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Enjoying the Holidays

Creme de Le Creme and The New Year

Before we begin here, have you heard about my InJewels giveaway? It ends December 31st! :-)  


Creme

 
  Have you heard about Stirrup Queens’ Creme de le Creme list that goes up every January for the past 6 years? Basically, she wants you to pick your very best post of 2011 and submit it here and that’s it, you’ll be on this amazing list. It’s for anyone in the ALI community who writes a blog (even if it’s a pretty new one)! How awesome is that? I am a bit out of the loop so the deadline to be on the list by January 1st was December 15th….but you can still submit until January 5th to be on the list, it just may be a little while. Also, there’s a whole bunch of cool prizes you can win! I just chose the post I thought was my best in 2011 and submitted it. Now, it’s your turn! Take a look through your archives, don’t be shy, and put yourself out there! Oh, and read the Creme de le Creme post to learn more about it!

And after reflection on the past year, we’re about to start a brand new one! So…

Happy New Year!

*Whether you get all glammed up, go out and party like a rock star until midnight, or get jammied up, stay in and cozy up to the one you love while you count down the night–>make it magical.

     There’s something to be said about New Year’s Eve around the world. It’s the one day when you can reflect on the past year and look forward to a new beginning. It’s like starting all over with endless possibilities! So, dream the night away and toast to peace, love and happiness in 2012. Cheers!

*recycled from a past post 
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Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas!

 Love, The McVicker family!

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InJewels Giveaway!

  OK! Are you feeling a bit bah-humbug rather than ho-ho-ho jolly? Want a little stocking stuffer to lighten your mood? Here’s a little Blog Love for you! I am hosting a giveaway with InJewels! They have an array of creative jewelry pieces that I know you will love! I love their fertility bracelets. There’s so many to choose from. What I especially like is how they incorporate specialty gem stones that have fertility boosting powers.

  The Moonstone Fertility Bracelet is their most popular style (pictured to the left). It has a lotus flower which is a symbol for the sun, creation, rebirth, divinity, and fertility. And the stones are the moonstone (said to regulate a menstrual cycle and boost female energy), rose quartz (said to encourage fertility and emotional stability), clear crystal quartz (said to have healing, protection and balancing properties), and aventurine (which supports women’s reproductive health and the green color symbolizes a fertile earth).

 They also have awareness bracelets, healing bracelets, love bracelets and freindship bracelets among others (including pregnancy bracelets if you have found yourself lucky enough to be wearing one of those! ;-) ). I also love one of their inspirational necklaces called Believe pictured below. It has a “Believe” Tibetan charm, a creamy fresh water pearl, and your choice of gemstone (The amethyst is pictured).

  The best part about this giveaway is that InJewels is letting you choose which piece you would like to have! Yup, that’s right, simply go to their website and write a comment below, telling us which piece is your favorite. That is the main entry and must be included to win!       

Go to –>http://injewels.net/, then comment below!

For extra entries: (it MUST be it’s own SEPERATE comment below!)

  1. Follow this blog or subscribe
  2. Follow me (@stressfreeIF) on Twitter
  3. Like this blog on Facebook
  4. Follow @InJewelsDesign on Twitter
  5. Like InJewels on Facebook
  6. Tweet about the giveaway with a link back to this post. (Please include both @stressfreeIF and @InJewelsDesign) You can do this once per day!
  7. Blog about the giveaway! This counts twice. Please mentioned you blogged and then tell us the url.

That’s it! The giveaway ends December 31st, just in time for the new year! Good luck! :-)

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10 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays

 

I’m recycling my list of ways to enjoy the holidays yet again this year. I know many of you come and go and perhaps my newest followers missed these. Believe it or not, these were my very first posts in 2009! ;-)

#10: Rule out the perfect gift

#9: Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen

#8 Bake Cookies (while listening to holiday music) <–includes a family recipe!

#7: Watch a holiday classic

#6: Take Pictures

#5: Make a scrapbook or slideshow <–Check out my new business ready to launch soon! ;-)

#4: Go to a show!

#3: Plan a weekend getaway

#2: Make a list of resolutions

#1: Make it magical

Enjoy!

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Believe!

 

  It’s another special blog love post for this month. I know with Christmas less than 2 weeks away and Hanukkah in 8 days, it may be hard to have happy thoughts and feel merry and bright. All the commercials are centered around happy kids waiting for Santa, the mailbox may be filling with holiday cards adorned with adorable baby pictures from your family and friends, and every-one’s talking about the perfect gifts to give. But your perfect gift isn’t the one you can wrap up with a big bow and leave under the tree. And most likely, you’re having a hard time believing the happy family holiday you once dreamed of will ever happen. Well, I’m here to boost your beliefs.

   One Christmas (not too long ago) I was feeling very low. Although I already had my one little IVF miracle, I had tried all of that year unsuccessfully with 6 months of natural trying, a chemical pregnancy from a fresh IVF cycle, and a negative result from an FET. I found it hard to believe that we could be anything more than a family of three. And, then the next FET we did after the holiday worked and the following Christmas was the first for my twins who are now 2 years old! Believe in miracles!

I am leaving you this video I had linked to last year. It is a powerful one. My wish is that it gives you some hope…I believe that there’s a change around the corner.

