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Clare Smith

Training Body & Soul

What rocked my world in 2014

January 7, 2015

I feel like I’m a little behind the ball on this post as many people write posts like this up before December 31st, but I think we can all agree that I’m not one to do things as recommended.  Ha!

I wanted to share with you some things that rocked my world in 2014! These span multiple categories so hopefully you’ll find something you can use or be inspired by in 2015!

1) A new haircut!

I’ve had long(er) locks for about 8 years and promised that I would never cut my hair short again. In March, I took a leap and made a small cut, then again in July, an even bigger one. (One that I wasn’t planning on, but you know how things go once you are in a salon chair!) I’m in the process of growing it back out a bit again but the change in looks was super fun!

IMG_0475

The initial cut in March.

clare120

After a few cuts, in September! (Photo by Grace Designs Photography!)

2.) Dollar Shave Club

I hate buying razors. I mean, how much money do you really want to put in something used to remove hair?! I tried the coupon route, the cheap razor route, the “let’s see how long we can make this cartridge work” route and none of them worked that well. I had seen the Dollar Shave Club ads on Facebook for a while but it wasn’t until my friend signed up that I actually considered it. After her approval, I thought I’d give it a shot and I’m happy to say, we have a victory! We use the middle $6 a month package and purchased an extra handle so my hubby and I are able to share the 4 razor cartridge for the month! I love that it’s an auto-ship and I don’t have to think about it! You can find more info here!

Dollar Shave Club

3.) The Voxer App

This should be #1 on my list because I love this FREE app! As a matter of fact, if you don’t have the app and you are a real-life friend, I probably don’t talk to you that much! Ha! It has replaced phone calls (not that I had many of those anyway) and texting! It’s sort of like the best combination of walkie talkie, phone calls, and texting—all in one! You can group voxer (which is a ton of fun) or just do it with one person. I love that I can actually hear my friend’s voices, but that it gives me the flexibility to communicate when I have the chance to. (doing dishes, changing laundry, in the car) Where my voxer girls at?!

Voxer App

4.) Essential Oils

I had heard about essentials oils over the past 2 years but didn’t really take the time to look into them. I wasn’t interested in another “business” to purchase from, or to be tracked down to sell from, yet the idea of a more holistic, natural approach to my family’s health, household, and more, was something that kept resonating in the back of my head. This summer, my friend (and photographer!) purchased them and after hearing her talk about them, I decided to take the plunge. I fully expected them not to work and put them to use for the whole month of September. I consider myself a huge skeptic, (if you think can get something past me, I’ll find another loophole you missed!) but found that they really were a lot of what they were cracked up to be!

Of course, I don’t think they always take the place of over-the-counter meds nor do they solve all the world’s problems, but we’ve found them to be very helpful in our family!  (Cards on the table–I am a distributor and people can purchase them off of me. I’ve had them for almost 5 months now and the only place I’ve mentioned them is on instagram. I don’t plan on sharing a lot on my blog about them, but you will see some things here and there about them in the future!)

Essential Oil Starter Kit : peak313.com

5.) YOU!!!

Yes–this community has rocked my world this year! You have brought out passions from within I didn’t know I had, and helped me to use the gifts God has given me! I am honestly the world’s worst blogger when it comes to tracking numbers. I never log into my google analytics, nor keep a monthly record of how much I’ve grown on different social media platforms, but there’s no doubt God has grown this ministry!  He has given me so many things to pray over and because of that, you’ll be seeing some big changes to the blog this year! (As you can see in the new headshot above!) I’m in the process of re-branding and can’t wait to share with you some of the things I am planning for! Truthfully, it scares me to death, but if I know anything about God, it’s that He doesn’t keep us where we are comfortable and that He alone can sustain us through the fear! So thank you for being you and coming back day after day!! Stay tuned!!

What ROCKED my world in 2014! : peak313.com

So now it’s your turn. What rocked your 2014? I’m always looking for new products, services, tips and more! Share below!

