With online shopping, boutiques, and malls the choice of companies to buy from are endless. The quality of the product and service can be a bit hit and miss, though. Not just from company to company, but sometimes even within a company. Every now and then, though, you find a good one. One worth being faithful to. A company that not only appreciates their customers but doesn’t mind taking the time to spoil and invest in them…..before they’ve even bought anything.

That’s basically how my first experience with Gaiam has been. As I told you the other day, I’m finally making an exercise routine I can stick with. Yoga is something I’ve dabbled in and read about off and on since before Lil was born. Recently, though, I’ve jumped all the way in. I’m doing it.

Sunday evening was my first session. As suggested by a lovely friend from high school soccer, I checked out Gaiam on Hulu. Then I browsed their website to see what all they had to offer. By my second session on the living room carpet, I realized why they used the yoga mats. With and without my socks, my feet and toes had no grip on the floor to hold my poses. I decided I needed a mat.

Just in the knick of time, a fabulous family friend came to the rescue. One who just so happens to work at Gaiam. What luck, right? She offered to send me one of her spare mats, which was super nice of her. What started out as a generous offer, though turned me into a loyal customer. My friend talked to a coworker and before I knew it, a care package was on its way to Kentucky.

That’s right, some sweet lady made me {and Lilie Jo} her project for the day.  She gathered up all kinds of goodies and overnighted a package to us. I could not be more grateful or surprised by their generosity. Gaiam wins. I’ll be sure not to purchase any more of my yoga necessities anywhere else. They’ve won over my pocketbook and my heart. Not to mention, the products truly are wonderful.

Lilie Jo and I each received our own standard thickness yoga mat along with one thick one which will be good for harder surfaces. Yes, count that again: THREE yoga mats. Ms. Generosity also sent us two organic cotton Gaiam tote bags that fold up, two yoga mat bags and two water bottles {which I was already a fan of}. She also threw in a couple of foam activities for Lil. Too much.

We hurried upstairs and changed to try the new mats out with one of Gaiam’s family yoga sessions on Hulu. I cannot thank Gaiam enough for their generosity. I’m on a search for a name and address to personally send her a thank you.

I also want to pass along some good old fashioned word-of-mouth advertising.

Please go check out the Gaiam website. Its full of great information and products. If you’re into fitness, green living, personal growth, health and/or wellness check them out. Some of my favorites to add to the cart are this gorgeous fair trade necklace made from wood, these really cool yoga socks because I always have cold feet, this comfy looking every-day tank, or this ballet wrap skirt, which I’m totally digging for work or everyday where.

Have you ever had your own wonderful experience with a brand? Tell me about the company and why you made the decision to stick with them?

Something wonderful and beautiful has started around here. We have started budgeting. I put my foot down and insisted we do it as part of our 2013 changes.  I’ve attempted several times before. Made a plan, created a spread sheet… you know the deal. But there was never any follow through.

I couldn’t do it on my own, though. Just like the rest of our marriage, it requires both of our efforts. Billy was never really taught much about managing money when he was growing up, which makes it all the more intimidating and frustrating for him. Together, though, we managed to make it through our first full month of budgeting, beginning to end.

There are all kinds of free spreadsheets and templates out there, but none made me happy. Being the control freak that I am, I thought it would be better to just make one myself. That way I would understand the whole thing and be able to make the changes here and there as I see fit.

We created our own spread sheet which displays out monthly projected and actual income, spending, savings, and bills.  We have several columns to divide up our different types of spending {bills, gas, grocery, eating out, church, misc…} and sections to record any notes or observations, as well as debt progress. I have a tab for every month this year so we can keep it all together. Then we share it in a private drop box folder so we both have access to updating the file at all times.

This really seems to be working out well for us so far.

The best part has really been our teamwork.  Not just with recording and paying the bills on time, but in holding each other accountable on the spending.  Now that we are both more aware of exactly what we have spent and where we stand financially {communication} we are getting better at saying ‘no.’  No to ourselves and no to each other.

Heck, we even have Lilie Jo in on the ‘no’ action.  When begging to go out to eat I told her exactly why we didn’t want to spend the money for a good time now, rather save it to buy our own home later.  I enticed her with the excitement of painting her bedroom what ever color she wanted, getting a new kittie {or two} and building tree houses in the backyard.  Next thing I knew she was questioning every thing I looked at or talked about in a store, “Do you need that, Mommy, or just want it?”  God has started using my five year old to build my self control, apparently. Great.

