Welcome to my very first blog post! It’s funny to be writing this now because I was recently listening to a Rachel Hollis/Rise podcast with guest Julie Soloman, and I learned from her that when you’re in a spot where you are looking for friends and/or like-minded people to interact with…you create a blog. I didn’t realize it all the times over the past few years when I thought about starting my own blog, but right when I finally get my WordPress up, start writing, etc. THEN I discover that’s what we all do!

That didn’t change my mind, though. I feel like I have lived, in this lifetime, at least two completely different adult lives that has caused me to have a lot to share with the world. The younger me of my past is mostly gone and the new me is the one looking to share interests and experiences with some new people. BUT, it’s hard to find those people when you are a stay at home mom. I had some close friends from my Army Reserve unit, but they have either gotten out of the military and moved on to living a busy life or live in another state. Besides that, I just transferred to a new unit on different military installment.

As I mentioned, I am a stay at home mom, but I haven’t always been. I have 5 boys. Yes 5! Three of them are older and I have two little ones (2 and 3, they are about 16 months apart), plus I am stepmom to two boys from my husband! I am finally married to the love of my life, Ryan. My husband supports just about everything I do and I’m extremely lucky because I start up new diets and routines and ideas all the time. It’s been a hard road to get where I’m at, but I’ve never been happier, and I know things are only going to get better and better.

Although I stay at home with my youngest boys, I am also in the Army Reserves – 10 years this coming December. I am also an Independent Consultant for Arbonne and beginning in September I will be home preschooling my 2 and 3-year-old, Brayden and Jaxson. I’m also slowing studying online for my Real Estate license/exam. I am going back to school for the Spring semester to finally finish my bachelor’s degree in Health and Wellness. (See what I meant about starting new things!!) Oh, and I also have plans to go to Yoga Teacher Training through my gym to get certified.

I have a passion for health and wellness, for us as humans, and for our planet. I’m currently doing the Arbonne 30 days to Healthy Living program (week 3), reading Clean & Lean by Ian K. Smith, MD, and returning to my previous vegetarian lifestyle. I have been completely sober for almost 4 years. I try to workout at least 5 days a week and I’m always looking for new challenges to do fitness wise, but my husband only runs when being chased and his idea of exercise is walking to the mailbox! He is the owner, president, and General Contractor for an up and coming construction business so he’s always on the go and very busy. A lot of times he easily passes me on daily steps even with my workouts!! So, I’ll give him a pass. 😉

Well, I’ve added yet another ambition to my list! I was at the last Farmers Market of the season in my neighborhood yesterday (I had an Arbonne tent) and a recently retired firefighter approached me an encouraged me to apply as a firefighter. He got me so excited and motivated about it that I started looking into it (slow day at the market) on my phone. I took the EMT course years ago, so I’ll need to take that again, but with that, all I need to do is take the national test and physical test to apply! I’ve #goalsgalore!!

Anyway, that’s a long introduction and it’s really only the tip of the iceberg of who I am now and the journey I took to get where I’m currently at. I’m looking forward to sharing and discussing my life lessons and the knowledge I have from it all. I’m eager to discuss and experience new topics, common topics from different perspectives (mine!), and whatever else pops up in life, with all the world! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to meet me! I’d like to hear from all of you too!

Fingers Crossed,

BrightPinkBoss aka Karen Darilek