Stamp Haven

My name is Tiffany and I am a Mama of two sweet little girls and a pilots wife, living a life full of surprise. I choose sweet over savory in life and in the kitchen and I believe in using our God given talents to help others.

My mission for https://www.etsy.com/shop/StampHaven1 has always been about inspiring others to be kind, be brave and have courage.

I have been working on building this business for a year now and although it's a small part of my everyday life, I truly take heart in making jewelry and gifts that matter.

Thank you stopping by and I look forward to creating you a piece that you will treasure for years to come.

Tiffany Campione

www.etsy.com/shop/stamphaven1

Visit me on Instagram @stamphaven1

Our Family Recipe...

You guys, my hubby is home! In honor of having our little tribe back together, I thought Our Family Recipe, would be a great way to express how fulfilled our hearts are now that we have our big strong man back.

Our family recipe...

Flour - This ingredient is not the most exciting ingredient alone, it's lacking in flavor and color, and it is responsible for the largest portion of the family recipe.  It's our daily lives, a sometimes mundane, but essential part of this recipe.  As you grow up you begin to discover life can not be stimulating at all times. And when a piece of the family is missing, we yearn so badly for the days of repetition and predictability in our lives.

Salt - Thankfully, this recipe only calls for a pinch of this ingredient, but let's face it, life has it's salty moments.  Everyone argues from time to time and you know what, it's ok. I don't know about you, but life would be a snooze fest without freedom to have our opinion and passion about certain topics, even if they are different than our family members.  We find strength and courage when we are challenged and I believe this is how we develop into the best version of ourselves. That said, there are also the less complicated, yet salty exchanges...babe can you please keep your socks OFF the floor? MmmK moving on...

Eggs - This ingredient is the glue and what holds us all together.  Our values make up this ingredient, the teachable moments that we learn from our children and that they are learning from us.  Character building is at the center of this key ingredient. Here are a few we believe to be important: God is first, family is second, our manners do matter, choose kindness always, we've been given so much, be grateful and give back, you are never alone, and make time for prayers everyday.

Butter - This ingredient holds our most tender feelings.  It's our tears and fears, our inner vulnerable selves, that we trust only one other with. It's deep and rich and so very much needed.

Baking Soda/Powder - When life fall flat this ingredient is essential to lift each other up, assuring that we rise above our circumstances and never give up. Tomorrow is a blank canvas, create something beautiful, but only after coffee.:)

Sugar - Right here is the sweetness in life and the tastiest of all of the components. The sugar in our family recipe is the comfort, the sound of laughter, beautiful smiling faces, it's all the firsts, the tight hugs around our neck, it's waking up together on Christmas morning, spending weekends making memories, it's date nights for me and the Mr. and its the validation for us, that even on the toughest days, there will always be a moment of sweetness, so embrace it.

There you have it.  It's really very simple.  Individually, the ingredients wouldn't be much to indulge in, but when mixed all together, it truly is delicious.

xoxo,

Tiffany

Oh where, oh where have my brain cells all gone?

Oh where, oh where have my brain cells all gone? Oh where, oh where can they be?  With my husband deployed and my kids late for school, oh where oh where can they be?

My husband is deployed, but I really can't complain because it's much shorter than it has been in the past and yet it still feels like it's taking for...ev...er !

You know, when he told me about this upcoming deployment, I got super organized.  I even wrote a goal sheet. Yes, annoying I know.  But I had all of these wonderful intentions of getting everything I had put to the way side, finally done.

And so for the first, say 3-4 days, I was like a Tasmanian devil up in here.  I started on sock drawers tossing the lonely singleton's, making my way to closets, stuffing our over abundance of all the things, into a ginormous donation bag for Salvation Army, I stock up on groceries and pinned crafty activities for the kids and I to do, and you know what I felt accomplished for a minute.

But since then... the two books that were on my goal sheet to be complete have yet to be opened, the website I was supposed to design, welp still nothing, oh and the waking up for 'me time' every morning before the kids, yeah let's not talk about that.

I mean seriously, I am zonked!  *I blame day light savings.

Now, as we are a few weeks into this whole separation thing, I have decided to give myself a little grace.  The self-bashing that has been in my head the last couple weeks, I wouldn't wish upon my worst enemy!

So from here on out, this is what I am going to do, it's not rocket science or anything, but I will accomplish one thing everyday.  Now, I am including taking the kids to school on time! High fives for that right there!  I will also include a hot dinner on the table for me and my littles a small, yet satisfying success.

Maybe you too have felt that you are failing because all of your to do's that are still undone.  Listen, I am giving you a pass today.  Take deep breaths, find your zen, have a glass of wine and throw in some chocolate and smile because you are doing the best you can and I am too.

"Don't worry, about a thing, because every little thing, is going to be alright." Oh, Bob Marley I adore you and will gladly take your advice.

Cheers to Friday friends!

Tiffany
xoxo

A letter of hope

Dear Mother in law,

I'm writing this letter to you, to give you an update on our family. We think of you often and pray for you daily and hope one day that we will see you again...

