On the journey to a healthier lifestyle it is always beneficial to look around to others who have gone before. Grab a little bit of their wisdom and see what you could apply to your journey. We are all unique and so our journies will reflect that but there are some universal bits and pieces that we could all pull from here. Below is the link to an article posted on Organize Yourself Skinny which is great site that I enjoy following along with from time to time. See what one woman who has lost over 100 lbs has to say about her path to healthier lifestyle. Click the link below to read the article!
Tips for the Journey
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Monday, March 28, 2016
Stirring
Yesterday was resurrection day and it's a day filled with so much hope. Hope that no matter what happens in this life that death has been conquered. Last night as I was winding down I came across a great devotional thought by one of my favorite ladies Lysa Terkeurst. She talks about the stir. The moment when things begin to shift and begin to maneuver through whatever problem or situation you are in the middle of but you may not even realize it yet. It is ever so subtle. It was such a beautiful thought and here are her words below.
What are you in the middle of that God is behind the scenes working on to prepare a way for? What hardship are you in the middle of that just will not end? Do you believe that God has just forgotten you and left you there? I promise you he has not. In fact it is just the opposite! He loves you so much that he sent his son to die on a cross for you and for me and is hard at work on your situation and in his time he will come. There is a stirring......
You know what my favorite part of the Easter miracle is? It’s hard to choose a favorite, but I have one.
It’s the stir.
The stir no one saw.
That first second Jesus twitched beneath the burial clothes and death lost its sting. Hope, glorious hope rose in that second when the world still felt the weight of death. Hope twitched. Hope moved. Hope stirred. And Jesus arose.
God reminds us of the stir in so many ways.
A branch looks dead and yet a stir is happening in places we can’t see. Places that soon burst forth green life.
A drought threatens to dry out the life of everything planted and yet a stir is happening in places we can’t see. A wind shifts, a cloud bursts, and heaven pours forth.
A woman is told her womb will not and yet a stir is happening in places we can’t see. Her baby will come through a stranger’s womb and in an instant her arms are filled.
The stir no one saw.
The stir we so often miss.
The stir we so desperately need to remember.
The stir was.
The stir is.
The stir will forever be.
Even when we can’t see it.
He is risen, my friend. And because He is risen we can know there is a stir happening behind whatever tomb threatens to close over our hope today.
Yes, there is a stir happening in places we can’t see. He is risen indeed
What are you in the middle of that God is behind the scenes working on to prepare a way for? What hardship are you in the middle of that just will not end? Do you believe that God has just forgotten you and left you there? I promise you he has not. In fact it is just the opposite! He loves you so much that he sent his son to die on a cross for you and for me and is hard at work on your situation and in his time he will come. There is a stirring......
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Be Brave
Do you ever have that voice inside your head or heart that says why would you want to do that? You are not good enough, smart enough, influential enough, outgoing enough, bold enough, fit enough....etc. I do! Some days it is super easy to blow that off and press full steam ahead. Others....I give in. I shrink back and think maybe......I can't or shouldn't.
I am here to encourage you this morning that you CAN! If you are sitting here and reading this you are already one step ahead with a great cheerleader by your side. I believe in you and I know if you have a desire and a passion for something you can knock down those walls of self doubt that hold you back and go full speed ahead towards whatever it is that sets your soul completely on fire.
The wall I knocked down this week was signing up to become a REFIT instructor! The training is at the end of April in Tennessee. My hope is that I along with a friend can run some classes for our small group that we have been working out with since last summer and then by the middle to end of the summer I may actually be on a regular schedule to teach somewhere in town. A class....on my own...in front of other people!!! Crazy! I can tell you a million reasons that popped up as to why I maybe shouldn't or wouldn't be good at teaching the classes but the one reason I could not extinguish is that it is my passion. Taking the classes, sharing them with other ladies who now do the classes with me. What you may not know is that REFIT is all about working the whole body. Yes, you get an amazing cardio workout for an hour but after class there is a group prayer and quick quick devo (like 1-2 minutes). For me faith and fitness totally collided with this opportunity to share two things I am deeply passionate about so I have to go for it!
A great challenge for today would be to pick an exercise or workout that you look at as intimidating and just conquer it! Or if you have been contemplating starting to workout again then just go for it! If you do not have a gym membership get outside or go to youtube! You can literally look up any workout known to man for free. Pick one that you normally wouldn't do and see how good it feels when you finish it. Even if you just give it your ten minutes we talk about all the time. That is enough especially if your are just beginning. Take that momentum into all that you do this next week and start knocking down those walls...one at a time.
What walls did you knock down this week? What did you go for that the voice in your head tried to keep you from? What goals are you hoping to accomplish? If you do not know spend some time today thinking about, praying about and putting some of this on paper.
I am here to encourage you this morning that you CAN! If you are sitting here and reading this you are already one step ahead with a great cheerleader by your side. I believe in you and I know if you have a desire and a passion for something you can knock down those walls of self doubt that hold you back and go full speed ahead towards whatever it is that sets your soul completely on fire.
The wall I knocked down this week was signing up to become a REFIT instructor! The training is at the end of April in Tennessee. My hope is that I along with a friend can run some classes for our small group that we have been working out with since last summer and then by the middle to end of the summer I may actually be on a regular schedule to teach somewhere in town. A class....on my own...in front of other people!!! Crazy! I can tell you a million reasons that popped up as to why I maybe shouldn't or wouldn't be good at teaching the classes but the one reason I could not extinguish is that it is my passion. Taking the classes, sharing them with other ladies who now do the classes with me. What you may not know is that REFIT is all about working the whole body. Yes, you get an amazing cardio workout for an hour but after class there is a group prayer and quick quick devo (like 1-2 minutes). For me faith and fitness totally collided with this opportunity to share two things I am deeply passionate about so I have to go for it!
A great challenge for today would be to pick an exercise or workout that you look at as intimidating and just conquer it! Or if you have been contemplating starting to workout again then just go for it! If you do not have a gym membership get outside or go to youtube! You can literally look up any workout known to man for free. Pick one that you normally wouldn't do and see how good it feels when you finish it. Even if you just give it your ten minutes we talk about all the time. That is enough especially if your are just beginning. Take that momentum into all that you do this next week and start knocking down those walls...one at a time.
What walls did you knock down this week? What did you go for that the voice in your head tried to keep you from? What goals are you hoping to accomplish? If you do not know spend some time today thinking about, praying about and putting some of this on paper.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Tim 1:7
Friday, March 25, 2016
Friday Fast & Easy Meals-Breakfast
Today is another staple for us. I can go ahead and tell you we again we love breakfast stuff for dinner and we love Mexican but I do promise I have some new recipes in the works for the month of April that will deviate us from the main themes. I will try and surprise you! For now enjoy this super simple dinner you can throw together and enjoy on a busy night. Like a lot of the recipes I try to put up this one comes with lots of variation possibilities to match whatever you happen to have on hand.
Crustless Quiche
**I make a 9 x 13 so we can cut into squares and eat on the leftovers through the week or you can freeze in squares and separate with wax paper and pull out what you need for an easy breakfast.
