TTFN

Well...I've become somewhat overwhelmed lately with everything on my plate.  Since starting the Whole30 at the beginning of April I've struggled to find time to do all the things that are either required of me or that I need to do to maintain balance in my own life.  I've decided that I need to put this blog on pause for the time being.  It is with much sadness that this will be my last post for awhile.  I'm not sure when I'll come back-and I might still post sporadically, but I can no longer post daily.

For now, you can catch up with some of my thought (mostly pertaining to diet/exercise) on my other blog, Bloated to Bombshell: Linsey's Whole30 Adventure.

Thank you to those who have kept up with my goings on through this blog.  I hope to be back soon!

Much Love,
Lins

Menu 4/22-4/26

Monday: MYOP, Fresh Veggies 

I buy Trader Joe's pizza dough and let the girls help me roll it out into personal pizzas.  We top it with store bought sauce and their pick of toppings: onions, peppers, pepperoni, canadian bacon, mozzarella, cheddar.  I put olive oil and garlic powder as a "sauce" on mine and top it with thin sliced onions, red peppers, cheddar, pepperoni and a sprinkle of salt and pepper.  Sliced fresh veggies for a side.

Tuesday: Crockpot Beef Stroganoff, Broccoli 

Trying something new...we'll see how it goes over.  They love pasta and the love beef, so it can't be that big of a risk, right?  Paired with broccoli.

 

Wednesday: Chicken/Bean/Cheese Enchiladas, Corn, Spanish Rice 

Ok, I just make these up as I go along.  I spray a casserole dish with Pam or the like, splash a little store bought enchilada sauce in the bottom then assemble the enchiladas:

I'll cook chicken and pull it, then cover it in some encha sauce over low heat and add some shredded cheddar.  Take a tortilla of your choice (I find the small ones work best for my kiddos) and fill with some refried black beans, a little chicken and a little more shredded cheese.  Place seam down in casserole dish.  Once dish is full, pour enchilada sauce to coat, sprinkle with more cheese and bake 350 till hot and bubbly.  I have one girl who doesn't like beans and another who likes very little cheese so I end up making 3 types, it's obnoxious, but I love them and I really want them to eat dinner so I do it anyway.  Lucy LOVES Spanish rice so we'll have that with a side of corn.

Thursday: Pulled Pork Sammies, Peas 

Every single time I ask the girls for dinner suggestions they shout out the same few things-one of which is always Pulled Pork...I'm not sure if it's because they love it or because they know how much I love it!  Either way, it's easy and delicious!

My Favorite Place On Earth

From Paris, we flew to Rome, hopped in a rental car and drove through Tuscany to Florence.

I LOVE Florence.  The moment I stepped into Italy, I was impressed, but when the bottom of my shoe hit the ground in Firenze (as it's known in Italy) I fell in love.

The beauty, history, romance.  Ahhh...what more could a girl want?

Our backpacks barely fit in the tiny European car!

Hannah 

Love this city!

The Duomo, so impressive!

Three girls, in Florence, with Gelato...watch out!

View from the Uffizi

Our leather purchases complete...5 handbags in all, I believe!

So sad to leave, but what a beautiful view on the drive back to Roma!

Put A Pin in Pinterest Thursday...

Pinterst Thursday has been preempted by this...

I saw this video posted on FB a few times this week and after watching it, well...I'm sad.  I'm sad that women don't truly know how beautiful they are, that it's almost impossible for a woman to see herself the way others do and I know that I'm one of these women.

I applaud Dove as they campaign for real beauty.  With real women.  Women that are flawed, and instead of those flaws being airbrushed before publication, they are celebrated.  In Cars 2, Mater (the rusty tow-truck who's honesty is refreshing but isn't known for being all that smart) refused to let his dents be fixed.  He said “You can’t touch my dents,” he says.  “I got every one of them dents with my best buddy Lightning McQueen.”   His dents were accumulated doing what he loved most-spending time with his best friend.  Our dents are accumulated over time, and not always from things we enjoy or can even control.  Stretch marks from carrying a child for 9 months, varicose veins from standing hour hours on end at a job we may or may not love, acne from those dang teenage (or even adult) years, scars from falling off our bike, a car accident or sports injury.  A few extra pounds because we refuse to put the people in our lives on the back burner just to look like a model on the cover of a magazine who has been airbrushed and photoshopped anyway.  We are women who have lived life, and we aren't perfect but we should embrace the fact that that's what makes us wonderful.

