***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples for my review. No other compensation has been provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
 Ladies, have you ever been out and noticed that your rings or earrings just wouldn't stay in place? Annoying, isn't it? Not only does slipping and sliding jewelry look unappealing, you may also lose it altogether, and that can be devastating to say the least. I don't have a ton of jewelry, but I do want to protect what little I do have. I have a few necklaces that I adore, and a nice ruby tennis bracelet. I don't have any earrings anymore, since they somehow got lost in our latest move. (Made me so sad, but thankfully, none of them were overly valuable.) I do however, have some very expensive wedding rings, which were appraised at $40,000.00. My husband had these custom designed for me straight from the International Diamond Mines in Israel. They have over 6 carats of hand-picked diamonds of good color and clarity, and I would absolutely die if anything happened to them! I find that I am constantly looking down and making sure they're still on my hand. It certainly doesn't help that after losing the baby weight from 2 pregnancies, they don't fit as snugly as I'd like. The slipping and sliding truly makes me paranoid, even though I do have them insured. Luckily, I recently discovered BlingGuard, who specializes in keeping a woman's jewelry comfortably in place! These come in generously sized sets, so once you're done using them, you can throw them out and replace them with fresh ones.
***Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by me on behalf of Lifescript.com. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
I think all of us have gone through periods where we felt "down". I know I have. More than once. Usually, it's short-lived and passes rather quickly. But sometimes, feeling down is not as simple as being in a little funk. Sometimes, it's depression.
I have personal experience with feeling depressed, and while I don't usually get this personal, I would like to share my experience with you all. (Bear with me, here, because even to this day, it's not too easy to talk about!)
I started my battle with depression when I was a teenager. I didn't have the ideal home life, and grew up with very little support and guidance from my parents. You see, without going into too much detail, I was surrounded by addiction. I seemed to be a burden and just get in the way, and this made me feel very bad about myself. Of course, this led to making bad decisions of my own, all in hopes of getting the much needed attention from my parents. It was a vicious cycle, and one that did me absolutely no favors.
I ended up "escaping" my home by getting married far too young to a man who ended up being horribly abusive. I wasn't allowed to have friends, male or female, and I was basically isolated from the outside world. Even reaching out to family had its consequences. I was put down all the time, until it became "normal" to me. I thought that being verbally and physically assaulted was just the way married life was. After awhile, I actually started believing I was worthless. Ugly.Would never be loved by anyone.I felt like I deserved it, just because I wasn't perfect enough. I became very depressed. I cried all the time, hated myself, and was always afraid that no matter what I did, it wouldn't be good enough. I lost all motivation to do things I once enjoyed, like singing or writing, and it was painful to even get out of bed at times. I had become a shell of a person, and it was the hardest period of my life. Looking back now, I can see that abuse is one of the many depression causes, and that it was never my fault. I never deserved to be treated that way...No one does. I learned while researching depression that it often stems from hard life events or circumstances, and that being depressed is nothing to be ashamed of. Thankfully, I eventually found the courage to end that destructive relationship, and I have since remarried a man who treats me like gold, and is an amazing father to our kids. I am so grateful for this, and for the fact that my kids won't grow up surrounded by addiction and will have a solid support system in their lives. Life is wonderful now, but I still suffer from occasional bouts of depression. Abusive relationships and depression can have lasting effects that take time to fully get over. I still doubt myself. I still worry that no one will like me, no matter how nice of a person I am. I am still painfully shy, and it's hard for me to meet new people and make new friends. I still have days where I can hear my ex's voice telling me that I have no value. Luckily, these days are few and far between. It does get better. Bit by bit, it gets easier. While I could be angry or bitter about what I have been through and about my own bouts of depression, I see it as a gift. A teaching tool, if you will. I know myself better now than ever before, and I am confident that I can be the type of Mom my kids can rely on, so hopefully they will never have to experience what I have been through. My biggest wish is for their happiness and overall well-being. And it is my number one priority to make sure they have beautiful lives and always realize their own worth. If you're dealing with depression, be sure to check out LifeScript.com for information and resources about this and many other conditions that impact women's health. All articles and resources come from professional health writers, experts and physicians.
