Conversation is Sexy Book Review

When you’re looking to turn your life around, it is widely known that you have to experience the very pits of life before you can climb out the other side. When we looking for that almighty purpose in life, the one major obstruction is, very simply, ourselves. Our mental health can stop us doing the things we want to do, choosing the path that we should take in life, and can threaten to envelop us in every way. And if you’re someone who has struggled with your own mental health for so long, there are always tools out there to help you, but if these aren’t producing the desired outcome, what can you do to get you on the right path?
Achieving Perspective
We’re all individual, and if we get a better understanding of our own mental anguish, especially in comparison to what others are going through, it gives you a more inherent understanding of how best to beat it (or live with it) or a sense of perspective. It can be sobering to see exactly how we rank in the pecking order of mental anguish. And yes, this isn’t a solution for everyone, but when we begin to walk that road to wellness, the combination of the appropriate tools, as well as that ability to gain perspective, not just of oneself, but of others, can be the key to improving your life. For example, counselors and psychiatrists are actively encouraged to go through the therapy process themselves, not just so they have a clear palate, but they have gone through the process of dissecting their own emotions, no matter how painful they are. And as a career choice, psychology, in all of its forms, provides that insight beyond the devastating emotions we can all go through, but also provides an approach to fixing the issues. This might be something that inspires you, not just in terms of improving your quality of life, but as a worthwhile career choice. There are numerous Christian psychology colleges, online courses, and resources available to provide you with that training.
Preparing For Battle
Numerous people have referred to mental health problems, depression, and anxiety, as a constant struggle or battle. When we’re looking at fixing our own mental health issues, the term “battle” may feel loaded with connotations. But much like an addict is an addict for life, even if you feel the Black Dog has gone for a walk, it could very well come back. Now, not to say that we should live in the shadow of fear, but it’s about using the times when we are out of the shadow to prepare our minds, just on the off chance it returns.
It is a long journey, but it’s one that we can all learn to navigate. Now, the mental health discussion is more prominent than ever, but while there are some still reticent to talk about it, if those of us who haven’t addressed our mental health issues, achieving perspective and learning the tools to engage in battle can mean we will understand how best to control it.

The personal blender has come a long way in the last few years. You have so many more option and breakout brands that help you create the foods & drink you’ve been dying to make in your kitchen. Living in Texas we love mason jars so whats better than a personal blender using mason jars!
Now you can blend, serve, and store your favorite blended recipes in the same glass container with the Tribest® Mason Jar Personal Blender® single-serving blender and grinder! The Mason Jar Personal Blender has all of the time saving and convenient features of the original Tribest Personal Blender®, but uses glass mason jars as the blending, serving, and storage containers. It is compatible with most* regular-mouth mason jars, making the possibilities for upgrading limitless. With the Tribest Mason jar Personal Blender, you blend, serve, and store your recipes in the same container, so there’s no waste, no mess, and no hassle.
Details:
Blend, serve and store your favorite recipes in regular mouth glass mason jars
Works with most regular-mouth glass canning jars
Great for making single servings of smoothies, protein drinks, and more
Powerful 200-watt motor crushes ice, blends frozen fruit, and grinds coffee in a snap
The PB-350 Mason Jar Personal Blender Includes:
Personal Blender Motor Base – (AC 120V, 60 Hz, 200W)
one S/S Blending Blade Assembly (4 Pronged)
one S/S Grinding Blade Assembly (2 Pronged)
Mason Jar Adapter
one 16 oz.* BPA-FREE Large Cup
one 8 oz.* BPA-FREE Small Cup
one Cup Lids
one 16 oz.* Glass Drinking Mug
one 12 oz.* Glass Mason Jar
one 8 oz.* Glass Mason Jar
one 4 oz.* Glass Mason Jar
three Mason Jar Lids
one Commuter Lid
This was such a perfect gift for my MIL who loves to cook and loves mason jars! Tribest makes some of the most rugged blenders on the market which are extremely durable and you also have access to replacement parts in case something happens…so it’s a great option for the cook who would use this almost every day like my MIL does. It doesn’t leave a lot of chunky bits, so if your looking for something to make salsa or just chop foods this isn’t really the product for that. It is however great for soups, smoothies and sauces. She’s been using it for a few months and it still runs like new, and is easy to clean which is a big deal when your cooking a big dinner, having one less thing to worry about scrubbing is a plus.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

