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.