Hi kids!
Bible study was GREAT today. The subject was mean girls. Know any? I can definitely think of a few over the years. How do you all deal with girls like that? A quote that Beth Moore said today that really stuck in my head was this:
“Women do not always stand by their SISTERS, but often COMPETE with them.“
This leads to the feeling of never measuring up….and of feeling like you are too much but not enough at the same time. Girls, there is just no need. Culture trains us to be such attention seekers and it is just crazy to think that deep down, we feel so threatened by other women. Why? Insecurity. That’s all it really comes down to. We will always be “not pretty enough, not popular enough, not thin enough, not FIT enough, ect” when faced with other women that seem to have it all. Trust me—NO one woman has it all. There’s always something. I promise! We need to learn to break free of the trap our culture has set for us that says we have to be better than the next woman in line. If you constantly attempt to be better or fit the mold of another, you will NEVER be satisfied. If you are faced with a MEAN girl, the best solution is to be as super nice as you possibly can to them (you can battle meanness with KINDNESS) and pray for them.
Whew! I just had to get that off my chest. Beth gets me all fired up sometimes. I can’t help it! Anyways, when I came home I pounded out 20 minutes on the treadmill. I think on Saturday morning I’m going to give the ol’ 5K a dry run on my own, seeing as it will be exactly a week before the real thing. I’m obviously not doing this to win the race….I’m doing it for the free t-shirt (DUH). =) I do want it to feel good when I run though and to feel a sense of accomplishment when I’m done. Oh, and by the way, I am SO SORE from yoga yesterday. I haven’t been this sore in a long time….my triceps, my back, my legs, my BUTT. Everything. I could hardly lift the dough today at work!
For dinner tonight I used a new product that has been waiting in the freezer with my name on it:
Well, it isn’t actually new but its new to me. I love Morningstar farms everything so I thought “why the heck not?” when I pondered over these at Greenwise last week. I heated up 6 little tenders on the stove and stirred them into a cup of prepared Annie’s mac & cheese—
And I also roasted some brussels on the side and had a cup of Pacific tomato soup
The addition of the “chicken” tenders to the mac and cheese was….interesting. I think they would be better over a salad like in the picture on the bag though. They weren’t as chewy as I would have hoped and even though they were tasted good, I don’t think I would buy them again. I’ll save my Morningstar money and instead put it towards the AMAZING sausage patties or veggie burgers.
As I packed my breakfast for tomorrow look what I happened to stumble upon in the fruit drawer:
Bbbbbbbbbbusted!!
Of course I just had to have one piece for dessert. 🙂 My mom and I have always shared this secret passion for licorce, red swetish fish and mike & ikes. Growing up, I would often find one or the other in the fruit or veggie drawer!
Its off to bed for this cool cat. I have had such a GREAT week of sleep…..I think I have gotten a full 7 1/2 hours every single night so hopefully tonight will be the same. Knock on wood! Tomorrow I work and then in the afternoon I am FINALLY getting to bake cupcakes with Margaret’s six year old daughter, Bella. Stay tuned!
Courtney (The Hungry Yogini)
February 19, 2009 at 4:29 pmLove the message from bible study!! Beautiful!!
I am slightly obsessed with swedish fish as well. We have a little candy stash in one of our cupboards =) I love to stumble across things. OOOoh and the black licorice at Fresh Market…the bomb!
Charlotte Oathout
August 3, 2018 at 4:11 pmThe so called ‘mean girl’ in question here in my life, took my husband! She is 23 yrs old and he is 64 yrs old. We have had a 25 yr marriage. Actually, perhaps, she wasn’t totally at fault. He had something to do with it as well. I seem unable to be a little kind to her since what they did sometimes took place under my own roof. Yes, in my home.
Kristin
February 19, 2009 at 4:32 pmI love twizzlers and swedish fish tooo!!!
Samantha
February 19, 2009 at 4:40 pmGreat message! I find myself feeling beat down often in the same situations and need to grow out of that.
