Make Your Own Blessing Bags

This post is brought to you by FlyJoy bars. Thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that help make this blog happen. 

We're always looking for opportunities to serve as a family and show our kids the act of service toward others. Especially at Christmas time it's great to give back to others. We decided that we'd make these blessing bags to hand out to people in need. We see people in need all the time, our kids know that if we're able to give we do. 

I gathered some supplies to fill these bags with to keep on hand in our car to give to those in need. 

You can fill the bags with as much or a little as you'd like, I tried to think of things that would be a practical blessing to someone who is homeless or just needs some food. Warm thermal socks, water, and FlyJoy bars for some nourishment. 

This is an idea that your kids can be involved in as well. Spread all the supplies around the kitchen table and everyone gets to fill a bag. This helps them be involved and take ownership over the project as well. 

We prayed over these blessing bags and the people we'd hand them out to this holiday season. I hope this encourages you to think outside of your own home this season and give back to those in need. 

READ | She Reads Truth: Holding Tight to Permanent in a World That's Passing Away

I have been a fan of She Reads Truth and their Bible reading plans and devotionals they have been putting out since the very beginning. I recently completed their Bible Study with a small group of women, so I was excited to dig into this book.

The book is written from the perspective of both Rachel and Amanda, it's alternates between their two voices for each chapter. They share their personal stories of faith and what the Bible has meant to them and how scripture has carried them in their lives. 

While I enjoyed hearing their stories, I did find the back and forth in the chapters very confusing and keeping who's story was which was difficult for me and I didn't like the flow of the book. I still find it interested to hear everyone's stories of faith, so I enjoyed that aspect. 

If you're looking to hear some of the background of the founders of SRT it's an interesting read, I would have loved to hear more about how She Reads Truth came to be, and a little more background on that. But over all it was a good book. 

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DECEMBER Goals.

I'm going to be honest with you, I don't even know where the month of November went! That's just the truth friends. When I looked back on my goals for last month it was a blur. I accomplished some things that I'd written down, but overall there were a lot of things that crept up on me this month and I didn't get to a lot of things. 

As I've been thinking about December goals I've decided to not bite off more than I can chew so to speak. This month is busy, crazy I think. As I'm sure for you it's similar. So I've decided that the rest of this month I want to finish up my Christmas shopping (kids done. Hubby left.) relax with my kiddos, make Christmas cookies, stroll and look at holiday lights and try to absorb as much of this season with my family as I possibly can. 

No big goals, or projects. Just simple. I might try to read one new book. Reading is always a good thing. 

So tell me, what are some of your goals for the month? Do you have big things? Small and simple? Tell me in the comments below. 

My Favorite Fall Coat & Cozy Blanket Scarf

The drop in temperatures here in Phoenix has been a welcome change from our normal triple digits! I welcome this time of year as a lovely break from the heat. One of the main things I miss about living somewhere that has four seasons is Fall! 

Fall has always been my favorite time of year, pumpkin everything, a change in temperatures and layering in cozy sweaters, scarves and boots! So when the temperatures drop and I get the chance to layer I'm all about it. 

I found the perfect Fall coat, it's not to hot or bulky. It's a perfect grey color and paired with a black and white blanket scarf you can't go wrong.

Back in October my husband and I took a trip to see friends in Minneapolis and it was the perfect accessories to have on hand. My friend Jessie who is an amazing local Minneapolis photographer took some pictures for me while our husbands sat a nearby coffee shop. 

So if you're looking for the perfect Fall coat or an amazing scarf to keep you warm these are my picks! I've linked the coat from two awesome online boutiques, you can beat the price for under $50! And the scarf is $11 on Amazon and free prime shipping! It's almost like I'm giving you a gift with these deals! ;) 

Grab some cocoa and stay warm friends! 

Grey Knitted Coat (here and here)

Black and white blanket scarf (here)

*affiliate link used. 

*all photos Jessie Papia Photography

Four Ways I Keep Myself Motivated to Accomplish My Wellness Goals.

This post is brought to you by FlyJoy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting brands that help make this blog possible. 

As we end the year I wanted to share with you some tips that have helped keep me focused, on track and motivated with my health and fitness goals this year. When it comes to health and wellness I think it's important to try new things and figure out what works best for you. So today I want to share with '4 Ways I Keep Myself Motivated' when it comes to health & wellness.

1. Keeping track using my Fitbit.

My mom got this for me last year on my birthday. I didn't even realize how much I would love it, but my type-A, check things off my list personality loves this thing! It keeps track of everything, workouts, water intake, sleep and more! I love keeping track of my workouts using it and my water intake for the day. It helps keep me motivated and on track! 

2. New Gear.

This might sound crazy but nothing helps keep me motivated quite like getting new workout gear. I'm telling you if you haven't gotten yourself a new workout outfit recently do it! It's highly motivating, and I feel like when you look good you feel good and want to conquer your fitness goals. Also, getting a new water bottle makes you want to drink more water. Trust me. I recently picked up this Blender bottle with measurements on the side, again so I can see exactly how many ounces I'm drinking and adding it to my Fitbit. 

3. Get food/snacks that you enjoy.

Part of getting healthy for me has been changing my eating habits. A lot of times people struggle with diet because they feel like they have to give up a lot. So my approach is to find food and snacks that I enjoy and don't have to feel like I'm giving up anything. Dinner usually isn't a problem for me as much as snacks. That's why I love Fly Joy bars, they are all natural, gluten fee, non-GMO and they taste great. Cashew Cookie is my fave. My kiddos love the peanut butter and jelly and blueberry ones. 

4. Try New Workout Programs

I'm constantly trying new programs. I still run often, but also like to mix it up with different workout videos always trying new things and keeping myself from being bored with my workouts. 

As we end the year and head into a new one I hope these tips are helpful and you can take what you can and adapt it for your own life. To discover more about Fly Joy go here.