Top Ten From My Last Two!

10.  As you may remember, I mentioned that I found some goodies at the Consignment Store which just opened a grocery section.  This little gem was found there and snatched up for just $1.49!

After Thursday I started on it, and after this weekend I’m down to just 1/2 the bar.

Green & Black’s Dark Chocolate with cherries is pretty awesome, if I do say so.

Check out the chunkage of dried fruit in there!  It was sweet and sinful, yet tart.  I’m savoring each and every bit of it.  The stats aren’t too bad for chocolate either.  12 pieces for 210 calories.  I usually take 2 or 3 at a time.

9.  Catching up on my One Tree Hill episodes while working out!

The new ones come on Tuesday nights, so while I’m sitting in class from 6-8:45, the Tree Hill gang is lighting up the screen with their new episode.

Thank goodness for cwtv.com 🙂  Gotta love the early morning workout with no makeup and lookin’ like death.  Haha.

Between OTH & Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, I managed to stay occupied for a little over three hours on Saturday morning…which leads me to number eight…

8.  Barney Butter re-entering my life.

And at minimal cost, thanks to another Consignment Store find!

I used it to fuel my three hour elliptical maddness.

With some sugar-free strawberry jelly on a La Tortilla Factory wrap, heated in the microwave for about 20 seconds until melty & delicious.   Bring on the fats!

7.  A new favorite protein, which was also found at the Consignment Store.  I pretty much heard a ‘hallelujah choir’ when I spotted this on the shelf.

Bourbon Vanilla Tera’s Whey ❤

Only $10.89!! Which I put right to work after my cardio sesh Saturday to mend the muscles.

It was sweet, and reminded me of a carmely flavor, too!  Thanks to Janetha who inspired me to get this flavor 😉

6.  I tried a new “sauce” this weekend, which was absolutely fantastic.  IT’s funny, because I just got a comment from Missy letting me know that I should try Bragg’s Liquid Aminos…I had JUST picked some up at the farmers’ market less than a week ago.

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I mixed her up with a little bitta sugar-free syrup and some chili powder and marinated some brussel sprouts & carrots in it.  After roasting my veggie babies in the oven at 375° for about 15-20 minutes, I arrived at one of the most delicious lunches I’ve had for a long time.

I even got to use my tofu xpress!  Is it weird that I like RAW tofu?   At least I’m not alone.  I was thinking of you, GC while I was eating it! 

Nom, nom, nom.  <–I don’t even like using that.

5.  Meeting this little man!  Jamison Bishop.

Our friends, Jay & Kami came over on Saturday night for dinner.  They just had a little boy and I hogged him a lot of the night…he’s only 2 months old!

There’s something so relaxing and comforting about holding a baby….more baby talk later 😉

4.  I rediscovered my love of tea this weekend.  Teatulia teas to be precise.

100% Premium Organic Bengal Breakfast Tea

Mmmmmmm..Add a little bitta almond milk (another GC inspiration – milky tea!) & some Ideal no calorie sweetener.  It’s the perfect after dinner treat!  Reviews to come 😉

3.  An amazing message on Sunday morning from CLA’s, Pastor Wayde Wilson.

It was all about trusting God with what he’s given us and being generous with our money and “material things”.  It totally makes sense that we would be blessed more if we GIVE more.  I mean, if God gives us a little bit and we show Him that we will put it to good use for HIS purpose, He knows He can trust us with it and He’ll give us MORE. 

HE will ALWAYS provide.  We will NEVER need for anything if we hand our finances over to Him.

2.  Getting my car washed.  Lame but true.

I feel so much better driving a clean car 🙂

1.  VISITING the bestie & BABY BOWMAN

…in the CRIB ROOM, which is ultimately one step closer to the door!

They are doing so well.  I’m so proud of Bowman!  He’s growing like a weed and he’s a little over 3 months old now!

Also, he’s in crib #31 now, which is MY favorite number!  It has been my basketball number for as long as I can remember.  He will be going in for some testing this morning, so please say a prayer for him!  This could be the big week that he finally gets to come home to his Phillies’ nursery!!

Hope you all had at LEAST ten highlights from your weekend.  Leave a comment telling me a few! 😉

Xo.

Find A Reason To Smile.

Verse of the Day:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”

– Romans 12:1

I’ve realized at this point in life that some days are just BOUND to be better than others.  Not everyday I’m going to wake up and have a stellar day.  The way I react to the bad things that happen, however is a CHOICE.  I can choose to have a positive attitude, or I can choose to be miserable. 

So here we go, five things that made me smile.

1. Bowman’s Care Page.  This handy tool that the hospital provides allows me to check in on the little guy even when I’m not able to be with him.  It’s upkept by my cousin & her husband, so they can relay the message on the latest findings to all of us family and friends who are out there praying for the little man.  I’m SO thankful for this!

2. This delicious lunch that I packed for myself.  It’s true.  I find joy in good, healthy food. 

The more I thought about this one, I should be thankful for food at all.  In this day and age, I find that more and more families are having trouble putting food on the table at all. 

I feel almost guilty that I’m such a snob about what goes into my mouth.  Lots of people would be thankful for a chunk of bread, and here I am criticizing all the nutritional information. 

