I am

When I was a teacher, one of my favorite things to do with my students was the "I am" poem.  I absolutely loved our poetry unit, as it really helped me get to know my students on a new level, but also let them get to know themselves.  I took a grad class with an amazing teacher and we got to do a lot of creative writing.

One lesson he taught was simple.  Let your students tell them about yourself simply by completing:

I am...

Of course like any good teacher I would do this assignment right along with my students.  I let them see a little bit more of me and open that door of communication.

It also reminds me of Steve Chandler's 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself, he talks about children writing a "Lie Poem" where they speak of all of these amazing things they do in life.

We should be more like our kids.  Speak the truth that we want to be.

I'm not sure exactly how or why this popped into my head this morning, but after reading my daily devotionals, I felt drawn to write in my journal.

I clearly then felt the need to bang my fingers against this black keyboard and share my current "I am."  I wish I could find my examples from years ago; oh how much I have grown! I'm putting a twist on this one though and only allowing myself to complete positive thoughts.

I am-

an amazing wife.

a strong and patient mother of two.

a girl mom.

a boy mom.

a stay at home mom.

a work at home mom.

living my dream life.

loving, compassionate and caring to all things.

about to turn 36 years old.

blessed with a beautiful home.

healthy, whole and in great shape.

proud of my body, birthing two healthy babies.

a lover of green tea lattes and fine wine.

passionate about living my life to its fullest.

slow and articulate, enjoying every season of life.

loved.

witty, charming and can talk to anyone freely.

full of heart always helping others.

a runner.

a yogi.

a nature lover.

free from reflux and tinnitus. 

full of grace, peace and love.

present in the moment.

grateful.

accepting of myself 

a dancer.

living.

breathing.

being.

a Summer girl.

a writer, a reader and a published author.

a lover of healthy foods.

someone who helps others find a home in unconventional ways.

a peacemaker.

a loyal friend.

selfless.

selfish.

loving meditation.

always up to try something new.

a lifelong learner.

vulnerable.

a traveler who loves to explore new people, places and things.

fit.

happy.

I am Me.

Want to try it?  Don't filter your thoughts, just let it flow.  Try to stay optimistic and speak in the present tense.  Yes, EVEN if you find yourself writing something negative, switch it to the positive.   I will be honest and say that I've been feeling a bit in a funk these few days and I found that writing always helps, especially something like this.  Let me know if you write your own! 

You are a #girlboss

I've been going a mile a minute lately and there seems to be no stopping it now!! I'm constantly trying to find a consistent flow of my energy; I certainly played the victim a bit on Monday and compared myself to others...never good to do!!

I try to set reasonable goals, but man it's tough to get everything done alone! I do sometimes wish I had an assistant.  (Other than two curly hair cutie pies that follow me around all day!) But, I'm working with what I've got and I decided today, I'm going to literally write out my "done" lists.  Yup.  I need to stop and smell some essential oils and breathe.  I never give myself enough credit or toot my own horn, because, well? I don't want to be arrogant.  I don't want to become cocky.  But I think sometimes I go so far the other way and don't really see all that I do. So Jenn, when you're feeling down and like you don't do "enough" or aren't "where you think you should be" this blog post is for you.

You wake up every morning and walk the dog.

You iron Joe's clothes.

Bacon, eggs, juice, waffles etc.

You fuel yourself with clean foods and sip on green tea.

You are home with your children.

You wipe their noses, change their diapers, wash their hands and love them through every stinky second.

You fit in workouts when you can.

You get 5 million snacks out for the kids.

You clean all of the crumbs.

You wipe the floor down 3+ times a day.

You do all of the dishes, laundry, and cleaning. (no more house cleaner)

You do all of the grocery shopping.

The errand running, grabbing rent checks, depositing them, and keeping track of who paid etc. is mostly done by you.

You read books to the kids.

You count with the kids.

You listen to self-development books every day.

You play with playdough and paw patrol more times than you can count.

You've kissed sore bumped heads, broken up fights and made the littles smile so big, it hurts your heart.

Snuggling to sesame street after a boo boo happens.

You give the dog water all day long... ps buy a bigger dish!

You make lunches, and more snacks.

You clean up more messes.

You make a dinner that kids won't eat, and make more pbjs than you'd like to admit.

You give bath time and cut nails, and sing songs and read more books.

You cuddle and kiss and soothe.

You stay up and make a warm meal for your husband who works late into the evenings.

You hop online and do trunk shows.

You step outside of your comfort zone and try new things: hello juice cleanse.

You go to yoga classes.

You go to friends' houses to set up trunk shows and share the love of fashion with others.

You help other women feel confident and stylish when assisting them with their accessories.

You've helped others feel good with text messages, voice messages and shoutouts.

You alone are the sole person for your sister. 

You take her to meetings, you help her with things she needs help with and you make time for what is important.

You spend time with loved ones and celebrate birthdays.

You are the office manager for Fave Properties.

You're THE organizer. 

Your marriage is stronger than ever.

You're in better physical shape than before kids.

You're in a better emotional state than ever before.

You're strong. 

You're a tremendous role model for Brooke and setting a good example of what type of woman you'd like Bradley to fall in love with one day.

If that doesn't scream #girlboss I don't know what would.  Stop being so hard on yourself and give yourself some credit!!

You do all of these things, so that your husband can work his crazy long hours and provide monetarily for you and your family.  The more you keep everything else together, the better he can perform at work.  You're a team and you are a damn good one.

There are days when you want to stay in bed and read all day or lounge and be lazy, but you have big dreams, huge goals and lots of life to live. NEVER SETTLE.

So while you may not be able to say you've financially supported the family nearly as much as your husband, you are the one that keeps this family together. You make this house a home, create a loving and safe place for friends and family to be together.  Your two year old may not be eating as many vegetables as you'd like or as much protein, but he's healthy and thriving. 

So if you're struggling with a negative voice that won't quit, tell it to shut up and list all of your attributes.  What are all of the things you do well that give you your best life?

