by Kimberly | Feb 13, 2014 | food, weight loss
Wow…all I can say.
I had my concerns with how eating grain-free for even 4 days would go, and you know what…it was doable. What it takes is planning and preparation (grocery shopping, recipes, etc), and a willing family and self-discipline.
1. I lost 6.4 lbs in those 4 days. I know that is not real weight, but it is better than nothing. I’m now the lowest I’ve been since either of my two sons were born.
2. I did not feel bloated once during those 4 days. I had unsweet tea once, the rest of the time it was water, oj or homemade juice, or whole milk. That was a different thing too for me. Lately I had been drinking more carbonated beverages – which also do some bloating to me.
3. A sweet friend who is losing baby weight with me asked me what I was going to do once I finished each of these detoxes each month. Here is how I’m going to change life from this one. These are significant changes and will be in how we mostly cook. If we are eating with other people in their home of course we will eat with them, but we can change how we cook!
CHANGES:
1. Limit carbonated beverages – diet or regular.
2. Drink more homemade juices. I typically make a simple carrot and apple juice for us in the morning which is delicious and inexpensive and quick.
3. Take away white flour in our home (except in baking). Here’s what I mean: eat more brown rice, sweet potatoes, whole grain bread, whole wheat pastas when we do eat grains, but try not to eat them much. But in baking, even though I sometimes substitute whole wheat flour, I purely like baking with regular flour if that’s what the recipe calls for. I have Baking with Whole Grains by King Arthur – but I just like normal recipes when I do bake them. I’ll just give them away and limit them. Today – coming off detox: I had 2 bites of a white blueberry bakery-style muffin and 1 pita (in chip form) at lunch because of this restaurant’s spectacular spinach dip. I felt bloated all day. Ended with 2 bites of strawberry pancakes and a diet coke. Ugh. So, that’s how I know there is a difference.
4. For sandwiches, whole grain tortillas will do the trick. Less carbs, I think. And I can eat a half of a sandwich when I want to – like a good BLT – you need good sourdough for that.
5. I think the toughest area for me in this will be: breakfast. Meals that are easy and quick are foods made with grain. But, I’ll have to be prepared with hard-boiled eggs, cheese, milk, yogurt with granola, etc.
But, the end result: I feel better with white flour and I lost weight. Those are great things!
by Kimberly | Feb 12, 2014 | Link Love
There have been so many wonderful items I have found on the internet this week that I thought surely you all would love to know about them. I did my Valentine’s Day Link Love yesterday so you can go take a peak, but here are some regular day link love!
I have found I truly love French silk chocolate pie. I’ve not attempted to make one, but now that Michelle has put a recipe for it on her blog – I might be making it soon!
If anyone knows me at all they will tell you I love Dark Chocolate. I almost don’t mess with it or waste the calories if it isn’t. But these cupcakes…dark and white and caramel. Screaming my name!
For Valentine’s day night we are going to be doing dinner in. I’m thinking of doing a trio of desserts – not at all sweet, just simple – for my husband since he is cooking me dessert. I think I’ll be adding these to the menu! (Oh, sorry, I snuck in a VDay one on you – but these look so yummy)!
I have a box full of sweet potatoes to use up and this will be very light for the grocery budget for the rest of the month, so this chili will be getting made next week. And its healthy and good for you!
This may be my favorite one this week. I love Amanda’s photography and that she is fun and creative and introduces me to beautiful things – but really this post about her heart and her Maker really make me like her more. And her photography makes you want to love snow!
You know I’m hurting for anything avocado…and here is something I WILL BE EATING when I get done with grain free days!
J I Packer is one of my favorite authors. And though he is getting older, he still offered to speak and I’ve been watching the video on personal holiness.
My husband is a huge fan of Bach and therefore we named our second son after him. But, I’ve been learning more about Sebastian’s namesake from watching this video about the composer.
by Kimberly | Feb 11, 2014 | Link Love, Uncategorized
The internet is ablaze with all things love, pink, hearts, chocolate, red, wine, romance, etc. Perfect timing as this week is Valentine’s Day. How do you intend to spend Cupid’s Day coming up at the end of the week? Here are some delightful things that have caught me eye.
These Yes MaAm notecards made especially for Valentine’s Day. All of them are wonderful but I’m especially attracted to the gold foil hearts!
You can make these in any shape you want – and I’m going to be decorating them with pink icing to take to some widows in our church on Valentine’s Day. Who doesn’t love these. And yes, they may be as addictive as crack (though I wouldn’t know).
I am making these on Saturday for a brunch with some single ladies at our church. They are perfect for brunch and include delicious red raspberries perfect for the special day of love.
