Thin Living

Today I am thankful for my family’s safe travels over this holiday weekend! 

Whoops! I’ve been slacking. 

Day 21- Today I am thankful for class being cancelled which meant I could come home early for Thanksgiving.

Day 22- Today I am thankful for being able to spend time with my amazing family, laughing and having an amazing time.

Day 23- Today I am thankful for surviving Black Friday shopping!!  

Day 19- Today I am thankful for the gym on campus! 

Day 20- Today I am thankful for Thanksgiving, since it gives me an excuse to come home, spend time with my family, and stuff my face with food without thinking twice about it.  

Today I am thankful for coffee!! 

Today I am thankful for fall and how beautiful the trees look in east Texas!!

And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the LORD; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it.
Ezekiel 17:24 

Today I am thankful for Hobby Lobby!! Even though I can never leave the store without buying something, it is the PERFECT place to get Christmas decorations :D

This morning I woke up feeling awful (I blame it on late nights, weather change and lack of sleep all week… I pray it’s not a cold or anything!), and really wasn’t that hungry, so for breakfast  I had a small pumpkin yogurt parfait and a cup of tea- yum! (PP+ 2)

Lunch was a strawberry spinach salad (DELICIOUS!!) and a small chicken breast and cheese sandwich- an Orowheat sandwich thin, 2 1/2 slices chicken breast, 1 slice Sargento mozzarella/cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup romaine lettuce.
PP+ 3 (salad)
PP+ 5 (sandwich) 

For dinner I made some roasted tomato soup and a bell pepper salad. The soup was very good, and along with the salad, I was satisfied and full. Nice and fresh, and felt good on my sore throat!! 

So I just wanted to let you know just how much I LOVE this time of the year! I have decided that the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas is the best month there is- when Christmas music is “allowed” to be played, Christmas decorations, Christmas lights, buying/making presents for loved ones and just being home around my family. It’s the time of the year that I think about how amazing the birth of my Savior was, and how much I am loved by HIM. 
Right not it’s time to thank Him for what He’s done, and know that everything we have here on earth is a gift.  

Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
Psalm 100:4 

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp fat-free margarine
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 1/2 cup cherub tomatoes
1 cup squash, sliced
1 cup canned tomatoes
2 cups chicken broth (fat free, reduced sodium)
2 Fresh basil leaves, chopped
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 Tbsp whipped cream 
salt and pepper to taste

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Toss the cherub tomatoes with 1 Tbsp of olive oil, salt and pepper (to taste), then place on a lined baking sheet. Place in the oven and cook until tomatoes are soft and “spotted”- about 30 minutes.
When the tomatoes are done, heat the olive oil and margarine in a pot and cook the onions until brown- around 5 minutes.
Add the squash, canned tomatoes (with the juices), chicken broth, roasted tomatoes, basil and thyme. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes.
Poor the soup into a food processor, “mince”, then place back on the stove. Mix in the whipped cream and warm for a few minutes- do not bring to boil. 
Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 cup spinach
1 cup romaine lettuce
1/2 yellow bell pepper
1/2 red bell pepper
1/4 cup zucchini and squash
2 Tbsp zesty sun dried tomatoes
1/2 Tbsp shredded Parmesan cheese
2 Tbsp sun dried tomato vinagarette 

PP+ 2

Ingredients:
1 cup baby spinach leaves
1/2 romaine lettuce
3 sliced strawberries
1 1/2 Tbsp Feta cheese
1 Tbsp chopped glazed pecans
2 Tbsp Strawberry Balsamic Vinagarette

PP+ 3