PS I totally thought about not posting this, but you know what? If this helps one other woman feel more confident in herself, and stop feeling bad about what she isn't or doesn't do, then I feel like I've done a little bit of good.  Plus I feel better now. xo

3 Day Juice Cleanse

Happy Monday! 

So, I wanted to share my thoughts and feeling now that I'm all done with my Juice Cleanse.  First and foremost, I am NOT a Dr, nutritionist or anything of that nature!  I am just a girl who loves her body and wants to feel the best she can!

I used Instagram, "Instastory"{Styled_by_Jenn} to kind of keep a daily log of my thoughts etc.  I discovered that you can just save the whole story from the day, so I did that (which case now you see random's of my kids etc, hey that's my life!!) 

I did forget to document a few times when I drank my juice, but I think it's a decent overall impression.  Overall I would give myself a 97% (haha! The old teacher in me!)  I drank so much water and kept a fairly good attitude; there was one point on day 3 where I was getting a little absurd and mad over nothing at all.

The hardest part was cooking meals for my kids and my husband, while sipping on juice. I love food SO MUCH and enjoy eating healthy, so to not be able to nibble here or there at all for 3 days was tricky.

I chose Breathe Yoga's 3 Day Juice Cleanse program.  It was $112 which worked out to about $6 a juice, and for that price I figured it was well worth the money.  Buying all organic fruits and veggies and then making the time to juice them may have prevented me from doing all three days.

3 days

6 juices or smoothies a day

I picked up at 7 or 9am and again at 3pm.  

I chose a 3pm smoothie because I know my body well enough to know that is when I crash. I had something to look forward to and it was always a delicious drink!

I found it SUPER convenient to just go grab the juices, other than being an idiot and dumping the second morning's juices in my truck.

Would I recommend the cleanse to anyone? Yes and no.  If you've NEVER cleansed before, I highly suggest you checking out Advocare's 10 day cleanse. I still find that one to be way easier mostly because you can eat real food! It also taught me what foods are best for my body and honestly it's more practical for every day life.

Simply drinking juice for 3 days straight is not teaching you anything about how to live healthier.  Sure it will give you a sense of what juices you may enjoy and what I learned is that maybe when I am eating one of my 5 or 6 small meals, I could replace one of my meals with a juice and probably be totally fine.

At the end of day three, I gave in and ate some plain Kale with lemon squeezed on it. I also had a banana with my very last wheatgrass drink.

I could tell my body was almost in shock by day 4, as I woke up so hungry and almost lethargic.  I couldn't wait to get the eggs into my system for some protein! I am a HUGE protein believer and with all of the running around I do, I firmly believe our bodies need it.

**TMI**

With a cleanse you worry about "going" too much or not enough...I just went once in the morning.  Nothing to worry about there!

I did lose 4 lbs in those three days, but they all came back.  I did not cleanse in hopes of losing weight, I really wanted to reset my body and see if it helped with my Reflux issues.  While I had no tummy troubles at night, sometimes my stomach aches when I lay down to go to sleep, I still had the 'caught in the throat feeling' every day, if not worse than normal. (lack of stomach acid?)

So if you're looking to challenge yourself and have always wanted to try a juice cleanse, by all means go for it!  I would probably have been smarter to do it in the Summer, as I mention in my video I got pretty cold one day.  I am craving juices now and certainly am not taking for granted my ability to eat healthy and real foods again.  

If you're looking to lose weight and firm up, then certainly just start eating better and working out. Nothing beats the gold old fashioned way.

PS. I could totally go for a hot apple and cinnamon drink; that was so yummy!!

If you have any other questions or comments, feel free to ask below.  I would love to answer them for you!

Top 5 Tips to Enjoy this Season

Whether you're single or married, have children or don't, this time of year can be absolutely crazy!!  I know that when I'm not careful, I get so stressed out over little things and end up not enjoying the moments.  I've been making it my intention this December to not let myself get too caught up in 'everything else,' and to really be happy amongst the chaos.  It is so important that I enjoy this season of our little kids and the season itself.  I want to create positive and happy memories for our children, not having them remember how frantic mommy was this time of year.  For me, having one in preschool was a game changer.  My loosey goosey schedule is a thing of the past and we now have to work in a few outside activities.   I quickly got myself together and figured out ways to keep happy.

Here are my top five ways I am keeping my cool this Christmas season.



1.  Plan Ahead.

It's a must.  I wish I had planned out my meals for the whole month like my friend Cathy, but if you can't plan monthly then at least do it weekly.  I also am trying to get better about looking at my day ahead, so that I am not totally blindsided (like I was last week!)  What can you plan ahead?  Date nights, shopping trips, menus, "down time/family time"--yes, schedule it in, holiday parties, school functions, workouts, grocery store runs, time to wrap presents.  The more you map out what is left to do and when you'll be able to do it, it's so much easier.  My problem is that I have my phone, my day planner and the family fridge calendar.  I have to get better at making sure all 3 are lined up.  I tend to remember things more if I actually write them, so that is why I refuse to give up my written calendars.  "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."

2. Stay present.

When I start getting all uppity and such, I realize I need to focus: family, faith, friends.  Maybe that means putting down my phone and picking up the big camera.  Take some good photos of the kids this size.  Or maybe it means put away all cameras and just be there, playing, singing, laughing, eating, whatever with them.   We didn't take a single photo of us decorating the tree; in a way I was sad, but I am actually happy that we all enjoyed that time together so much, a photo was forgotten to be had.  Don't allow yourself to worry about what is to happen; the cookies will get made, the toys will be wrapped, the shopping we get done.  Just breathe in the moment.   Don't let yourself slip down what should have happened either, that's not going to change or fix anything.  Just focusing on where you are at and being happy, will help you de-stress instantly.

3.) Ignore the noise.

What noise am I talking about?  Well there is the adorable noise of the kids trying to sing/scream all the Christmas songs, (I usually try to applaud from the next room over!) but I'm talking about that extra noise.  The noise of others who don't intentionally make you feel bad, but after seeing all of their perfect holiday cards, it makes you think twice about your cheesy iphone one.  The girl on FB who always gets to wear gowns and looks like a movie star every weekend at holiday soirees.  The mom with six kids whose house is always neat as if she has a maid.  The younger friend who is out having fabulous cocktails with all of her friends.  The Martha Stewart on instagram who bakes and coordinates every little detail that makes you want to run to the store and re-create so your house can look that cozy.  Do not let social media steal your happiness.  If you start feeling jealousy while scrolling it's time to put down the phone/tablet/computer and do something different.  We all share our highlights and there is no faster way to steal your joy than starting to play the comparison game.

