.

I hope you all have a great week, and remember to check out the story page.

It's Almost The Weekend!

We are almost to the weekend! How are you all holding up this week? I hope you are all handling things like the rock stars you are. What are your plans? Anything exciting?

Here at the house, my most exciting plans are cleaning and getting the first post in the cookbook challenge started. Last night, I was looking through the cookbook, trying to figure out which recipe I wanted to do. With some recipes, I have to convert measurements due to the ingredients or substitute them due to availability. Remember, back in the 1940s, everything had to be on hand to cook, and we could not place a Walmart order or go to the store when we needed one thing.

I hope you have a wonderful upcoming weekend!

Cookbook Challenge

Hello, everyone. I will be doing a cookbook challenge starting this week! This cookbook is from 1941, and a family member who has passed away gifted me this book. I will be experimenting with the vintage recipes from my cookbook. 

The Way To A Man's Heart, The Settlers Cookbook

 I am still looking through to see which recipe I want to start with. But this new series will have pictures and the recipe in the book! Cooking up these recipes may be found here. There may be a Tik Toks added as well. I hope to see you all there!

Joy's Of Writing

Yes, I write, as you all know! If you could do me a favor. If you read any of the stories on the books page, could you do me a favor and let me know what you think? I put a lot of thought into my writing and would love to know people's opinions! These stories have been works in progress for a long time and are slowly coming to life and will be published. Some are also books turning into series, so I would love to know what everyone thinks!

Exhausted

 Good Morning Everyone!

Welcome to the start of the week check-in! As the title of the post states, I am exhausted. This exhaustion comes from stress and worry. Do you know what I will not let it do? Slow me down. Is this a poor me post? Most definitely not! I am here to remind you amazing readers that no matter how bad things may seem, we can pull on those proverbial boots (partially because I do not want to dig for my actual ones). Do not stress about all the things on your to-do list. You are the only person who can get everything you need finished. Remember, if some things fall by the wayside, then you succeed. If you do not get it done today, there is always tomorrow.

So grab your drink and a snack and start on your way. Remember, you are a strong and fierce person who can conquer all the mountains you need to climb! Consider this your motivational reminder of the day, and you have this!

Blessings and Love,

Angie

Happy Sunday!

How are you all doing today? I hope you are all doing well. This weekend, I planned on having a mental health weekend. Full of writing and binge-watching YouTube videos. Saturday, I did sleep in, but today, I woke up with a determination. I made biscuits to use during the week. Then, I thought, why not make pita bread and soft rolls to go with meals during the week? I made both yeast doughs and set them to rise. However, neither dough got a good rise. I have made these recipes so often that there should not have been an issue. Thankfully, the rolls did rise enough after I shaped them so the dough did not go to waste. The pita bread ended up being flat bread in the end. Am I complaining? Not at all, because we will eat it all. Also, I did gift some to a friend who loves my baking. The only thing that we thought that could have affected the dough was the humidity, which was seventy percent.

While I made the biscuits and baked them, I made three salads to use as sides for dinner tonight or lunches the next few days. I made coleslaw, macaroni ranch, and tomato cucumber. I will be posting these recipes later this week! Earlier this week, we had made a turkey. So yesterday, I put the carcass and bits into a crock pot covered with water and let that go on high for twenty-four hours. I love fresh stock. This stock was rich with flavor, and I ended up with two-quart jars, a salsa jar, and a pasta sauce jar full of broth. I did not pressure cook these for long-term storage because I will use them for cooking meals during the week. Then I picked the bones clean, and the dogs got a large container of turkey bits to eat for dinner during the week. 

With the cost of food, I have been doing everything I can to ensure no food waste. What about you all? What steps have you taken to stop food waste and make things last longer in your home? 

I hope you all have a great upcoming week. Blessings to you all.

