Inspiration

Anybody else ever make excuses for why you can't exercise?

"My hip/knee/back hurts."

"I'm not athletic."

"I'm too weak."

There are so many reasons NOT to do it, but none of those reason are better than the reasons to GET FIT!

I found this video on Pinterest today.  If this man can get up out of his chair and dance like this, why can't I do more?  This is great inspiration!

Now, GET UP AND MOVE!

Goal!!!!!

 I hit my first goal today!!!  That goofy little voice on the wii fit has been taunting me all month and I FINALLY did it!  I lost my first 5 pounds.  Now I can get a mani/pedi!

I set 5 pound goals for myself.  Every time I lose 5 pounds, I get a reward.  And I can't have anything like that until then.
Next up, 10 total pounds lost and some new Vera Bradley!!!  If you know me, you know I'm a Vera junkie.  I haven't bought any in a while and I'm ready!
What do I need?  Maybe a sarong?

STRONG

I have an entire board on Pinterest called Strong.  It is dedicated not to getting skinny or looking hot but to becoming the best physical me I can be.  And with that, I want to become mentally healthy about my body and health.
I was a skinny little kid until I hit puberty and suddenly curves appeared everywhere.  I had a few somewhat thin moments between middle school and my early twenties, but I've spent the last 10 years wishing I was thinner.  I have tried all kinds of fads for a few weeks at a time and now I'm done!  Did you hear me?  DONE!!!
I've decided that skinny cannot be my goal. Looking hot won't change my life (because my hubby already thinks I am).  But, being healthy can change my life. And so can feeling comfortable.  And if I can get strong and accomplish things I couldn't even do at my thinnest might just encourage somebody else to get healthy too.
Between healthier chooses in my food and exercising 6 days a week, I'm starting to see a difference.  I took picture of myself (that I'm nowhere near ready to share) on February 6 and again today.  In 18 days I can already see a slight difference.  But, the biggest difference I see so far is the look on my face.  I looked so SAD in the first set and hopeful in the second.  I can't wait to see how I'm doing 18 days from now!
Here are some of the inspirational pins I've found so far:

Super Healthy, but Tastes Like a Treat!

I have been going crazy with recipes I have pinned.  Last night I made the Thai Chicken recipe I've tried before and I tried something new too!  I made Simple Perfection Sweet Potatoes.  (And this blog looks like it has more really great recipes too!)

This is what hers look like.

This recipe couldn't have been any easier and it couldn't have tasted better!  I baked them on my Pampered Chef Stoneware for a total of about 45 minutes.  I could have eaten them all! We had them as a side, but they tasted like dessert to me.  It was the perfect ending to a great meal.

I especially enjoyed how the peel just came off in a ring.  It's really the small things, isn't it?

And, if you like my dishes, here's some more information about them!

Positive Thinking Thursday

I'm feeling fairly positive today!  The only negative thoughts I'm harboring are about reaching my goal of losing 5 pounds by next Tuesday.  I set that goal earlier in the month, but I'm still 1.8 lbs away.  I'm afraid I won't make it.

So...

What happens if I don't reach my goal?  Will the world end?  Will I miss out on anything?

NOPE!  If I don't reach it, at least I know I'm working towards it.  I know I will get there because of my dedication and self-control.  And I've got to give God the credit for that.

I found this pin on Pinterest that asks different health questions.  Now that I've been at it for over 2 weeks without any cheats or skipping workouts, I decided to try to answer some of them.

Here are some thoughts and the Bible passages I have found to back this all up.  I want to be clear that this isn't all of my own doing.  I've prayed and prayed for God to help me practice self-control, which is a fruit of the Spirit.  I know I have the knowledge and resources to make the best choices, but I've got to have His help to succeed.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  Do you not know your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?

1. What keeps me going to reach my goal?

     I like having small goals.  I can handle a little bit at a time because I can experience achievement and that is encouraging.  I know God wants me to be fit and healthy, so doing the right thing is motivating as well.  I want to be a wife of noble character and she's got to be strong! (Proverbs 31:17)

     The feeling of strength I have already experiences in two weeks makes me want more of it.  I want to create a legacy of health and strength for my family.  I want to encourage other women to do this.  If I can do it, anyone can get healthy!

2. What is my favorite healthy breakfast?

     I enjoyed the fried eggs I had yesterday.  I like having fruit and peanut butter or greek yogurt too.  I've found a few recipes, such as broiled grapefruit, that I'd like to try too.  I'm excited to learn to make healthier foods more often too!

