Black Friday Beachbody Deals

Being a Team Beachbody Coach means I get pretty excited about fitness program sales. Ha. Never in a MILLION years would I have thought I would type that!

Team Beachbody is throwing a huge HOLIDAY SALE with fitness programs, apparel, and accessories between 38-85% off! Yeah, you read that right. You can get a workout program for $5.95. Say whattt?! 

The SALE is good till December 2nd, but I have a feeling the products will sell out before then. A couple of them have actually already sold out! 

If you're interested in getting something for YOURSELF or if you want to give the gift of health and fitness, check out the sales! 

Happy Shopping! Happy Thanksgiving! 

https://www.TeamBeachbody.com/Shop/HolidaySpecials?referringRepId=249677

3 Day Refresh: Day 1

Yesterday was Day 1 of the 3 Day Refresh and I'm just now getting around to posting a recap... So let's do this.

First of all: if you're just now following me, The 3 Day Refresh is pretty much a short detox where you can let go of toxins from your body, jump start a new workout program/weight loss, or just use it as a refresh every month or quarterly.

It eliminates all dairy, grains, carbs, and meat from your  diet.  You drink Shakeology daily, 2 Vanilla Fresh Protein Shakes a day, and have a Fiber Sweep once a day (it's a fiber drink).  In addition to that, you have 2 servings of veggies, 2 servings of healthy fats (hummus, avocado, almond butter, etc.) and then 2 servings of fruits.  Then, there is a vegetarian option for dinner each night.

So, now back to yesterday, Day 1:

I felt GREAT.  I was a little "gassy" to be honest at night.  I didn't feel foggy.  The Fiber Sweep was not as bad as I remembered.  I think it helped going into this round since I'd already been there, done that, and I knew what to expect.

Also note: I am doing this round the "Laura" way.  I am using 8 oz of unsweetened almond milk in my shakes, rather than just water.  Last night I even replaced my Vanilla Fresh for a regular Shakeology.  Shoot me.

So, for breakfast I had:

Strawberry Shakeology, 8 oz. unsweetened almond milk, dash of Pure Vanilla Extract, 1/2 banana, Ice cubes.

 

I didn't get a picture of the fiber sweep.  I pretty much downed it in the break room in under 30 seconds! HA

 

My lunch was hummus and carrots and a Vanilla Fresh Shake mixed w/ 8 oz. unsweetened almond milk, dash of pure vanilla extract, 1/2 banana, cinnamon, ice.

 

For dinner, I chose to fix the lemony green beans.  You steam 6 oz of green beans and then toss them in a mixture of lemon juice, EVOO, and a little sea salt.  I loved them and so did the babies (fur-babies that is!)

Today is over 1/2 way over and so far, so good!  I have wanted to give up about 10 times now.. HA.  But, no for real.  I have been battling a small headache today and this cold front that came through makes me want some comfort food really bad!  But, I'm chuggin' along and will finish what I started!

XO,

 

3 Day Refresh: Day 0

So, here it is.  Tomorrow starts my second round of the 3 Day Refresh.

I'll be honest.  I'm not that excited about it.  I've actually been dreading this day.  Comfort food, chocolate, ice cream, pizza.... ya know... all of the YUMMY {bad for you} foods are HARD to give up.  WHY do I want to give them up if I love them?

Well, reality has hit.  I'm bloated.  I'm gaining weight.  I'm feeling yuck.  I'm feeling like a stuffed baked potato.

Today was actually the first time I got the slightest bit excited about the refresh.  I'm excited about taking on this challenge with myself.  I fail, a lot.  So, knowing that this is 3 days, totally do-able, and something amazing for myself is exciting.  I went to Publix for a few last minute items, including my trusty almond butter.

So, another truth here:

I'm using almond milk in my shakes (Shakeology and Vanilla Fresh).  I know, I know.  I'm not following it 100%.  The first round, I used water, just like it asked.  I was NOT a fan, at all.  I love my milk (it makes things a lot creamier) and I've told myself, I'm not giving it up.  To each it's own, so judge ALL you want.

My before weight is taken.  I'm taking before pictures in the morning.  I've prepped my meals for tomorrow (besides dinner) and I'm READY to BRING.IT.ON!

I'll be blogging along the way, so stay tuned!

XO,

Fall Themed Bridal Shower

This past Saturday (November 8, 2014), my sister and mother (along with some of my bridesmaids) threw me a big Bridal Shower.  I LOVEEE Fall (and if you follow me, you will know this, HA).

The shower was full of friends, family, soup, salad, apples, and sweets and treats.  I was showered with love and gifts by everyone and I am so thankful.

I actually got a BIT nervous before this shower, because everything is falling into place and actually feeling REAL for the first time.  Josh and I have been engaged over a year already, and now we're getting down to the wire and our big day is about to be here!! EEEK

Here are some pictures from the shower!  The weather was perfect.  The company was perfect.  The shower was perfect.

Thank you, Sissy (Ashley) for pulling this all off.  The shower wouldn't be possible without you and your vision!

This was a "SNEAK PEAK" the night before the shower!

 My friend Lindsey, me, and Ashley (one of my maids) 

 Posing with a new bamboo cutting board Josh and I got!

My Sweet Grandmother came from NC to my shower!

The Hostess with the Mostest!  My sister is better than yours! ;)

Kasey and Me (my Best Friend since College)

Family Picture (Cooper, Ashley, Mom, and Me)

Julia (my soon to be sister-in-law and maid), Me, and Ashley

I love y'all! Thank you so much for the love and gifts!

Call me crazy, but it's almost DETOX time!

Okay.

I've already posted before about this thing called the 3 Day Refresh.  I completed it back in June after I came back from Beachbody Summit and I'm not going to lie.... The 3 days of detoxing were hard as hell.  I wanted everything I saw and couldn't eat.  Even a juicy cheeseburger that Josh cooked on the last day, the last night, of my Refresh.

So, I lost 3 lbs the first-go-round.  I stocked up on another one since I KNEW I would need it sooner than later, especially with my upcoming wedding.

I've been feeling bloated, gross, fat, ugly, this, that, and the other (ha!) for a few weeks, so I think it might be time for me to start another one.

It's also perfect timing that I have a customer who just ordered the Refresh as well.  I think I want to try to do it with her for some accountability. 

I'll need it.

SO, here's just a public notice that I'm going to be doing this.. SOON

Please wish me luck and stay tuned for the blog.  I'll be sure to blog my process and each day of the REFRESH... I PROMISE this time I'll blog it all!

Wahooo!

I am already feeling refreshed just typing this ;)

XO,

Friday Faves

High Five, It's FRIDAY!
I'm thankful for a lot on a daily basis, but these are some of my favorites from the week that I'm especially thankful for.


Neti Pot-

Seriously, this is THE.BEST.THING.EVER!  I've been told time and time again about this thing working wonders for Sinus Infections and Headaches, but I was hesitant to give it a try.  The idea of putting something in one nostril to come out of the other one really freaked me out.  After two days of a horrible sinus headache, I gave in and tried it.  The best thing, ever.  I instantly felt cleared out and like I could breathe again and I didn't even think I couldn't breathe in the first place.

So, if your sinuses are acting up, TRY a neti pot.  You won't regret it.


Talk of the Town-

We met with the owner, Penny, yesterday about catering our wedding which is only 3 short months away to the day. 

We ate, talked, and enjoyed the company yesterday evening and really fell in love with the food and can't wait to have everyone else taste it.  It's going to be southern chic and I can't wait!  Nom.  I loveee food


Stella and Hudson-

I think these two could be on my list every Friday because they are basically the best thing since sliced bread.  They complete me.  Stella was actually sick Wednesday night (she got sick about 8 times).  We have yet to determine what caused it, but she was back to her perky self the next day.  Going through sickness is tough, but overcoming it makes you stronger and actually helps your love grow for them.  Poor thing was pitiful.

So... those are a few things I'm thankful for this week. 

Oh, wait--- I started a 30 day Arm Challenge on FaceBook and it's ROCKIN' and I'm so happy!  I can already feel my strength rising and my endurance building.  I've gotta get my arms looking wedding ready in only 3 months!  Wahoo

What are you thankful for today?  This week?  Anything?

 

XO, 

My Guilty Pleasure

So, I have something I need to admit.

Wait for it........

I'm a pancake LOVAH!  Seriously, I love pancakes.  I don't know where this came from, but for the past few years, I've had an obsession with them.

When I started eating healthier, I changed my usual pancakes and regular syrup for multi-grain OR whole wheat pancakes and PURE maple syrup.  Yes, I know that this STILL doesn't make it HEALTHY or something that is worth anything of much nutritional value, but it is a hell of a lot healthier than my other stuff.

So, with that said, I present to you my GUILTY PLEASURE {I just had some this morning! ;)}

Banana Pancakes:

Made with this mixture I picked up at Trader Joes:

And you can't forget about the pure maple syrup:

I picked up this large jar from SAMs.

So, now you have it.  My Guilty Pleasure.  What's yours?

XO,

Food is my weakness

Have you ever been KILLING it at the gym or doing your own workout program and you wonder WHY you haven't been getting SUPER AWESOME results like you feel you should?  Like, every workout is a full out sweat sesh where you feel like you can take on the world.

welllllll... I'm here to tell you that if you haven't changed your nutrition, then that's probably your problem.

At least, for me, it is.  The first step to fixing a problem you have is admitting to the problem.  I eat junk foods.

You know, I actually do pretty well for the most part.  I eat my fruits and veggies (most of my veggies everyday) but those damn carbs and sweets are what gets me EVERY.TIME.  I don't need sodas.  I can do without fried foods.  I love whole wheat and whole grain anything, so that's not my problem.  It's just I like the carbs too much and instead of getting my suggested 2 servings a day, I can easily eat 5-6 servings.

I'm human, so before you say OH MA GAH, I can't believe you do that.  It's so easy.  If you aren't sure how easy it is, take a food journal of everything you eat daily for a week and you will probably be in for a rude awakening.

