A New Beginning

Hey there!  So in my last post I had mentioned that I was definitely feeling a difference in how I was eating and how I wasn't feeling well and what not.  Turns out...(drum roll please..!) I'm pregnant!!  Woohoo!  No wonder I was so darn tired and feeling so sick!  Of course, my food choices didn't help, but still.  

This is all so crazy to me.  It's not anything really new because I have two kids already.  However, they will be 9 and 7 years old by the time the new baby is born.  So it's definitely been awhile since I've been pregnant!  

How have I been feeling?  Tired, but not as bad as before as I'm entering the second trimester, my stomach will hurt depending on many different things, and I'm consistently lazy.  Partly because I'm tired, I'm sure.  Before I found out I was expecting I was drinking lots of energy drinks, taking lots of supplements from the store I work at, staying up late, not needing so much sleep, eating whatever, trying to lose weight....  Becoming pregnant was actually something I needed, I think, to get back to my values. 

So my husband and I are very excited!  The kids?  I think they are a little nervous lol.  Has anyone else been in this type of position?  How did you handle it?  How did the older kids handle it?  Your opinion and tips are greatly appreciated!

Since I've quit taking all those supplements and drinking so much caffeine I've basically slowed down, got caught up on some rest, and have been doing a lot of thinking.  Before I was really in a good mindset.  I was motivated, dedicated to certain things, on a path of what I thought was good and right whether it was right or not... Still trying to figure it all out.  What a mess! bleck  Anyway, I've been able to slow down and give it more thought, to really soak in all the materials I've been reading, and remembering/rediscovering why I started doing things.  

I promise, I'm not trying to be vague, but also not terribly too specific lol.  Basically, I read a lot of books about success and leadership.  I love these kinds of books!  These books aren't just meant for people trying to make money, though, as many people may think.  Of course, I want more money, seriously who doesn't?  However, I've learned that the principles and philosophy's in these books can be used towards anything in life that I want to be more successful in.  What is also sinking in more and more is that success takes a long time.  Sure, there are people out there who seem to just have this great success really fast, but who knows what was going on behind the scenes.  For me, it will take time.  I just have to make sure not to give up, keep going, and don't stop.  

With all of this, too, I have been really finding what makes me happy.  Happiness is so important to me and I think more people should be shown the direction to happiness.  Like money, who doesn't want more happiness?  This could be a whole other post, though, so I'll leave it at that.  What have I found that is making me happy?  Oddly enough, it's been the things that I want most and have troubling holding on to.  Isn't that strange?  Is there other people out there who feel similar with this situation?  

There are certain things that were holding me back.  Most often it was all me, holding myself back.  Sometimes maybe even blaming others.  I was really just letting them take the wheel, though.  Well, I've had enough of that.  And it seems that letting go of that feeling of others being in the way is really helping me enjoy the things that I really love to do.  Like baking, finding new recipes, veganism, my blog and more.  I'm not sure what the end product of this blog will be, but I'm going to keep posting and see what happens.  Lately it's been mostly like diary posts.  

So that's what's up for now.  Lots of new things happening.  I'm really excited about all these new beginnings.  In a way I've already been there and done that with everything, but it's always different when you stop and start over again.  So many things have been learned to make the next time around a different experience.  

It would be great to hear your feedback!  I look forward to it! Maybe there are things you would like to see posting here on the blog?  

P.S. I love those motivational quotes and stuff and plan to use them a lot!  

It feels like Monday....

...Yet it's Thursday!  I guess it's because my week is just starting.  I have a long week ahead of me!

Anyway, I thought I would just stop by and write some stuff down.  Still looking for a conclusion!  :p  Lately I've been not feeling so well.  As mentioned in an earlier post, I don't feel right about writing about veganism and being raw because I'm just not anymore.  So basically...ya, I'm not eating good foods.  I have entered back in a lot of processed foods too.  I sure have been feeling the difference!  I feel bloated, I'm over a week late, I feel heavy a lot, more hungry than usual, so so tired all the time, lots of mucous (yuck!)....Just all around not feeling well.

