J'adore VoxBox

Let's talk Freebies.  I'm not talking about shady sites that ask weirdly personal questions and never end up sending you anything more than 1,000 junk e-mails a day.  I am currently a member of two awesome sites which provide me with free things that apply to my everyday life, and all I get asked to do in return is write a few reviews, and answer a follow survey.  There are opportunities to "win" more free gifts by going above and beyond and doing other tasks, but they aren't mandatory and you are never asked to give a favorable review about anything you don't like.  This post is going to be a review of my newest box of freebies the J'adore VoxBox from Influenster.  If you want to join up just let me know and I can send you an invite!

This wonderful box is filled to the brim with amazing products that I cannot wait to try out.  Of all the boxes I've received this box is the one I was most excited about.  This box is filled with products I've wanted to try but haven't gotten around to yet, a few items I had never heard of and one of my favorite candies!

The first item I'm going to be talking about is the Red Rose Tea, so look forward to the next Blog which will contain a review and some photos!



Thanks to Influenster for the complimentary items for review, no monetary compensation was given.

I'm not promising anything....but I needed this quiet space.

This blog is so outdated and behind that I very seriously contemplated just starting from scratch and junking the whole thing.  But this is my life.  These are my stories and the more I thought about it the more I drew a parallel between real life and this silly little blog.

We don't always take care of things in our life, but we rarely get a chance to throw it all away and start over.  When we leave things unattended such as relationships, or things we often have to put more work into them to make them nice again.  So I'm "starting over" with this blog and I'm going to work my hardest to make it worth reading again.  I am not perfect by any means and as a stay at home mom I have more things that need my attention than I have time in the day, but I'm going to try.

This will hopefully house some of my own stories.  Some of my son's stories and thoughts that fly through my head faster than I can articulate them fully.  I don't have the driving force to become some world-renowned blogger, but I do want to be able to type thoughts longer than 140 characters again.  Sometimes Mommy needs a quiet space.  I hope we have a working relationship again soon.

Back in Limbo

Aaron has been back in South Korea since August of last year, although I've been checking in periodically with several of my favorite blogs, I haven't been doing much writing.  It had been such a long time since I had done any actual book reading that I was feeling far from inspired.  As of late however I have been reading books with more interesting topics and it has spurred my own creativity back into exisitance.  I leave to spend a month and a half in South Korea in less than two weeks.  I plan on doing some re-vamping and updating in the near future and will share my upcoming trip with anyone who is still interested in listening.

Chelsie

You've been gone too long....and all that jazz!

I should issue some nonsense about never staying away this long again and updating more regularly and other lies, but I won't.  I will say that the past few months have been filled with some of the happiest moments of my life.

I was able to go home for almost a week and a half and witness the birth of my nephew Jacob.  I was able to visit my wonderful family and friends.  I have also been working 34 or so hours a week and spending as much time as possible with my husband before he leaves for another year in Korea in September.

On to fluffy things.  Today I got an oil warmer for the very first time...not a wax melter, or a candle.  An oil warmer!  It's like the newest most awesome thing ever!  In less than ten minutes my entire house smells like delicious and yummyness.  I got three oils from the body shop to go with my warmer and my favorite scent is Exotic...it smells like kool-aid and happiness.

I will try to update with some regularity from now on but seriously when you get 2 inches of snow on may 22nd....and have still been living with weather more suited to winter, you really don't feel like doing too much of anything.

A Lesson in Thankfulness

About 6 months ago, I had a moment of panic.  Not just a passing moment, but a few months where everyday I felt pangs of guilt, anger and sadness.  I was so jealous of all my brothers' and sisters' having children that I couldn't see straight.

When Aaron and I got married we decided well before hand that we would wait 7 to 10 years before having children.  We were only 19 and 20 respectively and no where near ready to bring a child into the world.  That's not to say that we thought it would be the end of the world if it happened sooner, we just planned to wait.

6 months ago, I found out my younger sister was pregnant and I'm ashamed to say that the first thing I thought was 'I should be first.'  I tried to rationalize my anger and jealousy.  I tried to factor in that I had been married nearly 3 years at the time, and still hadn't gotten pregnant because we weren't financially ready and that my husband and I were 'doing it the right way.'  I was mad at her for taking something from me.  What, I wasn't exactly sure.  I just knew that it was my right and she had stolen it.

My husband and I lay in the bed that night and I sobbed while he held me.  I cried deep, wracking tears.  I let every insecurity and dream fall into his arms that night and I told him I wanted a child.  He looked me in the eyes and said. "Then go off birth control and we will start trying before we turn the spare room into a guest room."  He was being so logical that I took a step back and decided that this baby fever would pass and we would just wait it out.

For months everytime I saw a baby I felt a clench in my stomach and hormones nearly took over.  However I stuck by our original decision, and endured through my jealousy and anger.  For almost 3 months I was sad and angry because I have always wanted children but I knew it wasn't the right time.  I have prayed and prayed and God has continued to tell me to ''Wait'

I thought I might never get over my anger and feelings of loss, but I have.  It's taken a while and everyday I have to pray and remind myself that God has a plan, and that thought I don't understand it, I need to trust in him.  I also look at the lives we lead, and realize how fortunate we are to be able to do all of the things we do.  With a child there is no way we could pick up and drive the 7 hours to Portland to see a concert.  We need to remember the blessing we are given in this time alone together and use it to strengthen our relationship before there is a child in the equation.

