Between the Oaks

The "Work"

2019-08-22T12:27:00.000-04:00

Recently when Toni Morrison, the novelist, passed the image above went viral on my Instagram and let. me. tell you. I needed to see it. I feel like I've always struggled with loving my "life" and loving my "work" equally. And, yes some will say it's because I haven't found what I'm truly meant to be doing to earn money. But, then I argue... are we only here to do things to earn money? Aren't we more than that? I always say I really just want to go to work so I can go back home and be with my family, be a mother, be a friend, a wife, a sister, a daughter. Maybe I need a change in mentality, but it's hard when you're already a part of the hamster wheel to jump off of that. Now, yes, I did jump off the wheel in 2016 for 2 years and it wasn't easy. Now that I'm 2 years older (ha, ha) and charged with the knowledge and experience of that jump I'm a little more hesitant to do so. Ya know... adult things... insurance, 401k, employee stock, blah, blah, blah. All the things that matter and make the world turn. BUT, what are we here on this planet to really do? Should we punch the clock and find amazing extracurriculars? Or strive to turn those extras into a full time line of work? What are YOU doing everyday to make life enjoyable outside of the 9-5?

Repost : Chaos

2019-08-06T07:25:00.000-04:00

Below is a post I wrote on Oct 2, 2017. This is an unfortunate repost of something that has become all to familiar. I have all the same feelings and maybe even more fear for the future my son will grow up in and the one I will have to protect him against. What will change? When will the pendulum swing back to peace, love and happiness? And, what will we have to endure before then?

----------------------

That's how I feel this morning about the world we live in. What has the world come to? Catastrophic and meaningless tragedies happening all around us. Furthermore, hate.

For what? Why?

As I sit here, holding my child, I am actually stricken with fear and anxiety for the world he will grow up in. As I watch the news reports come in everyone is plagued with such routine behavior. Why have we become immune to tragedy and chaos?

The feeling I have of not being able to go anywhere - concerts, malls, movies, festivals - continues to grow deeper. It's not ok. I know we need to continue to live our lives, but when will that fear go away? When will the senselessness end?

Words to remember on this Monday morning...

One Hundred

2019-08-02T09:42:00.000-04:00

Today marks my 100th post. That doesn't actually seem like a lot when you realize I started this blog on January 14, 2015. I would call that a seriously slow burn and truth be told there aren't any more readers today than there were in 2015. But, every time I log into Blogger I truly love it. I love giving this white space a voice and tone that feels comforting and approachable. I love reading back on all of our adventures or seeing what fun things I mentioned. I love coming to this space and finding intention. Intention for me is opening up my laptop and really letting the words find their place. Its been fun and cathartic to have this little space of mine. So, for my 5 on Friday I'd like to take a look back at 5 posts that stand out in my mind and have a special place in my heart.

one | Home

two | Monday's are for MRS

three | Baby Makes 3

four | New Year, New Baby!

five | Saying Goodbye

[bonus] six & seven | Truth and An Essay: Mom Guilt

So, for those few readers... thank you for reading. Can't wait to see what the next 100 posts have in store!

music to my ears

2019-07-19T10:01:00.000-04:00

When was the last time you discovered a new music artist or song? If you're like me I'm sure you're usually listening to the radio or XM and rarely hear anything new that hasn't already been overplayed. Recently I took a little road trip with my sister and it was one of those car rides we love - singing from start to finish. And when I say start to finish I really, really mean it. And, it's the kind of singing that literally cleanses the soul. You know that kind? The kind of singing you do driving down your favorite road on a beautiful day with windows down. A real jammer, know every word, snappin' hard kind of soul cleansing singing. Well, I'm hear to pass along the tribal knowledge of my top 5 current faves that I believe are relatively unknown to the greater population. What are your current unknown faves?

one | Higher Love - Kygo & Whitney Houston

two | Beyond - Leon Bridges

three | Falling Water - Maggie Rogers

four | Denim Jacket - Maroon 5

five | In the Blood - John Mayer

So, get in your car, find your favorite road, turn it up and sing!

Foodie Friday!

2019-07-12T10:22:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday friends! I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and is gearing up for the weekend with some fun plans! I'm here today with a roundup of my favorite recent recipes and one's that are on my must make list. What's been your favorite go to recipe lately?

[one]

Steamed Salmon with Garlic, Herbs and Lemon

By far my favorite current recipe. So easy! So good! Very much a weeknight meal! Wins all around. I've served it along side rice pilaf and homemade parmesan cauliflower rice.

[two]

Greek-Style Potatoes

If you love the lemon potatoes you get from your local Greek restaurant - look no further! These are amazing! The first time I made them I was concerned about the amount of liquid in the dish, but just follow the recipe. It does take 1.5 hour to get the perfect potato, but don't let that deter you!

