Thriving Wives

The Final Countdown!

2013-06-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Some days I can't believe I'm already in my LAST trimester, and that due date is creeping ever so closely now. All of the sudden the responses to my most asked question ("when are you due?") get met with "Wow so soon!" to which I cringe a little and say to myself "not that soon......". My second trimester seemed to just kind of float on by - not too fast, not too slow. I did my best to savor each day as a pregnant person, and enjoy all the happiness that's been following me throughout this process.

But now it's all business. TH and I finally moved into our new home (which you read a little bit about already) and I am finally getting baby's room together. We also started our plethora of classes - birth preparedness, first aid & CPR, baby care basics, breastfeeding, etc. I fully believe that being as educated as possible only makes life easier so I have no problem dragging TH to all of these (despite his hesitation at needing to attend the breastfeeding class - I don't understand why he WOULDN'T need to know every single detail about his child's life). I've also begun the arduous task of really mentally preparing myself for "the big day" and all the work I'll need to put in for it. A well-planned Nic is a happy Nic, so that's the name of the game this trimester.

Celebrating Mother's Day on our Babymoon in Hawaii!

I've also been suffering from some severe baby brain this last month. My mom warned me about her 7 month baby brain and it looks like, once again, I am taking right after her because most days I can't recall my own name let alone the million details I need to get through life. I am fortunate to have very patient individuals surrounding me but I get a lot more eye rolls from TH these days as he wonders why I am putting a tape measure in the refrigerator, or something else ridiculous. Oh well, this too shall pass!

First bump pic in our NEW home! Taken in the baby's room no less...

Overall I still feel amazing and think being pregnant might be my favorite thing ever. It must show too, because I get plenty of feedback from people who say I am glowing (although I'm not sure I agree) and seem so content. Now, it's the birth part I'm not so sure of. My goal is to have a natural labor and birth experience, and I'm feeling pretty positive that *I* can do it if my baby and body allows. However, I know I can't control everything and am willing to be flexible as that is the best birth plan a woman can have, in my opinion. I'm a pretty tough cookie, but I've never had serious physical pain in my life so I just have no clue how it's really going to go down, and that of course is the most frightening part for an uber-planner like myself (and Em). All I can do is try my best, and take comfort in the fact that SO many women have gotten through this exact same process just fine and dandy. Plus, I love the saying "pain with a purpose" - yes it's going hurt and it's going to suck beyond belief, but once I have that little baby in my arms I won't care one iota.

P.S. Wishing my TH a very happy 30th birthday today! To the next 30 and beyond my love...

Make Your Mondays - June 17th

2013-06-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

We hope everyone had a fabulous Father's Day yesterday! Nic spent some time with her TH since it's his 30th birthday this coming Tuesday, and even managed to get a nap in on Saturday in between activities and continuing her house projects. Em was a busy homemaking bee, doing her best to accommodate her team of painters (more to come on that later) all the while unpacking as best she could. Don't worry though, she was able to fit in a quick trip to the Long Beach Antique Market as well as the Randomly Glorious Furniture Warehouse with Nic. We are never too busy for a frugal fab find hunt!

So much of our society bases success on material; what we have and how much. What if each of us, one by one, started to shift our focus from what we want to what we have? What if success was measured by the amount of happiness and joy we felt? Wow, doesn't that sound like a nice world to live in. Well, make that world your reality and strive for happiness within each moment of each day. Decide that your success will only be measured by joy...how does it feel?

Karma is a B...eautiful Thing!

2013-06-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

I know the word "Karma" can be touchy for some as it does have a religious connotation. However, the term itself seems to have evolved and taken on a meaning of its own...apart from its Buddhist origin. I myself am a big believer in Karma no matter where it came from. I truly believe that good things come to good people and that kindness is contagious. The more you help others and spread positive energy, the better you will feel, look and live.

Have you ever done something only to see it come back to you later? I know I myself practice the art of paying it forward trusting that the Karma I put out only comes back to me stronger. For example, I pay my toll as well as the person's behind me (I have often gotten that one back...to which I feel great all day), chase after someone when they've dropped something, walk my cart to it's proper drop off (I personally think collecting carts is the worst job that could ever be..it never ends, where is the satisfaction in that?!) and simply try to do nice things for others. While I don't act kindly and expect something in return, I act kindly because it makes me feel good and hopefully inspires others to do the same.

Just recently I had a representative from a paint company take time out of his day to check out my newly purchased home and give me an estimate on how much paint he thought I would need to do both the exterior and interior. He had just done a job for my Magical Aunt B and said he would be happy to stop by, do a walk through and apply his 20% discount to my paint order. Needless to say I was ecstatic! Paint is quite pricey and since we finally pulled the trigger and decided to hire out for our paint job (more to come on that later) I was desperate for a deal.

I chatted with the man briefly, set an appointment for him to meet with my TH at my house when he was available (since he could only meet during school hours), then called to follow up and order. He was such a nice man and I was so grateful for his time, knowledge and expertise that I was just beaming through the phone. Before he called in the order to the corporate office, he warned me it could take a few hours and to keep my phone ready as a missed call would mean going to the bottom of a possibly endless list and delaying the paint delivery. Well, I promised him I would literally tape my phone to my heart with the ringer on full blast. He chuckled and said he would make the call.

As I paced around the house, checking to ensure my ringer was on full blast I was just sick that I would somehow black out, go deaf and miss the call all at the precise moment they tried. Literally five minutes into my freak out, it rang! I eagerly answered and the man on the other end chucked as well...was this perhaps not the call I was waiting for? I repeated my cheery, "Hello?" and through his continued laugh he said, "This must be Emilia..I just got a call for an order and the man told me you were one of the nicest people he had ever talked to, I can already tell he was right". From that moment on, I thought my heart would explode from my chest. I mean, this is the kind of thing that can truly make my entire day, week, maybe even month. All I did was be myself, appreciate someone's time and alas...it all came back. The man on the other line of a shortly awaited phone call said due to this nice-ness he had heard about he decided to move me right to the top of that call list...BOO YA!

So, do you believe in Karma? Does what goes around really come around? Let us know and share some of your Karmic Krusades!

Nest-A-Palooza: Paint...To Hate or Not to Hate?

2013-06-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

As new homeowners Nic and I are being faced with more and more nest-like challenges. Flooring, appliances, counter tops and alas...painting.

