Years ago, I did Keto successfully for three months and during that time, I lost about 25 lbs and oh, did I feel GREAT. I was finally able to wear cute clothes for once with confidence and I had more energy to go out and have fun. Food no longer controlled my life which made me feel free! I was so convinced that I had tried it all when it came to dieting, but it was only Keto that made me feel like I had finally found the answer to losing weight.

    Unfortunately though, my life took an unexpected turn and I stopped following the Keto diet. Naturally, I gained all of the weight back (and more) and I couldn't get myself to commit to a low-carb diet. I had reached a very low point in my life but when I overcame the struggles, Keto was the first thing I pushed myself back into. So when I was ready, I cleaned out my fridge and snack cabinet of anything that wasn't Keto-friendly and went grocery shopping. 

DEBUNKING THE MYTHS

    Before diving into the essentials though, I want to clear the air about following a Keto diet. Many people think following a Keto diet is expensive, but it's actually not! Of course, it depends on where you're shopping but if you shop at common grocery stores like Aldi's or even international markets, you will surely get great deals on your produce and meats. However, if you're buying packaged Keto snacks that are often very expensive (and sometimes unnecessary), then yes, your wallet will take a blow.

    Just know that you don't need many Keto snacks when you're just starting out. Matter of fact, don't buy any snacks at first and just stick with wholesome meals or baking your own Keto desserts if possible. It'll save you so much more money in the end and give you more control over your diet!

TIPS WHEN SHOPPING FOR KETO ESSENTIALS

    I actually have a complete shopping list of my Keto essentials so if you want to see visuals of what I'm talking about, head on over to my Kit page. I do earn commission if you decide to purchase anything from there, but all of the products are products I personally use and find very helpful. 

    Remember, your Keto shopping doesn't have to be expensive and while they're more products out on the market now compared to a few years ago, just keep it simple. When you've gotten the hang of your Keto diet and you no longer have to pander about what to eat, you can afford to splurge and take your diet up a notch.

    Also, if you have some Keto essentials that you find helpful to your diet, share them in the comment section below!

    It took me years of struggling and hitting a constant wall before I realized I was self-sabotaging myself. My life had went off course and nothing was going right to the point where it almost felt like I had hit an all time low. I had no job, little money, relationship issues, bad luck, and no more passion to do what I loved. 

    I felt stuck and I didn't know what to do but dwell on everything that was going wrong in my life. I became completely detached from everything around me and it pushed me further into denial. 

    Self-sabotaging is one of those things that creeps up on you if you aren't careful. It can be as minor as putting off daily chores or it can be more impactful like wanting a new love in your life but not making an effort to find it because you're afraid of rejection. Self-sabotage can happen to anyone and for some, it takes years before they wake up and push themselves out of the vicious cycle. 

    For me, what made me look at myself in the mirror was reading more self-help books. For every part of my life, whether good or bad, I have always turned to the knowledge of books to enlighten me. To me, books are my therapy, my happy place.

    To get a better idea of what self-sabotaging looks like, here are some more examples of it. You'll be surprised by how common some of them really are!

1. Procrastination: Putting off tasks until the last minute or avoiding them altogether, even when they're important or necessary. Things like not cleaning your home, taking care of your pets, getting involved with your children's school activities, or putting off getting a job.

2. Perfectionism: Setting unrealistically high standards for oneself and becoming paralyzed by the fear of failure which can quickly lead to avoidance or abandonment of tasks altogether. When there's no wiggle room for error, you set yourself up for failure because deep down you know nothing will ever be perfect yet you strive for it anyways.

3. Negative self-talk: Engaging in constant self-criticism or negative thinking can erode your self-confidence and motivation. Before you even give yourself a chance to try, you have already determined you aren't good enough or that something wont work out which pushes you even further away from your wants and desires. 

4. Overthinking: Getting stuck in cycles of overanalyzing situations or decisions that can lead to indecision or inaction. When you overthink, you become immobile and stuck. Rather than going with one option and seeing where it takes you, you stay in one place with your thoughts taking the wheel instead.

