"People who love to eat are always the best people." Julia Child

Oh how I love food, and oh how easy it is to love food that's not really food.  I needed a change.

It all started when I came home one night and felt horribly bloated, and it had been happening more regularly. Worst feeling ever, so I started thinking about making working out a priority again.  On top of that we've been talking about kids.  Kids = pregnancy, which equals not only added weight gain, but the huge responsiblity to eat well not just for myself but for another human!  Don't get me wrong we are still probably about 2 years away from kids, but I know it will be much harder for me to make a decision to eat better when I am pregnant and having cravings, lol, who am I kidding I'd fail horribly (if you didn't know I love food). I also feel the results of getting older. Now, I know I'm not old by any means, but I will be thirty in less than a year, and I've noticed subtle changes.  I remember when I was at college as long as I worked out, I could eat however I want and lose weight!  I didn't realize what I had.  Nowadays, I can work out and sure, I can eat what I want, but I do not get any more fit.  I don't really gain weight but I don't lose a thing.  (Let me just say I don't really want to lose weight, actually I'm ok gaining some as long as it's muscle weight and healthy, I just want to be fit)

Also, on a side note.  Something that really annoys me.  If someone who is overweight is trying to lose weight and be fit, they get all sorts of praise and encouragement.  For someone who is not overweight, but is not "fit" trys to be better and healthier, all I get is, "What do you have to lose?", "You're going to be unhealthy!", "You're just trying to show us up" "you're going to waste away" or, even better, laughter. What!?! I know I'm not big by any means, but I also know I'm not fit or toned, and I certainly haven't had the best diet.  Yet no encouragement my way, everyone seems to get annoyed or irritated and make it about themselves. Please don't do this to your friends, it's not helpful.  If you have nothing encouraging to say, just keep it to yourself.

So, at first I was just calorie counting, which I now realize is not good.  So, although I keep track, I don't live by that number.  For the first two weeks the hardest thing was the craving for salt.  Who knew?!  But in between meals I wanted chips, or salted nuts, or fries.  And the hardest change was chosing to eat better snacks. Still not easy, but certainly easier.  Actually I'd say, this being week three, has been the first week were I crave my cucmbers, carrots, or some sort of fruit.  We've also cut down eating out to maybe two times a week, as opposed to the possible four or five times in the past.  So not only have we saved money, but are saved from that horrible feeling of being heavy! As I said before, bloated. Worst feeling ever.

I started doing pilates this week as well, and the lady who teaches the sessions said, "Being fit is 80% what you eat and 20% working out and genetics"!  That was a huge eye opener.  Obviously, it's not cheaper to eat better, which is why we have cut out eating out, but it definitely has made a difference in how much energy I have and how good I feel.  When I went shopping this past week, I must have bought 90% of our groceries from the produce section and 10% from the inner isles.  Which is a huge difference, as a matter of fact I did not buy one frozen food item.  Not that all frozen items are bad (fruit for example) just the majority of it.

I realized the hardest part about deciding to be healthier was actually deciding lol.  You know you won't see progress for a while, and it's so easy to say "oh i'll start tomorrow".  So that first run (after a 6 month or so absence) was the hardest, then choosing to eat better was even harder (as working out is a 1hr eveny daily or so, and eating better is 24/7, yikes).  After three weeks I can tell you I am feeling awesome, more energized is the hugest difference I see! Another huge help is diversifying my work outs. Normally I just run, it's easy, free and I can do it.  But I get bored easy and thats why I end up stopping.  So I've made things exciting by pairing running with zumba twice a week and pilates everyday (pilates is great for toning-feel it already!).


Anyway not that anyone really cares about my eating habits.  But putting it out there in social media keeps me accountable.  So forgive the endless pictures of food, or posts about working out. I'm under no delusion that everyone cares or anyone cares! However, it's a form of self accountability, because if I stop someone might ask me about it, and that would be no fun. Soo just unfollow me or my posts, I won't be hurt :) There might be one person though (like my mom <3) who cares, and wants the reciepes and maybe it'll be motivation for you to make some small changes that make a huge difference.  I want to learn to be disciplined in more areas of my life (spiritually is a huge one), but food is a huge weakness for me!

Sidenote: Food is glorious, and when I see all the amazing things that can be done with it, I am reminded of how creative God is, and how full He wanted our lives to be! Just as in anything, however, there has to be balance.  I was not achieving that, definitely more garbage than anything going in! I will forever have a love affair with food and cooking, it's beautiful :)

Cheers

Say What....

