Lost, But Holding Hands

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...