The Power of Prayer

If I had to pinpoint one thing that really impacted me the most this semester, it would be prayer. 

I always heard people talk about answered prayers and I'd heard stories about people praying very specifically for things and them happening, but I never really had those experiences for myself. Over the past school year, I can honestly say that prayer has never had more of an impact on my life. 

The power of prayer - that's what I've learned. 

One thing I felt God telling me to do, very specifically, was to wait. Whether I was praying about a friendship, healing, a possible relationship, or a job, God's answer was always to wait. Considering how impatient I am, this was not easy. 

The cool thing that comes from waiting is the relationship you develop with Christ during the waiting process. I can also watch my long-term prayers being happened every day. It's like a snowball effect. If I make a point to look for God, I see Him in everything. It's been amazing. God has been working in life like I never expected.

One of the hardest things was when God provided multiple job opportunities for me in the business and sales world - some in which I would eventually make $100 grand - and I felt I wasn't to accept any of the offers. Imagine turning down a job where you could make that much money! However, I didn't feel like that was where God wanted me to be, so I turned the offers down. And now I am back to waiting. 

I know God will provide for me - He always does and He always will. I just need to follow what He tells me to do. 

Today has been a wonderful day, and it has only begun. Today I am joyful - and I have God to thank for that. 

The Waiting Game

I think one of the hardest things to do is wait. 

A common theme in my life recently has been waiting. Just have patience, God says. I will provide.

It's easier said than done.  Especially for me, who is very impatient. 

I've recently been on the hunt for a full time job. Which, when looking for journalism and public relations in Cincinnati, is nearly impossible. I've applied for multiple jobs, and I still haven't heard back from any. It's also hard when a lot of available jobs require X amount years of professional experience, which, as a graduating college student, I don't have.

It's frustrating. I really need a job by the time I graduate so that I can afford to live with my friend in Norwood in August. I feel strongly that this is something I'm supposed to do - that God wants me to do. Without a job, I won't be able to do this. And I'm impatient - I want a job now. I want that assurance. 

But it's not always that simple. God has his own timeline, which is not the same as mine. I have to adjust my timeline to match His. 

Just wait, I will provide.

It's hard for me to have no control over how something works. I want to get things accomplished as best and efficiently as possible.  It's hard for me to say, God, take control of this situation. I'll wait and trust in you. 

Is this hard for you guys, too?

Trust in the Lord and do good;
    dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him.

   Psalm 37:3-7

Trust and commit your ways to God and He will give you the desires of your heart. How cool is that? The hard part is the waiting that is involved!

The other hard part for me is deciding what exactly I want to do. Although my major is in public relations and english, is that really what I want to do? I dont think so. 

I found myself in college. I've had a lot of ups and downs and a lot of negative experiences, but those experiences shaped me into who I am. And although I had a lot of really bad experiences, I also had some really, really positive experiences. 

My time spent with Navigators has shown me a lot, and I think it has helped me decide that I want to somehow be involved in ministry in my future. Whether that is becoming a worship leader, doing service, working with the Navigators or other campus ministries, I'm not sure. But I know I want to lead by example, like 1 Timothy 4:12 says:

Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, life, love, faith and purity. 

So I guess I have to accept that I simply don't know what the future holds for me. I have to rely that God will provide a job and that I'll be able to move to Norwood. All I have to do it wait. 

Side note - happy 22nd birthday to my roommate, Abby! You're the best, and I hope you enjoyed the red velvet cupcakes! 

Reflections & Ponderings

If there is one thing I have learned more than anything this weekend, it is the power of God's unconditional love.

This past weekend, I was blessed enough to attend my final Discipleship Weekend with the Navigators. Although I only attended two of the past four, it has always been, by far, my favorite retreat the Navigators puts together. Fall Conference is wonderful and it is always exciting to compete against other campuses in the Navs Olympics, but Discipleship Weekend has a special place in my heart. Let me tell you why.

