Winners & Ad Space Claimers

Hey lovelies!! Woohooo! I'm finally back with the winner of the Lauren Nicole Gifts $75 Shop Credit, and all of the official ad space claimers from the Birthday/Blog Anniversary Giveaway in early September!

Winner of the Lauren Nicole Gifts Giveaway:

Congrats Lesley R! 

Can't wait to find out what you choose from this great shop! 

 Thank you to all who entered!!

And now the ad space claimers from my 1st Blog Anniversary:'

Warning - totally unnecessary to watch this video!

December Ads:
Loveliest -
Ashley M.

Lovelier - 
Brittney L.
Ashley K.
Erin B.
Jessica S.

Lovely - 
Emily R.
Diana Z.
Sarah F.

Most Lovely - 
Jessica B.
Jennifer N.

January Ads:
Loveliest -
Courtney D.
Ang P.

Lovelier -
Brighton H.
DeAnn P.

Lovely -
Sarah-Louise B.
Amber M.
Brittany H.
Kassie R.
Sara V.

Most Lovely -
Krystal B.
Melissa P.

February Ads:
Loveliest -
Kimberly
Chelsea O.

Most Lovely -
Kelly H.


All of you will be emailed this evening - and totally your responsibility to claim your ad space via the instructions I send! Thank you to all who entered and participated! XO

This Post Sponsored By:

A Post #Sandy #NYC

Things have been a bit nuts here in the last week.  I can't believe its been a whole week since I've posted, but other things have been on my mind.  Like superstorms and millions of people being displaced from their homes in many states including my own.

While, our little family survived the storm with little more than the occasional flicker of the lights and the epic howling of the wind that sounded like a banshee screaming outside our apartment, others are dealing with loss of life, property and the basics we so easily take for granted.

I think the hardest part is the fact that so many people are hurting, more than can be reached right now by the Red Cross & Government programs - and the rest of the country could easily just go on their way about their own business and forget about the needs of the people here.

If its easy to remain comfortable in my bubble up in Washington Heights, how much easier in a part of the country that didn't face the storm?  I fear another Katrina - towns and cities decimated with only a small percentage of the country giving of their time and treasure to help.

New York is resilient but I also disagree with the attitudes of overconfidence and arrogance by many officials shown on the news - New Yorkers need help right now.  And the city and state is not able to match the need - which means the help has to come from elsewhere - and I think our city and state would do better tempering the "We can survive anything attitude" to the "We need your help - in some ways desperately" attitude!

From things I have heard just today, several of our shelters are running low on supplies.  The demand is too great at this time to effectively care for those who are in need.  We're talking babies without basic necessities like diapers and formula.

I too sometimes find myself at a loss for how much I can do to help so many people.  I mean, I am a stay-at-home mom with a 2 year old at home to worry about.  But I'm driving myself crazy brainstorming things I can do with her to help.  Is it making meals?  Is it giving money?  Whatever it is I have to do something to help!  It is not only my responsibility as an American, but my hearts desire as a Christian.

I'll admit I am very independent in my political views, to the dismay of some, however; I want to challenge those who stand on the viewpoint of "Government programs to help others should be cut" to prove that there are others who will rise to this call of providing for their fellow Americans in such a time of great need.  Because some of these people have lost everything - every. single. thing. - and will need help to get back on their feet.  I hope those who gawk at these programs put their money where their mouths are.

I am burdened in my heart to be a bit of a squawking voice at this moment in time, because I don't want people to just simply forget and go about their lives without knowing the truth - our side of the country needs your help right now - in whatever way you can give - please do so.

I've created a special ad space on BaxtronLife for the rest of this year - and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to local relief efforts in our area that provide supplies to families in need.  (Through TGC Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund).   For more details please visit my sponsor page here.

Praying for all of the people suffering the results of this storm,

Loveliest Featurette + Giveaway Taylor from Goings on in Texas

I have the best treat for you guys today.  I'm so excited I am literally giddy as I'm typing this!  Not only is this the first time I've EVER done something like this, I think its been one of the funnest posts I've ever worked on...ever!

