Finding Motivation to Get Fit

I really like working out. It makes me feel good. It gives me more energy. And it definitely puts me in a better mood. (Just ask my husband) However, once my free work-out classes ended (they don’t offer it in the summer, just the winter months) so did my work-outs. Boo. It’s ridiculous. Yes, I could go back to the gym I used to work out at. Yes, I could get on the treadmill I have at our house. But let’s be honest, I work-out harder and longer when I’m with a group of people. They make me push my myself harder and they give me inspiration to keep going when I’m tired. BUT, once you stop it’s so hard to get motivated to start up again. (you would think my clothes being super tight would be motivation enough, or the better mood thing…)

Anyway, it’s lunch break and I went to Yahoo to check my email quick and saw this article. The pictures are amazing and I’m so proud of all those people, even though I don’t know them. Just the courage to post before and after pictures. Go you! So – this is my question or really questions.

1. Where do you find your motivation?

2. Have you tried Kayla Itsines (@kayla_itsines) guides?

3. If you’ve tried it – was it worth the money? Did you feel like the work-outs were easy to follow (don’t misunderstand me – I don’t mean “easy to do” that would defeat the purpose. You have to work hard for results, I get that.)

4. I’m trying not to focus on weight but more on how I feel and how much energy I have. But, I also feel like I need to have some sort of accountability – like inches or body fat. What works best for you?

XOXO

~ The Sheiliac

Monday Must Have’s

Life has been a little crazy lately. Work is busy. Home is busy. Thankfully – I have this week Monday’s must have’s that help me get through the week.

1. Front Zip Sports Bra

2. Turkey Pepperoni Sticks

3. Adobe In-Design

4. F.A.W. – “Friday After Work”

Wow. It is really weird to post a picture of a bra but seriously you guys – Victoria’s Secret Front Zip VSX Sports Bra is the best. No more doing weird yoga moves just to get into your sports bra. It’s easy. It is comfy and they have fun colors and designs. It’s about time.

Turkey Pepperoni Sticks are my favorite quick, healthy snack. They taste so amazing and are only 50 calories. Do I need to say anything else here?

So -  I don’t have a picture of In-Design because it’s a program. Yes – I could have went to the web and grabbed one but it’s just not necessary. I love Adobe In-Design for so many reasons. It is really expensive but so worth it. I’ve taught myself how to use the program and use it for every creative thing I do. From ITF’s quarterly magazine to teacher gifts. More on teacher gifts to come!

F.A.W – Friday After Work. Is so amazing. Everyone should have F.A.W. Basically it’s four families that get together Fridays after work. We rotate houses so not one person always has to host. We have supper or just appetizers and enjoy a beverage or two. The adults get to visit and the kids get to play together. It’s an amazing way to end the work week and I’m so blessed to have these couples and their kids in my life.

Have a great week and plan a F.A.W. with your friends soon.

XOXO

~ The Sheiliac

Power Naps, make you more productive?!

I don’t want to admit it but there are days that I sit at my desk and stare at my computer. It’s not that I don’t have anything to do, in fact my list is 2 pages long and I have exactly 6 piles of papers/magazines/cookbooks on my desk at this exact moment. But some days, I just can’t focus. I’m tired. And it takes every ounce of my being just to keep my eyes open.

Then I received an email from Successful Meeting with the link to this article http://www.successfulmeetings.com/Strategy/SM-How-To/How-to-Squeeze-in-a-Power-Nap-at-Work/?cid=eltrHowTo. At first, I thought, “this is ridiculous”. If I am going to nap I want it to be for a good 2 hours (at least). AND I want to be in my bed or my couch with my pillow and a big blanket. Plus – who could sleep at the office? And seriously, what boss allows this?

Then today happened. I couldn’t focus and I was staring at my computer thinking of everything I needed to get done. I remembered the article and thought “what the heck? It’s worth 30 minutes of my time. I’m not getting anything done anyway.” So I told my co-worker that I was going to go try a power nap in the back room. I was setting my alarm and would be back at my desk in 30 minutes.

My power nap spot

I got on the little couch and tried to fall asleep. I didn’t think it was going to happen. Next thing I know I’m waking up (it’s 20 minutes later and 10 minutes before my alarm was set to go off). I got up and went back to my desk. You know what? I do feel better, I’m still tired but not focused on keeping my eyes open, which means I can focus at the tasks at hand. Sweet.

Am I going to be able to take a Power Nap everyday. Ha! Absolutely not, but at least I know 20 minutes can help get me back on track! Try it out next time you can’t focus or can’t seem to keep your eyes open.

XOXO

~ The Sheiliac

The “D” Word: 3 month Update

Today marks 3 months since Diva was diagnosed with T1D. I can’t believe it’s already been 3 months. AND we made it through the holidays.