Today I am thankful,  I know it is hard to be thankful in everything, but I am trying.

We checked into the Jupiter Hotel and put our stuff into our room. It was small but very cute and the bed was super comfortable. I think part of Aaron’s biggest excitement was that we would be able to eat at Chipotle while we were in town and so we got the GPS out of the car (which was in an underground garage) and typed in Chipotle. We walked the near mile in cold and somewhat dreary conditions, however we made it there and enjoyed a head sized burrito each. We began the walk home and wouldn’t luck have it that it began drizzling when we got about 3 blocks away.


As we made our way into the garage to get some things from the car I spotted the van with the trailer attached and I noticed Marty standing there with his back to me talking on his phone. I was a little wet, and looking somewhat bedraggled from driving 7 hours so I made my way to the car to get the plates of cookies and brownies I had made for the guys. Jared had specifically asked for brownies at one concert and so I was bringing some to give them at the show.

As I am pulling them out of the car Uncle Larry and Jared walked out of the lounges back entrance to help with the unloading. I about died. Jared was looking far too adorable in his suit and tie with his Mohawk looking perfect. Uncle was looking very uncle like in a purple suit and shades. I walked over to them and looked at Uncle. He looked at me and said. “Can I help you?” I am sure I was standing there with my mouth hanging open or something.

“Um….actually these are for you.” I handed him the plates with cookies and brownies and his face lit up. He smiled at me and said “aww, well thanks for that,” and he reached over to hug me. I leaned in but realized that I was wet a little too late and ended up giving him a sort of half hug. As I pulled back Jared looked over at me and said. “Thanks.” I was so shocked that I kind of mumbled and walked away.

We made our way back upstairs where I proceeded to text all of the girls that I was going to be meeting at the concert. We chatted back and forth and I started to get ready. Long story short a couple of hours later I was dressed and ready and we were hanging out at the bar until we were ready to stand in line outside. We got outside and we had a blast while waiting in line. I met some wonderful ladies who I had chatted with online, but never met in person and we laughed and joked about different things.

As we made our way down into the area where the concert was going to be, we were excited to get spots right in front of the stage. I was standing right against the stage and had an amazing view. After the starting band (the patterns) played a few songs the guys came out to set up their gear. Jackson began setting up the keyboard and I said to him. “I’m the one who brought the brownies.”

He leaned forward and looked me in the eye and said, “Well thanks darlin.” Then he reached over and shook my hand.  I couldn’t believe it. I was so excited the whole concert. They were about 1000 percent better in concert than their CD. I have loved their music since I first heard it and in concert they are that much better!

As the concert progressed between songs Jared was standing in front of me and I jokingly asked. “How were the brownies?” I honestly wasn’t expecting an answer so I was surprised to have him lean down and respond.
“They were awesome! I ate way too many.” Color me floored! I was just so happy to be there listening to some of my favorite band that I couldn’t believe I was able to actually talk to these guys. I got to shake Jared’s hand at the end of the concert and also got his autograph on the back of my ticket. It was truly a night to remember.
That is how the concert went. Totally amazing. Way better than I ever could have expected and definitely worth the drive.

Thinking thoughts too big for me.

The concert was amazing, but I will write more on that later.  I promise.

Last night as I lay in bed trying to sleep I began to think.  I imagine this is the hardest part of the day for some people.  Where you are so tired that your body just wants to pass out but your mind is turning over a thousand tiny things, like rocks in a tumbler.  My brain is always trying to polish new ideas or reuse some old ones.

Lately I have been evaluating life.  I think it may be the new year, or possibly the fact that I turn contemplative every so often.  Something I read yesterday has been pinging around inside my head since we left portland yesterday.  This is paraphrased from the book "Whiter than snow"  it is a devotional by Dr. Paul David Tripp.  My mom got it for me for Christmas, and I was finally able to sit down and read the first few pages.

"Our lives are not one big decision after another.  We don't swing from life changing event to life changing event.  Our live is the sum of the thousands of small decisions we make each day."

Profound, right?  It got me thinking about my priorities in life.  What did I want my life to have been about once it was over?  Do I want people to remember me?  Am I okay with just being a decent person, and leading an average life?  Do I want to aim higher and have a larger margain for error?

These were the thoughts swimming through my head last night which had me wondering why I blog at all?  Am I really doing that great a job at chronicling our lives here in the northwest?  No, I suppose I'm not.  I think I do it as a way to make sense of the thoughts I have.  I do it to help keep sane.  I do it to try to fulfill my want to be famous...I know you aren't supposed to admit those things, but there you have it. 

I wanted to be an actress in High school.  I didn't persue that career, and the more I see people my age doing things I wish I could have done the more introspective I become.  I love my life.  I am content each day with what I have and who I am with.  My husband is the most amazing husband out there.  He sometimes drives me batty, but he is the love of my life.  Does that mean I can't have dreams and desires to do more?  No, I don't think it does.  I've been thinking more and more about what I will do when he leaves in September for another year unaccompanied.  Last time I moved back home and lived with my family.  That isn't really an option this time for a multitude of reasons.

I'll write more later.