So I was thinking, I should start out really slow and start taking things out of my current diet.  This morning I had an egg and bagel for breakfast and with how yucky I felt I decided that eggs were the first to go.  I'm not the type of person to eat a bagel on it's own so pretty much along with the eggs that will go too.  Along with the butter that goes on the bagel... I think it's a good plan so far!

I'm just going to stick with that for awhile and see how it goes.  When I'm ready to take more foods out I will.  One thing to remember is not to think about what I can't eat.  It's about what I can eat.  More importantly, though, it's really about what I want to eat so I can be a healthier person and a good example.

Now that I think about it, I'll be adding in more things as well as taking things out.  Like exercise.  I'm really looking forward to this.  In a way I'm not feeling so excited about it, but I remember how good I felt as a vegan for so many different reasons.  I know that once I start getting healthier I'll start feeling better all around more excited about my choices.

Note: I started this post on Thursday and wasn't able to finish.  It's finished on Friday morning. :)

Ahh, Summer is here again!

I'm not sure about everyone else, but for me, here in California, the weather has been very much up and down lately.  I think our plants in the garden are really liking it!  So far we have growing tomatoes, a variety of peppers, purple cabbage, corn, sunflowers, beans, potatoes, eggplant...!  There's a lot going on!  This year my husband has been working on a rotation of plants.  So our first set of tomatoes are growing with tons of green tomatoes on them.  And just the other day he planted another set.  So basically by the time we're picking the big set of plants the other plants will be producing more tomatoes.  We're really excited to see how it all turns out!

A lot has been going on around here, but at the same time, not so much.  I've been working like crazy at my job and trying to get in more hours.  Nerium didn't work out so well for me so that's been pushed to the side.  I'm trying to find something to focus on.  Like I did with Nerium.  That didn't work out so well though.  So I've been racking my brain at what I should do.  I had so much fun with my blog and making videos.  But I feel like I shouldn't be focusing on veganism and being raw.  So the focus of this blog will be changing.  I'm not exactly sure how it's going to go, but it's really been changing since the beginning of the year.

I guess I'm just tired of feeling like I can't succeed at anything.  Sure I learn a lot and that is always a bonus.  But why do I feel like I can't move forward with anything?  I guess it's partly trying to find my balance of all things that I enjoy.  I know I can't put my focus on everything I enjoy.  So I need to figure out what is most important, what I love the most, and how to incorporate it all.  I have found that I'm starting to rediscover things.  This blog is a good example of that along with herbs, natural healing type of stuff, going green...

I don't know, I'm just at a loss.  I was really hoping that if I just start writing I'll be able to figure something out.  The whole, letting it flow and coming up with an answer kinda thing.  Know what I mean?  At this rate, nothing new has changed so far.  Maybe it's just going to take some time to figure out.

Hopefully everyone else is doing well :)  I'll write soon ;)

Goals and Challenges

I know I've been talking a lot about growth, development, goals, challenges... (At least I feel like I do.  It's on my mind constantly!)  I've been starting to have some realistic goals that I want to achieve.  I guess everything has been realistic, but not at the same time.  From reading so many books lately and listening to Jeff Olson all the time I feel like it's all starting to hit home so much more....

One thing I have learned is that everything is going to take time.  And since everyone is different it takes a different amount of time for each person.  My example would be how I've been up and down struggling with how I want to eat over the past 5 or so years now.  Heck, even trying to quit drinking alcohol and actually getting the amount of exercise I need every day.  Many people get right down to it.  Many of those succeed where many of those fail.  Many people take a long time to do research first.  It's harder to catch on.  It goes for many different things in life too.  

