Ever since Brian first got cancer, we’ve been moving away from our usual mainstream health products and trying more natural brands. Here are my current Five Favorite Natural Health and Beauty Products. I’m linking up with Efficient Momma.comfor 5 Favorites.
My bambinos are well out of the diaper stage but California Baby Calendula Cream is still a favorite. John-Paul tends to get little patches of eczema on his cheek and this lotion has worked well to sooth and heal it. It also smells nice, which helps since he can’t stand “the stinky stuff.”
At the beginning of the school year, Andrew was having trouble with bloody noses. He always had a tendency to get one but it was getting bad. He was getting one every day for over a week. We took him to the doctor worried that it was something serious. The doctor asks us numerous questions but before running tests to rule out serious causes, he wanted us to try a simpler solution. He suspected that Andrew had sensitive nasal passages and suggested that each evening we place a little petroleum-type jelly on a cotton swab and swipe his nostrils with it before going to bed.
We bought Alba Botanica Un-Petroleum Jelly and did just as he suggested. The first night, no bloody nose. The second night, the third night, the same. For the whole month we only forgot to use the jelly twice and both of those days he got a bloody nose. Since then we swab his nose each night and he hasn’t had a bloody nose in many months. (I’ve tried it myself when I visit my family in the heat of So Cal and it works for my sensitive nose too.)
It took a little effort to find a natural soap that was strong enough to clean up my three smelly Jedi yet not too flowery smelling to make them complain. I finally found a winner with the Everyone Soap in citrus and mint that both the males and females in the family enjoy. It has a fresh citrus smell and comes in a large 32 oz dispenser so it lasts awhile.
I am constantly fighting dry skin and get excited when I find a lotion that works well, is not too greasy and smells nice. One of my favorites is Desert Essence Hand and Body Lotion. I especially like the smell of Tropical Coconut. It is pleasant without being so strong that it triggers my allergies.
I picked this up about a month ago and I fell in love with it. The Burt’s Bees – Deep Pore Scrub leaves my skin feeling clean and soft, especially after a grimy day.
Bella and I both love Burt’s Bees products but especially their lip care. You will find lip balms in my pocket, in my car, in my purse (and most likely in the boys’ toy box.) I especially love the Grapefruit flavor!
What about you? What natural products do you like? I am always looking for recommendations so do share. 🙂
Hey guys, happy Friday! It’s been a crazy week and the early part of it had me at the end of my rope but thankfully things are going much more smoothly now. 😉
A husband that cares for me and puts up with my occasional nonsense.
For my kiddos smiles and kisses that makes me forget how crazy they can sometimes be.
The beauty of nature that turns my heart back to the Creator.
The grace of confession.
Praying for..
Those who feel broken and alone in their plights.
Those who are far from God that the grace of conversion will touch their heart.
Those who are ill, especially for those fighting cancer, and that Brian remains cancer-free.
Those fighting addictions and for those with loved ones who are addicted but refuse help.
All pregnant moms, those trying to get pregnant, those who have lost their babies and for moms contemplating an abortion.
The souls in purgatory, especially fmaily, friend and those most forgotten.
Some special intentions.
Pondering…
Mother’s Day came and went and while it was not a bad day, it was a very busy day taking care of people outside of my home. There was no time to sit and relax and the days following were no different. By Tuesday, I was at the end of my rope physically and emotionally and crying out to God for help. I made a comment about it on social media and I was touched by the friends who offered prayers and words of encouragement. It warms my heart to be a part of this universal Catholic family that knows no bounds. Plus, we have a Father that cares of us and gives us what we need just when we need it.