Want to find more depression articles? Then be sure you do not miss these posts:
Lifescript’s Depression Health Center features tips, quizzes, recipes and articles – all by professional health writers, experts and physicians – covering postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder, bipolar disorder, how to boost your mood with exercise and more. Please visit the Lifescript Health Center on depression for more information.
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This is a sponsored post by me on behalf of Lifescript.com.
Bear's First Birthday Bash! #bearsbdaybash Hosted by: Spit Up is the New Black In celebration of her daughter's upcoming 1st birthday, Ashley over at Spit Up is the New Black is throwing a birthday event with one HUGE giveaway centered around products great for 1-year-old kiddos from the following awesome companies: Kids Gourmet Pediped Kelsyus Petite Lemon Oh So Pretty Designs And more coming soon! Current Prize Value: $240 One free link (Facebook OR Twitter) with announcement post Requirements to join Post the giveaway announcement – HTML can be found here Agree to schedule the giveaway HTML for August 1, 2013 at 12:00 AM ET Promote at least 3x a week during giveaway period Sign ups open to the first 25 bloggers Click here to sign up
***Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
 Uh-oh! I have a birthday coming up at the end of this month! (I will be 32...Sssh! That will just be our little secret!) The problem is, I also have a husband who never knows how to shop for me. I'm not at all demanding, don't get me wrong...I don't expect anything extravagant like vacations, 5 star dining, or anything else overly frivolous. I am really easy to please. In fact, just a simple "Happy Birthday, honey!" will do just fine. Of course I also like the occasional piece of jewelry. What woman doesn't, right? But in my home, like many others, that isn't always in the budget. With 1 income and 3 kids, we can't usually afford things like jewelry. Until now, that is! I just discovered a wonderful online jeweler that offers top quality jewelry that fits into any budget. If you're looking for something gorgeous and super-affordable, you're covered. If you're shopping around for that perfect, once in a lifetime engagement ring, they've got a wonderful selection there, too. As a matter of fact, SuperJeweler.com has pretty much anything you'd want, all at rock bottom prices.
***Disclosure: I received complimentary product to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
 While I absolutely love the cook, there are some things that are completely foreign to me in the culinary world. One is desserts, and the other is anything canned.
You see, while I can make any breakfast, lunch, dinner or appetizer out there, desserts are something I don't personally eat, so I never really had the desire to make them. (Much to my husband's dismay.) Yes, I am one of those odd women who doesn't care for cupcakes, chocolate, or ice cream.
Canning is another thing I have always found incredibly intimidating. I have heard so many horror stories about shards of glass flying everywhere, as well as explosions in the kitchen. Eeek! But now that I have a huge fruit and veggie garden in the works, canning is something I want to do to preserve the many different crops we grow. I'd love to make some yummy preserves, jams, and of course, pickles! Plus, canning has tons of health benefits, since it takes fruits and veggies at the peak of freshness and preserves all of their nutrients.
So when the awesome folks at Fagor America contacted me to see if I'd like to check out their new Pressure Canning Set, I decided to take the plunge. I was already curious, so this was the perfect opportunity to learn the process myself. (And hopefully not "blow anything up" in the process!)
Happy Father's Day, everyone! I hope that all of the Dads out there have an amazing day, get to sleep in, and get better presents than a tacky tie or a Cosby sweater!
Sadly, my own husband has to work today. (Boo!) But once he gets home, we will be heading over to my Dad's house for a cookout. This should be a great time, since the kids love seeing them, and who doesn't love some yummy burgers and hot dogs?!
Anyway, a big thanks to all the amazing Dads out there! Hope you enjoy your day!
My Dad is a rockstar...No, really...He is...He is a member of the Ohio band, The Noizy Toyz. They play all over the place, and honestly, they're amazing. My Dad is great. Keyboards. Vocals. Guitar...He can do it all. Some of my earliest memories are of his band practices, and listening to the band practice cassette tapes in the car. (Did I just date myself here? oops...Yes. I had cassette tapes. I am positively prehistoric. ) Anyway...My love for music of all genres surely comes from HIM. And I am grateful.
