Our Challenge Results

Aimee:
   I am having some serious trouble putting into words what my thoughts are after the challenge. I guess my final thoughts are that the leap of faith and those first few days of struggling were totally worth it. It wasn't super easy at first but it became second nature and we love the products. Just for kicks and giggles, on the first day after our challenge was over I decided to see how much of an effect spark had by not having any all day. Let me tell ya.....ZZZzzzzzz. I love my spark. We have tried Slam recently too and that was awesome as well without the caffeine, if that makes a difference to you.
   I have never felt healthier. Not only has my size changed but my mindset has too. I see a candy bar and think "that would taste really good...but I have worked hard to feel the way I do and I don't want to go back." I am sure we'll have treats every once and a while but not at all like before. I feel so much more confident. I don't mind trying on clothes and I like the way I feel in my own. I like that the pair of jeans I used to wear all the time don't stay up! Not for a TMI moment but I can take them off without unbuttoning them. Wow! I have lost weight and inches and gained muscle and I love it! I have smaller numbers than Glen but the confidence and the kick start it gave me is like none other. I needed that. We needed that. I have seen myself have more energy. Overall, I stay awake all day every day and I sleep well at night. We got into an awesome routine and we have been just happier.
   As a wife, you always want to see your husband happy and confident. Glen has been notable happier and just in a better mood. I see him excited about his loss and he is excited to say "baby...my pants won't stay up and my belt is cinched as tight as it can go!" That makes me so happy! But here are my results. These are my results compared to before we started.

End of Challenge Weigh In:

Weight: 141.5 lbs (-7.5 lbs)

Right Arm: 9 3/4 in. (-1 1/4 in.)

Shoulders: 41 1/2 in.(-1 1/2 in.)

Chest: 38 in. (-1 in.)

Waist: 31 in.

Hips: 39 3/4 in. (-1/4 in.)

Right Thigh: 20 in.  (-1 in.)

Right Calf:13 1/2 in. (+1/2 in.)

Total loss: 7.5 lbs and approx. 4 in.

 Glen:

   The last 24 days have really opened up my eyes in regards to how out of control my eating had been. At the start of the challenge I was concerned that I was not going to be able to keep up with everything that the challenge required but as I began the challenge with my wife and the days went by faster and faster, the better I started to feel and the more energy I began to have. Work started to get easier and from what I could tell I believe I got the best sleep that I have in years. 

    After high school when I started working for a job that kept me sedentary I was eating the same that I was even during high school but I was not as active as I had been and that is pretty much how it went up until 24 days ago. Besides the healthy factor for me this became more than just the weight loss and losing inches on my waist. For me this turned into a huge bonding experience with my wife. We worked together to accomplish a goal and it was time we got to spend together each morning and night and we of course would encourage each other to be the very best we can be. 

   In my own perspective I feel like our marriage has been strengthened. I love seeing Aimee be so confident in herself and I love hearing her talk to her friends and family about how the products have helped change her. Seeing her be so excited about shopping again for new clothes makes me smile. Seeing her smile makes me smile. 

   Now I am going to extend a challenge to each of you and Aimee may do this again at the end but for those that are still reading this I strongly suggest that you at least take the time to learn more about the 24 day challenge. We are here to help you reach your goals. As Aimee has mentioned before I own an Online Graphic Apparel shop and for each you that do the 24 day challenge I will send you a free t-shirt up to a $20 value as well. You will never be alone in the challenge Aimee and I will encourage you and be there the entire time. If you have questions or concerns, need some advice you will be able to message us and talk to us. I promise you if you take the time and commit your life will be changed in a multitude of ways. The physical results are below, compared to when we started:

End of Challenge Weigh In

Weight: 219.8 lbs. (-11 lbs.)

Right Arm: 15 3/4 in. (+1/4 in.)

Shoulders: 52 3/4 in. (-3 3/4 in.)

Chest: 46 in.

Waist: 44 1/2 in. (-2 1/2 in.)