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Filed Under: Featured, Good Living, Real Life Tagged With: real life 8 Comments

About Clare

Comments

  1. Amy says

    January 7, 2015 at 5:58 pm

    Wireless earbuds!! I splurged a bit on them for workouts because I am always getting things caught in the cord, sending my poor iPhone flying! 🙂

    Reply
    • Clare says

      January 8, 2015 at 8:41 am

      I have been so tempted to get some of those Amy! I use an iPod shuffle so right now, it’s doable with them under my shirt, but I really want to try them! Thanks for the suggestion!
      Clare

      Reply
  2. Amanda says

    January 7, 2015 at 9:04 pm

    1. The 21 Day Fix Program and Shakeology! I lost 36 lbs last year!
    2. This blog! This is by far my favorite fitness blog and I love the Godly encouragement inspiration!
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Clare says

      January 8, 2015 at 8:41 am

      Love it! Thank you so much for your encouragement Amanda!! Way to go!
      Clare

      Reply
  3. Kimberly says

    January 8, 2015 at 10:30 am

    Mine is my fitbit charge! I have never been so motivated! I have even gotten back out of bed to do two flights of stairs to meet my goal. Also there are daily and weekly and weekend challenges you can do with friends. I’ve pushed myself so much more lately bc of my fitbit! Love it!

    Reply
  4. Rhonda Yerkey says

    January 8, 2015 at 10:35 am

    Stitch Fix rocked my world in 2014! I have had 2 fixes so far and each one had clothing that I never would’ve picked for myself but I absolutely LOVE them! And I have my own personal stylist and never have to leave the house for this wonderful service.

    Reply
  5. Judi says

    May 5, 2015 at 8:33 pm

    i had a massive stroke at the age of 45 in 2013. And in 2014., I made the decision to launch a hospital ministry after seeing a disconnect when I spent several months in the hospital.

    Feeling very depressed and hopeless as I am partially paralyzed, I texted my friend Jane who replied she’d be here in 10 minutes with a Carmel latte. When she arrived, she offered me the opportunity to teach a weekly bible study ( a long time passion) at her retirement center. It has changed my life.
    I was a runner pre stroke. I ran my first half marathon 10 days before my stroke. I attempted my first post stroke run in2014. And did it! I threw my cane down, held on to my husbands arm an hobbled/ran a few steps! God is faithful

    Reply
  6. Shelly says

    July 28, 2015 at 9:42 am

    What Rocked My World ~ learning about Rodan + Fields Skin Anti Aging Care Line. My friend from Ohio introduced these Amazing Products to me. They are created by 2 Female Stanford Trained Certified Dermatologists who also created ProActiv.
    I started using R+F products to heal my 8yr old daughter’s lips and mouth from a severe reaction. We had tried everything (coconut oil, ointments, etc… And, eliminating foods from her diet. Nothing worked!
    With their 60 Day Money Back Guarantee ~ I had Nothing to lose with trying Rodan + Fields!
    Fast Forward a few months since using their Soothe Line….My daughter still uses the face wash daily and has Never had another reaction.
    Not only do I believe in Rodan + Fields Products, I believe in the Doctor’s! Yay I Partnered with them in May! R+F is truly #changingskin and #changinglives

    I would love to share more about this Blessing!
    ~Shelly

    Reply

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I’ll keep this short because I want you to read I’ll keep this short because I want you to read the poem. We can bring our burdens many places nowadays- friends, Instagram, Facebook, text, to gym, to work, to sleep.. you get the point. But let’s make sure we bring our burdens first to Jesus. After the week.. month.. year.. many of us are having, there’s no better time to do this than now. #sweetunfailingrefuge

(I found this tucked in an old book at my family’s 100 year old farmhouse that we were selling this summer 🤍)
•My house was a mess with everyone being home to •My house was a mess with everyone being home today
• I only had ingredients for one batch of soup
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• Hubs had the sink totally apart in the middle of a project
• The kids were in and out of our deep conversation

Sometimes the quick stop to say hello turns into a therapy session with dinner and wine. Everything was stacked against me – so I thought- but the mayhem is often beauty and normalcy to the person’s life who is spinning. Sometimes “the plan” goes off track... but it’s not off track in God’s eyes.

Living life knowing that the minutes of your day are not yours but for God to use to encourage and be there for people who are hurting changes everything. It changes who you marry. It changes how you spend your money. It changes what you do with your time. Dinner portions may not be what you planned but God always finds enough to fill those who come to His table to be loved on and heard.