For me this week, it was in a form of an email from Allison Gringas. She had a Catholic Blogger Week Mega-Giveaway with numerous prizes and she told me that I was one of the winners! Guess what I won?? The gift of PRAYER… for one week I will be covered in prayer by a powerhouse woman of prayer, Elizabeth Reardon from Theology Is A Verb. God does have a sense of humor but He’s also awesome because it is JUST. WHAT. I. NEED. And let me tell you, it is working because I feel so much at peace right now. I still have a tons to do but I am in a better attitude to do it. So a big thanks to all who have prayed for me this week, most especially to Elizabeth. And thanks to Allison for having the contest in the first place. I have been going over her blog and she has some great posts, fun link ups and interesting talks. Go check it out. 🙂
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Around the House…
Yesterday the kids were not feeling well and the weather was gloomy with rain in the forecast (all .01 inches of it) so I let them stay home from school and rest. It was a blessing in disguise for me because I was able to lock myself in the house and pay bills, balance the checkbook (which hadn’t been dusted off in months) and get a mound of other paperwork done. I feel a little more caught up in that area. Now if I can tame the laundry beast, I’d be golden.
Family Chit Chat…
As I mentioned, Mother’s Day sort of came and went but I did enjoy my favorite homemade gifts from the kids, a Mother’s Day tea at Matthew’s preschool, Mass with my lovelies and gifts that included a Fandango gift card, movie candy, nail polish kit and a selfie stick. Do they know me or what? As a side note, I first saw a selfie stick being used while we were at Disneyland last year and Brian and I couldn’t stop laughing at the ridiculousness of it. But then, Karianna brought one when we attended the CWBNCA and I saw how handy it was and how easier it made taking group shots. This mocker is now a user. Thanks for the heads up, Karianna. 😉
~ 3 ~
In the Kitchen…
As I mentioned last week, I was in a a meal planning rut so I’ve been trying to try one new recipe each week to add to our faves. This week I tried Sunday Slow Cooker: Pork Tenderloin and Apples from SlenderKitchen.com. It came out tasty and my mother-in-law loved it, which definitely pleased me since she is good cook herself. Next time around I think it may be better is I browned the meet before cooking it. (It wasn’t very “pretty.”) Plus, I got it in late so I cooked it on high and it was a little dry. Luckily, there was enough juice to pour on top to moisten it. So next time around I’ll cook it on low for a shorter period of time.
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Watching…
This week Brian told me I needed a break so he took over night duties and sent me to the movies. I used my Fandango gift card to go see The Age of Adaline. Now, I am a sucker for romantic movies but it is always a little disheartening that most movies follow the typical worldly attitude that you must sleep together first and then see if you happen to fall in love. That’s probably why I love B&W classic movies and literary adaptations (like Jane Austen) so much. The norm is first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage. Call me old fashioned. With that said, this movie was not different but if you can get past that and the stretch of science behind AofA, then the movie was enjoyable. It had some sweet moments and kept my interest until the end.
Listening to …
I’ve been enjoying Death Cab for Cutie’s new album Kintsugi. The song Black Sun is great for putting me in a mellow mood.
A little while ago I posted my Five Fave Podcasts. When I asked for podcast suggestions, my OLF Jen recommend that I check out SQPN. I had heard about it before but never took the time to look around. I finally did and I especially enjoyed Fr. Roderick’s show The Break. I loved it so much that I updated my list to include The Break. Like a musical Top 40 countdown, The Catholic Guy was knocked out of the Top 5. TCG moves down one notch to #6. Coming in at #5 is The Break with Fr. Roderick.
I love how Fr. Roderick talked about movies, TV shows, and geeky topics in the light of our faith. I have had fun listening to his opinions but the real moment I fell in love with him was when I watched him last month preview the newest Star Wars trailer. As a movie lover, Star Wars fan and mom of three Jedi, I thought it was awesome. 😉
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Oh, and don’t forget to enter the contest to win one of Jenna’s Mini-Hoop necklaces! Only 9 days left!
Here are some Instagrams I’ve taken this past week. (It’s been a slow posting week.)
1. Today I’m especially thanking God for my four blessings on earth (and two blessings in heaven) that made me a mother.
2. The last few days have been really stressful and I feel like I’m at the end of my rope so this morning I’m trying to place myself in the HANDS of Our Lord. #projectblessed
3. #projectblessed – Inspiration. I’m in a cooking rut so I browsed online for some meal inspiration. Tonight it’s slow cooker pork roast with apples and onions.
