Moving sucks!

So we are in day 2 of our pack up.  They should be done packing us all up today.  And tomorrow, they load up the trucks.  I hate this part...  It makes it even more real that we are leaving.  It is completely bitter sweet.  I know we are on for more adventures, and new places to live, but I also really like it here.

Anyway, so now for a bit of business...  I am currently inviting you to join my next challenge group!  June 9 we will be starting a 14 Day Clean Eating challenge group (click here to join this group).  It is totally free and will give you a GREAT idea of what I am trying to accomplish with my nutritional goals.

Looking for more with an accountability group?  Want a specific exercise program to go with it?  Check out my next 21 Day Fix Challenge group, which starts also June 9.  Click here to learn more about this program.  It involves a portion controlled eating plan, an intense, but short, daily workout and if you are a part of the challenge group, you will get daily accountability, tips, tricks, and recipes and so much more!  I'd love to have you join me!  Click here to join me and get healthy, strong and leaner!

On my other business, I am offering something I've never done before.  I am offering a "Pink Package".  This is a sneak peek box, similar to those other boxes you see people posting about all the time, that will have the latest Mary Kay products.  This is a quarterly box, so you will get one 4 times a year or every 3 months.  It does include FULL sized products!  Which are always backed by our 100% satisfaction guarantee!  Plus, you will get special samples and offers.  All this for only $25!  Click here to sign up for this special deal.  Sign ups end June 5, and boxes will ship June 12.

Clean eating

Let's talk fitness and nutrition today.  For many years, I have been super interested in making my body as healthy as possible.  No, I haven't always been good about what I put into my body, and I've probably done some questionable things.  But since I found the 21-Day Fix program, from BeachBody* (click here to learn more about it), I am focused more on what is actually going into my mouth.

Don't get me wrong, I've always eaten pretty good, although I have indulged since living in New Orleans.  The food down here is like nothing I have ever encountered before.  But that's not what this post is about.

There is so much information out there, and science (having been a scientist in my former life) is ever changing.  Scientists are forever finding out that their "findings" aren't accurate.  This happens because the methods change, technology gets better and so do the instruments they use to analyze what they are trying to prove.

Okay, so I'm good at getting off topic.  Let's get back to the topic at hand.  I am forever striving to eat cleanly.  What does that mean?  It means, I really try to watch the foods that go into my mouth.  I strive to eat non-processed foods.  This isn't always easy and I am still learning how to eat cleanly, and effectively.  But I am definitely making progress.

Throughout the upcoming weeks, months, and possibly even years, I will update you all on my progress.  I am not ready to post my before pic yet, because, although I see progress, I'm not ready yet to put out there what I actually look like (full body).

So, today, I ask you....  This is my favorite healthy meal, what's yours?

*I am a BeachBody Consultant.  If you would like to sign up for a free BeachBody account to get access to a great community, with TONS of tips, click here.
**There is still time to join my 12 Day Challenge.  Click here to email me.

Until we meet again

This is not good bye, New Orleans... This is until we meet again.

With our time in New Orleans quickly coming to a close, I find myself in denial.  Denial that at first I was hesitant to move here.  In denial that 4 years has quickly gone by.  And in denial that there are still so many areas of the city that I haven't explored, restaurants I haven't eaten in and sights I haven't seen.

This is the first city that we have lived in, since I moved to Florida in 1996, that I consider my home.  I know I've made a lot of friends along our journey with my crazy hubby's duty stations, but this is the first one, since I left Jacksonville in 2001, that I will probably cry as I am driving out of town.

I know bigger and better things are out there for our family, but it doesn't make leaving a wonderfully colorful city, with a LOT of culture, leaving friends who have become more like family than any I've had in a long time, and New Orleans.

So many people call this beautifully interesting city home, even if they are not physically here any more.  And I completely understand why.  I understand why so many have transplanted here as well.

I will miss crawfish, drinking in the streets, all the parades we have gone to, the merriment that is Mardi Gras, and the people who make this city so colorful.  I do hope to come back on day, either for vacation or to live, I'm not sure yet.  I am happy that we did and experienced so much of this unique city.

So, this isn't good bye, this is until we meet again.

"America only has three cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans.  Everywhere else is Cleveland." Tennessee Williams

Transfer season is beginning

I know I've been MIA lately...  but the life of a military spouse has very few regularities.  And this happens to be one of them.... Transfer season, or PCS'ing.  Moving, relocating.  And it's that time again for us.  We are moving, yet again.  This is the first duty station that I am truly sorry to leave, well at least in a long time.  I always miss my friends from each place, but not always the place.

So our lives have been all about scheduling our packers and movers with the Household Goods people...  Purging all the unwanted toys, shoes, clothes, and just stuff.  And let me tell you, we went from an apartment to a house with no basement to house with a basement, to another house with a basement....  Now to here....  A house without a basement.  So all the things that we squirreled away have been sitting in my garage collecting dust.  It is amazing how much stuff you can accumulate in 4 years.

So what's new for our household...  well, this is the first tour that we will be doing separately.    We are fine...  it's just that his new job will keep him working long hours, and with commute times as they are where he is going, I would essentially be a single mom.  I would much rather have help with just day to day things, like running errands, or taking a shower, or even homework.  And so the kids and I are moving home.  Plus, it affords me extra time to work my businesses... yes businesses.  I know I plan to continue with Mary Kay, but not sure which of the others I have blogged about I will keep up.  I think I will be continuing with MK & Beachbody.  (Which is new.  It was free for me to start, so why not?  I love their products and I love helping people achieve their weight loss or health goals.)  So we'll see.

