On Interviewing Our Great Grandmother

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We remember always having to do those annoying projects for school where you have to interview your family, but the questions were never any good.  So, we decided to interview our great grandmother, but this time ask our own questions.

C & K: What is your full name?

Jacqueline Marie Farella-err wrong answer- Gibson

C & K: What is your earliest memory?

Oh lord!  Climbing up the stairs of my grandmother's house.  This was in Chicago

C & K: What is your favorite memory with Cassandra and Kaitlyn?

When Kaitlyn was a baby.  She was really cute.  And she pinched Cassese.  He was 1 and she was 2.  Wait no.  She was 1 and he was 2.  Sitting side by side and she pinched him and he screamed!

And Cassandra. I remember that there was 2 babies.  Angie was born first.  Cassandra looked like a baby doll and Angie was the momma doll.  They were the cutest babies!  I never had an ugly baby.

C & K: Tell us about your ancestors.

Which one do you want to know about?  Your great great grandfather Don Pape Cassese?  Great-great-great?  He was very tall.  Good looking  That's who CJ is named after.  It was always a last name, never a first.  Such a beautiful name.

C & K: What did you enjoy most about having the bakery?

Oh that it closed!  There was a lot of beautiful memories because the kids were all there. [What was your least favorite memory?] I wish I could've been home more with my daughter who couldn't be there with her allergy.

C & K: If you could visit anywhere, where would it be?  Why?

I would rather be just where I'm at because my children are all here.

C & K: If you could share only one piece of advice with girls our age what would it be?

Oh no drugs.  Definitely.  Sex, that's okay.  Well, not for them.  Don't ever be afraid of sex.  Sex is not the worst thing.  Drugs are the worst thing.  Once you get to 18 and start drinking, [The drinking age is 21. . .] Oh yeah, 21.  Well, you don't want to over drink.

We had so much fun interviewing our grandmother with our own questions.  We're just happy to be able to learn so much from her.

-Cassi and Katie

We're Back!

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We’re back!

Finally!  We do want to take a minute to apologize again for our lack of posts lately.  If you don’t already know, Cassandra was at a dance intensive most of July and Kaitlyn has been traveling (some more on that later).  When we got down time, we used it to really rest, since we didn’t get much time to do that.  We’re so happy to be back and posting!

New Design

We posted about it earlier, and you’ve probably seen, but we just wanted to touch on it once more.  Cassandra made the entire thing herself, using Sarah’s incredible tutorials!  Glitter for the win, am I right ladies?

A Few Changes

We’ve decided to have more of a schedule for posts now, since everything has been rather sporadic.  For August, we will be mainly posting Monday-Friday, 3-5 times weekly.  The weekends will be left open for guest posters and sponsor spotlights, which leads to. . .

New Sponsorship Options

Back at the beginning of the year, we stopped accepting sponsors.  We wanted to wait until we’d grown our blog enough to give sponsors the exposure they deserve.  We’ve grown a lot since then and are ready to begin accepting sponsors again.

Our Stats (7/30/2014):

Bloglovin- 533

Twitter- 930

Pinterest- 71

Instagram- 19

Facebook- 27

Total- 1570

Average Monthly Views- 1,360

Total Views- 16,000

If you chose to sponsor us, you’ll get much more than a month on our sidebar.  You’ll have two new blog friends, always willing to help you out!  That’s probably not why you’re sponsoring us, though.  We’ll also be promoting every single post you publish during your sponsorship and probably many more after you cease sponsoring us.

You will also be given the opportunity to do a guest post.  You get to take over our blog for the day with a post of your choice, written by you.  If you’re not into that, we could always interview you like the rock star you are.  Both make sure many other lovely people are exposed to your blog.

Finally, you will be given the opportunity to participate in our giveaway that month.  If you know you will want to do so at the beginning, you can go ahead and pay for your links with your ad so you don’t have to worry about it later.  No worries if you don’t pay for it up front and decide you want to participate later, though!

The options:

The Whole Pie 300x400 $7

Ice Cream Sundae 300x300 $5

Sliver of Cake 300x100 $2

(Giveaway links- 2 for $5)

We Used to Make Music Videos. . .

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Hey!  Happy Hump Day and Make Your Own Holiday Day!  This is also our 300th post!  Can you believe it?  ANNND we're only NINE followers away from 500 on Bloglovin'.  So many great things going on today :)

Did you guys know we used to make music videos?  Well, we did and our YouTube username was pretty interesting.

