Something New

 My new workout shoes. I just couldn't take my other ones. They were hurting my feet which was making my whole body hurt.

I just love this tag on the box they came in. Does running make you happy? It kind of does for me.

I've also decided to try out some new ways to help lose weight and get healthy.  This week I started to work out in the mornings before my work day at home. I work from home 2 days a week so I figured this will be two extra workouts a week for me. I have a couple video's I can choose from.

And my diet is changing too. I started this week with "meatless mondays". That's right. No meat on Mondays. What's funny is that, while I was working I turned on the TV to listen the "The Chew" at 1pm on ABC and their show was titled "Meatless Mondays". They did meatless recipes. How ironic! It's not hard if you like beans, eggs, legumes, soy or other sources of protein like oatmeal, rice or quinoa. The experts say that we need to limit our intake of meats that come from 4 legged animals. Oh but how it tastes so good. I actually did pretty well...though I went on a baked chip binge in the afternoon...I blame PMS. Here's what I ate.

 For breakfast I made some old fashioned oatmeal. Then I cut up an apple, cooked it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes added it to the oatmeal and topped with cinnamon (which helps make things sweeter and good for your circulatory system) and some plain Almond milk.

 For lunch it was a pumpkin pie smoothie (Thank you Laura!). I love this and a great way to get pumpkin that isn't in the shape of a pie or bread as pumpkin is very good for you. I use 1/2 banana, 1/3 cup canned pumpkin, 5 ice cubes, couple dashes of pumpkin pie spice, a drop of vanilla extract, about a teaspoon of honey and about 2 cups of plain soy milk. Blend.

For dinner it was a salad made of spinach, red romaine, yellow pepper, black beans and non dairy cheese...it wasn't soy cheese, it's made from tapioca (that's another blog). It's actually better then soy cheese, I think. I have to watch how much dairy I have...it's one of the things that causes me to have headaches which I found out through trial and error. The dressing was some extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinager, salt and pepper and garlic powder to taste.

I had some snacks  during the day. Hummus and veggies. Baked chips and salsa, and more baked chips,  oh and some more baked chips. I ate most of the bag as they are only filled 1/2 full ( what a rip off by the way). I threw the rest away...so I wouldn't eat anymore. I did have a small piece of chocolate too. Again I blame PMS...hence the salt and chocolate factor because I ate the chips then I got the chocolate. :)

All in all, I'm pretty proud of myself. Can't wait till next Monday.

Casting Away My Fears.

1 Peter 5: 6-7 says," Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for he cares for you."

This week just didn't start off very well. On top of what was to be an expensive issue with my car, old hurts were brought up from a personal issue and I still was feeling under the weather which has been going on for about 2 months.

When I found out that my car expense was going to cost me over $600, I freaked out. I didn't have that money to spend. When I told my Christian coworker friend all the issues that came upon me all of a sudden, she told me to look up the verse above, well actually just verse 7. This was all going down while at work. I have a handy dandy pocket bible at my desk (well, it's only the New Testament along with Psalms and Proverbs). I  stopped working and picked up my bible. I read the verse and then the whole little chapter of 1 Peter, chapter 5. I loved it. It was what I needed to hear that day. I read it over and over that day at work. I didn't think about how I was going to deal with my issues. I knew God would be there for me.

My car issues didn't cost me $600. It cost me $0. I took it for another opinion to get it looked at and it was a simple fix. I had a hunch it was just this simple fix. I just needed to get it to the dealership who would know best. When I found this out the very next day, I did my hallelujah Jesus dance around my house. It was actually kind of funny. In the meantime, I was dealing with the personal issue and that was getting better.

Then today came. I made it to the gym for 1 and 1/2 hours of a workout. An abs class and then Zumba.  I haven't felt well enough to go to the gym in about 2 months. While there I got a call from my Christian coworker friend asking if I wanted to have lunch as she was coming into my neck of the woods for the day. On my way to the restaurant I thought of God and began to shed a few tears and praised him. Because I was finally starting to feel better. Starting to feel a bit more like myself again. God is good. He is love.

I knew to give everything to God. But sometimes there needs to be something more that triggers your core. I feel it was this week. And 1 Peter, chapter 5. I am casting away my fears. I am viligent because my adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ( verse 8). Now when I see a lion walking around searching for his prey, I know I will be thinking of this verse.

