Autumn Musings; Followed by Music, Life, & New Goals!

Hello everyone! I hope you’re all doing well! What are your future plans; special days, special get-togethers with others, and activities you’re stoked to try? Let me know below, friends!

The end of summer has filled the beginning of autumn with a flurry of preparations! For some reason, our family has been super busy this autumn, so school had to take to the back burner for a couple weeks; although, for a couple days, I managed to get done quite a bit before the busy part of fall!

Autumn is such a gorgeous season; especially in the Pinterest photos! 😉 I only wish that my backyard could always contain the idyllic autumn-themed black iron-wrought lamp-posts, red brick walls, orange and yellow and red and burnished umber leaves, and pumpkin arrangements among the burlap and twinkling fairy lights! Out in nature, the autumn is majestic – the bright colors speak for themselves without a pruner or gardener to maintain during its short-lived flight towards winter’s approach.

Autumn may be able to share its glory with us without much effort – the season does the work for us! But what about when the transformation requires a bit more dirty work?

Take home improvement and upkeep, for example. Washing windows, scraping off peeling paint, and making repairs are all part of maintaining a house in condition to weather the approaching seasons. When finished, the work is beautiful. It’s noticeably so much better than before.

Photo by Artem Saranin on Pexels.com

What about ourselves? Are you feeling confident in your ability to “get back into the swing” again? Or has school and academic pressure overwhelmed you like a sudden tsunami? Maybe you’re disappointed in yourself for how much you seem to have “lost touch” with your school routine, or feel sad to be “behind” in school, even if nobody else cares.

But don’t be discouraged. Yes, we’ve fallen, slipping as we attempt to scramble up the slope of our own expectations. Yes, we’ve failed, though it may be ever so minute, or seem so to others from the outside looking in. Yes, although nobody really knows how you feel or how much you’ve beat yourself up over your apparent shortcomings; there is hope.

A little bit of trimming here, a splash of paint and a dab of water to wipe clean the little stains, a whole lot of good honest effort; and you’ll get it again. Your habits and abilities will come back. You can do it.

We can “autumn clean” for the school year, pick up these responsibilities, and honor God through it all. Don’t give up; it should be an honor to work hard for the King.

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

~ Colossians 3:23-24, NKJV

In this beautiful and fresh season of autumn, I want to encourage you all to take a deep breath. Exhale. Close your eyes. Take a sip of water. Glorify God with the breaths you take of the Breath He gave you. And don’t sweat the pressure, because that’s exactly where your enemies want you. Take care of yourself, friend! Enjoy the opportunities, even if they’re stressful. Instead of falling into temptations or time-wasters, find an accountability partner *ahem .. parent* to keep you steady and on track with your school, especially if you’re homeschooled and self-taught. And instead of worrying about your grades or that tough assignment, laugh in the face of those who think you can’t do it. Eat tough assignments for breakfast. In the colloquial sense, of course. 🤣

I just want to encourage you that no matter how behind, how inadequate, how dumb or busy you feel, YOU. CAN. DO. IT!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

~ Philippians 4:13, NKJV

---

Because my life is so interesting (bows to my fans), I’ve put together a list of some of my recent favorites in a short attempt at reconciliation for being gone from the blog for so long! I hope you all enjoy the following thoughts and short bursts of hilarity from my recent life!

Moments:

• Getting told I’m a blonde, getting asked if I’ve ever heard of blonde jokes, and then getting laughed at when I said I’d never understood them. XD
• Stealing a friend’s whistle on a backpacking trip, and leaving clues around our campsite for him to find!
• My mom and I talking about how tired we both were, then her telling me the only difference between her and I was that I stunk! (Background: I had just returned from the said backpacking trip in the previous bullet point. So yes; stinky teenager. XD)
• Some great conversations and personal realizations. Tough times make for tough people. 💪
• Making coconut flour cookies, a recipe of my own design, and getting the shock of my life when my Dad, the pickiest culinary expert in our house, told me they were good!