Our first channel was called BumbleBeeBuzzzBuzzz.  If you'r going to check those videos out, I would suggest starting with this playlist.  Personally, I think they're pretty good considering I was in 5th grade at the time and we didn't have a tripod, so the entire time I was attempting to line the net picture up with the last.

Our next channel, and the one we currently use when we need to upload something, is called Glowormiez.  I had let my brother use this channel for a while before I sort of took it back, so some of the first videos are very interesting.

I think the best video on this one would have to be our "Tea Remix".  Pretty much we video taped each of the elements involved of making tea, then used the sound to make a "song" type thing.  It was fun, but I do think we could have done better.

If we started making videos again, would you watch them?  Have you made similar videos?  Leave a link in the comments for us!

-Cassi & Katie

I Really Shouldn't Join My Parents Grocery Shopping.

I usually go grocery shopping with my parents.  I don't generally mind it and they usually appreciate help finding better deals and such.

On Thursday I was with them and my little brother was there too.  I really had to pee, so my brother and I went to the bathrooms, clear on the other side of the store.  When we were done, we just went back to where our parents last were since they weren't answering our texts or calls.

Then we stood and waited, and waited, and waited.  Then this older lady in one of those chair things starts backing up past us and staring at us.  So I grab my brothers sleeve and pull him out of the way with me.  The lady jumps and tells us "Huh. I thought you guys were a display!".

What?!  I don't even get why anyone would think that.  It's not like we were even standing very still.  But, the lady giving out free wine tasting sure thought it was hilarious.

Don't forget to link-up your 5 Little Grins for the week & enter my giveaway!

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My Week

Monday it snowed.  We got a lot more than this and I wound up actually shoveling.

Tuesday I made this gift tag from a magazine page.  It goes with all my envelopes! :)

The back

Picked up Allegiant on Tuesday.  Only about half-way through it, but I just read some on Wednesday.

Went shopping on Wednesday.  These are a few of our interesting(?) finds.   This was at Charlotte Russe.  It sparkles.

Ohh good.  Just the kind of leggings I was looking for??

Hot.

I helped make bread on Wednesday night, late into Thursday morning.

Thursday we actually cooked the dough.  These were cornbread muffins,

These were cranberry-wheat rolls,

Sweet potato rolls,

This is all bread (with the exception of the pumpkins)

The kitchen after I finished cleaning this morning.

How was your week and your holiday?  If you're shopping today, stay safe!  Katie is currently in Florida, but look forward to an update and some stories from her when she gets back. :)

-Cassi

Prepping for Pointe

On Wednesday, I went down to Chicago to get fitted for a new pair of pointe shoes.  (More on the Chicago adventure later).  Previously, I had gone to someone who fits shoes on her own.  She has her own method and lots of special things she has you do to help protect your feet.  Some of them are super helpful, but some are a little crazy.  She only puts people in two brands of shoes as well and that is rather annoying.  Neither really work for me so I thought it would be best to go somewhere else with more variety.  I'm pretty happy with the pair I got at the new place and hopefully I stay happy with them!

I got casting for our production on Monday and it turns out I have two parts, both en pointe.  I really was not happy.  Currently, I have two hours and fifteen minutes of pointe class each week.  When rehearsals start, that's going to change to four hours, minimum.  Pointe shoes generally die after twelve hours of use.  I'm sure you can do the math.

I'm probably going to be getting 2 new pairs of shoes soon and after prepping the pair I just got, I'm not looking forward to it!  What do I do to prep new shoes?

I have to put clear nail polish on my elastics and melt my ribbons after I cut them.

Then, I have to sew both of those on.  Pointe shoes cost $50+ and don't come with ribbon and elastics sewn own?  Correct!  You also have to purchase the ribbons and elastics separate from the shoes as they don't come with them.

Next, I form new lambs' wool pads.  Some people use toe pads, but I just like lambs' wool.  It forms to the shoes as well as your feet, though, so you have to make new ones for each new pair of shoes.

Just like heels, you gotta break them in before you start wearing them!  The shank (the hard sole) needs to be broken in some.  If not, you can't point your feet and most likely won't be able to get over the box.

