GO's

I was listening to podcast on PodBean by Alisa Keeton, founder of Revelation Wellness, about Setting Healthy and Whole Goals.  I had an ahh haa moment and wanted to share that with you.

In the above linked podcast Alisa says this, "Don't should on yourself" and it was an awakening for me.  It's no secret what that sounds like when spoken out loud. Here's a picture of my son when he was used as a bird target for the second time in his short life to give you a visual. You know, in case you can't figure out the secret of what that phrase sounds like...

It's also no secret, amongst friends, that I sometimes (eh um) have a potty mouth. So, this one simple statement resonated with me on many levels.

What it means to me:

Don't should on myself. Don't sit around and whine about what I should be doing.

DO IT

I may, may or may not be whining out loud with my "I should's". Most likely I'm just thinking them. Making mental or physical "to do" lists is a favorite pass time of mine.

When the 43 minute pod cast was over, I got up and I went out to the barn. One thing I've been "shoulding on myself" about is cleaning the barn. I have a life long goal of getting to a healthy weight. I have a hard time making time for myself. I know I should make my health a priority. I should take the time to exercise and make healthy meals. But I always have that guilty feeling that spending time on me is a waste of time. I tell myself that I can't go for a walk or yoga or work on muscle building, I have all these other things I should be doing, like cleaning the barn.  I know that cleaning the barn is exercise. Lifting pitchforks of wet hay and sh..I mean poo. Pushing the wheel barrow. Dumping it on the pile. Walking back and forth between poo pile.

I should on myself so long that I then I do nothing. I know I'm not the only one doing this, God says so.

1 Corinthians 10:13 English Standard Version (ESV)

^" No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

While cleaning up real poo, I thought about my poo's I keep shoulding on myself with and goal setting in a way that will get me momentum and less shoulding.

Here is my list I came up with.

1. Consult God - Pray

2. Set clear measurable goals

3. GO

Notice all those the key words have the word GO in them? God, Goals, Go!

I am a multitasker at heart. I can't do just one thing. Other people pick one goal and work on that. Then move on to the next. That's not my style.

So, I've made a dual purpose measurable goal to clean the barn for an hour a day till the winter yuck is under control. Then, work in my new garden area an hour a day until the ground is ready for spring planting. 

Now when I'm sitting around thinking about what I should be doing, I'll stop and think "Don't should on yourself!"

Use your GO's! God, Goals, and GO!

Banana Split Pie, as good as it sounds!

So, I seen a recipe somewhere for Banana Split Pie, but didn't want to google it.  How hard could it be?

I remembered it had some kind of crust, either graham cracker or a baked pie shell. I knew it had bananas. I was pretty sure some of the other stuff, but I was feeling creative and wanted to use mostly what I had on hand.  So here it goes, my version of Banana Split Pie. It's easy to adjust for what YOU have on hand, too!

Banana Split Pie

1 - 9" pie crust pre-baked according to recipe or package directions or use a graham cracker crust
1 box of banana pudding mix (use another flavor if that's what you have, who cares?! it will still be yum!)
1 cup of milk
1 - 8 oz container of thawed whip topping
2 bananas
1/2 a lb of strawberries
1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips


While baking your pie crust slice bananas and strawberries into bit sized pieces.
Open bag of mini chocolate chips and eat some. Try not to get caught or you're destined have to share them.

When the crust is done baking it needs to cool completely. This was quite possibly thee. single. most. longest. part. I'm not a good waiter.  I put mine outside where it was 22* F and it still took longer than I wished to wait.

While the crust is cooling mix your cup of milk (or so...) with your pudding mix. I just dumped the package of pudding mix in a mason jar and added milk to the 1.5 cups line on the mason jar. Put the lid and shook it.  Then I went back outside to see if the crust was cool. Not yet. humph.

Then I scrapped the jar out into a bowl (why didn't I just use a bowl in the first place and a mixer? I don't know...)  and added 3/4 of the bowl of whipped topping and stirred slowly to combine.

Once the crust is completely cooled put about half of the whipped topping and pudding mixture in the bottom of the crust.
Now put the banana sliced into the pudding. I got fancy and stood them on end instead of laying them down. Fine I did that to be lazy later and hoped it would cut easier with the slices standing up. Plus I could get more slices in the pie! I love bananas.
Put the rest of the pudding on top of the banana slices and smooth it out to edges. 
Top with the remaining whipped topping.
Push strawberry slices into the cool whip. Again I stuck them in upright, for the same reasons I did the banana slices. (see pic)

Sprinkle with chocolate chips. I didn't measure. I'm guessing I used about 1/4 cup.

I didn't have those cherries that go on top of banana splits and fancy milk shakes, nor can I figure out how to spell the name of those cherries.... but that would be a yummy addition.

Nuts? Sure, why not?

So there ya go! Easily customizable. Banana Split Pie.