Forever Beloved

Faith, Love & Truth

**COURAGE**

i’ve finally decided on a word for the new year…COURAGE.  i want to have courage to just be myself, to step out and do things i’ve always been intimidated by, to love my husband the way he needs to be loved, to keep buidling my business and to have courage mentally and spiritually. 

i’m the type of person that feels totally uncomfortable walking in to a room by myself.  i instantly feel as if all eyes are on me and it makes me uncomfortable.  but if i have someone by my side it’s all good.  i would never EVER go into a restaurant by myself and eat.  i don’t know if that makes me a dependent person or what the word would be for it.  perhaps self-consious?

i’m also a completely indecisive person, just ask joe.  we can discuss for two hours “where do you want to eat at?” and i will always answer “doesn’t matter, up to you”.  i will ask joe 1,204 times before i kinda-sorta make a decision.  i’m always so so so terrified that the decision i make will be the wrong one.

so in 2011 i am going to have courage…and i began it yesterday when i walked into the gym by myself, not knowing anyone there.  that was HUGE for me.  granted, i had to sit in my car for a few minutes giving myself a pep talk…and again in the locker room before i went out to workout.  but ya know what, i did it.  and this morning i walked into the same gym, without knowing anyone, and worked out.  it’s all about courage!

here is a recent convo with my little that i don’t want to forget…

——————–

jade:  tonight when we were at dinosaur class…
me:  what are you talking about jade, what is dinosaur class?
jade:  oh sorry, i was thinking of dinosaurs when i went to say exercise class…
me:  (laughing-so-hard-i-almost-pee-my-pants)

——————–

out for now
~kisses

meal planning monday

this week starts healthy eating at the cutler house, we don’t use the “d” word (diet) here…we will be trying some new recipes out (from my new biggest loser cookbook)…i’ll post the recipes below…
i also, freakish as it sounds, have my entire menu (breakfast, lunch and dinner) planned out for january.  i know how many calories i will consume each day (minus saturdays and sundays) and i’m loving how it feels…i guess i love the control it offers me and it kinda makes me feel i can relax some…i know i know, my family says it’s freakish as well…i think joey’s exact words were “you are NUTS mom”…

monday – chicken pie…this is, without a doubt, one of my FAV meals!!! i will alter it a bit to make it healthier (which means less butter, lol…also instead of using buttermilk i use skim milk with a tsp of vinegar in it)…

tuesday – meatball sammys and strawberry wafflecakes for dessert

wednesday – hula pizza and chocolate toffee sundae for dessert

thursday – buffalo chicken meatloaf and sauteed mushrooms

friday – suffed cabbage strata

saturday – out to dinner

sunday – not sure yet what is for lunch but i do know we will have a biggest loser peanut butter fudge sundae for dessert

new favorite meatballs
olive oil spray
2 egg whites
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1/4 cup fat free milk
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 pound 96% lean ground beef

preheat over to 400.  lightly coat a large nonstick baking sheet with olive oil spray.

in a medium bowl, using a fork, mis together the egg whties, oats and milk until well combined.  add the next 6 ingredients and mix until combined.  mix in the beef until well combined.

make 32 uniform meatballs, each about 1 1/4″ diameter (use a cookie scoop or 2 tablespoon for ease).  roll the balls with your hands and arrange, not touching, on the prepared baking sheet.  bake for 7 to 10 minutes, or until no longer pink inside.

makes 4 (8 meatball) servings
194 calories
26 g protein
10 g carbohydrates
5 g fat
60 mg cholesterol
2 g fiber
252 mg sodium

out for now
~kisses

just be me