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Giveaway Winner & Family Reprieve

 

 So, since there was only one entry for my Godspell Giveaway, then there can only be one winner! Congratulations Emily from a Blanket 2 Keep. I really hope you enjoy the show! Don’t forget to try out Toloache when you’re in the area. It’s a fabulous restaurant! ;-)

Thanksgiving weekend has come and gone and while you may be still eating left over turkey or busy gloating about Black Friday deals and steals, you may also be still fuming from family drama. Your family are the ones who are supposed to support you in every way. But sometimes they have the power to get under your skin and cause you more stress especially when it comes to your infertility ~ something they most likely know very little about. This can make your holiday experience (a time that is already full of emotion and stress) even more stressful and upsetting. Well, hopefully you have a family reprieve (at least for a short while) until the next big holidays come. Until then, enjoy my past posts about family support.

Family Support

Facing the In-Laws

Surviving the In-Laws

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The Lurky Turkey

  So the holidays are nearly upon us. And as family (and their children perhaps) gather next week, you are most likely slinking inside with avoidance.  I remember all too well the dread of holidays while suffering through infertility; foreseeing the happy, adorable children of your family members and crying inside, dodging the predictable questions people will ask like, “So, when are you going to have a baby?” over and over again and not knowing how to respond. Well, don’t be the Lurky Turkey in the room! You can avoid and smile or be your own advocate and seek support. I definitely suggest the latter. You may be surprised at how supportive your family can be. (This will be one of many posts that will hopefully inspire you and support you through this time of year.)

  I am linking to an article from Attain Fertility about surviving the holidays. Happy Friday!

Holiday Craziness: Coping with Infertility

*If you would like another way to de-stress during the holidays, why not enjoy a spiritually uplifting night out to see Godspell on Broadway. If you’re not in the NY area, perhaps you know someone who is! It would make a great gift! I’m giving away tickets to see the show!

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Winning the War

I’m recycling this post from last year! Thank you to all who have served!  

Today, on Veteran’s Day, I’m not only reminded of all those that have fought in a war to help others, I’m also thinking of all those that are battling infertility around the world.

   Throughout my struggle, there were many times I felt like I was on the front lines, arming myself with ammunition (injections) and intelligence (as much information as possible) that would help me get through. And often times, even with the best soldiers and generals on my side using the best war tactics they knew how,  I lost the battle. Some of those battles were harder to get through, grieve over and move on from than others. And, I have the battle wounds to prove it. You may never be able to see them, but they are there. Infertility has wounded my heart and left scars on my soul.

  But, even with all the losses, ultimately, I have won the war! Infertility made me feel broken but it never truly broke my spirit and I have come out the other side victorious!

  And you can too.

  Whether you achieve success through a miracle pregnancy, an infertility treatment or surrogacy, adoption or ultimately choosing to be child free, you can beat infertility and the war it can wage on your body and mind. This Veteran’s Day while you remember those that fought for their lives to help others, remember all that you are doing to fight for the lives of your future children. It will never go in vain.

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Surviving Halloween

  Well, it’s here, as it is every year. A holiday that screams fun, joy, and mystery for children and adults alike. But for many infertiles, this holiday can also scream angst, pain, and frustration. I’ve been there. I remember one year after already unsuccessfully trying months on our own to get pregnant, I sat home with one measly bag of candy dreading the trick or treaters. My heart literally ached to see moms pushing strollers down my street all done up in Halloween cheer with no doubt, adorable mini-costumes inside them. When toddlers just barely walking were helped up my steps by their giggling parents filled with pride and joy, I was crushed. But, I endured them all day and even had to get more candy. And it was really difficult. So, I get it.

   This year, I will be taking my three miracles out later, in their costumes and we will go trick or treating. And I’m particularly excited this year because my twins (who could barely walk on their own last year) are now bustling to get going and enjoy some sweets and just learned how to say “Twick-or-tweeet!”

    Each year since I’ve had my children, Halloween brings me back to my childhood memories, filled with anticipation, fun dress-up, and laughter. And, hopefully, one day you will be there too. If today is not your day, it is understandable to not take part in the festivities. There’s no shame in going out (perhaps to a costume party with lots of goodies to envoke your inner child) or pulling the shades and watching a scary movie instead of answering the door. If you don’t want to be the one on your street or floor that “had no candy” or is “never home on Halloween,” try putting a bowl out for the little ones. If you leave a sign that says “please take one” children will bee-line straight for it and may not even ring your bell, at least not until it runs out. Let’s face it, even if kids can read, you know they will be taking more than one. At that point, you can leave another sign, “All gone! Sorry! Happy Halloween!” and that will be that…until next year. And perhaps then, you just may have a little one to dress in an adorable mini-costume. You never know! ;-)

Here are some other articles you may enjoy! Happy Halloween!

Infertility and Halloween: Cheers? Jeers? Tears?

6 Halloween Survival Tips for Infertile Folks

Infertile? Don’t Let Halloween Scare You!

#705 How to Survive an Infertile Halloween

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Happy Father’s Day!

  So I wanted to take the time out to honor all the dads out there and even the dads-to-be (whether it be in the near future or a bit longer), especially Alec Ross blogger at I Want To Be a Daddy who is celebrating his very first Father’s Day today! He was a co-host in the recent Twitterview! In case you missed it, go here for the transcript.

 The IF community is largely populated by women but there are the occassional male voices out there! I applaud them for their efforts to be heard in a world that is so misunderstood. If you’d like to hear more male perspective, here’s some links to some posts my hubby helped me out with last year all about his point of view of our journey. (Male P.O.V.,  Male P.O.V Part 2, Male P.O.V Part 3) We worked so hard to be parents, I am most proud of him today. This is his 4th Father’s Day and it is still hard to believe we have 3 miracles to celebrate this day that is so special! I love you babe! You are an amazing father! ;-)

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