Blueshelled

I almost hit her

Jillian — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:55:29 +0000

This week in Nashville has been amazing; The sun is shining and the wind is blowing lightly as it caresses cheekbones and little hands and hair. I was running late to Adrian’s game, but my phone was soundly in my purse so I wasn’t so concerned about the time that...
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Why Sunburn isn’t for sissies, aka wear your sunscreen

Jillian — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 03:55:24 +0000

I’m sunburned. I want to be really poignant but my lips hurt, the corners of my eyes crack when I SEE and I’m fairly certain I have hot dog face. I want to go to bed, but the idea of going up stairs and possibly moving the skin on my...
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Best iphone apps: Tempo Calendar app

Jillian — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 05:29:35 +0000

I’d like to start a new feature here at Blueshelled.com. The tech geek part of me loves her Mac computer and her Iphone 4 (I know, generations behind). This leads to hours upon hours spent browsing the internet for new apps that I might use. Many of those apps end...
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Convicted Rapist caught after 35 years

Jillian — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 03:35:44 +0000

On this Easter Sunday, the day people tend to celebrate redemption and mercy, a rapist, convicted 35 years ago, was finally recovered after 35 years on the run. Gary Irving was convicted of multiple counts of rape in Massachusetts and was found less than 200 miles from where he was...
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Shopping alternatives to trading sites

Jillian — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 06:10:11 +0000

Recently, I wrote a post about the company Little Black Bag. Since I wrote that post and held it in my drafts to consider what I wrote and wait to see what would occur with the site, there have been many changes on the site. I’ve decided to continue to...
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Happy 4th Birthday, Blueshelled.com

Jillian — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 22:40:49 +0000

Four years later and I’m still here. You’re here reading and I’m thankful for it. I’d thought I’d be telling you goodbye today, but my friends have convinced me to stay for a bit longer. So, have a piece of cyber cake and celebrate with me, yeah? Four years of...
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Digging for treasure

Jillian — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:58:34 +0000

Daylight Savings Time (DST) may be my least favorite weekend every year. As someone who is generally an optimist, to say I have a least favorite anything is rare; As someone who values her rest and her routines, to have both shaken up on the same day is jarring. Last...
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A dripping water faucet and the quiet of the night

Jillian — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 05:20:14 +0000

As a general rule, I’m a mild person. My friends and family would probably laugh at that statement because they would imply that they know better, but I’m an introvert at heart; I’m a person that loves to love people by finding their flaws and talking myself into making those...
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Gratitude is peace-creating

Jillian — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 02:09:58 +0000

Today, I signed up for Happify and I already enjoy the site. In my quest to increase my happiness, I have done a gratitude journal today. The three things I am grateful for are: I am grateful that my son is a great kid with a big heart who values...
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The perks of being the mom of a boy

Jillian — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:40:30 +0000

My title is a bit misleading, as there are many, many perks of being the mom of a boy. AJ gets absurdly and righteously angry when he hears that I cried when I found out I was having a boy and not for happy reasons. Look, in my defense, I...
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A good February

Jillian — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:15:46 +0000

It’s been a while since it’s been a good February. Generally, in Nashville, February is the one month of the year that wears people out, likely because it’s beautiful for most of the rest of the year. In February, in both weather and life, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected....
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Book Review: The Trial of Fallen Angels by James P. Kimmel Jr

Jillian — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 04:44:58 +0000

With the holiday season past us, it’s now a great time to bundle up in a bulky sweater, blanket or, let’s face it, a snuggie and settle down with a good book. Many people tend to feel the winter blues around this time and why not escape a little bit...
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12 years later

Jillian — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:54:27 +0000

12 years ago, I birthed a child…a very large child. This large child has turned into a large boy, who is on the cusp of becoming a teenager. He is unusual in all of the best ways for his age. He is loving, caring, kind and sweet. He worries for...
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Happy New Year 2013

Jillian — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 06:19:06 +0000

Happy New Year! Thanks to all of you for reading and to my sponsors for sponsoring me! May this year be your best ever!

Life isn’t fair part II

Jillian — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 17:48:55 +0000

Frequently, I struggle with the Life Isn’t Fair Principle. Today is one of those times. I have two friends. One of them is struggling with addictions. One of them is struggling with cancer. Both of them are under 35 and it is really, really hard for me to remember that...
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Book Review: Forgotten by Catherine McKenzie

Jillian — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 16:56:43 +0000

I quite enjoy Catherine McKenzie’s style of writing, so I was looking forward to reading Forgotten. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you were presumed dead and your life had moved on without you, and I honestly have, then this book might be a beautiful, fictional read for...
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Book Review: The Sisters MontClair by Cathy Holton

Jillian — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 12:40:59 +0000

The Sisters MontClair by Cathy Holton is a story of the secrets that a woman, motivated by love, sadness and her own failures, can hide from the ones she loves. Alice is a 94-year-old woman who has achieved many successes, but has few people living who truly give her love,...
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A suicide with no note

Jillian — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:05:06 +0000

It’s hard to get past A good-bye with no note A good-bye with no words A good-bye that’s not good, that’s not bye, that’s just gone. I know the research, that it’s common. It doesn’t make me feel less alone. Less sad. Less indignant. Less angry. Less hurt. It doesn’t...
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The pitfalls of group texting

Jillian — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 06:22:12 +0000

Recently, a friend of mine sent me a group message. These are really quite nice in that you can avoid clogging your phone and it opens up a way to chat with everyone about specific events that you would like to share. For example, “I got the promotion!” or “She...
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Book Review: What Happened to My Sister by Elizabeth Flock

Jillian — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 08:19:45 +0000

I tend to hate sequels. I tend to hate them a lot. At times, though, a book does not do justice to its character and a sequel is a must. This is the case with What Happened to My Sister by Elizabeth Flock, which is the sequel to Me and...
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Thank you

Jillian — Sun, 14 Oct 2012 10:49:33 +0000

I just wanted to throw out a quick thank you to my sponsor, skincarerx.com! Thanks for going into a 3rd year of support!

Implications of social welfare programs in an election year: An opinion

Jillian — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 21:02:39 +0000

The implication in politics is that one side wants to give away all of our money to free loaders (socialism) and the other side doesn’t want to help anyone in need (greed). This is the only time I’m going to address this on here because I am not a hater...
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An 11-year old’s thought process on birthdays

Jillian — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 02:47:07 +0000

I was away for the last few days for a conference in Atlanta. I really enjoyed the information I received there, but being away from home is always difficult for me. As an introvert and homebody, I need my home sensory information (my pillow, home smells, my family, the sound...
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Book Review: Understanding Combat Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by Walter F. McDermott

Jillian — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 02:34:40 +0000

I’ve spoken about my feelings on military mental health before in this blog, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I’m interested in Combat related PTSD. In Understanding Combat Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder by Walter F. McDermott I found an open portrayal of Combat Related Post Traumatic Stress...
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Ready for a fall

Jillian — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 07:04:46 +0000

One thing I love about Nashville is that we generally have very little winter season and lots of spring and summer. When it turns from summer to fall, though, it turns on a dime. It was fairly warm all of last week, then, after a brief rain, it’s time for...
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