I joined Navigators at the very end of my freshman year in college. I didn't really do much with them, but I knew I wanted to be more involved the next year. As a sophomore, I was asked to do the comedic announcements at NavNite with Nikhil, a man who has now become one of my closest brothers in Christ. This minor involvement led to me becoming extremely involved and, at the end of the fall semester, I was asked to go through New Leader Training to become a small group leader the following fall. The selected few were asked to come to a secret meeting, where we were given roses and letters upon arrival by the two current leaders (Stephanie and Cristin) and the Navs staff member, Mark Bruner. The whole thing was beautiful. That night, I left NavNite in tears. I was filled with joy, and I knew God had chosen this path for me for a reason.

Discipleship Weekend (Key Laborers) 2011

In the midst of training, I attended my first Discipleship Weekend retreat (which was then called the Key Laborers Conference). We are paired up with another member from our group, and that is our "spiritual buddy" for the weekend. This retreat, my buddies were Miranda Gerber and Elizabeth Krach (I was in a triple because Elizabeth had to leave for part of the retreat). This was the beginning of getting to know each other very well, and both of them have proceeded to become two more of my closest friends and sisters in Christ.

Discipleship Weekend 2013 - look how much we've grown!

The reason I came to love this retreat was the reflection portion at the end of the weekend. This is a Navigators tradition, where everyone meets with their school and all reflect on their experience over the weekend. This is usually everyone's favorite part of the weekend. However, this session was especially intense for me because I had just gone through a rather large emotional struggle with my now ex-boyfriend. I broke down in tears. This was followed by one of the leaders, Cristin, breaking down about law school school applications and her struggles. Everyone in our community pulled together to comfort one another, share tissues, and hand out hugs. The reflection was ended with some hilarious comments by Nikhil to lighten the mood ("Nikhil, what would you do if your wife was on her period and needed tampons?" "I'd give her cotton balls and sticks."). Later, I had a hysterical breakdown in the car with Liz Bruner, the wife of Mark (Navs Staff). This breakdown was the beginning of a very long (few year) road to recovery from brokenheartedness (for reasons I won't get into). Although emotionally challenging, this retreat showed me the love and community that Navigators brings to its members, and I felt the love of God shining in my life.

Save me from the walls that I build

From the broken heart inside of me

That just will not heal

Save me, when it's hard to believe

And the faith I need

Is so far from the world that I see

Won't you save me from myself

"Save Me," Nate Sallie

Fast forward two years, and I'm now a senior on that same retreat. This time, the retreat takes place at my own church, Faith Church. I'm surrounded by a community I have spent the past 3+ years with, with new friendships and new experiences. I am a leader of a women's Bible study with some pretty amazing women. Watching how much Navigators has grown over the past few years has been such a blessing. I'm preparing for graduation, terrified and unsure of what I should be doing with my life. My best friends are still the people I met in Navs my sophomore year - Sean, Jack, Nikhil, Miranda, & Elizabeth - and we are all on the retreat again (minus Elizabeth). It's clear the weekend is emotionally charged for everyone and many of us are going through some big personal struggles. The seniors - myself, Becki, Jamie, and Alex - are graduating soon. Jack is transferring to Cincinnati State//eventually UC to become a biomedical engineer, so this is his last retreat. Many members are struggling to overcome broken relationships from highschool and college. Others are struggling with intimacy and self-esteem issues, and others have broken relationships with their parents. Some of us fit into all of those categories. Whatever the problem, this retreat is needed for the entire Xavier Navigators community.

The four of us - me (top), Nikhil (middle right), and Jack and Sean (bottom left and middle) in 2011

A few things happened on this retreat that simply blew my mind. First, I was given incredible amounts of hope and blown away by the manifestation of God's love in some of the members of our community. On the first night of retreat, while the men were having fun wrestling each other in their free time, Mark dislocated his shoulder and was rushed to the hospital. Of course, when we all heard the news we prayed for him and hoped he would get better. I thought that was as far as things would go, but I was wrong.

