Monday, January 23, 2017

Three Weeks Later - Healthier Lifestyle Update


Okay people, I need some real motivation to get outside and exercise. This weather has been awful lately (lots and lots of rain).... and I'm sure it's only gonna get worse as the winter goes on. UUGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!

Still tracking my food progress on MyFitnessPal to track my food intake and progress. Are we friends there yet? If not, check me out! 80% food, 20% exercise, am I right?  The weekend is my killer, because we normally just eat whatever (and not stick to healthy meals and snacks).

Starting weight: 185.0lbs
Last week's weight: 182.4
Current weight: 182.0



How are you doing on your healthier lifestyle goals?

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Writing To My Sponsor Child


You all know about my sponsor child in Haiti. If you don't, I wrote a post about how we came to sponsor him is here. The kids and I wrote to him last back in November, responding to the letter we received from him and to wish him Merry Christmas. Now with Valentine's Day is approaching, I wanted to write Michelton a letter letting him know he is loved, thought about often and constantly prayed for by our family.

The other day I found myself reading Compassion International's blog and ended up writing him a short letter asking him all about his education. Schooling is so important to a child in poverty, so they can learn the tools they need to be successful in life and break the cycle of poverty within their family. "Please pray that God will give him more intelligence in school"-- Michelton specifically asked us to! (Michelton is only 8 years old and his project gave his mother a template sheet with questions on it to be filled out and sent to sponsors. His mother asked the questions and he responded, then she filled it in.) My children enjoy school and they'd love to hear how Michelton's doing in his studies.

I was also all over Compassion's Pinterest board, pinning like a freakin' maniac! They have SUCH great ideas, submitted by them and sponsors alike. I plan to take some of these pins and get a letter package ready to send Michelton. Just in time for Valentine's Day, woohoo!!  If you'd like to see what I pinned, come check out my Pinterest page.


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Please pray for our sponsor child. It's mean the world to him!

If God is calling you to sponsor a child, or if you'd just like more information on sponsorship or the group in general, please visit Compassion International's website. They have tons of helpful info!

God bless.


Monday, January 16, 2017

Two Weeks Later - Healthier Lifestyle Update



While I don't want to make any excuses, it snowed a lot on Saturday. The roads in my neighborhood weren't plowed the best either. So I was afraid to go walking alone at night because if I slipped and fell #disaster. Therefore, Monday and Tuesday were not exercise days. I did however, get over 12,000 steps each of those days. The rest of the week I didn't go out for a walk either, cuz #life. This week is definitely back to the grind, though! Come check out my MapMyRun profile and see my workout success!

I am still tracking all the food I eat on MyFitnessPal. I love it because you can scan bar codes of the food you eat and it imports all the nutrition quick and easy. Plus it links up to MapMyRun and my FitBit, so it keeps track of everything! I like being able to see my calorie intake, how much protein I eat, carbs, ect... so I can monitor what I need to cut out. It keeps me accountable and I need that!
P.S. I used the phrase I heard ("Eat less and move more") in a conversation I was having with my mother.

Starting weight: 185.0lbs
Last week's weight: 182.4
Current weight: 180.6




How are you doing on your healthier lifestyle goals?

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

I Read, Then Write Reviews

NetGalley

I joined this website in May 2014. I read titles that I am interested in (they have tons to choose from, and they are easy to find by category). Then I post a review of the book on their website. I am allowed to post the review on my blog, GoodReads and through my social media. Plus, some of the books are very newly published or are available to read before they are available to the public.... how COOL is that! Win, win for all!  I am a huge fan of this company because of the ease of finding books and getting them to my device #kindleapp #ipadmini. It's so simple and that's what people like!

For more information on the program, or if you'd like to sign up, click [here

Books I've reviewed through NetGalley: If I Were You   No In Between   The Negotiation
Yours to Uncover: ES Siren 1   Private Down Under  Play Me #1 - #5    Irresistibly Yours
Sydney Housewives #2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Slashed  Life's A Beach  Flawed

Currently Reading with NetGalley: Gilded Cage




Back in April 2014, I signed up with Bookplex.comto be paid for my review of free books they have available for download. You must choose a book from the list they provide (which normally isn't too long but lately has been expanding), download the book to your e-reading device (no paper copies available at this time), read that book and write a review, good or bad, before the deadline date listed. They just want real, honest reviews from people. New to the site-- AVP: you buy the book through Amazon and you'll be reimbursed for the book, as well as earn an extra $1 when you get paid (through paypal). Some rules though: reviews must be posted on your blog, you have to have an Amazon account, a GoodReads account, and a Barnes & Noble account (all to post reviews on). Who doesn't have those already?  

