Make Your Own Old Bay Seasoning?

September 9, 2013September 9, 2013Leave a comment

You mean to say – I don’t have to buy it in bulk at Costco? Nope! Now, you can make your own fabulous Old Bay seasoning. This spice is simply fantastic on seafood – such as shrimp and various kinds of fish.

However, I just seasoned chicken with it not too long ago (and, it was GREAT). Don’t believe me – try it.

You will need: 1 tbsp celery salt, ¼ tbsp paprika, 1/8 tsp black pepper, 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, a pinch ground dry mustard, mace, cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, ground clove and ginger.

Place all these spices in a little bowl and mix ‘em up! This will make you 4 tbsp of this awesome seasoning. You might need to make more – if you are having more than two guests over for dinner.

Quick Skinny Working Girl Breakfast

September 7, 2013Leave a comment

For the girl on the run – this is the best breakfast. Some mornings I wake up and am unsure of what to make for myself. It’s better to eat quickly then to wait until lunch. Believe me!

Here is a quick breakfast that I made on vacation this past week. It is the perfect combo of protein and fruit.

First: cut up 1 banana; add a handful of blueberries, 10 walnuts and coat it with a pinch of chia seeds. You can also add a dash of cinnamon for flavor. (This will help your metabolism).

Mix these all together and you have a fruity and crunchy breakfast that you can eat in a few minutes. The chia seeds fill you up and – this will keep you a skinny working girl – for sure!

Chocolate Banana Gluten Free, Flourless Muffins

August 30, 2013August 30, 2013Leave a comment

In the mood for a little chocolate, but you don’t want all the fat and carbs that come along with it? Well, I have the just the muffin for you! It has the creaminess of bananas, as well, as that richness of your favorite chocolate treat.

Not to mention, it is loaded with flax and chia seeds! This will make you feel full longer. The simple addition of flax and chia will add fiber, fight belly fat and stabilize your blood sugar. Check out some awesome health benefits of chia seeds here.

Now, let’s getting baking this scrumptious, low-fat, high protein dessert or even chocolate breakfast treat! I really like eliminating flour (even gluten free flour) from recipes. I feel better substituting whey protein powder – for energy!

You will need: 2 bananas (I used 2 really ripe ones – that I was about to throw away), 1 cap full vanilla extract, 2 scoops whey protein powder, 2 cage free eggs, 1 tbsp. ground flax seed, 1 tbsp. chia seeds, 1 heaping tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 tbsp. baking powder, 1 tbsp. baking soda.

I put the 2 bananas in the food processor just to make them like a paste – then poured this mixture into a bowl. Add in the eggs, flax, chia seeds, baking soda, baking and cocoa powder and that cap full of vanilla. Mix up this yummy chocolate paste. Taste for perfection.

Preheat the oven to 350 and line a cupcake tin with liners. Fill the liners with your good mixture and bake for 20-25 minutes. Enjoy!

10 Positive Things to Say to Yourself Every Morning

August 29, 2013August 29, 2013Leave a comment

You look in the mirror every morning – and you don’t just stare blankly at your reflection. You say words, whether in your head or aloud to yourself. These words are either positive or negative, and they really set the tone on how you are going to feel the rest of the day.

A Glamour issue notes, “…on average, women have 13 negative body thoughts daily—nearly one for every waking hour. And a disturbing number of women confess to having 35, 50 or even 100 hateful thoughts about their own shapes each day.” What? This is awful.

The average woman is not a super model. I can’t say this more plainly – we (yes, I am including myself) need to change the negative, harsh thoughts we think about our body/being. You are beautiful – because you are YOU (and there is no one else like you in the world!) Obviously, there is need to be healthy – for medical reasons. But, you should not desire to be that toothpick model or hardcore ripped athlete. That is not realistic.

I am a Christian – this should be apparent from my blog. I happen to believe that God crafted us with a heavenly paintbrush and created us all in his image. Don’t you think God is beautiful? Then, you are as well, dear one!

