Resolution Time

It's that time of year again. The time where everyone starts setting goals and plans to make major changes in the coming year. Realistically, we all need to make some changes. Whether it's in our personal lives, our health, or even something like leaning a new skill, it's a change. We have any and all kinds of education at our fingertips. Take advantage of it! Set some goals and go for it! I've created quite a list of things I'd like to accomplish this year. My family and I have lots of change coming in 2015!

2015 will be a year of adventure, education, business growth, and traveling!

We are looking at, possibly, two moves this year. One is for sure. The other may or may not happen in 2015. We have several close friends that are preparing to move as well. One family is headed north, another to sunny San Diego, and one more overseas.  I am both excited and sad. Our current state of residence really feels like home. We've thoroughly enjoyed our time here. We've met some amazing people and have taken full advantage of all the city has to offer! I have also done a tremendous amount of volunteering in the last year! Most importantly, we've had the opportunity to be close to home for a few years. I've spent more time with one of my best friends in 4 year than I have in the 12 years we've know each-other. The comfort of knowing my mom and dad are only a few short hours away is priceless. Our crazy and unpredictable lives must do what comes next though. In just 6 short weeks, we will begin our "see ya later" process with our neighbors.

Since we have so much change coming our way, my husband and I have made the decision to home school the boys this coming school year. I know. I know. You're thinking, you? You are going to home school your children? Good luck with that! Like most of the amazing things in my life that I was once skeptical about, I was not so sure about this decision. I've receive support from people I least expected. The more research I conduct, and the more people I speak with, I know that we are making the right decision. Some of the educators that I know are so supportive about our decision, to say the least. For them to share my excitement, is awesome! I have a close friend that has been homeschooling for some time now and she has been a great wealth of information and support! The boys are equally as excited! I can't wait to see all the we are going to learn!

Business! This is a fun one! As most of you (OK, probably all of you) know that I began my journey with Young Living Essential Oils a little over a year ago. Business was not on my mind to start off with. I tried the oils for my own reasons, fell in love with them, and wanted to share information about them. Guess where that lead me? Business! I want to help educated people on the alternatives. I want people to try essential oils. I want people to fall in love with essential oils. It doesn't have to be through me, but that would be nice ;) I just want people learning about these amazing, powerful, and natural oils! I hope to help educate more people, share more experiences, and get people on their on oily journeys in 2015!

Last, but not least, there will be some traveling! Aside from where were are moving, our family will have the opportunity to do lots of traveling! I am excited to take them to where I grew up, to visit family and friends up north, and also to experience all there is to do close to where we'll be living :) It will be exciting for sure!

Oh, I don't think that I mentioned our very dear friends will be making this move with us! That, my friends, will make this whole experience that much better! Best of luck to all of you in setting your resolutions for 2015 and meeting those goals! Don't forget to take a break every now and then and enjoy a beer or any beverage!

Insanity? Nope! That's just my thyroid!

Picture this. You're sitting at a table. You're cold and irritable. You cannot concentrate on anything and you're not quite sure how you even got out of bed this morning. You feel sluggish and confused. Your thoughts are not connecting and you're starting to feel like you may be losing you mind. Someone breathing in your direction, from 10 feet across the room, is enough to set you off.

Sound familiar to anyone? I am thankful that this doesn't happen very often. For some people though, it is a constant battle. Thyroid disease is not uncommon, but commonly misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all. Whether you are on medication, regulating naturally, or even just suspect that something is off, there is no reason you why can't make a few simple changes.

1.Please try to get a few minutes of exercise in a day. It can be as simple as walking up and down the halls of your workplace.

2. Take a good multivitamin. Do your research. Not all vitamins are created equal. There are plenty of good supplements on the market, you just have to search for them. Try to look for something that doesn't contain a bunch of fillers.

3. Food. Eat well. Scale back on the deep friend, over processed crap. That's right. I called it crap because that's exactly what it is. I'm not saying you can't ever eat it again, just east wisely. Adding extra, fresh, fruits and veggies never hurt anyone. Stick to lean meats. Indulge every now and then. I wouldn't want to to go totally insane ;)

Your thyroid NEEDS selenium and iodine. Foods such as Brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, oysters, tuna, whole wheat bread, beef, chicken, and turkey contain high amounts of selenium. Foods such as sea kelp, cranberries, yogurt, navy beans, strawberries, and potatoes (with skin), contain high amounts of iodine. Try to incorporate some of these food into your diet.

There are TONS of natural supplements out on the market as well. They are worth a try! Please be cautious and use common sense. Over the counter supplements can be just as powerful and dangerous as prescription drugs if used carelessly. Use ya brain!

I try (my hardest) to do all of these things. I take a multivitamin. I get my bum moving a little each day. I do my best to eat foods that contain high amounts to iodine and selenium. I take and use natural supplements. For me, they've made a difference. I take a supplement called thyromin before bed every night. In the morning, I take (internally) two drops of an essential oil blend called EndoFlex. EndoFlex contains spearamint, sage, myrtle, nutmeg, geranium, and German chamomile. Depending on how I felt the day before, I may not even take EndoFlex internally. If that's the case, I apply it topically to my neck when the thyroid is located. I also topically apply Sacred Frankincense, twice daily, to the area.

This is what works for me. It may or may not make a difference for you. All I'm saying is that there are products out there that can help! It may be in addition to what you are already doing. It's worth a try :)

You've got to go!

HELLO world of the interwebs! If you recall, I was having some health issues not too long ago. Turns out, my gallbladder and I needed to part ways. We had a great 30 years together. I really thought I was giving my BG everything it wanted and needed. How wrong I was! After months of not knowing what was going on, I had an episode that landed me back in the ER. As frustrating as that was, that little hospital visit helped me get some answers. I had lots of gallstones.

