My Growth Game is Strong

Growth and self improvement happens slowly, over time, and a lot of time you don't even notice yourself changing until you do..

At least that is how it happened for me..

The other day I got up for work (I have to be there at 7am)  and got ready and went in..  (exciting story so far, eh?)

Anyway, I got up..  was a bit groggy, but got myself going.  I had my shake, grabbed my coffee and went there to do that thing.  On the way in I smiled, I said "good morning" to those I passed and was generally in a good mood.  Before 7am.

In the past, this did not happen.

I would rarely say much to anyone that early as I groggily went about my morning waiting for the caffeine to kick in.

I was very typical "anti - morning person" and was not very happy to be awake and functioning at that hour.  But somewhere along the line that changed.

Don't get me wrong. I am still NOT a morning person.  At all.  In fact, I slept until 10am today since I had the day off.  This wasn't intentional, but lately this seems to be happening more and more.  And that's ok.  My body must need the rest.

But now when I go to work, I find I'm happier.  I'm more positive.  And I'm most likely a nicer person to be with in those early morning hours.

What changed??

The time didn't.
The amount of sleep I get really didn't.
The job I do didn't.

I changed.
My mindset changed.
My general mood changed.

I decided what I wanted for my life was to be happier.  And guess what?... I am!

What did it??

First off, I can tell you unequivocally it had to do with personal development.  I know *eye roll* from a lot of you..  And I know that because *I* did that too...  until I started to delve in.  And it is life-changing.  Later on I will post a list of my favorite PD books to get you going if you are interested in trying it out.  I mean for REAL.. What do you have to lose???

And secondly.. and this is even more important, because it is what got me to starting the first thing...  I decided that I was worth it.  I decided to change my life.  From the inside out.  By making my health and wellness a priority in my life.  By surrounding myself with people that lift me up and challenge me to be better every day..

If you are interested in any of these things.. I am always here to answer questions..  and to get you started on what has been such an amazing and life-changing experience for me.  You can find friend me and message me on facebook.. (the link to my profile is in the pic of me to your upper right).. or you can use the "contact me" form on here.  I would love to hear from you..  ;)

If you are already taking action to improve your life.  Let me know what you are doing!  I'm always interested in hearing new ideas!

3 Ingredient Pancakes

These babies are super simple, super nutritious, and taste great..  (basically my 3 necessities for food.. ;) )

1 Banana
2 eggs
1/2 cup oats (i used regular Quaker oats)

Put in blender.  Blend until it looks "pancake batter-like"

And cook like you would any old pancake!!

Use pure maple syrup to top if you want to keep it "clean."  or these are great plain too..

Enjoy!!

Life Transformation

As seen on Facebook...  (click to find me there!)

So I keep seeing this "post one of your first pics from FB and your pic now to see how you've changed" and i thought this would be a fantastic "Transformation Tuesday" post.. Because, you see, between these 2 pictures my WHOLE LIFE changed. If you think that is dramatic.. you are mistaken..

* I was married to the girls' Dad in the first pic... it wasn't a terrible marriage, but it wasn't the right one for me.
* I was working as a teacher.
* I lived in a rented apartment.
* I wasn't too keen on make up techniques.. LOL!
* I didn't work out.
* I was always struggling financially.
* I was STRESSED with 2 tiny little girls.


Since then..
* I went back to school and changed careers.
* Married the man of my dreams.
* Struggled through the loss of my children's father.
* Got glam with the make up tricks (though I don't use them all the time.. see pic. lol)
* Learned how to take care of ME through health and fitness
* Became more financially stable
* Bought the perfect house for ME.
* oh and now I'm just STRESSED with 2 Tween/teen girls.. gah!

My life now looks NOTHING like it did 8 and a half years ago.. Why?? Some was circumstance.. some was necessity.. some was strength.. BUT through it ALL I believed that I was worth it.. i was worth TIME, I was worth MONEY, I was worth paying attention to ME and taking care of MYSELF along with my kids and my family..

I wonder what my life will look like 8 years from now.. Not so much will change so drastically, at least i hope not.. but I do know my life will get better and better.. WHY?? because I put effort into it. I am striving to work on ME daily. My fitness, my person, my relationships.. If you want to work on YOU.. reach out!! I know a girl that can help ;)

Why make a Vision Board?

I just finished making something that I never have done before.  I had always heard about vision boards, but wasn't really into doing one.

But, as we all do from time to time, I changed my mind.

I made my vision board so I can have my dreams in front of my face every. single. day.

So I can SEE my goals right there in front of me.

So there is a physical reminder of what I am working toward.

So I put my dreams and goals "out there" and commit to them.

I also just love that it's pretty.  haha.

I believe that by seeing this every day, by taking the time to really look at it, I will be inspired to work for my goals.

