Dr Seuss Birthday Bash Costumes

Simple home made Dr Seuss Costumes for the kids!

 CAT IN THE HAT is in the house! 
With Goldfish in the bowl and the Lorax! 

This Goldfish "bowl" was once a container for Halloween pretzels that I bought last year. We just cut out the bottom and made the goldfish out of orange construction paper.

Cat in the Hat costume pieces: Red and white striped hat, white gloves, red fabric for the over-sized bow tie, Black shirt and pants, white paper for the white tummy! That's it!

Lorax piece is just the mustache and eyebrows cut out of construction paper and taped to oversized glasses. We stapled some yellow yarn to the construction paper for more texture.

Read More

5 simple tips to restarting a fitness journey after falling off track

Losing weight is hard. 

Being obese is hard. 

I know, I have been there. 

I remember cringing at the FEW pictures I ever saw of me. I remember thinking, "IS THAT what I REALLY look like?" 


I think I was in denial for quite sometime. Constantly telling myself that I don't care what others think of me. If people don't like me because of my weight, then that is THEIR problem. I have loved ones that accept me NO MATTER WHAT I look like, so why does it matter?

Then I started realizing that my laziness WAS impacting those around me. I didn't have energy for my kids. I FELT exhausted most of the time. I was self-conscious and uncomfortable in my own skin. Although my looks never brought me to a state of depression (I am and have always been rather optimistic about life and every situation that comes my way), I STILL struggled with FEELING good about myself. 

The size of my jeans or the number on the scale NEVER defined me. I never let it get me down. 

But here's the thing... I HAD to face the fact that I was unhealthy.

There was no denying that I needed to make a change. Not only would it cost my family financially (our insurance would be raised at least $100 a month if I had a BMI over 30), but I started to realize that my bad habits and lack of self-discipline were starting to spill over to my children. Actions speak louder than words, right?

So I decided to make changes. I ate healthier. I exercised regularly. I set goals for myself and found I was capable of anything I set my mind to! Yeah.. I lost over 70 pounds!

To sum it up, I FELT FRICKIN' AMAZING!

Now... before you stop reading thinking this is some ad or slogan to make you "buy into whatever it is I am selling", let me reassure you that it IS NOT.

Which is what brings me to my next (and main) point.... 

I started this weight loss journey to help myself. I wanted to SHOW my kids what healthy meant, I wanted to FEEL good about myself, and I wanted to have more energy.  

After months of losing weight and feeling great, it just so happened that I learned about a "coaching opportunity" where I could "help" others lose weight like I did with the fitness programs I used. After all, doesn't that sound AMAZING? Lose weight, inspire and help others, and make a living doing it?

Inspiring others THEN became my main focus. It was no longer about me, but more about how to best serve others. This motivated me like NO OTHER because I sincerely care for others and wanted everyone else to feel as great as I was feeling. I hope people felt my sincerity when I tried to help them, but I learned that I was powerless when it came to changing their lives.

You see, I continued my own journey. 
I continued to lose weight to show others what was possible. 
I could have lost more weight had I continued...

SO what happened? I found myself overwhelmed with the amount of people that I was unable to help. People were constantly coming to me, but not many were actually sticking with it. I would push and push and push myself in hopes of inspiring others. I didn't give up on them. I didn't want to give up on them. But I found myself stuck when they would give up on themselves. And because their results were MY motivation, I lost my motivation when they didn't get results. I also found myself beginning to focus on impressing others --which is SOOO unlike me-- instead of just trying to be the best me possible.

Plus, I felt that so many others around me were in this for "worldly reasons" like to look good and to make money. Both of which were NOT on my priority list when I began. So why would I want to continue? It just wasn't "for" me. 

Like so many others have done before me, I FELL BACK INTO OLD HABITS!

I found myself saying the SAME things I used to say. 

"It doesn't matter what I look like."
"TRUE friends will love me for who I am, not for what I look like."
"The scale doesn't define me."
"I have no self control. Food is just too good."
"You only live once! Might as well eat what I want!"
"I don't like to workout. I just don't have the energy."◄(which gets WORSE the more you put it off)

geeez.... the list goes on and on....

I have tried "restarting" different routines and I just haven't stuck with it. It seems that my most common excuse is, "If nobody else cares, then why should I care?"
Like I need someone else's approval or support to continue. 

