Good Morning!!

I've officially turned into a morning person! Woo hoo! I get up every day at 5:30 and so far, I LOVE IT! I start my coffee, do my quiet time, go for a 30ish minute walk/jog, then shower and get ready for the day. It's a great new routine and I plan to stick with it!

Instead of trying fad diets and specific eating plans, I am simply starting to cook at home and not eat out. I can tell a huge difference in how I feel and look! Even if the recipe has butter or milk or cream cheese in it, eating small doses of that at home is healthier than picking up fast food. Every day my jeans fit better than they did the day before!

I also found a new workout website that I LOVE! It's called Blogilates. Google it and it's the first site. She is pilates based but she has all different types of videos. She has longer pilates videos that focus on the whole body. Or, shorter challenge videos that focus on one body part. You do your workout to the beat of a current pop song (call me maybe, what makes you beautiful, etc) so it's upbeat and fun! I just did the inner thigh challenge - holy moly.

This week has been a pinterest recipe win week! No pinterest fails!! (I'm about to eat what I made tonight. it could be a fail but it looks and smells great!) I made Jalapeno Shrimp Enchiladas tonight. Earlier in the week I made Broccoli Cheese soup. And, last night, I made Creamy White Chicken Artichoke Lasagna. I love cooking!!

Tonight, I'm going to brew some decaf coffee, sweeten it with Pumpkin Spice creamer, read, and prepare for this storm/cold front coming in!!

For Saturday: Go Hogs! Beat Ole Miss!!!!!

It's a Daily Choice

Getting up early to spend time with the Lord instead of pressing snooze...it's a daily choice.

Working out when I really really really don't feel like it...it's a daily choice. 

Making a fruit smoothie instead of eating something chocolate...it's a daily choice. 

Cooking dinner at home instead of driving through a drive-thru on the way home...it's a daily choice. 

Loving people when they hurt you instead of getting frustrated/mad/angry/bitter...it's a daily choice.

I know I should have learned this lesson a long time ago but in the past couple of weeks it's really started hitting me. All decisions have to be made daily. I may fail one day but the next day is a new day and I have the chance to make the right choice. Today, I chose to get up early to be with the Lord. I chose to work out. I chose to eat at home. I chose to make a fruit smoothie. Tomorrow might be completely different. Selfishness or laziness might take over. But, it's okay because Saturday will be a new day. All I can do is make choices for the day I'm in. Good choices day after day after day will turn into good habits and long-lasting change. This is what I'm going for. 

Happy (almost) Friday! Remember, if you messed up today, tomorrow is a new day!

Back in the Kitchen

The above pics are a depiction of my Saturday...it was glorious. That was my plan for today too until my body decided it wanted to wake up the dizziest I've been in a long time. So, no sun & heat for me today :( but I did nap (twice) and plan meals for the week! (more on that later) So, it was an equally relaxing and enjoyable Sunday afternoon!

Now on to the main point of the post...the craziness of the past 2 months of my life (out of town ALL.THE.TIME) kept me from cooking. I've come to love cooking over the past 1.5 years of living on my own so 2 months without it is too long!! Well, I'm back! This afternoon, I spent a good 1.5 hours browsing pinterest & food websites for new ideas & recipes. I made my menu for the next 2 weeks and I'm heading to the store soon for this weeks list! I'm so so so excited to be back in kitchen! (my waistline and scale are also excited...)

Lifestyle update: The last 2 months led to little-no exercise and lots of fast food. The weight I lost....well, some of it has been found again. However, the next 6 months of my life look to be conducive to eating healthy and exercise. This girl is thrilled! I have 3 new Jillians I'm about to start (well, 1 at a time. Otherwise, I might die). I plan on nixing fast food and eating at home. I'm not going to cut out sweets or breads or drastic things like that. When I do that, I crave them. BAD. So, I'm going to eat fruits and veggies, drink water, practice portion control and smart eating...THIS will lead to a doable lifestyle change and to weight loss/control.

Also conducive to eating healthy & cooking at home is our new KROGER MARKETPLACE! Guys, if your town doesn't have one, visit Central Arkansas. We have 2 (1 in my town and 1 30 minutes away). LEGIT grocery store. The first few times you visit, your trip will be about 3 times as long as normal because you have to find where they put everything (oh, just me? whoops...) But, it's well worth it for all the  items they offer and the huge produce section. And, I don't mind the long trips. I enjoy my wal-mart and grocery store trips. I know I'm weird for this but something about it is enjoyable to me!

I'll leave you with this weeks menu and I'll post updates later:
Breakfast:
Cereal or Crockpot Morning Casserole

Lunch:
Leftovers
PB&J (my new obsession for another post)
Salads - spinach leaves, strawberries, blueberries, sunflower seeds, etc

Dinner:
Shrimp & Pesto Pizza
Ranch Chicken Tacos w/salsa & guac
Double Crusted Honey Pork Chops w/brown rice & steamed broccoli

Have a great week!

