Friday, March 25, 2011

jen's favorite friday giveaway!!! i remembered!! :)

aren't you proud of me??? i am very proud of me. :) i tell you what, i love me a good accessory. there's no label screaming a size at you, they are generally sparkly and pretty and always draw a compliment (something we all need some days to keep us going. lol) today's giveaway is from my sweet friend, mary beth gerth, who is a Lia Sophia representative in NW indiana. i had never heard of this company before moving up here but it is a home based business like Pampered Chef, 31 Gifts, etc. and they have some terribly cute stuff :) mary beth is just getting started in her business and i absolutely LOVE to help promote other moms and their businesses - true proverbs 31 women being productive and all that! :) i will attempt to link up her website to my blog on the right (i feel like i should be wearing a cape and a top hat saying "and for my NEXT trick i will attempt...!!" who knows if the trick will work or not. lol) and i encourage you all to click on it and check it out! here's the super cute necklace she's donated...



mary beth said you could wear it long (2nd picture) or double it up (1st picture) or wear it as a cute belt (anything highlighting my midsection just AIN'T happening, sisters...) or a bracelet or a bookmark or a headband or WHATEVER! (ok, i added those last few, she didn't suggest them. lol) she is also GENEROUSLY donating a $10 gift certificate good towards your next Lia Sophia purchase!!! love it! thank you SO MUCH mary beth! let's give her a hand!!!

(you there. i see you. clap, i said! lol)

this friday marks the beginning of spring break for us up here! and this next week our HIGHS are only in the 30s! that's. awesome. (i tell you what, mother nature, good thing i don't believe in you cause i would hunt you down and HURT you. i know you're a mother and all but seriously... this is ridonkulous.)

while i'm thinking about it too... just want to give a quick shout out to all the working outside the home moms who may be reading this. i spent last year as a working mom and, i'm telling you, it is TOUGH. there is so much more guilt and stress that swirls around the working mom and we need to encourage and love on those moms all the more. i know we could get into semantics about the circumstances surrounding our choices, etc. but i KNOW that ALL MOMS, working or not, make their choices specifically for the good and the LOVE of their babies and their families. let's not judge each other - there's plenty in my life you could pick apart, i promise you. hang in there, working outside of the home moms. :) praying for you specifically today that God would give you a renewed energy and strength for the day, that you would not allow the guilt to creep in and that He would grant you the opportunity to soak in some sweet memories with your babies this weekend (or whenever you're home with them next.) love you ALL so much :)

so get to commenting!!! click on the comments link below (you may need to sign up for a google account or something. don't be afraid. you can do this.) and leave me something short and sweet (as opposed to drawn out and ugly. lol)

enjoy your friday and remember to thank God for all His many blessings today, soooo many more than we'll ever deserve :)

hugs
jen

27 comments:

  1. Wowww I'm first! am I doint this right? Can I comment more than once lol? (I really like that necklace)Anyway....our high for the next few days is only 40 :(. Andrew and I are goint to the city for the weekend for my b-day and I wish it was going to be warmer. Oh well at least its sunny! Anyway nice job Jen...I'm reading your stuff...and I really don't do blogs lol! Love ya!

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  2. Enjoy your winter...I mean spring break!

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  3. love you!! (how's that for short and sweet?)

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  4. Love your post today, as always! Again, Itotally relate to it. One tough thing that happened this week to me concerning working moms & the guilt...yesterday Justine asked me to come eat lunch with her at school like some of the other moms. I so wanted to, but couldn't because my office was doing a water presentation at the Intermediate school next door & I had to get my supplies ready and get over there at the same time they had lunch at the elementary. Felt so bad, because she has asked me this before & I have never gotten to do it. I told her I will try in the next few weeks, but knowing I have a few doctor appts scheduled on my lunch hour that will probably take longer than my half hour lunch, I really doubt that I will want to take additional time off during that month. What to do, what to do?