Music

My friend Laurel Jean at laurel-jean.com just made a music swap post that was so fun I thought I’d share my many recent favorites in a post of my own! I hope you all enjoy listening to my recommendations – they’re all perfectly clean and family friendly! (I haven’t listened to all recently, but they’re all dearly beloved by yours truly!) Please forgive the repetitiveness of the artists … I know, I’m stuck in the genre of Christian pop! 🤣 If you have a favorite song that gets you really bubbly and energetic, let me know! 😉

• “Dead Man Walking”, Jeremy Camp
• “Control”, For King and Country (Somehow, this one always makes it onto my list of favorites! XD)
• “Healing”, Riley Clemmons
• “Until Grace”, Tauren Wells
• “Defender”, Jeremy Camp (SOOOO GOOOOD!!!)
• “This Could Change Everything”, Francesca Battistelli
• “Known”, Tauren Wells
• “Godsend”, Riley Clemmons
• “God’s Not Done With You”, Tauren Wells

Favorite posts:

• Honey Frosting!! (From ‘Me, Myself, and Lambie’)
• Music Swap (From laurel-jean.com)
• Fall outfit ideas (from the stripedplaid.com)
• Two homemade spice recipes: Apple and Pumpkin, both from one of my favorite baking blogs, LittleSweetBaker.com
• Such great advice in a life update post, by Amber from ‘Dancing For The Holy One’
• Beautiful autumn aesthetic in yet another post by Amber!

Goals for Autumn (and the new school year!)

• Go hiking
• Bake a pie
• Begin school – which I’ve already done!!!! (Come on! I know it IS stressful, but surely I’m not the only one who’s excited!! 🤣)
• Watch some OLD movies as school assignments … should be fun!
• Spend as much time outside as I can!
• Listen to great music while driving (The best combo ever! 👏)

Well, guys, I’m swamped with such amazing blog post ideas but not enough time to write them! About seven pretty cool drafts sit unfinished and unedited in my drafts box, waiting for a time when I and my proofreader are a little less busy! 😅 I’ve received some great encouragement that’s helped me to feel wanted on the blogosphere, by some sweet friends! I hope y’all will forgive me, and thank you to all who have chatted with me during my absence!

I hope you are all doing well, and, as I said at the beginning of the post, please feel free to let me know what you’re up to! And what – tell me, do – what is your favorite fall baking recipe? (By the way, my proofreader *ahem, AKA my mom* wants to know what y’all’s favorite pumpkin recipe is! 🤣) Have a great week!

Advertisement

Peanut Butter Cookies!

Peanut butter is healthy, right? Then why do so many of those peanut butter cookie recipes have so much sugar in them? And, once and for all, how long do you bake them so they don’t burn?!

Fear not; Makayla is here. (Did that fall flat?) XD

These PB cookies are, to say the least, awesome. AND easy. I got a wide-eyed two thumbs up from my younger brother, his mouth stuffed with cookie crumbs. I’d say its an all-around success!

The ingredients are all pretty basic. I like to bake with honey instead of sugar, so I searched high and low til I found this recipe, which is also dairy-free. Consider this a gift to you – my review of Charlotte’s recipe. 😉 I’d just like to be clear that, although I am putting the recipe here, I didn’t make it up. The credit all goes to the honey lady at the link.

So, here’s the recipe!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup of peanut butter
• 1 cup of honey
• 2 cups of white, whole wheat or all purpose flour

Instructions:

1. Mix peanut butter and honey in a large bowl. Add in egg and vanilla.
2. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl. While mixing, add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients a little at a time.
3. Roll into 1 inch balls, set on a baking stone or lined cookie pan, then press with a fork to make the popular crosshatch design.
4. Bake for 10-11 (or wing it! XD) at 350 degrees Fahrenheit …

and … enjoy!!

I think most of y’all who will try this recipe will know this, but it is crucially important not to overbake peanut butter cookies, because they can get really dry and crumbly and are best when cooked the minimum amount of minutes possible. 😅 I hope y’all love these as much as I do!

