A Gluten Free Fall Favorite!

Many of my Facebook friends have seen my post on this one and the picture to go with it and have demanded that I put the recipe online.  So, here it is, my reciped for Pumpkin Cinnamon Cream Cheese Muffins!  These muffins are both Gluten free and Sugar free! I am big into cooking/baking improvisation so I will list the recipe but also put notes in to show you how exactly I did it.


Recipe:

Muffins -
1 1/4 Cup Almond Flour  *(I actually used 1 cu. Almond and 1/4 cu. Coconut flour to test consistency..turned out great!  You don't have to mix, however, to get a great product. I swear by Almond flour.)
1/4 Cup Flax Seeds
1 Can unsweetened Organic Pumpkin (or unsweetened reg pumpkin if you can't find organic)
2 Teaspoons Aluminum Free Baking Powder
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Nutmeg (I used Ginger here instead, which gave it just a hint of a zing.)
1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt
2/3 Cup Stevia or Xylitol (DO NOT USE SUGAR!)
4 Large eggs, beaten
1/2 Cup water
1 Tablespoon Pure Vanilla

Cream Cheese Filling -
1 8 oz pkg Whole Fat Cream Cheese
2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
2 Teaspoons Pure Vanilla
1/4 Cup Stevia or Truvia
1/2 Cup Chopped Pecans or Walnuts (for topping)

Directions for Muffins:

-Pre-heat oven to 350 F
- Mix together all dry ingredients thoroughly
- Mix together all wet ingredients thoroughly
- Combine all wet and dry ingredients in large mixing bowl and mix together thoroughly
-Allow batter to stand for 10 minutes
-Separate batter into muffin tins in muffin pan.  Batter should yield 1 dozen muffins
-Bake for 15 minutes before adding Cream Cheese filling

Directions for Cream Cheese Filling:

-Allow Cream Cheese to acclimate to room temperature so that it is soft and pliable
-Once Cream Cheese is ready, place into mixing bowl with Stevia, Cinnamon, and Vanilla
-With stand alone mixer or hand mixer, beat together ingredients until whipped consistency emerges.  Taste test for sweetness and flavor,adjust sugar and cinnamon to desired taste.
-If you have a piping bag, place mixture in piping bag with metal spout.  If you don't have a piping bag you can use a ziplock bag (which I did!).  Just place all the mixture into a quart size zip lock bag, securely close the bag, forcing all of the mixture into one of the corners. Using scissors, cut the corner tip off of the bag and you'll have a homemade piping bag!

Piping Muffins:

-At the 15 Minute mark take the cupcakes out and use the handle end of an egg beater, meat fork, or any other kitchen utensil that you can find that will make a hole in the middle of the muffin. 
-Use utensil to put hole in middle of muffin.  While hole is visible, use the piping bag to pipe cream cheese into the middle of each muffin. You'll want to fill it to just overflowing so that you have some on top of the muffin.
-Once you have all cream cheese piped, sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over each muffin.  These nuts add a great extra crunch to the finished product.
-Place muffins back in the oven and back for approximately 5-10 more minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
-Take muffins out and allow to cool.  ENJOY!


This all may sound very complicated but I can tell you I whipped these up on the fly with 10 minutes of prep time and then actual bake time.  They are super easy and everyone who has had them thus far has fallen in love with them!

Yahoo Article Commentary

I love when I pop onto Yahoo! and find some sort of story on "7 Cosmetic Items to Avoid" or "Does Caffiene Make You Fat?"  Being a newly deemed "Health Queen", my curiosity can not help but be piqued by such titles.  Now, you must know that I do not look at Yahoo! News as any source of viable reporting, but I do find it interesting to see what they are peddling to the unassuming public.

Today I stumbled across this enticing story entitled Diet Foods that Make You Fat:

http://health.yahoo.net/articles/nutrition/photos/diet-foods-that-make-you-fat#1

In this article the writers highlight several foods or ingredients found in many foods that can cause weight gain instead of loss.  There's nothing too terribly medically founded here and really, anyone who has watched Dr. Oz more than once already knows about all of these, but I wanted to highlight a few that I thought were interesting.

First? Their #1 "Diet Food" making people fat was Fast Food Salads.  Nothing about the words "Fast-Food-Salad" rings a "HEALTHY" bell in my mind, but ok Yahoo!, let's consider it.  The average Joe or Jolene will visit a fastfood joint or a sit down restaurant and think that if they are going to eat healthy then the best they can do is eat a salad, right? WRONG. Consider that most restaurant salads contain over 1,000 calories and 30-60 grams of fat. How about just cutting out Fast Food altogether? Fast Food is just what it suggests, FAST.  And you want to know why it's fast?  Because it takes all of 20 seconds to nuke a processed meat patty, throw it on a high carb low nutrient bun, and throw some chemically inhanced produce and condiments on in.  Sounds yummy right? You CAN eat healthy at regular sit-down restaurants but it takes work and it takes speaking up and custom ordering items to keep your plate as healthy as possible.  Your best bet?  Keep most of your meals on the dinner table at home, made in your kitchen from ingredients that YOU purchased and put together, and save going out to dinner for special occassions.  It's time America got back in the kitchen and started taking some ownership of their meals!




Next?  Frozen and boxed meals or meal fixing products.  Can we stamp a big fat "DUH" sticker on this one? If you check the boxes on your average "Hungry Man" meal you'll find insane amounts of sodium, trans fats, cholesterol, sugar, etc.  You'll also find a box ful of processed "pseudo food" that does nothing but act as a placebo to your stomach to make you think you're full and satisfied when all you've really done is pumped your body full of chemicals and additives. Nothing about that is making you thinner, it's making you sicker. Fresh food is the way to go! "But that takes too much time! I need to be able to pack something fast for work!"  It takes no longer to pack a healthy lunch that you've prepared ahead of time than it does to pull a box of junk out of the freezer.




Another gem? If you see the words "Fat-Free" or "Low Fat" or "Sugar Free"  run in the opposite direction! These labels are a nice little trick that marketing firms came up with to peddle more worthless, toxic, product.  You HAVE to read labels!  Don't trust marketing.  Marketing never made anyone healthy.  Most "Fat-Free" products are laced with other flavor enhancers, sodium, and all sorts of other items to make them taste even half way decent...which never works, they still taste awful. Even "Low Fat" does this.  And " Sugar-Free"?  Forget it.  All you'll find there is chemically enchanced sugar substitutes, fake ingredients, and a hot mess. Eat healthy fats like nuts, cook with healthy fats like Olive Oil and Coconut Oil.  Use Stevia to sweeten your cooking or baking.  I've created delicious masterpeieces with these things.  They aren't hard to find nor are they expensive!
Watch out for added ingredients in your favorite so called "health foods" and see where you can make a switch.  Ditch "low fat" flavored yogurts....filled to the brim with aspertame and chemicals.  Instead pick up whole milk, full fat, unsweetened yogurt and flavor it with fresh berries, nuts, and a dash of cinnamon and Stevia!  You NEED the healthy fats found in yogurt.  Don't skip out on the essential fats you need for your body to function! Skip the "low fat" cottage cheeses too.  You need the full milk fat!




