Friday, February 16, 2018

Get Fit Friday - Getting started in the gym

Image result for Get Fit

I went to the gym this week.  Here's my starting point (first time to do each exercise) on all that.... 

Minutes:Seconds
Sets/Reps/Weight

1 Mile                                                               17:18
Pushups                                                                   6
Plank                                                         30seconds
Burpees   (w/ jump squat and push up)                   5
Situps                                                                    25
Pull ups                                                              none
Ab Machine                                                  4/15/50
Back Extension                                           4/15/110
Seated pull down (Machine)                         3/15/45
Seated Row (Machine)                                 2/15/50
Bicep Curl (machine)                                   3/15/10
Triceps extension                                          3/15/10
Triceps Pulldown (cable)                              3/15/15
Triceps Dip (Bench)                                          2/5/0
Bicep Curl (Dumbbell)                                   3/15/8
Shoulder press (machine)                             3/15/10
Shoulder press (dumbbell)                            3/15/16
Dumbbell Lateral Raise                                  3/15/5
Dumbbell Front Raise                                     3/15/5
Seated Dumbbell shoulder press                   3/15/10
Bent over dumbbell lateral raise                   3/15/10
Upright Row                                                 3/15/15
Dead lift                                                        3/15/35
Lat Pulldown (machine)                               3/15/35
Single arm Dumbbell Row                           3/15/15
Bench Press (Dumbbell)                               3/15/20
Chest press (machine)                                   3/15/10
Dumbbell flys                                               3/15/10
Squats                                                             3/25/0
Lunges                                                            3/15/0
Leg extension                                               3/15/35
Seated Leg curl                                             3/15/25
Laying leg curl                                             3/15/25
Calf raises                                                    3/15/16
Calf machine                                                3/15/90
Leg Press                                                      3/15/75


Thursday, February 15, 2018

Thursday's Thoughts on...Love


God's Word says that the world will know we are His by our love for each other. 

Just the other day Mom and I were talking about my Nan. Nan loved everyone. She might say you should not have tattoos, that your pink hair is silly, or that your language is offensive, but she loved you. There was never a question about whether or not she loved people.  

She showed us she loved us by always wanting the BEST for us...and she believed that the best for us was less sin and more Jesus. She showed us that she loved us by not telling us what we wanted to hear, but what we NEEDED to hear. When she saw us falling, she called out to God on our behalf. 

I know this because I lived with her for a while. During that time I fell into sin that I won't go into here. When she confronted me, she told me she loved me, but that I needed to go live with either my mom or my dad, but I could not stay there with her and continue to live as I was. She then went to her room and sobbed and cried out to God on my behalf for hours. HOURS. She wailed. She cried. She prayed Scripture. She begged God to save me. 

Because she LOVED me.

I wish she could see me now. I think she would be pleased to know that God answered those late night prayers lifted up on my behalf.

I am so thankful to her for loving me. She loved me (and so many others) fiercely, fully, and faithfully. 

Scripture describes love in 1Corinthians 13:4-8. It is my prayer that one day this will describe me; that those who know me will be able to substitute "Kris" and "she" for "Love" and "it" in the following verses:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 Love never fails.

Much love and big hugs
K





Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Wednesday's Weekly Recipes - Amish Friendship Bread Starter


This has been my year to try new things. Making bread is one of the things on my list. Yes, you can totally go buy bread at the supermarket, but...why not do it the hard way?? haha
Honestly, when I first did this post, i expected to have made lots of bread by now. As with most of my plans....I am a bit behind.

 Sundays are(supposed to be) my "unpluged" day, making it a great time to enjoy creating something.

 It's only February and I am seriously derailed! I need to get it together!!!!!!!

(sigh)


Okay, here's the recipe I use for my starter and the instructions.

 FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS! Trust me on this. My sweet friend Sally said that her started exploded in her kitchen. (and you thought bread making was boring)



Ingredients
  • 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
  • 3 cups white sugar, divided
  • 3 cups milk


Directions:



Directions

  • Prep
  • Ready In
  1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Let stand 10 minutes. In a 2 quart container glass, plastic or ceramic container, combine 1 cup flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or flour will lump when milk is added. Slowly stir in 1 cup milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Cover loosely and let stand until bubbly. Consider this day 1 of the 10 day cycle. Leave loosely covered at room temperature.
  2. On days 2 through 4; stir starter with a spoon (not metal). Day 5; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Days 6 through 9; stir only.
  3. Day 10; stir in 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Remove 1 cup to make your first bread, give 2 cups to friends along with this recipe, and your favorite Amish Bread recipe. Store the remaining 1 cup starter in a container in the refrigerator, or begin the 10 day process over again (beginning with step 2).


Footnotes

  • Editor's Note:
  • Once you have made the starter, you will consider it Day One, and thus ignore step 1 in this recipe and proceed with step 2. You can also freeze this starter in 1 cup measures for later use. Frozen starter will take at least 3 hours at room temperature to thaw before using.

Next week I'll share a few of my family's fave breads made with this starter!


Much Love and big hugs!
K



Amish Friendship Bread 1 

 Ingredients
1 cup Amish Friendship Bread Starter
2/3 cup vegetable oil 
3 eggs 
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar 
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 
Grease 2 (9x5 inch) loaf pans.
In a large bowl, combine the Amish bread starter with oil, eggs, 2 cups flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. 
Mix well. 
Pour into prepared loaf pans.

Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Tuesday Tips and Tricks - Getting Organized - Bathrooms

Last week we organized the bathroom cabinets and vanity drawers. This week we will dig a little deeper...

Check the shower curtain / liner and your bath mat. Are they in good condition or do they need replacing? Take care of those items either by washing them or replacing them.

Time to clean all the flat surfaces. These are notorious for collecting hairspray and hair. UGH! Take everything off the vanity and shelves and give them a good cleaning. Do the same for any decorative items you have in the room. Finally, wipe down all the bottles of beauty supplies. Put everything back, tossing anything that is no longer needed, is empty, or out of date.

Clean the toilet. Get down around the bottom (especially if you have boys in the house). I am replacing my seats. If your seats are - yuck - replace yours too. You son't have to spend much. I got mine for less than 15 dollars each.

Mop the floor, clean the bath tub/shower and call it "done" for this week.


Isn't this FUN?!?!?! (no, it's not, but it IS very rewarding)


Next week we tackle the grout!

Much love and big hugs!
K

Monday, February 12, 2018

Monday Motivation




Following up on last week's Monday motivation....

I have experienced this in my own life and have witnessed it in the lives of more people than I can count. Too many times, we allow Satan to rob us of our joy, peace, and...well, our LIFE because we are consumed with something from our past that we cannot change. 

The best thing I ever did for myself was to just let go of the things I cannot change. Honestly, it is a daily thing for me still. Even so, I have been freed from so much anxiety, anger, and bitterness by just letting some things just rest in the past. I am not carrying them into my future. 

I would rather be consumed with what God is doing in my life now, with the possibilities that the future holds, and with the many ways God is working in my life and in the lives of the people I love. These things bring me joy and peace and satisfaction.