Downeast Rover Sailing

Last night my sister in law and BFF, Jessica, and I went sailing on the Downeast Rover in downtown Manteo. Being that I grew up in Manteo, I never appreciated all the "touristy" stuff until I was older. I have wanted to sail on this boat for so long and I finally got the opportunity to go and got to bring a guest as well!

One of Jessica's coworkers, Kim, started this group for ladies to join to show off their businesses. She asked me to join with me selling Thirty-One, so I said sure! Well I didn't really think nothing of it at first and then all of a sudden there was about 20 members and we were having monthly meetings. Well the Downeast Rover was a "member spotlight" meeting and being this was my first "meeting", I didn't know anyone except Jessica and Kim. I just saw on the website that the other Kim in the group who put this together is the manager/one of the captains. We had such a fantastic time, we brought wine and snacks to share with everyone and there were a lot of yummy snacks! It was a steal for what we paid to enjoy this cruise and cannot thank Kim enough for a great time.
Here are the pictures that show our great experience and fun time!

I did not take this picture, but took it from http://www.downeastrover.com/ so you could see the sailboat, Jessica and I sat on the very back!

This is us on the back of the boat still docked about to set sail! We were giving lays and coozies!

This is a marker in the channel and on top was an osprey's nest. I must say my camera takes pretty awesome pictures,  I was pretty excited to these great shots! In the bottom picture you see the trees...the entrance to the canal where my parents live is there! So cool to sail right by there house.

We even got to see the Coast Guard while sailing. Thank you guys for what you do!

The view from where we were sitting and the lovely ladies we got to chat with for the evening.

Jess and I again while sailing!!

These are the sunset shots I got while we were sailing. It made it such a nice time with there being hardly any wind and it not being hot. We could not have asked for better weather for this trip!

Thank you Kim and the rest of the Outer Banks Entrepreneurs group for a wonderful evening!! Jessica and I had a blast. I highly recommend sailing on the Downeast Rover, it was a great time!

Thirty-One

Yep thats my other job- I sell Thirty-One! I have to say it is not much like a job, because so far everyone who I have done a party for is a friend or a friend of a friend. I also did a fundraiser for our church which was my most successful party yet!

My story for how I started selling this is interesting. I met a lady at a conference for work last August who was volunteering with us and had brought all her thirty-one gear. (working while volunteering, smart lady!) I told her how much I loved the bags and how I had been to a couple parties and she said well why don't you throw one and you can get free bags. So I said sure and she offered to come to me which is about a 2 hour drive for her. So it was planned for September but hurricane Irene had other plans to flood my house and delay that idea. So I pretty much forgot about the party after cancelling it and just went on about my business. Well this lady would call me about once a month and ask about the house and to let her know when I was back in so she could come do the party. Well we finally got back in our house in January and I hosted the party in March. So it was both a Thirty-One party and a look at my remodeled house party. During the party, she put me on the spot and said I was probably going to sign up to be a consultant after that party-which was discussed some but not much. So after the party and I got to pick out my freebies I said what the heck I'll try it and see how it goes. I got about 8 bags for $100 for enrolling to sell which is a great deal. Then I just had friends book parties without me even asking them to, it has gone pretty well so far. After the party I am doing next weekend I am at a stand still so I will have to out and encourage parties but so far it has been a lot smoother then I planned for it to be and I do not even feel like I'm working when I'm doing the parties! Oh and the group I sell with has asked me to educate them on how to do online parties...I was very flattered by this because I have only been selling this for about 4 months and do not feel like I have done great but was very excited when she asked me to do this.

In case you do not know what Thirty-One is, it is basically bags and I love them. Any kind of bag, purse, tote you can think of, we've got them! Organization is the key and even though I'm not always organized, I love having all these bags to help me. My very favorite is the third one back on the right which is called the large utility tote (the one with all the circles on it). This tote is my suitcase when traveling, I use it for the pups sometimes, the boat, the car, whatever you need it will hold it! It is actually this month's special!

This is probably by far the best special yet! My friend Jackie, who I also just recruited to sell :), will tell you that she will buy one for herself for anyone who doesn't use the special!

**Sneak Peak- July Special** This is a great deal also because these bags are worth way more than $5 and you are saving about 66% at least on each bag. Also personalization is usually $7 so yet another steal!