Ahhh twizzlers are great! My “drug” of choice is atomic fireballs!
Rachel
February 19, 2009 at 4:46 pmGlad you wrote about mean girls! That’s something I think about a lot, and I try not to fall into the trap (or let my friends) of being mean and judgmental.
Kindness and Twizzlers… a winning combo!
Natalie
February 19, 2009 at 5:04 pmLove the message! It’s so true, I thought the mean girl acts would end after high school, but I just some girls just nevergrow out of it.
🙁
VeggieGirl
February 19, 2009 at 5:07 pmWONDERFUL message. Amen.
Maggie
February 19, 2009 at 5:16 pmLove the message.
Good luck with the sleep! Isn’t is amazing when you get enough a bunch of days in a row?? I feel great.
Shelby
February 19, 2009 at 5:18 pmI love this message Jenna! I have experienced so many mean girls in my short life and I absolutely hate it! I strive to never make a girl feel the same way I’ve been treated. It’s just not right.
Emily
February 19, 2009 at 5:21 pmI love that dinner!!
My mom and I are Twizzlers girls too! 😀
K
February 19, 2009 at 5:30 pmSwedish fish!! Those little fishies are so good!
Lauren
February 19, 2009 at 5:38 pmHi! Long time reader, new poster!
I LOVE morningstar chicken strips! Actually I think they are too chewy… next time sprinkle a little water over them and put them in the microwave for a 1 to 1:30 and they come out really chewy! They do not taste that great when they are over the stove. Oh and be careful not to over cook them or they are suuuuuper dry. I hope you like them better!! I LOVE them!
Mara @ What's For Dinner?
February 19, 2009 at 5:44 pmI was a victim of mean girls when I was in middle school, and my experiences are some of the reasons I’m a teacher now. That quote is so very true!
I totally share your love of red chewy candy!
Matt
February 19, 2009 at 5:44 pmI think I am gonna make some mac and cheese tonight!
Emily
February 19, 2009 at 5:46 pmI’ve also done a Beth Moore study, and my mom actually teaches her studies a lot at our church! So good!
I love Swedish fish, too! 🙂
Marissa
February 19, 2009 at 6:17 pmI love the Morningstar Chick’n Strips! The key is to cook them on low heat for a really long time. Then again I haven’t eaten meat in 8 years so it’s not like I can compare it to real chicken 🙂
Runjen
February 19, 2009 at 6:18 pmI love this message. It is so true! Too bad it takes most of us so long to figure it out. I am also a big believer in killing the meal girl with kindness. Works like a charm. 🙂
Kristie
February 19, 2009 at 6:21 pmInsecurity is definitely the main reason for the mean girl syndrome. It’s too bad because it’s so darn unnecessary.
I love the Twizzler stash. I haven’t had licorice in ages, and now I have a mad craving for it!
Sarah (Tales of Expansion)
February 19, 2009 at 6:27 pmahhhhhhhh i LOVE twizzlers!!!!! what an exciting and dangerous thing to find in your fruit bin …
have fun with the cupcakes and bella tomorrow. (and yes, i’ve always found that EXTREME niceness is the best way to break down a mean girl!)
Colleen
February 19, 2009 at 6:46 pmLove that bible study message! I am so fortunate to have grown up with two big sisters, and I know that we’ve ALWAYS got each other’s backs…I never got the whole catfight deal. Sure I fought with my sisters, but if anyone threatened them it was ON! LOL I see my girlfriends as my sisters as well. Have a great night’s sleep! 🙂
Sarah (lovINmytummy)
February 19, 2009 at 7:02 pmI have always gone into female friendships a little leary because of the Mean Girls mentality. That has been one of many lessons that the blog world has taught me, though: there ARE kind, supportive loving women out there to befriend!!!
I found a bag of that “chicken” in my freezer tonight, too, and thought, “What can I do with this?!?”
the Clean Veggie
February 19, 2009 at 7:31 pmmean girls are the worst – I think its the worst in high school :\ Every girl seems to judge every little flaw. I hate it!!