To start off, I wanted to fill you in on our lives with our two precious girls who are both incredibly sweet and have an abundance of curiosity.

Sophie is in first grade and has gotten straight A's this year.  She has God in her heart and reminds us how blessed we truly are.  She performed in the Nutcracker twice now and lives up to her middle name, she is definitely full of grace. She asks about her Granny often and when she will see you again, questions we can not answer, but instead we pray that we will have you in our life again.

And Gia, she has more spirit in her little body and has a way of commanding a rooms attention with just her smile.  She is in preschool now at our church and is enjoying socializing and learning in a group setting.  She started ballet this year and is tiptoeing her heart out trying to keep up with her big sister. She asks about who you are and why she hasn't seen you, but for now we show her pictures and again we pray.

Your son.  Your unbelievably intelligent, hard-working, family loving son.  He is everything to me and the girls.  What an amazing man you raised.  Jake is serving our country and flying the stealth bomber, a dream come true for him.  How proud you would be of all he has accomplished.  As a Father he is present and the girls are smitten with him.  Before bedtime he sings songs from his childhood that you once sang to him and tells the three of us childhood stories of the loving Mother that you were to him when he was young.  Helping him with his science eco-system project, caring for him when he was sick and how on Sundays he and his sister would put together a newspaper to bring in to you in the morning.

Lastly there is me, your daughter in law.  I am keeping busy with running the household and blessed to be a stay at home Mom.  I know you know the beauty and the struggles of taking care of everyone and hope one day we can talk over tea about how Jake was as a child when he was only a boy.  Until then, I will continue to pray that the two of you let down your guards and surrender the past.

I felt a pull in my heart to write this.  I don't know if you will read it or not.  I hope that you will.  You are loved by your grandchildren even if they have only a handful of memories of you.  You are loved by your son even if you haven't heard the sound of each others voices in years.  And I have love in my heart for you as well, as the Mother of my husband.

My hope is that before 2016 comes to an end, there will be answered prayers and healed hearts.  And maybe if the stars align, you will sing, Nani Nani, the lullaby you sang to Jake, while holding your grand girls.

Sincerely,

Tiffany

Do something that matters

                                                   

A couple of weeks ago, while browsing books on Amazon, I came across, 'Start Something That Matters' by Blake Mycoskie.

My passion is discovering ways to find our purpose and finding God's plan for our lives, which is why immediately I had to order this book!

It has been so insightful and has encouraged me, as I continue to work towards identifying opportunity in using my business, to incorporate something that matters.

Timing is everything. A friend of mine recently contacted friends and family to ask if we would like to participate in her Kindness Crew. What this entailed was simple, initiate any act of kindness and write a brief story to be shared over Valentine's Day weekend in hopes to spread kindness.

Without a doubt, I knew I had take part in this wonderful project. I was inspired by the TOMS story and resolved that I would give one for one for every be brave, be kind bracelet I sold over the next two weeks, I would give a bracelet to a woman at the Survival House.

Visit my shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/StampHaven1


Here is the story...

"My name is Tiffany and I strive to make a difference. My business Stamp Haven commenced about one year ago. My intentions for this business have always been about telling your story through jewelry and gifts that matter.

Recently, I have had more opportunity to spread positivity through the pieces that I create. Phrases including, Be Brave, Be You, Be Kind are simple, yet powerful words.

I chose to share kindness to Survival House, a safe house for women and children in our community who have suffered from abuse. I knew right away when I read about this organization that this was the place that I wanted to give, one for one bracelets to.

These seven wonderful women need many things. Clothing, toiletries and resources are a necessity for them and their children, and in the future I plan to help provide some of these items. Today, it wasn't about giving them what they need necessarily, but more so, a chance to give them a glimmer of hope.

I pray they know that are loved and worthy of a better life. Encouraging them to believe in themselves is the first step.

If there is an organization you think would benefit from one for one giving please contact me Tiffany Campione at tcampione27@gmail.com or at mysavingrace818.blogspot.com

xoxo,


Tiffany Campione

Stamp Haven: https://www.etsy.com/shop/StampHaven1

https://www.facebook.com/Stamp-Haven-358372354334108

How do we know...

I believe there is something greater than ourselves orchestrating the strings of our lives, but how do we know if we are doing our part to accomplish what God wants for our lives?

During my early to mid-20's, I was oblivious to this concept. I lived day to day for what would benefit me, myself and I.  I was a professional dancer and this passion of mine, took hold of my heart and was the center of my world.  I strategically planned everything else in my life around my dancing endeavors.  As a result, I missed important family events, my faith faltered, and along the way relationships slipped through the cracks.

I have grown since then.  I am stronger in faith, I have become a mother of two beautiful girls and I did the unthinkable and moved away from home with my adventurous fly boy.

Although raising our children has given me the most love I have ever known, I still have an aching inside of me, calling me to dig a little deeper.

