Crankiness, menopause, busy schedules and some yoga...

So...
It has been going on for the better part of 2 years.
The M word.
Menopause.
Hot flashes.
Night sweats.
Moodiness. Scratch that. Bitchiness.
Outright nastiness.
By Moi.
And it's not fun fair or joyous

I am in need of a Dr.
A good one. With meds.
But alas right now I am without health insurance to cover said Dr visit and meds
So...
I drink my Shakeology everyday.
I get a workout in.
I do yoga
I meditate
I pray

Anyone else going through this?
Sometimes I feel like I need to be exiled to a tropical island alone for the rest of my life. Ya know,  like Naked & Afraid. But without all the nakedness and bugs. And I'll need some food. Oh. And some Internet so I can blog and watch Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead
Ya.
I am a busy mom of 6 kids..  4 of whom still reside in my home. A dedicated husband who is currently out of work due to a major neck injury / surgery but always manages to stay joyful and have the house clean for me.
Why am I a raging bitch most of the time then?
Help 
SOS.
Anyone else?
I need some female insight and advice and suggestions 
Xanax, maybe?
Maybe I should take up drinking wine at night? Nope. I'm not a drinker! Lol.
Maybe I need to just lean on my fellow mommy's who have gone before me into this abyss of miserableness and come out OK on the other side
Did I mention I have 4 more years and we are empty nesters? Oh and I live less than 10 min from the BEACH!
Miserable?
I have no earthly right to be
HELP.
SOS.

Share YOUR stories with me .
Please!!!

Breathe Right Strips REVIEW

Once again, allergy season is upon us.

With 4 of my 6 children remaining in  our home and 3 of them being BOYZ.... Baseball season + allergy season = Snoring and sneezing and lack of sleep for this mama and her cubs.

My husband... God love him to death... happens to have the teeniest tiniest problem with snoring since his neck surgery and some nights are worse than others. 

and... to be fair and honest, when my allergies flair up I have been told I snore a tad bit also.

Breathe Right strips to the rescue!!!

I was asked to try the Lavender Strips and though (disclosure here) I actually have an allergy to Lavender... but my  children and hubby DO NOT and they LOVED them!

"very soothing" 

" very mild and nice scent"

" ma, I can breathe!"

YUP...

win win!!!

So if you are like us and plagued with stuffy noses this time of the year, or even a snoring husband or kids... give the Breathe Right family a try!

We love them and always have them in the bed side table!

Best of all you can find them anywhere.. Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and so many other places!

* This review is the opinion of the writer and owner of Welcome to Our Ark and is that only... my opinion. I have not been compensated for my review, positive or  negative and was only supplied with samples to use for my review. *

Body image.. who cares?

So as I've posted here and on my FB pages... and many of you may know, I am a Beachbody coach. What that means is... I use incredible workout programs, drink my Shakeology daily and get to work with an amazing team of men and women..  like minded friends..  who are passionate about getting and staying fit and healthy.

It's a lifestyle for us.
For years, ok, for most of my life, I have been on a quest for the perfect body.

In my early 20s it was the muscle..  the stamina to teach and complete two 45 minute step classes 3 or 4 times a week at a gym I worked at. Training HUGE muscle bound men... and yes, some not so bulky guys..  to get in shape and they chose ME for a trainer. 

Then after my kids it was mostly to peel off the baby weight so I dieted and tried my hand at cardio  ( mainly aerobics again and running)

Then with the birth of my 3rd child I was limited to light physical activity so I tried Yoga and fell in love.

Then it was the Bowflex and the total GYM ( you know the one endorsed by Chuck Norris....) as well as owning my very own ballet bar. Had a full gym with a treadmill and stairmaster..  and I ended up getting my ass handed to me by Jillian Michaels during the 30 day Shred ( thank you Sarah Viz!!)

I'd lose 10 pounds... drop a size or 2 then gain it back when I thought I could take a week or 2 off.

Then... divorce and along with that came stress, low finances and little food... causing me to drop to anorexic- type dangerous low weight with NO muscle tone at all!

Then... something amazing happened.  I met Noah.. my husband, a personal trainer and my all around support network and motivator.

We hit the gym EVERY MORNING at 5am, he monitored my diet, forcing me to eat healthier and add protein to my life and I started to fill out in the right places and lose fat, build muscle.

Then... laziness and injury happened and here comes another 15-20 pounds like snapping fingers.

Crossfit was my saving grace the next round and I peeled off 20+ pounds of fat and frustration while toning up and feeling STRONG!

Then... we moved. 
Here comes another 20 pounds of sweet iced tea and junk food.