Mid-Week Confessions

1. I had Chick-Fil-A for dinner last night. That was my first full meal since Friday night. I probably only ate a days worth of calories Saturday, Sunday, Monday, & Tuesday (before CFA) combined. That's how sick I was. And all of those calories came from saltines & 2 bites of oatmeal. Literally. I couldn't eat anything.
2. I'm ready to  be 100% again. Today, I'm back to nauseous. Ugh. Must.Get.Well. So much to do!
3. I haven't worked out since Friday morning's last Jillian sesh. I know I need to rest but it's killing me to not work out. After creating a habit & instilling that desire...I want to work out!
4. Getting sick is a great not-so-fun (but effective) way to push past that weight-loss plateau. Chalk me up for another 2 lbs lost.
5. INSTAGRAM FOR ANDROID CAME OUT!!!!!!! Sorry to yell about that but finding that out made.my.day!! Normally Android is up to speed on their apps but instagram took waaaaaaaaaaaaaay tooooooooooo loooooooooooooong to come out. However, it's out & I'm a happy camper. Follow me @: morgantedder. What is your instagram name?!?!
6. I tried to order my *NEW* Macbook Pro last night! Woo hoo! But...debit cards have an online limit. No worries - I drove myself over to the bank first thing this morning, they increased my limit for the day, & it's being purchased today (along with a hot pink neoprene sleeve...DUH). This girl is a double happy camper. My dell is 4.5 years old & takes 10 minutes to turn on & warm up. Every webpage freezes for at least 4 minutes. I'm not exaggerating at all. This is truth.
7. My nails are very Easter approp. My toenails are pastel blue. My fingers are mint green with a lilac accent on the ring fingers.
8. Sorry that #1-4 are all about being sick. That's been my life this week.
9. I need to take more pictures of my life so this blog is more interesting...instagram should help with that! :)
10. Here's a pic of me & Al at the wedding this weekend!

11. I traded Jillian DVDs with a friend. While she uses 30 Day Shred, I'm using No More Trouble Zones! I'm excited!!
12. I'm in my first tank top of the season without a jacket & I feel a little bare/scandalous. I'm not...but I feel that way because I was constricted by layers for all of winter.
13. I just found out we're closed Friday for Good Friday. Unexpected surprises like this bring me so much joy!

No Wedding Cake for Me

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred in 30 straight days was successfully completed!! Woo hoo! Friday morning I woke up at 6:00 am & did my last sesh. It felt great to finish it!!

Friday afternoon, Allie & I headed up to Fay for Will & Heather's wedding! Friday night was a fun rehearsal & dinner and then a decently early-to-bed night. Finally, Saturday, the day had arrived! Allie & I arrived at the hotel for her to do hair & me to keep things on time. After the bride & bridesmaids left, Allie and I got ready and then headed to the barn to be ready for the festivities! The wedding was beautiful, the reception was fun, & they're now Mr. & Mrs.!!

Sunday, I had big plans of running and lifting weights and starting my April out with a workout bang. That is, until I threw up at the above wedding reception & ran 100.4 fever ALL DAY Sunday. Fever is no fun. Let me tell you. You can't get comfortable. You hurt all over. You just want to sleep. You can't eat. NO FUN. I didn't come into the office until 1ish today. My brain hurts & is super foggy & I can't concentrate on much & I'm skipping Perspectives tonight. I'm so grateful God kept me well until I finished the 30 Day Shred, so that I could complete it fully!!

The title of this post refers to the fact that I didn't eat wedding cake because of how sick I was. If you've been reading this blog long at all, you should know my love for sweets and that this is a big deal. Even today I kind of regret not eating at least a little bit of it! (that's how much I LOVE wedding cake). I also have been drinking Diet Coke since Saturday. When I'm sick, water is not appealing. I had to have some flavor. This April is def not starting off how I imagined it would with working out hardcore, staying with only water, & eating healthy...but God is in control and I'm just grateful to be feeling better & getting rest!

Lifestyle Change Progress

I ate half a cheeseburger & some fries for lunch. I'm feelin' it. I'm tired. I feel weighed down. I just feel blah. I don't want to eat the rest of the day because I'm so full (and I didn't even eat that much!). This proves to me that the lifestyle change is working! Eating greasy foods just isn't appealing to me! They weigh me down & I don't feel as good as when I eat lighter, healthier foods. This is great news!!!! :)

It's 67degrees outside & it's supposed to be 70degrees tomorrow. I plan on going home & walking until the sun goes down (or close to it). I love spring & summer!!!!

My clothes continue to fit better. Today, I was able to wear a shirt tucked in with a skinny belt through my belt loops! Used to, this skinny belt wouldn't have been able to buckle if I was wearing it through belt loops!

Yay for progress! I'm kind of glad I ate that cheeseburger today. I've been REALLY good the past few weeks without knowing how I'd feel about unhealthy foods. Well, after today, I know I crave the healthier ones & I feel better after eating healthy! So, back on track we go! :)

Confessional Friday

One of the blogs I follow, A Blonde Ambition, normally does a link-up on Fridays called 'Confessional Friday'. I was going to link up today but she didn't do her normal Friday routine. It's ok! I'll have my own! I'm not really sure if you could classify these as "confessions"...we might just need to call this 'Factual Friday' (I'm not as creative when it comes to witty, weekly confessions).

