My top 10 tips for the best sleep ever

 My go-to relaxation routine to help me achieve the best sleep ever, and a few alternate suggestions to help personalize it just for you!

Items Pictured: sportsbra  || shorts || yoga wheel || headphones || yoga mat

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Thanks for being here today!

With how crazy life can get, you guys have been asking for a long time how I manage to do all that I manage to do, and how I get enough sleep to do it. But through all the ups and downs with my sleeping routines and schedules over the summer, I wanted to make sure that I had found the perfect fool-proof nightly routine for the best quality of sleep before passing it onto you guys, and here it finally is.   

    I’m going to break these tips down to make them as simple as possible

because I can always go into more details down the road if needed. I do want to remind you briefly however that I've had more than enough craziness in my life during the last 10 years to ensure I never have a solid nights sleep again.haha So if these things can work for me than they're pretty likely to help you too!
I mean the obvious chaos that is our life from having 6 little ones between the ages of 8 and 8 months old, being a full-time mommy and also taking care of my late husband Martin during his cancer battle, working as the breadwinner (mostly through the night) during all that time, struggling emotional etc since then, and lastly I think just the pressures of the work I do online and the time spent trying to work/life balance can be so overwhelming.

There have been years where I couldn't rationalize sleep when I knew how behind I was, and my poor brain and body have been and still are constantly exhausted and overwrought, but that doesn’t stop me from always having to keep going and going all the time. The difference these days though is that I’ve been slowly working at implementing the perfect nightly routine until I’ve perfected it, and it’s completely turned my life around through getting proper rest. Sleep is probably number 1 in importance for our overall health and wellbeing, and a good night's sleep can make or break you, it really can. So quit messing around and let's get on with it!

    Here are my 10 best tips for the BEST SLEEP EVER.

       #1: Begin your wind-down with stretching/yoga and easy meditation.

Settle down for a bit of stillness and meditation, and some yoga/stretches. This is my absolute favorite part of the day. This is the first signal to my brain that I’m winding down. I love going onto the back porch as much as I can, but it’s been hit or miss with the weather lately. The leaves blowing around me though and Luna the cat joining me always make it a little more fun.haha

    I get some calm music playing and then just move slowly and flow with how my body tells me to. I twist a little this way and that, trying new positions from memory,  taking deep breaths and focusing on the here and now, on the movements of my body, on the strength I feel. This is the moment that you start to push out all of the garbage that tried to camp out in your brain today. All the negativity, all the frustrations and failures and burned soups and forgotten car keys. I push it all away as I concentrate on where my body touches the mat and imagine all that junk leaving me with each exhale. As I said, it’s become an essential part of my wind down and I like to drag it out when possible, but it doesn’t have to take more than a couple minutes if you’re strapped for time!

       #2: Clear your mind.

While I’m in the middle of my stretching I like to keep a pad nearby so I can start emptying my mind as I go. This is essential to write down any important things that come to mind in order to be able to push them out of my mind while I’m trying to clear it, and not worry about forgetting them. I just keep a little running bullet list, and I’ve found that when I don’t take the time for this that my mind will keep reminding me of them long after the lights go out, and I’ll be paranoid about forgetting until the lights have to come back on again so I can write it down. Trust me, get it out of the way as soon as you can.haha

       #3: Hydrate and ensure a deep sleep.

Next, I like to drink a little warm herbal tea (especially in the fall and winter) or a big glass of water and I take my evening medications along with my favorite herbal product to support restful sleep called Silent Night. It’s by Nature’s Way, and after years of trying different things to help me sleep better, I really love that this has such a calming and almost smooth way of slowing the world down and just helping you relax and prepare you for a solid night's sleep.

       #4: Tidy up and put away.

Next, I move onto ‘buttoning up the house’ a bit. This is a fun term that my late husband Martin started using early in our marriage and it just stuck. I’m not talking about anything too OCD, but just putting away any last perishables on the counters, starting the dishwasher, making sure the kids lunches are ready for the next day, locking the doors, arming the alarm system, turning off the basement lights, blowing out any candles, checking on the kids one last time and tucking them in, etc. It’s a simple ritual, but effective and smart as well. It’s a really important (but often overlooked) part of helping your mind relax for sleep.

       #5: Plan for the next day.

Once moving into the bedroom we usually end up talking about the kids and funny things they said or did that day, ways we can improve and teach differently, activities we want to take them on and such while we change and brush our teeth, etc. Sometimes we watch a little of a favorite show together (though we’re trying to cut that out altogether eventually). We also look at our calendars a bit and compare notes about doctors visits, hair appointments, school performances, etc, just to get on the same page, and it really sets us up for success the next day.

       #6: Hair and skincare regimen.

