A-FRAME CABIN ESCAPE NEAR D.C.

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I am so excited to share all about Dreamtime A-Frame with you! In early November, our family had the honor of staying there for a few nights, and I’d be remiss not to share all about our stay with you! I also hope if you’re in the DMV region (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia) that it offers a quiet, easily accessible, and peaceful escape from your city life. It took us 2.5 hours to get there from Alexandria, VA for reference.

If you enjoy “glamping,” this is for you!

 
Family on deck of A-frame cabin
 
Family on the deck of A-frame cabin near D.C.
 

Dreamtime is a fantastic, owner renovated & designed, two-bedroom, two-bathroom A-frame cabin tucked away in a semi-secluded area, close to the town of Berkeley Springs, WV. The cabin, and the entire HOA community its part of, are surrounded by tall trees on the mountainside. Simply driving through the neighborhood or hiking around the neighborhood is fun in itself!

 
Coffee on deck of A-frame cabin with view of woods
 

We went during early November to catch fall leaves, but we missed a large portion of them by a couple of weeks. With this in mind, to maximize the ability to see colorful, fall, West Virginia leaves, I’d recommend going around mid October. However, visiting this area at any time of the year would be stunning! I also imagine that visiting there in the spring, when all of the trees are full of leaves and blooming, would also be beautiful too.

 
 

The Top Wish-listed Dreamtime A-Frame Cabin is fully equipped to be your home-away-from-home with a touch of luxury. The kitchen is furnished with stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, and of course, all you need for coffee & tea each morning! I’ve never stayed in a place that had MORE THAN ENOUGH k-cups to last our whole stay! It was so nice knowing we didn’t have to worry about running out of coffee. You can enjoy your meals together around the dining table, or take it to the deck for an epic BBQ next to your private picnic table. The cabin also includes a flatscreen TV with Roku streaming apps (require guest login), Roku live TV, and WiFi. One pet is also welcome during your stay, and they had the sweetest bowl for food and water already available for your pet.

 
 
Family overlooking from loft in A-frame cabin
 
Hall view of bathroom and bedroom in A-frame cabin
 
Bedroom in A-frame cabin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

You can gather around the wood fireplace/stove next to a massive glass door and windows with a picturesque view while playing board games with the family. They have ample wood available during the fall-winter months and the wood burning fireplace was so fun and cozy! They also have tons of board games available too.

Bedrooms include a master with a king bed and one queen bedroom (for a total of four). With two full bathrooms, there is plenty of space for everyone to keep up with daily routines.

 
 
 
 
 

The hot tub was clean, set to a perfect temperature, and easy to get to and from in cooler evening temps! We also loved the washer and dryer they had in the living area, which made it easy to wash our hot tub attire and towels throughout our stay.

 
 

Not only is the cabin itself amazing, you also have quick access to nearby trails, are minutes from Berkeley Springs Brewing Co. and Cold Run Valley Winery, and Cacapon Resort State Park. You can also find yourself in the town center with highly rated local restaurants & cafés.

As an avid hiking family, we drove to Devil’s Nose trail, which was 30 minutes from the house. The 3.0-mile out-and-back trail with 610 ft elevation gain is near Hedgesville, West Virginia. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 1 h 30 min to complete. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The best times to visit this trail are February through November. We didn’t see anybody on our entire hike, which was so peaceful! We went on a weekday, so I think that helped. I do recommend ensuring you are comfortable with moderate trails and that you are comfortable reading a map should you have no cell service. It is a remote and secluded hike, but SO SO SO beautiful and worth it!!! Be sure to go all the way down to the Devil’s Pond.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Berkeley Springs offers visitors it’s natural hot springs and unique, artistic culture.

The elegant Berkeley Springs State Park has a historic mineral spa and Roman bathhouse, which offers services like massages, saunas, baths and showers.

 
 
 
 

We ate at Charlotte’s Cafe and it was phenomenal! We also got some coffee from Fairfax Coffee, which was also wonderful, and right in the heart of town.

While we didn’t do the Roman bathhouse, it does get phenomenal reviews and sound relaxing! Phone reservations are required, and there is no online booking. We just wanted to take advantage of the cabin’s hot tub, so we didn’t feel adding the bathhouse to our itinerary was necessary.

 
 
 
 

We also made our way over to Cacapon and hiked there as well. We did the Cacapon Ridge Trail, another moderately challenging trail but very pretty and secluded! The girls got to play on their very accessible and 12 and under appropriate playground. They had so much fun and the park is very well kept and clean.

 
 

After departing Berkley Springs and the cabin, we stopped in Harpers Ferry on our way back home. It was the perfect mid trip stop, and so worth visiting too! Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, in the lower Shenandoah Valley. The location where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet, known as The Point, offers views of Maryland and Virginia. The Appalachian Trail Visitor Center has exhibits on the long-distance hiking trail. We ate at The Rabbit Hole which was also dog friendly and yummy.

 
 
 
 

To finish off the trip, we went to the waterfront which was one of the prettiest sights we’ve seen! There, you will see where the states converge as well as water flowing over rocks in a very peaceful manner. Be sure to take a pic there! Then you can walk across the bridge too to really soak it all in. There are many cute coffee shops and stores in town, but we didn’t have the chance to walk around too much.

 
 

I hope you take the opportunity to visit Dreamtime A-Frame and be sure to follow them on Instagram too! @Dreamtimestays We truly can’t wait to go back!

This blog post was written in collaboration with Dreamtime. We are honored to partner with them and share their home with you!

 
 

Be sure to pin the image above to be able to come back to this blog post in the future or to give you some vacation ideas when the time comes. Let me know if you have any questions!

Happy exploring,

Xx, Amy

2022 WORD OF THE YEAR

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Purpose. /ˈpərpəs/ noun.

1.    the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.

 

 

On December 31st, I turned 35 years old. I can’t pick out exactly what it was, but this birthday felt different.  Very different. Bittersweet in every sense of the word.

 

I feel my youth slipping away, as I see my girls grow.

I feel my youth slipping away, as I see my skin and body change.

I feel my youth slipping away, as another marriage anniversary passes by.

I feel my youth slipping away, as I realize there truly is a new generation behind ours.

I feel my youth slipping away, as more friends and loved ones pass away.

 

BUT… in so many ways…

I also still feel like I’m 18. A young, naïve, spontaneous, and adventurous girl ready to conquer the world.

 

And I guess as I grow older, I realize just how important it is that I truly live out and fulfill my life’s purpose.

That I hear it, act on it, teach from it, learn from it, grow from it, and guide from it.

Because tomorrow just isn’t guaranteed.

 

On my 35th birthday, I began with a prayer for purpose.

I woke up at 4 am while the rest of the house was sleeping, made a cup of coffee, and I fell to my knees in prayer.

 

I prayed for a life full of purpose. I prayed to FIND MY PURPOSE, LIVE ON PURPOSE, FOR A PURPOSE.

 

After getting off of Active Duty service with the Army nearly 4 years ago, it’s a theme I’ve often dwelled on through prayer.

Yet this year, I hope to lean into it even more.

 

 

I remember when I turned 18, I wrote a letter to myself as I embarked on a solo road trip starting at the tip top of Maine with a goal to make it down to Florida. It was my “soul searching” road trip.

I camped out on different mountaintops, woke up to sunsets in different states, visited every Capitol building along the East coast, slept in hotel parking lots, and went more into debt than I already was in at 18 years old. ha! WHAT WAS I THINKING? lol

 

But back to the letter; I wrote a letter about the “Fabulous Farris Fs.”  Farris is my maiden name.

It was so so silly, but it’s stuck with me all these years. So I guess it was actually pretty clever.

 

It was a letter about how I would focus on:

Faith, Family, Friends, Finances, Founding, Future, Fun, and Fitness. Hence the “Fabulous Farris Fs” , get it? 😂

And while the scope of those things have changed over the years, the general idea continues to remain true.

 

It’s a way for me to always keep my priorities straight.

For me to always stay on course, and to ensure my compass is always pointing in the right direction during my journey of life.

 

That’s the whole meaning of purpose, right? To know what guides you at life’s crossroads.
To know what influences your actions and offers direction in challenging times.
To know what shapes your hopes, dreams, goals, and greatest desires.

 

And man have I gone off course time and time again over these last 17 years since that letter I wrote when I turned 18.

 

Yet still, I cling to my purpose.

 

Purpose is special, because it’s truly unique to each of us.

Some find purpose in a higher power.

Some find purpose in their loved ones.

Some find purpose in money and success.

Some find purpose in adventure.

Some find purpose in science.

Some find purpose in the unknown.

Some find purpose in advocating.

Some find purpose in peace and healing.

and the list could go on forever.

 

All so unique, and all so personal.

 

 

This year, I want to really lean back into finding my purpose.  And while I may not be embarking on any month long, soul searching, solo road trip adventures…I do plan on digging deep into my soul.

 

 

Answering questions like: Why am I here? Who do I serve? What do I want my legacy to be? How can I find more balance in my day? What motivates me? Who inspires me? What are my fears and weaknesses? What are my joys and strengths? Where am I devoting my attention and time to?  How can I give more and be more selfless?  How can I change the world?

 

 

I pray 2022 brings more purpose to your life, and simply allows you to dig a little deeper into who you are and why you are that way.

What are your priorities? What makes you happy? What forces you up every morning? What brings you peace?

These are all great places to start to ask my question of the year:

What gives our lives purpose?

 

I’ll start.

 

The Fabulous Farris Fs : Faith, Family, Friends, Finances, Founding, Future, Fun and Fitness.

 

Purpose in My Faith:

What is the Lord’s purpose for my life?

How can I share that purpose with the world?

How can I grow closer to that purpose to ensure I’m sharing it authentically with the world?

How can I ensure I am living out the Lord’s purpose through my actions every day?

 

Action steps:

-Find a new Church home and community where we feel safe, welcomed, loved, cared for, and whose vision and fundamentals align with that of our family.

-Ensure that the Lord’s purpose for my life guides every decision I make by praying prior to making decisions.

-Continue studying my devotionals and reading my Bible.

-Continue reading Bible stories to the girls at bedtime.

-Volunteer with the Church community.

-Study, pray, read, and reflect before speaking. Trust that God will lead my words and actions.

-Integrate spirituality and Faith into every facet of my life.

 

Purpose for my Family:

How can I fulfill my purpose as a wife?

How can I fulfill my purpose as a mother?

How can I fulfill my purpose as a daughter, daughter in law, niece, aunt, cousin, and more?

 

Action steps:

-Continue cooking home cooked meals for the family throughout the week.

-Make healthy lunches for Blake and the girls each day.

-Get the kids more involved in the kitchen.

-Create a keepsake cookbook with all of our favorite recipes that we can always rotate through.

-Share more about these recipes online.

-Continue volunteering for PTA/PTO at school and on post with the military.

-Continue making time to practice sports and dance with the girls every week and providing ways for them to continue attending practices and team events.

-Dedicate time after school each day to each child, while also setting aside specific time for reading and school work.

-Continue taking time away from social media to make clear boundaries for our family.  Set  a goal to take June, July, and December off each year, as well as holiday or seasonal breaks.

-Unwritten request regarding our marriage. (*I* as a reminder)

-Wind down after work every day during a time of decompression with no phones.

-Kiss and embrace every day.

-Ask “how was your day” to my husband and kids often, and truly listen with no distractions.

-Call and text immediate and distant family members often.

-Write family members more handwritten cards like dad did.

-Continue doing monthly sit downs to synch calendars to ensure clear communication of schedules.

-Share personal and business goals as a family.

-Set aside vacation time during summer and winter for our family.

 

Purpose for my Friends:

How can I live out my purpose as a friend?

 

Action steps:

-Contact each friend in my phone and check in at least once a month.

-Write all of their birthdays and childrens’  birthdays in my planner and contact them on those days.

-Send random hand written notes and “just because” gifts when able.

-Continue making time for local friends in my community and setting up playdates for the kids.

-Reconnect with childhood friends if they are willing.

-Ask for forgiveness for friends I’ve hurt and forgive friends who’ve hurt me.

-Set up reunions and vacations as schedules allow.

 

Purpose for my Finances:

What is my purpose for providing for my family’s finances?

 

Action steps:

-Continue putting 50% (+) of our paychecks into savings/investments/the girls’ college funds.

-Create vacation budgets for planned spring / summer / winter vacations annually.

-Continue donating to local organizations and military families in need via Mission 31.

-Pray over tithing appropriately whenever a new home church is found.

-For everything I purchase, donate, recycle, or sell something in its place.

-Have a yard sale and donate a lot prior to our next summer move.

-Continue teaching the girls responsibility and how to earn allowance.

-Unwritten request regarding personal finances. (*V* as a reminder)

 

Purpose for my Fitness:

How can I ensure I am caring for the purpose of my health and fitness?

 

Actions steps:

-Continue working on lowering blood pressure.

-Close rings on apple watch daily at 750 calories + 30 minute workouts.

-Eat generally very healthy Monday – Friday with casual non monitored eating days on Saturday and Sunday.

-Only drink wine on weekends or special events.

-Run 3 days a week and cycle 1 or 2 days a week.

-Unwritten request for personal diagnosis - continue searching for answers and remaining positive. (*C* as a reminder)

-Work towards personal fitness goals for weight, muscle gain, and toning.

-Run another half marathon this year.

-Set up boundaries at dinners or gatherings when needed.

-Set a good example of what good health and fitness habits are for my kids.

-Get outside often to walk, hike, and play.

-Set time aside for myself to ensure my mental health is well equipped.

-Drink more water.

-Take care of my skin daily.

 

Purpose as a Founder:

How do I ensure my purpose is being fulfilled as a founder of The Ever Co?

 

Action steps:

-Outline goals with The Ever Co team for 2022.

-Unwritten request for a special 2022 project - develop the plan (*B* as a reminder)

-Continue striving to be original in all content

-Remain true to self and maintain authenticity in all that I do.

-Craft intentionally, only sharing what is truly worthwhile.

-Be more resourceful and sustainable in my projects.

-Continue linking items that are of good value to others’ lives.

-Continue to turn down inauthentic giveaways solely aimed at growing following.

-Continue to support other small businesses when able, until it is a burden or feels disingenuous.

-Accept constructive criticism and feedback from the community to serve them better.

-Continue developing the Korean brand.

-Work on presets, buttons, maps, bags, and more printables.

-Maximize my use of the blog and newsletters.

-Unwritten request (*1* as a reminder)

 

Purpose for Fun:

How do I ensure my purpose is fulfilled and life is still fun?

 

Action steps:

-Celebrate holidays.

-Joke and laugh often.

-Wear lipstick and dress up for no reason.

-Plant more.

-Read more.

-Play more board games.

-Make funny videos with the girls and dance with them often.

-Explore each duty station’s state as much as we’re able.

-Ride bikes with the family.

-Go camping and hiking as a family.

-Teach the girls to ski and play piano,

 

Purpose for my Future:

What is the purpose of my life’s legacy and how can I impact the world for a better future?

 

Action steps:

-Write a letter to each of my kids, as well as my husband.

-Write a letter to my future self for what I hope the world looks like 10, 20, 30 years from now.

-Ensure all areas of my life are safe, honest, secure, and authentic.

-Write out my 5 and 10 year plans.

-Volunteer in the local community where able to help in sustainability efforts.

-Continue recycling and choosing more sustainable options for protection of the Earth.

-Research more ways to help the Earth and animals.

-Teach my kids those same initiatives and efforts.

-Be intentional with my planner.

-Seek out more education / military opportunities.

 

  _____________

Now, it’s your turn!

What’s your take on the “Fabulous Farris Fs”? Can you make a list of your life’s priorities that drive your purpose like mine?

 _____________

 

At the end of the day, I believe we find purpose within ourselves, fully influenced by our priorities, beliefs and core values.

We can’t look to others for purpose, and if we do – it’s theirs and not our own.

In order to be authentically you, you must have your own purpose, and that’s such a beautiful, unique, personal thing that only you can feel and be a part of.

There is likely nothing truer to each of us than our own life’s purpose.

 

So find it, hold it, cherish it, speak over it, love it, hope for it, dream over it, and continue seeking more of it throughout your life.

 

Because the purpose for our lives is never fully fulfilled, even after we’re long gone.

 

The legacy of our purpose will live on for all eternity. And our loved ones will continue learning from the purpose of our life, hopefully to continue changing the world for the better.

 

 

 

Find your purpose, Live on purpose, For a purpose.

I’m cheering you on.

 

XX, Amy

 ps. I think it’s time to add FASHION to the Fab Farris Fs. ;)

 
 

And guess what?! If you’ve kept reading this far, you’re in for a treat! I created this FREE printable for you to download and print for your own goal setting adventures! Or you can just save this JPG below to your phone and write on it via Instagram stories or in a drawing app to jot down your goals that way too!

My plan is to look this over every month and reflect on my progress/adjust goals where necessary!

Just CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD the PDF!

 
 

I hope and pray this message brought you something useful as you plan your goals this year.

I pray that in seeing me write out my goals that you will write out yours.

But mostIy just pray you too can find purpose in your year, however that may look, so that you are equal parts filled with abundant life and equal parts filled with abundant joy + love.

Happy goal setting.

XX, Amy

PS be sure to pin these images if you want to reference back to it in the future!

TAKING A SIX MONTH BREAK OFF INSTAGRAM - THIS IS MONTH 6

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Well friends…we’re here.

It’s been 6 months since I signed off the gram and…wow. I can’t believe this break is over.

I’ll be super duper duper duper honest…

Last week this post was going to look a lot different.

I was going to hop on here and let you know that I’d be continuing this break for 6 more months. I was sick to my stomach to have to share that, but it felt right.

…but God has a way of working in the most mysterious ways, and after speaking to my old Pastor this weekend, I heard the Lord loud and clear:

“YOU ARE READY AMY. IT’S TIME. AND YOU CAN NOT LIVE IN FEAR OF THE FUTURE.”

I’ll be sharing ALLLLLLL about what I learned, how I felt, what the Lord taught me, what He spoke to me, and so much more here in about 2 weeks when I gather all of my thoughts, so be on the lookout for that.

Until then, let’s share what all we’ve been up to this month!!!

 
 

First things first…who’s missed #HawthorneGirlsChalkArt ?!?!?

I think it’s time to start that back up!

And now we have another 4 paws to join in on the fun!

 

We started the month off with Nona’s trip to come visit Texas from Washington State!

With the unexpected wildfires and smoke, the timing of her trip couldn’t have been better. We are so thankful she got to experience TX!

 

We got to show her one of our FAVORITE areas of Austin, The Domain! I didn’t think anything could compete with The Plaza in KC, but Domain definitely gives it a run!

 

The girls’ outfits are from No Small Miracle!

 

And here’s some fun pics from her trip!

Shopping with the girls, lake trips, lots of Korean food + more!

 

And of course, we watched Derby! So so weird experiencing it in the fall, and with no fans in the stands, but as a Kentucky girl…Derby day will always be special regardless of the circumstances!

 

I always make a charcuterie snack tray for Derby day, and the girls love it! We also play with their toy horses all day too!

 

With the weather cooling down a bit, we haven’t had the chance to go to the lake as often or set up the water slide…soooo….we’ve had some “pool parties” in the shower and the girls have LOVED it! I talk it up a bunch and we wear swimsuits and it’s been a ton of fun making the most of what we have!

 

This is the kids’ body wash and shampoo that we use all the time!! We love all of their products!!!

BE SURE TO USE THAT LINK CAUSE YOU’LL GET 15% OFF THERE!!!

 
 

Andddddd HOW BOUT THEM TIGERS!!!

Oh what I’d do to be able to talk to my daddy about that game! I’m so excited to see football again!!!!!

And so thankful for families who get to experience their hometown Friday Night Lights.

It’s been so fun seeing the girls light up about Auburn when they play. It’s music to my ears hearing their little “War Eagles”! ;)

When I signed off in March/April, I had a big wish to see some football come fall. Here we are, ready for kickoff. Be still my heart.

 

Speaking of my daddy. September 25th was the 3 year anniversary of his passing, and it stung so bad waking up that day. But…ironically…that same day, this purse arrived in the mail from his ex wife. I don’t know if she meant to send it that day (I don’t think she did) but it was the purse he bought her when he was married to her. And she wanted me to have it. 😭😭😭😭😭 Oh bless it. I can’t even deal! It is now SO SO SO special to me!

 
 

I got these sweet pictures on National Daughters Day, and they mean the world to me. How lucky I am to have these babes, and how lucky I am to be their mama.

Tops are from my girl Ford and Wyatt!

 

Our sweet pup is still doing AMAZING and he’s truly just the perfect addition to our family!!!!

He’s so attached to his big sister Bella, and it’s just the cutest. Everywhere she goes, he follows. And he always pushes his nose into her neck. It’s just the cutest. My heart!

Heres the bed linked here

 

Here’s some more backyard updates!!! We have a roof, a patio, and now some landscaping back here! It’s all continuing to come together!!!

 
 

Just some cute pics of the girls before Everly’s therapy one day.

 

If you haven’t tried apple cider mimosas, do it now!!!! Just apple cider + your bubbly of choice! The perfect fall adult beverage!

 

The girls were playing outside one day, and they set up all of their barbies on daddy’s scrap wood pile, and I had to get a pic of this cuteness.

 

Our Sunday morning worship sessions are so sacred and special. The girls are OBSESSED with Run to the Father and a few other songs, that are very special in this time of our lives. I’ll be sure to share a playlist, but here’s the link to my spotify one if you wanna check it out!

 

My FAVORITE Halloween jammies linked here!

Womens

Kids

 

Here’s our fall porch thus far! I just need to add some big mums!