Paint is great! I mean it can just freshen up just about any room and makes everything feel so much cleaner. It seems only natural when buying a home that one of the first things you do is to paint. But you need to decide...who is doing it?

I have painted quite a few places I have lived. I painted almost every place I rented while in college (probs wasn't supposed to do that..oops) and I even painted a few rooms after college as well. It's not that I always hated it, it is just that I grew to hate it. The endless time it takes to prep, the actual act of painting (the rolling, the edging, the letting it dry an then doing it again) and then the cleanup, well it's just too much. Granted, many of the times I painted I had help from my wonderful family (Geena & Poppa) as well as my devoted TH, I never learned to love it. I always messed it up, didn't like the way it turned out and realized it wasn't for me. I needed to face facts; I hated to paint.

So, what to do what to do? Force yourself to do it even though you would rather clean toilets all day? Save money doing it yourself but use valuable time? Risk it not being perfect and just do it? Uggghhh! Being a homeowner is already proving to be very tough!

Well, I guess that is something that is needed to be decided...I am leaning towards hiring out, Nic is leaning towards doing it herself (well, having her family do it, she is 7 months preggo for goodness sake).

Some colors I was entertaining for our home...the check marks mean TH approved!

I guess for now I'll start with picking out paint..and taking quotes....

Burn It to Earn It

2013-06-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

Since I am quite the fitness fanatic as well as a "word-smithess" it is no surprise that I have coined quite a few "Em-isms" over the years. One of my new favorites is "Burn it to Earn it". What does that mean you ask? Well, that means if it isn't hurting (in a hurt so good sort of way) and you aren't pushing yourself. If you aren't pushing yourself and entering uncharted fitness territories, well then by golly you aren't going to make a change.

Your body has the ability to constantly adapt, which is exactly what it does. Remember when you started a new workout and felt you were going to die? That is to be expected, so know that going in and learn to love that burn.

I know my friend M had this same problem when she joined my workout regiment. I started her on a very basic running program with the goal being to increase her duration and intensity over time. When she started she was of course out of breath and about to pass out two minutes in, but she kept at it (plus I was yelling at her to never quit..which always helps). Each week she was got faster and was able to go longer. We kept adding time and not only has she grown to be quite a running addict (whether or not she realizes it), but she is now running 3 miles in well under 30 minutes. To top it off she always sprints to her finish! How is that for motivation!

Does pushing yourself burn? Yes. Is that a feeling you should shy away from? No. It is a feeling you should embrace. The only way to make change is to get there. To dig deeper than before and find strength hiding within utter weakness.

Feel your legs shake as you "will" yourself through that wall sit. Feel your arms and shoulders burn as you complete that last set of push-ups. If you burn it with the goal being to earn it...then earn it you will.

Randomly Glorious Furniture Warehouse

2013-06-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

It is no surprise that my (magical) Aunt B, knowing my love of garage sales and low priced (yet quality) furniture, had yet another trick up her sleeve. One Saturday, months ago when I first moved to OC, she took me to a randomly glorious and unexpected church sale. Each Saturday from 9am-5pm the Vineyard Christian Church in Laguna Niguel opens it's Mercy Warehouse doors and let's people shop till they drop!

FURNITURE YOU MEAN..NOT FOOD!!!!!!

Once you get past the nearly expired, discounted food for the less fortunate, you get to home-goodness. Rows upon rows of just about every random yet glorious thing is tucked away. From linens to glassware, books to appliances (and my favorite the furniture), they have got it all. Even better, things are being donated everyday, so each Saturday there are new goods to discover. I mean, it is the all day garage sale that never stops giving!

So much to see!

50% off?! DONE

I went last weekend with my Thriving Mother and Aunt B and fell in absolute love with a dining room table. Since I did in fact need a dining room table for my new home, the day had finally arrived...I could start buying stuff again! YYYEESSS!!! After nearly a year of holding back, I could go crazy, since.I now somewhere to put things!

Now imagine those chairs moved to the ends and one side...we are adding a bench on the opposite side, yes!

With so much to see I ran around that place taking ideas away to share with Nic as we are also in the process of getting her home furnished with frugal fab finds. So, with desks, dressers and dining tables on the brain, I was in heaven (ironically also in a church...)!

I know what you are thinking, this old grandma pattern thing? But aside from the creepiness of a random stuffed chair (whose body has touched those cushions?) I just LOVE it! These are dying to be on a sun porch!

My pick...

As I spotted the desks, I really got excited knowing that I am on the hunt for one to add to Nic's Thriving Office. This clean, large and plain guy was my pick. Once some knobs were added it was sure to be the perfect space for her...in my opinion.

Nic's pick...minus the weird plastic thing.

However, Nic liked this one much better. She appreciate the fine detail and added character, of course she too wanted to swap out the knobs..duh.

Going back for this guy, that is for sure.

This entertainment center was begging to be refashioned as a dresser. So, I am going to make that wish come true next week (please Lord still be there..I feel God talk is appropriate due to the setting). Once I throw some paper source amazing-ness print on that glass to keep the clothes contained I know I will have storage galore! Once those doors open up I can store my entire sweats/sweatshirt collection. Heck, I may even let my TH put some things in there. With a darker stain and some knobs...PERFECTION!

Looking forward to taking Nic to this hidden treasure in the weeks to come, stay tuned for our fab finds! Do you ever stumble upon randomly glorious places? Tell us about it!

Make Your Mondays - June 10th

2013-06-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

June has proven to be quite busy for this thriving duo as the moving/unpacking has quickly taken over our lives! Em got the keys to her new home early this week and was busy cleaning, meeting painters and contractors all the while her TH was working hard to move everything into the garage. She also attended a great neon themed bachelorette party in Las Vegas for her SFBF Lex, she's not quite sure if it was a good or bad for her OCD as she missed the weekend moving madness. Nic continued her personal Nest-a-Palooza through the week and attended a lovely wedding in Chico for her friend Ang. Lots going on these days which is even more of a reason to continue to live joyfully!

There are many different philosophies about how we are born. Are we inherently good or bad? Is "goodness" or "badness" something that is learned or is it predetermined? Well, I agree with Abraham here, we are all predetermined to have a joyful experience. Despite the unfortunate situations we may have to experience or being born into a less than thriving environment, we all have the ability to continually strive to thrive. We have the ability to control our lives and choose to feel however we please. So we as creations are never truly complete, but always changing, hopefully for the better.

