can being an online scrapbooker be a thing?

This space has kind of been empty for a while and I haven't known what to do with it, nor have I had time for it or thought much about it. Two kids under two and running a home business is no joke, but I think I've decided that it's going to be an "online scrapbook" of sorts and in no way a blog... I'm continuing here instead of starting over somewhere else b/c my memories in this space date back to our wedding day over 6 years ago and I want to keep everything together. Soooo... I'm not a blogger. Don't care to write much. Just mainly picture updates on life and the kids starting with our 6 week west coast family vaca that we took Aug 1st to mid Sept... I forgot a camera, so I only have poor quality iphone photos that probably will look pretty crappy when enlarged on this space. Whatever. Now I just need to organize pictures to upload

happy 3rd birthday tray tray

real is refreshing

I'm pear shaped, have had cellulite since I was 16 and despise working out. 

I'm far from perfect but you know what? 

I'm the wife I always expected to be, the mom I always wanted to be and I love this vessel... this body...... that is navigating me through life!! 

Totally credit my superfoods nutrition that gives me the confidence I only dreamt of having at 35!

let your dreams take flight

After 6 months of dating we paired up professionally, marketed ourselves as a team and traveled the country side by side. We lived in hotels, worked day in and day out together and had an absolute blast sight seeing, going to sports games and eating yummy food coast to coast. After 4.5 years of this incredible life we got pregnant with Trace and it was time to get "a real job"..... those miserable 2.5 years of sending Bryan off to an unfulling job here in Charlotte was a far cry from the 24/7 together time we were used to, and we hated it. We didn't marry each other to only see each other on nights and weekends, so 1 year ago this month Bryan quit his job in medical sales to become a fulltime family. I have my best friend back, can pee with the door closed and I can kiss him whenever I want. To say that my nutrition company has changed my life.... our families future....... is a fact. There is no way I ever thought we could earn 6 figures by drinking a shake - not a chance - but the reality is.... this IS the truth, and our bank statements prove it. 

You too, can be a fulltime family... or whatever your life desires and dreams are, you can turn them into a reality. Most of you have been reading my blog since I started it... when Bryan and I were on the road and in a different state every week. You might remember all the fun we had together! And I'm soooo happy to say that 8.5 years together, 2 kids later and a ton of adulting... We still have a freaking blast together, I'd take a bullet for him and he's legit, my best friend. 

I challenge you to dream...... to pray.... to think about what your life could be like if you didn't settle for the status quo. If you didn't settle for what's expected of you. If you color outside the lines and broke a rule or two. What would your LIFE look like if you pushed fear aside and went balls to the wall and took control of your future?

landon's 1st birthday

randomness for the day

Hiiiiii friends!

I am so behind on blogging that it's kind of overwhelming to think about. 

Pretty sure I need to pick up somewhere in January... and that feel like forever ago.

So I just drank a large cup of coffee, don't feel like catching up on posts at all and am going to dump a bunch of randomness onto this little space of mine.........

1. I'm done having kids and it's the best feeling ever. Like eeeeeeever!

2. Being a boy mom is where it's at. I don't feel like I'm missing out on a thing by not having a daughter and I'm not as girly as I tend to look, lol, so playing in dirt, building forts and catching bugs are all right up my alley

3. Landon's almost 1 and I might die. Hoooow does time go so fast when we're adults but so dang slow when we're kids. I mean, a school year used to feel like forever and now I blink and another year has past.

4. Bryan being home with us everyday rocks! I'd legit lose my shit if I had to parent alone and I give mad props to all of you single moms and stay at home moms who hold it down on your own. My mom was a sahm and my dad travelled out of state weekly.... she's easily my hero!

5. My little home health and nutrition business is blowing up and I can't sleep at night because I'm so excited for all of the lives being changed. Does anyone else lose sleep over others peoples joy like I do? Or am I just super freaking weird?!

7. Winter can go eff itself. It doesn't even get super cold here in Charlotte, but the dead trees and gray skies kill me. I'm so glad spring is here and that humidity is around the corner haha!

8. Trace is a rule follower and Landon is a rule breaker. I love them equally and wonder if it's possible to kiss them too much or squeeze them too tight...

9. We're going to the beach for a week and I can't wait to play with my kids in the sand and sport my new "mom" bikini... because we all know full coverage bottoms are a must with littles around! 

10. Our super talented babysitter moonlights as a photographer and snapped this picture of my family. I can't even handle the fact that these are my people.... and that I'm a mom. I'm the mom. Blows my mind regularly......... How beautiful are my little guys? I mean COME ON!! So cute!