8 eggs
**You can use the whole egg or half of them use only the white. It is up to you and a variation you are free to try.
1 lb- Lean Turkey Sausage cooked
1/4 cup milk
*We use 1 % but anything works from skim to 2%.
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
A pinch of salt and pepper
NOW FOR VARIATIONS:
I typically have a variety of veggies on hand. Sometimes I pick what is about to go bad or leftover from a recipe I have already done. What you put in this can vary a ton and LITERALLY be anything you have on hand. Don's break the bank on it. For this one I had an onion and zucchini of all things. I have added sweet potato cubes directly into the mix, I have added mushrooms before. You can add ANY veggie you like really. I also usually keep frozen spinach leaves and kale in the freezer. This is an amazing time to sneak some greens in!! Pull out a handful and chop it up small and throw it in. Even if you just do a little every little bit you can add here and there to introduce it to your taste is a step in the right direction.
Mix it all together and bake on 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or so. Bake until firm and not runny. Everyone likes different firmness on eggs so go with what YOU like. I actually forgot mine while working out so the bottom was more brown than usual but the taste was still wonderful. It all worked out! This is really good with some salsa served top or sliced tomato or even some sliced avocado. If you shop at ALDI I promise these are all things that are VERY affordable. It has literally saved us hundreds when buying up fruit and veggies each week.
Baked Sweet Potato Slices
Sweet Potato is a staple as a side because it is versatile and it is affordable and it is healthy! Win win win!! For a compliment to this recipe my favorite way to have sweet potato would be to wash it up and leave the peel on. Cut into even slices about 1 inch thick. Spray a baking sheet and lay the pieces out. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and pinch of sea salt and pepper. mix it all around and coat evenly. Bake at 400 degrees until soft. Usually this only takes about 10-15 minutes, They get soft and almost caramelized. Very good and taste more bad for you than good because of the sweetness. The pic is of a mixed veggie bake night but it gives you an idea of how un fancy this all can really be. Also, for summer these can turn into grilled sweet potato slices. YUM!!!!!
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Consider Your Level
When it comes to considering what you will do for your workout it is always a good idea to assess what your actual skill level is at the current point in time. Beginner, intermediate and athletic is how I would phrase it but you get the drift of where I am going hopefully.
One of the quickest ways to tear yourself down and put yourself at a disadvantage is to start out too hard. You want to be challenged but you still want to be able to breathe and maintain what you are doing for more than a few minutes at a time. Especially if you used to work out and haven't in a long time or are truly starting and have never worked out.
For example if you want to start walking and you get to the track and everyone around you is running so you feel a little bit of peer pressure to run then you do and you haven't run in 5 years what is your reaction going to be to that workout? You are going to walk away saying that was the worst thing you have ever done and walking is not for you....when in fact you did not even give it a fair shot....at all.
It is really important to be honest with yourself. You do not have to share all that you are thinking as you are assessing where you are with weight, how out or in shape you are and where you want to be but by all means be honest with YOU! You cannot get where you are going or even set realistic goals to get there if you aren't sure where you are starting from.
If you are a beginner or a beginner again I love Dailyburn and its one of the first things of many I will throw out there as a favorite go to of mine. They have a new program called DB 365. They have a new 30 minute workout every day. A few things....it is all online with a live studio class so it doesn't feel so impersonal. You can do it whatever time fits best for you. It is short. They have a different trainer daily so you get different moves and workout styles so you don't get bored and it helps you see what you like and do not like. They also throw in tons of little moves you can do on the side and fitness tips before and after if you want to spend time to watch those. Finally, it progresses with you not ahead of you. They give options for more intensity or less and modifications galore to fit any needs you may have. It is affordable and you can try it free for 30 days. I have a subscription and have added my link below for you to copy and paste. If you choose to use my link I get referral credits. But you can also just go to their website too. Whatever option you choose is great with me!!! I just want to encourage you to move!
Give it a whirl at least for 30 days!!! It would be a great way to step into fitness and get started on a beginner routine.
http://dailyburn.com/invite/Nzb8
One of the quickest ways to tear yourself down and put yourself at a disadvantage is to start out too hard. You want to be challenged but you still want to be able to breathe and maintain what you are doing for more than a few minutes at a time. Especially if you used to work out and haven't in a long time or are truly starting and have never worked out.
For example if you want to start walking and you get to the track and everyone around you is running so you feel a little bit of peer pressure to run then you do and you haven't run in 5 years what is your reaction going to be to that workout? You are going to walk away saying that was the worst thing you have ever done and walking is not for you....when in fact you did not even give it a fair shot....at all.
It is really important to be honest with yourself. You do not have to share all that you are thinking as you are assessing where you are with weight, how out or in shape you are and where you want to be but by all means be honest with YOU! You cannot get where you are going or even set realistic goals to get there if you aren't sure where you are starting from.
If you are a beginner or a beginner again I love Dailyburn and its one of the first things of many I will throw out there as a favorite go to of mine. They have a new program called DB 365. They have a new 30 minute workout every day. A few things....it is all online with a live studio class so it doesn't feel so impersonal. You can do it whatever time fits best for you. It is short. They have a different trainer daily so you get different moves and workout styles so you don't get bored and it helps you see what you like and do not like. They also throw in tons of little moves you can do on the side and fitness tips before and after if you want to spend time to watch those. Finally, it progresses with you not ahead of you. They give options for more intensity or less and modifications galore to fit any needs you may have. It is affordable and you can try it free for 30 days. I have a subscription and have added my link below for you to copy and paste. If you choose to use my link I get referral credits. But you can also just go to their website too. Whatever option you choose is great with me!!! I just want to encourage you to move!
Give it a whirl at least for 30 days!!! It would be a great way to step into fitness and get started on a beginner routine.
http://dailyburn.com/invite/Nzb8
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Filled
I am hoping this will post correctly. I am posting from my phone. I'll work out the kinks when I get home if not*****
The story of the woman at the well is one that most of us who attend church have heard a thousand times and so it loses some luster for us. I wish that wasn't so because it is so beautiful and I beg you today to take a second glance at it.
The story of the woman at the well is one that most of us who attend church have heard a thousand times and so it loses some luster for us. I wish that wasn't so because it is so beautiful and I beg you today to take a second glance at it.
What I know in my heart to be true is that it's still just as relevant today as it ever was. In a time where we are bombarded by ads, technology, busyness there are many of us desperately trying to fill our water jars with something that just will not satisfy. We feel empty, alone & overextended. The good news is there is a better way.
If we want to follow Jesus with reckless abandon it's simple.....we just need to put down our jars and leave them at the well. I say this to the new believer that has just accepted Christ into their hearts and also to those that accepted Christ many years ago. You could've said yes a long time ago but still be carrying the weight and burden of your jar. You could still be going to your well (whatever it may be) every single day and filling up that jar. It's so hard to chase after someone or something with your arms full and weighed down by the cumbersome jar you let take up so much space. Choosing to follow Jesus means we have all we need with us always. He is the living water within us that never runs dry and in him there are no gaps. He fills every need we have. Notice I said need and not desires.