Thank you God for giving me the resources to support my habits 🙂

3. The ability to see and enjoy the splendor of God’s creation on my commute home from work.  Sure, traffic can be annoying going over the mountain in the morning and afternoon, but how can you complain about a view like this?

It is breath-taking.  I feel so blessed to live in such a safe area with the gorgeous country side surrounding me.

I’ve never had to worry about walking out my front door and witnessing an assault, or where my next meal will come from.  God has provided a safe and sound environment for my family and I to live in. 

4.  The ZING bar company, which sent me these candy-like bars which are absolutely fabulous.

This Orange Cranberry, almond butter-based bar was the perfect addition to my dinner last night.  Of COURSE, it figures, a night that I actually had the time to cook, it was the LAST thing I felt like doing 🙂

5.  It’s FRIDAY!!!

Need I say more?

What made YOU smile today? Could it be Anne’s tea giveaway?  Cause that’s my #6! 😉

 

XO.

 

Wordless Weekend Recap.

Clean Chompers & A Baby Bo Visit.

Verse of the Day:

“May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”

-Psalm 20:4 (NIV)

I got to go in to work later Thursday because I had a dentist appointment at 9am.  With an 8am start time, it wouldn’t have made much sense to go into work beforehand.  I took advantage and slept in until the absolute latest that I possibly could 🙂

Breakfast was a quick slice of Yoga toast with a tbsp. of fat-free strawberry cream cheese <–gotta love that artificial pink coloring! 

Good news!  No cavities for this ginger kid 🙂  I left the dentist feeling like I had a brand new smile.  I LOVE having my teeth cleaned.

I picked up a fruit cup of sliced peaches in 100% juice at a gas station on my way to the office because I was hangry by the time I left.  Once I reached my desk, I also had a Raspberry Chobani for protein.

I like the “here and there” eating every once in awhile.  If you’re constantly “snacking”, you never really get hungry.  But, come lunchtime, I was ready to dig into the lunch box.

Slice #2 of Yoga bread for the day smeared with Cinnamon Raisin Swirl peanut butta.

Teamed up with a bangin’ salad of lima beans, cucumbers, carrots, and red peppers all tossed in sugar-free raspberry Torani & apple cider vinegar.

Between you and I, there may be a promotion on the horizon at work! I’m super excited and found out that only ONE other person that applied for it is eligible!  That would mean another pay raise!  We shall see.

After work, I headed to the gym around 4PM and changed clothes, getting ready to elliptical for awhile, I ate some packed butternut squash that had been microwave cooked in sugar-free coconut Artista syrup & cinnamon.  Definitely best after the flavors soak in the fridge overnight.

After I ellipticalled for awhile it was time for basketball practice from 5-7PM.  I had a baby banana, but for some reason they’re camera shy.

Sorry for the blurr.  Incase you can’t read that, my stats after yesterday’s practice & elliptical workout were: 2:51: 15; 1228 calories; max HR 183.

I know its been awhile since I’ve given you all a Baby Bowman update, but due to privacy and sentiment, I didn’t want to write much more until things were VERY stable.  I can proudly say, they ARE! Last night after practice, Momma FF met me so we could go visit him together.  She even brought me dinner!  What a wonderful Momma I have.

A foot long turkey sub on whole wheat bread with allll the veggies imaginable:  lettuce, tomato, onion, green pepper, sweet peppers, olives, banana peppers, pickles, jalapeno peppers, and cucumbers.  JUST the way I like ’em 🙂  I actually picked off most the hot peppers, olives, and pickles…not sure why, but I wasn’t feeling them.  I also picked off some of the outside of the bread since it was a tad stale, and I don’t like hard bread unless it’s hot, crusty, and crunchy like french bread. 

Momma also brought some baby carrots to share with me.  She thinks of it all, I tell ya!  At this point we were on our way to the hospital and I was beyond excited to see the little guy.  It was my FIRST TIME in person!  All I had ever seen were pictures!

It truly takes a special kind of person to be able to work at a children’s hospital or ANY hospital for that matter…I don’t know that I could do it…such a sad environment.  Props to Elise.   

Before I knew it, I was face to face with this little bundle of joy.  He’s doing so wonderfully…up to 3 pounds, 8 ounces, officially!  I couldn’t pull myself away when it was time to leave.  My best friend is such an amazing mother, already.  I got to help feed him, and I can’t wait to hold him for myself.

This morning I got an email from my cousin with a link to this awesome site where we can track his progress, supplied by the hospital.  It’s pretty neat! 

After my visit, I stopped down in the cafeteria and grabbed dessert.

I chose a Raspberry Light & Fit with a No Sugar Added Chocolate Kozy Shack pudding for topping.  Chocolate raspberry mousse anyone? 🙂

Again, when I got home, I had some Oatmeal Squares & milk.  Guess I should start documenting if it’s going to be a regular occurrance, huh?

Happy Weekending, lovers! Any exciting plans?  I’ve got a Phillies game on the agenda for Sunday and a meetup with Lauren after our Breast Cancer walk on Saturday morning!

XOXO.