Stellar Day Magazine, November 2015 by Stellar Day Magazine

Stellar Day Issue 3 | November 2015

FAMILY

magazine

The idea of FAMILY means something different to everyone. Stellar Day women are bringing you encouragement, ideas, inspiration and light this season and all sharing what FAMILY means to them!

The

November Issue

stellar day table of con tents

03 You Are Enough 04 Family Joy 05 Get Up, Get Going 06 Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice 08 Pumpkin Cookie Recipe 09 At Home With Fallon Liles

13 Dinner At The Table 18 Pie Monday, A Community Gathering

08 20 Marriage & Family Expectations 24 Hostess Gift Ideas for Thanksgiving 25 Making Time For Family 28 The Little Moments

make time for family

stellar day magazine www.stellardayblog.com

YOU ARE ENOUGH

WRITTEN BY ALYSSA GOLDEN TAKEN FROM HER FACEBOOK WALL WITH HER PERMISSION

THERE IS FREEDOM WHEN WE ALLOW OURSELVES TO BREAK DOWN THE WALLS OF COMPARISON AND BEAUTY AS WE BECOME THE CONFIDENT MOM GOD CREATED US TO BE. UNBOUND BY THE CHAINS OF FEELING LESS THAN, AND FILLED WITH THE COURAGE TO BE SHAMELESS IN OUR JOURNEY.

MOMS, YOU ARE ENOUGH. YOU AND YOUR UNTAMED MORNING HAIR, NO COFFEE, SHORT FUSE IS ENOUGH. THE WORLD MIGHT AS WELL WAKE UP AND MAKE MUD PIES IN COMPARISON TO THE CONTRIBUTIONS YOU MAKE EVERYDAY. THOSE KISSES, FIRST STEPS, PLEASE AND THANK-YOU'S, GIGGLES, AND NIGHT TIME SNUGGLES ARE THE REAL SUCCESSES. AND A BLOW-OUT AT YOUR FAVORITE DRY BAR HAS GOT NOTHIN ON THAT! STELLAR DAY HEY MOM, YOU'RE ENOUGH.

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FAMILY JOY

Life doesn ' t always turn out the way we want or hope . But clinging to what you DO have and choosing joy is key . By Jessica Williams Photo by Mike Olbinski

think we all have ideas about what our families are supposed to look like. Life, circumstances and over all expectations dictate how we view family and how we move forward with our own. I have struggled with this, this past year. There are so many things that have happened in my past that make my family life today, not what I always thought or dreamed of. What I wanted and always hoped for my own kids, will not ever be. I have come a LONG way in the journey. Standing on what I feel is the other side of this journey, I am nothing but THANKFUL. Sure, my family doesn't necessarily look like how I always thought it would.

But I can confidently say that I vividly hear the Lord calling and asking me to redefine what 'family' looks like for my kids. He's asking me to see the ones he's placed around me, my kids and my husband, and to cherish THEM while I'm here on this earth. I've spent so long being and feeling sad that our kids don't have any close grandparents. Or that I've missed a lot of years with my dad. Or that my relationship with my mom has changed over the years, instead of really, REALLY focusing on my children and making family MATTER for the kids that I have been blessed with. It's been a long, lonely journey to get here in my family life, but I'm

thankful my story has finally brought me here. Family life doesn't always turn out the way you've imagined, hoped or even prayed for. There can be a lot of heartache associated with grieving the loss of those dreams when your reality is made clear. I encourage you: CHOOSE JOY. I've simply come to realize that NO family is perfect. What appears perfect on the outside, isn't always the case. I'm stopping the comparing game and looking at the beautiful humans that he HAS given to me right here, right now. And I've realized that family really is whatever you make of it. So make the best of it because you never know what tomorrow holds!

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TIPS TO HELP YOU GET UP & GET GOING! Think of Today That’s it. What do you have going on today? Think of everything, how much time each thing will take and decide on a time you are going to act in your best interest. Think of how you feel right now. Right this minute before all the craziness happens. Call it to mind and really feel it. Do you have energy? Do you feel strong? If that’s how you want to feel, then you will make a better choice for yourself right now, today, and KEEP that feeling going.

Determine to DO and not TRY Let’s get “try” out of our vocabulary. We either do or we don’t. Decide at the beginning of your day what type of a day it will be and what type of a choices you are going to make. Don’t let yourself off the hook; rise to the challenge! Determine to give your day your 100% best effort. Don’t live any less than what you are capable of. If you are not going to workout today, fine! But do everything you do to the best of your ability. If you are going to get that workout in because you’ve decided on it, do the absolute BEST you can.

