Friday Faves

So I haven't really blogged much lately.  Just been super busy and just decided to focus what time I did have on making things work the best and spending time with my family.  As you can see from my post, family is always on my mind.

1 - Ok so there are some LOTS of people on the Pokemon Go App.  But let me tell you this newest fad has made my boy want to exercise more.  So in the morning he has been jumping out of bed to get going on our walk.  He knows it is only possible to take our big boy of a dog, Achilles, out in the morning or the evening, since he needs it to be as cool as possible!  So every morning he gets up and hits poke stops, and finds some Pokemon and is able to get some mileage in for hatching his eggs.  I don't particularly care for the game, I'm not a video game type person who cares, but what I do care about is that we are getting outside together! Don't mind the hair, I rolled out of bed myself!

2 - Well - I have just recently gotten into the Young Living Essential Oils.  They have been amazing in the past month I have been using them!   Here is my favorite roller ball my mom made me, it is like an anti-depressant inside a little bottle that smells GREAT!!  Also I have been using a little here and there on Mason, he has a typical boy smelling room, I diffuse some of the purification and all the smell is gone!  Hallelujah!  Achilles, the aforementioned mutt, he has had a horrible time with a super dry nose, and well, a little bit of coconut oil and lavender is seeming to do the trick!  Also, I cannot do any allergy shots for a bit, so I have been diffusing this little gem to help me out!  

3 - The past couple months have been a little stenuous on the family, home and finances.  We have done so many changes in the dynamics of our little family unit.  I have started selling with many amazing companies such as LuLaRoe, KEEP-Collective and I am even able to sell Young Living, even though I am not pushing it.  On top of teaching and all of my other responsibilities, Mr. Bedford has also switched gears and is now selling Real Estate for the Real Estate Group.  I am so proud of him for doing something that he is passionate about.  He has already done amazing things and I am so proud of him.  I am also thankful for my family and friends who have seen what I've always seen in him and let him list their house!  You can check out his webpage here: Homes by Bobby Brooks
Check out this listing as well:

Listing for Clover Hill

4 - So Mason has been able to participate in Horse Camp this past week.  We have an amazing lady at church, Mrs. Debbie and she opens her heart and her stables every year to allow our youth/children in the church partake in learning about horses, riding and having an amazing time!!   Mason had such a great time riding this past week, and to be honest the hard work wore him out, I cannot remember the last time he wanted to have quiet time, and better yet, he did it on his own!! 

Mason riding Fancy this year!

5 - Well, the summer slump has kind of hit with my motivation, where you would think it would be the opposite, but this week, I had such an eye opening Lunch Boutique to kick my booty in gear.  I am so blessed by my shopping group and friends/family.  I had a Thursday power lunch where ladies could come and shop and try on LuLaRoe.  We had a great afternoon, and even got to meet two LuLa Newbies, who had never purchased any LuLaRoe before. I had an amazing sale and a renewed vigor for my business.  I have already mapped out the rest of my month and August with LuLaOpportunities.  Here are some of my most recent LuLa Highlights. 

Lularoe lunch boutique tomorrow at my house! This Cassie and so much more available! Cannot wait to see everybody! #lularoe #lunchboutique #lularoecassie #lularoeleggings #popup #lularoefun #comeandgetyours #lularoerachele

A photo posted by LuLaRoe Rachele (@lularoe.rachele) on Jul 20, 2016 at 7:49pm PDT

Thanks for reading!  I really appreciate it!!

National Infertility Awareness Week 2016

Hey there - I know it has been a while since I've posted. I have been super busy since starting with LuLaRoe.  This past week was Infertility Awareness Week, and I took some time to reflect on my journey these past couple of years.  I just posted my video on WHY I do LuLaRoe for my Facebook Group, and I am so surprised at how many people are either touched by my nervous chat down memory lane about how I am using my profit from LuLaRoe to fund our journey to IVF.  I thought I would recount my journey thus far. This is important to not let infertility be the giant elephant in the room, as I feel it has become. It is important to know the options and be knowledgeable every step of the way on your journey.  This is not something that should be pussyfooted around or swept under the rug. Speak up and let your feelings be validated. 

