Trying to Live the American Dream

October 27, 2019 - woke up in a hotel in Marquette, MI after a fun evening celebrating the marriage of two friends and watching my (at the time) two month old niece, went to the bathroom and knew exactly what was happening. I was supposed to go in for my first 10 week doctor appointment in two weeks. We had already told friends, family and the girls were super excited!  After five to six years of trying on and off, why was it so hard to get pregnant after having zero issues with the first two? Why now was I having a miscarriage when I already was struggling to just get pregnant? Why me? These were the questions running through my head for weeks. Well, I know now. God works in mysterious ways and this major speed bump in life really grounded me and changed me for the good.  After struggling for about a month and mentally recovering, my awesome friend, Tracy, said some things that just clicked. I was telling her how shocked I was when the doctor told me that there are just as ma...

I have been getting a good handful of people asking me how I lost the weight and am keeping it off. I did a post in April about my transformation which essentially started after my miscarriage in 2019. I thought that on this post I would emphasize a little more on all that I have learned. April of 2020 when Tracy and I started our podcast (Dirt Road Health and Hustle), I made a goal on my 33rd birthday that I would lose 33lbs by my 34th birthday in April 2021. I changed up my eating habits, got a blood test to test key vitamins in my system. I was deficient in some so I started taking some supplements and was feeling great through the fall of 2020. I lost 10lbs from April to December 2020. I started not feeling great and having GI issues, inflammation and a rash on my face in December. I decided to start seeing a chiropractor in January because I knew they would just help my physical well-being which in turn helps the internal well-being. I was feeling great physically after some consi...

September 2020 -- get the news that school is going virtual  October 2020-January 11, 2021 -- school is continuing virtual I was scared. I was scared that my girls, who strive in the in person environment were falling way behind. After being on their tablets for 6+ hours a day, I could not bring myself to make them do more at night when we were home. I let them play, run around, and get out their cooped up energy. I know they were not getting the education they deserve. They needed the in person. I don't think that they made any real significant gains in their reading through virtual learning. Thankfully, they have amazing teachers who did continually push them. Because Ali was turning 10 we had her IEP re-evaluation. She had made gains since the beginning of the year but I know that if she would have been in person, she would have been further. I am very proud of how stinkin hard she worked through the virtual learning. January 11, 2021 and they are back in person. March 2021 we h...

October 2019: Miscarriage November 2019: Let myself go - emotional wreck - internally hard on myself December 2019: Same as November January 2020: Decide to take a class my friend Tracy is teaching, on becoming a healthier person and more aware of the hidden "crap" in our food February 2020: Still taking the class and Tracy and I spontaneously talk about starting a podcast. March 2020: We make that spontaneous decision real with our launch of Dirt Road Health and Hustle ( A podcast on how to navigate life mindfully, not perfectly while having a shit ton of fun along the way!  We talk all things whole body health and well being along with sharing our story of how,  when all you have is a dirt road, you put your boots on and walk it confidently every day.) This is really where it all began. Tracy started her health journey three years ago and I have been living in a naive state thinking everything I eat is okay for me (knowing the general stuff like junk food and sugar are doin...

I DID IT! Never in a million years did I think I would have the self discipline to not eat sugar. I proved to myself that I can do it. For our podcast (Dirt Road Health and Hustle), Tracy challenged me to not eat sugar for one week. I thought, why not give it a try?! Let me tell you, that was not easy. I ate only veggies and protein (meat and eggs) for 7 days.  It was definitely a struggle to not cave to the chocolate cravings. I started on a Wednesday and that morning, I walked into work and the first thing someone said to me was, "there are Reese's PB Eggs in the office." SERIOUSLY?! I powered through and didn't have any even though they sat there for three days! The worst cravings were at night after supper but I just kept myself busy and didn't think about it. On Friday, I turned down donuts...that never happens!!!  I struggled to get enough protein in. I would be hungry in the afternoons. I didn't prepare myself well enough with a good stock of meat in th...

 That moment when you are in the car and your 7-year old is being a complete bear....you slam on the breaks and pull over.... Did that the other day. I hated it. I felt terrible. But I got through to her. My daughter insisted that she pick out music on my phone to play on the way to my parents house. I said "no" -- usually, I say "yes."  She threw a complete tantrum - feet kicking my seat, screaming at me, etc. I stayed calm and told her we were going to turn right around and go back home if she didn't stop....she didn't stop....instead of turning around, I slammed on the breaks (making sure nobody was behind me) and pulled over. Unbuckled, turned around and jacked her up!  I explained in a very loud voice how I did not appreciate her behavior, how she knew better to not act that way and she is not always going to get everything she asks for. Pretty sure I scared the crap out of her which is unusual because typically when she is being a smartass at home and ...

 Holy Crap, it has almost been one year.... I am going to channel some of my frustrations through this blog entry. I am not trying to offend anyone or tell anyone how they should live their life. I am stating my opinion and hopefully educating some folks. I am not going to wear a mask when I don't absolutely have to. There have been so many changes in the recommendations and uses and guidelines over the last 11 months - how can we even keep track if it is really the best thing to help the spread?! COVID-19 is a virus. A new virus. Influenza A is a virus. Influenza B is a virus. HIV is a virus. They have all taken lives and will continue to take lives. And I am sure more virus's will come.  How is wearing a mask helping exactly? When I go to the grocery store, I am not there to chit chat with every passing person; I get my groceries and get out! I don't talk to anyone except the cashier and maybe someone at the deli but they are across the counter! All of this happening righ...