A many of you know I have been trying to lose weight pretty much my whole life and it is challenging at some times. I have tried a bunch of different diets plans such as Weight Watchers, Keto, Jenny Craig, Brat, no sweets, etc. Let me tell you; these diets may work for you but they didn’t work for me and my body.
Once you find out what your body type is and what it takes to lose the extra weight to gain the muscle and/or keep it off; will change your life and perspective. Everyone has a different system for their body and how working out or eating are different in everyone. (Fyi: don’t bash on someone’s journey to a better life; if they are not doing what you are. Every one struggles and no one is perfect. Find your stride, keep working at it, and listen to your body.)
Let’s get cooking!!
Breakfast:
(Serves 4)
This recipe is: – Vegan -Gluten Free – Vegetarian – Dairy Free – Low Fat – Low Sodium
Coconut Milk Steel-Cut Oats
Instructions:
Ingredients:
Combine the oats, coconut milk, water, and a pinch of salt in the Instant Pot and stir to mix well.
1 cup (185 g) steel-cut oats
Lock the lid in place and turn the valve to Sealing. Press the Pressure Cook button and set the cook time for 10 minutes at high pressure.
1 cup (240 g) coconut milk
Let the steam release naturally for about 12 minutes, then turn the valve to Venting to quick-release any residual steam. Carefully remove the lid. Strip to combine the oats with any remaining liquid.
2 cups (475 ml) water
To serve, spoon the oatmeal into individual bowls or mason jars and top as desired.
Kosher salt
You can use a different type of milk if you don’t like coconut milk.
Let’s embark on a healthy journey together, making positive changes to our lifestyles or embracing the lifestyles of others.
I know how hard it is to find fresh, easy, and healthy recipes to make. (Especially, in the world of fast food and too much sugar in snacks). This series will help lighten the load of dirty dishes to clean up and simple to follow. In today’s generation, people are either too busy or too lazy to make a feast in the kitchen slaving over the stove after a long day. This series is my way of giving you simple dishes for date nights, girls night-ins, meal prep for the week, and etc. This dishes will be inclusive too but not limited to vegan, gluten-free, low-fat, vegetarian, paleo, and dairy-free lifestyles.
You don’t have to sacrifice the flavor again!!
This series will help even the timid home-cooks make spectacular dishes for all their guests to enjoy. This series will help the new parents; that are exhausted and drained from the new baby or younger kids to cook a big meal. This series is for those who work in the medical field, first responders (firefighters, EMTs, police officers) that don’t get a full sit down meal while on call or even a home-cooked meal; because when they get home from a 24-48 hour shift all they want to do is sleep and some leftovers. This series will also help college students that move out of parents house and into their apartments that don’t know how to cook or is used to going out for all meals. It will help your bank account tremendously by cooking at home in big portions for weekly meals and also to bring in fruits and veggies into your diet instead of all the unnecessary grease.
I will be giving tricks and tips along the way along with what key tools to use.
Every week you will have a bunch of recipes to choose from. I will be posting 2 recipes per day; which will either be but not limited to a main course and dessert or classy dinner and some healthy basic choices to elevate your dinner parties.
If you make a recipe and it doesn’t turn out right; don’t get discouraged. It’s okay to not get it on the first try. I didn’t get it on the first, second, or third try; but you know what?! I didn’t give up! Now, I love making and tasting NEW recipes every week from a different diet.
I will support you throughout your journey of discovering recipes that you can try for your specific lifestyle.
Most people have a way to get through writer’s block whether that be a “creative process” or just giving up until something sparks or “Kobe”-ing crumbled up paper into a trash bin and missing. Have you ever experienced writer’s block? How have you gotten through it? However, I have done all three processes and most of the time that is where my procrastination and over-thinking comes from.
There are many ways to overcome this battle. Who do you talk to or where do you go to find peace for a little bit?
Some of the things I do to get out of the creative funk is take a walk or a run to clear my mind, I would hop in the car and drive for an hour or so down the back roads, I read my Bible and journal, and hang out with family.
One of the hardest things about running your own business or picking up and moving across the country for a job or school is finding people to talk to about your fears, insecurities, and dreams. Opening your heart and sharing your story can be scary, but they can also lead to deeper connections and important life lessons. I’ve seen and experienced those moments of shared vulnerability turned into lifelong friendships, new collaborations, and serious lifelines when things get tough.
