Guess what I did this weekend?

Makeup-schmakeup

I got IV hydration from this clinic in town! I know! It's sounds sketchy, but it isn't. It's a lounge of eight or so leather recliner chairs, two televisions, and 45 minutes of relaxing while getting an IV of electrolyte fluids.

I had heard about this being done almost a decade ago. It stuck in my mind though I thought it was completely insane. Then last year, the ThIVe Hydration clinic opened in my little town and slowly but surely I started thinking about it in a new light. Especially because it has been a rather hot Summer and I never feel as if I'm really hydrated enough.

Cue to two weeks ago when two friends I had told about it tried it and were total converts! "I slept so well!" One of them told me.

"My skin looks and feels so much better." The other one said.

So Sunday, the hubs and I booked two leather chairs (and watching Coming to America- classic) while we got our little IV's. Mine hurt a little bit, but IV's always pinch a little on my teeny veins. The hubs was fine though.

Afterward we kept trying to figure out if we felt any different. And the funny thing is- we did! I could feel it internally. Little aches from being chronically dehydrated weren't as noticeable and we both were a little hyper and weirdly, rather giddy too.

That's right! We had more energy, felt a little silly and giggled a lot more than we usually do as we ran errands.

Will I do it again? Honestly? I probably will. It felt nice to be topped off in the fluids department. Like a car. Oh! And we slept really well too. Now, it's $50 a pop if you don't have a membership, so it won't be a regular thing, but it was worth it for sure.

Would you try it? I'd love to know!

P.S. This post is not sponsored by ThrIVe Hydration.

Have a truly wonderful day!

Negativity Detox

A horseshoe for good luck. Wink wink!

A while back, I posted an experiment I tried: The Gossip Fast. In this experiment, I tried, with varying results, to switch conversations at work away from gossip and toward the positive. The rule was "If the person I'm speaking about heard what I was saying, would I feel bad for saying it?". It worked, but after the past two weeks at work, I feel I need a detox, so to speak. I take responsibility for the part I play in it at work, but being surrounded by a half dozen heavy-duty gossipers, it's super challenging finding something to talk about with people you have nothing in common with. I feel its become a habit again and I don't want it to be.

So beginning this very moment, is a two-week gossip fast at work. Hopefully, I can make up for the @*&%storm that has been the ecosystem there lately. Wish me luck! I'd really love to break this wretched cycle.

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Plated Recipe #3, or Lulu's Adventure with Tamarind!

I finally completed the third recipe from my Plated order last week and it was my favorite of the three!

Seriously, it was so delicious, my staff at work all asked if they could try the recipe. We're going in together on tamarind paste this week!

Anyway, here is the proof. As rice and peas are not Paleo and they caused my tummy to swell to look as if I were three months pregnant, I will be making it with cauliflower "rice" and broccoli next time. But man oh man, was it good!!

There was a lot more prep for this recipe, but it was well worth it!

I'd never made fried rice before. It was kinda fun!

Best way to make chicken, hands down. 

Ta da!!!

Have you ever cooked with tamarind before? It was a first for me and I'm hooked. It tasted, in its packaged form, almost like a savory apple butter that has been reduced to a thick paste. It was incredible. 

Seriously, y'all need to try Plated! And no, this is (still) not a sponsored post. Have a truly great day y'all!

Swamped? Great time for an experiment!

Farmer's Market in Florence, Alabama.

Hey friends! Happy first day of April (I hope you said "rabbit rabbit" this morning)! As y'all know, I've had a little bit going on lately. So, naturally I thought now would be a great time to start a few experiments. One of which will be trying to eat "Paleo" for a month.

Now, let me be frank- I detest "diets", "plans" and anything you have to read a book about in regard to food restrictions yadda yadda. I also have the rule where I have to hear about something three times from three credible sources before I pay attention to it. Sometime a week or two ago, I'd heard about it again so I started doing research. Turns out, I pretty much eat that way already (when not having a Mardi Gras + Vacation + St. Patrick's Day funsplosion, and I thought it would be a good experiment to try and see if life without cheese is actually worth living (just kidding, sort of).

Anywho, I'm choosing the month of April to do so. No sugar, dairy, grains, booze, or processed foods of any kind. I also get three days this month that I can do whatever the hell I want because life is worth living and I will not be denied that gorgeous liberty.

Ahem. I think this will be a great way to pay a little gratitude to my body. As I walked around the lake a few mornings ago I started saying aloud how grateful I am for my healthy body and that I want to take better care of her (she's the only one I have!). I also thought this may help reset my body after a Winter of comfort food and general laziness and merriment.

I will post a weekly update about it (with recipes) this month in addition to the Friday Happies (because we all love those Happies!).

I'm excited to see how my body reacts and what becomes of it. Any thoughts, questions, suggestions or tips? I'd love to know!

I hope you have  a truly wonderful day!