June 1

Ok everyone! It is time for you all to go to a brand new website!  I have been truly blessed since starting this blog, but have felt confined to only one topic, so I created my own website, and would love to have you join!

To get you over there, here is the list of prizes to be given away.  You have until June 8 to enter!  So do it soon!

Here is what you need to do and the prizes you can win!

1.  Please pick a blog or blogs that you would like to follow by email.  There is a little follow button that appears at the bottom right hand corner of each blog.  Please hit this and fill out your email address and information.  You will then receive an email asking you to finish your subscription.  Please follow those instructions.
2.  Leave a comment on the blog or blogs that you chose to follow, along with your email address.  This way, I can be sure your name is entered in the drawing.  To leave a comment, please click on the title, scroll down and you will find the comment section.  If you join all four, your name will be entered four times. If you are one of the first 100 people to subscribe, your name will be entered twice.  (So if you follow each blog, and you are one of the first one hundred, your name will be put in the drawing 8 times.)
3.  If you are one of the first 30 people to subscribe,  I will email you a coupon code for my shop BitsofthePast.
4.  I will accept entries from June 1 to 8.  On June 8th I will draw names of followers only.
So now on to the prizes.
The first drawing will be for an E-Book by Renee Tougas of Fimby.  She has donated a wonderful book about how to nurture your creativity, and make it a priority in your life.  To read more, please click on the picture below.

Please also go to her website to receive daily inspiration.  Believe me, you will be inspired.
The next prize will be an adorable coin purse made by Nuckin' Futs Knitter.


Isn't this awesome?!  Handmade, I might add!  I know you want it!
Please visit her blog and shop to support her!  She is amazing!
3.  The third drawing is for my Antique Barnwood signs.  This barnwood is 100 years old.  The barn was torn down, but I was able to salvage some of the wood, and have used it for many different things.  But I love to make signs with them.  They have so much character.

These have a $30 dollar value, and come with hardware to make them easier for you to hang.
4.  Ok, now the prizes are getting bigger!  I have tried to give away items that fit with the many themes that are present on my website.  Wisdom from the book, handmade and vintage, now for adventure.  Since it is summer, and all of you will want to do some sort of travelling.  One lucky winner will receive a copy of this book.

This book is based on a weekly column written in the New York Times.  The column is devoted to the weekend getaway!  It tells you where to go, what to do and how to get the most out of your short weekend getaway!  To find out more, or to just go ahead and purchase a copy, go here.
5.  Finally, the grand prize.  Because it is summer, and I absolutely love mine, I am giving away an electric ice cream maker.

I love, love,love mine!  I adore home-made ice cream, but I hate the mess of the more conventional ice cream makers.  Call me lazy.  This is easy to use and easy to clean.  You can also play around with different recipes.  I make mine with pudding mix.  Really creamy!
Here is a description:

Enjoy tasty cold treats anytime with the Cuisinart Automatic Frozen Yogurt/ Ice Cream/ Sorbet Maker (ICE21). This 3-in-1 electric machine can produce up to 1-1/2 qts of ice cream, frozen yogurt, or sorbet in as little as 20 minutes. It's also a cinch to operate -- all you have to do is put the ingredients in and turn the machine on. And with the ICE21's heavy-duty motor, fully automatic paddle, and double insulated freezer bowl, it's both easy and fun to make your favorite healthy frozen snacks.
In addition, this automatic maker features a large spout for adding ingredients and a transparent locking lid for watching your ice cream being made. Plus, it's easy to clean so you can can spend more time enjoying your frozen delights and less time cleaning up the preparation process!

• Easy To Use:

  Simply place the ingredients in the machine and turn it on

• Curb Your Cravings:

  Hungry? Not a

• You're The Chef:

  Put your own spin on your favorite flavors or invent a new one
• problem. You can enjoy home made frozen treats in as little as 20 minutes

Found here



Now go to my new site and sign up!!!

http://bitsofthepastandpresent.com/

I Know it is Early

Well, it is May 31, but those of you who read this blog, will get a head start on the prizes. 

So, I will no longer be posting on this particular blog.  It has served me well for a while, but it is time to move on. 
I now have a website!  This has been a great deal of work, and I hope you all like it, and follow it.  There are four different blogs for you to choose from, but I also want you to look at the website home page daily.  There will be coupon codes, awesome sponsors and changing pictures through the seasons.

Wonderful prizes are offered to those who follow by email.  All the information you need, you will find at

                                        Bits of the Past and Present!!!

Come on over right now to enter your name!  

June 1 is almost Here

Well, it is Wednesday, and June 1 is Friday!!!  I cannot believe it is almost here!  Looks like I have some of your attention!

I will be giving away a set of those terrific signs on my blog, as well as a few more prizes.

Some wonderful individuals have graciously donated items.  Here are two of the sponsors.

Renee Tougas over at FIMBY, a great site on living more simply and thoughtfully, is giving a copy of her e-Book away!


To read more about this awesome book go here:  http://fimby.tougas.net/nurturing-creativity


Nuckin Futs Knitter over at Etsy, as graciously donated one of her terrific knitted items, which will be announced on June first!


