Maybe you are reading this right now, with similar feelings I was having at that time in my life.  Why am I always so tired?  Why do I get stressed over the littlest things?  I don’t feel comfortable in anything I wear.  I’m not really happy with my reflection in the mirror.  Where is my motivation?  I don’t have T-I-M-E to do anything for myself.  I know I’m a great mom, but I want to contribute MORE.  Where has my career gone?  Will I ever get it back?

Don’t get me wrong…I was happy with my life, I’m just not sure I was happy with the way I was participating in it.  I knew I deserved more, that I could do more, and ultimately BE more.

I have forever struggled with my weight.  I was always a chubby kid and got to sport the nickname “Cheesepuff” throughout middle school.  You know, fluffy and round…cute right?  I would find a way to lose some weight (not in the healthiest of ways), and then of course gain it all right back.  On my wedding day I remember feeling awesome weighing in at 112 lbs, and having to get my dress taken in again, and again, because this NO CARB thing sure was working!  As with everything I did, it only worked for so long.  In came the comfort of my marriage, stress from job changes,  and of course growing my two children and I was now hanging out in the 150s.  Not to get hung up on weight, because I have learned now that it really is just a number…but at that point in time it literally weighed heavy on me because I knew it represented giving up on myself.

If you have been my friend, or followed my blog, you know my story by now.  If you are new, you can rewind back to exactly two years ago when I wrote my first ever post on this blog about the 10 lbs I lost in 24 days.  Yes, that was such an exciting part of what came as a result of my decision to take the 24 Day Challenge, but what has since transpired has been pretty life changing for my family.

– My husband and I have gone on to lose 90lbs together.  90lbs!!!!  Greg is a new man…a healthier man!  And because of this I know I will have him in my life a heck of a lot longer.  He is HEALTHY.  The healthiest he has ever been.

– My family knows how to eat now.  Well better yet, this mama knows how to COOK now!  Gone are the days of butter and cheese slathered on everything.  Microwaved foods, diet drinks, overly processed and packaged items…not in this house!!  Sugar is a foreign concept too, and our fridge is overflowing with bright, colorful, nutritious and fresh ingredients.  Simple, home cooked meals are on the table every night!  Talk about saving money on how much food we used to order in.

–  Energy!  Oh the annoying, over the top energy! I sometimes wish I could just sit still and do nothing but I can’t!  Say  goodbye to the days of TV watching, nap-taking, and boredom.  Well I wouldn’t say I was ever really bored, I think I just found ways to keep myself busy.  And that’s all it ever was….now my time is PURPOSEFUL!  My kids have a crazy lady for a mommy and they love it! lol

– I exercise…and I mean I REALLY exercise.  I wake up at the butt-crack of dawn every single day (there’s that energy again) and get myself to the gym!  No excuses, and it’s go time.  I workout hard.  Any frustrations that could have been leftover from the day before, are now gone and I get a fresh and invigorating start to my day.  I also get biceps too! lol  See how this is a win/win?  This is where I need to give a huge shoutout to AdvoCare’s Performance Elite line…game changer!

- I have wonderful friends.  New friends!  INSPIRING friends!!   AdvoCare has brought THE MOST AMAZING people into my life.  It honestly brings me to tears as I am typing this having name after name run through my mind that I know now through this adventure.  Not to mention people from the past, that I have grown close with because we came together in the name of good health.  There aren’t enough words to sum up the greatness that I am surrounded by.  When you find others that share your interest in being the best versions of themselves all you do is lift one another up.  It’s the most incredible part of all of this.  Hands down.

– Income.  There I said it.  Yes…I do make an income for doing this.  It’s actually an incredible one, that most days I feel undeserving of.  Did you read above about all those people I love….I literally get paid to help THEM do their very best.  This opportunity wasn’t ever my intention, and never in a million years did I think I would end up in Direct Sales.  Say what you will about this type of business model….no wait….DON’T.  Unless you have experienced it for yourself, you will never understand the respect that comes with being a part of a company like AdvoCare.  They always say that this company allows ordinary people to do extraordinary things and that is exactly what it does…

 –  TIME with my boys.   Yes, I was already a Stay-at-Home mom when I did my first 24 Day Challenge, but I have always felt like I was on a deadline.  A confusing deadline.  Will I open up my Interior Design business again?  Will I eventually have to go work for someone else?  How in the world would I go back to the 9-5 schedule?  What other kind of business could I do from home?  I really don’t ever want to work for some else again, but I also don’t want to deal with the headaches that come with running your own business.  In enters AdvoCare….my unexpected answer to ALL of this.  I found something that provides me with comparable income to a 40+ hour work week however it requires extremely part-time hours which still allows for full-time Mom hours.    I am ALWAYS with my boys…we actually spend a little too much time together lol.  I wouldn’t trade this precious time with them for anything…and well now, I don’t have to.

 – A stronger marriage.  Greg and I have always been close, but I felt like he got the short end of the stick after we had kids.  For all the reasons I have mentioned above, my life had changed.  That confident, working, and energetic wife now felt like she was living in yoga pants, lost her spunk (was just REALLY tired), didn’t feel attractive carrying around 30 extra lbs, and wasn’t really sure of her identity anymore.  I know my purpose was to be a great mom…I had that covered since I was spending every second of my day just doing things for them.  Even if we did find the energy to go on a date night, I would end up upset by the end of the night telling Greg just how different life felt for me.  He still got to get dressed up, go to work, socialize with adults, eat lunch in peace….I just felt like I was holding these things over his head because I was jealous I didn’t get to do any of that anymore.  We never fought over these things, I just let these thoughts take over my head and felt resent for things that had nothing to do with HIM and everything to do with ME.  Let’s just say all those thoughts are a thing of the past.  They always say happy wife, happy life right?  You have to work on yourself first ladies!  Your life only gets better when you do!

- PURPOSE.  Above all…my family is and always will be my entire purpose.  Nothing over the last 2 years changed in regards to that.  However, my drive comes from a different place now.  We can only rise when we help lift others, and that has become my fuel.  To lend a hand in someone else’s success and confidence will pay you in ways no “job” ever could.  This whole experience begins for yourself, but eventually becomes about helping everyone else.  If I can play any role in a healthier and happier you, I can’t think of anything more rewarding than that.  I’ve watched countless lives change as a result of so many of us sharing our own struggles and successes.  That is purpose at it’s finest…live your life to be the best example you can be, and hope you can can create that same desire in others.  This starts from my family and extends to yours and will be what continues to motivate me to be a better person.

