So if you read my last Workout Wednesday post I dropped some very obvious hints to Greg that all I wanted for Mother’s Day were some new running tanks, and to relax. Pretty contradictory wouldn’t you say? He must actually read my blog, because he came through and hooked this mama up! Aside from feeling pampered and getting a couple of cute new tank tops, he surprised me with a year long subscription to Stridebox.
Have you heard of them before? I hadn’t until my running inspiration Liz told me about it. Think Birchbox, but with items I’ll actually use. I canceled my Birchbox subscription after 4 months once I realized a full sample of blue eyeliner, and perfume samples weren’t worth the $10 a month to me.
Stridebox is the same concept of a monthly subscription box, only it’s geared towards runners. Think gels, energy bars, drinks, gadgets, apparel, music, apps ….all items that are helpful towards enhancing your trainings, workouts, and races. For $15 a month (shipping is free), I am so curious to see what kind of goodies will be arriving at my doorstep. I will be sure to review the first one I get and let you know what I think of it. If anything, I like the monthly motivation of having new running products to keep me interested, and to keep me pushing myself to run throughout the week Less than 4 weeks until the dreaded 10k Camp Pendleton mud run….think there is anything in these boxes that can help me cross the finish line in one piece?
{That’s me on the right, nearing the end of The Color Run with my Team mate and good friend Amy}
I’m linking up again over at Skinnymeg.com for Workout Wednesday, so be sure to go check out her inspiring story when you’re done over here. Have an awesome Wednesday and be sure to get your workout on! xo
Well it’s the time of the week again, to hold myself accountable for my workouts, or my lack there of. Last week was good, I got in two Turbo kickboxing classes and a couple of long runs. Then this past weekend happened…Greg got super sick with some random flu-like stomach virus and it knocked him out cold. Friday and Saturday were a total wash with him being stuck in bed all day, so I wasn’t able to get out of the house for a workout. Honestly, when my boys get sick I am in a constant state of worry and can’t really concentrate on anything but them…even when it’s my biggest kid that’s the sick one. Leaving them to go for a run is the last thing I feel like doing.
I did manage to get out for a run on Sunday and I really wanted to make it a good one. Unfortunately my body had other plans. Maybe I was thinking about Greg not feeling well and it made me not feel well, maybe I was just emotionally exhausted from being worried and from the lack of sleep, or maybe it was just a random off day. My legs just wouldn’t move and I just wasn’t mentally into it. I kind of felt like I was starting to hate running, and that was super discouraging to feel that way.
Fast forward two days to yesterday. I really wanted to give it another go and really push myself. I chose a longer and more difficult route and I was determined to stay in a good state of mind. I felt SO much better and couldn’t believe the improvement I made. Running is such a mental game and it’s crazy the way your body reacts to your attitude. (Or it could have been adding Kelly Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You” to my playlist…GREAT running song haha) I took a minute off my mile pace!
So just like that I fell back in love with running…it’s such a fickle little sport isn’t it? The only problem is my hips are really starting to hurt me. Shins, knees, ankles…all very common running injuries and my weak point seems to be my left hip! Anyone able to give me some advice regarding hip pain? Special stretches, is it my form, can you even tape a hip? I have been running in my new sneakers and I’m loving the ankle support and cushioning, so maybe I’m just adjusting to new shoes, or maybe getting injured while running is just inevitable.
Speaking of new gear, it’s getting warmer out there so I just bought these Lululemon: Run Speed Shorts to try out. I’ll let you know if I like them. I can’t stand having to adjust my clothing while working out, so to me, it’s worth the extra money for good fitting workout clothing. Of course I buy all my regular clothing on sale at Old Navy, but my workout clothing at Lulu…the irony! If anyone else is a fan of Lululemon did you see their No Limits Tanks are back out and in new colors?!?! Greg, if you’re reading this…Mother’s Day is Sunday ::hint hint:: ::cough cough::
Looking forward to a healthy and active week, and celebrating this Saturday at the 5K Color Run with some of my girl friends. This will be my first race, and even though it’s not timed and strictly to have a good time, I’m excited to get into the spirit of participating in races. Hoping it will be my first of many more to come!
PS- Did you enter my Stella & Dot Giveaway? It ends tomorrow so make sure you get in on it HERE
It’s been awhile since I have written about my progress using Advocare products. Since I first started the 24 Day Challenge back in January, I have had a lot of people give it a try along side me. It’s been awesome seeing everyone’s progress, sharing recipes and workouts, and just motivating each other along the way. I often get asked “so, what do you do after the 24 days is over?” and I thought I would write about that for those that are currently doing the challenge or those of you who may be interested in trying it some day.