I just made these business cards today! It is a blurry pic but you get the idea. I just joined a local group that is for independent business people so I thought it would be handy to pass these out and hopefully book a few parties at our gathering next week.
For Friday, I thought I would just share what I do on the side other than my primary job. To me this is fun and I earn a little extra $$ while doing it. If you are interested in hosting a party, joining my team or shopping online; click the Thirty-One picture on the left of the screen to go to my site or just simply go to www.mythirtyone.com/staceymidgett ! Happy shopping and happy organinzing :)

Weekend at the Lake

We went to my parents lake house this past weekend @ Kerr Lake....so we were living the "fresh" life instead of the salt life. It was nice to get away from everything and have a great weekend with my parents. My parents go this week every year for a whole week for my mom's birtrhday. We arrived Friday night and just vegged until bed time, everyone worked that day but me ;) so we were all tired after the trip. Saturday mom and I went to town to get groceries and the guys put the jet skis over while we were gone. We then laid out on the boat and swam in the lake. Aaron caught a catfish but tying a line with a weight and hook to part of a noodle (the foam ones you float on)and used stew beef as bait, he also caught a huge snapping turtle...I didn't know the lake had those! Saturday night we had a huge camp fire and the neighbors came to hang out...we did it up right with smores and all. They were awesome. Sunday was lots of boat fun and dinner at Pino's-amazing Italian restaruant! Monday was lazy day because it was cloudy and the drive home. The pups had a blast because we just let them run and do whatever and they are worn out!
Here are the pics to show our fun weekend...that we didn't want to end!

This would be Aaron in the back of the car with the dogs. He got back there for about ten minutes to hang out with them and help Jake "Moo Cow Hunt." Jake loves looking for cows :)

Redneck catfishing? I think so! Aaron's stryafoam cooler tied to the back of the jet ski going to check his noodles for fish. LOL

Hottie husband and his catch! He caught this guy in about 5 minutes of setting his noodles. It was a yummy appetizer that complemented the soft crabs :)

The pups lounging after a swim, is this the life or what? Oh to be them for a day!

The crew across the cove, Aaron was showing them the snapping turtle he caught. I tried to get a picture but the turtle broke the line so he is still out there somewhere, yikes!

The pups in their swim gear! This is only for the lake because it is so deep and we like to anchor out in the middle and swim. So instead of them drowning us, we bought life jackets last year so they can float with us. It was some what successful, Jake didn't understand that he could just float but Sandy got the hang of it after she was held by mom :)

Aaron and Daddy chillin. FYI that is the neighbors house in the background, my parents house is to the left from there. Yes that is a golfcart in the background, everyone has one at the lake and they are so convienant to get from the house to the dock with all your stuff!

Mom and Buddy chillin in the shade. Buddy isn't much for swimming but doesn't want to be left at home either!

Neighbors and their beer kayak, they came to visit and of course couldn't leave their drinks behind ;)

Pups loving the boat, and love watching all the action on the lake while we cruise!

Checking out the scenery from the porch. This porch over looks the lake, its awesome!

The neighbors' one-eyed cat who came to visit. He is sweet as pie and is just like a dog-wants to be with the people. But being that Jake, Sandy and Buddy are not cat lovers...I had to escort him home on the golf cart.

This would be the pups exhausted and ready for bed after we got home from our trip. I would say they had a good time and are worn out!

Happy Tuesday...I'm eating my Pino's for left overs for lunch at the office!

Weekend Fun!

Well it was another busy weekend for the Midgett family, as always. I cannot remember a weekend with no plans...it's been a long time. Since summer is here, there will be no weekends without beach and boat plans!

Friday night a friend of mine hosted a thirty-one party for which I was the consultant for. She had a small turn out but a good party!

Here is the June Special if anyone is interested in placing an order :) It's a good one, the large utility tote is by far my favorite tote, it is amazing. Contact me for more info or interest in hosting a party!

Saturday was Dare Day in Manteo. I went with both my mom and Aaron's mom and his sister, it was a fun mother daughter outing. We shopped at booths and saw a lot of people we haven't seen in a while, it was nice to get out and enjoy the beauty of where we live :)

After lunch we headed to my mom's house to lay out and get some vitamin D! She lives right on the sound so it's perfect for us and the pups :) Aaron came later after work and we went for round 2 of Dare Day so he could get some funnel cake, it only happens once a year- you cannot miss out on that!

Saturday night we went and saw Snow White and the Huntsman - Go see it! It was so good and had some action in it for the guys too so Aaron really enjoyed it as well. After that we ate at Surfin Spoon which is a new frozen yogurt place and has a toppings bar. I highly recommend it, for those who know Sweet Frog...I think this is better if that tells you anything.