Here's what I discovered. NO ONE can make you workout. NO ONE can make you eat healthy. Support does help, but even WITH support, people stop progressing if they lose sight of what it is they REALLY want. 

So here I am today, starting back at the beginning. 

Yes, I lost 70 pounds in 2012, but gained half that back in 2013 because I lost my motivation. I lost sight of what it was I was striving for in the first place. 

You can judge me, or you can learn from me. Frankly, that's none of my business. 

So how to restart?
1→Figure out what it is you want and WHY you want it. Having that true conviction of WHY you want it, will give you the motivation to continue every day, even when you don't "feel" like it. Go deep to find your true reason of why you want to get back on track. For me, it is that feeling of accomplishment. Being able to look in the mirror and be proud of what I have accomplished. Not for bragging rights, but for a heart-felt excitement that I was worth every effort. And being able to pass on that confidence to my family. DECIDE NOW that the past does NOT equal the future. Who cares what happened last week? Last month? Last year? If you are still alive, it is NEVER too late to change your course! 
2→DO NOT put the blame on anyone else. You are in control of your life and your decisions. Step up and take control of your destiny! No one can do it for you!
3→SET precise GOALS for yourself and track your progress. Setting small measurable goals is the key to seeing your progression! Not all progress can be measured on the scale or in the mirror, so track more than just your weight. Retake photos and measurements, and track how you FEEL. 
4→Get a PLAN in place that you can stick with! To get to a destination, you must have a clear plan. Know where you are now, where you want to be, and the best route to get there. What kind of fitness do you enjoy? Choose a plan that works for you and one that you can follow!
5→ACCOUNTABILITY! Tell someone! Share your goals and what it is you want to accomplish. We are much more likely to stick with it when we know others are aware of what it is we are doing. Find someone who you relate to and keep in contact with them daily so you can share your successes and struggles. KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!




I did create a booklet that I used to track my measurements, meals, workouts. thoughts, feelings, struggles and such! I used to offer this to only those I "coached", but I am no longer limiting my resources to certain individuals. If you want a copy of my printable results tracker booklet, request it through email: cherishsaurey@gmail.com and I will be more than happy to send it to you if you think it will help you stay on track. 



Although I want to see everyone succeed at reaching their own goals, I have learned that I can't control that. The only thing within my control is how I choose to live my life. If I can positively influence others, then that is okay, but I am no longer going to rely on others to be my motivation. My motivation has to come from within. I have to go back to WHY I started in the first place. 

I am restarting this weight loss journey to help myself. I want to SHOW my kids what healthy means, I want to FEEL good about myself, and I want to have more energy. 

If you want to join me, then by all means, you know how to contact me. I love hearing from others about their experiences and their journey. I am not superior to anyone, I'm just trying to figure out what works best for me. Let me know if you have anything to add! :)

Have a REMARKABLE week!

Read More

THIS QUOTE SPEAKS VOLUME TO ME!

SO much that I had to share! 

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson

Read More

Solar System Room Painting

This is my son's room that I enjoyed spray painting!

When he said he wanted a solar system themed room, I thought it would be SUPER SIMPLE and I would just buy the already made stick-ons and some glow-in-the-dark star stickers! 

How easy would that be?! Then I started looking into the prices of the planet stickers, and was surprised at how expensive (and PLAIN) they all were. 

So I thought of a different option!

After watching countless spray painting tutorials on you tube, I decided to give it a try! 

I used a satin dark blue base for the wall paint, then added the planets, stars and dimension with the spray paint. I used about 14 different colors of spray paint 

and am loving how it turned out!

What do you think of the way it turned out?

Read More

Cut out the chatter of social media...

Lately, I have had MANY things on my mind about different ways to improve the quality of life for my family. There are countless things I KNOW I can do differently. Some easy to change, some not so easy...

I was thinking once again about our FAMILY PRIORITIES, which are GOD and FAMILY.

Then I realized that God, or my immediate family (husband and children), aren't really even on facebook, or social media, so WHY the heck am I spending so much time there????

This quote really hits home so I had to share:

In attempt to cut out the chatter, I tried to omit facebook from my day, and it was A LOT harder than I thought it would be. WHY???? I'm still unsure why it is such a tempting distraction. 