 
 

We have some major tests coming up for Hadley this next month, so your prayers are SO appreciated!!!

 

I think this may be one of my fave pics of E in the history of EVER! She is INCREDIBLE at building legos!

 

And lots of walks with the dogs every morning and night. This is our happy place.

 
 
 

And some final pics of our home decked out for Halloween! I love adding these pops of orange throughout the home! This is our entryway!

 

And our living / kitchen areas with a few touches of fall.

 
 
 

Well…I guess it’s until tomorrow friends! I can’t believe it! So surreal.

If you’re pondering whether or not you should take a longgggg break from IG. Here’s my advice.

DO IT and don’t you dare look back.

It is SO SO SO SO HEALING!!!!!!

I’ll share all about the journey in the next couple weeks as I gather my thoughts. There’s just so much to share!

P.s.

  1. If you missed the month 5 update, you can click here to read!

  2. 2. Be sure to pin this image above or any image in this post so you can reference it in the future if there was anything you don’t want to forget!

XX, Amy

TAKING A 6 MONTH BREAK FROM INSTAGRAM - THIS IS MONTH 4

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It’s been four months off Instagram, and every month I give an update on how life’s been here in the Hawthorne house! You can read about month 1 here, month 2 here, and month 3 here, but be sure to come back here to catch up on month 4!

So, let’s catch up!

This month’s been all about having my mom come visit, saying bye to daddy for military stuff, making this new house a home, and continuing to get settled into Texas! (Mixed in with a broken septic, broken AC, lots of master bedroom sleepovers + more) So let’s get to it!

 
 

We started off the month with celebrating the Fourth of July with a festive charcuterie!

Strawberries, dried strawberries, raspberries, bananas, blueberries, cheese, and crackers make for the perfect mix of Red, White, and Blue!

 
 

And then of course came a pool day + fireworks! And by fireworks, I mean sparklers because our city doesn’t allow fireworks. The sparklers were still a hit! And because we live up on a hill we could see fireworks all across the lake which was so so fun to see!

PS funny note about this tee - My maiden name is Farris, and I was called “Bueller” when I was younger as a nickname. I found this tee for $11 and had to have it hehe! More importantly…I was born in 1986!! So this tee was truly just meant to be LOL!

 

Then! My momma flew in! Which was such a treat since it’s been a while since we last saw her! We enjoyed so much sunshine with her, in our backyard, and at the lake, and she loved it here!

 

Here’s some pics from our backyard waterslide parties, and Bella sitting in the shade. hahah!

Slide linked here!

Double chair linked here!

 

We went on so many walks with my mom, she played so much piano, we took endless pics, the girls drew her countless pics, and we just truly enjoyed each other’s company. Oh…and we ate a lot of yummy Korean food as always!

 

We spent some much needed quality family time at the lake behind our house a few times before we had to say bye to daddy. This trip in particular is probably my fondest memory of the entire month. We were splashing each other, giggling, and just loving life, summer, and family time. I’ll never forget these moments with my Italian stallion. ;)

 

Texas - 2020. Loving life at the lake.

This is how empty it is every time we go. We always go early in the morning before many people are there, and it’s just totally dreamy. We are in heaven.

 

And how precious is this little peach float! Only $!5 and we all love it so so much! It’s the perfect little lounge float, and not to mention it’s cute. :)

Linked here.

 

Everly says she wants to be a surfer! Andddd she’s really getting the hang of swimming! Look at her pulling Hadley on the board with no floats on!!! She is so eager to master swimming AND surfing, and it’s just the sweetest! Our little adventure girl.

 

I mean truly, LOOK AT THESE SEA BABES!!!!

P.s. you can get this Sea Babe hat on sale with my code AMY15 at www.bittybrah.com !!! We love these hats because they actually stay on the girls’ heads!

 

OKAY BUT TRULY OUR ABSOLUTE NUMBER ONE FAVORITE ACTIVITY THIS SUMMER?!?!?!

SNORKELING!!! and we don’t have to be at some crazy cool reef to do it! Although that would be neat.

We’ve found that it has truly helped with the girls’ water confidence, and it’s been SUCH a fun family activity!

YOU MUST check out this video below to see them in action!!!

 
 

If you follow me on IG, you know I rave about the cordless vacuum. Ha! This is right up there with it on a must have for families. This will be on every gift list from here on out!

 

While Everly’s learning to surf and swim, Hadley’s still wearing princess dresses, twirling around to Kidz Bop Shine Bright Like a Diamond - by Rhianna and Believer - by Imagine Dragons (hahah!), and asking daddy to paint her nails, which he secretly LOVES doing. :) She also changes clothes every hour, every day, and I never thought we’d be in that phase! It’s hilarious. She tells me every other day she doesn’t want bangs anymore, and then she says she loves them. She ALWAYS puts her clothes on backwards, and her shoes on the wrong feet, no matter how much we try to teach her otherwise…maybe it’s cause she’s left handed? We haven’t quite figured it out LOL! She also adores the song Little Drummer Boy which is so sweet and random hahahha! Especially when we’re blasting it in the middle of July, LOL! At nightime, she scratches her armpits to put herself to sleep.

Truly, how’s that for sweet?!?! And her middle of the night sneaking into my bed while Blake’s away is truly my favorite. Don’t tell Blake, but she may be a better cuddler. ;)

 

Everly on the other hand adores Thunder - by Imagine Dragons! AND SHE LOST HER FIRST TWO TEETH THIS MONTH!!!! LIKE WHAT?!?!??!! How is she getting that big. Her two bottom front teeth came out and it was the weirdest experience hahaha! I get grossed out easily, but we managed LOL! Tooth fairy came too and she brought the sweetest little tooth keepsake box and mouse fairy that you can find here! Everly was in love!

She also got a special zoom call from her preschool teacher in Kansas as well as the sweetest package from her. We miss her so much!

A few other fun things from this month: she has started putting the dishes away for me and 1. YAY because I despise doing it, but 2. she chose to do it all by herself! She really does want to be a little helper, and I adore it! She lip syncs songs and doesn’t think anyone is watching, and it’s the cutest thing ever to watch. ANDDDD AT AGE 5.5 SHE IS FINALLY NIGHT POTTY TRAINED!!!! Guys! wait until your babes are ready, and don’t feel like you have to force it!!! I promise they won’t go to college in diapers, though it may feel like it in the moment haha. Since we waited until she was ready, it was SO EASY!!!

We also got her set up with a new ABA clinic here, and I’m so excited for her to dive back in. She THRIVES in therapy and she’s eager to be back with the most extraordinary therapists in this world!

 
 

Before my mom left, we were sure to make a trip up to Waco to look around, grab some food, some great coffee, and walk around to see all the pretty construction / decor! WE WERE IN HEAVEN!!! I can’t believe I live here you guys! 45 minutes from the Silos. Dream come true!

 

Wanna hear something hilarious? I got stopped about 27 times and was asked for an autograph and to take a picture with people because they thought I was Joanna Gaines. hahahahahah!!!

One, I am NOT that pretty.

Two, I am Korean like her so understand that.

Three, the mask makes it very hard to tell and I wore a typical Jo outfit so I get it, but it was HILARIOUS!!!

 

We also went on a rainy day so we wouldn’t have to deal with a crowd and it worked!!! There was hardly anyone there which was SO NICE!!!!

 

That same day, we met with Everly’s new audiologist here to keep up with her hearing aids! He was great, and we feel like she’s in great hands once again! So proud of that girl.

 

One of the last mornings Blake was here, we asked my moms to watch the girls so we could have one final date. We live right next to a mountain bike park, so we got up with the sunrise, and rode around for 10 miles, just the two of us.

It was so special.

He cycled for West Point and was incredible. He’s a phenomenal athlete, and I’m so grateful he always pushes me out of my comfort zone to try new things and to always stay active and fit. Cycling is one of our favorite family activities, and I’m excited to add mountain biking to the list of my favorite activities!

 

Buttttt…all good things must come to an end. And early in the month we had to take daddy to the airport to say goodbye for a few months. Everly snapped this picture of us, and I’m happy we have a little mini photographer in our house now. hehe! Makes it easier so we don’t have to go ask neighbors to take pics for us anymore. hahaha!

 

The sweetest/ saddest pic of the month.

The girls had to say bye to daddy. Though they don’t understand a concept of time, they do know what “a long time” means versus he’ll just be gone a few days.

This one’s a long time. :(

I always thought it was harder when they were younger because they just didn’t understand, but I’m starting to realize the older they get, the harder it is to say goodbye.

They get it now. And they miss him so much already.

 

Onto a lighter note (hahahha) let me toot my horn a bit and tell you HOW HARD AND SCARY it is to mow our yard. We live on a hill and this sucker is scary going up and down it. BUT I’ve been doing it for three weeks now and I just want to say PRAISE YOU to all the men and women out there doing yard work alone. haha! (p.s. I’m trying to save money and dpn’t want to hire anyone, which is why I’m doing it myself. )

 

Y’all also SHOWED UP once again for our family during our 1 July restock! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

We’ve got some big big plans in store for our October launches, so stay tuned Ever Co fam!!!!!

 

Another project we’ve been working on is our back patio!! We are adding in a lot of new concrete to extend it out + adding more overhead for more shade! We spend so much time outside, so we wanted to make sure we had enough cover from all of this Texas sun! We aren’t making many upgrades to this house, considering it’s only a few years old, but this is one investment we’re making as we do think it’ll add some great value to the house once we resell or rent out! I’ll be sure to keep you guys posted on this progress!

 

Wellll and of course in TRUE solo parenting fashion, the day after Blake leaves we start having all kinds of issues around the house that I desperately rely on him to take care of. Not because I’m incompetent, cause let it be known that I CAN hold my ground…but because I’m just lazy….HA!!!

So our aerobic septic had issues, and we couldn’t use the toilet for 3 days…..LET ME JUST SAY THAT THE HOUSE SMELLED HORRIBLE, EVERLY’S POOP WAS EVERYWHERE, AND IT WAS HORRIBLE. HAHAHHA!!!

AND THENNNNNNNNN our AC broke out of nowhere.

Actually, it broke while the plumbers were here fixing our septic/toilet so I legit blamed it on them.

Insert palm to face emoji here. hahahahha!!!

I was like wait so you’re telling me it was purely coincidence that our AC broke WHILE our toilets are getting fixed?!?!?!

Yep.

Purely coincidence. AND EVIL. hahaha!

So anywho, it was 87+ inside the house for two days and 100+ outside and straight up MISERABLE.

I can’t make this stuff up.

We had some not so comfortable hot, naked, slumber parties in the master, and well just tried to make the most of it.

But anyways…it can only get better from here…right? hehe!

P.S. my quilt in Bronze is linked here, just $69.99 for the king!!

My sheets are linked here and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM!!! the mocha color is stunning and they’re sooooo soft! And only $35 !!!!

 

That also meant I was not about to cook any long extravagant meals, because I one didn’t have the energy (since I was conserving it to not die from heat lol) but also because I didn’t want to warm the house up much.

So we had a lot of PF Changs lo mein on our pretty new plates. (with a side of vino for mama) and it truly made life a bit better.

Plates linked here, here and here! So presh and great prices. Would also be cute gifts for teachers or therapists!

 

We’ve had lots of girls days, which has been stressful + enjoyable + memorable all in one.

They’re driving me nuts a lot (let’s just be real) but man do I feel lucky to have this quality time with them!

My outfit is Lullaby Club, H’s is Zara and E’s is Indy and Pippa!

 
 

With lots of pictures together, of course!

top = Zara.

 

We’ve also gotten lots of sweet time with our precious angel Bella who will be 11 this year!!!! WHAT?!?!?!? oh man, we love you Bella!

 
 

Most of the other items are from Shop Sweet Lulu, Poppy Toys and No Small Miracle!

 
 
 
 

Here’s a few other fun memories from the month! Playing school in the living room, getting new doll clothes in from No Small Miracle. setting up our new bird feeder (linked here), collecting rocks / seashells, grocery shopping trips, macaroons from the Korean bakery, lake days + more!

 
 
 
 

Andddddd if you’re still here reading (phew, praise you! Cause these blog posts take me about 6 + hours to do!!!!) then here’s your very first hint at what’s to come in October…..can’t wait to share more!!!

 

Honestly though, have there been stressful days? Yes. We all have them.

I can’t even count how many times I’ve lost my cool since Blake’s been gone. These girls are desperate for socialization, their old friends and a return to normal. Heck I am too!

But we are ALL in this boat.

So I challenge all of us to not fall into the woe is me trap, because honestly things could be so much worse for so many of us.

There are so many battling much much harder things, and we have to maintain that perspective when the going gets tough.

So…all in all I truly can’t complain. Things could be SO SO MUCH WORSE, and every day I remind myself that tomorrow the sun will rise again, a new day means a fresh start, and truly I am so lucky to call these girls mine.

I’m so lucky to call this life mine.

I just pray to God that one day when they’re old enough to say it, they’ll feel the exact same way about me.

I love them something fierce and am beyond grateful for all of this quality time I’ve gotten with them over the months.

I knew the Lord called me away from the online world back in January, for a purpose far greater than my own understanding.

Little did I know we’d enter into a pandemic and these girls would desperately need their mama’s undivided attention. I sure hope they look back on this time together as true quality time together, because my perspective of motherhood has entirely shifted.

The to do lists, IG posts, picture ops, business opportunities, and collabs can all wait.

While my heart for entrepreneurship, small business, and success have not changed, (and honestly I’m more on fire for those things than ever!!!) my heart for balancing those things with faith, motherhood, and wifehood have.

I will continue seeking that balance long after this IG break ends.

You can read my blog post about balancing priorities here, which continues to be an area in my life I will always strive to improve!

 

Well…I guess it’s goodbye once again.

It’s so sweet getting your messages on here, your emails, your texts, and all the in between during this time away. I LOVE catching up with you all when you message me here. It’s so fun to know some of y’all are actually here, reading, and still hanging around….I hope I don’t come back to IG in October to nobody…hahahaha!!!

But…if I do, or if there’s only 100 of you there, I know I did what the Lord called me to do.

To step away and tend to these four little feet around me here.

And for that, I know that I know that I know that I’m standing right where I’m meant to be.

Until next time, sweet friends.

Love you and sending you SO much light + love + prayer during this time.

Heads up! I’ll be posting a blog post on Chatbooks next week (with a code!!! cause I know yall love them as much as me!) as well as a back to school blog post and indoor / outdoor activities for kids blog post, so stay tuned!

Alsoooooo if you’re really still reading….thank you to everyone who’s noticed the blog refresh! I’ve been working hard behind the scenes on some rebranding all by myself, so it’s been so fun to mess around here! Can’t wait to share more!

TAKING A 6 MONTH BREAK FROM INSTAGRAM - THIS IS MONTH 3

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Hey hey hey!!! It’s been three months since I signed off Instagram and I’m back again with another monthly roundup so you can keep up with my little family if you so choose. ☺

You can read about month one here (April 2020) and month two here (May 2020)! But be sure to come back here so we can catch up when you’re done. hehe!

Grab a drink, and let’s chat!

 
 

This month’s been all about getting settled into our new home in Texas (we moved for the Army), learning the area, exploring, celebrating Father’s Day, celebrating our 9 YEAR ANNIVERSARY…do whattttt, and preparing for daddy to leave for 3-4 months of training. (insert sad face here) We also got to have Blake’s dad in town which was so good for our souls to see family again!

So let’s get to it! Let me show you around our new place, a little of what we’ve seen around Texas, and share some incredible memories with the family.

(The girls’ sandals are linked here, the girls’ outfits are from Indy and Pippa, and my outfit is from Lullaby Club)

 

First thing’s first…we made it to Texas!!! We’re nestled in a small town outside of Fort Hood, about an hour from Waco (OH YES HEY JOANNA!!!) and an hour from Austin! YEAAAAA ATX!!!

 

One of my favorite things about being here is seeing all of the desert plants everywhere! Talk about picture backdrop heaven hehehe!

 

Of course, when we got to Texas, we got In-N-Out, because why not? ha! The girls loved it! Obligatory selfie of course. paha!

 
 

The girls and I arrived first before Blake did, so we had about 2 weeks to get settled into the house! Which by settled in I mean we set up our backyard and ENJOYED THE TEXAS SUN like nobody’s business! ha!

We don’t plan on doing much with the house as far as renovations go, but we do plan on extending the back patio/roof so I’ll be sure to share progress shots of that!

The water slide is linked here! It’s been our saving grace this summer!!! And we love our blow up pools, linked here!

 

These are some of my favorite pics of the girls this month! They are having a blast with all this sun!

 

We got to see/meet some of our favorite (and not so favorite haha) friends! The day I got here I found a tarantula by our front door, and that took some getting used to…especially after I found numbers 2 and 3 as well hahaha! But I’ve learned that they are so kind. So we just let them be!

We also got to see JOC JOC AND SWEET BEAUTIFUL BABY LILY RAE!!!!!! And our sweet EMMY AND LANDON! And we got to watch my handsome nephew graduate 8th grade online! So many fun memories!

 

We are a food family, that’s for sure, and love trying new places! Thanks to my dear friend Porshia who’s from San Antonio and super familiar with the Hood area, we’ve been able to try so many places! (Including learning all about H.E.B. which I am OBSESSED WITHHHHHHH to say the least!)

This month we had Home Slice pizza (a must!) Whataburger and JuiceLand (where the peachy green drink is my all time favorite jam now). I also have been making summer salads at home and endless blueberry + banana french toast! Food’s been great this month!

 

BUT OUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT OUR NEW HOUSE?!?!?!

 

IS PRACTICALLY IN OUR BACK YARD!

 

THE LAKE!!!! WHERE WE CAN’T GET AWAY FROM! There’s so much room and hardly anyone ever there, and boy oh boy it’s been the best time for our souls. Thankfully I’ll have this while Blake’s away this summer and beyond. So grateful for God’s creations.

 
 

Our bestie Haley from Indy and Pippa launched some new summer sets and we’ve had so much fun in them all summer so far!!! They’re our favorites to wear! So comfy and lasts for so long because of their oversized fit!

 
 

And another sweet friend Kelsey from No Small Miracle has been launching the sweetest stuff all summer long too!!! We love the sweet baby dolls and accessories we’ve received from her shop!

 

I’ve really been putting my health first this month, and working out every day, which has truly felt so so good. I have stopped caring about counting calories and watching the scale, and instead I’m embracing my body for what it is. I’m finally proud and content with the woman in the mirror. I feel healthy, and that is truly what matters most. I wanna be able to play ball with my grandkids one day.

 

And finalllyyyyyyy we got reunited with daddy halfway through the month and we missed him so much!!! I’d show you the video of the girls seeing him for the first time, but I didn’t realize Hadley had no panties on and she flashed the camera hahahaha!

 

The girls made Blake these little canvases for Father’s Day all by themselves so that was super special. We also got Bella some new toys to welcome her back home too!

 

We made a Starbucks stop in The Domain in Austin and LET’S JUST SAY I’M IN LOVE WITH THAT PLACE!!! Blake shared his drink with Hadley and the pic I snapped is hilarious haha!

 

Another restaurant Porshia told us about was Hopdoddy and it too did not disappoint! We ate there for Father’s Day and we loved it! The girls were being so silly for pictures. We got it to go and ate outside all by ourselves which was our very first time in 4 months eating out, and that was weirdddddddd.

 
 

Our all time favorite family activity is neighborhood walks, which we really loved in Kansas, and we’re so happy to continue that here. Here’s the view of the lake from behind our house! It’s so beautiful here, that’s for sure!

 

Here’s daddy’s first trip to the lake with the girls! Let’s just say they love LOVE having daddy home haha!

 
 

Daddy snapped some pics of the girls and I while we were out and about and I sure do love these pics with them. Motherhood has both wrecked me and raised me this month, but when I stop and thank God for these tiny little blessings, I realize just how Blessed I am.

 

And now for a tour of our house!!! This is the mirror in our front entranceway, and yes! OUR FLOORS ARE CONCRETE! HOW COOL IS THAT!!! I’ve always seen it on pinterest and never thought we’d get the chance to have a home with them, but thank you Texas!!!

We have had the same furniture in our house for the last 9 years since we got married, so this year we upgraded a lot of it. That allowed us to sell a lot before we moved too! We plan on this furniture lasting us our final 10 years in the military, so it was fun to redesign the home together…but it was sad saying goodbye to furniture that’s been with us since the beginning of us!

 
 

Here’s some more pics of the entryway and little Hadley posing because HELLO MOOD! haha! Bella’s corner also cracks me up haha! She’s so spoiled. My mom’s friend drew us that pic of her! YES DREW. How crazy is that!?

Our entry light is linked here, and we love it!!! It also comes in gold!

 
 
 

Another favorite little spot is this rug by our back door!!! I ordered it with this peace bowl for the girl’s play kitchen and I highly recommend both of them!

 
 

Another favorite little spot in the house is this archway to the bedrooms on the other end of the house. Which btw it’s our first time in a ranch style house and we LOVE IT!!! I love not having a second story so so much!!! These little wall weavings were from a small coffeeshop in Kansas that I got before we moved, and I’m so happy to have them displayed here. I love the story behind them so much and that they were handmade!

 
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This is a little picture wall above our piano, and I have to get the pictures reprinted but we love it so far! I’ll be adding a few more frames to each end as well.

 

Here’s our cozy little fireplace nook. I can’t wait to see garland up there for Christmastime with a tree by the fire! I think we’re gonna paint this white too! (Well, if I can convince Blake!)

 

And here’s the living room!

Our tv console is linked here.

Our couch is linked here.

