This is the way we mop our floors, we mop our floors , we mop our floors...

 That tune just keeps playing over and over in my mind when I go to mop the floors now. I've always mopped our floors by filling up one side of the sink with a mixture of bleach and water, then taking that sponge mop or towel (depending on how clean I was gonna get the floors) and getting busy. Well, I was running short on time the other day but my kitchen floor really needed to be mopped. I think it's the homemaker in me, I just couldn't do anything else until that floor was shining. I grabbed my spray bottle that I also keep a mixture of bleach and water in and started spraying the floor, following it up with my sponge mop. That took so little time that I think I'm gonna do it that way more often. There are times when I gotta get on my hands and knees and get them baseboards and corners, but from now on when my floor need a quick mopping that's what I'm gonna do.

A Gift From God

Everyone has sinned-"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

Because of our sin, we deserve death in hell-"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

We cannot save ourselves-" For by grace are you saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Christ died to take the punishment for our sin-"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

Salvation is a free gift that we receive by trusting Christ as our personal Savior-" For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Will you accept God's free gift? If you have never received Christ and would like to do so please e-mail me and I'd love to pray with you. simplechristianhomemaking@gmail.com

In Him,
Amy

The small places count.

When in a rush I always always straighten up my house.I may be running from here to there but I always clean something. Well I have noticed in the midst of all this" rush cleaning" that there were small areas that I was missing. While they were small, I noticed them, those places that began to build up the stuff that I couldn’t put away that instance. Don’t get me wrong the house looked great but I saw those areas and they drove me nuts. The problem was every time I cleaned I chose to clean the house over the small spots, not realizing that was making the problem worse. Ok to get to my point as I rushed out the door yesterday I told myself just clean those little areas, so that is what I did. Man that made all the difference I thought it looked pretty good, but my thoughts were confirmed when I received a text from hubby stating,” how great the house looked!” It’s amazing how just those small spots in the house can make a huge difference. I have a show home again that I am not afraid of surprise visitors. So remember the small places count!

What's Cookin'?

Here's what my dinner menu looks like this week:

 Monday: Creole Poached Chicken

Tuesday: Lima beans, cornbread and veggies (cauliflower & broccoli)

Wednesday: Tuna salad sandwiches and salad (this is my light dinner night since we have church)

Thursday: Tamale casserole

Friday: Beef-n-Broccoli stir-fry, stir-fry veggies (you know the ones in the freezer section that say stir-fry veggies)

By having this menu I save so much time and money by not having to sit and figure out what's for dinner and not having to rush out to the store for an item. I make sure I have everything for that dinner before it goes on my list.

What do you do to prepare for the week ahead?

Sunday night is when I get busy preparing for the week ahead. On paper it seems like tons to do but it's really not.  Doing these things make my week run so much more smoothly.  Here's what I do:

• Create a weekly menu
• Get snacks together for the next day
• Lay out & iron clothes for the week
• Make breakfast and lunch for the next day 
•  Make sure all laundry and dishes have been washed & put away
• Make sure house is straightened
• Make sure boys have everything in there backpacks for the next day

 What do you do to prepare for the week ahead? I can always use more or better ideas.

Switch it Up!

So as I was walking my dog on the same strip of road and the same time in the morning,when I thought of something. Remember when you were a child and your momma  told you  never to keep the same  routine outdoors. Back then I just thought she was being over protective,and made no sense. Now I know if the importance of changing your routine now and again.Well I know you already know but in case you don't,If you have a pattern or routine that stays the same you're more prone to be a victim of an attack or worse. I know I'm getting deep but I was thinking if I could save atleast one person it would be well worth it. I was getting caught up in a routine and didn't even realize it. Everyday at the same time I would walk my dog to the same place. I really didn't realize it until I had stopped doing it for a couple days.That's when it dawned on me I needed to switch things up a bit.I have to admit I missed seeing the children off for school that I pass on my walk,but they will see me the day I switch it up.Until then I'll keep walking (in different directions)while  staying safe.

Have fun walking ,and remember:
SWITCH IT UP!

