Every Little Bit Counts

I found the Dance and Be Fit channel of Hulu yesterday. Today I tried the Brazilian Dance Workout. My thoughts are as follows:

1) I felt like a total dork. These women are graceful. Obviously they're going to choose people that are ACTUALLY GOOD AT IT to demonstrate. Trust me, you did NOT want to see me doing it.

2) It was really fun. Franklin liked watching me and even mimicked me a few times.

3) I only got through 15mins of it (that's including the brief warmup) so I don't FEEL like I did a good workout...However, every little bit counts. And I can't really talk about what feels like a good workout. If I'm not dying on the floor afterwards I don't feel like I've done anything (it's a leftover from my eating disorder days...I'm working on that)

I thought about eating a sandwich...and then I thought about a hotdog...and THEN I saw my homemade yogurt. So, I went with yogurt with honey and strawberries! It was light but filling and didn't have the guilt attached like a hotdog.


Basically, I want to try to inject exercise into my day. I found a way to do it through DANCE so I can include Franklin. I want my kids to see a healthy attitude toward weight loss and exercise! I also know that, even though my husband finds me attractive, I will feel better if I tone up a bit. Plus, I hate feeling so out of shape. It wasn't too many years ago that I was in excellent shape. I'd like to get back there...or close to it. (I'm not 18 anymore, guys...I'm 24! That's now "mid 20's")

Meals for the Week 4/12 - 4/16

According to my husband (who is an avid news reader) if the government doesn't raise the debt ceiling they can default on their debts and the military won't get paid. Now, we get paid once a month (which is our choice and awesome) so we're fine for the rest of the month. We have quite a bit in savings so we'd also be good through May....and possibly into June. Now, I doubt it will come to that. However, I'm trying to cut back NOW until we know what's up.

For our regular budget I have $75 a week left for groceries for the rest of the month. I spent $25 today and we shouldn't have to spend more than $10-$20 the rest of the week. (We shall see!)

One thing I did was go through my freezer last night and list all of the meat in the freezer. My goal is to go as long as possible without buying meat (because it's expensive). Currently, we can go 2 weeks! Well, I'd like to buy a pound of ground beef for next week just for variety (because it comes down to fish and chicken for next week)

This week's "try it" food is Quinoa. Expensive little thing...but good for you and filling.


Tuesday:
 Hamburgers with Quinoa and Black Beans.

Wednesday:
 Pasta with a Garlic Cream Sauce (with chicken added)

Thursday:
  simple salmon kedgeree
(It's at the bottom of the page)

Friday: 
Steak Stir Fry with Quinoa


Saturday: 
Fish Tacos (possibly with Quinoa)






Oh, and a bit of news, I'll be doing my first Giveaway in a couple of weeks! So keep watching the blog!

Friday Wrap Up

I'm going to share all of the neat things I found on the internet this week:

Inspirational: The Power of Breastfeeding

Informative: AAP Revises Carseat Recs

Funny: Boys Speak Another Language?

Recipe: A "green" recipe to try!

Video: I'm sure it's viral by now

When You Don't Feel Like A Warrior

As I stated in a previous post I'm not doing so well with this prayer challenge. However, there was a story on an old episode of Home Improvement that made me think...(I know, a sitcom having something worthwhile is a strange concept nowadays!) A little boy needed to buy a gift for his teacher and didn't know what to get her. So, he traveled many days on foot to the beach and scooped up a jar of sand. When he presented it to her it appeared to be just plain sand. She asked why he went to so much trouble. He replied, "The journey is part of the gift."

I also did a post on my son holding me accountable. I realized that, even though I haven't been successful in praying 10 times a day, I HAVE been successful in reintroducing prayer into my life and introducing it into my son's life. This month is not about the destination. If I get to the end of the month having prayed every prayer in the book and then some but haven't felt a change in myself or touched my son's life then what was the point? However, if I struggle but, at the end of the month, can say "This changed my family for the better" isn't that what God wants?

So this month I will fail. I will fall short of my goals. I will take steps backwards. But that's okay. My God loves me anyway.

He was sharing his pipecleaner headband.

Greek Yogurt!

The challenge was to introduce Greek Yogurt 4 times this week. I know the week isn't quite over yet, but I won't be able to participate over the weekend so I'm ending now. We only did it twice this week; however, my family is not new to Greek Yogurt.

Basically, Greek Yogurt is regular yogurt with the whey strained out. It's thicker than the regular stuff. You can buy "Greek Yogurt" or you can strain regular yogurt. The second option, I think, is cheaper.

We make our own yogurt and strain it. Here's what I did with it this week:

I made a spread/dip for the salmon patties. (Ignore the ugly salmon patty. It was a rush job) The dip was also a bit rushed. I did about a tablespoon of Greek Yogurt and added a squirt of Dijon, a small amount of lemon juice, and several spices (Garlic, dill, and Old Bay) I basically did it to taste. Separate I wasn't sure about the combination but I plunged onward and was pleasantly surprised!

