Knitting is the new Nintendo

It's like a teeny tiny stocking :)

Happy knitting!

Just a couple of months ago I started on a journey of consolidating my wardrobe. It was stressful at the beginning, but since then has been so wonderful! One of the reasons why I'm so happy with it is this app that I downloaded called Stylebook. It's a tool to help the user get the most out of what you have in your closet. I was hesitant to buy it at first because I don't typically get apps that aren't free, but I went for it and am extremely happy with my choice :)

Essentially what you do with the app is take pictures of each item in your closet (some work required yes - but it's worth it!) and you categorize them as seen in the screen shot below. This initial step can be a wake up call in how many items you actually have!


The next step is the fun part and I actually do this every day still as it's an ongoing process. It's creating 'looks' which is organizing your pieces into what you'd wear together. This is what helps you be creative with your wardrobe, the options become endless when you do this! It's an amazing visual tool and you'll never have to ask "what should I wear today?" again!

I have a folder for 'Day', 'Work', and 'Day and Work' looks for those that could go either way.

Have you ever wondered where those Pinterest looks come from? I bet this is one place! I feel so stylish :)

My absolute favorite part about the app and the feature that was my main draw to it is the calendar. Once you have looks created you can add them to your calendar and track what you wore and when you wore it. You don't have to put items in as a look though, you can also pop in individual pieces. It's also a great visual for me and has given a new perspective about how often I actually wear certain items. I think this will help me be able to create an even smaller capsule wardrobe next round knowing that I can really only wear so many clothes in one month!



The Style Stats is also a fun feature because once you've put items in the calendar it tells you which you wear the most and the least and many other things, I love it!


And last from me, but not nearly it for the app, you can tap on an individual item in your virtual closet for all the details you need to know about it (if you enter them), but as the picture below shows, and what I find noteworthy, is to see the last time I wore it.



That's a really simple and quick run down of the Stylebook App from my perspective. It has so many more features that I haven't even tapped into yet, but am already very satisfied with what I've gotten out of it so far. No more wardrobe woes for me!

Happy styling!

Heard this song for the first time the other day. I love it. Take a listen!

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

"Why did you doubt?" 

Why do I doubt? A question I ask myself, and I remind myself: I am human, I am weak, I have a spiritual enemy, I am normal. 

BUT! My God can walk on water! Peter did not doubt until he took his eyes off Jesus and saw the wind and like him it is easy to get distracted, it is very easy to let myself become overwhelmed by the storms in life and feel like I'm drowning in them. The enemy likes that a lot I'm sure, however that's not where it ends. Peter cried out to Jesus to save him, and He did. Just the same for me I know the Lord is only a cry away when I need Him. I've already experienced God's rescuing hand in my life, it helps to remember those times.

I know God is bigger, I believe He can accomplish anything according to His will, and I need Him to help me, I do not doubt that. To keep faith I just need to keep myself focused on His greatness and His promises, it's that simple and so difficult because I also have to constantly remind myself that all is God's will, in God's time. Yet I know that He will help me with that too and be there for me over and over when I do have doubts because I've taken my eyes off him again. 

I am human, but I have a mighty God. I am weak, but my God gives me strength. I have a spiritual enemy, but I have a greater Holy Spirit. I am normal to doubt, but my Lord is relentless in reminding me that He is enough!

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I finally made time to bake again and I chose to make a Flourless Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie. Can I just say... YUM!

I doubled the recipe and brought these to the office and I will admit I probably snuck 4 myself throughout the day. No portion control here, however I definitely got my protein for the day! They are sooooo goood! And bonus for those that are gluten free, there is no flour! And for bonus #2 I eliminated the chocolate chips in a few cookies for a friend who is dairy free as well.

I've never baked with almond butter before, but I'm always up for an experiment if someone else has had success with it first. For the first go with on this recipe I found the final cookie quite soft and may break apart in your hand, but if you're holding it that long and aren't chowing down on it in 2-3 bites there is something wrong with you. Just kidding, but seriously ;) Anyways I think next time I might try a different almond butter that is more the texture of peanut butter and they may stick together better (see notes below).


Flourless Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 

Ingredients
1 large egg
1 cup almond butter
1/2 cups brown sugar, lightly packed
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Set oven to 350F
2. Crack the egg into a medium bowl and beat it lightly. Add in the almond butter, baking soda, and sugar and mix everything together well.
3. Fold in the chocolate chips.
4. Scoop the dough onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet. Space the cookies well apart, and flatten them slightly with the back of a spoon.
5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Don't overbake these, the cookies will look underdone, but they will firm up as they cool.
6. Let them cool for a couple of minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer them carefully to a cooling rack.

Please note: This recipe is for personal use only. This recipe is from Sue at the view from great island. Please do not pretend that you made any of it, please give proper credit when featuring elsewhere. Thank you!