The four of us at Discipleship Weekend in 2013

The next day, we are called together for a meeting by Nikhil and Reid, a sophomore Navs leader whom I was fortunate to watch grow as one of the leaders of his freshmen Bible study last year. The two announced that we would be heading into a time of worship and prayer for Mark, and they would be collecting donations from everyone to help pay for Mark's medical bills. Because Mark has been such an influence in all of our lives, especially the lives of the leaders, we felt compelled to help him and surround him with love and care in his time of need. No one was required to donate, and many of us still have yet to decide on an amount to donate. All donations are anonymous. I discovered later that the total raised in that half hour alone was huge. I won't share the exact amount, but it was enough to leave me standing in awe. I am speechless. This impromptu meeting really showed me a glimpse of God's unconditional love for all of us. This community of college Christians was willing to sacrifice a significant amount of money, that we could be saving or using to pay for school, to help ease the burden of the man so many of us admire. This left me speechless and thankful that I have been blessed as a member of this community.

All around

Hope is springing up from this old ground

Out of chaos life is being found in you

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of us

"Beautiful Things," Gungor

I also appreciated getting to know Kathleen, my former resident (I was her RA last year in Husman Hall), a lot better. She was my spiritual buddy this weekend, and we had some conversations I never expected to have this weekend (but really enjoyed!). She helped me begin to process through one of my current struggles, and she opened up to me about her personal struggles. It was a blessing to talk with her.

During my person time of listening prayer, God confronted me about some issues I don't want to face.

I am currently considering applying for EdgeCorps, which is essentially a one to two year internship with the Navigators. I would most likely return to Xavier in the fall and work as a staff member to help lead and further student's relationships with God. The thing that worries me is fundraising - I'm not allowed to work, and I have to fundraise my entire salary for the year before returning to campus. 75% of this needs to be fundraised over the summer, or I won't be allowed to come on staff. 75% of my salary is around $27,000.
This is an outrageous number, and it worries me. However, I still want to take that leap of faith, trust God, and apply for the position.

Won't You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands

To stand up when they can't

Don't want to leave them hungry for love

Chasing things that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight

And give them the best of my life

So we can call this our home

Lead me 'cause I can't do this alone

"Lead Me," Sanctus Real 

During listening prayer, God urged me to tell my story to certain people before I go around fundraising. This makes me nervous, because I don't want to tell my story to them. However, I know that doing so will give me peace. Yet there are so many reason why I don't want to share, and fear is only the beginning. How can I tell someone when I'm too afraid I'll be rejected?

God also brought to my mind the idea of taking a six-month break from dating anyone to simply pursue Him. A girl in my small group, Daniela, is doing this and is currently at the halfway mark. I bought the book she suggested and have begun to read it, and so far, I am enjoying it. But, really? Take a six-month break from thinking about guys, having a crush, or pursing someone? This is challenging for me because I've always wanted to date someone (not anyone specifically, just in general) from Xavier and within Navigators - someone who loves my school and God as much as I do. With only a few months left at Xavier, that doesn't exactly put me in a place to go on a six-month dating hiatus. However, it's been on my heart the past few days, and I think it could be good for me. It's something I have to pray about a lot more, but I'm starting to grow into the idea.

Finally, we reach reflection time - something always extremely touching and powerful for me. As usual, the girls are clutching toilet paper, ready for the massive amounts of crying that is about to happen. Landen makes his usual speech - he doesn't talk much, except for at reflection times, when what he says is always profound and has some deeper meaning we all love to hear. Some of the men share about their personal struggles, and the seniors reflect on how much they will miss NAVs when we all graduate. One of my closest friends this year, a freshman named Tyler, and I cried on each others shoulders. Without sharing too much of what people revealed, I will simply say that it was a reflection that left me contemplative and very sad about my impending departure from the Navigators community.

