Day 1 of torture

just as I suspected...

Today marked Advocare cleanse: day 1. Almost a completed operation...

I hosted Easter yesterday at my house for the family. It was a really nice time, and the kiddos made out like bandits between our Easter egg hunt and traditional game of LCR. I loved Piper's little dress (Target) because it reminded me of a flapper girl. Let's just say the 'Target Bunny' was very good to her this year. (hehe) 

 

I was exhausted after cooking, hosting, and cleaning all day yesterday, but then found myself prepping all my and Lisa's foods for the next four days this morning. I was in front of the stove for almost 3 hours cooking portioned meals. (1/2 c carb, 3/4 c protein, 1 cup veggie) Like I had mentioned, I normally eat a balanced, pretty clean diet, but the cleanse and challenge menus are to be on-point, strict with portion size, and you add in Advocare product supplementation. Theory is, you could loose 12-15 lbs. depending on how closely you follow the diet plan, so I woke up roaring and ready to get going with this.

Luckily I prepped the meats and stocked up on veggies prior, so it was just the preparing to do. 

On the first day of the cleanse, when you wake up, you are to drink a fiber drink that comes in the cleanse package, followed by a tall glass of water, proceed to eat your breakfast (protein, carb, veggie) and then say 'sayonara' to pretty much anything else of substance for the rest of the day. All you are supposed to eat (for the first day only) is fruits and vegetables. Working out is not suggested on the first day either. I ate lots of fruit in the beginning of the day, and ended with a large vegetable stocked salad and fruit on the side. I dressed it with tons of vinegar (if you know me you know I love vinegar) and sprinkled a dash of Splenda on top for a little sweetness to get me through. I'm thinking I may even have another one of those salads to end the night and keep me from feeling hungry. The 'Spark' energy drink Advocare sells is truly energy of the Gods. It doesn't make you jittery, but wakes you up and enhances your alertness (I swear) as well as aids as an appetite suppressant. It helped a lot today.

So, this is the MENU through Saturday:

Meal 1 (protein carb veggie): 1/2 c oatmeal, egg white scramble with veggies (broccoli or peppers) OR I prepared an egg white scramble with peppers and 1/2 c red potato diced OR meal replacement shake 

Meal 2: (snack- healthy fat + fruit) cashews/ almonds and 2 cuties, banana, or any fruit of choice 

Meal 3: (protein carb veggie) large vegetable rich salad with chicken/ tuna and vinegar OR chicken stir fry (3/4 diced chicken, 1 c vegetables) with low- sodium soy sauce and (1/2 c) steamed brown rice

Meal 4: (snack- healthy fat + fruit) peanut butter (2 tbls) and apple

Meal 5: turkey taco meat (3/4 c) lettuce wraps OR grilled chicken, sweet potato, and sweet green beans (recipe on blog) 

*Meal 6: (post-workout meal) protein shake with banana

As you can see, the plan itself is not much different from a normal clean-eating diet plan, but I can say this, I over eat! I use 'myfitnesspal' and track calories, but portion control has always been an issue with me. Hey, I like food! When Lisa came to pick up her meals, she had me laughing because she couldn't believe 4 days worth of food fit into a Nordstrom shopping bag. You don't realize how small 3/4 c of protein is until you measure and divide it. *We also weighed and measured ourselves today as a kickstart to the new us! I gained back 5 pounds over the last week by falling off track with my meal plans. Let that be an example as to how eating plays such a large role in dieting and maintaining weight.

How am I doing so far? Remember  how I mentioned I had this conception cleanses were for wackos? Well, I must be a wacko. Even after my 1:30pm freak out that I was not going to be able to do this, simply because I was famished by then (I wake up at 6:30am), I hung in there and am going strong. (Haha- makes me laugh because this is only day 1!) The fiber drink is like drinking liquid-y, citrus oatmeal in a cup, but I drank it fast and am dreading doing it again tomorrow... But stay tuned! 

Remember, follow me on Instagram or search "mandalisacleanse" to see what we're eating and how we're doing along the way! 

..don't be shy, and thanks for stopping by!.. 

*follow me on instagram: everyonedeservesflowers* 

'Like' on facebook: everyone deserves flowers.

 

march feature: Mack Made.

strike a pose..

This month was a month of promotion dedication. I chose to dabble in some things I never have with my floral business before. For example, today my friend and I modeled dresses ON THE NEWS for the upcoming 'Dress for a Cause' event I have posted about being held at Blondie's Bridal Salon this Saturday 4-7:00.

