Currently

Clean Eating:

I am really trying to eat clean and healthy.  Winter hibernating has me feeling not so fab! Every morning I still start my day out with this fun little concoction. Eggs, spinach, tomatoes, feta.

Trying Something New: 

Joe taught me how to shoot a few weeks ago.  I was nervous because I've never pulled a trigger, but it wasn't so bad! I actually hit the little gopher target on the first try!



Boys:

Speaking of guns, this one is starting to like his toy gun from Uncle Ty Ty! He runs around yelling "bang bang!"

Storm Update:

We did end up with a little bit of damage from the windstorm. One of our trees fell down right next to our shed, luckily it fell away from the house!

Reading:

I'm in a virtual book club and really trying to keep up! I don't make myself sit and read enough, but this one definitely needs your undivided attention.  I can't read and hear screaming littles!

I needed to highlight this part...I'm constantly beating myself up for not "being where I think I should be" or going as fast as I think that I should.

House Inspiration:

I like to take little drives with the kids to scope out nice houses in the area. #creeperstatus I'm gathering inspiration for when we build as well as looking for any For Sale By Owners!

Digging Earth Tones:

I'm obsessed with this little succulent I got at Wegmans.  I also love painting my nails these colors lately!

Growing my Team & Clients:

I am really loving my little VIP group!  I do fun giveaways and am starting to put together items for a sample sale.  It's hard to part with pretty pieces, but it's time to move out the old to make room for new.   I love going "FB LIVE" and having girl talk too. Care to join?  Hop on over!  Style by Jenn VIP Group




Sales:

I still can't believe all the gold beauties that are available this month at half off when you spend $50.

Storm #2:

I was well prepared for "Stella" to come and dump a bunch of snow on us.  I love being cozied up inside, baking & having no place to go.

We got over 2 feet.

Stella the snow storm!

Workouts:

After a bit of a hiatus, I am sweating and loving it again!! I find that if I post pictures I tend to motivate myself and keep myself accountable. I have a little disco dress to fit into soon!  I made it to a yoga class before the big storm and did a few at home workouts.  I'm starting to walk Holly on the regular, am/pm and that really helps me so much.

Baking:

I try everything to get the kids to eat more fruits and veggies.  These were a hit for Bradley but Brooke not so much after the first few bites.  Banana whole wheat muffins, with maple syrup and coconut oil.

Mommy/son time:

I had groceries to buy, clothes to fold, dishes to do, and so many things!! But, this little guy trumped everything.  We've been stuck inside for far too long and I knew a little one on one time while having some fun would help this little dude out so much!! He's such a ham.

Playing:

We tried to play in the snow, but it was a bit overwhelming for the kids.  Both of them got stuck and cried at the same time! Oh my goodness.  Never a dull moment!

Cooking:

I get requests for these bad boys all of the time!! Bake at 350 degrees for 1/2 an hour, flip and coat and bake another 30 minutes.

Drinking:

I love a good red and this was delightful!  Warms you right up on a cold Winter Day.

What are you currently up to?

Books

I have been a little bookworm lately!! I cannot stress how much better I feel when I am reading/listening to books.  I definitely have a wide variety I enjoy, and some I've enjoyed more than others.

My top 3 ways to read:

1.) Audiobook
2.) Kindle fire
3.) Actual book

Here is a look at my audible app:  I am really enjoying 10x rule and I did like the Miracle Morning as far as personal development goes.  I'm still working on Eat that Frog and I still listen to, How to Win Friends and Influence People.

The Girls is moving kind of slow for me.

I REALLY like the Behind Closed Doors!

I can't get into Rich and Pretty...I'll keep trying though

This book is on my Kindle Fire and I read it to go to sleep at night.

If you're looking for a who done it/what the heck happened type of book, this is your best bet! It's a super fast read and I liked it a lot.  (took me a weekend!)

I ramble a little, but here's a little you tube video on "books".

What are you reading lately?

{love the crazy look; I need to learn how to make a thumbnail ahhh! LOL}

Happy reading!

Miracle Morning

The other morning I was in looking through books on my kindle and I came across a book I had never heard of before.  I bought it rather quickly, (thank you Amazon) and for an extra dollar or so, I had it added to my audible account.  {I tend to listen more than sit and read as of late!}

Wow.

I feel like the universe has definitely been trying to tell me to get up earlier.  I don't know if I would call myself a morning person, but I have always been really good about getting up early...until I had kids.  After I had Bradley, sleep was really hard to come by, as he was not a great sleeper.  In fact, I think my body was still trying to catch up on all that missed sleep up until a few months ago!