So, there you go - a really, really wordy story about why I love Discipleship Weekend. Thank you to everyone who made it so memorable - I love you more than you know. I pray God will be able to use me in your lives throughout the rest of this semester. Thank you for always being there for me!

Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! 

What are you thankful for today? 

Yesterday, I went to the Last Wednesday service at Crossroads Community Church, here in Cincinnati. It's a special service they hold once a month on the last Wednesday of the month. Its never let me down. 

This month, the service focused on being thankful for what God has done in our lives. Everyone in attendance was given one of the cards you see above, that asked us to reflect on our year and think about where we have seen God in different areas of our lives. What were some unexpected blessings? When did God provide physical protection? What friends are we especially thankful for? 

There were a few things that really stood out to me during the service. First: Thanksgiving reminds us that if we don't get one more thing this year, we are already blessed beyond belief. Chuck (the pastor) even went so far as to say that Thanksgiving is the more religious day of the year because it prepares us for Christmas. Second: God calls us to give thanks regularly, but we don't. Why only be thankful on Thanksgiving? We have so much to be thankful for! And finally, third: God always provides just enough, just in time. You might be worrying right up until the last minute, but God always provides exactly what you need. 

What I've realized is that I truly have a lot to be thankful for. My friends are amazing - especially those in Navigators. I love them to death. Although I've been friends with my current friend group for a couple years now, they have become more than just my best friends this year - they have become my family. Sean, Nikhil, Jack - where would I be without you? I love you guys. Thanks for always being there for me. 

I'm also thankful for my family, my car, a strong mind, a love of music, a thirst for knowledge, a love for God, and a compassionate heart, among other things. I'm thankful for being driven and never giving up, even when I'm frustrated and want nothing more than to quit. I'm not a quitter. (Examples: Today I fixed a broken cookie scoop with pliers that was obnoxious to fix. I also didn't give up on my senior thesis paper, which I really considered doing. Like I said, I'm not a quitter!) Most recently, I'm thankful for the mental breakdown I had a couple weeks ago. It really helped me to figure out who I am and start down a journey to becoming a whole new me. I like the new path I headed down! It's scary and exciting. 

Be sure to keep your eye on the blog - I was recently contacted by Stonewall Kitchen about reviewing their seasonal holiday products, so keep an eye out for some yummy gingerbread pancakes soon! I will also have a recipe for maple bacon cupcakes and a review of Panera Bread's soups (which are delicious, by the way). Plus, the second annual Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap is coming up soon, and you know what that means - COOKIE RECIPES! 

So, I have a couple parting questions for you. What are you thankful for this year? And, What are some of your favorite cookie recipes? 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 

Beauty Beneath It All

Today, I will be sharing the essay I submitted as part of my application to Xavier University, now almost 4 years ago. To this day, I am still proud of this essay - and the memory is as vivid in my mind as it was so many years ago. 

b

Snap. Snap. Snap. My camera flashed constantly, capturing every beam of light that flickered through the worn out windows and onto the bare, uneven floor. The closet next to the crumpled heap of what used to be a fireplace was left slightly ajar, revealing a sole hanger sitting on the rusty rod suspended inside. Snap. I soon discovered a red, leather, rocking chair sitting in the middle of a deserted attic; it was torn, and the padding inside was falling all over the floor. Snap. My fingers raced across the border of a broken window. The roof was within my reach, so I climbed outside to grace the cool, red metal with my presence. Snap. It was peaceful here, despite the cobwebs and miscellaneous families of spiders that seemed to hide in the most unlikely of places. I closed my eyes, trying to soak in the serenity of this old, dilapidated place, but I knew there was more to be seen. A surprise was waiting for me.

