Anyway, as some of you know I started reading a book called Made to crave by Lysa Terkhurst. It has been my eye opening experience that I needed and has changed the way I look at how I resolve my issues. Today Lysa pretty much broke down a gist of what her book is about and I HIGHLY recommend reading her blog post for today.

http://lysaterkeurst.com/2012/01/the-war-against-my-soul

Her title for this blog is something that most people would never think that food would be a “war for your soul” but it is. Just like anything else, food is taking over our lives and becoming that filler instead of what it was naturally intended for. My issues with my body and my health has just as strong of an effect over me therefore making me go to the one thing that temporarily fixes it, food. I take no credit in this new discovery of my food addiction. I mean, I knew my issues where MUCH deeper but Lysa Terkhurst lays it all out in a way that really helped me examine my soul.

My mama is going to start a “Made to Crave” group and blog more deeply about our journey. I encourage you to join us in February. Grab the book, dig deep and go thru this with other women who share in the same struggles. This is NOT A DIET BOOK!!! Just a way to open up your eyes to what is the most important thing you can put in your body, more so then food… Jesus

Before I got married 4 years ago I realized that my body isn’t like it use to be in high school and I was at a weight that I struggled with deeply. I worked out before the wedding, got a little bit healthier and didn’t think much of it since. Until, I had Sage. My whole world, and body, changed after having her. At first, all was well with my weight. I lost all of the 30 pounds that I gained and felt great but quickly I realized that my weight would be much more of an issue then I had planned to deal with. Long story short, for the last two years my weight has been a consistent battle. I have never been thrilled with the way that I looked and felt. I have always had the awful “muffin top” and have ruined MANY jeans due to my glorious thighs rubbing together. (if you don’t have this problem wear your jeans with pride! just dont tell me about it ) I have done many weight-loss programs and have worked out until I was blue in the face. I am wonderful at going full force into a good idea, a.k.a. a diet, and then weeks or months later I fall short.

This past year has been a huge reflection year for me. From marriage problems, loss of a baby and now moving away from my family, I have had a lot to account for and a lot to deal with. Well, a little over a month ago I went to a woman’s conference where many women spoke but one woman, Lysa Terkhurst, stood out to me the most. Although her and I have nothing in common as far as our childhood goes, she really brought out a few things in me that I didn’t care to notice. Character flaws as I like to call them. This drew me to one of her books called Made To Crave. See, just in these last few months, I have realized that my weight problem and food addiction was MUCH, MUCH deeper than just a desire to eat junk food. It was much more then not being able to tell myself “no”. I realized a pattern from this last year’s events. September of 2010 I ordered a workout called Power 90 thinking it would solve all my weight issues, and it did, for about a month  (which this is a great program and excellent for beginners and stay-at-home mommy’s, I just have a problem to committing. More on that later)… then my marriage started to struggle. I started back up again after the New Year thinking “this was it! this is the year!” And I did awesome until May came… I got pregnant and then soon after, lost the baby. Then I jumped back on the diet band wagon for about a month then we put our house up on the market. The realization that “this was really happening for us” hit me like a ton of bricks. On top of that, my husband traveling for work leaving me with an energetic toddler for days without a break! It has taken me months to realize that whenever stress, sadness, depression, anger, ect…comes at me, I turn to food as a source of temporary comfort and satisfaction. With every new struggle I gained a little bit more weight to where I am now, at my heaviest I have ever been in my life. Looking at me, you would never know that I SHOULD BE wearing a size 14, but its the truth. Looking at me, you would never know all my struggles, but I have had my fair share this year (not much compared to some). Looking at me you would think I’m not losing it, but on the inside I have felt I lost all control. If it weren’t for my mom and a few close friends, I probably wouldn’t be able to write this and share with you. My mom is so amazing on many levels, but I will share more on that some other time.

This book, Made to Crave, has given me a much deeper insight to my struggles with life as a whole. We were made to crave, but to crave Jesus, to want to be more like him and to desire to be filled with wisdom and knowledge like Jesus. But this world has gotten really good at coming up with things to fill that need. Sex, drugs, alcohol, food, TV’s and video games, maybe even gossip and hate towards other causing us to get attention for ourselves. We have deep desires to crave something, anything… but lately our focus… my focus… has been all wrong.

