Hello Cantelmos!

{i really wanted the title to rhyme and so that is what i came up with, albeit lame.}

i am excited to introduce Melanie from Keeping Up with the Cantelmos today!
Melanie is incredibly beautiful inside and out. she started her blog just a few short months ago and already has a large and loyal following! she is very inspirational to all women and i have loved getting to know her more!
she helps me realize that i am not alone in my own thoughts and struggles and is incredibly supportive with everything.

so without further ado, here’s Melanie!

How would your friends describe you?
My friends would say that I am sensitive, sweet, good listener, silly and a little random.

How long have you been married and what {honest} advice would you give to someone about to be married?
I have been married for almost two years. Our two years haven’t been easy. I went from being a single mom of one to being married with now having three kids. We have had a lot of adjustments to make but God is good and He has helped us along the way.

My marriage advice is to appreciate the sacrifices your spouse makes for you (even if they don’t appear to be sacrifices). I am not always good at this but I know Anthony (my husband) feels valued and respected when I tell him how much I appreciate the things he does for us.

How did you start your blog and why?
I started my blog in March of 2011 and my desire was to create a place where I could document all my kids were doing since I was so great at keeping up their baby books and also a way for all the grandparents to see what their grandchildren were up to. In October 2011 I started blogging regularly and realized I could use my blog as a way to inspire and encourage others. I believe that my blog has become my ministry to other women. My desire is for others to know that God is a forgiving God and He can use us even when my make mistakes.

What inspires you?
I love working with kids that are abused and hurting. The kids I work with inspire me to be a better me. They also inspire me to be thankful for all God has given me and to appreciate all the amazing people who go to great lengths to make sure those kids are safe.

People who have overcome difficult situations and live to encourage all of us to keep pressing on also inspire me.

5. What would your totem-pole animal spirit be? :) [like a great eagle or an otter :)]
I had no idea which one I was so I took a quiz online.

Here is what it says, “You are...A WOLF! Your utmost priority is leadership and kindness. You make friends easily and steadily, learn quickly, and care about others, hurting as much as they do when they're having a hard time.”

6. What are some of your favorite items in your shop or blog posts [with links] and why?
Be You - I love this post because I encourage others to just be you and no one else.
How he loves my little girl - This post is all about how my husband wants to adopt my oldest daughter Grace.
Our love story - This post is all about how Anthony and I fell in love.

7. How do you define success?
I define success by being satisfied at the end of the day with what you did, whether it is being a mom at home, a good wife, following your dreams doing something that is out of your comfort zone or making a difference in someone’s life.

8. What advice would you give to new shop owners/bloggers? What did you wish you knew when you first started?
Here I did a post on all my blogging tips:http://cantelmofamily.blogspot.com/2012/01/some-tips-on-blogging-from-brand-new.html. My top blogging tip is to leave positive comments on other blogs and make friends!

9. What is a talent you have that you wish you used more?
I have no idea! I feel like my talent for loving and caring for others is used up so much that I don’t really have talent anymore!

10. Do you squeeze the top of the toothpaste tube or the bottom? Which one does your husband do? {This is a silly question from Stronger Marriage that we would ask couples just for fun}
I actually never noticed which way I squeeze the toothpaste or which way my husband does either. I heard about people having problems with the toothpaste and the toilet paper when they got married but thankfully we have never had an issue with it! Thankfully my husband is pretty tidy so we don’t have too many arguments in that department.

11. What are your goals for the future {long and short}? Do you have anything you want to change?
My goals for the short-term would be for me to be able to stay at home with my children, be organized, intentional and consistent with them. Another short-term goal is to help my good friend get her non profit started and get a grant for me to work with pregnant and teen moms. I am very passionate about working with teen moms and their children. My long-term goal for the future would be for me to finish my masters in counseling.

 

thank you so much, Melanie, for answering those questions!
and aren’t her kids ADORABLE!!
i have to admit, i laughed so hard that you found an online totem-pole spirit quiz!! where did you find that?

i hope you all take the time to get to know Melanie more over at her blog!
you really will not regret it! Melanie will become one of your closest friends and you will completely fall in love with her blog and her family.

check her out here!