Dealing with it...

People don't talk about what it's like to try to get pregnant. Especially those who have a hard time getting pregnant, or if they have lost a pregnancy, no matter when they lost it.

Well, here's the truth. It freaking sucks. It's made out to be all fun and games and you end up with a beautiful bundle of joy.

But, It isn't always like that. Sometimes it's hard. REALLY hard. Now, before I go any further you should know J and I have been trying for about 9 months. We've had one chemical pregnancy and now very early loss at about 5 weeks.

It's been hard to deal with that glimmer of hope in two pink lines and having those hopes dashed shortly later. It seems like pregnancy announcements and babies flood Facebook on a daily basis and it's a small reminder that the thing you want so badly isn't happening...yet.

YET. It's a word full of hope and the promise of something to wonderful to come. It's also hard to know when that wonderful may come, because there is no way of knowing. and I think that may be one of the hardest parts, not knowing.

You have to find hope in something, a rock to stand on when the world is good and to help hold you up when it feels like it may come crashing down. I'm still working on finding that hope. I pray a lot, for strength, patience and a little miracle. I try my best to keep my outlook positive and to not be so hard on myself, to not put too much pressure on myself. But, some days are harder than others. Days when grief, sadness, doubt and just plain old unhappy thoughts creep into my mind. I'm doing my best to over analyze who things happen and have been working to trust in His plan for the future and that when it is my turn to be a mom, it will be at the right time, I just need to trust.

Dealing with the questions, expectations and HUGE range of emotions is down right hard. So, think about that question before you ask it, you know the one I'm talking about...the dreaded "So...when are you guys going to have kids??" It may be a harder question to answer than you realize. And to all of you ladies who know exactly what I'm talking about..I'm with ya. Let's go eat some chocolate and try to resist peeing on sticks.

For now,
K

Fall Adventures!

Last weekend the hubby and I went on a trip to Bend, Oregon. It's about a 2 hour drive from our house and it's also where we went on our honeymoon. As an FYI I am completely obsessed with Bend and would move there in a second if life presented the chance. So, get ready for me rave about everything that I love about this city. (Not to say that I don't love my city, but Bend has snow and Mountains and it's hard to beat that...)

We found the BEST little rental house that was a block from downtown and it was perfect. We could walk everywhere we wanted to go (for the most part), Dieter was allowed to come with us and it had a hot tub perfect for 2 people. Talk about perfect for a weekend getaway!  The house was called the Brown House. It is a historic home and absolutely adorable.

We loved that we could walk downtown to all of the amazing coffee and restaurants. Friday night we had dinner at Deschutes Brewery. It's a popular brewery in Oregon and has great food and their own gluten free beer. They also make their own ginger ale, and it's amazing.

Saturday morning we went to mass at Saint Frances of Assisi, which was a block from our house. Its a beautiful historic church and is everything you expect of an old catholic church. Wooden pews, a beautiful alter and gorgeous stained glass. I wish I would have taken some pictures of the outside, but I didn't have my phone with me because we were going to church. I did find this picture (think you Google!) of the outside, its so pretty!

After mass we went to Lone Pine Coffee Roasters. If I lived in Bend, this would be one of the only places I would get coffee. They make their own almond milk and roast their own coffee. I mean, come on. Oh, and the caramel sauce in my almond milk latte? Home made. Seriously. AMAZING. A cold morning with amazing coffee? Perfection. We also had breakfast at J's favorite place ever. I won't give away his secret, because, well he might kill me if it gets anymore crowded than it already is. Let's just say that he raves about this place and it is a requirement that we eat there when we are in Bend. Heck, he wouldn't argue with driving there just for breakfast.

That day we drove out to Smith Rock Ranch to go to their pumpkin patch. It's dog friendly, so Dieter got to come with us! It has amazing views of Smith Rock and so many cool things to do and eat. We didn't do a lot of the activities because we didn't have kiddos with us, but it was fun to people watch and we got an amazing pumpkin!

Afterwards we went to a neat little antique mall outside Redmond and took Dieter to the dog park in the Old Mill District so he could run some energy out. The dog park itself is dusty on a dry day, but it looks out over the river and you really can't complain about that. Oh! I almost forgot! We walked around downtown and shopped and had some local kombucha. We were tempted to try the bubble tea, but decided to save it for another day. We got some more amazing art from a photographer we found on our honeymoon and some awesome Oregon themed souvenirs. (No, I don't think it's lame that I want things that scream how proud I am to live in Oregon. Oregon is awesome.)

For dinner we walked over the bridge to Spork. Yes, the restaurant is called spork. We found this place on our honeymoon and fell in love with the spicy fried chicken. It's gluten free, and comes with rice and either kimchi or cucumber salad. It's spicy enough to make me sweat, but the cucumber salad goes with it perfectly. The sunset was amazing on the way home and it was the perfect way to end the day (Besides a soak in the hot tub) This picture doesn't even do it justice. It was faces or sunset, not both.