This is more part of my nightly routine then something that really helps to promote deeper sleep, but I do feel much better when I lay down to sleep with a fresh clean face and my hair up in a loose bun. I can share more detail about what I use and such in a later post if you’d like, but taking the steps to wash my face with warm water and maybe doing a facemask or something always seems to help me feel more calm and relaxed. Maybe it’s just another little step towards being intentional and taking care of myself that helps me feel better in general, like my life is my own and isn’t being controlled by my hectic schedule, etc.

       #7: Turn off your screens.

I know this is a bit of an eye-roller for a lot of us, especially when we work on our phones and computers throughout the day, but not only does it help especially from the aspect of turning off our ‘work’ brains, but the quick delivery of information that comes from scrolling social media and such and the lights all serve to stimulate our senses so much and make it that much harder to quiet everything down enough to sleep well. If you like to play games on your phone to wind down after a busy day, you need to take into account that you’ll probably need to do a few more things to calm your brain and relax before you’ll be able to have a solid nights sleep.

       #8: Set up your bed and the room.

If you’re someone that can’t sleep in total silence, make sure you have a fan going or something that can create a little white noise. If there’s a weird clicking sound from upstairs, go get it figured out before trying to sleep. Make sure you have all the pillows you need:) If it’s too warm then open a window. If it’s too cold than toss on another blanket and put on some warm socks. If you know you get to sleep in a bit the next day, maybe cover the window with a dark blanket to help keep the sun from waking you up too early. See where I’m going with this? Haha Again these might seem like simple things, but they go a long way towards helping you have a really restful productive nights sleep.

       #9: Practice a little body love.

Something I’ve been doing for years as often as I can before bed is to put on some body lotion. It started when I first got pregnant with my oldest Eleanor. I started rubbing stretch mark cream on my belly every night before sleeping, and not only was it good for my skin, but something about the circular motions while massaging it in was really relaxing. These days I love rubbing some onto my legs and arms, my feet, what I can reach of my back, and my stomach still:) I know it has made a huge difference in the health of my skin and my circulation.

       #10: Read a book to drift off.

Have you ever started reading a book and ended up falling asleep and waking up with the book on your chest? (or your face, true story.lol) Reading is such a great tool for helping you clear your mind in a simple and educational and almost hypnotic way. Even if you’re not into reading because it’s too boring or whatever, keeping this practice will just make you fall asleep all the faster.haha

In conclusion,

I'm not a morning person and never really have been, but these tips help make whatever sleep I can manage really count! I LOVE my sleep and it is valuable and rare, and how I sleep dictates so much about my day and my mood, and how refreshed and alert I feel, my appetite, and subsequently how productive and happy I feel throughout the day.

What is something that you love doing to help you wind down and/or sleep better? Leave a comment and let us know!

xoxo,

Top ten essential oils & favorite ways to use them + a giveaway!

UPDATE: some of you may have noticed that this post dissappeared off the grid for about 4 hours 

tonight due to the fact that a certain 4-year-old figured out how to entirely delete published blog posts.haha So here's a big shout-out to Kerry from Kerry My Heart for saving the day with a copy she rescued from her blog reader! *cheers* 

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Hey beautiful! This post has been highly highly requested by you guys over the last year or so I think, but it was a little overwhelming to start writing because Essential Oils are such a big part of our lives, and I want to be thorough in sharing the ways we love to use them! I figured it was high time though, especially with sickness season coming, and maybe I'll just call this 'Part 1' or something so I can feel ok about not including every little detail? I think so.haha

Well essentially (pun intended) the back story is that I grew up with my mother using homeopathics and natural remedies on us kids all the time whether we were sick or hurt or whatever, so adding in essential oils was very natural and easy after I got married and started looking for my own natural remedies for my family.

I first really got into using them and saw the amazing benefits when I started seeing a midwife for our first home-birth we were planning during my second pregnancy, and I was hooked after starting that very first blend she gave us! I used different oils all throughout the rest of my pregnancy and felt the huge difference the aromatherapy made in the ease of my birth.

Flash forward a couple more years and we use them for so many things from putting them into homemade bath-soaps and household cleansers to helping to ease headaches and sooth sore muscles, and while I don't believe they have magic *wink* abilities to mend broken bones or things like that, they have changed our lives so much for the better, and I couldn't recommend them enough! And that's where doTERRA comes in.

I recently was offered to try the doTERRA Family Physician Kit by Ashlee from Use Pure Oils, and since we were already such EO addicts, I was more than happy to give them a try! We've been using them along with some other favorites and I thought it was high time to share a few ways we love to use our Family Physician Kit:

1: Breath // is a blend used a lot around here to sooth congestionand coughs by rubbing into the chest, I love rubbing some onto the kids (diluted with fractionated coconut oil) or myself or simply inhaling it out of the bottle when we may need to 'breathe' and calm down a bit.haha I use it on ourthroats to ease them when they're sore, and the list goes on and on for this one!

