Mean Girls..

So, I have been away for a while due to school  and life requirements. Should have taken the time to be here, where I belong..I have also started a new job, that in reality should be perfect for me, but really isn't due to the fact that the other women I work with, not all- but a large percentage are not all that friendly. I really thought that the mean girl thing was just passe after high school, but I guess I was wrong. So, here I sit at almost 50 years old with an opportunity to gain some really good experience, but little or no desire to do so due to the unfriendliness of the staff. Very frustrating, especially when the one who I am supposed to be training under spends most every minute after I ask a question either sighing or rolling her eyes. Like life is not stressful enough with all of the bs, and now this? You have to be kidding me right?
I realize wholeheartedly, that at this stage in my life that everyone I meet is not designed to be my "friend", but at the same time I also expect people to be at the very least congenial- for craps sake, we are in the south here folks. But, apparently, just as all moral compasses are being thrown out in society, so are manners and the basic golden rule of treating others as you would like to be treated.
The good news is, that I am in week 5 of my Pathophysiology course and maintaining a 4.0 average, so that is a bright spot-also that it is Friday and I will be home and in calmer waters for the weekend. 
I hope each of you find joy in each day. Share your smile, as you don't know what anyone else is going through and please just be kind to others, as our actions, words, and body language really do matter.

FSF
 

Sitting in the Dark

Good Morning to all! My fur babies have once again woken me long before the sun is up, but for once-instead of turning on the lights and getting my day started with chores, the news, etc..I have taken some time to sit on the back porch and just sit and listen..listen to the frogs, the rustling of the tall grass, the dripping of water (as it rained last night), the soft pitter patter of cat feet and soft meows as they express the pure joy of rolling around on the floor in the screened in porch, and enjoying the feel of soft dog ears as they push their heads into my hands to be petted. This is my absolute favorite time of the day, me and the critters, and time..time to think or just enjoy, as I have this morning the creation that is earth and to appreciate all that God has provided. Life is not always easy, but somehow, someway He always brings us through- through heartache, tears, disappointments, and dare I say- even anger, and provides for us to become stronger and more resilient for what life and this society throws at us.

Today I feel blessed to have a couple of friends that I have had for years and for a couple of friendships that are relatively new and in the discovery stage- these relationships are so very important in the lives of women. I love my husband and am so very grateful for the man that he is, but us women have a different need for connection, ones that only good girlfriends can fill. As I have gotten older I have come to realize in these relationships it is definitely not quantity, but quality and I feel so blessed when a woman is put in my life by God with whom I have an instant connection with..it is not very often, but when it happens it is amazing, an He always knows when to do so...

Though I have a lot to do with school and the house, today I am going to make a conscious effort to be aware of the beauty that is in front of me..you would think that still being home-bound after surgery that I would be doing this a lot, but that is not the case..there are some days that my face is in the books or in the computer so much the only time I go outdoors is to mindlessly open the back door for dogs-today I will spend time outdoors, as much as the weather permits to hear the happy frogs..I urge each of you to take some time time for yourselves before the new week is off and running!

I wish each of you a blessed and peaceful Sunday..share your smile with all that you see!

Until tomorrow, 

FSF

Life happens

Rejoice in the Lord always. -Philippians 4:4

Although things may not go as we have mapped out in our mind and things happen to bring tears of sadness to our lives, it is important to turn to the Lord and lean on our faith instead of depending on things of this world to make us feel better such as over eating, consuming alcohol in excess, going on a detrimental shopping spree- mind you a little retail therapy never hurt anyone, but spending as much as a car payment is too much. 
Sorry, for the interruption in the posting, things have been happening in my life where for a minute or two I really just needed to take a break and reorganize my mind..as the old saying goes, life happens when you are making plans. For now I am adjusting to my new normal and making the best out of things, even feeling positive about things to come. It would be easier if I was back to my normal self and able to put on 2 tennis shoes instead of 1, but we are at the end of week 2 post op and things are progressing well.
I personally not believe that it is the last day of  January already, please don't forget to wear red tomorrow in support of women's heart health awareness..women tend to present differently in the event of a heart attack vs men so please inform yourselves and be aware of your numbers to include your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, weight (and the distribution of where that fat is located on your body). 
Do you know that walking even just 20 minutes a day can have a significantly positive effect on your health? Shoot for a minimum of 10,000 steps a day if at all possible. I know that many of you are most likely knee deep in winter weather now and fitness goals may be tough to reach, but do what you can each day..sometimes it is not the big overarching goals, but the small steps and wins along the way that keep us motivated and going..
Alright, it is time for me to get my 200 weight exercises in for the day..then working down my checklist of things to accomplish for this 24 hours period, really more like 9 hours, as I tend to call it a day about 6pm..
Make the most out of this Thursday..or take a breather- whatever you need to do for you and your inner peace.

