1) The more you share about yourself, the better we get to know you. This is a safe place, so if you feel comfortable, share a little or share it all… share the surface or share the deep heart of the matter, but know we can only get to know you as you have shared. Also, keep in mind, this is partly an essay contest, so we invite you to show off your unique writing style… & if you win, YOU WILL be sharing your story with others through blogs and facebook!

2) Spend some time on your application. We’ve been told this process can take 20 minutes or 2 days… however long you spend answering these questions, we encourage you to take your time. A suggestion would be to copy these questions into a Word document, or jot them down in a notepad, then you’re able to edit or revise your answers. When you feel you’ve fully answered all the questions, then you can paste your writings into the application… much easier!

3) Share this process with a trusted friend or family member. Discuss how the application process is affecting you or how your answers may have surprised you. We heard from many who applied last year that there can be many ‘a-ha moments!’ when putting your feelings into words.

4) Embrace an opportunity to THRIVE! Glance over the many wonderful providers and sponsors who have unique services, treatments and prizes to share… maybe one or two strike you as interesting or new to consider. Make a commitment to invest in yourself in some way this year, whether you win or not. You’ll be so glad you did!

GOOD LUCK!

We will also be welcoming back mamalates and mamasculpt,dinner at your door ( have you checked out their new site?) just in time for Thanksgiving at your door, Campbell Salgado photo+art, Zenana Spa and Wellness ,Portland Paramount Hotel and MANY MORE! Please continue to follow us as we partner up with Portland’s best  for new moms.

Have an idea of a business you would like to see participating in this year’s event? Let us know!

Hair, makeup, and “after” and family photo shoot.

I couldn’t believe how much I was looking forward to the photo shoot after going back to the first one in my head. Simply 8 weeks later and actually WANTING to get in front of a camera, that is proof enough of how much I have changed. That was BEFORE I went shopping. check this out… I told myself that I would get on the scale once a week at the same time each week and that would be it. With the physical work I had been doing I was wondering why I had not dropped the pounds. I went shopping to find an outfit for my celebratory cocktail party and when I put on my old size I realized I had to try on two more different sizes before one fit. That’s right… three dress sizes. So proud and so happy to be able to wear a cute new little outfit. I also went back to Legends Salon to get another makeup application and lesson.

This is the day I felt like a true star. I went into Legends Salon and let the stylist, Kayla, know that she had full reign of what to do. We agreed to stay blonde, and take it up in the back, more blunt but long in the front. LOVED it. The onto Briana, a former derby girl, and long lost sister, for Make up. I looked SLAMMIN’ when I left that place. Quick run home to pick up the family, and off to Campbell Salgado. We had planned on an inside photo shoot but it was like 70 degrees out and an amazing day. Both the girls were super happy and we had an amazing photo shoot with three clothing changes. I couldn’t believe I was more excited for my after photo shoot than I was for the family one. We took the same pictures as the first time. Standing in front, from the side, arms out, bending over to try to touch my toes, and from behind (again, just my favorite!) Most improved was my posture, but the most amazing was my flexibility, I cannot wait for the photos to be posted so everyone can see what pilates can do for you!!! I remember the first day going in to the shoot with tears in my eyes. When the “after” shoot was over I asked Kim to pic up the camera for a few more. Actually I believe I said something to the effect of, “Um, what are you doing with that camera? I’m not done yet?” I stood in front of that camera, looked it right into the eye as if to say, “I’m not afraid of you anymore.” It felt amazing. That shot ended up being the one I picked for my comparison photo.
I went back the other day to see how the photos turned out. They set up a dark room with a large movie screen and played a slide show to music. I was balling by the end of it. My family. My whole complete family. I was so proud. My after photos were night and day. I could see the wisdom I had gained in myself from looking at a photo, that is truly how deep it ran.

