What's Yours?

I recently shared my plan to live an Inspired 2015. . .  and since this post I've been enjoying reading other's thoughts, hopes and plans for the New Year.  Below are a few of my favorites:

Nina ((Flowers in My Hair)) chose a word for her 2015

Some inspiration from some kick-ass women, thanks to this Huffington Post article

A few things we probably won't be seeing in 2015 ((but at one time, we all thought we would!))

Here are 15 things we should stop doing in the New Year

...and can't we all agree that EVERYONE needs a copy of this book in 2015?!

If you're still unsure about 2015, listen to the wise words of Astronaut Chris Hadfield 

((look him up... he's amazing.))

 Wishing you a Happy and Blessed 2015.

xoxo,

-J

An Inspired 2015

For years, I have resolved NOT to get involved with a New Year's Resolution for a number of reasons; the main two being that I simply have poor will power, and when I do decide I need to make a change for the better, I find it best implementing the appropriate practices immediately.

Last year, I decided to take a monthly approach to resolutions.  So, rather than choosing one or two things to "promise for the entire year," I decided to take on a goal/task/resolution each month. Unfortunately, this didn't last long.   While it seemed completely "doable" I set myself up for failure in the first two months by being overly ambitious with my goals. . . so by March, I was done trying.

As 2014 winds down, I find myself thinking about the past year and everything that I didn't get done, both professionally and personally.  While it wasn't a bad year, it also wasn't a spectacular one, either.  I don't feel like I grew much - and that feeling leaves me very uncomfortable.

I read this article titled "15 Phrases that will Change Your Life in 2015," and I found it pretty thought-provoking.   It got me thinking, not about "what" I want to do in the new year, but "who" I want to be.

I want to be inspiring.

I want to be inspired.

While the idea is only a couple of short sentences, this means quite a few things, all at once.  I will do my best to say "no" when my life is too busy to take on one more thing.  I will not be afraid to try to learn new things.  I will wake up earlier so that I have more time in the day, but when the mood strikes on those days that allow it, I will stay curled up in bed for just a bit longer without guilt.  I will smile more, and strive to worry less.  When I inevitably stress and worry over things I cannot control, I will not beat myself up over this slip up- instead, I will breathe deeper and count to 10 ((or maybe even 20...))  I will look for the good in people.  I will do my best to make the good in me easy for others to find.

I will write more letters, whether they be to friends and family, or simply to myself.  I will send more mail to my friends, "just because."

I will pray more.

So, that's it,  This is what I am resolving for the New Year.  I intend to allow myself to be inspired.  I intend to take the time to let whatever inspires me take action inside my head and my heart.  Rather than push things aside and let life keep me "too busy," I resolve to find time to live an inspired life.   I intend to search for inspiration, beauty and good in everything, and I intend to share those same wonderful nuggets of inspiration, beauty and good with anyone who'll have them.

I will spend 2015 being inspired,

What is your resolution?

I've got a Blank Space, baby. . .

It pains me to admit this. . . but I am addicted to Taylor Swift's latest hit, "Blank Space."

I am not "anti-Taylor," per say...  but I am not exactly a mega-fan, either.  I tend to find her hit-of-the-moment catchy for about a day, and then it becomes annoying.  I admire her talent, but generally don't have any kind of connecting emotion to her "I'm in my early 20's and can't find love" themed tunes.  I am liking her style, I think she's beautiful and don't feel she's undeserving of any of her success. . . but it's Taylor Swift and I just can't fully commit to calling myself a fan. 

 ((I also may still hold a grudge that she dated- and then attempted to shame- my love, John Mayer.))

That said. . . I can't get enough of this song.  When I first heard it on satellite radio, I immediately went to youtube to watch the video and listen again.  And again.  And again.   After about 4 listens, I bought the damn song.   Weeks later, I still crank it up when it comes on my radio and find myself hunting through my iTunes library to listen to it at least once a day.

I may need a T.Swift intervention.  ((And those, my friends, are words I NEVER thought I would say.))

And I Love You Dear. . . ((Monday Music Post))

It sounds rather cliche and generic to say "I love music."  Who doesn't?  I don't know anyone that can claim the opposite.  People don't hate music.  Everyone enjoys it.  But sometimes, I feel as though I enjoy it a little more than most. . . 

I've "loved" music my entire life.  For as long as I can remember, I have felt both connected to and moved by notes, melodies, lyrics and harmonies.   I started piano lessons in kindergarten (unfortunately I don't play very well), joined the school band in the 5th grade (and continued my band nerdy-ness all through high school) and took voice lessons for a couple of years in junior high (unfortunately I don't sing very well).   I wanted to be a rockstar.  I wanted to be a songwriter.  I also wanted to be a music journalist (and actually got a degree for this one that looks fancy on my wall..,).   

I love finding new bands, but my truest music love is devoted to genres from the late 60s and early 70s.  Another thing I absolutely love is a good cover.  I find great joy in hearing a band-especially from another time/genre- put their own twist on an already well-known and established tune.  Good covers just make me smile.

My newest music obsession is the perfect combination of my music loves.  A new collaboration of musicians, singing the lyrics of a classic 60s/70s musician,  If you haven't heard The New Basement Tapes, you must check them out below.    (Also, keep your eyes peeled for Johnny Depp...)

In true "me" fashion, I've been obsessing about this collaboration for a week now- I listen to the album on repeat and am constantly scouring youtube for videos.  I've also got to get my hands on the Showtime documentary. . .

