Let’s get a few things straight...I am not perfect but perfectly imperfect. 
 
I have red hair, I love soul music, I cuss when I get real mad (don't judge me), I love to have a good time, I enjoy traveling and living my life, I love a good bottle of wine and I LOVE GOD. 
 
If you grew up with super religious parents or grandparents, it’s likely you adopted their religious pathology about what it means to be Christian and to love God. One of the biggest misnomers I’ve heard is, having fun is irresponsible and Christian’s should serve God, go to church, women should wear skirts and dresses, don’t laugh, don’t smile, look super saved, act holy, don’t hug too tight, roll your eyes and raise hell to let people know you are important...LOL Where is the God in this? The truth is old religious mentalities are not Biblical and they do not serve the Kingdom.

The definition of abundance is “Ample or very large quantities.”
It’s impossible to live in abundance, serve a big God and not have fun. Being super saved and highly minded (aka super saved) does not make you a better Christian, it does not draw people to God, and it does not mean you will go to heaven.
 
God’s love compels people to come unto Him. If people who have not yet come to Christ witness “God’s people” being uptight, mean, super religious, judgmental and unapproachable they will never come. Joyce Myer (I love her practical outlook on life and God’s word) talked about how she wished she would have done more things she loved throughout her life. She shared how she was deceived to think Christian’s should not enjoy life, live in abundance, and enjoy precious moments with family and friends that mean the most. I learned early that the God I grew up hearing about, was not the God I had a relationship with. Who is God to you? Who does God say you are and what you can have?
 
Repeat after me:
 
I CAN LOVE GOD AND LIVE A FUN FULLING LIFE, if I DECIDE TO DO SO.
I WILL TAKE MORE BREAKS AND NOT FEEL GUILTY.
I WLL LAUGH, SING, DANCE, SCREAM AND RUN without FEELing GUILTY.
I WILL MAKE EVERY MOMENT OF MY LIFE COUNT.
I WILL TRAVEL AND USE ALL MY VACATION TIME.
I WILL PUT MYSELF FIRST AND ENJOY GODS BOUNTY
I WILL TAKE MORE CHANCES ON MYSELF.
I WILL SPEND MONEY ON THINGS I LIKE AND DESIRE
I WILL NOT TAKE MYSELF OR LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY
I WILL ENJOY BEING ALIVE AND ENJOYING DOING ONLY WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY
 
When we declare statement like these over and over, eventually the things you speak will start to manifest. Our life is full of whatever you manifested. Think about what you tell yourself and see how your life lines up with what you speak.
 
My advice: Give yourself permission to do and be whatever you want. Just a few short months ago, God challenged me to focus on myself (a foreign act). I loved to serve, it’s a gift. I grew up serving with my grandmother in church. She was over the hospitality ministry (although that’s not what they called it back then). She cooked, cleaned and made everyone feel welcome. She might have cussed in the process, but she did everything grand, with heart and passion. I followed her footsteps and serving people and making them happy has always brought me joy.
 
When I stopped to think about the other things she did, I realized my grandmother lived. She was always the life of the party, she traveled, lived well, worked hard, and traveled. Looking back with adult eyes, my grandmother might have been the only person I saw enjoy life the way she did and for no other reason than because it’s what she wanted to do, and it brought her much joy.
 
As a young 30 something with no children and no husband – I am 100% determined to do whatever makes me happy. I’m determined to laugh, love, serve, travel, eat well, love God and whatever else I choose to do.
 
There is power in choice. A lot of people say, “I had to do this or that”, and I kindly tell them you never HAVE to do anything, but what you choose to do is totally up to you. You can’t choose to do something then get made about the choice you made. When someone asks me to do something and I’m not available; I kindly say I’m unavailable OR I refer them OR offer them other resources to research the information. In the past, I felt like I HAD TO DO IT which made the task a burden. The Bible talks about giving ungrudgingly. When you find yourself about to do something you really don’t want to do, it’s better to say NO than to do it grudgingly.
 
Remember this:
Give yourself grace.
Give yourself the best of you daily.
Embrace the word “No” without guilt.
Be brave.
Be a cheerful giver or don’t give it.
It’s OK to love God and have fun.
Abundance is your birthright.
 
Here’s to you and I living life and enjoying the journey. Thank you for your time and a chance to share space and love. I’m always grateful for your time.
 
Blessings,
 
Lady Kay

My Fat Girl Confession:
 
I have been a big girl most of my adult life. The Yo-Yo weight has been a problem since 2005. I was diagnosed with Crohns decease 2004 and lost over 100lbs. I thought I was going to die; it took the medial professionals almost a year to diagnosis me. They finally got the right doctor, diagnosis and medications... praise God I am still here.
 