Sunday was Aaron's mom's birthday- Happy Birthday Mom! We went to church, went out in the boat to the island and Sandy Point and then headed to dinner to celebrate. Here some pics to review the day:

Birthday Girl catching some rays with Jake and Bay- Bay's second boat outing!

Our hot Co-Captain :)

Pups enjoying the breeze and the view, I think the boat is there favorite aside from the beach!

Bay was a little nervous when the trip got a little rough and wanted to squeeze between the two of us.

Pups playing on the island- they love coming to the little sliver of what is left of the island

Aaron not wanting his picture taken so being funny and showing off his muscles lol

The pup trio

Jake and Sandy posing for mom, this one will go in a frame for sure, I can never get them both to look!

Sandy not loving the rough ride home, she was right under me and not too thrilled.

Here is our view from dinner, downtown Manteo. We ate at Stripers on the 3rd floor deck. It was so nice to eat outside, something we cannot do at our house because of the mosquitos - loathe them. You cannot see it but my parents house is behind the trees on the far right and where all the lights are is where Dare Day was held the day before. Perfect ending to a great weekend :)

Hope everyone has a good work week - mine is 4 day because we are headed to the Lake for 3 days on Friday, whoop whoop :)





Breakfast Smoothies

When I started doing the Insanity workouts again, I started thinking about protein drinks, etc because Shaun T always says at the end of the workout, make sure you drink your recovery formula....aka Shakeology from team beach body....which is over $100 for 30 days I think, maybe it's 60 either way a lot of $$. Then I have been hearing success stories from Facebook friends about the Vi Shakes. I found the 30 day bag for $45 on Amazon, tried it once and wasn't much on the taste so I gave it to my co-worker who is having huge success and dedication to it!

Anyway I thought I would make my own breakfast smoothie packed with protein. So here is the recipe for the first one I made:

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

1 cup skim or 1% - I use 1% milk...I've come a long way from whole and just can't do skim yet
3/4 cup or 6 ounces non fat vanilla (or plain) yogurt
1/2 of a banana
A few strawberries, depending on the size

Put all ingredients in a blender, blend, pour and enjoy :)

Calories are about 230 ish I would say

I had this one for a couple days and ran out of yogurt (if you know where I live, the store is not close at all!) so I decided to use ice instead....fyi use LITTLE ICE - I found out it spreads...a lot...
Ice is not my favorite because it is more frothy to me, I prefer yogurt.

A couple days later I ran out of strawberries so I invented another smoothie and OMG is it good, I'm addicted! And I love it even more because I came up with it on my own!! It has more calories, but you should have a big breakfast because it's the most important meal of the day! Here is the recipe:

Chunky Monkey Smoothie

1 cup skim or 1% milk
3/4 cup or 6 ounces of nonfat vanilla or plain yogurt
1 banana (I slice mine up while adding it just to make it easier to blend)
1 package of Breakfast Essentials (chocolate) -I get the Rich Chocolate, Sugar Free
2 HEAPING tbsp of crunchy peanut butter - crunchy=chunky, love the chuncks of peanuts and I use JIF, you can use regular peanut butter if you prefer no chunk :)
                                                                     
Add all ingredients to blender, blend, pour and enjoy!

Calories:450 (you can lower it to 355 by only doing one tbsp of peanut butter)

This is more calories but it is packed with more protein because of the peanut butter which keeps me full during the morning at the office.

Here is a picture of the breakfast essentials incase you haven't seen it, it's packed with vitamins, calcium, protein, etc. The directions for this is to just mix with milk but it's soo good in a smoothie. I like to think of it as my "healhty chocolate" a packet has only 60 calories!
You can do all sorts of variety with smoothies, the possiblites are endless!!!

You need :

Base: Yogurt or Ice
Liquid: Juice (all kinds) or Milk
Fruit: any kind
Veggies??: you can always add spinach to any smoothie to get your greens in and fiber, I hear you cannot even taste it at all ( I plan to try this soon-I'll let you know).
Sweetners: you can use Splenda or even Honey
Add ins: peanut butter, breakfast essientials, etc

So after my Insanity workout, I make a smoothie and stick it in the freezer while I'm getting ready for work (about 30 minutes). It's the perfect cold temperature when I grab it on the way out the door for work.

Happy Friday, hope everyone has a great weekend! Mine is packed with fun and busy - like usual :)