I encourage everyone to attend! All the money raised will be donated to a great cause, and the cutest part about it all... my little Piper and my niece Ava will be walking in the fashion show!

 'everyone deserves flowers.' got a little attention on the news feature, and I got to wear this gorgeous dress.

**WATCH HERE!**

I also provided florals for a growing 'alternative wedding marketplace,' Smitten & Bitten, which is held out of the beautiful, local venue Historic Shady Lane. As a promotional event, they held a very different and creative photoshoot with gorgeous models, staging, and even a videographer. This is some of the preview work that has been released, but I encourage you to visit the team's sites that have put it all together, especially if you are a local bride planning an upcoming wedding. They are extremely talented, I would reccomend each of them to a bride of my own, and I look foward to working with them more in the future.

florals by, yours truly: everyone deserves flowers.

photography by: With Love & Embers

videography by: Matt Stambaugh Media **WATCH VIDEO HERE**

staging assisted by: Pretty Pink Peonies

make-up and hair done by: Serenity Spa

vintage rentals provided by: weddings by borrowed & blue

Now that I've boasted my business enough (hehe) let's move onto my feature this month. I chose to feature a good friend of mine and her business, Mack Made.

Shea is one of the most kind-hearted, genuine individuals I have ever met. I had the honor of providing her flowers for her big wedding day last June, which was completely DIY and the most chic, rustic, and beautifully put together wedding I have ever been part of. She has true talent with crafts, and I 100% support her in her new business journey with her new hubby :) Plus, I love anything that could be custom ordered:

Hi, I'm Shea Mack! I have been friends with Amanda for about 5 years now. We worked together at Golds Gym. We easily connected with a love of creativity + crafts. Since, I know how hard it can be to put yourself out there, I'm impressed with Amanda's dedication to her blog and marketing her new business. She is very talented with flowers, and I'm proud of her embarking on this journey. When Amanda asked me to be a feature on her blog, I was super excited!

A little bit about me: I have always loved making things by hand, whatever it may be. I enjoy the company of my husband (and our new pup, Blue), being outdoors, loving on others, sending things in the mail, and learning to sew. Some would call me thrifty, and I'm okay with that. I find inspiration at flea markets and junk shops. I love things that have character and the potential to have a new purpose. I'm told I got my crafty genes from my great grandma, Ruth. Creativity and kindness were just two of her many gifts. I strive to live a legacy of depth like she did.

Last June, I got married to the love of my life, Adam. We had a complete DIY wedding with so much detail involved. Amanda did my flowers which turned out perfect with our style! During that process, It was fun, yet stressful. Adam and I spent countless hours of planning. But in the end it turned out perfectly, and all the work completely paid off! Having that time spent together creating things inspired us to work together as a team.

We started our business last summer called: Mack Made. Our business began because ultimately we wanted to have something that we could pursue together. We've loved being able to bring our similarities + opposites to the table. Mainly, we LOVE to create things out of overlooked & old goods. We make all kinds of upcycled items: from spoon bracelets to mason jar tumblers to garden markers..you name it. Everything we do is one of a kind, which makes it extra special. 

You can check us out on etsy: etsy.com/shop/dearmackmade

 & follow us on our blog: mackmade.blogspot.com

..don't be shy, and thanks for stopping by!.. 

*follow me on instagram: everyonedeservesflowers* 

'Like' on facebook: everyone deserves flowers.

 

ohhh, so u a preacher now...

cleanses are for wackos...  

My two passions in life (other than the obvious family, friends, shopping...) are as follows: flowers and floral design (DUH) and health and wellness. Working in, let me rephrase that, living in a gym (because you spend your work time and workout time there- which is more than you are home) for the many years I did allowed me to see the changes people have made in their lives for the better. Losing weight, gaining control, running that extra mile (literally and metaphorically).. It could be such an inspirational atmosphere.  At least the motivation to work out and stay healthy was instilled in me from that chapter of my life. New book though... 

So I preach and preach and preach about a more healthy lifestyle, "clean eating," working out.. Blah blah blah. Have you had enough? Well, TOUGH! Cause this girl is going to saddle up and do the 10-day Advocare cleanse.