Balance Your Life Remember to balance your life. Parties will happen, pie will be consumed, but stop stressing about how to get through it. Pick a “super-healthy day” to balance that family function you have going on. And then enjoy that time together!

Want Sarah to be your fitness coach? No kidding, she's awesome! You can find her website HERE.

GET UP, GET GOING By Sarah Costa

We all have those days when we wake up feeling tired, groggy and just hit the snooze button again (or 8 times). But did you know that the energy it takes to simply get out of bed is the power that you need to harness in order to get everything done in a day? That will power is what we need to overcome our “comfort zone” and move. Think about it! It’s not so hard when you just decide you will. Motivation comes mostly from within and from how badly you want something. Now, it’s holiday season; families are gathering; parties are happening. You are probably thinking to yourself, “I’ll be out late; I’ll just sleep in. January is coming, and I’ll get back on track then.” And before you know it, you’ve gone a whole week or month without getting your sweat on or eating anything resembling an apple. Why not make these last 2 months of the year better than that? I've listed a few tips to the left that can help you get up and GET GOING. It IS possible to keep your motivation up during the holidays. It doesn't have to drag, but it's up to YOU. Don’t quit on yourself before you’ve even started! How you think about yourself will determine who you are. And while you are at those office parties, family get togethers and functions, you might just find it easier to shift focus from “how to avoid sweets” to being genuinely interested in your family and friends. That’s my hope for you!

Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice A MAMA/DAUGHTER BAKE SESSION & AN AWESOME RECIPE

By Danielle Nesper Photos by Jess Williams

I LOVE being in the kitchen. My kitchen is the heart of my house. If I’m not in the kitchen I’m probably either taking a bath or I’m sleeping! My name is Danielle. I’m 29 years old, I’m a wife to an amazing man and a mommy to my favorite little (almost) 3 year old (mermaid), Cadence. She is my whole world. I have always wanted to be a mommy and God answered my prayers. He answered them a little earlier than I was planning but then again it’s not my timing, right?! Ever since I was young I have loved cooking and baking. Being a chef was the first profession that I was pretty serious about pursuing. Although my interests and passions led me into different directions through-

out my life, my love for cooking and baking have always stayed with me. I’m a stay at home Mom, so I’m with Cadence all day long. Now that she is getting older we’ve started cooking together – a lot. I get to share my kitchen with my daughter! It’s a dream come true for me and it fills my heart with SO much joy. There’s something about being a woman and raising a girl that really hits home with me. I don’t have to be in the kitchen, I want to be and I enjoy it whole heartedly. My husband doesn’t demand meals or expect certain things of me. He loves cooking too, so we sometimes ‘fight’ over who’s turn it is to make dinner! I'm STELLAR DAY MAGAZINE | 6

very traditional in many ways. There is a role, as the woman of my home that I truly enjoy. From deep inside my heart, providing meals for my family is one thing I love to do. I want to be a good example for Cadence and to give her the right tools she’ll need as she gets older to take care of her future family. It starts young. Even though I’m not cooking and baking with her every day she is always included in some way even if she’s just strictly watching me. I don’t expect her to have the same interests that I have as she grows up but, I do want her to always remember these moments that we spent in the kitchen together and how I love being intentional with her. I love investing in her and in turn investing in her future family, future husband and her future children. I love instilling little things like this into her because they will eventually turn into big things. She doesn’t have to be the best cook out there, she doesn’t have to love it like I do, or even like it at times, but I do want her to know the importance behind it. What taking care of your family and putting your loved ones first looks like. There are so many ways to teach her the importance of that but this one is very special for me. It’s a way that helps us to bond, share one of my passions with her, have fun and make memories together! Cooking and baking can be so enjoyable and I want to show her that with some patience, the right tools and butter (always butter!) you can make delicious food and bless people with it! These cookies are to die for. It’s my favorite pumpkin cookie recipe that I have to make a double batch (at least) of once every year! I started making these the first year that Cameron and I were married and since then it’s become a special family cookie that we enjoy. Now that Cadence is big enough to be my little helper there’s no better cookie to start the holiday season off with than these Iced Pumpkin Cookies! You can’t just eat one! Seriously, you can’t. Who knows, just maybe as Cadence and I pass this recipe on it will become a special family cookie for you and your loved ones too! Happy holidays and happy baking! See recipe on next page!

