New Smyrna Beach Mom

We are Moving....Slowly!

2016-02-16T18:12:00.002-05:00

I have kind of moved. I am in the process of moving to my own hosting, if you are not getting emails please go and subscribe on the new site. The subscribe to emails is on the right hand side.

www.nsbmom.com

This will all be integrated shortly but in the meantime...if you like us go subscribe!

Riverfest

2016-02-04T13:23:00.000-05:00

NSB Caps Spaghetti Dinner

2016-02-03T21:20:00.000-05:00

NSBCAPs will hold their annual Spaghetti Dinner this Saturday, February 6th. The dinner is from 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm at the NSB High School, 1015 10th Street in NSB. Proceeds from this yearly event go directly to their scholarship programs.

NSBCAPS was started by sisters Jane Chapman Gould and Vermelle Chapman, both graduates of New Smyrna Beach High School, in 1995 with the sisters’ own money. Since that time, NSBCAPS has raised over $700,000 and awarded over 350 scholarships to NSBHS students.

Tickets for the Spaghetti Dinner can be purchased at the door of the event for $6.00 or you can buy them online here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nsb-caps-spaghetti-dinner-2016-tickets-19587743468

Come out and support the students on Saturday!

Crawfish Boil at Bakka's

2016-02-01T06:43:00.000-05:00

Tina Boyle Martin

2016-01-31T17:53:00.000-05:00

Very early this morning as my daughter and I were driving to Daytona we rounded the corner after the three bridges and came upon the aftermath of this accident. The vehicles and deceased were still on scene as law enforcement investigated. My daughter had been singing along to the radio. All singing stopped and it had a profound effect on both of us. 

Two points I want to make. First this very kind woman was killed helping someone else, and leaves behind a very young family. This could be any of us and our children. I don't know her but I do know she was a member of our community. 

Second, law enforcement does not make enough money or get enough credit for what they do and see each and every day. 

If you are so inclined help this family out, as she was trying to do for someone else, here is the link. 

https://www.gofundme.com/eymecuv8

Cudas Baseball Golf Tournament

2016-01-30T11:48:00.005-05:00

Please Contact info@rbicudas.org if you would like to sponsor. Information on Golf and Sponsorships is here.

Mommy & Me Classes

2016-01-29T15:31:00.002-05:00

SE Volusia Community Choir

2016-01-23T20:58:00.000-05:00

Princess Ball 2016

2016-01-22T09:12:00.001-05:00

The Princess Ball will be held 1-30-16 from 7-9 p.m. at the Southeast Volusia YMCA, 148 W. Turgot Ave, Edgewater. Tickets are $7 per person and are available at City Hall, YMCA and at the door. Proceeds benefit the Edgewater Scholarship Fund.

Love Letters

2016-01-21T19:30:00.001-05:00

Mardi Gras

2016-01-21T18:28:00.002-05:00

Do You Rescue?

2016-01-21T00:04:00.000-05:00

If you have ever read this blog you know I am a huge proponent of rescue. Adopt a dog, a cat or ten. I have four animals in my house that are rescued for one reason or another. Three from shelters one from a friend who had too many cats. The two idiot dogs in the photos above are my current mutts. One was a rescue reject had been returned to the shelter twice because he was out of control. He was "untrainable." Guess what, I trained him, he is still a pain in the ass but he is trained an an awesome dog. The other was 2 days from being euthanized. My kind-hearted daughter dragged me 60 miles away to adopt her after seeing her on the Internet.

Things to remember if you choose to adopt a dog, they will not be perfect the minute you bring them home, They might have never been in a house, had regular food, a good place to sleep, the list is long. A shelter is a scary place, when you adopt a dog from a shelter, they were probably depressed, scared, living in a cage. Be patient. Don't give up.

My big dog Boss ran away every time he saw a chance to get out the door, my son and his friend spent many days hunting him down. He drove us crazy. Three years later, we leave the door open and he looks at us, thinks about it and does not run. It takes time.

Every good relationship takes time. We adopted Kahlua, LuLu as we call her from the Orange County Animal Shelter. She appeared to have no personality, no one was going to adopt her. She was one of many dogs in a long row of cages. Something in her eyes spoke to us and we brought her home. After a few says with the Bossman it was clear she had a personality. She was truly the perfect rescue, perfectly trained and wonderful.That never happens, but sometimes it does.

So I have had both, the plug and play dog and the OMG Shoot me dog,...I love them both. I urge you to skip the pet store and the breeder and go for that not so pretty dog, that really I have to train you dog. That dog (or cat) that will really appreciate another chance, It may take some time and some love but it will be so worth it.

Images Festival of the Arts

2016-01-16T16:16:00.002-05:00

Canal Street Business Expo

2016-01-13T22:40:00.000-05:00

This Blog

2016-01-12T21:25:00.000-05:00

This little blog has served many purposes over the last 8+ years. It has provided me a forum to promote local businesses, schools, local events, all sorts of things. I have never made money from this blog, that has never been what it was about.

This blog has been through marriage, divorce, death, old jobs, new jobs, happy times and sad. What it has never been is a target for someone to attack my children. In the past week, it is my understanding that my blog, my business, and one of my children have been attacked on several different Facebook pages. I have only seen these attacks because people who are horrified have sent me screenshots of them. In other words, cowards saying things with no threat of response, someone hiding behind their keyboard as people are so prone to do.

Quite frankly I do not care what people say about me, Most of it is not true and I am pretty tough. However, do not ever mess with my kids. I have gone to lengths that normal people would not to protect them from things that most of you cannot imagine.