Tonight's dinner was Tandoori Meatballs! I didn't have enough yogurt to put in the meatballs, just the marinade. However, this is one I'm willing to play with and report back!

Tandoori Marinade
4 large cloves of garlic minced
2 tablespoons fresh ginger root, chopped
2 teaspoons cumin seed
1 teaspoon cardamom
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons paprika
1 cup Plain Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt

Meatballs:
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 large onion, coarsely grated
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon bread crumbs
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup Plain Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt
1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped

---

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Add all ingredients of marinade to food processor. Blend for 1 minute. Set aside. Add all ingredients for meatballs in bowl. Form into bite size balls place on greased sheet pan. Makes about 50. Cook for 15 minutes. Remove meatballs from oven but do not turn oven off. Place in a deep serving dish. Cover with Tandoori Marinade. Cover and place in oven. Remove when warm about 20 minutes.




I'm really excited for next week!

I LOVE my juicer

We bought a juicer recently. I LOVE this thing. I've been starting most mornings off with the following juice drink:

- Juice from 4 small oranges
- Juice from 4 small apples
- Occasionally the juice from a handful of strawberries

Toss that into a blender and add:

- 1 Banana
- A few drops of Stevia (or sugar if you prefer)
- A healthy splash of milk (1/2c I think)

Blend it up, pour into a fancy glass, and drink! It's great for quick energy and lots of healthy vitamins! What better way to start your day?

Who Holds YOU Accountable?

So, I'm doing this month long prayer journey for my sons. Let me tell you, I'm not doing so well... I forget to pray all the time.

If nothing else, we've vowed to try to pray before meals and before bed!

Well, the other night we were all REALLY hungry and started eating before praying. I commented (with a bite on its way to my mouth) "Oh, we forgot to pray." My two year old (well, almost two!) stopped eating and held out his hands for us! All he needed to hear was the word "pray" and he was ready to go! I've seen this during the day too. If I need him to stop and focus (usually during a screaming fit) I'll say, "Do you want to go pray?" and he'll stop and go sit on the floor and wait for me. Sometimes he sits in my lap.

Praise God for children that adore Him! Franklin isn't even old enough to really understand the entire concept...but he's learning that prayer is important!

Pipe Cleaner Headband? Check!

&%$#@!

Colossians 3:8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 

Obscene Talk: Greek word also means "shameful", "improper", or "sordid." 


Now that we've identified the Scripture in question...let's get to it.


Profanity. Cursing. Swear words. Potty talk. There are a lot of different ways to say it, and even more ways to use it!

This isn't going to be a blog contesting whether or not it's sinful...but rather a blog to look at it in a different way.

I'm going to look at another verse: Matthew 15:18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.


How do I feel on the subject?

Well, I curse/swear/use bad words. I'm trying to get better about it because my son is starting to pick up words! I don't need him to bust out a "new word" in the middle of church or something! However, I use most swear words the same way that someone would use mundane words. To me, more often than not, these words are merely filler in a conversation. There is no emphasis. It's not meant to be rude. (Really!) I use the "f-word" the same way someone would use "stupid" or "THAT." (As in "the *stupid* car" or "*THAT* shoe")

What about using an alternative word? In my opinion, it's the same as cursing. If you use a "plain" filler word (like, "freaking" or even something silly like "balderdash") but IN YOUR HEART it's meant to be a "curse" then I consider it the same level of cursing. Some people will disagree here...but I think it's the intent that counts most of all.

Now, a dear friend of mine pointed out if you can choose to filter your language then why say them at all? She makes a good point. If, in the end, they are JUST WORDS then why not just stop saying them? A lot of people consider those of us that curse to be uneducated (or at least, say we sound that way) or just stupid. I'm a smart girl and a lot of people that I know that curse are educated people. We don't use profanity because we can't come up with another word...I can, and I know some big ones! I just choose to use profanity when it suits the occasion. 

Please, share your thoughts in the comments below! How do YOU feel about profanity? Remember to remain respectful.

Try It Challenge

http://peak313.com/featured/try-it-challenge-week-1/#comment-396

This week we're doing Greek yogurt! I'll have to start using it and listing some recipes! Be on the lookout! Share yours!

Thank God for GRACE

I am so glad that God is full of grace!

I entered into a challenge this month to pray for my sons daily. 10 prayers every weekday. Friday I did well and only had a few to do by the evening.

Yesterday I did ONE....all day.

Today I still haven't done any...

I was feeling like such a failure until I reached out to the other mamas that are doing this with me and Brooke (the mama that wrote the book we're following) reminded me about God's Grace.

It was refreshing.