Five on Friday: Sneak Peeks

This winter weather is crazy!!! I won't complain though because it gives me extra time with my little Snickerdoodle and allows me to accomplish things that I might not otherwise get done. I'm excited to share some of these things with you in today's Five on Friday! Don't forget to browse other Five on Friday participants here!

[one]

I thought I'd share a couple sneak peeks of things to come. The first is a sneak peak of G's Valentine's Day dress. I was super excited to get it done on our unexpected Snow Day. While it's nothing fancy, I think it's absolutely adorable and I can't wait to get her in it!

[two]

The next sneak peek is also Valentine's Day related. I'm starting to put together items needed for G's Valentine goodies for her friends at the sitter.

[three]

On Tuesday we kept hearing about the winter storm spreading flakes of joy havoc winter weather across the southern states, the Carolinas and southern sections of Virginia. There was little excitement predicted for those of us nestled in Central VA. In fact, we were told to expect some flurries and in some areas, a light coating. Flurries were happening in the area all throughout the day. They continued into the evening. As the sun set, the snow became heavier. By the time I went to bed that night, we had more than just a "dusting" and by morning we had about an 1 1/2-2 inches. Snow Day!



[four]

For those who have not had a chance to hear or read my post, I am excited to announce that I am down 12.8lbs. I began this journey at the end of December. Check out my update and photos here!

[five]

I've got two fitness events coming up in the next couple of months. The first is my Fitness Minutes Challenge with my Spark Team for the month of February. If you're interested in joining in, stop by DONE at SparkPeople to get more info. The other event that I have coming up is the Run for Mercy 5k. This was supposed to take place last October, but was postponed until this Spring. I'm still waiting for the date but it is on my list of fitness goals this year. This race is taking place in several cities across the country so if you are interested, check them out!

About Mercy Ministries: Mercy Ministries provides a free-of-charge, voluntary Christian residential program to young women aged 13-28 who have been victims of physical and sexual abuse, including sex trafficking, as well as those who face life-controlling issues such as eating disorders, self-harm, drug and alcohol addictions, depression and unplanned pregnancy (this information can be directly found here).

I'm also considering doing the Camp Holiday Trails 5k in March, but I do not want to commit without knowing the date for the Mercy Run. I don't know much about this particular race so if anyone has any info, I'd love to know a little more about it.

I wish I could say I love to run...but I don't. My 5ks consist of a walk/jog alternation. I do try to push myself to run for longer periods each time. I just struggle with endurance. I did a few 5ks prior to my pregnancy but have done none since. Wish me luck!

Finding Calm in the Kitchen

Oh Thursday. I forgot to set my alarm...thank goodness for an early rising daughter. I got her dropped off by dawn's early light and headed to work. I was trying to figure out just what I was going to do considering we missed another day of school yesterday. It's always an adjustment when we miss school.

I was preparing to begin the day with my students and suddenly became really sick. The school nurse found someone to fill in so that I could leave. I left and went straight to our family doctor. After checking my blood pressure and blood sugar (which were fine) she decided to run a full blood work up. I haven't gotten any results yet, but I'm praying all is well and this was just a crazy fluke. I came home to rest and then later on picked up G from the sitter.

After getting her home and getting in some snuggle time, I decided I needed to just take tonight to really relax. While I feel guilty for neglecting the treadmill tonight, I know deep down this is what I need to do this evening.

In the midst of crazy, there are a couple of ways that I find solace. One is the outdoors and the other is in the kitchen. Since the weather is still pretty bitter I opted for the kitchen. When it comes to food, I dare not type cast. I can always find a way to make various foods work for any meal. Cupcakes for breakfast! Why of course! Chicken is another food that is often overlooked as a potential breakfast item. One of my favorite breakfasts is that of Chicken and Waffles...and after a conversation with my mom who was eating out at I-HOP, my mind was made up. I took a slightly different route however. I made some tasty French toast and decided I'd come up with a yummy chicken component. I had already thawed some drumsticks...what to do, what to do? The end result?

 

Finger-licking Brown Sugar Chicken!

