The Dreaded "D" Word

That's right. You guessed it. Tomorrow, I'm going on a DIET. Ugh! I abhor that word. Really. Whoever invented it should be ... well, I'll save the end and maintain my ladylike charm. 


This isn't just any old diet though. I'm actually excited about this diet. Scratch that. I'm excited about this new eating plan, which will be a better label for my purposes. 


You see, I have something called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS, for short). I have been asking for a diagnosis from my doctors for darn near four years now, so I was finally relieved to have the diagnosis confirmed a few months ago. If you know anything of PCOS, it ain't good. If you have PCOS, I'm sorry for you, and me. It causes fertility problems, cycle problems, and a host of other unsightly and downright embarrassing symptoms that no woman should have to deal with. Ever. Period. To put it bluntly, PCOS makes you a hot mess. 


Here's a good example all my girls reading this can relate to. Take two women: let's call them Fiona and Vivian (two names I downright love). Say Fiona and Vivian eat the same exact diet for a month. You'd think they would both either maintain their weight or gain roughly the same amount of weight, right? WRONG! You see, Fiona has PCOS. Thus, Fiona can actually GAIN weight while Vivian (who is PCOS free) will NOT gain weight and may even LOSE weight. You're screaming it with me, right? How unfair! Unjust! Downright awful. That, my friends, is PCOS. It caused me to gain 20 pounds in one year. I kid you not. PCOS causes insulin resistance (much like a pre-diabetic state), so those of us who are blessed with it have to be super-cognitive of what we eat. 


Herein lies the need for the new eating plan (the aforementioned "diet"). In seeking a natural remedy for my PCOS symptoms, I stumbled upon this wonderful book The Natural Diet Solution for PCOS and Infertility. This book is chock-full of explanations about PCOS, the foods we eat, and how it is all intertwined to either help or hurt those of us with PCOS. If you have PCOS, I would recommend you get the book (it's available online as a PDF) and read it promptly. I devoured the book in one evening and it's nearly 500 pages. Good stuff.


The new eating plan starts tomorrow. So, if you have the pleasure of interacting with me face to face, I'm pleading for some grace this first week (if not for the entire month, depending on how well I adjust). This eating plan is like the Full Metal Jacket of eating. There is no cutting corners, there is no cheating. It's strict as Mommy Dearest. It allows mainly fruits, vegetables, lean meats, eggs, and some nuts and healthy oils. That's it. Here's what it doesn't allow (I hope my keyboard doesn't short out from all the tears that fall as I type this): processed foods (of any kind), grains, soda (of any kind), and, here's where my heart actually aches: DAIRY. No dairy of any kind. No milk. No yogurt. No butter. NO CHEESE! Oh dear Lord, spare me the agony. A life without cheese? What kind of life is that? It's nearly unbearable. 


As I regain my composure, I realize that man does not live by cheese alone. Or was it bread? Heck, they're both good, so it doesn't really matter. I must remind myself that I'm doing this to heal my body, to bring it back to a more natural state of being so that it can function properly. There are so many foods I CAN eat on this plan, it's ridiculous. So I will focus on that. I'm actually excited to toss out the processed foods, as we've been eliminating those bit by bit for a while. And the soda needs to go, too. It's unnecessary. 


I'll be going this plan for a month, to start off. Then, if I feel ready, I can reintroduce some foods here and there (obviously not the processed ones though, or the soda). I'm resting on the notion that I will be energized and feel empowered by fueling my body with nutrients and vitamins instead of processed "foodstuff." I have heard great things about the restorative properties of this diet, so I am looking forward to those. 


I'll be making many new recipes in the next month, so I'll be sure to share those that succeed and might be pleasing to someone else's palate. I'll also report on how the plan's healing properties are working for me in case someone would like to try it for themselves to alleviate their own PCOS symptoms, or just in an effort to be more healthy. 


If you have any healthy eating tips and/or recipes that fit the bill, please send them my way. I can use all the artillery I can get for this war. Seriously. I'm a foodie, so this is not going to be easy. But it will be worth it. 


Wish me luck!


God bless,
Miss K

Of Bible Studies and Brownies

I'm random, I know. But bear with me and hear me out on two things. Just two things. Then I'll let you get back to your regularly scheduled programming. 


1. Brownies


Right below is a sacred recipe for the best brownies I have ever had in my life. Seriously. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE read past the first ingredient. I know it will be hard, but you can do it. Test drive these babies. You won't be disappointed. I promise. Take a chance on me. If you're all alone when the pretty birds have flown, honey I'm still free, take a chance on me. (Sorry, I spontaneously burst into ABBA songs, or any song for that matter, frequently. Forgive me.) Without further adieu, I bring you: (drumroll, please)


Dark Chocolate Beet Brownies

Servings: 24
Time: About one hour total; 30 minutes active

8 ounces raw beets, peeled and halved (YOU CAN'T TASTE THEM. I SWEAR.) Keep reading!
8 ounce unsalted butter (2 sticks)
¾ cup dark brown sugar
¾ cup white sugar
4 eggs
1 ¼ cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon vanilla extract, not imitation
¾ cup white flour
1 cup chocolate chips, preferably 60 percent or more cacao 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a small pot, add beets and cover with water. Heat over medium heat and cook 20–25 minutes until very soft. Drain, puree and set aside to cool.