I've Missed Ya'll

I'm back and I've missed ya'll  SO VERY MUCH!!!! I uploaded three sets of pictures you guys can check out below, just a few things the kids have been doing.  I've got a new schedule, THANK YOU JESUS!!!  I've just got one more week of cleaning the pool, I'm only babysitting one extra child during the day three days a week, I'm babysitting the three that I was before but only 2.5 hours in the evenings three days a week, I'm doing my violations job during nap time from noon-2p.m. and then I pick up the boys from school and we play, have dinner and do homework. Because the boys go to charter schools, parents have to put in mandatory volunteer hours, so I help with traffic everyday at Bakari's school (he's so proud to have his mommy up there) and I take part in PTO meetings at both schools and that counts towards volunteer hours too. Two months ago I set out to lose 25 pounds and with LOTS of prayer I did it! God has really answered my prayers and gotten me through it because I could not have done it without Him. I just loved food a little too much :-) But I do have some cheap and healthy recipes to share with you guys. You'll start seeing some of those recipes in the sidebar under Frugal Recipes. I can't wait to share all the new things that are taking place in my life. Grab a cup of tea or coffee and let's spend some time :-)

First Day of School at OneTrueMedia.com

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Swim Lessons at OneTrueMedia.com

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Soccer Clinic at OneTrueMedia.com

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Spider WHAT!!!

I happened to walk into the house to hear screams from my husband. The screams were like OMG and Jesus Jesus Jesus!! So of course I run to find out what is happening ,to my surprise my hubby is flipping out over a spider web. Spider What I yelled while trying to contain my laughter. I mean you would have thought it was my husband that had woke up that morning to find a gigantic spider staring him in the face before taking the dog for a walk. (That was me BTW if you didn't get my hint) Any who I began to wonder how in the world did a spider web get in my house and ughhh! OK so after I threw my tiny fit compared to my hubbys I composed myself.Yes composure is key.... I grabbed my trusty hand held vacuum. I began vacuuming the crevices in the ceiling.I always thought about the floors but never the ceiling..So to conclude after vacuuming your floors, take out your little vacuum and get those ceilings . I call it spider preventative maintenance have fun.


Oh btw the pic is not of any web in my home lol

Learning LOTS!

Ok so I have to admit I kind of slacked a bit on my exercises routine.So I am back in actions and spending my day on spark people(well as much of my day as I can.)Here are a couple cool things I am learning along the way:

The Do's and Don'ts of Efficient Fat-Burning

-- By Dean Anderson, Fitness & Behavior Expert

If you’re reading this, chances are pretty good that you don’t have a metabolism that lets you eat as much as you want without ever gaining an ounce. Maybe (like me) you’re even at the other extreme, where it seems like all you have to do is smell the foods you love to start packing on the pounds. Does this mean you’re doomed to a lifetime of munching on carrot sticks with fat-free dressing, while watching your hollow-legged friends enjoy their pasta Alfredo and chocolate cheesecake? Not at all.

There are lots of things you can do to turn your body into an efficient fat-burning machine, and they don't include depriving yourself of foods you love, resorting to unhealthy gimmicks, or taking expensive “fat-melting” supplements that fail to deliver what they promise. All you have to do is avoid a few common mistakes, and include some simple ways to boost your daily calorie burn.


Metabolism DON'TS

* Don’t reduce your calorie intake too low. The fact that you gain weight easily is proof that your body likes to shift into fat-storage mode at the drop of a hat, and going too low on calories is one of the easiest ways to trigger that reaction (often referred to as starvation mode). Don’t fall for the mistaken idea that the less you eat, the more you’ll lose—that’s just not how your body works. Staying within your recommended calorie range will keep your internal furnace stoked so that you have more capacity to burn stored fat.

* Don’t skip meals. Going too long between meals affects your body chemistry in ways that can make weight loss more difficult. Most people can manage their hunger and avoid cravings and overeating by spreading out their calories into four to five small, well-balanced meals or snacks during the day. Try not to go more than four to five hours without eating something.

* Don’t short yourself on shut eye. More research is showing that chronic sleep deprivation plays a significant role in weight gain. Your body needs plenty of “downtime” for the internal housekeeping that keeps your metabolism in good working order. The occasional late night won’t hurt you, but consistently sleeping just one hour less than you need may slow down your weight loss considerably.

Metabolism DO'S

* Build muscle! This is the most important action you can take to maintain a high metabolic rate while trying to lose weight. Strength training prevents you from losing a lot of muscle along with the fat you lose when dieting. If you don’t strength train regularly, up to 30% of the weight you lose could be muscle tissue. Considering that a pound of muscle burns about 3 times more calories per day than a pound of fat even when you’re sitting still (and up to 15-20 times more calories per minute when you're physically active), you can see the problems this can cause. If you lose 20 pounds of weight (and 30% of that weight loss is muscle—seven pounds), you’ll be slowing your metabolism and your fat burning capacity down by a significant amount. A simple strength training program twice a week can limit your muscle loss to almost zero, and keep your metabolism running high.

* Stay as active as possible. The more you use your muscles, the more calories you will burn. Moderate exercise like walking can burn three to six times more calories per minute than sitting still, and high intensity exercise like interval training can burn more than 12 times as much. Likewise, the more you vary your daily activity and exercise, the more you keep your body on its fat-burning toes.

* Don’t just sit there. If you’re watching TV or sitting at your desk, get up frequently to do a few exercises. Keep those resistance bands and dumbbells nearby at all times—you can fit a complete strength training workout into the commercial breaks of a one-hour TV show. Ditch your chair and sit on a stability ball (or a stationary bike) instead—even fidgeting can help!

* Exercise in the morning or in frequent bouts. Both strength and cardio exercises boost metabolism by increasing your calorie burn even AFTER your session is done. You can get the most out of this perk by starting your day with a workout or by incorporating multiple exercise sessions into your day. Longer or intense workouts have a greater "after burn” but even a 15-minute walk will make a difference.

* Try interval training. The harder you work, the more calories you will burn both during and after exercise—plus your fitness level will really improve. Studies show that exercising as intensely as you can, for at least 10 minutes per day, produces the best results. Interval training is an effective way to increase the intensity and duration of your workouts without running yourself into the ground or risking injury.

* Include mental exercises. One of the most important (but least recognized) factors in keeping your metabolic fires well stoked is managing stress effectively. Chronic stress disrupts the hormones that regulate everything from appetite to fat storage, and can defeat even the best exercise and eating plans. The more effort you put into recognizing and handling stress, the better off you’ll be. Include some time in your schedule every day for relaxation exercises, yoga, journaling, and other stress management activities.

And Most Importantly…
Make exercise and healthy eating FUN! Experiment frequently with new exercises and recipes, or anything that keeps you interested and adds some spice to your program. Well, don’t stop there. The more variety you can put in your diet and your exercise routine, the more stimulating it will be. That makes it easy to put your best efforts forward, and get a major metabolic return on your investment.

Church Revival!!!

How funny is it that I work a part time job at night just about every night of the week,when I called last night to see if I had to work they let me know they didn't have work wed & Thur.(They have Never done that before.)So I just shrugged my shoulders and went about my day when all of a sudden I get a call from my MIL asking if I was going to church. Church????? I responded ,only to find out that wed &  Thur night they are having a revival. I went even though the odds were against me not to go after hubby arrived home.We set aside all that and went....It was all about God .At first it took me a while to warm up but then I set aside all my worries and gave them all to GOD. It was a beautifully wonderful experience.One of our many sermon titles was ,"When the odds are against you." By Dr.Marvin Sapp The reference verse was Joshua 11:1 &5-6. To keep it short it was talking about how God wants us to depend on Him,and sometimes you have to wait to get your full blessing.Also it talked about how even though God told Joshua not to fret because tomorrow 'He would win the battle' That Joshua didn't just wait around but he started telling of Gods many blessing to come.Pretty much giving the enemy a black eye. So if I had to give you one thing to walk away with it would be. Give satan a black eye when ever the odds are against you praise the Lord For you know that God has a much bigger and better plan for you!!! Oh yeah and yes I will be at revival tonight..

This And That...