We weren’t perfect, our first month, for sure. We still have some spending we need to cut out. Recording everything, though, has brought that more to light.  We see our mistakes more clearly and plan to work on them.  February, so far, is getting off to a great start, as well.  For the first time in a while, we have several bills paid even though they aren’t even due yet. That feels awesome.  Having a stable, more predictable income sure does help. I can’t wait until Billy starts his new job.

Well, kind of.  I won’t lie, he’s gotten pretty darn good at holding down the fort.  I wish I could just get a hefty raise and then pay him to stay at home. I’ve hardly even been allowed to cook, lately. Don’t tell him I told you this, but he might even be better at it than me.  Over achiever….yeesh.

What goals have you been working on for 2013? What was your progress for January?

Marriage is not easy. Its not all butterflies, snuggles, holding hands and love letters. Its often uncomfortable, frustrating, and downright hard sometimes. Do I love my husband? Of course. Do I always like him? Next question, please.

I will proudly say, though, that I have grown so much in the past three and half years we’ve been together. I owe a lot of it to him. He is my best friend, an awesome partner, and my biggest challenger. He calls me out when I’ve crossed a line and backs me up when I’ve been challenged. He’s my biggest cheerleader but I still haven’t been able to get him in one of the uniforms.

Yes, this is a very old photo.

But like I said, it isn’t all fun and games. Since we’re still a young couple, its often rough and stressful. We’re both growing individually. We’re also still learning how to work together and take the other’s feelings and desires into consideration.

Lately, though, Billy–I mean Bill–has been working extra hard on himself. I’m pretty proud of him, so far. He came to me the other day and told me he wanted to start writing about his battles within himself. He’s working towards a better him. A better perspective, better habits and better decisions.

Though he’s no Hemingway, I’m sure his content will be valued by many. And on that note, I think you should go check him out over at his new blog: Becoming Bill. And don’t forget to tell him who sent you.

My summer reading list did not consist of only fiction, this year.  I also read a couple of books that would just help my tought process and way of living.  My Dad had read The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn and found it very useful in not only his profession, but also life general.  Its a small book with a big impact.

This book only took a couple days to read.  That’s only because I spent more time visiting with family, than reading.  Its only 110 pages long.  It was the first “self help” book I’ve ever been able to finish.

Its a book about putting the passion and drive back into your life and work.  Sanborn inspires us to find this desire to do our best not just for your business, but for yourself.  We’re reminded we should strive for our best not to be recognized, but simply to create value within ourselves, first.

In his book, Sanborn teaches us what a Fred is, how to become one, and how to create them.  Little did my father know, upon suggesting the book, that its timing would be so perfect.  Sanborn talks quite a bit about leadership, in his book, as well.  I read the book at the beginning of July and started my new job as salon leader not long after.

I won’t lie, it helped make the interview process a little easier on me.

I’d like to share a few of my favorite quotes from Sanborn with you:

Everyone wants to count, to know that what he or she does each day isn’t simply a means of making a living, but “a living of making meaning.” The unhappiest people of all may well be those who go to jobs they hate because they need the money. Why not go to a job you love because you need the money? you can. Convert your job into one you love, not by doing a different job, but by doing the one you have differently!

pages 29-30

Here’s a mystery: If you expect praise and recognition, it will seldom come. I really don’t know why, but life has demonstrated repeatedly that if your motive for doing something is to receive thanks or praise, you’ll often be disappointed. If, however, you go about doing the right thing, knowing that the doing is its own reward, you’ll be fulfilled whether or not you get recognition from others. When reward or recognition comes, it will be icing on an already tasty cake.

page 31

Attitude colors everything you and I do in life.
A positive attitude works out of opportunity, not obligation.
A positive attitude looks for the best, not the worst, in circumstances.
A positive attitude is “can-do,” not “must-do.”
A positive attitude is hopeful, not pessimistic.

pages 112-113

The fact is that everybody is already making a difference every day. The key question is, What kind of difference is each of us making.

page unknown

The Fred Factor is great for anyone, no matter your interests or job–or lack there of.  I really encourage everyone to read it.  Especially those of your feeling in a rut about life and/or work.  Sanborn’s message is sure to freshen your spirit and drive for success.

I borrowed the book from my dad and then Billy checked it out from the library.  I plan to add it permanently to my library very soon.

Has anyone else read this book?  What are your thoughts?

Hey, darlin’! Have the lazy days of summer kicked in for you just yet?  If so, I have the perfect solution to perk you up.  Well, your skin, at least.  I have put together and gifted several jars of coffee and cocoa facial scrub, lately, and everyone has loved it.

I use organic coffee and coconut oil.  I melt down the honey and the coconut oil before mixing into the dry ingredients.  I go between almond and rum extract/flavor to add to the scent {as if coffee isn’t enough}.

Now let’s break down why this scrub is good for your skin.

• coffee - caffeine reduces redness and inflammation {evens skin tone}
• cocoa – more antioxidants than red wine or green tea {more interesting info about cocoa}
• honey – antioxidant; keeps skin hydrated and fresh; protects skin from sun; treats acne; absorbs impurities {my favorite home skin care ingredient}
• coconut oil – smoothes and moisturizes; protects from microbial infection; contains vitamin E and protein {good for skin whether applied internally or externally}

A few tips for the coffee cocoa facial scrub, before I set you free, though.  You don’t have to use any extract of flavor to adjust the scent.  Either way, you’re going to smell coffee.  That was perfectly fine with me.  Also, I didn’t restrict the scrub to just my face. I really love this stuff.

When it comes to your coffee grounds, I would suggest using no courser than what you get already ground.  Depending on how fine/course you want your scrub, you can grind it down to espresso and still get good results.  Also, if your scrub hardens, you can warm it up and/or add a small amount of milk and stir.  I suggest using a batch within about two weeks {longer if you store it in the refrigerator}.

There you go, darlin’.  Let me know how it goes!

Happy New Year!!!  I hope your celebration was a fun and safe one.  Ours was nice. Not too crazy, though, because as you read this, we’re on the road heading back to the big K-Y.  Time to get back to routine.  My winter class and Lilie’s school both start back Monday.

{VIA Pinterest}

I know this is the part where I’m supposed to set a couple of New Year’s resolutions that I most likely will forget about after about a month, but I’m not.  Instead, I just want to share my goals for this year.

Rather than saying “I’m going to do this from now on,” I want to say “This is what I want to work on.”

First of all, financial obedience.  We really need to work on this.  We need to create a tighter, more detailed budget and really stick with it.  In order to do this, I plan to create some sort of spending/budget board to hang in  our bedroom.  I want it to be big enough to grab our attention, in a place we will see it often and yet out of the sight of everyone else who may visit.  I also plan to set goals and small rewards for ourselves for meeting them.

My next goal is to seriously get into a walking/running routine with or without Billy.  My family history shows that good heart health is not on my side.  Therefore, I need to take the health of my heart into my own hands and really take control of it while I’m still young and healthy.  Like our finances, work more on it now, so life will be easier later.

My third goal is to land a desirable internship for the Summer.  It could be all summer, a month or even just a couple weeks, either way, I want one.  Preferably in Omaha.  So, if you know anyone, send them my way Please and thank you.

And I believe my final goal is to eventually make some sort of profit off of the design skills I have acquired thus far.  I have a couple of ideas as a means of doing so.  Online and off.  I hope if you have any needs, you’ll look me up.

And I think that’s it.  That’s all of them.  Ready to share?  Have you set any resolutions goals for 2012?  Share them in the comment section below!

Happy New Year!!

Welcome back, friends!  Ready for another run with some self discipline?  Here’s a little lesson I learned in a most unexpected place.

{a linscape drawing I did with charcoal and India ink. the goal was to create atmosphere and mood.}

When I was in high school, I took as many art classes as I could.   I took almost every single one they offered {which was more than more school’s offer}.  Well, the other day, as I though about my drawing projects so far this semester, I started comparing my high school art classes to my college ones.  The different way they were taught, the types of projects, and the way we were/are expected to execute them.

Then I thought about the quality of work I’ve done for each level.  That’s where I stumbled upon my lesson.

In high school, I raced through each project, excited to see the finished product and impatient to start the next idea I’d dreamed up or been assigned.  College is a little different, however.  Most of your hands-on classes are called ‘studio’ classes.  Both of my art classes are only two days a week but for three hours at a time.  That means I have to sit and work on that project for at least three hours at a time and generally for more than one class session.

Woa.  That was something new and a little intimidating for me to think about.  Three hours of nonstop drawing?!

Two things happened because of this, though.  For one, I found a way to let me mind go and sort of meditate, per say.  It has turned out to be quit relaxing.  And, two, the time spent really shows in my work.  I once thought of myself as just a lover of the arts, but not really possessing much talent for them.  Now, I might not be so hard on my self.  Now, I’m definitely no Jackson Pollock, but I’m thinking my skills aren’t quite as lacking as I’d thought, either.

So, what’s the moral of the story?  Haha, no, really, there is one this time.

Talent or not, masterpieces are made with patience and self discipline.  Two things I need a tremendous amount of work on.  But this lesson doesn’t stop at my art/school projects.  It runs over to the rest of my life as well: home projects, cooking, parenting, exercising, blogging, my relationships with friends, family and God and so much more.

The art projects are just proof.

What about you all?  Any lessons learned, lately?  Any projects you’re finding you may just need to slow down and use some self discipline to make yourself put a little extra time into?  Share them below in the comments section!

I haven’t really touched on the topic of self improvement in a while.  And, boy, my day to day life sure shows it. Back in the Summer when I was regularly adding to my Summer of Growth series, I found myself constantly in check to make sure I didn’t let myself get lazy and worthless in the ‘land of little girls.’

Then summer ended, along with my series and eventually my self improvement.  And something has been nagging me again lately.  The dreaded self discipline monster.  Ugh.

I have two points I’d like to touch on this subject {slacking & drawing}.  We’ll talk about the first one today.

First of all, I have totally slacked off.  I have completely lost my waking up early habit, my quiet time is pretty much nonexistent and I simply cannot seem force myself to commit to a jogging schedule again.  Its pitiful, really.  I should be ashamed of myself.

But I’m not, because I have a plan.

I plan to start tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow is a day I can normally sleep in a little extra.  Instead, I’m going to make myself get up at least by my regular time.  Just to make myself do it.  I already know I can, because its my regular wakeup schedule.  Its forcing myself not to take those extra few minutes of sleep that will really show me who’s boss.

And I have to show myself who’s boss, you know.

To conquer the running, I’m going to really read and check out the couch to K program.  Billy has promised to run with me this time.  Crazy.

Also, I plan to start writing and reading about self improvement a little more.  I know I don’t have much time for reading books, right now, but their are plenty of great blogs I can read in my free time.

I also want to share a small epiphany I had.  It deals with drawing and more self discipline.  I hope you’ll check back for part two.

How are your self discipline levels lately?  Are you down and slacking like me?  Or are you reaching your goals and moving up?

Hola, beauties!  I attempted to write this post out on the patio.  Alas, the Kentucky heat {humidity!} won.  

I long for the days of early Fall.  Rustling winds and flying leaves.  Boots and scarves.  Will Autumn ever return?

Patience, young grasshopper.

Thursday it is.  Time for a Summer of Growth installment.  School starts Monday which marks this the last Thursday of my Summer break.  This calls for a recap.

Throughout the series, I have touched on the subjects of the following:

• Cooking here, down there, out there, and down here
• Self Discipline here, there and yonder.
• Patience and more Patience
• Taking care of yourself
•  Taking Pictures up there and right here
• Good Books to Read
• Spirituality and Quiet Time
• Motivation

Shew!  I think that covers them all.

And now for my conclusion.  How have I done?  Patience-wise, I think I have improved, some.  Self discipline….? A never-ending battle.  

My quiet time has been slacking, but Billy and I have started up a time shared.  We’re reading a Max Lucado book and starting John in the Bible.  It warms my heart to no end.

Things like visitors and life events threw off my running habit and I never got back into it.  I did, however, win some totally awesome running shoes that have given me the motivation to get that started again.  

I plan to start Monday and run Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays after I drop Lilie off for school and before I have to be in class.  I think that’s a good plan. Yeah?

Cooking?  I’ve tried some fun and tasty dishes this summer and plan to keep that experimentation up.  I actually like looking when I have the time, energy and tools to do so.

Books.  I haven’t read as many as I would have liked, but some really good ones, they have been.  And pictures?  Non-stop.  I’ve taken lots of good ones.  I’ve even gotten the other two family members a bit interested.

So, all in all, not perfect, but not a total waste, either.

How about you?  Have you learned or improved through out this series?  Is there anything you have worked to improve this summer?  Were you successful?  

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Hey there, my beauties! My, this house has been so quiet and still the past few days.  My illies {Billy & Lilie} have gone off to start their school year.  I, however, do not start for another week and a half.  Thus, I have been left behind to hold down the fort.

Being that next week is my last week of Summer break, I need to start winding down this Summer of Growth series.

Today, I want to share some inspirational quotes that will help you stay on this path to a better you.  I know sometimes it gets frustrating when you don’t/can’t see the results, but just remember to be patient with yourself and don’t give up.

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Let us strive to improve ourselves, for we cannot remain stationary; one either progresses or retrogrades.
Mme. Du Deffand

The safest principle through life, instead of reforming others, is to set about perfecting yourself.
B. R. Haydon

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Change yourself and fortune will change with you.
Portugese Proverb

Slumber not in the tents of your fathers! The world is advancing. Advance with it!
Mazzini

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Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anyone else expects of you.
Never excuse yourself.
Henry Ward Beecher