You Make Me Shutter Photography

UPDATE -- my journey to a healthier lifestyle: #teamanchored

I posted this a little over a year ago and I've had a baby since then, so I wanted do a little update at the end...

I'm thinking that this blog isn't enough...

Lets be friends on facebook too, k?

And what about instagram?

Picture taken February 2016, feeling better then ever after 2 kids in less than 2 years!

There is $186 million / day spent on diet products in the US alone that DO NOT WORK.

This is NOT a diet. This IS a LIFESTYLE.

A Little Background

I’ve eaten this superfood off and on for almost 5 years now, so this isn’t a new thing for me or a “fad” or anything like that! When I was “training” for my wedding back in April 2010 (aka getting in the best shape of my life) I used this nutritional rebalancing program for 6 weeks and lost 18 lbs. I was at the lowest weight I’d ever been at as an adult and felt healthier and more energized than I knew was possible. I was putting good stuff in and getting the bad stuff out... it wasn't magic and it wasn't hard. I was eating about 1,200 calories a day. The body needs fuel and I was fueling it with the best of the best, which is why I saw results so quickly. Ever since then, this product became my lifestyle and I've used it for years now...

Left: Croatia 2 weeks after our wedding /// Right: British Virgin Islands days after our wedding

Fast Forward to This Past SummerI committed fully to this healthier lifestyle and lost 13lbs in 1 month, all while eating about 1,200 calories/day. I was on top of the world! I’m dead serious when I say that this past summer I had NEVER felt better! Because I had rid my body of nasty toxins and was instead putting the best nutrients into it (300 nutrients to be exact)! I mean... I woke up at 6:30am and I never peaked or crashed. I turned into a go go go game-playing, tickle-monster, chasing-you-around-the-house laughing hysterically kinda mama. And I did it all. day. long. Without caffeine! I had a ton of energy at bath-time and was sad to see Trace go to sleep at bedtime. Truth be told, before then I used to count down the minutes until bedtime because I’d be so worn out by the happenings of the day. But this summer I was sad at bedtime and wanted HIM to stay up to play with ME!! When we are alkaline our blood and health are remarkable! If you follow me on Instagram you might have noticed a change in me -- a physical, emotional, spiritual evolution had occurred. And apparently Bry liked the "new and improved me" because before I knew it I was pregnant again. 

* 2nd picture - day 1 on my nutritional rebalancing program in June 2014
* 3rd picture - 2 weeks later
* 1st picture - 1 year to the day prior to the 3rd picture

*** NOTE THAT MY STOMACH MUSCLES WERE LITERALLY CUT APART IN MY C SECTION

Where I am Today
I'm so grateful that the nutritional rebalancing program I've been on for nearly 5 years is pregnancy (and breastfeeding) safe! This same nutrition that helped me lose all of that weight for my wedding and just this past summer is now helping me stay healthy throughout this pregnancy. With the combination of the highest quality, most absorbable organic denatured whey protein and 72 trace organic minerals that most of our regular food is depleted of, my baby is benefiting from the same nutrients that have been so life changing for me! I totally wish I would have used it when I was pregnant with Trace... because let me tell you, when comparing my last pregnancy to this one, my physical appearance is way different!! I'm carrying more in my belly right now vs. how I carried with Trace, which showed equal weight gain in my face/arms/legs/belly... I look much more healthy, less bloated, etc this time (even though I've technically gained more weight on the scale)!! Most importantly, I FEEL healthier because I AM healthier!

Food for Fuel

It's non-GMO, organically based, is soy free and exceeds USDA standards. Knowing that it's been so easy to take control of my health (and my unborn child's health!) has lifted a huge weight off of my shoulders. I want to put the best of the best in my body, to keep it running at full-speed for as long as possible, know what I’m sayin’?! A lot of us eat food for enjoyment. But lets face it, our body is designed to eat food for life! To live!! We better fuel it properly.

March 2016

This time last year I was a few weeks away from my 2nd c-section and because of my superfood nutrition I was sleeping through the night, had minimal aches and pains and I was waking up feeling energized! Best of all, I was still able to run around the yard and dance our silly dance with my 1.5 year old, who needed and deserved me, his mommy, at my best (even if I was zero-ing in on 40 weeks pregnant). And that little baby in my belly, gosh has he been strong, healthy and developmentally on track since birth. Just check out that alert little guy looking at himself in my phone, haha! I'm in my mid-30s, am feeling comfortable in my skin and believe that this superfood system is the best gift we can give to ourselves... to our unborn children............ and, of course, it's such a blessing postpartum and beyond!
Full-time Family
My husband quit his job in medical sales back in May 2015 and we've been a full-time family ever since. He's home with us everyday and it's better than I ever could have imaged. We have all of the freedom in the world.... freedom to contribute, freedom to travel, freedom to love on our babies anytime we want. It's a beautiful life and I still pinch myself knowing that we are a full-time simply because I decided to use this nutrition. Blows my mind and brings me to my knees thanking God... And I'm nothing special or unique. This life can be yours too......

we're coming for you orange county!!

