Healing the Heaviness

Pinterest Wins!

2013-03-26T11:21:00.003-04:00

Recently I've seem some of you mentioning on Facebook that a few of your Pinterest "pins" weren't working out or tasted disgusting. It's hard to know which ones will be "winners" until you try them yourself.

Well, there are a few recipes that I have tried and most of them were all "wins" for me. I thought I would just share a few of them here with you so you don't have to waste money on ingredients since you KNOW that they work! :)

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

This recipe has been a HUGE hit with my family! It's very easy to make and really gives you that "pizza" taste without the bulky, gross feeling afterwards.

Protein-Packed Bacon Omelet Bites

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These are really delicious. You can add whatever ingredients you like. I used turkey bacon and green pepper and omitted the chicken.

To Die-For Crockpot Mushrooms

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These are not healthy, by any means....but oh my! Super, super yummy. Great for a party!

Honey-Chipotle BBQ Sauce

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This sauce is amazing and has become a staple in my house. I plan on trying to omit the brown sugar and just see how it tastes.

Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins

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These muffins were so delish that they only lasted a mere 24 hours in this house. My son kept calling them "cookies!" haha.

There were more we've tried that here "wins", but I'll save that for a later post. :) I'll most likely be trying more in the future as well, so I'll keep you posted!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Making the Switch

2013-03-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday!

I'm so glad you stopped by to read this post today. I quickly wanted to share with you how my family is making the switch to all-natural, healthy and "green" alternatives.

I decided about a year ago to start really trying to eat healthy and live simply. It hasn't always been easy, and I have failed many, many times.

It really is a CONSTANT work in progress to completely transition your home over to "natural/green" alternatives. There are so many things to take into consideration, not just for you, but for the overall health of your family. From cleaning supplies and food to beauty products and baby essentials; there's just SO MUCH to take in all at once!

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To be honest, it can get very overwhelming at times and completely take over your life. The best advice that I can you is to take each day ONE step at a time. Don't try to change everything ALL at once. You must choose to start somewhere, and from there make small changes each day, week, or month.

I'm not going to lie, eating healthy and buying healthy supplements can be expensive. I still haven't got it all completely figured out. But I can tell you that the small changes that you implement a little a time are the ones that stick the best.

I have learned that if I try to limit myself too much, than I often fail. I need to take small steps, conquer those, and then move on to the next.

To see what my family has changed in the area of living naturally, see this post.

By the way, do I know everything about living healthy and simply??

NO.

I probably never will, either. BUT I can tell you that I know WAY more now than I ever did before. And for the record, the only reason I blog about these things is because I want to share what I've learned and what God has shown me. LITERALLY I knew NOTHING about being "healthy" until a couple of years ago. But....more on that later. I think I'll probably give you guys a little VLOG on why we're making the switch. Look for it soon. :)

Tomorrow I would like to share with you some "recent" health food store purchases that we've made. I'll let you know why we purchased them, what I'm using them for, and give you some informative links on what their health benefits are.

Thanks for reading and Good Luck in all of your implementing of Healthy Habits! :)

Natural Cosmetics Review

2013-03-16T10:35:00.000-04:00

On my Friday Fav's post last week you saw that I ordered some all-natural cosmetics for the first time. I read each and every ingredient on the things I purchased and I can say with confidence that they are toxin-free! It makes me feel really good to know that.

Here are the 3 items I bought from Honeybee Gardens.

Satin Sheets Mineral Eye Shadow Pod

Jet Set JobaColors Eye Liner

Truly Natural Mascara in Black Magic

I will say that I have waited a very long time to purchase any all-natural makeup because I was convinced it wouldn't work right. Well, all in all, I'd say I was wrong. The only thing that would be negative to say about this makeup is that it doesn't stay on as long.

I'm used to wearing the 12 hour stay eye liner, but I have found that to be typical with any pencil liner. This stuff works just as good as any other pencil liner that I have used.

Now for the mascara, it really does work well. It looks great on, too. I did have to apply like 2-3 coats, but I usually do anyway. And this mascara didn't get come off and leave itty bitty "crumbs" in my eyes like the other did, so that's definitely a PLUS.

I really like the eyeshadow a lot. It's super shimmery and stays on nicely.

My two favorite things about this chemical-free makeup are 1.) It's no more expensive than chemical-laden the makeup brands that I've been purchasing for years and 2.) I know exactly what's going onto my skin and I know it's not going to promote toxin buildup in my body.

I sort of decided that even if these products didn't work, I was going to switch anyway. I'm just SO GLAD that they do and that I enjoy wearing them everyday. If you're not a makeup buff and could care less, good for you! I just gotta have it. ;)

Friday Fav's!! ~ 3/8/13

2013-03-08T08:17:00.004-05:00

YAY for FRIDAY! :D

We've got another busy weekend planned over here, so I'm looking forward to it all. :)

What do YOU guys have planned this weekend??

I hope you all don't think I was lying to you about having a VLOG for you yesterday! I PROMISE I did one and tried numerous times to get it up, but for some reason my file was too large and blah, blah, blah!

