Inspire Me Monday: Stephanie Neilson's Story - My New Life - Fierce Self Love

This year's Valentine's Day has me thinking about a different kind of love. At least, different from romantic love. It's a vital kind of love, it's self love. I've also been thinking about parent-child love, but more on that later.

I think that self love is a foundational love and that with it you can have better and more successful and healthy loving relationships, of all kinds. Another foundational love I believe in is love for God. I know there are people who do not believe in God, or in Him the way that I do, I am not threatened or bothered by that. I am just expressing what I believe in. We all have to (and have the right to) "speak our truth".

I believe that God made us, after his own image. I believe that if we love ourselves we are also loving God and appreciating and believing in His creation. I believe that God wants us to love and appreciate ourselves, and that he finds joy in our individual discovery of our self worth.

This concept of self love has been on my mind a lot as I try to rediscover it in a healthy and balanced way. I've been through an extremely difficult time/trial that has me really evaluating myself, life and God in a whole new fundamental way. This has been hard for me but it is a healing process. 

In the video I posted below, there is a woman, Stephanie Nielson of Nie Nie Dialogs, who I admire greatly. I feel like she is a breathtaking example of someone who has learned self-love after what seems like an impossibly difficult trial. Her idea of self love starts where I think it should begin, with "I am a child of God". This will be a very worthwhile 8 minutes and 21 seconds of your day.

Please take to time to be inspired today...

Simply The Sweet Life Valentine's Giveaway

Alrighty, folks. This giveaway is the real deal. The prizes are fantastic. I, personally, really love Simply The Sweet Life Magazine!

The photography is breathtaking and the content is refreshing and delightful! And it's FREE! Yep, a free digital magazine for your viewing pleasure! I'm so excited for their next issue, coming soon, which is a kids and teens issue. Hurray! Of course, I love all things kid :o)

So about the giveaway...

To enter, you need to head  on over to their Facebook page and follow the instructions there!

Prizes include the following:

• A trip to New York City from CityPass & Simply the Sweet Life & $1000 visa gift card
• A home automation system from Vivint
• iPhone 4s from Vivint
• Straub Cherry Round French Oven from Orson Gygi
• Crafters Dream Bundle, including The Original Scrabox Craftbox
• 1 year  supply of cake bites from Sweet Tooth Fairy
• Amano Artesian Chocolate
• 10 piece jewelry set from Dawn Stark Designs
• His and Her fitness set
• Top 10 things for spring break clothing items from DownEast Outfitter

This giveaway is really no-joke! I am in particular need for that NYC trip - my bestie lives there, plus I want to go to BlogHer in August :o) 

Really all of it sounds fantastic to me... So head, walk, run... FLY on over to Simple The Sweet Life Magazine's Facebook Page A.S.A.P. and go win some prizes! 

Contest ends Feb 29, 2012 at 11:59 MST!!!

Inspire Me Monday: Man Gives his Wife a Touching Birthday Gift Before Dying of Cancer

I saw this video about a month ago and it really touched my heart. What a beautiful way to show someone you love them! I feel so glad for his wife that he left this legacy of his love for her before he left this life. Here is the description of the video (I cut and pasted it directly from Godvine.com)

Kristian Anderson sadly died about 2 weeks ago, but this is the video birthday wish he left for his wife. It's very touching, and it even includes an intro by the New Zealand prime minister and Hugh Jackman. God bless him and keep his family in your prayers.

Foodie Friday: Heart Shaped Roasted Potatoes

Photo Source: Haniela's Food & Photography

When I saw this recipe for heart shaped Roasted Potatoes on the blog Haniela's Food & Photography, I thought it was so enchanting! I've been making plans for heart shaped food for this month, especially the first two weeks of it, and almost everything I've seen in dessert (or pancakes).

Roasted Potatoes also happen to be one of my favorite things on this earth. Head on over to Haniela's for the recipe and check her out, the blog is awesome!

I Love Apples - The Apple Song

The other night while my son and I were cuddling when he asked me to sing him songs. We started with the classic, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star  (we LOVE this version) and moved through some other well-knowns and ended on a rousing rendition of  Old McDonald, my son supplying the animals. When the song was overwe had a conversation that went like this:

"Now do an apple song!"

Uhh..."Well little, I'm not sure if I know any apple sons"

"Mommy, I love apple songs!"

"Then there is only one thing to do, my son, let us consult Youtube!"

A google later and we found this little gem, The Apple Song by Plank Road Publishing.  My son loved it and provided very active dancing arms. After I tucked him in I could hear him whisper-singing "I love applllesss".

P.S. The website for Plank Road Publishing seems like a pretty amazing kid song resource. I will be checking it out more later...

Enjoy!

SOPA Strike!!!

Couldn't figure out how to black out my page tomorrow so I'm posting a link! There is so much more to this legislation than meets the eye! Protect your freedom, protest and contact your reps. This site makes that easy to do!

http://sopastrike.com/

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January 18th, 2012 is the largest online protest in history, to stop the internet censorship bills, SOPA & PIPA. Join in by blacking out your site and urging everyone you can reach to contact Congress now.

Update!

Photo Source: Heidi Poppins

I have some exciting news! For me anyway... I am hoping to "officially" launch the blog on February 1st. Now the design has been in progress for over 6 months now... and I am sort of hoping that I can make it happen by then. I decided to go "official" whether it's done or not.

Anyway, since I have a lot of work to do to prepare for that day, I will keep the blog on vacation until then. I still might post, however, and I really appreciate those of you who are coming back. My stats aren't so heartbreaking that way. I'm afraid to loose my audience before I really begin! Silly, but true!

So PLEASE come back, February 1, 2012!

Thank you!!

See you soon!