7: Clothing Experiment: Day 12 - My sign from God

Good evening, All! Sorry, I've slacked the last few days with keeping up with blogs and photos. I'm halting the photos at this point, as you've seen pretty much all of my outfits and repetition of pictures of me in the same clothing will become BORING, I'm sure!

I've done relatively well throughout this experiment, so far. On Sunday, I had to wear other items out of my 7 because I had a job interview. In consulting with my co-7ers, they all seemed to agree that I should dress accordingly for an interview and nothing in my "7" screamed ""appropriate for an interview. {Side note, the interview went very well...but the salary they offered just isn't going to work right now.}

I resumed my normal 7 wardrobe yesterday. Snugged up warm and cozy in the house with my family as Hurricane Sandy made her way through. This morning, I went onto Facebook and read this post by a friend of mine: 
"One of our ATA families and friends lost everything in a fire in their home last night during the hurricane. An Immediate need is clothing for the family: boy (size 7-8), mom (size 8-10), dad (size l-Xl). If you can pull anything together, they need it! You can drop off donations at ATA Royersford at 70 Buckwalter Rd. Royersfors (where Chik Fil A is). THANK YOU!!!"

Reading this tugged at me both emotionally and physically. Emotionally, my heart hurt so bad for this family that lost EVERYTHING! Everything?! Can you imagine? Physically, I got off my couch and went right up to my room and started tearing through my drawers and closets. I couldn't stop thinking "THIS is a sign from God. This is all happening right smack in the middle of my clothing experiment." I started piling everything up and just kept praying. I prayed for the family who lost everything and I praised God that I had the exact size clothing needed for the Mom who lost everything and Chad's clothes are the same as the need for the Dad. Chad has a limited wardrobe already, but I was able to grab 5 items for the dad.....and 28 items for the mom (not including about 10 or so pairs of socks). I immediately drove the two bags of clothes to the drop location.

This has weighed so heavily on my heart. I was very easily able to grab TWENTY EIGHT items to give away at the drop of a hat. Talk about excess! This was my true wake up call throughout this experiment. Thank the Lord for this message today. 

Please say a prayer for everyone affected by Hurricane Sandy....particularly the local family who lost their home to a fire during this disaster. 

7: Clothing Experiment - Days 6 & 7

Pro: I don't have to think about what I'm going to wear every day. My options are too limited for that. 
Con: My black and grey attire is severely lacking my FALL personality :)
Pro: I have a much better appreciation for the fact that I'm blessed to have clothes...of many varieties to cover myself.
Con: Washer and Dryer are overworked! (Not as if they weren't already with a family of 4....but now it's more)

Yesterday, Day 6 (Black tunic / tights / brown boots)

Today, Day 7 (striped long sleeve T / jeans / grey moccasins)

The laundry will be running yet again tonight! :) 

Wash, Rinse, Repeat (7: Day 5)

Hello, friends! 
Well, today is the first day I've had to repeat an article of clothing...I'm back to what I wore on Day 2- my grey tunic. I'm not repeating in numerical order because I tend to plan to wear  each item according to what I'm doing that day. A lot of my week days are repetitive each week, so I'm trying not to bore anyone with my attire...at least not this early into the experiment! :)

Day 5 - 2nd time in this outfit 

I'm enjoying not having to think too hard about what I'm going to wear each day. It makes my mornings much more relaxed and less time consuming. I've even gone as far, last night, as to make a list for the remaining days of this week of what I'll wear each day. This makes for completely mindless mornings. IT'S GREAT! I often say, when I eventually go back to working outside of the home, I'd love to be somewhere that requires uniforms. And I'd also LOVE it if my kids' school district would go to uniforms, too...as arguing with a 5 year old girl {who thinks she's 16} about what she's going to wear each day, is quickly becoming exhausting!  Today, however, was nice. It's SPIRIT DAY at her school and they are asked to wear RED. Considering the majority of her wardrobe is pink, she doesn't have much red, so it made choosing her outfit EASY PEASY today! 

7: Clothing Experiment: Days 3-4

Yesterday was Day 3 and today is Day 4...still no repeat of outfits, but tomorrow it will begin...so I have some laundry to do today!