My “Toast To Carrie” Cocktail party was incredible.
Wendy rented out an amazing Wine Bar, Vino Vixens and she set up all sorts of food and everyone was able to taste various wines. She had a special pink boa for me to wear as guest of honor. My favorite people were there. My family, most of my best friends, some of the sponsors and practitioners and even a friend I had not seen in almost 20 years that had been keeping up via the mama makeover website. Most importantly miss Andrea, last year’s winner was there. She was a big part of my makeover application and story, as we had been friends that lost touch and then were reunited again as she was going through a terrible crisis in her life. I would never have known about this opportunity had it not been for her. When I had bumped into her last year and had asked her how she was doing she told me about her past year and that she was not doing well, but that she was going to be as she had just won this spiritual makeover. I was so happy for her. A few months later I opened a random magazine and turned right to the page where she was featured in an article about the makeover written by Savannah, who would end up becoming my life coach a year later.
I got to speak to the room about my experience. It just flowed out of me. I laughed and I cried. I think I ended up speaking for over 20 minutes. I had in no way expected to say more than a few things but it is amazing when you feel something so much from the heart how easily it just comes out of you. I talked about truly looking into a lens of a camera, learning how to ask for help, overcoming obstacles and fears, taking the wheel rather than sitting in the passenger seat, becoming a caring person rather than a caretaker, becoming someone who has learned how to “fail” and learn from it. The most important thing I have learned is that I am worthy of the love given to me by others, but most of all, from myself.
I am so excited to be able to keep up with some of the things I have gotten to experience in this process, most of all, pilates. Chiropractic with Amy Watson, Naturopathic medicine with Ashley Haywood and online classes with Amy Pearson.

I believe I have a full segment on Ellen next week, an interview with People Magazine and a few red carpets to walk. If not, I will deal with it.

The poem below came to me in a time of my life when I needed it the most. It has come back into my life at this time as I read and realize how much it really reflects my journey over the last two months. the last line being the most fitting to me: “A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey … but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong…” I thank Wendy for the opportunity to take this journey and giving me that faith. I thank the sponsors and practitioners for showing me the correct paths to take. I thank my coaches for showing me that I am a strong woman, but more importantly a woman of strength. I thank the women who have followed and supported during this time and everyone else in-between.

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape …
but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape…

A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything …
but a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear…

A strong woman won’t let anyone get the best of her …
but a woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone…

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future…
a woman of strength realizes life’s mistakes can also be God’s blessings and capitalizes on them…

A strong woman walks sure footedly …
but a woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls…

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face …
but a woman of strength wears grace…

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey …
but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong…

Carrie Hartley

“A closed mouth gathers no feet…”

She has a few goodies left including a month of Baby Boot Camp with Katie Miller, parenting classes with Sheri Leeds Louis of Mindful Parenting and her evening at The Paramount Hotel  (She has decided to wean herself slowly…)

Last Thursday she had her AFTER session in the lovely outdoor studio of Campbell Salgado Studio with Kim Campbell. She was glowing with her beautiful girls + husband and has made noticeable progress in her posture and general comfort level in front of the camera.

We will post the photos later this week as well as Carrie’s farewell Blog.

We will also be hosing a TOAST to CARRIE for all her hard work and achievements on Wednesday from 5-7 at Vino Vixens 2929 SE Powell. So. Come see and hear for yourself the challenges and changes the mama makeover presented for Carrie and how her birth recovery journey is really just beginning!

We hope to see you there~

Since starting the Mama Makeover, I have made a number of changes including forcing myself to drink more water; making a point of serving salad with dinner every night (my three year old LOVES spinach salad – I had no idea!); getting to bed at a reasonable hour; and engaging in some sort of exercise every day. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, that means attending Pilates Sculpt classes with Wendy Foster of mamalates. On other days, I either walk or put in 20 to 30 minutes on my stationary bike.

In the past, if I’d tried doing these sorts of things, it would always be in conjunction with a diet. Then, as soon as I had a glass of wine or a piece of chocolate or some CHEESE (my biggest weakness), I’d start feeling guilty. Eventually, the guilt would get overwhelming, I’d give up on the diet, and all of the other changes would gradually fall away as well. I mention all of this because my Mama Makeover began with a weight loss coaching session, courtesy of Amy Pearson at Bloom Life Design. Amy shared much of the same wisdom Carrie has described in earlier posts, but two suggestions she made have been truly life-changing for me.

Her first piece of advice was pretty simple. Amy advised me to “eat 90 percent for fuel and 10 percent for joy.”  Diets never seem work long-term for me. Eventually, the deprivation (and frustration) sets in, I eat something “bad” and that’s the beginning of a downward spiral. But I’m learning that it doesn’t have to be that way this time around.

This 90/10 rule is forcing me to be mindful about what I put in my mouth. I now try to eat breakfast every day. This is a big change for me, as I am a notorious meal-skipper. But now, if I have eaten breakfast and start feeling hungry before lunch, rather than forcing myself to wait to eat, I will have a small snack. I just make sure it’s a healthy one: fruit, hummus and carrots or a handful of nuts. By not letting myself get ravenously hungry, I’m willing to take the time to prepare healthier foods at mealtime, and I end up eating less (and better food) at each meal. This is where the “joy” part comes in, too. If I concentrate on “fueling” my body throughout the day, if I do decide to eat something for “joy,” it’s a conscious decision. And if I decide to treat myself to some chocolate or some other treat, I try to really savor it –- without guilt.

The really interesting thing is, because I’m not ravenously hungry (because I haven’t starved myself all day long), I find it’s very easy to have one small piece of chocolate instead eating an entire bar, or one or two bites of dessert instead of an entire plate. And because I’ve given myself permission to indulge, I actually seem to get more enjoyment out of one or two bites than I did when I used to overindulge. Perhaps because I don’t beat myself up over it? I also find it’s much harder to overindulge now. Because I don’t starve myself all day long, I’m simply not as hungry at the end of the day.

The other piece of advice Amy gave me was to try and understand the messages my body is trying to send me. I hadn’t realized before the makeover how out of touch I was with my own body’s signals. For example, I’ve struggled on and off with anxiety my entire life.  The past year has been a very stressful one and my anxiety level is higher than it’s been in a very long time. At a check-up the week I began the Mama Makeover, my resting heart rate was 106 beats a minute! And that was a day I was feeling less anxious than usual! What Amy helped me realize was that my eating habits have contributed to my overall feelings of stress.

When I’m feeling anxious, my hands get shaky, my heart races, and I feel dizzy and lightheaded. When I start feeling that way, it’s very difficult for me to relax. In fact, I start to worry about being anxious and then get even more nervous and shaky! But here’s the crazy thing. Since I have been drinking more water and eating more regularly, I’ve been feeling noticeably less anxious. I now think — and I know this sounds weird — I was so out of touch with my body that I was reading hunger cues as anxiety, which then led to actual anxiety. Put another way, when you don’t eat all day, you start to feel shaky and dizzy. When I didn’t eat all day, I wasn’t just anxious, I was hungry.  And now that I’m actually giving myself permission to eat, I’m feeling much calmer. It’s wonderful!

Going into this makeover process, I deliberately chose not to set a specific weight loss goal for myself.  I struggled with bulimia for years when I was younger, and I have no interest in going back to being a slave to the scale. So my goal wasn’t a pounds/inches goal.  My goal was eat healthier food, get more exercise and set a good example for my daughters, all of which I believe I’ve accomplished.  As a bonus, I’ve also gotten stronger and more flexible. (When I started mamalates, I could only reach as far as my ankles.  Now I can touch the bottoms of my feet!) And last weekend, I was able to zip myself into a pair of jeans that haven’t fit for over a year.

I know I have a lot of work left to do, but these past several weeks have gotten me off to such a good start. I am so grateful! And I’m really motivated to stick with the changes I’ve made. Not only do I feel a lot better, but I’ve got a lot of cute skirts in my closet that are eager to see the light of day again!

Mother’s Day was so wonderful having an additional daughter this year to celebrate with and my mom was able to come over as well. It was the last day of the Tulip Festival in Woodburn so we went out there together and got to do some of the children’s activities, ride ponies & travel through the tulips via “cow train.” Ali and Ava got to ride in their own little two seater and it was so sweet to see Ava holding on to her sister as they got sprayed with mud. Just as we got done doing the most important stuff the rain started pouring. After going home my mom and I decided to share a nice dinner together at one of our favorite restaurants and had some much needed alone time. It was so great to reflect on being mothers and all of the joy and challenges it entails.