 

 

Hear me out (and don't turn up your nose just yet). One of the best parts about Chicken and Waffles is the merriment of the chicken with the golden maple syrup (and if you are not a fan of C&W, I feel so sorry for you!). Now, it remains important that I monitor my sodium intake and I'm determined to find healthier versions of the things I love when possible. These two things are what spurred the following recipe:

 

 

Finger-licking Brown Sugar Chicken

 

Ingredients:

4-6 chicken legs

4tbsp butter

1tbsp brown sugar

 

 

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 400.

 

Melt the butter, combined with the brown sugar in a microwave bowl.

 

 

Pat the chicken dry and dredge through the butter mixture, making sure every square inch is covered in the golden goodness.

 

 

Place it in a baking dish (I always line mine with foil for easy clean up). Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the chicken is golden, the meat is no longer pink and the juices run clear.

 

 

Pair with whatever you'd like...may I suggest French toast or waffles? Enjoy!

 

 

Per Serving (2 drumsticks): 275 calories, 5 carbs, 23 fat, 20 protein, 481 sodium, 5 sugar (Nutrition Information determined by MyFitnessPal)

 

I hope you'll join me in tomorrow's Five on Friday. I've got some fun things in store! For now however, I'm heading to bed early, praying my test results come back A-Okay and that tomorrow will be uneventful.



Monthly Weight Loss Update with Pictures

Okay...here I go! This is my first ever weight loss blog post that includes pictures. I have always been super self conscious but I know that eventually these pictures will serve as motivation. I hope to some day look at these posts and think "I can't believe that was me!"

Eventually I hope to get to where I'm posting my weight, but until then I'll be posting the amount of pounds I've lost.

I began this journey on December 29th. This was spurred by a doctor's visit that resulted in post-pregnancy hypertension (crazy since up until my pregnancy I had never had blood pressure issues). Weight loss should help ease my high numbers, both blood pressure and BMI. This will also hopefully help as we begin thinking about adding another tiny human to our family. It has also been suggested that weight loss will help ease my PCOS symptoms. And if nothing else...I'll be able to fit into my clothes again...and hopefully add some fun, confident items to my wardrobe (I've been making a list)

Thanks to a lot of support from my hubby and close friends I'm making progress. I joined a January Fitness Minutes Challenge with SparkPeople (and have already signed up for the February challenge). I've also been faithfully tracking my food and exercise with the MyFitnessPal app. This has been almost painful at times as I see my food choices. It really helps me see what I'm eating. I've gained a much better grasp of portion control over the last few weeks. Weight loss is not easy but it can be done!

Okay. Enough. Here are this month's numbers...

From December 29-January 29 I have lost

January 2014

This was a picture of me in October 2013, 6 months postpartum. I know you can't tell by my face (or maybe you can) but those jeans were cutting off my oxygen. In fact, every pair of jeans I owned were really tight and uncomfortable. I could have lived in yoga pants. I'm proud to say that my jeans fit and button easily these days.

 

I've already encountered many difficult days that include some emotional eating (which I am also gaining control of) and some nights that I excused (made excuses for) myself from exercise. I find that when I am not constantly giving my portion control, contentment and exercise routine to the Lord that I quickly begin falling into old habits. Fortunately, God is always there to help me pick right back up...I hope that you too will look to Him for encouragement along whatever journey you may be traveling.

A Recipe for My Little Redhead

G has been eating more solid foods lately and I've been trying to expose her to new tastes and textures. I made some squash tonight so she'll experience that tomorrow after church. I've also been trying new ways to incorporate fruits and veggies in with some whole grains aside from my standard oats combination. With that in mind, I began browsing Pinterest and ran across this recipe for Toddler Muffins. It's similar to a muffin recipe that I have made in the past using just bananas. I decided to utilize her idea of combining fruits and veggies into one muffin. Here is my personal version...

Redhead's Muffins

 

Ingredients



2 eggs
1/4c water
1c whole wheat flour
1c old fashioned oats
2 bananas
1/4c applesauce
1/2tsp cinnamon
1tsp baking soda
1/2c butter, softened
1c sweet potatoes, mashed

Directions
Preheat the oven to 375.