3. Favorite lunch and dinner?

    Right now I'm enjoying Thai Chicken over spinach.  It is pretty easy to make and its enough for our dinner and a lunch or two later in the week.  I'm having a lot of fun just trying something new every time I cook.  There are so many plant-based options out there that I've never even tried.

     Genesis 1:29 God gave us every seed-bearing plant to be food for us.  He made it all good.

     Philippians 3:19 Is your stomach your god?  I'm guilty of making food an idol.  That feels weird to put out there for others to know, but it's true. I love food way too much.

     Proverbs 23:2-3 This even tells us to put a knife to our throat if we are given in to gluttony.  Whoa...no thanks.

4.  My #1 motivational tip?

     Find the right reason FOR YOU!  I think Biblical reasons are pretty good, but God has a different way of getting everyone's attention.  What is it going to take for you to change your MIND?  When your mind changes, your body follows.  My reason is to be healthy and fit, but more importantly, to learn discipline and self-control.  I want to stop letting food and laziness be my god.  My desire is to live the abundant life that God has for me.

     Romans 5:3-4  From our hard work, we learn perseverance, and therefore, character and character breeds hope.  I want all of those characteristics.

5. How much progress have I made towards my goal?

    I feel like I've already met my most challenging goal - to change my mind!  I went to that ladies' retreat and stuck to my healthy eating and exercise.  

     As far as my weight-loss goals, they don't seem to matter as much anymore.  I still want to achieve them, but I know they will come.  I just want to continue to challenge myself physically and educate myself about nutrition.

     James 5:11 Job persevered and God brought about much mercy and compassion.

     James 1:3 My faith is being tested because the weight is not "falling off" like I want it to.  But testing leads to perseverance.  I want to learn to keep at it even when it is difficult.

Those are the only questions I've really spent time on so far.  I'm sure I'll do some revising and re-visiting from time to time.  Thanks for taking time to read my thoughts!

Love Map

I found a pin for a cute idea using old maps.  We have an anniversary coming up and I'm always looking for cute and creative ways to celebrate or marriage.  I found the tutorial here, but I changed how I did it a little.

Here is how hers looked:

Here is how mine looks:

I found the white frames at a Kirkland's outlet for about $4 each. I love them!  They are exactly what I wanted!  I simply found each place on mapquest, printed them out, and cute a heart shape out of each.  I cut out a rectangle of burlap just a big larger than the glass in the frame and popped it all in there.  I used a chalk marker to write directly on the glass.  So easy!  So cute!

                           

Now, I'll just wrap them up and let the hubby decide where to hang them.  I hope he loves them as much as I do!

I did it!!! 14 Days of dedication.

I am a slug.  I have a hard time finding a work out that isn't so challenging that I give up or so easy that it doesn't challenge me enough.  I want to get fit - toned, strong, and healthy.  So, I decided to eat low-carb and get moving.
I found a pin from Prevention Magazine for a 14 day workout that included strength training and walking.

  So, 14 days ago I started it.  I have walked with friends, alone, in my apartment, in the mountains, and in parking lots.  I have been dedicated to trying this out.  I even brought my running shoes and weights with me to a retreat in the mountains.
I should have measured when I started, but I guess I didn't think I'd actually stick to something.  Or maybe I didn't believe it would make a difference.  I can tell you that my jeans that were too tight fit well today.  I've lost 5 pounds and all of my body feels tighter.  This works! I plan to continue for another 2-week cycle and then maybe try to find another workout that I can enjoy this much that is a little more challenging.  I think I'll be ready for it!

Coaster Tutorial

I found a pin for making coasters from tiles you can buy at Home Depot or Lowe's, but the link is now gone.  So, I'll just share how I did it.
First, I went to Lowe's and looked on a clearance shelf for tiles.  The tutorial I read said she found them for $0.16, but I paid about $0.30 for each of mine.  Still cheap!
I used Hard Coat Mod Podge and ribbon to make a set of coasters, but the ribbon was really too thick to make a good seal on the smooth coasters. I like how they looked, but they aren't very functional.  Also, the ribbon eventually peels off.

                       


So then I tried punching shapes out of paint chips.  Again, they don't stay as well and you don't get a smooth finish.  I think its because the paint chips can't soak up the mod podge.

Finally, I used card stock to print out the lyrics from our first dance at our wedding.  I slathered the Mod Podge on and placed the cut card stock on top of the tile.  Then I slathered some more.  I had some tiny hearts I had punched out of paint chips, so I added a pink one to my coaster and a blue one to the hubby's coaster.