Last Friday I got pretty drunk.  I don't know what the heck happened.  I think the wine was so good like juice that I just sucked it down.  Ever have those days where you just wanted a couple drinks and next thing you know you're sloppy drunk and being very annoying?  I'm just thankful I didn't break anything and woke up feeling absolutely fine.  Not to mention that my husband wasn't terribly mad at me lol

Anyway... That night I wrote in my journal and was set and determined to not drink for a whole year Starting February 9, 2014.  Ending February 9, 2015.  I waited an extra day because I was going to a big crazy party that Saturday night and I just knew I was going to end up having a beer or something.  I just wanted to give myself that one extra day.  And it totally went well.  I had a great time at the party, had a few drinks, made lots of new friends... At midnight I said no to any more drinks.  It was officially February 9 and I was very determined to accomplish this long goal.  Am I worried about future parties and camping?  Ya, a bit.  But at the same time, they are so far away that, hopefully, by then I'll be over it.  My husband is joining me in this challenge with the exception of beer.  For me - no booze, no beer.  No alcohol at all.  He enjoys his beers and doesn't have an issue.  I think it's going to be great for both of us.  I'm really excited and looking forward to an interesting year without alcohol.  

I have always had so many goals and wanted to accomplish a good 30 day challenge, but have never been so good at that.  Since I've read The Happiness Project I've been having some great ideas to help me along the way.  As mentioned before, these things are going to take time.  Also, I've been meaning to make a list of my goals for the year and break them all down into smaller and smaller goals so I can do the little things that will help me reach the small goals which help lead me into the bigger goals.  Does that make sense?

I've been having this block though.  It's my next "challenge" I guess lol.  So I know what my long term goals are.  They are generally the same.  I got the one year thing down.  But when it comes to breaking it down into smaller goals I almost get lost.  In The Happiness Project the author had a resolution chart that she followed every month.  Using that I'm going to break down my large goals into to smaller ones.  

I'm going to have to read that book again.  This book has also inspired me do many of the ideas that have come to my mind in the past and go through with them for a whole year and see how it goes.  Like a walking group.  That idea has ran through my head so many times.  Why not do it?  Many ideas that I've come up with I've had a huge plan for it all.  Wrote everything all out, but just didn't follow through because I felt that it wasn't "realistic".  

The point is, I'm going to be working so much harder on my goals than I ever have.  I'm not thinking about how things "need" to get done.  It's more about how I "want" to get them done.  Therefore I'll find the time to do that and it's going to be awesome.

If you want the link to the monthly resolution chart let me know and I'll be happy to give it to you!  In the mean time, I need to get ready to work...

A Little Clarification

Happy Tuesday!  The other day I wrote a post with notes I started after I finished reading the book The Happiness Project.  It's really a great book!  There were two things that I had wrote that needed a little more written out about.  

The first one is not feeling right about working with GNC 100%.  Here is what has been on my mind:

• GNC pays me right now.  I'm doing better at the job which means more hours.
• My boss seems to really like me.  She said I'm her lead.  She trusts me and knows she can rely on me and depend on me.  That makes me feel really good.  I've never been in that position before.
• The job itself is easy.  However, there's also not very much foot traffic.  But that's mostly because not many people know the store is there yet because it is so new.
• It's going to help me pay my school bills.
• I like the people I work with.
• It takes out my time that I want to do with Nerium.  I miss out on a lot of meetings.  
• The boss said I can have a demo out front while I'm working, though, for Nerium.  That is so darn cool.
• I get experience using a lot of the knowledge I gained from going to school for so long.
• It's very supplement based.  
• It's sales... And I'm required to meet certain goals.  It makes it fun and I have to learn faster, but I don't want to be in that position.
• The corporate side of the company seems really uptight.  I understand a lot of it, but again, I don't want to be in that position.  I don't like how they can't trust employees 100%.  Like I said, I can understand it to a point.  

I had also put that I'm not 100% feeling right about Nerium.  I actually lean towards Nerium more than GNC so it's not that I'm super doubtful... So, just, here is what I've been thinking:

• I don't make any money yet from Nerium.
• It's hard to get out there and meet people when I'm working at GNC all the time. 
• It's not nutrition based at all.
• It's a cruelty-free product.
• I have the potential to make so much money and have my dreams come true.
• I'd be able to have my own business with time to spend with my family, pick them up from the bus stop, no need for babysitters to pay.
• More time at home for cleaning and what not.
• I get to meet people and help them achieve goals they never thought they could accomplish.
• I'm not working for some other company.  I'm working with them and for me.  That's really important.  
• I'm growing so much with personal development it's just so amazing.
• I love hearing Jeff Olson talk through my radio and phone! 
• I'll have more time to work on my blog.
• I'll accomplish more goals.

