Cleanse Update

Well is it a BEAUTIFUL day here in MN/WI! The sun is out and the temp should be in the 70’s today, and it is still March (well barely)!

A while ago I had posted about me cleansing and I said I would post a follow up and I never did that. I thought I would do that today.

I did a 2 week cleanse, I think the better word for that would be Detoxification though. Adam got me this 2 week cleanse system. I was able to eat normally through the process, which was nice. I say that the system should have been called detoxification because that is essentially what it did…it just got rid of all the grime built up in my body (for lack of a better way to say it). You know how after you get a massage, it moves toxins out of your body (or so I have been told) well that is what this did….and that is how I felt for about 2 weeks. I was achy and sore.

The cleanse in conjunction with my weight watchers was a good combination though, it facilitated me losing a couple extra pounds, which is always a perk.
Would I do it again? I probably would, maybe once a year. It was a lot of pills and I am not a very good pill taker. Would I recommend this? I would as long as it was in conjunction with either a diet or if you are trying to start to eat healthier. Of course I am sure there are benefits for others that don’t fall into that category and I am by no means a professional in this realm.
Here is the link to the cleanse I took…if you are interested let me know, Adam can get you some.

http://www.integrativeinc.com/Products/Detox-and-Cleansing/Whole-Body-Cleanse/78450-Whole-Body-Integrative-Cleansing-System.aspx

Also, I wanted to give you a little weight loss update. My goal was to lose 27 pounds and I am currently at 24 pounds! I have about 3 more to go! YEAH! I am not in all my clothes from even before I had Chloe which is a fabulous feeling. Last night I went through all my clothes and tried on a bunch, it felt SO great! Now soon, I will have to learn to maintain my weight. Maintaining weight is where my challenge will REALLY begin. I have been kicking around the idea of becoming a Weight Watchers Leader, just to keep myself accountable and to try something new. It would put my Toastmasters skills to work! We’ll see if that develops into anything.

Cheers, Beth

Garden Fashionista

I just HAD to post this! With all my excitement to start my garden I loved this picture, in general I love this artist!



Specifically I love the fact that she is gardening in heals...I would SO be the one to do that. Just like I used to be the one who would rescue pit bulls in my stiletto's, that was always a running joke.

Ok, so I really would not garden in heals for real, but I did rescue pits in heals....mainly because I had to do it over my lunch break at work so it was by default. Nevertheless, those who know me, also know it is a rare sight to see me in anything less than a 4 inch heal.

Here is a link to the artist:
http://www.magnetreps.com/portfolio/artist/2/type/a/

Cheers,
Beth

If You’re not growing, You’re Dyeing

I am a firm believer in self improvement and in volunteerism. The best way to feel better about you is to give to others. Like the title says, if you’re not growing, you’re dying.

After my 6 year dedication to A Rotta Love (www.arottalove.org) I have been involved in a couple different endeavors. I now volunteer in our church nursery once a month, I was part of our local Toastmasters group in Hudson called Rise ‘n’ Shine, and have also been volunteering at Pine Lake Pastures for their Horseback Therapy Program.

I was involved in Toastmasters for a little over a year and I really enjoyed it, I was the VP of Public Relations and I liked the job very much. As the name implies, Rise’n’ Shine, we started early and it became increasingly difficult to get to the meetings and juggle the kids. I didn’t reinstate my membership this spring. I like Toastmasters, it is great organization and helps teach speaking, time management, and leadership skills.

I have greatly enjoyed volunteering in the Church nursery. I have felt more connected to the church and have met new people. Serving feels GOOD! It is neat to watch the little ones grow!

Pine Lake pastures, therapy riding program has been a lot of fun. I grew up with horses so I feel like I am connecting with my roots and passions but I am helping the farm with their mission, the riding benefits all these kids we serve, and it is a ministry to the parents too. This is a free program so many people who can’t afford other therapies can go here and reap many benefits!

