by Kimberly | Dec 18, 2015 | Uncategorized
Over the river and through the woods.
In a one-horse open sleigh.
Grandma got ran over by a reindeer.
Walking in a winter wonderland.
No matter how you travel this holiday season, you definitely want to arrive safe, stay safe, and return to your home – hopefully without a trip to the hospital! I have already traveled over this holiday season with my two little boys, and I wanted to share some tips with you!
- Eat healthy. I know, crazy, and hard to do. But, this helps! If you pack some fruit in the car, get applesauce, clementines, or fruit pouches when you go in for lunch at your favorite lunch place while traveling, and definitely if you get those fluids going. This is especially hard when you are aiming for speed on your trip – because diapers need changing and if you are potty training then you stop often. But, just know that fluids really do help your body (and your little one’s body) stay healthy!
- Get exercise. When you get to your destination – and even on the way – incorporate exercise into your vacation plans. My boys love parks and would play all day! And at those rest areas, do some jumping jacks or run around in the grassy areas.
- Be prepared. If you son or daughter takes medication, be prepared with how much you will need. If they have allergies, make sure you understand the place you are going and what you might encounter. Always know where a medical doctor is. Whether it is a clinic, an emergency room, or a hospital – this is crucial. We usually go places we know for the holidays, so I always know where places are. But, if I’m going somewhere new, I would use Amino’s great guide to help you find what you need in your time of stress. All on one site, too!
- Be loved. Stress is such a killer during the holidays. Whether its the traffic or the relationships, look on the bright side, slow down, love.
And with that, happy safe and healthy travels. Thanks Amino for the hint!
by Kimberly | Dec 6, 2015 | Sundays in the South, Uncategorized
Yesterday I was in 70 degree weather – and this morning all I wanted to do was cuddle under the blankets and stay there all day. 30s-60s isn’t bad – but 70s was so delightful!
There is something so inviting about Florida. I grew up in the central part of the state. Familiarity, warm breezes, Carolina blue skies, hay bales, wide open horse pastures,
This soup would be good on any cold night – just combine with some naan bread or homemade loaf.
I write for Her View From Home and for December I did a very short and partial dream kitchen list. Go check it out for every cook on your list of people to get gifts for this holiday season.
Um, how about these for Christmas morning breakfast?
I got an opportunity to share some health tips and a bit about my weight loss journey over here.
by Kimberly | Nov 20, 2015 | creatives, Uncategorized
I’ve come to learn that you really can be creative anywhere: in the car (thinking, hopefully not driving while you are coloring), in a doctor’s office waiting to be called, during your children’s nap time, while listening to a lecture (I multitask pretty well), or my fave place – on the beach. But, I can’t always get to the beach – and I seldom have quiet time at home with two boys 3 and under – but I still love to be creative.
My ideal work space is definitely not what I have now – but I am thankful for what I have now. We live in a small-ish town home so my desk (that we got as a wedding gift) is in the corner of our living room. It has a mirror and a huge window so I’ve got lots of natural light. I have a little set of drawers that my parents had had forever that I took (with their permission) and repainted with Annie Sloan in a wonderful teal. I recently repurposed some shelving that was in our son’s room and brought it downstairs to make the tight space more manageable and warm. When on a tight budget, like we are on now, it is better to repurpose then to buy new. I love having all my paper, markers, pens, ink, and books! It definitely helps to have a space to write on – and not just pulling up a lap. And my husband appreciates me not always taking over the dining room table!
Now, with my ideal space: I would have beautiful pottery barn baskets to hide the “stuff” and anthro pens holders (but I do love my Talenti Gelato containers). I would have it in a closed room so I could leave it more messy sometimes if I’m working on a big project (like addressing wedding invitations which is my weekend project). I would also love more bookshelves because I love to read and I think reading spurs on creativity. And I would love a big comfy chair to curl up in! And I know laptops are great but I would love a massive mac for photo editing. And, when I worked as a curriculum writer for a church in NC, I had a round table in my office. I would mostly work there instead of my desk and it was perfect for having collaborative meetings – definitely get one of those too! A girl can dream right?
WeWork has inspired me to talk about my ideal creative space. They rent out creative shared office space in (mostly) big cities to creatives who need to have a studio or just a desk. It is really helpful for creatives to be around other creatives. Something about being with creatives that really spurs me on – even if its just talking about our creatives muses or collaborating on a project. If I have the chance to do that once the boys are in school, and there is one in whatever city we live in at that time (currently live in the metro ATL area), that that would be great for writing and photo editing, especially.
by Kimberly | Oct 14, 2015 | The Charming South Kitchen, Uncategorized
Ok – I know this blog post is a little late, but thanks for still wanting to see what we are cooking this week. My in-laws are here this week and friends from out of state and its my son’s birthday (today!) so we are busy over here. Doesn’t stop me from cooking though!
Made this enchilada soup and it was good – will be great for leftovers this week – and it is SO EASY!
Bought some persimmons at TJ this week and grilled a TBone tonight – give me a good piece of meat and I can make a darn good steak!
These whoopie pies are going down in the morning
This chocolate cake is happening for my little’s birthday party with family on Thursday
by Kimberly | Oct 13, 2015 | Uncategorized
Transformation Tuesday isn’t just about the scale. Its also about changing your body and your mind. There is much change that has to happen in your body to be able to practice yoga well. And in your mind. And I’m not there on either level. The pictures above are 2 years apart and about 60 lbs.
I started practicing yoga about 7 years and then took a break when I was pregnant and gained a ton of weight and could hardly do a cat pose to save my life. But, since I started back in my healthy journey and have lost quite a bit of weight, I want to change my body as well. Two dvds I really love in yoga world is JM’s Cardio Yoga and Bob’s Weight Loss Yoga. Both in their upper levels kick my tail!
I can tell a total difference. Sometimes I think I’m working out a muscle group well – then do some yoga and totally feel it the next day. I must not be working out as hard as I thought. But, I also like having a variance in exercising. I do like how I can tell which side of my body needs more stretching out or which side I’m more balanced on.
I did a post years ago that I thought I would re-post some of on here. I think this tells how I can practice yoga and be a Gospel-centered believer. As a friend said, we need to be vigilant on ideas that might fight against Christianity and the Spirit within us – but at the same time fight against legalism as well. This hopefully is a balance of the two.
First, to set everyone on the same terms, I pulled up our trusty friends at Merriem-Webster to find out the definition. This is what it said:
1. Yoga: a Hindu theistic philosophy teaching the suppression of all activity of body, mind, and will in order that the self may realize its distinction from them and attain liberation.
2. yoga: a system of exercises for attaining bodily or mental control and well-being.
I completely agree with the first definition of big Y Yoga and do not practice little y yoga for the purpose of big Y Yoga. You can separate the two. Of course Scripture tells us to fill our minds with things of the Spirit, Col 3.1-3 and Phil 4.8 and all through Psalm 119. This is what I like to do when practicing these exercises, or I listen to praise music, or I focus on what I am doing so I don’t fall over.
I think you can. How can putting your foot on the inside of the opposite thigh (tree pose) be an evil or cult or false-religion thing? How can stretching out your hips by laying forward in a pigeon pose be evil or anti-God? I think the movements, exercises, or little y yoga is actually good for us because it is allowing our bodies, or my body, to be healthier, to move better.
God created our bodies. He created them to move. When I practice yoga, and move my body in the ways that God has intended my bodies to be: healthy, mobile, active – then yes, I am using my body as God created me to – to bring Him glory. I can thank Him and praise Him for making my body to move, to be active, to be healthy, so I can do things that will bring glory to the only God of the universe, the great Creator. Why must an unbelieving false religion have hold and rites on this exercises and poses?
I don’t practice yoga poses to make me more acceptable to Christ. His blood bought my salvation and redeemed my life. I can freely choose to do yoga because of the freedom Christ has given me. There is nothing evil in the poses themselves. What we do with our minds and hearts while practicing these poses (or running, doing aerobics, walking, swimming, biking, hiking, surfing, etc) is important.
If I truly thought that practicing the exercises in yoga was hindering my walk with Christ, I would stop. But, I do yoga poses for the same reason I hike, bike, run or walk or lift weights: to make my body better. This is something the church seldom touches on, because we live with such obesity and gluttony and laziness. But, I don’t think there is a need to knock out these exercises.
Two words in closing:
1. If you are in a predominately Hindu culture, seeking to live out Christ, no, I would not recommend practicing yoga, even the poses, because of what it might convey to the folks you are trying to reach with the gospel.
2. This, just like many other issues in Scripture that aren’t blatant black or white, comes down to Christian liberty and the “weaker-brother” principle. So…here is my personal conclusion. I can practice this in my own home and not announce it on facebook. My roommate is not bothered by my practicing these yoga moves. I can practice it with one or two others who know my stance on the subject and don’t have a problem with it. Should I go to a studio and practice it, no…because I do not know who I might offend, or who I might lead to believe that I am practicing Big Y Yoga.
A cat’s pose and triangle pose and tree pose definitely help my core and sense of balance. And help my jeans fit better!
by Kimberly | Oct 4, 2015 | Sundays in the South, Uncategorized
Most everyone I know is in some sort of weather today produced by Hurricane Joaquin. Maybe you are loving it – maybe you’d rather have sunshine. I love storms and wind – but I actually thrive on sunshine.
So, while some of you may be stuck inside today because of the weather, I thought I would send you some link to read up on:
I usually make muffins once a week in our kitchen because it is so easy for my misters’ breakfasts. These will be coming soon because I have everything in my kitchen already.
If you get really tired of meal planning – maybe these templates will help you out and bring on the food creativity.
Are you aspiring to more in the kitchen? Maybe you need to start with these? I want to make my own bucket list of recipes.
Having worked for Williams-Sonoma for a few years, I loved reading this story.
