HELLO
Mom to Iris. Wife to Todd. Our little family lives at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We love it here and I love sharing little bits of our life.

© 2014 sarahfortune.

+

Box Tops – A Major Update!

This post is sponsored by General Mills and Nestle™, but all opinions are my own.

And just like THAT school is back in session, but we’ve soaked up the last few delicious moments of summer. Each year when we head back to school, everything has changed just a little bit. The kids are a little taller, their backpacks become a bit heavier, and this year – there’s also an exciting change in the Box Tops For Education world.

Even though school hasn’t been in session for months, we have not taken a break from collecting our beloved Box Tops. If you are anything like me, you keep your eyes peeled for those fun little squares on every package you buy. Before I had Iris, I didn’t realize just how valuable Box Tops can be, but now we collect them as a family knowing the rewards will directly benefit Iris’ school. Iris is always so proud to contribute and I really love that its a simple way to learn about giving back, with an impact she can actually see.

But this is where the change comes in! I personally am ready to party because – you guys – Box Tops are going DIGITAL! No. More. Clipping. You simply download the app, scan your receipt, and see just how much you (and your fellow school friends) have raised. How exciting and easy is that?

We’ll also be stocking up on all of our lunch favorites and after school snacks at Sam’s Club because when you buy one General Mills product, you earn not just one, but 12 Box Tops. Buy 1, Get 12, how awesome is that?! You can also buy participating Nestle™ products as well! So while many things are difficult about going back to school – the clothes shopping, the first day nerves, and the return of (dun dun dun…) homework, at least we have this bit of good news to bring us joy – and to bring our kiddos the extra support they deserve.

Upcoming Travel Adventures

Well, hello… and Goodbye.

Actually, it’s not goodbye. It’s see ya later! Or see you soon? Anyway, it hit me today how much travel I have coming up in such a short of time (#SarahFortuneTravels, indeed). Some is for work, most is for fun, but ALL of them are destinations I have either always wanted to visit or always wanted to visit again.

Here’s my travel list for the rest of the year:

Los Angeles (West Hollywood, specifically) – I’m going with a group of gal pals who love all things Bravo, so we’re basically going to set up shop and eat Goat Cheese Balls at SUR for THREE. DAYS. STRAIGHT.

Washington D.C. – This is a work trip, but I lived there for a couple years back in my 20s and love going back. It’s one of my most favorite places in the world.

New York City – This a recent addition (as in, today), courtesy of my mom. She called me the other day and asked if I wanted to go to NYC. Uh, duh! She’s taking me to see Hadestown. It’s just going to be over a long weekend, but now that we have some affordable (and direct!) flights to NYC, a spontaneous trip like this isn’t all that crazy.

Another CRUISE! – Can you believe it? Iris and I loved it last time, so we’re doing it again. And yes, you read that right. Todd will be sitting this one out (he’s a one and done type of cruise dude), but Iris and I are excited to visit the Bahamas for the first time. We’ll spend a day at the Atlantis resort where I’ve booked us an excursion to swim with the dolphins – basically a dream come true for a mermaid loving seven-year-old.

Last but not least… MAUI! – This has been #1 on my list since I went almost ten years ago. When I went then, it was for work and I went all by myself. I’ve wanted to go back with my family ever since, but it’s so expensive from our little airport (try $1,000 per person for airfare alone) that I didn’t know if the day would come. However, thanks to some good ol’ fashion saving and a lot of help from airline points, we’re headed back to my favorite island.

After all of that, I think I’ll take it easy… Until next year. 🙂

Optavia – Does It Work?

If there’s one thing I hate, it’s MLMs. If there’s one thing I love, it’s carbs.

Which is why I never would have guessed I’d be making this post. But here I am, about two and a half weeks into my first experience with OPTAVIA, and have already lost seven pounds and two inches around my waist. So yes, for me it is working. I hesitantly shared a little over on Instagram and received a ton of questions, so I thought I’d make a post that easily answered some of the most asked about topics. I already have some friends that have joined me, so feel free to check out it out under my coach page and read below to see if maybe you want to do it too.

What is OPTAVIA?
It’s a company that makes prepacked, low-calorie mini-meals and snacks (they call them “fuelings”) to help clients reach their optimal weight. Following their 5&1 Plan, you eat five of their fuelings every day (every 2-3 hours), along with one “lean and green” meal (a meal you prepare yourself). I’m currently doing it for 30 days to jump start myself to my goal weight. The only cost is what you pay for the fuelings and there’s no commitment or sign-up fee.

What do I start with?
If you’re looking to lose weight, for your first order I would recommend doing the 5&1 Plan by purchasing the Essential Optimal Kit. The first time you buy the kit it comes with five free boxes, so in total it’s enough for 30 days.

