Homeschool Deal

I have been homeschooling for 7 years and there is one item I use every single day in my homeschool. Pencils. 

I am pretty picky when it comes to which Pencils I buy. Some don’t write dark enough. Some don’t sharpen correctly. Some the erasers smear and fall out. 

I absolutely love these Ticonderoga pencils. 

Amazon has them on sale right now 96 for $4.97 but I am not sure how long the sale will last so go get some pencils. 

(The link below is an affiliate link and I do get a small commission when you shop with my link.)

My Weight Loss Journey, The Struggle

It was Valentine's Day 2017, which was actually the 13th in my house, when I walked into Weight Watcher's with my 3 and 7 year old daughters in tow. I was sick of being overweight and I honestly thought if Weight Watcher's couldn't help me I was doomed to be fat for the rest of my life.

I have not shared this story online before so why am I sharing it now?  Because I am gaining weight like crazy. Yep, I am am actually gaining weight. I am already 7 pounds above my lowest weight.

I am sharing because weight loss is a lifelong struggle. You don't just get to goal weight and are magically a skinny person. You don't just stop thinking about it and go on forever able to eat whatever the heck you want. You have to keep tracking, you have to keep your why in mind.

These last 2 weeks I have lost sight of my why and I have stopped tracking and stopped keeping my food journal. Why?! I am going to chalk it up to stress. But in all honesty I got stressed, lazy, and I got tired of having to do these things. I was pissed that the last 10 pounds have been so difficult to take off. I was being a spoiled baby and thinking I wish I could just eat like everyone else. Well 7 pounds later I know I cannot stop tracking.

I have to recommit and I am doing that right now. I have already lost 99 pounds, 79 pounds with Weight Watcher's, and I am committing to restarting today. I am not waiting till Monday, or next year or when my clothes get tight, I am starting right now.

I promise will share more about my weight loss journey in the future but for now please know that the struggle is real and if you are struggling too, I am with you, I hear you. Recommit today!

Xo,

Shannon

Why you should choose a word of the year for 2016

Having a word for the year will help you to align your goals for the year ahead.

These goals are going to be bigger than how much money you want to make or how much weight you want to loose.

Choosing a word to guide you for the year is something that will help create an overarching theme for the year ahead. 

Your word for the year will help you to answer these questions:
-is this in alignment with my goals for my life, family, and business?
-is this going to drain my energy or fill me up?
-do I need or want more of this in my life?

Two of my past words have been open and enjoy.

The year that my word was open I tried to remain open to new possibilities. Open to changes, which for someone with anxiety was super scary. I tried very hard not to place my thoughts or opinions on things but to be open to receiving the gifts others had for me.

The year I chose enjoy was a tough one for us. We had suffered much loss the year before and I was building a brand new business with a toddler and a baby on my hip. I had lost so much of who I was that year and the joy for creating was gone. I made a screen saver for my phone to remind me to enjoy the process and when I struggled for air I would look at those words.

My word for 2016 is give. 
It has not been easy being a homeschooling mom with two businesses. I feel pulled in many directions on a daily basis. When I am working I feel like I should be with my family and when I am with family I am worried I am not doing enough for my business. 

Already my word has helped me be more giving. 
When I am with my salon clients I ask myself how can I give of my time, knowledge, and be most helpful to this person right now.  I know my family needs me to be giving of love, energy, and attention.
For my brand, Emily and Eden, finding my why was a struggle so I had a 1:1 meeting with a coach. During our conversation she helped me uncover that my reason for making jewelry was to share love and she could not have been more correct. Giving love, time, attention, knowledge, support, kindness, self.  I could not think of a more perfect word for myself as we head in to 2016.

Have you chosen your word for 2016? 

My mailing list was the first to hear about how to pick your word of the year and this brand new necklace. Sign up here http://bit.ly/2016WOTY   and I will send you awesome stuff too!

To keep your goals top of mind and close to your heart, I have created a customizable word of the year necklace.  Check it out here.

Handmade from recycled sterling silver this necklace will be a constant reminder to follow your path and to answer the question:
-is this in alignment with my goals for my life, family, and business?