28 Day Detox Challenge Update - Week 1

Week 1 Down!  Woo hoo!

Rewind one year :
Last year, our family began a journey towards cleaner eating and living. 

There is a long version of this story (which I'll save for another post), but I'm going to cut to the chase in an attempt to stay on point.

For many years, I was making a lot of good choices - working out regularly, teaching fitness classes, remaining a vegetarian (which choice I made at the age of 8), and eating foods that I thought were healthy for my body and feeding my family the same.

I recently found out that a lot of those nutritional choices were not as nutritious and beneficial as I thought.  In fact, they were harming my body, which manifested in various health concerns. In a nutshell, I found out that there were some things happening in my body that I wanted to turn around. 

My husband and I decided to get informed and make changes.  Informed on how to reduce exposure to toxins, prevent cancer, gain energy, and remove toxins the natural way and make changes in the foods we were eating and the products we were using.

We watched documentaries, read books and articles and learned a LOT of things in a short amount of time.  I was determined to find out so many things that I felt my traditional doctors were not telling me or possibly didn't even know.

Fast forward to this year:
I recently found out about the 28 Day Detox/Clean Eating Challenge sponsored by Arbonne. I was already a "believer" of this company because of their chemical free skin care line that is amazing!  I trusted that their nutritional products would be just as amazing. I was right.

This was just the next step that I wanted to take in my journey - a more intense level of detoxification and clean eating by removing addictive, acidic and allergenic foods and adding healthy natural supplements and "clean" meals.  

I decided to take the challenge. So, here are my findings after week 1:

• Joint Pain: The way my joints feel this week compared to before I started are night and day! Oh my gooooooodness.  I have literally cried at times over joint pain. I know a lot was in part to intense workouts and using kickboxing bags over the years, but obviously inflammation from toxic foods was an issue.  Yay, for not feeling twice my age anymore. My knees aren't even cracking as I walk upstairs : )

• Cravings: I'm doing way better without my coffee/chai lattes than I expected. I thought that the Keurig my husband got me for my birthday would be making me drool, but it's been fine.  I'm enjoying my Arbonne Detox tea just fine.

• Energy: My energy levels have wavered due to the detoxification process, but the natural energy drinks (Arbonne Fizz Sticks) have helped a lot in that area due to the B vitamins and guarine.  I have been too apprehensive to try energy drinks before now, but these are all natural with no artificial sweeteners, colors or BVOs and work great to give an all natural boost.

• Supplements: I'm loving the protein shakes.  They are delicious and filling. The Arbonne vegan protein powder is the best I've ever tried and I have tried A LOT of protein powders over the years in an attempt to supplement my vegetarian lifestyle and gain lean muscle from weight training.  Many of those unfortunately contained artificial sweeteners, flavors and soy.  All things I am now trying to avoid.  

• Learning: I'm enjoying new "clean" recipes that I've been making for dinner.

• Weight/inches: As a bonus, I've already lost 2lbs (post 5 pregnancy weight) and an inch or so around the middle. 

Looking forward to seeing more positive changes during week 2.  Stay tuned for an update ; )

Have you ever tried a detox?  What changes did you experience?

* These comments are my personal and true experiences.  This is not to take place of or act as medical advice. Please consult your physician for any nutritional plans or diets.  I was a client for eight years, but have recently become an Independent Consultant for Arbonne to help others experience their pure, safe and beneficial products.  If you are interested in more information or would like to know how to shop their products for a discount, leave a comment in the comment section. Check out Arbonne and/or order (ID #14414570).

What we're learning: History

This year, for History, we have chosen Abeka History for our fist grader. Although the book is geared towards first grade, we do it as a group.  Our preschooler and "Tot school" girl enjoy learning right along with her.  On occasion, our first grader sometimes reads the lessons for us.  

One of our favorite units in the book,so far, has been about the Symbols of the United States.  

The girls enjoyed learning about many of our famous and internationally recognizable symbols. This is how we made it a bit more hands on:  

I found some printables of the symbols online and printed them for each child.  

The girls then colored and cut out the symbols to make a collage. 

What are you learning this week?

Happy New Year!

This year - may you love more, discover your passions to live out your purpose greater than ever before and lead your children to do the same.  

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  Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year in 2014 from our family to yours!

3 New Habits to Try in the New Year

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1. Try a Detox (physical)

There are sooo many benefits of detoxifying the body.  Dr. Mark Hyman says, "we are living in a sea of toxins and it is destroying our bodies and brains."  They are everywhere - in our skincare, household cleaners, processed foods, GMOs, cosmetics and so on. Ridding of and avoiding as many toxins as possible is a healthy and beneficial thing to do. Here are some tips to help do that.

