To a New Year and Old Memories...

As some of you may know, my father, was a pretty unique man. What he lacked in height, he made up with a big smile and humor. 

During the Jewish holidays, I think of him often. We were very close... He taught me many of life's lessons. Possibly, one of the most important memories I have of him, is what he told me about God. I was a teenager at the time and struggling with some of the ideals of Christianity. I chose not to go to church that Sunday. My dad and I were sitting on the dock off our backyard and looking for manatees. He knew I was upset. My father told me that God is everywhere. That I didn't have to go to church or synagogue to be with Him. The important thing was to have a relationship with Him. To do right by Him. To fear Him and love Him. 

I do not pretend to be Jewish. My blood is Apache. But I will be teaching my son what my dad taught me about God (less the fear Him part). And I will continue to honor my father during the Jewish high holidays. 

Many of his other "lessons" were much funnier. Usually, one liners. 

Here are some of my faves. 

Warning: some of the may be crude... But effective....

1. "Tell them to got shit in your hat"

My ultimate favorite. As the story goes... He received a phone call from my sister's preschool principle because she repeated this.... Whoever it was, I'm sure they deserved it.

2. "Worry about yourself" 

This works in many ways. Don't get into other people's business and problems. Or it can be used to imply that you or another person needs to get their shit together before having an opinion.

3. "Everyone's a professor" 

Another way to say they're a know-it-all

4. "Big shot" 

Either to say someone is a punk... Or to remind you that you're getting to big for your britches.

5. "Yeah, and if your mother had balls - she'd be your father"

There are no excuses... There are no ifs.

6. "Take it for what it's worth"

As in who are you dealing with? Are they respectable, educated, honorable? Or just another dumbass.

This is also used when giving advice - interchangeable with "take it or leave it".

7. "It all comes out in the wash"

My father's take on Karma.

8. "I've already forgotten what you haven't learned yet"

You're not so smart... Or you still have a lot to learn.

9. "Do you know what a mensch is"?

This was my dads way of reminding me that I was deserving of a good man. I remember him telling me if I would be embarrassed to introduce a boy to my family - then he's not for me, period.

10. "You're  a Gratenstein"

Don't forget who you are, where you come from. And be proud of who you are. It instantly gave me strength. I still hear his voice telling me this sternly when I need to hear it.

Top 5 Renovation Realities

It seems like I've been working on this house forever. Then I am reminded I have only been living here for 10 months. There are days that I feel so overwhelmed with all the projects going on at once. I have to decided what I am going to do based on my son's mood. Some days he's clingy, so I might work on the dining room walls. If he's easily entertained I can move onto bigger projects. It can be challenging, but I try to keep in mind that there is no impending due date. It'll get done, when it gets done.

Here's what I've learned so far:

Top 5 Renovation Realities

1. Don't wear flip flops.
Luckily, I didn't have to learn this by getting injured. But I did wear flip flops one day and my feet got so dirty and they hurt! Wear supportive shoes at least, a thick sole if you are working around nails.

2. Have the right tools.
Ok, so I have to admit I still don't know the names of half the tools I use. I just tell Brandon what I want to work on and he gives me what I need. But having the correct tools make a project go along much quicker and more importantly, cause as little damage as possible.

3. Sweat ain't nothing but a thing.
Honey, your days of being a princess is over. You're going to sweat and stink... deal with it. Bandanna's are great to catch the dripping sweat. Rinse it out in cold water and put it back on to help keep you cool.

4. Clean up.
I might be tired and stinky, but trust me - if it was you - you're going to be happy the next day when you wake up and there's not complete chaos waiting for you. Yes, things will still be unsettling for sure, I mean half the walls have wallpaper and half don't.... could be worse!

5. I did it!
The amazing sense of satisfaction after you completed a project is immeasurable! Not only did I learn a new skill, but I can stand back and know that I made this happen. I created something beautiful from 40 year old, triple painted walls and carpet that disintegrated in our hands!

10 Reasons why I LOVE living in Union, South Carolina

When we decided to move to Union, South Carolina everyone was asking "why Union"? Even people in Union where asking us "why Union"?

So here are my top 10 reasons why I am so happy with our decision:

1. First thing people say - "it's in the middle of nowhere". Yes, it seems like it's in the middle of nowhere... but, it's actually a perfect place to be if you like taking day trips. Just a little over an hour and you are in Greenville, SC or Charlotte, NC. Add a few more hours and you can hit Columbia, Charleston or the S Carolina Beaches... Want to go the other direction? Asheville, NC and Lake Lure are not too far away.

2. There is a walkway from the sidewalk to the front porch. Not just the main drive, but a separate pathway. Each and every home in my neighborhood.... it's so very Southern, and inviting. I know this seems silly, but they didn't have that where I grew up.

3. The front yards of the houses are well manicured and full of blooming trees and flowers. Apollo and I love strolling and looking at the variety of flowers and herbs. (This statement does not pertain to my home... it's in "transition") :/

4. Whether I am pushing the stroller on Main Street or to the Park, people smile and nod - and get this, some actually stop and say hello!