This is a musical collaboration of several fantastic musicians who have put their voices to some of Bob Dylan's lost lyrics- these lyrics were written in the late 60's with the intent of becoming a part of Dylan's famous "Basement Tapes."  These songs didn't make it to the 1975 album, but thank the Lord they've found their place in 2014. 

My brain is fighting "work" mode.

Even though the week is half over, I cannot seem to get my head into the "work" mode.   I may or may not still be feeling a little exhausted from our weekend...

Saturday morning I was up early to get a few things done around the house, and then Neil and I were off to Norman to celebrate my best friend's 10 year wedding anniversary.  Shannon and Macky didn't have a wedding ten years ago, so they threw one helluva party to celebrate this milestone anniversary. It was a great time- and I am sad to say that I didn't get many photos.  So, you'll just have to take my word for it--- it was fun!

I'm doing my best to get through this week and then Saturday we are flying out to Washington DC for a few days.   It's my first time there, and we are going for a very exciting reason, ((more on that later)) so it's hard to concentrate on anything else.

I'll be fairly quiet around here for the next week or so, but look forward to sharing details from our DC trip very soon!

xoxo

oh hey Friday - five things link up!

I thought this was a fun linkup for a Friday- so I'm joining in!  I encourage you to go do the same!

The idea is to list 5 things.  Anything.  And then head over here and link up!

ONE

I found a link to this article about a Friday night dinner ritual on A Cup of Jo today... and fell in love.  Seriously, the idea of having a dinner party ritual is just so amazing.  Living in a small community ((actually, living out in the middle of nowhere, 12 miles away from a small community)) makes it hard to keep a social life alive these days.  I have some a handful of wonderful friends here in my tiny town, and I am blessed to be close to my family, but most people in my "social circle" live an hour or more away.  The thought of having regular gatherings sounds heavenly.  I suggest reading this!

TWO

I don't know how I managed to sleep without lavender and cedarwood essential oils.  Since I started using Young Living oils, my life has gotten so much better in so many ways... but nothing tops the sleep quality these days.  I diffuse a couple drops of lavender and cedarwood every night, and my days of having trouble dozing off are LONG gone.  Amen, and amen.  

((info on essential oils can be found here.  Or email me!))

THREE

I am super excited to be heading to Norman tomorrow to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of my friends Shannon and Macky.  Shannon is my very best friend, and I absolutely adore her husband. They didn't have a wedding years ago, so we are having a P-A-R-T-Y for this big anniversary. Finally, a night of social activity!  ((see number one))

FOUR

I believe my love for Pearl Jam will never die.  I've been listening to PJ for a few days straight while working in my office, and this song in particular just never gets old.

FIVE

This morning's run was a tough one for me.  It wasn't the first day for me to do this particular week of the run/walk program, and I got through it fairly well the other day...so I'm not sure why today was so tough.  Either way, as difficult ((and slow)) as it was, I got through it.  I am almost up to week 5 in my 9 week training program... who would have thought?!

I hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Fall Trend- Ballet Flats

When it comes to footwear, I'm pretty basic:  I could live in my Toms.   

((I'd really just rather be barefoot, always.))

Don't get me wrong- I love a nice heel now and then- but for the most part, I prefer flats that leave me feeling as close to barefoot as possible. 

I'm noticing that flats are considered "in" this fall, which has me over the moon.  I've been eyeing the ballet-style design for a while now.  Sure, these won't work through winter- but for the temperate Oklahoma autumn months, I think these are perfect. 

Below, a few of my favorites:

Urban Outfitters

Toms

Toms

ELF

Labor Day, come and gone...

I'm so sad that Labor Day has come and gone.   Even with the temperatures still around 100 degrees, I can't help but feel like summer is gone.

I spent my weekend doing exactly what I had hoped for:  swimming, spending time with family and being lazy.  

Neil teaching Chloe a guitar riff

Mallory & Chloe, "riding the gate."

Perfect way to end the summer. . . 

My Labor Day wardrobe...


This weekend was also my dad's birthday... it's times like these that I really hate him living so far away.  I called and talked to him a few times over the weekend, but it would have been so much better to have had him here in Oklahoma.  

I dug this great photo out of storage and posted it on Facebook, just to make sure he got lots of birthday love.  This is one of my favorite photos of my dad- it was taken on his 19th birthday in 1975.  I absolutely love photos of my parents, taken before they were my parents.  

I hope your Labor Day was full of fun, family, friends and anything else you wanted!

xoxo

The long truth.

This one is going to be painfully honest.    

I have been unhappy with my body for several years.   I know that I am not alone here; so many women face this issue.  It's something we regularly discuss with our closest friends, our partners, our mothers and sisters.   When someone compliments us on our appearance, we combat the niceness with statements pointing out what is wrong with us instead.   We listen to celebrity endorsements and stare at airbrushed magazine covers that tell us WE can have those rock-hard abs in just 5 minutes a day.  We hear models swear that "they don't diet" and although we are all too intelligent to actually believe it, we still do.  

Growing up, I never worried about diet and exercise.  I have ALWAYS been a terrible eater.  I hate fruits/veggies and I love all things bread and sugar.  I have never been athletic, and have spent most of my life thinking of "working out" as a form of punishment.   I was naturally thin all the way through my early 20s and didn't start thinking about how my lifestyle affected my waistline until about 7 years ago, when it actually started affecting my waistline.  