For more information on the program, or if you'd like to sign up to be paid for reviewing books, click [here]

Books I've reviewed through Bookplex:   Severed Threads   Shattered Hearts   





I've been a member since May 2014. Pretty much the same concept of choose a book you want to read, read it, write a blog post about it, and then post your review on their website (they require a link back to your blog post when submitting your review on their website). It looks like they mail out physical books to you (but they are hard to come by since they only have so many), or you can get an ebook through download on Edelweiss *from their website- Q: Are eBooks available for review? Yes. eBooks are available through the Blogging for Books program. You will need to have an Edelweiss account set up in order to download eBooks. The Blogging for Books program works seamlessly with Edelweiss to deliver your eBooks. Requests are made through the Blogging for Books program.*  You may only read and review one book at a time through this site (it will close you off from most of the site until you submit your review). The Blogging For books website's FAQ actually has a lot of good info for bloggers, so check that out.  

For more information on the program, or if you'd like to sign up, click [here

Books I've reviewed through Blogging For Books: S.E.C.R.E.T. Revealed   Shylock Is My Name



Disclaimer: I was not paid to write this post.

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Show Us Your Books - January 2017

Life According to Steph






Here's what I've been reading:


Gilded Cage (Dark Gifts #1) by Vic James

GoodReads synopsis:
Not all are free. Not all are equal. Not all will be saved.

Our world belongs to the Equals — aristocrats with magical gifts — and all commoners must serve them for ten years. But behind the gates of England's grandest estate lies a power that could break the world. 

A girl thirsts for love and knowledge.

Abi is a servant to England's most powerful family, but her spirit is free. So when she falls for one of the noble-born sons, Abi faces a terrible choice. Uncovering the family's secrets might win her liberty, but will her heart pay the price? 

A boy dreams of revolution.

Abi's brother, Luke, is enslaved in a brutal factory town. Far from his family and cruelly oppressed, he makes friends whose ideals could cost him everything. Now Luke has discovered there may be a power even greater than magic: revolution. 

And an aristocrat will remake the world with his dark gifts.

He is a shadow in the glittering world of the Equals, with mysterious powers no one else understands. But will he liberate—or destroy?


I belong to NetGalley, a website dedicated to people who read books and write book reviews. It's free to join. I've been a member there since 2014. I am reading the e-book version that I was selected to be allowed to read early. The book doesn't come out until February 14, 2017.



The Girl on the Train

This was a popular book last year, so I thought I'd start the year off right by reading it. I blew threw it in four days. Written well and decent characters. I didn't see the end coming, so that was a plus.




Disney After Dark (Kingdom Keepers, #1)
Book 1 of the Kingdom Keepers series

I started this book, because I thought my son would like it. He has NO INTEREST in it whatsoever. But I wanted to see what the hype was all about. GoodReads synopsis is here.  And yea, I'll read a teen/YA book.... I'm in my 30's but I like to think I'm younger than that, haha!



What are you reading? Come link up and show us!

Monday, January 9, 2017

A Week Later - Healthier Lifestyle Update



So while I did cheat here and there this week (it happens, lets be honest), I am proud of myself for making better food choices and getting outside & exercising as much as I could.

I started off the exercise routine slow........ only worked out twice for the week, Monday & Wednesday. I wanted to work out another day, but #life. I forgot I wasn't gonna be home Friday night, so then I thought I'd do it on Thursday and I wasn't home that night either. Oops! Then we had snow all weekend. Like c'mon!  But, two days is better than none.  I'm on my feet for 5 hours at my job, constantly moving, so that helps too.  Come check out my MapMyRun profile and see my success!

I track all the food I eat on MyFitnessPal. I love it because you can scan bar codes of the food you eat and it imports all the nutrition quick and easy. Plus it links up to MapMyRun and my FitBit, so it keeps track of everything! I like being able to see my calorie intake, ect... so I can monitor what I need to cut out. It keeps me accountable and I need that!

Starting weight: 185.0lbs
Current weight: 182.4




Keep up the good work. I heard the phrase "Eat less and move more" and I like that! #gonnabemynewmotto

How are you doing on your healthier lifestyle goals?

Thursday, January 5, 2017

YouVersion - The I-Factor, a 7 Day Reading Plan

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Yesterday I started The I-Factor, a 7 Day Reading Plan on the Bible app #kindle. I chose this reading plan for two reasons.... 1) because I wanted to start off slow, and a 7 day challenge seems easy enough. 2) because of the explanation from their website "This reading plan explores the importance of developing a healthy relationship with yourself so that you can fully enjoy the purpose and plan that God has for you."  Twenty seventeen is the year of ME, so this is perfect!

Are you planing on doing, or already into, any Bible reading plans? 
Share with me some good ones!

Monday, January 2, 2017

New Years Goals 2017

I guess I'm gonna start this post off with all of my New Years Goals. I always make them, and then practically forget about them by February....but 2017 is going to be different! I'm optimistic!!


My New Years Goals, 2017 style:

  • To further deepen my relationship with Jesus
  • To write to my sponsor child more often (than I already do)
  • To be a better wife and mother
  • To read 20 books this year
  • To be more positive, in general
  • To lose weight so I can be more fit and healthy




Hope everyone reading this has a blessed New Year!!