Marriage, Mergers & Moving On. Blended Families Mix Things Up…

Now and then I hear from a previous couple who “couldn’t make a go of things.” It’s the sad reality of marriages that merged two families that refused to get along. Was it the bride or grooms family that finally broke up their marriage? Yes, occasionally.  The truth is that you can’t choose your new … [Read more…]

Rednecks, Redheads & Reality-The Pawning Planners Pay It Forward…

Helping people who don’t have any money is never easy- Pawning Planners clients have one thing in common- lack of money.  These families share another similarity-hard times & bad luck. We’ve met hundreds of families the past 6 years who needed a wedding, funeral, birthday party, baby shower, friendship ceremony, baptism, pawning party, estate liquidation … [Read more…]

Diets, Diva’s & The Christmas Wish- Twinning Times Two…

Last September, Cindy and I made a joint commitment to lose 40 lbs each by next year.  From holiday cookies to candy apples and our all time favorite- gummy bears, the twin venture has had the usual share of laughs with not only us but also our second generation twins aka the Little Pawners, Maryssa … [Read more…]

Why Every Family We Help Is Different At Texas Twins Events & The Pawning Planners…

The last 6 years of my life helping the families who came to us has been quite a journey.  Texas Twins Events started it all when I decided to help families with little money to enjoy something they wouldn’t be able to afford.  My goal was to find families who couldn’t find vendors willing to … [Read more…]

A Creative Endeavor- Blending Texas Twins Events & Texas Twins Treasures To Create The Pawning Planners…

Today I responded to another request from someone thinking that I owned a Pawn Shop- I don’t.  The “Pawning Planners” actually pawn our services in exchange for bartered items.  I then take the item and refurbish it prior to listing the item for sale at Texas Twins Treasures. Since I’m often asked “how this whole business … [Read more…]

Boomerang Kids, Blended Families & Lots Of Laughs- The Pawning Planners…

No one expects their kids to move home after they’ve moved out but some parents have a few “birds” that have never left the nest.  My twin sister, Cindy Daniel continues to wonder what an empty nest would feel like with three generations of her family under one roof.  Prior to marrying Steve, Cindy went … [Read more…]

Back To School- Twin Laws For Multiples In Texas Give Parents “The Right To Choose”

As children, my twin sister and I were separated in schools because administrators thought it was a good idea.  The truth was that separation in school caused me to develop a chronic stutter that would stay with me for years.  Speech therapy finally accomplished the difficult task of overcoming my speech disability. Fighting for the … [Read more…]

Crazy & Unexpected- Hilarious Wedding Moments With The Pawning Planners…

We call them the “Wedding Wild Card Moments” because often at our events something unexpected happens.  Recently, I was asked to describe my thoughts at the time of how I overcome a “problem” on location so, today we will revisit the Wedding Heckler, the Woeful Wedding Bouquet, Attack of the Arbor, the Meddling Mother, Bounced … [Read more…]

Raising Grandchildren and Caring For Aging Parents Isn’t Easy But You Can Do This…

Today I took my father for vascular surgery, he needed two more stints.  My father is High Mileage and has had a quadruple bypass along with another stint prior to today’s two.  Heart problems and diabetes run in our family so my twin and I are cautious with low fat diets and sugar in order to … [Read more…]

Am I “Old School?”  Perhaps But Parenting Requires Input Whether Your Children Think It’s “Outdated” Or Not…

My son Robert Hafele is a photographer for Texas Twins Events/The Pawning Planners and we often disagree on tattoos, piercings and non conforming haircuts and color.  He’s a very good looking young man but recent changes to his appearance have me confused and concerned these days!  Yesterday I was (again) taken “off guard when my … [Read more…]