Secret Blog Angel Reveal!

My time as a secret blog angel for the month of June has come to an end :( But at least I get to finally tell guys about the wonderful lady and her blog I've been helping with. Please meet...

BROOKE @ COVERED IN GRACE

This beautiful, talented lady has so much going on I don't even know where to start. When I first visited her blog I knew right off that I was going to have to be a regular follower. I love how she calls herself a wannabe photog because all of the pictures on her blog are beautiful. Her 30 before 30 post is so creatively done that it inspired me to do one of my own. You guys just have to go meet Brooke and take your time enjoying her blog!

What Did I Do As Her Blog Angel?

First off, I volunteered an item for a giveaway that she was hosting during June. It turned out awesome! Brooke wanted a super nice giveaway for her followers and I believe she delivered. There were so many prizes, she made up 3 prize packs from them!

Besides just offering up a prize, I also mentioned about Brooke's giveaway on my blog, Twitter, and Facebook accounts. Hey, if you're going to help someone out you have to go all the way. Needless to say her giveaway was a huge success! I'm thankful that I was able to be a part of that :)

I also commented on a lot her blog posts. And get this guys...she replied to all of them! I know as a blogger, we love to get comments from our readers. But as a reader, it was nice for Brooke to reply back not only timely, but also using my name. It was very personal.

Now it's your turn. Go visit Brooke over at Covered in Grace and get to know her a little more like I did. You won't be disappointed!

Ankle, Why You Hurt So Much?!?

My left ankle has been bothering me since last Friday. I can barely walk on it fully and it throbs constantly. It's throbbing right now as I type this post. 

I was going to wait it out, but after crying while crawling last night, I decided it's time to see the doctor. My ankle isn't bruised and it only swells a little at night because I've been walking on it. But it hurts soooo bad! I'm hoping it's just a sprain or a similar minor injury. My doctor appointment is this morning so I'll update everyone when I get back. Let's pray for the best :)


UPDATE
So, it appears that my ankle is not sprained or broken. My doctor is going to refer me to an orthopedic specialist to check out my ankle. He also ordered some blood work to be done on me to check on the inflammation level in my body. With an aunt that had lupus, he doesn't want to overlook anything, which I really appreciate. 


For now he wants me to use crutches if I need them, slowly rotate my ankle so it won't get stiff, and keep off of it as much as I can. You mean I have been ordered by the doctor not to clean or cook? Hmm, this has turned out to be a great day after all! LOL!

My Favorite Things!

MY FAVORITE THINGS!

Sometimes when life gets too stressful, I think about what I'm thankful for, how I've been blessed, and also some of my favorite things. I thought I would share just a few of my favorites with you. This might turn into a weekly feature, but I'm not sure yet. If you want, which I would LOVE, leave a comment below about some of your favorite things.

1. Skittles - My favorite candy in the whole world! I dance every time my husband comes home from the store with a bag of Skittles for me. I love them! When I graduated from high school, my parents filled up a huge container of Skittles as one of my gifts. I finished that thing in like a week. Lol!

2. The Lake - There is probably nothing more relaxing than sitting by a lake and taking in all the wonders that God created. I love putting my feet in, since I can't swim, and just enjoy the sound of the water lapping, the breeze on my face, and the boats that pass lazily by. It's also a great place to catch up on some reading.

3. My Nook - I love this little guy! I have hundreds of books on it  that are all accessible with just the touch of my little finger. My husband gave it to me as a gift when I graduated from the dental assisting program. The thing I love about it the most is that it's more portable than a regular book. I can carry hundreds of books in my purse, which would be near impossible with physical books. 

4. French Fries - I'm a potato girl. I love them anyway I can get them - baked, grilled, sauteed, boiled...you name it! But I have a special place in my heart for french fries. I could eat those things everyday, which sometimes I'm guilty of. McDonald's are my favorite fries, but Five Guys and Chic-fil-A are starting to compete for my affections. Lol!

GIVEAWAY!!!

Would you like to take this little guy home with you?

Then head on over to my Giveaway section and check out all of the details! To make it quicker, click on the link below :)

http://cbulife.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html

5 Great Etsy Gifts for Candle Lovers

I LOVE candles! The different shapes, colors, and scents have always attracted me to them. For my wedding, we had white floating and votive candles on all of the tables to be lit as a signal that the ceremony was about to begin. Aww, memories! 

If you're a candle lover like myself, or know someone who is, Etsy has a HUGE selection of candles and holders. They have candles that look like food, that you can customize, that look like flowers, that are carved, and even candle sculptures. And you know since it's on Etsy, all of the candles are lovingly made by hand. Here are just a few of the awesome candles you can find that caught my eye.