A Dinner At Your Door showed up at my door all pretty in it’s package. They will be coming to my door at least three more times this next month. Thank goodness, as it was sooooo good. We ate an awesome spinach cranberry and almond salad, barbecue chicken with veggies, brown rice with peas and corn, and topped it off with two sinful lemon glazed cookies.

The last week and a half have been very physically tough. My back gave out again, and this time I could not walk and had to be on medication. It really brought me down and I had a hard time getting out of the funk without being to continue with my regular exercise and routine. This has been my most challenging week emotionally. My friend’s cancer is back, the baby I was feeding is having problems, and some major family issues have come in to play. My initial response between my back and lots of bad news was to isolate and really just sulk. After seeing Savannah Mayfield, my coach, we really looked at ways to pull the positives out of it and realize that it gave me an opportunity to put the things I am not good at into play (1) I had to ask for help. This is SUCH a hard thing for me and Savannah helped me realize that I give so much, help so many, and care so much for others the least I can do is ask some of those people for help. I needed to realize that people would be happy to help me. I asked neighbors, friends, and my usual team of my husband and my mom. I have been able to get through this because of using my right to ask for help. (2) What better a time for me to be in a bad situation than during this time where I have so many people to depend on. We were able to look at it as a time to practice these tools I have learned while having the help I still need. I am accepting what is happening today and that is all I need to do.

I also got to meet the second naturopath I got to see Dr Liz Wallace, of A Healing Practice, who performed acupuncture and guided visualization which really helped to calm my pain. We talked about diabetes and the terrible effects it can have on life later on and really encouraged me to step it up when thinking about how to eat and treat my body. I am excited that I get to see her two more times.

Ok now more fun stuff…. I scheduled, my haircut/color and makeup session from Legends Salon & Spa and my after and family photo shoot at Campbell Salgado for next Thursday. I had a consultation with Kim and her assistant Allie to talk about what we want to do for the family portrait and shoot. I am SO excited for this. This will be our first photo shoot with our now complete family. That means I get to go shopping. Yay!!

I am having mixed emotions about where I am now that it is the end of week 7. I cannot believe that this experience is almost over. I am saving a few things for after this process to kind of help me detox from the bliss. The hotel stay at the Paramount Hotel, my additional massage and facial at Zenana Spa and tons of child care from We Village. Ava is all signed up for her Fall dance and gymnastics class at The Little Gym (one of her favorite places!!) and she will also be taking a music class at Sound Roots in the summer.

I will try to make the most out of this next week. For Mother’s Day, my sister and I went in on a gift card for her to get a mani/pedi at Zenana. We will get to go together as I have one waiting for me as well. I will have free child care while we are getting pampered so I think I will add polish for both of the girls so we can have pretty toes for our barefoot photo shoot! Seriously, what I am I going to do with myself when I have to become a commoner again???

If you have realized yourself that you could use a makeover, some support or just time to replenish and enjoy, then you should most definitely sign up to win this years mama makeover sweepstakes!                                      

  2011 SWEEPSTAKE PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• ONE night at the PORTLAND PARAMOUNT HOTEL- Includes late check out and some other treats
• A light PHOTO SESSION with Portland’s CAMPBELL SALGADO STUDIOS.
• Gift certificate to SOUND ROOTS MUSIC.
• Two tickets to the ACADEMY THEATER (with childcare!).
• A $25 gift certificate to MOTHER NATURES childrens boutique.

VALUED AT OVER $400

So. tell your friends snd neighbors- anyone you know who could really use these goodies. A random winner will be announced by the end of May. Please sign up for the mama makeover newsletter in the upper right hand corner of the website to qualify. Good luck, Mamas, and THANK YOU!

Another tidbit is that I also received my official letter from OHSU stating I was accepted into their Family Nurse Practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice program. That provided a bit of grease to move our family forward because now instead of hemming and hawing about trying to go back to work post-surgeries, I have my decision made for me! I start school this summer, and honestly I am completely thrilled and honored. And I’m glad it all happened during Mama Makeover because I do really feel like my “makeover” part is completely evolving into the me as more healthy mama and the me as health care professional.
 
