TTC Update #2

   Sorry for my two posts being TTC posts, but I wanted to do a quick update.

I thankfully got my visit from Aunt Flo (hello new cycle). I was a little disappointed, at the same time I also felt relief because I didn't have to deal with the torture of waiting. I have been trying really hard to maintain a pretty healthy diet and stay in shape. Then it will be on to next month and to see what happens. This has been a journey so far, that is for sure. Tears shed and moments of just complete frustration. However I am always reminded of Hannah in the Bible in these moments. There are times where all you can do is go to the altar and tearfully and passionately pray. In the KJV bible in 1 Samuel 1:15 Hannah corrects the priest by informing him that she isn't drunk but a sorrowful spirit. Not that I am constantly in a sorrowful spirit. There are times in this journey where I have had to stop and just give myself a moment. In those moments it's the best time to really pray for a refocus. It's not always the easiest prayer to say, but I don't want what is suppose to be a joyful time be anything but joyful. If that makes sense.

I am thankful that I am surrounded by those that love me and when I finally get my BFP, I know that everyone will be so happy. I am blessed to be apart of a loving family and that my future babies will be so loved.
I know this is super short but I hope you all have a blessed evening!

~ Brandy
 

Let's Talk TTC

    So, I am going to be doing something different here on the blog today. I am going to start doing TTC updates. For those not familiar with what TTC means it means Trying To Conceive. I am just going to take some time and just talk about how I am feeling and what my thoughts are at the moment. I am going to get real personal here. Just warning you now!!


Any way, lets jump in. As of right now the past year or so my cycle has been really irregular. It has been a cause of concern as of this past month. I have been "trying" since October. I have the word trying in parentheses because we haven't really been trying but not doing anything to prevent it. Now obviously I haven't gotten pregnant so far from trying and if it was a matter of trying and my period showing up on time and not irregular I really wouldn't worry about it. However, my period has been the opposite of regular. Last month for example. I thought for sure I was pregnant. I was two weeks late, even had what I thought was pregnancy symptoms. Then when my period finally came, it became obvious that not only was I not pregnant, but my cycle was way too irregular for me not to try and seek answers. I am still looking for some answers. This month I am already two days late. I am waiting to see if I miss it completely. If I haven't started my period and I take the pregnancy test and I get yet another negative, I will be going and figuring out what, if anything is wrong. I'm not going to lie, it makes me nervous. You don't want to think there is anything wrong. I'm not saying there is, but I also want to brace myself for the just incase. I trust God with my whole heart and He will carry me through this. What I have changed is my diet, and making sure that I continue to do my yoga practice. I am trying to make sure I continue to eat healthy and exercise. I will keep you updated on how the test comes out!

I hope you have a blessed day. And if you are TTCing whjy don't you leave comment about your journey so far?

~ Brandy

Jamberry Review!

    I am really excited for this post! It is such an honor to do a review for my Insta-friend Elicia!

 I met Elicia on Instagram through the Friday Introductions hashtag. If you follow   Hayley Morgan from The Tiny Twig and Jess Connolly from Jessconnolly.com on Instagram you know all about Friday Introductions. I have met some awesome bloggers from this hashtag. 

  If you are not familiar with what Jamberry's are let me give you brief description: Jamberry's are non-toxic nail wraps that last for 2 weeks on finger nails and 6 weeks on toe nails. 

Up until this review I had never used Jamberry until this past week. I love the Essie nail polish but I am pretty low maintenance when it comes to my mani's. For the review, I cut one of the samples in half did my ring fingers with Jamberry and did the rest of my nails with my Essie nail polish. So I could see the comparison.


*The Application:

  So I was given two samples, Mad Mod and Sunday Brunch. I decided to go with Sunday Brunch and I decided to pair it with Essie nail polish in Tart Deco. There are two ways to heat the nail wraps with your blow dryer or with one of those cute and handy Jamberry heaters. I used my blow dryer, and it literally took less then a minuet to apply the wrap. It was enjoyable. It didn't smell, it was easy. the longest part of my manicure was doing my nail polish. Seeing the difference in just the time it took to do the nail polish. Below is the pictures of both hands after I was done. 

(Left hand)

(right hand)

Did I mention that you don't have to worry about ugly nail jobs? I am horrible at painting with my left hand! Already I was hooked on these nail wraps! They were super easy and super cute!