Follow me and my mama, Jama, as we journey together in this book and blog about our experiences and what it has said to us. My mom and I’s journeys may be different but we are hoping to encourage and reach some of you in different ways. I do, however, encourage you to follow closely to my mama. She has had an amazing journey of her own that has a story worth listening too. She has been a huge source of inspiration for my life and I strive to be like her in so many ways on a daily basis. Especially her strive to clean! HA! I have been encouraging my mom for a looonngg time to start a blog! She has so much to share and is an excellent writer! Please follow her blog at Ketchupandpotatochips.blogspot.com

As for a QUICK Carpenter Update: We have finally sold our home and found one for ourselves in Westfield, Indiana! Funny thing about this house, It was nothing we thought we were going to get! LOL this house has maybe 2 things that were on our “must have” list and it is everything we could ever ask for. Funny how that works out. We are so excited to move but just waiting patiently for everything to finalize up here with our current home. I can’t believe we’re moving… this is so new for me.

But for now…. the journey continues :)

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
-Aristotle

Ever since my lovely birthday I have had many life “ah-ha!” moments as Oprah would call it. I have realized a few things about myself that I need to change. Although there are moments where I feel like I have really missed the mark, I am also still young and can still make changes for my future.

One of those things I have realized is my lack of discipline. I have lots of drive and want to do things, even simple task like making the bed every day. But when it comes down to do that simple task I find myself being forgetful, finding other things to do, or just plan not wanting to do it! I am not organized on many levels and I never have an agenda for the day until I wake up. It’s funny when I start noticing these small flaws it’s like God puts “help” arrows everywhere. It just so happens that a blog that I follow, Money Saving Mom, just started posting articles about how to be more disciplined. I always tend to overwhelm myself and want to do multiple things in one day. and I’m not talking 2 or three, I’m talking 5 small things and 2 or 3 BIG things like organizing a closet.

Learning to take things one at a time can be hard but rewarding for me. I have always loved going to bed with a clean kitchen. I was doing so well for awhile but with the recent selling of our home I have found myself getting lazy and wanting to enjoy people not randomly showing up to walk thru our house! (if you have sold a house you know how annoying it can be to have a clean house 24/7. Especially with a toddler!) I have also let my laundry get behind because I find that I can hide it much better then I can deal with it. (i know, it sounds gross, but I do wear clean clothes )

So with lots of determination to make new and good habits, and with the help of technology, I have found a reason and a way to be just that much more disciplined in the little task. I recently discovered Dailyfeats.com. It is a website (or smart phone app!) that you can put in daily task and earn points for them. BUT the greatest thing about this website, with every 5,000 points you earn you can earn a $10 gift card to specific places. I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS!! This is a great motivation and rewarding. I have wanted new music and getting an iTunes card just for washing my dishes and making my bed every day is so nice! (I just realized I sound like a young kid with a chore chart and rewards. LOL mommy’s need something too!!)

I’m not just relying on this website to motivate me. I think my frustrations and self diagnosing helps too. I want to be better on so many levels! I have new goals for my life and I plan to keep them, even if it takes YEARS to create a new habit.

On to the next goal….

In these last 2 months my family, BJ, Sage and Myself, have been threw a whirlwind of emotions, physical pain, personal weaknesses, and extreme growth. I would have nowhere to begin in telling you what all has happened, and as of now, we don’t have an end. Let me start off with a few things that will help you understand and then I will get to my big HOORA! (So hang in there. It ain’t short )

About 8 months ago BJ and I started to hit rock bottom. Our marriage was not what we had dreamed it to be and our communication was sparse. We had many nights of tears and disbelief that we were becoming “one of those couples” and not willing to fight for us anymore because there was no fight left in us. As months went on we put on our happy faces around family & friends and at home became hermit crabs. Through this struggle I had started to battle EXTERME self defeat. I had never hit such a low, personally, until this point. I had no self worth, no love to give but to Sage, and I was emotionally drained on a regular basis. I was borderline depressed. We know now that our relationship and marriage centered around totally different things at the time. We did not trust the Lord as much as we claimed and we were always trying to “fix” each other instead of ourselves. To make a long story short, we were highly encouraged to seek help and so we did. With encouragement, prayer, and determination we are finally on the up and up. There is more to this story but let me move on.

