Hot Walks & Getting Movement

Hello friends. I have been enjoying longer walks although it is HOT! I am doing my best to keep up with them. 

I want to share my new water shoes!  I love my water shoes! They are so comfortable and look like tennis shoes. I had been using my hiking water sandals and while they work fine, they are heavy after a period of time in class. Since I have been going to class regularly for about two weeks I invested in some water shoes. I can also use for other things such as our cruise in November. We are doing some water tubing and activities and these will be great for that.

Here are my shoes. I am snapping a picture in the gym locker class before swim class.

They have cancelled water classes on Tuesday & Thursday for now starting this week. So, I have decided to go Mon, Wed, and Friday to class after my 30 minute morning walk. It feels so good to get in the pool because it is soooo incredibly hot after my walks. Tuesday and Thursday I am doing an hour walk in the morning and my evening 10-15 minute "after supper" walk. The classes are 45 minutes long. I have really been enjoying them. They are pretty nice to do at this time as I get back into exercise and movement. 

My walk today was HOT!!!!!!!!!!! I started at a park and walked 2 miles and then headed to the library nature trail to get the whole hour in because the trail shaded and I needed shade! I think I may just walk at the trail during this time.

At the start of the walk......

Halfway through..... HOT and SWEATY!

I am still thinking on the message from Sunday on Contentment. 

Currently I am reading these two books. I am really enjoying them.

I so appreciate you all visiting this little spot!!! 

A Lovely Weekend ~ Blogging Time This Month

Hello friends. I hope you had a lovely weekend. I enjoyed a nice "slowish" weekend. From nice walks, a little getting out, lovely church time, a special time with our daughter after church, and fellowship with some ladies from church. 

Saturday my husband and I had our date day, we took a ride to a shoe store for some shoes he needed. We then did our grocery pick up. I took a lovely evening walk, visited some blogs, and got ready for bed.

Sunday was a sweet day. Church service was so lovely, and we had such a wonderful message on contentment. I had prayed before church for a fresh reminder and encouragement over the season I am in. The message was right on time. Our daughter joined my husband and I for a lunch at Panera Bread Co. following church. 

It was so nice just having some time with her. We enjoyed a mini lemon bundt cake together. I had some soup and it was perfectly filling. We discussed the message together. I loved hearing how she felt the Lord also ministered to her about contentment, and she shared her heart with us on the subject. It was so wonderful!!!

The size of this cookie was crazy! HAHA!! The hubby didn't finish it but he said it was delish!!!

We relaxed a little after we got home and then I had to head out to a ladies dine out with some church ladies at a local pizza place. We had a nice, relaxed time. I got a mini tiny cheese pizza. It is called a Bambino pizza. It the size of a small dessert plate. It was perfect size and filling. I am still doing Weight Watchers and I was very happy with my results this week.

I have walked daily this past week from Monday to Sunday and attended 5 water exercise classes. I didn't walk super crazy speed, but I have for sure picked up my pace finally. I have been averaging about 7,000 to 11,000 steps a day between the class, daily walks, and evening strolls after supper, and daily life. 

It was a nice evening to walk. It was tad cooler this evening. It was 85 degrees at 8:00 this evening. HAHA! I am for sure not experiencing some of the cooler weather I keep reading some of you have. It was a tad humid as well, but it was still nice. You have to get up WAY early or walk WAY later during August in our area.

I hope you all have a lovely week ahead. My plan today is to do a water class this morning, laundry, vacuum, and then I am going to have some "planning" time. Basically, I sit down and get everything out of my brain that I want to do or need to do. I always feel much better when I just sit down and put things on paper. 

Hopefully, I will pop in on Wednesday. I am going to take August a little slower on my blog. I blogged daily "almost" all of June and July. I did miss some days, but they were few. I need a little time to get my footing on life after recovery from the surgery. :) I hope to pop in and visit all of you daily or often through the week but as far as posting I believe I will do Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and share my menu on Saturday. Of course, I may do more or less. :) 

September is the daily photo challenge so I will be back to posting daily then. 

Blessings, 

Chrissy

Menu Planning

Hello friends. I am finally glad to have a system that is working for me when it comes to menu planning, cooking dinner and grocery shopping for this season of my life. I have done a similar system for years but with ever changing seasons of life, numbers of people eating fluctuating as well, the system has changed off and on. I keep an eye out all week for any new recipes I would like to try. Then on Friday and Saturday I finalize the menu, make a grocery list, purchase online and schedule pick up for Saturday or Sunday afternoon. My husband goes with me & we pick up the items and then he unloads and I put away. 

This is majorly different from the past. In the past, I made a general list of meals I wanted to make and then headed to the store on Mondays or Tuesdays and shopped and took care of it all on my own weekly. I like the new system. I have noticed I have been saving more money as well by not going inside. Don't worry.... I do make a stop in the store weekly or biweekly to pick up my own produce because I do like having a time out in my community and I like to pick out most of my own produce. 

For the last three weeks I have made every single meal I planned. Most of them have been very good expect for two. Last week I did not care for the Pasta Fiesta, but the family loved it. I also made a pizza recipe off Pinterest using the Red Lobster Biscuit Mix. I do not recommend it. We ate it and it was okay, but we all agree it was not our favorite recipe or style of "pizza."

This week I am really looking forward to trying the Crispy Chicken Tender Tacos. I am following a recipe I found but tweaking it to our liking. We are going to omit the Cilantro Lime dressing sauce because we do not like cilantro.