3. In a medium pot over low heat, melt butter. Turn heat to medium-low and add both sugars. Stir until the sugar is dissolved, about 2–3 minutes, and remove from heat.

4. Beat the eggs on medium with a mixer for about 2 minutes. Add cocoa powder, salt, baking powder and vanilla extract, and incorporate well.

5. Add pureed beets and butter-sugar mixture and mix well. On low speed, add flour and then chocolate chips, scraping the sides as needed.

6. Spray a 9 x 13 pan generously with cooking spray, add batter and bake 30 minutes until knife comes out clean or with just a few crumbles. Cool in the pan before turning out onto a cooling rack. Enjoy warm!


Make these. Like tomorrow. Your children will gobble them up like they're candy. You will, too. And you'll all be getting your folate, Vitamin C, and iron. Thank me later. I accept payment in brownies and/or meatballs.


2. Bible Studies (or one wonderful one, in particular)


 If you're looking for something to turn your attention away from your children who are on school vacation this summer and driving you bonkers (or if you're just a woman), avert your eyes from "All My Children" and check out this Bible study "Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted." I'm currently more than halfway through this study with a church women's group, and it has impacted me tremendously. As I was sharing with my husband, I don't know whether it's the season of life I'm in or the age I am, but I am finding so much that resonates with me in this study. It's almost overwhelming to feel the Lord reaching out to me in this way. I mean, I've been in Bible studies, but this is probably the first one that has affected me in ways that will change who I am as a mother, a wife, and a person in general. Priscilla Shirer is good! She is on fire for the Lord and she's so authentic. She's a mother of three boys and she's living to tell AND give God glory about it, so you bet your bottom I'm going to listen! 


The ladies in my group are amazing (and I don't mean that in the flippant sense of the word). Each of us have been transparent throughout the study, which I have been so thankful for. We are diverse in age and I feel there is so much knowledge and wisdom to glean from each of the ladies I'm studying with. Suffice it to say, I think this study is better done as a group, but it cuts the mustard all on its own. Who would've thought four little chapters of the Bible could do so much? Please do check it out. Let the Lord speak to you. 


That is all. Brownies and Bible studies. Good stuff, eh? Nourishment for the body and the soul. 


God bless, 
Miss K

Pondering a new direction for this poor, unattended to blog

Hello there (assuming there are any readers left of this pitiful little blog),

I haven't blogged in a coon's age. Truthfully, I've been wrestling with the time, purpose, direction, etc. of this little ol' blog. I've felt guilty for wanting to put time into it when there are so many other things worthy of my attention, unsure if this is what God wants for me at this stage in my life, not comfortable/satisfied with the direction/focus of the blog, so I've just been ignoring it. It's like that huge pile of laundry that assaults your sense of smell and personal space when you step foot in your laundry room, so you just shut the door and pretend it isn't there. But it nags at you, calling you to just work on it so you can keep up. 

Thus, this blog is nagging me. It's telling me to poo or get off the pot. Seriously. Sorry for the crassness, but that's all I can think of as an equivalent due to my fourth grade boy sense of humor.

I don't want to abandon this blog altogether. I think as a writer it's therapeutic for me, and I hope that people who read it (people probably insinuates more in number than actual) will get something worthwhile and encouraging from it. 

With that said, I don't know if other bloggers feel this way, but I am insanely uncomfortable just putting my whole life out there on this blog for anyone in the world to see. Sorry, I've watched too much 48 Hours Mystery and To Catch a Predator if you get my drift. I'm a wee bit paranoid (OK, more than a wee bit, much more like obsessively) about my personal space being invaded. I have no problem baring my soul for all to see, but I can't stomach putting pictures, facts, etc. about my family just out there to float in the Webosphere where anyone can visit, follow, troll, stalk, etc. PLEASE note that I am not in any way judging those bloggers who do so. I think it's fantastic and wish I had that kind of personal security.

So, what's a blogger to do? I've been toying with other ideas for the site. I've been thinking more about what I'm passionate about in life and what I desire to share with others to make their lives easier and better. I don't feel like showing readers the latest video of my kid singing his ABCs (albeit super cute) is necessarily something that's going to enhance their daily lives. Maybe I'm wrong, but my gut says so, so I'm going with that. I sincerely feel that God is calling me to redirect the blog to something more helpful and purposeful.

I'm thinking of creating tabs and allowing readers to skim the site for things they want to read and not assaulting their brains with my sometimes mindless drivel or stream of consciousness randomness. Although the stream of consciousness is likely to continue because that's just a part of me. ;) 

I've become really passionate lately about having a natural home. What in the world does that mean? It means no chemicals in our home, in our food, or in our atmosphere (at least in as much as we can control it). I'd love to share bits and pieces I've found to make natural, organic living easier and more affordable for the everyday family. You know, recipes, coupons, ideas, articles, information, and all the good stuff I can find to encourage us to all make the best decisions for our families. 

It won't be limited to this type of material, but I would like to repurpose and refocus this blog so it's worth more than a free therapy session por moi. I'm curious to know if this kind of material appeals to any of the readers. Perhaps I can then stop assaulting all of my Facebook friends with my unsolicited pleas to buy organic produce and stop abuse of people, animals, the environment, etc. Who knew I was a closet philanthropist all this time?

If this sounds of interest to you, won't you drop me a line or a comment to let me know you'll be along for the ride? 

God bless,

Miss K

P.S. I'm thinking this may include a complete redesign of the site and possible new title for the blog. Exciting! 

The kind of wife and mother I want to be

<sup>Proverbs 31:10-31


10</sup> A wife of noble character who can find? 
   She is worth far more than rubies. 
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her 
   and lacks nothing of value. 
¹² She brings him good, not harm, 
   all the days of her life. 
¹³ She selects wool and flax 
   and works with eager hands. 
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships, 
   bringing her food from afar. 
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night; 
   she provides food for her family 
   and portions for her female servants. 
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it; 
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously; 
   her arms are strong for her tasks. 
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable, 
   and her lamp does not go out at night. 
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff 
   and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor 
   and extends her hands to the needy. 
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household; 
   for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 
²² She makes coverings for her bed; 
   she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate, 
   where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them, 
   and supplies the merchants with sashes. 
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity; 
   she can laugh at the days to come. 
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom, 
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household 
   and does not eat the bread of idleness. 
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed; 
   her husband also, and he praises her: 
²⁹ “Many women do noble things, 
   but you surpass them all.” 
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; 
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done, 
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.





We mothers have been commissioned to the highest calling: training up the next generation in the ways of the Lord. Although it seems as such at times, it's about more than spit up, diapers, potty training, learning ABCs, and swimming lessons. It's about molding and shaping these little minds and bodies into responsible citizens of the world. We give freely of ourselves so that we may better our children. In turn, we will see the fruits of our labor develop and flourish as our children grow. What an amazing gift we've been given! 


Thank you, Lord, for this daunting, yet splendid task you have laid before me. I am in awe that you have entrusted one of your precious little children to me that I may bear the title "Mother." I wear it proudly, as a badge of honor, knowing that it is, by far, the most important thing I will do in my entire life. Please give me the ability to translate your grace and mercy accordingly and bestow it upon my dear son with the same unfailing love that you've bestowed it upon me. 


Happy Mother's Day! 

A minor inconvenience for me, a world of difference for someone else

Today, I'm going barefoot, in order to raise awareness for Tom's Shoes One Day Without Shoes campaign. If you've never heard of it, here's a great video to introduce you to the cause.





It's a minor inconvenience for me, to be brutally honest. As a stay-at-home mom, I don't have to venture out today if I don't want to. I can be barefoot in the comfort of my own home. 


However, it is a commitment. It's an awareness. It's a chance to begin teaching my son how fortunate we are to live in the country we do and have access to the things we have, and that there are many, many people in this world who are far less fortunate. I want to raise him with a global consciousness. I want him to see the plight of the third world, that he might rarely take for granted what he is given and give thanks to the Lord for all the blessings he receives. 

On this day, I pray that more people become aware of what it's like for those who live without shoes. I believe it's honestly something that most Americans rarely even consider. It is probably downright preposterous to some of us. But, it's reality, and it's harsh. 

This is our world. We must take care of it, and the people in it. Won't you kick off your shoes and join us today? 

It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you ...

Without a dope beat to step to ... RIP Aaliyah :)


Seriously though. It's been quiet entirely too long on this blog. I know why, and I intend to expand upon it in a series entitled "Under Enemy Fire." 


Look out for it, starting sometime within the next week ... 


God bless,
Miss K

I choose to ...

Love. 


That's it. A very simple, short blog post to iterate something that's been on my mind and heart for a while now. 


We have two choices in this world: we can love or we can hate. We can uplift or we can demean. It seems in today's society, it's cool to judge, criticize, condemn. It's passe to uplift, encourage, love. 


Let's put love back at the forefront. Not just because it's 13 days to Valentine's Day. Because it helps us be the best version of ourselves.


I'll leave it with this, an excerpt from my favorite book of the Bible.


Romans 12:9-21, subtitled "Love in Action"


 ⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
 ¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
 ¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary:
   “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
   if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
 ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.


Blessings,
Miss K