So most of you know, I have the most precious little boy alive.  Who loves me unconditional and is a people pleaser in every way, who at the ripe ol' age of 10 has learned how to speak up and make his ideas known.  This year for Mason he has started playing on an advanced travel team, had his first girlfriend and has been able to be so incredibly flexible in so many ways.  He is truly the light of my life! So Mason is an incredible blessing bestowed on me. I have embraced every magical moment of being his mother.

So about 6 years ago, I met the most wonderful man.  Yes, I am talking about Mr. Bedford. I am so lucky and blessed to have him come into my life. He truly takes all of my crazy ways, bad days, and feelings of inferiority and turns them around to build the best me.  

So we were married in 2013 in Jamaica, and didn't want to rush anything, according to Mr. Bedford we already rushed into getting married after only knowing each other for 3 years! ;) Yep, he was totally cool with dating forever.  So to start we just started with not trying to prevent to have a baby. 

After a year of that, and not seeing anything a double pink line on the stick. I started to feel as if something was awry, so I started tracking everything.  I tracked what I ate, I tracked ovulation, tracked that I didn't ovulated, tracked Mr. Bedford and I's time together.  I had so much data, but NOTHING was happening.  At that point I went and spoke to my midwife and go a general female physical.  At that point I was perfectly healthy and there was no reason why I should be having any problems.  At that point we tried clomid for the next 4 months.  This was August of 2014 and we continued that through January of 2015.  Which at that point we were noticing even with clomid I was still having a hard time registering that I was ovulating every other month. So at that point Mr. Bedford was tested and we were referred to see a fertility specialist. 

So off we went to The Jones Institute.  We tried a lot of the same things that we had done before with the midwife. Lot of data and doctors' appointments.  Finally we were referred to have a hysterosalpingogram or HSG, which is an x-ray procedure used to see whether the fallopian tubes are open and to see if the inside of the uterus is normal. HSG is an outpatient procedure that usually takes less than 5 minutes to perform. However when I had mine, we ended up doing this 3 different times.  The Tylenol that they told me to take before the procedure really did nothing at all to tempt the pain to stay away.  So after three times of them trying to blow out my tubes, we stopped and waited for the next doctor's appointment.  

Next Dr. Appointment encouraged the idea of surgery.  They were sure they could fix the tube.  However, I took the first week off of school, so that I could go ahead and have laproscopic surgery completed.  It was so hard not being able there for Mason's first day of school. The surgery was not very much of a success but gave very many answers to so many questions. I was then told that I have endometriosis.  Not a huge surprise, but I was glad to know.  So my right tube could could not be repaired, but they did make my left more optimal for future endeavors.   So after that we were told we would be more susceptible to becoming pregnant without proceeding medically.  

So the next month we were back into the doctor's, starting with IUI.  Lots of shots and new medicines and new hope.  We did two cycles, and I decided in December that I was done trying with IUI's, and medicines.  With each of those cycles there is an approximately a 30 percent chance of being pregnant.  So we have chosen to take a break.  Hey, everybody says as soon as you aren't trying, you become pregnant. lol.  So we haven't been doing any fertility treatments since December and I can say I finally feel normal.  Being on various fertility medicines for the past 2 years on and off, can certainly do something to how you feel about yourself and how you cope with everyday situations.  

However, bringing up to present day.  I have been with LuLaRoe since the end of January. I started with LuLaRoe in hopes of saving enough money for the cost of in vitro fertilization or IVF.  Things have been going relatively well.  I am never one to sit idling and wait for things to happen, so here I am, trying to make the most of my situations and means!  

I just wanted to write out my story as menial as it may seem, helps me to cope with the fact that it has been so extremely difficult to get pregnant when all I want is, to hold my own baby.  

Thanks for listening. Have a blessed day!