Why Thank You IRS (Sarcasm Intended)

Many do not know I work from home. Technically, I am an Independent Contractor. I love what I do! The pay is typical, but I do have to pay my taxes out of pocket. Yesterday, I had to do my federal taxes, and thank heavens that I did not have to pay state tax because of living in Florida. Willingly, I pay my taxes, but I think it's so unfair that I get dinged for not having health insurance and for being a self-employed worker. How are people supposed to make it through life in this economy with the government charging us an arm and a leg for working for ourselves? I know it sounds like I am complaining, but I am not. I will gladly pay the tax because I do suffer from anxiety, and working from home does help. But, people in my position should not have to worry about extra taxes and working so we can have a mentally stable day. Just my rant this morning. Blessings everyone!

Getting Out Of A Financial Mess

When I married my Ex-Husband, I was young and stupid. He and his Mom told me I needed to listen to the financial advice that they were giving. I was so foolish to listen. Why?

When we were married, his mother had suggested that only one of us take on the debt so the other could build their credit up in case we got behind. Since I was the one who took the kids to the doctor's and handled everything in the house, that burden became mine. When I say burden, I mean everything, but the mortgage, water, and gas bills were in my name. I am not complaining about being a Mom or handling things with my kids. I am not. I am stating I was foolish to put all the bills in my name, which my ex would push off as he was the only one working as I was a stay-at-home mom. 

Admittedly, my debt is horrible, which includes loans I had to take out to get me and my kids into a place to live after my Ex cost us our home. We were robbing Peter to pay Paul. After going through counseling, I finally learned this was a form of financial abuse that started from day one of our marriage. It is also not uncommon for this to happen in marriages.

Five years later, I am slowly chipping away at the debt and trying to build up my credit score. I have seriously considered bankruptcy but decided against that. All while my ex-husband has new cars and a brand new mortgage. Am I bitter? Not anymore. I could not afford the divorce and made him pay for it. But for him to pay for it, I had to agree that all of his debt was his and all of my debt was mine. All those bills we accumulated during our marriage are now mine.

Why am I even making this post? Because I hear so many people say, "I cannot afford to end a relationship financially."

Trust me, I get it. It is hard. I am slowly paying off my debt, which is a lot. When you add my student loans and back taxes due to my job, I know I have a long way to go. Remember, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Even if you pay a small amount at a time, it is better than nothing.

Here are some ways I am paying off my debt and getting myself out of this issue. I complete survey sites activities to earn a few extra dollars to pay the debt off faster. If anyone is interested, you can go to our page Help In Life, for a list of the sites that I used to earn some extra money.

I am a testament that things will work out. Knowing I am struggling now, but that does not mean things will not get better. Stay strong. everyone better days are ahead of us.

When Your Future Plans Change

My dream has always been to buy land and have a small mini farm. Then, I started watching Kara and Nate on YouTube. They have great content, and I would suggest following their channel. I have never met them, but I started watching their videos when I moved to where I live now. Watching them has made me realize that my dream may have shifted a while, especially over the years when I have found joy in writing again. But I want to visit the world, or in my case, the United States, Canada, and South America. I always wanted to travel the country and boondock.

I keep joking that after my son graduates, you never know where you will find me. That joke has become more of a reality. I hope by then, my real job will allow us not to be hard-wired so I can boondock and work. I love my children, but the thought of being stuck in one place is making me get a case of the wandering foot. I am not saying I do not want my simple life with my land and home, but it may shift to land and RV, so I have a home base. Plus, the cost of land and homes has skyrocketed lately. Which means it will be even more unattainable for people in my position.

So what is in our future? I know I want a base camp. That way, we can decide what we want to do. This spot will be our home, an RV or camper van, so we can travel but always have a home or place to come home to. I guess only time will tell when it comes to our future. I still imagine myself with a cabin in the woods, but depending on life, I do not know what will happen. Sixteen months from now, my youngest will graduate high school. I will make more plans then. I guess it will be a let's see what our future will be.

1 Year Ago

 This little fluffball! Sweet and sassy. The cat distribution system gave JJ to us a year ago!

JJ came to us when shortly after we lost our baby Rodeo. This little ball of fire is Rodeo in kitten form.

Hard Reset!

Do you feel like you need a hard rest? 

Is it just me?

I will be 100 % transparent right now. I am not feeling it. I am currently sitting at my desk writing while waiting for work calls to come through. In retrospect, I should be happy. I made my bed, and I have dinner planned. The editing I wanted to do today I finished already. But I feel like I am in a funk trying to get through the day.

What is even worse, currently, I have no less than three posts I am working on for the blog. My house is feeling like I had good intentions. Have you ever felt like you need a hard reset? I am physically feeling like I need one. My outlook on life the last few days has sucked, and I will be honest I am feeling in a funk. This past weekend flew by so fast that my spring cleaning seemed like a chore. Like I got my kitchen table set up, and I do not have the want to do anything else. Am I the only one who feels this way? 

So what now? Well, that is easy. I do what I always do. I put on a good pair of comfy socks, and between work calls, I am working on my house and freelancing. Things can seem bad, and I know I need a hard reset. I know the weekend is coming, but I will make the most of it. But I think a vacation may be in my future, even if it means a vacation along the river and relaxing. Remember, a hard reset can be whatever you want it to be. Just remember to do whatever makes you happy.

Multi Tasking?

What does one do while working?

Well, I am blessed to be a work-from-home agent. So, between my calls and tasks that need completion for work. I write! Since I have stories on social media sites and many stories and books in progress, I am constantly writing and editing all the written works. If you look at the screenshots below, this is just a tiny bit of what I do daily to ensure everything runs smoothly! That is also besides work and taking care of my family and home!

These are some of the many stories I work on for Kindle Vella! Then, I have three active audiobooks on TikTok and some on YouTube. All the links are on the blog via the Books and Social Media pages. Have any suggestions on the stories? Please feel free to leave suggestions.

Being told to slow down is not something I can readily do. Knowing I am not the only one like this, I want to remind everyone that it's okay not to multi-task. Do what is best for you! 

However, I would love some feedback on all the stories I post.

Just remember to make time for yourself and disconnect when you need to! All work and no play makes one a very cranky person!

Living In A Historic Town

These are just a few shots I took around town last week from my house to the produce market. These homes and buildings are all dated and historic. I think they all scream small-town Florida charm.

#1. This home is on a corner down the road from where we live. It sings Florida vibes. I love this house with how many windows the home has, and I would love to live in this piece of Florida history. Look at that porch with the shade to keep you cool watching people walk or drive by.

#2. This beautiful historic home is massive, and who could not imagine sitting on the porch drinking sweet tea? This house sits next to the first home. Talk about a difference in time. Also, this home has a no-trespassing sign on the doors. These homes are beautiful, and I wonder what could be said if these walls could talk. But please remember to respect the home and the rules attached to them.

#3. This church can be seen from the main road as you enter the town about half a mile away and has been here since I was a kid. The funny thing is I have lived in the area most of my life and have never been in this church.

4. This building was once a car repair garage and is now a healthy shake place. Seeing this building transformed made my heart happy, as too many old buildings stay empty for far too long. Plus, like many buildings in our downtown area, they are decorated with murals.

5. This building can be seen when you enter our town from the south. I do not know the history of this building, but I love it. I am unsure if anyone lives here because when I walked by once, we saw a cat in the first upstairs window. But living in town for years, I have never seen any human residents.

6. Historic train tracks as you enter the town that are from 1885. These tracks have been here just as long as Brooksville has. The train comes two to three times a day. The sounds of the train cut through the day like clockwork.

I plan on doing a few walking videos of our town soon, but these were some locations close to my home on my way to buy produce and go to the bank. Living in a small town, which has so much history, can be a wonderful thing. The culture and history are even better than living in a larger town. I hope you will enjoy the new walking videos when we can do them. I am hoping this will happen soon as I have had a few health issues.