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  5. you're doing a fabulous job with the blog, Jen! So proud of you. :)
    Thanks for all the encouragement--moms are in dire need of it.

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  6. Oh my Jen, thank you for your encouragement everyday!! I speak for the half time stay at home/half time working moms and my biggest struggle is the loss of control over my baby and his time. Humbles me when I think that just like the guidance and choices God gives us everyday, we give the same to our Sitter when we leave our precious baby for the day. He guides us just as we guide that Sitter, but do they always follow after what we desire. Hm, debatable! Reminds me of how He must feel when He knows what's best for us and we choose the opposite. Just a little tid bit He taught me the other day! Hope that all made sense, cuz I typed it quite fast and off the tip top of my head!!

    Have a beautiful Friday dear Friend!! -Jes S.

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  7. Hey Jen! Can't tell you how much the Lord speaks to me thru your blog. I never would have imagined I'd be doing this again, that is having a baby after 6/8 years!! It's been a blessing to read you blog---God is using you in mighty ways!! Love u friend!!

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  8. Bet you are missing the beautiful spring weather we're having here in Texas. Everything is green and budding and color is springing up everywhere. You may miss that this week, but you won't miss the high humidity and heat this summer! Enjoy your week off.

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  9. My sister in law (Kim Young)sent me here. I appreciate your honesty in what you write!

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  10. Been thinking of you the past few days as we prepare to sing "You Deserve the Glory"this weekend. Sure do miss being blessed by your beautiful voice!

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  11. Jen, that was a great post. Us moms all work, whether it is outside the home or inside the home. Both are TOUGH jobs and decisions to make. We need to trust and have faith in God that we are following His will. I am one of those work outside the home moms that has days where I struggle. But once I get down on my knees and pray, I have that peace that only God can give. It is nice to hear another mom know that both are struggles.

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  12. Love the necklace, but love the blog more.

    Sara Ward

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  13. Howdy from Houston! Thank you for sharing your heart in this blog. I love reading it and I love you!

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  14. Hope y'all have a great spring break! We are enjoying the wonderful spring weather here in East Texas but not enjoying the high pollen! Softball starts this weekend for us! Yeah! Miss you neighbor!! :)

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  15. I feel the spring break chill, although we have another 3 weeks until ours, so we are hoping to get into the 50's for our spring break festivities! Its been an adjustment for sure getting used to this weather, it makes me giggle that we get our shorts out when it hits 50! I am excited about this summer though! Enjoy your spring break girlfriend!

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  16. Love you friend! Thank you for starting (and continuing) this blog. It is an encouragement to me and so many others. Your music playing should be some of you singing...just a suggestion ;)

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  17. Pick me pick me pick me! Short and sweet enough? Praying you have a miraculous warming trend next week (move SOUTH!).

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  18. Hey! Thanks for all you do for us tired mommies! :) Love the necklace!

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  19. Hey Jen! You know I love you and you are always so encouraging. You are so sensitive to the feelings of others...it is truly beautiful and inspiring.

    Love you! Love you!

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  20. Still loving the blog!! You're doing a great job, keep up the good work!

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  21. You always know how to inspire! It's because you are a great wife and amazing mom, And a best friend to all! Can't wait for the
    .... Love the giveaway!

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  22. I love jewelry!!! :0)

    Miss you!

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  23. Love this post! This really hits home since I just came back 3 months ago after being home for 5 months with my girls. Although I LOVE my job at Liberty, it is really hard everyday to leave my girls! I think that every mom deserves to stay home with their babies until they are young! In the perfect world!!

    So glad you started this blog...and at the perfect time for me!!

    :)

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  24. OOooppps..should have proofread my post better! It should say stay home with their babies until they are 1 year old!!

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  25. Hey girlie, have a fabulous spring break :)

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  26. Much needed Spring Break, no matter what the weather! Love the blog! To Ethan and Heather, I totally agree all mom's should get a 1 year maternity leave, PAID! I think I'm running for political office on that one ;)

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