And that's just the start of it for Nerium lol!!  My conclusion that I've been having run through my head for awhile now is that I have to stick with GNC for now and don't give up on Nerium.  Find ways to make Nerium work around my GNC hours and keep doing great at GNC.  It does feel good to know that I'm doing so well at GNC and I know that I'll do great at Nerium.  It's just all taking a lot of time.  As it should, I suppose.  I am learning a lot through both companies.  I guess I'm just eager to be a leader and move forward with what I know will be more permanent.  I'm just so excited to move forward again with the things that I've always wanted to accomplish.  Like my blog, sharing veganism, YouTube videos, and so much more.  

So that's that for now.  I'm glad to have finally been able to write that down!  

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them down below!  I'm so eager to hear about what people are thinking about!  

Random notes

What makes me feel good:

Veganism

Fruits

My family. Every side. 

Waking up to Chris every morning

When my kids show me they really do love me. 

Making jewelry

Happy, mellow music

Organic foods

Non-GMO foods

Exercising

Making my kids happy in a healthy way

Making my husband happy in a healthy way. 

Being positive, happy, optimistic. 

"Self help" books/ personal development

What makes me feel bad:

Feeling selfish

Spending too much money

Drinking alcohol 

Hiding things from Chris because I shouldn't have bought something

Not accomplishing my goals

Yelling at my son

Anxieties

What I don't feel right about:

Eating animal products

My job at GNC (it's a half and half kinda thing... More explaining is needed). 

Going completely with Nerium (again, more info is needed). 

Chris commuting to work everyday

Chris seemingly not getting/having the real good things that he deserves. 

Do I have sources of an atmosphere of growth?

The gym

Nerium

GNC

Books

The internet/social media

This is just a short quick list I wanted to make. I just finished reading the book The Happiness Project written by Gretchen Rubin. Amazing book!!

Making this short because I'm using my phone and it's dying. I don't have a charger with me... More is soon to come!!

Challenges

Lately I've been thinking about goals, challenges, and things like that.  What do I want to achieve?  I've been through a lot with all the ups and downs/roller coaster of how to eat over the years.  With as hard as it has been with that roller coaster, I have learned so much and actually made a lot of progress.

I try my best to be optimistic :)

So, I've been thinking... I want to do my first realistic, weight loss/diet goal that will last a month.  My first real 30 day challenge.

Rules:

Follow the 80/10/10 rules.
Smoothies for breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Salad for dessert.
Exercise at least 30 minutes per day.  No excuses
No beer
No booze
No preservatives
Drink at least 3L of water per day
Consume at least 3000 calories per day

I feel like I should write more down, but when you really look at it... It can look kind of scary.  But like I mentioned before, I've been through this so many times.  I know everything about it, just haven't put my knowledge to the test.  So I guess this is what it's really about.  Testing myself.  I've done it all, but never together at one time.

I have a feeling I'm going to feel beyond amazing.  And I don't just mean nutritionally feeling good.  I'm thinking spiritually, emotionally, personally....So many different ways.

I'm really scared about doing it though.  That's the hard part.  Why am I so scared?  I have done it so many times before.  They never really felt like I would actually achieve though.  Basically, I guess I felt like a failure, even though I didn't want to fail.  And I ended up failing.  I have failed a lot.  And every time, it feels worse and worse.  It's like a vicious cycle.  Just lots of negatives leading into more negatives.

I've been reading a lot of books on personal development.  I think this is what has been motivating me to write all of this down.  I've been wanting to do the things that make me feel good and happy.  Following these guidelines should put me in this place of where I want to be physically and emotionally.  I'm gonna look so good and feel so good.