BUT I do have one for you today!

By the way, let me just apologize in advance for looking so awful in it..yikes.

ALSO, the sound goes out half-way through for some reason. LOL Basically, I have no uploading/video making skills.

The gist is that I now weigh 196.6 lbs.
My goal for next Wed. is 195 lbs.

Little known fact, when I weigh myself at church, I'm always 5 lbs. more than I am at home. I think it's just the difference in scales, but I go by my home scale. :)

CLICK HERE to see my latest WLW VLOG!

Anyway, it's time for Friday Fav's so enjoy!

1.) Premier Designs' Over the Moon Necklace

Isn't it GORGEOUS??! So simple and so beautiful. :)

2.) www.HoneyBeeGardens.com

NATURAL COSMETICS, PEOPLE! I read the ingredients on the eye shadow, eye liner, and mascara and I'm super excited to try them. Cosmetics has been one of those things that I've been refusing to buy natural....until I read this article.

3.) Garden of Life Lemon-Mint flavored Cod Liver Oil

Yes, that's right. Lemon-Mint flavored. Maybe that sounds gross to you, but it was seriously great. It's my first experience with cod liver oil (we used to take the pills), but nonetheless, it was a good

one. AND it's a lot more inexpensive than some brands.

4.) My New Puppy, Grimm

Isn't he just stinkin' adorable! Love him!

5.) Chalene's Tuna Sandwich

OH MAN! I have never liked Tuna Salad. yucky... UNTIL NOW. I really, really, really love this. I found the recipe in the TurboJam Guidebook. I simply added a few ingredients that I enjoy.

Here's the recipe:

Tuna Sandwich

5 ounces tuna in water

1 T. Mayo

1 pickle, diced

1 T. red onion, chopped

1 boiled egg white, chopped

lettuce to taste

1 tsp. mustard

2 slices Ezekiel bread, thawed or toasted

*Drain tuna. Combine with mayo, pickle, onion, and egg white. Spread mustard on bread, then spoon on tuna mixture. Add lettuce. Enjoy!

Have an awesome weekend!

Grow Your Own!

2013-02-28T12:03:00.002-05:00

This week I've stumbled upon some really great resources if you or your family are interested in starting a backyard garden or even if you just want to show your kids where food really comes from!

This is something that has crossed my mind recently. I want both of my kids to grow up knowing where their food comes from. Not at all like the picture below.

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Interesting, right? I know, super far fetched, but you never know where our kids could end up! I for one, need to be better about completely "ditching" the fast food lifestyle. The stuff is just complete junk.

Anyway, I came across a picture on Instagram of these Grow Your Own Mushrooms Kits from Back to the Roots, and I thought Ruby would really enjoy helping me grow these. It would be a fun project for her and I to do together. Plus, I love mushrooms, so why not try and grow my own? They make it seem extremely easy in the directions, too. Order two kits at $19.95 per kit and get FREE shipping? Not half bad!

Click here to see a YouTube video watching them grow!

I also found this awesome Make Your Own Vegetables Seed Kit from the Bulk Herb Store. All of the seeds included in this kit are Heirloom seeds, passed down from generation to generation. I hope to purchase my own kit in the near future. Now, if this weather would just cooperate and get warm! ;) If you would like to purchase your own kit, please click on the Bulk Herb Store icon on my sidebar and peruse around their lovely online catalog!

You can read more about Why to Buy Heirloom Seeds, here.

If you're interested in being able to grow some indoor plants, then check this link out! Onions, Bean Sprouts, Herbs, etc.. can thrive while growing indoors. I never knew that before!

My family recently joined our local CSA and I'm super excited about it! CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture for those of you who don't know. It means that we purchase a share, then the farmers pick the produce and divide it up among the shareholders. Each week we will be getting new organic crops to cook, freeze, can, or use however we please!

The reason we did this was because with 2 small children, plus all of our other commitments, we really don't have the time to plant and tend to a large backyard garden ourselves, although we do plan on having a small one. The price is certainly reasonable and you can add in egg shares and honey or fruit as well. I'm not going to lie, the idea of supporting a local organic farm makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, too. haha

Here's a great tip for growing your own foods:

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I hope maybe this inspires you to start growing your own this Summer season! I know I'm inspired! :)

Have an awesome Thursday!

{Healthy} Sausage Biscuits

2013-02-25T15:28:00.001-05:00

I don't know if this grosses you out or not, but....I LOVE SAUSAGE BISCUITS!

Seriously....

I'm all about them lately.

But, alas, they are fattening and full of nasty junk (the ones from McDonald's) PLUS they cost extra money which I'm not willing to pay as much as I crave them.

I guess I always knew how easy it would be to make a healthier version at home, I just never really did....until the other day.

I just bought a tube of hot turkey breakfast sausage at the store, then made very small patties.
Cooked them in just a drizzle of olive oil over medium heat, then put them on these Weight Watchers Yogurt Biscuits and....VOILA! A healthy sausage biscuit!