2: On Guard // breaking these down was just as hard as I though it would be, but I'm trying to just stick to a few favorites! On Guard though is wonderful when it comes to the Fall and Winter seasons (colds and flusgalore) to help fortify against those cold and flu symptoms, we add it to our dishwater, we add it to ourlaundry, it makes a great disinfectant and we put it on insect bites and stings! 

3: Oregano // mostly used to helpfight infections and germs, though it's great to cook with and is full ofessential nutrients. I think it's great helping relax sore and stiff muscles, and last but not least we love it for soothing indigestion andstomach aches as well as period cramps! good stuff.haha

4: Melaleuca // love mixing a few drops with water and lemon to use as a cleanser around the house because of it's antibacterialproperties, it's very good for using oncuts and sores to fight infection, we love mixing it with coconut oil and messaging into rashes,  

5: Peppermint // huge in helping tocalm morning sickness by applying to pulse points and back of the neck, applying a dab to the temples cansooth headaches, rubbing some into the chest and using deep breaths can help alleviate congestion, and coughs. This is one that I really could go on and on about and that we use very often!

6: Lavender // by far my most used and favorite essential oil of all time! I actually use another brand of lavender so I can order it in bulk and not spend a small fortune.haha But basically we use it every where, forevery thing, and 24/7! It's such a powerhouse oil. In the morning and at night I dab it on my pulse points, forehead, and anywhere else I feel like. It calms and refreshes my mind and helps me relax and feelless stressed out. I use it on the kids every day too and love thecalming effect it has on everyone. It's also great for fighting swelling,bug bites, infections, headaches, cuts and scrapes, blemishes, allergies, cold sores, sore throats, itchy skin, flu symptoms, rashes, sunburns, and on and on!

7: Lemon // I love mixing a few drops of lemon with some baking soda and using as a cleanser for sinks and tubs etc. because it's antibacterialand I love cleaning with the smell of citrus! I also love adding lemon to my herbal tea, it's great to use indressings or marinades, it's awesome to mix water in a spray bottle to sanitize and clean surfaces, and it also works great forcleaning up crayon:)

8: Frankincense // we normally dilute to at least 50:50 with fractionated coconut oil or vegetable oil so it does last a long time, but I think inhaling it helps relieve certain levels of stressand lifts moods, I like to use it onstretch marks and scars to fade them, I'm currently using it to help with a few warts that Ellie has on her hand, and I use it to keep mysenses heightened when I'm sleepy. Also I like to apply 1 drop of un-diluted to my nails and it helps strengthen them when they're brittle!

9: Deep Blue // we use mostly tomassage into sore joints and muscles after intense workouts, and it really works well to bring downswelling and bruising when any of the kids take a fall or something of that sort. 

10: Degest Zen // as the name suggests we use this most to help with stomach aches and to ease indigestion and bloating, cramps, etc. I also used it on my pulse points to ease my nausea with morning sickness and motion sickness, and I use it the same way for Martin and the kids when they're feeling sick because I think just inhaling with deep breaths really calms the stomach.

Well I'd better stop for now! There are lots of free reference cards and things you can look up on google for the different areas and things to use essential oils and how many drops exactly are recommended, etc, but for myself and my family I think of it more like instinct, and I just go with my gut most of the time! Generally though when I'm applying oils to my kiddies, if I'm not diluting them I'll usually put it on the bottoms of their feet, back of their necks, inside of the wrists, and sometimes on their temples when I'm not trying to help them with something specific ( like putting it on the feet if they have sore gums, etc).

For myself and Martin, again unless it's something like soothing a certain sore muscle we love to put the oils on our wrists, back of the neck, temples, inside of the elbows, bottoms of our feet. I feel like after putting it on at least a couple of those places I can really be engulfed in the smell if that makes sense and feel the good effects of the oils for hours afterwards.

Okay I promise I'm stopping.haha But I'll just pause for this post and be back soon with another post highlighting more of our favorite uses for essential oils and answering more of your questions, but there's one last thing for today's post that I'm so so excited about!