I'm on a campaign to stop negative self-talk.  To show women how truly beautiful they are, no matter what shape or size, hair color or texture, bone structure or skin tone.  We are all created in the image of God and when I look around, all I can say is, "Man, my God is beautiful.  In so many different ways."

Will you join me in uplifting each other and putting an end to the idea that only certain traits are beautiful and dethrone society's view of beauty and replace it with God's?  

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 
Proverbs 31:30

Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.  1Peter 3:3-4

Silver Lining

Man, it's been a heavy few days.  On Monday I found out my family dentist of over 20 years was trapped in an avalanche on Saturday and is yet to be found.

Then, Monday afternoon, the Boston Marathon bombings.

What is this world coming to?  What is wrong with people?

My grief was compounded.  First, a man who was so much more than just a dentist, is most likely dead.  Second, some idiots bring terror and horror to what, for many runners, is the apex of their running career.

It shook me in a few ways.

First, the potential loss of someone dear to my family reopened wounds of my own father's death almost 11 years ago.  Without knowing it, I've lulled myself into a false sense of security, dependent on a few people, critical in the lives of me in my family immediately following the death of my dad.

Mitch Hungate stepped in and took my little brother (in high school at the time) under his wing.  They went hiking, took the boats out, spent time together man and boy, which was just what my brother needed.  My dad was sick or injured most of Josh's life which made the normal father-son relationship very difficult.  Mitch stepped in and put in time, logged hours and was someone Josh knew he could count on, turn to, and just simply be with.

Another man dear to me is Larry.  Larry has been part of our family since Josh was a baby.  His middle daughter was a student in my mom's class which led to his wife being Josh's babysitter and so much more.  Larry spent hours upon hours with my dad near the end.  Sitting and talking, sharing the love of Christ with my stubborn father.  Larry, at Papa's request, officiated his memorial service and a few years later, also married my mom and her new husband Kurt.  Papa trusted Larry with us when he passed and I know if I am ever in need, Larry will be there.  And if God ever blesses me with a husband, Larry will be the one who marries me off.

The potential loss of these men never occurred to me until Monday morning.  I hadn't realized that I had comforted myself by knowing these men who love my family are out there, somewhere, and if we ever needed, we could reach out and they wouldn't hesitate to be there.  A small part of me feels foolish for allowing the void my father left to be partially filled by other men who stepped up in the days and weeks of our deepest sorrow and anguish.

Part of me thinks its natural to comfort yourself with anything possible.  But I guess what is most surprising to me, is that I never realized I did it.  Until now.  Until it's maybe too late to let one of them know how much he meant to me.  But it's given me reason to reach out to the other.

Trying not to be swept up in grief that was added to by the news of the Boston bombings Monday afternoon, I was starting to detach and become numb.  Push it to the back of my mind and try not to think on it.

Wait.  That's what I would do.  Wait out this dark cloud.  Fast forward to the end...to see how it all turned out.  Not feel anything in the meantime, but put those emotions on pause and wait until the (hopefully) happy ending to start feeling again.

Then, God smacked me in the head.  But a good smack.  A smack that says, "Girl!  Wake up!  I am in control and there is Good all around you!  Are you looking for it?!"

I wasn't.  So He shoved it in my face...read on peeps...read on...

A few months ago, I posted this blog about waiting and how everyone is waiting for something.  Then I posted this blog about how a lot of the prayers of my friends had been answered...those same friends who were waiting just weeks before, were now celebrating God's goodness.

Well, one of those stories of waiting goes a little like this:

Trying.  Praying. Trying. Trying.  Waiting. Hoping.  Waiting. Praying.  Change of plan.  Waiting.  Hoping.  Praying.  Waiting.  Waiting. Waiting.  Answered Prayer?  Set back.  Disappointment.  Heart break.  Praying. Giving up. Praying. Changing mind.  Renewed Hope. Praying. Waiting.  Hoping.  Praying.  Answered Prayer!  Celebrate God's gifts, rejoice in God's Goodness! And now, just a few months after that answered prayer, another blessing is on the way!