Wishing you all a blessed day, 

FSF

Life is complicated..let's work on making it simpler!

Goodness.it is already almost noon! Have spent the day with changing the dressing to my foot..post op day # 10..whoop whoop..I am ready to get back to functional! And some other stuff like reading, eating a healthy breakfast, playing with my grand-baby, etc... However, I am so relieved to actually have time for all of my coursework these days..so I consider myself blessed for not only the ability to take the time to hopefully end up with a functional/pain free foot, but also to have time to do what I need to and want to do..

The above fat cat is Marli Queen of Everything..she is 1 of 4 rescues (2 cats, 2 dogs) that allow us humans to reside with them..it is her snuggling up on my lap and giving me cat nuzzles this morning that inspired this post..along with the reading from my Simple Abundance book that a dear friend gave me for my birthday this past year..so here is quote from the book that I thought you would enjoy..

Year by year the complexities of this spinning world grow more bewildering and so each year we need all the more to seek peace and comfort in the joyful simplicities. 
-Woman's Home Companion 1935

Can you only imagine what the author would think of the world today in 2019? Such a fitting view they had even back then..the fact that life is crazy and can get so very complicated before we even know what is going on ...my wish for each of you today is that you are able to find 5 to 15 minutes to just sit and appreciate the view-even if it needs to be done behind closed eyes if you are not able to go outdoors. 

What can you do to make life simpler? I have never been much of one to hold onto stuff, so de-cluttering is not really where I need to focus is on making whole foods and turning my home and yard into an oasis- how can that make life simpler you ask? By bringing a sense of peace and calm- my job is pretty high on the stress ladder, and my quest for higher education also brings a certain amount of stress with it- especially as I watch the student loan totals rise, but both bring a high level of satisfaction also- I need our home to be a place where I cannot wait to be, a place where the rest of the world disappears, and all is good.. one of my learning goals for this year is how to build and cultivate a herb garden in pots/containers- simple life- home cooked food, getting my hands in the dirt, NOT having to depend on a trip to the grocery store to supply us with fresh herbs..setting up my craft/sewing room- letting my creative juices run free, surrounded by items that bring only joy! See where I am going with this? What would help simplify your life? Feel free to leave a comment regarding if moved to do so-who knows who you will inspire!!

Wishing each of you a blessed day!

FSF
 

 

Expand your Mind!

Good Morning to everyone!

I started the day with some exercises, writing in my journal, reading, and eating a "throw back"  breakfast of Cream of Wheat..it has been years..made it with almond milk, golden raisins, and a smidgen of real butter..was so good-like a hug from the inside out! The weather here today is stormy and heavy rains are expected, makes me want to crawl back under the covers, but I have a few things to accomplish today before I will allow myself that luxury. Even though I am on "home bound" status during this post op period there are still things that have to be done to stay on track for both NP school and the leadership course I am in. Too bad I am not yet able to walk without the help of this knee scooter, there are a couple of closets upstairs that I am wanting to organize- the wrapping closet and the gift closet. LIFE HACK tip here- start buying after Christmas to get great deals on gift sets and winter items for next year. I personally shop clearance sales all year long to keep my gift closet stocked..makes birthdays, etc..easy and big celebrations such as Christmas fairly painless as far as the shopping rush and expense.

During some of my reading this morning I came across a quote that resonated with me ..