Now, whenever I'm craving these, I can have them at a very low-cost and at no expense to my body.

By the way, those biscuits are wonderful! You can use them for so many different things and they're really yummy. Only 1 point if you're on Weight Watchers! Usually, I don't use white flour, but that's what the recipe called for, so I used it. I think next time, I'll try them with whole-wheat flour. Also, I used Greek yogurt instead of regular yogurt.

You definitely should try them. And the sausage biscuit...Yum.... :)

*Linked up with these lovely ladies, today.:)

Covered in Grace
Create With Joy
Nourishing Treasures

Friday Fav's!! ~ 2/22/13

2013-02-22T12:28:00.001-05:00

Here we go, again!

It feels like I just did this! Can't believe it's Friday already! That's ok, though...I'll take it!

Tomorrow we will be enjoying a lovely evening out, then friends over on Sunday, plus church, so I think it's going to be a great weekend! :)

Here are some lovely things that I've come across this week....

1.) Carbodroid App

Coolest thing ever! This has helped me so much with my water intake! All you do is enter in how many ounces of water you want to be drinking per day, then it reminds you to drink your water. When you drink a glass, you just enter it in and you make your little droid man happy! It's not been annoying at all, either. Loving it! You can read a review about it, here.

2. Old Navy Striped Pencil Skirt

Sorry, it's SUPER blurry!

As soon as I get a little extra cash, this little number is joining my wardrobe! LOVE the stripes and I've been wanting one like this for awhile. :)

Buy it, here!

3.) Premier Designs Dreamsicle set

Blurry again! Sorry!

I got this GORGEOUS necklace in the mail this week and I'm in love! I love Coral, anyway, so this is just perfection in my eyes. It's going to look awesome this Spring and Summer. :)

4.) Spending time with my Kids

Can you tell who is WHO??!

I don't know, I've just really enjoyed it this week. ~~Even though there were times where they drove me crazy!~~ Sometimes, I think it's easy for us moms to take for granted the time we get to spend with our kids. I really want to try to cherish every second with them!

5.) Spring Bling

Yes, I am LOVING all of this! Have a few pieces and can't wait to get the rest! :)

As much as I don't feel like working out today, I'm off to do it, anyway! lol

Have a WONDERFUL weekend! ;)

Wednesday VLOG Idea

2013-02-21T09:39:00.001-05:00

So, I've been thinking...

VLOGs seem to be pretty popular right now.

A lot of other people have "vlogged"their weightloss and it seems to be a success. I was thinking of turning my "Weight Loss Wednesday" update into a VLOG.

I'll be honest, the idea of vlogging scares me a little. I very much dislike my man voice and don't like to hear it played back. But, I thought it would be a really good way to stay EXTRA accountable. You all would see me, my loss (or gain), and I would be able to update you on how the week went.

I'm tired of losing 20 lbs., then gaining half back. I'm tired of not seeing the results I wanted that week, then binging because I get so discouraged. I know that this would just be one more way to stay accountable and encouraged.

Sorry for not updating you all yesterday! I honestly forgot!

I did see a 2 lb. loss on the scale yesterday! I've been going between 199-200 lbs. the last few days, then finally yesterday it was 197! For some reason at church, my weight is always like 5 lbs. more than at home, so my weight last week at church was 205, then this week was 203.

I think that really gave me a little boost for this week.

Now, I'm off to go train for my 5k this Spring! Pray that my knees cooperate. Tuesday my knee was acting up a bit. Wish me luck! ;)

And don't forget to stop by NEXT Wednesday for the VLOG update! :D

Ready For It....

2013-02-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I am SO READY for Spring.

I am not joking here, but EVERY SINGLE FEBRUARY for the last 3 years, our family gets sick. WHY? Who knows. It seems like every other person we know gets sick, then we trail behind with the flu/cold/sinus infections in February. Weird, I know.

I said ALL THAT to say that it makes me ready for Spring to be here!!! (I'm watching snow fall as I'm writing this, too....BOO!) Usually, I'm a person that LOVES the wintertime, too....but I think I've had enough for one year. :)

Here's 5 things I'm ready to see and can't wait for this Spring!

1.) Tax Refund!

haha, yeah....I'm not kidding. LOL

2.) Premier's New Spring Line!

Ummm....YEAH! I can't wait to show my hostesses and start selling this stuff! It's totally GORGEOUS! Check it out, here!

3.) Some weight to come off!

I've got a plan for losing 2 lbs. per week this Spring....I CAN DO IT!

4.) Flowers and Trees start to bloom!

Ok, I know around here it seems to take forever, but I miss seeing them so colorful!

5.) A Re-Modeled Kitchen!

Yes, that's right! We're not going overboard though. It's going to be a very inexpensive, non-drastic cosmetic re-model. :)

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So, now that you know what I can't wait for this Spring, what are YOU looking forward to??

Don't forget to come back tomorrow! I've got some news! :)

Motivation for your Monday

2013-02-18T06:30:00.000-05:00

Just thought I'd share a little bit of Motivation with you all today! :)

I know I need it after being sick this last week!