Diva is doing great (all things considered). She has already gained 6 pounds! Yes – she was under weight in part due to undiagnosed T1D. Now that we know and are “treating” it, she is much healthier – gaining weight, growing like a weed and has better color. She can almost check her blood sugar all by herself – although one of us is always there with her. It’s just nice that she is taking ownership of it and already at 5 wants to do things herself. She has let her aunts, an uncle and even some cousins help her check blood sugar. She knows she has to have insulin after every meal and she reminds us. Yes – our sassy Diva reminds us she needs an injection. Children are amazing.

Are the emotions still there? Oh yeah.

1. Blame and Guilt. Let’s be honest no matter what the doctor’s say I’m always going to feel a little of this. Even though I know it’s nothing we did and nothing she did. I guess I’ll just have to remind myself over and over that T1D cannot be prevented. Hopefully someday they will have a “cure”.

2. Sorrow. This emotion will always be there. It might not be as bad as when we first found out and it will probably keep getting better with time but I’m still sad that this is her new “normal”. Plus – while I gave her insulin yesterday morning it started bleeding and a bruise appeared immediately. I felt horrible even though Diva told me it was ok. When my husband came in from chores to take the kids to school she told him that I did a “bad job” and he was doing it tomorrow. The only reason I know she said this is because G-Money came up and told me. She didn’t tell ME I did a bad job and like I said told me it was ok. She knows it is hard on us and didn’t want me to feel bad. How sweet is that?!

3. Fear. This is pretty much exactly the same as when I originally posted. I am still constantly thinking of her numbers. I still think about it every night when I’m trying to sleep and it’s the first thing I think about when I wake up. Yep –still scared of everything about T1D.

4. Frustration/Mad. I think as time goes on this will switch from me being frustrated and mad to Diva being frustrated and mad. She asked me the other day WHY she got T1D. I told her that it just happened – there was no reason. Her pancreas just decided it didn’t want to work anymore. She looked at me straight in the eyes and told me to tell her the truth. It BROKE MY HEART. I told her that was the truth. That the doctor’s didn’t know why and that it wasn’t anyone’s fault. I still don’t think she believes me.

5. Happy. I’m happy that she is adjusting. I’m happy that she knows she has to have insulin and doesn’t really fight it anymore.

Diva showing off her new meter bag given to her by a really awesome family in the community – the mom in this family also has T1D.

I started this post yesterday. I went to check email this morning and I found this video before I got it to. What are the chances that I would see this video on Diva’s 3 month T1D anniversary? I have three words: Powerful, Scary, Understand. Take the time to watch and share. (Diva is still in the “honeymoon stage” – which means her pancreas is still partially working.)

https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/inside-the-scary-battle-to-save-a-teens-life-a-109233855362.html

XOXO

~The Sheiliac

New Year. New You?

I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions.

This is the thing. I believe that if you want to change something you should do it right now. Why wait till January 1st? I mean, I kind of get it. After all – it’s a new year…why not start fresh. But still…

A couple days into January my husband mentioned I should try shopping less. Whaaaat? Ridiculous. The funny thing is, the very next time I opened my phone – this beauty was on it. {“Shopping less” is not a realistic resolution.} It made my day. It came from an app I have on my phone – Keep. Have you heard of it? Maybe you already have it on your phone. I compare it a lot to Pinterest – only it’s clothes, shoes, purses, etc. and you can buy them directly from the app. It picks out cool stuff, you can keep it (for later), like it, or buy it right away and it all goes into one cart regardless where you are buying it from. GENIUS. It’s fabulous. Go try it out. You’ll either thank me later or be really mad at me for introducing you to it.

Do you make New Year’s resolution’s? Do you keep them?

Christmas Recap!

I love Christmas. I’ve always loved Christmas. My mom put a tree up in every room of the house. It was awesome. I used to grab a blanket and lay underneath a tree because it was just so beautiful. Let’s be honest – I would often fall asleep but I couldn’t help it. There’s something so magical about Christmas trees and lights.

Now I get to decorate my own house and I wish I had the same ambition as my mom – but I don’t. I used to try to put a tree up downstairs, upstairs, in the bathrooms and in each bedroom. Now it’s only a tree downstairs and in each of the kids’ rooms. Fail.

I also have a thing about dressing for the holiday season. This outfit was my favorite this season. The snowflake and reindeer leggings are from White Plum (but I ordered them from Jane.com) – they are so soft and comfortable AND they aren’t see through. I mean what more could you want?! The top is Lucy (I got mine at Von Maur), I love, love, love the Lucy brand. It’s athletic type of clothes that you can wear anytime. AWESOME. The scarf is Betsy Johnson (again bought at Von Maur), I just really like Betsy Johnson, it’s kind of different and funky and fun. Plus plaid and pink – how can you go wrong?! Then of course my Ugg boots, which I’ve already written about and some pink boot socks (I’ve had to say good bye to those wonderful socks – they got a hole in them, it was a sad day. A very sad day.)