My last one? SUGAR!!! Let's face it, especially if you're on the Maximized Living Advanced Plan like me, you KNOW that sugar is in everything.  Oh Sugar, how America consumes thee, let me count the ways...:
-Salad dressing
-Cereal
-Candy
-Fruit Juice
-Pop
-Canned foods
-Mixes and boxed food
-Snack bars, fruit snacks
-Yogurt, milk, cottage cheese

I could go on and on, because the list certainly does, but you get my point. Sugar is killing us! The average American consumes over 12 tablespoons of sugar in one 24 hour period versus the recommended 6 teaspoons. Yikes! We're all walking around in sugar commas! Is it any wonder we're fat, depressed, hyper active, unable to concentrate, lethargic, achy, injury prone, and just plain sick all the time? Read up on what health experts have to say about the toxic effects of sugar on the body and you'll think twice about picking up that next Diet Coke or Snicker's bar. Just sayin'




Be Green and Live Healthy Today!

A Psalm 104 Kind of Morning

I spent some time at Castlewood park this morning, hiking through the Lord's amazing creation.  Once my climbing partner and I reached a great outlook I sat down on a rock, pulled out my Bible, and this is the Scripture that the Lord laid open for me (Psalm 104).  I took pictures just after reading this and couldn't help but find all of the wonderful connections.  What a mighty God we serve! I was so blessed this morning by the ways that He individually and specifically touches my life and the lives of those around me.  Lately He has been showering me, literally flooding my life, with unexpected blessings and provisions.  Proverbs 8:34 says "Blessed are those who listen to Me, watching daily at My doors, waiting at My doorway."  If we listen for Him to speak, obey when He He gives direction, and allow Him to take the reigns and guide our paths, He WILL bless!  I'm a living, breathing, example of this.  Don't give up just because you don't see things coming together as YOU may have desired because, guess what?, His ways are higher and He will orchestrate things in such a picture perfect way that you'll end up praising the Lord that YOUR way didnt work out. Trust!

See the reminder He gave me of His greatness this morning...set to His creation:

"Praise the LORD, my soul.

LORD my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

² The LORD wraps himself in light as with a garment;
he stretches out the heavens like a tent
³ and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.
⁴ He makes winds his messengers,^[a]
flames of fire his servants.

⁵ He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.
⁶ You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
⁷ But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
⁸ they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.
⁹ You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth. "

"He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.
¹¹ They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
¹² The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
¹³ He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
¹⁴ He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:
¹⁵ wine that gladdens human hearts,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts.
¹⁶ The trees of the LORD are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
¹⁷ There the birds make their nests;
the stork has its home in the junipers.
¹⁸ The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.

¹⁹ He made the moon to mark the seasons,
and the sun knows when to go down.
²⁰ You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and all the beasts of the forest prowl.
²¹ The lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
²² The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.
²³ Then people go out to their work,
to their labor until evening.

²⁴ How many are your works, LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
²⁵ There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
²⁶ There the ships go to and fro,
and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.

²⁷ All creatures look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.
²⁸ When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
²⁹ When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
³⁰ When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.

³¹ May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works—
³² he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

³³ I will sing to the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
³⁴ May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the LORD.
³⁵ But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.

Praise the LORD, my soul.

Praise the LORD.^[b]

What Items in YOUR home might be killing you?

Last month 212 held an Advanced Talk on toxins in the home, basically what products are we using daily that are really acting as silent killers.  Sadly, I was unable to attend but fun enough Yahoo! News posted a story on the 12 Scary Products to eliminate from your home.  (See Link Below)

12 Scary Household Items to Eliminate

One such product? Room airfresheners.  The chemicals contained in most (probably 98%) of aerosol room freshener sprays can not only irritate existing allergic or pulmonary conditions, they have also been linked to creating neurotoxicity, immune system issues, cancers, etc. Pitch the can... It's not worth it!
Better Option: Soy Bean Candles....they are all natural and usually are scented with natural essential oils.




Another example? Toothpaste. Many toothpastes contain a pesticide known as Triclosan.  Here's what the Eviromental Working Group has to say in a recent article on Triclosan Toxicity: "Lab studies link triclosan to cancer, developmental defects, and liver and inhalation toxicity. A secret study by Colgate scientists revealed exposure to low levels of triclosan caused liver tumors in mice (See 1996). Colgate refuses to release this study to EPA for evaluation, though it provided it to FDA in order to ensure it could add triclosan to toothpaste and other oral care products." I would highly suggest checking out the rest of the article through this link: http://www.ewg.org/node/26701 Triclosan is also found in many hand soaps and other body products.
Better Option: Tom's of Maine Toothpaste.  I switched out my paste last month and am now using a Tom's paste and LOVE it.  The taste is good, consistency is good, and it leaves my mouth feeling super clean!  What is great is that you no longer have to spend the few extra dollars to get it at Whole Foods.  It's actually carried at WalMart and Target for a buck or so cheaper...not as many flavor options but still a great deal!



Final example: Plastic storage containers...including water bottles. Most, if not all plastic food and beverage containers contain some level of BPA.  But what is BPA? Bisphenol A is a chemical released when plastics are heated that changes the chemical components of whatever the plastic is surrounding. BPA can be found in everything from baby bottles to water bottles to food containers. According to EWG this is what you can look out for on your plastic products: "BPA is found in polycarbonate plastic food containers often marked on the bottom with the letters "PC" recycling label #7. Not all #7 labeled products are polycarbonate but this is a reasonable guideline for a category of plastics to avoid. Polycarbonate plastics are rigid and transparent and used for sippy cups, baby bottles, food storage, and water bottles. Some polycarbonate water bottles are marketed as 'non-leaching' for minimizing plastic taste or odor, however there is still a possibility that trace amounts of BPA will migrate from these containers, particularly if used to heat liquids." Some plastics are passible...such as those with recycling numbers #1, #2, and #4.  Ideally you should store your food in glass storage containers which you can find at anywhere from Whole Foods to Target.
Better Option: For water you should also choose either glass or stainless steel containers. I know what you're thinking, GLASS WATER BOTTLE?! But seriously, there are some great ones out there right now that have a no-slip rubber grip on them to help avoid dropping or breaking.  More companies are coming out with great Stainless Steel options as well.  If you're like me you like the convenience of a bottle that you dont have to screw the cap off of to drink out of.  Well now you can find the stainless steel with mouth pieces.  Yoga company, Gaiam, not makes stainless bottle with straws.  They are super sweet and can be found atTarget!  You do have to watch for the lining in certain stainless steel bottles as some do contain BPA.  Make sure that the stainless steel bottle you're purchasing is classified as BPA free. 
Check out Gaiam's website for some great products! http://www.gaiam.com/category/fitness-center/water-bottles.do




 These few items don't begin to cover the lengthy list of household items that are slowly doing you in.  Might be time to start taking stock of what you're using everyday.  If it's not helping you be healthy, it's helping you get one foot in the grave that much quicker.