The Victorian farmhouse that my friend and I had discovered seemed to possess a certain presence about it. I could feel the family who once lived there; I could envision them walking about and doing their daily chores in my mind. As I entered the basement, an old television, an open refrigerator, and a rusty medical gurney welcomed me. To the left, there was a room filled with crushed Mason jars that gleamed with light from more broken windows. Snap. The house was a collection of ordinary hidden treasures, yet I still felt that there was something more. I wanted to find something that would relate in my life; something that would give me a sense of purpose. I glanced once again at the medical gurney on my right. I wonder what happened here? I thought. A family member must have been ill not long before the house became deserted. Did they believe in life after death? Heaven? God? I could feel a presence in the house…but where was it coming from?

I trudged along behind my friend Megan, still intent on finding some unexpected surprise. I carefully set my foot on a rotten step, making sure it wouldn’t give out on me, and began the journey back upstairs. No sooner had I begun climbing when Megan exclaimed, “It’s a cross made out of sticks!” I looked down at the step and saw two small sticks creating a cross. Snap. This was exactly what I had been looking for, and it was where I felt the “presence” was coming from. I stared at the figure before me for a short moment, and then looked up at Megan and smiled.

On the way back to our car, I glanced once more at the broken house. It was then I realized that God exists everywhere, and that even when everything is falling apart, a glimmer of truth can still be discovered underneath the rotting soil. All I have to do is look for Him.

UPDATES & KLUTCHClub Review!

Hey guys! 

It's been a week since my last post. A while, right? I've been swamped recently with stuff for school - I go back in two weeks, but the Newswire (our student paper) publishes its first issue next week for the freshmen who move in early. Crazy, right? So I have been really busy trying to get everything organized for that issue, like making sure we have a publisher, advertisements, stories, etc. Nuts! 

That being said, I haven't had much time to blog. Even now, I'm feeling a little pressed! I'm nervous about my Cincy Magazine internship, starting in September - and I feel like I will be turning down the opportunity because of the lack of time I will have in the school year. I really don't want to turn down this opportunity, but I feel like Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays will be the only time I have to do homework (all of my classes are on Tues/Thurs, which means a lot of homework on those days). With the internship, I wouldn't be able to actually do much on those days until around 4:30pm, and on Wednesdays, I have a night class. Which means less time. What should I do?

I've also been down and out with something called Parotitis - basically, swollen spit glands. It sucked because I couldn't chew anything and it was really painful. How did this happen? From this stuff:

Don't use it!!!! Seriously. If you read the reviews on Amazon, other people have become sick from using this mouthwash. It's terrible. I don't understand why they don't take it off the market - it's from one of the ingredients in it, called CPC. Gross. Avoid at all costs. I had to take Amoxicillin for 10 days because of it. Thankfully, as soon as I stopped using it, I felt better. 

I've also been trying to get back into my faith. I tend to get fired up about it, and then let that fire die down - now it's time to re-kindle my love for God. Stuart and I are both working on it together - even since he went on a Catholic family retreat and heard a speaker named Justin Fatica, he has been more enthusiastic about what he believes. He's Catholic, and I'm Protestant - so we have differing beliefs, but I'm trying to be more open to learning about his. We are both starting a read through the Bible in one year program, plus I bought some Bible studies for me. I'm hoping Stuart and I can find a study to do together as a couple.

This weekend was also a little crazy. I went with Stuart to Columbus for the weekend for his little sister's 4th birthday, which was a lot of fun! I took them some pretty little sugar cookies (I used this recipe). Aren't they pretty? Princess crowns, glass slippers, diamond rings and Tiffany tea pots! I had a lot of fun making them! Lydia (his sister) loved the cookies - she also got cute little bike for her birthday. Her brother (Simon - 2 years old) loved the cookies too! 

I will say this - I wasn't watching what I ate this weekend. Bad me. But now I'm back on track, counting calories and trying to eat healthier. Working out is escaping me, mostly because I don't have the time right now to dedicate to anything except my massive Newswire and back-to-school to do list. 

This lack of time means I'm quite a bit behind on product reviews. Whoops! That means I'll have quite a few coming your way this week. Let's start with another review of KLUTCHClub! You may have read my earlier review of this company. Well, they loved it so much that they sent me another box to review! How great is that?! Love this company!