Enjoy! ;)

Friday Fav's!! ~ 2/15/13

2013-02-15T17:13:00.003-05:00

This week was the week sickness struck the Henderson household.

Yucky....

BUT we made it through and God does ALL things well. :)

I still stuck to eating well and making good choices...for the most part.

Here's my FAV'S from this week!

1. Biggest Loser episodes

Since I've been sick, I haven't been doing much other than resting and trying to take care of the kiddos. After they go to bed, it's me catching up on this season's Biggest Loser episodes!

2. The Last Sin Eater

Buy if from Amazon!

I just started this book last week, but really got into it this week (again with the resting). It's SO GOOD! If you've read it, don't spoil it by telling me what happens! LOVE Francine Rivers!

3. Getting better!

Today I finally started to feel an improvement with this cold. PLEASE pray the boy or the hubby doesn't get it!

4. Homemade Stuff

Despite the circumstances this week, I've actually been in the mood to start making things from "scratch" again. Joe getting laid off sort of "reminded me" how much fun it was and how much cheaper and better for us it is! So far this week I've made homemade whole-wheat pancakes, yogurt biscuits, steak marinade, corn bread, and dressing. :)

5. My Hubby

We really didn't do anything spectacular on Valentine's Day, but honestly I was too sick to and he was too worn out from the new job. My gracious husband let me get a nice long afternoon nap when I wasn't feeling well while he took care of the kids AND cleaned the kitchen and did the dishes. If that's not a good Valentine's Day gift, then I don't know what is. It was perfect for me this year. :)

My Valentine

2013-02-14T09:18:00.001-05:00

Well, it's Valentine's Day (in case you didn't already know...yeah, right)

Circumstances have made it so we can't really do anything "extra" special this year, but I've decided to take it upon myself to show my hubby love in special ways that don't cost much.

At the store this week, I bought some steaks on sale (the man LOVES steak) along with some asparagus and red potatoes for a special Valentine's lunch.

I'm not as romantic as I should be with him, so I decided to surprise him with some sweet little messages here and there when he gets home from work.

I made the kids some heart-shaped, whole-wheat pancakes for breakfast this morning, just to show them a little extra love, too. :) I used this recipe.

I'm so thankful for a godly, loving husband. Even though we don't always ~~get along~~ see eye-to-eye, I know that no matter what, he still loves me. He understands me, tries to please me, provides for me, and is the best dad my kids could ever have.

I would just like to say that My Valentine is the most special man because he puts up with, and loves this 24 year old, spoiled brat. :)

February Sponsors!!!

2013-02-13T21:29:00.001-05:00

In case you haven't noticed, I have recently added some new sponsors to the blog this month!

I've asked both of these ladies to write a little about themselves and their blogs so you all can get to know them a little bit better! :)

I hope you'll enjoy reading about them and check out their sweet blogs!

Introducing:

Sharee from Mom Fitting It All In

"This year I turned 32. To me 30's is all about CONFIRMING who you are, growing and enjoying the person/woman you have become and are continuing to be. I am embracing a new sense of myself, my life and my goals. I have found my true happiness with my hubby going on 7 years of marriage. With true happiness comes the two true miracles of our lives. Our babies are the reason we do what we do everyday. I am not only blessed with a great hubby and children but I have a few amazing friends (you will see there names come up for sure), the best family in the world and a career that I accidentally landed in but I think was waiting for me!"

Courtney and Julie from The Chirping Moms

"Hi! We are Courtney and Julie, two moms who met at our neighborhood park. Courtney had just moved here from North Carolina, right near where Julie's mom resides, so we instantly connected. Both of us had two little ones at home and live right down the block from each other. We quickly became friends, joined a playgroup together, and spent some wild adventures out and about with our little ones. Between us we have four little kids, three and under, with another "chick" on the way. We spend our days chasing around our wild ones! With our little moments of free time, we like to cook, attempt some new crafts, and sneak in some exercise. Last spring, the idea of "The Chirping Moms" originated and quickly took off! On on our blog, we hope to share a little bit of our adventures in "mommy world". We both are loving the connections that we are making in the blog world and the creative outlet that it brings to our "mama" lives!"

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I would like to thank all of theses ladies for supporting the blog this month! It was a pleasure to have you and get to know you! :)

If you have a blog or shop and are interested in sponsoring Healing the Heaviness, check out my sponsoring information here.

Babywise or Not??

2013-02-11T12:18:00.003-05:00

Good afternoon!!

Leave it to me to write about yet another controversal topic....haha.

Well, at least to many stay-at-home moms it can be. It seems like lately I have heard a lot of talk about Babywise and why it's not all it's cracked up to be, or that it simply is "cruel".

Today, I'm going to share with you MY thoughts on the subject.

First, I would say that I am a "natural" mother. I try my best to buy mostly organic fruits and vegetables, hormone-free poultry, we don't vaccinate (that's a WHOLE 'notha topic in and of itself!), we use natural cleaners, breastfeed, etc, etc.....

