Meal Plan Monday 9/28/15

This weekend was a lot of fun!  The highlight was definitely the pumpkin patch we went to!  Here are a few pics.  We went with our good friends and their boys and invited Rowen's best friend to come along, too!  All the kids had a blast!  Sunday we headed to a family birthday party where Rowen wore herself out big time.  She went the entire weekend without a nap...that's a first for her!

Back to planning meals for the week and I think I found some good ones!  Enjoy!

Monday:  {Broccoli Shells 'n Cheese}

Tuesday:  {30 Minute Taco Bake}

Wednesday: {Crockpot Orange Chicken}

Thursday: {Light Chicken Parmesen Casserole}

Friday:  Not cooking

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Org Junkie

THRIVE Week 3

Sorry, I failed on meal plan monday this week and that's because I'm just super busy.  We've planned some simple meals for this week...spaghetti and meatballs (one of Rowie's faves), BLTs with soup, BBQ chicken salad, and a pasta bake.  I'll be back next week with something a little more exciting!

Today though, I wanted to make sure I got in my 3 week Thrive update!  I'm still loving it more and more each day!  Here goes...

Energy - Energy is still great!  I have noticed some days are better than others though and I think it’s because the Thrive package I bought does not require a shake every day.  I’m much more energized on days I take the shake than on the days without it.  I’ve since changed my order for my next four weeks so that I can have the shake everyday…it’s delish!   I really love how I feel most of the day…especially in the mornings - wide awake before my alarm, invigorated and motivated!  It’s great!  

Sleep – I think a train could come through my room and I wouldn’t hear it.  I am sacked out allll night!  I love it! 

Hunger –  This one has thrown me for a loop lately.  Just this past week, I’ve noticed I’ve been going through days where I am not hungry at all to STARVING the next day.  I am eating regularly each day so I can’t quite figure this out.  I’ve been told to pay attention to where the DFT/patch is on my body on the days I am hungrier than usual!  Going to start looking in to that for sure!  Part of it could also be the fact that the shake isn’t 7 days a week.  We’ll see if this changes when my next order arrives! 

Weight - Overall, my food cravings are still way down - especially for sweets. I’ve also really been focusing on my water intake, which has helped.  I don’t own a scale, but I am going to go out and buy one because I am very curious!  Again, weight loss was not an initital goal of mine, but I know I have lost some!  My pants have never been this loose and my stomach feels so much flatter!  Before I started Thriving I took note of my waist measurement and my weight, so I’ll be eager to see what those measurements are on week 4! 

Mood - Still happy!  Today, for the first time in awhile I was excited to go to work!  Not sure what the heck that was all about, because ususally i'm not, but today has been a good day, I guess!

I also mentioned in my last Thrive post that I have become a Thrive Promoter, which means I now make a commission off of the product.  This has been awesome, I love seeing the extra money come in each Tuesday, money I earned from my sitting at my computer after the kids go to bed!  Plans for the extra money include upping our savings account, building a firepit in the backyard and saving to go to Vegas this spring!  Mostly little things that we've already planned to save up for, but could possibly do at a faster pace now!  Can't wait!

With that being said, if you're at all interested in trying Thrive or interested in earning some extra money contact me now!  This company is getting HUGE and i'm super excited to see where it takes me.  www.hutzell1.le-vel.com

Be back later in the week with Wyatt's 3/4 month update!  

Wyatt's Airplane Nursery

It's been three months since Wyatt was born and I am just now getting around to doing his Nursery post even though it's still not done.  I need a rug (cannot for the life of me find one), I need to refinish his nightstand (it's in horrible shape) and I need to add a few more decor pieces, but I have no idea when I am going to find time to do it. So for the time being I'm calling it complete.  Here it is...Wyatt's vintage airplane nursery!

His crib and glider are the same pieces Rowen had as a baby!  The crib turns into a full size bed, which I am excited about for when he gets older.  I originally toyed with the idea of selling both to please my obsession with white furniture, but Ryan convinced me to keep them because they look more "boyish"...I agree!