So I was on a high last Thursday at mamalates and I really connected in Pilates; perhaps a little bit more coordinated, I don’t know, but I really felt “different” when it was over. Placebo effect or are the past 4 weeks really making a physical change in me? I think the latter. I told Wendy I could literally visualize my abs pulsating as my core stabilized my upended legs…and boy, did it hurt! WOW! But the difference was not the pulsating but the power I felt for really the first time since I’ve started this new type of fitness.
 
Add that to my meeting with Savannah Mayfield…I’m feeling an emotional power too. Savannah really let me just talk, and talk and talk. I joked about how I spend my day with short people so being able to talk to an adult was really a unique opportunity. But the more I was talking, I realized that I do have a crazy life in terms of scheduling, but I’ve also got so much good going on right now too. I won’t bore you with all the sordid (and they were sordid!) details about what we talked about, but basically Savannah allowed me see my own strengths inwardly and helped me understand the importance of establishing boundaries.
 
And just yesterday, I had my chance to meet Dr. Amy at Whole Mama Whole Child who is a virtual angel when it comes to health. She really realizes the toll childbirth and postpartum plays on the body…all that lifting, carrying, coaxing your kid back to sleep while you lie sandwiched between a rock and a hard place.  She gets it and she wants more Mamas and caregivers to be aware of it. She ALSO has a spirited youngster so we have a lot in common. I told her I was wary of the “traditional” chiropractic method, but she informed me of the varying degrees chiropractering (is that a word) can be carried out. But with my wishes known, she treated me gently and effectively so that I can improve my posture, rest my sore shoulders and back, and maybe even solve some problems with my pesky right knee that always dislocates.
 
What I’ve learned so far in the mama makeover, is that there is not a recipe for success when it comes from being a mother. And while it’s ok to look to others for support, we should never look at another mom and compare ourselves to her…all the tools we have for childcare are different based on our upbringing, our belief systems, and our coping skills. So I think it’s ok to realize that this job is actually really tough and not to feel bad about it. It’s also ok to stop the madness and just take a breath too. For example, on my way to Pilates yesterday, my 2 year old was screaming her head off. Normally I would have just trudged on through and made her and myself miserable by continuing our drive and just going ahead with our day as planned…but I didn’t. I stopped the car. I stopped trying to race across town and instead just took a look at my daughter and said, “Should we just go home?” Her answer was, “Yes. Let’s play.” And play we did. Do I feel guilty for not going to Pilates? Yes. Will I feel guilty in 20 years? Probably not.

Oh and the other secret I’ve learned in mama makeover is get a ton of babysitters! Learning to let go and let others in can make all the difference. I’m still absorbing the good from my night off at the Paramount Hotel, and I’m hoping to replicate those feelings when my inlaws come into Portland and for the first time in 11 years, I let go and get out of town.  It’s about time!

This last week was pretty amazing. My back was tons better so I got back to the pilates three times a week with Wendy. My pants are fitting much better and my flexibility is, I’m not gonna lie, kind of amazing me. I had all of my regular appointments, contacted and ordered dinners from Margot Feves, of dinner at your door, and allowed myself back into Starbucks for their Tazo Passion Tea.

I had a pretty big epiphany this week. I checked in with Amy Pearson of Bloom Life Design for my second of three weight loss coaching appointments over the phone. Jeez, where to start… We went over my food diary, which documented every little thing I had put in my mouth down to the crusty yellow peep (that had probably been put on the shelf for the 4th year in a row and was finally sold) and various jelly beans over the holiday. I had been eating when I was hungry, but not eating enough, so consequently I would feel hungry all of the time. I was eating like 42 times a day it seemed. I talked about how being hungry made me feel and realized it was counterproductive to the way I want to feel while doing this makeover or anything else for that matter. By letting myself feel nourished I am able to be productive. I have been able to eat more this week in a more mindful way.