Here goes:
1-I've recently become obsessed with spinach leaves. I put them in and on anything - smoothies, pizza, pasta, salad, eggs - you name it. They're low in calories, pack in SO many nutrients, & are basically tasteless!
2-On sunny days, I love to take the longer-ish drive home with my music turned up while dancing in my car!
3-When I can't turn left out of my office, I love to take the longer-ish drive home with my music turned up while dancing in my car! So let's be real...most days I take the longer-ish drive home, because.....
4-I'm a weenie when it comes to left hand turns.
5-I need to clean my apt real bad. It's a hot mess. That's on tonight's agenda (yep, exciting Friday night!).
6-I watch the Bachelor & if he doesn't get rid of Courtney very very very soon, I'm going to question precious Ben's sanity.
7-I also watch Sweet Home Alabama. I'm rooting for Bubba.
8-I'm a hopeless romantic (can you tell by #6&7?) BUT I know those shows are nowhere near real life.
9-My workout this morning almost caused me to hurl (that's good, right?). I got it off Pinterest & it will kick your tail. Try it for yourself...it hurts.
10-I want to rename my blog. Any ideas? I want something with southern or Arkansas or blonde or the like. A Southern Sister? That Arkansas Gal? Cheesy? Help!!!! I'm not creative!

Hope you have a great, relaxing weekend! I'm hittin' the pavement for a run/walk when I get home, then cleanin' the night away!

From Fickle to For Real

In the past year, I've been pretty fickle about exercising and eating better. Last March/April you can recall the Daniel Diet/Fast/Cleanse. Last September I read a book that I swore would make me change. Somewhere in the middle of that, I picked up running and just knew I'd stick with it this time. Welp...none of that stuck.

BUT....this time I really am more motivated and really want to make the lifestyle change to healthier living and becoming more fit. For the past few weeks, I've been eating fruits and vegetables every day. I've been staying away from fast food as much as possible. I'm cutting out diet coke and only drinking my morning coffee and 8-10 glasses of water a day. I'm counting calories and trying to stick to my daily allotted calorie amount. (The app "MyFitnessPal" has been a huge help in this!)

I haven't made time to exercise more than 3-4 days a week, but I can already tell a difference by the diet change! My clothes are fitting better (looser), I've lost a few pounds, and I'm not craving the unhealthy foods I used to eat so much of. I'm craving fruit. I'm looking forward to going home and cooking foods that incorporate spinach and feta cheese and tomatoes. I crave water and can tell when I haven't had enough. I'm on the road to better living and I'm excited about it!

My goal is to have a healthier, fitter body and a lifestyle change by my 25th birthday in 6 months! (which follows through with these goals I set.) I'll keep you updated on the changes! You can help me by asking God to keep me disciplined and help me follow through with this! A huge reason I'm striving for this is to treat His temple better and become healthier so I can live a longer life making His name known!

The Calm Before the Storm

The short, but sweet, 4-day Thanksgiving break was the perfect way to end the calm before the storm. Thursday, we spent a few hours in Bryant with my dad's side of the fam. They haven't done a full Thanksgiving in a few years so it was great to hang out and enjoy LOTS of great food! (esp my aunt's ridiculously amazing chocolate pie) Once we'd stuffed ourselves and spent some great fellowship time together, Chan and I headed down to Hot Springs to spend the rest of the break. There is something about my grandparents' house that is extremely relaxing. Seriously, I can stay up until midnight by myself at my apt easily...but at their place, I'm struggling to stay up past 10. I'm not complaining at all! I'm just saying it's a weird phenomenon. Thursday night and Friday  morning, it was just my gparents, mom, Chan & me. Cam and Andi did Thanksgiving with her mom and then did Black Friday [side note: I refuse to participate in the stressful, crazy, extreme, exhausting, ridiculous event that is Black Friday]. We won't mention how Friday afternoon was spent (Let's just say my fam wasn't a fan of my screams of joy in the first 1.5 quarters, they didn't protest the nap I took in the 4th quarter, and I woke up disappointed). I still love my Hogs and I'm so proud of the #3 ranking we had for 5 days! Saturday, we lounged and Nana and I cooked for our wonderful Thanksgiving feast that we had Saturday night.

I love my family. We laugh. We joke. We love the Lord. We eat. We love. We care for each other.

Monday morning I woke up 2 minutes before my alarm with my brain going 90-to-nothing. Last night, I couldn't fall asleep before 12, woke up from 2-3:30, and up again at 6:30. It's officially the season of to-do lists, work events, non-stop brain, no sleep, and lots of fun! I say "bring it on!"Even though I will have lots of 14-18 hour work days in the next month, I am extremely grateful for my job and I wouldn't trade what I do for anything!

Friends, Fires, & Food

Lately, my life has been crazy, fun, refreshing, & exhausting. Here's a recap in photos.

501 friends came up to see Ben Rector in concert at UCA.



Kikuyu climbed Pinnacle.

After we climbed Pinnacle, Arkansas beat Auburn!!

 

Jack Oliver was born! Presh 10.2 lb baby

I baked Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. YUM!

 

I went to dinner with friends for Christy's bday. Loved catching up with Maeghan!!

Events I don't have pics for: I've laughed until I'm crying, made plans to go camping, stayed up until the wee hours catching up with friends, laughed some more, sat by the firepit, made new friends, skyped with old friends, and not gotten enough sleep.  

God has blessed me beyond measure. I'm in awe of His love, faithfulness, greatness, and grace.

This Week...