Food for thought!

Live Green TODAY!

Who wants some green candy?

My friend Jamie is about as big a health nut as I am and I love seeing what she's into these days.  Today on Facebook she "liked" a page called "Natural Candy Store".  Being the sweet treat lover that I am I had to find out what this page was about.  Much to my delight it is a candy store that, like it says, features all natural candy.  That's right folks, they bost candies and other treats that are free of artificial ingredients, colorings, flavors, perservatives, and hydrogenated oils.  They have everything from mints to hard candies to candy bars and popcorn balls.  I was thrilled to find through some research that this store is owned by a mom and her2 daughters (sounds very Kirk-like!) who wanted to provide only the best organic, all-natural candy available!  While I may be on a sugar fast right now, you better know I plan to try out some of their yummy offerings as soon as it's over.  If you'd like to check out this great site head over to www.naturalcandystore.com!

Here are just a few pics of what I'M looking forward to ordering :)

Dark Chocolate Mint Wafers!

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups!

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Cashews

On  a non-foodie topic, have any of you been keeping up with Bachelor Pad this season?  Yes, I watch reality tv...but not all of it...no judging! lol I'm watching the finale as we speak so know I'll mention my thoughts on that later.  I cannot believe Casey and Vienna are still hanging on.  If they don't wint the $250,000 then they should most definitely win the "Most obnoxious couple ever" title. Just sayin'!
Let me know your thoughts, but I'm hoping either Ella and Curt or Michael and Holly will win.  We shall see!

Green Baking Failures

Ok, So why is it that though I follow the recipes to the letter, the baked good NEVER turns out how I want them to?! This never happened when I baked with regular flour but now that I have to use flax meal and coconut flour, things turn out drastically different.  Exhibit A: Zucchini Cake.  The recipe in the Max Living book says to use Almond flour but I did not have any and used Coconut Flour instead.  I worked the wet and dry ingredients separately but when I put them together a catastrophe insued that resulted in the batter looking more like play-do than cake batter.  I added almost a full glass of almond milk and water and was still unable to get the batter thinned out.  I went ahead and baked them but the cakes came out more like a shortbread than a cake. SOOOO frustrating! 

I'm thinking about venturing to other recipes to find success. My sister found some amazing dessert recipes through www.healthyindulgences.net.  I came home from work Sunday night to get to try an AMAZING Black Bean Chocolate Cake made by my sister.....who's first time it was to use odd ingredients to bake and yet her stuff turned out amazing in comparison to the baked goods I've attempted so far.  Why is is that recipes NEVER put the right amount of liquid needed to make a batter?  I've seen recipes that only require 3 TBSP of water for an entire batch of brownies....It is IMPOSSIBLE to make brownie batter out of 3 TBSP of water and mix. Try it, I dare you! If any of you have any tips for avoiding organic baking blunders, please let me know!

Apart from my own dismay at failed Zucchini Cake, the night was wonderful.  My mom and I went down to Forest Park, Art Hill to be exact, to hear a free concert put on by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.  They are preparing to kick off their season and compiled all of the best works from all of the shows they'll be presenting over the coming months.  It was an amazing concert on an amazingly beautiful night.  The weather was perfect and the sky was absolutely beautiful.  Check it out for yourself!

Gorgeous, right?!  We are so blessed to live in such a great city with all sorts of free events going on at a moment's notice. I don't think we often stop and think about how many wonderful, cultural outlets we have here that we can access for free or for reasonable price.  If you haven't taken advantage of all St. Louis has to offer lately, you should!

So, here we are friends, on the precipice of another weekend.  While most of you are counting down the hours to freedom, I'm counting down the hours to helping aid in freedom....I have to work. :)

I hope you all have a wonderful and restful weekend filled with lots of laughter, fun, and much peace.

Stay Healthy and Green!  - Ash

"You is smart...You is beautiful...You is loved"

What a beautiful day today was!  I hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend and got out today to enjoy the gift God gave us today in the form of His perfect creation. Today I was blessed enough to experience one of those "perfect days".  You know the kind I'm talking about?  The kind where from the minute you wake up and set your feet on the floor you just know that each step is going to bring you to a barrage of blissful moments that eloquently knit together a day that can neither be repeated nor topped. I know you've had to have had one, and if you haven't, I'll pray you do soon because its just the sort of day that reminds you how incredibly loved you are by your Creator.

My day began by making a delightfully delicious breakfast for my mom and sister consisting of Coconut flour pancakes with a homemade cinnamon strawberry syrup (no sugar) along with some yummy spinach scrambled eggs and fresh sliced avocados.  Really?! Who can't have a perfect day after that?  As soon as we finished breakfast we headed out. On our way out we happened to pass my favorite lil' farmer's stand and they just happened to have mammoth zuccini's and other produce.  Perfect!  Look at the bounty we collected for only $4.75!

Cannot wait to make some awesome zucchini bread, muffins, cake, and linguini! I'm telling you, buying local is the way to go.  Those mammoth (and I mean MAMMOTH) zucchinis were only $.75 a peice! The cucumber was $.40, the banana peppers were $.20, and the little green pepper was $.40. Couldn't beat it!

After picking up some lovely produce we headed to the Missouri Botanical Gardens and I could not think of a more perfect sunny day to do it. We had never been there but definitely fell in love with it as soon as we walked in...(we even became members haha).  The Japanese Festival was going on this weekend there as well so we were able to take in the last few moments of that.  Lots of food, vendor booths, exhibits, and more. The grounds are absolutly gorgeous and I could not believe how HUGE this place is. If you've never been I definitely suggest you check it out! (I'll post pics as soon as my lovely sister downloads them :) )

We had decided earlier to see a movie but decided to eat dinner at home before going.  Mom had the awesome idea of cooking a crockpot Italian Beef so that when we got home everything would be ready to go. One of my FAVORITE things is walking into the house and smelling Italian Beef simmering in a crockpot and well, I got that today! Along with the Beef mom made a homemade coleslaw (with healthy dressing made by yours truly) and we paired it all with some great green beans.  Dinner was finished off with my sister's amazing black bean chocolate cake (tastes JUST like regular chocolate cake.  You'd never know it was beans.  No texture difference!).  So how could the day possibly get any better?

Add The Help.

This movie was so fantastic that I cannot even begin to assign it words that would apptly capture how much I loved it.  I laughed, cried, was moved, and inspired.  I thought the way the relationships were constructed was absolutely beautiful and tugged at my heart more than once. What was great was to be able to see it with a wonderful group of women I care so much about, my mom, sister, and Mary! Nothing better than seeing a wonderful movie with kindred spirits.

I will say that it's so sad to think that racial discrimination displayed in this movie was from a time not so long ago and what's even sadder is that it still exists in some forms even today.  My heart was broken for the general state of humanity during that time and how it is reflected now.  We've definitely made huge progress but only in so much as we no longer hold domestic slaves...but there certainly are remnants of the attitudes of hate. I choose to live my life color blind and to love people because of who they are and not because of the color of their skin. How about you? If you've seen this movie I would love to hear your feedback as well!



Healthy Ridicule

I was utterly digusted when I saw this story hanging out on Yahoo! News after the VMA's:

Demi Lovato Defends Healthy Weight at Video Music Awards

Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Monday – August 29, 2011 – 2:35pm

Demi Lovato feels beautiful just the way she is, thank you very much.
The 19-year-old singer fought back at critics who ridiculed her healthier, curvier figure on Twitter during Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards.
VIDEO: Watch Demi's triumphant return to the stage

"Guess what? I'm healthy and happy, and if you're hating on my weight you obviously aren't," Lovato, who wore a plunging Mandalay mini-dress, wrote.
Twilight actress Ashley Greene, 24, sent Lovato a message of support, reminding the "Skyscraper" singer that she's "beautiful."

"This is why you're my friend," Lovato responded. "Thank you girl."

End.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Bullied for her weight as a kid, Lovato developed an eating disorder that turned into a lifelong struggle with food. "That's kind of what I've been dealing with ever since," the singer admitted on 20/20 earlier this year. "I was compulsively overeating when I was eight years old. So, I guess, for the past 10 years, I've had a really unhealthy relationship with food."

Disney teen-princess Demi Lovato removed herself from the iconic Disney kingdom last year to enter treatment for a long term eating disorder and self-harm.  It took quite a bit for this young woman to come forward and express her struggle, and not only that, but to also take leave to take care of herself.  She emerged from the chaos dawning a beautiful new self confidence along with a stellar body. Much healthier than her once anorexic frame would suggest, Demi's first public appearance showed her body sporting a curvy effervescence...HOWEVER, in typical media form, she was attacked for having gained, what "Media elite" conferred was too much weight.  So first she's attacked for having an eating disorder and representing a poor body image to her young fans....so she went and got help and got her life back on track and now she's attacked for being healthy and curvacious?!  REALLY?!

Since when did it become the social norm to be ridiculed for being healthy?  I mean, if Demi Lovato is overweight, then I'm a cow.  Just sayin'  This girl, though now at a healthier place, is still like only a size 2-4 and weighs maybe 120lbs....NOTHING about that is overweight.  Our social media, television, printed media, and Hollywood are setting such a scewed standard for what is healthy and beautiful.  It is no wonder that girls as young as 6 years old are developing eating disorders!  These girls are taught that they must live up to an unachieveable standard...a standard that says skinny is beautiful, but not too skinny or you're a freak....a standard that says if you have any meat on your bones your an obese heffer and might as well jump off a bridge.  Rough? How about it's worth than you think. Let me take a moment to count some more celebs that have been subject to the burning light of the "socially acceptable" weight microscope:

-Jessica Simpson (who, by the way, at her largest was a size 8...Not even double digits!)

-Carrie Fischer (Princess Leia herself battled an eating disorder, gained menopause weight, and is now the spokeswoman for Jenny Craig. She lashed out at bloggers "from the bottom of my heart encased in fat" after reading one comment online that said she "used to be hot" but now "looked like Elton John.")

-Kelly Clarkson (one who is actually proud of her weight and laughs at those who criticize her for not being a size 2)

-Cheryl Burke (from Dancing with the Stars fame was nicknamed "Hogzilla" by a harsh critic.  This tight and toned dancer is a mere size 4, maybe smaller now, and looks beautiful!)

-Jennifer Love Hewitt (A self proclaimed size 2 was criticized for a photo of her in a bikini that was less than flattering.  Over the years she's been featured more than once in the "who looks worst in a bikini" stab articles.)

- Kate Winslet (This Titanic actress struggled with weight as a child and was even nicknamed "Blubber" in gradeschool. In my opinion she is one of the most beautiful actresses of my generation and her ability to carry herself so well is so admirable.  She's a perfect picture of the average healthy woman!)

- Mischa Barton (another small actress who is criticized for her "curvy" frame. In reality, she's a small, thin girl.)

- Khloe Kardashian (pegged for being the "chubby" Kardashian sister, Khloe does wear her weight differently than her booty poppin' sister Kim, but is by no means carrying an excessive amount of weight. Poor girl even launched a dangerous diet pill with her sister Kim a few years back but it was removed from the market due to FDA concerns.  'After hearing critics constantly comparing her to her sisters, Kim and Kourtney, she recently spoke out: "I will never look like them. No matter how skinny I am, that body will never be mine." ' She is now married to a beautiful basketball player.)

- Tyra Banks (This "Fierce" supermodel has admitted that though she is no longer in her top form and proudly wear "Spanx" but is thankful for the ability to say that she IS healthy.)

- Serena Williams ('Growing up, "everyone called me fat," she recently told Tyra Banks. "Every paper, the headline was 'fat, fat, fat.'" Even today, "sometimes I read things [that say] I'm too fit or my arms are too muscular, but that's how I am." ')

- Kirstie Alley (A once self-proclaimed "Fat Actress", Kirstie has ridden the rollercoaster of weight difficulties...losing 75 only to gain back 83.  She finally got tired of being the 'butt' of jokes and made a serious committment to her health, forming the health and wellness company "Organic Liason" which features an all-natural healthy drink supplement as well as other such weight loss-aiding components.  Did any of you see her transformation on Dancing with the Stars?  By the end of the show she had lost 30 lbs.  She may not have won the show but she won another battle for sure!)

These names I mentioned don't even begin to cover the gamut of those who have been publically humiliated by the press for carrying a healthy weight. Oh, something else, when I looked up the pictures to use for this post, the keywords that came up with each actresses name was "(insert name) fat". When will we as a people start standing up against these injustices and teaching the upcoming generation what being healthy really means?! It's time to make a change.

Leave me some thoughts!

If You Like Colada

In an attempt to switch things up for dinner tonight I created an Advance-plan-friendly coconut chicken that rocked my world! I thought since I enjoyed it so much I would share the love and give you all my recipe.