My sweet friend Ashlee from Use Pure Oils is giving away 1 Family Physician Kit to one of you, my sweet readers! This kit comes with all ten of the oils that I've talked about today, and I couldn't be more excited about getting these to one of you. Below if the rafflecopter widget--you know the drill!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A little more about Ashlee: I am a stay-at-home mom of 3, a business owner, and an energy healer.  I love to hang out with my family, travel, beaches, reading, Trader Joe’s, and eating awesome food every day!  I am happily married to Justin, who is an amazing dad and ultra patient husband.  We have built a lifestyle where we can work together at home - both in our business and raising our family.   I started using essential oils simply as a natural option if my kids were to get sick. I wanted a natural and affordable way to help my little ones.  Once I realized the amazing power of the oils to help not only with physical things, but with emotional support after baby #3, I became addicted!   From tummy aches to tantrums,  I use oils to help with the crazy moments that happen in our home.  Now I teach wellness classes all over and empower others to use natural remedies first.  I offer free consultations and samples if you email me at ashlee@usepureoils.com. 

Thanks so much for visiting and reading today! It's great to share things that I'm passionate about and answer your requests and questions at the same time. Feel free of course to ask any questions you may have and I'll be sure to answer them in another post soon, and in the meantime I hope you've enjoyed this post and that you let my know any thoughts you may have down in the comments!
Take care loves,

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Tips for Drinking More Water | How I Drink a Gallon+ Every Day

(Note: this is not a sponsored post, I just like the smart water bottles and they're perfect for my needs:))

Hey guys, hope you've had a great start to your week! I've been trying to add more posts about my workouts and meals etc lately, and one of the biggies I've been getting a lot of questions and emails about that I wanna cover is the importance of drinking enough water, and today I'm sharing some tips just for that!

We've all heard forever that we're supposed to have eight 8oz glasses of water a day, but that doesn't really make sense right? (I mean a 250lb man and a 130lb woman definitely need different amounts of water...) I mean I guess that it's more a general guideline just so people have a starting point, because I'm pretty sure that most of us struggle to even getting in those 8 glasses. I know I did before figuring out a method that worked for me, so that's what I'm sharing with you today! 

Now the crazy overachiever part of my brain really wants to make this a long and complex post going into detail about the symptoms of dehydration and how to spot it and all the benefits that come from keepng properly hydrated, but I will be strong! We can do a Part II if you have any more questions, but y'all are pretty smart, and so all I'm going to say is that for me personally when I started drinking my gallon a day my skin cleared up completely and started getting all smooth and glowy, I sleep better, I have tons more energy and stamina, it's kept my headaches away, my hair has more shine, and so much more! Basically the opposite of dehydration symptoms all across the board. Who'd have thought right? haha  Also because I've become so regular in the water that I consume, I see a direct turn-around in all those areas if I go longer than 48 hours not drinking as much as I know I should. Not fun at all. 

So here's my simple method: In doing our research, we figured that a pretty good rule of thumb to follow (mostly because we work out often) is to drink one ounce for every pound that you weigh. Crazy! I thought there was no way. That was roughly a gallon for me (I weigh around 135-140, 1 gallon is 128 ounces), and about a gallon and a half for Martin. His method that works for him is to just carry around a gallon jug everywhere and chugging throughout the day, but I knew that that just wasn't going to happen for me. I'm already carrying a kid in each arm with two clinging to my legs. No gallon jug.haha So I took a slightly different approach to get in my water and that was with four 1 quart bottles! I found that the large smart waters I loved drinking already were about 1 quart a piece (33.8oz), so I label them 1-4, and then I set timers on my phone to go off throughout the day and remind me when it's time to chug the next bottle. and it works!

They fit in my purse, they fit in the shopping cart, in the cup holder, at my desk etc, and they're easy and quick to drink out of. I start with the #1 bottle when I wake up around 8:30-9, then my alarms go off at 11:30, 2:00, and 4:30. I try and not drink too much at all after about 6 or I wake up during the night:) Once I've finished with a bottle, I wash it out in the sink and refill it with our yummy filtered water, and put it in the fridge. After a little while I'll start with a fresh set of bottles, but the disposability of them makes me feel better about forgetting them places (like I have done many times) instead of buying some expensive reusable bottles to leave around our city.haha (if you trust your memory, buying stainless or other reusable bottles may be easier on your budget:))

And I should probably stop here for today! Oh one thing I want to stress in case you're thinking that you already drink enough fluids during the day (you know who you are:)) is that not all fluids are created equal! You may think that if you're drinking anything at all that you're hydrated and you don't need water, but soda and juices and milk for instance are NOT providing the same effect as water, in fact most of those can DE-hydrate you instead because of sodium content, etc. 