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PUMPKIN

RECIPE

BY DANIELLE NESPER

Prep Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 20 mins Ingredients: 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp ground cloves 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 cup pumpkin puree 1 egg 1 tsp vanilla Cookie Glaze: 2 cups confectioners sugar 3 Tbsp milk 1 Tbsp melted butter 1 tsp vanilla

Directions: Preheat oven to 350Â° degrees. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves and salt. Set aside. In another bowl cream together butter and sugar. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla to the butter mixture. Beat until creamy. Mix in dry ingredients. Drop dough on cookie sheet and flatten slightly. These will puff up a bit as they bake. Bake 15-20 minutes. Let cookies cool then drizzle the cookie glaze on top. Enjoy! *These cookies sum up the fall season perfectly! A bit of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg complete this recipe. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help but eat more than one at a time!

At Home With

FALLON LILES w,

Intervie

Write up

Photos b

Jessica Williams

I knocked on the door, my baby in tow. I'm running a few minutes late and the chaos of my own morning is just catching up to me. The door flies open and I'm greeted by two of her four children, her doggie and the feeling of HOME. With a big hug, she welcomes me into her home; a space I immediately love. It's so apparent that Fallon Liles has incredible talent and taste. With big hopes and dreams for her life in design and for her family, one thing is MORE apparent: HER HEART. I came in, set my stuff down and let my little girl roam around her house for a couple of hours. The two of us caught up on life, work, passions. We talked about motherhood, friendships, growing business and the potential for her family and husband's business to have their own show on HGTV. Through it all, I could sense an undertone of love. Love for people, love for God, love for her friends and for loyalty. She's an amazing mom and loves her children more than anything. She's her STELLAR DAY MAGAZINE | 10

husband's biggest cheerleader and wants nothing more than what God wants for him and for their family. I have been so inspired watching their story unfold through social media and through running into her from time to time. It was refreshing to sit down, chat and hear her heart on where she's at in the middle of all that God is doing in and through her. And though the challenges of running a business and raising a family are there, she has stepped into the possibility of being in the lime light with grace, wisdom and peace. I couldn't be more excited for them, no matter what the future may hold! Get to know Fallon more in the next couple of pages. I know you'll be inspired by her heart as much as I was when I was with her! You can follow their journey on Instagram at @_rafterhouse_

Above Fallon Liles in her home in Phoenix, Arizona.

It's so apparent that Fallon Liles has incredible talent and taste. With big hopes and dreams for her life in design and for her family, one thing is MORE apparent: HER HEART.

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WHAT ARE YOU MOST PASSIONATE ABOUT ? Deep. :) And if you thought it may be houses or design, its not. I love the creative outlet of home design and creating beautiful and welcoming spaces for people to live. I love that these projects have a beginning and an end so I can see my ideas quickly come to life. I love what a home can offer and the memories held within. But what I am really passionate about is people knowing their value and that they are loved. I’m passionate about the hungry and less fortunate and how I am called to love and serve them. Im passionate about my God and His desires.

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WHAT IS THE MOST EXHAUSTING PART OF MOTHERHOOD FOR YOU ? I have two answers because I feel extra exhausted right now. First, I think the monotony of being home wears on me the most. The cooking and cleaning, just to cook and clean and do it all over again. Plus the snacks in between. Oh my goodness my boys can EAT! Second, trying to go anywhere in public with my four boys. Even places like the park can be exhausting. With their different stages and ages, they all pull me different directions and it feels like a circus act just to make sure they are all safe and in eye-sight and not eating trash or hitting someone or talking to a stranger and so on.

The quiet moments snuggling with my kids are fresh breaths of air for me and overflow my heart. I don’t think anything beats snuggling with my kids while they look into my eyes and we take turns saying, “No I love you more!” My husband is my best friend and I love doing everything with Him by my side. These past few years getting to encourage Him to do what he loves and has been so fulfilling to walk through with Him. Im so proud of the husband, father and friend he is to those around Him.

I don’t think anything beats snuggling with my kids while they look into my eyes and we take turns saying, “No I love you more!” WHAT ARE YOU INSPIRED BY ? I’m truly inspired by seeing others living selflessly and loving well. Im inspired to see people serving others and living out their passions intentionally.

WHAT IS ONE ACTIVITY THAT FEEDS YOUR SOUL ? First and foremost, time with the Lord. I am also fed through meaningful conversation with others and being able to love and serve others.

IF YOU COULD SHARE ONE PIECE OF ADVICE TO WOMEN , WITH OR WITHOUT KIDS , WHAT WOULD IT BE ? Give yourself grace. We are all figuring thing out as we go, and hopefully growing in the process. And take some time for yourself, its healthy!

WHAT FILLS YOUR HEART THE MOST IN BEING A WIFE AND MOM ?

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WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING FOR YOU TO FACE AS A MOM WHO'S ALSO FOCUSING ON CAREER GOALS?

It is REALLY easy to get into a routine of “community” events and I am a huge encourager of those, but Id love to see us reach past our friends and gather to intentionally love and support others in need and I know that starts with my own heart and actions.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE CHANGED IN THE COMMUNITY, IF ANY?