So, just keep that in mind when I explain my point of view.

Also, because some of you have PRE-CONCEIVED IDEAS about the whole thing (and closed minds), you won't believe what you're going to read here anyway, so you might as well stop reading. :)

AND let me just say that BOTH my kids sleep 11-12 hours a night WITH a 1 1/2- 3 hour nap in between.

Before I had my first child, the only "parenting" method I had heard of was Babywise. (Remember, I was only 19!) I heard about it from my sister and she kindly loaned me some cassette tapes expounding on the subject. I was really intrigued when I heard the lectures explaining how children crave predictability. It all made sense....Wake, Eat, (Play), Sleep.

Also, before they EVER even explained the cycle, the book talks about how parents need to have a loving relationship with each other, otherwise your child can detect that and sense tension, which will put the baby constantly on edge. Babies are smarter than we think. I really loved that part...

They talked about how children long to have this same cycle (Wake, Eat (play), Sleep) everyday because it helps put their metabolisms on the right track. Also, when children eat and then sleep, it causes a cycle that can later lead to being overweight because your child is not "working off" the food they just ate. ALSO, makes total sense. I'm pretty sure that's what happened to me...lol

Throughout the books and lectures that I have read and listened to, they frequently warn about "hyper-scheduling". No child should be expected to stick to a rigid schedule and starved when they're really hungry, just because it's "not time to eat" yet. Also, neglecting your baby when he or she cries "because you're letting them cry it out" is also wrong. Neglecting is always wrong! Babywise is so the opposite of that, I can't even tell you.

First of all, letting your baby "cry it out" IS OK! WAIT BEFORE YOU TUNE OUT! Babywise stresses that you must "trouble shoot" in a sense. Find out what the baby needs or wants....does he/she have a dirty diaper, did they spit up in bed, are they cold/hot, maybe the ARE hungry.....after doing this, you can then confidently put your baby to sleep KNOWING that he/she doesn't need anything and is just fussy at bedtime or naptime. This is called using your parental instincts, people!

I think this is where all of the "bad talk" about Babywise comes from. I think people are making pre-conceived opinions about a book that encourages "hyper-scheduling", which is so far from the truth. Putting your baby on a FLEXIBLE schedule IS GOOD FOR THEM. Like I said, babies crave predictability. It makes them feel SAFE and SECURE.

I am NOT saying put your baby on a schedule and NEGLECT them! On the contrary! It makes it easier for me to love on my kids because they are happier on a schedule! And when I say "schedule" I mean giving them a Wake, Eat, Sleep cycle when it works best for them throughout the day.

Every 4 hours worked great with Ruby, but it was more like every 3 with Sawyer, it really just depended on the day. By 6 weeks, both of them were sleeping through the night.

Now, let me just tell you that I have always done a "bedtime routine" or "naptime routine" to make it EASIER for my kids to fall asleep. I rock them, sing to them, read books to them before bed so it prepares their body for bed (Babywise encourages this). Then, when I know they have everything they need, they sleep. Yes, they may fuss or even cry for a few minutes, but it's just simply because they're tired.

Honestly, more than just a few of my friends can't believe that my kids sleep 12 hours a night AND take naps during the day! I'm telling you, it's all about using your parental instincts, your brain, and putting them on a flexible routine while meeting their needs and loving them!

So, YES, I have used Babywise and I WOULD recommend it to any smart, concerned parent out there. YOU are the judge of what's best for your child.

Also, I would like to say that I do NOT think ill of ANY parent that chooses to co-sleep or is a follower of "attachment- parenting". Every family is different, every child is different. But, in my opinion, putting your baby on a flexible routine is GOOD for them. :)

As always, thanks for reading! :)

Friday Fav's! ~ 2/8/13

2013-02-08T14:19:00.002-05:00

I pretty much had a great week this week. I feel like I got so much accomplished and that I'm finally learning how to balance being a wife, mom of 2, Youth Leader, Junior Church teacher, and Premier Designs Jeweler! It's a good feeling. :)
There's just been so much "heavy" stuff that's been happening to us recently, that a little good and happy feels very nice. :)

Call me crazy, but I really just needed some CONVENIENCE in my life this week. While grocery shopping, I opted for some more convenience-type foods that I wouldn't usually buy. Of course, I still tried to keep it pretty healthy. I actually bought myself a box of cereal for the first time in like.... months maybe even a year! Crazy, right?! I just don't buy that for myself!

But this week, a few things caught my eye.....

1.) Kellog's Special K Chocolate and Strawberry

Can I just say, YUM?! This was definitely a splurge for me. :)

2.) Amy's Organic Beans and Rice Burrito

Like I said, CONVENIENCE. :) Oh yeah, and they're super delish.

3.) Premier Designs "Pioneer" Necklace

This necklace came in the mail for me this week and I love it! There's not much from Premier that I get and DON'T love! :) It's two-toned so it goes with a lot! I'm really into to two-toned jewelry at the present. ;)

4.) This scarf from Etsy.

