Egg Casserole Bake!

I'm in a Paleo/Whole 30 group and one girl posted a variation of this. Perfect for a week of healthy breakfasts with your fam.

Egg casserole bake:

Spray pan with olive oil and put potatoes in bottom (either Hashbrowns or cubed sweet potatoes) and bake on 400 until they are crispy and brown. 

Brown some sausage. Either breakfast or Italian sausage links. Sprinkle over the crispy potatoes. 

Lower oven temp to 350.

Whisk 6-8 eggs and pour over top. I mixed in some chopped up spinach for added veggies! 

Bake at 350 until eggs are firm and slightly brown. I think about 20-25 min. 

**optional- top with cheese. 

**I baked mine in a 9x13 so I ended up using 8-9 eggs. This fed us for a week! Plus we had sausage left over!

A different story...

Last week, I traveled back to my hometown for our annual golf outing in memory of my dad which raises money for two scholarships we give away at the school he taught at and the school he went to high school at and then later was an administrator at (they are 10 miles apart).  While I was starting my run, early in the morning with the humidity already unbearable, I nearly broke down crying. Sometimes grief just hits you.

I shouldn't be here for this outing.  This outing shouldn't even exist.  I love that we can help people but sometimes I wish and dream for a different story.  A story where my dad would be retired and enjoying every minute of it.  Those days when I need a babysitter, I know I could have called dad and he would drive the hour and half to watch Liam for just 3 hours.  Just like that movie, Sliding Doors, I imagine the other life.  The life where dad walked me down the aisle and cried at my wedding.  I can see him teaching Liam how to throw a ball and play football in the kitchen.  I can only imagine what dad's opinion of the current state of education in Illinois would be.  He would have an opinion for sure but would advise me to "stay the course."  This "different story" that could have easily been my real story.  My real memories.  Instead, they are dreams and wishful hopes that always disappoint.

But alas, in the middle of these thoughts and my grieving moments, I am reminded that I have a choice.  A choice to let my grief define me like a badge and to live in constant misery of "what could have been."  Or I can choose hope. I can hope in the One who was with dad when he breathed his last.  The choice to see good and not the evil from sickness, injury, and pain that sin brings.  I hope not in the "what could have been" but for the day when we are reunited without fault, sin, or illness.  I am constantly reminded that this life will always let me down, but Christ will not.

I would love to play the victim and feel sorry for myself, but the truth is, everyone has a story to tell and everyone has a different story they'd like to tell. I wish a lot of my students had different stories to tell.   My story is not what I had envisioned as a young girl, but it is MY story.  Losing my dad is just a piece of it.  And that piece has carved and molded me into something positive.  My story allows me to look at my circumstances and CHOOSE hope, love, peace, patience, kindness, and gentleness.  It's not an easy choice and it's one I have to make daily.  But I'd rather live in hope than in fear.

Thank you for reading a piece of my story.

Facing your giants

Isn't Facing Your Giants a movie?!  Oh well....I was running last week on our running trail with Liam and had my headphones on and a song by Francesca Battestelli came on called "Giants Fall." As I was listening to the lyrics, I thought about my own "giants" or things that I put in my way apart from God and also the things with which seem impossible.  Those sins that seem to constantly beset me. They seem hopeless and helpless.  Sometimes I feel I will always be this way.  

But these lyrics really caught my attention, "Don't you be afraid of giants in your way.  With God you know that anything's possible."  Sure, sure.  God can do anything, right?!  I believe that, but why won't he move that one mountain in my way.  Why won't the door just fly open where I need it too?  I don't have the answer to those questions so don't expect it here, but it did get me thinking about David.

David was a mere shepherd and often a slave to his brothers.  When they went into battle, David was watching sheep.  Sort of a lowly position.  He would bring them food and ask how things were going, and they would merely send him away.  In fact, one of them asked what he was doing there.  His dad Saul finally lets him go into battle after this giant, Goliath torments them day in and day out.  Saul suited him up. David took his bag with his sling and stones and went into battle against Goliath.  We know the story.  One stone between the eyes on the forehead and Goliath went down.  It's a great (yet odd choice) for a children's story.  And then we sort of move on from there, don't we?  

But go with me on a few takeaways from these verses...

1.  The preparedness - Sometimes I expect to just show up and have things get better or be taken care of.  But David got prepared.  He dressed in Saul's tunic and armor.  Then he walked around in it to make sure he could move.  Sort of like we ladies wear a pair of heels or shoes around the house before we commit.  =)  David knew God was with him ,but that doesn't mean that he just sat back or showed up unprepared.  Maybe we're not ready yet for the battle we want to conquer or face.  Have you prepared or gotten ready for it?  

2.  The Battle - I think this is a nice children's story because it's an underdog story. The small guy wins story.  We feel we can relate to that.  But David wasn't special because he was smaller than Goliath.  And he wasn't special because of his meager stone and sling.  He was special because God was with him.  I can't face my giants or mountains on my own, but the One who calls me His own can face them.  1 Samuel 17:45 - "David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied."  

What a powerful statement. David probably knew he couldn't face Goliath alone. Heck, the entire army had been doing nothing against him all week!  But in the Name of the Lord, He could defeat him.

