Month 2 Results

It's October Check-In Time!

I can honestly say that I was dreading this date all month. I knew it just was not going right. My birthday kicks off this glorious month of October. And, it ends with my husband's. And Halloween plus trick-or-treating. It's been a whirlwind of sugar lately!

There was also a constant struggle with two pounds. I'd lose them but guess what? Yup, I'd find them again!! But, I did WIN with at least the scale going in the right direction. That's what matters!! Right? (I need to remind myself of that.

This is NOT a celebratory post! My goal to hit the 85 pound mark is in jeopardy as that means I need to lose 8-10 pounds in November to even consider getting through Christmas. I'm very disappointed in myself and I talk about it a bit more in this post.

My Unintentional Sugar Experiment

I have been really struggling with getting my monthly update written. Not sure why. Life is busy but that’s not necessarily it. I find that my mind is wandering onto so many different topics; like I just cannot focus on one idea long enough to develop something. Perhaps it’s that I’m putting too much thought into it. Or, maybe it’s that I’m incredibly UN-focused!?!? I’d put money on the latter, personally!

But, it’s the end of the month and that means I need to check in with my progress.  So, for my progress update, check HERE.

I apologize in advance if this seems to go off on a tangent. Certainly not what I started out to do.

So, October has literally FLOWN by. Don’t you agree? It seems like just yesterday the kids were starting school and now Halloween is upon us. This is crazy!

As you may have read in my check-in from last month, I lost 9 pounds and 10 inches. Pretty good. I do attribute much of that to the 21 Day Sugar Detox I was working on for most of the month.

Well, then October happened. And, it hasn’t been good. It starts with a birthday (mine) and ends with running around house-to-house asking for candy. What good can happen in this month? Seriously?

Butternut Squash Soup

Fall in Wisconsin is like none other: gorgeous colors, cool breeze, and FOOTBALL! (Sorry, couldn't help myself there...)

I love getting an abundance of squash in my CSA farmer's harvest this time of year. Luckily, my family will eat squash in just about every way that I use it.

I can't say which is my favorite: spaghetti, butternut, acorn, pumpkin. Oh, and how I love zucchini! I received a delicata squash this week in my delivery and have never made it before. Looking forward to that little adventure.

Today I'm sharing with you an amazingly simple recipe for butternut squash soup. It's so good on a cool, rainy day (like today); warms you from the inside out. And, it's very versatile - the sky is the limit on how you can season this soup. Traditionally, I use just nutmeg. But, lately I've added an apple (over-abundance from our trees) and even some curry seasoning. So good!!

Game Day Mini Corn Dogs

My youngest son LOVES corn dogs. Before clean-eating days, it was one of only a handful of things he'd want to order when we went out to eat. And - get this - he'd pick the dough off the dog! Who does that?!?! Silly kid.

So, when we ditched the garbage food at our house, finding a replacement was something I began searching for.

I did find a recipe and it was just alright. Didn't quite have that corn cake flavor we were looking for.

So, off came my oven mitts and I began experimenting.

Homemade Body Butter

Making your own body butter is so simple and easy! I've been playing with different ratios to get it just right for my extra-dry skin. I've finally found just the right combination.

And there is only THREE INGREDIENTS!

Balancing Life

It’s not easy!

I’m sure there are people who know me and think I’m crazy for starting this blog. Aside from its very personal nature, I have a few other commitments that don’t leave me much “free time” to start blogging. And, what do I have to say about anything?

Right?

Let me think about it: I work full-time. I have two school-aged kids. Both kids are in karate and working on their black belts (that means class three times a week). My husband works full-time and commutes an hour each way to work every day. I need to find time to cook and clean. Oh, and exercise. Let’s not forget exercise.

Wow, I’m tired just thinking about all that!

But, really, it’s just life.

Think of what YOU have going on? I’m sure your list is very similar.

Featured Oils: Lemongrass

Refreshing. Stimulating. These are just two ways that I describe one of my favorite essential oils: Lemongrass.

I bought Lemongrass essential oil as part of my first ESSENTIAL REWARDS order for the purpose of making bug spray. What I didn't realize is how powerful this oil is and how amazing it smells.

 My Favorite Ways to Use Lemongrass Essential Oil

Featured Oil: Lavender

Lavender is by far the most versatile of all essential oils. No home should be without this wonderful oil! It has a fresh and sweet aroma that's calming yet refreshing. Lavender essential oil is easily one of my favorites.



Think about anything that's scented in your home: lotions, hand soap, laundry soap... I bet they have lavender in them.

When I received my Premium Starter Kit, this was the first oil that I opened and used. Why? Well, I think most of us are already familiar with lavender - or at least at the calming properties of the scent. But, as I started digging, the more uses I found! A day does not go by without using Lavender in my home.

My Favorite Ways to Use Lavender Essential Oil

Step into my home and you will find lavender in all of these areas:

Perfection? Or is it more like Good Enough?

What does the word PERFECT mean to you?

According to Merriam-Webster, PERFECT means:

Adjective

• having no mistakes or flaws; completely correct or accurate; having all the qualities you want in that kind of person, situation, etc.


• {I like this one: having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.}

Verb

• to bring to final form; make (something) completely free from faults or defects, or as close to such a condition as possible.

What about these words?

Ideal. Without fault. Flawless. Impeccable.
Pristine. Precise. Accurate. Unblemished.

PERFECT...

Quite a strong word.

Banana Oatmeal Bars (plus variations!)

Looking for a healthy snack to send with your kids to school? What about a nutritious option for breakfast on-the-go? I have just the recipe for you!



It all started with the snack calendar...

When my oldest started school (K4), there was a snack calendar where each child rotated bringing in a morning snack for the entire class. It was supposed to be a healthy snack – not a treat. Well, what’s a snack vs. a treat? I think for each of us, it’s defined differently. And for anyone who’s avoiding processed food, this sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it?

I wanted to be sure that when our turn came around the kids had a wholesome, nutritious snack. I gave my son a short list of choices for each time it was his turn and he’d pick based upon what others had recently brought in. I found a recipe online for oatmeal bars that was loaded with sugar and chocolate. They sounded alright but I figured why not try to make a healthier variation? And, so it began. Oatmeal Snack Bars (v 1.0) were born.

In my quest to eliminate all processed sugars from our diet, I continued modifying the recipe which brought us here to what I call "version 2.0" - Banana Oatmeal Bars.

What I like the most about this recipe is that it can be modified to fit your needs very easily. No Gluten? No Dairy? No Nuts? No Eggs? Check. Check. Check. Check!!  All these variations are included but I'm sure you may come up with more. Please leave a comment with either a substitution question or how you have made it your own!

Month 1 Results

The first installment of my monthly check-ins with progress pictures & stats

This isn't really "Month One" but I have no real documentation from the last 19 months like measurements or pictures. So, I guess I'll just go with it. <insert big huff & sigh here>

As you may have read, I did a 21 Day Sugar Detox which started on September 1st. I took my measurements and weight; my son took a picture of me two days later. (That was a fun day - my youngest decided he was going to be my "personal trainer for the day" so we worked out before dinner in the yard. Must say, one of the toughest workouts I had in a while. Darn those karate classes for him!)

OK, back to my story...

Each Monday I "officially" weighed in to keep track of my progress; but, I also weighed myself daily. I need that constant feedback and accountability to myself so that I can monitor what's going on. I know that I should say that it's not all about the number on the scale but, let's stop fooling ourselves, it IS. I need that constant reassurance to my progress. Without it, I easily go into a tailspin and get a bit out of control. So, while some people may say frequent weighing oneself is not good, I'll just quietly continue on my ways.

The numbers went in the right direction. Thank goodness! And, I'll tell you - once I stopped the 21DSD and had a few items which contained sugar, I gained some back! Yes. I did. Sucks! And, I got really ticked off at myself not only because I knew better but it was not worth it. (Gluten-free cupcake from my son's birthday; yes it was good but no, it wasn't. If you can follow that, you rock!)