#getKatietoKelly

 Well, I waited much longer to do the next entry than I should have. #NoExcuse

This may seem like an "off the wall" story, but I need ya'll's help. So, way back when (like 2008).. maybe... I took one of those Facebook or myspace quizzes that read "Which celebrity do you look like?" It wasn't really a quiz that you answer questions. I just had to check the box to give them access to my entire life and then upload a picture. Simple enough, right? Nothing could have prepared me for the outpouring of support that I would receive over the next 10+ years from just clicking "Submit." 

So it went through it's loading stage and BOOM! There I was with my face next to Kelly Clarkson's face with a 95% face match. I was so surprised! Never did I think I looked like her, but since they pointed it out...well, heck yea I do! There was no going back ever again. Ever. 

Over the years, people continued to tell me that I looked like her and I just kind of shrugged it off like "OH yea? Okay." But then one day, I decided to just own it. So, picture it. I am just walking around, minding my own business when someone says, "Gosh, you just look so familiar!" Of course, I say "Oh!!! I look like Kelly Clarkson!" I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I have said that in my life. Like.. no one cares, Katie. But that doesn't stop me at all! I said it all the time when I first became a marketer. I would go into a business, introduce myself, and we would get to talking. I love building relationships with others in town! Anyways, 9/10 someone would say "I feel like I know you from somewhere." or "You look familiar.." To which I replied, "Well, I look like Kelly Clarkson. Here is my business card." Most of the time, they would just laugh it off and some would even say, "Oh my gosh, you do!" They had no idea how much bigger my head grew. :D 

In all seriousness, Kelly and I do have quite a few things in common besides our high cheek bones and big smiles. 

>We both have tattoos and love them. 

> We both hate sharks. ( Who knew?)

> We are both 5'5" tall. 

> We both have 5 letters in our name. 

> We are both loud and have a big laugh!

> She was born in Texas. I have lived in Texas a super long time. 

> We were both born in the '80s.

> We both LOVE Reba McEntire.

> We both love to sing! 

> We have both been divorced one time!

> We both had a troublesome relationship with our biological fathers, or perhaps not a relationship at all. 

> Our father's passed away about a year a part. 

This is where it gets real. For so long, I let my past and my crap relationship (or lack thereof) with my biological father determine the outcome every relationship I had. It was (and still is) hard for me to believe that people aren't just trying to see me fail or get hurt or worse... fall so hard that they look so good because "they helped me." Music has always helped me connect even has a child. It helps connect with myself, my feelings, my friends... hell... LIFE! 

Kelly's music has truly been so touching for me. I remember sitting in my room when I was in high school. Back left bedroom of the house. Windows were nailed shut. No air, no heat. Just me and my radio. I would lip sync the words to "Breakaway" with tears falling down my face because I DREAMED of the day that I would be free of all the emotional and physical abuse and neglect. Even now, her song "Piece by Piece" gets me in my feels. To think that someone couldn't be there for his child. I just can't even imagine treating my child the way my father treated me. 

Sometimes I wonder if she felt the way I felt when she learned of her father's passing. It was like a huge weight had been lifted. I remember being in Dilliard's in Texarkana when I got the call. I had just finished volunteering to wrap presents and I literally screamed "I am free!" Like... screamed! All the disappointment, all the memories, all the failures... every time I wasn't good enough. Every birthday he missed and every birthday I lived with him that he would NOT allow us to celebrate. It had all finally started to lift from my body. 

I want to meet Kelly, ya'll. I want to HUG her and THANK her for being there for me. For being there for all of us who struggle with how to put our emotions on paper. I want to tell her that she is truly an inspiration and that one day maybe I will have the courage to be more like her- STRONGER. 

#getKatietoKelly

This picture is from when I was a marketer for a local urgent care. We had a dress-up day each month. This was "Twin Day." I didn't have a twin, so I put Kelly Clarkson on a shirt and got my hair cut to match but a little shorter. 

Savings!