Seven years ago, I was a senior in college and dating someone who was extremely health-conscious.  He was also very blunt, and pointed out to me that I needed to take better care of myself.  (It wasn't as mean as it sounds, I swear...)  I was starting to feel sluggish and was noticing that clothes weren't fitting me like they'd used to.   I complained about it, and he offered the most sensible solution:  do something about it.  This began years of working out/giving up/dieting/binge eating.  I'd get on a health kick and then quickly give up.  My weight would yo-yo. So would my self-worth and my confidence.   Before you think "but your self-worth has nothing to do with your appearance...." just hear me out:  not succeeding, not reaching a goal and giving up is what bothered me more than anything.  Of course, I wanted to like the way I looked, but more than that I wanted to feel like I could DO anything.  And these years of being a habitual quitter proved that I couldn't.

I will admit that I am blessed with a little height and a large frame, which means I hide and that 'on-again, off-again' extra weight pretty well.  While this is sometimes a great attribute, it can also be a curse- often people don't believe me when I express the desire/need to lose.  (Inner voice is saying:  "So?  Why is it anyone else's business, anyhow?")  But it is.  I seek confirmation.  I seek sympathy.   I seek understanding- and while people think it is kind to say "No, you look great!" and "There's NO WAY you weight that much!" it really doesn't help.  It causes me to second-guess what I know my body needs, and it causes me to think, even momentarily, that I can get by with keeping those extra pounds.  I'm not shunning anyone for being polite- I'm just as guilty.  That's just the way it is.

When I met my husband, I was at my all-time heaviest.   During our first year of dating we became engaged, had some emergency plumbing work done on my house, bought a new house, moved and planned a wedding. Throw in that it was also the most stressful time of year for my job and it's easy to see that diet and exercise were not at the top of my priority list.  I made mediocre attempts to work out, but I wasn't really paying attention to my lifestyle.  My all-time heaviest weight began to get higher and higher on the scale, before I found myself- on my wedding day, no less- just 14 pounds shy of hitting 200lbs.   I cringe at my wedding photos, because I see that weight I was carrying and it makes me sad.  From day one of our courtship, Neil has never gone a day without telling me how beautiful he thinks I am.  The weight didn't matter to him, and I love him for that.  

After the wedding I became a little more focused on my health, and lost 25 pounds by our first anniversary.  To be 100% honest, this weight loss all came within about 4 months time, and I did it by watching my portions.  I stopped keeping sweets in the house.  I began counting calories like a crazy woman, and eventually the weight fell off.  It was almost too easy.  I kept if off through the holidays and was back into jeans that I hadn't worn in 5 years.  I still wasn't exercising, but I was only 5 pounds away from my college-weight.... and then life happened.  I hit the heavy-travel season for work.  I quit watching my portions.  I started baking again.  Since January, I have put back on about 15 of those 25 pounds that I lost.  All of the new pants that I had bought myself started getting snug.  It seemed like I was right back into my on-again, off-again cycle.

Then, on the afternoon of August 11, something in me just snapped.  I was just home from a work trip and spending the day unpacking, doing laundry and cleaning around the house.  And it just hit me:  I wanted to be strong.  I wanted to be fit and healthy, and I wanted to be proud of myself.  So, I dug out and dusted off my sneakers, updated the "Couch to 5K" app that had been dormant on my iPod for way too long, threw on a sports bra and went outside.  I got through that first day and decided I was going to do it again the next day. I text my friend Marianne, who has turned herself into quite the runner over the last few years, and told her what I had just done.  I needed encouragement from someone who has been  "at the beginning" before.   I also needed someone that would keep me accountable.  Since Monday the 11th, I have stuck with it.  I sprained my knee, but kept going as much as I could.  When I struggled with a particular week of the program, I just kept at it rather than giving up (I am still on that same "week"- but I intend to push on to the next one this week.)  I am in the middle of a 30-day workout challenge and plan to do another one once this one is complete.  I am back to using weight resistance training.  I WANT to work out everyday.  I feel the need to do something active every.single.day.   If I don't get to run/workout before work I do it once I come home from a long day.  I don't make excuses, because I want it.  This is new to me.  This is huge.  This is the change I have been craving over the last 7 years.  

I haven't seen the scale change much over the past three weeks.  (Did I mention I weigh myself every day?  It's probably very unhealthy, but it's just a part of my morning routine.  Has been since I was in jr. high.  Even in the days when I didn't obsess/worry about weight, I still checked in with my scale every morning.)

It's okay that the scale hasn't changed drastically yet, because everything else has.  My clothes are already fitting a little bit better.  My muscles are blissfully sore.  My body is craving water and protein.  I am reaching goals and pushing myself just a little further everyday.   I'm not going fast, and I'm only doing intervals at this point.  But I'm doing them.  

All of that is so much better than just feeling hungry and seeing the number on the scale drop. 

I'm being candid and public and probably annoying with all of this running/exercise stuff because I want to record it.  I want to be able to look back at when it was new and I want every milestone noted.  I also want to prove to anyone who is doubting herself that if CAN be done.  If I can change my lifestyle, anyone can.  

Ok, I'm done.  I will do my best to keep these running posts to a minimum from here on out... maybe.  ;)

Do you have a "get-healthy" story?   Have you been here?  Or are you here now?  Share with me!

xoxo

A few things from the past week...

Last Sunday, I hosted a baby shower for a sweet couple at our church.  C & L are expecting their first baby- a boy!- in early October, and I was honored to get to help put together a party to celebrate their new arrival!

The family owns a ranch and an outfitting company, so Baby Boy is already destined to be an outdoorsy, country boy!  (Isn't that the best kind?)

We kept a "cowboy/western" theme for the shower, and had a great time.  It was a little more stressful that I had anticipated, but it was worth it all to be able to honor this new family!