" A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions"- Oliver Wendell Holmes

This prompted me to think of my experience when writing a history paper yesterday (part of the leadership course)- I have to admit that I spent a fair amount of time yesterday being a bit grumpy that I had to write said paper but got it completed and submitted-ahead of schedule even! Anyway, during my morning read when I came across this quote, it made me stop and think for a minute that I should actually be grateful to learn something that I would not normally seek out. It makes us more well rounded, and even able to have conversations that we wouldn't have been able to engage in before when we learn something new and step outside of our comfortable bubbles and routine interests. Moral of this story- from now on I will be grateful for learning requirements, even if not in my primary area of interest!

This sparked me to make a list of learning goals for this year:

vegan cooking/baking
increase German language skills
learn Spanish
learn how to sew
increase my computer skills
learn how to paint
learn how to make and cultivate a herb garden in pots

I wish you all a blessed day and one filled with opportunities to learn even 1 new thing!

FSF

PS..would love to read about what you would like to learn this year..feel free to type a comment!

Transformation Tuesday

Good Morning to each and every one of you reading this. I know, I know..I have been off of this site for almost 2 years..and I have missed it..I have allowed life to get in the way..all of the stress and busy work, the blah blah. To sum it up..I had become a product of our society and gotten sucked into the stress, feelings of depression, and an underlying current if constant irritation of trying to have it and do it all. 
For some crazy reason, when I woke up this morning I had this overwhelming urge to reconnect with the world outside of my own head and get back on track to live an INTENTIONAL and GRATEFUL life..so as a result, FSF has re-emerged and hopefully will reconnect with previous readers and connect with new ones..life is way too short to be lonely and isolated, even when surrounded by others.
Today started with some coffee and quiet time.. I have been writing in my journal like a mad woman lately and it is really helping to get all of the thoughts, plans, goals, inspirations, etc down on paper..I am also back on the path to optimizing my health and fitness status..but, here is the kicker..I am on post op day 7 after having foot surgery..the 3rd one to my right foot. So far so good, I am being as compliant as possible with the doctor's instructions of being non-weight bearing to this site..But, regardless of this small hindrance I am setting a goal of losing a total of 32 pounds and 11 inches off of my waist measurement over the next 8 months. Yes..I will provide the beginning lbs and inches later in this post! Somehow along the way of the past 2 years I have justified cramming whatever I wanted into my mouth..flavored coffees, ice cream, chips, fries, etc..My stress level has been high and so has my denial voice. NO MORE..in less than 10 months I will turn 50 and my goal is to be the best that I can be..both INSIDE and OUT!! 

So..starting today..my goals are as follows: 

  8 large glasses of water daily  
  200 weight exercises (with 8 lb weights)      
  2 cups of tea daily- whatever kind, no sweeteners
  no more creamer in my coffee                                                      
  4 meatless meals a week  
  cut any form of concentrated sweets down to a minimum                                                                
  no more cream/dairy based sauces/dips  
  journal daily      
  work on my vision notebook 
  have fun trying new things, products, foods, cooking methods
 spend time on my skin care regime
 read something inspirational
 take a good dietary supplement/multivitamin daily 

****as I am for the time being dead in the water as far as walking/running I will be concentrating on upper body strength for the time being****

Here are stats (a bit embarrassing, but we have nothing if we don't have transparency!) 

Starting weight  156 lbs

Upper arms 12 inches
Waist 33 inches
Hips 39 inches
Upper thighs 23 inches

I am so excited to begin/continue this journey with each of you..please post a response if you want..my goal is for this site to be both and inspirational site and a sounding board..a safe place to be us!!

      Verse for the day..and my life verse.....I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.
                                                                     Philippians 4:13

Sincerely, FSF

Poker face

 Good Morning..
      
       So, it has been pointed out to me over the past 2 days that I apparently show every single emotion that I happen to be feeling on my face..that is when I am not practicing the good ol'southern "bless your heart" expression. Sometimes this can be good..for example, when it is joy, happiness, or love..not so good when my mind is thinking "what the heck???". I would like to be able to say that I am always happy, always kind, always accepting..But, as I am human, fallen, and pretty darn broken.. this is not the case. Many times I feel flat out irritated, have a lack of tolerance, and wish that I could escape with my critters to an island never to be seen again. 

