How You and I Can Do ANYTHING

Sometimes, I feel powerless over change for the better in my life. There are things in life that pretty much everyone wants to improve.

Most people want to manage their finances better.

Most people want to lose weight, or just get healthy.

Most people want to have a clean house all the time.

Most people want to generally be on top of things and be able to juggle their schedules.

The problem is, most people don't even know where to start on most of these things. We're always offered ways to accomplish these things easier, like diets and weekly planners. We go on Pinterest, scouring well-composed photos for easy freezer recipes and savings plans that work. For every life management task, there is a tool to help you do it. The problem with tools, is that you have to use them effectively. However, something that I have come to realize is that ultimately the effectiveness of these tools really comes down to one thing:

ourselves.

That's right, when the chips are down, and something needs to change, we are the only ones who can do it. It sounds obvious, but I often forget that it's up to me. One time I downloaded a financial management app thinking my money would suddenly all fall into place, that this would allow me to finally take control and improve my finances.

I was very wrong on that one.

While I took the time to download the app populate it with all my accounts so I knew what was going on with my money, it didn't do anything to control my spending. Finally, I realized that I was the only one who could put myself on the path to improvement. It was me who would ultimately slide the debit card. It was up to me whether I decided I needed to make a Taco Bell run at midnight instead of just going to bed. Although the app was telling me where my money was, it was ultimately my actions that told it where to go. It was up me, and only me.

I can think of countless other situations where I've relied on other things to keep myself on track. Planners, lists, diet plans, workout plans, and every other thing I've done to help me achieve my goals has only been a start. The follow-through was all up to me, and for the longest time I just didn't know how to make myself act when self improvement got tough. When getting out of bed to go workout was like pushing a rock uphill, when I just had to have that frozen mocha frappe thing, when I simply lacked the willpower to do what I knew I was supposed to, I simply gave in to temptation, only to end up right back at the start.

Until discovered this. 

*Disclaimer: There's some Jesus coming your way.*

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Philipians 4:13-

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

I used to think that this was directed towards those who I would deem are have a really hard time: those who have recently lost loved ones, fallen on financial troubles, or have otherwise experienced out of the ordinary trauma. However, it finally dawned on me that there are two key words in that verse: all things.

That includes all the big stuff, but it also includes the little things, like not letting yourself buy the frozen frappe, or skipping the day trip you were going to take so that you don't have to use the credit card for gas AGAIN. It could be that many slightly difficult little things are compiling, and even though you're sitting in a cushy office chair, you just don't feel like you'll make it through the day. Heck, it could be that you just don't want to get up this morning, but your workout is calling. At the time, those molehills can seem like mountains.

So here's my secret-

If there's something you're struggling with, try replacing "all things" with what you're trying to do.

For example:

I can 

make dinner tonight even though I'm bone tired and really cranky 

through Christ who strengthens me.

I can 

say no to that chocolate cake 

through Christ who strengthens me.

I can 

keep calm even though I could really blow up at my kids right now 

through Christ who strengthens me. 

I can 

get through the day even though I didn't sleep last night 

through Christ who strengthens me. 

I can 

finish this paper before midnight 

through Christ who strengthens me. 

Now, that doesn't mean that I pray for Jesus to take away my craving, or that I expect him to just hand me $20 when I need it. However, just by saying the phrase I'm reminding myself that he makes me strong. As silly as your version might sound, this verse really does put things into perspective.

When I think about all of the difficult things that Christ has gotten me through, like losing my Dad at 13, it makes whatever I'm doing now seem like a cakewalk. If Jesus carried me through that, then certainly he can carry my through whatever earthly craving it is I'm having today, whether it has to do with food, finances, or just plain laziness. As a Christian, I want to do what's pleasing to God, which is often what I know I should be doing. And when I think about how he died a horrible, gruesome death just for me, it makes it a little easier for me to forgo the frappe to be pleasing in His sight.