This post may contain affiliate links which fund the My Sparkling Life blog.
Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
How long you’ve liked & what kind of Country Music will sort of set the mood for what kind of CMA Fest viewing party you will throw. So let’s throw in a little back story on me and my love for Country music. Growing up I was surrounded by many forms of music. My dad listened to rock, my grandma oldies (50s & 60s), my aunt classical and my mom classic country…you know singers like Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Linda Ronstadt & Dolly Parton. It wasn’t until middle school where I began to take on my own styles which were a bit shaped by my friends at the time. I still liked my rock & oldies…but I was also starting to listen to pop, heavy metal & country….”new country” with singers like Clint Black, Alabama, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Faith Hill & the Dixie Chicks…I could go on and on, but you get the point. The music was different. While it was still country, it wasn’t the same as the classic country my mom listened to when I was little.
By now just hearing the words CMA Fest Viewing Party, you already have an inkling of what you want. I wanted to mix the rustic metal and wood with glass and greenery.
I took wood tones & rustic metals then softened them up with a white table runner & candles plus various pieces of glass decor. Adding in some greenery & floral softens it even more.
For food, I choose to go with some classic food choices like Chicken & Waffles, Personal Apple Pies, & Chocolate Chip Cookies plus throw in some party favorites like Cheese & Herbal Crackers, Fruit & Popcorn.
One of my favorite things to do is come up with themed cocktails. I used some of World Market’s spirits & unconventional cocktail mixes to create 3 themed cocktails based on songs by the artists.
Ingredients:
2 oz Rose Wine
1 oz Cranberry Juice
1 oz Lime Juice
2 oz Cranberry Vodka
Instructions:
Place Ice into shaker
Add ingredients to mix
Pour into glass with ice
Garnish with rose & lime
Ingredients:
2 oz Coconut Rum
4 oz Pineapple Juice
1 oz Orange Marmalade with Champagne
Instructions:
Place Ice into shaker
Add ingredients to mix
Pour into glass with ice
Garnish with pineapple wedge & orange peel
Ingredients:
2 oz Honey Whiskey
1/2 oz Honey
1 oz Lavender Simple Syrup
2 oz Lemon Juice
Instructions:
Place Ice into shaker
Add ingredients to mix
Pour into glass with ice
Garnish with pineapple wedge & orange peel
Grab your country cocktails and get ready to celebrate with the CMA Music Festival Concert, August 16th at 8:00-11:00 p.m. Eastern on ABC! CMA Music Festival directly benefits music education programs across the country, as every artist at the Festival donates their time, performing for free. The result of that generosity is that Festival proceeds support in- and after-school programs touching the lives of 1 million students nationwide through the work of the CMA Foundation. For more information, visit CMAfest.com
The three-hour special hosted by Thomas Rhett & Kelsea Ballerini took 4 days to film and will have performances by top country music artists.
Performances by:
Sam Hunt, Dierks Bentley, Cole Swindell, Old Dominion, Kelsea Ballerini, Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Dustin Lynch, Thomas Rhett, Maren Morris, Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Dan +Shay, Brett Eldredge, Rascal Flatts, Brett Young, Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker, Karen Fairchild, Brothers Osborne, and Chris Young!
Before you catch the thrilling performances, get geared up for the country music celebration by checking out Cost Plus World Market’s experience at the 2017 CMA Music Festival in Nashville, June 8-11th. You can read all about their meet-and-greets with seven world-famous country superstars, including Scotty McCreery, Easton Corbin, Maddie & Tae, Thompson Square, RaeLynn, Eric Paslay and Tyler Rich.