4. Brian told me to take the night off so this is where I went. #passthepopcorn #projectblessed
So that’s what I’ve been up to lately! What about you? What’s currently happening in your life? Do share.
I’m excited to start a new series on the blog called Saturday Spotlight. Every month or so I will feature someone and their creativity – whether it is a crafty mama selling her creations on etsy, or a Catholic artist bringing beauty into the world or a blogger spreading the light of Christ through her (or his) words. I think it will be a great way to support the people who are making the word a little brighter with their God given talents.
Today our feature spotlight is for Jenna at Call Her Happy.
Then Jenna came out with these cute mini-hoop necklaces and I loved them! I ordered one with my initial.
I wore it to the CWBNCA conference a couple weeks ago and I lost count of how many people came up to me and asked, “Is that one of Jenna’s necklaces?” 🙂
I’ll tell you how you can win a necklace of your own but first a little Q&A with Jenna.
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
Well, I am a stay-at-home-mom from Michigan who got into the blogging game late 2010. I also run the Etsy shop Call Her Happy where I sell tiny little wearable hoop art. My teeny army of children, Ellen, Samuel and Theodore, and bearded husband Mike fill me to the brim. I am happiest when it is sunny outside and I have an embroidery needle in my hand. A good book does the trick too. My current favorite things are acid wash jeans, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
2. How did you get into making these mini necklaces?
I’ve always been a creative, but when I had kids, I had considerably less time to make. I needed to find something that I could pick up and put back down easily without a huge clean up. Embroidery fit the bill, so I gave it a try. After falling in love with the art, I wanted a way I could fund my habit, and when I found the mini hoops, it seemed like a perfect fit for this mama. And, thanks to everyone on the Internet, they were very well received!
3. What are other favorite ways you express your creativity?
I also like to color…in coloring books…with crayons. Does that count?? Oh. And I love to wear colorful lipstick. Very creative, I am.
4. As a busy mom how do you find time for these projects?
Well, the thing about embroidery is that you can do a few stitches and then put down your hoop to change a diaper. It’s a handheld, portable craft making it super easy to pick at when you’ve got little ones literally underfoot.
5. Any last comments?
Thank you for thinking of me for such a fun feature! If you’d like to try one of my necklaces, use code REVOLUTIONLOVE for 10% off through June 1, 2015. xo
Would you like to win a hoop necklace of your own? Perhaps your initial or a pretty flower or the Sacred Heart. Check out Jenna’s shop and pick your favorite. Then come back here and enter the contest to win your fave hoop necklace. Good luck!
And a big thanks to Jenna for making our lives a little prettier with her beautiful creations. 🙂
Happy Friday (night!) It’s been a long week so I am relishing these few moments when I can sit and unwind and catch up with you. I’m linking up with Kelly for Friday’s Quick Takesand with Jenny for Daybook Online Journal.
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Grateful for…
The quiet of the evening after a long and busy day.
The the sweet hugs and kisses I receive from my little guys that make me forget how crazy they can make me. 😉
For a teen who still seeks out my hugs to brighten her day.
For a husband that loves me even when I drive him a little crazy.
For a the grace of confession (that I will be receiving tomorrow.)
Praying for..
A family friend who passed away last night.
Those who are ill, especially for those fighting cancer, and that Brian remains cancer-free.
Those who are hurting, suffering or are far from God.
Those who are suffering from natural disasters, war and violence.
All pregnant moms, those trying to get pregnant, those who have lost their babies and for moms contemplating an abortion.
Some special intentions.
Pondering…
An entry from my prayer journal this week:
Today’s devotion said, “The absence of suffering is the world’s understanding of peace.” Too often, I think like the world. I want peace, quiet and ease, not the loud, messiness of family life. I keep thinking about the quote Jiza shared with me – “Know that even when you are in the kitchen, Our Lord is moving among the pots & pans.” (St. Teresa of Avila) It is here in the messiness of mommy life that I will find my sanctification. I don’t need to go out searching for it. It is right here before me. My goal today is to turn off the radio and the TV and spend some time in prayer while working.