In the last year and a half we have been talking about moving to Westfield, Indiana to be apart of a new church with Brad and Lisa Ruggles called Imagine church. While I was pregnant with sage, in December of ’09, we told Brad and Lisa that we were for sure going to be moving down and started this journey with them. We had no clue where it was going to start at that point, and no idea what that meant (to us or them). We were ready and willing… and then Sage was born. Having a baby changed everything. You never realize how much you need and depend on your family until they are within reach of you. Moving 2 hours seemed like light years away. So then, the battle begins. For the last year and a half our constant battle was BJ not wanting to move due to family and not wanting to start brand new in having to relocate, and me being more then upset that I KNEW God called us there and this (saying no) was the “easy way out”. We left our home church thinking that would be a great push out the door and still… we stayed. Going down to Westfield on a regular basis didn’t make it any easier. At this point our marriage was struggling and we didn’t want anything to do with more responsibility. When we started counseling we ended our trips to Indy for the time being. We had come to a few realizations, things that needed to change in us before we would be ready to help start a brand new church. One being the obvious, our marriage. How would we love on other couples and minister if we, ourselves, were broken? Secondly, I, Cherith, had to come to terms with: What if we didn’t move? Would I be ok with God and BJ? Would I hold a grudge or allow God to use us no matter where we were? Lastly, BJ coming to terms with change. Being ok with a new territory that he has never been too and starting fresh with a new home, new friends and practically a new life. God really knows how to answer prayers and he does that in a way that is least expected. As months passed, I had a revelation with God and he gave me such a peace about staying home. Sending us to a God fearing Church to teach us, and bringing me closer to BJ and making me realize how much I need him. God also did a huge work in BJ’s Life. At one point, BJ came to me and said “I really think I am being like Jonah! Running from God and what he has called me to be! I do not want to be like that! I know what God wants for us!” And there begins our new journey…

As months went on God really started to show himself more, in our lives personally and in our marriage. Although we still had our struggles we were getting better at communicating and praying harder than ever before. During this journey we had decided that any drastic change, like another baby, was not needed. We had a lot to decide and go through before adding a new life.

But God had other plans….

In May I had started to feel like I did with Sage, moody, hungry and beyond tired, and low and behold, we were having a baby! When BJ came home I had Sage walk to him in a new outfit stating that she was going to be a big sister! We laughed all night and were in disbelief. We didn’t tell most people but close family. With the fears of losing a baby I just had a feeling to not tell many people. For the next three weeks our marriage did a complete 180 (for the better)!!!! I cannot begin to explain to you the peace and joy that came into this home, but it was there. It surrounded us. And we were thrilled. Flash back real quick to the week before we found out. BJ was offered a new position at ADP in the Indianapolis office. One that had high hopes for change and growth. We know, without a doubt, that if I found out I was pregnant before this offer; he would not have taken it. God had his hand in the whole thing. (He knows us so well )

7 weeks into the pregnancy we had come to terms that this was the beginning to our new life. A new baby and a possible move were in the works. We were thrilled and more than nervous. One night, before I went to bed, I realized that something wasn’t right with my body. Waking in the middle of the night in extreme fear, I went to the ER. With my mom by my side (BJ was home with Sage, I did not want to wake her), it was confirmed that I had lost the baby. I can go into details and all that had happened, but I will save that for another time. Losing a baby is something that I would NEVER wish on anyone, not even my worst enemy. AS “normal” as it may be for woman to lose a child, it is not normal for me. BUT, we serve a great God who is full of peace. That night that I lost the baby I heard God speak to me… “Remember that name you had picked out for another girl? Well, this was her. Her name is Jovie. Remember what her name means? Joy! Although this baby’s life was short, she had a purpose. Never forget what she did for you. She brought your marriage back together and brought joy and peace into your home.”

That baby was and is so loved. She, like Sage, did something for this family. Sage united my sister-in-law and I and Jovie united BJ and I. Physically, I went through (and am still going thru) A LOT! I ended up having to have a D&C and now am battling an infection of some sort (not from the surgery… we are still trying to figure it out).

With sorrow comes joy.