Yesterday, Day 3, we had church, which is where my group of Mommies doing this experiment are from. It was nice to see the ladies and part of their wardrobes for the 7. My outfit consisted of jeans, striped long sleeve T and my cardigan. I added a scarf for flare :)

Today is Day 4. I have caught a head cold (AGAIN!)- it started yesterday...but I'm feeling worse today. Boo! {This too shall pass}. But it's a perfect day for my favorite comfy sweatshirt and yoga pants. {p.s. Head colds and brand new nose piercings are not a good pair!} Today's "accessory": my glasses. Not feeling up to popping those contacts in today! 

This is all too true :-/ 

This is my Proud Mommy sweatshirt with G's school 

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for the start of the repeat outfits! I'll attempt to change up the outfits a little if possible :) 

                                     

7: Clothing Experiment: Day 2

So, today, while on my clothing experiment, we decided, as a family that we'd go to the MALL for fun. My daughter loves to walk around there and wanted to visit the Disney store....again.... It's her favorite place...other than the REAL Disney World. We rarely go over to that end of the mall because the only two stores we visit on that side are the Disney store and Old Navy. Of course, of all times, they are finally carrying one of my favorite clothing items: TUNICS. Lots of them! Lots of colors, different cuts.....oh, tunic heaven! But alas, I am limited to my 7 items for the month, so I just...kept...walking.... I rarely ever leave Old Navy without a bag of goodies. 

So, here is my Day 2 wardrobe:

This is one of my favorites and definitely most comfortable. You'll be seeing this a lot.... 

I did do something fun last night to add to my permanent "accessories", though.... 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! :) 

7: Clothing experiment

My Mom's Group has been doing a book study titled: "7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess" which goes through the life of the author who believed "de-cluttering" in 7 areas of life would allow us to live more like Jesus. The first month was FOOD. The author, Jen Hatmaker, picked only 7 food items and ate only those for a whole month. Our group started off with the food experiment, as well. Mostly all of us at least tried the experiment, some of us did better than others (I'm one who failed miserably! :( )  Fat won.

This month's experiment (starting today) is CLOTHES. We are to pick 7 clothing items and wear only those for a whole month. As sad as I feel about this, being a clothes lover...particularly in the Fall season...I'm also looking forward to it. This little picture explains me all to well:

This is ridiculous! 

I have SO many clothes....not all of which fit me...as I have a constant struggle with weight.... but, nonetheless, a lot of clothes. Every day I go through the next few days inmy head planning what I'll wear. It changes on a daily basis. The more I think about this, the crazier I feel. There are so many more important things in life to worry about than what I'll be wearing. Don't get me wrong, I always want to look nice and I'll probably always love fashion and clothes...but making it my main focus doesn't feel RIGHT. My main focus should be Jesus and my family. 

And so starts the Clothes experiment. I have chosen 7 clothing items to wear for the next month. I have decided scarves, jewelry and coats do not count, as they are more an accessory than an actual clothing item. I'm also going to attempt to only wear two pairs of shoes - my gray moccasins and my brown boots. I have also tried to limit my wardrobe to black and grey (except for a blue sweatshirt), at the risk of looking like a total bore, but feel it will be easier to mix up the items to make different complete outfits. Here's what I've chosen: 1 pair of jeans, 1 grey tunic, 1 black tunic, 1 pair of yoga pants, 1 black and grey long sleeved T, 1 grey cardigan, 1 sweatshirt.  My friend Renee, also doing this experiment, did a photo similar to this...stole her idea. Thanks, Renee!

At the end of this month long experiment, I'm hoping to have more of an appreciation for everything that I have and will give some things away to those who actually need it. I do WANT to give stuff away...but I haven't DONE it yet. I'm hoping this experiment 1st: brings me closer to living like Jesus and 2nd: convicts me to give a lot of it away. 

Stay tuned for updates and I'll try to do pictures, too. :)

Being 5

My daughter, Grace, helps me see how innocent the world is through a child's eyes, without all of the negativity that adults possess. As often, and sometimes annoyingly as she asks "why," it used to make me analyze deeper why things are the way they are? But over-analyzing, I think, is why the world has come to what it has. With her innocence and minimal exposure to negativity...yes, I've kept her in a bubble for 5 years....I can answer a lot of her questions with "Because God made it that way" or "Because that is the way God expects it to happen." As simple as these answers may seem, so that a 5 year old can understand it, why can't we, as adults, accept these answers, too? The more time my Lord gives me on this Earth, the more and more I, myself, am starting to accept these answers. We are God's children. As long as we have Him in our lives, we need to re-organize our brains back to the innocence of children and stop over-analyzing. I have, and I am so much more content.

Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to ourchildren forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. 

The Week Recap :)

This week was relatively eventful...some bad, some neutral, and some good...but even though everything wasn't good, I'm still grateful for everything and blessed to have seen another week.

Our week started off with the flu - three of the four of us...thankfully the baby didn't catch it! Whew! But there was a lot of whining and groaning, nonetheless {Men!}. Thankfully Grace and I are strong and kept it together ;) From my understanding, ALL men are sissies, and in my opinion, worse than the kids when they're sick. But, I expect it every time and deal with it. I love him. After all, he took great care of Grace and me, as it started with us. But my heart-wrenching moment? BOOM, CRASH, THUD! I went charging into the bathroom Monday night to find him laying on the floor, with his eyes wide open...but he wouldn't respond! I shook him and was yelling his name. No response. Thirty seconds felt like eternity, but he finally responded. I think he was dehydrated. Talk about scary! But, he's alive and well now. I am thankful for my love and his recovered health....{and mine & G's}. Chad spent a few days home from work and we both got some much needed rest....well, as much rest as you can get with a 5 year old and almost 2 year old running around the house.

Wednesday was a whirlwind. Chad went back to work and life went back to normal...sort of. There was tons of laundry to be done...well, washed...I never tend to get to the folding until a day or two later. I had a doctor's appointment,so I dropped off the kids at my grandmother's house. Back track a little....I've been gaining weight at a rapid speed, have had a crazy appetite, mood swings, dry skin, irregular periods, body aches and so on and so on...so I requested some blood work to see what's going on! My doctor visit on Wednesday was to review the results of the tests. I was diagnosed with clinical Hypothyroidism. That certainly explains a lot! Bad news? It's not a curable disease and I'll have to take a synthetic thyroid medication (Levothyroxine) for the rest of my life. Good-ish news? At this point, it's controllable with a simple daily pill. The best news? I'm alive and thankful for each day. Truly.

On Thursday, I went to my Women's Bible Study group. We are studying the book of Ester. It is one of only two women's books in the Bible. It is very influential and I'm thoroughly enjoying the study and the fellowship with my sisters-in-Christ. On Thursday night, a my family got to enjoy a dinner out with my mom and then we strolled around the KOP mall for a while.

Friday morning, we (me and the kiddos) ran some errands, I dropped off Grace to school, Nathan came home for a nap and I finally got around to folding all of the laundry that I washed on...I think...Wednesday! On Friday night, my church initiated a "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" night. A family offers their home and hosts a dinner. They do not know who is coming and the guests only have an address and time to show up. We were to bring dessert. This made me very excited, as I have been craving pumpkin pie for over a week.....so, needless to say what we took for dessert! We arrived to our hosts, Mark and Debbie's home late...as there was an accident and traffic jam on 422 {shocking!}. But they welcomed us with open arms. We've met them in passing but didn't really "know" them. What a wonderful couple...who I came to adore in our two hours there, as well as their two teenaged daughters, Dara and Kara. Also in attendance as guests were Sue and Pat, who again, we've spoken to in passing at church. It was great to spend time and get to know all of these great people! As always, my kids were the free entertainment for the evening. But they were so well behaved and I was a very proud mama!  Grace took a liking to Kara (age 15) and she even taught her how to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the piano! Grace picked it up so quickly! I think it may be time for lessons! :) Nathan made a new best friend with "Mr. Mark" as they shared some pumpkin pie. I think Mark was just as smitten with Nathan! 

 Kara and Grace

 Chad, Sue, Dara, Kara, Debbie, Pat, Me, Grace 

Mark and Nathan

Saturday morning (today), my sister and brother-in-law came over. Steve helped Chad with some projects around the house and Carol and I took the kids to Varner's Tree Farm for some pumpkins! Decorating for Fall is my favorite time of year to decorate! We took a horse drawn hay ride around the farm, too. It was great! When we got back, we all had pizza together, the kids took naps and the four adults finished up some more house work. 
~What great in-laws to be so helpful! We're eternally grateful! Tonight, we took a nice finally Fall-weather walk around the outlets. I loved being bundled in a sweatshirt and yoga pants...this is my favorite season! All in all, it's been a great weekend! 

These are placed on my front porch

My "little pumpkins"

Tomorrow, my church is having a LOVE FEAST. The whole congregation will have a pancake breakfast together while worshipping (chew, swallow, THEN sing!) I'm very excited about this new experience and I'll try to add some details following the service. Afterwards, I'm going for a much needed hair cut and color. If you don't already know, I have very short hair and I change my colors about every 4-5 weeks. I believe I'll be going with a black base and burgundy highlights this time around! :)  Right now, I'm wrapped up in my leopard print Snuggie and enjoying every second of it! 

Enjoy your upcoming week, and as always, thank you for reading my blogs! Any comments are also always welcome. God bless. 

The Sexy Sunglasses

After 44 hours of being ill with either the flu or the nastiest stomach bug known to human, I finally have some energy to write about my experience and the pride I got out of it all.
It started Saturday night when Grace woke up screaming for us as she lost her cupcakes on the way to the bathroom. I had just finished telling Chad that I was feeling queasy, myself. But I thought I just ate too many sweets having been to two birthday parties that day... As I sat comforting Grace, Chad began cleaning up her trail from her room to the bathroom. Just as I was going to blame the big wad of...what I'm guessing to be...at least three pieces of swallowed gum (she's not allowed to have gum) for her illness, I started getting the sweats and chills at that very moment. And so started my first visit to the Porcelain bowl. Oh - the abuse it has taken in the past two days - I'll spare all details...
Chad spent the entire night with Grace, as she woke up sick at least ten times. My poor angel. The good news? It passed through her system much, much quicker than mine. I only awoke about four times. At my official morning wake-up, I opened my eyes to find I was experiencing the worst migraine I ever had, ever, in my life. I spent the entire day in bed as Chad took care of the kids and puppy and was there for me with every text request I sent to him. Bless his heart.
I woke up again today still with the migraine. Even with the smallest amount of light coming through my blackout shades (I had my window cracked for fresh air), I couldn't handle it! Grace was already in my room checking on me. I asked her to go tell Daddy I needed my headache medicine. 
Within 30 minutes, Chad came up to tell me he was nauseous. Oh, No!! He explained his symptoms to me. Yep! He caught it! My poor hero husband...all that care taking he did for us...and his reward? The nastiness I wouldn't wish on any idiot driver on Route 422 during Rush Hour. 
I came downstairs so he wouldn't have to endure the pressure from two kids and a puppy. But not without first stumbling to my car to get my sunglasses....which I had to wear most of the day...inside of my bright house...over top of my Rx glasses. Sexy, right?

My pride? It came with learning the maturity that Grace (age 5) seemed to gain over night. Or maybe I just hadn't noticed well enough in the busyness of a normal day of operation in my life. She covered me with a blanket, sat at my feet, rubbed my leg and said "I love you, Mommy. Is there anything I can do to help you?" I just cried. My daughter is such a caring soul. It was at that moment I just looked at her and thought "when did she grow up?" She spent the rest of the morning playing with Nathan and making me "soup." (Soup = a plastic ball, a cross necklace, and a small bowl) and insisted that I eat it all so I'll feel better. 
I always miss her when I'm not with her, but I missed her even more when I dropped her off to Kindergarten this morning. I couldn't wait to pick her up. As we drove home, I asked her what she wanted for dinner. The kid totally deserves anything she wants today! She chose spaghetti. Made me love her even more: spaghetti is my favorite, too! I just hope I'm able to eat it....but leftovers will work tomorrow if I can't. 

It Is Well With My Soul

It's Saturday night and I am resting on my couch after a ver long, and funnnn, day of children's (yes, multiple) parties!

Chad is in the kitchen working on his side job as I am settling on my couch reading and studying one of my three book studies, "Fully Devoted." I'm reading about the topic of "Grace" and the Prodigal Sons. As I sit comparing myself to the Prodigal Son, Chad's music streaming from his computer seemingly became louder. The song from his speakers? The hymn "Be Thou My Vision." My first reaction? "Wow, that was timely." But, in fact, not timely, just Him telling me that He is right here with me. 
A smell I encountered today arose a very disturbing memory from my childhood. It had set itself unsettling within otherwise a great day. This message of His presence was what I needed for the comfort I am now feeling. And guess what song is now playing as I wrap this up? The hymn "It is well with my soul." 
Amen.

For references on the hymns listed in this blog: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NAjDw1FoDM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8_EfDqF7YI

Whiney Mommy day

So...I'm having a tough day. I went to the chiropractor yesterday to get my back adjusted.It's been far too long and my back was a total mess. I woke up today in more pain than I was in yesterday. On top of that, my knee and ankle are in extreme pain. Icing on the cake? Mmmm, cake.... My allergies are so terrible that I decided to take some Benadryl on top of my daily dose of Zyrtec. Um, just take me out back and shoot me today, folks! I'm an extremely drowsy gimp! Need to get through this day! I have 3 birthday parties to attend this weekend!
Have a great day!

My Perfect Life

Seven years ago, if you would have asked me if I'd be in the position my life is in right now, I would have answered "Not in a million years!" And not because I don't love my life, quite the contrary, really. I LOVE my life. I can honestly categorize my life as perfect. Go ahead and hate, that won't stop me. :) I'll say it again...my life is perfect. By my definition, a perfect life is NOT a big fancy house with big fancy things and anything that requires a big heavy wallet to buy "perfection." I'm not trying to fool anyone, maybe a long time ago, I thought these things would make me happy, but that is not what was handed to me, yet I'm perfectly happy with my life. 

Out of high school, I worked at least two jobs, sometimes three, all while going to college full-time. I was fortunate that my mother got me through college, so I didn't have to work to get myself through school...but I did feel I needed to buy my "happiness" at that point in my life. I always had really nice clothes, nails done and paid to go anywhere I wanted....but I didn't get out much anyway... My life felt meaningless. I felt like I had no real purpose.

After college, I went straight into corporate America with my Business degree, and there I was...working, making a living....but everything felt like I was just going through the motions. I wasn't enjoying life. For me, life = work. I had nice things. But, what's the point of getting dressed up if you have no where to go? 

Fast forward two years, I met Chad while working part-time in a jewelry store that I worked at on nights and weekends. Catching on to the pattern? All I did was work. But I'm not complaining - had it not been for working that part-time job, I would have never met Chad, quite literally the man of my dreams. After working with him for 5 short hours, he left for the day and I looked at the store manager, a friend of both of ours, and said "I'm going to marry him." :) The manager just chuckled.

Fast forward two more years, Chad and I are married with baby Grace. I still worked full time, but I at least felt like I had more of a purpose. I was a wife and a mother. Someone needed me. (I tend to want to be needed.) Shortly thereafter, I was baptized. Life had only gotten BETTER since then.

When Grace turned 3, we soon found out that she was going to be a big sister. Grace was in an in-home childcare setting while Chad and I worked full-time. I'll admit, I used to think that the $35 a day that I paid for childcare was outrageous. Now that I stay home and take care of only two kids at a time...and they're my own kids, I feel like I robbed the poor lady! I DIGRESS. While bitterly adding up what I'd be paying someone else to raise two of my kids once the baby was born, it made no sense for me to work full-time only to bring home less than one month's mortgage payment from a full year's salary after paying for childcare. Never, in a million years, did I ever expect that I would be so blessed to become a "SAHM." Don't get me wrong, I also see nothing wrong with full-time working parents...it just didn't fit properly into my family at this time. And I will say, I've worked in many different types of fields doing Administrative and project management work, but no job I've ever had has been as hard, difficult, or exhausting as being a stay-at-home-mom. BUT, no other job has ever been as fulfilling, either. I'm a chef, personal shopper, cleaning service, housekeeper, taxi service, bookkeeper, party planner and secretary. I don't get paid a salary. I get paid in hugs, kisses and unconditional love....and I am RICH!!!! 

I have traded my heels for flats, , my dress clothes for yoga pants....side note, I don't do yoga....and my long hair, that took forever to style, for a super short pixie...which, I'm not gonna lie, I looooooove! I drive an SUV filled with toys, dvd players and Goldfish crumbs. My house looks like a tornado hit it from the inside, I sometimes have piles of laundry or dishes. But my kids are happy, Chad is happy, and all of this....makes ME happy! 

I've recently felt compelled to start singing at church....even if my voice is, and I quote, "Not bad, but not extraordinary." (I won't mention who gave me that "compliment.") I stand on a stage in front of a whole congregation and sing. Again, not something I would have ever, EVER thought I could do....get on a stage.....in front of people......and sing. But, I feel that God has moved me to serve Him by leading worship with my less than extraordinary voice. I truly feel closest to Him when I am singing. My initial discomfort has put me into some of my most comfortable moments because I know God is with me. 

Most recently, I've started reading by being involved in some groups with fellow Christians. Groups of people that I thank God every day for bringing into my life. They are all wonderful people! I have always backed away from reading, but I'm currently reading 3 different books all at once. And, in turn, I've been inspired to start writing again...hence, this blog. What better a starting point that to write about something you're well aware of or know a lot about? So the subject: Me and my life. However, I didn't know much about my own self until recently. I finally took the time to sit and think about who I really am while appreciating my life and everyone and everything that has been given to me by my Lord. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for my perfect life.

~Thanks for reading! xo 

Non-Reader reading three books at the same time!

After a long summer of laziness, the Fall brings me into three different Group settings, all of which we are doing some kind of book study. All of which are in relation to the Bible or being more like Jesus.
All of them are studies that will take place in future weeks and/or months. 

I've started my first book, "7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess," by Jen Hatmaker. The author wrote this book as she experimented with losing the excess in her life in the following categories: Food, Clothing, Possessions, Media, Waste, Spending, & Stress." Each category for one month. 
I will start off by saying, she is a Saint! For her first month, she picked only 7 foods to eat for a whole month.....none of which with spices or anything of the like! She did very well! I, on the other hand..... Well, this is a study we are doing with a Mom's group. We have a blog that we are writing on to keep each other motivated. I am on Day 5 of the month of the Food month and here are my entries proving my failure on decreasing the excess of food:

This one is in response to our fearless leader, Megan's, initial blog on the experiment:

"GOOOOD MORNING!!!"....typing doesn't express sarcasm.... {raspberries}....
So, I'll start off by saying that one of my first thoughts was ALSO, "ooooooh, I can lose weight doing this!" THAT just goes to show that this was going to start out as an epic failure for me....and so... I am starting off with baby steps...today...because, this weekend was an awful example of EXCESS of food in my life. My list for my 7 foods are as follows:
Chicken - Beef - Cheese - Eggs - Apples - Lettuce - Coffee (yes, coffee - no one would like me, and I mean NO ONE, if I had to cut the coffee...I'm doing this for unselfish reasons, I promise). :)
Friday started off well. I only ate these foods....however, I did not steer away from spices...so, it's a modified "7" as I use these items as a base. Saturday, however, Day 2, I ate funnel cake....NOT on the menu. Sunday was my mom's birthday. We celebrated by going to the Movie Tavern and Olive Garden. EPIC FAIL! Popcorn, Pasta, and Strawberry Shortcake....none of which are on the menu. 
Today is Monday. I hate Monday. But, I need to regroup and get back to trying this over again. I ate APPLEbutter on a spoon for breakfast. I plan to eat EGGS with CHEESE for lunch....and I'm thawing CHICKEN breasts for dinner. So, I'm kind of on the right track for today. Stay tuned. 
I will, also, be cleaning out the cupboards and donating anything we don't eat. 
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone else's posts! 

p.s. - As I started off on this adventure, I was a non-reader.... I'm already done the second chapter about clothes! I'll consider this my success for the first 4 days...ha.

After another response....later the same day (yesterday, to be exact)....

I think giving up something is certainly a great variation of this. It may be what I decide to do since I failed miserably yet again today....
Admittedly, soon after planning on cheesy eggs for lunch (I even put this in writing in a blog - see above) ....I decided to reheat my leftover spaghetti from last night for lunch.... I was thawing chicken breasts for dinner....and decided I was going to make buttermilk chicken....which is very time consuming. The TWO chicken breasts I was thawing is not nearly enough to take the time to make these...so I pulled out more chicken breasts to thaw and will make it...tomorrow. PIZZA it is tonight! Ding goes my oven - preheating complete!

So...needless to say, I struggle with food...well, no food.....I love food. The end. 

The other books I'll be reading are: "Fully Devoted: living each day in Jesus' name" by John Ortberg.....and "Ester: It's tough being a woman" by Beth Moore. 

I maybe should have started off by saying that I never could sit and read a book well...with full comprehension....because I have the attention span of a fruit fly. BUT, I read two of the chapters of "7" in two days (30 days of her experiment each) and had a hard time putting the book down. I am also actually LOOKING FORWARD to starting up on the other books! So maybe I'm failing with the food experiment, but my success is coming in reading.....and writing again. I used to write a lot...haven't for a while. But this has all inspired me to start a blog..... Happy reading! :)