Becoming Empowered When You Feel Powerless
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ast Coast Fertility is having an essay contest during NIAW! They are going to pick 5 winners (one winner for each day until April 30th) and the winners will get a copy of Jodi Picoult’s new book Sing You Home (which I just added to my shelfari bookshelf) and a Spa Finder gift card. These winners will then be eligible to win a FREE mirco-IVF cycle valued at $3,900.00! You can read all the details of the contest in this post! So since you have only a few days left, start writing those essays! 
So, I just recently got two lovely awards and I am so incredibly honored! (And, I decided to combine them into one post!)
OK, so first Disheartened at Will You Knock Me Up Tonight gave me the Versatile Blogger Award! Thanks! It means a lot to me that I inspire you! So the rules are: you are to grab the award, link back to the person who gave it to you, share 10 things about yourself, nominate 15 recently discovered blogs, and let them know you awarded them…so since it’s ICLW week, I will start off with things about me:
Here’s that list (in no particular order) of very recently discovered blogs ALL participating in ICLW:
Now, Keiko at Hannah Wept, Sarah Laughed gave me the Stylish Blogger Award! Thanks Keiko! I feel so stylish and you really are awesome and a true inspiration to me! ) ;-) So these rules are, I am supposed to snatch the image, link back to the person who gave it to me, share 7 things about myself, award 15 other bloggers and contact them so they know they’ve won. So this time, my list will be all about infertility.
Here are the blogs I chose: (*straight off the ICLW list in no particular order!)
So I recently stumbled on a website called Love’s Journey. Patrice, the owner, battled infertility and now has a beautiful son and has been inspired to create beautiful jewelry. She makes jewelry for fertility, pregnancy, and motherhood.
The Fertility Hope Pendant
The Fertility Hope Pendant (pictured to the left) was inspired when Patrice “could not find anything out there that validated and honored the effort and sheer will power it takes to battle infertility.” “Featuring words (hope, resiliience, love, & courage) to fortify the spirit. A spiral to symbolize the journey and the creative life force. The heart represents life and the heart that is full of love for our future children.” I LOVE this piece and think it’s an awesome piece to wear as you go through the journey.
The Life's Journey Pendant
As Patrice says, “Life is a journey, not a destination. The Life’s Journey pendant (pictured to the right) will remind the wearer and everyone else to stay true to your heart as go through life.” As I mentioned in an earlier post, my husband surprised me with this for Valentine’s Day and I’ve been wearing it ever since. Since I’ve been through my infertility battle, I thought this was such a fitting piece for me to continue on the journey. It also embodies the fertility symbol that Patrice is trying to make an awerenss symbol. Love that!
Patrice is graciously giving away one of these pendants to a lucky reader! *All you have to do is leave a comment about which pendant you would like for one entry. For extra entries, follow my blog, follow me on Twitter, follow Patrice on Twitter, ‘like’ me on FB, ‘like’ Love’s Journey on FB or let me know that you already do. PLEASE make sure each entry is it’s own comment below! Thanks and good luck! Happy ICLW!
It’s that time of month where we break out of our non-commenting shells and speak up (or type up) for ICLW! So if you’re here because you found me on the list, your responding to my comment or it’s just your usual stop by, thanks for dropping in! I really appreciate it! And now for the burning topic of the week…
So, now that my memoir is finished (YAY! 
) I had another idea for a book on infertility. But it actually wouldn’t be for the infertile community. It would be for everyone else. It’s a pretty radical idea but wouldn’t it be great if the fertile world had a kind of ‘guidebook’ on what to say/do and not to say/do? You know, like to avoid the dreaded 4 letter word that starts with an R….or even how to handle pregnancy news, invitations to baby showers and unsolicited advice. Not that we need to be treated with kid gloves or make everyone walk around on egg shells…it would just be a book that keeps it real. I think it would be eye-opening and a must read for anyone that knows someone going through infertility. And, let’s face it. Everyone must whether they know it or not. When one in six couples are experiencing it, chances are a fertile person knows someone going through infertility. We are everywhere and while we most likely are suffering silently, we still want to be heard! This book can speak for us all!
So, what are your thoughts on this? If you could give ‘advice’ to the fertile world, what would you want to say? I would love to hear your ideas!
So, finally, I made a button to link directly to the list of 100 Ways to Be Stress Free through Infertility!
And, here it is!! Now you can put it on your blog to access it at any time!
