DIY Glitter Pumpkin Topiary

Ok! Many of you were interested in learning how to make this FUN Glitter Pumpkin Topiary for Halloween! This was one of the easier crafts that I've done and it was super fun!

Supplies you need:

• 3 foam pumpkins (I got mine at Michaels on sale)
• A flower pot (I had to buy two pots a smaller one 13" and a bigger one 16" got at smiths market place on sale)
• Glitter spray paint! (Orange burst and Starry night also got at Michaels)
• BOO wood letters (Got these at Michaels as well!)
• this is an optional thing... But I painted the BOO black and orange with paints I had at home already!
• Hot glue gun

So, I first started by Spray Painting the "B" and one "O" Black and the second "O" orange. The spray paint wasn't working very well on the wood letters so I decided to paint them then re-spray them with the glitter spray paint!

While the spray paint was drying on the letters I spray painted each of the pumpkins. One was black the other two were Orange!

The Orange ones do have glitter kind of hard to see in this picture!

By the time I was done spraying the pumpkins, the letters that I had originally spray painted were dry. So, I painted over the glitter to get the colors that I wanted!

While everything was drying I hot glued my two pots together! The smaller one is the base part and the bigger pot was the main part where my pumpkins would sit in!

By the time I finished getting the pots situated the paint on the "BOO" letters were dried so I spray painted them with my orange blast and starry night spray paint! (I forgot to take a picture of this step but it is pretty self explanatory! :D )

I was needing a tool to cut the stems off of the bottom pumpkin and the middle pumpkin. My neighbor wasn't home while I was needing the tool (He had the piece I needed) so I improvised and it turned out really well! 

I called my handy little hubby on over and had him get his drill and a screw driver out and cut the stems off that way! it was a little messy but it did what I needed it to do! (I'm sure a knife would work just as well if you don't have access to tools!)

This is what All 3 pumpkins should look like once you have taken
the 2 stems off the bottom and middle pumpkin. 

I then stacked the pumpkins on top of each other by hot gluing them. You could do it by sticking a pole through all 3 pumpkins (making sure it doesn't go all the way through the top one). The only reason I didn't do the pole is because I didn't have one and I didn't want to go buy one!

Next, I placed the "BOO" letters on the pumpkins where I wanted them! I also Hot Glued these! My Hot Glue gun is a must have for me and my crafts!! So, If you don't have one go get one! :D

Now, the tricky part of the whole thing.. Trying to figure out how to get the pumpkins on TOP of the pots and NOT inside of the pot hiding! I looked around my house and found a smaller box that fit perfect inside of my pot and was high enough to keep my pumpkins up! I hot glued the pumpkins onto the box to make sure they would stay in place. 

Sorry, this is the only picture I have of the box
but you get the gist of how it works! 

Now, my next struggle.. trying to figure out  how to hide the glue that was in-between the pumpkins and hide the box. I dug through my craft supplies found some ribbon from mine and AJ's wedding and burlap! 

I tied the ribbon into bows and put one on the middle pumpkin and one on the bottom pumpkin. Then, I positioned the burlap around the bottom of the pumpkins how I wanted it and wa-la! I was finished! 

This is a great craft for a girls night! 

Super easy to do! Doesn't take much time to put 

together! 

ENJOY!

P.s. If you end up making it share it with me! I would love to see them! Have fun with it!

"Fall Into Fitness" October Support and Accountability Group!

As most of you have seen the last few months for me haven't been my best months.  I was having some serious trouble keeping my eating and fitness in check.  It was the honest truth and I really was starting to almost throw myself back into a depression because I couldn't get it under control.  

So why?  Why was I so unhappy about myself! Why was I so uneasy about the things I was doing in my life. I knew I had everything in the world to be thankful for, to be happy about, but it just wasn't happening for me.  It was frustrating to me. So, what do you do to get yourself to find your happy place again?

There are a few things that I like to do to get me out of these funks:

• First and foremost I pray.  I mean honestly, do you think you can control it all? We cannot control the uncontrollable so we have to be able to release and know we are doing what we can!

• When your feet hit the floor every morning repeat to yourself, "it's going to be a great day!". Start each day with positivity.  Starting with the negative will turn your day into a negative. You ARE in control of how positive or negative you are going to be, so why not start the day off on a positive note?

