Coconut Greek Yogurt Fruit Bowl

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Click on the image above to enlarge the yummy bowl of fruit!

Don’t’ want to make you jealous; but, this breakfast was killer this morning. I love Greek yogurt in the morning – but sometimes it gets a little dull and boring. (It’s a common thing with eating healthy!) But, it does not have to be that way. Started experimenting in my kitchen and whipped up this creamy scrumptious morning fruit bowl.

Take out a mixing bowl and get to work! You will need: 1 cup Greek yogurt (I used this 100 calorie one!), 1 apple, 1 banana, 1 tbsp. chia seeds and a handful of coconut shreds. Easy as pumpkin pie!

Pour the yogurt in a mixing bowl. Cut up the apple and banana and place all these fruit pieces in with the yogurt. Sprinkle in the chia seeds and coconut shavings – and mix it all up. I then poured the fruity mixture into a pretty little bowl and sprinkled additional chia seeds on the top (just because these fill you up – and are a great aid in dieting).

Enjoy. Eat slowly and savor every spoonful.

You will make this again – for sure. By the way – double score – this is *gluten free.*

5 Ways to Unwind After Work

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As much as you can eat healthy, it’s also important to remember to drink healthy too. Tea is very healing.
– Kristin Chenoweth

If you are like me, work is stressful and it often takes a toll on your physical, as well as, mental well-being. Obviously – we don’t have the luxury of working out all day and pampering ourselves in the spa like celebrities twice a week– someone has to being home the bacon!

However, we deserve a little rest and relaxation after work at least. I found that doing one of these five things below, clears my head and recharges me for the next day at the office!  The simple luxuries of life…

1. Take off that suit when you get home!

There is no reason to stay in work attire once you get home. Take off the pinstripe or the little black dress and slide into a comfy sweater and yoga pants. Kick off those 4-inch heels! Give those pretty power feet a break. I look at this as a way of ‘taking off the day.’ I even put fuzzy socks or old mule house shoes on once I get home. Lounge in comfy clothes – you deserve it.

2. Invest in a Teapot

There is something about looking over at my oven and seeing that tea pot heating up over the burner. I love experimenting with new teas. Add fresh rosemary or mint to chamomile tea. The choices are limitless. To sweeten it up – mix in a little agave, honey or sweet leaf. The warmth of that mug of tea will soothe that overworked mind. Sit on the couch, sip and enjoy slowly.

3. Don’t be afraid to belt out a tune or get in to Mozart!

Yep – I sing when I get home. Hook up your iphone and blast out a melody. I find that playing classical music after work while I am preparing dinner, really calms me down and helps me keep my mind off of office matters. Let that beautiful melody fill your mind and escape – get lost in the piano keys.

4. Turn off or silence your phone.

Don’t have your ringer on – just don’t. Or even a text sound for that matter. Take time for yourself. You deal with this all day at work. You are off of work – so you can wait to respond to others or just take your time getting back to them. Constant virtual communication can be draining. Don’t let it drain you after work!

5. Hug your pet – or if you don’t have a pet, your loved ones!

Physical touch is so underrated. Take time to embrace someone you care about – hold their hand or cuddle with a pet. One of my favorite things to come home to is my sweet little dog. It feels good to give love and have love given back. Enjoy spending time with those you love – or snuggling with a cute little animal. We all need love.

 

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue

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Today I wanted to post about an awesome organization in the Washington, DC area – Lucky Dog Animal Rescue. I will admit it; dogs hold a special place in my heart. I grew up with a sweet little cocker spaniel named Taffy. She was a rescue from the Humane Society in Texas – and our family could not have asked for a better dog.

Since having Taffy for almost 12 years, there is no way I would have adopted a puppy or even one from a pet shop. There are so many good dogs out there already that need love. Adult dogs make the best pets. Believe me.

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Dale was adopted at a Lucky Dog adoption event

I got my current sweet dog – Dallas (who is also a cocker spaniel) from Lucky Dog about 2 years ago. He was about 1 when I adopted him – already potty trained, the works! When I get home from work, his little tail – wags 90-to-nothing. It warms my heart and gives me a full grin.

Following Lucky Dog on Facebook has really opened my eyes to how many families and individuals are enriched by this organization. It is so nice to see the little adoption updates and pictures from adoption events in the area. I even volunteered at one about a month ago – and saw the joy in the dog owners faces up close and personal. Animals enhance lives.

Thanks to Lucky Dog, animals that would not have a happy life get second chances. Like little Evan, who I read this morning (thanks to generous donations) spearheaded by Lucky Dog – received a prosthetic paw.

If you are looking to adopt a puppy – really think of getting a rescue dog. Adopting Dallas changed my life. And, I know his little life was changed for the better too.

