What is Team MisFIT Mama About?

I started my coaching journey in May of 2014. Since then, I've helped almost 30 people get started on a path of reaching goals and crushing them, and dozens more in free challenges.

I said it in Monday's post--but I am REALLY grateful that God gave me this opportunity to help light fires in other people's lives. My heart is full, month after month, knowing that I can somehow make a difference in someone's life. This little job of mine is a blessing.

And now, it's time to build.

I envision a team of people who want to be a beacon of support and encouragement for others. Who aren't afraid to dig in with others on their goals, and REALLY dig into their own goals. People who are compassionate, confident, and fierce in their own lives, and that spills into everything they do.

A team where we share ideas, brainstorm together, celebrate achievements, share our struggles, and put it all out there in the name of serving others.

So, this month I am SO pleased to announce that Team MisFIT Mama is FINALLY happening! I am finally at the place in my business and personally that I am ready to mentor individuals on a coaching path for Team Beachbody that will only increase the sense of purpose in your lives and help you find fulfillment.

Who would make a great coach?

Are you an upbeat, positive ray of sunshine?
Are you unafraid of setting goals and working to reach them?
Are you fiercely dedicated to helping others?
Are you a dreamer?
Are you self-motivated?
Are you unafraid to fail forward?
Are you a leader, or think there's a leader buried somewhere within you?
Do you want to create positive change in others' lives?

Then I want to introduce you to an opportunity that can change your life.

Coaching isn't about being perfect. Coaching isn't about having it all together.

Coaching is about learning and growing and helping others do the same.

Coaching is standing up for someone who is afraid to take the first step. To grab their hand and LEAD them. To be a friend, an accountability partner, and a source of encouragement.

You don't need to have your "after" body already. You don't need to know everything there is to know.

But you can't be afraid to start learning and applying, and sharing your story.

We are all unique, and God has blessed us with different gifts. I envision a diverse team of dreamers, thinkers, and doers who are ready to light a fire.

You'll get all the resources you need. You'll get all the support you need. What you do with it is up to you.

To serve, to empower, to create joy, and have some fun while we're at it--THAT's what Team MisFIT Mama is all bout.

Some of the perks of becoming a Team Beachbody Coach:

• The power to become a role model and catalyst for positive change.
• Stronger accountability in your own health & fitness goals.
• The chance to be your own boss--set your own office hours, decide how and when you will work, and set your own goals and milestones.
• 25% discount on all of your own purchases.
• 25% commission on retail sales.
• Leadership skill development and the chance to lead your own team of life-changers.
• The chance to earn trips, prizes, and more
• The opportunity to live a life of freedom, purpose, and fulfillment.

If you are interested in becoming a Coach, I invite you to attend an informational call on Thursday, August 13, 2015 at 8:00 PM EST. You can learn more about the opportunity, see if it's right for you, and we can chat afterwards about how you can incorporate coaching into your life.

You can fill out this form and I will reach out to you with details on the call and answer any questions you might have:





I look forward to working with you!

Why Coaching?

Have you ever felt like you are stuck in a rut?

I mean, the kind of rut that is lifelong?

It's scary. I've been there. 

It's the feeling of knowing that this is it. This is all life is cracking up to be to for you. No need to set goals, no need to dream big. Today is the status quo and it's time to embrace it, because this is your life.

Don't get me wrong--I am absolutely not counting being a mother or a wife in this rut. Having a family of my own is one of the greatest things to ever happen to me. 

What I'm REALLY talking about is losing your sparkle. What makes you YOU.

Wake up. 

Get ready. 

Go to work. 

Come home. 

Make dinner. 

Go to bed. 

Repeat.

Where is the sparkle in that?

Truth is, my sparkle was DULL, you guys. Monotony and ho-hum got the best of me. But the strange thing is, I wasn't always that way. 

I've always been a dreamer, but I've always been the type who didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up. 

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a marine biologist with a focus in marine conservation (I was wildly into Free Willy, but woefully horrible at science). 

Then, in high school, I wanted to be a psychologist and help people. When I applied to college, I was a psychology major. 

The day I showed up for freshman orientation I met with my advisor and switched my major to Political Science. Law school, I told myself, I could focus on law and how to help others that way. 

And then by my senior year I was so burnt out from my workload that I decided law school was not in the stars for me and that I wanted to work for a nonprofit organization. The fact is, I've always just wanted to make a difference. To someone, somehow. 

So, that's what I did. I went to work for a nonprofit organization. And it was awesome.

Until one day, about three years later, I didn't work there anymore.

