Revolt Check-In: End of Week 3

It's the end of my third week today with the program and I'm here again to update you on how well I am doing with Revolt. I am seeing such great results already that I just had to include a picture with today's post. Plus this means you get to see my awesome farmer's tan, lucky you.

I'm proud of how far I have come so far, and of how hard I am working. I just had to show off a bit. Will was looking at my before pictures yesterday and commented how different I looked already, and so I looked back, too, and I have to agree. Now of course, the both of us obviously see me every day, so changes are easy for us to spot. Let me know if you can see a difference! My week three photos are below, and I included the before pictures (taken 4/29/13) just below that for your convenience.

They are small, subtle changes really. My waistline has decreased a bit each week. My belly looks flatter, at least from the front. I am noticing my butt slowly lifting. I am starting to get a teeny tiny gap between my thighs. And I'm beginning to see definition everywhere. I even think my face looks thinner! But I must say I am feeling a million times better than I look. And how I feel is so much more important than noticeable physical changes. My arms are getting much stronger; I can do ten whole, real push-ups! Mt. Climbers have become so easy peasy. I can run around the block, or even a mile without feeling like death. My pants are getting loose in the waist, and I might just be able to squeeze into an old pair of really really skinny jeans!

The food is still just fantastic. I love it! And I love having it all planned out for me; it leaves no room for excuses. Plus it is so good, I want to eat it and not much else. In fact, Revolt should come with a disclaimer. I'm starting to dislike a lot of foods I once enjoyed, that were maybe not too good for me. For instance, today is my free day, so I can eat what I want freely. I went to have a doughnut hole with my coffee this morning and had to spit it out! It was disgusting. Way way way too sweet. And later today I tried some cheddar cheese with some rice crackers, and that cheese straight up tasted like butter. Gross. I'm not minding these changes is food preferences too much :) Clean eating is treating me so well.

Here are this weeks stats:

I am nowhere near done, but I am more and more near where I want to be with each and every week. I'm starting to envision what my body will feel and look like when I reach my goals, and I can't wait.

Here's to a happy and healthier me! Join me for the June 3rd uprising!?

P.S. A free kickstart begins on Monday if you are interested in Revolt, but want to test things out a bit, first. The kickstart includes access to a 50 page guide, 1 week of videos, 1 week of workouts (3 levels), and 1 week of a meal plan (6 cal levels).

Disclaimer: I was chosen as a Revolt Fitness Program blogger and received free membership to try the fitness program. All results are real and my own. All opinions expressed are my own. 

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Changeable iPhone/iPod Case DIY

You may remember me mentioning that I was going to be getting an iPhone soon. Perhaps you don't remember, but any matter, I didn't end up doing that. You see, my brother was getting a new phone and so I had my eyes on the iPhone he was going to get rid of. But I thought about it a bit and decided Will needed a smart phone more than I do, so he ended up with it. I did get Will's iPod touch out of the deal though! Which is actually really nice. Especially considering I was still running off a 2nd gen iPod touch (you know the gen before they added the camera) that didn't even update anymore.

Of course, as soon as it was mine, I wanted to swap out Will's case for something more me. And more pretty. So I looked online a bit, and guess what? Nice designer cases are actually pretty expensive. Even simple ones. So, being the crafty being I am, I figured I could just make something. I found a great deal on a clear case ($2.00 and free shipping, yes please) and ordered it with the intention of doing something like this, but as soon as I sat down to make it I thought, "As pretty as this is going to be, I'll probably still get bored of it in a week." So I made my designer case changeable. And it was so easy peasy. See how I made it below.

1. What you'll need: a clear iPod or iPhone case (I got mine from this website), scrapbook/craft paper, a pencil, fine-point scissors, an exacto-knife, mod podge and a paint brush (both optional).

2. Begin by making a stencil. This will save you from making mistakes on your pretty paper and help you get an accurate fit. Use a lightweight paper to do this, like printer paper. Place the clear case down onto the paper and trace around it. Cut out the traced shape.

3. Slide your cut stencil into your clear case. Hold it flat against the back with your hand and trace the areas you will need to cut out, like around the camera and the USB and headphone ports. Remove the stencil from the case and cut these small areas out using an exacto-knife to be precise. Trim down the sides if needed.

