The Book: 7 My New Life Challenge

I mean, you're probably thinking, does this girl every just chill out and not do something requires a "challenge"??! Yes, I just finished my Whole30 challenge and that did cleanse my physical body, but now I am attempting to challenge my spiritual self. A bunch of ladies here on the Shore are doing this new book study written by Jen Hatmaker. She is quite and amazing author and is very real about what she writes. Her connection with the Lord is awesome and reading about her 7 month journey from excess is quite revolutionary.

Brief overview of this book is that this society we live in is layered with excess. In this studies case, its excess: Food. Clothes. Spending. Media. Possessions. Waste. Stress. We are taking 30 days to rid out all the excess "things" in our life and widdling it down to 7 items. Lucky number 7. Its basically like a "decluttering" of your life as we know it.

Our group started this February 18th. The first 30 days are subjected around food. At first, I was VERY hesitant on starting something, yet again, that restricts my food intake. I was like, NO! Just did something like this, will modify it to make it fit ME! Then, like a hammer right to the temple of my head, I saw what I was really saying...ME ME ME...MEEEEEEEEEEEE! I will not do this cause I just did it. So, I changed my mind. I did make it a little more than 7 foods. I am eliminating these for 30 days....again:

1. Sugars of all kinds. Honey, stevia, natural whatever. ALL kinds. I do blame my blonde friend for getting me hooked on raw honey.
2. Processed junk
3. Anything that has names of "ingredients" I cannot pronounce.
4. COFFEE...I did just say that.
5. Chocolate. Oh.Man.

I do eat very healthy already. Doing the Whole30 (if you want to see what that was about, refer to my previous blogs) really gave me a reality check on what I was eating. I have kept those philosophies since finishing with a less rigid lifestyle. I don't eat grains. I eat healthy fats. But after reading the first chapter, I realized that I have over 200 things in my pantry. Holy excess, right? I am really trying to take that "need I have for those above foods" and turn it into a "need I have for the big guy upstairs".

I will not be doing this alone. My best friend here on the shore is my go-to person when I want coffee or something that I don't want. She is also blogging about her experience and a wonderful writer, so check her out here.

SO...here I go, again...Praying that this helps me open my eyes to all that is around me. Rely on Him to make it through the struggles. I already knew how blessed I was, but this challenge is really helping me open my eyes to all that I have. To be so lucky to have options for dinner and fresh fruits and veggies in my fridge. Clean water coming out of the taps and the vast options I have to eat at my house. Just some food for thought....

Why I love my husband.

I know that most of the time, I usually write about my children. I mean, they're whom I spend the majority of the day with and let's be real, they say and do some hilarious things. So, it makes sense to write a lot about them. However, there also is someone else who is very important in my life, my awesome hubs, Keith.

I was very lucky to have met my soulmate at a young age. I went through a few duds and life lessons and like a breath of fresh air, in walks this attractive, self confident man who turned my life around for the better. He showed me what a real man should be. How a woman should be treated and how a healthy relationship functions. Just over a year of dating, we were engaged and 4 months later, we were husband and wife.

Our first year of marriage was not like what you hear. It wasn't super hard but we did have our/my (lets be real, mostly me) challenges living with and learning the ins and outs of a relationship. (And learning to deal with the mans obsessive sports watching) I didn't grow up seeing a lot of healthy relationships. Actually, I can only think of a few that I would even think of as role models. So, a lot of this first year was trial and error. It was a great year though.

Keith and I have a great friendship. We are best friends and I love to spend time with him. We also are great communicators. Talk when we need to express something and listen as well. I love that about my husband because I do A LOT of talking. Outsiders would see our marriage and question some of the ways we are. I love to take care of my hubs. Call me old fashioned but I love to cook him dinner, make sure the house is tidy when he comes home and make him special treats. I also thank him for things. Most of the time he says, why are you thanking me, but I just do it cause I love him. I'm return, he thanks me when I do things for him. Most of all, we respect each other.

As we approach our 6th year of marriage and soon our 3rd state of residence, I still to this day, love him just as much as I did the day I laid eyes on him those short 7 years ago. We have been through so much together and yet, we have so much more to experience. I still get excited for him to come home and nothing makes me love him more than seeing him love our 2 beautiful children.

I hope that everyone finds their soulmate in life. Someone who will ride with you through the hard times and fun times and be there for you unconditionally. Someone who still gives you butterflies in your tummy thinking of them.