Then... enter Beachbody. Shakeology.

The 21 Day Fix was my light!!!

It has worked for me now for almost 2 years and while I teeter between a size 4 and 6 now... yes I have a little pooch belly and I still indulge in junk food and have lazy mornings when the last thing I'm gonna do is work out..  and.. gasp. .. I am probably gonna buy a 1 piece bathing suit for the first time in my life... ( it will be sexy and I will rock it!) I continue to drink my shake every morning. I continue to use the amazing Beachbody programs and I've gotten back into the Yoga I loved so much.

This time I'm not watching the scale. I'm not worried about my 4s or 6s being a little snug. I'm not freaking out about my muffin top or my lack of "cut" in my arms and shoulders. ..
I'm just gonna focus on being ME..
Being healthy.
Eating to fuel my body with healthy food.
Stretching.
Having some ME meditation time every morning.

And enjoying how I am and how I feel

So...
I would urge you to get moving,  but do something you love.
If you love running then RUN.
If you love lifting then LIFT.
If you love Crossfit... the THROW DOWN.
If you love yoga then Downward Dog.

Just breathe and just BE YOU.
You only have one body.
Be healthy and happy and comfortable in your skin!
God made you beautiful.
Namaste

New exciting and scary changes

Hey yall!
Greetings from down south!
It's been forever and I haven't blogged in ages!
And ya know what?
I've missed it and through the ups and downs in my life lately I have come to realize I miss it. I miss writing and sharing my feelings and putting them down in a journal (y) way.
So...
Here goes.
We've had some challenges the last few months. Nothing that we can't handle with God at he wheel in our lives.
We've also had some amazing accomplishments.

Where to start?
Let's jump right in..
Our oldest daughter Kylie settled down here with us last year. She found an amazing job right away. Got a brand new car within the first 2 months.  Has made some great friends and just moved into her very own 1 bedroom apartment about 20 minutes away from us. So exciting for her!  She's become quite the amazing young woman!

Aaron, our oldest son has also had a major accomplishment this past year.
He emerged in October as a United States Marine after completing the countries toughest boot camp at Parris Island. He went on to graduate as a Private First Class from Infantry school and is now permanently stationed in NC. As I write this he is in Yuma Arizona for helo training!
We are so proud that words can not express our pride in him and all he has done and will do to defend this country of ours. Just so amazed.

Joel is going to be graduating from high school this spring and has some ideas of what he'd like to do... one of them is looking into joining the Army.
Joel has done so well this year including working full time all last summer and pretty much managing the local new Dunkin Donuts.  We are so proud of him.

Jocelyn has not only thrown herself into serving every Sunday at church on the media team but she has become an integral part of the Verge (Tuesday night youth groups) praise and worship team and sings most Tuesdays. Her confidence and voice has just blossomed tremendously!  She also was just accepted into the Academy for Arts Science and Technology and will complete her last 2 years of high school there as a student of their Digital Communications division. 
We continue to be amazed by her drive and ambition as well as inspired by her love and passion for God.

Trevor and Asher are doing amazing also.
Asher tried out for and was accepted to play on the high school B Baseball team for our local high school. Plus he's still actively playing on his travel team The Diamond Stars. His skill and love of the game has taken him to new heights this year and we believe if he chooses so... it may offer him a career down the road. Though he still often talks of the Navy.
Trevor chose to sit out the baseball team this season though he wants to play rec ball this summer to keep active.
Both boys had an amazing Basketball season and Trevor is currently training with the high school football team and trainers in the weight room in preparation for his freshman year playing for the high school team. He's quite the little "surprise" on the team and has earned the nickname the "honey badger ". Look it up and you'll know why!

Now...
On the challenging news front... Noah was in a car accident last year and suffered a major neck and spinal cord injury.
Finally after almost a year of fighting with workers comp, Dr's and insurance and lawyers... he had surgery in January.
His recovery is going slowly and he's still suffering pain and effects of the damage.
We are grateful for the workers comp payments and are managing to stay afloat though it still comes with stress and challenges.

We also decided as a family that we were needing to add to our family.
Help our family.
Noah's parents were living in NY and not thriving. Health issues and raising costs of living just were too much for them to handle on their own.
We have moved them here in with us, we have the extra room,  until we can get them settled into their own place down here near us.
Costs are better and it gives us all a chance to spend some time with them. 
So important to our family and our children.
Now, I have stresses and anxiety about this because frankly I'm not a good care giver AT ALL.
like... AT ALL.
So... this will require some patience on my part and heavy prayer.
Ok. A lot of patience on my part and a lot of God's presence in my life over the next few weeks or months.
But today was a good day.
Yesterday. .. not so much.  Getting a family our size on schedule is hard enough, but add to the mix,  two other people who are also very independent but slow to get moving and slow compared to our fast paced lifestyle can create a pressure cooker.

