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26x27

My whole30 experience.

heyitsbex · September 10, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Having seen the whole30 pop up on some blogs I follow regularly and seeing multiple spreads in bullet journals across the internet, I decided I should check it out and see why it was so popular. I read a bunch of information on their website, and after reading a testimonial about a lady who had her trichotillomania cured, I was sold. I ordered my book and one for my mom, too!

What appealed to me about the whole30 was that it wasn’t a “diet”. It was about understanding the psychology of food and the relationship you have with it. It tackles sugar addictions and the bad habits that come with comfort food.

With a start date of August 7th, my mom and I read through all the program rules. She was upset she couldn’t have gum anymore and I was offended the book suggested I didn’t actually like coffee ’cause I added a bit of milk. Despite the intense rules, we somehow convinced my sister and brother-in-law to join, too.

The first two weeks we were all feeling pretty great. We didn’t have many cravings and were actually enjoying the food we were eating. The third week was definitely the hardest for all of us. We were grumpy. Angry. Craving sugar like nothing else. One day I sat and thought of every chocolate bar I’d love to consume all at once, right that moment. Because the program focuses on your mindset and food, it was a very interesting experience to be able to tell myself I didn’t need those chocolate bars. There was about 7 times I can remember distinctly where I would be sitting on the couch working late at night, and despite the fact my tummy was full, I wanted snacks. I didn’t give it though and it felt great!

We finished the program on September 6th and I’ve never felt better! I’m pretty proud of myself for accomplishing this and not quitting halfway through. I’m loving the way my body is looking, but even more so I’m loving the way I’m feeling. Here’s the top 5 non-weight related victories for me from the whole30:

  1. I saved SO much money by not eating fast-food or buying alcohol. I’m so motivated to get my cash budget started and keep the savings going.
  2. My go-to snack is now oranges. I love that I’m in the habit of reaching for fruits or veggies rather than sweets.
  3. I feel like I can tackle anything. The motivation for life that this program has given me is kind of unbelievable.
  4. I am so much more aware of what is in the food we eat. Pretty much everything has added sugars or additives in it. No wonder people are so unhealthy.
  5. I LOVE guacamole. Ask anybody, I hated avocados. I wouldn’t go near them if my life depended on it. Now guacamole is one of my favourite foods. I’ll make some and put it on grilled chicken rather than slathering the chicken in sugary unhealthy sauce.

A few of my staple food items throughout this past month, which I hope to share with you, were:

  1. Black coffee, which I now officially love
  2. Potato salad, made with homemade mayo
  3. Frank’s hot sauce for the days where I just needed to dip in something
  4. Grilled steak, veggies, and cayenne sweet potatoes
  5. Cauliflower rice
  6. Lettuce wraps

Now that the program is done, I don’t think I’ll go back to any of the foods I’ve eliminated. I feel so much better and to be honest, I”m a little worried to re-introduce anything. I don’t really feel like I’m missing out on anything. I love feeling in control of my food and eating habits, and I would much rather make my own food and sauces and know that what I’m eating is actual food without a bunch of unnecessary sugar and chemicals.

Overall, the whole30 was a 100% success. I’d recommend it to every single one of you beautiful people!

DIY: budget envelopes.

heyitsbex · September 5, 2016 · Leave a Comment

A couple years back now I attended Financial Peace University at my church back home. It was a life changing 10-week eye opener to money. I’ve still struggled with budgets and money management since acquiring all that knowledge, but I’m determined to put it into action. I’ve made great progress, and with the help of the whole30 cutting out fast-food, I’m energized and inspired to keep on keeping my spending under control.

A big part of the teaching is to use a cash budget, because spending actual cash hurts more than tapping your card. One of my biggest annoyances with trying to implement a cash budget is the fact the envelopes for each category always fall apart and the change gets lost so quickly. Last year I had the idea to make some simple envelopes. This weekend, I set to work, started cutting, and made some great envelopes!

They’re made out of ribbon and vinyl, feature a receipt pocket, bill pocket, and a change pouch. They fasten with a little snap and the change pouch has a zipper. Since I’ll still be using my budget app on my phone, I didn’t include anywhere to track where I spend the cash as I’ll be inputting it on my phone.

While I won’t be using them for all the categories very granularly, for example, I won’t have a “clothing” envelope, as I don’t often buy myself new clothes. I’ve simplified it to three categories that will get their own envelope:

  1. Groceries
  2. Gas
  3. Allowance

The allowance envelope will include all miscellaneous purchases. Starbucks, fast-food, clothes. Anything out of the regularly budgeted items. I’ll still be paying a lot of my bills online. But as far as other spending, it’ll all be out of these envelopes.

After the first one, my mom and sister wanted a set too!

To make them, I didn’t follow any sort of pattern.. I just kind of had the mechanics in my head and went to town on the sewing machine. Here’s the approximate size pieces I cut (including seam allowance):

  • four 5.5″ x 4.5″ pieces of vinyl
  • one 11″ x 8″ piece of vinyl
  • one 5″ x 8″ piece of vinyl
  • one 8″ x 8″ piece of vinyl
  • two 8″ pieces of ribbon
  • one 11″ piece of ribbon

I also used a 7″ zipper (though the pouch is only about 4″ wide; and 1/2 inch metal snaps.

How do you guys budget? What’s worked for you! I’d love to hear all your suggestions.

26 x 27

heyitsbex · September 1, 2016 · Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year again! Annual bucket lists! This is my fourth year making an annual bucket list. You know, despite my lack of ever completing a list, I love the fact that these lists are something that I aspire to complete every year. Though they’ve proven so difficult for me, I love that I keep coming back and trying again.

One of my very best friends has also written an annual bucket list, so I’m optimistic that with our encouragement of each other, we’re both set to have very exciting years!

Without further ado… here’s twenty-six things I would like to do before I turn twenty-seven.

  1. Complete a Whole30 – Done!
  2. Use my bullet journal daily
  3. Blog twice a week
  4. Pay off my credit cards (again…)
  5. Make budget envelopes – Done!
  6. Switch to a cash budget
  7. File my first business taxes
  8. Go paddleboarding
  9. Go on a hike in the mountains
  10. Catch up on photoshoot editing
    • Sage’s smash cake
    • Paxton’s newborn shoot
    • Michelle and Aby
    • Ashley, Declan and Bridgette
  11. Take a photography class/workshop
  12. Make Anthony’s photobook(s)
  13. Finish Paris photobook
  14. Implement the miracle morning
  15. Go on a trip somewhere Explore Vancouver with Noakesy
  16. Read 12 books
  17. Find 6 blogs I really like
  18. Tile the laundry room
  19. Join the gym (and actually go 2-3 times a week)
  20. Find a church I like attending
  21. Listen to a sermon on podcast once a week
  22. Plan and save for mom’s 50th birthday adventure in Europe
  23. Try one new craft medium
  24. Finish mom’s christmas cross-stitch stocking
  25. Do 3 new things in Edmonton
  26. to be determined…

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