The Emotional Side of Health and Weight Loss

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Part II of III

Go here for Part I
and here for Part III

The initial days and weeks of my health journey were filled with intention, motivation and even discouragement. Human nature fails at times, and it is vital to have an anchor on the goals to keep from drifting away during the first storm. Our emotions are all over the board, and the purpose will hold you firm. When your purpose is resting squarely on improving your health for longevity and vitality, you are focused on the right direction.

In an initial assessment, ask yourself an important question:

Do I have the ability to improve my health,

or do I feel like outside forces influence my ability to lose weight?

Of course, as a Christian, I believe that Jesus is in control when I ask Him to fulfill His will in my life, but we play a huge role in the success of our lives based on the choices that we make. This simple question identifies what is called your locus of control. It describes who we mentally put in the driver’s seat of our lives. Do we have excuses like, “I cannot afford to eat healthy,” “My work keeps me too busy to exercise,” or “My kids take all of my energy”? The daily excuses (though I say this with all the love in my soul) keeps us trapped in a “victim of my fat genes” mentality. Believe me, I wore them (in every size and color availableJ). I recognize that it is very inconvenient to work hard for weight loss to develop a healthy lifestyle, but so is the emotional toll that diabetes, cancer, and heart disease can take on you and your loved ones. You may hate me now for saying this, but on the other side of your success, you may love me. Even when we experience issues with our health, there are always actions that we can take that would be more positive or more negative to our condition. When we commit to take an active role in the outcome of our health and weight loss, we are positioned for a breakthrough.

When we are in pursuit of weight loss, it would be impossible to not give some attention to the scale. It is one of the ways that we benchmark our progress, however, it is not the only way. The numbers on the scale can serve as our momentary statistic to reflect the work you are investing in your health, BUT, it should not be used to discourage you on your journey.

Believe me, I fully understand the emotional trauma that the scale can bring. We can avoid mirrors, cut the tags out of our clothes, and blame the shrinking clothes on the drier, but the scale brings us face to face with the effort, or lack thereof in the area of nutrition and activity. During the years that I weighed the most, I avoided the scale like the plague. It was a reminder of all of the things that I was not doing to correct the problem and only brought about guilt and shame.

On the journey to greater health, my personal opinion of the scale is that it should be used as a method to learn more about your body. For myself, I check my weight at least 5 times per week. This has done several things for me: it allows me to recognize how my body will react to certain foods, levels of activity, and even check my monthly cycle; additionally, if I allow myself to have a cheat meal, or day, it becomes easier to jump back on the clean-eating wagon before the train leaves the station. In the beginning of weight loss, sometimes I got discouraged when I did not see the scale move as quickly as I thought it should, but I worked diligently to press out the negative emotions of discouragement and focus on the fact that I already lost ____ amount of weight since the beginning of my journey, and I was still a work in progress.

I want to talk about the emotional battle with food. From the moment that we are born, there is a deep seated pleasure that is gained surrounding our nourishment. As a baby, we were likely cuddled and cooed on as we filled our tummies. As we grew, we recognize that celebrations were surrounded with food and treats. Sometimes, well-meaning loved ones would reward us with food for getting good grades, or being good in the grocery store. Often, we become those well-meaning adults who listen to the begging of our children for the Little Debbie’s and the cycle continues. There is nothing inherently wrong with feasting for special occasions (the Bible refers to many such joyous occasions), however, the reason that they were so greatly enjoyed was because it was a special occurrence, and they were treasured as designated times to celebrate.

Today, if we are stressed, we reach for the chocolate. If we are sad, we reach for the potato chips. When we are happy, we indulge in extra desert. If we are sick, it could be hot cocoa and marshmallows. We have an indulgence for any emotion in the psyche. However, we can turn this emotional crutch into a positive experience when we begin to make choices that promote our healthy lifestyle. When we recognize that every forkful of whole foods is actually strengthening, and healing our body, an amazing thing happens in our minds. Eating beautifully colorful vegetables and fruits send a message to our brains that promote a message of wellness in our minds. If you think I am lying, ask anyone who commits to eating whole foods for more than 30 days and they will tell you, the mental feedback that they receive from their brain when they sit down to eat a healthy meal reinforces their good habits and encourages to maintain those healthy choices. After a certain point in time, when I have allowed myself to indulge in a cheat meal or dessert, I tend to be very selective. It has to really taste good, or it simply has no appeal to me. This has not always been the case. Before, I could not understand if someone said that a dessert was too sweet; I wondered if there was even such a thing! We can retrain our brains and our emotions to reflect a healthy relationship with food!