I HAVE TO ASK. HOW ARE YOU FEELING NOW THAT THE PILOT FOR YOUR HGTV SERIES HAS AIRED? WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE IN THAT?

I am really passionate about those in our community with needs- be it physical or emotional. I live in an amazing community of friends that love well and do life closely together. I think I would most like to see us reach out of the comfort of our friendships and into the needs of others. It is REALLY easy to get into a routine of “community” events and I am a huge encourager of those, but I'd love to see us reach past our friends and gather to intentionally love and support others in need and I know that starts with my own heart and actions.

I really wasn’t sure how I would feel after our pilot aired. It's been a long year in the making that God used to grow us in so many ways. I was nervous that I would struggle when it was over, but I was actually relieved and now have more peace. We still don’t know if this is the end or if we will get picked up for a series, but either way I am trusting in God's plan. I think the pilot showed a quick glimpse of our lives and I am really happy with how the production company told our story. No matter what happens, I would do it all over again for the lessons learned and the memories made.

Easy. Balance. It seems like when I am busiest with staging/design, my own house is a disaster and my “mom” duties fall to the side. When I am busy with being a mom, I find myself upset that I haven’t made time to prioritize my career goals or feel like I never actually have time to make them a priority. So, I guess balance and time management. The hardest part of switching roles is feeling like I can’t “do it all.” I struggle to ask for help because I tell myself I should be able to handle everything and then struggle with self guilt when I fail. My Husband has been such an encouragement in me figuring out/pursuing my career goals. He is willing and ready to do whatever it takes, but its been a process in learning how that actually plays out.

Thank you Fallon! xoxo

DINNER AT THE TABLE why eating dinner at the table changed my family's heath and happiness

ARTICLE>

BIO>

BEGINNINGS

HI! I'M CARRINGTON!

When I was growing up our lives

T I m a Certified Holistic Health Coach and owner of

revolved around the television. I would slink out of my bed, walk to the table in the family room and plop down for cereal my dad had poured and watch cartoons. In the evenings we would either get fast food on the way home from whatever activity (there were 4 of us kids, and we ALL had activities) or my mom would cook spaghetti and we would grab our food, and sit in front of the T.V.

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Organic Life Love. I work with frazzled mothers whose selfcare is so far down the line it’s fallen off. I help them create a healthy, harmonious lifestyle for themselves and their families and in the process, manage their weight and energy levels and find their passion for life. Detox and release in my Fall In Love With Fall Detox Program starting November 5th! Click HERE for more details!

Fast forward to when I became a parent, and this continued to be how my new little family ate. It became easier to plop my children in front of a show with their food, then deal with the fights at the table. It was always one of those habits that I knew wasn’t ideal, but I just felt pretty overwhelmed with life,, and vowed to “change it one day” but that “one day” didn’t come for years. Not only was I putting them in front of the TV, but I was going to a DIFFERENT TV and sitting in front of it to watch MY shows. I wouldn’t eat dinner early with them, and I would usually eat something later, after bedtimes, on the couch. Life felt so disconnected. I felt disconnected from my children, and from my own body. Finally, one day, I just vowed to eat WITH them and turn off the TV.

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It changed our lives. I never really expected what a huge shift this would have in so many aspects of our lives. I started to take more time to cook, and the kids starting helping me. Dinnertime was a set time now, and a routine in the house. Cooking more, led to healthier meals, and when the kids helped, they were excited to try the new things they had helped cook. Sitting at the table together became SO emotionally important to them. I realized that it was a very specific and important time of day for connection. They had my full attention, and they had a space to share a story, tell how they were feeling, talk about something interesting. They had a space to feel heard and seen and to talk about what they were feeling. I realized that this was a huge missing piece of my own childhood.

There is something spiritually sacred about “breaking bread” together. It’s a covenant, and a very connecting act. What could be more important for my family than that? My picky eaters started trying more foods, and since I was at the table with them, I could encourage them to eat more, and cheer them on. This helped them feel more brave and adventurous, supported in their fears to try new food, and eventually, they became less and less picky! I hope to continue our new habit forever! If you are where I was, here are some practical tips to start: SEE NEXT PAGE FOR TIPS!