Lately I feel God speaking very loudly to me the importance of words.  I don't feel, growing up, this idea of words being life-giving was spoken very loud to me.  It's definitely a newer concept for me, this idea of speaking life into myself and those around me.   I mean of course I grew up with, "If you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all." Yet, it's much more than just saying "nice" things and not saying "mean" ones.

It's power.  From God.

To be quite honest, before I began attending my Church (CCFTN), I didn't fully understand this concept.  I had definitely lived my life up to that point taking in things people said about me, and then in the same breath fusing it together with my identity.  Yet, somehow, I was still surprised when I didn't have confidence in myself, or my idea of myself was skewed.  Then I went to CCFTN, and people began praying over me.  Powerfully.  Suddenly strongholds in my life began falling off--false identities I didn't even realize I owned...were breaking away.  Because of WORDS people! Words!! Who knew? Well God did...He said quite a few things about this truth...


"Don't use foul or abusive language.  Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." Ephesians 4:29

"The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences." Proverbs 18:21

"The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." Proverbs 12:18

One of the secrets to a power-filled life, to freedom, to peace & joy....is words.

Are you afraid?

Speak over the fear.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Tim. 1:7

But speak it.  Out loud.

Have you been hurt?

Speak over the pain.

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [curing their pains and their sorrows]." Psalms 147:3

Are you physically unwell?

Speak against it.

"I shall not die but live, and shall declare the works and recount the illustrious acts of the Lord." Psalms 118:17

Give me a issue, and I promise you...God has given you something IN His WORD, that you can use against it.  I promise you that.  He gave us this book to use, we should not be surprised when we aren't where we want to be, and we also are not in communion with God, and daily finding refuge in Him.  He encountered every issue before we did, so that He could leave us hope and instruction when we encountered it ourselves.

Anyway, nothing fancy or new.  However, lol...it kind of has been for me.  This new found revelation for me, has truly changed my life.  So in case you didn't understand the power of words...my experience with it.  Amazing.  Try it.

I'll leave this post with some song lyrics about the same thing.  Ahhh it's awesome!

 

"Words can build you up
Words can break you down
Start a fire in your heart or
Put it out
Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You" -Hawk Nelson, "Words"

"So speak Life, speak Life.
To the deadest darkest night.
Speak life, speak Life.
When the sun wont shine and you dont know why.
Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted;
Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope,
You speak love, you speak...
You speak Life" -Toby Mac "Speak Life"

Holiday Newness

So I'm just going to come out and say that this Christmas so far, has been strange.  I very clearly, have not adjusted to being married and how to deal with the holidays.  It hasn't "felt" like Christmas to me, and I realized it's because I don't have any of my traditions to enjoy.  No baking frenzy with my mom, no watching Christmas movies with the whole family multiple days throughout the month, no family Christmas tree decorating or putting up lights.  It's weird.  Don't get me wrong, it hasn't been bad...just strange.  Me and Christian cut our own tree, we decorated it ourselves and although it was sweet it didn't "feel" like the tradition of decorating the one with my mom, dad, sister and brother.  We are starting to watch Christmas movies, but last year the Cortez family wore Christian out with our love of the "Christmas Carol" I think we watched three different versions (Muppets, Mickey, Allistor Sim) and then we went to the Alley theater to see the play.

Ha.  That made me laugh I guess that'd wear anyone out on one story.  But not the Cortez Family.  Why? It's tradition.  Allistor Sim's Christmas Carol we've watch all our lives, the Muppets...come on! Mickey's...it's short 30 minutes of bliss, and the Alley Theater has become a Christmas Eve tradition!  So this year to save from killing him, we're only doing two...haha.  I'll watch two on my own.  See....weird?  It's so unexpected.  What do I do?

Well, I know the answer.  The answer is me and Christian will begin to make our own traditions.  And over the years, I'm sure they will become more familiar than the ones I know now.  Even as I write that I'm doubtful, because I have 26 years of wonderful habit that I don't want to let go.  In the end, I guess I don't really have to let them all go.  However, I'm not primarily a part of the Cortez family anymore, I'm part of the Christian & Destiny family, and we've gotta learn to combine.

So, yes.  It's been hard for me.  Sidenote: Alyse, enjoy the time you have there, because when things change, although equally as lovely, it's strange and not easy to get use to! 

I'm excited for us to create our own traditions I can't live without, we are a little family of two (and two dogs), and these two little people with very different Christmas traditions are having to learn to meld them together to creat something new, a little scary, but very beautiful.  Wow...marriage is hardcore!  I'm excited to send out Christmas cards from our little family, if you want to get one and I don't have your address from the Wedding, please message it to me!