Coconut Chicken:

Ingredients:
- Organic free range Chicken Breasts w/ skin (The kind I bought at Whole Foods still had the ribs attached which actually provided extra meat.  It took some maintenance to separate the breast from the ribs but it was worth it!)
-2 Tbsp Coconut Oil
- 2/3 C. Coconut Flour  (So far I have only been able to find one manufacturer that makes this and it retails for $7.99 at both Whole Foods and Dierbergs. Bob's Red Mill is the name you're looking for)
-1/3 C. Unsweetened Organic Shredded Coconut
-1 Cage Free Egg (can use white or brown.. I currently have brown so that's what I used)

1. Prep the chicken breasts.  If chicken breasts have ribs attached use a sharp serated knife to gently remove meat from rib.  I was able to make the rib meat yield a few extra pieces in addition to the 2 actual breasts in the package.
2. Mix dry ingredients in large mixing bowl, insuring that flour and shredded coconut are evenly distributed.  You may add whatever spices you like to this mixture.  I personally added a Monterey Chicken spice by Weber.
3. Crack egg and place into bowl.  Use a meat basting brush to brush the egg wash onto the chicken breast.
4. Coat egg washed chicken breasts in the dry flour mixture and place into pan coated with coconut oil on medium heat. Cook until brown and crispy!

ENJOY!

I also made a terribly yummy broccoli and cauliflower salad that I'm sure you'll love as well.  The recipe came from the Max Living book but I made my own little creative adjustments.

Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad:

Ingredients:
1 C. Broccoli Florets
1 C. Cauliflower Florets
2/3 C. Veganaise (You may use regular Mayo but note it does have wheat gluten...hence why I couldnt use it.  Veganaise is carried at most grocery stores and Whole Foods and contains no eggs, gluten, or sugar but tastes just like Mayo, if not better!)
1/2 C. Shredded Cheese (optional)
2 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar (May use red wine or white wine vinegar if you prefer)
1/2 C. Raisins (May use dried cranberries...which I would have but had none on hand)
1 C. Raw Sunflower Seeds
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Clean and prep both broccoli and cauliflower florets and place into large salad bowl.
2. Mix Veganaise and apple cider vinegar into florets until all florets are evenly coated.  Using a spatula to mix works really well!
3. Add raisins, sunflower seeds, cheese, and seasoning.  Mix thoroughly.
4. Place in refrigerator to chill for 20-30 mins or overnight to increase flavor.

SO Yummy!

So here's my grocery store gripe for the day.  I went into Dierbergs tonight after my chiropractic appointment to pick up a few necessities for dinner and more than once went into sticker shock over the price of produce! Some of their prices were reasonable but, can I tell you, they wanted $6.99 for a medium sized container of strawberries, $3.99 for a tiny container of blueberries, and $2 a piece for colored peppers!  I was really blown away.  I guess that's what happens to fruit prices when things start to move out of season.  This is why I love purchasing from farm stands and fruit markets because I can usually get a better bang for my eco friendly buck.  There is a great little stand on Manchester that is set up Tuesday-Sunday in front of the Wonderbread store, right next to Dickie's Bar-b-que.  They are a family owned farm but tend to have great farm stand prices.  Struckmeyers in Fenton is also a pretty good stop and they grow much of their own produce, although some of the produce that ISNT theirs is sold for much higher prices.  My favorite stand, so far, however, is a tiny one right by my house that is set out everyday by this couple who own a farm.  You can literally get a bundle full of things and just put your cash in a little lock box and there you go!  They usually always have huge things of garlic ($.40 each), Eggplant ($.75 each), Zucchini ($.75 each), Banana Peppers ($.15 each), and various tomatoes ($.45-$.75 each).  So convenient and yummy.  The tomatoes I picked up from them last time I went were a beautiful ruby red on the inside and soooo flavorful.  If you live in Fenton this quaint little stand is worth a stop! 

Have any suggestions for reasonably priced organic produce? Let me know!

Even though I walk through the valley of sweets...

I did it!  I made it through the weekend without once succumbing to the temptations of grains, sugars, or caffeine.  Though I was literally faced with a homemade eclair dessert, baked spaghetti, and fried chicken, and pancakes... I fought the good fight and stuck to the plan.  One weekend down... and I think the rest will get easier.

How did I do it you ask?  Saturday morning, instead of having pancakes with the girls (which I can't have obviously) I pre-made a power smoothie to enjoy.. They did end up making some turkey sausage which I had as well with a hard boiled egg.  Lots of good protein!

Power Shake:
-Almond Milk
-Almond Butter
-Flax Seeds
-Full Fat Plain Greek Yogurt
-Handful of Blueberries
-Handful of Spinach
-Ice

For lunch we had an open buffet of veggies, salad and sandwhich fixings and lots of options.  So I made a lovely organic blend salad topped with tuna and veggies with a side of nuts.  Dinner got a bit more interesting when NOTHING that was made was I able to have and options for fixings were limited so, you guessed it, another salad....this time a faux taco (minus the shell and badly processed pseudo-meat) salad with grilled ground turkey, tomatoes, cheese, more veggies, and vinagrette.  Thought life was easy street until a MASSIVE dessert came out and was literally placed right in front of my face.  Are you all for real right now?!  Sometimes the best way to get away from temptation is to run in the other direction.  So needless to say I got up, did my dishes, and went back to work...away from dessert and desert of distruction. After having to eat salad 3 times in 2 days,  I was feeling fairly rabbit like and new I would need to switch something up to survive the next day so I scrounged up some of the leftovers from dishes I had made earlier in the week and made those my lunch and dinner for Sunday.

All in all my first weekend of Green and Clean at work was a success and I'm definitely looking forward to cooking up some delicious offerings this week to be able to have for next weekend as well!

In other news, I couldn't possibly share all of this new journey without introducing you to the team that set me on it.  Everything changed the day I met Dr. Jerod Posey and Dr. Nick Barnes from 212 Degrees of Wellness.  It began as a meeting with Jerod to discuss Mercy's 5K and has turned into a journey to full wholeness and wellness.  212 serves not only as a wonderful chiropractic practice but the Dr's want their patients to not receive a "quick fix" adjustment but a "life fix" adjustment in which the individual achieves healing from head to toe, mind to soul. 212 works in conjuntcion with Maximized Living (which you should totally check out) to bring whole body healing through the 5 Essentials of Wellness.  For more information on the 5 Essentials check out this link!: http://www.212degreesofwellness.com/Health-Essentials/5-Health-Essentials-Overview.aspx

In the time that I've been seeing Dr. Jerod, I have seen a significant decrease in neck pain, tension, fatigue, and overall lag.  I was horrified to find out upon initial exam that I have an extreme reverse curvature in my neck, have subluxations throughout my spine, and have a worsened scoliosis but thanks to Dr. Jerod and some hard work, those things are getting worked out!  On top of the chiropractic services I receive, I also receive incredible insight on all things health related from what I'm putting in my body (Nutrition) to what I'm putting on my body (P.s. your skin absorbs anything you put on it like a sponge...ladies, check out your chemical laiden makeup!) and have learned what it means to live truly healthy.  Being a part of the 212 family means experiencing the care of 2 Doctors who unabashedly answer to the Ultimate Physician and who want nothing more than for their patients to be whole, healthy, and equipt to live a pure life in a toxic world.