What's a Rainbow?

According to Wikipedia:
"A rainbow is an optical and meteorological phenomenon that causes a spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the Sun shines on to droplets of moisture in the Earth's atmosphere. It takes the form of a multicoloured arc. Rainbows caused by sunlight always appear in the section of sky directly opposite the sun."

Remember Roy G. Biv? Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet...all the colors of the rainbow.

God has many colors. I see God when I see a rainbow. Rainbows make me happy and childlike.

Last week, I was thinking of something that made me sad...I was sitting in my car at a shopping plaza getting ready to head to bible study. It had just rained. I looked up in the sky for some reason and saw a rainbow. I knew then that He was with me and my sadness disapeared. Jesus said for us to have childlike hearts.
   
And he said,"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children you will never   enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3 NIV

I guess its good that I become childlike again when I see a rainbow. It lets me see Him and know Him as I need too because without Him, I cannot face this life on Earth and will not see Him in his kingdom.

What do you see when you see a rainbow? When do you know He is with you?

More Stuff to Sell...

Okay, One of these days I'm just going to take a picture of the pile of stuff I have to sell. Seriously people...I've got a lot.

Necklaces $2
Topaz ring size 7 $2
Purses (brown $2 and green Nine West $4)
Brand new Croc flip flops size 7 (but are too big for me so someone with a size 8 could wear them. $8)
Brand new kitten heel shoe size 7 $4
Reebok Steeler Tshirt $5

Selling some of my favorite jewelry

I don't need all the things that I have. They just don't "fill me up". And I'm trying desperately to pay down some debt. So before I have my yard sale this year, I'm putting somethings out there for preview. Right now, it's some of my favorite jewelry. Most came from New York and Company and some from Avon. If you want to buy any from me, let me know. We can work out an arrangement to get it to you. These are items were never worn or worn once or twice.

Necklaces are $2.00
Earrings are $1.00

Tired.

I'm tired...of alot of things. I've been sick for most of this year so far...cold, sinus infection, influenza, ear infection, sinus infection, allergies, oh and there's more. I'm tired of it. I get so blue this time of year and I know that doesn't help with the immune system. I get stressed easily and when there is lots of snow to deal with, my stress levels goes higher. I have no motivation when it's cold and dreary out to do anything. I'm just tired of it all. I have so many different health problems. I'm only 34. If it's not one thing it's another.

I'm tired of the fact that some people might expect alot from me. I'm tired that I expect alot from different people myself. It's really all exhausting. I'm tired of responsibiltiy and watching my money. I haven't taken a vacation in what will be two years as my plans to NYC fell through. Couldn't have went to Hawaii this year with some friends and I was all ready to book my flight but in the end I decided that I shouldn't spend the money when I'm trying to get out of debt. GRRR!

Why is it that some people just have it easier in life. Sometimes I just don't want to be around those people. I get jealous. I get tired of my jealousy.

I feel exhuasted all the time. When I turned 30, it just kind of all started going down hill for me. When will it get better? OH I know I'm just singing the blues here and once spring rolls around, I'm sure I will get better. Just keep me in your prayers.

Recipe Challenge-Spinach and Cheese Casserole.

Spinach is a new favorite thing to eat for me. I'm not sure why but I just starting eating more of it. It's so good for you too. This recipe was a cut out from a newspaper or magazine...I just can't remember. You have to like spinach for sure.

Spinach and Cheese Casserole.

(It looks terrible when you first put it in the over but it's so good when done.)

2 10 ounce packages frozen spinach, thawed
1 onion chopped fine
2 gloves of garlic, minced (or use two teaspoons jarred minced garlic)
8 Tablespoons melted butter
6 eggs beaten
16 ounces cottage cheese (trust me when I say you can't even taste it if you don't like cottage cheese)
2 Tablespoons flour
1 pound sharp cheddar cheese grated
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish. Drain spinach well. Saute onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons of the melted butter. Mix spinach with eggs, cottage cheese and cheddar cheese, flour and the remaining butter. Add sauteed onions and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Pour into baking dish and bake for 1 hour. Serves 8-10. (I made a small version of this recipe). Enjoy!