Saturday, July 15, 2023

Some VERY exciting news!!

 With losing Jinx and still struggling so bad with the loss, we were long overdue for something good! The boys started doing a trail that is just a few minutes from us, which I will post more about as well as lots of pics eventually. But! Tyler has always talked about being a writer. And he is SO great at it!! Well, as of late June, Tyler is officially published!!! 




 He writes under the name Zane Marshall (his dads name). I can not even begin to describe how incredibly proud I am of this young man. He has reached one of his goals at such a young age and the sky is the limit for him!!! If interested in his book, i'll post the link:

If the link doesn't work, you can search Zane Marshall Titan (Amazon and Blogger are being butts at the moment)

Heart broken

 It's been tough getting this computer to cooperate so I could post again but fingers crossed I got it. This past February, we lost a member of our family. He had been with us since Zane passed away and got us through so many dark times. Jinx. He was my rock so many times and I still feel so lost without him. At times I still hear his old man grunts and swear I hear him bark. We don't know what happened, he was fine the days leading up. That day, he spent some time outside but Tyler had noticed he hadn't eaten or drank all day. By 1am the 10th, he was gone. The boys did such an incredible job handling getting him outside and buried. I wish we would have had the funds to get him cremated, but he is in his very own backyard. We miss you beyond words but I know you are waiting for us and we will see you again.





Photos were taken literally days before he was gone. 

Friday, August 26, 2022

Happy National Dog Day!!

 #nationaldogday2022


Dairy Free

 So apparently I am now lactose intolerant. Like, majorly. Getting old is SO much fun!! Anyhoo, I am not a huge ice cream fan, but every so often I would give my left boob for some. Well, I found some Ben n Jerrys that is dairy free!! I was hesitant at first, but I am SOOO glad I tried it! It was beyond amazing. Even Chase loved it!!! They have a few other flavors I would like to try, I'm sure they will be just as yummy!  




New snacks we have tried!

 So the first thing we tried were the Lay's Cheetos Chips. I have to say they were SO good!! They really did have a yummy Cheeto taste.


Then we tried the Fanta Mystery flavor. It wasn't too bad, just tasted like cotton candy but VERY sweet. Maybe because we tried the Zero version? Not sure but it was ok.




Mail freebies

 Still waiting on some things, but lately has been fairly good!


- Cascade Dish Washing Tablets

- Aveeno Lotion & Temptations Purrr*ee/Pinch Me Box

- Estee Lauder Revitalizing Supreme (can not wait to try this!!)






Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Mail goodies from today

 Today was an awesome freebie day!!


- Wildflower seeds

- Fudge Strips S'mores/SO good!!!

- YSL perfume sample




Saturday, July 9, 2022

Beverages!



Cheerwine Zero - I've been trying to try all of the Zero sodas as I'm a diabetic and look for different things to drink. Coke Zero is my fave, but I've tried Dr Pepper Zero and Baja Blast Zero and they were so good!! Cheerwine Zero was really good! It's not something I would choose to drink frequently, but for something different that won't mess with my sugar, I liked it!


Twisted Shotz - So we FINALLY found these bad boys!! We found these three, as well as Sex on the Beach and Pussy Cat. My absolute favorite is the Choco Mousse. They all go down nice and smooth, and are a nice change up from my normal beer. 

I think that is it for all of the newest things I/we have tried over the past few months. 

More new goodies!






Old Bay Goldfish - YES!!! Being from Maryland, how could I NOT like these?!?! They were perfectly seasoned, although they really made me want some steam crabs LOL


Ruffles Spicy Dill Pickle chips -  I have to say, they weren't too bad but had a pretty strong vinegar taste. I'm not too big on vinegar taste, but they were not really that bad. And did have a bit of a bite to them!

Smartfood Doritos Popcorn - I was VERY impressed with this popcorn!! It had such a great cheesy taste, but unfortunatley had so much hull like most Smartfood popcorn has. But I would definitely get it again!!!!

 

New snacks we tried!

Some more goodies!! 





Berry Blast Twinkies - These were AMAZING!!! Chase didn't care too much for them, but Tyler and I tore them up. Plus, the blue creme is so stinkin pretty!!