So, HOW do we FIX this?  How do we get the AB definition we want, the tummy and arm fat to FINALLY be gone from our bodies?

We HAVE to change our nutrition.

SO, the thing that's helped ME is having an accountability partner.  This can be a friend or family member you've known all along that is RIGHT there with you and needs to change their habits just as bad as you.  OR, it could be through an accountability group, either in person OR online.  You know online is all of the rage now, because it helps connect people from all over the globe who WANT the SAME EXACT THINGS... so in return you get super awesome accountability and supports and then in return, you get the results you wanted.

So, go GRAB an accountability partner!  They help.  I know it, because I've been there.  I NEED accountability partners again.  My family and friends aren't really supporting me to the point they are doing it with me, so I rely on my accountability partners via FaceBook!

I'm about to go back to the basics with my clean eating and nutrition.  Results are 80% nutrition, 20% exercise.  That's CRAZAY!

October Fitness Tips

October is MY FAVORITE month (well, one of my favorite months).

It's officially fall season, filled with pumpkins, cooler weather, football, pumpkin spice lattes, and tons of other goodies.

Also with October is Halloween.  Candy, Costumes, Craziness. 

I don't know about you, but when it comes to chocolate, I'm ALL OVER IT.

How can you resist (even if you aren't that BIG of a fan?)  It's all around you and you just HAVE to eat it!

I get stressed around the Holiday's because of my love of food, and wanting to continue to eat it, and worrying about gaining tons of unwanted lbs. 

What's a girl to do?

I'm so glad that I have my fitness accountability groups online!  They help keep me focused and sane when all I want to do is raid the pantry of all candy and watch re-runs of Halloweentown!

Because of my fitness groups and helping me SO MUCH, I am definitely having them throughout the Holidays.  JUST because we are coming up on Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas does NOT mean you should throw your health to the side! 

I believe you should do something good for yourself and start healthy habits NOW so that they will get you through the Holiday's without gaining 15 lbs!  If you start NOW and rev-up your metabolism and get in the habit of working out regularly, then you will be A-OK to have the Halloween candy, Pumpkin Pie, cheesecake, and cookies during the Holidays (all in moderation---OK, somewhat moderation!)

SO, I'm taking on 5 girls who want to join me on a 30 day journey to jump-start their clean eating and fitness program before we hit the Holidays full force!

My next group starts November 3rd!  Yes, it goes through Thanksgiving, but like I said we will get through it and be FINE!! Trust me!  You'll be glad you did it!

Comment BELOW or add me on FB and send me a message if you are interested in the online fitness accountability group!  I look forward to hearing from you!

Call with Beachbody CEO, Carl Daikeler

Oh EM GEE!

I'm on a call RIGHT now with the CEO of Beachbody, Carl Daikeler!

This company is amazing and has changed my life in so many ways.  You know, it's a normal Thursday night when you get to chat with the CEO of one of the top direct selling companies!

I might not be an elite top coach, YET, but they still treat all of us like royalty!

I could never soak up enough information about Beachbody and growing my business!

Have you heard of Beachbody?  Do you know how big of a deal this is?!


Talk to you soon.  I've gotta CEO to chat with!

XO,

New Beginnings. New Vibe.

Hey, love bugs!  Thank you so much for checking out my blog.  Today is a special day.  It's a day where I'm committing myself to blogging 3-5 times per week.

What to expect: posts about my fiance, my sweet dogs, my fitness journey, Beachbody coaching and fitness groups, and all about life.

I'll take you on my journey of The Good Life, as I see it.  It can be boring at times, but it's MY life and how I live it!

If you ever have any questions or if you want me to blog about something special, then LET ME KNOW!

I love suggestions and I love followers!

So... here it goes!  Let's get this blog party started!

XO,

Blog Under Construction

I am in the process of updating my blog and changing things to current times!

Thank you SO much for stopping by, and check back SOON for more updates and blog posts.

The Good Life is JUST getting started and I'm so excited for you to start following me on my journey through life, the Good Life!

XO,

Fall in the Air

I want to take a moment to STOP and breathe in the fresh air.  It feels so much like FALL, I can almost taste it.

Yes, we are experiencing HOT weather.  Yes, we are getting afternoon thunderstorms.

But, that's not stopping me from dreaming and wishing and hoping for FALL weather, soon!

You see, Fall is my FAVORITE time of the year.  It's something about the crisp, cool air.  It's something about the leaves changing from bright greens to orange, red, and brown.  It's the pumpkins.  It's the football.  It's the apple pie. 

Fall makes me feel like HOME.  It makes me feel comforted.  It makes me feel COMPLETE.

It's also the start of a beautiful, magical holiday season.  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's.  All within a couple of months we get to experience some of the BEST holiday's.  These are holidays spent with loved ones.  It's a time of celebrating, rejoicing, and having a great time.

Fall is the start of it all.

This year will be extra special.  Fall is the start of the season to which I will get married.  I'll be getting married January 24th (in the winter) but I'll be able to soak in all of the final wedding details and being showered by loved ones. 