When I had the first ultrasound months before, I probably had a just a few small gallstones. That might be why the doc said everything looked OK. We thought, maybe, it could have just been an infection or even an ulcer. My lifestyle change would help the situation, or so I thought. I lost weight so quickly! When I say "lost" I mean 30 pounds in 2.5 months. It was nuts. Apparently, when you lose weight like that, you can develop more gallstone. Lesson learned.

I had surgery at the end of September. Everything went great! Recovery was painful. I'm glad that everything is done and over with. I am so thankful for the awesome doctors and nurses that I had! Between them and my super amazing support system, I made it through the breakup with my gallbladder successfully :)

Fast forward to now. I have created a new love affair with food! It's going to cause some trouble soon if I don't get a grip on my tastes-buds and their desire fro everything yummy!

In total, from the day I announced a change was happening, I lost 40 pounds. 40!!! Since surgery, however, I've gained back 7. Not terrible. I can manage that. I am super excited about the meal planning and fitness schedule my hubby and I will be working on for ourselves.

That's all for now! I hope everyone has a FABULOUS weekend!

Smooches :-*

Change

It happens every single day. Things are constantly changing. Some changes are minor, like what our favorite flavor of yogurt is this week. Other changes are huge, like packing up and moving across the world. It's real. Change is apart of our live.

I try to be a "go with the flow" kind of gal. That does not mean that's how I am all of the time. I said I try ;) Sometimes, things get stressful and a bit overwhelming. That's OK though. It's just part of life. I think where the real challenge come in, is handling change with grace. I use the term "grace" loosely. Reason being, what looks graceful on you, will not look quite as graceful on me. That too, is OK. Everyone's way of being graceful is distinctly unique to them.

We've had a lot of change in our home in that past few years. Moving, deaths in our family, gaining more children (my sisters in law), growing as individuals, learning about my level of patience and understanding, watching our children grow into their personalities, and so on. I woke up this morning thinking about how much our lives have changed just since being here. Our babies aren't babies anymore. They are more like miniature men. Thankfully, they don't stink...yet. My husband and I have changed tremendously as people. I've watched my sister in law begin to grow into the person she wants to be in life. We've meet some wonderful people. Now, that I'm really thinking about it, I am feeling a bit emotional knowing that we have less than a year here.

I've had several friends on FB participate in the 100 Happy Days challenge. http://100happydays.com/ It's where you post a picture, every day, of something that makes you happy. I really like that. Too many of us get wrapped up in daily life and forget to stop and appreciate things like the beauty of nature. What does change have to do with this? Everything. How about taking 5 minutes to look at the flowers. Take 20 minutes to read a chapter in a book. Pick up the phone and CALL, not text, someone that you love. Take the time to change the way you look at life. Make a point to enjoy something every single day.

We have some major changes headed our way. Some are great. Some, I'm on the fence about. Some of these changes will probably stress me out to the max. Life changes so quickly and I don't want to miss any of it. I want to appreciate the good, the bad, and the indifferent. We wouldn't be the people we are today without the constant changes in our lives. Starting today, I will be be joining the 100 Happy Days Challenge on Instagram. Find me: CVIGIL411

Gettin' real!

I've blogged before about why and how and I got into Young Living Essential Oils. I've share a bit about why I decided to go forward with the business. Now, I want to get real.

Thyroid disease! The categories include:

Hypothyroidism
 Hyperthyroidism
 Hashimoto's
 Grave's,
 Thyroiditis
Cancer 

What a gigantic pain the bum to deal with! There is a basic list of symptoms from thyroid disease which includes:

headache 

fatigue

 pale skin 

muscle weakness 

irritability

What does all that sound like to you? The common cold! Just like every other illness under the sun. What's not so commonly share, are the more intense symptoms including:

 weight gain/loss

 increases sensitivity to cold/heat 

irregular heartbeat

low or high blood pressure

irregular menstrual cycles 

constipation 

hair loss

joint soreness and stiffness

depression 

Let's touch on the joint stiffness and soreness for a minute. As I type this, my knees are screaming. SCREAMING. I have done absolutely nothing out of the ordinary. This just happens. Why you ask? Because my thyroid is mean. For example, this morning I wanted to cry when I woke up, for no particular reason. My brain doesn't normally come on until I've had my cup of coffee, but this time it took two cups and diffusing peppermint for 15 minute before it started functioning properly. You see, a foggy head is a fairly common symptom. I kid you not, I've been working on this post for over an hour. I cannot concentrate today. I am sluggish, freezing, and really irritable. I am fun to be around. 

Anxiety, panic attacks, and severe depression are all associated with thyroid disease. Symptoms can be so horrible for some people that you end up on the verge of being committed. I wish I could say that I'm kidding, but I'm not. People have actually been misdiagnosed with bi-polar disorder. This is SERIOUS business. Your symptoms can mimic psychiatric illness. More info here: Psychiatric Illnesses. This is scary and people are being misdiagnosed every day. The reason? So many physicians rely heavily on black and white results. Just running a basic thyroid panel (TSH) is not enough. T3 & T4 should always be tested along with TSH. Sometimes, even those three are not enough. There are several more blood tests that can performed to check the total health of the thyroid.

Just because your blood work comes back normal, does not mean that your symptoms are going to disappear. In fact, I find this to be a completely unrealistic expectation. Today is a perfect example. My last TSH test came back normal. NORMAL! I was shocked. I'll get into that in a few minutes though. Today, I feel terrible. I honestly don't want to leave my house. I don't really even want to get off the couch. At some point, I will have to because we have plan this evening and I need to get moving. 

