‘Cause It’s Ladies Night!

Long time, no see!    Sorry for the hiatus.  Weekends are tough for me in the blogsence.  I feel like I shouldn’t be stressing about what I’m going to journal on the blog as opposed to being out and enjoying events while they’re taking place.  I did find myself missing hearing from you all and thinking about how I wish I could’ve taken allll of you with me to the Conference. 

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Seriously, if you’ve never been to one you NEED to get there at some point in your life.  They’re hosted ALL over the country and you can see where WOF 2011 is going to be held in a city near you, here.  Life changing, I’m telling you.

Each year, the ladies in my family attend the conference together.  We go on a huge bus with Grace UMC every year, and the coordinators, Yonnie & Tina do a wonderful job of setting up the whole event. 

 This year the theme was over the top, which I found the color scheme and animal print to be totally appropriate.

We each got a cute zebra bag with hot pink accents and a black embroidered tshirt to wear, along with a nametag.  Meeting at the church at 4am wasn’t the easiest task, but it was worth it in the end. 

It was an absolutely WONDERFUL time and getting there was half the fun.  I even packed a delicious breakfast to enjoy on the trip!  Even though everyone said it looked like baby poop, I enjoyed every last bite.

Pecahy Vanilla Chai Oats

1/3 C. oats cooked in 1/2 C. water & 1/4 C. unsweet almond breeze + 1 scoop Vanilla Chai AM, 1 tsp. chia seeds, 1 mushed, juicy peach.

Anywho, this weekend was CERTAINLY not about the food.  It was about growing in faith, strengthening bonds, and walking closer to the Lord.  Although, I did come prepared with lots of yummy snacks.  I knew we weren’t “in Kansas anymore” when I woke up to this view.

Soon we arrived at our destination!

The pre-conference started at 10AM, and we got there a bit early.

Isn’t blogging wonderful for preserving memories?

I adore the women on the trip and could not imagine the conference without any single one of them.  My BEST friend even got to join us.  Where they are staying near Philly (while baby Bo is in the hospital) was fairly close to the Conference site!  Did I mention that Baby Bo is up to 2 POUNDS?!?   Please keep the prayers coming!

The Wells-Fargo Center (previously the Wachovia Center), in Philly is a gorgeous roomy venue with tons of seating and facility management.  The lighting and sound for the Conference was unbelievable.

Although I obviously could not record every presentation, here are a few of the speakers that we were privelaged to listen to:

Patsy Clairmont is a sweet, little firecracker who is my ultimate favorite…I’m officially a follower on Twitter, and she even replied back to my comment!

Anita Renfroe coming in a close second.  You can check out some of her newest video, here. 

Lisa Whelchel, aka Blair from the Facts of Life was a speaker as well.  I can’t even begin to tell you how honest, vulnerable, and inspiring these women are.  It’s funny how you can put people on such a pedestal, when really they’re JUST like you.  They face the same fears, disappointments, guilt, and struggles that WE do, even in their “stardom”.

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Andy Andrews, a new face to the Women of Faith Conference this year, was also a fantastic listen.  His love for his family, his relationship with God, and faithfulness have truly shine through in his speaking.

 I WISH I could do a summary of all the amazing stories and lessons I learned at the conference, but there’s just TOOOOO much to tell. 

Lunches were of the boxed nature and provided by the conference, but I packed my own.

1 Original Brat Hans Italian chicken sausage on a La Tortilla Factory ww wrap with lettuce, tomato, mustard, and onion.

Here’s a picture of all the other stuff I brough too for breakfasts, snacks, and dinner supplements, too!  I didn’t get photos, but there were lots of apples & banaynays eaten on this trip, too, courtesy of the coordinators!

Sugar-free chocolate meringues (40 calories for 13 & 5g protein!)

Primal Strips-teriyaki & thai peanut (deeeeliciouss)

When we arrived at the hotel, I immediately checked to see if they had a workout room…call me obsessive compulsive, but I was antsy to get back into a gym…ANY gym.  Lucky for me, they did!  Then it was dinner time.

My sweet grandma enjoying dinner

We had a buffet style dinner at the hotel consisting of chicken and eggplant parmesean with spaghetti and salad.  I wasn’t really feelin’ the boxed looking dinner, but threw together something delicious anyway!

Mixed greens, cucumber, tomato, and Cedar’s Cucumber Garlic strained greek yogurt dip mixed with water (for thinning) as dressing.