Motivation To Help You Stay Strong Through The Rest Of The School Year!

“Hail, the end of the school year! All salute!!”

I am so excited for spring and summer! As the snow melts into the ground, I am inwardly bouncing around just thinking about wind in the trees, sun on my back … yep, this is the good life!

One thing is a little difficult … coming back to earth to think about school, and finishing up the grade! Most of us are going to take a summer break, and for those of us who are, it can seem like that break is sure a long time in coming! But there are a few things that we young people can keep in mind when eagerly anticipating the end of the school year.

---

It’s not just about finishing up school. There is a lot more to it than that. Just think about it … why are pretty much all of us are getting a little demotivated with school or feeling overwhelmed with the amount of end-term work we have?

Because the issue is not only external – what we are struggling with is PERSEVERANCE.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”

Hebrews 12:1

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

Romans 5:3-4

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

James 1:2-4

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

2 Peter 1:5-7

So, although you might have thought that this whole motivation thing was only about school, it’s not. Its also about perseverance – finishing what we’ve started – running the race set before us – building character – and “faithing it” throughout life.

So, let’s have perseverance.

Let’s remember to live FULLY.

We’ve committed to this school year – let’s finish it strong!

Our parents are counting on us – let’s make them proud!

Some of us are graduating this year – make this a month that YOU are proud of!

And most of all, let’s make God proud!! Let’s show Him how grateful we are for the blessing of education, by making the most of every moment we have (even if it is a difficult subject or topic!) Let’s not drag simply because our stagnant natures want to slack. Let’s motivate ourselves! We can do this!

And finally, as one of my friends says …

“You can do it! You can do it! You can do it! You can do it!” (By the way, you CAN! 😉)

(Disclaimer: None of these pictures are mine. All credit to creators and owners.😊)

I hope these quotes and my words inspired you to keep going strong throughout the next month or two of school! What are all of y’all doing for summer break?

Getting Back on Track

Do you remember when you were smashing your goals every day and felt overwhelmed but amazing? I remember. I’d like to say that everything has been peachy with me the past few weeks, but I’ve really let myself go! A lot of things have been changing in my life, and many have acutally been positive changes, but I’ve allowed that to become an excuse for discarding habits that I didn’t feel that I had time for. Now, looking back and examining those habits I’ve almost lost, I can see how much happier I was with them.

Ever feel like your productivity has just gone down the drain? Not everyone can hold themselves to an amazing and responsible schedule non-stop. Don’t stress about it – give yourself a little grace, and feel free to start over and get back into a routine that refreshes you, whether that includes adding more of your passions to your life, or taking out some energy-suckers that aren’t worth the time you put into it.

So, because everyone loves lists, here’s a checklist for getting your lifestyle back on track with your happy place!

• Hold yourself accountable to your goals! I’ve stopped myself from pursuing a goal so many times, because I “didn’t feel like it”. When other people know and will check up on you, you feel pushed to accomplish it (or merely slug your way through it!) so you don’t disappoint them or get publicly embarrassed. Sharing my goals with all of you on blogging may not have helped you very much, but it has been a TERRIFIC motivator for me, to, as Nike says, “Just Do It!” Mah fans are watching … 👀
• Re-evaluate what you want in your life. If your plans, schedule, or priorities have changed, that goal you made last month might not be relevant to your life anymore! Being conscious of your long-term goals, lifestyle, and future plans can keep you from working on a goal that doesn’t satisfy you, or direct you towards a new goal that will take you closer to what you want!
• Make a plan. Diving in is great, but make sure you take the time to elaborate on specifics, mark up a schedule, and set boundaries for yourself, so you are fully prepared for the changes you want to make, and the struggles you’ll encounter on your journey.
• Pray for strength and guidance. I don’t know about you, but it lifts me up so much to know that my Heavenly Father is rooting for me in something, and gives me the will to do it. It might seem trivial to ask Him for help in chores, or selfish to pray for some alone time, but your Heavenly Father hears you and knows what you need, and is willing and loves to give good things to the children He loves.
• Force yourself. It’s going to be very hard to get back into a good habit, possibly harder than it was to enter it in the first place. Don’t go easy on yourself, because if you do, you’ll never get around to the concrete-smashing mold you need in order to firmly cement that habit. These days, its incredibly hard for me to pull myself away from something I desperately WANT to do in order to do something I desperate NEED to do. Take the unnecessary things off your “to do” list, and get out and force yourself to ACTUALLY do the important things.
• Consider what matter most to you in life. This is something I’d really encourage all of you to do. I have friends and family who have struggles going on, and I’d just really advise you all to get down to the basics – think about what REALLY matters to you in life. (For me, #1 is Faith, and all that it entails – but personality-wise, I really treasure friendships, writing, health, being active and in nature, and adventure-ing.)

