A Mom of a Different Color.

My TREATS.

Yesterday, I had one of those "Ahhhh Haaaaa" moments where I had to take a step back and look at how FAR I have come in my health journey.

To be proud of ME as a Mom, Woman and Wife.

I always encourage my ladies to live in the moment and to believe that BABY steps are important.
A step forward no matter the size, shape or timing ... counts ... they all count. Then yesterday in my kitchen while I was washing these Grapes and washing the Apples and preparing this platter ... I just smiled. This was a step! And, this step took me over a year to make .... Kinda Wild!

I have become a healtheir Mom.
This would not have happened 365 days ago.
I was putting fear of judgement from others behind me.
This was the real MARY.


One of my Daughters had a Thanksgiving Feast yesterday and I needed to bring in a side dish for the class. Normally, I would always opt to bring in something super cute and loaded with sugar. A sweet gooey treat, because I knew the kids would go crazy and LOVE it. Yessssss....... even though I married a Dentist.  =D

However, this time I took a different path. FRUIT was my TREAT this year. Why Not ?

I decided to prepare fruit that I knew kids who were 4 and 5 years of age ... really enjoyed. I went to Publix picked out 2 colors of grapes, grabbed a bag of Macintosh Apples and set them on a platter to make my own CREATION.

I arrived to the party, nervous and of course 5 minutes late. (This Momma is always 5 minutes late ...  LOL) My emotions felt like they were flashing on my shoulders, but they weren't .. that was just in my head. I was nervous that my daughter would be super UPSET that I did not have cookies, brownies or cake. But NOPE, she ran up to me ... gave me a Huge Hug and said,  "Momma ... I love you and I want purple grapes please."  LOL ... true story!

All this worry, fear and a little anxiety ... over a fruit platter. But this is the truth. My true emotions.

As I carried my big round platter, knelt down to each child and offered them apples or grapes ... my fear started to disappear. In fact my confidence grew. One by one each child was making their selection. To my surprise, truthfully the Apples went SUPER fast, and the grapes were almost gone. FYI ... Purple Grapes WON!

So the fear of being that boring mom, the healthy crunchy mom or the Beachbody Mom has passed.

I am still 100% normal and I still struggle with the fear of judgement.  But, above ALL I know this is the real me ... this is a lifestyle change and it has poured into the lives of my entire family. At the end of the day I have one person to answer to ... and I know HE has my back.

You just be YOU ... and believe in You.

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So NOW is the time to change my life … baby steps and in such a small - small - space … 6 by 8 to be exact  =D 

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grin emoticon

30 minutes a day to SWEAT … to focus … on Me – To grow – To become a Stronger Woman … To let go of the Stress and or All of things we can't change .. but see what I CAN Change.

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I can find a 1,000 reasons to NOT focus on it … or just … FOCUS on it and Fit it in. Tough love 4 Meeeeee <3 heart emoticon

‪#‎TransformationTuesday‬
‪#‎NovemberCounts‬

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A place to be Motivated, Inspired and Given the Support YOU Need to Reach Your Goals. 

           
This is little 5 Year Old Nypon, who lives in Indonesia.
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He is one of four in his family and he lives with his Mother and Father. His responsibilities at home include running errands. He does not attend school because he is too young. He LOVES Soccer and playing Group Games.He also attends church on a regular basis.
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Team IGNITE is going to end the year a little different this time. At the end of our 3 week December, "Compassion Support and Accountability Group" our TEAM will vote on how WE can Serve Nypon.
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During the month of December - Every Inch lost is Equal to One Dollar - $1
Your LOSS is his GAIN.
Truly in a GREAT--Life Changing way!
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Some of Nypon's needs Include:
Chickens
Goats
Dental Care
Water Wells
Sports Camps
Safe Water for Life
Sewing Workshops
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I believe with ALL my heart we can help him ... and for the month of December it is far GREATER than just OUR Goals and Success Stories, but giving far beyond what we could IMAGINE.

Grab your SNEAKERS in December, Let's work TOGETHER on a Plan for you and Kick Start your Clean Eating. Your support and love will give him the assistance he needs to grow and be nourished. And please remember Nypon in your prayers.

Contact me and or Complete my Application <3 <3 <3 <3

https://marybailey3.wufoo.com/forms/tell-me-about-you/

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Old Fashion Berry Oats

Breakfast is by far my FAVORITE meal of the day.  I have always loved breakfast and while growing up in a large family with 5 other siblings ... it was just the 'norm' to sit down at a Long Table and for everyone to eat and watch cartoons together. Oh the morning stories I could share ... LOL!

I remember those mornings when my Mom would cook Oatmeal .. you know the good old fashion oats and it was just DELICIOUS.  She always made it the right temperature, right texture and added in just the right amount of raisins and brown sugar.  It was PERFECT! I finished every BITE!