That may not make a whole lot of sense to some people, but the bottom line is this: 

Through Christ, we can accomplish anything, big OR small. 

So what are your favorite verses that encourage you? How do you pull through when you feel like you just can't? I hope you found this encouraging, and that you have a blessed day!

Some Food and Stuff

My original plan for this post was to keep a food diary for a week to share with you, the reader. I've been planning out meals pretty well lately (for the most part) and I know some of my just-getting-started friends might like to know some handy, easy recipes that I'm currently making.

Plus, Mama always seems to be asking what I've been making lately... :)

*Quick Side Note*

If you haven't tried meal planning, you REALLY should. Take the 20 minutes you would have spent on Facebook after dinner and just get on it! You'll be glad you did. The evening becomes to much easier when you don't have to come up with a grand idea for dinner, or ponder if you actually have all the ingredients to make it. The biggest bonus, however, is how much you'll save on groceries. If you start planning your meals, you'll buy less and waste less at the same time!

*Back to the main feature...*

Without further ado, here are just a few things I've made lately (in no particular order):

Grilled Ham Steak and Sweet Peppers

I bought the ham steak to make a ham and cheese frittata, but when we got our new grill, Hubby was ready and rearing to test it out. The grill we got was very small, but perfect for the two of us.

Adam wrapped mesquite chips in foil and set it on top of the burner. This gave the ham and peppers a rich, smoky flavor. The flames came up and charred it just a little on the edges, crisping the skin on the outside, and bringing out the juicy flavors inside. Ham steak is something that I never ate growing up, but it makes for a cheap meal for two. The steak is less than $5, and makes up a filling meal when matched with the peppers. We're definitely going to try this one again!

Chili and Cornbread Muffins

I absolutely LOVE my crockpot. Since we often go home on our lunch break, I can throw everything together on lunch and it's ready when we come home! This is a pretty basic chili recipe, so it doesn't take very long to put together. I brown the ground beef and onions, pour in some kidney beans, tomatoes, etc. throw in a generous amount of spices and it's done. I make the cornbread from scratch as well, since we already have most of the ingredients sitting in our cupboard. This meal was awesome because it was easy, cheap, and tasty!

*To make this even easier I use a crock pot liner. They ca usually be found in the grocery store with the plastic baggies, plastic wrap, etc.

Chicken Salad on a Kaiser Bun 

Believe it or not, this sandwich was a result of left-overs. The night before I was feeling particularly lazy, and bought some fried chicken and potato salad for dinner from the grocery store. The amount that they give you is enough for 4 people, so I took the other 2 peoples' worth of chicken and made chicken salad! I shredded up the chicken, cut up some celery, added some mayo, spices, and viola! Lunch! Pair it with some chips and a kosher dill pickle, and you've got yourself and easy, tasty meal.

Buffalo Chicken Breast and Colby Jack Cheese on an Everything Bagel

Buffalo chicken breast was on sale at the deli this week, so I made sure to pick some up. This sandwich features a veggie cream cheese spread, along with the chicken and Colby Jack cheese. I was able to throw this together with things we already had in the fridge, and it was especially yummy!

Adam's Awesome Breakfast Bowl

This is pretty much my favorite breakfast ever. Actually, it's my favorite thing that Hubby makes for us, period. The delicious, slightly greasy bowl of heaven before you is a mix of fried potatoes, eggs, bacon, cheese, salsa, cilantro, mushrooms, peppers, and other various things we have sitting around. This bowl makes for a great brunch item on those Sundays or Saturdays when we have time to cook. 

Black and Bleu Burgers

Every time we go to Applebee's, I open up the menu, and Adam laughs at me. Instantly, I know why. He's laughing because I may be looking at the menu, but he knows that I know what I want-

a black and bleu burger.

