Full Day of Eats: When I Want to Stay in Bed

You ever have one of those days when you just don’t want to leave your bedroom? I don’t really think about it too much because it’s not really an option for me, but when I woke up to a rainy day yesterday, I decided to spend as much time resting in my room as I could.

The calendar was fairly clear yesterday. My husband got Laney to her summer school program first thing, and I started my day-full of laundry washing, drying, folding and putting away. We were sorely behind from days and days of summer fun. I took a lot of breaks in between it all, and cleaned other areas of my bedroom throughout the day. It felt good to be in my room most of the morning.

For breakfast, I had a protein shake because I wasn’t that hungry.

I took a break from laundry when it was time to pick Laney up from school. I grabbed subs for myself and the girls and took them to a playground nearby. We had fun!

When we got home, I retreated back to my room to continue my laundry project. I’ve decided it’s considered a “project” when you’re spending most of the day catching up.

In the afternoon, I had a chia pudding and granola snack.

Then for dinner we ate grilled potatoes, squash and chicken sausage in the garden.

After dinner, I was back in my room and this time, I got in to my pajamas. Nick took the girls to the park to ride bikes while I worked from home. Tuesday nights I usually work in the office but, on this night I was so grateful to be able to open my laptop and work from the comfort of my bed!

Later on, I had a sweet tooth and made myself a chocolate chip cookie sandwich with reddi whip.

I was still hungry after that so I had some chips and queso, and ended the day around 1,780 cal.

Full Day of Eats: When There’s A Picnic

On Sunday, we had a church picnic to attend for lunch. Knowing that ahead of time, I thought it would be some good accountability to take a picture of everything I ate that day.

So, here’s a full day of eats when there’s a picnic planned.

Breakfast was a BLT sandwich, because bacon is a breakfast food, right?

I ate my breakfast in the garden, with a hot cup of Breakfast in Paris tea and raw sugar to sweeten it up.

For lunch, I grabbed a hot dog, pasta salad and watermelon. I skipped the desserts.

Since I skipped dessert at lunch, I didn’t feel bad at all for grabbing an iced vanilla latte in the afternoon.

My husband, the kids and I went to a park with some beautiful walking trails in the woods. We drank our iced coffee and strolled around, enjoying the summer weather, sights and sounds.

After the walk, we went home and I did some work in the garden. Not garden work, but work work. I got caught up on some emails in the best way. I love being able to work in the garden this way.

Later on, my grandparents stopped by for a visit to see the garden. For dinner, we made toasted sandwiches, and had fire-roasted s’mores.

Before bed, I had a moment of weakness and got into some sponge candy. That is one thing I just cannot keep in the house. It was gifted to me recently, and I’m sure it won’t last long.

Even still, I ended the day somewhere around 1,840 calories and I was happy with how it all went.

Anniversary Challenge: Week 1 Recap

One week ago, I started my new “Anniversary Challenge”. Today, I’m going to share how the first week went. Spoiler alert: it didn’t go as well as I thought it would.

Anniversary Challenge Tasks 

Drink 90-120 oz of water daily

• Sunday: 90 oz
• Monday: 90 oz
• Tuesday: 90 oz
• Wednesday: 90 oz
• Thursday: 90 oz
• Friday: 60 oz
• Saturday: 90 oz

Walk for 30-60 minutes/week

• Sunday: —
• Monday: —
• Tuesday: —
• Wednesday: 30 min
• Thursday: —
• Friday: —
• Saturday: —

Track nutrition daily + stay within calorie range 5/7 days each week (1,650 - 1,850 calories)

• Sunday: 1,600 calories
• Monday: 1,790 calories
• Tuesday: —
• Wednesday: —
• Thursday: —
• Friday: —
• Saturday: —

Blog weekly challenge updates

• 1/8 Done!

Weight-Loss Goal:

My realistic and main goal is to lose about 8 pounds during this challenge. That’s 1 pounds per week. 

My “shoot for the moon” goal is to lose 17 pounds in celebration of 17 years of marriage.

8 Weeks | July 19 - Sept 19

Starting weight: 222 lbs | Goal weight: 214 - 205 lbs

• Week 1: 221 (-1 lb)
• Week 2:
• Week 3:
• Week 4:
• Week 5:
• Week 6:
• Week 7:
• Week 8:

Week 1 was a typical “start out strong and fizzle out” kind of week. Tuesday, I purposefully gave myself the day off from tracking food, and then the habit just spiraled out of existence from there. 

I am hoping to do better with food tracking in week 2! Tracking my food really is where all the difference is made for me and my weight-loss efforts.