I encourage you to find different opportunities to serve and give back. Even as a parent who works full time, finding the time to give back and connect with the different interests I have is a very liberating feeling. I used the KTIS site, I can Help Twin Cities . com to help me find the Pine Lake Pastures volunteer opportunity.

Here is a link to the places I mentioned in this post:

www.arottalove.org
http://www.pinelakepastures.com/
http://www.hudsontoastmasters.com/
http://www.fiveoakschurch.org/index.php?pageType=main&pageID=148
www.icanhelptwincities.com

Cheers, Beth

My Garden Plans

So...I have my seeds purchased and my garden plans made. I have narrowed down what I will be planting, where the garden will go and what items will go where.


This will be a first attempt for me, I will learn a lot this year but I am SO excited to get started. I am just waiting for the end of April so I can start planting.

Here is a picture of my seeds, there are a few things I am going to buy as starter plants like Tomato's and Peppers. The Mint and Chives I am going to get from my dad. The strawberries and raspberries I am going to hopefully get from some good friends of ours. I bought the seeds for this white pumpkins, I am going to plant those separately. I am SO excited to see how those turn out!



Wish me luck, and if you have any gardening tips, I'd LOVE to hear them!

Cheers, Beth

Our New patio Furniture

Good news, my camera started working! I think that I just have a touchy camera, maybe not broken...but unpredictable.

Here is a pictures of our new patio set. I am excited to have dinner on the deck this summer. I REALLY like this set, we got a great price. I was a little disapointed that the old owner never brought the set indoors during our tough WI/ MN winters so there are a few places where the paint is flaking off.



I found this set on Craig's List. What a great site that is! I love it!

We had a bonfire last night, first one of the year. I was nice to spend the day with family yesterday, and today too.

Cheers,
Beth

This n' That

Hello all...

I have to share with you that I am so sad that my camera has not been working. I have always loved to post pictures, I think it makes reading a blog more interesting. Hopefully soon I will be back to posting pictures again!

Last weekend I re-arranged Chloe's bedroom and I am SO happy with how it turned out! I wish I could post pictures of it for you.

Adam and I have been looking for a patio set and I was so excited that this week I found a patio set online on Craigs List and sent it to Adam... As I type this I am looking out our patio door at our new patio set! I can't WAIT to get some use out of it this summer! Another thing I'd like to post pictures of.

This weekend we are getting a LOT of yard work done. I am SO excited. Adam's parents are coming over and helping and then staying for dinner. I love spending time with family! On Sunday my brother and Kara (who is expecting) are coming over for dinner and to skim coat Chloe's bedroom as well! I am SO excited to get that done...I ruined her wall when I tore off the wooden frames that the previous owner had glued on the wall.

Lots going on, it should be a great weekend!!!!

Cheers,
Beth

Swimming with ideas

Do you ever have those days where your mind is just FULL of all the things you want to do? Today I am having one of those days…

I can’t stop making diagrams of how my garden will look…I think I have settled on one design finally though.

I can’t stop planning what flowers I want to put where outside the house

I am SO excited to try this new recipe to start making my own lotion

I have a TON of sewing projects that I want to work on, a dress for me and Chloe and a comforter for Chloe

I am thinking I want to re-do Chloe’s room again so I am plotting out those ideas…

I want to get the inside of our house re-painted

I want to get some major spring cleaning done…

I just can’t seem to turn off my mind. What I need to do is write it all down and prioritize so my ideas turn into reality! Wish I could find a way to farm out the kids for a weekend to get things done!

Ahhh, to be a dreamer.
Cheers,
Beth

My First Veggie Garden

Well, today I started planning my new veggie garden! I am really excited to get started. I have a list of what I am going to start with as well as which plants I need to "pre-plant" and which ones are best planted straight into the ground. I have also plotted out my garden spot at home!

I will be planting Beans, Peas, Peppers, Tomatos, Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Cilantro, Chives, Parsley, and Dill.

My dad and I are going to take a trip to gather the seeds and also are going to set up my little garden area with t-posts and wire. My dad is also going to help me by tilling up the soil in the 10x10 area I chose! I am so excited!

