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Monday Motivation or Lack Thereof

Posted by html404 on March 10, 2014
in Animals, Blog Stuff, Family Stuff, Farm Stuff, Monday Motivation, Uncategorized

I have actually lacked motivation lately, thus the infrequent posting, that and the fact I have been extremely tired. Nope not pregnant, just lacking sleep! My brain doesn’t function well with little sleep. The two paper routes are killing me but I said I would give it two months and I still have a couple weeks left. Plus, it has been a long winter making the driving time so much longer than it should be.

What’s Motivating Me?

This past weekend was extremely busy for us with Liberty Day (I was solo with the younger four) and a CSA (Consumer Supported Agriculture) Expo for our farm. I have follow up to do from the expo, plus our farm newsletter. We have to pick up 120 meat chicks and 150 young laying hens on Thursday or I should say my husband and son will be doing that task. Friday we are picking up a pair of White Chinese geese that were given to us, plus our children have piano here at our home. Saturday we have a green market for the farm….let’s just say it’s farm week!

In addition to the farm stuff, I have blogging stuff due and overdue, plus I want to start getting ahead on blog posts in preparation for spring planting, etc. I get tired and overwhelmed just thinking about it all. Ever feel that way?

What’s motivating you this week?

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Blog Forward 2014 Challenge #1 by ZonePerfect

Posted by html404 on January 27, 2014
in All Natural Products, Blog Stuff, Health and Nutrition, Health and Wellness, Monday Motivation, Uncategorized

This post is taking the place of my Motivation Monday post.

Blog Forward 2014 Challenge by ZonePerfect

I am a ZonePerfect blogger and part of the requirement is to write a post and in exchange I receive ZonePerfect bars! Yum! We got a box of 28 bars and thoroughly enjoyed them!

The first assignment is a challenge:

Challenge #1: Post a blog article detailing 3–5 New Year’s resolutions and include a letter to your future self that encourages you to stay on track or get back on track.

New Year’s Resolutions

You all know I don’t make resolutions so here is my “loose” list of goals for 2014:

1. Increase our income. (I *think* God is well on His way to answering this prayer…need a bit more time to be sure.)

2. Nutrition. Eat and grow more vegetables to we can freeze and can our winter supply.

3. Take our children on more field trips.

4. Get more organized as a whole family – mostly the house as it is an ongoing battle, that and getting the children to stay on task.

Letter to Future Self

Dear Self,

Just wanted to remind you of a couple of things to assist you in accomplishing your 2014 new year’s resolutions or “goals”. You have to be focused and keep your “hand to the plow” so to speak. There are going to be times when you don’t think you are moving forward but realize you are, no matter how small the step. History has proved that. Remember when you moved to the farm nearly three years ago?

Count your blessings amidst your successes and failures.

Work hard, play with your children and set aside time each day to organize something together as a family.

Your goals are not unattainable, which is good because it will make the journey to fulfilling them much easier.

Press on,
Your “Past” Self

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Motivation Monday is Back!

Posted by html404 on January 6, 2014
in Cleaning, Family Stuff, Farm Stuff, Homeschooling, Monday Motivation, Organization, Uncategorized

It has been a long time since I did a Motivation Monday post. Let’s see when was the last time? Wow, back in August! The purpose of Motivation Mondays was originally explained here, which was to help me get motivated and get more done. Since that time I have become more busy but still need motivation to stay on track towards my goals.

I have a lot to do now that the new year is here. It’s easy to get overwhelmed if I think too much about it. I have to take one thing at a time and do things one day at a time.

Here’s what I *think* I am looking at for this week and possibly the rest of the month with slight variations:

– Teaching my five year old to read. Hubby is home so he’s helping.
– Getting the children back on track for their school work. It’s always tough after a break. Gotta shake off the lazies.
– Cleaning
– Organizing and reorganizing my office, again! Getting ready for tax time….again.
– We need to make some farm decisions – how many chicks to buy, will we buy pullets from the hatchery in March, what seeds do we need, how many plug trays will we plant or buy to get our veggies started, will we take on an intern and worker shares this year? Are we raising turkeys, if so, how many? Will we add any other farm ventures? Will we do any farmers markets? How will we meet our goals?
– Apply to more VA jobs. My goal is to take on one client for 10 hours per week or two clients for 5 hours each per week. This will help us in replacing my husband’s income, just in case he cannot find a job.

What about you? Do you have a list of to-dos or goals for the week?

