Wednesday, July 30, 2014

It was just another day...or was it - Confessions of an OLD Birthday

Last pic of ME at #33...
July 29th - the day I was born.  I woke up with and began my day.  Regular routine.  Get kids off safely with Nana and Papa - and off to work I go.

My co-workers knew none the more than it was Tuesday, July 29th, and we were all muddling through our workloads.

The highlight was when the Orkin man showed to spray for spiders. (Real exciting Kel!)

Gardening Table
Hubby ran out the door after one to pick up kids and disappeared until 3 pm with the girls saying, "we were not doing anything, Mom."  Um, hmm...

Hydrangea Plant from my Kids!
Off work I go, to the front porch- where my little family was anxiously awaiting my arrival.  I sat down and was handed awesome cards from my loves! Then whisked to the back of my car where i was instructed to CLOSE MY EYES!  I opened them to a beautiful hydrangea plant my girls picked out for me and a gardening table my hubby got me.  Awesome gifts!

I love these three people so much!  It was a bummer getting older, and I have been dreading it so much!  But, it was good to see how excited my girlies were and to watch my Hubby work with them to make my day special.

I was then taken to dinner by my Parents and Grandma (again, I might add- because we did Dinner on Friday night) - and it was just a really good birthday.  I guess I don't feel my age, so that is helping in this slump I am in.  I hate birthdays, I hate getting old. MAKE IT STOP already!  I get older, my kids get older and it is an endless cycle!  I think that you really don't realize you are getting older UNTIL you have kids, either!

 But, Happy Birthday to me.  I wish for many  more, no matter how much I dislike celebrating them.  To another year, hopefully I am a little wiser with this new age, and to the life that will once again be!  (living in rehab is tough- it is coming along though!!!)


My girls playing in the Gardening Planter Box... Who needs TOYS?


All the FUN of turning #34.



I would like to say a SPECIAL THANK YOU to my FAMILY!  My Mom and Dad for dinner at Cousino's & Apple Bee's.  My awesome Vera Bradly bag and pouches.  My outdoor dishes, pitcher and bowl for entertaining on the deck I hope to have soon and the awesome lantern!  My Grandma for the dishes that I LOVE! I can't wait to get some stuff going in m Kitchen to bring it to life with those dishes!  And the awesome gift cards.   My Uncle for the Star Bucks Card.  My Grandparents in Washington, Thank You for the awesome Cheryl's goodies!  

I want to say Thank You to my Hubby, who got me the best two cards so far in our marriage!  I also love the garden table, and was so needed. (I know, I am late in the game- but I have stuff to transplant) and my girls for the beautiful, big hydrangea plant!  We need to find the perfect spot for it!  And it is super special because they picked it out themselves!

I also want to extend a huge Thank You to all my friends and family, who took time out of their day to recognize mine.  It means a lot to get all the Happy Birthdays on Facebook, makes a girl feel real special!

Thank you everyone!


Cheers to another year!  Let #34 be better than #33!


~KEL
(learning to embrace this!)

AVON Lady calling for Wednesday, July 30th 2014


Hi, it's your AVON Lady with great specials going on now, for July 30th 2014.

Right now, my Direct Delivery Customers- who visit my Avon Independent Rep website at: www.youravon.com/kelamstutz  will get a FREE Extra Lasting Lipstick with your $45 purchase- while supplies last!  (Celebrate National Lipstick Day!)



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Monday, July 28, 2014

AVON Lady for Monday, 7/28/2014





C17 AVON deals and steals for July 28th 2014:

Soak up some Relaxation! Bubble bath is ONLY $5.99! (your choice) Reg. $8
AVON Bubble Delight Bubble Bath is dermatologically tested (and not on animals)  24 ounces.

1) Endless Ocean (breezy & marine)              326-180   *new scent!
2) Coconut Water (refreshing & tropical)        657-436
3) Cucumber Melon (fresh & sweet)               326-543
4) Soft Pink (classic florals)                          615-745
5) Lavender Garden (soft & soothing)            326-486
6) Vanilla Cream (warm & creamy)                326-467
7) Pomegranate & Peony (lush & floral)         326-290
8) Sensitive Skin (with chamomile)              326-414






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12) Chocolate 774-210


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Thanks!

~Kel

Will you achieve 40 years of marriage?

