I have prayed many times over how to begin and word this blog. I ONLY want to be an inspiration to others and don't want to be perceived as someone "tooting her own horn" or blasting herself. This blog is not about that at all. I'm just a busy mom and wife and a person who truly believes that anyone can make a life change if and when they want it.
That has always been my problem in the past. I wanted it, just not hard enough. See, one thing I have learned throughout this 5 month process is willingness. You have to be WILLING to give up things, gain things, and let go of things in almost all areas of your life. Until you are fully committed to be WILLING, I don't believe you will be 100% effective. That might be harsh, but that's my belief. A friend said this to me the other day and it struck home with me. She said, "I remember when we were training for the half and we would talk about detox. It just wasn't your time." Her words rang true to me. It wasn't my time. I wasn't ready to give it 100%.
May 2014 I was ready. I am thankful for my Arbonne friends (I have many of them) who have brought this product and this life change into my path. I am truly happy for them to see their success that Arbonne has brought to them. Many a time I will get asked whether or not I am ready to sell Arbonne, or to be a consultant, or to start my own team. While, I am thrilled for 
them in their journey, I do not believe my journey is being employed by Arbonne. Our pastor preaches on the importance of having a "sixth day income" and I believe that is house flipping for my husband and I. Will I support and cheer my friends and continue to buy Arbonne products? Absolutely!
Let me start by saying that my favorite Arbonne products are the Vanilla protein, both flavors of Fizz Sticks, and the 7 day cleanse. These products are implemented into my life on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. I began the 28 day Detox in May 2014. I wasn't too impressed with how much weight I lost that first month (I think I lost around 6 pounds). What I was more impressed with is how I felt. I've always considered myself pretty energetic, but this was a different level of energy. I felt good all day long. There's really no other way of wording it. I felt productive and able to do much more in a day than I thought possible. I slept great at night and woke up with the same feelings every day. I knew this was more than "just a fluke". I knew I was heading in the right direction.
I continued to eat clean, low in fats, high in fiber, low to no sugar, same with caffeine, and VERY little carbs. Did I splurge? Yes. I believed (and still do) that you deserve to congratulate yourself every so often. How boring would it be to live in a world where you get no praise, no reward? Not for me. That first month I didn't splurge. I was very "by the book". As the months went on 
my energy level still was climbing, the weight was still coming off, I was feeling better and better, and would slowly begin to throw in some cheat things here and there. HELLO PIZZA!!! I've never considered myself an extreme pizza lover but throughout this continued journey that is the food that has called my name the loudest. I hear it almost every day:)
When I began this process in May I weighed (no woman should have to say her weight but for this blog I think it is called for) 145. Many would be happy with that weight and to them I say, "Awesome!" For me, and my 5'4 frame I wasn't happy with that weight. I could wear a size 6 or 8. Since I am being completely open here, 6's hurt. I wasn't comfortable in them. Depending on the cut of the item even an 8 was tight sometimes and this scared me. Never in my life had I worn a 10 and THAT was my turning point. I didn't want to go buy a 10 just so I could be "comfortable". I wanted to be comfortable in smaller. So, I committed. 100% committed.
Today, 5 months later, I can COMFORTABLY wear a 2 or a 4. Both fit well and neither are tight. I weigh 120ish pounds and have lost a total of 25 pounds. I feel amazing. I feel younger. I feel
happier. I feel more confident. I feel strong.
Speaking of strong....What is that one thing you NEVER thought it possible for you to accomplish? Mine was running a faster mile. I've been a runner off and on my whole life and never have I been quick. Even at my fastest, going ALL OUT, it was hard for me to even stay in the low 9's. Could I keep up this new 7:13 pace for 5-6 miles? That's a huge NO. But, to even go all out for only 1 mile just to see what my body could do and be at 7:13. Never in a million years would I have thought that was possible.
You can do whatever you think is impossible too. All you have to do is be willing to commit 100% in all areas of your life. Be willing. Get a support system (it doesn't have to be Arbonne but it is a wonderful choice). Follow through. You fall off the wagon because you will and we are all human...you get back on. You push yourself and challenge yourself and love yourself. You know why? Because you're worth it!!!! Be well!!!
Love, Jackie
Okay so, I might be a boy mom. I might be used to dirt, noise, balls, sports, wrestling, and all things action figure. Something I still don't like? SNAKES. Like, can't stand them. Even if I am looking at them across a pond and safely standing on a path not even near the slimy thing, I can still say with 100% certainty that I do not like snakes. So, 
imagine my "pure joy" when the group of 6 Lincoln boys and our parent chaperones found NOT ONE but TWO snakes on our path through Oxley Nature Center. I was pretty proud of myself for not throwing myself on the ground and wailing, or running away screaming with my hands in the air, or shrieking like a girl. I wanted to do all of those things. All of those things all at one time, but I held it together for the sake of the boys (and so I wouldn't look too much like a weenie in front of 6 boys). The list was ever growing of the items, alive and dead, that we found on those trails. The highlight of the day? The 
snakes. Oh my gracious. Boys.
