WHAT'S ON MY MIND...

Hello Everyone - I know I have been quiet lately. I am dealing with soooo many personal things right now, my head is swimming!!! To catch you all up to date... My husband took a new job after being  in the one he was in for 13 years. This has been a blessing and also a HUGE transition. Although his schedule is not that different, there are changes and it has made our family have to alter our schedule a bit. 


Also, I have a confession to make... something I have been struggling with for the past 6 months and can't seem to get a hold of it. Remember that 50 pounds I lost? Well, I have gained half of it back and can really tell a difference in my health! ACK! Lack of energy, the way I feel about myself - over all ICK!!! While I can not blame the weight loss plan I was doing, it is ALL my own doing... I failed to follow through with the transition period and began over eating again. The good news about weight loss - is that I can do it again! After praying over it for a few months now, I have decided to go on the new Weight Watchers plan! I need something that I can eat all foods - and learn more about portion control, eating healthy foods and doing things in moderation.... I have issues with that! I tend to be an all or nothing type person - so it is something I am working through. Since this is the way I am planning to eat, I will be sharing more recipes, tips, etc here as I learn them and return to a more healthful way of living!!! I will also be looking at my life style with a Biblical Perspective and sharing what the LORD will show me through that process as well.


Another change in my life...is one of the reasons I wanted to blog is because I wanted to share my faith, what the LORD is doing in my life, to be an encouragement and share what I love doing. I feel I have fallen away from all of that and the whole blogging process has become WORK and when I look at that it saddens me. If you look back at the past 3-4 years of blogging you can see the transition. I do not want the whole process of blogging to become about "me" but more about what the LORD is doing through me. I will continue to promote product, materials and stamping - but I want it to be more about the LOVE of what I am doing and the LOVE of why I am truly here in the first place. It is so easy to lose our focus and to just become overly busy - isn't it?


Yesterday, I was having a major pity party. In the midst of that pity party the Lord sent me to Oneplace.com and I saw this message. It was such an encouragement to me, although I must confess I didn't fully get over my pity party until I went to bed and woke up this morning and had a quiet time with the LORD. It is so easy to get wrapped in myself and what I am going through -and not focus on the LORD. 


I am reading through Proverbs with a friend of mine and read that this morning, but then went back to Habakkuk 3 from yesterdays message and read through that a few times - making it MY prayer rather than reading it as Habakkuk's prayer. At the end, the LORD gave me Habakkuk 3:17-19 here is what it says... such HOPE and ENCOURAGEMENT!


Habakkuk 3:17-19 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 

The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, 

he enables me to tread on the heights.

OK! I must scoot off for now - busy day of cleaning! I appreciate you stopping by! I will be sharing a card here in a few hours. Several are made, but I want to make this a separate post! I hope you have a blessed day!

44 Questions and my Weight Loss Journey

Here are 44 ODD things about ME! This is an e-mail that is circulating so I thought I would share here...

Learn 44 things about me you probably could care less about! LOL

1. Do you like blue cheese? No *ICK*
2. Have you ever smoked? not really - but I didn't inhale. So that doesn't count, right?
3. Do you own a gun? hubby does - it is an antique that they do not make shells for any longer.
4. What flavor of Kool Aid is your favorite? Strawberry. It makes my lips RED! LOL
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? Am I taking my children with me? They stress me out sometimes.
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Ehhh- they are all right, I wouldn't CHOOSE to eat them.
7. Favorite Christmas movie? Santa Clause with Tim Allen we watch this every Christmas with our children.
8. Favorite thing to drink in the morning COFFEE! I LOVE COFFEE!
9. Can you do push ups? Maybe one, I am out of shape and working on getting back into shape...
10. Do you wear a lot of jewelry? No, only earrings, wedding ring and a necklace.
11. Favorite hobby? Is this really a question? ROFL Ummm Reading and stamping
12. Do you have A.D.D.? honestly - I think so!
13. What's one trait you hate about yourself? I am needing to slow down for sanity's sake as I get older.
14. Middle name? Marie
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: I should be going to bed soon, I can't wait to read my book, I am glad the children are in bed, I love quiet!
16.Name 3 drinks you regularly drink. coffee, water, Dt. Coke
17. Current worry? Taxes- yuck!
18. Current hate right now? POLITICAL ADS
19. Favorite place to be? Home in my stamp room or snuggling with my gremlins.
20. How did you bring in the new year? We had friends over to play games.
21. Where would you like to go? Hawaii or Australia
22. Name three people who will complete this: ??? not posting on my e-mails - if you fill this out Let me know and I will come read it! LOL
23. Do you own slippers? yes! I am wearing them now.
24. What shirt are you wearing? Ballet Blue Sweatshirt
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? not really - they are too slippery
26. Can you whistle? YES
27. Favorite color? RED
28. Would you be a pirate? No, but I could be a Pirate who doesn't do Anything! heehee
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? Praise songs, but normally that is my prayer time for whatever given friend needs it during that season.
30. Favorite Girl's name: Lilly
31. Favorite boy's name : Noah
32. What's in your pocket right now? No pockets
33. Last thing that made you laugh? My hubby's sarcasm at lunch
34. What vehicle do you drive? Hyundai Entourage Van
36. Do you love where you live? No, but I am thankful for it!
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 4
38. Who is your loudest friend? Well, she has the loudest most infectious laugh and I LOVE HER - Andrea!!!!
39. Do you have any pets? 2 dogs, 2 cats, 1 fish, 2 frogs
40. Does someone have a crush on you? HA!!!!!!!! my hubby! I told him he did. LOL
41. Your favorite book? my Bible
42. Do you collect anything? Nope
43. Favorite Sports Team? None
44. What song do you want played at your funeral? Praise music and hymns - I can not think of the name (it is past my bedtime) of the songs right now! lOL

If you decide to fill this out - let me know!

