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Advocare Transformation Journey

2013-01-21T14:46:00.004-05:00

Below is the video of my transformation, thanks to AdvoCare I have been able to change my lifestyle, lose weight, eat healthier, feel better and I have become medication free as a result. Please take a moment to watch a video of my story.

Slackers Welcome. Day 10 of Advocare 24 Day Challenge

2013-01-07T21:07:00.000-05:00

Truly, I have to back up and refresh because I have been slacking off on my blogging. I'm sure some of you don't mind. My school year has started back and when the kids came in, well...that just through me off schedule and I paused on my updates. Plus it was my birthday, which doesn't mean much around here these days. Ha! I mean once you turn 29 so many times, people stop believing you and give up. (wink) So, back to Day 10.

FAQ's
Why do you do AdvoCare? It works!

Why should I do AdvoCare? 100% promise that it works!

Day 9:

Morning:

My mornings are very routine.FIBER DRINK DAY 10! Yay! Now, I just take two tiny pro-biotic tablets and 3 Catalyst to give my metabolism a boost. Meal Replacement Shake today. Chocolate Mocha is quickly becoming my favorite. Take 3 OmegaPlex with food. Still shooting to have 1000ml of water in my body before my Mid Morning snack and that includes my fiber drink and shake. Easy Peasy!

Workout! Early morning workout to my new AdvoCare "Can You 24" DVD with my hubs and again with my workout buddy.

Mid Morning:

Wow! I snacked today! SugarSnap Peas!! Low Sodium Almonds. I did drink a bottle of water, 500 ml. I'll have to do better next time.

Lunch:

My lunch time at work today did not happen until around 1 p.m. and I was famished. This is the problem with working, it can throw a wrench in my plans. I kept snacking on my peas until time to eat. When I sit down to eat I will take 3 OmegaPlex as well.

I hate a salad with pumpkin seeds, cranberries and smoked chicken. I used a creamy Italian.

Mid Afternoon:

I had a Spark which has amino acids and some catalyst. Good healthy proteins curbed my hunger until dinner. Plus, I needed some mental focus to get things done.

Dinner: Tonight I worked a mixer and ate one of my yummy protein bars on the way there. Yum! Oh and did I mention that today was my birthday...no cake for me but I'm feeling so much lighter today.

Before Bed:

We all need a bedtime snack. Catalyst will do tonight, it is pure protein and what my body needs. I will finish my last bottle of water before going to bed and take my Probiotics.

Worth Celebrating! Day 9 of Advocares 24 Day Challenge

2013-01-06T16:32:00.000-05:00

Today was SO uneventful. We went to church, ate lunch at Costco...that about sums it up. SO, I didn't know what to reflect on or write about and then it occurred to me..."uneventful" is what I needed to talk about. Making the decision to make a life long change for better health deserves a big parade with balloons, streamers and miniature ponies and pinatas full of WILL POWER spilling out everywhere! However, it is not a dramatic moment but it is a dramatic decision. If I had known in July what I know now about my decision, there would definitely had been balloons!

FAQ's
Is the cleanse going to be like when you have to have a colonoscopy? Someone actually asked me this one today. No it is not. Doing the cleanse from Advocare is gentle and very uneventful. It's nickname is the "Disneyland Detox". I actually look forward to doing mine every 90 days. It will result in a flatter tummy and fewer pounds to carry around.

Why such dramatic results so fast? Mostly it is because of the amount of waste that you have backed up in your system...at first. It's really gross to think about but you'll understand when you do them. It's different than taking too much Benefiber. It's a good clean, light, happy feeling in your gut. You'll also lose weight when you drink the water needed for the cleanse because water is the fuel for the fire, your metabolism!

Day 8:

Morning:

My mornings are very routine.FIBER DRINK DAY 9! Yay! Now, I just take two tiny pro-biotic tablets and 3 Catalyst to give my metabolism a boost. Again today, I have a Cliff Bar. I have found that I LOVE the Cliff Protein Builders Bars for a super quick breakfast. They are the closest to a 1:1 Carb/Protein ratio that I could find on the fly. I found them the cheapest at Earth Fare. Take 3 OmegaPlex with food. Still shooting to have 1000ml of water in my body before my Mid Morning snack and that includes my fiber drink and shake. Easy Peasy!

Workout, what workout? This was a day of rest!

Mid Morning:

Sad! I let myself get hungry today because I didn't want to snack in church. I did drink a bottle of water, 500 ml. I'll have to do better next time.

Lunch:

30 minutes before lunch I am going to take 3 Catalyst to feed my body a little protein before time to eat. When I sit down to eat I will take 3 OmegaPlex as well.

I had a grilled chicken, Caesar salad from Costco. Life happens and you do not always get an overwhelming choice of things to eat. My husband and I split the salad, free of most croutons. It was better than nothing!

Mid Afternoon:

I had a Spark which has amino acids and some catalyst. Good healthy proteins curbed my hunger until dinner. Plus, I needed some mental focus to get things done.

Dinner: Tonight I cooked up to small pieces of Talapia with sweet soy sauce, just a tad of that and steamed Asian veggies. I filled up on the veggies. They were SO good! I splashed it all with hot sauce too. Yum!

Before Bed:

We all need a bedtime snack. Catalyst will do tonight, it is pure protein and what my body needs. I will finish my last bottle of water before going to bed and take my Probiotics.

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep! Day 8 of Advocares 24 Day Challenge,

2013-01-05T20:10:00.003-05:00

Today was one of those days where I woke up full of energy, ran errands, came home and had an awesome lunch and fell asleep. As much energy has I have, I still need to sleep. 15% of weight loss is rest. In order to have sharp mental focus, a high metabolism and allow your body to recover from workout, you need sleep. More than 35 percent of American adults are obese and more than 28 percent sleep less than six hours a night. If you can't sleep weight loss can help, and sleeping can help you lose weight. Once you begin to fuel your body with good, clean eating and maintain a high energy level during the day, you will lose weight and sleep better. Here is a great article called Lose sleep and gain weight...check it out.