O.k. guys, what  have I been doing with myself? Just a little too much I'd say :-) I just wanted to share a few updates with you guys about goings on in my house. I'll do it in list format because it really is quite a bit.

• As of last Sunday I have lost 21 pounds. My goal is 25 lbs, so I'm almost there. YAY!!!!!
• I'm still babysitting, though my hours are gonna change soon. I'm so excited! Right now I babysit 3 kids from 5a.m.-2:30p.m. and soon I'll have them from just 4:00p.m.-6:30p.m. and for the same pay. God is way too awesome!
• I was offered a part-time job in my condos doing up violations. I have to be the bad guy but who could resist a part-time job willing to work around my schedule. I like to get out of the house at Ariana's nap time and work. That way she doesn't miss me and my hubby is home just in case she wakes up. 
• I also took on a part-time job cleaning the swimming pool here in my complex for the rest of this month. I clean it from 9a.m.-11a.m. I bring the kids up to the pool with me and they do activities and play with toys while I clean. My boss usually has a little treat for them because they are all so very good up there. 
• We put Beau in middle school, a neat little charter school. Hubby and I had been praying about it and felt this is the direction God has us in right now. Beau is loving school, thank God! Ariana is enjoying all this extra attention.
• I have been trying out so many new recipes and cannot wait to share some really great recipes with you guys. 
• I have been wearing out my coupon binder already and am taking notes on some great money saving tips.
• I'll be back to my regular blogging by the 23rd of this month. That's when my childcare schedule will change. I can't wait because I've missed all of my Blogger friends so very much and doing this blog with my sister is so very special to us both. 
• I joined a home fellowship. It's in my complex and you just wouldn't believe how wonderful it is to get together with other believers and learn God's Word in addition to going to church. I LOVE ,LOVE, LOVE my savior and cannot get enough of God's Word and to spend time every week with like-minded people is amazing!

That's it with the updates for now. I'll be back in Blogland soon from my mini "vacation". Thinking of and praying for my dear Blogger friends.

Love,
Amy

Goals of a Homemaker!

So I was on the phone with my sis (SCH I)and she shared with me a grrreat goal that she has. As you all should know we did coupon binders and as I don't use mine as often as my sis ,she can offer me great advice. One of the things that she told me was when she went to the store she had a goal to save 50%. Also another great tip she has is if a coupon is not about to expire for a while she places it in a particular section and then waits for the store to have a sale,that way you can use the coupon on top of the sale.So she had some really great ways to save. I do have 1 suggestion and it is sometimes if you find a coupon at one store that's better than another ,before going out of your way to get to the store with the good coupon see if the closer store takes competitor coupons. Enjoy!

The Asian Grocery Store!

I have always been the type of person to try new things. Well I also love getting a great deal so I have a lot of Asian friends who always have a house FULL of groceries. When I asked "how?"the answer was always the same ,"the American grocery stores are more expensive." I have always wanted to go to an Asian grocery store but never had the guts (I stick out like a soar thumb) Well hubby decided He would go with me . I know this may sound corny but that was kind of like a date to me. So here we went into this grocery store and OMG! It was great they did have soooo many great deals and it had a lot more than just groceries in there.So since we had already gone grocery shopping we just grabbed 2 little things we couldn't pass up.Just to give you an idea of the prices; If i went to Walmart for Strawberries I may get a good deal of $4.50 per 1 container ,Aldi $1.49 per 1 container . GW (Asian store) $0.99 per 2 containers. It was like that all over the store not to mention the fresh fish and beef in the back. Oh and they had  a Chinese restaurant in the grocery store . I actually talked my hubby into next time we go ,to get Chinese food and he can eat while I do the shopping. It was just great I should have taken pictures but next time. I feel like it was a great learning experience and also a great bonding experience(hey there always room for more bonding) Oh and if you're wondering what we did buy we got 2 high intensity specialty light bulbs for $1.29 @ regular store they are $8.00 and then I got a cute pair of boy-shorts for $.99 where at the regular store they would cost $7.50. I think we did a great job and I will definitely go back.

The dreaded kitchen sink!!