*Living with Jamberry

These cute little Jamberry's took a beating. ;) I cleaned with them, I cooked, I did yoga, a soak in a hot bath, and from taking care of dogs and a cat. As well as doing praise books for church. It was interesting how even after a week my nail polish is cracked and well ugly. While the Jamberry's still look amazing. Thankfully during my review Colin's cousin Megan was having her Jamberry launch party on Facebook. I found it helpful to learn about the company and the product. I will now post my one week photos below.

(left hand)

(right hand)

As you can see my Jamberry's are still looking really good for being on for a week. I have also become a huge fan and ordered a couple of sheets from Megan. I highly recommend them to every woman and they have some really cute ones for little girls. Yet another reason for me to be tickled pink to have a girl first when the time comes! Thanks so much to Elicia for giving me the opportunity to do this review!

If you would like to know more and/or shop for your own Jamberry's go over to Elicia's website http://www.eliciashepard.jamberrynails.net/ . :) There are so many cute wraps to choose from!
~ Brandy

*disclaimer: All opinions expressed in this review are of my own. :)

My Yoga Experience

   Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend. I felt like today would be a good time for me to finally talk about yoga. I have been wanting to write this post for a long time. I think it has been a matter of having the time to sit and really talk about it, as well as finding the words. I started doing yoga when I was about 18 ( I think??) and honestly I think the reason why I got scared off was because there were certain religious points used in yoga that didn't line up with my Bible. Some may argue that I should really focus on the fitness part. But when you look at the meditation part of yoga, for myself personally, it's easier to be a part of a yoga class that lines up with what you believe. I have done yoga at home off and on. Then I discovered Holy Yoga. I attended my first class and I was hooked. I love being able to meditate on scripture and worship, and be encouraged to do so.

   Since making yoga a more regular part of my daily routine, my allergies and my asthma as well as my back pain are under control. It has encouraged me to have a healthier life style as well. My quiet times have been sweeter. It has been monumental in my journey to being still.


 There is something rewarding about unrolling your mat and stretching. While I'm stretching I like to focus on the worship music that is playing and really think about the words. Praying the words and actively seeking God. I want to share with you the website for Holy Yoga here. For you to learn more about what Holy Yoga is all about. I think it is super important to take care of our bodies. Through eating well and being active. Yoga promotes good sleeping habits, and getting rid of those nasty toxins that are being hoarded in our bodies. We are living in a tech savvy world, and with the that comes the price on aching necks and fingers. As a blogger, I do spend a lot of time at the computer and on my phone. So taking the time to take care of  myself really helps keep blogging something I enjoy!

I know this is a short post, but I am so glad that I was able to share with you a little bit about yoga and why I love it. What about you? What are favorite forms of exercise?

~ Brandy

The Season of Learning

      I am in this season of learning at the moment. I have been wanting to just learn and soak up advice and teaching. Kind of like standing knee deep in the ocean and feeling the waves crash up against you. For a bit you try and fight against being knocked over by the waves. However there comes a time where your tired of trying to stand against the waves and you allow the waves to knock you over. Well I have been knocked over and I am allowing the waves to just crash over me. It's not a bad place to be, but more about allowing God to take control of the things that I just can't handle.

This morning I read Exodus 14:14 " The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (NIV)

I started the journey of learning to "be still" to help with my anxiousness. It has been a long journey that I am still on. A couple of years ago I listened to Noel Piper on being still and quickly realized that in the midst of doing what God has called me to, there are moments where I do need to be still and listen before proceeding forward. It's not a matter of not taking action. It more about knowing when you need to stop and raise you hands and pray. Sometimes we need to admit to ourselves that we are nothing without the love and power and strength of Christ. I love the song In Over My Head (Crash Over Me) by Jenn Johnson of Bethel Music. I wanted to share the most of the chorus with you:

Then You crash over me and I've lost control but I'm free
I'm going under, I'm in over my head
And You crash over me, I'm where You want me to be
I'm going under, I'm in over my head
Whether I sink, whether I swim
It makes no difference when I'm beautifully in over my head

I want to encourage you, if you feel the waves wanting to knock you over. Allow them too. God may need to work on your heart and the only way is to let go. Why don't you join me and let's float in the ocean together an allow God to work on our hearts.

~ Brandy