Dr. Nick Barnes and Dr. Jerod Posey

In future posts watch for me to be posting insights from Advance Talks (informational seminars put on by the docs on various health and wellness topics), Maximized Living Webinars, and various topics that I am passionate about in this arena.  I cannot even begin to stress how vital chiropractic therapy is to your life.  Did you know that a subluxation in your spine (a deviation in the spinal alignment which causes disruption to the nerve supply of the central nervous system) can cause heart disease, heart attack, stroke, obesity, infertility, high blood pressure, and even sudden death?  When your central nervous system is unable to function correctly, the blood pulsing through your body is unable to make it to the appropriate vital organs as it was created to do, causing all sorts of maladies.  You could be sitting on your couch reading this right now, completely unaware that your body is physiologically "on the ropes".  You don't have to be obese or cancer ridden to be unhealthy and have one foot in the preverbial grave.  And just because you're eating organic and avoiding any sources of high fructose corn syrup does not make you exempt from disease either.  It takes everything coming into alignment and your spine is where it starts.  If you're reading this from the St. Louis area then I have one piece of advice for you... RUN, don't walk, to 212 Degrees of Wellness in Wildwood and allow Dr. Jerod and Dr. Nick to show you the way to a healthier life.  Check out their wonderful website at www.212degreesofwellness.com.  If you do not live in the St. Louis area, check out the Maximized Living website to locate a Maximized Living physician in your area!

A full day/week lies ahead so I must put a wrap on this for tonight but look for an update tomorrow as my sister joins Team Green and Clean tomorrow!

Living the Dream,

Ashlee

First Green Weekend at Work

Working weekends and having NO control over what is being prepared for meals makes living on Maximized Advanced quite a challenge so in an effort to make it work, I am planning ahead. On Fridays I accompany the residents to the mall...which means, you guessed it... MALL FOOD.  Not a lot of options for a woman on a no-grain, no sugar, no junk food kick.  Fortunately my good ol standby, Sarku Japan, was willing to make my "yummy yummy" chicken terryaki WITHOUT the terryaki sauce, completely cutting the sugar.  I ended up with a lovely plate of steamed veggies and grilled chicken.  Crisis averted!

Then came dinner...Broccoli Cheddar Soup and Paninis.  Ok, so I can make the soup work but the carb loaded panninis, not so much.  Instead I made myself a lovely oragnic mixed greens salad with sliced yellow squash, tomatoes, a little bit of tuna, sliced almonds, a little bit of cheese, and topped it off with a great new organic dressing (less than 1g of sugar) that I found (at Walmart of all places!).

So needless to say, I made it work....today.  Kidding! I plan on making it work ALL weekend.  I already know they've planned to have delicious, I mean KRYPTONITE, pancakes for breakfast in the morning. My plan?  Eat BEFORE work.  I might just even make my own Coconut Flour pancakes (as per the Max Living recipe)!  Lunch should be simple as its very light and filled with options like fresh cut veggies, cheeses, tuna, nuts, etc.  Dinner...Unsure.  Will let you know!

I have had quite a few requests for various recipes I have used thus far into my journey and I am more than happy to share! Here's the first for you: Kale Chips!

Kale Chips:
1 Bunch of Kale
1 Tbsp of EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
Sea Salt (to taste)

-Pre-heat oven to 375*
-Thoroughly wash the kale and dry.  Separate kale leaves from stalk and rip into sizeable pieces.
-Place pieces of kale onto a cookie sheet.  Drizzle pieces with olive oil and sprinkle sea salt (you may sprinkle sea salt on after baking if you so desire).
-Place cookie sheet in oven and back for 10-15 minutes or until kale is lightly crisp.  If you overdo them, even if not to burnt, they will taste burnt....trust me!

Now don't go expecting these to be your guilt free scapegoat from potatoe chips... because, well, they dont taste at all like potato chips and take a few bites to get used to texture and taste but they actually are quite good!  The best place I have found, so far, to get kale in bunches is Whole Foods.  I was able to get a big bunch for $2.50 and didnt even use the whole bunch for the chips.  A few stalks yielded quite a few chips so just keep that in mind!

The finished product. This wasn't MINE per-se, but I liked the way the picture capture the essence of the kale. :P

Well kids, I must say adieu as I am due for another day of this adventure in a few small hours! I pray you are all having a wonderful week.  Try the Kale Chips and let me know your thoughts or suggestions for how they can be further dressed up!

        

      Peace and Greens! - Ash

Going Green... A New Way of Life!

The life of this blog is about to take a dramatic turn.  I have started out on a new journey to health and wholeness and have decided to *gasp* BLOG about it! Many have asked me various questions about what I'm doing and this is my place to answer those.  Many have asked for the recipes I have recently started using and this will be my place to post them. Be assured that I will also post many link to interesting "green living" websites, articles, and more.

 I am by now means an authority on this... I'm simply an everyday woman seeking to live my life to the best of God's glory, which means living as clean and simply as possible.  It's all about treating your body as His temple. He hasn't created us in His image for us to abuse that. Nor has he made our bodies the "temple of the Holy Spirit" for us to go around vandalizing it under the socio-acceptable motto of "live for today because we might not get tomorrow."  We have a a responsibility as human beings, as God's creation, to honor him by honoring our bodies...meaning, we NEED to take care of ourselves! 

This doesn't mean skipping out on fastfood here and there or trading your favorite Coke for a Diet (which is killing you slowly, by the way).  It doesn't mean hitting the gym 2-3 times per month...it doesn't mean doing just enough to "get by".  It means pursuing whole health and wellness, both physically and spiritually, with excellence. Excellence takes work....but nothing that was ever worth having came easily. 

This IS your life.  This IS your moment in time to make a difference.  Are you who you want to be?  If not, guess what?  YOU CAN CHANGE.  Starting right here, right now.  Make a life altering decision to depart from the overwhelming status quo of just existing and join those of us who want our lives to make a difference and who really want to enjoy all the best God has for us.  Join me as I wander out of the high-fructose corn syrup sarcoffagus I've inhabited most of my life and seek the high-quality natural solution lifestyle that will serve as my fighting force against the genetic terrorists I'm faced with (heart disease, diabetes, renal disease, arthritis, lung issues, high blood pressure, and more...bet your family could be found with alot of these as well!).