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End of Mamavation 2 Week Challenge #Mamavation #2WeekChallenge

Posted by html404 on September 17, 2012
in Exercise, Health and Nutrition, Monday Motivation

The Mamavation 2 Week Challenge has come to an end. It makes me sad. I won’t miss the burpees workout though….ugh….that one still feels like it kills me, more so if I am really tired while doing the workout. The past week has been somewhat of a struggle. I didn’t do my workout during the morning/day, I waited until evening, many times right before I was heading off to bed….bad choice. I should have just stuck to doing it right when I woke up. I also struggled with my carb/sweet cravings. I was able to make a couple 10K or more step days, but for the most part fell short of that daily goal. On the more active days I don’t get as much work done and I’ve gotta work to make money and working means sitting in front of the computer most days. If I could walk and type fast I would, but I don’t type very well on my iPhone. I am faster with a traditional keyboard and thanks to my pedometer, learned that typing does burn calories!

I have yet to weigh myself. I kept forgetting to measure myself, so I don’t have those to compare to and fear I won’t see much of a change…..

I am not sure what I am going to do next. I’d like to continue my daily but am not sure I will be very motivated to unless I can sign up for another 2 Week Challenge or something similar. The accountability helps.

How are you doing for your Monday Motivation goals? I know I have a busy week ahead….

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Mamavation Monday: #2WeekChallenge #Mamavation Update

Posted by html404 on September 10, 2012
in Exercise, Health, Monday Motivation, Weight Loss

Today’s Monday Motivation is Mamavation Monday. I am half way through Mamavation’s 2 Week Challenge. Wow. I have made it. I have completed each day’s workout. Felt like I was going to die but didn’t, obviously! One thing I have struggled with is the goal of 10,000 steps. I nearly made it on Saturday and am pretty sure I would have made it last Tuesday when we attended a farm tour that included a lot of walking, plus I lifted 400 lbs of feed in and out of the van. For the most part I spend a lot of time in front of the computer, so that’s why I invested in a pedometer to help me get up and get active. It arrived on Thursday. On the busier days of computer work, it doesn’t seem to help me much even when the pedometer flashes, “Walk me!” Nice reminder but when I have client projects, two articles, four blog posts, a giveaway and 2 sponsored posts due, guess where I end up? Yep, so it’s been hard to get more active beyond my beginner workout.

Eating has been going ok. I find myself snacking less, which is a good thing or at least reaching for mostly healthy snacks. I find that Mamavation provides not only accountability (we have to post our meal photos to Twitter) but support as well. It’s encouraging to get a tweet or comment saying “You can do it” or “Way to go”. Not to mention I can get answers to why I am craving sweets and carbs. Mr. Bookie Boo suggested more protein, fiber in fruits and chewing gum. On Saturday I was craving sweets and carbs and caved to a Snickers bar (Ugh probably not only a GMO product but also laden with sugar, fat and calories) and pretzel sticks. I love my carbs and lately we rarely have wheat bread, though I love it, in our house due to a couple of children’s reaction to it and our mill being broken. Yes, we ground wheat berries into flour with the mill. We tend to make unbleached white flour products, not the greatest, I know but it’s just where we are at while we figure out allergies. We do have coconut flour in the house and maybe some arrowroot or rice flour but not enough to make things for the whole family. I need to order more from our food co-op.

This 2 Week Challenge has been good for me. It’s shown me that I can take steps to getting back in shape. It has also piqued our children’s interest in getting enough exercise, so I have ordered them a child’s wrist band S2H (Switch 2 Health), which I mentioned in another blog post. The girls have earned theirs already, but the younger crew is going to have to work for theirs! Responsibility and accountability for all. Another huge reason I want to join the Mamavation Sistahood. I think Mamavation is going to play a huge part in helping me get back into shape, which I need to do if we are going to add more animals and veggie production to our farm!

If you have been struggling with getting into a fitness routine, I highly recommend Mamavation. I love that I can do everything from home and being such an online person myself, it really fits my lifestyle and job too.

I cannot very well teach about health and wellness if I am not in shape myself, can I? Another huge motivator.

Here’s to the second half of Mamavation’s 2 Week Challenge and beyond….yes, I am even thinking of beyond now.

“This post is sponsored by Salba Smart and hosted by Mamavation – a community dedicated to obesity prevention & weight loss for women and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway.”

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Monday Motivation: Mamavation 2 Week Challenge #Mamavation #2WeekChallenge

Posted by html404 on September 3, 2012
in Exercise, Health, Health and Nutrition, Monday Motivation, Weight Loss

Most of you know since the start of the year I have wanted to do something about my weight so I wouldn’t just keep gaining, but have failed royally in that department. I had considered Mamavation Bootcamp, but was just not ready. After all, I have been sitting in front of the computer most of the summer. Bootcamp would probably kill me, since weeding the garden last weekend nearly did me in. Then last Thursday I came across the Mamavation 2 Week Challenge and thought the Beginner Track would help me ease back into exercising. So I signed up, tweeted Mr.BookieBoo and wrote up my post (not really a requirement, I am doing to hopefully give myself additional accountability).