I am always on the lookout for people and voices online that make me feel a sense of safety to be open and honest. Also, somewhere to be open and receptive to my creative/weird ideas or those that need another creative for advice.
I knew that Rashann and I were gonna be friends even before I talked to him. We met at camp as faculty and left as best of friends. I seen his creative process and his drive to document his experience with film. In a sea of voices and people, his stood apart in its unrelenting honesty, clarity, vulnerability, and creativity. His openness is discussing difficult topics like depression, creative blocks, and or asking for help felt like I failed and I was weak in my creative process. When someone’s voice is as similar to Rashann’s (caring, brutally honest, and not the voice in my head); you hand over the reins and let them do their thing.
I have recently found it hard in this world not to compare yourself to others. Creatives and non-creatives. People of the world in this day and age and on reality TV and social media have a notion on what people should look like or be; but we shouldn’t want to be like someone else. YOU ARE UNIQUE BEING YOURSELF and NO ONE CAN BE YOU ANY BETTER THAN YOU CAN!! As a creative myself, I always find it hard not to compare someone else’s life in the business I dream of having to my own. I need to remember that I am going to get there but it takes time. To make deeper connections and lifelong important lessons to build up your creativity and others as well.
Someone has told me that it’s okay to fail because that is how we learn from what happened or how adapt to build yourself back up stronger. Change your perspective or look at it through someone else’s eyes or even at a different angle. Getting over your fears with living life outside of you comfort zone is very difficult but also necessary.
Find what you are good at and do it with all of your heart and passion. Surround yourself with others that lift you up and hear your ideas but also support you in everything; good or bad.
Taking a piece out of my own book of comfort this summer and applied for this co-ed summer camp in New Hampshire called Camp Walt Whitman. Never thought anymore about it but a couple days later I got an email/call for an interview. Everything seemed to go so fast. Put my week-notice in at my former job of 5 years to scrambling to pack and buy a plane ticket. Finally, had the final interview Thursday and by early Sunday morning, I was headed towards New Hampshire.
Solo traveling is always nerve-wracking!! Some people can do it with no problems, but for me as a person with high anxiety and slight paranoia not so much. I did it though and it was all fine. First, got on an early flight in St. Louis to Chicago then Chicago to Manchester, NH. That’s where I met up with two other camp staff members and waited for a ride from a senior camp counselor to pick us up and take us to Piermont where CWW is located.
When we all got there, it reminded me of the camp from the parent trap. Cabins, dining hall, the beautiful lake, and different varieties of people and places they come from. I got to meet so many amazing people that have become my friends for life. There are some that happened because of the COVID isolation cabin, some by chance, and some by a leap of faith. Seven months later we are still the best of friends. We are planning summer road trips and spring baseball trips, festivals, and even photoshoots.
Once I stepped out of my comfort zone, it was a blast and the laughs, the coughs, and the memories made was all worth leaving home for 2 1/2 months. I know that I can’t go back this next summer but hopefully I can make it back for another summer.
At camp, we live our lives 10 for 2. Which means we live our lives 10 months out of the year for the 2 months of camp.
Jed Dorfman
The camp directors, Jed and Carolyn Dorfman, are incredible human beings. They love want they do and what this camp means to their family for generations. The love watching the kids and staff members grow and having their best time (to an extent). They are the camp mom and dad. When I was going through a tough time at camp on a couple of occasions; I went to them and amongst their busy schedule took time out to listen and talk with me. They both encourage everyone to follow what they are passionate about and will always have their backs in the future.
So, I would totally recommend working at this camp for the summer! 100% guarantee for fun and soul changing. Definitely makes you get out of your comfort box and live your life; with teaching kids ages 7-15. Not only are you changing their life and helping them see that not everything is about money and themselves; they change your life & heart as well.
I’m sad that I’m not going back this summer due to work and financial issues; which breaks my heart. However, I would want to go back the next year; if they’ll have me back.
FriendsCarnival comes to campTeam 1 vs Team 2- OlympicsRopes CourseAll SmilesSenior Camp Boys BaseballCWW jumps forwardTaking Archery LessonsAll ages can learn archerySoccer
Thanks for the memories Camp Walt Whitman 2022! See you again!
This year is meant for change within yourself and around you! Be held accountable, set a reminder, tell a loyal friend (if you have to; because if you’re like me, I’m forgetful and make excuses). Excuses are for the weak this year. Game changers make a change. Don’t adapt to or take to the easy way out; it won’t get you results or that big career moment or relationship.
