Sharon Scarlett: The Queen of Shady Acres

My grandmother, Busia, as we called her in our big Polish family, had eleven children and thirty three grandchildren. Having thirty two cousins, it takes a lot to stick out in the crowd but for me my cousin Sharon is that person. I find her journey fascinating because it is a route completely unplanned in the life of someone who thought they had it all planned out.

Sharon was ready to take the corner office. "Dressed for success" as she calls it and all business. Starting as an intern after high school graduation, Sharon took a position with RSI the company run by her father, my Uncle Chet.  Once Sharon graduated from college, she planned on moving into the corporate sector and the offers began to come in. The first of many unpredicted re-directions in her life, RSI wasn't willing to give her up and at age 26, Sharon became the first female and youngest owner of the now70 year old company.  She was moving fast toward her goal of financial gain. Looking toward moving out to the Detroit upscale suburbs, Sharon had a picture of what she thought life would look like, until she met Joe, a country boy from Tennessee living in Taylor, Michigan (an area of metro Detroit that is a sort of rural bubble outside the Motor City).

Joe's first gift to her was a fishing pole and in her words she was "hooked."  When she married Joe, Sharon took on another unexpected role as step mother to Joe's daughter, Rebecca (Becky). Motherhood was not exactly on her radar but to Sharon it was a gift and a privilege and her relationship with Becky came naturally. "I met Rebecca when she was 8 months old. The first time I ever laid eyes on her I really think I fell in love with her. She was the sweetest, prettiest, little brown eyed girl I ever saw. I dated Joe and doted on Becky." Within a couple months of marrying, Joe and Sharon received full custody of Becky. They purchased 10 acres of rural land and thought "possibly, someday" they would build on it.  She also acquired a dirt bike and a shotgun compliments of her outdoors-man husband. Sharon continued to satisfy her corporate side, eventually becoming the CFO and working at RSI along side her Dad until his retirement in 1996.  Life was moving along but within a few years, her plans would change again dramatically.

She recalls one of the most "tragic times in her life" as also the most "triumphant." On May 20th 1997, her father passed away unexpectedly. It blind sided Sharon and the stress began to affect her health. But it wasn't just stress that was taking its toll on her physically, on July 28th of that same year, she received the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. Soon after on August 20th, her biggest turning point came when she made the decision to become a Christian. A midst so much pain and uncertainty, Sharon recalls, "I have never felt joy like that before." From that point, Sharon's perspective and world changed forever. Besides her newly strengthened faith, that land that they purchased for "maybe someday, well, it would become one of her strongest lifelines.

Facing a debilitating diagnosis and a full-time parent to a young daughter, Sharon remained focused on her family and her beliefs. "Becky was just finishing up 4th grade when I got diagnosed with MS. I did the best I could to not pass my fears onto her, and she was still little enough that she did not fully understand the impact." Sharon sold her interest in the company and they built and moved to what is now "Shady Acres." "When I was diagnosed, I was devastated and scared. I went into prayer, and the Lord put before me the means and people that made it possible for me to manage my disease naturally." Sharon made the decision to treat her illness holistically with nutrition and faith. She does not take any pharmaceuticals used to treat MS. "Since the drugs offered little hope, and there is no cure, I chose to make everything else as healthy as I could. I avoid artificial ingredients. Since 1997 I have not ingested (*knowingly) any artificial sweeter or hydrogenated oil (trans fats). The last diet pop I had was on my day of diagnosis. I use butter. The regular stuff. I rarely fry anything. I eat mostly venison (wild caught) and chicken." Sharon has quite a garden out at Shady Acres. Under the shade of their peach and apple trees, she and Joe raise their own chickens and grow fruits and vegetables. Sharon giggles about her "country" life and enjoys her fresh eggs nearly each day and freezes much of the produce they grow. She supplements her diet with Vitamin D, is an expert in reading labels and is continually adjusting her diet as research and food production continue to evolve. "I have removed the newest "artificial" sweetener which is high fructose corn syrup from my diet. That is a toughie. It is in nearly everything. Now, I try my best to avoid GMO (genetically modified food)." There is a lot of discussion about GMO's out there and in Sharon's belief the bad out ways the good.  For her, it is far more beneficial to put in the effort and diligence to keep the effects of MS at bay.