I would like to start with a Special Congratulations 

this goes out to my Aunt and Uncle who celebrated 40 years of marriage yesterday.  

Also, another Congratulations needs to go to my very own Parents, who are embarking on 38 years of marriage.

How do you get to 40 years?  How do you get there Happy?  

In Today's DAY and AGE, it isn't easy!  I mean, pick up the paper and read the Divorces granted section. It grows by the day.  It is amazing to me, seeing the names on the paper, seeing their reasons for ending their marriage without any insight as to how long they had been in marriage "bliss" or the leg that their relationships started on.  It is in these moments that my heart aches.  Relationships are tough, they aren't supposed to be easy.  I just think that Divorce is, in some cases, an Easy Out. 

I married with a solid foundation.  Hubby and I discussed the events that could cause our relationship to end.  We talked about ways to make it last, and have worked on the communication points and are even working on taking our relationship back to the bricks that the whole thing was built on.  I think the difference for us, in year 8, almost, of our marriage, year 13 of our relationship, is that we understand that not every day is going to be happy, butterflies in our stomachs, smooches in the dark, love and simple and easy going.  Reality was apparent from the start.  This is NOT to say that we have had problems since the beginning, but we approached our relationship more realistically than most might.  We started as friends, dating, laughing, having fun. (torture for yours truly)  And built upon that.  We were married, enjoying just one another for three years before introducing our children.  Now, our kiddos are getting older and we are learning to date one another again, which is exciting, and fun and something that is helping our relationship continue to grow. 


How do we get to 40 years of this type of marriage?  Ask yourself this same question as you are rolling into the years of your own marriage.  

I stopped and looked at my life the other day, almost as if I was not myself, but a stranger looking in and I have to say that while we have had struggles, we have had hard time, we have had hit or misses along the way- our life is damn good.  We understand one another, we work together (for the most part) and we provide a good balance to the other..most of the time.

What are some of the issues you and your spouse struggle with? 

I can tell you, hands down, our struggle is parenting.  We have completely different styles and it leads to not so pretty moments at times.  It is a battle that we are both trying to have patience with and trying to figure out. 



I know that for some it is money.  We have a balance on this issue.  I freak out, normally, once a month about money.  Not to the point that I am screaming and yelling, but I tend to hyperventilate or worse, have an anxiety attack. Hubby calmly tells me that it will be OK and explains why.  I still panic here and there, silently, but at the end of the month, everything works out and it is all OK.  I think that hits on Communication and that whole balancing one another out. 

I would like to think that we will make it, as we keep moving, keep growing and as we keep finding more things to fall more in love with one another.  I think we are on the right road, and finding the right formula for us.  I also am not unrealistic to think that every couple married for forty years have never had a fight here and there, or hard times.  I think that each couple is different in their own way, in the way they chose to love and the way that they project their life.  We are what we are and I am always clear in that statement.  Times are happy and good and times are sad and hard.  That is real.  I wouldn't trade any of them because they have truly made me the person I am today, the wife and mother that I am and that is something in itself. 


I congratulate the 40 year couple, as you are an inspiration to both my and my Husband. What you have achieved, the people that you are, it is a great accomplishment for both of you that probably came easy! (as it should!) 

For my own Parents, embarking on 38 years, I have watched the growth, and watched you continue to grow and am so glad to call you both my Parents.

To my own Hubby, you are my strength, my light and hold the whole of my heart. I could not do this life without you, nor would I want to, as I am blessed to have you by my side and try not to forget that daily!

I love you!


~KEL


Friday, July 25, 2014

Our Disney List...Summer Fun

It's a Disney kind of day!

I was sitting here with my 3 and 5 year old daughters, watching none other than "Spy Kids"  on Netflix - when my 5 yo asked, "Mom, why aren't the Disney movies on Netflix?"  

She is a sharp one!  So, I had to explain that Disney is a BIG place and they hold the rights to their movies and went on to go in some depth about how there is the dang vault that keeps movies until they decide to open it again and release them. 

(Still waiting for Beauty and the Beast here!)

So, we are sitting there and she proceeds to ask me which Princess is my favorite.  Well, for me this is pretty simple..see above... Belle of course!  My 3 yo shouts, "Me too, Mommy."  

I ask my 5 yo who her favorite princess is and I get crickets... Obviously, she is deep in thought about this question.  She then stands up and says, "Well, I love Rapunzel and that is my favorite Princess, but my favorite is Queen Elsa."  She is so technical!

So, I asked the girls what their favorite Disney movie was and in sync they both shouted "Frozen".  duh Mom, right!


So we went through a list of questions, that I wanted to share! 

I have our list and answers listed- try this at home and see what your kids come up with!


1. Favorite Movie  - Frozen

2. Favorite Princess-  Belle & Rapunzel - Queen Elsa

3. Favorite Prince-  lots of discussion here - between Ariel's Eric and Christoff - but he is not a prince!

4. Favorite Song-  Demi Levato

5. Favorite Kiss-   This one got an "eww" response.

6. Prettiest Princess - Ariel

7. Favorite Castle - Cinderella's

8. Saddest Moment-  When Elsa & Anna's parents don't come home.

9. Favorite Couple-  I got blank stares here!  They both agreed Anna and Christoff

10. Best Hair-  Elsa's when she becomes a Queen.

11. Favorite Animal Sidekick - Clover- Sofia's bunny

12. Favorite Non-Animal Sidekick -  I get BLANK stares here!

13. Favorite Outfit-  This one was easy for them- Elsa's Dress when she became the Snow Queen

14. Favorite Villain- Hans

15. Favorite Singing Voice-  Elsa's voice

16. Best Eyes-  it was a toss up between Elsa/ Anna/ and Rapunzel

17. Favorite Name-  Belle and Elsa

18. Favorite Soundtrack- they both LOVE the Tinkerbell soundtrack & Frozen

19. Funniest Moment- they both agreed that Anna was hilarious. They were discussing the part when Anna wanted to marry Hans and she was silly!

20. Bravest Princess- they thought Meridian (Brave) was the bravest.

21. Most Magical Moment- When Anna froze to block Hans from freezing Elsa and the love unfroze her.

22. Favorite Happy Ending- They liked when Christoff came to Anna.




I think that hands down- my girls Favorite movie was Frozen - I mean, they did ONLY see it like maybe 200 times since its release! (and twice in the theater!)

I hope you take this list and ask your kids- I love hearing little answers to these questions and seeing their thoughts form! It's a great exercise for their minds as well!

Happy Friday ALL!

~KEL~


Wednesday, July 23, 2014

The Meaning behind my BLOG name- Life at Gray Gables.



Here is our FIRST pic of the house...EEK!

I have had a few ask why I chose "Life at Gray Gables" for my blog name. Rightfully so, in my opinion.  I mean, as an outsider looking in and seeing that name, I think I would wonder what is Gray Gables?  I give a peek a boo approach on my blog site with some before and after pics of a big old, gray house- but is that Gray Gables at all?  And what does Gray Gables even mean? 

Well, here is Gray Gables, the name of our old farm house- and this picture is from around 1996. (Thanks to my parents taking the picture themselves, as they too, loved this old house)





Our Story of how we came to own Gray Gables.
My Husband and I had a home, our first home, that was a lovely 1,600 square foot Blue House in Toledo, Ohio.  It suited us well when it was just us.  Then we had a baby and noticed that it was a little cramped. Then, we had another and the realization that this would just NOT do became VERY apparent.  So the hunt was on, once again to find a new, bigger home.

When we were looking for our first home, we went through tons of houses before we set our sights on that home. This new journey, at that point, five years later, was proving to be just as big a challenge for us.  We knew what we wanted...land.  We wanted a bigger home, space and Hubby was dead set on his dream pole barn.

It was one day in September, late, that I got a call from my Mom, who happened to be on a county website and happened to see that Gray Gables was on the list of Land Bank properties and it has 5 acres left with the estate.

This prompted a drive with Hubby in tow to check out this Land Bank Property.  It was a sad sight to see. It was near being condemned, they wanted a full demolish, but due to the history of the home and the fact that it was built in 1892, it just wouldn't do.  Hubby was a firm NO.  He was not impressed.  For me, it spoke to me. Something that is strange to me, even, as the house was bare bones and full of vining weeds and brush that obscured any visions of the front of the house from the street.

It took a lot of 'talks' with Hubby and my Parents to convince everyone to get on board, we were going to pursue this property.

It was an all out bidding war and a lot of time. Idle time at that.  It took months before we found out that we, the good Old Amstutz's, were the PROUD owners of this diamond in the ROUGH. (no joking here!)