 

I’m not an extreme coupon expert by any means, but I work hard to find amazing deals. 

First let me tell you about the Libby app. I like to read but never have time so now, I read with my ears. Lol I downloaded the Libby app and link it to my library card. (Yes, I’m that person.) most library cards are free so why not?! Anyways, you can get audio books or books to read! Whoop!

So I start with The Krazy Coupon Lady app. She is amazing. Period. I let her send me notifications so I don’t miss any deals!

Next is a rebate app known as Ibotta. Love this. They have opportunities for you to earn bonuses, too! There are tons of rebates for in person and online shopping. I linked my Walmart Pay, and Walmart account so I can get the deals that I select on the Walmart Online option. Click the + sign to add to your list, take a picture of your receipt after shopping, and then scan the items that you bought at the store. Sometimes you don’t have to scan, which is easier.  Download here https://ibotta.onelink.me/iUfE/8cc13c64?friend_code=iqpduud  

and PLEASE use my referral code: iqpduud

(If you need help using it, just let me know!)

Another app I use is coupons.com. These are a compiled list of manufacturers coupons from brands like Kellogg’s, and P&G products. This one is pretty straight forward. Click the + sign to add to your list, take a picture of your receipt after shopping, and then scan the items that you bought at the store.  The coupons here are also found on other store apps like Dollar General and in some Sunday newspapers. So if you used the coupon in the store then you cannot stack it here to get even more back. (Let me know if you need help with this.)

Another rebate app I use is Fetch. It has a dog on it. Cute, huh? Anyways, similar concept here except you don’t have to add anything to a list. You just take a picture of your receipt and it ‘fetches’ the rewards for you! I also linked my email so it would find the deals on my Walmart grocery pick up trips too! 

Download here: A friend referred you to Fetch! Get the app here & earn 2,000 points for your first receipt: https://fetchrewards.onelink.me/vvv3/referraltext?code=2HB48Y

My referral code: 2HB48Y

Another rebate app I use is Checkout 51. No referral code needed here. Click the + sign to add to your list, take a picture of your receipt after shopping. Scan the items as it requests.

I also use Swagbucks. This one doesn’t have a lot of the brands that I use or match up with the deals I need it to… so I don’t use it as often as the others. But every little bit helps! 

Referral link here: Check out Swagbucks! I use it to get free gift cards! Click my link to join: https://www.swagbucks.com/?cmd=sb-register&rb=108242199&cmp=197&cxid=2001-app

This next one is one of my faves! Shopkick is fun to me. Honestly, if I don’t have lunch plans I walk around a store for an hour just scanning products. And all the kicks I get right now go towards Disney gift cards! Whoop! Anyways… so you select the store then they give you a list of items to scan. You pick up the item, scan the barcode and earn ‘kicks.’ Kicks will later be redeemable through gift cards. It’s that simple. Of course, not all stores have the items on the list. That’s how it goes. But you also have an opportunity to earn a higher number of kicks if you buy the item you scanned! Here is an example: If Suave Lotion is on the list then I will scan it and earn maybe 15 kicks. If I needed to buy the lotion then I would purchase it and scan my receipt and earn 1000 kicks. (These kicks are not real- just for an example.)

After you download the app be sure to use my referral code: SHOP616639

Dollar General app-

This is a great one especially for laundry detergent, fabric softener, toilet paper, and paper towels.

They have manufacturers coupons on their app, as well as Dollar General Coupons (like the $5 off $25). If you watch the sales and use coupons, as well as after shopping rebate apps, you can get some great deals. 

Check out this deal I got! 