I am also making a snap decision to switch my 30-90 minutes of walking each week to 15 minutes 3x/week. This goal should keep me active more days of the week instead of just being able to knock it all out in one day. The goal is for me to continue working up to where I’m more active everyday!

Let’s pivot and keep going from here!

Taking it Easy

As you may know, I’ve been focusing on regulating my nervous system. It’s not really a quick fix, but I am seeing progress! Yesterday, I had a full day of “taking it easy”. I didn’t have any plans for the day, and so I got a lot of rest in between tasks.

My husband spent some of the day painting the farm stand we’ve been dreaming up for some time. I cut the dried garlic that we grew, and got to stage it all in the farm stand to see how it’ll all look when we’re ready to open it for friends and family. 

I have tossed around the idea of doing “pack your own eggs” but I’m pretty sure we’ll just get a mini refrigerator and pack them ourselves for friends and family to grab. 

This was a cute first run of a set up, though. The antique cupboard was my grandma’s grandma’s cupboard that they kept from a general store they had, back in the day. Such an awesome piece!

Today, we will be going to church and then a picnic afterward. The girls want to go to a playground, and I’m hoping to get a walk in at some point, too. It’s going to be a good day!

Full Day of Eats: Chef’s Kiss

Yesterday was another day of being intentional with my eating and focusing on doing at least one thing to help support my nervous system.

The day started with me helping get our daughters ready for a morning of vacation Bible school! We offered to do pick up and drop off for one of Piper’s friends, too. 

After drop off, I spent some time in the garden, reading my Bible and journaling. This counts as my nervous system regulator for the day. It’s the best one I’d ever have to share with you, too.

Breakfast was a premier protein + banana smoothie.

Lunch ended up being leftovers: sausage + potatoes + broccoli bowl.

Before I headed out the door to pick up the kids from VBS, I made myself a quick maple oat latte.

In the afternoon, I had a Greek yogurt with some maple granola on top.

For dinner, I tried a new recipe: ground beef topped sweet potatoes with cottage cheese, tomatoes and a hot honey drizzle. Chefs kiss!

After dinner, I relaxed out in the garden and colored a bit more. Let’s call this the second nervous system regulator of the day.

Peep the Coke Zero for my drink. I have one a day or one every few days during the summer.

For dessert, I had leftover apple crisp that I had made the other day.

Total calories consumed came in around 1,790 for the day.

Full Day of Eats: Regulating My Nervous System

Happy Monday! This week, I am committing to doing something each day to better regulate my nervous system because it is much needed. 

This is good news for those who enjoy reading my blog! One thing that seems to help regulate my nervous system is writing. This is especially true when I find my favorite chair in the cool basement, and kick up my feet with the softest blanket, with my water in hand or nearby. This is the circumstance I find myself in currently as I write for you today.

It’s been exactly one week since the cousins left and we’re still trying to find our “normal”. This is partially because we still had a busy week of volunteering, church activities, work meetings, some (hopefully) temporary health issues for my husband, hosting friends for dinner, attending a family gathering, and hosting a sleepover for 5 girls, all while battling some hazardous air quality.

This week was certainly not normal. My nervous system feels a little shot. I’m going to try to not overcommit myself this week so I can better regulate and start feeling “back to normal”. Whatever that is.

I guess I just want to feel like I’m not in a constant state of reacting. I want to make sure I’m doing things to take care of myself, and I want to feel better in my body overall.

Yesterday, I made an effort to fuel my body well in hopes that it will start feeling better. So, here’s a look into everything I ate yesterday, Sunday, July 19.

Breakfast: Open-Faced Garden Egg Toast topped with tomato, cucumbers and pickled onions + side of cherries. (170 cal)

Maple Oatmilk Latte (225 cal)

Since we could see the blue in the sky, and the AQI was only in the “unhealthy” range, I spent a little time in the garden. This week has been unusual. A couple of days ago, we had to stay inside because the AQI was 500+ which entered the hazardous range. This is from the wildfire smoke. It’s heartbreaking in many ways.

Lunch: Toasted Turkey + Gouda on Rye with a side of tomatoes and cucumber. (430 cal)

In the afternoon, the girls and I did some coloring in the garden while enjoying a Greek yogurt snack. (90 cal)

Coloring is another nervous system regulator for me.

For dinner, I made chicken sausage with broccoli and pan fried red potatoes. (420 cal)

Dinner tasted extra good (if just in my head) because the potatoes and broccoli came fresh, from a farm down the road.

Since the sausage was too spicy for Laney, she had a hot dog. The smoke moved out for a bit that evening so, we all ate dinner in the garden.

After dinner, I had a premier protein + banana smoothie. (265 cal)

Total calories for the day came in around 1,600. 

