Let's get Healthy!

I have been wanting to seriously get fit and healthy for a VERY long time but it has always been a struggle for me to get motivated and actually do it. Within the last year or so I have realized how much my weight issue has affected how I feel and act and even treat others, not in a good way either (especially how I treat my husband, +Ryan Alsheimer). It has stolen my joy. A lot of times I don't even feel like hanging out with people or going places because "nothing fits". I know this is not right and something needs to change.

A while back I was attending a weight loss Bible study group where we read the book, Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst which really helped
me realize how much of a stronghold that my weight issue has on my life. I also started to realize that I was putting food and even vanity before God. After these realizations I began to give it all up to God and He began a healing process in my life. I'm not there yet but at least I know that God can help me and teach me to crave Him more than food. If you are going through a similar situation, check the book out because it really is a great resource! Lysa also wrote a wonderful daily devotional that has been helping me out tremendously!

So here are 6 ways that I am trying to get fit and healthy

1. I joined the gym again! I had a membership before I was married since my dad paid for it (haha!) but once I got married, he stopped praying and ever since then it has been hard to justify the cost. Thankfully Ryan realized how much I needed to do it again and that the money didn't matter when it came to my joy and overall health. I try to go 6 days a week but sometimes busy-ness hinders it however I need to remind myself how much we pay for it! haha. But seriously, it's all about prioritizing and making time for it!

2. Eating healthy: Back in the winter I started the 17 Day Diet which REALLY helped but then it was getting to be so hard I felt like I was depriving myself so I started doing a more modified version that included eating a tiny bit more carbs. But really what I try to do overall is just make conscious decisions each day to be a little more healthy with smaller portions, less sweets, and less carbs. This way I don't feel like I am depriving myself when I go out to eat with friends or when we have a family dinner, etc. I just choose to have a smaller portion and the healthier option. This one is the hardest though but like I said it's a process!

3. If you are trying to lose weight you MUST check out dietbet. What better way to lose weight than through competition and in the end make some serious cash! =) I have completed 3 different dietbets and have already made $50! 

4.I joined a running group! My boss is an avid runner and asked if I would be interested in running during our lunch break on MWF every week and I said Yes! Not sure what I have gotten myself into yet! We are starting tomorrow (that is if the weather cooperates) But even though I am going to the gym I realize that when you really want to lose weight you got to run unfortunately, and I HATE RUNNING. So I figured that if I am actually going to run I am going to need some serious accountability. Fortunately we are going to be taking it slow by following an App called Couch to 5k! My boss did it last year and loved it and now she runs 5k's all the time! If you have a smart phone and never heard of it you should check it out! If you live in the Oneonta area and want to run at 12pm MWF come join us! Here is the Facebook Page for Noon at Neahwa

SIDENOTE: Speaking of 5k's. If you are an avid runner and even like to get a littel dirty running. You must check out the 5k Obstacle Challenge my job is putting on! You can check it out here Tuff eNuff There is still time to register at the early bird price!!

5. Accountability. This one is SO important. Thankfully my sisters also want accountability so whenever we see each other we ask how things are going. I also just joined an accountability group on Facebook that +Traci Cavanaugh started and it has been really encouraging. She has her own blog that has wonderful tips and ideas for losing weight and being healthy. Check it out Scaling it Back

6. So since I started doing a lot more working out I convinced Ryan I needed new sneakers! (Which really is true, not just me trying to get new shoes, haha) I had been using my previous Nike Shox since I was a senior in highschool so they HAD to go! It took me FOREVER to decide what shoes to get (of course NIKE) But with the help of a couple friends I decided on these!

 Now I like going to the gym even more in my new kicks! But seriously getting some sweet work out attire is a great motivation to workout more by feeling great and looking great! =) Next I will be looking into Sweaty Bands. I need thick headbands with grippers that will keep my hair out of my face, that won't slip off, cover my widows peak and look super cute! =)

So there you have it, some of the practical ways I am hoping and praying will help me get back into shape and get healthy! What are some ways that are working for you? 

Cheap and Easy Wall Art

This past winter I saw an awesome idea on Pinterest to make snowflakes out of popsicle sticks. Unfortunately the pin won't let me access the blog anymore to reference it but you can check out the pin here >> Popsicle Stick Snowflakes

So I ended up doing the exact same thing for my wall that is by the stairwell in my living room. It looked so cool and I got a lot of compliments! However now that Spring is here and well (hopefully the snow will be gone soon!) it's time that I take my snowflakes down!