I had the awesome privilege of live interviewing Taylor from Goings on in Texas, and let me just tell you - it was a blast, and I can't wait to do more of these kinds of interviews in the future.  Not only is Taylor a total sweetheart - but she has one of the coolest job titles I've ever heard, Petroleum Landman!

Watch her awesome interview, I know you will love meeting her as much as I did, and then check out the details on how you can win the awesome giveaway she has for you today!

Links from the video:

Celebrate! // The Truth // Color in Motion 5k // DFW Bloggers // FabulessWardrobe

One winner takes all of these awesome prizes!!!  Enter via the Rafflecopter below!  Good luck!!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Taylor is one of my Loveliest sponsors in October & November.  Would you like to be a part of a feature interview on BaxtronLife?  Save 15% on a Loveliest Ad using code: LOVELY15 !!

Repressed Memories

Trigger Warning: Some of the stories and information shared may trigger unexpected emotional reactions or responses, therefore please read with caution.  If you do experience a strong reaction - connect with someone you trust who can help you process your reaction.

Halloween 1984

I was three in this picture.  I remember this Halloween well.  I was going to be a witch.  I had this adorable witch costume with an adorable little broom.  I remember my biological father decorating my broom with black electrical tape spiraled up the broom handle, and I remember being extremely angry when he took the broom and pretended to use it as a guitar.  I remember being so angry in fact, that I refused to carry the broom with me on halloween - I wanted nothing to do with it.  Totally irrational toddler feelings - yet feelings that were significant enough to me that I still vividly remember them.

Its interesting to think about how our memories are stored in early childhood.  How is it that some memories can seem crystal clear - vividly stored and imprinted in our hearts and minds, while others seem to escape us?  How are some memories classified and stored manageably while others are pushed into the outer reaches of our psyche to protect us from their harm?  How young is really too young to remember?

Until the last few years, I experienced large blank spaces in my childhood memories.  Not just spotty memories of being three, significant blackouts in memory throughout most of my childhood until becoming a pre-teen.  As a teenager I experienced more than the typical emotional upheaval - my heart bled through my adolescent years as I experienced pain and a drowning sadness that seemed to envelope me no matter what was occurring in my life.

I struggled through daily life into my early 20's hitting rock bottom several times before recognizing the hand of grace being extended to me.  Even after I had witnessed and experienced Christ's saving grace in my life, nothing could have prepared me for what was to come as my 20's came to an end.

It was in the security and stability of my marriage at 27 years of age that things started to unravel.  I couldn't understand why I began to experience violent emotions and a near hatred for men.   The hardest part was feeling that I couldn't seem to emotionally separate my husband from the men who had caused me harm in my life.  And it was at this point in time that my eyes began to open.   I was desperate to honor and respect this man, my husband, broken in his own ways but not the perpetrator of the crimes I began to subconsciously hold him accountable for.

Whether I wanted to face the past or not, I no longer had a choice, as my repressed childhood memories began to surface in unpredictable ways.  I have to pause for a minute here and share that one of the most difficult parts of processing what has been going on with me over the past few years has been the inability to trust in my memories.  Memory repression is the subject of controversy - with several studies  showing outcomes as divided as the current political beliefs of our nation.

I had to get to a point of a decision - to proceed open-minded to what was happening to me, willing to allow my memories to form cohesively without judgment - or to just refuse to acknowledge the overwhelming amount of evidence that was beginning to stack up in favor of my fragmented memories.  I chose to remain open minded - and began the process of facing honestly the wounds of my past.

I wish I could say that what I experienced were flashbacks - like the ones you see in the movies.  Vivid, clear - undeniable memory intrusions bursting forward from a certain trigger.  But it wasn't like that for me, it hasn't been like that.  Instead, I have experienced emotions that seem to come out of nowhere - at an intensity that has terrified me and at times my husband.