Carrington's Meal Time Tips 1. Make dinner time early We eat at 5pm. This is because they get so hungry EARLY, and also lets us have a little bit of time for play, or family walks after dinner, and yet still have an early bedtime. 2. Start prepping dinner in the afternoon after school Instead of cooking 30 minutes before dinner time, start prepping earlier. This will help you stay on schedule if you get interrupted by babies, or meltdowns, or kids that take lots of extra time to help “stir”. 3. Make a commitment to your kids I announced to my children “Mommy and Daddy are going to do things differently now, and from now on, you can expect us to eat with you at the dinner table every night.” I absolutely HATE going back on my word to my kids, and even if I were to try, they are the best little accountability partners because they guilt-trip you like crazy. HA! 4. Slow Down At the table, make sure to put your phone away and be present. Start conversations with your kids that go deeper than “how was your day?” Last night, we took turns sharing ways that we could be kind to one another. They all got excited as they shared ideas. Children can feel when you are hurried, and trying to get done so you can leave. By being present in the moment, you are giving them a gift.

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WWW.PURPOSEDLIFEART.COM

Purposed Life Art started as a dream, a dream of unique clothing that kids would feel good wearing. Meghan is passionate about art and creativity. She believes that people can be inspired to do more and dream bigger just by feeling better about themselves and being comfortable in their own skin. She dreamed of a fashion-forward clothing line for children that would allow them to be just that- comfortable, beautiful and cool, and let them play and be themselves. Purposed Life Art clothing is whimsical, fun, handmade, and creative. She doesn't limit herself in her design. She encourages her own children to never limit their dreams and creativity. Sometimes PL Art designs will focus more on love for the environment. Sometimes the designs will show their love for justice and those around them. And sometimes their art will highlight their favorite characters from books and movies. All of these things make up our hearts. Join us by supporting handmade, small business and inspiring limitless creativity in those around us. www.purposedlifeart.com STELLARDAY MAGAZINE

For more details on attending this event, please click HERE. Don't miss it!

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PIE MONDAY By Jessica Williams

Every other first Monday of the month, we open up our home to friends, family and anyone else who wants to come to something that we call Pie Monday. Jason and I photographed a wedding for a couple who started this tradition in their own community and we LOVED it. We adored the idea of people gathering around pie, coffee and enjoying one another's company. We thought the name was catchy and we really wanted to adopt this in our own way for our own community. So about a year ago we started PIE MONDAY and it's been a hit ever since. So every other first Monday of the month, we open up our backyard to friends, family and their kiddos and we serve PIE. We ask everyone else to bring a pie too! There's coffee of course, and usually ends up being a large spread of desserts that are to die for. We eat, watch football with the TV outside, start a fire pit and just spend time together. There's not a lot of things more important to Jason and I than friends. Our friends and community really have become like our family. And while I feel like we are in a huge season of discovering what and WHO our community really is, there is still a small group of friends who feel like family to us. PIE MONDAY has been an awesome way to build that community and friendship. It's also a fantastic way to get to know your neighbors. And the leftover pie? Deliver it to the people on your street who weren't able to come! It doesn't have to take a lot out of you to host friends. It can be as simple as pie in the backyard with coffee. No frills, no fuss. Just friends, a willingness to have people over and some dessert. Ask everyone to help bring a pie because that genuinely makes it more fun!

Blueberry Cream Cheese Pie Recipe by: Stephanie Kapla Crust 15 whole graham crackers 1 tbsp white sugar 7 tbsp butter, melted Filling 8 oz cream cheese, softened 1 can sweetened condensed milk 1/3 c. lemon juice 1 tsp vanilla Topping 2 c. fresh or frozen blueberries 1/3 c. sugar 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch Preheat oven to 325 degrees. For the crust: Process graham crackers and sugar in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until all the crumbs are moistened. Press mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9" pie plate. Bake about 12 minutes. Cool completely. For the filling: In a large bowl mix cream cheese with condensed milk with electric mixer. Add lemon juice and vanilla, mix well to thicken. Pour into crust. For the topping: Cook berries and sugar over medium heat stirring often. Once berries are well softened (some berries will burst, some will be whole still) add cornstarch to thicken sauce. Mix well and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Cool completely. Pour over filling and chill for at least 4 hours.

Peanut Butter Pie Recipe by Stephanie Kapla Crust 15 whole graham crackers 1 tbsp white sugar 7 tbsp butter, melted Filling 8 oz cream cheese, softened 1 can sweetened condensed milk 1/3 c. lemon juice 1 tsp vanilla Topping 2 c. fresh or frozen blueberries 1/3 c. sugar 1 1/2 tsp cornstarch Preheat oven to 325 degrees For the crust: Process graham crackers and sugar in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until all the crumbs are moistened. Press mixture into the bottom and sides of a 9" pie plate. Bake about 12 minutes. Cool completely. For the filling: In a large bowl mix cream cheese with condensed milk with electric mixer. Add lemon juice and vanilla, mix well to thicken. Pour into crust. For the topping: Cook berries and sugar over medium heat stirring often. once berries are well softened (some berries will burst, some will be whole still) add cornstarch to thicken sauce. Mix well and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Cool completely. Pour over filling and chill for at least 4 hours.

