Giving Thanks for Blessings

Some background info: every month, I need to fill out a calendar that shows that I’m actually doing something with my life, then send it in to my case worker so that my family can still get my fraction of government benefits. I need to send it in by the fifth of every month, but it needs to be sent out at the end of the previous month so that it gets there BY the fifth so that I don’t get a “sanction.” Before I can send it, though, I need my professors to sign it, validating that, yes, I have been going to class.

I forgot to have my Tuesday/Thursday professor sign my paper yesterday. That normally isn’t a problem, because I can just have her sign it on Thursday, but this Thursday is Thanksgiving and the college is closed for the rest of the week. So I freaked out a little bit and rushed to school to see if I could catch my professor and have her sign it, even though she’s usually not in her office when I’m not in class (meaning, I usually don’t see her on Mondays and Wednesdays).

I was already on my way to school when I realized that I forgot to pack a protein bar. I have fifteen minutes between my classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, so I don’t have time to eat a real lunch or stop to get food. I knew I had a handful of almonds in my backpack, so I figured they would have to tide me over till I got home.

Since I knew my professor usually isn’t in her office when I’m out of class, I figured I would have to email her when I got to school and ask when she would be available to sign my calendar. I pass her office on the way to the computer lab, so I took a quick peek in when I passed.

She was there!

I ended up interrupting an audio recording that she was doing, but she signed my calendar anyways cuz she’s just awesome like that. (Then she put a sign up outside that said “Do Not Disturb.”)

So that solved one problem. I still didn’t have food, but I was still planning on having my almonds. However, when I finally made it to lunch time, I knew that they were not going to be enough. I knew my professor always has pretzel sticks in her office, so I decided to run by there and see if she happened to be in her office again.

On my way there, I passed a bake sale. They had “cuties” (mini oranges) for 25 cents. So I bought one. And then, my professor was in her office again! (And NOT making a recording!) She gladly gave me two pretzel rods, and she even gave me an apple and a granola bar. I was only searching for something that would hold me over until I got home, but by the time my search was over, I had enough to eat then and there, and then some.

For me, nothing other than “miracle” describes my entire morning/afternoon. My Tuesday/Thursday professor is never in her office when I pass by on Monday/Wednesday, but she was there TWICE today. I got my calendar signed and I got food (more food than I needed). Although I will admit that my professor is awesome for signing my calendar for me and giving me food, I’m giving God the glory for one, giving me such an awesome professor, and two, allowing me to catch her twice when I needed to, even though odds said that I wasn’t going to see her.

I kept thinking of the Bible story about the little boy with the loaves and fishes and how Jesus took something so small and blessed it so that He could provide for all those in need. This stuff didn’t just happen in Bible times – it still happens today.

No matter how unlikely something may seem, no matter how hopeless or desperate a situation, God is never going to leave you alone. He’s always going to be looking out for us, whether we’re driving on the road during a snow storm, facing unexpected crises, or just looking for a quick snack to tide us over. He’s always going to provide whatever it is we need – and then some.

This Thanksgiving, I challenge you to think of all of the ways God has blessed you over the year. Really think about it. Then take the time to tell him thank you.

Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Molly

Andes Creme de Menthe Cookies

So I haven’t been doing a ton of experimenting with my baking lately, which is why there haven't been any new recipe posts up. I apologize; I thought my family deserved something that I knew was going to turn out tasty! However, I decided that it was time to try something new when, the other day at the store, I found a package of Andes Crème de Menthe baking chips.

I love Andes mints. Love them. So when I found the baking chips, I knew I needed to bake some cookies with them.

The following recipe is based off of the back of the Andes Creme de Menthe baking chips package. But of course, I needed to put my own twist on things.

First, cream together ½ cup of softened butter, ¾ cup of brown sugar, and ½ cup of granulated sugar until you get a crumby dough.

One you cream together the butter and sugars, add 2 tsps of vanilla extract and 2 eggs (add the eggs one at a time) and beat until smooth and creamy.