(Side note: Jiza (who did all the photos from the CWBNCA) has a print of St. Teresa’s quote in her shop.
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Around the House…
Monday through Thursday I am on the go, go, go and on Friday mornings I get to stay home so I have a week’s worth of laundry, random piles and various household chores that have to be done. I think I’d need a couple weeks of never stepping foot outside of the house to finally get caught up but we know that’s not going to happen. Sigh. #neverhome
Family Chit Chat…
Can you believe May is here already?! And now that I think about it, it’s not only here but almost half way done! Ack! I wish everything would just slow down a bit. Well, May is always a busy month in general. It’ll be nice once summer vacation starts and we can go at a more leisurely pace, at least until about mid-July. By then I am looking at the calendar to see when the kids go back to school. 😉
Brian is doing well. He went for his regular monthly testing the other week and he is still cancer free. Blessed be God! He goes for more tests and a scan in another three months. Brian’s dad/ Opa is doing relatively well. He is still in the convalescent home since he needs so much care but he is doing well. He still remembers us and lights up when the kids come into the room. Yesterday he exclaimed, “Here are my sweeties! It’s my happy hour!”
He has also been enjoying seeing Matthew in his various costumes….
On this day Matthew was in his Swat Team gear because you know how rowdy the seniors can get. 😉
In extended family news, my sister posted a sweet video on her blog that celebrates the vocation of motherhood AND makes a big family announcement. Hint – I’m going to be an auntie again! 🙂
Hop over and watch it then give her some comment love. 🙂
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In the Kitchen…
Not only is the house a mess but I am in a total menu funk. I feel like I make the same handful of dishes and just keep rotating them. I need some inspiration. Hit me with your favorite go to healthy/mostly whole food dish!
Earlier this week on a particularly busy day Brian sent me to the movies to unwind after the kids were in bed. (Love him!) I was able to add to my movie list – The Water Diviner. I’ve heard some complaints about this movie, particularly about the story line not being very realistic but part of the reason I go to movies is to see life through another person’s eyes and experiences. Sometimes it is very realistic and sometimes it is a journey of imagination. Frankly, I almost always find something I like about a movie I watch so it is rare that I will not like a movie, therefor my reviews may be biased to the positive.
With that said, I really enjoyed TWD and Crowe’s performance as a father (with mystic like powers) who lost his wife and three sons tragically. He sets out on a journey to find the bodies of his sons killed during the Battle of Gallipoli in Turkey during WWI. His goal was to bring them home to be buried with their mother. There are twists and turns and a few times when you must suspend belief but I had no problem with that. The emotion of the loss of his wife and the heartbreaking death of his sons (especially since I have three sons of my own) had me nearly sobbing. The ending may have been a stretch but after the said emotion, I didn’t mind. Looking at the movie from a Christian worldview, topics to ponder include the issue of suicide and mercy killing, the negative portrayal of a priest and the positive view of prayer to God in a non-Christian setting, the futility of war and the grey areas of who is the “bad guy.” The war scenes are intense and, at times, graphic.
Listening to …
I’ve been listening to Mumford and Sons’ new album Wilder Mind. I miss the old sound and the banjo but the new album is growing on me. I especially like this live version of The Wolf from SNL.
Reading…
For my spiritual reading… (I read a little each day during prayer time, that is why it is taking me forever to get through it.)
It’s been quiet lately but I am hoping to get back into it. I’ve been working on updating a few things on the blog. In a few days I’ll have a new header and profile photo, which was taken at the CWBNCA Conference, thanks to Jiza.
UPDATE: I finished the new blog header. Here it is.
Tomorrow (Saturday) I will be starting a new series called Spotlight Saturday. Every couple of weeks or so I will feature someone and their creativity – whether it is a crafty mama selling her creations on etsy, or a Catholic artist bringing beauty into the world or a blogger spreading the light of Christ through her (or his) words. I think it will be a great way to support the people who are making the word a little brighter with their God given talent.