My 5K training has taken a detour - it seems that sore knee what was bothering me has been more of a (literal) pain than I anticipated and I've been doing my best to let it heal.   This means no running- which completely derails my training schedule.  I've traded running outside for time on an elliptical machine, which I know isn't the same at all.  I'm hoping that my time on the elliptical and time spent doing low-impact leg routines will keep my momentum up until I can actually hit the pavement again.  I have to admit, the fact that I didn't just 'give up' when this little injury occured is an accomplishment in itself!

I heard this cover of Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You" today, and I fell in love.  I have loved this song forever, and tend to be a fan of anything Ben Harper does, so it was just the perfect combination!  

Random fact about me:  I LOVE cover songs.  Especially when they have a nice twist to them or are in a completely different style than the original.

I also fell in love with this kid this week:

What a vocabulary!  

This reaction just made me laugh over and over again.  I really wish I could remember the moment when I found out I was going to be a big sister... I was seven and had been perfectly happy as the only child, so I'm sure I wasn't too thrilled with the news, either.  ;)

Have a wonderful three-day weekend!  I know I'm going to! 

xoxo

Time to relax...

I often believe the universe just KNOWS when we need a break...  and then blessedly drops a three-day weekend in our laps.  Is everyone else as ready for Labor Day weekend as I am?

We don't really have big plans for our little holiday break... which is exactly what I was needing.   Due to my inability to say "no" to anything, my weekend schedule seems to fill up faster than my workdays, which leaves no time for "down" time.  I try not to complain, because I love staying busy and being involved in my church and community, but sometimes I just need a break.  

Our September is already completely booked- we'll be out of town for my best friend's anniversary party, then headed to DC for an exciting event (more on this later),  and then Neil and I are taking turns attending the Walk To Emmaus, a church retreat.  He attends one weekend, and then I attend another.

With all of that coming up, this three-day weekend is EXACTLY what I need.

From Friday at 5pm until Tuesday at 5am, I plan to wear nothing but either my bathing suit or my pajamas, and intend to keep my face makeup free (all with the exception of Sunday morning for church, that is...).  

My mom is keeping my twin cousins for the weekend- they are ten and full of energy and wonderful- and I am looking forward to spending some quality time with them, hearing all about how life in the 5th grade is treating them so far.  I also hope to do some reading (I am just beginning The 5 Love Languages), some napping, some baking and some meditating.

I intend to breathe it in and enjoy.

I hope the very same for you!

xoxo

Smack in the middle of week three... with ice on my knee.

I have never been good at the "training/practice" aspect of anything- if I can't pick something up fairly quickly, I give up (which is probably a big reason why I was never an athlete... well, that and my actual lack of athletic ability). 

On Monday, August 11, I started a running program (the ever-popular 'Couch to 5K').   A big part of me is ashamed to admit how difficult some of this has been for me.   In the past 2 weeks, there have been days that doing this run/walk interval training has been brutal, and my mind starts deciding there is NO way I can ever be a "runner."  Then, I push through and finish.  It isn't pretty, but each day I am finishing the assigned intervals and I continue to wake up and do it all over again.  Thanks to some encouragement from friends, including this quote from my running hero Marianne,  I am finding all of the sweat, soreness, breathlessness and struggle worth it.   

I am in the process of learning "not to push it." Rather than just do the suggested three-days-a-week, I've been working out 5 to 6 days a week.  Because of this, I've already had a very minor injury.  I wanted to get through this 9 week program in 7-8 weeks so that I would have a couple of extra weeks to make sure I was ready for this 5K in mid-October.  The thought of showing up to run a 5K and not succeeding is such a miserable one for me.   Couple my lack of will to practice with the fact that I have a hard time accepting that anything is out of my reach, and you can see why being put through a program is tough for me.  Despite this, the icebag on me knee is teaching me that I have to have patience, and that I have to build.  I have to train.  I have to work at it rather than rush to it.

It's a process, both mentally and physically.  But I'm proudly getting through it, one grueling run/walk session at a time. 

I'm running.

I've been hesitant to write this post, because I have been afraid of jinxing myself - or, as it really should be called, "giving up."  BUT, after completing 6 days of training in just over a week, I'm ready to come completely clean with this:

I am becoming a runner.

I have always been envious of people who run for fun.  I've also always been a little baffled by them. . . but more than anything I've been jealous.   I've always wanted to understand what this high was that runners always speak of- and I certainly have been jealous of the strength and svelte, lean bodies that most runners have (earn).   However, as it is with most things fitness, my want/willpower was not as strong as my desire to just be lazy.

It's been no secret that I've battled with weight over the past two years.  I recently lost about 25 pounds through extreme portion control dieting, and have been watching it slowly creep back onto the scale over the last month or so.  Last Monday, as I was doing laundry and realizing that all of my new "skinny" clothes were starting to get snug, I realized I'd had enough.  I can't keep doing what I've been doing and expect to stay fit.
So, I put on my running shoes, and I went outside.

I had no idea where to start, so I updated the "Couch to 5K" app onto my ipod and just started with day one.  This isn't the first time I've attempted this program- but this is the first time I've really WANTED it.
To keep myself accountable, I text my friend Marianne (who has transformed herself into an AMAZING athlete over the last few years) as soon as my first workout was over.   I was with Marianne when she ran her first 5K years ago (I walked it, obviously) and she is planning to be with me for my first 5K in October.
I've also posted a bit on social media, and the encouragement I've received from my friends is overwhelming- and helping to hold me to this goal.

