Challenge Final Week results

Well those four weeks just flew by!  It's been a great challenge group and a great springboard for me to build on my passion for helping others!  I have learned some great tools that I hope to pass on to YOU!  below are my 30 day progress pics. I didn't take any "before" pics cuz I thought I wouldn't see much of a difference. Boy was I wrong!!

I still have 30 days to go with the PiYo program and I am so excited to see what the 60 day results are!

Christmas 2014

Well, it's Christmas night and I am sitting here feeling so blessed and happy. I have a healthy loving family and that is the best gift of all!  We spent the day at home working here and there on a few projects, watching Home Alone for the upteenth time, and helping the kids set up all their new gifts.  Randy made deer loin wrapped in bacon for lunch, along with twice baked potatoes and corn. Yum!

We didn't have a white Christmas which would have been nice, but I am NOT complaining! The weather has been warmer than normal and I just hope we don't pay for it later!!  It was nice to not have to bundle up so much to go out for a walk this afternoon.

Yesterday Randy and I both worked for a part of the day and came home to have our own family Christmas.

Last night we spent it with our family on the Sabelka side.  As always we had a wonderful time.

Wishing you and yours a fabulous holiday season!

Challenge Week 3

As we wrap up week 3 of the challenge I am feeling better than ever!  More energy, feeling leaner and longer thanks to the PiYo program.  I am loving it and hoping that I can help YOU too to reach your fitness goals.  Check out my facebook page or on Instagram.  Send me a message to learn more!  I look forward to hearing from you!!

Let the Chaos Begin!

We had our 2nd Christmas gathering at my parent's house yesterday.  With 8 kids under the age of 10 it was loud and chaotic, but a fun time none the less!  We had an excellent meal of prime rib, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, Oriental salad, fresh bread and chocolate for dessert!  YUM!  The older kids even got to help with cleaning up the kitchen and drying dishes in efforts to get to opening presents faster.  Ha Ha.

The kids are looking foward to a short week and the a break from school.  It seems like they ALL are needing a change up in routine.  Funny how that can be.  They will be busy with Holiday parties and Merit Day at school this week, weather pending. I hear we have some yucky weather headed our way.  Love winter in Iowa.....ok not really, but what do you do!!  Here's to a short school/work week and to celebrate the REAL reason for the season!

Concert #3

The 3rd and final concert of the season was held on Monday night. Eryn's first band concert.  As you can see she plays the flute.  I wouldn't say she loves it but is definitely learning a lot from it!  We are very proud of her!

Staying Healthy with Oils

It is such a challenge this time of year to keep everyone healthy.  I didn't really believe in the flu shot until a few years ago, and I am glad that we now get them.  I am hearing of a really nasty influenza going around our area.  In efforts to keep our family healthy we have developed a regimen involving essential oils that seems to be working.  Earlier this fall it kept the remaining 4 of us from getting that awful stomach virus, so since then I have definitely been a believer in this stuff!

What I have been doing with the kids is putting thieves oil on the bottoms of their feet and along their spine at night before bed. I have read that viruses originate in the spine, and putting it on the feet protects you when you are around others.  I think it takes something like 20 seconds for the oil to be absorbed by the body.  Awesome stuff huh?  I did this with the other two kids when Derek had the stomach flu, in addition to diffusing purification and thieves in the house and NO ONE else got sick!  This momma was extremely happy!

We've dealt with some minor colds in the house too thus far, and Nolan is congested this morning.  So, the recipe for him is peppermint on his chest to loosen that phlegm up along with RC on the chest AND he's sitting right next to the diffuser.  I have also put drops of thieves and peppermint in the humidifier and put it in the kids' rooms when they are coming down with something.

I use the oils every day and they are awesome!!  Hopefully they keep us healthy this holiday season!

Two Weeks Complete!

I am  about half way through the Health Challenge and it's been great!  I started this challenge to help me get through the holidays without packing on the pounds and feeling yucky as we head into the new year.  I am not looking to lose weight, but just wanting to be healthier, happier and more confident about myself.  I am learning so much along the way and every day I am looking forward to what is next. I am seeing changes in how my body looks and I am ok with that.  I am learning about what to eat and how much to eat which has been the biggest eye opener for me this week.  You can still be healthy and enjoy the things in life that you want to, it's all about moderation!

The best thing I have learned so far on this journey is that I am passionate about wanting to be fit and  healthy and want to extend that passion to other people along my journey.

Stay tuned to see what this entails and how you, yes YOU can be happier, healthier and more confident going into 2015 with some simple tools, tips and resources that I can help you with!

Have a great week!!

Carolan Christmas

We celebrated Christmas with my dad's family yesterday complete with a visit from Santa himself!  It was great food and good to catch up with family!

Christmas Program part 2

Miss Eryn had her vocal concert on Thursday night.  She's growing right up, isn't she?

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas!

