Life After I "Dew"

Currently...

2017-09-05T07:18:00.000-04:00

Watching: Big Brother. Guys, are you watching this season? I haven't talked about it much {at all, actually} but I can't let the whole season go by without saying how DISAPPOINTING it is! As someone who has watched for the last 10-ish years, I wouldn't call myself a super-fan but I would say I'm a fan, this season has been such a let down. At the start of the summer I had high hopes for this season and cast. The temptation twist seemed cool and not annoying like the twists in the past. The cast seemed like legit players. WAS I EVER WRONG. I mean I love Paul but having him back this year was a bad move. Just hand him the check already, it's getting ridiculous. And don't even get me started on the bullying, racism, sexism, etc that's going on behind the what-you-see-on-TV scene.

Shopping for: All the baby things, obviously. So when James was born I had this vision of how I wanted to dress him. It was a very soft pallet of baby blues, grays and whites. I remember weeks before he was born SCOURING the mall for a plain white sleeper {which was practically nonexistent at the time}. This time I am thinking I want to go with bright basics. I stumbled across Primary.com {thank you sponsored Facebook posts} and I'm obsessed. They have 20% off PLUS free shipping and so TAKE ALL MY MONEY! I also ordered a bunch of primary colored baby hats {eBay} to mix and match {yay winter baby!} and gee whiz I'm thinking about this way too much.

Listening to: I honestly can't remember the last time I listened to music in the car. It's been months. I was late to the podcast game and now I'm hooked and can't stop. My current favorite podcast has to be the Brain Candy podcast by Real World/Road Rules queens Susie Meister and Sarah Rice. It's a little bit brainy and a little bit fun. I always find myself wanting to learn more {and highly entertained} after I listen. Love that they put out episodes twice a week because most pods only do once a week. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Working out: I've been rotating through a few of my favorite workouts on Beachbody On Demand. I really love the Active Maternity but there's only one per trimester so I get a little bored so I'll mix in a few of my other favorites from the yoga studio and 21 Day Fix. When I am pressed for time {and need to catch up on the DVR 😉} I'll hop on the treadmill for a nice walk. I actually like this phase that I'm in because rather than be a slave to a specific program routine I'm kind of just listening to my body and doing what feels good THAT day.

Cooking: Over the weekend we picked a BUNCH of apples, my favorite fall activity. I am determined to do more with the apples this year so last night I made SkinnyTaste slow cooker apple butter and holy moly you guys! Not only does it taste amazing but it made my house smell ah-mazing. Make it!

Craving: Believe it or not, this craving is not food related! I am craving a good, dark, thunderstorm-y day. Obviously on a day that I don't have to leave the house and can cuddle up with my babies and watch movies and eat junk food. We've had rainy days here and there but there's nothing quite like a good stormy day.

Practicing: Over the summer I got out of my waking up early, reading my daily devotional, practice yoga routine. I started to feel a little "off" last month and I knew this was why. There's just something about starting my day off on such a positive note that sets me up for the whole day. I started setting my alarm for 5:30 {M-F} and even if I don't get to the yoga part I make sure to have devotional time every day. It has made a world of difference in my life. I was waking up in the middle of the night, unable to go back to sleep, filled with worry and thoughts that would consume me. I decided one night that enough was enough and opened up my bible and handed it over to God. Don't you know since that day I have not once woken up with worry?

Reading: The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle. I started this on vacation last month and I couldn't put it down. I was reading every night and since we've been home, school has started, I started a little part-time gig, soccer practice, etc, etc, etc so my reading has slowed but this book is GOOD. Short synopsis- "Iris and Will have been married for seven years, and life is as close to perfect as it can be. But on the morning Will flies out for a business trip to Florida, Iris's happy world comes to an abrupt halt: another plane headed for Seattle has crashed into a field, killing everyone on board and, according to the airline, Will was one of the passengers. Grief stricken and confused, Iris is convinced it all must be a huge misunderstanding. Why did Will lie about where he was going? And what else has he lied about? As Iris sets off on a desperate quest to uncover what her husband was keeping from her, the answers she finds shock her to her very core." Pick it up, I promise you'll be hooked immediately.

Planning: Jimmy and I are headed to Seattle next month for about a week. This is the first time either of us will be going to Seattle and we have no idea what to expect. I've heard we MUST go to the Space Needle, my mom tells me there's some cool underground tour, and obviously Pikes Place. If you've been there or live there let me know what we absolutely have to do. This will be our first trip without kids in three years and just happens to be during our anniversary weekend so maybe we'll throw babymoon in there too 😜 .

What are you currently into?

On Being Pregnant The Third Time

2017-08-29T10:59:00.002-04:00

I wish I could say that the third pregnancy goes by in the blink of an eye but for me that hasn't been true. Not for me. Not thus far. I think because we found out so early {9DPO} and because I'm used to my babies being born in August, it feels like I should be reaching the end but I'm only to the halfway mark. I have a feeling the next 19 weeks will go fast with school starting, soccer and Girl Scout schedules, doctors appointments and all the fall activities but, for now, I feel like we're just barely trucking along.

I've started feeling baby boy recently and that has made things very exciting. I actually felt my very first flutter around week 13 and I couldn't believe it was happening so quickly. Now to wait until the kids and Jimmy can feel it, that will be truly magical. My symptoms have mostly subsided with the exception of the occasional, sometimes multiple times a week, headache. I feel my old self showing up more often which has been very welcome. Overall it's been a great pregnancy so far.

I do struggle though. While I don't have any complications {thank GOD} thus far, I do have issues. Being pregnant the third time comes with it's own set of challenges like showing much earlier, being more tired because I already have two kids to take care of, and the ever changing body. I'm OK with the first two but the last one I'm struggling with more than I thought I would.

When I first found out I was pregnant I set goals for myself. I only wanted to gain ___ lbs, I wanted to workout the entire pregnancy {with Kendall and James I quit "working out" around 28 weeks}, and I wanted to be in better shape {physically and mentally} post-partum than I was the first two times. Well I have failed at one of those already and that is a hard pill to swallow. While I do think I'm on a better track this time around I'm already fearful of what I'm left with after the baby is born.

I see other moms who are due around the same time as me and their bodies don't look like mine. Their arms are still toned, they look like they just have a basketball under their shirts, they can still fit into their regular jeans even if they have to do the rubber-band trick. None of that is true for me- I've been in maternity pants since I peed on the stick {kidding...kind of...}, my arms and legs are already gross looking, I hate wearing shorts and tank tops, and everything just looks sloppy. I hate to sound like a complainer but after being in the best shape of MY life, it's hard to see my body changing in the opposite way that I'm used to.

I do know that this will be our last pregnancy {insert all the "you said that before" comments here}. I want to enjoy every ounce of it and now that we know he is a boy, I'm feeling him more, and we saw his sweet face on a 3D ultrasound it's putting everything into perspective. As each day passes I realize that my body is going to do what it wants/needs to to bring this baby boy into the world. Of course the decisions I make will also be contributing factors but I have numerous friends who have done things drastically differently between pregnancies only to end up with the same result also. I'm trying hard to keep it all in perspective.

I know how blessed we are to be able to get pregnant not once, not twice but now three times. I am beyond in love with this little baby. I never thought I'd have three kids and it excites me and terrifies me all at once. But I know we are lucky and I never take that for granted. I also know that I have the rest of my life to be in shape and care about my body but I don't have the rest of my life to carry children. Thinking about it in that way really puts things into perspective for me.

So I vow, from this day forward, to embrace every part of the rest of my pregnancy- the good, the bad and the ugly. I will look at this body with love and treat it with respect. I promise to soak up every remaining day knowing that this is the last time I will wear the ever-so-comfy maternity pants. I will find joy in dressing my bump. I will continue with my exercise program unless or until I physically can't. I will fuel my body with foods that nourish my baby. I will love myself through the next 19ish weeks and thereafter too.

Here's to a healthy, happy pregnancy {and baby!}.

New Baby Dew Is A...

2017-08-28T07:26:00.001-04:00

A week ago today we woke up excited, happy, not at all nervous, and ready to find out what gender the baby growing in my belly would be. We were ALL thinking it was a girl and all of my symptoms said so. This was the first time we waited until the 20 week anatomy scan to find out. With Kendall and James we opted for the elective ultrasound to confirm gender at 14 weeks but this time we debated waiting till birth to be surprised but then we quickly realized that we are far too OCD and impatient for that.