The colors for his room were originally just going to be white and blue, but then the bedding I found had pops of red in it, so red, white and blue it became...all american boy, I guess!

This is the nightstand that needs refinished...thinking of painting it red, but we'll see if I actually get around to it or not! 

As for wall decor, I wanted to do it as cheap as possible.  For this piece in particular, I bought four square canvases, covered them with fabric and added some wooden letters.  So easy!

Above his crib hang a few airplane prints I got online, printed myself and framed, and an awesome metal plane I found at Hobby lobby!

His changing table is also a hand-me-down from Rowen.  I dressed up the wall space above it with this adorable banner I found online, and this white shelf holding a few knickknacks!

Everyone that sees the room always asks where I bought the "fly" sign.  I actually made it myself for about $6.  I found cardboard letters at hobby lobby, modge podged them and painted them white.  I then stuck them to the wall using velcro adhesive strips...so easy!  I love the way the white pops against the wall!

As for the curtains, I decided to go with a more preppy look.  I found these nautical striped curtains at TJMaxx on sale!

For now his toys and books sit in this brown box.  I have ideas in my head for other toy storage, but quite frankly I'm running out of floor space in his room, so this will do for now!

That's it!  I'll be sure to update again as I finish it!

Sources:

{Crib}

{Glider}

{Curtains} (similar)

{White Shelf}

{Airplane Banner}

{Airplane Prints}

{Airplane Bedding}

Meal Plan Monday 9/14/15

Keeping it simple this week!  Here's what's on the menu...

Monday:  Italian Chicken Bake

Tuesday:  Orecchiette With Meatballs and Tomato Cream Sauce (using normal noodles I can pronounce and beef meatballs)

Wednesday: Ham and Cheese Pockets

Thursday: Grilled Vegetable Quesadillas

Friday:  Not cooking

I'm off to be a sub for my neighbor's Bunko game.  I've never played Bunko in my life...should be interesting!  

I hope to have Wyatt's room tour and his 3 month update on the blog yet this week!  Stay tuned!

Thive Questions...Answered!

It seems like everyone who inquires about Thrive asks the same set of questions, so I thought I'd go ahead and answer them here, all at once!  Here goes...

What the heck is Thrive?  It’s a nutritional regimen in the form of vitamins and minerals to give your body exactly what it needs…nutrients!  It’s designed to help you achieve your optimal physical and mental health!

How does Thrive work? 

• Step 1:  Take two capsules on a empty stomach when you wake up in the morning

• Step 2: 30 minutes later, drink the shake (can be made with just water – you don’t even need a blender to mix it).

• Step 3: Apply your DFT to a lean, clean, dry part of your body. 

It’s important to note that water intake during the day is key for maximum absorption, and remember to eat! 

What is DFT?  Derma Fusion Technology – 24/7 nutrient absorption through the skin!

Can you buy Thrive without the patch?  Yes, however if you want the full experience, I recommend buying all three – the capsules, the shake mix, and the DFT (patch).

How long do I need to take it for?  To get the full experience, it’s recommended to taken for at least 8 weeks. 

What happens after 8 weeks, do I stop?  That’s 100% up to you!  I know people who have taken Thrive for over a year.  It just depends on your lifestyle and what’s best for you!

How much does Thrive Cost?  Of course, this is the first question that’s always asked and rightfully so… you want to get your money’s worth and I agree!  Depending on what you decide to buy, Thrive can cost anywhere from $100-$300/month (average cost is $150/month).  A one month supply of the capsules, the shake, and the DFT (patch) is $150.

How do I order Thrive?  You can purchase Thrive one of two ways.  The first way is to become a Thrive “Customer” meaning you buy your product each month, or you refer two friends so it’s free the following month(s).  The second way is to become a “Promoter”, this is the same as a customer only you have the opportunity to make money for your referrals as well as earn free product.  You also have the opportunity to earn bonus’, too (more on that below).