We also got gelato made with local espresso for dessert, and listened to a metal band playing in an alley bar. Well, you couldn't help but listen, it was LOUD.

Sunday, we had breakfast at Chow and relaxed at the house. It started to rain so we decided to trek home to the soggy valley and back to real life. It was SO nice to get away for the weekend and just do fun things and not have to worry about laundry or meal planning. But, we are back to the real world this week (Including Halloween and colds from second graders)

It's Fall!

Fall has officially arrived in Oregon. The leaves are turning, it's cool and sunny and perfect. Yesterday, the fall mood struck me and I decided to make some hearty soup for my lunches for the week.

Now, I love a good recipe but I also love creating things and praying they turn out yummy!

So...yesterday I got creative.

Ingredients:
1 diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 butternut squash, cubed
1 sweet potato, cubed
2 stalks celery, diced
3 chicken breasts, cubed
3-5 red potatoes
diced carrots (as many as you want)
2 cartons of chicken stock
Seasonings:
Salt and Pepper
I used a seasoning blend we use for chicken at our house. It has a ton of herbs in it and we keep it pre-mixed all the time. It has yummy fall seasonings like rosemary and thyme. I can't remember the exact seasonings but use some of your favorites and I'm sure the soup will turn out yummy! I also added a few dashes of nutmeg to really get that fall flavor!

I sautéed the garlic, onions and celery until soft. Then I added the sweet potato and butternut squash and one container of chicken stock. I simmered these on low until soft and then used an immersion blender (I LOVE my immersion blender) to blend it until smooth.  If you don't have an immersion blender, a regular blender will work well too!

Then I added the diced chicken, carrots and potatoes and simmered until soft. I added more chicken stock to the soup to thin it out and  TA-DA...yummy, hearty soup.

Now, I have to be honest, it's kinda a funky color because of the squash and sweet potato but it tastes amazing!! I didn't take any pictures while I was making it, but just trust me on this one... It's amazing!

Next time I might add some more fall veggies, or a different protein. My mother-in-law makes a yummy soup that I have to admit I used as inspiration for this soup and she puts these tiny meatballs in it that would be amazing!

For now,
K

Wait...What?!?

So I haven't posted about fitness in a LONG time...like so long I'm kinda embarrassed.

Well, Here's the truth.

I haven't been working out. I haven't been eating well. And I was in a pretty deep funk. I knew that I wasn't making good choices and I didn't really care. But...the hard work I had been putting in was slowly slipping away and I began to see and feel the repercussions of my choices. I felt crummy, my swim suit didn't look the way I wanted and I wasn't happy.

So, I gave my self a reality check and decided NO MORE. I have no excuse not to workout. I have a whole room in my house set up for it and it wasn't being used. I have a library of workouts to choose form at home and online. I can literally stream a workout anywhere. I can choose not to eat junk, and not to even have it in my house.

Have I been perfect? Heck no. On Sunday the hubby and I went to brunch after church and I splurged and had some amazing huevos racheros and a gluten free chocolate chip cookie. It was amazing! But, I've worked out the past 4 days, and I plan on keeping up my schedule so it will stick with me through the school year.

I'm currently doing the 21 day fix extreme and am hoping to see some inches lost and muscles gained! I know this program works (if I put in the work!) and I am hoping to share my journey here and on my Instagram page...so stay tuned :)

For now,
Kari

Oh! And if you are interested in learning more about what I'm up to, shoot me an email at karielliottfitness@gmail.com! I'd love to chat with you!

Finding Faith and Joy

I don't often write about this topic, but It's been weighing on my mind lately and I feel pulled to write about it.

My faith isn't something I openly share and talk about, partly because it is so personal, and partly because I still feel new on my journey with my faith.

I'll be the first one to admit that my relationship with God has been off and on. My family didn't attend church regularly when I was younger, but I did attend a christian summer camp that was the highlight of my summers. I recently was baptized into the Catholic church and the hubby and I have been attending the church in my community. But, I still haven't felt super connected to my own faith and it's been weighing on my mind and heart a lot lately.

I've always longed for a deeper relationship but have felt 'too new' or like I didn't belong. I've been doing some searching for something, anything, to quench my thirst for knowledge and a sense of belonging. I feel almost ashamed to talk about my faith, to share my longing for more, for a deeper connection and understanding.

I've dabbled in bible journaling {and probably still will} and recently perused the library for some books. I stood overwhelmed by the choices at the library and just started pulling books whose titles appealed to me. Let me tell you if, you haven't been to the library, its a GOLD MINE! I read Found by Micha Boyett. Read isn't a good enough word. Devoured. I devoured that book. It spoke straight to my self doubting, hard on myself, God craving heart. Her book has inspired me to see God in the everyday. To live out the path He is laying for me with joy and peace. To work to actively seek joy. It won't come to me all pretty and neat, tied with a bow; I have to find it. I have to see the amazing world around me and stop being afraid.