What is KLUTCHclub? Well, its a monthly subscription service that provides subscribers with a box each month. That box contains over $50 worth of fitness, health, and wellness products like DVDs, workouts, snacks, makeup, and more. And you only pay $18 a month (or less)! You can subscribe for one month of one year, you choose. This is geared especially towards women. 

The above box is what I was sent this time - June's KLUTCHClub box. 

This box had quite a few things in it. One of my favorite discoveries was the Journey Bar (which I will also be reviewing shortly!). Journey Bars are basically savory nutrition bars, which are so cool since everything currently on the market is sweet. I absolutely love these. They use amaranth inside, which little round superfood seeds. Yum. The flavor sent in the box was coconut curry - and let me tell you - it was DIVINE. It tasted kinda like curry corn bread. I absolutely loved it. Try to find these sold in a store around you!

There was also a small bar of soap from Savy Boheme. It was an African Black Soap - fair trade and organic, like everything else this company sells. It was okay - I don't like bar soaps because they always make me feel really squeaky. However, if you like bar soap, you'll like this. 

There was also Japanese moisturizer from Yu-Be.  This is apparently the #1 selling medicated moisturizer in Japan. Who knew? I tried it on my hands, and I thought it was a little greasy. However, the packaging says it is also good to use on your lips and face for dry, cracked skin. It is a glycerin based lotion with added vitamins E, C, B2 and camphor. This kinda reminds me of Aquaphor or Vaseline. I think I'll try it on my heels, since they are so dry!

Next, Crum Creek Mills (I am also working with them on a review) sent one of their most popular items - Soy Nut Mix. If you like soy nuts, go for it. It's a decent snack mix - it has raisin, chocolate chips, soy nuts, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds. However, it baffles me as to why it was featured on Dr. Oz and Oprah magazine. Hm. I think I just don't have a thing for soy nuts. I didn't really like this, but like I said, if you like soy nuts....give it a try! 

Finally, there were coupons - a free month subscription to My Barre3, $25 to Body Language Sportsware, and $30 off an OG Sack. I tried to My Barre3 workout, and I thought it was a challenging toning workout, but not for cardio. I'm more of a cardio person. My Barre 3 combines pilates and the ballet barre to get in a nice workout that will tone you and make you lean. Sadie, the creator, is a very fun person and I liked her personality a lot. If you are looking for a new workout, this is a good one to try! I haven't used the Body Language Sportsware gift certificate yet, because I really need to stop spending money, but all of their products look great. The coupon doesn't expire until September 15, so I'll definitely use it before then! And the OG Sack - well, I don't do enough yoga to utilize this, so I probably will not be using this coupon. The bags look cool though, and they have a special strap for carrying your yoga mat - check it out! 

Whew. There was your June KLUTCHClub! Are you inspired to buy your first box yet? If so, just click here to get started! 

Thanks again to the people at KLUTCHClub for being so patient with me. Look what I made from their box: 

Isn't it cute? I'm using it to hold books on my dresser in my room! And it's a great way to recycle instead of throwing the box away! Do you think I could win KLUTCHClub's Reduce, Reuse, ReKLUTCH contest? VOTE FOR ME PLEASE!!!

That's all for now, guys. Thanks for reading all of this, and enjoy your summers! 

Much love, 

WIAW #23: Procrastination & The Hunger Games

Welcome to another week of WIAW! 

At first, I was not going to participate in WIAW this week - I have been so absorbed in reading The Hunger Games before the movie comes out this Friday (and getting sunburned in the process, I might add...) that I have been severely procrastinating on my homework all day today. Well, hey, at least I finished the first book in the series in two days, right? That's a pretty big accomplishment. And it was so good! I literally could not put it down. And then, when I told myself to do homework, I picked up the second book and began reading. 

Uhg. 