Fall is RIGHT around the corner.  It's a beautiful thing!

XO,

My WHY for being a Team Beachbody Coach

Why would anyone want to be a Team Beachbody Coach aka FITNESS Coach/Mentor if they don't LOVE fitness?

Well, I can't speak for everyone, but I will definitely tell you WHY I chose to be a Team Beachbody Coach and WHY I'm going to be a successful one.

When we talk about our WHY's, whether it be for Beachbody, another job, a fitness routine, or school, we talk about what it means DEEP DOWN in our souls our reasoning for doing what we do.  On the BAD days, the HARD days, and the day's you want to just GIVE UP, your WHY will be the reason why you keep going!

So, take a look at this short video I put together.  It explains PERFECTLY what being a Beachbody Coach means to me, my GOALS, and my WHY for being a Team Beachbody Coach!

 



 

Let me know what you think!

XO,

My PiYo Journey

Some of you might know if you follow me via Facebook that I have decided to finish PiYo start to finish.

Josh pointed out that I had not finished a program after I finished Insanity (which was crazy insane ;))

So... since he pointed it out, and it WAS a valid point, I decided right then and there that I was going to commit myself to PiYo!

It's Beachbody's brand new program and I had done it off and on, but kept falling back on The 21 Day Fix.

***UPDATE*** on PiYo:

I'm in my 2nd week! I've just finished PiYo Core (the first time I've done this workout in the program) and I'm IN LOVE with the program!

It reminds me of my dancing/ballet days, because I feel so free and so feminine doing the moves, but at the same time, Chalean (the creator of the program) steps it up a few notches and I get an incredible sweat on!

I look forward to my workouts and I can't wait to see my results at the end!

PS- Josh and I took Hudson and Stella out tonight so they could get some exercise.  We have a huge lot next to us and they just cut the grass, so it was a PERFECT spot to let the dogs run loose!

Huddy had a blast playing but Stella preferred chillin' with her Mama!

XO,

The 3 reasons why YOU should have a Beachbody Coach!

Hey, loves!

There are so many people who are confused as to whether or not go through a Team Beachbody COACH to purchase Beachbody products OR to order on their OWN through beachbody.com's website!

I put together a short video on my 3 reasons why you SHOULD have a Beachbody Coach!

As an outsider, or someone who has never purchased or used Beachbody products, it IS confusing as to which site to go through, how to order the products, and WHY you should go with a certain one.

I hope this video helps YOU make your decision and let me know if I can help with anything!



XO,

Pickling Cucumbers

After I begged and annoyed Josh for a whole year, he finally gave in and gave me what I had always been dreaming of....

A GARDEN!

Wahoo-  It's actually really small and we planted roma tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, banana peppers and watermelon.

If you would see my backyard now, it's 1/2 covered in watermelon vine.  It looks like a forest got sick in my lawn. 

I seriously don't think that my garden could hold the watermelon by itself let alone the cucumbers, tomatoes, and two kinds of peppers.

Whoopsie.  I guess lesson learned and we will note that for next years garden!

But, we did get LOTS of cucumbers!  Thankfully, Josh and I both love them.  We also love pickles.  So, we decided to give at home canning a shot. 

The first batch of pickles were ready this past Sunday and they are GOOD!!

Nom. Nom. Nom.!

What's your favorite fresh garden vegetable?

Do you like canning?

XO,

Maid to Perfection

A couple of weeks ago, my Brides(maids), my Mom and Aunt all got together for a "Maid to Perfection Party".

If you don't know what that is then I'm about to tell you!  It's a "PARTY" that my local bridal store Voila hosts for the bride and her maids to come together for a chance to select the bridesmaids dresses!  It's filled with champagne, cupcake, munchies, and lots of dresses!

All of my maids (minus 2) were able to come and we had a GREAT day!

Before the party we had a luncheon at Fin-N-Filet.  The same restaurant will host my bridal luncheon the day of the wedding!

Eek--- TODAY is officially 6 months until WEDDING day!

Sorry, I got a little side-tracked.

Here are some pictures from the luncheon and Maid to Perfection Party!

 

The two most important ladies in my life.  My Sister and Mom.

 My day wouldn't be complete without my Cousin, Caroline!

 

 

 

My soon to be "sister in love" Julia

My Idol and Mama!

 

Hope you enjoy the review and pictures!

 

XO,

Simple Things in Life

What makes you happy in life?

You could answer this with: family, friends, money, your spouse, children, etc.  OR you could answer with all of the above.

I tend to get so focused on the BIG PICTURE that I don't sit back and think about the small things, the SIMPLE things in life. 

For instance, last night, I decided to take a WALK around the neighborhood.  I wanted to get out and exercise.  I wasn't focused on running or jogging (something that is NOT my favorite), but rather on soaking up the outdoors. 

I LOVED it.  It felt so relaxing.  I listened to music and just took in the sights from around the neighborhood.  An older gentleman was out front taking in some fresh air and cars were coming in from their evening festivities.