Our ottoman is linked here.

And sadly our rug is not available anymore. :(

 

Our dining area is a work in progress, and we’re still waiting for our dining light, but here it is thus far. Lot’s of work to be done.

 

Our bedroom is super simple, which I love, but we still have work to do. Here’s a progress pic!

 

We upgraded the girls’ play kitchen too! I’ve been eyeing this one for awhile because the last one was just too large to keep moving and I love that this one is all one piece! The quality is wonderful and it was much quicker to put together. It’s definitely pricier, but it was kinda our present to the girls for the new home, new lives, new school (maybe), new friends, etc. We know they’ll make tons of memories with it here and beyond!

It’s linked here!

 

The girls’ bedroom was one of the first rooms I got ready, andddd I am not the biggest fan. It’s way too busy and cluttered. Soooooo there will likely be changes over the next few months, but for now here’s Hadley’s princess corner, their reading nook, and Everly’s CRAZYYYYYYY dino corner hahaha!!!

You can shop the Believe in the Magic poster in our shop!

 

And to end the month off, Blake’s dad came and stayed with us for a week and it was FABULOUS HAVING HIM HERE!!! Wait, are these guys brothers or father and son? hehe. We toured Blake’s stomping grounds on post and got to see the airfield a bit where he’ll be working when he gets back from training too!

 
 
 

We also got to take him to our lake, which my word we had so much fun with him there! Can’t wait to take his mom and my mom there as well! The girls love their grandpa!

 
 

But to end on the best note.

I got to celebrate 9 years with this man. We got to kiss in the lake, and he squirt me with a toy water gun just like he did 9 years ago on one of our first dates at a lake in Alabama. I was lucky then, and I’m even luckier now. I jove you BRH. Here’s to the future, and next year blessing us with a decade together. Wow.

 

So there ya have it! Month three down, and I’m still loving this time away from social media. I truly think everyone needs to do this. I’ve realized how unhealthy it was in so many aspects of my life, and I’m grateful the Lord called me to rest.

But this time with COVID is just wild, isn’t it? I just don’t know what’s to come for the girls’ school and whatnot this fall, and it’s driving my planning anxiety crazy. However, I am generally way less risky when it comes to health stuff, especially when it involves the girls because they do both have weakened immune systems with their health issues. Therefore, I’d much rather be safe than not. We have no idea if we’re gonna homeschool or not, but it sounds like Texas is giving parents the option to keep kids home or send them to school. Such crazy and scary times. The girls just keep asking for their old friends back and for all the people that are sick to get better, and it truly breaks my heart every time they cry because they miss the way life once was. This just isn’t fair. It’s all just a bit sad, huh? It’s crazy to think that these same insecurities, fears, pressures, anxieties, stresses are the same ones my relatives are dealing with in Korea, and all the people across the world are dealing with. When in our lifetime have we ever been able to say that, ya know? That something has affected ALL of us the same.

Honestly, my heart just breaks for my girls and other kids who just wanna be with their friends. My heart breaks for teachers who just wanna see their students. My heart breaks for the playgrounds that just wanna have kids swinging, and sliding, and twirling all around. My heart breaks for families who just want to be reunited. I just want things to go back to the way they once were, but alas…this is life.

And together, we will adapt and overcome.

I was in Target the other day, and getting emotional as per the usual.

I stood there looking around at everyone with their masks on, keeping their distance. How we’ve all just adjusted our lives in an instant to this new normal, this new way of life.

And as I stood there tears filled my eyes, because for the first time it really really really hit me. To see how resilient our nation is. How we, in 2020, are dealing with a pandemic like we’ve never dealt with before, and we’re doing it. We’re learning, we’re changing, we’re growing. Are there bumps in the road? Of course. But we are doing it, and we will continue to do it…I just know it. It may not seem like it now, but I just feel deep down we will come out of this stronger than ever before.

I know we tend to see and hear how far we have to go, and don’t get me wrong…we have a long ways to go…but can I just say for a second how proud I am of how far we’ve come?

I know there’s so much work to be done, and I will continue doing that hard work too, but hey you! Whoever you are reading this. Know that I am so proud of you and everything you do every day to help our nation win this fight.

Thank you for your sacrifices day in and day out.

Thank you for learning and growing with me.

Together, we can do this. Hang tight friend.

Oh and hey, wear your masks. ;)

Well, I guess I’ll end there.

I’m halfway through this break and this journey, and I’m loving every minute of it.

Be well, be still, and be safe.

XX,

Amy

anddddd HEY P.S.!!!

 

I’ve worked two days this month, and one of them you can see here. I sat outside at The Domain in Austin all by myself and worked on my dreams. There’s so much ahead for The Ever Co that I can’t wait to share. But for now know that our shop is now live with what we have left from the error sale! There’s more information there, but if you have any questions leave a comment below or email me! Thank you for supporting us!!!

MAY 2020

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Hey there friends! ♥

It’s officially been two months off the gram, and it’s truly been healing for my soul.

You can catch up with how month one went here by clicking this link to go to my April blog post, AND why I chose to take 6 months off of Instagram here, but be sure you come back here to read this one too!

I promised to give you a monthly recap at the end of every month to let you know what our little family’s been up to, and let me just preface this post by saying - phew…this month’s been a doozy!

BECAUSE…

WE MOVED FROM KANSAS! AND WE ARE NOW TEXANS!

But with that move, we had to say goodbye to daddy. :( He’s unfortunately not allowed to leave Kansas yet due to COVID, so the girls and I are in Texas alone at our new home until they allow him to move.

This is our 9th move in 10 years with the Army, and Everly’s 5th move in her 5 years of life! WOAH!

So let me backtrack and tell you all about May. Grab a drink, and let’s catch up. ♥

 
 

We started the month off with relaunching the website on May 1st, and you continued to blow me away with how much you showed up for our family. Even while I’m not physically showing up for you. So thank you for supporting us, it means the world.

I made my final few runs to our Fort Leavenworth post office, and the girls made a couple trips with me on their scooters too! It’s a 3 mile round trip and we loved making post office runs to get a little workout in together. The postal workers are incredible ladies and we will miss them so!

My plan is to relaunch again somewhere between July 1st and July 15th, so stay tuned! I’ll reload all remaining “error” inventory I have at discounted prices. We have to get settled into our new home first before I can start the business back up, and since Blake’s not with me that’s proving to be challenging. I will keep you all updated on the blog and via the newsletter!

 
 
 

The Kentucky Derby was canceled this year, and that made this Kentucky gal super sad - BUT it was the best decision. We still celebrated the first weekend in May with our traditional Derby charcuterie, mixed with horses for the girls which they loved! We can’t wait to see the beautiful horses running for the roses again.

 

And then came May 4th, and let me just say - MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU! hehe

We are HUGE Star Wars nerds in this family, and the girls are already becoming quite the fans themselves! Everly is obsessed. They had fun with their lightsabers, I did their hair in Princess Leia and Rey Skywalker hairstyles, and we watched all of the movies all day long! It’s a favorite day every year for us!

These are also some of my favorite pics of them ever now.

 

That first weekend in May was SO busy, because Derby and Star Wars Day were bookended with Cinco De Mayo! Which is truly a day we look forward to every year, because we LOVEEEEEEE a good homemade taco bar. The girls love picking and choosing what they want on their tacos, Blake and I love getting creative (and the margaritas), and we all watch Coco to celebrate the Mexican culture which has become such a fun tradition for us.

 

We knew this was our last month at Fort Leavenworth, and what a last month it was. It is SO HARD moving constantly. I wont’ sugar coat it. But the hardest part is saying goodbye constantly to friends that become family. It’s heartbreaking truly. I can only imagine that as the girls get older and have even deeper friendships that it will become harder, but for right now we’re doing all we can to make the most of each move. We try hard to teach the girls how proud they should be to be a military family, that it’s never “goodbye” but see ya later, and we always try to remember how resilient they are at their young ages.

But it doesn’t make it easy. This move was especially hard because we didn’t get to give all of the hugs to teachers and friends that we wanted to. We had a few socially distanced neighborhood gatherings, which was so so fun (but also weird and sad). We took advantage of some photo ops, had some AMAZING cookies by our new neighbors who own Cookie Cartel Co, jumped in our dino sprinklers (linked here) with our best friends, and had a few incredibly fun nights of music with our neighbors. Let’s just say the girls are officially Tom’s groupies. ;)

Nevertheless, we had to say goodbye. It was hard. It was sad. But the show must go on. This is the military life.

 
 
 

My plants started to THRIVE in the May sunshine! And let me just say…I LOVEEEEEE MAY IN KANSAS!

 

I wrote a lot about this in our Father’s Day Gift Idea blog post, which you can read about here, but BLAKE GOT HIS MBA WITH A 4.0 GPA!!! I am so so so proud of him. Not only did he graduate his masters, but he also finished a rigorous course-load at his professional military education for the Army too. It’s been a busy academic year for the family, but he did it and he’s officially a CLASS OF 2020 GRAD!

One of our best family friends here got us some donuts when Blake finished his masters, and it was quite literally the sweetest and yummiest surprise.

Not only did Blake finish school, but our sweet little Everly Brynn graduated preschool and is officially on her way to Kindergarten!!! Our military base had a parade for all graduating seniors and we sat out on the road with our balloons and cheered them on. It was so sweet to teach the girls how we can celebrate others!

 

Speaking of graduating and school, Teacher’s appreciation week this year was one to remember. While we couldn’t squeeze and hug our teachers and see them up close, our elementary school had a drive by parade for all parents and students to drive through, deliver presents, and say THANK YOU to our teachers, administrators and staff. I will never ever ever forget that day, and I don’t think our girls will either.

We gave Everly’s preschool teacher, assistant, and school speech therapist these apple glass trays (will be super cute on their desk or at home for little candies or jewelry or something! - they were Anthropologie but I found them at Nordstrom!) as well as a gift card and some yummy nuts/candies. They all loved the gifts!

We also drew a chalk drawing and sent it to her teachers too.

 

And here’s a look at how we rolled through the parade. The girls loved helping me paint all of these signs!

 
 

We were fortunate enough to run into some of the girls’s teachers and/or live near them, so the girls will never forget their beautiful faces! We also got to have one final zoom session with Everly’s class. WE LOVE YOU ALL SO SO MUCH AND WISH WE COULD’VE SAID GOODBYE TO ALL OF YOU IN PERSON!!!

 

The girls didn’t get to have their dance recital this year, but we did still get their dresses! Here’s a pic of how precious they would’ve been had they had their recital. We hope next year is different!

 

I’ve also maintained cutting Hadley’s hair by myself, and it actually isn’t too hard to do! I highly recommend doing it to save money if you have a little one with short hair. We go outside about once a month to trim it up, and she loves this mommy daughter salon time. ;)

 

Both of the girls have continued rockin their bikes, and we’ve loved watching them learn/master a new skill! They’re so proud of themselves which is just the sweetest thing to see.

 

We’ve been able to face time / zoom so many family and friends during this downtime, and it’s been so special for the girls to see their faces online. Here the girls were face timing with Joc Joc (Everly’s old nanny) who was expecting her first little girl Lily this month! WE LOVE YOU JOC!

 
 

Mother’s Day was SO SO SO SPECIAL this year. I’ve never had so much time with these girls, quality time at that, and to be off instagram and away from social media during this time time has truly been a blessing.

For Mother’s Day, I woke up to the yummiest breakfast and handmade card from my dearest Blake.

Everly drew me THE BEST picture ever (an assignment from her teacher) and she put our family around a Christmas tree cause it’s her favorite memory for our family. (CUE THE TEARS!!!!)

We went on a long 5 mile family walk/hike with the girls and watched the ducks / geese in a pond.

ANDDDDD likely my favorite memory in the month of May?

WE CAMPED OUT IN OUR BACKYARD FOR MOTHER’S DAY, and it was a BLAST!!!!!!

We ate pizza in the backyard, made smores, and all slept in the tent, freezing cold but making memories. We will never ever ever forget these memories.

 
 
 
 
 

For one of our final weekends in May, we observed Memorial Day at the beautiful Fort Leavenworth cemetery. It is such a breathtaking place that truly leaves me speechless every time we walk by it. The girls went and paid respects to different stones, we spoke about Soldiers and how some die protecting us, and the girls walked up and down the streets in silence. It was truly remarkable to see how calm and respectful they were. I am so proud of these little Army girls.

We also spoke about their grandpa, my dad. And while he didn’t die serving our nation, he did serve our country for 30 years. They think he’s buried here, and every time we walk by they say “HI GRANDPA!” While he’s buried in the Kentucky Veteran’s Memorial cemetery, I’m okay with them thinking he’s here too…because honestly? Being stationed here at Fort Leavenworth (which was he and my mom’s first duty assignment when they got married) makes me feel really close to him. It’s bittersweet leaving Kansas, because I feel like I’m leaving my daddy here again.

 

Two days before we moved, we learned about the Shawnee Dog Park! WHICH OH MY WORD IF YOU GET STATIONED IN KANSAS OR VISIT KC, YOU MUST GO! It has so many hiking trails, bike trails, paddle board ramps, dog parks, etc and we loved it! (The only thing I didn’t love is when we got there, I realized Everly got into the markers in her carseat anddddd that made for an interesting walk…Everyone thought she had dog poop all over her! HAHAHHAH!!!)

 

We sold our couch. (insert crying face). So I got one final pic of the girls on their “trampoline” hahha! This couch has been with us for 10 years, through 9 Army moves, and the girls have grown up with it. We will miss it, but it’s time to say farewell. Luckily it went to another family with 2 little boys, and I know lots of memories will be made there.

 
 

On the last night, with all of the boxes packed up, the girls asleep, and Bella and I sleeping on the floor of our living room, I pulled out our Blu Ray disc player (since the other tv was packed away) and I pulled out my old DVDs and watched them non stop with a glass of champagne. It’s one of my favorite things to do when we’re moving. I just love these classics. I watched all of Saved By the Bell again hahah! And p.s. LOOK AT THAT DOG. Is she spoiled or what?!

 

Last began my solo road trip with the girls from Kansas to Texas.

We first stopped in Oklahoma City, OK and stayed in the cutest / quaintest little Air BnB in a historic neighborhood that had all of the best restaurants nearby!!!! I highly recommend this Air BnB if you’re ever in the OKC area! Follow this link and search “Charming Gatewood Guest House” and I know you’ll love it too!

 

We got the YUMMIEST pizza at Empire, the YUMMIEST ice cream at Roxy’s, and the best breakfast + coffee at Elemental all while in KC too! The Plaza District is wonderful for food! Here’s some pics from our exploring!

 

We stayed up way beyond our bedtime, watched Maleficent on Disney + while eating ice cream, cuddled in a full bed that was WAY too small for us three to cuddle in and I legit didn’t sleep AT ALL hahaha, but memories were made and we had a blast. That’s what matters. :)

 

andddddd TO TOP OFF OUR STOP IN OKC?!?!? We got to see Brittany Viklund and her precious boys during a little drive by to their house, and it was the sweetest meet up ever! I am so thankful for that girl’s friendship! And thanks to her hubs for snapping this precious pic of us all WITH EVERYONE LOOKING! hehe!

 

Our next stop was Fort Worth, Texas where we stopped at a little park to stretch our legs and walk a bit, and apparently see our first “danger, alligator” signs which ummmm…made me feel VERY comfortable. hahha!

 

And finally, after a long 11 hours in the car by myself with the girls…we passed by Waco, TX and just one hour south made it TO OUR NEW HOME SWEET HOME!!!!

I celebrated with a mini bottle of rose’ and a Magnolia magazine in bed. HA!!! That drive by myself was nuts, let’s be real. ha!

 

One of the things that sold me on this house was all of the natural light that pours in, both in the morning and at night. Our first evening, pictured on the left, and our first morning, pictured on the right, show just how much light pours into this home and it just makes me smile.

We plan on painting the cabinets white, changing out the lighting fixtures, and making some other modifications to make it a little more us, but nevertheless THIS IS HOME!!!!!

 

We watched the sweetest graduation party across the street from our house on our second night here, where the kiddos did a bunch of traditional Hawaiian Hula dancing, and it made us smile! The girls LOVED seeing it and loved hearing all of the Moana music! And here’s also a look at our new mantel that I can’t wait to dress up! The globes won’t stay there, but it’s a good place to keep them safe for now. And finally, there’s a sneak peek at my new office! Many more sneaks to come!

 
Running 2.23 miles for Ahmaud Arbery’s birthday who was killed on 2.23nin Georgia. #IRunWithMaud

Running 2.23 miles for Ahmaud Arbery’s birthday who was killed on 2.23 in Georgia. #IRunWithMaud

And finally, to end our month of May, I wanted to share a few images this month that really made me stop, reflect, and breathe. I obviously haven’t been on social media, so I don’t know the extent of what’s been said, not said, acted on, not acted on, etc. I also haven’t been watching the news much, simply because it’s been a VERY busy few weeks for us with moving to a new home.

But I do know that this country is in pain.

I know that my Black brothers and sisters are hurting.

I know our Nation is hurting.

I know our communities are confused, scared, anxious, fearful, and quite frankly losing hope.

Here’s my promise to you for my personal community on Instagram, my blog here, as well as with our business for The Ever Co:

I will never, ever, ever stand for racism or division in this community. Neither will my family.

We will do our part to spread the good Lord’s message, and we will also do our part to end the hatred. We will continuously look for ways to donate to minority group organizations within our community and beyond.

Because I know we are privileged to be where we are, and to come as far as we have. We will always seek to amplify voices within the Black community and beyond.

We have preached since day one of this company that inclusion is incredibly important to us, and representing People of Color (POC) will always be a mission of ours, because we want to include everyone in this community.

It’s not for our brand. It’s not to check the box once a month.

It’s because we believe EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU BELONGS HERE.

But sometimes, just reaching for inclusion isn’t enough. No, IT’S NOT ENOUGH.

Sometimes quoting MLK on significant days isn’t enough. No, IT’S NOT ENOUGH.

So right now, I specifically want to speak to my Black brothers and sisters. My Black People of Color. (BPOC)

YOU MATTER!!!!!!! DO YOU HEAR ME!??!?! YOU MATTER TO ME. TO OUR FAMILY. TO THE EVER CO.

BLACK LIVES DO AND WILL ALWAYS AND FOREVER MATTER. PERIOD.

I will scream it until the day I die.

This is not a political statement. This is not a religious statement. This is not a social media trend. This is not a statement about an organization.

THESE ARE PEOPLE’S LIVES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. What more needs to be said?!?

Racism is a system, not a trend.

Systemic racism is brutal and real, and oppression is alive. WE DO NOT STAND FOR THIS.

I wish BLM weren’t considered a trend or fad, because that makes it seem like a temporary thing. Rather, this “movement” should be our every day lives. FOREVER. That is how we end racism.

And I pray that when these “hot topics” sizzle out, that this desire and passion for inclusion and the desire to end racism continues for all, long after our favorite influencers are posting about it.

IT STARTS IN OUR HEARTS, IN OUR HOMES.

And to any of my friends, family, or followers that don’t understand the BLM phrase or are confused by that phrase, let me give you a scenario that spoke profoundly to me this month.

Hadley has been throwing tantrums nonstop lately. She’s 3.5. It’s going to happen, I know.

She is still learning how to best speak her words without being punished and how to act without getting into trouble. But when she doesn’t get acknowledged, when she doesn’t get the response she’s hoping for, when she isn’t heard, SHE SNAPS. She acts out because she wants to be treated a certain way. She wants to be heard. As do most toddlers. As do all humans.

Right before I took the picture of she and I below, the one where I wore the HOPE shirt, we had a long talk about her crying and I was telling her that she can’t go to the big girls’ school if she acts like that, and she looked me straight in the eyes and said,

“BUT MOMMY, YOU’RE NOT LISTENING TO ME!!!”

Woah. Gut check.

She was right. I wasn’t listening to what she wanted, and why she was throwing a tantrum. I was specifically focused on the tantrum itself. How I didn’t want to hear the whining, bickering, crying anymore.

Since then, I’ve been trying to focus on the “why” of her tantrums. And ya know what? IT’S WORKED!!!

And I relate that situation to our current state of affairs.

BLACK PEOPLE WANT TO BE HEARD!!!! They want to SEE and FEEL action. They want to be a part of progress.

It is NOT ON THEM to teach us how to change. To teach us what to do. To teach us how to take action.

WE MUST TEACH OURSELVES.

And they’re “snapping” now, because they’re sick and tired of NOT being heard. There are thousands of peaceful protests happening, yet the media portrays the dark and ugly side of things. The side that makes so many throw their hands up in disbelief when they see Targets, and local mom and pops, and barber shops on fire. But think about little Hadley in her tantrum. The more I don’t listen, the more painful it gets.

OUR BLACK BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE IN PAIN. AND THEY HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

I am not for non peaceful protests or destruction of property, but unfortunately I get it. And I can say that if I were in their shoes, maybe I’d be the same.

The point is, I’m not in their shoes.

I am (seemingly) white.

I am privileged.

Ironically, I have actually never identified as white or caucasian. I’ve always considered myself Other or even Asian in some instances. But I look white, talk white, dress white, and sound white, and if it barks like a dog and walks like a dog, then it’s probably a dog.

When I go to Target with the girls to pick out barbie or baby dolls and pajamas, I don’t have to look far. The ones that look like them are all right there in front of me.

When I say bye to my husband when he goes to work, I don’t have to remind him to be safe to and from, in the sense that something bad’s going to happen to him because of his skin color.

When I go to Disney with the girls, I don’t have to search all over for the one Black princess in the park. The ones that look like us are all over. I don’t have to look far.