I have experienced fear and terror, the emptiness of the bottomless pit of depression and despair and unrelenting sadness.  The uniqueness of these emotions is their inability to be tied to any present day event, and the inability to process them with my adult reasoning/coping mechanisms.  It is hard to explain, but it has been like experiencing these overwhelming emotions as a young child with undeveloped coping skills and zero rationalization.  I have also experienced physical memory recovery - I fear more of this is yet to come.

When such things are happening to you, it is nearly impossible to accept the audacious idea that there is no grounding in true memory - or that somehow these repressed memories are figments of the imagination as some studies would claim.  And yet, the doubts that those claims place on an individual who begins to remember what they have buried, are enough to make you wish even more so that you could bury deeper the reality that desires to surface.

I was only three when my anger over such an irrational thing as a broomstick caused a permanent mark in my memory.  I was around the same age when the abuse - too terrifying to acknowledge in the moment - was locked away in my memory, the key buried only to surface decades later - when  the courage to unlock the past and the desperation to reclaim the future began to demand the attention of the present.

I said NO! to Gluten Udi's Gluten-Free 14-Day Challenge

Hey lovelies!! Today I want to share something that has really impacted my family in a positive way!  We recently participated in Udi's Gluten-Free 14 Day Challenge!

What is Gluten and why should you care?  Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley that gives baked goods texture and binds them together.  Trouble is, gluten is often difficult to digest and due to the many changes in the way grains are harvested and processed now, more people than ever before are developing sensitivities and allergies to it!

Is Gluten really that bad? If you are gluten sensitive or have Celiacs disease symptoms can range from GI Distress to infertility!!

When Udi's contacted me about their 14 day challenge, I eagerly agreed to participate.  My husband and I have noticed a correlation to foods we eat and our overall sense of health and wellbeing, and we've been trying different adjustments to end the plague of upset stomach, indigestion and overall imbalance we've felt.  One of the things we'd put on our list to try was to go gluten-free, and we've recently been doing a lot of research about the paleo lifestyle.

A few weeks ago, we took the plunge and went gluten-free for 14 days.  Udi's helped us out by providing us with meal suggestions, samples of their gluten-free products and a few great printouts to guide us through the process!

I have to say, giving up gluten was made a lot easier by having gluten-free substitutes for some of our favorite foods!

After just a few days of being off gluten my husband and I immediately noticed we didn't feel as bloated.  In fact, my husband who often complains of stomach discomfort after meals didn't complain at all.  I felt like my energy levels improved as well several days into the challenge.

By the end of the first week, I felt more confident cooking gluten-free and actually managed to try a few recipes from the web.  I had to be careful picking ingredients because there are so many foods that contain hidden gluten!!

L-R: Egg & Spinach Scramble, Fajita Steak Salad, Spaghetti Squash Spaghetti

By the end of the 14 day challenge, I noticed my skin was clearer, and the dry skin I usually have near my nose was completely gone.  I felt lighter on my feet, less heavy and bloated, and my energy levels seemed much more stable.  My husband also noticed a huge improvement in the way he felt overall, including virtually no stomach discomfort after eliminating gluten!

Another surprise was how much better Zion appeared to feel eating gluten-free, I noticed her stomach wasn't nearly as bloated and she seemed more energetic.  I was incredibly happy to have a few Udi's gluten-free treats to ease the transition for her as she has a fondness for baked goods like her daddy!

The conclusion: the 14 day challenge was exactly what we needed to move us further along the path of eating right and feeling good.  We've since decided to continue our journey of eradicating gluten from our diet.

The few times we have re-introduced gluten just to see how we'd feel, we were met with stomach aches and nausea, a result which has solidified our resolve even more.

Have you considered going gluten-free?  What do you think would be the hardest item to give up!?  

We participated in Udi's Gluten-Free 14 day challenge and were given free samples of Udi's gluten-free products to try, as always the thoughts and opinions shared are my own.