Hips: 42 1/2 in. (-2 1/2 in.)

Right Thigh: 20 1/4 in. (-3 3/4 in.)

Right Calf:16 in.

Total loss: 11 lbs and 12 1/4 in.

   I am adding the photo below of Glen as well because the pants he is wearing (this picture was taken on day 18) were ones that before we started he said were too tight to even try to really wear all day. He wore these on a date and they were loose!

   We have been so blessed by this challenge and we would love for the ones we love and who love us to feel the way we do! If you have questions, ask! If we don't know the answers, we'll find them. If you wanna try some of the amazing spark, we can send you some! Take a risk, you will not regret it! We certainly don't!! Thanks for coming along on our journey! We will keep going and keep you informed because we both have goals to continue and here they are:

In the next 3 months:

- Glen wants to be under 200 lbs.

- Aimee wants to be back to her pre-wedding weight

- Both of us want to tone up and build some more muscle

Second to Last Weigh and Measure

Aimee 
 Alright everyone! Most of my thoughts are on my last post. I am just very focused on how to continue with progress after the actual challenge is over. But here are my measurements for day 18. Disclaimer: we were wearing somewhat different clothes than we normally wear when measuring. Our next weigh and measure will be after the challenge is all over! But here are my results compared to my last weight in:

Day 18 Weigh In

Weight: 141.8 lbs. (-1.3 lbs)

Right Arm: 10 3/4 in. (+ 3/4 in.)

Shoulders: 42 1/2 in.

Chest: 39 in. (+1/4 in)

Waist: 31 in.

Hips: 39 3/4 in.

Right Thigh: 20 1/4 in. (-3/4 in.)

Right Calf: 13 1/4 in. (+1/4 in.)

   Some may see the gain in inches and think it's not working. But I know for sure that those are gains in muscle because those are parts of my body where I have seen a difference and that I have made gains in. For example I went up 10 lbs in what I can lift at the gym and I have seen a change in the definition of my arms. I am also able to do more weight with my legs for more reps. Still a super successful week!

Glen 

   Another successful week in regards to the challenge. You will see below that I am losing a lot of inches in every area of my body and I have lost more pounds this week. I attribute that to the fact of doing a more intense work out. With it being only one more week until we are done with this challenge I hope that those who are continuing to follow our progress are seeing that this is a challenge that requires your full focus and attention and that if you stick to it, results will soon follow. 

Day 18 Weigh In

Weight: 222.5 lbs. (-4.6 lbs)

Right Arm: 16 in.

Shoulders: 52 3/4 in. (+2 3/4)

Chest: 46 in. (-1 in.)

Waist: 44 3/4 in. (-1 3/4 in.)

Hips: 43 in. (-1 in.)

Right Thigh: 22 3/4 in. (+1 1/4 in.)

Right Calf: 16 1/2 in. (+1/2 in.)

But What Happens When the Challenge is Over?