How can I get my product for free?  The answer is easy.  Simply, join as a Thrive customer (or promoter), buy your first four weeks of Thrive and then sign up two friends to join you.  After that, your product is free!  As long as you have two friends each month (and they can be the same two friends every month), your product is free!  So easy - I had my free product within the first three days!

How does Thrive compare to other similar health products on the market?  I’ll be 100% honest here.  I have never taken another nutrition regimen so I can’t say much to this.  What I can say is, Thrive is a lot less product then some of the other health products out there.  Thrive is a simple 1,2,3 your done product!  You aren’t taking multiple things at different times of the day and stuck to a strict eating regimen.  Le-Vel is also the ONLY company to offer 24/7 DFT technology – you won’t find that anywhere else.

Can I take it if I am nursing or pregnant?  This is a decision between you and your doctor.  I will say there are nursing and pregnant women currently using Thrive!

Can you make good money as a “Promoter” with Thrive?  Yes!  As I noted in a previous blog post, this company is an MLM company, but it’s YOUNG and not yet saturated like some of the others out there.  Thrive is so young in fact that the Company (Le-Vel) just recently (3 days ago) came out with their chocolate shake!  I know a handful of people who are making very good money - so good that some of them have chosen to sell Thrive fulltime!

And while we’re on the topic of “Promoter”, I’m happy to say that I have decided to officially join Thrive as a Promoter!  No, I am not going to quit my fulltime job or do anything drastic like that (I’d be a complete fool to leave the health insurance plan and the 401K my company offers – it’s way too good + I like my job), but I am interested in making some extra money to do some fun stuff with my family (hello Disneyworld) and maybe even offset the cost of daycare!  I’m also happy to announce that today I earned my first bonus with Thrive…a $400 bonus to be exact!  It was easy – in my opinion, this product sells itself and the best thing is, I did it from the comfort of my own couch after the kids went to bed! 

With that being said, if you’d like to know more or even want to join the Thrive family, let me know!  It’s easy, anyone can do it! J

Thrive: Day 10

As I stated in my last Thrive post {click here to read it}, I’d been researching Thrive for a couple of weeks before I finally decided to try it. At the time I needed more energy - anything to keep me awake and feeling good.  Anything to keep me from feeling like I was going to drop dead from exhaustion at night!  I’d tried coffee, soda and energy drinks, none of it worked.  Well, today is day 10 of my 8-week Thrive Experience and I am nothing but pleased!  Here’s why…

Sleep:

By far, one of the most noticeable changes I’ve seen in the last 10 days is how well I am sleeping!  If I do wake up (usually due to Wyatt), I am able to fall right back to sleep!  The past few days in particular, I’ve been waking up before my alarm!  When I wake up I feel rested and my mind feels clear.  Before Thrive it took a good, 20 minute shower to fully wake me up in the morning, but now, I’m out of bed before my alarm!

Energy:

I have yet to get that “oh my god I need to go workout for three hours, and then clean my house for three hours" kind of energy that some people say they get, and I'm totally fine with that. At the very beginning I had short, euphoric boots of energy, but now (10 days in), my energy has evened out quite a bit.  It’s hard to explain, but I no longer hit that “wall” at the end of the day where I am just "done".  Instead, I am up until 10/10:30 at night feeling great!  There are even some nights where I have to tell myself to stop what I am doing so I can be sure to get to bed at a decent time!   

Mood and Emotions:

This was something I was not looking to change before I started Thrive, however, it has!  I noticed right off the bat I was in an overall better mood.  My boss noticed it, and my husband noticed it!  I feel like I handle stress better and am more patient with my kids.  I also feel much more motivated to do things, which is a huge plus! 

Physical Function:

Last Saturday, was my first long run (10 miles) while taking Thrive.  During the run my knee still hurt a bit, but felt better than the week before.  It wasn’t until after the run I realized how good I was feeling.  Usually after a long run my joints hurt, and I get really run down during the middle of the day.  This didn’t happen.  My legs felt much looser than usual and my energy level was sustained – so much in fact I spent the afternoon with my daughter at the pool!  It wasn’t until late that night that I finally felt tired.    