I am especially grateful for the following 10 months, because I was able to stay home with our new baby and really come into my own as a mother. Eventually, though, all good things come to an end and it was time to go back to work. So I got myself a job. A challenging, completely-new-to-me job for a privately-owned company in an industry I had ZERO experience in. 

And at first I was grateful.

And then I got comfortable.

And then I became resigned.

Day in, day out. Same old, same old. No more fire to create change. No more dreaming. No more planning. This. Was. It.

Resignation is probably the worst feeling ever, because you feel like your only option is to accept the status quo. Get too comfortable and you find you're just going through the motions.

I was listening to Brendon Burchard's very first podcast, and he likens this stage to a caged lion. At first the lion is active in his cage--prowling, moving, very much still engaged in his new environment. After some time, the lion begins to just sit back...to the point that Sir Lion is now no longer an active participant in life. Life just happens. Days go by.

And then Brendon Burchard says this: it takes something to come along and rattle the cage to get them engaged again.

I am SO THANKFUL that God dropped this coaching gig into my lap to rattle my cage!

By starting my own journey, I realized that I could be a catalyst for positive change for others.
To love on people when they need it most.
To be that person in their court when they feel like no one else is there.
To be a partner.
A cheerleader.
A friend.

And just like that, that fire in my belly is burning again to make a difference...except now I know that I can. It's not up to a job to give me that feeling. It's not up to my degree to give me that feeling.

It's up to ME to reach out to someone or be there when someone asks for help...and then show them and guide them to change for the better.

It's empowering, knowing I've got that in me.
It's inspiring, seeing how CHANGE is possible in the most intricate ways.
It gives me hope, seeing the example I set for my family.
It's eye-opening, envisioning the future.

It's life-changing, because it has encouraged me to dream dreams I never thought possible. To set goals that used to be unreachable.

To DARE to say "I can, and I will."

And then work hard for it, every day.

Finding that sparkle, and shining that light.

Friday Faves - Why Stitch Fix is a Busy Mom's Best Friend

psssssst....this post contains referral links, just so ya know :)

Back in April, I treated myself to Stitch Fix for the first time ever, and I am hooked. I could shout from the rooftops how much I love getting presents in the mail (even if they are from myself), and Stitch Fix tops them all. Because, hellooooo--who doesn't love getting new clothes? And since losing weight, my wardrobe is in desperate need of an overhaul.

Here's why this service is great for busy moms:

-No wasted time spent wandering around the store.

I am a horrible shopper. And 9 times out of 10, I have my mini-sidekick with me. I love her, but she is not supportive or conducive to making my horrible shopper tendencies any better. I usually dash through a store, grab a bunch of things I think I'll like, and then come home only to find out that I hate all of them. This happens more often than I'd like to admit.

With Stitch Fix, I create my account, fill out a style profile (which is SO FUN), link my Pinterest board to my profile, and schedule my shipment. When the stylist goes to style my Fix for me, I get charged a $20 "styling fee", my five pieces get shipped, and then I can apply that $20 toward anything I keep (AND get 25% off if I keep everything in my box).

Once I get my box, I have three days to decide what I like and don't like, send back what I don't like (in a prepaid envelope, woo hoo!) and pay for and keep what I like.

No running around stores, no decision-making over this blouse or that blouse. It takes 20 minutes to fill out your profile, and then when you Fix ships you have to be patient for just a few more days :) But NO stress!

-No horrible fluorescent lights in dressing rooms.

Dear Retailers:

Who decided THAT was a good idea? I'm pretty sure your goal is to get women to try on clothes in a way that makes them feel happy about themselves, not cram them into a 4 foot by 4 foot space with horrible lights that make them look like a mombie (that's mom + zombie). I have walked out of major retailer dressing rooms feeling worse than when I walked in. How does that make me want to spend my hard-earned money?

Once I get my Fix, I am able to try on everything in the comfort of my own home, with pretty lighting that doesn't make me look terrible, and can consult with existing pieces in my closet to see how well my shipped items jive with what I already have. It also helps that Stitch Fix sends you these awesome little styling cards to help you put together pretty little outfits with the pieces they send you. This is my favorite part.

You get three days to do this from the day your Fix is delivered, and I HIGHLY recommend using all three days. You might try something on on the first day and just feel ehhhhh about it, but the next day you might remember you have these fabulous skinny jeans that would go perfectly with that flowy blouse you got in your Fix. And then it's love at second sight.

-It's a great way to step outside of your comfort zone.

I have always been a black/gray/navy basics/classic type of girl. In Fix #3, my stylist noticed I had been pinning things lately with "pops of color," so that's what she sent me. And she didn't fail me on the color department! And geometric prints--never thought they'd be for me, but it turns out I LOVE them!