[three]

Spicy Chicken with Chickpeas

This is a different flavor profile for our home, but it was really, really good! Delicious leftovers. I would say spicy is an overstatement. The first time I made this I let it marinate twice as long as the second time and I think that might have made all the difference.

[four]

Creamy Cucumber Salad

If you're like me you probably grew up on some sort of a cucumber and onion salad. We ate so much of it growing up and over the years it slowly lost its punch. So, I've been on the lookout for new versions and this might be it. This is definitely on my must make list!

[five]

Black Bean Burgers

If you've been here awhile you know Mr. B is a meat grilling lover, but let. me. tell. you. I made these black bean burgers and they were so good and Mr. B approved! I've been trying to incorporate 1-2 vegetarian dishes into our weekly meal plan and this seriously did not disappoint. So good and satisfying!

[six]

Cranberry Orange Protein Balls

I'm always looking for quick and easy things we can grab in the morning and this might fit the bill. This has been on my must make list for a while. Might have to try them this weekend!

What's been on your must make list? Cheers to happy cooking!

Self-Care?

2019-07-10T10:32:00.000-04:00

I think this post may not be of popular opinion, but can we talk about "self-care?" This trend of everything being labeled as self-care has really been on my mind and frankly I'm not sure I even have a full, well rounded thought about it. If you look on Instagram the hashtag self-care has been tagged 17.1M times! 17.1! Million! And if you take a few minutes to scroll through it consists of quotes, bubble baths, snacks, selfies, products and lots of BS. This notion of self-care is for the consumer, for the mother who needs a label for taking an hour to get a haircut or needs a reason to be eating a cookie or drinking a glass of wine or reading or exercising, etc, etc. As Carrie Bradshaw puts it: maybe some labels are best left in the closest... maybe when we label people we forget to look past the label to the person. Now, clearly that is not a super direct comparison, but the point is labeling. Labeling everything as self-care versus living? Versus wanting? I wanted this so I did it. I needed this so I treated myself. I'm not saying let's not take time for ourselves to recharge and rejuvenate. And, of course we need to nourish our souls before we can do that for others. But, must we label it as self-care? All we're doing is becoming a pawn in the world of marketing. Self-care is such an empty term in my opinion. It's like people need to be patted on the back for running from one child's activity to the next or prepping food for the week or crockpotting or working 60 hour weeks. Adults have been doing these things since the dawn of time, and mind you successfully, without needing a pat or a label or a nod from the adult sitting next to you or a wink and cheers for grabbing that juice cleanse deeming it as self-care. Again, not a well rounded thought, but a concept that seems to be draining and trite in a time when I think people are really needing more than a label. After Googling around to make sure I wasn't the only one in the looney bin I came across an article in USA Today from Jan 2019 titled: Has self-care lost its way? It describes my point perfectly... "Powered by collective stress, bolstered by social media, and commodified by brands eager to exploit people's desire for self-improvement, self-care has evolved from an individual act to a mainstream movement - and market - where the lines between true wellness, social media performance and self-criticism blur." Do we agree? Of course! Ever come across a post from a friend about their "self-care" activity and think well, damn! I need that too! I should be doing that! Why aren't I doing that? Not in a comparison is the thief of all joys way, but more of a wow, they had time for that kinda why. Still with me? Anyway, I'm guessing my point is let's remove the label and let's get back to true wellness, true needs, true wants. Let's identify whether our "self-care" habits are really for the soul or have they become apart of a bigger labeling machine? Food for thought - a messy, not well round thought, but a thought!

Coffee Talk

2019-06-26T09:36:00.000-04:00

Happy Wednesday everyone! I'm showing up here two days in a row so cheers to that! If we were sitting across from each other with a perfectly crafted coffee here's what I'd be spilling the beans about...

... I just came across these adorable number toys for George called Number Bots. Have you heard of them? Each number turns into a little robot. Adorable.

... I'm finally getting a much needed haircut and color today! Thank the good Lord. It was getting really bad. I snapped a quick before pic this morning and it's unshareable. I look like I'm 10 and stuck my finger in a socket.

... On the haircut front, are swoop/side swept bangs too circa 2008?? I was definitely on the bob train for many years. Should we bring them back? A mom friend pointed out they are very high maintenance which is true. Thoughts?

... I started Little Fires Everywhere maybe 1.5 years ago or more and I'm just getting around to finishing the last 100 pages. It's honestly a really good book and I think Resse Witherspoon is adapting it into a limited tv series? Don't quote me.

... Anyone out there a Corona, Landshark type? Then you're probably sleeping on Modelo. Yep, we're going there people. Stick a lime in it.