So, there it is.  I have just completed week 2 of this Couch to 5K program, and each day gets a little easier. I'm also really just enjoying the running.  I run in the mornings, and get to see the sunrise each time.   There is something so calming about being out in the middle of nowhere (aka, my house) and up with the sun before the rest of the world gets going.  I've loaded my iPod full of playlists so I won't hear the same song twice in this 9 week training program, which keeps it fun for me.   I sometimes feel a little silly for being so proud of myself- I mean, I am only through week 2 - but for the first time in a very long time I am doing something just for me. I am working toward a goal and taking the time out of a busy, hectic life to achieve it.  It feels really good.
Even if my knees and shins don't always agree...

If you're a runner, I want to know:  How did you get started?  When did you notice a physical change?   What has running done for you, both physically and mentally?  When did you recognize yourself as a "runner?" What are some of your favorite songs to run to?   I welcome all thoughts, advice, suggestions, etc.  Please share in the comments below!

A few of my everyday reads. . .

There are SO many wonderful blogs out there, and it's often overwhelming to read them all!   When I was blogging before, at my old space, I followed -and became friends with- several bloggers.  Since coming back to the blogging world, many of those amazing people have stopped blogging, leaving me to find new reads.    I miss my old reads, but I love discovering new blogs, too!

Even through the pause in my blogging, there are a few blogs that I stick to and I read daily ((or as often as they are posted)).  Below are just a handful of my tried and true favorites:

A Cup Of Jo
I love this woman.  I love her take on things, her ability to share so much in so few words, her family, her life. If you don't read her posts, make it a habit to do so!

Kendi Everyday
I generally find style blogs intimidating and a little unobtainable.  I mean, who can afford those clothes and honestly dress up EVERYDAY?!   Kendi's style blog includes wit and her sense of style seems to flow pretty well with mine ((or, what I would LIKE mine to be, anyway...)).

MFAMB
This girl is awesome.  Hilarious, stylish, slightly inappropriate = all of my favorite things.

#myfriendsaremarried
These just make me laugh.  As in, laugh-out-loud laugh.

Suri's Burn Book
Another funny one.  There's no depth here.  Just ((mostly innocent)) snarky comments.  Imagining that they truly come from the brain of Suri Cruise makes this site oh-so-funny.

Of course, I love so many more than these five- but these tend to be my most often read blogs.
What about you?  What blog(s) do you love?  Please, share!

Sorry, not sorry. . .

When I was in college, I read an AMAZING book by Susan Jane Gilman, titled "Kiss My Tiara:  How to Rule the World as a Smartmouth Goddess."   This has remained one of my very favorite reads, as it hilariously takes a look at all of the ridiculousness that women put up with/are expected to succumb to in  society.  While it may be a little outdated now ((it was published in 2001)),  I suggest it as a quick, funny read to any woman who doesn't take life too seriously.

One of the chapters was about how women have a tendency to apologize for everything, TO everything.  It has been programmed into our brains to quickly apologize when someone else is even in the slightest bit inconvenienced by the act of us just being human.   Even when this inconvenience isn't our fault- think about how many times someone bumps into you and you quickly apologize for being in their way. . .   

it was a topic that I had never thought of, because saying "I'm sorry." is the polite thing to do, right?

Turns out, maybe not.  

This ad (for shampoo?) perfectly touches on the "I'm sorry" epidemic women suffer from.  I think it is fantastic, and thought-provoking.

What do you think?  Is this over-apologizing stereotype true?  Do you find over-apologizing as polite, or as a  unconscious sign of inferiority that women need to reevaluate?  

Five things I'm loving on the internet this week. . .

Whenever I am dealing with that "I've hit a brick wall" feeling at work, I find it best to distract myself for a moment.  I'll minimize whatever window I am working in and go the internet for a quick break.  ((The trick is not to let yourself get too distracted, which is why I rarely head to pinterest while on a break...))

Below are a few links to things that I've found ((and loved)) around the internet this week:

The trailer for this documentary on marriage.  I'm looking forward to watching this one!

The film-nerd in me loves this slideshow of the visual spacing used in When Harry Met Sally. 

((I blame Professor Gorham and my college film class for this one!!))

Blake Lively's new lifestyle website, Preserve.  I'm not sure about its user-friendliness yet, but Lively's first letter was inspiring, and rumor has it her husband Ryan Reynolds will be contributing.  Who doesn't love that?

This spoof trailer from Wil Wheaton is HILARIOUS.  And so very dead-on.  If you grew up in the 80s/early 90s, you MUST watch this!

...and speaking of trailers...

Fifty Shades of Grey is hitting theatres in February.  Have you seen the trailer?  ((Of course you have.))

What do you think?  I read the book series, and was very mixed about it all.  The story-telling was atrocious and I found all it very annoying- but I read all three books within a week.  I think I'll eventually get around to seeing the film version- but I don't expect to head to theatres to do so.  

Will you go see it?  

If you've got something great on the internet that I need to see, give me the link in the comment section!  

xoxo

Red.

I have never really been "that" into makeup.  A part of me has always wanted to be, but when it comes down to it I am bare-faced more often than not. 

((And I know, I am not one of those that can pull off the no-makeup look.  I really shouldn't go without.  But I do anyway.))

Maybe it's because I am terrible at actually putting the stuff on... or maybe it's because I'm lazy.   Either way, I like the stuff alright, but generally I'd prefer not to wear it at all.

This shifted for me a bit when I decided to give red lips a try a few years ago.  I decided to try it, and after a while (and more than a handful of "I look like Bozo the Clown" moments) I started really liking the bold look.