Haribo Goldbears/Pineapple - O.M.G. I can not tell you how much I love these!! My favorite flavor, from my favorite brand!!! I really hope they keep these around for good. 

Something new

 So, i've decided to post about new foods and things the boys and I try. 



Strawberry Dark Chocolate KitKat - Tyler and I really liked this Strawberry Dark Chocolate KitKat. Dark chocolate isn't my favorite, but the strawberry was so good with the chocolate!



Blueberry Muffin KitKat - Tyler and I LOVED this!! The blueberry muffin taste was amazing!!



Snickers Cinnamon Roll - None of us cared for this. Just was a "strange" combination? For us, anyway.


Planting and growing!!

 I have always wanted to plant sunflower seeds, but never really had the room for them. I found some seeds online that grow dwarf sunflowers, so I got a huge barrel thingie and planted about 11 or so seeds? They all have popped up!!! I'm so excited to see how well they do!   






Mail freebies

These goodies have come over the last few months. Now that we are moved, i've been signing up even more for freebies! There was most likely more but I forgot to take pics of them  


- LOTS of perfume samples!!!

- Sampler box/the Cookie Crunch M&Ms were actually yummy!

-  Country Meats meat sticks/SOOO yummy!!!









Monday, July 4, 2022

Saturday, June 4, 2022

Welcome Blue and Bella!!

 

Jinx and Bella

Bella, Blue and Marlie

Blue!!!


These are what I have found so far on this computer. I know I have pics of Marlie and Bella I need to share. But they all seem to get along amazingly!! Blue and Bella play the most, but Blue is always bugging Marlie to play. I love watching them interact and just love each other. Blue is about 6 months old and will be registered as an emotional support animal like Marlie and Jinx 

Home photos!

 I did find a few photos I have on the computer I can share. 


                                                              Our home!!!

                                                                          View to the left

                                                                     View to the right

Our cute little fenced in front porch


The view of the mountains in front!

Anaise approves!

I will get the rest of the photos up, plus new photos, soon 

BIG UPDATES!!!

I had no idea it has been such a long time since i've posted! So much has happened and it's been so crazy! Be warned, this will most likely be a LONG post......

Some of the biggest news....Tyler turned 18!!! And....he GRADUATED!!!!!! I can not get over the fact that I am the mom of an adult! I am so beyond proud of him. In less than a week I will have another teenager!! AHHH!!!!


So we have been searching for a bit for another home, but with the way the housing has been, we never could find anything affordable, or that accepted pets. We were looking since maybe March of last year? I think? Anyhoo, we have had so many issues with our landlord/realtor for years and has raised the rent a few times, as well as told us she wanted us out. Well, we found out in March that Tyler and Chase get an inheritance when they turn 18. Tyler was turning 18 in less than a year, and said he wanted to get us away from our realtor and find a forever home. We talked things over and decided we would give it a try. August comes around and we get a letter from our realtor, telling us we have to move by October 30th. Saying the owners of the house want to go a different route with the house, or some crap like that. I was just devastated. Tyler mentioned contacting her and tell her we would be hopefully moving by the beginning of the year and if the owners would let us stay until then. She actually said yes! We still continued to search for homes, but it was insane how much people wanted for rent for small homes!! I searched owner finance and rent to own homes, but there was just nothing. October came around and as if we weren't stressed enough? Chase and I went to Dollar General for a few things and when we went to leave, the car wouldn't start. I didn't know what to do!!! I contacted our insurance and they sent out someone to help us. $85 and 6 HOURS later (yes, 6 hours stuck at Dollar General) the mechanic they sent couldn't do anything. So, we had to be towed home. $65 more dollars and over 6 hours later, we were home! Turns out the Nissan had a blown head gasket. I was so upset. We did the best we could without a car for the month, and in November we got another vehicle off of Facebook Marketplace. BIG mistake. I trusted the person we got the vehicle from, and it lasted about a week or less? Junked it and used that money to get us through the month, but it was so stressful. We barely got through, but we did it. December now comes around, and i'm stressed about the holidays as well as having food for the whole month. I went back to Marketplace. Found a really good car and was so excited, as I wanted to take the boys out to see Christmas lights like we do every year. That car lasted a few days longer than the last one off of Market place. Once again I junked that car, and tried to get us through the month but it was so bad financially. Someone whom I felt was a friend moved in with us, as well as her daughter, and was able to help us with groceries. But it came at a price. For starters, it was only supposed to be until we moved. She had a horrible temper, especially with her daughter, and was SO freakin controlling! She is the reason we now have Blue, as she got her for Tyler for Christmas, even though I told her it wasn't a good idea, but Blue is here and I wouldn't trade her for anything. She was truly meant to be our baby. But when they moved in, it was supposed to be temporary, until we moved. She and Tyler would do Doordash or Uber Eats at night, and I trusted her as she was fair and gave Tyler equal money as herself. Well, while they worked, they would talk and she was telling Tyler that when we move, she and her daughter would just move with us. Tyler told me and I was NOT ok with that. She would sit on the sofa during the day talking with so many men, but was supposedly married. The final straw was when she invited some strange man over to cook for us. Then took him into the bedroom, and when they came out she had money in her hand. Oh, but nothing happened. That was it. They left a few days before Christmas, and I am still kicking myself for letting them take advantage of us. I'm 48 years old and too damn old for so much drama!!!