Add 1 tsp of baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Beat the batter until mixed.

This next part might require you to get your hands messy: add 2 ½ cups of sifted, all-purpose flour to the batter and mix until incorporated. Once everything is mixed together, add one 10 oz package of Andes Crème de Menthe bits and mix it all together until mixed.

Roll dough into approximately 1-inch balls and place on a non-stick baking sheet.

Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool on the baking sheet for a couple minutes, then set aside or eat and enjoy!

Andes Crème de Menthe Cookies

Ingredients

½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened

¾ cup brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 pinch of salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, sifted

1 10 oz package Andes Crème de Menthe baking chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat the butter and sugars with an electric mixer in a bowl until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, along with the vanilla. Beat until creamy.

Add the baking soda, baking powder, and salt to the batter, and mix until smooth.

Time to get your hands dirty! Add the sifted flour, then mix the batter with your hands until mixed (unless you have a good mixer that can do it for you). Then add the mints and mix some more.

Roll the dough into approximately one-inch balls. Place the balls on a non-stick baking sheet with about 1.5 inches between them. Flatten the balls slightly. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes, until the cookies start to brown.

Remove the sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool for a couple minutes before removing them. Eat and enjoy, or store for later.

What is your favorite kind of cookies?

Molly

Motivational Monday 13 - The Thanksgiving Post

Image courtesy of Sabrina Bailey from The Red Room Photography

Happy Thanksgiving week everybody! No matter what your take is on the history of the holiday, remember that it’s still a time to take a step back and acknowledge all of the blessings that you’ve received. There’s a lot of negativity in the world today, and a lot of complaining about pretty much everything, so it’s important to take the time to stop complaining and give thanks for the good things in life.

I think the most common complaints that I hear are about jobs/employers, the lack of support from family members, and money. I know a lot of people who can always find something to complain about. I can even find stuff to complain about. Sometimes we have legit reasons to be upset, but that doesn’t mean we have to let these unfortunate things keep us from being happy. No matter how bad your life may seem, there’s always something to be thankful for.

People complain about their jobs a lot. They either don’t get enough hours, they get too many hours, they’re denied certain benefits due to them, etc. It’s reasonable to be upset about this stuff, but don’t let it keep you from being thankful. Do you know how many people are looking for jobs and would be happy to take on the one you spend your time complaining about? Think about how you would really feel if you lost this job. Would you really be happier? Whatever the answer, realize that you are blessed to have a job in this economy.

Other things I hear people complain about are their family members, whether direct or extended. I myself have complained about certain family members. They don’t help out around the house, their sole purpose in life seems to be to make your life harder, they’re freeloaders, they take advantage of you… the list can go on. However, when you start to get upset about a family member (or even a friend for that matter), think about how many people have nobody to turn to or talk to on a daily basis. And when you contemplate spending time with that family member this holiday season who you would rather not have to deal with, think about how many people won’t have anyone to spend the holiday season with.

Image courtesy of google images.

I don’t think I know a single person over the age of ten who has not, at some point, complained about money. Money makes the world go ‘round, after all, and if you don’t have it, then you can’t buy the stuff that you want. But then, even if you don’t have the money, you can buy stuff, and go into tons of debt. People are going to go out this Friday and spend a ton of money on stuff that they really don’t need, and probably charge a lot on a credit card that they can’t afford. Money is a sensitive subject. But I think it’s important to think about all those people in the world who can’t even afford to give their children adequate nutrition on a daily basis. Think about those who can’t afford to take care of their families and watch their loved ones starve to death. Money might be a tough subject in your life, but it isn’t as tough as it is for some people.