...I finished Reshaping It All. Great book! It definitely motivated me to change my lifestyle to a healthier one.
...I finished Week 1 of my running plan and started Week 2. I even got up at 6:20 today to run! WOW!
...I got mad at the Hogs (what else is new?) for losing to Bama.
...I watched the OSU/aTm game instead of the Hogs/Bama game.
...I watched both of these games at a watch party with great friends from 501!!
...I made 2 recipes for said watch party: Birthday Cake Fudge & Cream Cheese, Bacon, Jalapeno bites.



Bday Cake Fudge - super rich, super yum

...I'm going back to India!!!!
...I went shopping with a friend and got 3 new shirts, a jacket, and a pair of cute black boots for under $100 (bargain success) (ps-I'll probably start posting pics of presh outfits soon...remember my goals for 24?)
...I had lunch with the fam after church for the first time in a LONG time. It was funny.
...I laughed A LOT.
...I only ate sweets twice.
...My bro turned 21 and got a twitter (this is big).
...I led week 2 of bstud. It went well. God taught me lots. I pray He taught the girls lots too.
...I got to skype with great friends.
...I'm treating myself to some shopping (a reward for running).

Promised Pinterest Recipes

As mentioned in this post, I had a menu full of Pinterest Recipes. I've made them and I'm here to report.

Tomato-Basil Alfredo Pasta:
This recipe was great! It can be found on my pinterest "entrees" board. I used the 'lighter' version that's listed in the comments  under the recipe, so there would be fewer calories. I also used 3-cheese tortellini instead of ravioli, but that was just a personal preference. This recipe was easy and quick! I will definitely make it again.

In the Pan

Serve with Parm Cheese

  Orange Chicken:
SO GOOD! I made this last night with a revised recipe. I'm trying to stay away from fried foods, so I baked the chicken. I put the chicken in a bowl with some olive oil, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper. I mixed it together with my hands, until the chicken was coated with bread crumbs. I spread it out on a cookie sheet and baked at 375* for 12-15 minutes. While that was baking, I cooked some rice and made the orange sauce. This made a good amount - I have plenty of lefovers for lunch and dinner again (I love leftovers!).


I definitely recommend! (sorry my pics aren't great...)

Nutella Cupcakes:
These had mixed reviews. We would definitely revamp them for next time.
Changes: layer nutella on the bottom of the cupcake liner, put batter on top, then more nutella to stir in.
How to eat it: don't pick at it...just bite down top to bottom.
I would try these again with the changes. If the reviews don't change, I probably wouldn't make them again.

In the process of stirring in the nutella

 

Finished product (don't know why the pic is cut off...)

I probably won't cook anymore recipes until next week. The next few days and weekend plans are crazy so there won't be much cooking. But, I will report back soon with more reviews! The Bible Study I'm leading is starting up soon so I'll have definitely have dessert recipes to report weekly :)

Happy Pinterest Cooking!

The Smells of Fall

I've officially transitioned to Fall. I've pulled out some cardigans, started shopping for boots, and put away my summer smelling candles and lotions. I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned my obsession/love for lotions, perfumes, and candles...so now I will. I have more candles, perfumes, lotions, and body washes than is necessary, but I love to have options and different smells. I rarely wear the same perfume or lotion 2 days in a row. I switch smells out according to seasons.
Recently, Bath & Body Works had an incredible sale on their candles. So, I got 2 fall/winter smells and packed up my summer candles. I got Kitchen Spice (a blend of hazelnut, nutmeg, and other kitchen spices) and Cinnamon & Cloves (cinnamon is my all-time fave spice). They both smell incredible! If you're looking for cheaper options, Wal-Mart has some good smells at great prices. The candle below smells wonderful!

Mulled Cider candle from Wal-Mart

This week, I had my first Pumpkin Spice Latte. I'll definitely be going back for more!
Nutmeg is another spice that makes me think of fall. This weekend, I made French Toast Muffins (the recipe is on my pinterest 'breakfast' board) for the girls that stayed with me Friday night. They had a hint of nutmeg in them and they tasted wonderful! They were light, airy, cinnamon-y, and nutmeg-y. 4 out of 4 approved the recipe!

Fall is slowly making it's way up my seasons list and it just might overtake summer....

Labor Day Weekend

I think Labor Day weekend is my favorite 3-day holiday weekend of the year. Labor Day weekend brings with it fall, football, the start of a new semester, cooler weather, and freshness. I don't know why, but for me it breaks off summer and starts something new. And fall weather is so fresh and crisp that it just doubles the effect. My love for Labor Day weekend was no different this year!

It started off in Fayetteville with a Board Meeting on Friday. I got to go up Thursday night and spend time with a few friends! After a mere 2.5 hours of sleep, I started my long, 14-hour day of sitting. After the board meeting, I drove to LR, picked up Kenya (the adorable puppy pictured below) and headed to Hot Springs. I seriously spent over 14 hours SITTING DOWN on Friday - it wasn't extremely enjoyable. Once I got to HS, I ran around the driveway for a few minutes to loosen up a little. I'm too old to sit down that long! That night, it was just me, Cam, Andi, Nana, and Pawpaw hanging out. That was fun! I haven't hung out with Cam and Andi much since the wedding.

Kenya - precious puppy!