The really amazing part? He didn't HAVE to love me....You see, biologically, I am not his child. My own "father", and we will use that term loosely, was not present. My DAD stepped in when I was a mere infant. Not "his" child. But he loved me anyway...Raised me anyway...I was HIS daughter. I still am.
Was my childhood perfect? No. It was actually a bit of a nightmare. My parents made mistakes...Now that I am a parent, too, I can understand and forgive that....I married way too young to a man who abused me....It's okay...My current husband treats me like gold, and I have 3 amazing kids who will NEVER have to deal with the things that I did....Never. I am breaking the cycle of addiction. Period. I am happy. My kids are happy. And I will make DAMN sure they always will be.
The fact is, my life has not been easy...I am not close to my mother. For awhile, I wasn't close to my Dad, either. I have never really felt loved, nor have I felt that I really even had parents. This was hard. This caused me to make awful decisions in my youth that impacted the remainder of my life.
I thank God every day that I made the decision to move back "home" to Ohio. This reminded me of what family really is. I am ashamed to say this, but I didn't speak to my Dad for almost 20 years. (I know...We all screw up, and my mind was somewhat poisoned as a kid. I am trying to make up for that now.)
I have something very special...Amazing...Wonderful...Unbelievable to share.
You see, my Dad is in a band. (Like I said....) Tonight, we went to see them play. We do this whenever they're local enough to do so. There is a particular song..."Perfect" by Pink...I have always related to this song. The video especially. This song IS my life.
Tonight...Tonight...My Dad publicly dedicated it to ME. He told me loved me....That he's proud of me...Not to listen to the "voices". He did this during a show, and it meant EVERYTHING to me. FOr the first time ever, I felt loved...validated...special...from a parent. I hugged him. I cried. I danced. I sang along. And then I had to leave, since the tears wouldn't stop....
I love you, Dad. THANK YOU. Thank you for being the Dad you didn't HAVE to be. Thank you for caring. For loving your grandkids. For everything. I am touched...I am humbled...And I am grateful. I finally have parents. I love you, Dad and Missy, the best step-mom ever!
Happy Father's Day to everyone. Please tell your dads how much you love them! I know I love mine!!!
Warner Bros. is proud to announce the arrival of Jack the Giant Slayer released on DVD & Blu-ray on June 18!
Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing Jack (Nicholas Hoult), into the battle of this life to stop them and rescue the princess!
About Jack the Giant Slayer:
Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing Jack (Nicholas Hoult), into the battle of this life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom and its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend... and gets the chance to become a legend himself! Directed by Brian Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns)
Starring: Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy), Ewan McGregor (Star Wars, Moulin Rouge!), and Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones).
Evgie and Ev are the expertise in digital illustration, interior decoration and wall decals design behind Evgie.com. They grew up drawing from early childhood and loved it so much it became their profession. EVGIE Studio was started in 2010 and pretty soon became a full time career. Wall decals are easy to apply, easy to remove, easy to tailor to a specific wall or surface. It is very easy with the wall decals to take a plain unexciting room and transform it into a jungle or safari, forest or friendly animals, outer space or the ocean. We all want these rooms for our little ones to spark their imaginations. Evgie.com helps to make the decorating easy, fun, and simple! They offer handmade large and small vinyl wall stickers with designs and ideas for kids’ and grown-up’s rooms. So if you would like to make your living room have a custom family photo tree.......you can! EVGIE Studio also specializes in producing customized wall decal designs. They will create a personal design just for you that reflects the ideas you have in mind. They will tailor it to fit your unique space! Right now you can also grab FREE shipping in the US and Canada using the code: FreeSHP One lucky person will receive $150 Credit to Evgie.com You can also find EVGIE on Etsy This giveaway is hosted by Baby Costcutters and Giveaway Booster Giveaway ends July 3, 2013, at 11:59pm, open to US and Canada residents, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck! Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Newly Crunchy Mama Of 3 is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. This event was organized by Baby Costcutters and Giveaway Booster please contact tina@babycostcutters.com with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!