There will be other great prizes on June 1 as well!  This is just a little teaser.

I was asked for a hint, so I will give one to you.

When you come to visit, you will be directed elsewhere.

There you go!  That is all I am going to give you, and I hope you guys are just as excited as I am!

See you soon!

Just to Wet Your Appetite!

So, as the big news approaches, I wanted to show you a prize that will be given away to one lucky winner! 

These antique barn wood signs.  I acquired this barn wood from a 100 year old barn that had to be taken down.  Sad, isn't it!  But the wood has been given new life through many projects around my home and now through these signs.  I sold a set of these signs in my shop for $30.  And now I am going to give them away.  Soon, real soon!!

This is just a sample of the fun that will be happening.  I have some wonderful prizes donated by sponsors that will be sure to excite you, and I will be sharing those in the days to come!

Remember, June 1!!!

It is getting Closer!

Oh my goodness!! I am getting so very excited about the big reveal!!!  There are some great prizes in the works! 

11 more days to go!

And so much to do!!!

See you soon!

Stay Tuned!!!!!!

I know it has been a while since I have blogged, but that's life right?

I have been working hard on new endeavors, so please stay tuned!

Return to this site on June 1, and I will redirect you to my newest endeavors!  Stay tuned for prizes, grand re openings and new fun adventures!

Count down to June first launch party!

Only 17 more days!!!!!!

Life

I have debated how much I would share with all of you, but I have decided to make this as much of a journal as I can.  I am not whining or being negative, I just simply want to tell you all where I am at in my life at this time.

So much has changed for me over the past year and a half.  Personally, I am tired of the changes.  I want a little steadiness, but a crave different all at the same time.  Even though I am tired, I am ready for an adventure.  Even though I have been on an adventure for the past year, I am ready for another one.  Wait, no I am not! 

See what I mean, this is my life right now.  In a state of confusion.

By the way, I am adding pictures to give more visual to the post, not for symbolism.  Gotta keep your attention!

First, let me tell you that my mind works all the time.  I have a very over active imagination, which causes me to constantly think, over analyze and some times suffer from anxiety.  Which makes my brain go into overload as I try to talk myself down.  It is a blessing and a curse all at the same time.  My overactive thoughts have led me to great confusion as of late.

Last year, when I left my job, it really shook my world. I loved working!  I loved teaching!  And I especially loved all of the middle school kids I taught.  This age often gets a bad rap, but I love them.  They are funny, and I was good at what I did.  Then I was abruptly taken out of this work that defined me for so long, and placed into full time motherhood.  I think that sounds funny.  We are always full time mothers, I just had something to take my mind off of it for a few hours a day.

Since that event, I have been searching for my next calling, my next adventure.  What I have not taken the time to see is that my next calling is here, at home, with my husband and kids.  Why do I feel like it must be out of the home to feel successful?  My only conclusion to this is society.  We are made to feel less than others if we stay home.

I stopped working, went into full time therapy mode with Little Bit, my husband was deployed, I started home schooling, I started my own business and I began writing two blogs.  My husband came home, and we discovered our new found freedom with home schooling, and began to travel with him on all of his trips.  I discovered my adventurous side again.  Man have I missed that side!

During this time, I have realized how I have let others dictate what I need to do, I have been hurt by friends who have not agreed with what I have done, I have lost friends, and I have begun to question this path that I have taken. 

All of the bits of my life work great on their own, they are just not flowing together.  My passions are: Faith, being a wife, mother, family, helping others, travel, writing, bits of the past. 

I am slowly discovering that I need to care less of what others think, and more for them and where they are at in their lives.  I love being a mother and home educator, and I think this was the best choice for my family.  I love being a wife and watching my husband live out some of his dreams, and getting to be a part of that.  I have found a place at church and will be assisting in the start up of a new ministry there. 

All the parts of my new life do actually fit, I just have to accept them.  I have to realize I do not have to search for things, they are in front of me and will stay the same or change depending on life at the time.  When God brings it.  Contentment.  Confidence.  This is what I am learning.

Over the next few weeks, I will be keeping it real with you how I am focusing on the positive.  I will be sharing my mission statement, my passions, and how I have begun to see how they do fit together.  I will focus on adoption, the struggles, the joys.  I will focus on being a wife, mother and home educator.  But most importantly what I have learned from all of it. 

I hope that in some way, I can help another who may be feeling the same way and bring a little humor to my over thinking!  Through doing this I want to see where God has brought me to remind myself how much I have changed, for the better.

By the way, I went to 10 minutes instead of five!  I could not stop thinking!

Love,
Suzy

Banks for Kids

I am about to admit something.

My kids keep a chore chart, but I forget to pay them.  We then go to the store, and they want to purchase a toy, and I tell them no because I do not know how much money they have.  Isn't that terrible!  I really do think this is why they are not keeping up with their chores lately.  The money is not visible, and I am showing them that what they do is not very important.  Ouch!

So I came up with a system.  I am sure someone else out there in the world of blogs, pinterest and so on has already come up with this.  But I assure you, it is totally from my own imagination. 

The kids today,made their own personal banks.