We use them daily and they have held up very well.  Every once in a while, you can see a ring, but it can be wiped off with a damp paper towel.  (You can see that its time to wipe in the photo!)

Materials:
Hard Coat Mod Podge
Sponge or paint brush
Cheap tiles
Card Stock or scrap book paper

The process:
1. Clean the tile with an alcohol swab and let dry.
2. Cut whatever paper you are using to fit your tile.
3. Spread the Modge Podge directly onto the top of the tile.  And by spread I mean slather.  Really coat that sucker!
4. Place your paper on top of the Mod Podge and slather some more.
5. Let dry at least 24 hours before using.

That's it!  Very easy and cute.  These would make a great gift too.  Maybe even a wedding gift with invitations or photos?

FAT Tuesday

Happy Mardi Gras!  I wish I was in NOLA with all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins celebrating today.  Instead, I'm at home feeling FAT on this Fat Tuesday.
I've been so proud of myself lately for sticking to my low-carb diet and exercising 6 days a week.  I even went on a retreat in the mountains this weekend where I was locked in a cabin for 4 days with M&Ms, chips, muffins, and all kinds of other carbs.  I didn't cheat on my diet once.  I'm on Day 13 of an exercise program and I haven't missed a work-out yet.  I've had more energy and felt stronger.  It has been a great 2 weeks.

Until today...

For some reason, my weight is up, I feel bloated, I want to eat a giant bowl of cereal and follow it with a loaf of french bread.  I'd also like to eat an entire King Cake, including the baby.

What's up with that???  I'd love to hear from other people who have done the low-carb route.  Is it normal to go up in weight after a couple of weeks?  Is it normal for cravings to return and the "carb bloat" to come back?  Is there something I'm eating that is sabotaging my work???
Help!

Low Carb Pizza

I'm trying to make low-carb eating my new way of life, but there are some things I just don't want to give up...and neither does the hubby.  I found a pin for this low-carb pizza recipe that looked interesting.  The crust consists of cream cheese, eggs, parmesan cheese, Italian spices, and mozzarella.  Sounds weird?  I thought so too.  But I'm willing to try things that sound weird in these early stages of my new culinary lifestyle.

I followed the directions for the crust carefully and this is what it looked like out of the oven!  Isn't she pretty?  I wish I had started sooner so I could have let it cool completely and dry out a bit before adding my toppings and baking some more.

I had forgotten to pick up pizza sauce at the store, so I used a jar of pesto I had in the pantry. I don't recommend that on this crust.  It was way too oily and the flavor of the crust would be better complimented by plain pizza sauce.  I topped it with turkey pepperoni and canadian bacon.  I added some olives to my side too and then covered it with cheese. 

The hubs ate half of this!  I loved the crust, but not the toppings I chose.  I think I'll go with pizza sauce and more veggies next time.  

I WILL be trying this again!

Here is what the recipe picture looked like:

Positive Thinking Thursday

I'm seriously going to try this every Thursday.
Today I'm leaving for a ladies' retreat in the mountains with 23 other ladies from church.  It's my first retreat with this group and I'm excited!  Satan, of course, is trying to get in my mind and make me nervous about it.  Why am I nervous?  No logical reason.
But if I had to list the reasons:
1. I'm on Day 8 of my new diet/exercise routine and I'm proud of myself for sticking to it and working hard.  I'm afraid I'm going to get off track and ruin my exercise and eat junk.
2. What if I say something stupid?  I'm pretty sure I'm not as good of a Christian as these other ladies.
3. What if I don't like it?  I'm trapped!

So, here is the positive thinking...
1. I'm excited to be able to face these challenges and defeat them. I'm going to feel so good when I head home on Sunday having eaten well and gotten my exercise in. I'm going to the store to stock up on healthy low-carb food to bring with me.
2. Who doesn't ever say something they wish they could shove back in their mouths?  God knows my heart and he knows I love him. These ladies won't care how silly I am, they will know how much I love God!
3. You get what you give!  I'm going to have a great time because I'm going to have a great time!

Crockpot Minestrone

I found a pin from Skinnytaste.com for Minestrone in the crock pot.  I've always liked minestrone.  It's hearty, but full of healthy ingredients.