What are some things we are filling our jars with? Where is it getting you? How does it make you feel each time you have to go back?
In Christ there is no condemnation and there is also no need to go to the well (whatever yours is)each day. Lay your jar down. Say yes to Jesus and you'll never be thirsty a day in your life.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
The good life
Today is a little different motivation and coming from a more serious place for me. It is taking a break from asking you to motivate yourself physically but more about motivating yourself spiritually.
We attended a visitation this morning for a family who lost a father, son, husband etc. He was young folks! He had a sudden heart attack and just like that everyone's life was changed. As I looked at his daughters and his wife and a mother and father burying their son I felt that in my gut. That look of just being in shock and knowing they are just going through the motions and knowing that the moment is coming when it really sinks in what has happened. It hit me hard. All that we went through with losing my mom just came rushing back. This life is short. In the grand scheme of things we do not have long and some of us have less time than others for reasons we just won't know till we stand face to face with our creator.
All that being said the bulk of what we do in this life is related to how well we love and serve others. Never miss an opportunity to outstretch a hand, give a hug or lend a listening ear or just be there for someone. I am not perfect...by all means and I am not an expert. What I have learn ed over the past year is what true forgiveness and compassion towards others looks like. I feel like I learned the lesson maybe a harder way than I would have preferred but I learned it nonetheless and something I needed. So many times things happen in this life that we just do not understand...at all. When we don't understand things we tend to shut down and just do nothing paralyzed by fear that we will say and do the wrong thing. You know what though? Something is better than nothing. I challenge you to go out today and love a little better than you did yesterday. Feel a little more than what you normally feel. We truly are as Christians supposed to bear each others burdens. We are to hurt when others hurt and rejoice when others rejoice.
The goodness and kindness I think we all long to see played out starts with you and me. Doing our part to genuinely engage in this life with each other to really KNOW the needs of those around us. You willing to take on my mess and me being willing to take on your mess. And generally realizing no one is safe and without a little crazy in the closet. That is what makes this short time we have here an adventure. Life was meant to be lived and when you truly live somewhere it's just messy. Messy is good. Messy means you dug your heels in and stayed the course with a friend through a hard time. Messy means you tried your best to love others wholeheartedly. Messy means you tried hard to leave a legacy filled with love and compassion.
Today my challenge is to just get messy. Take a chance. Put yourself out there for the sake of loving & caring for others and get out of your comfort zone. I guarantee God is going to bless you in that endeavor. Don't be scared....if you are willing he is able and life will be good....not perfect but good in a way that we could never imagine for ourselves.
We attended a visitation this morning for a family who lost a father, son, husband etc. He was young folks! He had a sudden heart attack and just like that everyone's life was changed. As I looked at his daughters and his wife and a mother and father burying their son I felt that in my gut. That look of just being in shock and knowing they are just going through the motions and knowing that the moment is coming when it really sinks in what has happened. It hit me hard. All that we went through with losing my mom just came rushing back. This life is short. In the grand scheme of things we do not have long and some of us have less time than others for reasons we just won't know till we stand face to face with our creator.
All that being said the bulk of what we do in this life is related to how well we love and serve others. Never miss an opportunity to outstretch a hand, give a hug or lend a listening ear or just be there for someone. I am not perfect...by all means and I am not an expert. What I have learn ed over the past year is what true forgiveness and compassion towards others looks like. I feel like I learned the lesson maybe a harder way than I would have preferred but I learned it nonetheless and something I needed. So many times things happen in this life that we just do not understand...at all. When we don't understand things we tend to shut down and just do nothing paralyzed by fear that we will say and do the wrong thing. You know what though? Something is better than nothing. I challenge you to go out today and love a little better than you did yesterday. Feel a little more than what you normally feel. We truly are as Christians supposed to bear each others burdens. We are to hurt when others hurt and rejoice when others rejoice.
The goodness and kindness I think we all long to see played out starts with you and me. Doing our part to genuinely engage in this life with each other to really KNOW the needs of those around us. You willing to take on my mess and me being willing to take on your mess. And generally realizing no one is safe and without a little crazy in the closet. That is what makes this short time we have here an adventure. Life was meant to be lived and when you truly live somewhere it's just messy. Messy is good. Messy means you dug your heels in and stayed the course with a friend through a hard time. Messy means you tried your best to love others wholeheartedly. Messy means you tried hard to leave a legacy filled with love and compassion.
Today my challenge is to just get messy. Take a chance. Put yourself out there for the sake of loving & caring for others and get out of your comfort zone. I guarantee God is going to bless you in that endeavor. Don't be scared....if you are willing he is able and life will be good....not perfect but good in a way that we could never imagine for ourselves.
Friday, March 18, 2016
Friday Fast & Easy Meals-Mexican
The recipes you find on here won't be fancy but they will be tried and true favorites that come through my kitchen. You will also find that many times they do not have a ton of ingredients or steps. I am not FANCY and I do not love dragging everything in creation out of the cabinets to make a meal and WE LOVE MEXICAN. That will become exceedingly clear the further along we go in our relationship. So you will see lots of variations and ways to have a mexican themed meal.
Salsa Verde Chicken
2-4 chicken breasts
1 onion chopped
1 jar of green salsa verde
Salsa Verde Chicken
2-4 chicken breasts
- or more depending on your family size. Use your judgment. For Trey and I to eat a meal and have left overs for one of us the next day I use 2 chicken breasts.
1 onion chopped
- pick small or large depending on how many chicken breasts you use
1 jar of green salsa verde
- We were gifted some from Trader Joes that is amazing but we do not have one of those. If you do get you some! It is amazing. If not we go to Wal Mart and I buy the Herdez brand. It is in the mexican food section.
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
Dump all of these ingredients into a crock pot and cook on low for 6 hours. When it is done pull the chicken out of the crock pot and shred. If you have a stand mixer dump it in there and shred that chicken in seconds. Then dump it all back in the crock pot and let it sit for at least 5-10 min.
The beauty of this dish is you can serve it a ton of different ways. Trey eats his over brown rice. I eat mine over chopped salad. Wal Mart has a fabulous selection of chopped salads. There is one that is more tex mexish. It has some tortilla strips in the bag with it. It is about 3.75 a bag. Not bad especially since you can eat on it all week or it will feed the whole family with one bag. On this I usually eat over a salad and use an avocado mashed up as dressing or if I am out of avocado I will use a little of the dressing that comes with the salad. You do not need a whole lot because you have the chicken and sauce to put over the rice or salad. Another option is to make a nacho bar using this chicken. Easy and so good dish!!!!!
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Don't Be So Hard On Yourself
Wednesdays are reserved for fitness tips and tricks so today I will share a little tip that will make this journey a little easier and hopefully less cumbersome. Today it's all about grace! You heard it. Not squats or heart rates or anything of the sorts. Today is about a soul exercise as I have promised this is not all about a physical but also a spiritual transformation.