Sometimes it’s okay to complain. Our complaints aren’t always unfounded, and we have a right to have them. It’s when our complaints become more numerous than our joys that we see a problem develop. So this holiday season, instead of complaining that you have to work on the holiday, be thankful that you have a job; or, if you don’t have a job, be thankful that you don’t have to work during the holidays. And when you have to spend time with people that you don’t particularly like, think about all those people who will be spending the holidays lonely. And when it comes to money, think about those who are less fortunate than you are. Realize that you are blessed, no matter your situation.

As the wise Albus Dumbledore put it, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

Image courtesy of google images.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Molly

Motivational Monday 12 - The Impossible

You know how people say that it’s impossible to lick your elbow? Well, I can lick my left elbow. Not the right, but I can somehow get my left arm in such a position that I can lick that elbow. I’ve also met one other girl who can lick her elbow. So there are two theories here: either people are lying when they say that people can’t lick their elbows, or this girl and I are just freaks of nature.

Whatever the reason why we can lick our elbows, it still remains that we proved the doubters wrong. According to those who believe it is impossible to lick your elbow, we have just accomplished the impossible. Sure, licking your elbow is a pretty trivial thing, but it’s still awesome to know that I’ve proven the impossible to be possible.

How many things have been called “impossible” only to be proven to be possible? People used to believe that man can’t fly. I’m sure it seemed impossible to believe that man would ever walk on the moon. If you traveled back in time and told the people of the past how many miraculous things we’ve accomplished by today, I’m willing to bet that their response would be one of two things: have you thrown in an asylum, or shout “Impossible!” Or maybe both.

I think just to be on the safe side, you probably shouldn’t be taking any trips to the past.

Have you heard the saying “Nothing is impossible; the word itself says ‘I’m possible’”? Well, I’m sure there are some things that will always be impossible, but there are a lot of things, as we’ve already discussed, that are and will be possible. I don’t know what you’re going through, or what the “impossible” is for you, but I want you to know today that it is not impossible. You can do it or get through it (whatever “it” is). Remember: the impossible just takes longer.

Cheers!

Molly

Living Healthier

You don’t have to put in a lot of effort to live healthier. Adopt some of these tips to your daily life and you’re already on your way to healthy living!

1. Drink more water! Have you ever experienced the side effects of NOT having enough water? It’s not fun. Water is essential for life; but not only that, it also helps with weight loss (or at least weight maintenance), gives you clearer skin, and pretty much makes you feel healthy. Although I don’t keep good track of how much water I drink in a day, I can usually tell when I don’t get enough.

Image courtesy of Google image.

Tip: To make sure you get in enough water, skip out on your carbonated, fruity, or alcoholic beverages as your go-to thirst-quencher and reach for water every time you need a drink. Fun flavored liquids should only be consumed occasionally. And if you don’t like plain water, flavor it up with some lemon, cucumber, mint, or a variety of other fruits.

2. Take your vitamins! Although I honestly can’t tell how each vitamin I take affects me, there are some that I can’t skip if I don’t want adverse reactions. Vitamins provide your body with essential minerals to help it work at its optimal level. Think of your body like a machine: vitamins are the tools that you can use to help it run as best as it can; and even better!

Image courtesy of Google image.

Tip: If you have a hard time remembering to take your vitamins, try to make it a habit to take them after or before lunch.

3. Don’t eat as much sugar! I’ll admit: I have no self-control when I start snacking on chocolates. One turns into two turns into four turns into 32. The trick is to hide the sweets – out of sight, out of mind, right? And if that doesn’t work, I try reminding myself that I can always eat a treat later – the ones in front of me aren’t the only ones available for me to eat. You don’t have to stop eating sweats period, but you just need to learn to limit your sugar intake.

This is my Halloween candy. It is inside of a drawer, with a note that says "Do a 4 minutes Tabata" to discourage me from opening the drawer

Tip: Try the out of sight, out of mind, trick if your family won’t keep sweets out of the house. And if that doesn’t work, try telling yourself that if you make it to the end of the week, you can have a special treat (ONE special treat).

