Month: June 2018

fruits Gluten Free Recipes The Life I Live

Triple Berry Crisp Protein Shake

Are you a breakfast eater? I really try to be but it’s just not my favorite. Actually, I love breakfast food, but I will just have breakfast for dinner if I miss it. HAHA.

So when I do eat breakfast, it’s sometimes leftovers (maybe even dinner LOL) and other times, a protein shake. You never know with me.

But yummmmmm. I cannot get over how delicious this is! The berries combine with oats, cinnamon, and almond milk and it tastes like a cold, liquid berry crisp.

Triple Berry Crisp Protein Shake
IMG_20180401_092254.jpg

  • 1 cup frozen mixed berries (I like strawberries, raspberries and blueberries)
  • 1 cup vanilla almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • 1/4 cup gluten-free oats
  • 1 scoop vanilla protein powder

Just blend together and serve. Mmm, so good. How often are you enjoying protein shakes?

Like this recipe? Go HERE to check out my books!

Dairy Free Gluten Free Recipes The Life I Live Vegan vegetables

You Are Going To Love This Veggie Pasta

Wait!

This is NOT veggies, spiraled, claiming to be pasta.  There IS pasta in this dish. And..there are veggies that are spiraled and sliced, too.

The thing is… I.love.pasta. I love all the things you can add to pasta. Protein and sauce and cheese, oh my! It takes me right back to my Midwestern roots. Meat, starch and cheese LOL.

Anyhow, this pasta dish has pasta, zucchini that has been zoodled, and onions that have been sliced. This way, you get more flavor, a little bit of color, and an all around healthier dish.

Veggie Pastaveg noodles

  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 1 red onion, sliced
  • 1 yellow onion, sliced
  • 2 zucchinis, zoodled or cut into long, thin strips
  • a quarter-sized diameter of gluten-free spaghetti

Boil the noodles per package directions.

In a separate skillet, add the oil and the onions. On medium heat, cook bout 5 minutes. Remove the onion and set aside. Add the zucchini into the skillet and cook for about 3 minutes or until slightly softened. One the zucchini is done salt and pepper it and add the onions and pasta. It’s done!

You can top this with a cheese sauce, spaghetti sauce, garlic, and so much more! Yum!

Like this recipe? Go HERE to check out my published books!

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: My Five Favorite Verses For Strength

I’ve been working on a flip-book project, an idea I got from someone at prayer group. (Thanks, Mama!)

She gifted us with note card-sized flipping notebooks and section separators so that we could use it to hold all of our favorite verses. I love this!

As soon as I get it put together, I look forward to keeping it in my purse and using it daily.  I plan to have several sections in there and one of my favorites, and one I think is most important for me, is verses for strength.

These are my absolute favorite, in fact, this first one I will share with you is currently on my home screen for my phone!Screenshot_20180606-155847

The Lord will fight for you. Just stay strong. Exodus 14:14

My presence will go with you. And I will give you rest. Exodus 33:14

I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Search for the Lord and for His strength. Continually seek him. 1 Chtonicles 16:11

The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace. Psalm 29:11

I’m really loving this first verse right now.

The Lord will fight for you. Just stay strong. Exodus 14:14

It isn’t to say that you can just lay down, stop trying, quit praying, and everything will work out. No, He is saying, I’m right here next to you, with you, fighting for you. But we have to fight, too.

We have the fight the good fight. We have to keep our minds on Him, and live in peace and love each other. We have to be good to people and take care of each other. And we have to do our best in this life and remember to find our worth in Him and not in earthly things.

I just want to take the time to pray for you if you’re reading this:

Dear God, We want to thank You for being our strength. We are so blessed to be Your children and to be a part of Your beautiful plan. Please remind us to come to You with our weaknesses, so that we can become stronger in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen

 

 

Essential Oils Recipes The Life I Live

Essential Oils: Focus Blend

What do you do to help you focus? As a freelance writer, I have to stay on task  when I work. So, I have lots of tips and tricks I’ve developed along the way.

Taking several quick, short walks throughout the day is amazing for focus. I do this often. I also like to stand while I work sometimes. This is great for your body and allows you to move more.

And I love to use essential oils to help me focus, too! I find that bright, fresh citrus is great for focus and this blend smells amazing.

Focus BlendPeppermintoil

  • 2 drops peppermint oil
  • 2 drops lime oil
  • 2  drops grapefruit oil

This blend is awesome in a diffuser. Just add the oils and water and set your diffuser next to you for your task, and boom. Smells great, keeps you alert, and helps you focus.

If you want to make a roller bottle with this blend, add 15 drops of each into the roller bottle and fill with Jojoba oil (or carrier oil of choice.)

Disclaimer: I use Young Living Essential Oils and based on my research, I believe these are the best, safest, and most pure oils on the market. PLEASE do your own research and determine which oils are best for you and your family.

 

Dairy Free fruits Gluten Free Paleo Recipes The Life I Live

Banana Pecan Pancakes

It’s been rainy here and I am LOVING it?!? Am I the only one that loves cold, rainy weather? While it doesn’t get cold down here, it is def gray and rainy and for me, that makes me think of home. And at home, usually if it’s rainy, it’s cold, too.

Anyhow, I made these pancakes and fell in love with them. And I generally don’t even love pancakes. But Nick does, and since I liked these too, you will for sure!   Top them with extra nuts and make a double batch so that you have some all week! Yum!ban pecan pan

Banana Pecan Pancakes 

  • 1 medium banana, peeled
  • 3 whole eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons almond butter
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/4 cup broken pecan pieces
  • coconut oil for cooking

Add banana to a medium-sized bowl and smash it. Next add the eggs and mix with the mashed banana until it is well incorporated. Mix in the remaining ingredients excluding the coconut oil.