What else can I say?  Except, the kids and I are super excited to be living with and near family, which is something that we haven't had in, well, ever.

And of course, for those that don't know, Sat was the Kentucky Derby.  Since, a) my hubby is from Kentucky originally, and b) he LOVES horse racing.  We hosted our 2nd annual Derby Party... Hats, Mint Juleps, and all!  One of our friends even brought the BEST sliders (ham and cheese) - I know they have a name, but I am drawing a blank.  For the second year, one of our family's horses won... and we won a bottle of Fireball, for the second year in a row.  Too funny!  Anyway, I found my decorations on Pinterest, which you can follow my boards here.  And I thank The Polka Dot Chair for the printables.  Once I get the pictures off my phone, I'll be happy to post how they came out for me.  If you are just too impatient to see them, visit me on Instagram.  You can see my cute kids and other things that I just find fun.  So I will leave you with this lovely picture of the spires at the infamous Churchill Downs.

So be looking for me to continue this blog, I promise to update you with my weight loss progress, and the races I run.  Plus, I will keep you up-to-date with all my business musings.

Thanks for reading my ramblings about my life, my hobbies and my businesses.

Started a new eating plan

So, I've been doing the P90X3 exercise program for 5 weeks now.  And I am definitely getting stronger.  I also have been trying to get my 3 runs in every week as well.  I have a 5K coming up in April.  I am nervous.  This week, my first running day was 5 min runs with 3 min walks. It was hard, but I did it.  My 2nd day is supposed to be 8 min runs with 5 min walks.  And the 3rd day is a straight 20 min straight run.  That one scares the pants off of me!

Anyway, mixed with my workout program, I added the 21-day fix eating plan.  I will keep you all updated with my results.  Today is day 1.  So far so good.  I have learned that I need to plan my eating.  I've always been more of a "fly by the seat of my pants" kind of eater.  I do watch my portions, but not nearly as much as this program.* I am excited to see where it takes me.  And once I finish my P90X3 program, I will be adding the 21-Day Fix workouts to my program.

This time I will succeed.  I am ready to do the work to loose the weight& get in great shape!

*i am not a BeachBody Coach, but if you are interested, I can get you in touch with my friend & coach!

Fitness

I know... I know... that title sucks.  Sorry!  I am just not being very creative at the moment.  I started doing the P90X3 program almost 3 weeks ago.  It may only be 30 mins, but wow, it is a GREAT workout.  But I digress.... I have been struggling with my weight for the last few years, pretty much since I had kids.  Although my struggles did begin a little before that.  Anyway, my goal is to lose the 50, or so, lbs that have crept up on me since I pretty much got married.

I will not post pics right now, b/c I am just not that confident yet.  I think in my mind that my body is a size that it isn't, or doesn't appear to be in pictures.  And no, I do not have issues with food.  I eat fairly healthy, and indulge every once in a while.  I think it is just genes and getting older.

I am not only doing the P90X3 program but also doing the couch to 10K program.  I am running a 5K with a friend of mine in April, but I've been wanting to up my game and go for a 10K in 2014.  YIKES!  I said that out loud.  I also dream of doing the Disney Princess 10K.  I don't know if I have the mental focus to run a half marathon.  LOL  I can go for 30-45 mins right now, but not much longer.  And no, I am not at the point of running the whole time.  But each week I am getting better.

Anyway, I am going to update you all every so often of my progress.  I will post some stats, mostly lbs lost and inches lost.  And maybe, just maybe when I get where I am going or I get closer to my goal, I may post my transformation pictures.  :)  Until then...  you'll just have to look at my pretty picture in the upper right hand corner of this blog.

Happy New Year!

Okay, so it's almost the end of February, and I've been MIA.  Some big changes are coming to our household.  First off, hubby got his orders....  Drum roll please.... He's headed off to Washington, DC.  I am taking the kids & moving to my parents' house.  Before all the questions start, yes, we are fine... Hubby's new job will be long days, with long commutes & crazy hours & lots of international travel.  We made the decision together that it would be best for me & the kids to stay with my parents.  Not only will I not be a "single" mother, but we will be closer to my in-laws as well.  So, everyone wins out.  Well, sort of...  I'm not saying it will be easy, because I know it won't.  But for our family it is best.

Okay...  So the fun part, we will be living in Florida & will be able to head to my parents' summer house in MI this summer to hang with my sister & her family.  And we'll be in Florida...  Do I hear Disney calling my name?  I think so.  :) LOL Plus, I still have a lot of friends in FL from college & a few from high school.

Anyway, with the Super Bowl being this weekend...  We decided to host a party.  And I am hosting a few specials (as seen on my fanpage...  www.facebook.com/lizherman-pinkpartyqueen ). Here they are...



I have also started a new company.  Still have Mary Kay & Jewelry in Candles, although I am not promoting JIC too heavily...  I am also a Distributor for Spirit Lockets.  You can visit my website, www.spiritlockets.com/#lizpinkpartyqueen.  You can order from there, or directly through me.  Just shoot me an email (lherman616@msn.com) and let me know what you are interested in.