It doesn't matter the details.  What matters is that the praying never stopped.  Even in the darkest moments when the grief was just too much to bear, there was faith and hope in a God that is Good.  All the time.  Sure, things don't always look exactly as we think they will, but even when we can't see it, God is working, setting things in motion, preparing our hearts and minds for what is to come and in His perfect timing His gifts will overwhelm even your wildest dreams.

Through someone I love, God has shown me that even when grief seems overwhelming, and things seem to be piling up, you don't have to look very far to see blessings, gifts, and His work.  Life is never "all bad" there is always good to be found.  It's as simple as looking to Him.  There is always a silver lining.  His name is Jesus.

Walking On, Walking On...

The girls knew I was having a rough day yesterday and as we sat at dinner they tried their hardest to lighten the mood.  They aren't used to me being quiet.  I think it scared them a little.  Lucy was rambling on about who knows what (I swear I was listening, I just don't remember at the moment) when she started talking about the song that played when her alarm went off this morning.  See, we're trying to teach her some responsibility and make her get up with an alarm instead of waiting for someone to come get her up, which results in a fight and obnoxious attitude.  

Anyway, that got me thinking about simpler times.  When I was in junior high, I would wake up to the same song every single morning.  Not by choice, mind you.  The radio just happened to play this same song each day at the time my alarm went off.  

Thinking back to junior high and how the biggest concern I had was if (boy of the moment, insert name here) noticed me, if my math teacher would realize I had no idea what was going on in class and hadn't for sometime, and if my bestie would let me eat some of her nachos at lunch...

Well...he usually never noticed me, the teacher never caught on and yes, she let me eat her nachos every day, and not just a bite, but the majority of them.  That's how much she loved me.  And also says a lot about my eating habits back then...

Anyway, I digress...the song was Annie Lenox, Walking on Broken Glass, and if you'd also like to take a trip back to simpler times, enjoy the next 4 minutes.  You're welcome.

What Its Really Like...

When we landed in Uganda in November 2011, we were greeted by a beautiful, cheerful Ugandan woman.  Her name was Lillian, an employee of Compassion Uganda in charge of sponsor tours, and also a former Compassion Child.

She showed us around her beautiful country, smiling, laughing and filling our brains and hearts with details about life, how she wouldn't be where she is now had she not been sponsored through Compassion.  

Recently she posted the following on Facebook.  She's on a trip to New Zealand (for what, I'm not entirely sure) and I thought this was beautifully said, from someone who has seen life before and after child sponsorship through Compassion...

Child Advocacy is great and amazing! I love everything on this Beautiful Survivor tour. It's a blessing to see children being picked for sponsorship and just to remember how my photo was, on the table years back before Rosemary Mahomed picked it and decided to sponsor me. Now am here advocating for others to be released from poverty. Tonight i should say was my best event, when I was speaking in St Matthew Anglican Church- Morrinsville, and I saw Rosemary walking in... Imagine what happened within seconds but i managed any way. She had flown in to NZ from Australia and drove all the way… just because of love. Great surprise it was for the church of course when she was finally introduced and I had to hug her but couldn't stop the tears both in the eyes and nose....!! I just love her...If you know you sponsor a child; i want to tell you that your sponsored child really loves you so much. You may have picked a paper with a photo... but it's a life behind the profile. It's the child in need waiting to be released from poverty! I love u all sponsors and for the Kiwis who are picking children for sponsorship from the table during this Beautiful Survivor tour... you are such a blessing. Thank you for choosing to change a life. God bless you abundantly.

I'm really looking forward to seeing Lillian again when I get to Uganda.  Her smile, laugh and kind loving heart is one I'll never forget!

If you are interested in learning more about child sponsorship, click here.  

Menu 4/15-4/19

Monday: Parm Salmon, Tortellini w/Creamy Pesto, Green Beans

The girls loved this salmon when I made it the end of February.  I'll boil some store-bought tortellini and sauce it with this delicious creamy pesto that Amelia enjoys making.  Finish the plate with some green beans. 