Juicing Recipe - "Go-To" Green

2013-06-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Still debating about starting your own juicing journey? Here is another recipe to try in hopes you will decide to join this community of liquid greatness. If you are aren't already up to date on my personal journey then check it out, I only hope it motivates you that much more! If you are in fact ready to do give it your all, then let me help you get started. Try this "Go-To" Green when you want to keep it simple and full of "green-tein" (another Em-ism, green+protein...)

Please remember, my servings are based on 32 oz. mason jars, and I always make two. So ultimately, these recipes make 64 ounces of power packed juice. Strive to use organic produce for "soft skinned" fruit and any vegetables. Oranges are acceptable non-organics as their skins are not able to be juiced.

Nest-A-Palooza: Start Packing

2013-06-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

Not sure what the string would be for...

Well, here I am again. Packing up to make a move...this is my third in five years. If I wasn't obsessed with organizing and interior decorating I may not like this one bit. Thankfully I do and while I don't love it, I can handle it. Even more thankfully, this is surely to be my last one for awhile, I am a full blown home owner! Even more thankfully than that, I have the perfect "handy-lady, working woman uniform, so I am ready to go!

So, where to start? Well, that's easy, you gotta go through everything, e-very-thing. There should not be one drawer unturned, not one shelf not ignored, everything must be touched! I usually start in the guest room, going through storage bins, closets and drawers galore. If I don't love it or it hasn't been used in awhile, it has got to go! Once the items have been organized and placed nice and tidel-y in their storage bins, we are ready to make this room our staging room. The guest bed gets striped, thrown up against the wall and the room transforms into packing party 2013.


Get that bed outta here!

Everything that is gone through and ready to go, will now live in here so the rest of the house doesn't become over-run and un-livable feeling. I like to keep my house cozy and nice until the last minute. Whatever doesn't need to be used until the big move, gets cleaned and stored away. Slowly but surely, the home gets turned back into just a house.

Once you have some space to work with, the walls need to become the blank slates they started as, so down comes the wall decor. Clean it, pack it and patch the walls; a tedious but necessary chore. Each day a bit more gets packed away, starting with the stuff you don't use. I usually go guest room (if you have one), walls, living room, kitchen then bedroom. It isn't necessarily easy, not fun for many, but it needs to be done and done it will get!

Organized chaos...I swear.

More Nest-A-Palooza to come soon!

Nest-A-Palooza: Dress the Part

2013-06-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

Well, it is starting ya'll - Nest-A-Palooza is here! As our lives are now completely centered around being new homeowners (sorry, Nic has had to put her pregnancy in the backseat), we want to share all our nesting tips with our glorious readers. So, here we go!

As a homeowner, I think it is very important to be ready to work. I usually get pretty serious moving anywhere as I take great pride in my home and therefore need it to be set up, clean and cozy within days. I tend to be a wave of power during my moves and will just keep going and going nonstop until it is done. Sounds crazy and unrealistic? It totally is, but lucky for me it helps that nearly all my moves have been over summer when I have time-a plenty as school is out, thank G!

However, now that I finally have a house, to which I can do anything I want, this is a whole different ball game. I have to organize, pack, move, clean, paint (booo, I hate this more than anything), unpack, craft my heart out and find the perfect spot for everything...and that is only the inside! So, in order to do all that and I obviously need the perfect "handy-lady" outfit...overalls.

As per Em-usual I create things in my mind that aren't easy to find and often times don't exist. Lucky for me, on this particular mission I know jean overalls exist, I just had to find them. Granted the entire time I was kicking myself that I didn't just save the ones I had in the 90's..this always happens in fashion! However, after getting some input from my family I decided to check out Wal-Mart (no luck at all), Ace Hardware (no, I did not want a plastic painting suit) and Sears. Still, no luck. I did find some white painter overalls and while I was willing to settle, I wanted to exhaust all my other avenues first. I mean, I was afterall trying to simulatenously have a go-to work fit while also tricking myself into wanting to be a painter. I decided to hit the Goodwill circuit in hopes I would find just what I had in my mind.

After three different searches and coming away empty handed and a bit saddened, I was starting to see those white painting overalls in a whole new light. Just as I was shopping at a random tool store and going to buy them my mom and magical Aunt B mentioned there was a Goodwill next to where we were. I quickly jumped away from the register and ran out the door. I searched the jean section high and low and was pleased to see so many designer jeans (Joe's, Sevens & Citizens, which was surprising) but no overalls. The most annoying part was the way the hang the denim totally makes EVERYTHING look like overalls so the entire time my heart is going up and down...such an emotional journey.

Just when all hope was lost, I found them!!! The same Calvin Klein jean overalls I too had in 6th grade!!! Granted they were a small, I was going to make it work!!! Easily, the best $20 I've spent in a long time.

You see that paint?!

I decided to go with a friendly cuff to get a little boyfriend-jean-esque look going. This made the fact that they were a tad tight not so bad. With the major component of my "handy-lady" uniform ready to go, now I just needed the finishing touches: shoes, bandana and bright red lipstick.

Since I have TOMS galore, I decided to donate a pair of lesser worn, not so fabulous pair to my new uniform. I couldn't be wearing sandals doing all this serious work and I surely wasn't wearing bulky tennis shoes. My slip on Vans were nowhere to be found, so this seemed like the next best choice. V-necks or tank tops (or bathing suit tops for me) would work perfect under these bad-boys so that was a no brainer. Top this all with a bandana in my hair and red lips, I was ready to move, paint and Pinterest craft my heart out!

Somebody call for a side-ponied painter?!

Do you have a go-to work outfit that you wear when working around the house? Share it with us today!

Move It Music - June

2013-06-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Oh boy, oh boy... summer is HERE! With that said, it is more important than ever to get that body going with our latest installment of Move It Music. Are you ready to rock that body and don that neon bikini you've been eying?! Well, this is just the jam list to get you going and FAST! Don't stop when it gets tough... push harder and get MOVING!

June Move It Music by Thriving Wives on Grooveshark

This time of year always makes things a little "grey" with those..

Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke ft. TI & Pharrell

Summer is here and it's time to start this party...please

Don't stop the Party - Black Eyed Peas

Ahhh, those beach & pool days, without them I feel like...

Locked Out of Heaven - Bruno Mars

Are you ready to go?! All you need is the...

Green Light - John Legend ft. Andre 3000

Take that booty and just...