FAQ's

In order to be able to prepare healthy meals at home, what are some useful time-saving tips? Make sure you have the right kitchen tool for the job. A really good chef's knife and chopping board, for example, make short work of any necessary dicing and chopping job.
· Learn the ease of stir-frying ¿ a quick and healthy way to get vegetables on the table in minutes.
· Do your main grocery shopping once a week, and shop from a list.
· Wash fresh herbs when you get home from your once-a-week grocery shopping. Wrap in damp paper towel and store in a sealable plastic bag so they are always ready to use when you need them.
· Devote one afternoon or evening each week to preparing dishes that can be heated and served another day.
· Make double batches of casseroles and soups. Serve one and freeze the other for later use.
· When cooking rice, prepare large batches and freeze in one- or two-cup portions in seal-able plastic bags. Use later for soups, casseroles, stir-fried dishes, etc.
· Learn to prepare food in a slow cooker. Food cooks while you are busy doing other things.
· Keep a well-stocked pantry, refrigerator and freezer. Preparing delicious and healthy week-night meals is much easier if you have basic ingredients on hand.

Day 8:

Morning:

FIBER DRINK DAY 8! Yay! Now, I just take two tiny pro-biotic tablets and 3 Catalyst to give my metabolism a boost. Again today, I have a Cliff Bar. I have found that I LOVE the Cliff Protein Builders Bars for a super quick breakfast. They are the closest to a 1:1 Carb/Protein ratio that I could find on the fly. I found them the cheapest at Earth Fare. Take 3 OmegaPlex with food. Still shooting to have 1000ml of water in my body before my Mid Morning snack and that includes my fiber drink and shake. Easy Peasy!

Workout today consisted the Advocare CAN YOU 24 VIDEO!!! It was like Christmas for me when that came yesterday. My husband and I did the Core Stretch today, it's like beginners yoga. The stretching was amazing.

Mid Morning:

Before I let myself get hungry I have a small packet of unsalted almonds and a bottle of water, 500 ml.

Lunch:

30 minutes before lunch I am going to take 3 Catalyst to feed my body a little protein before time to eat. When I sit down to eat I will take 3 OmegaPlex as well.

Today for lunch I used my left over Tilapia fillet from yesterday and mixed it with a dollop of the Earth Balance mayo. I ate it on an open face slice of whole grain bread and had the left over side of greens today from last night, I included an apple as well.

Mid Afternoon:

Shame on me...I slept through my snack but when I woke up I had a Spark which has amino acids and some catalyst. Good healthy proteins curbed my hunger until dinner.

Dinner: Tonight I felt a little bit stuck on dinner. I have tons of frozen veggies in the freezer and chicken already cooked. So, I visited one of my new favorite websites... SkinnyMom.com and found some amazing recipes. I thought I would give this one a try...The Skinny Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup. You have got to try it! My chicken was already cooked, so I it made it even easier to make this dish.

Before Bed:

We all need a bedtime snack. Catalyst will do tonight, it is pure protein and what my body needs. I will finish my last bottle of water before going to bed and take my Herbal Cleanse tablets.

Love Your Body, Day 7 of the Advocare 24 Day Challenge

2013-01-04T19:17:00.000-05:00

Today was a crazy workout day. I did Week 3 of Jillian Michaels 30 Days Ripped. I'm going to pay tomorrow. That woman is intense BUT it felt so good to do something for my body. I also treated my self to a deep tissue massage. I finally decided it was time to do something for myself, something I had never done before. NEVER! I loved it! I think I yelled out once or twice...haha. If you have never had a deep tissue massage, you should. It will leave you breathless and smiling.

FAQ's

Can I do the 24 Day Challenge if I am pregnant? You sort of can. Pregnant women should never take herbal supplements without a doctors approval but there are products you can take. Always consult your distributor and ask for a list of products that are safe, then take that to your doctor.

Is there an age limit? Children under 18 need to consult their doctor AND there are products to avoid for the same reasons as above. However, there are plenty of products that help kids become more and more healthy. My children beg for the vitamins and Spark.

Day 7:

Morning:

NO MORE FIBER DRINK until DAY 8! Yay! Now, I just take two tiny pro-biotic tablets and 3 Catalyst to give my metabolism a boost. I have found that I LOVE the Cliff Protein Builders Bars for a super quick breakfast. They are the closest to a 1:1 Carb/Protein ratio that I could find on the fly. I found them the cheapest at Earth Fare. Take 3 OmegaPlex with food. Still shooting to have 1000ml of water in my body before my Mid Morning snack and that includes my fiber drink and shake. Easy Peasy!

Workout today consisted the Jillian Michaels butt kicking workout, 30 Day Ripped, week 3 and free weight lifting for arms, shoulders and back.

Mid Morning:

Before I let myself get hungry I have a small packet of unsalted almonds, and I mixed my water with Rehydrate, 16 times better than power-aid and tastes amazing!

Lunch:

30 minutes before lunch I am going to take 3 Catalyst to feed my body a little protein before time to eat. When I sit down to eat I will take 3 OmegaPlex as well.

Tilapia fillet again today except with a sweet soy glaze, steamed stir fry veggies and steamed brown rice, YUMMO! I'm looking for recipes to try online because I'm not very imaginative with my meals. So, I will share those findings soon.

Mid Afternoon:

All afternoon I drink an additional 500 ml of water until snack time. I love almonds, they are my go to snack. I eat so much for lunch that I'm not hungry and so I have to kind of make myself snack in the afternoon so I don't become famished by dinner.

Dinner: Grilled chicken with Montreal Chicken seasoning, collard greens with hot sauce and vinegar and tons of them.

Before Bed:

We all need a bedtime snack. Catalyst will do tonight, it is pure protein and what my body needs. I will finish my last bottle of water before going to bed and take my Herbal Cleanse tablets.

Working Out?, Day 6 Advocares 24 Day Challenge

2013-01-02T10:53:00.000-05:00

I love to workout. I didn't used to love it but now I do. As it becomes easier, my goals change. I enjoy the seeing what my body is capable of doing while I am dropping many unwanted pounds.

FAQ's

Do you have to workout to lose weight? No, you do not. Although any doctor will encourage you to do something to get your heart rate up. There are lots of things you can do, even sitting in a chair that will do that. Plus AdvoCare has a product we call "Workout in a Bottle", ThermoPlus will help you burn between 450-600 calories a day.

Why don't I have to workout, how does that work? Obviously, working out will give you better results, faster and is good for overall health. I personally have put it to the test. Your body does not want you to be fat or feel bad. It wants to be fit, healthy and ready for a challenge. Being these three things helps your body deal with stress better, even the good stress from exercise. The 24 Day Challenge system is focused on restoring your gut and then feeding your body nutrition that it needs through supplements. AdvoCare has a slue of amazing doctors that design these products to give your body optimum nutrient. Watch this video here. Good things go in and good things "come out."

“AdvoCare products are high quality products because the unique combination of ingredients have excellent absorption (bioavailability) that work together to provide positive results and outcomes.”

