Life at Gray Gables

What is your Earliest Childhood Memory?Now, don't relieve events from those millions of pictures your Mom has in the old shoebox stuffed in the hall closet. (well, you probably only have millions if you were a first born, right!)Try to remember, really remember your first memories. I mean, don't just see a picture, be part of the picture, look for that memory that you can smell your surroundings, see the details and relive the experience.


The other day, I was sitting around discussing kids with my Hubby and I said that old cliche, "Remember what it was like to be a kid." Well, this simple statement seemed to light up a memory in his mind and resulted in 45 minutes of a walk down memory lane of an experience he had as a kid and how he could remember his room at a house he lived in from 1-2 years old. He could remember the carpet, the door that squeaked, the color of the walls, how his room was set up and what kinds of toys he had.  Then that question I was dreading was…

Wacky Wednesday is here!Are you ready? Well, let's get started. Its time to see what we can dig up on some random facts that we didn't/shouldn't know (or care about for that matter!)Did you know? ~ Women need NINE 8-ounce glasses of water a day. ~ Men need TWELVE 8-ounce glasses of water a day.  And Coffee & Tea COUNT!
Bedtime is the BEST time to take your daily aspirin!
~When you get burned you should crack an egg and you won't get a scar. 

COMPLETE RANDOM-NESS!!!

An Ostrich's egg is bigger than its brain!
Lightning strikes the earth about 8 million times a day.
Hippophobia is the fear of horses.  
Christmas trees have been sold in the U.S. since 1850.


Totally Disgusting!
On average, people swallow 1.5 liters of urine when swimming in a public pool.
(now that, my friend, is GROSS!)

Have anything you want to share to the blog for next Wednesday? Feel free to email me @: kel.amstutz@gmail.com.  I would LOVE to hear from you and be able to add your own random facts to th…

Let's get a little steamy, a plot is thickening as the blood starts to boil.Are you ready to jump into a budding romance that will make your toes curl? This is the 2nd Tuesday that we are unveiling a Book Review and since I started this day with a trilogy, it seemed fitting to discuss book #2 of the Stark Trilogy Series by J Kenner. 
As I previously stated, the first book, Release Me, was a little hard to get into.  I really felt like I was reading so many of the other books out there, but, once I was able to dive in, I was hooked.  I finished the first book and with stealth, moved right onto the next book, Claim Me. 
This book is well written. I really was able to connect even further with the characters, Damien Stark and Nikki Fairchild.  It was like watching their relationship unfold further and further and getting inside of Damien's head. 
Quick Question: Is Damien a Good Guy or a Bad Guy in your opinion? 
I bring this up because at book #1, I was getting a weird vibe.  I …

Marriage is not for ME! Now, before you get your panties in a bunch, or run off and tell my Hubby (which I have discussed this topic with him) - there is a point to this topic.   Hubby and I were watching a tv show and the kid said he was terrified to get married. I turned to my Hubby and said, "We're you scared to get married?" His reply was a shocking, "Hell Yes!" I must've looked at him funny.  It wasn't like we had just met. We had been together five, long, drawn out years.  We had even already purchased a home together. I really didn't know. Then he went on to tell me that all the stories that you hear, horrific stories about marriage and having a Wife, it doesn't exactly scream, "Hey, I want that, Let's jump into that."  And to tell you the truth, from a guy's perspective, I can totally see that. It makes sense. 
So, thinking about marriage and the fears that guys have, I think it might be a frame of mind.  As a Guy, (an…

Say WHATTT??I can't believe its already Sunday...Why do the weekends go so fast for me? Do they for you? I feel like it takes so darn long to get to Friday.  Saturday ends up being a blurrr and then BAM it is Sunday late afternoon and time to get shit* ready to start a new week. 
I think particular weekend has been very fast, due to the SICK bug invading our house right now. We had a trip to the Doctor's on Thursday, which resulted in an Antibiotic and a very sick, lethargic five yo. She has really been calm, but yesterday, she must've been feeling a little better and was a little more active and apparently, her listening ears are BROKEN due to this infection. 
This morning, she must've been feeling really good because she has been in trouble almost ALL day!  So far she has lost all her frozen stuff, her baby dolls stuff and just recently her American girl Baby Doll.  She is so exhausted, I think, that she cryed herself to sleep. I have NO IDEA why she is being a devil c…

Its Friday... I should be jumping up and down, screaming, happy as can be, right? Instead, I am fuming. I am depressed.  I am on the verge of tears. 


Today has been less than what I expected. Work is the culprit. Darn you, Work.  I was supposed to leave on a happy note. It was jeans week after all. Instead, I get this cryptic email from my boss, with a little too much sassy pants and an underlined note that has me less than thrilled. I am just trying to go my job to the best of my ability and it is ridiculous that she is going to question my motives, like I did something wrong.  She wasn't the first today though, it started from a Supervisor under her demanding my emails ensuring that I sent documentation where it needed to be due to having been a second request and still not showing in the imaging software. Really! It is just frustrating as all get out. 

