Mrs. Laura Beth

Monday, January 13, 2014

#GetFitAndFab {Week 2}

Baby Steps never hurt anybody … right?!

Well I sure hope not because that is my motto for this whole getting off my A** and doing something!

I would say my first week of Getting Fit - Feeling Confident - Being Healthy went rather well!

My lovely friend Casey and I are snapchatting each other to keep the motivation up! It helps and really helps when I don't send her snaps of all the candy I ate yesterday {oops}

Over the course of this week I did my Jillian Michaels DVD once and played volleyball for over an hour. Now this may not sound like much but it is a vast improvement from 2 weeks ago so I'll take it!!

Saturday I ended up with the 5-hour flu bug or something like that so sleeping consumed most of my weekend. Yesterday though I spent some time at the farm with Steven and remembered how he stays so fit {lots of walking, climbing and lifting}

My fitbit and I got along a little better as I had more steps than normal from volleyball and hanging out at the farm. As always during the week I get my water intake in by drinking at least 3 24oz bottles at work but during the weekend I can't seem to drink as much water!

I plan on volleyball again this Wednesday so as long as I do that and at least one day with Jillian I won't be going backwards!!

Like I said … baby steps here!

{Link to Week 1}

Friday, January 10, 2014

Be a part of Something Big

I believe we were all put here on Earth as a part of something Big. Something that we have no control over. Something only God has control over.

I believe God has given all of us recourses to help one another, to make this world a better place and it is our duty to realize what God has given us and do our part!

{I know, I know} I'm getting a little too in depth so early on a Friday but I want to share something very special with you all today.

It isn't our place to question why God does what he does. Why some people struggle - Why some people succeed - Why some people are sick - Why some people are healthy. It is our place to figure out how to deal and how to survive.

One word comes to mind, one word that can get anyone through the day to day ups and downs - LOVE!

In the middle of 2013 I was informed of a foundation started by two young gentleman. A foundation based around Love to benefit young people {ages 30 and under} who were battling that dirty word :: Cancer.

This non profit organization is called :: THE YOUNG AND BRAVE FOUNDATION

I had a little Q&A session with one of the founders Matt Coulter and I really hope you will check out the amazing work these young men are doing. It is truly inspiring to see how they are using the recourses God has given them to make an amazing impact!

Q. For the people who aren't aware of your foundation could you give a little background on how you came to be and what you do?

A. Well the foundation got started when my partner Nathaniel Curran and I had a dear friend diagnosed with leukemia. Going through that process with her we saw such a void. Cancer is everywhere and so many deal with this horrible disease but when you are fighting it you feel alone, helpless and not sure where to turn. We created the foundation to change that. We create awareness, advocacy, bust most importantly we create an avenue for families to fund raise.

Q. When people donate money to The Young and Brave Foundation what happens to it?
A. One of two things. You can donate to our general fund which helps keep the foundation going and growing. Go towards promotional items such as pamphlets, stickers, events and other forms of PR. Or you can donate directly to one of our WARRIORS. You can do this through their individual profiles located at www.theyoungandbrave.com 100% of the money donated through the profiles goes to their fight on cancer. The only fee at this point is a 2.2% charge per donation by PayPal. We are even working hard to remove even that fee. We pride our organization on being 100% financially transparent and giving the donor control of where their donation goes!!

Q. You are based in California but could you have a Warrior from say…North Dakota? And how does one become a Warrior?

A. With the day and age we live in we can have WARRIORS from all over the country and as we grow we hope to make this a global effort. To become a WARRIOR or nominate someone all you have to do is go to our website and fill out the brief initial form. Its just that easy. All profiles are donated free of charge.

Q. Do you have any goals for the foundation in 2014?

A. Goals!! There are so many!! 2014 is shaping up to be amazing. So many collabs, new WARRIORS, bigger events. Our main goal is to assist as many families as humanly possible.

Q. What has been the best takeaway from this {for both Matt & Nathaniel} since you've started the foundation?

A. For the both of us it has been the overwhelming support of the foundation as a whole. We have always wanted to give back and this foundation has given us the platform to do so. IT has taken on a life of its own and we are so excited to see where it takes us.

Q. In addition to donating what can people do to support The Young and Brave?

A. The biggest most important thing anyone can do is free! Help spread the word by any means possible. The more people that know about us the more families we can help. Its just that simple.

Foundation Website :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Instagram

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Again I would like to thank Matt for his time and to both him and Nathaniel for being amazing role models to young people everywhere!

Now if you are still with me, I am gonna ask you about that extra $5 sitting at the bottom of your purse or scrunched up in your wallet … Do you really need it? Can you survive without it? Donate it, to someone who will benefit more than you could imagine!

As a part of the blogging community Ashten has set up a donation fund. Please CLICK HERE TO DONATE. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart!

#AlwaysLove

Monday, January 6, 2014

This post is a first for me...

This post is a first for me. A Post About Weight.

To start out I have always been thin. I have always been one of those people that didn't have to work out to fit in my size 2 clothing. I believe that is why I have never written a post like this. People don't like to hear if you are naturally thin when they give up blood, sweat, and tears to be thin.

I also don't enjoy reading about people who look like a stick and say 'oh I need to loose 15 pounds, I just look fat'. Those are attention seekers to me and are quite honestly disgusting! I PROMISE this isn't one of THOSE posts!

So here is the truth: The Scale Is NOT my problem

My scale and I have a very lovely relationship. Actually just this morning I saw a number I haven't seen since high school, a low number and I'm starting to wonder if my eyes were playing tricks on me because I don't feel it!