       With this being said..I am grateful for being called out on my non verbal expressions..it makes me more aware of the work that I need to do on myself to more like the woman God intended me to be..

James 1:19-20 states..
     My dear brothers and sisters, understand this; everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God's righteousness.
   
       Talk about a wake up call..while reading this verse I had no choice but to acknowledge my lack of following His command in this area..but, am happy to report that with knowledge of my expressions and a positive thought process, yesterday was better..with this verse on my mind the entire day. Sometimes it was a struggle, as it is so easy to get caught up in the stress of the day, or to be exposed to another's negative outlook, or when a process does not work..but I have no desire greater than to be an example of God's grace and love and to be able to share what He has done in our lives with others..and I a cannot do this if I have a 

 face that is twisted in irritation. Life is by no means perfect..but with every experience, success and heartbreak comes an opportunity to grow in faith and to grow closer to Him. I feel that with each new chapter ..sometimes each new paragraph.. in our lives we are afforded the chance to touch others and get out of the boxes which we sometimes find ourselves in.. and that alone is a blessing. For today the verse that jumped out at me is as follows...

Isaiah 43:19
       See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

     I wish you all an amazing Wednesday..don't forget to share your smile..it may even have a positive effect on you if the day is less than stellar..and it will most certainly brighten 
someone's day..always try to keep in mind that everyone is going through something and what we consider to be HUGE issue may pale to another's circumstances..

Be blessed!

FSF 

Zach Williams - Old Church Choir (Official Music Video)

Finding Your Joy...and the Importance of Self Care

 Romans 12:2 tells us...."And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (NJKV).

I know that I have been off line for an extended period of time..and for those who have followed my journey I do apologize..life has been crazy busy and I have to be completely honest gotten caught up in the world with career commitments, life's issues, higher education, Military obligations, family, the list can go on and on..and I have lost a part of myself and my relationship with Christ along the way due to stressors that have knocked me off of my feet and caused me to be less than joyful..thankfully we serve a God that forgives and loves us regardless of how far we may stray or how angry we may become..He is always there waiting for us with open arms..

 As insane as it may seem..I am on 2 weeks of Military training as we speak and this time away in the middle of Montana is allowing me to do some much needed self care and to take the time needed to re-evaluate my life and where I want to be...in my relationship with Christ, in my marriage, my next career move, where to align my priorities and energy, and coming to the realization that what my adult children choose to do really is their own decision and I cannot live their lives for them..even when they make decisions that are less than wise. I learned along the way and stumbled only to pick myself up and meet goals..just as many of you did..now it is time to let the next generation do so..hopefully while learning along the way. As hard as it is to turn things over to God..this is a lesson and habit that I really need to work on on a daily basis...what we want to happen and our  timing is most certainly not how He has things planned..and many times the lesson and blessings are found in the waiting.

So..I took a long hike in the hills this morning and turned on some praise and worship music and thought about self-care..and here is the list that I came up with..perhaps you can all find a few ideas and put them into practice..I think we all forget to care for ourselves..maybe more often than not..leaving our own tanks empty..making it harder to give of ourselves to others with a truly joyful heart..

1) write down three things daily that you are thankful for..mix it up..not the same things everyday
2) play..on a swing set, hop scotch, with your pet, child..whatever..revert back to childhood..even for just 5 minutes (I took the time to play on a swing set during one of my walks recently..it was amazing!!)
3) get outdoors into the fresh air..even a brisk 20 minute walk daily can make a world of difference in your physical and mental health
4) spend time with God...EVERY SINGLE DAY..confession here..I had gotten away from this and became more irritable, more stressed out, and more negative..THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!!! He wants to hear from us daily..and we need to connect with him..especially when we are losing our joy to daily life
5) eat well..healthy, fresh foods..but leave a little room for comfort foods also 

6) read..for self growth and pleasure
7) practice mindfulness
8)journal..get the thoughts out of the busy-ness of your head and onto paper
8)hydrate..it makes your entire body function better
9)laugh out loud..everyday
10)give back through volunteer work-it releases all those feel good endorphins
11) listen to uplifting music..no angry music allowed!
12) begin forming or nurture your positive "tribe"..for me this is my wonderful friends who are real with me and love God!
13) travel when possible..if not possible become a tourist where you live..seek to find the beauty of where you find yourself
14) create
15) get your hands dirty..plant something living to brighten your own space or for someone who cannot do it themselves
16) tell yourself something positive about YOU everyday 

 Part of my own self care will be to resume the things that I enjoy doing..attending church on a very regular basis, blogging, reading, swimming and exploring..things that I had let go of due to work requirements and getting sidetracked..There is a song by Zach Williams called Old Church Choir..it talks about not letting anyone steal your joy..I think this will become a theme song for me..I will post it on FSF so whoever wants to hear it can listen..

