Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Monday, May 25, 2020

It's Like Christmas Came Again



In just the short time from the end of Christmas break at the beginning of January to the beginning of Spring Break at the beginning of March, I had a ton of stuff come in the mail! Sometimes Mom would tell me when I got something so I would know if I was expecting a certain thing, but most of it, she didn't even bother. 

It was a pleasant surprise to see all of this waiting for me when I came home! She and Dad didn't see it that way as much, but that's okay...I did have a couple things for Mom mixed in with this, too, since her birthday is in March and Mother's Day in May.


Luna had a promotion to sample one of their new mash-ups bars. The one I got randomly chosen was the lemon blueberry, but the other mash-ups flavor is peanut butter fudge. Probably a good choice for me to get something I don't have much in similar flavors!


I use the Orgain shakes already, but it is handy to have packs like this for portability, so if I can snag one somewhere, I do. This one was nice to have for free and a coupon that came along with it!
TIP: These shakes are high quality and very tasty with clean ingredients and can be found at Walmart. They are a dollar or more cheaper than many other brands, and they often have rebates on ibotta--see my link at the top and bottom of this post to get the app! I use it all the time and have over $400 waiting for me to cash out.


Quest did a campaign with a fitness instructor to send out jump ropes and free workout ideas to the squad during the beginning of at-home-fitness. I have loved jumping rope since I was in elementary school, so I of course am thankful to add this one to my collection for when the next one breaks (yes, I have worn out/broken multiple ropes).


Contest prize! Protein2o got me a case of two drinks in each of six flavors. This is super helpful to me because I don't drink enough, but the more flavor I have, the more I drink. Hydration is key to sooo many body functions, I really need to work on it. These are also unique that they are a light, fruity, whey protein water rather than a creamy shake. That will help me get more protein during the day since I don't drink shakes when I have the opportunity to drink more water. Now I can get both! As for taste, I don't even like grape and especially not cherry flavored drinks, and I liked them both!


Simply 7 was another contest prize from a new product that I had never heard of before, but it was in collaboration with the drinks above. I'm really excited to have these for on-the-go snacks that won't go bad if I am out and about all day while still giving me a great mixture of nutrients! I'm thinking of lake days, hiking, driving, back-to-school...


This one from Grandy Oats was actually from a while ago but didn't get sent out until recently. It's granola, but without the grains if that makes sense--it's coconut based--YUM! And now I have two of each flavor to try! This is going to make some killer breakfast and dessert smoothie bowls.**They have original types of granola with the oats and grains as well as other products, but these are all coconola.


From a Yasso contest, I won a coupon for a free item and $1 off! I love their pints the most, but they are super hard to find. I've never seen them near home, only had a couple from Targets out of town. That's obviously not an option right now. But I've got time before they expire!


The Kodiak Cakes Kodiak Den sends out a product about once a month, and I am so thankful to get to try things that I've haven't bought or even found in the stores! Then after I get to try something new, I'll know if it is something I want to buy later on. That's how marketing works, right? 
The best thing they got me on so far: the dark chocolate chip mix...I made some waffles with raspberries in the batter and on top, and wow what a combination. The kitchen smelled like brownies, and the waffle tasted even better!


This was a deal I got from the SweatCoin app for a sample pack of Verb Bars for 99 cents and free shipping! Considering they were on my list of snacks to try if I ever found some, I wasn't going to pass them up for basically 25 cents each.


I won a pretty big contest with Rachel's Overnight Oats and Quantum Squares, and I'd say that's an endurance athlete's prize to beat all! Oatmeal and energy bars, specifically the official energy bar of the IronMan Triathlon series, has endurance packed all in those nutrients.
Cross country season, here I come!
(Triathlons on deck, in the hole, whichever one means after that)


GoodPop and Goodie Girl went together on a contest and loaded me up for some fruity for the freezer and cookies for the cabinet! I've never had the pops, and I've only had one pack of the mint thins cookies from Starbucks on campus (and the chocolate chip, but they aren't in this pack), so I am getting to try all new things here! The first ones I've had so far are the birthday cake cookies so I could share with Mom. Golden Oreos are one of her favorites, so to ease the pain of seeing all my junk, I shared. Saving the pops for post-run cool-down snacks this summer! I also got a coupon, and I can't wait to try another kind like the coconut lime or something chocolate or creamy orange.


This was a free sample straight from Garnier, for their line of Whole Blends. I have a dry scalp, and all your hair starts from the root, so I try to use deep conditioner to soak at least once a week. I always feel better afterwards! Chilling in my robe helps, too.


The newest Quest product came out this winter/spring is what they call a "snack bar" although I'm not sure why. They're just as much as the protein bars, just nut-based rather than chewy or soft like the cookies and original bars. They're really good, though! There are four flavors: dark chocolate mixed nuts, cranberry trail mix, peanut chocolate crunch, and sea salt caramel almond. They're very similar to Kind Bars, but they have some whey protein in them as well. 
One of my monthly deliveries from the Squad was the blueberry muffin bars! I love them slightly warmed in the microwave. Que the cross country and track trip hotel treats...sigh...