On average {not fluke days like today} I have only gained roughly 5 pounds since high school. I am 25 years old, I consider that pretty amazing; except for the fact that I don't feel like I did in high school.

I am out of shape, unfit, or beyond either of those - whatever that may be. I can get winded from a large flight of stairs, 5 push ups kick my ass, don't even get me started on Muscle because we broke up years ago.

So this is my goal: To get fit

Source

I am not talking about a six pack - but I wouldn't turn it down. I am talking about getting to the 2nd level of my Jillian Michaels Yoga DVD {oh man do we have a love/hate relationship}. I am talking about going for a jog without stopping every 5 steps to breathe. I am talking about eating better {even if it means less pasta}. I am talking about getting more energy and making some muscles.

I said this was a post about weight but maybe instead a post about fitness {and my lack of it}. I really want to work at this and not to be one of the bandwagon New Year fitness people but what a better time than this new year!

So Hello 2014 : Time to Get Fit, Feel Confident and Be Healthy

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Faithful Footprints : Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Today I have a very special treat {or two} for you. A guest post and my very first iPhone wallpaper download.

Today I'm enjoying mimosas in my sweatpants watching my Alma Mater {North Dakota State University} play in the Championship football game for their chance at winning for the 3rd year in a row!!

Here is the iPhone lock screen I'm currently sportin' and have it available for you too if you are a Bison Alum like myself!

iPhone 4s

Now without further ado I'd like to welcome Brianna to Mrs. Laura Beth!

com.par.i.son noun

: the act of looking at things to see how they are similar or different

Comparing ourselves to others is common in today's society. Let's face it - our lives are open books for others to see, judge, and criticize, especially with all of the social media sites available today. Through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and many, many others, we plaster our day to day for all the world to see. And for us bloggers, we're really an open book. And with our lives posted for all to see comes the thief of joy: comparison.

Think about it. With so much out there for the world's eyes, we see a lot more into people's lives than ever before. Seriously. Even if you are merely 'acquaintances' in reality {say, a coworker}, if you're friends on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, you see way more into their lives than you would otherwise. You know where they ate dinner and who they ate with. You see pictures of their pets and how they spent their weekend...and in some cases, you get every.single.detail.

And then...we compare. We compare our weekend with that of your neighbor or best friend from high school. So and so is newly engaged, and all of a sudden you're comparing your ring with hers or her fiance with your husband. He may make tons of money and shower her in gift after gift. Your husband doesn't. But what you don't see are all of the downs that go along with the ups. You don't necessarily see that her fiance is never home in time for dinner or that he very rarely has quality date nights with her. You don't see that she's actually very lonely - I mean, let's face it: gifts aren't exactly the greatest company! Don't compare your behind the scenes to someone else's highlight reel. Some people only show what they want others to see {don't we all?}. So comparing yourself to others' greatest moments is only hurting yourself. It's not fair. You are a completely different and unique person with a completely different set of circumstances and life experience. You have to stop comparing your life to someone else's so that you give yourself a chance to actually live your life. What really comes of always comparing your days to someone else's? Is it joy? Happiness? Love? I don't think so. It's lonely and hurtful. It brings a sense of unfulfillment and emptiness. It's hard.

We're not built to spend the days we're given on this earth comparing ourselves to everyone else. You are here for a reason. We all are. And, surprise, surprise...our purposes are all different. We are meant for different goals and dreams. We are made for different careers and homes and families. How fulfilling would life truly be if everyone were exactly the same? What if we all looked the same, acted the same, reacted to things in the same way, loved the same person, had the same homes, same career? It'd be impossible! You wouldn't have doctors, lawyers, farmers, techs, fast food employees, bosses, etc. The world would not function the same. It's just not meant to be. So, stop it! Stop comparing your life, dreams, goals, aspirations, faithfulness, and being to someone else. YOU are uniquely YOU for a reason. Figure it out and make a choice to stay true to you. Be thankful for what you have instead of longing for what others may have. Love your family. It's the only one you get! Be there for each other and truly live for yourself. No one else is going to make you happy - you've got to do it for yourself! And now for the big question: how exactly do you stop comparing yourself to others? I'm not saying it's easy, but it's possible! For starters, find the joy in the little things in your life. Whether it be that you woke up this morning or kissed your husband goodbye for the day. Find gratitude in those small things - not everyone gets them! Realize that every single thing that you get to experience is special and unique. Another big step is to minimize your time on social media networks. Don't spend 5 hours a day trolling Facebook. Don't read blog posts wishing for that life. Don't follow every single celebrity and their families on Twitter. They live a different life. It's okay! Just limit your time and involvement in social media and you'll find yourself actually living and enjoying your life!

Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else. -Galatians 6:4

BLOG//TWITTER//BLOGLOVIN
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Wednesday, January 1, 2014

2013 : A Year In Review

2014. Is that real? I have no clue where the past 52 weeks went. 2013 was a wonderful year but I'm a little disappointed with myself. Last year {for 2012} I made a 52 week book. A snapfish book with one page for every week, including a short paragraph on what we did that week. I haven't even started my book for 2013, I loved looking back on the 2012 one so I'm thinking as my way of looking back on 2013 I will create my 52 week book, yep I have my work cut out for me!

I am looking forward to 2014, I have a feeling there are some great things in store!

Before we get too far into 2014 let us have a quick look back on some 2013 highlights:

January:

Mexico for a week as our little honeymoon was Perfect!!