Made It Monday - LuLaRoe Style 1.4.16

So I am kind of totally am all about LuLaRoe at the moment.  I am anxiously awaiting an amazing shipment of clothes.  I am ready to get this show on the road so to speak!  So I decided to put my crafting tools to the limits and myself for that matter.  Today was SUPER trying at work, and I was just ready to sit and relax with a nice glass of red.  However, I needed something more this evening, and by more I mean a cute canvas tote to carry my new loot that will be arriving soon!

So here is what I used:

• Silhouette
• Freezer Paper
• Acrylic Paint
• Fabric Medium
• PATIENCE

So using my trusty Silhouette Cameo, I was able to make a stencil.  Here is an another great tutorial on how to use Freezer Paper, in order to make a stencil and design:  here

So I first weeded my stencil and laid it on the canvas bag, and ironed it down.  Yay, this took a couple different attempts to get to this process, but I managed and got it done!  

Here is a close up of the stencil, not perfect and that is the reason why it has some imperfections.  However, it is going to be perfect for me!  BTW this was a hard template to lay for me, everything was a piece by itself, and they all seemed to have a mind all to their own.

So here I am finished with my stencil, I had no rhyme or reason with what color I did first, with the exception that I painted that color when I found it in my stash of colors, I had to do a lot of mixing to achieve my colors I was trying to get.  I think mixing turned out ok.  

Finished bag-a-roe, I am so happy with the colors and the positions of things.  

Look, I even got to model with a pair of my LuLaRoe Leggings. I love the swallows on my legs. Who am I kidding I love that they are blue.  My favorite color!  Please forgive the photo, allergy shots made me all splochy this evening, so I photo-shopped the mess out me.  

Thanks for reading, have a wonderful rest of your week! Enjoy it to the fullest!  Love you all!

How I Roe - Stylin' Saturday 1.2.16

So I do not have as many pieces as I would like, but I absolutely love my leggings and my fav's I just got a couple weeks, so I am still trying to figure out what I like with these funky red and blue bear leggings!  I've nicknames these bad boys - Blueberry Bear Leggings.  Love these to pieces, something a little out there for me, but I was instantly drawn to them!  Here you can check them out below!

So as you can see I am not a stylist - but had fun dressing up my leggings on this very cool, January day.  I would love to have somebody else on here besides me who would like to share their photos with me!  Let's have some fun!  

Lots of Love,

A New Year, Another Passion .LuLaRoe 2016.

So 2016, I've decided is going to be for BIG changes.  I mean huge.  I need to adjust my way of thinking, I need to adjust my time management capabilities, and I need to adjust my passions.  Let's face it, if you've met me, I am the epitome of the saying, A jack of all trades, but a master of none.

Yep, this is what I am pondering at the beginning of this year!  I paint, I scrapbook, I distress, I do burlap door hangers, I love vinyl (Silhouette induced love), anything basically I like that I see I DO it, but never mastering one thing or getting truly good at it.  Hence the reason why I have a surplus of crafting supplies, ranging from a sewing machine, crochet needles, Silhouette, packs and packs of scrapbook paper, and lots of boxes of unfinished cards I haven't gotten around to making.

Yes, this is an understatement, but seriously, I am trying here.  Knowing is half the battle.  I know I have a problem that I want to do everything,  I do believe this is one of my husband's biggest complaints about me.  Which I know should, just focus on one thing, but I LOVE it all!  I just need a couple more hours in each day.  

So - that being said today I am boxing up many of my crafts, and putting them away....to make way for my newest adventure!!  Are you ready for it!!  

What is LulaRoe, you say, well it is an exclusive clothing company designed to fit women of all ages, sizes, and shapes.  LulaRoe is only sold either online or through pop-up boutiques.  The catch phrase has been said often that LuLaRoe is the "Anthropologie of direct sales."  This clothing line is not only gorgeous, but is is comfortable, affordable and oh so flattering.  So there are a couple ways you can look through all the amazing things LuLaRoe has to offer, I am just starting with these, but you can check me out on Social Media with LuLaRoe. 

