24 Day Challenge: Round 2

So it's no secret that I love anything and everything Advocare. They not only gave me products to help me lose weight, they gave me the tools to help me keep off the weight. It wasn't just a sign-here, buy this and good luck plan. My sponsor kept up with me throughout my whole challenge, answering those random questions that came up, and encouraging me when I wanted to quit. Advocare sent me recipe ideas, grocery lists, snack ideas and an email everyday telling me where I was on the challenge and what I might be experiencing. It was so nice to not only have that support, but be given the reasoning behind healthy eating. It wasn't so much, "don't eat french fries," as it was, "green tea can burn calories after a meal." Well duh, I'm gonna be drinking the snot outta some green tea then. Slowly but surely I've made the switch to eating as clean as possible and LOVE it. That's probably been the #1 reason I haven't gained a pound back, because I don't feel like I'm on a diet. Click here to view my results.

One thing I've learned from all this is being thinner might make my pants size smaller, but it doesn't make me stronger, leaner, more tone. That's why I'm doing my second challenge April 8th and I want YOU to join me. I've had two kids and while I love being lower than pre-pregnancy weight, I'd like to be a bit....less jiggly. Yes, that's the best description I can come up with. I want to be stronger! I want to be fit! Probably half of you have checked out at this point and are thinking, "Nope, she's lost me now." Hang with me. You gotta start somewhere. In November this was not my goal. If this isn't your goal right now, that's fine! Start something. Cleaner eating, more water, less sitting, something. Of course I'd recommend Advocare, but I've heard so many say, "It's too expensive. I'll do it on my own." And they're still in the same position they were in November when I first asked them to join me. Yes, it is expensive. But it cuts out so much of what I don't buy anymore: gas station snacks/drinks, expensive coffee's, going out for lunch. Think about health prevention: would you rather pay for it now or later? Think about how it could impact your life! Heck, think about wearing shorts this summer and not feeling self-conscious.

Here's a friend's blog of how clean eating alone impacted her weight, nothing Advocare here:
http://www.butlerpartyof2.com/2013/03/eating-clean-awesome-weight-loss-story.html


Pregnant or nursing? We still have something for you:
http://betterhealthin24.com/forms/24Day-Moms.pdf


Here's another blog from a friend who did the nursing Mom's challenge, see her success:
http://www.journeyofparenthood.com/2012/08/losing-baby-weight-advocare.html


Last day to order is April 1st to start by April 8th with me and a few other close friends. We're going to create a private Facebook group so we can all check in with each other everyday. It's great for swapping recipes and tips and it holds us accountable!

Here's my website if you wanna browse through it: https://www.advocare.com/12111508/ and here is the direct link to order a challenge: https://www.advocare.com/12111508/Store/ItemDetail.aspx?itemCode=99038&id=TS&flavor=1&size=. All pricing and product ingredients are listed.

Please let me know if you have any questions, I am 100% here to help.

Coloring Easter Eggs

It's that time again...time to dye Easter eggs! One of Cory's favorites. Actually, he enjoys all the holiday traditions and I LOVE it because he just keeps getting older....and older....and older. We thought Easton would be able to participate this year, but he had other plans in mind. He was convinced the dye was some sort of juice he hadn't tried yet, and then he wanted to taste the hard-boiled eggs, then he became a spectator when he threw a hard boiled egg on my floor. All done!

 

 

Again, I don't know if it's a trait of first-borns (is that a word?), but Cory takes these things seriously. He carefully lowers the eggs into the dye, and then times how long they've been in there, and then will check to make sure they're the color he wants. He asked all day when we could start the eggs.

 

 

 



And that's Easton before he chunks it into the cup with his hand. Too slow, Daddy!

"Here, let me show you...." (Notice how Easton's not even watching, bahaha).

 

 

 

 

Chunk goes the second one!

 

 

 

 

 

I love the age difference between Cory and Easton. See Cory's face? He thinks everything Easton does is hilarious. When Easton first tried to crawl, Cory would crack up. When Easton first tried to walk, Cory would crack up. There's no jealousy between them because they don't want the same things. I feel like Cory can enjoy him too. He helped Easton pull a chair around without being asked, and handed him a cup. Don't worry-Heath was quick to interfere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Haha, Easton was booted out. Can I also say (without sounding too much "I love my kids, I love my husband, I love everything") that I have a FANTASTIC husband. I don't have to whine or nag, or even ask him to participate in these things. He wants to do these things with the boys and I am so appreciative of that! He's such a hands-on Dad. I love that not only is he an awesome Dad, but we're friends too. Some of you reading this may take that for granted, but I've been in both situations. Being with Cory's Dad because I "had to" and I could never understand what people meant when they said their spouse was their best friend. I was like, are you really serious? You're kidding, right? But NOW I get it, with Heath. I love just being with him and doing things like this, and goofing off while shopping for things to put in the boys' baskets. I'm so thankful that I have this now, and I am so blessed!

 

 

 

Aww, ain't he cute? What's sweet about this picture is I didn't tell him to smile, he was just smiling and doing this. How precious.

 

 

Another fun thing we got for Cory this weekend was bunk beds, yay!

 



 

Again, another blessing. I posted on Facebook that we were looking for bunk beds and got a call within an hour from a friend who had bought some, used for less than a year, and was now sitting in their basement because they no longer needed it. YES! Look how great they look too! Cory looooooved them! He told me on Monday he would sleep on the top bunk, Tuesday on the bottom, and so on until he decided where to sleep. :)  I was a little worried he'd fall off the top bunk, but he did great last night and enjoyed coming down the steps this morning.

 

I love this time of year because I know Spring is coming! April is a busy month, but a fun month that I look forward to after the looooong winter. Cory's birthday, Easton's birthday, Easter Sunday with egg hunts and good food, and REVIVAL at our church! I can FEEL the warm weather! Well, not today since it's around 30-something out there, but sooooon!!!

 

If you want to attend an Easter service but don't have a home church, come visit ours! We'll have a sunrise service at 6:45am, and regular services at 8am, 9:30am and 11am. Here's the link below with more info if you and your family want to join us:

 

http://maysvillebaptist.net/#/upcoming