Anniversary Challenge: July 19 - Sept 19

I saw the date today, and felt a dire need for change, and so the Anniversary Challenge was born! 

In exactly 2 months from today, my husband and I will celebrate 17 years of marriage. I only see it fitting to then make it my “shoot for the moon” goal to lose 17 pounds by our 17th anniversary. Fun, right?

That’s a big goal, so my first and more realistic goal is to lose 8 pounds since this challenge is 8 weeks long in length. 

Even if I just reach this first goal of 8 pounds lost, it will still be a win because it will get me down below my Springtime weight (after weeks and weeks of summer splurges).

This is my first, brave attempt at a weight-loss challenge since my last failed attempt this Spring. I gained 6 pounds since then. A lot happened toward the end of that challenge, and a lot has happened since then. I’m sure a lot will continue to happen as we continue on. Let’s give it a try, anyway!

Anniversary Challenge Tasks 

Drink 90-120 oz of water daily

• Sunday: 
• Monday: 
• Tuesday: 
• Wednesday: 
• Thursday: 
• Friday:
• Saturday: 

Walk for 30-60 minutes/week

• Sunday:
• Monday: 
• Tuesday: 
• Wednesday: 
• Thursday: 
• Friday:
• Saturday: 

Track nutrition daily + stay within calorie range 5/7 days each week (1,650 - 1,850 calories)

• Sunday:
• Monday: 
• Tuesday: 
• Wednesday: 
• Thursday: 
• Friday:
• Saturday: 

Blog weekly challenge updates

• 8 weeks of updates coming your way!

Weight-Loss Goal:

My realistic and main goal is to lose about 8 pounds during this challenge. That’s 1 pounds per week. 

My “shoot for the moon” goal is to lose 17 pounds in celebration of 17 years of marriage.

8 Weeks | July 19 - Sept 19

Starting weight: 222 lbs | Goal weight: 214 - 205 lbs

• Week 1:
• Week 2:
• Week 3:
• Week 4:
• Week 5:
• Week 6:
• Week 7:
• Week 8:

Let’s do this!

Broccoli Salad Recipe

Who loves broccoli salad? I sure do!

I bought some fresh local organic broccoli last week and whipped up this salad for an awesome lunch side.

I don’t typically make this, but it’s actually so easy and so much better with fresh local broccoli. I figured I’d share this recipe now while you can still grab local broccoli or use your own depending on if you grow it, and where you live.

Broccoli Salad Recipe (courtesy of this link)

• 4-5 cups Broccoli, chopped small
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries 
• 1/2 cup crumbled bacon
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 red onion, diced

Mix it all together, then in a separate bowl make the dressing.

• 1 cup Mayonnaise 
• 1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar 
• 3 tbsp Sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Whisk the dressing ingredients together, then pour over the broccoli mixture. Easy as that!

Long Live Summer + Grateful for Summer School

My littlest nugget started her summer school program and I’m so relieved to say it went well. Her first impression of the “big kid school” was a good one and I’m grateful for that! 

This fun summer program is only 1/2 day and takes place at the same school she’ll begin Kindergarten at in the Fall. I’m glad she’ll get a head start by spending some time there this summer, getting to know the layout, and the teachers before Kindergarten even starts! 

It was a hard decision to “take away” some of her summer but after the first day, I can tell you I feel confident we made the right choice. It’s also helpful to know that it’s just for the month of July. 

Laney had so much fun with her new and old friends (from preschool). It feels good to know that she is experiencing new things; she’s flexing her “be brave” muscle, and she’s learning new skills with her peers!

This next week or so will be another time of transition for us. The mid-summer transition as Laney starts this summer program we are also preparing on saying goodbye to the cousins who have been with us for the past 6 weeks. 

The cousins leave for Missouri this coming weekend and it’s going to be incredibly hard to say goodbye. I am hopeful though to get back into more of a self care routine (to include more blogging) after we settle in to the new routine of summer school for Laney, and the cousins traveling back to Missouri.

We still have plenty of fun to look forward to this second half of summer, too. The first half was spent with our long-distance family, and this second half we’re excited to spend with friends!

Long live summer!

Raw Sugar Coconut Iced Latte

I love using minimal ingredients to make good food and drinks. Today, I’m sharing what I use to make my newest latte flavor. It’s an iced latte, and summer themed, because it’s been so hot lately!

Raw sugar coconut iced latte:

- 1 tbsp raw sugar

- 1 capful of coconut flavor

- 8 oz steamed oatmilk

- 2 oz espresso

Serve over ice.

Adjust the sweetness to your taste. If it were my husband making it, he would add an extra tbsp of raw sugar.

Let me know if you give it a try and what you think!