pesto and stress

This is my beautiful green pesto.

And this is my beautiful green smoothie.  

Can you tell that green is my favorite color?  Yesterday I was definitely in a green mood (food that is).  And I decided to go out on a limb and try a new homemade gluten free pizza recipe.  This recipe to be exact.  

I crossed my fingers that the Mr. would like it, I told him "have faith in me" before I started making dinner which isn't always a good sign.  It was SO good, so so so good!  The best pesto I have ever made.  I tweaked the pesto recipe just a bit but I still used rainbow chard.  Try this, trust me you won't regret it!

So there's nothing too substantial to blog about today.  I just had to share this amazing pizza with you, I promise that I'll post the pesto recipe soon.  It's just too good to keep to myself.  

And to be pretty honest there has been a lot going on emotionally lately in my life.  It has all made me feel pretty empty and I am daily seeking God's counsel about issues as they pop up.  One thing that I love is my "Lovelies to Live By" board on Pinterest.  Whenever I need a little pick me up I look at verses and then go to my board, I'm always so overwhelmed by all of the motivating and encouraging beautiful saying I have pinned.  I thought I'd share one with you today that directly speaks to me and encourages me.  I wish I could take my sharpie and cross out the word "worry" and turn it to "stress" sometimes.

Source: Uploaded by user via Jamie on Pinterest

It's just 4 words, but they mean a lot to me right now.  

They bring me joy and peace.

And they get me through all the gunk that can sometimes just steal your joy.  

And so that's all for this random post, hope you are choosing joy today!

it's like riding a bike

We say "it's like riding a bike".  Then you actually go and ride that bike and sometimes it's not always a success.  

Well, we had a success this past weekend but it wasn't without a bit of nerves beforehand.  One thing the Mr. and I truly love doing together is riding our road bikes.  On Saturday we were so fortunate that Daniel's aunt and uncle were free and could go with us on a bike ride.  However, we haven't been on our bikes since August!  So, I was pretty nervous.  You know, the whole clipping in and out thing can really get your tummy in knots.  

I think the saying "it's like riding a bike" is actually pretty true.  We got on our bikes and I expected myself to just fall right on over, crash into a fence, or have a nervous breakdown.  Trust me, there were all possible.  But, none of these happened and I felt totally comfortable.  It all just came back to me.  

And we rode

and rode

and rode

for 13 miles 

and then we had breakfast.

Once our tummies were full we hopped back on and rode for 13 more miles.  

It was beautiful.  

We couldn't have asked for a prettied day, and our ride was just perfect.  We rode from Las Polgas road (which is just north of Camp Pendleton) to San Clemente.  The bike path is a biker's dream, no traffic, and the wind was a pain for just a little bit.  The whole time we rode I kept thinking to myself how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful area and have our health to enjoy God's creation.  

We were exhausted after though.  So much so that our date night ended early and we both crashed by 8:30 that night. :) 

lessons from Stella

Stella here! Woof!  My parents are the best, and I especially love my Auntie J.  I know she'll get a dog one day, so for the meantime I'm here!  When she comes over I tackle her and give her lots of kisses.  When her and mom go on runs together my favorite thing to do is give them a good bath after and lick them to death.  I'm the cutest dog on the block, and have a pretty mischievous side.  I may or may not like to get into any food that my paws can reach (including a whole plate of cupcakes...I had to climb onto the table for those ones).  I'm a happy pup and have learned lots in life, so I'm here to bestow some of my doggy wisdom unto you...

 Play more.

 Visit your favorite places often.

 Choose your friends wisely.

 Be curious.

 Take good care of those you love.

 Never give up. 

Yes, I'm seeing if I can balance myself on the chair to get that cake.

 Celebrate life with pupcakes cupcakes.

 Looks can be deceiving.

I'm the cutest but also can be pretty naughty.

 Don't be afraid to make a mess.

 Make exercise fun.

 Know when your body needs rest.

 Take fancy naps.

Know that you are valued, and you should climb into a safe to remind yourself that, too!

Never take the little joys in life for granted, especially rolling around in the grass.  That hits the good spot!

fit friday: it's marathon time!

I've always thought to myself what I could add to this blog world.  In the process of reflecting on this I tried to focus on areas that I felt most confident in.  Well, one of those areas is fitness and health.  And so, welcome to the first addition of "Fit Friday".  Each Friday I'll bring you a post on staying healthy, whether it's a good workout move, inspiration, or a new recipe you must try.  

