Pinterest Project Complete!

I have seen an idea on pinterest and it has been done several different ways.  Basically, you take two containers and add marbles representing how much you want to lose in one.  As you lose the weight, you add it to the other container.  The first time I saw it, I decided to do this myself.  It took me a few tries to get it just the way I wanted, but I am very pleased with the outcome!

I started with two vases I already had at home.  They ended up being too big.  The little glass marbles were just in a thin layer at the bottom, which totally defeated the purpose of the project.  I need a good visual of what I am trying to accomplish.  I flat layer of marbles would not work.  I went to the kitchen and found two mason jars.  They were also too big.  I was honestly really surprised.  I know that I have quite a ways to go, but those little marbles don't take up much room!  

I began looking around when I was out and about.  I was trying see what types of inexpensive glass containers were out there.  I did not want to spend much on my little pinterest project, because I did not even know if I would like it.  

These little 7.5 inch Libby brand bud vases are found at Walmart.  They were in the craft section at ours.  Not only are they a great size, they're also really cute! The tall, skinny shape of them causes the marbles to pile up quicker.  Another great perk is that they cost less than $2 each!

I tried writing the labels on the vases with a paint pen.  It worked, but I was still not really pleased with the outcome. So I decided to take them over to The Dandy Lion.  She put come cute vinyl lettering on them (thanks, Julie!).  Perfect!  

Then I brought them home and added my marbles.  My long-term goal is to lose thirty-three pounds by the time I graduate.  This is almost two years from now, and VERY attainable.  I refuse to stress myself out by setting some crazy goal for myself!

The best part of this entire project was this morning, when I got up and hopped on the scales.  I went straight to my little containers, plucked out four marbles, and dropped them into the one that says "Pounds Lost"!

The "Pounds to Lose" vase (on the left) started with 33 little marbles.
I will move them over to the "Pounds Lost" vase as I lose each one.

Here are my first four pounds!  

Here is the completed project.
I am very pleased!

The Proud Losers

In my last post, I mentioned starting a Facebook accountability group.  It took me a little while to think through how it could work, but I got it started today.  If you are interested in joining us please email me at healthybeth@gmail.com, or send me a message on Facebook.  Here's to The Proud Losers!

Who Wants to Join Me???

I have been thinking for a while about starting a virtual accountability group.  To be perfectly honest with you, I am not in a place in life where I have the time (or funding) to pay for Weight Watchers or any other weight loss program or type of weight loss accountability.  Besides that, I know exactly what to do!  Why PAY for something if I do not have to?  If I can get just a few women to join me in this it would really help.  Do I have any friends out there who might be interested in doing this with me?  I was thinking of creating a private Facebook group.  That would most likely be the easiest way for everyone to connect.  It would be a great way to cheer each other on and encourage one another as we try to better ourselves.  Please let me know if you are interested and if you have any ideas or suggestions of how this could happen.

Moving Forward - Israel Houghton

I just heard this on klove and had to share.  I love it.  

What freedom we can have in Christ!!!!!

What's Your Word?

I almost always have music playing.  Immediately after hitting snooze on my alarm each day, I reach over and turn on the radio to help me wake up.  My mornings do not feel complete without Jeff & Lisa or Craig, Amy, & Kankelfritz.

A few years ago (2010 to be exact), as I was listening to klove in the morning, I first heard the idea of My One Word.  I began thinking about this concept, but never really adopted a word for myself.  Later on that year, I went through an extremely difficult time.  For some strange reason, this concept of adopting a word came to mind.  It was late spring, but I knew it still was not too late to choose a word for myself.  Considering everything my family was dealing with, I chose the word SIMPLIFY.  This word was so appropriate for me and the situation I was facing.  

Confession: I am a hoarder.  I hoard material possessions, memories, JUNK, emotions (both positive and negative), you name it!  I knew that in order to be who I needed to be... who HE wanted me to be... I had to let go of some STUFF in my life and SIMPLIFY.  

Laugh if you want, but since I had not had my one word for an entire year, I chose to keep (hoard) it in 2011.  When 2012 rolled around, I knew I still had work to do in this area.  I really wanted a new word though.  I chose SIMPLICITY.  Ha.  I know, it is silly.  I should have just kept the old word.  I just felt the need to change it up a little!  :)

I posted a while back about the fact that I read through Proverbs each month.  During the summer of 2012, I was reading and a word stood out to me.  The word was PRUDENT.  

At this point, I had read through the book of Proverbs several times.  I was not yet quite sure how to take this word.  I did some research and discovered that PRUDENT means to be practical, wise, careful, cautious, not frivolous, etc.  After some soul searching, I decided that this area in my life is in need of some serious work.  

As the wife and mother in our home it is not only my responsibility, but my duty to act prudently in areas that pertain to our home.  I prayed about this word for quite some time and even considered using it as my one word for 2013.  Something just did not feel quite right about it though.

I knew I still had plenty of time to discover my word, so I did not stress about it.  I have tried diligently to be more prudent in my life and in my home.  It is wonderful!  My outlook on many things has changed.  Going through FPU also helped in HUGE ways in this area of my life.  Just as with simplifying and adding simplicity in many areas in my life I feel more at peace in certain situations.  I know this peace is a result of my striving to become a more PRUDENT (not perfect!) woman, wife, and mother.
  
Later in 2012 (it was actually during the fall) I was again reading Proverbs.  Another word really struck me... INTEGRITY.  This is not a new word to me.  INTEGRITY is a word I have heard my entire life.  As soon as I read the verse, I started doing research.  

According to merriam-webster.com, INTEGRITY is incorruptibility... soundness... completeness.  I LOVE this!  My favorite part of the description is incorruptibility.  When you look at the synonyms for INTEGRITY, you see words such as character, decency, goodness, rightness, virtue, and many things that made me think of the fruits of the Spirit.  Right then and there, I sent a text to a dear friend and prayer partner and told her I thought this was supposed to be my one word.  

What is your word?  I would love for you to share!  
What?  You do not have a word?  It is not too late!  

Three simple steps: 
1.determine the kind of person you want to become
2.identify the characteristics of that person
3.pick a word

There is so much more I could say about my one word... INTEGRITY.  I will surely post more about this topic later on and throughout the year.  What does INTEGRITY mean to you?  

Beyond the shadow of a doubt, I know it.  INTEGRITY is my one word for 2013.

"Better a poor man who lives with integrity than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool." -Proverbs 19:1

Just Call Me Martha

I have never even halfway pretended to be the Martha Stewart type... unless you count the one time I did something funny for a bachelorette party that I saw on a Halloween special (NO, I will not elaborate).  Seriously though, I am out of control when it comes to homemaking or completing any sort of craft/project.  Ask any of my close friends or family and they would definitely agree.  I could not stay on task if my life depended on it.  

This is not a new development.  I have struggled with Attention Deficit Disorder since childhood.  I was always THAT kid whose teacher said needed to be medicated.  One of my best friends jokes about the fact that she and another close friend actually had to help me keep my desk clean in 5th grade so that I did not have to miss recess.  This is is same friend who helped me clean my room on multiple occasions so that I could go outside and play.  After my parents and I tried everything possible to help the situation on our own, I was formally diagnosed and started taking medication at fourteen years old.

Why am I telling you this?  Well, today I did something VERY domestic and I am so happy about it that I felt it was blog worthy. I am so proud of completing this project that I may even create my own pin and pin it.  :)

Our little family is about to get back into the swing of things with school and work.  The hubs has been off work for two weeks and the kids and I have all been on Christmas break.  It has been fantastic!  

Celebrating Christmas With Our Family

Our time together over the last two weeks has been precious. 

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service

The kids loved Christmas morning.

We even got a white Christmas!  

C in the snow.  Yes, the dog is wearing a hoodie.  It's COLD!

It has truly been wonderful and we have made some super fun memories.

This morning when I got up, I decided to make breakfast to put in the freezer for busy work/school mornings.  After going through Financial Peace University last fall, I am trying to do everything I can do to help out with spending frivolously.  We are SO bad about eating out and I know that if the hubs does not have something to take to work with him, he will end up buying an overpriced breakfast at work.

I started cooking.  I spent a total of about four hours in the kitchen.  If there was anything in our fridge or freezer that could be cooked and frozen for later, I did it.  This included meat to be used at a later date for dinners.  I put everything in ziplock bags and labeled it with cooking instructions and contents of each bag, and they are now in the freezer.  

This is what 52 individually packaged breakfasts look like!

I also made the little oatmeal packets I found on pinterest a few days ago.  I changed mine up a bit and added some different ingredients.

Do you pin?  In other words, are you on pinterest?  I am!  Sometimes I love it and sometimes I hate it.  There are days that I pin lots of things that I plan to do (but never actually will), but then I can also go months without even logging in to my pinterest account.  It is a really fun website that can also be a very useful tool if you have a project or idea you have considered tackling.Score for a completed pinterest project AND a project of my own!

It was a LOT of time, but I know once school starts I will be SO glad I did this.  

Update

Well, I am halfway into week two of half marathon training.  I would say it is going well!  I am trying really hard to stick with it and do the runs during the week.  Last year I did not and I think that was part of my problem with not wanting to stick with the training program.  I cannot do this halfway.  It is all or nothing.
Have I mentioned IT IS HOT??!!!  But... I know it will be so worth it in October.  I have to keep my mind on the end result and not just right here and now.  I am planning on going this evening and I am already feeling unmotivated.  I know I HAVE to go.  It is not an option.  I was supposed to do two miles on Monday and three yesterday.  I actually did about two and a half on Monday (because of the trail we chose) and had to miss yesterday because Mike had two ballgames.  Tonight is not an option.  I will go tonight and do another two and a half to make up for what I missed.
I will be nasty, hot, sweaty, and most likely miserable, but I WILL go and I WILL FINISH.  This is one more decision that will get me closer to my goal.  This WILL happen!

"He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless."   -Isaiah 40:29