Oh, Nanny Diaries.

As a part time nanny for two families, full time student, intern for two non-profits, and full time friend, sister, and daughter, I spend most my days in a shuffle from one thing to the next. Half the time I am livng off of coffee, an english muffin, and a constant flow of H2O. I usually have gold fish crumbs on my yoga pants and chocolate milk stains on my shirt (that I've worn for two consecutive days) while trying to read a few pages of my textbook at a time, not to mention the work that needs to be completed for this weeks up coming meetings for both my very time consuming internships. From 6 AM to 10PM I have to find a way to fit in making meals for the little ones (breakfast and lunch seem to merge together somehow), playing with them (in other words, chasing after the toys they are throwing around), trying to complete one of the homework assignments for the week, and feeding myself (healthy food...that is the challenge). Not to mention, working out, showering, and actually getting "ready" for the day (which, by the way, has become a very loose idea for me these days). As most of you moms out there know, it takes some sort of skill to juggle your responsibilities and needs with the needs of the little ones you love so much.

There is a fine line between  "playing" with the two year old cutie from the couch while she is watching Tangled for the one-hundreth time and actively engaging with her. There is a significant difference between grazing on the gold fish and snack packs and grazing on fresh fruits and veggies all the day long. The former of both senarios are, of course, the easier of your options, but the latter are so much more rewarding. As you can imagine, finding the time to really take care of yourself while taking care of kids can feel almost impossible and it seems like you would be left even more drained of energy then if you chose to sit on that couch for four consecutive hours. Do not be fooled. Working out and eating those veggies are the very things that will get you through your day more efficienctly than anything else.

That is why I have come up with a few meal and snack ideas, as well as some at-home work out resources that I like to use. Hopfully, for those of you who are nannies or fulltime mamas, this will help equip you for some of your busiest days.

Foods That Love You Back:

Breakfast - 1 Toasted English Muffin w/2 TBSP Almond Butter, Optional: Thinly Sliced Apples on Top

Coffee - 1 Cup Brewed Coffee, 2 TBSP Coconut Milk Creamer & 1 Packet of Stevia

Snack - (usually about 2 hours later) 1 Cup Blueberries w/ 1/2 Cup Yogurt or 10 Almonds

NOTE: I constantly have two bowls of fresh veggies on the counter for me to snack on.
My favorites are cucumbers, carrots, and broccoli, but you can do this with virtually any veggie you choose.
This helps me to resist the temptation to grab a handful of crackers or animal cookies & makes me feel more energized too. If straight up, hard core raw veggies are too ambitious for you, I sometimes drizzle a small bit of balsamic vinegar and olive oil on them for taste.

Lunch - Depends on the day & what I am doing. Here are some options -
- Spinach salad with tomatoes and grilled chicken (1 TBSP of dressing for taste)
OR
- Green Smoothie: 2 Handfuls baby spinach, 1/2 Apple, 1/2 Banana, 5 Strawberries (or handful of any berries you like), 1 Cup water, & Juice from 1/2 Orange ---- Throw it in a blender and you've got a sweet, light lunch for on the go.

Sweat Session:
I usually do not get around to a legitamate workout until after lunch and the little one is put down for a nap. Since at that point I really do not have the option of going to a gym or going for a run outside, I have found some pretty heart-pumping workouts through the beloved Pinterest. Here are just a few resuorces to get you going and re-energize you for the second half of your busy day!

KickBoxing

- This one is fun and surprisingly challenging when done with intensity. DON'T SLACK on those upper-cut punches ;)

Bob Harper's 20 Minute Circuit Training

- This one is quick and pretty simple but you should definitely break a sweat.

The One-Room Workout, No Tredmill Necessary

- This will get your heart pumping pretty quick and is sure to strengthen.
Post-Work Out:
After I work out, I finish it up with a good stretching routine and protein smoothie:
- 1 Cup Ice, 1 Scoop Chocolate Protein Powder, 1/2 Banana, 1 Cup Light Soy Milk & Optional: 1 Packet Instant Coffee (for those days you need an extra kick)



(Workouts found at: Life Plus Fitness, Fitness Magazine Website, Every College Girl Blog)

For more tips on healthy eating and at-home workouts, visit & follow me on Pinterest!

xo,

Lex

 

Guest Post: 3 Goals Every Blogger Can Use

Just as everyone has a different life and background, same is to be said about how they came to blog and why. Personally, I’ve blogged on and off for over four years. It first emerged out of a class assignment, then turned to something personal, and eventually grew into something I enjoyed because of the personal growth and friendships that emerged through the stories of truth and encouragement I shared. Throughout that time, I also became a Marketing and Social Media Coordinator for different businesses and sites that helped develop my understanding of what a blog is and how it could be utilized.

There have been ups and downs, inconsistencies, opportunities, and mass growth in my blogging journey. I find this also to be true for many other bloggers who find themselves pressured by subscriber numbers, stunning graphics, and big-name sponsors on their sidebar. You don’t need to concern yourself with all of that, friends. It can get stressful, competitive, and will most likely hinder you from sharing your story. To prevent such things, here are three goals every blogger can use…

1. Quality Before Quantity

Don’t produce posts for the sake of having space filled on your blog. Instead, be conscious of what you share. Think of it this way: your blog has your name on it – it is a reflection of you. Make sure what you post is something worthy of sharing. I’d rather read a blog full of intent and love over one that spews out meaningless posts.

2. Purpose Over Profit

Figure out why you like to blog then forge your path from there. Try not to become sidetracked by copying other bloggers; everyone is different. Don’t focus on the profit of sponsorships gains, free products etc. because it will soon become the only thing you’re concerned about rather than sharing and building a community.

3. Community Instead of Self-Promotion

Blogging is intended to share – not merely promote oneself. Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way of losing a crowd when all you do is talk about yourself, only share your content, or don’t engage with the blogging community. Your blog is not a competition nor should it be a space designed for advertisements. Focus on sharing and building your readers up as well as other bloggers. The return on friendships is better than blog stats.

I trust these goals will help you get focused and stay passionate about sharing your stories.

Ashlee Chu is a Marketing Coordinator in Southern California. Her passions and creativity are evident in her work with Invisible Children, Foundation Restoration, SoCal Girls Ministries and most recently, be.loved along with Peristeria Magazine. She's a total nerd and at times, an over-committed writer. She shares about everything from faith and living to work and relationships. Oh and the occasional movie, top 10 play, or non-profit. She'd love to be your friend!
 

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For Such A Time As This.

Sometimes we go through things in life that make us wonder, "What in the world could that have been for? Wasn't there an easier way to get me to where I am going?" The answer to that question is yes, there probably was. But to ask "Why this?" and "Why that?" is useless when what has happened is done and gone, or what my dad likes to say, "It is what it is." All we can do is look forward and ask the question, "How is this going to contribute to my future, my relationships, and life in general? What can I learn from this?"

Recently I committed a lot of my time to a program called The Landing at the church I regularly attend on the weekends. It is basically a year-long program that helps teenagers travel the path to freedom, healing, and wholeness. It is a "come as you are, and bring everything in the huge bag behind you too" kind of program, which is what attracted me to it in the first place. The foundation of the program is the concept of mentoring others, which is totally my heart's passion. I loved that it encouraged transparency and openness that our teens do not always receive from the world. It is modeled to help them work through the hard things in life, the issues they have encountered thus far, and how to live a life totally dependent on God rather than our own strength. I loved that it was all about "being real" and not about "fixing" people.

The program is a new addition to our church, and as such we are in the oh-so-beginning stages of development and training. We are few people doing lots of work in faith that it will yield a harvest of many broken lives changed and restored. But part of this "training" and "developing" requires us, as leaders and founders, to dig into our own trash bags, to get real with ourselves and realize that we are in need of help too. I have heard it said many times that, "One cannot help in the healing of another if one is still in need of healing." I truly believe that to be true, at least in the sense that if you cannot even own the fact that you are also, might I say,  flawed, then how can you help someone else come to that conclusion as well? And furthermore, how can you help them in the process of finding healing and restoration?  It begins with us and that can be a very daunting thought. It is not fun to search our hearts and expose all the ugly parts of who we are. It is painful to let God in and expose those things to us and to let Him change things and re-structure our hearts. But...it is worth it all.