• Instagram: lularoe.rachele
• Facebook: Facebook Group
• Pinterest: rachelelularoe

So all of those are basically brand-new, right out of the box, not too much in there, but hopefully to add a lot more coming up in the weeks where I am going to be anxiously awaiting the arrival of my LuLaRoe!  

If you have any questions, I am obviously still new at this, but don't hesitate!  Otherwise, if you have any suggestions with the above mentioned downfall to my personality, please let me know as well!  Love you all!!

Literary Junkies .December.

Good Morning Blogging World!

It has definitely been a while, what a year it has been in my classroom.  It never seems like I am ahead on anything, but I have a week left of winter break and I am going to make this most of it!  So  I am linking up with Literary Junkies for party!

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it. I am currently reading the Dinner and Big Stone Gap.  I am loving Big Stone Gap, I just realized how much I love Adriana Trigiani!  I also read the Shoemaker's Wife over Thanksgiving Break.   I am on the fence with The Dinner by: Herman Koch.  It is what I am reading for book club, and it has been a hard read at this point.  I do prefer the easy read of what I pick for myself sometimes!  However, Big Stone Gap is out on film, so I am excited to see this as well.  

2. What were your favorite reads of 2015?  Well I fell short of my goal this year of 50 books, once school started I just couldn't do what I love which is read.  So out of the 46 I did read, I loved Sarah Addison Allen books.  I read Garden Spells and I also read First Frost, who doesn't love Sarah Addison Allen!  I also liked the Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, and The Beekeeper's Daughter.  I also have gotten into The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaladon.  Love all of those, but I only finished 2 books this year of hers.  

3. What was your book-read total for 2015? Did you make your goal for the year?  I only read 46, and did not meet my goal of 50 for the year, however, I will more than likely be up to 48 by the time the year ends, so I am ok with that...
4. How many books would you like to read in 2016? I think I would like to give 50 a shot again.  Last year was 40, and I know 50 is doable, but I would like to have more time for me coming up this year, I feel pushed into the ground at times, and I need a change this year.
5. What is the number one book sitting on your Must Read list right now?  Carry On by Rainbow Rowell.  Is my book I am starting next and super excited about.  I got this book from Taylor over at Pink Heels Pink Truck during our Holiday Book Swap!  She is so talented at wrapping and making things looks so special!  I was so lucky to get matched up with her!  

Thanks again for checking my little blog out!  I am hoping to be more involved this coming year as well, we shall see how that goes! 

Literary Junkies .July.

I am linking up again with Literary Junkies. So excited to be back!  I LOVE the book that was picked for this month's book too!

The questions for this month are below!

Here are this month's questions:

1. What are you reading right now? Tell us about it.

At the moment I am reading a couple different ones:

Funny girl is about a woman who is finding her way through social climbing as she goes from a beauty queen straight to an actress when things like that didn't happen.  It is all about her trials that she must go through as well as the people in Sophie's life as well.  

I've just started Go Set a Watchman so hopefully I can add more at a later date!

2. What book reminds you of summertime as a kid?

OMG - Sweet Valley Twins.  That is the only thing I can really remember about being a kid and reading - I loved the.

3. What book did you have on your summer reading list that truly nailed it as a summer reading favorite?

Summer Reading essential for me this year was The Sound of Glass - It was completely AMAZING.  It unfolded slowly, but I actually listened to this one as my husband and I were driving down to the low country (the setting of the book) and we both enjoyed it immensely!  

4. Who is your favorite author and why? Give us your top recommendation by them.

I was turned onto Kate Morton and she is probably one of my favorite people to read, but I just recently picked up with Diana Gabaldon and I LOVE Outlander

5. Fall Book Reading lists are starting to make their appearances. What are you excited to read that's being released this fall?

Well, I know I just mentioned that I love this author through everything I've read- So I suppose I am very excited to be reading her newest, the Lake House this coming fall (October to be exact) I will look into my reading list again after I start back to school, just enjoying the rest of my summer list at the moment!