Normally I never have a wait at my doctors office, I can be in and out in less than 30 minutes most visits. This time, of course, we had a 40 minute wait before being called back to the ultrasound room. Longest 40 minutes of my life, I swear. I was so anxious to see our new little family member. I knew he/she would look more baby-like this time so the kids would finally be able to {somewhat} grasp what was happening. My OB does 3D ultrasounds this time so I was very excited to get good look and see if this babe looked like Kendall and James {who are starting to look more and more like twins these days}.

When the tech said, "a little brother" we all had our jaws on the floor. Kendall cried a little, she was certain it was a girl*. I said, "NO WAY!?" and Jimmy was smiling from ear to ear. IT'S A BOY!

All of my symptoms were wrong. The Chinese calendar {which was correct for Kendall and James} was wrong. My own intuition was WRONG! We are indeed welcoming a little BOY into our family this New Year and we couldn't be happier.

He looks perfect {doctors words} and everything is measuring right on track and very average {music to my ears}. He had his little hand covering his face the entire time so we didn't get a very good look at him but enough to tell he has sweet kissable lips and the same little button nose as Kendall and James. He still doesn't have a name. With Kendall we knew her name before we were even pregnant, heck before we were even married. With James we knew as soon as we found out he was a boy that we were going to keep with family tradition. This baby we are struggling to agree. Jimmy has a name he's set on but I don't feel 100% on it. Kendall thinks we should call him Darren Dew {which makes me think of the My Little Pony, Daring Do}. James is really rooting for Red Power Ranger Jason Dew, which is a strong contender 😉. I'm certain we'll have his name decided before we walk into the hospital and, honestly, naming babies is on my short list of favorite things.

*As soon as we stopped to buy the pink and blue balloons Kendall perked right up and now she is THRILLED to have another little brother. She even wants to share her room with him...stay tuned.

New Baby Dew

2017-06-23T05:39:00.000-04:00

Following up with my last post, the dreaded two week wait didn't end up being positive that month {conceiving in March}. Unfortunately my lady visitor showed up which was okay because we had literally just started trying that month. Seeing that negative test, however, made us realize how badly we did want to add another baby to our family.

In April we started trying, for real. With the help of the Ovia app {not sponsored} we were
successful and on May 1st I got the faintest positive pregnancy test. I couldn't believe my eyes. I was in shock, didn't believe it so naturally I took another test and then another and another. I think I ended up taking 5-7 tests that week, just to be sure ;-).

Telling our friends and family was super fun and we kind of let the news happen organically. We bought the kids 'Big Sis' and 'Big Bro' tees and just had them wear them whenever we went to a gathering. Some picked up on it right away, others it took a second. I really wish I could have taken a video of all the reactions because some were truly shocked while others were more expecting of the news. I loved telling people this way because the big kids got to be the stars and took some of the attention off me {fun fact: I get super awkward when I am the center of attention}. Because of all the excitement they got when they wore those shirts, James ONLY wanted to wear his 'Big Bro' shirt for about a month straight.

So fast forward to today. I am 11 weeks and almost out of the exhausting first trimester. I am feeling pretty good/normal now but that hasn't been the case thus far. Almost immediately after I peed on that stick I had a bump. I started getting really bad headaches every day. I was exhausted, more so than either time before. Thankfully Kendall was still in school at that time and James still napped regularly so I was able to lay down and/or nap when I needed to. Thankfully I've never experienced morning sickness but some days my headaches were so bad it did make me nauseous.

I've maintained my workouts thus far. My normal routine is to get up and do yoga in the morning before I start my day. Now that schools out for summer, and my kids seem to fight 24/7, I need something else {mid day} to keep me sane so I've been rotating through some of my old favorites on Beachbody On Demand. There's also an Active Maternity series with Autumn Calabrese {creator of 21 Day Fix} that I am really enjoying. Working out throughout a pregnancy is not something I've done in the past and I'm really happy with how much I've kept up with my routine so far. I will say it's a whole new ballgame, working out in the first trimester. I am out of breath so quickly, things are already feeling more difficult than they were just a few weeks ago, and I'm already following the modifier for my more challenging workouts. I know once I hit the second trimester things will even out a bit but right now it's tough.

The kids and Jimmy are SO EXCITED. The day or so after I told Jimmy the news I remember texting with him and I could feel the happiness radiating through his messages. I think he's more excited this time than the previous two. Kendall immediately wanted to start talking about baby names and bedroom arrangements. The next day she went to school and told 9 friends and her teacher. Every Thursday she gets so excited to read the weekly update and see what the size of the baby is. It's so fun having a big kid to share it with this time around. James, on the other hand, doesn't quite know what's going on. He will tell you he's going to be a big bro {it's bro, not brother, he will correct you} and he says he wants it to be a boy. When we talk about a baby in my belly he looks super confused and kind of goes on with his day.

So this baby will be our tie-breaker baby and I'm not sure if we'll find out the gender. At first I didn't want to find out. I thought we have one of each and wouldn't it be fun to wait until the end? Jimmy does not agree that that would be fun, he thinks that is super stressful. So I have a feeling we'll end up finding out and the more real this pregnancy has become the more I don't think I can wait to find out either. The general consensus is "it's a girl". I feel it, everyone who's given their input has said it and the Chinese gender chart says girl {it was right for my two other kids, ha!}. So we'll see!

I've had two ultrasounds so far. The first one was just a quick, let's ease your mind, ultrasound. I was about 8 weeks and the baby just looked like a jellybean in there. I had another one done this week at 10.5 weeks and it was amazing to see the difference in just two-ish weeks. There were arms and legs and little eye sockets. My doctors office now does 3D ultrasounds which was amazing to see this early on. We took the kids and Kendall was mesmerized by the whole thing, it was really fun to share that with them. I get another one in two weeks again {yay!} and then I think that's it until the big 20 week anatomy scan.

My due date is January 11 2018. It still seems so weird to say '2018' because that's NEXT YEAR. It also feels so weird to have a winter baby seeing as my other two are August babies. I'm actually really excited about a winter baby! It will be after the hustle and bustle of the holidays so we will have nothing on the schedule until spring time so we can just hunker down and snuggle in. I'll have another c-section so the baby's birth day will probably be a few days sooner than that due date but so far he/she is measuring right on track with that date {within 2 days}.

I don't know how often I'll update on this pregnancy {my pregnancy updates with James were sporadic at best} but I want to keep some documentation for selfish reasons. I want to take a second to thank everyone who has already congratulated us and wished us nothing but happiness so far. Sharing the news was so exciting and it warms my heart to see how much love we have received. Thank you, thank you, thank you and I hope you'll follow along on our adventure to a family of five!

Maybe Baby?

2017-06-22T06:19:00.000-04:00

This post was written April 26 2016.

To be honest, I don't want to hear the "but you said you were one and done" comments. I know what I said before I was a mom and I apologize. Yes, I planned on only having one baby and then 2 years later my mind changed. Then again, after James was born, I swore he was our last. I even wrote a letter to myself reminding myself how awful and miserable I am when I'm pregnant to ensure it would never happen again. But guess what? You never know how your heart is going to change. You grow up. You learn a lot through motherhood and, dammit, sometimes you change your mind.

With that being said, I don't think our family is done growing.

There, I said it.

For the past few months it's been heavy on my heart. I go back and forth over the idea, Jimmy too. Some days we think the idea of a 3rd Dew drop sounds blissful while other days we think we've got it pretty good with the two we've got. It is something, however, that is always on our mind and that we talk about regularly.

We've officially started trying last week, on a whim. It was one of those "stop over-thinking it" and just see what happens type of things so now we wait. Honestly I feel like I could be pregnant as I type this but, alas, we have the dreaded Two Week Wait. I literally cannot believe I am even typing these words.

The thought of a third baby scares the shit out of me, truth be told. Some days I don't feel like I'm a good enough mom to the two we already have so why on earth would we add another to the mix? We will officially be outnumbered {assuming we do have another}. Two kids will end up sharing a bedroom. We have no more baby gear except a handful of toys and an expired infant car seat. What are we thinking?

I've been feeling like our family isn't complete for quite a few months, actually. I would venture to say I've had "baby fever" for a year or more at this point but I've let fear get the best of me. Our friends recently had their 4th and whenever we are together with them {which is a lot} Jimmy holds the baby and looks at me with puppy dog eyes, "can we have another". If that doesn't give a girl The Fever, I don't know what will. The same is true for him. He has wavered just as much as I have but recently he's really clung to the idea of another family member.