5. Miss Betty Jackson, the nicest lady at the Farmer's Market (and possibly in town). Forget about the delicious produce she sells - She also teaches my son, Apollo how to count from 1 to 10. She even brought us some yummy, juicy Strawberries from her garden. We just love her!

6. You know your neighbors here. When we moved in, one of our neighbors gave us the BEST Chocolate Cake I have ever eaten. Yes, I did eat half of it all by myself! We have bonfires and BBQ, play with the kids... it awesome.

7. Did I mention there's a Farmer's Market? Fresh produce and nuts are just a short walk away. Awesome!

8. We have cool events. Downtown might seem sleepy, but it's host to parades and events all year long. You can see some pics in some of my prior blog posts.


9. Union is rich in history. Union was  temporarily the State Capitol during the Civil War. Union also has not one, but two battlegrounds from the Revolutionary War.  Don't get more American than that... Check out the museum on Main Street for a closer look. http://www.unioncountymuseum.com/

10. Our home. When we saw this fixer-upper we fell in love immediately. A historical home with so much potential, big enough for our hobbies, work and play. It may look a little rough right now, but make no mistake - this is my dream home!

 xoxo, 

Lauren 

Grumpy Old Men - Cyclist...

For those of you who have known me a while, you know that I am a letter writer. Something goes down - I'm gonna write them a letter! Today, while our Mommies group strolled the Swamp Rabbit Trail with our strollers and children in hand we were treated poorly by many bicyclists. Well, since I have no one in particular to give a letter to... so here is my rant. Right back at you grumpy old men!



Dear Grumpy Old Men Cyclist,

I think it's awesome that have outlived my Grandparents and are healthy enough to ride bicycles. You should be so proud of yourselves. I expected you to be peddling with big smiles on your face while thanking the Lord that your joints are still able to move with such fluidity. How wrong I was....

Instead, I see nothing but grumpy faces and frowns. You choose to use the lips you should be thanking the Lord with to spit nasty words to ladies with children and babies. Not very Southern Gentlemanly, if you ask me....

I understand that as a cyclist you are in limbo. Only riding on two wheels instead of four... Not a pedestrian.... You had to fight for your rights to own a small peice of the road, I get it. I know it's a confusing place to be so you resort to road rage. You mumble and shout like you're in your car on the highway, but let me remind you - we can hear you! There are no windows to roll up and your rude remarks are showered upon our ears. So let me make some suggestions:

1) Invest in a horn or bicycle bell and use that. I'm sure if we hear a bell behind us we will move over - we're Mommies, not morons.

2) Give us a break! I mean, for some of us this was our first time in the trail. I didn't come with a Grumpy Old Man rule book.

3) Lastly, have some respect! We are the women who are raising the next generation. No, it's not a glamorous job, but it's an important one.

So get over yourself, then get over to the left. Trust me, you don't want a swarm of pissed off Mommies jogging after you!

Most Sincerely,

Lauren, et al.

PS. Other than the Grumpy Old Men, we had a wonderful time on the Swamp Rabbit Trail and the Swamp Rabbit Cafe!!

http://www.greenvillesc.gov/parksrec/trails/SwampRabbitMap.aspx
http://swamprabbitcafe.com/

A Big Thank You!!!! A year in review.

Let me tell you people, it has not been an easy year. After making the decision to stop working, purchase a home (in need of major renovation), move from Arizona to South Carolina and launch our new business…. (deep breath) I am looking back to a year ago.
 

When we showed people pictures of our new home, we were told many things...

Too much work needed to be done to it, don’t buy it.

Why would you want to move to Union, SC? That’s in the middle of nowhere.

The renovations will cost too much.

Blah, blah – negative – blah

But did we listen? Hell no!! All we saw was the vision. A steal of a deal…a home that my son was going to grow up in…a small community where you know your neighbors… a home that was built for a family – already full of happy memories.

We emptied all of our savings, borrowed a small loan from my family and we walked into the lawyers office, handed them a check and this house was ours. All ours! Paid off!

Brandon works day and night fixing things in our old home. We are constantly cleaning, fixing, gardening…. Every day…. We go to bed exhausted each night and wake up the next morning to do it again.

I decided to stay home to raise my son. A $45,000 a year pay cut….. Financially, it has not been easy at all. But who cares when you have the most wonderful son in the world? He is happy, healthy, smart and strong. I am positive this is because Apollo is being parented well. We play and laugh and sing and clap together. He wakes up every morning with a HUGE smile.

So when it is suggested that I go back to work, the answer is: Hell no!! Knowing that my son is content; that his needs are met is the most important thing.

Instead of “going back to work” we decided, to launch or business and build a team in S. Carolina. Again, I hear all the blah, blah – negative – blah.

Some think it’s not a “real” business because we don’t have four walls as a store front and bunch of overhead.