Now, that said, I am always up by 7am, which is still early for most people!! But, in the land of littles, a working hubby and my stay at home life, 7am means time to take care of everyone else and no time for me.

I kept saying to my husband that when Brooke goes to pre-school this Fall, one thing I do not want happening is the whole rushing out the door/stressed out mornings.  We really enjoy our morning time together and the last thing I want to be doing is fighting with her to eat her eggs and get dressed.

Mind you, she's up now at 6:15 pretty much daily, so waking her will not be a problem.  I was more concerned how I will walk the dog, iron clothes, make breakfast, get her ready and feel like myself a little more.

Everything I continue to read, listen to or watch, has told me that in order to be successful, I must wake up early.  OK, but how?? I wake up then what?  What is the best way to start my day so I am on the right foot??

Enter this gem:

As with anything, there's no shortcut, excuses or BS that can help you become the best version of yourself.  In this quick book he explains a little way to start your day.  {By the way, his story is similar to my husband's and quite inspiring!  Talk about falling down and climbing your way up to the top!!}

So here is what he says to do.  Wake up an hour earlier.  Can't do that? Well, then aim for a half an hour earlier.   Drink a glass of water (we are dehydrated from not drinking overnight).  Get up and get dressed or shower.  Get out of your bedroom. Break your hour down into these 10 minutes each.

Silence

Affirmations

Visualizations

Exercise

Read

Scribe

{SAVERS}

Silence

Not many of us will actually sit in silence doing nothing.  We have so many distractions, we rarely clear our heads.  If you can sit down and just be for a few moments, it will set your tone for the rest of the day.  {I'll admit, I just started implementing these and this one I still do in my bed. I try not to grab my phone or kindle, but just start being grateful for things in my life listen to my inner self.}

Affirmations

Write out positive affirmations and read them aloud.  "I am a morning person."  "I am patient."  "I am a published author."  Whatever you believe, you become.  A few positive and inspirational affirmations will help your morning turn into a beautiful day!

Visualization:

Where do you see yourself going today?  What sort of plans do you have laid out?  What about tomorrow?  Next year?  What are some goals a dreams?  Taste, feel, smell, hear ---try to actually picture yourself being whatever it is you want to become.  {one for me is our new house! I keep trying to visualize where it is I want to live.}

Exercise

I loathe working out in the morning. Always have.  For 10 minutes though?? I have been doing some light yoga stretches and just trying to get that blood flowing. I  also walk the dog so that helps too.  If I can squeeze in a workout later, I do that too!

Read

Pick up a motivational book.  {Not just the latest chick lit!} Obviously the one I have been reading is The Miracle Morning---next up on my list is The Diamond Process.

Scribe

Write.  Get a pretty journal or a $.59 spiral notebook and write.  You could just journal what comes to mind, you could write a book, you could just jot down some goal, just put words on a paper! {today I am actually blogging!} 

Here's the kicker; a lot of you will say, "I don't have the extra hour, I get up so early as it is."

Then do it for SIX minutes.  

Sit in silence for a minute, read your affirmations one minute, visualize something for a minute, do jumping jacks or yoga stretches one minute, read one or two pages, and write for one minute.

NO excuses.

So my mornings are starting to look more like this...

I've added an essential oil; today is "Grounding."  I have my full cup of water, my green tea and lately I've been getting into Angel Oracle Cards.

I shuffle the deck and choose a card.  Today this card came up twice; once when I opened the box and then when I split the deck to choose a card.

Whatever comes to mind, I acknowledge and think about throughout the day.  Kind of cool...

This has come to me at a perfect time in my life.  I cannot control what is going on around me; I am going through some stuff, just to say...but this is helping me stay centered and at peace.

I told my husband last night, despite all of the negativity surrounding us and all that is going on within our lives, I have never been more at peace.  And that to me is something I have never really felt before, so whatever I am doing must be working and I will continue working on myself.

I want to give my children and my husband the best version of me; they deserve it.  I deserve.

Love yourselves and have a beautiful day friends!

Currently

It's always hard to just start when you've stepped away for a bit.  So I thought I'd just share some of what is happening currently.  I am currently...

Sitting outside on the back deck, sipping on some fruit punch rehydrate and banging out this little blog post.  My fingers just needed to feel the keys under them and share what's on my heart, in my mind and what I've been up to.  I started that Mary Kay Andrews book last night, as I need a lighthearted beach read to just ease my mind a bit, with all that's been happening.