So January comes and Tyler contacts the lawyer about getting his inheritance. The lawyer texted a few times and then we heard nothing. I was so stressed and didn't know what we should do, plus worried as Tyler and I had a tough time getting our medicine. He was thankfully able to get his thanks to a few amazing people, but I ended up going without for a few months. Obviously not good, but what could I do? Early February Tyler texted the lawyer again and we got a response!! He had been VERY sick and in the hospital. He sent Ty the things he needed to sign and get back to him, then he petitioned the court. In the meantime, our wonderful realtor just popped up out of the blue to see what was going on with moving. We told her the situation with waiting on the inheritance, and she said she wanted proof. Some sort of letter from the lawyer stating we were just now waiting on the courts. Ok.......so we got that and sent it to her. March comes and the courts accepted the papers and his inheritance was issued!! We busted our butts looking for a place. The beginning of April, our realtor showed up. I was in the house so Tyler went out. He told her what was going on and that we were waiting on money and still looking. She was beyond rude to him and handed him an envelope. They were raising the rent $300 more out of spite because we were still there. There is no way that house is worth that much. At all. And with Tyler turning 18 in January, we lost his monthly income, so our rent would take up one of our whole incomes, plus we still had other bills to keep up. I prayed like I have never prayed before!!! I was so stressed and worried yet again. In between all of this, we had to find a way for Ty to get to the DMV and get a state issued ID, as he needed that for the inheritance as well as a few other things. As I said, just so much going on at once!! Finally, Ty received the check. He opened up a bank account to deposit it, and we had to wait 9 business days for it to clear. I had taken a break from trying to find a home, as it was really messing with me mentally, but something told me to jump back on Marketplace and search for "owner financing". I did and this house came up. It was in Virginia, and I just instantly fell in love with it. It needed work, but you could see with just a little love and TLC she would be amazing and make a happy home. I didn't reply at first. The down payment was perfect, monthly payments were $400 less than what we were paying, and it is bigger!! I think to me it just felt too good to be true. I searched more and found only 1 or 2 more homes, but every day when I would search this home always came up first. I finally pulled the trigger and contacted the company.

 Long story short, she is OURS!!! We have a forever home! Before we moved, we had a few more run ins with the realtor. It got so bad that I had to tell her if she didn't leave us be I would have to get a restraining order. We have had to get new cellphone numbers several times so she won't be able to contact us that way. Praying we are done with her. 

The home is amazing! Yes, it had issues. It had been sitting since 2019, and that breaks my heart. There was mold on a few walls and certain places has drywall off, but it's all cleanable/fixable. We had a few friends come to the home and clean almost all the mold for us before we got up here. The floors need a good stripping and restoring, but when the weather cools down. They have been cleaned thoroughly and are good and strong. The views we have just blow my mind! I just can not believe we are so Blessed to live here. It is going to take time, but with love and a bit of work this home will be amazing! I will post pics once I get them on this computer for sure.As well as updated pics of the kiddos. And our girl, Blue!!!