In these last 3 weeks, after losing Jovie, we have had some MAJOR triumphs! BJ confirmed his new job in Indy and we are now in the process of selling our home and finding a new one! BJ also has worked EXTREMELY hard and God has abundantly blessed us and is sending us to Presidents club for the 5th year in a row. Can I just take a moment and tell you… I was practically BEGGING God for this trip!!! With all that has taken place we need a vacation! Goodness…. And as far as my job goes with Thirty-One, God has blessed that and I am seeing the flood gates open and I am THRILLED!

I didn’t write this post in hopes for sadness, but to show joy! God is so good, people. If you have not had an encounter of grace, love, mercy, peace and all good things, HOLD ON TIGHT!! It still blows our mind every day where we are headed. Although we are scared to death, we are so excited!!! Personal growth is a hard thing to grasp and in turn, be ok with. Change is hard. Being a God fearing person is hard. LIFE IS HARD! (If it were easy would we grow?!)

We are excited to share in this new chapter of our lives with you. Thanks for hanging in there and reading it all. I promise, I won’t do this… all the time

If you have any questions at all about our journey, miscarriage, move, church planting… please ask. We (or I) are open books. Sometime later I want to open up more about baby Jovie, but I still cry thinking about her. So I will save that for another time.

Thank you for all support, prayers, love and encouragement. Don’t stop. There is only more to come with The Carpenters!

Until then… xoxo

So today is not just any other day… today is my birthday!

I have really been thinking about this birthday more than most birthdays. A friend of mine blogged not to long ago about her birthday and turning 25. She mentioned that a lot of birthdays come and go but at 25 you tend to reevaluate your life and think about what you have done and haven’t done. Looking over your bucket list and seeing what is left to be checked off. Places you want to go and people you want to see.

Well. On my 25 birthday (last year) I wasn’t thinking that. I had a 5 month old baby and was trying to get my life back in order from a crazy gallbladder surgery.

This year is so different. Since the New Year started, I started to think about my life and what I want to do. Things I want to change about myself and maybe put in some new goals to achieve.

One thing that rings over and over in my head is; what will they say about me when I’m gone?? Was I a good person? Did I do enough? Was I a true friend? Honest? Loving? Compassionate? Was I everything my husband needed and more? Am I the kind of mom that Sage needs and will we have a relationship worth bragging about in 20 years? Did people see Jesus in me? I want to leave a legacy.

My mom posted a note dedicated to me today on her facebook about how she sees me. How she feels about me and how much she loves me. It’s so hard to not think she is being biased. It’s hard to believe that someone could see those things in me when I have a hard time seeing them in myself. At 26 you think, crap, 4 more years and I’m 30. By now my ways are pretty “set in stone”. It’s hard to change and hard to learn new things. But at this point, I am so willing to learn. I have a lot more room to TRULY grow. I have goals. Simple ones like, grow my family, buy a new house, learn to sew, become a better cook. But I also have difficult ones, like be a better wife, better mom, better friend. Those things are constantly changing… sometimes good… sometimes bad.

I want to be a better friend. I feel like I have said that a lot in the past year. In high school I really messed up some great friendships. All over a boy. So dumb… anyway… I have, since then, strived to be a better friend. I try to be honest. I try to be a better listener and not have such an opinion. I try to put my friends before myself. I think I will always strive to be a better friend. Even though I only have a handful of girlfriends, I know that I can count on them. I know that they will always listen. And for that, I want to do the same. I want to be a better friend.

I want to be a better wife. My husband and I have been married for almost 4 years. In those 4 years we have traveled more than most couples who have been married for 50 years. I am blessed to have a hard working man who loves the Lord and truly relies on him. But this last year has been incredibly rough. Our true, TRUE colors have come out and we have had our battles. We are learning more about ourselves and learning that change (in us) isn’t a bad thing. It’s not “giving into the other person”. It’s just bettering our marriage. I strive to be a Proverbs 31 wife. Some days are better than others, but either way… I want to be a better wife.

I want to be a better mom. Even though I have only been going at it for 16 months, I catch myself doing things I said I wouldn’t. Like blowing a gasket over something like… she ran over my nieces head with her push car. Although Leah didn’t cry or even budge… I got incredibly upset. I felt myself shaking at the thought of Leah’s head being smashed all because my 1 year old should have known better. haha.. She’s ONE!!! yeah. Anyway… I want her to be this wonderful person. Loving, Caring, Forgiving, Excepting, and I know she will only be that way if we raise her that way. I want to be a better mom.