• Workout!  Working out isn't just about the looks, or how it makes you feel, it's about something I can control, its about taking my own 30 minutes each day to clear my mind. It's ME time. Working out is my way to take my frustrations out on something. It's my way of making my day go so much better. 

• Clean eating gives me energy to push through the physical and mental demands of my day.  It helps me to feel more confident, have more energy for my day to day activities.  It also gives me the knowledge to know I am doing good for my body, I am doing good for my future family. 

• Drink my Shakeology daily! It really does boost your immune system, it gives your body the vitamins your body needs along with curbing those cravings for sweets and other things! It has been my favorite meal of the day! It amazing to watch the changes in my body after drinking it but to watch my hair growth and how healthy it looks. To know that I am giving my husband his healthiest meal of the day is the greatest feeling in the world. 

• Have an accountability partner and support system.  Having a support system helps to keep you on track when you could easily derail or get off track. I find that when I have my challengers in my challenge groups that it keeps me focused on my workouts and my nutrition because I know I have to check in with them each day.  So I am more likely to stay on track. It is the thing that keeps me accountable.

I have decided to do a "Fall Into Fitness" Support and Accountability Group where I share with you all of the tips and tricks that have worked for me in taking control of my healthy and fitness.  I am not an expert or a doctor but I am an over comer!  I am going to support, encourage and cheer you on to becoming a stronger version of the already AMAZING person that you already are!  Does that sound like something you would like to do?

If that is the case here is what I am going to do!

On October 2nd we will start our "pre season" which is our plan and prep before the week starts! I am going to create a closed online Facebook Support Group where each person is required to join! 

Since nutrition and working out has not only helped me to gain strength and knowledge and has helped me to take control over my life 21 Day Fix is going to be the preferred program.  If you do not wish to do 21 Day Fix then you can choose to do another Beachbody Fitness program. 

Secondly, each person is required to replace 1 meal a day with Shakeology.  Either breakfast, lunch or dinner.  There is no right or wrong meal you can replace Shakeology with.  It's truly whatever meal you struggle with most.  Shakeology is not a protein shake, but it is a high quality, nutrient dense meal that has the right protein and carbohydrate ratio to keep you full for 2 and a half to 3 hours.  You can still use your protein powders post workout or as a supplement but this is different, shakeology is a meal.  I find that people get better results, have decreased cravings for sweets, it keeps your blood sugar stable and you are healthier!  It's the nutrition that most do not get from their food in one glass. 

Lastly, I am also going to teach you how to plan out your meals, what are some healthy snacks, dinners and lunches.  Together we are going to work to give you a well rounded healthy balanced life.  The program is 3 weeks (21 Days) long!  You are required to check in daily to the group and report your progress with your food and your workouts. 

Does this sound like something you would like to do?

• If you are interested please complete the application below to be considered for a spot in the group.

• Space is limited and it's first come first to commit get the spots.

PS. After you fill the Challenge Group Application out it WILL take you to another page! Scroll down and hit SUBMIT again! :D

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  Challenge Group Application

  If you would like to be considered for my support and accountability group please fill out the information below and I will get back to you within the next 24 hours. 

  
  

  • Name *
    First
    Last
  • Email *
  • Phone Number *
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  • Do you currently have a Beachbody Coach that you work with? If so, who is your coach? *
  • How did you hear about this challenge? *

    
    

    Facebook Fit. Free. Committed. Unbreakable Dynasty Instagram Other 
  • What are your Current health and fitness goals? *
  • What does a typical day of eating look like for you? *
  • Why do you want to be a part of this challenge group? *
  • Do you currently own a Beachbody Fitness Program? If so, what program? *
  • What is the best way to contact you? *
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About Me.

My Cute Husband and I (My little family)

I am a 24 year old wife to a handsome guy, AJ. I began my fitness journey just a short time ago.  On October 26, 2014 I began the Biggest Loser Accountability Challenge which changed my life.  After being in Nursing School for almost a year I was frustrated and depressed about the way my body looked and felt.  I was looking for a way to get in shape and shed those unwanted pounds but going to the gym was not fitting in my schedule.  



