All In 24 Day Challenge

If you are like me then you said you would stay on track over the holiday season and NOT over eat and eat CRAP foods. If you are like me then you really enjoyed the sweets, croissants, and sweet potatoes a bit too much. Oh, and you sat in a chair near the ocean and only moved to go to the buffet line. Guilty.

So, with the New Year comes the fresh start. January is an amazing month to set some goals, and work towards those goals. As a teacher, I love setting resolutions in August and then resetting them in January. I love January 1st and the amped up feeling I get when I get motivated about something.

Here is something I am passionate about: Feeling amazing and having energy. If you know me then you know that I am full of energy. I pray I never lose this trait. However, thanks to Advocare, I know that I am taking care of my body, and properly fueling it. As well as getting energy the best way possible.

My FAVORITE product that they offer is the 24 Day Challenge. This challenge is designed to reset your body, shed some pounds, kill the sweet tooth, and get that gut functioning properly. HELLOOOOOO..... that is EXACTLY what we need after the months of October, November, and December!

Advocare is an amazing family to be a part of. I have gained so many relationships through Advocare and a GROUP Challenge is amazing when it comes to keeping on track. The company is offering some sweeeet freebies with this group challenge. Check this out:

Here is the deal: To participate in this group challenge, and get the discounts, you will need to order by Wednesday, December 31st. This will assure you get all of you supplies by the start date of January 7th. I always recommend doing a challenge with a group! Plus, this is the whole COUNTRY! When your challenge arrives in the mail, you will be given everything you need to get started. Instructions, helpful tips, and some nice freebies. (Not food, you will need to purchase food.)

If your house is anything like my house then football has been on the TV nonstop. Have you seen the Advocare commercials? I am LOVING that the company is backed by TOP athletes! Be on the look out for some of them!

You will get the wrist band, and blender bottle FREE! I love free!

If you know me at ALL then you know I NEVER start a day without a Spark. Ahhhh... Spark is my absolute FAVORITE gift to give. This keeps me bouncing of the walls each and every day! You will get two boxes with your challenge.


Are you ALL IN? Are you wanting to jump start a better lifestyle? Have more questions?

I am ALWAYS open for questions of info. Please feel free to email me: crgcain@gmail.com, call, or text! 

If You Know Me...

If you know me then... You probably DON'T KNOW this: Adoption is in my prayer book. Yes, starting a family (one day) is in the prayer book as well. However, adoption just REALLY pulls at my heart. Are we totally NOT at the point of 100% "OK, we WILL adopt!" No. In fact, my husband is probably watching the hair raise on his arm as he reads. (Sorry, Coach. I said the blog was about to be 100% ME!) It isn't at all about the feelings I share. It is usually the way I share my feelings. 100% open and on a blog. (For the record.) He believes whatever happens is God's will. I love that about him. He keeps me in check. Even during total meltdowns.  

If you know me then... You probably KNOW this... I often obsess over things once I get my mind on them.

Example:
Running.
Reading.
Literacy.
Being kind.
Healthy Eating.
Being kind. (oh wait, I said that. Take note.)

The reason for this post is to share this:

So, I can't tell a lie when I say this: This Blog. This family. This lady, This baby. 

Read. Cry. Love.

It is what I do daily. I adore this story. My faith just grew this week with her posts. Again, LOVE.

Maybe you needed this story as much as I did.

Faith.

Love love,
C^2

Husband.

(Before I start I should say HI to the man of my dreams that instantly clicked on the link once he saw it pop up on his feed... Not because I titled it HUSBAND... but because he is the #1 reader. It may or may not be to check my grammar.... who knows.)

My fave. 

I am sharing this blog because I am currently loving it. When you are married to a person that is as equally as busy as you, but still find time to discuss the starting five and race times at the dinner table, you do whatever it takes to make sure you are always madly and deeply in love. Which I think that we do a pretty amazing job....

When we were getting ready to say "For Wins and For Losses" or "For Better and For Worse" if you must.... we took the Love Language quiz. Get ready for the shocker: My love language is "Gifts." Insert Gasp. I know. I know.

Well, words of affirmation was not one that I was familiar with. This means one thing: I need to get better. So, here I am sharing my secrets. Coach will now be thinking, "Oh that is why she says, Can I help you do anything today?" Yup... and YOU think I ONLY read junk.... :)

Anyway... I am sharing this blog with hopes that you find something you like. If you agree or disagree with my opinion that marriage is #1 FOR LIFE... (this is me adding a part of my heart without stepping on toes. Maybe I will write about how I pray daily to keep God #1, Coach #2, and the rest #3... One day.... I need thicker skin first.)  I hope you enjoy! You can follow me on Pinterest as well. Just look under my "Coach" board.

As always,

Love love,
C^2

Do What You Do. Do It Well

Here I am at the old age of  26 years old when something of great meaning hit me: Whatever you do, do it and do it well!

Gah. Such a small thought. Such a HUGE idea. What if we ALL did everything with a smile?