Like I said, I tend to think about the BIG things in life--- how I will be able to provide for my future children, how I'll be able to purchase my dream home,  how I'll retire.

These things are all GREAT and I believe in dreaming BIG and mapping out a plan for your future.

But... we must take in the simple things NOW before they are gone! 

Today, I encourage you to....

 

XO,

High Five! It's Friday!

I want to devote this post to my Friday and for what's ahead for the weekend!  I have a FEW busy, fun, and EXCITING weekends ahead and this one kicks it off and I could NOT be any more excited!

First off--- TODAY I got up at 5:15 AM (It's not easy) and did a 21 Day Fix Total Body Cardio Workout.  If you haven't heard of The 21 Day Fix, then check it out HERE.  It's my soul mate workout.  It's my favorite.  I love it.  The end.

I knew I needed to workout this morning because TONIGHT I'm heading Uptown Greenwood to check out the Festival of Discovery that comes to town every year.  It's a huge BBQ Festival and it's always a fun time!  I'm preparing myself in advance for all of the yumminess I'm sure to eat tonight... I'm going to try to keep it as clean as possible.. promise ;)

Saturday--- ALL of my maids (except for one- we will miss you Jessica) are coming to town for a Maid to Perfection Party!   The bridal shop, (Voila!), that I got my dress from hosts these super awesome parties for the bridesmaids to come and try on and get fitted for their dresses.  This will be the first time all of my maids are together at the same time and I can't WAIT to see them! It's been awhile since I've seen some of them!

Stay tuned for updates from the Maid to Perfection Party!  I hope to get a post up by Sunday with all of the details (at least the details I can spill ;))

Have a GREAT weekend!  XO,

The 3-Day Refresh

If you follow me through Facebook, you will know that for the past 3 days I've been doing what is called The 3-Day Refresh.  It is a new program that is designed to remove toxins from your body to either cleanse you, jump start you on a diet, or to get rid of unwanted vacation lbs that were gained.  For ME, it was indulging in too much "bad for you" food and I NEEDED and WANTED to do something about it.

So... I've never done a detox or a cleanse before.  I jumped in blind, not having the slightest clue what to expect.  It was 3 days.  I could do it.

Day 1---  Interesting.  I had to drink a fiber sweep mid-morning.  The flavor and texture was unlike anything I'd ever had before.  It was citrus-y to a certain degree and wasn't AWFUL.  I got it done.  The rest of the day went as planned.  I DID feel hungry towards the end of Day 1.

Day 2--- I KNEW what I was doing.  I was in a rhythm.  I started to get tired of the same ole' hummus and veggies so I knew I wanted to pick up some almond butter to substitute on the 3rd day.  I was almost halfway through and KNEW I could do it.

Day 3--- I was ready for it to be over.  I was hungry.  I didn't want anymore veggies (and I usually LOVE veggies)! BUT, I stuck by everything even while my sweet soon-to-be hubs grilled TWO cheeseburgers!  Thanks, HUN!

And nowwwww for the results.  Dun Dun Dun.....

I lost THREE lbs!!

I am NO longer BLOATED-- bye bye bloat!

I DO have more energy!

I truly feel accomplished for not only doing something I didn't think I could stick to, but for doing something AMAZING for my body.  My body sure needed a great detox!

You can't tell much by the picture, but I do feel like I've lost the puffiness around my tummy.  I actually weighed in this morning the lightest I've EVER been in my life!  

SO--- how do you think I did?! I want to know!

XO,

Never give up!

Excuses have to be the #1 reason why people don't achieve their goals and become successful.  Society is so based around excuses and doing what we want to do in the MOMENT, not thinking about how it will affect our futures.

Thinking back on my fitness journey (sorry, I'm not sorry I talk about it all of the time!), I think about all of the times that I've wanted to quit.  I often ask myself "WHY do I want to make myself work out when I simply don't want to?" "How will it hurt me?"

Reality is, I lived 23 years unhealthy.  I ate the wrong foods, didn't exercise nearly as much as I should, was never active in sports (other than cheerleading in my youthful days and middle school).  I was setting my body up for failure.  I felt bloated all of the time.  I had an irregular digestive system.  Most importantly, I FELT bad and LOOKED bad.  When I had to walk far,  I felt drained.  It EXHAUSTED me.  I dreaded it.

When I think of my excuses, most are either time related or that I just didn't feel good.

I have a lot going on, and this past year I discovered I have 2 extra sinus cavities, which have caused me A LOT of trouble with sinus infection after sinus infection.  With allergy season in FULL SWING, I'm finding myself drained and with headaches a lot.

BUT, when I feel like giving up, I remind myself why I started.  I was TIRED of being who I was.  I was TIRED of being the "big girl", the girl who would always cover herself up at the pool, the girl who didn't want to be surrounded by ANY GUYS at the pool (ummmm I did NOT want them seeing my fat rolls or thunder thighs!).  I was self conscious.

I'm NOT at my goal body, but I feel so much better.  When I go for a long walk, I FEEL good.  I FEEL light!  I feel like I am a million bucks.  And to me, that's ALL that matters.