In the meantime, we'll be in our little corner of the world, combining and creating our own traditions: cutting trees with knives, waking up to a fallen tree, throwing away things that we wanted....so far the things we have experienced we may not want to repeat...but my husband is right: everything we do this season is wonderfully us, married, and there's, "Still more coming baby" <3



-Mrs. Warren

Holiday Love

It's been a while since my last post! So much has occurred since then!  Here is a little picture update!

The Color Run came and went! It was amazing, ran 3.25 miles in 35 minutes!I felt so accomplished and have always wanted to do a 5k, and I officially have!  Next year we will most likely do the Texans run, that way Christian can enjoy it, as getting color splashed on you seemed a little girly to him :) Since then I have been running less, cause I'm not training anymore, but have still been getting in two runs every week :) Can't wait to do it again next year, def. a fun tradition :)

Thanksgiving!! I had a glorious five days off, and during that time did a huge amount of traveling!  From being at my parents the night before and thankgiving day to moving south to be with the warrens and go Christmas tree shopping!  It was wonderful and reminded me how blessed I am with family, and how much I love them!  Here are some memories of this wonderful holiday!

My beautiful momma and me on Thanksgiving :)

Christian & Melody :)

Our doggies traveled allll over with us <3

After our black friday shopping with made smores :)

 One of the most fun things we did during the break was take the opportunity to go cut down our very own tree! Which we did! Or Christian did, and I helped hold it while he cut! It was so much fun, my talented new sister Melody took pictures, so hopefully we got a Christmas card worthy one to send out!  Even if not it was so much fun, riding the hay wagon to the farm, cutting, and just enjoying our time outside!  Think we created a new tradition!

Beautiful Trees!

Husband & Wife

Family standing in front of our tree!!

Got the tree allll set up :)

Love all the colors!

Doggies got all snuggled by it!

My husband putting up the star!

The finished product :) Beautiful!

Life has been so busy lately.  Working, as always, and it seems there is always something to do every weekend.  As a matter of fact, it seems me and Christian have to PLAN to do nothing, or else the weekend gets booked!  We got lazy, however, and it does seem every weekend is booked up until Christmas!  It's tiring, but worth it, my favorite thing is to be around family! As a matter of fact as soon as Christian gets home we are packing up the doggies and heading to my parents to celebrate my little sister's birthday! It's gonna be a blast, and I'm ready for two days of relaxing!

Hope everyone's Christmas season has started off right :)

Cheers,
Mrs. Warren

Ready for the week!

This week is going to be jam-packed! I am so READY!

This week I am preparing for a Juice Cleanse.  I certainly do not get enough of the nutrients I need, especially because I work all the time! Which means cooking has become something I am able to enjoy only once in blue moon!  This makes me sad, but until I am able to work less than full time, it is my lot!  So we eat out a lot, not horribly, but not fresh home-cooked either!  My Warren sisters invited me to do a juice cleanse with them this week.  I wasn't sure about it, but as I started looking into the benefits of it, I decided I would!

This weekend we bought a juicer.  It's a Black & Decker model, we bought the cheapest one we could find, since we weren't sure this was something that would really catch on!  However, it had a four out of five star rating online from about 400 people, so we felt safe that if we did enjoy it, this would still be a good choice!  After using it for the first time tonight, I would have to say I approve! It works wonderfully!

So tonight I made enough juice for myself for tomorrow!  Nothing but juice for seven days! Well I'm going to cheat, ONLY because tomorrow we will have been married for six months and Christian is doing something special for me- couldn't say no to that :)  So except for one meal tomorrow, nothing but juice till Saturday!  I have heard that this cleanse gives lots of energy, and cleans out your system! I went online to find recipes so when I went shopping today I'd know what to get!  I loved looking at all the freshness, I love the way fruits and veggies look naturally, it reminds me how creative and amazing God really is.  How much He cared for what He was creating in order to allow us to be healthy and happy!   Beautiful! Take a look!

I got a huge variety of things, because I wanted a variety of juices to chose from for the week.  Tonight I made a ginger lemon juice: 1 (1 inch) piece of ginger root, 1 fresh lemon, 6 carrots, and one apple =my favorite! Stomach cleanser: 1 handful of grapes, 1 handful of strawberries, 3 apples and 1 oranges. & Green juice: 3 pears, 5 stalks of kale, 3 large pieces of romaine lettuce,1 small lemon! All are great, and wonderfully nutritious!

