Don't Let It Get You Down

There is nothing quite like when everyone around you is a downer when all you need is some lifting up. I've noticed here lately as I am going through one of the hardest times of my life, that so many people spend their life being down. I just don't want to be that kind of person. Amidst my struggle I want to keep a positive attitude and lift people up along the way.

I refuse to let everyone else negativity pull me down. As wonderful as the internet is, it always comes with lots of nameless people who find no issues with tearing others down. I want to be a apart of a movement that changes that. I want to encourage people to do unto others what they would have done to them.

My first step it to lift you up today.

You are beautiful! You are smart! You can do it!

Whatever it is that I can do to lift you up, that is my goal. Please feel free to share in the comments how I can encourage you today!

For those of you following my whole journey, here is the weight-loss aspect of it so far!

Something Like Writer's Block

I am sure you already know what it can be like to get motivated to do things when you are struggling emotionally, physically, or mentally. However, it is something about those times that should really force us to keep pushing because its the pushing through that helps pull of out of our slump. I am personally going through that now. Now that I have admitted that, I am one step closer to getting out of it?

What is your slump today?

I have a desire to chance my own course and I know it is possible for you to do as well. Sometimes small steps can take you a long way. So, here are the steps I plan to make this week! See if any of these hit home with you. Some of them are small, but at least they are something!

1. Write at least one post over at Missionary Manda's Musings.(I have been neglecting it for too log and I have to get back on board!)
2. Bake some cookies and muffins for my husband and kids. (I am on a strict diet and I can not have either, so my family has been suffering. lol)
3. Fold at least two baskets of laundry. (Can you tell that my house is a mess!)
4. Repaint my finger nails.
5. Go to the gym 3x this week.
6. Read some of the book for the book club that it about to start at work. (Don't tell everyone that I am behind.)

I think six things are a good start. Getting past a slump doesn't take big. lengthy, or even painful steps. It just takes doing something. 

I would love to hear your tip, tricks, and ideas for getting out of a slump. I would also like to encourage you if you are going through one right now. I am here for you and if you need me you can email or comment any time!

Motivational Changes

I'm excited to tell everyone how my trip to Bloggy Conference 2014 was. I am also totally pumped to start making some changes in and around my blog. As for my discussion point, today I would like to talk about one of such changes I plan on making.

Over the past few years you all have been with me through fashions changes, births, emotional ups and downs, and everything in between. The purpose of my blog has always been more of a journey to self discovery. Although I don't see that purpose ever changing, I do see updated it so it can better serve you all as my readers.

It is my intention to motivate and inspire each and every reader with this blog. Whether it is to to pursue your passion for cooking or to be bold and take chances, I want my experiences to encourage to find yourself and follow your dreams. I want every recipe to make you start thinking and getting creative with your own meals. I want my style and beauty posts to convey that fashion is for everyone. I want to break the walls that keep others from wearing what they love and expressing themselves. I want my life stories to big hope, encouragement, laughter, or at least help someone to remember that they are not alone. I want my journey to self discovery to be yours as well. I want to motivate you. I want to encourage you. I want see others grow.

Over the next few weeks you will begin to see some changes in my description, about me, and post feeling. I will try to remember my goal in of inspiring others throughout my journey. I encourage you to leave a comment or send me an email. Tell me how I can encourage you. Tell me what you as my readers really want to explore with me. This is not a solo journey. You have always been along for the ride, I'm just asking you to take it to the next level.

I love each and every one of you. I feel blessed to have so many people even care about what my voice has to say. I want to make a conscious effort to bring you into my world a little more!

Life Update

I finally started my diet! Its kind of been crazy since this whole whirlwind related to my arthritis began. I have to make a lot of changes and one of those changes was my diet. On Sunday I went out and purchased all the food I was supposed to have in order to do this diet they prescribed to me. I bought a weeks worth of food... for myself... and it cost me $75. That in itself will be a big adjustment. That like half a month's worth for the who family! Yikes!!!

Anyway, they say the first three days are the hardest. However, since I was at work, today wasn't so bad. Dinner was the worst though. I made spaghetti and meatballs for the family while I had salad. I will tell you something, I don't know that I like this  "no calorie" dressing they recommended. Taking the calories away took all the goodness. Hopefully I will get used to it because this is 6 weeks of my life for now, and really its several months of my life in the end.

I got a membership to a gym and started working out a little bit. I can't do a lot, but I will do what I can. Next week I hope to start some water exercise programs. They will help reduce the pain I am in when I do traditional workouts.

Now I just need some motivation to get me through. I would love to hear some motivational stories, quotes, or even health tips below. I've always found the blog community to be the most supportive and I look forward to having all of you on my journey!

10 Things I Wish I had done now that it is too LATE

Its interesting how somethings can just rock your boat. Over the past few days I have been considering my limitations, goals, and dreams. I have also been reliving the wondrous adventures of my past. Do not get me wrong, I have done a lot for my young life. I have been around the world (Japan, Philippines, France, South Africa, Mozambique). I have a college degree. I am married and have two fantastic children. I've lived through unimaginable things. Yet, I cant help seeing all the things I fee like I am going to miss. So this post is dedicated to those things and finding a way to recreate new goals that are possible!

At the very bottom of my page is my "Life List," which is basically a bucket list. The first few things on this list come straight from it because ultimately, they are the ones I am saddest about losing.

1. I wish I had gone straight into the mission field. With the news that  require handicap accessible living, living on the mission field seems less and less likely. It's heart breaking.

2. Its really too bad that having a farm it not practical. That is unless some one else wants to tend it for me.

3. I will never change a tire. There goes wanting to be a truly renaissance woman.

4. I wish I had danced. Not just ballroom dancing, because that is still possible. I wish I had gotten out there and "shook it". I wish I had taken lessons or did something. I wish I had moved, because now I am sad I cant.

5. I wish had finished my second degree in education. I look at it now and it losses practicality. I mean, what is the purpose if I will have to give it up someday.

6.  I wish I had done a few more crazy things. Weird huh? I wont be able to do them in my midlife crisis.

7. I wish I had saved money when I was single. Like I said, find out you have a disability is expensive.

8. What is the likelihood I will ever travel the world again? Not much.

9. All of these things on m 30 BEFORE 30 list- Learning to Hula Hoop, set up for retirement, and exotic workouts.

10. I wish I had lived more in the now instead of the future. Its about time I change that.

Do you have any suggestions on what to replace these with? Share them with me!