In the moments after I closed the book, I sat with hot tears streaming down my face. I don't have to try so hard. There are no prerequisites to believing, you just do it. My faith isn't dependent on others, it's dependent on me. I know there will be moments when I struggle and can't find the joy and beauty in the world around me. But, I know I'm on the path to really discovering my faith and who I am in my faith.

With that I'm off to devour my next book, but I have a favor to ask of you dear readers (are you out there??) Do YOU have any books to recommend to me? A favorite bible study or devotional? A blog to read? Send them my way in the comments!

For now,

Kari

It's Shark Week...

Well...now that I've got your attention...it's time to talk about that time of the month. Guys...(if I have any male readers) you may want to find another post to read...maybe this one about how to make sloppy joes?

Okay ladies... Let's get real. That time of the month is rough...hormones run rampant, sweet and salty cravings, cramps, acne....it's NO fun.

Recently, I've had some of the worst cramps that I can recall. Now, I try and stay away from taking medicine when possible and I got started wondering about other remedies to help curb that I-want-to-curl-up-in-a-ball-and-die feeling. So, here are 10 tips for helping curb those oh-so-lovely (can you sense the scarcasm??) cramps...

1. curl up in a ball...wait...JUST KIDDING...but really, grab a heating pad or warm towel and lie down for a little bit. The heat can help relieve some of the pain.

2. Take a warm bath/shower. Again...heat=relief!!

3. Go for a walk or workout. This is one of my favorite ways to help. Not only are you focused on something else, but you are doing good for your body! (Ironic, because this is the LAST thing I want to do!)

4.Try eating as many fruits and veggies as you possibly can. The vitamins can help with cramps and the extra fruits and veggies are super good for you!

5. Are you an essential oil user? Try this: Take a warm bath with lavender and peppermint, or mix peppermint oil with a carrier oil, rub into your abdomen and wait for some relief!

6. Try acupuncture! If the idea of needles freaks you out, then feel free to skip it, but this is one I would try! Acupuncture can be incredibly relaxing (I fall asleep every single time, yes, with needles in my FACE)

7. Not in the mood for a full workout? Try a few simple yoga poses to help relieve those pesky cramps...Pinterest has TONS of ideas!

8. Drink more water!! Water can solve lots of issues in our bodies, and most of us don't drink nearly enough!!

9. Stay away from sugar...Yeah, I know easier said than done. But consuming sugar in the week before Aunt Flo is going to show can make your cramps worse.

10. Make a simple tea. Chammomile can help, and I know there are LOTS of different kinds out there just for this (Check the natural section of your grocery store!)

Well...this girl is off to make a healthy dinner, drink some tea and take a bath!

For now,

Kari

Saint Patricks Day Reflections... {UPDATE}

Rewind 1 year...My wedding was sneaking up on me and the workouts I had been planning on doing, just weren’t happening. Being an excited bride, I pulled out my wedding dress and tried it on...Well...let’s just say it was a little more than snug. I knew I needed to do something, and I needed to do it NOW. I had heard about the 21 day fix and decided it was just what I needed, a meal plan and 30 minute workouts. I could do that! Once I got the fix and shakeology and tried it out, I was hooked. I loved that I didn’t have to drive to the gym anymore (or make excuses about not wanting to) and that I had an easy to follow plan for eating healthy and keeping my portions in check. I loved the accountability of my challenge group and that I could relate to the struggles and triumphs of the ladies in our group. It was nice to know I wasn’t doing this alone. I knew I wanted to share this with other people. If I could do it, then anyone could, right? 

So, here I am, almost a year later and I am building a business out of helping other people just like me. My reasons haven’t changed for staying with beachbody, I still love their workouts and obviously shakeology, but I have fallen in love with the business. Daily, I am challenged to step outside my comfort zone, to work on bettering myself, not just with my eating and fitness, but to build myself up to be a better person. What other jobs do that? I mean really, think about it! My goals now have reached far beyond fitting into my wedding dress (which I did by the way), but to continue to work on being the healthiest me I can, physically and emotionally. I also have a goal of building this little team I’ve started into a bigger team. To continue to provide extra income for my family, and to hopefully make the financial stress of growing our family to be a little less every month. 

My hopes and dreams get better and bigger as I continue this journey. A big dream of mine? To be able to completely replace my teaching salary with money from Beachbody. Why? Not because I don’t LOVE teaching, but because when we do have kids, I want to be able to stay home with them. I want to drive them to school everyday and pick them up. To watch their school plays and soccer games, to volunteer in their classrooms and not have to worry about writing sub notes when one of them gets sick. I want to spend more time with my husband. To take FULL advantage of his 24-48 work schedule and really enjoy the life we have started together. Talk about BIG dreams people!! Why not dream big? No one ever said you can’t create the life of your dreams. And that is just what I am going to do. 