Some days we just cannot do even that 10 minutes I harp about all the time...sorry...not sorry. On those days if we just are so exhausted and overbooked that it cannot happen we need to do two things. We need to first let ourselves off the hook and we need to then look at our scheduling and maybe reevaluate what we said yes to that meant a NO to putting in time for ourselves whether it be ten minutes or an hour. It is that important. Today I got up at 5:20 am to go to the grocery store which meant by the time a workout rolled around I opted for a nap instead. My body did not feel up to working out and I just needed a rest day. It is ok!! I said yes to family duty today which meant I said no to a workout. It is one day and it was something I needed to do. Sometimes that is the case and sometimes it is not. Just do a self evaluation every now and then if it is happening every single day to see where you can carve out some time for yourself.
This whole transformation thing and making changes is hard. I admit that and so should you. You should also admit that ANY progress is better than NO progress. Starting and missing a day is better than never having even started. It is all about perspective and learning not to beat yourself up over the hang ups and skip days or just plain ole bad eating days when a Reese's cup shaped like an egg just ends up in your hand and you have to eat it (the shaped ones are so much better). Keep it all in focus and enjoy the ride stray Reese's and all.
It's ok to miss a day but it is not OK to make a habit of it and then just decide it is too far gone to start back. Pick yourself up and say I am worth it and I am capable. That is all it takes my friends. Grace for yourself goes a long way in accomplishing what you want to get done and also allows you to have more grace with others which is a pretty awesome by product. I love this song and hope it encourages you today to just keep on moving forward with your goals. And you know I love REFIT so here it is ;-)
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Monday Devotional-Open Your Bible Week 3
Last week we talked about some ways to approach God's word and this week we go deeper by talking about how to engage in the truth of God's word. Reading and engaging yourself in what you read are two separate things. In the opening of the week 3 devotional there is a passage that really puts what this week is all about in great perspective.
"I do know who Jesus is. Chances are you do too, or you wouldn't be reading this. Yet, like the woman at the well, I dip my bucket into water that cannot satisfy. As if my heart and soul are inconsequential as a houseplant, I've gone days and weeks without filling up on the living water and living word. I nourish my life with good intentions and expect it to thrive when only Jesus can quench my soul-deep thirst."
ENGAGE TRUTH EXPECTANTLY
The writer of this study mentions in the section that she had certain parts of the bible that she enjoyed going to as her usual reading. It usually consisted of passages that talked about something Jesus had done like having the disciples cast their nets and filling them full and them all eating together or Jesus on the cross or Jesus and the woman at the well. You get the main idea. She went looking for Jesus stories I guess you could say. She didn't really expect that she would find what she needed in other parts of the bible. Sometimes I know I approach the bible that way. I expect that I can only find comfort or what I am looking for in one certain verse or story. However, the truth is that the entire bible is a series of events that all eventually end with Jesus. Everything in our bibles points us back to how much God loves us and what Jesus endured on our behalf. The pursuit of our hearts that just never gives up and endures through trial after trial. When we open our bible to a passage and we don't EXPECT that we will find what we are looking for we will not be able to engage in and soak in all the truth and goodness that lies in the words we are reading. Every passage, every scripture, every story is for you and for me and for and it holds important TRUTHS that God is there laced into every detail and is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. That is beautiful.
ENGAGE IN TRUTH EMOTIONALLY & INTELLECTUALLY
If you are like me you are maybe overly emotional and sometimes I tend to approach my time in the bible this way. I tend to think that I need to "feel" some type of way emotionally. I don't necessary think about the intellectual part of studying my bible and reading for knowledge as really studying because I don't feel something? Make sense? Sometimes I may even walk away from that time disappointed. I can't believe I feel that way but its the truth. If you are like me in this way here is a little nugget of a scripture that opens my mind on this subject and is a cool way to frame this topic.
READ MATTHEW 22:37 (NASB)
And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
There is a time and place in which sometimes we approach the truth of God's word for information and for understanding and for framing and pinpointing time lines and the context of who what when where of things. That is needed just as much as it is needed for us to sometimes approach God's word for the emotion. Hello... ever read the Psalms? Talk about just leaving all inhibitions at the door and just being emotionally invested this is a great place to start. At the end of the day it is a balance. One is not better than the other. We are to be looking at both ends of the spectrum when we approach the truth and putting our whole selves into the process of engaging in what we are studying.
ENGAGE IN TRUTH BROADLY
Have you ever asked God to "give us this day our daily bread"? In this day of the study the author would like for us to think more broadly of what daily bread means. It means we are asking God for just what we need to survive for the day. Right? What if we thought of this term more broadly? What if we looked at the studying of God's word as the entire meal for our day which means we would consume more. For us bread has become a side thing that we throw on at the last minute but back in Jesus day it would have been considered a meal. The end. That was it on the plate. For us we need to broaden how we look at this. Instead of just a verse here or a verse there as an appetizer and to appease that I should open my bible for a minute today attitude. What if we thought about opening our bible for a solid 30 minutes and reading a heaping helping of the bible and letting those words soak in. Start with some of the smaller books of the bible and see how it would feel to just sit down and consume one full chapter of God's word? It doesn't mean we have to do that every day but every once in a while it's good to just get hungry for the word and to feed that. The more you feed it the more it will become an actual need and desire you have. What grows and flourishes in our lives is what we put the most energy toward. How about we try giving more freely of our time to engage in the truth and see how that helps us grow.
"What if we were women who craved and consumed God's word for the meal it was intended to be? What if we "read on" while the rest of the world moved on? If we kept on drinking the Living Water, what would we find at the bottom of our glasses? Would we ever reach the bottom?
By approaching scripture so broadly we have so much to learn. Today the challenge is not to zoom in on one verse but to take the challenge to read a full chapter somewhere this week.
ENGAGE IN TRUTH PRAYERFULLY
"I do know who Jesus is. Chances are you do too, or you wouldn't be reading this. Yet, like the woman at the well, I dip my bucket into water that cannot satisfy. As if my heart and soul are inconsequential as a houseplant, I've gone days and weeks without filling up on the living water and living word. I nourish my life with good intentions and expect it to thrive when only Jesus can quench my soul-deep thirst."
ENGAGE TRUTH EXPECTANTLY
The writer of this study mentions in the section that she had certain parts of the bible that she enjoyed going to as her usual reading. It usually consisted of passages that talked about something Jesus had done like having the disciples cast their nets and filling them full and them all eating together or Jesus on the cross or Jesus and the woman at the well. You get the main idea. She went looking for Jesus stories I guess you could say. She didn't really expect that she would find what she needed in other parts of the bible. Sometimes I know I approach the bible that way. I expect that I can only find comfort or what I am looking for in one certain verse or story. However, the truth is that the entire bible is a series of events that all eventually end with Jesus. Everything in our bibles points us back to how much God loves us and what Jesus endured on our behalf. The pursuit of our hearts that just never gives up and endures through trial after trial. When we open our bible to a passage and we don't EXPECT that we will find what we are looking for we will not be able to engage in and soak in all the truth and goodness that lies in the words we are reading. Every passage, every scripture, every story is for you and for me and for and it holds important TRUTHS that God is there laced into every detail and is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. That is beautiful.