   Just a heads up, this is going to be mostly Aimee writing. I am sure Glen echos a lot of the thoughts in it, but it's mostly me. Glen and I were talking last night about how when this challenge started we were not necessarily one hundred percent excited; we were excited about the possibility but we were sure that these 24 days would last forever. Now we're sitting here thinking "holy smokes! our challenge is done on Thursday. This Thursday!" I cannot even believe how fast it's gone and how much my results have surpassed not only my expectations, but even what I heard everyone else saying.
   When we've posted the last few times about our results it has been pretty number focused, which is fine but numbers aren't the only measure of success. Plus, if there is a huge emphasis on numbers others may only judge their success based on the numbers and I don't want that! I know what it is like to work your butt off and be so careful about what you eat then to get on the scale and see I've lost .3 pounds or even sometimes gained pounds. It makes you heart sick. It makes you feel like all your efforts aren't even worth it so why bother trying? I get it. But this challenge has been different than anything I have ever tried.
   The numbers are cool to see and they definitely make me excited but even more than that I am very aware of the difference in how I feel. I am not tired all the time; I have more energy than I have in a long time. When I am tired it is because it is the end of the day and I have worked hard; it's not because I have sat still for 20 minutes or longer and just passed out. I used to hate looking in the mirror because I felt just so entirely unattractive. I stuck to: "Is my hair crazy? Is there something in my teeth? Do my clothes match?" Now I don't mind because I can actually see a difference in my body. You have no idea how big of a deal that is for me. I want to go to the gym. I have more endurance and I am stronger than before and I can see that in my performance at the gym. I can go longer and I can lift more. I only had one pair of shorts so I went to get another pair on my lunch break and for the first time in about four years I did not have to get a size up-I had to get a size down! For the first time in forever I got to say to Glen "they didn't fit...I need to get a smaller size." It was cool to see the smile on his face because he knew how much that meant to me too.
   I feel comfortable in my own skin; I don't just feel "gross" anymore. I know that sounds vague but I think you probably get what I am saying. Before even when I was doing things right there would be that time where I saw a Dairy Queen advertisement and was like "I'm getting me some ice cream!" Sure there are times that I am like "a brownie would taste good right now" or something like that but then I think about how I feel and I don't want to mess that up. Am I saying that I will never have another treat again or anything else? No, because that isn't realistic but I can say that it won't be like before. Before it wasn't an occasional treat, it was a daily treat. A large daily treat.
   Which is why I have found myself anxious about what happens come day 25. The inner organization freak in me has loved having everything laid out for me with that lovely guide book and that same organization freak is worried about what happens when the book is over. I know of course to keep eating healthy with the portion sizes and everything but what else? I kind of feel like I am reaching the end of a rehab program because I am leaving the security of planned and regimented which I work really well with.
   Those who know me well know that I am a lot like my Grandpa Friday in that I am not an easy sell. I am that obnoxious person who will ask 15,000 questions about why I should get something that you're selling me and usually even if you answer them I still won't do anything until I have done my own research and weighed my options. That being said, these products have made such a difference to me and my husband that I want to share that with others. If you have questions about AdvoCare or you're curious but have budgetary concerns please contact me! You can message me on Facebook, email me, or text me. If you want to try something, let me know and we will figure it out. It's worth taking the risk, I promise! I will be nothing but honest with you, and if I can't answer your questions I will get us in touch with someone who can.
   This has gotten long enough, so I will end it here. Tomorrow or Saturday we will post some more results. But I really wanted to show that these products have made a difference for me. A difference that I haven't felt from anything else. Until then...later!

Half Way Through the Challenge

Aimee
   So I swore this challenge was going to last forever. I thought it would feel like a century; like the Joan Jett concert I went to (which was like a hostage situation...I hear she's gotten better though). But it has actually gone by pretty quick, we're already on day twelve! Holy crap! The cleanse phase was the first ten days so we're done with that which I am not bumming over at all. Now I can have milk! Only a little but a little is better than none, right? Right. I certainly have no amorous feelings toward that fiber drink so I am not mourning no longer having to chug it while holding my nose like a four year old taking cough medicine. As if that wasn't attractive enough, the crazy rambling "it's just orange juice...don't think about it...just orange juice" over and over again added extra spirit to it. It's really not that bad, the sensitive gag reflex made it worse. It also helped that after I drank the fiber drink I brushed my teeth...and my tongue..and the roof of my mouth. I would have brushed my uvula if I could have reached that far; I wanted no remaining fiber drink essence. I know I am not really "selling" it well, but I hear the peaches and cream flavor is better and I don't generally like citrus stuff anyways. But for the two minutes of fiber unpleasantness the cleanse was awesome! My skepticism is gone, and that's not easy for me to say. To give you an idea, Glen always says if someone can sell something to me they can sell it to anybody. I am a practical and fact based person and I cannot deny the facts, which are:

1. I feel so healthy. I used to have days, pretty much weekly, where I would say to Glen "I feel gross." It wasn't like the kind of gross where I was actually sick, I just felt gross. I didn't want to do anything, I was tired, and I thrived on junk food which made me feel gross-er. The past almost two weeks I haven't really said that. The first couple days felt kind of strange because my body was adjusting but once it hit like day four that was gone.
2. I have more energy; I don't fall asleep at the drop of a hat when I sit down. I am able to focus better. It's not cause I'm guzzling Spark either, I only have one a day and usually it's at about 6:30 or so in the morning. Glen isn't falling asleep every time he sits down and both of us work in retail so we move around constantly. 
3. The products aren't gross! Well...fiber drink aside (but that's because of my taste). The Spark seriously tastes like kool-aid and it's not the kind of energy drink that makes you feel all jittery and spazzy. It really just kind of wakes you up a little and sharpens your ability to focus. Which I have truly tested because anyone who knows me knows that before now the focus thing didn't really happen before 8 am (and that's being generous). The meal replacement shakes taste like cake and an actual milkshake. Which speaks to the inner junk food junkie.

  So my first thoughts on the Max phase which is what the next fourteen days are that there is a lot that you take but all of it is multivitamins, omega 3's, etc. (more info here). But I am so excited to see what the next twelve days bring! Yesterday we measured and weighed; this week my loss was in pounds rather than inches; no complaints here! Here are my results (as compared to my last weigh in):

Day 11 Weigh In

Weight: 143.1 lbs (-2.2 lbs)

Right Arm: 10 in.

Shoulders: 42 1/2 in.

Chest: 38 3/4 in.

Waist: 31 in.

Hips: 39 3/4 in.

Right Thigh: 21 in.

Right Calf: 13 in.

Total Loss: 2.2 lbs 

Glen
  With this challenge being half way over and only 2 more weeks to go I can honestly say that I am feeling the best I have in a quite a while. The cleanse phase thank goodness was only ten days however after the 5th day it started to get easier. 

   The last few days have been rather difficult due to the fact that where I work has picked up quite a bit so being able to follow the program to a T is not so easy to do and it has been extremely frustrating because I have worked so hard to even get to this point and I do not want to do anything to mess it up. I have learned though that it is important to keep pressing forward and do it to the best of your ability. In my own opinion this challenge is meant to get you back into good habits even when your situation is forcing you to do otherwise and that is of course where most people run into their problems but as you will see from my results doing the best I could with what I got still produced some pretty great results. Hard work does pay off. Lost some pounds and inches and gained some muscle!

Day 11 Weigh In

Weight: 227.1 lbs (-2.9 lbs)

Right Arm: 16 in.

Shoulders: 50 in. (-4.5 in.)

Chest: 47 in.

Waist: 46 1/2 in. (-1/2 in.)

Hips: 44 in. (-1 in.)

Right Thigh: 21 1/2 in. (-1/4 in.)

Right Calf: 16 in.

24 Day Challenge Progress

   So today was the end of the fifth day of the Advocare 24 Day Challenge, so we'll just dive into how things have been for us!