I can't believe that we are already heading into the second week of December.  The tree is up, and this year we have opted for an articificial after several years of having a real tree.  Why you ask? Well, with Nolan's allergies and a nice, new space in the house to put the tree, neither Randy or I were too thrilled about the idea of cleaning up needles and making sure to water that tree every day.  So, this works just as well and is quite a bit handier!  I even got some of the gifts wrapped this weekend to put under the tree.  I'm not sure if that was a good idea or not, as Derek hasn't quite understood that just because there are presents under the tree doesn't mean we open them now. Oh, well, we'll get there:)

 We've been working on holiday baking as well.  Today Eryn and I whipped up our Peanut Butter Balls (Dad's favorite) along with a new recipe I found via Pinterest that looked simple, yet yummy for Coconut Bon Bon's.  You can add walnuts but I opted not to.  I am sure these won't last long at our house!  Here's the link if you are interested in the recipe:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/237283474092620046/

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Snowflake Express

Yesterday the kids and I, along with my mom, ventured to Waterloo to partake in the much talked about Snowflake Express.  It's a train ride, complete with hot cocoa, christmas cookies and a visit from Santa!

It was an unseasonably warm day, as it's been for a few days now, and some of the snow has melted, but we still enjoyed the experience!

Christmas Program (Take One)

The boys had their Christmas program this week.  I was a little nervous wondering how Derek would be in front of so many people, but he grinned from ear to ear the entire time!  Nolan did a great job too, and even got to play the bells in one song.  Both boys wanted to dress up for the occasion, ties and all, which is a new thing for them. They looked so handsome, and are growing up so fast!  In the next two weeks we will have parts 2 and 3 of the program, starring Eryn!  Stay tuned for more pictures:)

30 Day Challenge update: Week 1

One week down in the 30 day challenge.  With it being a super busy week I still managed to get in all my workouts.  I also joined in on a Facebook 30 day challenge group and this has helped a ton.  Makes a difference when you need to be accountable to someone else for what you are eating as well as reporting your daily activity!  I am feeling pretty good and ready to begin week 2!

30 Day Challenge for the Holiday Season!

This time of year is always hard for me-- I like to eat just like everyone else, and with all those holiday parties and goodies that seem to be everywhere I am finding I need to somehow make myself accountable.  Starting tomorrow, December 1,  I am going to do a 30 day challenge to keep me moving and feeling great all through the holiday season.

Who's in?

I am using Bender Fitness 30 day challenge (link to website below).  They have GREAT workouts and what's even better, they won't take up a ton of time in your day!  Wish me luck-- and willpower:)  Check back on Instagram to see my progress!

http://www.benderfitness.com/p/results-and-progress-pictures.html

Christmas Cookies!!!

Today the kids and I started some holiday baking.  With deer hunting next weekend and a busy upcoming week it was a great time to get a head start on treats to take to all of those holiday get togethers!  As always,  I used my Grandma Langreck's sugar cookie recipe.  It's the BEST!  We aren't the most creative when it comes to decorating but as long as the kids are having fun that is ALL that matters!!

Giving Thanks+ Birthday Celebration

We hosted Thanksgiving on Thursday. A great day to be with those you love and to be thankful for all that we have, not only on this day but the entire year!

On Friday Nolan celebrated "8".  He had a great day with a couple of friends, including a movie, nerf guns and pizza!

Not What You Expect

What started out being a slow, quiet week quickly turned into a bit of chaos at the Sabelka household.  All was well until Wednesday when I got a call in the middle of the day that Randy had hurt his back. I met him at Urgent Care and thankfully it ended up being much less than I first anticipated.  When I returned to work I got a call that there had been some "hacking" of  one of our accounts. Grrr.....Work has been crazy busy this week as well, and with the anticipation of all of the holiday "to do" lists I was really looking forward to a calm week.  Things don't always turn out the way we plan them, huh?

With Randy on the mend, I followed through with a trip to Cedar Rapids on Friday to spend some girl time with a close friend.  Supper, shopping, nails and some drinks were just what this girl needed to wind down after a busy week.  Until I called in to check on the fam.  One kid down with the stomach flu (drat).  I felt bad for being away and offered to come home, but Randy insisted he could handle it.

I was signed up for an 8k race Saturday morning and with temps in the teens it was a bit chilly, but a good motivator to run faster!  I ran this race for the first time last year and really enjoyed it, so my friend and I signed up again this year.  My time last year was 40:35 and I set a goal to beat that time.  I finished in 37:58 averaging about 7:30 minute miles.  As I think about running goals for 2015 this race puts me in a good place to make some bigger goals I have been thinking about for some time now, including that half marathon!

With the threat of snow (yuck) on Saturday afternoon, I quickly returned home to my baby still not feeling well. Eryn was bowling at a birthday party and Nolan went to the UNI dome to watch South Winn play in the 1A Semi Finals game, so it was just me and the little man cuddling up together watching movies.  I have been making Christmas shopping lists, getting some projects done around the house and even started my Christmas cards today.  I love this time of year but also like to get things done so it's not so stressful and everything happening at once.  

The kids enjoyed playing in the snow today, while I am ready for spring:)  That said, Randy tried out his new smoker today so we are in for a treat for supper.  Smoked pork loin and turkey breast along with some party potatoes. We are watching the last NASCAR race of the season as well.

