Take back your life by Levi Lusko Book Review (FlyBy Blog Promotions)

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I read Take Back Your Life by Levi Lusko, in exchange for honest review from FlyBy Blog Promotions. I received a hardback book. 

The book is a 40 day devotional/journal, which helps you think right, so you can live right.

My life sucks right now. The crisis and quarantining has not helped. I am drained physically, mentally, and spiritually. I dread waking up and I dread going to bed because I know what's waiting and I hate it (kid's morning behavior issues). 

I have learned a few new skills, such as I attempted to make cheese, but I cant seem to help my oldest calm down. I wanted to read this book to at least help my spiritual life improve, while everything else is falling apart. 

Book Review

One of the first things, which stood out is when the author said looks can be deceiving. We can be looking at something, but not see all, that is there. We can not trust what we see with the naked eye because there are unseen things in the background. 

"When you see the invisible, you can see the impossible"

Using just the seen to make decisions is not enough because there are blind spots.  The unseen spiritual realm is forever. We need to stop walking around oblivious to things going on in the background, such as the battle for our hearts (and our internal battle)and where we will spend eternity (We all will live forever, but where: Heaven or Hell). Lusko says we need to look at people and things through the lens of faith to see if this or that is for your good. Is this or that or them part of God's plan for your life. The author says we have to take back our lives from what's going on in the invisible realm. 

Another part of the book, which stood out is that no matter, what we are going through, we are loved. called. chosen. equipped. I may not feel that way when repairing another hole, my oldest put in the wall or picking up a bag full of toys, again, the youngest threw, but God still says we are loved, called, chosen, and equipped (and that' s where my overthinking takes place. What am I equipped to do? What is my godly purpose? Is it more than cleaning, cooking, parenting, and fixing things, the kids broke? My life is boring, repetitive, redundant, frustrating, but yet there is a godly purpose, somewhere in this mess.) Day 3 says despite how I feel about myself and my life, We were made in the image of God; we have autonomy; we are immortal; we were expensive because Jesus paid the ultimate price for our souls. I definitely need this book right now. I havent had it long. A kid tore a few pages out, but I was able to find them and put them back in the book, but I am loving what I am reading. 

At the end of each chapter, there is a prayer and questions to think about. 

The book is available in Kindle; Audio book; hardback; and audio CD. The book is prime-eligible. 

Free Kids 4-day PDF Devotional

Author Bio:

Levi Lusko is the founder and lead pastor of Fresh Life Church, located in Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, and Utah. He is the bestselling author of Through the Eyes of a Lion, Swipe Right, and I Declare War. Levi also travels the world speaking about Jesus. He and his wife, Jennie, have one son, Lennox, and four daughters: Alivia, Daisy, Clover, and Lenya, who is in heaven.

Moving Beyond Anxiety by David Chadwick Book Review (Flyby Blog Promotions)

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I read Moving Beyond Anxiety by David Chadwick, in exchange for honest review for FlyBy Blog Promotions. I received a pdf and a paperback copy of the book. The book is written from a biblical perspective. Part 1 focuses on identifying anxiety, while Part 2 focuses on overcoming anxiety.

Part 1: Identifying Anxiety

I wanted to read this book because I have tons of fears and anxieties. Will my oldest son's behavior get us evicted from another place? Will my youngest die in his sleep from his seizures or sleep apnea or long QT syndrome? If I walk the kids to the store or laundry room, will they walk off or have a public meltdown? If yes, I rather not take them, at all, than risk it. If I die, what will happen to my kids? Will Kalen accidentally cause an infection to his self because he likes to self-injure by scratching? I had his heart monitor removed because it was broke and Kalen was scratching around the monitor.

I worry about my health. I have headaches, back pain, and joint pain. I barely had any sleep since March because my oldest has been waking up, mostly at 4/5 am to hit walls, doors, and the ceiling. For me, I listen to music, clean, walk outside for a second to breath to try to stay calm and focused on rough days. I also pray but many times, fear my prayers are not listened to or won't be answered. After all, it's been three months since Brad started banging walls and doors at 3 am and it still won't stop.

In the Chadwick provides 12 strategies to help with anxieties. One of the first things, which stood out was Chadwick defined anxiety and fear.

"Anxiety is thinking something bad might happen to you", while "Fear is the belief something bad will happen to you". Chadwick says that if we win the battle over our thoughts, then we will win the battle over anxiety. Bad thoughts lead bad feelings, which lead to bad behaviors. We have to renew our minds daily.

Anxiety and fear also can affect your prayer life and your relationship with God. The devil also has a part in worry, anxiety, and fear by implanting thoughts in your head, which increases anxiety; tempts you to engage in destructive behaviors; and affects your relationship with God. God wants our lives to be filled with peace and joy, which is something I definitely need more of. A quiet, peaceful household, even with two children, with special needs.

The book also focuses on the causes of anxiety. Rapid change, loneliness, failure, rejection, and fear of tomorrow are the ones, which hit home, to me. Just look at the past few months. Kids went from going out of school for Spring Break to being out for the rest of the year. Church was closed and went completely virtual. Their psychiatrist visits also went virtual. Clinic also implemented curbside pharmacy plus temperature checks. 

Both kids behaviors changed quick, which increased fear, anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Both of their medications have been adjusted, a few times to see if it helps. Toss in a outpatient surgery and a few visits for routine doctor visits and lab work.

I lost my breaks, during the day, along with sleep. I had to outsource laundry to my niece because they have elopement and other behavioral issues when going out in public. I had to learn to rely on more and accept help from others. We are all in this together. I am definitely grateful for Ms. Reen, Ms. Kim, Ms. MaryLynn, Hope for Three, Houston's First Baptist, during this time.

Part 2: Overcoming anxiety. 

To overcome anxiety, some of the solutions include focusing on faith; praying; singing; and getting Godly teammates. I have definitely prayed, begged, and pleaded during these last, few months, hoping any of my prayers would get answered. You have to embrace the little victories because God answers prayers in his time and not mine, which also causes anxiety. How long Lord, how long? (recorded a video of me, starting with that line, because I had enough of no sleep; enough of kids, staying at home, doing nothing but eating and running through data on my phone; enough of Brad waking up to hit the walls and doors; enough of broken furniture; enough of Kalen throwing toys and dishes around the home; enough of being hit, pushed, spit on, climbed on and over; enough of waiting on things to go right. not sure if I want to publish it or not).

I created a playlist on Amazon called Survival to help calm me down. It does bring some tears though. You toss enough Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, Kirk Franklin, Smokie Norful, and CeCe Winans on a playlist, tears will come, especially when you are going through something.

"There is a hope, there is peace, that makes this life complete. For every man, woman, boy, and girl, looking for Heaven, in the real world" Steven Curtis Chapman. Heaven in the Real World

"I just want to get away from here. I just want fly away from what I see. Every time we fail, it falls on you, Another reason for the world, to not believe. See it don't feel right when we hurt and lie. and we judge inside because love's being erased. You can try and hide. No Sleep Tonight" Kirk Franklin. No Sleep Tonight. Don't get me started on the power of Stained Glass Masquerade by Casting Crowns.

Finally,have a few godly teammates to motivate and encourage you. Teammates, who will pray for you and bring positivity to your life.

The book is available in Kindle, Paperback, and Audio formats. The book is prime-eligible.

Blackout

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A few weeks ago, May 27th, we had a blackout because of lightening and thunderstorms. While I do not like lightening and thunderstorms, the parent in me, was happy, because my kids do not like rain. Both kids normally go to bed early, during bad storms. Yay, I can rest. I can breath. I can do some cleaning in peace.

This night, it was different.

Brad did go to bed early. I saw him, winding down, on the couch, so I quickly gave him, his night meds, and let him crash. Kalen, on the other hand, decided to defy expectations, and not go to bed, until late. I gave him, his seizure meds. I gave him, a bath and rubbed him with lavender lotion, but he did not crash. I gave him melatonin too.

He took the blackout, hard, because the lights was off. The wifi was down. Youtube was no more. It didn't help that the kindle and laptop had also died early too. I had no options to entertain him. I do have a usb-powered light, which I cut on, so he wouldn't be completely scared. He kept asking me to turn on the lights and the phone. I had to remind him, that I was not God. Saying let there be light was not going to work. 

I had somewhere to be, the next morning. Kalen had his bi-annual cardiology appointment. I did not want to go to bed before the lights came back on so I can make sure the alarms are still set. What saved me was I remembered I had an battery-powered alarm clock, on a shelf in the closet. I also grabbed the mini sound machine. I don't know when I got it, but I was hoping one of those sounds, would help calm Kalen down. It didn't. I definitely recommend people get a battery-powered alarm clock. Smart devices do crash and nothing like having an alternative. I had not used the clock or sound machine,  in a while because my kids liked to knock it over. I got tired of resetting the clock and the alarm, so I put it up in the closet. The sound machine is now under the bed for emergencies. The clock is still standing (Kids knocked it down once) on my side table.

Kalen tried to entertain his self by looking out the window at other people, walking by. I rocked him. Nothing would calm him down to save my life. I was at a lost, this night.

Eventually, we both crashed. The lights came back on at 1:30 am. I quickly put all devices, back on the charger, before any kid woke up. I was glad Brad slept through the blackout because I could sense a meltdown, once he realized, the television would not come on.

Step 1 Basic Foundation for Lettering Course Review (Tomoson)

I received free access to Letter Create Studio's  Step 1: Basic Foundation for Lettering Course, in exchange for honest review from Tomoson. I thought it would be an interesting course to take during the quarantine. I bought some drawing pads, earlier this month. This would be a great way to utilize them with some gel pens or paints or water color markers. I also have color pencils and mechanical pencils.

I did have issues with navigation with the first block. I thought videos would play but the first few lessons was text-based. I liked how the instructor went over the fundamentals first before diving into the meat of the lesson. She also discussed what materials to use, which included brush pens and mechanical pencils, which I have.

She then discussed the seven neighborhoods--letter groupings, based on shape in the fundamentals section. You have to mark the first lesson as complete (there is no information) to move into the neighborhoods lessons. Some of the neighbor hoods include:

• U-shaped neighborhood
• N neighborhood
• A neighborhood

The instructor discusses working on and mastering each neighborhood versus trying to write all 26 letters at the same time. I liked the lessons. The instructor made the material easy to understand. She showed how to do each stroke for each letter. My drawing pads and markers have found a new activity. 

You can check out step 1 or step 2 of the course, on Letter Create Studio's website. 

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The End

Photo Wall Review

I received a Canvas Print, in exchange from honest review from Photo Wall--wall art by passionate people. Photo Wall offers wall murals, wall paper, canvas prints, and posters.

I love artwork. I chose a nice, beach canvas print, with beautiful water and clouds. Something relaxing, while kids were at home from school. I received the print, five days after ordering. Normally my tapestry is on my wall, but it needs to be washed. I love this print in the tapestry spot more.

The print came disassembled in a tall box.  I received the print, the frame, the screws, and corner brackets. I tried assembling it first, on top of my kids medical supply boxes, but it wasn't enough room, once I started attaching the other sides. I do recommend a wide space for attaching the print to the frame. I used the living room floor to finish assembly.

Take your time, adhering the frame to the print.  It does require stretching the fabric some to reach the frame, as you work around putting things together.

I definitely wish I was on that beach right now :-)

Current offer: Save 15% off an order with code photowall15

Offer #2

25% discount code which will be valid for a month for your readers/viewers: staciewyatt2020

Product Reviews I loved, Part 1.

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links.

I been blogging since 2012 and I have reviewing amazing products, whether good or bad. I wanted to honor products, which have stood the test of time. Products, I have continued to use and buy since I entered the blogging world.

Squatty Potty: This was my first successful pitch. I been seeing the commercials and wanted one. The squatty potty is still standing and has changed my bathroom behaviors.

Design Cap Review (Pearl Mountain Technology)

I reviewed Design Cap, in exchange for honest review. I received a premium account for usage.

