Author Archives: challengechick

Why Flaxseed is the New “Big Thing”

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Recently, Flaxseed has been popping up on my Pinterest board, on blog sites, and has become a staple in the recipes of the many health nuts on my Instagram. Why, though? Research shows that flaxseed can do anything from help you lose weight to preventing breast cancer. According to a study conducted at Shivaji University in India, flaxseed is made up of fiber, protein, and what is called ALA (alpha-linolenic acid). Before I bore you too much ALA is known for its anti-inflammatory capabilities along with anti-thrombotic (prevention of blood clots) and anti-arrhythmic (prevention of abnormal heart rhythms) qualities. Its easy to see why its becoming so popular. But now how do you incorporate this wonder of the earth into your everyday life? Below are a few ways to use it.

https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-flaxseed

  1. Hair gel- My hair hates being messed with. I will not hold curl or any kind of styling. Bobby pins barely stay in. So I need a good product for strength. The problem is my hair gets super greasy and nasty after a couple of hours. After using this product I get the hold I need without all the chemicals doing damage to my hair and scalp. Its crazy that more people do not use this because it is healthy and cost effective.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os0gI1vx1tw

  1. Smoothies- I do not use a measuring cup for smoothies so this is guesswork

1/2 cup milkIMG_20180629_095005_792

1 banana

protein powder(optional)

1 tbsp  Ground Flaxseed

1/3 c blueberries

hand full of baby spinach

 

  1. Oatmeal- I am not a big fan of oatmeal but my Husband loves it! Cook your oatmeal normal and just stir in a tablespoon of ground Flaxseed to thicken it and add extra nutrients.
bowl breakfast cereal cereal bowl

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  1. Granola bars-My husband grabs the oatmeal but I usually grab a granola bar. I prefer homemade but I understand not always having the time but it is another great way to incorporate Flaxseed. Eatwell101 has a great recipe for No Bake Granola Bars.

No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars With Almonds, Flax and Chia Seeds

  1. Sprinkled over random pieces of food- Yes, You can add ground flaxseed to your coating mix. Think Chicken Parmesan. Fried chicken, shrimp, or steak. YUMM!

 

  1. Homemade Pudding- Pudding is a good alternative to oatmeal for breakfast but it can also serve as a quick dessert.

Using a 1:1 ratio, mix ground Flaxseed and water. Microwave until warm then add desired add in such as sweetener, nuts, raisins, etc. Then microwave again until warm. If that doesn’t work for you. Here is a real recipe.

https://www.verywellfit.com/easy-flax-breakfast-pudding-2241720

 

Gutte, K. B. (2015). Bioactive Components of Flaxseed and its Health Benefits. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research. Retrieved August 7, 2018, from file:///C:/Users/trist/Downloads/BioactivecompoundsofFlexseed.pdf.

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10 Things That Every New Adult Should Know

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I came up with this list from pure personal experience. It only touches on a very small amount of things that you learn when entering into true adulthood. I of course did some research on what other people had on their list and some of them were pretty ridiculous, saying you should know how to pair wine to your meal or “dance like and adult”. Truth be told none of that matters until your over 30, if ever. So I hope these tips will help you in some way and always feel free to leave comments with tips of your own.

  1. Grocery shop with coupons and get a Brookshire’s card so for every 100 pts you get .10 cents off every gallon of gas you buy

 

  1. $1 or 2 adds up when your getting a snack at the gas station every day. Think $30/month ($360/yr)!
dollar-currency-money-us-dollar-47344.jpeg

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  1. Stay in touch with close family members because they will help you in the middle of the night when you are stranded cause your car broke down or insert situation.

 

  1. Amazon is a friend and an enemy. As a college student you get Amazon prime at a discounted rate. BUT! Take some time before confirming your purchase to plan exactly what you will do with said purchase and decide if it is really worth it, even though you get free shipping.

 

  1. All your textbooks come in ebooks but know yourself and whether you like to underline and highlight things in chapters because it may be better just to order the real thing. Your grade matters more than a couple extra spent bucks.
bookcase books classroom college

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  1. Time Management is one of the hardest things and will probably always be. Be careful about your work schedule and your extra school activities and that you schedule some much-needed time to yourself at least twice a week. It is very easy to think you can take on everything. Say no when you just cannot take on anything else, they will get over it.

Dream time managementReality time management pic

  1. Learn to cook. But more importantly eat healthy whether you eat out or at the house. You need the energy to go go go and your freshman 15 won’t happen. This does include alcohol.

Healthy Summer Drinks

vegetable food cooked on frying pan

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  1. Avoid any student loans. Work and save because you don’t want to be making 40,0000+ a year but most of it go to your school that you aren’t in anymore and it stops you from building your dream home or going on a trip somewhere.

