Count down to fall scarf challenge and giveaway.

I love fall! Here in the valley of Arizona we don't have changing leaves and it's not quite sweater weather yet . It it still nice enough out to break out the scarves though . Well only in the morning , it still gets over 100 during the day. 

I have done a scarf challenge before and it was a lot of fun. This time it will be shorter though. Starting tomorrow I'll count down the 7 days till the autumnal equinox , or the fall season. 

If you would like to snap a picture of your self and post it on Instagram using 

#fallscarfchallenge2014 I will enter you in a drawing for a giveaway at the end of the challenge!! 

(One entry per person per day) 

Hope to see you in your favorite scarves!!

Mj

30 Days if 30: Day 17

Crohn's Disease

For me one of the hardest things about being a wife of a Crohn's patient is leaving him at the hospital. Having to go home and stay positive without him. It breaks my heart to leave him knowing he won't sleep through the night. He is always put on a liquid diet and starves while there. I understand why but it's hard to watch. Being pregnant while this is going on makes it worse. Emotionally I'm a wreck. I'm physically changing. My heart aches for him. I just want him to come home. 

-Mj

30 Days of 30: Day 19

Challenge groups

Once I finished my first challenge with my coach I was ready to help others the way I was helped. I loved the feeling of being fit and sharing that with others. 

   I started with just friends who were also interested in fitness or losing a few pounds. I caught on quickly and had so much fun!! Eventually I was ready to be a coach! 

   I ran probably 6 total challenges and loved every one of them! Daily motivation and support is one of the best tools you can give challengers. Plus it's a bonus for yourself since you are keeping up yourself! 

   I hope after our little lady cones I can jump back in and start some new groups!!

30 of 30: Day 18

Fitness-

I have always felt bigger than my friends. Maybe I was , maybe I just has skinny friends! Looking back now I was average with a lil more booty than most.

    After I started having kids though things did change. I gained a normal amount with my first, I lost it fairly quickly. Although I gained way to much with my second. It did not come off so easly. 

   Then of course with stress if life and children I put myself on the back burner. After about 3 years I had enough. I started following some fitness pages on facebook and that's when I met my coach. I never knew their were people out there who wanted to see me succeed and be healthy. 

   For me working out at home has always been easy. I started with walk at home with Leslie sansone. And then collected other various workouts. I was challenged by my coach to try a beachbody program and I'm so glad I did. It really changed the way I looked at food and fitness. I was steadily losing weight and gaining confidence. 

   Early this year my husband and I decided it was time to grow our family a little bigger. We got pregnant instantly and I feel like if I had not lost weight it would have taken longer. I also didn't really start gaining weight till a little over halfway through. I am super excited to get back on a more regular fitness schedule after our little lady is born . 

30 Days of 30: Day 16

Today's post is a fun one. Things I wish I knew at 16. When your a teenager you think you know it all. I was not a rebellious child but I did get in some trouble. I did learn a lot from my parents though.

   All I wanted to do at 16 was drive. I was the oldest in my house and my mom was just not ready for me to do that. We argued about it for a long time and I didn't start driving till I was 17. Now thinking about it I wish I didn't have to drive at all. I'm always trying to get my husband to drive!

  My dad always told me not to spend my money. To save, save, save! I think I was better at it when I didn't drive because I didn't have to buy gas or have places to go to spend it! To this day I have trouble saving money.  I am hoping my kids will pickup on saving. they both have piggy banks that they are adding to and saving money in for something special. saving money is definitely one thing I wish had stuck with me from childhood.

When I was a sophomore I really wanted to be in the musical. I argued with my self for a long time and finally decided not to audition. it was every other year so I could always audition in senior year. I really wish I had. I have always been shy and quiet, and afraid of public speaking. I think if I had done the show it might have given me more confidence.

All in all I think I turned out OK. I do really wish I could have know long term what these things would have done for me. Although I might not be the person I am today. Live and learn I guess...

Mj

30 Days of 30: Day 15

Parents

 Everyone comes from different kinds of families. My parents were divorced when I was young and re married soon after. I grew up with 4 parents. Although times could be hard, I wouldn't change it for the world. I have learned so much from each of my parents. Its funny when you think back about what we take from our parents. Especially when they come out of my own mouth talking to my own children. 

 Both of my dads are mechanics and have showed me how to stand up for my self and not let anyone walk all over me. they also taught me to respect myself and others around me. As well as how to listen to any strange noises coming from my car.