ENGAGE IN TRUTH EMOTIONALLY & INTELLECTUALLY
If you are like me you are maybe overly emotional and sometimes I tend to approach my time in the bible this way. I tend to think that I need to "feel" some type of way emotionally. I don't necessary think about the intellectual part of studying my bible and reading for knowledge as really studying because I don't feel something? Make sense? Sometimes I may even walk away from that time disappointed. I can't believe I feel that way but its the truth. If you are like me in this way here is a little nugget of a scripture that opens my mind on this subject and is a cool way to frame this topic.
READ MATTHEW 22:37 (NASB)
And He said to him, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
There is a time and place in which sometimes we approach the truth of God's word for information and for understanding and for framing and pinpointing time lines and the context of who what when where of things. That is needed just as much as it is needed for us to sometimes approach God's word for the emotion. Hello... ever read the Psalms? Talk about just leaving all inhibitions at the door and just being emotionally invested this is a great place to start. At the end of the day it is a balance. One is not better than the other. We are to be looking at both ends of the spectrum when we approach the truth and putting our whole selves into the process of engaging in what we are studying.
ENGAGE IN TRUTH BROADLY
Have you ever asked God to "give us this day our daily bread"? In this day of the study the author would like for us to think more broadly of what daily bread means. It means we are asking God for just what we need to survive for the day. Right? What if we thought of this term more broadly? What if we looked at the studying of God's word as the entire meal for our day which means we would consume more. For us bread has become a side thing that we throw on at the last minute but back in Jesus day it would have been considered a meal. The end. That was it on the plate. For us we need to broaden how we look at this. Instead of just a verse here or a verse there as an appetizer and to appease that I should open my bible for a minute today attitude. What if we thought about opening our bible for a solid 30 minutes and reading a heaping helping of the bible and letting those words soak in. Start with some of the smaller books of the bible and see how it would feel to just sit down and consume one full chapter of God's word? It doesn't mean we have to do that every day but every once in a while it's good to just get hungry for the word and to feed that. The more you feed it the more it will become an actual need and desire you have. What grows and flourishes in our lives is what we put the most energy toward. How about we try giving more freely of our time to engage in the truth and see how that helps us grow.
"What if we were women who craved and consumed God's word for the meal it was intended to be? What if we "read on" while the rest of the world moved on? If we kept on drinking the Living Water, what would we find at the bottom of our glasses? Would we ever reach the bottom?
By approaching scripture so broadly we have so much to learn. Today the challenge is not to zoom in on one verse but to take the challenge to read a full chapter somewhere this week.
ENGAGE IN TRUTH PRAYERFULLY
"When we invite the holy spirit through prayer to be our guide and companion, we are also inviting him to drag us into the light of Jesus."
I think sometimes it is easier not to pray because when we do we feel exposed but the truth is we have this amazing relationship with our Creator and he already knows my heart whether I pray or not. So why not pray that as we engage in the truth that is laid before us with our whole self that he grow us in knowledge, faith, obedience and discipline? Engaging in these life giving words is hard and requires a lot from us but what we get in return is so much more than what we could ever ask or imagine. We get the life giving words of being forgiven and loved and sought after no matter what that day or week has held for us. Light is vital to us being able to see our sins in all their glory and Jesus is the light. Let's pray boldly and bravely that Jesus will come into our lives and we will see how much HE has overcome on my behalf. Only then can I truly understand what God's truth means in my life and yours and have an overwhelming desire to share it and not keep it to myself.
The main message of Week 3 is dig in friends. Put all you have into this practice of reading and engaging in God's truth. The more you engage in what you read the more it will start to fill those voids. The ones that you have tried to fill with everything but God's word. You will begin to feel some peace, some relief and you will shine a little brighter as you are washed and filled by the Living Water. You won't be thinking of all you have done wrong. You will have true undeniable JOY because of what Jesus has done for you. Your flaws are exposed and then magically they disappear because Jesus paid the debt. His light will be shining through you and that is something everyone will want to know more about which enables you to take these life giving words into the world and share them.
Sometimes the way these devotional days are written there is so much backstory it is hard to make it flow to just bullet point it out but if you want the full experience we are in the devotional book Open Your Bible. I'll do the best that I can to summarize and make it make sense if you do not want to get the book ;-) Thanks for tuning in!
Sometimes the way these devotional days are written there is so much backstory it is hard to make it flow to just bullet point it out but if you want the full experience we are in the devotional book Open Your Bible. I'll do the best that I can to summarize and make it make sense if you do not want to get the book ;-) Thanks for tuning in!
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Saturday Motivation-Better Together
Today the sun is not shining and it may likely rain ALL day. Guess what though? You are still blessed if you woke up and are reading this. It is another day to choose how you want to live this life. Each day is a chance to reset and no one is a hopeless cause when it comes to fitness. Whether this is your first or fifty first time to commit to making this a part of your daily life it's ok! What is important is you choose it today and then maybe it'll catch on right away and maybe it won't. Just do not give up. Keep trying!!! And one of the keys to success is to take people along for the ride with you!!!
We are always better together with a friend pushing each other through that workout. Encouragement and accountability go so very far in this journey. So, grab your friend or friends and get to a workout near you or have them come to you. Either way don't let the gloomy weather be your excuse let it be your REASON ;-) I guarantee you will not regret it. No one EVER said I wish I wouldn't have burned all those calories, cut up with friends for an hour and boosted my metabolism for the ENTIRE day. DUH!!
Get your posse and get going!!
We are always better together with a friend pushing each other through that workout. Encouragement and accountability go so very far in this journey. So, grab your friend or friends and get to a workout near you or have them come to you. Either way don't let the gloomy weather be your excuse let it be your REASON ;-) I guarantee you will not regret it. No one EVER said I wish I wouldn't have burned all those calories, cut up with friends for an hour and boosted my metabolism for the ENTIRE day. DUH!!
Get your posse and get going!!
Friday, March 11, 2016
Friday Fast & Easy Meals- Italian
I am so excited about this recipe!!! I have tried a few different versions and this one by far was the best and knocked our socks off. It is good and amazingly easy and healthy way to get some good Italian food in and not feel guilty for it.
Pesto Chicken
2-4 chicken breasts
I always buy skinless and boneless just to make it easy.
1 jar classico Tomato Pesto Spread pictured below.
At wal mart it is on the aisle with pizza making items and its on the shelf towards the bottom.
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning of any kind.
I like to buy the ricatoni's blend of bread herbs and use it for seasoning. A little goes a long way and I can enjoy the flavors without dipping bread in it. But there is also a spice blend called Italian.
Spray the crock pot. Spread the contents of the jar on the top of the chicken breasts and sprinkle with Italian seasoning of your choice. Then turn on the crock pot for 6 hours on low or high for 4 hours. Serve with brown rice is how we eat it OR whole wheat pasta (the thin kind) and you won't taste the difference if you just need some pasta mixed with a tad bit of olive oil and chicken on top!!