Let’s practice celebrating our beauty every morning! My mother always used to tell me, ‘God does not make junk!’ That is so true!

Here are some uplifting things to say to yourself in the mirror each morning. Say them aloud or in your head. It will make a difference. This is a challenge to myself as well. Let’s get started.

I am BEAUTIFUL.

Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. – Song of Solomon 4:1

I am the APPLE OF GOD’S EYE.

Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. – Psalm 17:8

I am RADIANT.

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. – Psalm 34:5

I am a CROWN OF SPLENDOR in God’s Hand

You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. – Isaiah 62:3

I am DEARLY LOVED.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. – Colossians 3:12

I LACK NO GOOD THING.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. – Psalm 84:11

I Am So BLESSED.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11

I Was FORMED By The Hand of God

Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. – Psalm 119: 73

I am SMART.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. – James 1:5

I am a PRINCESS, Loved By The King

The King’s daughter is all glorious within; her clothing is interwoven with gold. – Psalm 45:3

Only A Prayer Away

August 27, 2013Leave a comment

I love having a friendship with my Maker. He is the friend that sticks closer than a brother. He is the fan that always cheers you on – even if you think no one cares. He is the silent observer and your greatest advocate. When you think you are alone, He is there – you are never alone. He’ll be by you through think and thin.

Just like a teacher, he does not kick you when you are down; but, simply instructs you in the direction of his path of righteousness. He points out your faults and weaknesses and says, “Child, I desire better for you!” However, like a friend – he is there to hold your hand in the trials and difficulties of life – emphasizing with your pain and fragility. He knows – remember, he hung on that rugged cross for you!

In this world you will have troubles – but your Father and [your friend] has overcome the world! (John 16:33) It is more than amazing that we can have this type of relationship with our Savior and the Redeemer of our souls.

I am truly humbled by the way he loves us. To take from a David Crowder song, “He is jealous from me, loves like a hurricane, I am a tree –bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy. When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions –eclipsed by glory. And I realize just how beautiful You are and how great Your affections are for me. “

God is only a prayer away. Breathe in this truth. Know it. Talk aloud to him – every day. He is there to listen and he cares. He hears every utterance and longs to help you and build you up in his steadfast love!

And She Wears White From Head To Toe

August 23, 2013August 23, 2013Leave a comment

And she will be who he adores – this is what he made her for…

When someone dries your tears. When someone wins your heart and says you’re beautiful. When you don’t know you are. And all you long to see is written on his face – love has come and finally set you free on that wedding day. – Casting Crowns

You are who Christ adores. You are his princess, His daughter, His bride.

Ladies, please rest in your beauty. You were fashioned by the King of Kings – the Maker of All.

He held a paintbrush up to your face and created a workmanship. He looked at you and said, “This is very good.” He chiseled your body and colored your eyes.

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. – Genesis 1:31

Walk in assurance that you possess wonderful skills, ultimate radiance and a light that can never be extinguished in Jesus Christ. He adores you. All you long to see is written in His face – dear one. Always remember that. Hold it in your heart.

Listen to this Casting Crowns song, here.

Author Spotlight: Mark Batterson,The Circle Maker

August 20, 2013July 7, 2014Leave a comment

Order the book and get a look inside, here.

Praying – it is one of the most underrated practices in the Christian life. When life gets tough or even if it’s going well, we lean on our own understanding. We try to figure out a way to make things better in our own power.

We forget that praying has moved mountains, it’s caused manna to rain from the sky, it’s opened the heavens and summoned rain – prayer is one of the Christian’s most powerful weapons. Yet, it is the least used. That doesn’t make sense.

It is a practice that stirs the heart of God – and rouses his throne room. Prayer is like the stitches to a patchwork quilt. It holds us together. In Mark Batterson’s book, The Circle Maker, he teaches us the importance of prayer. He writes, “Drawing prayer circles around our dreams isn’t just a mechanism whereby we accomplish great things for God. It’s a mechanism whereby God accomplishes great things in us.” He teaches this principle through a life story – a real example – of someone who dared to rely on his prayer to God. He trusted and waited – and his prayer prevailed.

You should definitely check it out. And also – August 6^th a children’s version of this book was released. This is awesome news. Order this for your kids, little ones in your lives, your grandchildren – it is so important to ingrain in young minds the power of prayer.

It’s so humbling to hear little ones come to the throne room of grace in beautiful communication with the King of Kings. The truths in this book shimmer from the illustrations, as well as, the words. Thank God for people who publish stories that enrich the lives of others.

You are Blessed, Beloved.

August 18, 2013August 19, 2013Leave a comment

God calls us his ‘beloved.’ I love that term, it is such an endearing word. It means, ‘a much loved person, dearly loved.’

I imagine a groom looking up at his sweet bride and calling her darling – for she is so cherished in his eyes. You are cherished in the eyes of God. Cherished more than the crown jewels! Cherished more than that young groom cares for his bride.

You are God’s masterpiece – His creation – knitted together in your mother’s womb by His hands. We cannot comprehend how great our Father’s love is for us!

Loneliness is a common feeling (especially in the social media times we live in). Communication is constant but not as meaningful, creating a void in our souls.

However, what an awesome feeling to know that your Father is by your side at all times. How wonderful and weighty to realize he sent his son to die on that cross for you. And as Jesus died, he thought of you being his ‘beloved.’ That was his goal – that was His ultimate love.

Remember – if you are feeling down or unloved that God loves you more than the heavens and the earth. Jesus died for you – and looks at you like a cherished artwork that has been on display for centuries.

You are his ‘beloved.’ If you need to say it over and over again in the mirror – do it. Feel his love. It’s always there. Look in the mirror and say – Christ died for me and calls me his beloved, his cherished one!

For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. – Isaiah 54:5

My Flesh May Fail – But, My God, You Never Will!

August 15, 2013August 15, 2013Leave a comment

I love playing Spotify in the morning. Usually set it to the Chris Tomlin station. There is something about praise and worship that ignites the soul. It is refreshing to start the day with God’s promises set to music.

A song by Elevation Worship came on this morning – I know I have heard it before, but this morning it struck a chord in my heart. I literally felt my heart jump within my chest. It felt like butterflies. What an amazing feeling – my soul was grabbed by the King of Kings!

The lyrics state, “I may be weak, but Your Spirit’s strong in me. My flesh may fail, but My God You never will!”

I need to realize this more – that although I fail and mess up, God is there in the midst of my weakness saying, ‘Baby, it’s alright. Let me be strong! You are weak; but, that is why I bleed and died – to take away your weakness and be your strength!’

My strength is a vapor without the muscle of my King! It is so easy to think we possess superhuman powers on our own. However, life crumbles without Christ as the center. He is the one working through my hands (and I want it that way!). I have earned nothing on my own.

Thank you, God – for the strength of a million men! Thank you, Lord for the protection of a fleet of angels. You are my strength and my shield. My flesh may fail – but you never will!

Listen to the song here: “Give Me Faith”

Prisoner of Hope

August 14, 2013August 14, 2013Leave a comment

A prisoner of hope – that’s an interesting concept. It’s a mixture of a negative word and a very positive one. A prison or a jail cell conjures up feelings of hopelessness, ensnarement or wrongdoing. Whereas, hope spells out expectation or desire!

How beautiful to be a prisoner of hope – or to be entrapped by a desire for the one true God! We live in a state of hope where the bars of this striking promise have truly pervaded and changed our lives for the better. Just like inmates are bound by iron bars, we are bound by the promises of Christ.

When we choose to follow him and live for him, he wraps his bounteous blessings around us. They are tied around our neck – and we are encased in a house of God’s goodness.

Let’s live as prisoners of hope and walk with shackles of faith. For this type of entanglement does not trip us up or make our walk heavy. It only lightens the load and creates a joy that can never be quenched. It’s time to take a dramatic step – as a prisoner of God’s hope!

Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. (Zechariah 9:12)