We got through yesterday and today was better.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring but I'm reminded of a time when my saint of a step mother took in my dad's parents.
Dialysis for my gram everyday. 
A stubborn set in his way grandfather.
All under one roof.
A step mother who had almost no relationship with her father.... embraced my dad's parents through all the mess. Helped and was supportive even when my own dad was at his wits end. Was the peacekeeper in the house
So while I admire my own mother so much for doing all she has done for me...
At this moment I am leaning on my step mothers wisdom, guidance, and trying to tap into some of the grace and patience she developed.

God is with me and I will be ok.
We will all be ok.
We are changing our lives for the better and I will see that through the clouds.
And the fog and the struggles.

So... pray for me.
Pray with me.
For my kids.
For their achievements.
For my husband.
For my in laws.
Thank you!!!

The Haters

For someone who hasn't blogged in a bit. .. this post will be long. Just letting yall know!!

This morning while perusing FB to see what everyone has been up to since I last logged on ( 8 hours before) ( don't lie... you all do it too!) I stumbled upon 2 very well written yet extremely different blog posts.

One was from a VERY well know mom blogger..  and like I said.. very well written. The content DID have me thinking and cringing..  though I believe that's the point. .  A) to make us think B) to ruffle some feathers... and that's OK.
We are the owners of our own blogs and social media pages. Therefore we are totally protected by that freedom to speak our minds.

Can I get an AMEN!

Anyhow..
This very well know mommy blogger was talking about *gasp* Network Marketing and being totally bombarded on FB with sales pitches from friends peddling everything from Nail products to cosmetics to health products.

Ok.
I get it.
They come across MY news feed daily as well.
Heck.. I'm guilty of flooding YOUR news feeds as well.
I LOVE that friends of mine are branching out trying to be successful plus.. heck ya I'm always wanting to try new things.
Invite me to an online party where I can shop while sitting at one of my 5 boys sporting events. .. BONUS FOR ME!

But enough for now about MY thoughts

This blogger was totally bashing the NWM business and really kinda laying into her "friends" who push their wares on her.

Newsflash*** scroll on past!

The second blog post was from another blogger who totally GETS NWM and Direct sales and her attitude in a nut shell... ROCK IT, SELL AWAY!

NOW...
As for my thoughts.
Yes I am in the Network Marketing Business.
Yes I use social media as an outlet to bring in customers/ sales/ coaches.
Do I get paid?
Heck ya I do!

Do I unfriend or stop talking to people who turn me down? NO!
Do I stop talking to you if you're not interested in what I have to promote? NO!
Do I try to involve some of you in MY idea of an amazing business, and amazing products that have changed MY life and the life of not only my family BUT countless other friends of mine?
YES
Do I apologize for that? NO!

If your brother or sister or uncle sell cars and you are NOT looking for a car, but yet they are talking to you or others about a great sale they are having, or promoting it on FB... will you unfriend  them or feel the need to not associate with them?
NO. You just move along because at this time you are not needing a vehicle or wanting to buy what they are selling!

I have chosen to work for Beachbody as an independent coach for several reasons... the first and most important is because when I was in need of some health products, when I was searching for something to enhance my life... Beachbody and Shakeology came into my life. The benefits FOR ME have been real and true.
I love fitness and working out and staying healthy. For me... going into another direct sales or NWM company would have made zero sense.

I loved the products and still do... enough so.. that I made it my passion to tell others.
Have you not ever bought or tried something... a cosmetic, a restaurant,  drove a vehicle, taken a trip.. that you LOVED so much you told others about?
C'mon! We all have!!

The money I make from Beachbody at this very time is NOT enough to sustain our large family of 9. And that alone is a reason that a lot of people trust some of our coaches. Because MOST of us are NOT in this for the money. Money is nice... oh yes it is. But in today's society most of us work jobs not because we love our jobs. Let's Be honest. We work to pay the bills.right?
I promote Beachbody programs NOT because I use that money to pay my bills and provide for my family BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE I LOVE THEM!

ALSO... (and this is gonna hurt) there are WAY TO MANY OVERWEIGHT AND UNHEALTHY people in this world.
If you are overweight, unhealthy, on medications, and totally HAPPY with yourself. Good for you! I am happy for you and I would never try to help or change you!

But I believe there are a lot of people wrestling with their health and weight and they don't know where to start or who to turn to. They are not comfortable walking into a gym with buff and super skinny women and men who look like they spend hours there. They are INTIMIDATED!  PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
I know... been there... done that!