4. Transfer your stencil onto the scrapbook paper of your choosing. Cut out around the image. Tip: Although I traced the smaller areas to cut out, like around the camera, I placed each piece inside the case before cutting those areas just to be extra sure that they lined up with the corresponding holes. Some paper lies differently than others when place between the case and the iPod/iPhone, so I really recommend this step if you don't want to have to start all over again.

That's it! Cut out as many different interchangeable designs and colors as you'd like.

If you would like to make the paper design permanent, simply apply the scrapbook paper to the inside of the clear case using a few coats of mod podge and let dry completly. 

This is the one I am currently using. How pretty is that paper!? I love it. But I love that if I don't love it forever I'll be able to use something new without having to buy something.

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Anniversary Weekend Camping at Little Payette Lake

It's the middle of the week now, and I'm finally here to share how our camping trip this past weekend went. Mostly, I'm just now sharing because I'm still exhausted. Sort of like a camping hangover. Now that is a sign of a good trip! Another sign is when you have way too many good pictures. It was hard to cut them down for this post, so prepare yourself for the longest post EVER.

We were lucky enough to be able to borrow a canoe to take with us from Will's boss, Tim. Thanks Tim! I guess working for Fish and Game pays off. We planned to leave Friday after Will was done with work, like 5:00 or 6:00 pm, but didn't end up rolling out of Boise until closer to 9:00 pm. Secretly, I think Will just likes finding camping spots in the dark. Because this happens nearly every time we go camping. But we didn't have too far to go; we drove up to the Little Payette Lake, just southeast of the bigger lake in McCall and north of Cruickshank Reservoir.

This was our view of the lake when we woke up the next morning. Pippin was a little confused when we pulled up into the wilderness in the dark, but oh I wish you could have seen his little face when he woke up in the back of the car to the sun rising. He just looked back at us like, "GUYS!" And then starred out the window in awe for a good solid hour while we slept a little more.

Here's a better view of our campsite. What a good find in the dark, right? After we got the canoe off the top of the car and had a bit of breakfast, we explored the area a bit before heading out on the lake.

The entire shore line of the lake was covered in drift wood and fallen trees. I thought it rather beautiful. And the lake was like a pine tree graveyard, with bits of old trunks still holding strong and sticking out above the water. It was actually not too difficult to slide the canoe across the deadwood to get to the water.  

It was such a lovely place to explore. And of course Pippin loved it. The yorkie in him sure makes him unafraid of water; he liked running through the shallow water near the shore, and climbing over all the trees. Sadly, Scout had to sit this trip out. He's not so great at car rides and hates water.

Little Payette Lake is a perfect lake for canoeing. In fact, I don't know if you could do much else out there. The only other people we saw while there were a few fishermen and a kayaker. The water is too shallow and the lake too small to allow much else. We thought it was wonderful. We spent almost the entire first day out on the water. We even headed up the inlet river for a bit and found a nice place on some rocks over looking the river for lunch. Funny story: Pippin really enjoyed hanging over the edge of the boat and watching the water as we paddled. I kept having to tell him not to jump in. When we were heading up river, and had just made it past a hard curve after getting stuck in an eddy, Pippin fell overboard when we hit a bit of a bump. Luckily I have super awesome fast reflexes and grabbed him and put him back in the boat in a matter of seconds before he got sucked away in the current. Also, luckily, the sun was out and he dried off real quick (because that water was cold!).

We headed back to camp late in the afternoon. Pippin was so exhausted from all that adventure that he passed out in the car right away. Will has this awesome tent that fits onto the car. You put the tail gate down and it extends off the back. It adds lots of space in there. We just make up a bed in the back, climb in at the tail gate, and open and close the tent doors as needed. I love it. We took it easy the rest of the night, made dinner and got plenty of sleep to adventure again the next morning.

The next day we decided to go a different direction and headed striaight across the lake. We spied a structure on the map that looked man made, perhaps a dam, and we wanted to check it out. We were right, by the way. Exploring the other side of the lake was fun for a bit and it was cool to look across and see how far we had paddled. We found another cool spot to make lunch along some rocks and tied the boat up for a bit. When we headed back out, the wind had picked up greatly, making the once calm water extremely choppy, so we headed back to camp cautiously and slowly. We then casually got everything ready to leave, but were a bit sad to go.

We had a great, relaxing, fun trip. Every time we go out camping all I can think is how much I wish we could have stayed longer. This trip was no exception. I loved getting away for a bit. And Pippin sure would have been happy living on that lake forever. I'm excited to get out and do more exploring this summer, and we will sure keep this spot in mind for more camping and canoeing adventures.

