Five on Friday

Happy Friday!

This Sunday is May 1st, which means Memorial Day is this month, which means it 's basically summer. Or if you live in Arizona like me, the heat has already arrived 

With summer coming up (AKA swim suit season), I wanted to share a few tips on how to curb those late night munchies. Because if you are anything like me, my sweet tooth definitely comes out at night!

As a health and wellness coach I get the question a lot, "how far ahead of bedtime should I stop eating?" The answer I have heard over and over again from my own trainer and mentor is three hours

So, how do you curb that sweet tooth or munchies between those three hours?

Here are FIVE of my favorite tips from my favorite trainer, mentor and friend Stephanie Grandits

1) Herbal Tea- This is my go-to! My favorite is passion tea or Oasis. There are lots of different teas out there. Find one that is non caffeinated, one you enjoy and relaxing 

2) Take a hot bath or hot shower- Relax and take your mind off your cravings 

3) Brush or whiten your teeth- When you have a fresh minty taste in your mouth, or white strips, you most likely won't want to eat something. 

4) Take Crave Check SR- This non caffeinated AdvoCare product really helps suppress your appetite. I would even recommend before dinner so you don't overeat. It will last you about six hours. (HINT: it REALLY works! So if you already do not eat much throughout the day be careful. Not eating enough can hinder results) 

5) Drink a protein shake- Having AdvoCare's Muscle Gain is a lot better than having a full AdvoCare meal replacement shake. Muscle Gain is high protein, low carbs and helps repair muscles while you sleep #winning

And..... when all else fails, just go to bed
Seriously, works 100% of the time 

Hope these help! I am off to Palm Springs with my best friend to attend Stage Coach
Country music and Sam Hunt? YES PLEASE

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Oh, and just because I live in a beautiful state, here is a picture I took tonight after my women's volleyball game

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In The Waiting...Don't Wait

Let me take you back to when I was in preschool

I remember asking my mom if I could wear a dress to impress a boy I liked

I had a crush on a boy every single grade since then

(just ask my sister!)

When I was younger I would be the only girl invited to all boy parties

I was what people called “boy crazy”
But I did not care

So, at an early age I was familiar with the desire to "be in love" 

I did not know exactly what marriage was at that age, but I knew I wanted it

As I graduated high school and started college, it seemed only natural for me to meet my husband freshman year, get engaged senior year, married after graduation, move back to my home town, buy a house with a white picket fence, have 2.5 kids, a dog and start my carpool duties

So, that did not happen after college
And it didn’t happen at 23, 24, or 25 either

So, you can imagine my frustration when I was 26 years old, most my friends were married, in fact I was in most of the weddings, and I was still totally single

On the outside it looked like I had a good life
Living in the city of Seattle, great job, great friends and family
But inside was empty
I was not fulfilled at all

I was lacking purpose and passions in my life

I was just existing and not living to my full God given potential

Not even close

One evening, I knew I had to confront my life

So, I asked myself “what am I waiting for?”  

I realized that I had put all my dreams on hold while I was “waiting” to get married

I would tell myself I would wait until I was married to do this or do that

"I will wait until I am married to find a home church, move out of the state, or go on a mission trip"

Ethiopia- July 2014 with my mom and four other daughters and mothers 

One evening in October 2011, I drew a line in the sand
I decided to start taking action steps to pursue my dreams

I started getting involved with non-profits, which was a passion of mine

 I started investing in my health goals, which is how I started with AdvoCare

I said NO to the business right away , but when I got my first check of $150 which I used to go to Nashville to run in a half marathonfor St. Jude, which was a dream of mine, I saw AdvoCare as a vehicle to pursue more dreams

I said YES to start my own business with AdvoCare

Within, the first three months I saved up enough to go on a mission trip to Ethiopia, which was another dream of mine

Last spring I felt God calling me to move to Phoenix to pursue some dreams of mine

Because the income I was making with Advocare and my commitment to pursue my dreams, I stepped out in faith, left my job, my friends and all my family in Seattle and moved toPhoenix

My best friend Molly, who I would never have met if I didnt move or pursue AdvoCare
My sister Beth on the right, visiting me in Arizona at my HOME church

So, here I am today, working at a non-profit, which is a passion of mine
I  have a part time business helping others in health and wellness with AdvoCare
I have been to Africa
And moved away from home, and found an amazing home church
 All without being married

My life is not how I imagined it
Not even close
But guess what?
I  am more happy now than I was when I was "just waiting"