Come back tomorrow to find out who the first featured artist will be. I’ll give you a hint… I recently bought one of her cute necklaces! 😉
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I’ve hardly had to time to read my favorite blogs lately, but I did read and save these.
Here are some Instagrams I’ve taken this past week.
1. Just a regular day in the ROL household, running errands with Spidey.
2. Being escorted by Superman makes me feel a lot safer.
3. May the fourth be with you. (I am accompanied by various mini super heroes all week long!)
4. I was creative in the kitchen on Sunday with whole wheat banana bread, coconut granola and Southwest corn and black bean salad. Nom nom.
5. My schedule finally aligned and I was able to join Andrew on his class field trip.
6. Sunlight is breaking through the clouds and brightening up the day.
7. They fight like cats and dogs sometimes but they love each other so much. Big brother John-Paul hugging his little brother Matthew goodbye as he goes to school.
8. I celebrated with Matthew at his pre school’s Mother’s Day tea. I love this age when all he wants is hugs and kisses and says things like, “Mama, you look gorgeous!” Aw, sweet blind love.
9. Flowers decorated the pre school for the Mothers Day tea. You can tell Matthew’s mom is a mommy blogger. 😉
So that’s what I’ve been up to lately! What about you? What’s currently happening in your life?
Over the weekend I attended the CWBN (Catholic Women Blogging Network) conference and it may seem like an exaggeration but it was a pivotal moment for me. God wanted to use it to teach me far more than blogging tips but to dig deeper and work on some areas that have been bothering me lately. As my mom would say, it was an opportunity for healing. 🙂 Part of me thinks, do I really want to put all this down in black and white and send it out there for all to see? Another part of me says, it’s good to show not just the pretty and fun but the tears and struggle so someones else will know that they are not alone. I think the easiest way to do that is to just do it journal style. So here we go.
The Months Leading up to CWBNCA.
When I first heard about the upcoming conference in California, I was ecstatic because it was close enough for me to drive and the dates fit into our family schedule. However, as the dates got closer I seriously thought I would not be able to do it since my FIL was not doing well and doubts were filling my mind about meeting friends that have only known me through the screen. What if they meet me and think I’m weird or too old or too fat or too loud or too quiet or too whatever… Normally I am happy and ready to give someone a smile and a hug but sometimes feelings of inadequacy creep in and instead of participating in a group conversation I’ll just smile and nod. My mind will want to respond with a story or something that happened to me and instead I’ll hear a voice that says, “That’s so dumb. No one wants to hear that story. It’s best you just keep quiet.” It doesn’t happen all the time but when it does I feel like an introverted extrovert. So I worried that those negative thoughts would make me spend the weekend sitting quietly in the corner. But recalling, sweet Hallie’s battle cry to love fearlessly, I pushed the doubts aside. My enthusiasm returned and I was counting down the days.
Thursday
Attendees were posting photos of what they were wearing on Saturday. I posted my mine too.
I started packing for the weekend in typical Bobbi fashion, the day before I had to leave. In the morning I pulled out outfits from my closet and tried things on. Everything was blah, blah, blah. For those of you who have been reading about my health goals, I wanted to lose another 10 by the conference and I was well on my way until Easter came. Darn you, Reeses’ s peanut butter eggs! My total weight loss is small in comparison to my goal but there was enough if it to need a size down in some of my favorites. Since it was a Thursday, the kids were all in school (at least until noon when the younger ones were out) so I jumped in the car and went to the local shopping center to see if I could find something to wear on Saturday. Since we were getting head shots taken, I needed to look a little put together. I debated about dressing up but I’m just a jeans kinda girl so I went with it. I found cute jeans at Macy’s, a orange tank at Old Navy and a short white sweater (YES! WHITE, anathema to moms with young children!) at Khol’s. I tried them on and everything clicked. I felt like me, not me dressing up pretending to be someone else or me stuck in clothes I hate because I couldn’t find anything else that fit me right. Score.