Simple ways to detox daily or frequently:

• Drink room temperature/warm water with the juice from 1/2 of a lemon daily
• Soak in an epsom salt bath (detox through the skin)
• Sweat - toxins are removed through sweat
• Stay regular - toxins are also removed through our elimination systems

More dramatic ways to detox:

• Eat clean - reduce/avoid processed, acidic and addictive foods and GMOs
• Join me and hundreds of others in the Arbonne 28 day Detox Bootcamp Challenge  (groups start each Monday)
• Reduce toxins put on/in your body through your skin by using only chemical free skincare (try Arbonne)
• Use all natural forms of cleaners for the home

*These statements are not meant to give medical advice or prevent, diagnose or treat any disease or illness. Please consult your doctor before beginning any diet or nutritional program.

**I am an Independent Consultant for Arbonne (and loving it).  Please leave a comment in the comment section if you would like more information about the 28 Day Detox/Clean Eating Challenge or Arbonne skin care and nutritional products.

2. Read through the entire Bible (spiritual)

Regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey - maybe you are a long time Christian that has never read through the Bible, maybe you don't even own a Bible or maybe you are a skeptic.  Try reading through the Bible in 2014.  Here are a few of my favorite ways to do that:

• Daily Audio Bible

This is just as it sounds.  Brian Hardin (in his ever soothing tone) reads daily passages from the Bible from the Old and New Testament and Psalms and Proverbs and ends with a short commentary.

- changes the translation weekly
- you can download the DAB app or listen online
- it's very convenient for those on the go or who absorb more by listening than 
  reading 

• The One Year Bible 

This is one of my favorite ways to read through the Bible.  The daily plan is already laid out for you.  You literally open up to the current date and in 15 minutes +/- you read a portion of the New Testament, Old Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. 

- The One Year Bible  comes in several different versions 
- after 365 days, you have read the entire Bible 
- the reading plan is done for you - just read



3. Schedule some "unplugged" time each week  
   with with your spouse and/or kids. (relational)

It's no secret that we live in a media saturated culture.  It entertains us, keeps us on schedule, informs us,  keeps us connected and makes life quite convenient in many aspects.  

However, many times we overdo it and become overly dependent on it.  What happened to the days of a good ole' board game and a date over a candle lit dinner staring in each others' eyes rather than the smartphone?!  

• pull out the board/card games - Uno anyone?!
• take a walk in the park with your love
• try a new hobby, sport or volunteer together

Try to make a habit of media free time each week with your loved ones

Check out this 24 hour media free challenge I posted on another blog.

Happy New Year!  Expect great things in 2014!

TTD Early Bird Registration ends December 31

I wanted to share an awesome opportunity with you guys.

If you are not familiar with the Teach Them Diligently Conventions and you are a parent or especially a homeschooling parent, you will want to check this out.

Maybe you need encouragement, want to network, maybe you just need fresh ideas in your home educating journey or you are seriously considering homeschooling, this is a great place to do that.  The focus is:  Christian homeschooling, parenting and discipleship.

There are 4 locations for the 2014 convention.  (I'm currently in the process of deciding which location will work best for us. Mommy trip - woo hoo!)  There are several great speakers, tons of workshops and of course the marketplace to check out curriculum and general parent helps. I seriously can't wait to go! 

Anyway, the early bird registration discount ends December 31, 2013.  So hurry and check out the details for the Teach Them Diligently Convention here.

Maybe I'll see you there?!  :)

Merry Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!

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Snow Ice Cream

Well, this week we got a lot of this....

so we were able to enjoy this.....





A friend of our family was telling us how she had made snow ice cream the night of a big snowfall.  When the girls heard that, there was no going back.  

We came home the same night and took advantage of the snowfall that was happening and turned it into an after dinner "delicacy".

We were surprised at how simple the recipe was.  I once again apologize for the lack of nutritional content of one of my posted recipes, but I promise we ate our broccoli for dinner. 

We found this recipe here. 

1 gallon of snow (fresh clean and colorless, of course)
1 c white sugar
2 c milk
1 T vanilla extract

Mix all ingredients together and enjoy.  Optional: freeze for a short time before eating. The red dots on ours are sprinkles.


Their excitement was overwhelming.  : )  I love making fun memories like this!

I hope you'll have the chance to try it this winter.  If you live in a warm climate, I guess store bought will have to suffice ; )