Pano view to the West (click for larger view)

View from summit of Raspberry Ridge

It was more than 30 degrees Celsius last Saturday when my sister and I went hiking in Kananaskis. I knew it was going to be hot, but you never realize how hot until you're in the middle of it. However, it was a beautiful day regardless and we had a wonderful hike. We even found some humour in it as we'd call out "shade ahead" to keep ourselves motivated to keep climbing because half the time the 'shade' wasn't really much more than a bush to cover your calves, but at times there was sufficient coverage to stop for some relief from the sun. At least the higher we climbed the better the breeze became and that was our saving grace!

Raspberry Ridge
Difficulty: moderate*
Round trip: 9 km
Hiking Time: 3.5-5 hrs
Elevation Gain: 653 m
FitBit: approx 18,000 steps and 215 floors

To find the trail head you're going to drive 11km south on Highway 940 from the t-intersection where highways 40/940/541 intersect. It's a pulloff on the west side of the road, park before the gate. (If you drive past a rest stop on the west side about 12km up and 1 km past the pulloff you'll know you've gone too far.)

Start your hike by passing the gate and heading down the road, but not far, about 40m, you'll see the road continue to the left, but an overgrown path veers up and slightly to the right, take the latter. The path becomes more defined as you continue at a relatively easy incline through the trees. Early on there will be a break in the treeline and you will be able to see your destination to the left up on the ridge. You'll know it by the teeny tiny distant fire lookout station on the very right (north) side of the ridge. I asked my sister at this point if it was more daunting or exciting to see how far and how high we had to climb, myself feeling like "yikes are we crazy!?", but I'll tell you, when we returned to that same spot and were able to see how far we'd hiked, now that was a great feeling!

See the teeny white spec on the right peak? That's the destination!

Initial portion is a walk through the forest.

This hike has lots of wild flowers!

A little ways into the hike you'll cross a stream gully and begin a more steep ascent. (You'll go through some tall grass as well so make sure if it's tick season you're aware to check yourself after!) When you reach a small cairned (man made pile of stones) fork in the path go right. If you go left you will still get there, but I've read it adds several km to your journey. It is after this junction that the grade of the hike goes up significantly. Trust me, if we can do it, you can do it! In addition to the incline however, the view behind you also becomes more magnificent with every step so it is worth it!

Cairn to mark the fork, go --->>>

As you climb it's not very clear where you will crest the ridge, but once you get close it comes up quickly and being I've never really done a hike like this yet it was exciting. Sure the view behind us was Amazing, but what was ahead was unknown. I jokingly said to my sister "this better be good" before I peeked over the top. And it was good, more than good. Creation is so amazing it boggles my mind and this is one reason why I love hiking so much now. The fact that God created the Earth and specifically these mountains and we get to enjoy them, it is so cool, (so cool I have no better word at the moment!).

The view to the South just before cresting the ridge

Once you come over the top the path continues north along the ridge and you head towards the fire lookout station. Anyone I told I was doing this hike will be able to attest that I was quite excited to see a 'real live' lookout station. I had so many questions I wanted to ask the attendant about it, but to my dismay the area surrounding it was cordoned off to keep visitors (or curious people like me) at bay so the person can actually do their job and have some privacy. I respect that. I'll just have to refer to Google now I guess :( Anyways, I did catch a glimpse of a woman on the deck as she dissapeared around the corner. She had long a fiery red ponytail (no pun intended, it was very red!). I joked with my sister that spotting the fire lookout attendant was like spotting a yeti haha.

The fire lookout station

We snapped lots of pictures seeing as the view was spectacular then stopped to rest our legs and have a quick snack up on the ridge. There was no shade to be had so we made it quick before starting our way back down.

Pano view to the North (click for larger view)

Me x3! I love the iPhone pano feature :)

We figure it took about 2 hours to hike up. As most hikes are the descent always takes less time, but with this one because the slope is steep and the rock on the paths can make it a bit slippery so in some parts it can be tough on the knees. We didn't use poles, though they could be beneficial for extra support. Once you reach the cairned fork again the slope eases up and you are well on your way back. In total we figure it took us about 4 hrs and 15 min including our break at the top.
As far as popularity of the hike goes we found it interesting that on the way up we didn't encounter any other hikers, and up at the top we must have been the 3rd pair up there. Although by the time we were ready to leave there were several more groups. It's not a busy hike by any means, but it may have had something to do with the blazing sun.

There were so many butterflies and I wanted to get a picture so bad, I just barely got this one at the end of the hike before a big bug landed on my screen...

All in all a great hike and I would do it again, however I have a good dozen others I want to try first!


Happy Hiking :)





*"Where Locals Hike" rates this one as easy, but I'm going to say for the average hiker or at least someone with my stamina it's a moderate one. The scorching heat may have had something to do with it, but I think it's better to be pleasantly surprised than frustrated at the difficulty rating, don't you?