Shake It - Metro Station

So many summer nights we find ourselves...

Dancing on My Own (Buzz Junkies Remix) - Robyn

It's the start of summer, you need to...

Get Up (Rattle) - Bingo Players ft. Far East Movement

Make Your Mondays - June 3rd

2013-06-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

We were BU-to the-SY getting Nic all moved in to her freshly painted and carpeted (upstairs) new, real life home! After our thriving friends met at her old rental, we had quite the truck caravan roll down 405 to do a major Friday night drop off. Saturday Nic's in-laws came down (again) to help get things moved around and her MIL and Em got the kitchen fully post-ited and unloaded in a jiffy! With new purchases made and more unpacking to go, Nest-A-Palooza is in FULL SWING as Em's move is coming up fast this week... yikes! Even more reason to take a quick break from all that stress and allow our hearts to sing with appreciation and Well-being!

When you feel negative you are negative. When you feel good you are allowing goodness to spread from you to others. Be positively contagious, take your well-being and "tag" every person with whom you come into contact. Do not allow those feelings of negativity to block your flow of energy from being nothing but positive. Allow your heart to sing and share that song with the world.

Dinner for (Moving) Scavengers

2013-05-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

Moving makes me giddy with organizational energy. I tend to get even more OCD than normal (which if you know me is hard to believe). With each day that passes the impending move gets closer; therefore, I need to get to work. As the sun sets each night I set a new goal for the next day. Whether it's re-organize the closet, packing up cookware or simply taking things off the walls, it all must be done. For me, the sooner the better...I do pride myself on being ahead of the game.

Each time we move I do the same crazy things...binge everything out of my life. I have a real internal battle bringing things in when I want things to go out. This sadly also applies to groceries. With only two weeks to go before we move, I want everything out...I mean everything. So, what to do? Oh you know, start eating our way through the fridge, freezer and dreaded cabinets, duh.. I found myself feeling as though a challenge were staring me in the face. Eat everything in the house and try to buy as little as possible (milk was ok since I needed it to get through that last box of cereal). This meant it was time for dinner ideas for scavengers.

The grain group...what to do with you. Well, we can whip up this instant rice and add some seasoning to have it go with the vegetables still left in the fridge. Maybe throw some Mexican spice on that guy and make a good old bean-y, cheese-y, rice-y burrito, thank G I have tortillas still to eat too! Hmmm, Arborio rice left over from a crock pot risotto. I guess I'll just have to make that again...rather quickly as the crock pot is getting packed up soon! Lastly, my true love, organic quinoa. That won't be a problem to woof down in any way, shape or form; I love it! I make a ton at a time and eat it throughout the week. My favorite go-to is a small pour of olive oil and some capers..oh yeah!

This canned sodium party is also an easy eat and quick dinner whip up. Remember that bean-y, cheese-y, rice-y I mentioned above, well let's throw some corn-y in there and have a real veggie burrito party! Baked beans? Ha! A great side dish to the zucchini in the fridge and once it's BBQed, yummo! I also have some frozen broccoli that can be baked and seasoned which would be great paired with those protein packed beans. That enchilada sauce could be challenging, but since I already have tortillas, why not whip up some cheese enchiladas for my TH (thriving husband) to take to work. I do have a Costco size amount of shredded cheese that needs to go, so that works perfectly! As far as that Amy's chili, that is an easy dinner for me on my next night alone. This cabinet is almost empty! YES!

Next up, the soup section. I will send that nasty Wal Mart Chicken Noodle soup to work with my TH as I bought it for him in a pinch when he was sick a few months ago. The Miso soup just needs some frozen broccoli and I'll have a delish, light and salty dinner done within seconds. French Onion is usually saved for my recipes, but I may just eat it straight up..with cheese that is. Heck, I have some whole grain loaf that needs to go, let's make that French Onion soup a dip! I have the next two weeks of dinners out of the house and I didn't spend a dime...but what's for dessert?

Fine, fine, forget everything I just said. I will live on this cookie butter and nutella for the next two weeks...

Have you ever been a food scavenger either due to a move or becuase you just haven't been to the grocery store in awhile? Share your random recipes with us!

Gotta See It To Believe It

2013-05-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Losing weight and kick starting a healthy lifestyle is not the easiest thing to do...and definitely not the easiest thing to make stick. Life will often just get in the way and finding the time to get in a workout just doesn't happen. For crazy people like me, not working out is when it can get real scary. However for most, "normal" people, after working all day, running errands and taking care of personal business it feels like there is barely time to eat dinner let alone relax a bit before bedtime.

I have found that writing down what I do each day helps me meet the goals I set for working out. I have found this trick to also be especially useful for my friends/clients. Whether a blank paper calender, using an app like My Fitness Pal or writing them down on a whiteboard, seeing what you do (or don't do) each week can often be very enlightening.

Love me a blank calendar!

I have gotten a little creative as of late and started using one of the mirrored doors on my closet. I like it because it is huge, I can't miss it, I can reuse it, I can write a ton on it and it will haunt me if I don't keep it up. Each day I write the date and what I did for the day. I have been keeping it up for nearly two months now and have really enjoyed holding myself accountable. It allows me to insure I get my strength training it and keep my cardio up and consistent (it is hard teaching so much since I the workout needs to be more for the clients then myself).

How is that for accountability!

So, if you set goals and want to see them met, you need to make sure you SEE them be met. Make a plan, find a way to execute that plan and make a lifestyle change...today! Have any other great ideas to help track your fitness goals?

Kindness...Pass It On

2013-05-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of starting a chain reaction of kindness and watching it unfold in front of my very eyes. Needless to say I was pretty giddy the rest of the evening and wouldn't shut up about how amazing it feels to do nice things for others..just as my TH's eyes were starting to roll to the floor.

It all started on a date night out. I dressed myself right up and we hit a fancy restarunat for a nice dinner to celebrate life. Despite the fact I had made reservations we were forced to wait, not a problem for me, I had nowhere to be and happily replied that it was no big deal. The hostess (or so I thought) seemed thrilled with my carefree and positive attitude, which made it even clearer that she was not getting that same response from the other patrons as they continued to pack in the small waiting area before being seated. Too bad for them! As we stood waiting, I kept my eyes peeled for a spot to open up in the bar where we could sit and have a drink prior to dinner, nothing was coming up, but I still didn't get crabby. I was looking great, had a gorgous man at my side and was happy as a bumble bee to be out with him.