Some say that I don’t work because I don’t get up at the crack of dawn, sit in traffic all morning just to be greeted by an asshole boss. I wake up when Apollo does, take care of his needs, the house and in between breastfeeding and nap time I “work” until I finally fall asleep at night. Do I have a fat paycheck to show for it every week? No. And when we do get money, it goes to our bills or back into our business.

But, that is what it means to be an entrepreneur. It means working your ass off, whether you are paid immediately or not… when people believe that all you do is eat bon bons like Peggy Bundy because they have no idea what it means to succeed at launching a business…  to create our future, our legacy.

So a big giant THANK YOU!!!!! to all of our family, friends, fellow Mommies and customers that have supported us. 
 Thank you for listening to me complain and whine and vent.

Thank you for letting me know that you support our decisions. It is your words of encouragement that I repeat in my head when times are tough.

Thank you for signing up and supporting our online store ShopArea8.com. Thank you for each and every purchase.

Thank you for every little bit of positivity and prayers - they drown out all of the negative comments and people in our lives. Thanks to my best friend, Sara, who is there for me when I call and supports me during all this change.


During this year we have managed to create a home - even if it's a work in progess... We spent today working on the house. I was peeling off 40 year old wallpaper and Brandon was pulling down one of the chimneys brick by brick. We stink, we're tired...
We celebrated Apollo's first Birthday! Our business has recently launched worldwide. How awesome is that?! So many reasons to be grateful.

If you haven't yet, please go to one of our pages and sign up as a preferred customer. Take a look at what we think is a great business. And of course, shop and save!

 ShopArea8.com    Isotonix   Motives   
If you are outside of the U.S. then go to GLOBAL.shop

Now I'm sitting with my family watching my son clap and giggle aloud at the television.

I gotta say.... It's all soooooo worth it, every moment!

THANK YOU!!!
xoxo

Lauren
 

Pasta and Crab for Dinner

We are fish and seafood lovers in this house. So when there is a sale at the grocery store, we are buying! My pasta dishes are usually more about what I need to use up in the refridgerator than being a culinary genious... When I saw a bag of peas in the freezer and half-used mushrooms and mozzarella - inspiration!

Without further ado... the recipe!

 

Ingredients:

1 lb Pasta (I chose veggie pasta)

1/3 cup Bacon Bits

1 clove garlic

1/2 bag frozen peas

Whipping cream

1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Olive oil

Frozen Crab

Salt & Pepper to taste

 

 

In a medium pot heat olive oil. Add sliced Garlic clove and Bacon bits. Fry and stir until Bacon bits are crispy.

In a large pot, bring water to a boil. Salt the water, then add pasta. (I don't add oil to the water because i want the sauce to stick to the pasta.)

Add Frozen peas to the Bacon & Garlic and stir until thawed. Lower the tempature to medium then add cream (or milk). Shred Mozzarella cheese and stir into the sauce.

Strain Pasta and set aside in large bowl.

Fold sauce in the pasta.

Set crabs in boiling, salted water. Allow to cook for 5-7 minutes.

Strain and enjoy!

Star Trek Birthday!

Star Trek Birthday!

Part 1

I have been preparing for Apollo's 1st Birthday party. I don't think it's a big secret that we are kinda space geeks... I mean, we did name our son Apollo...
He has been raised on Star Trek since in the womb. I fell asleep to Star Trek Deep Space Nine every night... and now, we fall asleep to Star Trek Voyager. He most definately has a crush on Dax. So, of course, we had to do a Star Trek Space Theme for his 1st birthday.

It's not so easy though... Star Wars seems to be the popular "star" theme with kids, but Apollo hasn't shown any interest in it (yet). What's a girl to do? Luckily for my kid, I attended the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale!! I'm gonna make it all myself! I know it's a tall order... I mean, I barely have time to shave my legs these days. But it's my baby's first Birthday... 'nuff said.

So for all of  you parents out there who may be crazy enough to do the same here are some helpful links to fonts and graphics.

We are going to be making room signs... these fonts are awesome. They include languages like Bjoran, Cardasian, Klingon, Romulan, Vulcan, etc:
http://www.talshiar.org/Fonts/

Pinterest was a Huge help! Here is a link to my Birthday Board: http://pinterest.com/kanitellu/apollo-s-birthday-possibilities/

Here is a copy of the Invitation I made:

 

 

As a former Interior Designer, I am in LOVE with this website. It has all of the blueprints for the ships! I am going to print some out and frame them.

http://www.cardassiaprimera.com.ar/Star_Trek_Ships_Schematics_Blueprints_Lcars24.htm

 

Since it is a kids Birthday Party I am going to have coloring pages:

http://www.cartoonjr.com/star-trek-ships-coloring-pages/

 

Our food will be appropriatly names after far Galaxy names:

 

Meteor Ball Sandwiches

Flying Saucers & Cheese Crackers

Romulan Blue Punch

Rock Candy as Dilithium Crystals

Milky Way Bars

Moon Pies

Red Gumballs as "Red Matter"

Green Grapes are "Alien Eggs"

you get the idea....

 

 

There will be a Part 2. I have to make a bunch of decorations. I'll post pictures!

 

UNTIL THEN...