My thoughts on Faith

I have not blogged in while.  We moved a week ago  so have been trying to unpack boxes, get settled and still work.  Since I am not blogger of the year, this is what was left back for the time being.  So, I felt so compelled to share this, even though it is not really in line with the purpose of my site.  BUT why I am here, able to do what I do, and, a place to share anything I feel.

We are in a series at church called the Tipping Point.  It is about the end of times.  Pastor Jimmy Evans, from our church, Gateway in Texas, is leading the series.  Last week was great.  This week, even better.  I was just thinking this morning about how I have a personal relationship with God, consider myself a Christian, I don't spend enough time in the Word.  I need to be connected to my bible.  It is the way.

This is NOT to be self righteous, at all.  I try and show compassion to everyone.  This is also though, not to be ashamed of what I believe.  It is not a bad thing.  We live in a broken world.  Jimmy thinks we are in that time of the Rapture.  A time where the Bible is considered hate speech by many.  The world is overtaking our needs more than our Faith.  I was thinking this morning how easy it is to want more when you have more.  It never ends.  I am guilty of this.  I am not better than anyone.

He referred to a lot of scripture.  1 Thessalonians chapter 4, many verses stuck out.  Jimmy talked today about how those living will just automatically go to Heaven.  They (we) will never die.  Would that not be beautiful?  Paul wrote Thessalonians and what is going on now in the world, follows his prophecy.  Bear with me here, I am writing from notes I took today and what I remember from the message.  Just shows you I need to read the Bible more.

We just need to be ready for the coming.  We need our hearts to be prepared.  I have a lot of hurt, and worry about what I am struggling with in my own personal life.  This reminded me today of what matters and is important.  Jimmy said today, continue to live your life; do things you do.  Run your business, get married and have kids.  BUT BE READY.  People, it is happening.  I am not preaching, I am not qualified to.  I just want people to believe.  I want to see everyone in Heaven.

I got this shirt a couple of weeks ago and had a chance to wear it today.  How appropriate.  We must surrender.  That makes us stronger.  Trust and believe.  (and if you are like me, read more of the bible)  Lots of love and blessings!

Kindness and Respect

I am one that sometimes has no filter.  I won't pretend to be a robot or something that I am not.  BUT, I also know what kindness and respect look like.  In this day and age, I see so much entitlement and disrespect.  It is downright hurtful and sad.  I was going to keep my mouth shut, but this was still bothering me this morning.  So here I go.

We are moving and need to sell some furniture.  Mind you, most of our stuff is pretty cheap.  So when we sold it, it was cheap.  Then came the kitchen table, chairs and counter stools.  We paid a pretty penny for them and they are nice.  So I posted them last night on one of those garage sale sites on Facebook.  First, a couple of people just said the price seems high.  Then, people just starting slamming me left and right.  I mean it was AWFUL.  I responded with the fact it was distressed furniture and we paid a lot for it.  That just caused more comments.  Then someone said the clutter.  There was not clutter and I would love to see her house.  Am I defensive?  You bet your ass I am.  I would NEVER talk to a person that way, especially a stranger.  I was floored.  Their sense of entitlement to judge me that way?  We can all jump the gum or say something we regret or it comes out the wrong way.  But this? Was just plain mean.  It made me sad.  I am so grateful they are furniture experts and know so much more than I do.  Whatever.

Treat people with kindness and respect.  Treat others how you want to be treated.  We don't know people's situations.  We just don't know.  Be nice.

I am not a cook but trying

When I am on, I am on. My meals are pretty boring and simple but those people you see that you want to look like? They eat that way. Meal prep, meal prep, meal prep. Protein, like chicken, ground turkey and EGGS. Veggies, and sweet potatoes. ME? I add some Shakeology to the mix because it is literally the best thing you can put into your body and call it a day. Also with a buttload of water. BUT, I am trying to be more creative. We will see how long that lasts. I follow @1minuterecipes on Instagram. Saw this little number and my husband was rock star enough to make it. IT WAS AMAZING!

3 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless cut into 1 inch pieces
 2 eggs beaten
 1 1/2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
 sesame seeds, optional (we did not use)
 fresh chopped parsley (we just used the "spice" sure it is better with fresh)

 For honey garlic sauce:
 1/4 cup honey
 1/4 cup soy sauce (I recommend low sodium)
 3 gloves garlic minced (we just use minced garlic)
 1 tbsp Sriracha sauce (where have you been all of my life?)
 salt and pepper to taste
 preheat oven to 375. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Add breadcrumbs to a shallow plate. Beat eggs in another shallow plate. Season beaten eggs with salt and pepper. Add chicken to eggs and toss to make sure all are fully coated. Coat each piece of chicken with breadcrumbs and place on baking sheet. Bake in oven for about 20 min or until slightly golden brown. In the meantime add all the sauce ingredients to a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil over med heat, then turn down the heat and cook for a couple more minutes. Stir occasionally. Pour sauce over chicken and toss so that the pieces are fully coated. You can use leftover sauce for dipping. Garnish with sesame seeds and parsley if preferred. You can serve over rice and/or veggies.

 We just chowed down on the chicken. SO SO SO SO GOOD!

Dread the Monday Commute?

People have this perception of Network Marketing. One, they are all different. When I signed up to be a Beachbody Coach, I honestly did not know it was network marketing. Had no freaking clue. I didn't care. I loved what I was doing. Someone shared today that Bill Gates said if he had to do it all over again, he would choose network marketing. Here are Donald Trumps comments.

With that said, I have heard/watched a few things that resonated with me over the weekend. One was a TV show and the other from church. Random, right? I sometimes catch ridicule for sharing my passion, but today I learned "this is who I am and this is what I do". Never apologize for being you. Even the ugly. It is part of who we are and how we develop. I found something that had a huge impact on me. It still helps me through tough times. Why would I not share? Just like a friend telling you about her new favorite nail color or posting a picture of her pretty toes. We just want to share because we are excited. This is too good to keep to myself. People need to eat food and move their bodies. I just provide a solution that worked for me. People also need to make a living. People hate their jobs, don't make enough to pay the bills and are miserable. So, why again, would I not offer something to help? NO ONE is ever an expert at anything, until you train to do it. I am still not an expert but a hell of a lot farther than I was almost 3 years ago. You make time to do what matters. You make the hard decisions (which I still have to do to this day). You can make things a lot better. I was watching Shark Tank. I don't watch it often because it bums me that these people get rejected. But then I realized I get rejected every single day. I am used to it now. Not everyone will agree with me, or have to dig this thing. It is all good. ANYWAY, it hit me. These people are asking for buttoads of money. Like hundreds of thousands of dollars. They want this for marketing, manufacturing costs, general investors so they can grow, distributors, and help with infrastructure. They have already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars themselves. Hey, props to them for going after what they want. But it hit me, I kind hit the jackpot. $39.95 - I am handed millions of dollars in advertising, my business model is set up for me, I don't stock or manufacture anything myself, I have a distribution center at my finger tips. All I do? Continue to learn what I need to so I can HELP OTHERS. That in turn made me a business owner. Tomorrow? I don't have to dread the commute. If you have a commute? Think about not having one. Making a small sacrifice so you have freedom down the road. This is not about getting rich quick cause that is not how it works. It is about a genuine change in your life for the better. Not everyone is loaded. A lot of people need help. I have seen the girl at Target whose debit card was rejected make a decision for a better life . Or the homeless family that popped in a workout DVD and had such a transformation that they decided to take the next step. Do something different. Take a chance. Take a look and see we are from all walks of life. THIS MATTERS or I would not share it so openly. It changed me it can change you. Tomorrow night one hour live chat. What Beachbody Coaching IS AND IS NOT. 8PM Central. Take a look and see for yourself. No commitment just observation. I take this seriously. =) I can add you to the event if interested. Set yourself up for an amazing week! https://youtu.be/G10d0oYHCIk

Stepping Outside your Comfort Zone

Wednesday night I held my first vendor booth. I attended the Night to Bloom even in Dallas to support women who have been affected by Domestic Violence. I was honored to be among these women, and those that had their own tables. I respect people who have their own business, just like I do. Was I nervous? No. Did I invest a lot into this? Yes. If you want to have a million dollar business, you have to treat it like one. And as my husband says, dress for the job you want, not the job you have. SO that is what I did. I took all of my home workouts, shakeology samples out the wazoo, and information. I just shared my knowledge. It was never about a sale. I got a lot of contacts and still tying to connect with them. I hope that people see the value like I do. Return on investment? Time will tell.

The highlight of the evening was Lucy Dang's fashion show. She is a Dallas Based designer. I have never been to a fashion show. I was a bit out of my element with a lot of beautiful people. But hey, I am who I am. I loved the runway and the clothes. It was pretty freaking cool.