Day 6:

Morning:

NO MORE FIBER DRINK until DAY 8! Yay! Now, I just take two tiny pro-biotic tablets and 3 Catalyst to give my metabolism a boost. I blend up a Chocolate Mocha shake with ice and take 3 OmegaPlex.. Still shooting to have 1000ml of water in my body before my Mid Morning snack and that includes my fiber drink and shake. Easy Peasy!

Workout today consisted of a walk/jog for 1 hour and ab work.

Mid Morning:

Before I let myself get hungry spicy almonds and an apple, water is much easier if you snack on something spicy.

Lunch:

30 minutes before lunch I am going to take 3 Catalyst to feed my body a little protein before time to eat. When I sit down to eat I will take 3 OmegaPlex as well.

Tilapia fillet with butter spray and lemon pepper seasoning, grilled. sauteed veggies and a spinach salad with tomatoes, brown rice, vinegar and red onions tossed together.

Mid Afternoon:

All afternoon I drink an additional 500 ml of water until snack time. Easy apple and crunchy peanut butter today too.

Dinner: Grilled shrimp skewers with a light ginger dressing glaze. Steamed veggies loaded on the plate; cauliflower, broccoli and carrots with a light seasoning and butter spray. Another tall glass of water or bottle 500 ml.

Before Bed:

We all need a bedtime snack. Catalyst will do tonight, it is pure protein and what my body needs. I will finish my last bottle of water before going to bed and take my Herbal Cleanse tablets.

Leaky Gut, Day 5 Advocares 24 Day Challenge

2013-01-01T10:02:00.000-05:00

I have learned so much since my mind has been tuned into my health and why we do what we do during a cleanse. I am now able to give you answers to those questions people always have about a cleanse and explain why everyone needs to do it.

FAQ's

Why can't I have Dairy, Honey, Mushrooms, Soda or Alcohol during the cleanse? Before you do a cleanse your intestines are not only line with waste. If you don not eat an extremely fibrous diet, that waste is layering on the lining of your intestine. Medically, what happens is that waste has toxins in it and it begins to break down that permeable mucus lining in your intestines that stores your good bacteria. When you remove the waste during a cleanse, you are uncovering a weaken permeable lining that has been letting toxins into your blood stream. Now you cleanse. During the cleanse you are rebuilding that lining. Have you seen what milk does if you leave it out too long? You don't want that in your body, honey is a living organism and mushrooms are a fungus...don't want those in their either until that lining is restored and that should make it obvious why alcohol is harmful during the cleanse, it's a pure toxin. By the end of your cleanse, this getting rid of what doctors are starting to recognize as Leaky Gut.

What is the benefit to the cleanse? After you have restored you have pushed out all that bad waste, your body is ready to be restored, which is why "Probiotic Restore" is included in the cleanse. Two tiny little capsules that have more microflora probiotics than 1000 cups of yogurt will restore that mucus lining and line your intestine with amazing bacteria to keep toxins out of your blood stream and waste moving more efficiently out of your intestines. The result is the reduction of inflammation across the body. Many health issues are cleared up once the bodies intestinal track is restored. While restoring they system it is also a good idea to start taking Omega3's to push out those bad fats that have been accidentally absorbed into the system.

Day 5:

Morning:

Mid Morning:

Before I let myself get hungry unsweetened banana chips and water is much easier if you snack on something spicy.

Lunch:

30 minutes before lunch I am going to take 3 Catalyst to feed my body a little protein before time to eat. When I sit down to eat I will take 3 OmegaPlex as well.

Todays lunch was brief because of the busy day I had so, another meal replacement shake is in order. So glad these shakes are so good for me!

Mid Afternoon:

All afternoon I drink an additional 500 ml of water until snack time. Easy snack bar today too.

Dinner:

Grilled chicken sliced on top of a heaping salad of dark greens and spinach. Another tall glass of water or bottle 500 ml.

Before Bed:

We all need a bedtime snack. Handful of spicy almonds sounds good. I will finish my last bottle of water before going to bed and take my Herbal Cleanse tablets.

Off Schedule?, Day 4 Advocares 24 Day Challenge

2012-12-31T19:44:00.003-05:00

Things don't always go as planned...life happens and we can get off track even when we are prepared. Today my timing was off but I did my best to get back on track by the end of the day.

FAQ's

What if I forget to take my Herbal Cleanse It's important to do your best to stay on tract. You are shooting for 100%, perfection. In reality 90% is perfection and 80% should be the least that you accomplish. What do you do...forget about it...get back on track!

Do I really have to drink this much water, a gallon is SO much? Yes actually! You are using water to flush your body out of toxins and waste that will help your intestines and colon to be refreshed and ready to better absorb the amazing nutrients you are about to put into your body. Water also will help boost your metabolism and curb cravings for soda and sugar. The hardest part is not drinking the water...it's taking the time to do it.

Day 5:

Morning:

NO MORE FIBER DRINK until DAY 8! Yay! Now, I just take two tiny pro-biotic tablets and 3 Catalyst to give my metabolism a boost. After serving a healthy breakfast for my boys, I grabbed an Advocare Meal Bar and took 3 OmegaPlex . Still shooting to have 1000ml of water in my body before my Mid Morning snack and that includes my fiber drink and shake. Easy Peasy!

Morning workout consisted of a DVD workout (since AdvoCares isn't released until tomorrow) and weight lifting that focused on triceps, shoulders and biceps.

Mid Morning:

Before I let myself get hungry a small box of raisins and a handful of sweet chili pistachios. 500 ml of water. Drinking water is much easier if you snack on something spicy.

Lunch:

30 minutes before lunch I am going to take 3 Catalyst to feed my body a little protein before time to eat. When I sit down to eat I will take 3 OmegaPlex as well.

Today's lunch is chicken salad made canned white chicken, earth balance mayo (dairy, egg and soy free) (it's amazing) on fire roasted tomato triscuits and a baby lettuce salad with balsamic vinegarette and backed snap pea crips. 500 ml of water with lunch, it's just one tall glass or one bottle of water.

Mid Afternoon:

All afternoon I drink an additional 500 ml of water until snack time. A handful of unsweetened dehydrated banana chips with dollops of creamy peanut butter on top.

Dinner:

Chicken Taco Salad: This consists meat left over from the rotisserie chicken that has been heated with taco seasoning, dark green lettuce salad, pineapple salsa and a dollop of guacamole. Another tall glass of water or bottle 500 ml.

