Category: YouTube

It's Been A Long Road...a life update

 



I want to share a story with you today...a true one and a continuing one. I have often been in my life an oversharer and today is no exception to that. I want to share about a journey I recently decided to go on.


It began in December of 2020..I decided it was time to take my life back...to give some background...I had a second knee operation in October of 2016 and let's just say it did not go as well as the first one...it was always painful, rehab didn't go well, and it just plain hurt to walk. I also ran a business that had me sedentary and so I just settled into that way of life. I also was experiencing panic attacks and depression so I of course turned to my physician for some assistance. I was prescribed medication and things improved, but not my overall health. I was still sedentary and did not have a ton of energy. Well, in December of 2020 I closed the business and decided to truly retire...(I had retired in 2012 from teaching, only to open a business a year later). I also decided it was time to take back my healthy lifestyle I had prior to the knee surgery. 

I began by taking myself off all medications...now I also have hypothyroidism which caused my Doctor great alarm when I finally got around to going, oh in April of 2021. You see it took that many months to detox (if that is a good way to put it) from the constant stress of owning a business. So, when I went to see her in April I informed her I wanted to heal my hypothyroidism and get healthy again with exercise and diet. 

Reluctantly, she agreed and approved of me going to see a holistic physician (one who specialized in thyroid issues) and a nutritionist. So off I went...it took a while to get those appointments so I began the best I could on my own  changing my diet...and from April 13th-June 29th I lost 15.5lbs! 



First progress photo taken on May 24th


I saw the holistic physician on June 29th and the nutritionist on June 30th...together they agreed a Paleo Diet was what was best to begin the healing process. I can tell you it has not been a very easy road, thus the reason my crafting and YouTube channel suffered. Because I tell you this diet and adjusting to it took a toll on  my emotions and just was plain not easy. 

On June 28th hubby and I decided to join a gym and have been very diligent about going 5 days a week. I began with training sessions with a fitness instructor and I can say that  is one of the  best things I have ever done for health and well-being outside of deciding to take my life back. He pushed me to always do my best and when it got harder he said keep going, You can do it!  I am taking water aerobics classes and go to those 5 days a week in addition to treadmill and strength training I am getting stronger and more fit each day.


Adjustment to the change in diet has become much easier. I am sticking to it 6 days a week and have 1 day I can  eat outside of my diet but yet still within reason and continuing to eat healthy. I am so thankful for these persons that came into my life to help during such a difficult time adjusting. I am also very thankful to my support corner, my best friend Kimberly and my husband!


So as I continue on with this challenging new way of eating I will press on and continue to improve in both body, mind, and spirit! My YouTube channel is getting back to normal as of this month so I hope you can join me over there and gain some inspiration from my crafting!



Second progress photo: taken August 19

And as of Today September 7th I have lost a total of 31.6lbs since I began this journey in April 2021!


A Brand New Look to go with a Brand New Adventure




Well, here it is 2021! I am so very excited to bring you a new look for my blog as well as a new adventure with me! 

I wanted to spend a few minutes with you and share what is happening with me for this year and a bit of what transpired last year. I am not going to spend any time focusing on last year and how it was difficult or anything cause we all know that. Rather, I would like to share with you what I learned, or actually was reminded of. Once again, I was reminded life is short...and I do mean short!  Through this National Pandemic we across our country have experienced I was reminded I need to be spending as much time with loved ones as I can. Especially those I love most! My hubby is retired, so I decided to completely join him. I retired very early (at 55) from teaching school and was only retired for a year before I opened the Scrapping for Less business. This year taught me it is time to make life in our latter years about  spending time doing what we love: for me that is spending quality time with hubby and family, and crafting!

So, I closed up the business and retired! And boy am I going to enjoy this!

Ok, onto what is happening crafty wise for the new year! I have changed the YouTube channel name to reflect the same name as my blog Fresh and Renewed with Teresa. You will see lots of crafting and collabs on my YouTube channel as well as updates from time to time. 

I wanted to pick a word for the year this year but as I reflected on myself and my personality, I decided to do a word of the month. I will do a weekly blog update on how the progress or reality of that word is impacting my life for that month. 

For the month of January I chose to use a word from my blog title and have chosen the word renewed. 


I feel like I have fresh life this week  in looking at a brand new year, having the strength to embark on this new adventure and also feel revived again to bring my crafting to a new level. 

Thanks so much for spending some time with me today!



 

Collected Crafty Collabs June Edition



I am so very excited to be joining all these talented ladies every month for this great hop! This is our very first one. We are starting off with a theme of Critters and/or stencils. I chose to use critters only today. 


I have 3 cards for you today.




A puppy, sloth, and a chameleon!

My puppy uses the following:

Sloth Stamp was exclusive to a card kit, sorry it is out of stock.




Thanks for stopping by to take a look at my critter cards.

Next Stop on the Hop is: Danielle Brown

Celebration Hop for Christine @ Pattercrafts



I am so happy to be hosting this blog hop for my good friend Christine @ Pattercrafts. Her YouTube channel recently reached 500 subscribers. She is on the Scrapping for Less Design Team and is a fantastic designer. We have lots of great bloggers and YouTubers to celebrate with us today as we celebrate her! Thanks for joining in. Listed below is the whole lineup...make sure to leave some love on each stop as there is a $50 Gift Code to Scrapping for Less as a prize.


Here is my card to celebrate Christine...I am so happy that she joined our Design Team and totally thrilled to see her creations each and every week.

Make sure you also stop by Christine's channel and subscribe.

Supplies Used:
White Neenah Card Base
Paperie Ink Hap-Bee Stamp:
 (we totally sold out of our first round of stamps
...more on the way to me)
Scrapping for Less Spring's a Buzzing Paper Pad
Pink and Main Scalloped Rectangles: This item is on the way to us as well.


Hop Lineup:
Danielle Brown - https://bit.ly/3fs1uyX
Sladjana Donna Perisic https://youtu.be/mb5hzDfu6pk
Christine Patterson https://youtu.be/V0ZfgMuUUec
Lucille Holmes Manos https://youtu.be/Y556mhy-T8I
Matt N Katy Ingram https://youtu.be/-uQ-QM54nS8
Beth Altstadt Barnett https://youtu.be/_eFgH_eC45w
Cindyellen Robinson https://youtu.be/SEV84UQ_0u0

Thanks so much to all the great designers and to all of you who support our blogs and YouTube channels.