---

I hope y’all really enjoyed these tips! I compiled them one at a time, coming back to them every once in a while to add something. Let me know if you think I should add anything, and lets chat in the comments! 👏

Hamentaschen Honey Dough Cookie Recipe!

Hello everyone!! I’m so excited to be posting this recipe on here! We make these delicious cookies as a Purim tradition, but you can make them at any time of the year! My brothers really enjoy making them, and, as I’m sure you older sisters out there know, when there’s jam involved, things can get a bit crazy! (But very, very, very sweet! 😉)

It might take a little practice to get used to folding them in the shape of triangles, but it is possible! We began making these several years ago, and I’ve only just got the knack of it, so be prepared for some funky shapes starting out! 😝

The method is to roll out the dough thinly, then cut it into circles using a widemouthed mug or jar, then drop jam into the middle of the circle, then to fold the edges of the dough over the jam. Sometimes the dough isn’t too sticky, so after baking, the edges may come apart, but you can also use egg whites to stick the edges down so they STAY DOWN!

Here’s the recipe ⬇ (By the way, I think a friend of ours found this recipe online, but I wasn’t able to find the link. So, I give the credit to whoever it is due. Thank you very much, nameless person!)

---

Hamentaschen Honey Dough

Ingredients:

4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
½ tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
4 eggs (graded large)
½ cup room temp. butter
1 cup honey, warmed
1 tbsp. lemon juice

Instructions:

1. Stir together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Beat the eggs with the butter. Beat in the honey and lemon juice. Stir in half of the dry ingredients. Add the remaining dry ingredients to the mixture, mixing well until a dough is formed. (Tip: One time my mom and I were stirring the dough, and the wooden spoon literally broke in our hands, it was so thick! It may be necessary to use your hands to get a smooth working dough.)
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out half of the dough to ¹\8-inch thickness. Take a wide jar (or a circle-shaped cookie-cutter) and cut into 3-inch rounds. Drop a heaping teaspoon of jam (just make sure that it isn’t so full that the dough is hard to fold over it) in the center of each circle. Fold up the edges of each round to form an equilateral triangle; pinch the seams together to seal.
3. I love using an ungreased baking stone to bake these, but you can also bake the triangles on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, (or until golden and lightly browned), then cool on wire racks.

Enjoy!!

I hope you all really enjoy making these! (I just thought I should mention, being the conceited teenager that I am, that these are my first pics to post on my blog! I am by no means a photographer, but I am ridiculously pleased with the way they turned out! 😝 What do you all think?)

Workouts for Teens to Keep Variety in Your Routine!

Hey y’all! I’ve been thinking about how your workout routine needs variety, and researching to find fun routines that could be switched up for getting out maximum benefit every time! However, there was no extensive list or collection of workout programs for those who are “shopping” for routines. So, with many thanks to the bloggers and YouTubers who will be featured in this post, let’s get into it!

1. Chloe Ting

Have I not said enough about her workouts? 🤣 Most of them last between 10-20 minutes each, and she also has a website where she posts challenges with several different workouts a day! I loved the 2019 and 2020 challenges, so check out my posts below to see how my experience went, and why you should do them too!