Before Bed:

We all need a bedtime snack. Creamy peanut butter on a spoon. I will finish my last bottle of water before going to bed and take my Herbal Cleanse tablets.

Day 3 of Advocares 24 Day Challenge, Eat Yourself Skinny

2012-12-30T14:58:00.001-05:00

Sunday's are always a rush from the time we get up to the time lunch is complete. This is why it is good to have a plan for what I am going to eat and to make sure my pantry stays stocked with healthy food.

FAQ's

What kind of food do you eat while on the 24DC? Think...Clean. One of the purposes of a meal plan and guidelines for the challenge are to help you get rid of unhealthy cravings, to fuel your body and to get back in the habit of making healthy choices. You can not starve yourself skinny on this plan.

I thought carbohydrates are bad, can I have them? Yes actually! In order to keep your mind focused and clear you need healthy carbohydrates. In order to have energy to burn more fat, you must have carbohydrates. Low carb/ No carb diets do work but they leave your body wanting more and that's why most diets put you back on carbs but there is no need to go cold turkey. When choosing carbs at the grocery store you need to simply pick the healthiest option, the more grain the better and buy nothing that is white or says "white".

Day 3:

Morning:

While fixing my family breakfast I chugged fiber drink and Spark together and took 3 Catalyst to give my metabolism a boost. After serving a healthy breakfast for my boys, I grabbed an Advocare Meal Bar and took 3 OmegaPlex while getting ready for church. Still shooting to have 1000ml of water in my body before my Mid Morning snack and that includes my fiber drink and shake. Easy Peasy!

Mid Morning:

Before I let myself get hungry I am having some Wasabi & Soy almonds with Okra Chips. 500 ml of water. Drinking water is much easier if you snack on something spicy.

Lunch:

30 minutes before lunch I am going to take 3 Catalyst to feed my body a little protein before time to eat. When I sit down to eat I will take 3 OmegaPlex as well.

Today's lunch is grilled chicken. I grilled enough for several mills on Day 1 and so I only have to pop it in the microwave. I am also microwaving a sweet potato and topping it with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray and Ideal Brown Sugar. Yum! For my greens on my plate I am having a dark green salad of baby lettuce, raspberry vinaigrette, topped with a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds. For added veggies I am eating turkey bacon wrapped organic green beans and sprinkled with the Ideal Brown Sugar. 500 ml of water with lunch, it's just one tall glass or one bottle of water.

Mid Afternoon:

All afternoon I drink an additional 500 ml of water until snack time. Today I will take 3 catalyst again for my protein with a handful of veggie chips and a little guacamole. I will drink another 500 ml of water until dinner.

Dinner:

Taco Salad: This consists ground turkey, browned and seasoned with taco seasoning. My dark green lettuce, olives, salsa, hot sauce and fresh baby bell peppers. Another tall glass of water or bottle 500 ml.

Before Bed:

We all need a bedtime snack. Shrimp cocktail (6 medium-large) with super spicy cocktail sauce. This helps me get the rest of my water in for the day. I will finish my last bottle of water before going to bed and take my Herbal Cleanse tablets.

Why Blog It?, Day 2 Advocares 24 Day Challenge

2012-12-29T10:13:00.000-05:00

Last night I was so pumped and energized about the amazing things Advocare is doing for the New Year that I put on my new running gear and went for a run. Boy am I out of practice...I finished my 5k, barely but that is really not where I want to be. I'm shooting for 8k by the end of next week. When I did my first challenge, I could barely walk the 2 miles...please keep that in mind. This is why I am blogging my challenge...1 for accountability and 2 to help anyone who is doing it too!

What products do I use before a workout? Currently I use Muscle Strength, O2 Gold, Catalyst and Spark.

What products do I use after a workout? Then, I follow up with Rehydrate and Night Time Recovery before bed.

Day 2:

Morning:

After a quick shower I downed my fiber drink and Spark together and 3 Catalyst to give my metabolism a boost. After preparing a healthy breakfast for my boys, I made myself a Berry Meal Replacement Shake and 3 OmegaPlex. Shooting to have 1000ml of water in my body before my Mid Morning snack and that includes my fiber drink and shake.

Mid Morning:

Before I let myself get hungry I am having an apple and almonds. 500 ml of water.

Lunch:

30 minutes before lunch I am going to take 3 Catalyst to feed my body a little protein before time to eat. When I sit down to eat I will take 3 OmegaPlex as well.

Click picture for the recipe from Fast Paleo

Today's lunch is grilled chicken. I grilled enough for several mills on Day 1 and so I only have to pop it in the microwave. I am also microwaving a sweet potato and topping it with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray and Ideal Brown Sugar. Yum! For my greens on my plate I am having a dark green salad of baby lettuce, balsamic vinaigrette, topped with a sprinkle of dried cranberries and almonds (wasabi/soy flavor for kick). 500 ml of water with lunch, it's just one tall glass or one bottle of water.

Click the picture for the recipe from McCormick

Mid Afternoon:

All afternoon I drink an additional 500 ml of water until snack time. Today I will take 3 catalyst again for my protein with a handful of Triscuits and some Pineapple salsa. I will drink another 500 ml of water until dinner.

Dinner:

For dinner we are having a Rotisserie Chicken with fresh home cooked collard greens splashed with white vinegar and cauliflower, seasoned with the "butter" spray. Another tall glass of water or bottle 500 ml.

Before Bed:

We all need a bedtime snack. Mine tonight is simply pistachios. There are some new flavors out there that are amazing. Tonight is going to be the sweet chili which will help me drink the last of my water.

I will finish my last bottle of water before going to bed and take my Herbal Cleanse tablets.

I found these pistachios at Wal-Mart (...photo courtesy of)

Transformation Begins, Day 1 of the Advocare 24 Day Challenge

2012-12-28T13:39:00.001-05:00

I am starting my THIRD 24 Day Challenge (24DC) today. I still have plenty of weight to lose, inches to drop and muscle to build. I am looking to improve my workout performance and my running time and distance in the next 24 days. The first challenge I did was kept very private. I didn't share much about it, the second one I did was with my husband and so, this one is all for me and for YOU!

So many people have questions about what is involved with the 24 DC and I figured, what better way to give you a glimpse and help you out when you do yours, than to document mine. I may not spend much time in detail about my day because I mostly want my readers to get a feel for the routine, the meals and the changes that happen along with way. Don't feel overwhelmed with today's post, it is alot of information...tomorrows will be short and sweet!

Days 1-10

Day One for most people is the hardest day! I look forward to it.