In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, bananas, and applesauce together. Add the eggs. Mix in the flour, oats, cinnamon, and baking soda. Add the potatoes and water. Combine well.

Spray a mini-muffin pan with baking spray. Fill each cup 3/4 of the way with the batter. Bake for approximately 15 minutes. Let them set for 5-10 minutes, remove from the pan and place on a cooling rack to finish cooling.

These freeze well and will last a couple of days in the fridge.

Makes 48 mini muffins. Feel free to vary the types of fruits and veggies...you could even add puréed/finely minced proteins such as chicken.




















I'd say they were a big hit!

She's becoming my little kitchen helper more often these days. Maybe she'll have my love for cooking and baking!

Why It Works: 5 Must Haves in a Good Marriage

A picture from our anniversary session celebrating three years!
Big thanks to Shay White Photography

Prior to getting married we were given ample amounts of "advice". I remember someone telling us that the first 3 years of marriage will either make or break us...really? Looking back now, I wish I would have had the sense to have a conversation with that person. 3 years? Other people have said "the first year will be the hardest" or "watch out for the seven year itch"...don't those sentiments warm you all over? While my husband and I have only been married 5 years (which I hope is just a drop in the bucket of many, many years), we've lately been discussing what we feel makes our marriage work. We've watched many couples who have maintained beautifully blessed marriages and we believe we've tapped into some of the most foundational.

1: The Lord is our foundation. C and I were both Christians prior to ever knowing one another. In fact, it was our love of Christ and our love of children and the great outdoors that brought us together. We met at a Christian summer camp where we both were counselors. We were able to get to know one another without any pressure. In fact, when you work at a summer camp, it's likely the other person will often get to see you at your stinky, dirty, exhausted worst. As a dating couple, and continuing on through our marriage, we remain adamant that Christ stay the center of our relationship. He is Who brought us together and He is Who will keep us together.

2: Divorce. Say what?! Divorce is not an option. In fact it is not even in our vocabulary. Leaving is not a choice. Quitting will never be the answer. It is not used as a threat when life gets angry or hard. While divorce is often the end result as evidenced by The American Psychological Association and its reported 40-50% marriage failure rate, we refuse to become part of that statistic. As a child of divorce, I know the impact a failed relationship has on the children and all involved. We have made "until death do us part" the objective of our marriage, and while we pass no judgment on those who choose this option for whatever the reason, we also believe that God is bigger than anything we are facing. We also know that He can make beauty from ashes and we can have redemption through His grace in our circumstances, no matter what choice is made.

3: Dating. As a new, young couple, we had a distant dating relationship. While he lived in Virginia, I was away at college in Alabama. Over 500 miles separated us. We didn't really have the opportunity to date in the traditional sense. So...when we got married in 2008, we decided to make up for lost time, we'd spend the rest of our lives "dating" one another. This concept has become more challenging since the birth of  our daughter last Spring, but we still aim to keep it a part of our marital life. Our dates may consist of dinner and a movie or a night in with pizza by candle light. We used to take romantic weekend trips and hope to get back to that again soon. Dating does not have to be expensive or luxurious. It can be just as romantic and spontaneous without any major cost. Some of our favorite dates are picnics at some of our favorite outdoor locations, hikes, and revisiting areas that hold special memories for us.

4: Little things. Don't neglect the little things. I can't begin to describe how happy my heart gets when I come home after a long day to find the dishes washed or the laundry folded. The nights when he offers to give the baby her bath and put her to bed so I can have a little me time is treasured. Likewise, I love bringing him home his favorite treat (he's a huge fan of peanut m&ms) or cooking him his favorite meal. We take turns picking movies and we share the remote. Compromise is not a skill that is valued by the world but it is essential in a marriage.

5: Love and War. The last 'must have' I'll mention is the necessity of working through your problems. Communication is essential. Don't assume your spouse knows how you feel. Don't fool yourself into thinking he/she can read your mind. It doesn't work that way. Talk it out. Never go to bed or leave the other person while you hold anger in your heart. Above all, say "I love you." Those three little words can be overrated in a society that "loves" everything which is why it is so important to verbalize what it is you love in the other person. What do you value in your spouse? Does she know that you love the way she lights up a room? Does he know you love the way he holds you? The love between a husband and wife goes beyond the fancy frills and monetary things. It is a love that clings to the core of the heart.

When things get hard, remember why you fell in love with that person in the first place.

What types of things keep joy and stability in your marriage? What advice would you give to an engaged couple? May I suggest avoiding the seven year itch comment?

Five on Friday: Let It Snow!

This week was much shorter than anticipated thanks to the welcomed winter weather. The snow was gorgeous and with every flake, I was transported back to my childhood in northern Indiana...and while the amount we ended up getting was no where near the depth of that from my yesteryear, it did provide an opportunity for many fun activities. Please join me, Darci and others for this week's Five on Friday.

 

 

[one]

The week began with a lot of excitement. G finally got to experience snow!!! On Sunday we took a drive about 15 minutes from the house to show her some "good" snow. And then, much to our delight, we received snow on Tuesday! What fun! 

 

 

 

[two]

G had her 9 month well visit on Monday. She is growing like the cutest weed you've ever seen. Our doctor gave me advice on how to begin the transition from formula to more solids. We gave it our first true go on Tuesday. She did really well and did not seem to be hungry or miss her bottle as I had anticipated. She seems to be handling the transition well and is balancing her formula bottles well with her solid food and Sippy cup. She had her first bite of pasta...she's a fan!

 

 



[three]

Tuesday was a wonderful day to just hang out. My hubby was home and G was in bright spirits. I thought it would be great fun to work on a little art project to send to her Granna.

 

 

[four]

Yay for Friday! The first gathering of God's Girls at my church is happening tonight! I am thrilled to join an amazing group of Godly women leaders to work with this special group of young girls. There will be food, fun, a devotion, discussion and other wonderful things that you'd expect at an all girls' lock-in. (I can't stay for the lock-in but will definitely be there to hang out for a while...Woohoo!)

 

 

[five]

G's first Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and I've been searching for a simple idea to send with her for the other kids at the sitter's house. I ran across this idea from Cupcake Cutiees. I'll adapt it to meet my design taste but I love the sweet sentiment. So cute!

 



A night for Mexican Rice

It's been a long couple of days battling G's fever. It comes and goes and the only other symptom beside sleeping more is her runny nose. I took her to her 9 month well visit with her pediatrician today. She is healthy and looking good according to the doctor. There was no concern over her fever and just like most things at this age, this too shall pass.

I treated myself to Chick-fil-a (which I LOVE) and have not had in ages. I've been staying away from fried foods and haven't had any in quite some time. While the food was delicious, it felt heavy and not as satisfying as I once knew it to be. (Let me be clear, this is no reflection on the food...it was GREAT...it just goes to show that my body knows the difference now between what I should be eating and what I want to be eating.)

I opted for something lighter for dinner. It's really yummy and while it's not Taco Tuesday, I enjoyed a little ethnic flair anyway.

Mexican Rice

2 1/2 servings

1c. cooked rice (I used brown but you could use white)
6oz ground beef (I used venison), browned and drained
2 cloves of minced garlic
1tbsp EVOO
2tbsp tomato paste
1tsp cumin
1tbsp lime juice
1/8c low sodium chicken broth

Cook your rice as directed and set aside. Sauté the garlic in the oil. Add the meat. Cook until browned and then drain. Add the tomato paste, broth, and cumin. Mix well. Stir in the rice. Add the lime juice and mix well. Enjoy!

This is the first time I have tried this recipe. It was scribbled on a notepad so I'm not sure where it came from exactly. Next time I believe I'll add some red and green peppers, black beans and some corn for some additional color and flavor. Overall though, it was pretty good and has a lot of potential.

Just for Fun

While G does not sit and "watch" a lot of television, we do enjoy the music of DisneyJr. The Henry Hugglemonster theme song continues to be her favorite. I can break out in the chorus and she is bouncing, smiling and moving to the beat. I do end up singing it all day long...it's that catchy!