All posts by Lauren Mirecki

About Lauren Mirecki

I am a saved-by-grace, failing-forward, wife and graduated homeschool student turned homeschooling mom of 4 residing in Ontario, Canada. I am passionate about teaching my children the truth of God's word through how He is teaching me, our school lessons and experiences as a family. My days are best spent together with my family, at home, or in the outdoors, learning how to be more creative, serving and encouraging others, and striving to see and give all glory to God.

Motivated to Move : How to Keep Exercising Through the Hot Summer Months

Fashion, Beauty & Fitness

summer exercise 2

“Bees a buzzing, kids’ll blow dandelion fuzz, and I’ll be doing what tired moms do in summer!!” Sleeping in! Right?! Well, perhaps SOME mornings. Especially on those lazy mornings at the cottage or camp ground when the kids are sleeping peacefully… oh no, wait, they’re dashing around like caged animals at 6:15 because, what’s that?! the sun is up so they’re up?! Good grief, there goes my summer beauty sleep.

Along with our regular daily schedules, another thing that seems to fall to the wayside during the summer is our exercise routine. Oh yes, we figure we’ll have far more time to exercise now because the sun is up earlier and stays out later, or the kids are off at summer camps, or we can take them on our run/bike/walk to the park.

Except, for some reason, it never quite seems to happen that way.

My intentions are always very good to keep my exercise routine going through the summer. But the reality is that we all stay up later, the kids are up earlier (thank you, early morning sunshine!), and it’s plain and simply SWELTERING outdoors for most of the day. The LAST thing I want to do is step outside at 6 am for a run and melt in the heat before I’ve even made it past the front steps.

hot summer months and exercise

So what’s a hot, tired out and really still very busy mom to do in order to stay motivated to move in the summer? Here’s what helps me:

1. Get a goal

I’ve been running since April 2013. I never thought I’d EVER become a runner, but through prayer and determination, plus accountability, I’ve done it! Now I want to KEEP on doing it.

However, running is not my exercise of choice. I’d much rather do cardio or strength training. So in order to keep at it, I need to set a goal. For me, it’s a 10k race at the beginning and end of summer, then perhaps another one in the mid-Fall. Having those goals and dates in mind helps me keep training and running, where I might easily fall off that wagon.

2. Get accountable

Accountability, AKA POSITIVE peer pressure is one of the best motivators! Have someone you can workout with, either in person, or in a group online. Having someone else to answer to for your exercise goals, and vice versa, is a great way to stay on the health track.

3. Get the kids active!

Instead of driving to the park, get everyone on their bikes, rollerblades (they’re still cool! :D) or walk together. Find a bike park and while the kids ride in circles, take a few laps around the outside track.

Meet up with friends and take a hike on some new trails you’ve never explored before. Join in the practice or learn a sport with your kids.

4. Get inside

If it’s just too hot to be running, biking, walking or whatever else outdoors, retreat to the basement with your favourite workout program. There are plenty of good workout videos on YouTube or Fit Sugar to keep things interesting. Or, find a friend who has a treadmill or stationary bike that you can use when it’s too sweltering outside.

5. Get with the program

Along the lines of setting a goal, using a “timed” workout program is a great way to keep exercising through the hot summer months. By “timed”, I mean something that is 6, 9 or 12 weeks long. Some great program options I’ve used in the past are Slim in 6, T25, and P90X (INTENSE!). The next one on my list is 21 Day Fix, which is definitely a reachable goal and something I can continue to do throughout the rest of the year.

6. Get some sleep

Yes, this is one of the biggest challenges we can face when it comes to exercise ANY time of the year. Getting enough sleep. Or rather, NOT getting enough sleep.

When we get to bed to late or our sleep is restless, then we tend to want to linger in bed longer or find we’re lacking energy throughout the day. How do we fight it? First of all, start turning off electronic devices at LEAST an hour before bed. Your brain needs time to wind down and won’t register sleepiness if artificial light is present (read more about getting good sleep and becoming a morning person). 