The taste and ease of this dish combined really cannot be beat! If you do not have a crock pot or forget to put it on follow the same steps and pop it in the oven on 350 for 20 min or so. Just until it is tender and not pink. You can get it overcooked easily in the oven. That is something I have really had to learn is oven cooking times for chicken as to not dry it out. Enjoy!!!! If you are making any of these recipes let me know what you think about them. Also, what you want to see and if you have a favorite you want lightened up I will find and test some recipes.
Pesto Chicken
2-4 chicken breasts
I always buy skinless and boneless just to make it easy.
1 jar classico Tomato Pesto Spread pictured below.
At wal mart it is on the aisle with pizza making items and its on the shelf towards the bottom.
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning of any kind.
I like to buy the ricatoni's blend of bread herbs and use it for seasoning. A little goes a long way and I can enjoy the flavors without dipping bread in it. But there is also a spice blend called Italian.
Spray the crock pot. Spread the contents of the jar on the top of the chicken breasts and sprinkle with Italian seasoning of your choice. Then turn on the crock pot for 6 hours on low or high for 4 hours. Serve with brown rice is how we eat it OR whole wheat pasta (the thin kind) and you won't taste the difference if you just need some pasta mixed with a tad bit of olive oil and chicken on top!!
The taste and ease of this dish combined really cannot be beat! If you do not have a crock pot or forget to put it on follow the same steps and pop it in the oven on 350 for 20 min or so. Just until it is tender and not pink. You can get it overcooked easily in the oven. That is something I have really had to learn is oven cooking times for chicken as to not dry it out. Enjoy!!!! If you are making any of these recipes let me know what you think about them. Also, what you want to see and if you have a favorite you want lightened up I will find and test some recipes.
Thursday, March 10, 2016
What to wear?
Believe it or not what you wear has a big impact on your workout. The way you feel while working out and how you feel going into a workout. Have you ever heard the term dress for success? Basically, it means dress for where you want to be not where you are going. Same rule applies in fitness as in business. Dress in a way that sets you up for a great workout and many more thereafter.
When I first started working out again I will tell you that I didn't just need to lose 10 lbs so it was not necessarily comfortable for me to wear tighter fitting pants and shirts that you would typically wear to workout. I just felt silly so I wore what I always wore when not dressed up. I wore really loose yoga pants a few sizes too big and a big baggy sweatshirt. I am not sure I even owned a decent sports bra. My first few workouts were MISERABLE. I was so overheated and was aggravated from fixing my bra and pulling my pants up the whole time it almost was not worth the effort. On the way home one day a friend very bluntly said you are going to have to drop the baggy clothes and sweatshirt. She was right and I will forever be thankful for her advice. I just had to get over it and once I did I was so much better for it!!
You see had I continued to have that same struggle workout after workout I may not have stuck with it. That would have just been one more thing to get in my way and at that time I did need anything else discouraging me. So I bought some actual workout pants that wick sweat and I sought advice on what types of shirts to buy and I bought one pair of pants, some socks, new shoes and a few tops. It sounds like and investment and I will tell you right now. IT IS. But in the best way. My advice is to start small with maybe even one good outfit. Then every month or every two months add a piece until you are stocked enough to get through the week with what you have in case you get caught up with work or kids and cannot wash. After almost 3 years I am just now getting stocked. I took it really slow since I stay home and don't work but part time I don't have a ton to spend on items but it is possible to get what you need on a budget if you pay attention and look for sales. Below I will list some of my favorite workout items. You may find your own and it may take a few times. Try everything on and if the fit is not right and it does not wick sweat don't mess with it. You want to set yourself up for success and being cool and comfortable is key! These are a few main components to get you going. Have fun getting a new outfit and then go ROCK that workout!!
Workout shirts I love- GapFit has great shirts. They are t shirt style and so soft and wick sweat. They are thin yet not see through. They are usually on sale at certain times and Gap runs online sales all the time. Keep an eye out. At outlets in the summer at the beach I can usually snag them for 9.99 each which is a great investment. They last!! Gap Fit Breathe V Neck Tee and Tanks. Copy and paste link
http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=142856292&vid=1&locale=en_US&kwid=1&sem=false&sdkw=gapfit-breathe-v-neck-tee-P142856&sdReferer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gap.com%2Fproducts%2Fwomens-workout-tops.jsp
Workout pants I love. I have fallen in love with a brand that Nordstrom sells called Zella. The great thing about Nordstrom is the typically have free shipping and free returns so you can order what you want. Try on and send it on back no sweat. I now have two pairs of the long leggings and plan to order a pair of the capris for summer. They are thick so you do not see through them yet they wick sweat as they need to and are not hot. They come in great patterns and colors. I wear a large in these and I feel like they fit true to size. They are LONG so you may just have to have them hemmed because I promise they hold you in at just the right spots, are cute and well made. They go on sale faily often for half price. If you follow Sheaffer Told me Too on Facebook she lets you know when Zella goes on sale or just watch the Nordstrom website! RIGHT NOW>>TODAY they are 34.80. I is much better than 3-4 pairs of cheap ones that still cost 10-15 each.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/zella-live-in-slim-fit-leggings/4334974?origin=related-4334974-60129314-4-ZELLA_BLP-Rich_Relevance_Recs_API-125&recs_type=related&recs_productId=4334974&recs_categoryId=60129314&recs_productOrder=4&recs_placementId=ZELLA_BLP&recs_source=Rich_Relevance_Recs_API&recs_strategy=125&recs_referringPageType=category_page&fashionColor=PURPLE%20LEAGUE%20BLAZE
When I first started working out again I will tell you that I didn't just need to lose 10 lbs so it was not necessarily comfortable for me to wear tighter fitting pants and shirts that you would typically wear to workout. I just felt silly so I wore what I always wore when not dressed up. I wore really loose yoga pants a few sizes too big and a big baggy sweatshirt. I am not sure I even owned a decent sports bra. My first few workouts were MISERABLE. I was so overheated and was aggravated from fixing my bra and pulling my pants up the whole time it almost was not worth the effort. On the way home one day a friend very bluntly said you are going to have to drop the baggy clothes and sweatshirt. She was right and I will forever be thankful for her advice. I just had to get over it and once I did I was so much better for it!!
You see had I continued to have that same struggle workout after workout I may not have stuck with it. That would have just been one more thing to get in my way and at that time I did need anything else discouraging me. So I bought some actual workout pants that wick sweat and I sought advice on what types of shirts to buy and I bought one pair of pants, some socks, new shoes and a few tops. It sounds like and investment and I will tell you right now. IT IS. But in the best way. My advice is to start small with maybe even one good outfit. Then every month or every two months add a piece until you are stocked enough to get through the week with what you have in case you get caught up with work or kids and cannot wash. After almost 3 years I am just now getting stocked. I took it really slow since I stay home and don't work but part time I don't have a ton to spend on items but it is possible to get what you need on a budget if you pay attention and look for sales. Below I will list some of my favorite workout items. You may find your own and it may take a few times. Try everything on and if the fit is not right and it does not wick sweat don't mess with it. You want to set yourself up for success and being cool and comfortable is key! These are a few main components to get you going. Have fun getting a new outfit and then go ROCK that workout!!
