That's all she wrote..

Teaven and I have been in school mode for the past two weeks, but today was T's first day with his students. He had a wonderful first day, and we are so excited to see where God takes him this year. My students started school today as well, but they won't come to the GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) program until next week. We like to give them a week in their normal schedule and classes before we take them away from it once a week. I'm super excited to meet my kiddos.

I haven't forgotten the 8 Week Challenge. These past couple of weeks have been difficult for me as far as eating goes. Teachers want to go out for lunch or grab a soda, and I don't hesitate to join them. Although, I probably should. I'm trying to get better... I promise.

As far as exercise goes, I've been doing great! I tried out TurboFire 2 weeks ago and barely made it through the 6 days. Let's just face it, people, I have ZERO coordination, and instead of looking as graceful as everybody else on the DVD, I look like a chicken with its head cut off, trying to punch someone. It's truly sad, and I refuse to let anyone in the room while I do it.

So, since I suck so much at intense kickboxing and the weather decided to cool down just slightly (is 95 cool to anyone else?), I decided to start running again. That's really the only exercise I enjoy doing and can stick with for a while. So, my routine has been to run 3 times a week and do some type of strength/scuplt 2 times a week. It worked out well last week, and I hope to keep with it this week. I'm starting slow, but at least it's something.
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I think I'm going to put the scale away for a while. It just seems to discourage me and make me beat myself up. I want this challenge to be about changing my lifestyle, not a number. I'll be able to tell I'm losing when my pants start to get loose. It's just something I need to do for me.

That's all for now, folks. Hopefully, I'll remember to update later this week about our jobs... and the fact that we are buying couches this weekend (you have no idea how excited I am about that)!

Kick it into Gear 8 Week Challenge

So, the 8 week challenge. What do I love so much about those? I don't know. Maybe it's the fact that 8 weeks seems like a doable time frame. I mean, I just started and only have 7  weeks to go. That seems short, right?

Why am I doing this? Because everything I have done up to this point of being in America has failed. Instead of maintaining my weight, I have gained it back. I'm so embarrassed about it. I have a lot of spiritual and emotional issues to work through during these next few weeks.

I need a goal. One that is doable.

I need to focus on my health.

I need to stop ignoring my issues.

So, I'm going to set this up weekly and follow the same structure I used when I did the BEW Weight loss Competition.

I just finished week 1, so here it is.

Weight Loss Goal by September 29: Lose 15-20 pounds

Pounds lost this week: 0.8

Progress Towards Goal:  0.8 of 20

Favorite thing that I made this week: The Parmesan asparagus I made last night! So easy and so tasty.

Exercising Goal for last week: workout 3 times

Did I do it? Yes! 

Exercising goal this week: start and complete the first week of turbofire

Healthy change goal this week: no soda. No coming home from work and getting fast food.

Recap

Alright, ladies and gents, it has been entirely too long since I have graced you with my blogger presence. I'm sorry, but what can I say? I've been living life. I really would like to think that I will get loads better at blogging regularly in the upcoming months, but who am I kidding? School starts back up in just a few short weeks.

Alas (yeah, I just said that), I will try to update weekly since I have started another 8 week challenge. More on that in a minute.

I'm pretty sure I could write a novel on what has gone on in the Barnums' lives these past few months, but I won't bore you with all the details. Let's just do a quick recap.

I was offered a position teaching Gifted and Talented students with Temple ISD. I will actually be at the same campus as I was last year. Each day my little kiddos (yes, they really are little! yikes!) will be bussed to our campus from all the elementary schools in Temple and then bussed back. I will have 1st-5th grade. 1st on Monday, 2nd on Tuesday, 3rd on Thursday. You get the picture. I am really excited about this opportunity and all that I will learn this year.

Teaven was offered a position teaching 6th grade World Cultures with Killeen ISD. This is exactly the position he had been praying for since he went to the job fair in March! Isn't it amazing how the Lord provides? He instantly formed a connection with the administration, and he is super excited to be working at this school.

Next week, we both start back with new teacher training. We've already been nonstop busy, and it's only going to get crazier from here! But, man, are we excited about it!


In other news, I've started a new 8 week challenge with some of my really great friends. Basically, my goal for the next 8 weeks is to exercise 3-4 times a week, eat healthy, and lose some of the weight I gained back. That's all for another post coming soon! But if you want to join me, please let me know!