Here are two new Quest products, both in chocolate peanut butter! That's addicting. I eat something in that combination with banana and muscle milk every day. A staple in my diet, to be cliche. I haven't had the Hero Bars but a couple I found in a random sale bin somewhere, so these will be a treat. 


I've honestly been pretty fed up with PinchMe the past few months, and I don't even know how this one actually got to me. The website has been overly glitching, and the sample confirmation just leads you to endless other things you "must complete to confirm your sample," and they all look like junk websites. It used to be a great and reliable site to try new, high quality products, but it has gotten frustrating and fake, and they aren't acknowledging their customer's complaints, so I probably won't have any more of these. 


I took a survey through my email earlier this spring, and it gave a $15 off of $15 or more at Life is Good, and shipping has been free lately, so after a long time of contemplating what design to get, I chose this new one (in the Coronavirus release, but doesn't have to be Corona emphasized) because I do love days at home, especially with coffee and my kitty and something to read or learn.

 

I had no idea that Insanity and all those other related workouts were part of BeachBody until this month. I really had no idea what BeachBody even was. I thought it was some trendy diet thing like South Beach Diet or something, but after being in a Facebook group with a girl I met somehow many years ago, I learned a lot! I also got some free workouts, connections and fellowship, and fun. We had chats, live workouts, fun challenges, shared things that help us get stronger and healthier, and get encouragement during the stricter times of staying at home. I won these drink mixes for a weekly # contest, #GreensAndMemes, where we posted pictures of meals with lots of greens then a meme about quarantine. Tori's boyfriend about died laughing at my meme I made, so I won that one. 


These Hallmark cards are a limited-time promotion for sending cards to people who really need them, sharing the inspiration to encourage others with the hashtag #CareEnough, and if you know me, you know I was all over some card making and campaign participating!
My church has also been collecting and distributing cards for the community for the past month or so, so I've spent all my free time working on that til I finally decided it was time to let them be delivered. I'll do more later, I'm sure. Find out how you can help with FBC on their website!


This one is not for me! This was part of the Mother's Day stuff I got for Mom. There were some other packages delivered for her birthday, but they aren't in this post, and they were bigger and pricier, but just as personal! This is a Shutterfly Post-It stack with pictures of all Mom's "people" (me, Dad, Phoebe, Chloe), so she can have us on her desk and share us with her coworkers. "Jones" on the top, just in case she forgets her name. Working in the school system can do that to you.


I saw this new brand come up on an ad that had a free promo attached to it, and those usually have a catch like it's free but you pay shipping, but this one was totally free! AND an option to choose your flavor. Continuing how impressed I was, it came in the mail within the same week. I'm a fan now.
I hope to find their granola in a store sometime to try, too, since they have awesome and unique flavors, like maple pancake and pina colada.


Last but not least was my most recent giveaway win with Navita's Organics and Crow Canyon Home! I don't have any mix-ins for my smoothies, oatmeal, pancakes, etc., right now, so this was extra useful! The bites and goji berries are going to be great to mix things up, too. I haven't gotten the coffee mugs yet, but thankful for that since I had a bunch get broken when we moved to our new house!

I also have more things on the way, so I'll have to do a summer mail post at the end of the summer! I am always excited and thankful to get to try new things and share about them! It's the little things that get me, but that's a satisfying way to live in my opinion.




Monday, December 30, 2019

Are We Like the Innkeeper?

Are we missing what God may have for us in His plan because we are too busy?


I watched a new Christmas Bible Study series on the Casting Crowns' YouTube channel titled "How Are You Making Room for Jesus This Christmas?" based on their new song with Matt Maher, "Make Room."

They were all short videos, but there was a great message behind each one. I could personally make a lot of connections to my own life, so I thought that I should share a few and the resources, so maybe you can see some applications to your life and family, too.

The first video was a simple yet strong challenge to simply change the focus of your home or atmosphere. It seems obvious, but thinking about it, it's huge. When I change the music I am listening to, Instagram and Twitter accounts I look to each day, the notes I leave myself on my phone and in my room or textbooks, the thoughts I have, the way I look at the world, etc...wow it is a huge difference! Life seems better and calmer even when things are not that smooth and pretty chaotic.

Another point that I really liked to hear Mark Hall make in this intro video was that sure, we can still have all the fun holiday things, gifts, Santa, parties, songs, and whatever else, but we have to have Jesus first. That's what makes the difference.

The second video looked at the innkeeper. At first, while I was listening to him tell about Mary and Joseph's journey and the job of an innkeeper during this time with the census, I was wondering where he was going with that. But then it hit me. While people may look upon the innkeeper negatively because he turned Mary and Joseph away, he wasn't doing anything wrong; he wasn't a bad guy. He was just doing his job during the busiest working time of his life. So many people were traveling during this time, his guest rooms would have been in high demand. Mary and Joseph were just a couple more travelers, and there was no room. He was busy. And he missed out on being a part of one of the greatest plans God ever had.