Milestones and goals are supremely important during the weight loss process. We can get bored, lose focus, and become discouraged so easily. Building new habits require daily effort and devotion. Everyone who knows me, knows that I am a huge advocate of the most positive incentive I have ever come across: the Spark Streak! In the beginning of my journey, I used the website Sparkpeople, where the Spark Streak comes from. In essence, you set a goal (like drink 8 glasses of water per day, or exercise at least 10 minutes per day) and each consecutive day that you meet your goal, you continue your streak. This physically builds a new habit, but it also develops a significant emotional boost when you are able to maintain this new habit. With every passing day that you are able to check off on your streak, you are casting off defeat, and claiming a brand new handful of triumph! There is an almost magical effect that occurs once you make it passed the first 2 weeks, and then a month, 6 months, a year. You become more willing to take on new challenges and start to understand that every journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. In fact, I will go into this more when I discuss the physical side of weight loss, but using some form of diet and fitness tracking (like myfitnesspal and mapmyfitness) will encourage you to reach monthly goals. Seeing the miles stack up and the days that you have met your calorie intake goal without splurging will prove to yourself that, yes indeed, you are capable of creating new habits.

One emotional aspect of weight loss is our personal self-image. We may look in the mirror and see one person, but the actual physical attributes we hold may be very different. As we lose weight and we begin to replace our wardrobe, we have to remind ourselves to select a different size. It may shock us as we try on new styles that we have never worn before. Becoming aware of the changes in our physique is an ongoing process, and just remember to love the skin you are in every single day. Be thankful for the working limbs, organs and tissues that house your soul and allow you to love your people daily. You may find that you have a kinder self-image, and that is a great thing!

Warning: once you begin setting and attaining new goals, expect a newfound boldness to success in other areas of life. For me, five months after I set out on my journey, I gained the courage to go back to school. At the time, I thought I was going back to finish my degree in business. Within the 2^nd semester, I feel like God directed me to pursue a degree in nutrition and dietetics. This was in complete opposition of my former path, which meant I would have to spend almost 2 full years completing the science prerequisites for the program. Always being afraid of any form of science in school, I knew that it was a God thing, and somehow, coupled with the success that I gained in improving my health, He would see me through the process. Today, I have completed the perquisites, and have been accepted in the competitive distance Coordinated Program in Dietetics through Eastern Michigan University. I am telling you right here and now, there was a direct connection between the emotional strength gained on my journey and the path that I am beginning this fall in the program. This journey that began as a personal one has now become a passion to assist others in rebuilding their health.

If this has encouraged you, leave me a comment! I would love to hear from you!
xoxo,

Tasha Brickhouse

 *Disclaimer: This information is offered as encouragement and should not be substituted from advice offered from trained medical providers.

Yummy Inside-Out Eggrolls

Sometimes I want a taste of Chinese food, without the guilt! The truth of it is, most original Oriental food is vegetable based, however when American-ized, we turn it into some deep-fried concoction.

This super fast concoction can serve as a side dish, or a main dish, depending on what you add. I will give you the framework for it, and you can do the rest...

If you are short on time, you can begin with a package of shredded cole slaw mix found in the salad area of the produce section, but honestly, you can make way more if you buy a head of cabbage.










1/2 half of a head of cabbage
3 medium-large carrots
1 onion (I used purple, but you can use a yellow onion)
2 stalks of celery
1 crown of broccoli
Soy Sauce or Bragg Liquid Aminos,a much better alternative)
1/8 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Sea Salt
Extra virgin olive oil
(optional) 2 eggs
(optional) shrimp, chicken, pork
(optional) water chestnuts
(optional) bean sprouts

Prep:
Using a julienne tool like Trademark Titan Peeler Plus Julienne Tool and Slicing Board,shred the cabbage.



One of my favorite kitchen tools is this julienne tool (and it the peeler is the sharpest thing I've ever seen).
It is easy to use and so versatile. It makes beautiful carrot strips for stir fry and can be used to make zucchini noodles. Use this to julienne the carrots.