To kick start everything off I thought I'd share a little bit about my view of health.  Growing up I never seemed happy with my body, but a big reason is because I didn't understand what it meant to be healthy.  Basically I was super uneducated and thought that because I had three servings of fruit a day (even if it was in a sugar-ladened smoothie) then I was healthy.  I started working out regularly about four years ago, but my purpose was to lose weight.  As the years have gone by I have transitioned my thinking to the following:

I eat to fuel my body

I exercise to keep my body active, fit, and energized

Having this mentality is so freeing.  I love working out because I know that I am taking care of the body that God made.  I love eating healthy because I am fueling my body for my busy days and keeping it in tip-top shape.  When I think to myself that I have to workout or restrict my eating because I'm unhappy with my body, a flood of insecurities comes over me, and I turn against myself versus loving that God has made.  

There's my view.

A friend of mine recently asked me to ran a half-marathon with her.  But not just any marathon, the La Jolla Half Marathon, which if you're from San Diego-you know it's the mother of all runs.  There is a grueling hill right smack dab in the middle.  I've only run one other half-marathon, and it was almost two years ago.  When I ran it I was constantly struggled.  I worried that I wasn't running enough, running fast enough, training hard enough, eating too much....

It was hard.  

So deciding whether or not to run this half marathon was a huge debate back and forth in my head.  Plus, it was one more thing to add to my crazy schedule.  I decided to go for a run to clear my head (it always does the trick).  On this run I looked down at my Garmin and realized that I was running way faster than I usually do.  Then I realized that this was the product of some speed work I had been doing on the treadmill recently.  I had grown as a runner and I felt more confidant.  I saw that my hard work was really paying off and it motivated me to set a new goal for myself.  Setting goals is important because it keeps us going and pushes us to strive for more.  

So I decided that, yes, I would run the half-marathon.  Setting a new goal for myself was actually pretty motivating and exciting.  

Last Saturday was my first long run and I did 7 miles.  It felt amazing and I felt strong the entire time.  It was more proof that I was ready to train for this half-marathon.  

The biggest lesson I have learned through this whole process is that we can't let the fears of our past hinder us in the present and in the future.  I feared that I would be slow again, that I would gain weight like I did last time, that I would feel sluggish and unhappy with myself.  The truth of the matter is that I am a different person than I was two years ago.  I am stronger, both spiritually and physically.  I'm excited to train and reach a new goal for myself!  

gluten free french toast

I love mornings!  I love sitting on the couch with a big cup of coffee snuggled up in a blanket.  I love watching the day awake.  My favorite things about mornings is breakfast!  The Mr. and I started a tradition a while ago called "Pancake Sundays".  Each Sunday we almost always make pancakes for breakfast and we switch them up every time.  Well this week I had a hankering for french toast so I decided to try something new and it did not disappoint.  

These are gluten free but you can always use regular bread.  I began eating gluten free last year as a way to help my ever-upset tummy.  Currently about 80% of what I eat is gluten free.  It just makes my body feel much better.  For the topping I made caramelized pears and they were phenomenal, the Mr. was begging for more.  Of course, you can always top them with butter (of course), syrup, honey, walnuts, or powdered sugar.  

Gluten Free French Toast with Carmelized Pears

What you'll need:

4 slices Gluten Free Bread (I really like Trader Joe's brand)

3 eggs

1/4 cup milk of choice (almond milk is my preference)

1 tsp. cinnamon

a dash of nutmeg

2 tsp. vanilla

1 pear

1 tbsp. coconut oil

1 tsp. vanilla

The Steps:

1. In a large shallow bowl combine eggs, milk, cinnamon, nutmeat, and vanilla.  

2. Whisk it all together until it is well blended.  

3.  Place bread inside the mixture for about 3-4 minutes while you cut up the pear and heat your skillet.  

4. Thinly slice your pear.

5. Heat a sauce pan over medium heat and add 1 Tbsp. coconut oil.  (You can use butter if you don't have coconut oil, but don't use olive oil.)

6. Add your pear to the pan and begin stirring.  

(I added maybe 1 tsp. of this coconut sugar to it to sweeten it up a little bit.  If you want them sweeter I would add in agave nectar or honey versus sugar.)

7.  Sprinkle cinnamon onto the pears and stir.  Cook over low-medium heat for about 4-5 minutes, until pears are soft and begin to fall apart a little bit.  

8.  Cook your bread over medium-high heat on the skills for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown.

Ahhh....isn't she just lovely????  Add toppings of choice and if you made pears smother those on top.  Grab a fork and dive in.