Living healthier doesn’t have to be about changing your entire lifestyle; just a few simple changes can help you get on the right track. Try some of these and let me know if you’re noticing a difference! Good luck!

Molly

Motivational Monday 11 - A Lesson from NaNoWriMo

If you hadn’t guessed by now from my posts, I am a writer. I have been writing since I was young, but I began writing more seriously at about fifteen. I have been working on the same novel (and its sequel) since then. Because I have been focusing all of my writing time on this project (my baby), I have been averse to starting any other project. Thus, when introduced to the concept of NaNoWriMo, I decided that it wasn’t for me.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with NaNo, the idea is that you write an entire 50,000 word novel in the month of November. You are supposed to start an entirely new project for NaNo, although some people “rebel” and build onto the novels that they’ve already been working on, aiming to add 50K by the end of the month. I’m already finished with my novels and I’m in the revising/editing stage, so I wasn’t even going to sign up to “rebel.”

Although I am still working on my “baby,” I take time off during the time that I’m in school so that I can focus on it more clearly. I don’t want to divide my attention between schoolwork and revision/editing, because I’m afraid I might miss something while revising. However, all of this academic writing has begun to stifle me. I knew I needed to do some creative writing soon or else I would go insane. So I decided to sign up for NaNo about a week before it started.

Image courtesy of NaNoWriMo.

 I have never, never, never experienced such abandon when it comes to writing as I have experienced while writing this novel for NaNo. The idea is to write an entire 50K word novel in one month, so you really don’t have time to second-guess yourself. Some of the stuff that I’m writing is utter garbage, but I’ve noticed that if I let myself get stuck on that scene, I wouldn’t have been able some of the awesome scenes that follow.

I think there are a lot of times in life when we get so stuck on something that we don’t move forward onto the awesome stuff. We’re either worrying about past mistakes that we’ve done, or holding grudges about something that somebody else did. We hold on to the past and don’t move on to the future; and when that happens, we don’t get to experience the awesomeness stuff that follows.

There’s definitely a lesson to be learned from the abandon of NaNoWriMo. Besides learning how to write without second-guessing yourself, it teaches us that no matter how awful something is, it’s not like it’s going to keep us from experiencing something great. Even though I can change what happens in my novel (eventually; in the months of January and February), I can’t exactly change what happens in the past. But that’s OK: the point is to just keep going, because if you stop, you won’t experience that awesomeness that’s going to follow.

So whether you’re writing a novel or living your life, don’t sweat the mistakes; either they can be fixed, or they won’t end up defining the bigger picture. The key is to just keep going!

Cheers!

Molly

Tabata Training - AKA Torture Training

Image courtesy of Peanut Butter Fingers

Let’s talk Tabata training.

Tabata training, according to bodybuilding.com, “is one of the most popular forms of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). It consists of eight rounds of ultra-high-intensity exercises in a specific 20-seconds-on, 10-seconds-off interval.” Tabata training according to me is pretty much a new form of torture, disguised as an actual workout routine. Then again, I have that same feeling about most workouts. 

The idea behind Tabata training is that it works both your aerobic and anaerobic systems to give you maximum calorie burn for the time you put in. In other words, it tries to kill you in 4 minutes. Unless you’re insane (like me) and try to go through the entire workout, which consists of 8 rounds for a total of 32 minutes.

So does it really work? Lots of people say yes, it does. According to a research report posted the American Council of Exercise’s (ACE) website, four minutes of exercise may not be enough for you to reach your fitness goals but, “based on the evidence, short-burst, high-intensity training is the real deal. And adapting Tabata-style training to fit your client’s workouts is without a doubt another very effective approach you can employ to help them achieve their goals.”

If you’re looking for numbers, this is what the research posted on ACE’s website reveals: The 16 subjects burned between 240 and 360 kcals during the workout, for an average of 15 kcals per minute burned. Again, Tabata met established guidelines for calorie expenditure for improving health and facilitating weight loss. On average, subjects also anecdotally perceived Tabata to be pretty darn tough. The average RPE was 15.4 (rated as “hard”). Meanwhile, blood lactate levels averaged 12.1 mmol/L following the workouts, suggesting that subjects were working out well above their lactate thresholds.