Finely chop the celery, onion and broccoli with a knife, chopper, or throw it in the Ninjafood processor for quick work!

On a Electric Griddle orGrill/Griddle,turn the heat to medium. Place the red pepper flakes in the pan and begin to toast. Add 1 tsp of EVOO and add enough of  the vegetable mixture to the pan to cover the surface without  piling it too deep. You want to sauté the mixture, but not steam it. If you add too much, you may not get the yummy carmelization that tastes so good.

As the mixture becomes slightly translucent, you may decide if you want to add the egg or seafood/meat additions. The meat should be cooked about 90% before added to the veg mixture, because you do not want to overcook the veggies. During the last 3 or so minutes of cooking, add the soy sauce and sea salt to taste. Depending on how much vegetable mixture you have, you can determine the amount needed.

You can add brown rice to this dish and make it a complete meal containing plenty of vegetables, protein and whole grains!

*This post contains affiliate links. These products are items that I enjoy and recommend!

The Spiritual Side of Health and Weight Loss

Part I of III
Look here for Part II of III
and here for Part III

So often, we set out on a new adventure in life and at the onset, we have absolutely no idea just how much that we DO NOT know about the direction that we are going. The first few years after I turned my life over to Christ was a constant trial and error as I learned more about His Word and the direction that He designed for me. The same thing was true in the first years of marriage and motherhood. I kept looking for the book or the person with the tried and true formula for success. I found a vast amount of advice and examples to guide me along the way, but in the end, the best teaching that I received was when the Holy Spirit spoke into my heart. It was at those times that I knew very specific instruction was etched in my heart, and it was there to guide me along as I navigated unfamiliar territory.

The University of Maryland Medical Center discusses the historic connection between the health of the body and spirit, and how the scientific revolution sought to treat with medicine alone for some time, but is now acknowledging the research supporting this vital connection between body and spirit.  Understanding that it is God who designed these vessels, I believe that we can learn how to manage our health, weight and physical strength. If we first begin with the spiritual aspects, we gain control of our emotions and bring our physical being into order. I seek to offer some encouragement and direction in this area, so that you can begin to see progress in all three of these areas. I will begin with the area of the spirit.

Our physical flesh is a rowdy rival of the spirit. At times we feel like the flesh rules us, and other times we feel “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” –Matt 26:41, but the beginning of that verse says, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation…” This is the very key to overcoming the flesh. You may ask, “How is my health/weight related to prayer?” It is deeply connected to the source of power that we draw from. During the years that my weight registered in the obese category, it was never my intention to be that weight. I did not wake up wondering how I would maintain my grand stature, nor did I rejoice over the fact that I was winded with every flight of stairs I had to climb. I did not actively pursue that condition, but I allowed my flesh to drag me around like pony on a leash. But there is an amazing thing about the Holy Spirit: it contains the power to overcome any adversity or addiction. The Holy Spirit gives us eyes to see and ears to hear. With the Holy Spirit, the purpose for the changes in our lives become a part of your “character DNA,” creating long-term, life-enduring progress.



Nov 2009

While I was not a habitual “dieter” in terms of programs and such, seeking weight loss always seemed to be something that I had on my mind. At one point, in my early 30’s, I was fairly successful with the Adkin’s diet, and lost around 80 lbs. I will come back to this in a future post, but what I do want to point out about this time period, is that I did not see things from a spiritual perspective or from a long-term health perspective. I simply saw the program as a vehicle to lose weight. So as you can imagine, as some of my old habits (some principles I tried to hold on to), I gained back 40-50 of the 80 lbs that I lost.


In 2011, when I first experienced the “Mom Moment," I knew that I could not make a lasting difference in my health unless the Lord gave me strength. It was no different than an alcoholic putting down the drink, except, complete abstinence of food is not an option, we have to eat to live! At this point in my life, the economy was causing a severe hardship for our family, and there were often days that I was not sure if I could mentally endure the struggle that we were experiencing. If I ever had a good excuse to crawl in a hole and cry, it was during this particular time. I often had to step carefully around the pit of depression and discouragement, and learn to catapult myself over walls that tried to block me in. But I did not do this alone.