That's all for now, folks!

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Salmon in a Bag

So, I was walking through HEB the other day, trying to decide whether or not to buy more chicken, when I passed this beautiful looking salmon. Now, I don't normally care for fish, but my husband loves it. So, I had been wanting to venture out and try something new. Boy, am I glad I did! The inspiration came from this pin, but there weren't clear instructions or ingredients. I'm sorry that the pictures aren't the best quality. I took them with my iPhone because, honestly, I didn't expect to like this recipe so much.

Salmon in a Bag

Ingredients:

-2 salmon fillets

-salt

-garlic salt

-minced garlic

-parsley

-lemon juice

-lemons

-butter

-foil

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

- Get 2 pieces of foil big enough to cover the entire fillet. 

-Slice lemons and place about 4 on each piece of foil. Then, put the fillet on top of the lemons.

-Cut a small cube of butter and put it on top of the salmon. 

-Season with salt, garlic salt, minced garlic, parsley, and a sprinkle of lemon juice. We didn't use specific measurements, but it's about a pinch or a dash of each seasoning for each fillet. :)

-Fold the foil over the salmon so that it is tightly covered, as if in a bag. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the salmon flakes easily with a fork. 

Resurrection Rolls

Have you guys ever heard of Resurrection Rolls? I know it's after Easter, but I just had to share this with you all just in case you're like me and hadn't heard about them.

Over the weekend, I was browsing through Pinterest and came across this pin.

The moment I read about them, I knew I wanted to make them with my neices and nephews for Easter. They are so easy to make, SO delicious, and make a great hands-on learning experience about the resurrection.

Here's what you do:

Resurrection Rolls
Recipe from Saving Dollars and Sense

Ingredients:
-crescent rolls
-large marshmallows
-melted butter
-cinnamon sugar (I just eyeballed it when I mixed them)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
1. Give each child (or adult) a triangle from the crescent rolls.
    This represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.
2. Give each child a marshmallow.
    This represents Jesus and His purity.
3. Dip the marshmallow first in the melted butter.
    This represents the embalming oils.
4. Dip the marshmallow in cinnamon sugar.
    This represents the spices Jesus was annointed with.
5. Wrap the marshmallow in the crescent roll. Make sure the marshmallow is completely covered and there are no open spots. It should be the shape of a roll.
     This represents Jesus's body being wrapped after death.
6. Place in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes.
    The oven represents the tomb.
7. Take the rolls out and let them cool slightly. The marshmallows will have melted, and when the children go to open the roll, they see that Jesus is no longer there. He is risen!
Optional: Before you place the rolls in the oven, dip them in the melted butter and cinnamon sugar for added flavor.

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

In my journey to be healthy, I've been looking for delicious, low-calorie meals to make. I'm going to attempt to post a new recipe each week. And before I begin, I would just like to say that I do not claim to have created any of these recipes. I have either found them through Pinterest or another website, and I will always give credit where credit is due.

The first recipe I'm going to share with you is a weight watchers recipe. I found it here.

Source: emilybites.com via Sarah on Pinterest

For those of you who don't know, I love hot wings. I mean, seriously, love. I had a username in middle school called hotwingsmakemehappy. Yeah, I was cool.

Anyways, this recipe is absolutely delicious. It's one of those recipes I could eat every week, several days a week, and the great thing about it is that it's low calorie and can be used so many ways! Plus, it only calls for 4 ingredients and is cooked in the crockpot. Can you say amazing?

So, here's what you need:
-2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (frozen or unfrozen)
-1 bottle of hot wing sauce (I used Frank's RedHot wing sauce)
-1 packet dry ranch dressing mix
-2 T light butter

Here's what you do:
1. Place chicken breasts in crockpot and cover with hot wing sauce and ranch dressing. Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until meat shreds easily.
2. Remove the meat and shred it (I use my KitchenAid mixer for this. So easy!). Place the shredded meat back in the crockpot and add the butter. Stir to combine and cook for about another 30 min to an hour to let the meat soak up the sauce.

You can serve this on buns, tortillas, or even with a salad! I even ate it by itself. The nutrition information can be found on myfitnesspal.com. It's less than 200 calories.

Go make it now!