Now it’s your turn. What is YOUR goal for exercise this summer? How are you staying motivated to move through the hot summer months?

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Heidi St John Guide to Daylight

Frugal Family Meals: 1 Chicken, 3 Meals

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With a growing family of 6, it is always a challenge to make a meal stretch further than one sitting. I usually try to eke a leftover lunch or two out of one dinner, or we take leftovers from the week and have a day of eating from the fridge. It’s always interesting to see the combinations we can come up with when all we have to eat are leftovers!

One of the easiest ways to make a meal last is using a whole chicken. You would be amazed at how much meat there is on one bird! We typically buy a 3-pack of chickens from Costco (just the regular ones, though depending on your location, the organic birds are often available, and bigger!) once a month or so and make them stretch quite easily. It’s not only a frugal way to eat, but also very tasty.

These are 3 of our favourite ways to use 1 chicken for 3 meals.

Frugal Family Meals 1 Chicken, 3 Meals

Roast Chicken and Vegetables

A simple roast chicken in a Dutch oven is so mouth wateringly delicious and comes together in under 2 hours.

Prepare your whole chicken by making sure the goody bag often stuffed inside is removed (unless you like eating that stuff :D). Wash the chicken (skin on – keeps the moisture in!) and pat dry with a paper towel.

Oven Roasted Chicken

Place a few garlic cloves, about 1/2 cup chopped carrots, celery and onion inside the chicken. Rub inside and out with olive oil. Sprinkle all sides with Dutch Kip Kruiden chicken spice rub (SO DELICIOUS!) or salt, pepper, rosemary and thyme. Make a few slits in the skin and rub some spice under the skin.

Place some of the chopped veggies on the bottom of the Dutch oven. Place chicken on top, then fill remaining space with the remaining veggies. Drizzle with olive oil.

Cover and cook the chicken at 425 degrees for 1 – 1/2 hours.

 

Curried Chicken Salad

Curried Chicken Salad

This recipe is very similar to the leftover Turkey Salad – only this time you’re using chicken!

Chop up 4 cups of leftover chicken into pieces, add 1 chopped celery rib, 1/2 cup cranberries (optional), 1/2 – 3/4 cup mayo, salt, pepper and curry (to taste). Mix together and serve.

 

Chicken Stock = MULTIPLE Meal Options!

Healthy Chicken Stock

1 chicken makes about 2 1/2 quarts of chicken stock – that’s more than enough to make a hearty chicken soup or lentil stew.

Place remaining chicken bones – fat, tendons and all the liquid and drippings from the roast chicken – in your crock pot. Add some chopped onion and garlic. Cover to about an inch from the top with filtered water and add 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar.

Place crock pot on low for 12-15 hours (the longer the better! Sometimes I even do 20 hours, though others do only 8). Drain off the liquid, saving the chicken parts for a second batch.

Cover again with water (if the amount of chicken has decreased to fill the crock pot less than half, reduce the amount of water) and cook again on low for 12-15 hours.

Store chicken stock in the fridge to make chicken zoodle soup (substitute wheat noodles for zucchini noodles), lentil stew, or freeze in ice cube trays for future use. If you make your stock without onion and garlic, you can even add a cube to your morning smoothie for an extra healthy boost.

What are your favourite ways to stretch a meal?

7 Snack Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making

Recipes

7 Snacks Foods

We have managed to reduce our grocery budget by more than $50 per month by changing ONE thing – instead of buying snack foods, we are making them ourselves!

It is amazing how easy it really turns out to be, once you have the tools and tricks to help you get started. And if someone has already done the testing ahead of time for you, even better! Because then you KNOW a recipe is actually good and something your whole family will enjoy.

Yes, it takes a little bit more work to make your own snack foods than to run out to the store and buy them. But the benefits of taking in less processed food AND saving money are well worth it. (Plus, if they aren’t as readily available, you’ll be forced to eat less of them anyway ;D)

These recipes aren’t difficult to make – however, you may find yourself having a hard time keeping them around ;0) But don’t worry, at least you know what’s in them.