Morning:
I started my day with the Herbal Cleanse: Fiber Drink as soon as my feet hit the floor. I mix my fiber drink with 10 oz of water and a scoop of Spark Energy Drink. I pour them into a blender bottle together and shake hard, then chug and done! 3 Catalyst go with that.

The fiber drink is going to help remove waste that has built up on the inside and scrub the colon. Eliminating waste in the beginning is key to helping absorb more nutrients later. It also helps me to feel happier and have a more pleasant mood because 80% of our bodies serotonin is made in our gut. I mix it with the Spark for flavor and to get energy first think in the morning, within 30 minutes are am feeling great!

30 minutes later I will mix and drink my Meal Replacement Shake, my favorite is Berry and Chocolate Mocha but Advocare has 4 different flavors. I will go ahead and take 3 OmegaPlex with that as well.

The Meal Replacement Shake is not just a protein shake, it is a full meal. It has a 1:1 Carb:Protein ration. That is important because drinking that balanced meal first thing in the morning helps to stabilize blood-sugar while the body has been fasting. It has everything you need in a 220 calorie shake, I like mine blended with ice and I love using a milk shake straw...makes it a real treat in the morning.

The OmegaPlex is amazing. The Omega3 Fatty Acids help to wash out the bad fats and replace them with good fats, it helps your metabolism and overall cardiovascular health. Advocares OmegaPlex was rated as one of the very best by Dr. Oz. It is not the same as taking "fish oil" it is pure and does not give you that "burpy" fish taste later.

Mid morning I have a healthy snack or just 3 Catalyst in place of a protein. This mid morning snack keeps my metabolism up and gives me more energy while not allowing my body to know hunger. Hunger equals a lower metabolism. My snacks include a fibrous fruit (not bananas) and a protein such as Almonds in portions that that I pre-pack so that I don't over snack out of the bags. A small handful of each. 1 500ml or 16.9oz bottle of water goes with that! Plus the bottle I'm drinking from in between meals.

Lunch and Afternoon Time:

30 minutes before lunch a take 3 catalyst for added protein before the meal. Today for lunch I had a spicy grilled chicken with Ginger Sesame Dressing on Baby Greens with cranberries and carrots. I also took the remainder of my OmegaPlex 2-3 more capsules with food. Advocare recommends 4 a day but 6 a day is the max. I like to do 6 a day during my challenge and then cut it back to 4 a day after the 24 days is up. Drinking LOTS of water at this point. By lunch I should have consumed 4, 16.9 oz or 500ml bottles. That water consumption also includes what I drink for breakfast. I'm shooting for 1 GALLON in a day which consists of around 8 water bottles.

Mid Afternoon Snacks for me consists of 3 Catalyst and some fruit or a health carb.

What is Catalyst? It is amino acids. I didn't realize how important these were during my first challenge. During my second challenge, I took them more seriously. Not only did they give me better muscle support and energy for workouts but they help protect muscle during weight loss. It feeds the muscle so that the body is forced to burn fat. It creates a more sculpted body instead of one that is flabby from weight loss. We all want to be as tight and toned as possible. It is also a good alternative for a bedtime snack. It will help your metabolism stay up even at night, burn calories, feed your body and prevent you from being hungry in the middle of the night. I also drink 2 more bottle so of water before dinner if possible.

Dinner:
Dinner is the easiest for me because I only have to worry about a meat and a vegetable. Steamed and seasoned veggies and a lean meat. I prefer chicken, turkey and fish. NO CARBS after 4:00 p.m. Don't want those fat builders floating around in my system if they aren't being burned. Tall glass of water to go with it!

At bedtime I have a protein snack or 3 more catalyst. And another tall bottle of water and my Herbal Cleanse Tablets.

Day 1 is done!

I will not be as detailed with products for the next 9 days! I will simply share the basic routine and meals that I love!

If you are interesting in learning more about the products please feel free to e-mail me or visit www.sparksample.com.

Advocare is a Game Changer!

2012-12-01T16:46:00.001-05:00

After spending my whole adult life as the girl on the left prior to July 1st, it is hard for me to get used to the girl on the right. As of today, I have lost 47 pounds...

I have so much more to go! For the last 6 weeks or so I have been slacking off on working out...I blame the weather. This past week I have started investing time in myself again, despite the weather. This is what I have resolved.

The more and more I talk to people about their weight loss goals, the more and more mine turn into something different. Numbers on a scale are...deceiving. The scale is a LIAR...sometimes. True, when a scale says that you are 237 pounds, that might either mean you are an obese woman or a muscular man. 150 pounds might mean that you are an out of shape woman or one who has tweaked and toned her

body into a machine. So, for the next 60 days, I am not stepping on my scale. Someone may have to taser me to hold me to this promise but I want to see what my body can do for 60 days without worrying about the scale says my body can do. Is there anybody out there who is with me on this? How will I know how I'm doing...we all know how I will know!

We will know, because I will be in a department store shopping and realize that my clothes are falling off of me.

We will know, because I will keep running races, like this 8k for Wounded Warriors and when I have to buy a new jacket...it will be a size smaller than last year.

We will know, because I will have worn the tread of yet another pair of shoes.

We will know because my husband will take notice and to keep from being left in the dust, starts to follow my lead.

Why after all these years am I able to do these things...I'm older not younger! I have 3 kids and a full time job. How am I able to accomplish these things? I have the same will power I've always had, the same desires, the same goals. What is the difference? Visit www.sparksample.com to find out.

And you know what...

Freezer Paper = Cheap Advertising

2012-10-11T10:22:00.000-04:00

I am cheap, everyone knows it... but I am also thrifty and crafty.
I purchased a shirt online the other day and paid $18.95 with shipping for a similar shirt seen above.

I am going to a conference this weekend called Ladies Alive for Advocare and I wanted a shirt! Honestly, I needed a shirt. So, I had this bright idea to try the freezer paper technique to make my own.

I printed out the logo from our selection of logos that we can use for advertising, laid a piece of freezer paper on top matte side up and using an exacto knife, I cut out the design. I then ironed the freezer paper, including all the letters onto the shirt. I painted with fabric paint and immediately lifted the freezer paper off. I almost did a back flip in my kitchen!

So, for the price of paint, freezer paper and shirts I already own I can make my own shirts.

My son also got in on the action and created a few shirts. He wore one to school this morning! We have a new obsession.

You can do this for your business, school, sports teams, etc... A friend of mine owns a Silhouette to cut designs and was super excited to see this. I might need to by a Silhouette.