Jimmy comes from a big family, he's one of four boys, whereas I am an only child with a relatively small extended family. I feel as though I am well adjusted, not a brat, and not spoiled so I think I turned out OK despite not having siblings. As I grow older, however, I have really learned the value of a big family. I watch shows like Parenthood and This Is Us and see these siblings who lean on each other and have these incredible, albeit challenging, relationships. I watch my husband have the same sort of connections with his brothers. I see all of my extended in-law family and how fun {and funny} they are and I love spending the holidays with them. I see the bond my own kids have and all of this makes my heart swell. I am ready for one more.

The first two pregnancies happened pretty fast once we started trying and, while I was uncomfortable and crabby towards the end, I had pretty easy pregnancies as well. I am approaching 35 {aka advanced maternal age} so that does leave me a little worried that this time won't happen as quickly. I know that this is already mapped out for us and it's truly in God's hands so I rest knowing that whatever happens is what is meant to be. I would be honored to love on another Dew baby, if we are so fortunate. I think my big kids would love welcoming a little brother or sister and I know my husband would be the most excited.

Here's to the next chapter...

10 Things I Love About James

2017-06-21T09:25:00.001-04:00

The other day I talked about my 10 things I love about Kendall and so it's only fair that I share the things I love about my second born today.

Even though I have raised them exactly the same and they are siblings, my kids couldn't be more opposite. Where she is a total rule-follower, he is pushing the limits. When she is more shy, he is more outgoing. About the only thing my kids have in common is their green eyes. So I'm excited to share the things I love about James today.

He is 3.5 {will be 4 in August} currently. He will be entering his first year of preschool this fall and I couldn't be more excited; trust me when I say, he's ready. He is the definition of a boy. He's loud, tough, messy, silly, dangerous and full of energy. He's also the sweetest boy and my snuggler. He's starting to lose his babyness but he still has his big pillow cheeks that I kiss way too much.

The things I love about that boy are as follows:

He is always randomly coming up to me and giving me love. He will kiss me out of nowhere and hug my neck so tight I can't breathe. He's the one that will come snuggle on the couch and lay with me in bed while he's waking up in the morning. Such a sweet little guy.
He's a little comedian. I could write a book of the funny things this kid says and I have no idea where he gets it from. He always makes us laugh and say, "how does he come up with these things?!".
Right now he talks with a little lisp and I know we will want to correct it as he gets older but right now I think it's so cute!
I love his imagination. Kendall's never been a big imaginative play kind of kid so this is new to me. James will take his little Lego guys and build them houses and pretend they are ninjas or Power Rangers. I love watching him be creative.
James has this little, super blonde patch on the back of his head. His hair is starting to turn a little auburn as he gets older but there is one spot in the back that stays SUPER blonde. I don't know if it's a birthmark or what but I hope it never goes away.
He has no problem making friends. He will walk up and start playing with kids twice his age and most of the time they are totally OK with it. He can hang with them and while it makes me extremely nervous I also love that he has that confidence.
I love his facial expressions. When he's excited about something he bites his bottom lip and his eyes get really big. He has a face for every emotion and will do them all on demand, anytime you ask.
He LOVES his sissy. He wants her to be included in all the things he does. When school was still in session, multiple times a week he'd ask to go pick her up early because he missed her. He still fights with her like crazy but at the end of the day it's nothing but love between those two.
There's nothing he's afraid of. He will climb the highest point at the playground, go down the biggest slides, jump from anything {including a houseboat last summer...}. It scares me half to death but I gotta love that no fear attitude.
I love that he still seems like my baby. He may be almost four but he is still squishy and has those sweet baby cheeks. He's starting to look more like a boy every day but he still has lots of babyness left in him. I'll soak it up as long as I can.

10 Things I Love About Kendall

2017-05-01T13:47:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I've written any updates on my kiddos. It's been a while since I've written much of anything but we are in such an awesome phase of life right now. Both kids are more independent as each day passes. They've finally gotten to the ages where they will actually play together {something I never thought would happen}. They love each other something fierce and I love watching their relationship. With that being said I want to share some things I love about each one of them at this age {mainly so I never forget}.

Today we're starting with Kendall. She is almost 7 {August} and is finishing up 1st grade. She plays soccer in the fall and does Girl Scouts as her extracurricular activities. She loves all animals and wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. She's the perfect combination of a girly girl and a tomboy. She would prefer playing outside to playing dress-up. She loves math and reading {chapter books especially}. Her favorite color is green, favorite movie is Moana or the new Beauty and the Beast, favorite song is How Far It Goes {from Moana- any version}, favorite food is pizza and if you ask her who her best friend is she'll name of no less than ten people. She's shaping up to be such a fun, cool, smart little girl and I'm going to try to narrow it down to just 10 reasons why I love her.

1. Her personality is the type that everyone wants to be around. Her teachers love her and since she was in preschool they have raved about how well-behaved she is. When I drop her off at school I see kids running up and hugging her. Even though she's a bit shy and reserved she's always getting invited to play/be included. She's just got that infectious positivity that you are drawn to.

2. She always gives 110%. There have been many times where she's given a task to do and even though it's completed she keeps going. Her teacher told me a story of them doing a writing assignment and Kendall had done what was required of her and even when all of the other kids were done she kept writing, putting in her finishing touches. She is always striving to be better and give it her all {she gets it from her daddy}.

3. She has a kind heart. She's always thinking about others. Like last week we were at a Girl Scouts meeting and she made James one of their treats to bring home for him. She knew he'd like it and didn't want him feeling left out. She does that kind of stuff all the time and it makes me feel like I'm doing something right with her.

4. She's a good artist and loves to create. I prayed that our kids would get Jimmy's artistic abilities and it looks like she has. She loves to color, draw, write, paint, you name it. Crafting is her love language and its so fun to watch her imagination when she's making something. I could dedicate an
entire room in our house just to display her artwork.

5. Girlfriend has amazing hair! I have been jealous of her perfect beachy waves for years now. I constantly tell her that people pay good money to have a head of hair like hers. She loves it too and hates to get even a trim and, for the most part, likes to wear it down.

6. I love and admire how brave she is. She isn't afraid of the things most kids are. She went zip-lining when she was five with no hesitation. She doesn't get grossed out by bugs. She isn't afraid to play in the dirt/mud/sand and get dirty. She is pretty much always up for anything and I hope she always stays that way.

7. I could listen to her tell stories all day. She is so animated and her facial expressions are simply the best. When she tells a story, especially a more exciting one, she tells it with every ounce of her being.

8. She is such a good listener, almost too much of a good listener at times ;-). When I tell her she can/can't do something until ______ she does just that. She can remember conversations we had weeks, even months, ago because she's truly paying attention and listening.

9. I love her green eyes. She got them from my mom and my grandma and I love that she managed to get that over my brown or Jimmy's blue eyes. Green is her favorite color so she absolutely loves having green eyes. They totally change depending on the day or what she's wearing but there's no doubt that they're staying green.

10. I love watching her think. She will sometimes bite her bottom lip and other times she will have her eyes completely rolled back in her head. Watching her brain work is one of my favorite things to observe.

As most moms could, I could go on for days about the reasons I love her but I'll narrow it down to these ten. She caught a glimpse of me writing this and I saw her smile as she read the words on the screen. I hope that one day when she's older she can come back to this and reread it and know just how much I love her.

Wonderfully Ordinary

2017-04-21T12:54:00.003-04:00

I'm not always a fun mom. In fact I'm not more than I am. I do what's easy vs what's best. I don't cuddle or play with my kids enough. I have very little patience and get annoyed easily. I crave "me time" and get bent out of shape if that gets disrupted because someone can't sleep past 6 am. I'm not saying this to be self deprecating or for head pats, these are true flaws of mine that have me doing some major reflecting these days.

Lately I'm feeling a pull into a more simplistic lifestyle. I even said to Jimmy, "I just want to be a 'normal' mom". I don't want to be the mom who's so interested in everyone else's lives she can't realize her own is pretty damn good. I want to look my kids in the eyes when they share stories with me. I want to stop worrying about the dishes in the sink and sit down and read a book with my family. I don't want to feel this need to constantly be involved with something (social media, business, blogging, extracurriculars, etc). I want to quit feeling like I constantly have to prove myself (to who?). I want to be ordinary.

I feel like that word, ordinary, comes with a negative connotation. What's wrong with ordinary?

I've never been a competitive person. I've never had the desire to be/do more. I've always been fine with somewhere in the middle. I don't have the drive most do and that's OK. It's just my DNA. While I believe we are put on this earth to make a difference I don't think that it has to come from a place of more. What's the saying, sometimes less is more? For me that couldn't be truer {that's a word, right?}.