Does this sound like your life sometimes? I can tell you that it is definitely my life many times! I am busy. Always busy. Mom gets frustrated with me because even in what could be some wonderful, relaxing times for me, I am busy with something. I never run out of things I could be doing. However, there are times, especially during the school year, that I am so busy I feel like I never sit down, and my brain is going on overdrive all day long, and I swallow my food whole like I haven't eaten in four days. Do I have time to open up my Bible? Time to take a deep breath and pray? I feel like I don't, but I do. I can make room. My inn may feel full, I can be doing lots of great things, but I can be busy and miss what God has in His plan for my life. Busy-ness isn't a sin in itself, but it can be a distraction for God's greater purposes right here in front of us. God can knock on a door, but He can't make us bring the opportunity inside.

In the third video, Mark talked about Jesus's life later on. People wanted rid of Him. He challenged the way the world worked, went against the status quo, He got in the way of how people wanted to live their lives and do religion. Why don't we always make room for Jesus? Because it gets in the way of how we want to do things in life. It's a challenge to our routines.
The final video made me smile as he told of his family's tradition of reading the Christmas story from Luke 2, because that's what my family always does as well. The Hall family has a nativity scene that sounded similar to what we also had on display, but they added a unique twist to both sharing the story and using the nativity. The parents would take the pieces and hide them throughout the house before the kids were up, then they would have a sort of Easter egg hunt with the pieces. Each person would have the piece(s) he or she found, and as they read the story from the Bible, each person would talk about it from the character's or animal's point of view. Imagine being a part of THE Christmas story! We may not be able to be a part of the birth of Christ, but we can be a part of many other miracles and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that God has in His story ever day.

So I am using this series as a challenge to myself when I get in the Christmas spirit in the future, as well as every day, to pause in what I am doing to breathe, pray, take my mind off of myself for a minute, and see what God may be trying to get me to see. I may feel like I can't slow my progress or I'll fall apart or behind, but God will take care of that. We have to look to Him first, then we will see.






Friday, December 21, 2018

Healthy Holiday Recipes

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  Strava

For my second article for Tennessee Health & Wellness this Christmas, I got to do one of my favorite things...browse new recipes! There is no other time of year when people host and attend potlucks and family dinners, and sometimes you need something quick and/or new. If you're like me, cooking can be a great way to express yourself and serve others. This was a great stress relief for me during the end of the semester!

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We all know that holidays are the best time of year to gather with family and friends to enjoy each others’ company, and this rarely happens without food. Holiday food tends to be the most delicious, too, right? This can strike fear into some people as they are worried about their health and how indulgent a dish may be. There is no reason that holiday meals can’t be healthy, too. Here are some examples of healthy foods including sides, desserts, and main meats that you can make for the holiday celebrations.
Coffee braised pot roast recipe from Eating Well uses reduced sodium and adds coffee, garlic, thyme, and onion for a boost of flavor.
By using garlic, ginger, curry, and cumin, your turkey can have great flavor and health benefits. A yogurt topping can provide more protein and a creamy option other than gravy. (Eating Well)
Fig and pig quiche is a recipe that will impress your guests. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, this versatile dish from Run Fast, Eat Slow will help you savor the season while feeling good about what you put on your plate.
Squash in combination with chili gives it an even more winter-comfort-food feel while adding color and vitamins. Adding in “hidden” chia seeds packs a nutritional punch for protein, fiber, omega-3s, and iron. (Food Network)
Mushroom and sweet potato pot pie could serve as a side or a main dish depending on how big you want to make it, where it could serve as a meat-free main dish. (Taste of Home)
 -Monique at Ambitious Kitchen makes this traditionally sweet and buttery sweet potato casserole with few ingredients and as much or more satisfaction. Instead of sugar, butter, and marshmallows, this casserole uses maple syrup, oats, and pecans.
For another root vegetable side, these lemon parmesan carrots go beyond basic while still making the cooking simple. (Cooking Light)
I don’t know how you can have a Thanksgiving or Christmas meal without green beans, so here are two options: A casserole found on Cooking Light uses mushrooms and cauliflower for creaminess and wheat bread crumbs for crunch. For simply seasoned beans, add miso to the sautee pan. (MyRecipes.com)
 Food Network’s winter fruit salad recipe brings in some of the season’s best fruits, adding minimal extras, to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Bobby Flay’s brussels sprouts with pomegranate and hazelnuts make this side a nutrient-packed side that could cover the bases for an entire meal! (Food Network)
Cauliflower tapioca pudding is a recipe from Spartan Race weekly newsletter. The creaminess of this pudding from coconut milk will make you forget that you made it from a vegetable.
Apples are one of the traditional fall fruits, and peaches carry similar baking uses. With only apples, orange juice, nuts, raisins, and spices, you have a simple and healthy dessert. For a slightly sweeter and creamier option, follow this recipe for a peach crisp with a coconut milk caramel drizzle.
USA marathoner Shalane Flanagan shares sweet treats in her famous cookbook Run Fast, Eat Slow that are hearty, yet healthy, because your body needs healthy fats to indulge in. That is the goal of her pecan butter truffles. With only five ingredients, these are simple to make even if you are pressed for time. Fig jam cookies just sound like a holiday pastry. A wheat-based dough encompasses a figgy center for a bite that may remind you of Fig Newtons, but make you remember that the better things in life are homemade.