When I go to the store by myself in oversized clothes and jackets and a big purse, I’m not followed around and watched like a hawk. EVEN THOUGH I was arrested in my teens for shoplifting…nobody would ever know or care because I don’t fit the part.

This is all white privilege. And WHO ARE WE to say that Blacks don’t experience these things if we are not Black. If our Black brothers and sisters say they feel this way, THEN WE HAVE TO LISTEN AND TRUST THEY FEEL THIS WAY. And really? I mean who wouldn’t?

This is a system. Racism is a system. and when a system is broken… we fix it.

Have we come a long way? Yes sure. But good golly we have soooo far to go.

We have not been doing our part to listen. We collectively have so much work to be done. It’s not their job to teach us, guide us, lead us.

We have all of the tools needed right at our fingertips.

WE MUST TAKE A STAND FOR THEM. WE MUST DO THE HARD WORK AND EDUCATE OURSELVES.

So here I am friends.

I, and The Ever Co, are here with open arms welcoming you into our lives, our hearts, our homes, our community, our conversations, our church, etc. and we want to help.

We want to do our part to make you feel heard and understood.

We promise to not use Black children in our feeds JUST to check the box or just because it’s the thing to do in 2020. That is performative and we won’t stand for it.

It is not okay to just post quotes in stories and take no action beyond that. It’s performative.

It’s not okay to pull out black baby dolls and books just in the month of February. It’s performative.

If we are going to lessen white privilege and racism, these need to be year round actions.

I realize I am not black. I realize I do not understand the depths of pain you have been through since you stepped onto American soil. I, and my children, will never experience the overt racism that my Black brothers and sisters experience.

But that doesn’t mean I can look away. That doesn’t mean I can see horrifying graphics and videos and say “oh that’s so sad” and do nothing beyond that.

As the daughter to a full Asian woman (100% Korean) I do understand the depths of racism and how painful it is. She can’t relate to much in America with the lack of Asian representation, so I know she feels it to her core.

I also know that I was raised by a father who was born in 1940. Who lived during some of the most racist times of our history. And I PERSONALLY had to help him overcome weaknesses of his own throughout my childhood, because he was biased based on when and where he was raised. Not because he hated POC. He was the sweetest, kindest soul. But he was raised in a different time, and he just needed to UNLEARN so many things.

AND PEOPLE, THAT IS OKAY!!!!!! We can unlearn things, just as well as we can learn them.

One of my favorite moments when I think about memories of him was around 2015. He called me to tell me he met a black man at the local Waffle House that was now his best friend. My dad was about 77 at that time. I will never forget that conversation. 77 AND STILL LEARNING, PEOPLE!!!

And there’s the proof. It’s okay to mess up, misstep, and fall.

Just get back up and try and try and try again. Even at 77 years old.

I am so passionate about this for many reasons.

One because I do not stand for injustice and hatred.

But mostly because I have so many CLOSE friends hurting right now. I can’t see them cry anymore.

I’ve dated black guys. Most of my best girlfriends growing up were black as well, and some still to this day. I’m grateful for being from Radcliff, Kentucky cause the diversity was EPIC. Being raised on/around a military base, I was so fortunate to have been exposed to so many races/ethnicities from an early age. It was truly a cultural melting pot. And to this day, Blake and I serve with countless Soldiers of color who fight to defend our country.

My dad always knew how important it was for me to know he accepted all of my friends, boyfriends, etc, and that was why even at 77 he called to tell me that.

WE CAN DO BETTER PEOPLE. He’s proof.

So let me go back to the story about Hadley.

While this shouldn’t be about our family, I hope this simple story can help put things into more perspective for anyone not understanding the pain of others or the statement Black Lives Matter.

This moment in our history isn’t about us hurting. It’s about them hurting.

When she yelled that “BUT MOMMY, YOU’RE NOT LISTENING TO ME!!!” I immediately started holding her and comforting her and showing her so much affection.

Everly watched me do this and I could tell she was getting jealous of how much attention Hadley was getting.

I explained to Everly that “Yes, I do love you too, but this moment in time is not about you. This moment is about Hadley and how much she’s hurting. It’s about acknowledging her and seeing WHY she’s throwing tantrums. And trying to help her and make things better.”

That does NOT take away from my love for Everly. That does NOT mean I love Hadley more than Everly.

It simply means I am focusing on my child who is hurting right now.

And honestly? I think that’s what Jesus wants. I KNOW that’s what Jesus wants.

He wants us to help His hurt children.

Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

WE MUST COMFORT THEM NOW MORE THAN EVER.

He COMMANDS us to love thy neighbor.

So let’s take it to the altar.

Hadley wasn’t saying “I matter more.” She was saying “I matter. Period.” Isn’t it ironic?

Our black friends are not shouting “BLACK LIVES MATTER, MORE.” They’re shouting,

“BLACK LIVES MATTER. PERIOD!”

What if when Hadley was crying, and Everly got jealous, I looked at Everly and said, BUT HADLEY MATTERS MORE TO ME! No…that’s not what I said. I told Everly I am focusing on Hadley right now because she is hurting. She is in pain. She needs me more right now.

And so…here’s my point to all of this:

Do all lives matter? Yes, of course, absolutely. Every life matters because Jesus died for every life.

Every police officer matters. Every Soldier matters. Every doctor matters. Every homeless man/woman matters. Every teacher matters. Every firefighter matters. Every white, asian, latin, Indian, middle eastern etc etc etc life matters.

Our Black Brothers and Sisters have NEVER once said they matter more than any of those listed above.

As I’ve heard many say, “their house is on fire, and they just want us to help them put out the fire!” They want to be heard.

SO LET’S HEAR THEM OUT! LET’S GIVE THEM THE PLATFORM TO SPEAK. Let’s do our part, white friends, to amplify their voices and give them the floor.

It’s our time to change history. It’s our time to step up and collectively acknowledge their pain and to say BLACK LIVES MATTER.

And ya know what? When something happens to one of us, I guarantee you they’ll have our backs too.

BUT we HAVE to prove to them we have theirs first. Let’s do this.

Let’s be the change.

My struggles:

I’ll be honest, I’m not really proofreading this and just kinda rambling and typing my words as they come to me. For so long I’ve tried to audit my writing to make sure I didn’t strike a nerve or cause controversy.

But not anymore. Now, I will write from my heart, and hope and pray that it speaks to maybe even just one of you reading. That’s where change takes place. When raw, real, transparent, and vulnerable conversations happen.

And while I’m being honest, let me tell you my greatest personal struggle that I’ve had to overcome with the phrase “Black Lives Matter”, because maybe it’s something you’ve struggled with too. I’ve spoken to many of my black friends about it, and I just want to share the conversation notes. Maybe it’ll change your outlook.

Often when I used to hear Black Lives Matter, my immediate thought was that it was synonymous to “Anti Police” which don’t get me wrong - I am STRONGLY against police brutality, but I am not against the good police. And my greatest struggle was that I have so many friends that are police officers, and so many friends’ parents or spouses are LEOs, and friends and family who have lost their lives in the line of duty, and it just breaks my heart because of how this is affecting the entire police community. I’ve listened to so many police officers beg to not be labeled as “bad” and phew it breaks me to my core, because so many would die for us; they are protectors for our streets, our children, our communities, our homes, our country. I’m nearly brought to tears every time I see a police officer on the streets now doing good things, because I just have so much passion for them and our military service members.

BUT…It took a lot of soul searching, and a lot of research and listening to black people speak to realize that they are not synonymous. Wanting to lift the voices of Black people and to listen to them doesn’t mean we hate police officers. At all. We can LOVE AND LIFT UP BLACK VOICES while also LOVE AND LIFT UP LEO’S TOO. Because you love one doesn’t mean you hate the other and vice versa.

So if you too struggle with those two ideas, then know you aren’t alone, and most importantly ASK QUESTIONS and have honest, open dialogue with friends, coworkers, and your community so that you can walk a mile in other shoes and try to understand their battles too.

Additionally, as the wife to an Active Duty Army Officer and as a current Army Reservist (who could very well go back to active duty), I refuse to share my personal political beliefs on my social media platforms. I choose not to provide my political stance in these spaces, in order to honor the sacrifice my family (and thousands of other families) make to serve our country regardless of who is in office. Military law also doesn’t allow participation in partisan activities such as soliciting or engaging in partisan fundraiser activities, serving as the sponsor of a partisan club, or speaking before a partisan gathering. With that, I consider my social media platforms a place that I’m unable to express my political beliefs based on my families current military status. My husband is in charge of hundreds of Soldiers at a time, and he could very well go to war with them. He will serve and protect the brother to his left just as well as he’ll serve, protect, and lead the Soldier to his right, because in the military that’s a matter of life and death. So I choose not to jeopardize his position in leadership in the military to honor and respect him and his Soldiers.

I wish we collectively could stop making “Black lives matter” a political statement and more of a statement about LIVES DYING. Then maybe it wouldn’t be as controversial. What is really so hard about saying “Black lives matter?” I mean truly? It boggles my mind.

So I urge you not to write someone off that says “Black Lives Matter” because you feel it’s a political statement or a statement about an organization. Instead, how about we look at our Black brothers and sisters in their faces, and start the dialogue now. Ask them what we can do to help them. Ask them what we can do in our homes to end racism. And take action.

I have used my platform since day one as a “to each their own” and “everyone is welcome” place. And, I do still mean that. But I know many of my followers and friends don’t feel the same way.

I think the Lord created us all differently, and there needs to be some of us who are the more confrontational “go get them and run up the hill” kinda people, and then there’s those of us who need to continue fighting for peace and moderation and unity.

I CHOOSE TO BE A BRIDGE BUILDER. I choose to fill the gap. I choose to be a peacekeeper.

I am not a fan of cancel culture. I don’t agree with it. Because I know what that can do to someone’s mental state when they are canceled. I know the depths of mental illness and depression, so I choose to give second chances. I always will. Just as Jesus does.

Wanna know why? Because if I was canceled when I made some bad mistakes in the past, I’d probably be dead. I would’ve taken my own life if nobody grabbed my hand and held onto me.

So I will be that person for you. If you have felt a certain way on this all of your life, if you’ve had racist thoughts before, if you’ve said bad things before, I know some will never forgive you. And believe me, it hurts me too that you felt this way. I am ANGRY that you have felt that way. But let me do the dirty work for you. The hard work. Let me help you so that I can try and help you change. I will lay my life down for you to change, because I want to see more black lives live.

I will not give up on you, and I will help you rise. Because I know it’s possible. I’ve seen it.

I will always strive to love like Jesus. I will pray for you, and I will help you rise out of the ashes of your past.

I choose to see the good in people, and I choose to be an eternal optimist. I physically cannot give up on humanity. The Lord didn’t wire my heart that way.

But Black friends who are hurting, I know many of you can’t extend that hand. And quite frankly I don’t blame you. You don’t need to. Let me do the hard work for you. Let my white friends do the hard work for you.

I may be soft spoken and kind in my approach, and I realize the world needs realist (my husband) and those who will loudly and boldly shine light on negativity so that change can happen.

I’m a big advocate for both of these kinds of people. And I try hard to find a middle ground.

I won’t fail you. My family won’t fail you.

I refuse to live in a divided world, for the sake of my kids, and my kids’ kids. And so forth.

I will never stop fighting for a world that locks hands and loves one another, through the good and the bad.

I WILL NEVER STOP FIGHTING FOR EQUITY AND EQUALITY.

For any of my friends stuck somewhere in the middle, know that neutral in a broken system gets you nowhere. Whether you’re a democrat, libertarian or republican, and whether you’re a Christian or an atheist doesn’t matter. You don’t have to be loud, you can be soft, as I’ve chosen to be, and you can still take a stand against racism. You can still be FOR Black lives.

That’s the only way this system gets fixed.

And hey…the more we bicker at each other about politics and how much we hate each other, the less action takes place.

Stop fighting, and let’s do the hard work.

LET’S GO!

I’ll end with this…Thank you Hadley for teaching me such a powerful lesson.

***Blake and I have both read “White Fragility: Why it’s so hard for white people to talk about racism” and I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend it for anyone struggling with this topic. It’s been eye opening for us.

Additionally, I’m often asked how I teach the girls about racism and inclusion in our daily lives, and how we ensure they are exposed to all races at their young ages. Here’s what we do:

  1. We ensure the girls have toys and dolls of all races.

  2. We ensure their books display kids of all races. NOT just during Black history month. Not just on Juneteenth. BUT ALL YEAR.

  3. We ensure the girls (and ourselves) surround ourselves with friends of different races.

  4. We do NOT teach them to be color blind. Rather, we tell them to recognize our differences and how uniquely God created us, yet he loves us the same. “Jesus loves the little children” is a phenomenal tool for younger kids!

 
 

This was the very last picture we took at our home in Kansas before me moved to Texas. And I pray that each one of those kids knows they are so incredibly loved and adored. They are the future. We must fight for justice for their sake.

 

So what are some ways you can make a difference in your own home? I’ll create a blog post soon with all of my favorite inclusive toys/book, etc, because it starts in our hearts and in our homes. For now, here’s my blog post from January that I wrote to get ready for Black History Month. You can find a ton of books there that represent all children!

 

And if I may end with this video, which brings me to tears every time I watch.

Jesus, be near.

Sending you all so much light + love.

All my best, as always. I miss you.

Amy

THE ULTIMATE FATHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE

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We’re not only celebrating Father’s Day this year, but Blake finished his MBA with a 4.0, graduated from a rigorous military school, and got promoted to Major, so we have a LOT to celebrate!

We’ve updated our father’s day (+ beyond) gift guide this year and I have to say…it’s now probably my favorite gift guide on the blog! (And that’s saying a lot considering there’s about 20 ha!) These ideas would be great for birthdays, anniversaries, special occasions, and Christmas too!

I think it’s mostly because EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. of these items are used religiously in our household, and Blake and I have truly grown to love and appreciate them all. He put a lot of thought into these items, and he’s really big on reviews/research, so these items all come highly recommended from the man himself!

 

So here she is, the ultimate father’s day gift guide! Be sure to scroll over the image title, description, and price to be taken directly to a link to shop! We appreciate you and hope you + yours have the BEST father’s day ever!

 
 

  1. DOUBLE CHAIR FOLDABLE - ~ $100 depending on color.

    This is what we got for Blake this year as an early Father’s Day/graduation gift and WE ARE IN LOVE!! I will do a demo of it when I get back on Instagram, but it’s likely my #1 favorite product to gift to men (and women) now! Aside from the cordless vacuum of course. hehe! Two people can sit comfortably, the drink holders are EPIC and can fit anything and it folds up so easily and as small as a single chair! Highly recommend!!!

  2. CORDLESS HIGH TORQUE SQUARE DRIVE IMPACT WRENCH - $400+

    We use this tool often and it’s an essential for a tool drawer in our opinion. An expensive investment but well worth it in the end!

  3. WET / DRY UTILITY SHOP VAC - $50

    This is the perfect mini shop vac for your garage and we love using it for tiny messes from wood working projects outside! It also works as a great car vac for the garage too!

  4. SMARTWATCH - $318

    This is the watch Blake wears daily and he loves it. It’s the perfect sporty, yet not too sporty, masculine watch that he wears for working out and to continuously check his heart rate. It also plays playlist too! It’s a great watch for someone who loves fitness and the reviews speak for themselves!

  5. LOVE AND RESPECT BOOK - $15

    The best Christian based book for marriages! A great read for men and women alike! Check out those reviews!!! Can’t recommend this book enough.

  6. 2 PACK PLIER STORAGE AND ORGANIZER RACK - $25

    Simple, easy organizer for anyone who loves tools and has a lot of them. These fit perfectly into his tool chest and separate the pliers and other similar tools easily.

  7. MULTI-HEAD RATCHETING SCREWDRIVER -$35

    The ultimate gift for any man! (and woman!) I LOVEEEE this gadget and it stays in our kitchen and we use it all the time! it has every screwdriver head /bit you need! Would be great for in the car on the go too! (or anyone who loves IKEA furniture haha)

  8. FIRE PIT STOKER POKER - $59

    This is the fire poker seen in our last picture in this post, and Blake gets so giddy about this one hehe! He’s a man that LOVES building a good fire for his girls, and this gadget helps do that! IS IT A POKER? IS IT A STOKER? Well actually it’s both. We could use a stick to move the logs, and dump gasoline on the wood to get it going, but Stoker Poker is really very effective and safe. If you see that the fire is going out, you can easily re-arrange the logs from 4 feet away and simply blow through the Stoker Poker to re-ignite the flames. It’s incredible!!!

  9. TO HELL WITH THE HUSTLE BOOK - $10

    This is your wake-up call to resist the Hustle culture and embrace the slowness of Jesus.

    Our culture makes constant demands of us: Do more. Accomplish more. Buy more. Post more. Be more. In following these demands, we have indeed become more: More anxious. More tired. More hurt. More depressed. More frantic.

    What we are doing isn't working!

    In a society where hustle is the expectation, busyness is the norm and information is king, we have forgotten the fundamentals that make us human, anchor our lives, and provide meaning.

  10. BEST PILLOW EVER - $60

    CHECK OUT THESE REVIEWS!!! Truly just the BEST pillow you will ever use in your life, sure to give you a good night’s sleep and completely adjustable to your liking! Every one of us in the family has one and I don’t ever complain about neck/back pain anymore!

  11. COLLAPSIBLE WAGON - $!00 +

    This is our favorite wagon for lugging kiddos + sporting equipment + more around on trips and at the beach! It’s rugged enough to drag along the sand, and great for pulling kids + coolers to neighborhood gatherings. We love this one!

  12. CHRISTMAS TREE STORAGE - $10-$15

    Is the hubs tired of carrying the big Christmas tree box up the stairs? We have your solution! This bag has lasted through three moves and it stores trees + wreaths + bases + tree skirts and more! It’s held up so well and makes carrying the heavy tree so much easier. It also makes it really easy to spot in storage!

  13. CORDLESS VACUUM - $50

    In my humble opinion, this is the most important item every mama and daddy needs in their home. We use it every single day!

  14. SHOULDER DOLLY MOVING STRAPS - $35

    These have made moving SO MUCH easier for us!!!! They allow Blake and I to carry all of our large pieces of furniture without having to borrow neighbors haha! We love these things!! You just slip them over your shoulders and it allows you to use your whole body. We moved a washer and dryer from the basement up to the garage with these! Fascinating.

  15. WATCH REPAIR KIT - $24

    If your person likes doing their watch repairs themselves or is a techy guy/gal, this is a great item to have on hand! It has 16 tools and a 41 page illustrated maintenance and service manual which makes it easy to repair different watches.

  16. RICH DAD POOR DAD BOOK -$12

    Rich Dad Poor Dad is Robert's story of growing up with two dads — his real father and the father of his best friend, his rich dad — and the ways in which both men shaped his thoughts about money and investing. The book explodes the myth that you need to earn a high income to be rich and explains the difference between working for money and having your money work for you.

  17. MAGNETIC SCREWDRIVER ORGANIZER - $24

    Built with 16 high tension clips that will hold your screwdrivers and other small tools firmly and securely. 

  18. DIGITAL INSTANT READ THERMOMETER FOR COOKING - $22

    Digital meat thermometer for grilling features advanced thermocouple technology that provides 2-3s response time; 4.0'' food grade probe thermometer guarantees an accurate temp reading to ±0.9°F (±0.5°C) with a wide temp range of 14°F - 572°F (-10°C - 300°C). Great for someone who loves being on the grill!

  19. BEST RUNNING SOCKS EVER - ~$15

    Comes in so many colors and we both LOVE running in these! If you or your person love socks that feel good on a long run, this is them!

  20. GRILL SET - $30

    4-Piece Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Barbecue Grilling Utensils - Premium Grill Accessories for Barbecue - Spatula, Tongs, Fork, and Basting Brush

 

Be sure to pin an image in this post to your pinterest board or save it to your bookmarks to ensure you can reference it again in the future!

Happy gifting friends!

XX, Amy

APRIL 2020

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Hey friends!!!

It’s been just about one month since I signed off from the gram, and I thought it would be a great way to journal my time away by doing a one month recap at the end of every month! This will help me keep a journal of the pictures I want to print each month (or send to my chatbooks) and also serve as a way to keep in touch with y’all and let you know what we’ve been up to!

I love this blog, because unlike Instagram I actually own this domain. This is my creative home, and it’s a joy to still be able to share my little family with you. I truly do need a creative outlet, and I love that this keeps me away from Instagram but still filling a creative void!

So…what have we been up to? How’s my heart doing one month into this process?

✿ Here’s a snapshot of April 2020. ✿

 

We started the month off by decorating our door! Below you can see what we did, but we used back of mailers, posters I had laying around, cardboard boxes, etc and now everyone that walks by our home gets to see our messages! The girls had a blast doing this!

 

The tree in front of our home also started to bloom and it is so so so so SOOOOO DREAMY!!!!

It arches over our doorway and just makes me smile every time I see it.

I tell everyone I am SO THANKFUL this all happened during this time of year, when trees and flowers are blooming, the sun is beginning to shine more, and overall the Earth feels like it’s coming to life out of the dead of winter. I think all this Vitamin D and sunshine is doing wonders for our souls.

Trees all around the post have also started blooming, and this one reminds me of the ones in my neighborhood growing up. It is very nostalgic every time we pass under it!