First things first, what I need to do now is start composting so when it is time to till and plant, by the end of April, we will be good to go!

I will take pictures and post them as I move along. I am SO excited!

Cheers,
Beth

Update on my New Years Goals

I am really excited so I had to share that I have now lost 20 pounds! One more pound and I get my 'skinny jeans' that I have been wanting!

I have 8 more pounds to go! But now I am down to single digits to lose and I could not be happier! I will be VERY close to my goal by my birthday. 4 weeks to my birthday and even if I lose as little as a pound a week, I will be within 4 pounds of my goal.

I have been working hard to find time to exercise, which can be difficult. Right now that will be key to me reaching my goal.

Just had to share!

Cheers,
Beth

A Mothers Panic

This weekend, Adam and I packed food with Feed My Starving Children. It was a great time and by the end of our session we had all packed enough meals to feed 73 children for a year! That was awesome!

Here is where my panic began…

I went to pick up Chloe from the Sunday school – Preschool room. I get there and ask for Chloe, “No Chloe here” is what I was told, try the next room. I go to the next room, thinking the kids in there look a little old….”no Chloe here” is what they told me.

I go look around (we were on another church campus so I didn’t know my way around very well) to see if there are other classes…there are none. I go back to the preschool room, I ask again “are you sure there is no Chloe here” she says no again. She asks me to tell her what Chloe was wearing.

This is when I start to feel the surreal feeling of “this is not happening” I felt like I was having an out of body experience. “She is wearing a jean jumper with pink tights and a patterned turtleneck with a blue background, brown mary-jane shoes…she has curly hair.”

Well, let’s look in the nursery said the preschool teacher… I am walking and I am sure I have the look of utter terror at this point.

We get to the nursery, and there is no Chloe. I yell for Adam who was picking up Evan in the nursery, he didn’t hear me.

At this point the preschool teacher turns around and announces that we have a “missing child”….and then the teacher starts to panic. I find myself telling her “If we don’t stay calm, we will not be effective” while I am choking back tears.

At this point others are catching on there is a problem and they are dividing and searching for Chloe. I walk back into the classroom, to look better….

As I walk in the classroom I look to my left and there is Chloe sitting in the corner playing leggo’s, completely oblivious to the fact that anyone was looking for her. She saw me and ran to me “mommy, look what I made you.” I have NEVER been so happy to see her!

I know that the preschool teacher felt horrible, I was not angry with her. However, I have never experienced panic to that degree in my life. The rest of the day I kept thinking of all the mothers who didn’t have that happy ending…. It makes me sick to think of.

Give your babies extra kisses and hugs, and in those times when you have had it up to your eye balls, think about if you didn’t have them!

Cheers,
Beth

Friendships

One of my prayers as of late is that God will bring the right friends in my life to encourage me in my faith, hold me accountable, and people that can relate deeply to me as a person and to my interests.

As I have read the Bible on this, one thing that has become very clear to me is how important your friendship choices are! I have always said to people that every friendship I have reflects a little part of who I am. I believe this to be true…but what if…the little part of you are that is reflected in your friend is not something you want to be brought out!

Proverbs 22:24-25 NIV
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared

This is something that I have dealt with in the past. People whom I have really hit it off well with but brought out a part of me that was ugly, short tempered, demanding, and hurtful. The season of those friendships has changed. I sigh in relief for that.

As I have been praying, some of the scriptures that have really stuck out to me are as follows:

Proverbs17:17 NIV
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

I love this verse because it tells me that you can love each other through hard times in a friendship and that friendships can grow deeper roots through adversity!

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
Proverbs 27:6, NIV

This speaks to me. Honesty is important to me, and can be hard to tell people. I personally would rather have someone be honest with me out of love and have something sting a little than have someone give me lip service or lie and be hurt later on by feeling betrayed or misled.

Proverbs 13:20 NIV
He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harms.

Gosh, how true is this!

I wish you all the best in your friendship endeavors, new and old…may they all bring out the very best in who you are!

Cheers,
Beth