3. The desire - David's heart was for his people.  For God's people.  While we know that David struggled with other sins throughout his life, he was still "a man after God's own heart."  David's desire was for God.  If God has placed a direct desire on your heart, he will move the mountains.  He will face the giants.  Doesn't mean they aren't there or won't come and in fact, they will.  But God is the giant fighter and the mountain mover (how cheesy can I get?!)  And he will do it. Just have a desire and faith of David.  Isaiah 45:2-3 puts it perfectly, 
"I will go before you and will level the mountains^a ;

I will break down gates of bronze

and cut through bars of iron.

3I will give you hidden treasures,

riches stored in secret places,

so that you may know that I am the Lord,

the God of Israel, who summons you by name."

Giants Fall by Francesca Battistelli

Everyone's telling you
To let go of what you're holding to
It's too late, too far
You're too small, it's too hard
Throwing water on that spark
Living deep inside your heart
With oceans of reasons
The things you're not seeing
But oh, maybe they don't
Know what you know
That you're not alone

[Chorus:]
Don't you be afraid
Of giants in your way
With God you know that anything's possible
So step into the fight
He's right there by your side
The stones inside your hand might be too small
But watch the giants fall

We could really live like this
Can't you imagine it
So bold, so brave
With childlike faith
Miracles could happen
Mountains would start moving
So whatever you may face

[Chorus]

Ask and believe
You're gonna see
The hand of God in every little thing

[Chorus]

Miracles can happen
Anything is possible
Watch the giants fall

What's In Your Workout Bag?

I am notorious for packing around 6 bags for an overnight trip to my moms.  I pack a lot and I'm a woman...it's just in my nature.  My workout bag is packed full of essentials for whatever I may be doing...the gym or a for a race weekend.  Here's my essentials:

1.  Dry Shampoo - You never know when you'll get a good workout in and need to go out after for a cup of coffee or a quick shopping run.  I don't buy the real expensive stuff because I don't use it that much.  This one came from TJ Maxx.  I love that place.

2.  A magazine and a makeup bag - Gotta have something to read if you're on the treadmill or elliptical and for long road trips to races.  And this is my makeup bag for my workout bag.  It's full of travel shampoo/conditioner, bobby pins, lotion, a comb, hair ties. 

3.  Safety pins and GU - For race weekends, I always end up losing one the 4 safety pins they hand out. So I've been collecting ones from previous races and put them in a bag for when I need more. It's been a life saver.  And of course, I always forget a packet of GU for a race weekend so I started keeping one in the bag because I know I'm forgetful.

4.  A dirty clothes/shoes bag and towel - The other day I worked out at school and needed a place for my sweaty clothes so they weren't touching everything in my bag.  I have used an old race swag bag for this that is fabric and I wash it weekly if I use it.  It's worked out well.  My bag still stinks but this definitely helps keep it separated.  I've gotten small face towels from golf outings and World Series games (woot woot!) that are easy to stuff in the bag for a my face or to wipe off machines I sweat on because yes, you need to do this.

5.  Deodorant - no brainer there.  I need this even when I'm not working out.

6.  Workout log book - I always carry my workout log because I write out my gym plans weekly but it's also nice to have when I travel to my moms and can get in a quick HIIT workout there and don't want to think.

That's what I got!  What's in your bag?! 

My honest review of drinking Shakeology

Let me start out by saying that I am super cheap.  I'm a garage sale junkie and thrift store find fanatic.  When we budget our money, we prioritize a few things.  We save money to be able to go to our chiropractor who is our primary care doctor and friend and for our groceries.  Again, being the thrifty person I am, I need to get the biggest bang for my buck.  We shop at Aldi for all of their organic and gluten free things but get a few things at Walmart and Fresh Thyme. 

When I first got into the Beachbody community as a coach in September of 2014, I honestly knew nothing about Shakeology.  I had never even heard of it. I loved that I got it at a discount, but I didn't know how long I would stick with it.  We already purchase an expensive protein powder from our chiropractor's office so I didn't know how we could afford both.

When I got my first bag of chocolate, I loved it immediately.  It came with endless recipes to try and one thing I love about it is that it already contains tons of greens, and nutrients.  My protein from my chiro is just protein and we have to add spinach to it, which is fine, but it's nice to have it all in one.  Since I've been a coach, I've tried the vanilla and strawberry flavors and they are all great.  I love adding coffee to mine and oats.  I have tried other protein powders from GNC and grocery stores that are way cheaper, and even though they are decent, there is still a chalky flavor to them I can't stomach.  And I wish I liked them because, again, I'm looking for the deal.

 I drink my Shakeo in the morning and usually split it with my son. He loves it and I love knowing he is getting greens and super foods at the beginning of each day. Sometimes we're on the run and have a chips and cheese stick lunch, so this makes me feel great that breakfast was a win.  And he doesn't even know how good it is for him!  My husband was hesitant about the price as well and still is but every time I make a shake and he tries it, he is instantly won over again. 

On a personal note, the shakes help curb my hunger until lunch and completely fill me up in the morning.  They have helped me lose and maintain my weight.  Most people who try it from me love it, but hesitate on the price tag ($130 for a month's worth).  But when you break it down, it's only $4 a day.  Here's how I stretch that...I purchase a bag every other month and usually do not fill the scoop up to the top.  I also drink it every other day, with the hope that as my business grows, I can afford to have it monthly.  I want to be responsible with my money and invest it wisely in nutritious things that will benefit myself and my family in the long run.

If you are interested in Shakeology and would like more information, fill out the form below and I will get you set up with a sample, a sample pack or month's supply.