So I'm set for Monday! Ready for my juice, and my hot date with my husband :D  What else this week has in store: Quality time with my bro and his wife-spending the night Friday night (seeing the new bond movie!), going to the Nutcracker market Saturday with my sister, and the Color run on Sunday :D I'm so psyched, it's gonna be a great week!

More posts to come, in the mean time...everyone have a great week! Expect great things, our God is a great God :)

-mrs.warren

Joy-full life

"Happiness is like manna; it is to be gathered in grains, and enjoyed every day. It will not keep; it cannot be accumulated; nor have we got to go out of ourselves or into remote places to gather it, since it is rained down from Heaven, at our very doors." Tryon Edwards

This is so true!  I feel overwhelmed with thanksgiving for the blessings God has given Christian and I.  So much is going on that we are SO excited about!  I will split them out into posts, because there would be too much to write!!

One of my biggest blessings lately is the health and happiness of family :) I do wish I could see my side of the family more often-they are determined to live up north-but I am so grateful to say that my grandmother (who is battling cancer) has taken a huge turn for the better, and after weeks of feeling bad and being bedridden, she is feeling more like herself again!  I do miss my family as I don't get to see them nearly as much as I'd like...so I look to Thanksgiving with much anticipation as I will be able to be around them again =) My parents are blessed in being able to travel to California next weekend, and I could not be more happy for them :) They are going to visit-along the way-the park we most enjoyed on our honeymoon...California Adventures! 

My In-laws.  I. Love. Them.  I know what a blessing it is to be able to say this.  I have heard the drama of in-laws many times, and I can honestly say that I know God gave Christian to me, and me to him because there is a purpose for our marriage and a partnership in love.  Also, he gave me to him to be a part of this family.  I know it.  God is teaching me a lot through them, and it's just such a blessing to have three more sisters, another mom, and dad :) 

Monday marks me and Christian being married for 6 months!!  I know it's not that long, but when I think about it, it's very hard to believe that I have been married for half a year!  Christian has already prepared me for a surprise on Monday after work, and I just remain in awe that God brought my husband to American Eagle at the same time I was there, and allowed me to be wise enough to see him.  I was fiercely pursued, and I am fiercely kept.   I love him more and more, truly, every day.  I love our life together.  

This past Sunday, we had a prophet come and speak at our church (Christ Church for the Nations), and he prophesied some things over Christian and I that has given me a much needed refreshing. To be used by God as a couple, for His Kingdom, is truly exciting.  I am SO ready to begin doing something outside myself, and my job...something more for the Kingdom-with my best friend.

-mrs. warren

A happy, messy home

About two weeks ago...we had yet again another disagreement over the cleanliness of the house.  I get frustrated sometimes because we are on two different playing fields when it comes to being clean.  I grew up with a mom that showed me how to clean...but more importantly how to do it well.  Christian grew up not having to clean much at all, except his room, and even then not how I was taught in the least.

Before we got married this wasn't an issue. I lived in the house, therefore the house was clean, and I was happy.  Then we both live in the house, therefore the house does not stay clean, and I tend to be unhappy.  After many disagreements about this issue, we have both had to change our view and behavior to fit each other more perfectly.  Then, one morning I was sitting at work...and God was reminding me of all the wonderful things Christian does do for our family, and all the unmeasurable help he has been to me since we've met.  Christian really did help set me free from so many things in my life. And  then it came it me.

I much rather live in a messy home with Christian, than a spotless one alone.  BY FAR.  I find myself so frustrated over things that are so unimportant-and yes, having no dust on the floor in comparison is unimportant-and that is one of the very creative ways I believe that the enemy causes division in marriage, and relationships in general. 

My mom always quotes, "it's the little foxes that spoil the vines." Referring to Song of Solomon 2:15, " Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom."  He puts thoughts into our heads, and we begin to focus on what we are unhappy about, what's not perfect, what we wish was, and what we don't have.  They are meaningless little nothings, that can turn into horrible arguments, that can then cause bitterness and resentment. 

I want to be a wife that appreciates my husband, despite his flaws.  I want to encourage, uplift, and refresh him.  I don't want to be the nag that the Bible speaks of, where it would be better to live on the roof than in the house with her.

No, everyday I want to make true the statement, "The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD." Proverbs 18:22  I believe  more intensely and fully now-then I could even try to comprehend before marriage- that God uses marriage for a purpose-one being, to mold us into who God created us to be. THAT means, that even though being clean is not a bad thing, being so clean that a house can not be lived in, is. 

I am so thankful that Christian is teaching me (without knowing it) to make changes in who I am, changes that I believe are helping me become more of the Destiny that God had in mind. But then of course, I am...because I am finally with my other half :)