4.) Have fun.

What is it about this time of year that makes you smile?  For me it's the childhood memories of baking cookies.  I remember my mom would have her girlfriends over and they'd make different cookies and swap.  I used to do a cookie party before I had kids, but then it got too big and having kids made it tricky.  I'd like to start that up again one day!  This year I have already made 3 different kinds of cookies with the kids and Brooke is having so much fun helping me.  I put on some Christmas music and we just make a big old mess and make some delicious cookies.  If you're not into baking, maybe it's driving or walking around looking at lights/decorations.  Maybe it's just listening to Christmas music.  Binge watch a few Hallmark movies (while you fold laundry or wash dishes!) Or if you're crafty, go to Michael's or checkout Pinterest for a holiday DIY.  The kids love getting creative and your house looks super cute.  What's the point of this time of year if you're not taking time to do what you love?  December only comes once a year.  Enjoy it!

5.) Be grateful.

I have to say, this has been the biggest help lately.  As soon as I'm having a rough day, I will try to snap myself out of the funk.  I make myself think of 3 things I am grateful for.  It's hard to be unhappy when you start to train your mind to think of all that makes you smile.  I really am trying to write them down in the morning or at night, but at the very least I say them out loud.  Sometimes it's when I walk the dog, so I don't have anything to write it down on...but I quickly become humbled and remember all that we have.  Right now, say three things you are grateful for today.

I am grateful for my cozy slippers, this time to blog and this delicious vanilla spiced tea with Rumchata.  Nothing crazy or fancy, but I am so thankful this is my moment right now!!  

Remember to breathe, catch those snowflakes on your tongue with your tot, and enjoy that piece of gingerbread cookie.  Of course, voice texting to your best girlfriends who get you it also quite essential, but that's just a given.  It is the most wonderful time of the year, so let it be.

Top 10 Health Tips

I am by no means an expert, but I thought I'd share a few important health reminders.  As I've mentioned before, we really put a huge emphasis on our health because of Joe's Crohn's and we value our bodies so much!! We only get on body, so we should treat it like gold.  That said, I know that it's impossible to be perfect 100% and I'm totally guilty of enjoying a glass of vino every now and then.  Heck, I even give my kids McDonald's every once in awhile.

However, it's 90% of the time where we try our best to do the following.

1.  Sleep

I find that I work best on 7-8 hours.  It's not always easy, but man when I don't get my sleep--I feel awful, I act terrible and I just can't think straight.  Getting enough sleep would be my BIGGEST suggestion if you're irritable.  Mama I know it's tough when the babes are small and not sleeping through the night; it's insane.  DO NOT load up on coffee and other caffeine drinks. Simply try to get more sleep.  Get a sitter. Have your husband get up.  I wish I had taken my sleep a little more seriously with my second kid.  I definitely feel like I got a little nutty with no sleep.  Now we are BLESSED to have to babes sleep through the night.  It was a lot of tough love and work, but we never co-slept or even had the babies in our room. Personal preference, but man I am so thankful we did that today.  Our kids sleep 12 hours a night now, most nights.

2.  Drink Water 

I mean only water.  I learned that you should drink half of your body weight in water daily, and I swear it helps me stay alert, my skin is clearer and I don't eat too much junk.  Play around with the water to see what you prefer; I like mine ICE cold and Joe likes his water room temperature.  I'll add grapefruit essential oil to give it a new flavor.  Lemon or strawberries can be added to give it a different taste too.  I also have found how amazing products like Yeti or Corkcicle can keep your drinks super cold all day and all night.

3.  Move

I hate to say you have to exercise, but we really should try to sweat for 10-20 minutes (if not more) daily.  Get outside, get some fresh air, walk the dog. Chase your kids. Jump rope. Go on you tube and workout for free.  Find something that you enjoy and do it. A lot.  If you just make it a habit to do 10 minutes a day, I bet you'll surprise yourself and end up moving even more.  It's so good to keep our bodies stretching, moving and sweating.

4.  80/20

I personally feel my best when I don't eat packaged or processed junk. I know it's easy and convenient, but it's not worth the price of feeling like garbage.  I think our plates should be mostly veggies/greens, fruits--basically anything that has been grown! Also focus on lean proteins like organic chicken, pork, and lots of fish. I know it's so tempting to eat pizza, burgers and fries all the time but it's just not good for us.  The more veggies and fruits you eat, and reduce the starchy carbs, you'll be amazed at the energy and awesome feel good vibes you will have!

5.  Limit Sugar 

It's a tricky one, that sugar! It sneaks into everything we eat and drink, even if we are trying to be aware.  Watch those expensive Starbucks drinks; I am guilty as charged.  Just had to reign in my bad habit with over 40 grams a pop for most of them, it's not good for our guts OR bank accounts. Just sayin.  Sugar is so addicting and really does a number on us.  I try very hard to limit sugar going into my kids' mouths and will definitely be donating or throwing away most of their candy after Halloween.  2 & 4 they don't need all that junk! Enjoy the holiday, but don't overdue it. That's my motto.