Ah yes, the black and bleu. The tang of the bleu cheese coupled with grilled onions, chipotle mayo, and salty bacon on a grilled bun is plain irresistible. I like these so much that Hubby found a copycat recipe and made it for me. It was just as good as it is at Applebee's! Although these burgers weren't cheap to make, they were an awesome splurge item, and we'll definitely have them again sometime.

So there you have it. Just a few of the meals we've been making on the cheap. What are some favorite meals of yours to make that are inexpensive? Any fun finds that have become staples? I'm always looking for new ideas, and I'm sure everyone else would love to know too!

Social Media Etiquette: My Take on Things

By now, almost everyone is engaged with social media in one form or another. Even the most anti-technology Grandmas are getting on Facebook so that they can see photos of their grandkids. As social media has grown, so have the unspoken (though not always followed) "rules" for posting and interacting with others. So, for those of you who feel like you struggle to know right from wrong, here are some tips on how to stay appropriate, interesting, and awesome on social media:

1) NEVER TYPE IN ALL CAPS, BECAUSE IT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE YOU'RE YELLING EVERYTHING.

This relevant comic brought to you by the Oatmeal. Go visit and laugh! http://theoatmeal.com/

To demonstrate the atrocity that is caps lock, part of the following elaboration to the above statement will be typed in all caps.

WHEN WE READ A BOOK, WE OFTEN USE PUNCTUATION, SPACING AND WORDING TO DETERMINE THE TONE AND MEANING OF A TEXT. WE DO THE SAME THING IN SOCIAL MEDIA, BUT MORE IN-DEPTH. SINCE IT'S AN INFORMAL PLATFORM, WE CAN USE CAPITALS, ITALICS, BOLD TEXT, FONT, EMOTICONS, SPACING, AND A PLETHORA OF OTHER THINGS TO EXPRESS TONE THROUGH TEXT.

For example, the following two statements are changed by the simple edition of an emoticon and an ellipse,  OH AND DON'T FORGET CAPS LOCK.

"YOU'RE SUCH A KNUCKLE-HEAD!"        vs.        "You're such a knuckle-head... :P"

The first statement would be said to someone after a major screw-up, and implies that the other person is in BIG trouble (notice the use of caps right there)! The second is more of a snide remark you would send to a friend after she told you she lost her keys for the third time today.

So please, folks, use your caps lock responsibly.

PS

If you're one of those people who needs to type in caps to see better, there are accessibility options that can help with that :)

2) Don't be a TMI-er... please... for the sake of others. 

It's amazing to me what some people post online. Things like:

"Well it looks like I got the all clear from the GYNO today! Who wants to go hit the club with me!?!! ROFLOL!!!11"

Personal information is just that... personal. The internet does not need to know what color your phlegm is, or that you just lost track of the toenail you clipped, or even what kind of dump you just took. Here is an example where one TMI-er eloquently shares with us his/her pooping struggles:

On a more serious note, be sure not to share OTHER people's personal information either. If someone has a major life event, don't post about it before they do. You'll either steal their thunder, or worse, share something they didn't want all of Facebook to know.

If someone is your baby-daddy, you are going to break up with your girlfriend, or you're about to do something else major that involves an intimate conversation with another person, chances are that you really shouldn't post it on social media.

Also, please do them a favor and have that conversation in person. Social media is for casual interaction, not life-altering conversations.

3) You have spell check, grammar check, and a full keyboard. Please use real words and proper grammar. 

Everyone is human, and we're all going to make typographical errors every once in a while. Using the wrong homophone (things like "to, too, two" and "you're and your" or "they're, their, and there") is understandable. Misspelling words like immunoelectrophoresis  or even things like definitely (some people mean definitely and say "defiantly") is ok.

 Bt weN ur tYpin lik DIs...

just... no... please, stop.  

Remember, your post doesn't have to be 100% perfect, but making sure the way you write things isn't distracting from the actual text is always a good thing.

4) Please, keep it PG-13.