Scrappy Scarlett in Action

The disease of MS is physically debilitating but it is also ravaging to the spirit and Sharon pays close attention to where her priorities are and treats her mind and soul equally as vigilant. "I do whatever I can to avoid stress. I read the Bible daily and I pray. By the Grace of God, I was able to reduce my work from 50 hours a week to 10." Work looks different for Sharon these days. Yet another twist in her well laid plan came with the discovery of a new hobby that became a business and an outlet for her to release mentally. In 2001, Sharon reluctantly attended a scrap-booking party with a friend. The invitation included a request to bring 8-10 pictures of the same subject matter. Sharon's mother, Mary had recently passed away. She grabbed the envelope containing the photos she had recently contributed to the families memorial board and went to the party. The first page she ever created was for her late mother and before she knew it she left with an entire kit and within three months signed on as a consultant with Creative Memories. It was something to fill her time while Joe was working afternoons at Ford Motor Company, never intending to be a career move. That was 11 years ago. Sharon's job as a consultant is a perfect fit for her. It feeds her need to have interaction with others and if you know Sharon, you know she has never met a stranger. Always approachable with a warm smile, and much like her father, she enjoys people and loves a good story. "My passion is scrapping and paper crafting.  I get in the zone. It brings me joy and peace, especially when I am able to share it with others. It is one of the blessings that came out of my diagnosis." 

"All of this together is how I fight the battle with MS. I am careful to not "over-do" it, I rest and relax when I required. I am surrounded by a loving family, friends, and a peaceful environment." Much of Sharon's success managing her life and her illness can be credited to Joe. Sharon declares openly that Joe is the love of her life. She sees the happy irony in the way her life with Joe is from the one she envisioned as a young college girl. "Joe took me from the city, plopped me into the country, and now I find myself feeding chickens." They share laughter and a priority to keep things simple and in perspective. "He is very easy to talk to and capable of doing most anything if given the chance. I marvel at his energy. He loves to be outside, even in cold temps. I offered to purchase him a wood-splitter once for Christmas, and he said no way, as long as I can swing an ax, I am going to split all the wood by hand." They build on each others strength and determination always looking forward to the future but appreciating the little daily joys.

So, whats the latest plan for the folks at Shady Acres? Several years ago they purchased a larger 100 acre piece of land nearby, called Scarlett's Farms. In the past they have share cropped the land, and this year Sharon and Joe are planting their first crop of Non-GMO seeds. Sharon and Joe continue to enjoy watching Becky blossom. "I think she has grown into a lovely wonderful young lady, that I am very proud of, and that has been an overall joy." In their down time they travel in search of water and sunshine. Mostly for fun but also with therapeutic benefits, as the winters in Michigan can be long and sunshine at a minimum. 

I always ask the same questions at the conclusion of each of my interviews: "If you had five minutes to speak to the world, what would you say?" "The Christian side of me would say, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Read your Bible, it is your love letter from God. Count your blessings, and be thankful for them daily. The scrap-booking side of me would say, scrapbook them! The memory book is a way of focusing on your blessings. It puts the perspective on the positive things in your life. Be forgiving to your family and friends. Life is too short to hold grudges. It is really not necessary to dwell on the negative things in your life. Decorate your life. Be authentic." You certainly never get the sense that Sharon is lacking or that she has given up any part of her dreams for the future. She has found a formula to create balance that affords her a strong marriage, family and a satisfying career.

What struck me about my interview with Sharon was that all of her answers were about being adaptable and embracing the change. Are there bad days? Sure, when we "healthy" folks hop out of bed in the morning we don't give it a second thought but for people with MS that task may be as difficult as climbing a mountain most days. Throughout my interview there was never a mention of the negative, except for the initial shock of her diagnosis. I expected an answer like, "I have good days and bad days." There was no such comment, ever. It's as though she doesn't accept it. It is out of the question to pay MS any credence. "I have been blessed by things I never thought would happen to me, and I look and say WOW, I would have NEVER have planned that, but hey, it worked out wonderful!" And as for all that planning? Well it still continues, but with a very important difference than the way most of us plan. When life shifts her plan Sharon just creates a new one with determination and positive attitude.  Its not a back up plan or a plan B, it becomes "The" plan.  "I know that the Lord has strategically placed me physically and spiritually where he wants me to be." Her favorite scripture sums up how she approaches life: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV) Well, Scrappy Scarlett, THAT sounds like a plan!