So, seriously - I have to go do homework. But I couldn't pass up the opportunity to WIAW with my other blogger friends :)

The other thing I've been realizing recently is how much I'm blessed. I have so many product reviews coming up, and I literally could live off of the food in my dorm room for weeks. I have been. Every time I try to gobble up all my food, piles more miraculously appear. It's ridiculous. But I'm so blessed to be able to do this, and to live this way! I've also realized that I've been neglecting God a little lot recently, and I need to stop that. I need to get myself back on track. Last night, when my mind was still preoccupied with The Hunger Games, I opened my Bible to this passage:

Psalm 71. There were two parts in this passage I really needed to hear: Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go, and deliver me, O my God, from the hands of the wicked. That is what stuck with me. I need to get myself together and be the better person I know I can be. 

On to this weeks eats!

{breakfasts} Love Grown granola with yogurt & banana, granola with almond butter, honey, & vanilla flax milk {lunches} tofurky sandwiches with mustard, carrots & hummus, fresh fruit {dinners} pesto rice & steamed carrots, portobella mushroom fajitas {snacks} peanut butter, apple sauce, m&ms

On a side note, wanna see some cute pictures? 

Stuart & my puppy, Piper

My puppy, Piper! In a tutu :) So cute!

That's all she wrote, folks! Time to do homework....maybe :) 

Much love,

Weight Loss Tips

Hello friends! :)

First, I would like to thank Blogger for adding a "reply" button to all of your comments! Now I can directly reply to each of your comments - wonderful! And I will try my best to do just that!

Today, I'm going to give you all some tips on losing weight. I am currently attempting to do this myself, and reading the book Reshaping It All by Candace Cameron Bure has been helping me a lot.

Remember her? She was DJ Tanner on Full House!

I love this book because she is so down to earth and I am able to connect with what she is talking about. She gives helpful tips for changing your mindset and remaining strong so that you can just say no to that piece of chocolate cake that is staring you in the face. You don't need it!

I have also been working on building up my relationship with God. He and I seem to go back and forth between really close and just sort of acquaintances, and I know that I need to change that. This book has been helping guide me spiritually as well. Even if you aren't spiritual or religious, this book is still great for helping with weight loss.

So, here we go. I'm going to share with you some things I have learned with the help of this book! Not everything comes from this book, but a lot does, so enjoy my tips and then purchase the book for yourself!

1. Are YOU Satisfied?
I have a huge problem for mindless eating, or eating in general. I have realized that I live to eat, when it should be the other way around. I need to eat to live. Because I am in such a love relationship with food, I tend to eat whatever is put in front of me, and ALL of it. I can't resist. I can't say no!

Candace suggests asking yourself the question "Am I satisfied?" before eating anything. Not full, just satisfied. If you are eating just because you can, don't eat any more. If you are truly hungry, then go ahead and eat, but if you have had just enough to satisfy your belly then save the rest of your  meal for later. Try eating only half of your meal at a time, and asking yourself this question when you reach that halfway point. If the answer is yes, get that to-go box and box up your leftovers. Don't keep eating once the food is in the take out box! I have a huge tendency for doing that. Asking myself this question has really been helping me to eat significantly less these past few days.

2. Establish a specific goal
Sure, anyone can have the goal "I want to lose weight." That's great. But how much weight do you want to lose? And in what time frame? What will you specifically be doing to achieve this goal? How often will you work out and at what times? What lifestyle changes do you need to make? Answer these questions for yourself in a journal.

Be very specific about what your goal is. The more specific, the better. Without being specific, you will not be motivated and you will not reach your goal. It is that simple. Knowing exactly what you need to do to get to where you're going is key. And don't be afraid to take your time! Candace uses this example: Think of losing 52 pounds in a year. That might seem like a lot, but it's really only one pound a week! That's it! If you break your main goal down into smaller goals, it will not seem quite as daunting and you will be more likely to stick with it. 


