Dating Faith [[Picnic in the Park]]

Since Faith and I will be without Joel for about 3 or so months while I (fingers crossed, prayers requested!!) get a job in Arizona, we were trying to figure out something to do as a family that was inexpensive. So what better thing to do than go have a picnic in the park! Especially on a day like today, it was sooo nice out with little humidity and cool weather =] We are gonna miss daddy while we are away, so I made sure to get tons of pictures of them together! He is even going to take her on a daddy daughter date tomorrow so I can pack (in peace ;]) and get the laundry and whatnot done =] 

It's amazing how much of an impact the military has had on us... my dad just pointed out the other day that we are totally ok with being apart from one another for such a long time and that its totally not normal haha... which made me think about it and question why its not as hard as most would think it would be, and I realized that we are just used to it really, not that Joel has been on a million deployments but when we first started going through time apart between boot camp, schooling, work ups, and the deployment, I got out all of my crazed frustrations and learned how to cope without him... really benefited us in the long run (not that I saw it as a "growing" experience at the time... it was more of a nightmare then lol) so I see this time apart as just another "growing" experience and am ready to learn about my capabilities... especially with a baby this time! We will surely miss each other but understand that providing for our growing family is a must and jobs don't just fall into your lap on a daily basis... Plus we are in the 21st century... theres a thing called Skype ;] Woop woop!

Speaking of going to Arizona, I just have to point out how great our God is! I cannot even believe how he has had his hand in all of this from the moment Joel found out he wasn't going to reenlist. Not too soon after I posted the blog about getting out of the Marine Corps one of my best friends from middle school contacted me and told be about a job opportunity at her office! I am so hopeful my interview goes well next week and I can call my self an admissions/enrollment advisor at B.E.S.T.! Everything about it is so great and works so well for me its like I hand picked the job myself! Plus, just a little added bonus, I get my schooling paid for... ummm yes please! Then she tells me she has someone who can babysit for me come December, so that Im not basically paying rent at a daycare! And as if God hasn't done enough, the daycare my dad takes my little sister to has a wait list so I call around hoping I find something that has an opening otherwise I wouldn't be starting work anytime soon, and then come to find out there is a place that JUST got 5 spots open right away and half off registration and first week only $100 bucks... YAY! I don't know if I am putting enough emphasis on how much all of these things seriously impact the future, but it is honestly the most incredible feeling knowing God is hard at work in your life making sure you are provided for <3

Not too shabby for a self timer! Ten seconds is really fast let me tell you! Click and RUNN! Anywho, I think its a decent family photo =] ...minus my necklace that didn't quite make it during that whole "run" thing haha

              

              

               

...The reality of a baby at a picnic...

Just kidding hehe she was really good just a little angry that she lost her bink ;]

The Clean life [[Part 1]]

Let me begin by saying, most of society is crap. When I wasn't following along on Instagram and blogs with what I like to call, "The Clean Eaters of America", I was sucked into a world of lies. I can't even tell you how many times I see and hear "Heres a fab diet that will make you lose 7 pounds in 7 days", "Lose the fat FAST by juice fasting", "Buy this *insert some workout equipment* and you will have a 6 pack in no time at all". All of these gimmicks to make people think they will have the body they want with some magical weight loss joke. I say this because I have fallen for it PLENTY of times. "Oh maybe if I do a juice fast for a month I'll lose those extra few pounds I've been dying to get rid of, or maybe if I get Body by Vi, that will do the trick, or maybe just maybe if I cut out all sweets I'll be fit again"...

Here's the reality... 

• Juice fasting can be great for a detox or a spiritual fast but it is not a lifestyle, you will end up going back to your normal ways of eating and in a matter of a couple of days you will have gained all that weight back because you have not established healthy lifestyle that works for you and trust me its not something you are a pro at overnight. Im no pro.
• Body by vi and any other meal replacement diets are once again not lifestyle options... (Do not get me wrong, body by vi can be fine if you are using it for some kind of protein drink in between meals or after a workout, sure, but you can also just get a big ol' tub of regular protein powder for half the price or just get your proteins and nutrients from your food... your call.) The problem with the weight loss programs that offer special drinks and food to help you lose weight is that you and I both know we will never just live off of a drink and we will never consistently wait for our Nutrisystem to come in the mail and eat that food and ONLY that food for the rest of our lives. 
• Cutting certain foods out of your diet is only setting yourself up for failure... you will not go your entire life without having some kind of sweets... you are human... and you will only feel guilty if you eat something you vowed not to eat. *Just the other day I was at Sam's club and they had their little sample stands and there it was, a bite sized raspberry cheesecake calling my name, so guess what, I ATE IT, and didn't feel bad about it because first of all I didn't overindulge in an entire cake and second of all I know that I am human and, well... I like raspberry cheesecake. 