But I do know this, it is a true addiction that weighs heavily on my mind. I find myself less-productive because of it. I find myself interacting less with my family when I am on it. 

I check it throughout the day because I "feel like I might miss something", but how IRONIC is it that when I spend time checking it, I am MISSING the most important thing in my life... my family and precious time that can never be regained. When checking facebook, I am not 100% focused on the tasks that I once listed as a priority in my life. 

Because of this realization, I have decided to take drastic measures and CUT OUT FACEBOOK! I will limit myself to ONE HOUR per week to check messages and any important updates. To cut out temptation, I must delete the facebook app from my phone. 

Now, please note that I am NOT saying this to prove anything to anyone but myself and my family. I am not saying everyone should do this, I am just sharing WHY I must do this for myself. 

Social media has connected me with countless others that have inspired me, uplifted me, made me smile, let me know I am not alone in the struggle of motherhood and housekeeping, and it gives me a sense of relaxation when I take a break to "check" my news feed. But it seriously has become a problem, and I feel I must do this before my children get any older and before any more time is wasted. 

I am also making it a goal to get my home in complete order so that I can finally feel at peace within the walls of my own home. I want that same thing for my children, and MUST teach them not just with words, but with ACTIONS/

The things I want for my family are;

LOVE for one another at all times.

RESPECT for one another and each other's property.

QUALITY TIME spent together to be meaningful and memorable. 

ORGANIZATION in our home to avoid confusion and stress.

HAPPY memories and traditions being made.

TRUST between one another so we feel comfortable sharing secrets.

TEACHING moments in our home. (parents are the child's first teachers).

FAMILY HOME EVENING at least once a week.

Daily SCRIPTURE STUDY to learn the words of God.

NO BULLYING within the home, so children learn confidence and self-respect.

MANNERS among everyone.

Individual RESPONSIBILITIES to teach follow-through with tasks. 

Let me know if Facebook can help with ANY of these family goals ;)

Read More

Learning from trials

I truly believe that everything happens for a reason.
People come into our lives to teach us lessons that we may not even think we need.
We all go through individual struggles and trials that are unique to each of us.
We each have lessons to learn in this life, and the best way we learn is through personal experience.
However, the most common struggle is determining WHAT the lesson actually IS! It is most often recognized AFTER the trial. Sometimes, LONG after the trial is over.

I remember when I was younger. I, as every teenager, went through personal struggles, self-esteem and self-worth issues, wondering if I really had a purpose in this life. My faith kept me going. When all seemed dark and hopeless, I felt a sense of peace in knowing that someday, somehow, I would make a difference in the lives of others. I was reassured that the things I was going through were for my own good and one day I would overcome them and be able to help others. I doubted this at the time, but kept faith that maybe, just maybe, it was possible.

Is life easy? No.
Is it difficult to stay HAPPY and POSITIVE although the world is filled with constant negativity, pain, and struggle? Yes it is difficult. Is it possible? Not without effort.

You see, I believe happiness is a choice.
Every little thing we choose to do makes an impact on our day. We choose how to act, how to behave, what we say or don't say, how we treat others, how we react, how we spend our time, and everything in between. We control our OWN choices.

Life is based on a series of never ending CHOICES.

No, we cannot determine the choices for others.

So during a trial or hardship, the way I get through it is to remind myself to choose to believe that everything happens for a reason. Once I remember that, I can look at the situation differently and evaluate a lesson that needs to be learned. Sometimes I see it right away, and sometimes it takes time to finally understand what I need to learn from that trial or experience.

This will continue throughout life. I don't expect to ever stop learning. Look at every trial as a life lesson and you will learn something new every day!

Read More

Family pictures display on wall

I don't consider myself to be a professional decorator by any means. 

However, I will be glad to share some of the ideas that I use in my own home.

This is the way I choose to display my children's 8x10 photos on the wall in the living room. 

This is what it looks like when finished:

 Simple to put up. I just used black satin ribbon and attached the 

bow and strands to the wall with tacky tape. 

The frames don't actually hang by the ribbon, but are nailed to the wall 

with the ribbon just behind the frame to look like it is hanging from it.

Feel free to share other ways that you have found to display family pictures on the wall!

Sometimes it is great to change things up.

Have a great day!

Read More