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LOVE this color combo!

5.) 5k Training

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Yes, you heard me right.
I have been training to run a 5K this spring! I'm really excited about it! I'm almost a week in and it's pretty great! Not hard at all like I thought it would be. Just takes a little dedication. :)

I'm really so happy to be blogging again. I hope to be as consistent as possible with it. Things have been a little crazy around here (like usual, right??), but there's still so much more on my heart to share.

Plus, I still have a LONG way to go with my weight loss. I've been faithfully logging into MyFitnessPal for the past 2 weeks, and it's helped tremendously. When I can see what I'm eating, it really pushes me to work out more. Plus, now I know that I'm training for a 5k!
That's pretty exciting. :)

I hope you're ready to keep following along with me and encouraging me along the way! I could really use it and NEED your accountability! Thanks to all of you!

MYO {Natural} Lemon-Pepper Seasoning

2013-01-16T10:25:00.001-05:00

Hey guys! Man, it feels good to be back writing. :)

Sorry for the long "break" I recently took. It was really much needed to due family situations and health issues. Thankfully, the Lord will work all those things out in His time.

Anyway, today I want to share something totally simple with you. Whenever I make a grilled chicken salad, I usually always make my chicken a day or two ahead of time and season it with Lemon-Pepper seasoning. I just LOVE that flavor combo. Plus, it tastes great on a fresh salad.

Since I've been back into my "healthy eating" routine for about 2 days now...(I know, SAD!) I've been enjoying some yummy salads. For my Everyday Salad Recipe, click here.

I personally just don't like store-bought seasonings like Lemon-Pepper because they can be loaded with salt or MSG. Plus, they're usually pretty expensive. Why buy it when I can make my own for basically nothing??

SO, here it is, super simple seasoning.

MYO {Natural} Lemon-Pepper Seasoning

*I do not measure for this recipe. Just use as much of the ingredient as you desire

Sea Salt

Black Pepper

Garlic Powder

Lemon Zest (zested from 1 lemon)

1.) Season each chicken breast with Salt and Pepper. Lightly sprinkle garlic powder over each piece of chicken. Then, cover each piece of chicken with desired amount of lemon zest.

2.) Place chicken on non-stick grill or griddle and cook, turning once, until completely cooked through.

So, there you have it! In case you've never tried making your own seasoning, here's a REALLY simple one ANYONE can do! I hope you enjoy some Lemon-Pepper chicken on your next salad! :)

The New Year

2012-12-28T09:34:00.004-05:00

Ah....New Beginnings....

Don't you just LOVE those??

I know I do. Maybe it's because I have a really hard time finishing things strong.....or maybe because the beginning of things is always exciting and new! Either way, starting out a New Year is usually pretty fun. Just the thought of all the new possibilities, opportunities, etc... makes me smile. :)

Did you know, though, that the Bible says in Ecclesiastes, "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning..." To me, that just doesn't seem right. I mean, we all get so excited at the possibility of starting over. Becoming a better person, keeping all those resolutions, working towards new goals and dreams. And yet, God tells us that the end is better than the beginning....

Maybe God says that because He knows that our human nature wants to start strong and finish sloppy. Maybe it's because He knows we don't enjoy facing ourselves and reflecting on where we failed in the past. Or maybe because the ending of something shows us that we at least had the courage and faith to begin it.

I believe all those things are true.

The end of this year, to me, means that now I can look back and reflect on the past year. Evaluate where I've failed and try my best to fix it. I can look at how the Lord blessed my life and thank Him for all those blessings again. I can do my best to finish strong, so I have something more to be proud of. I can remember all the hardships I had to endure over the past year and see how faithful God was to bring me through them. I can realize that He was the one who gave me the courage and faith to move on. Whatever He brought me to, He brought me through. I can also look back and see my lack of faith in Him. Even though I knew God COULD do anything, I didn't always have the faith that He WOULD do it for me.

If there's one thing I learned LOUD and CLEAR this past year, it was that I need to have more FAITH and TRUST in my Lord. I mean, I had faith enough to become a Christian, so then why do I struggle so much with my trusting God for the every day things?

I just don't know. I think we, as women, have a hard time with trust. I guess it's just part of our sin nature or something...Anyway, I know that I need to trust God more for things in the next year.

I'm sure your struggles will be different than mine. But, I know we all struggle with something.

Just remember that while starting out this New Year to thank God for where you are and what He's been to you. Take this next few days to reflect, re-evaluate, pray, and grow.

I think I'll be doing some that myself. :)

Sponsoring Info ~ 2013

2012-12-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hello, Lovelies!

I'm very happy to announce that I will now be accepting Sponsors! I finally feel like the blog is "big enough" to do it! By no means is my blog "BIG"(haha), but it's grown A LOT over the last year! I'm proud of what has come of it! (Even if I have struggled tremendously with it's whole premise...lol) I'm praising God for how He's grown it and I pray to be able to encourage all of you in the Lord, in weight loss, and in the simple things in the year to come!