... Mothers! Swim diapers! Am I missing something? Swim diapers leak and regular diapers blow up in the water. What's the solution? Do we knowingly turn a blind eye to the leaking swim diapers and run with it? Also, at what age did your child do swim lessons? Is George already behind at 2.5y?

... Speaking of coffee talk, how do you make your coffee? Our coffee has had some serious highs and lows lately. Sometimes I'm drinking what actually tastes like coffee and other days I feel like I'm drinking from the bottom of the garbage can. What's your ratio?

... Anyone out there heard of Faster Way to Fat Loss? It's a program focusing on carb cycling and intermittent fasting which I'm into, but it comes with a $199 price tag. I love Whole 30 because it works and well it's free! Is the cost of Faster Way to Fat Loss worth it? I would love to learn more about carb cycling, low/high macros, etc but for free. Anyone want to share the goods with me?!

Alright folks, I'm running off to get my hair beautified. Have a great day!

A Photo Essay: Patio Season

2019-06-25T10:52:00.000-04:00

Since we moved into our house a little over a year ago we knew we wanted to turn a section of our yard into a large patio for grilling and hanging. It has been a huge labor of love from Mr. B who has the technical expertise and vision to make something beautiful and that he did indeed! So, from start to finish our patio adventure took about 3 months, 2,000 wheelbarrow trips, 1 trip to urgent care and as Mr. B says each paver has been touched probably 4 times. We love having an outdoor living area that feels like our own oasis!

Five on Friday!

2019-06-21T10:09:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday friends! I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and gearing up for an awesome weekend. I'm hitting you with the fast five for Friday, but before we dive in I just have to put out this PSA: kiss and hug all your loved ones today! You don't have a blog if you don't feel all the emotions in one week or day do you? Lots has been on my heart in the last couple of days about how quickly life can change and we have to celebrate the ones we love every chance we get. I heard on a podcast the other day to greet your spouse like a puppy and the same rings true for all the people we love in our life. So, go out have a great Friday and let's try to greet all the people we love like a puppy!

one | Mommas listen up! My sister turned me onto this product to use at the beach to avoid chafing and irritation for George while wearing wet bathing suits and diapers and it works!! You don't need Gold Bond or any other anicent potions. This will do the trick!

two | Roasted Red Pepper & Feta Salad = Best and easiest summer salad you'll make all season! I whipped this up while we were at the beach and served it along side crab cakes and roasted potatoes and it made for the perfect meal. This is so easy and flavorful!

three | Basic and I'm ok with it! Yes, I've turned into an Erin Condren planner gal and I'm cool with it. Just got in my new planner and I love being able to see our memories all year along.

four | I think I'm late to the party on this one but I just started following the Busy Toddler Instagram account. She has thousands of great [and simple] ideas and activities to keep your kiddos busy. Go check her out!

five | Are you an Elin Hilderbrand book lover? If you're reading this you've probably read all her books and wish one day you could be transported to Nantucket just for a summer. Well, I saw this on Instagram and had to share. I can't wait to see what they come up with!

I hope everyone has a great weekend - Cheers!

This Way to the Beach

2019-06-18T10:19:00.000-04:00

We're back from an amazing week at Holden Beach. So many great memories made. So many sandy snacks. So many self made pools. We played well. We ate well. We biked. Hammocked. Relaxed. It was truly one of the best vacations we've had in a while! There isn't one specific reason, but it just felt great. Ya know when you come back from time away and sometimes you feel like that was fun, but not greeeaaaat? This was truly great and we can't wait to do it again next summer! Holden Beach just feels special. It's not commercial or built up, so you can really sink into the sand for an entire week without feeling like you're missing out on activities. I set out last Saturday with the intention to renew, reconnect and rejuvenate and all was accomplished!

Also, the best end to our beach week was celebrating Father's Day on Sunday. If we're being truthful I don't think I've physically been with my father on Father's Day in many, many moons (15? 20 years? We can't even remember) and it was really special.

My heart is so full! Now back to grocery lists and email :)

Saltwater Gospel

2019-06-09T12:46:00.000-04:00

Hello from the beautiful shores of NC: sea salted to perfection with the right touch of ocean breeze and eastern NC swagger. We have a week to renew, reconnect and rejuvenate all that’s happened since the last time our toes were in the sand. Having grown up at the beach its always been the place I feel most centered and myself, and I’m hoping in 7 days I leave feeling excited to start anew - whatever that is... outlook, routines, you name it. The lyrics from Eli Young Band’s song Saltwater Gospel always speak to me...

When I go down and sink my feet in the water
And I soak up that sun and I watch it set
Yeah, I can feel the power of the saltwater gospel
I'm as close to God as I can get....
I'm in heaven watchin' all these waves roll in
Amen
When I'm lost I know where to get found again

Short and sweet this time friends, but I’ll leave you with this sweet sandy bottomed little lover!