I realized after I posted this that this info could be quite the shock for people close to me in my life, as I haven't really voiced any of this to many people. Do I intend to quit my teaching job any time in the near future? NO. Teacher friends you are stuck with me for a while. :) Building a home business doesn't happen overnight, or even in a year or two. It's something that takes time. This is a DREAM. It is a GOAL for me and my family. Can dreams change and morph? Totally. That's the great thing about life. You can change what you want. Who knows what life has in store for me, I can't predict what will happen, but I can work towards what I want my life to be like. 

 

For now, 

Kari 

I fell off the wagon...

The hashtag #thestruggleisreal is no joke with this girl right now. I've been a big fat lazy bones this week and I can FEEL it. My eating was okay, but not stellar and I had too many treats and WAY too much dairy. Time to start over. Time to get back on the wagon instead of running behind trying to catch up. Starting Monday this girl is back on 21 day fix extreme and I'm going to try out the bikini competition plan. That means cutting carbs out a few days a week... It's gonna be a challenge but because summer apparently starts in March in Oregon now, this girl has to up her game.


Starting this coming weekend I am hosting a free 7 day "Cut the Crud" challenge. I have a meal plan, shopping list and mini workouts read to go and all you have to do is show up with your A game and be ready to get back on track with me! I am right here with you and ready to ditch the junk and start those healthy habits back up.

We all mess up from time to time. We have to forgive, forget, and move on. We are human after all and sometimes things like Juanitas {CRACK CHIPS} and salsa happen... Not that a splurge isn't a good thing, but too many splurges then become habit.

Interested in trying this out?? What do you have to lose? Come join us and let's get that wagon ROLLING!! Shoot me a comment below with your email, or send me one at karielliottfitness@gmail.com and I'll get you started!!

For now,

Kari

Kombucha!

Kombucha seems to be everywhere now. It's in the grocery store, all over Facebook and Instagram and currently sitting pretty in a glass next to me as I write.

I first heard of it last year when my principal used to tote a bottle of homemade kombucha around with her on a daily basis. When she explained what it was, I'll be honest, my first thought was "How crunchy granola is that?!?"

Well...fast forward a few months and here I am brewing my own. I tried it for the first time this summer and was hooked from the start. {The hubby took a little longer} It's slightly sweet, tangy and bubbly. It can be made in SO many different flavors and can be completely customized to what you love. I love brewing at home because I can make a huge batch of it for just a few dollars, instead of buying a bottle for $3-4 at a time {BONUS!!} We got a scoby from a co-worker of J and got started a few months ago. I am NOT claiming to be an expert by any means, just an at home enthusiast who loves kombucha. So, here is what we do in the Elliott House...

After you have a scoby {you can get one from a friend, order one online or even grow your own}, some starter kombucha, we used unflavored 'booch' from J's co-worker, sugar, black tea and a brewing vessel. You are ready to brew!

I followed the directions of my sweet friend Jen to get started.

Here are the basic directions:

Makes 1 gallon
3 1/2 quarts water
1 cup white sugar
4 bags black tea (or 1 tablespoons loose tea) (I use all black tea)
4 bags green tea (or 1 tablespoon loose tea)
2 cups pre-made unflavored kombucha (from your last homemade batch or store-bought)
1 scoby per fermentation jar

Special equipment: Six 16-oz glass bottles with plastic lids, swing-top bottles, or clean soda bottles

Bring the water to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in the sugar to dissolve. Drop in the tea and allow it to steep until the water has cooled. Depending on the size of your pot, this will take a few hours. (Alternatively, you can speed this up by boiling only half the water, letting the tea steep, and then cooling it down with the remaining water.)

Once the tea is cool, remove the tea bags (or strain out the loose tea). Stir in the pre-made kombucha. (This makes the tea acidic, which prevents unfriendly bacteria from taking up residence in the first few days of fermentation.)

Ready to Flavor

Pour the mixture into a 1-gallon glass jar and gently slide the scoby on top with clean hands. Cover the mouth of the jar with a few layers of cheesecloth or paper towels secured with a rubber band. (You can divide this between several jars instead of one big one, but each jar will need its own scoby.)

Let it ferment in a cool dark place for about 7 days and start checking the unflavored kombucha until it finds the right balance between sweet and tangy.  After you find the right balance it's time to add flavor! This is where your creativity gets to go wild! We have been experimenting with flavors, we love anything strawberry, but also love lemon ginger and apple.