So now as a Momma to 4 kiddos at home I have gone back to my roots and have started to SLOW DOWN and cook oats in the morning ... the good ole fashion kind.

Now just a little different and just a little healthier.

I have to admit I have come a LONG ways from how I have always doctored up my oats. I really never understood how brown sugar impacted my insides. Or how raisins just didn't digest well with me.

So after 1 year of preparing my morning Oats with all the heavier sugar options ... it is a GOOD feeling to share a picture of where I am now with my Oat journey.

Morning Berry Oats; fresh blueberries, fresh raspberries and a small teaspoon of honey.


All this time I never thought I would be able to give up brown sugar, raisins and dried fruit ... SERIOUSLY ... I was hooked. But, I have made progress ... baby steps ... make all the difference in the world.

Patience and Persistence is the key .. This is by far one of my favorite breakfast choices. <3

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Quiet Time

Today was one of those Mondays where I just need to ESCAPE and calm the brain. As a Mom it is SO easy to get wrapped up and over-whelmed with the home chores. It is so normal to feel that way about laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, errands, pet-care, birthday planning and maybe even dinner.

Today I was reminded while listening to my personal development to remember to CARVE out that ME TIME.

Moms are allowed to do that ... <3

From 15 minutes to even 30 minutes in your busy - day it is so important to find a little quiet time. For me it normally looks like running, sweating or even just stretching my body.

I also LOVE waking up early before the kids roll out of their beds. When my alarm goes off at 5:15 I get to wash my face alone. Then I can enjoy reading the Bible, or the book I am reading. Being alone and just sipping on my hot coffee in a comfy chair ... curled up with a blanket. It just feels like the perfect way to start a new day.

I took this picture ... while waiting at a doctors for some test results. I needed to breathe I really needed some fresh air. After I held this pose and closed my eyes I walked around the golf course and felt a lot lighter. The sun on my face and the wind blowing my hair was so relaxing. I felt like my mind was clearer and my shoulders were lighter.

So I wanted to share this little moment ... creating some quiet time is WONDERFUL tool to help keep you moving. Calming the brain is a healthy exercise.

Stretch - Pause - Exhale

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Hi! I'm Mary!

 Hi and WELCOME to my Story.

I'm so happy you've stopped by and I can't wait to share with you a little glance into my life. As a Mom to four children and a wife to a busy Husband, I understand LIFE can feel full ... overwhelming ... or just too busy.

I hope I can shine a little light on how I seek to find that precious balance each and every day.

I know what it's like to feel overwhelmed by trying to start a new healthy lifestyle. After my fourth baby, was born I could no longer get a grip of TIME or much less Life. I actually had control over nothing. I felt overwhelmed and I felt lost. After sometime of denial I realized I was going through post-partum depression. And, going into such a dark place where nothing felt comfortable from my clothes to my home and just looking into the mirror. I was not happy and I needed a CHANGE ... I did not even recognize who I was.

During that pregnancy I had gained 52 pounds and I needed to get it off. I needed to sweat it off and I needed to learn a new system as a stay at home mom. I did not know anything about clean eating and I was worried it would be too hard. I had always enjoyed working out and feeling that deep burn or sweat dripping down my stomach. However, the story of my life prior was ... I was a GYM Girl.

At this season in my life I could not afford a Gym, a Sitter for those hours or create a health plan with consistency. So after a long year of one of my Girlfriends asking me to be in a Challenge Group with her and to push play on a T-25 and drink Shakeology daily ... I finally said, "Yes"!


Within the first week I felt different ... my mind, body and soul was transforming. ALL from working out in my guest room and finally discovering that the Healthiest Meal of the day was a Shake. It was WILD!  The support and positive motivation from my on-line Challenge Group was Life Changing. I did not feel alone ... but I felt connected to New Friends. I was being pushed by women who were living in another STATE or another CITY,  but we were reaching for the same goal.

"A Healthier ME."

Let me tell you - I could not be here today if I didn't have those bad days! They became my motivation to DO BETTER and to FEEL BETTER! I had to BELIEVE I could do it and I did! After four months with T-25 and Shakeology ... I lost my baby weight and I had found "MARY" again.

Today one of my greatest passions in life is to help others and give back to the community - to share the knowledge that I've learned. I truly want to help you get started. Sometimes that can look completely different for one person verse another. Remember life is about taking one step at a time.

Momma on the GO!

Everyones first day looks different but, we ALL have a first day! The moment where our MIND shifts into an entirely new direction because you commit to a NEW YOU.  It is scary and it is over-whelming ... but you do not have to be alone ... let's do this TOGETHER.

Become your biggest fan! Make a commitment to yourself that says - I want to live a healthier life!
I want my family to live a healthier life! And, I want to do it right and MAKE IT STICK!

Let Go, Dream Big and Laugh Often!

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