An Essay: Mom Guilt

2019-05-23T10:18:00.000-04:00

The day always starts with such sweet tenderness hearing you ask for Mommy and Daddy, singing the ABCs or talking to your bunnies. Dawn is just breaking and the excitement and anticipation for the day is fresh, but work calls and so does rushing out the door. Usually with no time for breakfast - yes, you will eat at school! Guilt.

We arrive at school and most days you're excited to see your friends. As I walk past the window to your classroom to leave we wave goodbye and blow kisses. It's a short walk back to the car, but even then I start to feel anxious and let my mind wander briefly... What will you do today? Will they love on you like their own? Will you be a good friend? Do you have a friend? Am I doing the right thing leaving you there? Guilt. Some days I get the dreaded call. Usually you've bumped your head and they've applied ice. You'll be ok, but may have a bruise. Guilt.

After an hours long drive from work, I arrive back at school to pick you up hoping I get a good report from your teacher. Were you a good friend today or did you decide to go beast mode on someone and leave them with a bite? Sometimes the latter. Guilt. Once we're home it's all out until bedtime. Playing. Whining. Sometimes time out. Guilt. Dinner. Was it healthy enough? Guilt. Bath. Playing. Stories. Prayers. Bedtime.

Once I know you're fast asleep I check on you sleeping so sweet. I just stare at you wondering what did you experience today that I don't know about? Did you have a good day? Did we have enough Mommy and Daddy time? Guilt. As I lay in bed my heart hurts. When will you start to remember that I got upset at you for not listening? Can I wake you up for just one more kiss? I guess I'll have to wait until dawn breaks. The mom guilt: so unbearably, heartbreakingly palpable all the time. And starts so early.

Friday's Fuel

2019-05-10T10:41:00.000-04:00

First off, thank you so much for the outpouring of love from my last post. I honestly feel lighter from finally shedding that and standing in the light. It takes a lot of courage and vulnerability to be honest which has been on my heart recently since watching Brene Brown's Netflix special - The Call to Courage. If you don't know what I'm talking about you must go watch or use your sister's Netflix login. My sister called to tell me I HAD to watch because "you know we're the same, so you're going to love it." And well, darn it, she was right. I laughed and cried. It is amazing. Maybe even transformative. The message is clear - it takes vulnerability to be courageous. To stand in the light. To put yourself in the ring. To show up. To put yourself in uncomfortable situations that allow your true self to grow and shine. It's tough when different seasons of your life are upon you to feel like you aren't just letting life pass you by. I know that's how I'm currently feeling. The day to day can start to be a drag - wake up, rush out, drive an hour, work, work work, drive an hour, rush, eat, sleep. The last few months have left me feeling like maybe I am just taking a back seat. Maybe I do need to be vulnerable and adjust and reassess. We can't be brave enough to stop letting life pass us by without vulnerability. So, enough about that. Just go watch it!

Let's get to today's Friday Fuel...

one | Speaking of vulnerability and courage I have to shout out 2 girlfriends that are standing in their own light, putting themselves out there and doing the darn thing! First, Jessica who just started a blog - The Honest Truth. She's wearing her heart on her sleeve and doing so beautifully. Go give her blog a read and join her community! And the second shout out is to my girlfriend Lauren who has been building her side hustle of Rodan + Fields into something amazing. Both of these women decided to go outside of their comfort zones and do something for themselves and I see them reaping the rewards from being courageous enough to do so! Go ladies go!

two | Mom truth... Have you ever gotten a call from the preschool to say your child has completely disrobed, diaper and all, and peed on the playground? Well, me either until yesterday. Fun times, fun times. Potty training just escalated to emergency levels.

three | Hi, I'm Anna and I have an addiction to something called an Iced Kong Fusion. It's sweetened black tea, espresso and steamed milk. Seriously don't knock it until you try it. It is amazing and life changing. I know Brene Brown would say so, haha.

four | Has anyone shopped at Target lately? Ever since we moved and are much further away from one I rarely ever go anymore, but I did manage to find my way there last weekend. Wow, ya'll! Some really cute things! I found this suppper cute jumpsuit/romper and some really cute swimsuits for George. They have really upped their game!

five | I love to see what people are buying on Amazon, and recently there have been a lot of really great things that I've added to my Amazon shopping list. Drop a comment below - what have you been buying lately?

one | two | three | four | five | six

Alright lovelies, I've so enjoyed being back in this space with you! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and a very Happy Mother's Day!

xoxo - A

Truth

2019-05-08T11:51:00.001-04:00

I've been inspired by a good friend to come back to this space that I love so dearly. Why do I love it so dearly? I've always enjoyed the process. When I was younger I always kept a journal. Recently I've gone back and read some of them and it's interesting to see what was in your heart at that time. I see this space as such and I've been really feeling that void of letting go of what's on my heart. I'm one of those people that turn inward when there is a lot going on in the universe. Some may call it avoid, and yes I would too. Avoid, avoid until it bubbles over. Or avoid, avoid until you're ready to shed. Ready to live your truth.