This rule is one that some people would probably argue with. You have a right to share whatever you want on Facebook, or any other social media platform, but you should always assume that anyone can see it. You never know who your mutual friends are, or when a potential employer (or current employer) is going to stalk you on Facebook. It's scary, but I believe that as a general rule you should assume that anything you put on your profile could be seen by anyone, anywhere, anytime. That includes kids, your grandma, your in-laws, and many other people you wouldn't want to leave with a bad impression of your character. 

WARNING: The following example contains some words that might make your grandmother blush.

Besides the fact that this rule covers your butt "just incase", keeping it PG-13 also ensures that you're keeping it classy. And let's be real, who doesn't want to be classy?

5) Try to be just a little sensitive, please.

The following Tweet demonstrates what we call "social insensitivity": 

Not everyone has perfect tact, but if you just do a little bit of reflection before you post, you might realize that what you thought was funny might be taking it just a little too far.

The sensitivity rule also applies to sharing. If there is an important, life-changing event in your life, please make sure your loved ones know before Facebook does.

Yeah... that's kinda awkward...

If you're not sure if what you're posting would be ill-received or tactless, you may want to reconsider posting it. 

In Conclusion...

The five offenses above are only a few of the blunders people make on social media. It may seem scary, and after reading this you may be afraid to post anything because you're convinced you'll mess something up. But fear not, friends. With a little common sense, a dash of thought, and just a pinch of good judgement, you'll be interacting on social media with the best of 'em!

What are your favorite social media etiquette guidelines? What annoys you on social media? Leave a comment below!

ALL THE NEW THINGS

It seems like for the past year or so, things (BIG things) have been constantly changing. Maybe life will never stop changing, but at least I can always count on things being exciting :) As an update, here are some pretty major new things that have happened lately

NEW JOB

Okay, so most of you know about this one already. A few weeks ago I started at Graphic Publications as an Account Manager/Digital Sales specialist. As it seems, I'm also quickly being defined as the social media "expert" on the block. Who knew? I've been helping our company with it's social media strategy, as well as putting together a strategy that we will use to help our clients.

In the sales department, starting from square one can be... interesting. Most of the account managers seem like they're always very busy going on sales calls, or talking with clients, or scheduling meetings with said clients. However, many of those account managers also have clients lists and connections that go back several years. I have to keep reminding myself that it's okay that I don't have a contact sheet a mile long yet, that it takes time to get there. Despite starting from square one, I feel like I'm making some headway and starting to really understand the process. Rome wasn't built in a day, and I surely won't know every nook and cranny of a company that's been around 40 years by next week. I'm excited to continue to learn some new things, make new connections, and share my social media knowledge with others!

NEW DWELLING

While I'm tempted to say "new home", it doesn't quite feel like home yet. Our boxes are scattered around, the kitchen is only half-unpacked, and there are plenty of things that just don't quite have a place yet. I've had a lot of people say "You're moving, again?", and trust me, I've asked myself the same question.

Truth is, there are a lot of nice things about our new home. There wasn't much of a reason to stay in Holmesville anymore, since we work closer to Millersburg and there's isn't much of anything there in the first place. Now we're 1.5 miles from work, and we're right in town, which has a set of conveniences all its own. The house itself is a triplex, but the neighbors are pleasant and it's in a nice neighborhood. There are two floors, a beautiful bannister, a nice, big kitchen, and large living area as well. I'll have to post photos after we get settled in because the photos I originally took aren't very good, but here's a preview!

The entryway. Notice the lovely bannister!

Big closet in the bedroom

The office

Little bench in the big closet

Actual bedroom

It doesn't look real glamorous now, but don't worry, we'll get there ;) 

NEW (used) CAR!

Last fall, Hubby and I decided to start working our way out of debt for good. We're still young, and we hope to start building our future now. As Dave Ramsay would say...

"Live like no one else so that you can LIVE like no one else."