Strawberry limeade and lemonade

Today, I decided on strawberry limeade and strawberry lemonade. I took my batch of booch and divided it into two half gallon ball jars (I got mine at bi-mart, but they usually have them at the grocery store) and added strawberries and either sliced lime or lemon. I let this sit for about three days with a plastic lid and then strain and re-bottle it into swing-top bottles and let it sit for a day, the stash it in the fridge. Through lots of trial and error the hubby and I found this is the best way to get a nice fizzy batch of kombucha.

I keep a kombucha journal so I can keep track of when to check or re-bottle it, also so I can track what flavors we have tried and what we liked and didn't like.

The hubby and I usually sip some with dinner, or even mid afternoon for a little pick-me up. It's my go-to when I have a stomach ache, or am feeling a little off. I also love the fizziness of it, because it makes me think I'm having a soda, but it's way healthier! Kombucha is known for it's health benefits and a quick Google search can help you learn a little more about the benefits of brewing your own at home, along with lots of different methods and flavor options.

And because I couldn't resist, here is my ever faithful side-kick and his current favorite toy.

Happy Kombucha Brewing Friends!

Kari {& Dieter}

FriYAY!!!

It's Friday!!! This has been a long week and I am READY for the weekend.

This will be me this afternoon at 4pm. I swear this week has felt like it has been 2 weeks long. I'm excited for this weekend so I can catch up on life. I wasn't home enough last weekend, or this week and I NEED some catch up time. The list is LONG this week, plus I want to make sure that things are in order before Sunday, because the hubby comes home on Sunday!! YAY!! He's been gone all week hunting in Texas and I've been missing him!

I'm hoping to get some time outside this weekend with the puppers so we can soak up some vitamin D! Spring has sprung in Oregon and I want to take advantage of it before the rain sets in (if it does...)

What does your weekend look like? Spending time outside? Shoveling snow? Relaxing with a cup of coffee and binge watching netflix? I wanna hear about it!!

For now,

Kari

Be You.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about myself lately. {I'm not trying to sound selfish, I promise} The person I am, the person I want to be in the future.

For a lot of my life I've been the 'good girl'. The one who followed the rules, got good grades and has done her best to live up to the standards I always believed were set for me, even if they were completely unspoken. 

Until recently, I had never really questioned the choices I made and why I made them. But, I've been thinking more about my choices and where they have led me. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my life. I am blessed to have the best husband in the world, an amazing family, home, and job. 

But, since I am so not a risk taker I can't help but wonder 'what if?' What haven't I taken advantage of in life? Am I making the right decision with my career? What do I want for myself and my family in the future? I wonder what limitations have I set upon myself that I need to break free from?

There has always been a tiny voice in my head telling me I am not good enough, that I am undeserving, that I'll never be good enough. I think his name is self-doubt. I know that little voice speaks lies to me on a daily basis, but it's been there for so long that I tend to listen a little too closely. I need to learn to tune that voice out, or just completely turn it off.

The problem, how?? It's something that is probably going to be one of the hardest things I've ever done. I need to work on building myself up, forgiving myself for my shortcomings, and turning to God, my husband, friends, and my inner bada$$ to become the me I know has been hiding shyly in the corner for a LONG time.

I'm going to stop second guessing myself, going for the things I have been hesitating on and living my life to the fullest!!

Here's to some personal development of monumental proportions! 

{Have I mentioned this is scary!?!}

Wish me luck!

Kari

Back to Basics

This past week I got of track...off track with my eating and my workouts...life got in the way, and a few things needed to come first. The hubby is on a hunting trip, and I am taking this chance to really focus on what I am eating. Usually, I would take this chance to eat things I know I shouldn't and would rely on easy meals (can you say take out?!?) to get by because cooking for one isn't very much fun.

But, this week, I am determined not to do that. I have a treat meal planned for the end of the week when the hubby gets home, but the rest of my dinners are planned out. They are easy, healthy and tasty! I went shopping yesterday and got all of my weekly essentials and I am ready to go. I have stir fry, baked chicken and veggies, salsa chicken and a turkey breast on the menu. I stocked up on salad essentials, and my favorite fruits (apples and grapes)

I will be taking a few days off of workout out since I've been having a few aches and pains lately and want to give my body some time to regroup and reset. Plus, I am toying with starting the bikini prep eating plan next week and I want to give my self a week to prep for that!

Here are my goals for the week:

• NO TREATS (except planned treat meal)
• Drink at least 80 oz. of water a day
• Stick to planned meals for the week. 
• Take the dog for a short walk everyday 
• Read my daily devotional

Swim Suit season is creeping up on us and I don't know about you but I want to look amazing in my swimsuit this summer!!!

Wish me luck!

Kari

Missing

Ah! I have been missing for a while...I have been swamped at work and by the time I get home I have NO energy left. I am also working on trying to find a balance with my facebook/instagram usage and weening myself off of constantly checking it... anyway, I am back and excited about what I have to write today!

Something I have always wanted and tried to do is spend more time reading the Bible, and reading with a purpose. I find a plan, stick to it for a day or so, and then it fizzles away before it can become a habit. 