{If you are reading this and have no idea what the 24 Day Challenge even is, please see THIS post}
It’s been almost 4 months since I started using Advocare products. Here is my April progress photo. I have lost about 22lbs and 16″ from my waistline, arms, hips & thighs (7.5″ off my waist alone). Most importantly I just have so much more energy and have found a love for working out again.
I lost the majority of my weight during the initial 24 days of the challenge. It was the perfect way to jump start Operation Pre-pregnancy Weight! I saw all the progress I was making those first few weeks that I started to get nervous about what I was going to do once the challenge was over. This seems to be the main concern of everyone else who has been doing the challenge as well. Here’s what I have been giving as advice based on what has worked for me.
You can either be happy with the 10-15 lbs you probably lost during the 24 days and go from there. Continue eating well, working out when you can, and just enjoy the quick results you got. This will definitely get you to at least maintain your new weight loss.
I still knew I had more weight to lose, so I decided to find a way to fit Advocare into my day to day routine without having to be quite as strict as the 24 Day Challenge. This included continuing to exercise, to clean eat, and to use some of my favorite products & supplements. Where I became more flexible is definitely on the diet end. Although our family is probably eating about 80% “clean”, Greg and I definitely indulge in weekend date night meals and alcoholic drinks 
Speaking of Greg….can he get a round of applause for losing over 30lbs these past 4 months too? I’m so proud of him!
While everyone knows diet and exercise are always the most important elements to losing weight, I wanted to share some of my favorite products with you that I’ve been using. I am 100% convinced supplements have made such a huge difference in my progress. They make me feel better, they curb my appetite, the help build lean muscle, they give me energy, and they fill in the gaps nutritionally for any vitamins I may have missed out on throughout the day. Here are a few things I can’t live without these days:
Would you believe I quit coffee and diet soda for good 4 months ago? Thank goodness for Spark! It contains 21 vitamins, tastes awesome, and gives you non-jittery, long-lasting energy and mental focus. It also has amino acids so it helps with fat burning and lean muscle production. I’m in LOVE with this stuff!! Grape and Mandarin orange are our favorite flavors. I start my day with a Spark and you will always find it in my water bottle at the gym.
I’m kind of convinced this product should be illegal. Not because it’s bad for you, but because it almost makes you feel like you’re cheating. I haven’t met a person who didn’t love this stuff. It’s been nicknamed “Liposuction in a bottle”. It’s a blend of essential branched-chain amino acids and L-glutamine that supplies your body with muscle-building components and sustains your muscles during exercise and reduced calorie intake. In other words it sucks away at your fat and preserves and promotes lean muscle production. See why I have 3 bottles of it? :) Actually Greg loves this product too, so although I don’t want to share…I do. It says you can take 3 of them 3x a day. I only take 2 in the morning or before a workout. My sister swears by Catalyst and Spark. Check out her fitness page on Instagram . Insane right?
Greg and I just recently started using this product before we go for longer runs. IT.IS.AWESOME! I don’t know if it’s just the placebo effect or if it truly works, but we both feel like our endurance goes way up after we use them. On Advocare’s website it says “O2 Gold Advanced supplement is an excellent solution for greater energy, endurance and vitality whether you’re a marathon runner, a busy parent or both. Serious athletes will notice the differences that O2 Gold Advanced supplement brings to their regimen, and casual users will notice the refreshing lift to their energy and liveliness. Most importantly, O2 Gold Advanced supplement helps you maximize oxygen usage in your body so that you can feel better and perform better.” SOLD!! And that’s exactly how it makes me feel. My lungs feel like I could run forever now….my hips and ankles? Not so much! We are working on that, but for now I am in love with this product!
The only part of clean eating that I find difficult is quick, on the go, filling and tasty snack/meal options. Clean eating does require some planning, and when I’m in a rush I find myself grabbing an apple or a handful of almonds, but find myself wanting more. That’s why I love these snack bars. Finding a clean nutrition bar isn’t easy to do. Most of them have sugar or processed ingredients in them, but take a look at the ingredients in these: Chia seed, hemp seed, flax seed, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, apples, oats, agave syrup, dates, hemp powder and brown rice protein. Can’t get any more natural than that can you? They are DELICIOUS and so filling. I just tried these out a couple weeks ago for the first time and the box was empty in no time. The kids love them too!
