You Are What You Eat!

First off
 I would like to say that I am no saint in the food area! I love pie, an occasional Coca Cola or Root beer & Lord knows I have been supporting Taco Bell hard core this past month! Those Grilled Stuffed Nachos are off the chain!! lol

Eating healthy has never been hard for me... I was raised on fruits & veggies. I thought Sprite was the only soda for years & I believed McDonald's was the only place that had it. I also thought McDonald's only served Sprite & hot fudge sundaes! (That's all we ever got from there!) Ha ha! & Craker Barrell was the only place we went to dinner. Sweet tea, Milk, lemonade, coffee & OJ were the only beverages found in our house on a regular basis. I've maybe had 5 lunchables in my whole life & 3 have been because of hunting season. I never had Hamburger Helper or a Pop Tart until I was 18 & moved out!

 I was obsessed with yogurt & Cole-slaw at the age of 3. I vaguely remember my birthdays under 6 but I 100% remember a birthday party of mine where all I wanted was Cole-slaw & that's all I ate!! My siblings & I must be the only kids in our generation that like oatmeal, cream of wheat, plain cornflakes with honey & frosted mini wheat cereal. Grapefruit was another breakfast tradition! I remember multiple occasions where us kids were running the neighborhood with muscadine grapes & sugar cane... munching away!! In our world fried platinos, fresh cream corn & sweet potatoes were desserts. Apple sauce was always served with dinner and 90% of the time there was a melon, avocado or tomato cut up on the table. Honey-do, crenshaw melon, papaya & mango...So Good!! Oh & we all loved dried fruit... even prunes, I actually have some at my house now...

I cherish all of these things & hope I can instill this love for good food in my kids. It breaks my heart to hear someone say they don't like a vegetable or fruit... They are really a gift from God!!
I would rather have steamed squash over cake & ice cream any day!!

Through my research (I have done A LOT), I have developed a guideline (Which is broken occasionally but with self control. That's why its a guideline, not a rule)... If God didn't make it that way... it can't be good for you! This kind of falls in the line of "Clean Eating" Which is THE BEST lifestyle you can implement. Its not a diet, its a whole life changing reform. Its the only eating plan that makes any sense! Of course all things need to be eaten in moderation even when eating clean (Shrimp/lobster, milk, & cream cheese... things naturally high in cholesterol & saturated fat. We need a little of both but we have to stay in control). I wouldn't really even say cheese was a "Clean" food but its not unhealthy. With this being said, I'm not a party pooper ... I believe in enjoying life & sometimes you need a juicy burger & fries from Steak N Shake to do that... lol but I, maybe have 2 all year & will sometimes pick sushi over a burger, & sushi is beyond healthy & clean! I really love the 80/20 rule... If you eat 6 small meals all 7 days then 20% would be 8.2 meals that you can indulge, but I wouldn't make the whole meal an indulgence... i.e.: If you eat Chick Fil A, get the fried chicken but opt for fruit & a water on the side...

If you ever hardcore eat clean, you will feel like crap for the first few days... your body is freaking out! But I promise if you push through, there is victory in the form of energy, better complexion & great mood!! I truly feel that I think more clear when I eat healthy!

If you ever stray from hardcore clean eating, you will pay for it... Again, your body is freaking out!! Things like Doritos may have never bothered you before but that's because your body was used to eating junk. Now its living free of harsh chemicals & finally being the best it can be & then BAM, you hit it with an atomic bomb!

Now, I am 100% against sugar substitutes, hormones, antibiotics, MSG & other preservatives....     I get a lot of negative feedback from a lot of people for not drinking diet drinks or even chewing gum made with aspartame(Why? I have no clue.. its my choice, there's always water, Bubble Yum & Tic Tacs). Say what you will but we didn't always know how bad asbestos or smoking cigarettes is/was but with growing technology we have proof that both kill slowly & painfully... why is this generation so ignorant to new research? Even if embalming fluid wasn't harmful, it still grosses me out to know that it's what we preserve the dead with & every time you chew a piece of Extra or Wrigley, you have embalming fluid in your mouth, seeping to your eyes, sinuses, brain & blood stream! What happened to good ole fashioned sugar?? What's 5 calories compared to 0 with deadly effects? Are we that demented that we would rather kill ourselves early just as long as we are thin while alive? And then no one is succeeding at losing weight on a "no sugar" diet because of all the other negative effects it has on the body that in turn, still keeps the weight on. Instead of checking the nutrition facts so much, check the ingredients section & Google all of these names you cant pronounce!