Shorts

So, I tried on these shorts recently. Shorts I gave to my sister when I got back to America because they were too big for me. Shorts I received in Korea in a lovely box from my mother. Shorts I was so thrilled about getting that I couldn't wait to get home and try them on. When I got home from work that night, I immediately went and tried them on. One leg in, the next leg in. Uh oh. Pull. Tug. Come on, shorts, just a little further. You ladies know what I'm talking about? That moment when you just know they won't go any farther up your legs? Yeah, that happened.

You may remember this post where I mentioned the first size 8 jeans I have ever ordered. Here's a little excerpt from it:

And I'm super nervous that when I try them on in a few weeks, I'm going to go into hysterics because they won't even fit over my leg (trust me, that's happened).

Yeah, in that post, I was talking about the same pair of shorts. After attempting to get them correctly on my body, I ripped them off and immediately broke into tears. It didn't help that earlier that day, in two different classes, I had several students tell me I was fat and needed to go on a diet. Thankfully, my loving husband came in, wrapped his arms around me, and told me I was beautiful and everything would be okay. A few months into my weight loss journey, and those babies fit perfectly.

So why am I telling you all of this?

A few nights ago, my sister gave me the shorts back because she doesn't wear them. The next day, I tried them on and could barely button them. Like serious muffin top hanging out my shorts. Thankfully this time I did not break down into hysterics.

But instead, I resolved to do better. Sure, I've been telling myself this every. single. day. since I've been back, but I haven't truly felt the drive yet. Putting on those shorts was just the thing I needed. Sarah, you've gone too far in the wrong direction. It's time for a change.

So things are changing in my life. No more excuses. And, yes, I've probably said this a million times. Yes, I've probably failed a million times. But I have succeeded in the past, and I know I can succeed again.

First goal, get those shorts to fit comfortably again.

Vulnerable

Let's be real here people. God is good. I am so thankful that I serve a faithful God who will remain faithful even when I cannot.

I'm sure you can see where this is going. I'm going to real honest here. Do you ever have a sin that you are just so ashamed and embarrassed to admit that you struggle with? I mean a sin that I don't see people talking about or taking very seriously, which at times makes me feel like I'm the only person on this giant Earth who struggles with it. And I just know that can't be true.

Here's the deal, I love food. Now, that may sound strange to you. I'm sure you're thinking, "Yeah. I love food too. Who doesn't?" But seriously, people, this is bad. I lust after food. At times, it consumes my thoughts.

What will I have for breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?

I think I still have 50 cents in my purse. I can go get a Dr. Pepper from the vending machine.

Then laziness and tiredness creeps in and clouds my thoughts even more.

I'm too tired to make dinner. I'll just pick something up on the way home.

Honestly, I'm embarrassed mortified to be writing these words down and confessing my gluttony. It's always been a struggle for me, and somehow I've always managed to hide it. (Well, it was probably kind of noticeable that one year I started gaining weight.) It's an internal battle and Satan knows just how to get me.

But I am so over this sin. I don't want to keep lying to myself any longer. But I also know that I cannot do this on my own. So many times I think I have the willpower to take care of all my problems without any help, and you'd think that by now I would have realized that's just not going to happen. I can't fight this because of anything I have done. I can only fight this because I have a God who has fought temptation himself and has enabled me to fight this.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

Colossians 3:5

So, here we go. One day. One step at a time. Focusing my attention on a merciful God. Worshipping him with the food I put in my body.

Week 6 BEW Weight Loss Competition

This week's weigh in was disappointing. I did pretty good throughout the week, but I had 2 cheat days over the weekend that did not work in my favor (do they ever?).

Weight Loss Goal by April 14: Lose 20 pounds

Pounds lost this week: ZERO

Progress Towards Goal: 3.2 of 20

Favorite thing that I made this week: Shredded pork sandwiches. Delicious and so easy!

Exercising Goal for last week: Workout 3 times.

Did I do it? No. BUT, I did run for like the first time since November and was proud of myself for doing 2 miles in 28 minutes.

Exercising goal this week: Run 3 times and work on getting my 2 miles to a faster pace. Slowly and surely.

Healthy change goal this week: I'm hoping to not be so lazy when I get home from work and that the sun will be nice, shiny and warm so I can get some yard work done.

