Reflections from 2014

As the new year has started many people begin to look back on 2014 and decide if it was worthwhile or a bust.  As I think back to last year I remember distinctly some of my goals.  My first one was to lose weight.  Classic I know, but this has been an ongoing struggle.  Thankfully this past year the mystery had been solved.  After 2 years of constant working out and trying different diets to see if anything would kick start my weight loss I finally had my blood drawn and was diagnosed with borderline Hoshimoto Thyroiditis.  Cool.......not really.  However I guess the upside is that we have found the problem and now we can get on the right track to fix it.

Now with that right track comes some slightly annoying lifestyle changes.  I have to take a hormone replacement every morning an hour before I eat.  That's all great and dandy except I normally forget until my stomach is screaming at me to pound the leftover pizza in the fridge from the night before.  So I'm working on that.

It also means I need to limit my gluten.....damn you gluten.  So with hoshimoto thyroiditis pretty much what is happening is my thyroid antibodies see my thyroid as bad and attack it.  Fail antibodies.  Gluten increases your thyroid antibodies so it makes sense to limit or eliminate it from your diet so it doesn't continue to attack my thyroid.  They also said to limit dairy but that ain't happening so I will do my best with the gluten.  Give and take right?

You don't realize how much gluten you eat until you aren't supposed to anymore.  I have found some great alternatives but sometimes you just want that bacon cheeseburger on a pretzel bun from Wendy's.......ya know what I mean.

My second goal was to pay it forward more.  I feel I did a decent job at this.  I always try to remember that we don't know what is going on in someones life so if they are cranky with you at the checkout line maybe all they need is someone to smile at them and tell them to have a great day.  My favorite pay it forward of the year was when I was pumping gas and this nice older man came up to me and said "ma'am this is really embarrassing but i left my wallet at home and I just need a couple bucks to be able to get home.  Can you help me out?"  Well I rarely carry cash so I told him I would swipe my card and he could fill up as much as he would like.  He began to cry and said "no no no I'm not asking for anymore than I need.  You are too kind.  I didn't even think you would help".  My first thought was well what's that supposed to mean?  Do I not seem friendly?

I swiped my card, told the man to have a lovely day, and drove off.  It wasn't until later that day I was checking my bank acct to see if a check posted and noticed that the man in fact only took what he needed.  $3.67 worth of gas.  Sometimes you just have to have a lil faith in humanity and that man restored mine.

My last goal was to travel and challenge my mind and thinking.  That I pretty much nailed.  This past year I traveled to Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Nebraska, Missouri, Nevada, Colorado, and Illinois.  I attended many conferences and heard from inspiring speakers that left me yearning for more and wanting to take on the world.

This is my year to take on the world and help make some positive changes. Oh and I'm going to attempt to do better at this gluten free thing.  Against my every desire for yummy pasta and domino's pizza.   What are your goals for 2015?

Time to Party!

New year, new month, new party! That's right, its time for our new Country Fair Blog Party.  This month the theme is Holiday Treasure Hunt.  If you are like me the holidays are a crazy time.  It's almost like a marathon of gatherings.  So hunt through the archives and share with us what you have been up to!  Perhaps it is your favorite recipe from the holidays or even a project you made or received.  Whatever it is we want to see it!

Be sure to check out the other hosts and see what they are up to as well!

Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom

Country LINKed

High Heels and Shotgun Shells

The TIP Garden

Belong With Wildflowers

Uncharted Rhoade

I hope that your new year is off to a fabulous start!!

An InLinkz Link-up

Pinterest DIY Christmas

Another Christmas is in the books, which means another 15 pounds gained from a solid 2 week Christmas marathon of eating.  I must admit that this Christmas was another great success in Christmas gifting category.

My sisters and I did a pinterest Christmas 2 years ago and enjoyed it so much we decided to do it again this year.   We each pin things on a board in pinterest of things we would love to make.  We set a limit on amount to spend and then decide off of their board what to make each other.  I think this year went even better than the last!

Here is a lil preview of what I made and what I received:

What I made my sister Emma....