 Do your OWN research before you eat anything you are unsure of & when you start a new "diet", research what will happen if you eliminate that food group or nutrient!! Its not about being paranoid, its about being informed!!

My last point & I will leave it at this...

Many will make a valid point about how expensive eating healthy is. Please look up the prices of heart surgery, dialysis, chemotherapy & all of these other medical procedures that are needed as a result of poor diet. I would rather pay more for good food my whole life, feel great all the time & live longer.

Go, Go, Go!!!

Go, go, go!! 

I feel like that's all I/we do! Even when I am sitting still, my mind is running a 100 miles a second! There is ALWAYS something to do, someone to call, somewhere to go...

IT. HAS. GOT. TO. STOP! I have got to get my brain on a schedule, something more organized so I am not running around in my head like a crazy person thinking I forgot something & then, not beat myself up if I do... I want to be a MENTALLY HEALTHY PERSON. 

To be "mentally healthy" I believe you need a daily dose of ...

Quiet Time - This can be prayer, sitting on a porch, doing crafts or listening to relaxing music, even though its called "quiet" I feel the thing we need to silence out most is the world. So my music suggestion would be something instrumental. No lyrics or heavy tempo... I personally LOVE the bag pipe, steel guitar, violin & Piano! There are solos using these instruments that have brought me to my knees spiritually. Something about a piano will make my heart hurt, not necessarily in a bad way. Its just a very touching instrument to me...

No electronics - No TV, phones, tablets, laptops, gaming systems

Organized productivity - Paying bills, prepping meals or reviewing the next days events & to-do's or even taking the time to learn something new & exercise our brains or physically exercise! Studies show how great a 30 minute work out can benefit our minds!

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Family time - This one is pretty self explanatory & think the "No Electronics" should be implemented here. Our family time growing up was around the dinner table, no TV, no distractions. Every day dinner was ready at a certain time & we were all expected to be there, & to tell you the truth, I didn't want to be anywhere else but at the dinner table surrounded by great people & great food. It was a release from the day... conversation & laughs with the people that mean the most to me. I loved even more when we invited extended family to eat! Yea, it meant more dishes for me & my sister to wash but I wouldn't have traded it for anything!

 God Time - Most importantly as Christians, we need time everyday to be intimate with God on top of a weekly dose or two of being fed & fellowship with other Christians. I get spiritually hungry & cranky when I have not been fed.

The goals floating around in my head since the beginning of the year, have been to get organized, get enough sleep & get everything done. So I can have "Us Time" & I am not just talking about just Buck & I having time for us but giving God time he deserves for US. I need more than the daily verse or devotional. 

I, as a more advanced & growing Christian, need to be feeding myself like one.

I know that my Nana set herself up for having a better day when she would get up early before us kids, drink her coffee & spend time with The Lord. I get excited just thinking about it! I soooo want to become a morning person like her!! But I have to actually get up earlier & get more rest at night so I am not falling asleep while reading His word or praying. That is my struggle... I know with God all things are possible but there is a lot on my part that needs to be done for this to go smoothly... because God isn't going to come down & make our lunches everyday or wash our laundry & dishes, the things that keep me up later at night. Or to be honest, there are nights He should really strike my phone dead with a lightening bolt! Seriously, why am I so addicted? I find myself constantly checking my phone for a new Snap, Comment on Instagram or Facebook. Or I will sit up looking through all the social media that I have already seen & contaminated my mind with, just waiting for someone to text me back about something... that is an illness. Another area I have put on the list for bettering myself mentally.