6.  Don't stress

Stress kills.  Slow down and breathe.  Take some time for yourself; if I'm getting worked up, I try to stop and ask myself, will this matter in 5 minutes? 5 days? 5 months? 5 years? Most likely, no.  Chill out and stop stressing.  Find some good habits like taking a walk, a bubble bath or reading a book to take your mind off of whatever is bugging you.  Essential oils helped me a lot; I breathe them in, do some yoga and move on. #namaste

7.  Personal Development {PD}
Kind of becoming a trendy thing, and I'm super excited about this! I think EVERYONE should listen or read something motivational every single day.  Just like our bodies, we have got to take care of our minds.  What we think about, becomes.  What we believe, we can achieve. If you can learn to train yourself to "not go there" down the path of worry, stress, anger, madness...and focus on positivity, gratitude, and becoming better than yesterday, life gets so much better. I'm not perfect. I still get upset, yell, become frustrated, but I know each day I work at it to become a better version of myself. (see these posts for more)

8.  Laugh

I do believe laughter is the best medicine. Once I learned to stop taking life so seriously, I've become a happier person. Watch more comedies. Hangout with people who are funny.  Enjoy being silly and goofy with your kids. Lighten up. Life is too short to get all twisted over a bunch of garbage; so just laugh it off. I am so thankful my husband taught me this 9 years ago.  I was so uptight and worried about so much, it's a wonder I enjoyed much of anything!  Pull up some funny memes, go to you tube, whatever makes you crack a smile, go do it on the daily.

9.  Vitamins/supplements

Obviously work with a Dr. or healthcare professional.  I strongly believe in taking some supplements to stay healthy.  I think vitamin D is super important up here in NY because we never see the sun from October until pretty much May it seems.  I know that omegas help immensely with a lot.  A solid multi-vitamin is also key to staying healthy.  Probiotics have got to be my #1 recommendation if nothing else.  Good gut bacteria is essential and with all of the "food" we eat, it's not always helping our guts.  Find a good probiotic or two and add them into your diet. Kombucha is also really good, along with Kefir.  Even yogurt in moderation is awesome.

10.  Green Tea {matcha}

Since my reflux, I just can't do anything that has a lot of caffeine.  I've always enjoyed green tea, so I usually have a cup of that.  I have however, found a new love: Matcha.  I've talked a lot about it lately, but I can't stop raving about it.  It gives me a slow released energy all day. No high. No crash. It's just a subtle calming energy.  Google it; there are TONS of benefits!  Sure I love one from Starbucks but it is loaded with sugar and it's $$.  Here is my homemade recipe; I ordered the matcha powder from Amazon. 

7 Day Video Challenge...

Happy Sunday sweet souls!  I am in need of pushing myself out of my comfort zone and so I decided to mimic Veronica's You Tube and do my own 7 Day challenge...

I have chosen 7 little tips to share this week and they all deal with bettering oneself; you can call in motivation, self-improvement or even raising you vibrations.

Clearly I am on my own path, but I feel compelled to share my heart in hopes of inspiring someone else.  I take this journey lightly and am always aware of how much room I have to grow, learn, and become my best self.

If you think you are at your best, perhaps you should look a little deeper and start improving some area in your life.  We should never settle and have so much to work on, so that we can be who we are meant to be

I'm not sure if I'll post every day on my blog, but feel free to check up on my YouTube channel this week.

I'll change up topics and do something else in the future, but for now this is what I felt I was called to share this week.

Today's tip: Be Present

With these videos the point is to record and upload--no editing allowed! I was just about finished with this first video and ran out of space---oops! Real life.

Either way...enjoy!

Let it Go

My husband told me to be like Elsa yesterday, as I rattled off a bunch of things that frustrate me, trouble my mind and make me feel ill at ease.  I've been feeling rather good lately, but whether it's just that time of month, certain factors in our lives, the weather, or whatever I want to use to blame...

I sometimes just get a little "up in my head" and I really don't like it.  I realize it's been a few days since I've listened to my positive motivation audiobooks, and I truly believe that may be why.  It's like anything else in life; I can't carry on eating burgers in fries, if I want to stay in good shape.  Same goes for my emotional and mental well-being.

The thing I struggle with the most is caring what others think.  I worry about everyone's feelings, how they may be affected by certain situations.  It's hard to make everyone happy--it's actually downright quite impossible.  

I can say that as the kids get older and our responsibility continues to grow, it's becoming harder and harder to tow the line of "doing what's right" vs "doing what's right for me/my family."

I don't know why I crave balance so much, but with Joe's crazy work schedule, not many people can relate to how little time we have to work with, and with building a new home on the horizon, a lot of things are definitely going to be shifting, changing, and hopefully our friends and family can be understanding.  While Joe has never been one to just lounge around and be lazy, (neither of us actually) I know that in the upcoming year, between his work schedule and us working on the land, it's sure to be intense!

Since I can't make others understand what it takes to make our little family function happy & healthy, I know that playing a victim is not an option.

I stumbled across a powerful little video (reminder) via Facebook this morning.  I follow the "Power of Positivity" page and truly needed to let these soak in...

10 Things to let go of to be happy:

1.) Let go of toxic people in your life.

2.)  Let go of regretting past mistakes.

3.)  Let go of the need to be right.

4.)  Let go of feeling sorry for yourself

5.) Let go of negative self talk

6.)  Let go of the need to impress others.

7.)  Let go of limiting beliefs.

8.)  Let go of the need to please everyone

9.)  Let go of gossip and complaining

10.)  Let go of worrying about the future


Wow.  Can I just say that some of those hit me right smack in the middle of my head! I don't know why I allow myself to care so much about things that I have absolutely no control over.  I once thought it was a gift, to be so compassionate.  But as I've learned through my 34 years, there is only so much I can give, and sometimes I need to pick and choose where I exert my energy.  Right now it's mostly going to these two little curly haired babes that I brought into this world.

Last night, as the clock neared bedtime, Bradley was in a funk.  He was fussy and just not feeling it. I was finally showering at 6pm and he stood outside the shower door and cried the whole entire time.  I felt awful, skipped shaving my legs (again) and thought he wanted an early bed time.

As I got his last sippy cup ready, changed him and laid him in bed, a huge part of me wanted to rock him, but he was so worked up I thought perhaps just laying him down would be best.  So I laid him down, he drank his cup and to my surprise did not fall right to sleep.

He sat and talked, cooed, and giggled and finally laid down. A few minutes later I heard his cry, and as his momma, I know his cries. This was an "in-pain" cry so I rushed in and his foot was caught in his crib slats.  I of course picked him right up, snuggled him and rocked him for a little while and it was just what I needed.  I'm sure he needed it too, but to rock him in his chair, that I haven't sat in for quite some time, well, it just turned me into a big old pile of mush.