For more information about Sharon and Creative Memories please click here.

Click here to view my interview with  Erika Laszlo

Couponing For Mere Mortals: Learning to Clip The Old Fashion Way

Well, by now you have mastered loading your grocery rewards card with digital coupons and signed up for your post purchase rewards programs with your favorite manufacturers. Right? If not, no worries. Here are the links to get you started.

Couponing For Mere Mortals: Saving Money With The Swipe Of Your Card

Couponing For Mere Mortals: Getting The Most Of Your Healthy Food Purchases

Moving on to the next step in couponing takes a bit more organization. With digital couponing the card does all the work for you, with paper couponing, its up to you.  Why use paper coupons when I can use digital?  Of course if we can reduce using paper its a plus, but there is still a need to clip. The biggest benefit is you can double them or triple them during rare promotions. Most grocery chains push for digital coupons because they do not double them. You are limited to how many digital coupons you can load also, usually 150. That seems like alot but overtime you can come pretty close to that number. There is still a bonus for using digital coupons too so, don't abandon ship. Grocery chains will often offer coupons for their in-house brands on their digital site, these are not available in printed form. Also, from time to time, they will track what you purchase and send you special offers to load on your card. For instance, last month Kroger offered a customer appreciation promotion and sent me 10 digital coupons, including several free items, like bread and even big discounts on natural products that are not typically offered. If you already have a routine in place with your digital coupon card, that is great because we are going to build on that process.

Get a coupon organizer. Now I've seen the extreme side of this with large three ring binders, you don't have to go there...yet. Unless that works best for you. I prefer a medium size accordion case that I can keep with me in my purse, in the event I need to make an unexpected purchase. I saw some similar ones in the dollar section at Target this weekend for $2.00.

File in a way that makes sense to you. The initial set up takes an investment in time but it will become second nature. The simplest way is to break down your pockets into general categories like, dairy, dry goods, baking needs, etc. Think of it as the sections of the store. Some couponers like to set up their pockets in order of the store layout beginning with the first section they enter. There is no right or wrong. Everyone's shopping needs are different. If you have small children you may prefer one pocket entirely for diapers and food. Play with it a bit to see what clicks. It has to make sense to you or you won't stick with it.

Follow a clipping routine. Carving out a set time each week to plan your shopping trip may seem inconvenient, but in the long run it will save you time and obviously, money. I have a time every Sunday that I get my coffee and get my list ready for the week. Its a good feeling to start the week of with a plan and adds to my overall productivity throughout the week. This is the order that I have found to work best.

1. Update your coupon file. Clear out any expired coupons before you begin clipping for the new week.

2. Make your list of needs for the week. Hopefully you are using your pre-printed cheat sheets to cut your time by checking off what you need and noting any additional items. Doing your list first, helps you stay away from impulse buys and gets you prepared to tackle the weekly sale circulars.

3. Start clipping with the weekly inserts. 

4. Load your digital coupons to your store rewards card. This is were it changes slightly. You will see some of the same coupons on your store site that you just clipped from the paper. Remember, you cannot double your digital coupon. So, if you have a clipped coupon and load the same to your store card, it will take the store coupon first and not double. There is a catch. They only double up to a .50 off. Therefore, if you have coupons that are over .50 for products that you use, load those to your card even if you have the clipped coupon. Also, load any additional coupons regardless of value for items that do not have a paper coupon.

5. File any new coupons into your organizer.

6. Finally, using your list of needs, review your weekly advertisement and coordinate that with any available coupons. You can make a note next to any items you have a coupon for digital or paper. Pull the corresponding coupons and put them in a front pocket of your organizer or a separate envelope. This helps because sometimes when you get into the store you may need to reference the coupon for things like size or quantity to make sure you meet the coupon requirements.