About a week before Christmas I got a text from a friend about Diva’s letter to Santa, it was hysterical. I still laugh every time I read it…G-money is “too old”, they don’t a letter to Santa in the newspaper anymore.

Santa came and brought all sorts of goodies but Diva’s FAVORITE – the Stop Sign. LOL. Her brother doesn’t think it’s nearly as cool. I believe his wording was “…most annoying gift ever”.

G-Money was pumped that Santa brought a bike though (he really wants to ride around the lake with us this summer). And then maybe my favorite picture from the holiday – Diva and one of her cousins sitting on Grandma’s bed playing ipads. I don’t know why I love this picture so much but I just do. They are best friends and can play kitchen, house, babies --- or just sit together and play ipads. It just warms my heart.

I know what you really want to know, it’s just sitting there with no answer…yes, Santa brought my husband underwear. Lots of underwear.

I’m already thinking about next Christmas and how to make it more magical. How about you? Do you plan way in advantage or last minute?

XOXO

~The Sheiliac

Uggs. Love them or hate them? Dressing for the winter– BLAH!

Ok. Don’t hate on me – I’ve always thought Uggs were ugly. GASP! I know, right. But I couldn’t help it. Everyone said they were amazing, they are warm and so comfortable. Yeah ok, but have you looked in the mirror?!

 

Then winter showed its ugly face in Iowa again and I needed some warm boots. I was shopping with my husband (which never happens), my mother in law and Diva. My husband wanted Uggs to wear around the house. I thought, whatever, it’s only in the house and he does have plantar fasciitis and really can’t walk around without shoes, so ok. Since we were in the shoe department my mother in law and I headed over to our section. That’s when I found these bad boys.

They are Uggs = warm and comfortable but they look like riding boots = looks good. Could it be true? Could I really have warm and comfortable boots that also looked good? Yes, yes it is true. I seriously LOVE them. They are amazing. So worth the $275 damage to my pocket book. To top it off, I just found out they also have these bad boys in black. Oh yeah. Trust me on this one. Go get some now.

 

XOXO

~ The Sheiliac

Hey! I’m Sheila and I’m a Sheiliac. There I said it.

Hi everyone! My name is Sheila and I’m a Sheiliac. What’s a Sheiliac you ask? Well – it’s really just my name and Celiac Disease put together. Why? Because I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in the fall of 2012 and it’s who I am, it’s a big part of my life and it’s never going to go away. I’m also a farmwife and mom of two – a sweet farm boy (G-money) and a sassy Diva. Sophie (a miniature schnauzer) our inside dog and Lucy (a black lab) our outside dog complete our family.

I can’t forget my “other” full-time job! I work at the Iowa Turkey Federation as the Director of Membership Services. I love it. I get to visit with farmers and all the companies that supply goods to the farmers and I plan the parties – I mean meetings. I also design our magazine – Turkey Talk. It lets me be creative and showcase all the wonderful things our organization, famers and allied members do throughout the year.

Why I started blogging – well that’s actually a really long story but my friend Katie, from On the Banks of Squaw Creek – has told me and told me I needed to. I had seriously thought about it when I (and my daughter) were diagnosed with Celiac Disease but then my daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and I knew it was time.

So what is Sheiliac going to blog about anyway? Good question. Seriously. This is why it took me so long. What the heck did people want to read about and why would they want to read mine??? I struggled. Now – I know. Hearing other people’s struggles and success with Celiac Disease and Type 1 Diabetes has been a life saver. It makes it easier somehow. So….

• The Diva & Diabetes – I will share the stories about my sassy little Diva living with Type 1 Diabetes and anything else related to her – not to mention our favorite diabetic recipes.
• Sheiliac – it’s really all about me. LOL. Seriously though – my life, celiac disease and gluten free recipes. Trust me, my grandma (GG) is awesome at making recipes into GF recipes. LOVE HER.
• Sparkling Chaos – Life is awesome but let’s face it, it’s always a little chaotic. Plus I am a major sucker for fashion, glitter, sequins, design and parties.
• Levis & Boots – my husband and our little farm boy and of course our farm. What’s on the farm? Glad you asked – we are turkey farmers and we also row crop corn and soybeans. It’s awesome and I can’t wait to help you understand farming more.

Other stuff I love and that I just might blog about sometime – DIY, summer life – aww, warm nights and steamy days, water skiing, fitness and photography.

All of this makes up Sheilapalooza – it’s a crazy life but hey it is what it is. So let’s be friends – I’d love to know about your chaotic life too!

XOXO

~ The Sheiliac