Monday, June 17, 2013

Update on Life/Fysiko Eyelash Growth Serum/ Palmolive Soft Touch

I have got to get better about keeping up with this thing! It looks like my last post was on our Anniversary, 03/27/2013, so let me try to remember what's happened since then.

I guess I'll start with the technical stuff. I joined Influenster a couple of months ago, which is a product testing site. So far I've received a $400 Fysiko Eyelash Growth Serum to test, free of charge, as well as 2 full-size bottles of Palmolive Soft Touch. The Fysiko Eyelash Growth Serum is a 16 week program which I began on 05/13/2013, so I started on my 5th week today. I'm supposed to post a blog about the experience every 4 weeks, but I missed the mark last week! So far I haven't really noticed any thickening, but I still have 11 weeks to go, so we shall see! As for the Palmolive Soft Touch I received, I'm a believer. I am a firm believer that washing dishes by hand gets them way cleaner, but I always hate how my hands feel afterward. My hands get dry and flakey, and my nails get soft and brittle. Since I began using Palmolive Soft Touch, I've noticed a HUGE difference. My hands feel soft and moisturized, and my nails feel like they're getting stronger. Once I run out of my full-size bottle, I'll definitely be buying more. Did I mention it smells great too?

The other thing I've received from Influenster over the last couple of months is the Spring Fever VoxBox, that little treasure chest has be a-mazing. It included a pack of imPress Broadway Nails, Secret Gel Deodorant, Schwarzkopf Professional Hair Gel, a yummy, smore flavored, Tasty Kake, and an NYC New York Color Appleicious Lip Balm. Seriously, if you're not already enrolled in Influenster, what are you waiting for?


What else has happened? Harper cut her first tooth...and then her second just a couple of weeks later! Baby teeth are THE cutest thing ever!
 
Seriously. How adorable are those little teeth?

She also loves to stand up and has learned how to sit back down on her own, and she loves walking along the couch/tables/anything she can hold onto. She's a little daredevil and keeps trying to stand up without holding onto anything too...this usually result in her ending up on her butt!

We also celebrated Brad's grandpa's 80th birthday and the entire family was there!
Of course, Harper was dressed for the occasion!
 I'll continue with Father's Day in the next post!


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

I stand for love.

The issue of marriage equality cuts me to the core. I personally believe that everyone is equal, and everyone has the right to marry who they love. As far as I'm concerned, MY Jesus loves everyone, MY God beautifully crafted every single one of us, and, as we approach this Easter weekend, the most important point of all is that OUR Jesus died for everyone.

For every single one of us.

There were no stipulations.

There were no strings.

God's mercy and grace is nondiscriminatory.

That being said, if you don't agree with me, I don't love you any less. We are all entitled to our own opinions and I think things would go further if people would just have civil conversations. You can still be friends and not agree. Some of those dearest to me are wholeheartedly opposed to marriage equality. I still love them. I still respect them.

What makes me crazy is seeing how fellow Christians approach the issue. The way I've seen many Christians act about this goes against everything we have been taught. I grew up in a private Christian school. I've been a Baptist for as long as I can remember. The strongest message I have always been taught is that "God is Love". My Bible says "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:1-2) So, why do we do it? When were we bestowed the divine right to pass judgement on others? I must have fallen asleep during that sermon.

Jesus says in John 13:34 "As I have loved you, so you must love one another." How has he loved us? Unconditionally. He goes on in Verse 35 to say "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." When all you do is tell someone everything you think they're doing wrong, is that showing them Christ's love?

There are so many people in my life, who I love so dearly, that are gay. Having literally grown up around some of them, I am a firm believer that homosexuality is not "a choice". Luckily, most of these people in my life embrace who they are and are open about it, but others are resentful and hate that it is something they can't "overcome". It is the latter that have solidified my opinion on whether it is a choice, or not. It is also the latter that break my heart. It hurts me that our society has made it so difficult for people to be comfortable in their own skin. Whether it's due to their sexuality, what they look like, or how much money they make. We, as a whole, have become this judgmental monster...we actively seek opportunities to judge people. I, too, am guilty of this.

I see a lot of Christians use the argument that gays have chosen a sinful lifestyle. We ALL choose sinful lifestyles every single day. My Bible says that sin is sin and no sin is greater than another. Heck, 1 John 3:15 says that if you hate someone, you are a murderer. You know that really pretty girl that you just hate, because you wish you looked like her? Yeah, you basically murdered her....oh, and it was because you're envious of her? Mark that as another "Deadly Sin" you just committed. Even if being gay were a choice, who are we, as Christians, to decide what they are and are not allowed to do? I cannot tell you how many times I have heard "[He/She] is gay and still goes to church! Can you believe that? Why bother, right? They're going to hell anyway, lol" Seriously? Are we just turning people away over their sin now? Is it now up to us to determine who is makes it in? Guess I slept through that sermon too. I chose to over-eat today, that's Gluttony, another "Deadly Sin"...I guess I'll just stop going to church now. There goes my daughter's chance at Private School! And why is the thought of someone going to hell something to be laughed over?