Into a skillet on medium heat add coconut oil. Pour small pancakes, about 4 per pan, and cook until the begin to bubble and flip, about 4 minutes per side. Use the rest of the oil for the batches of pancakes until you are finished cooking.

Like this recipe? Go HERE to check out my books!

Essential Oils The Life I Live

I Never Would Have Thought I’d Use Oils on my Face, But I Do

And if you know me, this probably surprises you just as much as it surprised me. If not more.

You see, I HATE things touching my face. Pretty much anything. I don’t touch my hands to my face, my husband doesn’t touch my face, and I am very selective about what I put on my face.

I grew up and into my teens with not much acne at all. That is, until after college. Hello 250px-Boswellia_sacra.jpg(adult) hormones, hello acne! I never had awful skin, but it was never great either.

And then come to now, and I have the best skin I have ever had. I wear nothing on my face except for Frankincense and mascara. That’s right, no foundation, no cover up, no powder, nothing.

I love, love, loveeeeeeeeeee not having to wear makeup (to cover up bad skin) and how clear my skin is. There are probably several things that contribute to the healthy skin that I have now, but I can tell you one thing. If you had said to me five years ago that I would have great skin and more so that I would use oils on my (face) skin now, I would have LOL’ed.

But I do use oils, on my face, and I love it.

When I first started using oils, I tried several different ones on my face, because I hoped that they would help like nothing ever had. They didn’t seem to, until Frankincense.

This oil is from the Boswellia sacra tree and is so old and cherished, it’s what the three 250px-Boswellia-sacra-greenhouse.jpgwise man gifted to baby Jesus when he was born. It’s filled with anti-inflammatory compounds and is one of my favorite essential oils out there.

Try it on your face and see what it does for you! I have noticed clearer, smoother, and softer skin. I have little to no breakouts and I’m hoping it keeps my skin as young-looking as can be throughout the years.

Face Oil

  • 15 drops Frankincense oil

Add these drops into a 15 ml bottle and fill the rest with a carrier oil. (I use sweet almond oil and this is the only carrier oil I will use on my face. (I tried jojoba and did not like it for my face.))

And that’s it. After washing my face, I apply a small about of this mixture, just enough for a light layer, and that’s it. I apply once or twice a day and my skin has never looked better.

Do you love Frankincense? What is your favorite use for this amazing oil?

Disclaimer: I use Young Living Essential Oils and based on my research, I believe these are the best, safest, and most pure oils on the market. PLEASE do your own research and determine which oils are best for you and your family.

 

 

Dairy Free fruits Gluten Free Recipes The Life I Live

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Apple Bread

I’m telling you, bread made with rice flour is so good! My husband loves all these fruit-filled breads I’ve been making and I really do, too.

Click these links to try my Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread or Berry Pear Bread. Or try this new Apple Cinnamon Bread below!

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Apple Bread
cinnamon apple bread

  • 2 eggs, whisked
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 cup apples, diced
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 1/2 cups rice flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • pinch of salt

In a medium-sized bowl, add the eggs and whisk. Next, add the avocado oil, applesauce, honey and stir. Add in the rest of the ingredients to combine.

Grease a glass bread pan with avocado oil and add the mixture to the pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Test with a toothpick in the middle and enjoy!

Like this recipe? Go HERE to check out my books!

 

Gluten Free Meats Paleo Recipes The Life I Live vegetables

Bacon and Turkey Omelette

This breakfast has so much flavor and is really quick and easy to throw together. Plus, it makes enough for two people or two meals, so it’s awesome to have if you’re busy, like me!

Bacon and Turkey Omelettebacon and turkey omelette

  • 4 strips bacon
  • 1/2 red onion, chopped
  • 1/2 red pepper, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon Mrs. Dash Original Blend
  • 3 pieces of low-sodium, steroid-free, antibiotic-free baked deli turkey, broken up
  •  4 eggs, scrambled
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 pinch of salt

Cook the bacon to crisp in a medium skillet on medium heat. Remove the bacon from the pan and set aside.  Don’t dump out the grease! Add the vegetables to the pan (with the grease in it) and cook for 5 minutes. Add the seasonings and turkey pieces. Stir and cook for 3 minutes. Add the eggs to the pan and cook to done or about 5 minutes.

Like this recipe? Go HERE to check out my books!

 

 

Scripture Sunday The Life I Live

Scripture Sunday: What Our Troubles Can Do For Us

I love the devotional I’m going to be sharing today. It reminds us to work towards more patience with God and in life. Because His plan is already set, and we have to learn to get there. We may not understand why things are happening when they do, but we can have patience in them.

Besides, we shouldn’t rely on our own understanding anyhow. We can give Him our doubts and our worries.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

And what’s why I love this devotional. It’s saying the same thing.

IMG_20180526_082552 (1)

To “get” where we need to “go,” we have to be strengthened, smarter, and wiser. He knows this and helps us along the way. Our troubles feel hard but they are not impossible. We have to use our troubles as a way to grow.

The second part says that we should take our troubles to God in prayer. We should ask Him what He wanted us to learn from them. I love this.

I just want to take the time to pray for you if you’re reading this:

Dear God, We want to thank you for taking on all our troubles. We are so blessed that we can rely on You and trust Your plan for us. Guide us to have more patience and always seek You in troubled times.  Lord we give You our hearts so that You may give us peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen