Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts

Thursday, February 16

Who of You by Worrying…{Featuring Carly from TexasLoveBirds}!

Hello, Baxtron{Life} readers! I'm Carly and  I blog regularly over here at a little place called Texas Lovebirds. My blog started as a series of "Dear Peanut" letters to our unborn son, but it quickly became a way for me to document this beautiful life and everything that comes along with it.  

With our son's due date just a few days away, our life is about to change in a big way and I hope you all will join us as we take our first steps into parenthood. 
Today I'll be sharing a post that I wrote several months ago; at the time I was about 26 weeks pregnant. Even though this experience seems like ages ago, I constantly go back to it and the lesson that I learned.  I hope you enjoy my thoughts and can learn something from it as well. Because let's be honest, momma or not, we all find ourselves caught in the trap of worry at one time or another.
 
Growing up I remember hearing adults (specifically my parents) talk about the worry that comes with being a parent. You know, followed by that very typical line.."you'll understand when you have kids someday." Okay Mom & Dad, you were right.  Last night while I was outside with the dogs, I took a little spill. My sweet Molly girl (you know, all 170 lbs. of her) got a little rowdy when I had her on her leash and pulled me a little too hard; thus, I fell. I caught myself on my hands and knees and got up unharmed. No belly hitting, or even remotely touching, the ground. Molly was distraught and quickly came to my aide, crouched beside me till I was on my feet. Once I was on my feet, my hand was covered in big, slobbery, Great Dane kisses.  I felt fine, I didn't ache, and I had no pains. 


But, of course, a little bit of me started to worry.


I promptly came inside, drank a big glass of juice, sat down, prayed, and waited for Gunner to move. I called Cody at work, and he assured me that I was fine as long as I wasn't hurting (in times like these, his medical knowledge really helps calm me). Shortly after getting some sugary juice in my tummy, Gunner began to kick up a storm. Each little movement, even the kicks to the ribs, made me smile. My boy was just fine.


"Thank you, Lord," I said. 
Followed by a thank you to Gunner as well.



Anxiety and worry are things I've always struggled with, and I'll probably write more about that later, but so many events have taught me that God is always in control. I think this will be a hard pill to swallow as Gunner comes into this world, but I know in my heart that it is true.

Gunner will always be most precious to me, but it comforts me to know that he is even more precious to God. He was knit in my womb for a reason, for a purpose. I don't even know what he will look like, but God knows the entire life that is ahead of him. God is so cool like that.

And do you know what's even cooler? 
That God allows little worriers like me to raise his children.
And when we worry, He grants us a flurry of movement and kicks.

Update!  Today Carly will meet her baby boy Gunner! :)  She is scheduled for a c-section based on his position.  Stop by her blog and give her a word of encouragement!! :)

Saturday, February 4

The Weekly Wrap {2.4.12}


 Zion finally decided she likes carrots, but only raw.
 After grocery shopping I found her in my room with this sleeve art.

 Our travel day came, and we enjoyed Five Guys burgers & fries at the Airport.

 I think she enjoyed it!
 Waiting for our flight to board, with a little Bob & Larry.

 Excited for our "Airplane Ride"
 We arrived and were greeted by this very preggo sister of mine!
 Our first day in Texas, Zion got to see what having a backyard is like.

 She especially loves the Power Wheels firetruck!

 The weather is so beautiful here…70's with a gulf breeze.
 Hammin it up for the camera.
 My nephew Angelo {almost 4!}
 My niece Gabriella {2 1/2}.
The family dog: Killer  (or "Keee-Laaah" as Zion says)!

How was your week?

Monday, January 30

The Verdict {BeautyMint Review}

**This post is not sponsored in any way, just my own personal review of a product I decided to try out.**

A few weeks ago, I began trying out Jessica Simpson's skin care project Beautymint.  Today, I want to give you my thoughts on it and why I won't be continuing to use it.