The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his/her future by merely changing his/her attitude.
Oprah Winfrey
We are in game mode this year!
Change is hard; I would know. You feel stuck in certain ways, hometowns, still at home, careers, friend groups, relationships… the list goes on. However, are you going to be a statistic of homebodies or being comfortable with be sheltered too much and not living out your years of doing multiple things.
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.”
john d. rockefeller
Sometimes, you have to listen to your extroverted self sometimes and break out of you comfort (introverted) box and live life. Don’t worry about other people’s opinions on you. Life is too short to think of the what ifs!!!
LIVE. DREAM. CONQUER. LOVE. MESS UP. MAKE MISTAKES.
It’s your life; don’t let someone else dictate how you live your life or how you spend your money for happiness.
“I know the plans I have for you,” declared the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all you heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Let’s jump right in:
Where do you see yourself in five years? How are you going to get there?
You’ve probably heard these questions a time or two. Society seems to expect young adults to know exactly what we’ll do for the rest of our lives. And, actually, knowing what our future has in store is also one of the deepest desires of our hearts. We all want purpose—to live for something greater. We try to plan each tiny detail of our lives, and we want them to play our according to our timing.
Despite our best-laid plans, God has some ideas of His own for out lives. So, when we focus less on figuring out our own five-year lans and more on knowing and enjoying God, we being to see the future He has in store for us—His perfect plan—unfold.
God’s promise is clear—He’ll lead us to a place of prosperity and hope. This promise doesn’t include a blueprint or an answer to every question. It doesn’t include a specific date to expect restoration. He just said, “I promise.”
The your future is flooded with uncertainty, rest in God’s promise, knowing He is directing every step you take.
Pray with me:
Father, create in me the passion to seek Your presence above all things and to trust You with the unknown.
January 2:
Better Than Life
Because you love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will life up my hands. I will be fully satisfies as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
Psalm 63:3-5
What satisfies your soul? You may be familiar with the cravings of your belly—but what about the cravings of your soul? Which is more important? The psalmist’s answer is clear: God’s love satisfies and permeates the soul deeper than the greatest promises of the world.
The word life in today’s passage refers to earthly abundance. Even on a mountaintop of success and satisfaction, where you could not imagine life getting any better, God’s love is still better. It’s greater than any career, any relationship, and even life itself. In fact, the key to living an abundant life is only found in the freedom, confidence, and joy that come from God’s love.
It’s easy to say, but do you believe His love is better than life? If you say you believe, do you prove your belief with your actions? Dwell on the Lord, and let your joy overflow into praise as you delight in His incomparable love.
Pray with me:
Lord, change my perspective when I don’t believe that You and Your love are the best things in my life. May I only seek to be satisfied by You.
January 3:
God’s Comforting Greatness
Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back?For everything come from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.
Romans 11:33-36 (NLT)
How often do we find ourselves thinking we know exactly what’s best for us? Probably more often than we’d like to admit. Romans 11 speaks to our pride and foolish tendency to think we can figure things out on our own. It proclaims that God’s greatness, wisdom, and ways are far above our own. There is no greater wisdom or knowledge than that of the Lord, and everything on earth shows us this truth.
Understanding God’s greatness exposes our frailty and fickleness. When we humble ourselves by proclaiming His greatness, we set aside our pride and make space to learn from Him. When we declare the God is sovereign above all things, we can easily see His glory and grace. The more we realize that God is in control, the more readily we shift our trust in ourselves to trust in God—which provides far more comfort than trusting ourselves ever could.
We’ll never have all the answers, but we know the One who does. So we can walk confidently and joyfully through whatever comes our way.
Pray with me:
Lord, remind me today of Your greatness. Humble me, help me, and teach me to trust in Your truth.
January 4:
The Vine and the Branches
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
What is the first thing you do in the morning? Do you jam to music so loud that your ears ring for the rest of the day? Do you scroll through your social media feeds to see what you missed while you slept? Do you read tweets about celebrities, gossip, current events, and sports?
Most of the time, we wake up and walk into another day with the world at the front of our mind, only thinking about our own agendas. When we crawl into bed at night, it shouldn’t surprise us that we can’t seem to feel where God was during our day when we seek ourselves instead of Him.