As we continued to wait the five, ten and fifteen minutes, I could feel my TH getting slightly agitated. He asked me for the third time if we had reservations to which I smiled and responded a confident, "yes". Then I saw a woman's jacket lying on the floor in the bar behind her seat. I immediately started to make my way across the room to pick it up for her when my TH asked where I was going. I told him I was going to pick up that jacket and he told me it was fine, someone would get it. He explained it was too crowded for me to be making my way across the room in my sky high heels. Well, uneasily, I said ok and just stared at the jacket. I was sick. Why wasn't anyone closer getting the jacket? I saw people stepping over it, was this really happening?! I couldn't take it one more second. I told my TH I was going to pick up the jacket, ignored his heavy sigh and marched right over. I did my ladylike dip, picked up the jacket and asked if it was hers, she quickly responded yes and thanked me over and over. I said it was no problem at all, felt much better and started to make my way back to my TH. Just like that a table in the bar opened in front of me and I snagged it. There weren't even any table stalkers around to steal it from me...I knew it had been my good deed going noticed!

As I waved over my TH he sat down laughing knowing he should have known better than to stop me from helping someone, he knows I have a true passion for kindness, duh. As he sat, I quickly went and mentioned to the hostess that we found a table in the bar and were going to have a glass of wine before dinner. She told me how much she appreciated me letting her know and thanked me again for being so patient. I reminded her it wasn't a problem at all, we realized it was a busy night and reservation or not, sometimes you have to wait! After another grateful smile, I went back to our table and noticed two drinks. Apparently, she had drinks sent over and comped for us since we not only waited, but were so great about it... Another good deed NOT gone unnoticed. So crazy to think that simple, basic courtesy is so easy, feels so great but is seen as rare...wierd.

Just as we were sipping our drinks we started chatting with some other guests smashed into the bar area hoping for a table to open up. They were doing the old table stalking in hopes of something opening up. As we chatted (and told them we hoped to be seated soon) I was sad we didn't have any extra stools for them to join us, while I still invited them, they were happy to stand and stalk it out.

Just then, the lady whose jacket I picked up asked if we were waiting for a table and if so, we could have hers as they had access to the kitchen from her location in the bar. I kindly said thank you, but that we should be seated at any moment. She smiled thanked me again. I then decided to share this kindness with the folks waiting for their table and they swooped it right up! They thanked me profusely, the jacket lady thanked me again on her way out all the while the hostess (who turned out to be the manager) thanked me again for waiting, showed us to our table and comped another round of drinks. So here I am, all smiles from ear to ear so excited for what I had just started. A total chain reaction of kindness and so simple, I just took one moment to help someone else, It still gives me chills and makes me smile!

Do you enjoy helping others? Love starting chain reactions? Tell us about it!

House Hunting...(double) SUCCESS!

2013-05-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

With Nic's escrow closed and the packing party started, I was PUMPED to be right behind her with my escrow closing only two weeks later! How is that for one thriving monster move?! We are moving even closer to each other with only a short four miles between our new and "real" homes. But it wasn't all fun and games to get there as you know from my last post on Fun or Frustrating but at least it is over!

When I went home to the Bay Area to visit my family over my Spring Break in April, my TH took this house hunting nonsense on full boar. He had the week off as well so he went with our realtors and looked at nearly ten different homes. After speaking with me multiple times a day we decided to just go nutty and put offers on every/anything we saw. If it was a house, in our budget and in a nice area of Orange County we put an offer on it. We didn't care if it needed work, was smaller than we wanted or not the best layout; we put in an offer. We could always do the work later, we could always make the house bigger (if the city allowed add-ons of course) so, we were willing to be flexible. We were mindful of resale and stayed away from freeways and any other unsavory buying deterrents like having railroad tracks running through our backyard, ect.

We ended up putting in five offers in a span of two days and were just hoping that by doing so our odds would increase. We were REALLY sick of being the first runner up in a constant state of back up position. While it is good to be in back up, unfortunately for us, no one ever fell through so we were still losers in the end.

Then one fateful day, our super smart and hardworking realtors had another agent in their office get a listing that had yet to go on the market. It was JUST what we had been looking for and they were determined on getting it for us. I mean they had already door knocked on 300+ homes in a neighborhood we liked just trying to get someone to list with them...so they were ready to get us a home run! They just had a feeling about this one and they jumped right on it. They told the selling agent we were just what her clients needed and to take a chance on us (insert ABBA song here please) asking to let us put in an offer before she listed the property for the world to see. The selling agent agreed and as usual our realtors, packaged us up with a bright red bow, made touches to our lovely little biography and sent us to the sellers...

The sellers not only loved our "young couple starting a family" story but accepted our slight over-bid of their suggested list price and accepted our offer without even showing or listing the house. BOO YA! This meant that for ONCE we weren't going to have to get all Hunger Games on people and fight till the death for this home. It was ours, under the radar and after they accepted our offer we officially started our 45 day escrow. We had 15 days to back out for any reason which meant we had a lot to do in a short amount of time and the clock was always ticking. We had to schedule inspections, appraisals and make sure our loan was all in order. As a buyer once escrow starts, the ball is in your court and you better make sure you sink that shot! We were advised to drive by as much as possible at different times on different days and make sure what was going on in the neighborhood was what we wanted..we became local stalkers and made the most of our 15 days.

Because the market is so competitive we had to make some concessions we maybe wouldn't have done, like take the house "as is" or not "contingent on appraisal". Since we didn't have those luxuries, we focused our energy to the positive and were determined to hope that it would all work out. Because we couldn't back out if the appraisal came in too low (that would mess up our loan and require us to come up with the money of the houses cost), we were really praying it would come in right where we wanted it. After days on pins and needles we got the call.. SUCCESS! It came in to the penny and we were one step closer to making this house dream a reality!

Next up home inspection. Unless something came back really scary (termites, geological issues, wood rot, ect) we would be good to go. After a very nice man came through and went through every nook and cranny, he gave it his stamp of approval and again, SUCCESS! We were one step closer to that big day 15 where we were removing contingencies and 100% all in....whoa.

That fateful day arrived, we met our realtors at the local Starbuck's, signed off and it was done....done...DONE?! Wow, we bought a house! Now was the easy part, riding out the rest of escrow until we threw down our thousands of dollars for our down payment, did our last walk through and got the keys...next up, NEST-A-POOLOZA!