Workout shirts I love- GapFit has great shirts. They are t shirt style and so soft and wick sweat. They are thin yet not see through. They are usually on sale at certain times and Gap runs online sales all the time. Keep an eye out. At outlets in the summer at the beach I can usually snag them for 9.99 each which is a great investment. They last!! Gap Fit Breathe V Neck Tee and Tanks. Copy and paste link
http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=142856292&vid=1&locale=en_US&kwid=1&sem=false&sdkw=gapfit-breathe-v-neck-tee-P142856&sdReferer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gap.com%2Fproducts%2Fwomens-workout-tops.jsp
Workout pants I love. I have fallen in love with a brand that Nordstrom sells called Zella. The great thing about Nordstrom is the typically have free shipping and free returns so you can order what you want. Try on and send it on back no sweat. I now have two pairs of the long leggings and plan to order a pair of the capris for summer. They are thick so you do not see through them yet they wick sweat as they need to and are not hot. They come in great patterns and colors. I wear a large in these and I feel like they fit true to size. They are LONG so you may just have to have them hemmed because I promise they hold you in at just the right spots, are cute and well made. They go on sale faily often for half price. If you follow Sheaffer Told me Too on Facebook she lets you know when Zella goes on sale or just watch the Nordstrom website! RIGHT NOW>>TODAY they are 34.80. I is much better than 3-4 pairs of cheap ones that still cost 10-15 each.
http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/zella-live-in-slim-fit-leggings/4334974?origin=related-4334974-60129314-4-ZELLA_BLP-Rich_Relevance_Recs_API-125&recs_type=related&recs_productId=4334974&recs_categoryId=60129314&recs_productOrder=4&recs_placementId=ZELLA_BLP&recs_source=Rich_Relevance_Recs_API&recs_strategy=125&recs_referringPageType=category_page&fashionColor=PURPLE%20LEAGUE%20BLAZE
Monday, March 7, 2016
Monday Devotional- Open Your Bible Week 2
This week is all about how we are to approach God's word or the TRUTH. Many of us use excuses to stay away from our bibles and this week there are some encouraging thoughts about approaching God's word that should make us feel more comfortable and at ease with sitting down with our bibles. Let's take a deeper look.
- We should approach God's word REVERENTLY. When you open your bible there should be a feeling that you are coming to a source of life giving words that are so powerful they have the ability to transform you! That is pretty exciting stuff. At the same token anytime you approach anything of such power you always want to approach with respect. Make sure you are in a quiet space that is just for you and your thoughts so that you have the correct mindset to really dig in and absorb all that God has in for store for you that particular day from his word. Outside of God himself, nothing is more powerful than God's word! And so nothing is more deserving of our respect and reverence that the Bible!
Take a look at what God's word is compared to in Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17.
2. We should approach God's word CONFIDENTLY. If you are a believer here
is a small sampling of what God's word says about you ( yes all of you).
- You are a child of God. (John 1:12)
- You are clothed with the righteousness of Jesus. (Isaiah 61:10)
- You are free! (Galatians 5:1)
- You are not condemned (Romans 8:1)
- You are a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
- You are LOVED. (Ephesians 5:2)
word lavishly says about us we still want to come up with reasons we are not qualified to open
our bibles! It is madness and I am begging you to stop what you are doing and look up and read all the verses listed above in your own bible with your own eyes. These are not IF AND THEN statements. If you will obey all my rules and guidelines I will love you. Or I am a child of God only if I always have the desire to open my bible. NO NO and NO! This statement and any other statement like it that you can come up with is false. They are made up
and we are putting words in God's mouth and making all of them qualifying statements. The
things that God says about us are always true no matter what because the sacrifice has already
been made on our behalf. That doesn't mean to not strive for what is good and right but for
heaven sakes please don't overlook God's abounding grace that just pours out for us and is
always there at our fingertips to remind us how special we are.
3. We should approach God's word REGULARLY. This should come as no shock that one of the
best ways to know God and know what his word so lovingly says about us is to open it
regularly. In Psalm 1 there is a comparison to a righteous person being like a tree planted by
streams of water. The tree and the stream they are in a relationship with each other. If the
streams water dries up the tree loses its life. It is an urgent and non negotiable relationship. The
same is true in our own lives. How can we expect our life not to wither and be dry if we do not
water our lives with God's word regularly. I want to know that I have been regularly watering
my life with God's word so that my roots are strong and able to withstand anything....even some
drier more difficult seasons that may have already come or will come. So how do we do this?
How do we make it a priority to sit down with our bibles every day? One of
the best things you can do is to create a space that is yours with all you will need for your quiet
time and then commit to a time. Act as if this is a meal just like any other breakfast, lunch or
dinner date. You would not skip a good meal that would nourish your stomach and make the
growling stomach go away would you? Then do not deprive your soul of 15-30 minutes each
day of some much needed watering. Make a commitment to yourself and you will see so much
fruit from this act in your life.
READ THROUGH PSALM 1
4. We should approach God's word PRAYERFULLY. Prayer is an absolute heart changer as the
book says. Through prayer we have direct access to say anything we need right to the creator of
the universe. How cool is that? Have you ever thought of it that way? What an honor to be able
to speak freely and honestly to the person who created me. He knows all my flaws and weakness
and with him there is no pretending only a 100% authentic relationship with the most
trustworthy one there is.
This is just a small sampling of what is talked about in the study for week 2. If you have the book there are some direct quotes scattered throughout. And there is more in depth question and scripture digging that you can get into. If you do not have the book go through and read some of the suggested passages and spend some time reading this week from God's word and feel good and confident about it! Drop the qualifications and know that God has a plan and a word to minister straight to you in whatever season you are walking through but you have to come to him first.
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Overcomer
Saturdays will always be about just giving you a little boost at the end of a long week and the beginning of a few days with your favorites to just enjoy and savor life. It's a beautiful day as we are in the beginning of March this is generally seen as a time of renewal. The things that were dead are coming back to life. There is new growth sprouting up everywhere. That new life is so encouraging and revitalizing. Take time today to really appreciate and notice the things in nature around you. Notice all that God is actively doing.
"I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have defeated the world!" (ERV)
I think this song is perfect for our Saturday motivation. Just listen to the song or get up and follow along for 5 minutes and get that body moving! YOU ARE AN OVERCOMER.....because the price has been paid for me and you. We should bask in that today and take those words to heart and be encouraged as the new life grows around us and the sun shines down on us today. We do not have to struggle or strive. Because he has overcome the world, we who are in him, have too!!! That is the good news my sweet friends!!! Now go live like and own this day like the OVERCOMER you are!
"I told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble. But be brave! I have defeated the world!" (ERV)
Friday, March 4, 2016
Friday Fast & Easy Meals-Breakfast
One of the easiest things in the WORLD for me to fix on a busy night or just on a night where I don't want to make it too complicated is breakfast. I have a ton of go to breakfast recipes but this is one we are using the heck out of these days. I have looked and looked for a good whole wheat waffle recipe that would actually taste good and I finally found one!!! I found this one on a page I follow on Facebook called 100 days of Real Food. She has a website as well that you can just type in and it will take you there. This page is a wealth of great information. I do not like every recipe I try so I am just passing on ones here that I have personally made and know my family eats!