My friend Laura has more card creativity in her little pinky toe than I have in my whole two hands put together. Here are some of her ideas for Valentine’s Day cards for the loves in your life.
These truffles would make any fine chocolate lover swoon. Make them soon. I think I might. Just to say I’ve made them and to take pretty photos of them!
If the special one in your life loves chocolate and cake – you can’t go wrong with this one for dessert any time you want to express your love. Unless they are on a diet – then have them make an exception!
Why do all things chocolate and peanut butter scream my name? I guess there is protein in peanut butter right? Check out this delicious torte by Michelle over at Brown Eyed Baker.
So maybe you aren’t a chocolate fan (anyone out there, I know of at least one), so maybe lemon and raspberries are more your thing. Light. Springy. Delicious combination. And pie crust to add the borders of a scrumptious filling.
I hope I have inspired you with some of these Valentine’s Day treats. There is still plenty of time to plan something for your love!
by Kimberly | Feb 11, 2014 | Books, Uncategorized, Women & Books Together
The beauty and glory of the Resurrection and how it impacts every moment of every day we live. I know, its not even Valentine’s Day and I’m already talking about Easter: but as I sit and watch my littler boy squirm as he tries to take a nap, basking in the warmth of the sun in our master bedroom, I know that the only reason that he is alive and breathing and cooing and sucking on his hand is because of the Resurrection. All living things found their start in Christ (Colossians 1, John 1)
Love Elyse’s mention of 1 Corinthians 15. Paul reminds his reads of the GOSPEL. We stand in the GOSPEL. And we are growing in Christ-likeness because of the power of the GOSPEL. All of life, from beginning to end, is about the GOSPEL!
Have you ever thought what it would have been like for Mary to hear her name from the very one who loved her, changed her life – but then had died such a horrific death? Can you imagine her heart as it started to beat faster and she turned to see the Master? Oh that we might know the dearness and the nearness of the One who has called us by name out of darkness into HIS marvelous light!
There is a whole blog post coming on our “believing God” but I wonder if the disciples fully believed Jesus? Often He had told them of his resurrection, still they doubted up until the time they saw Him that Easter Sunday. Do our actions do the same? We say believe God – but we worry, we are anxious, we don’t like correction, we mourn as those who have no hope. I know we live on this side of the empty grave – but still I wonder how our actions speak of our doubt – not our faith – in God and in His Word.
I had opportunity to share this one thought with a friend this week: we worry and become anxious over practicalities. We don’t actually believe God at his word that our worry can do nothing for the event – and our worry actually tells of our disbelief – not out belief. Mary and Martha – we see this. This speaks to me often. I worry about getting some place on time. If we are later or I don’t have everything in control – this is when my non-gentle and quiet spirit appears. And in reality it is always there – and I long for the Lord to re-create this part of my heart.
Do we let Jesus reign on our every day life – not just on Resurrection Sunday? How have you seen God reign in your every day?
by Kimberly | Feb 11, 2014 | Books
Bonhoeffer: one of my favorite Christian authors on the Christian life – and so much more. I was introduced to his writings in college when I read the Cost of Discipleship, one of the books that has continued to shape who I am as a believer. His birthday was last week so I thought it a great time to post this review. I found out just how much I loved his writings when I got my hands on this book published by Fortress Press. I was contacted by the Somersault Group to review this book and I’m so glad I agreed to it. This book has everything – and I mean okay, almost everything – that Bonhoeffer wrote.
I was really only familiar with his later books, like Life Together, and his Letters from Prison. Bonhoeffer recreates the Christian life and puts it in new terms, definitely allowing for Biblical accuracy, but putting new spins on it that make you look at the Christian life you are living and question whether that is it? Are you really living for all that God created you for?
The editors do a great job of organizing this book so it is not overwhelming. This would be a useful book for every normal theologian – one who just loves to read and study – because you can take pieces of this book and conquer it in any given year. What a great theme to study the affects and writings of Bonhoeffer in one year? Shouldn’t this be a goal. Maybe take these writings and the Scripture index in the back and do a self-guided study through the Bible with Bonhoeffer. If you could sit down and ask him, a pastor, theologian, and cultural powerhouse, anything about the Bible – his answers are probably in this one volume. You can find almost any topic that you think Bonhoeffer would have spoken or written on in the indexes that are in the back of the book. That is most helpful with a volume like this one. I’m grateful for their diligent work.
I encourage you to take the time to buy this book, read this book, not a cursory read but one of depth and study, and learn more about your Christian walk through the life of one of the leading theologians, not only of our day, but of all time: Bonhoeffer.