Normally when people go to the lake, they lay out, go out on a boat, etc. I didn't do that at all! I just relaxed, read, slept, and hung out. I'm kind of over laying out and getting tan (who would have thought I would have EVER said that?!?!) I think it's because it's just been SO hot. Anyway, Saturday, I slept in a little, spent some time with Jesus, played with Kenya, watched TV, and took a nap :) I also had some in.cred.ible cheesecake (my fave dessert) Saturday. Cam made some original cheesecake and brought leftovers to the lake. I took my piece and crafted a delicacy....I melted hot fudge & pb together (arguably the best food combo possible) and layered it between 2 small slices. Then, I broke up a reeses and put it on top. HEAVENLY.

That night, we watched the HOGS WIN! I'm so glad football is back-I love it! After the game, Chan, Cam, Andi, and I went to get froyo. I LOVE sibling time! Sunday was pretty much the same pattern as Saturday :) My cousins, aunt and uncle, and mom got to HS Sunday so we all hung out and grilled out for dinner. Burgers are one of my T5 fave foods. Monday morning, I slept in again, went to Bath and Body Works for their candle sale, then headed  back to Conway. I haven't spent a weekend at my apt in WAY too long so I needed some extended time at home. I went to the store, cooked some new recipes, and spent some much needed time relaxing in my home!

Parmesan Fish and Parmesan Asparagus

All of my foods over the next few weeks will be from pinterest! I love it! Monday night I made Parmesan Fish and Parmesan Asparagus for dinner. It was so good! The parmesan mixture made a cheesy layer on the fish and the parmesan added a nice crisp to the asparagus. I will definitely make this recipe again - it was quicky, easy, and delish! I also made mini-quiches Monday afternoon to eat for breakfast this week. I loaded them down with veggies - broccoli, mushrooms, red bell peppers, green bell peppers - to add to my daily veggie intake. I ate one this morning and it was really good! I paired it with a peach - yummy, healthy, filling breakfast!

Mini-Breakfast Quiches

Last week, I made Butter Chicken for dinner. I found this recipe on allrecipes.com. It was a different variation of the Butter Chicken I had in India but it was still great!

I <3 Indian food.

This week's menu: Tomato-basil Alfredo Ravioli and Orange or Honey Chicken.
I might also be having some UofA friends stay with me Friday night before Saturday's LR game. If so, I'm sure we'll make a yummy pinterest dessert!

In honor of the cooler weather, I will be wearing cardigans and getting Pumpkin Spice Lattes this week. You should do that too!

Buffet Style

This post is going to be buffet style....a variety of topics and you can read as little or as much as you like.

-I'm a fan of Starbucks Via. I was hesitant at first. One of the worst things in the world to me is the feeling of coffee grounds (or sand or dirt) in my mouth. I almost vom if I feel it. So, I was hesitant of Via for the icky grounds factor. "Will it dissolve all the way?", "Will there be big grounds?",  "Will it taste good?", "Will I vom?" You know...the normal questions for someone that could vom just thinking about sand in my mouth. sick. Anyway....I tried it this morning (woke up too late to make a real pot of coffee) and I'm a fan!
-If you're keeping track of the types of apples I enjoy (it's not hard...there is only 1), you can add a 2nd to the list! Pink Lady Apples. (of course I'd like them...they're called PINK LADY. It just fits.) Anyway, I now purchase both Granny Smith and Pink Lady apples at the store.
-God and I are going on an interesting journey this summer. He's teaching me a lot about myself. He's teaching me a lot about Himself. I'm being stretched. I'm being strengthened. I'm getting confused. I'm being humbled. I'm learning how dumb I can be. You know....the norm. Man, is it hard but fun.
-2 of my single friends have gone on 1st dates with new guys!! I am SO excited for them! Neither of them have dated in a while so I'm thrilled that guys are pursuing them!! :)
-I finished the HP books. When I read or watch a series, the characters become my family. It was definitely difficult to experience death and hardships along with the characters (I'm telling you...I get attached!) I can now start renting the movies and watch them! (looking into Netflix-any other services you'd recommend?)
-I just finished a small book by Ray Comfort called "God Has a Wonderful Plan for your Life." It was incredible! It is all about evangelism and discipleship. It's point is that we can't get people to convert by telling them God has a wonderful plan for their life. Then they follow Him for a bit, experience trial, and fall away. We have to lay the foundation that they are sinners (10 Commandments) and that Christ forgave them for that and they can experience hope. Once they see their depravity, they desire the hope. It made me want to go share the gospel right now!
-One thing I am pursuing now, after a full year on staff, is a personal ministry. I did DivorceCare4Kids last spring and loved it! I'm going to continue with that. But, I also want a ministry where I am discipling and pouring into young women, whether it be kids, youth, or college students. I'm in the midst of figuring this out. I plan on leading a Bible Study for girls/women in Conway through my church. I'm excited about this opportunity. I'm praying God would reveal to me if this is what He wants me to continue with or if He wants me to reach out into another type of ministry in my church. I'm also praying about opportunities to share the gospel. I just don't know where to do it! Since I work for a ministry, I don't have non-believer co-workers to share with. So, if you enjoy praying for things, ask God to give me wisdom in ministry and gospel sharing! Thanks! :)
-I now have a sister-in-law! Cam and Andi's wedding was unique, sweet, and God-glorifying. I loved being a part of their special day! They got home from San Diego on Saturday. Mom and I picked them up from the airport and they came back to mom's house to open all their presents. It was fun hanging out with them!
-Last night I went on a 40 minute walk that only felt like 15. I called my great friend Michelle and talked and talked and talked and it was great. We are in the same phase of life and it was so refreshing to talk through a lot with her. I'm so grateful for her friendship! I love quality time with deep convos with friends.
-Last Friday night, Macy, Kate, Christy and I went to Wild River Country and back to my mom's house for dessert (leftover wedding cake!). We hadn't all hung out since Macy's wedding so Friday was a great time!
-I've read a lot of books this summer. I LOVE to read. Here they are: HP 5,6,&7; God has a Wonderful Plan for your Life; Youniquely Woman; The IT Factor; Living Water and Indian Bowl; Spiritual Leadership; The Magician's Nephew. I'm currently reading The Lion,the Witch,&the Wardrobe, Counterfeit Gods, and In This Generation. Seriously, I love reading.
-I've made some good recipes lately. I'll try to make a recipe post soon. This week I've had Bar-b-cups (childhood fave), Southwestern Chicken Roll-ups (an improvised version), and tonight is Fish Tacos. Get excited!