Tuesday: Turkey Chili, Cornbread, Peppers 

Turkey Chili from the freezer, cornbread from a Jiffy box and fresh peppers.

Wednesday: Beef Stew, Cheddar Biscuits

I've never made this recipe (though I think I've posted it before) and to be honest, I still might not make it.  I'm going to be looking at Whole30/Paleo stew recipes to see if I can find one that the girls will like and I might be able to eat as well.  

Thursday: Chicken Alfredo with Peas 

I marinate some chicken breasts, cook and either pull or cube.  Then, I make a homemade alfredo sauce from Julia Child's béchamel, I usually make one and a half times the recipe.  To that I add a bunch of fresh grated parm, some garlic and when it's ready I mix it into the pasta (whichever shape the girls pick) and stir in the pulled or cubed chicken and some frozen peas.

A Little Bit of Paris

Back in 2008 the two besties and I made a little jaunt across the pond and traveled around Europe for almost 2 weeks.  Our first stop was Paris.  Ok, it wasn't actually our first stop.  First, we landed in London, but then we took a bus to another airport in London where we hopped a plane to Paris...so then, we were in Paris.  Here are a few pics from our trip.  Next week, I'll post pics as our journey continued to Florence!

Our first night in the city we HAD to see the Eiffel Tower!

Getting sassy on the Champs-Elysees

Stained glass at the Notre Dame

Dear Mona Lisa

Venus de Milo

Leaving the Louvre

Van Gogh, The Doctor 

Last night in Paris...

Pinterest Thursday

My Pinterest has whiplash right now...these are my pins in exact pinning order yesterday:

Bacon and Eggs in an Avocado 

Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie

Fajita Seasoning

S'mores "Crack" Dip

put a few tbsps of olive oil in a ziploc with some salt and pepper
and broccoli and shake, then spread on a cookie sheet and spread
minced garlic over it and roast at 425 deg F for 20-25 minutes!"

Oatmeal Caramel Cookie Bars

Clearly my mind (and cravings) are flip-flopping between staying disciplined on the W30 (Whole30 board) and enjoying delicious baked goods (Sweet Tooth board)...May 1 might just kill me!

Click here to follow me on Pinterest and here to see my Whole30 blog.

The Least of These

The "Snack Bag"

I give food to the homeless almost every single day.  As I drive to the girls school I'll hand out pirate booty, granola bars, applesauce pouches, yogurt, etc without a second thought.  The girls are used to this now and have come to expect a slightly smaller after-school snack than they would normally like.  No squawking though-they know we'll stop at the store if they are too hungry or they'll just wait till we get home.

Today, I realized that I never give out fruits and vegetables.  I always have a full container of each nicely chopped and ready for snacking in the snack bag.  I never give them away because of the container.  "It's not mine-it belongs to my bosses.  It's their money.  How can I give it away?"  And if that weren't dumb enough..."I'd rather have the girls have veggies and fruit, its more healthy.  I'll give away the snacky stuff, they don't need that anyway."

Oh really, Linsey?  The girls, who eat fresh fruit and vegetables at EVERY SINGLE MEAL for their entire lives?  They can't go without veggies one afternoon?  Oh, please!  Isn't it more important for someone who might NEVER get fresh produce to have a healthy snack than it is for my well-to-do girls who have an endless supply of the best Whole Foods has to offer in the way of fresh, organic produce.

If Jesus was standing on the corner, you better believe I'd hand him the veggies, and fruit and everything else in the bag...containers and all...heck, I'd go to the store and buy more stuff...isn't that how I should treat anyone in need I come across?

The contents of the snack bag today, minus the veggies...

I make myself sick.

I think it might have to do with the book I'm reading.  It's called 7: Experimental Mutiny Against Excess, by Jen Hatmaker.  It's an amazing book.  You should pick it up.

Anyway...today, as I was realizing all of this I reached into the snack bag and handed out a full container of fresh veggies to the homeless man I always see at North and the Interstate.  I guess my boss will have to learn to deal with one less plastic container.  If she can't handle it, I'll go buy her another one.  And I'll pack fruits and veggies in ziplock bags from now on...