The Winter Blues

I haven't had a chance to blog lately, which has been KILLING me! This winter cold and flu season has been a rough one on my family. I swear for 2 weeks, the norovirus and general cold reeked havoc over my family.

First it was that horrible stomach bug. Took over my daughter first, then my son then took my husband out of commission. I hate seeing them all sick like that. I was rendered helpless while they were so sick and weak. I would have traded any of their sicknesses so they wouldn't had to experience that.

Once they finally recovered from that, a cold bug possessed them. I couldn't believe it! Their poor recovering bodies had to deal with congestion, cough and sore throats. I again, helped as much as I could providing soup, medicine, humidifiers and love to make them feel better. They only had to deal with this for a few days, but still...

Love sure is a powerful thing. I mean, when else would I get up throughout the night to be barfed on repeatedly and snuggle with said barfy person. Then offer up our bed to sleep in cause everyone knows sleeping in Mommy's bed makes all your ailments disappear. Love also makes you feel physical pain watching those you love so much in pain. I teared up watching all three of them crying to get better. It just wasn't fair.

Now, a few weeks later and a few crazy days of airing out my home and psychotically Lysol'ing my home, we are free of those awful germs. I wouldn't wish the Norovirus on my worst enemy. It's awful. Period.

Now all we need is a bit warmer weather to venture back outdoors. This time of the year is my least favorite. I miss the fresh air, sunshine and most importantly, letting my pirates be outside and playing!

Come on Mr. Groundhog...hope you're right!

Whole30 Challenge Completed!

So, I DID IT! I completed the whole30 challenge! It was not an easy feat at all. I think that this was, hands down, the hardest thing I've had to do in the mear 27 years on this earth. I didn't realize that everything basically had sugar in it. I mean, wow...ketchup, chicken broth, sauces, etc. I became somewhat of a detective when I was purchasing all my foods. Not such a bad thing, but definitely something that I had to get used to. I also didn't ever realize how many additives were in foods as well. This was an eye opener.

First off, I did this whole "project" for something that I could say I accomplished on my own. As a military wife and mother, "my" accomplishments are muddled with my husband's or my children's. It is now really nice to say that me, myself and I did this without cheating and stuck to this!

After finishing this, I can say I have noticed quite a bit of changes in myself:

• First off, I started this challenged weighing in a 163 (I am being very honest...can't believe I am putting this on here). I will add here beforehand, that I didn't do this lose weight. Today, I weighed myself at 156...something I haven't been in awhile. That in itself is a major boost for my ego.
• Clearer skin! I have always had acne since I was 12. Its something that I have just gotten used to this since its been a long time. However, since doing this challenge, I have had clearer and smoother skin. That is awesome for me!
• I now sleep like a rock! I know that's probably due to me exercising 6 days a week, but still...
• Strengthened immunity!! My husband and 2 kids had that awful norovirus 10 days ago and I somehow managed to bypass that AWFUL bug!
• NO headaches. I can say that with the utmost confidence that I haven't had a headache in 20 days. This is coming from someone who suffers from debilitating migraines and is decommissioned for hours to suffer this awful things. I love this part so much.
• Better digestion...do I really need to explain this one?
• Energy! Something that I desperately need with 2 kids. I feel energized from my foods now. I rarely need an afternoon pick me up or nap.
• Cravings for sweets (if you know me, thats a love of mine) pretty much gone. I now crave cashew butter (yes you see that right...I am obsessed with that), carrots and yummy almonds!!

I made some delicious meals such as Sweet Potato Latkes, Flank Steak and Pineapple Salsa, Grilled Chicken with "rice" and veggies & Stir fry with veggies. These are simple and easy and very healthy!


Like I have said before, this is not for everyone, however, why wouldn't you want to try this out even just given my small results?! I've read other peoples amazing transformations of diseases cured like fibromyalgia, arthritis and allergies. Stand up and change your life!

I will say, I am quite nervous about introducing some foods back into my diet. I will say, some may never return. I am certain that grains along with larger amounts of dairy were causing my headaches. I am ok never munching on grains again, if I don't have to deal with headaches. Slow and steady will be how I am approaching this...no need to rush. In fact, I am pretty sure I will be eating what I had for lunch today, tomorrow.

With that being said, I WILL be cracking open a celebratory bottle of wine tomorrow. I deserve it. Over a month without any alcohol and I am sure I will be a cheap date. Hubs wont mind my celebration either...Also, planning on making some Paleo cookies for my friend who did this with me too. Maybe a square of dark chocolate too...mmmmm