 

Speaking of walks, we go on at least 3 mile walks every day, and it’s 100% been my favorite part about being off of Instagram. We explore all over post. While Blake does teleworking on the computer, the girls and I like to wake up with the sun and go all around the base. We play “I spy with my little eye”, say hi to birdies and squirrels, and spend so much quality time together. It’s incredible. (Sometimes Bella even sneaks in a ride in the bottom of the stroller too if it’s too hot for her. heheheh)

 

Truly, look at this dog! Is she spoiled or what?!!? The girls have been pushing her around in their doll stroller too, and Bella actually LOVES it. She is so comfy and loves sniffing the air on our walks.

I can’t help but think about how happy and lucky all the animals are for having their best friends at home 24/7. I know Bella is thriving off of our company all the time. What a time for our fur babies!

 

While doing some spring cleaning, I came across a package that I found at my dad’s when we were cleaning out his place after he passed away. It was a package he had when he was stationed here at Fort Leavenworth back in the 80s. On it, I found his address. I dropped to my knees.

The next day, Blake, the girls and I went on a walk to go find his home.

This is it. I feel so connected to him. 🖤

 

When Blake does get a break from class, he joins us on our 3 mile walks and we love it! We go to our local track field and throw the ball for Bella or just run around the track. (Not at all to burn energy off the girls, I promise! hahah!)

This time has been so healing to get so much time back that we’ve lost from military training.

I keep saying I’m learning more about Blake and the girls than I’ve ever known…which let’s be real - has it’s ups and downs lol…but it’s like I’m relearning the people under my roof. It’s so sacred and special. 🖤

Honestly? I don’t think I would be this intentional if I were still on Instagram. I know how I am with my work schedule and being away has allowed me to prioritize these people first. Hallelujah.

 

We’ve been playing out on our slip n slide nearly every. single. day. It’s been epic. I just love getting down and playing with these girls and the hubs! Highly recommend this cute slide. It has a big blow up portion at the end that allows the girls (and myself haha) to not fly off the end!)

These are just $15! We add a little safe dishsoap and it makes them even more more slippery hehehe!

The watermelon slide is linked here.

The blue slide is linked here.

 

Possibly most exciting of the month?!?!

EVERLY LEARNED TO RIDE HER BIKE!!!!!

It was strangely super easy, and I think I thought it would be a lot more difficult, but we let her ride the bike with training wheels for about 3-5 months and then one day decided to take the wheels off! We just watched a couple of youtube videos on “how to teach a kid to ride a bike” and voila! She’s up and riding! I love this little video compilation of her first few days of riding. She LOVES IT!

 

Homeschooling has been so interesting. There’s easy days and hard days, but really I just feel like I’m learning so much more about patience (and my lack thereof). I am grateful for this experience, regardless of the hard days. I know I will look back on this time one day when both of the girls are in school and be thankful I had this time to do it myself. I have so much respect for teachers, administrators and therapists. It’s extraordinary what they do for our babes. Here’s some pics of Everly during her homeschooling activities and when she got to zoom her class and bring a show and share item with her. She chose her dinosaur we built together and her sister. 🖤

 

Speaking of therapists, Everly gets to do teletherapy with her speech therapist and zoom sessions with her ABA therapists too. She lights up when she gets to see them, and I can only pray that she gets to actually hug them goodbye before we move away. She loves them so so so so much. Here she played dinosaur with them hehe.

 

Easter was so yummy too! We had Annies Mac n Cheese (hahaha), turkey, green bean casserole, and deviled eggs. It was so fun setting the table and having a beautiful Easter dinner to celebrate our Lord!

As far as cooking goes, I’ve completely fallen head over heels with home cooked meals now. I’ve cooked dinner every night for 3 weeks straight and I hope I never go back! I can’t wait to share all of the recipes I’ve been learning!

HE IS RISEN! Easter 2020 will be one we will never forget!

 
 

Something else we will never forget is Blake’s 37th birthday! We kept it simple with store bought Cheesecake Factory slices, balloons from Target, and a couple presents from his wish list. We loved surprising daddy when he came downstairs from teleworking!

 

He’s been working so hard in his classes for work while also getting his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) which he is about 2 weeks out from getting with a 4.0 GPA! We couldn’t be more proud of you daddy!

 

He’s also been so supportive of me still doing business stuff, which I’ve totally neglected for about 5 weeks and it’s been a nice break! Tonight (May 1st) I will have a small “error sale” and this was a progress shot of getting through some inventorying during the week! You can find out more information about the sell and our plans to keep doing this until we get through our error inventory over the next few months while I’m taking a break. This has allowed me to truly pace myself which is so refreshing!

 

These are a few pics that truly mark this time of quarantine that I never want to forget. Masks for all, and care packages from my mom filled with items that make my half Korean heart very happy. hahahha! (This is truly a box from a Korean mom, is it not? lol. I LOVE IT!)

 

So, how have I been?

As far as motherhood goes…truly, it’s been a mix. I’ve felt myself losing patience with the girls a LOT but it’s because they’re butting heads a lot (as are most siblings all across the world). BUT I am SO in love with this time with them, to work through their struggles, and really be fully present. I am so grateful that this break from Instagram coincidentally fell into this time of quarantine. I can’t imagine still running my Instagram, business, blog and doing all of these duties as their mama. I am sending all the love, courage, strength, and prayers for you that are doing it all!!!! I have so much respect for you all right now!

As far as marriage goes, we’ve spent more time together than we have in almost 10 years of marriage…which btw next year is 10 YEARS OF MARRIAGE…WHAT?!?!?! Feeling so lucky to call him mine. I’m loving making dinner for him every night, loving working out with him every day, loving sitting on the porch drinking wine and reading books after the girls are in bed, loving movie nights on the couch, and seeing him teach the girls new tricks. Also loving when he starts the coffee pot for me and letting me sleep in a bit. hehe.

As far as health and fitness go, I’ve been working out hard for 3 weeks straight and feel better than I have in about 7 years as far as that goes. I am so excited to finally see change, but more importantly to feel it. My heart, mind, body, and soul feel so good. I’ll share more about my fitness journey next month!

As far as my Faith, I’ve been reading so much and listening to so much praise and worship, and I feel so close to the Lord now. I am eager to share more about that journey, but it’s very sacred right now, so I’m gonna keep it private for the time being. More to come.

So overall, it’s been so refreshing this first month away.

Someone asked me the other day, “do you miss it?”

And my honest to God answer: No. Not at all.

I feel so content with the decision to step away, and I’m very interested to see how my heart continues to transform over these next 5 months + beyond.

I want you to know I am praying for you all and sending you all my love during this time. I can’t wait to be “reunited” for the sake of me missing you, but I also can wait for the sake of my heart and home.

I’m grateful I’ve come to this point in my life.

In light + love,

Amy

PS Here are the blog posts I wrote this month as a recap in case you missed them!

  1. My break from Instagram (explained)

  2. DIY Dollhouse plans

  3. Mother’s Day Gift Ideas + Pictures

MOTHERS DAY 2020

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Hey hey friends!

I wanted to share some of my favorite items that are practical that I use nearly every day of my life, while also sharing a few of my favorite things that I’m asked about often. These would be great for Mother’s Day gifts, birthday presents, anniversaries, Christmas and beyond! So be sure to pin an image here if you want to reference it again in the future.

But first, every year the one thing I ask my husband for is a mini photoshoot with my girls.

I’ve done it for three years now! The first year we did a bathtub shoot followed by a Strawberry Patch shoot, and we did the same last year too! But this year was just in pajamas on our bed! I can’t wait to look back at all of these pictures one day! Let me take you down memory lane. :)

 

Mother’s Day 2018

Mother’s Day 2018

 

Mother’s Day 2019

 
 
 

And now here are some of my favorite every day items!

  1. FAVORITE PILLOW EVER -. All four of us have one and we will never use another pillow!

  2. CORDLESS VACUUM - I never wanted to make the investment and we finally did earlier this year. I can’t believe we didn’t get this sooner! Talk about making vacuum duties a breeze! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

  3. HANDS FREE MAMA BOOK - A book that changed my life. Teaches priorities, managing time, how to put the phone down and all the in between. Perfect for Mother’s Day.

  4. AVOCADO PJS - These are the ones we wore in this year’s Mother’s Day pics and I LOVE THE COLORS! I sized up for the girls so we can wear them next year too.

  5. SLIPPERS - The best slide on slippers you will ever own. I wear them EVERY DAY of my life, and don’t remember life before them. Ha!

  6. CAR STOPPERS - Why was I living in a hole about these for so long. So goodbye to dropped items next to your seats, lost makeup, lost keys, lost phones and more. These won’t let anything fall next to you when you’re driving!

  7. SNEAKERS - The best every day sneakers that literally go with everything. I wear them with skirts, jeans, leggings, shorts etc! You won’t regret this buy. Plus black is the perfect neutral.

  8. DAISY PJS - These are the same brand as the ones we wore in this year’s Mother’s Day pics and I LOVE THE COLORS! I sized up for the girls so we can wear them next year too.

  9. CORDLESS HANDHELD VACUUM - I share this every holiday. THIS IS MAMA’S BEST FRIEND and makes cleaning up any mess so much easier. No cords, no hard to reach places, THE BEST.

  10. FAVORITE PAJAMAS - These are my number one recommended pajamas and I love gifting them to other mamas for special occasions. BUTTERY soft.

  11. WIRELESS CAMERA MONITOR - This simple, cheap, easy to move camera can be set up straight to your phone which makes those restless nights of worrying about your kiddos so much better! We’ve had ours for 5 years!

  12. APPLE WATCH - Another gift we finally bit the bullet on, and there’s no turning back. I can’t recommend the Apple Watch (series 5) enough! I love every single feature of it.

  13. LEMON PJS - These are the same brand as the ones we wore in this year’s Mother’s Day pics and I LOVE THE COLORS! I sized up for the girls so we can wear them next year too.

  14. DIFFUSER - My favorite pretty diffuser that doubles as a calming night light too.

  15. WINE OPENER - I will never open another bottle of wine differently again. This invention is pure genius.

 
 

I hope you found something here you liked! It’s so good to catch up with y’all and to share with you a little tradition of ours every Mother’s Day. I hope you too can start something like this to have many pictures to look back on one day!

 
 

Be sure to pin an image from this post so you can reference back to it in the future!

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO ALL OF YOU!

XX,

Amy

WHY I'M GETTING OFF OF INSTAGRAM AND RUNNING TO THE FATHER

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Let me preface this long read with saying I made the decision to get off of Instagram back in January, and it’s actually a decision I’ve battled for over a year. 

My plan is to delete Instagram from my phone on Sunday, April 5th, and to check back in on October 1st after 6 months away.  If I’m still battling what you will read below, then I will continue with another 6 month break until April 5th, 2021. I pray I won’t need any longer .

For the last nearly 4 months I’ve been taking notes in my phone to ensure that when the time came to write this all out I knew exactly how to reflect on what’s been on my heart all along.

So I copied and pasted all of my “notes” into a word document to write this – and it’s 9 pages, single spaced.

HA! Guess you could say there’s been a lot on my mind.

 

So…here goes nothing.

 

In January, somebody shared a screenshot with me that said I was only sharing the cyber bully messages I’d been receiving, and how I was choosing to respond in love and kindness, to get a pat on my back and that it was done in vain.

 

When I read those words, my immediate response was “HOW DARE THEM!”

Cause here’s the thing about Amy…

I take what people say about me to heart.

I am sensitive.

I am emotional.

I care a lot about what others think about me.

And that’s okay. (I’m sure some of you reading are like that too)

We are all wired differently.

 

When I ask people, “So… what do you do when you hear negative things about yourself?”

I often get responses like “Who cares what others think! Just be yourself and that’s all that matters. There’s always gonna be bullies out there.”

And I do agree with all of those things.

But here’s what I can’t shake.

 

I think I will always care.

I will never be able to brush off someone’s feelings about me.

And for so long I tried to make myself change. To be thicker skinned. To care less. To be tougher.

 

And that’s just not me.

 

I find myself constantly asking, what could I have done differently? Did I approach that well? What do they think about me now? Etc etc etc.

 

So…when I receive messages that hurt, I want to make things right. I have always been a conflict resolution seeker. I mean heck, I was a peer mediator in 7th grade. It’s my nature to want to fix things and make things right.

But when I dig deeper, I know that the good Lord wired me to LOVE people hard.

To be passionate about people.

To care for them and love them through the pain.

 

So when I read that screenshot, I was really taken back.

And honestly, that’s what reignited this whole soul seeking journey that I started on last year.

 

I’ve realized…

 

I am not in the right headspace to be on Instagram.

 

My mental state is not able to take on more sleepless nights of “what does “x,y, or z” think about me.

 

I am insecure about so many aspects of my life right now, and I desperately need to get back to the basics, ground myself, and figure out what in the world is going on in Amy’s mind.

 

I’ve never wanted to come onto Instagram to feel less than.

And that’s where I am right now.

 

I’m insecure about how much I have in our home and how much I want to get rid of it.

But I find myself in a vicious cycle of wanting more, spending more, wanting less, spending less, purging, filling up, minimizing and it continues over and over and over.

I’m insecure about my body and feel ashamed for wanting it be fit, strong, and healthy like it was in my figure competition training days before I had kids.

But I find myself in a vicious cycle of wanting to be content with where I am and not wanting to share that journey.

I am insecure about how unhealthy my heart is and don’t want to die young.

But I find myself in a vicious cycle of unhealthy habits and every time I get on a good track, I slip back off.

I’m insecure about not fitting into certain groups online. I want to fit in, be noticed, be heard, be seen. I don’t want to be left out, and I hate that I feel that way. It’s like I’m begging for the “mean girl cliques” to let me in.

And I PREACH to not feel this way, so I go through a vicious cycle of wanting to do less about it and do more about it constantly.

I am insecure about other companies’ successes and if we’ll ever get there.  Sad for constantly seeing screenshots sent to me from others about “did you see what x copied of yours?” And then I wonder how many screenshots of our business have been screenshot and sent to others who’ve inspired me.

So I find myself in a vicious cycle of wanting to scream THERE’S ROOM AT THE TABLE FOR ALL OF US, and to remind all (including myself) to seek authenticity always.

I am insecure about what friends say about me. The ones who know me in real life. Do they speak to others about me? Do they actually care about me? Why do I feel like I have no friends somedays?

And I find myself in a vicious cycle of feeling like my cup overflows with friendships and then also feeling like I’m running on E.

I’m insecure about the division across our world. Republicans vs. democrats. People of Color vs. Whites. Stay at Home Moms vs. Working Moms. Breastfeeding Moms vs. Bottle Feeding Moms. Gays vs Straights. Christians vs. Non Christians. Vegans vs. Meat Eaters. Vaccinators vs. Non. etc. etc. etc. And all I want to do is say “grab each others’ hands and let’s walk across this bridge together!!! We can do this!!!”  I feel such a calling and conviction to be a bridge builder.

But I feel this vicious cycle of telling myself to shut up because it’s not my place to build bridges in our world. I often tell myself I will not be heard, and when I am I will be mocked. 

I am insecure about what bullies say about me that I don’t even get a chance to read.

There’s a lot of really nasty things out on the webs, some of which I’ve seen, and it makes me wonder how much is out there I haven’t seen.

So I find myself in this vicious cycle of wanting to dig up all of the dirt, and wanting to live in a box closed off from the world to give nobody anything to talk about.

I’m insecure about the thousands upon thousands of Direct Messages I’ve received that have gone unread. Not because I don’t care, but because I just don’t have the ability to live on my phone and answer them.

So I question constantly how much this bothers others, and find myself in a vicious cycle of who cares and to answer them all!

I am insecure about motherhood. I pour so much into this community to bring ideas and inspiration to others’ lives, but am I using all of that energy in the wrong way? Should I refocus my space to ensure that energy is going into my own kids’ lives instead?

I am in a vicious cycle of wanting to give give give and wanting to break break break.

I am insecure about my future. I really do miss the Army life so much. I miss feeling important. I miss being able to say “YES! I FLY HELICOPTERS FOR THE ARMY!” I miss feeling like I have more of a purpose than wiping butts.

But I know this is the season I’m in, and it’s for a reason. So I find myself in a vicious cycle of wanting to get back to the workforce and staying at home.

I am insecure about the time I spend on social channels. Constantly posting, constantly checking for updates, constantly searching for more content. But I know that’s how businesses grow.

So I’m in a vicious cycle of wanting to reduce time online and give it back to my family, while also growing my brand.

I am insecure about my marriage. It has not been a great couple years for us. He and I both know that. The jealousy I feel towards other marriages is greater than it’s ever been. But we also acknowledge that there have been SO many changes these last few years, and it’s prayerfully just the season of marriage we’re in.

I find myself in a vicious cycle of wanting to share those details with you to help others in the same boat, but also wanting to keep our marriage sacred and private.

And there’s that.

I am insecure about how much of my personal life I should really be sharing.

I see so many others “private” accounts and hear others not wanting to share their kids’ faces, private matters, diagnosis’ etc. Am I doing this all wrong? I’ve built my brand around transparency and being an open book and sharing ALL THE RAW dirty details of my life to inspire others and make them feel less alone.

So I find myself in a vicious cycle of wanting to close the doors on my life and just share crafts and still wanting to empower young women.

 

But you wanna know what I’m most insecure about?

And the one that stings more than ANYTHING you read above?

 

I am insecure about my faith.

I am so heartbroken that I even have to write those words.

 

And I live this vicious cycle of wanting to be the Godly example that I KNOW I need to be, and also wanting to be cool.

AS THOUGH BEING A GODLY WOMAN ISN’T COOL?!!??!

I hate that. H A T E it.

 

The craziest trend is that nearly all of these insecurities somehow relate back to this app.

Whoa. That’s a hard pill to swallow.

 

Is this normal? Is this all just the normal cycle of life?

Where we live, reflect, evaluate, adjust, then relive, reflect, reevaluate, and readjust?

 

Or is there actually something wrong with me?

 

When I step back and reflect, here’s what I question:

Am I taking the things of this world too seriously, rather than just putting my value in God?

If I make it right with him, won’t everything else fall into place?

 

And that’s the kind of stuff I’m going to try and figure out.

 

That alone is why I’m getting off of Instagram.

 

It’s become a popularity contest for me.

And my biggest fear is that’s what it’s becoming for thousands of other female entrepreneurs and influencers out there.

 

A battle to be bigger, better, louder, prettier, fitter, shinier, richer, cooler than the woman sitting to the left or right of you.

 

A cry for attention.

A plea for recognition.

A scream for acknowledgement.

 

I see it in the giveaways we join to get others to follow us.

I see it in the “follow me so I can follow you” threads.

I see it in the rat race for more followers and more likes.

 

And I’ll say it: it’s not that it’s wrong, because I do know that the larger our pages and businesses grow, the more ability we have to bring in an income for our families.

Hence the vicious cycle I find myself in of doing those things and then not.

 

But here’s what is wrong:

I am putting my value in other people and not my God.

That is my personal struggle; it needs to change. 

And here’s where this story comes full circle:

Maybe deep down that bully was right?

Maybe deep down I did want recognition and acknowledgment for spreading love and kindness and giving grace in a situation that didn’t call for grace.

 

Sure yes, I’d love a pat on my back, because I am proud of myself for how I responded.

Sure yes, I’d love the affirmation that I handled that well. I am a words of affirmation gal, so that fills my cup.

And honestly, for so long I’ve lived a life lacking confidence.

So yes, I will say I am proud of myself for turning away my worldly responses and responding in love.

Why does anybody share an accomplishment? We don’t share them to be told how horrible we did; it’s just the opposite.

 

But isn’t knowing deep down that I did the right thing enough?

Do I really need to share those things out loud?

 

Honestly? I don’t know the answer.

 

What I do know is that if I’m doing it to fulfill my purpose on this planet, to lead others to the cross and show a grace, love, and kindness that only God can provide, then yes. I’m doing it for the right reasons.

 

That is what I’m taking this time to figure out.

 

How do I regain security and confidence in my faith?

And how do I make my life right with God again, so that I know all things done for my Instagram, my blog, my business, my marriage, my future, my finances, my motherhood, my friendships, my fitness, my health etc., are done for Him.

 

I firmly believe Instagram has become a chase for popularity and a chase for likes.

It’s unhealthy for myself.  It’s unhealthy for my kids.  It’s unhealthy for my marriage.

 

And I am choosing to put an end to this addiction.

 

I am taking at least 6 months, and potentially up to a year or more, off of Instagram, and I am going to see if this helps with my journey towards healing.

 

Part of me feels like a failure for letting this happen.   

For letting the pressures of social media and jealousy take over my heart.

But… I am not embarrassed by this, and quite frankly I think it’s just the nature of our online world.

But I feel very convicted and heartbroken for so many influencers who are constantly chasing something bigger and something better, when that bigger and better is right within the walls of our house.

 

I heard God profoundly speak to me:

“Make this more about me, less about you.

Your word this year was Balance.

Find your balance, and now rest.”

 

And how freeing it was to remember, our God doesn’t care about the numbers!!!

The only numbers he cares about are how many of us come to Him.

Hallelujah: that needs to be my mission.

 

I’ve always had some inkling of a desire to be the popular girl. The girl that was in all the weddings, that wore all the bridesmaid’s dresses, that played all the sports, that had all the friends, that dated the popular guy, that had all the money, that wore the best clothes, and I think it’s because I was never that girl.

So with this growing community, it’s in some way filled a void in my heart, and it’s made me feel “enough.”

 

Spoiler alert Amy: you were always enough.

 

I have bought stuff just to show it on Instagram. I’ve taken pictures just to make it seem like everything‘s OK in my world.  Everywhere I go, I’m looking for content.  I’m constantly thinking about what to post next on my Instagram feed, and I’ve heard Blake say more times than I can count, “you’re only taking that picture for Instagram.” And I’m tired of it. I want to win my life back, and I want to reclaim it.  