Am I pointing fingers? Oh gosh, I hope not. Basically, I am saying this for me. (and I want my spot on the .com to have a little more of MY heart in it.) So here it is:

Don't complain. Just don't. We ALL have struggles. Some big, some small, but they are ours. I love this:

SO true. I have it written in my Bible I love it so much.


Life can be super overwhelming. In fact, just THIS week: This may or may not be my 2nd bottle of Tums to ease the heartburn...

I worry. I worry. I worry. I am trying to get better... but what is really happening is that I am getting better about not verbalizing my worries, so my husband and BFF think I am getting better at not worrying.

Here is my promise to myself: Whatever it is I am doing:
being a wife
being a friend
being a daughter
being a mom (to Dub, and our sweet "children")
being a teacher
running
Cross County
Basketball
Coach's Wife (this means listening to the prayers. Making chocolate chip muffins to help hurt feelings. Watching film. Missing life because of watching film. And so on...)

I am going to do it. And golly geeze... I am going to smile about it, and be the best at it. I won't complain. What will complaining do? Nothing.

I have this to smile about:

I love this guy. He's my lucky bus driver. We make an amazing team. We do life great together. #CainLife

This is my welcome home every single day. He may or may not have opened the fridge or pantry to eat everything inside... But he's always happy to see me.

Life is tough... but it can be an amazing thing when you smile and go.

#StayPositive
#NoComplainZone


Love love,
C^2

3 Weeks NO Cheats

In the Cain House we eat pretty decent. By decent I mean we don't eat junk from a box (like we did our first year of marriage. Hello 45lbs) I cook most nights, and we always have lean meats and veggies. However, with the months of August- December being our busiest months... we may or may not hit up our fave hamburger place that is literally a mile from our house once a week. Plus, if you know us AT.All. then you know we are football fans. To me nothing quite says football season more than buffalo chicken dip. I may or may not make a batch every.single.week. Oh, and I will be the first to admit my love for cheese. The more, the better. Andddddd..... the pumpkin coffee that came back in my life with the month of October. Wow... when you type out all of your food cheats, it really sounds bad. 

I already take amazing supplements. I love Advocare and everything they stand for. I know I am getting top of the line products with them. I am extremely active. I run daily. I am just about ready to run 26.2 miles. However, due to our crazy-busy schedules, I know the food I eat can be better. It's my fault because I have been lacking on what's important. I am a HUGE believer that you make time for what is important to you.

I have recently found this blog. It is amazing. She is very inspirational... and best thing: She's a teacher too. She made this chart and is inviting others to participate: 3 Weeks NO Cheats. 21 days of ZERO cheats. My cheats are easy... cheese, take out, and quick and easy processed snacks. I will be eliminating them from my gut for 21 days. I'll document as much as possible.

I am going to be researching the Whole 30 and reading this book. I am thinking about kicking this off in November. I need a little fixing in my gut, and I love the idea of dropping my no good very bad dairy and grain problem. More on this to come. I already have this book: and I love love love it! It breaks clean eating down perfectly. Check it out.

So, who's with me? 3 Weeks NO Cheats. If you need a copy of the checkoff sheet, just message me. I will get one to you!

Thursdays Are My Favorite.

Thursday nights are my favorite.  I am sitting in my favorite spot of the house doing my favorite thing while waiting for my favorite person (and well, PEOPLE) to come in the door. Like I said, Thursdays are my favorite.

There is a BIG blog post that is straight from the HEART sitting in my draft box. It is a major one. Some feathers may be ruffled. I have done a pretty amazing job of avoiding all "THOSE" blog posts, and well... the time is up. However, I am not quite ready for it... This weekend. Maybe.

So, I thought I would clean out my phone and share with you the ramblings that I call LIFE. (Or, well... life this week.)

The face that I get when I say, "We are having broccoli- zucchini quinoa muffins for dinner!"

My homework/ lesson planning partner.

My super awesome friends that I made go to school with me. Plus two selfies in one weekend.

The fact that I dressed up as the Tin Man for school one day.

When you miss a UGA game because you are being responsible and junk. Then your family sends you a present... the tickets to the game.....

And a cute sign with a note from D.... "We missed you..."

This kid... that is my bro-in-law. NOT my twin. I'm the nicest person he's ever known.

This picture: a new favorite.

This support system. They love us. We love them.

This is seriously how I make it through life.... :)


Happy Thursday!
Love love,
C^2

Friday, I love you.

Happy Friday. I do love a good Friday afternoon in the recliner with the DogNamedDub by my side as we catch up on one or fifty blogs. I only have a single minute to post this sweet little blog…. I must get ready for a football game. (Another favorite thing about Friday nights.)

I recently read something that said you can tell so much about a person by what’s on their nightstand. I thought I would share mine as my Friday Five.

Here:

One. 

Jesus Calling.

Hands down BEST devotional EVER. Every single day is like, “Wow! I totally needed that today!” I also gave one to my BFF as a gift. I love it that much. (And her.)

Two. 

Ipad.

What did we do without Ipads? I love mine. It is the holder of all things amazing. Nook. Kindle. Pinterest. Facebook. Blogs.

Three.

Garmin charger.

I love my Garmin. It is my BFF for this marathon training. It is my favorite running purchase ever. Love.

Four.