Appetite Control:

This is 100% real!  My sugar and caffeine intake is probably 75% less than what it used to be!  There is a candy bowl sitting right outside my office at work.  Before Thrive I was eating out of it constantly.  Now, on day 10, I’m happy to report I have avoided that bowl since day one.  I rarely crave sugar and if I do, I can easily talk myself out of it - it’s great! 

 My main goal for taking Thrive was not to lose weight, but I’ve noticed (and it’s most likely due to the fact that I’m eating less junk) that my waistline seems smaller and my stomach is definitely flatter!  My appetite is not nearly what it used to be either.  

Before Thrive I was snacking quite often during the day - I was always hungry and I never really knew why.  Now, I’m usually only hungry around meal times.  I drink the shake and eat a piece of fruit in the morning, then eat a normal lunch and dinner - that’s all I need!  Rarely am I hungry in-between meals!

The above are my results, but I was curious to see what skeptics would think about the product if they tried it.  Enter my good friend, Lauren.  Lauren and I have only known each other for about a year and a half, but she’s quickly become one of my best friends!  Lauren has a health and fitness background and when I told her what I was doing, I had a feeling she was skeptical.  I offered her a five day sample and asked her to try it.  To my surprise she said yes and offered to give me her feedback.  I asked her six questions.  These were her answers…

On a scale of 1-10, how skeptical were you before trying Thrive? (10 being completely skeptical, 1 being not at all).
I would say on a scale of 1-10 I was about a 5-6 when it came to skepticism of the product. I have tried other supplements in the past to help with all of the things Thrive is supposed to help with, but nothing ever worked well and I would have to take multiple supplements throughout the day.

What's your reason for wanting to try Thrive?
When Laura said she would let me try a sample pack, I was super excited…as a mom of 3 boys, a newborn and 2 toddlers; I need as much energy as I can get!

Did you notice any changes in your energy level?  If so, how?
Right away I noticed change in my energy levels, I felt like I was not extremely exhausted around that 2pm hour, but over the past couple days though it has mellowed out.

Did your mood change?  If so, how?
My mood has definitely changed, ask my husband or kids :) I would say I am more relaxed and not so much on the edge or moody with all of them.

What was your appetite like while on Thrive?
I was not as hungry when taking Thrive but knew I was burning more energy so I needed to eat more often just smaller portions otherwise my body would start to store fat.

Would you recommend Thrive to a friend?
Yes I would recommend Thrive to a friend.

Lauren decided to place her own order last week and I am SO excited for her to Thrive with me!

I’ve had quite a bit of interest in this product from friends and family, but it seems like everyone has the same questions.  Tomorrow I’ll share my answers to those questions along with a few other exciting updates!  

Stay tuned…

If you're interested in trying Thrive, please let me know!

Meal Plan Monday 9/8/15

It was a super busy weekend, but unfortunately I didn't take any pictures.  Saturday we hung out at the pool all day, Sunday I had the opportunity to help my mom serve the homeless, which was cool, and Monday (Labor Day), we spent the day out at a local equestrian center seeing horses and then headed to a park for a picnic.  It was a great weekend!

As for my menu this week, you'll notice it's heavy on the chicken side.  That's because I have about 6lbs of chicken breast sitting in my freezer, ha!

Enjoy...

Monday: {Chicken Pita Pizza}

Tuesday: {Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Shells}

Wednesday: {Ranch Chicken Club Roll-Ups}

Thursday: {Taco Crunchwrap Supreme}

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Meet the Sullivans

Org Junkie

My Thrive Experience

If you follow me on Social Media you’ve seen me posting the last couple of days about something called “Thrive”.  I’ve had a number of people email, text, message asking what it is, so I thought I’d take some time to explain it and my reasoning for doing it!

I am not one to fall for unnecessary health products.  If I want to lose weight, get in better shape, or improve my lifestyle, the first thing I am going to do is exercise and eat right.  However, three months ago I had my second baby {Wyatt}, and while everything is going well, having two kids is damn hard...harder than I thought it would be!  I am constantly tired!  To the point that I fall asleep while playing with my three year old on the floor, or while tucking her in to bed at night, and worse, SO tired that when I’m driving home after work I have to eat or drink something in order to keep myself awake, which is scary! 

I’ve tried caffeine…I pretty much live on my $5 a day coffee, but it wasn’t working, if anything it was making me more tired.   

Like a lot of people, I keep a pretty hectic schedule.  I am back to working full-time, juggling two kids, trying to keep the house clean + 90,000 other things.  I know what you’re thinking “Oh boohoo, cry me a frickin’ river”, right?  Wrong! I can’t even tell you how many other moms’ I’ve talked to who feel this exact same way!  Even moms who don’t work full-time in an office setting, but rather watch their kids all day (something I think would require 10x more energy)!   It’s HARD!

About a month ago I noticed a friend of mine wearing this strange patch.  I didn’t want to ask her about it in case it was something medical and completely none of my business, so I kept quiet.  Then one day she spilled the beans about it.  What she said basically went in one ear and out the other because I honestly had no idea what she was talking about.  Then, one night, I Googled it.  One of the main selling points was the fact that this “patch” gave you more energy…something I sure as hell needed!

I started asking more questions and finally decided I wanted to try it (this was last Friday).  Fast forward five days and I am on day two of “Thrive”.  To be honest, I don’t feel much different yet, but last night, for the first time in awhile, I slept...hard! I also went the entire day without craving coffee, which for me says something!  Most people say it takes about 4-7 days to really get “thrivin'” so I’m waiting, and I’m super excited about it!

What is Thrive?

In a nut shell, it’s easy.  I wake up, take two “capsules”, drink a shake, and then put on my DFT (Derma Fusion Technology) aka the patch.  That’s it!  It’s 100% natural (mostly vitamins, plant extracts). 

Below is a list of  benefits other THRIVE users say they’ve experienced:

• Weight Management

• Appetite Suppressant

• Immune Support

• Pain Management

• Digestive Support

• Mental Clarity

• Join/Inflammation Support

• Lean Muscle Support

My Goals:

I’ve set some goals for myself in order to test the product:

1. Energy: I need more energy.  I want to be able to drive home without feeling like I’m going to run myself off the road, play with my kids without wanting to fall over in exhaustion, and exercise the way I want to!
2. Pain Management and Joint Inflammation Support:  I love to run!  I’m currently training for my 4^th half marathon and lately my knee has really been bothering me.  I’ve seen other runners review this product and they say it’s done nothing but improve their running ability and provide pain relief!  I’m super excited for this!
3. Mental Clarity:  Who doesn’t need this?
4. Lean Muscle Support:  This product is big in the Crossfit world.  A lot of Crossfit guru's use this to help tone their muscles.  Hoping I can do the same thing…baby no.2 has definitely taken a toll on my ab muscles and left me with 3-4 lbs of baby weight that just wont go away no matter how hard I run or workout. 

Future Goals:

Yes, THRIVE is a multi-level marketing company.  For those of you that don’t know, there is serious potential to make a good income with MLM companies via your couch!  Thrive has the same potential because this company is YOUNG (2013)!  I know a couple of other people in the MLM business who are making some serious dough (like 5-6 figures) promoting their products.  My family is blessed in that both my husband and I have very steady incomes.  We aren’t struggling, we budget well and seem to meet our needs when it comes to money, but I will say that having two kids in daycare is ROUGH!  Just thinking about the amount of money we will be spending on childcare alone the next two years makes me sick to my stomach.  The opportunity to make a couple hundred dollars extra per month isn’t out of the question for me, but as of right now I’m not ready to make that move.  I want to test the product first!  

So, with ALL of that being said, I plan to keep updating via social media and here on my blog to see what kind of results come from my eight week Thrive Experience!

If you’re interested in doing this experience with me, click {here} or send me an email, text, whatever!  If you want to know more, I urge you to "like" {Le-Vel's Facebook Page} and read the success stories on the site! 

Have a good night!