 

Because that’s all so heartbreaking.

 

I want my girls to know that popularity is not what matters. Numbers and fame are not what matters.

 

I was becoming so infatuated with growth of my Instagram, growth of my community, and serving this community, that I’ve become less in tune with growth in my faith and serving my family and my God.

 

I am sad for myself, because this space was once so beautiful to me and so empowering, yet it’s become tainted with bitterness, jealousy, and comparison. 

 

But I am hopeful.

I am hopeful that this will be good for myself, for my family, and for my faith, and that right now is all that matters.

 

And I pray that on the other end of this, whether it’s in October 2020 or April 2021, that I can share some lessons with you too.

Because ultimately, I want to be the best version of myself to be able to “influence” you.

I’ve said it before…I’m not turned away by the term influencer anymore.

If I know I’m influencing you for the right reasons, then it’s not a bad thing.

I wholeheartedly value the purpose of influencing, so I need to take a step back and reflect on what I want to be known for as an influencer. Do I want to be known as the girl who always shares the cutest dinosaur clothes and the prettiest pink Anthropologie bowls? Or do I want to be remembered as the girl that took six months (+) away from Instagram to focus on her family and came back stronger in her Faith?  That practiced what she preached.

 

Well, maybe a little of both ;) but ultimately, I choose the latter.

 

 

I’ll end with this.

It is pretty ironic that I made the choice to do this now. During this time of quarantine.

I didn’t know this was going to happen, and parts of me questioned whether this was the right call, given that this is a SAHM influencer’s dream to be able to share this much content with you while you’re all staying at home too!

But in the last few months, when I have taken weeklong breaks here and there, I’ve noticed so much more about my kids.

 

I notice that they’re getting taller.

I notice their vocabulary growing.

I notice their voice changing.

And I have longer, deeper conversations with my husband.

So many things I didn’t realize cause my head was down constantly in my phone and I was always on the go.

 

In the last few months when I have taken weeklong breaks here and there, I’ve reconnected with people in my “real life” community too.

 

I’ve had girls’ nights. Had longer conversations with family and friends on the phone. Had coffee dates. Not skipped church as much. Etc.

And I want to use this time to put more energy into my “real life” community too, so they know just how important they are to me.

 

Now it’s time for me to slow down, and breathe.

And hey…if you’re reading this, and feeling very convicted too, figure out what you’re insecure about, figure out where those insecurities are stemming from, live, reflect, evaluate, and adjust.

 

Here’s my fear:

My biggest fear in all of this is not that I’m going to lose out on a lot of y’alls happenings this year or that I’m going to lose followers or lose the momentum of our growing business…

I trust the people who care about me, our family, and our business, will be here no matter when I return.

My fear is that many of you feel the same way and you won’t do anything about it.

Instead, you will continue feeling that jealousy, that competition, that bitterness, that hatred and you won’t take the actions towards making yourself free.

 

Instead of looking at this break from a place of “I am going to miss out on so much in the next 6 months to a year, I am choosing to look at it from a place of “I am going to gain so much joy from this.”

 

…see ya in October friends.

 

 

Some random notes: 

Here’s the message I sent to five close friends earlier this year.  They’ve all been prayer warriors for me over the years and I needed to hear their thoughts and get their accountability.

“Hi sweet friend.

I need prayer.

I’m feeling very convicted, heavy and sad.

I’m hearing it very loud and clear that I need to take a very long break from Instagram.

I’m embarrassed to say it’s become an addiction, a popularity contest, and so much about business that I’ve lost the joy in the app.

I cringe when anyone asks me “how do you grow your following?” simply because I’m tired of the app being about growing growing growing and not just about connection and community.

As a financially driven person, I’m strangely tired of making money too.

That’s why I know this is a God thing.

I felt and heard the Lord speak to me to take a year long break from Instagram after my current promotion and collaboration type stuff is complete.

But after much prayer and talking to Blake, we feel confident in that timeframe being 6 months to start, and then a reflection / evaluation of my heart at that point and deciding then whether to continue on for a year.

I trust you as a mentor, friend, Sister in Christ and also a business woman.

Because this would be a huge hit financially.

It would mean I would also be taking a break from my business for the same amount of time to ensure I was truly, completely away from the IG world.

I’m finding myself jealous of other businesses, bitter at “copy cat” ones and just overall down from the app.

and I’m choosing to reclaim it and my life, Lord willing.

I know this is all so very random, but I just want your feedback, as a confidant I trust and whose words I hold high, as well as prayer for my heart in this time.

My plan right now is to sign off for 6 months around April 1st.

I love you doll, so much.

and miss you. ❤️

 

Why so long? Why not just a week off or a month off here and there?

I think a lot of people say “I need a break from Instagram” and then they take maybe a day or a week off of Instagram, and then all of the underlying issues are still there.

My plan is to completely delete the app off of my phone and deactivate my account temporarily so there is literally no ability to get on, check anything, post anything, or do anything.

To completely separate myself from this space.

 

Will you do anything in the meantime?

I do think I will continue to blog. I was telling my girlfriend Nancy that I need some sort of creative outlet for my own sanity and self care. As a creative, I would feel empty if I didn’t have that outlet. Plus, it’ll be a great way for me to journal through this process of healing.

 

Won’t this be detrimental for your brand and business to take off that much time after growing all you have the last few years?

 Short answer, yes. It’s probably not the kinda stuff that entrepreneurship podcasts, books, and blogs preach to do. 

This will be a huge hit on all aspects of my personal brand and business. Detrimental, sure.

But I beg to ask, “What about my heart? What about my life?  This will not be detrimental for that.” So yes, it’s worth it. 

Honestly, I don’t know what this means for the future of the Ever Co or my personal brand, but I can tell you that I will be a better person and business owner regardless of what it looks like on the other side of this year.  Part of me thinks I will miss this so much and have a creative void that needs to be filled.  Hence why I will continue blogging.

But really, the other side of me feels like I’m going to be freed completely, rejuvenated, rested, BALANCED and not miss this at all.

Only time will tell.

 

What should I do within my own space?

Here’s some of my greatest advice I think I will ever give on this platform:

YOU CHOOSE WHO FILLS UP YOUR CUP. YOU do that.

Nobody else hits that blue “follow” button except you.

If you are not inspired or uplifted by somebody, and if they ever make you feel less than, then you have the beauty of being able to unfollow them!

Use that powerful tool, and don’t get sucked into the trap of wanting to be bigger and better because “x” is bigger and better.

 

 

And now, I want to leave you with this anthem song that I listen to every single day over my morning coffee. 

This song gives me life, and I hope it does the same for you.


Song: Run to the Father by Cody Carnes

The lyrics say:

 

I've carried a burden for too long on my own
I wasn't created to bear it alone
I hear Your invitation to let it all go
I see it now, I'm laying it down
And I know that I need You

[Chorus]
I run to the Father, I fall into grace
I'm done with the hiding, no reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon, my soul needs a friend
So I'll run to the Father again and again and again and again
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

[Verse 2]
You saw my condition, had a plan from the start
Your Son for redemption, the price for my heart
And I don't have a context for that kind of love
I don't understand, I can't comprehend
All I know is I need You

[Chorus]
I run to the Father, I fall into grace
I'm done with the hiding, no reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon, my soul needs a friend
So I'll run to the Father again and again and again and again
Oh-oh, oh-oh…
Again and again and again and again (Oh-oh, oh-oh)
Oh-oh, oh-oh… (Oh-ohh)

[Bridge]
My heart has been in Your sights
Long before my first breath
Running into Your arms
Is running to life from death
And I feel this rush deep in my chest
Your mercy is calling out
Just as I am You pull me in
And I know I need You now

[Chorus]
I run to the Father, I fall into grace
I'm done with the hiding, no reason to wait
My heart needs a surgeon, my soul needs a friend
So I'll run to the Father again and again
I run to the Father, I fall into grace
I'm done with the hiding, no reason to wait
And my heart found a surgeon, my soul found a friend
So I'll run to the Father again and again and again and again
Oh-oh, oh-oh…
Again and again and again and again (Oh-oh, oh-oh)
Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh
Again and again 

 

 

 Now, press play, relax, reflect, and enjoy.

 

 
 
 

Thank you for allowing me to share my heart with you.

Here’s to freedom.

XX, Amy

SELF-CARE BOOKS PERFECT FOR QUARANTINE AND BEYOND

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Some of these are previous reads that I highly recommend.

Some of these are books that have been collecting dust on my shelves, begging me to open their cover.

Some of these are recent buys, because they’re desperately needed in this season of my life.

All of them come highly reviewed and highly recommended.

I’m excited to dive in.

Who’s with me?

 
 

Below you will see a synopsis of each book. If you scroll over it and click it’ll take you directly to the link.

 
 

  1. LOOKING FOR LOVELY - $9.49

    “I want you to take every step of your life with excitement for where you are headed. And I want you to feel beautiful and confident as you do.”

    But how? When the enemy whispers lies that you are not smart enough, pretty enough, or rich enough? Or you are too dumb, too loud, too quiet, too thin, too fat, too much or not enough? What if you don’t have what it takes to be who you really want to be?

    In Looking for Lovely, Annie F. Downs shares personal stories, biblical truth, and examples of how others have courageously walked the path God paved for their lives by remembering all God had done, loving what was right in front of them, and seeing God in the everyday—whether that be nature, friends, or the face they see in the mirror.

    Intensely personal, yet incredibly powerful, Looking for Lovely will spark transformative conversations and life changing patterns. No matter who we are and what path God has us on, we all need to look for lovely, fight to finish, and find beautiful in our every day!

  2. COLD TANGERINES - $10.99

    Cold Tangerines―now available in softcover― is a collection of stories that celebrate the extraordinary moments hidden in your everyday life. It is about God, and about life, and about the thousands of daily ways in which an awareness of God changes and infuses everything. It is about spiritual life, and about all the things that are called nonspiritual life that might be spiritual after all. It is the snapshots of a young woman making peace with herself and trying to craft a life that captures the energy and exuberance we all long for in the midst of the fear and regret and envy we all carry with us. It is both a voice of challenge and song of comfort, calling you upward to the best possible life, and giving you room to breathe, to rest, to break down, and break through. Cold Tangerines offers bright and varied glimpses of hope and redemption, in and among the heartbreak and boredom and broken glass.

  3. THE ROAD BACK TO YOU $14.49

    Ignorance is bliss―except in self-awareness. What you don't know about yourself can hurt you and your relationships―and even keep you in the shallows with God. Do you want help figuring out who you are and why you're stuck in the same ruts? The Enneagram is an ancient personality typing system with an uncanny accuracy in describing how human beings are wired, both positively and negatively. In The Road Back to You Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile forge a unique approach―a practical, comprehensive way of accessing Enneagram wisdom and exploring its connections with Christian spirituality for a deeper knowledge of ourselves, compassion for others, and love for God. Witty and filled with stories, this book allows you to peek inside each of the nine Enneagram types, keeping you turning the pages long after you have read the chapter about your own number. Not only will you learn more about yourself, but you will also start to see the world through other people's eyes, understanding how and why people think, feel, and act the way they do. Beginning with changes you can start making today, the wisdom of the Enneagram can help take you further along into who you really are―leading you into places of spiritual discovery you would never have found on your own, and paving the way to the wiser, more compassionate person you want to become.

  4. TO HELL WITH THE HUSTLE - $12.69

    This is your wake-up call to resist the Hustle culture and embrace the slowness of Jesus.

    Our culture makes constant demands of us: Do more. Accomplish more. Buy more. Post more. Be more.

    In following these demands, we have indeed become more: More anxious. More tired. More hurt. More depressed. More frantic.

    What we are doing isn't working!

    In a society where hustle is the expectation, busyness is the norm and information is king, we have forgotten the fundamentals that make us human, anchor our lives, and provide meaning.

    Jefferson Bethke, New York Times bestselling author and popular YouTuber, has lived the hustle and knows we need to stop doing and start becoming.   

    After reading this book, you will discover:

    To Hell With the Hustle is for anyone who is

    Join Bethke as he discovers that the very things the world teaches us to avoid at all costs--silence, obscurity, solitude, and vulnerability--are the very things that can give us the meaning, and the richness we are truly looking for.

  5. GRACE OVER PERFECTION - $9.99

    I will hold myself to a standard of grace, not perfection. 

    As a busy wife, new mother, business owner, and designer, Emily Ley came to a point when she suddenly realized she couldn’t do it all. She needed to simplify her life, organize her days, and prioritize the priorities. She decided to hold herself to a standard of grace rather than perfection. This mantra led to the creation of her bestselling Simplified Planner®, a favorite among busy women everywhere—from mamas to executives and everywhere in between.

    Grace, Not Perfection takes this message from a daily planner to an inspirational book that encourages women to simplify and prioritize. Designed with Emily Ley’s signature aesthetic, this book gives women tangible ways to simplify their lives to give space to what matters most. With a focus on faith, Emily reminds readers that God abundantly pours out grace on us—and that surely we can extend grace to ourselves.

    Have you been told you can have it all, only to end up exhausted and occasionally out of sorts with the people you love? Are you ready for a new way of seeing your time? Learn to live a little more simply. Hold yourself and those you love to a more life-giving standard in Grace Not Perfection,and allow that grace to seep into your days, your family, and your heart.

  6. CULTIVATE - $11.59

    A flourishing life is possible—no perfection required!

    Women often feel like they have to have it all together in order to live a meaningful life. Instead they feel inadequate, overwhelmed, and exhausted as they to figure out how to do it all. Author, business owner, and mom to three Lara Casey offers sound and grace-filled advice: “We can’t do it all, and do it well. But, we can choose to cultivate what matters.”

    Welcome to the journey of getting messy in the rich soil of possibility—embracing imperfect, grace-filled progress to grow a life of joy.

    Written as part encouragement anthem and part practical guide, Cultivate offers wisdom from God’s Word alongside lessons Lara has learned in her garden. Woven throughout is her personal story that helps release readers from the pressure to achieve and gives them freedom to move from planning to planting a meaningful legacy. “It’s in the imperfect—the mess of the dirt--that good things grow,” Casey reminds readers. “Peonies grow through the dirt, and so do we.” Readers will learn to embrace the season they’re in, finding balance as they interact in fresh ways with their current life scenarios, with God, and in the communities where they are planted.

  7. NOTHING TO PROVE - $13.79

    Lauded by Ann Voskamp as “what your soul is begging for,” this bestseller from the founder of the million-strong IF:Gathering invites you to stop striving and discover the answer to your soul-deep thirst.
    All too many of us struggle under the weight of life, convinced we need to work harder to prove to ourselves, to others, and to God that we are good enough, smart enough, and spiritual enough to do the things we believe we should.
    Author and Bible teacher Jennie Allen invites us into a different experience, one in which our souls overflow with contentment and joy. In Nothing to Prove she calls us to…
    * Find freedom from self-induced pressure by admitting we’re not enough—but Jesus is. 
    * Admit our greatest needs and watch them be filled by the only One who can meet them. 
    * Make it our goal to know and love Jesus, then watch what He does in and through us.
    As you wade into the refreshing truth of the more-than-enough life Jesus offers, you’ll experience the joyous freedom that comes to those who are determined to discover what God can do through a soul completely in love with Him.

  8. IF ONLY YOU KNEW - $11.49

    What if you knew all the moments of my past that I am not proud of? What if you really knew me, the messy parts that I’ve hoped to forget and worked hard to conceal? For so long, my greatest fear was what you might think of me if you only knew the whole story.
    It’s exhausting, this guarding of our stories and struggles. Fear of being found out had caused me to hide—but I wasn’t just covering my flaws, I was unintentionally blocking the beauty of God’s grace. My journey to real freedom began when I quit running from my mess and started trusting Jesus to make something beautiful of it. 
    This book is that story. It’s stepping out of shame and insecurity into gospel freedom. It’s  letting God turn our failures and frailties into testimonies of His faithfulness. I’ve discovered that when we quit hiding, God gets the glory and we are able to fully embrace not only our relationship with Him, but also with one another. 
    Transparency brings freedom, and in every moment, we'll find that God can absolutely be trusted.

  9. PRESENT OVER PERFECT - $13.41

    In these pages, New York Times bestselling author Shauna Niequist invites you to consider the landscape of your own life, and what it might look like to leave behind the pressure to be perfect and begin the life-changing practice of simply being present, in the middle of the mess and the ordinariness of life.

    As she puts it: "A few years ago, I found myself exhausted and isolated, my soul and body sick. I was tired of being tired, burned out on busy. And, it seemed almost everyone I talked with was in the same boat: longing for connection, meaning, depth, but settling for busy.

    "I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, neighbor, writer, and I know all too well that settling feeling. But over the course of the last few years, I've learned a way to live, marked by grace, love, rest, and play. And it's changing everything.

    "Present Over Perfect is an invitation to this journey that changed my life. I’ll walk this path with you, a path away from frantic pushing and proving, and toward your essential self, the one you were created to be before you began proving and earning for your worth."

    Written in Shauna's warm and vulnerable style, this collection of essays focuses on the most important transformation in her life, and maybe yours too: leaving behind busyness and frantic living and rediscovering the person you were made to be. Present Over Perfect is a hand reaching out, pulling you free from the constant pressure to perform faster, push harder, and produce more, all while maintaining an exhausting image of perfection.

    Shauna offers an honest account of what led her to begin this journey, and a compelling vision for an entirely new way to live: soaked in grace, rest, silence, simplicity, prayer, and connection with the people that matter most to us.

  10. ONLY LOVE TODAY - $12.11

    New York Times bestselling author Rachel Macy Stafford shares simple words of inspiration each day to help you find hope and encouragement amidst life's challenges.

    Millions of Stafford's fans from her blog and her books find hope, challenge, and inspiration through her poetic and powerful short pieces on her blog. Only Love Today brings these pieces and many new, original entries together in a beautiful book based around the four seasons.

    From finding daily surrender in the autumn and daily hope in the winter, to daily bloom and daily spark in the spring and summer, you will always find fresh beautiful words for your day. 

    With a flexible, non-dated structure, Only Love Today is perfect to pick up at any time of the year to find strength and vision for a new and more connected way to live.

  11. GIRL, STOP APOLOGIZING - $12.99

    Rachel Hollis has seen it too often: women not living into their full potential. They feel a tugging on their hearts for something more, but they’re afraid of embarrassment, of falling short of perfection, of not being enough.

    In Girl, Stop Apologizing, #1 New York Times bestselling author and founder of a multimillion-dollar media company, Rachel Hollis sounds a wake-up call. She knows that many women have been taught to define themselves in light of other people—whether as wife, mother, daughter, or employee—instead of learning how to own who they are and what they want. With a challenge to women everywhere to stop talking themselves out of their dreams, Hollis identifies the excuses to let go of, the behaviors to adopt, and the skills to acquire on the path to growth, confidence, and believing in yourself.

  12. CHASING SLOW - $17.06

    Chasing Slow models HGTV star Erin Loechner's journey to help you break out of the faster-better-stronger trap and make small changes to refresh your perspective, renew your priorities, and shift your focus to what matters most. 

    You're here, but you want to be there. So you spend your life narrowing this divide, and you call this your race, your journey, your path. You live your days tightening your boot straps, wiping the sweat from your brow, chasing undiscovered happiness just around the bend. And on and on you run. 

    Viral sensation and HGTV.com star Erin Loechner knows about the chase. Before turning 30, she'd earned the title "The Nicest Girl Online" as she was praised for her authentic voice and effortless style. Her HGTV web show garnered over one million fans worldwide, and her client list includes Walt Disney World, IKEA, Martha Stewart and Home Depot. The New York Times applauded her, her friends and church admired her, and her husband and baby adored her. 

    She had arrived at the ultimate destination. So why did she feel so lost? 

    Through a series of steep climbs--her husband's brain tumor, bankruptcy, family loss, and public criticism--Erin learns just how much strength it takes to surrender it all, and to veer right into grace. In Chasing Slow, Erin upgrades her life through downsizing--her stuff, her obligations, her fears, her personal metric of "perfect." And ultimately, her invitation becomes yours: to turn away from the fast and frenzy, and find freedom in a new-fashioned lifestyle defined by grace.

    Life's answers are not always hidden where they seem. It's time to venture off the beaten path to see that we’ve already been given everything we need. We've already arrived. 

    You see?

    You'll see.

  13. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE SAY YES TO GOD - $11.40

    Your job is obedience. God's job is everything else.

    If you've ever found yourself wondering...What is God's plan for my life? or Can He really use me? you're not alone. Lysa TerKeurst has wrestled through those same questions. But she's also learned that we were absolutely created to participate in God's divine activity and experience His rich blessings. We just have to say yes to Him!

    Through her own struggles, doubts, and honest vulnerability, Lysa will equip you to:

  14. THE BEST YES - $10.59

    Are you living with the stress of an overwhelmed schedule and aching with the sadness of an underwhelmed soul? 

    Lysa TerKeurst is learning that there is a big difference between saying yes to everyone and saying yes to God. In The Best Yes she will help you:

  15. THE JOY OF MISSING OUT - $15.96

    Overwhelmed. Do you wake up in the morning already feeling behind? Does the pressure of keeping it all together make you feel anxious and irritable?

    Tonya Dalton, CEO and productivity expert, offers you a liberating shift in perspective: feeling overwhelmed isn't the result of having too much to do -- it's from not knowing where to start.

    Doing less might seem counterintuitive, but doing less is more productive, because you’re concentrating on the work you actually want to be doing. Through this book, you can learn how to:

    Named Top 10 Business Book of the Year by Fortune magazine, The Joy of Missing Out is chock-full of resources and printables. This is a legitimate action plan for change. Once you reject the pressure to do more, something amazing happens: you discover you can finally live a guilt-free, abundant life.