Plus, a packed Primal Strip + some whole grain goodness.

Light whole grain english muffin + 1 Sonoma Jack’s Pepperjack cheese wedge & sugar free apricot jam

Off to the CONCERT we went, where we jammed out to Mandisa for the rest of the night.  RECAP OF SATURDAY coming NEXT!

Gym Admit One, Please.

In gearing up for for this weekend at the Women of Faith Conference, here’s a little Mandisa to start off the morning

“I was so helpless, where did the light go?
I had no hope left, deep down in my soul.
I was watching, I was waiting, I was praying
I was staying down on my knees, that’s right where you found me
My deliverer, You rescued me
From all that held me captive
My deliverer, You set me free
Now I’m alive and I can live
So every moment I will give you praise, my Deliverer
There’s no pretending, I can’t do it myself
I’m so dependent, Lord, I need your help
I’ll be watching, I’ll be waiting, I’ll be praying
I’ll be staying down on my knees
That’s right where you’ll find me…”

2 Lite Van’s Waffles with Pomegranate Chobani & sugar free syrup

I feel like a real slacker lately.  Tuesday, I had all good intentions of going to the gym after work and staying there until about 5:30 before showering and heading to class at 6PM.  I was thoroughly disappointed when I reached the entrance to the gym on campus, reached for my student ID, which you need for admittance, and came up empty handed.

Samiwich, salad, & Annie’s fat free mango vinaigrette

Although I had been to the gym just about every other day in the summertime, I couldn’t very well ask the polite desk clerk to make an exception just for me.  It would be rather selfish and egotistical to do so. 

Original Brat Han’s Italian Chicken Sausage + lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard

 I played it cool until I got outside when I began frantically searching for my ID.  I knew I had to have it somewhere…that somewhere ended up being my night stand at home.  Dragging my feet while walking away, I chose to stop moping and use my time for something productive…like snack shopping for the Conference this weekend.

Iceberg lettuce, broccoli, roasted red pepper, cukes, peas, tomato, celery, and carrots

There was no reason to freak out, but I missed exercising…since I had been away all weekend at State College, I hadn’t gotten any good cardio (other than the walking we did).  Plus, I was looking forward to using my HR monitor for the first time in the gym to find out how much “work” I had actually been doing all this time.  I find it hard to believe that the calories burned was accurate on the machines at the gym such as the Cross Ramp.

Wei of Chocolate “Inner Delight” 70% Cacao Chocolate

Grocery shopping definitely lifted my spirits, as per usual.  I just love wandering aimlessly through the aisles, checking nutritional labels, and seeing what is new on the market to try.  I was surely stared at a few times for my seemingly obsessive compulsive label reading, but you’ll have that.  A few things that I DEFINITELY knew I wanted were cocoa roasted almonds, apples, string cheese, and Chobani.  I always end up coming home with MUCH more than I planned on   Anyone else have these issues?

1 ear of sweet corn

One benefit of missing out on gym time?  The ability to actually sit in my car and enjoy my dinner before class.  Most of the time, I’m scurrying from one event to the next and have to wolf it down quicker than I can taste it.  Is it weird how much I enjoyed this COLD ear of sweet corn? Haha.

1 soy tempeh sandwich on a light whole grain english muffin with sugar free apricot jam & goat cheese

Which led me to my next discovery.  I am NOT a fan of raw, un-seasoned tempeh.  The jam and goat cheese barely made this edible.  Anyone have other suggestions on how to make it?  I’ve got a pack sitting in my refrigerator right now and no idea what to do with it, but THIS was a gross combination.  Do not try it. Ha.

Tomato topped with Cucumber Garlic Cedar’s Tzatziki Dip for dipping the carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, snap peas, and cucumber fries

Thank the LORD I had these goodies to wash that down with.  Class time flew by, as it usually does when my History professor teaches.  As I mentioned before, he is such an animated man.  I dare you to TRY to fall asleep in his class.  It’s impossible.  He keeps you in awe, fascinated with his experience and story telling that you won’t know whether you’re entrapped within a  Fairy Tale or listening to a History lecture.

Slacking isn’t so bad sometimes, no?  Another thing that made me feel better this morning, was a chance at winning another one of Julie’s awesome givewaways.  What’s on the radar today?  Dried MEAT.  Check it out!

 

XO.