Happy Memorial Day!

2013-05-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

We hope you had a thriving weekend and hope you enjoy your extra day off! As you spend the day BBQ-ing or doing work in your new home (what we'll be doing) take a moment to remember those who served to give us the freedom we enjoy each day.

HAVE A HAPPY & SAFE MEMORIAL DAY!

Juicing Recipe - Pink Heartbeet

2013-05-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Another juicing recipe coming your way! How was the Mankiwi Awakening? Phenom? Are you feeling good about starting your new juicing lifestyle and excited to try a new recipe this week? Well, I sure hope so! If you are still not sure you want to enter this green world of liquid goodness, then check out my intro to this world and decide if you are ready to take the plunge.

As always, my servings are based on 32 oz. mason jars, and I always make two. So ultimately, these recipes made 64 ounces of power packed juice. I always use organic produce for "soft skinned" fruit and any vegetables. I urge you to do the same or at least accept you may be drinking pesticide juice, but that is simply my opinion.

House Hunting: Fun or Frustrating?

2013-05-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

With Nic starting her house hunting journey a bit before me, she sort of set the tone for what I should be prepared to expect: lots of excitement soon followed by lots of let down. Since I knew nothing of such terms like: inventory, market turns, contingency, counters or appraisals, I went into this whole process a bit uneducated.

When my TH and I first moved to Orange County a year ago we had wanted to buy a home right off the bat. But as per usual, I didn't really think about it. To buy a house you need money, the more the better. While loans can be given for little money down, they is always a catch... and in this case, little money down means higher payments and added insurances. While I assumed the role of Naive Nelly conjuring up pictures of my southern style home complete with wrap around porch, it was my TH who was realistic about this whole homeowner thing.

Six months after moving my Aunt B hooked us up with a great realtor from First Team Real Estate whom she knew through her baseball academy. We decided to meet after the holidays and were ready to get things moving. Our little condo, while great, was starting to cramp our style more each day. Our first meeting was all information, which for me was wonderful! Our agents (they work in teams there, get it, first team) sat us down and explained the terms associated with buying a home. For example, right now it is a seller's market which means the seller has control, as opposed to previously when the buyer had a bit more power. Furthermore, the inventory in this current market was low, meaning there weren't many homes for sale. The ones that were for sale were going for over their list price meaning if a home was put on the market at $450,000 the buyers were offering $465,000 to $475,000 or even higher right off the bat. To make matters worse, because the inventory was so low, there was a great deal of competition, meaning each listing had multiple offers which gave even more power to the seller who could then start a bidding war between offers by asking for a counter offer. For example, if we offered $465,000 the seller may come back and ask if we would offer $470,000... which NO we wouldn't. This was quite a change from just a year or two ago when you would offer well below list price and usually get it. Well, not in today's market. These days it is practically like one piece of meat in the jungle for 500 lions and the one with the most cash wins.

Note from Nic: I actually had no idea Em got such amazing information from her realtor up front - I love our realtor but we did not get this kind of detailed info (perhaps I wasn't asking the right questions). It seemed to me we were all realizing what was going on at the same time, but having someone explain all this to me would have been really nice!

After the realtors unloaded all that info about the current market trends we weren't feeling that optimistic about getting our little 1970's built starter home in a nice neighborhood... but they were super positive and assured us they could do it... so we went for it! The first month was pretty fun. We got multiple email blasts each day of homes that just came on the market. If we liked the pictures and details about the house, we would schedule a time to go see it and then decide whether or not we wanted to submit an offer in hopes of being chosen. Well, we never got chosen in the first month, or the one after or the one after that... we came in second a few times, but we were almost always outbid. Someone with an all cash offer or willing to put more money down then our measly 15% (or less in some cases) so we never had an offer be accepted.

Rewind a bit to Nic and her house hunting horrors... after a few months of also putting in multiple offers and never having them accepted she sort of mentally gave up and said, "whatever" to the whole process. For her it was turning into a nightmare full of let downs and squashed dreams. As she tried to warn me, looking for a home can easily become a full time job. I too felt the weight of added pressure as I constantly checked the email blast, tried to work out time to see each house, only to be mildly impressed yet still submit an offer only to be denied and more annoyed of all the wasted time. It was like as soon as a house came on the market, it immediately sold for significantly over the asking price and we never even had a shot! ANNOYING!

N: Well, I wouldn't say that I gave up, as we most certainly did not, but I simply changed my attitude and tried to just believe something would happen sooner or later. The most important part was not to let the disappointment impede on my desire to continue planning our future. We had a baby on the way, and at some point would need to stop looking and prepare for little BK's arrival in our apartment. It was keeping priorities in mind that kept me sane - and hey, we eventually DID get an offer accepted!

So, like I often do, I Abraham Hicks'ed myself and just played the horrible house hunting game but knowing and trusting that it would all work out as it always does. Our realtors said it would, I so hoped it would and therefore tricked myself into completely believing in it no matter how un-fun house hunting was. To make matters worse we had to succumb to "market pressure". All offers were being written removing appraisal contingency which meant we offered a certain price and if the appraisal came in less than what we offered we were stuck. That also meant that whatever our loan was approved for would only reflect the appraisal which for many left them short a few thousands of dollars that they in turn had to make up on their own. SCARY! I mean, yes we could still back out of escrow, but not because the house wasn't worth what we offered, we would have to make up some other excuse... and I do hate being dishonest!

N: Our big problems came into play when our appraisal actually came in lower than our offer, which meant we wouldn't be able to secure a loan for that amount without forking over the extra cash. We didn't have to remove the appraisal contingency in our offer, but it still meant we may not get the house after all. After much nail biting and many patient phone calls and emails between buyer, seller, and both realtors, we finally got a second appraisal to come in where we needed it. PHEW!

Despite shutting down all our spending and becoming envelope budgeters and being able to save quite a bit each month, it just still wasn't enough. We really had to consider other options and maybe not getting to live in an area we loved our an old home we so wanted. There was many a thriving argument and many a sassy comment thrown around between my TH and myself, but at the end of it all and each time we both wanted to give up, we had to remember it was all going to work out... it was all going to work out... it was all going to work out.

While finding your first home is meant to be fun, it is... for about a minute. Then, it becomes HIGHLY frustrating and not fun at all. But there is really nobody to blame, the only thing that should take ownership for making people miserable is the market. But alas, it will all work it... as it always does....

