Before & After

Ok, so if you've ventured out to lose weight and have been successful, you know that most commonly you are asked: "How did you do it?"....
Well, growing up, I was always super skinny. I was a size 0 when I got pregnant with my first daughter. Of course, 4 daughters later, including a set of twins, my body probably isn't capable of size 0 again, but I don't exactly have a desire to be that little either. I am now a proud size 8, 155 lbs and am 5'9. I don't want to be skinny. I want to be healthy. That is why I did this.
Now, let me tell you how I did it.....
For a little over 2 years I have been on an up and down weight loss-get-in-to-shape-feel better journey. I started out with the LoseIt app that is like a weigh loss social media network. It helps you count calories, record your progress and share. I love it! In 2011, when I first started, I was at 183lbs. I changed my eating eating habits, first, by dropping the Pepsi. Then making conscience decisions to move it, llitterally. Like, I would park farther away in the parking lot so I'd have to walk, or take the stairs instead of the elevator..Seriously, you'll notice a difference with such small changes. I then opened a business and well, for the next 10 months, I wasn't as active in pursuing my weight loss-get-in-to-shape-feel better journey. Being overweight, too, I suffered from acid reflux. It seemed like every night I would struggle with sleep because of the crazy heart burn I was having...Guess what?! Since I have lost the belly weight, I haven't had any trouble with heart bun - at all! Pretty nice if you know what I mean!
Alright, aside from kicking my Pepsi addiction, I of course, calorie count, and am very cautious of what goes into my body. I also workout now and when I can't I just make sure Im moving...I did Insanity (by Beachbody) I do Hip Hop Abs (Beachbody) to throw in a mix, I have done Zumba, going to the gym, and am actually doing the 21 Day Fix right now (message me if you wanna know more about it). If you can tell, I like change and to mix up my routines. I get bored easily, but not only that, with having a family and a full time job, I can't always commit to one type of workout. Just keep in mind that as long as you are consistent and careful with what you put in your body, you can be successful.

Here's me: 2011 & 2014

Subscribe for tips, tricks, recipes, workouts and advice I have found helpful in my journey. Not everyone is the same, so we won't all have the same results, but I hope that with providing you with weekly meals, exercise plans, grocery lists and recipes, we can work together for a healthier more energetic and productive you!
I just started the 21 Day Fix - I will be posting my progress! And please, please ask me anything!

You with me!?
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The 10 Best Things in Life....

Every day you are reminded of how sweet life really is, whether you know it or not....
So, here's my list of the 10 best things life has to offer....You can't put price tags on these things! xoxo

1. Beating heart - this means you are alive and you have the capability of loving, being loved and making a difference in someone's life.
2. Smiles - these are contagious! Notice that when you smile at someone, you almost always get a smile back! See?! Do it!
3. Laughter - not only is it fantastic to laugh whether you be alone or with someone else - and its excellent excersize! Google it!
4. Driving with the windows down - If you can get over the worry of your hair getting messed up, stick you hand out the window or even lean your face out there. I love this feeling. I could care less if its 110 or 20 degrees outside, I always drive with my window down.
5. Toes in the sand - oooh....just try it!
6. Great conversation - notice how embracing it is to have a great conversation with someone. Its engaging, most times educational or enlightening. Its always entertaining in some way to have great conversation. Do it often if you can. Its easy to get busy and get stuck in routine, but if you have the chance to strike it up, you wont regret it.
7. Helping someone - you can hold a door open , offer to carry something for someone...It doesnt cost you a thing to do something kind for someone. Its win win. Kindness is rewarding.
8. Smell of the desert after the rain...Yeah, you might have to live in Arizona to get what I mean by this...But the smell of the dirt and mesquite after the rain is truly blissful.
9.  Handwritten notes - Isnt pretty awesome when rather than receiving an email or text someone leaves you a handwritten note? When was the last time you have a handwritten note or even received one? Why not? Just do it!
10. Nature - look around you. Take in a deep breath. Exhale slowly and indulge in the air you breath. Go to a park, a lake, a roadside stop and walk around look up. Look down. When was the last time you held a leaf and really looked at it. Its liberating to just observe stuff like that, that we take for granted. Live in the moment.