Hope you all are doing wonderful this week. Let's be friends and go camping, okay? Okay.

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Revolt Check-In: End of Week Two

I am a little late with this check-in due to a camping trip this weekend. But it has been another successful week with Revolt. I mean, look, I even took my yoga mat camping with me. If that doesn't say dedication, I don't know what does. In all truthfulness, I didn't use it too much; I got plenty of exercise canoeing around an entire lake two days in a row. But I will say that I am loving how Revolt is making me feel. I feel infinitely stronger than I did two weeks ago. And I'm even starting to look forward to my workouts! That is something I have never experienced before. And I still can't stop raving about the food. Cutting out sugar and most gluten has really done my sensitive tummy and body good.

Before I share the results with you, I want to mention something important. Don't get caught up in my weight. Because I am not. I don't like weighing myself and I am only doing so now as a reference for my readers. You may notice that I gained a pound this week, it happens. I added carbs back into my diet after the detox week and I've also gained a significant amount of muscle mass. Please pay more attention to the the inch measurements I have taken and also the changes in body fat. After all, I am not too concerned about losing weight, but I am about losing some fat.

Now, on to the results!

Things that feel great this week:

1. I am really starting to see definition in my quads/thighs. All those squats sure pay off.
2. Also noticing my butt lifting. Again, squats.
3. My arms changed drastically this week! Or so it seems to me. I'm sure all that paddling around the lake this weekend has something to do with it. I feel so strong and I love it.
4. I can also see some little baby upper abs showing up! I know the rest are just hiding under that belly fat!
5. My jeans are getting looser in the waist, but are getting a little snug in the thigh. Woo hoo, fit body!

Things that feel not so great this week:

1. Something I was eating this week was really making my gut a bit angry and as a result I was a little bloated. I need to figure out what it was!
2. I hurt my knee a bit from landing funny while climbing over some logs when we were camping. I just have to remember to be easy on it for a bit.
3. I got a bad sun burn. This has nothing to do with Revolt, I'm just really mad about it (because I tried so hard not to sun burn).

For more posts from bloggers doing Revolt click this image:

Disclaimer: I was chosen as a Revolt Fitness Program blogger and received free membership to try the fitness program. All pictures and results are real and my own. All opinions expressed are my own.

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DIY Lace Cuffed Shorts

I absolutely love cut-off jeans. Not only are they thrifty, it is a great way to save a beloved pair of sad old jeans. I think I only have one pair of jeans that aren't cut-offs, so I'm always looking for ways to change them up or pretty them up. I've wanted a pair of lacy shorts for a while, and well, I finally got around to it. See how I transformed these old jeans into shorts below.

DIY Lace Cuffed Jean Shorts:

1. What you'll need:  And old pair of shorts or jeans, lace, scissors, thread and a sewing machine
2. Begin by trying on your jeans and think about where you want them to hit when they are finished. Be sure to allow for a cuff, so add about an inch from wear you want them to be. Mark the length where to cut with a sharpie. Then take them off and cut! A good way to get even sides is to simply fold the jeans in half.
3. Undo the seams a bit to create a bit of a gap. This step isn't necessarily need, but I found it helped having a little extra room when stitching on the lace. I did end up closing the gap at the end.
4.  Decide what kind of lace you want to add. I decided to go with a more delicate, sheer lace versus the other crocheted type I had. Also determine how much lace you want to show when you cuff your jean shorts.
5. Turn the shorts inside out and using a zig-zag stitch, sew the edge of the lace in line with the end of the shorts, letting a little of the scallop hang over.
6. Turn the shorts right side out and fold the ends over, creating a cuff. Making sure the lace is completely folded under into the jeans and laying flat, again use a zig-zag stitch to sew the cuff down. I also went back and stitch the top edge (the scallop part of the lace) down from the front, for durability.

Done! Real simple sewing, even beginner sewers should be able to do this just fine :) Now that I've made these, I'm feeling all inspired and keep thinking of other ways to add some flair to other pairs of cut-offs. So look out! I really do love how these turned out. I think they are just the right amount of cutesy for me. I'm wearing them right now in fact.

With that, I leave you. Will and I are off to a camping trip for the weekend to celebrate our anniversary! See you Monday, lovelies.

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Handwritten Post Link Up: A Love Letter

Yes, a love letter. Because I love you guys. 