I wish you all an amazing, blessed day..and as always..don't forget to share your smile..everyone has issues..your smile may make a difference you could never imagine!!

Hugs, 
FSF..aka..Tiffany

Welcome a New Year!! May your 2017 be full of God's Blessings!!

                                                                          
                Good Morning to all of you..Happy 2017. I don't know about y'all but I am so happy to see a new year..one where we have 365 days to make this year fabulous and to grow in our relationships with Christ. One where families will heal, kindness will be shared and God will open doors for us, as well as close..no slam..the ones that we are not supposed to walk through. I wish for all of you that 2017 will be one to find a life balance which involves getting what needs to be done and allows for spending time with those who are important to you..doing things that enrich your heart and soul.
       
        I have spent the last part of 2016 in a real season of change..God has closed lots of doors that I thought I should be going through and has taught me some crazy hard lessons in patience and learning how to turn intense grief and sorrow..along with the stress and anxiety that comes along with those feelings over to Him..has it been easy?? Absolutely not, but through learning how to do this and faithfully starting each day in prayer with Him, I now have a feeling of peace and know that no matter where paths may lead..that they will be protected and covered with His grace. 
                                                                                 
                                                                                        Not all in 2016 was on the "not so great side"..we have had many blessings in our lives and have had plans come through as we had wished for. God has helped me to build a wonderful "tribe" through my new church home of amazing..strong Christians who have been game changers in my life. He has allowed us to have successes with school, fitness goals, location changes and new job roles and promotions: The first week of 2017 sees us with children who have learned some hard lessons, but are healthy and maturing day by day to become fine young men..all of our critters are still with us..although Max the Wonderdog gave us a scare the other day..I thought my wet nosed therapist was on his way over the rainbow bridge but God said..Not just yet!  And..a husband who will begin attending church with me!! God is so good and moves in our lives..even when we do not know that He is doing so..leading us through trials and tribulations, successes and life changing events and remaining ever gracious..waiting for us with open arms.

       I have set some lofty goals for myself this year..I know not everyone believes in setting New Years Resolutions and I am a firm believer in whatever works for each of us..me personally, I love opening a new journal..writing down what I want to accomplish and get busy..but I also like Mondays and find that in the world of electronic everything I still love a good bookstore!! The first on my list is to continue to build a closer relationship with Christ..there is the old saying that if you change the inside the outside will take care of itself..and for me taking care of the inside is to honor and worship Him always..leaning into God's word and listening for what He is saying..
Of course there are fitness goals and educational goals..and career related goals also..but those will fall into place with hard work and staying motivated..today I am just so grateful that we have a God who is gracious and answers prayers..

       Happy 2017..tomorrow starts back with fitness and nutrition..and perhaps some creativity..enjoy the day, stay positive and share your smile with a stranger..you never know what someone is going through and your smile really can make a difference!!  
   
                           Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,
                   for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
                                              -1 Thessalonians 5:15-18
                  
        
                                                                         

This is Liberty | Humble Tip

Back on social media...

 Good Afternoon to you all! 
     Today has been a day of healthy choices and reconnecting with some amazing folks via social networking ..several months ago I had sworn off all types of social media except for Linkedin and today I re-entered the world of Facebook, Twitter and PinInterest..I must say that the reconnecting has been good for my soul as I touched base with people who had played a larger role in my life than I had realized over the past several years. Perhaps it is me growing older and becoming a kinder, gentler me as the time goes by..realizing that friends and family not related by blood are indeed gifts from God to be cherished! Not that our family related by blood is not..friends fill a special place in our lives and if you are really lucky these 2 roles can be filled by someone who you are related to!

I have to confess..I have been totally indulging in a particular green smoothie recently-just like the one pictured here..I am not one so much for measuring things out (unless I am in baking mode..coming up next month!!) so here is what these yummy energy boosting, cleasing drinks have in them: Honeydew Melon, Baby Kale, Almond Milk, Fresh Pineapple, Flax and Chia Seeds, and Frozen Bananas..add all together in blender and enjoy! Great early in the morning or anytime throughout the day!

    As summer begins to come to an end we have been spending a lot of time outdoors..this is one of my favorite places to be (where I am now actually!)..a gift from my husband for Mother's Day..glad that I can take my laptop or book or pillow to this spot, generally with 1 to 3 fur babies at my feet and practice mindfulness..something that I have not been very good at in the past, but am making a real effort at becoming better at lately... being more in tune to what is happening right here, right now..not letting my mind race ahead.. for those of you who know me personally, you are perhaps more aware than I am of how guilty I am of this! I am lucky enough to have some time right now to practice this skill and I have to admit that it is not always easy but I am determined to master this skill as it is so important in our full speed ahead way of living today to be in touch, not only with ourselves, but the feelings of others.

    Finally to finish out this post I wanted to share with you all what I am currently reading..plus Packing Light on my Kindle..I had set a goal for 200 books this year on Goodreads..am not sure that I will make this number, but have enjoyed the indulgence of reading some great books to get there! I tend to read for pleasure in the Kindle form and for growth, education, and self development in actual book form. Crazy huh? The quirks we all have could build a long bridge I am sure!!

    I wish you all an amazing, wonderful day..don't forget to share your smile!
    
 

After a long break..I am so happy to be home!!

Hello to you all!

 After almost a year FluffyseeksFirm is up and running again. Since we last spoke life has taken some major exciting turns. We have moved from Germany to Chattanooga, Tennessee..a town that both myself and my husband are absolutely smitten with. I finally finished my first Master Degree in Human Services Counseling with an emphasis in Life Coaching..have begun working on my goal of becoming a certified Health and Wellness Coach and will be starting a life long..okay..so for the past 19 years since becoming a nurse..of beginning my Master of Science in Nursing in January 2017. For those of you who previously followed FluffyseeksFirm you know that I am insanely crazy about my fur babies..yes, all 3 made the trip back to the US with us and are doing well..Max the Wonderdog is almost 16 years old now, but still brings much love to our home. Melissa and Marli have also settled into living in the South nicely.

I have found an amazing church home here in Chattanooga..City Church. What a blessing to my life this location has become..I am super excited for the fall small groups to start up to not only grow spiritually, but to meet new people and form new relationships with others who love God! This life though, wonderful is not always so easy and this year has been filled with not only positive happenings, but also some that has thrown some loops in the road which have left me feeling a bit unsettled and somewhat anxious at times..and this is where praise and worship time for me is so valuable..to fill my tank so to speak when I feel less than gracious and even keel. I was able to attend JFest this past May -a great Christian music festival that takes place here every year (this was one of the reasons I was so excited about returning the Chattanooga!!) This year we were lucky enough to have amazing artists such as Jason Gray, Jamie Grace, and Zealand worship just to name a few. 

Today has seen my with my seemingly strange relationship with my scale..sometimes I am happy to see what she has to say and sometimes not..today was a good day with a decrease from yesterday which was followed up with some cute workout clothes, a good workout which included a few rounds around the neighborhood, some ab and arm work and a breakfast full of protein and fiber. Good motivation and an encouraging start to keep the work up for the rest of the day..ladies, for most of us closer to the 50 year mark staying fit and fabulous is not always easy..life happens..hormonal changes happen..and lets be honest we sometimes just flat out tired..that is why with this blog and our conversations I really do not want to focus on what the numbers say, as with my experience sometimes they can make a day great or start us out feeling less than what we are (because perhaps we do not meet the standard definition of what the media says we need to be) and what God means for us to be..for example..this morning because my scale was nice I feel great, but yesterday when the numbers did not mae me feel so great this mood kind of stuck with me throughout the day..so if it is okay with all of you I would like to focus on blessings, feelings of being energized and positive, and helping each you be a bit more motivated to feel amazing about who you are!