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

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LIGHT GODI 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”

Quick Avocado Tuna Salad

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ImageI am a working woman – I get it get. You get home after work and want to sit on the couch, maybe drink a glass of wine and relax. Making a gourmet, low-fat meal is the last thing on your mind. However, you promised yourself you would eat healthy and that bag of potato chips is looking pretty enticing right now. Stop! Don’t do it – especially when you can make this simple avocado tuna salad.

Seriously, it takes no time at all and will not blow your healthy eating habits. Just go to the kitchen. Pull out a mixing bowl and get to it.

All you will need is: 2 cans of tuna, 1 ½ avocados, 1 tbsp. light mayo, 2 diced celery stalks, a handful of diced onions and maybe a sprinkle of salt and pepper. I also like to add a shake of garlic.

Mix all these ingredients together (use a fork to mash in the avocado)– and there you go: delicious avocado tuna salad! I like to arrange a plate with romaine lettuce leaves then put a heaping scoop of this tuna on top of the leaves.  If you like tomatoes – add in a couple of those and then drizzle the whole dish with Newman’s Own Light Italian Dressing. If you don’t have this dressing in your fridge, it’s time to go on a little shopping excursion! (PS: you can also use the leaves as wraps – and eat little tuna salad wraps as well!)

Yum – a quick easy meal and you did not ruin that healthy eating pattern. Save the leftovers for a work lunch or maybe dinner the next night. Awesome! *This is also gluten free*

Prisoner of Hope

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prisoner of hopeA 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)

Gluten Free: Red Lobster Cheese Biscuits

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Check out Chebe products here!

So, I have been eating gluten free for about 3 solid years now (did not realize it was that long!). And, I have never felt better! Subtracting bread from my diet has made my skin clear, eliminated stomach issues and best of all – given me more energy! Not saying that some mornings – I don’t reach for that second cup of coffee (with soy creamer of course!).

Eating gluten free has its advantages and disadvantages. Call me crazy – but one of the major downsides was skipping those Red Lobster cheese biscuits. I mean, they are awesome. Minus the 20 + grams of fat – and gluten overload, those little cheesy, flaky biscuits melt in your mouth. And until now, I have never been able to replicate them with a gluten free recipe.

However, last night, on a whim – I pulled out a box of Chebe original cheese bread mix (gluten free – of course!) and decided to give it a try.  To my taste bud’s surprise – they were excellent! They were not homemade by any means – just add 1 cup cheese, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 eggs and ¼ cups water (I also added a couple of shakes of garlic powder for flavor!) and bake for 20 minutes at 375.

I have never had a gluten free product like this in my life. Excellent. I tell you what, I will order more Chebe products in the future if they taste anything like these cheese biscuits. If you are gluten free and you miss Red Lobster cheese biscuits, give this a try – you will not be disappointed.

Live Out One Verse a Week!

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Check out some really cute “Verse of the Week” boards, here  and here

A verse a week, what a great idea! As a Christian, we should saturate our lives in God’s Word daily. That does not mean that we need to read a whole chapter of the Bible a day – or conquer a Bible Study book lesson every single morning.

As working adults or students, we are busy and life has its commitments. Running the kids to baseball practice, studying for exams or simply preparing for that big presentation at work can consume our time; however, we can reflect on one verse a week. Write it out on the fridge, on your desk, bathroom mirror, car console – or on a neat board like this one (left!).

This little verse will remind us each and every day to reflect on God’s Word! Have your kids read it before going to school. Write it on lunch napkins. This could be a good way of engaging the whole family to reflect on scripture. If you journal, write about this for personal reflection and quiet prayer.

Psalms is a great book to start with – the beautiful charges and blessings are poetic yet powerful. This appeals to me because writing poetry is one of my passions. Yet, if you want to reflect on the miracles of Jesus – the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John) might be a good place to begin.

The main point or the takeaway is – it is important to saturate ourselves in the word of God. This is as much a challenge to myself – as to you. Let’s reflect on a verse a week and try to live out our lives according to that beautiful promise from God!

After all, God has called us to “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)

I Want to Leave a Legacy

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Buy this beautiful ETSY pillow here

The title of this post is the name of one of my favorite songs. The artist, Nichole Nordeman writes, “I want to leave a legacy. How will they remember me? Did I choose to love? Did I point to you enough to make a mark on things? I want to leave an offering – a child of mercy and grace who blessed your name unapologetically, and leave that kind of legacy.”

What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind? Our time on earth is so short. We only have a small time frame to leave a mark behind. What do you want others to remember about you? I hope that others remember my devotion and love for God. I hope they remember my face shining brightly with the glory of his mercies. I hope they remember my heartfelt words and fervent heart cries inscribed on paper and blog.

This life is your opportunity to lead others to Christ – through your glow, words and actions. May we refocus our lives to reflect the light of the sun! Let’s draw nearer to God  so he will draw nigh unto us. We live in such a state of grace. I pray we share this grace with the world. Let’s leave a legacy of Christ’s undying, sacrificial love!