Positive, Encouraging

I know there are a lot of KLOVE haters out there.  Don't like the DJ's, don't like the music, blah blah blah.  Well, I've been listening to KLOVE pretty much exclusively for almost 2 years now.  Something about it just soothes my soul and when I listen to "regular" music I can almost feel my soul being sucked out of me.  I think it's because, just like my clothes, I tie emotions and memories to songs or artists.  Certain songs remind me of certain people, or times in my life I'd rather not relive.

The girls and I are in the car a TON and I just can't handle them listening to Rhianna and Ke$ha...that's not the influence I want these girls to have.  At first they fought it...complained about listening to KLOVE all the time.  Now, they sing along with a lot of the songs, listen to the stories, ask questions about what is being said and feel like they know the Dj's. (Here in Chicago, KLOVE broadcasts on 94.3FM)

Sure, the DJ's on KLOVE are pretty syrupy.  I sometimes even turn the radio down when they're talking in between songs, but sometimes, I don't.  And usually, they are actually saying something worthwhile.

Right now they are doing the pledge-drive.  Since they are listener funded they have to ask for donations a few times a year to keep the station going.  Just like your PBS station.  The stories that come out of the radio during the pledge-drive are crazy.  Here are a few of my favorites (please excise the lack of accurate names...I'm going form memory here)

A middle school teacher in New Mexico struggled to get pregnant, finally gave birth to twins and immediately was diagnosed with 2 brain tumors, one of which is inoperable sentencing her to chemo for the rest of her, what is probably now very short life.  The students at the PUBLIC school decided that because KLVOE is so important to her and they want to do something to bring her comfort, they set up a collection jar in the cafeteria and committed to putting all their spare change in it each day...donating $20/month to KLOVE to help keep it on the air for their beloved teacher.

A man walked into a UHAUL/Penske/Ryder rental place and rented a truck.  He got in it and drove away.  An hour later he returned the truck.  The owner of the rental place asked what was wrong with the truck.  Nothing, it turns out.  The radio was tuned to KLOVE, the man hear the song "Lead Me" by Sanctus Real and decided NOT to leave his wife and kids...instead of moving out he turned the truck around and went back to his family.

A 12 year old girl wrote in saying that she's struggled with suicidal thoughts daily and suffers from severe depression.  A friend from church told her about KLOVE, she started listening to it and though she still struggles and her depression isn't cured, she has enough hope to want to live.  She wished she could donate but she doesn't have any money.  Immediately, the phone lines were flooded with people calling in donations from around the country letting that girl know they loved her and her life is worth them donating so she can continue to hear God's word through KLOVE.

A man called in saying he was taking his 6 year old daughter Abigail to daycare when she asked what it means to be saved.  She told him she'd heard about people being saved on KLOVE.  He explained that it means giving your heart to the Lord and what it entails.  She said, "Daddy, I want to commit my life to Jesus."  He pulled the car over and they prayed together.  He said even though the day was just starting, it was the best day of his life.

Shortly after that, a woman called in and said her daughter heard the story about Abigail giving her life to Christ when they were in the car to school and now she wanted to do the same.

Are you kidding me?!  Crap, my eyes are welling up just typing this!  God is at work, everywhere.  Whether you like KLOVE of not, you can't deny that it is an amazing way to spread God's word and the message of His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness to people who may never set foot in a church.  People who are hurting in ways others might not even know.

I love it.

If you want to donate to KLOVE click here.  Also, it's important to note that with a $40 monthly donation the organization "Shoes For Orphan Souls" will donate a new pair of shoes to an orphan right here in the US or somewhere else around the world.

Home Is...

This past week a few different people have asked me if I'm getting excited for my trip to Uganda in October.  Or maybe it's still too far away?  They ask.

Nope, I'm excited.  But I'm not frantic like I was last time.  I basically freaked out last time I went.  I mean, I'd never been to Africa, I had no idea what to expect and figured I wouldn't be prepared no matter how much I tried.

When I clicked the "register" button in 2011 I couldn't believe this dream was actually coming true.  That God was finally sending me to a place my heart had been for years.  My head reeled with everything that needed to be done and list upon list was made so I wouldn't forget.

This time, a calm washed over me when I clicked that same button.  The peaceful feeling of knowing you'll soon be headed home.  Yeah, that's right, I said it...home.