So, whatever you are waiting for, whether it is to get engaged or married, to buy a house, to fall in love, to start your own business, for an addiction to be broken, whatever it may be
 I want to encourage you that there is a whole life to still be lived while in the waiting

There are dreams to be fulfilled in the waiting

There are adventures to be had in the waiting

There is love to be found in the waiting

There are goals to accomplish in the waiting

There is growth and transformation in the waiting

There is joy and Grace in the waiting

Some of my best friends I met at City of Grace- My HOME church 

So, here I am at 30, and still not married, the desire still strong, yes, and if you would have told me when I was 18, that this would be my life at 30, I would have never believed you or would have punched you in the face for speaking that over my life (just kidding...maybe) 

But now, I have a completely different approach on my life while in the waiting

You will never see me on the sidelines of life

I will always be running full speed in the race that God has laid out just for me

Yes, I fail and stumble sometimes

I make mistakes and I offend people

But I am not waiting anymore to chase my dreams, pursue my passion, or take adventures

I know that some dreams are meant to be lived now and I know that when I get married we will create new dreams, new adventures, and new experiences together

I want to encourage you, while you are in the waiting...do not wait

Something amazing happens when you choose to have a decided heart and start pursuing those passions that stir up your soul and sets it on fire 

Doors start to open for you, people come in your life that bring purpose, opportunities come up you never imagined, and you will start to see that there is a beautiful and thrilling life that needs to be lived in the waiting

“Never allow waiting to become a habit. 

Live your dreams. Take risks. Life is happening now.”

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Infuse Your Dreams With Life

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for 

and assurance about what we do not see"

Hebrews 11:1

My ultimate goal is to create a life that allows me to always say "YES" when God calls
Yes, I can serve. Yes, I will give. Yes, I will GO. 

This is my 2015 vision board

As I have said many times in this blog, the past three years have been one big dreamfest, if you will

Once I let the Lord take over my plans, He has placed me on a path I never imagine

Then came AdvoCare which has expanded my visions and I realized I need to dream bigger!

The best part is that through dreaming big and allowing the Lord to fill His purpose

He is also changing me in the process

Changing me for His glory 

Changing me or more of preparing me for those dreams...His plans

And when I really think about my dreams, like REALLY think about them

Would I be ready for them?

Am I ready for them?

You see, the Lord knows my dreams

He knows exactly which ones He will fulfill now 

There are some that I see Him gradually beginning the process

Then there are ones I have no idea how He will ever prepare me 

Those are the ones He knows I will need some more time to prepare

That is where faith comes in

Faith He knows

Faith that He is working on my behalf

Faith that spending time will increase my hope

Faith that He will infuse my dreams with life 

Faith is having confidence in what we hope for

Confidence the Him

Confidence in our dreams and visions

Assurance that even though we don't see the Lord,

"He is working things out for the good of those who live Him"

Faith is not thinking God can, but knowing He will

I am working on your behalf

Bring me all your concerns, including your dreams

Talk with Me about everything,

Letting the Light of My Presence shine on your hopes and plans

Spend time allowing My Light to infuse your dreams with life,

gradually transforming them into reality

-Jesus Calling 

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Motivation Monday- Don't grow weary- KEEP GOING

Since I moved down to Arizona 

Since I have started pursuing AdvoCare

Since I started dreaming big and not looking back

I have heard people criticize and question my life

To be honest, sometimes the words cripple me 

 I freeze

I doubt

I question 

It may only be a minute or a week (refer to this POST) 

But then I remember that I am not living their life

My journey is between God and myself

A journey I don't quite understand at the moment

I may will stumble, fall, trip, make a bad decision and I will fail 

And they might think they are right

And after I have picked myself back up, I simply remind myself that when I fail it is not the end

It is just a small reminder that I am at least trying, moving and working towards a goal, a dream 

I am learning more than ever that most people don't try at all 

I will get back up

I will keep moving forward in the midst of fear and in the midst of doubt

I would rather fail in trying to accomplish my dream then not have a dream at all 

I always want to be a woman who dreams, trusts and then acts in faith

You can't just sit there and wait for it to come to you

Progress only happens to those who seek it our and work for it

- Robert Kiyoski 

World changers are always on the path everyone else said wouldn't work

Don't grow weary- KEEP GOING

-Sandy Krakowski 

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Five on Friday

This week's Five on Friday I am doing an AdvoCare theme

No secret that I am passionate about AdvoCare 

If you have been reading my blog for awhile you can see my passion has only grown

The supplements have changed my life and the income has increased my dreams

-------------------  

5 Reasons (out 6216355) Why I LOVE AdvoCare This Week 

1) Spark

You guys this stuff has changed my life! 