And here’s the code:
<a href=”http://stressfreeinfertilityblog.com/2010/04/14/100-ways/” target=”_blank”><img src=”http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab292/mymiracles77/14-2-1-1.jpg” border=”0″ alt=”Photobucket”></a>
OK!! And, another announcement, I have made a deadline to FINISH my memoir this month! So, I will continue to do the success stories but each week, I will be doing a recap of past posts. This gives my newest readers a chance to read over what they have missed and also gives me much needed time to write and revise! And for this month only, I will take a little break from doing my blog love posts since these take a LOT of time. Instead, each Monday, I will update on how the memoir writing is going. Thanks for understanding!
Ever need a feel-good movie to get you out of a funk or a silly comedy that makes you laugh? Here’s a list that are some recommended favorites . If you would like me to add some more, just comment here and I will add them on. Thanks so much for all the contributors!
Now, pick one out, pop some popcorn and enjoy!
This Fertility News Friday, I wanted to kick off ICLW! (Which is Stirrup Queen’s International Comment Leaving Weekwhich is short for IComLeavWe for those that don’t know!) This month there are 167 blogs on the list and my goal is to get through more than my typical one third(ish) amount. If this is your first time here, Welcome!! I hope you read a bit and stay around!! (Here is a previous welcome ICLW post for all you newbies!) If you’ve come here from a different source and seeking Iron Commenter status, then I am #94 on the list.
So, I will keep this short and sweet…I’ve recently compiled a list of 100 Ways to Be Stress Free Through Infertility so please check that out in case you missed it! And recently, I’ve been trying to create a recommended list of The Best IF books (and I want to add fee-good books too) and a list of Feel-Good Movies, so please check those out (the posts are short I promise) and add some of your own. I was waiting for ICLW to start so I can have a LOT more to add….so please do not disappoint! Soon, I will make buttons on my sidebar so you can access these lists whenever you feel the need…and maybe I’ll even make the buttons accessible for your sidebars too! Let me know if you’d be interested!
By the way, speaking of sidebars, if you’re not on it, you’ll want to be because one day soon, you may get randomly picked for some Blog Love! So leave me a link & I’ll get you on right away!!
So, this is my 100th post and I’m so excited! Today, I’m listing 100 Ways To Be Stress-Free Through Infertility, devided into 10 categories! Enjoy reading it and using it as a guide! Grab my button on the sidebar so that you can access this list at any time!
*All of these exercises are low-impact. Consult a doctor if you wish to participate and listen to your doctor’s advice about whether you should exercise or not during a (medicated) cycle.
**This is not meant to upset anyone! I realize this may of course be hard for you! I happen to really enjoy the planning, and picking out and actually buying a few things before becoming pregnant. You may not. If it bothers you, please disregard!
*** Listen to your doctor’s advice about this. Some doctors advise against baths after a certain time in your cycle (like after an embryo transfer or IUI). And the same goes for hot tubs. Please use your best judgement!
And thank you to all of you who have been with me on my journey for all 100 posts! I appreciate you all so much!
Update: This post originally had a giveaway that is now over!
<a href="http://stressfreeinfertilityblog.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab292/mymiracles77/head-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://stressfreeinfertilityblog.com/2010/04/14/100-ways/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i873.photobucket.com/albums/ab292/mymiracles77/14-2-1-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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Fertile Garden Giveaway!
Good morning everyone and Happy ICLW! If you’re new here I am so happy you came by! Please peruse my newly organized sidebar for a little of what’s been going on!
Now onto the BIG excitement for the day! I am starting a giveaway courtesy of Fertile Garden “where hope helps things grow.” It’s an amazing shop of hand made fertility & pregnancy bracelets, fertility jewelry and inspiring art featured on Etsy and Shop Handmade! (The owner herself is going through infertility and rounding out an IVF cycle. She also tweets and blogs! So be sure to check those out!)
I LOVE her jewelry because each piece uses high quality gemstones “which have special metaphysical properties that are used to enhance fertility and sustain pregnancy.” Some gemstones used most often in Fertile Garden’s pieces are amethyst (which is said to “purify and transmute negativity, boost production of hormones and peace of mind, and give patience and calmness despite overwhelming odds“), moonstone (which ”promotes love, hope and fertility“) and rose quartz (which “are the beads of love and fertility, soothes the heart and promotes peace“). The jewelry is also adorned with charms that are unique fertile symbols like butterflies (“symbols of the soul“), elephants (“symbol of love and virility” said to “increase fertility luck“), and turtles (“symbol of fertility and vitality, known for patience and tenacity“).
Fertile Garden would like to giveaway this beautiful necklace to one lucky reader!
To enter: Simply View the shop of items and leave a comment on this post about which piece you would most like to have. Please include your e-mail in your comment so I can contact you!
For extra entries: (each one can be counted!)
The giveaway will end on Wednesday, July 28th!
That’s it!! Good luck!!