I thought about all that Joe and I have created, accomplished and continue to still do.  We dream big dreams and we make them happen.  I know along the way there will be haters, or simply people who don't understand.  There are going to be others who think we should just be fine with what we have, what we do, where we're at.  And that's fine for some people, but what's wrong with wanting a little more?  Pushing ourselves daily and continuously to live a life we are both happy with and proud of.

As Joe got home last night around 9:30, we sat on the couch and ate dinner and briefly spoke of this.  I giggled and said how I too pushed myself that day because I wanted so badly to stay in my bathrobe, lay in bed and listen to the rest of my audiobook.  But I knew he deserved a nice warm, freshly cooked dinner.  He deserved a smiling wife at the door, greeting him after a 13 hour work day.  He deserved his partner to discuss the day's happenings and laughing with me over all the silly snapchats from the day.

We work extremely hard for our happiness, our family, and the life we live.  I don't feel the need to document it and shout out it out upon the rooftop, but I do know what we have is real and it's different.  It's not always picture perfect, but it's perfect to us.

And anyone who doesn't understand, or doesn't care to understand us?

Not. My. Problem.

I may have to play that little top 10 video all day and focus on not caring, pleasing and focusing on others' thoughts, opinions, because man---that just drains me.

How do you 'get out of your head'?  Is there something that helps you stay motivated and not worrying about others' so much?  Is it simply just a switch?  

Victor vs. Victim

I've been thinking of this a lot.  It's something that is so easy to fall prey to, and yet so easy to not do as well.

When I met my husband, I'll 110% admit I played the "poor me" card far too many times.  It was just the way I was, I'd say.  I was more of "realist" aka glass half empty.  I so badly wanted to be optimistic, but it was so, SO easy to blame others for things.  I learned a lot from Joe in 2008; but most importantly?  I continue to learn, grow and change.  The "way that I was" is so different than who I've become.

A victim will blame others or his/her situation at hand.  It's never this person's fault. There's a reason, excuse, or answer to everything.

A victor will take responsibility.  She will say she's sorry, admit she's wrong, and change.  Period. End of story.

Joe once said to me, the (excuse my language) "Asshole Theory."   I looked at hime like, excuse me?!

He explained, if everyone around you is making you angry, frustrated or being an a-hole, maybe you need to stop and check yourself.

--me staring blankly--

It may very well be you that has the problem.  Maybe your attitude is the problem.  Perhaps it's nothing more than you're stuck in your own head and not realizing what's really going on.

--gulp--

Can't say I ever forgot that conversation.  And oh, how true it is!! Now I can check in with myself and have that talk before I make a really clown out of myself, but man...how powerful is that?

I may not be able to control my situations, but I can control how I react to them.

Sometimes I should breathe in and out 50 times before I respond to a text message.

Maybe I should walk away from the e-mail before I fire back something awful.

Now, I'm not saying if something terrible happens, I don't have the right to be upset--I do.  It's just owning the situation and being able to move past it.  Like I said, it's not easy, but once I'm able to forgive, move on and live my life--life is so much more enjoyable!

There are so many events or happenings in my life where I catch myself starting to fall down the trap.  I also have learned that I sometimes may not understand why something is the way it is, or why it happened, but to just move on from it and not dwell.

Adults tend to waste a lot of our time worrying or digging up old garbage--in our minds.  What you focus on, increases...I firmly believe this!! If I were to sit around and say, "I don't ever want to become an unhealthy size.  I don't want my husband to cheat on me.  I don't want my kids to grow up 'bad'." Then that is what most likely will happen.

Why?  I'm putting that out into the universe.   If that is what is running through my mind, that is what I'll believe and therefore that is what I will become.

That simple guys.

Instead I focus on being a healthy person. I tell myself I'm strong and healthy.  I use positive words when it comes to my marriage and focus only on our happiness.  With my kids I will continue to nourish them with affirmations and provide the best scenarios that I can.

While I know some things are out of my control, I can work on what is coming out of my mouth and most importantly what's happening in my mind.

"The only thing we have complete control over is our own mental attitude."

I didn't say it was easy, but I will say that the more I discipline myself and continue to feed my mind with powerful words, and fill my world with positive people, the less stress and negativity impacts my life.  In turn, I feel better and more productive.  My relationships that matter are stronger and my loved ones and friendships come naturally, almost effortlessly.  I say almost, because as we all know, every and any relationship takes work.

Will you be a victim or a victor of your own circumstances?

[I have quoted several self-improvement books throughout this, but I cannot remember exactly where they've all come from!  I swear after awhile, I realize they're all saying the same thing, just a little differently.]

Sunday Sweats

2 years ago my friend Nikki and I hosted a workout linkup that was really quite helpful! We had a bunch of people who would link up and share there workouts.  I need to start this again.  Even if I'm the only one, I need to hold myself accountable and not be a quitter.  So? Every Sunday, my goal is to post my workouts and my weekly meal plan.

I also know my girl Holly shares her Sunday Sweats here, so I can cheer her on as well!!

BOOM.

I've used every excuse in the book as to why I haven't been working out.  Wanna hear them?  Maybe you're using them to...just saying...

• I'm a sahm "I HAVE NO TIME". Yeh, okay Jenn.  You have time to scroll FB, Insta, and do a bunch of other time wasters.  Get off your butt.
• I don't have a gym membership.  Ummmm what about all of the workouts in the drawers? On you tube? 
• I don't want to waste nap time.  Ya hear me. It's the most precious time of the day! Some days I don't want to use it working out. Ok, workout with your kids and show them what healthy means.
• I want to workout alone.  Ok, then if you do feel like working alone, do it during nap time!
• I don't feel well.  This is a huge one lately.  I really haven't been feeling myself and it sucks.  I'm telling myself that if my Gerd or whatever I have is acting up, do yoga or piyo.  Listening to my body will be key.
• I don't want to get sweaty.  Get over it.  They invented showers.
• I want new sneakers.  You have a pair that work just fine; maybe use that as a goal for motivation after completing 4 weeks of a program!
• I am fitting into my skinny jeans.  Yup.  This is now an excuse. #lame  Just because I'm thin doesn't mean I'm healthy.  Do it for even better reasons, real reasons this time Jenn. And STICK to them.
• I'm too tired.  I bet if you workout, you'll get more energyyyyyyyy~
• It's too late.  Do it anyway.
• I don't want to.  Suck it up buttercup.