So, what's been on my heart. Truth. Life. Future. Presence. So many weighty words to be honest. But let's start here: Life. No, not the "life" kind you see on social media. You know where someone just says "ugh, ya know... life" with some asinine emoji. Life as in the literal term. The story begins last September when we thought we were expecting, but ended up having a blighted ovum which is basically just an empty sac. It was shocking at the time and we were disappointed, but I honestly was ok with what had happened. More than anything I felt insensitive to the women who were actually experiencing "real" miscarriages. I almost felt like why would I even say anything because it wasn't "real". Nothing was actually present. Fast forward to March and we thought we were expecting again. I had our confirmation appointment scheduled for weeks. We were obviously nervous, but excited, but nervous, but excited. After getting checked in and going through all the basics with the nurse before going back to the ultrasound room, I honestly had a bad feeling in my gut. It all felt off, but I was trying to stay positive. The bottom line is it's never good news when the doctor calls in for backup support! We did see a fetus, but there was no heartbeat. And to my further surprise, I thought I was only 7 weeks along, but it was actually measuring 12 weeks. Why am I putting this all out there? It's my truth. I was actually numb when we left our appointment. The utter disappointment was overwhelming. And the only image I had playing over and over again in my head was seeing the spine clearly on the monitor. There was a lot to unwrap, but the first for me was how, as a woman, can you be so wrong about your own body. I'm not sure this is a story that's being told because I'm not even sure it's happening that much. I think I actually spoke what I've always thought about myself into reality which is I'm not in tune with my body, and it was confirmed. To be so off on my dates and timing was just...just...just. No words. The appointment was on a Monday and our D&C was scheduled for Friday. I'll let you read between all those lines, but needless to say it was a very long, awkward, weird, agonizing week of living with my truth. Miscarriage. No heartbeat. Starting over. You get it. It's taken me a long time I feel like to really grasp what's happened and the permanent mark its left on my heart. You know how people list off what's happened in their life? Like: 3 kids, 10 moves, 3 homes, a dog, blah blah? I don't need a list, but it is interesting when you do take stock... welcomed 1 spunky adorable little boy, bought a home we love, said goodbye to a dog, said goodbye to a parent, grieved 1.5 miscarriages. Taking stock. Living in your truth. No one talks about having a miscarriage. It's an awkward terrible thing to talk about, but your fellow people - your fellow women - are out here living this alone. Yes, it's personal, but it's just as common as actually having a baby. We have to break the stigma. I've held my own research study and have mentioned it a handful of times in conversation and let. me. tell. you. Muddy waters folks. But it's my truth.

We're moving on and up, and feeling very grateful for our sweet little pumpkin pie that continues to bring so much joy and happiness to our lives. We are blessed. Not hashtag blessed, just the kind that really shines bright from within.

Easter 2019

Whole 30 Round 2 - Week 3

2018-03-19T20:18:00.000-04:00

We've made it to week 3 and that hasn't been without a lot of day dreaming about cold beers and rosé that's for sure! I think we've made it through the hard part. One of the things I love about Whole 30 is that it 100% makes us more responsible and disciplined about using all of the food we buy at the grocery store. I don't know if I even want to tell you how much food we would throw out on a regular basis. So without further ado let's jump into an iPhone dump from last week and a look at the week ahead.

Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry over Cauliflower Rice

Super yummy salad!
Grilled Chicken marinated in Tessemae's Zesty Ranch

Chipotle Beef & Avocado Bowls - delish!

Applegate hotdogs, coleslaw and sweet potato fries
I made up the coleslaw and it was awesome!
Leftover bagged coleslaw, compliant mayo, rice wine vinegar, dash mustard

So, let's see what's on the menu this week...

Breakfast and lunches are pretty much the same as the last few weeks. Frittatas for Mr. B and some version of eggs and bacon for me plus these buffalo turkey meatballs with roasted broccoli for lunches.

We started the week off last night with Zuppa Toscana soup which I love and it was kid approved, so win win! For dinner tonight we had Shrimp and "Grits" or mashed cauliflower in our world and it was delish! I usually make this Southern Living recipe and just modified it to make compliant.

The rest of the week we'll be having pork chops with these green beans, peanut-free chicken satay with baked sweet potatoes, hot dogs with parsnip fries and probably burgers with grilled sweet peppers and this amazing sweet potato salad. Seriously, this may be my favorite thing right now.

A few related food things.. First, I thought this was a good article for those considering Whole30 and considering how it will affect your grocery budget. Second, this was a great documentary about eating whole foods and how it will and can affect your health. It is focused on Paleo which is very similar to Whole 30 minus a few things (sugar!), but still a great look at the benefits of eating whole, real foods.

Lastly, unrelated but how sweet is this little nugget?? Where did my baby go and when did he get so big??

Cheers to feeling good on the INSIDE this week!

Whole 30 Round 2 - Week 2

2018-03-12T07:36:00.000-04:00

We've made it through week 1 - YAY! The image above is a reminder of the general outcomes you should be feeling while on the Whole 30 and it was pretty accurate for us. Mid week we both had headaches that felt like hangovers! I'm ready for the tiger blood to set in - so much energy!! Let's do a phone dump for Whole 30 inspiration and a look ahead of this week...

Buffalo Turkey Meatballs, Roasted Broccoli and Tessemae's Ranch

Herb Crusted Salmon with Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Apples

Banana, Raisins and Almond Butter

Leftover Herb Salmon and Egg Scramble

Gotta make it fun somehow!
Lemon La Croix mixed with Pineapple Strawberry La Croix

Saturday Dinner
Grilled Steaks, Roasted Tomatoes and Mushrooms and Carrot and Parsnip Mash

So, what's on the menu this week??

Breakfast | I tried a new breakfast casserole for Mr. B this week. It looks tasty! I'm still obsessed with my hard boiled eggs with hot sauce.

Lunch | The buffalo turkey meatballs from last week were really good, so we're keeping that the same again this week as well. Super yummy!

Dinners | We started the week off last night with this compliant meatloaf and baked sweet potatoes. We love this recipe! Also on the menu this week... Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry with Riced Cauliflower, Grilled Chicken Salads, Chipotle Beef & Avocado Bowls, Pork Chops and Roasted Asparagus, Compliant Hot Dogs and Sweet Potato Fries

Extras | Additional items in our fridge to keep us on track... raisins, bananas, avocados, almond butter, grapes, baby carrots

Cheers to feeling good on the INSIDE!

Why Whole 30?

2018-03-07T09:25:00.000-05:00

It's a good question, right? Why restrict myself from that amazing homemade lasagna that I've raved about 300 times and that crisp Blue Moon on a beautiful sunny day along with my fave coffee ice cream to top off an otherwise fantastic weekend?

Let me count thy ways...
heartburn, lack of sleep, dull sunken skin, sluggish, moody, acid reflux... to name a few.

Eating whole nutritious foods shouldn't make your heart feel like it's going to beat out of your chest or swing your moods high and low without sending a notice! Whole foods shouldn't send your blood sugars into the depths of the lands waiting for you to respond by sweating full bullets and crashing down to the floor because your knees gave out just before you were going to stuff your face with a giant sub to calm you down and get back to equilibrium. None of that sounds normal right? No, unless you're eating a truly American diet. Which we are! They don't call it the afternoon lunch slump for nothing! And on top of the physical issues, I swear by Whole 30 because I don't believe there is another diet out there where a clear mind is a result. Thinking clearly alone is reason enough to rid yourself of the processed toxins.

So, we're in 2 full days and I can already tell a difference in my sleep and inflammation. I tell ya it's magic! Rid yourself of the processed sugars, sulfites and junk and you will sleep like a precious little baby. 100% guaranteed. No need for a warranty.

What is your why? Maybe it isn't the Whole 30, but what gets you up in the morning knowing that you're feeding your body the way it's always needed?

Whole 30 Round 2 - Week 1

2018-03-05T10:45:00.001-05:00

Yes, you read that right! Mr. B and I have started our 2nd round of Whole 30 and thank goodness. We were both in need of a reset and the timing is perfect. Today is day 1 and my personal goal is 60 days, but we'll see. Ideally, I see that as a strict Whole 30 for the first half and then a mash up of Whole 30 and Food Freedom the second half straight into the summer months. Here's to hoping it works out that way!

So, what's on the menu this week? And like last time, this is really for my benefit because typing it out makes me accountable for sticking with it. So, thank you to my 2 readers for the accountability group - haha!

Breakfast | Frittatas for Mr. B (quick and easy for on the go) and hard boiled eggs with Franks Red Hot Original and Pederson's compliant bacon for me. I owe my sister for my new obsession with eggs and hot sauce. Go ahead and awake your senses first thing in the morning - you won't regret it!

Coffee | about the only thing that stuck from our first Whole 30 is our Silk Unsweetened Almond Milk. And trust me, this was a big deal for Mr. B! He was a huuuge french vanilla creamer lover to the end, so yay for him!

Dishes | the following will be used for dinner and leftovers for lunch:
Lemon Garlic Herb Baked Salmon with Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Buffalo Turkey Meatballs with Tessemae's Ranch and Roasted Broccoli
Chicken Tenderloins, Roasted Fennel, Apple, Sweet Potato Sheet Pan Dinner
Egg Roll in a Bowl - duh! a family fave!
Grilled Pork Chops with Tessemae's BBQ Sauce and Roasted Asparagus
Grilled Burgers with Marinated Onions and Parsnip Fries

Extras | Other items in our fridge to keep us on track: celery, raisins, almond butter, bananas, apple slices, baby carrots

So, nothing crazy on our menu this week and for good reason. I want us to be just as successful this time around as we were last time. I already felt overwhelemed with coming up with a menu so I kept it on the straight and narrow while we're getting back into the swing of things.

Is anyone else doing a Whole 30 or just completed one? Let me know down below!

Cheers to feeling great on the INSIDE!

Curious George

2018-02-08T06:24:00.000-05:00

Late, but not forgotten!! Wayyyy back in December our sweet George turned 1 and I took it upon myself to create his Curious George invitation and party sign. I searched high and low for something cute online that was already done, but coudn't find it so I did it myself. Hopefully this will help the next sweet little George out there somewhere!

Invitation | I started by buying a group of high res Curious George images from Etsy and went from there using Adobe InDesign to create the 5x7 invite. Simple and sweet! I ended up printing them at FedEx on a cream colored cardstock. *Disregard the black border!

Party Sign | Same with the invitation I wanted to keep George's 1st birthday sign simple and sweet, but I drew inspiration from the 1st birthday signs you see all over Etsy as well as his invitation. Again, I printed this on 11x14 white cardstock at FedEx.

I'm not very DIY or crafty, so the only other thing that I did was make a little highchair banner out of ribbon. Siiiiiiimple!

Lastly, our menu...

Italian Antipasto Skewers

Piggies in a Blanket

Party Meatballs

#1 shaped Rice Krispies

Mini Individual Banana Puddings

And, that's what I call a 1st birthday party!

Mr Blue Eyes Turns 1!

2017-12-19T16:21:00.000-05:00

I can hardly believe that 365 days ago we welcomed our first child into this world. He has brought so much love into our lives that I never thought imaginable. Being his mother has been one of the greatest and hardest jobs I've had the privlege of undertaking and I feel so blessed that he chose me.

He was only a month when I wrote this, and it still remains true today...

As with every new mother, there are so many things I want for our sweet boy. I want him to always know the feeling of being loved. Learn to give and receive it. Always see the good in people. Learn to love life's quiet moments. Love the beach. Love the mountains. Find what makes his heart tick. Never miss a sunset. Catch a few sunrises. See beauty in the simple. Explore. Learn. Develop. Never give up on his innocence. And as the quote says: "Respond to every call that excites your spirit".

George,

You are the light of our lives and bring so much happiness to our hearts. Your smile is contagious and your deep blue eyes are a window into your tender soul. I know you are going to do beautiful things in the years to come and I thank god I'm lucky enough to have a front row seat as your mother.

Happiest of birthdays sweet pea!

xoxo,

Mama

Coffee Talk

2017-12-06T12:47:00.000-05:00

If we were sitting across from each other sipping a hot cup a joe I'd probably be telling you this...

...first I'd become that mother and spend the majority of our time gushing about my sweet son. I meannn look how sweet he is with Santa! It's just so heartwarming. I will literally treasure this picture forever!

...also, remember I mentioned a few weeks ago that I thought George would start walking soon? Well, hello! We have a walker. I use that term lightly, but he's definitely walking across our living room. Yay for George!

... this was my scene Sunday morning. Perfect reading spot! I started China Rich Girlfriend over the weekend and have already finished it and I'm on to the 3rd book in this series, Rich People Problems. Highly recommend these books. So easy to binge read them too!

...speaking of books - I ordered the 2 books above from Amazon Prime and wouldn't you know it took longer then the free 2-day shipping. Why am I paying for Amazon Prime again?

...anyone else excited for the return of Vanderpump Rules??

...George was supposed to be napping recently and I looked at the monitor and found this sneaky little cutie reading!

...made 2 keepers for dinner recently that I must share - Baked Ziti and Broccoli Cheddar Soup. Both from the Pioneer Woman and as usual make a tonnnnn.

...currently burning this Yankee Candle. The scent combo may seem strange but don't let it fool you!! It smells so good!

...I've come up with the best company for mothers... drum roll please... a highchair detailing service. They would come to your house and detail your dirty macaroni and cheese filled highchair back to its original pristine form. Yay? Nay? How do you mothers keep them looking so clean? Especially the straps!

That's it for today! See you back here soon :)

O. M. G.... it's Ree!

2017-11-30T08:37:00.000-05:00

...as in Ree Drummond... as in the Pioneer Woman! Mr. B and I (and George) got to meet her last night at her signing for her new cookbook! How fun! Of course she was just like she is on TV - super bubbly and nice.

the line!!!

our celeb moment! a total professional - signing books while taking pics and still looking cute

I can't end this post without sharing two of my favorite recipes from Ree (first name basis ya know!) First up is her lasagna. This is definitely my go to recipe and it makes a tonnnn. She calls it her best ever lasagna and I think she's right!

I think I've talked about my second favorite recipe of hers before - French Breakfast Puffs. She calls them French Puffs but really they are a cinnamony donuty little pocket of goodness. I will note that she makes her in a standard muffin tin, but I think they're better using a mini muffin tin.

Plus there are tons of new and yummy recipes in her Come and Get It! Cookbook! Now, what's for dinner???

Thankful and 32!

2017-11-28T08:19:00.000-05:00

Happy Tuesday everyone and a happy belated Thanksgiving! I hope you had a fantastic holiday filled with lots of family and yummy food. We certainly did! We spent the week at the beach which I love during the off season where you can't see anyone for miles and miles, and the weather was perfection!

beautiful sunrise for Thanksgiving

my lil turkey!

Thanksgiving mimosas with mom

full heart

hiiiii

sweet cousins

....and.... happy birthday to me! Yesterday was my 32nd birthday and Mr. B made me my favorite cake - yellow cake with chocolate icing, a classic!

My birthday wish is another year full of new family memories, laughter and lots of love!

Cheers!

Friday's Confessions

2017-11-10T09:15:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday everyone! Did your week fly by like mine? Thank goodness, right?! I'm here today with my Friday confessions and as always I'm linking up with the ladies below!

one | Let's just say I listened to Christmas music pretty much all day yesterday. I'm already there, aren't you? There's finally a little chill in the air which has really gotten me in the holiday spirit! What are your favorite Christmas pandora stations? I love the Eddie Higgins Trio Holiday Radio station!

two | Speaking of Christmas I pulled the plug on our holiday cards this morning. Ahead of the game, go me!

three | I don't want to be that Mom that thinks her child is the smartest in the class, butttt George is sooo close to walking I can just feel it! He has taken a step, but I just know it's going to happen any day now. Let me just live in my happy place, ok?

four | Mr. B got me the new Pioneer Woman cookbook and a ticket to go see her and have the book signed at our local bookstore. I seriously can't wait to meet her! There are so many great sections of this cookbook like sheet pan dinners and dinners under 40 and 20 minutes.

five | Am I the only one who doesn't understand Aldi??? I finally went after hearing my sister rave about it and I just wasn't that impressed. I couldn't find everything I needed and the pricing wasn't as great as I had heard? I may give it one more try, but to be honest all of the locations are really out of the way so it's not a sustainable way to grocery shop. And speaking of Aldi... I was talking to my sister on the phone this morning about it and looked on Instagram after we got off and wouldn't you know there was a sponsored ad for Aldi. I mean really? Is it anymore obvious that our apps are listening to us?

Weekending

2017-11-06T07:11:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday everyone! I'm just getting my week started with a cozy cup of hot joe. Actually it started at 5:45am when my littlest friend decided it was time to wake up! How was your weekend friends? Did you make the most of Daylight Savings?? We mostly had a low key weekend with a special ending. Friday basically consisted of falling alseep on the couch while watching reruns of Modern Family which if you really want to know is my most favorite way to spend a Friday evening. Saturday morning we visited our favorite coffee shop which we hadn't done while doing our Whole 30. It was nice to have a family coffee run! The rest of Saturday was spent in the kitchen for me and watching football for Mr. B. I was busy whipping up yummy foods for our sweet George's Dedication which happened Sunday at Mr. B's hometown church. It was so special to do it there and I know Mr. B was so proud! I'd say George did pretty good, but it was definitely a struggle to keep him quiet the whole service!

And because you know I love a good menu here's what we had for lunch...

Chicken Salad - the only chicken salad recipe you need!

Ham Rolls

Chilled Asparagus Salad

Mixed Green Salad - Strawberries, Blue Cheese, Spiced Pecans, Balsamic Vinaigrette

Deviled Eggs

Vivian Howard's Cheese Ball - a must holiday appetizer!!

Carrot Cake - another amazing recipe!

Chicken Salad from Cook's Illustrated Cookbook

2 - 3 pounds chicken, shredded or chopped

2 celery stalks, diced

2 scallions, diced

2 tablespoons parsley

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 cup mayo

Mix it all up and enjoy! Add more mayo and lemon juice as needed.

A beautiful ending to a special day for our family