Man Cave Giveaway Event Organized by: Mom to Bed by 8 This is literally the ULTIMATE prize package for the guy in your life! My husband has personally been begging for a new TV as well as a Kegorator for YEARS. So whoever wins this will be very, very lucky....and I will be jealous, haha! Prize Package Includes: Experience a full-HD picture with crisp detailing and stereo sound on the terrific RCA 46LA45RQ LCD HDTV. It is an elegantly designed; wall-mountable LCD TV that meets energy star standards. This RCA LCD HDTV features true-to-life screen delivering brightness of 500cd/m2 that enables you to watch clear picture regardless the lighting condition of the room. The 46-inch LCD screen with 16:9 widescreen formats offers you clear and natural motion scenes, thereby making it ideal for watching sports and video games. This 1080P 60HZ HDTV has a brilliant contrast ratio that ensures detailed images with wide range of brightest to darkest colors. The HDMI inputs easily connect to HD sources thereby delivering high definition videos. Watch digital channels, including HDTV programs with the built-in ATSC digital/NTSC analog tuner. This RCA 46LA45RQ LCD HDTV can be tilted vertically and horizontally to 176 degree allowing you to watch the TV from different areas in your home. - 16:9 LCD panel
- With 1920 x 1080 full-HD resolution
- Wide 176-degree vertical and 176-degree horizontal angles
- See a clear picture from anywhere in the room
- Built-in ATSC digital/NTSC analog tuner
- Watch digital channels, including HDTV programs where available
- High brightness of 500cd/m2 with 6.5ms. response time
- Place your full-HD TV anywhere
- 4,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
- HDMI Inputs: 3
- Enjoy a superior HD experience with the HDMI one-cable solution
- Wall-mountable
- VESA standard
- 45.99" screen of the RCA 46" 1080p LCD HDTV is measured diagonally from corner to corner
Square off with the 54 inch foosball table from MD Sports. This official competition-sized soccer table features a green, pitch-like playing surface, 15.8mm steel player rods with sleek robo players and a beaded scoring tabulator. The adjustable leg levelers make setup easier even on uneven floors. The MDF cabinet has a PVC laminate and wood-grain finish to give the table a strong presence in any game room. This 54" foosball table offers plenty of entertainment and competitive play. The table comes with a standard size foosball, weighted to give you a solid feel as you go face-to-face with the competition. The Nostalgia Electrics KRS2100 Kegorator Beer Keg Fridge in Black dispenses beer easily and quickly to even the thirstiest crew. Swivel casters make it mobile enough to roll around the clubhouse, pool area or anywhere you want to get the party started. The included 2.5-pound CO2 bottle is good for about four 15-gallon kegs and the fridge features a semi-gloss black tap tower with spring loaded, top-mounted tapper. A chrome guard rail and drip tray finishes the look of the durable black counter top. Keep track of the amount of CO2 in the tank or adjust pressure with the included double meter regulator. - Holds one full size 1/2 barrel keg, one 1/4 barrel pony size keg or two 5-gallon D system kegs
- Keg coupler fits D system valves and does not fit non-standard keg sizes
- Adjustable thermostat with interior temperature range of unit is 30-40 degrees F
- Includes empty 2.5-pound CO2 bottle, double meter regulator and drip tray
- Spring loaded beer tapper
- Approved for commercial and household use
- Four casters provide easy portability
- Black finish
- The Double Regulator works the CO2 Tank and measures PSI (pounds per square inch), as well as the volume of the CO2 gas in the Cylinder. Set Output Pressure Gauge between 8-12 PSI for a nice, frothy head.
Thank you to each reader who is taking the time to visit, read and entering to win this amazing summer fun prize package. Please take a moment to also visit our lovely co-hosts whom without them great things such as these would not be possible: Another Cent Saved, Java John Z's, Ultimate Coupon Club, The Penny Hoarder, Barbara's Beat, Coupon Queen of Texas, Maria's Space, A Medic's World, The Stuff of Success and Baby Costcutters. One lucky winners will a 46" RCA LCD-HDTV, 54" Foosball Table & Kegorator! Giveaway ends July 5th at 11:59pm, open US, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Newly Crunchy Mama Of 3 is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!
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