 

  1. Experiences don’t have to cost much. Going to the lake or having a cook out where people pitch in for costs can be just as memorable. If you want to travel, try a study abroad for the summer or mission trip where you can get stuff done and also see the world.
backlit dawn foggy friendship

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  1. Subscribe to the How to Adult page on YouTube. It tells you some good stuff.

How To Adult Youtube Page

Do not forget to leave a comment below with tips that help you adult better!

Chicken Parmesan Lasagna Roll-up

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20180122_195524

6 Chicken Breasts

6 Cooked Lasagna noodles

2 cups Mozzerella

2 cups Ricotta

1 can Pasta Sauce

3-4 cups of Italian Panko Crumbs

2 eggs

2 cups Canola oil

1 Pinch of Parsley

Instructions:

Cook lasagna noodles to al dente. While the noodles are cooking, heat canola oil in a cast iron skillet to medium heat. Proceed to cover chicken breasts in egg then the panko crumbs then fry them in the skillet making sure they are cooked through.

Preheat oven to 350

Now that the noodles and chicken are fully cooked, pull out a 9×13 pan. Wrap each chicken breast in 1 noodle. Then cover the top with pasta sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella. Heat in the oven until cheese is melted (roughly 10 minutes). Sprinkle parsley. Serve.

Climbing My First 14er

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This past week I had the privilege of exploring the beautiful town, Lake City, in Colorado for a second time. I can’t explain how fortunate I am to be able to visit this town a often as I want. My husband’s family has had a cabin there for generations of family members to enjoy.100_0051

This time was different in that since I had traveled there before, I had in mind some of the things I did not get to do the last time. Turns out that my sister-in-law and her husband had the same thought. We decided to conquer one of the mountains near by (Uncompahgre Peak).100_0074

I went into the journey thinking “oh, i’m pretty fit. I’ve been doing bleachers. I’ve got this.” Apparently this mountain is not just any mountain. It is a 14er. Meaning that it is over 14,000 ft above sea level. The tallest hike I had ever accomplished was 2,000 feet. Needless to say I was pretty concerned. Many people experience altitude sickness, fatigue, and dehydration when hiking a mountain this tall for the first time. My husband and I proceeded to stock up on bottles of oxygen which I did not know existed. We also packed water and snacks and any other things we could possibly need in case we got stranded on this dangerous adventure.100_0062

So, we started up the mountain. We took it slow which was a good idea because we wanted to make sure we were aware of any signs of altitude sickness. As we progressed we started to realize how achievable this actually was until we looked up and saw what is called a “scramble” according to seasoned mountaineers. At that point we were well over 14,000 ft. We are now faced with a choice stay at the top of the “safe zone” or truck on up the sketchy wobbly rocks. Just for the record all four of us are pretty determined people. So, we decided to continue because we weren’t going to let a silly little scramble get in the way of us reaching the top.100_0107

Little did we know that after we reached the top of that scramble there was still another half a mile (what it felt like but may not be accurate) of trail up to the actual peak. We all almost stopped at the top of the scramble. We started to sit and everything. By that point we were far enough, right? No. I see my sister in law’s husband start to walk up. He was not giving up. I am usually the last one standing due to determination but luckily someone else stepped up and drug us to the top of that peak. The satisfaction of actually making it to the top was probably all I needed but the icing on top of that mountain was the view. I would never try to describe it, so below is a taste. To anyone who does not usually climb mountains, I highly suggest that you do your research and try out a hike at least once. Also check the difficulty which should be labeled by class. Uncompahgre is a hard class 2/ easy class 3. P.S. The bleachers did not stop the soreness but it was still worth it.

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At the top

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On the way up

Introduction

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Hey Girlies, Just thought I would introduce myself a little. I am a graduate student pursuing a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling. I once lived in the city until I fell in love with a small town that I have visited on and off since I was 5. Just so happens that the small town I loved so much provided me with the man I call my best friend and husband. I also am a “youth pastor” at our church. The quotes are because I am not classically trained and have never been to seminary. My goal with this blog is to share experiences and help myself and others in a journey to find peace of mind, body, and spirit, while having a ton of fun, making memories and staying in touch with our ever changing needs.

Why Am I Here?

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I am starting this blog because for the past few years I have been aspiring to 1. be a better version of myself and 2. sort out my priorities. The dilemma that I have is that I look at all these great people on social media who are supposed to be inspiring and motivational and I tell myself that they are a bunch of fakes who just want to get as many followers as possible to be famous. This mindset could not be further from the truth. The reason I couldn’t grasp on to these posts was because it was just some pictures and words on a screen. What I mean is that you can not feel a post( or at least I can’t). The actual sight, smell, taste, sound and feeling of an overall experience is what makes for happiness and a memory that lasts forever. I have to be personally involved for it to impact my life, whatever “it” is. In this blog I will not only show you my experiences but also challenge you to explore the life YOU are living because no one can live it for you. I want you to be a challenge conqueror and get the most out of your life by enjoying the simple things. Be a #ChallengeChic