Trust me, you will love these!

you're beautiful

Source: Uploaded by user via Jamie on Pinterest

What is beauty?

I can easily remember looking at myself intently in the bathroom mirror and making a mental checklist of what I wanted to change, as early as the age of 8.  Everything I had was all wrong inside of my head.  I wanted blonde hair instead of brown, I wanted tan skin instead of fair with freckles.  I carried this checklist with me all the way through high school and college.  It was like carry on luggage: baggage.  It would wear me down, make me think I wasn't good enough, and affect my actions.  I wouldn't go places or be plagued with anxiety before going because of my self consciousness.  

You see, I never thought I was beautiful.  Even when I gave my life over to God in middle school I still carried this baggage with me.  

In our society beauty is an idol.  We create an image in our mind of that the "bar" is and we set our standards there.  We think to ourselves, "If I only looked like that then I would be beautiful".  

This was our sermon yesterday in church and I loved the conversation the Mr. and I had on our way home.  We were talking about how our view of beauty and self-consciousness is so hindering.  But, there is freedom:

"For you created my inmost being, you created me in my mother's womb"

Psalm 139:13

God created us, He knows everything about us.  The God that created our universe and everything we find beauty in made us beautiful.  We are beautiful women of God.  

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.  We all like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Isaiah 52: 5-6

There is freedom in Christ.  These thoughts of what we want to change about ourselves so that we can finally be beautiful are not of God, and what I have leaned over the past several years is that God loved me so much that he made me just the way I am-I have to love myself too.  There's a verse that says "If God is for us than who can be against us?"  Well, WE can't be against us.  We have to daily take the image of what we may think as beauty that brings us harm and self-doubt and tear it up.  For me, that is recognizing who I compare myself to or think is the ideal vision of beauty because they are thinner than me or have better clothes than me.  

The Mr. and I were talking about my transformation to beauty and how I struggled with it for so long.  When we were engaged my relationship with God was very strong, I went to God daily and learned how to live our His life for me, and He showed me how to love myself.  All of myself.  This began my beauty transformation.  Our self-confidence is beautiful.  When we love ourselves that is beautiful.  Our attitude and actions are beautiful.  

Source: instagr.am via Jamie on Pinterest

This is a big passion for me: for others to see how they were created beautifully and wonderfully.  When I was younger this was a struggle for me and I was fortunate enough to have older godly girls love on me.  I'm praying for God to open doors to allow me to be that for girls today.  Remember, you were beautifully made by the Creator-you are beautiful!

Right now tell yourself 5 things that you love about yourself that are beautiful!

life's blessings iPhone style

Hello friends!

First, I have to give a huge thank you to those that gave me beautiful words of encouragement from my last post.  My heart was beyond blessed and filled with joy.

I'm finally getting a chance to catch up and wanted to share life lately through the lens of my iPhone:

{1} Hiking 8 miles with the Mr. last weekend, it was beyond gorgeous at the top (despite the fog)

{2} Going to a friend's baby shower and seeing how faith can make the impossible possible..more coming soon!

{3} Stumbling upon this very old pictures of my mom and I, don't you just love her hair?!?!

{4} Getting the cutest Valentine's that were hidden everywhere from the Mr.

{5} Loving Love Day as a teacher

{6} Homemade pesto pizza made just for muah (I love him a lot!)

{7} Craft date with Lindsay!  What do you think of the new headband???

{8} Officially began training for my half-marathon and smoking my 7 miles

{9} Making gluten free french toast with caramelized pears.  One word: epic! (Recipe coming this week!)

After my last little venting post I was reminded of how beautiful life is.  Yes, life has seemed pretty crazy lately but God has truly blessed me with an amazing husband, friends, and family.  When I look at all of these pictures I'm reminded of how beautiful and joyful life is.  

For Valentine's day the Mr. did the most adorable surprise.  Well, to begin the day he woke up and went to the gym with me at 5am!!!!  If you know the Mr. you will most definitely know that he is not a morning person, they are just not friends.  But, he wants to start going with me in the morning and I loved having his company.  The night before he planted 60 little Toy Story Valentine's everywhere that had things he loved about me on it.  They were attached to my keys, in my wallet, in my shoes, inside my coffee mug, inside jacket pockets, in my laptop, tucked inside my lesson planner....I still haven't found them all.  I had class that night but I came home to the most amazing homemade pizza that made my taste buds sing.  Then...in Jamie fashion, I passed out on the couch at 8:30 because I was so tired.  