And there you have it!! This will be my rationale whenever these stupid thoughts come into my head.  I was actually going to start tomorrow, but I thought eff it and start today.  Why waste and put off what I can do right now.

So I did.  And I didn't die. I did realize how weak I have gotten and how much further I need to go.  I also really felt gross when I was doing the ab work as the stomach acids were gurgling up in my throat. I learned not to eat lunch and then do my workout now and maybe not do so much bouncy stuff until I get this reflux situation figured out.

My plan is to do a hybrid of PiYo & 21 Day Fix workouts because I have them and those are my favorites. I need to do this for me.

On a healthier note, I am also going to meal plan better and share it.  It's a little wacky with everyone's dietary needs around here.  Brooke is totally normal and can eat anything, but is picky...Joe has Crohn's so does best on a low fiber diet, mainly pastas, lean proteins, fish.  Bradley has issues with dairy, so he is tricky in that regard.  Any now me?  Oy.  I find anything rich, spicy, or eating too much really triggers me.  Bananas seem to bug me.  Tacos were really dumb to eat along with pasta red sauce.  I'll figure it out as I go....

But for next week, this is what I came up with!  Links below.  *I'll be using ground chicken for my meatloaf muffins, as I have to use it up!*

Meat loaf muffins. Pork Loin. Tilapia. Pasta. Thighs. Sirloin Burgers.

This.

Here is to an amazing week!  Stay beautiful. xox

5 on Friday

TGIF Friends!! I am super excited for the weekend.  I got to sneak out and get my hair done so that's always fun. I chatted with my hair dresser about a lot, but we may have an idea where we want to go on our family vacation in July. Yipee! I figured I'd round up 5 things to share this lovely Friday.  I wanted to stick to my blogging schedule and bam, here we go:

{1}

Babes

So far, it's been a good new year! We are still battling this darn cough, but still in good spirits!  These two are really starting to play together and I just die every time.  I know they'll fight etc, because that is what siblings do, but when they're getting along it's so darn cute!  

{2}

Vision Board

I keep hearing from every direction, write down your goals. Create a vision board.  Focus on it. The universe will respond. SO? I only had two magazines so I used what I could! I figured it's something I should do more often, so I'll start saving catalogs too!  Even Brookie was pasting and sticking things on her paper. It was fun and I now have this inspirational board to look at each day.

{3}

KEEP

I have having so much fun with KEEP! More than anything, I am using it as a "reward" for doing my daily chores, meal prep, etc. Once I get all my tasks done and have some down time, I reach for my kit and start playing, or go and play with the online design tool.  I see a lot of people coloring etc and say it's therapeutic for them...well I feel like that with KEEP! It's such a fun and creative outlet.  Not too shabby it's a hobby that earns extra money too. 

{4}

Life Coach

If you are looking for some extra motivation in your life (ps you do NOT have to be in direct sales to enjoy this lady, but she specializes in it!) Check out Coach Julia! I had a free Face-time sesh with her and wow.  It helped me focus big time, in all areas of my life.  Sometimes you really need to talk things out to someone new to figure everything out.  I highly suggest her-she's on insta, FB & has a website.

{5}

Date Day

I am probably most excited for Sunday!
Hubby and I are getting to go on a date. I can't remember the last night we went out to just be the two of us.  We've had fun parties and gone out Christmas shopping, but Sunday we have my sister watching the kiddos! We originally wanted to go see the new Leo movie, but I don't think I want to sit in a theater for that many hours and not be able to talk to my husband! I kind of want to go grab a bite to eat, and take a drive like the good old days! Maybe we'll check out some open houses and snag some decorating ideas.  Sounds good to me! 

Motivational Reads & Staying Organized

Although I haven't wrapped up our AZ trip posts, I wanted to share two books I've been reading/listening to; I really got into them on the flight out there and when I had some down time.  I highly recommend them both, especially if you've got that entrepreneurial spirit.  You Are a Badass is really for anyone who wants to live a happy life, be better and just stop feeling like you're not going any where.  The more you listen, the more you feel like a badass…no joke!

She definitely has a bit of a potty mouth, which I have no issue with.  It's real, honest, raw and relatable.  I listened to it once all the way though and then started it a second time, with a pen/journal in hand.  I need to carve out more time to devote to books like this, as I cannot express to you the incredible feelings you get from simply hearing her!  I bought it on Amazon, and then paid a few extra bucks to get the audible version as well, so that I can listen to it if I can't sit and read.  Totally worth it!

I also bought #girlboss which I had been wanted to read for awhile.  I am very intrigued by her whole story and again, it's all about working your tail off and never giving up!  I think it's interesting because you see a lot of #girlboss all over the internets, but just because you hashtag it, doesn't mean you are one.  It really takes a lot more than just a few social media posts to be a real boss.  I thought that was important!  Social media makes life look easy, and that we can all attain the same material items, create the same living spaces, wardrobes, etc.  But reality?  It takes a lot of work to create anything worthwhile and a photo is just an image and we never know what really went into creating it. 

I think these both really resonated with me for a few reasons; one is that they are female.  A lot of the leadership/self help books are written by men.  That's fine and all, but there is something about the female persona that speaks to me a little more, or perhaps in a different way.  The other?  I feel that I have something inside me that I still want to become, be, do, create..and I am not sure exactly what or how but these books are allowing me to work on ME--not the mom, wife, sister, friend, daughter, but ME.  And that?  That is super important. 

In other news, I did get my new planner! I love EC planners and I totally splurged and bought the Rose Gold.  I may do a little video on it, but it's worth every penny.  I love writing out everything and keeping myself and family organized.  It is therapeutic for me to write lists and I swear by simply writing something down, I am 10x more likely to remember to do it!

I also picked up a monthly budget book, which I am excited to start using come 2016.