Fast forward to now, and I don't like to be without my red lips.  Even if I have no other makeup on, I tend to go for the lipstick before I leave the house.  It's as though I feel naked without it.  There's just "something" to having a set of red lips that makes you fell put together and polished.  

And bold. 

Who doesn't want to feel bold?

I wore bright red lips on my wedding day, and when I look back at wedding photos, those lips are the only thing that feel like "me" in those photos.   I've grown out my hair and I've lost weight since my wedding- I really look quite different than I did just 18 months ago- but those red lips remain.

I am the WORST about being a creature of habit, so I tend to stick to the same one or two brands of red that I like the most. 

 ((It took a LOT of trial and error to find the tried and true reds!))

However, thanks to my wonderful friend ((and makeup junkie)) Claire, I have broken out of my habits and have been trying new reds again.  It feels fun to experiment!  ((Even if some of those experiments end in "Bozo the Clown" moments again. . .))

Here are the reds that my sweet friend sent me to try:

I LOVED getting this little goody package in the mail.  

I have the best friends. 

I laughed at myself when I was digging through my lipstick bin to see how many reds I have acquired...          I may have a problem. 

So, with 14 red lipsticks in the makeup drawer, I'm still wanting to try more! There are a few MAC colors I am dying to try, below.

  Do you have a favorite shade or red?  Please share!

All you need to know about Essential Rewards, thanks to Emily at Decorchick!

Happy Friday!

My Young Living Sponsor/Enroller just posted a GREAT blog, describing the Young Living Essential Rewards program.  I sometimes find myself having a hard time trying to explain how the program works.  I think I talk too much and make things too complicated- and anyone who knows me can attest to this, in all situations!  ;) Luckily, I have a wonderful team of folks FULL of oily wisdom that offer advice and information all the time!

I encourage you to head over to Emily's blog, Decorchick!, and read her wonderful breakdown of how the ER program works.  (Be sure to follow her blog, too- it's a great space for oily info, as well as some awesome design ideas.  She's great!)

As I mention in my "Oily Information" page at the top of my site, I didn't sign up for Essential Rewards right away.  I am a skeptic by nature, and wanted to try the oils out before I decided to order them on a monthly basis.  After a couple of weeks, I was hooked- and after all of my oils from my Premium Starter Kit started running low, I quickly signed up for Essential Rewards.  When signing up as a wholesale member, you have the option to check "No Thanks" on the ER program - but you can always enroll at a later date!  Trust me, you won't regret it!

You can click HERE to get started as a wholesale member of Young Living (meaning you receive a 24% discount off the retail price!).  As always, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me at jessica_coody@yahoo.com!

Six days on the Road (and I'm gonna make it home tonight...)

I've been on the road for the past week, first attending classes on tourism/travel marketing and now working a trade show in the Dallas Fort Worth area.  After six nights in hotels, I am ready to be home!

I spent 4 nights and 5 days at the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort and Spa near Bastrop, TX.  Although I was there for work (DAYS of classes!), being at such a beautiful place really did feel a bit like vacation. . .

I love my industry, and I am a nerd about things like marketing trends, so spending a week with like-minded people learning was a little like heaven for me.

...and having one free afternoon to spend lounging around the adult pool certainly helped with this "heavenly" feeling!

After the week of classes ended, I loaded up and headed to Irving, TX to set up an Oklahoma Tourism booth at the "DFW Ultimate Women's Expo."  I enjoy working trade shows- it's fun to meet people and get to talk about all of the fun (and almost always unknown) things to do in my great state.  

The show ends today at 5, and I'll be loading up and heading home.  I am so very ready to see my husband, my fury babies and my BED!  

Since I've technically been out of the office for a week, I have to be at work bright and early tomorrow- while I'd love to have a day to rest (read:  clean the house, unpack and get laundry done) I can't complain:  I have a job that I love and business is busy, busy, busy!

I was thinking this morning as I was packing in my hotel room about a few of the travel quirks I have:

* It doesn't matter if I am in a hotel room for a night or a week- I have to completely unpack my luggage.  I use the closet and the drawers in the room- I cannot stand to get dressed out of a suitcase!  My husband finds this hilarious, and apparently this isn't normal...

* I only eat at local restaurants OR restaurants that aren't available around my hometown.  (unless I am ordering pizza in my room- then it's papa johns or dominoes all the way!)

* The first thing I do when I get to my hotel room is turn on the TV, even if I am not interested in watching anything.  For some reason, having that background noise makes it feel less like a hotel room and more like my home.  (This is actually kind of sad-  I am a TV junkie!)

* When flying, I love to get to the airport early.  I find it peaceful to have plenty of time to get to my gate and just read, sip coffee and people watch.  

* Also when flying, I must touch the outside of the plane every time I am boarding.  I just give the big piece of metal and little 'love tap' as I am passing from the jetway into the plane.  It isn't so much a superstitious thing, because I really am not a nervous flyer.  It's just something I do, every single time I fly.  

Do you travel quite a bit?  If so, do you have any weird quirks or habits while on the road?

Bonus Points for you if you know the reference of the blog title! ;)

My Oily Journey has begun!

I started an incredible journey 6 weeks ago, and I've been telling ANYONE who will allow me the time about this new discovery:

I've become oily.

I had been seeing facebook posts here and there from a few friends, talking about loving "their oils" and "Young Living". . .  I started getting curious about this and did some digging on my own.  I researched essential oils, the Young Living Company and diffusing, for starters:  little did I know I was starting a path of constant learning and research.  I certainly didn't expect to become so interested and so thirsty for more information.