Then there is the constant reminders that my head is on the chopping block from, everyone, in the office. Makes me feel wonderful…

2013- in my eyes... Take yourself a step back in time.. The year is 2003... what where you doing and why?  How were you doing it and why is it so significant that when you think of the year, it takes you back there? The year is 2013, I am 23 years old.  (you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out) I am attending the University in my area Full time, in my last semester, Ever! I am panicking a little, trying to make sure I have all my ducks in a row.  I went shopping with my Mom to find my graduation dress.  It is red, goes to my knees with a little ruffle hem and a floral pattern all around.  I know the date is: May 10th and it is Graduation Day! and I am nervous!  I am all dressed, ready to go.  I am waiting on my family to arrive, before we head to the ceremony. I really did NOT want to walk, but my Grandpa, who has terminal lung cancer, is here and wants to see me do this.  This is important to him, so therefore, it is important to me.  My Boyfriend is here also.…

Wacky Wednesday - - -  2/19/2014*Please note that I have a visitor today... a Curious, Can't keep her hands off everything on my Desk- 2 1/2 Year Old.   I wanted to have a little fun today, since it is Wednesday and a pretty wacky one at that! I get a phone call first thing this morning that my Hubby got stuck on his way taking our kids to my Parents house for the day.  There were some issues on his commute and he cut down a side street and the snow proved to be, yet another, obstacle!

He, obviously, wasn't having a great day...

Our weather is rather crazy too!  It actually got up to 41* today- which is a huge difference from the sub-zero crap that we have been dealing with!  Let the great THAW begin!

So, I came acrossed some random facts that YOU might not know.. bet you wanna though, don't ya!  Well, lets check it out... Ready...

#1 )  Did you know that if you mix up a Captain and Diet Coke you will get more Drunk, than with that regular Coke?
#2) If you love chocolate…

Book Review Tuesday




Book Title:   Release Me by J. Kenner  (Stark Trilogy)

Ok, this is where my Hubby is like, "What ya reading?"  and I'm like.. "A Book."  He instantly knows it's Christian Gray -like.  His term is, "Another Smut Book."  Which I usually laugh, because these books benefit him too.  Then I get the lecture about Magazines vs. Books and my argument is- PICTURES, hello!  His argument is, no faces, just actions. RIGHT... Men..  

Anyways, I loved Christian Gray.  I loved ...loved... loved Gideon Cross. (He was my fav in Sylvia Day's Crossfire Series)  and my Friend told me about the Stark Trilogy- which she said was her fav.  So I dived in, months ago!  I just picked it back up (because reading IS important) and finished the entire book in 2 days. (kind of slow for me)  It was good.  It was a little played out with the other trilogies and all, but I dove into book 2- so something new is there.  I really like the Characters.  I like the…

It seems like every "other" Tuesday has been a SNOW DAY around here.  We got 4 1/2" last night on top of our already insane amount from the previous snow falls.  It is crazy and supposed to warm up so much that now flooding will be an issue by the weekend. (oh frickin joy!)

On top of that, we are having propane supply and demand issues in our area and with the bitter colds we have been getting- that has been tons of fun coming from the newbies on the block who were city folks!!

But, when Hubby got home and said that the roads were BAD, I knew it had to be, because he never says that!  I made a judgement call and stayed home.  Sucks because I had to use a day- but it was accident alley on the expressways- which is my commute! Instead, I traded a day at the office, for a Mommy Day! It was rather enjoyable too!  I got to sleep in a bit, my girls were pretty mellow and we had a really good day!  It probably was a blessing in desguise also, because my big one is a bit under …

Today I wanted to focus on a topic that I have been discussing in previous posts, Marriage.

I really want to help everyone find their path to a happy marriage, while on my own journey.

Today, I have 5 questions/challenges for us all to do over the next 7 days...

1) Ask you Hubby what you can help him with today.  - it can be something as simple as helping him get his stuff ready for work.  I asked him how I could help him and he smiled and asked if I could make him a sandwich. Sometimes it is just those little things that can make the difference.

2) Go all day without correcting your Hubby.  - easier said than done for some of us. I know that this is tough when it comes to parenting, due to our completly different styles.  It is amazing how it helps us be on the same team when I am backing him instead of correcting him or why our kid is going what she is doing.

3) Three times a day give your Hubby a HUG. - simple enough right - but if you reflect on your day, do you do this?  We are rea…

Life is always smacking you in the face with unexpected things, or so it seems my life is!  Yesterday I took a Blogger Hiatis.. I should say a Much Needed Blogger Hiatis.  I just got done with a 30 day challenge, after all!  Oh and, well, Walking Dead was on last night and Hubby was home..so much needed, much needed, couple time! Happy Frickin' Valentine's Weekend to us- Holla.

But today it is back to the grind.  Gosh, I hate Mondays!  I am sooo ready to start my freelance writing career.  Hard to stay patient at this point.  I am still trying to articulate the meat of the course and keep reading ahead to get an idea but I can't wait.  I am scared and anxious all at the same time.

Then, I look out my window and see more white stuff hitting my already heavily covered ground.  I really don't think it is ever going to stop at this point.  I guess, we are supposed to be getting the worst blast yet. That is insane because right now, we are #2 in the country with snowfall re…

I know you all are saying HALLEJUAH right!  Hope you enjoyed the read though.  If you have ideas or comments, please feel free to message me.  I am on an awesome Journey so far this year and can't wait to see what God has in store for me in the upcoming future.

Hopefully you are on board!

Don't forget to follow me...

In the past, I have struggled with my Wifely Duties.  I cook, yes.  I clean, of course. Laundry, I got that!  But being there, emotionally, physically, hearing the words that are left unspoken by the male species-let's face it, I suck! 

My Hubby and I have been "together" since 2001.  I was a wide-eyed twenty one year old when we started on this journey.  We used to have so much fun.  But, our relationship started off rocky because my Hubby was stubborn as all get out and was trying to play the "friends" card and I was not having it.  I made it known, at that tender age of 21, that I wanted him and I always get what I want!  So Christian Grey, before Christian Grey- right!

So, after laying it on him like no other, he finally put the title it deserved and so, our courtship began. (and by "laying it on him" yea, you know what I mean. Hey, a girl has to do what a girl has to do and the electricity between us was sparking all over before this girl ever went…