N: I think the most important advice I can give to a future first time home buyer, is learn as much as you can about the market a few months BEFORE you really start looking, as it always changes. We waited around until we felt "ready" but had we known what to expect I think we could've saved ourselves some frustration. It was the shock of hearing over and over "it's a buyer's market" only to find ourselves in a "seller's market" that really did us in. Buying a home is a HUGE financial and emotional undertaking, so it's important to have the appropriate expectations of your experience in order to make it enjoyable. While I doubt anyone gets to experience that classic romantic vision of walking into a clean, bright, spacious house and say (after glancing knowingly at their spouse) "We'll take it!", it also doesn't have to be the nightmare Em and I seemed to have stepped into.

Anyone else house hunting or recently bought a house? We'd love to hear your experiences!

Sassy Southwestern Salad

2013-05-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Mmmmmmmm

I love salads, I really do. We easily eat them almost every night (ok, every night is more accurate). So, I like to keep them sassy and oh so delish to keep my meat eating TH happy. One salad he is always happy to eat is my Sassy Southwestern - it is one of my faves too!

All you need is seven sassy ingredients for this salad:

Lettuce (romaine, spinach or spring mix will do)
1 cup of organic quinoa
1/2 cup of organic corn
1/2 cup of organic black beans

1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup of grilled onions
Sliced Avocado

Once the salad fixins' are ready to go, we need to whip up the stellar dressing:

1/2 cup of spicy salsa
2 tablespoons of bleu cheese or ranch dressing (I like bleu cheese personally)
1 tablespoon of BBQ sauce


Dressing time!

Chop up the lettuce and throw in the dressing. Mix it all up and make sure it evenly disperses to each leaf (I like equality and each bite to be perfectly dressed)...


Look at that, now we are getting somewhere!

Once you have given it a good toss, then go ahead and add the quinoa, beans, carrots and corn, toss it again to get all the flavors molding together.

Now that we are all mixed, "lightly dust" the grilled onions and chopped avocado on top of the salad to before serving.

But before we serve, we gotta add the kicker...quesadilla slices...Taking uncooked tortillas (Costco has GREAT ones) go ahead and start it cooking, add a light jalapeno spread (Costco again kills it here) and a light (not more than 1/4 cup) sprinkle of shredded cheese).

Get it cooking, golden brown and as perfect as ever!

While that quesadilla is cooling, plate the salad, the cut the quesadilla into wedges and place atop that heaping and oh so sassy beauty....then ENJOY!

YUM!

Cardio Circuit

2013-05-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Oh cardio, my sweet, my love, my addiction. What would I do without you? Recently I had to "take it easy" for a week and not do any intense exercise. Easily the worst week of my life. I was dying. I was going to claw out of my skin. I wanted to curl on the belt of the treadmill and sob because we couldn't be together. This walking nonsense just wasn't doing it for me, not at all!

Since I have been reunited with my love of intense exercise and being drenched in sweat I decided to kick up my workouts and go back to a routine I used to do quite frequently, a little cardio circuit. Five different machines, 10 minutes each. Quick, easy, and anything but boring. Just when I start to get antsy and want to do something else, the ten minutes are up and I get to move machines. LOVE IT!

Machine 1 - Elliptical. Since this machine is low impact I like to start here to get "warmed up". Keeping my RPM above 80 and keeping it at a resistance of 7, I pump my arms squeezing my biceps around those handles and contracting my triceps with every backward motion. Once I power through five minutes, I pause and take my legs backwards utilizing different muscles then when my legs are moving forward. About 150 calories and an additional five minutes later, it's over and time to move to the treadmill.

Machine 2 - Treadmill. Get this thing at a 3.0 incline and a 6.0 and get started. Once you hit three minutes, kick that up to an 9.0 for one minute and run a little faster. Now that you are at minute four, take it back down to a 6.0 and keep it gong for another minute. Ok, look at that, half way there. Minute 6-7? 9.2 (yeah that's right, a little bit faster now) Minute 7-8? Scale it down to 6.0 again (seeing how we are doing a little interval training here too? Gosh this feels GREAT!). Minute 8-9? Kick it to a 9.5 baby, this is the home stretch! Whew, cool it down for the last minute at a nice and slow 5.0... once that ten minute mark hits, it's time to move... now we are sweatin'!

Machine 3 - Bucket Seat Bike. This to me is a bit of a break, so I welcome the chance to sit and power through some legs. Starting with a resistance of 7.0 get those legs moving fast and furious. Low resistance, fast pedal... let's hit it! As each minute passes you change your resistance. Since the first minute was at a 7.0, the second is at 14, yes that's right a 14, yes it is going to be significantly harder and heavier..that's the point. Too hard? Thank goodness it's only a minute, back to rapid pedal at a 7.0...so on and so forth until you hit that magic ten minute mark...then switch!

Machine 4 - Stair mill (love to hate it). Starting at a nice and steady 7.0 speed, keep it here for about three minutes. Then...we climb! With each minute we go a little faster...at five minutes we go to a 9.0. Minute seven, we go to 12.0. Minute eight, 14.0 and at great old minute nine...17.0. It is the last minute, might as well run up those stairs as fast as you can!

Machine 5 - Row (to the finish line!). I don't use this machine often, but when I do I always love it. The way that it requires you to use legs, keep the core engaged and also controlling the arms as you reach and pull back? Total body baby, love it! Row strong and steady throughout the entire ten minutes and that's it...easy right?!

Well, with 50 minutes of body pumping cardio out of the way, you should be feeling pretty good both mentally and physically (not to mention quite sweaty). Try it out... I hope you love it as much as I do!

Make Your Mondays - May 20th

2013-05-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Em had another busy week and welcomed the weekend with open arms. After helping her Aunt B with a community garage sale, she ended up spending what she made... oops! But oh the treasures she got! Her girl Ash came down from LA for a neon shopping spree dinner with Nic and a party at Jay Gatsby's... too bad we had to attend the one at Robert Redford's house on Em's couch with fro yo since Leo's house was sold out. A lovely beach day on Sunday recharged her for the week ahead which will all culminate with the first stage of Nic's moving party into her real house! Nic was, of course, a busy little bee - ordering major appliances, baby furniture, and paint for the new house. Planning for a baby AND a new house is a lot of work! Which is why it's even more important to remember sentiments like today's quote...