Today is the first day and I am probably going to die doing the beginner’s workout, but here goes nothing or everything depending on how I look at it!

For more information about Mamavation’s 2 Week Challenge read this post.

If you all want to hold me accountable or follow the challenge search for the hashtags #Mamavation and #2WeekChallenge on Twitter.

Here it goes….just maybe this will help prepare me for the next Mamavation Bootcamp….whenever the next one may be.

Do you have any fitness or weight loss goals you are trying to achieve? How are you doing?

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Catch Up Time With Motivation Monday on Tuesday

Posted by html404 on August 28, 2012
in Animals, Family Stuff, Farm Stuff, Monday Motivation

It’s been a while since I wrote a Motivation Monday post, so that’s why I titled this “Catch up Time With Motivation Monday” because it is time to catch up. So much for taking some time off from blogging this summer, this past month just seems to be so very busy. Not just for this blog, but also for my VA business. When it rains it pours, but it’s a blessing to be busy, to have work and to be healthy enough to work. It’s just stretching my time management skills that’s all. Ha!

Not to mention all the events and promotions we have coming up for our Young Living business and our fledgling farm.

More Farm News

My husband and I are still so impressed with the farmer we met on Sunday. True to his word, he sent over all the information he said he would yesterday morning. I have been working on a farm listing, called an insurance agent regarding farm insurance and have a date on the calendar to learn about chicken processing and to process our own turkeys. Oh and we now have upgraded housing for our laying hens – thanks to this new farmer friend! We have been deliberating over what we were going to do since our nesting box won’t fit in their moveable pens, which were just a short-term fix until they started laying. Our laying hens should start to lay soon so we have to pick up the larger moveable coop soon. Our moveable coops were/are for our broilers (meat chickens), which we now plan to do next year. So next year we will be able to do about 100 broilers at a time and do several batches of them, now that we have some networking happening. Funny to think that I am excited about raising chickens when I never thought we’d ever have any animals. Nevertheless, I do find it all very exciting.

Our Midget White turkeys are doing well. Not having raised them before we worry sometimes if they are gaining enough. Then other days when we go out there a couple of the plumper ones make our mouths water at the thought of roasted turkey! Yummy! That’s the difference between my husband and I, and our children – we look at our livestock as food, not pets.

Townhouse Update

All the cosmetic work is finally done on our townhouse. I am hoping to get some new photos and I’ll have to post some before and afters or something. We just loose ends to tie up and we have to finish cleaning out the garage and bring our second fridge and freezers over now that they are nearly empty. Now I have to start marketing it again or we’ll need to list it with an agent to see if we can sell it. Decisions, decision, decisions.

“In every deliberation, one must consider the impact on the seventh generation”
-Great Law of the Iroquois

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Animals, Cleaning, 4th of July Plans & Monday Motivation

Posted by html404 on July 2, 2012
in Family Stuff, Holidays, Monday Motivation

I don’t know where the days go sometimes. It’s July already. It seems like we have been mostly cooped up with the 90 degree temperatures we have had last week and again this week. Hot. Hot. Hot. It’s teaching our children diligence in taking care of the farm animals. Did I tell you we lost our second bunny due to the heat 2-3 weeks ago? The wind picked up that day and ended up knocking over Darth Vader’s cage, we had checked the chickens and due to having checked the bunny earlier after playing with him none of us thought anything of Darth Vader. Well, the children found him and he must have been at death’s door because no means of cooling him down or giving him water revived him. We’ve had a farmer friend who has said something to the affect that on a farm there is death. We have certainly found that out fast and furiously. Some of the children want to replace the bunnies and some do not. They’ve started a bunny fund, so we’ll see. We are working on visiting a breeder in the area.

Cleaning

Ever feel like you have to spring clean every day, week or month? I do. Sigh. Over the weekend I scrubbed our dining room carpet and steam vac’d it. It was getting so grungy and dirty. Then I had the children working on their rooms and the play room. Thankfully the girls restored the storage room to neatness last week. So we’ll have lots to give away tomorrow when the “give away” truck comes.

I still have to get at the office yet again due to the children having their laser printer in there for printing off coloring pages and things not getting put away after our last event. It looks like a tornado went through it.

Slowly but surely things are getting cleaned again. It feels so good to organize, now if only we could all get into the habit of daily maintenance maybe things wouldn’t get so out of control!?

4th of July Plans

The 4th of July is only a couple of days away. Our children asked if we could have the “cousins” over and my brother-in-law expressed an interest in coming up to see our pooch and the other animals last week, so we are going to see if they have plans. Nothing like the last minute, that’s my husband’s style. I think we will grill something on our camp stove and I found this yummy looking dessert, I can’t remember what it is called but I pinned it so I could find it easily! It’s a Red Velvet Triffle from Rebecca Parrsons at MomItForward.com

Source: momitforward.com via Theresa J on Pinterest

Monday Motivation

This is a rambling Monday Motivation, but my brain is in ramble mode. My motivation this week is to get the living room and hallway carpets cleaned. Makes me fell so good to get the house cleaned and sparkling.

I also have some paper work to do….actually a lot of paper work to do between the businesses and getting something completed for my husband.

I have been watching the new season of Extreme Weight Loss, have never watched it before, but that show is really inspiring. That and watching some food documentaries has made me want to try losing weight again. At least I am motivated to, but as far as a plan of action and execution goes…not sure where I am with all that yet. I may kick off that motivation with a Slique Kit giveaway! So come back tomorrow to check out the giveaway and the final review of the last product!

Tell me how you are keeping your pets cool in the heat? Do you have an cleaning projects you are working on? What are your 4th of July plans? What about weight loss goals? Leave me a comment below to tell me.

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Catching Up – Motivation Monday

Posted by html404 on May 14, 2012
in Gardening, Monday Motivation

I am still not caught up after being away at Brandcation. Had good intentions and was doing ok until it turned nice on Friday and I had to get transplants planted, then tilling done and baby boy got sick over the weekend. He was burning up for 24+ hours and only wanted to nurse and be with his mama. Thankfully he woke up today with an appetite and his usual peppiness. Now I have to get a talk typed and printed that I am to present tonight at a business meeting – yep, little ole me is speaking to a small group of people, if it isn’t cancelled due to low attendance. Tomorrow we have friends coming over for lunch…and it’s nice again so I have more tilling and planting to get done, not to mention all my Brandcation sponsor posts to write up; in addition to a bit of a back log of other reviews I signed up for which I wish I hadn’t since catching up after Brandcation has been very challenging.

Lesson learned, don’t take on additional reviews the month before Brandcation!

Bear with me as I get my barrings back. I have lots to post, just not enough time to get everything typed up into a post. Here a few highlights to tie you over though:

– Chicks and turkeys are getting their wing feathers in and we now have to have a screen over them or they fly out. One was in the rafters of the garage today!
– Puppy was naughty and nabbed a baby bird, eating its head…ewwwwww! Gotta do something about that since HE is suppose to watch over our poultry!
– Feeling overwhelmed now that it’s frost-free and time to get everything into the ground and get outdoor housing for poultry ready. A little panic has set in…

And now you know why….

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Motivation Monday: Brandcation…here I come! #GulfCoast #Brandcation

Posted by html404 on April 30, 2012
in Blog Stuff, Business, Monday Motivation, Travel

This week’s Motivation Monday post is to prepare to head to Brandcation in Pensacola, FL on Friday. I will be gone for the weekend. Looking forward to learning from some professional bloggers. I am especially interested in finding out how they have grown their blogs from part-time income to full-time income, as this is one of my goals for this year. I am also excited to see the ocean again. Having grown up on Atlantic coast I get a hankering for a trip to the ocean every summer, as it’s been 7 years since I saw it. It’s been 11 years since I have been to Florida, but I have never been to Pensacola. Doesn’t the photo of Portofino below look gorgeous? Definitely looking forward to the beautiful views!

I will be leaving my crew in the capable hands of my husband, who will have my girls to help him run the household while I am gone. I’d be lying if I said I don’t have qualms about heading off by myself. The mommy guilt over leaving my 20 month old, who happens to be still nursing as strong as an infant several times a day and thru the night. I look at him and I will miss him, his cuddles and smiles. I comfort myself with the fact that I will be barely gone 48 hours. My husband says he will be armed with chocolate milk to comfort our little guy while I am away. Chocolate milk is something my husband loves and that he will bring home and share (sometimes) with the little ones. More recently it’s been baby to prepare him for when I am gone.

Brandcation has been planned by 3-4 awesome ladies and so many sponsors that it is incredible! HotelCoupons.com is a major sponsor, as is Adventures Unlimited, Circle PR, Jambu Shoes, Stargazing, Portofino Condo, and Dunkin’Donuts. There are many other sponsors who sponsored other bloggers to attend or have provided lots of different samples and products for us to try. I will be mentioning them in upcoming posts. We will be having a PJ party on Friday to talk about all the amazing brands and see all the items that were sent especially to us for this event. A huge thank you goes out to each and every one of them for making this event possible! We are all in awe and so very grateful to be attending Brandcation 2012!

I am sure I will have many new stories to share upon my return, so stay tuned!