-Surprises are always fun.

I kind of like being at the mercy of my stylist. There are ways to "cheat" and peek at your Fix when they first let you know it ships (when you get your email notifying you your Fix is on its way, you can click "checkout survey", see the list of items you are getting and Google them), but it's nice to let someone else do the thinking for you. All you have to do is try the stuff on. Who doesn't love a good fashion show from the comfort of their own home?

In Fix #3, I totally cheated and Googled the pieces I was getting. This can backfire and you can be like "ehhhhhh". Or you can be totally pumped. For this Fix, I was somewhere in between "ehhhhhhh" and "yayyyyyy", but it certainly did not disappoint once my Fix finally arrived.

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In this Fix I had a new stylist, Rachel, who noted that I love "glam and preppy styles with casual chic details and pops of color." Rachel, if you ever read this, I think you are my spirit animal. Girl, you NAILED it. Please be mine forever. <3

Here is my sweet little note from Rachel and my styling cards. Even when I send stuff back, I keep these cards for inspiration in my own closet.

And here are my pieces and details, what I kept--and what I sent back.

Renee C Huebert Space Dye Open Cardigan - $68

I got this in my June Fix and LOVED it, but it wasn't meant to be in June. When I checked out, I said I'd love to see it in a future Fix, and sure enough--there it was in Fix #3! I love cardigans. I wear them year-round (hello, cold office).

Now, this is where I feel foolish. I tried it on, still liked it, but didn't LOVE it like I did back in June. Plus I have three gray cardigans in my closet already that are in regular rotation. 

Status: Returned (but maybe kind of regretting it since Fall is around the corner)

Brixon Ivy Sylvester Split Neck Blouse - $54

I loved loved loved the color of this when I took it out of the box. Loved the sleeves, loved the material, loved that it could transition nicely to the office...and then I tried it on. I did not like the neckline so much. I feel like it made me look very boxy.

Status: Returned (but I made sure to let them know I wouldn't mind more of that color in the future!)

Fun2Fun Sonoma Striped Sleeveless Top - $38

This is one where I cheated and Googled before it came and was just "ehhhhh" about it. But really, it is a great summer shirt. It was pretty sheer, so a cami under it would have been necessary, but it was pretty nice! And color! It turns out I like color after all.

Only problem? I got this one on, but it was super tight in the bust. I felt like I couldn't exhale without busting some seams on the sides of my chest. I would have kept it if it was just a little bigger.

Status: Returned

Pixley Kathy Striped Fit & Flare Dress - $68

I loved this dress the second I pulled it out of the box. Like, really loved it. I love stripes. I love black and white. I loved the back of the dress (wish I got pictures, but the neckline in the back comes to a cute little "V"). But it just felt like TOO much stripe action when I had it on. I looked around in my closet for a chunky belt or something to break it up, but I had no luck.

Peyton wanted me to keep this dress, and it gave her all the sads when I told her I was sending it back.

Status: Returned.

Pixley Rolfe Geo Print Top - $54

When I did my cheater-cheater-pumpkin-eater Googling, I couldn't find a photo of this shirt ANYWHERE. Not on Google, not on Pinterest--NO WHERE. And that made me a little nervous, especially considering the "Geo Print" part in the name of this shirt. I usually shy away from prints and prefer solids (or stripes), so I was immediately wary of this little number. But I did tell Stitch Fix to send me prints because of that whole "getting out of my comfort zone" thing, so I trusted the process, tried it on--and guess what? It was my favorite piece in the whole box! I immediately took the tag off and wore it out to dinner that night. 

It looks great with a pair of skinny jeans I got in my first box and a statement necklace I have in the same peachy-pink color you see in the detail. I can also throw a cardigan or a blazer over top of it and then it's office-ready! If this top was a person, I would ask to braid its hair and tell it all of my secrets.

Status: Kept. And worn three times already.

My total for this box? $4. I had $50 in credit because I had some awesome friends sign up for Stitch Fix with my referral link, so I only had to pay $4 for the geo print top I wound up keeping.

Right now I have my Fixes scheduled for every other month, so my next Fix is scheduled for the end of September--just in time for the temperatures to start dropping and start building up my Fall wardrobe!

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I wrote this post as part of my Friday Faves series, a way of introducing fellow women and mamas to things I love! Stitch Fix is no way involved, except for the fact that I really just love them. Links in this post are my referral links. If you sign up for Stitch Fix via my link, I'll get a credit. Once you get your first Fix and you LOVE it (and I bet you will love SOMETHING in your box!), you can shout it from the rooftops and share your own referral link!