Yes, the Bible does clearly state that homosexuality is a sin, along with those other silly sins I've been mentioning, but it does not clearly state that you cannot get married because you're a sinner.

Sin is sin.

"...I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners." - Mark 2:17

He came for the Sinners.

We are all Sinners.

Moral of the Story: At the end of the day, I stand for love. This country was built on the basis of freedom of religion. I believe that within that falls freedom of love and the right to marry whomever you choose.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

5 Months

 The most common baby advice I've always heard is "Enjoy every moment, because they'll have their own family before you know it."....girl, is it true.

Harper is 5 months old today. Can you believe it? It literally feels like just yesterday I was looking into her sweet little eyes for the very first time. Today she hardly even resembles the baby I saw that day. Everything about her has changed so much; growing more and more beautiful, more and more intelligent, every single day.

Her hair is much lighter now than it was then; her eyes are a different color. Every inch of her has so much character, she actually looks like a mini toddler. She still has a tiny little body, but her arms and legs go on for miles.

The most exciting thing about her (so far) is her giant personality. She likes to get a taste of anything she can get those hands on. She'll jabber on for hours, if you let her. Her laugh is infectious. Almost anytime you look at her, she's guaranteed to have a big, toothless smile on her face.

She's starting to snuggle with her toys and she can almost sit up on her own. She loves to sleep on her side, in the most awkward, uncomfortable-looking position ever. She tries to crawl, but doesn't quite have the coordination down just yet. She thinks our dogs are hilarious and she loves her morning cartoons.

I'd be lying if I told you I don't have emotional breakdowns on a daily basis. Sometimes when she cries, I cry. Not because I'm frustrated, but because her cry sounds so different than it did those first couple of months...I miss it. Sometimes I'll just be sitting there staring at her and start crying, because I don't know what I could have possibly done to deserve her. Sometimes I miss hearing her in-womb, so I'll listen to the clip I recorded at the hospital, just before I had her...and I cry. Sometimes I cry, because I'm worried it's all just a dream and I'm going to wake up and she won't be there. Heck, I still can't read her all of I'll Love You Forever, because I cry so much I can never get through the last few pages.

Don't get me wrong, the breakdowns aren't always sentimental: Just the other day, she had such a big "blowout" diaper that the only thing I could do was cry, because I didn't even know where to start...it was everywhere. Actually, this is almost always what the non-sentimental breakdowns are over. lol

So here's to our sweet little muchkin, who we can't imagine life without. Stop growing up so fast, please.

"I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."



-Until next time.




Tuesday, February 5, 2013

How time flies...

I cannot believe that the last blog I wrote was before my child was born...she will be 5 months old in just 2 short weeks. Wow.

I suppose there's a lot to catch up on, this will be mostly pictures.

September 2012
Harper's very first picture...goo and all.
My first time holding that little munchkin.
She instantly had Daddy wrapped around her tiny little finger.
Approximately 1 week later, her newborn photos were taken by Rachel Scott.
(Check her out, she's really awesome: Scott Photography)
She was such a little trooper. P.S. I made that banner ;)
Tiny little toes.
October 2012
Halloween 2012 Pictures

Our little Minnie Mouse! She was a big hit trick-or-treating.
November 2012

November was very exciting, particularly for me. Not only was it the end to Election season chaos, but I also cooked Harper's first Thanksgiving meal. Of course, she couldn't eat any, but still.
Harper's kiss from the Congressman after the big win on Election night.
I wish this outfit could fit her forever!
My sweet little Turkey.
So, now to boast over my amazing Thanksgiving decorating and cooking....
Of course, it wouldn't be a proper Thanksgiving without Duck Dynasty on in the background.



There were a wholllle lotta' leftovers.
Next to the fireplace mantle, this is my favorite thing to decorate.
December 2012
Christmas decorations may or may not have gone up Thanksgiving night.
Harper's Elf on the Shelf - Ellie
Her first picture with Santa.
That face...
Our little gingerbread girl!
Our favorite present :)

Harper's custom onesies made by: Over The Moon Baby Boutique
Harper's custom bows made by: Amy's Bowtique