I will never blog something I wouldn't do or love myself... But my love for cleanses is more like my love for relish... Or toffee... which I hate. With me? ;) I always thought cleanses were for wackos. Which is why I'm bringing my trusty little friend, Lisa, along for the torture with me. What a trooper. But in all seriousness, it was kind of her idea. I mentioned it, and being sick of the way she's been eating and letting her diet fall to the wayside, without thought or pause, she was on board. Let's face it... working out, dieting, and anything of that sort is much easier when you have a partner. Hopefully she brings the reins in for me as well, and we complete this together with us BOTH seeing the results we should. Then, last minute, a friend of mine from back home in Jersey, Michelle, said she wants to follow us and join in on the action. Thanks to social media and face-time, now I have two 'helpers' along the way!
*WE WILL BE STARTING THE CLEANSE ON APRIL 1.*

*It may get confusing. My sister's name, who I workout with everyday and doing a mild weight-loss challenge with, is Lisa. My Advocare  representative, whom I featured on my blog in January, is named Lisa. And now, my cleanse partner is Lisa. I'll try my best to refer to them by their title (sister, Advocare rep, cleanse partner) but if I don't, try to follow closely.

The word 'cleanse' just scares me. Drinking a vinegar and spinach smoothie for a week is just unsettling. Who does that!!? Well, the advocare 'cleanse' is nothing of the sort. It's a clean food cleanse... lots of protein, veggies, healthy carbs, healthy fats... the normal stuff you hear me talk about. I do consider myself a fairly 'clean eater' (does Nutella qualify as clean? Hmm...) but, would like to put my determination to reach my fitness goal and my new found willpower (believe me, ask anyone, this is a new affair between me and chocolate) to the test. So I researched the cleanse. By research I really mean I sent Lisa Long, my advocare distributor, 1,002 Facebook messages about what I can and can't eat for these 10 days. The plan really isn't so bad. Not that different from my eating habits now. So, I'm going to try it.

A. I want to clear my body of toxins (Nutella) 

B. To lose those last extra el-bees (lbs) I just can't kick-box off 

C. And to start clean this Summer. Maybe the 'good feeling' everyone raves about after cleansing will deplete the amount of fish tacos and margaritas I inhale this summer at 'Mother's Cantina' (great place.. Great.Place.) 

So, Lisa and I sat down together and came up with a plan of what groceries to buy, looking off of our created 'mock menus' for the next 10 days of torture were setting ourselves up for: 

I cannot stress enough how important prepping your foods can be when it comes down to crunch time. Having a healthy grab-and-go option available will help fight the cravings (for Nutella) you are having. (Maybe I should add Nutella to one of my passions in life, huh?) So, that's exactly what we did; we prepped for the first 5 days and plan on meeting and completing our prep for the last 5 as well. 

We all took 'before' pictures in hopes the 'after' pictures have significant, noticeable change, and took our measurements. We all work out (Lisa teaches classes, including the kickboxing I rave about and is only the best instructor at Gold's Gym) Michelle goes to a gym daily, and we all know I hit the cardio and weights with my sister everyday. So, we're putting it to the test. Full force. No cheating. Structured. Planned. Including exercise.

I will be blogging our 'Advocare cleanse' experience: our daily menus, things were having difficulties with, things that are easy throughout the cleanse, the pounds we've lost so far, and just an overall aspect of what the cleanse entails. If it is something you've been looking into, or something you've never heard of before, I'm sure the next blog posts will help enlighten you. I will also be posting pictures of our food on my instagram under #mandalisacleanse to give everyone ideas of what you can concoct, and of course, pinning!
 So, follow me in all aspects of my social-media obsession.
Here. We. Go!... on April 1st. (hehe) 

Until then, if you'd like any further information about the cleanse or would like to hop on board and follow along, feel free to contact my Advocare Distributor and she will be able to lead you in the right direction:

 

..don't be shy, and thanks for stopping by!.. 

*follow me on instagram: everyonedeservesflowers* 

'Like' on facebook: everyone deserves flowers.

 

put the lime in the coconut...

coconutty goodness...

I love this blogpost title. It reminds me of one of my favorite movies of all time, 'Practical Magic.' Remember, the part where they're mixing up the yummy goodness and one of God's greatest creations, the margarita!


Mmmmmm (Salivating over here...)

So much has been happening with my growing floral business lately. (feeling very blessed) Did you happen to see my post on Facebook about how I am going to be on the morning FOX43 news on March 28? 'Blondie's Bridal Salon' is going to be segmented for their 'Dress for a Cause' benefit, and I am going to be modeling this gorgeous dress! I've never had the luxury of trying on a wedding dress, so I'm excited. Maybe when Eddie sees how pretty it is, he'll speed up the process ;) The benefit is being held on March 30, and 'everyone deserves flowers.' will be providing all the corsages and hair pieces for the models that evening. So, if you're free, come  join the fun of the fashion show and dress sale, support my business, and be part of a great cause! 

So, where was I going with all of those coconut references? I wanted to share a Pinterest worthy trick I've been doing... that I may have learned off Pinterest (hehehe) 

My hair was damaged! The years [upon years] I've been bleaching, going back brunette, and  bleaching back for Summer really put in some wear and tear. I ended up cutting my hair a little shorter than shoulder length, but that was over 3 years ago. My hair seemed to just stop growing. My long locks I once had were done... never going to return... Or so I thought! 

I've tried every trick recommended and everything I've read. Egg yolks for moisturizing, warm olive oil, scalp massaging for 5 minutes/ day... And yes, my hair grew, and it would feel soft, but they were all short-term fixes. Then I came across the holy grail, COCONUT OIL. (You can buy it in any food store in the organic section.)

 I've been using it for about 2 months, once or twice a week. I try not to wash my hair more than 4 times per week anyway. That's where my other friend comes into play, dry shampoo. 'Umberto' is my favorite, and it is available at Target for about $8.00. My hair is growing quicker than normal, it is softer, and feels thicker! I've been using these products in conjunction with 'Pureology' shampoo and conditioner, which I also LOVE. So, those are my 'can't live with outs' when it comes to my hair regimen.

The coconut oil comes in a pasty form, and the bottle says to store it in a cool, dark place (a cabinet). Once you scoop some out, it 

will start to melt into an oily substance just from the warmth of your hand. Put as much on your hair as needed to moisten and cover 

with a shower cap or plastic bag. Leave it on for at least 30 minutes. I'll clean the house, do laundry, make lunch... But if I choose to apply heat with the treatment, which is recommended, I rig up my blow dryer into my bathroom sink, and I'll sit on the floor for 15 minutes (when applying heat you're boosting the system, so you don't need it applied as long.) That allows me to play with Piper, blog (hehe) Facebook, Pinterest, you know, the important stuff. 

When you wash it out, you will need to shampoo twice since it is an oil. Condition as normal. When you blow dry your hair out of the shower, you will feel the difference in the texture. 

You're welcome.

..don't be shy, and thanks for stopping by!.. 

*follow me on instagram: everyonedeservesflowers* 

'Like' on facebook: everyone deserves flowers.

 

if I could turn back time...

spring forward...

"Spring forward" means an hour of sleep gets taken away from my tired eyes. When you have an 18 month old monkey that still likes to wake up once a night and see if anyone's up partying, (we're not... we're very boring) an hour of sleep being taken away from you feels like 4! Therefore, not exactly doing well with this time change. BUT, it does mean longer daylight. Another park trip with Piper this weekend, and her love for the slide, made the sleep deprivation worth it: 

"Spring forward" also means, for me, moving forward and doing bigger and better things. After an enjoyable meeting at "Blondie's Bridal Salon" right up the road from my house, I realized how much bigger and better my floral business could be! The women I met that work in the salon are extremely talented and work within a wedding world I can't wait to be a part of! We will now be working together to provide brides with a much more enjoyable experience, helping to deplete some of that wedding stress as a team. With their expertise, they plan and coordinate weddings as a whole, from beginning to end, and I am more than excited to provide the florals needed to create a bride's vision. 

That being said, "Blondie's" will be hosting a fashion and dress show on March 30 at 4:00 to raise money for MS. Prom and other formal dresses will be available for sale, at great prices, immediately after the show. Florals from 'everyone deserves flowers.' will be featured, including corsages, hair pieces, and different prom accessories. Come out to support the cause... and my new venture! 

**On a side note: My sister and I have been going strong! Lisa has lost 13 lbs. so far, and I'm down 6. I need to kickstart and catch up to her, so this week I'm writing up a crazy leg workout and adding in some plyometrics and supersets.  Fun fun...

I had a couple requests for my Crab Dip recipe (which is very yummy) so here I am blogging that for ya!

Reduced-Fat Crab Dip

• 8 oz lump crabmeat 
• 1 (8 ounce) package reduced- fat cream cheese
• 1/2 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat grated Parmesan
• 3 tablespoons minced green onions (white and green parts)
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

I simply combine all of the ingredients in my small crock pot and gently stir until thoroughly mixed. Adjust seasoning to taste, and let simmer away for about 2 hours until warmed and mixed. Taking away the cheese and replacing reduced-fat ingredients helps maintain it to a lower calorie snack. As you see in the picture, we like to chomp on some 'Pita Bites' while we enjoy ours. So yummy! 

*If you dont have a crockpot, you can mix ingredients together and bake at 350 for about 35-45 minutes or until browing over top.

..don't be shy, and thanks for stopping by!.. 

*follow me on instagram: everyonedeservesflowers* 

'Like' on facebook: everyone deserves flowers.

  

February feature of the month

strike a pose...

It's almost March and you know what that means... it's time to do my monthly feature! This month I decided to choose one of my good friends, Amanda Naylor, and her photography business. She is amazing!  She has taken my maternity pictures, shot pictures of Piper for her newborn session, holiday pictures, and she's also done my sisters wedding. I just admire her work. Since I have met her, I have watched her business grow, along with mine, as well as her talent. I take no hesitation in recommending her to all the brides-to-be I meet and all customers of mine because I know that they will always be happy with the end result.

One of my motives in growing my business is to take a little of that 'wedding planning stress' off of my brides. Being in the wedding business, you start to meet a lot of diversely talented people.  With my aquired information and contacts, I want nothing more but to share them. How easy would it be for a bride to sit down with her florist, share her visions, and be able to create her dream wedding in one sitting... all because the talent she needs is at her fingertips? That's my goal.. Read on:

Hi everyone! I’m Mandy, a York County camera artist of real life and love.

When Amanda asked to feature me on her blog, it couldn’t have come at a better  time, not to mention a better source! Amanda and I connected a few years back through a mutual friend and we hit it off right away! Maybe because we share the same name, or maybe because we share a passion for art and crafting… Either way, this girl has become a HUGE part of my life! Being in the same realm of business, we lean on each other a lot- I ask her for help with new ideas, she asks me for opinions, and together we’re building our businesses! I recommend all my brides to her for flowers not only because she is 

my friend, but because she is truly GOOD at what she does.  After photographing a few of her amazing designs, it was a NO brainer for me to ask her to design my bouquets for my wedding day next year! Yup, that’s right! I’m getting married! And let me tell you- it’s such a CHANGE being on the front-line, instead of behind the scenes! It’s almost kind of stressful- I don’t know what I would do without Amanda’s help, not only flower wise, but with decorations, DIY crafts- everything! This girl is a jack of all trades!

After high school graduation in 2008, I relocated to Philadelphia to attend Antonelli Institute of Art and Photography where I earned my associates degree in photography. After graduation, I started to pursue my dream, and my business was born. For the past 2 years, I have been SO fortunate to work with some of the best clients a girl could ask for! September of 2012 I left my fulltime job to focus on building and improving my business, which was probably the scariest thing I’ve ever done, but I “punched fear in the face” (as one of my favorite photographers says), and I took the leap. It was the best leap I’ve ever taken.

One of the most popular questions my clients ask is, “why photography?”, or “how did you get into photography?”.  To me, these questions have endless answers, but the one that sticks out to me most, happened when I was 16. My grandfather suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease.. We’d go visit him and he couldn’t remember who I was, but when you showed him a picture of his life YEARS ago, it took him back- he remembered. He remembered the home he grew up in as a child. He remembered his adolescent years, his siblings and friends. What if those pictures didn’t exist?

I think that’s why I fell in love with photography. I don’t ever want to forget my life as time goes on. I want to remember the moments I once cherished so much. I want my CLIENTS to cherish their lives… The way a new couple looks at each other while they’re first falling in love, that walk down the aisle and first kiss after saying “I do”, those fresh wrinkles of newborn skin, your highschool senior all grown up… All of those moments we take for granted; those moments we CAN’T get back.  I want to freeze time for you, because when it’s all said and done, only photographs live forever…

Visit my website: naylorphoto.com
Become a fan:  facebook.com/naylorphoto

Amanda Naylor Photography

ALNaylor89@yahoo.com

717.668.5909

  

*Not to steal the spotlight... but step over! (haha) I want to add my favorite shots Mandy has taken for me and my family. She will forever be our family's photographer. It was very hard to choose just a few favorites, I must say:

 



..don't be shy, and thanks for stopping by!.. 

*follow me on instagram: everyonedeservesflowers* 

'Like' on facebook: everyone deserves flowers.