The initial attractive selling points for BeautyMint:

  • Created by a Beverly Hills Celebrity Skincare Expert 
  • Visibly reduce the appearance of forehead wrinkles
  • Patented technology and premium ingredients
  • Low Monthly cost

I am looking for a product that will improve my skin all around, but specifically address the fine lines around my eyes and on my forehead, while minimizing breakouts.
Before / No Make-Up

I was very hopeful that BeautyMint would work, and did notice the following after a few weeks of use:

  • Improved texture of skin
  • Smaller pores
  • Dry skin patches around nose gone!

Unfortunately, I will not be continuing to use BeautyMint because:

  • Breakouts - I had an increase in breakouts, as well as tiny pimples
  • Forehead skin became very dry and itchy, possibly an allergic reaction to the product?
  • No real noticeable improvement of the areas I was hoping to address
  • Skin seemed more red and uneven
 After - Skin is More Red, Breakout
I took a close up and you can really see the redness/irritation from the product.

I wouldn't necessarily discourage anyone from using BeautyMint, especially because it is hard to tell whether or not I had a particular sensitivity to one or more of their ingredients.  I'd definitely be interested in hearing from others who have used this product to see if they had any kind of itching/redness occur.

Saturday, January 28

Unscripted: Somethings Got To Give


Something has to give.  Something always has to give.  It seems like just when I get a bit of balance in my life, some major flaw reveals itself and my energy has to be redirected in tackling it.  

Currently, I'm struggling with the reality of my attitude toward money.  I know it may be taboo to speak openly about personal financial struggles, but I'm seriously having issues and I will take any help I can get.  You see, I'm a spender.  

My husband, sincere thanks to God, is the polar opposite of me financially.  He is wise, conservative, and conscious of each and every financial decision he makes and how it will impact us.  

I may as well be declared financially blind.  I have the head knowledge and the smarts to manage money well.  I have tools at my disposal to make it easy and efficient to tend our household budget.  But, I just can't seem to stay within the boundaries we've set.

I'm trying to get to the root of the issue.  Don't get the wrong idea…I'm not going on shopping sprees and running up our credit cards frivolously.  I want more than anything to be debt-free this year.  I just seem to have this attitude about money that lacks proper respect.  

When I think about money, I think of the control it has on our lives.  I hate being controlled…by anything/anyone.  I have this rebellion that stirs in me when living in the confines of a budget or a spending cap and it sees every opportunity to use justification as a way of excusing my choices to overspend the amounts we have agreed upon each month.

This mindset is getting me in big trouble.  Its false.  Complete lies.  I am actually giving money more control by letting it wreak havoc in my life {and marriage} as well as keeping myself in bondage by overspending {each dollar overspent could be another dollar towards financial freedom!}

So what do I do?  I need to carve out the false beliefs I have about money and truly make it work for me.  I need to put more weight on each and every financial decision I make.  I need to get back to what has worked for me, until I break the habits.  So that means, I need to use cash again.

Cash only spending has a huge impact on me.  When I leave my debit card at home, I know that I have no choice but to stay within the boundaries of the cash in my wallet.  I can't be tempted to buy that extra box of hot cocoa when I didn't plan ahead of time for it.  And if that means I get to the checkout of the grocery store with more than I intended, I will have to face the embarrassment of putting something back.  This kind of money management also forces me to make a good meal plan and stick to it, something I've sort of stopped doing over the last couple of months.

I think that another part of my struggle is with just being able to say, "no."  Even if it is just a "no" for now, so that I can say "yes" later.  I've been a "Yes" person most of my life, and this ties right into breaking that habit.  

Money, I'm done giving you the keys to our kingdom.  

Saturday, January 21

The Weekly Wrap {1.21.12}


 We had a great week!
 Daddy/Hubby got back from Atlanta.
 I tried to be more creative with my toddler mealtimes.
 Saw this ice-cube-tray idea a while ago!
 Teething…lots of hand-in-mouth…and drooling.
 Favorite new show: Blue's Clues
 I'm doing good on my healthy eating!
 Having fun…she sure loves her dollhouse!

 Trying out different functions on my camera.

 Hair everywhere….much better when pulled back!
 Decided to freeze her yogurt and see if she'd like it….big win!

 And then it snowed…and it was love at first sight!

 First taste of snow….followed by catching it on her tongue.


 Pretty proud of this macro shot…starting to think this camera and I can be friends!
 Snow angel time!

How was your week?