I hope you all have had a beautiful week!

it is well...

Source: etsy.com via Jamie on Pinterest

Well, it finally happened.  I was driving home from an extremely long and exhausting day and the tears came on-everything was racing in my head: my to-do list for work, my to-do list for school, my to-do list for the house...

The stress of grad school and teaching full-time finally came down on me these past two weeks.  I had been trying to so hard to keep the balance but it slowly started crumbling apart.  It felt as though someone had hit the fast-forward button on line.  I knew there was only one thing I could do: pray.  Pray for God's wisdom, guidance, love, support, balance, and HOPE.  And then I stumbled upon this little beauty on Pinterest and my mind instantly remembered singing this hymn at church, feeling God's hope and love, and knowing that everything is going to be okay.

Right now it feels like everything is raining down on me-but it is well.  It may be raining but there is so much of God's love and beauty for me to redirect my thoughts onto so that I see it's not the end of the world.  When everything feels like it's falling apart or there is no balance in the chaos it is far too easy to try and fix everything on my own.  We all know that that only makes matters worse.  We can't fix anything but God can.  He can restore the balance, provide me with HOPE that balance will come, and show me what needs to be placed on the back burner until balance and peace is restored.

Sadly, blogging went on the back burner this week and it was pretty sad.  I missed looking at everyone's blogs, leaving little love notes, catching up, and sharing bits of our lives with you.  Luckily this weekend is a four day weekend (YAY!!!) so I'm crossing my fingers to finally catch up around here...I may have a few recipes up my sleeve that I'm dying to post!  I'm also on the lookout for a great blog makeover so if you have any good tutorials just send them my way!!!

dear handsome

I try not to get all mushy-gushy too often but for Valentine's Day I'm not holding back.  The Mr. and I have been married for three years now and it has truly been the best three years of my life.  As we spent our time together this weekend I realized how truly lucky I am, I've obviously known this, but the Mr. and I have been making our marriage more intentional lately.  We have been trying to put the other first, be each other's personal cheerleader, and devote our time to one another. 

I've always been a hopeless romantic at heart and had grand dreams of amazing Valentine's Day activities.  I do have to say that the Mr. did an over the top Valentine's Day one year with a candlelit picnic on the beach and it has always been one of my favorite dates.  That was eight years ago, and it hasn't happened since but we try to recreate a little piece of it each year.  For the picnic he special ordered a heart shaped pizza, so every year we make a heart shaped pizza together.  We were talking about Valentine's Day this past weekend and I was saying that it just doesn't feel that important any more, mainly because I just haven't had time to do anything cute or special or plan up amazing things.  Then the Mr. said, "It doesn't have to be something huge because we celebrate our love the other 364 days of the year".  I love him.  Here's a little love letter to the Mr:

Dear Handsome,

I love you more than words can express.

I love that I knew the moment we started leading our junior high youth group together that you were the man I was going to marry.

I love that you always said I was not a girl you date, I was a girl you marry.

I love that when we were cleaning out the garage this summer I found my journal from high school asking God to let you be my future husband.  

I love how you call me "crazy" and try to find the OFF switch to your robot.

I love how you always seem to know the perfect words to say to calm me down and remind me that life is too short to stress it away.

I love how giving you are.  

I love that family comes first to you, and that you love me more than I'll ever know.

I love that God has been the center of our relationship and marriage.

I love the way you look playing with your nieces and nephew, you are the best uncle and will be the most amazing father one day.

I love how you love my family unconditionally.  

I love the way you take at least five minutes to come up with a witty Facebook status update just to get a good laugh.

I love that you are addicted to Cheez-Its and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups but still eat my "rabbit food".

I love that you love me just the way I am and that you know me better than myself.  

I love your desire for happiness and that you always strive to make me happy.

I love your love of nature, bike rides, and hikes.  

I love that you call me "gorgeous" and never Jamie.

I love that you tease me like crazy just to get me all riled up.  

I love the way you make a mad dash through the house five minutes before I get home to make the house look clean.

I love how easy it is to be around you and how comfortable you make everyone in your midst.  

I love the way you lisp at night with your new mouth guard.

I love that your socks are all over the house, it reminds me that our house is lived in and memories of you are everywhere.

I love that you are the most patient, kind, and considerate man I have every know.

I love that you love me for me, and show me everyday how to love unconditionally.

I love you..

Love,

"Gorgeous"

PS: All of these pictures are from a gorgeous hike we went on Saturday morning, that was how we broke in the new day off together :)