My 1st 5k Race

2012-10-06T11:48:00.000-04:00

I figured it was most appropriate that my first 5k race took place at my Alma Mater, Berry College. It felt good checking in this morning and receiving my bright yellow alumni race T-Shirt...it felt even better to pin my number on...it did not feel good to be there alone. My husband had to work and I was honestly, scared to death. I was so afraid that I would not be able to do the run, not finish or for it all to be a dream. I was really there and it was not a dream and I did finish.

My time was 43:22 which comes to about a 13.5 minute mile. Pretty darn good for someone who was average 16 minute miles for a long time. After I had a good cry in the car before I started, I put on my headphones and sunglasses and got my game face on. If you could call it that.

The best part of the race was watching another girl finish. This young girl, probably 18 -20 years old (I'm sure a student) was with me through the whole race...when I say with, I mean I passed her when she walked and then she'd run as hard as she could to get back in front of me, then walk and I'd pass her again, I'd catch her looking back at me after she'd pass me again and that was okay. When we were about 100 feet or so I was coming up behind her again because she was walking to the finish, she had just started running again and I patted on the sholder her and said..."GO girl! Do this!" She gave it her all to the finish. There is no way I was letting that girl finish behind me. I cried for her too when it was over. I am a crier and today was an emotional day for me.

Yesterday I took a picture before work...

I started the 24 Day Challenge again 12 days ago and have lost more weight, I feel so good. I can not even describe in words how my life has been saved by these products, my determination and new thinking about fuel...I mean food. It has helped me to take before and after pictures and I was trying to find a picture for a few years ago that I posted but I can't but anyway...

This was my before...

Ha! No, seriously... that's how I felt before. My before picture is in a previous post but I haven't updated a true "after" picture in a couple of weeks. Plus, I have personally seen cows run and if they can then I knew I could and today's 5k past the dairy cows at the college reminded me of that. It's a bad joke I know, sorry.

If you search on my blog the word weight, you are going to get a glimpse of all my past successes that ended in failure that I never talked about. If you want to know what finally worked for me visit www.sparksample.com

It is not a miracle drug or a drug at all, it is HOPE!

HOPE! Morbidly Obese to 10k runner! Thanks to Advocare!

2012-09-15T19:58:00.000-04:00

This is not really an "after" because I have a long way to go but I am getting there.

Most of my readers have never met me so I am truly putting myself out there to the world.

In the spring I was at my bottom, if I had thought I was at the bottom before, I didn't know what the bottom truly was until last April. I visited my doctor and we discussed Gastric Bypass. I went to a meeting to learn about GB and was told that with my BMI, my diabetes, and high blood pressure that I was morbidly obese. Talk about a slap in the face. People could not believe it when I told them what I had learned.

I had made my mind up that I was going to diet and exercise again because my insurance did not cover GB surgery of any kind or any kind of help with weight loss. So, I started the Couch to 5k program AGAIN! Since this was my 3 or 4th attempt I knew I'd have to do something different. I had remembered a friend of mine talking to me about some amazing products she had tried and so I called her.

I signed up at the end of June to start what is called the 24 Day Challenge and when it arrived, I consulted her, took my measurements and started the next day. I felt amazing from day one! I lost 13" in the first 10 days. I was not as concerned with pounds because I new I would be gaining muscle with my workouts.

Fast forward to this week. I have lost around 20" and a little over 20 pounds and a little over 2 months. The difference between my past attempts and this attempt has not been my diet but the products.

Also, my performance has been most impressive. Last year I went to the gym 3 -4 times a week for several hours and you can see at left my peak performance...then I went to work in October and STOPPED exercising. In May I began again and started Advocare Products in July...notice the difference? This stuff is too good not to share...I'll shout it to the roof tops!

I signed up to become a distributor. Initially, because I wanted to save $ and now because I want to share it with others and both of those things have turned into HOPE for my future. If you have questions, please ask...if you want to try the products, please start here... I highly recommend you educate yourself on any nutritional products before buying, ask questions and do your research. Learn more about the company here.

Running for Beginners (Tips from a real beginner)

2012-08-25T19:00:00.002-04:00

Today while I was running I was thinking about blogging...

It has been three months since I first started running with a simple goal of 5k. I thought I might share with you the steps I have taken to surpass my original goal, as well as my next goal of 10k.

In The Beginning...

It is always a good idea to check with your doctor before starting any new exercise program. Mostly likely your doctor will tell you it is the best decision you have made in a long time. At least, I hope that is what your doctor says.
I highly recommend the couch to 5k program. I am constantly being asked what app I use on my phone when I run. I used the 5k Runner app by Heavy Duty Apps. I love it!
Find a safe place to run. I prefer outdoor running to a tread-mil(aka dread mill) any day. If you can find a safe place to run with mile markers, those are the best. Otherwise, you may want to get in your car and measure a distance in a few places. My GPS app has never worked right so I rely on my car to tell me how far I am going.
Be consistent! Stick to the every other day program. I ran 3 days a week somedays and 4 the next but not missing a run kept me dedicated. Don't over do it by running 2 days in a row (yet). If you want to exercise on the in between days, try something for your upper body and core.
Drink water! I gave up tea, cokes, and even milk. I shoot for 4 liters a day or around a gallon. When I don't drink enough water I feel sluggish. If I want milk, I drink coconut or almond milk instead. I grew up on a dairy farm and my Daddy milked cows every day when I was little. I appreciate milk but I feel less bloated when I avoid it. I do love it though!
Track your progress. It feels good to go back and see how far you have come. I love DailyMile because I get a weekly report to my e-mail that shows me how well I did. I also love logging my runs and thoughts on the app for DailyMile, Electric Mile.
Shoes that fit are important. A reader, Heather, reminded me that a good pair of shoes is important. Also, good socks. She recommends getting fitted by professionals. I have been told to have it done and I haven't yet. If you have trouble with finding a good fit, definitely visit the experts. I wear my socks thin so I try to buy socks that are thick and my shoes are 1/2 a size too big to give my toes plenty of room...an expert runner gave me that bit of advice.

Reaching goals...

Walk to increase distance. When I was getting close to my 5k goal but wasn't finishing it in the time allowed by the app I was using, I just walked the extra distance until my distance goal was reached.
Intervals for speed. If you feel super slow like I did for months and know you want to cover more distance in less time or just increase your 5k speed, try interval training. A day or two a week during your running you may want to skip the 5k program plan and try running intervals. I used my 5k app and went back to day one. I would run as fast as my legs would move me and then walk. I also increased my tempo during regular runs in the middle of my runs to increase my speed...it works!
Plan life around workouts. Your health is so important. I can not even stress it enough. I would love to spill what I have had to deal with in the last 10 years with my health but I will tell you, because of factors such as Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, along with my weight; I was labeled "morbidly obese" last April.
Bad days happen. Don't let a bad run ruin your motivation. Don't let a glance in the mirror or a picture a friend took make you feel you are not progressing fast enough. A healthy lifestyle and healthy body happens much slower than we realize. If you feel your run is just not going to happen, walk instead.
Run occasionally with no limits. The one thing I love most is when I have plenty of time to run. I find myself pushing the limits. It is nice to go for a leisurely run on Saturday morning and find that you can go just a little further when you aren't pressed for time.
Run occasionally with limits. I found when I started back to work this school year that if I wanted to run in the mornings before work, it would have to be within an allotted time so that I could get back home, clean up, and get to work early enough for duties. I had gotten used to running with no limits and realized that my pace was as slow as some walkers speed. The time limits helped me to increase my speed.

Goals reached...

Set new goals. Don't settle for one goal. Strive for excellence. See how far your body can take you. Once I reached my 5k goal on a regular basis my options were to set a speed goal or set a distance goal. I chose distance. My next goal was 10k. I do 10k on a regular basis before work...don't ask what time I get up in the morning. It is ridiculous.
Register for a race. I am running a race in November, an 8k for Wounded Warriors. It keeps me motivated for two reasons. One I have paid for it and it cost a bundle to run because it is a fund-raiser. Two because I am doing it with friends, for a friend. Even if I don't win, I have already won!
Make longterm plans. Start thinking about what you will do during the holidays, when bad weather happens, through the long winter months.
Run with friends. You could probably do this just fine in the beginning. I felt this was a very personal thing and that I would either slow someone down or someone would not be able to keep up the distance. Now, I think I am ready for a running buddy. My pace is better and I feel I can keep up with the distance...just don't ask me to push a baby stroller...that's for Wonder Women!
Injuries. That is when you can rest. Take it easy, see a doctor if necessary. I hurt my ankle a few weeks ago, running in the dark on a road and I stepped off in what I thought was a driveway to avoid a car in the wee hours of the morning. Only I stepped in a hole. I finished my run but the next day it wasn't pretty. It didn't hurt to walk or run but it did hurt. Let injuries heal, rest and then keep moving.

I am sure I am forgetting something I tried and that there is more great advice out there! I am still a beginner but today I reached my current goal..13.1 miles. That did include my walking so my next goal is a complete run for that distance. Good luck! Share your thoughts, ideas and tips with me.

Miles vs. Kilometers. Coulda fooled me.

2012-08-06T22:16:00.001-04:00

I really hope you don't get tired of reading my posts about running. I am always in the mood to talk about it.

Today I woke up at 5:00 am and drove down the road to our local CVS. I parked the car and started running. After a ways I looked at my "Log Your Run" app and was astounded that I had so quickly ran 1.56 miles. I kept running until I reached my halfway point based on time and was just thrilled with the miles I was covering.

Um, until I was done and I realized it wasn't miles but kilometers. Then it all made sense. Booo! LOL. Just kidding. I was pretty proud I did 5 miles or about 8k before work this morning.

The picture may seem odd but it is of my halfway point. I thought it was a little ironic.

Love and Hugs
Aimee

Cankles, Crying and Cross-Training!

2012-08-05T23:24:00.001-04:00

Yes my before looks pasty but I think it is just the natural lighting verses the indoor lighting. I probably am that pasty.

Last week I decided to run on our road for the first time. I thought it would be awesome if I could run from my front door to our kids school. About a mile from the school I stepped off the road into what I thought was a drive way, into a hole and turned my ankle. This was Thursday...it hurt for about a minute and then I kept going, all the way to the kids school and back home. No problem. Then I went to work for our first day back within hours of turning my ankle, we were doing jumping jacks for "fun" during our staff meeting. That is where my ankle took a turn for the worse. By Saturday afternoon I was spending a small fortune on ACE bandages, ice packs, Aleve and Epson Salts. I took the "Before" picture while we were out shopping for school supplies. I took the after picture today after a GREAT deal of rest, ice and compression. I am no in love with my slip on ACE bandage.

This is the advice I received that worked:

Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation...
of course that is the "RICE" method but a good friend called me with this advice.
A bowl of hot water, as hot as you can stand and a bowl of very cold water. Submerge in the hot for 3 minutes and then the cold for 3 minutes and do this until the water is luke warm for both.
I used this method as soon as he called and the swelling and pain felt so much better. Something about constricting blood vessels and then opening them up to release the fluid.
Most of all the rest and a little bit of Naproxen Sodium but I can't stand taking meds so I won't be taking this for long. ; )

I have become a little obsessed with my running...it is because I know it is paying off. Slowly but surely the pounds are slipping away, the inches are vanishing from my body. I feel amazing. A total of 14.8 pounds were lost during the summer along with close to 17 inches all together. 10 of which I dropped during the first 10 days of the Advocare 24 Day Challenge. Which I am wanting to do again soon!

There has been a bit of crying on my part. Not because I am sad, but because I am so happy and because God is allowing me to keep moving forward. He is giving me the strength. Two Saturday's ago, I ran 8.25 miles. I am trying to average 5 miles per run now. I have so much more weight to drop so that I can increase my speed but my stamina is there...I swear I burst out in tears every time I find I have gone further that I thought I could. The first time I ran for 20 minutes straight I cried, now that seems so far in the past.

It only took determination...I started off slow with a great deal of walking but I never missed a run, not until this weekend. I'm okay with that because I am fixing to hit it hard and heavy...10k was my original goal and I believe that goal has been met...now what? Half-Marathon? Maybe by January I will be ready. I run 3-4 days a week. Now, I am running 3 and cross-training 3. I can not wait to see the difference this is going to make.

Your Help Is Needed

2012-07-29T21:03:00.000-04:00

This week a friend of mine received a phone call that she never wanted to receive. Her baby brother who has been serving in Afghanistan stepped on a land mine while on patrol with his unit. I have signed up to run my very first race in November with his sister to help raise money for this organization that has been so gracious and dear to Jason and his family. Visit the Wounded Warrior Project page and sponsor me please. Just a dollar or two will go a long way if many are willing to support us.

Here is News 9's report on Specialist Jason Smith

Ringgold Soldier Injured In Afghanistan

July 27, 2012 1:01pm
by Karen Zatkulak

A 27-year-old soldier with strong ties to Ringgold is recovering, after stepping on a land mine. Specialist Jason Smith was serving in Afghanistan, when he was hit on Wednesday.