How much does it cost?
I paid around $370 for my first 30 days worth of fuelings. You are on your own for the lean and green meal, but they give you plenty of guidance (and you can even purchase these if you don’t like to cook). While this created a bit of sticker shock at first, I quickly realized that my breakfasts, lunches, lattes, and random snacks added up to even more money per month (and way more calories).

How much weight will I lose?
Obviously everyone is different, but the average weight loss on the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan is 12 pounds. Optavia offers another plan (Optimal Health 3&3 Plan), which helps you maintain your goal weight once you get there.

What do I like about it?
Hands down, the main thing I love most about Optavia is how easy it is. I’m a busy working mom who also likes to cook dinner for my family most nights. This plan allows me to do that, but makes all the food in between a breeze. Also, there are over 60 types fuelings, which are all interchangeable so I’m never bored. I’m not the kind of person that can eat the same meal every day, so this (along with the lower number on the scale) keeps me motivated!

How do I sign up?
You sign up under a “coach” (that’s me!) and I help answer any questions you have, as well as offer guidance along your journey. The first week was tough for me, so I was grateful I had my coach just a text away. Once my body had adjusted, everything became so much easier and I now find myself bouncing out of bed first thing in the morning to see how much the sale (or my waist) has gone down. While no diet is ever easy, this is about as easy as it can get – along with the quickest, real results.

I only have a week left, but I’m already ordering more because I don’t want to stop at just 30 days. It’s really helped me look at food in a different, more healthy way. I am more thoughtful about what I order at restaurants and more careful when it comes to portion sizes. It encourages lean meats and fresh veggies, which I find refreshing for a company like this. I’ve been fortunate in my life to eat whatever I want, but now that I’m pushing 40 it’s starting to catch up to me. This had helped tremendously and it hasn’t even been a month.

I had a million questions before I finally pulled the trigger, so if you feel the same email me with questions at sarahfortunegill (a) gmail!

The Almighty Chore Chart

This post is sponsored by Cascade, but all opinions are my own.

It may be summer break, but that doesn’t mean Iris gets a free ride. A few weeks ago we introduced a chore chart and it has not only made my life a tad bit easier, but she is actually wanting to contribute to our household. It makes her so proud! And, of course, the extra candy money helps too. After finding a simple template on Pinterest, I listed out three main tasks for her: A daily expectation (to pick up after herself), a daily chore (to feed the pets), and a weekly chore (a special project of our choosing) – the “special” part makes it sound a lot more fun than it is, but for now it works.

Now that Iris is more actively involved in the tidiness of our home, I am more mindful than ever of what products we use. For example, one of the special weekly projects may be to load the dishwasher. Partnering with Cascade, we made the switch to the new, easy to use Cascade pure essentials ActionPacs for our dishwasher detergent. This is something I can not only feel good about using, but it also gets the job done every time. The simplified formula, which is free of phosphates and chlorine bleach, stills gives us that sparkling, dependable clean. Iris feels accomplished and I feel happy to be using a product that is safe for my family… and to get a few more minutes back in my day!

When it comes to other special projects, we’ve added cleaning the windows, helping with the laundry, and taking out the trash as options each week. Like loading the dishwasher, I figure out what will help me the most that week and give Iris her assignment! And as for Iris’ allowance? She’s earning the dollar amount of whatever grade she’s in (currently its $2 per week). She’ll be rolling in candy in no time!

MOM LIFE: Finding Ways to Stress Less

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Stressballs at Walmart. This shop has been compensated by P&G and its advertiser. The opinions and text are all mine.

I’m sure I’m not alone when I say, I sometimes wonder how I hold it all together. Being a full-time mom with a full-time job and a blogging side-hustle usually means that my brain is constantly darting in a hundred different directions. I suppose that means I don’t ever have the time to stop and think about how busy I actually am, but that doesn’t mean I don’t feel the effects of it. Waves of stress will sneak in when I’m least expecting it – often even in the happy moments!

Lately I’ve found daily things that I can do to help me destress and keep me centered: Reading a book before I fall asleep, using lavender essential oils around the house, the comfort of hot tea, exercising daily, and my most recent discovery – Stressballs. Available at Walmart, these herbal supplements are a nice perk to the day and night, helping me stress less and enjoy the little moments that often get buried in the daily hustle. Designed to help keep you on track*, the Day formula helps keep my mind from wandering when I need to focus and get things accomplished, while the Night formula helps tell my brain that it’s time to rest*. They come in delicious gummy form, so they’re easy to keep in my purse and by bed so I have them just when I need them!

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.