(Pillsbury bowls x2 $2 (no additional coupons)

Doritos (on sale 2 or $5) $5 - no additional coupons

Gatorade(not pictured)- (on sale but 4 get 1 free) $5 no additional coupons 

Lysol to go pack- $1.00

DG coupons- $0.50 off

Total: $0.50

Benadryl- $5.85 

DG coupon- $1.00 off

Coupons.com App- $1.00 off

Total is $3.85

Airwick Warmer- (on sale for $1.50)

DG- $1.50

Coupons.com app- $1.50

Fetch Rewards- 15points = $1.50

Total- $3 money maker

Airwick fresh refill- $5

DG coupon- $1.50

Coupons.com app- $1.50

Fetch Rewards- 35 points = $3.50

Total- $1.50 money maker

CapNCrunxh Cereal x2 (on sale 2 for $5) $5

DG coupon- $2 off 2 boxes

Total $3 for 2 ($1.50 each)

General Mills Cereal- ( On sale 3 for $6) $6

Cinnamon Toast Crunch/ chocolate toast crunch/ honey bunches of oats

Coupons.com app- $1.00 off 2 boxes

Fetch Rewards- 12 points (or $1.20) for one box and 18 points (or $1.87) for another box

Total: $1.86 for 3 boxes or $0.62 each )

How about some Gas rebates?! So I use this app named Get Upside. I know.. sounds weird. (thanks for the referral, Stacy T.) Here is how it works. You pull the app up (while not driving) and it shows your location and where the best gas deals are. Once you select the gas station you want to use, put down your phone and drive there! Once you are there, go back to the app and click ‘Claim.’ It may ask you which card you are using but if you didn’t put your card in, then you need to keep the receipt. Then just pump your gas, get your receipt and claim your rewards! This isn’t much, honestly. But it will eventually help somewhere! 

Download here: Check out this free app that gets you cash back on gas and other errands! Click this link or use promo code TYB4C to get an extra 15¢/gal bonus the first time you make a purchase. https://upside.app.link/TYB4C 

I also use Walgreens and CVS for awesome deals! There is just so much!!! 

I hope you made it through this whole thing! Let me know if I can help you with your savings journey!!! 💜💜

-KT

What you know Good

Instagram: https://instagram.com/whatyouknowgoodpodcast?utm_medium=copy_link

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-you-know-good-podcast/id1534994371?i=1000534820124

(Disclaimer: This show is not for the faint of heart. There are curse words and such. Not suitable for kids or work. Listen at your own risk.)

“What in the actual crap does that mean?”

That was my first thought when Jesse asked me to do this pod cast with him And Casey. I was surprised at first to hear that he did something like this. ‘Way to go, Jesse!’ I thought. I mean, way to go Casey, too! I just didn’t know him then. 

So, basically they find cool people who do things for the community or support a charity and talk about them on the show! They also squirrel a lot and can be hard to follow. But that’s what makes it fun! It is like having a real freaking conversation with real folks about real stuff. The podcast is set to air on Tuesday and I am a little nervous- not gonna lie! 

I was nervous right before I did it too! That is hard for some people to believe because I’m also so out there all the time. But… yep. 

It is sometimes hard for people to hear what they already know but won’t say out loud. I know it is for me. It’s like some sort of confirmation that what they thought really is true. When I talk about my past or my childhood, I don’t sugar coat it. Sometimes that makes people uncomfortable and sends family members farther away. The events that happen in our lives are hard for some to hear. It is hard for some to understand.  

It doesn’t make your experience less important because their experience was different. 

The reason I do so much for so many is because of the few people I had in my childhood that did something for me. Because I had someone advocate for me. 

Because someone stood up and told me ‘No. You do not deserve to be treated this way.’

Because someone made sure I felt important and WANTED! 

So I make sure to help those that I can when I can. I hope listening to this podcast helps you learn more about me and what others do for the community. 

So this podcast takes about the volunteer Genealogy work that I do. One particular part of that is hunting for graves as a volunteer for findagrave.com. This is a wonderful database to aid in finding deceased ancestors. (Be sure you check it out or ask me how!) Anytime I have gone grave hunting, I have taken time to clean off the headstones of infants. I stand all their toys back up and pick up their flowers. Just a small gesture. I have gone to many cemeteries over the years, but there is one close to my house that I frequent more often. One day I noticed that there were many without headstones. A sudden sadness drifted over me but I quickly pushed it away and marched up to the office. Since then we have been able to help 5 infants receive headstones. Five families who, for whatever reason, could not get/put a headstone on their infant’s grave. The community pulled together and for only $200 per headstone, we now have 5. I am so beyond grateful for all who helped. Be sure to listen to the podcast for the rest of this story!