"It doesn't have to take a lot out of you to host friends. It can be as simple as pie in the backyard with coffee. No frills, no fuss. Just friends, a willingness to have people over and some dessert. Ask everyone to help bring a pie because that genuinely makes it more fun!"

MARRIAGE & FAMILY EXPECTATIONS A struggle through family dynamics , letting go of expectations , and praying for your future spouses family by Robyn Baldwin

amily and weddings go together like; well. Honestly, I guess it depends on the family. Two peas in a pod? A hurricane and a tornado? To be honest, as much as I love my family; we don't always get along. I know, I know. An sin-riddled, big family doesn't always get along?! Surprising, right? But no, we don't. For a long time I always had this idealistic picture of what families were supposed to look like; problemfree, parents madly in love sans fighting, all the siblings doing great. My family wasn't living up to this expectation of mine and so I had this other fantasy; an expectation of what I wanted my future-husband's family to be like. Perfect, just like I wanted my family to be. Don't get me wrong, I

definitely want to marry someone who loves his family or at least tries to love his family and that's something I've been praying for for a long time. But then I realized; why haven't I been praying for the same type of love in my own family? Instead of just wishing and daydreaming and thinking about how dysfunctional my family is, why don't I start praying for healing, restoration, peace, patience, grace, kindness, mercy, and love in and for my family? Over the past year I have spent a great deal traveling and meeting new people and at one point, I shared a room with 13 other wonderful, rad women of God, for six months. Though all of us came from different backgrounds, it quickly became apparent that every family has their fair share of problems, even those that in my

eyes seemed idealistic and 'perfect.' Families are full of people and people are full of sin. That's just the unfortunate aspect of life. Being both a dreamer and a perfectionist, I've spent a lot of time imagining my future-husband being brought up in this uber-blissful, wonderful home where he never experienced sin or failure or problems in his relationship with Christ but not only is that not realistic; it's not healthy.

My family wasn't living up to this expectation of mine and so I had this other fantasy; an expectation of what I wanted my futurehusband's family to be like." "

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I don't want my husband to be a robot. Yes, it would mean the world to me if God blessed me with a husband whose parents were strong Christians and a good, healthy family. But; will they still have problems? Absolutely. Will they still be sinners? You bet. Will him and I still have problems in our marriage? Mmhmm. You see, I want him to struggle. I want his relationship with Christ to be authentic and his own, and sometimes that means asking yourself why you're a Christian in the first place. I want us to fight because that means we have different opinions. I want to get along with his parents and be great friends with his siblings. I want our relationship, from its beginning to the day we die to glorify God. â&#x20AC;&#x2039;ne day, whenever and if ever that O day comes, when I say 'I do', I'm marrying into this man's family and he is marrying into mine.

Each of us is carrying baggage and each of us is marrying into a family with sin-filled people. There will be fights, disagreements, heartache, hurt, and a lot of apologizing. It's going to be incredibly messy. But thankfully, we happen to serve a God who is willing to get down and dirty for His kids. What better example of what marriage is supposed to look like than Christ relentlessly pursuing the church and the church walking in obedience to the words of Christ? So pray for your families, whether you're married, single, engaged, dating; whatever. The wedding day is just the beginning of the unity between two families; your marriage is the life-long commitment to keeping it. It's a struggle, but so is life.

"Instead of just wishing and daydreaming and thinking about how dysfunctional my family is, why don't I start praying for healing, restoration, peace, patience, grace, kindness, mercy, and love in and for my family?"

That's where grace comes in.

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IT'S NOT WHAT WE HAVE IN LIFE, BUT WHO WE HAVE IN OUR LIFE THAT MATTERS.

HOSTING THANKSGIVING FOR FAMILY and little gifts to go with!

My husband and I host Thanksgiving every year. I LOVE hosting and I really enjoy having people over to our home. Hosting is also a good way to force yourself to clean the house up! The last couple of years I have been giving little gifts to the ladies that come. Nothing big, just something fun and thoughtful. I wanted to share some ideas that I came up with for you.

Keep It Clean Literally. Wrap up a pretty bar of soap and give that as a little gift. The ladies in my family (my mom and sister) love fall scented soap! If you're feeling like going all out, add a little candle and some bath salts and they have a self care night to themselves ready to go!

Sweet & Simple I have been obsessed lately with spray painting tin cans and reusing them for all different ideas. Spray paint a tin can and filling it up with candy or other little goodies to satsfy your guests sweet tooth!

Beauty Baskets Another idea is to fill a jar or basket up with all different little gifts. I get jars from the dollar store, and fill them up with chapstick, little candles, nail polish, etc… You don’t have to spend a lot of money to give gifts, which is nice. I always think it’s the thought that counts.

Festive Pumpkins Lastly, a little pumpkin is a great gift or token to take home! You can even have one on each placemat for when your guests sit down. Too cute, eh?

I hope you enjoyed some of these ideas! If you try any of these, snap a picture, post it to Instagram and use hashtag #stellardatmagazine! I'd love to see what you blessed your guests with!

Love, Christine xoxo

Making Time For Family by Esther Gallagher

My husband, Jimmy, likes to tell people that his Sicilian wife has olive oil coursing through her veins and jokes that he didn’t marry an Italian to have jarred spaghetti sauce from Costco-- which by the way, is THE BEST jarred marinara sauce you will ever have, seriously!! Kidding aside, my Brooklyn-born Irishman is as proud of my family’s Italian heritage as he is of all things kelly-green, Notre Dame football, corn beef and cabbage, and he is enthusiastic about sharing my Sicilian roots with our children in the hopes that they treasure and pass on my family’s story and traditions. Both of my parents are Sicilian and my dad, Giovanni Savona, is first-generation, STRAIGHT OUTTA Corleone, Sicily, born there in 1937 and emigrated to the U.S. in 1971. This past summer, Jimmy and I had the privilege to escort my father back to the motherland, his first trip home in 15 years and our first international adventure. From Rome, my father connected directly to Sicily while my husband and I did some other sightseeing in Rome and Vienna, and at the tail end of the trip, we met him in Corleone to spend the final days of our vacation. When my dad was presented with this opportunity to travel to Europe, he was both immediately all-in and excited but also hesitant and intrepid— what would we do about my mother/his wife? While I love my mom, I’ll be honest, she is really hard to be around for extended periods of time (translated, she complains A LOT and pretty much about everything) and none of us thought it would be wise to travel overseas with her (in other words, heck no, I would never have the patience with her in the air for 12+ hours!). And furthermore, what would my dad do about his period sciatic flare-ups—would they erupt while we were traveling, leaving him bedridden? All very valid concerns about a long trip abroad for a 76 year old man whose idea of travel these days consists of taking a day trip by bus to the nearby casino to enjoy the lunch buffet and play penny slots (and all by himself, because like I said AIN’T NOBODY, including my very loyal, loving father, GOT TIME for my mom’s complaining).

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STELLAR DAY MAGAZINE

But we somehow found a way to make the whole idea work and there we were in Corleone on July 16, 2015. I was not prepared for how fulfilling the next few days in Sicily would be on so many levels as I breathed in the clean, Mediterranean air, hiked through the majestic landscape of rolling wheat fields, rugged cliffs and fresh spring waterfalls, admired goldgilt Byzantine walls of centuries-old churches, and savored the freshest, grilled eggplant and sausages, and Oh dear Lord, the bruschetta Pomodoro!! But here is the crux, the olive pit core and center of what I felt, tasted, and was touched by while I was there: La Famiglia, FAMILY. Family is where it’s at, right? I mean, I thought I’ve treasured family all along, growing up in AZ near extended family, making time for Sunday dinners at Aunt Rosa’s, bocce ball with Uncle Cosimo and my dad, plucking juicy figs off the trees in my aunt’s yard, playing Simon Says with the cousins, and devouring Aunt Lucy’s fig cookies at Christmas while the adults at the table talked in Italian probably so we couldn’t understand what or who they were talking about. Fast forward 30-something years later though, and now as a wife and mother of four, I have the typical family schedule full of after school sports, church activities, ‘Me’ time I intentionally set aside to write, exercise, read, ‘downtime’ with my kiddos to watch movies and chill on the weekends, and the occasional time for date nights and GNO’s.

I make time for these much valued, much needed peeps I call family and that I hold so dear but at the same time, I’m a little (actually a whole lot) removed from my extended family of cousins, aunts and uncles just a few miles away who I haven’t spent much time with in years. Spending time with family in Italy who I could only really just sit back and watch instead of talking with, due to the language barrier, was just what I needed to set this idea of extended family back in perspective. Even though it was hard for me to not be able to contribute to conversation, I found that by simply watching a couple Savonas, I could see and understand how to connect with extended family and a rich history.