Here are a few more tips real quick that help me drink more:

• Don't try to sip it over time. When your timer goes off, just start guzzling till it's gone, with as few posses as possible. You'll be so proud of yourself! Also you'll be more full during the day so, bonus:)
• It helped me in the beginning to give myself a little score card with boxes to check off once I'd finished a bottle. What can I say I love score cards much like your average 5 year old.
• Make a bet with a friend or spouse on who can drink more water in a single day
• Drinking with a straw helps me take in more water when I think I can't have any more.
• let your water rest at room temperature. Cold water can be really refreshing, but if you're going for sheer volume, cold water will shock your system and you won't be able to stomach as much as if it's room temperature. Also it tends to make me a bit nauseaous.
• Drinking a ton of water about 30 mins before going to workout helps me lift more, stay energized throughout my entire workout, and keeps me from getting winded and dizzy throughout. No Joke!
• If you're consuming cups of tea or powdered protein supplements for instance mixed in water, feel free to cut that water out of your daily intake. Lighten the load a bit:)

Well now I'm Really stopping.haha I hope that at least knowing that info about how I do it helps you feel motivated to try drinking more water throughout the day, and I hope that if you have any questions that you'll feel free to ask them any time! I do feel like I have tons more to add to this post, but this'll do for now:)

At any rate please let me know if any of this is useful, and or if you have any tips to share on getting in your daily H2O leave them in the comments for us all to read! Take care friends

Note: it really goes without saying really that everyone is different and we need to do what we feel is best for our bodies, etc, etc. The amount of water you drink can and should very depending on what type of climate you live in, your physical health, the amount of exercise you achieve every day, and other things. If you're uncomfortable with uncertainty you can ask your health care professional how much water is right for you:) This post is my thoughts and methods for those that have been asking.

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Top Ten Beginner Gardening Tips

Happy Monday guys! I'm so happy that it's a new week and I'm so stoked for my goals for the week. I have something a little different and fun for you today- Martin is going to share his top ten tips for all you beginner gardeners out there! Every time I post pictures from our gardens or mention anything even remotely having to do with herbs/flowers/vegetables of any kind I get requests for advice on starting or maintaining a garden for those that haven't had luck or are looking to begin, so we hope that these are helpful!

Martin comes from a long line of farmers and has a huge background in agriculture and working with the land. He also has the greenest thumb I've ever seen and everything he plants is beautiful and thrives:) I don't have many skills in that department, so it's all thanks to him that we have all the beautiful flowers and yummy herbs and vegetables that we do. Eating organic is such a treat(an often-times expensive one), but eating your own organic is such an amazing feeling! So lets get on to his tips:

Disclaimer: These are general tips of advice for novice gardeners, some of which may be more pertinent to our zone and temperature(zone 4). Our climate here in southern Idaho is dry and our altitude is high, so be sure and make the necessary adjustments in these tips if you need, to help them better apply to your location. 

Top Ten Beginner Gardening Tips

#1: HAVE A PLAN 
Not only is part this free and fun but it can save you many headaches later on. Establish your goal. What do you want from your garden? What is your budget? How much time are you going to have to establish it and then to tend it? Draw diagrams- get out rulers. Do you want a showy space for hosting or something more utility for clippings and vegetables? Start with the big picture and then work your way down to the little details. You may just love certain plants or colors, but remember they need to play well together- you don’t want anything to clash.

#2: TIME IT
If you’re after blooms then consider the bloom times in your plants of choice. Its nice to have something to look forward to in each season(always having at least one thing in bloom at a time). When spring comes around I get really exited to get going on a new year of gardening. The grass greens up, the trees bud out, and I'm eager to get started planting. The problem is that we get freezes easily into May here, and just because my local nurseries are being stalked at the moment doesn't mean that my purchases will survive outside yet. However there is still much that can be done in early Spring, for instance bulbs and cold hardy flowers can be planted, beds can be worked, and I can refine my plan. I also have no problems buying the best plants at the nursery early and nurturing them inside for a while as they sometimes get bought out.

#3: PREP IT
Once your plants or seeds are in the ground there's only so much you can do for your soil. Give your garden the best start possible by prepping the earth. Consider rototilling, soil amending, also the use of mulches and soil aids. Do whatever work needs done around the bed first so you won’t need to disturb your plants later on. You may also consider using a compost pile recycled from old kitchen veg and yard debris. We get treated compost from a local dairy each year. Remember that when planting you don’t want your soil overly dry because a seed can’t germinate properly, and will be drained of its moisture upon planting and die.

#4: NATURE HIKE
Spend time around your local area when forming your plan. Go on walks and drives, study that neighbors’ yard up the street that you've admired, visit public parks or the landscape of a local school or business. You can benefit a lot from the expertise, time, and wisdom of others, especially in regards to what works well locally in your area with conditions such as soil composition, moisture, and temperatures. Strike up a conversation with an obviously knowledgeable neighbor with any questions you may have. When determining varieties consider snapping pictures of a plant and asking help from a local nursery or image search the web.

#5: READ LABELS
Pay close attention to the needs of a plant. Sun/Shade, moisture, etc, and your zone/temp.

#6: BUY QUALITY STOCK
Seeds are fine and sometimes preferable with certain plants, but generally speaking paying extra for an established plant will save you time and give you some instant success in the garden. In buying a plant you can verify that the blooms are the color you really wanted just be sure you’ll still have some blooms left to enjoy in the garden. When buying vegetables remember that each variety has so many days to fruition- buying a plant can help speed up that process which is especially nice if you’re trying to beat an early fall. Check the soil of the plant to ensure that it has not been droughted(chalky dry), check the leaves to ensure they haven’t been frosted (black and dying) or the over-watered (yellowing and dying).

#7: CHECK IN OFTEN
Once planting is done, spend time in your garden. Inspect the leaves and soil. Look for unhealthy bug problems. Catching signs early can be the difference between a healthy plant and a dead one.

#8: FEED/FERTILIZE
Read labels. Some brands of fertilizer can “burn” your plant if applied too generously. Different plants need different nutrients- some plants do fine without adding any. Just be mindful that when fertilizing vegetables you may end up with all vine and no fruit. You may consider ceasing fertilizing after a month or so into growing. This is where that composting or vermi-composting (using worms) can really come in handy, because extra fertilizers are rarely needed when you build your soil up this way.

#9: BE NON-COMMITTAL
Be willing to say sayonara! If you're fighting a losing battle, yank it and fling it far away! Life is too short and you don’t need another burden. Sometimes we've made a mistake- perhaps it was poor stalk, maybe it has become diseased, etc. There's nothing wrong in tending and nurturing and that’s part of the fun, but there comes a time when enough is enough and it’s become a lost cause. I've seen people nurture a sick plant for years and its sad really because they could have been enjoying a healthy one all along.

#10: ENJOY IT
This is the whole point really. You should have fun each step of the way. Plant what you want and what you like. Enjoy the space as it is growing and invite friends over to enjoy it as well. Clip and harvest some and bring it inside. There is nothing as endearing as fresh cuttings from the yard. Gardening can be a great kind of therapy and meditation- running your fingers through the soil and watching things grow, and feeding yourself and your family from your hard work is the best kind of reward. Enjoy it:)

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Thanks so much for visiting and reading today, and if you have any questions for me or for Martin feel free to leave them in the comments and we'll get back to you as soon as possible! I'd also love to hear any stories and things you have pertaining to gardening that you'd like to share, so please do if you feel so inclined:)

Have a great rest of your week my loves, and visit again soon!

xo, Emily

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18 Tips for Starting a Successful Fitness Routine - Part 2

And we're back today with Part two and the last 9 tips! Well, not the last because I have tons of more things to share with you:) You get the picture though. Speaking of pictures I'm just gonna insert the same little running picture image thing to make sure these posts stay connected. Ready for it again? :)