I had been following a really good friend of mine for a while. I had asked her about the Beachbody Business she was running and what she did and I was intrigued. But, I started to freak and didn't think I could do it. I didn't think I would lose weight and I didn't think I would be inspiring enough for other women to follow in my footsteps. So, I didn't sign up and I didn't get in the Accountability group that she had going. After about 6 months of watching her I finally decided it was time! I was sick of being unhealthy, tired all the time, and to me I thought I was FAT! I had gained over 20+ pounds by sitting most of the time in class. I was sick of being so unhappy, depressed, and disgusted with myself. So I signed up right then and there with the 21 Day Fix. 

I was at the heaviest I had ever been.. A big whopping 150 lbs! I couldn't believe I had actually let myself go like that! The first month of the 60 day challenge I had lost over 10 pounds! I felt amazing, I was hooked! I couldn't believe something so simple was changing my life for the better!

 I was so happy with my results! I was eating healthy. I was working out every day! Thanksgiving had passed and I was still on a role of losing weight! I couldn't believe that I was doing something I thought I would never be able to do! I had been so NEGATIVE to myself for so long that, I thought I would NEVER be able to stop my negative putdowns toward myself. I thought I wouldn't be able to succeed because, I was sooo hard on myself!

 My Journey hasn't been easy. Yes, I am still very much into fitness and eating healthy but, something along the way happened during my progress.


I hit a wall. I wasn't losing weight anymore. No matter what I did I wasn't losing! I couldn't figure out why. I was starting to get down on myself and frustrated! I started to get my negative thoughts back in my head. The ones that took me so long to get rid of!

Turns out I was pregnant. Something that was totally unexpected and unplanned. AJ and I had ALWAYS wanted kids but, I was still in nursing school and had 9 months left of it! I was scared to death and wasn't sure if we were truly ready.

I was so sick all the time! Had no energy, couldn't keep any food down, and just wanted to sleep all the time! I pushed through every single day.. I tried to get my workouts in but I started to have complications. I would bleed randomly and every time I went in everything was fine. The doctor told me I wasn't allowed to workout anymore and I was only allowed to go to school than come back home and relax. It was a struggle for me! I'm so used to being active all the time! I was going in once a week for ultrasounds and check ups because of my history of blood clots in my lungs. I was considered high risk and would be starting blood thinners come week 12.

A couple days before my 12 week appointment things were not going so well. I actually ended up losing the baby and had to go into surgery. I was devastated and didn't know how to handle it. AJ and I were so excited to be welcoming a new little bundle of joy into our family and all of a sudden it was just ripped away.


That is when my health and fitness journey was put on the back burner. I didn't care to take care of myself. I was depressed, sad, and wanted nothing to do with bettering myself. During this time I gained ALL the weight and then some back! I felt ugly and didn't love myself anymore. I didn't want to ever go out because I didn't feel confident in my own skin.

My journey has been a long journey. A journey that I will be constantly bettering each and every day! I am not where I want to be right now but I'm getting closer. I'm knocking the negative thoughts out of my head and I'm learning to LOVE myself again! I'm bettering myself and becoming healthier for not just me but for my future family.

This is my journey! A journey I am so PROUD about! A journey I don't EVER want to end! 

Easy Baked Chicken Fajitas

Being a Nursing Student I'm always looking for fast, easy, healthy, and tasty meals to make for my picky husband and I! It hasn't always been easy to find meals that he will approve of and are so easy to make when all my time is being spent studying or doing homework!


Here is how to make them!

Ingredients

3-4 Boneless skinless chicken breasts
1-2 tsp Taco seasoning
2 Bell peppers in assorted colors, deseeded and thinly sliced
1 Yellow onion, peele and thinly sliced
1-2 Tbsp Olive oil
1/2 Cup Shredded Cheddar or Mexican Blend Cheese








Instructions

1. Trim the chicken breasts then lay them in a single layer in a glass baking dish.
2. Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the top of the chicken breast to taste.
3. Lay your thinly sliced onions and peppers on top of the chicken breast, spread out evenly over the top.
4. Drizzle the olive oil over the peppers and onions.
5. Sprinkle cheese over the top of the dish.
6. Bake at 375* F for 35-45 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the juices run clear.

I like to put mine on top of Quinoa! Add some plain greek yogurt as sour cream and a little bit of avocado on top! It is to die for and one of my staples at our house!

ENJOY!