  16. PREACH TO YOURSELF - $7.99

    Break the cycle of doubting yourself, take God at His word, and talk back with truth - a new message of freedom from bestselling coauthor of Wild and Free Hayley Morgan.

    We know Christ came to speak life, but then how come our inner critic keeps showing up and stealing the mic? If we’re honest, she’s a harsh one, saying things we’d never dream of saying to others: You’ll never measure up, you’ll fail again tomorrow, you just can’t get it right.

    It has been said that the eighteen inches from head to heart is the soul’s longest journey. Our head knows the good news is true, but our heart struggles to believe it, and it is in this gap that we battle to believe the promises of God.

    Hayley Morgan, coauthor of bestselling book Wild and Free, has wrestled with this tension her whole life. In Preach to Yourself, she tackles it head-on to discover how we can renew our minds to renew our lives. For every woman who struggles with repetitive, negative self-talk, this book will show you how to identify the toxic loops where you get stuck and replace them with the truth of God we can believe with our whole selves.

    This is not a “try harder” reprimand, it’s a “believe better” invitation: to take God at His word when He tells you who you are. Come along and learn a simple practice to break free from the lies holding you back, and step forward into the fullness of life God has planned.

  17. BOUNDARIES - $11.49

    Boundaries is the book that's helped over 4 million people learn when to say yes and know how to say no in order to take control of their lives.

    Does your life feel like it's out of control? Perhaps you feel like you have to say yes to everyone's requests. Maybe you find yourself readily taking responsibility for others' feelings and problems. Or perhaps you focus so much on being loving and unselfish that you've forgotten your own limits and limitations. Or maybe it's all of the above.

    In the New York Times bestseller, Boundaries, Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend help you learn when to say yes and know how to say no in order to take control of your life and set healthy, biblical boundaries with your spouse, children, friends, parents, co-workers, and even yourself.

    Now updated and expanded for the digital age, this book continues to help millions of people around the world answer these tough questions:

    You don’t have to let your life spiral out of control. Discover how boundaries make life better today!

  18. ONE THOUSAND GIFTS $13.89

    Just like you, Ann Voskamp hungers to live her one life well. Forget the bucket lists that have us escaping our everyday lives for exotic experiences. 'How,' Ann wondered, 'do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties? What does the Christ-life really look like when your days are gritty, long--and sometimes even dark? How is God even here?' In One Thousand Gifts, Ann invites you to embrace everyday blessings and embark on the transformative spiritual discipline of chronicling God's gifts. It's only in this expressing of gratitude for the life we already have, we discover the life we've always wanted...a life we can take, give thanks for, and break for others. We come to feel and know the impossible right down in our bones: we are wildly loved--by God. Let Ann's beautiful, heart-aching stories of the everyday give you a way of seeing that opens your eyes to ordinary amazing grace, a way of being present to God that makes you deeply happy, and a way of living that is finally fully alive. Come live the best dare of all!

  19. YOU ARE FREE - $9.49

    In this six session video Bible study (DVD/digital video sold separately), Rebekah Lyons explores why we all want to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, what we were made for. Yet many of us believe that “calling” feels like something held for the exclusive few. Rebekah’s heart is to dismantle that idea, to remind each and every one of us that God has plans for something specific if we have ears to hear the still small voice of a Father that beckons. 

    What if we pressed into finding our truest selves hidden below the surface?

    Rebekah has traveled the country sharing with vulnerability her own pain and struggles to hear God and follow Him. “I have prayed with hands laid for healing and deliverance on women considering suicide, experiencing trauma, fighting cancer, holding off divorce, overcoming addiction and more. These are women, battle weary and wounded saying, “I’m done with the life I’ve created. I hunger for all that God promises. I want to expect more from a passionate and relentless God. I cannot continue to operate from a place of wounding. Please set me free.”

    But there is risk in this journey. We cannot get ahead of ourselves and just end up with a prettier version of striving. Rebekah reminds viewers that without healing from God along the way we can be pulled back into a place of wounding and bondage. But abiding in God’s presence will bring us answers and inform and sustain our calling.

    Rebekah’s voice is a vulnerable, prophetic call for women to become who they’ve already been designed to be. She is answering the questions women are asking. Listen to hear how we truly run free.

  20. DANCE STAND RUN - $6.67

    Abundant life is within your reach. Join Jess Connolly as she casts a fresh vision for how to break free of cheap grace and empty rule-keeping and change the world rather than be changed by it. Spoiler alert: it's a beautiful thing. 

    Grace is always good news. But it's not cheap--true grace compels us to change, and that's where holiness comes in.

    Jess Connolly--beloved writer, speaker, business coach, coauthor of Wild and Free, and author of You Are the Girl for the Job--will be the first to admit that not long ago, like many women, she grasped grace but forgot about holiness. Through story and study, Dance, Stand, Run charts her discovery that holiness was never meant to be a shaming reminder of what we "should" do, but rather a profound privilege of becoming more like Christ.

    Dance, Stand, Run is an invitation to the daughters of God to step into the movements of abundant life: dancing in grace, standing firm in holiness, and running on mission. Jess will help you to:

  21. BORN TO SHINE - $10.52

    Born to Shine is a story of loss, resilience, and the life-changing lessons found in the darkest seasons of life.

    When Ashley LeMieux and her husband lost their children in an adoption battle, it sent her into a tailspin that, ultimately, taught Ashley how to soar. Most people live with constant fears, burdens, and pains. Born to Shine shares Ashley’s message of hope for women brave enough to say that everything is not okay. The message is also for those who want the courage to believe they are not done yet―the unique message that acknowledges the overwhelming truth that even when life is in ruins, people can still shine. Born to Shine tells the LeMieux’s story in installments with alternating chapters and practical applications in between. It shares stories, lessons, and practical tools to help women shine despite the darkness, to press forward one day at a time even when there is no end in sight, and to turn their most painful moments into their greatest teachers and signposts to true, deep, unassailable joy.

  22. HANDS FREE LIFE - $4.00

    We all yearn to look back to find we lived a life of significance. But is it even possible anymore? Considering the amount of distraction and pressure that exists in society today, living a fulfilling life may seem like an unachievable dream. But it is not—not with the nine habits outlined in this book.

    New York Times bestselling author and widely known blogger, Rachel Macy Stafford, reveals nine habits that help you focus on investing in the most significant parts of your life. As your hands, heart, and eyes become open, you will experience a new sense of urgency—an urgency to live, love, dream, connect, create, forgive, and flourish despite the distractions of our culture. By following each daily Hands Free Declaration, you will be inspired to adopt mindful daily practices and new thought-processes that will help you:

    •         Make meaningful, lasting human connections despite the busyness of everyday life.

    •         Live in the now despite that inner nudge pushing you out of the moment toward perfection and productivity.

    •         Protect your most sacred relationships, as well as your values, beliefs, health, and happiness, despite the latent dangers of technology and social media.

    •         Pursue the passions of your heart without sacrificing your job or your daily responsibilities.

    •         Evaluate your daily choices to insure you are investing in a life that matters to you.

    With a Hands Free Life perspective, you will have the power to look back and see you didn’t just manage life, you actually lived it—and lived it well.

  23. SIMPLY TUESDAY - $9.45

    Our obsession with bigger and faster is spinning us out of control. We move through the week breathless and bustling, just trying to keep up while longing to slow down. 
    But real life happens in the small moments, the kind we find on Tuesday, the most ordinary day of the week. Tuesday carries moments we want to hold onto--as well as ones we'd rather leave behind. It holds secrets we can't see in a hurry--secrets not just for our schedules but for our souls. It offers us a simple bench on which to sit, observe, and share our stories.
    For those being pulled under by the strong current of expectation, comparison, and hurry, relief is found more in our small moments than in our fast movements. In Simply Tuesday, Emily P. Freeman helps readers
    · stop dreading small beginnings and embrace today's work
    · find contentment in the now--even when the now is frustrating or discouraging
    · replace competition with compassion
    · learn to breathe in a breathless world
    Jesus lived small moments well, slow moments fully, and all moments free. He lives with us still, on all our ordinary days, creating and redeeming the world both in us and through us, one small moment at a time. It's time to take back Tuesday, to release our obsession with building a life, and believe in the life Christ is building in us--every day.

  24. A MILLION LITTLE WAYS - $9.89

    If you think you're not creative, think again. 

    As people made in the image of a creative God, we all have something unique to offer the world and it will come out in a million little ways. In this book, bestselling author Emily P. Freeman will help you:

  25. LIVE - $13.82

    There's a big difference between being alive and knowing how to truly live. To be alive is something that happens to you. But to truly live is something you get to choose each day. As Robertson says, "When you truly learn to live the life God offers, your whole existence becomes a verb."

    In Live, Sadie Robertson inspires us to thrive in the life God gave us by making choices that will lead us into the fullness He has for us, not into the emptiness the world offers. With photography and captivating design, Live shows us how we can find a rich and rewarding life when we choose to wholeheartedly embrace God's ways and God's truth. Moments of decision greet everyone, sometimes on a more-than-daily basis. Some of those decisions are minor and others are life altering, but all serve as stepping-stones to peace, joy, and fullness or to disappointment and emptiness. Sadie is passionate about inspiring a generation to live in that fullness every day.

    The book includes material on overcoming jealousy, finding confidence, dealing with haters, waiting on God, living in the moment, discovering the power of words, and knowing how to tell the difference between what leads to life and what leads to death--so young people can make the best choices.

    Whether you have a long-time relationship with God or are new to faith, Live is a joyful encouragement to make the most of each moment, to make wise decisions, and to always seek the truth of God's Word. Filled with stories and biblical principles, Live celebrates what everyone has in common--the opportunity to not simply be alive but to truly live.

  26. THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HUSTLE - $16.16

    ECPA BESTSELLER • A compelling emotional and spiritual case against hurry and in favor of a slower, simpler way of life
    “As someone all too familiar with ‘hurry sickness,’ I desperately needed this book.”—Scott Harrison, New York Times best-selling author of Thirst
    “Who am I becoming?”
    That was the question nagging pastor and author John Mark Comer. Outwardly, he appeared successful. But inwardly, things weren’t pretty. So he turned to a trusted mentor for guidance and heard these words:
    “Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life.”
    It wasn’t the response he expected, but it was—and continues to be—the answer he needs. Too often we treat the symptoms of toxicity in our modern world instead of trying to pinpoint the cause. A growing number of voices are pointing at hurry, or busyness, as a root of much evil.
    Within the pages of this book, you’ll find a fascinating roadmap to staying emotionally healthy and spiritually alive in the chaos of the modern world.

  27. YOU ARE THE GIRL FOR THE JOB -$13.06

    You believe (or want to believe) God has called you and given you purpose, but where do you start? How do you get from feeling stuck to making a move? If this sounds familiar, bestselling author Jess Connolly has a message for you: You Are the Girl for the Job.

    But this is not simply a peppy catchphrase. This is the straight-up truth God has proclaimed over your life from the beginning, and it's not dependent on what you can do or achieve but based on His power, capacity, and character. 

    It has taken one million, maybe one zillion (who knows?!), slight moves of His hand to place you in this exact moment. So forget about fear and second-guessing your gifts, because God has meticulously prepared you to be an ambassador for the Kingdom right where you are, here and now. Life is too short to get stuck in a holding pattern of shame, self-doubt, and comparison. So let this book be your very good news: you don't have to wait for permission when you've already been commissioned. 

    With passion and heart-pumping hope, Jess shows that being the girl for the job doesn't depend on your capacity. Rather, it has everything to do with God's capacity and our willingness. It has everything to do with believing we are who God says we are, and quieting any inferior word spoken against us. Are you ready? 

    Let this book be your jumpstart into confident, purposed living, as Jess walks you through the six steps she has used to coach and encourage women for years: set your focus, take stock of the story that has shaped you, face your fear, catch the vision, make a plan, and finally, make your move--all in the bold belief that God has called you to every step of the journey.

  28. GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD - $14.39

    NEW YORK TIMES AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER • The visionary behind the million-strong IF:Gathering challenges Christian women to transform their outlook and their lives by interrupting their spiraling thoughts and realizing their God-given power to think differently.
    “A must-have resource for anyone looking to get control of their thoughts.”—Lysa TerKeurst, #1 New York Times best-selling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries
    Are your thoughts holding you captive? I’ll never be good enough. Other people have better lives than I do. God couldn’t really love me. Jennie Allen knows what it’s like to swirl in a spiral of destructive thoughts, but she also knows we don’t have to stay stuck in toxic thinking patterns.
    As she discovered in her own life, God built a way for us to escape that downward spiral. Freedom comes when we refuse to be victims to our thoughts and realize we have already been equipped with power from God to fight and win the war for our minds.
    In Get Out of Your Head, Jennie inspires and equips us to transform our emotions, our outlook, and even our circumstances by taking control of our thoughts. Our enemy is determined to get in our heads to make us feel helpless, overwhelmed, and incapable of making a difference for the kingdom of God. But when we submit our minds to Christ, the promises and goodness of God flood our lives in remarkable ways.
    It starts in your head. And from there, the possibilities are endless.

 
 

2020 GOALS + WORD OF THE YEAR

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Every time I look at 2020, I see balance.

I see a 20 on the left and a 20 on the right.

I’ve always been a lover of symmetry, and last month it hit me…2020 is balanced.

So my word of the year is just that, Balance.

And it’s my goal this year to find balance in so many aspects of my life.

Balance in my faith: How to live a fulfilling life at church, with my church family, during morning devotionals and more.

Balance in my marriage: How to be a better wife and show my husband just how much I love him.

Balance as a mother: How to prioritize all of my duties as mama bear while giving each of my daughters’ the love and attention they need.

Balance in my work: How to juggle my personal brand, our business and all the extra side hustles that entrepreneurs carry.

Balance in my finances: How to find peace with what I have, save more, minimize and spend intentionally.

Balance in my health: How to always find time to put my mental, physical and emotional health first.

Balance in my ambitions: How to accept when things just don’t go my way and continue pressing onward and upward towards more.

Balance in education: How to study harder and continue learning more every day.

You see, balance is hard. And I think it takes a lot of intentional efforts to even remotely find balance in our lives. We must know our priorities, weigh them and tend to them with love and care.

If not, we lose balance.

So this year, I’m getting back to the basics.

I’m focusing on goals that bring my family and I a life of abundant love, abundant joy and abundant balance.

 

2020 Goals.

Here’s the thing about goals. I think some people read that word and want to run. Setting a goal can be so intimidating to some people that even the thought of it throws you off track.

But can I pray for you right now?

For a grace so forgiving that you know it is OKAY if you don’t reach your goal, but to never stop trying.

For understanding that goal setting is hard, reaching goals is hard, and a goal accomplished is worth celebrating!

For peace in the fight. For peace in the thick of it. For peace in your discipline all the way to the finish line.

Goals are hard, yes. But let’s take the pressure off of them for a second and simply just try. Can you promise me that? Let’s not worry about how hard it’s gonna be to get there:

to be debt free.

to run a marathon.

to buy a house.

to save a marriage.

to lead someone to the Lord.

to learn another language.

to lose 30 pounds.

to quit smoking.

to reconcile a friendship.

Whatever it is. Forget about how hard it is for me, okay?

And let’s just get after it! Let’s erase the timelines and the deadlines and just GO.

Cause I guarantee you the only regret you (and I) will have next year will be that we never tried.

So here’s to 2020, and here’s to our goals. Let’s go.

 

1.1.2020

Dear future Amy, it’s me. 33 year old Amy.

Let’s start this decade with faith over fear.

Let’s start this decade with focus over distraction.

And let’s start this decade with discipline over complacency.

You are stronger than you know. Don’t give up.

  1. Run a half marathon every 3 months. You used to do this Amy! Stop making excuses. Sign up for them now, and RUN!

  2. Wear more lipstick. You always feel put together when you have lipstick on. Wear it , and stop caring what others think.

  3. Put on more pants with buttons. Whenever you wear leggings and a sweatshirt, you want to relax. It’s your go to outfit and it forces you to want to sit down and watch Netflix. But whenever you actually shower, wash your hair and get ready YOU WORK HARDER. So do that, Amy. Plus, you have all that clothes in your closet. Use it. If not, then why do you have it? … which brings me to your next goal…

  4. Donate more. You have WAY too much stuff girl. Get rid of it. Stop saying you’re gonna sell it, cause that takes way too much time. Just donate it! People need it!

  5. Fold the clothes as soon as it gets out of the dryer. Listen to your mom! It is so much easier to do little by little than all piled up days, weeks, months later! Just do it! Load by load! You Marie Kondo’d your drawers last year and you’re still keeping up with that! Routine becomes habit, see? So stay on top of this!

  6. Read more. Why on God’s green earth do you have so many books if you don’t read them?!?! DO NOT PICK UP YOUR PHONE EVERY TIME YOU GET BORED, LITTLE LADY. READ! You already know what wisdom you need more of in your life. Read those books. And while you’re at it, PLEASE keep reading more and more to your girls.

  7. Laugh more, yell less. You’re not starting strong this year on this one missy. Stop yellin’ at those girls when they do something wrong and lower your voice. Speak gently and watch their response change too. Be a voice of reason, a voice of love and a voice of laughter everywhere you go.

  8. Date more. Get out your calendar and start planning! Ask for help when you need it. Hire someone when you can. BUT DO NOT STOP DATING THAT BALD BEAUTIFUL MAN!

  9. Cook dinners 5 nights a week. Yes, you’re reading that right. And you are on a great run so far! Use your menu board, go grocery shopping often for fresh items, and cook! Your hubby loves it, your kids love it and you’re actually loving it too. But please remember to not waste any leftovers! Plan your meals wisely.

  10. Be intentional with the girls’ activities. You bit off more than you could chew last year. Your life is NOT easy right now. With Everly’s therapies and the business it is not feasible to drive those girls to a million activities right now. So choose them wisely. And don’t just sign them up for stuff cause YOU want it for them. Instead sign them up for things they will truly love. Focus on each child each month and alternate activities so they each get their time.

  11. Eat breakfast. period.

  12. Workout 6 days a week. Continue to use your calendar as you have and plan out your exercises. Be intentional in your workouts and try to run 365 miles this year! You feel better about yourself when you’re in shape and you’re much happier too. Stay on it.

  13. Talk on the phone to those you love more. Why are you such an introvert when it comes to the phone? PICK THAT DANG PHONE UP AND TALK TO PEOPLE THAT LOVE YOU! Don’t be shy. Don’t prioritize other things over that. Do it.

  14. Have more girls’ nights. You have so many amazing girlfriends Amy. Let them REALLY know just how much you love them.

  15. Plan out 4 vacations. Be very intentional and plan for 1 vacation every quarter this year. Nothing crazy big, but some time where you and the family get away.

  16. Clear off your phone and computer. You’ve had this on your goal list for 3 YEARS. make this your year Amy Lou. Think about how devastating it will be if you lose all of that stuff! Clear it off, back it up and don’t let it happen again.

  17. Stay on top of your morning devotionals. Don’t slack off. Go to bed at 10 pm every night, so you can start every single day at 5 am with the Lord. Set you alarm, don’t turn it off, wake up and make your coffee and just be PRESENT with Jesus. and for the life of me (you), DO NOT pick up that phone first thing in the morning. Roll over, kiss your husband and head downstairs. You get so much more done when you don’t start your day on that dang phone.

  18. Go after the 3 big goals you have for the business. You know what they are, I don’t have to write them here. They are SO DEEPLY rooted in your heart, Amy Lou. GO AFTER THEM. At least start. You will regret it next year if you don’t start.

  19. Hire help when you need it. Sitters, business help, etc. Don’t be scared to do that. Budget for that and do it.

  20. Donate more. You’re up to over $25,000 with Mission 31. Can we make it $31,000 this year? Donate $6,200 this year. Let’s do this.

  21. Move. You got a big move coming up this summer. To where? Who knows. But start making the necessary moves now to make that move easier. Moving is a goal in itself. You got this.

  22. Continue to study our world. Continue to learn about politics and finances and climate and culture and religion and always always always be open and willing to listen to others and to learn. Knowledge is power. You are a bright young lady. Don’t ever stop reaching for more knowledge.

  23. Eat more veggies. Try to eat a serving of vegetables every day! (and try to “FORCE” the kids to eat one period…)

  24. Organize the home. You will launch a 6 month organization challenge on the blog soon, and I want you to implement every word of that into your own life. Organize and stay organized. Your future self will love you for it!

  25. Blog. You love love love writing. It’s your journal of life. And Amy…it’s your legacy. Never stop writing. Blog once every week if you can, and if not every couple weeks. Leave your mark on this world.

    honorable mentions…wash your face every night + take down your Christmas decorations before summer! (ha!)

 
 

How will I make it all happen?

Balance.

And a few trusty paper planners.

One thing the Army taught me so well was the value and necessity for long range planning. It’s one of the first things we do when we’re given a new mission or task. How do we fit “x” into our training calendar, and what are the ramifications of placing “x” there.

I have my personal planner, which holds all of my personal deadlines, doctor appts, tv shows I can’t miss (ha!) and so forth.

I have my workout calendar, which is a visual reference for my daily workouts to ensure I’m targeting my entire body each week and to keep track of the miles I run. I also just love checking things off as I do them!

And I have my business calendar, which holds all of my Ever Co launch dates and deadlines, collaboration and partnership deliverables + timelines and anything that deals with blog or IG content.

These planners are one of the first things I’d grab (aside from my family) if our house caught on fire.