• I’m starting The Chloe Ting 2019 SHRED Workout Challenge!
• I Completed The CT 2019 SHRED Challenge!
• I’m starting the Chloe Ting 2020 SHRED challenge!
• I Completed the 2020 SHRED challenge!

The reason I love these workouts and the workout challenges is that they are structured and vary throughout the week, so you’re not just continually putting your body through the same grind day after day. Plus they’re just awesome and intense! 😂

2. Joanna Soh

Joanna Soh has a huge variety of workout videos, from kickboxing to an eight-minute morning workout for high-schoolers with little time. (The latter was actually the first workout routine I “followed”, and I’ve pasted the link below!) She’s also got some amazing health and fitness advice videos, so if you decide to head over to her channel, then check those out as well.

3. Here’s some blog posts by bloggers who have compiled lists of workouts that work for them. I’ve tried a few of the ones they recommended. There’s so many options for people with varying priorities, and I hope you go check them out!!

1. THE BEST YOUTUBE CHANNELS FOR FREE WORKOUTS + MY FAVORITE WORKOUT VIDEOS ‹ christina and camera

Christina @christinaandcamera has such a fun blog full of inspirational Pinterest pics and advice. She did a glow up series a while back that had some great tips! These videos in her post look fun and are mostly short, which is great for a student or someone who has little time in their day.

2. 5 Workouts to Make You Run Faster

Find the awesome Rachel @JoyfulCreations! She blogs on faith, fitness, and her lifestyle and her writing is high-quality stuff, guys! In this post she lists some exercises that have helped her improve her running and may help you as well! They look intense – so for those of you out there who like to do hard things, head on over and check it out!

Here are two more videos that Rachel introduced me to in her post: Life Update + Fall Faves. I haven’t tried them yet, but I hope to because they both look really awesome!

3. Pinterest sources

There are so many awesome pinterest boards that just burst with linked pics, videos, and more! To start with, check out Hope Leilani’s Fitness and Exercise Pinterest board! She’s marked some great ideas!

4. Pamela Reif (Note: I would advise muting the video and streaming other music instead. Her music choices are just … bad.)

Aaaah this girl has so many workouts, including so many specific, short, and even some workouts targeted for girls only/guys only! I’m so excited to try some of hers next! Here are some of the ones I’ve marked up to do sometime:

---

‘Right guys, thanks for hanging in! This was a bit of a disorganized and messy post, but I hope I gave y’all a few ideas for your next fitness goals!! Have fun!

Makayla

Who are some of your favorite workout routine providers? What’s your current workout routine (or challenge?)

My word of the year + February Goals!

Hi y’all!

Yes, I’m late to the bandwagon regarding “word of the year”, but let’s hope you all have forgiveness in your hearts for another fellow mortal who has a tendency to get pre-occupied with life! 😂 And what better? Live to the full, people! That’s what this year – every year, really – should be about: living the best life you can, and striving to not get caught up in things that don’t matter in the long run – like social media or student grind – and focusing on what DOES matter, like the eager pursuit of knowledge and lasting relationships!

The last couple weeks has been a bit of a blur, with more of a focus on artsy stuff. (Be prepared for an art post soon! Knowing me, “soon” could be anywhere from tomorrow to four weeks from now!) But art cannot satisfy when you know that there’s so much more to life than living in a self-absorbed bubble.

(I haven’t known what to pick as my word of the year – I’ve never done it before. In fact, I’m still not sure if it’s the right one! But I’ll try it and roll with it, and we’ll see what happens!)

---

This year’s word means a lot to me because, in the last few weeks, I have slacked off a bit on my goals and vision for my future. Activities like sketching, reading, and cleaning are all well and good in their time, but not as a lifestyle. I want to get up and back into my routine from December and early January, when I was smashing goal after goal and feeling so accomplished. Going back mentally to a time when I felt “fulfilled” has helped me to decide what it is I want to do so that I can work towards fulfillment again.