woot woot! Here's the rest of the list starting with #10! I've only devided a post up once before, and the problem back then was that it as ages long as well.haha K here we go:
#10. Get rid of the junk food: Go through your cabinets and donate or throw away all the junk food that's filling up your cabinets. I can never quite believe how many old half-opened bags of chips, sugary cereal, jelly beans, chocolate bars, drink mixes, gum, popcorn, skittles, and on and on that we throw away every time we do a pantry purge. It's so liberating to get it out of the house.
#11. Start drinking like a fish: I had a trainer tell me once that the best rule for water is to drink one ounce for every pound you weigh. So if you weigh 130 pounds you're going to be drinking about a gallon of water a day! My favorite way to keep up with water is to buy 4 33 ounce smart waters and write 1-4 on the bottles. In the morning I start with #1, and make sure that I'm through with #4 before I go to bed!
#12. Clean out your fridge: The same as with your pantry. It'll feel so awesome to get rid of the old condiments, leftover pizza or fried chicken, and in the freezer all those frost-bitten corn dogs, and iced over bit of reeses ice cream.haha We're purging here people!
#13. Stock your house with clean food: right after we rid our fridges and freezers of any old garbage, we love going out and buying tons of fresh fruits and veggies, lean proteins and good healthy carbs. For a lot of people who don't like many vegetables this is a tricky part, but the best piece of advice I can give it to try experimenting with different ways to cook them and maybe you'll find a version you love!
#14. Create a weekly meal plan: Always important even when not on a routine, but especially once you're fridge is stocked with delicious new foods, it's always a bit of a struggle to make sure it all gets eaten before it goes bad, and that we're ready for meals when the time comes! It's a given that when we're in a hurry, that oven pizza is going to be easier than cooking up a stir-fry or something, so by planning the week ahead like say on a Saturday before you go shopping, you're much more likely to be prepared ahead of time with your first dinner choice
#15. Schedule in your workouts: As I mentioned before, I either wake up around 6:30-7 in the mornings to fit in my workout before my husband leaves for work and the kids get up, or I go around 8:30-9 at night once he's home and the kids are in bed. I'm lucky to have a gym that has those long hours, but no matter where or how you're working out, it'd do you good to schedule your hour or so of workout time in with the rest of your daily duties, or it'll be far too easy to X it off because you just didn't have the time.
#16. Strive for Consistency: In picking your meals and your workout times, and also the days you work out different muscle groupings etc, you're going to want to switch things up so your muscle growth doesn't plateau, but overall you're going to want to keep some semblance of consistency in everything else if just for your minds and households sake. This is a routine after all:)
#17. Start taking your vitamins regularly: Maybe you already take them, and maybe you even take them every day! But for those of you who take them once a week or once a month, get on wagon cowboy and get on those pills! I don't believe that we can possibly consume naturally the amount of minerals and nutrients that our bodies could use on a daily basis without supplement, and we for sure need to remember that vitamins go through our systems just like anything else and need to be consumed daily! I won't go recommending any certain pills to you because that's up to you and your doctor, but at least starting with a good multi vitamin in the mornings ever day will really make a difference.
#18. Have fun: There are many more things I could go into with this list, but I've already written a small novel and I need to let you go so you can come back! The last tip is to have fun, because what good is any sort of lifestyle change if we're not enjoying ourselves at all. If we're unmotivated and discouraged, just remember that you shouldn't be doing this for anyone but yourself, and if you're killing yourself over an extra piece of toast, or that mini almond joy from the check out line than you need to step back and evaluate a bit. Being hard on yourself is not what it's about. Think of what your goals have been from the start and why you want to reach them. Go easy on yourself, but give yourself challenges and then eat them for breakfast! because you can do anything you set your mind to, and there's not reason why you shouldn't be the healthiest and happiest you've ever been, and at the same time:)

And that'll have to be it for today! I look forward to posting more workout routines, tips and tricks, pieces of motivation and inspiration that have helped me, and I love to answer any and all questions you may have so keep them coming! I truly believe in making health a lifestyle, not just a temporary way of life to reach a certain goal and than be done. I believe that when you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you look good! I believe that we're all beautiful just the way we are, but that we should always be striving for the healthiest version of ourselves. I believe that curves are just as beautiful as thin-ness, and I'm proud of my body in all it's different shapes and sizes(I've been a lot:)). I have a real passion for living a natural and healthy lifestyle and to me that doesn't mean eating like a rabbit all the time (have you seen how many times I post desserts on instagram?? :)). I hope that by answering your questions and sharing what I've learned and am working on, we can motivate each other and reach our goals together!

Thanks again for reading, and for your patience in my splitting up the post.haha We're out and about this week on a family trip so make sure and follow on instagram or twitter if you'd like to keep up with our adventures!
Have a great Day,
xo, Emily

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18 Tips for Starting a Successful Fitness Routine - Part 1

Hey guys, I'm so excited about today's post! I know there are going to be tons of future posts on this topic, but it'll still be hard to not cram too much into this one. What I want to cover today is simply a little list of my top tips for taking the plunge and starting a fitness routine, or, a journey to a healthier you that will have a much better chance of becoming more of a lifestyle. I'll just have to work at keeping this short!

A few things before I start: I'm not a professional in the health field, I'm simply sharing things that have and still help me become more motivated and excited to be the healthiest I can be. Because of having four babies in the last four years I have gone back and forth between steady fitness routines and kicking back with a bun in the oven so many times, I've learned a few things about what helps me get back in the game and I hope this list inspires you a little bit even if you've already started! I'm hoping in addition to answer many of your questions with this list about how I've maintained a healthy physique throughout my pregnancies and with them so close together, so thank you for your continued positive and far too generous feedback my sweet friends! You don't know how encouraging and motivating you are on a daily basis:) Okay to the list!