I want to love Jesus better. I’ve said this a million times and I’ll say it again. Never have I EVER had to rely on Jesus more in this last year then I have in my whole 26 years of living. I know I still have a lot of life to live and a lot to learn, but I need Jesus more and more. I want to reflect his light and speak his truth. I don’t want to be ashamed of what I believe and know the word when things come at me. I want to have no fear in praying over people the minute they ask, and have nothing to hide when I honestly tell them “I’m Praying for you”. I want Jesus to shine through me. I want to Love Jesus better.

I’m sure as this year comes and goes my goals will change and I will freak out that I am one year closer to 30. But until then, I have these goals to reach.

Leaving a legacy for my friends and family.

So that at the end of this life, when I meet Jesus face to face, I can hear him say…

“Well done, my good and faithful servant…”

PS. if you know me well, I love and sing Nicole Nordman’s music. Here is her Song “legacy”… one of my favorites

http://youtu.be/F8dZG2yqB_I -

“IF THERE IS NO PAIN YOU WILL GAIN NOTHING, KID!”

Well, what about emotional pain?? What about pain of losing your child? Or losing your job?? What about a divorce? What about a kid that refuses to believe in God and follow the world? What about losing your house, your assets?

 Where’s the gain in that??

This is something that has been on my heart this last week as I have seen a handful of friends talk about their most recent “pains”. We are always so stuck on questioning God, because in that moment, it makes NO SENSE why we are struggling so much! I, personally, have been battling God lately. There is A LOT that I just don’t get right now! I mean, seriously. It’s ridiculous the emotional rollercoaster I have been on in just one week. At this point it is just easier to throw in the towel and say “Alright. I’m Done. I give up, God. There is no “gain” in all this “pain”. And it’s not worth it!!!”

This week, I took a break from my hard-core working out and eating right. I didn’t full-blown throw it to the side, but enough to notice a difference!  BUT, I needed it. I needed time to pray. I needed time to sit. And today, at church, the Pastor asked us to take a Risk. A risk bigger then we know what to do with. No matter what God asks of us, he wants us to take that step of faith and believe that God has something better. No pain, No gain.

God didn’t call us to take the easy road. I have no idea why I am battling God so much. I have no idea what God is doing in my life (I can tell you right now, I hate it.) I have no idea what else could possibly be thrown into my path. I already feel like I am trying to carry the world. And the funny thing is, God is following behind me waiting for me to drop it so he can pick it up for me…. I’m so stubborn.

Jesus, why did you create me, knowing the storms I would face? I know you only want good for me, and I trust you in that, but I am having a hard time being patient as it comes. I need you so much more than ever. I want to take that risk for you. Give me the peace I need as I wait for the sun to shine thru the clouds.

To all my friends that have had Pain with NO gain… It’s on its way! We may not understand it now, but God knows better than anyone, that the outcome will TOTALLY be worth it.

Love you,

Cherith

James 1:2-4

“ ² Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing”

So here we are. 30 days into my 90 day challenge. I just read over everything that I wanted to accomplish in 90 days and boy do I have a GREAT progress report!!

Ok #1… Me and Jesus. I’ll be honest. My daily devotion is not there but it’s in the works. My relationship with Christ has REALLY been tested lately. I will not go into details and I will save that for another day, But never in my life have I relied on God more than I do now!

#2… Sticking to and doing the Power 90 program. I Have lost 8 pounds. Reading that doesn’t seem like a lot to me. In fact, lately I have gotten terribly discouraged because my ultimate goal is to lose weight. BUT on the flip side I have lost 3 INCHES around my waist! 3 INCHES!! In only 30 days people! That’s huge! Working out 6 days a week is a hard commitment, but in order to lose weight and inches you MUST incorporate a workout routine while eating right. Even if it’s walking every day. I can lecture all I want, but the proof is in the pudding. I have tried to just eat healthy and portion control by itself and it works, but working out makes it just that much better. After 30 days of being CONSISTENT I can’t imagine not working out. I have gone two days in a row not working out and having cheat meals (not for the WHOLE two days but one thrown in) and I feel like I jumped off the band wagon and it’s begging me to come back on. Even though that’s not true. hahaha… just statin’ the facts people. (Side note: Ladies, I would NOT recommend starting a diet or life change right before Aunt Flow comes to town!! You have bad enough cravings when you are trying to start healthy eating habits and then throw that time of the month in there! Goodness, it’s not easy!!! Remember, it takes 21 days to change a bad habit into a good one. Meaning, if you want to stop drinking pop, it will take 21 days for your body to adjust.)