If you're going to perform in a pair, chances are you're going to have to calamine them too.  This can take quite a bit of life out of the shoes as it wets them.

A lot of work for something you're only going to get twelve hours out of.  They do take around 3 hours to make, though.  Thankfully I'm not responsible for that too because that would just end badly.

Have a beautiful day!

-Cassi

October in Pictures

-Cassi

My Closet Organization (Or Lack There-Of)

On the far left I keep dance costumes from previous years.  I'm not sure why.  I have nothing to do with them.  I suppose I could wear one for Halloween if I really wanted.  (Would you be interested in seeing these costumes & possibly a rant about how to pick a good costume?)

Next I have lighter sweaters, T-Shirts and such.  There is one random dress in there too.  I don't have any bottoms in there though.  I actually don't keep bottoms in my closet except for some yoga pants.

Then I have quite a bit of empty space that will most definitely be filled when I actually get around to putting all my stuff from the boat away.  (Yeah, that won't be happening soon.  It's currently all laying on a chair.  It's all clean though!

I keep my leotards and stuff I wear over my dance clothes right in the center because they get used the most. Aside from the costumes, this is the only section where I have the hangers turned the right way.  This is from a cleaning tip I saw awhile ago.  You hang everything the wrong way and at the end of the season, year, whatever, the clothes that are still hanging the wrong way can get donated/ thrown out because they haven't been worn.

In the empty space you can see a bunch of bags back there.  I really don't use these and will be donating them soon.

On the far right I just keep stuff I don't wear very often like dress clothing.

So, that's that.  I used to keep everything organized by color, but it made it extremely hard to put things away.  Plus, multicolored shirts drove me insane then!  I'm hoping to change the organization to something more useful here soon.  If you have any ideas let me know.  I could really use them! haha

Last Thursday (Wedding rant), Last Friday (Book review), Saturday (My favorite free fonts), Sunday (My October sponsor GIVEAWAY), Monday (My 5 Little Grins post and a giveaway), Tuesday (Some ideas of things you shouldn't do on Halloween), and Wednesday (My NYC Influenster Review)

-Cassi

I Really Don't Like Weddings

I'm sorry.

I really am.

They just make me extremely uncomfortable.  From the incredibly loonnnnggg ceremony (Well, the most recent one I went to was only 10 minutes, but the one I went to before than was almost an hour and a half. It just seems awkward watching them like it should be a private moment or something.  Then there's the fact that a whole bunch of people are crying.) to the wait before the reception.  I really don't know what you're supposed to do while they're taking pictures.  Sometimes they have appetizers and what not set out, but last time there were over two hours before dinner.  It was just weird having such a huge break.

Dinner isn't so bad and it is nice to hear some of the speeches especially because some of them are really heartfelt.  When dinner is over is when it starts to get bad.  I hate dancing in public like that.  There is a difference between being a dancer and being able to dance like that.  Why do you have to dance anyways? I would honestly rather walk around and socialize than dance.  Also I'm extremely annoyed be people who feel the need to tell you that you have to dance.

So that's it.

-Cassi

My Weekend

We tested water at the beach on Friday!  One of the women down at the marina 'adopted' them so now she records some different tests twice a year.

Katie and I drew an interesting picture Saturday afternoon

Can we talk about Katie's hair for the wedding?   

 I thought this was super cute!

Umm chandelier?  haha

This cake was lemon and chocolate. . . 

The aftermath of letting Katie sit in our car with her glittery dress!

Dinghy pig pile!

-Cassi

YouCaring: Bridget's Service Dog

Through boating, we met Rob and Moreen Karsten as well as their two daughters.  Bridget, their oldest daughter, had a stroke before she was born.  It affected how she copes with the world around her and she is constantly struggling with anxiety, depression, and coping with her environment.  Something that helps Bridget is being around animals.  They calm her down a lot and when in public areas can give her the space she needs to feel comfortable.

Getting a service dog is an opportunity she has been provided with.  They've gone to New Mexico a few times to meet dogs and see how they interact with Bridget.  It is very important for the dog and Bridget to get along.  Right now they are in the matching stage it could take 6 months or so because the dogs need to be trained.

Getting a service dog isn't anywhere near free.  They've had to fly to New Mexico multiple times and will have to go back a few more times yet.  Flights aren't cheap, and generally all 4 of them have to go!  On top of that, insurance doesn't cover the dog, all though donations to the program off set the cost.  They will have to pay around $5,500 for the dog, all by themselves.

