5 Tips to a Better Body After Babies!

Kids are not an excuse to let yourself go moms, they are all the more reason to keep yourself healthy! God gave us one body to live our whole life in, we have to take care of it! Here are some tips to getting a smokin' hot bod, even with a bunch of babies around!

1. Find a work out buddy. Recently I have been doing my work outs with my best friend. We don't let each other slack and it forces me to do it even when I don't feel like it!

2. Change it up. If you don't like something, don't do it forever. When I was trying to lose weight I ran. Once I got to my goal, I changed it up and now I do less cardio and lots more muscle building stuff. If you get bored, do something different! Try and stick to one thing for at least 30 days.

3. Abs are made in the kitchen, people! If you want a flat tummy you can't eat garbage. If you want a smaller waist, you can't eat junk. I don't care how many crunches you are doing, it won't help. Cut out the gluten and sugar, increase green foods and you will be amazed.

4. Make time. You must make yourself a priority, if you don't everyone will suffer. My husband always jokes that mama needs to be happy or nobody is.... and it's true! Exercise helps elevate your mood, gives you energy, and adds confidence. In turn everyone in the house will benefit. Whether you do a work out video while they are napping, or go for a run when hubby gets home.. Make it happen.

5. Chart your progress. Whether you are weighing in once a week, measuring inches, or taking before and after pics, you need to be able to see progress to keep you motivated. Pick one day a week to chart your progress and make it as much of a priority as the exercise itself, I promise you won't regret it!


Have fun and as always I would love to hear your results! XXOO

Relationship Detox!

Lately I have really been realizing the importance of surrounding yourself with the right kind of people. I understand now more than ever that if you want to have a happy life you must surround yourself with people who inspire and uplift you. Ask yourself, what kind of person do you want to be?

I don't know about you, but I want to be happy! Happy is not just an emotion, it is a state of being. A happy person is not swayed by bad circumstances. We all have hard times, it is part of life, but the kind of person I aspire to be is happy no matter what life throws their way! Most people live their life based off circumstances, but God calls us to be be happy all of the time.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1Thessalonians 5:16-19

If you are going to become the person who can genuinely be thankful in all circumstances, then you must surround yourself with people who are going to help you do that. Ask yourself, after you spend time with any specific person, how do you feel? Do you feel anxious? Maybe they make you worry? Do you feel depressed? These are some warning signs to a toxic relationship. I have had many experiences with people like this, and it doesn't mean you need to cut them off completely (it might) but it does mean you need to cut the amount of time you spend with them down to a bare minimum.

Surround yourself with people who inspire you to be great. For example, one thing I want in my life is to have a strong, healthy, and happy marriage. That means I don't take advice from people whose marriages are NOT all of that stuff. I look for marriage advice from Godly couples who have strong, healthy marriages. Our marriage continues to grow and get stronger every day and I am convinced that it is because we have found, and continue to find people who have been down our same road. Marriage is hard work, don't make it harder by surrounding yourself with people who aren't happy in theirs!

Another example, who is your best friend? Does your best friend see life with a positive outlook or do they continually focus on the negative? Do they inspire you to be a better wife, mommy, and woman in general? Mine does! I will say hands down she is a better mom than I am!! Her house is always clean, she is very organized and her kids always look magazine ready. She inspires me to be better. I can say because of her, I am better.

The right people in your life will make all the difference in the world. Cut out the negative relationships and find people who inspire you to be better. If they don't build you up, and help you when you are feeling down it is time to go!

Please feel free to share your experiences with me! I love to hear from YOU my friends!!!!! XXOO

6 People I Don't Want Parenting Advice From

If you are a young mom chances are that you constantly have people giving you advice that you didn't ask for. Even better are the ones who give looks of disgust about the way you are raising your kids..  Do what you want with your kids people, but leave me alone with mine...

For laughs I came up with a list of people whom I don't need unsolicited advice from.

1. People with no kids... Yup, this is my favorite. I don't care how many kids you were a nanny for, if you have a freaking doctorate in child psychology, or are the best aunt in the world. If you don't have children of your own, you have no idea. It is something you must experience first hand.