In this crazy world of striving to be physically healthy (which is just as important), I think we often forget to take care of our mind & soul. I truly believe mental health must come before we can even begin the daunting task of becoming physically healthy.

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 YEAR

Well... We've been married a whole year! It flew by but I feel like we have been together forever! 

(This photo - explains us perfectly! I'm always trying to be proper & there he goes with a crazy face... He keeps me young! Lol) 

A lot of people have asked us what we gave each other & what we were going to do today for our anniversary... And we decided a couple weeks ago that we were just going to save money. Yep... We did nothing... Went to church & just hung out! No regrets... It's what ya gotta do sometimes... 

I did however buy Buck a new wedding band but that really wasn't for our 1 year... He's been needing one for awhile considering he lost his a month after our wedding... Lol but you can bet your bottom dollar I didn't spend what I did on his first one! I have a feeling this won't be his last ring.. Oh well! 

Reducing The Spectrum, Increasing The Versatility - A Few Tips On Controlling Your Closet!

I am in no way a fashion expert but I found a way to cut down on buying clothes, shoes, & accessories whilst making my closet extremely more versatile.

I narrowed my colors down. I found ones that complement me & that I love more than others. I picked a handful of colors for Fall/Winter, Spring/Summer & Basic/Standard colors, like black. Now I only buy items in these colors...

Basic/Standard

Black

Brown/Taupe

Ivory

Charcoal Grey

Navy 

Leopard

Fall/Winter

Crimson Red

Ivy Green

Mustard Yellow

Spice Orange

Teal

Spring/Summer

Turquoise (Of course!)

Mint/Spearmint 

Lavender/Orchid Purple

Coral/Peach

Raspberry Red

Sunshine Yellow

Emerald/spring Green

Blueberry Blue

Blush Pink

I know this still seems like a lot of colors but when you think of all the colors in the spectrum, narrowing it down is a must & 19 colors & 1 print is nothing! There's at least 5 different reds but Crayola Red DOES NOT look good on me! Instead, a crimson or patriotic red complements my skin tone. There is plenty of yellows but neon is not for me, same goes for purple, I just don't do the Crayola concept! lol This list knocks out half of Charming Charlies for me lol I already had to limit myself to clearance items in that store!

I really prefer the colors you find in nature... tropical beaches, sunsets, autumn leaves, wildflower fields, mountain ranges, & berry patches. I also allowed myself more Spring/Summer colors because we have way more Spring & Summer months here in Florida!!

We just cant buy heels & jewelry in every color... it really isn't sensible... I tried... I bout lost my mind & my great credit score! lol

Dresses can be a bit of a different story. The dress may have colors that arent on my "list" but there is always one color that is... So I can pair shoes & accessories...

On the topic of dresses...

I made another new rule for myself. I will now only buy dresses that are church/work appropriate & dresses I would wear out to dinner or to an event. It also needs to be comfortable, the days of itching & not being able to breath are over for me! Not that I am letting myself go, but there are comfortable & pretty dresses & to me they are worth way more than any D&G dress ever!! Honestly, any dress that looks good with my cowgirl boots is a winner in my book!! No more buying for "In the event" we go on a fancy date (Or a cruise). Most of the time when we do go on a date its to a wing or BBQ joint so I am wearing jeans & a cardigan anyways... We are just too laid back (& Cheap) to go to a fancy restaurant all the time lol Its just the kind of people we are.

Also regarding dresses, I try to follow the modesty rule... If it shows cleavage than it needs to be longer on the legs, if it shows a lot of leg then cleavage needs to be covered, & when going to church, BOTH need to be covered. This "rule" is kinda hard for me considering I have mile long legs... what looks short on me would still be a moo-moo on some of my shorter friends. Its not that I am showing more leg, the dress still covers the same on me, I just have more leg left over... if that makes sense? lol

Jeans

Yes, I admit I have a few jeans with holes & distressing BUT I haven't bought a pair in a loooong time! They just aren't versatile. I like a good dark (Non-holey) jean to wear when we go out. It would have to be a sharp looking pair of jeans with a cheap price tag for me to buy them these days...

Shorts

Its Florida... we buy all the shorts we can get our hands on!!!!

I hope maybe this helps someone like it did me. I was getting so frustrated with my need to match everything to the T & I was getting defeated & overwhelmed. (Because I am crazy & have OCD, so it has to match EXACTLY) Well matching is easier & more attainable now that I narrowed my spectrum & set a few guidelines!

Awesome Article

10 Ways To Respect Your Husband!

Click Here To Read

Water

So we all need to drink water... And we know we should be drinking our body weight in ounces. 

100 pounds = 100 ounces.

123 ounces = 1 Gallon 

But when to drink it? How to spread it out? 

Here is what I do... 

I drink a bottle between 

9AM-noon, noon-3PM, 3PM-6PM, & 6PM-9PM

I know I need more than that & my other bottle should be when I first wake up between 6-9 but drinking anything other than coffee between those hours is just not going to happen these days! 

But if you can drink a bottle when you first wake up, you should, because it kick starts your body, wakes it up & gets it going! It's like getting the oil moving in your motor except we constantly have to "oil" ourselves unlike our cars! 

On top of drinking the ounces I need just for my weight, I try to drink an equivelant amount of water to the amount of coffee & sodas I consume... 1 can/cup = another bottle.  Soda & coffee are diuretics & will strip you of everything that is trying to hydrate your body so you have to replace what diuretics are getting rid of.

This flexible schedule/guideline helps me keep my goal & to not drink all of my water at one time! It also helps me cut back on drinks like Coke & Pepsi! 

Happy hydrating! 

Crockpot Prep!

I am not a big morning person... I would love to be... But I'm not. It's way easier for me to stay up a bit later than get up earlier in the morning! But... Even if one day I do miraculously become a morning person, I will always prep my crockpot meals this way! 

First off, if you don't have a crockpot, get one! ASAP! 

Ok so I'm not going to share a recipe because I have quite a few & will eventually post them... 

Here is my advice! 

Thaw meat out (I prefer the natural way, not the microwave defrost) so depending on the size of the meat I place it in the fridge 2-3 days prior. Note - place meat in a bowl while defrosting! Too many times have I had blood leak all over my fride shelf & on other foods/packages!! Gross!!

The night before you plan to cook the crockpot meal...

Rinse meat & place in a large Tupperware container.

Pour marinade or rub dry seasonings over all of your meat & close the container for now.

Cut up veggies or rinse beans etc...

Place veggies in the container, all around the meat... Season/marinade a bit more to cover veggies. 

Close container & place in fridge.

Go ahead & set up your crock pot! (PLUG it in!! Too many times I've come home to uncooked food!) 

In the morning ..

Pour all of the contents of the container into the crockpot (make sure meat is sitting on the bottom).

Turn on the Crockpot & Ta Daa!! Dinner is ready for when you get home! 

Here is the pot I have & absolutely LOVE!! 

It has a timer so when time is up it switches over to "keep warm"!! No worries about your veggies being over cooked! 

Meal Prep..

Here is a picture of meat (1 pound portions) prepared for 17 meals & it only cost $44! It's not junk meat either!! 90/10 ground beef & all natural chicken tenderloins! 

I also prep pork chops, country style ribs, & stew meat. I refrain from frying so I buy country fried steak only on occasion! 

Weighing all of this & packaging only took 30 minutes ... The worst part is standing at my super low counter! But I was able to cook dinner at the same time! 😌

Here is a picture after I organized my freezer! (Note - wear gloves when cleaning out a frozen freezer! Ice cuts are no fun!)

You can buy all of your meat in bulk at Sams Club & a food scale at Bed Bath & Beyond for $30ish! 

Happy prepping!! 😊

A link

To a great article/blog post called "But Why Does She Get Babies?"

http://natashametzler.com/2014/02/17/but-why-does-she-get-babies/

Why...

I have started this blog basically so I can express myself, share views, tips & life experiences without writing an essay on my Facebook page... Even if no one reads my posts, it will be a relief to get all the stuff rattling around in my head, out & in black & white!