"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:14


For spiritual guidance, I recommend checking on Philippians 3. That entire chapter is about denying the flesh, which just happens to be my next tip!


3. Deny your flesh
Your spirit is where your strength lies. If we listen to our body/flesh, we will always lose the battle. For example, today I really wanted a bagel with cream cheese for breakfast. However, I knew a few things: 1) I would regret eating that bagel with cream cheese 2) That contains a lot of calories 3) I would overdo it and put too much cream cheese on my bagel 4) It's not healthy for me to eat and 5) I already ate an apple and was not hungry. 


Therefore, I knew I did not need this. I fought my flesh, told myself that I would not be stopping at the cafeteria to get that bagel, and kept walking back to my dorm room. I denied my flesh and did not cave in to my cravings. And you know what? I feel great about it! I feel much happier knowing I'm pressing on towards  my goal! 


4. Stick to your plan
Sounds easy, right? But we all know it's not! How often have you set out, with a goal of losing weight or eating more healthfully, and then given in because you just had to have that piece of cheesecake or just had to taste one of every cookie your mom made? 

The point is, we will all be faced with obstacles. Our goal is to defeat those obstacles and stay on track. If you fall of the bandwagon, just hop right back on. None of this "Oh, I gave in, I guess I'm not gonna try to lose weight anymore. I'll just sit here and stuff my face with Doritos." No. None of that. If you stick with your plan, you will be rewarded! It just takes patience and lot of willpower. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it!


"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." - Hebrews 12:11


5. Watch skinny people
You heard me! You are probably wondering what the heck I am talking about. If you want to learn something about portion control, you should watch skinny people eat. What you'll find is that most of them eat only just enough to sustain them. They don't overeat. They don't go back for seconds. They don't pile food onto their plate. They are skinny because they don't over indulge. In fact, they probably ask themselves, "Am I satisfied?"


I highly recommend just people watching for a while when you eat with friends. I actually had started doing this before I read Reshaping It All, and it couldn't be more true! Honestly. I have noticed most of my thin friends will usually not eat everything on their plate, and they tend to eat pretty healthfully. I'm not saying that they starve themselves or are anorexic; that's not the case. They eat what they need to satisfied and nothing more. Honestly, it has made me extremely self-conscious about my eating habits, because I'll look at the amount of food on their plate and compare it to mine (especially when I go back for seconds!). This has been helping me to cut back on the amount of food I eat. 


6. Develop your self-discipline
You need 3 things to develop a good sense of self-discipline: Focus, Repetition, and Action. Without these 3 things, you probably will not stay on track with your fitness and diet plan! 


You gotta focus on what your ultimate goal is and following through on your plan. Then, you must repeat your choices. Consistently choose to pass on that bag of chips or choose a salad instead of a burger. Consistently keep up with your workout plan. Even though it may be tough, it will all be worth the results in the end. You won't get a toned belly if you don't repeat the ab exercises, right? 


Finally, you must consistently choose to take action on your goal. You won't get there by just sitting around and wishing you were thin. Do something about it. 


Well, that's all for right now! As I mentioned earlier, not all of that is from the book, but it's a good glimpse into what I've been reading lately. I highly recommend purchasing this book for yourself! You'll be inspired. 

What do you do to accomplish a goal?
Much love,

New Leader Training

New Leader Training.

For the past two and a half months, myself and five others have been dedicating a lot of our time to memorizing scripture, studying the Bible, and reading literature about what qualities make up a good leader. We have been in training to become the new leaders of Navigators, Xavier University's nondenominational Christian group on campus. Over the past two and a half months, I have really bonded with these people and developed close friendships I will continue to have for the rest of my life. They are all amazing; I feel really connected to all of them. I am closer to some more than others, of course; but still, we are all great friends. I have also learned a lot about myself and my faith through this whole experience, which has been absolutely amazing. I will miss spending three hours laughing and learning together every Sunday...but...next year will be even better!

Thank you guys for a wonderful experience. I love all of you.