Whole 30 - Taking the Challenge

I kind of started a blog and then promptly stopped almost immediately but I'm going to give it another shot. I really want to document things for the kiddos (I have two not one now....so there's that).

WHOLE30
Whelp - I'm doing it...taking the Whole 30 challenge. I'm lucky enough to have my husband take part in the journey with me. Of course the main goal is to be healthier, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually too. I recently had my second child and I just CANNOT loose the baby weight - I'm breastfeeding and I think that has something to do with it. No I'm not just making excuses - I'm stuck at the exact same weight I was after having my first child - I was stuck until I stopped breastfeeding (literally the exact same number on the scale!!). It's like my body knows I'm doing this other big deal thing (breastfeeding) and holds on to all the weight so I don't break through the plateau until that job is done. I'm hoping to breastfeed a few more months but I want to try to take the extra steps to get some of the weight off. (The goal is to breastfeed until she's a year old).

Insert Whole 30 - here I will give up grains, dairy, & sugar along with processed food. Whole 30 is a straight forward plan that doesn't allow for "cheats" or even stumbles. You have to be 100% committed and I think I need that level of strictness for me to make the changes I want to change.

What is it I want to change?


1.) Change my relationship with food so I am in control!
2.) Loose weight (duh! - it's not a weight loss plan but I'm hoping that is the side benefit)
3.) Give up cravings and my addiction to Diet Soda...aka cancer causing beverage (I LOVE LOVE LOVE Diet Mt. Dew....uh so bad for you but sooo good).
4.) Feel better - physically and mentally (I'm sick of always wearing long sleeves or a vest to cover up so people don't see how I look) - sad I know! I want to be confident and strong for my girls. I think it is so important to have a positive self image for not you yourself but for your little ones. The see and pick up on everything.
5.) I want my kiddos to be healthy - I've always worked hard at this and we are in good shape but we can do better. I want to have more meals at the table.

So there it is  - I want to be happier and healthier so I'm going for it.

I'll post before and after pictures at the end of the journey.

Cheers! (that better be with water, coffee or tea - no booze peeps!)

New Year Resolutions

We are nearly halfway through January already - so I'm late to the resolution party...but I like to think I'm fashionably late. I'm not really a resolution person...I like the idea but I have a hard time deciding something to do or change and then sticking with it. Has anyone else struggled with that? Well this year I'm getting serious about it for a good reason. I have once child and another on the way and things are about to get really real all over again. My life is going to change in ways I can't anticipate but there is one thing that I can anticipate: I"m going to take a million photos of the precious child. I have a photography business and I am super organized about client photos but when it comes to my own photos I'm not that great at it. This year - 2014 - I am committing to changing my ways. To making the preservation of my family photos a priority. These are some of the ways I plan to do that:

1.) Download and backup every week
2.) Start creating a "year book" that I can add to throughout the year and print at the start of 2015
3.) Making special smaller photos books throughout the year
4.) Print more of the candid photos I take - & share with family and friends (not just online!!!)
5.) Create a space where I can display photos just from this year

I'll take you along my journey - hopefully you can learn from me and you can help keep me accountable.

My sweet niece (left) & my daughter (right) - they are almost 2 and only 3 weeks apart! How awesome & adorable

Also - a friend of mine has her own way of doing more with all those photos we take on our phones. It's called 52 pages...basically you take photos of regular things happening in your life with your phone - like you normally do, then you create a collage for that week and post. At the end of the year you'll have 52 weeks worth of photos that you can print into a little book. Brilliant right! Go here to get all the details.

Each of my 5 methods to better photo preservation will become their own blog post so be sure to stay tuned.

Peace and Love & Hooray for 2014!

Top 7 Blogs I LOVE!

There are gazillions of blogs out there - I was inspired to start mine by reading other peoples and thinking...hey I want in on all that sharing business. Here are 7 blogs that I am over the moon for.

1.) Under the Sycamore 
This blog shares so many beautiful photographs capturing the day-to-day life of the author's family. Take a peak into their lives - you'll be inspired by the love and joy that fills their home.


2.) Momasaurus
Have it all without spending all you have. That's the moto of the one and only Momasaurus. Erin's blog is full of frugal fines, helpful discount codes, DIY projects and much more. She's also featured on local Southern Illinois Television Show - P.S. she's my sissy so obviously I adore her too and I can say she's an amazing and inspiration lady - I hope you love her blog.  

3.) Oh Joy! 
I can't say enough about how much I love this blog. Joy is a working momma who seems to have unlimited energy, talent and a real zest for life. I aspire to be more like her. If you follow her blog - you'll see what I'm talking about.

4.) 6th Street Design School
Well I love design of all kinds, from products to packaging to interior design. Kirsten is an insanely talented designer that shares all kinds of inspiration and helpful information. You can thank me later for letting you know about her blog :)

5.) Emily A. Clark
Emily is a mother of 5! Do I need to say more? Ok I will: somehow she manages to stay fabulous and update her home even with a house full of kiddos!

6.) The Nato's
Jamie is such a breath of fresh air...she is sassy as all get out and her blog is such fun. I think you'll love it (because I sure do - and I'm not alone :))!

7.) The Lettered Cottage
This couple does all kinds of fabulous DIY's on the cheap! Their style is much different than mine but I love their work and they are fun to follow :)

Be inspired - I sure am!

Let Them Eat Ice Cream!I

I try not to give my toddler junk food or sweets too often but sometimes a little girl needs a treat. We have the cutest little ice cream fountain in our tiny town and we decided to pay it a visit. We ordered real vanilla ice cream with strawberry topping. She ate a few good bites and then wanted to dance! Guess the sugar kicked in! Now and again ya gotta let them be little and enjoy the sweet things in life!

Be Bold - Be Brave: Wallpaper Instillation

I have a lot of neutrals in my home. I live on a beautiful lake so I wanted the main focus to be on the view rather than on bold wall colors. However, I love pattern and bold color and sometime I get the itch to switch things up. I recently installed wallpaper on feature wall in our dining area. It's a yellowy lime green - definitely bold and a little crazy but you only live once right? YOLO! I asked the hubs what he thought and he told me to go for it so I did. What do you think? Crazy or Just Crazy Enough To Be AWESOME!

P.S. I'm not actually done decorating - I have a lot to do to finish that area but I wanted to show you what I've been up to!

Wet Paint

Kids love painting...whatever it is about it - they love it. I'm a creative so I love that my child loves to paint. Here are a few snaps of my daughter creating a masterpiece a mother can truly love and adore. She's the sweetest (She had a SERIOUS case of bed head after her nap so enjoy her crazy hair as well). Oh an see that laminate counter-top in the background (faux butcher block!) well that's one of my next projects so stay tuned to see the reveal of my super inexpensive mini-makeover.

Welcome!!! New Year - New Blog

Hello World! It's Me the Girlie Gurnsey.

Let me introduce myself. I'm Janelle, a Girlie Gurnsey. I am a wife, a mother, a communication professional, a photographer and a DIY diva. I have more ideas than I have time or money for and I love making the world a prettier place, one project at a time. Part of my inspiration for starting this blog came from Facebook, Instagram and all the blogs I follow. There are so many amazing people out there that are doing an awesome job of documenting their lives. Honestly I feel like I have been failing and I want to do better starting NOW! My daughter is almost 2 years old and I'm so behind with writing down and saving the day-to-day happenings that make our simple life meaningful. So this blog will capture what's happening in the life of this Girlie Gurnsey! 2014 you better watch out because here I come. Thanks for visiting - I hope you enjoy.