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Beauty… My Word for 2014

January 7, 2014

Images Via: Simply Happenstance Blog

 :: Beauty… My Word for 2014 ::

With the beginning of 2014, I’ve noticed that several of my favorite blogs have posted their “best of 2013,” a look back in photographs, or a roundup of their top-rated recipes. A few have even chosen a single word to represent the New Year… a simple reminder of their personal goals for 2014. I loved this idea, so I decided to do the same.

Images via: Simply Happenstance BlogLooking back at 2013, I’d have to say that my word was TRUST. It was a big year for my family. Exactly a year ago marked our trip to Mammoth Lakes in California… which changed everything. It got us thinking… and talking… about our lives, our goals for our family, what we valued, and what our hopes were for our sweet four. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Family, Simply Obsessed

{weekend} lovelies

April 27, 2013

Weekend Lovelies is here… and it’s all about  l o v e {which I guess is what it’s usually about}! Love & support for Boston, love for yourself, a little fashion, parenting advice for raising well-rounded kids, and a few sweet treats you can make in a single-serving {less guilt that way}! 

Hope you all have some fun plans over the weekend! What are you up to? Husby and I are off on a little roadtrip with the littles… in our quest for the simple life! Wish us luck! God willing… big changes ahead {wink, wink}!

Have a lovely weekend! {xo}

 

{Behind the Cover // Boston Magazine}

The cover of the May issue of the Boston Magazine features 120 running shoes, all worn in the recent Boston Marathon. It is shaped in a heart and the headline reads, “We Will Finish the Race.” John Wolfson, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, said that the idea behind the photo was to honor the bombing victims and the entire city for its response to the tragedy. He stated that “Every single shoe contributed a tiny bit to the overall effect, but collectively, you have something powerful.”

We happen to love the spirit of this photo. We are all standing behind Boston…

Visit The One Fund Boston to make a donation to help the victims {and their families} affected by the tragic events that occurred at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. 

 

 

 

{Real Beauty Sketches // Dove}

This has been floating around the web all week… and we really do love it. We all need to focus on loving ourselves… and perhaps seeing ourselves from other people’s perspectives. I, for one, am guilty of this… I thought it was beautifully portrayed and a real eye-opener.  

 

 

 

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Lovelies

Small Changes Equal Big Results

January 21, 2013

“One small change can lead to another,

forming a spiral of success.”

Leo Babauta {Zen Habits}

 

I have a confession to make…

I am a chubby vegan.

Okay, just kidding!

I’m not 100% vegan anymore,

but I do try to eat as vegan as possible when home.

Who would have thought you could cut out all meat, eggs and dairy and still have weight issues?

Hmm…

guess what?

That’s me!

Yes, I LOVE vegetables…

I LOVE  lentils,

I LOVE beans…

I like fruit….

but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE sweets!!

I LOVE Starbucks,

I LOVE cookies and cake and brownies…

Eating sweets have become my vice.

We all have one, right?!!

I have had four kids.

I have never struggled with my weight like this until after baby #4

{although mr. amazing was worth every extra pound – wink, wink}!  

Something tells me that it’s just this vicious cycle

in my life right now of being stressed out

{just like all mothers are}

and not finding enough time in the day to make myself a decent healthy meal,

but instead feeding my body with leftover bits of food on the kids plates…

or worse yet…

going through much of the day on a cup of coffee and not much else.

3 p.m. rolls around and I am ravenous…

therefore gorging on whatever food I can get my hands on

to banish the shakiness that comes from low-blood sugar.

I also tend to go to bed really late.

I love that mommy time when the kids go to bed and the house is finally quiet.

I either work on our blog,

rummage through the web,

or settle on the couch for some t.v. time that doesn’t require any mental effort.

It is on these couch nights…

{especially when Husby is at work for a few days},

that I find a large bowl of ice cream in my hands.

Without any thought I dig in,

and before long,

find myself scraping the sides of the bowl with my spoon…

finished.

It’s a dreadful cycle…

really.

One that I have known for sometime now that I needed to break.

 ***********************************

About eight months ago,

I stopped nursing Finn.

I seriously gained more than ten pounds in the two months thereafter.

I knew that I needed to pick up the exercise,

{because this had happened to me in the past},

but clearly I didn’t.

Now…

with my 35th birthday approaching,

I decided the time is now to focus on implementing some small healthy habits.

Taking the advice of some of my dearest friends,

I arranged to have a physical and have blood work done.

Honestly…

between you and me…

I was praying for a thyroid issue to explain my weight gain

{surely it wasn’t the extra coffee and sweets I had been eating!!}.

I know it’s horrible to silently pray that you have a thyroid issue…

but come on girls…

don’t we all secretly think that could be our issue and explanation for those love handles??

Well…

as you may have guessed…

it wasn’t mine

{*sigh*}.

It must be the cookies… cake… brownies… ice cream….chocolate…. and coffee.

I have 20 pounds to lose.

{perhaps I shouldn’t focus on the number}….

I have some extra heaviness to lose

{especially in my mid-section},

that’s been a bit of a struggle to deal with when doing certain yoga positions.

I don’t feel as light on my feet as I should.

I’m lacking some energy in the mid-afternoon,

and get a bit out of breath when carrying Finn up our three flights of stairs.

It’s time for a change.

Instead of doing anything too crazy drastic,

I am going to focus on a few babysteps.

I’ve always been a bit obsessed with nutrition books,

and have even spent some time with a wonderful nutritionist

who taught me lots of valuable information.

I know what works for my body,

so really it’s just making the hard commitment

and putting a little more focus and time into myself.

Small changes = Big Results {over time}…

so here is my plan for better health:

**Note: click on the bolded, all capitalized words for more detailed research/information**

 

1. Increase my water consumption

2. Work on getting more sleep

3. Incorporate stress relief

 {massage, yoga, meditation, breathing techniques}

4. Consistent exercise

 {my focus will be on hot yoga, walking/running}

5. Attempt mindful eating

6. Focus on Portion control

 

7. Incorporating low-glycemic index foods into my diet

8. Linking proteins with carbohydrates for more balanced meals

9. Adding more fiber throughout the day

10. Attempting to eliminate the white stuff in my diet

{white sugar and flour}

 

  ***********************************

“Your health is what you make of it.

Everything you do and think

either adds to

the vitality, energy and spirit you possess

or takes away from it.”

{Ann Wigmore}

 ***********************************

Although I sincerely wish I could make all of these vital changes at once,

I am trying to be realistic.

I am going to implement a few of the 10 steps I listed,

little-by-litte,

and see how it goes.

I will keep you updated along the way,

and try to point out specific things that I found to work to make these babysteps a bit easier.

I am going back to my doctor in three months for a WEIGHT CHECK!!

Seriously embarrassing,

but I am glad that he is holding me accountable.

That is about the time I will be turning 35.

Fingers crossed that I have the motivation and willpower to do this!

I am hopefully optimistic that I will have good news of a more healthful me

to share with you soon!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Lovelies

Happy New Year, to You & Yours!

January 1, 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR, TO YOU & YOUR LOVED ONES!

So…

I was hoping to prepare a post on New Year’s resolutions for you all today…

the history,

the most common,

why they tend to fail {right?!},

how to set realistic goals,

and one’s worth reaching for.

Unfortunately, we got a bit busy over here…

but not busy in a good way.

It happens….

life happens…

so I’m forced to compromise.

We had an interesting start to our New Year.

After a full day of errands and family visits,

Husby had to rush one of our son’s to the ER due to asthma issues at 2 a.m.

Needless-to-say…

there wasn’t a whole lot of sleeping going on in our house last night!

So, Husby went off to work a 48-hour shift,

and I am writing this piece,

in a state of fog…

eyes half-mast…

{but, on the upside}

our little man is doing a bit better this morning,

and I am sitting here

{as one content mama}

now that I have my much-needed salted soy caramel macchiato in hand!

In the spirit of “keeping things simple”

{as Nicole mentioned we are both trying to do in the coming year},

I will leave you with a beautiful poem

that I was fortunate enough to hear yesterday morning.

After an hour of rigorous hot yoga we ended in my favorite pose…

savasana {corpse pose}

and the yoga instructor recited these lovely words

{The Power of One – Author Unknown}:

One song can spark a moment


One flower can wake the dream

One tree can start a forest

One bird can herald spring

One smile begins a friendship

One handclasp lifts a soul

One star can guide a ship at sea

One word can frame the goal

One vote can change a nation

One sunbeam lights a room

One candle wipes out darkness

One laugh will conquer doom

One step must start each journey

One word must start each prayer

One hope will raise our spirits

One touch can show you care

One voice can speak with wisdom

One heart can know what’s true

One life can make the difference

You see, it’s up to you!

 

Not only was the poem eloquently written, it resonated with me…

sparking a series of thoughts.

In the New Year, I hope to focus on what is in my control

and be the best person that I can be

{in any given moment or situation}.

I tend to be super hard on myself

{as many of us are}.

I am going to try to accept myself for whom I am…

and for where I am at

{both physically and emotionally},

as long as I am trying to be the best version of “me” each day.

We are not in control of what situations life throws at us,

but we do have control over how we react.

No one can make you feel any certain way.

It is all up to you…

YOU decide.

You have control over your emotions and can choose to let things internalize and fester in you – –

or process them, learn the lesson, and move forward.

I hope to stay more present,

soak up the moments that really matter,

give myself a break {as long as I am trying my best},

and focus on how I react to various situations…

hopefully with grace and light

{that can only come from above}.

As the poem states… “one life can make the difference,”

which in my opinion…

all starts with our inner most thoughts and personal perspective.

It can really be that simple.

A change in our thoughts…

results in a change of behavior…

which can positively affect those around us and even the world.

Wishing you all an abundance of peace, happiness and blessings in the New Year…

and let’s not forget, good health, for you and your loved ones!

Happy 2013!

{Image Via: Itsy Factory}

Filed Under: Lovelies

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About

bioSara and Nicole are sorority sisters that simply “happened” to end up in the same small town. They have many things in common, which have set the tone of their blog. They hope that you will join them in their journey of motherhood, dreams that may be, the daily life, and their passion for cooking, yoga, fashion, and design!

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