I decided I need to pull back on aspects of my life that don't serve me in order to make time for what does. I want to get back to basics. Things that I put more effort into than I get out of it have to go. My fitness coach business has nearly drained me of my motivation so I'm pulling back on that. I've been dreading my workouts lately so I went back to my love, yoga, and have felt so much more empowered since. I've been waking up at 5 am to ensure a good hour, hour and a half, to myself to practice and I can't tell you how much that has changed my life. My kids wake up to a mom who is fulfilled and pleasant to greet them every morning. My kids have been more plugged into their tablets than their imaginations so those are gone. For months Jimmy and I spent our alone time, after the kids are in bed, binge watching ________ but we've traded that for a glass of wine/whiskey on the deck actually having conversations. Hell even our diets have changed to a more basic way of eating so much so that I'm thinking of starting my first garden.

I feel a little hippie dippy in a way but maybe wonderfully ordinary is a more appropriate term because I am far from a flower child. I also know that this is a process and I'm not going to magically change overnight. I can say, however, I've already seen a positive shift in our every day life. This morning, for example, I was making breakfast, Kendall was reading a book, James was playing with his Power Rangers {always} and I had soft music on in the background-the sun was casting a yellow glow over he kitchen, it was beautiful. I even sent Jimmy a text, "this morning has been so peaceful".

Kids pick up and respond to the vibe we give them so if we are stressed out, mad, yelling, crazy people {guilty as charged} they become stressed out, mad, yelling, crazy people. Since I've been more calm with them the tantrums have been few and far between. They notice that I'm not reacting in a hyper manner and that has made them realize that they don't need to do that in order to get my attention. They have been more loving towards each other and the fighting has considerably decreased in frequency because I have been more compassionate towards them. It's a total win/win situation.

I know it's the end of April but in a way it seems like the first of the year for me. It's not easy to self reflect, especially when you don't like the reflection, but that's where growth comes from. I feel like I have been renewed and my true New Years Resolution has finally been set in place. An ordinary lifestyle is the life for me, wonderfully ordinary.

Life As A Hunters Wife 2016/17 Edition

2017-01-20T07:07:00.001-05:00

Every year my Life As A Hunters Wife posts get more attention than anything else I write all year. Months after writing them I get comments from fellow hunters wives/girlfriends sharing their stories of being hunting widow. Some offer encouragement to others but most talk of the awful loneliness they feel from their significant other during hunting season.

I read each comment that comes through and some downright break my heart. Stories of husbands not attending family functions, missing out on their child's milestones, choosing hunting over a date night, and the list goes on. I think people get confused about my posts, and maybe that's my fault, but this is NOT the type of hunter my husband is.

Hunting is important to Jimmy the same as working out is important to me. He loves it, he's good at it, he's passionate about it, and it brings him great joy. However, he would NEVER miss out on family time to go hunting. Not only would he never do it because he values family and friends above all else but I would never tolerate such selfishness.

I've learned a lot over the years of being a hunters wife. I used to get angry and bitter and jealous. I used to whine or roll my eyes anytime that he left the house before sunrise on a Saturday. I remember crying on the couch one day when Jimmy got home from hunting and he asked me what was wrong and I couldn't even tell him. I didn't know why I was crying but after a good heart-to-heart about it I realized it was jealousy. I didn't have something of my own and I was jealous that Jimmy did. He encouraged me to find something that I could pour myself into and be passionate about.

Now when he leaves to go hunting I kiss him and wish him good luck. I pray for him to see a monster buck when he goes out. The kids and I usually take that time to go visit my parents or have a doughnut breakfast date. He's usually home by lunch time so then we do something together as a family.

I get lots of comments from friends and family members along the lines of, "I don't know how you do it! I wouldn't put up with that." It's really not a big deal and it's no different than husbands who golf every weekend over the summer or meet their buddies for a beer every Thursday after work. It's not that big of a deal, honestly. I think it sends a great message to the kids about patience and determination. I could never hunt because I would sit out in the cold, on a tiny tree stand seat for one hour and if I didn't see anything I'd be done. Nope, not for me.

Since I know a lot of "hunting widows" will stumble across this post at some point I want to offer you hope during hunting season. Take this time to find something YOU really love. Maybe it's a Soul Cycle class every Saturday morning or you learn a new hobby like crochet or meet a girlfriend for a coffee date. If you have kids, make this time special where they get to do something with just you that they can look forward to. Jimmy goes to South Dakota with his dad and brothers every year and that week I always let Kendall sleep in bed with me, something she really looks forward to. And, above all else, communicate with your man! Does he know how you feel? Have you voiced your disapproval of him missing out on things that are important to you?

Hunting season doesn't have to be dreaded. It can be a time for real growth both individually and as a couple. Special memories can be made during this season. If nothing else it can make you really appreciate the time you do spend together. What's the saying? Distance makes the heart grow fonder? And, if nothing else, be thankful that hunting season is only a couple months long 😉.

My New Years Resolution

2017-01-09T06:31:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

Seeing as we are a little over a week into the new year I thought maybe I should start thinking about my resolution/word of the year. Most of you are probably thinking I should have come up with one by now, it's not like I didn't know this time of year was coming. It's true, New Years was no surprise, I should have been prepared.

In my defense, I want this year to be GOOD. I mean real good, ya feel? I didn't want some arbitrary word that made me feel good in the moment but fizzled out come March {as most resolutions do}. I also didn't want something generic like, "reduce debt" or "be a better mom" either. I need more concrete things- a challenge, if you will. I do well with challenges, I've realized.

So this year I'm going to do a little less and a little more because there is more than one area I can improve on and I realize that. I don't think that resolutions, or any goals, need to be narrowed down to one aspect of life, right?

In 2017 I will do/have/be/say/etc LESS

phone time
selfishness
complaining
"no"
comparing
critical {of myself and others}
spending
distractions
clutter
yelling
mindless/reality TV
empty promises

And I will do/have/be/say/etc MORE

reading
considerate
intentional
water
personal development
praying
saving
writing
vacations
"yes"
self love
connecting
listening
inspiring

I think that about covers it 😉. It looks like 2017 is going to be a good year full of simplifying, awareness, and love. I think the overall theme, and if I had to pick a specific word for this year, is growth. I want to come out of 2017 a completely different person than when I started it.

It all starts today.

Family Time

2017-01-07T05:18:00.000-05:00

I think the thing I love {and already miss} most about the time between Thanksgiving and New Years is all the time spent with family. Not just my family but my in-laws and my friends {they're family too}. I am Kendall's Girl Scout troop {co} leader now and this week I went around the table and asked the girls what their favorite thing they did over winter break was and I couldn't believe how many of them said, "spending time with my family". Warmed my heart.

Some people might argue that all the family time is the thing that stresses them out the most during the holidays but I love it, can't get enough of it. In fact, my dad and cousin have birthdays in the mix and I love that that means we have two more opportunities to get together during this time.

Whether we are sitting around my aunts kitchen island, spoiling our dinner with appetizers, or having a big family movie night at my in-laws home theater we always have a great time, a lot of laughs and leave feeling full.

c/o Shari's Berries

Every year we try to come up with one new thing to do in addition to all the fun traditions we carry out. One thing Jimmy and I started doing with our own little family is to introduce a new Christmas movie each year. I thought we'd run out of movies by year two, it seems like we've seen them all, but there are TONS of Christmas movies, tons. We love movie nights. We pop popcorn, get out a bunch of candy {pictured}, Jimmy always builds the kids a fort and it's one of our favorite pastimes.

Last year we watched It's a Wonderful Life for the first time and, while I was a little bit embarrassed that I was 32-years-old when I first saw this classic I was glad I waited till I was an adult because WOW! What a message. That is now on rotation during the holidays for us because I don't think I'll ever get tired of that story. This year we introduced Kendall {James had no interest} to The Santa Clause, one of Jimmy and my favorites! I wasn't sure how she'd take it, since she's still not really into movies that aren't animated yet, but she LOVED it and asked to watch it again the next night.

I'm already thinking of what movie we'll watch for next year, any suggestions?

10 Stocking Stuffers For Her

2016-12-22T09:38:00.000-05:00

This post is part of a compensated campaign with Mom It Forward Blogger Network and Organic Doctor but all my opinions are my own.

Anyone else a super last minute shopper this year?