I started to think of easy shapes I could make and realized that arrows would be perfect. You can see my process of making these popsicle stick arrows below. Here are a couple quick tips- the rest is pretty easy to understand by just looking at the pictures. 1. I found it to be easier to paint the sticks before gluing them but in the original pin the person painted after gluing them together so it's up to you! 2. Make sure to lay out the popsicle sticks in the exact shape, size and arrangement before gluing to prevent any mess-ups. 3. You can use any ribbon to hang whatever shapes you make! I used red ribbon originally for the snowflakes but didn't have any left this time around so I just used some black and white striped bakers twine. Good luck to you if you decide to make a beautiful wall hanging out of popsicle sticks! I'm sure there are many other shapes and images that could be created. Maybe a whole chevron pattern or any geometric pattern would probably look awesome!??! Do you have any other ideas of a shape or image that can be created from popsicle sticks to make a beautiful wall piece?

Don't you just love cheap and easy crafts that can totally transform a wall space?!?!

The Widow's Peak: A Study

Replace "Forehead" with "Widow's Peak" and that's me!

For those of you who know me, know that the image above is really fitting because I am in love with Zooey- I LOVE her hair and have cut/styled my bangs to be like hers many a time. Well several months ago I decided that I should grow my bangs out because I have NEVER not had bangs. Never! (See the pic to the left- I'm the cheesy one on the right) ..Gotta be bold and crazy while you're still young, right!? =) Silly as it is, this has been a very scary and hard thing to do because of how much I hate my widow's peak and how much I love how beautiful bangs look not to mention how annoying the in between stage is of growing them out!

As I have been more conscious of my widow's peak (since I am always having to make sure I am still covering it up without bangs easily hiding it), I was curoius as to how it got it's name. Wikipedia states that "The term stems from the belief that hair growing to a point- suggestive of the peak of a widow's hood - is an omen of early widowhood." No wonder I don't like my widow's peak! Haha. You can read more about it on Wikipedia. It's very interesting!

So one of the reasons I decided to grow my bangs out was because of the beautiful and classy Kate Middleton. Her hair is always extremely gorgeous and she always looks so put together! (That could be due to fact that she is a princess) haha. Well right after I decided to grow my bangs out, Kate got bangs! This angered me at first, however a couple weeks later tabloids were saying Kate didn't like her bangs and wanted her old hair style back, Phew! 

...What do you like better?

So I have been going back and forth about bangs. Part of me just really loves how they add so much depth and shape and also look super cute with my Warby Parker glasses! But then the other part of me keeps saying that I need to not have bangs for just once in my life! I can always cut them if I miss them!

Thankfully I am currently really enjoying my hair not being on my face. It's refreshing. There is a freedom in not having to worry about bang splittage and every morning hoping they fall right into place which usually never happens, haha. So I am currently thinking of new ways to do my hair so I don't always pin my bangs to the side like Jennifer Garner in the pic below. (It kind of looks like she may have a small widow's peak too!) 

So I started to think to myself: Ya know, there has to be at least a handful of celebrities who also have a widow's peak and I could look at how they style their hair. Well before I researched it, one day I was watching my favorite lunch time tv show, The Chew, and it dawned on me- Daphne Oz has a widow's peak with no bangs and her hair is always beautiful!! There is hope for me! So after that I had to look up other celebrities with widow's peaks and I found plenty! Here are a few- Check them out! 

 

Top Row: Daphne Oz, Blake Lively

Middle Row: Grace Kelly, Cote de Pablo

Bottom Row: Kourtney Kardashian, Marilyn Monroe

Looking at these lovely ladies I see that they embraced their widow's peaks and showed them shamelessly. Maybe someday I will be able to do the same! 

I also found this picture on Pinterest and it blew me away! I would never even think of braiding my hair that way because of my widow's peak but this woman makes it look gorgeous!

In the meantime, I will continue to research and try out new ways to style my hair that will look good with a widow's peak/hide it. Here is an article I found on Hairstyles for a Widow's Peak. I am sure there are plenty more out there too!

I hope this helped with any of you ladies out there who hate their widow's peak as much as I do. Maybe we will learn how to style our hair to hide it without having bangs or maybe we will learn to embrace it for after all it is how God made us =)

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God loves a cheerful giver.

