Oppression, Freedom, and the Toothpaste Aisle

Eleven years ago I began blogging. Eleven years ago I was in the early stages of parenting (my boys were 5, 2, and 8 months). Eleven years ago we moved into our little “forever home.” Eleven years ago we began our homeschooling adventure.

I had plans. I had big plans.

I had it all figured out.

My dreams, if I admitted them, were ambitious. On paper (and in blog posts), a decade ahead was the decade when it all came together. I would be experienced. I would be successful. My kids, oh, they would be amazing. All my passions would have become honed talents. Photography, interior design, parenting, homeschooling, reading, blogging, writing and speaking—expert level, right?!

Maybe you have noticed how quiet the blog has been for a year, or two or three.

Turns out, I don’t have it all figured out. The further into this life gig I get, the less I know and the less I feel qualified to share what I think I still know. Not only do I know less, but I do less.

I have a gazillion blog posts started. One of three things always happens:

1. I’m too lazy or distracted to finish it.

2. My perfectionist side can’t get it up to snuff.

3. I realize I am in no place to give any sort of advice or encouragement. About anything.

But a web, of sorts, has been forming in my mind and in my heart over the past six months. I’ve resisted writing a blog post because this web is woven of many different topics (the golden mean of virtue, politics, health, freedom vs liberty, minimalism vs hoarding, self-care vs self-limits, slothfulness vs leisure, independence vs community, depression, stoicism, Charlotte Mason). There are few topics the web doesn’t touch, and my thoughts are not linear. My perfectionism wants them organized in three winsome persuasive parallel points. With alliteration.

Of course, I also want these ideas to have transformed my life so I can share my successful experience. And I can be an expert.

Truth is, I’m wrestling with these ideas and preaching to myself. You can join me if you like. Wrestle with me. Discuss with me. Share with me your thoughts and experiences.

I have to take this in bite-sized pieces, so I’ll give you the short version if you’re the type of person who reads the last page of the book before starting the first chapter.

Short Version

Unbridled freedom is not freedom.

Options become obligations become oppression.

We can mitigate the damage in two ways:

• By limiting ourselves.
• By loving our neighbor.

The cruicible in which these actions are practiced is FAMILY.

Chapter One (of the Long Version)

I’ve been thinking about the sliding scale (or pendulum swing) between the oppressive lack of freedom and choices that much of humanity has had in other times or other cultures and the unbridled freedom and abundance of our own age.

For so many people throughout history, the occupation of their hours was fixed, their diet was fixed, their relationships were fixed, their knowledge was fixed, their cultural traditions and village of residence was fixed, their housing, clothing, number of children, personal hygiene, careers, creative outlets were fixed. So little freedom. So few choices.

But in this culture in this age?

We have a rapacious appetite for freedoms and choices. We resist all external limits.

You cannot tell me what I should or should not, may not have. You cannot tell me what I should or should not, may not do.

I have the freedom and ability to purchase 100 different items for personal hygiene. When I run out of one of these, let’s say toothpaste, I am faced with a string of decisions/judgments.

When shall I go to the store to buy more? Is it in the budget, or shall I go into debt? Which of the 20 nearby stores shall I visit? (This in itself requires a long string of judgments including distance, convenience, selection, thriftiness, and business ethics.) On the dental hygiene aisle (loaded with countless types of tools and potions just for teeth), I have 40 different toothpastes to choose from. Which is safest? Which is most effective for the purpose I wish it to fulfill? Which is the most economical? Which is healthy? Which is tastiest? Which packaging is attractive? Which one impacts the environment the least? Which company is most ethical? The list goes on. Do I buy just one, or do I stock up? What fits in my budget? What fits in my space? Will that save me time, energy, or money? Do I buy other items at the store while I’m there? Shall I pay with cash, check, or credit card? Which of the 10 credit cards in my wallet shall I use? Is the transaction safe?

We are so conditioned to face these endless strings of judgments and choices every single moment of every day that we hardly notice them.

But do we know what toll they take on us, emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually?

Is it healthy to demand no limits to our choices? Decisions that fatigue or paralyze us. Closets and counters overflowing with stuff that clutters our life. Excess or harmful food that weighs us down and cripples our bodies, minds, and emotions. Relationships that break us. Debt that burdens. Immoral or unethical actions or thoughts that destroy us spiritually.

Or is it possible to self-limit in a healthy way that brings us to the center of the pendulum swing, to a place of equilibrium, a golden mean?

In order not to be damaged by unlimited freedom and choices, I must have the self-discipline to set my own limits.

That is difficult in a culture in which choices are a right, almost an obligation. It is difficult in a culture of excess and permissiveness to find the self-discipline to deny ourselves any pleasure, convenience, desire, privilege, or entitlement. Especially when these limits seem (or are) arbitrary.

What if I choose to reject my 465 health care options? What if I wear the same items of clothing every day? What if I haven’t changed my hair style in 20 years? What if I choose to eliminate electronics from my life? What if I choose not to take a promotion? What if I choose to eat the same meal for dinner every evening?

*

I have been contemplating the idea of freedom and self-limits and finding that it is applicable in myriad arenas of life. I am hoping to share how this concept illuminates specific topics in future blog posts. Let’s see if I can write chapter two…

It's That Time Again

Yes, time for a re-set.

I’m starting another Whole30 this month. [I had planned to start on the 2nd, but life. Party leftovers, illness, inclement weather…So I’ve had a “soft start” the past few days.]

I’m trying my own mayo for the first time around. I’m also hoping to get a batch of home-brewed kombucha going. My sister gave me a beautiful recipe book and a brewing jar for Christmas and I can’t wait!

Drinks:

A detox mixture of water, apple cider vinegar, lemon, and cayenne pepper (Yes, it’s nasty.)

Green tea (I love Tazo’s Zen tea.) (I add a tablespoon of coconut oil to the first cup of the morning.)

La Croix sparkling water (or other sparkling waters like Trader Joe’s lemon) (I live on these...)

Snacks:

Fresh fruit or vegetables

Black olives

Dill pickles

LARA Bars (in case of emergency)

Breakfast:

I almost always eat some combination of eggs and veggies (scrambled and sauteed, respectively). Today it was eggs with mushrooms, bell peppers, and asparagus. Occasionally I’ll add sausage or bacon.

On rare occasions I’ll eat a sliced banana topped with coconut milk, cinnamon, a pinch of sea salt, and toasted sliced almonds (too many carbs and not enough protein, so it doesn’t last as long).

Even more rare (because it’s more time consuming and, again, not enough protein), Sweet Potato Latkes and fried apple slices.

Lunch:

Salads with various cold meats with either guacamole or olive oil and vinegar dressing like this Greek Dressing or Caesar dressing using homemade mayo (I love taco salad or a salad with sliced cold steak in particular.)

Veggies dipped in guac and a few slices of cold steak (I love the individual serving guacamole cups at Costco.)

BLT Lettuce Wraps (These would be delish with sliced avocado.)

Lettuce-wrapped tuna salad with tomato and homemade mayo

Cold Sesame (Cucumber) Noodles

Dinners:

My go-to dinner is some sort of BBQ meat and roasted veggies. It’s easy and fast. I also keep Aidell’s Chicken and Apple Sausages and organic beef or chicken stock on hand (available at Costco) for emergencies. But here are a few more ideas for you.

Slow-cooker Piquant French Dip (lovingly called “the roast that does everything” at our house) [3-lb chuck roast, 2 cups water, 1/2 soy sauce or coconut aminos, 1 tsp dried rosemary, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 bay leaf, 3 whole peppercorns; place in slow-cooker, cook on high 5-6 hours or until beef is tender, shred beef, strain broth and skim fat; use leftover meat and broth for veggie soup.]

Loaded bunless burgers [I usually top them with some combination of dijon mustard, avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato; but you could add dill pickles or marinara sauce or grilled pineapple…]

Personal Pesto Chicken Meatza

Asian Ground Beef Broccoli Slaw (I just use the kale salad mix from Costco instead of the broccoli and spinach.)

Korean Beef-Wrapped Asparagus (Leave out the honey if you want it to be Whole-30 approved.)