When your direct deposit superfood pay from just ONE week covers your MONTH long condo rental that's walking distance from the beach in Dana Point... Yeah, THAT just happened!!! 

I can't wait for our kids to experience Orange County as I did growing up there. Being a local is so different than being a tourist, and I know my boys will love the west coast just as much as Bryan and I do. Just so LOVE that my nutrition is turning my families dreams into a reality and giving us the time freedom to take super long trips and pay cash for them!

a servants heart

When I asked Trace who we bought these blankets for he said "Other people. They very cold"..... <3 p="">

our truest life is when we are in dreams awake - henry thoreau

We escaped for a little getaway to Hilton Head and couldn't have had a better, more relaxing time if we tried. I just love doing life with this guy!! And that he's free from the 9-5 grind and able to play with me during the week like this...

We capped off our stay with the perfect date night!

1. Fresh seafood dinner by a fire pit with no one to talk to but each other

2. Waves crashing in the background

3. A call to explain our nutrition to a smart 18 year old

4. Lots of water to accompany lots of wine

5. Said wine in a to-go cup for walk back to resort

6. S'more roasting around fire pit

Not pictured - sangria and salsa, foosball showdown, cornhole

We missed the boys like crazy and came home to them better parents than when we left...

start your life

She's a dreamer, a doer, a thinker.

She sees possibility everywhere...

wine tasting is always a good idea

 Reason #4,512 of why I love my life:

Bryan and I can get my kids favorite babysitter... drive an hour north to take my parents wine tasting..... on a quiet Wednesday afternoon......... gift them a bottle of wine and lunch.... whip out my trusty Team Anchored notebook and cell to squeeze in a little 'work' from the bar............. all without either of us having to use a vacation day or worry about being able to afford this outing.

Love love love doing life by my own design!

And I kinda sorta love Raffildini Vineyards also!!

new years eve 2015

gimme a burst energy and i'll love you forever

A couple of weeks ago I led a conference call for all of Team Anchored and totally needed this shot of natural energy in a bad way to pump me!

Side note: this extra large close up of me is terrifying!!

toddlers are fun

He wanted cookies and ice cream for lunch... I said "no"

my cousin, chase, came to visit with his fiance

free groceries

About to sit down and watch the Bachelor and do a little online shopping. Online shopping = best invention ever! Clothes or kids stuff -- I'm always finding a coupon code, going through ebates and buying online.

Same goes for my food! So love snooping through the different categories and having the time to actually read the ingredients without wanting to kill my kids as they're screaming their way through a store... not that that ever happens to us ;)

And superfood groceries like THIS strawberry glass of goodness delivered to my front door? With FREE shipping... Total no brainer!!

(I wrote this on facebook and instagram a couple weeks ago)

christmas 2016

Photo credit: You Make Me Shudder

Christmas morning was so much fun this year! Landon loved the wrapping paper - no surprise there - and Trace understood that Santa was coming and squealed with excitement when he looked through the banister to see all of his presents that "Ho Ho" brought him...

Bryan and I absolutely loved watching the kids rip through everything and really got to take in the expressions on their faces, the excitement in their voices and all of the playing with new toys. It was special to us to have our 1st Christmas as a family of 4 to be just us on Christmas morning and we wouldn't have had it any other way. We've actually had long talks about it being like this for years to come, just us soaking in these precious fleeting moments with our boys...

After we opened presents my parents came over for a large breakfast feast outside on our back patio. Yes! It was that warm out... I was in heaven.....

The afternoon and evening were very low key, just how I have always envisioned Christmas' at my house to be. It was all about the kids and we love it!

With the help of my mom, Trace and Landon surprised me with a pretty drawing...

Who knew baking cookies could be so fun? Well they are when you have a super silly Nanny who encourages you to get creative and dirty, all in the name of good fun!

 The best sugar high taster tester around!

Bryan allowed Trace to grab a freshly iced cookie and smash it on his face. The things we do to make our kids laugh :)

We had such a relaxing and fun day! Christmas 2015 that's a wrap!!