So here we go friends...into the wild GREEN yonder!  The time for change is now.

Back in Action

I realize that it has been a hot second since I last updated my own blog, so my expectations of anyone reading this are fairly gauged at "low" but am hoping to build this back up.  I have been a bit more focused on Java Journeys with Kacy and have been LOVING it.  If you havent had a chance to visit that blog, please head over and check it out. We visit coffee shops all over St. Louis and review them and can I say, we've had a blast! I think you'd enjoy it. www.javajourneystl.blogspot.com

Between March (my last post) and now not much has been missed.  Infact the only thing of note that happened during this time was Joy's (my mini dachshund) emergency spinal surgery after finding she had a herniated disk in her back.  Her 2 month post-surgery date is swiftly approaching and I'm excited to say that she is doing wonderfully and has regained function in her back legs (she had lost it completely pre-surgery).  She is getting stronger each day.  God has definitely shown Himself faithful in all areas of this situation.

I'm extremely excited and expectant for what God is doing in this season of my life.  I have taken on the planning of the Run for Mercy 5K and Family Run this year and have already been so amazed at what God is doing with me and my team during this process.  I just know that this event will be the biggest in RFM St. Louis history and will move this event into a new exciting place for the years to come. You will most likely hear much about this through the next few months, so bare with me and pray for me!

I have just recently started a Wednesday night Beth Moore study "David: Seeking a Heart Like His" and for any of you that have done one of her studies know that she is just an awesome vessel of knowledge and wisdom on Biblical matters.  She exegites like none other. Her zeal for Truth is inspiring.  I have been so blown away already by this study and am day by day feeling my passion for Truth further burn.  If I could offer any piece of advice to you right now, it would be to dig into Scripture through a study like this.  Allow yourself to step out of your Sunday School comfort zone and be challenged to plunge deeper into His-story.  If you've never done a study, don't be intimidated by the thought of it or think "that's too advanced for me".  If you're faithful to it, He will be faithful to reveal Himself to you in portions that are sized out just for you.

Here's more about this specific study:

I have so much to touch on regarding this study but I am going to end the post here, as I must be getting ready to head to the gym. Can't miss some great stretch in Body Flow (yoga/pilates/tai chi). No lie, this class is my new favorite.  If you live near a Gold's Gym here's what you need to do.  Run, don't walk, to it. Get signed up and head to this class.  They offer it at nearly all Gold's.  Yee are now without excuse. :)

Blessings!

Out for the Count

After spending the last week down and out, sicker than a dog, I can finally report that my wellness percentage is at about a 93%. I dont know WHAT this strain of whatever is but its NOT good.  I ended up with a diagnosis of an Upper Respiratory Infection, but believe me, it affected much more than just the upper portion of my body.  I had to endure aching, fevers, consistent dull nausia, and more.  Its definitely comparable to housing internal terrorists. YIKES.

I say all of this as an explanation of why I havent updated this in awhile... I just couldnt get my body to care! I'll be honest!  About all I could do was sleep and watch tv... not much brain matter required there right?  I couldnt even read because of all of the pressure behind my eyes due to the congestion, it hurt to even think. Now, before I risk sounding like a complete whiner, I'll stop.  I know, I know, you're thinking 'Ok, Ash, we get it... it was bad".

SO, onto better things.  I have officially finished Crazy Love.  I know, I was supposed to do this thing one chapter at a time but after the withdrawal of not reading for over a week, I started and couldnt stop! Being that as the case, this post will serve as a brief overview of my thoughts of the last 3 chapters.

Chapter 8: Profile of the Obessessed




- " The Holy Spirit stirs in us a joy and peace when we are fixated on Jesus, living by faith, and focused on the life to come."

How obsessed are you with Jesus?  Sounds odd right?  But seriously, does He inundate your thinking processes to the point that everything you do is in honor of Him and reflection of His heart?  In this chapter, Mr. Chan points out several ways in which Christians who are obsessed with Christ live immeasurably different lives than those who arent.  In our society the word obsessed is look down upon because it has the conotation of "crazy"...but think about it, aren't we supposed to be visibly different from our secular counterparts? Isnt loving an invisible being and living by His statutes viewed as a bit crazy in light of our "I gotta see it to believe it" culture? So by all accounts, we Christians are crazy anyway, so why not go all out?!
Here are some specific quotes that really threw me for a loop... I hope they do the same for you:

-  " People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly, without censure.  Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back."

-  " People who are obsessed with Jesus live lives that connect them with the poor in some way or another. Obsessed people believe that Jesus talked about money and the poor so often because it was really important to Him."

-  "People who are obsessed with God are known as givers, not takers.  Obsessed people genuinely think that others matter as much as they so, and they are particularly aware of those who are poor around the world."

-  "Our goal as people who follow Christ should be no less than becoming people who are madly in love wth God."

So, what's wrong with being alittle obsessed?

Chapter 9: Who really lives that way?



This chapter gives brief looks into the lives of our fellow Christians who, over time, have lived out an obsessive pursuit of the Savior. People such as Rich Mullins and Marva Dawn have refused to indulge their own needs in order to serve and love the less fortunate.  They have lived life eternally minded. I love reading stories of such people not only for the inspiration but for the confirmation that God requires us to live this way but will ultimately reward us for living this way.  It isnt about the personal reward, but the rewards that when we sow into the lives of others, God will bring that seed to full fruit in His kingdom.

What a difference we could make for the Kingdom if we all really lived this way!


Chapter 10: The Crux of the Matter



Is this.... 1 John 4:19 - "We love because He first loved us."  It's time that we get out of our perfect little "Christian bubbles" and begin to love the unloveable, reach the unreachable, and determine that ALL are worth saving...not just the pretty or easily accessible. We have to be as crazy about Him as He is about us. We have to live in obedience to His will, not waiting for it to be revealed, but as its revealed.  He has given us the basic statutes for a life lived in light of eternity, so what are we waiting for?

-  "I urge to to consider and actually live as though each person you come into contact with is Christ."

-  "But true faith means holding nothing back.  It means putting every hope in God's fidelity to His promises."

-  "We never grow closer to God when we just live life; it takes deliberate pursuit and attentiveness."

So get out there and love like crazy!

What are you doing right now?

I cannot believe it is already Thursday!  Where has this week gone to?!  It pains me that my time off has already come and gone and I am just now getting to my dose of Crazy Love for this week. BUT, the time certainly wasnt wasted. 

I found a whole new book that I must recommend.  No lie, I digested this book in a day.  It's that amazing!  It's called Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo.  This true story of Todd's son, Colton, serves as an inspirational look at God's hand and the promise of Heaven.  Colton had a visit to Heaven during a life threatening surgery and this book recalls of the details from this 4 yr old's perspective, as told by His dad. I could NOT put it down.  If you have questions about Heaven or wonder if Heaven exists, READ THIS NOW.