 Painted and decorated a cow skull

 I made this sign out of barn siding from my grandmas barn

What I made for my sister Jess.......

Took an old window frame and used chalkboard paint on plywood for a back

What I received..........

 Emma made me this galvanized end table.  It is amazing!  

Jess made me this incredible coffee table out of crates.

As you can tell we definitely got our craft on this Christmas.  It is such a fun idea instead of going out and buying things.  If you are interested in any of these you can find them on my pinterest page and the directions to make them yourself.

I hope you all had a great Christmas as well! What was your favorite thing that you received?

Enjoy!

Heaven Gained an Angel......This One's for You Grandma

As a child you don't really think about death.  I pretty much believed that all my relatives would live forever.  I mean at 8 years old, getting to be 90 is practically an eternity!  Even into my 20's it seemed that all my family will again remain in my life for as long as I'm here.  Is that because I have been spoiled and for the majority of my life thus far, and all of my family has been here......I guess you could say that.

Well all of that changed last night at 1am when I received a call from my mom saying grandma had passed away.  While she had been in hospice for the past week and in the back of my mind I knew it would happen at some point, I still didn't fully believe it would happen.  I mean it's your grandma....they live forever, right?

My granny was pretty legit.  I mean she was the All American Grandma.  The grandma that I aspire to be just like one day.  She was the best noodle maker this side of the Mississippi and could make one mean sugar cookie.  She had to have known she was a badass noodle maker as she made sure to give us girls a noodle machine as our wedding gift.  One must carry on the tradition, right?  She could also whip you up a quilt in no time flat and had no problem sharing her thoughts on any matter.  I mean at 93 years old I'm pretty sure you are allowed to say whatever you want.   You have put your time in.

A large part of my childhood was spent at my grandmas.  Since she lived only a mile and a half down the road it was the perfect meeting place for all of the cousins to congregate. Spending the night at grandmas was like Christmas because we stayed up all night and raided her stash of mt dew and oatmeal cream pies. (Which could probably contribute to my lack of ever being a size 2).  We spent many days building tree houses and forts or just exploring the old barns.  Memories to last a lifetime.

Saturday night I held the hand of my grandma while I kissed her forehead, told her I love you, and fully expected to see her again.  She squeezed my hand and returned the I love you.  Life is short folks.  It makes you appreciate the good times and makes you wish you had time for just a few more.

Rest In Peace Grandma.  While you get to reunite with grandpa you will be dearly and greatly missed.

December CFBP.......Baby It's Cold Outside

So while this may be the theme of this months blog party link up, I must admit that it has been pretty mild in these parts lately.  I even heard it may reach close to 50 degrees this coming week.  For December in Ohio that is pretty rare.  Last year I'm pretty sure we were under a ridiculous amount of snow.  If you can tell I'm not complaining in the slightest.  I will take 50 degrees in December any day!

As mentioned at the beginning.......our December blog party link up is "Baby it's Cold Outside".  That means share with us anything and everything that reminds you of winter and the holidays.  I can't wait to see what everyone has to share since i procrastinate every year when it comes to the holidays  and deciding what to buy/make for people and what dish to take to family gatherings.  So give me some inspiration friends!

Be sure to check out the other lovely hosts as well!

Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom

Country LINKed

High Heels and Shotgun Shells

The TIP Garden

Belong With Wildflowers

Uncharted Rhoade

An InLinkz Link-up

November is a time to Party!

I mean what month isn't a good time to party in all honesty? Can y'all believe it is November already?  This year is flying by!  I recently had my 1st annual 29th birthday this month!  Woo Hoo for never turning 30 right?!  As you can probably already tell, with a new month comes a new blog party theme!  This month we are all about the Giving (as you quickly start to sing "all about that bass")  I know you did. :)

One of the new additions to the party is we have some new and lovely co-hosts!  I will share with you a lil about them for your viewing pleasure!

Nicole shares about her life on a Kansas farm and ranch over at Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom. Her and her husband raise boys, cattle, wheat, corn, grass and soybeans on their family farm. Her days can be unpredictable, sometimes comical, sometimes heart wrenching, but always fulfilling to those who are lucky to be farmers.

Jan, the chick behind Tip Garden, grew up a Kansas farm girl. She now lives in the big city out in the South East. She works 2 jobs outside the home, in addition to her favorite "jobs" of wife and mother!  She knows what being a busy woman is, short on time, and always feeling 2 steps behind and she loves time & money saving ideas!

Caitlin, of Belongs With Wildflowers, a 20-something living on the East Coast of the United States. After a decade chasing college degrees and career ladders, I began blogging as a creative outlet to reconnect with myself. Blogging pushed me to look at what happiness meant to me (and it was found in the most surprising of places). 

I’m learning about agriculture, beekeeping, chickens, goats, herbalism, and organic farming to begin my farm and homestead in the next year. In the meantime, I spend my days chasing adventures with Michael (lovingly called ‘my guy’ and ‘my beau’),with an awfully adorable fur-little family in tow.

Jamie, of This Uncharted Rhoade, is a Midwestern girl. 25 years old. Married to her best friend. Passionate about agriculture. Has a fantastic job working with animals and amazing, smart people. Fixing up their one bedroom house into a home. Happiest when surrounded by open fields and cows. She's been known exaggerate a little bit and sometimes has potty mouth (sorry mom).

Laurie is a country gal from Missouri. She was born and raised a farm girl and feels very blessed to be back on the family farm with her husband and children. Laurie loves sharing about life on the farm and living in the country as well as her photography. Every day is different on the farm, so you never know what you might see when you visit COUNTRY LINKED.

Danielle was born an Urban Cajun, transformed into a Rural Okie and now blazing through life as a Kentucky Wife. She writes about my life, faith, my fur-child Oliver, over share about the handsome fella I married and mix it all in with some agriculture flavor on the (sometimes hysterical, but always honest) High Heels and Shotgun Shells.

So now that you know all about everyone, go find your favorite post about giving or anything Thanksgiving related and link it up for all the world to see!  

Enjoy!

An InLinkz Link-up

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Fall Beauty Swap

I've said it before and I'll say it again...this is the greatest thing on social media ever!!  If anyone of you know of a better activity than meeting someone new and sharing your favorite beauty items please let me know.  I doubt you can find one!  Crystal Cattle is a pure genius for coming up with this!

This time I was paired up with the lovely Melanie over at The Traveling Cowgirl.  I knew this girl was going to be pretty legit as when we contacted each other she was on her way to Round Top, TX to visit Junk Gypsy!  Any girl that likes the Junk Gypsy's is alright in my book!  She sent me some amazing new finds that I can't wait to share with y'all

Here are my absolute favorites!

I was told that NARS is very comparable to MAC but just cheaper.  I was skeptical because I am a MAC lover to the extreme.  I was pleasantly surprised!  I received this Matte Lip Pencil and I have worn it out multiple times and love it!

I also received this Sephora Lipstick in Deep Mauve.  I love this one too! I am loving these fall colors of mauve and burgundy!  You guys seriously need to try these two.  You won't be disappointed.

Now when you wear darker colored lipstick, many times the color will bleed up your face.  It isn't pretty.  Every time you glance in the mirror you notice the lipstick has moved all the way up to your nostrils.  Real life.  This product is a must have!!!  It is a clear lip liner that keeps your lipstick from bleeding.  Genius!

I also received the Buxom Mascara Bar as well as the Urban Decay Perversion Mascara.  These are both great products!  I have a couple buxom glosses that I love so was excited to try their mascara.  I have tried a couple different urban decay mascaras and this one didn't disappoint either.

I also received the Ole Henriksen Brightening Cleansing Cloth.  These are divine!  I love a great cleansing cloth that doesn't leave my face feeling greasy or gross.  These are great!  Last but not least I got mint lip balm.  Those are great!  My puppy actually got hold of my old one so this was perfect timing for a replacement!

Now go out and get these!  You won't be disappointed!

Enjoy