7 Snack Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making

Bagels

Homemade bagels are a great snack option, especially when you make them mini cinnamon raisin, then slice them thin and crisp in the oven with butter. So delicious! We make our bagels by hand rolling them, and they’re finished in about an hour. It’s pretty impossible to not eat them hot off the tray.

 

Cookies – Oreos, Animal Crackers and Graham Crackers

I’m from Canada, and our Oreos are better than the American Oreos – sorry, but it’s a fact! Ha ha! Actually, we think it is the filling that is used in our Oreos that make them taste as good as they do. While I haven’t been able to find a really good recipe to duplicate the Canadian Oreo flavour, this homemade Oreo recipe without shortening and this Oreo recipe from Bakerella are both pretty tasty!

Animal crackers and Graham crackers are LOOOOOOADED with sugar – I think that is what makes them so tasty and appealing. You will not be disappointed if you make your own. The same great flavour is there, with far less sugar (and again, you may eat more of them, so just be prepared to put a limit out there after…say…. a handful or two?).

 

Granola Bars

Homemade Granola Bars

No more foil and plastic packaging kicking around the lunch bags. Granola bars are so quick and easy to make. You can use pre-made granola, or make your own homemade granola into a bar, or just use a straight-up oats recipe. There are so many easy variations, but these Kid (and Adult) Friendly granola bars are just right.

Hummus

We eat a lot of hummus. Our kids and the hubby and I LOVE it! I’ve tried a few recipes to get just the right flavour, and HANDS DOWN the hummus recipe from Aimee at Under the High Chair is the best for texture and flavour.

 

Pretzels

A favourite snack or even lunch item has become pretzel bites. We like to make the whole wheat soft pretzel bites or a wheat and all purpose flour pretzel. Savoury, salty or sweet, you decide the toppings!

 

Snack Crackers

Wheat thins and goldfish crackers are a big favourite around our house. Who knew that to replace the massive amounts of sugar, salt and preservatives for a great taste would take only a few ingredients and nothing fancy?

Try these cinnamon honey wheat thins to hit your sweet tooth, or a more basic wheat thins recipe to which you can add more flavours.

For the kids in your family (or you!) make these goldfish crackers with a little trick on how to make your own goldfish cutter out of foil.

 

Yogurt

Homemade Yogurt

It’s so easy. Really. Especially when you have a good recipe! I’ve tried a lot and haven’t found one quite as successful as the yogurt recipe from my friend, Trina Holden. Scald the milk, add the yogurt and incubate on the counter overnight – done!

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Marriage: What Did You Expect?

Marriage

Marriage What Did You Expect

Photo Credit: shaunanyi via Compfight cc

What did you expect, when you first got married? Did you expect everything to be all sunshine and roses and fireworks? That with a simple I love you, and I do, you’d have a happily EVER after?

For two people who had never REALLY known each other outside of pretenses and working hard on impressions in dating environments, to a tiny glimpse into the other’s heart during courtship, to a slightly deeper picture of what makes the other tick (or react!) during your engagement…. Suddenly you are thrown together into a new life of passion, discovery, stress, sharing your finances, time and space.

Did you really think you’d lovingly bat your eyes at the other’s failures or look the other way when they left their socks and underwear lying on the bedroom floor… again?

We expect romance to be prolific, yet we find ourselves hard pressed to enjoy time spent together. We expect perfect harmony between two lovers, but we experience only conflict. We long for sweet words to be exchanged, but the bitterness in our hearts bubbles over onto our lips and another brick is placed on the wall between us.

What is wrong with my marriage, you ask? Why can’t we get it together? Where is the love we once had for each other? Was it ever there?

Paul Tripp addresses these questions, and so many more, in his heart-convicting, soul-examining marriage seminar called “What Did You Expect?”. A few weekends ago my husband and I were blessed to be able to attend, and since, there has been much on my heart to share. There are so many broken marriages, broken lives, dangling by a thread, barely existing, barely hanging on.

If you’re dying in your marriage, there’s something you need to know. Even if you’re feeling only slightly irritated, or annoyed, or suffer from the occasional quirk-induced rampage – there’s something you need to know.

About you, about the person you married, and about the God who drew you together.

“A biblical definition of marriage is a flawed person married to a flawed person in a fallen world….but with a faithful God.” (Paul David Tripp, “What Did You Expect?”).

Your marriage needs to begin with the acknowledgement that you are a sinner. Your spouse is a sinner. The world you live in is full of sin.

But God is faithful.

All marriage problems are heart problems – to change your marriage, your heart needs to change. You need to realize that YOU are your biggest marriage problem. The destructive sin in your heart and your life is what you have brought into your marriage, and unless you are willing to change and be changed, it will continue in a destructive pattern.

“Marriage is war – between the kingdom of self and the kingdom of God.” (Paul David Tripp, “What Did You Expect?)

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Photo Credit: Instant Vantage via Compfight cc

What we hold dear to us is revealed in how we treat those who jeopardize it – how we take personal the messes that are left lying around reveals that we treasure our earthly home more than the hearts of the people we live with.

When we pull away from an embrace a moment into it, or say “not tonight, dear” or shove quality time aside for the busyness of life, we reveal that we value ourselves and our agenda more than the heart of the one we desire to be joined to.

Is your spouse in the inner circle of what you care about?

Through the clouds and the rain, there is hope. In Christ alone. How do we fix our marriages? How do we keep our marriages healthy? By fixing and staying focused on the vertical. Our relationship with God. He MUST increase. I MUST decrease.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33

We were designed to love, and have been loved fully, sweetly, unconditionally, with perseverance, by our great Redeemer.

Seek God’s kingdom in your marriage, make it a ministry to serve your spouse in love. Push off the sin of selfishness and ingratitude. Make your life an act of true worship.

There is not one hopeless marriage. There is a Saviour who shed his blood and showers you with his grace. Jesus is your rescue.

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

 

Everything has already been covered and forgiven.

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Heidi St John Guide to Romance

Dear First-Time Mom Who Just Wants to Feel Human Again

MomStrong Parenting

Dear First-Time Mom

Dear First-Time Mom:

So, you’ve just had your first baby – congratulations! What a miracle of God and blessing from above these little ones are. You have now entered a whole new category of wonder and awe – and coming right alongside this beauty of God’s creation is bafflement and fatigue and wondering if you will EVER get this balancing act figured out. Welcome to motherhood!

Maybe you’re realizing that being a mom isn’t quite what you had thought it might be.

Maybe you (like me) were determined that your baby would sleep through the night (and NOT in your bed), get on a schedule, never need a soother, and feed like a champ.

Or perhaps you thought you’d be able to get out the door without forgetting the diaper bag, or the soother/bottle, and make it home again without needing to change your clothes.

But it’s not quite coming together as you had planned. There are too many baby books out there, yet not one of them warns you of the true toll those sleepless nights take on your body. Or describes just how difficult learning to nurse a baby is (for mommy and babe!). Or warns you that you’ll be doing laundry around the clock (for the rest of your life!).

Questions fly around in your head and heart: “Is it ok to let them cry it out, or should I pick them up when they cry?” “Should I rock them to sleep or let them sort it out on their own?” “When should I start solids?” And on and on.

All this heavy stuff aside, suddenly you’re just standing there in a bewildered state wondering WHEN on earth you are going to get a shower in and feel human again?!

Then you turn and look at the moms you know who have more than 1 child, a clean AND organized house, laundry done and kids in a good routine. And you are embarrassed that you can’t get your act together. How do they do it?

Whatever their answer may be, this is what I want you to hear:

You are making a tremendous sacrifice in giving of yourself for the child that God has called you to mother.

Whether you shower or not, get dressed or not, clean the house or not, take a nap or not, make dinner or not – you may feel frustrated at the apparent lack of progress, but know that you are sowing life and faith – for you are raising the next generation of God-followers! Every little thing you do for that sweet bundle is life to him or her.

Your gift to your child is yourself, your time, your love, your prayers and your care. And as God gives grace and your experience as a mom grows, the struggles that seemed so insurmountable and time consuming suddenly dissipate. They will be replaced, of course, by struggles of a different variety, but know still that everything you do is planting and watering LIFE.

There is much to be said for the fact that you just showed up today, and what may seem mundane, really does matter. Don’t worry about getting up before the baby – you’ll get there! Wiping another runny nose, changing another dirty diaper, nursing through another fever, feeding around the clock through another growth spurt. You are to be commended! You are a fantastic mom!

So if you can’t see your way through the early-morning-feed-sleep-deprivation-my-house-is-a-disaster-and-I’m-the-only-one-home fog, take heart in knowing that we’ve all been there; we’ve all cried over and, by God’s grace, eventually conquered the same struggles.

You WILL get things sorted out. Enjoy these early days – they too shall pass, and all too quickly.

Motherhood is not in vain, and as you have done it to one of these least of these, so you have done it to Christ.

And those moms with more kids than you that seem to have it all together? They’ve had more years to practice, and have different struggles now to conquer, so stop comparing yourself to them.

Now go grab your husband, hand him the baby (awake or asleep), and get that shower in! It’s time to feel human again.

You are loved dear momma!

photo credit Shelley K Photography

3 Important Things for a Healthy Marriage

Marriage

Some would say that 10 years of marriage is a tremendous milestone to reach. And I would be inclined to agree.

But in reality, in today’s society, every year of marriage is a great milestone. We are constantly surrounded by the world’s standards and ideas, standing in opposition to what we believe and practice.

This past January my husband and I celebrated 10 years of marriage. We are both so very grateful for every year that God has given to us, and try not to take for granted what he has blessed us with. For we know there are many who struggle in their marriages, and only by his grace do we make it.

So what makes a marriage healthy and successful?

3 Important Things for a Healthy Marriage

Foundation of Faith

First of all, 2 people who desire to love God FIRST, and their spouse next. To have common ground between them, no matter their upbringings, based on a foundation rooted and established in the truth of God’s word. To actively seek after God and be open, ready, willing to grow in their faith, no matter what the circumstances are that bring it about.

It is so important to agree on the ultimate authority of God’s word in your lives. For we are but human and full of error – yet the word of God is without error.

Foundation of Faith

Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who trust in him.”

 

Forgiveness

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

I used to struggle with asking forgiveness when I was younger. I would sit by myself and count to 10, or 30 seconds, or a minute, 2 minutes….trying to psych myself up for asking forgiveness. It was stubborn pride speaking, and it was wrong. When I got married, my dear mother gently warned me to not let my husband be the one to always come reconciling, but to be the one to seek out forgiveness. And oh did I ever need to do just that a lot during our first years of marriage!

For a marriage to be successful, you have to be willing to put another’s needs before your own. To love God FIRST, and your spouse next means. To surrender your rights, even when you just might be in the right, and seek a situation of forgiveness. Don’t let stubborn pride hold you back – you know when you’re wrong! Every seconds you wait counts – pray for a heart of forgiveness for both you and your spouse.

 

Fun

Every marriage needs an element of fun. It’s easy when you’re dating to find fun things to do together – there aren’t many responsibilities dampening the excitement, save for working or school the next day. But as you get older and your responsibilities become greater (children to engage with, work with, help, teach, raise; more demanding jobs; household to look after; tighter finances; complicated life situations; spiritual journeys) the fun can start to fizzle out – UNLESS you actively seek to keep the fun times rolling!

Dinner Date night out

Leading up to our anniversary, my husband planned date nights out to different ethnic restaurants – we ate Italian, Croatian, Greek, French (fries, that counts as French, right?!), Spanish and Turkish. At each restaurant we took photos of ourselves and our dishes and did a little write-up review. It was a lot of fun and something creative we hadn’t done before.

There are loads of great dating ideas out there on the great wide internet, whether you stay at home and plan an evening of intentional time together, or head off on a weekend away. Do little things that make him smile (like buying a bottled Starbucks frappuccino from the grocery store to have ready for when your husband gets home) and plan bigger events (like shipping the kids off to the parents for a night)- but whatever you do, do something FUN together!

 

Really, there are many more than three things that are critical in marriages. What are some others you’d add to this list?

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Heidi St John Guide to Romance

Your Kids Need Dating Too!

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Your Kids Need Dating Too!

Our parent hearts need to be connected to our children. A large part of the parenting journey is getting to know what makes our children tick, what makes them happy, or upset, what they’re passionate about, where they struggle, and where their strengths lie.

If you have more than one child, you may find you have difficulty finding time to really get into the heart of these areas. With 4 kids in our family, we definitely have to plan intentional time for one-on-one, and planning a special date time with your kids is a great way to do it!

Too often when we think of dates, even as a husband and wife, we think it needs to be elaborate, fancy, super special, or include “going out” somewhere. But in reality, the purpose behind dating someone is to spend undistracted, intentional time together. This can really be accomplished ANYWHERE!

The first step to planning special dates with your kids is to take a look at your availability. If you have one or a couple children, you may be able to plan something quite regularly. However, if you have a lot of kids (such as in our family!), your dates may need to be further apart in occurrence.

Ikea date

As a couple, settle on and commit to planning out the dates with your kids, and determine whether you will both be present, or take turns. While having both parents there is a truly extra special time, it may not always be feasible. Just make sure you’re BOTH getting one-on-one with your kiddo!

Next, decide what kind of dates you will go on with your kids. You may take them out for a donut, or dinner, to a movie, or a special park. Or you may simply stay in and play a game together, read a book, or let them stay up later and just talk. Base it on your budget availability, both for time and cost.

The main thing is that you’re focusing on engaging your child in an activity or conversation in which there is no one else around to pull your attention away from them. To have some fun together, and to get to know them more and more.

daddy daughter date

Now if you’re saying “As much as I want to do this, I seriously don’t have ANY extra time!”, don’t be discouraged or give up! Even taking a trip to the grocery store with just one child instead of by yourself or the whole crew could be a fun opportunity together. Get creative with the resources you have available to you.

Our kids are 8 1/2,  7,  4 1/2 and 13 months. We’ve taken them out to the coffee shop, grocery store, Home Depot, birthday breakfasts and lunches, skiing, skating, swimming, bike rides and park dates. We’ve stayed in and played a game, done a puzzle, read a book, and just sat around and talked. We’ve spent hours together, or just 30 minutes of concentrated, undivided attention. As much as possible, our goal is to have a date time of some sort with them every other month.

birthday lunch

The joy of having a relationship with our sons and daughters can sometimes be overshadowed by the weariness we feel through the daily parenting, teaching, leading, instructing and disciplining.

When we take the time to date our children, we renew the joy, strengthen our connection, open up our hearts to each other and allow God to draw us closer together. It gives us cause to rejoice as we see who our children are, and are becoming, apart from others, as individuals.

Let’s open up in the comments and share our successes and ideas for dating our kids. Here are some of our favourites!

  • Skating at a free outdoor rink, hot chocolate and a donut after
  • Gathering supplies for a craft or handiwork project and working on it together
  • Go on a scavenger hunt (book stores or libraries are great for this, or just look for specific things around your town)
  • Plan a special meal or dish to make, shop for the ingredients and create together

making cookies

  • Play a game or read a book and discuss together
  • Go to the mall, or their favourite stores, get a treat, try all the sample teas at Teavana
  • Watch a movie at home or in the theater
  • Take them out for a special meal on their birthday (daddy does this for breakfast or lunch, the kids LOVE it!)
  • Do an outdoor sport of some sort (skiing, snowboarding, biking, rollerblading, skate boarding, paint balling, canoeing, whatever!)
  • Go on a trail hike and/or picnic
  • See a sporting event, play or concert together
  • Ask your kids what they want to do!

How have you made kid-dates work? What creative ideas have you put into practice to spend time pursuing the heart of your child?

Check out this Dates Ideas Pinterest board for some more great ideas!

Date ideas Pinterest Board