Thanks to all of you who support and encourage me daily!

Here are just a few of the stats from the blog:

Total pageviews: 23,569

Pageviews last month: 3,533

Pageviews today: 91

GFC Followers: 89

FB "likers": 108

Pins to Pinterest: 30

Like I said, not "BIG", but it's growing and I'm excited about that! :)

Do you want to get the word out about your blog? Do you want your blog or shop mentioned on social media sites? If you're someone looking to sponsor a growing blog, then look no further! I have ad spaces varying in size and there's something for everyone! Purchase one of my ad spaces and you'll get all of the above! They come in 3 different sizes and fit every budget! Don't like what you see? Then feel free to e-mail me and we can work something out!

Thanks so much to all you lovely followers and supporters! I couldn't do it without you!

Resolutions in Motion~ Round One

2012-12-19T08:50:00.001-05:00

It's time for the final link up today!

I've gotta say.....I was not looking forward to this! I FAILED miserably! I am NOT going to make excuses. I did really good for like 2 weeks, and then there came the Christmas cookies, yummy treats, husband buying pizza...yeah, that's right...pizza! And I did awful. Also, I haven't worked out in 2 weeks. Yeah, that's hard to admit.

I did lose 2 lbs. of what I gained before, but that's not really much to brag about. :(

I really let myself down, but it is SO hard to actually LOSE during the Holidays! Anyway, I plan to start strong again today. I don't have to wait until the New Year....even though my mind keeps telling me I should. I KNOW I can do it NOW. Lord, help me.

Ruby and I Christmas morning 2010

I hope all of YOU are doing great keeping your resolutions.

And I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

100 Facebook "Likes" Giveaway!

2012-12-07T13:25:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!

First of all, I would like to say a big, fat "THANKS!" to everyone who reads and follows this blog on a regular basis! You are encourage me daily! :) If you're new to following Healing the Heaviness, we're glad you're here, too! :) As a way of saying "thanks" to all of you, I would like to host a Premier Designs jewelry giveaway!

In case you don't already know, I'm a Premier Designs Jeweler. Other than being a homemaker and stay at home mom, it's my only other "job"! Today, I'm going to give away one of my favorite pieces in the catalogue. This earring set is called "Eden". I own a pair of these earrings and I wear them all the time! They go with SO MUCH!

Eden earrings

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So, thanks to all of you and I hope you'll keep following me on this Weight Loss journey! :)

10 Ways to Stay Motivated During the Holidays

2012-12-05T11:11:00.001-05:00

I'll be honest, for about 3 weeks, I have felt like trying to lose weight during the Holidays is quite impossible. I have been eating well and working out. But, I'm constantly surrounded by yummy sweets, treats, and family that doesn't eat healthy.
Occasionally, I give in to the temptations. Once I start, its very hard to stop. Clearly, my body suffers for it. I feel like I've been losing the same 3-4 lbs. over and over again. I lose it, then gain it, lose it, gain it, blah blah blah.

I'm very tired if doing this over and over again. It's not just about losing weight, its about conquering this unhealthy addiction to food. Once and for all.

source

Here's how I plan to stay motivated this Holiday season.

1.) Look at an old "skinny" pic of myself every day.

2.) Follow fitness/weight loss bloggers on Instagram

3.) Continue logging in to MyFitnessPal and encourage other trying to lose weight.

4.) Remind myself that my kids and husband are depending on me and need me to be healthy and fit.

5.) Only buy healthy food at the store. Avoid the holiday candy aisle!

6.) Watch the Biggest Loser on Netflix when I want to watch something.

7.) Try on my "skinny" clothes once a week to motivate me.

8.) Keep up with weight loss blogs and find out what's working for them.

(My FAV Fitness Blog, Healthy Diva Eats)

9.) Think if how much more fun shopping would be if I was fit!

source

10.) Give my struggles and failures to the Lord each and every day. Let Him help me overcome my addiction.

The good news is, I'm down 2 lbs. already this week and I plan to keep going! :)

Thanks for stopping by, today! I hope maybe this encouraged you to keep going this season! :)

Resolutions In Motion Link Up!

2012-12-04T08:44:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone, and welcome to the Resolutions In Motion Facebook/Twitter Hop! We wanted to hold this hop so that we could spread the word about Resolutions In Motion and help our participants gain some new followers and blogging friends. The co-hosts won their spots, so make sure to visit them and follow!

This hop is for anyone and everyone, and as a special surprise this week, we have two giveaway items for one lucky linker-upper! Tif from Ramblings of a Southern Belle is giving away a bottle of Viva La Juicy, and Brooke of Covered In Grace is giving away 2 months of large ad space!

Now on to the hop!