A great way to end the weekend!

Plow Day

Randy and Nolan had some bonding time yesterday and went to a friend's for their annual Plow Day Event.  It's just that, plowing up the ground.  May not seem interesting to you but to this 8 year old it means he gets to drive tractor, and that is pretty cool!  It was a cold and windy day but the sun was shining, as was this boy.  I hear he didn't want to get off the tractor, which explains why he was chilled to the bone when he got home.  Such a great experience for this little guy!  Proud of him!

40 Years + easy cake recipe

Last night we celebrated 40 years of marriage for Sam and Doris.  We had a wonderful dinner at the White House (always great food and drinks) before heading to Stacy and Jer's for some after dinner fun.  More drinks, yummy snacks, cake and Guitar Hero!  The kids had fun watching the adults try to pick up on this game, and we had fun watching the kids dance to the songs!  It was a fun night!

Sam and Doris with their grandchildren

Nolan getting the hang of the game

Look at this young couple!!

About the cake-- this month is a busy one for birthdays, and I enjoy making cakes.  By no means do I have a creative side with the decorating, but that's where these lovely edible images come into play.  They are personalized and add a fun touch to the cake.  I have been trying to master a recipe for the cake mix that tastes just like it came from a bakery.  Epic fail with Derek's cake as I tried a recipe from scratch and it just didn't turn out quite right.  After some research I tried a different recipe with this cake (thanks Pinterest) and came up with a really good tasting cake.  Yeah!  And-- it starts with a box mix.  Just don't follow the directions on the box.  Add an extra egg, use milk instead of water, and instead of the oil, use butter and double the amount.  Pretty simple, huh?  The end result is a moist delicious cake!  I tried it with the yellow mix but I am sure the result would be just as good with other flavors.  Give it a try sometime!  I've got a couple more cakes to make this month so stay tuned to see what  other tips and ideas come about!

It's Good to Be 4

Mr. Derek celebrated 4 yesterday.  With the time change NOT in our favor he was up bright and early, which meant this mama needed a lot of coffee to get going!  Those of you who know this kid know that things just come out of his mouth, that well, are just not what you anticipate. His spunk and humor are what I  love most about him.  As I approached him yesterday morning he was full of energy, stood next to Nolan and said "but I'm not bigger yet am I?"  I think he was hoping to be as tall as Nolan when he woke up, but to his disappointment was not quite there yet.  Those thoughts were easily diminished with balloons and presents.

We took a little road trip to Cabela's and had some lunch before returning home.  In the late afternoon/evening the grandparents came by for a visit.  It was a great day!!

Halloween!

We had fun celebrating Halloween yesterday. I liked that it was on a Friday rather than a school night.  More time to trick or treat and not be in such a rush.  As you can tell our little gouhls enjoyed themselves and all their loot!  We made stops at Grandma and Grandpa Sabelka's as well as several places in Spillville before heading to my parents.  We don't always get to trick or treat there if Halloween is during the week so this was a special treat!  We had a yummy supper of Godfather's pizza and chicken too!

Vampire, Dusty and Zombie

Today we spent most of the day in the house as it was chilly outside. I am NOT ready for this colder weather!  We are prepping for the birthday boy tomorrow so check back to see what fun things we do to celebrate!

All Things Fall

It's hard to believe that we are wrapping up the month of October already!  The weather has been absolutely beautiful and it's been hard to stay inside on those nice days!  We've been doing some of the 'normal' fall activities: preparing for hunting, raking leaves, craft shows and making soup!

This weekend we had nothing planned.  I like that--this time of year things tend to slow down just a bit before we hit the holiday season and I try to take in all of that quiet time before things get a hoppin'.

  Saturday I got 10 miles in on the treadmill while it was still dark and most of the household was sleeping. Then we packed it up for a little adventure to Clarksville to a craft show.  And when I say adventure that's exactly what I mean...detours and all.  It took us longer than anticipated to get there and after two detours, lots of turning around, and muddy gravel roads, we made it!  The kids were real troopers and kept themselves entertained.  We walked away from the craft show with kettlecorn, warm donuts and a cupcake!  YUM! Nonetheless it was a good drive and good times to catch up with my mom and sis.

Randy and Nolan have been busy checking the deer cam and scouting for deer at dusk.  I love watching Nolan get so excited for hunting and spending time with his dad!!

Derek woke up rather early this morning as he has not been feeling well.  That gave me some time to get started on Christmas shopping!  We also tackled some house projects as well as taking care of some of the leaves that have been falling and prepping the yard for the upcoming winter. Eryn and Derek got busy making some molasses cookies this morning while I peeled and cut up apples to put in the dehydrator. After lunch it was time to head outdoors for some fresh air and sunshine! Our trees are about 1/2 done loosing their leaves but with SO many of them and a beautiful day today we decided to rake 'em up!

After a supper of homemade beef veggie soup, we are snuggling in to watch the World Series.  Nolan is hoping for a W for the Giants while I am rooting for the Royals.  Have a fantastic week!