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!