I survived Thanksgiving week!

Wow, this Thanksgiving week has been INSANE, you guys! The holidays always wear me out with so much work to do before the new year + cooking, shopping & decorating for the holidays. So much more reason to look forward to this upcoming vacay!! I did enjoy our Thanksgiving with my family, so much so that we ended up at my Mom's for almost 5 hours. I slept in this morning after such a hectic week, which was nice.

Most of our weekend consisted of shopping for three days online and one day shopping in store.  We have purchased so much that I am thinking of waiting next year to get the new TV and camera. Shopping is extremely time consuming for me because I do so much research in reading reviews & trying to find the best quality product until it takes me an entire day to buy one item!

In between shopping, I was able to get some other things done during the week:

>> Made Christmas Wreath for front door
>> Put out lighted Christmas trees on deck
>> Picked up our Frasier fir Christmas tree & decorated it that same night!
>> Wrapped more Christmas gifts
>> Joined more Blog FB groups
>> Emailed companies to collaborate with for Blog
>> Applied for some Blog campaigns
>> Finished several SoFab University classes
>> Updated Twitter, Pinterest to reflect my Blog instead of Business
>> Designed a new Twitter header
>> Did my first sponsored post with Groupon!
>> Posted some items on Swap + Shop
>> Made some larabars + home-made chili + 2 broccoli casseroles for the week
>> Ordered some more kcups
>> Ordered a Cuisinart 6 slice toaster & convection oven from Kohl's (excited for this!)
>> Went to TJ Maxx Members Event
>> Finished food shopping for the week
>> Had hubby's glasses repaired
>> Bought a couple of groupon deals (Starbucks + hair salon)
>> Created some social media graphics
>> Finished all client work
>> Had pallets delivered to get ready to DIY our garage walls next year (or end of this year)
>> Finished sorting dirt pile & filling up driveway + flowerbeds
>> Painted flower pot for citrus tree
>> Re-stained deck chairs & side table
>> Spot-cleaned patio cushions
>> Planted Rosemary Christmas Tree
>> Hubby pressure-washed deck
>> Finished our retaining wall + flower beds!
>> Hubby unclogged sink drain (I have never been so happy!)
>> Washed all sheet, bedspread covers
>> Reserved parking for our upcoming trip

I'm exhausted just from typing all of this! Later this week, I plan on doing some more VA job research, wash the car, cut the hubby's hair, going shopping with my MIL & having a spa day! I'm just glad that I got through Thanksgiving & most of my Christmas shopping!

What was your most favorite part about Thanksgiving?

Fall is my favorite time of the year!

Happy November Y'all!! The last week has been full of fun Fall things- Fall costume parties, baking yummy treats, soups, new Fall boots and lots of raking + landscaping. I love this time of year!

The hubby and I made pumpkin shaped cheese straws together

 My fail at a cute Fall photo

 Turmeric Ginger Latte- my new favorite drink!

Lentil soup with carrots, celery & onions

  I signed up for ShoeDazzle and ordered these boots + another pair!

We also renewed our Costco Membership & picked up some healthy eats

Target run + Starbucks is always necessary!

We also have been working so much on landscaping- planting crepe myrtle trees, fruit trees, blueberry and blackberry bushes. I am so excited to have a fruit orchard! Today I am going to work on raking pine-straw to put in the beds and cleaning up the concrete from pouring our drive + well house. This weekend we are planning to have a huge bonfire + hot cocoa, so I'm really looking forward to that!

Lately, I have  been making lots of things from scratch- coconut milk, almond milk, almond flour, larabars & chocolate chips. There are so many additives in processed foods, that I prefer making my own foods at home, even though it takes more work. I just ordered more cacao along with some other health items, so hopefully it comes in soon so I can make the hubby chocolate chip cookies.

What fun things do you do in the Fall?

My July 4th Weekend + Some Accomplishments

  

Our July 4th weekend was pretty busy but fun! Saturday, we were invited to a pool party (and yes, I did bring a bottle of wine and had only 1/2 glass) and did so much swimming! Sunday we visited my family and ended up staying most of the day. My Mom and oldest brother wanted to hear all about my new diet and I set my brother up with the free Kindle app on his iPhone and sent him some free Amazon Books so he can read all about it.