7. When you check out give the cashier your reward card first. Then hand them any additional coupons to take off the total. That way as they are ringing you can eyeball the monitor to make sure you items are reduced properly.

Now, there are even more advanced ways to do this process using apps and third party websites. I think its easiest to start this way, it really helps you learn how to incorporate couponing into your weekly routine. I'll be back soon to talk about some of those hi-tech savings helpers. Happy Clipping! Ta!

Etchings From The Man Cave: The Super Bowl Party Playbook

Meatloaf Sandwich

Having the gang over on Sunday for the big game? Here are a few rules to keep from getting a personal foul on the host/hostess:

1. Its a Super Bowl Party. You will most likely have guests that fall in one of two categories. The Game Watchers and The Commercial Watchers. As hostess, it is your job to run interference between the two. Identify ahead of time the possible issues. For instance, if you know that your friend has no clue what a first down is and prefers to talk about Beyonce's outfit for the entire first quarter, be prepared to redirect. Maybe she has a skill that you can ask for help with like making the bean dip, etc.

2. Be Ready for Kick Off.  Serious Game Watchers want to be BIS (bum in seat) by the coin toss. Have the  seating set up, TV on, and first round of snacks ready to go. Tell your guests the arrival time is 30 minutes prior to the game.

3.  Football Food not Fu-Fu Food.  This is not a cocktail party. The tradition of the tailgate is good comfort food that is easy to grab and eat. Fancy has no place here. Now I'm not against adding a couple healthier options like Chicken Chili, but I wouldn't take it too far. Stick with the classics and make sure that you have plenty of it. Consider that your guests will be attending for approximately three hours, which is why hearty snacks are the MVP.

4. Don't get stuck in the locker room. When planning your menu give yourself time to relax and enjoy the party. Stay away from dishes that need to be prepared at the last minute or require a lot of constant attention. I like the idea of food that guests can eat throughout the game. Some of my favorites are the good old deli bar or different flavor wings and baked potato boats. You can't go wrong with this plan because everyone create what they like. Don't stand over the grill making burgers for everyone. Instead, make a couple of  meatloaves (make Turkey and Beef  if you want to throw in a healthy variety) ahead of time, slice them up and serve as meatloaf sandwiches with lots of different toppings. Meatloaf is awesome because it will be yummy hot or cold.

5. The Pee Wee League. Sunday afternoons, food and football are family traditions. If you have the kiddos attending keep in mind that they may not be as fixated on the game as the Varsity kids.  Have activities planned in advance to entertain them. Remember, it's not fair to expect the kids to sit quietly and color while the grown ups are jumping and screaming at the TV. Find ideas that are active but not distracting to the others. Give them bingo cards to play during the commercials. Include topics like cars, soda, fast food, etc. Set up a table for them to play origami football or make their own pom-poms and banners. If you have a  teenager at home who could care less about football, hire them to be activity director.

You can do it! This year your Super Bowl Party will be epic. "Winning isn't getting ahead of others. Its getting ahead of yourself." -Roger Staubach. Go 49ers! Oh yeah, I said it. Ta! THM

Miss Mash! Follow ups. Sticky Notes. Randomness.

Follow up! - In my post "Santa Gave Me An Upgrade," I let you know about the trade in program at Best Buy. Well, Score! My gamer hubs took some old Xbox and Wii games in and left with a $68 BB gift card! Also, other options for trade-in are Game Stop stores and online at Usell.com. In fact, Game Stop is offering  (until February 17) additional 25% trade value on games and $50.00 extra in-store credit on select game consoles.

More Rewards - If you have signed up for some of the programs from my "Getting the Most Of Your Healthy Food Purchases" Healthy Choice also has a rewards program. It's available through their Facebook page. This one is through a third party site, so it's not my fav but you can still get perks.

Sticky Note - Stock up. Heading into Super Bowl weekend is the time to grab snacks, frozen appetizers, condiments, deli meats, and Mexican foods. Use in store specials, bundle discounts and your coupons to save big.