Lettuce-wrapped tacos (Turkey Lettuce Wrap Tacos with Chiles, Cumin, Cilantro, Lime and Tomato-Avocado Salsa)

Paleo Chikfila Chicken Nuggets

Bruschetta Chicken

Very Greek Grilled Chicken

Oven-baked Chicken Fajitas (This is one of my favorites. I serve it with tortillas for my family.)

Proscuitto-Wrapped Rosemary Chicken [Chicken wrapped in prosciutto with rosemary- marinate the chicken with rosemary, white wine (use a vinegar for Whole30), pepper, garlic, olive oil and red onion. Wrap the prosciutto around the chicken with a sprig of rosemary tucked in and bake for 40 minutes.]

Lemon Garlic Dijon Chicken

Cilantro Thai Grilled Chicken

Chicken and Asparagus Lemon Stir Fry (Substitute alternate oil and coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.)

Skinny Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles (FYI: the wine is not Whole30-approved.)

Roasted Shrimp and Broccoli

Baked Salmon with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Asparagus

Pulled Pork with Slaw (I use Costco’s Kirkland Signature pulled pork and the kale salad mix for the slaw veggies with this creamy dressing.)

BBQ Brats and Sauerkraut

Sausage and Cabbage Noodles

Asian Cauliflower Fried Rice (with Oven-Roasted Cauliflower Rice)

Sides:

Heirloom Tomato Avocado Caprese Salad

Grilled Artichokes with Roasted Garlic Olive Oil Dip

Green salad (with guacamole or oil and vinegar dressing)

Roasted veggies (potatoes with bruschetta seasoning, sweet potatoes with cinnamon, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, bell peppers and onions…)

Sauteed snow peas

Green beans

Need more inspiration? You’ll find endless ideas at these blogs:

Melissa Joulwan’s Well-Fed

Elana’s Pantry (but no baked sweets during Whole30!—even if they are Paleo)

Everyday Paleo

paleOMG

nom nom paleo

Against All Grain

Food for Thought ~ The Burden of My Neighbor’s Glory

 

“It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbor. The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbor's glory should be laid daily on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken. ...

"It is in light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit...

Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.”  ~ C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

 

::  Have you been following this story on one of my favorite Facebook pages, Humans of New York? Brandon roams New York, taking photographs of people and letting them share small bits of their stories. And this story all begins with one boy. Now Brandon has given readers a chance to do big things for this school and these children. And we’ve met other incredible human beings involved, human beings who are daily carrying the weight of their neighbors’ glory. [This is another favorite Facebook page. Just in case you needed another encouraging and entertaining place to land while on FB.]

::  How Children Learn: Portraits of Classrooms Around the World @ Brain Pickings. Speaking of students in other learning environments… [I love these portraits, as well as the other series by the same photographer.]

::  McKenzie is my own little neighbor. Her mom is a friend of mine, and I’ve been following her story since the day she went into the hospital just before Christmas and her 7th birthday. She and her family have a long, hard road in front of them. Please keep them in your prayers!

::  The Likely Cause of Addiction Has Been Discovered, and It Is Not What You Think @ Huff Post. [This article is fascinating, but it’s also a call to all of us to pay attention to the lonely and isolated around us.]

This isn't only relevant to the addicts I love. It is relevant to all of us, because it forces us to think differently about ourselves. Human beings are bonding animals. We need to connect and love. The wisest sentence of the twentieth century was E.M. Forster's -- "only connect." But we have created an environment and a culture that cut us off from connection, or offer only the parody of it offered by the Internet. The rise of addiction is a symptom of a deeper sickness in the way we live -- constantly directing our gaze towards the next shiny object we should buy, rather than the human beings all around us.

::  New Research Discovers That Depression Is An Allergic Reaction To Inflammation @ Feel Guide. Speaking of your neighbor struggling with loneliness… It is likely you have neighbors with depression as well. Be kind.

 

Take the time to love and encourage the people who cross your path as you go about your week.

 

Have a great one, friends!

Energy Begets Energy

 

“And what is a man without energy?   Nothing - nothing at all.” ~Mark Twain  

But what do you do if you don’t have any to start with?

Overwhelming surroundings or circumstances throw me into energy conservation mode. And it doesn’t take much to overwhelm me.

Fight or flight? Nah, I just play dead.

When I hit energy conservation mode, a grinding halt, it is only by God’s grace that I can bust out of it. How does one change by sheer force of will, when one has no will to force?

Seriously, while most of you are itching to get outside and stretch your limbs and breathe fresh air, maybe dig in the dirt a little, I just want to huddle into myself. A small cocoon.

Driving the boys to swim practice the other day, I noticed people out and about. They were running, biking, walking and talking, throwing javelins, gardening, busy being alive. It made me weary just watching them. Can you imagine?

Exercise is the last thing on my priority list when the day’s to-do list is stacking up like Mt. Vesuvius about to blow, and I can’t summon the energy to tackle it. Why stop at today’s to-do list? What I wouldn’t give for tunnel vision when I allow the week’s, the year’s to-do list to beat me down.

By God’s grace.

Today He gave me periodic blue skies and sunshine. And the will to go outside with the kids and walk/run/bike for a little bit.

A mustard seed of energy. That begat energy.

 

It’s not like the world was coming to an end this past week.

Just post vacation disaster and laundry explosion. Ants. [shudder] Subsequent deep cleaning of several areas I had no desire to deep clean (and the in-progress disaster). Deep cleaning of bathroom cupboards while in procrastination/avoidance mode. Daylight Savings (there went my early mornings). A disastrous house (again, still, always). Carb binging. Clean eating detox. Classical Conversations (for which I was totally not prepared). PMS. Enneagram rabbit trail (more about this in a minute) and subsequent emotional breakdown (see “PMS”). Schedules thrown off by unplanned visitors and broken appointments. Lessons. [cough] (We’ll be schooling through August…)

 

I knew exactly what I needed to do, even if I didn’t want to do it. Eat well. And I have—for the past six days. Well, except for the plain semi-sweet chocolate for a couple days because, ahem (see “PMS”).

Turning that around was a minor miracle in itself. But I must. MUST.

My go-to versatile, convenient, tasty, healthy, paleo food has been the sweet kale salad kit from Costco. It's a crunchy green salad mix with broccoli slaw, thinly-sliced Brussels sprouts, shredded cabbage, kale, and chicory. It comes with cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and poppy seed dressing, but I've found many ways to use it without. The greens mix adds great crunch to any other salad (I specifically LOVE it in taco salad, with or without other greens). It is great stir-fried as a hot side dish with sliced almonds or as a main dish with chicken sausage or bacon. Or stir-fried and covered with spaghetti sauce (instead of noodles). But my most favorite way to eat it is with a creamy slaw dressing and pulled pork. Delish.

And then I cleaned up a few rooms. No, not clean, but passable enough not to trigger emotional and mental breakdown upon entry.

Yesterday I busted out the basic to-do list. Dishes, laundry, lesson prep. And got to bed at a reasonable hour.

Today I managed to kick myself out of bed early. Spent some quiet devotion/study time. Buckled down to lessons with the boys. No screens for the kids. Breathed fresh air. Stretched my legs and lungs.

Life begets life. Energy begets energy.

Now, about that Enneagram rabbit trail. I was going to skip it, because it’s bedtime, but it ties into and leads to another thing that I want to end with.

Y’all know I have a thing for personality tests. I have a serious passion for Myers-Briggs types. Well, the rabbit trail started with a blog series by Leigh Kramer. So I took this free Enneagram test.

According to my friend Tsh, Myers-Briggs supposedly deals with your consciousness; Enneagram deals with your unconscious. MB is about our "True Self;" Enneagram is about the defenses we use to protect our "True Self." It reveals our weaknesses; our tendencies when we're stressed.

And this is what my results told me:

Type 6: The Security-Oriented Type

I must be secure and safe to survive. (Very strong score on this one.)
I must be helpful and caring to survive.
I must be knowledgeable to survive.
I must be perfect and good to survive.
I must maintain peace/calm to survive.
I must be impressive and attractive to survive.

And then it told me that my score was “very unhealthy”, that I needed to “work on my physical health and fitness” and my “psychological health.”

Like a knife, people.

Maybe I took the test on the wrong day of the month.

So then I took another test because I couldn’t let it go, and I wanted different results—which I received.

Type 4: The Individualist

They typically have problems with melancholy, self-indulgence, and self-pity.

• Basic Fear: That they have no identity or personal significance
• Basic Desire: To find themselves and their significance (to create an
     identity)

That was the last personality test I took.

[Maybe this is a good time to change the subject and tell you about a test that went much better for me. I conquered the world history timed test. I can now type the name of every world country in under 9 minutes. Because I must be knowledgeable, perfect, and impressive to survive.]

I was going somewhere with this…

Oh, yes. I went to a swim team awards potluck this evening and made good food choices because I’m on a roll and energy begets energy. While I was sitting at the table eating my fruit, veggies, and meatloaf, the guest speaker got up to talk about…health and fitness. Yep. “Eat whole foods. Do strength training and cardio for a half hour (not more). You need to push your body. You need to breathe hard so your lungs get stronger. You need to stress your muscles so they get stronger.”

Okay, okay. Message received. I drove home, dusted of the 30 Day Shred, and did cardio and strength training for 20 minutes.

That’s something. A very little something, but maybe it will beget another something. But first, sleep.

“Energy and persistence alter all things.”  ~Benjamin Franklin

The price of anything and other thoughts on a Tuesday…

 

The speed of time takes my breath away. Another day. Another week. Another month. Another year.

It feels ridiculous to document the hangnails of my days when I’m knee-deep in the passing hours. And yet, to look back, oh! it seems so foreign and familiar all at the same time. Was I really present? (Did she seriously sleep that much? Saving up for toddlerhood, no doubt about it!) Soon I will find hair-cutting, mischief-making, attention-demanding quite sentimental. Some day. I’m sure of it.

I spent Monday in court, supporting a friend and her family with about one hundred and fifty other supportive souls. My heart breaks for the tragic situation in which my friend finds herself. Sometimes the price paid simply isn’t fair. And it steals years of a life. Of a family.

I came home that evening and God gave me Black Threads by Ming-Wai Ng at Story Warren:

“My name is Ming and I am made of threads, threads of story, threads of pain. Before I was even born, thin filaments of loss, pain, joy, heartache, love, laughter, battles, and failure were being stitched into my being. Before I took my first breath, there were dark wispy fragments of pain being woven into the core of who I am. They are there now; from the soles of my feet to the crown of my head, and without those threads, I would not exist.”

 

How does the quotidian, the mundane, influence my story? Should it have weight? Particularly considering the platter of perspective lately served? I don’t know. Maybe large swaths will later be deemed inconsequential. Maybe a word here, or a word there, will be meaningful to someone else, regardless of my awareness of it. Maybe these words will speak to me a year from now. Or ten.

Or possibly it is my way of being here. Present. Paying attention to what fills my days. Aware of the price paid with life hours.

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Present and Accounted For

This is week four of my 40 Days of SPS challenge. I’ve been up by 6:30ish every weekday except one. I was out late with my ChocLit Guild (book club) ladies the night before. Lola was up quite a bit of the night with stomach pains. I must have turned off my alarm in my sleep, because I didn’t wake up until 7:30ish…and then it was a slow morning. But, seriously?! That is 16 mornings that I’ve seen the six o’clock hour in the past few weeks. Success.

I haven’t been filling out my SPS pages this week, though. I could write in the same thing each day. To do: lessons and housework. If I could live today over again: have grace for my children.

Honestly, the boys have needed me to be on top of them every single second of the day or chaos reigns. Lola is a walking tornado in and of herself. She cut her hair again tonight. Sigh. I’m running out of consequences for everyone. And I’m having trouble balancing grace and discipline. I certainly would not have won any parenting awards this evening.

I read this article which reiterates what Don Miller has listed on the SPS:

:: Resolve To Do It Right (this time) by Noel Green

“The New Year is upon us again people are making resolutions hoping to eat less, exercise more, and generally be a better version of themselves. Very few people will make it through the year with their resolution in tact — in fact one statistic suggest 25% don’t make it the first week. What if I were to tell you the best way to succeed in keeping resolutions is to simply time travel back and live it again?”

Apparently I need more than two chances in the parenting department.

 

This is week three of my 40 Days of (Good) Food challenge. I planned to have dessert at book club last Thursday, and wouldn’t you know it? My friend brought chocolate zucchini bread—made with homegrown zucchini, almond flour, and local honey! (I have the BEST book club, evah!!) So I was doing well until day 14 and 15. Both days we were out unexpectedly over a meal time. It is a good thing I planned a few off days (but I didn’t drink Dr. Pepper!). I figure 30 out of 40 would be a success, and I’m back on track today.

 

This is week two of my 40 Days of Geography challenge. I’ve got the basics down for North, Central, and South America. I worked hard on the Caribbean this week, and I think I’ve got it (wow, there are a lot of islands!). I have the European countries, geographical regions, rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans. I’ve mastered the basic level for all of Asia and the Middle East. Now I have Africa and Oceania. Eek! Those are both very intimidating for me!

I didn’t add another challenge this week. I spent Monday at court. We drove to Salem Monday evening to check out a truck for sale (and had dinner out as a family). Several hours today were spent at the bank and running errands. But I have this to show for it. My Valentine’s Day-18th Anniversary-40th Birthday-Mother’s Day-(Fourth of July…) gift:

 

We bought our previous Suburban used ten years ago, and have run it into the ground. It has needed a new transmission for a year and a half (we’ve been driving it with no second gear). Russ has spent hours and hours recently fixing other things that have gone wrong. And it needs new tires. The transmission and tires would cost more than the truck is worth. Sigh. (Having four kids has been a bit of a challenge every time the truck would break down. We can’t all fit into Russ’s car.)

And we’re heading out on a mini family vacation on Thursday. I cannot tell you how badly we need this. Our last “vacation” was a year ago, and, well, I don’t think that even qualifies.

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Creative Inspiration

:: Ransom Note Poetry by my friend Danielle at Further Up and Further In. How fun is that?! This is definitely going on my “to-create” list for next week.

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Did you make New Year’s resolutions this year? How are you doing one month in?

SPS, Food, Geography, Oh My!

 

Happy Monday!

This is the beginning of week three of the SPS challenge. Mondays are our big day. I was up by 6:30, made bed, showered, tea, quiet time/Bible study, laundry, filled out SPS, kids up, enjoyed the sunrise, ready for CC, arrived EARLY (well, for us, anyway).

So this is what I’ve been missing. Glorious.

 

I enjoyed spending time with friends today. Russ watched Lola for the afternoon while the boys were in class, and then he watched all the kids while I had an outing with my sisters to check out some free books (lovely, in every way). We skipped archery tonight.

This is the beginning of week two of the good food challenge. Seven days down. Six pounds down (wahoo!!). And feeling great. My husband is particularly enjoying the hot, well-rounded, homemade meals every evening.

I made delicious Chinese 5-Spice Turkey Lettuce Boats topped with matchstick bell peppers, broccoli slaw, and a sesame dressing from Practical Paleo on Friday. They were beautiful, but I was too hungry to snap a photo. I made the leftovers into a salad, which I had today for lunch.

The rest of the family had waffles yesterday (one of my favorites), so I needed something other than eggs. I whipped up a batch of sweet potato latkes and ate them with apples fried in coconut oil topped with a little Greek yogurt and a dash of cinnamon. Serious good food!

This is the start of my geography challenge. I currently can manage to locate with accuracy the countries of Europe, Asia (including the Middle East), and South and Central America along with the United States and the provinces and territories of Canada. I’m trying to review these continents daily. I’d like to get Oceania, the Caribbean, and Africa before moving on to higher levels of proficiency and adding bodies of water.

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Inspiration

::  Imagionality: Understanding Your Child’s Imaginative Personality by Clay Clarkson @ Story Warren (I cannot wait to read the rest of his three-part series!)

“Here’s a pattern from the Genesis creation account that I want to suggest: Information, Imagination, Creation. In other words, information feeds imagination which fuels creation. If our core personality is all about mentally processing information—how we gather it, and how we act on it—then God’s order of creation seems to suggest that imagination is not just a product of our mental processes, but rather an inherent capacity within us. Imagination stands apart from personality.”

::  Who Really Gets to Do What They Love? @ The Take Away (What do you think?)

::  Why Christians Should Create @ Relevant Magazine

"Art is how we express our unfathomable reality in words or pictures or sounds. When a painter paints a sunrise, the artist is putting forth his or her interpretation of the emotions and unspoken words of that sunrise. The author of a book is projecting part of his or herself into the characters and settings, sometimes expressing his or herself in ways that surprise even the author."

::  Life Through a Leica @ Chicago Magazine (Lovely.)

::  Dr. Andrew Kern- Why Literature is Essential in Education  (I cannot wait to hear Andrew In person next month!)

40 Days of Food

Starting tomorrow. Not a Whole30, but a 30+ days of “primal” with a few scheduled “relaxed days” thrown in (like family vacation, book club nights, etc.). I’ve outlined the general idea with my main food plan and links in the past, so I won’t rehash that here, but this is my accountability space so if I don’t say anything more about it…ask me how it’s going, will you? [grin]

When I wrote out my “life roles” on day 3 last week, I didn’t have a specific role that encompassed my eating or exercising. (No “chef” or “athlete” for me…) But I needed to establish a vision, goals, and actionable steps for my health. While I wrote, I realized that health was a bigger picture element for me—it enables me to fulfill my roles in life to the best of my ability.

My goals were not “lose 20 pounds” (though that would be nice) or “gain muscle” (again, nice) or “develop skill in a sport” (not likely) or “run a 5K” (not going to happen).

My reasons for a food re-set are threefold: physical energy, mental clarity, and emotional stability. None of which I possess in abundance. In order to do my best in the roles God has given me, I need to be my best physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. (I’m working on spiritual depth during my morning quiet time.)

Meal plan—check.

Grocery shopping—check.

40 days. I can do this.

Sweets for You

 

Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies from Against All Grain

Not that I’ve been making great food choices the past few days (always a struggle for me!), but I did try a grain free chocolate chip cookie recipe. My mom gave it two thumbs up, so I thought I’d share. {grin}

Let’s Celebrate

Four weeks of Paleo-ish, lots of Shredding; 7 pounds lost, muscle gained. (Not bad considering I had a few bad days in there.)

And, as everyone knows, chocolate cake is the only way to celebrate.

Hot, gooey, dense, sweet, rich chocolate cake.

How about hot chocolate cake with about the same number of carbs as a (much smaller) Yoplait yogurt? BUT, it is sweetened with honey, has 13 grams of protein, and has NO GRAINS (or dairy).

How about hot chocolate cake that bakes in 60 seconds?

Yeah, that’s what I said. No way is this going to taste like real chocolate cake.

I’m eating my words. And a mug of chocolate cake more often than I’d like to admit.

It’s incredible. Not only the taste, but the way it satisfies. It is so filling. I don’t fill up easily, especially when it comes to desserts. But by the last bite of this mug cake I think to myself, That was just right; one more bite would be too much. I’m guessing many of you would find this portion too much for just one person.

But it is so much better than a whole pan of brownies or a batch of cookies endlessly calling my name.

I say, eat a bowl of veggies for a mid-morning snack and then have chocolate cake for lunch. {grin}

I found the original recipe at Paleo Angel. You can thank me later. Are you ready to bake cake? Go grab a big mug (at least 16 oz.).

Dump the ingredients right in your mug.

2 Tablespoons almond butter
1 1/2 Tablespoons honey (1Tbsp wasn’t quite sweet enough for me.)
1-2 Tablespoons cocoa powder (I just heap a Tablespoon as heaping as it gets.)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
pinch of salt
1 egg

(Chopped nuts—optional)

(I have also added cinnamon and cardamom with great success, but I just tried almond extract instead and it was divine.)

Mix well with a fork. Your batter should look like brownie batter.

Stick your mug in the microwave for 60 seconds. Part of the cake will still be very moist, like a chocolate lava cake. But don’t over-bake it, or parts of it will be too dry.

I find that the hardest part is letting it cool long enough so that it doesn’t burn my tongue. Well, that and fighting off children who crowd around hoping for a bite…

Enjoy!!

If pumpkin is more your style, try this pumpkin mug from my friend Cori at Wonder in the Woods.

Paleo-ish

I mentioned in my last post that I am working on another Whole30. Well, it is more a general paleo/primal sort of eating that I am working toward and that will last more than 30 days. I’m trying to find a sustainable balance that will result in good eating habits, overall health, renewed energy, and a positive outlook on life. Right now I’m at about 90/10, and I’d like to keep it that way.

I know that paleo works well for me from my past success almost two years ago and even from my more recent attempts. I enjoy eating savory foods, eating when I’m hungry, not counting calories, and trying new foods and ingredients. I enjoy feeling full, having more energy, and not being a slave to intense carb cravings.

Rather than finding the “diet” restrictive, I find that it is focused on the “yes” foods. Meat, eggs, nuts, veggies, fruit, and healthy fats (especially avocado and coconut). Because dairy doesn’t seem to bother me, I tend to lean toward the Primal side of things by adding in butter, aged cheeses, and Greek yogurt (and some cream cheese) here and there.

There is a wealth of paleo/primal information and recipes available online. Sometimes it can be overwhelming to sift through. I thought I’d share (again) some of my basic menus and meal ideas as well as a few links for those interested. (I know a few people emailed me or commented in response to my last post.)

It would be interesting to find a local CrossFit location (the exercise phenomenon that is closely linked with paleo eating), but I am a huge wimp. And CrossFit scares me. Not only that, but I don’t have regular child care (Russ leaves insanely early in the morning and doesn’t get home from swim practice with the boys until 7:30pm) nor is a gym membership in the budget.

SO, I have happily returned to Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred, which will more likely be a 90 Day “can do 10 girl push-ups without dying” sort of result for me. I LOVE that it combines strength training with bursts of cardio. I LOVE that there are four progressive routines. I LOVE that the routines take only 20 minutes. 20 minutes? I can find 20 minutes in a day—much easier than finding an hour and a half away from home at a gym (with travel/transition time and all that). I can also face 20 minutes of working out even if I don’t want to. An hour? Notsomuch.

Getting started:

:: The Whole30 Challenge at Whole Nine is an excellent place to start. Reset your system and find out what foods have been negatively impacting your body.

::  If you are a person who likes to have a book in hand, Practical Paleo: A Customized Approach to Health and a Whole-Foods Lifestyle is a fantabulous starting guide. I just purchased it on Amazon, and it is a weighty, gorgeous book—worth every penny. (Seriously, the day it came I couldn’t figure out what was in the box because I could only remember having ordered a book, and the package was way too heavy for that!)

The pages are thick, the charts are well-organized and visually appealing, and the photographs are works of art. The book includes guides to paleo foods, stocking a pantry, nutrition and more. It contains specific information on various health issues, as well as customized meal plans for people with specific diseases and conditions. The second half of the book is filled with over 120 recipes, all visually represented. The author has also provided tear-out versions of her guides for added convenience.

Resources:

::  Everyday Paleo is an excellent resource for CrossFit fitness information and recipes.

::  For a primal lifestyle, Mark’s Daily Apple has daily inspiration.

::  Elana’s Pantry is a great place for gluten-free baking. She has a staggering array of paleo recipes, as well. I’m dying to try her Paleo Apple Tart.

::  Civilized Caveman cooks up some pretty spectacular food. I can’t wait to try his Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Muffins with Honey Frosting!

::  My friend Cori at Wonder in the Woods has just started eating paleo and already has a few recipes and encouragement up on her blog.

If you have favorite paleo links, share them in the comments!

Food for Thought:

::  Drinking soda linked to depression (Not much of a surprise, though I find it fascinating that diet soda is suspect as much or more than regular soda.)

:: Alzheimer's is really just 'type-3' diabetes, new research shows (Interestingly, there is an article on the same topic in the Reader’s Digest this month.)

My Menu:

Breakfast:

I almost always have scrambled eggs with either Aidell’s chicken apple sausage or Italian pork sausage fried up with kale and parmesan cheese (YUM!!).

Banana pancakes (Mash one banana, mix with two eggs—that’s it! They are one of my go-to treats when I’m feeling deprived. Still a lot of carbs, but at least there is some protein in there. They are sweet, so all I add is butter. They taste a little like banana bread French toast (not that I’ve ever had it, just as I imagine it!) and have a crepe-like texture.

I tried sweet potato latkes as a side dish for dinner a couple nights ago. They were yummy. I think they’d make a good breakfast dish, especially with added egg. Maybe with Greek yogurt and applesauce or fried apples? I want to try this recipe with parmesan cheese, too!

Greek yogurt with honey (I think this will be my “don’t have time to cook breakfast” option.)

I’m also wanting to make up a paleo granola with nuts and chopped dried fruit to be eaten with coconut milk. (I don’t care for flaked coconut or I’d add that too.)

And there are always leftovers. Who says you have to eat breakfast foods for breakfast?

Lunch:

Leftovers (particularly Hungarian Goulash and Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas, links below)

Taco salad (my personal favorite: lettuce, taco meat, chopped tomatoes and black olives, guacamole, and cheddar cheese and Greek yogurt when I’m eating dairy)

Tuna salad (lettuce with tuna and mayo and chopped tomatoes—also great with sunflower seeds)

Snacks:

Pistachios

Veggies (I’m going to try the cauliflower hummus recipe from Practical Paleo this week for dipping.)

Sliced cucumbers with vinegar and oil

Dried figs (I only eat one or two at the most since eating a bunch of dried fruit adds a lot of carbs, but they hit just the right spot when I am in the mood for a sweet treat and they are great for on the go. I found organic, no sugar added figs at Costco, and they are delicious! Remind me of Fig Newtons.)

Pepperoni sticks (they aren’t the clean, expensive kind, but sometimes I’m desperate for an easy, packable protein)

Salami with cream cheese (yeah, not the best choice, either, but BOY is it tasty)

Black olives

Sweet potato chips (I can’t find them at Costco anymore, so I need to make a trip to Trader Joes. Not the right kind of oil, but I’m not super vigilant about that.)

Deviled eggs

Celery with almond butter

Roasted kale (surprisingly tasty)

Dinner:

Hungarian Goulash (I’m so glad I made a big batch. It makes a perfect leftover. Next time I’d like to try mashed cauliflower to go with it.)

Oven Baked Chicken Fajitas (another favorite for leftovers with fresh tomato and guacamole, and Greek yogurt and/or cheddar cheese if I’m splurging)

Grilled steak (I marinate with coconut aminos, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, ground ginger, and minced garlic) and roasted veggies (This is one of our go-to meals: grilled meat + roasted veggie such as Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, or yams.)

Shrimp scampi over zucchini noodles served with salad

Bun-less loaded burgers (lettuce, tomato, dijon mustard, bacon, guacamole, and sometimes cheese) with raw veggies

Salmon patties

Pesto chicken

Cilantro Thai grilled chicken

Chinese 5-spice turkey lettuce cups (from Practical Paleo)

Italian stuffed peppers

Tomato and meat spaghetti sauce over spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles

Drinks:

I’ve been drinking about 32 ounces of Good Earth green tea daily. I love the Lemongrass flavor because it has a naturally sweet taste.

I also enjoy drinking an ice-cold La Croix fruit-flavored soda water daily. That is what miraculously got me over my soda addiction. I love the peach-pear or cran-raspberry flavors. They taste sweeter than the citrus flavors.

Treats:

Sliced apples fried in coconut oil with cinnamon and sea salt, topped with coconut milk (my favorite!!)

Sliced banana with sea salt and cinnamon, topped with coconut milk and toasted sliced almonds

Fried plantain

Ice cream (frozen banana, coconut milk, and cocoa powder blended in the Vitamix)

Homemade chocolate larabars (I haven’t made any this time around, but they still make the list because I know I’ll have them at some point! Just pecans, dates, cocoa powder, and sea salt in the food processor. Add spices to taste—my favorite is cardamom.)

I made a pan of paleo brownies, but they weren’t very tasty. I plan to try a brownie mug the next time the craving hits.

 

You can find my Pinterest Paleo-ish board here for more inspiration.

I’m sure I’ve forgotten several things. I’ll add them as I think of them. Feel free to share any ideas in the comments!

Paleo-ish ~ Weeks 2, 3, and 4

AKA: The Rollercoaster

Did anyone wonder what happened to this? It has been three weeks since I’ve shared an update on my quest for good health in the areas of food and exercise. Mostly because I didn’t want to be transparent. That is the point, however, of sharing in the first place: Being willing to own my goals. Accountability.

My goal was to complete a modified Whole30. Having completed a Whole30 Challenge last year, I had slightly different goals this time around. The past 30 days I planned to eat Paleo-ish with some dairy thrown in. I didn’t intend on reading labels so closely. Trace amounts of soy or even wheat didn’t bother me.

I also planned to add in exercise, which is one thing I didn’t manage to do the last time around. I knew that I needed to increase my strength and endurance.

My friend Danielle stuck with the challenge for 30 days and had incredible results. I’m so proud of her! It really is a huge accomplishment.

How did I do? Some days I did great. Some days…not so great. But I’m going to choose to look at the past 30 days as a success.

I improved my eating overall (it may not seem like it if you read my tedious food journal, but if you had any idea what I ate before…). My goal is not to eat well for 30 days. It is to create long-term, workable solutions for making good food choices. I’m still wrestling with what that looks like on an on-going basis. I know I’ve said it before, but I love to eat. I’ve always loved to eat. I love quantity. And I love a lot of junky food. And once I get started on junky food, I can’t stop. (I will say that in the past 30 days I once had a few sips of root beer and once a few sips of Dr. Pepper—other than that, I haven’t had any soda. Wahoo!)

As far as exercising goes, I’m so proud of myself! I didn’t work out every day (and I’m far from ‘shredded’…I’m still on level 1 of the 30 Day Shred), but I’ve been fairly consistent. I know that I’ve gained strength and endurance. I have every intention of continuing with exercising 5 days a week. If only I could figure out how to do so and still get to bed at a decent hour. Sigh.

I don’t expect anyone to read my food journal. It is mostly for my own benefit that I have kept track over the past few weeks. But, if it inspires anyone or even if it helps anyone to know that I’ve fought hard and still slipped up, well, I’m happy to share.

Day 8:
Breakfast—Eggs and bacon
Lunch—Taco salad
Dinner—Salad with romaine, chicken, toasted sliced almonds, grape tomatoes, parmesan cheese, and Caesar dressing
Dessert—Apple slices and blackberries fried in coconut oil with cinnamon, a pinch of sea salt, and smothered in coconut milk
(Russ had just picked both the apples and the blackberries…YUM! I thought I deserved dessert after narrowly resisting a piece of pizza!)
Exercise—30 Day Shred

Day 9:
Breakfast—Eggs and Aidells chicken apple sausage
Lunch—Pan”cake” (almond meal, eggs, butter, and Greek yogurt baked in oven) with a drizzle of honey (meh.) and a few pear slices
Snack—Sweet potato chips
Dinner—Sabatino’s spinach with aged white cheddar chicken patty with romaine and spinach, tomato, and avocado and a carrot
Exercise—30 Day Shred

Day 10:
Breakfast—Eggs and Aidells chicken apple sausage
Lunch—Taco salad
Snack—A little fruit leather (only real fruit, no sweetener)
Dinner—Grilled trout with onions and lemon, and roasted yams
Dessert—Apple slices sauteed in coconut oil with cinnamon, sea salt, and coconut milk
Exercise—30 Day Shred

Day 11:
Breakfast—Sliced banana, toasted sliced almonds, coconut milk and cinnamon (with a pinch of sea salt) (I ran out of eggs!!)
Lunch—Taco salad
Dinner—Bombed. But I had so much fun with my family, and I still didn’t eat as much/everything I wanted to.
Exercise—Hiking with the family (including some killer steps). I should have done the 30 Day Shred, but I fell when I was climbing over a log and my arm and back were sore.

Day 12:
Breakfast—Eggs and Aidells chicken apple sausage
Snack—A few pistachios and dried (sweetened) cranberries
Lunch—Bombed. A slice of pizza, a few breadsticks, and a few chocolate chips. We were on the go and I didn’t have anything packed.
Dinner—Pesto chicken (YUM!!), cherry tomatoes, and smoothie (banana, pineapple, spinach, frozen blackberries)
Snack—A granola bar that I should NOT have eaten. But I was hungry and it was my weak hour of 10 pm.
Exercise—30 Day Shred (I put it off until after midnight! and I really had to talk myself into it…but it felt so good when I was finished.)

Day 13:
Breakfast—Eggs
It pretty much went down-hill from there
Exercise—None. Went to bed because I was in a bad mood. Bleh.

Day 14:
Breakfast—Eggs and Aidells sausage
Snack/Lunch/Snack—Not good. Not good at all.
Dinner—I was determined to turn the day around. Mexican Stuffed Green Peppers. YUM!!

Day 15:
Breakfast—Eggs and Aidells sausage
Mumble, mumble, mumble (I did have some leftover filling from the green peppers, cold, while we were out and about and it was yummy.)
Exercise—I walked, and walked, and walked at the Renaissance Faire

Day 16:
Out all day at church and a birthday party. (I *really* enjoyed myself…)

Tomorrow is always a new day. Right?!

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson, (attributed) (HT: Momastery)

 

Day 17:
Breakfast—Eggs and Aidells sausage
Snack—Pistachios and dried (sweetened) cranberries
Lunch—Leftover stuffed green peppers
Dinner—Taco salad
Exercise—30 Day Shred
(Wahooooo!)

Day 18:
Breakfast—Eggs and Aidells sausage
Snack—Pistachios and dried (sweetened) cranberries, dried apples, pea pods
Lunch—Pastrami, cheese, and a banana
Dinner—Sausages (some yummy chicken kind), roasted cabbage with fennel, sliced avocado
Dessert--Paleo Pear Crisp (meh.)
Exercise—Walked for hours at the Oregon Garden

Day 19:
Breakfast—Sliced banana with coconut milk, toasted sliced almonds, cinnamon, and a pinch of sea salt
Snack (ha!)—Eggs and sausage (I was dying of starvation by 10:30. That will teach me to skip eggs in the morning!)
Lunch—Pastrami and cheese. Chocolate chips. Hmmmm.
Dinner—Melt in Your Mouth Chicken (with Greek yogurt and parmesan cheese), roasted broccoli and cauliflower, sliced avocado, and cherry tomatoes
Snack—Toast. Sigh. That 9pm hour kills me.
Exercise—30 Day Shred (I almost skipped it because it was LATE and I couldn’t find the DVD player remote, but I persisted—finally found the remote and worked out at 11:30. It is SO. HARD. to take the time to exercise when I have a long to-do list and I need to get to bed earlier!)

Day 20:
Breakfast—(I bet you can’t guess…Ha!) Eggs and Aidells sausage
It really went downhill from there. For a few days. Sigh.

…Day 21:
Dinner—I did make sausage with cabbage noodles for dinner. That’s something, right?

Day 22

Day 23…

 

A new start. Again.

Day 24:
Breakfast—Eggs and Aidells sausage
Snack—Pistachios and dried cranberries
Lunch—Celery with almond butter, cherry tomatoes
Snack—Pea pods
Dinner—BBQ steak, grilled onions, roasted yams with olive oil and sea salt, avocado, cherry tomatoes
Exercise—30 Day Shred (I managed to start at 10pm and be in bed by 10:40! It’s a start in the right direction.)

Day 25:
Breakfast—Eggs, Italian sausage with kale and parmesan cheese
Lunch—Leftover steak strips, and banana with coconut milk, sliced toasted almonds, cinnamon, and sea salt
Dinner—Taco salad
Dessert—Paleo pancakes (AKA: a way to use up my too-ripe bananas since I can’t eat banana bread. All four kids gave them a thumbs up!!) (3 eggs, one mashed ripe banana, 1 cup almond meal, a smidge of sea salt/baking powder/cinnamon, and just a little arrowroot powder for the fun of it—mixed and fried up in coconut oil. With a *smidge* of maple syrup.)
Dessert #2—I know. I know. But, seriously. My husband walked in late in the evening with an apple pie hot out of the oven. My friend had made it for him because he had fixed her computer. Hot, home-made apple pie smell wafting through the house. It was a sin to waste it, that’s all I’m saying.
Exercise—It was late, but I owed it to myself after dessert #2. 30 Day Shred at 11pm. Sigh.

Day 26:
Breakfast—Eggs, Italian sausage with kale and parmesan cheese
Lunch—Taco salad
Snack—Yes, that apple pie was still sitting on my counter. I ate some leftover steak to balance out the sugar a little.
Dinner—Beef and Broccoli (my own concoction) topped with toasted sliced almonds
Dessert—Banana pancakes (I’ve got to stop eating in the late evening, but I’m so hungry around 9pm!)
Exercise—30 Day Shred (I’ve also got to stop working out after 11pm, but it is hard for me to finish my other tasks before then!)

Day 27:
Breakfast—Eggs, Italian sausage with kale
Lunch—Steak, romaine lettuce, and spinach-parmesan dip, dried apples
Dinner—Thai cilantro grilled chicken and green salad
Exercise—30 Day Shred (I thought I’d try level 2—die.) (Worked out after book club, but done by 11pm—wahoo!)
(A great day in the end, but I was in such a snacky mood. I went to make chocolate Larabar, but I was out of pecans. I tried to add some cocoa powder to almond butter, but it tasted yucky. I would have caved if someone had brought dessert to book club, but luckily no one did. Only three of us there, but great conversation. I just love those ladies.)

Day 28:
Breakfast—Eggs, Italian sausage with kale
Lunch—Leftover beef and broccoli
Dinner and Dessert—Date night with hubby. I ate whatever I wanted. {grin}

Day 29:
Breakfast—Banana pancakes (I didn’t feel like making eggs, and I figured the pancakes with egg and almond meal would have more protein than a banana with coconut milk.)
Lunch—Leftover Thai cilantro chicken
Dinner—Spaghetti meat sauce sans noodles
Snacks—I made bad snack choices today. (Ritz crackers and chocolate chips. Sigh.)
Exercise—30 Day Shred (level 1 again—ah, much better…in fact, it felt really good…if only it weren’t at midnight…)

Day 30:
Breakfast—Eggs, Italian sausage with kale and parmesan cheese
Lunch—Ham and cheese roll-ups
Dinner—Bun-less burger with spinach, pesto, and chopped grape tomatoes, and a fruit/spinach smoothie
Snacks—Bad choices again today.
Exercise—30 Day Shred (at 11:30 pm)

Health

I’m acting on billboards.

I’ve recently read two fantastic posts written by two friends that put a fire under me in regards to exercise. I don’t plan on running (I would have to drive to somewhere else in order to run and my only childless options for workout times are 4 am or 10 pm), but they were inspiring nonetheless so I thought I would share them with you.

::  Run From Your Problems? by Danielle at Further Up and Further In (absolutely hilarious)

::  He didn’t make me fast, but I still run for His pleasure by Tsh (Simple Mom) at (in)courage (just beautiful)

I also have to express my utmost gratitude to my lovely Whole30 support group on facebook (*another* point for social media) for helping me kick my addiction to Dr. Pepper. Several women suggested I try flavored seltzer water. I was dubious, but I bought some La Croix and gave it a try. The first sip wasn’t so great. But I kept going back for another sip. And another. Within a DAY, people, I can say that seltzer water completely took away my craving for Dr. Pepper. That is nothing short of a miracle. It has been a few months. I still have had a few Dr. Peppers here and there, but they aren’t as satisfying and I have no trouble going back to my seltzer water. (I drink either La Croix or Seagrams.)

Day 1/2:
It was afternoon when my friend Danielle, who wrote one of the above posts, told me she had just finished week 1 of the Whole30 Challenge. I decided then and there to join her and DO. THAT. THING. I managed a Costco shopping trip during peak sample hour without snitching. And then my awesome hubby brought home an ice-cold Dr. Pepper for me, and I *didn’t drink it*!

Dinner was a Romaine salad with chicken, grape tomatoes, avocado, toasted sliced almonds, and Caesar dressing (okay, that isn't legal, but I'll be doing some dairy). I also had a few pea pods and a little smoothie (banana, baby spinach, pineapple (canned but not sweetened), and frozen blackberries).

Day 1:
Breakfast—Eggs and Aidells chicken apple sausage
Lunch—A repeat of yesterday’s salad
Dinner—Roasted broccoli/sausage/slivered almonds

Day 2:
Breakfast—A handful of pistachios with a few (sweetened) dried cranberries (We jetted out of the house and that’s all I had time to grab.)
Lunch—Celery with almond butter and a small bowl of spaghetti meat sauce (no noodles, but the sauce had sugar in it)
Dinner—Oven-baked chicken fajitas with avocado and fresh tomato (and a little bit of cheese and sour cream) and a few pea pods
Dessert—Fried plantain (in coconut oil) with sea salt
(And that’s with a box of donuts in the house all day!)
Exercise—(misc.)

Day 3:
Breakfast—Eggs, Italian sausage, and kale (with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese)…so delicious!
Lunch—Left-over chicken fajitas
Dinner—Potluck food: BBQ chicken, chicken fajitas, watermelon
Dessert—Homemade chocolate Larabar
(Made Rice Krispie treats and managed to not eat any)
Exercise—(misc.)

Day 4:
Breakfast—Eggs, Italian sausage, and kale (w/ parmesan cheese)
Lunch—Left-over chicken fajitas
Dinner—Tuna w/ mayo (sugar-free) over romaine lettuce with grape tomatoes and sunflower seeds, and pea pods
Dessert—A little bit of chocolate Larabar
Exercise—Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred (oy vey)

Day 5:
Breakfast—Eggs, Italian sausage, and kale (w/parmesan cheese)
Lunch—Banana and almond butter, sweet potato chips
Dinner—Left-over chicken fajitas
(Made Rice Krispie treats again and managed to not eat any, but those marshmallows were relentlessly calling my name…)
Exercise—I really had to talk myself into working out again, because I was sore and had a million other things to do, but I got myself all ready…and then the DVD player wouldn’t work. I decided it was fate, and skipped the exercise.

Day 6:
Breakfast—Eggs, Italian sausage…
Lunch—Sweet potato chips (yeah, I was lazy)
Dinner—Taco salad
Dessert—The real deal at book club, and it was *delicious* (I had promised myself I could still have this treat!)
Exercise—Would you believe I talked myself into exercising at 11:30 pm to make up for the dessert I ate? My DVD player still wasn’t working, so I had to work out on my own.

Day 7:
Breakfast—Eggs, Italian sausage… (I’m exciting, I know.)
Lunch—Taco Salad

 

And five days of single parenting. Not bad for a week’s work!

Whole(ish)30(ish): Take 2

We’re going to get a good start on our new year. Our menu will be mostly Paleo but with some cheese snuck in here and there. This time I’m going to work in some form of exercise. I’m posting my general menu ideas for reference.

Anyone joining me? {Come on. You can do it!}

Breakfast:
Sliced bananas or sauteed cinnamon apples with pecans and coconut milk
Banana with almond butter
Chopped nut, seed, and dried fruit cereal with coconut milk
Eggs, eggs, and more eggs
Sausage or Bacon
Green smoothies (banana, OJ or canned unsweetened pineapple, baby spinach, and frozen berries in Vitamix)
Sauteed steak and veggies
Pumpkin/apple/bacon biscuits

Lunch:
Tuna, lettuce, cherry tomato, and sunflower seed wraps
Various soups, salads, or leftovers

Snacks:
Deviled eggs
Almonds and dried cranberries
Veggies
Black olives
Celery with almond butter
Sweet potato chips

To Go:
Lara Bars

Dinner:
Bun-less loaded burgers
Grilled meat + roasted veggie (cauliflower, cabbage, sweet potato) + green salad
Roasted broccoli with chicken apple sausage and slivered almonds
Pizza salad or taco salad
Pizza with chicken or cauliflower crust
Grilled Lemon Chicken and Faux-tato Salad
Ginger and Cilantro Baked Tilapia
Chicken antipasto kabobs (chicken, artichoke hearts, olives, cherry tomatoes (mozzarella))
Slow Cooker Latin Chicken
Egg flower soup and Chinese meat and veggie platter (take-out)
Shrimp and Egg Flower Soup
Beef and veggie stew
Chicken and veggie soup (or pumpkin veggie chicken soup)
Sausage tomato soup
Cabbage soup with chicken and pork
Moo Shu Vegetables
Almond-Crusted Chicken Fingers with marinara sauce and green salad
Indian Chicken Curry
Garlic Shrimp and Tomatoes
Zucchini Lasagna
Fajitas in lettuce bowl or fajita chicken salad
Spaghetti meat sauce over spaghetti squash
Roasted Brussels sprouts, apples, and bacon
Avocado, tomato, cucumber, (mozzarella) salad
Chorizo Mini Meatloaves with Chipotle, Tomato Relish
Pulled pork spareribs with coffee/molasses barbeque sauce (for cheat-nights :))

Cook hamburger and onion in olive and sesame oils. Add a teaspoon of coriander then toss in a bag of frozen chopped broccoli. Serve as is or stuffed into a baked acorn squash or bell pepper.

Sautee zucchini, yellow squash, and onions in bacon fat. Add shrimp and crumbled bacon. Add baby spinach at the last minute. Top with lemon juice.

Drinking:
Good Earth Lemongrass Green Tea
Lots of water

Desperation:
Chocolate milkshakes (frozen banana, coconut milk, cocoa powder, a couple frozen strawberries in Vitamix)
Chocolate date balls (pecans, dates, and cocoa powder in food processor; roll into balls)

Cheating:
Chocolate Mug Cake (with coconut milk and almond flour)
Dates with cream cheese

Whole30 ~ Week 4 and End of 30 Days!!!

Hi. My name is Heidi. I’m a sodaholic. It’s been 43 days since my last Dr. Pepper.

I’ve reached the end of my Whole30 Challenge. Only meats/eggs, vegetables, fruit, and nuts for 30 days. No grains, dairy, legumes (including soy and peanuts), or added sugar—which meant I had to completely overhaul the way I interacted with food on a daily (hourly, minute-by-minute…) basis. I also had to go to the grocery store a few times a week and ignore 98% of the food for sale.

Here are a few things I’ve learned in the past thirty days:

• I have will-power and am capable of some sort of self-control over what I eat. This is an unprecedented and monumental accomplishment.
• Accountability: It’s a beautiful thing. I don’t think I could have done this without sharing the journey with my husband and on my blog. I wasn’t going to lie to you, and I did. not. want. to have to tell you I cheated or failed or quit.
• I cheated. We went out to eat at a buffet place on day 27. I ate meat and veggies. But I’m sure there were seasonings, sauces, or coatings that weren’t ‘legal.’ I passed up white rolls (would have liked about 10), mashed potatoes, soda, and dessert. Can I get credit for that?
• I don’t have to drink Dr. Pepper. I miss it (terribly). But I won’t die without it.
• Drastically changing how I ate was a great way to force me to think about food in a new way. It also was very effective in pulling me out of a junk food/sugar/soda/snacky/carb-heavy daily diet.
• I love to eat constantly and in large quantities. I’m always hungry. I think about food all the time. I don’t know how to change that.
• My boys will eat some foods that I didn’t think they would like. Sometimes they even shocked me.
• I CAN fix dinner every night. I CAN try new recipes and cook something other than spaghetti.
• I love dates. And sweet potato chips. And Larabars (which I never would have tried without Whole30).
• I have to decide whether a food is worth it before mindlessly putting it in my mouth.
• Good pizza is a ‘worth it’ food. So are homemade chocolate chip cookies. I really wish Dr. Pepper was.
• I hate cleaning up the kitchen after dinner.
• Burgers don’t need buns. They are perfectly fine with only dijon mustard, avocado, bacon, grilled onions, tomato, and lettuce.
• I need to work exercise into my day, but I can’t figure out how. I don’t have any me time, and I can’t figure out where to buy some.
• The easiest dinner is grilled meat and roasted veggies. If only I could remember to thaw the meat.
• Russ can get natural meats at a great price (wholesale) from one of his clients. Fabulous.
• Yams roasted with olive oil and sea salt taste like candy. Spiced and roasted cauliflower with almonds doesn’t, but it’s still really tasty. If you add Aidell’s Chicken Apple Sausage to roasted broccoli and almonds, it makes a fabulously simple meal.
• My headaches don’t seem to be food related. Sleep related, muscle related, chronic sinus-something or environmental allergy related…maybe?
• A good diet doesn’t replace sleep.
• I can plan ahead and take along good food if we are going to be out and about.
• The family I get eggs from is AWESOME. The last three weeks they’ve delivered eggs within 30 minutes of my FB message request!
• I like scrambled eggs. I can eat them for breakfast 30 days in a row, in fact. But when the boys put cinnamon raisin toast in the toaster, it sends me over the edge. And I really, really miss orange juice.
• I’m jealous of my husband’s job. He gets a salad bar and a kick-boxing class during his lunch hour (and he GETS a lunch hour!). But he also has to walk past the 25 cent soda machine…
• I fail at moderation. I can’t eat just one of anything. It’s all or nothing.
• I don’t yet know what my diet will look like on an ongoing basis. I’m thinking a roughly 80% paleo diet would be a great thing for me to aim for. I know that my eating has been so much healthier this way. Partly because I can’t stop once I start on bread, baked goods, and sugary stuff.
• I don’t yet know how I feel about dairy and grains in moderation. I think it will be interesting to see how my body reacts in the next week or two. I have many family members with celiac/gluten intolerance. I miss cheese.
• A 10 pound loss sadly isn’t very noticeable on (off) me, but I gained about 30 pairs of pants stashed on the top shelf of my closet.
• I’d love to lose 10-15 more pounds. And tone up what’s left. And get a tan. I’d also like to win the lottery.
• Forget my brownie recipe, just make Fudge Babies. Who knew a no sugar, no grains, no dairy, vegan, raw food dessert could taste SO YUMMY!!
• I’m buying myself some really good chocolate.
• The local farmer’s produce stand and I are going to see a lot of each other this summer.
• I am so thankful for the blog friends who have joined me on this journey. I’ve really appreciated your comments and encouragement.
• The science of food (well, science in general) boggles my mind. The amount of contradictory information ‘out there’ is so overwhelming. How do you decide whom to listen to? Sigh. I think I am going to go by what works for me and makes me feel my best, with room for traditions like birthday celebrations. Mostly, though, I want to eat real food from reliable sources, local and organic when possible.