Many people are on on various medications for thyroid disease. Some people have awesome success with the first one they try. For others, it can be a long and stressful road to find the right medication. Once you find the right one, the trick is getting the correct dosage. Even the dosage your body requires can change at any given time. Hormone levels do not ever stay the same. There are always lows and highs. 

I was on a medication for many years called Synthroid. It helped, a lot. I couldn't lose weight though. We'll touch on that in a bit. When we got settled in the south, I found a new doctor. This doctor came highly recommended and I had to wait 7 months to be seen. My first appointment went well. The noncancerous tumors I have on my thyroid glad had not gotten any bigger and I was feeling well. I thought I would just get a refill on my meds and come back in 6 month. That's not at all how it went. I was told that the medication I was on increased my chances of osteoporosis by 50% and that I was more likely to have tooth decay and gum disease. I could also lose a lot of hair. Blood pressure was another issue. What!?!? Why had I never known this before and why hadn't I really researched the med before I began taking it? There was a lot more to the conversation but that's what really stuck out to me. It was decided that because I was a relatively healthy adult (aside from the thyroid issue) that I had the tools to regulate my thyroid naturally. I know what you're thinking. Naturally? This chick is nuts! That's exactly what I was thinking when I walked out of his office. My problem, I didn't know what these "tools" were that I supposedly had. 

Moody. Sad. Angry. Tired. Emotional. Crazy. Unbearable. Over dramatic. Stand offish. Those are a few words to describe how I was for a few months. It was a total roller coaster ride for my family. One day I woke up and said ''this needs to change''. I started my research and found that I needed to be taking some vitamin supplements, like months ago. After a few weeks, I was feeling a little more sane. I looked at thyroid specific diets, what kind of exercise I should be doing, what kinds of natural supplement I could take. One evening, I came across an article regarding soy and thyroid function. I was speechless. A vast majority of the things (food, protein shakes, natural supplements) I was putting into my body contained soy. Did you know that soy can inhibit thyroid hormone production? Neither did I. So began the journey to a soy free life. Easier said than done. Soy is in EVERYTHING.

As time went by, I got different recommendations from friends. I read more articles and studies than I care to think about. I tried different snacks like seaweed chip and Brazil nuts because they contain high amounts of selenium. I was very close to going to my doctor and begging to be put back on meds. It was ridiculous. The last thing I really wanted to go back on something that was causing blood pressure problem and lousy mouth health. Who wants to increase their chances of osteoporosis? Not this kid!

This brings me to my essential oil loving friend with some cool info. Long story short, I purchased the thyroid blend, EndoFlex, peppermint, and lemongrass. I didn't have anything to lose and was at the end of my rope with the situation. All natural and soy-free help? I'll take it! Once I received the goods, I immediately began using them. I started by applying EndoFlex to my thyroid twice a day. Call me crazy, but I noticed an improvement with how I was feeling within a few days. After time, I learned about the benefits of using lemongrass on the the thyroid as well as frankincense. A healthier lifestyle all around is what it took. I eat clean (most of the time), take vitamins daily, and use essential oils. Guess what! The normal blood results are a result of the major changes I've made for myself. Guess what else! I didn't have "nomral" results until I added the essential oils. Pretty amazing! One more thing, all that weight, gone! Well, most of it :) 

I'm not saying run out an get your hands on some essential oils and all your ailments will be cured! There is a place and a time for modern medicine. If you haven't tried essential oils already for your family, you won't regret it. Just give them a try. Just do you research to ensure you are getting the best of the best. My point to this post to tell you to do your research. Take the time to talk to people. Ask lots of questions. Look into different options. For some people, medication is the absolute best option. For people like me, it's not. If you want to look into healthier alternatives, do it! Don't be afraid to be an advocate for your health or the health of your family. I LOVE finding natural alternatives. That's what got me into my job. My thyroid disease is what led me know what I know now.

Life as an oiler ;)

Last year, I gave essential oils a try. I am so thankful that I decided to do it! I'm not sure how we ever lived without them in our home before. Every single person that I've had a conversation with about essential oils is either extremely curious or already using them! I just spoke with a woman today about how much essential oils have changed her life. The are ENDLESS uses for essential oils. I am learning new things everyday! Whether you want them for medicinal purposes, massage therapy, chiropractic care, or just for scent, there is an oil for you! We have successfully fought off colds, sore throats, muscle soreness, allergies, and so much more! I'm even helping to keep my thyroid hormones balanced with essential oils!!!

I want to talk business! Y'all know that I am an independent consultant for Young Living. I am apart of an absolutely AMAZING team of women and men! Everyone is so supportive and always encouraging. When I started using essential oils, business was the furthest thing from my mind. I had been apart of a few home-based business before and wasn't too wild about the idea. It wasn't until a friend of mine asked about the business side, that I really looked into it. Looking couldn't hurt. Right? I'm so glad that I did. After much research and answered questions, I decided to give it a go. The best part to all of this was that I was using a product that I LOVE!

I've been working the business end for 9 months! I am blown away every month at the growth of my business and the company as a whole. To be honest, I am still surprised  at the results when I get a new oil and try it for the first time! ;) I have accomplished some personal goals that I thought were years away from happening. I am so excited to see what my business is looking like in 3 months. I am excited about the new friends that I am going to make. I am excited to share all about essential oils with people! I am even more excited to watch take the plunge with essential oils. I am excited to see more people take on this business! I am excited to be an oiler!

If any of y'all ever have questions about essential oils, Young Living, or about the business side, I am always available to chat :)

It's my favorite time of year!

School is out! The sun is shining! The boys are wild and crazy! It must be summer :) I swear that I have seasonal depression. If it is below 65 degrees, I cannot function properly. I need the warm air and the humidity. I'm such a happier and more productive person when the season is just right. Thankfully, living down south, the weather is just the way I like it a solid 7 months out of the year. We're a taking full advantage of the beautiful weather and spending lots of time outside!

Update on me:

The weight-loss has slowed, which it always does at some point. I am surprised and happy to report that I am 4 pounds away from the original goal I set for myself forever ago.

Weight: 159 pounds!

Arms: 11.75 inches

Waist: 31.5 inches

Bum: 41 inches

Thighs: 22

The inches are still coming off! I am so excited to see how my body is going to change throughout the next 8 weeks with incorporating some weight training and such :) My craving have finally started tapering off. I still want a beer and cookies every now and then but I've done well not caving in every time. Treat yourself every now and again though. Just because you are in the middle of a lifestyle change does not mean that you cannot enjoy a treat of you liking once in awhile :)

I've been getting lots of questions about what I am doing in regards to the weight loss. This wasn't planned. I knew that I needed to make some major changes for health reasons. My body decided for me when it was time to begin and here I am. I am making healthy choices, common sense. We are not following a diet plan as this is not a diet. This is a change in lifestyle. I am eating a tremendous amount of vegetables, fruits, and lean meat. That's it! Oh, and lots of water. I treat myself every now and then. I, thank goodness, have not had any issues with my stomach in two weeks and I really hope it continues.

The picture on the left was taken May 2013. The picture on the right was taken two weeks ago. That's a big difference!

Happy eating, y'all :)

Ouch!

A few weeks ago, I was at a friend's house when this excruciating pain hit me. I like to think that I handle pain well. This was definitely a mind over matter situation. I had to remind myself to breathe. It started out, with what felt like indigestion, and just intensified. Before I knew it, I was slumped over in pain on her bathroom floor, sweating bullets. The pain was radiating up my back and it hurt to breathe. There was no comfortable position I could get myself in.  My sister had had a similar experience a few weeks earlier and she said she felt like she was having a heart attack. All I could do was tell myself that I was not dying. I was not having a heart attack and that the pain would subside soon. Well, "soon" took 45 min. Once it was gone, it was gone.
Fast forward to two weeks. My husband and I were talking about that us eating out so frequently needed to stop. We were consuming way too much crap and spending too much money in the process. I had already begun to really cut out all the yuck food and this was just a reminder of what needed to be done. My husband has had a break from school/work and he's been taking care of the cooking. The dinner he made that evening was delicious but I remember thinking it was a bit too heavy for my stomach, considering all I've been eating is mass quantities of fruits, veggies, and some chicken.
12:20 AM I awake feeling like I have indigestion. I jump up, run downstairs, grab a bottle of water and try to prepare myself for what's about to happen. 12:30 I asked my husband to take me to the ER immediately. I was not about to deal with that amount of pain again.This time, we drove to a different part of town. The ER that is nearest to us, I don't trust, at all. I won't get into the all that, but our 25 min drive was worth it.  After the first incident, my mother felt that it sounded like my gallbladder. That's what I went in thinking. This ER doctor wanted to check all my levels and rule out any blood clots. He pressed on the area where my gallbladder is located, and everyone's surprise, there was no pain. I was still experiencing pain internally, but nothing to the touch. He then told me, I think we may be dealing with a stomach ulcer. It was explained to me, that because of the location and the pain I was describing, it could be one or the other, but he felt it was most likely an ulcer.
My mother had her gallbladder removed years ago. Stomach ulcers are not an uncommon thing in my family either. I always thought that stomach ulcers were stress related, but as I am discovering, they can just happen. Of course there are ways to help prevent such things from occurring. Lifestyle has much to do with it.
It will be two weeks before I can see my PCM (what a shock that I have to wait so long). It will probably be 6 weeks, at minimum, before I can see a specialist. Either way, I have been scared into eating healthy. No soda, no alcohol, as little sugar as possible, lean meant, yogurts, and an insane amount of fruits and veggies.
With that being said, my body has changed.

Here's the latest:

Current Weight: 162

Arms: 11.75 

Waist: 32.5

Bum: 42.5

Thighs: 23.5 

I started out at 180 something about 6 months ago. While I have not stuck to any kind of plan until recently, this is a big difference. I've lost close to 10 pounds in about 10 days. That's just from cutting out ALL of the crap from my daily diet. I've been taking nibbles of cookies, or a piece or dark chocolate here and there. I am human, after all. I need my sweet fix every now and then. The difference now is that I will not eat the entire giant chewy cookie. I will have one bite size piece of dark chocolate and not the entire candy bar. 

School will be over for the kiddos in less that two weeks. This is when the next challenge begins, the fitness portion. I'm tired just thinking about it but it has to be done. If I ever get around to uploading pictures, I'll post some. I can't promise anything though ;)

A month???

I am slacking! Big time! It's been almost a month since my last post. That is no bueno!

Here is an update:

I've lost no weight or inches. Shame on me. I've been busy busy! That is absolutely no excuse, I know :(
So, as soon as I am off the computer, I will begin working on my meal plans for Friday-Wed. I usually do my grocery shopping on Friday and Wed. As much as I would like to only go once a week, I have 5 people in my house and 3 of them eat a LOT! By August 15, I am determined to be halfway to my goal, which is to be a healthier person. The reason I say halfway is because I know it's going to take a solid 6 months to my numbers (bp, blood-work, and such) where they need to be. My blood pressure is a battle everyday. I really overdid it with my sodium intake last week. It's just a struggle, really. I love food. Bad food. That's a problem that is going to take some time to deal with.

I've been volunteering my bum off, which has been fantastic! It's always very rewarding doing volunteer work! If you don't offer up your time to help someone or some organization out already, do it! You will not regret it!