So we sold the truck to get ourselves down to one vehicle, and tried to refinance the car we had (our Avenger). Refinancing wasn't an option, so we tried to trade it in and get into a different car with a better loan. After going to several dealerships and being told "no" many times, we finally found someone willing to work with us. If you need to find a car and you're anywhere near Coshocton or Zaynesville, go see Jeff Drennen. I've never seen a dealer work that hard to get someone into a car, even after they've been pre-approved and then denied anyway. They even raised the amount they gave us on our trade to get the loan approved!

Poking out of the sunroof on our 2008 Charger

After all was said and done, we ended up with a better car than we had before and in a better financial position. Now we'll be able to pay more on the principal every month and continue on our journey to being debt-free!

When I think about all of the awesome things that have been happening, I can't help but feel like we're spoiled. While I work as hard as I can to achieve my goals and help create a better life for Hubby and myself, I certainly don't think I've worked hard enough to have truly earned everything we've been given lately. At this point, it seems the only way to show my gratitude is to work even harder to use what I've been given to bring God glory, and give more generously than ever before.

Because to be honest, it's all His anyway :)

More Than a Hobby: Photography

I've been doing photography professionally for a while, but realized that my friends and loved ones may not know much about what I do or why I do it. Thus, I've decided to delve a little deeper into what is now not only a passion of mine, but what is sometimes profitable as well.

I've never really told anyone why I started taking photos, and for a long time, I don't think I knew exactly why either. I always had cameras growing up. There's no accurate way to keep track, but I'm pretty sure I had somewhere between five and ten film cameras before I was 13. Cameras were a really cool toy for me, and I always had to have a different one. The first camera I remember was a 10mm (I think) camera that used a really skinny, awkward-looking film roll. It was super cool because it had the Super Mario Bros. logo on it, though I still don't know what that had to do with taking photos. Then there was the slew of 35mm cameras I went through. Some were plain, hand-wound and had no flash. A couple of them were fancy, and had automatic rewind and built-in flash. I discovered that I loved taking photos with those, even if they were just photos of my dog, or my sisters, or even sometimes the tip of my finger covering the lens...

Then, things got VERY fancy and I got a Polaroid iZone camera. These babies were awesome. Before phones even had cameras on them (or color screens, for that matter), these were the cutting edge of photo-sharing technology. I could take a photo, and INSTANTLY pull it out of the camera. A couple of minutes later, I had a tiny, fully-developed photo. Some of the film even had adhesive on the back, so you could use the photos as stickers. Really, these things were amazing, even though the film was so expensive my dad put a limit on how much he would buy for me.

These things were so cool the BRITTANY FREAKIN' SPEARS used them! And for the record, she was taking selfies BEFORE it was cool.

These cameras hold a special place in my heart for another reason as well. On my wedding day, my dad wasn't there to walk me down the aisle. So, I took a page out of the book of Pinterest and walked down the aisle with a photo charm of him on my wedding bouquet. The photo I put in the charm was an iZone photo taken shortly before he passed away. I kept it almost 10 years, and it still hadn't faded, preserving his memory so perfectly between those strips of brightly colored paper.

The other photo beneath his (the second charm in the photo above) is a picture of me, taken by a dear friend of mine about 10 short minutes before I found out I no longer had a father here on earth. In a way, it was the last photo I had of the little girl that had a daddy, the one that was so happy and innocent, the one that would one day walk down the aisle with her father. So, I took that girl, and her daddy, down the aisle. I don't know that it's significance would make sense to anyone but me, but really, my opinion is the only one that mattered here. My daddy didn't know it at the time, but by buying me that camera, he ensured he would be with me on the most important day of my life so far. Thanks, iZone camera :)

Somewhere around high school, digital cameras became more affordable for the average Joe. My first digital camera was a present from my Aunt Pat. It had no display screen, and was (I think) about a megapixel in quality. However, it was still REALLY cool. I took a lot of photos of my labrador, Lilly, and other random things around the house. There was no flash, so I had to make sure I used the light right to get photos that weren't too dark. The only surviving photo I can find is this one:

Again, taking selfies before it was cool.