TKES Handbook. I read this once a week. I secretly love it. Shhhhh.

Five.

A picture of my favorite person. My sweet Rylie. (I miss her more than words.)

In reflection: I totally think my nightstand describes me. I am a sinner that falls daily. God is always there to pick me up, and give me just what I need. I love reading and need immediate access to the internet at all times. I’m training for a marathon and long runs control my life. I love honest people and my sweet friend the Garmin 210 is the most honest person I know. Sadly. I’m a teacher and I 100% love LOVE LOVE my job more than words can ever explain.  I miss my sweet family each day… but I know I am right where I need to be.

Ten extra bonus points for the person that names the parenting book that is somewhat hidden. WOAH: Before you get allllll kinds of “WAIT…. Baby Cain?!?” No. Sorry. However, we Cains love to read and LOVE anything that teaches. Yes, that IS indeed a parenting book under there. Confession: I read anything and everything that I think will teach me something about sweet children.  

Love love, 

C^2

MIA

There are 567,940 things that I SHOULD be doing right now. The top of that list includes writing a paper that is due this weekend (but I have a XC meet and a football game to attend so it must be posted tonight!) cooking dinner, or vacuuming the floors. (This must happen daily thanks to a DogNamedDub.)

However, I felt like the blog needed an quick minute of my time. Here's what's up.

I just walked in the door about 17 minutes ago and made a cup of coffee. I've been wanting one since the storm started. (Plus I thought it would motivate me to write this paper. That worked well.)

Here is my life as of lately:

Cross Country. Yes. My absolute fave. I love them all. Even when they make me sad with "ahhhhh we love rain days!" Boooooo rain days! Nothing beats running outside!

My husband. Such a hottie. Especially in pink Southern Tide. (But what's new. He's always a hottie!)

My friends. They are the absolute best. I am happy they love red and black. Or maybe we wouldn't be friends?!

Family. I miss you. Please come see me soon!

First grade. I love you. You make me sleep realllllly good at night. But I love every single moment.

Running. 14 miles made me reconsider my love for running. I cried. Lots and lots. And I complained. More and more. However, I reallllllly love the time we spend together as well as the life problems we solve.

Life. Just absolutely 100% chaos. But it's the #CainLife

Love love,
C^2

Running Update

Three weeks of training have come and gone. 17 weeks until the BIG MARATHON! I thought I would keep a record here of all that I am putting myself, my husband, and now my friends through. With three weeks of the plan gone, I need to make a small confession.

 Y’all: I am worried about training once school starts in August. When school starts so does football, cross county, UGA football, AND grad school. YIKES.

 It makes me nervous just thinking about the tight scheduling. BUT… I want to document my answer now on the .com…. If I don’t run the marathon now, then I won’t ever do it. 

You make time for what is important to you. 

The Cain fam just happens to have LOTS that is important to them in the fall! (AND SPRING. AND SUMMER. AND WINTER.)

Ok. So let’s document some runs shall we?! 

On the 4^th of July somehow I convinced some friends to run a 5k with me. They ROCKED it! I think I have some new race buddies! This really makes my heart so happy! (I think KNOW this is why I coach XC. I love when people fall in love with running!) 

My once ‘running partner’ is now officially retired until October. He doesn’t seem to hate it too much. 

This is a real time photo. He is doing this while I type.

Apparently he takes after his pops. Which is why I am currently BEGGING for a new running partner. Maybe a breed that is made for running. You know…. Kinda like the Weimaraner!?!? Sike.

Goals:

• Do more cross training. The scale is shouting to me that I need to lift some weights. I need to fit this into my mornings. 

• Run with the hydration pack. 

• I also need healthy carbs ONLY. Grad school and vacation was just a killer to my diet. Which is why I started a cleanse today. #IMissDairy  

• Water, Rehydrate, and Spark only.  I can tell when I drink tea instead of water throughout the day.
  

• Ride my bike. My muscles need the stretching.

• AB WORK! Enough said.

• Read my devotional.        Sometimes I start to worry about scheduling once school starts. I NEED to be 100% at everything. That’s hard. I count on a devotional to keep me from having a meltdown. Since you know… those happen from time to time. I think a tattoo of worry.less would work perfectly on my wrist. (wink wink)

June.

I don’t really remember the month of June. Sadly, the first month of “summer break” has come and gone.

Coach had baseball and football every.single.day. So we would high-five each other out the door on most weekdays.

I am teaching summer school… because, well…. A vacation in December is always worth working for. (My opinion.)

photo taken last December in Cozumel :) 

I decided that this was the summer to go back to school. So there were the three weeks that we crammed a semester worth of three classes at once. Leaving me shamefully driving through the local fast food locations.

back to school friends. 

this is what livetext and fast food make me do. 

I’m also living the dream of running my first ever (and possibly only ever) marathon in November. (Which I will be updating everyone daily by posting running pictures. #sorrynotsorry)

Also, there is the family that we try to see regularly!

Oh, and the time to just be that madly in love married couple.

Oh, I got a new car! 

How did I make it through the madness that was the month of June?

You guessed it! SPARK! 

Love love, 

C^2