Recently, I found an amazing app via a friend from college called She Reads Truth. So, I downloaded it and fell in love. Like I mentioned before, I am mildly obsessed (my husband would say otherwise) with my phone. I LOVE that I have this app and can literally do my daily readings ANYWHERE. I have NO excuse.

So, when I heard they are doing a Lenten bible study, I knew this was the time for me to commit to seeing this goal through. As some of you may or may not know, I was baptized into the Catholic church almost 2 years ago. It was a decision I didn't take lightly and has made my life better in more ways that I can count. Before my RICA classes, I never really understood lent and it's implications. I am still learning. I do know that one of the most beautiful things happens at the end. He rises from the dead FOR US. The Easter Vigil is one of the most beautiful experiences, yes, it's long but SO worth it. Knowing that this season leads to that makes it that much more important to me. 

The first day of this study left me in tears. The reflection after the readings stuck me like a smack in the face. I NEED this. I need time to pause and reflect. Life often pull us in too many directions and we need a time out to re-evaluate and come out with a clear mind.

Today, I leave you with a prayer. I prayed it for myself and I will pray it for you. 

Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wickedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

For now, 

Kari

21 day fix...EXTREME

It's not secret that I LOVE the 21 day fix. It's the program I started with last spring and it's one I can always go back to if I need a little reminder of what my glutes feel like or if I need to remember what my portions should look like.

While doing the refresh, I decided to go back to my 21 day fix containers for eating. I need the accountability and the portion control. I'm excited to get back on track. I tend to go through phases when I just get lazy and don't work to make sure my nutrition I in check. A HUGE part of losing weight and living a healthy life is what you eat. I'm not perfect, I plan a weekly splurge meal (it's usually date night) and eat whatever I want. I know I need to do this because otherwise I end up splurging more often. I strive for 80% clean and 20% not so clean.

 If i wasn't already doing P90X3, I would be doing a round of the 21 day fix right now. Why? Because the 21 day fix extreme comes out next month. It's something I am CRAZY excited about trying, especially because spring and summer are slowly sneaking up on us. One of my goals this year is to be as healthy as I can, this includes the being in the best physical shape of my life. I know that P90X3 will be amazing for helping me push towards that goal, and even though I could easily drop it and do the new 21 day fix extreme, I've been a HUGE program hopper lately, and I am determined to finish this one. My reward? Not food, not clothes, but a new workout program! 

If I can't do this program myself, I want to live vicariously through my followers. It's sure to be a huge hit and get you where you want to be! It doesn't matter if you've done the fix already, or are just starting out. This is a GAME CHANGER!!

Still wondering what you are in for? Check out the link below! 

http://youtu.be/UfDgoEnQ9x0

I'm so excited!!! 

For now, 

Kari 

3 day Refresh: The END!

I made it!!! I wrote a quick post yesterday for the third day, but that was in the morning. Before I really hit my wall. I was great in the morning but lunch time hit me hard. The hubby and I were walking around downtown Corvallis right at lunch time. Let me just tell you how GOOD it smelled. I never really noticed how many yummy smells there were, until I was hangry {yes, Hangry} and couldn't just stop and get something to eat. Problem numero uno was letting myself get hangry. But, I made it home and had my vanilla fresh {water, strawberries and pineapple} with carrots and hummus. I may have eaten more carrots than I should have but...I needed them.

I'll be honest, I didn't want that shake or the veggies. I wanted chips, or pretty much anything else. But I had come so far and wasn't about to throw it all away. So I drank my shake and ate my carrots and moved on. We went for another hike around the wildlife area and I was not happy slogging through the mud and blackberry bushes.

Dinner was stir fry again and it was yummy! I drank my vanilla fresh after and I currently pretty full.

Now that I've drug you all the way through my trials and tribulations of the refresh....the results are in!!

Starting Weight: 164.6
Ending Weight:162.0
Amount Lost: 2.6lbs

Waist day 1: 28.5
Waist day 4: 28.5
Amount Lost: 0

Below Belly Button
Day 1: 36.5
Day 4: 34.5
Amount Lost: 2.0 inches

I didn't measure other places on my body, but if I do this again, I will. Maybe I am crazy but I swear I can see more arm definition today!!

And last but not least...the pictures!!!

Over all, I am SO glad I did this. If you would have asked me this yesterday afternoon, you may have gotten a different answer. Today, I feel amazing!! I had lots of energy, I resisted ALL the treats and I stuck to my eating plan.

Honestly, I had been in a funk for a while and couldn't get myself out of it. I had been slacking on my workouts, and eating things I knew I shouldn't. I needed the kick in the pants to kick my bad habits to the curb. I needed the reminder that I DO have the will power to say no to the treats. I do have the strength to do my workouts and finish P90X3 strong. I'm excited to see where the rest of this 90 day journey leads me!!