Well, I think I got carried away when I was dumping things into the slow cooker!  I added WAY too much pasta!  The "soup" had a good flavor, but ended up more like minestrone flavored pasta salad!
Since I'm trying to be as low-carb as I can, I think I'll leave out the pasta and add more beans next time.  Maybe some kidney beans and even some black beans (and probably more celery).  I did add ground turkey this time.  My hubby offered to brown the turkey since I wasn't feeling well.  I was worried that it wouldn't be tasty since he didn't season it, but it took on the flavors from the rest of the soup well.
I'll probably try it my way very soon!

Shredding Chicken

This is seriously one of my favorite tips I've learned on Pinterest.  I cook a whole lot of chicken and I love to make chicken salad.  I also have a chicken enchilada recipe that my husband loves.  But, I HATE to shred chicken with 2 forks or stand at the counter forever cutting the chicken into tiny pieces.
Then, I came upon a pin about shredding chicken.  My life has changed!!!
Ok, so that's a little dramatic, but I am so happy I found this.  Did you know you can put chicken breasts in your kitchenaid while they are still warm and have shredded chicken in about 30 seconds?  Now, some of you may be shaking your heads and laughing because you've been doing this for years, but those of you who didn't know...you're welcome!

Chicken and Dumplings

Eh.
It was good, but not our taste.  Before I tell you why, let me tell you what it is.
I found a pin with a recipe for Chicken and Dumplings...in the crock pot!  Well, what good southern wife doesn't make chicken and dumplings for her hubby?  I gathered my ingredients and wrassled my giant crock pot out of the cabinet it resides in.  I started dumping everything in before I realized I only had 1 of the 2 cans of cream of chicken that the recipe calls for.  I did have a can of broccoli cheese soup, so I used that.  It gave the dish an interesting touch.
The chicken was very tasty and very tender, but the dumplings just weren't for us.  I prefer Cracker Barrel dumplings!  Plus, using canned soups adds a lot of extra sodium.  Neither of use like a lot of salt, so it was a bit much.
I may make chicken using the recipe, but with my own cream soup base and without the dumplings.  That way it would be low-carb too.  I think it would be pretty similar to my grandmother's chicken stew recipe then.  Hm...maybe that will be on the menu next week!

Alpha Gamma Delta and me

This doesn't actually have anything to do with what I found on Pinterest, but I want to do it anyway.  So there.
Today I went back to my college, the University of Montevallo, for an Alpha Gam reunion.  This has been in the works for a while, but I didn't ever think I'd actually go for several reasons.  Most of it was thinking I hadn't done anything much to be proud of...my pride.
I'm so glad I went!  Nobody cared what my job is, where my house is, or how expensive my car is.  They don't care that I am divorced and remarried or that I don't have any children of my own.
We were all just so happy to see each other and to hear that everyone is happy and successful in their own ways.  We spent some of the best days of our lives together and will always have a special bond.

Here are some things I learned today:
1. I am now a "Ma'am."
2. I am middle-aged.
3. Three flights of stairs never get easier.
4. Taking risks are usually well worth the risk.
5. Old friends are always friends.
6. I can still fit into my jersey, but it sure doesn't look the same!
7. Alpha Gam WILL always be a part of me.

Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken

Yum!!!
I've been trying to cook only healthy foods lately.  In fact, I've diagnosed myself as insulin resistant and I've cut WAY back on the carbs, especially bad carbs - more on that later.  I've scoured Pinterest for recipes that would satisfy my family.
This recipe from Pipandebby was easy to prepare, easy to find foods to go with it, and impressive to everyone at the table.  I cooked some spanish rice for everyone else, sliced some avocado, and served low fat refried beans with it.
It had a kick to it, but not too much.  The flavor cooked all the way through the chicken (which doesn't always happen) and there was plenty of sauce left to pour over the rice and beans.  The cool and creamy avocado was a great compliment to the spicy chicken.

Pipandebby

Valentine Decor

I saw this pin in December and couldn't wait for it to be Valentine's Day!  I love the simplicity of it and the use of color.  It is so sweet and whimsical.

I have a lot of empty glass bottles and already had the bamboo skewers, but I wanted to use some cute milk bottles that I found in the Target dollar section a couple of year ago.  I bought felt (4 for $1.00) at Hobby Lobby and cut out 4 hearts from each color.  I broke the skewers into different lengths and glued a heart to each side of the skewers.  I think I like the hearts in the original picture better, but they look stuffed and sewn.  My way was much easier!

My Hearts!

Positive Thinking Thursday

That's Thursday's new name.  Now that I've decided to blog about my Pinterest addiction, I've had some thoughts.  Wanna hear them? Hear we go...


I saw this quote on TechCrunch: 


"Pinterest... where hot fitness models frolic among travel dreams and crockpot recipes."