Normally I like to have everything done by the week of Christmas but this year I'm finding myself out in the hustle and bustle just a few days before Christmas. Honestly, it's not that bad. I thought it was going to be crazy busy, people were going to be rude and grumpy and I was going to come home completely drained of Christmas cheer. I've been pleasantly surprised at the general mood this year, everyone seems a little more laid back and friendly {minus the young men who refused to open or hold open a door for me but that's another story for another day}.

Today I wanted to share with you some of my favorite things to shop for, STOCKING STUFFERS! I love stocking stuffers because we do them last so just when you think the presents are over...nope, STOCKING STUFFERS! As a kid, my mom always wrapped stocking stuffers and sometimes my dad would surprise me and I'd have real {small} presents in there so and I loved knowing that I wasn't quite done opening gifts.

When Organic Doctor asked if I'd be willing to share some stocking stuffer ideas, including their naturally inspired products, I immediately said, "YES!" I love beauty and skincare products just as much as the next girl and I would love to receive all or any of these things in my stocking this year.

1. Aveda Volumizing Tonic. I have tried lots of volumizers over the year thanks to flat,fine hair and I have loved none until I started using this. I love that it smells amazing {duh, all Aveda products do} and it doesn't leave my hair feeling weighed down or like there's build up at my roots.

2. Organic Doctor {available at your local CVS}.

Organic Rose Otto Facial Serum. This is a light serum designed to renew elasticity, restore skin integrity and leave your skin feeling soft and toned.
Organic Snail Gel. This moisturizing, anti-aging gel will soothe and hydrate skin in these harsh winter months.
Organic Olive Oil Skin Lotion. Help moisture dry, flaking winter skin with this all-over body lotion that will leave skin feeling softer and smoother all day long.

3. Philosophy Amazing Grace. If you ever wondered what I smell like {I know you do} this is it. I've been wearing this, exclusively, since college {or maybe before}. I'm obsessed and it's the only perfume I've ever finished a bottle of.

4. NARS blush {orgasm}. I'm sure you've all heard of {and probably use} this universal blush. It's my go-to and, even though I feel naughty about the color, it really is perfection.

5. Makeup Brushes. After scouring the Internet and reading reviews till I went cross-eyed, I finally added these to my wishlist this year.

6. COVERGIRL Outlast. I've never tried Lip Sense {too expensive for my taste} but this stuff is the same concept. I have two colors and both have lasted me 8+ hours and less than $10!

7. Not Your Mothers Dry Shampoo. I've tried more expensive brands like Living Proof and I just keep coming back to this one. It smells good, won't break the bank and {coming from a girl with EXTREMELY oily hair} works amazing.

8. Urban Decay Naked Basics. Call me crazy but the Naked palettes give me anxiety, too many options. I have this one and it's perfect and you can still create a lot of pretty looks with fewer options.

9. Essie nail color in Chinchilly. This color is not new and I don't do my nails often but this is my go-to fall/winter color. I still love it all these years later.

10. Headbands and hair ties. I'm partial to Brady Bands and wear nothing else. Nonslip headbands for the fitness lover or maybe something a little dressier for the girly girl in your life.

There you have it! Now all you last-minute-shoppers tell me what you're shopping for!

Holiday Traditions

2016-12-13T11:50:00.006-05:00

My all-time favorite holiday tradition is my family's annual cookie exchange. We've been doing it as long as I can remember and even before that. What started out as a way for my mom, aunt and grandma to gift their love of baking to friends and family has turned into a more simple family get-together. We no longer bake millions of cookies in every variety you can imagine. There's no more burnt hands from making hard candies. Gone are our standard assortment of cookies and now everyone kind of makes what they want. One thing that has remained the same throughout all these years are the cutout sugar cookies.

As much as everyone loves to complain about icing the cookies, it really is our most fun time together. We get silly with our decorating, we eat more than we ice, we laugh, we listen to Christmas music and it's just good old fashion family fun. Now that I have kids of my own I am so happy to be passing this tradition onto them.

This year I wanted to make a little something different than the standard "Christmas cookie" so when the folks at Honey Bunches of Oats® asked me to come up with a holiday treat I was up for the challenge and quickly ran to Kroger for my ingredients. I decided on a peanut butter, chocolate treat bar that is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars {featuring Honey Bunches of Oats® }

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups peanut butter
2/3 cup maple syrup
2/3 cup sugar
3 cups Honey Bunches of Oats® Cereal {I used Honey Roasted}
2 milk chocolate bars

Instructions

Microwave the peanut butter, syrup and sugar in a microwave safe bowl for 3 minutes. Stir every 30 seconds to one minute to avoid burning make sure it's melted all the way through.
In a large bowl mix the cereal and your melted ingredients to coat
Pour the mixture into a 9x9 baking dish and pack firmly
Melt the chocolate bars
Pour and spread the melted chocolate evenly over the cereal
Let it firm up and once bars have set cut into squares and ENJOY!

Now, for a limited time, purchase participating Post Cereal Brands and enter the Sing Sweepstakes for a chance to win the $100,000 grand prize plus the chance to instantly win lots of prizes including movie tickets, speakers and more. Do you plan to see Sing with your family this holiday season? I know me and my kids CANNOT wait! Who knows, maybe we'll even sneak some of these treats in with us 😉.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Promotion starts 11/1/16 at 12:00 PM (noon) ET and ends 3/31/2017 at 11:59:59 PM ET. Open only to legal residents of the 50 US/DC, 18 years of age or older. See Official Rules for instructions on how to enter, how to obtain codes without purchase, prize details, restrictions, odds of winning, etc. Void where prohibited by law. Sponsor: Post Consumer Brands, LLC.

Cyber Monday

2016-11-28T07:50:00.000-05:00

Cyber Monday will always trump Black Friday in my book. Why would I want to go battle the crazies with a turkey hangover when I can sit on my couch Monday morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in my pjs?! I've never done the Black Friday thing and I doubt I ever will.

I love getting a good deal, especially this time of year, don't you? Of course you do! We are buying so much stuff so any penny saved is a win in my book. Today I want to share some of my favorite Cyber Monday deals with you and get you the most bang for your buck.

First things first, I hope you already do this but if you don't GO SIGN UP FOR EBATES {all CAPS necessary}. You earn crazy cash back on all of your purchases at pretty much every store on the planet. It is FREE and the first time you sign up you automatically get a $10 cash bonus. Plus today most stores are doing double cash back and you'll find lots of coupon codes here too. To date I've made almost $1500 by using Ebates and now I'm just waiting for my commercial deal {I kid, I kid}.

OK now that we've got the most important deal out of the way here are some things I think you might love.

Amazon

Amazon seems to be all about the electronics this year. From the Echo {save $40}, to Fire tablets {$33.33}, to the Kindle Paperwhite {only $100}, and Fire TV just $75. If you have a gadget lover on your list this year you definitely want to check Amazon today.

Brady Bands

These are THE ONLY headbands I wear when I workout. They stay in place like no other. I have fallen asleep in them and woken up with them in the same place. They come in a variety of sizes and colors. Best part? 10% of all sales is donated to childhood cancer research. Plus and also! I've met the owner many times and she is the sweetest, kindest, and beautiful inside and out person you'll meet.

Macy's

Shoe lovers rejoice! Buy 1 get one FREE on over 400 shoes and boots AND free shipping on just $25!

Carter's

Everyone's favorite place to buy kids clothes {am I right?!} is having 50% off the entire store PLUS an additional 25% off of $40 AND free shipping on all orders! I can't even with this one, stuff is practically free! Stock up, moms!

Beachbody

Give the gift of health & fitness to yourself or someone you love! Today only I am offering 25% off of Beachbody products! This applies to Shakeology {which NEVER goes on sale}, performance products and even our newest program Core De Force {which also comes with free shipping!!}.

Shutterfly

Still need to order those Christmas cards? I don't know about you but my MIL loves ANYTHING with pictures of the kids on it so Shutterfly is my go-to place to get her gifts. 50% off PLUS an extra 25% AND free shipping on $49+. Deal!

Erin Condren

Everyone's favorite place to get a planner is having 30% off PLUS free shipping today. If you haven't used one of these life-changing life planners, you're missing out. This is another one of my favorite places to get gifts, my MIL is obsessed with their travel checklist and I get it for her every year.

Tommy John

If your man loves "fancy pants" like mine, you don't want to miss out on this Tommy John sale. These are by far Jimmy's most favorite underpants {that's what we call them for James} and it's hard to find them on sale so 20% off and free shipping on $50 is a BIG DEAL. Ladies if your man hasn't heard of these, surprise him {like I did} and he'll thank you forever.

I'll be updating as the day goes on so stay tuned...

*post contains affiliate links*

Unique Christmas Gift Ideas

2016-11-26T08:47:00.001-05:00

This post is sponsored by UncommonGoods but all my opinions are my own.

It's that time of year again. Time to rack your brain, trying to figure out the perfect gifts. If you're like me you hate giving gift cards because it's just so impersonal. You also want to makes sure you get something really cool, something that no one else would think of. Let's be honest, gift-giving can be a little bit stressful but it doesn't have to be.

Enter UncommonGoods.

UncommonGoods is a privately-owned retailer that endeavors to feature unique jewelry, designer décor, tabletop items, and handcrafted gifts created in harmony with the environment without harm to animals or people. As an independently-owned business, they have the freedom to support causes they believe in and to impact the world in a positive way. With every purchase you make, they will proudly donate $1 to the non-profit of your choice. Since they started the Better to Give program 12 years ago, they’ve donated over $1 Million to charities around the world!

A quick glance at their site and you'll see some amazingly unique gift ideas for your dad, mom, kids, husband, grandparents, friends and you can be assured your gift will not be duplicated by anyone else. I rounded up a couple of my favorite things I'll be gifting this year.

1. Space Pod Playhouse. How fun is this little playhouse? I don' know about you but my kids LOVE a fort hideout. This one is awesome too because it comes with tools so kids can help assemble it {ages 4+}. Another fun thing to do would be to give them some markers and let them color it just how they'd like it.

2. Bubble-Wrap Calendar. Guys I can't even with the cuteness of this gift. Who doesn't love bubble wrap?! Now you can pop, pop, pop your way through they year with this unique calendar. I absolutely adore this and I'm trying to think of how many people I can gift it to this year.

3. Popcorn Bowl with Kernel Sifter. I don't know about you but we eat A LOT of popcorn in my house. The kids love nothing more than having a movie night with a big ole bowl of popcorn. We always run into the problem of kernel though and lately James has been eating them if I don't pick them all out of his bowl. So this is a MUST for our house.

4 Construction Plate & Utensils. Want to make meal time more fun and *hope* that your darling will eat more of his/her food? This fun plate might help! My kids are suckers for when I serve up their food in a creative way and they ALWAYS eat more when I do so. They also make this in a pink garden version too.

So, what do you think? Pretty cute stuff, huh? Like I said, I think you can be assured that your gift will not be duplicated this holiday season.

SO WHAT! Wednesday

2016-11-16T07:01:00.000-05:00

This week I'm saying SO WHAT if...

I hate LikeToKnow.It {or whatever it's called}.
I am SHOCKED that I have made nearly $1500 shopping with Ebates. Maybe I should be embarrassed because that's a lot of online shopping.
I ordered 4 dresses for our annual holiday dinner because I hate trying on in the store and at home I can consider all my shoe options as well.
I love a good dreary rainy day, always have.
I want to decorate for Christmas this weekend.
My body has been sore since starting Core De Force but I like it, it means it's working.
I love that we have had such a warm fall. You won't hear me complain about a 70 degree November day.
I was really into AHS at the beginning of this season but these last couple episodes have been more disturbing than I care for.
I just got into podcasts and I'm obsessed.
I try to only drink one cup of coffee per day but it never happens.
I am SO SICK of hearing about the election.
I let all the hype over this Thomas the Train racetrack suck me in only to buy it and realize James doesn't even like Thomas. Returning {it is super cute though, if you have a Thomas lover}.
I'm not sending out Christmas cards this year.
I hope they do not ask Kelly Dobbs back for another season of RHOC.

What are you saying SO WHAT to this week?

Yes, I'm a Beachbody Coach

2016-11-09T19:45:00.000-05:00

Being associated with an MLM comes with it's challenges. People think you are just trying to shove products down their throat. They don't think you are genuine. They think you are just out to make a buck. Trust me I know. I know because I've heard it many times but also because I've thought it myself.

Before becoming a Beachbody coach I would see other people doing the MLM thing and while it never bothered me I always thought, "that's not for me". I didn't think I could ever do it. I didn't like the idea of having home parties. I didn't want to carry inventory. I couldn't afford some of the start up costs. I didn't want to just sell stuff.

When my coach approached me nearly 3 years ago I read her email and deleted it without responding. I didn't have any interest in being a part of an MLM and I definitely didn't think I was someone who should be giving health & fitness advice considering I had about 40 {or so} pounds to lose myself. But when she followed up with me a few weeks later I was in a better place, mentally and physically, and thought I'd give it a shot. I didn't really have high expectations because I really wasn't interested in "working the biz". I just wanted to try T25 and she offered to let me borrow it so I said, "yes" and took a chance on something I never thought I'd do.

That was almost 3 years ago and in that time I have tried numerous workout programs {T25, PIYO, 21 Day Fix EXTREME, 22 Minute Hard Corp, 3 Week Yoga Retreat and, now, Core De Force}. I've reaped the benefits of Shakeology. I've completed 3 {or 4, I can't remember} rounds of the 3 Day Refresh. I've lost 70 +/- lbs and kept it off for over 2 years and it all started because I saw the infomercial for T25 and wanted to try it.

I've shared my journey the entire way, the good, the bad and the ugly. You guys have seen me complete these workouts, watched me lose weight while drinking Shakeology and some of you have decided to join me on this ride. I am so thankful for each step of the way because today, as a mom to two kids in her mid-thirties, I feel the best I've felt my entire life. I truly owe it to becoming a Beachbody coach.

After I lost my baby weight from Kendall I felt great and hit {my then} lowest weight as an adult. In a years time, however, 20ish lbs of that had started to creep back. I kinda hit my goal weight and thought, "I'm here! I'm done!" and more or less quit working. After James was born I didn't want the same thing to happen. I wanted to hit my goal but then I didn't want to stop striving to be better. Thanks to my amazing team, the community that is Beachbody and the accountability of our challenge groups I have been able to stick to that goal. Not only have I stuck to my own goal but I've been able to inspire others to reach their goals in the process. It is truly the most incredible feeling.

But I like to think of myself as the "un-coach". I am not going to spam you. I'm not going to sell you on Shakeology. I'm not going to beg you to join my team. I'm not going to tell you all of the programs are great. My approach is a lot different than most and perhaps that hurts my business but I can't and won't run it any other way. In order to be successful {my own definition of success is probably different than most} is to be true to myself.

So when you see me talking about a Shakeology recipe or how it makes me feel it's because I truly enjoy it and I really do feel the benefits when I am drinking it on a consistent basis. When I tell you I love a program it's because I actually look forward to doing it every day. You may remember my 21 Day Fix EXTREME "review" from last year, it wasn't positive. A lot of people have seen amazing results from this program and LOVE it but I didn't, it wasn't for me. The same is true of Country Heat. When they announced a country line-dancing workout I literally thought it was an SNL parody, this couldn't be real. Do people really want this? And that's why you never saw me promoting it. So when I am promoting a workout it's because I really believe in it.

If you express an interest in any of our products, I am more than happy to share more information with you. I get excited helping someone find their soul-mate workout. If you are curious about the coaching opportunity and what it entails, I would love to get you added to one of my Intro to Coaching groups so you can make the decision for yourself once you have all the information. But I will never try to sell you on anything because that is not my style.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is we are not all bad, us MLM-ers. We aren't all out to make a buck and sell you some crap we don't think you need. Some of us are truly in it for the community. We enjoy what we do, we want to help others and we want to better ourselves in the process. I think that's what sets Beachbody apart from some of the others out there though. We aren't just selling a tangible product and sending you on your way. We provide the support, motivation and accountability to make sure that you hit your goals. This isn't just another diet or workout that you spend the money on, have good intentions of sticking too and then fall off the wagon in a month. As a coach it is my job to help you every step of the way and when I say I want you to succeed, I mean it. That's what this is all about, to me. Sure, the extra money is nice, I won't lie and say it isn't. The extra money has paid for my electric bills some months, our mortgage others and sometimes just provides a little fun money that we otherwise wouldn't have.

So yes I am a Beachbody coach. I am proud of what I do. I am honored to be the one people turn to when they are ready to make a change. I love running my challenge groups and getting to surround myself with like-minded people. This is truly the best job I never knew I wanted.

SO WHAT! Wednesday

2016-11-09T09:43:00.000-05:00

This week I'm saying SO WHAT if...