Daily, hourly, and minute by minute, my prayers included whispers of, “Lord, show me how to develop temperance, endurance, consistency and give me a greater desire to honor you by placing value on the things that are lasting, my faith, my family, my loved ones and my health.” When the funds were very limited, I asked God to teach me how to provide healthy meals for my family on a limited budget. When my flesh did not want to get outside to exercise, I prayed for a spirit to overcome the old habit of laziness. I asked God to give me a vision for an active lifestyle that would include the ability to keep up with my kids and other little loved ones and enjoy the days and years that I have with my husband. When I set out to complete my first couch to 5k program, one part of my mind could not comprehend how I would complete it, but by praying through the running intervals, I was amazed that each and every time that I did it without quitting. I would pray, that God would teach me endurance during adversity, and I dwelt upon this passage:



Jan 2014

"Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified." -1 Cor 9:24-27 NLT

This verse is specifically referring to the Christian’s walk and call to their faith, and as an integral part of honoring the life that He has given me, I was able to draw great strength from these verses. The verse that says, “So I run with purpose in every step” is a golden nugget! This is the type of reminder that should be written on the bathroom wall, stuffed in workout shoes, and repeated several times a day. When God gives us that purpose, He allows it to be the fuel for our journey!

Let me tell you how this translates in my life.

From the time that I first set out to serve the Lord, there has been a tug on my heart to minister to the needs of the body of Christ. Specifically to women, mothers and wives. It is so easy for us to stay busy caring for those around us and we forget the fact that we lead others by example. As mothers, our children, though they do not always do as we say, they often do what we do. In many ways, we set them up for success or for failure, based on our own actions. It is far more important that we model habits and a lifestyle that will foster good spiritual, emotional and physical health. Experiencing spiritual breakthrough in this area gave me the faith in God to step into new areas, areas that I would not have previously had the courage to do alone. Understanding that He is the perfect way-maker (not that things are always perfect, but that He makes a perfect way in all things), I began to trust that His vision is grander than mine could ever be. When we are willing to turn our stubborn flesh over to the Lord, and allow Him to breathe purpose in our lives, the results are astounding! I will share more about how this experience has opened doors to new areas that I never would have dreamed of before.

Stay tuned! In another post, I will share the emotional side and the physical side of health and weight loss. These three things come together to offer a full, healthy perspective on lifelong weight management as a natural side effect of good health. If I can do this, so can you! 

xoxo,

Tasha Brickhouse

Click!

Click!

Success is directly related to our level of commitment. No one trips and falls into success.

How would you define success? A stellar career? A strong marriage? A fruitful relationship with God? Academic accolade? Obedient children? A thriving ministry? A home? Good health? A close knit extended family, to see a smaller number on the scale?

Looking at these things, how close or far are you from what you view as success? Are you moving closer to the goal or further from it? Being able to assess your proximity, and your position along the path is the first action step toward going toward the prize. An even greater event is that moment in time when there is an almost audible “CLICK” in your spirit. It is like someone walked by and turned on a switch that you did not even know existed. At that moment, you realize that there is something greater available to you. It is that way when you first hear that Jesus took on all of your guilt so that you may live. It is that way when you hear that He has a purpose for your life. When that switch is turned on, there is nothing that can stand in the way of our exuberant drive to accomplish the goals that are set before us.

Life is not a spectator sport, so why are so many of us sitting on the sidelines waiting to be called into the game? We reason ourselves out of jumping in to action  with thoughts like “they had that handed to them,” or “if I was raised like they were,” or “it must be nice to naturally thin.” In truth, anyone that I would view as successful has put in far more time, effort, attention and prayer to their voyage than I could imagine.

Where am I going with this? Purposeful persistence when pursuing the prize will prevail.

Purposeful: every action we desire to show fruit MUST be energized by the fuel of purpose. Why do diets fail? Why does religion fail? Why does welfare trap many? The short answer is because they are superficial. Often they are short term commitments, or a band aide for a larger issue. Diets fail because we do not have a commitment to long term health, but instead we want to see fast results. Why does religion fail? Because we miss the opportunity to connect deeply with the Lord, and instead become satisfied with the obligatory rituals of religiosity.  How come welfare cannot fix the poor? Because it meets the survival needs but does not empower individuals to thrive. The missing element in all of these is the recognition that there has to be an anchor point in our lives that tethers us to the most basic reason we do anything: and it must hold secure. From that place, our purpose fuels the journey.