While my husband Jake was deployed a few years ago at Christmas time, I climbed aboard a train with my 2 month old and my 3 year old. The three of us ventured 18 hours on that steam engine towards home, where we would be surrounded by loved ones during the months he was away.

At the time, we were living in Minot, ND, sometimes referred to as, The Magic City.  Minot had experienced a horrific flood the summer prior, damaging over 4,000 homes.  The flood thankfully did not damage our home, but for one reason or another the affected community weighed heavy on my heart.

One night while at my parents house, my Mom suggested, "Go take a break honey."  She had Gia cradled in her arms and Sophie was already sound asleep.  I took her up on her offer and did what sounded best at the time... I took a shower. Maybe some of you busy Mama's can relate!  That night while I was in the shower I started brainstorming ideas of how I could help.  In that glorious 10 minutes of quiet time, I decided I would put together a 5k on the anniversary of the flood.  I would only have 5 months to whip this up, but somehow the worrier in me didn't worry at all.

Let me be clear, I am not a runner and I have humbly participated in a whopping total of one 5k in my entire life!  I knew nothing about planning this endeavor, but I couldn't shake the idea.  I also decided in those few pertinent minutes, that I would name the charity event, Hope Floats Rebuild The Magic.

It has been awhile since that inner voice was so crystal clear to me, which makes my goal as 2016 begins this week obvious. I am working on one simple task more than ever...listening.

We were all made for a specific purpose.  We may cross paths with someone that only we can provide the comfort and hope that they are desperate for.  Sometimes it may be hard to explain or may otherwise be impossible, but His plan always comes to fruition.  All we need to do is listen.  We are a wonderful work in Him.  Be kind to each other, encourage one another and be the ears to listen to be called to greatness.

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this:  Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." James 1:19

Do we need love or choose love, that is the question...

In my life I have been single I don't know something ridiculous like a shallow handful of months since the ripe age of sixteen. It sounds completely horrible.  I am a serial monogamous. There I said it.  Isn't it all about taking that first step towards recovery? Anyway, I never participated in casual dating, random hook-ups, etc.  When I met someone I knew in an instance if it was going to be a long term relationship, and if not, adios.

I had always felt I needed a person in my life to fulfill some dreadful missing piece. I discovered the hard way that it's really more so, about choosing to have love in your life once you are secure on your own.

There were times in my life where I filled a void for the person I was dating by boosting their confidence and being their biggest cheerleader.  I have also needed in relationships, where I was feeling insecure and around the corner was Mr. Charmer, boom crisis averted! Or, so I thought.

This type of relationship is seriously dangerous.  It may help repair your troubled heart temporarily, but this quote below about needs in relationship says it all, have a look.

Isn't this fascinating?  It makes so much sense.


The 'meet cute' eons ago...

It was fall in good ole' 1998, just off the campus at EIU. My roommates and I were hosting an epic Halloween party(I never use that word by the way).  Jake showed up that night and would go on to tell you that he snatched a smooch from me, but I'm still not buying it.  I have faint memories of a hand full of conversations with him that semester, but in a flash I never saw him again. Unbeknownst to me Jake had left school to enlist in the USAF.  Now we hardly spoke that semester, but without a doubt, I know now that God was preparing something magnificent for us.

Nine years later...

I was twenty seven and was encountering a difficult period in my life.  I had gotten married prematurely, I had insecurities I needed to be fulfilled as did my significant other at the time and not long after saying, 'I Do' we were saying, 'Good bye.'  Though it was a rough chapter in my life, I had grown so close to God in spite of it. I decided during this time, to give the reigns of my life over to God entrusting Him with my life, so I knew I was in good hands.

It was a beautiful spring day when I received a friend request on MySpace.  MySpace, yes I know I'm decrepit. At first I didn't recognize who this tall, dark, and delicious, guy was.  I sent a message to him saying hello and asked him how we knew each other.  Jake wrote back explaining our acquaintances from EIU and it started to trigger my few memories of him. Jake also mentioned he was in a pilot training class in Texas, but would be back in Chicago the next week.  He asked me out on our first date to a Chicago Bulls playoff game.

I don't remember who won the game that day, or the names of any of the players for that matter, but I will never forget the way Jake smiled at me and the feeling of joy I had from the moment we said hello.

We had grown up since that first meeting when we were just teenagers.  It wasn't our time then.  Our needs had been met and we were choosing each other.  This choice came with it's challenges; a long distance relationship, unexpected deployments and plethora of zip codes, but over and over again I choose us every time.

Interesting food for thought:

Need: requirement, necessary duty, or obligation

Choose: something that is preferred or preferable to others; the best part of something

When I see the definitions of these two words, this is the analogy that comes to mind:

I need to eat Brussel sprouts, broccoli and carrots, but I choose to eat a red velvet cupcake with extra cream cheese frosting.:)

For anyone reading this that is single, there is a person for you out there.  Dig deep using your mind, body and soul through spiritual growth, artistic expression, working out or all of the above which is really what makes my soul dance and the rest will fall into place. Your needs are for you and God to work out, but choose a person to be the icing on your cake.