Goal #3… Going (semi) Gluten free. I have thought and thought about this part of my post. I want to make sure that I come across very clear and also respectful. First, I want to say, If you are Gluten free (GF) for health reasons I commend you! Gluten is all around us and in MANY, MANY things that you wouldn’t think of. It is not an easy task nor is it cheap to replace. I have many friends that have to be gluten free for health reason. I am not one of those people. I read an article about going GF as a diet fad and how, honestly, it’s not wise. Gluten is wheat and wheat is carbs and you need carbs in your diet. I choose to go GF (not carb free, GLUTEN free. Fruits are carbs and I need options) for multiple reasons and after some research and great advice from a friend, I decided I will try it for 30 days. In the last 30 days I have had wheat products twice and I really noticed a difference the next day. I was sick, bloated, and grumpy and I felt strange pains. I thought it was a fluke so I ate it again as part of a “cheat meal” and again, same thing, same symptoms. So, now I have decided that I am going to stick to being GF for as long as I can be. I do feel much better and I am never bloated (that’s a big deal for a woman!) I’m not sure what this means for me. I just know I feel better and so far, it works for me. If you are planning on doing GF for diet reasons do one thing for me, research, research, research! GF is not a diet fad. I know from personal experience and research, that once you add it back into your diet you will most likely gain weight.  I am choosing to stick with it because of the way I feel. I am making myself rely on more natural, raw foods to fill me up instead of bread or wheat products. I feel healthier and I am excited to dig deeper on this GFree journey.

#4… I want organization in my life!!!! Goodness, being a stay-at-home-mom you would think that I would have this down after a year! I SO do not! A friend of mine recommended a book for me to read called “The Sidetracked Home Executives”. It’s all about a few moms that lived in chaos and wanted their life back without last-minute clean ups. This has been my life! Friends come over for a dinner and we find bags and boxes that we can throw stuff in and do a quick sweep and dusting. UGH! That gets so old. So this book was filled with help and I am in the process of putting their Process in the works. I will keep you updated on this. It’s an interesting system and I need it. I needed something cause I had NOTHIN’!

#5… ZUMBA! I’m doing it people!!!! AND I LOVE IT!!!! This is something for any woman, shape, size & background, rhythm or no rhythm. Zumba is a blast and it’s encouraging to be with other woman. It’s also motivating. Oh, and the music is AWESOME! lol

Last but not least #6… Thirty-One promotion. I did it!!! I got promoted and I didn’t even try! I only have two girls underneath me but they sold enough to promote me to a Senior Consultant! So my next goal for 31 is to just have a great year of sales. There are so many things that I would like to see happen with the money I earn with 31, but that won’t happen by itself. I need shows! So, if you’re out there and you want free stuff, CALL ME and I will Hook you up with a fun party and hopefully a lot of free stuff!! www.mythirtyone.com/37069

Ok. That’s all. Sorry this was so long. I honestly didn’t think I was going accomplish so much in only 30 days! Maybe I need to have a new list…. Neh. I need to see where this one takes me.

ON TO THE NEXT 30 DAYS!!! HIP HIP HOORAY!!

So, awhile ago I purchased this workout program called Power 90. When I first purchased it from my coach and friend, Tekoa, I remember sitting down with her telling her how much I did not like looking in the mirror and crying to her that I am just not happy with myself. See, my friend Tekoa and her husband KILLED it in losing weight and finishing the program. Now not are they only in shape but they promote and LIVE a healthy lifestyle. It’s so much more then weight loss, its happiness, being about to keep up, feeling good almost every single day! so anyway, I bought the program. Got a little over 30 days in, saw A LOT of results, then life hit. I started in September, in October we traveled A LOT!! I mean every weekend, during the week… you name it, we were barely home. So the program stopped. Holidays came and went and there I was 14 pounds heavier and miserable, AGAIN!

