What does summer look like to you? What does it smell like? Taste like? Sound like? Early summers for me were spent in California where almost everyone had a pool in the backyard and if you didn’t, your neighbor did. Putting poolrings on our ankles and pretending to be mermaids. Diving, jumping, holding my breath, staying in the pool as long and as late as we could. It was carefree and smelled of suntan lotion. It was hot concrete and cool water. It was popsicles and the ice cream truck, flip flops and sandals, tan skin and rollerskating to loud music on our CD player (or tape player if we’re going way back!).
As years progress (which they always do even though we want time to stand still) memories of summer shifted slightly. Boys were introduced into the mix, freedom was explored, the beach became our “pool” and the nighttime was for play. BBQs on the beach, moonlight walks in the surf, crushes that made your heart heavy and friends that will last a lifetime. Road trips, tanning, magazines, music, dates, movies, amazing food. It was also about this time (largely thanks to the magazines) that I became very aware of my body and how I didn’t look the same as my friends. No longer was I carefree in my bathing suit like they still were. I started wearing shorts or something ANYthing wrapped around my waist. I would get to the edge of the pool and take off my covering just before I got in. I would be so envious of not only the girls I felt had perfect bodies, but of those that were maybe a touch heavier than me but just didn’t CARE!!! I didn’t think for a second that my eating habits had too much to do with this, it was more that I probably wasn’t exercising like I should. I ate what my mom made and assumed it was good for me and didn’t question it.
Moving along in our timeline and we get to college years and a bit after. The beach was still my home and the tanner I was the thinner I felt. I worked out occasionally but my summers mostly consisted of parties, drinking and dancing. I had moved out and was exploring more freedom. I lived off of cheap fast food and time with my friends. Summer’s were a blur but still left imprints that I still feel today. I danced a bit for MTV and figured that was enough physical activity for me and continued poor eating habits but BOY was summer yummy!!! =) The body that I had “made” for myself I felt couldn’t be changed (put aside the fact that I never tried) and that I should just get used to it.
In the year 2001 I left to live in Siberia for a year and a half and my summer there was unforgettable. I had stopped drinking (wow calories), mended my relationship with my Father in heaven and took off for a mission of service. There isn’t a lot of processed things over in cities like Omsk & Tomsk so coupled with more clean eating and walking everywhere I lost soooooo much weight! I helped people plant their gardens, till their soil, taught them to dance, do makeup, how to pray. It was a remarkable experience and I made friends to last a lifetime. It was the first summer that I was pasty white (HA!) and didn’t care about missing the beach. I felt confident in what I was doing and found myself.
I came home, got married, had children and bit by bit gained back and then some all of the weight I had lost in Russia but felt I could hide behind the attitude of “I’m a mom and it’s okay to have a roll or two….or eight.” Now DON’T get me wrong! Our bodies go through a lot to have children and I appreciate the “battle scars” I have earned because my sweet children are worth every one. What I was NOT acknowledging was that it wasn’t okay to be super unhealthy and teach my boys that lifestyle. I wanted to teach them from a young age that being healthy is beautiful. Think about it. Whatever weight I am at, if I am strong, I am toned and have nothing to fear come summer time aka bathing suit time. I can be like the girls I envied and just not care because I take care of myself.
Since starting Revolt I have found a peace in knowing that I control my body and what goes into it. I can look in the mirror and like what I see. I can change bad habits and replace them with good ones. Better yet I can replace good habits with the BEST ones. I have more energy for this summer that is coming up. I will run around with my kids at Seven Peaks (yay water parks) feeling confident, lighter and more like that carefree kid I used to be. I am stronger now. I eat healthy foods but don’t restrict myself (yay cheat Saturdays!). I love what I am becoming and am actually happy that it’s slowly progressing so I know it’s not a fad and I will gain it all back, but it’s a lifestyle change and I LOVE it!!!