These aren’t “magic pills” or “diet pills”. These are just great, healthy, and effective products that I have really grown to love and have helped me immensely. While I realize that taking supplements isn’t for everyone, I have had so many people ask about Advocare so I thought I would share some information about what we have been using. I’m going to keep trying new product too, so I’ll definitely keep you posted on any new favorites that come along.
Ooooh and something else that is going to really help? NEW RUNNING SHOES! I went to an actual running store today and had my feet measured and electronically scanned. These are the pretties that came home with me today. I’ve never owned Asics before, but I did a nice easy 3 mile loop on these this evening and it felt like I was running on clouds. Can’t wait to put some miles on these!
Hope you all had a great Workout Wednesday and got in some good exercise this week….even if it just included chasing around your kids that totally counts! It’s been a busy week and I’m way behind in blog reading, but I look forward to reading some inspiring Workout Wednesday posts. I got mine in before midnight so that’s gotta be good for something right? Time to shower and pass out! xo
PS- As you know I’m still really new to blogging (again) and recently I have seen bloggers linking up their posts. I have been following Skinny Meg’s weight loss journey and wanted to jump on board linking up with her Workout Wednesday post. If you haven’t seen her success story before definitely give her blog a read! She’s a mama who has lost over 110 lbs!! ::insert shock face here::
Although I haven’t been keeping up with my Monday Meal Plans via the blog, they are always ongoing in our home. I feel like our household has been upside down the last few weeks, but the one thing that remains constant and simple to maintain is what we are eating. I look forward to making dinner because there is some organization to it which seems to be lacking from the rest of my day.
Here are the clean eating meals we enjoyed last week:
MEAL PLAN {4/15-4/21}
Monday- Chicken Summer Wraps {Shown in above photo- omitted mayonnaise and used natural PB}
Tuesday- Turkey chili
Wednesday- Buffalo Chicken Quinoa
Thursday- Breakfast for dinner {made a veggie quiche}
Friday-Homemade turkey meatballs with brown rice pasta
Saturday- BBQ {We did carne asada. Not the cleanest of meals but had some low carb sides- minus all beer & margaritas oops!}
Sunday- Went out to eat at El Torito and had delicious chicken salads.
MEAL PLAN { 4/22-4/28 }
Monday- Chicken & Veggie kabobs on the grill
Tuesday- Zuchini Buffalo turkey burgers with sweet potato wedges
Wednesday- Crockpot Southwestern 2 bean & chicken chili {Shown in above photo}
Thursday- White bean, kale and quinoa soup
Friday- Crockpot salsa chicken taco salads
Saturday- Cucumber California rolls {no rice}
Sunday- Hosting a girly party at our house….aka….cheat day! Hoping to make some fun apps!
As always, I would love to see what your recipe line-up is for the week. Also if you ever want further details on something we ate just let me know and I will be happy to post a recipe if I haven’t already. Hope you all have a tasty and healthy week ahead!
I’m happy today is hump day, because I’m really hoping to get over it and never look back.
Monday was a really hard day in our house, and well…in our country. The day just wasn’t going as planned, the boys were all out of sorts, no one was napping, I don’t think we got out of our PJs let alone the house. And then I saw the news of what happened in Boston… in real time, via friends who live in Boston and were posting to Facebook as it was all happening. Although I wouldn’t consider myself a “runner” quite yet…I really have grown a large amount of admiration and respect for those that are. I am starting to feel the love for it, the drive, the excitement of accomplishing goals, and seeing the heart involved. I felt connected to the Boston marathon this year. I knew people running in it, I knew some who tried to qualify for it…and I’m really beginning to relate to what it means to take part in such a challenging and rewarding event.
Earlier that day I was glued to Facebook because I wanted to see how my friends did. I wanted to see photos of their children holding signs, of them pushing through the race, and of them crossing that finish line. And I almost did…..one of my friends from college was less than half a mile away from doing just that before the explosions happened. Less than half a mile away…. Instead the photos I saw were ones that I don’t think I will ever be able to erase from my memory. I’m still wrapping my mind around it like the rest of our country is. I wanted to get out and run that night. I wanted to think about something else, to finally get out of the house, and to take my eyes off the news. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it for some reason.