 Bit number 3's

 Bit # 2's

Bit #1's

I wanted them to make rather than me, because I wanted an excitement to grow.  They are going to keep track of everything that is put in and taken out.

Mr. Bit's and I have committed to paying them every Friday, they will then put it in their check registers as a deposit.  If they need cash, they write a check.

They have to give a reason for their withdrawal, and write it in the register as well.  Subtract, add, everything that we do as adults.

Hopefully by doing this, we will show them what their hard work means.  It means they can save up for that toy, the trip or the place they want to go.  I hope it teaches them to save instead of burn a hole in their pockets!

I am excited to see how this works for our family.

We will keep you posted!

Have a great day everyone!
Love,
Suzy

Happy Birthday Oldest Bit

I cannot believe that I am a parent of a double digit child!  In just 6 short years, he will be driving!!!!!!

Oh my goodness!  I want time to slow down.  I want to enjoy every second of this parent thing!  Thankfully, I can since they are home all day.  Some days, I am not so thankful, but today I am.

Here are some highlights of his birthday.  It was an end to a long day of travel.  We left California that morning and did not make it into our home until 530pm.  He chose to have pizza, so we picked some up on the way home, and then opened presents.  Unfortunately, Little Bit could not handle any more, so she went up to bed.  Which was probably better for everyone!  We love her dearly, but when the meltdown happens, she is done.

He had a great evening and we ended it by watching Transformers for like the hundredth time!

Here are some pictures.

Happy Birthday Buddy!

Disneyland

Oh My Goodness!!!!

My husband and I feel our age right now.  We have just returned from a wonderful trip to Disneyland where we spent at least 10 hours a day.  We had to get our moneys worth, you know.  By Saturday evening we were completely toast, and I was ready to push people down as we were trying to exit the park.  We somehow got caught in the fire work exit crowd, and I simply do not do well with feeling like cattle! 

We had a great time, so let's get to the pictures.  I do have to tell you, we took the old camera, thinking it would be better because it was smaller.  But it stopped working on the second day.  Oh well, we have our memories!

Most of the pictures are from the beach.  Middle Bit desperately wanted to go since he is still deciding on what he wants to be when he grows up: a surfer or a priest.  I think surfer is in the lead after this visit!

As you can tell, the pictures become really blurry towards the end.  Oh well.

We had a blast!  The kids rode their first roller coaster rides and were champs at walking around and not whining!  This was a great trip, and I loved every second of it, but I am glad it is done and we have survived Disneyland.  I love it, but I do not want to return any time soon!

Have a great day everyone!
Love,
Suzy

School Days

Well, if you were wondering what we have been doing in school lately, I will tell you.

We have been learning about seed, flowers and how things grow in science.  What a perfect time to learn about this subject.  Everything is sprouting up, we are planting seeds in our garden and planting flowers.  The kids have been loving the hands on experience and discovery.

An experiment that we did was called scattering seeds.  I used to do this experiment in my classroom for older kids, so I made it suitable for three different age groups.  We took three different sizes of seeds, a fan, a long piece of butcher paper, tape measure and pen and paper.  We did this more systematically than what I am about to tell you.  We did write out the steps to the scientific method and work through it, but I do not want to go through all of the details.  Basically we threw the seeds in front of the fan and watched the wind scatter them.  We found that how they were scattered was affected by their weight, shape and how strong the wind was.  Pretty cool way for them to see how the seeds can be scattered by elements.

We also did the old put white flower in food coloring and watch it change colors. Another great visual for the kids to see how the water goes up the stem and is distributed throughout the entire flower.

We took those flowers and dissected them.  This was really cool to watch how each one did it.  Little Bit watched me and then she drew a picture of a flower.

She was more concerned with drawing than seeing all the parts.  But art is her thing.

Middle Bit Took his time!! He is definitely one who likes to look closely and discover everything he can.  He separated all the parts, put them in viles, and wanted to see it all under the microscope. 

He kept wanting to call the parts the thingy.  So I had him practice looking at his diagram, and calling what he found by name.  It was cool to watch him learn.

Oldest Bit, got it, understood it, then finished as quickly as possible because I had an assignment that would interest him much more.

The assignments that was more intriguing? 

As a family we are going to write a monthly newsletter and send it out to our subscribers!

Who are our subscribers?  Anyone who emails me at bitsofthepast@hotmail.com or my other one if you know what it is!

How much? Free for now, but we may start incorporating math into it.  The funds would strictly go to distribution, but I think it would be great for them to learn how to manage funds, send out the newsletter, address letters, write articles in a fun educational way.

How does our newsletter work?

I will be working with Little Bit to write her articles.

The boys will each have two articles, take pictures etc.

Oldest Bit will design the newsletter.

Mr. Bits and I will edit and make sure it is all ready to send out.

The jobs are almost entirely done by the kids, and as they get older, the newsletter will get more involved.  Are you interested or know someone who is, but does not have access to a computer?  Email me at the address above.

They have already brainstormed and are ready to start! 

More details to come later.


Oh and finally, tomorrow we leave for the Happiest Place on Earth.



The excitement in the house is unbelievable!


Talk to you all soon!
Suzy