Nichole Huntsman before & after Ladies, if you want to take back something you have lost, if you are wanting to become stronger and leaner and walk out into the sun then make the step now! The next “uprising” for the Revolt program starts tomorrow!!! Join a slew of people (not just women) who are learning how to get cut abs, arms and legs. Who are taking a stand against the, let’s be honest, not even real food they sell in grocery stores (ps VERY excited to have a garden this year!). Detox for everyone starts tomorrow and then you have weeks upon weeks of great meals and exercise videos you can do in your own home! If you want more information you can email me and ask anything you want or go to revoltnowfitness.com to see what it’s all about. For anyone in the Utah area I will be taking a group down to the Bodpod to get accurate numbers for body fat and weight. I am so excited for this summer. No wraps around the waist for me THIS year! What about you??? Welcome summer!!!
Have you joined the “no poo” craze? I myself had several reservations based solely on the NAME!!! I mean really? We couldn’t come up with anything better than THAT??? What is it you ask? I haven’t told you yet? Okay so it’s basically not using shampoo (hence the awful phrase “no poo”). I explain in this video my journey to sheer desperation in even considering saying goodbye to shampoo. I do feel that all the years of using shampoos full of chemicals and harmful toxins have aided in the downfall of my scalp and I was hoping this would help. So far so good, but I’m still a newbie. Watch this video to learn more, visit this site and see what you think! Will you join this even if you don’t have a huge “why” like me? What are your thoughts? And PLEASE rename it for crying out loud!!!!!P.s. DyInG over Taylor’s flower headband here. It is my firm belief that a big obnoxious bow balances ones head out and should be worn on a daily basis…..just sayin.
Sadly the time elapsed for our winner to claim her Norwex rags so I had to choose a new winner. That should come as GREAT news to the rest of you!!! Okay, so I put the numbers into Random.org and here is the new winner!!!!
BAMANNIE
Please oh pleeeeaaaase contact me so that I can send you your fabulous rags that you are just going to LOVE!!!!! Congrats =).
I want to wish everyone a wonderful Mother’s Day. Mothers come in all shapes and sizes. They also come in the form of an aunt, neighbor, grandmother, sister, and friend. No matter your role here on Earth, we as women are nurturers, healers, friends, and companions. I want to give a special virtual hug and kiss to my sweet mother. This gal is pretty special to me and it is rare for us to go without talking long. Earlier in life I was her little girl, her only little girl with three other boys. She dressed me up in dresses (I rarely went a day without wearing one) only to dig in the dirt, play guns or trucks with my brothers. Later in teenage years we didn’t see eye to eye and, sadly, I was the reason for most of it. I am sad that I made choices that made her sad and sometimes hurt. It was only when we split ways and I moved out that I truly understood all of the wonderful things she did for me. Isn’t that sad that it took that long? She was in Sacramento while I was in Huntington Beach living very different lives. I called her with news about jobs, friends and life in general. I had a HUGE impression to move back home one year and I thought in my head,”She will NEVER accept me back. She will remember too freshly everything that I have put her through, no way!” She responded with tears that she had been feeling the same way and I will never forget feeling vErY grateful for such a forgiving and in tune mom. She welcomed me back with open and loving arms. A short year after that and I was packing to go live and serve in Siberia and we joyfully went shopping together getting me all ready. Tears were shed the whole week before me leaving and the airport was even worse. Leaving my mom was a very hard thing to do. We were allowed to speak to each other only a few times in the year and a half that I was gone and we made each second count. I came home for a short while before I was engaged to my prince and we were OFF and planning a wedding together. Kevin was out of state so my lovely Marmy was my date to look at linens, rental businesses, cake tasting (our favorite part!) and reception venues. My mother has grown into my very best friend. Someone that knows my faults and loves me anyway. Someone that has seen me at my worst and still saw potential (even if I didn’t). Someone that seems to know all the ingredients I need for every meal at the drop of a hat, the cure for every heart ache and sickness, the one that sends cards to all of her kids for every little occasion. The one who knew I needed her last year and came a total of THREE times in a manner of months to come and be with me. She is my partner in crime (when a hubby can’t fill in the gaps), my “go-to” gal for almost everything and the only mother I could and will ever want. I love you sweet Marmy and I always will. Here’s to many more years of giggles, hugs, long talks and special occasions.
Thank you to everyone for participating in our Norwex rag giveaway!!! What a great response to such a wonderful product. I, myself, am having a Norwex social soon to share with more friends and family these great products. LOVE them! =) Okay, onto the winner. Many were called, ONE was chosen. That person is {drumroll please}
MsPamlam
Congratulations, you have just one two Norwex cloths of your very own!!! You are going to love the way they clean, disinfect and wash all of your makeup off! Please contact me via email within 48 hours to claim your prize and to give me shipping information. If I have not heard from you within that time frame I will have to choose another winner (so please email me!) =). Stay tuned everyone for more giveaways and more makeup posts. Hugs!!!
Have you heard of Norwex? Am I the first to tell you about it? I hope so (giggle) =D. I happen to love Norwex products and have seen the rags in action many times. I own a few and can’t wait to get more! They last forever and are SUPER effective at cleaning everything. The first time I was introduced to them I was super skeptical. I mean, really? A rag that can clean with just water and can disinfect itself within 24 hours? Sounds too good to be true right? RIGHT! Fast forward to NOW and I am convinced. What were the key factors in my conversion you ask? Well! 1. At my first party I took the challenge to wash all my makeup off with just water…..it WORKED!!! (I had even done a super smokey eye that day) and 2. (prepare yourself) Raw chicken was rubbed on the counter (gross) then swabbed so we could see the bacteria. Then it was cleaned with a Norwex rag (using only water) and swabbed again…CLEAN!!!! No bacteria, nothing!!! I love that I can give them to my son to wash toilets and not have to worry about chemicals. I can hang it to dry and in 24 hours it’s ready to use again. I know, I know that sounds disGUSTing but I saw a cloth that had been used a ton swabbed and it was clean! Seeing is believing ladies. Click here to see and also watch the video below on how I wash my makeup off with the body rag.
I buy mine from the lovely Kara who is always available to answer questions or help me out with my purchases. Not just because she is a consultant and amazing but she also happens to be a dear friend. I feel good handing you over to her to get your rags too =). Now here is my FAVORITE part!!! One lucky reader will win a body cloth and the suede face cloth!!!!!
Here is how to enter:
*Mandatory*
You must be a follower of Classy Cosmetics and be 18 years or older to enter
Go to Kara’s site and check out all of the products and comment back here on what product excites you the most! (her button is also on the right hand sidebar)
Share this on your own blog, FB or on any other social media site (entry for each site)
Comment here every time you complete one of the mandatory or optional “tasks”. Each comment equals an entry. If you decide to purchase other products from Kara’s site, that equals 5 entries. Any comments not adhering to the rules will be deleted. The contest will begin….NOW lol and end this Friday May 10th at 12 midnight MST. Good luck everyone!!!
Just a quick post to tell you that after the 6 week challenge, I am ready for round TWO!!! Revolt chapter 2 is going to be VERY different. I just hope my stupidity/confession helps someone else. I didn’t get my login info till late in the detox week (6 weeks ago) so once I got it I just went to town and tried to make up for lost time. Didn’t read the start up guide (BIG mistake!!!), didn’t drink my gallons of water till maybe the third week, didn’t use the weights I was supposed to (wimpy 3s…I know, I know), didn’t add an extra circuit like I was supposed to, didn’t measure and use calipers (sigh)…BUT had I done it then I might not have had the same motivation as now! I have lost 11 lbs, gone down 2 sizes and am SO ready for this next chapter!!! I have upped the weights signIFICANTLY and have felt SO good during the last few days’ workouts. SO sore and I love it!!! I know this works, I know I can do this and I KNOW that these next 6 weeks are going to be amazing!!!!! Wanna “revolt” against YOUR before pictures? Go GET it!!!!!! =)
I am, for the most part, a very happy person. I love (in no particular order) life, my family, God, my friends, a good party, a good treat and all things pretty, attention to detail, singing, dancing, laughing, quiet moments with a book and a blanket, hot cocoa on a wintery day and BIG windows for a lightning storm just over the lake. There is so much in this life that is worth loving and learning about. I cannot TELL you how many emails I received after asking you if you would mind me sharing other aspects of life on here with you. Thank you! Thank you for being so supportive, kind and for responding =). As one of you pointed out, it’s basically all girly anyway (the topics I wanted to share) and I quite agree! My hubby is already working hard on a revamp for the look of the blog and I couldn’t be more pleased and excited! In keeping with the theme of a multi themed blog I wanted to share some triumphs with you =). I officially hit 126 lbs today!!!!!!! This may seem like not that much if you have been following the weight loss but it IS when connecting it to the fact that I have been trying to lose inches and body fat rather than lbs. I was just so tickled to see a lower number since I hadn’t in a while {giggle}. I was SUCH a silly girl and didn’t measure myself at the VERY beginning of this journey (6 weeks ago) and only started (better late than never) 2 weeks ago. Within that time frame of 2 weeks, I have lost 2 inches from my thighs & waist and an inch from my J-Lo, which is saying something! I have also taken my body fat down considerable and have been feeling a HUGE difference in my clothing. I feel…the best way to put it is “clean”.
I feel light and clean on the inside as I have taken out a lot of the toxins and unnecessary things we have in our foods. I like buying fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, natural applesauce and peanut butter, brown rice (cooked with coconut oil is to DIE for!) and wheat pasta. My kids love it, I love it and I cheat like there is NO tomorrow on Saturdays LOL. This really is a win win and I have been SO impressed with the community on Facebook for Revolt. They are all there to encourage, advise, and uplift. Nichole Huntsman has been such a positive influence in making me want to be stronger & healthier {look for an interview with Nichole herself here on the blog soon!}. If you have been looking for a change, a way to start being more healthy then this really is the program for you! It was very easy for me to slip into it since I felt someone was “holding my hand”as I started the diet & the workouts. It was clear & easy to start. It for sure took willpower on my part but I. Was. Ready!!!!! I think that I pushed myself to really follow clean eating but I think I can push myself in the workouts a little more. This was the last week for the 6 week challenge but I am going to keep going! I am on my way & am NOT going to stop now!!! If you want to start at the beginning & come on this journey with me, then Revolt Fitness’ site {here}. Right now they are doing a FREE 3 day preview & you can see why I love it so much! What are your goals to be healthy a little bit every day? What inspires you & makes you happy? What is your “why” for wanting to either change or maintain your lifestyle? I would love to know more about YOU!!! Leave some comments to get us all thinking =). Love you guys!!!
I told you that I would let all of you know the next time Shabby Apple had a HUGE sale that you could actually walk into and save like crazy! Well here it is!!! Will you come? Will I be seeing you there??? =)
As years progress (which they always do even though we want time to stand still) memories of summer shifted slightly. Boys were introduced into the mix, freedom was explored, the beach became our “pool” and the nighttime was for play. BBQs on the beach, moonlight walks in the surf, crushes that made your heart heavy and friends that will last a lifetime. Road trips, tanning, magazines, music, dates, movies, amazing food. It was also about this time (largely thanks to the magazines) that I became very aware of my body and how I didn’t look the same as my friends. No longer was I carefree in my bathing suit like they still were. I started wearing shorts or something ANYthing wrapped around my waist. I would get to the edge of the pool and take off my covering just before I got in. I would be so envious of not only the girls I felt had perfect bodies, but of those that were maybe a touch heavier than me but just didn’t CARE!!! I didn’t think for a second that my eating habits had too much to do with this, it was more that I probably wasn’t exercising like I should. I ate what my mom made and assumed it was good for me and didn’t question it.
Have you heard of Norwex? Am I the first to tell you about it? I hope so (giggle) =D. I happen to love Norwex products and have seen the rags in action many times. I own a few and can’t wait to get more! They last forever and are SUPER effective at cleaning everything. The first time I was introduced to them I was super skeptical. I mean, really? A rag that can clean with just water and can disinfect itself within 24 hours? Sounds too good to be true right? RIGHT! Fast forward to NOW and I am convinced. What were the key factors in my conversion you ask? Well! 1. At my first party I took the challenge to wash all my makeup off with just water…..it WORKED!!! (I had even done a super smokey eye that day) and 2. (prepare yourself) Raw chicken was rubbed on the counter (gross) then swabbed so we could see the bacteria. Then it was cleaned with a Norwex rag (using only water) and swabbed again…CLEAN!!!! No bacteria, nothing!!! I love that I can give them to my son to wash toilets and not have to worry about chemicals. I can hang it to dry and in 24 hours it’s ready to use again. I know, I know that sounds disGUSTing but I saw a cloth that had been used a ton swabbed and it was clean! Seeing is believing ladies. Click 