Let's talk essential oils for a second. I know that many of y'all think I'm crazy with these oils. I promise you, I am not. Something that I have been hearing a lot of lately is how people are really becoming concerned with the hundreds of side-effects of prescription & OTC meds. I share those same concerns. There is a time and a place for western medicine. I will not argue that at all. However, there is a way to naturally help with common ailment without the use of OTC meds. Essential Oils. I made the investment 7 months ago, and I do  not know how we ever lived without them. For real!

I got into this business to share my love of Young Living Essential Oils. I want people to take the time to do some research and see just how awesome these oils are. I want people to try the oils. I want people to fall in love with these oil. Overall, I just want people to know that there is an alternative, and it's a great one.

Do you know what you're really getting?

I have had the opportunity to talk essential oils with many people. I love my oils. I love YL. My family LOVES YL oils. When you purchase your oils, do you really know what you are getting? Do you know where they are coming from? Are they really pure? Our team leader, Lindsay Moreno (who totally rocks), had this response to people purchasing oils from places other than YL:

"There are many reasons not to buy oils on Amazon. Many are pretty scary and concern your health and your family's health. We know that you can get YL oils for cheaper on Amazon and that's tempting (we all want to save money), but you have to think about how/why they're cheaper. Here are a few things to consider.

1. You can't guarantee that the oil that is in that bottle is pure. What if they filled it with carrier oil or a cheaper oil to make a buck? It's so easy to reseal bottles, it's crazy. You simply buy the lid with the seal attached and push it on. You can get them in bulk for next to nothing in price. When you buy YL oils, you're PAYING for quality of product. There isn't product on the market that is better than YL when it comes to quality. NONE. So why give that up for a couple of bucks?

2. We KNOW that Young Living's lowest price given is the distributor price (which we get), so why would anyone ever buy an oil and then sell it for cheaper? That makes no sense unless the oil that they're selling isn't a sealed, new bottle of YL oil.

3. You have no way to verify how old the oil is that's being sold or how it's been stored. Storage is important in oils (just like in wine). Even if it's 100% pure it can go bad if you store it wrong. Stored properly, it can last forever.

4. This article just came out and it confirms everything we were worried about Amazon YL oils: http://www.naturalnews.com/043057_Amazoncom_counterfeit_products_misrepresentation_and_fraud.html#

5. When you buy from YL you have a guarantee that your oils is going to be 100% pure and of the highest quality. If you don't like it or if something is wrong, you can return it. We know you'll love it just as all of the Lemon Droppers do, but if there is ever anything wrong with your order, call customer service or hop on live chat and they will fix it for you!"

HELLO PEOPLE! This is scary! Those oils you bought for way cheaper on Ebay & Amazon, could have fillers! Not knowing what could possible be in that bottle, you could be setting yourself up for a world of trouble. Please please please do your research! You truly do get what you pay for. One of the biggest reason I went with YL is this:

I Love Beer!

I love beer. You already how much I love horrible, too much sugar, overly processed, just not good for me foods. I love wine too! Wine is good though. I enjoy a glass or two every now and then. Who am I kidding? I enjoy an entire bottle from time to time. If my wino friend is here to visit, there is lots and lot of delicious wine. Beer though, yum! I am always trying new beers. We've cut back significantly on alcohol consumption. over the last few months. Dealing with cravings for sweets is one thing, but craving the taste beer is totally different kind of craving. I am only drinking a few beers over the weekend now. That's been difficult. Reason being is that every time we eat out, we get beer. If we have friends over, we have beer. If we go to someone's house, we have beer. We go to my mom's and dad's house, we have beer. There is beer everywhere! Since we began this lifestyle change journey, I am only allowing myself any kind of alcohol on Friday and Saturday within reason. Just cutting back on that alone, helped to kick start my body changes. I truly believe that all the alcohol consumption was preventing the changes to start. I was eating well for a bit but nothing was happening. Guess what!!! Cut out all that alcohol and bam! It begins! Summer is going to be my true test. When the kiddos are out of school for the summer and we are out in the sun all day, beer will be on my mind. Oh, don't forget the margaritas & pina coladas! My mouth is seriously watering as I am typing. Add some Jason Aldean to that mix of fun in the sun and beverages, and we have the potential for an AWESOME day! I could listen to that man sing all day every day. Perhaps I should have titled this I love beer & Jason Aldean. Haha! Anyway, moving on from that...


It is absolutely beautiful out today. The I am going to open up all the window and put something citrus-e in the diffuser! I feeling like it's a grapefruit kind of day. I would do orange, but that would bring my back to wanting a Blue Moon or Shock Top. With warm air coming through the window, some Jason on the iPod, orange would just make my taste-buds scream for an ice cold beer! Grapefruit it is!

Have a great day y'all!

Measurements Update # 1

Its measurement day! It's been two weeks and 4 days since I took my last set of measurements. I've had two "I'm going to spoil myself with bad foods today" days that included pizza, Chinese food, and a bear claw from Publix! Maybe not the wisest of choices, but I NEEDED that bear claw. The only sugar I have had, aside from "those" days, is from fruits and yogurt :) I feel like I'm more determined now than I ever have been. Like I said in my previous post, it really is time. Now, here's the latest:

2/11/2014

Weight: 170 

Waist: 34.5

Bum: 44.5

Thighs: 24.5

Arms: 11.75

I've already lost half an inch off my belly and my bum! My bum shocked me! I guess all those squats and lunges really are doing something ;) My thighs and arms are the same. I think my arms are going to be the last thing that I notice any kind of change in, but that's alright! It's exciting to see any kind of change in that short of a time frame. I'm down 6 pounds too! I was not expecting that. This is all with some dietary changes and a few simple workouts a week. I can't say that I haven't had to fight off the urge to stuff my face with chocolate and cake, because I have. It's just more manageable when you're determined. My sister-in-law is embracing our lifestyle changes. My husband is all about meal planning. All in all, it going great! It also helps that I have this friend, who is crazy in love with nutrition and fitness, offering her support at every turn! Yay! Cheers to our good health! 