Cooking- I made this yummy and easy pasta dish the other week.  I just sliced up summer squash/zucchini, cooked in on a grill pain with a little extra virgin olive oil & this TS spice.  I sprinkled parm cheese at the end.  I boiled the pasta and then tossed it all together in the grill pan. So good!

Drinking- Iced chai soy lattes.  My jam!

Enjoying a little day date with my girl! We went to Wegmans and the Farmer's Market.  It was so nice to give her my undivided attention.

LOVING this hot Summer weather.  I don't remember having such great weather for so often and I am not taking any of it for granted!

Grateful for my mom staying with us; even under these conditions, it has enabled Joe and I so many little opportunities to spend some one on one time.  This was a day where we went out to lunch!

Getting all sorts of determination lately.  I feel like 'the next big thing' for us is around the corner. We just keep surrounding ourselves with positive people and those who truly 'get us' and it's really making for a beautiful life.

Feeling so blessed to these curly haired babes.  So many times I just find myself sitting and staring; watching them be siblings.  They bicker, of course, but when they're sweet and nice?  Melts my mama heart big time.

Amazed by this sunset at our land; how perfect will this view be?

Adoring this brand new tote that launched today in KEEP!  {Shop my mystery hostess social & enter to win rewards!}

Obsessing over these two necklaces combined to create a festive look for the 4th! {Tulum & Bliss}

What are you currently up to?

What I'm Loving Wednesday

What up Wednesday?!

I am love love loving the fact that I am MAKING an effort to find time in my days to read again.  I really had no idea how happy I am when I read! I was reaching for excuses left and right, but the fact is, we all have these same 24 hours a day and hellooooooo so many of them can be easily wasted!!

Like I mentioned, I felt like the universe was trying to tell me to start reading again.  Obviously.  I forgot how much of a reader I used to be! Goodness knows how that's possible, since I always had 95+ in English classes, went to college to become an English teacher and then received my Master's in Secondary Education (English) and then taught books to 7th-11th graders for 8 years.

I know that I have a desire to write a book one day, so I know that the best way to get going on that is to become inspired by other amazing writers.

My heart seems so full and I feel a bit like a piece of me that I've been trying to find, has been found. May sound silly to some, but man...if it feels this good to read again, I know I need to start dancing more.  That would be the other thing I miss most!

I am still listening to my motivational pod casts etc. but I am replacing most of my bad habits scrolling through and seeing what everyone else is doing {or portraying that they're doing} and I am really just doing more for me.

It's like an instant change and I hope to stay with it, and for that? I'm lovin it!!

I knocked this audiobook out of the park! I started it Friday and finished it first thing this morning. I'll do a little review later on, but considering I don't remember the last time I finished a book, I'm ecstatic!

PS What's another amazing audiobook I would love to listen to??

I also had no idea that others felt this way after a book, so much so, there's a meme! LOL I hate finishing some books because I don't know what to do with myself after.

I was super sad that my favorite cleanser was no longer available, but I tried this one and I LOVE it! It smells like a spa and so far, so good with my sensitive skin. I've been using it all month.

My curly haired babes who keep me on my toes, constantly trying to be the best mommy I can be.

I'm really enjoying my mornings--I've decided to not check social media right away, but rather begin with a book.  After that, I get to chat with Joe, get the baby, and this morning we had a family snuggle sesh in bed watching music videos.  Bradley may or may not know the words to "Bad Blood" haha!  After ironing Joe's clothes, I come down and turn on the Today Show on my iPhone.  I get breakfast ready and we all sit down to eat.  It's not always a smooth and easy morning, but today? Today was awesome.

Joe cleaned up his hunting gear (aka my excuse as to why I wasn't using the elliptical) and now I'm back on it.  Yay!

I am super pumped about our May sign up deal!! FREE KEEP!! WOOP!

My favorite keep of the week is the triple stone & the horn pave key.  Green quartz for healing, turquoise for friendship & African turquoise for positive change. (seems to be working!) The horn helps remind us of our inner power.  I'm all about healing stones.



I saw this look posted the other day and I may have to re-create it---how stunning!

I also have to brag about my pouches---seriously. I wish I had these sooner!! I used to be SO bad at marking up the inside of my bags with lip gloss, pens, whatever! Now? I can swap out my goodies and not mark up my bags with our pouches. Yay!

I use my pink Keep pouch for all my personal girlie essentials: gum, lipstick/gloss, hairband, coffee/tea coozie, tampon, blush...

And usually with the kiddos I have been using this green Stella & Dot tote for my day to day bag.  It comes with its own pouch and I use that for baby!!

What are you loving?