inspiration – the Whitney Michaels blog

The Last 90 Days

September 26, 2018September 26, 2018life's essentials, motherhood, motivation, Uncategorized1 Comment

Life lately can only be described as a transition period. Transition to Autumn, transitioning to a new pre-school year, transitioning to life without naps for my oldest, and transitioning my mind set to want MORE! More joy, more intention, more patience, more love, and a more healthful way of living. Usually the beginning of a year is what ignites a motivation for change, but for the past two years I’ve looked to Rachel Hollis instead of the calendar! If you don’t know @msrachelhollis, you’ve gotta look her up! A lifestyle website, New York Times Bestselling book, and never ending motivation via the RISE and RISE Together Podcasts. Not to mention live events that help you reach for personal growth. I’ve followed her for a couple of years and I can just feel that now is the time I follow through to do the work.

|Photos from the RISE Conference in LA, April 2018|

The Last 90 Days is an idea that instead of letting yourself steadily decline and slip up in the way you’re living for the last few months of the year (cough. I see you holiday treats. cough.), you use it to kickstart the “new year mentality”.

What if you committed to living your last 90 days of this year as hard as you are committing to live the first 30 days of the new year? What if, instead of a downhill slide into 2019, you are ramping up?!” – Rachel Hollis

Rachel has created somewhat of a challenge you can sign up to be apart of to receive motivating emails and be apart of a community to keep you accountable. She challenges you to participate in the “Five to Thrive”.

Get up one hour earlier (or carve out any hour that works in your day) and use that time for yourself
Workout for at least 30 minutes each day
Drink half of your body weight in ounces of water each day
Give up one category of food you KNOW you shouldn’t be consuming
Write down 10 things each day that you’re grateful for

Some things that I am looking forward to? Having an hour to myself to drink coffee, intentionally plan my day, and work on my blog. Enjoying exercise again. I used to love the feeling of a good workout. Getting back into it takes some push, but I know I’ll start to live for those endorphins again! Living my day looking for gratitude! If I know at the end of the day I’m going to write down what I’ve been grateful for, I’ll be looking for positivity throughout my day!

What doesn’t sound so exciting? Giving up a category of food. This. This is for some reason, the most difficult for me to have self control over. But just like Rachel so often says, once I decide on what I’m giving up – I have to keep that promise to myself! I am worth it. You are worth it. WE are worth it!

What is something you’ve thought about that you’re going to do at the New Year? What if you started now?! Think of what you can accomplish in 3 months! Join the challenge, it starts in October. Follow along with me so we can support one another!

Here’s to the #last90days

Whitney

Color Inspiration | October 2017

October 5, 2017favorites, motherhood, style, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

Black is so classic. It’s neutral, it’s strong, it’s bold, it’s clean, and it’s slimming! What’s not to love? Whether your wardrobe consists of mostly black, you love the rich look of a black car, or you’re just in the Halloween sprit – I think it is safe to say black may be the most popular color overall. Sharon from Mama Chit Chat and I are hosting our monthly link up to share what is inspiring us this month – B L A C K. Grab the graphic below and share what’s inspiring you by using the link tool!

black manicure. I used to think black was too bold for my nails, or that it was only for rock n’ roll chicks. Now when fall rolls around, I see October as the perfect excuse for a moody mani! You?

black tank. I could probably wear some version of a black tank, tee, or long sleeve everyday if I let myself. It’s easy, goes with pretty much any bottom, and typically always flattering. The tassels on this tank give it something a little extra and I think helps transition from summer to our Southern California “fall”. I couldn’t find this one online (I got it at Old Navy in the middle of summer) but this one is super cute with the lace detail!

p.s. I was wearing this same tank at the pumpkin patch too!

dolce vita black

black sandals. I think I mentioned these in a past Five on Friday post and I still love them! They’re easy to slip on, comfortable, and still look like a step up from just your average flip flop.

Rainstone

black diffuser. I cannot wait to set this up in our soon to be industrial farm inspired office! I’ve had my eye on the Rainstone diffuser since I started with Young Living and I can’t believe I actually own it!

black bike. I am so excited to finally have a beach cruiser! I am looking forward to just riding around the neighborhood, to our sisters’ houses, and especially to bring it camping. We’ve been wanting to be able to ride the kids around and explore when we go places so I cannot wait to test it out! The girls loved being pulled around in the trailer the other day, so I hope that lasts!

Have a wonderful October and hope you found some inspiration in all of my B L A C K things! Grab the graphic below and link up with us (open for a week)! We’d love to read and support one another! If you’ve missed past months, you can catch up here:

August | September

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…

xoxo

Whitney

Color Inspiration | September 2017

September 7, 2017September 7, 2017Uncategorized3 Comments

Color inspiration is a monthly link up brought to you by Sharon from Mama Chit Chat and myself at The Whitney Michaels Blog. We would love for you to join and link up to share all the BLUE that is inspiring you this month! This is the second edition – if you missed the first you can read it here.

September is here and its full of changes. Changes in schedules, in the season, and the weather (hopefully). Over here in Southern California we are still in full summer heat and the girls and I are soaking up the last few weeks of the season. Blue is the perfect color right now.

BLUE | I bought this dress on clearance at the Gap when Aubrey was just a baby, and I remember thinking how big it was and that it would be so far away that she could actually wear it. Well that went quick, she’s already almost too tall for it! (obviously the dress isn’t online since I bought it so long ago, but this adorable dress with blue embroidery would perfect to add a denim jacket to and transition to fall – and there’s a sale right now!)

BLUE | In a perfect world, I would love to have a light colored couch! Cream, white…basically anything that would get destroyed by two toddlers. Since that obviously isn’t happening, I’m getting my fix in by updating our pillows. Our home decor is mostly neutrals, but I love adding blue around as an accent! I found a couple of burlap looking ones and navy blue at Marshall’s a couple of weeks ago and I love it. I think they can easily transition to fall with the addition of some orange and be good in winter too with forest green or red?

BLUE | Like the water. With Aubrey doing swimming lessons, she is always asking to go swimming at Grandma’s house! We are spending as much time as possible in the water while the weather is still beautiful enough for it!

BLUE | Speaking of the pool – let’s talk about how late I am to the “summer body” idea. I just did a post about my new found motivation and the cute Workout Essentials I bought and I’ve probably mentioned that for the past three years I’ve been either pregnant or breastfeeding and I’ve used that as an excuse to let myself indulge – actually I don’t even think it could be called that at this point. Indulging is something you do now and then. I just eat whatever and don’t move enough! But I’ve almost completely weaned Blake and I’m ready to feel strong, in shape, and to feel like I have some control of my body again! I pulled out our old box of “workout stuff” and popped in the p90x DVD earlier this week. And oh did it hurt so good. That program is a bit tough for me since the workouts are so long, and what mama has time for that?! I had noticed a friend of mine kicking booty and taking her health and fitness seriously (you can follow along with her too on Instagram) and she reached out to me at the perfect time! She’s going to be my extra push of motivation and accountability as I incorporate fitness back into my routine! I can’t wait to update you on what I think about the Beachbody workouts! They can be accessed anywhere and there are TONS of video and program options! (You can ask Mallory about any of the details – she’s super helpful! Or just jump in with her too here) Anyway, long story longer, this BLUE logo is going to be a big inspiration for me starting this month! I’ll share some of the fun on my InstaStories during nap time workouts!

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I hope your September is full of inspiration and that you have an amazing end to your summer! BLUE is definitely my color and I loved sharing with you! Click the link below to add your BLUE post (open for a week) and we can’t wait to have you for all things BLACK and spooky in October!

Grab the graphic below to add to your post and share!

Link Up!

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…its a great way to find new blogs and be found!

xoxo

Whitney

Five on Friday

September 1, 2017five on friday, kids, motherhood, Uncategorized2 Comments

TGIF! In the life of a SAHM, Friday’s don’t necessarily have the traditional meaning of being the last day before a couple of days off. Even though its the weekend, the girls still expect to be fed, entertained, and taken care of…can you believe that?! haha…relax, its a joke. But in all seriousness, this week was one for the books so a couple of days without scheduled activities is weekend enough for me!

one | The girls went back to school this week! Blake started in her own big girl class and Aubrey started in the two day 2s class! It is a bigger time commitment from me as its a co-op campus, so I participate – but I am super excited for them!

two | Keeping on the subject of kids activities, we also started Gymnastics up again for Aubrey too! This girl loves to run wild and giving her 45 minutes of jumping, balancing, hanging, ect is just what she needs! I typically will post some of her “skills” on InstaStories as its happening, lol.

three | I am making the switch to a Mac! I’ve had a laptop PC forever but knew its life was running out. I’m excited to have a big girl computer, lol. I feel like it’s going to be trying to understand another language at first, but I cannot wait to learn! Any tips for making the transition easier?

macbook pro

four | Here in So Cal we are having miserably hot weather! Not only does it make me want to hide inside with the AC on all day, but cooking is a struggle! Who wants to stand over a hot stove top or turn on an oven? Last night I was doing the last minute scramble to find something for dinner and made the perfect hot weather meal that brought me back to my childhood – I call it Tuna Surprise. Yup, I’m now the mom that puts things on the table with “surprise” in the title. Aka: mom didn’t have anything planned and this is what I found to throw together and call a meal!

I cooked the pasta and added the frozen peas at the very end before I drained it just to defrost them. Diced up the other ingredients and mixed it all together. Literally the easiest meal that I scrounged around the pantry and fridge to find the ingredients for! (I even got the lemon from my girlfriends tree around the corner!) We ate it right then but today we will have some leftovers cold for lunch!

five | If you need a little tough love in your life, or to be inspired by a gal who is awesome and just gets shit done, you’ve got to become friends with Rachel Hollis! She runs a successful media company, has a podcast, writes books, has a cook book, takes care of herself and her health, oh yeah – and has a husband and 4 kids that love her!! Honestly she is the epitome of no excuses and choosing to work hard to be happy. She is a woman who has created a wonderful life for herself and doesn’t let typical stereotypes or society’s perception of a woman’s role define her. Love following along with her for a boost of confidence! She does a Facebook Live video every morning at 6 am and her InstaStories are both funny and motivating! #chictribe

Hope you guys have a happy friYAY and a wonderful weekend! Still

Be sure to catch April, Christina, and Natasha!

Color Inspiration | August 2017

August 10, 2017August 10, 2017products, Uncategorized1 Comment

One of my good friends Sharon is also a lifestyle blogger over at Mama Chit Chat. We met in a mommy and me class for my oldest and her youngest and have stuck with our friendship beyond class since then! We both participate in other link ups we love and decided, “Hey…why don’t we host one?”. And here we are! Our first monthly link up sharing things that inspire us in a pretty way – by color. We would love to have you join us! This month – Red!

RED| There is still over a month left of summer and we are taking advantage of the sweet berries right now! My dad brought us a flat fresh from Oxnard the other day and I’m pretty sure my girls would eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if they could! I love using my Thieves Fruit & Veggie Spray to make sure they’re squeaky clean for the girls!

(strawberry close up and raspberry images via Google)

RED| If ya’ll know me, you’d know I’m not a lipstick gal. I’ve always been chapstick obsessed but never made the effort to wear lipstick. Between having to re apply it all the time, worrying about it on my teeth, or smudging when I ate…I just decided it wasn’t worth it. Enter LipSense – the lipcolor taking the mom groups by storm. I swiped on this everlasting, smudge-proof lip color at a friends house for the first time and knew I could get on board. All the things I disliked about traditional lipstick were a non issue! Now I’m not saying I wear it all the time (heck, my daily routine is a layer of mascara if I’m lucky) but if I’m making the effort to put on a full face of makeup and get dressed, I love adding it to complete my look! The most daring color of all…RED! Try it. You won’t regret it. My girl Melanie can answer all of your burning questions and get it in your hands ASAP!

blu red

RED| I can’t have a post all about red without bringing up Ningxia Red! If you follow me on any other social media platforms, you’ll know that we are a Young Living family! I love to incorporate essential oils into our daily routines and have made a few changes with our household products (nothing crazy…I still shop at Target and wear deodorant – don’t worry!). One of my favorite additions to enhance my health has been drinking Ningxia Red, Young Living’s antioxidant rich drink. I love the support for my energy levels, and knowing it’s benefiting my body down to the cellular level!

That’s my RED inspiration for the month! What is inspiring you? Are you seeing red everywhere reminding you of back to school? Or that infamous bullseye that we can’t stay away from and love to give all of our money to? (side note: I’ve heard Target is changing brands/layout and so much more! I’ve been steering clear if I don’t truly “need” anything but I’m excited to see the changes!)

I cannot wait to come together next month with all the BLUE things! Want to link up? Look below!

Add this graphic to your post and link up below! We would love to share your post with others!

LINK UP!

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list…its a great way to find new blogs and be found!

xoxo

Whitney