Update #1

It's been two about two weeks since I wrote about my lifestyle change. Things are going well. I did not experience withdrawals from all the gross foods like I did last time and my appetite is already shrinking. I'm eating a small breakfast with the kids before school, a high protein and carb meal /shake after working out, lunch, a snack, dinner, and another snack a few hours before bed. It basically breaks down to six small meals. I'm eating a ton of veggies and fruits and drinking lots of water. We've added a quite a bit of seafood to our meal plans for the week. I've even been able to get the boys to try some new things. They haven't liked much, but at least they are trying :) I'll be doing a measurement update in two weeks.

This is completely off topic, but it y'all have never been to a country concert, y'all are missing out. I attended my second Jason Aldean concert a few weeks ago, and I am even more in love with country music! My SIL and I had the privilege to see Tyler Farr, Florida Georgia Line, and Jason Aldean perform. Oh man! AMAZING!!!! All three put on a wonderful show. For those of y'all that know me, know I was over the moon to see Jason Aldean again. Ahhhh! What a great show! The concert was in Columbia, SC. What a great city! We really enjoyed our weekend there. We went to the zoo, even though it was 27 degrees! The boys really wanted to go, and I just couldn't tell them no. We also went to an indoor trampoline park! My legs were so sore the next day haha! Overall, it was just a fantastic weekend for my fam bam :)

Why I chose Young Living

Hi there. My name is Colleen and I am slightly obsessed with Young Living Essential Oils! Is this silly? No and I'll tell you why. These essential oils have changed our lives. Seriously. I cannot tell you the last time I took an OTC medicine. There have been no doctors appoints for the colds, stomach bugs, sore throats, nothing. I haven't had to reach a pill for a migraine in months! MONTHS!

This journey started out with a friend introducing me to the oils. Naturally, I was skeptical and wanted to do my own research. There is way too much bad information about essential oils and companies. This company is better than that one. This company has a wacko for a leader. This company's people stole this, that, or the other thing. Bottom line, I wanted something natural. I wanted something legit. What I found out what rather disturbing. So many of the essential oils, and I mean a vast majority, are adulterated! This means that something, most likely gross chemicals, are added to the oil. There only has to be a small percentage, and I mean SMALL, of the actual oil in the bottle for it to be considered "pure". Ridiculous, I know!  You really need to do the research for yourselves. I can tell you all about what I found, but you are the one that has to make an informed decision! All I can tell you is that I trust, wholeheartedly, Young Living. Basically, this is what it boils down to: Young Living is the ONLY company that guarantees it's oils to be non-adulterated 100% PURE THERAPEUTIC GRADE
Young Living has a Seed to Seal guarantee!    

"The Seed to Seal Process 

Delivers Young Living 

Therapeutic Grade™ Oils

Seed to Seal can be summarized 

in five steps: 

Seed Essential oils that work come 

from plants whose species have 

been authenticated by Young Living 

experts. Species certification involves 

scientific research, field study, university 

partnerships, and on-site planting 

certification. 

Cultivate Young Living has four farm 

locations where we learn the best 

growing and harvesting methods. 

With this knowledge, Young Living 

travels the globe visiting co-op farms 

to certify their growing processes. 

Distill Combining ancient and 

modern techniques, Young Living 

is recognized as an essential oil 

distillation innovator. 

Test Each essential oil must pass 

Young Living’s stringent specifications 

to ensure the optimal bioactive natural 

compounds are present in each 

essential oil. Young Living uses its own 

internal labs plus third-party laboratories 

to verify every essential oil exceeds 

international standards. 

Seal Young Living completes the Seed 

to Seal process by carefully handling 

large volumes of essential oils to be 

individually bottled and shipped to 

members worldwide"

From: YoungLiving.com

After all the research I conducted and studying the Seed to Seal process, I chose Young Living. I sure am glad I did :)

Weight is just a number!

Seriously, weight is just a number. When I was at my absolute healthiest (eating well & exercising daily) I weighed 155 pounds. I only stand 63 inches tall but I was solid. It was around this time that I had doctor tell me that the ideal weight for my age and height was 123 pounds. Say what?!?! Clearly, this man has not seen my family! I look sickly at 123 pounds. That is NOT a healthy weight for me.

A few months ago, I decided it was time to make a change. I had my plan and my support system. I lost 16 pounds total in four months. I could have lost more but I was not consistent, enjoy eating out too much, and I have a horrible sweet tooth. To top it off, the holidays arrived! UGH! So, I've again about 9 pounds back. That's not really what matters to me though. What matters is that I feel like poop all over again.

Here are my measurements & weight from when I started months ago:

Weight: 183

Waist: 37.5 inches

Bum: 45 inches

Thighs: 25.5 inches

Arms: 12 inches

After 4 months

Weight: 167

Waist: 35.5 inches

Bum: 45 inches (no way my bum will get smaller haha!)

Thighs: 23.5

Arms: 11.75

There was a small difference. I dropped 2 pants/dress sized and I was feeling great! 

Today's measurements:

Weight:176

Waist: 35 inches

Bum: 45 inches (ha!)