Our first official meeting was this past Monday and I came ready to lay it all out there for my group. The ugly, the hard, the painful, the process of letting go and, well, letting God...I was ready to be transparent with them. I was also expecting the others to be ready to do the same; but, as I walked into that room, I realized I was expecting more than I should have. And as you can imagine, I was blindsided by the utter silence the majority of our group was putting out there. It was anything but vulnerable and transparent. Here I was, ready to tell it all and let the others know the deep pains and challenges that I have faced through my life, and there they were, with their blank stares probably wondering why they even had to read through the training manual in the first place. Needless to say, I left that evening disheartened and frustrated.


That leads me to today. I e-mailed one of my pastors who I knew would understand my heart and situation. He agreed to meet me today in his office at the church. On my way over, I kept praying, "God, please help me to not be judgmental. Help me to keep my heart in the right place and to speak with compassion even with those who feel they are in need of none. I just want You to be glorified through this program...help me to communicate clearly." As I walked into his office, I instantly felt safe and at home. I began to share with him my frustrations and small bits of my story. As he listened with an understanding that few have, I shared my heart and what I was seeing in the meetings so far: a lack of transparency and ignorance to the sin in our own lives. He responded with a lot of encouragement and validation, but the one thing he said to me that stuck was this: "Alexa, you get it. You've been through the hard process of seeing your sin for what it is and allowing Christ to change you. You've been there in the low moments and held onto God as He wrapped His arms around you, all the while changing you one moment at a time. You know what it feels like to 'bleed', and you know the pain of change. But here is the cool part, Alexa, listen to me: it wasn't just for you. You were chosen to lead in this situation, to hemorrhage so that others can bleed. God brought you through that process of healing so that you could aid in the healing of others."

"You were chosen."

His words still ring in my ears even as I write this. "It wasn't just for you." It was the absolute most perfect thing for me to hear in that moment because it put everything in perspective for me. All of a sudden I realized how truly God has had His hand on my life. All of a sudden I realized how amazing His plans truly are. And most of all I was reminded of His total and complete knowledge of who I am, where I have been, and where I am going. Why? Because long ago, I had two parents who prayed very hard for my life to glorify Christ, and long ago I made a choice to receive the love of my heavenly Father, to accept His invitation into a love relationship with Him, and to live my life solely for His purposes. Now let me make something clear: by no means am I taking credit for this position I am in now. I give full and total glory and credit to Christ's work in me. But it made me take a step back and remember the word I received for my life a little over a year ago: "For such a time as this..." I am here, at this church, with these people, working with this group for such a time as this. All that has happened up to this point in my life has been ordained by God and brought to completion by my response to His calling me. Such an incredible and humbling thought.

All this to say, do not discount the struggle you face or the moments in life that you feel you are at your lowest. Remember that Christ is there, and that if you call on His name and ask that He work in you and through you, not one moment of your life will be wasted. He will use every last ounce of sadness, anger, hurt, and struggle and replace it with everlasting joy, love, wholeness, and peace. He will call you "chosen one". And you will find yourself at a place in life, whether it be now or later, when you are chosen for such a time as this.

xo,
Lex

Tis the Season...to Choose Joy.

It seems that every year the Christmas season creeps up on us, am I right? Well, this year was no exception. From school to work, unexpected emergencies to added responsibilities, the busyness of everyday to heart breaking tragedies, it can be close to impossible to find and enjoy the spirit of Christmas. Some how, the older I get the harder it becomes. Maybe its because all of a sudden you begin to experience all the craziness of the world around you and you realize, possibly for the first time in your life, that things aren't as easily figured out as they once seemed. And for the first time in your life it was brought to your attention that some things you cannot fix, no matter how hard you try. And for the first time in your life, you realize that some people you were meant to love, but by doing so meant to listen to God when He said, "Let them go; I will take care of that." For the first time in your life, you realized that the spirit of Christmas isn't found but actually, it is chosen. It's chosen because the spirit of Christmas is actually the spirit of joy and one doesn't simply stumble upon joy, but instead they choose it. In fact, they choose it quite intentionally.