And no, I’m not a tech gal, so don’t try to switch me to something online hehe. My husband’s been trying to convert me for 8 years. But you can’t teach an old dog new tricks; I’ll stick to my paper and pen. ;)

But even more important than writing all of these things down?

Communicating them.

One of my FAVORITE days every month is when Blake and I turn off our phones, turn off the TV and sit at our kitchen table and synch our lives. We do it at the beginning of every month and then we do a quarterly sit down too for a bigger picture view of the year.

I share all of the girls’ school requirements, medical appts, extracurricular activities, business timelines, planned vacations and so forth that he needs to know about, and he adds them to his Google calendar.

He then goes over any work requirements he has that will require him to be in the office all weekend or away from the family for an extended amount of time. He also goes over our family finances with me to ensure everything we are doing is keeping us on budget so we can continue putting 50% of our paycheck into savings or investments every month. Similarly (he does our business accounting) and he goes over that to ensure we are on glidepath to a profitable year.

This ensures we both grant each other enough space to do what’s important in our own lives and to ensure we are prioritizing our family amidst it all too.

It’s our way of synching our ever so busy lives and communicating important events so that we don’t miss out on things. It also allows us to each bring a different piece of pie to the table so we are each pulling our own weight.

And you guessed it…

All for balance.

 

And guess what?! If you’ve kept reading this far, you’re in for a treat! I created this FREE printable for you to download and print for your own goal setting adventures! Or you can just save this JPG below to your phone and write on it via Instagram stories or in a drawing app to jot down your goals that way too!

My plan is to look this over every month and reflect on my progress/adjust goals where necessary!

Just CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD the PDF!

 
 

I hope and pray this message brought you something useful as you plan your goals this year.

I pray that in seeing me write out my goals that you will write out yours.

But mostIy just pray you too can find balance in your year, however that may look, so that you are equal parts filled with abundant life and equal parts filled with abundant joy + love.

Happy goal setting.

XX, Amy

PS be sure to pin these images if you want to reference back to it in the future!

HEART HEALTHY LIFE

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The doctor looked at me in July and said, "Amy...if you don't get your blood pressure under control, you will die of a heart attack just like your dad."

It stopped me dead in my tracks.

I've been battling high blood pressure and an inability to lose weight for 4 years, and I have fully attributed it to having kids.

I was scared of the scale and came up with every excuse in the book.

I ran marathons, changed up diet plans, and felt like I was trying everything yet seeing no change.

So when we got to Kansas and my doctor said those words to me, I was shook.

I've been having readings of 140+ over 90+ for the last year. For those unaware, that is considered hypertension (or high blood pressure).

Normal blood pressure readings should be below 120 and 80.

This is the first time I'm sharing this, because quite honestly...I've been scared.

I felt like the longer I went without saying it, the less true it was.

She told me I had two choices:

1. To start meds right away.

2. To really focus on getting my health right this year and starting meds at our next duty station if it doesn't change. (which I WILL do if it doesn’t change).

I chose the latter.

Cause I'm only freaking 33 years old and I’m just not ready to start blood pressure meds yet!

And also because I felt like this was the kick in the butt I needed to get my health under control.

I needed to hear the words, “YOU WILL DIE, AMY.”

 

I've been saying "I'm trying to lose my baby weight" for almost 3 years now. I joke that eventually I will say "I'm trying to lose my teenage weight."

And I know some will say "you look great Amy!" and to "love the skin you're in" and “you’re perfect to God!” and I promise I am ALL about that.

But here’s the thing I want to scream loud and clear…”YOU DECIDE IF YOU’RE HAPPY OR NOT IN YOUR SKIN. You can choose to want to LOOK better because you know that the underlying concept of that is because you are LIVING healthier. and please don’t let anyone make you feel bad for wanting to make that change about yourself. I know my God wants me to be healthy. It’s not in vain. He says our bodies are our temples and to PROTECT THEM. Have confidence in doing that for yourself.”

I'm not about being skinny. I’m about being healthy.

I’m about loving myself, in my skin, AND seeing my grandkids grow old.

I do NOT want to die early from a heart attack. I am living through the hell of losing my dad when I was only 31 years old and I do not want my kids to lose me at that age. I don’t want to miss out on their kid’s lives.

There’s nothing I wish more than to have my daddy here to watch Everly play soccer this year.

IT KILLS ME INSIDE.

But I won’t let my health kill me.

It’s time for change.

 

I've played sports my whole life, run marathons, trained for figure competitions, and flown helicopters for the Army.

I didn't make it to 33 to start to lose myself now.

So in July I started making significant changes in my life, and I'm gonna be sharing ALL about them here.

Cause in 2 months I've seen more change than I've seen in 2 years.

By being intentional. By staying focused. By not making excuses. By thinking about my HEALTH over what the number on the scale says.

I'll be sharing about vitamins, meals, lifestyle changes, workouts and so much more!

I tend to gain weight when I get more fit because I bulk up easily, but instead of being scared of my overall weight not dropping, I'm now focused on what that number actually means. What it says about my heart.


So who's with me?

Wanna get fit with me so we can watch our grandkids make memories one day?

 
 

  1. GET ENOUGH SLEEP

    You MUST make sleep a priority. Manage your day so that you can ensure you’re getting at least 7 hours of sleep every night. If that means you have to say no to a night out or putting something off until tomorrow, do that! Make it a routine and it will become a habit. Listen to these words: if you don’t sleep enough regularly…YOU WILL be at a higher risk for cardiovascular disease. One study looking at 3,000 adults over the age of 45 found that those who slept fewer than six hours per night were about twice as likely to have a stroke or heart attack as people who slept six to eight hours per night. (Cleveland Clinic)

    Here’s what I’ve been doing: We get the girls down at 7 every night, no exception. Blake and I relax (unless he’s studying) and we try to get some time together from 7-9 ish. During this time I clean up the house a bit (so it’s clean the next morning when I wake up), I prep anything I can for the next morning so I’m not overwhelmed getting the girls ready for school, and then we truly try to have some quality time over a tv show or movie. By 9:30 we are heading to our room to brush teeth and wash faces to get ready for bed. By 9:45 we are laying in bed and we’ll read a little or do some emails for those next 15 minutes. By 10 we go lights out, no exceptions. Our alarms go off at 5 or 6 the next morning so that ensures we get 7-8 hours of sleep every night!

  2. LIMIT STRESSORS

    Probably the hardest thing to do, right? Those who suffer from anxiety and feeling overwhelmed probably get stressed even reading the words “limit stressors.” So much easier said than done. But let me tell you this…if you create margin and boundaries in your life and eliminate items that truly don’t matter, stress will slip away.

    Do what makes you happy. Have hobbies. Truly truly focus on the good and eliminate negative thoughts the best you can. And always always always seek help if you need it! Don’t be scared to ask for it. IT’S OKAY! If you needed that permission today, IT’S OKAY to ask for help.

    We can’t do it all.

    Here’s what I’ve been doing: I have started creating as much white space as possible in my planner. If it’s something I can say no to or move to another space where there’s more free time, I do that. I am consciously spreading out “stressful things” and ensuring they are surrounded by things that make me happy. For instance…I knew this blog post was gonna take me a longgggg time to do. I even had stress about posting the image you see on IG today! So I purposely scheduled nothing for this afternoon so I can have time to unwind and relax! I’ve also been listening to more uplifting music during car drives to truly lift my spirits when I’m in a funk. Both of these have truly worked!

  3. MOVE MOVE MOVE

    Here’s my favorite tip, and the one that I think has truly made the biggest difference in my life the last 2 months. I have been walking 1-2 miles EVERY SINGLE DAY.

    The girls go to school 1/2 mile from our house. We walk there every single morning, and then I walk back. That’s 1 mile every morning. In the afternoons I walk to go pick them up and bring them home. That’s another 1 mile.

    Now I realize that’s a luxury we have to be able to do that, and that obviously isn’t the case for everyone…but here’s the thing. I think when people hear they have to workout or move, they think they need some elaborate gym membership or some crazy at home gym.

    I sat at 137 for the last year. zero movement from that number. Even with running a marathon, even with lifting weights, even with changing diets. Never saw that number move. BUT since I’ve started walking every day (and doing plyometric exercises (body weight exercises at home) I have dropped down to 130 and have stayed there for the last 2 months! 99% of you have the ability to walk. I know it. For many of you, running can be overwhelming and I get that.

    SO JUST MOVE! Get up early and go for a walk with your kids. Walk after school. Walk over lunch breaks. Whatever you can, do it and I promise you’ll see change!!!

    Here’s some other things I’ve been doing:

    I always park my car far away at a store and stop looking for a close up spot. Not only does that save me time, but I get a little exercise every time.

    I also always take the stairs! It’s amazing how implementing little tips like this can make a difference!

    If you work in an office or somewhere that you sit a lot during the day, GET UP AND MOVEEEEEEE. Research shows sitting for too long is bad for your health.

  4. INCREASE ANTIOXIDANTS

    Diets high in antioxidant-rich foods have been linked to a reduced risk of developing heart disease. As a result, current national guidelines on the prevention of cardiovascular disease recommend choosing foods rich in antioxidants versus taking supplements. (Cleveland Clinic)

    Here’s what I’ve been doing: Guess what? Here’s your excuse to have some more chocolate! One study showed that cocoa and dark chocolate had more antioxidant activity, polyphenols and flavanols than any other fruits tested, which included blueberries and acai berries (Healthline). So instead of having candy on hand, I have a bar of very very dark chocolate on hand and if I get a sweet tooth I’ll take a tiny piece of it. Because it’s so rich it almost always does the trick! Additionally, for Vitamin C, instead of snacking on some candy, I’ve been reaching for citrus fruits, berries, pineapple, and mangos to satisfy my sweet tooth as well! We’ve kept nuts and nut butters on hand, added beans to salsa dips and chosen whole grains/wheat for Vitamin E. We’ve also increased our consumption of sweet potatoes which is another great source. The girls and I have oatmeal almost every morning too which is great source of selenium! We eat seafood (mostly salmon and tuna) as often as we can for this as well. Lastly, for beta carotene, we’ve been eating a lot more steamed broccoli and carrots! All of these are great additions to your pantry/fridge for antioxidants!

    I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have a more plant based diet, but the truth is being Korean so many of our dishes I grew up on contain meat. I do loveeeee meat and have a hard time cutting it out, but I’ve definitely been stepping away from eating red meats as much as we used to. So while I don’t think we can ever go fully plant based, we are eating less meat now.

  5. CHECK BLOOD PRESSURE REGULARLY

    Keeping your blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides in check is important for good heart health. Learn the optimal levels for your sex and age group. Take steps to reach and maintain those levels. And remember to schedule regular check-ups with your doctor. (Healthline)

    Here’s what I’ve been doing: We got an at home blood pressure cuff! This was the first thing my doctor told me to do so I didn’t have to go into her every week. When I see 3 consecutive high readings she asks me to come back in. This allows me to stay on top of my BP and to keep a log for her to see, but it’s also just a great tool to have at home for as we get older and need to monitor it more frequently! Here’s the one we got!!! It was only $29.95, gets great reviews and works amazing!

6. LIMIT SALT INTAKE

Research shows that salt is one of the leading drivers of rising healthcare costs in the United States due to the number of individuals having to be admitted for heart related conditions/diseases. Processed and restaurant-prepared foods tend to be especially high in salt. (Healthline)

Here’s what I’ve been doing: Aside from generally eating healthy at all times, I’ve been completely eliminating take out/fast foods during the week. Not only does that limit the amount of processed foods I eat, but it also keeps my weight down. If we are gonna eat out, I save that for Friday evening or the weekend as a “treat” for myself. I could never eliminate it completely, but this has been a hugeeee step in the right direction for someone who loves chinese takeout haha!! This means that we try to eat healthier meal options all throughout the week, which has been amazing for our whole family. Lastly, we’ve started using a salt substitute for our meals such as Mr. Dash or No Salt! This is imperative if you have high blood pressure or are at risk for heart failure diseases.

7. SMART SCALE

80% of people fail to maintain their health goals. Isn’t that crazy? But you can make it easier for yourself and paint a clearer picture of your health with an easy to use body smart scale that measures weight, body fat percentage, muscle and BMI all in one step. Having a smart scale allows you to set goals and track your results easily with the FitTrack Pro App (compatible with IOS and Android devices) with personalized and private data that is not shared with anyone. It’s a way of seeing what all the data behind the weight on your scale really means! Who cares what that number says! What it means is SO much more important!!!

Here’s what I’ve been doing: I am not scared of the scale anymore. Because I know the numbers that this scale provides me is showing me real time data for my health! I have my baseline information and I am SO excited to see how it improves over the next year and beyond. I love that I have the ability to monitor 17 health metrics from the comfort of my home and don’t have to go to the hospital to get them!

You can use code AMY20 here for 20% off on yours today making it just around $70!!! That is so worth it to me to be able to know more about your health!

8. HAVE GOOD DENTAL HYGIENE

Who would’ve thought your dental health has a HUGE impact on your heart health?! I had no idea! But dental hygiene has always been such an important thing to me and so I’m happy to know it extends beyond my teeth and mouth. Dental health is a good indication of overall health, including your heart, because those who have periodontal (gum) disease often have the same risk factors for heart disease. Studies continue on this issue, but many have shown that bacteria in the mouth involved in the development of gum can move into the bloodstream and cause an elevation in C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation in the blood vessels. These changes may in turn, increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. (Cleveland Clinic)

Here’s what I’ve been doing: I have flossers everywhereeeeeeee around my house, in my car, in my purse, in my diaper bag etc. I am constantly flossing and it is so important to get all up in your gums! My dentists tell me to “hug” my teeth, so that you are truly getting into the gum around each tooth versus just taking the floss up and down. Brush and floss at least twice a day!

These are my favorite! $7 for 270! Great deal and I love that it comes in 3 separate packs making it easy to keep them in your car, bag and at home!

9. TAKE SUPPLEMENTS

Garlic and Fish oil to be exact. Garlic is an herb sometimes used to protect against high blood pressure. Proponents suggest that consuming garlic as food or taking garlic extract in dietary supplement form can help treat high blood pressure or stop high blood pressure from setting in. Additionally, fish oil’s capacity to lower blood pressure is well documented. One study of 90 people on dialysis found that taking 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids per day significantly decreased both systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to a placebo. (Healthline)

Here’s what I’ve been doing: I’ve been taking a fish oil and garlic supplement every single day. I’ve only been doing it for a month now so likely won’t see any changes yet, but plan to do this routinely now as a preventative measure for heart health! Additionally, we’ve been increasing fish in our diet for omega-3 good fats and also been adding garlic to any meals we can! Two great ways to naturally add it more into our diets.

Here is the garlic supplement I’ve been taking. 1 bottle for $9.99 or 2 for $13.99 which is such an amazing deal!!!

 

10. DRINK TEAS

Hibiscus tea to be exact!! One of the most impressive and well-known benefits of hibiscus tea is that it may lower blood pressure. Several studies have found that hibiscus tea may lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. (Healthline) But additionally, Hibiscus tea has been known to prevent hypertension, lower blood pressure, reduce blood sugar levels, keep your liver healthy, help with menstrual cramps, help with depression, aid digestion and help with weight management. (My Food Story) So it’s nice to know it has a multitude of health benefits!!! The American Heart Association says drinking one to three cups of green or black tea per day may help lower your risk of heart problems. For example, it’s linked to lower rates of angina and heart attacks. (Healthline)

Here’s what I’ve been doing: Whenever I went to Starbucks I’d generally get a coffee. BUT not anymore. I alternate between very berry hibiscus tea (also much less calories than a flavored latte) and coffees. It tastes amazing!!!! But additionally, I’ve been making it at home too! It tastes sooooo yummy on a cool day. Just a hint of fruity flavor mixed with a hint of traditional herbal tea and I truly feel it warming my heart up every time. I try to drink it 1-2 times a week!

Here’s the one I’ve been drinking and love! First off, look at those reviews!!! I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anything with 5 stars and that many reviews! Second, it comes with 100 bags for $14.99! That’s amazing and these will last me sooooo long through the chill of winter too! Hooray!

11. STOP SMOKING

I don’t really need to go into much detail for this…but it was probably the leading factor to why my daddy died. He smoked his entire life (as did much of his generation) and I was sadly around the second hand smoke my entire life too. It truly more than likely has a huge impact on my health now as an adult, so all I can do now is try to overcome the damage done. Second hand smoke is soooo dangerous and after being around it for 18 years, and trying cigarettes myself for a couple years when I was younger, I know I have a lot of damage control to do. So here’s my encouragement to you if you do smoke:

If you aren’t gonna quit, please try to at least cut back. I personally know first hand the addiction, and I know how hard it is to stop. So at least try to cut back. More importantly, if you could care less about cutting back and quitting, think about the years it’s taking off of your life. Think about the damage it’s doing to those around you. Think about what it’s doing to your skin, your teeth, your lungs. It’s a slow killer. I hope I can help you in some way.

Smoking is one of the top controllable risk factors for heart disease. If you smoke or use other tobacco products, the American Heart Association (AHA), National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteTrusted Source (NHLBI), and Centers for Disease Control and PreventionTrusted Source (CDC) all encourage you to quit. It can make a huge difference to not just your heart, but your overall health, too. (Healthline)

12. LIMIT ALCOHOL

According to the Mayo Clinic, drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Having more than three drinks in one sitting temporarily increases your blood pressure, but repeated binge drinking can lead to long-term increases. Moderation is key! Red wine in particular may offer benefits for your heart. That doesn’t mean you should guzzle it at every meal. The key is to only drink alcohol in moderation. (Healthline)

Here’s what I’ve been doing: I am by no means a heavy alochol drinker, but I do enjoy a glass of wine to unwind and a cocktail every now and then. Margaritas for taco Tuesday (and at any authentic Mexican restaurant) are a must and I enjoy a moscow mule for special occasions. But I have completely eliminated drinking any of these during the week. Blake and I only “treat” ourselves to a glass of wine on Fridays or Saturdays now (unless there’s a special event of course). This has not only helped with the waistline, but it’s also helped any small addiction there was to having wine at the end of the day. When we do choose to drink, we almost always go for a glass of red wine for the reported health benefits and research.

13. EAT HEALTHY

Slicing your saturated fat intake to no more than 7 percent of your daily calories can cut your risk of heart disease, advises the USDA. If you don’t normally read nutrition labels, considering starting today. Take stock of what you’re eating and avoid foods that are high in saturated fat. (Healthline)

Here’s what I’ve been doing: I try to do 99% of my shopping on the outside walls of grocery stores. In doing so, you generally eliminate the processed foods in the center of the store. Now of course, oatmeal, cereals, breads and pastas are typically in the center and we have those too, but the more you can stay to the outside walls of the store, the more you are shopping for fresh items! I also plan our meals for the week every Sunday. This allows me to not make any last minute decisions to eat something less healthy. I do a lot of pinterest searches for “healthy meals” and if I see something I like that isn’t too healthy, I try to adjust the recipe as necessary to make it a healthier version. I’ll continue to share healthy meal options on my instagram too! Another area I struggle is portion control and eating too fast. So I’ve been drinking water before meals to fill me up a bit before I start eating. I’ve been purposely grabbing smaller plates and bowls when I eat to ensure I only eat what’s on that smaller plate and I am consciously eating slower. Both of which have had huge impacts on my weight, I’m sure! Additionally, I stop eating when I get a hint of “being full”. I have a tendency to keep eating when I enjoy something because I just LOVE LOVE LOVE good food. But instead now, I slow down and typically the hunger wears off because I’m listening to my head telling me I’m full.

14. DRINK WATER

Oh, this is the Army girl in me. Whenever we complained about anything the answer was always to “DRINK MORE WATER and you’ll be alright!”

Ha! But the truth is, water truly is the cure for so so many ailments!

So instead of reaching straight for the medicine cabinet or something else to cure whatever it is you’re fighting, try downing a glass of water. It is truly one of the best ways to lose weight!

Here’s what I’ve been doing:

I am HORRIBLE at drinking water, yet when I’m doing it well, I always see significant changes in my overall health and appearance. My face stays clearer, my nails are stronger, my hair is shinier, my headaches are lessened, my waist is slimmer, everything! It’s truly the best medicine! So every time I even think about water, I immediately go chug a glass. That way I’m not having the idea weighing over my head. Cause I don’t do well with those “drink this big bottle of water” cups. I just don’t. I’ll do well for a week or two, but then it’s back to bad habits. This isn’t as hard for me. When I see water or think about it, I drink a glass! And I’ve been drinking more this way. Like right now! Go grab a cup! :)

I also alwayssss have a reusable cup in my car that ONLY water goes in so it stays clean. Every time I go to Starbucks or anywhere that serves water, I ask them to fill it up! Not only does this keep water on me at all times, but it also reduces plastic waste!

15. TRUST THE PROCESS AND BELIEVE IN CHANGE

As one of my best childhood friends and former collegiate athlete Terrance Withers says “ Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither was your body.”

BELIEVE YOU CAN MAKE A CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE AND WATCH IT HAPPEN.

I am tired of making up excuses.

I am tired of saying MY BODY CAN’T DO THAT.

I am tired of hearing “you will die!”

BELIEVE THAT CHANGE CAN HAPPEN, trust the process and be patient, know that it will take time and let’s get healthier together.

 

So…who’s with me? Leave a comment below, message me on Instagram on this post or pin this image to Pinterest so you can always reference back to it!

XOXO, Amy

References:

https://www.healthline.com/health/healthy-heart-tips

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/5-things-to-do-every-day-to-keep-your-heart-healthy/