When my friend told me I had to give up coffee for the 24 Day Challenge I thought - no way! 

I loved my coffee

BUT since my first Spark almost two years ago, I have not had one cup of coffee! 

Spark gives me 3-5 hours of lasting energy, 21 vitamins & minerals AND its is  SO good! 

This is the best selling product by AdvoCare for a reason! 

Fruit Punch is my favorite but you can check here for other yummy flavors! 

2)  Oasis

Stressed? No problem! 

Oasis contains a combination of super fruits known for their antioxidants that 

helps your body adapt to physical and other sources of stress

When life gets stressful Oasis is my nighttime comfort

I drink it extra hot before bedtime to wind down..

...and good night! 

3) Healthy Lifestyle

Yes, AdvoCare has over 70 products

Yes, AdvoCare has world-class endorsers, doctors and a sports advisory board

Yes, AdvoCare products are safe for ALL NCAA, Pro and Olympian athletes

But it is SO much more

Even as a NCAA student-athlete I never knew how to eat clean

I didn't know how to fuel my body correctly

I drank Redbull at halftime for goodness sake- YUK!

After I graduated I was lost on what to do and discouraged!

Thankfully, AdvoCare does more than sell products to achieve goals

It teaches how to properly eat right to sustain a healthy and balance lifestyle 

Finally, I learned how to eat right

I learned how to fuel my body correctly to optimize my workouts

A healthy lifetime habit

4) Amazing New Friends

AdvoCare is all about relationships

Finding what the goals and desires of the ones you are helping

You get rewarded in this company for helping others win- so cool!

Through this philosophy I have made many new friends along the way

I have an amazing team I am coaching to achieve their fitness goals & financial dreams 

5) I get to dream BIG!

I was SO passionate about what these products were doing in my life I had to share it with my friends and family and because AdvoCare can only be purchased through a distributor, 

the business of AdvoCare just fell into my lap . I saw the business potential right away!

The founder of AdvoCare wanted a company that ordinary people could live extraordinary lives

I have already replaced my full-time income, at my old job, with AdvoCare 

That is only a year and a half of working 5-10 hours/wk  

I never set out to be a "vitamin" distributor

I did set out to impact people and I am doing that daily

You know what  else AdvoCare has done for me?

I got permission to DREAM BIG

My first paycheck was $150

Now, I am on my way to becoming debt free 

I paid cash for my mission trip to Africa

And I was able to move to Phoenix on a leap of faith

And I get to chose what dreams I want to accomplish

What are some of your dreams?

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No more Mondays & October wishes!

Mondays were the worst for me

The start of a long work week ahead 
I dreaded them!

Five more days until the weekend, til freedom

I really did love parts of my job up in Seattle

But during those six years I found myself longing for the weekends

Which was ironic since I worked athletic events on Saturdays 

I was always waiting for my next vacation

Which I will tell you was not every often 

Mondays only stood in my way of the the freedom I longed for 

 That was my old life

The Lord has completely re-routed me on a path I never imagined 

To read more of my story from Seattle to Arizona read this POST 

Because of a decision to pursue a business called AdvoCare two years ago, it has allowed me to help others achieve their health, wellness and fitness goals while working from home during this season of my life 

So, yes, today is Monday but I am not at a job

I am not at an office working eight hours 

In fact, I am at a local Starbucks, my home office

I am definitely at a much needed rest, refuel, and dream bigger stage in my life

It has been one of the biggest blessings 

Everyday is a Saturday to me 

OCTOBER WISHES!

Linking up with Melyssa at Nectar Collective

1) Find a pumpkin patch! 
Do they even have those in Arizona?
I will be missing our annual family visit in Seattle this year so I need to keep the tradition going! 

2) Day trip to Flagstaff, Arizona
I hear it gets cold and leaves change up there
I need to somehow get my fall fix!

4) Help one person jumpstart their health and/or finance dreams through the vehicle of AdvoCare 

 I shared a little bit about the life AdvoCare has helped me create and I love helping others achieve a life of freedom too! 

Do you need to lose weight, gain muscle or better your overall health?
Could you use an extra $100, $500, $1000 or more per month?
Do you love what you do?
Do you see yourself doing it forever?


3)  Attend a high school football game
Who doesn't like Friday Night Lights?

4) Workout 4x a week- thankfully I found an amazing workout I love! 

5) Update my blog 2 or more times a week  

6) Write five personal hand written letters 

What are you October wishes?
Linking up with Melyssa at Nectar Collective

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First Guest Post!