Let’s wake up! We can’t sustain ourselves with our world’s media, music, and empty promises. Today’s verse reminds us that we aren’t the vine; Jesus is. We are the branches. We have to be connected to the vine—Jesus—so we can bear fruit, be fulfilled, and live abundantly. When we turn our focus from our Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest saturated lives, we can see that apart from Him we “can do nothing.”
Pray with me:
Father, please keep me from allowing the world to consume me today. Let my heart yearn for Your truth, my ears listen to Your Spirit, and my eyes seek Your face.
January 5:
The Dwelling Place
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
Psalm 27:4
What do you desire above all else? What does your heart long for?
David longed to live in the tabernacle, the dwelling place of God’s presence, and to be surrounded every day by the beauty, glory, and wondrous mystery of Almighty God. This insatiable ache to meet Him daily, to know Him and His character personally, could only be satisfied by time in God’s presence.
According to Psalm 27:4, God created in us a desire to seek the “one thing” that satisfies: to commune with the Lord. When we gaze upon His beauty and behold His glory, we begin to live as God designed us too. The desire of our hearts is fulfilled.
David found a place for himself where he could know and enjoy God. Where is that space for you? Find your tabernacle today. Passionately pursue that dwelling. When you make that “one thing” the ultimate goal of your days, you will have no room to forget how good, great, sovereign, and beautiful our Lord is.
Pray with me:
Jesus, I want to know You more. Help me passionately pursue communion with You today.
January 6:
Like Father, Like Son
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
John 14:6-7
Do you struggle with understanding who God really is?
Actually, God gave us a pretty direct way to get to know Him: He gave us His Son. In fact, Jesus says so Himself. In John 14, He explains to His disciples that He was going to heaven before them to prepare a place for them there, and not to worry once He departed this world. The disciples immediately asked Jesus how to get to heaven, and Jesus replied that the way was through Jesus Himself. God sent Jesus into the world as a model demonstrating how believers should treat others. This is how we inherit the kingdom of God.
So by knowing Jesus, we can lay aside all our worries—about careers, about assignments, or about anything else in this life—because we know that He has prepared a place for us. We get the fullness of God Himself when we know Jesus, which is far more life-giving than anything we could ever imagine.
Pray with me:
Lord, help me seek Your son to know You more today.
January 7:
Past, Present, and Future
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sone, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
romans 8:15-17 (esv)
The gospel is the thread that connects our past, present, and future. Look at it this way: we were places to this world, but now we are adopted children with an assured hope that we will spend eternity in heaven. In Romans 8, Pail broke down how the gospel alters our state of being. When Paul said we believers are to supposed to “fall back into fear,” he was referring to out former state as slaves in fear of death and the penalty of the law. Instead, though the Spirit, we are adopted into and become part of God’s family.
As God’s children, all ties to past sins are severe and forgotten. Now, we can look forward to a future filled with an unshakable hope and a shared inheritance of Christ’s glory.
Since we are freed from our past, cared for in out present, and assured of our future; let’s live our faith boldly, love sacrificially, and treasure Christ greatly.
Pray with me:
Father, thank You for the gift of adoption into Your family. I trust You with my past, present, and future!
First off, welcome to the year 2022! I know that we didn’t think that we would make it through the ‘5-year feeling’ of 2020 & 2021. It was hard y’all. I get it.
Clearly, I didn’t post this one; this will be a goodbye 2022. Now, that it’s almost 2023 I thought that I would catch you up. A lot has happened this year. Man! If you have time, I will tell you all about it.
I found that I am not only good at photography but sports photography. I have had multiple interviews with major league teams and scored a summer photographer job at a co-ed camp in New Hampshire. <That’s where I found a piece of myself that loves being around others and creating>. I am currently working as a photo intern with a SPHL team (southern professional hockey league) in Evansville. I I took a whole-summer job within a week of chatting with a staffing director, Lisa.
The people I met at camp went from strangers> acquaintances> friends> best friends> family. I am so blessed for the opportunity and will definitely someday go back.
What I learned for 2022 was that life is short and goes by fast; learned to let go and enjoy your time learning new things, making new friends/relationships, and making mistakes.
I’m excited to see what 2023 will bring! How I will step out of my comfort box but in a new exiting and scary way!
Since most of your know that I am a photographer of many different niches but the one niche that makes me love what I do is sports. I am an avid sports fan in many different reasons. I am a former softball athlete and grew up in a family of wrestlers, baseball, football, basketball, softball, volleyball, and racing athletes. So, I have been around sports all my life. The passion for sports photography came from that but also because I love to freeze moments in time. I realized that I was really good at clicking the shutter at just the right moment. Many of my friends/family & people of the sports I shoot have said and say that I’m really good at this.
I GOT MY INTERNSHIP WITH THE EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS!! It’s a Southern Professional Hockey League. Do I know anything about hockey; no. However, I know a lot about photography and I thrive on being on the edge of your seat excitement. Being in the right place at the right time is tricky with any sport but definitely with an oval rink. I haven’t photographed hockey yet; don’t I know anything about the sport but I am willing to be a sponge. To soak in this opportunity and experience to be better at my career.
I have had many opportunities with interviews with the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Twins, Camp Walt Whitman, Miami Marlins. Yet, nothing has stuck yet besides Camp Walt Whitman but I’m keeping the faith. With my drive, passion, and faith I can achieve anything.
I’ll keep you updated.
Never let the fear of striking out; keep you from playing the game.
I’ll link the song so you can hear it while you read or close your eyes and really hear the message within.
Lyrics:
When I walked into the party; everybody just stopped. Even the DJ wasn’t ready to see me without; a boy who isn’t ready to be a king. So tell me, why would I be chasing him to be his queen.
Don’t you know who my Daddy is?
and
Don’t you know what my Daddy did?
and
Don’t you know who my Daddy is?
He paid it all.
I’m the belle of this ball.
So, I’m gonna…
Party like a princess. Party like a princess. Party like a princess. I don’t need a prince to party like a princess.
(Repeat)
So, lemme tell you something that you’re needing to hear. Turn it to eleven won’t you lend me your ear. Royalty is in your blood; you’re an heir to the throne. Whether you’re a baby or have babies of your own.
Don’t you know who my Daddy is?
and
Don’t you know what my Daddy did?
and
Don’t you know who my Daddy is?
He paid it all.
I’m the belle of this ball.
So, won’t you?
Party like a princess. Party like a princess. Party like a princess. Party like a princess. I don’t need a prince to party like a princess.
Party like a princess. Party like a princess. Party like a princess. I don’t need a prince to party like a princess.
Party like, Party like, Party like a princess. Party like, Party like, Party like a princess.
(Repeat X2)
Party like a princess. Party like a princess. Party like a princess. I don’t need a prince to party like a princess.
(Repeat)
Gonna party like; gonna party like…
All my girls gonna party like a princess.
Jamie Grace is an artist, producer, author, podcaster, mother & wife, servant of the Lord, and lover of tacos. She writes pop music, contemporary christian, folk, and has a pop-culture podcast. She is an independent artist out of Georgia. Her book ‘Finding Quiet’ is about her having anxiety, OCD, ADHD, and Tourettes. She mentions that almost everything she creates is through the lens of finding joy, even when it seems impossible to find.
Jamie grew up in church and was home-schooled with her sister. At the start of her singing career on July 2006, she created a YouTube account and began posting videos of her songs online to get views and recognition. After years, her videos received recognition from Mark Stuart & David Mullen from Audio Adrenaline. Eventually, landing a singing and acting gig on the television show iShine Knect, and tour. Later on in 2010, she was discovered by TobyMac and was signed to his record label Got Records later that year.
She has toured with Winter Jam Tour for a couple a years when she is not acting.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook and crumble beef until no longer pink. Usually take 6-8 minutes; drain and set aside. In the same saucepan, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Sauce onion, carrots, celery, basil, and parsley until vegetables are tender; about 10 minutes. Add potatoes, ground beef and broth; bring to broil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender (around 10-12 minutes).
Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt remaining butter. Add flour; cook and stir until bubbly, 3-5 minutes. (You are making a rue). Add to soup; bring to a boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cheese, milk, salt and pepper. Cook until cheese melts. Remove from heat; blend in sour cream (optional).
Cheeseburger Soup Tips
What can I substitute for the Velveeta and ground beef?
* Any low melting-point cheeses, such as Swiss and cheddar, can be substituted for the Velveeta. Or for a kick, use pepper jack. If you’re looking to cut some fat from this soup, reduce the ground beef with ground sirloin, round or turkey.
How do you store cheeseburger soup? Can I freeze it?
* You can store soup by letting it cool completely and placing it in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Soups with starches and dairy (like the this soup) are not ideal for freezing.
Can I add bacon?
* Yes, you can always add bacon. Top bowls with crumbled cooked bacon for a bacon-cheeseburger twist.
Break The Comfort Box! 