For now,
Kari

Whatcha Cookin' Good Lookin?

A HUGE part of my success in eating healthy is planning my meals each week. I have this SUPER cute meal planning book from May Books. On one side of the page there is a list of all the dinners for the week, and the other side is a shopping list! I fell in love with these books because I got a Groupon for them a while ago, I have been hooked ever since. I love that I can go back and see what we have made and find new ideas for things we haven't had in a while!

So...What's on the menu for this week?

Usually I would have made my meal plan and shopped on Saturday or Sunday, but this week I happened on Monday, due to an extra day off work.

Monday: Stir Fry {I was finishing the 3 day refresh, so I made mine and the hubby made his own.}
Tuesday: No CLUE! {The hubby will be at work so I am on my own. I usually eat leftovers or make myself breakfast for dinner, I am not sure what I will have tonight!}
Wednesday: Spaghetti Squash with 'quick sauce' and Italian sausage.
Thursday: Elk Steaks with salad and baked sweet potatoes
Friday: Leftovers {Boring, I know but wasting food isn't any good! I'll probably have the left over 'quick sauce' from Wednesday with GF pasta or rice}
Saturday/Sunday: Date night {read: Cheat Meal} and Elk Tacos.

For the Elk, you can sub beef or your favorite protein. Usually I use ground turkey, I just happen to have a freezer full of Elk, so it's what we use. Plus, It's super lean, grass-fed and as about as organic as you can get. The hubby shot it, and brought it home for us and you can't really beat that!

What are you eating this week??

For now,
Kari

Day 3...refresh style!

Going to keep this short and sweet. Woke up plugged up again, but it's slowly subsiding as the morning passes. Today is the last day!! Knowing its almost over makes today easier. I love that this is only three days, I mean you can do anything for 3 days! 

But, I've learned a lot about myself these past few days. I have better self control than I give myself credit for. I CAN resist the treats and little extras I allow myself, it's just a matter of mindset and not allowing myself to be weak in my resolve. I also learned that I'm stronger than I think! I was allowing myself to be a weenie during this but pushed through my workout yesterday and felt pretty good! 

On to the rest of my day...I'll write more tomorrow, along with my pictures of progress, and weight difference. Have a great monday lovelies! 

~Kari

3 Day Refresh: Day 2

Day 2... I know what to expect and I am ready!

This morning I woke up feeling kinda yucky. Runny nose, scratchy throat all that jazz... Not cool. I don't know if it's because my body is detoxing all the yuckies or because I am getting sick. There is a pretty nasty cold going around at work and I've been lucky enough to avoid it so far, so here's to hoping I am not getting sick!!

Anyways... Breakfast is Shakeology. I'm not drinking vegan shakeology, which is what they recommend, so I am having my regular chocolate. I made it today with stawberries, water and ice. It was super yummy and filling as always. 

The fiber sweep was not bad. I used the super cold water trick with a squeeze of lemon. My water wasn't as cold as yesterday and it got a little thick at the end but I chugged it and it was fine. 

For lunch today I made my vanilla fresh with stawberries and pineapple. It was tasty! It's a little grainy, but tastes good. I guess I'm spoiled by the smoothness of my regular shakeology. 😊 I also had a spinach salad with cucumbers, a few carrots and some hummus (veggie and healthy fat). I dressed my salad with olive oil and basalmic and a little salt and pepper. 

The hubby and I went for a hike/walk at a local wildlife area/old army base and took Dieter to let him do some sniffing and pointing. We even got a rainbow out of it! 

When we got home I did my workout (P90x3: The challenge) I lowered my numbers of pull ups and push ups because I'm still kinda feeling low energy, not sick (yay) but just a little tired. Other than that I feel great! 

Dinner will be roasted veggies and vanilla fresh. Only one more day and I can't wait to show you all my results!! 

For now, Kari 

3 Day Refresh: Day 1

I've had this green box sitting on my shelf for a LONG time. I was scared of taking three days to give up my regular eating. But, I've been needing a change to reset some bad habits I've picked up since the holidays.

I have been eating WAY too much junk and have had a ton more sugar in my diet that I know I should. This will give me an opportunity to reset my system and get back on track.

So far, I've only had my breakfast (Shakeology and fruit) and the fiber sweep. This was the part I was most scared of! I've heard it's yucky, nasty, gloppy, and thick. I did a little pinterest hunting and found another coach who mentioned making sure your water is SUPER cold. I mean, borderline almost frozen. So, I popped my shakeo cup in the freezer for a little bit and then shook it up. I also added a little squeeze of lemon. It's lemon flavored already and this made it taste a little more "lemonaide-y" It wasn't as bad as I thought! A little gritty, but not bad. I chugged it so it didn't have the chance to get thick.