“Family… Like branches on our tree our lives may grow in different directions, but our roots remain as one”. Recently, I googled ‘Family’ and found this quote which really struck me. Watching my dad and relatives in Sicily made me reminisce the days of fig-plucking, Simon Says games, and bocce matches and made me really think about MAKING the TIME to reconnect with extended family, just like I would want my children to do with their own cousins if they ever lose touch. If my dad could go back to his roots by travelling thousands of miles away, I could certainly make an effort to do that here just 15 minutes away from relatives. And if Zina could MAKE TIME to separate the flowers from the leaves and to spread joy to her family, and if Lina could MAKE TIME to gift her talent and creativity to her family, then I can MAKE TIME to reconnect with my roots. Instead of ‘talking’ with my cousins on Facebook, I’ll make time to finally schedule that brunch I’ve been meaning to put on the calendar. And I will call Aunt Lucy and ask her to come over to teach me how to make those fig cookies that I remember so fondly. And if they still have it at Target, maybe I’ll buy my own bocce ball set that my kids and my nieces and nephews can start playing together.

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THE LITTLE MOMENTS By Jennifer Stamps Photographs by Jennifer Stamps

Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know have for sure. -Oprah Winfrey I am a planner by nature. It’s the way I was born. And in my profession as a magazine editor and marketing manager, I’m consistently looking forward to the future. Planning for what hasn’t happened yet. Anticipating and laying down the groundwork for our next move. When I got pregnant, I quickly realized just how fast time went by. And I was afraid I’d miss it. So I made a conscious effort to enjoy the now, the little moments. Instead of wishing them to go faster so I can get to what’s next. Enjoy the kicks and flutters instead of wishing for that moment I’d hold her. After all, I may not ever get those kicks and flutters again. Then, my daughter was born. Instantly making the world a more beautiful place. And permanently putting my life in the fast-forward motion.

We are all busy. And finding quality time often requires creativity. Each morning I wake up, get completely ready for work, then wake up Adelaide, my six month old. And for 20 minutes, it is just us. Sometimes she sleeps peacefully in my arms. Sometimes she’s wide awake and making zerbert noises begging for me to zerbert her belly. That might be the only time we have, just the two of us, that day. But I pause. I keep my phone dark. Computer asleep. And it’s just us. Those are some of my favorite moments. Each day I intentionally find time for just us. And I make sure I’m unplugged. Work emails can wait. Instagram doesn’t need to be posted right this moment. It’s so easy to get lost in the shuffle of life. But being a mom has taught me to pause, every single day, and enjoy the moment. The little moments are the ones we will want back one day. They are a gift. And gifts are meant to be enjoyed. Cherished.

STELLAR DAY MAGAZINE

You Rock.

Thank You!

Editor in Chief Jessica Williams

Contributors Christine Cram Esther Gallagher Kate Williams Rennai Hoefer Robyn Baldwin Sarah Costa Sarah Trapp Columnists Alyssa Golden, You Are Enough Carrington Beauchamp, Dinner at the Table Christine Cram, Hosting Thanksgiving for Family Danielle Nesper, Sugar, Spice & Everything Nice Esther Gallagher, Making Time for Family Fallon Liles, At Home with Fallon Liles Jennifer Stamps, The Little Moments Jessica Williams, Families Designed Robyn Baldwin, Family Expectations Sarah Costa, Get Up and Get Going Stephanie Kapla, Recipes from Pie Monday Special Thanks Purposed Life Simply Sweet Pops North Phoenix Mom's Blog City Mom's Blog Nine Retreat Jay & Jess Photography

EDITORIAL OFFICES Located in sunny Scottsdale, AZ SPONSORSHIPS EMAIL stellardayblog@gmail.com Stellar Day Magazine is published by Issuu and created in Canva.

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WWW.STELLARDAYBLOG.COM EDITOR'S NOTE

Jessica Williams EDITOR-IN-CHIEF What's my heart for Stellar Day? Simple. To encourage women. To break down the barriers of 'groups' and 'cliques' and to just be community together. Some have kids, some don't. Some have husbands and some don't. Some have businesses, some don't. Some are younger and some are older. Just WOMEN together, gaining encouragement from one another, because at the end of the day, no matter what our lives look like, we are all women. We all have more in common than we realize, and there's no need to have groups and cliques and walls up against each other. I'd like to think that if you write for me, you're a girl who likes to encourage other girls- no matter what stage of life you're in and no matter what stage of life my readers are in. If you read my magazine and blog, I'd like to think that you're a girl who can gain inspiration from any walk of life and can aspire to take pieces of someone else's experience and make it your own so that you can go out and encourage others. If you're here and you need encouragement, you've come to the right place. There's no circles for you to fit into. Nothing to aspire to or try to attain. Nothing to feel discontent by. Just ideas, opinions and glimmerings of encouragement from other women who are just like you. Some of them are moms and wives. And some of them are not. And I love it that way.