I share this all with you because it’s my story, and it’s worth sharing each part of it in hopes that someone else may connect with one little piece of what I wrote.  I needed to see someone else’s changes before I knew I could do it, and that I wanted them badly enough for myself.  Excuses were easy to make, being comfortable was easy to do, so I knew staying the same was not going to be an option but it was going to take some work.

Believe it or not I don’t really believe in New Year’s resolutions.  Usually those come in the form of a list, you dive in head first, with excitement, and give it your all….at the beginning.  If I would have listed out,  lose 30 lbs, make only healthy foods for my family, exercise daily, quit drinking diet soda, stop drinking coffee, make new friends, find new interests, strengthen our marriage, travel more, earn an income for our family, stop watching television, increase my energy, be a better mom….PHEW I would have been exhausted, overwhelmed, and feeling a bit defeated before I even started.  We all know that goals without plans are just wishes.

Starting somewhere small is perfect…just START.  January 5th is going to be a starting point for hundreds and hundreds of others who are ready to commit to doing something a little different this year.   Of course you can jump in with both feet, grab a 24 Day Challenge and come join us for our biggest group challenge to date…but I want to hear your story first if you are willing to share it.  E-mail me, message me on Facebook, reach out to me on Instagram, leave me a comment here….maybe weight loss isn’t your focus, maybe you’re looking to gain some muscle, learn healthy recipes for your family, maybe the idea of some more time with your children is weighing heavy on you, maybe you’re hoping to surround yourself with more positive people in 2015, maybe you are looking to provide an extra source of income for your family, maybe you’re exhausted and could use some energy.  Maybe you don’t realize you need or want any of those things….originally, I didn’t either, but to know they now exist for me all under one AdvoCare roof has been eye-opening to say the least.

A year is simply a measure of time, but it’s a way to distinguish a period of memorable occurrences in your life.  That year you were born, that year you graduated high school, that year you went to college, that year you fell in love, that year you got married, that year you had your first child…what if 2015 could be that year that you made a decision that ultimately gave you more years?  More meaningful, healthy, positive, and purposeful years with those that you love the most?  2013 was that year for me.  This year can be YOUR year…all you have to do begin!

Since I had already had great success with the 24 Day Challenge, this new plan wasn’t too far off from what I had learned through my experience with AdvoCare.  I still had to eat clean, I still got to use all my awesome Performance Elite supplements, I just needed to refine what kinds of clean foods I was eating, and how much of each of them I was eating. I will recommend that EVERYONE start with a 24 Day Challenge when they are looking to make some changes.  It certainly benefits weight loss, but even an athlete who is ready to reset and feel their best will benefit from this being their starting point.

The biggest change in the new plan was WEIGHT LIFTING…on my own…in the gym.  Can I just say I have completely, head over heels, fallen in love with going to the gym.  Talk about feeling empowered and inspired ladies…go grab some heavy weights and literally watch your body transform over a short amount of time!   You can’t leave the gym in a bad mood, you just can’t.

So did “changing things up” break me of my plateau?  I would say YES!  Actually even more than I expected for such a short amount of time.  I dropped about 3% in body fat and definitely feel stronger, and can see my body composition changing.  If you follow my new Instagram account you have seen most of these photos since I do frequent updates there, but for those of you who don’t, here are my before and after photos with a  3.5 month difference between the two.

So now what?  I wouldn’t use the word plateau this go around, but I will say I know it’s time to push myself further and continue to make slight changes to what I am doing.  There was a good two months where I felt continuously sore from my workouts.  When that soreness subsided it was a sign that my muscles were getting too used to what I have been doing, so I reached back out to Leah for my second consult.  My new and “improved” plan basically  just increases EVERYTHING….cardio, weights, repetitions, calories, and carbs, oh my!

I have been asked on Instagram to share recipes, workouts, what supplements I’ve been using, how to track macros etc…and since none of those things are something I can sum up in a comment on IG, I wanted to do this post!  Now I always need to preface that I am NOT a professional, I am not a personal trainer, and I am not a certified Nutritionist (even though I do have some curiosity in pursing this), so my advice really isn’t advice at all.  I am just documenting what I have been given, what I have been doing, and what has been yielding my own personal progress in hopes that it helps to keep me accountable while also providing some insight to others who may be looking to do the same.

One of the first questions is….

WHERE SHOULD I START?

If you know me by now, AdvoCare has my heart!   Deciding to do the 24 Day Challenge almost 2 years ago was undoubtedly the best decision I have ever made when it comes to providing overall wellness for myself and my family.  You can say you want to start eating right and exercising all you want, but you need a PLAN and you need a COMMITMENT.  Do you have to do the 24 Day Challenge specifically?  NOPE!  There are certainly other programs out there that could be the jumpstart you need, but I can’t stress enough how important having guidance is.   Do something, and do it for a specific amount of time.  Break bad habits, learn how to eat correctly, challenge yourself, and commit to it and commit to yourself.  Once you have the basics down, and see results, and feel your best you are so much better prepared to challenge yourself further and to make a sustainable lifestyle change.

HOW DO YOU EAT?

Initially I tried counting calories when I was first trying to lose weight, and well that backfired when I tried to fit as many 100 calories packs of Doritos into my day as I could.  Learning to eat real, unprocessed “clean” foods, and eating throughout the day was the game changer.  I have been a “clean eater” for the past two years, but where I needed to fine tune to break my plateau, was learning the right way to balance the clean foods I was eating.  This is where I flipped back to calorie counting, and macro-nutrient counting…only this time I was doing it with healthy foods!  The past 3 months I have been staying between 1500-1600 calories, and around 130g carbs, 150g protein, 45g fats, and tracking this all through the MyFitnessPal app.  This was to help me burn fat and lean out, but also be able to sustain the type of cardio and weightlifting I was doing.  My new program with Leah has me bumped up to 2000 calories a day, and has me increasing my carbs, protein, & fats steadily each week for the next 3 months.  This is to start building muscle, but also doing it in a way that keeps you lean.  I’m not going to lie, Im a little nervous about it and haven’t fully committed yet.  But I will after the holidays!  If you want to get an idea of how to track your macros and where you should be for your goals I HIGHLY recommend checking out iifym.com AND getting a $50 consult from Leah, so she can come up with something specific for you and your goals.