Smith wasn't born in Northwest Georgia, but went to high school there. His family still lives in Ringgold, and says when they got word that he'd been hurt, they were just grateful he's alive.

His sister Shannon Rominger tells us, "I think he's my hero, but he'll say I'm not a hero, I was just doing what I was supposed to do."

Specialist Jason Smith has dedicated nearly four years of his life to the Army. He served in Korea, then Afghanistan. It was there on Wednesday, that his family in Ringgold learned he'd been hit. His older sister tells us, "He was on patrol that evening there and stepped on a land mine, and all they told us was that they had to amputate both legs at the knees, and he had fractures in both hands and his right arm."

Rominger says it's the call you never want, but is always in the back of your head. "The first thing you think is are they alive, or are they coming to tell you he's gone, but he is alive, and we will all be here to help him."

She tells us their family moved to Ringgold when they were kids. She and her brother graduated from high school there, and the community has already stepped up to show their support of their hero. Rominger says her brother's strength and sense of humor will get him through his injuries. "He always makes everyone laugh and he was keeping the morale high with everyone, he joked around."

She says they finally got to talk to him on Friday for the first time. Smith sounded positive and he was full of jokes. Rominger says the 27-year-old father, son, and brother won't let what was taken, stop his serving spirit. "I don't think it will hold him back at all."

Smith has a three and a half year old son. His family hopes he'll be moved to a U.S. hospital sometime in the next few days.

Progress...feels so good!

2012-07-10T16:51:00.002-04:00

So, I realized the other day that I hadn't blogged in over a month. Oops! Hey, it's summer time and I am enjoying every second before I have to go back to work.

The one thing I have not faltered on is my running, every other day sometimes more; rain or shine.

In three more days I will have completed the Couch to 5k program and will be starting the 10k version...actually, I started the 10k version which is exactly the same until the end of the 8th week. :) So, I have set my goal a little further.

The other thing I am trying is Advocare. A friend of mine has been a representative for the company since last fall and I finally bucked up and purchased the 24 Day Challenge. I am terrible at challenges like these because I get tired of the routine...however it is paying off. Halfway through I had already lost 10.5" and 6.5 pounds. I realize the pounds aren't dropping but I also have much more muscle tone than in the past so let's just focus on the amazing 10.5" lost. LOST and hopefully never ever to be found by anyone ever again.

I did a little shopping and altered some clothing because yes I am a size smaller. Just one size...ONE SIZE SMALLER is awesome because the next thing is TWO sizes smaller.

My doctor was thrilled at my last appointment because my A1C has dropped over a half point. Let me be honest, I am terrible at taking meds (shots) specifically. So, I slacked off a bit on the shots and still my blood sugars have stayed down on their own. That alone is a win! Doc has been very happy.

Let's see...Oh, I read the 50 Shades Trilogy. When I bought the first one I had no idea how raunchy it was going to be and I was appalled. It just wasn't what I expected. I really am oblivious to stuff like that or very naive. But the funny thing is, I ended up reading all three because the story was quite good and I did find that I really got sick of all the kinky sex every other page so I skipped through those parts after awhile. I really think she could have written the book and left that part out and it still would have been a good read. It just made me glad I never got hooked on any of the other most recent trends in the book world.

Basically, things have been uneventful. I keep taking pictures of stuff I want to share or blog about but I am running out of time all the time to do real life stuff.
I wish I could do better but I can barely get my laundry put away.

On The Road Again...

2012-06-06T16:06:00.000-04:00

My blog has taken a back seat ever since I went back to work full time. It's summer break and now I have time for my family and myself. If you are a past follower, you know I have tried 2 other times to do the Couch 2 5k plan. I'm starting my 3rd attempt. I feel like I don't have a choice at this point. I had seriously looked into having gastric bypass, I qualify believe it or not but it isn't some thing insurance will cover. So, my only choice is to give it my all one more time and to not fail ever again. So, 3 weeks ago I started the program again. I am starting week4 now. I want so badly to give you a deep soppy sad story and excuses but I'm not going too. Instead, I'd love for you to join me. Find me on www.myfitnesspal.com and look for "homespunthreads". That's me! Link up with me and let's motivate each other. I love this website and app for my phone because I can enter my daily food log and exercise for the day. Join me please, won't you?

Here's a sample of what I get to look at during my workouts.

Rock Candy Cupcakes

2012-05-05T20:56:00.000-04:00

These were SO yummy! Butter Cream/Lemon Icing!

I made these for a shower and I thought they were too cute not to share. I am in love with decorating with rock candy. I wish I could have found it in orange but instead I used orange sugar. Her colors were navy, orange, light blue and grey.

Join the Sticker Club

2012-04-14T18:36:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago my boys received a letter in the mail stating they were part of a sticker club. It was one of those things my husband loves to call a "Pyramid Scheme" of sorts. My sons gets a letter from a friend that requires a pack of stickers to be sent to another child on the club letter and then we mail out 6 letters to a friends of each of my sons requesting stickers and you get the idea. It sounded really fun!

So, instead of doing what the original letter asked and copying a copy of a letter that has been copied 100's of times, I just typed another one up that can be downloaded straight from this website. So, no more copying! Are you ready to start your kiddo/s in a really cool club? Click the image to download the letter!

Instagram...I love this stuff!

2012-04-06T14:49:00.000-04:00

It just occurred to me that I never invited my blog readers to join me on Instagram. Here are a few of my recent posts there. If you are an Instagram addict like me, follow and I'll follow back. ; )

What can I do with this lavender?

Fruity Water! Yumm!

Anyway, I love sharing and seeing everyday life among us. It can be quite inspiring to see the best moments of your daily life. So, look me up at homespunthreads

My favorite new paint color! Spa...

2012-03-25T13:04:00.000-04:00

A new fresh coat of paint for my living room. The color I chose was "Spa" by Benjamin Moore. Love this color on my living room walls. It is very subtle and is a very little sage green. Which goes well with my sky blue entry way. I am seeing some changes I might make. The bright colors in the entryway may be a little much but I love them so they'll have to find a place.

I also took down my pallet and painted it with a very, very pale pink. My dad thought it was crazy when he heard I used a pallet on the wall in my living room but just look at it...

I think it is quite beautiful, in it's ruggedness and given a new live other than just being a "skid or transportation flat". Plus, I love it simply because it helps display my most treasured memories.