March 6th 2012, we signed papers and work began. Lucky for us, Hubby was on layoff from the flooring company he worked and devoted 100% of his time to the old house. We are not talking a little project here.  We were missing many components that make a house a working home. It was gutting the old plaster walls, getting ride of the espestos flooring in the kitchen and laundry room areas.  It was reworking the house to meet our needs and disagreements left and right on opinions of how this house should be.

Hubby managed a Pond and Pole Barn out of the deal . (although neither are finished yet)  It was a depletion of savings, swallowing pride to borrow from family and fights, pain, sweat and tons of tears but on October 1st 2013, we moved in!

We have a ton left to do, but slowly and surly it is coming together exactly how Hubby and I have imaged.  I think maybe even better.

I have been on my own personal journey since acquiring the property (OK, maybe even before then!).  I have researched the heck out of the house and found that it was indeed built in 1892 by a man of wealth in Toledo, Aaron Chesbrough.  They called the house, Chesbrough farms and entertained at the house frequently. I think that the house was intended to be a vacation/summer home of sorts. It was a much smaller scale from their mansion that they built in Toledo.

I find the history that I have uncovered, fascinating to say the least.  I wish I could find more, as all i have is one picture of the house in the early 1900s maybe,and a lovely shot that it is.

Here is the photo from an old Book published. This is OURS!

Our home features coffer-ed ceilings of dark mahogany, original hard wood floors (which we were going to refinish but after seeing that they are over 120 years old and in fair shape, we will be covering- now they are bare and covered with rugs in all their natural state), we have a portico (which Mama's big SUV does NOT fit comfortably under) and our massive front/side porch, which we gather regularly.

The house, upon purchase, had a tiled, floor to ceiling with tile border, bathroom.  A lot of the old tiles were cracked or had stress marks in them, due to the foundation issues, and we ended up parting with the tile, sadly, but made a modern bathroom in its place that suits our family very well. (we did keep large parts of the tile for our collection!) We also have a massive fireplace. Pictures below.

Uncovering the old plaster revealed markings from a time long gone and dates and names of those who had a hand in the building and construction of this house.  Which brings us to the name. We are not certain of how the home became Gray Gables. This is something that I am still researching.  I know that there was hotel not far from our home that was called Gray Gables and that a lot of the people who did work here were also connected to the old hotel. But, this could all just be a coincidence.

All in all, we have good days and bad days with this old house. I am smitten, to say the least. I have never felt like I belonged as much as I do out here. We are far out but close enough to the grocery stores and such, yet I feel like when I walk outside, I am in another place all together.  Settled would be a perfect term!


Here is Hubby and I right after our purchase (yard cleaned up a lot) for the local newspaper, The Blade.  They did an article on our purchase and our plans.  Historic home saved!

Here is another pic of the house in its old glory with original cedar shake (unpainted) and old windows)
Here is Gray Gables with new siding and windows. Looking good girl!


Winter at Gray Gables and lord knows this past one was brutal. She held her own pretty well.

Living room with our massive fireplace and coffer-ed ceilings.

Old pic we found in 2nd floor ceiling. We believe THIS might be Franny Cleveland - which is interesting because her and Grover lived in Gray Gables in Mass. (similar design to our home- picture below)


For me, this house makes me fall asleep thanking my lucky stars that she is mine and wake up pinching myself because we live in such a great old house with such a cool, mysterious history that I long to solve one day. 

I would also like to note that all who are afraid to jump into a HUGE project with your spouse.  I would encourage it. I don't always get along with Hubby, but I am a pretty laid back person. We worked side by side in our small business beautifully. Not many can say that either.  This project, and yes, we still have a ways to go, has been the best, healthiest thing for us.  It has brought us together, taught us how to work as a team and make decisions based on compromises for our wants.  I would not trade the project for anything as it has come full circle with its fruits to our family.

So, Life at Gray Gables describes my life. The good, the bad, the ugly.  The hard times, the happy times and the construction that I don't know we will ever be rid of! I know that for now, we still have lots to do, but we are also able to enjoy life. I have learned to let things go, tomorrow is another day- which I can thank to my laid back, country life!

That is my story and I am sticking to it!

~Kel of Gray Gables~

Our Columns (there are 2) at the end of the drive with Gray Gables stamped in them)

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