Those are long term dreams though.  So, to try to get more serious, I want to just try it for 30 days.  It's a challenge.  Just to see what it's like.  I have a feeling I'm going to feel so much better about it than I ever really have.  I think I will have a much better effect than I ever have dreamed of.

I want to do this starting February 1st.  I know the month is short, and I didn't plan it that way, I promise.  I think I am scared because I have failed so many times in the past.  But at the same time I feel like I will achieve more because I'm starting to put what I've learned into motion.

It's late and this popped into my mind and I felt like writing it down.  So I'm sure I just rambled on for a long time, but oh well.  I'm working more on being more "me" and that's ok.  In fact, I'm really looking forward to more of these types of post.

Some Changes

Hello again!  I wanted to share that I've been making some changes in my life.  As I have mentioned before, life has been busy.  It's been crazy!  There were some things that just needed to be worked on and one of them is my eating lifestyle.  

It just wasn't working out.  Things weren't going well with my family.  I think I was just trying to do too much for them.  I wanted them to eat like me and it wasn't working.  So things have been switched up a little bit. 

I was trying to get my family to eat a more gluten free vegan diet.  Like I said before, that wasn't working out!  Recipes weren't coming out good, they all missed certain foods, many food items were getting wasted, and too much money was being spent.  So I took a few steps back.  

I started drinking coffee again, some alcohol, and much more cooked foods.  Since starting a new job I have also incorporated some supplements to my life.  Exercise is very important to me, yet I wasn't doing it at all.  Recently, I've started incorporating that in.  

Overall, we're a happy family again.  I'm trying to work on more meals that can be shared and we all will enjoy.  This means that I'll just put aside what I want and fix it up how I want compared to everyone else.  For example, I don't want the meat in spaghetti so I'll just put some noodles and sauce to the side before the meat goes in.  It works!  

Also, instead of trying to force my family to do something they don't want to necessarily do, I will let them see my progress, educate them more in a proper way, let them see how good I feel overall.  Sometimes my husband will find something on the internet about factory farming and share it with me.  I end up telling him that that is another reason why I don't want to eat meat.  Not only is it sad for the animals to die and in the manner that they die (and live for that matter), but factory farming is just so wrong and corrupted.  It's so frustrating and I just don't want to be apart of it.  

I have to mention again how happy I am to have my blog back.  It's not like it got taken away or anything.  I just needed to take a few steps back is all.  I got a fresh restart!  This year for me is going to be great, I can just feel it!  I'm staying positive and motivated and look forward to all my adventures making progress!  

Cass

I miss you blog!!!

Hey there!  I miss this blog so much.  When I just checked in I noticed that I haven't even been here since October!  There were just some things that happened and I haven't been back here.  I think about the blog often though.  

Around the holidays it is just so crazy.  All of our birthday's, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years.... I'm still not done yet with the whole ordeal!  Only one more birthday to go!  Thank goodness.  And, thankfully, my husband doesn't want to do anything at all.  Which, I think is kind of sad.  But at the same time, it's his birthday and he can do whatever he wants.  Or the lack thereof.  Which does make it easier for me.  However, I feel at a loss because I've been going so much for so long...  But now I'm just rambling!!

Other things happening, I got a new job!  Woohoo!  I'm working at a place where I can practice what I've learned in school and help people achieve their health and fitness goals.  Yay!  I'm really excited about it.  Can you tell?  Plus I'm still working on my NeriumAD business.  I'm really trying to get it off the ground.  

So ya, very busy around here.  I will start posting once a week at least.  Things are still going to get crazy busy as sports for the kids are coming up.  

Oh!  One thing I would like to post is that since I started keeping track of my weight and measurements as of September 30, I have lost 7 pounds and over 8" all over my body!  Woohoo!  I'm still going stronger than ever and look forward to more weight loss and a more fit body.  

Well, that's about all for now.  I'm so happy to be back here again.  *HUGS*  

Let me know if there's anything you want me to write about or if you have any questions!

Cass

Pic/motivator for the day: