Fun & Practical Play Time

Owning my own home based business and having a 3 year old home with me during the day is not an easy task.  I actually do not get much work done during the day at all.  During her "work" time, I sit her desk next to mine and have her do worksheets.  Other than that, my "work" day is really non-existent.  Then there are the days I have to get something done but she wants to play... and usually outside.  As much as I am family first, a work dead-line is a dead-line so I must get it done.  So we must improvise...

Today she wanted to go outside and play hopscotch...

My solution: An indoor hopscotch floor decal in the living room, which can be easily covered up by the area rug when she is all done.  While my vinyl is cutting on the machine, I can even play a few rounds with her. 

Win | Win

{Home School Pre-School} The Weather Wheel

My daughter may only be three years old but I think she may be one of the best meteorologist in town.  She enjoys predicting the weather and seems to be pretty good at it.  I have seen a few weather charts for little ones online and came across a cute weather wheel I liked.  We decided to make our own variation of it.

  

The arrows have magnet backings so she can move them from day to day on what the weather is, and at night, she can move them to what she predicts the weather will be the next day.

{Faithfully Fit} 12 / 3

I have been using Herbalife for 3 weeks now and I must say, I have been feeling GREAT! I have had an Herbalife shake every morning and it gives me such a great burst of energy... it's such a good way to start my day... not to mention, they are SO yummy so it is like having a sweet treat!

A few people have asked me how I make these yummy shakes that help me loose pounds and gives me energy.  Well, I make a few different variations but my favorite is white chocolate peanut butter.  Funny thing is, I NEVER like peanut butter before.

I start off with 1 cup of crushed ice...

 

Next I add 1 scoop of Herbalife Healthy Meal (Formula 1), 1 scoop of Herbalife Protein Powder, 2 tablespoons of powdered peanut butter (PB2) and 1 teaspoon of sugar free, fat free White Chocolate Jell-O pudding mix (powder)

 

I add 8 ounces of milk (which you could also add with water since you have the protein powder but I really like the creamy, milky texture)... and BLEND IT UP!

 Pour in your tumbler, then sip and enjoy!

I personally have been amazed by how much housework I get done with all this new found energy.  

So you may be wondering what is up with today's title, 12/3... well as of this morning, I have dropped 12 pounds in 3 the last 3 weeks.  The energy I get from the shakes also has me working out more and actually craving it... craving the yummy shakes too!

If you are interested in trying out the great line of Herbalife products, I would be more than happy to assist you with placing an order... or with information on how you can be a distributor and share with your own friend and family.

PROOF

For most of my life, I was a "have to see it to believe it kinda girl" until my faith took me to a point where I had to believe to see... and now I do.

I see "proof" all around me... and in me.  I am proof.


I am proof that a hard-headed youth can become an open minded adult... Everyone deserves to be heard.

I am proof that a foodie can enjoy food and still be in shape and healthy... with a little thanks to Herbalife.

I am proof that a teenager can have a baby and still raise an amazing teenager... Isaac is pretty incredible.

I am proof that you can overcome a statistic... I graduated high school with a tiny tot.

I am proof that a "doodler" can turn their doodles into something... Have you checked out www.ten23designs.com?

I am proof that a day dreamer can get somewhere in life... my imagination helps me be creative.

I am proof that you aren't a loser or drop out, until you quit... I haven't taken a college class in years, but haven't dropped out or quit my goal of graduating college.

I am proof that good things come to those who wait... I heard big, frizzy hair is coming back in style.

I am proof that you really be what you want to be even when others say you can't... Look at me now.  I am an artist and NOT starving!

I am proof that slow and steady wins the race... it may have taken me a while to get here, but here I am. Winning!

I am proof that depression does not have to be depressing... I laugh more than I cry.

I am proof that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree... I believe in fighting for what is right, like my father.

I am proof that you don't always have to know what you are doing to do it well... my children didn't come with a manual.

I am proof that a sinner will not catch the church roof on fire... our church ceiling may leak at times, but I am pretty sure it has been fire free.

I am proof that GOD doesn't love me any less because I did not know Him personally sooner... He blesses me everyday.

I am proof that a lot of wrong turns can still take you to the right place... I may not being exactly where I am going, but I know I am in a great place.

Front Porch Spring Makeover : Work in Progress

Although I am not completely done sprucing up my front porch for spring, I made a nice size dent in it today and I am feeling accomplished.

I finished up my new wreath... which was a bit of a challenge for me.  I wanted a bright wreath but with a black base. I really wasn't quite sure what I was doing and kind of let it "blossom" on it's own.  I bought the blank wreath from the Dollar Tree... for a dollar! I spray painted it black and added a bow from the burlap "ribbon" I bought for 50% off.  I love a good deal.  The sunflowers came from a spring collection bushel and was also 40% off.  I added the violet accents which were left overs from my fall wreath a few years ago.  All together, the wreath cost me less than $10 to make.  I know I need to add a little more pizazz but I think it is definitely good for now.

I added a new "Welcome" decal to the front door also... it seemed so bare without it.  Not to mention, quite a few people commented on the lack of "decalage" (<-- just made that word up) on my door.  

I finally hung up the wooden sign I made from my awesome Goodwill sign.  I found the sign for only $3... but wait, it gets better... it was 50% off... so only $1.50!!

I sanded it down as best as I could... the hardest part of the entire project because the lettering did not want to come off.  Then I painted it black.

 

 I made the vinyl lettering using and adhered it to the board...

...and then sealed out so it can withhold to the outdoor elements.

I am really loving the final product of the sign and love seeing it hanging there when I walk up tot he house.  Sometimes the littlest things in life really can make us the happiest...

What I Do : SBA / WAHM

I have seen these "What I Do" posters all over the net this past week but haven't seen come across with a WAHM or that really fits me... so I made my own!

Yes... I think it fits me quite well!

{Faithfully Fit} My 1st 5k

One of my goals for my "new" {Faithfully Fit} life was to participate in my 1st 5k... however, it has been a LONG time goal of mine to do a 5k with my son, which is why being {Faithfully Fit} became so important to me.

This past Saturday (February 4th, 2012) I was able to cross that goal off of my list.  My son and I participated in the Step Up 5k... together.  Well, same run... he just finished WAY before me.

It was so nice to be greeted at the run by one of my favorite cheerleaders... Robin! She wasn't able to run but waited for me at the finish line. She rocks!

 (The two of us before the start)

Robin's husband Juan also ran and we got to all keep each other company before the start of the race.  When it got close to time to begin, Juan and Isaac got a good spot towards the front, while I headed towards the tail end with our friend Beth who was running with her son.  A few minutes after the race kicked off, I started to mess with my phone to get my music playing.  I looked up and Beth and her some were GONE! I spent the entire run trying to catch up with them... only to find out after it was over that I was ahead of them. 

When I was just past the 1st mile marker, Isaac was already on his way back (so near his 3rd mile marker).

As he ran past, I got to tell him, "Love you!" and he shot me a peace sign as he said, "Love you too!"  

 

Awesome Robin cheered us both on as we approached the finished line and grabbed a picture of both of us.

The two of us after the race!  I think it was a lot of fun... and now I have a time to work on beating.

PS... I am very proud to report that Isaac came in 20th of 251 in his age group with a time of 26 minutes.

{Faithfully Fit} The beginning...

There is a song by Lincoln Brewster, Today Is The Day, where one of the verses goes, "Today is the day You have made I will rejoice and be glad in it." I love that line and I have been working towards taking that same concept into every aspect of my life... even my body.  

This is my body, you (and I) have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it! 

Because I am small framed, most people do not think nor believe that I face body image and health / weight issues. But I do.  Many cannot tell by looking at me, but within the last year I have gained 4+ pant sizes.  I say 4+ because after growing out of that 4th size up, I decided to not buy any more jeans the next size up and instead to just keep my zipper unbuttoned and use a maternity Bella band.  Yup... that's me!

I made a choice to work towards making myself healthy again and give up the maternity clothing help... especially since my youngest will be 3 soon and I cannot use "baby fat" as an excuse anymore.  

Here I am, exposing my bodily truths to who knows who... maybe this will help me stay motivated.  Someone may actually be reading this and the change I make may just help them to make their own.  

I started a new Facebook page, Faithfully Fit, to kind of track my progress, allow others to post their own and to just add things that may help me (and you) with the much needed motivational side of staying fit.  After all, it is our responsibility:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Are You Smarterer?

I recently found out about this site, Smarterer.com thanks to Bzzagent.com where you can test your knowledge of different social media and other social websites:

 

• Blogger test
• Facebook test
• Flickr test
• Twitter test
• WordPress test
• Tumblr Test
• And many more!

I thought I was going to ACE them all but I was so wrong.  I did however learn a lot since it lets you know the correct answers after getting them wrong.

Check it out and let me know how you did.

Is this a sign?

My husband and I have been researching playgrounds for our daughter who will be turning 3 years old in a few months.  With finances being kind of tight and our son now needing braces, I was hoping to find a really good deal on one.  Today I went online to check out Backyard Discovery and BAM! They are hosting a giveaway for one... this just may be our lucky day! Wish us luck!

http://www.swingsetsonline.com/backyard-ideas/backyard-blog/playsets/January%202012/Double_the_Prize_Double_the_Fun_Sweepstakes

{Review} Ode to Purex Free & Clear

Every now and then, I get to sample some new and great product Purex makes as a part of being one of their Purex Insiders.  For me, this is great because I often miss new laundry products when I get caught up into the motion of always buying the same one.  Recently I was sent two Purex products to test.  

The first was the new UltraPacks™ detergent coming out February 2012.  As a mother of a teenage boy who does is own laundry, I must say, this may just be one of their best products to hit the shelf (next month when it hits the shelf).  They were beyond easy to use... all he had to do was start the water, throw one in and add his clothes.  No measuring, No nothing!  

What are Purex® UltraPacks™?
• New Purex UltraPacks are convenient pre-dosed liquid detergent packs that make doing laundry easier than ever.
• Purex UltraPacks manage to squeeze all the performance of our new Triple Action liquid formula into just one powerful pack.
• Finally…No more mess. No more spills. No more heavy jugs. It’s Laundry Simplified.®
• Each Purex UltraPack contains powerful 2x concentrated liquid detergent, giving each UltraPack double
the cleaning power in every drop*.
• Purex UltraPacks dissolve quickly once the washer is started—even in cold water.
• Purex UltraPacks are formulated and safe for all machines, including high-efficiency (HE).

Easy Peasy!!!

Next I got to test a new Triple Action formula Purex.  I have sensitive skin so I requested the Free & Clear formula.  It worked so well on my clothing with my not getting any irritations that I went ahead and washed all of my bed linens with it... and as I was hoping, no skin irritations.  This does not happen often with me so I am extremely pleased with the product.  Not to mention, it still had that "clean" feel even though there were no scents... that's how you know it was just really clean!