Willow Grace Beauty hosted the event, along with BTB Jewelry. Willow Grace empowers women and has some super amazing lip plumper. Not crazy stupid, but just makes your lips just a tad fuller. I got a sample and then won the raffle. SO excited to try my new lipsticks too! I also bought a candle to support Genesis Women's Shelter. It smells amazing and 100% of proceeds go to the shelter.

Also discovered a new company, India Hicks. They were across from me and I finally got to check them out at the end of the evening. I love perfume oil. I discovered one from Hungtington, NY a few years ago. I still order it from them. I never thought I would wear something else. BUT I tried India Hicks perfume oil, Wild Spider Lily and LOVED it. I ordered some. When I got home, my husband loved it. He doesn't notice anything like that. So excited to get my own bottle.

It was nice to get out. I have become kind of a hermit. I love what I do so I do it all the time. I am passionate about helping people. I am well versed in Shakeology so want to share that as much as I can. And also the importance of exercise to our health. I hope you enjoyed the photos. Have a great weekend.

21 Day Fix Approved Dressing

I started the 21 Day Fix again today. I did it once with success, started it again about 4 times, even gave the 21 Day Fix Extreme a go. Never finished. Can I say I am a failure? Probably. Can I make excuses, sure. It has been a shitty 5 months. BUT, I am responsible for my decisions and actions. I know that now more than ever. So, I start again today. I know it works. 21 Days - portion control, certain foods to eat. Veggies, Fruits, Proteins, Carbs, Fats, and oils. It has worked countless times for countless people. #1 infomercial for a reason. My cousin just reported her stats of 7 pounds and 11 and 3/4 inches. HELLO! You feel better and you look better. I am almost done with day one and just knowing I completed one day, I have a sense of accomplishment. I made one of my favorite dressings from when I did it the first time. I wanted to share it with you. The book guide has some YUMMY ones!

Dijon Vinaigrette 3 TBSP red wine vinegar 3 TBSP fresh lemon juice 3 TBSP Dijon mustard 2 cloves garlic (I used minced garlic) 1/4 tsp seat salt 1/4 tsp ground black pepper 6 TBSP EVOO 1.Combine vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper in a med bowl, whisk to blend. 2. Slowly add oil while whisking; mix well. THIS IS GOOD! ENJOY!

I am Bipolar

Weird heading right? In my case, true. I have been with my parents the past few days, as they were visiting from Indiana, when I realized crap, I have not written a blog post in a few days. Then it came to my attention that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. That means bring awareness. I am Bipolar. I was diagnosed about 3 years ago. I probably knew before that. I had suffered depression, anxiety and insomnia for years. Been on A LOT of meds and therapy to try and cope. I hit a breaking point. I was self medicating and just lost. In a fog of lack of sleep and not knowing how to function. I got treatment. It was HARD but necessary and they got me on the right meds. I was stable for some time and sleeping for the first time since I can remember. I felt good, and safe and secure and not "crazy". So then comes Dec. 2014. My meds just STOPPED working. To this day I don't know why. Hormones, change in diet, age? What? I went to three hormone doctors and have lost count of how many times I have had to see my psychiatrist. It was every two weeks and now about once a month. (and a lot of phone calls) I am on my 5th medicine for sleep. None of them have worked. I am on a new mood stabilizer. We had to start from scratch. That means weening off and trying certain things. It was a rough couple of months. I would have some good days, but mostly felt like ass. I spent about a month just crying every day. I felt so low I did not want to exist. One thing that kept me going? My workouts. I never missed one. Even if I did not want to leave my bed, I still worked out. One night I literally did not sleep all night. I went and worked out at 3AM. That what my solace. A therapy if you will. I gained about 10 pounds. I had binge eating days. I had off days. I had bad days. I am working my way back. I feel like a different person now than I did. I am getting better. I still have racing thoughts. I still have sleepless nights. I still get easily angry, but do try to calm down. I am better at coping. I know some people find me different. I told one lady I was bipolar and she said "that explains a lot". I guess it does. Why would I share this? Why would I be so open? Because it is real. It is a sickness you cannot see. People with depression, PTSD, anxiety, ANY TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH OR MOOD DISORDER? It is real. God bless you if you have never had to deal it. That is freaking awesome. But for those of us that do? Please do your part. Seek help. TAKE YOUR MEDS. Do your part by exercising and eating right (I know, not all the time). Don't hide who you are or pretend you are OK when you are not. There are good people out there that will support you (us). Rely on loved ones. I look like a normal wife/mom/friend/coach but I am different. That is OK. I am bipolar.