The information out there is VAST.   I won't even attempt to educate someone via this post about all of the amazing thing these oils can do.  I will say this:  these oils are natural and safe.  They are safe to use through inhalation, topical application, and some are even ingestible.  Many times you'll see an oil "out of stock" because this company simply cannot "produce" an oil.  These oils are extracted from shrubs, flowers, trees, bushes, roots and seeds.  They are concentrated, pure and potent.  Rather than attempt to go into all of the science and all of the benefits, I am going to share MY journey with you, and offer to answer any questions you may have along the way.

I decided to give this "oily life" a try, and ordered the "Premium Starter Kit."   This kit was the most expensive starter package, but it certainly had the most product for my money.  In this kit, I received a diffuser, 10 "Everyday Oils", a bottle of Stress Away, a roller filament, literature, and sample packs of product.

One reason I decided to give this a try was as simple as this:  enrolling as a "wholesale member" with Young Living didn't put me into some sort of autoship program, where I HAD to order product each month, regardless of whether I needed it or not.   Enrolling as a wholesale member meant that I could receive a great discount and only order what I needed when I needed it.   Knowing that it wasn't some sort of scam company that was going to force me to make monthly orders sold me immediately.

There IS a program (Essential Rewards) that offers a monthly autoship option, as well as the chance to earn points and free product- but it is completely optional.   I didn't enroll in this program right away- but I'll get to that.

Along with ordering this starter kit, I also ordered the Essential Oils Pocket Reference Guide- and it was well worth the $27.  This guide is full of great information and is my go-to for all of my oil needs.  I recommend this book to ANYONE who is interested in oils.

I received my oils on April 25th, and there was no turning back.  Upon using different oils,  I saw a difference in my sleep immediately, a difference in my mood after a few applications here and there and a difference in my skin after about a week.   About 2 weeks in I woke up with a hangover (after a reunion with some college friends) and was AMAZED at the difference these oils made in my overall wellness and recovery time.  THIS was HUGE for me.

Let me stop here for a minute and make a disclaimer:  I am NOT a very healthy person.   I have terrible eating habits.   I love a good, stiff drink or a full glass (or three) of wine.  By no means am I holistic and earthy and organic.  When I was doing my initial research I found SO many blogs and testimonials from earthy, organic, crunchy moms who also homeschool their gaggle of children while keeping their homes tidy and their local craft stores in business.   I praise those women and I respect those women - but I am not one of them. 

After 6 weeks of using oils (and running out of so many!) I enrolled in the Essential Rewards program.  To stay eligible for reward points and free product, you must buy 50 "pvs" a month through your monthly autoship order- this roughly equals out to about $50 per month.  It only took me 6 weeks to realize I would NEVER have a problem filling this requirement! 

Some of these oils are costly.  Some are not.   Getting started is certainly an "investment" at first, but that is common with anything.  I've spent $150 so far, and have an order in for about $200 worth of product this month.  I expect my monthly orders to cost between $50-$100 on average, but I try not to put a price on my wellness.  

I never started this journey thinking I would turn it into a business, or that I would really become as passionate about the oils as I have.  In less than two months I have realized that these oils are truly amazing and I share the information with others as often as possible- not in an attempt to build a business but because I want everyone to benefit from this stuff!

I will go into exactly what I've been using around my home in another post- Until then, if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below or email me at Jessica_Coody@yahoo.com

If you're interested in purchasing oils for yourself, you can start here.  (I strongly recommend signing up as a wholesale member!)  My member ID is already entered in the boxes for you.)

Lots of Oily Love,

-J.

Last night, I rubbed charcoal in my mouth.

Thanks to pinterest, I have become addicted to trying "natural" or "home" remedies for all sorts of things:  vinegar and Listerine footscrub?  "Sure!"  Homemade laundry soap?  "Absolutely!"  Elmer's glue as a pore-cleaning strip?  "Why not?!"    I've been pretty pleased with most of these experiments, and I really do wonder what I ever did before the MOST addictive website existed.

I have to say, last night's experiment pretty much beats all other odd experiments...

I rubbed activated charcoal on my teeth.

I saw this on pinterest (where else?) and decided to give it a go.  My teeth are stained from years of coffee, tea and red wine- and from some bad years of smoking in my twenties. 

Finding the activated charcoal was the hardest part.  (They sell it at Walgreen's- I just didn't know where to look and finally had to ask.) 

Activated Charcoal, aka "Black Magic."

Here's a lovely shot of my "before."  Taking this picture felt very... awkward.

  

The instructions were simple enough:  break a capsule open ((harder to do than I expected)), scrub the black powder on your teeth with your finger or toothbrush for about 5 minutes ((this kills my gums- I brushed for a couple of minutes and then just "swished" it around my mouth for another 3 or 4 minutes)), and then rinse/brush teeth with toothpaste.   The process is a bit odd, as your mouth/lips/chin/fingers turn BLACK.  Don't worry- it won't stain skin.  ((I was extra careful to keep it from getting on my clothes- not sure if it would stain fabric.))   I also IMMEDIATELY cleaned my sink, as I was terrified to stain the hotel sink black.  ((Oh yeah, I'm currently in St. Louis on a work trip...))

 

Here's a lovely shot of the "during"

Again- super awkward.
 

And here's my "after"

Hot, right?
 

Here's a before/after comparison:

Before, Top.
After, Bottom.
 

Overall, I am THRILLED.  I'm planning on doing this nightly for a week, and then cutting down to about twice a week for "maintenance."  From all that I've read, activated charcoal is all-natural and will not harm the tooth enamel.  I'll probably post the "before/after" again after a full week to see if I get any whiter. 