Notice a trend? Extreme dieting is not the answer. I am sure you have heard all of this once before, but I think we tend to forget that the quick "fixes" don't work, we are just hopeful maybe it will be different this time. The only way to successfully lose/maintain weight and take control of your health is to create a lifestyle to meet the needs of your body. Your body wants all kinds of good and wholesome foods, and maybe it wants a bite of some raspberry cheesecake, and thats ok! ;] Just don't decide to buy the cake and eat the whole thing by yourself! If you stop worrying about how you look and worry more about how you feel you will see that making simple adjustments to your diet can make a huge difference to your health, looking great is just a side affect from eating great and exercising! How nice =]

Keep it simple.

One of the beauties of clean eating is the simplicity. Most of what you need to know can actually be passed down from the older generations, they knew how to keep it simple and inexpensive! Back in the day they didn't have all of the complicated processed foods we have today, they had gardens and farms that produced them with nutritious meals. Now our world has turned to boxed this, and packaged that, we are having to read all kinds of labels and half of the things we can't even pronounce! They try to trick us with flashy packaging that says low cal, low fat, low this, low that... lies. DON'T FALL FOR IT! They make things so complicated and I don't know about you, but Im feeling 22 (... for all you Taylor Swift fans ;]) but seriously, I don't like complicated... We go to the grocery store and buy some granola bars thinking they are going to be a great snack, and then you look at the label and see that you could basically eat a mickey d's cheeseburger for the same amount of nutrition! Then we stare at huge aisles filled with hundreds of cereals and millions of different condiments when it can be so much easier, find the one that has the best nutritional value and grab it and go! Maybe even realize that sometimes you don't actually need the extra stuff anyways... (Something I learned from a good friend... cereal really has no nutritional value anyways-- even cheerios-- so eat your eggs, oatmeal, fruits, and veggies for breakfast! You will feel so much more energized!)
Food is meant to be fuel for your body, so stop putting coco puffs in your gas tank!

Up next: The Clean Life [[Part 2]] 
..."Feed the machine"...

[[Two Months of Faith]]

Weight/height: 11 lb./21 in.

Sweet girl, I am locking you in your room for 30 years till Im ready for you to date... You are too pretty! Look at those baby blues!

Likes: Faith likes to KICK KICK KICK all the time! We are at that point where she is just kicking away while I am changing her... greaaaat! She likes watching TV while sitting on Daddy's lap... where she also kicks. Likes to be on our shoulder when she is held, really hates to be held like a baby.

Dislikes: HATES when the onesie goes over her head. Absolutely hates it. Then putting a new onesie on... its like chinese torture to her!

Firsts: She started really smiling this month and we got to hear her first somewhat of a laugh! It was more of just straight snorting which ultimately scared her lol Also had our first hair knots... which I tried to brush out on the back of her head..... doesn't work... cut them out... luckily she is already getting a little bald spot on her head so you cant even tell I cut it =] And the biggest milestone this month.... SHE CAN HOLD HER HEAD UP! WOOP WOOP! Even rolled to her back a couple of times!

Tootie little bootie's little love butt <3

Things I don't want to forget: Faith totally has my hair... talk about bed head! In the morning and after naps its a big ol' rats nest.

Insta-Outfits =]

Oh you wanna picture of me...?

CHEESE =]

BIG NEWS YALL!

After 4 years of being in the marine corps, its finally SEE YA LATER! =] Can you believe it?? I sure can't! So many trips back to AZ just to visit and now the next trip is going to be coming home for good! Sunshine filled days, lakes, and rivers, and snow, and desert, and FOOD! I get my Joe's Farm Grill, and Chipotle, and Costa Vida, and Uncle Bears! More importantly I get my FAMILY back! Faith gets to grow up with her grandparents and aunts and "uncles" which is everything to me. Im so excited I could kiss a cactus! We still don't have details on much of anything right now, all I know is that hopefully in December baby Faith and I will be back home searching for a job and a place to live and then my baby daddy will soon follow in January/February. 

While it is super exciting it is also super stressful so please pray for us that we will have a smooth transition. All we have known is military life so adjusting to something different is going to be interesting to say the least! I will try to keep everyone updated as much as possible when I find more things out, as for now, I would totally appreciate it if anyone knows of any job openings when the time gets closer, I would really like some type of office/receptionist job but willing to do whatever comes my way =]

*There have been a lot of people wanting to get a shoot done and I just haven't been able to due to the unpredictability of my lens, however, I plan on getting my lens checked out when I come home so hopefully it will be up and working 100% and I can start doing shoots again =] Let me know if you are going to want to do a shoot so we can book something or so we can come back to it when the time gets closer but just so I have an idea =] It will be Christmas time so hello family portraits ;] Finances will be tight so any little shoot will help us!