Check out the recipe here

I usually try a couple of new recipes a week. I like variety now that I have more time on my hands to try new recipes more often. When the kids were younger, we were on a very tight budget, and I made the same simple frugal meals over and over and over. As I learned more about cooking and budgeting as well as time went on in my homemaking journey I ventured out and tried at least one new recipe a week. This helped me build up an arsenal of meals over the years, but even so I still like to try new recipes all the time. 

Do you all like trying new recipes often? I guess everyone's seasons in life could make a difference when it comes to that answer.

When it comes to finding recipes are you a cookbook person, online cooking sites or Pinterest person or both?

Finally, Some Rain ~ Weekly This and That

Hello friends. We finally got some much needed rain in our area today!! Oh, it was so lovely. These 100 plus degree weeks have about killed most things. All my plants look a little shabby, but it is about 96 degrees at 9 in the morning in our area and then all the way until 8:00 at night it is in the high 80's still. The grass was getting several "crispy" spots. 

I actually took a nap during the rain. It was so nice!! This picture is looking out of my front door.  I have been getting up early this past week and attending water aerobics and walking laps in the pool at the gym. It has been tiring but a good starting place to rebuild strength safely and slowly after surgery. I have been taking my evening walks as well. It is simply too hot in the morning here to walk. 

I have been a little quiet here on my blog this week. Well, I posted the tea experience from last week and some quotes I have been pondering. As far as anything really fascinating to post about here there really hasn't been. I am trying to get back into a rhythm of sorts since I was released from surgery on the most part last week. 

I have to say I feel all of kilter when it comes to my daily routine and rhythms because I have been off and down with my health since the spring. Things have changed and even "some" roles I served in at church have been taken off my plate (thankfully) and now I feel like I am trying to find my footing. I have been doing a lot of praying and listening about THIS NEW STRANGE SEASON in my life. 

Anyway.... here is a little of THIS AND THAT from this week....

I have been cooking a lot and really enjoying it. I have been sharing our menu on Saturdays here.

I made my homemade sloppy joes that my family loves. I do not cook them as often anymore since the kids are all grown but when we do family dinner night or on occasion or if I need a quick meal this is a go to. 

I have personally started back on Weight Watchers again to reset myself after all my health issues. I started last week after my doctor gave me the go ahead. I have done WW for years and it is always a good thing for me when I need to reset or a jumpstart to kick things back in gear. I eat very low points during the day and then enjoy a portion-controlled dinner with my family. I don't really cook anything different for myself. I enjoy cooking and eating with my husband and family.  

This apple was delicious today! I am allergic to nuts, so I drizzled a little sunflower butter and sugar free dark chocolate chips melted on top. This was a fun and filling lunch/snack for me. 

I actually ate a later breakfast of eggs and blueberries after swim class and really wasn't hungry for lunch so I had the drizzled apple around 3 for snack/lunch. 

My daughter and I met for our bi-monthly pedicure date! We enjoyed it. It was nice to catch up and chat!!!

Monday, I took a little visit to the library to donate some books and a puzzle to the puzzle exchange. They have a nice simple nature trail. I took a little walk and had a grilled chicken sandwich and relaxed under the trees in my car.

I love doing simple little things like this to break up the ho-hum and monotony of the days. Although, I am thankful for mundane days. There is still purpose, beauty and blessing in the monotony of life. 

I hope you all have a wonderful end of your week and weekend ahead. I will hopefully pop back in on Saturday to share my menu! I am going to be taking a slower approach with blogging this month as I am getting back into the swing of daily life, but I will be around. :) 

Blessings,

Chrissy T

Seasons... One Season to the Next... Some Things on my Heart and Mind....

                                                          All images from Pinterest. 

With Love,

Chrissy T

Tea Room Experience Part 2 ~ Manners

Hello friends. I want to share for my memories part two of my wonderful experience at CW Organics Tea Room. This was a sweet time and a refreshing day out! I am very grateful for the sweet moment.

Oh, yes, the tiered tray had flowers on it too!!! Because it was a special theme day!! :) Floral Friday! I thought it was a lovely idea. THERE IS NEVER SUCH A THING AS TOO MANY FLOWERS. Sorry, but that is my opinion. :) 

The scones were savory and simple. The jam served with the scones (USA type) were delish. I enjoyed the savory ones so much!

This little BLT mini sandwich was cute and it was super yum.

Here is a picture of my friend (Cindy) and myself. You all I am very swollen still from surgery and coming off hormone medications. It is what it is! I did try to pretty up still. :)  Although, when I left the house, I felt super nice looking but seeing myself in pictures made me second guess. Haha! Isn't it funny how hard we can be on ourselves?! :) 

The little bouquet station. The flowers so beautiful and we had a wonderful time creating our own to take home.

Here is mine that I made. When I got home I out them in a mason jar for my kitchen counter. They make me smile every single time I look at them.

Here is our traditional selfie. It is a tradition we always do! LIKE ALWAYS!!!  There is a 20 year age gap between us. I am so thankful for her example of being a well-mannered, lovely, gracious, humble, well knowledgeable soul. These are the type of ladies that I listen to. These are the examples I hope I can grow into. These types of ladies are the ones I let speak into my life. 

I will wrap up these pictures with the door!!! I just loved the little hidden doors throughout the place. It was whimsical and sweet. 

Chrissy T