Bonus: Kissing - nothing is better than a kiss from someone you love, from a child, from anyone...Kisses are always good!

Way Too Long

Its been entirely too long since Ive written here....I used to love writing blog entries. I think its time I start again, huh?
To be inspired at home, especially during the holiday, then to stay inspired throughout the year and as life changes inside the home is a pretty humbling thing....
Value what you have.....

And for all my #GavinGirls.....Happy Holidays!
Niki XOXO

Gavin Degraw Memes

I just have too much fun making these!

Hope you All have the Merriest Christmas & Happiest of Holidays!

 Enjoy!

Inspired at Home

And indeedy I was. Right here, at home, sitting in front of the computer on Pinterest for what seemed like only minutes, when in "real life" was about 3 hours...But that's besides the point, you know you've done it too...So anyway, if you're at all engaged in social comunities & networks, you have seen the Ryan Gossling "Hey Girl" memes everywhere. Like the one I made below. They have them customized for everyone from the crafter, to the realtor and just stuff girls know. Anyway, I got to thinking, why does it have to be Ryan, necessarily?? Why can't I use my own celebrity-musical crush, Gavin Degraw? (don't get me wrong, I DO NOT mind seeing Ryan all over saying "hey girl") Anyway, You know him? If not, go listen now, Google him :)

Gavin says "Hey Babe" in my memes, though. Here are a few! Seriously, amusing :P I should be making Christmas Presents right now....Enjoy!

xoxo



31 Days Of Kindness

I'm not even gonna explain where I've been the past few months...Frankly, I probably couldn't tell you anyway :P But Im back!

Ya know, there have been people and things I have experienced that I have always wanted to repay with more than just a "Thank You", even though Im sure just saying that might have enough...So, to teach my daughters appreciation and to know the joy they can bring to someone they don't even know by being kind, even for just a second, I've decided to head up a family campaign called "31 Days of  Kindness".

We will begin on December first from a list I've created (I'm sure there will be plenty of add ins and just random opportunities) and each day we will blog/Facebook our random act of kindness. Of course, we will be and should be doing this everyday, but we will officially record ours beginning on December 1st. Afterall, they say it takes 4 weeks to create a habit and this is that habit I'm hoping to be created in my littles. 

I have created a Facebook event and am hoping we can make this go viral! Please join us!

I want to teach the girls, that not only does it not cost anything to be kind to someone, but the reward is priceless. The value in being a kind person is far greater than not.

So, I will see you on December 1st - and hope you join us on Facebook, as well. Share your random acts and your photos!

Here's a little tag I found at Thumba-Lea 's Blog - Please take & share!

 

"It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived."
- Author Unknown

Cornbread Salad

Mmmm....this is the dish I make for pretty much every pot luck I go to. The recipe is super easy and the results are perfect.

Ingredients:

1 ea. large Red, Orange, Yellow bell peppers

5 stalks of green onions

2 boxes Jiffy Cornbread mix

1 can whole kernel corn (drained)

1 can black beans (rinsed, strained & towel pat dried)

2 large tomatoes

Shredded cheese (your choice) but I like cheddar or pepper jack

2 large tub of sour cream

1 bottle of ranch salad dressing

Now, cook cornbread as per directions then cool.

Combine ranch dressing & sour cream set aside.

Dice all of your veggies.

When the corn bread is cool, layer first about 1/3 of the cornbread you prepared then spread a thin layer of the ranch/sour cream mix in a clear glass bowl (for presentation). Be careful not to clump it with the cornbread. Then layer each of the remaining ingredients as you can see below. Layer everything twice. Then top with a little more cornbread, & cheese any any remaining ingredients.

Voila!

Gorgeous colors, right?

This is part of my healthy eating inspiration. :)

"We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are."

Adelle Davis (1904 - 1974)