Thighs: 24.5

Arms: 11.75

I have my plan. I have my support group, which has gotten bigger. My friends have really motivated me. They've taken an interest in what I'm wanting to accomplish and that's a really nice feeling to have. One friend in particular suggested that I purchase a FitBit. Her and her mom both use this little device and can track each other's progress. If I got one, they could track me and offer some support and motivation if/when I need it! That's pretty sweet if you ask me. I started easing myself into my new routine. By Monday, I'll be ready to go full steam ahead. If I HAD to pick a weight goal, it would be 160. If I get to anything less, that's cool too. That's not where my focus is. I'll track inches lost and weight just to see how this change is transforming my body on the outside. The blood work and blood pressure check will determine the rest.

Here are some things I know to be true. This lifestyle change is absolutely necessary. I'm actually excited about it. Through God, ALL things are possible. This includes getting through days without all my gross, over processed foods and mass quantities of sweets. When I'm feeling a little overwhelmed, this stuff

will help to calm me the heck down, especially if I'm being bratty ;) Did you really think I could post without mentioning these AMAZING oils? You're crazy! I'm telling you, you just don't know what your missing out on! Here's to changing my health, and possibly yours, one day at a time!

The Start to an Oily Journey

If you know me well, you know that quite a few years back I thought the whole organic foods and essential oils thing was silly. Like to the point that I would tell my sister she was a little kooky. Well, after she put me in my place (I mean that sarcastically, kinda) I did a lot of research. My big seester shared what information she has come across. She definitely has become a wealth of knowledge about processed foods, food dyes, and even medications over the years. Needless to say, after all the info she shared and what I read myself, I slowly began to transition over to organic foods. I purchase as much as we can comfortably afford. With my lifestyle change in process, I think that there will be more organic/clean foods coming into our home in the near future.

Now onto the oils. My sister has used essential oils for YEARS. Years! She loves the scents. She would kind of randomly talk about an oil. To be honest, I never really paid too much attention. I probably thought it was just another weird thing my sister did. Haha! I promise I love my sister dearly. We are 11 years apart in age. We have very different ideas on life and that's OK :) 

Savannah, a very good friend of mine, told me about Young Living Essential Oils. I looked into their products and thought they looked nice and all but I'm not really into the whole oil thing. Over the course of the next few weeks, ALL she would talk about it these oils. Oh my word, she is losing her mind ;) I like to think that I have become a pretty open mined individual but she was fallin' off her rocker! Savannah wanted to visit and share everything she had learn about the oils. I love her. So, I said alright :) It never hurts to just sit down and listen. You never know what new knowledge you could walk away with. 

Bottles and bottles everywhere! It really wasn't that many. Maybe like 12 or so. Peppermint was up first. I am a lover of peppermint. I love the smell and cool feeling you get in your nose and airways when you inhale it. I opened the bottle and took a big whiff. Holy cow! It smelled soooooooo good. It's peppermint though. Peppermint always smell good. We went through each bottle and I got a brief explanation of what each oil was good for or how it could be used. I wondered if there was anything I could use for thyroid health. I found success with certain supplements I was taking, but I have two tumors on my gland and anything extra to help, I am willing to try. Plus, I still wasn't feeling just right. I'll share that story in a later post. I was also looking for something that might help my husband's cholesterol. He's a bag of bones! Seriously! Family history is not in favor of his health though. I did some poking around and found that lemongrass has been proven to help lower cholesterol! Awesome! 

Question. What make Young Living Essential Oils so much better than other oils?  Seed to Seal. Pretty simple. Young Living is involved in EVERY STEP of the process. You can read more about Seed to Seal here https://www.youngliving.com/en_US/discover/quality. There are several of essential oil companies out there. The only company that offers 100% pure, therapeutic grade essential oils on the market is Young Living. Do all the the research you want. I did and I found that this company's product would be worth a try for me. If I didn't like it, I didn't like. No big deal. I ordered a few oils.

I knew, like with OTC meds and prescriptions, it can take a few uses to notice any kind of difference. I started with EndoFlex, for my thyroid. I rubbed the oil on my thyroid twice daily and on my vita flex points on my feet. Within a week, my family saw a noticeable change in my attitude. If you are not aware of how thyroid disorders can make you go a little nutty, please read up on them. Within two weeks, I felt like I found what was missing. My last thyroid check, NORMAL! Let me repeat that, NORMAL! I haven't had normal thyroid levels in a long time. Praise God! I got that health issue under control. My husband goes for his 6 month cholesterol check in a few weeks and I'll let y'all know how that turns out. The most awesome thing about lemongrass, it's an anti-inflammatory! How cool is that?!?! Sore muscles? Slept wrong and your neck is hurts? Lather on some lemongrass. It really helps. The hubs has some issues with his shoulder and lemongrass layered with a few other oils (including peppermint) has made a huge difference for him. The peppermint smells amazing. It helps with headaches when I get them. The boys love when I diffuse peppermint. It's a just a nice, fresh, minty scent. It is also helpful in soothing bruises and sore muscles.

Last section, I promise. After two weeks of using these oils, I took the plunge and ordered myself a Young Living Kit. The kit includes the Everyday Oil Collection, a diffuser, and some product sample. It it worth every penny, in my opinion. My sister's response to all of this? In so many word "Duh Colleen! I've been using essential oils for years." She is now a Young Living users as well! Yay! I want to share everything I've learned about these oils with y'all! Question? Concerns? Want to try this awesomeness for yourself? Let me know! May your day be full of love, joy, and maybe cupcakes! 

I can

The message at service yesterday was one that will likely stick with me for awhile. A commonly heard verse, was the main idea. It goes like this: "I can do all thing through him who gives me strength (Phil 4:13)".

 Our pastor used a car with a flat tire as an example for this lesson. The car, which was in near perfect condition, had one problem. It had a flat tire. It would seem like the flat tire would be a pretty easy fix. Right? Well, taking a deep look at ourselves and acknowledging what our "flat tires" are, is not always easy. It is not always an easy fix. What are the steps we need to take to get a flat tire fixed? If you're like me, the first step is to call my husband and say "I have a flat tire". I have now established that I have problem. The next step is to devise a plan to correct the problem. This for me, thankfully, is my husband just changing the tire. Done deal!

Looking at my life, I have several "flat tires". What person doesn't? Our individuality and struggles (both past and present) are what make us who we are today. One of my worst "flat tires" is food. I know that may sound a little funny to some of y'all, but I have a problem. I LOVE food. ALL FOOD. I am in love with all foods that are terrible for me. I eat when I am happy. I eat when I am sad. I eat when I'm feeling indifferent. Ironically, I don't care for cupcakes too much. For those that don't know, I am a baker. I specialize in cupcakes. I don't eat my own cupcakes though. That's just weird not that I'm really thinking about it.

 Unfortunately, this food problem affects my health. I've struggled with high blood pressure since I gave birth to my oldest son. That's 10 years that I have been dealing with this. I'll get it under control and be good for awhile. Then I go on a food binge, and it's back at square one. This blood pressure problem is one I will deal with my entire life. I have family history that plays against my health. Everyone does. All the sugar and sodium that I consume, negatively impacts my health. I've done my research and I know what I need to do. Now, I just need to do it! Easier said than done. I've tried several things in the past like diet change, supplements, and exercise. Guess what! They all work! Crazy, I know ;) I just have a problem sticking to the plan! 

I want to just throw this out here. I am 100% comfortable in my skin. Sure, I weigh a bit more that I should. I'm a few sizes bigger than I was when I got married. I came to terms with the fact that I will never be in a two piece again years ago. I have stretch marks. I have excess skin on my belly from my babies. Those two things in particular, tell a story of unconditional love for my children. I am proud of those marks and skin! I don't feel well though. I have good days and I have bad, just like you. So, a whole new lifestyle is about to be implemented. I need to get healthy. Not skinny and super ripped, but healthy. I need to feed my body what it needs, clean foods. I need to continue to supplement because I will never eat enough veggies. I need to exercise every day.  

Basically, what it all boils down to, is that I need to take the steps. I need to let go and let God handle my heart. I have admitted to a problem. Now, I need to use the strength He gives to correct the problem, one step at a time. I need to make the commitment to actually showing up to church every Sunday too. Church always motivates throughout the week. 

Problem: FOOD

Plan: God, Church, lifestyle change (diet, supplements, exercise)

See what I did there? I put God first. 

 "I can do all things through him who gives me strength (Phil 4:13)" Take the step, He will be there to guide you, to motivate you, to see you through. These "flat tires" can only be fixed with His strength through you. Without that strength, I am stuck. When things get tough, or you are feeling discouraged, remember the verse! When you take a step forward and are afraid to take the next step, lean on Him and leap! 

So yeah, that about sums it up. That did not flow together like it did in my head but y'all get my point! God bless!

Unbelievable ! It's 2014!

I guess it's not really that unbelievable! Time seems to be flying by at an increased rate as each year passes. 2013 was wonderful, wild, stressful, joyous, and now it's over. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that it's 2014! I fell even more in love with my husband, our family, and put forth a lot of effort to maintain my friendships this year. I feel like I really accomplished a lot in my personal life. I had the privilege of watching a friend's belly change throughout her pregnancy with twins. I learned that several of our other friends are expanding their families. I'm blessed to have the opportunity to see my sister-in-law everyday and see her (slowly, thank goodness) grow into a beautiful young woman. The absolute joys of my life, my wild and often loud boys, are changing and growing everyday. I am excited to see what kind of young men they are going to be in the future. 2014 is the year of both mine and my husband's 30th birthdays! I'm not upset about this one bit, like so many of my other friends ;) I think this is going to be the best year yet!

There are three personal things that really stand out about last year (aside from my family). The first thing, we FINALLY found a church that we love! I cannot express how much this put my heart and soul at ease. We've been here for a few years and it's been quite a journey finding our church "home". Second, I have pinpointed what I want to do with my life. At the young age of 29, I now what I want to do. Religion and it's history have always been something I am quietly passionate about. The ultimate goal is to attend grad school for Christian Studies with an emphasis in youth ministry. I want to work with high school and college aged children/ young adults. To be more specific, military youth within the church.

 The third thing is Young Living Essential Oils. These oils are quickly changing my life! I'll get into the what's and how's in another post. My dear friend, Savannah, introduced me Young Living. To be completely honest, I thought it was silly. I never really gave essential oils a thought beyond the idea that it makes my sugar scrubs smell great. Savannah sat at my kitchen table with 10 or so bottles of essential oils. The first one I went for was peppermint. I already had some store brought and thought there is no way Young Living's could smell any different. Boy was I WRONG! Oh my goodness! It smelled AMAZING!!! Seriously, it's legit! I smelled every single oil she had at least three times. I slowly began to realize, that if nothing else, the scents themselves are fantastic. I know that Savannah sensed (scents and sensed haha =D) that I was skeptical. She told me look at this webpage, http://thelemondroplounge.com/, and look around. That's exactly what I did. This was enough for me to create a customer account with Savannah and Young Living. I ordered a few individual oils. Within a few days, I had the oils and was so impressed that I ordered a kit less than week later. These oils are changing my life in more ways that one! If you want to learn more about Yuoung Living Essential Oils (YLEOs), have questions, want to see what other people are saying, or want to get in on the goodness, let me know. I'm a part of and AMAZING group call the Lemon Drop Lounge on Facebook. It is loaded with info about YLEOs, peoples testimonials, and questions from people like you and me wanting to learn more. Don't knock it until ya try peeps!

The Lemon Drop Lounge! Check it out! This is what really helped to spark my interest in Young Living!


Boom! I'm out!