LOVE your brussels sprouts. They look so good
Meg
February 19, 2009 at 7:36 pmDefinitely love the message! Yeah for mac n cheese!
Sarah
February 19, 2009 at 7:39 pmDoes anyone have any good suggestions for an insulated lunch box?
Erin
February 19, 2009 at 7:42 pmGreat message, and so true. We have the same sort of talk in one of my women’s lit classes.
Gorgeous sprouts!
Lynna
February 19, 2009 at 7:47 pmif you like black bean burgers, you should try Morningstar Farms’ Spicy Black Bean Burger. they come frozen too, aren’t overly spicy and have a great texture/ flavor.
brandi
February 19, 2009 at 7:53 pmgreat post, Jenna. It’s already so hard in our society with all the media pressure, and mean girls just make it so much worse!
I can’t wait to see the cupcake recap with Bella! 😉
BridgetP
February 19, 2009 at 8:04 pmGreat post! My mother- the smartest woman I know- told me there will always be mean girls in life and of course she was right. It started in kindergarten and I encountered a “mean girl” at work just a year ago. Your advice is absolutely the best- kill ’em with kindness! I even got the mean girl at work to be my friend 🙂
HangryPants
February 19, 2009 at 8:21 pmReally great post Jenna. I simply refuse to spend time with mean girls at this point in my life. It’s sort of difficult because there is one imparticular I avoid, but whatev. I am firm believer in being kind and supporting other women. Don’t hate, appreciate.
Meredith (Pursuing Balance)
February 19, 2009 at 9:08 pmHa, do our dinners look similar enough?
Ryan
February 19, 2009 at 9:18 pmSwedish fish are my favorite! I wondered how those chicken strips were…thanks for the review 🙂
For your running, you should check out my giveaway: Jogger’s Pepper Spray!
http://chasedaylight.com/2009/02/19/outdoor-fitness-safety-and-giveaway/
Victoria
February 19, 2009 at 9:21 pmSuch a true post. Insecurity runs rampant in groups of girls. Thanks for the review of those chikn tenders.
Heather McD (Heather Eats Almond Butter)
February 19, 2009 at 9:24 pmSo glad you’re body is getting adjusted to your work schedule and that you’re getting adequate sleep Jenna.
Twizzlers – my favorite movie theater candy hands down!
Mean girls – we had a few in our high school, but it’s amazing how time has changed their hearts…and mine. 🙂
Jenn
February 19, 2009 at 10:12 pmYou’re post about mean girls really stuck me! It’s so true. My boyfriend always asks me why I don’t have more girlfriends, and my response is always, “girls are mean.” I think it’s also why I went into a male dominated industry. Now when I run into ladies at work, no one is catty, because we’re just happy to run into another female to help break up the testosterone!
Love your blog!
Rebecca Hoover
February 19, 2009 at 10:47 pmI think those little chicken strips are kind of wrong tasting myself. I agree the sausages are fab though, I like making breakfast burritos with them. I did try chicken grillers (Quorn) the other day and made Chicken Parmesan with them. My boyfriend and kiddo liked them pretty well, I thought they were better than Morningstar’s chicken strips. I’m also more of a Red Vines girl, I try not to buy them because there’s no such thing as eating one. Your post is lovely as always. As I’ve mentioned before, your great attitude is inspiring.
FoodsThatFit
February 19, 2009 at 10:54 pmI’ve seen that problem a lot in nursing, the term we “eat our young” seems to stand out! I don’t get it! I can’t say I’ve always been perfect in these regards either, but getting older and maturing has done wonders. Have a good night!
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food)
February 19, 2009 at 11:09 pmI love Twizzlers!
alessa
February 19, 2009 at 11:39 pmso very true about the mean girls! i too thought i would stop encountering them as i got older, but unfortunately t didnt! its true that being kind is the best way to deal with them, and it comes with no regrets. great message! I am going to have to take a look at Beth Moore, it sounds like a great thing to be studying.