If you've read all of this, you must be busting at the seams with upates. Thanks for being a part of my life! :)

Healthy Update

I've still been working out but I've been running less. For some reason it's getting harder. That doesn't make sense to me. But, I'm still trying for it! I've been doing the elliptical and lifting lots of weights. I can already tell a huge difference! My muscles are more toned and stronger and I've already lost a couple of inches in my waist. I am loving going to the gym every night and walking/running outside. It's so refreshing! I've been waking up at 630 every day no matter what time I go to bed - it must be from the exercise and change in energy. Because of this, I'm going to add in a morning walk. I read that 2 small workouts a day is great to boost your metabolism so I'm going to try this out. I'm going to go for a slow walk in the mornings while listening to a sermon and then do a more hardcore workout at night.

I've been cooking every night to try to avoid fried foods. This week I've had wheat pancakes, homemade pizza (best ever!), fish with asparagus and salad, and a burger with baked fries. First off, burgers are my all time favorite food ever! Second off, the pizza concoction I came up with is incredible. For the sauce, I mix pesto and alfredo. I put chicken, tomato, mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese as the toppings. SO GOOD!
I used to eat super unhealthy cereals and other breakfast foods but I've also switched that up too. I now eat 1 scrambled egg and 2 pieces of turkey bacon for breakfast. If I decide for cereal, I eat Honey Bunches of Oats. I think changing my breakfast food is helping a lot too - the protein holds me over to where I don't need a morning snack. ( I read an article about this too! :))

Just for fun, here is a pic of the most comfortable pants that are so fun! They're from India!

Have a great weekend! If you need me, you can find me poolside at my apt complex :)

Joyful Days

Brooke and Christy, this is for y'all!! :)

I feel like there is a common theme out in blogger world right now.....a long hiatus with no motivation to restart because it's overwhelming. Well, I'm back (hopefully I'm back and more consistent!). A lot has happened over the past 2 months so I'll give you a recap.

I ended up doing the Daniel Fast/Diet for about 3 weeks. I welcomed back meat, dairy, coffee, and diet coke with wide open arms! Since I ended it, I've decided to get rid of diets and "forbidden foods" and just go with what my body feels. At this point, fried foods don't sound good (too heavy in this HEAT) and lighter, healthier foods do. So, I'll stick with what my body wants! (Sidenote: my body still wants sweets and I'm giving it what it wants in moderation!!)

I was in Tulsa at the end of April/start of May for April Staff Training. It was so great! I got to spend 5 days with StuMo staff and I loved it!! So many hours of incredible fellowship with people I don't get to see often. I love StuMo staff. I love Tulsa. After training, I stayed for a few days with Lane and Kel. Love them!

This spring, my apartment has been like a hotel - so fun! Ganson stayed with me for a few days while home on her visa run. Then, a few weeks later, Ang was home and she stayed with me! In mid-May, a few friends stayed with me over the weekend for a wedding. After that, Ellie (co-worker/friend) stayed with my for a few nights en route to Kaleo. Hospitality and guests are a goal for my apartment and it's happening! Love it!

2 weeks ago my family went floating the Caddo. All I'm going to say is.....I'm a city girl that likes nail polish, heels, and poofed hair.

Last weekend, I spent 3 days laying on the dock reading Harry Potter 6. Perfect memorial day weekend!

Yesterday, Christy and I headed up to Marshall for Macy and Zach's rehearsal dinner and wedding!!! SO FUN! Zach and Macy are such a cute couple and their wedding was so sweet. It was a cherished weekend with Kate, Macy, Brooke, and Christy as we stayed up late and caught up on life. I love these sweet friends so much! We will have a lifelong connection with each other because of our 3 years together in Nursing School.

I caught the bouquet today - I actually ran for it. I think this is the first time that's ever happened. haha. I didn't want it to hit the ground...so I ran...in my 4 inch, nude, platform heels. #lovemylife  I've caught 2 bouquets in the past 8 months - does that mean anything? Should I catch 3 within a year for something to happen?