The wonderful and lovely Gi from Trials & Tribulations of a Fat Girl is hosting a little link up today which I thought was just darling. It features a handwritten note from the blogger. I love this idea, seeing how I mostly write here on my computer and not on paper much anymore, except when writing little notes or reminders to myself or Will. 

The link up is simple. Just write a little note about whatever you'd like, take a picture of the note and share it on instagram, and then share it on your blog with your readers!

If that is a little too difficult for you to read, my note says:

The very lovely Gi of Trials & Tribulations of a Fat Girl is hosting a link-up today featuring bloggers' handwriting. I think that is just so great, & I think Gi is just so wonderful; I simply had to join in. What a great way to put a little personality on your blog! Plus it is a great way for me to thank all of you and I didn't want to miss the opportunity. So thank you, for your warm acceptance concerning my post on anxiety yesterday. Your kinds comments, support, and words of encouragement and understanding mean more than you know. I'm so excited to be running this little blog. I can't wait to share more with you!

Sincerely your friend,

Emorie x x 

P.s. This will be a true test as to whether or not my handwriting is legible : )

I mean those words. You are all so lovely, I can't stand it! Just kidding I can. I'll be back later today if all goes as planned to share a fun summer DIY with you. 

Be sure to pay Gi a visit and let her know what you think of the link up:

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My Struggle with Anxiety

I know things have been quiet over here on my end this week and I apologize. I've being going back and forth with myself about whether or not I want to post this, and maybe that is exactly why I should share it with you. So brace yourself everyone, things are about to get pretty personal.

Anxiety is something I struggle with every single day of my life. But it is definitely something most people don't even know about me. I am an ardent and determined person, yet sensitive and very nervous at times. I am a strange contradiction. To others I may appear confident, for I have strong opinions and views. But in reality I am more of an introspective and often even cynical character.

My anxiety can perhaps be linked to a few causes. For instance, both freedom and security are equally important to me; this is often a conflict in my life and can lead to some indecisiveness. As you know, I am always searching for truths, and instinctively knowing that there is not only one, I am often left frustrated and full of self doubt. I think my anxiety can also be linked to how I was raised. I have two very loving and supportive parents who taught that I could do and be anything I wanted. Which is great, as a child. It allows you to dream and to see the world in all it's beauty and humanity and want to dance in it;  to see the world in all it's nastiness and hate and want to change. But when society, the media, and even people around you tell you that you are not good enough and that you can't make a change it eats at you. I often feel inhibited. I wish I wasn't inhibited by the limitations and capacity of my mind. For I want to know everything. It’s overwhelming; knowing how much I don’t know, knowing how much I’ll never know.

And I don't know why I do this to myself. For the most part I don't know what causes my anxiety. I just get in these ruts, these huge ruts, that are so hard to climb out of. I just sit at the bottom, looking at how great the world is up above. I tell myself I’m not good enough. I tell myself that everything I do is a waste of time because it’s never going to get me anywhere. I tell myself that I’m not worth anyone’s time. That none of my friends really care. And then I let myself be alone. I tell myself that no one wants to spend time with me, but it’s all my fault. I let myself slip away. I just fall farther and farther down in my well. And I get lonely. And I sulk for days. And the littlest things make me cry. And then, I even have the decency to blame it on stupid things, like the weather, or how awful the world is, or how mean someone was to me this one time forever ago. Yes, that is what is making me so vulnerable in this moment. I allow myself to succumb to myself. To this monster inside myself.

img found here. I can not find the original source/artist for this. Please let me know if you know!

Everyday is different when you are living with anxiety. Some days I feel great and confident and ready to face anything that is thrown at me. I may have my reservations and nerves, but I'm not going to let it shake me! And I'm definitely not going to let anyone notice! Some days it’s just really hard to get out of bed. And no matter how hard I try, I just can’t really wake up. Even going out to the mail box seems impossible. And attempts to cheer myself up, like listening to happy songs, just makes my heart hurt. My social anxiety is the worst. I stress about seeing people or talking to people, no matter how nice and casual the conversation. It is irritating and frightening .