I dug into my closet and found some cute shoes I hardly wore. They were open toed flats and begged for painted toe nails. I know this is going to sound weird but I don’t paint my nails and have never painted my toe nails. But this was a going to be a historic weekend so that evening I raided Bella’s polish collection and sat down to pretty up. Brian gave me a dumbfounded look that said, “WHAT the heck are you doing?” I told him this weekend I just want to feel like a girl! As opposed to?? Am exhausted mom with peanut butter on her shirt, broken fishy crackers in her purse and sore feet from stepping on Legos all day. This was my mini-vacay!
Friday Morning
I felt bad leaving Brian alone with the kids for three days but I left him with the essentials – a rosary, bottle of wine and chocolate. 😉
By Friday morning I was so excited. Self-doubt be damned, I was going to have a good time! But saying goodbye to the kids left me a little teary. Matthew clung to my leg and John-Paul shed tears as he said he’d miss me. Andrew kept blinking back his tears but was putting on a brave face. Bella and Brian didn’t want to see me go but I think they understood that I needed this little get away.
I decided to take Highway 101 South for the journey. It landed out adding an extra 1/2 an hour but driving along the ocean made every minute worth it! Everything went smoothly and I arrived at my hotel without a problem.
Friday Late Afternoon
A few of us had made plans to meet up for dinner and a movie later that evening so I took the time to just relax until it was time to go.
Friday Evening
Meagan, Kendra, Emmy, Micaela, and me. I love this photo but I have to laugh because, first, I am so short compared to the others and, second, I look like a tag-along Mertz who photobombs the shot. 😉 (Photo courtesy of Emmy’s bestie.)
I headed down to Poquito Mas for dinner and was the first to arrive. I sat their nervously until Meagan came. Her warm smile and friendliness put me at ease and we chatted and laughed until the door blew open and in walked the queen of Catholic blogging mamas, Kendra from Catholic All Year. At her side was the incredible Micaela from California to Korea. My mind was officially blown! I mean deep down I knew they are just moms and bloggers and awesome women and not “famous” BUT they were famous in my world and it took a few minutes to snap me out of it and not be tongue tied. We had fun sharing stories over tacos and salsa.
From there we headed to the theater to watch Little Boy. Micaela knew some of the people involved in making it and we wanted to support their efforts. Emmy and her best friend were saving us seats. We chatted a little more then enjoyed the show. It was a sweet movie that had a lot of tender moments. I’ll do a review later but for now, let’s just say that Emmy and I went through a heck of a lot of tissues!
Saturday Morning
I didn’t sleep very well that night and my allergies were really bothering me. My eyes were bloodshot and Visine was not working but I was still excited to start the day. I spent some time in prayer and the day’s devotion from Blessed Is Shewas perfect. What really hit home was the following:
So my challenge to you is to discover your gifts. Pay attention to what it is that makes you feel the most excited about your faith and keep doing it! If you feel like your spouse or a loved one has a particular gift, let them know as they might be afraid to share it with others. And as you’re reflecting on your own gifts today, think about these words from Saint Catherine of Siena as she says, “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.”
The quote from Catherine of Sienna is one of my favorite quotes! It was as if God was reminding me to be brave and just be myself.
I dressed and headed out to Kendra’s house, which was lovely! She removed the furniture from her family room and set up chairs for some of the talks. However, the introductions were out in the backyard. Everything was set up so pretty!
Kendra made cookie as name cards.
There was a directory of participants (smart!), a beautiful print from Blessed Is She and a pretty notebook to take notes. As I walked around, it was the oddest sensation to see faces I recognized and to have people come up and hug me and say they felt like they already know me. I am big on family and sisterhood and the level of sisterhood at the event was incredible. I never felt so comfortable with a group of Catholic women in all my life. Even with the ones, I did not know well, there was already an instant connection.
I was so excited to finally meet Karianna (left)! Out of all the attendees I’ve been online friends with her the longest. 🙂 Amber (middle) was someone I just met that day. She immediately won me over and by the end of the day I felt like she was my long lost bestie. The name of her blog alone guaranteed I’d love her – Laundry Is Never Done.com! 😉
A group shot of all of us.