 A lot of people will read what I just wrote and think it sounds overly complicated and a bit too obsessive, but I promise you, once you get the hang of it (and have already mastered your clean eating) you can integrate this in and start to know how you should eat, and how your body responds to it.  I have meals upon meals that are my favorites now and I just keep them in rotation, and know I’m staying within my targets.

I mean really does it look like I’m lacking in fun things to eat?

Also note, I am making all these changes to last me a lifetime.  So do I still have date nights, girls nights, go on vacations, drink wine occasionally, eat all my kids’ Halloween candy?  Yup!  This is what makes you feel like you have forever CHANGED your diet, but you’re not ON a diet.

WHAT KIND OF EXERCISE DO YOU DO?

If you have been reading my blog, you will have probably seen my progression from light cardio & classes at the gym to distance running, then to bootcamp type workouts and now to weight lifting.  They all were wonderful for what they were throughout this process.  You definitely have to find something you love doing!!  I will say weight lifting has surpassed my expectations and has become something I consider a hobby now, because I thoroughly enjoy doing it.  I know that gym can be intimidating so Im happy to share what I have been doing with you if you want to try some of it out for yourself.  Seriously save this image to your phone, look up any exercise that you may not know what it is, and then walk into the gym confidently because you have a PLAN (that you can pull up on your phone and copy and just look like you’re switching songs on your playlist haha)

So here is the deal.  I have been told to start with 45 minutes of fasted cardio 4 mornings a week (meaning on an empty stomach), and to do 30 minute HIIT workouts the other 3 days.  It’s a lot, but Im trying to get myself there.  So far I would realistically say I have been doing 30-40 minutes of cardio to start my workouts.  20-30 minutes of that is on the stairclimber then the next 10 minutes I do sprints on the treadmill.  I figure its combining cardio and HIIT all in one right?  I typically try to burn between 250-300 calories before even starting in on weights.

Then I follow the plan below.  Each exercise I do FIVE sets of 10-12 reps unless otherwise noted to do a different amount.  My last set I always lift to failure (when you can’t possibly do one more).  You will basically want to die, but in the best way possible!

Don’t forget to get some core/ab work in there (you hear that Lauren?!  Yeah I need to listen to this advice too), and of course listen to your body if you need to rest.  Again, Leah can provide you with a plan that is best suited for your goals and the amount of time you have to workout!

WHAT KIND OF SUPPLEMENTS DO YOU TAKE AND WHEN?

Something you don’t know about me is I went through a phase, when I first moved to California, where I was into lifting weights.  It doesn’t even come close to how I feel about it now.  It wasn’t invigorating, I wasn’t seeing that much progress, and it felt like a chore.  Looking back now I know the difference… I wasn’t eating correctly and I didn’t use supplements.  Energy, strength, recovery, and just proven science behind good quality (and safe) supplementation can be the difference between being a good athlete and being a GREAT one.  I feel like a million bucks before my workouts, during them, and after and I know I can give a huge hug to my beloved Performance Elite products for this.

Here is my daily regimen:

Mix the following in a blender bottle-

-1 scoop Fruit Punch Spark

-1 packet BioCharge

-1 scoop Mass Impact

-1/2 scoop IsoPure unflavored protein powder

Add lots of water and ice and shake shake shake!!

Take 2 Catalyst and 2 Muscle Strengths and head out the door, shaker bottle in hand.  Drink some on the way to the gym.  Get on that stairclimber and drink mixture throughout.  Don’t drink it all and when you’re done cardio top off with more water. (Remember this is just what I do, doesn’t mean its necessarily correct lol).

Add in a packet of Rehydrate if you need more flavor and for electrolyte replacement.

I sweat A LOT, so all this liquid drinking leaves me with an empty blender bottle by the end.  As soon as I am done working out I mix up a Muscle Gain protein shake and drink it as Im leaving the gym and have a banana waiting in the car for me.

Get home and eat breakfast and take your multivitamins too (in my case AdvoCare MNS 3-working on getting better about remembering everyday)

More Spark and Catalyst around 3:00pm.  If I had a tough workout- pop a couple of Nighttime Recovery before bed.

Instead of going through each product with you (that’s a whole other post), I have created a bundle with all my favorite products in it.  You can click through them and read about all their awesome benefits and see if any of them sound like something that could help support your workouts and lifestyle.

——-> LAUREN’S FAVORITE PRE/POST WORKOUT SUPPLEMENTS <——-

Whew…that was a long post.  See I go away for a long time, but all I am doing is storing up all this info to come blast you with one big, long, update!  Thanks for hanging in there!  I hope those of you who have asked me questions have found this information helpful. And if you ever have any additional questions definitely shoot me an e-mail, message me on my Facebook page, or say hello on Instagram.

I also need to give a big ole shoutout to the #fitfam on Instagram.  I never realized there were such distinct communities  within the Instaworld, and I am so happy to have squeezed my way into this one.  To wake up each morning and scroll through photo after photo of inspiration, honesty, struggles, motivation, and lots and lots of MUSCLES, I am just so amazed by the positivity, support and drive that I am witnessing on a daily basis.  It makes me smile everyday seeing so many of you working towards a healthier you, and I am proud to be amongst such great company.  Keep on smilin’ and keep on flexin’…I am definitely watching, and I’m beyond inspired!

Have a happy and healthy weekend my friends and as always…thanks for reading!

Sunday- Crockpot Buffalo chicken & broccoli over quinoa

Monday- Red curry and coconut tofu & veggie stir fry over brown rice

Tuesday- Thai chicken lettuce wraps with a peanut ginger sauce

Wednesday- Fresh mango salsa over pan grilled halibut and brown rice (recipe below)

Thursday- Crockpot whole roasted chicken with roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potato hash

Friday- Crockpot Thai peanut chicken over brown rice (yes, we eat this every week…don’t judge)

Saturday- Grilled chicken and pesto Mung bean pasta

I wanted to share the recipe I used in making mango salsa last week.  It was SO good I could have eaten it by the spoonful but you could also put it on top of chicken, pork, fish….anything really.   I seasoned up some tilapia, threw it on the grill pan, and served it with brown rice and put this salsa right on top.  It was amazingly good!  Shane couldn’t even take breaths between each bite he was scarfing it down so fast!  That is an automatic win in my book when the kids love it!  Oh, and check out my awesome knife skills!!  I WISH….you need to run to Amazon and buy one of these Vidalia Chop Wizards!  A sweet friend from my Advocare Facebook group surprised me with this last month. I always commented on how beautiful her salsa photos looked and she let me in on a little secret!  Amazing right?  I want to chop up everything!!

CLEAN EATING MANGO SALSA

Ingredients:

2 ripe mangos chopped

1/4-1/2 small red onion chopped

1 red bell pepper chopped

Juice from 1-2 limes (flavor preference)

1 jalapeño pepper seeded and chopped

1 clove minced garlic

Sea salt to taste

Mix all ingredients together and let chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.  So simple and SO good!!

I hope you try out some of the recipes and let me know what you think.  These are a few of our favorites and I am always trying new meals each week…I promise to only share the best ones!

***Just a side note we are starting another group 24 Day Challenge on April 7th.  I will be participating in the 10 day cleanse portion of this with everyone and then of course continuing on with my clean eating and supplements beyond the cleanse.  We seem to be hosting monthly challenges at this point, but I am excited to be joining in on this one!  If you have been on the fence, or have come up on your 90 days between cleanses, totally come join forces with us….we would love to have you***

Have a happy and healthy week everyone!!

To those of you who are reading this and have completed a challenge or are nearing the end of one…I think my best advice is to first talk to your “coach” in Advocare.  Don’t have one?  Just send me an e-mail and I will gladly help you take on day 25 and beyond.  Accountability, support, motivation, encouragement…they are the most important ingredients when it comes to continued success.  Going at this alone is so hard!  I take in daily inspiration from those around me and would be lost without it.

Next…keep on going.  You know that Max Phase you just did for 14 days?  You can do that FOREVER if you want to!  Energy for days, the best core nutrition, a great and healthy eating schedule, metabolism boosting…there is no need to have that end.   Keep at those MNS packets, drink your Spark, and we all know Catalyst is your best friend.  There is no reason you have to say goodbye to these products.  Do you have to be as strict at your clean eating as you have been for the past 24 days?  Heck no!  You better believe I dive head first into a big goblet (not glass, goblet) of Merlot as soon as I am done a challenge.  I truly believe if you can hold yourself to an 80/20 rule of clean eating you will continue to see incredible results.  What that looks like for me is eating clean throughout the week and then giving myself leeway on the weekends.  This should never feel like you are depriving yourself of some of your favorite things.  That is the main difference between a diet and a lifestyle change.  Be easy on yourself and be confident that you are now a clean eating pro and you have all the tools you need to always get yourself right back on track.

The next part of the equation looks different for everyone, and that is…exercise!!  I understand not everyone has the time, desire, or even the ability to spend hours at the gym.   However, it is important to get yourself moving’ and shakin’ somehow throughout the day.  Set a daily step goal for yourself, get in a walk after work, try a class at the gym you have always had your eye on, try out yoga or running…you may surprise yourself that with your new weight loss has also come a new confidence when it comes to what you are capable of.  

That is the second most common question I get….what do you do for exercise and how often?  When I first started this I took the advice above and did anything just to get me moving.  I did 20 min when I could on the elliptical, I tried out the couch to 5k app and gave running a go, I would try to do one class every week at the gym.  Over the course of a few months I started to increase what I was doing.  Currently a good week for me would consist of 4-5 days of morning bootcamp, 1 day of a cardio kickboxing class, and either a rest day or a run (depending on how many bootcamp days I did).  I have learned that WEIGHT TRAINING is making all the difference for me.  Ladies…do not fear weights!!  Lift often and lift heavy and watch what happens.   This is where my focus will be this year and I am excited to share with you what increased weight training has (hopefully) done for me.

And last but certainly not least is supplementation.  Everyone has different views on taking supplements, what to take, when to take them, or if they should even be taken at all.  I know that since I have started using Advocare’s Performance Elite line everything has changed for me.  I feel better, I feel stronger, my endurance has increased and my muscles are building.  I am still in the process of trying to new things and seeing what I react best to but these have been my go to products that I will continue with.

CARDIO SUPPLEMENTS:

On days I am doing distance runs or days with high cardio intensity I love this combination of products:

3/4 scoop of Spark + 1 scoop of Arginine Extreme.  Shake in a blender bottle with about 12 oz of water.  Drink about 45 minutes to an hour before my run and I take two o2 Gold pills and two Catalyst capsules.

This combination makes my lungs feel more open, I can take deeper breaths, I feel energized and my strength and stamina definitely feel increased compared to the days I have forgotten to take my products.

If I am on a long run you will find one of my hydration belt bottles filled with Rehydrate and the other with water.  If I was just doing cardio I will drink Rehydrate when I get home.  Best electrolyte replacement drink out there…I literally feel a surge of energy when I drink it on my distance runs.  I get dehydrated really quickly and am a salty sweater so this product is a life-saver for me.

WEIGHT TRAINING SUPPLEMENTS:

On bootcamp mornings (weight training days) I mix up a scoop of Spark and 3/4 scoop of Mass Impact in a blender bottle with about 12-14 oz of water.  With it I will take 2-3 Catalyst.  I try to drink as much as I can before I head to bootcamp but since it’s so early in the morning I tend to drink this during class as well.

When I get home from bootcamp I mix up a Muscle Gain protein shake and honestly I drink it in the shower haha.  This way I get that protein in me within 30 minutes of my workout and get my shower in there too.  Us busy mamas need to find any way we can to multi-task (and to take a shower…which is a luxury most days).

I think I have been sore for 7 months straight since starting bootcamp and then I met my friend Nighttime Recovery.  Pop two of these before bedtime when you already are feeling that ache in your body and not only will you wake up feeling awesome and way less sore, but it’s pretty exciting to know you were working on your muscle tone while you were sleeping.  Easiest workout out there!

So that is my experience thus far with the Performance Elite line.  I am going to look into Muscle Strength and Post Workout Recovery as well.  I have heard great things about both and if I am already loving what I have already tried, I can only imagine how great these will be added in as well.

 I just came across these photos on my phone.  The left side is from May after I lost about 25 lbs after starting my first 24 Day Challenge.  The right side was from last month.  The crazy part is I weigh the same in both photographs.  I often tell people that the scale doesn’t tell the story of the transformations you are making, and I think this is all the proof I needed to show myself that this couldn’t be more true.

I really hope some of you have found this post helpful.  I was on my own when I did my first challenge and for the months that followed it.  It was a lot of experimenting and finding out what I thought worked best for me.  When I look back I really wish I had some guidance and someone to keep me accountable and just tell me what to do next.  If someone says DO THIS and shows me how it’s worked for them….I am on it!!  I don’t want any of you to stop at day 25 and find yourself searching for answers, and the worst case scenario, giving up because you felt lost.  Please reach out to me if you find yourself in this spot and I will offer you support the best way I can.  I have a Facebook group filled with 600 amazing and inspiring people who would love to help you reach your goals, but my favorite part is that individual connection I have with many of you so please don’t ever hesitate to say hello!  You’ve totally got this!!

I had been quiet about the race, these last few months, because I wasn’t sure if I was going to even sign up in the first place.  Between taking 6 weeks off from running due to my surgery and then only having 5 weeks after that to train, I just didn’t think it would be something I could do.  However, I did set a goal for myself to get the Beach Cities’ medal (running 3 consecutive beach town half marathons) so I knew if I skipped this one I would have to start all over…that was enough motivation to give it a go.

I’m not going to lie, easing back into running really sucked.  My pace was so much slower and my endurance wasn’t where it was prior to surgery and that was very discouraging mentally.  I don’t want to say I lost my love for running, but it really did start to feel like a chore.  I ended up only getting two “training” runs in before the race….a 9 miler and a 10 miler.  They gave me enough confidence for race day but I still knew it wasn’t going to be enough to get a PR so that fell off of my goal list.  I just wanted to feel good, not walk, and find a way to stay around the 2:00 mark if possible.

Then the worse case scenario happened.  The week before the race Nathan had to go on antibiotics for his chest cough/fever, Shane got a nasty case of croup, and between the lack of sleep and germ infestation I came down with a combination of whatever they had.  Aches, chills, cough, cold and all that good stuff.  I was already worried because of my lack of training, and this just settled it….I wasn’t going to do the race.  I asked my sister if she wanted a free race bib and when she said she wasn’t feeling well either I didn’t know what I was going to do.  I certainly didn’t want to waste $130 and I definitely wanted to stay in qualification for my Beach Cities’ Medal.  So I turned my house into a CVS Pharmacy and stocked up on anything and everything that could kick this out of my system and tried to get a lot of sleep…the race was on!

The morning of I woke up at 4:15 and got myself together to meet up with my friends Ryann, Whittney and Wendy at 5:45 to make the drive into Huntington Beach together.  Aside from a few coughing fits I was actually feeling better than I had been all week.  I still wasn’t very enthusiastic and was really hoping some nerves, adrenaline or excitement would kick in so I could dig deep and find some motivation to do this.

When we got down to the Pacific Coast Highway you could feel the spirit of the race in the air.  15,000+ runners…everyone sporting their bibs, stretching, checking their playlists, lining up in their pace corals, jumping in place trying to stay warm.  In terms of California temps it was a very cold morning.  It was probably in the 40s down by the water and the wind and cloud cover were not helping.  However, the cool air felt good to breathe in and was helping to open up my lungs.  I was starting to think I was ready to run 13.1 miles with my friends!

I had my music blasting in my ears and wasn’t even looking at the start line…I was just going to wait to feel the crowd start moving me forward and consider that as my cue that we were on our way.  The push began and I gave my friends a smile and a thumbs up and we were ready to go.  It was very crowded getting started and wasn’t even worth trying to start weaving through people.  Once it started to spread out I got into a rhythm that I was comfortable with…. Ryann was a little ahead and Whittney, Wendy and I were doing our best to stick together despite the crowds.  We had all talked about trying to stay together if we could but if one of us felt good…then run with it…and if one of us started to feel bad the others should keep on going.

We stayed like this for the first 2 miles and were staying at around an 8:20 pace.  I was good with that.  I knew that I finished my first half marathon at an 8:33 overall pace so if I could even sustain that as my average for the first handful of miles I would be more than happy to know I maintained that for as long as I could.  I got a little wind in my sail after mile 2 and decided to take advantage of it and go with it.  I learned from my first race that when you feel good….let yourself go and push while you can without trying to overdo it.  I ended up passing Ryann at some point without realizing it, but she quickly came right up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder.  It was so awesome to know we were right there together.  Ryann had been working so hard and I knew she was going to get a PR and wanted to run with her as much as I could for the positive energy because I think she knew she had it in her too.  So off we went…miles 3, 4, 5….side by side…clearing the path for one another around people, holding back to wait for the other if one of us needed water and the other didn’t.  I was already imagining us encouraging each other for the rest of the race and crossing the finish line together…and then it hit.  I’m not sure what happened, maybe I was overdoing it, maybe my adrenaline wore off, maybe being sick all week decided to catch up on me but it hit me like a ton of bricks right around mile 6.  My chest tightened up, I became insanely chilled and I was almost about to crawl over to the side of the road right then and there and call it quits.  It was my turn to tap Ryann on the shoulder only this time it was to say I couldn’t breathe anymore….go on ahead and go kick some butt without me.

It’s like my body put the breaks on me.  I didn’t just gradually slow down…I went from running in the low to mid 8’s to dipping right down into a 10 minute pace.  I wanted to cry, I wanted to walk, I wanted to feel better, to stop coughing…I didn’t know what to do.  The voices in my head were becoming louder than my blaring music, and they were telling me it was time to throw in the towel.  I knew my trainer Timmie was going to be waiting at mile 8 to cheer us all on.  Alright Lauren…at least get to mile 8 and then after that you can walk.  If you need to walk the rest that’s ok.  Look at all these people walking, you can join them too.  I couldn’t get the obsessive thoughts of walking out of my head.  At this point I wasn’t even thinking of how I was going to get to mile 13….I would be happy to make it to mile 8 just to see my trainer and see if she would walk back with me.  I was losing it.

I somehow pushed myself through mile 7 and 8 and frantically searched the crowd for Timmie.  I just wanted to see someone I knew.  It was either going to give me the extra boost I needed or it was going to be my moment to collapse and at least have someone there to catch me and walk me to the finish line.   Just as I was getting ready to turn the bend that leads you back up the PCH towards the finish line I spotted Timmie and b-lined towards her just to smile and wave.  I think I caught her off guard because she had already seen everyone else I was running with awhile ago and probably didn’t even know I was still around.  It gave me a quick jolt of energy to see a familiar face, but as I ran towards mile 9 I just started to feel disappointed.  I was alone, my body was so angry at me, my head wasn’t in the right place, I was freezing cold, I couldn’t stop coughing…I saw a paramedic truck heading towards me on the opposite side of the street and remember wishing it were for me.  I had no idea how I was going to finish these last 4 miles.

Have you noticed I haven’t even talked about the course or the scenery?  I honestly couldn’t even tell you what my surroundings looked like.  I know the hazy sun was glaring in my eyes, the ocean was to my right, the wind was pushing against me, and the road felt cracked and beaten up under my feet…pretty similar to how I was feeling.  The last stretch of miles were totally straight and I wish I could say flat, but it was a long and gradual uphill.  The crowd support had dwindled by this point too so there really was nothing left to do but look forward to the next mile marker, the next water stop and inch my way closer and closer to that finish line.

The last 3 miles of the race were a total blur.  I still hadn’t given in to my obsessive thoughts of walking though and I knew if I could make it to the double digits that I could finish this thing.  I won’t say I got a second wind because that would be a generous description but I was no longer feeling desperation….instead I filled my thoughts of crossing that finish line.  When I hit mile 12 I have never felt such relief in my life…the last mile was so dead straight you could actually see the finish line from so far away.  This was both a good thing and a bad thing.  It was good because literally the end was in sight…it was bad because I decided to give it all I had and picked up the pace, just a little too soon.  It was deceiving how close the end was.  I decided to look at the crowd that had gathered, start giving out some high fives, and just look around me instead of focusing on the finish line.  By this point it wasn’t about my time (I gave up on that a long time ago) but I wanted to have some fun because I knew it was almost OVER.  I skipped through a few songs to get to “Roar” by Katy Perry and it was just the pick me up  I needed to finish strong.  Arms up in the air I crossed that finish line!  They immediately handed me my awesome surfboard medal and just like that…it was all worth it.

I didn’t have that euphoric feeling I had from my first race, but I was a different kind of proud…I had wanted to give up so many times throughout the race, and not once did I give into my head.   I was also incredibly relieved for it to be over and excited to find my friends, wrap myself up in a solar blanket and go get my free beer!  I didn’t have much interest in knowing what my official time was, but I knew it was right around 2 hours and I was actually thrilled with that considering the circumstances.  This race totally tested me and pushed to me a point I wasn’t quite prepared for physically and mentally.  I am taking this experience and using it as motivation to train hard of the OC Half in May and to hopefully find myself better conditioned both in health and endurance.  For now I will welcome this break from running with open arms because in three weeks it’s time to start training all over again.  I’m so ready to bring home that big medal!

Here are my official stats from the race:

Before I share some of the results from this last challenge I just want to also share a little about what happens in this Facebook group.  There are tips, informational sheets, meal plan guides, a data base of our favorite clean recipes, exercise ideas, instant answers to questions, immediate support for anyone who may be struggling or faced with temptations, encouragement…SO MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT.  It is a safe place to share where we have been, where we are at, and where we plan on going…no judgement, just support.  There is laughter, camaraderie, bi-coastal friendships forming, and people of all different shapes and sizes coming together with the same ultimate goal…to gain the greatest possible control of their health.  Is there anything more important than that?  Here are some of the amazing results that members have started sharing now that they conquered their 24 days.  I am beyond proud of them!

24 Days- 8 lbs & 12.5 inches lost

24 Day- 10.5 lbs and 13 inches lost

24 Days- 9 lbs and 9 inches lost

24 days- 5 lbs lost and signing up for FIRST half marathon

24 Days- 15.2 lbs lost

24 Days- 15.3 lbs lost24 Days- 10 lbs & 6 inches lost

24 Days – 14.1 lbs lost

So awesome for just 24 days am I right??  This is just a VERY small sampling of the results that have been pouring through.  People often ask what happens past the 24 days, do people just gain all the weight back?  The complete opposite actually.  What we all learn over the 24 days are changes that are made to last you a lifetime.  This is the furthest thing from a “quick-fix” (even though the results CAN be very dramatic to start), it’s just one small part of the equation in completely changing your lifestyle…a jumpstart we like to call it.  People often make open ended goals for themselves….I am going to start eating healthier, I am going to drink less, I am going to start exercising.  Great in theory, but without setting exact timeframes, exact numbers, exact plans for what you are doing, these kind of goals almost always fall short.  That’s why I have loved this so much…24 Days.  Can you just commit to 24 days?  It’s realistic, there is plan mapped out for you, and if you are looking to lose 8-15 lbs to start (the average) in that time frame…you will reach your goal number.  My favorite part is seeing what happens past the 24 days.  Here are two Challengers (that I consider awesome friends now despite not knowing one another before this) that did their first 24DC when we did our last group challenge 3 months ago.  Would you look at them now?  30 lbs lost between them both and an entirely new attitude towards health, exercise and happiness.  I love it!

Lastly, it’s been a really long time since I have shared my progress.  I took about a 6 week break from working out because of my surgery so that really threw me for a loop (it was torture actually).  That paired with the binging of the holidays I needed to get back on track, so doing a 24 Day Challenge was perfect timing for me and to support all the new group members.  My goals for 2014 have changed a lot from what they were last year at this same time.  I am looking to lower my body fat percentage from 24% to around 17% and I am looking to build muscle and strength.  In talking with my trainer my program has changed a little bit since I’m not focused on weight loss.  I will be doing bootcamp/cross training 5-6x a week , putting a hold on my distance running (that is a whole other story…let’s just say I am running my second half marathon this Sunday with little to no training.  Pray for me), I am using new supplements from Advocare’s Performance Elite line, and I will be keeping a clean diet (insert 24 Day Challenge kickoff here).

My results from this last challenge were 4 lbs and 6″ lost and get this….4% body fat loss!  Now being only 3% away from my goal has me so excited to continue with the new plan my trainer has set out for me.

Exactly 1 year progress between my 1st 24DC and my 3rd 24DC.  30+ lbs lost and over 20 inches lost

It’s never too late to join in our Facebook group…being part of it is truly priceless and has really been the game changer for many when it comes to having never-ending support and advice.  After you purchase your 24 Day Challenge bundle  I will be notified.  By the end of the same day I will e-mail you,  find out a little more about you and your goals, send you some additional information as well as get your information to invite you to the group.  Of course if you still have questions PLEASE send me an e-mail at HeyLaurenRene@gmail.com and I will respond as quickly as I can.  We would love to have you join us!

Thanks as always for reading along this past year…this blog (and all of you) have been my accountability partner and I don’t think I could have stayed the course without it.  Now please send some good running juju my way and hope I can cross the finish line this Sunday for my second half!  #wouldhavebeensmarttotrain #doesnthelpimsick #illstopwiththeexcuses

Monday- Turkey meatloaf muffins & streamed broccoli

Tuesday- Whole roasted crockpot chicken w/ brussells sprouts & sweet potato mash

Wednesday- Hummus crusted chicken over seasoned zucchini

Thursday- Coconut curry turkey chili w/ brown rice

Friday- Date night- True Food Kitchen (Love having an option for a clean eating night out)

Saturday- Shredded Salsa chicken salad w/ pico de gallo & guacamole

Sunday- Shredded chicken marinara over quinoa pasta

Greg has been doing the Challenge with me this time and is doing so great.  I’m pretty sure he’s lost 10 lbs (which includes holiday weight) just in these last 8 days.  We have both been feeling awesome but for some reason are struggling with our sweet tooth this go around.  I don’t even really have a sweet tooth normally, but I have a feeling I got used to all the treats of Christmas that my body is just looking wondering where they went.  There are so many great options out there for clean eaters when they want the occasional treat so I found THIS recipe, swapped out a few ingredients and here you have it: Clean-eating banana pecan muffins….they definitely hit the guilt-free spot!  ENJOY

CLEAN EATING BANANA PECAN MUFFINS

Makes approximately 12

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup almond meal
• 3 tsp coconut flour
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3 tsp coconut oil
• 2 eggs
• 3 tsp honey
• 2 banana mashed
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans
• 1 tbsp flax seed

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 and grease muffin tin with coconut oil
2. In one bowl combine almond meal, coconut flour, baking soda, flax seed and salt
3. In a separate bowl combine egg, coconut oil, honey, and banana – mash and mix well.
4. Combine wet and dry ingredients and spoon into muffin tin
5. Bake for about 20 minutes

We had a really nice weekend.  It was a great mix of fun and productivity.  Greg and I went out for an early date night on Friday and we seriously had such a great time…we are still talking about how much fun we had.  It was one of those nights you don’t talk about work or kids and just enjoy the simple fun you have together…the reasons that brought you together in the first place.  In this case it was great food, laughter, good drinks, live music, wine tasting and dancing.  All that fun and we were still home before 10:00pm…it was great!

Saturday turned into a lazy day at home (thanks to Friday night) but we did finally take all those Christmas decorations down!  I was going to try and make it to the gym but I needed a day off and saved my legs for the 10 mile training run I did yesterday.  Felt good to burn off the couple of glasses (bottles) of wine I had from our night out.  Other than that there was lots of playing and relaxing with the kiddos.  Just my kind of weekend.

So that brings me to today…Monday morning and ready to kick off my third 24 Day Challenge.  I have never looked forward to one as much as I have this one, but that excitement is probably triggered by the enthusiasm of the now 300 Facebook group members that are doing it too.  My goal in doing another one this go around is to mainly be there to support everyone through the challenge, especially for those that are new to it.  Of course I want to trim off some of those extra holiday lbs, tone up, rid my system of those Christmas cookies, and get that extra pep in my step that the challenge always gives me.  Greg is doing a full one with me too which is really fun….mainly because he can’t drink wine in front of me haha.  Can’t wait to report back with how great everyone does!  And, as always, it’s never ever too late to join in!

Our fridge is fully stocked with freshness, so I thought I would share what we will be eating this week.  Even if doing the 24DC isn’t your thing at this point in time, eating a clean diet can be so rewarding on it’s own.  Start small with replacing a few meals a week to be completely clean and you will definitely see some big changes.  Enjoy!

Sunday- Balsamic chicken bake (add artichokes to recipe)

Monday- Ground turkey meatloaf muffins with garlic broccoli (make double the amount for a quick and easy lunch throughout the week.

Tuesday- Warm roasted veggie and quinoa salad

Wednesday- Coconut & curry turkey chili

Thursday- Crockpot balsamic chicken with Brussels spout and brown rice

Friday- Crockpot chicken & veggie marinara over spaghetti squash (quinoa pasta for the boys)

Saturday- Shredded zucchini turkey burgers (eliminate breadcrumbs)  with seasoned sweet potato wedges.

For breakfast I will be having a combo of egg white omelets, hard boiled eggs, chia seed pudding with fruit, and green smoothies.  Of course my Spark, Catalyst, and Muscle Gain shakes will be part of the line up as well.

Lunches will be a combination of leftovers (I’m telling you those turkey meatloaf muffins are even better the next day), green smoothies and chicken salads.

I love the organization that comes with doing the challenge and look forward to trying new recipes each week and sharing them with you!  If you have any favorite please send them my way!

Have a happy and healthy week!

{This picture!!  This dang picture!  Are you sick of it yet?  The dirty mirror, the stain on my shirt…if only I knew the traveling this photo would do over the last year I would have taken a different one.  But hey….it’s real, and I’m so glad I have it}

I saw a Groupon for a juice cleanse.  Perfect…I have never had an all liquid diet before so that would definitely kick start things right?  I think I told everyone I knew that I was going to be doing a juice cleanse to hold myself accountable.  I was basically banking on it being the game changer.  I quit by day 2.  I was starving, I had a pounding headache, and I just needed to chew something!  I felt pretty defeated and just belly flopped right back into the holiday eating for comfort.  I was out of ideas.  January 1st.  January 1st.  January 1st.  I hung that date over my head thinking some miracle was going to come into my life at the start of the year and suddenly I would find the motivation I was missing.

I’m pretty sure it was almost a year ago to this very day that I was scrolling through Instagram and saw my friend Jenny posted a before and after photo of her husband after doing the Advocare 24 Day Challenge.  It was quite the noticeable difference and all I could see jumping out at me was that it only took 24 days.  Well I couldn’t survive 2 days of my cleanse, so I’m not sure why I thought 24 days would be an attainable goal, but I reached out to her.  I just had to know more.  That one day changed everything for me.

I ordered everything I needed as a Christmas gift to myself (since Greg didn’t want to put that under the tree and call it a “gift” from him, but it really was) and still held tight to that January 1st start date.  I held this idea a little closer to me because I didn’t want to fail again after telling all my friends about my awesome juice cleanse.  “Oh I’m just doing this month long challenge thingie”, I would say.

Turns out that “thingie” would end up being one of the most impactful decisions I have ever made in my life.  Sounds a little dramatic right?  Awesome, you’ve lost 30lbs Lauren…your husband has lost over 50lbs…we get it, congrats!  It’s so much more than that to me now.  Our health has changed, our interests together as a couple have changed, my “job” has changed, our extended family has lost SO much weight right along with us, our friend’s lives and waistlines have changed, I have made new friends all across the country, been reunited with old friends….all because of this one (seemingly) small decision I made a year ago.   It actually makes me emotional just thinking about it.

{a year can make all the difference}

I know I have always been a “people person” but this year has really opened my eyes and my heart to how much it means to me to help others.  I mean really what in the world do I know about weight loss and fitness….not a whole lot.  However, I do know that I can encourage you, think of you, listen to you, cheer for you, and maybe, just maybe, inspire you a tiny bit.

So guess what….January 1st, January 1st, January 1st.  Anyone else have that date on repeat in their heads this year, just like I did last year?  Well I have that date in my head again this year, but it’s not for me…it’s for you.  3 months ago I started a private Facebook group with my friends Jenny and Samantha so several of us could all do a challenge together and have one another’s support.  You guys, it was awesome.  Don’t believe me, check out THESE results everyone had.  Here we are today 150+ members strong {which totally blows me away} and the friendships, support and results have been incredible and we are all ready to do it again.  I am there EVERY DAY for anyone that has a question, needs some encouragement or just wants to chat :).

I asked for a show of hands who is in for a 24 Day Challenge starting January 1st and let me tell you, you will not be alone in this journey.  You and about 50+ of your new best friends will all be there doing it together.  Checking in every day, sharing recipes and workouts, providing support, encouragement…a good laugh or two.  No question is a dumb one, no topic is off limits, and everyone is an equal no matter what stage you are at in your weight loss or fitness journey.

Now for some of the technical stuff.  All this jibber jabber and some of you may still not even know what the 24 Day Challenge is.  You can watch a great video HERE and it will tell you what is involved.  Everything is included in your challenge bundle, and once purchased I will send you an e-mail saying hi, send you some other fun info I have put together to make things easier for you, and of course, send you an invitation to the Facebook group.

I’m done reading….sign me up!! <—-click

I feel so connected to this time of year because it brings me right back to how I was feeling, and how I knew I was at a fork in the road.  My kids and husband are my entire world, and I always put myself on the back burner {let’s be honest this still hasn’t changed much}.  It was time to do this for me, and grab hold of something that I had all the control over…this wasn’t up to anyone else.  I made a commitment in my mind, and that mental shift was the most important thing to fuel a change.  Why can’t I feel, look, and BE my best in my mid 3os and with two kids under my belt?  I couldn’t think of anymore excuses because I didn’t have any.

{weeee Mama’s got her energy back!!}

I’d love to extend my hand to you and pull you in to tell you how much this will change things for you {because I know it will}, but that will only happen when you make that choice for yourself, and I mean REALLY make that choice.  January 1st really doesn’t mean a thing…it’s just another day.  But, this time it’s a date you can boldly mark on your calendar as one you can count on.  There is a group of amazing people scattered all across this country ready to take on the challenge again, and share a wealth of information and even more of themselves with you.

Maybe January 1st isn’t the day for you, but just know I’m in this for the long haul so I’m ready to help you out when YOU’RE ready!  I’m so excited to hopefully get to meet you, or maybe reconnect with you if we have crossed paths in the past.  If it isn’t clear how important this challenge is to me, I hope I’ve made it clear just how important you guys are to me.  Now let’s kick some 2014 butt together! xo

Ok now I’m really ready…I want IN! <—click

]]> http://heylaurenrene.com/uncategorized/what-does-january-1st-mean-to-you/feed/ 9 http://heylaurenrene.com/uncategorized/five-on-friday-thanksgiving-edition/ http://heylaurenrene.com/uncategorized/five-on-friday-thanksgiving-edition/#comments Fri, 08 Nov 2013 14:24:35 +0000 http://heylaurenrene.com/?p=1880 [...] ]]> It’s rare that I ever say this…but, surprisingly, this week flew by!   So here I am again, linking up with Darci, for another Five on Friday post.  Instead of throwing out 5 randoms for you this week, I wanted to share some of my favorite Thanksgiving Pinterest finds with you all.  Enjoy!

{ONE}

We are clean eating this Thanksgiving.  Call me crazy, but I’m pretty convinced it’s going to be our yummiest Thanksgiving to date….while also being our healthiest.  We’ve been going strong now with 10 months of clean eating, and I see no reason why the holidays should put an end to this.  Of course we will have some indulgences {see #3}, but for the most part we will be behaving.  Here’s what I have planned:

Mashed sweet potato, Oil & Herb Turkey, Garlic & EVOO sauteed mushrooms, Green Beans & Balsamic Roasted Shallots, Baked Maple Acorn Squash, Butternut Squash Soup, Pear & Pomegranate Cranberry Sauce.  I also found a recipe for clean Pecan Pie, and you bet I’m giving that a try!

{TWO}

I don’t really decorate for Thanksgiving, but after seeing these photos, I think I can get a little festive with some white pumpkins, glass jars with pine cones, and some kraft paper.  These are items I already have around the house, so why not bring it all together for a little Thanksgiving table decor (that will quickly be pushed aside for food anyways!)

{THREE}

Since our meal is going to be healthy, we have to have a little fun somewhere right?  Well does anything look tastier than this Apple Cider Sangria?  There’s fruit in it…it’s gotta be good for you!  I am SO making this.  In fact I’m pretty sure I need to do a trial run this upcoming weekend just to see how to turns out!

{FOUR}

We eat pretty early on Thanksgiving, but I still like having things to graze on throughout the day. This year I thought it would be fun to have a little fun with the boys and give a couple of these a try.  The tee-pee cones look like a great way to keep the kids busy with Daddy, while I’m cooking up some yumminess in the kitchen.  Plus, I’m pretty sure I will have better luck with the boys eating these turkeys than the actual one!

{FIVE}

I know it’s normally considered rude to wear a hat at the dinner table, but there are no rules when it comes to the holidays.  Christmas you will find us all sporting the paper crowns from our Christmas Crackers, and for Thanksgiving I thought these would be fun.  I found THESE great free feather printables for the boys to color, then I’ll cut them out and we can attach to paper headbands.  I know the kids will love them!

That’s that…my 5 Thanksgiving picks for this Friday!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend friends! xo