Everywhere I go this December, I am noticing a theme: Joy. Stopping to have lunch with a few friends at Panera Bread and noticed that what else but the word "JOY" is printed on their cups. Starbucks' seasonal marketing slogan is "Rekindle the Joy", almost stated as a command. And most of us would gladly do so, but it is so much easier said than done. It seems that lately our country, communities, friends and families have been forced to endure a loss unimaginable; a loss of twenty beautiful young lives. I don't want to casually bring the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting up once again for all of us to think upon, but for many of us out there, its something that grasped our attention more than anything else in this last week. And since we all are exposed to a child on some level in our personal lives, I think it is easy to put ourselves in that place and grieve as if we had just lost one of our own. I know that I did. It is a tragedy, yes. It is heart wrenching and devastating all at the same time. But please understand that what I am about to say, I say with love and do not speak on lightly. I believe that our response to something like this is always a matter of choice, especially those who are not directly affected by the event. We have a choice, just as we do every other day in life, to choose to hate or choose to love. We can choose to believe that those beautiful babies are in the hands of Jesus, or we can choose to hope that the man responsible is "rotting in hell".  We do not have the luxury of choosing both. One offers hope and comfort; the other condemns and eats us away inside. Robbie Parker, one of the parents who lost a child in the tragedy, spoke publicly about his loss. To the gunman's family he said, "I can't imagine how hard this experience must be for you." He said he was not mad and offered his sympathy. Robbie Parker chose joy. He was not happy, he was not content with what had happened, of course not. But joy does not guarantee happiness; it is an attitude of the heart.

I think it is no coincidence that joy is a common theme this season. We need it desperately. & I believe we have the ability to choose it everyday; for our friends, our families, for our world, we can choose to live with joy. So as you come together with those you love this coming week & as you sit around your living room sharing gifts and kind words with one another, don't forget to hug them with warmth as well. Don't forget that the most important thing on your wish list this year is to learn how to love more and live with joy. Don't forget to remember the little ones and their families this Christmas and to thank the Lord that you are alive and have the opportunity to love those around you still. This Christmas, remember the true spirit of Christmas is joy & that it cannot be found, instead it is chosen.
I am so thankful for each of your lives & I praise God for His love, joy, peace, and presence that is so freely given to each and every one of us.

So Merry Christmas, from my home to yours. May it be filled with hugs and laughter and with a deeper gratitude for life itself.

xo,
Alexa Joy

The following poem was re-written by an unknown source. It is beautiful. Take a moment to read & be blessed.

"Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.

Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

They were filled with such joy; they didn't know what to say.
They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

“Where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
“This is heaven" declared a small boy.
"We’re spending Christmas at God's house”.

When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their Savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
Then He opened His arms and He called them by name.

And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
And as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."


Then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe,
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
“Let My power and presence re-enter this land!
“May this country be delivered from the hands of fools”
“I’m taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"

Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
“Come now my children let me show you around."
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
“in the midst of this darkness,
I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Project for Awesome: Love146

I recently joined a local organization called Love146 Dayton Task Force. We are a volunteer expression of Love146 committed to abolishing child sex slavery, trafficking, & exploitation.To say the least, I feel amazingly blessed to have an opportunity to work with such passionate people and to DO SOMETHING about the absurdity called sex trafficking. One of those DO SOMETHING opportunities has been extended to YOU today!!!  

Today, you and I have the privilege of being a part of something incredible! It is called Project for Awesome, an annual online event presented by The Foundation to Decrease Worldsuck and YouTube collectively. The Project for Awesome is an annual event that sprung out of various YouTube communities to support charities and other ways of decreasing the overall worldwide level of suck. Ever year since 2007, thousands of people post videos to YouTube promoting charities on December 17th. We then come together as a community to promote those videos and raise money (P4A website).
So why Love146? Here are the FACTS: 

• 27 Million are enslaved; out of these 27 Million, the majority of the women are trafficking into the sex industry.
• 2 Children are sold every 60 SECONDS. 
• This is NOT an issue found in the third world alone: IT EXISTS RIGHT HERE IN THE U.S.
• 100,000 U.S. children are forcefully engaged in prostitution or pornography each year.

 So here's the deal...its oh so simple! All you need to do is get online (which most of us are anyway through out the day, right?!) and hit "vote" for Love146 Dayton Task Force video.
 Here's how it works:
-->

1. People (like us here at LOVE146) upload videos promoting charities to YouTube and submit them to the Project for Awesome website.
2. People (LIKE YOU) vote on which videos they think are the best (aka: Love146). 
3. The charities promoted in the top five videos split all (100%) of the money we raise over the year. 