The great thing about waffles is that with kids involved you can make this a fun thing for them! They can help you mix and make them. The you can make a waffle bar. Have toppings like fruit (think berries), maple syrup, chopped nuts, chocolate chips and for the kiddos a little dollop of whipped cream!
These also double as a perfect solution for on the go breakfasts! I make a double batch every week and a half to two weeks and trey and I eat one or two in the mornings with a half teaspoon peanut butter spread on like you would butter and top with strawberries and I use honey and he uses maple syrup. We freeze them and reheat in the toaster oven. They hold taste and shape perfectly as long as you put the freezer paper between each layer.
The great thing about waffles is that with kids involved you can make this a fun thing for them! They can help you mix and make them. The you can make a waffle bar. Have toppings like fruit (think berries), maple syrup, chopped nuts, chocolate chips and for the kiddos a little dollop of whipped cream!
These also double as a perfect solution for on the go breakfasts! I make a double batch every week and a half to two weeks and trey and I eat one or two in the mornings with a half teaspoon peanut butter spread on like you would butter and top with strawberries and I use honey and he uses maple syrup. We freeze them and reheat in the toaster oven. They hold taste and shape perfectly as long as you put the freezer paper between each layer.
Whole-Wheat Waffles
Serves: 4 - 5
Ingredients
·
2 large eggs
·
1 ¾ cups milk (I have used everything from skim milk to thick
buttermilk…so whatever you have on hand should work)
·
¼ cup oil (She used
melted butter and I use extra virgin olive oil)
·
1 tablespoon honey
·
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
·
¼ teaspoon baking soda
·
1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour (I used King Arthur’s organic white
whole-wheat flour)
·
2 teaspoons baking powder
·
⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
1.
Preheat your waffle iron.
2.
In a large mixing bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, oil, honey,
cinnamon, and baking soda until well combined.
3.
Add in the flour, baking powder, and salt and whisk together just
until the large lumps disappear.
4.
When the waffle iron is hot, dab it with a little butter and then
ladle some batter onto the center of the iron. Follow the instructions that
came with your waffle maker to know how long it should be cooked (mine takes
about 3 - 4 minutes each).
5.
Keep waffles warm until you finish cooking all of them. Top with
pure maple syrup and fruit. Enjoy!
Thursday, March 3, 2016
What's In Your Cup?
In our last health tips day we talked about a few things you really need to consider before you get started on your health and fitness journey. Once you have the heavier stuff out of the way and you are on a good path and know where you are going start trying to implement one change a month is my suggestion. Remember slow and steady.....we are in in marathon mode. For me one of the EASIEST things to assess and gain control of is what I drink. You can address this without much cost if any (you may even see a savings).
I love sweet tea deeply. It is something that I just think would be torturous to give up forever. I also feel like I need a coke or coffee from time to time because if you are alive surely once in a while you need a mid afternoon or morning pick me up. So working off the theory that we do not want this whole experience to be the death of all your happy dreams let's just consider we are working on modifying not cutting ALL excess.
I like to limit myself to one thing a day like coffee, tea or coke and then keep with water for the rest of the day. You can jazz the water up any way you like. Fresh lemon slices, cucumber slices. Really anything you can think of. You can have the drink of your choice at any point during the day but FOR THE LOVE do not upsize the drinks. That is what will really sock you with a ton of extra sugar is sizing up. For the coffee I like to add skim or 1 % milk instead of creamer and I like to sweeten with half teaspoon raw sugar or honey.
If you are going to drink cokes, teas and add sugar to coffee all indicators are that real is best. All these manufactured 0 calorie sweeteners are wreaking havoc on our bodies. They also just leave me feeling like I had a diet so I should just go on and have another real coke. It's an ugly downward spiral. Just stick with the real thing and a moderate size of it once a day and really savor it.
Now if you are a person that drinks multiple "other drinks a day" my suggestion is to cut one extra out a day. So if you have 5 "other" drinks in a day go down to 4. The next week take down one more. You get the point.
As far as water intake goes it takes time to get used to it. The guideline is to divide your body weight in half and drink that much water daily. Depending on your weight that may be a lot. Its ok if you cannot start out drinking say 50 ounces of water a day but just shoot for half. Any strides in the right direction no matter how small are GOOD!!!
The main thing that I stress and feel like I cannot stress enough is that you can make all the drastic changes you want but you will feel deprived and deprived people generally don't stick with it. I want desperately for you to see the bigger picture. Even if it takes you a year to make all the changes you need to for a healthier lifestyle that is ONE year which in the grand scheme of things is not a lot. The number of years you just added to your health and well being outweigh the slow start.
I have been getting some feedback saying this is helpful and useful and I LOVE that. I hope the format is good and I would love to get some questions on things you are curious about! That would also help give some further direction.
I love sweet tea deeply. It is something that I just think would be torturous to give up forever. I also feel like I need a coke or coffee from time to time because if you are alive surely once in a while you need a mid afternoon or morning pick me up. So working off the theory that we do not want this whole experience to be the death of all your happy dreams let's just consider we are working on modifying not cutting ALL excess.
I like to limit myself to one thing a day like coffee, tea or coke and then keep with water for the rest of the day. You can jazz the water up any way you like. Fresh lemon slices, cucumber slices. Really anything you can think of. You can have the drink of your choice at any point during the day but FOR THE LOVE do not upsize the drinks. That is what will really sock you with a ton of extra sugar is sizing up. For the coffee I like to add skim or 1 % milk instead of creamer and I like to sweeten with half teaspoon raw sugar or honey.
If you are going to drink cokes, teas and add sugar to coffee all indicators are that real is best. All these manufactured 0 calorie sweeteners are wreaking havoc on our bodies. They also just leave me feeling like I had a diet so I should just go on and have another real coke. It's an ugly downward spiral. Just stick with the real thing and a moderate size of it once a day and really savor it.
Now if you are a person that drinks multiple "other drinks a day" my suggestion is to cut one extra out a day. So if you have 5 "other" drinks in a day go down to 4. The next week take down one more. You get the point.
As far as water intake goes it takes time to get used to it. The guideline is to divide your body weight in half and drink that much water daily. Depending on your weight that may be a lot. Its ok if you cannot start out drinking say 50 ounces of water a day but just shoot for half. Any strides in the right direction no matter how small are GOOD!!!
The main thing that I stress and feel like I cannot stress enough is that you can make all the drastic changes you want but you will feel deprived and deprived people generally don't stick with it. I want desperately for you to see the bigger picture. Even if it takes you a year to make all the changes you need to for a healthier lifestyle that is ONE year which in the grand scheme of things is not a lot. The number of years you just added to your health and well being outweigh the slow start.
I have been getting some feedback saying this is helpful and useful and I LOVE that. I hope the format is good and I would love to get some questions on things you are curious about! That would also help give some further direction.
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