There are many miles still in my journey, and many faithful teachers whom I have learned from. If I can, I would like to share some very important anchor points that help me stay afloat among the roughest seas.

Anchor point #1: At the age of 16, I experienced that first “click” when I began to recognize that the God of my salvation has me in the palm of His hand, desires great things in my life and has prepared a place for me. This great love He has shown me fuels the desire I have to have a thriving relationship with Him and in turn motivates me to share His love to those around me. When times get tough, and I don’t feel like I have anything left to give to others, I return to this anchor point and my purpose is revived once again.

Anchor point #2: As I walked under the threshold of marriage and motherhood, again, I experienced a “click” in my spirit that showed me the influence that I have within my home and how it can shape the future of my children as well as my relationship with my husband. More than anything in this present world, I want this scripture to be true in my home:

- Proverbs 31:25-28

²⁵ Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
²⁶ She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
²⁷ She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

It is important that I am a vital part to their development, as God has designed and am a blessing to their future. I do not claim to have these things down pat. Are there times that I grow weary of the constant tasks of motherhood? Of course; that is precisely the reason to hold tight to the anchor point that does not allow me to veer off course, all the while keeping in sight the future impact of today’s decisions.

 

Anchor point #3: Now in my later 30’s, after struggling with my weight for more than half of my lifetime, I have a greater commitment to health than I ever have. Knowing that my mother did not see her 40^th birthday encouraged me to take a long hard look at where health fell on my priority list. Just before my 35^th birthday, a life-changing thought came to me, “if, at 35, my mother knew she only had 4 more years to live, what actions would she have taken to make an impact on her chance of survival.” Immediately, I felt that “click” and I was committed to change my lifestyle in effort to honor this earthly vessel that is given to me for a few short years. This was not a short term, “I want to fit into that little black dress” motivation. It was a commitment to give my family as many good years of my life as I have influence over. This does not take the place of understanding God’s sovereign will in my life, however, it is recognizing that good stewardship is reflective in every area of our lives: time, money, grace, health.  This anchor point is what keeps me dedicated to maintaining good nutrition and healthy activity. This is what fuels my motivation to put my running shoes on when I would rather sleep an extra hour, or choose the colorful produce rather than the thin mints.

Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing a series of posts related to my experience of developing greater health and weight loss, as well as the doors that have opened along the way. In this journey, I have discovered that my anchor points #1, #2 and #3 are closely related, and I desire to share with you all of the many blessings that come in an abundant life, filled with the Holy Spirit and honoring the days He has given us through nurturing our health. I hope it brings  you hope, inspiration and encouragement. 

Can you hear the “click” yet?

xoxo,

Tasha Brickhouse

Clean Eating "Bite You Back" Black Bean and Brown Rice Soup

Market days always give me inspiration to get in the kitchen. There is something about gathering fresh ingredients that makes me feel like I am doing my best to nourish my family. I think about the verses in Proverbs 31:14-15 which say,

"She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants."

 

My children may argue that they are the servants :-).  Though most of the items at the market are not from far off, it does take some effort to go out of the way each week, but it is well worth it.

 

While I love to cook, I don't like to be pinned down to an exact recipe, simply because I like to work with what is on hand. If you do not have these exact ingredients, don't fret, just allow this to give you a little inspiration and make your tummy rumble...

 

This is where I began:

 

12 oz. pk. of dried Black Beans (soak overnight) ~ or begin with 3 16oz cans of black beans, rinsed

1 can of Rotel tomatoes

1 cup of brown rice

4 carrots

2 celery ribs

1 onion

1 red pepper

5 garlic cloves
1 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil

4 green onions

1 tsp. coarse sea salt

2 shakes of black pepper

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

2/3 tsp. cumin
2 tbsp. tomato paste
1/4 cup fresh oregano or 1 tsp. dried

You will add water to this recipe as you go along

 

 

If you have never used dried beans before, know that black beans are one of the more hard beans when they are dried. They need to be soaked overnight. In the morning, drain and rinse them thoroughly. Then put them in a stock pot with enough water to cover them about 2 inches deep in the pot. Place a lid on it, bring it to a boil, and then allow it to simmer for at least 1 1/2 hours. This can also be done in a crock pot, beginning on high until it is boiling, and then reduce to low for at least 2 hours.