Hey guys! I am so excited for my first guest post for Hudson and Emily! 

So much has happened in the last two months of my life

I went from leaving my job of 6 years in Seattle, which has been my home for 28 years, 

to traveling to Ethiopia and then God just threw in moving to Phoenix! 

My mom always said God has a sense of humor and I am finding that out everyday day

I am also discovering just how good and faithful God is every single day

________________________   

As I wake up everyday in Arizona, I still cant believe where life has taken me

This is my short story how my one “YES” to AdvoCare changed my life..

Read the rest of the post HERE 

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Five on Friday- My week through Instagram

Happy Friday!

It is one of those weeks where I am yelling from the roof tops my window

Thank Goodness Its Friday!

It is not a surprise that I love Instagram

I also love my morning time devotions

However, I have a little horrible habit of going straight to social media instead of the Word first

I dont know if I am the only one who has this problem

It is so easy to turn off my alarm on my phone and then touch the Instagram app or Facebook app

I mean really Jessie? What could possibly go on in the last 7 hours that you need to know?

Answer- NOTHING is more important 

With that, I have decide during this season of Lent I have given up social media  and to turn straight to the Word first. Some mornings easier to abstain than others but I have found I creating this habit and going to the Word I am filled with more peace for my day

Anyway, that was a side note for this Five on Friday

Here is my week through Instagram 

Monday 

My worst nightmare is happening at work right now

Monday started off with an empty canister of Spark

I cant go a couple hours without one, so yes 8 hours was horrible

#gotenergy #gotspark 

Tuesday 

"Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. 
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us " Hebrews 12:1
He hasnt marked the path the way I planned, but finally finding my stride
#surrender #betterthanimagined #lifeisnotasprint

Still training for my half May 4th down in California

My friend Jamil and Lisa will be running with me

I still cant believe this will be my 4th half

I never thought I would be a runner

Never say never I guess!

Wednesday 

The time is now! 
My brother and his roommates are about to start on a journey to healthier and sustainable lifestyle starting with the AdvoCare 24 Day Challenge to give them a kick start! I am looking forward to coaching them to reach their goals but more importantly create a healthy lifestyle
#thetimeisnow #gotenergy #lookfeelandperformbetter

Are you ready for a change?

Do you need more energy?

Want to feel better?

Advocare is not a diet but a lifestyle change

Ask me about the 24 Day Challenge

I would love to coach you too! 

Thursday (but really Friday)

#TBT 2006 on Friday 

My partner in crime for life

Nothing is better than going through life with a sister 

Friday 

Advocare Oasis and HGTV with the roommate
#mykindafridaynight

Ending my night and week with what I love best

A low key night with AdvoCare Oasis tea and HGTV

Actually, I think my roommate is going to start Space Jam

Yes, Space Jam #nojudgement

With that I say goodnight, God Bless and Happy Friday!

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Favorite Five on Friday

 Favorite time of day

morning time

 

Mornings have been not always my favorite

I would want to sleep right through them

Waking up early to read the Word or devotional?

Crazy talk

It was not until I felt something missing in my life

I needed more of Him

Three years ago I committed to waking up early twice a week

2 became 3, then 4...

Now, the mornigs are my absolute favorite time of day

Even on days I can sleep in I make sure I wake up before my day starts

 I look forward to sharing that time with the Lord

And my hot cup of Spark of course :)

 

Favorite little guy..EVER!

 

Seriously, this little guy has stolen my heart!

He has shown me a love so deep I never knew was possible

This role as an auntie provides more joy than I ever knew possible

And it keeps getting better...

I get another little man in April!

Auntie life is the best

Favorite Football Player

 

Jason Witten- TE Dallas Cowboys

 

 I kept this FCA magazine back in 2012

I always love reading how athletes use their platform for His Glory

To make an impact for His Glory

Fast forward two years
 

Jason Witten is a sports endorser for Advocare
 I got the honor of listening to him speak

I was in Dallas last week for Advocare leadership

He surpassed all my expectations

I am forever a fan

 

Favorite memory from last weekend

AdvoCare Leadership Conference

Casino Night fun!

I have made the most amazing friends through my journey with Advocare

These women inspire me daily with their BIG dreams and hardwork

We got to play dress up last weekend for the Presidents Party

 

 

 Favorite Friday Verse 

 

Thank you Jesus!

This verse brings me such joy

We will sin

We will fail

Every. Single. Day

Multiply times a day

 

But you know what?

We don't have to live in constant fear, guilt or shame

He does not condemn us

We have been redeemed

We have been forgiven

We are LOVED

 

 

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