Ha!  It's true!  It is easy to feel inferior or unproductive when you spend so much time looking at all the fabulous things other people are making/cooking/doing/going/being.  I don't know that I've ever consciously looked at Pinterest and felt bad, but maybe I have.  I tend to see it as more of a motivator or inspiration.  I've seen a lot of health and beauty tips that I've tried and loved. I've found recipes that made healthy eating taste a lot better in this house.  It has been a way for me to share my creative side with people all over. I love it!
Obviously, I'm not the only one who loves it.  Pinterest has more than 10 million unique visitors each month now!

So, on this first POSITIVE THINKING THURSDAY of mine, what do you have to share with the world?  What would your hallmark pin be?  We've all got something that the world needs to see!  What's yours?

A new FAVORITE!

I found this recipe on Pinterest and i piqued my interest.  This blog is so cute too!  Anyway, I've decided that I am insulin resistant, which is also called pre-diabetic.  Scary!  My mother is diabetic and so was her mother.  I'm going to break the cycle and be healthier!  Anyway, this recipe fit right into my plan.
I did break a few of her rules.  I didn't have fresh basil, so I used dry Italian basil.  I'm sure fresh Thai basil would be even tastier.  I also used already ground chicken.  I think I'd like it better starting with whole chicken breasts, but it was so much easier the way I did it.  I also didn't have Thai chiles, so I used jalapeno instead.

K and I both like it.  I LOVED it!  I was easy, filling, and healthy.  I think I will make this often.  I may try out some other ways to use the basic form of this recipe with different flavors.  Maybe I'll try a Mexican theme next time. K can have it in a taco or burrito form and I'll have it over spinach again.

Cajun Kale Chips

So, I've heard for a while that kale is a superfood.  To me, that means it tastes funny and is too expensive. Well, I found a recipe for Kale that included the word Cajun, so I decided to give it a shot.  I used Old Bay Seasoning because it's what my Grandpa would have used!  That smell reminds me of childhood in Slidell!  Tony Chachere's would be good too!  I plan to try other flavors now too.  Maybe a greek seasoning or asian seasoning?

And I'm so glad I did!  It tasted wonderful and was actually pretty filling.  My favorite pieces were the ones that had gotten completely crispy.  I baked mine for 10 minutes because I didn't want to burn it, but I think I will bake it a bit longer next time so it's all crispy.  

Kale is now permanently on my grocery list!

Arnold Palmer Cake

My Mom's birthday is in July.  This year, i wanted to be the one to make her cake.  She loves fruity desserts, especially lemon, so when I found this recipe, I knew it was a winner!

This cake was a hit with Mom and everyone else!  I want to find a way to get more of the sweet tea flavor in the frosting though.  Maybe I'll start with more tea and cook it down a little longer.

The recipe didn't say that it needed to be refrigerated (because of the filling) and I didn't think about it until it was too late.  I was VERY sad to have to toss what was left.

I would make this again!  It's a great summer treat!

 Mom can't have candles with her oxygen, so she blew out her lemon!

Washing my face with oil

I wrote a post about being a natural woman a while back.  This pin from Pinterest is part of that inspiration.  Well, I've been washing my face with oil for almost 3 months now and the results are fantastic!  I've mixed 1 part olive oil with 1 part castor oil and it seems just right for my skin.  During really cold weeks, I've needed a little more olive oil to keep my skin from feeling dry.  Everyone once in a while I'll use Skin Rever-Upper from Bare Minerals to keep it smooth.
I smooth the oil on my face while my shower is warming up.  I get a washcloth hot and lay it over my face for about a minute.  I then rinse the washcloth and lightly wipe/scrub my face to remove the oil.  It feels great and works well.
I was keeping it in a baby food jar on my counter until a trip to Honduras in December.  Those suckers don't seal up so well in the luggage, apparently.  While we were in a third world country, I didn't really have access to olive oil and castor oil so I washed my face with bar soap.  My skin broke out like never before.  I decided to use Cetaphil after we got back in hopes that it would clear up.  NOPE!  As soon as I went back to my oil mixture, my skin started behaving itself again.  I don't think I'll ever use another facewash again!

Picnik can't go!

I used Picnik with my 5th graders in the photography and scrapbooking club and they loved it.  I was familiar with the ability to edit photos using the website, but I didn't know it could make stuff like this.

I'll be making as many of these as I can until Picnik closes in April.  What else do I need to make?

After April, I will see what this pin has to offer!