 My Mom and Step Mom both taught me to be a fighter, a mother, a friend, and a strong woman.
Both of them battled breast cancer although one lost the battle she still taught me to never give up and to look for the good in bad situations. They taught me how to love and care for other people and how to listen. I hope I can be the same for my own children.

 

 

 I was never one of those kids who hated their parents. I am human though and sometimes disagreed. I always knew that it was for my own good.

 I thank god every day for them and hope you do too for your own parents. Even if they are not blood related.

Mj

update on 30 days of 30

My original intention of this series was to post everyday for 30 days. The first 30 days of being 30. Sometimes things just don't workout. I am still going to finish just not when planned (4 months ago). I am hom more now and with summer coming I will have it done in no time! Thank you for slowly following (if anyone is).

~Mj

30 days of 30: day 14

Loss

I am only 30 and yet I have experienced so much loss. I think we try and push it out of our minds until we pick up the phone to ask a silly question and remember they won't be at the other end. We learn a lot about ourselves and the people around us when we experience loss. The saying is very true " You never know what you have until its gone" I don't want to go through, one by one, who I have lost. It will only make my heart sad. I do hope though that those people know how much they have influenced me and my life. Made me look at life in a new light. Appreciate who is around me and my own life.

~Mj

30 days of 30: Day 13

Parties!!

I love throwing parties! The atmosphere of friends, misic, food, drinks, and fun! If it was up to me I would have one every month . Here are just a few themes and examples of the stuff they entail : 

Halloween ( ms , charity ) - costume contest, cake auction, fortune teller.

Kids- 

  Carnival- bagged popcorn, corn dogs, jumpy, cupcakes in icecream cones, lion mouth toss.

  Vinee & Emee rock show- pizza, temp tattoos, Singstar ( karaoke) , bandannas and shades .

   Zombie- brain cake, zombie clothes pin game, "the antidote " candy.

Many many more!! I just love having a good time with great people!!! 

Mj 

30 Days of 30: Day 12

Friends. 

 We all have friends that come and go. New friends , old friends, friends of friends, work friends, school friends, scout friends, church friends, even family friends! 

 I have a handful of really great friends. We might not see each other all the time but in the back of each others minds , we know. It's funny though when you grow up you loose touch of people you never thought you would and become closer with those you never imagined . 

 As with many people our family has been through a lot and I'm so grateful to have them. They have always been there to listen to me and watched my kids while someone was in the hospital !! Thank you for being there for me ! I have learned so much from them on my journey and could not leave them out of this adventure.

❤️❤️❤️ -Mj

30 Days of 30: day 11

Growing up.

I never thought I would feel the way I do now when I was younger. I always had this picture of my grown up self grown up. Really all this time I have just been me.

  Being that I was always the oldest in the house I felt like I had to be grown up enough to look after my little brothers. My mom also lost a child when I was 9 and I defiantly viewed the world differently after that. 

 When graduation came I didn't want to be a "grown up" I had just finished beauty school and was very happy but just didn't want to really step out in to the real world. 

 I don't know that I ever did really grow up. I still sleep in any chance I get and stay up late watching movies. My room is still a mess. In turn though I do my and my family's laundry and make sure everyone gets where they need to be on time!! So I guess I'm almost a grown up. 

-Mj

30 days of 30: Day 10

Commitment. 

So, to be honest, this post took me a few days to write. Well, the whole project has taken me longer than expected . I have a problem with commitment. 

Phew glad I got that out.

 I don't mean like family or marital commitment I mean like staying in one place and sticking to things. As a child we moved  8 times before high school . I have personally moved 7 times since I was 19. I have worked in 5 different salons , one of which I left and came back at least 4 times, and worked 3 other various jobs since about 18! Sometimes I wish I would have stayed put, I could have a better clientele.  I wouldn't be the person I am today though. It's also the reason I don't have a bank account, can't loose weight , and don't already have my own salon!! I'm hoping though that with these posts and my goals for this year I can change that. I guess bottom line we have to live and learn. 

-Mj

30Days of 30: Day 9

Today's focus Is places. I'm not a frequent traveler but as you might have seen in a previous post I have been a few places. I would like to share with you a little bit about where I have been. 

 As a child we took a few road trips. The states I have been to are : California (born), Arizona , New Mexico , Nevada ,Utah ,Colorado , and Oregon. 