(And, here’s my opinion – Fulfillment comes only through the pursuit of your passions. TRUE fulfillment comes only through the passionate pursuit of YHVH. If we are “pursuing God” by robotically “doing the things” (like reading the bible and praying) but we are not passionate about it, then we will simply end up dry and empty. When we have a passion for YHVH and His Word, it is THEN that we experience true fulfillment.)

So, without further ado, my word of the year is ….

Determination.

Determination to finish the essay. Determination to follow YHVH whatever turns life takes. Determination not to let a friendship die. Determination to stay true to your beliefs. Determination to not quit. Determination to succeed – to grow stronger, faster, smarter, better.

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Phillippians 3:14, NKJV

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

Phillippians 2:12-13, NKJV

(I did some research on the above verse – the word “work” means to “bring to completion”, to “achieve”. “Working” out our salvation thus means to pereservere and not give up until we reach the end of our days.)

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27, NKJV

“Yet the righteous will hold to his way, and he who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger.”

Job 17:9, NKJV

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”

Hebrews 12:1, NKJV

What’s neat about Paul and his letters is that the majority of these letters were written to new believers – like me. Believers who lived in places where the Word of God was blasphemed in even the everyday activites – like the place I live. Believers who suffered persecution from their families and from the government and experienced hardships, including even the normal ones that everyone experiences. I’m so sick of the hardships. Sometimes I get so sick of it all that I don’t want to continue being “different” anymore. I’m sure that the new believers in the first century also has these doubts, insecurities, and moments of weakness. I’m sure that many of them thought of deserting – of simply fading back into the immoral background again.

But Paul’s advice reminds us of why we’re here, why we came to Christ in the first place. Because we are empty shells, in need of the Holy Spirit, the Holy “breath”, to FILL us as the Word we read FULFILLS us. We can’t forget the reason we’re here. We must have determination.

---

Alright! Now, for my February goals!

(Note: January goals were … a flop! I read up to Amos, not Malachi – I went to bed at ungodly hours – RPC tanked this month because of technology issues. But am I completely ashamed? Nope! I did more math than I’ve done in months, connected with some friends, drank water, and read a huge portion of the Bible! January was a great month, and although I know that I can do better this month, I’m not going to toss my efforts in the can saying “well, THAT was a waste of time.” January was a month of learning, and I’m proud pleased to say that I learned a lot of life lessons indeed!)

Goal #1: Go to bed at 9:30 80% of the time. (A much more sustainable goal than last month. My schedule doesn’t allow for me to go to bed at 9:00, and often I get so overwhelmed with trying that I skip this goal of a proper bedtime altogther. I hope this time will be more comfortable for me, and I think it will.)

Goal #2: Read less – write more. (When I borrow a series from a friend, I tend to binge read, leaving school and extracurriculars half-done or not done at all! But writing expands my brain, gives me a clearer head, AND attacks some of those assignments that regularly pile up!)

Goal #3: Read Micah to Malachi, and the four gospels (Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John.) Any joiners? 🤣

Goal #4: Throw myself into school, doing whatever random asignments I can find, then clean up and organize everything ASAP, hopefully by the end of this month. I hope to finish the RPC Grade 10 English course by the end of this month.

Goal #5: Make my website! (I can’t wait for this! I’ll be launching a website as a part of my Business course, and of course I’ll let you all know when it’s up and running, hopefully by the end of this month!)

Goal #6: Begin the 2019 Summer Shred Challenge! (Whew, this one lasts 35 days! It’s a lot longer than the others I’ve done, but I’m planning to take it slow and treat my body carefully. ✌ I’m putting NO stress on myself to do the workouts perfectly, but I’m going to do my best!)

---

Well, I hope you all are having an amazing day! What are your goals for February? Let’s chat it up in the comments!

Makayla

Savory Quiche

(Y’all may have noticed that I’m doing more “blog” posts now! Don’t hold me to it, but I do hope to keep it up! I’ll be posting more essays soon too, once I’ve had a chance to do all the editing. (I know you all love them!😉)

---

So, on to the piece de resistance … the quiche recipe! This recipe is sourced from The Milk Calendar cookbook recipes, which are ages old! It’s been my favorite breakfast ever since I can remember. Lately my younger brother and I have been making this non-stop!

This quiche is savory and, as a bonus, its actually healthy too! Perfect for every meal – at breakfast, serve it with fruit and sausage – at lunch, serve with greens or cauliflower – or at supper, serve with potatoes and corn!

And the best part? It’s easy!

Ingredients:

• 1 pie shell (see the Little Sweet Baker’s post here for the most amazing crust recipe you will ever make in your entire life! Using lard substitutes was always tedious and unsatisfying until I found this simple, fast, and incredibly flaky recipe! I could rant on for hours about it!)
• 1 tsp. mustard
• 1 cup chopped broccoli (or 1 cup whole spinach leaves)
• 1 cup grated cheese
• 3 eggs
• ½ tsp. pepper
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. Dill
• ¼ tsp. Nutmeg
• a pinch of cayenne pepper (or two, or three, for those of y’all who like a lot of spice!)

Instructions:

• 1. Brush mustard over the bottom of the crust. Place broccoli and cheese in crust.
• 2. Whisk eggs, milk, dill, and spices in a bowl, then pour over the broccoli and cheese.
• 3. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 40 minutes, or until verrry lightly browned and firm.

And that’s it!

I really hope you enjoy making this recipe! (And I beg you to use the Sweet little Bakers’ recipe for the crust, which is just perfection!)

Until next time, I hope that all 200+ of you have amazingly wonderful day!

Makayla

Healthy and YUMMY Teen Breakfast Ideas!

Hey everyone! A while ago, I posted some “healthy” breakfast ideas, however, I realized I only provided “inspiration”, no recipes!! (And honestly, those foods were the “cheat” kind of healthy! *winks*)

So, let’s get creative about breakfast beyond that same old bowl of cereal, with some filling, fun, and fantastic recipes!! 👊

---

Before we get into the recipes, let’s cover some of the basics – what your body needs in the morning, and how you can get those elements by choosing carefully the foods you eat.

First of all, you need breakfast. (Well, maybe not need it, but … I did research! 🤣) Without it, your metabolism may not start up early enough in the day. If you skip breakfast, not only will you be hungry and low on energy, the lunch at noon will all be converted into fat. 😮 Yep, so grab those plastic containers and meal prep if you must, because breakfast is an essential! (Now, there is a debate on this, so don’t just take my word for it. Go ahead and research it, and plan your day according to what you decide is best for you! 😉)

What you feel like having at breakfast-time really depends on your lifestyle and how you feel. I try to consume an even balance of everything at breakfast (which a mixture of fruits, veggies, eggs, and dairy), have a protein-packed recovery lunch right after my workout, and eat meat and mostly carbs at supper. That’s just what works for me, but everyone should reason through their own schedule in an effort to feel the best they can throughout the day. It totally depends on your lifestyle too – more active people will need more protein to sustain them throughout the day.

I have some general rules for my “diet”…

• Enjoy what you eat. Make it satisfy, and make it count.
• Don’t measure calories to the decimal. Just flow with estimates.
• Never turn down a home-made cookie! 😉 (Haha, I’m such a cookie girl!)

…. in addition to specific rules like …

• No processed foods (pasta, store-bought bread and sweets)
• Greens every day, y’all! *throws on a cowboy hat*
• Eat until 8/10ths full – then stop.
• Throughout the day, keep in mind a measure of about 50% carbs, 30% protein, and 20% fat. (Of course, be sure to do your own research on what percentages you use. For some people, it might be overkill, but for me, on some days it’s good to have a rough estimate.)

---

Now, let’s get into these articles, which are jam-packed with great ideas and recipes for the best breakfast ever! 👏😄

Breakfast for Teenagers (& Athletes): 8 High Protein Ideas | Jill Castle RD

This link contains some super-quick breakfast ideas! Most of them aren’t really recipes – just taking a few ingredients and making a meal out of them!

