Kombucha

Anyone ever tried Kombucha tea before? Perhaps you've grown you're own? I grew my own over 7 or 8 years ago and liked it & am looking to start back up. I was hoping to find someone local who has a scoby, but if not I think I'll buy from here http://store.kombuchakamp.com/The-Brew-Now-Kombucha-Mushroom-Kit.html

Cleanse

I contacted the good folks over at Team Beachbody corporate tonight to see if they'd sponsor me to do a 30 day all Shakeology cleanse. I had another painful night with my belly bloat :( I thought it was just sugar. I haven't had a lot of sugar recently and am particularly mindful when I do have it and I plan it out, so as not to have any flair ups. I feel so lost in my own body and it's frustrating. In addition to this painful occasional, mysterious bloat, severe fatigue some days, no period since Feb 2011, acne, I'm starting to gain weight, constipation, and more. Years ago the doctors labeled me with PCOS and IBS. My blood is all good for thyroid, and hormone levels, so no help from western medicine -- which is frustrating but I've kind of accepted that. If anything it makes me really rely on God, He is after all The Great Physician! :)

Sponsors

I am now accepting sponsors for this blog. I'm excited to partner with companies that are like,indeed in wholistic approach to health, fitness, food, and life. Contact me today if you are interested!

Thank you!

LIKE page

I made a LIKE page over on Facebook. Come on over and LIKE me :)

https://www.facebook.com/BeckyCrouseMinistries


Can't wait to see you there!!

Nuts about Nutrition!

• Almonds help stabilize blood sugar, have high calcium content, and are the least acid forming.

• Brazil nuts contain omega-3 fatty acids and high levels of the mineral selenium that may help prevent breast cancer.

• Cashews are high in magnesium (second only to almonds) that can help build strong bones and have more carbohydrates and a lower fat content than most other nuts. They are often inexpensive relative to other nuts discussed here.

• Hazelnuts are a good source of quality protein. Vitamin E and beta-sitosterol in hazelnuts contribute to heart health and fight cancer.

• Macadamia nuts are high in fat, though nearly all of it is monounsaturated. They are a good source of thiamine and contain small amounts of phosphorous, selenium, calcium and potassium.

• Walnuts have high levels of vitamin E and an ideal ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids (1:5). These fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, protect heart health and guard against arthritis.

• Pecans also have high vitamin E content and regular consumption may help decrease LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

• Pine nuts are actually the seeds of pine trees and contain large amounts of thiamine (vitamin B1) and protein. If you are trying to lose weight a substance in pine nuts may act as an appetite suppressant.

• Pistachios have lots of calcium, magnesium and vitamin A, as well as fiber and iron.

Best nuts for your diet: Almonds, Cashews, Pistachios

All nuts are about equal in terms of calories per ounce, and in moderation, are all healthy additions to any diet. "Their mix of omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and fiber will help you feel full and suppress your appetite," says Judy Caplan, RD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The lowest-calorie nuts at 160 per ounce are almonds (23 nuts; 6 grams protein, 14 grams fat); cashews (16 to 18 nuts; 5 grams protein, 13 grams fat); and pistachios (49 nuts; 6 grams protein, 13 grams fat). Avoid nuts packaged or roasted in oil; instead, eat them raw or dry roasted, says Caplan. (Roasted nuts may have been heated in hydrogenated or omega-6 unhealthy fats, she adds, or to high temperatures (above 170 degrees F) that can destroy their nutrients.)

Best way to eat nuts: Pair them with a healthy carb

Now you know all about which nuts are good for what — —but to get the most health benefits, it's also important to pay attention to how you eat them. "Nuts are a great thing to eat when you're having a carbohydrate like fruit or juice, because it helps slow down digestion and the breakdown of sugar," says Caplan.

A few winning nut-and-carb combos: Sprinkle them on salads, add them to low- or nonfat yogurt, or spread nut butter on slices of apple or pear. On the go? Pick up a 150-calorie pack of Earthbound Farms Dippin' Doubles Apples & Peanut Butter (11 grams fat, 5 grams protein).

Best nuts overall: A mixed bag!

So which is the healthiest nut overall? A 2004 review in the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide tackled this tough question. Luckily, they concluded, we don't have to pick just one. Mixed nuts, ideally raw and unsalted, provide the best variety of nutrients and antioxidants.

Puzzle Pieces

Do you know what you're doing for the rest of your life? Do you want to know what you're going to do for the rest of your life? For some reason I feel the inner scratching at my soul to want to know what I'm going to do when the boys go to preschool next year. I have made it my mission to know -- HA! Funny thing is, God decides WHEN I know, not me! I have recently had that lightbulb go on and accepted it.

The next puzzle piece if waiting for this thing to bloom from seed to flower! For some reason I feel entilted to be ready now. I for some reason I feel like I should get to know. I feel like I can have arrivred at my place of maximum career fufillment and leadership skills. Now I know I am no where near being responsbile and ready for that position but I want the activity of it.

I am maturing and growing and I want to enjoy the journey. I don't want to go anywhere or do anything unless is it God annointed. The possibilities sometimes overwhelm me, but I can only pray and trust God will lead me to more specific of a career. I hope to read this blog post 10 years from now and see where I've come from.

Did you know what you wanted to do straight out of highschool, college? Did you doubt yourself? Did you go all in? Did you pray about it?

Spring Bunnies

In prep for Easter, I had a few craft ideas I wanted to do with the boys. They didn't all get executed & our bunny ended up being a little slower of a project than I anticipated. For now, here's what we've got!

I drew a bunny on a big piece of paper & cut it out & we taped it on the window. We gave it a nice bushy cottontail.

I have a list of real Easter bunnies characteristics. My point in doing this craft was to bring the Americanized Easter version to point back to Christ, so I tried to visually make a craft to go with each 8 numbers you see listed on the white paper & then a relateable Bible verse as well.

I wrote out some random sins on scarlet red paper and we taped them up and talked about them & then covered each one with a piece a paper towel I had previously cut, to resemble Jesus washing our sins away and leaving us white as snow.

We cut out a carrot & radish to sympbolize our need to feed on God's Word everyday.

We cut out special insides to the ears as we are to listen and obey to the instructions of God.

We also gave him a heart w/a verse as well :)



More to come but we had an interruption & will be back at it later this month. I'll be sure to post the other numbers, verses, & lessons!