Kendra (the host) and Micaela (the coordinator) started off the introductions. I cannot tell you how moved I am by all the work and preparation these ladies put together to make this such a special weekend! After we enjoyed some refreshments and introduced ourselves to each other we joined together in prayer.
It was beautiful to hear everyone join together in one voice as lifted our heart and prayers to Our Lord through Our Lady.
Next up, we went into the house for Kendra presentation. She shared her image making skills using PicMonkey. I use PicMonkey for all my photos yet there were still a couple of tricks that were new to me.
My PicMonkey fave tip: Use the color eyedropper to match the exact colors you want and choose a color pallet that suits your blog design. You can make those your signature colors for uniformity. Next up was Kristin from This Inspired Life. TIL is in my Top 5 Podcasts so it was interesting to hear what she had to say. I can’t wait to see how many of the bloggers decided to give podcasting a try as well! (I’m looking at you, Mary Ruth!)
My fave podcast tip: The most recommended IOS app for listening to podcasts is Overcast.
Towards the end of the talk, the room started smelling really good with a Panera lunch waiting for us. I have never tried their food before but they just opened one where we live so I’ll be taking Brian for a lunch date soon!
My fave lunch tip – Try the asiago steak sandwich. It is delish!
About half way through lunch, our four speakers led a panel discussion where we could ask blogging questions and get their input.
My fave personal tip – Pay more attention to the panel and stop spending so much time posting play by play photos on Instagram. 😉
In between all the activities, the amazing photographer Jiza of Olive and Cypress took head shots of all the participants.
After lunch, Micaela shared her story about how she started blogging and her struggles with feelings of pride. She shared how God helped her to over come it and she closed her moving testimony by praying the Litany of Humility with us.
My favorite quote – “We don’t get a free pass to not use our gifts but we have to keep it in perspective.”
Afterwards, we found out about the earthquake in Nepal. We paused to say a decade of the rosary for all the victims.
Next up was the beloved Catholic evangelizing super hero Jenna from Blessed Is She. She shared her stellar social media skills.
My fave Facebook tip – Make a Facebook group for your blog instead of just a FB page. That way your posts will show up in the group members’ feeds more often.
My fave Pinterest tip – Make a “Best of” board for all your best blog posts AND make your blog post logos uniform so when people see them, they know right away it is a post from you. (She recommended Cristina’s board/photos as a good example.)
My fave Twitter tip – Make conversation. Don’t just be a link dropper.
My fave Instagram tip – Figure out what your favorite “look” is and keep your photos cohesive using that look. (She recommended Grace’s post about using Afterlight.)
The final presenter of the day was Andrea Boring, who made the gorgeous CWBN website. She shared that after fourteen years away from the church, her reversion back was sparked by a single social media post.
My fave quote – “We’re all called to be disciples. Our voice is important. It is up to us to use it for the glory of God.”
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At this point my head and heart was so full I could nearly bust! Besides all the amazing info and testimonies, the friendships were hands down the best part. I no longer have to say my “online friend” but can just say my friend because we have officially met in real life! Here are some random shots of some of those new friends. 🙂
Saturday Evening
The conference was officially over for the night but the majority of us wanted to go out together for dinner. I was feeling tired and my head ached but I really wanted to go too so we headed to California Pizza. I sat next to Micaela, Amber and Kristin. We ate and chatted but I wasn’t feeling great. Maybe the previous sleepless night was catching up with me but I wasn’t super talkative and my mind started playing tricks on me. This is crazy but I swear the devil was attacking me. As I was talking to Micaela thoughts would run through my head like this: “Micaela is so intelligent and interesting, she’s going to think I’m an idiot. Was that a “look” she just gave me? She’s going to wish I sat over there instead. What am I even doing here? These women are so much better than me. I feel like a loser…” Ack!!! What the heck?? Get thee behind me, Satan! And get me to bed because I clearly need sleep.
I said my good byes and tried to get some sleep. Unfortunately, a neighboring traveler had a herd on tweens who were running up and down the stairs and at one point around 11pm one of the kids was banging on my door. His sister (I presumed) yelled at him that his mom was in another room. Meanwhile my other hotel neighbor must have had too much to drink because I could hear him getting sick. It was no bueno! Thank God I finally drifted off to sleep.