Healthy breakfast Ideas for your Teen – Mom Junction

Omigoodness y’all! These ideas are so full of variety and honestly – I want try them all!! From quiche to smoothies, there are so many great ideas for delicious breakfasts, most of which are pretty quick!

21 Easy Breakfast Ideas Your Teen Might Actually Like – Raising Teens Today

Oh. My. Cheesepuffs. All of these recipes look SO DELICIOUS and are really easy! If you check out any link look at this one, I’m begging you! There’s variety, sweet and savory, filling and healthy, it’s pretty much a comprehensive list! Make four or more of the recipes on the list and you’ll pretty much have a breakfast banquet! Speaking of which, please see below ….

How to Throw a Stunning Breakfast Banquet – Not So Perfect

Megan’s post is so fun!! I loved the concept of her breakfast banquet!! If you and your family normally eat breakfast together, this is a great reference for a simple yet great-tasting smorgasbord-style breakfast table! Aaah, my mouth waters!!😂

---

Well, see ya later friends! I hope you try some of these, and that you are now armed and empowered to be able to make your own breakfast everyday … and enjoy it! 😅

Thanks for coming back to the blog! Be sure to subscribe for future content on faith, fitness, lifestyle and more!

Have a great day everyone!

Makayla

What are some of your favorite breakfasts? Should I add any more article links to this post? Let me know in the comments!

January Goals + Inspiration!!

Hellllllooo all of y’all! How have you been, physically and mentally and spiritually and emotionally and everything in between? (Let me know in the comments! 😝) Whose ready to start the year right? (I hope you smashed your fist into your palm and yelled, “Let’s do it!”

Here, lemme say it for the both of us …

LET’S DO THIS THANG!!!!

(alright, now that I’ve got you all hyped up for success, let’s get into Monthly Goals again … and it’s January 2021! Crazy!)

My January Goals! (I’ll do a recap at the end of the month to share how things went!!)

• Complete the Chloe Ting 2020 workout. (Which I just did! Woohoo!! It was intense!!!! Even so, those with a decent amount of endurance and willpower can crush it! To see my tips on completing the challenge well, see this link!) I had a BLAST with this one! Throughout an injury, busy days, and lack of sleep, I persevered and you can too! But remember: To God be the glory! Without Him as my strength, I can do nothing.
• Go to bed at 9:00 every night! A while back I was talking to one of my friends, who also suffers through the Chloe Ting workouts with me – He goes to bed at 9:00. (NINE, you guys!! How??!!) Anyway, I know it’s better for my health, so I’m going to try to get to bed as soon as I get in from work. *nods*
• Finish reading the Old Testament – read Job to Malachi!
• Complete 20 Lessons of RPC school
• Complete 5 Math Lessons (each “lesson” is 5 sections)
• Drink more water (I’ll bet this is on everybody’s goals list, but for good reason!)
• Make more blog posts, but don’t let it take over my life. (I’m not fantastic at balancing life, blogging, and school, but I’m trying to get better while still making sure my posts are meaningful and well-written!)

The rest of this month, I plan to work on a few new scales and scale patterns (piano), play violin consistently, paint with watercolors and acrylics, and come up with new bullet-journaling ideas!

Inspiration … from bloggers!

A few days ago I read this post by Tanya over at ‘Inspired to Inspire’, and I found it so meaningful because I have all these visions of what I want to be like in the future, but am I living up to them? Tanya’s post (read it here!) reminded me to live like my future self.

I don’t want to live a stagnant, unexciting life – I want to be passionate, adventurous, strong, resilient, productive, bubbly, energetic, hardworking, efficient, proactive, committed, and godly. I know it takes years to develop these qualities. I know that it’s hard, and the journey there can be exhausting and painful! But I also know that it is so, so worth it!

Here are my anthem songs for this month!!

---

Feel free to join me in my goals! What are some of your goals for this month? I’d love to hear about it in the comments! I might even join you! Remember, “Teamwork makes the dream work!”

Alrighty, with that cheesy saying, I shall leave you cringing. Stay awesome, y’all!

Makayla