Love Truthfully

Where Transparency Breathes New Life

Never Miss an Update

  • Home
  • The Purpose
  • Wednesday Wife
  • Married Life
  • Pregnancy
  • Sex Talk
  • Our Travels

10 Benefits of Ditching Cable

August 31, 2014 By: Shana4 Comments

One of the best decisions we have made as a married couple is to ditch our cable. Although we still haven’t completely scrapped the screen, we are making a move toward less reality shows and more reality. For now, that means some classic bunny ear antennas, plus Amazon Prime and Redbox for the occasional movie. I like to imagine a day when our television’s only job is displaying photos and homemade videos of sweet times with our family. Even by just getting rid of cable and sticking to a few basic channels, we’ve experienced many of the benefits below. I encourage you to consider doing the same.

10-benefits-ditching-cable 

1. Save more money. Everyone has something they’re saving for whether it be an expensive item like a car or something smaller like a new pair of jeans. Whatever it may be, cutting cable will help you put more into your piggy bank.

2. Steal more time. Everyone wants more of it, but there isn’t anymore out there. You get what you’re given so make the most of it. If you’re like me, you could find yourself lost in shows for hours. It always left me feeling unproductive and guilty about wasting my time. If we want more time, we have to steal it from something else. Why not steal your TV time for more family/work/crafting/learning/volunteer time?

3. Be more productive. So you think you’re the master of multi-tasking huh? Many of us are dual or even triple screeners. We can often be found sitting on the couch watching TV with our computer in our lap and our phone by side. All those tasks going on at one time must make us more productive, right? Wrong. I find I’m way more productive when I turn the TV off, focusing my mind on the ONE task at hand. TV is a distraction that siginificantly decreases our productivity.

4. Enjoy less drama. Let’s all just be a little honest with each other here. We each have enough drama in our own lives that we don’t need television shows to add more. Whether you’re watching soap operas and sitcoms or the news and HGTV, it’s the drama that draws you in. It’s toxic. Run away. Run quickly away.

5. Play more games. As a child, I learned to play Gin Rummy at the kitchen table, monopoly on the coffee table, and darts in the garage. Although those moments were few and far between, they are some of my fondest memories. How often do we play games that don’t involve screens? The face-to-face fun an interaction has been replaced by face-to-screen entertainment, and kids around the US are growing up without knowing how to hold their own at a card table. It’s a tragedy.

6. Increase your knowledge. Look, I understand that television can be educational and that YouTube videos are the new encyclopedias, but life is so much more fun when we learn through apprenticeship. I have many dishes that are better than my mom’s macaroni and corn casserole (sorry, mom!), but I make it frequently because it reminds me of when she taught me how to make it. From shooting hoops to changing a tire, life skills are meant to be shared through relationships and learned by doing. So turn off that TV and teach someone something.

7. Be more rested. It’s 8:55 pm and you’re absolutely exhausted. Thankfully, your show is almost over then you’ll head to bed, but then it happens. Your show ends and instead of a commercial, it goes right to the next show. You don’t look away quick enough and all of a sudden you’re hooked, glued to the couch for another hour. It’s happened to the best of us. We can’t stand the thought of missing out on something. Sleep is precious. Get more of it.

8. Exercise your imagination. Don’t watch your stories, create them. Build a fort (without looking it up on YouTube first), climb on in, and tell a tale of adventure and mystery. Create Christmas crafts without guidance from Martha Stewart. Let your brain run free without constant input and see what the output is. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

9. Soak up Vitamin D. When I was growing up I spent most of my summer in the sun jumping on the trampoline, shooting hoops in the driveway, splashing in puddles, and stomping in the creek. Now the glare of the sun reflects off my iPad so my love for sunlight has dwindled. It’s sad, but true. It’s so difficult to avoid curling up on the couch in our air conditioned homes, remote at the ready. If you don’t have cable, chances are you’ll find yourself seeking outdoor entertainment more often.