I just really, really, appreciate all of the positive messages EC shares throughout her products!

I have a good feeling about 2016; it's going to be one big year!!

Get Yours Here!

Chakra Balance Massage [O.M.G]

So, I'm not sure if it's the bags under my eyes or if I really just work that hard with my kiddos, but either way, my husband said to me last week, "You deserve a Spa Day.  You need to go and get all done up, whatever services you want.  Talk to my mom and figure it out."  Well, later that day he ended up talking to his mom for me and she promptly took a half day last Thursday and I got to treat myself to a Spa Day.   {Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you Mama D!!!!}

I randomly found this one Spa, Luxe  It was one I had never been to, nor heard much of before.  I was drawn to it because I have begun a little more self-discovery and have been working on myself a lot.  I've been looking into meditation, yoga, Mala beads and tons of self-improvement.  I feel as though when you open yourself up to the universe, everything unfolds itself to you.  And so, there it was.  A Chakra Balancing Massage.  I had no clue what it would really entail, but I was ready to find out!

Since hubby said get whatever you want done, I figured I would throw a facial and pedi in there for good measure.  [bliss]

So first of all, the Spa was HUGE! I'm not going to lie, the location doesn't really do it justice, and from the outside it kinda looks like an old motel or something.  But inside? Top of the line.  The changing room/bathrooms were stunning.  Soft fluffy robes and little slippers to put on.

There were several little waiting areas, one with a gas fireplace and one that had this funky looking one!  There was tea, water with orange slices and fresh fruit.  Everything to make you feel zen and full of bliss.

I haven't really done my homework on all 7 of the Chakras. I know the main idea of them, but I still don't know what color associates with each one and what each chakra does.  You don't need to know any of it if you go and get this done, the person will explain as much as you want!!

First she told me that this particular massage I was getting, she does a deep tissue massage and trouble spots (for me it was my back and neck, so I laid face down).  She then does her energy work (chakra balancing) and pretty much the energy work is known as Reiki, (ray-key) which I hadn't really heard of before and now am becoming so interested and want to know more!

Aveda is the product line they use, so she had me pick out 3 cards that either the colors or words stuck out to me.  Each one represented a Chakra and had corresponding scents to help open/balance them.  I chose three, I forget which ones, and she had me close my eyes and smell each one.  The one I liked best was the "heart" or Harmony card.  ---Side note, you get to take a bottle of that mist home with you from your massage!  It had lots of sandalwood and she said it was a popular scent.

Hard to see, I didn't have the flash on but my "Heart Chakra" card…a lot about sympathy, empathy, and love.

Now, I find it strange that I was drawn to this one, because well…I have a really big heart and all day and night, I care for my loved ones.  But as I got to thinking, maybe that was the point.  Perhaps I had SO much love, it needed to be balanced a bit with my other Chakras…thoughts?  Like I said, I am totally new to this.

So the actual "massage" went like this-- I laid face down and she massaged my back/neck and it felt soooooo good! I've had massages before and she was great. Not too hard, not too light, but just right.  Then she started to just put her hands on my and stand there and I was a little confused, like what is this??  Then it hit me, that must be the energy work.




Once I flipped over to my back and face was out, HOLY MOLY.  Talk about a spiritual/out of body/really flipping cool experience.  She had told me before we started, some people see colors, some see images, and if I get overwhelmed at any point, we could stop.  I tried so hard to clear my mind and not think [but as we all know, that's really hard to do.] so  I just went with it.

As she touched different Chakra points, my mind filled with different colors. I kid you not, believe me or don't, but it is straight up awesome what can come into your head!  I saw lots of white light as she was at my head/Crown Chakra and I kind of felt a little buzzy? It's hard to really put into words.

I kept seeing a crazy big open eye with long lashes (representing my 3rd eye probably) and lots of purple and blue.

She said my throat chakra was pretty closed, and I don't really recall many thoughts as her hands were placed there.  At first I was like what???!!! I am known for talking too much, for saying what is on my mind and not exactly holding back.  But then again, I have also learned to be quiet and keep things in.  There are lots of people and instances in my life where I just don't agree or like what is going on, but I don't say anything. She kind of laughed and said I just need to find a way to get that out.

As I continued to reflect, I thought a lot about me.  As a teacher, I couldn't do, wear, say, act, certain ways because, well I was a teacher.  I respected that profession and took it very seriously; I didn't even like running into my students at a mall!!  And after I no longer taught, I remember feeling a bit free….

Well, to be blunt, I kind of felt that way again when I started taking my AdvoCare biz seriously. Don't say this, don't post that, don't, don't…don't…which I completely understand and totally get, but it's not me. .I am such an all or nothing kinda girl, I love the products, I love my team, I totally support everyone, but if I want to have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and share it on social media? I'm gonna.  Which is why I haven't been posting much about it.  I am just me. I take my products, I promote a healthy lifestyle but I human and once in awhile, ok weekly, I eat sushi with white rice and soy sauce.  And I'm more than ok with it.

And as I continued to think about other areas in my life, I realized how much I hold back because of our lifestyle and I don't want to come off as braggy or this or that.  I never even shared my beautiful Christmas gift from him, because I was almost embarrassed…why would I be embarrassed, if this man who works so hard and wants to spoil me with a gorgeous handbag??  Don't I deserve it?  Can I not be honest and share it? But I've realized, again, that those who really know us, know how hard we work to achieve where we are at.  That Joe and I work together, and if I want to show off his new whip on instagram or Facebook and someone thinks whatever, that's fine.  I'm learning to just be happy and okay with who I am.  I only get one life and one way to live it and if I'm constantly worrying about what someone thinks or that heaven forbid I post something and they unfollow me, WHO CARES?  Life is short and sweet and there is only so much time for happiness and celebrating others.  Sure there will always be negative people, but it is not my job to worry about them.

So yes, this was way more than just a simple massage for me.  It is part of a journey that I am so excited to be on.  I have so much to grow and learn and just really become super comfortable in my own skin.