For those of you who don't suffer from some form of anxiety, a moment with anxiety may feel something like this:  I’m not numb, I’m the opposite (I've been numb before and I'm glad it's not that). I feel everything. I get so overwhelmed; my body shakes, my stomach turns, my vision blurs, my heart pounds as if wanting to escape. It creeps up on me. It happens everywhere and often; waiting in line at the coffee shop, walking the aisles of the library, riding in the car, laying in bed. I swear I can feel the weight of everyone around me. And if I’m alone, I can feel the weight of the billions of air particles. And it hurts. But I can't stop thinking about it because I don’t think this is normal, whatever this is. I worry about everything. I question everything. Should I? It can’t be ignored; I try. I think too much, too. About everything. Everything. I don’t even know everything. I don’t know anything. I don’t even make sense to myself. I wish I wasn't so shy. I wish I wasn't afraid. I wish I knew what I wanted. I wish I could tell people what they mean to me. I wish I could tell people how significant they are. I wish I was happy. I wish I slept normally. I wish was okay with myself, with who I'm trying to be.

I have come to the realization that I can never just ignore this and beat this. It keeps coming back and it always will. Things are good, and then they're not. I can't stay content. I hurt because I know that no matter what I do, it will never be enough. And maybe it sounds silly, but that’s what eats up at me everyday. There is so much wrong in the world; I can’t change that fact. I have been told that when I have these feelings, when I don't want to go on, it is important and probably the most human thing to do, to remind myself over and over that other people feel this way too.

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Most importantly I need to remind myself of this:

"The fact that you’re struggling doesn't make you a burden. It doesn't make you unlovable or undesirable or undeserving of care. It doesn't make you too much or too sensitive or too needy. It makes you human. Everyone struggles. Everyone has a difficult time coping, and at times, we all fall apart. During these times, we aren't always easy to be around — and that’s okay. No one is easy to be around one hundred percent of the time. Yes, you may sometimes be unpleasant or difficult. And yes, you may sometimes do or say things that make the people around you feel helpless or sad. But those things aren't all of who you are and they certainly don’t discount your worth as a human being. The truth is that you can be struggling and still be loved. You can be difficult and still be cared for. You can be less than perfect, and still be deserving of compassion and kindness." 

- Daniell Koepke

So what do I do? I keep fighting, I suppose, such is life. I have eyes, eyes that see this world and its problems and its filth. And I have a heart, a heart that beats and feels and hurts for everyone that hurts. And I have a mind, a mind that thinks and longs for understanding and learning and truth. Just know that I’m just trying. Because my eyes, they also see blurry. And my heart, sometimes it beats too fast and nervous. And my mind, my mind is a mess. Just know that I want meaning, I want my life to be real, and that I try to be considerate. I need to have more confidence that all my efforts will be worth it in the end. I just want you to know that I will never give up.

Tips and Things You Can Do To Be A Little Happier and Become Anxiety Free:

1. SLEEP REGULARLY: Go to bed early and wake up earlier. Doing so will allow you to get more sleep and having a set schedule will help with anxiety.
2. EAT WHOLE FOOD: Providing your body with whole, healthy food versus processed food will give it the nutrients it needs. An instant mood booster because you'll feel a lot better.
3. EXERCISE: Hello, endorphins. Exercising regularly also helps with keeping a routine and keeping anxiety at bay. Also, getting through tough workouts is a real confidence builder!
4. ORGANIZE: This is a necessity for me. Organization helps keep me on task and I feel much less anxious when things have order.
5. DRINK LOTS OF WATER: Your body will be happy for. You will be happy for it. I have water with me, always.
6. LISTEN TO MUSIC: Obviously. Music can affect your mood drastically so make sure you always are playing some good vibes.
7. READ: Let your mind and thoughts completely escape you for awhile. Dive into a completely different world. Your problems will still be there when you are done reading and I guarantee they won't seem so large anymore.
8. BE PRODUCTIVE OR GET CREATIVE: Spending time accomplishing things or getting creative or solving problems are all great ways to boost your confidence.
9. BE SILLY: It's hard to be sad or worrisome when dancing around the kitchen or playing with your pups on the floor.
10. GO FOR A WALK OR A CASUAL BIKE RIDE: It is a great way to relax and work things out in your head. The fresh air is an extra treat.
11. DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE: Speak up and do something if you want to do. You'll have a lot less to worry about if you just do it.
12. BE PRESENT: Engage with those around you. Build relationship that truly matter, they will be what saves you if you ever feel like you can't go on.

P.S. My anxiety is also a part of the reason I started Oh Whimsical Me. To prove to myself that I could and that I was good enough. Now you know you'll just have to excuse me on occasion for a few days whenever I misplace my confidence.

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