Flying over seas I also went to Washington, D.C. , Philadelphia, PA and Chicago, IL. 

 In eorope the first time (1999) I went to Denmark with my dad and little brother. We visited family in Sweden while there and I tried to ski.

I wound up in a bush! I loved though that we didn't have to have a car to get around. Yes, it was cold but amazing !!

The second time (2003) I went alone. My grandmother had been in the hospital and needed someone to help her out. Plus I had just graduated (2002) and really had no agenda. It was amazing I really learned a lot about myself and how independent I really was. I walked to the grocery store and library every day. I also went in to town alone to spend a week with my aunt. While with her we went to England for the weekend to visit my cousin. The whole trip was truly magical ! I would defiantly love to go again!!

-Mj

30 of 30: Day 6

Today's focus is regrets. I am not one to regret things I have done. I honestly feel like you have to learn from mistakes and your choices in order to become a great person. I love my family and the people my children are becoming because of my choices. So my only regrets are not saving money! I think a lot of people feel the same!! 

-Mj 

30 Days of 30: Day 8

Today's focus is : 8 things you may not know about me. 

1. Mj stands for Michele Janet

2. It drives me crazy when people spell my name wrong after correcting them once . ( I know it's bratty but it does!!)

3. My husband and I got married when I was 5 months pregnant. 

4. I have been with my husband for 1/3 of my life. 

5. I have been crocheting for 20 years.

6. I have been to Denmark (twice), Sweden, and England.

7. I am a really bad procrastinator !!!!!!

8. I never wear my hair the same way twice in one week. 

This was fun! Had to get input from hubby (7) but fun to think about odd facts! Do you have interesting facts you would like to share? Post below!!

30 Days of 30: Day 7 Emee Jade

Today is my sweet Emee's 6th Birthday!! 

 Emee is such an imaginative, kind, smart, and loving little girl. Our lives are definitely more colorful thanks to her.

 We did not plan Emee she just happened and we were so happy! My pregnancy with her was harder than with vinee , I had non stop nausea! Her labor was also longer but as soon as we held her I knew it was all worth it. Vinee was so helpful and not by any means jealous. 

 She loves her big brother so much. They have always gotten along well. We are so  lucky. When he went to kindergarten, every day she would wait patiently for him to come home. Now that they are getting older he wants more alone time and she just wants to play! 

The last 6 years have just passed by so quickly ! Time flies when your having fun! 

Happy Birthday Emee!!!

-Mj 

30 Days of 30: days 4 and 5

So somehow I caught a bad cold!! I have not left the bed other than to go to work! So since I had to skip a day I decided to make today's focus a good one! 

My husband.

 He is the bread to my butter, the yarn to my needle, the thread to my sewing machine , the video card to my computer, and the one I know that where ever we are I will be home with. 

 This year my husband and I have been together 10 years. That is 112 months. 30 birthdays . 17 vacations. 18 months of pregnancy . 10 Christmases . 2 kids. And 1 amazing connection. 

 We met through my brother and I could not be happier. He has been by my side through a lot and I the same for him. We have learned a lot about the world and each other through ups and downs. 

 Everyday I am so thankful to have found someone who accepts me as I am. For as long as I can remember I have had a weight issue and he has always made me feel beautiful. Even when I was about to go in to labor with the kids he has always been a positive in my life. I vs. honestly say I would not be the person I am without him. 

 With all that being said I have to mention that we are human and we do make mistskes. But we learn from them , together. I just wish he would ask me to marry him! We are going on 9 years married but with the wedding happening so fast at the time , he really couldn't . I still know he loves me very much and would not change what we have but, I have to give him a hard time!!  

 I truly believe he is my soulmate and I'm so glad to of found him.

-Mj 

 

30 Days of 30: Day 3

. So already here I am a day late! Last night was New Years and we were out of town. We had a blast with friends we don't see very often..

 Today's focus is on new beginings. So many people don't believe in New Years resolutions and I understand that but don't feel the same. Every day is another chance to make life the best it can be. If I have goals I reach them better than if I just think about doing something. So this year my goals are: to put more time and effort in to my etsy store, rent a chair and get back in to hairdressing, and take a little more time for myself to get healthy.  I feel that we only have this one life to live here, and we should make the best of it. Today is only day 3 of 30 but it's day 1 of the rest of my life.

-Mj