SO, if you take anything from this post, please know that I am behind you.  If you feel like giving up, remember why you started.

Remember: "Giving up is simply NOT an option"

XO,

Shakeology

Today, I am CRAVING peaches.  This feeling is bringing me back to last year when I had an abundance of fresh peaches.  My favorite thing to do with them?  Eat them, of course!
I LOVED throwing them in my Vanilla Shakeology.  I added a peach, a handful of strawberries, some milk, ice, and the vanilla shakeology and it was like drinking paradise in a cup!

Okay, maybe it wasn't THAT good, but I really loved it!

If you were brought here wondering "What the HECK is Shakeology?" then bear with me and I'll give you a brief history. 

It's a meal replacement shake filled with super foods, proteins, vitamins, nutrients, pro & pre biotics, and many other great stuff.  Literally, so much I can't name them all. 

What does it do? 
- Aids in weight loss
- Increases energy
- Regulates your digestive system
- Reduces cravings
- Gives your body all the healthy stuff it needs

What have I noticed since drinking it?

I've noticed a HUGE difference in my energy and my digestive system.  I still get tired throughout the day, but I no longer need naps like I used to have.  My digestive system is regular and that's all I'll say about that!
If you are looking to change your nutrition in your diet and start feeding yourself healthy things and want to lose a few lbs or two, then Shakeology might be something you can use.  It's NOT a magic pill... You will still have to work hard, but it will make the process easier and you get to have a yummy shake everyday.

I LOVE it!
How good does this shake look?

 

Message me if you want more information on Shakeology! XO,

Adults in Braces life update

I am so aggravated with myself for not blogging more about my journey as an adult with braces. From the very beginning, I made a promise to myself to NEVER hide my braces and to totally embrace them. I think I've done an overall good job with it. Of course, I cover my mouth when I laugh, but I think I did that before I had braces. Don't get me wrong... I'm so much more self counsious now that I have braces. Of course, I get some weird looks from people who see an adult in braces. But, I have never let that get to me or bother me. I think as an adult you just get to the point where you don't REALLY care what people think. So, I do wish that I would have blogged a little more about my journey. It will be 2 years in May. TWO YEARS. Did you hear me? Looking back, it seems like it has been 5 years BUT at the same time it seems like it could have only been 2 months. If that makes any sense to you, at all. I can't believe it's been that long but looking back I've been through SO.MUCH. on my journey. I've survived a tissue graft, spacers, a pendulum appliance, braces, canine exposure surgery, pulling my canine down from a bracket when it was in the roof of my mouth, to NOW. Holy Moly. Did I really go through all of that? I can't believe I've actually done it. You see, I've talked about needing this and getting these procedures done since I was in middle school. I just kept putting it off until I literally ran out of excuses and just jumped in head first. If you stumbled across this because you either have braces as an adult or if you are going to get them, then please know that this has NOT been a horrible experience AT ALL. Yes, there were ups and downs. There were many weeks that I was on a soft food diet due to surgeries. There were days when my mouth hurt to talk. There were days when I wanted to rip my braces off and be done with them. But, when it comes down to it, I've actually gotten used to them. It's a way of life for me. I always have to pick things out of my braces after I eat. I can't bite into a cheeseburger, a slice of pizza, a strawberry, or anything for that matter. A fork and knife have become my best friends! My estimated braces treatment length was 24-30 months. I'm about to head into my 24th month. I go back to the orthodontist tomorrow and I don't know when my estimated de-brace date is. We haven't talked about it, yet. But, I'm anxious to get them off! For those of you who don't know my story, you can check it out on some posts about it here on my blog. In short, I had an impacted canine in my upper mouth. Sorry, I'm not good with the dental lingo! ;) I had a tissue graft prior to braces to get enough tissue around the area I was going to have a future surgery. In June of last year, I had a canine exposure surgery. My baby tooth I carried around for 24 years was pulled and my canine tooth was exposed. A bracket was attached to the tooth and slowly my tooth was pulled down. It's fully down, BTW :) I've also had braces throughout the whole time and had to wear a pendulum appliance to help move my teeth. The pendulum appliance was put in at the beginning and I wore it until my exposure surgery. Here are some progress pictures and pictures from my journey. Feel free to message me if you have any questions about anything!

This was from the first few days of my braces journey.  You can tell I had a space on MY upper left side (the right side of the picture).  It literally closed up within a day!  I was shocked.

This shows my tooth coming down!! Yay!

Here is THE BEST picture... (wait for it ;))....

So, here it is!! Whatcha think?!

XO,

How much time does it take to be a Beachbody coach?

Throughout the past few months, I've had multiple people ask me or shoot down the idea of Coaching because they weren't sure they had enough "time" to be a coach.

How much time DOES it take one to become an Independent Team Beachbody Coach?

My answer is below in the video I did.  But, if you DO want to know, then all I have to say is that I don't have an answer for it.  Find out WHY by watching my video!

XO,

Bombshell Retreat

As I'm here at the Pittsburgh Airport waiting on my flight, I have a million things running through my head.  I am excited, nervous, excited, EXCITED, and super anxious to get home and to implement all of the amazing things I've learned.