Yes, Sumner, WA is my home.  My family is there, I grew up there and my dad is buried there.  It's where I go for Christmas and where the majority of my thoughts and prayers get sent, where I wish I could be on holidays, weekends and when I'm lonely.  I also call Chicago my home, as this is where I've lived for the past almost 6 years.  I've only lived in my mom's house longer, never worked a job as long as the ones I've had here and this is where I do life.  But a large portion of my heart is in Uganda with my two beauties Florence and Specioza.  My family worries that I either won't come back or I'll decide to move to Africa for good.  And honestly, I'm not completely opposed to that.  I'd give anything to see my family on a daily basis, and watch my nephew grow up, but if God is calling me to a different life, I'll hop on the first plane headed to Africa.

It's almost harder being somewhere in the middle here in Chicago.  I have to remember that the work God has for me here is just as important as the work I'd be doing in Africa.  Souls are souls and the 5 I encounter on a daily basis here are wanted by Him just as much as the ones I'd be meeting in Africa.

I guess, yes, I am excited about Africa, and seeing my girls.  But not in a ants-in-my-pants kind of way. More of a content, I-know-that's-where-I'm-supposed-to-be-isn't-it-great-when-our-heart-aligns-with-God's kind of way.

If you are interested in donating for travel costs or towards the purchase of school/art supplies, hygiene items or clothing for the Compassion Sites I'll be visiting, please let me know.  Prayers are also appreciated.

Menu 4/8-4/12

Monday: Dijon Chicken, Rosemary Red Potatoes and Dill Carrots

This was on the menu last week but it got pushed to this week as the girls had a band concert one night so we ate out.  I've never made the dill carrots but since we hardly ever eat carrots at dinner I thought I'd give them a try. 

Tuesday: Crock Pot Lasagna, Bread, Broccoli 

The old stand by.  I'll pull some meaty sauce out of the freezer the night before so I can assemble the lasagna in the morning and get it cookin'.  I take the girls swimming at their health club on Tuesdays and we are all starving by the time we get home.  The lasagna will be ready, the girls will set the table while the bread warms in the oven and I steam the broccoli.

Wednesday: Chicken Soup, Bread 

I have one container of chicken soup base in the freezer still so I'll pull it out the day before, toss it in the crockpot that afternoon with a little more chicken broth and throw some of the bread reserved from Tuesday's meal into the oven to warm when we get home.  I usually don't serve a veggie on the side since the soup is so full of them.

Thursday: Sausages, Mashers, Green Beans 

 The meat market in the neighborhood has Thuringer sausages the girls love, this is a fast and easy dinner for me so it works for Thursday since everyone is tired and cranky...including me.  Paired with some homemade mashers and steamed green beans.  Done and done!

Menu

Don't fear, I haven't completely forgotten to post my menus.  I've been focused this week on keeping my Whole30 blog up to date.  Check it out here for some meal ideas.

I will be getting my act together and posting my regular meal plan later today or tomorrow.  Check back!

Sorry, and Thanks!

Lins

Advice, Freely Given

Several girls/women have asked me lately about guy stuff.  Ya know, the usual, "this is what happened...does he like me?"  Uh....yeah...I dunno!

Actually, that's not what I tell them.  What I say is exactly what I tell myself when I start to play the "overanalyze-and-read-into-everything-he-says-and-does-and-every-little-look-he-might-have-thrown-my-way" game.

I say this:  If a man is truly interested in pursuing you, he'll be intentional.  Nothing you say or don't say will dissuade him.  He'll let you know that he is interested and he'll be intentional about it.  Until that time...business as usual.

There were too many years of my life spent chasing men.  Trying to figure out how to make them notice me, ask me out, etc.  Eventually I realized that it was never enough and way too much all at the same time.  Too much of me and not enough of HIM.

When I looked back after dating several men who I thought I would marry, I noticed that I had pursued them all.  Well, to be more accurate, I had persuaded them to pursue me.  Then I questioned...did they really like me or was it just easier to be with me than to tell me no?  Would they have intentionally pursued me if I hadn't forced encouraged them into it?  Lets not mince words here people, I think I could have saved myself a TON of heartache if I'd waited...let them decide if they wanted to be with me, instead of convincing them they did.