Join the solution and vote today!
WHEN: Monday, Dec.17 @ 12 Noon - Tuesday, Dec.18 @ 11:55PM

WHERE: Anywhere, at any computer, VOTE HERE!

--> SEE YOU THERE!

Your fellow abolitionist,

Lex

For more information on the EVENT:
Facebook Event Page-->

YouTube Video: Sneak Peak

Project for Awesome Home Page

For More Information on the ISSUE: 

Get Educated

Love146 Dayton Task Force

'Like' Us on Facebook 

Coffee Anyone?

Today I am taking a slight turn and talking about our health. For more of us, caffeine is a regular part of our routine, & for many of those I know personally (including myself), it can be a legitimate addiction. Don't worry! I am not about to bash on your beloved coffee or try to make you give it up (as if I could anyway, right?). I will say, however, that there are ways to improve the benefits of said addiction. Recently a friend of mine walked into class complaining about her bitter cup of joe. She was drinking straight.black.coffee. My I gave her one of those "Ew" faces because, if you're like me, you love your coffee, but you are probably not as hard core as to drink the untainted version of it: BLACK. I love my flavors and my (zero-calorie) sweeteners! I have always heard how wonderful coffee is for your health, like its likelihood of lowering your risk for developing Dementia, Parkinson's disease, and several various cancers. But according to the experts, coffee is little to no value to us when we add all those extra creamers and sugar: aka calories. Plus, its only effective within the two to four brewed cups a day limit.
 Now if you're one of those people who already love your black coffee, congratulations! You're ahead of the curve---I applaud your healthy habits! But for those of us who covet our Skinny Iced Caramel Macchiato Upside-Down Extra Caramel on Top at Starbucks (I may have a favorite), I have a proposition for you. My friend and I have set a challenge for ourselves and I am inviting you to join us! Actually, its more like a competition (we're both quite competitive). Ready? OK, here it is:

Drink your (2-4 Cups only) coffee with:
-NO creamer
-NO sugar
-NO artificial, natural, or zero calorie sweeteners
In other words: STRAIGHT UP BLACK COFFEE!
Exception!
-ONE free day a week (Any day you choose)

Today was my first day...& lets just say this is a VERY successful way to decrease your caffeine intake. But still not as bad as I anticipated!

All you health improving people, who's with me?!

Stay healthy my friends,

Lex

The Whimsical Life.

A book I've recently picked up at my local book store has had me up way past my bedtime this week! Lots of groggy mornings and regretfully sacrificed sleep...but its hasn't been without it gains! I've been loving every page of my late nights. It's called Love Does by Bob Goff, and let me tell you, it has climbed the charts of my favorite books! This man is incredible, but not in the 'unattainable' kind of way. He's incredible in the 'inspiring-motivating-I-can-be-just-like-him' kind of way, and if you ask me, that's the best kind! He has lived a life of, what he calls, "the whimsy". I have never thought to describe my life with that word, but the more I read about him and his life, the more I want to start living in such a way that deserves that description!

Bob is a regular guy. In fact, he would describe himself as an average man who somehow weaseled his way into law school with much less than minimal qualifications, a marriage with a woman he pursued for three years and calls "sweet Maria" to this day, and intimate friendships with influential people around the world. He isn't special in any way except by the way he chooses to live. He wasn't given special opportunities, he simply lived the best he could with what he was given. It isn't luck he lives by, but instead a simple and yet profound understanding that love does and what it means to live that way.

Love looks like something.

I was introduced to this phrase last year when I was preparing for my trip to Africa. More and more I see how very true it is. Bob Goff understands this, he gets it, and he applies this understanding to every aspect of his life. Many small moments of stepping out of the 'ordinary' way of doing ordinary things that have led him to living an extraordinary life.

I'm not quite finished with this book, but I have loved every word of it so far. It has challenged my way of thinking about everyday occurrences and to see them as innumerable opportunities to "do love". And that's my hope; that I would live "doing love" with an understanding that love looks like something. My hope is to live, as Bob would say, a whimsical life.

Xo,

Alexa Joy