The Bikini Debate

This is my own personal Bikini Debate. And it is two-fold. 

1)Should I wear a bikini at all?

2)Which one should I buy?

I recently wrote a post about my desire to cancel my Victoria's Secret magazine. In this post I talked about how much I don't appreciate those underwear models coming into my house uninvited. I also wrote about how my friend Casey told me that once I got married I would be way more aware of other woman's attire around Philip and my own attire around other people's husbands. Well she was right. Last year I bought a 1-piece bathing suit. Voluntarily. I wasn't even going to church camp!

Last year I also wore a shirt over my bikini 99.9% of the time. Something happened to me. Even around family I was just kinda like "or. OR. I could keep tank top  on"  This mindset made for a very pale stomach. Woo I was glowin' in the dark! 

Besides that I wasn't/am not completely in love with my stomach. I may be small but I am not very fit. - Well I started my yoga journey in September so since then I has for sure gotten stronger. But that's not the point. 

The point is this- if I am not ok with supermodels in their underwear being seen by my husband how is it then ok for me to wear a bikini on the boat or at the pool? Are underwear and Bikinis the same?

I don't think they are. I think underwear is naughtier it's sexier. Usually models are in the process of taking it off in the picture.  While giving bedroom eyes. 

If you didn't know - I am going to Hawaii in April for 12 days! Even though I am TERRIFIED of flying I am really excited about it! Philip and I have been doing the 21 Day Fix in order to get healthy but I am planning on doing it again the 3 weeks leading up to vacation to get more beach ready. So after all of my hard work I might want to wear a bikini. In Hawaii! 

I probably won't be posting any pictures of my full frontal bikini on Facebook or this blog. But I will probably lay out in one. But then what about any unsuspecting males on the said beach?? Well it's not like I am going to be taking pictures of myself, photoshopping them and then mailing it to your house.

I've heard people say modesty is more about your mind set and heart than your clothes. I don't think this gives me license to walk around butt naked but I do think lounging by the ocean with my man in a bikini won't send me to hell. 

SOOO With all of that being said...

Philip told me that we can afford for me to get a new bathing suit for Hawaii! I AM SO EXCITED! So I have it narrowed down to a few choices. (I am still not sure if I will even a bikini) this is where you come in! Every bathing suit I have bought for the past, oh 7 years, has been red, white, and blue, nautical and/or had an anchor on it (shocking!) So I want to branch out! There are other others out there besides Navy, Coral, Yellow, Red, and White. At least that's what people tell me!

So here are my choices! (Mind you I will never look like those models and I will try and get a bigger size in the tops to help keep cleavage to a minimum)

A)Philip doesn't like the colors in this one but I like that is looks like a sports bra and has more coverage

B) This one is reversible and would be like 2 in 1!

C) This one's back is the coolest! I am not crazy about the bottoms but it is reversible to black as well.

D) This is one is only sooorta nautical. 

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survey solutions

Thanks For Voting! 

What do you think about Bikinis? 

Removing Salt Stains from Leather Boots

So it's winter. Which here in Michigan translates into ice. snow. sun zero temperates. misery. and truck loads of salt being dumped onto roads and sidewalks. truck loads. salt is everywhere in the winter. Is there a better way to melt ice and snow? Wouldn't know it because here in Michigan we SALT! 

Anyways what that means is that most likely your boots are going to get some sort of salt stains. Like my favorite boots did. 

Don't worry though, I fixed them and you can fix yours too! I found this pin on Pinterest and followed her basic instructions to fix my beautiful boots!

1) body wash

2)wash cloth

3)1/4 c vinegar

4) 1/2 c water

5) Spray bottle

1) use body wash and wash cloth to clean your boots from any dirt or debris on them. 

2)mix together your water and vinegar.

3) Pour in spray bottle and spray on boots - wipe with clean wash cloth.

4) let dry. Mine turned really dark when they were wet so I was really nervous that I had destroyed them for-ev-er.

Turns out I was just being dramatic (shocking) and they dried just fine. These boots have seen me through a lot of years and they have battle scars to show for it. Now that they are salt-free, which is the way to be, we can go on with our love story. 

Do any of your boots have salt stains? Have you fixed them?? Does your state use salt?If not, count your blessins. 