But, I am ever so thankful I got to spend some time with this boy. My almost 8 year old on our first field trip together as a Lincoln Christian student and parent. So proud of him for his character and willingness to work hard academically and with sports on and off the field. I couldn't be prouder. I love him snake lover and all:)
So, before you are tempted to skip ahead and see the wonderful picture I snapped of Bob Stoops...don't worry he's in this post. Just not in the form you might think of him as:)
Wednesday and Thursday rounded out Spirit Week for my boys this week as Friday Will is going on a field trip and has to wear his uniform (which just reminded me it is still sitting in the washer waiting to be transferred to the dryer. Please hold).
Okay, I'm back. Now, Wednesday was 80's day. Not too easy with boys. I can't throw on some neon and crimp their hair with banana clips. I figured out that all they would really allow me to do is upturned collars, bad hair, and french rolled jeans (which Owen wanted no part of). By the time I picked them up after school the rolls had fallen out of the jeans, the collars were back down, and their hair still looked bad. So overall, it just looked like a normal day:)
Thursday was the day we got to see BOB STOOPS. See, I told you it was in this story somewhere. Thursday was dress as your favorite coach or teacher day. Again, the boys have ONLY had female teachers 
and I wasn't about to put my boys in a dress or skirt so they decided they wanted to dress like Bob Stoops. Most of the items we already had in our possession so after a quick trip to Academy to score some $7 visors and $2 whistles, they were set!
We got to school and Will spotted one of his best friends, Gavin. Gavin was Gundy the head coach from OSU. Best friends and coaches can still be friendly on Spirit Day right? Oh, they got a kick out of each other and their outfits. These two love to be together and hang out. Kind of like their little brothers. Just two little siblings who find ways to
entertain each other after school with a little game of "what do you think's down there? I heard sharks live in there? No, I don't think so but I'm pretty sure alligators do." This was seriously their conversation as they were laying full out in the street with hands and mouths all over the storm drain. It's a good thing I'm a boy mom.....
I really just need to grow up, suck it up, move on, and stop OBSESSING over my children growing up. I mean, it's gonna happen. It's inevitable. Them being able to stay the same size and age forever is
physically impossible so I must just move on. 
Sometimes that's hard. Even harder when you pick up your phone and start playing with collage apps of their little faces from big to small. Ugh...I MUST STOP.
The hardest one for me was this picture. My little Will who Steven and I thought he looked SO BIG in this picture. I remember exactly where it was taken, when it was, who we were with, and why he was so excited about sitting on that little wooden stump. He had tried and tried many times to climb up 
there, turn himself around, and sit without falling off. He had tried many times and could never do it. That day, he did it and he was so proud of himself. That picture compared to my almost 8 year old son today? Oh, be still my heart. I must stop downloading stupid collage apps on my phone! No more!
The first time you hear, "It's a boy" you think balls, sports, dirt, and noise. The second time you hear, "It's another boy", you think that's A LOT of balls, sports, dirt, and noise. I really wouldn't want it any other way in our household. Sure, I've dreamed of a little girl and I love to borrow my nieces when I want some girl time but I am so used to sports, balls, dirt, and noise around here that I would terribly miss it if no boys were in my household.
So, along those lines I find my days, nights, and weekends at baseball fields, football fields, practice fields, backyard kickball/soccer/football
/trampoline/mud pie tournaments. This is where our family spends our free time in the evenings. Fall is an awesome time to do such things. It's not too hot, it's not too cold and most nights (football nights excluded) we are outside for 1-2 hours before it's time for baths and bed. This is my life, and YES I knew what I was getting into allowing my boys to sign up for every sport known to man. Their Daddy was like that, and still is, so how could I really say no?
The boys have met some of their best friends at these ball parks. They play all sports together, grow as a team and an individual, learn valuable life lessons, and meet new people 
in each and every sport they do.
Needless to say, this week's "Spirit Week" at school has been pretty easy so far. Monday was "Sports Day" and Tuesday was "Dynamic Duo" day. Like I said...simple!
Now...Wednesday might be a little harder. It's 70, 80, 90's day. That's difficult with boys. I'm thinking on it though. Right now I'm stuck in 1989 with up turned collars and french rolled jeans. Who knows if 
they will actually allow me to dress them like that tomorrow though. Stay tuned...it's still a work in progress!
