Metallica, crawfish and almost 8 miles!

Sunday afternoon I went running. It felt so good. I was berating myself for not going Saturday morning before we left for our trip. I felt like such a slacker and a fraud. I didn't go because it was raining and I wasn't feeling the best.  Still no excuse- all I kept thinking was if you really want something you find a way- if you don't you find an excuse.

Gah! Do I want to be a half marathon runner or not???

Seems like all I do lately is make excuses.

Sunday morning my run from last year popped up in my FB memories.  UGH.  It was one of the worst days of my life and I ran a couple miles  with Chance and then to my parents house across town.

As we drove home I realized I could squeeze in a pretty decent run- if I headed out like the second we got home. 

Which I did. I took Chance for a 4 mile loop and then set out to do it again.  It was deliciously fall-y. I listened to a couple running podcasts for motivation. The rain held off until I finished running.  I came up a little short- since we had to be somewhere at 5:30.  I cut it a little too close as it was and we were a few minutes late anyway. 

I was feeling pretty good and proud. Maybe I will be able to pull this thing off after all.  Just imagine what I could do I actually committed to my training plan *sigh*.

Last nights dinner- so yum! Another Quick Cooker success.  I used this recipe I found on pinterst. But used ground beef,  Worcestershire  & sour cream, in place of the turkey, aminos and greek yogurt.  I also did a live video over on my facebook page.

Random side note: I just love our living room. <3  This morning walking around my freshly scrubbed and vacuumed home I felt so peaceful and content. I just love this feeling of home. But I know what makes it home is the people- not the house itself.  No matter what the future holds and no matter where we dwell- it will be just has much HOME and wonderful.  I pray my home is always welcoming. That my friends, family and kids' friends always know our door is always open and feel at home.

Rhett bought me the canvas in the middle for our anniversary.  He could not have gotten a more perfect gift. Brought tears to my eyes. ❤💖❤

This weekend was amazing- the Mister and I spent it in Buffalo to go to the Metallica concert. Heavy Metal is not really my thing. But I was so happy to be able to experience this "bucket list item" with him!

We had a great dinner at this Cajun place we found on Yelp! The food was so good! 🍼 If you are in Buffalo I recommend checking it out.  Not gonna lie- the crawfish we got as an appetizer kinda creeped me out.  But I laughed it off and ate them anyway, 😂.  They tasted all right but too much work.

 

Today my heart is Thankful-  I have been working on this week switching "I have to" to "I get to!"

Here's a short list in no particular order:

• Concert this weekend
• "You're a good find too" ;-) <3
• Almost 8 miles! 💥💪
• Prayer
• Coffee!!!! 🍵🍵🍵
• Ibuprofen
• New phone!  
  
  
  
  
  
• Spray 'n' Wash - got a coffee stain out of my brand new sweater- even after it was washed and dried! 
• Sunshine
• pumpkin party
  

One more day of October and then my favorite! Thanksgiving Season!!!

Friday 10.26

I woke up pretty anxious this morning. My stomach tied in knots. But between God's Word. Coffee. And our run. I am feeling better.

This was in my Facebook memories a year ago today...

When I think of what was going on this weekend a year ago my stomach turns and my heart breaks.  But God is slowly healing that hurt. Today I can honestly say I can look back and feel glad to say- look how far we have come.  Our marriage is better today than it ever was. I wish we didn't have to walk through that time last fall/winter. But if that's what had to happen to get us here. So be it. It also taught me about God's care and faithfulness. To never give up and just how powerful love and prayer can be.  I will never take my husband's presence for granted. Marriage is a precious gift.  It's hard but its so worth it. 

This is from the Love God Greatly Study this morning-

"The grass withers and the flowers fall but the word of our God endures forever." Isaiah 40:8 NIV

And this Sharon Jaynes posted this morning in the Enough study.


All this just feels like God wrapping his arms around me saying- It's gonna be OK. I got this one too.  I might not know how everything is going to play out. But God does.

Chance and I are back to our morning runs. Its so much harder to go when its cold and dark. But we both need it. Deciding to go is the hardest part. So I guess I just need to plan to go and then actually do it! No debating. No wimping out. Just go.

Happy Friday! I hope you have a great weekend!!

Hello Bruce

Friday I got my new Quick Cooker! We named him Bruce. I think I'm in love! 😂😂😂💗

This week I am doing a virtual Pampered Chef party on Facebook. Featuring Bruce and Quick Fix Dinners.  Last night we made Cheddar Broccoli Risotto with Chicken.  Let me tell you- I am impressed!

Hannah adding the cheeses to the pot after it had finished pressure cooking.

Finished product! YUM!  I thought it was delicious! Could've used a tad more seasoning- next time I will probably put a rub on the chicken a head of time.

 

Tonight we are making Carnitas! And Pico de Gallo.

Want your very own Bruce? There are always three ways you can get pampered chef products! 

1. Order from the party here -> HERE or any time on my website.  You get a free gift with a $75 purchase.
2. HOST your own PARTY! You can get the Quick Cooker 60% off when you host an October party! Or you could get it half price. 
3. Become a consultant and join my Team. There are lots of perks to being a consultant- I'd love to tell you about them I got Bruce at half price since he's a new product. You also have the opportunity to earn new products FREE each season! Join in October and you can get a half price rebate on your kit!

Be sure to like my Facebook page- Amy's Pampered Kitchen to keep up to date on specials, deals, recipes and more!

Disclaimer: I am a pampered chef consultant- all links in this entry lead to my personal website.

daybook 10.17

For Today {October 17, 2018}

Looking out my window Very fall.  Crisp and Sunny.  Alternating with Gloomy and Rainy.

I am thinking about all the fall-y things I can bake now =D

I am thankful Our oven is fixed! Because my mister is awesome! He replaced the heating element on Saturday and its good as new!

One of my favorite things fall baking!

 I am wearing My new booties Mikayla convinced me to buy on Saturday. I LOVE them.  Sort of pictured above.  Also my new coffee and donuts socks which I may love just a little too much ;-)

I am reading

• One Beautiful Dream: The Rollicking Tale of Family Chaos, Personal Passions, and Saying Yes to Them Both .  This one I am loving and it has me chuckling out loud.
  
•  Listening to the audiobook Love and Respect which I am finding a little repetitive but good. Bottom line your man NEEDS respect.  All. The. TIME. Not just when you feel like doling it out. He needs to know you admire him just for the person he is...just like you long to be loved for the person you are.
  

I am creating I bought sunflower fabric this weekend to make a table runner. Maybe I can find a few minutes tonight to sew it up!  Mikayla was home this weekend and sewing up a storm.  She even joked about taking a sewing machine back to school with her. Tonight feels like a good night to catch up on This is Us and quilt. =) <3

I am hoping my Quick Cooker comes quickly (ha,ha!) I can not wait to play with it!  Does anyone have the Instant Pot?? What's your favorite thing to make in it??

I am learning I am beautiful. I am loved. I am strong. I am forgiven. I am not alone. I am Enough.

In my kitchen My RockCrok is getting a work out this week.

• Sunday: we had chicken potpie in it. I also made Mikayla mini veggie pot pies.
• Monday:  Mikayla made this Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchilada Bake  
• Tuesday: meatball subs (also using the slow cooker stand.)
• Wednesday: Tuna Noodle Casserole
• Thursday: Pizza night
• Friday: Italian Sausages (Ryan's Birthday Dinner!)
• Saturday: TBD

Board room Last night I got to hang out with my sisters for a bit.  It was great! We went to a Local Artisan talk at the library. A local winery was there. We didn't take away much from the class other than we want to go visit the winery now. ;-) But we had a good time.

After we went to Starbucks and sipped Chai Latte's and talked about life and running. Pledging to actually run this morning.  Which we all did.

Post Script ~ I'm looking for Hosts! October is a great month to have a party!!! And be sure to follow my facebook page. Amy's Pampered Kitchen

Shared Quote This popped up in my Facebook memories today.


A moment from my day Because. Chance. He's the best.

Closing Notes: Today is one of the days where Joy feels easy and I am basking in it. Trying to store it all up so when another hard day comes I can remember the good.

Not gonna lie- I was pretty impressed with myself this morning. I pledged to Laura and Becca that I was going to run at 7 am as soon as the kids left for school. Its still dark then but not as dark as 5:30 am. I got up at 5- so I could have my devo time, make lunches and prep dinner. I felt pretty productive by 7:30 am this morning.

Happy Wednesday! Have a wonderful day!

Linked up today with The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Enough ~ book review and study plug

Enough by Sharon Jaynes

This book. I love it. Its definitely in my top 10.  I listened to the audio version earlier this year. I loved it so much I ordered the paperback.  Which I read through again as part of my devotional time.  This book deals with something I am constantly struggling with. Believing I am ENOUGH. That I am made whole and beautifully His. With a purpose. That I am LOVED.

The premise of the book is simple. 

1. Recognize the LIE. 
2. Reject the LIE. 
3. Replace the LIE with TRUTH.

I love that all her Truths come from God's Word.  She also has them listed in the back of the book for easier reference.

Recently I got an email that the author was running an online Bible Study this week. I jumped at the chance to go through this book again, this time with a group of ladies via facebook, including live videos with Sharon Jaynes.  The first video is tonight (Thursday Oct 11) at 8 eastern time.  Here is the link for the facebook group. -->> https://www.facebook.com/groups/enoughbiblestudy/ If you are intrested. Also via email as well. You can sign up HERE for the emails.

In the first chapter she talks about a teen age girl seeing herself in a mirror and all the terrible lies she believes about herself she sees written over her- like worthless. Unloved. Ugly. Stupid. Unhappy. Failure. Not good enough.

The first discussion question is-

• If you could write words on a mirror to describe how you saw yourself as a teenager, what would they say? What words would you write about how you see yourself today?

As a teen- I saw things about myself like quiet, lonely, outcast.  As a "grown up" is it any better? On bad days I see myself as fraud, failure, unloved, unliked. Alone.  Yet as I thought about this question the first things that came to mind were work in progress, loved, strong.  See I know what God says about me and sometimes I can even believe it.

It is possible to reprogram your brain to believe the truths. The more you repeat the truths the easier they will become to believe. I love how she equates this process with removing old wallpaper. Which if you have ever done can be a bear of a task.  Soemtimes it goes smoothly and big long pieces rip off-- other times it take picking teeny tiny pieces. But in the end...Its worth it. And so are you.

Another example she gives is cleaning a dirty fountain by pouring in fresh clean water until the dirty water is displaced.  Continually repeating God's word and truth will eventually crowd out and replace Satan's lies.

This weeks verse is:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; 

I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, 

and have it to the full. 

John 10:10

A little lunchtime Bible Study today. <3 <3 <3

Disclaimer- I am not affiliated with this book or study at all. I just believe in it. This book came to me at the right time and touch my heart and soul. Just sharing the love.

another day . . .

It's Wednesday. I couldn't believe it when my alarm went off and it was morning! I was still so sleepy.  I felt like grumbling and complaining...I tried to stick to my resolve to not complain.  I went through the motions of packing lunches and making coffee and then slipped into my little sanctuary.  Where God refreshed and renewed my spirit.

Just because...


New read. I have been thinking about buying this book for a while.  This morning I noticed it was on Hoopla and borrowed it from my local library. =)


I have debating on not looking at my memories for a while. I want to block out last fall. I want to forget it ever happened. I want to look at where we are now.  I want to look forward to believe its only getting better from here.

But then I see this and I remember- there was always good. Just focus on it...



We are kinda going into baking withdrawal around here... Ryan complains every night there is no dessert. (Hopefully though our oven will be fixed this weekend!) In the mean time... I made this chocolate chip cookie in the Microwave Pasta Cooker last night. It did the trick.



Our Beef and Mushroom Sliders were a success. =) I'm loving this season's recipe collection. We did a live demo- you can check it out over at Amy's Pampered Kitchen

I'm trying to get myself back on track- there's a challenge group I really want to join but I can't bring myself to pay the $$$$ for the challenge pack.  So I'm trying to motivate myself with memory of how good I felt last year when I was eating right and exercising...

• I had a greek yogurt smoothie for breakfast
• Keeping track of my water and trying to drink more
• I will not visit the snack box in the work fridge
• I will prep my lunch tonight 
• go for run and yoga tonight
• be more mindful of what I put in my mouth

Honestly I have been feeling pretty discouraged. I have fallen off the training band wagon. Its dark now in the mornings and darker earlier in the evening. Making it harder (not impossible mind you) to get my butt out the door. I don't really know what to do about it. Be more brave I guess.

In an effort not to loose my J O Y today...

• Rhett was home for supper last night
• he's feeling better 
• my kitchen table <3
• crockpots
• sunshine and colored leaves

What are your gifts today?  Happy Wednesday. Keep that chin up.