I'm taking up jogging and LOVING it! Fine, call me insane (Christy already has :). I'm going the route of jogging until I can't anymore. Wednesday, I jogged 3 minutes (yes, I'm out of shape). Thursday, I jogged 6 minutes. Today, I jogged 8 minutes. I've never been so refreshed and energized by jogging....this time it's just different. Again, I'm just doing what my body wants. I can feel the muscles relaxing and stress being released. By the end of the day, my body wants to go for a jog.

I bought gold nail polish today. I like it a lot :) Yep...I'm still obsessed with nail polish. I'll try to add pics of new colors soon (I've probably gotten 7 since that last post! In my defense-most were on sale for CHEAP).

Cameron and Andi's wedding is 5 weeks from today. Where did the time go? I'm a bridesmaid. We're wearing black dresses in the style of my choice. I'm going to borrow from a friend - she has a few different options. I'll def update with pics after the wedding!

I made my summer development schedule for reading. I'm excited about the variety of books I'm going to read and what I'm going to learn. I've had some sweet, sweet times with God over the past few days. It's been extremely refreshing, joyful, energizing, and transforming. 

If you read all of that, you're a true friend :) If you didn't, you're still a true friend :) Now that we're recapped, I'll TRY to do a better job of updating. I'll also try to do a photo post soon of recent photo captures. Love you guys!

1 Cor. 3:16

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's spirit lives in you?"
I started memorizing this verse this semester for staff development. Little did I know that God would use it to convict me majorly! (His Word is LIVING and ACTIVE) I knew of this verse but it had never hit me before like it did this spring. God has shown me that I am not taking care of my temple or honoring it in a way that is glorifying to God.

I'll start by saying I don't think food is bad. I think the opposite of that - it is YUMMY! However, when I'm only consuming things that aren't the best for my body instead of good things, it can become bad. My love for coffee and diet coke led me to not drinking much water. My love for sweets and fried foods and convenience led me to not eating many fruits and veggies. As I noticed this, I felt led by the Spirit to change my habits. As I prayed about it, God revealed to me the Daniel Fast/Diet/Detox. I'm calling it all 3 of those things because that's how I am approaching it.

I started this on Monday and it hasn't been easy. Yesterday, I wanted to give up and call it quits! Today, I'm feeling much better. I know this is going to be a tough rollercoaster with God, but I'm excited about the journey He is going to take me on.

My menu:
Drinks: only water (I've had some mega caffeine headaches!).
Foods: only fruits, veggies, and whole grains. It's kind of a fun challenge to come up with recipes that are filling and nutritious with only fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. For breakfast, I've had fruit smoothies with almond milk (no dairy on this diet). Throughout the day I eat a variety of fruits. Today, I had a spinach leaf salad with oranges with EVOO for dressing (olive oil is allowed). For dinner I've made guacamole and added corn, onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, and cilantro and I eat it with natural corn chips. Some recipes that I look forward to trying are: onion stuffed mushrooms, stuffed peppers, a black bean and rice mexican dish, tomato and spinach soup, roasted potatoes, and others that I've found.

Exercise: walking 1-2 miles a day. Since my diet is changing, I'm not doing any drastic workouts. I just want to be active on a daily basis to increase my metabolism and to create healthy habits.

My purposes behind this fast/diet/detox are:
1-To practice self-control by denying selfish cravings.
2-To get rid of the toxins in my body and to lose some weight to create a healthier temple.
3-To increase my reliance on Christ for complete satisfaction throughout the day. (Matthew 4:4-"It is written:'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'.")
4-To gain a healthier perspective on food and portions and cravings.

Don't get me wrong, when I've completed this, I plan on eating sweets and burgers again. I plan on drinking coffee and diet coke. But, I'll have a new, healthier perspective of all of it and I will have created healthier exercise habits.

Thought I'd Be Better....

When I started this venture, I thought I would be better at blogging. With my last post being February 17th, I have proven that I am not very consistent. So, when I do update, I'll try to make it interesting! :) Recently, I've been decently disciplined. I've definitely become more balanced. Instead of focusing everything on cooking, I've cooked a little less, worked out more, hung out more, read more, and gone to the store less.

I'm trying to work out consistently. My apt complex has an INCREDIBLE gym - tons of treadmills, ellipticals, bikes, weight machines - everything you would need to get in shape. Still, my heart's desire is to run outside during spring, so I'm hoping to get my joints strengthened to allow for this. (I have terrible joints due to genetics and cheerleading so jogging hurts. However, if I lose a bit of weight by other means first, it is more tolerable). I enjoy the elliptical and the weight machines. I also downloaded some 5-minute workouts on my phone - abs, butt, arms. The ab workout KILLS, but I can tell it's working - not by sight yet. First, I gotta get some of the extra skin off the top of my abs first :). I'm enjoying working out. I want to lose quite a few pounds and tone my muscles so I'm trying to get better/more consistent at working out, eating healthier (I'm eating lots of fruits and I'm down to 1 diet coke/day on most days), and I'm cutting out sweets. THIS IS HARD!!! I love me some cheesecake, froyo, brownies, cupcakes, and all!