Yesterday morning was still gloomy…both the weather and how I was feeling. I was determined to get the boys up and running for school and to get my errands done that never happened the day before. The day started to turn around…Nathan was so happy to be at school, we sang and danced at chapel, and we picked up his hilarious school photos. How could you not have a better day after seeing these?
Shane and I went grocery shopping and came home to play while Nathan was still at school. We were having a great and productive morning. We drove to school pick-up and as we were leaving Shane just didn’t look right to me. He looked pale and was falling asleep on my shoulder in the parking lot. My kids NEVER fall asleep in public, I knew something was wrong and got a pit in my stomach. He could barely hold his head up on the car ride home. And then I heard it…SPLAT and Nathan let out a blood curdling scream “Stop the car Mommy Shane is throwing up!”. I pulled over and Shane was literally green and wouldn’t stop getting sick. Although my boys seem to catch anything and everything we haven’t had a stomach flu yet so this was a whole new level of sickness…I wasn’t quite sure how to deal with it.
We got home and I tried to get him in the bath to clean him up but he could barely sit up and kept getting sick. Of course Nathan is downstairs screaming that he is hungry for lunch and that he found jelly beans and was just going to eat those…ugh! It’s so hard when you can’t be in two places at once, and really needed to be. I called Greg in a panic, and despite being in a meeting, he left work within 10 minutes and came home to help me. He really is the most wonderful dad/husband on the planet! He scooped up Shane and they spent the rest of the day like this.
After 2 hours of constantly throwing up, he took a nice long nap on Daddy and was able to keep some fluids down once he woke up. His color started to come back, and so did his smile. Everyone got a decent night of sleep and despite a low-grade fever this morning, he seems to be doing so much better.
It’s Wednesday….I think I was supposed to talk about working out. We got off track here the past couple of days but this morning the sun is shining, the boys are cheery and mama is ready to go for a run tonight. I’m going to run tonight because I can….and run because I am even more determined to become a part of the community that has grown even closer because of Monday’s tragedy. So lace up your sneakers and hit the ground running. There is a movement to “Run for Boston”. I plan to track my miles, and also download the Charity Miles app where my mileage goes towards raising money. Please join me in doing the same!
On Monday I stumbled across a Facebook friend’s fitness blog. 1- she looks INCREDIBLE (and recently had a baby) and 2-she is a fitness instructor and challenged her readers/clients to set a goal for themselves…a huge goal, something out of their comfort zone, and make it happen! It made me think for a second, and then I let it sit in the back of my head for the rest of the day since I wasn’t quite sure if I had any one specific goal in mind.
Later that same day I received an e-mail from one of my best friends from college telling me of the marathon she is running in London in 2 weeks. I was actually a little emotional thinking about how proud I was of her. It sparked a second discussion with another one of my college besties about some of her recent fitness achievements….running half marathons, doing a 150 mile bike race next month, signing up to do Tough Mudder. I always knew my Syracuse girls were some of the strongest women I have ever known, but they were now taking it to a whole new level! After a few messages back and forth my girlfriend, with no hesitation, said….Let’s do a marathon together in 2015!! I was looking for a huge goal, and I’m pretty sure she just set it for me….”I’M IN!” I wrote back. October 2015 Chicago marathon anyone??
It’s going to be a slow journey getting there, but I’m up for the challenge. 3 months ago I was hyperventilating trying to run a mile straight, now every run is between 3-5 miles and I actually enjoy it. 5k in May, 10k in June, Half Marathon in the Fall perhaps? I truly believe I need something like this…something to work towards that is all my own.
Do any of you use the Map My Run app? It tracks your runs via GPS, tracks your overall time, pace per mile, elevation changes and so much more. Most importantly you can still play your itunes music playlists at the same time. If you use it please add me as a friend….LaurenH451. I’m all about accountability and I can’t think of any better motivation than sharing my progress and seeing yours as well. I know some of you are avid runners, that I look up to, and would love to follow in your footsteps (or at least be able to see those footsteps in action!).
In looking at different training schedules they all seem to recommend 3-5 mile runs during the week, and then doing longer runs on the weekends that increase by 1 mile per week. Sounds like a good place to start to me! Here is my run from yesterday evening.
I’m excited to use this as my starting point and see how far I can push myself…hopefully to the tune of 26.2 miles. Man that sounds scary, but I’ve got some time and I’m ready to accomplish some short term goals first. What are some of your fitness goals, both big and small? To start walking once the weather is warmer? Try a new class at the gym? Run in a race? Start a new workout DVD? I’d love to hear them if you are open to sharing. I’d also love any running advice, especially from distance runners! On your marks, get set, go!