Please feel free to share this button:

Follow your hosts: Shaping Up To Be A Mom (Facebook/Twitter) Covered In Grace (Facebook/Twitter) Ramblings of a Southern Belle (Facebook/Twitter)
Follow your co-hosts: Healing the Heaviness (Facebook) Raising Reagan (Facebook/Twitter) Craftbotic (Facebook/Twitter) Southern Ramblings (Facebook/Twitter) Violet Imperfection (Facebook/Twitter)
Link up your Facebook and Twitter accounts below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Ploughman" Sandwiches

2012-12-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

Once, my dad told me a sweet story about an Army trip he and my mom were on down in Cape Fear. He said one day for lunch, they went out to a nice, expensive restaurant (of course, my mom's choice) where the cheapest thing on the menu was $20. Apparently, it was called a

"Ploughman" Sandwich.

$20 a person was pretty much all Dad wanted to pay ($40 for lunch wasn't cheap back then) so that's what they got! They loved it so much, my mom would make her own version for her and my dad after they got home. Now, he describes it as one of the best sandwiches he's ever had. After hearing this, I decided to try this Famous Sandwich at home.

I figured if I really liked it, I would share it with all of you! :) Obviously I did, so here it is!

Ploughman Sandwich

1 slice Pepperjack cheese
1 slice sharp Cheddar cheese
1 slice of onion (slice to your desired thickness)
1 slice of tomato
1 deli-style burger bun

*Place cheddar and onion on one half of the bun. Place pepperjack and tomato on other half of bun. Place each half on a broiler-safe baking sheet and broil just until cheese is melted. Place each half of the bun together and enjoy! :)

Also, I just wanted to say "Hey!" to all of my new followers! Just to let you all know, I plan on having a GIVEAWAY when I reach 100 Followers! :) Also, when I reach 100 "likes" on Facebook, there will be ANOTHER GIVEAWAY! Doesn't that sound FUN?!

I like FREE stuff....I hope you do, too! :)

So, I hope you keep on reading and spreading the word about my little space on the internet.

Thanks for stopping by!

Friday Fav's on Saturday

2012-12-01T09:05:00.000-05:00

Hey there!

Well, I didn't have time yesterday to sit down and write this, so don't hate me for posting Friday Fav's on Saturday! :)

I did have some favorite things from this week that I'd like to share with you!

1.) Having a T.V. with a DVD player in our bedroom

So, maybe this sounds really weird to you, but my hubby and I haven't had a T.V. in our house for over 2 years. Wait, I take that back....we haven't had a T.V. with actual channels to watch for over 2 years. We have, on occasion, connected his phone and watched something on Netflix to a T.V. that was given to us by a friend. Anyway, recently, I bought a blu-ray player on sale and hooked it up to our T.V., put it in our bedroom (because I despise having a T.V. in my main living room) and now, I love it! It's just so nice to be able to unwind with a movie with my hubster at night. :)

2.) Shoot for the Maroon by Nicole by O.P.I.

I probably wouldn't have picked this color out myself, but my hubby picked it up from the store for me because he thought I would like it. How sweet is that?? Now, I love it! I think it's one of those colors that looks better on, then in the bottle. And it sort of changes colors in different lighting. Very cool, in my opinion.

3.) Decorating for Christmas

4.) Donut Shop Coconut Mocha

Best Coffee Ever! That is all.

5.) Time with my Hubs

Spending some extra time with my guy over the holiday has been amazing. Seriously, it was really hard when he went back to work. :( But, I can't complain. I'm thankful he has a job and works hard to support his family. :)

God has been very good to me in my life. Lately, I've realized that I don't thank Him enough, or give Him the credit for our blessings that He deserves. Were it not for my Savior's grace, we would be nothing. I'm so thankful to have such a loving, compassionate Heavenly Father.

Hope you all have a relaxing weekend!

Resolutions in Motion: Update #1!

2012-11-20T09:20:00.003-05:00

Good morning, everyone!

Well, technically, I think this should be my second update, but I missed last week. :/

The first week of my Resolutions in Motion challenge, I really struggled. Struggled to get my bearings. To overcome and get motivation. I didn't really lose any weight.

Sadly, I had gained 3 lbs. from the previous few weeks before, so I was feeling really "down". But, after a few days, my husband could see that I was struggling. He offered to work out with me and lose the weight WITH ME!

Since then, we have been doing P90X (worst, hardest workout ever....but I'm surviving it) and have been eating really good. Cutting out a lot of carbs, NO refined sugar, counting calories, etc... So far, it's been a HUGE encouragement to me. I want to keep going, because HE keeps going.

In my second week, I lost those nasty 3 lbs. that I had gained previously. I'm back to 195- 196 lbs. The one thing I really don't like about this workout program is that it's a lot of muscle building/strength training workouts, so I'm not losing as quickly as I usually do when just doing Cardio. But, I'm sure it will probably be better for me in the long run. I DO want to be toned.

The hardest part will be this week. Yesterday was already a struggle. I was driving all day and just wanted "convenience" food. But, today has already been better. Worked out, ate a decent breakfast, making good choices. :) It's all about CHOICES isn't it??

Spending the week with family will be wonderful, but it's also a HUGE temptation since they don't eat like I need to....

You pray for me and I'll pray for you over this Holiday! :)

Thanks for reading!