5. Avoidance of success: Fear of success can lead many of us to unconsciously avoid opportunities or sabotage our efforts just when success is around the corner. It often happens to those who aren't confident in themselves as they are unable to imagine a certain level of happiness for themselves, leading them to stay in their comfort zone.

6. Self-medication: Turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as excessive drinking, substance abuse, or binge eating just because they temporarily numb your emotions. For awhile you're problems don't exist and that becomes a moment you live for. This can quickly take you down a path of turbulence so it's best to tackle this as soon as possible!

7. Setting unrealistic goals: Setting goals that are too ambitious or vague without breaking them down into more manageable steps will only make you overwhelmed and more likely to give up. This is another form of fantasizing where we like the idea of our goals in our head but in reality there is much more to it that we have to be honest with ourselves about.

8. People-pleasing: Prioritizing others' needs and opinions over your own can leave you feeling resentment, burnout, and your own goals getting neglected. Instead of having healthy boundaries in place, you may bend over backwards for others for approval or to make up for your lack of confidence. 

9. Isolation: You withdraw from new social interactions or avoid opportunities to connect with others because you're afraid of rejection or vulnerability. If you struggle with low self-esteem, you will most likely push people away as an attempt to protect yourself but you'll only end up feeling lonely. 

10. Self-handicapping: Intentionally creating obstacles or excuses to justify potential failure such as not preparing adequately for a task or blaming external factors for one's shortcomings. When you can't face the task before you, any little inconvenience is enough to make you walk away from it altogether.

~

   Now all of these sound fairly shocking  but the good news is that even if you may find yourself sabotaging yourself, it can be as temporary as you allow it to be; just know when to get professional help! The human spirit is very resilient which is why we often have to hit a low point before we can choose a better path for ourselves. 

    The low points in our life are often wake-up calls that we have ignored for some time and when we've had enough, we finally pull back the curtains.

    Handling self-sabotage methods requires you to be vulnerable and honest with yourself. Like really, really, honest. When you're ready for a new phase of your life that is more loving and open, you will know how to move forward. Since I had a hard time being honest with myself and receiving advice from others didn't help me do any better, I turned to books as I always have. 

    You will likely have to find what works for you so that you can give yourself the happiness you truly deserve. So stop self-sabotaging yourself and go find the best version of yourself. Even better - create it.

    Until next time! - Sarah xoxo

    The day I started to do daily affirmations is the day I put my happiness first. I forced myself to tune out the rest of the noise around me like work drama, family issues, the news (which is really not news anymore since it feeds off of our emotions), and anything else that made me feel anything else but content. I learned to live for the moment and in return I was able to make my life better as well as those around me. Eventually, this small change helped me discover myself in ways I never thought to imagine.

    What are affirmations you may ask? Well, you've probably heard influencers talking about them as they've picked up quite a lot of attention lately. Affirmations are statements that are repeated to yourself in order to instill a particular belief or mindset. They're often used as a technique for self-improvement or personal development. The idea behind affirmations is that by consistently repeating positive statements about oneself or one's goals, you can gradually reprogram your subconscious mind to adopt those beliefs or achieve those goals.

        Examples of some affirmations that I write are "I am financially stable," and "My pets are happy and healthy." Affirmations are quite personal but you don't have to be too realistic! It's perfectly okay to speak of things you want to happen as if they already have because that's the magic about affirmations; it's your time to manifest anything you want, just as long as it's worth while to you. As I am sure you have heard the saying before, just "Be careful what you wish for."

       Now affirmations are fun and meant for everyone but for many of us who are stuck in the shadows of our mind, affirmations can reveal dark aspects of ourselves that can be hard to face. That's why affirmations are best applied to your life when you are also working on yourself simultaneously. When you take your self-development seriously, you'll be able to believe in your affirmations with little resistance. I also believe that actively working towards your goals (rather than just simply wishing for them) also helps you manifest much faster.

    For example, I had a rough childhood growing up and there were many aspects of me that needed tons of reprograming. For so long, I felt lost and detached from my own life. When I reached my twenties, I finally dived into reading self-help books and then it was three years later that I could effectively apply The Law of Attraction. Today, working on myself has become top priority since doing so has allowed me to manifest many wonderful events in my life and increase my own happiness.