Oh pivoting, what a great way of putting it. Get up on that toe, twist those hips and turn those feelings around! Why do you feel negative? Frustrated? Stressed? Tired? Low blood sugar? Well, whatever it is, take a second to identify why that emotion is negative, determine what you want and then SHIFT to a better feeling. While it takes some practice, it is WELL worth the effort. Remember, it feels better to feel good.

Take the Weakness, Share the Strength

2013-05-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes relationships are hard... very hard. Sometimes it feels as though your partner is the only thing holding you together. Sometimes it feels as though you are the only thing holding your partner together. I know this all too well after the year my TH and I have had. After a serious move down South to start our "real life", we first had to get through his probationary year at work. When he was going through his background check, a lovely gentleman came to our home in the middle of nowhere and took a closer look into his life. That also meant a show stopping interview with none other than me... I killed it of course and am 90% sure I was the icing on top of his hiring process. I mean who wouldn't want to hire a guy with a super nice, organized, clean, well spoken, healthy wife like me (not that I am tooting my own horn or anything, well maybe I am a little bit... toot toot!).

As we were chatting away, he asked me if I knew what I was getting into. If I really understood what the probationary year of a fire fighter looked like and if I was ready to handle that. I of course said, "YES!" as I felt so confident in my ability to juggle it all and we had already done it once, so what was the big deal?

Well, the big deal was the fact that this new department was the real deal. No more small town nonsense, this was big city fire fighting and probation was going to be a killer... or so he warned me. I got myself all fired up and assured him I was ready for anything; I was ready to motivate, support and conquer this next year and get through it together as we had for the past eight years... if he got hired that was...

When we made the move and my TH started his grueling year filled with mental mind games, back breaking work and tests that would bring a normal person to tears, I started to see my lovely husband disappear and a cranky, stressed monster take over his spirit. I would have NONE of that. I had promised myself, him and the background investigator that I would be his rock and that is exactly what I intended to do. My TH was weak so I had to be the strength that kept him going. If I broke he too would crumble and as a master of mind manipulation that was NOT HAPPENING ON MY WATCH!

So my big girl pants went on and I fought to find just a bit of my husband in the monster. I motivated him when he was at his lowest, I fired him up when he needed the extra drive to push even harder than he thought possible, and I did my best to keep him focused, positive and continue to put out the energy he wanted to get in return. I had to put my own feelings aside and take his stress outbursts knowing he didn't mean them, put on a smile and quickly leave the house to stop myself from crying in front of him.

Some days were worse then others, but the 365 day countdown was long, tumultuous and challenging, but we made it. And, like most challenges in our marriage, it has only made us closer and stronger. I had taken his weakness and shared my strength (even if faking it to make it) to never allow him to get down on himself.

As we approached his last couple weeks of probation I noticed my husband starting to claw his way out of this monster he had been trapped in. Suddenly, as I was freaking out about this nightmarish house hunt (more to come on that later), here was this strong, resolved, confident and supportive man I had been missing for oh so long! He started to take my weakness and share his strength with me. He continues to be everything I need and always keep me calm, focused and positive. Wow, how the roles do change... Thank G for Thriving Husbands, Thank G!

Work Week Mason Jar Salads

2013-05-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

One of the things I hate most is making a lunch for work. I don't know why I hate it so much, I just do. I guess I should make more for dinner to have left overs each day, but I just never seem to make enough for both myself and my TH. Alas, I am crank-town USA as I drag myself into the kitchen before bed to whip up my hummus and cheese sandwich or juice jar for the day. I needed something I could make ahead of time (juice, as you know, only lasts 24-48 hours at most), was super nutrient rich and low cal. Alas, Pinterest to the rescue!

Being a devout mason jar lover myself from my juicing lifestyle, I was already obsessed with this idea just because they were being used. I became even more obsessed when I realized these wonderful salads were being made over the weekend and eaten throughout the work week. I am a salad enthusiast myself and eat at least one a day so this was right up my alley! I immediately took a look over the ingredients and directions and whipped up my own concoctions for the week.

Here is the recipe and layering technique I used for this Baby Balsamic Bleu:

The dressing goes on the bottom layer. I use one tablespoon of Bob's bleu cheese dressing and a a hefty pour of balsamic vinaigrette.

Then I pick my "fixins'. For this recipe I used carrots, cucumber, snap peas and 1/2 organic fuji apple. Once all the fruits and veggies are nice and chopped, I toss them in the mason jar and top with a cup of organic quinoa.

Next comes as much organic spinach as I can shove in there. For an extra kick, I add a sprinkle of bleu cheese crumbles and a pinch of organic dried blueberries.

Toss on the lid and you are ready to go for lunch!

The next day at work, I take out my trusty bowl.....

Dump, toss and enjoy! Ooooohhhh yeah!

Weight Ain't Nuthin' But a Number

2013-05-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

There are few things women avoid like they do the scale. I can't tell you how many friends I have that dread going to the doctor not because of shots, diagnoses or checkups but because of the weigh in. Even now I have some friends participating in the "Biggest Loser" at work and taking that scale fear head on. Despite their new found commitment to healthy eating and active living, if the scale doesn't show them a magic number, their whole mindset shifts. They become down, lose that motivation they had only minutes before and are ready to throw it all away over one stupid weigh in.

Why? Does that dumb number suddenly erase all the work they have been putting in for the past weeks? Heck no it doesn't. So, I always take time to remind them that it isn't about being the "Biggest Loser" it is about being the "Biggest Life Changer". Losing weight is no big deal if you are only going to gain it all back once the game is over. It is not about crash dieting and binging on exercise for a short period of time to win a pool of money. It is about changing your bad, mindless habits into new found thoughtful choices. It is about stopping to think about if what you are putting in your body is going to work for you or against you. It is about deciding whether you are willing to carve some time in your day to get moving or being content just continuing to sit. If you don't make changes in your everyday life, you surely won't see changes in your body.

However, if you have been making those better choices in diet and exercise and aren't seeing those numbers drop fast enough, don't get discouraged but stop and ask yourself how you feel. How does your mind feel after a workout? How do you see yourself when you look in the mirror? How do your clothes fit now that you have been working out and eating right? Do you feel less stressed? Do you feel good about yourself? If the answers to those questions are positive, then who the heck cares what that lame-o scale says. Trust how you feel and take that as the one and only indicator of the changes you are making. Don't let your focus be derailed by digits. Stay motivated and keep working hard!