Recipe: Mediterranean Green Power Bowls

We are trying to eat more healthy at our house these days.  Winter is the time you most feel like eating unhealthy and just consuming all those comfort foods.  Plus, those sweaters can hide it, right?  LOL!  I tried this recipe this week for our lunches.

I really loved it!  Why?

1.  It is delicious!

2.  You can do the prep for the week on Sunday and not have to mess with it each night. 

Just grab it in the morning and put in your lunch bag and you are ready and prepared with a healthy lunch. 

If you work full-time like me, it is a huge thing. 

When you get home at night, you don't feel like doing a ton of stuff for the next day.

Mediterranean Green Power Bowls

8 cups spinach

2 cups cooked brown rice or quinoa

1 large cucumber, diced

1 cup Kalamata olives, drained

1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

1 cup marinated artichoke hearts, drained

1/4 cup pomegranate seeds

1/3 cup feta cheese

Dressing:

1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp. raw honey

2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 fresh garlic clove, minced

2 tbsp. fresh chopped dill

Combine dressing ingredients in a sealable jar and shake vigorously to mix, or whisk until combined well.

Fill the bowls equally with greens. Top with brown rice, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, olives and artichoke hearts.

Sprinkle with feta cheese and pomegranate seeds.

The bowls will hold really well refrigerated in air tight containers, 4-5 days.

When ready to serve, add 2-3 tbsp. of dressing.  Toss and enjoy!

*Makes four bowls.
*I made it both with brown rice and then quinoa - both ways are good!  I liked the quinoa even better!

Menu Ideas for your Week

Menu Ideas for Your Week

Here we are nearing the end of January!  January is my least favorite month so I will be glad to see it go. :)

Here are some meal ideas that I am using this week:

Greek Chicken Lemon Rice Soup

Garlic bread
(Got these recipes off BuildaMenu.com)  It uses a lemon pepper rotisserie chicken - mmm!

Quick Chicken Stir-Fry
This meal is all-in-one!  Carbs, protein and your veggies.

Cream Cheese Potato Soup
Turkey Bacon BLT'S

Crock Pot Beef and Noodles
Mashed Potatoes
Veggie
This is a hearty Midwest style meal!  It is great for the winter and cooking all day in your crock pot.

Gnocchi, Sausage and Spinach Soup
Grilled Swiss Cheese, Turkey and Carmelized Onion Sandwiches

What are you cooking this week?  Happy cooking!

Pay-Day-Thursday

Thursdays.  Every other Thursday here at Max Packaging is a good day.  Maybe it is my imagination...but it seems as if everyone is happier...has a little more pep in their step...laugh and joke and smile more.

I imagine it is because it is the last day of the work week...and it is pay day.  LOL!  I mean that just makes sense.

The other days of the work week - meh.  

I was reading in the book of Numbers this morning in my devotions and God was talking about Caleb.  There was something about Caleb and it reminded me of "pay-day-Thursday" attitudes. 

The Bible says, "But my servant Caleb, because he had a different spirit with him and followed me fully, I will bring him into the land where he went, and his seed will possess it."

Wow!  God noticed Caleb and one of the reasons why?  Caleb had a different spirit with him. 

"Pay-day-Thursday" spirit. 

God obviously liked that about him because He promised to bring him into the Promised Land and that his seed (children) would possess it.

That's a good reminder to us all. 

What is your attitude and spirit like today? 

I hope it is a "pay-day-Thursday" one!

Better a Little...Than an Attendance Bonus!

Today did not go as planned.  I am one of "those people" who tend to plan out their day and when it doesn't go according to plans, it throws me off.

The dog woke me up at 2:30am to go to the bathroom.  We used to keep the dog door open all the time but we have problems with Max jumping the fence so we can't do that anymore.  So up to let them out and let them back in.  I had a hard time falling back asleep...and then up at 3:45am to take my husband and Nathan to the airport.  They were headed to Vegas for Idea Day.  I got home and right away left with Max for our morning walk.  

When Max and I got back, I settled in with a hot cup of coffee, my Bible reading and the morning news until I would have to leave for work.  Ahh.

I literally just sat down and my phone went off with a text from my husband.  

"I just saw this e-mail from Leeway...they said I was supposed to do Lot 229 and I did 227.  Can you check the e-mail?"

I did.  He had done one wrong lot and that meant I had to go and get photos of that construction job.  Today.  Well, since it is dark when I go to work and dark when I get off...the job site is 35 minutes away...I thought it best to leave right then, take the photos as soon as there was light enough to do so, and then straight to work.

I did not have the best of attitudes on that drive there.  Grumbling.  Complaining.  Not only did I lose my morning, I was also late to work and lost my attendance bonus for that pay period.  Augh!

Later at the end of the work day, I looked at the verse of the day on my You Version app...

"Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil."

Yep, that's for me.  I was so frustrated with losing my bonus and hour of pay...I couldn't focus on the Lord.  I was grumpy to my husband and just out of it.  Wealth and my day being "messed up" was more important than Him.

Well, hopefully tomorrow goes better than today!  Even if it doesn't..."better a little with the fear of the Lord." 

Lord, keep my eyes on You.

Meal Ideas for your Week

Sometimes, I need fresh ideas to boost my mind for meal planning.  I thought I would share some dinner meal ideas I am using this week. My daughters cook dinner four days of the week so our meals are not fancy or difficult. :)

Breaded chicken sandwiches
Tomato soup

Parmesan crusted chicken
Crockpot mac and cheese
Peas

Snappy Tuna Melts
Ranch pasta salad
Applesauce

Beefy nacho soup
Quesadillas

Potato, sausage and kale soup
Grilled cheese sandwiches

Slow cooker layered enchilada dinner
Corn

Little Caesar's $5 pizza - LOL! (When Eric is in Vegas)

Happy cooking!