I am usually not bad at washing the dishes or loading the dishwasher but last night was a different night. Dishes I didn't want to know or hear anything about a dish. I put  the dishes on my to do list thinking maybe that would give me motivation. NOPE that definitely did not work.It was funny I have never felt so utterly disgusted about doing the dishes, I mean I made no sense the house was spotless except for those dreaded dishes.Well those who know me know that I keep a very clean home.So last night before I went to bed I tackled those dishes. I sure did the fight was on .The cups oh they were easy for me to take down it was those pots and pans that fought back. I mean they tagged teamed me but in the end I won that battle.It's so funny how I just did not want to clean those dishes lol. Actually I was so tired when I did it, that this morning when I woke up I just knew today was the day to do the dishes,(and I dreaded it.)Than Yay!!!! I realized No dishes there was nothing for me to clean ,I never thought this was possible I mean NOTHING.?. How can I have nothing to clean . Oh well so I'm taking easy today and enjoying every second of it.

Is That FIBER really good for you?

This is an article I found by Stepfanie Romine on Sparkpeople.com
I usually don't put other articles on here but this was just too good to waste. I hope y'all enjoy She titled it "

Is 'Stealth Fiber' Lurking in Your Foods?

About three years ago, a friend and I were at a natural foods store in the vitamins aisle. I needed more calcium and magnesium, which I take upon my doctor's recommendation to alleviate premenstrual mood swings. While my friend perused the multivitamins, I strolled up and down the aisle, reading labels. Then I spotted inulin, which I'd read was a great source of prebiotics. As a then-frequent sufferer of stress-related GI distress (this was during my "old life"), I was (and still am) a regular consumer of probiotics, those microorganisms found in your gut and in fermented foods like yogurt and kimchi, which can benefit your immune and digestive systems. In short, prebiotics are what feed probiotics. Anything that helps the good bacteria in your gut thrive and flourish sounded like a great product to me. Besides, I had just read that probiotics were the next big thing in nutrition.

I grabbed a jar, shelled out $8.99, and, upon returning home, stirred two tablespoons into water, just as the jar suggested. It tasted mildly sweet but not too bad. Within an hour, I learned the importance of doing your research before buying any supplement! (Who impulse shops at a health food store, I ask?)

My stomach was visibly distended, hard to the touch, and gurgling loudly. I felt as though I had just gorged on Thanksgiving dinner--I was full and bloated. Later on, I had horrible stomach pains that left me doubled over. Forced to cancel my Saturday night plans, I headed to the Internet and read up on inulin, then chucked my jar in the garbage.

A few months ago, I ate a piece of high-fiber flatbread--something I do not eat--for an afternoon snack and ended up with the same symptoms, primarily stomach pains that kept me from a training run! I read the label after the fact, and a type of added fiber was the culprit. Since then, I avoided these ingredients in all quantities. As I recently read, I'm not the only one who has trouble digesting these added fibers.

You might not have heard of inulin, but if you've eaten high-fiber foods--granola and snack bars, breads, crackers, cereals, and even yogurt--that have popped up on the market in the last few years, you've probably eaten a form of it. Inulins, which are a type of carbohydrate considered to be soluble fiber, are increasingly being added to processed foods as "stealth fibers." What's a "stealth fiber"? Any fiber that is added to a food that wouldn't naturally have it. In addition to inulin, products also use polydextrose and maltodextrin, among others.

Found naturally in onions, garlic, jicama, bananas, and wheat, inulin is found in large quantities in chicory root, which makes it a popular source of "stealth fiber" for food companies. It is added to everything from diet fruit drinks to chocolate bars, muffins to breakfast cereals. Some high-fiber snack bars list it as the #1 ingredient, and it is sometimes listed on labels as chicory extract, chicory root powder/fiber, oligosaccharides, or fructans.

With a taste that can range from bland to mildly sweet, food processers use it to replace sugar, fat and flour; it has minimal impact on blood sugar, making it appealing for diabetics. When added to foods, like granola, snack bars, or cookies, it can make them appear healthier than they are.