If I know one thing – it’s this. People are hurting right now. Some things are private and some are public. What would it look like if our homes became safe places for people to land? For our hearts to enter in the pain? For our embrace to provide the temporary relief needed? We can be people who talk about bringing the kingdom here on earth or we can be people who do what we can with the little we have to be the hands and feet of Jesus. 🤍
I’ve been on a “physical” comeback over the I’ve been on a “physical” comeback over the past few weeks. Between an insane December, Covid recovery, Ohio winters, and the mere fact I don’t have the bounce back that I used to (#thisis40) it’s been a slow go for me to get to feeling where I feel best physically. It’s been discouraging to say the least and I feel like I just turned a corner last week. 

While a lot truly was physical exhaustion, it was more of a mind game I was playing. I had to be my own #hypeman and tell myself to keep chipping away at the goal. I had to tell myself that the only way to the end was through it…no shortcuts. Just time and steady work. I often dismissed the small wins I had because I hadn’t hit the finish line. Well that thinking wasn’t helping me and one day had the “aha”that while I wasn’t yet at the goal, I was BETTER.

Each of us have something in our lives where it’s not what we want. We are on the path to achievement but it sure ain’t there yet. It can be with some of the obvious things such a health or financial goals but I see this often with people regarding relationships. The marriage, friendship, child or community in which we live falls just short of “perfection” and so we just settle instead of putting in consistent, hopeful work, which allows room for the Holy Spirit to work. 

I just want to encourage you to keep chipping away because while things may not be what you want, they can be better. In fact the way we reach what we want is not by snapping our fingers and it magically appearing but by a process or journey which involves ups and downs, straight stretches of boredom, and then finally a renewed energy as you see the end in sight.

What have you given up on achieving because it hasn’t come to fruition in the time you wanted? Remember… things can be BETTER. And that counts for something. 🤍
I was recently telling someone my journey or where I was recently telling someone my journey or where I am today in regards to what I do for a living... the crazy road I’ve travelled over the last 10 years to get me here. It’s changed a lot and if you’ve been here online with me, you have seen it! If you would have asked 18 year old Clare what she saw herself filling her days with at 40 years old, it would be about 5% of what I’m doing. Goodness...none of this was even around when I was 18!

I look back and see all the twists and turns. All these tiny moments and conversations. Many open and closed doors. Things that I thought were just random or not a big deal, but in hindsight, they were a huge deal. I appear to be a very type a “has her stuff together and a plan” type girl but the truth is, I am (was) taking everything day by day.

All I know is that everything I stepped into prepared me for the next thing. Many times I didn’t even know it! But I look back often and am like, “ohhh, God, I see what ya did there!” 

My encouragement to you is this- no matter what age you are- trust the path you are on. Let peace be your guide... not some assumed plan an “expert” or author told you. Sure- be wise with your time. Put in the work with diligence wherever your feet may have you, but be open to the nudges of where to go.

Maybe I’m crazy but living a life of faith in God is one of the most exciting and fulfilling things. I don’t know what He has for me in 5 years let alone 1...and for whatever reason, that thought alone gets me up and helps me live with a holy anticipation. I trust Him.  I live less with resistance to the unexpected now. God is indeed preparing you for what he has prepared for you. What a loving Father!
We all know this but it’s so easy to forget. Rem We all know this but it’s so easy to forget. Remember that seeds are buried and “in the dark” before anything springs forth. Our journeys in life can often feel like that. Do the daily work. Tend your “heart garden.” Time is on your side. And when it’s time...it’s time. 🤍

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A few years ago I was the speaker for a women’s A few years ago I was the speaker for a women’s retreat in the Chicago area. I just finished a session & a lady ran up to me asking if she could ask me a few questions. She was early 50’s, striking in appearance… fit & confident. She started telling me that she resonated with my health/fitness message & wanted some encouragement on starting “this late in life”, but as we continued talking, her demeanor changed & tears started to fill her eyes.

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But we also start to resent our current lives. We stop living in what God has fully given us. We live everywhere but the here and now and alongside that dream of yours comes a side dish of anxiety and sadness. So then we get our hands in it, perhaps without God’s “OK” and then we see a mess unfold. We’ve all been there. If only we had waited. 

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There is no doubt that this is a practiced skill. We have to come to the day knowing that our ability to “control self” will be a challenge but that we can make headway. I love this verse in Proverbs as it gives such a great visual.

"Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control." Proverbs 25:28

We are EMPOWERED because we are HIMpowered. We truly can live with self-control because we have the Holy Spirit!
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