How We Blew $50,000-Our Story of Stupid

I mean, it was only January 2nd.  Literally made those New Year resolutions only hours ago.  And to make it worse, it was one of those resolutions you make that you don't even tell anyone. 

Because you are embarrassed that you struggle with "it" anyway and maybe you just didn't have enough faith that you would be able to keep it.  You needed that silent inside victory before you wanted to let it known.

And then you blew it.  Well, that didn't last long, did it?  You got angry with yourself and cried.  The thoughts of why did I even think I could do this came to mind. 

"You always do this" was said.  And that's how you felt. 

"I always do this".

Been there?  Even if we aren't honest outwardly, we are inwardly admitting, Yes.

Every year, our church hosts Financial Peace University.  I was all fired up to host the class again this year...until you know, you have the thought of no one cares.  You push and promote and talk and it doesn't seem to do much.  No one responds.

The thought crosses your mind...why do it?  Is it worth my time?

Then I thought back to 2005.  We were living in Reno at the time and due to "stuff", we decided to move back to Indiana.  We sold our condo and because of the housing boom, we made about $50,000.  Yeah.  After living there only a little over 8 months.  Insane with a capital I.

Then I thought back to how stupid we were.  Young and very, very stupid.  No one taught us to have an emergency fund of 3-6 months.  No one warned us about credit cards and car payments and saving money for things like a down payment on a house.  No one taught us how to open a retirement account and how to invest in mutual funds.

We were very stupid.  Not just stupid knowledge wise...we were stupid money wise.  What happened to that $50k?  I couldn't tell you where that money went to.  We didn't save it.  We didn't invest it.  Nothing.  Stupid.  Do you know money can be blown very, very quickly?  It's gone before you can blink.

I told my husband last night...as we were discussing our now retirement accounts...what could we have had in those retirement accounts if we would have taken the steps that we are now?  Sad.

So why do FPU?  Why even care?  

Because maybe you are like me and that New Years' resolution that I blew on January 2nd.  You look at your finances and you say..."I always do this".  And it's not a good thing, is it?  

Hey, I can't beat you up...I told you my stupid story and I got lots more of those.  But guess what?  We made a life change.  And even though there were times when stupid won out, we continue to keep working the plan.

And there are more people out there just like us.  Stupid.  Not making good decisions.  And literally blowing it.  When I think is it worth it?  I think back to our story and say, Yes.  Maybe I can help them.  I was there once.  I needed that help.  I wish I had gotten that help sooner.

So whatever resolution you made and failed at...whatever stupid decision you made that you regret...get back up. 

Work the plan.  You got it! 

And then turn around and help someone else.  You got it.

Book Reviews for January

So, one of my goals I shared was to read two books in each month for growth.  I'm always looking for good books to better myself and grow.  I thought I would share the first two with you.

The first was Whisper by Mark Batterson.  This was my first book by Mark that I read and I definitely want to read more!  Mark has a style of writing that is easy to read and keeps you engaged.  He uses illustrations and stories all throughout the book - those good ones that you have to stop reading and share with your husband or someone nearby that will listen.  LOL!  

The main point of Whisper is how to hear the voice of God.  He shares with you about the special places he goes to hear that voice and special and amazing events that happened as a result of hearing God's voice and obeying.

Whisper is definitely an inspiring book that you will enjoy!

The second book I read was Capital Gaines by Chip Gaines.  Most of you probably know Chip and Joanna Gaines from the HGTV show Fixer Upper.  I enjoyed this book because it is an easy book for anyone to gain some practical knowledge on just making wise decisions - along with risks - in whatever business venture you might undertake.  I love that Chip is a Christian and shares his faith along with his thoughts in business - and they go hand in hand.  He shares the reason why they decided to stop their show as well.

If you are a fan of the Gaines, I think you will like this book.  Chip is honest and just a down to earth type guy you can learn from.

My Goals for 2018

I love the start of a new year.  It is a great time to restart and refocus.  I thought I would share my 2018 goals for this year.

Focus for 2018:
Strength - Isaiah 40:31
2017 had some pretty big speed bumps for me.  It was a tough year mentally and emotionally.  I didn't handle it well.  I want 2018 to be a year of strength - to become strong through Him!

Spiritual Goals:
Read through the Bible one time.  I already started this goal on You Version.  Last year, I had a goal of reading through the Bible in one month and I completed that in January.  I actually read through it for a second time Sept-Nov. on a three month plan.  I find it vital for my spiritual growth to make goals that involve reading His Word.
Develop the fruits of the Spirit - Love, joy and peace.  These are definitely the fruits that were revealed that I need to work on from 2017.

Personal Goals:
Read two books per month for growth.  My first book is Whisper by Mark Batterson.  Phenomenal author.
Write two blog posts per week.  2017 was a year of difficult circumstances - I withdrew and didn't want to share and open up through blogging.  I made this goal to push myself to not close up - but grow and share through Christ and what He is doing in my life.

Family Goals:
Unplug from my phone from 5-8pm every night (things like e-mail, texts and Facebook to focus on others).  I think this may be a huge thing in my life to be a better me.
Change to year round school year.

Health Goals:
Take a daily walk.
Eat one fruit and one vegetable a day.
Increase water intake.

Career Goals:
Start a 401k with my company when I become eligible.

Marriage Goals:
Pray every day for my husband.
Read six marriage books.

Financial Goals:
Complete 3-6 month emergency fund.  We have been working toward this goal in 2017 and it will be a huge victory when it is completed!
Start college fund for Autumn.

Have you set some goals?  Maybe these categories and my goals will inspire you to make some for yourself for 2018.  God bless and Happy New Year!