Lost, But Holding Hands

My first round of Whole30 lasted over 100 days.  It was challenging, yet rewarding. You can read about my experience here .  My first round ended over the summer and for a while, I stayed mostly compliant and, overall, happy. Then...the school year started.  I am so blessed and have thoroughly enjoyed stepping back into the classroom.  I'm at a great building, on a great team, with an even greater group of kids.  But being a teacher is hard.  Eating healthy while being a teacher is even harder.  It's so easy to fall into the trap of running on caffeine and candy.  Thus, I am ready to start another round of Whole30 and I am bringing an awesome group of people along for the ride. So if you are ready to start a round, or just want to dip your toe into reading labels, working out, and making healthier choices---this post and future posts are for you! Meal Plan 10/2-10/6 Breakfast:  Breakfast Casserole-  This easy, versatile breakfast b...

Grace. It's a word we hear a lot. Most of us use it from time to time. It comes up in every imaginable situation: from credit payments to work deadlines. Speeding tickets to deposit refunds. I bet even most of us mean the same thing when we use it. Giving grace means we're going to cut someone some slack. Show a little understanding. Give someone a little more time. Maybe a re-do. It's true, all of those things. At least superficially. I think most of us even, if pushed, would include the caveat that grace has to be given freely and without resentment. I mean, if you cut someone slack but then hold it over their head can you really call that grace? Is it any degree of mercy worth mentioning? Ok, so we're going to cut someone some slack and try not to hold a grudge about it. No guilt trips after the fact. This is pretty easy to do if the person has shown in some way that they "deserve" grace. They were late, but they called to let you know they had a flat t...

Thirty days. More than four hundred things. Three people. One weird goal. For the month of September, the our family is going to play the 30 Day Minimalism Game. The #MinsGame is one of those things that's simple, but not easy. Each day, for the 30 days in September, we will work to eliminate objects from our lives. On September 1st, we'll pick one item. On September 2, two items. September 3? That's three items. You get the idea. By the end of September--after 30 days of playing--our family hopes to remove 465 objects from our possession.  Why attempt such a thing? Why not. An absence of clutter in the physical sets the stage for an absence of clutter in the heart and mind. Clarity. That's the real goal. Clarity and contentment. What if what we have isn't actually what we want? Guidelines: Everyone plays You are in control of "your stuff" Everyday trash doesn't count Try to stick to physical items (digtial purging is a thing, t...

Some of us put a lot of thought into New Year's Resolutions.  About the time we begin shopping and decorating for Christmas- we also start imagining the most perfect, romantic, fun New Year's Eve and how we will start the new year as a "new me" or a "new us" with our significant other.  Others of us wake up on January 1st and hastily decide to take up running, or to throw about all of the leftover booze from the night before and stop hitting the bottle so hard.  We decide to get thinner, get happier, and to just generally be better. I think my teacher friends would agree that New Year's Resolutions do not just happen on January 1st.  About the time Target begins swapping the outdoorsy gear for school supplies, we start thinking about the kind of year we want to have- the kind of teacher we will be- the awesome things our students will do and achieve.  This is the time we start thinking about how this year can be different...better.  Or maybe you have h...

Sometimes the side dish makes the meal.  That is definitely the case with these crispy, savory, summery green beans!  Not to mention that this recipe is SUPER easy.  I mean the most time consuming part is prepping the fresh green beans.  You could always do that ahead of time. Lemon Rosemary Roasted Green Beans Ingredients: Fresh green beans- 1 lb-ish (washed and snapped) 1 T melted coconut oil 1 t salt 2 t rosemary 1 thinly sliced lemon Directions: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a cast iron skillet (or any baking dish), toss green beans, oil, and seasonings. Lay lemon slices on top. Roast for 25-30 minutes, stirring part way through.  So yummy.  Pair it with a simple grilled chicken or pork chop for an easy weeknight dinner!

Sunday Fun Day involves a LOT of food prep for the week.  What I prep changes weekly depending on our meal plan, but one thing is for sure- I'll be prepping this delicious, versatile breakfast casserole that, when paired with a side of fruit, will last all week for me and the hubs! Once you get the hang of the basics to this casserole- you will find yourself changing it up to your own preferences and what produce you have on hand.  The ingredients I am sharing today are my basic, go-to recipe.  But I will also share variations I have tried.  If you mix it up and add different veggies and meats- tag me in a post and let me know how it turned out! Savory Breakfast Bake This recipe has a few components that are cooked separately before it comes together in a casserole dish.  I am breaking up the ingredients and steps to make it easier to follow. Sweet Potatoes Ingredients: 2-3 sweet potatoes (depending on size) 2 T olive oil Salt Pepper ...

Don't you just love meals that come together in one pan?  I absolutely love my cast iron pan.  It makes dishes like this easy and aesthetically pleasing- nothing more homey than sitting down together at the table with a hot pan of goodness. If you don't have a cast iron pan- no worries.  Just use a skillet for the stove top portion and then transfer it to a baking dish to go into the oven. Seasoning and searing the chicken thighs in the pan first, helps get the skin nice and crispy and cuts down on the time this dish spends in the oven. The smell of cauliflower drives my husband CRAZY.  But once it's seasoned and cooked- he eats i happily.  So don't let the idea (or smell) of cauliflower stop you from trying this recipe!  You can also buy frozen riced cauliflower and skip the smell :) One Pan Spicy Chicken Thighs  &  Mexican Cauliflower Rice Ingredients: Spicy Chicken Thighs- 2 T avocado (or olive) oil 4 chicken thighs (b...

Hey, y'all- There are several indicators that are signaling the end of summer break- First, I got this terrible advertisement from Walgreens yesterday. What the heck?!  The least effective way to draw people in is to remind them that summer is ending.  Also, when does summer actually end- September?  Pump the break, Walgreens.   Second, I have my first day back at work on Monday.  It's just a one day training, but it means that all three of us have to be up, fed, ready and out the door by 7 to get Ryan to day camp and get to work on time.  Blah.  I've literally dropped the kiddo off at camp each day this summer in either pajamas or workout garb. Lastly, and perhaps the most obvious- school supplies are everywhere!  There are 2 things that get me fired up while shopping- Hobby Lobby jumping several holidays and seasons ahead (I mean come on, right now there are leftover 4th of July decorations next to BOTH fall and Christmas decor). ...

The ease of summer is addictive.  Having time to relax, read, stay caught up on laundry and other around-the-house chores is a blessing.  The funny part is, I find it harder to stick to a clean eating plan in summer than I do during the school year.  The rigor and routine of the school year lends itself to a more strict meal and exercise plan.  It's ironic that during summer break- with all the time in the world- I sometimes often find myself looking at the clock and wondering how it is already noon and I haven't accomplished much of anything.  It's also so tempting to indulge in summer treats- s'mores, ice cream, sno-cones, cookouts, etc. While I won't complain or deny my love for summer- I am beginning to yearn for the structure of returning to work. Today has been a mixture of productiveness and laziness. Tyler is out of town for the week and Ryan spent the night at my parent's house.  What did  I do with my night/morning of freedom?  Last n...

I have spent the last few weeks eyeing an advertisement that keeps popping up on my social media accounts for a smoothie delivery program.  This particular company is organic, #whole30 compliant and delivers ready to go produce and add-ins already in cups ready to be blended with your liquid of choice.  Several times over the last few weeks, I visited their website and did what I am best at---added things to my cart, balked at the price, and backed out.  I mean I am not about to spend 7.99 on a smoothie- no matter how healthy or convenient. So instead, I have been buying frozen smoothie mixes at the store.  But this has proved to be a challenge as well because it is incredibly difficult to find frozen fruit that doesn't have additives and preservatives.  Manufactures put chemicals in the fruit to keep the color of the fruit vibrant- but the things is...I've froze fresh fruit and vegetables before without them losing their color, so I think it is totally unnec...

i like to travel. i've always liked to travel. there is nothing better than packing up for an adventure and hitting the open road or the friendly skies to see a new place. i consider myself to be a relatively experienced traveler who has seen a few places lots of different ways: Canada  à  la camper shell National Parks  à  la tent Road Trip adventures  à  la camper South Korea  à  la University  Ireland  à  la honeymoon London and Paris  à  la bad decisions Disneyland & Disney World wonders  à  la hotel you get the idea. my love for travel has been a part of me for a long time. sadly, real life sometimes keeps me from fulfilling my desire to be wrapped up in wanderlust 24/7. there's the full time job, the two pups, the limited income, etc. actually, it's usually the limited income that's the killer. living in the midwest has a ton of advantages. the cost of living is low, there's plen...

Update my on my #whole30 journey: Ahh!  These past few weeks have been CRAZY.  We have been camping a LOT.  Which is amazing and wonderful and so hard to do while on program.  It's not necessarily about having food that isn't compliant- but it's about the amount of food.  It is so easy to mindlessly snack and eat while hanging out at the campground, hiking, and relaxing.  So needless to say I am feeling kind of blah.  I gave myself a little too much food freedom last weekend, but I started a solid 30 day restart on Tuesday.  But I am going to be totally vulnerable right now and say that I for real ate Cinnamon Toast Crunch by the handful when I got home on Monday.  I guess I can consider that muscle confusion?!  Nevertheless- I am back at it. But really, I hope this serves as a reminder that this is not  easy.  Yes I post pictures of yummy food on Facebook and Instagram.  Yes I have had a lot of success since startin...

Sometimes it is so hot outside, that cooking a hot lunch seems absolutely dreadful.  Other times, I am still in pajamas at noon, have spent the morning cleaning and doing laundry and I just want to throw something together for lunch that is equal part delicious, healthy, and simple.  That is where the power bowl comes in handy.  It's like going to Chipotle or Subway- but way healthier and customization.  Imagine yourself moving down the ordering line, selecting what sounds delicious and building your dish to your exact specifications.  But all of this is happening in the comfort of your own home- while you are still in your pajamas, without makeup, and watching trashy movies on Lifetime (may or may not be a true story of my lunch time today). You can make a power bowl for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  If you simply stock up on a variety of veggies and have a stock of healthy proteins (we keep tuna, hard-boiled eggs, and crock-pot shredded chicken breas...

When I reached day 30, I wasn't sure how to proceed.  I felt great.  I was happy with the progress I had made, but I was nervous.  I worried about slipping back into old habits.  Not having a solid plan was not an option, so  I forged ahead and, even though it was hard and I battled temptations- I sit here, having made it to day 103 (last week) before venturing into food freedom .  I wanted to share with our friends and followers my biggest takeaways from my food reset, a little about my dip into freedom, and where I am going from here. What I Learned: 1.  Cooking at home is not that hard . Before starting Whole30, we ate out a lot .  Not only was it not healthy, it often killed our weekly budget.  While on Whole30, our grocery bill has nearly doubled, but we eat at home most of the time.  In 100 days, I think I have eaten out less than 8 times.  The first few weeks of being on program, it took forever to meal plan, shop, and c...

memorial day weekend: bennett spring / lebanon KOA; arrive saturday, depart monday it's the wednesday after memorial day and we're just 2 sleeps and a wake up from our next adventure. this friday we're heading back to my original stomping ground in north-central missouri. there's a nice rv park with some fun things to do that's only about 10 minutes from the town i grew up in. i'm looking forward to seeing some family and taking another weekend to "slow down fast".  since we're getting into the meat of the season i'm excited to do that more and more in the coming weeks. it's the real reason i love taking our travel trailer out. slowing down and reconnected with self, nature, and family feel so necessary and refreshing. i remember spending hours at state park campsites as a child doing...well, nothing. not literally nothing, but nothing in comparison to regular life. the nothingness is powerful. there is beauty in just BEING...

We camped over the Memorial Day weekend at Bennett Springs State Park. In true Britt fashion, it stormed hard  on Saturday.  We had literally just pulled in, hooked up, and began to settle in when a tornado warning sent us to the camp clubhouse.  Once the severe weather stopped, it continued to rain- so we headed to town and visited a couple stores- let Ryan pick a new movie and some movie snacks and then headed back to the camper for a family movie night. Family Movie Night! Sunday, on the other hand, was beautiful.  We hiked, we visited the fish hatchery, grilled, watched the fly fisherman, and played at the campsite. KOA is always a great option with kiddos- Bennett KOA had a pool, an awesome clubhouse, a jumping pad, and gem mining. A 3 mile hike through some rough terrain :) Playing in the clubhouse  Fortunately I was off work on Friday and spent the day shopping, meal prepping, and loading up the camper.  We decided to grill ...

Ya'll  Friday was my last day of school!  What?!?! I know.  I am so excited!  The peacefulness of summer is beginning to wash over me.  I love summer---even though it is a myth that teachers have summers off and I will be working on and off all summer.  But I've got that summer feeling- for sure. Last weekend we took the camper to Omaha for the weekend. It was the perfect distance from KC and we had an awesome time.  We stayed at the Omaha KOA .  It had super fun amenities that Ryan loved---a giant jumping pillow, a rope course, ladder ball, and a trampoline basketball game.  Not only that, but it was in a great location.  It was about 25 minutes from the Omaha Zoo- which we did on Saturday afternoon and only 10 minutes away from Schram Park and Eugene T Mahoney State Park.  We went to the both of these parks to explore and hike.  If you are thinking about exploring Omaha- I say go for it!   As far as staying on the wh...

Usually I spend a good portion of Sunday grocery shopping and food prepping.  Yesterday was a tad different because we didn't get home from our Omaha camping adventure until late afternoon.  I didn't go to the grocery until after 6 and didn't start meal prep until after I put Ryan in bed at 8:30.  I roasted sweet potatoes and veggies, grilled sausages, pan fried burgers, and cut fruit until just after 10:30.  But I collapsed into bed with 10 breakfast kits and 10 lunch kits ready for the week. -----> Breakfast: 1/2 sweet potato, grilled sausage (Aidells Chicken and Apple), and 2 scrambled eggs. Lunch:  Grilled Burger (grass fed beef, garlic, and primal palate meat/potato seasoning), carrot fries , and roasted broccoli/brussel sprouts.   Dinners: Monday- Crock Pot Fajitas Tuesday- Chicken with Potatoes and Sage Wednesday- Oven Baked Chicken Thighs with Lemon, Garlic, and Scallions Thursday- Greek Chicken Skillet Friday-  Green...