One less than 8

Attention! We have a 7 year old at our house. That is one less than 8. I shouldn't get amazed anymore when I look back at last years pictures and see how much she's changed, but I do. Her smile is completely different. My heart hurts. She is a rockstar, so naturally we HAD to have a Rockstar Themed Party!!

They played Just Dance on the Wii.

We had a little Rockstar photoshoot

Of course we had to have microphone cupcakes!

I hope they had fun, because I was exhausted by the end of it!

For dinner we had lasagne and ice cream cake. She got Monster high dolls, a lalaloopsy doll, and a sweatshirt from the us. Grandma Snedaker got her a nice locket. She was so sweet to want to put her brothers pictures in there. My heart was just melting. Her great grandmas and Nana sent her money and giftcards
.

7 Things we love about Claire:
She has a tender, thoughtful testimony of the Gospel
She is completely sure she is going to be a rockstar,
She loves her brothers so much even though they drive her crazy
She is a good reader and student
She is not shy about missionary work
She loves to journal and draw
She is a good friend

We are so proud of her for all she does and the joy she brings into our home. We love you Claire!!

My journey through health and nutrition

I've been thinking about writing this post for awhile now.
So about 4 years ago I started reading..
a lot..
First it was about organic foods.
Then about chemicals used in household products.
Then I watched a documentary that turned things on their head. Food Inc.
Then I read a few books that totally changed how I saw food.
Eating Animals and The Polyvore's Dilemna
I started reading more and more and what started as a little fascination became a lifestyle change for me.
I did a few cleanses.
We started eating less meat. We started eating things more in season. I started testing out the vegetarian/vegan world. There's so much to learn about all of that. So I read a ton. I'm still reading. There are so many myths out there. I feel like through all the 50+ books I've read the Word of Wisdom is still the best guide out there. Everything in moderation. Eat meat sparingly. Eat in season. Avoid anything that can cause addiction. Great stuff. Amazing.

Around October I knew I really wanted to make a big change in my weight. I've been around the same size most of my adult life, not overweight but certainly could use some toning. As I mentioned in the last post, Chris has always been so good to make me feel good about my self, but after 3 kids I think it just became a challenge to see if I could maybe get my body back. I also just turned 29. That does stuff to your psyche!

I joined a team called Queens of Green all about being healthier, Chris started losing weight using their supplements and weightloss products and I knew I wanted to do the same. He's been such an inspiration to me he's lost around 30lbs so far!!

The Queens started a weightloss challenge the first of January and I am so excited to finally see some changes in myself outward and inward.

I've learned a lot about myself.
I've been working my butt off LITERALLY. I am eating smaller portions, using QG performance bars which cut down your bodyfat and when I have cravings I have one of their patented Craveblocker shakes. THEY ARE SO YUMMY. They are patented because not only do they make you feel full, but they actually send a chemical to your brain to keep you from wanting food. HELLO! I have truly noticed this keeping me from sabotaging my day and I couldn't be more grateful.

We got a new scale that tracks our body fat, BMI, water %, and weight. It has really helped as well.

I have so much to say on this topic. It's a huge part of my life. So I hope to share more and more of this journey to better health on my blog. I may even post an embarrassing picture or two ;0 because I love tracking where I've been and where I'm going.

It's crazy to look back and think we used to have meat at every meal. That just seems unreal now. It's been a slow progression, but progress is progress. Right?

One of my goals for 2013 is to certify in Nutrition. I would love to help other people be healthier. It doesn't even have to be to lose weight. Just be healthier. I've found a couple of different programs, the one that I'm most excited about is not available yet, but I hope by the end of the year it will be. In the mean time I am continuing to read read read.

The Mr.