Another discipline I'm focusing on is reading. In 2011, I've already completed Harry Potter 3, started and completed Harry Potter 4, and I'm a quarter of the way into Harry Potter 5. I've also completed a novelette (is there such thing?!) by Kay Arthur. And, last night I finished "A Busy Woman's Guide to Prayer." This book CHANGED MY LIFE!! This book does an incredible job of describing the power of prayer, the purpose of prayer, and of laying out practical ways to get better at praying and to pray even when busy. I have a brand new perspective on prayer and each day I find myself longing to talk to God throughout the day and bringing a lot more to Him than I used to. I highly recommend this book for every woman to read!
Tonight, I'm moving onto a new book. I am going to start "So Long Insecurity" by Beth Moore. I have heard wonderful reviews of this book and I'm excited to read it. I dont' necessarily struggle with daily insecurities but I know there are things I do that stem from insecurity and I'm just not aware of it. I'm excited to read and be freed.

I'd love to hear back from you what workouts you enjoy/how you stay in shape! I will probably adopt your ways to add variety to my routine. I also love book recommendations - feel free to leave some ideas in a comment! I would also love to pray for you - if you have any requests, email me at morgan.tedder@ymail.com and I'll add you to my prayer list.

Love you all :)

Menu Mania

I am LOVING making weekly menus. I'm enjoying new recipes and trying for healthier options. I haven't quite mastered the "combine-different-recipes-to-create-your-own" technique yet (I'll explain later). So for now, I'm sticking to the exact measurements.

Last week's menu:

• Monday night: Monkey Bread and Sausage/Egg Quiche - I know Monkey Bread is NOT healthy but it's so delicious!! This turned out great. And it makes great leftovers for breakfast for the next few days :)
• Tuesday night: Curry Lime Chicken, Sauteed Asparagus, Wild Rice - I created the curry lime chicken idea! Lime Chicken sounded so good to me but I wanted to add something. So, with my love for Indian food....I pulled out the Curry Powder. It turned out really great! I just poked holes in the chicken, put it in a ziploc, poured in Lime Juice and Curry Powder and marinated it in the fridge all day. Then, I grilled it on the George Foreman (incredible option for single people!) and it was delicious. I also marinated the asparagus in Kraft Tuscan Italian dressing and then sauteed it in a pan over the stove. This is a great, easy, quick option that I'll definitely add to my rotation!
• Wednesday night: Cameron, Andi, and Chandler came over because Youth group was cancelled due to the snow. It was so fun to make dinner for them! (Cameron was in the kitchen too - it's impossible to keep  him out). I made Lemon Pepper Tilapia and Green Bean Bundles. Cameron and Andi brought over homemade bread and chicken and made Cameron's signature "Mayonnaise Bread Chicken". I also made chocolate chip cookies and added peanut butter. These were yummy! (I hope the snow is over because it just makes me want to bake!!) We hung out for a while and had fun as siblings with the future sib/wife!
• Thursday night: White Chicken Chili and cornbread: [Disclaimer - I don't like broth-based soups. I only like cream-based soups.] This is a winner. It's my aunt's recipe and I LOVE it! It's super quick and easy and it makes for great leftovers (I cut the recipe in half and still had it for 3 total meals and froze some).

This week's menu"

• Monday night: leftovers. I ran some errands that night (that didn't include the grocery store), so I just had leftovers. I treated myself to a workout, tanning, and relaxation since it was Valentine's Day.
• Tuesday night: I made some baked Cajun Tilapia and had it with leftover Green Bean Bundles and Wild Rice. Fish is so good and it cooks so much faster than chicken! This is the night I went to the store so I made quick dinner before I left.
• Wednesday night: Potato and Corn Chowder. This is where I learn I am not good at the combining-different-recipes technique. Let's just say...it took a lot longer than I wanted to and it only tastes okay, not excellent. It's definitely edible and I'm freezing it for leftovers (I'll probably pull it out on the random day Arkansas decides to be cold again - let's be realistic, we know it will happen in like April). So, for next time, I'll definitely stick to one recipe and hopefully it will be better.
• Thursday night: Fiesta Chicken Casserole and guacamole. Tonight I am having 2 girls over that I discipled last year. They are super sweet! I am trying out a new recipe so hopefully it will be good. What can't be good about chicken, pasta, cheese, salsa, guacamole, and chips? I'll keep you updated!
• Friday night: My great friend Christy is coming over for a girls' night so we will probably make homemade pizzas and something sweet!
• Saturday night: Burgers and Fries. Cheeseburgers are easily one of my favorite foods. I am not one of those girls that goes out to a restaurant and orders a salad. My go to food at most restaurants is a Barbeque Bacon Cheeseburger cooked medium. My favorite ones have onion rings/straws on them. YUM! (I'm salivating just thinking about it). So, this Saturday, I'll  be pulling out my George Foreman, grilling me a burger, and baking me some fries! I even have seasoned salt to put on the fries. I think this will be my favorite meal this week.

Saturday night I'm having a Wedding Invitation Assembly Party for my friend! She lives in India and won't be home for a few more weeks but her invitations need to go out Monday. So, I'll be baking a cake and hanging out with friends to get these assembled!! I'm so excited to be helping with this (and it will give me great practice for if I get married one day ;)

If you have any delicious dinner ideas, I would love some feedback! :) I'm always looking for new recipes. And, if any of these sound good to you and you want the recipe, leave a comment and I'll get it to you! Happy Cooking!!