My brother hugged me when we were leaving and told me that I pretty much saved his life (he is fighting some health issues and I told him to eliminate the grains and sugars and that alone would help him tremendously). He did that and lost over 5 lbs in one week and as soon as I saw him, I instantly could tell that he had lost weight and looked healthier! It really means so much to me when I have an impact on someone's life :) And no, I'm not a health or fitness coach (although, maybe I should be?), but I've been a health nut since I was very young. I'm obsessed with a holistic and healthy lifestyle and love experimenting with foods and herbs!

Once we left my Mom's late Saturday afternoon, we decided to get our food shopping done for the week. We hit up our local Co-op, Trader Joe's and Target and of course Starbucks for a Venti triple shot espresso frappucino w/2 pumps sugar free vanilla. I love that I can have that on my Ketogenic diet!

Monday, we worked on the house all day since we played most of the weekend and we ended up getting so much done! We took a break to grill some grass-fed burgers and the hubby had a Henry's Hard Soda (no more alcohol for me!)

>> Painted Front Door on House
>> Two new clients!
>> Purchased our trip for this winter (super excited about it!!)
>> Mowed Grass
>> Hubby purchased several plants and a new pressure washer from Lowes. The pressure washer is so easy to use that I can even work it!
>> Listed more items on swap & shop (sold one item)
>> Cleaned in between all of the deck boards
>> Scrubbed the hubby's gas/stainless steel grill
>> Vacuumed Patio Cushions

By Tuesday, it was time to get back to work for the week!

>> Did some client work
>> Paid someone to update Blog Header Photos (I can't wait to see how it turns out!)
>> Listened to three sermons back to back on Wednesday. It was everything that I needed to hear! The same message "God is working it all out, just leave it in his hands." And that is exactly what I plan on doing!
>> 6 new positive reviews in the last couple of weeks for my VA eBook!
>> Cleaned out and organized all of my online folders
>> Received another amazing review from one of my clients! I love my clients, they are the most wonderful and inspiring women!
>> Housework- lots of laundry, dishes and cooking!

Things have been going amazing and I'm sticking with my Keto diet. I'm still at same weight loss- around 9 lbs. but I feel great and that is the most important thing!

It's late afternoon here right now and it just started raining, so I may not be able to paint the bottom garage door like I had planned, unless it clears up soon. But I do have plans to hang some pictures and a mirror tonight (with the hubby's help, of course).

How was your July 4th weekend? Did you do anything exciting?

The Weekend//

Hello lovelies! Hope that you enjoyed your weekend! I just got back from Target around 9:30 and had two strong coffees at Starbucks, which is why I am currently awake at 11:05!! I had a nice weekend- mostly painting and catching up on things. Honestly, I have been taking it pretty easy around the house-trying to not overexert myself. I slept in on both Saturday and Sunday, so that was nice.

• Posted Swap & Shop Photos 
• Cleaned freezer + fridge downstairs
• Primed Rafters
• Helped hubby do some nail-setting and putty on the house exterior
• Finally caught up on the Bachelorette!
• Blogged
• Organized all of my notes into my journal (I am obsessive about making notes)
• Tidied house- dishes, cleaned bathroom, put up laundry
• Updated my Social Media Platforms
• Organized 1 photo album!
• Trader Joe's- Food shopping for the week
• Returned pair of shoes at Target (moccasins that came apart at the seams)
• Purchased chalkboard for office area + gorgeous photo frame (new project for the bedroom)
• Picked up more caulk + paint supplies at Lowe's
• Used my free coffee drink at Starbucks for a Venti Espresso Frappucino made with coconut milk + agave +  2 extra shots espresso (try it! so good!)
• Started reading this old book that I found on the free shelf at the Library- I feel like God put it there just for me. It really inspired and motivated me to not give up on my dreams in life- I'm starting to feel excited for things again// I haven't felt that way in a long time.

This upcoming week, we will be doing more priming, caulking, sanding, covering windows with plastic + tape. Hopefully, we will be painting this weekend. The prep work is the worst part! 

Well, I think I better head to bed so I can be rested up for the work week. Hope that you all have a Happy Monday!