 

Health and cheerfulness naturally beget each other. 

~Joseph Addison

Whole30 ~ Week 3

 

Unbelievably, I’ve finished up week 3 of Whole30. It has been a challenge, but in so many ways easier than I thought it would be. I don’t have too much to share this week. (Still not getting enough sleep. Still dealing with neck/shoulder muscle and sinus stuff that is causing headaches.)

We’ve enjoyed roasted cauliflower before, but this week I tried Roasted Spiced Cauliflower With Almonds and it was delicious!

In the beginning, I had stressed a little about lunches for Russ (he’s doing the challenge with me). I haven’t packed him a lunch in YEARS. It was a challenge making enough dinner for him to have leftovers for lunch (especially since I wanted some, too!) and then getting his lunch packed. Come to find out, there is an awesome salad bar at his new job! That takes some pressure off of me. I still try to have food for him, but there is backup if I don’t! I just wish I had access to a salad bar at lunch!

We had dinner with friends. They were so kind to serve hamburgers (with delicious grilled onions!), homemade sweet potato chips, asparagus, and salad. There were some unavoidable condiments, but people are so much more important than diet rules. I did have to pass up their AMAZING homemade fries (though the boys did them justice), and I brought brownies and ice cream that we could eat (along with the ‘real’ stuff for everyone else). Did you know that was possible?! No added sugar, no grains, no dairy. I’m a magician. {grin}

I started with this recipe for Chocolate Cake at Civilized Caveman. I didn’t have the right chocolate chips, and even with the added sugar I’m sure they have, I didn’t think they would be sweet enough. I had to experiment a little. Here is the recipe I came up with:

Chocolate Almond Brownies

2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
1 Cup Chopped Dates
1 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
1/2 Cup Coconut Milk (canned, full fat)
2 Eggs (extra large farm eggs)
1/2 Teaspoon Almond Extract
1 1/2 Cups Almond Flour
1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
Sliced Almonds (toasted)*

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 8x8 pan with coconut oil.
2. Melt coconut oil in small saucepan. Add dates and water. Simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Remove from heat. Add cocoa powder. Pour in mixing bowl.
4. Add coconut milk to chocolate mixture then add eggs and almond extract and mix well.
5. Add in the almond flour, salt, and baking powder
6. Pour batter into baking pan. Sprinkle sliced (toasted) almonds on top.
7. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
8. Serve warm with ice cream.

Ice Cream

Frozen banana chunks, coconut milk, and almond extract in blender. (Use only as much coconut milk as your blender needs to process the ice cream. You want it as thick as possible!) (If there is ice cream left over, put it in popsicle molds for later!!)

*I didn’t really care for the texture of the sliced almonds on top. I didn’t toast them first, and I think that would improve the taste and texture. I also didn’t add shredded coconut because it is one of the only foods I greatly dislike. The flavor of the coconut milk and oil are just fine, though.

I won’t promise that they taste as good as ‘regular’ brownies, but when you are desperate, they’ll do. {grin}

 

I’ll post the final week 4 update on the following Sunday when my 30 days are up.

Oh, and I lost one more pound this week. Might have been more, but I didn’t want the brownies to go to waste (so they went to waist…).

(P.S. Blogger has been really difficult lately. I’ve tried several times to post long comments in reply to other comments and questions, but it won’t post them. I promise I’m not ignoring y’all. I’ve very much enjoyed all of the comments you’ve posted!!)

 

Happiness lies, first of all, in health. 

~George William Curtis, Lotus-Eating

Whole30 ~ Week 2

Look! I’m still here! Two weeks down. Two to go. I’m extremely proud of myself. 27 days without Dr. Pepper.

I’m not sure how I feel. Lola’s sleeping is all over the place, and lack of sleep affects me in a huge way. So I can’t tell if my energy levels and headaches are sleep related or food related. Regardless, I’m eating healthier than I ever have before, so that’s a huge plus.

Pro: I have made a hot, tasty (breakfast, lunch, and) dinner for 14 days in a row. (Yep. That’s a record.)

Con: I’ve had to make a hot, tasty (breakfast, lunch, and) dinner for 14 days in a row. This diet is very cooking-intensive.

Pro: My refrigerator and freezer are constantly well-stocked, and we are actually eating. the. food.

Con: I’ve had to keep the refrigerator stocked. This diet is very grocery shopping-intensive.

Pro: Nope. Let’s go straight to con on this one.

Con: My kitchen is constantly a disaster. I barely have time (or often don’t, at all) to recover from the mess of one meal before it’s time for the next. [Sigh. There just isn’t enough me to go around. I can’t clean quickly enough. Can’t cook quickly enough. Can’t parent well enough. Can’t do laundry quickly enough. Can’t return emails, teach, run errands, pay bills, wipe bottoms, make appointments quickly enough. Can’t lesson plan well enough. Can’t blog. Can’t read. Can’t watch TV. Can’t sleep. No such thing as break time, me time, quiet time, evenings, weekends, not even night-time. I’m exhausted!! Okay, sorry. Rant over.]

On Mother’s Day we had BBQ burgers with the works, roasted veggies, sweet potato chips, and a huge fruit salad. I made ‘banana split milkshake’ for dessert. YUM!

The winning recipe from this week: Chicken Pizza. Served with banana, mango, coconut milk, spinach, and frozen blackberry smoothies. Yeah, baby. I made the mini pizzas with leftover spaghetti sauce, salami, crumbled Italian sausage, sundried tomatoes, black olives and sliced fresh tomato. I know paleo pizza isn’t Whole30 approved (along with my sweet potato chips, Lara Bars, milkshakes, recent date obsession, and weighing myself…), but you do what you gotta do. So there. I can see this being a staple menu item.

BBQ flank steak and roasted yams were delicious last night.

Another hit this week: my mom’s chicken salad. I could eat this all day long. I made up two big batches of it for lunches. Very, very handy.

Mom’s Chicken Salad

2-3 cups chopped chicken
1 cup chopped celery (and/or cucumbers, zucchini)
1 apple chopped
1/4 - 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans chopped (sunflower seeds are also delicious!)
bacon (of course)
finely chopped red pepper

dressing:
1/2 cup mayo
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon mustard
1 Tablespoon dill pickle juice

 

Oh, and I’m down another 2 pounds this week, 7 pounds total. I’ll take it. I’ve cut down on snacking and fruits/nuts the past few days, so that might have helped things along.

 

How is it going for all of my fabulous Whole30 peeps?

 

He who has health has hope;

and he who has hope has everything. 

~Arabic Proverb