My kids are fantastic, kind, considerate human beings. They care for animals, old people and put others before themselves on most all occasions. No rational human being, particularly a parent can think it is okay to attack a child. If you do, please unfollow me right this minute.

So I ask you, my readers and followers of the last 8+ years, when you see comments, statements and things that may be posted about me, or my children...look away. Better yet, speak up and say that is not okay. I have stood up for many things over the last several years, some popular, some not. I will always stand up for what I think is right.

Thanks for listening.

Pirate Plunder 5K

2016-01-12T06:32:00.004-05:00

The Pirate Plunder 5K is on Saturday, March 5, 2016. The run benefits the Coronado Beach Elementary PTA. Check in starts at 7:00 am and the race will start promptly at 8:00 a.m. They will be awarding the best pirate costume and also having a free Kids Fun Run following the race. 5K t-shirts and swag bags available, along with refreshments and fun! Check-in is at race headquarters at the intersection of Pine and Flagler in NSB.

Online registration is available at http://www.pirateplunder5k.com/

Edgewater Animal Shelter

2016-01-02T13:46:00.000-05:00

As of 12/31/2015, Volusia Society for Aid to Animals' contract with the Edgewater Animal Shelter was terminated. In an effort to clear up any misconceptions on what is happening with the shelter here are the facts:

VSAA was the monetary sponsor for the shelter, that relationship has ended. They are seeking a new non-profit to provide financial support, In the meantime, a private company has taken over
The City of Edgewater is not taking back the shelter, it will still be privately managed
It will remain at the current location 605 Mango Tree Drive, Edgewater, FL
All the animals are still there and awaiting adoption
The hours are the same, and they are planning on expanding the veterinary hours.
They will continue to be a "low kill" shelter, they only euthanize animals in extreme circumstances

If you feel so inclined they could use some things. They are in desperate need of Clay and Scoopable Cat Litter. They always need cat and dog food, both dry and wet. They are open today until 4:00 pm.

If you have questions you an reach them at:

605 Mango Tree Drive
Edgewater, Fl 32141
386-957-3994

Thank you and please adopt whenever possible!

Soup Sampler

2016-01-02T11:53:00.002-05:00

Goodbye to 2015

2015-12-31T21:17:00.000-05:00

I did not love 2015, it was a tough year. My Dad died, which is still hard to believe some days. My mother continues to deteriorate in a nursing home. I let go of some unhealthy relationships, and am much better off for that. There were high points, my son graduated from high school and went on to college. My business had a good year. Both of my children are healthy, responsible and kind human beings...I look forward to what 2016 will bring.

So on to that new year. I don't do "resolutions" so I will call them suggestions. Some that we can all benefit from.

Let go of guilt.
Allow yourself to say No.
Focus on what is important-what is important to me may not be important to you and that is ok.
Realize there are some things we cannot control. Let it go.
Say goodbye, leave the past in the past, that is where it belongs.
Let grudges go. They take too much energy.
Laugh...a lot. Laugh at yourself...even more.
If something or someone is meant to be it will happen. Don't force it.
Who cares what other people think.
You never really know what someone is going through, be kind as often as you can.
Spend more time hanging out with your dog (or cat) they are amazingly understanding and therapeutic.

I wish you all a happy and prosperous new year!

Cider Social

2015-12-28T13:49:00.002-05:00

New Year's Eve on Flagler

2015-12-27T11:34:00.001-05:00

The Spirit of Christmas

2015-12-21T10:15:00.001-05:00

Sharing something I did not write today...thank you to my old and dear friend Pat Perkins for sharing it with me.

Christmas Story:
For the Man Who Hated Christmas
By Nancy W. Gavin

It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years.

It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas. Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it – overspending and the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma – the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.

Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was on the wrestling team at the school he attended. Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.

As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.

Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids – all kids. He so enjoyed coaching little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came.

That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes, and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed a small, white envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done, and that this was his gift from me.

Mike's smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year. And that same bright smile lit up succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition – one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.

The white envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children – ignoring their new toys – would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the small, white envelope never lost its allure.

The story doesn't end there. You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree. And the next morning, I found it was magically joined by three more. Unbeknownst to the others, each of our three children had for the first time placed a white envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing to take down that special envelope.

Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit will always be with us.

I would love to hear about your experience after you've done your envelope! ❤

Blue Crush Volleyball Skills Camp

2015-12-15T10:00:00.001-05:00

Kid's Fishing Day

2015-12-14T07:37:00.002-05:00

Abbey Lewis

2015-12-13T13:41:00.001-05:00

Many of you are aware Edgewater Firefighter Reese Lewis' daughter Abbey had a blood vessel rupture on December 9, 2015. She is currently at Arnold Palmer Hospital after having brain surgery. She has a long road ahead of her and the firefighters are raising money to help out the family. You can check out the Go Fund me page if you would like to help out. I copied the post from the page below so you can become acquainted with the situation and the family.

Please help out if you can and keep Abbey and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Friends and family are raising money to help out a special local family, Shannon and Reese Lewis, with medical expenses. Reese and Shannon's 10 year old daughter, Abbey, suffered a medical emergency on December 9, 2015, where a blood vessel in her brain ruptured. Unknown to the Lewis family, Abbey suffered from a condition called Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM). Abbey underwent immediate brain surgery to stop the bleeding at Arnold Palmer Hospital where she remains today. We are blessed that Abbey made it through the first surgery. However, we know that Abbey has a long road to recovery ahead of her, including additional surgeries and expensive medical treatment. Abbey's family continues to stay by her side, missing time from work and incurring expenses for lodging and food.

Both Reese and Shannon have been civil servants for Volusia and Brevard counties their entire careers. We are now hoping that the communities they have helped support will now help support them in their time of need.