10. Experience deeper connection. If you’re anything like Casey and me, you come home from a long day and veg out on the couch in front of a mindless show. Maybe you even sit on opposite sides of the room, or even in different rooms because you don’t like the same shows. Shutting off the tube leaves room for conversations that drive deeper emotional connection. Oh and if you have a TV in your bedroom, get rid of it and (ahem) find a way to entertain each other.

Now ready to kick cable out your door just yet? Try one day per week, tube-free Tuesday or if you’re really brave, turn it off Monday – Friday. Let’s see what life we can get back by cutting back on TV.

Have you ditched cable and seen an impact in your life for the better? Would love to hear from you in the comments.

The Big Move – Part Two

June 20, 2014 By: Shana1 Comment

To see how we got to this point… read Part One here.

Friday

The 6am alarm came way too early. We were up wrapping up packing, pulling sheets from beds, throwing last-minute items into laundry baskets – just trying to beat the movers. Our work the night before had paid off. After we finished packing, Casey had time to run to Sonic for breakfast. We spent 30 wonderful minutes resting at the kitchen table together before the movers arrived. 3 Men and a Truck. It was supposed to be 2 men, but they threw in a bonus guy I guess. Casey had to go to work so I sat at the kitchen table and worked while I watched these guys load our treasures into the truck and occasionally answered their questions.

the-big-move-part-two-1

All was going well until I overheard them say they were running out of room in the truck. Despite them coming to the house to survey everything, they had underestimated and would need to make two trips (more $) or load the truck + trailer we were borrowing from a friend. Having no clue how to hook up the trailer much less drive the thing, I didn’t see that as an option. I was very thankful when Casey arrived home on his lunch break, just in time to solve the problem. He was able to get everything hooked up and loaded in time for all of us to make the trip to the new home (only 2.3 miles). The movers, arriving just after we did, had taken a lunch break. Casey heard a crutch which he thought was them driving over rocks then went down to greet them. When he got to the street, he found our car side view mirror in the road. The movers assured us they didn’t do it, but further investigation proved otherwise. There wasn’t any point in arguing with the guys so we tabled the issue until later.

the-big-move-part-two-4

The move was quite a difficult one for the guys with all the stairs and the narrow hallway. They were moving slow, but by God’s good provision, Casey was dismissed from work for the rest of the day and was there to help. Now 4 men + 2 trucks + trailer. With Casey’s help, they were able to finish 30 minutes ahead of schedule with minimal damage to the walls and furniture. More than I would like since I expected no dings and dents, but the movers were gone before Casey pointed out the damage to me. It wasn’t worth the trouble at that point, plus we were busy calling the company about our car and preparing to file an insurance claim.

Amazingly, we had made it through the move. We headed back to the old house for the final load. Casey and I loaded up the truck + trailer + my car. We made it back to the new house at about 7pm to meet our friends, Ryan and Pat, who were there to help. Ryan and Casey pushed hard to unload everything from the car + truck + trailer while Pat wiped down furniture and I vacuumed the furniture. Once all that was done we were too tired to unpack. We sent our friends home and that’s when we realized I hadn’t eaten, not good for a 9 month pregnant lady. We were on the hunt for peanut or almond butter so I could make a sandwich, but every kitchen box we opened proved to be the wrong one. Exhausted, I settled for a cup of applesauce, pudding and taking the spoon to the half gallon of sherbet. After I ate my wholesome dinner, we got cleaned up, Casey took an ice bath (the steps did a number on his legs), and we curled up in bed, half dead, for our first night in our new home. That’s when the smoke alarm started beeping. We did our best to fix it earlier that day and thought we had changed the batteries in the correct one, but apparently not, or the batteries died in another one. Unable to get it fixed and frankly, too tired to care. We slept through the beeping.

Saturday

I woke up Saturday morning to wide open windows and a beautiful view of the morning sun kissing the trees awake. I just laid there and stared at it until I knew I had to get us moving. Ryan and Susan were coming to help at 9am and I wanted us to have a breakfast date before then. We headed to Mama’s Java, snagged the two most comfortable chairs, enjoyed a delicious breakfast, good company, and some rest before the work began again.

the-big-move-part-two-2

 

We could have sat there all day since the burden of boxes wasn’t staring us in the face anymore, but knowing help was on the way, we headed home. Ryan and Susan were an incredible help to us all morning long. By lunch time, the entire kitchen was unpacked and incredibly organized. I gave Susan free rein to organize everything while I tackled the pantry. She did an incredible job. Casey and Ryan headed off to pick up McDougals for lunch while Susan and I moved to the master bed and bath. Jodi had a couple hours so she came to join us working in the bathroom and then tackled unpacking all the decorations. A friend from high school did an amazing job helping get the baby’s room in order. Everyone was gone by the afternoon.

We planned to head to our friend’s baby’s 1st birthday party, but the cry of the remaining boxes kept us at home. Casey tackled the office while I wrapped up the bedroom. Then we moved on to miscellaneous items as we searched every box for something we needed to complete the office. So far no luck on that front. By 7pm my feet were in severe pain as I had gone barefoot all day. I was anxious to take a good shower and dry my hair now that my hair dryer was unpacked (it had been packed for weeks), so we called it a night. I showered, snuggled up to the foot massager, ate my PBJ and Casey and I watched a movie. I should say I watched a movie and Casey watched part of it while he drifted off to sleep. In bed by 10:30pm. Not bad.

Sunday

I woke up again at 6am to my beautiful view and couldn’t resist to urge to get up and write. Although I was briefly distracted by laundry, I made it outside with my pen and journal after loading one load of laundry and our sink with bleach and a shower curtain. It’s now 8:30 and Minny and I are still on the deck enjoying the morning.

Can I stay here all day? The laundry and boxes awaiting me inside say no, but the birds chirping and sight of my neighbor’s beautiful garden lure me to keep writing.

the-big-move-part-two-3

Baby B seems to be enjoying the rest as well. I’m so thankful for his/her patince. It wasn’t just the move, but my doctor is out of town until Tuesday. Although I’m experiencing some new pains, I’m pretty sure those are just from the stress of all the work recently and Baby B is still patiently waiting for either my doctor to get back in town or his/her due date on Thursday.

Only 4 more days! It seems unreal. I’ve been doing so much to plan and prepare for the move, which I am very thankful for because it was all pretty uneventful, that I haven’t thought much about the fact that in less than 2 weeks I will hold my son/daughter in my arms. Maybe it’s because I’ve been so distracted by the move or maybe it’s just too abstract a thought for me to comprehend. Having all the babies here on Thursday had Baby B on my mind a lot more. I’m definitely ready to meet him or her, but I’m perfectly content waiting a little while longer until we are more settled in the house.

This time with just the two of us has really been nice. Although we’ve been busy we’ve gotten along really well considering the chaos. I think it’s partly because planning so well helped calm the storm and significantly reduce my stress, but also because Casey has been such as huge help and diligent worker. We haven’t been intentional about emotional connection per se, but we’ve been such good teammates that I have felt very supported and connected to Casey in the midst of all this.

Although it’s definitely for the best that Ashes is in GA for her graduation trip,  I miss her. I love seeing pictures and hearing how her trip is going. I know she is having an absolute blast, but I look forward to having her home and settled into the new house, hopefully before the baby comes.

Now that we are moved, I am really looking forward to this next phase in life in a new setting.

Stolen Time

July 22, 2013 By: Shanacomment

stolen-timeI often feel like I can’t even find enough time to do the things I love. The other day I was prompted to write down 100 things that I love. Trying to avoid people on the list, I immediately went to activities that bring joy and a splash of excitement to my life – roller coasters, skating, go-kart riding, 4-wheeling, concerts etc. Although this exercise was supposed to bring me joy, I ended up with that reluctant depressed feeling you get when you know you should be thankful for all the awesome things in your life, but you can’t help but be sad about all the things on the greener side of the grass that you don’t get to enjoy.

Why is it that we can’t ever find the time for the things or the people that we love? I suppose it’s one of two things. We either don’t really love it as much as we think we do or we choose our responsibilities over our joy. But don’t we have a responsibility to indulge ourselves in the things we love? Wouldn’t doing so make all our other not-so-enjoyable responsibilities just a little more enjoyable? A little less mundane?

So how do I find more time for the things I love?
I don’t.

If I’m looking for time, I’m going to spend the rest of my life on the hunt. If I want more time for campfires with Casey, roller coaster rides and art projects, I’m going to have to steal time, not find it.

Whenever you make time for something in your life, you’re stealing that precious time from something or someone else. When I make time to sit on the porch with Casey and enjoy a glass of wine, I’m stealing time from work or the laundry that calls to me from the hamper. When I make time to sit on the couch, lazy, I’ve stolen time from a phone call with a friend or writing that blog post that’s been on my mind.

So I have to ask myself. Am I willing to be aggressive and steal more time for things and people I love and if not, do I really love them as much as I say I do?

Blessed and Stressed

July 15, 2013 By: Shanacomment

stressed-and-blessed
I must be honest. I am so stinkin’ stressed about all the things that need to be done before we leave for vacation. So stressed that I am hating that I am sitting here, wasting time writing about how stressed I am.

The work is piling on. That’s a blessing, right? Well consider me way blessed and way stressed. It’s not that I mind the work, but timing of everything is not ideal. However, I have been very productive with work the last few days. Neglected the home to dos though. Thankfully Casey has really stepped up around the house. I don’t know what it was that flipped the switch. Maybe it was seeing me almost in tears more often than ever before. Maybe the Holy Spirit knew I needed help and decided to provide it through my handsome husband. Whatever it is, I am thankful.

Now blessed, stressed and thankful.

I have truly felt loved by seeing Casey take initiative with the home task list. He hasn’t been bored either. In fact, he’s been quite busy himself – tutoring and prepping for a new school year. Even with all that he has going on, he has taken time to make sure I stop to eat and get a hug every now and then – forcing me to remember I am human and not just a machine cranking out marketing plans and emails all day. Even with his help there is still a lot left to do, but if I really think about it, I suppose there’s even more that has been done.

This may go on record as our most productive week ever, at least in the category of weeks we actually still liked each other in the end.

Marriage Minute: Getting Things Done Day

May 21, 2013 By: Shanacomment

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Meet the Wife

Hi! I'm a semi-newlywed living in a small town outside of Nashville with my husband, Casey, our baby boy, teen niece, and hyperactive dog, Minny. I'm a new mom and marketing consultant at BeEngaging.com that loves Jesus and won't eat anything with 4 legs. I talk about marriage, pregnancy, parenting and everything in between. I believe real growth only happens through transparency. Join me on the journey. Read More…

Featured Post

The Wednesday Wife: Cassie Celestain

I am so excited to get to introduce my friends and readers to this week’s Wednesday Wife! Cassie and I only know each other virtually, but we are walking a similar journey. In fact, Cassie and her husband, Ryan, are expecting their first baby soon after our Baby B is due! Cassie is also a marriage blogger over […]

Recent Posts

  • Thoughts from a 5am Cuddle Session
  • Mine for a Moment
  • Silas Graham is 3 Months Old!

Archives

Connect on Instagram

Photo
Followers
Followings

Photo Life

    Connect on Twitter

    My Tweets

    Tags

    25 things at 25 anger anniversary ashlynne Bible birth book review celebration communication community conflict connection counseling culture date divorce failure faith family family life financial struggle fitness gifts for spouse God health holiday Home husband illness in-laws labor leadership mckelvy military miscarriage missions money moving parenting pregnancy sex silas submission wedding writing

    Looking for something?

    Categories

    Copyright © 2021 · Modern Blogger Pro Theme By, Pretty Darn Cute Design