Man I've been a bad blogger! I've been so busy, good busy. But it seems something has to be let go when new things come in. But I do plan on blogging more regularly. I'm going to start blogging my health journey and I've got a few posts for The List 2013. But I had to post a short little bit about Mr. Snedaker. Man that guy is pretty amazing to me. Even after 10 years I'm proud to say I still get butterflies --especially when I'm watching him play basketball. I feel like our marriage is the best it's ever been and I give him full credit for that. I know that he loves me so much, he believes in me and my crazy dreams, tells me how beautiful I am like five times a day. In this world where so many things try to tear my self esteem down, all I have to do is be around him for a few hours and I feel on top of the world again. We still stay up way too late talking about nothing we still can't wait for date night. I am so stinkin lucky. We went out on Friday night and at dinner he announced that he was taking me on a shopping spree and required that I purchase at least a few new outfits and for him--the guy who hates shopping with a passion this was huge. So there it is. Proof that even after 10 years and 3 kids a marriage can be better now than how it started. Ups and downs and all. This a photo of one of the new outfits Claire took it :)

52 things for 2013

This has become a nice little tradition as I'm setting new year goals to post a list of 52 things I want to accomplish for that year. You can find my past lists here and here. I'm pretty sure 2013 is going to be the Biggest and best of all the lists. Are you ready to see it?? There are some pretty dang crazy goals on here. I know. But I love the idea of believing in the big stuff, the stuff that changes the game. So I think my motto for the year is going to be "Dream Big"


1. Learn the piano
2. Certify in Nutrition
3. Reach Senior Director with Queens of Green
4. Super Duper Scripture Study Plan
5. Write an e-book
6. Go to the Temple 50 times in 2013
7. Get a new camera
8. Pay off student loans
9. Get below 135lbs for 4 weeks

Think I'm crazy yet???

10. Read 1 book per month
11. Finish the basement
12. write a nutrition/fitness/green blog
13. Start juicing
14. Save up a secret stash of cash :)
15. Think good thoughts
16. Make Sam's 1 year book
17. Make curtains for the front door
18. Decorate the boys room
19. Go visit mom and dad in DC
20. Set family goals/rules
21. Get pictures off my old computer
22. Organize photos
23. Compile my recipes into a binder
24. Create a cleaning schedule
25. Bottle a whole bunch of stuff for food storage
26. Achieve my food storage goals for the year and make an inventory
27. Organize my addresses
28. Make a Christmas binder
29. Organize Christmas budget
30. Journal EVERY DAY including what I'm grateful for
31. Make evacuation bins
32. Make a "how to in emergency" binder
33. Set time management goals
34. Put family videos on DVD
35. Complete budget goals
36. Make a home inventory for insurance
37. Organize closets and cabinets
38. Accomplish our yearly Family Activities
39. Index and make Temple-ready names
40. Fast Well every month
41. Get a new rug for the living room
42. Get a new mirror/light for our bathroom so I can SEE when I put my make up on.
43. Service project
44. Make garden tents
45. Get family pictures taken
46. Increase meditation and time in nature
47. Make quote journals for the kids
48. Go to bed early, get up early
49. Organize keepsakes
50. Make baby shadow boxes
51. help plan Kimberly's wedding!
52. DO something we never done before.

Okay. that's the list. I should be blushing right?

I plan on blogging about each of them. we shall see?!

2013

So Christmas was pretty much awesome. 2012 was awesome. And I'm thinking 2013 may even show up 2012. I have a million pictures to post. Anyone who knows me knows I love planning and I love making lists and I love a fresh start. New years are the best! As you maybe have known I put out a list of 52 things to do in 2012. It's over on the right if you want to check it out :) It went really well! I didn't finish everything, but I did more than I even planned and we had a GREAT year. So this will be the 3rd year I will put up a list of 52 things to do in 2013. It's quite a bit different than last year's. Last year's list was mostly made up of things I could check off when done. This year there are a lot of things on my list that are on-going. Those types of goals like: being healthier, are a lot harder to achieve because they don't necessarily have a measurable end. I have some pretty audacious goals for 2013. I'm a little afraid to tell the truth. BUT I came across this quote and it just seems to fit:

So I'm going with it. I will be making some huge changes to my life, health, and business ventures. Some will affect this blog actually. But I know it's all for the better and it's the direction I feel I have been led and prepared for. Are you excited?!? I am. :)