I would like to share daily 2 things that I am grateful for..today they are 1) setting an appointment to go and speak with a leader of the Church on Thursday and 2) having a husband that makes it possible for me to grow as an individual.

I wish all of you a wonderful day..don't forget to share your smile!

   I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
                                                                        Philippians 4:13 



 

In respect to...

Good Morning..well, it is not really..upon waking up this morning I read that there were 5 separate bombings in Paris with over 100 individuals killed. While today's FSF was to be one full of pictures, nutrition tips, and celebrating being healthy..with what has happen I wanted to just say that the state of the world today is heartbreaking..bombings, the complete and total disrespect for life and just about everything else, the names of Christain holidays being changed so as not to offend, stupid arguements over red cups..not only did I read about Paris I was also treated to images of individuals living in the USA standing on the American Flag..without consequence..at this point I don't even know what to say or feel anymore...and I am sure there are many more of you just like me out there..I personally struggle with feelings of anger, disappointment, disbelief..knowing that some of the things running through my head are not how I was raised to think or feel..but that was another time, another world. My heart is heavy and I am saddened for everyone affected by the events taking place...

Wake up and work out!!

 Good Morning all!! okay..it is 0845..a bit of a late start this morning due to getting caught up searching for half marathon possibilities for 2016..but workout is done for the day..as far as my daily goal of 20,000 steps..10,380 have already been taken!! Whoopwhoop..feeling awesome and motivated!! 
For all of you out there who have served in the US Military or are serving..Happy Veteran's Day..and thank you all for your service and commitment to do what only about 1% of the nation does!!

Breakfast this mornng was a vanilla protein shake and Kaki fruit..only got through about 1/3 of the fruit before I was 1 stuffed puppy..will make a great afternoon study snack. ;D
So..yes..while on my date with my treadmill I thought it is time for me to find out how it feels to run first a few 1/2 marathons and then progress to the full ones..found several for the spring here in Germany and am waiting for the late summer schedules for TN and GA as starting in July I will be stateside once more!! So excited for family and friends again!!..I have some educational and career goals (yes..I know I am closer to 50 and that technically I should be slowing down instead of pushing forward, but....life happens!) that I just cannot quite accomplish here and my husband is such an awesome support system for me..so very grateful!!! 
During my Bible study and conversation time with God this morning I came across the following verse which just hit the nail on the head this morning and gave my motivation level an extra push...
      
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
                                                                    --1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Powerful words...

    I wish you all an amazing day and all the energy and concentration to accomplish all you want and need to today..don't forget to share your smile while being your awesome self !! 

This kitchen is busy!!

 Hello all!! The weather has changed and therefore I have been spending a lot more time indoors than normal..and that means about every third day or so my kitchen explodes with healthy goodies!! Now, this is the first year I have ever worked with fresh pumkins..and let me just say that I am totally addicted. They so outrank the canned version in taste and color!! And as far as getting them opened and cleaned out..well..let's just say that you can skip about half of your arm workout for the day..but the results are oh so worth it!! These 2 pumpkins found a home in pumpkin muffins made with whole wheat flour and applesauce (instead of oil or butter)..with a bit of honey and molasses thrown in to substitute for the sugar..;D and also for pup treats to go with the continuation of the season..I love the feeling I get when I feed my fur children items that come out of everyday ingredients that I make for them..fresh pumpkin, eggs, and pumpkin oil..so good for them!
Have been using some ground turkey lately..made a yummy chili (not pictured..:C next time though) and some turkey burgers (pictured below) that took the guilt out of eating a burger..plus served them with fake mashed potatoes..made with cauliflower 
 instead and some freshly prepared spinach..you know what I find so amusing is that the man who informed me about 4 years ago that he wasn't a rabbit now consumes about 4 meatless meals a week..the stuffed mushrooms for example..perfectly filling for an evening where you don't want a big meal.
Have been hitting the treadmill on an almost daily basis (8.6 km) now for e couple of weeks..I do have days..like today where I choose to give my body a rest but still deposit good, healthy foods into it..this morning saw a raw grain and oatmeal cereal with dried fruits and soy-rice milk..have my large bottle of H2O by my side and am ready to hit the books..as the weather outdoors is grey and windy it looks like a perfect day to light a fire and some candles also to welcome the NW German winter in..on these short, dark days sometimes it takes some adjusting and creativity to not get caught up in the blues related to the dreariness outdoors. Okay..I wish you all an amazing Tuesday..I am going to increase my knowledge and spend some cuddle time with my fur babies!! Don't forget to share your smile!!