My mind was racing with images however, when she was at my heart.  I kept seeing myself as a kid playing with my sisters and I kept seeing my two babies, playing and laughing. I literally felt so much energy during that and it is what stood out the most.    She told me afterwards she felt SO much mothers love coming from me, it was like whoa.

She didn't say much at all about my sacral chakra.

She said my root Chakra was weak and that it was OK to be more grounded…. I had told her how I was all of a sudden open to all of this new age stuff and she said that it was evident in my balancing because my crown was going crazy!! I am all over the place trying to learn all this new spiritual stuff, but I always have to remember it's ok to just be.  Stand on the ground, feel the earth, be one with nature.  LOVE THAT!!

She did reflexology on my feet after the energy work and then we were finished.

I asked her if there is anything I should work on and she said that she does not tell her clients what to do, she really just shares what she can and the rest is up to us.  I really want to know if she could see or feel more that she didn't tell me??

Oh she did sense some nervous energy at first, (probably when I was like WTF am I paying you for, if you're just standing there touching my leg haahha!) Like I said, I had no clue what I was getting into. NOW I know. I just have to laugh at myself at this point.

When she was all done she told me to take my time sitting up and she'd come back with water.  I am telling you, I could barely move!! I was like shaky and it took some time to actually sit up and come to. I took a photo of myself and I felt like I looked a little drunk!! Ha

After that amazing  experience, I then had my facial!  The lady was totally different and really outgoing and it took a few minutes for me to get used to her energy, I know I sound all woo woo but I am serious!  She ended up being really nice, but at first I was like what the ?!

I had a major glow after that and felt 10 years younger.

Here is my 'free bottle' of the Chakra scent.

Oh, and my pedi was great too!! Charged Up Cherry is what I went with---LOVE it! Perfect for Spring.

So of course I am totally digging this whole energy work thing and I don't take it lightly.  I know that if you're not careful, you could get yourself into some crazy things… but I am interested in maybe learning how to balance myself and learn how to do it on my kids and definitely my husband--especially because his Crohn's can flare up from time to time and I feel as though we are all connected and everything works together. 

Gimme all the crystals, mala beads and high vibrations please!! 

10 Things I Love About…ME!

Sounds kind of funny to 'brag' about oneself, but I actually think that it's a wonderful idea!! We can be so critical and negative about ourselves…how often do you stop and say, "Hey self, you are awesome!"?

So, what do I love about myself?

10.  My ability to 'let go' and live.

I am no longer as "type A" as I used to be and as much as I love neat and orderly, there is no OCD up in here.  There are sometimes piles, messy floors, and well, trails of Brooke pretty much everywhere in here.  It reminds me that life is happening!

9.  I'm not afraid to try new things.

Whether it's raw oysters my husband insists, if I try them 5 times I'll like {which btw he was right and they're amaaaaazing!}or swimming with sea turtles in the caribbean, signing on as a Distributor for AdvoCare, or even dancing on TV with a local news station's version of Dancing with the Stars, Teachers Edition, each "new" makes me a stronger, better and more well rounded version of me.

8.  My legs.

I figured I should throw a physical trait up here.  I believe it's all the years I spent dancing, but I am also blessed with some long stems! Granted, there's some extra cushion whilst I'm carrying little boy, but when I'm able to workout normal and crank out some awesome supplements, I am super impressed with my legs!  I'm a about 5'7, so I think that's fairly tall for a girl.  I love it!

7.  My patience.

While I can lose it from time to time, I think overall I'm very patient.  I had to be as a teacher and even more so as a mom who is pregnant.  We waddle/walk at my daughter's pace and are typically in no hurry.  If we are, I try to be patient and understand that she's little and still doesn't know any better quite yet.  As much as I want to not let her feed herself at the table, I know that it's an important skill she's acquiring and that one day there will not be lumps of linguine stuck to my chair.

6. I know that I'm never done growing.

If I thought I was the best I could be and thought that I never needed to grow, I'd feel sorry for myself.  I really believe we can all strive to be better each day.  I know I am not perfect and often look for those areas that need to be changed, worked on, evolved, so that I can be a better mom, wife, friend, daughter, sister…human.

5. I think I'm pretty funny.

There are times when I just get rolling and can crack jokes with the best of them! I can be super serious at times, but others I just love to laugh.  If you can't laugh at yourself or at other things in life, what's the fun in that?  Lightening up has definitely lowered my stress levels and has been so fun over these last few years.

4.  I'm confident.

Seriously, confidence is the best accessory. Even if I don't "Feel" confident, I fake it til I make it.  I don't know what the heck I'm doing sometimes, but as long as you're smiling, being nice, and enjoying whatever it is you're doing, no one even knows!  If you're all shy and sitting in a corner, grumbling or playing on your phone, no one wants to be around that.

3.  I care. A lot. About everything.

This can be a downfall at times, but my heart is huge and I believe it's more of an asset than anything.  I   feel like compassion, sympathy, love, are all such important traits to living a happy life.  I find that when I care about someone or something, it just makes life better.  I do know when to stop 'giving' because there can be a fine line of being taken for granted…but for the most part, if you just love on people and things in life, your outlook tends to be a whole lot brighter!

2. I can forgive.

There are many times in my life where I want to sit and stew, stomp my feet and hold a grudge.  Now, there have been times where I just let something 'go' but if a person is truly meant to be in my life, I can forgive whatever situation that was plaguing us and move forward.  Again, that said, I'm not a pushover, but when love is greater, it finds a way to prevail. I'm sure I will be faced with future circumstances or situations where perhaps I cannot forgive, but I can't help but think back to Holocaust survivors and one in particular saying, "To hate someone else is like swallowing poison."  Basically the only one you're hurting is yourself, so forgive, let live…move on.

1. I know what I want out of life: I'm happy.

I think it's easy to just float around in life…and not really know what it is you want. I've been there.  Now that I have a clear picture in my mind of who I want to be, what I want, where I want to be, and continue to take actions to make those dreams come true, I've never been happier.  Sure, I've got down days and moments of 'woe is me' but overall, I am grateful, abundantly blessed, and so, so, so, happy.

I challenge you, what are 10 things about yourself you love?! Leave a comment letting me know!