This past weekend, I've spent time with 24+ girls (and a couple of guys!) on a Bombshell Winter Retreat in Seven Springs, PA.

WHAT IS A BOMBSHELL RETREAT?

It was a gift that I won, through my Star Upline Diamond Coach, Kati Heifner.  This is all through Beachbody and I'm so blessed to be part of such an amazing team.  I wouldn't be who I am if it weren't for the amazing support system I've been surrounded by for the past 9 months.

We learned about leadership, sponsorship, challenge groups, and other things to help our teams become successful at helping others achieve their goals.

Yes, this is a business. BUT, with that I want to stress that this business is ALL ABOUT HELPING PEOPLE! I get a crazy weird high when I have a customer who tells me that they lost 6 lbs in a week on a Beachbody Program. How FREAKING AH-MAZING is that.  This business changes lives, and I am part of that.

So, take a look at a few pictures from this weekend!  I can't even put into words how amazing this experience has been.  I'm forever grateful for all of the blessings in my life.

 More pictures to come...!

XO,

Fitness Motivation

Here's a little Thursday fitspiration!

PS- I have an online fitness group starting March 24th! Message me if you want a spot.  ONLY TWO SPOTS LEFT! First come, first serve! Message me or comment below for more information!

Goldendoodle puppies

If you follow me on Facebook, you should be well aware that Josh and I just brought home our goldendoodle 11 month old pup.  He came with the name Dasher, that we quickly changed to Hudson.  We didn't think he fit the "Dasher" name.

When it came to discussing getting a new pet for our family, Josh and I had many discussions over which breed to get.  He was used to BIG dogs (he just had to put to sleep his best friend Nich, a Siberian Husky) and wanted another dog like him.  However; we live in a smallish townhome and don't have a yard for an outside dog.  I feared that the dog would completely DESTROY our small back patio.

I had seen pictures of goldendoodle pups and fell in love with their teddy bear like qualities.  I started doing research and found a breeder in the area.

Benefits of a goldendoodle:

1. GREAT family pet.  They are good with children (which is a MUST since I will (hopefully) be having my own in the next 3-5 years or so).
2.  Hypoallergenic.  If you know me, you know I struggle with sinuses.  Anything can trigger them and I worried that a dog who sheds would keep me sick all of the time.  Goldendoodles are perfect for me.
3.  They are supposedly VERY smart and LOYAL.  I like that. 
4.  They are BIG dogs (Hudson will be around 50 lbs).  Even though they are big, they are big giants.  Being a big dog is a plus for Josh.  He didn't want a froofroo dog, like my Stella.
5.  They don't shed!  This goes back to the hypoallergenic.  I can't deal with a house full of dog hair.
6.  They are ADORABLE!

So, we are all very excited about Hudson and I can't wait until we break him of his bad habits (especially potty training).  This is a new ball game for me and I am learning as I go.  Pray that I stay sane these next few months ;)

Here's our sweet family.  I'm holding Stella (my adopted maltese mix) and Josh holding Hudson the day we brought him home!)

 

XO,

High Five! It's Friday!

Hey, y'all!  It's finally FRIDAY and finally the day I was able to venture out and back to work.  You would think we had a massive snow storm hit us with the way things were shut down.  Oh wait.... WE DID!

Who ever would have thought WE (the SOUTH) would get hit with over 6 inches of snow!? NOT this girl.  Apparently it was one of the biggest snow storms to hit the area since like 1988.  That's when I was BORN! Craziness.

I love everything about the snow except for 2 things, which I'll name in a bit.  But, first of all... I wish it would snow like this at least 5 times a year, every year.  I LOVE the snow.  It's so magical.  All I want to do is stare outside my window.  It's beautiful and it reminds me of God's beauty. 

But, that brings me to my 2 things I don't like about the snow.  I love everything about it when I'm INSIDE the comfort of my own home, with not a thing to do but watch each snowflake fall (okay, I hope you see my exaggeration here!).  Okay- so what I don't like about the snow:

1.  Stella HATES it!  Literally, HATES it! She doesn't know how to do her "business" on it and ends up freaking herself out.  I had to dig a couple of holes in the snow so she could see the grass.  Maybe she's just high maintenance or maybe she just doesn't know how to react.  I mean, we never get snow around these parts!

2.  I HATE driving in the snow/slush/ice.  You see, we hardly EVER get snow!  But, when we do, chances are the next day or 2 the temperatures will be in the mid 40's-50's and everything melts.  But, what happens will the lows dip back into the 20's?  It all FREEZES... hence a big big BIG icy/snowy/slushy MESS!  And I have to DRIVE in it!

SO, pretty much I love everything about snow except for the above 2 things!

Do you like SNOW?  How often do you get it? 

XO,

High Five! It's Friday!

Happy FRIDAY!

Work has been busy, busy, busy as we are about half-way into our Audit this year!  Being an accountant, we are on high-alert and needed at any moment to provide things for the Auditor's.  It's kind of exciting, but it has been SUPER busy!