Eventually, I saved (and saved and saved and saved) and bought myself a nice digital camera. It was a Fuji Film FinePix, and I'm pretty sure it's one of the best I've ever owned. I got a whopping 255MB memory card with it, which seem laughable now that I'm shooting with 32G and using half the card in a shoot. What this camera taught me is that it's not the quality of your camera that matters, or how expensive it it, but how you use light. None of the following photos are edited at all, and are exactly as I took them about 7 years ago. Some of my favorite photos from my Fuji include:

A real, very pretty flower.

I thought this tree looked like it had an open wound. 

Some of my first experiments with long exposure and a disco ball.

Another awesome flower.

I'm not sure how I did this, as the ceiling above the light was perfectly lit as well. But hey, I'll take what I can get!

Another experiment with long exposure. Except that the longest exposure I could get was about 1 second, so I just waived a light around and hoped for the best.

Someone left perfectly good beads on the ground, so I took a photo because of the lively contrast to the grayness of the sidewalk.

The photos above came out of what I now refer to as my "artistic emo phase", something which very few people know I even went through, and is now a time I almost laugh at. There was a time when I was an adolescent suffering from depression. I lost my father in Jr. High, but it wasn't until a couple of years later that I really started to struggle. Though undiagnosed, there were enough signs for me to know that I needed something to fight the depression creeping up on me. I found an outlet through art. I drew, even though I had never really drawn before. I wrote prose and poetry for hours in the park because I found it to be therapeutic. Photos also provided solace from the sinister thoughts that crept into my mind, and allowed me to capture my world from my own perspective, and no one else's. I fought the dark through the light coming through the lens. Photos allowed me to slow down, look at the fine details, and really think about all of the beauty that life had to offer- even when life didn't seem to have value.  

I'm so glad that I took all the photos I did in high school. From football games, to band competitions, to tennis and dive, I have those memories preserved forever. Every once in a while I look back on Facebook at the underwater selfies we took, or the silly photos of all the band kids wreaking havoc at Disneyland. Scrolling through the photos reminds me of so many happy memories and brings them back to life. I hope to continue taking photos as I go on in life so that I can always go back. When I'm sad, I can look at photos of my wedding day and my mood instantly brightened. When I feel like I need a confidence boost, I can look at certain photos and I'm reminded that I am indeed beautiful. I don't say that to be conceded, but hubby tells me so every day, so it much be true :)

Some more recent photos...

Photos aren't just pictures for me. As they moved from lifeline, to freedom, to passion, to income, I've discovered that my style and equipment will continue to change. Despite this, one thing will always remain true:

Photography to me will never be "just a hobby".

Sassy's Got a Brand New Bag!

Hopefully, you caught the oldies reference. If not, it would suffice to say that... *wait for it*

I GOT A JOB!

I'm lucky enough to have been employed since graduation (not something every student enjoys fresh-out-of-college). However, employment has been a bit of a roller coaster since I graduated. It's been a little something like this:

SUMMER EMPLOYMENT AT THE COLLEGE OF WOOSTER!!! FULL TIME PAYCHECK!

End of summer employment...

On to work at the airsoft store!

Working at a store about my hobby? Yes, please!

Sassy applies for Job #1. They decided to hire internally :(

Airsoft store is awesome, BUT part-time isn't paying the bills... what to do?

Awesome Boss: "Hey, want to work at my wood shop too?"

STEADY INCOME! YES!

But these days are really long...

SASSY APPLIES FOR JOB #2!!! 

aaaaaand she's the second to top pick for the position... which means no new job for Sally

But these days are STILL really long...

Sally applies for ANOTHER job. 

THREE WHOLE interviews later, denied. Job wasn't a good fit. 

and then the airsoft store closed...

Awesome Boss: "Want to work full time at the wood shop?"

---------> Full time job = FULL TIME PAYCHECK BABY! Days are shorter, this is cool!

