Healing

Ok, so I was thinking. We have SO many excuses for NOT getting up and getting some form of exercise in. Young children, older parents, work, etc, etc. We are ALL really busy whether we work in the home or out. We all also have the same amount of time in the day. Do you like watching TV at night? Every commercial that comes on get up and move. Do squats, walk in place. Are you a morning person? Wake up 20 minutes earlier and take advantage of the early sunrise! Get outside & walk or if it's before sunrise do something in your house. Live close enough to walk your child to school? Do that instead of getting in the car & driving. What a great way to chat and/or pray with your child before school. When you pick them up the same thing, pray & chat about their day. What fun for you both!! Have an older parent you are taking care of? Get them in on the action. Their bodies will be very greatful for it. If not, find the time of day that would work to get some exercise in then too. All I'm saying is 10 - 20 minutes a day. A sitcom is 30 minutes of sitting stagnant on the couch. I can promise you that isn't getting your metabolism going.

I'll get off my soapbox right now. The reason for this particular post (besides the fact I'm one of those crazies that enjoys exercise)? I had minor surgery on Monday and I am told no exericise for 4 weeks!! Ugh. That is going to be rough. I will find other options though! I guarantee it!!

Be blessed & HEALTHY! & GET MOVING!! (sorry for screaming)

Try this one!!

I'm hoping this link works!! Let's just call them "Butt Burners". I get these updates from Mytrainerbob.com - Bob Harper from The Biggest Loser. Well, he has challenges that are alot of fun and really just a couple minutes long! You can make them as easy or hard as you need/want. Give this one a try!! Come on! Right now!!

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

"and it looks like it's going to be a perfect day to maybe, hey, just lie in bed, sleep in......or simply WORK OUT THAT FLAB THAT'S HANGING OVER THE SIDE OF THE BED!!!" Monsters Inc.

Time to get your groove on!!!

Ok, back to my favorite subject. Exercise!! Ok, please don't click out of this page!! I am very happy to admit I am addicted to exercise. Most people don't like to sweat and I feel like I'm not exercising unless I get a good, soaking sweat on. I love watching my heart rate monitor go up into my fat burning mode. Ok, really. Now I know YOU know that you should be eating well. Getting your fruits & veggies, good grains, etc, etc. Well, you should also be getting out and moving. Not your style? Make it your style! Take a walk with your honey or your children! If they are in school what better time to get to chat with them about their day. Take a bike ride or walk around the block. The time together will be awesome & you are both getting out and exercising. Want to get a little more into it? The workouts I started with (can't afford a gym membership so went the DVD route) are Leslie Sansone walking dvd's. Yes I know it seems strange to walk in your living room. I felt the same way until I started doing her workouts. I was getting up to 5 & 6 miles in my living room in a morning! She incorporates other moves as well that you can do low intensity or as high as you want. She has 1 mile and up and even has a jogging dvd. You should have seen me jogging around my living room! These are some great DVD's for those just starting OR if you want a change in the workouts you are doing now.

Stay tuned for more of my favorites!!

Be Blessed & Healthy & GET MOVING!!

They're Back!!!

Ok, I know they have been back for a little while now but it's been a bit crazy for me. The guys came back from their canoe trip. Unfortunately they had to cut it in half & ended after doing 140+ miles in 5 days. I say that's quite a feat in itself!! I'm very proud of all of them for sure! I believe the last count was 256 alligators & a few bald eagles. LOTS of dried fruit, beef jerky & Cliff Bars.

It was tiring for sure. More mental than physical. I'm glad to have A home and hope some day he can finish the river. I think that would be a good thing to do. Finish what they started.

Have any big accomplishments that you never thought you could do? Let me know! I would love to hear about it.

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

A smaller version of their "friends" on the river. This guy was sitting behind us and just posed perfectly for a picture. We must be Floridians! We weren't nervous at all.

New cooking show -- up and coming.....

Not sure how "healthy" this would be but I think she has a future in cooking/baking!!

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

St John Crew

Well, they left very early this morning (I'm assuming they did, haven't gotten a confirmation yet). I'm putting a picture of 2 of the guys here. Andrew & Daniel. We are so excited for them and REALLY excited to hear all about their trip. I find myself thinking about them constantly. Of course this is just the first day. Last night I found myself thinking I needed to turn the light on outside for my son! So funny.

Well, today I had the oppurtunity to see my chiropractor which is good after my back problem. While we were there a friend said there were gluten free homemade cookies there. Well, me and my little princess went right over and had a taste. Yummy!

The only way I could keep my little one from eating the whole bag was to promise we would come home and make some. They are yummy, yummy! I got the recipe from a GREAT cookbook. I think I have mentioned it before. Carol Fensters Gluten Free recipes. The sugar cookie recipe on page 419 are AWESOME. She uses a flour blend with sorghum, potato & tapioca flours. (1-1/2 cups sorghum flour, 1-1/2 cups potato starch & 1 cup tapioca, mix together) It's really easy to make the blend & put the rest in a bag & freeze it for next time. Here is the recipe:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 cup sugar + 1/4 cup for rolling

1 TB light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract

2 cups Carol's Sorghum Blend

1 tsp xanthan gum

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375. Beat butter & sugars with mixer til smooth. Beat in egg, vanilla & almond. Gradually add flour blend, santhan gum, baking powder & salt. Beat until just blended. Shape dough into balls & roll in sugar. Place on cookie sheet & bake. The cookbook says 12 - 15 minutes but I had them in for 7 and that was plenty. Just keep an eye on them!! Yummy!!

I don't treat myself to sugary things often but this is very yummy & a couple hit the spot with my coffee.

I hope you enjoy it! I'm sure you can use pretty much any gf flour blend you have or even the Bob's Red Mill all purpose baking flour would work.

Let me know if you use something different and how they turn out! Would love to hear!!

We are going to make the peanut butter cookies next.

Be Blessed & Healthy!!

Canoeing the St Johns River

I'm going to venture away from my healthy food/exercise chat and tell you about an amazing trip my oldest son is taking. He and 2 friends are canoeing the St Johns River. The longest river (310 miles) in Florida & it flows north (not at a very rapid pace either). They are starting at Blue Cypress Lake in Indian River County & ending at Black Rock Beach, Jacksonville. How cool is this? What a great experience for him! This is my sons first time but his friends have done this before. The 'leader' has actually done it 3 times and he holds the record of the fastest time - 9 days.

For you moms out there, yes, I'm quite nervous for them. I know that our friend will watch over my son pretty well but there are so many things that could happen. I'm honestly just envisioning me handing A over to God and seeing him safely in Gods hands. I think that will be one of the only ways I will be able to get through the next 14 days.

They are taking lots of good for you food! (ha - just can't get away from it I guess). Nuts, dried beef, dried fruit, packaged tuna & water. I'm thinking when these guys get back they will want a shower, a comfy bed & a really good meal. I'll be ready!!

Be blessed & healthy!!