I am so excited for my long time friend Stephen Novellano for starting his very own business at the ripe age of 26! He hopes to have the

grand opening by the beginning of April- less than a month away!

I was given the privilege to make his logo/sign for the business and it was such a fun experience creating it with the help of his lovely sister, Abby. Below are the pictures of the logo and the sign. Things are coming together and I can't wait to see the end results! 

When I think about my friend Stephen and his wife, Dusti I'm reminded about the scripture passage of a very simple and true Biblical principal and often used phrase..

You reap what you sow  

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.

Stephen and his wife, Dusti have been such good friends to Ryan and me. They have had us over several times making us delicious meals and not letting us bring a single thing! Not only that, they also support Ryan in his campus minisitry and even give extra when we hold fundraisers for conferences, etc. They have purposed in their hearts to give their finances over to God and let Him be in control and they know when they give to others that God will give to them in return. I am not surprised in the least when I think how they have their own business at such a young age. God is blessing them because they bless others. What a wonderful example of being Christ-like. I pray that this business reaps bountifully and brings forth an abundance of success and more importantly gives God the glory and is a testimony of how God's Word is true.

Let's purpose in our hearts to be more cheerful in our giving!

It's always like Springtime with You...

I have been playing this song on repeat for the last couple of days. I want spring so badly! I joke about how I have seasonal depression because this weather really IS depressing! Thankfully we have a Savior who can make us feel like it is always spring time if we let Him! This weather can just be a reminder of how God took us out of that dreary, cold and depressing state and made us new in Him! Let's dwell on his saving grace and look forward to the newness in Him that makes us come alive each & every day. Also take note, Spring forward is this weekend which means more daylight! =) 
 Regardless of God's goodness, both the weather and the Jesus hipsters over at Bethel still really make me want to move to CA, haha
2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  

He's in the quiet...

I know I talk to God every day and am always very mindful of Him but am I talking WITH Him? Do I take the time to just be quiet and listen to what He has to say? Unfortunately that is very rare so I hope that this blog will help me to reflect on Him and just take a moment each day to listen and be still. Last night I watched a teaching by Beth Moore speaking about the manna the Lord provided for the Israelites in the wilderness.  Exodus 16:1-32. She was expounding on the fact that each person could only gather up enough manna for that day. I have heard many teachings on how manna is a representation of Christ, the Bread of Life but I just liked how she explained why God gave us that daily dependence on Him. It's not because of His ego but because God wants us to be a relational people. We can't just store up enough of Jesus on Sundays at church and hope it will carry us through the week. Intimacy with God is not storing up. That's not how it works just like how it didn't work when the Israelites tried to gather an excess of manna. Here are a few images I found when I was perusing the internet to get inspiration for my blog's graphic. So don't forget to spend time with the Creator of the Universe today because He wants to spend time with you.

Reusing Big Jars

I am one of those people who are crazy about mason jars. I love them! Originally I was going to do all my wedding centerpieces for my 26 tables with all of the regular sized mason jars filled with flowers but then I realized that was going to get pretty pricey pretty quickly. Fortunately I found these awesome HUGE mason jars from Walmart for only $10! (I believe you can find them at Target as well but unfortunately we only have a Walmart in my city) So for several of the centerpieces I took large pillar candles and placed them in the jars with moss in the bottom and tied twine around the top. They looked beautiful and were extremely inexpensive! When I found the giant mason jars I also found these huge cookie jars with lids for only $10 as well! I realized quickly I could use them for the lemonade stand I wanted at our reception! Both the centerpieces and the jars for the lemonade turned out great and I loved them. But the coolest thing I love about these over sized jars is the many ways I can keep using them at home! I gave several of the jars to family members so they could use them if they ever wanted to and one day I went over to my parents house and my mom had her flour in the giant cookie jar. It looked so lovely and I thought it was such a clever idea so I did it too! Over the past year and a half of being married I have come up with other ideas to use these jars and also have gotten inspiration from blogs and Pinterest! So I am saying all of this to tell you that you should definitely use these jars for your next party, wedding, event, etc and then you can take them home afterwards and keep enjoying them!! 

 

Below are pictures I found of other weddings also using these jars for punch

Below are pictures of how I used these jars in other ways in my home.

And of course you can use them for cookies =) But look at all the other ways you can use these jars! I love the last picture with the jar full of crayons!

Great for a housewarming gift too!