Ask yourself this: 

What have you done for someone else?

To donate to the headstone fund:

Message me here, and we can meet at the cemetery office.

Or send Donations to:

PayPal: katielovestorelay@yahoo.com (Friends & Family option)

Venmo: @katie-stone-84

CashApp: $katiestone2020

Please put ‘Fundraiser’ or ‘Hillcrest’ in the comments!

Be sure to follow my page to keep up with all that I am doing!

Genealogy Girl: 

https://www.facebook.com/GGtxk/

Where did it start?

I cannot even begin to know when it all started or where it all began. How do you know for sure when no one really told you anything as a kid? Grown ups just keep it all to themselves. Totally get that now....hahaha. I understand now why parents shield their children from stuff. I don't necessarily tell my child everything about my past, but she certainly knows a lot of it. I think it is important for her to understand how my achievements are big to me even though they are not a big deal to others. I think she gets it, but I also know she is spoiled. Of course, it is easy to spoil her when I was nowhere near that growing up. Just having the basic necessity like a decent home and running water would have made me feel spoiled. 

I remember being at a friend's house in Magnolia, AR when the police first showed up. I felt the tension in the house earlier that day before they knocked on the door. The "Mom" of the house seemed stressed and was on the landline a lot in her bedroom. She didn't shut the door all the way so I could here some of it. The main part was that she definitely mad about something because she was yelling. I honestly do not know who she was talking to but I heard her say "You are not getting your kids back." Who could she be saying that to? Had to be my mom. Who else would that phrase apply to? 

I would say that is probably the first time I knew something was going on. I had no idea it would lead to all that followed after. I spent so many years feeling bad about my life, or embarrassed of the things that were happening. How it hurt to tell the other kids "I don't live with my mom." when they ask if they can come over to play. What do you say to the other kids? "I am not allowed to live with my parents." It was better to just say nothing. But I sit here today grateful it all happened as it did. Who knows what kind of person I would have been if I hadn't rode in the back of that police car or been placed in foster care. Who knows what kind of lessons I would be teaching my child if I had not seen the world through the events that transpired.

I don't see the cup as half full or half empty. I see it as not having a cup at all because I create my own outcomes. Sometimes I get down on myself and sometimes I shout to the world "I am so awesome!" That is what I have learned about life so far. It is full of ups and downs but everything that happens has something in it. Gosh it SUCKSSSS sometimes to go through it. To spend months not know what the hell is going on or what good could possibly come of it, but then... it does.

This is a picture of me in front of my second foster home in Camden, AR. We had just gotten back from my 6th grade graduation. 

Short Bio

A short bio about me: 

 I suck at this part. Like, I am supposed to "stand" here and talk about myself. Sheesh... Well, here goes! I have a small yet big family with 7 sisters and 4 brothers- haven’t met them all yet. My husband, Rick, and I have been married for 8 years and we have an 8-year-old daughter, Sophie. I am lucky enough to have lots of step kiddos too with 19 step grandchildren and one more on the way! 

I like to think of myself as just a regular ol' gal with regular ol' attributes, but somewhere along the way the people around me started telling me different. I love to volunteer, research genealogy, people watch, craft, photography- too much to count. I really love to find old photos/documents at thrift stores or antique shops and return them to the original owners or families. It truly makes me happy to see the joy in their eyes when they finally see something that was once their ancestors before them.

Everyone has a story. Everyone has a past. This blog will (hopefully) show you that despite my 'story' and my 'past,' I am a good person, I work hard for my family (insert "She works hard for the Money" by Donna Summer here), and I am unbelievably proud that I 'fell far from the Family Tree.'

Artwork by Carli Hemperly