For some people, the fiber causes no side effects. For others, who either consume large quantities or are sensitive to it like I am, it can cause some mighty unpleasant side effects. Research has shown that inulin may boost the growth of friendly bacteria in the colon, but SparkPeople's Head Dietitian, Becky Hand, warns not to rely on foods like "yogurt fortified with inulin to have the same health benefits as a high fiber diet."

Joanne Slavin, a registered dietitian at the University of Minnesota at St. Paul, recently studied the effects of inulin. After a night of fasting, participants ate a healthy breakfast that included orange juice mixed either with a placebo or with varying amounts of two types of inulin products: native inulin and shorter-chain oligofructose.

"After their 'fiber challenge,' participants were called several times over two days and asked about symptoms such as gas/bloating, nausea, flatulence, stomach cramping, diarrhea, constipation and GI rumbling.

Those that got any dose of inulin generally reported 'mild symptoms'; the highest scores in every symptom except constipation were reported by those who got 10 grams of oligofructose. The findings are in line with previous research that found the short-chain "sweet" inulin causes faster fermentation in the gut leading to more gas and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Flatulence was the most common symptom reported by all subjects who got fiber although symptoms were 'highly variable' among individuals and many subjects did not experience any, the investigators say."

Though considered both a carbohydrate and a type of fiber, inulin isn't treated the same by your body. Carbs are digested and become fuel; insoluble fiber works like a scrub brush to clean the intestines as it passes through the GI tract undigested, while soluble fiber forms a gummy coating on the intestines and helps prevent and slow absorption of various substances, including glucose and cholesterol. Inulin travels undigested to the colon, where the friendly bacteria (probiotics) in your gut feed on them. The probiotics ferment the inulin. The by-product of any type of fermentation is gas, and inulin can also cause diarrhea, bloating, and nausea. Experts say that though added fibers like inulin are called fibers, they don't have the same benefits as the real deal, which is found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

This article clarifies the difference between fiber found in whole foods and added fibers:

"The most recently accepted grouping by the Institute of Medicine divides fiber into two categories: dietary and functional. Dietary is the kind found naturally and intact in oat bran, whole wheat, beans, prunes, peas, and almonds, and other plants. Functional refers to both the synthetic variety like polydextrose as well as naturally occurring inulin, which is extracted and purified from chicory roots."

Bottom line: We all need 25-35 grams of fiber daily, and our dietary experts recommend eating a diet rich in whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables to reach that goal. If you choose to consume products containing inulin or other "stealth fibers," read up on the side effects and limit the quantity.

I'm not a dietitian or health professional, but I can say that I would rather get my fiber the natural way. While you can get eight grams of fiber (about a third of your daily requirement) from sugar-free jelly beans, should you? One SparkPeople member decided fiber-rich jelly beans sounded too good to be true.

Read more: http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=processed_foods_extra_fiber_bellyache#ixzz0vZNCFLQS

Stay in bed!

Ok So I feel better now after recovering from my Hot flash lol. (The previous post) I have often been asking myself a question. What do you do when there's nothing to do? Wow that sounds a bit depressing but I 'm asking it because I have been taking the nap train. Lately when I have done most of the things or all of the things on my list(long list of things to do) I take a nap. Yes and that can't be healthy because I wasn't really sleepy ,I hate watching t.v sooo I just napped. I had to get out of  that phase. So here are some of the things I do to keep energized during the day.First when I wake up I don't just throw on any old thing, I chose something comfy that I wont mind leaving the house in. Second I decide what I want to eat than before I eat it I make myself do some kind of exercise. (that way the food is like a reward) Then I just carry on with my usual stuff . Whenever I start to feel a little drowsy during the day I go outside. Yep take 1min - as long as I need and just go outside. Like I will play with pooch or take her for a walk or just stand outside if I can't go to far from the house. It's something about that fresh air that wakes you up.(well wakes me up anyways.) Also if all else fails and you are still tired ,make sure most of your duties are done and retire to the bed BUT set an alarm clock to wake you up. (If I must sleep I usually set my alarm for 20-30 min.)Sometimes you are really working your body and don't realize it so a small nap may be in order; Just don't allow it to be regular.Have fun and Stay energized!