Enjoy :)

5 Great Etsy Gifts for Candle Lovers

Japanese kanji Love Calligraphy Candle - $14.00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/67864930/japanese-kanji-love-calligraphy-candle

WILD CHERRY CHEESECAKE Jumbo Cupcake Candle - $15.95

http://www.etsy.com/listing/61533880/wild-cherry-cheesecake-jumbo-cupcake

Thin Mint Soy Tea Light Candles--Set of 6 - $5.00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/96118390/thin-mint-soy-tea-light-candles-set-of-6

Sushi Candle Gift Set 6 Piece Gift Set - $14.95

http://www.etsy.com/listing/63450544/sushi-candle-gift-set-original-assorted

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcake Candle - $6.95

http://www.etsy.com/listing/46325085/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-cupcake

Bauble Swap!

Oh boy! I have stumbled on something fun for you guys. Shanna over at "Because Shanna Said So" has the neatest swap going on over at her blog.
Do you like free jewelry?Do you like to get to know other fellow bloggers?Do you like to receive special packages in the mail?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you MUST participate in the "Bauble Swap"! What is the Bauble Swap? You know that bracelet or necklace you use to love but just don't wear anymore? Well, someone just might love to have that bracelet or necklace. That's right - all you have to do is swap jewelry with someone. Isn't that awesome?!?
If you're interested (and I know you are) you can click on the link below for more details. I hope you guys join the Bauble Swap and have some fun along with me :)
http://becauseshannasaidso.blogspot.com/2012/06/bauble-swap.html

To Have or Not To Have Children?

Too Adorable!

For the past four and half years, I've battled with my indecisiveness on getting pregnant. Having children is definitely the most touchy subject between my husband and I. He didn't want kids right now and I was literally begging for them. I would even try to take him down the baby aisle at Wal-Mart, but he would always escape. Yep, my hubby is a ninja!

We're now reaching that 6th year mark in our marriage and I can honestly say, I do not want to get pregnant. I never thought I would say those words but the truth of the matter is I'm not ready. I'm so thankful that I married a man who stuck to his guns on this one instead of giving in to make me happy. Here are just a few reasons why I don't think I'm ready.

1. Freedom - I love being able to pick up and go whenever, stay out however long with the hubby, and sleep when I want and how long I want. Yes, this might seem selfish to some but I'm being honest. If I'm not ready to let go of this freedom I've enjoyed for almost 6 years, then I consider myself not ready.

2. Time - My husband and I are only in our early 30's. If we do decide later on to get pregnant, we have time. It's not like we're in our 60's regretting the fact that we never procreated. Lol! When the time is right, which isn't now, we will have some gorgeous babies :)

3. My health issues - I wrote a post earlier about my battles with depression and bipolar disorder. If I get pregnant, I have to get off my meds for the safety of the baby. I don't want to even imagine myself with my meds and hopped up on pregnancy hormones. Godzilla, anyone? Besides mental health, my physical health isn't anything to brag about either. So until things improve, I have my hands full dealing with these issues daily.

4. Don't want to share my husband - I know this sounds silly, but it's true! I love being the only person at the house to get his attention and affection. It's been this way since day one. I always joke around and say that if we had kids, I would knock them down trying to get to my husband first when he gets home from work. Of course I wouldn't do that for real, but you get the point. I've been told plenty of times by parents that the alone time just sort of fades away when you start bringing babies into the picture. Well, I'm not ready for that. Selfish? Maybe. Smart enough to know I'm not ready before popping out kids? I think yes!

Do you agree or disagree? Leave your comment below letting me know which one and why.

Random Funny Animals

I know it's only Wednesday, but there seems to be a lot of uptight people out there right now. Life is too short to be serious and stressed out all the time. So if you're in need of a pick-me-up, look no further. Maybe some of these funny animal pictures will do the trick.

ENJOY :)

5 Great Etsy Gifts for Wonderland Lovers

I love Alice in Wonderland! It's one of my all time favorite animated movies. To have an adventure in a strange place with unique people at every turn always fascinated me. When I was little, I was envious of Alice because I wanted to go on my own adventure through Wonderland like her but never could. 

Now that I'm older, Etsy has made it a little easier for me to have my own adventure through Wonderland. There are so many cool, unique, and cute items on Etsy that are Wonderland themed. I believe I was on page 18 of 250 when I decided to give up and just pick 5 items. Talk about overwhelming! LOL! I hope you enjoy the items I picked this week. If you have an idea for "5 Great Etsy Gifts for...", leave a comment and let me know. I'm always open for ideas :)

5 GREAT ETSY GIFTS FOR WONDERLAND LOVERS!

Alice in Wonderland cute deco den box - $18.50

http://www.etsy.com/listing/99239534/alice-in-wonderland-cute-deco-den-box

Antique brass and silver Alice in Wonderland charm bracelet - $3.99

http://www.etsy.com/listing/99662711/antique-brass-and-silver-alice-in

Alice in wonderland Eat Me cookies 1 dozen - $28.00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/84936422/alice-in-wonderland-eat-me-cookies-1

Alice in Wonderland - Blue Drink Me Vial with Skeleton Key - $15.00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88481641/alice-in-wonderland-blue-drink-me-vial

Alice in Wonderland Apron -Made to Order - $52.00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/100948341/alice-in-wonderland-apron-made-to-order

Shh....I'm a Secret Blog Angel!

About a month ago, I signed up to be a "Blog Angel" for the month of June. It's a way to help a fellow blogger secretly that was set up by Katlyn at Dreamy Meadow and Rosie at Craftbotic. It's been so much fun helping out and getting to know the blogger I was assigned to. Of course since it's a secret, I can't tell you guys who she is. I would hate for her to stumble upon this post and ruin the surprise before the end of the month. But I can share with you a little insight on my experience as a blog angel.

What have you learnt about yourself from helping another blogger?

Even though I'm new at this blogging gig, I can still help out someone who's been at it for a while. I might not know how to make blog buttons, but I do know how to leave comments. And trust me, us bloggers love it when our readers leave comments! So I've learned to never underestimate the talents I have, whether small or big, could help someone else.

How have you made time to help someone else out?

I try to visit her blog at least twice a week to see if there is anything I can help out with. So far, I've left comments and offered some items for a giveaway she's hosting. I really hope this doesn't give me  away :)

Have you been trying to work out who is helping you or are you more concerned with helping others?

In the beginning I did try to figure out who was helping me, but to no avail. That's probably my fault though. When I signed up to be a blog angel, one of the things I wanted help with was blog design and buttons. Well, a few weeks before the blog angel started, I was able to get all of that done complimentary by a fabulous lady named Sue. I apologize if this has frustrated my blog angel to no end. Maybe they're helping me in other areas that I just haven't noticed yet. Hmm...

How does being a Blog Angel affect your experience of blog land?

Blog land is so huge! LOL! For someone like me who is still kind of new to this, I'm loving the fact of meeting new people through the one blog that I'm helping. I'm not only getting to know her, but her sponsors, the people she sponsors, and other blogs that she likes. I'ts been awesome!

Daily Fights With Depression and Bipolar Disorder

This morning, I read a fellow bloggers post about her struggle and fight with depression. I was inspired by her courage and strength to share something so personal with us. She inspired me to write about my own fight with depression and bipolar disorder.

Most people who know me would never guess that I struggle with mental illnesses. People always say that I'm so bubbly and always have a smile on my face. Which is true cause that's my personality. But, those who are really close to me get to see me fall to the ground crying hard for no reason. They see me get angry for no reason. They see me in my black hole as I contemplate my worthiness of living. This is my story...

About 4 years ago, I was diagnosed and began treatment for depression. I really wasn't surprised by the diagnosis. You see, I probably have been fighting with depression since I was a young girl. Looking back at the times when I wanted to stay in bed instead of playing with friends, the mood swings from happy to anger, and the feeling of knowing something is wrong but you don't know how to go about asking for help. So needless to say, I was relived that I finally had a name and an action plan to go with what I had been dealing with alone and silently all those years. 

The anti-depressant I was on seem to work some days but not others. My loving husband encouraged me to seek more medical attention, which I did. I was accepted into a mental health center where I received counseling, therapy, and a check-up with a psychiatrist. On one of my check-up visits, my psychiatrist drop a bomb on us that we weren't expecting. She diagnosed me with bipolar disorder. What? As if having depression is not enough! She explained that the emotional highs and lows that I have are common signs of someone suffering from bipolar disorder. 

It took me awhile to accept this as fact. Then I started to notice the highs and lows and a light bulb went off in my head. It finally clicked! Ok, I have bipolar disorder. So what? I'm still a loving and caring person. I'm still a fun, bubbly person to be around. 

I'M STILL ME! 

Depression, bipolar disorder, or any other mental illness does not define a person. Some of the strongest people I know have mental illnesses, and they have to be to combat all the negativity to surrounds mental illnesses. I will never understand why some people still feel like this topic is taboo. We sympathize and help ones that suffer with cancer or diabetes. But let some one with a mental illness ask for that and they get "crazy person" stamped to their forehead.

To everyone who has been diagnosed with a mental illness or know's someone who has, let's stay strong. Let's continue our fights one day at a time with our heads held high. I hope all of you have a loving support group to get you through as I do :)

5 Great Etsy Gifts for Shoe Lovers!

It's been a long time since I've done anything with this feature. I was trying to stay away from promoting Etsy, but let's be honest - Etsy has some really cool items! So I've decided to bring back the weekly feature "5 Great Etsy Gifts for..". 

To start things off, let's look at some fabulous, divalicious pumps. I'm not much of a shoe person, but these pumps may have me changing my mind. They are all glittery, sparkly, and so seductive looking. I LOVE THEM!!! The five Etsy shops that are featured all have awesome shoes in them so you'll have plenty of fun "shopping". The shoes are a little on the pricey side but there's nothing wrong with looking, right?

5 Great Etsy Gifts for Shoe Lovers

Celebrity closed toe crystals with chunky crystals platforms wedding bridal party prom - $259.00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/101303455/celebrity-closed-toe-crystals-with

100% Hand made crystal swarovski diamante YSL high heels shoes pumps wedding shoes - $280.00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91555586/100-hand-made-crystal-swarovski-diamante

Red Bling Rhinestone Custom heels One of a Kind - $170.00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/99468869/red-bling-rhinestone-custom-heels-one-of

Amazing Custom Avengers High Heel Platforms ...STORM PRINCESS... Size 7 - $64.00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/101487276/amazing-custom-avengers-high-heel

Cinderella's Revenge - $625.00

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74295529/cinderellas-revenge

Bloggy Book Club Discussion Question - Week 6

Well everyone, we have reached the end of our first book of the "Bloggy Book Club". It's kind of a bitter-sweet moment - you're happy that you accomplished something but a little sad that it's all over. I had a wonderful time reading "Water for Elephants" and reading the responses to the discussion questions each week.

 For the last time for this book, here's this week's discussion question:

"What was your overall favorite part of this book?"

I don't know! Haha! I enjoyed a lot of moments from this book so it's kind of hard to pick my overall favorite. Since I have to pick one, I'll say the brief summary that Jacob provided us readers about his life with Marlena married with children and part of Ringling Bros. Circus. You could honestly feel the love that Jacob had for this women, even if it's a work of fiction. Hey, when it's love, you can feel it and you could definitely feel it. 

There was one complaint I had with this book though. I'm not a fan at all of foul language - never have, never will be. The story started out great with a rare use of foul language so I was pretty happy about that. But then, the longer the story went on, the language went from bad to worse. Yes, I did finish the book only because it engulfed me that much. But that does not mean that I enjoyed the language in it at all. Oh well...to each his own. 

Overall the story was nice and I was able to get an inside look into what circus life was like way back in the day. If you like history, drama, romance, animals, action, circus, and comedy you might enjoy this book. And if you're not a reader, you could also watch the movie :)

WELCOME!

Hello everyone! Again things are looking a little different around here but this time it's permanent. I promise :) I had the lovely pleasure of having my blog re-done by a very beautiful, sweet, and talented lady. Sue over at As It Seems designed my blog and I couldn't love it any more than I already do! Please stop by her blog and say "hello"! She's pretty awesome!

As you notice, I have a navigation bar now and blog buttons. I'm so excited! Let me tell you a little bit about each section so you'll know where to look for what...and don't forget to grab a button :)

1. About Me - This is where you can learn a little more about me, my life, my hobbies, and whatever else. I'm hoping to post pictures so you guys can put faces to the ones I talk about (mainly my hubby).

2. Shop - For those who are interested in the clay charms and jewelry that I make, you can click on this link to take you straight to my Etsy shop "A Girl and Her Clay".

3. Recipes - I love to cook! I've had to love it more since I'm gluten-free now. This is where I will share some of the yummy gluten-free recipes that I find and try out. I also hope to share recipes that are not gluten-free.

4. D.I.Y's - I've always wanted to a D.I.Y's page and now I have it! This will either be projects that I've done or D.I.Y projects that I find cool from other bloggers.

5. Giveaways - Of course there'll be giveaways! Here is where to find the latest giveaway from my blog or from other blogs that I stumble upon.

6. Sponsor - I'm looking forward to having advertisement available on my blog. I want to start out with "button swapping" to gauge the interest.

7. Fun Randomness - This is where you'll find everything else. From cute pictures, funny jokes, inspirational quotes...you'll never know what will pop up here!