The app has amazing templates and font designs, but I had serious issues. First, for premade fonts designs, I had issues editing text. You have to double click on the text to change it. I had issues changing layered font designs. I could edit one layer but struggled to edit the other layers. Even when I click on the 2nd or 3rd layer, it would revert back to the first or try to move other images.

2nd, when I downloaded a simple design, it showed a different image than what I had worked on. For example, I created this for a friend of mine.

When I download a png, I received this image. The original words were still on the screen. I tried hitting save after making a few new changes, but received an error saying " Sorry for some reason, we was unable to save the project. Try again".

I also worked on this image. I had troubles aligning the second layer of text to the first. It took some creative clicking but I was able to fix the misaligned text.

Finally, when I closed out the tab and went back in, none of my design was saved in my designs. I would had to start completely over to redo my work. I would not recommend the app, with the errors, I had. I struggled for hours making two images for an Facebook advice segment. The app is free, if you want to try it and work with it. I will still play with it and update this post if I figure a few things out, first.

Katari Beauty Roseau (Rose) Water and Hoba Oil Review (Socialix)

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links.

I received @KatariBeauty(Katari Beauty's )Roseau (Rose) Water and Hoba Oil, in exchange for honest review from Socialix. Katari makes clean, vegan, artisinal products.

Roseau (Rose Water)

Roseau is made from 100% pure Tunisian rose water. It can be used as an astringent and toner. It can help people, who have rosacea, while also lifting skin, according to the website.

Hoba Oil

Hoba oil is made from 100% pure-cold pressed jojoba wax. It can be used a a primer, cleanser, moisturizer, and make up remover, according the the website.

I used both daily. I cleaned my face with Roseau and then applied Hoba oil afterwards.

Both products were not heavy on my skin.

You can purchase both products on Katari Beauty's website.

You can purchase both products on Katari Beauty's website. Use code 50offcleanbeauty
Check out my youtube video below too. Like, subscribe, and comment, if you want.

Dr Praegers Review (Socialix)

I received 5 coupons from Dr. Praegers, in exchange for honest review from Socialix. I used the coupons to buy broccoli littles, spinach littles, and black bean quinoa burgers. All the products was gluten free, while the littles was also soy-free.

Broccoli Littles:

Broccoli Littles is gluten-free and soy-free. The littles are made from nine ingredients. Some of which include broccoli, potatoes, onions, and egg. The broccoli littles are 130 calories.

Spinach Littles: 

Spinach littles are gluten-free and soy-free. The spinach littles are made from spinach and potatoes. They also contain eggs. The littles are 140 calories. 

Dr. Pragers also makes kale littles and sweet potato littles. 

Black Bean Quinoa Burgers: 

The black bean quinoa veggie burgers are gluten-free. Ingredients include black beans, chipotles, and tri-color quinoa. They contain 5 grams of protein, 5 vegetables, and 150 calories. The burgers are a bit spicy. They are also non-genetically modified.

I wanted to try them for the taste. I never been big on gluten-free, vegan food, but these meals was good. My kids also enjoyed eating all three meals. I made some rice and avocado mayonaise to eat with the littles and black bean burgers.

To find Dr. Prager's products, please to go the website and use the store locator. I found all three, in the natural foods aisle at Walmart.

Ajoura Waxing Strips Review (Tomoson).

Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links.


I received Ajoura's Waxing Strips, in exchange for honest review from Tomoson. The waxing strips also came with wax wipes to remove extra wax, reduce irritation, and moisturize skin.

To use: you warm a pack of strips up with your hands, then peel the strips apart. You apply to your skin, press firmly for 10 seconds, then rip in the opposite direction. You can keep reusing strips until the wax is no longer sticky.

I normally shave facial and body hair, but shaving causes irritation, even witth shave gel or a shaving bar.

I used the wax on mustache hair and chin hair. I just started waxing, the other week. I did have some pain and skin irritation but the chin hair was removed, while mustache hair required more work.

You can check out my demonstration in the video below.

You can purchase the strips, using the link above. The strips are prime-eligible.