21 Day Fix Approved Coffee

Good Morning. Hope you're doing just splendidly. I know I am - because I am writing this whilst sipping my morning cup of coffee. It's no secret my husband and I are doing the  21 Day Fix  (Day 15 Update Here) When I started the 21 Day Fix I was worried I wasn't going to get to enjoy my daily coffee. Turns out - I can. I just couldn't have it the same way I had before. aka with lots of hazelnut creamer. 

 I found this pin on Pinterest and adapted it to my liking and now- I can't get enough of this stuff! It is frothy and creamy, sweet but not too sweet deeeelish! 

Freshly Brewed Coffee

1/8 tsp Coconut Oil

1/8 tsp All Natural Vanilla Extract

1-4 tsps Fat Free Milk

Blender

1) Brew a fresh cup of coffee. 

2) In your blender (or personal cup attachment for your ninja) add your fat free milk, coconut oil, and vanilla. Depending on how much you like cream in your coffee you can have 1-4 tps of fat free milk.

 3) Pour in your coffee

4) Blend for 5 seconds
5) Pour back into cup

6)Enjoy the frothy goodness

So that's it! It's so easy and so good! Will I ever have hazelnut creamer again? Maybe. Will I ever have half & half at a restaurant or event? Most likely. Is this my go-to morning caffeine fix? You betcha! Try it out and let me know what you think!

How does that sound? Would you ever make something like that? Have you tried something similar? What is your healthy way to make coffee??

21 Day Fix Day 15 UPDATE

Today is Day 15 of the 21 Day Fix! So far we have done pretty well! We have survived! Day 2 I had a killer detox headache! It was probably the worst headache I remember having. I tried to take a nap and get rid of the pain but the pain was so great that I couldn't take a nap. 

Here are EIGHT things I have learned from my first 2 weeks of the 21 Day Fix.

1) I hate Cardio. I can handle the weights, the yoga, the Pilates, but the cardio- makes want to yell mean words at my TV. 

2) Detoxing makes me cranky. Sorry, Philip.

3) I love ice cream. Ok, I already knew this but here we are day 15 and it remains true. The very day this has ended Philip and I are going to get FRO YO! 

4) 1 Fruit Serving is 1/2 of a banana NOT a whole nana. Turns out I was having way too much fruit there for a while. 

5) I hate spinach in my eggs. It was Day 1 Meal 1. I had just turned off the first workout DVD half way through because I was doing it on an empty stomach. I made eggs with some peppers, onions, and spinach. I gagged. If I am going to have veggies for breakfast it's gotta be pulverized in a smoothie.

6) Eating healthy isn't really that bad. Sure it is expensive. Sure whole wheat bread is not even 1/2 as satisfying as an everything bagel covered in cream cheese. But it is do-able. 

7) Autumn Calabrese tells me I can do anything for 60 seconds. Autumn Calabrese is a liar.

8)Variety is key. The first week we had A LOT of chicken. I mean, I basically grew feathers. Week 2 we added some more turkey options and it was better. For the last week I am going to look up a few more recipes to throw into the mix.  

After the 21 Day Fix I am going to post Philip and I's before and after pictures and our overall experience. I hope we can stay just as strong the last week. 

Do you eat healthy? How do you do it? What is your favorite type of workout?

I'm still here!

My computer charger broke so I've been without a computer for well over a week now! I ordered a new one 1.5 weeks ago and apparently it is walking here! The Blogger app has been acting up but I finally got it to work! Just wanted to give a quick update! Hopefully I'll be up and running soon! Philip and I have been doing the 21 Day Fix and it is going really well so far!! I hope all is well!!!Xoxo 

The Piaseckis Take One The 21 Day Fix!

Happy Monday! So if you didn't know Philip and I are going to Hawaii in April. So I decided that I wanted to get beach ready. I figured the best way to do this was to make an investment and have a plan. My friend Paula is a Beachboy coach and she has had some amazing results with The Beachboy program so I talked to her and I decided to join a 21 Day Fix Challenge Pack. 

So the 21 Day Challenge Pack came in the mail and this is what I got!  Colored containers in various sizes that represent portion sizes. 

Each color represents a different food group that we can eat. Green is veggies, Purple is fruit, Red is protein, Yellow is carbs, Blue is dairy & fats, Orange is dressings and seeds. 

