Romans 12:15

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

It's late tonight, so please forgive me if this post seems all to brief or somewhat jumbled.

My heart is heavy tonight with a burden not my own. I've been blessed enough to never have lost someone dear to me. Yet God has called me to live out the above verse this night.
Please join me in prayer if you read this. Let us lift up those who mourn to the One who can mend broken hearts and lives. And if you are like me, having never experienced the horrid fullness of grief yourself, praise Him as well.
I can't help but think of my dear friends who have lost children, nieces and nephews, parents or spouses. My loving family who grieve for lost fathers, grandmothers, mothers and friends. And so very many other people around the world in the same boat.
Love should carry us always, and the love God showers on us can be so easily turned outward for something as simple as prayer.
Again, please join me. And if you, Dear Reader, are one of those who mourn, know we mourn with you as well and are praying for your heart.


Til next squeak,

Car seat cacophony

Sigh. It seems every time I get back in a mellow groove, free of Mommy Wars drama, there's an updated news release or headline that fans the flames.
Today, the AAP released it's newly updated carseat recommendations for American kids and parents. With it has come an uproar in self-styled educational advocates, out to show just how ignorant the masses truly are.
Lately, that has become my biggest pet peeve. Snark, superiority, and general nastiness all wrapped up in the guise of "educating other moms, so if even 1- just one!- changes their ways, it was all worth it". Sigh. Anyone else tired of it all?
Perhaps it's because there is not a single issue or hot topic that gets me in a tizzy. I can't honestly think of anything that I'm passionate about...at least to the degree most of my friends are. Or maybe it's because I find that way too many of my recent parenting choices have been made out of fear- fear of being torn up and lit on fire by my fellow moms, fear of being criticized on the streets, and fear of forever screwing up my kids. Whatever it is, "armchair advocacy" is getting my goat in a major way.
It never occurred to me how bad it was until I realized I'm afraid of bringing Ladybug in public. Because of the zeal I've seen in moms correcting others, I worry someone will have something to say to me about any number of things, but her car seat is my prime concern. I've seen mothers "educate" strangers online, on blogs, and Facebook pictures. I know I do not have it in me to show grace, "be educated", and not burst into tears if I am confronted. Let's face it, those sort of things are never done in love. There's always at least a small air of superiority when it comes to parenting issues.
So there's no real point to this post, I guess. Just expressing my frustration with extreme motherhood these days. What do you think? Can advocacy go to far, or is it worth alienation in the name of education?

Til next squeak,

Product review: Glisten & Glow

Disclaimer:

I am not being compensated in any way for the product reviews on the Maze. I have found over the last 3 years that I prefer to buy from home based businesses whenever possible. Often times the products, customer service, and attention to detail are far better than anything you could find in a major retailer. I love helping promote home based businesses because, let's face it, advertising is hard to come by, and word of mouth can bolster them quite effectively.

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Recently I had some Paypal burning a hole in my pocket, and I decided to treat myself to some body butter and shampoo/conditioner from Glisten & Glow. Jill is an old friend, and I think I'm not biased at all in saying that her line of products is definitely quality stuff.

I ordered myself some of the body butter, as well as a 2 oz. bottle of both shampoo and conditioner. Honestly, the hardest part was choosing a fragrance! There is literally something for everyone. I ended up going with the Pumpkin Pie Paradise for my body butter, and Coconut Lime Verbena for my hair care products.

I have been totally lovin' the body butter. It smells just like my favorite candle! I'm a bit of a lotion junky, and the body butter exceeded my expectations. It's such a light formula, and not greasy at all. Just melts into your skin. The fragrance is lingers for quite awhile, which is something I just love.

My shampoo and conditioner were a pleasant surprise. Salon quality for a fraction of the price. I have long been searching for a conditioner that would give me good moisturization without leaving my hair flatter or worse, oily. Jill's conditioner is just that! As a plus, the scent I chose is so clean and bright. Only draw back? Singing this song in the shower each time I wash my hair.

Since shipping was a non-issue for me (we live in the same town), I thought I'd ask Jill how she handles out of state orders. Here's what she had to say!

Our shipping policy for out of state orders is flat rate priority boxes that range from 6.00-15.00 depends on the size! Once the order is placed the shipping is determined by how much I can fit in the box, not by weight! more often then not it's the 11.00 box for any orders over 3 pieces... you can say shipping ranges from 6-15 or more depending on size and destination!

If you're on Facebook, go check out the fan page here. I hope some of you will give Glisten & Glow a try. You won't be disappointed!

Til next squeak,