Aimee
   I have always have joked with Glen that I am addicted to junk food, but after these five days (only five...how sad) I swear that wasn't so joke-ish after all. There were days that I swear I was going through withdrawal; at my sister's house I was 90% sure the bag of cookies was looking at me...through the cupboard...in another room. Totally crazy, I know. There were two days in particular that I was like ravenous for anything delicious and not cleanse-ey. Give me that brownie ice cream pizza french fries cheesecake....alright fine banana. But I am SO glad I didn't cheat, especially after we weighed and measured today. I think this week was particularly hard because I wasn't able to completely prep like I wanted before we started the cleanse so I felt a little like a rabbit with what I was eating. But I was able to plan for the next week so I can eat person food now too! It sounds silly but even just being five days in I can tell that preparation is huge in being successful. If you prepare it makes it easier so it keeps you from giving up. It also really helps doing it with someone else. Glen may or may not have have to hold onto my hand particularly tight when we were walking passed a table of cupcakes. Yeah...that got a little dicey. But I am so glad he's in this for the long haul too! Otherwise it would have been a flop like everything else I've tried.
   I had to admit that even though I was hopeful, I was also a pretty big skeptic. I promised myself that I would look at this experience objectively; that was the whole idea so that I could honestly either suggest or discourage it. I had heard people talk about the Spark drink before I started and how it made them more alert and able to focus. I was particularly skeptic about this but as I was thinking about it today (during my super ridiculously productive day), I realized something. When I watch Caelan during the week I usually get there about 6:30 or 7 am and fall asleep until he wakes up, then inevitably I wil fall asleep during one of his naps unless I force myself to stay busy. That didn't happen this week. I snoozed for about an hour on Wednesday morning but that was it. I was amazed! I can home and was tired at the end of the day like I should be but I was good during the day!
   My thoughts on products so far are that there is a lot to keep track of at first, but once you're in the swing of things it's not as bad. The past two mornings without the fiber drinks were lovely. That's my least favorite part but the Spark in the morning is tasty! The grape one tastes like kool-aid and the fruit punch is yummy too! I am trying watermelon tomorrow. But the proof is in the pudding (mmm....pudding):

 Day 5 Weigh In:

Weight: 145.3 lbs (-3.7 lbs)

Right Arm: 10 in. (-1 in.)

Shoulders: 42 1/2 in (-1/2 in.)

Chest: 38 3/4 in. (-1/4 in.)

Waist: 31 in.

Hip: 39 3/4 in. (-1/4 in)

Right Thigh: 21 in.

Right Calf: 13 in.

Total Loss: 3.7 lbs and 2 inches overall. 

Glen

    The past five days have been some of the toughest in regards to food. If you do not know me then you do not know how much I love eating. I eat whenever I get the chance and I eat all of my favorite foods. We are only on day 5 and I feel like I am about to go crazy and I probably will have gone crazy but I know that at the end of these 24 days I will have learned a whole new level of self control and discipline.

    Up until this point I had not realized exactly how much I used food as a crutch. Whenever I am at home and watching a show or doing some business I would get something to eat and I would eat off and on through out the day until Aimee and I went to bed.

  When I first heard about this challenge I knew people were getting their results and I was stoked for them but as far as I was concerned I was pretty certain that I would not be able to last 24 days doing a very specific routine and making sure certain things were done in incremental times. 

  Aimee then recently of course began looking further into it and one thing that I have come to learn ever since I first met her was that I could accomplish anything as long as she was by my side so I agreed to do it with her shortly after our journey began.
   There are a lot of great health products on the market and after only five days I can already see and feel a difference in myself. I have been able to have more energy and I already feel healthier. Although the first few days have been a bit hellish I see the results and as we all know results have incredible motivation to keep someone going. Plus having a great team mate and not wanting to let her down keeps me right on track. Next milestone will be to get to Day 11. So I am almost halfway there and before I know it the 24 days will be up. 

Day 5 Weigh In:

Weight: 230 lbs. (-1 lb.)

Right Arm: 15 in. (-1/2 in.)

Shoulders: 54.5 in. (-2 in)

Chest: 46 in.

Waist: 47  in.

Hips: 45 in.

Right Thigh: 21 3/4 in. (-2 1/4) in

Right Calf: 16 in.

Total Loss: 1 lb and 4 3/4 inches overall. 

We're definitely still motivated! Talk after our next weigh in!!

We're Accepting the Challenge

   Oh my gosh! Two posts in a week?! Unheard of...but true. Normally my posts are about what events have happened with us recently and how we're doing; the next few aren't quite going to be like that. Glen and I have been worried about our health habits for quite some time now. Both of us have a sweet tooth that practically consume our whole heads, both of us lacked serious knowledge about where to start or even where to look for information. For the entire time we've known each other we've talked about how we have bad habits that we don't know how to shake. We knew people who had done Advocare challenges and those who not only did the challenges but were distributors and advisers for the products. We were kind of wishy-washy about it for a while until the desire for healthier lifestyles evolved into wanting to be healthy and needing to find a way for some extra income. Glen has been working already and I knew that it needed to be me who brought in that income(despite his best efforts to convince me otherwise). I looked into Advocare a little deeper and Glen and I both liked what we heard and what we were learning. But we both refused to sell anything we hadn't put to the test ourselves. Thanks to one of my family members we are able to do just that. Which brings me to....

