Sign up for my 5th Annual {DIGITAL} 10 Day Love Handles Be Gone Challenge, starting February 4!  It's just $10!!!!

Each February, I host a Love Handles Be Gone Challenge, focusing on core exercises and scripture to pray over your loved ones.  This year, it will be a DIGITAL Challenge!  Instead of having a group to check in to, you'll receive a weekly email from me, for 2 weeks.  (If you participated in my Healthy Holiday Challenge in December, it will be very similar to that set-up)  The Challenge begins February 4 and you'll receive emails on Sundays, Feb 3 and 10, for the week ahead. 

You will receive tips, core workouts, and my 10 Day Scriptures to Pray for your Loved Ones - delivered right to your E-Mail Inbox!  Instead of having a group to check in to, you'll just receive a weekly email from me!

Each email includes:
- 2 core strengthening workouts to complete each week
- Scripture to pray for your loved ones (10 days)
- Core strengthening tips

This Challenge is only $10!  Sign up NOW, by completing the SIGN UP FORM below!  Grab your friends to join us!

,Happy New Year!  I'm so excited to announce my brand new Program for 2019: my OVERcome Your Obstacles 4 week Program. 

God laid this on my heart several months ago when I started thinking about how to further help women really push past their biggest obstacles.  In the year and half of running my Back to BASICs Program, I've seen countless women make change, learn the BASICs, and learn healthy living habits.  I also realized the need for a program to really mentor women in a more unique way to overcome their obstacles.  To still focus on the basics {Bible study, Accountability, Sweating, Ingredients (food), Changes (small changes)} while taking it a little further and more intentional.  I've taken the basis for the BASICs Program and essentially updated in a brand new, fresh, and deeper way.  This OVERcome Your Obstacles Program is 100% different from the BASICs program.  New scripture, new curriculum, new everything.  I've taken what I've learned in the BASICs Program and put it into making the OVERcome Program what it is. 

In the Fall, I did a few Instagram polls for research and learned that women struggle the most with Nutrition, Finding/Making time to exercise, and accountability.  This fueled what God had already laid on my heart to focus on the top 4 health areas that women struggle the most to overcome: Nutrition, Exercise, Routine, and Personal Obstacles.

I started praying about what God wanted me to do with this passion, how to structure it, etc.  Over the next several weeks, I fine tuned it and put it all into the structure that is now the OVERcome Your Obstacles Program.

What is the OVERcome Your Obstacles Program?
It's a 4 week, online program to help you overcome your biggest obstacles.  We focus on the 4 main health hurdles that we face.  During the 4 week program, we focus on 1 of these focuses a week.  To OVERcome, we focus on:

O: OBSTACLES: Identifying them FOR YOU and making an action plan to overcome them.  Make your own personal mission statement.
V: VIGILANT NUTRITION: Mindful & Intuitive Eating.  Nutritional Awareness.  Nutritional guidance.
E: EXERCISE: 5 day workout plan | 20-30 minutes (provided for you - beginner option, at home, and gym options available)
R: ROUTINE:  How to make healthy living fit YOUR lifestyle and schedule.  Figuring out the best routine for YOUR life.

What makes this program different from the Back to BASICs Program?
The Back to BASICs Program focused on the basics you need to know to start your health journey, jump back in after time off, or give you a boost/refresher.  The OVERcome Your Obstacles program brings a bit more personalization and mentoring to your health journey.  I'll work with helping you identify your biggest obstacles and making your own personal mission statement to tackle them.  I'll teach you about mindful & intuitive eating as I guide you through awareness nutrition and how to finally feel like you know what you need to know.  Plus, we'll work together to make exercise fit YOUR schedule.

What's the workout plan like?
It's a 5 day workout plan.  Each workout is 20-30 minutes MAX.  There's no need to spend more than half an hour working out, if you're giving it your all 5 days a week.   That coupled with all you'll be implementing and learning, changes WILL happen.  You choose between the at home or gym plan.  (There's a beginner plan available, as needed, too)  It all depends on where your health/fitness is at, and where you workout.  It's a mix of Cardio, High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Full Body weights, core, and stabilizing workouts.  Small (5-8 lbs) and Heavy (10+ lbs) handweights are required.  I've created this workout plan, specifically for this Program.  It's developed in a way to help women in any health, see results in as little time as possible!

What is "Mindful & Intuitive Eating"?
Simply put, it's nutritional awareness.  We focus on the mental, physical, and even spiritual ways food affects us all.  I work with you to help you figure out how to get a handle on it for YOU and your nutritional hurdles.  We have to be vigilant in our nutrition or we find ourselves in unhealthy obsessions or cycles.  We conquer all of that in this program.

Is there a Bible study included?
Absolutely!  Each week, we'll be digging into a scripture relating to that week's focus.  It will help us dig into what God says about it and learn how to truly make the connection between faith and fitness.  It's important to figure out nutrition, exercise, routine, and overcoming obstacles, but until you see what God says about it all, it won't truly click.  You won't truly find success.

Who is the OVERcome Your Obstacles program suited for?
Women of all shapes and sizes, ages, fitness levels, and walks of life.  It's for any woman looking for a way to dig deeper into nutrition, exercise, routine, and conquering your personal health obstacles.

How much is the program?
$45.  That gives you access to the group's private Facebook page (where all the Program/videos/devotions/etc take place).  Plus, you'll receive your 4 week workout plan of choice AND my OVERcomer Packet complete with freebies for meal planning, grocery shopping, food journaling, scripture, etc.  As always, you also receive ME as your personal Coach for those 4 weeks!

What does the Facebook group involve? The Facebook group is simply an online accountability group.  It's our private place together.  I post our daily devotions there and we use it to check in with our food and workouts.  Doing this, helps you in BIG ways.  Knowing you have to share your food and workout with the group helps you stay on track.  We have specific sign in days, but you're welcome to sign in as often as you need!

What's happening to the Back to BASICs Program?
I'm not sure yet.  I am leaving that up to the Lord and continuing to seek His plan on it.  For right now, I'm moving forward with this new curriculum he's given me and leaving the rest up to him.  If you're a previous BASICs client, you'll really enjoy the OVERcome Program.  I thought about many of your struggles, comments, etc. as I worked through developing this curriculum.  You will 100% still benefit from this program.

To sign up or receive information, complete the Sign Up Form below!  To see the SUCCESS previous clients have had in working with me, CLICK HERE.  You'll see testimonials and before/after photos!

Every year, we make goody bags for our neighbors. This year, we made Christmas Potpourri. It’s super easy and smells so good!

We tied them up and added a little tag with instructions. The perfect little Christmas gift. The kids loved putting the bags together. ☺️

​Christmas Potpourri
1 orange
1 lemon or lime
2 cinnamon sticks
2-3 bay leaves
5 whole cloves

Instructions for Tag:
Slice fruit. Add water. Simmer on stove top and enjoy the smell of Christmas!

Wow!  Outside of Landon's main teacher, I never realized just how many teachers you'd be expected to give Christmas gifts to!  This year, with Landon in Kindergarten, it's been a wakeup call.  I never even thought about the Related Arts teachers!  Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to love on and show appreciate to all the teachers who work with Landon, but it adds up quick!  One of my closest friends is a teacher so she helped my group of friends figure out just what teachers want (and don't want)!  I landed on these Hand Soaps this year.

I took advantage of one of the Bath and Body Works Handsoap sales and snagged enough for his Related Arts teachers.  I made these little tags and tied them on.  Easy!  I also made 2 special ones for the EAs who always help us with pick up and drop off.  They're the sweetest ladies and so friendly.  One of them is also the EA in his room.  I wanted their tag to say something different because they are just so sweet and helpful getting Landon in and out of the car, and talking to Allie, too  :)

I've linked the FREE PDF printable for you to use too!  I hope this helps out your Christmas budget this year!

What do you give your child's teachers for Christmas?

mFor the past several years, I've shared what our family is doing to celebrate Advent together.  Make sure you see these blog posts from previous years to get some ideas/inspiration:
- SUPER simple Advent Activities I used when Landon was 2.5.  Great for young kiddos!
,-Easy going schedule, with a bit more structure, when Landon was 3.5 and Allie 9 months, including Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt, and our salt dough ornament recipe
- Started using Shepherd on the Search and made up my own Advent cards to use (FREE PDF included)

If you're on the hunt for some ideas or inspiration, make sure you look those over.  There's a lot of helpful tips, ideas, tools/products I've used, and even our salt dough ornament recipe.  PLUS, our Annual Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt is included from the last 2 years.

This year, we're continuing our tradition started last year with the Shepherd on the Search.  I'm a big advocate of making Advent activities work for YOU and YOUR family.  For me, I pull out my Advent tools and pick and choose what I want to use, each year.  Landon is 5.5 and Allie is 2.5 and I have yet to do the exact same thing for our Family Advent.  As my kids have gotten older, I've tweaked things to meet their ages, understanding, development and interests.

This year, we've been intentional about Jesus conversations at the dinner table and have been using several great cards from The Daily Grace Co. and Tiny Theologians.  If you follow me on Instagram, (@shape_her) you've seen me link these amazing products.  Because we've enjoyed them so much, and Landon is at the age to listen better and comprehend more, I bought the Kids Advent Table Cards from She Reads Truth.  Our plan is to read a card each night at dinner, like we have been, only for the month of December they'll be Advent themed.  These cards have an illustration on one side, then a verse and age appropriate questions on the other.  #yes!

NEW FOR THIS YEAR....... I've taken an old Hallmark plush Christmas tree with plush ornaments and made up a new set of cards to correspond with the ornaments.  The tree and ornaments is an old Hallmark set that my Sister in Law used with her boys and passed down to me when I had Landon.  In years past it's been a tree I sat on the coffee table and allowed the kids to play with.  This year, I have it sitting on our kitchen table to be used for our Advent studying.

The 9 ornaments that came with the tree include: Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Angel, Star, Donkey, Sheep, Camel and Wisemen.  I did my own research and looked up corresponding scriptures to help explain the "character's" role in Christmas as well as the corresponding story pages in our Jesus Storybook Bible to read as well.  We're taking the first week of December to add an ornament each day, reading that corresponding card's verses/stories to learn and dig into the Christmas story.  By the end of the week, our tree will be decorated and will sit as a reminder and conversation piece at family meals, etc. for the Christmas season.

I realize you don't have this tree, but I've included a FREE PDF of my new cards corresponding with these 9 ornaments.  I figured you could use them as is - just the cards, buy ornaments, make your own ornaments to match, or simply use with your own Nativity Set.  TOTALLY up to you!  You don't have to use them at all, but in the event somebody could, they're FREE for you!  Just click the link at the bottom of the page to download!

While we use the Shepherd on the Search, I'm pretty big about NOT moving our Shepherd every day.  I can't handle that pressure.  I've always moved him 2-3 times a week and this year is no different.  I always have our Shepherd in a new hiding place accompanying a new Advent activity.  In case you need motivation, I've included our Advent Calendar of Activities below, to inspire you as you make yours!  Remember to take advantage of free events in your town, Santa pictures, hot cocoa/movie nights, and crafts in your planning!  EASY!!

(FYI: The Ornaments I mention on Day 1 are the new ones I've made to go with the Hallmark tree.  The Cards I reference are some of the cards I made last year.)

Saturday Dec 1 - Shepherd arrives with new Christmas toy for kids - Ornaments begin (Dec 1-9)
Monday Dec 3 - You've been Jingled gift to friends - Card: God Loves a Cheerful Giver
Wednesday Dec 5 - Gingerbread House - Card: Help me Decorate
Friday Dec 7: Christmas Crafts after school
Mon Dec 10: Christmas ornament craft
Wed Dec 12:  Card: John 3:16 (Landon's current Memory verse)
Fri Dec 14: Christmas Crafts after school
Mon Dec 17: Neighbor Goody Bags
Wed Dec 19: Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt - Card: Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
Fri Dec 21: - Card: ___ Days away
Christmas Eve:  Christmas Craft & Christmas Eve Service
Christmas Day:  In the Manger - Card: Happy Birthday Jesus - Breakfast cinnamon rolls

For what it's worth: I don't do Elf on the Shelf.  I did my own version of it (which I mention in one of those previous blog posts) when Landon was really little.  I don't think anything is wrong with it AT ALL, I just like the Shepherd best for my kids.  Plus, Landon never really hooked onto the Elf.  He just didn't care about it.  :)  My kids do both have the bigger plush elves that they get out each Christmas to sleep with and play with.  They love those!

Ok, LAST: here's another really great product that a LOT of people use for Advent.  I bought them and have used them here and there, but it hasn't fit our family just right yet.  I have lots of friends who love these cards too!  Check out the Jesus Storybook Bible Advent Cards by Crew & Co.  Honestly, these are great to have for ANY time during the year!  It's essentially a reading plan for the kids! ;)  They were the inspiration for the cards I made this year, to accompany our ornaments.

Let me know if you have any questions!  Happy Advent!