I already started listening to Christmas music.
I had very low expectations of the Trolls movie and ended up LOVING it. Seriously go take your kids to see it TODAY.
I really didn't want to vote this year but I did.
I am officially done Christmas shopping for the kids {with the exception of stocking stuffers}.
I really can't stand Ben & Lauren Happily Ever After but I watch it anyway.
I am anxious to see what the new #redcup looks like this year.
I'm appalled at how people are handling the news of the presidency this morning.
I own lots of PJs but I prefer to sleep in Jimmy's old t-shirts.
Potty training might drive me to Betty Ford.
I hate DST the most because I don't like the sun coming up before 7am.
I love a good rainy day. Always have.
The most upsetting thing about the election was that This Is Us wasn't on last night.
I ate 4 slices of toast and 2 beers for dinner last night.
My Christmas list is full of furniture and home stuff. #youknowyou'reoldwhen
I only get the mail when I am expecting something good.
I'm sad we didn't have family pictures taken this fall because now I have nothing for the Christmas cards.

Pep Talk

2016-11-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

Every morning, on our drive to school {approximately 5-7 minutes} I give Kendall a little pep talk. As soon as we turn out of the driveway, I glance back at her in my review mirror, smile, and I say, "it's a good day..." and with a little eye-roll and a smirk on her face she moans, "to have a good day".

"Mom, that doesn't even make any sense", she says.

I'm sure many of you heard the term, "filling your bucket" or "being a bucket filler". It comes from the children's books Fill a Bucket, Have You Filled a Bucket Today, and How Full Is Your Bucket? and others that talk about how kids can spread kindness, appreciation and love. The gist of it is when you are kind you are being a "bucket filler". When you compliment someone or help them you are filling their bucket full of love. The opposite, being a "bucket dipper", is obviously when you are rude, talk nasty, or bully someone. I love this concept and I think it gives kids a great visual to really understand that lifting someone up is filling their bucket but putting someone down is emptying it. We always want to be "bucket fillers".

When Kendall asked me what I mean when I say, "it's a good day to have a good day" I delighted that she asked and wanted to take that opportunity to explain how that ties in with being a "bucket filler".

"It's easy", I said. "Every day is a new day, right? And every day is an opportunity. We can chose to make it a good day or a bad day. Our attitude, the way we react to situations and our mindset determines what kind of day we are going to have. But every day is a good day to have a good day."

I'm still not quite sure she totally got what I was saying so I went a little further and told her that when we are "bucket fillers" we are making someone else's day good. "It's like a domino. When you build someone up and make them feel good that makes them want to do the same. Not only will they extend a kind hand but it will also make you feel good knowing that you made them smile today." She knows that when people are friendly and kind to her it makes her happy so it makes sense that doing that for others would make them feel good.

To make it more understandable, sometimes I put a "challenge" with it. For example, the other day I told her I wanted her to compliment someone. I told her it could be whoever she wanted but that I wanted her compliment to be genuine. Now Kendall's a bit shy, even around people she knows well it can take her a while to warm up. I knew giving her this task would be a true challenge but a good one.

When I picked her up from school that day I had kind of forgotten all about it, if I'm being honest. But the first thing she said to me when she hopped in the car was, "MOM! I gave someone a compliment!!" And she couldn't wait to tell me all about it. After she told me who it was and what she said we talked about how that probably made him feel. I asked her how he responded and how that made her feel. The next day she couldn't wait to go to school and do it again.

This is my favorite tradition we have started and I only wish I had thought to do it sooner. I am blessed that I am able to drive her to school and have these types of conversations with her. She knows that whether we had a crazy morning and barely made it out the door on time or just have a case of the Mondays, she can always count on this little pep talk each day. On the chaotic days I feel that these talks are even more important because it shows her that even though the day started out rocky, we have the opportunity to turn it around.

Do you have a school age child? I encourage you to try this with him/her. It doesn't have to be on the car-ride in the morning. It could be at the dinner table each night or during bedtime. Having this kind of positive dialogue has not only helped Kendall realize what it means to be kind but has also been an eye-opener for me as well. When I am spewing these things to her I am reminded that the best way I can instill this type of character is by displaying it myself.

Now, go be a "bucket filler". Throw kindness around like it's confetti and watch the world around you change.

SO WHAT! Wednesday

2016-10-26T06:30:00.000-04:00

This week I'm saying SO WHAT if...

I have never seen Hocus Pocus. I tried to watch it last year but could not get into it.
We didn't take family photos this fall. I'm kind of sad about it but at the same time I'm kinda glad to have a year off.
I can't wait to get the BIG Toys R Us toy catalog in the mail.
I've never tried Nutella. Gasp, I know.
I could not get on board with Country Heat. It, honestly, was embarrassing to me.
I'm really sad my Positivity Project is wrapping up today. It's been so amazing.
I've just discovered podcasts and now I'm obsessed.
I am the only person alive who hasn't seen or cares about Gilmore Girls.
I'm obsessed with all things Halloween themed this year. All the shows. All the activities. All the pumpkin.
I can't help but look at houses even though we won't be ready to buy till spring.
I'm getting the warm and fuzzies when I see these holiday commercials.
I'm asking for a bike and a new iPhone {still rocking the 5s over here} for Christmas.
I am really REALLY excited about our new program, Core De Force, that launches next week.
I was tempted to listen to Christmas music yesterday.

What are you saying SO WHAT to this week?

Favorite Shakeology Recipes

2016-10-22T08:59:00.001-04:00

Often times I get asked what my favorite recipe for Shakeology is and the answer is, I have many! If I had to pick my number one it would absolutely be the Reese Cup but all of these are delicious if you're looking to yummify your superfoods. I also have a different favorite depending on the season we're in {strawberry cheesecake for summer, pumpkin spice for fall and candy cane for winter}. So without further ado, here are a few of my favorites.

A little info about Shakeology! First of all, it's all natural. It's made up of over 70 fruits and veggies and gives you your daily recommended dose in ONE packet! Pretty amazing right? The drying process of the fruits and veggies BB uses is one of the best in preserving all of the nutrients!

There are a variety of flavors to choose from: Strawberry, Chocolate, Vanilla and Greenberry as well as vegan options. Shakeo can be used as a nutrition supplement or as a weight loss supplement (meal replacement). I typically replace lunch because it's just easiest for me! For a months worth of Shakeo it is $129 which breaks down to $4 and change per packet which isn't bad at all {I told myself when I started that's cheaper than my Starbucks - and it's healthy - and it's my breakfast!}

As always, if you have any questions please don't hesitate to send me a message and I'd be happy to assist you in picking the perfect flavor!

Kid-Friendly Halloween Movies

2016-10-21T06:52:00.001-04:00

I am a sucker for all things seasonal. When summer hits I can't wait to work on my tan, hit up the farmers market and spend every waking second at the pool. Come fall I want to do all the apple/pumpkin picking, hayrides and bonfires. The same is true of the holidays.

One of our favorite things to do do once it gets cold outside is to snuggle up and watch movies, popcorn and all! Sometimes we'll make a fort for the kids, which the love. In honor of Halloween I wanted to watch as many "spooky" shows but also that were appropriate for a three and six-year-old. These are some of our go-tos for Halloween.

Toy Story of Terror. Mr. Potato head goes missing while the gang is on a road trip and staying overnight at a motel. They set out to find their friend who's fate is unknown. They must find him before they suffer the same fate! This is my favorite and I'd venture to say the kids' too. It's so cute and just "scary" enough. We watch this one numerous times during the season.

Spooky Buddies. The adorable pups find themselves in a spooky mansion and must stop Warwick from "destroying the world". This is funny more than it is "scary" which I prefer for this age group. Kendall is obsessed with dogs and she loves all of the Buddies movies so this is a perfect Halloween movie for her.

Spookley The Square Pumpkin. Poor Spookley is a pumpkin who's shape is square rather then round. He's teased and taunted by other mean round pumpkins. But he receives help from a Scarecrow and his 2 bat side-kicks and 3 very funny spiders. This is so cute not only because it's festive but it also teaches a really sweet lesson. We always look forward to Spookley.

Monster House. A young boy lives across the street from a creepy old house with an even creepier resident. Any toy that goes into the yard disappears and the boy believes that the house is haunted even though no one believes him. This one was a tad bit scary for James. There were a couple of times, in the beginning, that I saw his eyes looked as big as silver dollars.
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse- Mickey's Treat. The gang all kids know and love are on their way to Pete's Halloween Party but they must get their before the moon is full or the gates close! My kids are/were big MMCH fans and even though they are a tad bit big for it now they still love this Halloween episode.

Some honorable mentions are It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown {which my kids don't care for but I love}, Monsters Inc/Monsters University {not Halloween themed but still a big hit in our house}, and E.T. {Jimmy's personal favorite}.

What are your favorite, kid-friendly, Halloween movies?

SO WHAT! Wednesday

2016-10-12T05:54:00.001-04:00

This week I'm saying SO WHAT if...

I really wanted to try this Lip Sense everyone is talking about, until I saw the price tag {holy crap!!!}. A friend recommended this CoverGirl version {less than $10} so I picked it up over the weekend. Now I haven't tried the other stuff but this knockoff blew me away! It stayed on for over 8 hours and, let's face it, I never go anywhere for more than a couple hours so I call it a total win!!
I'm obsessed with winter PJs.
Some days I wake up early to do yoga, other days I wake up early to watch Teen Mom OG.
I've already started the kids {and my} Christmas list{s}.
I can't decide if I think Kim Kardashian is making up this whole robbery...I mean I wouldn't put it past the Kardashian-Wests...
I'm so happy Snapchat updated the way you watch stories. I hated that it automatically moved on to the next person.
Kendall lost her first tooth this week and I was more excited than she was.
I'm kind of ready for soccer season to be over {two more games!}.
I hate that my kids have outgrown/won't wear footed PJs.
I know I'm supposed to, but I just didn't like the Living Proof dry shampoo. Maybe my expectations were too high but for that price I expect my hair to look amazing and it didn't. I'll stick to my cheap Not Your Mothers from now on.
I saw Halo Top came out with 10 new flavors, dropped what I was doing and went to Kroger. The peanut butter cup is to die for, BTW.

What are you saying SO WHAT to this week?

No Gym, No Problem

2016-10-06T11:30:00.001-04:00

This post is part of a compensated campaign with Mom It Forward Blogger Network and Balanced Body® but all my opinions are my own.

Living In The middle of Nowhere Ohio has it's advantages:

I can see all of the stars from my backyard.
When I look out any of my windows all I see is landscape, no houses.
No random people walk through our yard.
It's quiet.
Our kids and dogs have a huge yard to play in.

And the list could go on. It's really quite beautiful in the country even though it means driving 20-30 minutes to the closest Target, decent restaurant or gym.

Since the closest {gym with childcare} is about 20 minutes away, in the opposite direction of most things I do on a daily basis, working out at home has become my solution. If you've followed my journey you already know my love for at home workouts runs deep. I've managed to get in the best shape of my life, at 33-years-old, after two babies, at home. I am proof that you don't need a big fancy gym or lots of equipment to break a sweat and drop those post-partum pounds.

One of the biggest tips I can give people who have a hard time working out is to change it up. Change up the way you workout, the type of workouts you're doing and then your mind {and body} won't get bored. I am always trying new things from running a 5k, to yoga, to HIIT training and everything in between. I also love that sore feeling you get when you try a new workout for the first time, hurts so good!

When Balanced Body® contacted me to try out their new complete home gym, MOTR®, I couldn't wait to change up my workouts and give it a try. Plus doing Pilates in the comfort of my own home sounded ah-mazing. What is MOTR®? It's MOre Than a Roller. It’s a complete home gym in a 43” cylinder that won’t break the bank or take up much space. You can improve your strength, balance, agility, sports conditioning and cardio – then stow in a closet when you are done.

We'd all love to have an hour or more each day to head to the gym, but when you are competing with work, school, and family, MOTR® can provide a quick, complete workout in nearly any room in the house. MOTR® comes with a DVD with two workouts, and flash cards that let you mix and match exercises depending on what you’d like to work on that day. You can target:

Core Integration
Balance
Agility Training
Upper Body
Lower Body

MOTR’s unique and innovative design allows you to work out in eight different body positions, and
quickly switch resistance {light, medium and heavy} while targeting fitness areas including cardio, balance, functional movement, mind-body coordination, agility, and strength training. You can literally do it all with this machine!

I love this tool because it's compact and easy to maneuver. I pull it out, get my workout in, and slide it back into our coat closet. Assembly was even easier, I set it up in a matter of minutes. I have always wanted to try Pilates but 1. those machines always look like torture chambers 2. there is no gym near me that offers Pilates and 3. I would probably be too embarrassed to try it at a studio/gym for the first time anyway. MOTR® allows me to practice at home without fear of judgement, without driving miles to the closest studio and this machine definitely looks less scary.

Do you want to try Pilates at home? Are you a busy mom who barely has time to make it to a gym? Is your closest gym miles away, like me? Well you're in luck! I am giving away one MOTR® to a very special reader! All you have to do to be entered to win one of these amazing in home gyms is comment telling me your favorite workout and why! Good luck!!!

S E V E N

2016-10-03T07:00:00.000-04:00

Seven years ago we said, "I Do".

Seven years. One house. Two kids. Three dogs. Four career changes. Five cars. Numerous holidays, parties and celebrations. Countless laughs and just as many memories. Seven of the best years of my life but also some of the hardest. Having my best friend by my side through all of life's big moments make them that much sweeter and that much easier to endure.

I've always heard year seven referred to as "the seven year itch" and honestly I didn't know why until I Googled it when writing this. Are we destined for "the seven year itch"? I had to look it up.

"Chronologically, the seventh year typically represents the presence of young children in the home. Around this time of family life, demands are high and resources are limited. The couple is trying to navigate who takes care of a sick kid, how to make ends meet on a tight budget, and how to succeed at work when your spouse and kids need you at home. Both husband and wife feel exhausted, overworked, and underappreciated. Whether they say it out loud or not, they both wonder, “What about my life? What happened to my dreams? I feel like I woke up in someone else’s life.”

Because time, energy, and money are short, a couple in this stage of marriage rarely has a chance to enjoy each other. When they laugh together, it’s probably because one of the kids said something funny. They’ve become “mom and dad” and forgotten how to be “husband and wife.” Great sex might happen once a year. Realistically, you’re never both “in the mood” at the same time, which also happens to be when the children are quiet and don’t need you. Advice like, “Go on a date night once a week” sounds good but seems impossible to implement."

WOW! Yep, I think that about sums it up. Little kids, check. Limited resources/funds, check. Even more limited date nights, check. Exhausted, check Overworked {Jimmy}, check. Underappreciated, check. Making ends meet, check. Check, check, check.

The phrase, "the seven year itch", carries a negative connotation. It implies turmoil, rocky roads, distance, and maybe even divorce. While I do believe that those things can be true of year seven, after reading the definition above you could say we've hit "the seven year itch" except I feel like this is not necessarily a bad thing.

All of those "troubles" have been blips on the radar when I look at the big picture of our life. Some way bigger blips, more like blobs, than others. Yes having little kids is stressful and draining. It is hard to see your spouse as the young, vibrant,fun person you married. Date nights are few and far between. A very tight budget makes it impossible to get away for a much needed husband/wife vacation. Jimmy works long hours/days and sometimes works a second job as needed which leaves him feeling overworked and tired and means he isn't home much. We don't get to enjoy each other as much as we'd like. All of this is true.

Going through all of these things doesn't mean our marriage is destined for failure though. It doesn't mean one of us is "itching" to get out. It means that we've had some rough patches, some hard times and we're going to continue to go through these things because life is not all puppy dogs and rainbows. I know, without a shadow of doubt, that these problems have actually brought us closer together, even if neither of us want to admit that. Going through the hardest times and having your best friend by your side in your worst moments is love.

One of the things I love most about our marriage is that we balance each other out quite nicely. When one of us is stressed to the max the other is calm and reassuring that everything is going to be alright. Where I am more neurotic and uptight, Jimmy is more carefree and easy-going. We both seem to know what the other needs and are more than willing to bend a little even if it means putting our own wants/needs aside or a while.

Year seven is going to be full of ups and downs, that I am sure of because that is life. I know just when we think, "it can't get any worse" it will. I know that we are going to have times when we think, "this is it, this is the best and it will never be better than right here, right now". I also know that I am more in love with my husband than ever before. He works hard for our family. He provides us with more than we need. He loves us to the depths of his being He still knows how to make me laugh. He is handsome as heck and he still makes me feel like marrying me was the best decision he ever made.

Our life is not perfect and it's not always pretty. When we said our vows, however, we said "for better or worse" not "till the seven year itch kicks in". I wouldn't trade our "troubles" for anyone else's because I don't want to give up our blessings. At the end of the day, we are blessed. As long as I've got Jimmy by my side I know everything is going to be alright. I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend.