Big News!

Ya'll. John and I have had a super fun week.  It's been a blast to see how The Lord has blessed us and given us ways to share in His glory.  And to be honest, our fun news were not things we had on our radar.

So, shall I get to sharing???

I'll start with John's news!  As some of you may know, I've really started to enjoy Instagram and love finding amazing shops, buying from these small businesses and I extra special love shopping from mom-prenuers.  It's a privelege to support these women and their shops.  There has been one shop in particular I've been following for awhile.  The shop is Weestructed and the beautiful mama behind it is Sarah.  Her stuff is all kinds of awesome.  Well, she reached out to me and asked if John John would want to be her very first official brand rep!  For those of you who don't know what that means, essentially John is her very own tiny model for her Weestructed clothing line.  Of course, John had his demands.  Such as payment by yogurt bites, but other than that, I couldn't wait to say YES to this exciting opportunity!  It is a blessing for us to represent a clothing line we believe in and we hope we do it well!  Also, to kick off John's new career as little brand rep, Sarah is offering one of my readers a $25 store credit!  I will be hosting this giveaway on my Instagram starting later on this week so make sure you are following for your chance to win!!!! 

Bummys.  Warrior Band  & Bullying is Junk-Giveback tee from WeeStructed!

As for my news!  Well, this Saturday is my very first adoption conference!  It's called Choose Joy and is for all those women (and men) dealing with infertility and adoption!

 It's quite amazing and some 150 people will be in attendance for this one day conference in So Cal!  There are going to be breakout sessions, worship, prayer and dinner.  (Yep.  I'm already excited about eating.  I have issues)  Anyway, the woman behind this conference is Emmy.  Her family recently said goodbye to a very important family member but she was unable to attend services because of Choose Joy.  Well for whatever reason I felt this huge compelling need to write my testimony out the other night.  I like to call this huge compelling need the Holy Spirit.  And after seeing Emmy's sacrifice, I had another huge and compelling need to share it with her.  I wanted Emmy to see exactly why she was putting on this conference and how this was going to be so wonderful for women like me.  I hoped it would encourage her and show her what a blessing she was.  I received an email in response pretty quickly after I hit "send" and it was Emmy asking me to share my story with the rest of the attendees at the conference on Saturday!  I then likened the Holy Spirit to a herd of elephants stomping all over my stomach and knew that meant I had to accept this opportunity.  And so I did.  On Saturday, after Emmy welcomes us all in...I will be the first speaker.  Sharing information I have never shared before, letting 150 people in on my past, my journey, my struggles, and my how I overcame it all thanks only to The Lord.  So, if you think about it.  Please pray.  I hate being the center of attention like this, which is odd, considering I'm an extrovert, but to God be the glory in all of this!

Oh, and I almost forgot!  Matt had a big week, too!  He got a new video game!  Haha!  I love how I rock the boat and Matthew stabilizes it.  His strong, stable and calm presence is such a blessing to our home.  With one wild dog, a crazy-hyper toddler, and me filled with rollercoasters of emotions and an incessant need to be busy, he is so necessary.  I love you, Matthew.  The brake to my gas pedal.  The calm to my storm.  

 So, here's to exciting adventures for the O'Brien family!!!

Say Hello to My Perfect Sunday

Not to brag or anything but I'm pretty sure my Sunday was perfect.

***Not pictured below are the whole wheat organic pancakes I made for breakfast that we topped with fresh bananas and strawberries and smothered in organic pure maple syrup.  No time for photos when you're shoveling food into your mouth, am I right?

Anyway, onto the photo dump.

I'm Gonna Learn to Be a Skater...Unless I Break My Bones First.

Y'all...I'm TWENTY EIGHT years old.  Twenty-stinkin'-eight.  I've mentioned it a few times & I'm gonna say it again right now.  I have always had a fear of growing old.  Old seems so boring. I don't want to be a boring grown up.  I want to be cool & hip & know all the cool bands.  Okay, I can skip on the cool bands because I kinda like my 90's emo & rock music still and don't want to like Justin Bieber.  Anywho, with that said...I have an announcement to make.  I, Ashley O'Brien, am going to learn to skateboard.

Learned to stand on the board on a super old skateboard that belongs to my hubby.  On our dirty patio with a furry audience.

 

 

 

 

 

There!  I said it!  Now you know & now you can keep me accountable.  But, where did this crazy idea come from?  Well, I get bored super easily.  It's why I can't go to the gym & like it.  Treadmills & weight lifting machines are so repetitive.  It's why I can't do Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred, even though I actually really like the workout.  The same workout over and over and over kills me!  Snooze-fest!  So, that's why I started taking John to the tennis courts with me.  It's always different.  I get to do whatever I want.  John joins in.  We play, run, jump & get active.  But, I've been inspired to not let myself stop there.  I want to be active like basically all the time.  So, I decided to learn a new activity.  Something I could do with John while he's on a tricycle or running around in circles at Sunset Park.  I mean, I don't have much longer in my 20s & I'm pretty sure if I wait until I'm 35 my frail ole' bones won't work for me anymore (Hashtag:Sarcasm).  But seriously, that's what is going through my head!  I am NOT old!  I am not fragile!  I don't ever want to succumb to feeling old & fragile.  Even if I have the privilege of living to 100 years old!  So, it's time to learn something new!

And yes.  That's John.  Chillin' in the background.

(Mama Bear tee: Loved by Hannah & Eli)

But, before I get all gung-ho over this....lemme just tell you, when I made this ever-so random announcement to Matthew, he was not pleased.  In fact, we got in a bit of a tiff over it.  It wasn't really a fight but more like a very heated (and looking back, rather comical) discussion.  He said I probably shouldn't do it.  Too dangerous.  Too risky.  I said "How dare you not believe in me!  Why can't you support me!?"  Yep, that's seriously what I said.  He said it wasn't necessarily about support & belief, more so than just worrying about me.  I walked away with a few tears in my eyes, he walked away wondering why the heck I was crying.  I called him a butthead, felt better, and decided despite the risk I still want to learn.  Matthew suggested knee pads, a helmet and a butt pad (I think he made that up, right???)  So, ya'll...HERE'S TO NEW ADVENTURES!!!!

WeeStructed "Bones Heal" kids Slouch Beanie.  

 P.S. Any suggestions on skateboards or longboards?  I hear a good one can get rather expensive...But I've yet to win the lotto, so I have to stay on budget.  If you know anything about this topic, I'd love your help!!!

 

Reshaping it All

If you've been following my IG feed (and you should because there are some exciting things up ahead for John John!) you may have seen me share about wanting to "Reshape it All" and I am so happy that this challenge was set before me & so happy that I am actually facing this challenge head on...most days.



As far as Jesus goes...I've been enjoying two things for my daily reading & devo.  The first is She Reads Truth & the second is my most favorite and that's Through the Word.  This app is amazing because it starts out with a 10ish-minute message on the reading...then you do the reading & then it gives you a place to journal.  I only need my Ipad and 20 minutes to myself to have some time with the Lord.  I usually like more than 20 minutes but every day is different...so I never pressure myself into doing more than I choose.  When I do it any other way, I fall into the trap of legalism & guilt & really...I'm not a big fan of either.  It's MY time with the Lord & nobody gets to tell me it was too long or too short or anything else.  Ya know?

Let's talk about diet now, shall we?  And no, not the "I'm on a diet" but what is my diet.  This has been the hardest thing for me because I strongy dislike the kitchen & really dislike cooking.  If I could live on Panda Express, Little Ceasar's Hot & Ready pizza & ice cream & have a life expectacy of more than 32 on that diet  I totally would.  But, when that's my diet, my entire family suffers.  It's not just about me.  It's about Matthew & John & of course, the Lord, who has given me this body to glorify Him....which will be hard to do if I am 800lbs & stuck on my couch forever.  So, I have been on a mission to find the easiest meals, with the least amount of ingredients & the least amount of time involved.  And wouldn't you know it....meals like that are very easy to find, thanks to Pinterest!  So, I've been enjoying cooking a tad bit more.  I adjust recipes the way I see fit.  I used to think I had to do everything just like the recipe said, which made me, again, feel pressure & sometimes even anxiety (lame, right)...and those feelings made cooking a chore.  But, since it's MY kitchen & MY meal I've enjoyed a bit more freedom & my family is enjoying home cooked meals that are filling, tasty & healthy.  Woohoo!  John & I have also been loving using our blender for mid-morning smoothies.  I find recipes, adjust to my liking if I need to, & blend away!!!

Eating right has given me waaay more energy.  I've stopped wearing makeup (except for when we actually go out and do stuff) around the house or even on quick Target runs (are those ever quick?), because my skin is looking much healthier, and my uneven skin tone is starting to even out.  Usually a little mascara is all I'll need.  I look in the mirror and my muffin top doesn't have a muffin top anymore & though I'm not sure I've lost weight, there does some to be some fluff missing from my thighs & tummy.  With all this extra energy & positive results just from reshaping some of the things, I started working out.  If there is one thing I hate more than cooking...it's exercise.  But, I realized, just like everything else.  It's MY workout & MY body.  I don't have to work out 45 minutes a day or do everything the way Jillian Michaels says that I have to.  Heck, I don't even have to work out....At night (I secretly) do 30 minutes of Zumba.  I found some great workouts on YouTube because I don't like buying workout DVDs & all the things needed for them like mats, weights, balls, kettle bells...any of that, don't want it don't need it!  I love Zumba because it's so much FUN!  And I do it in secret because I'm pretty sure my husband would die laughing if he saw what I looked like doing Zumba!!  =)

During the day, John & I have started getting outside before his nap.  We usually stay in and veg out but the sun is so bright & the breeze is perfect!  We only have one car which my hubby takes to work & there is no park near by so I put John in his car & we walk to our apartment's tennis courts.

 I lock us in & we PLAY! I bring some outdoor toys & while John is busy with those I run a few laps around the court.  John usually begins chasing me & we play tag, & tickle monster.  I take the kick ball I bring and we throw it around.  I do lunges & jumping jacks & John laughs at me and runs in circles until he's dizzy.  It is a blast.  And I walk away with a sweat beautiful sparkly sheen & John walks away tired & ready for a nice long nap!  We usually stay outside on the court for 45 minutes.  Sometimes more, sometimes less.  There are no rules because it's MY workout & the only people who have a say so in it are ME...and, well, let's be honest, John.

I mean, look how beautiful I look with that lazy eye & crazy hair & mismatched tops. #Sarcasm
Also...Tiny adorable running partner behind me. 

 

So, after all of this babbling...what's the point?  The point is I am doing WELL!  I am enjoying Reshaping it All & I love the results in every aspect of my life.   From my prayer life & walk with the Lord, to my ever-so luminous skin, making smoothies & reaping the benefits of healthy dinners to getting outside and not really working out but having a great time being ACTIVE with my son!  I want to encourage you to do the same.  If you are anything like me & you easily fall into the trap of rules, guidelines, guilt & legalism...LET IT GO!!

(OOPS, sorry, we watch a lot of Frozen 'round here)

& make these things work for you.  No excuses anymore, because seriously, if I can do it, ANYBODY can!