Insecurity sets in.  Has anyone ever really loved me?  Ok, that's a little dramatic...I know that at least the majority of the guys who said they loved me actually did.  But that doesn't change the fact that I, in most cases, was the instigator of the relationships.

I'm not telling young women to play hard to get.  I'm telling young women, women of all ages for that matter, to go about their lives.  Do life as God is calling you.  Interact with the single men that come along as you would anyone else.  Don't fall all over yourself to get noticed, don't go out of your way to "bump" into him.  Stop spending hours upon hours of your day trying to figure out exactly what he meant when he said "see ya later" or asked how you're doing or wondering what you did wrong because you haven't heard from him in a few days.  Just quit it!  If he is into you, he'll step up and make a move.  He either likes you, or he doesn't..no amount of trying to decipher "man speak" or choreographing every possible encounter/ conversation/ response/ outcome will help.  He'll let you know that he wants to pursue you INTENTIONALLY.  Not casually.  Not sporadically.  Not in a way that's confusing or mystifying.  And if he doesn't...it's a good thing I just told you not to wait around because I've just saved you a bunch of wasted time!

It's so freeing to give it over to God.  To stop manipulating situations in hopes that you'll get the desired outcome and getting so frustrated when you don't.  I've never felt more free, just going about my life, living as God has called me and knowing that if HE has someone for me, I won't can't possibly miss it.

Whether he's a shy guy or Mr. Outgoing, he'll let you know, one way or another that he's into you.  Promise.

I'll be the first one to tell you it's easier said than done.  I continually have to remind myself not to try and figure out the best way to subtly flirt or wonder if he's really as cute/smart/funny/adorable as I think he is.  My besties will tell you that I reach out to them for prayer--for continued strength to keep my hands out of it and to allow God to be in control of the situation, to sit back and wait.  Prayers for wisdom in handling my interactions with him and not reading things into the situation that aren't really there.  Prayers that God will smack us both upside the head if we are meant to be together.  To not let the idea of something consume me when there is nothing there...yet.

At the end of the day, I'm happy being right where I'm at.  I've been in a lot, and I mean A LOT, of unhealthy relationships.  Ones that I didn't bother to consult with God on before jumping in feet first.  Relationships that I might have just manufactured into life when it would have been better to just stay friends/coworkers/strangers.  I'm not 100% certain God has a husband out there for me, but if HE does, I know HE won't let me walk right by him because my eyes are looking up and not around.

*Note, I'm saying "man" because there is a difference between men and boys...boys...we don't got time for that.

Pinterest Thursday

No surprise that my Pinterest is bursting at the seams with Whole30 pins...check out a few that really caught my eye...

Kale Cubes for Green Smoothies

Mini Meatloaves Loaded w/Veggies

Italian Baked Eggs

Slow Cooker Greek Chicken...
use coconut milk instead of yogurt and ditch the pita.

Pancetta Wrapped Balsamic Green Beans

Click here to follow me on Pinterest and here to see what I've been eating on my W30 adventure.

Challenge Take 2 Winners!

As some of you know, I've been hosting a Challenge (read more about it here) that just wrapped up on Sunday.  The point of the whole thing was to get into a healthy routine both with diet and exercise.

Each day you were awarded one point for working out.  We only counted 5 workouts per week and it could be any form of exercise as long as it was a minimum of 30 minutes, you broke a sweat and you elevated your heart rate.  And another point if you stayed in your calorie range.  This second point was a little more flexible-some people weren't basing it on calories, but a specific eating plan they were following, but as long as it was consistent I wasn't too concerned with what it was.  I wanted this to be something that wasn't simply a 2 month competition, but friendly accountability and incentive to get into a healthy routine that could be maintained once the challenge was over.

Well, over it is!  And we have some winners!  Everyone who joined threw $20 into the prize pot.  With 10 people, we have $200 that needs to be awarded.  First place gets 50% of the prize money, 2nd place gets 30% and third will receive 20% of the pot.

First Place $100: Laura

Second Place $60: Micki

Third Place $40: Amanda



Congrats to everyone who completed the Challenge!



If you're interested in doing something like this please contact me!