by Amanda Barnard | Jan 1, 2022 | Everything Else, Faith, Motivation
HELLO 2022! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
As we embark into this new year, I want to post a word of encouragement to you all! I have been pondering and praying about many things going forward. Through the years, several plans have been made and haven’t followed through, but only I can make things different.
We cannot keep doing the same things over and over and expect different results. Have you heard that is the same thing as insanity? Not sure if it is true, but we could decide it could be one of them.
ONE WORD
I am clinging to one word for this year. My word is – INTENTIONAL. I have so many areas that I can apply this, as I am sure you do as well. I am going to try to start with this blog, to make myself accountable.
Not in any particular order, but some ways that I am determined to implement this application are:
- be INTENTIONAL with my relationship with Jesus.
- be INTENTIONAL with family.
- be INTENTIONAL with healthy living.
- be INTENTIONAL in finances.
There are so many more that I could add. However, we all know that it is not a good idea to overwhelm ourselves. The world is filled with too much anxiety as it is.
Finding the determination to stay the course or make this year better than the last few have been might be a task. At the end of 2022, I want to say it has been the BEST year of my life! Therefore, the challenges will have been worth it!
Also, the big 5-0 will happen for me this year and I intend to celebrate in some ways for the entire year! I have some amazing plans! If they play out the way I want, I will be visiting family, going to Disney, attending some other important events.
We also have more grandbabies on the way, which is EXTREMELY exciting! In just a few short days, we will meet our first grandson! We have anticipated his arrival for many years!
I would love for you to share in this journey with me! If you don’t have a word for this year, I hope this inspires you to come up with one! And if you do have one, would you comment?
Thanks in advance for sharing!
by Amanda Barnard | Jan 13, 2019 | Keto
Tonight I made what I am calling a “Lazy Keto Pizza Casserole”. There are two reasons I am adding the word “lazy” to the title of my creation. The first reason is because I used one item that wasn’t “keto-approved” and the second reason is because it was extremely easy!
Admittedly, I have not missed much by changing my life to keto, but I REALLY like me some pizza! Did you notice the word “really” being all capitalized? It kind of means that I like it more than I should! Bread was also a BIG DEAL for me – again caps should be noted as important in this statement. I never was much of a sweets eater, well until later in life.
THE CANDY DILEMMA
My grandparents owned several gas stations, when I was growing up and when any of the grandkids had the opportunity to visit one of the stations, one of my grandparents would give us change to spend in their vending machines. Hey it was a newer thing of the times, and with candy! Win, win! Well you would think so, but not for me.
I was the odd child. I wanted peanut butter crackers or some other item that didn’t have to do with candy. Anything but fig bars. I didn’t even go after the chocolate. Sometimes I think it may have been because the crackers always would last longer than the candy would have lasted, but nonetheless, my choices then shaped my life in the now.
BIBBIDI-BOBBIDI-BOO MAGIC
I have been looking for a way to curb that craving for pizza, without all of the damaging carbs. I still haven’t found anything that gives me a huge – WOW. But today this one was a nice start. I have a few other creations to develop and ideas that I intend to implement.
Another noteworthy thing about me – I DESPISE to grocery shop. I really don’t like shopping, but on “blue moon” occasions. So I conned my daughter, Brande (really I just asked and she happily complied, because she likes shopping and hey, lets face it – shopping is always more fun when you’re spending someone else’s money) in to going to the store. I wanted large deli pepperoni for the project. My actual intentions were to make Pepperoni Cups, but they didn’t turn out quite like I had hoped, so I moved on.
My husband always tells people that he can look and look in our cabinets and refrigerator and swear there is nothing to eat in our house. But turn me loose in the kitchen and some sort of bibbidi-bobbidi-boo, magic happens.
#EPICFAIL
Since the Pepperoni Cups were a #epicfail (sometimes I like to use hashtags, so if you hate them, please just don’t judge) I moved on, starting with Fat Head Pizza Dough. There are several versions out there. I have tried the one that Keto Dad puts out and I like it. (Definitely check out their blog for recipe) but I use the recipe a friend of mine gave me. Where she got it? I have no idea.
I got out my 9×13 pan, sprayed the bottom. Not gonna lie, I used a “non-keto” approved spray. This is where the first use of “lazy” comes in to play. I made mixed up my Fat-Head Pizza Dough, spread it into the bottom of the pan and baked it til it’s done point, to make the crust.
PROGRESSIVE CREATIVITY
When I made the Pepperoni Cups, I had already browned 3lbs of ground beef, stirred in pizza sauce, and sprinkled Italian seasoning in. I had also sautéed chopped onions, mushrooms, and part of a green bell pepper. Mixed that into the hamburger meat and used that for my Pepperoni Cups.
i took the rest of the mixture and spread it over the cooked Fat-Head Pizza Crust. Then piled on the mozzarella cheese. I topped the pan with the large, deli-style pepperoni.
Into the oven it went and out came a masterpiece! Ok maybe it wasn’t a masterpiece, but it certainly curbed the pizza craving – at least for today!
If you would like more details of the recipe, leave me comment below and I will make sure you get it!
Have you changed your way of eating? What modifications have you made? What is the one thing that you have been missing?
by Amanda Barnard | Jan 5, 2019 | Keto
My decision to dive into keto came on February 13, 2018. This was simply my mind saying, YES! I am going to learn about this and I am going to do it.
Our family goes on an annual vacation together every year toward the end of February – yes EVERY ONE OF US (and there are many) – so my journey began slow. As I started, I had only grasped the concept of watching my carb intake. In the beginning, I also cut out most breads and sugars.
Once our vacation came to an end, I was able to concentrate more on the details of keto. I read a book by Dr. Don Colbert called Keto Zone Diet. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the keto way of eating. The book is broken down into the 3 parts, explaining first what keto actually is, why keto works, and how to make it work for you.
KETO – KeetNO
I have NOT lived keto in a strict way. My daughter in love, Kimberly and I have been working our keto together, calling our way of eating, “Lazy Keto”. My husband, Brad says “Keet-NO”, meaning NO WAY to keto, lol. It is actually funny how we battle back and forth. All in good fun, but I keep working on the persuading him to join in, as well as the rest of my family.
My keto journey has taken a bit longer than it has for others that I have encountered. It took me about 7-8 months to lose 45lbs. At this point, I seem to have a little stall in my progress, but I am completely aware of my downfalls.
All Aboard!
As people have seen my results, they have asked many questions, which I enjoy answering. My daughter, Brande and her husband, Tim even jumped on board recently and have had amazing outcomes.
I still have about 15lbs to my goal weight. Then I will work more on my KCL (keto carb limit, the amount of carbs your body processes to maintain the current state), which is sort of where I am now and is the culprit of my stalling.
I will be writing more details soon, because as the saying goes – inquiring minds want to know! I am extremely happy with my results so far!
Comment and tell me about your results with keto or if you would just like to know more, I would love to help you get started on your own journey!