If you would like to read the rest of the article, you can go here. 

Interested in trying out this killer (literally) HIIT workout? If you’re a beginner, you might want to start off easy, but if you’re advance, give it all you’ve got!

Here are my (totally non-professional!) recommendations:

For beginners:

Do pushups for 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds, do jumping jacks for 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds, and repeat until you’ve done 4 sets on pushups and 4 sets of jumping jacks. Try to get at least one more circuit in, using some of your favorite exercise moves in place of the pushups and jumping jacks.

For advanced:

20 sec. pushups

10 sec. rest

20 sec. lunges with bicep curls

10 sec. rest

(repeat 4x)

20 sec. burpees

10 sec. rest

20 sec. squat jumps

10 sec. rest

(repeat 4x)

20 sec. Russian twists

10 sec. Rest

20 sec. bicycle crunches

10 sec. rest

(repeat 4x)

20 sec. sumo-squats with triceps extensions

10 sec. rest

20 sec. crescent pose with reverse flyes

10 sec. rest

(repeat 4x)

20 sec. jumping jacks

10 sec. rest

20 sec. jump rope

10 sec. rest

(repeat 4x)

20 sec. crunches

10 sec. rest

20 sec. twisting plank

10 sec. rest

(repeat 4x)

Come up with 2 more rounds and your good to go! (Sorry, I’m too lazy to think of anything else.)

Again, I have no training in health and fitness and only know what I’ve learned through internet searches and working my own body. If you don’t trust my Tabata suggestions, you can find more online. Basically, though, the idea is that you do 1 serious move for 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds, do another serious move for 20 seconds, rest for 10 seconds, and repeat 4 times and go as hard as you can.

Good luck! Drink plenty of water! And remember to stretch!

Molly

The Author of Life

No matter what’s going on around me, I know that God is in control. And the good news is that God, who is in control of everything, loves me and promises to take care of me. Sadly, I still don’t always trust him as much as I should, and I freak out when something doesn’t go the way I plan, or if I’m trying to make plans and I can’t see how they’re going to make out.

If you’re like me, you might be interested in reading my Control Freaks post.

It’s taken some time to get used to, but I think I’ve finally come to accept the fact that God is the author of life. I’m a writer, so this metaphor helps me. When I write, I understand my characters wants and desires. I [usually] know what’s going to happen before they can see it coming (whether a disaster or something wonderful). I love my characters and I will never abandon them. So it makes sense that God, the author of life, loves me more than I love my characters and that he will never abandon me.

Sometimes life doesn’t go the way I plan and I get upset. But it’s not up to me to be upset. It’s not up to me to be upset at God for letting these things happen. Because God is the author of my life, he gets to decide what happens to me, from beginning to end. The good news is that just like how I will never leave my characters to suffer through a trial on their own, I know that God will never leave me. Also, I will never let something bad happen to my characters without planning some way to redeem them, and I know the same goes for God.

Even though my life is my story, God is the author. It’s not up to me to decide what’s going to happen or what’s not going to happen to me in life; that’s God’s responsibility. My job is to deal with the circumstances when they come my way, and trust that my author won’t leave me to struggle through the obstacles alone.

God loves us and he doesn’t want to harm us. I know there are plenty of authors out there who enjoy putting their characters through trial after trial, and sometimes the main characters dies at the end. The good news is that God is a benevolent author! (And even if you do die, if you’re a Christian, there’s no better happy ending than spending eternity in heaven with God.) He won’t let you go through trial after trial without having those trials mean something, teach you something, or lead you somewhere in the end.

Remember: God makes all things work together for the good of those who love him (Romans 8:28).

Cheers!

Molly