This bottle of activated charcoal cost about $20 and has 100 capsules.  One post I saw stated that you only needed a "half capsule" of powder for one session- but there is no way I'm going to attempt to save a half-capsule here and there.  That powder is fine and black- I can just imagine it getting everywhere.  :)

 

Have you ever tried any crazy home-remedies?  What works?  What doesn't?  Let me know!

 

 

No White Flags.

Anyone who knows me- or visits any of my social media sites- knows quickly that I am a big fan of the New Orleans Saints.  I became a fan while following the team in the years after Hurricane Katrina.  I loved the resilience and spirit of New Orleans, and this team seemed to embody all of that strength and pride.   In the years since, being a fan of this team has become so much more than just "who I watch" on Sundays.  Being a Saints fan is a deep part of what makes me, "me."  Some don't get that- many think it's cheesy or overly dramatic- and that's OK.  I know why I scream "Who Dat!"

The reasons are endless, and they are mine.

 

One of those reasons wasn't even a "reason" in the beginning...

 

Steve Gleason will forever be a hero to the Who Dat Nation;  first for the blocked punt in September 2006 against the Falcons, the first game in the Superdome after Katrina. 

More importantly, he will forever be a hero for his fight.

In 2011, Steve Gleason went public with his diagnosis of ALS, also known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease."  His story is one of amazing strength, hope, perseverance, faith and love.  I encourage everyone to read about his story, to donate to his foundation ((Team Gleason)), and to watch documentaries such as this one by NFL Films and the shorter "The Steve Gleason Story."  

 

As if you need another reason to think that Steve Gleason is one of the most amazing men ever, there's this, too:  Steve Gleason is a big fan of Pearl Jam, and has formed a special bond with this epic band.

In my opinion, there is no greater hero, no greater example of strength, and no greater role model than Steve Gleason.   On days like today, when I find myself just wanting to be lazy, I think of Steve.  On days that I want to have a pity-party (for whatever undeserved reason), I think of Steve.  

 If I could do no nothing else in my life, I would be happy to know that I helped share his story, and was a part of his Team. 

I'm bad at this.

This may be unconventional, but I'm going to start this new blog-venture with one damning statement:
I am bad at blogging.
I say this for one main reason:  I had a blog for about 6 years, and my readership was never above 50 people.

Truth be told, I never started blogging to get readers.  I wanted an outlet, and I missed writing, so blogging seemed to be the perfect fit.   A girlfriend had started blogging and was finding her niche in this crazy world, so I followed suit.
...Only I never really found my niche.  I found some great new friends- one of whom is like a sister to me now- and even reconnected with some old friends- but I never seemed to "get the hang of it."  And the harder I tried, the more awkward it all felt.  As I'd said, I never started blogging to get readers/followers/fans, but as I watched the followers grow for my girlfriends, I felt a little out of the loop.  It was almost like a clique, and while my friends never made me feel less-than-adequate, the numbers spoke for themselves.  Part of it was my fault-  I always chose to keep my blog semi-private and never shared it with many people I knew "in real-life."  It was important to me to be able to write candidly, and I struggled with the privacy issue often.   I wanted to stay private, but I also wanted to be heard.

Several times I tried to "fix" this.  I'd change my voice.  I'd write more like another, more popular blogger.  I'd participate in "link up" blogs.  I'd force myself to post on days that I really had nothing valuable to say. . . and in the end, I remained in this blogging rut- only each time I tried something "new," I felt more and more disappointment.   Perhaps the biggest disappointment I felt was with myself, because I found myself often measuring the beauty or importance of a post by how many comments were made (or the lack there-of.)  The harder I tried to write something "comment-inducing," the less people would respond.  It was a vicious cycle, and one that I never wanted to get wrapped up in in the first place.  I was no longer writing a blog post because I "wanted" to, or because I felt moved to- I was posting to get feedback.  Eventually, I just stopped.

Recently, my dear friend (and perhaps the BEST thing to come into my life through blogging) and I were talking about how we had been neglecting our blogs lately.  We laughed at how narcissistic and ego-centric the blogging world can be.  We agreed that social media has taken away a large reason for blogging- what we once used as an outlet to update our friends across the country (world, even!) about what we did that weekend can now be done immediately through instagram.   Sure, I miss writing, and I miss reading other posts- but in a world of insta-everything, blogging had become something time-consuming and labor-intensive.  (Just reading this makes me ill.  How lazy have I become?)

Another reason I've found it hard to pick up blogging again is because most of the girls that I "blogged" with are no longer blogging, either.  Over those primitive blogging years, I gained a small network of blog-friends, and I always knew I could count on them to read my posts (and comment!)- but more importantly, I always knew I could log on and read THEIR posts.  Most of these girls no longer blog, and the thought of starting this over again (eeek!  Making new friends?!) seems a bit exhausting.  Again, how lazy do I sound?

I've wrestled with the want/need to get back to writing quite a bit lately.  I miss it.   I've gone back and forth with putting life back into my old blog, or starting over.  I've settled on doing a bit of both-  I can't bring myself to delete the old blog completely- there are so many memories living there.  The idea of starting over completely is insane.  So, I've made my old blog private in order to preserve those posts and have started fresh, here- with elements from the old blog.  (Who can come up with a completely new name, after all?!)

I have no idea what is in store for My Hippie Soul.  I don't know what shape it's going to take.  I can't promise I'll always have purpose.  I can't promise I will post daily.  I can't promise to always be entertaining, or thought-provoking, or silly, or happy, or sad.   I can promise, however, that I will always be honest.

xoxo,
-J.