But the commute is still 60 miles a day round-trip. Poop.

At least there's awesome things at the wood shop, like:

The View

WOOLY BEARS!!! I love wooly bears...

Roasting weenies over an open flame!

SASSAFRAS COMMITS TO WORKING AT THE SHOP FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME

Things settle for a while... then...

suddenly...

BAM! OTHERJOBCALLSSASSYFORANINTERVIEW!!!!

It's a perfect job for her and they decide to make an offer!!!!

Boy am I glad this roller coaster is coming to a halt! My new job is with Graphic Publications Inc., a local company that puts together publications that further local business and provides advertising and marketing services. Specifically, I will be a digital sales specialist in charge of extending the reach of our digital products (websites, videos, etc.) by forming relationships with business owners in the area and offering them our services according to their needs. Some REALLY cool things about my new job include:

-Salary, plus commission

-Full benefits

-I'll be working in the same building as hubby (which is awesome since we have one car at the moment)

-They provide a computer and cell phone

-I get to work WITH PEOPLE and I'll never be stuck sanding by myself all day ever again :)

-I get to do some teaching and training others as well!

The list of awesome things about my new job goes on, but I am SO excited to finally be starting a career. I had been praying for a break from the grind, something that I enjoyed doing, and God answered that prayer. I'm so excited for the things to come, and all the new relationships I get to develop. Monday starts a new beginning, and I couldn't be more stoked :) 

Figuring It Out: Health (No More Excuses)

So apparently part of this whole "adult" thing is staying healthy and taking care of yourself. Now sometimes it seems that finding time to work, pay the bills, spend time with hubby, and doing photography on the side is about all I can handle.

Lately, physical activity (like running up and down hills at the airsoft field) makes me feel out of breath and pathetic. In college, I had plenty of Intramural sports and walking around campus to keep me active. I also had a free to use (well, part of my $49,900 tuition), brand new gym facility at my disposal. Thus, it was fairly easy to keep (somewhat) fit.

These days, there is no gym 150 yards from my door. I don't have healthy food already prepared and waiting for me (like in Lowry, even though "healthy" just meant chicken breast and the salad bar). I have to make fitness a priority in my life or it's just not going to happen. Recently, I have decided that I'm not making anymore excuses.


No more "I leave the house at 6am and don't get home until 7 or 8pm, so I don't have time."

I now leave the house at 4:45 to work out before work. It's painful sometimes, but it actually makes me feel better the rest of the day.

No more "But MAN that soda would be refreshing right now! I'll just have a glass."

I broke my addiction and haven't had soda for about 3 weeks now. It doesn't sound like much, but for the first few days it was REALLY hard to say no.

No more putting sugar in my coffee or tea.

Stevia is natural, has 0 calories, and doesn't taste like cancer.

No more eating as much as I want.

Because if I'm going to get my lazy buns up at 4am to get in a workout, I sure as HECK am not going to waste it by eating junk, or more than my stomach was ever meant to hold.

I know I'm going to mess up. I'm going to eat more than I should once in a while. I might even cave and have a chocolate bar for breakfast (not that I did this morning or anything.......) but I'm going to try to do it right. 

I've realized that, until this point, I've always talked about getting fit, being more healthy. Sometimes I'll even give up soda for a week, or go on a few walks. However, I haven't given it more than half an effort. Recently, I think something recently clicked:

Major change requires major effort. 

Until I actually apply myself and give it my all, no significant change is going to happen.

So I've been applying myself, and so far, I've lost 7 lbs! I've had more endurance while playing airsoft, felt better at work (which requires a lot of physical strength), and been more energetic throughout the day. Small things have begun to happen that show me my hard work is paying off- I'm wearing my belt a notch smaller. Water is much tastier than it used to be. I've been able to wake up and get out of bed easier.

I know I'm no where close to where I want to be, but if I keep up this effort, I believe it will pay off. I just can't wait to see the results :)