New Adventures

Last summer we moved out to a beautiful 14 acre house in the middle of nowhere. This has always been our dream and for us to be able to achieve this dream years before we thought possible, is so exiting and humbling. Both my husband and I knew we wanted our kids to have a childhood like we did, with room to explore and discover.

With this new move has come new adventures. We are in the process of making this a nice little hobby farm that's inviting to family and friends as well as giving us space for things we need. We are starting small, or so I thought, with just chickens and gardens. My husband in his usual fashion went a little bigger then I had planned with 3 gardens. One is all fruit that was already on the property, a garden in the middle of the pasture for corn and vines, and another large garden with everything else. Although we often joke that we're going off the grid, our hope is that we will be able to use a land for our needs.

My idea of needs are more in the what kind of animals can we get that will feed us and large gardens and orchards. My husband is more in the frame of mind of what can I build. His mind is always going and that means something fun and interesting is going to come out in the end.

One thing I've felt God laid on my heart since the day we moved in, was that our home should be a place others feel welcome. We've already hosted events and opened up our home to new friends and old. Our place can become a ministry if we let it and with all the blessings God has given us, it can be a ministry both Sam and I can be apart of.

So what new adventures have we taken on this past year? Well we have a 100 feet slip n slide, 3 gardens, 6 cats and counting, 10 chickens, and a love for four-wheeling the trails through our woods. We hosted a camp out, a slip n slide party, and several one on one with friends.

My husband still has plans for a go-cart track and I have a desire to try out goats. What will this next year bring? Who knows. God can bring lots of interesting things our way.

My Weight Loss Journey

I've tried before to lose weight with some success. I've counted calories and tried diet food and like most diets, it just didn't work. I'd lose a few pounds and then nothing. It was work and I was eating almost nothing. I was tired and miserable and HUNGRY!

I've started a new journey and whether I lose 2 pounds or 20, I feel good about what I am doing. A fellow mom I've gotten to know a bit over the past few years through our daughters, posted on Facebook one day about her struggle with weight. For some reason I had completely forgot that she is a trainer and the fact that she's struggled since her last baby has finally given me hope. I'm not alone in this.

I've spent most of my adult years fearing being overweight. One side of my family has many overweight aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and my mom. I've seen them all struggle, especially my mom, and I never wanted to have to deal with the ups and downs she has. I don't yo-yo as much as some but the fear of gaining too much weight brings me to a fear of eating. Where some eat when stressed, I don't and that's not any healthier.

I know it's going to be a lifelong struggle, as lifestyle changes aren't very easy. I just need to take things one day at a time and make small changes. So what kind of changes am I going to make?

1. My goal is to exercise 5 days a week
2. Use the group I'm in to feel encouraged and not alone
3. Make better choices when we eat out even if it costs more (we are a dollar menu type family)
4. Skip the chips at potlucks and grab a bunch of veggies and fruit
5. Replace as much white processed food items with whole grains and sprouted bread
6. Meal plan every meal and figure out when best to eat which food groups
7. When I'm not feeling hungry but haven't eaten much, give myself a Shakeology

These are all a work in progress but I feel like even these small changes are worth making. I may eat more calories then I should from time to time but if at home I can maintain or lose weight by making healthy choices, I am victorious.

So where did I start? One year ago I was 160 lbs. At 5 feet tall, that puts me in the severely overweight category. Where do I want to be? If I can get to 120, eat healthy, and exercise regularly, I'll be at a place where I can maintain. Where am I now? I can't weigh myself daily or I get obsessed, but about 3 weeks ago I was at 148. The most exciting thing wasn't the two pounds I lost in a month but instead the inches. I lost 8.5 inches! Half was in my waist and hips. It may be slow but as long as it's going somewhere positive, I'm all in. 

I have to do this for me and my family, not the fear that's been chasing me my entire adult life.

Adore Me Review

About a year ago I started hearing about another subscription company called Adore Me. It seemed like an okay company but I knew I could get my bras for less at Victoria Secret during their Semi Annual Sale. I was fine with VS at that point in time.

Lately, I have not liked the bras from VS and I've had a hard time finding ones that fit well. On top of it all, I've been hearing that deals from VS are slowing going to be disappearing due to the fact that the company hasn't been doing to well lately.

This has brought me back to Adore Me. After looking through not only the options, but also the perks of becoming a VIP, I felt like it's a good option for me to try out.

So what are the perks you get with the VIP status?

• You will have a showroom of new collections that will be in your size every month. (You don't have to purchase from here)
• Buy 5, get 1 Free
• Free Shipping and Exchanges
• You can purchase a bra/panty set every month for $39.95. Don't want to shop, just skip that month. Forget to skip and didn't order? Just request a refund or use the credit.
• Going on vacation, skip 2 months and don't worry about it

So far they seem very flexible and user friendly. I have the app downloaded on my android device, making shopping even easier.

There are constant deals going on. I just purchased 2 new swimsuits because they were Buy 1, Get 1. Currently they have a FREE gift with a $65 purchase. They also have panty deals. Right now they have 5 for $20.

I love the first set I purchased which was a T-shirt bra. It is far more comfortable then the ones I've purchased from VS. The underwear is so comfortable. I feel like the prices are competitive with quality bras found in places that will actually measure you.

If you decide to check out Adore Me, Click here to get your first set for $24.95! (Note this is also and affiliate link)