 

*** Know that this recipe will work easily with 3 16oz cans of black beans, drained and rinsed. The dried beans are more economical, and have no added sodium, but feel free to do what works for you.

 

 

 

 

This recipe does not use premade vegetable stock, so we are going to make some of our own. Begin by chopping the onions, carrots, celery and red pepper.

 

 

In a skillet, or shallow sauce pan, place the cumin, crushed red pepper, tomato paste, olive oil, and use a garlic press for the garlic cloves. Turn the heat to just under medium. As the pan warms, you will begin to smell the cumin. Stir the cumin and the red pepper around to completely toast (it only takes about 30 seconds once the pan is warm. Begin to stir all of the ingredients together. The tomato paste will become more rich in flavor with the heat and the garlic will soften. Work this around for just 1 minute and incorporate 1/2 cup water. This is the base for which you will sauté the vegetables in. Go ahead and add the chopped veggies and turn the heat up slightly above medium. Allow this to cook for about 5 minutes or more. If it becomes too thick, add water by 1/2 cup increments just so that the mixture looks about like this:

 

It doesn't look like much, but I could eat these by themselves. They are so full of flavor! Check for tenderness. You should be able to easily bite into the carrots.

Now we are going to do the "hidden veggie" thing...

 

 

Do you have a Ninja? This is my kitchen workhorse! I use it to make smoothies, puree veggies for soup, or to hide ingredients that unsuspecting eyes may pick out if it were staring at them in the face.

 

I really like this particular model because in addition to the 72oz pitcher, it has the single serve blenders work well for making on-the-go smoothies, as well as the processer bowl and blade set, which is perfect for making salsa in! The instructions say that the processor bowl can be used to make dough as well (can you say pizza night?)

Ok, where was I? Right, first put the fresh oregano in (if you have dried, you may add it directly to the pot of beans). Pour the sautéed vegetables into the Ninja and puree until there are no visible chunks.

 

 



Before you add the veggies, go ahead and add the Rotel tomatoes and the sea salt. If you have begun with canned beans, you may want to scale back on the salt, as there will be some in the beans already.
Add the veggies and as much water as you need to make the soup stir easily and to your desired thickness. Simmer on medium low.

Now on to the brown rice...

 

Brown rice is becoming a regular household item, but I find some folks are still having difficulty cooking it. I have been using this Martha Stewart method for the last few years and it comes out great. The key is to leave the lid on (no peaking!) and just allow it to do it's thing. While your black bean soup is simmering, go ahead and cook up 1 cup (dry) brown rice, and when it is done, the soup should be perfect as well.

 

 

This is what you should have when it is all done... yummy goodness..

I added the rice directly into the soup and turned the heat off.

You may choose to keep your brown rice separate.

 

 





 

You can chop the green onions, adding the white/core section of the onions directly to the soup and using the green tops to garnish.

 I added a spoonful of plain Greek yogurt to compliment the spicy heat and to add some protein to this flavorful rendition of Black Bean Soup. The crushed red pepper steps things up a notch and makes this a festive bowl-full.

 

Beans and brown rice are both great sources of fiber and when they are combined, they give you a great complimentary source of protein. Eating whole foods is the way to go!

 

 "I love you once, I love you twice, I love you more than beans and rice"

 

Recipe By Tasha Brickhouse

Farmer's Market Day

If you are in Volusia County, Florida, Wednesday is the big Farmer's Market day at the Volusia County Fairgrounds from sun-up until around noon. It is the best place to get fresh produce. I've been going for about 14 years, bring about $20 per week and coming home with a basket full!

Recently, I have been buying super jumbo eggs there, $7 for 40 eggs. These are so big,which makes them an economical choice.

I can't wait to see what they have today!

- Posted on the fly
By Tasha Brickhouse

Welcome Home!

Clearing out the cobwebs, moving stuff around, giving things new color... Pretty soon The Brick house will be up and running. It's been a while, and that is a story in itself. The Brick House will share motivating, encouraging, healthy ideas and tips. I'm excited to breathe some new life into this old place! Welcome home!

- Posted on the fly

By Tasha Brickhouse