Sunday
On Sunday morning I woke up feeling better. My head ache was gone and although my eyes were still red and itching (this always happens when I visit So Cal!) I felt good. As I was taking a shower I was thinking about all the things I had learned on Saturday. I also kept thinking about the movie we watched Little Boy. The premise of the whole storyline was the Scripture, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will be able to say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)
God was speaking to my heart, that I may feel as small and insignificant as a tiny mustard seed in the grand scheme of things, but when I put my faith and trust in him, when I let go of fear and choose love, joy and courage, then He can do miraculous things. I may never see them but I can trust that the Holy Spirit will take care of everything. I just need to keep myself docile in His hands.
All weekend I kept hearing the message over and over in my head, “God wants to use your voice. God desires your gifts. You have a special place in God’s plan…” Tears started running down my face, even now as I am typing, they are escaping me again. As much as I mess up and despite all my shortcomings, God sees me as his beautiful daughter. He sees someone made in his image. He sees what I could accomplish if only I’d let go of the chains that bind me down. It is hard to see myself like that but God is slowly peeling back the layers. He is showing me the rotten that needs to be cut out and the good that needs to be nurtured so it can bloom. It is scary as all hell but also liberating! Blessed be God. 🙂
Well, after that enlightening 15 minute shower/retreat, I got dressed and as I was searching through my makeup bag for a barrette, I found Lego Spidey hiding in there. Aw, I missed my babies but knew I would see them by the end of the day. I finished dressing and headed to the San Fernando Mission.
The Mission is beautiful!
After Mass, a few of us headed into the gift shop. I wanted to pick out something that would remind me of this weekend.
I saw this and knew it was the perfect reminder.
My driving buddy Amber joined me again and we headed to Kendra’s house for brunch. It was fun to see some of the husbands and young kids there and match them up to the wives/moms.
After breakfast there was one short closing talk given by Jenny Cook. She shared how she started reading Catholic blogs when she was a Protestant. She reached out to specific bloggers to answer her questions and she was moved by how the Catholic blogoshere embraced her and accepted her her into the community. She was moved not only by the blogs that specifically shared about the faith and apologetics but was also touched by blogs about daily life as a Catholic. Ultimately Jenny joined the church and her kids were just baptized a couple weeks ago. She reminded us all that you never know who is reading your blog and that God can use your words to change lives. It was the perfect ending to the conference!
I gave my last hugs and said my good byes. Jenna, who is almost a foot taller than me, was sitting down so I took a quick selfie so we’d be at eye level. LOL. I love this girl! She is like a younger sister. She is just on fire for God and sisterhood community!
Although I don’t have a photo, my last hug was from Micaela. Her hug, her smile, her kind words to me was a healing balm to my heart. It was God’s final reminder of the weekend to let go of the crazy thoughts and embrace the love that is before me. (Thanks, Micaela. You have no idea how much your presence meant to me this weekend!)
On my way out the famous red door, Kendra suggested we all pose for a WIWS (What I Wore Sunday). A few of us were in traveling clothes (like me) but we were happy to oblige.
The drive home went smoothly and relatively quickly. I lifted my phone and took this shot without looking. It wasn’t until I got home that I saw how pretty it was, despite the dirty windshield. 😉
When I got home I was greeted by these cute faces. They kissed me and clung to me not wanting to let go. It was so sweet. I am so thankful for this time. I am thankful for my sweet husband for letting me go. Even more than the book knowledge, the self -knowledge and the community I experienced was truly priceless! I can’t wait until CWBNCA 2016!! Sign me up! 😉
Oh, and I only mentioned a small handful of bloggers but I met so many incredible women! Next I’ll post a list of the participants and put links to those who have conference recaps as well. 🙂
Ever since Brian first got cancer, we’ve been moving away from our usual mainstream health products and trying more natural brands. Here are my current Five Favorite Natural Health and Beauty Products. I’m linking up with Efficient Momma.com for 5 Favorites.
