Okay, friends. This Whole 30 thing is trying. Even the second time through - it is a struggle. {read about the start of my last Whole 30 :: here}
I'll be honest and tell you {yes, I'm super ashamed} - I had a little break down over the weekend. I'm going to blame it on the state I was in after seeing the movie Whiplash - no joke. I jittered out of the theatre and right into a single scoop of the best + most local ice cream I could. {But really, go see the movie, it is intense so don't plan on going straight to bed - and do your best not to spoil your Whole 30 meals after the viewing}
Of course I had a ridiculous sugar crash the next morning.
Lesson learned.
I'm back on the sugar-free + narrow.
I had a big heart to heart with my husband over our {completely compliant} Sunday breakfast and we decided to just continue with our Whole 30 plans. Chalk it up to earning a deeper commitment. I guess we aren't really "starting over", we are moving forward.
We know that our ultimate goal is finding what foods fuel our bodies the best and limit the ones that don't. But we also know that once in awhile there will be times where we might indulge. We're just not going to do so during the rest of our thirty days. I am not going to let a little bit of cream and sugar sabotage me. I will also not let the date on the calendar continue to hold this mistake over my head for weeks to come. I know that I will feel that I've completed this Whole30 once I reach that feeling of "reset".
So, to help me make peace with this + to build momentum I will share a few links of recipes I've really been enjoying these past two weeks:
Easy Slow Cooker Taco Meat {From Rubies & Radishes} - love making this for easy taco salad lunches!
How to Roast Vegetables in the Slow Cooker {From Chocolate Covered Katie} - this is wonderful for a prep + forget side dish
Paleo Crock Pot Chili Recipe {From Paleo Newbie} - tonight's dinner...
and these two I've got my eye on for an upcoming dinner:
Easy Balsamic Infused Beef Pot Roast {From Just Enjoy Food}
Lazy Sunday Pot Roast {From Rubies & Radishes}
Monday, January 19, 2015
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Living an Intentionally Local Lifestyle
Hello Friends! Have you been over to the actual blog to see all the changes around here? {If not, please click away:: here} You probably can tell that I've been thinking, reorganizing and giving even more thought to what my current direction of this little space is.... I realized that I wanted to give more attention to my intentional lifestyle and some of the daily work that I'm doing for myself, my home, and my family.
For years we've been simplifying. For years we've been focusing on "local" - local food, local goods, local entertainment -heck, even local brews! Some of these thoughts, trials, and triumphs have been what inspired me to start blogging! So I want to bring some focus to these thoughts once more.
This year I have a huge hope and goal to make even more local choices than I have in the past. I'm thinking about what is in our lives daily and there are still so many things that I can make myself that I'm not as of yet. Or different needs that can be met from a source that is more local to my home. {Of course there isn't something "more local" than what you create, grow, or supply yourself or on your own land - but that might be for a different post}.
If desiring to live a more local lifestyle one should make choices and use resources based on what is available locally. It can be entirely manageable - just start small and see what is comfortable to you. Every little bit can be something positive! Think about a little something you can do today. What could you make yourself {laundry soap, ketchup or jam}? Or what is something you don't need that you know comes from somewhere far off + away? For years we've been simplifying. For years we've been focusing on "local" - local food, local goods, local entertainment -heck, even local brews! Some of these thoughts, trials, and triumphs have been what inspired me to start blogging! So I want to bring some focus to these thoughts once more.
This year I have a huge hope and goal to make even more local choices than I have in the past. I'm thinking about what is in our lives daily and there are still so many things that I can make myself that I'm not as of yet. Or different needs that can be met from a source that is more local to my home. {Of course there isn't something "more local" than what you create, grow, or supply yourself or on your own land - but that might be for a different post}.
I'm excited to consider these topics here on the blog and get into sharing a few tips and ideas of living a more local lifestyle!
Monday, January 12, 2015
Canning: Fruit Jam without Processed Sugar or Pectin
Let's talk about how much our family and friends seem to love jam. I mean, go crazy every time we see them as they are asking me about making more peach jam. To the point where it was one of the most requested Christmas gifts of 2014 from me!
You know why we love it so very, very much... I'm guessing it is all the sugar. Well and super fresh Ohio fruit!
Over the past few seasons I've been searching for more natural ways to sweeten {without overly processed sugar}. Local honey has been my best bet. I often use sweet fruits, local honey or Ohio maple syrup in many of my baking or sweetening needs. This made me wonder - especially after all my Whole 30 considerations - could I make this year's jam a little less sugary? And maybe even with something other than {mountains} of sugar?
And happily I was able to try it out! My favorite two recipes from this past summer are below. Both of the jams are plenty sweet! However, there is a slight flavor of honey - as that was my added bit o' sweetness - which everyone has really enjoyed so far!
In related news, I'm pretty pleased with the amount of jam I made this past summer. Plenty for Christmas gifting and more than enough for us to enjoy through the winter months!
Better bookmark these recipes for next sunny berry-pickin' summer days!
Honey Sweetened Peach + Vanilla Bean Jam {with Food in Jars}
Canning Jam without Pectin or Refined Sugar {with 100 Days of Real Food}
You know why we love it so very, very much... I'm guessing it is all the sugar. Well and super fresh Ohio fruit!
Over the past few seasons I've been searching for more natural ways to sweeten {without overly processed sugar}. Local honey has been my best bet. I often use sweet fruits, local honey or Ohio maple syrup in many of my baking or sweetening needs. This made me wonder - especially after all my Whole 30 considerations - could I make this year's jam a little less sugary? And maybe even with something other than {mountains} of sugar?
And happily I was able to try it out! My favorite two recipes from this past summer are below. Both of the jams are plenty sweet! However, there is a slight flavor of honey - as that was my added bit o' sweetness - which everyone has really enjoyed so far!
In related news, I'm pretty pleased with the amount of jam I made this past summer. Plenty for Christmas gifting and more than enough for us to enjoy through the winter months!
Better bookmark these recipes for next sunny berry-pickin' summer days!
Honey Sweetened Peach + Vanilla Bean Jam {with Food in Jars}
Canning Jam without Pectin or Refined Sugar {with 100 Days of Real Food}
Friday, January 9, 2015
30 Days of Declutter
A little over two weeks ago my husband and I decided to play a 'minimalist game'. We are each donating {giving away or selling} items that we no longer need, use, or find productive to our life and home.
As per the directions, the amount of things we must free from our home each day is dictated by the number of day into this adventure- one item {board game} on the first day, two items {coffee cups} on the second day... and so on. Each day there are just a handful of non-useful things gone from your home. But by the end of the thirty days it will be pretty liberating!
It is amazing how it seems so tangible to find just ten or twelve things to part with. Maybe I'll be a seasoned pro by day thirty and finding those items will seem like no big deal at all.
*Quick idea: Recycle last year's calendar - there is one easy item to get you started today!
Monday, January 5, 2015
Cutting Down on Sugar {Whole 30 Eve}
Here we are. The eve of my second Whole30 experience.
In the summer of 2014 I participated in my first Whole30 {learn more about the Whole30 program- click here}. We had gotten to this foggy, sugar-driven place in our eating habits and decided to give it a go. I had read the book It Starts With Food so we were prepared for the first few weeks... which were difficult. But eventually we felt loads better - sugar cravings had lessened and my head was so clear. At the end of the thirty days we gladly tried the reintroduction schedule and found that certain food groups treated our bodies differently.
For the weeks following we kept pretty on top of what we were eating. We of course had a few meals that consisted of choices we weren't proud of but we were keeping it in check. Then we slowly slipped back into several bad habits that were coming up more often than "just once in awhile" {gluten, sweet coffees + treats}. All of a sudden we were cranky and creaky {I had forgotten how stiff I can be when I wake up in the morning!} and sugar was dictating our eating schedule. It was time to try a new round of Whole 30.
I thought I'd take a moment to remind myself {and anyone else trying a Whole30 diet} what I learned from our first run through of the program:
:: get enough sleep ::
Sleeping seven or eight hours is a must for me. It helps with staying on the diet and making appropriate food choices. It also keeps me from crying when I just really want a cookie.
:: drink enough water ::
This is a similar note as getting enough sleep. I could just tell the days when my body was tired or dehydrated. Feeling refreshed, rested and quenched was critical to keeping positive each day.
:: drink more water ::
Yes, it is this important. Keep drinking water. I was filtering water, drinking ice water, drinking hot water and even making jars of infused water to keep it interesting {I tried many different fruit or vegetable + herb combinations - similar to this}
:: find a cravings replacement ::
Sometimes those cravings hit hard. You know how it goes - four o'clock and all you want is a little special snack to get you to dinner. Or a certain taste goes with a certain activity {example: backyard fire + s'mores} It was crucial for me to find appropriate replacements. Like... I love sweet coffee drinks when we go for a long drive. So for me making cold brew coffee at home to take in the car was the next best thing. I actually love cold brew coffee now and will sometimes pass up an iced mocha just to have one. {To be Whole30 compliant I was drinking it black - just over ice} A few replacements that worked for me:
- infused water
- hot tea
- iced, black + cold brewed coffee {here is a great post about making cold brew coffee at home}
- homemade + oven roasted sweet potatoes
- apple slices + almond butter
- dill pickles {watch those labels if you're shopping for this!!}
:: prepare some approved meals + snacks ahead of time ::
Preparation is key. We have started setting aside Sunday afternoons for cooking and preparing several lunches and one or two dinners just to make sure we are ahead of the game. If we come home {hungry and tired} to nothing even remotely prepared that was when it took real gumption to push through and make a Whole30 approved meal. You can always restock your 'already cooked meal' after you eat. That way when tomorrow comes around you'll be ready.
:: find entertainment that will not tempt you to stray from your food goals ::
The reason I have and am about to make these very calculated food choices is because it makes my body and mind feel right. Better than my usual normal. It is easy to talk yourself out of making proper food choices in a weak moment. I knew that on my weaker days it was better to not even tempt myself at all. For example we went to a coffee shop instead of meeting friends at our local brewery - talking over drinks still happened, just a different location.
:: bring your own food if needed/possible ::
We often brought salads {with lemon wedges for dressing} to parties and cook outs. Especially if we weren't sure what was going to be served. Just bring something large enough and plated in a way that it can be shared - surely your host won't mind. We would also bring approved food choices for in the car incase we were still hungry after going to a restaurant that had limited choices for us.
So here I venture into a second Whole30- early to bed, multiple bottles of water in the fridge and cold coffee brewing...
In the summer of 2014 I participated in my first Whole30 {learn more about the Whole30 program- click here}. We had gotten to this foggy, sugar-driven place in our eating habits and decided to give it a go. I had read the book It Starts With Food so we were prepared for the first few weeks... which were difficult. But eventually we felt loads better - sugar cravings had lessened and my head was so clear. At the end of the thirty days we gladly tried the reintroduction schedule and found that certain food groups treated our bodies differently.
For the weeks following we kept pretty on top of what we were eating. We of course had a few meals that consisted of choices we weren't proud of but we were keeping it in check. Then we slowly slipped back into several bad habits that were coming up more often than "just once in awhile" {gluten, sweet coffees + treats}. All of a sudden we were cranky and creaky {I had forgotten how stiff I can be when I wake up in the morning!} and sugar was dictating our eating schedule. It was time to try a new round of Whole 30.
I thought I'd take a moment to remind myself {and anyone else trying a Whole30 diet} what I learned from our first run through of the program:
:: get enough sleep ::
Sleeping seven or eight hours is a must for me. It helps with staying on the diet and making appropriate food choices. It also keeps me from crying when I just really want a cookie.
:: drink enough water ::
This is a similar note as getting enough sleep. I could just tell the days when my body was tired or dehydrated. Feeling refreshed, rested and quenched was critical to keeping positive each day.