Anne P
February 20, 2009 at 3:07 amOmg I am obsessed with Twizzlers… I haven’t had them in ages, I might need to get some while I’m back in the US! I also heart black jelly beans and other liquorice flavored things… yum!!
Great message at the beginning of the post, as well!
MizFit
February 20, 2009 at 4:56 amWoman, I SO DO NOT GET THAT EITHER.
the notion that by lifting someone else up it diminishes our own ‘greatness’ or ‘worth’ in any way.
and, judging by where I live, many of the mean girls grow up to be bitter mean mommies 🙂
life is too short…
Karen
February 20, 2009 at 6:47 amThe morningstar chicken strips are very good sauteed in olive oil with vegetables — but they do NOT come out very good in the microwave.
Sarah W.
February 20, 2009 at 7:10 amI love your combo of mac n cheese, brussels and yummy tomato soup!!! very COLORFUL!!
After reading your review on the chikn strips I probably won’t buy them afterall…I’ve been pretty disappointed with all the vegan cheeses (nasty & processed JUNK!), and most of the meat subs like smartbacon and smartdogs – grrross. I was toying with trying the chicken strips and i think I will just stick to veggie burgers for moi. those sausage patties ARE good but not vegan unfortunately 🙁 enjoy!
Danielle
February 20, 2009 at 8:10 amI have yet to find those sausages near me, i’ll have to look, but I’ll probably be staying away from the chickn strips.
What a great lesson about mean girls, since you’ve been doing the Beth Moore bible study for a couple weeks now, would you recommend it to others?
jenna
February 21, 2009 at 5:39 amDanielle,
For sure! This is my second Beth Moore study and I just LOVE every second of it. I started with Believing God last fall and it was just life changing. I highly recommend it—a great way to grow in your faith and walk with Jesus!
Maureen
February 20, 2009 at 8:58 amThanks for the the product review, I’ve never tried the morningstar brand before. And good find on the Twizzlers! Yum!
skinnyrunner
February 20, 2009 at 9:06 amgreat bible study! i think im that way with celebrities, not that i know them, but always negative about them when really, as a christian, i should be praying for them….
have a great friday!
Sarah
February 20, 2009 at 9:33 amHave fun making cupcakes! It sounds like fun ; )
Sarah
Jenni
February 20, 2009 at 9:52 ami’m a huge licorice fan too! what a wonderful thing to find in your fruit drawer 🙂
that looks like an amazingly tasty dinner, strange morningstar strips notwithstanding. for some reason i’d never thought of adding things in to annie’s mac and cheese, but it’s such a great idea.
have a great time baking cupcakes! can’t wait to see how they turn out!
Jess
February 20, 2009 at 10:41 amWow I want Twizzlers now!
Agreed on the Morningstar Meal Starters. Love their burgers, don’t like the nasty fake chicken.
Danielle
February 20, 2009 at 10:47 amGreat message, great meal, great dessert. That’s amazing that you’ve been sleeping so well, it’s really such an important part of life. I need to remember that 😉 take care Jenna!
Michelle
February 20, 2009 at 11:42 amWhat an excellent message from the Bible Study. It is SO true as well. It seems that a lot of women size up other women upon first meeting them and judge them prematurely and I find that ridiculous! You are absolutely right, each woman is an individual and WONDERFUL and we should feel blessed and love who WE are, not who we think we need to be 🙂 Great lesson!
I tried the Chik’N strips a few weeks ago and really enjoyed them! I tried them in a teriyaki stir fry and actually found them to be a tad on the chewy side…maybe it was the cooking time??
destiny
June 25, 2011 at 12:39 amLook I know the meaness can really face off but if you are nt perfefect enough than go out and try something new. If your in elamentary create your own club but be nice/mean but listen add them as your friend but calmy tell them your name.