#1. Get some new clothes or equipment: This is at the top for a reason, probably because I love retail therapy, and nothing seems to motivate me to start working out again like snagging a few new pieces for the gym! Did you check out my birthday video? Yeah, that wasn't all of it either:)
#2. Get a friend or spouse/partner to start with you: having started both with and without a friend, many of you may know as well how much harder it is to drag yourself off to go work out when you're all alone! The only times I can really go are early in the morning or late at night once the house is sleeping, and nothing pushes me off my butt quite like phone calls and texts that say "meet you in five?" :)
#3. Join a gym(or a new gym): I know this might not apply to everyone, but twice now after having another baby we've switched gyms (for multitudes of reasons, not just on a whim:)) and It's made me so excited to go and explore! especially if it's to a nicer one like with this last switch, all the equipment is so sparkly,  and there's multiples of everything! haha it's a dream.
#4. Set a goal: I know that overall the goal is to 'be healthier' but I believe that picking something that you're striving for that's concrete is a good idea, because it gives you something to work towards. It's not like once you reach it you're going to fall back in to your old body or lifestyle, because you'you'll just set bigger and better goals for yourself! a certain dress size, a certain look, a certain weight, maybe you wanna do 5 pull ups, who knows! Pick something that's not outrageous, and having that goal will help motivate you every day.
#5. Pick a reward: This goes along with number 4, pick something reasonable that you're going to reward yourself with once you've reached your goal, and that will push you towards it! Maybe it's just a little shopping spree at target, maybe it's a Caribbean cruise. Pick a goal, write it down, and you'll be there before you know it!
#6. Take 'Before' pictures: This is the hardest one, but so worth it, and so so motivating! Nothing will slap you in the face and push you towards getting into shape and feeling your best like seeing yourself in a bikini after having a baby let me tell ya. At first it makes me feel hugely depressed, but then I just keep thinking that with every workout I'm getting farther and farther from that version of myself that didn't feel her best. Take a relaxed front shot, back shot, both sides, and then with your arms up flexing from the front and the back:)
#7. Get some new music: self explanatory! Sure we all love the songs we can sing alone with over and over, but i love finding new beats and lyrics that give me energy on one hand and distract my mind on the other. an hour workout will go by like that! Let me know if you'd like any recommendations:)
#8. Take your measurements: Kind-of goes along with the taking before pictures,though not as depressing.haha have someone help you if you need, but use a tape measure and write down your upper arm measurements, your natural waist, your hips, the middle of your thigh, and you chest. This is the fun one because the tape measure will pick up changes in your body that your eyes can't see in the mirror
#9. Make an inspiration board: My goals are centered around weight training for muscle growth right now, so my inspiration board does not have stick figure run way models on it, but whatever your goal is, I suggest printing off pictures, recipes, quotes, magazine articles, whatever makes you feel motivated every time you see it(not a ton of stuff, just a little will do) to be your best self, and stick it on a bulletin board, on your fridge, make a collage, whatever you want as long as you can see it every day!

Well that's it for today! I hate to be annoying, but in drafting this post it broke all rules of length and etiquette and I just couldn't edit it any smaller, so that's all the tips you get for today! Be sure and come back tomorrow for the rest of the tips:)

Thank you so much for reading today. Please leave feedback or questions, statements, etc if you feel so inclined. I LOVE reading your comments, they make my day! One last thing before I go, I just have to give a little shout-out to my hubby Martin who has been weight training for a few years now and has taught me everything I know about supplements and nutrition. He is my constant support system and motivator, and I'm so proud of him! I love you sweetie!
See you guys back here tomorrow:)
xo, Emily

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January Wishlist - Workout Edition

Hey Guys! I hope you've been having a good weekend and all that. Highlight of my weekend so far: I actually had the chance to go to target by myself (without the kids) for the first time in over a year I'd say, and it was really quite bizarre! haha Funny I know, but you mommies know that when you have 4 little creatures skattering all around your feet 15 hours a day it's like you're on another planet when you're alone.haha You feel me? Anyway's I'm also very proud today, because it marks the end of the third week that I've worked out 6 days every week! I couldn't wait till I got the go-ahead from my midwife post-baby that I could exercise again, and since Martin's already been in a routine forever it was all too easy to just jump right back in the game, and I'm feeling just awesome! Today I wanted to share a few things that I've been coveting lately that are workout related, so here's my Workout Wishlist for January!

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13

Well I hope you've enjoyed seeing a few of my workout wants, and I'd love to hear if you have any of these things and how you like them, or if you've been wanting some of the same things! Talk to me lady:) Some of these things are repeats because I just need or want more, and some are obviously pie in the sky.haha Like the blender bottles we already have but it never seems like we have enough (no matter how many we buy), and that rowing machine is a favorite for our daily cardio but is a lotta expensive. Also I've been needing a new gym bag for a while, and that polar watch has been on my wishlist for over a year! ah well, its nice to dream:) Also I just have to mention for those that have asked, my favorite workout wardrobe pieces are from Albion Fit! So durable and comfortable, and cute! Like this hoodie I've been lusting after. Adorable!

Well anyway's thanks so much for visiting today, and I'd be honored to have you visit again soon!!

xoxo, Emmy

P.S. Here's an easy subscribe button in case you don't fancy navigating over to YouTube but wanna join 'the fox family', that way you'll be updated on all my future videos whether they're on the blog or not! xoxo

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