Philip and I did this little equation to figure out how many calories/ portions we can have each day.  He gets more of all of them than I do. Because he's a boy. 

I also got the Shakeology powder. Shakeology is an all natural meal replacement protein powder.

Along with following the meal plan participants have to work out everyday. The workouts are about 30 minutes each. From what I have heard they are pretty intense too. 

So not only do I want to get more beach ready but I need to work on my eating habits. I eat super, super unhealthy! I mean, it's bad. So I am hoping I can do the full 21 days and then it will help me eat healthy long term. I have never kept to a diet or healthy eating plan more than 2 days. Ever. My self control is pretty much 0. I have the restraint of a toddler. Add that to the fact that I can't cook and it equals a lot of pizza. 

Everything I have read about the 21 Day Fix is preparation. So Friday night Philip and I spent about 2 hours making a meal plan for the week. I found this awesome excel spreadsheet!! It is so awesome! I tweaked it slightly but it made it easy to track. 

The hardest part was coming up with meal ideas. Once we got the ideas it was pretty easy. Then on Saturday I went grocery shopping and got lots of containers so I can cook meals ahead of time. Since we both don't work on Monday my plan is to cook as much as I can to set myself up to win. 

 

Stay Tuned to see how the Piaseckis do on the 21 Day Fix! DUN DUN DUN

Have you ever done any Beachbody workout plans?The 21 Day Fix? What did you think??

My 5 Favorite Scripture Verses

ONE Hebrews 6:19 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

Not only is this tattooed on my ribs, have anchors in it, but it reminds that there is always hope in God. He will always keep his promises. 

TWO John 4:29-30 & 39  29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30 They went out of the town and were coming to him.39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 

I love this because it is an example of the truest, simplest form of evangelism. She simply went and told people what Christ had done for her. They came and sought out Christ because of her testimony, and because of her they believed. 

THREE Romans 8:37-39 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord

This world is scary. So many things can and do go wrong. But at the end of the day, no matter what, God is God, He loves me, and ultimately I will end up in Heaven with Him. 

FOUR Song of Solomon 4:6 

 6 Awake, O north wind,

    and come, O south wind!

Blow upon my garden,

    let its spices flow.

I mean. yep.

FIVE Song of Solomon 3:4  

4 Scarcely had I passed them

    when I found him whom my soul loves.

I held him, and would not let him go

    until I had brought him into my mother's house,

    and into the chamber of her who conceived me.

This is just a beautiful picture of how God pursues us. Song of Solomon is a beautiful picture of the relationship between God and man. I also love that Philip wrote a song about me based on this verse. 

What are your favorite verses? 

The Woes of being Anchor Obsessed

I've never lied to you people. So I am not going to start now. I was scanning through PicMonkey and I saw this whole section on Nautical Overlays. That is literally where this post idea came from. If you didn't know - I am just slightly, sorta, in teensy bit. Obsessed with Anchors. 

Just a quick look through my facebook and I found:

 I am so dedicated I have an anchor etched into my rib cage. That is commitment, my friend.

Not to mention all of the other shirts, earrings, shoes, bathing suits, necklaces, hats, gloves, shorts and home decorations I have around my house. From my current spot on my couch I can see 4 anchors. I can't help it. I love anchors. I keep trying to not like them. But then, I see something new with an anchor on it..and I think that is SO CUTE! It's not just anchors. I love all things Nautical. It's a problem. Philip says sometimes he feels like he lives in a boathouse. To which I respond "I wish we did!" 

The woes I have are

• my husband doesn't get excited about my Nautical finds anymore. I showed him that adorable ahoy ring and he said "you have so much nautical stuff"
• I can't wear all of my nautical stuff at once. I wish I could, but I can't
• My 1,008sq ft house is full to the brim with nautical items. That's not the woe, the woe is, I don't have room for more. 
• Anchors are everywhere so I look like a band wagon fan. But my love runs deep
• Anchors are everywhere so my friends send me pictures of baby clothes with anchors on them and it just spikes my baby fever. 

This picture is of me and my mom and sister. See how nautical my mom is? It's in my blood!

Is there anything, a print or color, you are obsessed with?