We talked about the pressure I was putting on myself to be able to complete this makeover in a way that everyone would accept. I have had this thought in my head of “I cannot fail” when it comes to this opportunity. I have always been so afraid of failure and realized how much it has held me back, as essentially I feel like I am always failing because of the unattainable goals I set for myself. I was so worried about pleasing everyone else that would be reading my blogs, seeing my before and after photos and people who had applied for the makeover. I was putting unrealistic pressure on myself to lose enough weight so that everyone would believe that I took advantage of the things I was given as the winner of this contest. I thought of the person that would see my before and after photo and think that if they would have won the makeover they would have done more with it. I realized that in the last week in addition to not losing any weight, I was hungry, irritable, and felt self conscious. When I believe the thought of “I cannot fail” I physically feel explosive, short tempered, and constantly at work to reach some unattainable goal. Wow. Not so great. No wonder I feel so crappy so often.

Throughout this hour I was able to shed tears, and realize that the only thing that matters is what I get out of this and how I feel in the end. I felt empowered. I realized that anyone reading these blogs just wants those same things for me.
I also came away with an amazing feeling of freedom from my thought of “I cannot fail.” When I fail I learn. When I “fail” I am NORMAL. I am living in a real and genuine way. I am able to share in my blog in a authentic way about how I am feeling rather than writing about what I think others want to hear.

This work is really paying off. I have felt both physically and emotionally different since being able to let go of these unattainable goals I have set for myself. I have been able to ask for help. I am more realistic with myself. Most importantly I can show my daughters and teach them a healthy way of setting true goals that mean something to them rather than concentrating on what they think it might mean to others. It takes a lot for me to say but I am truly proud of what I have come to realize this week and cannot wait to practice a new way of thinking.

I had a setback this week with a flare up of an old back injury and have had to lay low. Luckily I had new and wonderful professionals to help me through it!

Following my weekly Monday pilates and check in with Wendy I had an A-MAZING massage at Zenana Spa followed by an INCREDIBLE facial. I drank peppermint tea and loved every second of both. I left feeling like rubber, and waddled to my car. I also might have picked up a few new products for my bathroom counter (although I will deny it if anyone mentions it to my husband!).

I got to meet and talk with Amy Pearson, of Bloom Life Design, who is a certified Martha Beck Weight Loss coach. Before I talked with her I was able to listen to her recorded webinar and learned about a different way of approaching weight loss. Amy talked to me about the hunger scale that ranges from -10, being the most hungry you can be to +10 the most full you can be. The trick is to “eat between the two’s” which means you never get to hungry or too full. I have been keeping a food diary of everything I eat and trying to determine at which point on the hunger scale I am eating. She taught me about the 4 types of eating, and which ones to use and avoid. 90% of eating should be for fuel and the remaining 10% should be for joy. Personally, I think she has that part of it backwards, but she is the expert. I will get to check in with her and learn more over these next three weeks.

I had my last *sniffle* meeting with Ashley Haywood, ND. I have learned so much about what my body needs. I learned that my seratonin levels are too high and my adrenal function needs support. I left with waaaay more supplements than the makeover called for. Probiotics, Adrenal support, liver support, diabetic support, and a nutritional supplement and have gone down by 50% on one of my medications.

After telling her about my back pain she must have loaded my backside up with something like 30 needles. Seriously, I must have looked like a porcupine. I returned my house key and she sent me on my way. I plan on continuing my relationship with the amazing people of Bloom Natural Healthcare and the Seed Center.

I called Dr. Amy Watson - of Whole Mama Whole Child – the day I injured my back and she gave me some stretches to do while at home and made herself so available for me to come in at any time if needed. I decided to wait until Wednesday for our weekly appointment and she was able to help me so much. She stretched me out and spent 45 minutes assessing and getting old cat scans of cancer related injuries to my back from years before. Having had problems with this area for over 15 years she has been the only health care professional to really care about finding out the reason for my pain. Within 15 minutes she had old scan reports from my hospital and is requesting more.

I realized when driving away from Dr Haywood’s office that it will be really hard to leave all these pampering sessions behind when this whole makeover is over. Next year I will recommend a “1-month makeover weaning process” for the winner.  I am looking at things in a more positive light when it comes to challenges and self love and enjoying all of these things I am learning more and more each day. Only half way through and both me and the people around me see so much change both physically and mentally. I am getting so much out of this process and cannot wait to learn more about myself.