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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / inspiration / {days 5 – 7: my personal challenge + recap}

{days 5 – 7: my personal challenge + recap}

August 10, 2011 · 14 Comments
Filed Under: inspiration

About 2 weeks ago I challenged myself to do 5 “new” things for an entire week —
> take a photo everyday of something beautiful
> style my hair in a new way
> no more pop (!)
> go to bed by 11:30pm, and
> wake up by 7:30am

This challenge was a really great start for me to be more intentional about living life. Going to bed early and waking up early was hard, to be honest. I did well for most of the challenge but since then I definitely did not do well. There are days when Zack works until 8pm. {Plus we had our cousin here for 10 days and it was way more fun to stay up later and hang out than go to bed on time.} On the nights when Zack works later, dinner still need to be made, ate + cleaned up ~ and then if we want to spend time together… that pushes things back even later. I definitely noticed there are things like this that make our days seem like hamster wheels: we’re not getting much done but we’re also super exhausted. Is it wiser to go to bed on time (ish) than to stay up super late and be exhausted the next day? My answer: yes!

The easiest part of the challenge was to not drink pop. It’s not something we keep stocked and Zack & I both noticed not having the extra sugar in our diet actually made us more energetic. I took the liberty to start eating healthier lunches, too. Pretty much every day since I started this challenge I filled up a salad plate with lunch meat, crackers + cheese, fruit ~ like mango or pineapple, almonds and carrots. This part of the challenge seemed to be the most beneficial. For the first time in nearly a year I made myself take a break for lunch. Isn’t that crazy?! Instead of working through my lunch at my desk I sat in the dining room or on the couch with a magazine.

Then there was styling my hair differently. {Did you notice all the hair photos from above? It feels a little silly to have so many photos of myself but if I didn’t share them then the challenge would be incomplete.} Honestly, I’m surprised I liked my hair enough to straighten it for seven days in a row. I mean, that is NOT like me at all. There have been times when I straightened my hair in the morning and then by lunchtime felt so unlike myself that I actually got back in the shower so it would curl up. Not too sure what made things different this time around… but I’m glad I liked it! It was fun and just such a change for me. ♥

I found inspiration through beautiful photos from our daily life. Snapshots of our home, of a trip to Urban Outfitters, of a new place to work, of a healthier lunch, of a backyard break. My mind is filled with dreams of new places to explore. Kim of The TomKat Studio told me recently that we won’t find more time, we just need to prioritize it better. And I think that’s something we can all implement :]

SO THAT’S IT! I always love a little challenge, especially when it’s something like this that will have long-term positive/healthy outcomes. I know a few of you set challenges for yourself {yay!} — will you share them with us below? XO

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14 Comments
Filed Under: inspiration

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Comments

  1. Karri says

    August 10, 2011 at 12:39 pm

    I loved seeing your challenge photos and reading about it!!

    Reply
  2. Dallas says

    August 10, 2011 at 1:09 pm

    Second row , Second picture, so pretty!! Very inspirational Gussy!

    Reply
  3. melody says

    August 10, 2011 at 1:12 pm

    you inspire me to try and kick my pop habit. I usually drink diet vanilla coke and am slightly addicted! ;( I loved your straightened hair pics too, although for some silly reason you don’t seem like Gussy without that awesome curly hair! LOL It is nice to know that you can rock it both straight and curly and look amazing both ways!!!!

    Reply
  4. Suzzie says

    August 10, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    I adore your curls! in fact, I envy your curls. haha. But you look great with short hair too! Love the bangs :)

    Reply
  5. Skye @ Neathering Our Fest says

    August 10, 2011 at 3:05 pm

    I love the quote from TomKat studios! :) And while I love your hair all around I agree that it looks more like you when it is curly. Maybe the reason it didn’t bother you so much being straight is because you were very intentional about it being that way!

    Living with intention and purpose is something I am striving for and your blog is always so inspiring! :)

    Reply
  6. Kassie says

    August 10, 2011 at 3:13 pm

    A great challenge. I need to do actually do a challenge as well… a bit different. I just need to convince myself to start!

    Reply
  7. girl willow says

    August 10, 2011 at 5:06 pm

    You are an inspiration. I’m really enjoying your blog :) I think it’s really important to challenge ourselves to change for the better, to try new things, to meet new people. Thanks for sharing!!