Etchings From The Man Cave - Not a big newsflash but the old rule still holds true. The end of January and first part of February are the best time to buy big televisions. Found this deal at h.h.Gregg on a 55" LG for $799.

Stuff From The Closet - Not shy about my love for LC. You know I rave about her jeans. Check out her Spring collection "Paper Crown."

ReCap - New Additions launched last week! "Newly-Wednesday" and "Design Day Friday." Let me know what you would like me to cover.

Plug - I often post additional tidbits on social media so please follow me. Twitter: @The_HomeMaker. Facebook: The Happy Home Maker (make sure Home Maker is two words) and Pinterest: click on the link on my homepage.

Next! - More new features to come. I have some really wonderful interviews, guest bloggers and fun bits.

Thank you for growing with The Happy Home Maker. As with any family, it's good to know that we're in this together. Best to you my friends, THM

Couponing For Mere Mortals: Getting The Most Of Your Healthy FoodPurchases

When you make the commitment to eat healthy, you may think that your savings options are limited. Not true it just takes a bit more creativity. Products that are natural, organic or specialty cost more to produce and tend to have a higher shelf price. In our house, we have a few items and brands that are "non-skimp" items. These are things that we feel are worth spending a little more on like, meats and eggs. The investment in our health is more beneficial then buying items because of sale price. Also, I try to be a thoughtful shopper. I am brand loyal. If I get good service or feel that a company is really making a good product then it's my job as a consumer to support that business. I understand that for so many stretching your food budget is survival and sometimes means compromising the healthier or preferred product. How do you balance being a thoughtful shopper and still save money?

Make the decision about which items are your "non-skimpers." Make a quick list for those items. This only takes a couple minutes on your computer. Save it and print it each time you sit down to make your weekly list. Keep track of the base price of these items, so you can easily compute when you find a bargain. By starting with these items first you can scan for deals and decide what portion of your weeks budget is still available for your additional needs. Now here is where you need to plan ahead a bit and get creative. For items like meats, dairy and produce buy direct and in bulk. You don't have to live in a rural community to support local farming. With a little research you can find great resources for fresh healthy ingredients. If you aren't sure where to start you can contact your local or state agriculture department to find co-ops, farms that sell direct and farmers markets. Many ranchers will sell meats in bulk, even butchering them into your preferred cuts. Check with the farm to find out when they will be offering meats, often they have set dates when you can purchase and you will need to order ahead. You can go in with a friend or two to cut the costs if you don't need such a large amount of product. Eggs and dairy often cost less than and are fresher than supermarket items. When I buy fresh eggs, I pay less than $3 for 18 and they last about a week longer than store bought. Buying local is fun too, make it a regular part of your shopping routine. Over time you will get to know your farmers and many times they will throw in extras for you to try or just as a thank you. Those relationships are far more valuable than saving a dollar.

Now, for those items that you need to head to the grocery store for, it is best to track when they typically go on sale. There are certain times of the year when select items have promotions. Jumping on the New Years resolution band wagon, this is the time of year that manufacturers push their healthier brands. They want consumers, who may not usually buy their brand to try out products. Items like, snack bars, cereals, frozen meals, and vitamins and supplements are at unusually low prices. This is when you stock up until the spring/summer when they begin their bikini ready campaigns. For example, our local store has a month long promotion with Lean Cuisine. I purchased 6 meals (any variety) for $12 (usually $3-$4 each) and also got a 12ct pack of Skinny Cow ice cream sandwiches ($7.99 retail) for free! Look for ways to benefit after you purchase. Three big brands, Lean Cuisine®, Kellogg's®, and Kashi® have great reward programs that you may not know about. By signing up on their websites and entering codes printed inside select products or doing bonus activities like watching informational videos, you can bank points to redeem for products and additional coupons and discounts.

Finally, don't hesitate to send kudos directly to brands. Send an email to them letting them know they are doing a good job. Sometimes they will thank you in return with a coupon or promo code. Also, use social media. Some discounts are only available to fans that follow on sites like Twitter or Facebook. You don't have to compromise your food standard. It will take a little investment of time getting set up but you will recoup in the long term. Health and happiness from our home to yours! Ta!