So if I can help ( and I have) one of my family members or friends near or far... to start to feel better about themselves,be comfortable in their own skin, get off blood pressure meds, have a successful Dr's appt, and make healthier better choices for themselves... that's worth all the HATERS and people who have unfriended me cuz they were sick of seeing my Beachbody or Shakeology posts.

My day is made awesome NOT by all of the negative comments or NOs I might get when inviting you all to our Challenge groups or telling you all about our sales BUT by the messages and texts that I get from my challengers telling me they have lost another 5 or 10 pounds, that they killed their workouts, that they are feeling more energy and sleeping better, that they got a clean bill of health at the doctor!
That's why I am a proud NETWORK MARKETER.
THAT'S WHY I PROMOTE BEACHBODY! 

Beachbody & Shakeology

Hey Y'all!
Greetings from South Carolina!

Hope you all had fabulous Holidays!
Ours were crazy  Wonderful as usual! We have had lots of company pretty much since Thanksgiving and ya know what?? We love it! (Thats one of the reasons we moved into a BIG house! by the beach!)

In all the fun of the Holidays, Noah and I have put on some much UNwanted pounds and so we have decided to jump back on the workout bandwagon and get our lazy butts back in shape!

Awhile back I decided to try Shakeology as a meal replacement and a "protein" shake that would help eliminate bloat and give me energy!

I LOVE it!
Noah LOVES it!
The KIDS even LOVE it!

Awhile after purchasing Shakeology I ran out... and blah blah blah... COST *gasp* led me to NOT order again for awhile... (hey... can you blame me? I was preparing for a major move to South Carolina and $4.00 a day all upfront was not in the budget!)

BUT..

I can tell you... after weeks without it... I was SO eager to reorder and start again. I was lethargic, lacked motivation, felt bloated, and was generally not healthy. (Sonic, Zaxbys, El Cerro... ya.. that will do it!)

I whole-heartedly signed on with Beachbody as not only a customer of Shakeology but the 21 Day Fix and a Beachbody Coach!

I love what the 21 Day Fix has taught me... I love the 30 min workouts and I cant live without my Shakeology!

Our team. Fit synergy and Empower Real Fitness ROCKS! We are currently running our January Challenge Group on Facebook and I am getting to run a 7 day Shakeology Trial Challenge the end of this month!

Beachbody is such an amazing company to work for! Where else can you get your fitness needs, healthiest meal of the day and support, friendship AND make money and get GREAT discounts all while in the comfort of your own home and connecting with amazing people!

As always...
life is GOOD
God is GOOD
our Family is AWESOME

Blessings to you all!

Feel free to contact me if you'd like more info on any of Beachbodys awesome programs or if you've ever thought about running your own business... making money... whether it be enough to pay off a bill or maybe a family vacation. maybe you're looking at purchasing a new car or even a house. With Beachbody... all of those goals are attainable with hard work, dedication and ease!!

Email me if you'd like more info!
jenndebo6@gmail.com

Review: Breathe Right Strips.... lavender

We are probably like most households...
You might have an adult or child prone to allergies... or..
A spouse or even a child who snores. Gasp.... I'll give you a hint... it's not me!!!

A couple of my children do suffer from allergies or occasional hay fever. 

When we were approached to do a review of the new Lavender Breathe Right strips, of course, I said YES!!!

My hesitant husband was less thrilled, but he said he would try it.. to ease his wife's pain in the bedroom.

The first few nights I DID notice a big difference.  He was less congested and I would say his snoring was decreased by about 75%. That's HUGE!!!

Of course, the scent is very soothing and I think everyone who suffers from frequent congestion, allergies or in my opinion, even sleep issues in general... will love these!

I have not tried them myself but for my allergy prone children... they allowed for easier breathing and soothing aroma at bedtime.

They are flesh colored... but noticeable. .. sticky but not uncomfortable. 
My husband liked that they didn't leave a sticky residue and we're fairly comfortable.

We haven't noticed much difference over the last few days... but... my husband has been sleeping on his back and that's a HUGE issue when it comes to his snoring.

We will definitely continue to use the Breathe Right Strips and would highly recommend to everyone... especially if you are allergy prone or tend to get sick with head colds! I think they are perfect this time of the year! 

The best part... you can buy them relatively cheap, at your local stores. No need to hunt around for them!

Happy breathing and may your snorer feel better and get a more restful sleep!

The opinion in this review is just that. Our family was given a trial sample and we were not paid for our review or opinion! This is just our humble opinion on a great product!