This week is looking a little different when it comes to my workout schedule. Typically Shane goes down for a nap at 9:00am and I will do the elliptical in the garage while Nathan plays outside with me. This has worked out so great! I can workout for 45 minutes, Nathan gets to play in the yard, and I still get time to shower after and then we head out for the day.
Just when I was really getting into this schedule and enjoying it, Shane has decided that morning naps aren’t his thing anymore. Scratch that, napping in general, isn’t his thing anymore. I’ve been trying to transition him to one nap since that seems to be what he wants, but he ends up only napping 45 minutes-1 hour smack dab in the middle of the day. He spends the rest of the day cranky, and I spend the rest of my day flustered and exhausted.
Starting the day off with a workout has been such a great source of energy and motivation for me to keep the rest of my day going. I know it’s only been a few days of this change, but it’s really throwing me off and I feel like I’m just dragging. I’d love to wake up before the boys and get in my elliptical time but Shane is up between 5:45-6:00am everyday so you do the math on that one. I’m a morning person but that’s not happening.
The last two evenings I’ve really had to dig down deep and find the energy to go for a run as soon as Greg gets home. It’s actually been a nice change to run while it’s still light out, get out my frustrations from the day, get home within 30 minutes (been aiming to keep to 3 miles at around a 9 minute pace), and then dive right into the dinner time madness. It would be nice to be out there longer but there are mouths to be fed, a dog to be walked, kids to be bathed etc etc. Greg would totally do it all but I can’t, in good conscience, let him try to fight that battle on his own after he’s had a long day.
Mamas…when do you find the time to workout? How do you fit it all in, or are you struggling with finding a routine too?
On a side note…I think 99.9% of the reason I enjoy going for a run is because I get to listen to my cheesy music. I actually find myself singing when I run…maybe it helps with my breathing? haha. I wanted to share what’s on my “Workout Mix 2013″. You can either laugh at my song selections, OR let me know a song or two that really gets you going when exercising. I love when a new, fun song pops up on my playlist….so please, let’s hear what’s on yours.
I’ve been seeing Workout Wednesdays floating around in the blog world (this is probably ancient news, but I’m admittedly late to the Blogging Party). I am constantly seeking out new inspiration when it comes to working out, especially advice from other busy moms. I love seeing healthy recipes, workout tips, weekly progress, fitness milestones being hit…it’s all so inspiring to me and gets my butt in gear when I’m starting to feel lazy (like right after I hit publish on this post I am GOING to the gym, even though I really don’t want to today).
Without the internet and women sharing their stories, I would have never met Jenny. We actually “met” about 8 years ago on TheKnot.com of all places. We were both planning our weddings and sharing every little detail over the internet with other future brides (I guess once you get hit by the social media bug it never goes away). We have followed one another’s journeys of wedding planning, married life, pregnancy, child rearing, party planning, house decorating, self-employment…come to think of it we enjoy doing a lot of the same things and at the same time even though we live several states away.
I was looking through Instagram one day and saw she was doing the Advocare 24 Day Challenge and was having great success with it. The New Year was approaching and I was looking for something different to jump start a healthier me. I reached out to Jenny and I am so happy I did. She contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if I would be interested in doing a guest post on her blog sharing the changes I have made over the last 3 months. OF COURSE!! If you’d like to read my post as well as check out Jenny’s awesome blog & photography/printing business click on her logo below:
I also thought I would share a progress photo for the month of March. Over the past few weeks I haven’t stepped on the scale and I don’t take measurements anymore. I am happy to have hit my goal weight and now I would like to start working on fitness goals for myself. Longer and faster runs, toning and weight lifting, trying a new class (The Bar Method? Pilates?). I am excited for more challenges ahead! If anyone has fitness blog suggestions they find inspiring please send them my way. I would love to put together a list to share!
Breakfast and dinner are always easy meals to plan in our household. Lunch is a whole other story! I feel like we are always running in the door after a morning of errand running, school pick ups, play dates etc and lunch can seem chaotic most days. I love finding lunch options that are quick, healthy, and kid approved. That’s why we love smoothies around here. I usually make a huge one for my lunch, and serve a small one for the boys in addition to whatever they are eating. There is no better feeling than seeing your kids chug down their fruits and veggies for the day all in one sitting! I also like to add ground flax seed. Flax seed is rich in several important compounds including omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and phytochemicals, all of which have very important health benefits and should be included in a nutritious diet. To reap all of the health benefits of flax seed, it’s recommended that you eat 1-2 tablespoons a day. Here is a smoothie I put together today that turned out delicious! I like to experiment with different fruit/veggie combos usually based on what I have on hand, and this one passed the test by both me and the boys!
INGREDIENTS:
Blend the following on high speed until smooth:
1/2 cup Trader Joe’s frozen fancy berry mix (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries)
1/4 cup Trader Joe’s frozen pineapple bits
1 large handful of Kale
1/4 cup Almond Smooth almond milk
1/2 ripe banana
1 T. ground flax seed
Ice & water
ENJOY!! *Those of you on the Advocare 24 day challenge- this recipe is approved for both the cleanse and Max phase
I stumbled out of bed this morning barely alive from night two of very minimal sleep (our boys are sick AGAIN, it’s too sad to even talk about-they are getting better though and that’s what’s important). On my way to brush my teeth, I tripped over the scale with my eyes half open and decided just to stand on it and see if it wanted to be my friend today. It thought about it for a second, and there it was….the number I haven’t seen in over 4 years. My pre-Shane, pre-Nathan, my “If only I could ever get there again” weight was staring me right in the face. My goal weight!! I got off the scale then back on because I didn’t believe it. It was true….I have lost 20 lbs in 2 months!
If I could kiss my friend Jenny I would! She put herself out there and shared her success with the Advocare 24 Day Challenge, and really inspired me!
I still don’t know how it happened so quickly, and I honestly can’t believe how simple it has become since I first started. We eat more, we eat more often, but we just eat better….way better. I do exercise daily, or at least as often as the boys will let me. This ends up being a broken up 35-45 minutes on the elliptical machine each morning, a long run on the weekend, and I try to get to the gym for 1-2 classes a week. I think that’s what I have loved most about Advocare. It’s not only for weight loss, it’s a fitness program. Just 2 months ago I could only run for maybe half a mile before I would have to stop and walk for a few minutes. Today I ran just under 4 miles without stopping once. I have never ran this far in my life, not to mention I actually enjoy it now. I would love for long distance running to be my new goal since I no longer wish to lose anymore weight….I just want to be active, and stay active. My friend Liz is a busy working mom of 2 girls Nathan and Shane’s age and has totally inspired me with her running journey. Despite her busy schedule she finds time to run at least 5 miles a day even if she has to do it at 5:00am. She wasn’t a runner to start either and now she’s on her way to doing a marathon! Thanks to her I signed up for my first 5k in May, then have a 10k in June and maybe it would be “fun” to try a half-marathon someday. For now, baby steps!
It’s so hard to find time as a mom to take care of yourself. My boys are my priority around the clock, and most days I feel like they are the ones calling the shots (for example Shane is on his fourth wakeup since I have sat down to type this…grrr). So many people say that being a mom is a balancing act, but let’s face it…my life scale is WAY tipped completely in their favor. I’m an all or nothing kind of person when I am passionate about something, and nothing tops the passion I have of being a good mom for these boys. This can be seen as a good thing, but it has also consumed me. I needed to get back to ME a little bit more. I find time for exercise now, I make time to prepare good meals for myself throughout the day and make sure I get to eat them when I actually want to (instead of a 3:00 pm lunch consisting of finishing their half eaten sandwiches). I think that’s why this challenge helped me so much…it put me on a schedule, and it forced me to plan ahead better, and to be honest…it was finally something to do that was just for me!
The same is true of this blog. I had a family blog for awhile but then I realized all I was doing was spending every waking minute with my kids and then sitting to down write about every single thing I did with my kids. Obviously they will still be the highlight of what I write about here, but I want a place to journal things I enjoy doing in addition to being their mom. A place to share things that keep me creative, and keep me feeling like I still have some of my own interests.
Thanks for letting me share my progress with you! It held me accountable this far just by writing about it, and I’m so happy to have taken some control of my own health and well-being again. I just turned 33 last week and I’m ready for this to be a great year filled with healthy changes for me and my family!
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Hey! I’m Lauren Rene
I'm a So Cal Mommy of 2 boys, and wifey to one handsome fella! Interior Designer by trade, but SAHM by choice. I spend my days loving my family, getting crafty, cooking clean, exercising, snapping photos and sharing it all with you.
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