 Stuffed Mushroom Ingredients:

Spinach
crumbled Feta Cheese
Goat cheese
Roasted Walnuts
Green Onions
Sea Salt
Fresh ground Black Pepper

Motivational Monday is here!!

Guten Morgen!! Today has started out awesome-8.6 km on the treadmill, ran 2 miles of that (3.2 km) in 18:18..have another fitness test in April and am setting my run time goal at 17:20. Wanted to give you all a glimpse into my day-food to be consumed, the Spa Water of the day..this time with fresh grated ginger, fresh mint, and sliced limes...my reading material..both for my university courses and for those personally chosen to assist me in  improving my life..Spiritual growth, mental health and increased self-confidence, nutrition and fitness wise. I am an avid reader of just about everything I can get my hands on, and besides FSF and Have Flip Flops will Travel-I keep at least 2 journals going at all times-one for health and fitness and one for personal growth and reflection..I am also a huge fan of coloring books for adults-studies are shown that this activity has the same affect on the brain as meditation-which I am also beginning to do..to sit still for seveeral minutes at a time is really proving to be a challenge for me, but as the saying goes..practice makes perfect! The more I learn about nutrition and what we put into our bodies the more I am leanig towards a plant based diet minimal animal protien such as eggs and fish for the health benefits-have decided that red meat and pork products are out, as is anything that contains ingrediants that has been produced in a factory and are not natural (ie..chemicals)-so this means almost 100% of prepackaged foods are out, as is white flour and white sugars. At this point, with what I have learned I am just kind of disgusted with what I have previously put into my body.  But..today is a new day, a day to start taking super good care of this body and soul God has given me and I am excited to share this journey with all of you. Due to changes made in my life over the past few years my lifestyle and career has changed dramatically, I am, at the age of 46 years old, being given the opportunity to redefine and reinvent who I am and what I will spend the majority of my time doing- as a result of courses taken, material read, and information gathered I have definantly decided to focus on my next step of becoming a Health and Wellness Coach (as a 2nd career)..I had introduced this idea a couple of weeks ago and have done a lot of soul searching, prayer, and weighing of pros and cons (over months) and have decided that this is a door that God is opening for me and giving me motivation to work towards. 
 
 I do not think this will be an easy task as I have tons to learn, experiences to go through, and certifications and classes to earn and complete, but am looking forward to even more growth and change and being able to help others do the same.
So, time to hit the books-eat some healthy foods, hydrate and make today awesome. I wish you all a wonderful Motivational Monday and don't forget to share your smile!! 

A special day!!

 Good Morning to everyone!! Today is Saturday the 31st of October..today my oldest child turns 24!! On of my biggest prayers is that this time next year we will be together! Life is indeed blessed but this is a perfect example of one of the downsides of living in another country away from 97% of your family..
So, creativity has been flowing over the last few days and here is the finished product..now hanging proudly in our 2nd kitchen area..bright colors filled with a travel theme ;D. I have to admit, living in this part of Germany during the fall-winter months can be a challenge for me, the sun doesn't come out to play very often and it is dark very early in the evenings..lots of colors, candles, music and journaling to help me stay positive and upbeat!!-I took the above picture yesterday about 0730, very pretty in it's own right I think..another blessing is that our grapevine we planted earlier in the year has been very productive..how yummy do these grapes look?? And, knowing that grapes that had to be shipped in from who knows where are at almost 5 Euros in the grocery stores right now make these taste even better!! Okay..the house is quiet, as it is about 0515..time to spend some time in conversation with God and work on my meditation skills (a new experience for me) before beginning the day with my treadmill and tennis shoes!! I wish you all a very Happy Halloween!!! and a wonderful weekend in general!!