Bridget (left), her mom, and her younger sister Gillian setting up for the harbor market!

So, they started making dog toys to sell to off set the cost.  I saw them making them while sitting on the dock and offered to help.  I only made about 20, they made around 300!  This weekend, they went to a farmers market with my family and had a booth.  They were able to sell quite a few, but no where near $5,500 worth!

They recently made a YouCaring site for Bridget, where people can send donations for the dog.  They also have an Etsy page where you can buy the dog toys!  Please check both out, if you have a little bit extra to give, it would be greatly appreciated and for every donation they donate a dog toy to an animal shelter. Buying the dog toys also directly benefits Bridget, and dogs love them!

Here's Bridget's Story:

Bridget is a wonderful young teen.  Unfortunately, before she was born, Bridget had a stroke.  We don’t know why and never will.  It is just something we need to deal with on a daily basis.  The stroke did not affect her intelligence; it did affect how she processes the world around her.  She has a constant struggle with anxiety, depression and coping with her environment. 

As her parents, we have gotten her to best medical care.  Sometimes, this has meant traveling to St. Louis or Minnesota.  We believe there is more that can be done for Bridget and we want to help her as much as we can to lead an independent life and become a productive member of society. 

After reading the wonderful things service dogs are doing for vets, we started looking into the possibility of a service dog for Bridget.  After a lot of research and searching, we located a very reputable training program in New Mexico called Assistance Dogs of the West.  After an extensive application and interview process, which included support from Bridget’s pediatrician and therapists, Assistance Dogs of the West has accepted Bridget into their program.  We are currently working on finding a dog that is a good “match” for Bridget. 

We have already incurred several expenses with multiple trips to New Mexico.  We will need to go back for two weeks of training when a dog is ready.  We will also owe $5,500 as our portion of the dog training.  The rest of the dog fees are covered by donations to the program, but the family is responsible for half of the cost of the dog.  I think this is fair, but still a large expense that insurance will not cover.  Bridget is doing her best to help earn the money watching the neighbors guinea pigs when they are on vacation and dog sitting.  We are all working hard and making fleece dog toys that we are going to sell at craft fairs.  At $4 each, we won’t make $5,500, but it is a start and it shows how committed we all are to helping Bridget.  Also, for every donation made, we are donating a dog toy to a dog in an animal shelter.  If you would like to purchase dog toys, please visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/PuppiesHelpingPeople?ref=search_shop_redirect  You may wonder what a service dog could do for Bridget.  Most importantly, the dog will be a constant emotional support and companion.   The dog can help Bridget in line at the grocery store by keeping the patron behind her in line from getting too close and making her panic.  The dog can do the same in a crowd of people by giving Bridget the space bubble she needs.  Bridget’s favorite command is squish.  That is when the dog lays on top of her, this calms Bridget down like nothing else can.  I could keep going, but you can see the general idea.  Independence is the primary goal for Bridget. 

In spite of her difficulties, Bridget has persevered to be a wonderful piano player and singer.  She takes tap dance and plays Buddy Baseball in the summer.  She loves rocks, sewing and playing Mincraft.  She is very caring and creative.

Bridget plans for the future is to become a graphic artist. 

Please help Bridget get her dog.  No amount is too small.

Thanks!

-Cassandra & Katie

The End of This Year's Boating Season (& Why I'm a Little More Upset than I Let On)

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Six years ago, my dad was off from work for about 3 week and bored out of his mind.  Apparently buying a boat was the best way to cure this boredom.  (Uhh if I went shopping every time I got bored I would be broke.) It was a 23' jet boat and we kept it on the Chain of Lakes in Antioch, Illinois.  It was fun at first.  The Chain seemed so huge and we thought we'd be able to do stuff for a while.  This wasn't the case.  All the lakes were pretty small.  We couldn't even get the boat up to full speed in the short distance across.  There weren't many restaurants and the ones that we did go to were all the same anyways.

This inspired my parents to start looking for larger boats.  Maybe one we could sleep on.  It would be cool to get a boat we could put on Lake Michigan- "the big lake".  They started shopping around and we found one in Michigan they really liked.  So after just 2 short seasons on the Chain of Lakes we were on a new, bigger boat in a new, bigger lake.