THE ADVOCARE 24 DAY CHALLENGE:
   The Advocare 24 Day Challenge is all about resetting your body essentially. The first ten days is all a part of the cleanse phase which cleans out your body of all the toxins and junk it has built up over time. The next 14 days are the max phase which helps reset your metabolism and really retrain your body on absorbing the necessary nutrients. That's the super reader's digest version, if you want more information you can email, Facebook message, text, call, or comment down below. To start the challenge we took our before pictures and our measurements. Over the next 24 days we will periodically make a post about how things are going and we are going to be super honest because we love our friends and family and believe in being nothing but honest with you all.

Day One: TODAY!
Aimee:
   Okay, so sharing personal details about myself especially my insecurities is the hardest thing I've ever done so please be kind. I have never been the textbook definition of "fat"and I know that will lose a lot of you, but I think I represent another chunk of women that I kind of call the "in betweens." I like many others have a time where I felt at my best; for me that was toward the end of our engagement, our wedding and shortly after. This was a result of no one hiring me (because of only being in Texas a few months) and doing yoga for an hour or more every day, decreased appetite due to hot temperatures and some medical stuff that I wasn't aware of then. But I was 125 lbs which was still healthy for me but more than that I felt gorgeous. 
   My goal for the challenge was to get back to my wedding weight and learn more about nutrition and taking care of my body. Some may roll their eyes at me when I say this but it's significant for me; I am the heaviest I have ever been and even more than that I feel more unattractive than I ever have. So for me, the goal of this is my wedding weight, healthy habits, and feeling gorgeous again.

Before Details:
Weight: 149 lbs.
Right Arm: 11 in.
Shoulders: 43 in.
Chest: 39 in.
Waist: 31 in.
Hips: 40 in.
Right Thigh: 21 in.
Right Calf: 13 in.


My initial thoughts today have been these:
1. Fiber drink-unpleasant but survivable.
2. If I drink anymore water I may just float away.
3. I have never been so full while being on a "diet."
4. I miss milk.

So for some of the days during the cleanse there is a fiber drink that you have to drink and I had heard that this was the worst part so I was not looking forward to it. I am a picky person when it comes to my food and drink and to top it off I have a super sensitive gag reflex. I took the suggestion of my coach and mixed it with 4 oz of water and 4 oz of Trop50 orange, I had to mix a little extra water in though toward the end. It also helps if you brush your teeth right after.

The "rule" for water consumption is your weight divided by two is equal to the number of ounces you should consume. I hate water. Sounds strange yes, but it has no flavor so I don't like it. I fixed that problem by putting some lemon slices in the water. Made it more appetizing at least. But I am pretty sure I drank more water today than I did all last week. If I drink anymore you may find me floating somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

There are some diets or health programs that make you go through the day eating very little ("I'm stuffed...I just ate a raisin" kind of stuff). This is not the case with Advocare! You eat basically every 2-3 hours and I am so full! When you do the challenge you get all source of resources to help you but it pretty much boils down to eating what your body needs for fuel. Protein, fruits/veggies, some carbohydrates and small amounts of healthy fats. 

For the cleanse portion of the challenge you can't have dairy which is killer for me because I love milk. Normally I drink TONS but today I had none and it feels strange. We don't even have any in the fridge. Is there such a think as a milkoholic? I think I am one and I am having serious withdrawal issues. 

That's all for me!