To make it, I decided I wanted it to be pretty hanging on my wall, so I bought a poster type frame.  And I used scrapbook paper, pictures and sayings printed off of Pinterest and a few pretty stickers, along with a glue gun to create the board.  I just used glued everything right onto the back board of the frame..  And there you have it!

This year, I've started off really focusing on my goals and working on really focusing on what my goals and dreams are for this life.  I am really focused on creating and designing my life as best as I can.  And yes, I'm currently reading The Desire Map and using powersheets to help me!

Have you ever done anything like this?  Did it work for you?

My Before Pictures

My fitness journey started sometime around this past summer..  Over the summer I dabbled in a few different workout programs, worked out at a gym offering group fitness training, and finally finding my way back to the programs and support that I use now.  Somewhere, towards the end of summer.. I finally "got it."  I finally found something to keep me accountable, to keep me working out, to keep me striving to be something more.. something better..  the ME, I really want to become..

And well, I haven't given up.  I'm still working at it.  Daily.  Sometimes hourly.  I am fighting for it.  I am choosing self discipline, I'm choosing my long term goals over momentary desires.. I am choosing my health.  I am choosing ME.

However, I haven't lost a crap ton of weight.. Though I know I have lost some...  probably around 10-15 pounds so far... but let's be honest, at my heaviest, I wasn't a real big fan of the scale, so I may have been heavier.  I'm not sure.

I'm still not a fan of the scale.  It only gives a number, not a picture, not a real visual of the progress that you have obtained.

I have been a bit sad that although I have worked really hard, I didn't think I had any real transformation pictures to share..  I wasn't really sure how much progress I had really made with my body.

Then it happened.

Then I went back through my phone.. curious to compare my pictures that I thought I might have taken at the beginning of the summer..  and I found them.

My "before" pics.

Before I joined a gym for the millionth time last January.

Before I went to the gym for a month or so...  burning some calories on the elliptical before getting a massage on their massage bed thing... not really seeing any results.

Before I fell off and didn't go back to that gym...

Before I saw my upline coach having fun with her "fitness" friends on a couple different trips that looked amazing and posting pictures and videos of her fitness journey.

Before I committed to a different way of tackling health and fitness,  with home workouts, real food and most importantly... those amazing "fitness friends".. a community of support.

Before I had the confidence to post these pictures.

Before I didn't give up.

Before I fully believed in ME.

Those before pictures are here, posted alongside the in progress pictures I have now.  This is a mission that is very  much  not done,  there is no after, since I am far from done with this journey.

If you would like to join me, if you would like to turn your current photos into your Before pictures, I'm here to help you, just reach out!

Goals for the New Year, 2017 Edition.

I think it's counterproductive to set resolutions according to some preconceived notion of what things you think you "should" be doing. However, I do think it's valuable to set goals, dreams, visions and desires for your life. To live your life intentionally and with vision! So for this year.. my goals so far... (i am still working to identify some more for the year.. I cannot WAIT until my planner arrives.. )

For me, I think i'm going to focus on the following..

* Continue to develop a positive outlook and mindset with a focus on GRATITUDE!  There is a push to identify your "word of the year" and I am still trying to identify  mine.. but I am tending towards "Gratitude" as mine.

* Continue to build my health coaching business and make progress in my own health and fitness AND help other women work on their health and fitness and start their own businesses. I need to sit down and decide what this looks like.

*MEAL PLANNING.. so sick of spending money on food that gets tossed.. I plan on making bigger meals the days before I work, so i have healthy lunches and have the fridge stocked with healthy meals for my family too!! I want to get intentional about this in the year to come and I will be sharing with all of you!!!  I already have a calendar printed out and on our refrigerator with this week's meals.  No new recipes on it yet though as this is going to be a busy "short" week in our house and I just haven't gotten there yet.

* BUDGET!!! We did so excellent with this in 2015 and got away from in entirely in 2016 and our finances show it. My favorite budgeting program is "You Need a Budget" or YNAB. I have this all set for us again!

*Travel!! This year it's looking like a getaway to Columbus, OH in April (visiting the Columbus zoo and Kalahari waterpark.. ) or possible somewhere else within a 6 hour-ish driving radius, Beachbody Summit in New Orleans, LA in July, and Walt Disney World in August. I want to focus on an international trip in 2018 or 2019.. i want to go to Thailand.

*Friendships - I plan to deepen my friendships and focus more on them in the upcoming year!! I want to make coffee dates with amazing people and surround myself with women that empower and lift each other UP!

What are you focusing on in the year to come???  (Leave it in the comments!!!)

Is anyone interested in a FREE gratitude & goals group this month?? Message me, leave a comment, or find me on Facebook!!!

I am working on a vision/manifestation board in the next couple weeks to put on my bedroom wall and keep me focused and dreaming in the direction I intend..  I'll be sure to share when it is completed.