Now, onto this week's thoughts on Crazy Love!

In chapter 7, Mr. Chan challenges our thoughts on living out love. Are we doing things that are "safe", to show God's love?  Or are we trusting that, in all situations, God is going to show up and therefore we are doing things out of faith in His hand...even if they aren't always the safest? The beginning of this chapter gives multiple scripture based examples of men and women who God used, who weren't perfect by any means, but had undying faith and therefore God used to exalt Him. His best cannot happen when we take root in our comfort zones.  We have to be willing to place full faith in Him and step out, even when that is scary.

   - "Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers."

Are we predictable?  Do our outreaches end at feeding the homeless, an occassional visit to a widow, a few flowers sent to a funeral, and taking meals to shut ins? Because if that's all the world sees us do, then yes, we ARE predictable.  Those activities, while beneficial to the recipients, are generally safe.  Think of the impact we could make if we decided to not be so "safe" in our outreach.  What if we got down in the dirt and showed love to the completely unlovely? Jesus did.  What if we actually pushed past stereotypes and loved people because HE first loved us? What if we got out of our safe little Christian bubbles and actually sought to reach the LOST..and not just the backslidden or easily accessible?  Oh the options!

Ministries all over the world are doing this very thing, so why arent we?  XXXChurch is reaching out to those in the Adult Entertainment industry by setting up Bible booths at porn shows, offering church services to Vegas visitors, providing a way out for prostitutes, strippers, and ex-porn stars and providing accountability to those suffering a porn addiction.  This ministry is showing God's love to those who the church deems "unsaveable and dirty".  Mercy Ministries is reaching out to lost and broken women who have been told by the church that, they too, are past saving. The church doesnt know how to deal with the ugly truths of eating disorders, self mutilation, addictions, sexual abuse, unplanned pregnancy, and more.  But by reaching out to these women, Mercy is showing God's mercy and providing hope and healing, transforming lives and restoring hope.  The founders of these ministries saw the need to get "uncomfortable" and step out of the box to live out love in faith.  How much more could be done to further the kingdom if we all lived out love in this way?

  - "Christians today like to play it safe.  We want to put ourselves in situations where we are safe "even if there is no God." But if we truly desire to please God , we cannot live that way.  We have to do things that cost us during our life on earth but will be more than worth it in eternity."

The chapter concludes by asking "What are you doing right now that requires faith?".... So think about it, what, right now, are you doing that is stretching you to the point of fully relying on God to accomplish. Anything?  If the answer is nothing, I challenge you (and me as well) to push ourselves out of the place of comfort and into the place of faith. Let's start not making sense to the world.  Let's live out our love in faith.

When You're Snowed In....

I'm writing this from the frozen tundra that is St. Louis.  While some areas got hit fairly hard, Fenton (in particular) dodged the bullet.  Don't get me wrong, we got quite a bit of ice and sleet but on the snow end we ended up with only about 4 inches, where other areas had 12+.  Kind of a bummer considering the snowpocalypse that the meteorologists were predicting.  I have been stuck at home for the past two days and for what?! 4 inches of snow?!  Bah.

 I finally couldnt take the cabin fever anymore and ventured out for a Zumba class this afternoon.  Made it there safely and am SO glad I went.  I just started Zumba last week but am already hooked! I'm hoping along with my other crazy workouts, this will help me get to my final goal.  Have any of you ever taken Zumba, and if so, what were your results?

One bonus of being stuck indoors was being able to catch up on some movie watching and getting some extra reading done.  Have any of you seen "Burried" w/ Ryan Reynolds? WOW. Some kind of crazy but I definitely recommend it....even despite the fact that I have an (so I've been told) irrational fear of being burried alive.

I also saw "The Social Network" for the first time and was highly impressed.  What a crazy story behind the conception of Facebook.  Not only did I learn new things about Facebook and Napster, but also about Victoria's Secret.  The screen play was great and the acting was actually legit. (And...P.s. Justin Timberlake is in it... and, well, I got to have a girly crushing moment lol)  I highly recommend this one!

So on top of movie watching, fire having, game playing, puzzle solving, and DVR'ing, I also got in not 1 but 2 chapters of Crazy Love. I know I normally go into long descript over each chapter but for chapter 6 I have chosen just to interact with a few quotes and ask for your feedback on your reaction to the book thus far.

Chapter 6 is entitled "When You're In Love" and basically compares our actions in human love with our actions in spiritual love toward God. How do you act when you're in love?  Do those same actions transcend to your relationship with God?  Do you think about Him, talk about Him, and want to be with Him all the time? You should. And if you don't? Don't force it... here's why:

   - " It does no good to muster up more love for God, to will yourself to love Him more.  When loving Him becomes an obligation , one of many things we have to do, we end up focusing more on ourselves."

At no point in time did God ever demand that we love Him or oblige us to do so.  We have free will for a reason.  He created us with it and certainly hopes we will use it to love Him but He does not force our hands.  When our love comes from a heart motive of obligation then guess what, it's no good to Him.  Who wants someone to love them because the object of their affection feels forced to do so?  Not me. "I only love you because I have to", "I'm only with you because I'm afraid to be alone", "I'm only spending time with you because (so and so) told me I had to".  Doesnt feel so great does it?  Do we somehow think that God is exempt to feeling hurt at our forced time with Him and feigned love for Him? If we're created in His image, including our ability to experience emotions, then yes, God feels the same hurts that we do and our inability to love Him with our full hearts hurts the heart of God.  Think about that.

The great thing is, we're not condemned in our inability to love correctly.  We're are flawed beings who are incapable of doing anything perfectly, including loving anyone.  But, Mr. Chan points this out " The fact is, I need God to help me love God."  He IS love, so who better to help us give love than the author of it.  There's no shame in asking God to make us better lovers of Him.  He wants us to love Him and I believe, that if we come to Him with humble and expectant hearts, that He will reveal to us the ways in which we can love Him better.  There's hope!

Chan points out that our pursuit of loving God is directly opposed to our pursuit of sin.  If we are intensely invested in our pursuit of loving God, our focus will be on that and not on giving into the sins of the flesh. Makes sense right?  It's all a matter of focus, perspective, and desire.  If your focus is the world, the world will drive you.  If you perceive that all you have to live for is you, yourself, and you, you will dwell in a self centered existence.  If you desire to attain the love of those who are earth bound, and give no thought to loving the Divine, you will inevitably live in a state of constent dissapointment.  But focus on Christ and His desires will drive you.  Perceive that we are only visitors here on earth, and you will live as each day is your last to spread the message of the gospel.  Desire to, with His help, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and your inate human desire to live in sin with be derailed. Got that?



To conclude:

 I think this really sums it all up.... I want to fall in love with YOU.

Blessings,

Ash