Now onto other news...as far as my weight loss journey - I am down 9.5 pounds! WOOHOO! I need to step up my activity a bit. I have been doing great on portion control, not eating junk food and really watching what I am eating. Activity has been 3 -4 days a week but I know I need to bump up the intensity AND the frequency.

Thank you for stopping by! Have a fabulous day!

Grilled Cinnamon Peaches Recipe - Weight Watchers

Grilled Cinnmon Peaches - recipe from WW
3 serving butter-flavor cooking spray
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
4 large peach(es), peeled, halved and pitted
Instructions
Off heat, lightly coat grill grate with cooking spray; preheat grill to medium-high heat.
Sprinkle cinnamon evenly over cut sides of peaches; lightly coat with cooking spray.
Place peaches on grill, cut side down. Grill until browned and slightly softened, about 5 minutes. (For best results, do not move the peaches during grilling; this will ensure the attractive grill marks and keep the peaches from sticking to the grill.)
Turn peaches over and grill on other side for about 3 minutes more; serve warm. Yields 2 peach halves per serving.

Did you know? Why do People Use Cinnamon?
Besides using it in cooking, cinnamon is also thought to have health benefits. In traditional Chinese medicine, Cassia cinnamon is used for colds, flatulence, nausea, diarrhea, and painful menstrual periods. It's also believed to improve energy, vitality, and circulation and be particularly useful for people who tend to feel hot in their upper body but have cold feet.
In Ayurveda, cinnamon is used as a remedy for diabetes, indigestion, and colds, and it is often recommended for people with the kapha Ayurvedic type.
It's a common ingredient in chai tea, and it is believed to improve the digestion of fruit, milk and other dairy products.

What is the Scientific Evidence for Cinnamon's Health Benefits?

Recent studies have found that cinnamon may have a beneficial effect on blood sugar.
One of the first human studies was published in 2003 in a medical journal called Diabetes Care. Sixty people with type 2 diabetes took 1, 3, or 6 grams of cinnamon in pill form daily, an amount roughly equivalent to one quarter of a teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of cinnamon.
After 40 days, all 3 amounts of cinnamon reduced fasting blood glucose by 18 to 29%, triglycerides by 23 to 30%, LDL cholesterol by 7 to 27%, and total cholesterol by 12 to 26%.

My mom told me some of that information - she is soooo smart! Not that I would have thought that as a teenager, but now that I am the ripe old age of 39, I can appreciate her more. :)

Now - I weigh in on Fridays and I have held onto my weigh in information due to just over all busyness. Last week's weigh in went quite well! I was down 1 pound.

This week has been rough emotionally. You would think that from reading posts the past few months that my life is full of drama. It normally isn't but we are on a wild ride lately! So with all of this drama - junk food has been calling me like crazy! In my head, I have been saying, while I do not have control of my circumstances - I can control what is going into my mouth! YIPPEE - VICTORY I haven't caved and ate the box of cookies that I wanted to devour!

Thanks for listening. Have a great day!

Joined Weight Watchers plus a Recipe

Ok, you may know that I am a bit fluffy. :) My husband has recently come across some health issues that the doctor said that he would benefit from if he lost weight. So my man is GUNG-HO to lose weight. He of course is dropping the pounds like there is nothing to it.

Honestly, I didn't work too hard at it the first week. But did end up with a half of a pound loss. Better than a gain! :) My first goal is to lose 10 pounds. I am starting out small, because I have struggled A LOT the past 2 years in losing weight and if I keep looking at the BIG number, I will get overwhelmed.

My friend Carrie is a HUGE inspiration to me and has a GREAT website on healthy living! You would not know it anymore by looking at her now, but she used to struggle with her weight too!

I will be checking in periodically with an update about my weight loss. If you want to join me in a little support group for weight loss, I have one started but have not done anything with it in quite some time! Let me know by posting here and we can get it going again. I will give away some BLOG CANDY each time I make a goal!

I will share an assortment of our family's favorite recipes here - some healthy, maybe some not
Here is a healthy recipe for this week!

I love apples!!!! This one comes from the Weight Watchers website today and I will be making it...
Apple-Pear Crisp
POINTS® Value: 4
Servings: 9
Preparation Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 50 min
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients
1 sprays cooking spray
1 pound apple(s), Granny Smith, cored, cut into 1-inch-thick slices
1 pound pear(s), Bosc and/or Bartlett, cored, cut into 1-inch-thick slices
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
4 Tbsp dark brown sugar, unpackedTopping
1 large egg(s)
6 Tbsp dark brown sugar, unpacked
1/4 tsp table salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup rolled oats
6 Tbsp light butter, melted

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Coat a 9- X 9-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray.

Place apple and pear slices in a medium bowl. Toss with lemon juice and sugar; set aside.
To make topping, in another medium bowl, beat egg. Add sugar, salt and cinnamon; mix to combine. Add oats; mix well.

Spoon fruit into prepared baking dish and evenly sprinkle oat mixture on top; drizzle with melted butter. Bake until fruit starts to bubble and topping starts to brown, about 45 to 50 minutes. Allow crisp to cool for a minimum of 2 hours. Cut into 9 pieces and serve. Yields 1 piece per serving.

Notes
Peeling the fruit is optional. Add a 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg and a 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger for a more robust spice flavor.The longer the crisp is cooled, the more the fruit juices will be absorbed. If the crisp is cut after two hours, the fruit will be a compote-consistency. If the crisp is chilled overnight, it will be much more firm. Try this recipe with other types of fruit: three pounds of pitted, quartered Italian plums make a lovely crisp.


Thanks for your support and friendship! Have a great day! Scroll down for the BLOG HOP!