The New Year came and I did what everyone else did and made a new year’s resolution to officially loose the weight and KEEP IT OFF. As well as a few other resolutions that I thought I should do. Well, let’s just say, I am now finally ready to live out these resolutions that I wanted to do, and I’m giving myself 90 days to do it. And let me make this small confession, I am terrible at keeping promises. Especially ones I make to myself.

So, here’s my list. And for those of you who read this I give you ALL permission to ask me how I’m doing. (talk about motivation and accountablity!)

Starting today, March 29th:

1.) The first and most import – Making time for just me and Jesus. I pray every day, but there is just something about reading the word, soaking it in, understanding God’s love, and sharing it and living it out. Makes me a better person in every way. I need Jesus.

2.) Getting a hold on my health, starting with POWER 90 – This is a 90 day program that I have YET to finish. I am starting from the beginning as if I have never done it. It won’t be easy. I can barely remember to finish a 10 day prescription. No joke.

3.) Gluten Free – I am going to try and go gluten free. At least for 30 days to see how I feel. I do not have Celiac Disease but I do hope that it will help my moods, my energy, the way my body feels, ect. Although, it will not be hard core gluten free. I have read that some dairy has gluten in it, and with the workout program I am doing, I don’t think I will be able to find (and afford) different sources of protein.

4.) Getting ORGANIZED!! – Goodness, I WILL accomplish this if it gets the best of me!! I am headed that way, but I am determined to get this done and settled in 90 days.

5.) ZUMBA – I have been talking about doing Zumba classes for about 6 months now. Well, now i have purchased classes. So, i have no excuse.

6.) Thirty-One Promotion -  right now I am just a regular ol’ consultant, but if i can get one more person under me qualified, I will be earning just a little bit extra cash. Nothing like a perk



If you know me you know that I am Targets #1 fan….. Check out the give away for yourself. (and if you win I claim half )

www.themommyreport.com

I say “faithful” because as I am on the adventures of changing the way we eat I VOW to not give up foods that I love.

Banana bread… being one of them

I am an avid magazine reader! I LOVE “Real Simple” and I am subscribed to Marth Stewarts “Everyday Food” and on a regular basis these mags. are giving you tips on how to make meals that you love, healthier. I have tried to make my top favorite dish, mac and cheese, healthier by swapping out some cheese with cottage cheese or low-fat cheese… but I never like it. So that one is in the works… (if you have a healthier way to eat mac and cheese I’m all ears…)

This week I have been CRAVING banana bread.

Now, to all you super healthy, super workout pros, you are thinking… “Ignore your cravings!” “eat an apple” “Get up and do something!”  Well let me just tell you, I have tried swapping out craving with other things. Exercise, apples, cashews, tea or coffee… and when these work they are great, but nothing can fulfill my NEED for banana bread! HA!

SO… here are a few tips that I have learned and I want to share it with you. These swaps are good for more than just banana bread as well.

I don’t have a special recipe that was passed down from my grandmother or anything. Almost all banana bread recipes are the same. I am just going to tell you what I swapped out…

First – I took out butter and used extra virgin olive oil  -  my recipe called for 1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter therefore I used 1/4 cup and 2 tbls of EVOO

Next – It calls for buttermilk which I almost never have and used greek yogurt -  measurements stay the same. Normally I would swap it for vanilla yogurt but had greek instead. Because of the consistency in g.yogurt sometimes if you add a hint of milk it will thin out.

Also – white flour for whole wheat flour -  now, this does make whatever you are making more dense, but I personally think it makes it taste better. I just recently read an article that said to try putting it in COOKIES! Yes, another excuse to make something we all love

I am sure that with the eggs you can use an egg beaters or egg white mix, but I didn’t want to change EVERYTHING and wanted to make sure that I had some guarantee that it would be moist.

As I went to check on my bread for the last 9 minutes it filled my house with yummy goodness and then the timer went off. I am not patient when it comes to food so I instantly pulled it out and cut a slice. I was pretty nervous that I ruined it but…. it was GOOD!!!!! It was moist, it taste like banana and I felt ZERO guilt eating a slice

Now, as I tell you all of this I also want to make sure you know that I am trying my hardest to not go over board and eat the loaf to myself. All things are good in moderation. Control yourself people. Your scale will thank you.

So what are other good swapping tips that you would like to share??