2006 ended my college relationship with someone I loved deeply, and thought would be my forever. Shortly after, I decided this was the perfect time to go away to grad school. I moved to Washington, D.C. and life was good for a change. I keep my weight down. Living in the city was good for me. It was nothing to walk 10 blocks or more a day. Every corner had healthy food options and if you ate something that wasn’t too heathy, by the time you walked home, to work or the train depot you burned those calories right off. I had active friends and family. The whole situation was just better, but then life hit and I was reminded of my auto-immune disease.
 
2009 I was forced to moved back to NC during a very bad Crohns flare. I could not take care of myself, couldn’t walk and steps were a NO-NO. After returning to NC - BOOM – the weight I was able to keep off in the city is back. 2014-2015, I drop 100lbs over the span of a year and BOOM – maybe a year later I gained it right back. Present day, I’m at the heaviest weight I’ve ever been (which is frustrating) however, I decided about 40 days ago that I deserve the best of me.
 
What does that mean? I evaluated my habits, triggers and patterns. The thing that stuck out the most was my need to help, serve and be there for others. I have a long history of taking care of everyone else BUT ME.  
 
I read a book (I read a lot now) that talked about Yo-Yo weight. The author talked about how there are different ways to sow and reap. I love the art of sowing and reaping so this got my attention. The author suggested sowing self-control into your spirit and asking God to show you triggers with food and allow Him to heal you.

When I read this, a light went off and I said this can work. No matter what you sow you will reap (that's the law). So, every time my mind starts thinking about foods I can’t have or that aren’t good for me, I say “I deserve the best of me and I right now I choose to sow self-control into myself”. True enough, it works. Renewing my mind has been very helpful. This new revelation about sowing and reaping really blessed me and I hope it will bless you as well. 
 
If you struggle with yo-yo weight or weight at all, you are not alone. 80% of people who have lost weight regain all of it or more after two years. Not very encouraging however, knowledge is power. In order to do better you have to know better and once you know better and do better you can reach back and teach someone else. It’s the circle of life.
 
I am committed to giving myself the best of me no matter what it takes. I have stopped doing a lot of things I did before because I need me right now. And the truth is no one is going to take better care of me than me besides my mama. Which is why, for now, it’s all about me.
 
Being fat was never a big deal, I mastered how to be fat. Now I am ready to master being healthy. Weight has been my number one struggle my entire life. I don’t do drugs, I don’t drink, I don’t gamble, I don’t smoke but I do love a good piece of cake LOL.
 
No matter what your thing is, choose to love you more and sow into yourself. Help you, save you, sow into you; they say life is short and they are right. Make every day the best day of the rest of your life and give yourself the best of you each and every day.
 
Here’s to us learning, growing and changing so we can live and lead full lives. I hope I have earned the pleasure of your time. I am always grateful when you stop by my blog. Be sure to comment and share.
​
XO,
Kay
 
Power Payer - Father, thank you for loving me when we didn’t’ know how to love myself. Thank you for giving me another chance to get it right. Help me Lord to seek you first in all I do, say and eat. Give me a hunger for heathy living. Change my taste buds and give me strength to sow goodness, self-control, kindness and self-love in my souls and body that I might reap a great harvest which leads to a long and full life.  In the Mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

I hated kale for a long time, but now as an #AlmostVegan, I am falling deeply in love with this high protein vitamin packed super food.  This warm kale salad remix is a tribute from my mountain trip. I enjoyed this dish at Kaye's Kitchen and I had to try my hand at it. 

I was shocked at how easy it was to remix. Take a look and give it a try.

Ingredients: 
Kale (Fresh or bagged) 
Roasted Sweet Potato 
Roasted Pumpkin Seed 
Ginger slices 
Red Onion 
Sesame Oil 
Olive Oil 
Fresh Lemon Juice 
Dried Cranberries 

Directions: 

1. Sweet Potato -Chop and dice in cups. Toss with sea salt and olive oil - Place on sheet pan and roast on 370. 
2. Pumpkin Seeds- Roast in over for 5 min.
3. Blanch kale in boiling salted water 3 to 4 min & drained well 
   
4. In a hot pan incorporate sesame and olive oil, ginger, roasted sweet potato, pumpkin seeds, and onion. 
5. Add kale - Toss until mixed well - Toss for 5 min or until you are satisfied that it is done. 
6. Squeeze fresh lemon, dried cranberries and serve  with any protein or none at all. 

I hope you enjoy. This is a summer love of mine and I am full of joy to share it. Be sure to let me know if you try this and how it turns out. 

xo, 

Kay