2. People with one kid.. My husband and I have a combined total of 3 kids. Your advice won't help me.

3. People who put their kid in daycare... Sorry people, you can't compare a stay at home mom to a working mom. One stays all day with a bunch of rugrats constantly demanding something, and one goes to work where chances are they do a job, get a lunch break, go to the bathroom alone, and have adult interaction. Yes, my 9 month old is attached to me at the hip. Yes, he cries at strangers holding him. No, there is nothing weird about it, he is not "clingy" or socially awkward, he is a BABY who wants his MOM! So wipe that smug look off your face, lady.

4. People who formula feed. Again, I have nothing in common with your way of parenting because I see formula as toxic trash. Enough said.

5. People who vaccinate. Did you know that statistically the people with higher levels of college education don't vaccinate? Yes, true story. The more educated people are the less likely they will vaccinate their children. I research EVERYTHING when it comes to my kids, if you don't do the same then I don't really care to hear your opinion.

6. People who put their kid in public school. Schools in this state are horrible, the Common Core curriculum is disgusting and evil and if you don't even know what it is, and have a child in public school I suggest you look into it. There are other options besides homeschooling people, do your research.

It's is pretty simple, if somebody isn't asking for your advice don't give it to them, instead rant about it on your own blog like I just did ;) hehe <3

Rise before my little sunshines

A couple posts ago I talked about the Proverbs 31 woman and all the qualities that she possesses. One of the things the passage talks about is how she gets up while it is still dark. I know, I know, sounds miserable, but don't get mad at me I didn't write it!

15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.

Proverbs 31:15

In an effort to become like this woman my new goal, through the end of this year, is to get up consistently at 7am every morning. I know that doesn't sound early to most, but if you have a nursing baby, then you know getting up that extra half hour earlier is a sacrifice! I will definitely need the grace of God to have the discipline!

Anyone who knows me knows I don't like mornings. Don't even try talking to me until I have had BOTH shots of espresso. However, I have been feeling like this is something I need to do. Most of the time the two littlest are still sleeping until 7:30 so this will give me a chance to have my coffee, get breakfast ready, do my work outs, or a little reading/prayer time. Starting the day with peace and quiet... yes please!

Why am I blogging about this? Well, I need accountability and if I blog it, then I am going to have to do it! I also look forward to seeing the fruit in our lives that doing this will produce! Try it with me ladies, and check off one of your Proverbs 31 woman qualities!

*Yawn* off to bed with me!

Fake it til you make it!

Would you consider yourself a happy person? When you lay in bed at night what are you thinking about? Do you let circumstances in your life decide what level of happiness you are at for the day?

As someone who used to be happy depending on circumstance, let me give you a few tips on how to be happy no matter what you go through.

I have realized that being happy is almost always dependent on your thoughts. If your thoughts are negative, your life will suck. Sorry, but its true. This is something that takes a lot of discipline to change, especially if you tend to be a negative person.

Here is the thing, most negative people don't think they are negative. I always thought I was a positive person, but let me give you an example of how I was letting negativity rule in my life.

My husband is a firefighter. One of the sacrifices I make to be married to that handsome hunk is the insane schedule. He works 24 hour shifts every third day, and if he works overtime he is gone for 48 hours straight. I will tell you right now that after being married for 4 years next month, I have yet to get used to this schedule. It gets lonely, and it is sometimes hard to deal with our kids all by myself for that amount of time, but I have learned to be happy despite all that.

Before, I would often get in a feeling sorry for myself type mood and text my husband some sad little message about how I was feeling. Misery bred more misery and I would even get depressed sometimes. Don't get me wrong, it's ok to feel bummed once in a while, but making it a habit is what gets you in trouble.

I read Joyce Myers, Battlefield of the Mind, and let me tell you that book changed my thinking completely. Now instead of sending a little pity party message to my husband about how unfair my life is that he is gone and I am all alone, I send a positive and uplifting message about how thankful I am that he works so hard to take care of us and how much I miss him.I had to fake it til I made it because I didn't really *feel* thankful towards him the first few times I sent that type of text, but I knew that I *should* be thankful, so I did it anyway.

 Let me tell you, since I have made a habit out of doing that instead of a sad message, I can truly say, I rarely ever have moments where I feel down anymore. I am genuinely more thankful and happy in my life than I have ever been.

The first few times I did this, I didn't really feel a change, but when I made the decision to never go back to that poor me mentality, not only did my attitude change, but my marriage has gotten stronger, and we have been blessed in so many ways I can't even name them all.

Give it a try! Replace your negative words with positive ones and give God the chance to do what he wants to do in your life! I would love to hear about your success :) xxoo

If she can do it, why can't I?

If you grew up in church, or even if you didn't you have probably heard people reference the Proverbs 31 woman. Whether you know about her or not I just want to provide a fresh perspective on who she is....

The Proverbs 31 woman is what every Christian woman strives to become. She is the goal, the role model that every little girl should have.

I have noticed a lot of blogs and articles lately that make light out of being a "less than perfect mom" and give any woman every excuse in the book not to strive for excellence. I can't stand them. As a mom, step mom, and wife I know that I am FAR from perfect, but I will never change my standards. My goal is the Proverbs 31 woman, not some overweight, lazy mom who makes a living off writing "full of excuse" blogs that make you laugh once or twice, but leave no lasting effect on your thinking.

I posted the Proverbs 31 passage on the bottom of this blog to reference, but here is my break down...

A virtuous wife, worth more than rubies... is someone who her husband can trust, she gives him everything he needs, he is satisfied. She works hard, she carefully selects her food, and prepares it for her family. She has people that work for her, she is good to them. She is a business woman, she makes her own money. She is strong and fit.

She stays up late working, she is a giver. She helps those in need. She is fearless. She takes care of herself, and dresses in beautiful clothes. Her husband is respected, not just by her, but by everyone. She is strong, honorable and faithful. She is wise, she knows when to shut her mouth and when to speak, her words are uplifting and fruitful and kind. She watches over her household, nothing gets past her, she strives to continuously make it better. Her children and husband appreciate her. Most importantly her God is first.

She is fruitful in all she does.

God loves excellence, look at his creation! Why do we set the bar so low? No woman on the planet is perfect, but if we measure by other women then we are doomed! The perfect woman is mapped out for us, and if she can do it, why can't we?! Lets raise our standards, ladies! Become the woman God intended you to be and stop making excuses!

I will be further breaking down particular verses in this passage in very near future posts, so follow my blog if you would like to read along!

XXOO

The Virtuous Wife

10 Who[b] can find a virtuous[c] wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
15 She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
25 Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

Somebody pinch me

I usually don't get too personal with my blog posts, but I am very excited about this next season in my life so I have to share...

The last few years have been different for me. I quit my very secure, well paying job to have babies and stay home with them, which has been great. I love that I don't have to drop them off at daycare and leave them all day. I love that they spend every waking moment with me. I love my babies so much. However, it is very strange for me because I have always been very independent and don't like to rely on anyone for anything.

I have been forced in the last few years to completely rely on my husband and his income, and I am not going to lie, that was really tough for me in the beginning. I have learned a lot about myself in the process and we have been through ups and downs financially, but in the end we always made it work.

Two weeks ago I decided to contact a private school near by and see if they needed a dance teacher. It was a shot in the dark because I had no indication that they would want to start a dance program and even if they did, they probably had someone lined up, but I felt I needed to give it a try. Long story short, they hired me. 

It was so simple. It was so meant to be. The bible says that God will give you the desires of your heart, but I didn't even realize what my desires were! Apparently He knows me better than I know myself. Dance has been a passion of mine since I was a very little girl, but has also been something I had put on hold for the last few years. Teaching other children to do something I am passionate about, so far, is an absolute blast.

Now I am not only doing something I love, but I still get to spend time with my babies and my husband, who just so happened to sell his business the week before I got this job. He will now be able to stay home with them while I am working part time. The timing is perfect. 

After the principal hired me, I definitely had a pinch me moment. I knew that it was a blessing from God both for me and for them. There is something so amazing about knowing you are right where you are supposed to be. While I have had moments of such happiness in my life, I have never felt so content in every area. I can't wait to see where this road leads and what new and exciting things are up ahead!

xxoo