For lunch you drink the vanilla fresh shake with a fruit, veggie and a healthy fat. I chose to blend my shake with my fruit (pineapple and peaches) and have carrots and hummus as my veggie and healthy fat. Pretty yummy. The shake tastes good! It's not as good as the regular vanilla shakeology but it's good! So far the thing I miss most...COFFEE. Just sayin'...

For dinner I had stir-fry veggies and the vanilla fresh shake. The stir-fry was so yummy! It was very simple but also very filling. I cut up a bunch of veggies and stir-fried them in garlic, ginger and a little lemongrass. I used a little bit of chicken broth to make a little sauce. The recipe is in the book of recipes that come with the refresh. I subbed broccoli for green beans, since I didn't have any, and I don't particularly care for green beans. I mixed the vanilla fresh shake with water, ice, a little almond extract and cinnamon. It was pretty good!

The evening was the hardest part. I am an evening snacker and often have a need for "a little something" after dinner. It was hard to ignore that need, but it helped that we don't have anything like that in the house right now!

Day one...DONE. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, but I am glad I chose to do it on a day that I was at home and could make my meals and use the blender! 

Check back tomorrow for updates on day 2!

For now,
Kari

Before picture, please ignore my messy bathroom, the faucet broke this week and we are in the process of fixing it!

I feel like I owe you an apology...

Let's go back a few months...back to April and May of 2014... I was FREAKING out because my wedding was in a few months and I had to face the very real fact that my wedding dress may not be able to zip all the way... In comes the 21 day fix {My savior} and my introduction to the world of beachbody. It wasn't that I hadn't ever seen the workouts, most of us have seen the infomercial for P90X or Insanity at some point, or even knew someone who had completed one of those workouts. The part that people, well at least I didn't know, was that there are all of these people who back these workouts as beachbody coaches. When you buy from the infomercial you are assigned a coach, whose sole job is to encourage and help you as you do these workouts. After my first round of the 21 day fix, I decided I wanted to be a beachbody coach (partly for the discount) and mostly because the idea of helping people appealed to me. I mean, come on, I'm a teacher. I love to help! As a coach I am here to help and share the workouts I firmly believe in.

Here's where the apology comes in. I was THAT girl. The one who vomits spammy, salesy posts all over your FB. The one who didn't know what she was doing and now realizes just how wrong her approach was, especially when talking to friends. Since then, I have realized just how WRONG I was in being so pushy and salesy.

So, I am sorry. I am sorry I was pushy, salesy and just plain inexperienced. I am sorry I vomited beachbody on your facebook, and probably made you super annoyed at me. If you are reading this, and were subject to this, please take what I did/said and push it out of your brain and let me start over. Please? Everyone deserves a second chance, right?

But, here is my caveat. I am not going to stop posting about my workouts, or shakeology or the fact that I love this company. I am simply going to change my approach. I am not sorry that I found this company or that it's completely changed my life. I am not sorry that I want to share this with you. So, kick back relax, and facebook stalk me...I dare you. I promise I won't be "that girl". :)

For now,
Kari

Sloppy Joes!

After lots of people asking I decided I would post my recipe for 'from scratch' sloppy joe's! 

We have a freezer full of elk meat, lots of it ground so I am trying to think outside my go-to recipes for ground meat (tacos, meat loaf, meat sauce) and switch things up! I was parusing Pinterest looking for recipes and came across one from The Pioneer Woman. Oh, Ree Drummand you are amazing. EVERYTHING she makes looks amazing. But, I digress. 

I knew that her recipe would be good since everything I've ever made from her is so yummy. So, I took her recipe and tweaked it a little {I didn't have a few things} and away we went!! 

Ingredients:
2 lbs ground Elk (or any other ground meat)
1 chopped onion
1 chopped bell pepper
1 tsp garlic powder, or 2 cloves chopped garlic
1 1/2 C Ketchup
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 can tomato sauce (I didn't have tomato paste)
1 healthy squirt of yellow mustard
Chili Powder {I honestly don't know how much I used, I just dumped...Oh, well}
Worcestershire Sauce - to taste
Salt and Pepper

Saute the onion, peppers and garlic until soft, then brown the meat. If using beef drain the meat! The elk I was using was SUPER lean, so I didn't need to drain it. Then add the seasonings, ketchup, brown sugar, tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce.  Sir and simmer until well mixed. Serve with rolls!

This was a huge hit with my hubby and father-in-law. It was hearty for two guys who spent the day working on the house, and I didn't feel bad eating it because I knew I could control the sugar and salt because I wasn't using a seasoning packet, and it didn't come from a can. Sloppy Joes often get a bad wrap...they tend to be associated with camp, and mystery meat. Don't let bad memories make you shy away. These are husband approved, and would be great for kids. I mean who doesn't love having their dinner on their face!?! 

Let me know your your sloppy joes turn out! I would love to know how you made this recipe your own! 

For now, 
Kari