:: drink more water ::
Yes, it is this important. Keep drinking water. I was filtering water, drinking ice water, drinking hot water and even making jars of infused water to keep it interesting {I tried many different fruit or vegetable + herb combinations - similar to this}
:: find a cravings replacement ::
Sometimes those cravings hit hard. You know how it goes - four o'clock and all you want is a little special snack to get you to dinner. Or a certain taste goes with a certain activity {example: backyard fire + s'mores} It was crucial for me to find appropriate replacements. Like... I love sweet coffee drinks when we go for a long drive. So for me making cold brew coffee at home to take in the car was the next best thing. I actually love cold brew coffee now and will sometimes pass up an iced mocha just to have one. {To be Whole30 compliant I was drinking it black - just over ice} A few replacements that worked for me:
- infused water
- hot tea
- iced, black + cold brewed coffee {here is a great post about making cold brew coffee at home}
- homemade + oven roasted sweet potatoes
- apple slices + almond butter
- dill pickles {watch those labels if you're shopping for this!!}
:: prepare some approved meals + snacks ahead of time ::
Preparation is key. We have started setting aside Sunday afternoons for cooking and preparing several lunches and one or two dinners just to make sure we are ahead of the game. If we come home {hungry and tired} to nothing even remotely prepared that was when it took real gumption to push through and make a Whole30 approved meal. You can always restock your 'already cooked meal' after you eat. That way when tomorrow comes around you'll be ready.
:: find entertainment that will not tempt you to stray from your food goals ::
The reason I have and am about to make these very calculated food choices is because it makes my body and mind feel right. Better than my usual normal. It is easy to talk yourself out of making proper food choices in a weak moment. I knew that on my weaker days it was better to not even tempt myself at all. For example we went to a coffee shop instead of meeting friends at our local brewery - talking over drinks still happened, just a different location.
:: bring your own food if needed/possible ::
We often brought salads {with lemon wedges for dressing} to parties and cook outs. Especially if we weren't sure what was going to be served. Just bring something large enough and plated in a way that it can be shared - surely your host won't mind. We would also bring approved food choices for in the car incase we were still hungry after going to a restaurant that had limited choices for us.
So here I venture into a second Whole30- early to bed, multiple bottles of water in the fridge and cold coffee brewing...
Saturday, January 3, 2015
Goals, Passion, Growth Archives
I have been making lists and goals and drafting plans as long as I can remember {see my lists of goals from 2012, 2013, 2014}. I love to check off a task + to plan all the ways I could spend my time, money, energy and other resources. I love to consider options.
This year I'm going to harvest my energy and stick with some plans. Take some real actions. I have decided to continue my goals + habit plans for 2015. I love having open ended goals because it gives me the flexibility to really strive for whatever I deem most important or appropriate to me.
I write the following 15 goals for 2015 in order to work on passions and spend my time in meaningful ways. I know that my efforts may not always have perfectly posed end results.
I will live 2015 with the word "do" in mind.
I will start. I will take action. I will plan and find a way to begin and then take the following steps.
I will ask myself "what can I do to support my happy + healthy life?"...
My 15 in 2015
1. Simplify.
2. Read.
3. Experience.
4. Taste.
5. Create.
6. Rest.
7. Search.
8. Learn.
9. Photograph.
10. Enjoy.
11. Express.
12. Save.
13. Appreciate.
14. Make.
15. Do.
Friday, January 2, 2015
My 15 in 2015
I have been making lists and goals and drafting plans as long as I can remember {see my lists of goals from 2012, 2013, 2014}. I love to check off a task + to plan all the ways I could spend my time, money, energy and other resources. I love to consider options.
This year I'm going to harvest my energy and stick with some plans. Take some real actions. I have decided to continue my goals + habit plans for 2015. I love having open ended goals because it gives me the flexibility to really strive for whatever I deem most important or appropriate to me.
I write the following 15 goals for 2015 in order to work on passions and spend my time in meaningful ways. I know that my efforts may not always have perfectly posed end results.
I will live 2015 with the word "do" in mind.
I will start. I will take action. I will plan and find a way to begin and then take the following steps.
I will ask myself "what can I do to support my happy + healthy life?"...
My 15 in 2015
1. Simplify.
2. Read.
3. Experience.
4. Taste.
5. Create.
6. Rest.
7. Search.
8. Learn.
9. Photograph.
10. Enjoy.
11. Express.
12. Save.
13. Appreciate.
14. Make.
15. Do.
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