I am really looking forward to this weekend.  My best friend from Middle School is getting married and I can't wait to see her walk down the aisle!  Congratulations, Magen & Clay!

Also, on a side note::: Beachbody came out with a new program called The 21 Day Fix! It's an amazing program and I cannot wait to get mine! The actual program itself sold out within the first 8 hours.  They sold more in 8 hours than they projected to sell in the WHOLE WEEK! How crazy is that?  It just goes to show that it is THAT amazing of a product!  Challenge Packs were still available, but they have now gone on back order for 10 days.  I can imagine it will be pushed back further in another day or two! The FIX focuses on PORTION CONTROL (it even comes with color coated containers designated for the food groups.  As long as you can fit it in the container, you can eat it!) and it also incorporates 30 minute workouts everyday for the 21 days.  People got mega good results, even losing 15 lbs in the 21 days!! CRAY CRAY!

If you want to join in on my next 21 Day Fix Group (as soon as you get the product, of course!) then let me know ASAP!!! You NEED to RESERVE your copy ASAP so it won't be April before you can get it.  Seriously (the program only is projected to ship LATE MARCH!)

Message me, comment below, or follow this link::::: HERE!

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

XO,

High Five! It's Friday!

Now that life has pretty much settled down, I want to start up again with my High Five! It's Friday! posts.  I LOVE Friday's for so many reasons and I'm so grateful for the end of a long work week and love that I have a whole weekend (a long weekend at that) coming right around the corner.

Many things have happened lately.  I feel like I never slow down and often worry that I am taking on too much.  Should I quit something that I am doing?  How do I know if I need to?  Okay, this post is not about that.  It's about what went RIGHT this week and what I've done/accomplished!

1- Last night, Josh and I met with our videographer who is going to video our Wedding! eek! I can't believe this is real.  The appointment went well, we met at Starbucks.  He is a friend of Josh's, so the meeting was casual.  We discussed what we want in a video and what we want to focus on.  I know it will be perfect and can't wait to see it after our big day!  I came home from Starbucks last night and just looked at Josh and said "baby, we are getting married!" It's surreal.  It's amazing.

2- Work has been non-stop this past week.  It's no different from before.  I've come to really like the fast paced environment and love that I'm almost always busy.  I am still struggling as far as learning everything, since I've only been in this position for a few months.  I like to know everything on the first try and wished I just knew how to do everything without asking for help.  I think it's my independence that comes out.  Even after all of that, I love my job and know that, without a doubt, I made the right decision.

3- This was the 2nd week of my 60 day Fitness Challenge through FB.  I am so proud of my girls for doing a JAM UP job! Our interaction is going great and they have kept me SO motivated when I needed it the most.

4- Josh and I got to spend a lot more time together this week than we have in a long time.  He finally parted from his part time job at a bar he worked at since he was in College.  It's a place that is near and dear to him and I know it was hard quitting for him.  For ME though, I am SO happy! I love spending the evenings with him and having supper together.

5- We found out that Beachbody has released an all new Strawberry Shakeology flavor! YAY! And, February 3rd will be the official release date for the NEW 21 Day Fix! I cannot wait to get this program based on all of the results I've seen over Facebook from those who were in the test group!! They had amazing results and I think this program will be the answer to all of my prayers!

Shakeology Combo Box: Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry.  Yum!

21 Day Fix... for Everyone

Announcement #2...

The 21 Day Fix!

I am SO SO SO SO SO (can you tell my excitement?) about this program!  It is going to be the answer to many prayers about ways to get in shape, lose weight, and become happy with yourself in under 1 MONTH.  Yeah, you read that right.  This program is designed to help you lose weight and see results in as little as 21 days.

The program will come with containers for your food and word on the street is that you can eat just about anything you want as long as they fit in the containers.  The key to this program is working out everyday and regulating what you eat by PORTION CONTROL... who doesn't need that?  I know I might eat healthy things, but I know for a fact I eat more than I should.

SO, my question to you is this:: If you could do a program for as little as 21 days and lose up to 10 lbs, would you do it?

That IS the question!

Message me TODAY if you want to be one of the first to get this new program.  I will be having a 21 DAY FIX TEST GROUP starting in February... you won't want to miss it!

XO,

Announcement #1

I am SO very excited about all of the things coming out SOON in the world of Beachbody!  The first Announcement I have and the FIRST new thing coming is......

STRAWBERRY SHAKEOLOGY

I absolutely LOVE strawberry flavored EVERYTHING so you better believe I will be trying this new flavor of the shake I absolutely LOVE! It will be available for purchase or to switch flavors (if you are currently drinking Shakeology) this coming MONDAY (January 13th).

The OTHER best thing about Strawberry Shakeology coming out?!

You can get a Neapolitan combination box that contains Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry.  I think I know what I'm doing Monday.  (hint: switching from Vanilla to the combination box!)

If you are interested in switching flavors OR if you are interested in ordering Shakeology, contact me!  You can feel free to add me on Facebook and request for ME to be YOUR coach by using this website!  

XO,