Gratefulness

  Looking back while growing up, we where not from a family of wealth. There was me and seven other siblings living in old homes with our parents, so in many homes We lived in, it wasn't huge, but the ones that I remembered was two story homes. While I did enjoy our family times but there where times I just wasn't grateful. There was times when I grumbled and complained. I didn't get this and that, we had a wood stove in an unfinished basement. Boy, it put out heat, but somebody had to get the wood. My Dad worked at a factory for many years, but he hustled part time to work a farmers job, and on top of that Dad went and found trees to cut up the wood so we could be warm. I didn't always appreciate him doing that. Like many today we take many things for granted. Dad cut up wood  and stacked it up at the back of the house. Him and siblings took wood to the basement. While I was in the younger end of the family, somebody had to put wood in the wood stove to keep us toasty warm in our home. Dad did a lot. We didn't have indoor steps. We had to go outside on our patio to go to the basement to fill it up. The few times that I remembered, I was told to go to the basement. I complained to myself. I didn't dare open my mouth and complain to Dad.

 

We had to share rooms and beds. Sometimes we would get blankets and sleep on the floor if we had too. Hard floors.. Wasn't happy. Sharing a room and a bed, wasn't happy. At one house we had to walk a great distance on an gravel road to get to our country home from the school bus. Some day's, the sun was scorching us. Me and siblings wasn't always happy. Why couldn't Mom pick us up at the end of the long country road??

 

We also had a big country garden in which I hated at another house. Wasn't happy. Dad wanted a large garden. It was full of everything to keep us fed. 

Why, I thought? it's just to much work. And everyday, we had to start snapping peas, or green beans and start working on the ears of corn. It was the worst. My fingers got sore. We would never complain to the parent's. It became the norm. While we had plenty of things to eat, I still wasn't always grateful. I just wasn't happy.

 

We can spend all or half of our life being ungrateful about many things. But as I grew up, I looked back and remembered how blessed that we all where. Parents who didn't run from work. Parents who loved us. Cared for us. Prayed for us and more. We had parents who wasn't in a wheelchair, we always had a warm house. We where always fed and not standing in long food lines. We had lots of love and fun in our homes with nothing.

 

When we spend time being grateful. Things change. Thinking about today's economy, to be truthful, I'm not happy. But it is what it is and we make the best of a daily train wreck. Being grateful to God for another day. Rain or Sun. Being grateful for our family and few close friends. Being grateful of the home that we have and the cars that we have. Old or new, we don't have to walk. We have jobs that many hate, but yet we are to be grateful as we have some money to make as many others are jobless.

We also are also not in a crazy house. We are in our right mind. We can walk and not bed bound. 

 

So much to be grateful for, right?😉

Your dream can become a reality

    When you was a little child. Did you ever have big dreams? Did you dream of being a school teacher, or how about being a Caring nurse one day? And maybe that little boy growing up wanted to be a fire fighter or even a doctor. As a child, they really believed that whatever they said they wanted to be when they grew up that it was possible that could be Anything they wanted.

 

Some children had supportive parents and said, yes baby.. You can be that one day if you believe it! Oh the enthusiasm the kids has. They agreed and they repeat it to anyone who listens. Other kids may not have supportive parents. They may plant seeds of gloom and doom and doubt and tell them that it's just not possible. That child's self- esteem is broken and they grow up still with that mindset of what the parent said and their dreams are to far off and that it will happen to others. Nothing is worse than someone not believing in you. But what's more powerful is that you go against the looming mountain, and you believe that whatever you want to achieve, it can and will be done no matter what. You got the confidence and you are unstoppable. It make take year's, but you will arrive if you don't give up.

 

My life hasn't been easy. I've had many struggles. For a while, nothing seemed possible. When I started my business Norma's bath in 2004, I soon had a dream. I mentioned it to my fiancée at the time that I would be on television and

magazines. It seemed impossible. How would this happen? I didn't see it. But I spoke it. The miracle is in your words. A dream that I refuse to let go of no matter whom thought what.

Hard work lots of faith and prayers, it happened. I appeared on three local television stations. God blessed and made a way. The journey wasn't easy, but With determination and not giving up, my dreams came true. Time and again.

 

Do you believe?

Copy of Norma's Bath is under Diamond Elite magazine on Amazon. 

 QTVQ Business television interview in Lexington, Ky. see it online on youtube. 

 

 

Candles or lantern's?

    Some people prefer candle's over lantern's because you can smell their delicious fragrances. Candles are made in different jars and sizes, clear or colored jars, 1 wick, 2 wick or even up to 3 wicks. You can display your candles any where in your home to give off a very cozy vibe. 

    I love Lantern's in my home too. Lantern's can be more of a what do I do with it? Where do I display it? And what do I put inside it to make a statement? Owning a lantern, you don't have to worry about lighting up a candle. You're working with battery operated lights. No hazard in your home, and you may have pets or little children.

   Lanterns comes in different shapes and sizes and heights. They are gorgeous.That is what makes it fun to work with especially in the Fall and a winter months. Actually, I had old ones I didn't  know what to do with them and they disappeared. Now that I have another one, I was still stuck as to what to do.

    I played around with it. You can add mini pumpkins, cinnamon sticks, fairy lights and even some Fake leaves. Mine had a large fake candle inside. You really cannot go wrong with whatever you decide to add to the lantern. There's not right or wrong way. You can keep it simple, or add as much stuff as you like. 

You can even add a battery operated little candle inside.

    Now that you own a lantern, where do you display it? Don't over think it. You may say where do I put it? Keep in mind that you don't have to have a huge home or apartment to own one and to find a great place for it. I had mine on my front porch. For me, I was like, I'm taking this inside and giving my place even more of a cozy elegant look. So I added mine over my mantle. Whola...! Perfect. You can add your lantern 

To places like:

Mantles 

Stairway

Living room table

Bedroom bed side table

Patio's

Kitchen table

Bathroom Vanity

   Again, there's no wrong way. If you have one, simply work it!

 

Tell me in the comments below if you have a Lantern, and what do you do with it?

 Blessed day! 

 

The days of reading an actual book..

 Remember the days of reading actual books? I am a late 60's kid. While I did come from a big family, my parents just never read a book to us at any age. Not that they didn't want too, but they never thought about it. But I do remember hearing a book story on a record player. We are in a every well advanced society where everything is electronics. 

We have kindle and other things to read magazines, newspapers, and reading our favorite books. But truth be told, there's nothing like flipping through a crisp page of a book. Every day, As a child I could not wait to get to the Library to get a book. I remember the teacher told us to form a line and to be very quiet as we walked the long hall from our classroom to the quiet library. We may spend an entire class period there, or it would be 30 minutes or less, but it was exciting to grab the cat in the hat book and other fun books. Reading is good for our brains, especially as we age. While I do read a lot of articles online, I also take time to purchase a good book. We are all busy, but take some time to head over to that library or order a great book!! Encourage your kids to read. And it's a great distraction from them being on their computer or cell phones.

 

Happy reading!! 

Fall is calling me

 I cannot say this enough. I just love Fall. 

I hope that I am not alone. Our Summers are getting hotter each year. I'm miserable. I sweat enough to lose loads of pounds lol. I often change tops because the A/C is working overtime and I'm looking for a pool that I cannot even swim in.

 Fall here in Kentucky is beautiful. especially when we get a rainy Spring. there's nothing like enjoying cool fresh air on a long walk.  or seeing the colorful leaves falling in our back yard in vibrant different colors. Mom used to take a single leaf and put it a book or in her Bible. Mom loved Fall.  

 I love Everything Fall. from wearing Chunky sweaters and Turtle necks to cute Fall Jackets. and sporting cute jeans and gotta have those boots! I went shopping today and found my Army green Jacket to gorgeous Reds clothing. I don't shop often, but it was pretty fun to do and I got it all on clearance. yesss... Do you love to shop all things Fall? what about those amazing scented candles? you could just eat them! I am also a candle maker and I love making my candles and candle tarts, but

I also love to purchase them. Mmmm.. Pumpkin spice, Gingerbread, Cinnamon, 

Snickerdoodle, Lemon pound cake and more. I love to light one up

in the Bathroom, or any room actually. especially in my Entry way foyer. I love the cozy vibe, don't you?

And let's not forget about our gorgeous soft cozy throws, and 

fuzzy slippers. I try not to purchase a new throw yearly, but

I need to try harder! they come in all kinds of textures and colors. I cannot get enough of them, toss one at the foot of the bed, or toss it on your couch, with the added candle on your coffee table. it's so relaxing and peaceful. nothing like smelling the delicious aroma of a candle cuddled up with your throw while watching a Hallmark movie. and lastly, Do you love to drink a pumpkin spice Hot coffee? or how about baking a muffin? all of this just get's you into that Fall mood. what could be better than that? Bring on the Fall... 

 

 

 

Isolation

     In today's busy world, we are around many in church events, or sports events, in business meetings..We can barely  escape the noise. Don't forget the kids, the dogs. There's just not enough time it seems in 24 hour's. It can be overwhelming. 

     Some are seeking to go into isolation these days. They may not feel like going to church,  or

Some may even decline Baby shower, Wedding, or Potluck's because you're seeking to be alone. Believe me, I get it. When is it ever a silent moment? When is it ever a "you Moment?" Don't let

Others tell you that it's normal to just unplug and decline invites etc. It's nothing wrong with it until

You around the clock so to speak start to isolate yourself. That isn't normal. You can become depressed. It's all about balance. While you may not want to always hang around friends, to shop, or go to the movies or have lunch, it is okay occasionally to accept. being around others, Well.. The right uplifting and positive people can boost your morale. 

Are you into soap or shower gel?

 So tell me, are you one of those people who loves to pick up and smell a delicious chunky bar of soap?? Do you love the thick luxurious lather?? Does it 

Make your skin moisturized, Or does it dry your skin?

 

How about these who loves to squeeze out and thick creamy colorful shower gel from a bottle? You love to grab a bath sponge and suds it up over and over as you shower and you are in bath heaven. Or are you???

I have to say that it's a tie with me. I do love and nice creamy bar when I wash my hands on the go, but there's also something about using a nice bottle or colorful creamy shower gel as well.

Many brands of soaps can do more harm than good if they have the wrong ingredients in it causing bad reaction in some people. Some over the counter soaps can be drying and make your skin tight. So do your research before picking up any kind of soap. And yes, soaps are everywhere on every corner. Displayed in pretty packaging. But it's not always about the pretty packaging. It's about how is it going to benefit your skin, because we only have one body. Take care of it.