Glen: 
   Growing up I was a very active kid and well into my teenage years even but after high school because I no longer had P.E or went swimming all summer. I lost all physical activity and I started working as a security guard to help pay for my mission. The first place they put me at had me walking around more but the last place they put me before I left for my mission had me sitting in a booth for 8 hours and for those 8 hours for 6 plus months I was constantly eating and never doing any physical activity so slowly I began to gain weight and by the time I left on my mission I was overweight and unhealthy. For the 2 years on my mission I was walking around quite a bit so I lost some weight but I never got back down to my ideal weight of 175. 

   After getting home from my mission I followed a pretty unhealthy pattern of eating all the time and doing some moving around but not much, so as you can guess my weight fluctuated and sadly I have never been able to get below 200 pounds. 
Before Details:

Weight: 231
Right Arm: 15.5 in.
Shoulders: 56.6 in.
Chest: 46 in.
Waist: 47 in.
Hips: 45 in.
Right Thigh: 24 in.
Right Calf: 16 in.

 Here is what I am looking to accomplish in this 24 day challenge
1. Reach the 199 lbs mark
2. Create better daily habits
3. Be more self disciplined
4. Be in better shape to do more activities with Aimee
5. Learn healthy habits

   After the first day I know that this is going to be incredibly hard but because of the support of my wife it is going to be a lot easier. I am looking forward to watching both her and I get healthier and personally I feel like we will grow closer together as a couple. 1 down and only 23 more to go!

Here Comes Summer

   Hi everyone! Time to update things from the past couple months. The weather has been getting warmer here in Texas so we have been doing some playing outside, which has been nice! A little while after my last post we had an uncharacteristically mellow Saturday and wanted to take advantage of the nice weather by going to the park. But it looks a little strange walking around the park on a nice Saturday without a kid, so we stole Megan and Gavin's and went to the park! It was so fun! We played on the swings and the slide and climbed on the jungle gym (as much as a munchkin can at 8 months old). After we had played ourselves all out, we went to the car and played with the horn for a few minutes then we headed back to return the kiddo.
    Since I posted last Glen got a job. He works for Leslie's Pool Supplies and really seems to enjoy it. It's not quite full time but he's been doing well at it and it's helping to ease the financial stress. He's still working  on his t-shirt business and the website looks awesome! He's added a bunch of new designs and just recently he added some fun flip flops, just in time for summer! You guys should totally take a look! http://shirtsjustforyou.spreadshirt.com/. The company that hosts the website did some tweaking to the site for him and made it look awesome! They also sent us a couple free t-shirts so we can see how they printed; they looked so awesome! Glen used one of the samples to get me one of the ones I really liked. Corrine came for a visit in the beginning of May and it was a busy and fun visit!
   My semester is over and I am so glad it is! It was my last semester of having to take 15 credit hours, so I am hoping that the next semesters feel a little lighter than the ones before. I am doing 6 credits of summer coursework after which I will start my last year in the education program (wow...did I really just say that?!). In the fall I will spend one full day every week in my cooperating school and I will be working on taking a bunch of certification tests. In the spring I will be in a cooperating classroom full time, then I will finally graduate! This summer I will prepare for and take the first of my certification tests and I am so freaking nervous! There's a whole process you have to go through to even clear to take the test, so that's my focus now.
   After my semester ended, I got really home sick for New York and my family there, and Glen as he usually does suggested I go. Thanks to my Dad who had an extra buddy pass, I was able to go and be there for Lucy's birthday (it was the first I have been able to be there for since her first). I also got to see one of Justin's baseball games and surprise my Grandpa Friday. I was so happy to see everyone and it made me even more excited to go back with Glen in the beginning of July. I already have a list of things I want to do with him there. So excited!

Lucy taking a swing at her pinata at her birthday party.

Some of the pictures I took at Justin's game. He's so fun to watch!

   Glen and I are also starting something that we are both excited and nervous about. After memorial day we are starting the Advocare 24 Day Challenge. We have both struggled with maintaining healthy habits and really learning how to eat healthy and really take care of our bodies. It's going to be an interesting 24 days and I am looking forward to seeing what it does for both of us. Keep an eye on my Facebook, we'll post before and after information and share our thoughts on the program and the challenge. I think it will be really good!