At this point in the competition, I don't feel like I'm meeting any of the goals I have set out for myself. I start out on Monday saying it's a new week and promising I'll do better. But by the end of the week, I'm exhausted, feeling lazy, and just want to cheat every. single. day. Ugh. I know I need to change my mindset and not let myself give in all the time, but that's the thing I'm worst at. I give in. I let go. And I just don't care anymore. Until I step on the scale and see how much I've failed myself. I've got a problem, people.

BEW Weight Loss Competition: What a week

I did pretty good this week, which is surprising. Teaven and I have started No Fast Food February. Fast food is an easy solution, but we always feel so yucky after we eat it. The only exception is Subway, where we tend to choose healthier options.

Weight Loss Goal by April 14: Lose 20 pounds

Pounds lost this week: 2.2!

Progress Towards Goal: 3.2 of 20

Favorite thing that I made this week: Tostadas. They were so yummy!

Exercising Goal for last week: Workout 3 times.

Did I do it? Yes! Finally, I'm starting to kick it into gear a bit. I did 30 Day Shred on Monday, walked 2 miles with Teaven and Sader on Thursday, and yesterday Teaven and I went hiking with Sader.

Exercising goal this week: Teaven and I plan on breaking out the Couch to 5K this week. I'm going to ease myself back into running because of my knee problems back in December. So, our goal is to run 3 days and do 30 Day Shred 2 days. 

Healthy change goal this week: less soda. less sweets. This week I'm viewing what I eat and put into my body as worship. Trying to rid this sin of gluttony.

BEW Weight Loss Competition: Week 3

Confession: I did not weigh in this week. I completely forgot. You see, I've been sick. Coughing. Headache. Sore throat. Snot. Aches. Chills. Sick. I thought I was feeling better on Saturday, so I decided to get together with my long lost friend, Brooke. Great decision at the time. Bad decision for later. I woke up the next morning, got some breakfast, and went right back to bed. Never even thinking about weighing myself. I did the same thing today.

So, for this week, we're just going to say I did not lose anything and pray I didn't gain anything.

Weight Loss Goal by April 14: Lose 20 pounds

Pounds lost this week: 0

Progress Towards Goal: 1 of 20

Favorite thing that I made this week: Meatball Sub Casserole (not healthy)

Exercising Goal for last week: Run 3 times.

Did I do it? Nope. Sicky. Sick. Sick.

Exercising goal this week: Walking with Sader and Teaven 3 times and possibly breaking out the 30 Day Shred

Healthy change goal this week: no soda. less sweets.

Basically, I've got to kick it into gear to keep up with the other peeps in this competition!

BEW Weight Loss Competition: Week 2

This week was definitely not the greatest. I was so tired from work that I don't think I even stayed awake past nine any night. I'm so lame.

Weight Loss Goal by April 14: Lose 20 pounds

Pounds lost this week: 1

Progress Towards Goal: 1 of 20

Favorite thing that I made this week: Tilapia and asparagus. It has been so nice to be able to cook again the way I want to.

Exercising Goal for last week: Run 3 times.

Did I do it? Nope. I came home, made dinner and went to bed. :(

Exercising goal this week: same. I have got to start running again, and hopefully it will give me more energy.

Healthy change goal this week: no soda.

BEW Weight Loss Competition: Week One

Ok, y'all, here we go again. I'm pretty sure that the 8 week challenge I did a couple months ago was absolutely pointless given all the junk I've eaten since I've been back in Texas.  With that being said, I've decided to link up with Sarah, another blogger, and join her BEW Weight Loss Competition. I am only a few (not so much) pounds away from reaching my ultimate goal weight, and I am bound and determined to make that happen before summer arrives. 

Weight Loss Goal by April 14: Lose 20 pounds

Pounds lost this week: 0

Exercising Goal: Run/walk 3 times

How many times did I work out this week? Sadly, none.

Other goals this week: NO SODA!!

Back in the Heart of Texas

We're back and have truly been loving every single minute spent with family and friends. The holidays are over and we are finally beginning to slow down a little. I have so much to post about, but I just haven't had the time to sit down and do it yet. Hopefully, I will have some time to share with you all of my favorite things from the last couple of weeks, but for now, you will just have to rest assured that we are home, happy, and finally over that nasty jet lag.

Remember that 8 week competition I did from October to November? You do? How wonderful! Well, tomorrow I will be posting about a new competition from a fellow blogger that I will be participating in from now until April! Stay tuned.