    Reply
  8. Seriously Sassy Mama says

    August 10, 2011 at 5:38 pm

    I love that you wrote pop! I say soda or soda pop and everyone goes huh? Five things sounds like a great idea.

    Reply
  9. Shelly W. says

    August 10, 2011 at 5:42 pm

    Your hair is so cute! I love it!

    Reply
  10. Amity says

    August 10, 2011 at 8:14 pm

    I love coffee and I wish I could go a day without it. I love it too much to stop drinking it. :) Ha! I know I CAN do it though because I always have given it up during my pregnancies. Every time you mentioned giving up pop I thought, “Ugh, I really should stop drinking my morning coffee!” :) It’s kinda nice to see that we all have things we could give up. :) Good job on your successful challenge!!

    Reply
  11. Heather G. says

    August 12, 2011 at 5:04 pm

    Great job, girly! And I really love your hair straight! I recently gave up caffeine, to be healthier, not be dependent on anything, and just to see if I could…I’m happy to report that I’m two weeks caffeine-free! :)

    Reply
  12. Kim says

    August 14, 2011 at 7:31 am

    I have so much trouble with time management! The Boy is in law school so when we have tine together, which isn’t often, I drop everything to spend it with him. It’s a huge strain on getting things I need done done but it’s so important to spend time together. It’s hard justifying either one!

    Reply
  13. mom whitley says

    August 17, 2011 at 9:37 pm

    Awesome, fun changes and the no pop thing, is so good for you, wish I could get CW to give it up for even a day!!! Hugs to all.

    Reply
  14. Mariella says

    March 18, 2014 at 11:31 am

    It sounds to me like the cuerrnt situation in most math departments is likely to select for women who don’t mind or even prefer to be in the minority – the women who aren’t happy to have so few women in the department would presumably be that much more likely to leave to do other things. And it seems from the comments people made at the panel that events like this can help to keep those women from leaving for reasons that have nothing to do with their abilities in math, and to attract other women who might otherwise be wary of entering such a male-dominated field. That seems to me to be a good enough reason to have events like this, to begin with.But more than that, to me, this event more than proved its usefulness with that first question that was asked, about how being pregnant might affect a woman’s career. Can you imagine such a question being asked at a panel where all or most of the participants were men? Even if there was a woman brave enough to ask such a question, would a panel of men even know what to say? And yet it’s clearly an important question that many women struggle with. (As I can tell even from the comments to this entry alone.) Isn’t it good to have a place where women can discuss such issues and give advice to each other and discuss their experiences, without each woman having to feel like she has to reinvent the wheel alone, stuck as she is as the only woman in a faculty of men, at what has to already be a difficult time in her life?There are clearly questions about what it’s like to be a woman in mathematics that men can’t answer. Is it really so bad to provide a place where such questions can be discussed?

    Reply

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

maggiewhitley
Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
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#womenintheword #wearethehomemakers #scripture #dailyintheword #titus2woman #healthylifestyle #mentalhealth #anxiety #anxietyawareness
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A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is A quiet night: the furnace is running, the tea is hot, and the whisper of a page turning. ♨️☕️📖 // We are breaking from school this week, my plan is to read a lot, walk a lot, and rest a lot. How about you?

#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
How do you play in the winter? // We had a really How do you play in the winter? // We had a really great time visiting family in northern Michigan. On my blog I share a few ways we played outside, plus I describe a memorable childhood game ❄️☃️. Did you play it as a kiddo?
We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens in the morning (HGTV), playtime before lessons, and not enough quiet time after lunch. This made for a really, ummm, unenjoyable learning experience. 

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Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — t Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — think outside the box in terms of how you view the definition of “motherhood” 💓😘 (also: look at my little friend, she’s sooooo snuggly)
It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are turning. The tea is calm. 🖤☕️🧺📖
Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the fu It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the furniture as we took the tree down Tuesday midday. Def one of my fav things to do.🎄👋🏻 We made it through our first week back to school since mid-December! It was rough to begin but ended with high fives. ⭐️✏️This morning I zoomed with a mama friend and I’m impressed with the many topics we covered. Sisterhood is sooooo necessary! ☕️👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼

Just a few cheery memories from my week! How about you?
Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activiti Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activities. I finished my last book moments before 2020 ended, which brought my started list to a close. Small joys add up to big joys ;)

What are you reading this year? Currently?

How many books are you planning to read? What’s your goal?

I’ll share what’s on my list for 2021 soon as I received some nice titles at Christmas. 📖✨🤍
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