Stick with it Saturday

I got sick last weekend and it lasted most of the week.  I managed to hit my goal of 10,000 steps almost every day but didn't have any really "big" days like I did last week.  I had lost another .6 this week.  I am less than a lb from the lowest weight I've seen and SO ready to see some new weight loss.

I decided to try something new this week. That is, I switched from tracking points to the Simply Filling version of Weight Watchers.  I am able to eat anything on the power foods list without measuring and counting and then I get 7 extra points a day for "indulgences".  So far, I really like it.  I have been enjoying brown rice, potato, sweet potato, corn and more....things I didn't eat as much of while I was counting.

Goals for the upcoming week are just to follow my WW plan and exercise at least 3 times this week and continue with my goal of getting a minimum of 10,000 steps each day. 

Link up your own diet/exercise post at Stick with it Saturday. 

Names of Jesus- The Almighty

In today's scripture, we see Jesus as not only the Alpha and Omega, but also as The Almighty.  Jesus is referred to as the Almighty in the book of Revelation.  Almighty God is He!!  Amen.

Review and Giveaway-Keep Crockin' AND Crock On

I have some confessions to make:  I love crock pots, but I don't use mine (I have 3) nearly enough. Secondly, I am terrible at getting real meals on the table in the weeks leading up to Christmas. This year is going to be different.  I have 2 fabulous crock pot cookbooks to keep our bellies full for the entire holiday season AND I am going to giveaway a bundle that includes a beautiful pdf of each cookbook thanks to the generosity of author and friend Stacy at Stacy Makes Cents...so now your bellies can be full of yummy goodness too!

Keep Crockin': A Poorganic Slow Cooker Cookbook is her newest release, just published on November 25. (Read what it means to be poorganic.) I was fortunate enough to get a copy of this book several weeks ago and I have tried several of the recipes....and liked them all so far.

This book contains 55 new recipes with easy to follow instructions and Stacy's witty quotes throughout. The book is entertaining, the pages are beautiful and the recipes are delicious.  You can't ask for much more in a cookbook.

She has released the recipe for Chicken Tikka Masala and it is seriously easy and yummy.  I made this last week (using chicken breasts) and I will definitely be putting this on my December menu!

Some of the recipes I have tried so far:

Loaded Butternut Squash Soup --Big yum factor here...loved this.

Hamburger Stew- Delicious

Sweet and Spicy Boston Butt- Great

Italian Casserole- Fabulous...really, really liked this

Chicken Tikka Masala-Super Delish.  I served mine over cauli-rice.  Kids had regular rice.

Sweet Bacon Green Beans- sweet and bacon?  Need I say more?

and the recipe I tested for the book-Almond Flour Brownies

Here is what I said about this recipe:

"Moist, delicious and gobbled up in no time. My family loved these and I love having the option of making brownies in the crockpot. Highly recommend you make these today!"

Did you even know you could make brownies in a crockpot?  I had no idea...and these are great!

Keep Crockin' is available as a download, for Kindle or Nook for $8 and $12 for a physical book.



Stacy's first cookbook, Crock On is a semi-whole foods cookbook with  40 recipes like:

• Deluxe Potato Soup
• Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes
• Chicken Tetrazzini
• Pineapple Pork Loin
• Pizza Potatoes
• Upside Down Apple Pie
• Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Lava cake

go here to see all of the other mouth watering recipes!


There are 40 recipes and you can try Cheesy Sausage Potatoes to get a taste of what's inside.

You can purchase as a digital download, for Kindle or Nook for ONLY $5 and $12 for a physical book.


Stacy also has an affiliate program...so check it out!

You can find Stacy all over the internet and I recommend you do!  First you should follow her @ Stacy Makes Cents, then Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Now for the giveaway which I am running until this weekend so enter NOW!

The winner is Julie N!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stick with it Saturday-Week 4

Time for another installment of Stick with it Saturday.  It's hard for me to believe this is already the 4th week.  This week I decided to try something new that I had read about on the Weight Watchers website.  They suggest getting up to walk for 5 minutes every hour (I set a timer).  I started this on Monday.  I have been AMAZED at how many steps I can get just by doing this.  I got between 12,000 and 16,000 every day.

My eating has been going fine.  I haven't lost anything this week but I'm just sticking to it!

Goals for the upcoming week are just to follow my WW plan and exercise at least 3 times this week and continue with my goal of getting a minimum of 10,000 steps each day. 

Trying to lose weight this holiday season?  See my list of tips for losing weight this holiday season!

Link up your own diet/exercise post at Stick with it Saturday. (link to last week....will update if there is a new one this week)

Names of Jesus-The Branch

Day 2 of the Names of Jesus series. I don't know about you but I love thinking about/learning about the different names of God.

Names of Jesus-The Word

During this Christmas season I am planning to blog the names of Jesus with a scripture verse.  I know I won't get to one every day, but I will do as many as I can.  I had a different name planned for today but then I listened to a devotion (linked at the bottom) on Jesus is the Word and decided to start with this. The verse I chose was one of the first verses I memorized this year in my 100 Bible Verses in 2013 challenge.  I hope these word art pictures will be a blessing to you.  I know I am being blessed by making them.

Names of Jesus Bible study at Manna2Go.

Sugar-Free Cranberry Sauce

I saw a couple of different sugar-free cranberry sauce recipes on the internet and decided to come up with my own. This ended up being the best thing on my plate on Thanksgiving.  So delicious!

Ingredients:

1 bag of fresh or frozen cranberries (you can use less if you don't have a full bag)
zest of 1 orange
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup Swerve

Directions:

Combine all in small saucepan and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until all the cranberries pop and it starts to thicken.  Stir and cool.  Store in fridge.


Enjoy!