    It's important to remember though that you should also adjust your expectations when it comes to your affirmations. Do them because it has potential to bring you greatness but it doesn't always guarantee results. Having such expectations will lead you to most likely becoming disappointed since manifesting takes time and energy. The best way to approach your affirmations is with an open mind and to just go with the flow; when it happens, you will know!

The Benefits of Affirmations    

    Here are the many benefits of doing daily affirmations to increase your overall happiness.

Positive Mindset: Affirmations help you to cultivate a positive mindset by focusing your thoughts on constructive and optimistic statements.

Self-Confidence: Regularly affirming positive traits and abilities can boost self-confidence and self-esteem.

Motivation: Affirmations can serve as motivational reminders of your goals, aspirations, and the steps you need to take to achieve them.

Stress Reduction: Affirmations can act as a stress management tool by shifting your focus away from negative thoughts and worries.

Increased Resilience: Regularly practicing affirmations can build resilience by fostering a more optimistic outlook on life and a greater sense of control over your circumstances

Goal Achievement: Affirmations can help align your thoughts, beliefs, and actions with your goals, increasing the likelihood of achieving them.

Improved Relationships: Affirmations focused on love, compassion, and understanding can enhance relationships by promoting empathy and positive communication.

Enhanced Creativity: Affirmations can stimulate creativity by encouraging you to think in innovative and resourceful ways.

Health Benefits: Studies suggest that positive affirmations can have physiological benefits, such as reducing stress-related symptoms and improving overall well-being.

Emotional Healing: Affirmations can aid in emotional healing by promoting forgiveness, self-compassion, and acceptance.

    Even if you just want to focus more on your goals with a more optimistic attitude, or you really want to manifest some of your deepest desires, you can't go wrong if you spend just 10 minutes out of your day doing them! When combined with your personal development, writing affirmations can be a powerful tool for personal growth, helping you to rewire your mindset, boost your confidence, and improve your overall well-being. If you do decided to do affirmations, I hope they work for you as they have for me!

    Until next time! - Sarah XOXO

    Dimitar and I had the rare (but nice) opportunity where we both had the same day off. As usual, we slept in until 9am, gave Amigo a nice long walk before munching on some blueberry muffins for breakfast. That's when we decided to go to the park. We haven't been to one in awhile because of our schedules so we thought about checking out a new park that I have been eyeing for over a year now. 

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    Since starting my new job where I work even more hours, I have been desperately in need of spending time outdoors. I often get body aches from sitting too long at my work desk so making time to walk has been a big priority of mine. To combat this, I have invested in new sneakers, bought a Fitbit, and upped my intake on electrolytes. It's been an adjustment for sure but finding small ways to help myself physically have really paid off. Also, the benefits of working in a clinic is that you can often get drops of advice on how to improve your life like how drinking fermented drinks before bedtime can improve the quality of your sleep.

    Once all of the pets were taken care of, Dimitar and I changed into our walking clothes, filled our water bottles, and headed off towards Huntley Meadow Park. It's a cute park honestly that is a combination between a park and a wetland. It's also the first park that I have personally been to that has allowed me to walk over water; something Huntley Meadow Park has incorporated so well!

Weird Blaire Witch structure

Snappy Turtle coming up for air

Overlooking the wetland

    Once we hit the end of the dock, we entered a regular trail that took us into the woods. I really wanted to see a snake (since I saw just about everything else I could see) and sure enough, I saw one! Sort-of. Unfortunately, Dimitar saw it first but his reaction to the snake made me freak out and the snake got scared by both of us and slithered away into a bush. I was hoping to take a picture of the little guy but maybe next time.

    

    The trail from that point on lasted about half a mile or so before it took us back to the beginning near the Visitors Center. I knew the trail was going to be short but part of me wished it was much longer. Overall, this park was the cutest park ever and I'll definitely come back again during the Fall time to see the foliage change color.

Until next time! - Sarah xoxo

The Visitors Center