Leslie's Litter

I just started reading The Good Life for Less  by Amy Allen Clark. I am still in the first chapter and have already found some amazing, simplistic ideas.  The kind that make you think "Why didn't I think of that!?" As I continue through this book I plan to make some posts about some ideas that I find different, challenging, and hopefully helpful - for me AND for you! The first that I came across was the idea of using the latte factor  to your advantage.  It just so happens that this goes along wonderfully with the fact that I have given up Starbucks for Lent.... (only 39 days to go!). Many of us have heard of the latte factor  from different sources over the last few years.  It tries to show us how much our habits can end us costing us in the long run.  It is named after the fact that many people don't think about how much their latte is costing them down the road, they just hand over the $3.80 each morning.  A year down the road they have spent close to $600.

As I sit here tonight I started thinking about my life and what it has become over the past 10 years.... I started my career 10 years and 3 weeks ago, only 17 years old, still in high school, and a mind full of dreams and planning a lifetime of fun.   I had to complete a mentorship with at least 8 hours per week working in a business field that I was interested in pursuing in my future.  I wasn't allowed to work in a bar or club at the time because I was only 17, so I settled  for a position in a banquet hall. I was so upset that I couldn't do what I actually wanted and I kept counting down the days until I would be finished, and then something crazy happened... I realized how much fun I was having.  I got to help plan parties, attend weddings, make cash tips on Friday nights working coat check.... it was wonderful. On the last day of my mentorship I was asked to take over as the office assistant, as the current assistant was taking a position with another company.  Wha

When I tell people that I work at a banquet hall they immediately reply "how fun!"  I admit, most of the time it is fun, it is enjoyable, and it is helping people have the best time of their lives.... And then there are days like today... Standing in the back of the ballroom watching a mother and father take the podium to thank all of their family, friends, and friends of their son.  Their son that they have just watched be put into the ground.  Their son who was far to young to be taken away.  Their son who was still a child, and still had hopes, dreams, ambitions, and what should have been a lifetime to make them all come true.  Their son. With tears rolling down my cheeks I thanked God for the time that I have had and told him that I cherish every minute that he gives me, even if I forget to thank him sometimes... I pray that his family and friends find peace, and that he is watching down on each and everyone of them as they remember him and all of the joy he brough

Sometimes it's ok to say no.  Whether it is based on our beliefs, feelings, thoughts, or just because we want to say no.  It's one of the best things about growing up - being able to make our own decisions.  We are not going to always choose the right answer, but we are going to choose the one that is right for us at the time we decide.   At this time I have decided to say NO to one of my own goals.  I thought it was right when I planned it, but the more I try to accomplish it the harder it is for me to enjoy the time I have at home. The goal was to complete 31 Days to a Martha House, The Mary Way.   While the eBook is laid out well, has a great flow, and is probably amazingly helpful for some people - it is just not working for me. I find the tasks overwhelming for me.  Today's task was to clean out all of my cupboards.  Do you know how many cupboards I have, AND what they look like?!   Remember just my pantry.... It would take me a week to clean out all of m

My husband travels a lot, and so we don't always have the same relationship that many spouses share with each other. We have time on the phone that we like to talk, tells jokes, talk about our day, etc. and then we have other times when we are both too busy so a quick text "good night, xoxo" is all that gets passed between us. Last week was an extremely long travel week and I have made it my goal to make sure that he knows that I love and appreciate that he gives up time with our "kids" so that we can live a more comfortable life, and we can enjoy the finer things in life. As I was looking back through the text messages that I have sent this week I have laughed and laughed at the crazy pictures I take, but I know that he was laughing too, and I know that he was enjoying getting to see pictures of the kids, and knowing that we all love him, no matter how far away he is. Which kid do you think is the most photogenic? (and PLEASE don't judge me by t

Did you wake up this morning to see if the ground hog saw his shadow? Sometimes we just have to find the joy in still being a kid and believing in all the stories we were told, even if just for a moment....

....When You Don't Pay Attention! It's hard to realize just how fast time goes when we are just focusing on getting things done and checking something off our to-do list. This works great when it has been a long week at work and we just want to get out of there and enjoy some time for us and our family.  On the other hand we need to remember to focus on the here and now and remember to enjoy things, even if our to-do list doesn't get done. I visited with Sean's family last weekend for the annual family reunion.  Sean was out of town and didn't get to enjoy, but I made an effort to go visit without him, and I am so glad that I did.   Once we all got to talking I realized that we haven't seen his cousin since they adopted their baby girl.... 3 YEARS AGO! Another cousin has graduated high school and works for a top rated Michigan radio station.... I'm still picturing him as a little 8th grader! Weddings are being planned, families growing, and ever