Back in the Saddle Again!

Boy, did I ever take a hiatus from my Paleo plan. The reason? Laziness. Plain and simple. I have paid the price too, man. Lemme tell ya! So, I've slowly gotten the percentage of good-for-me food higher and the not-helping-me-at-all foods lower. In two days I already see a difference. I shall not be this ignorant again, my friends!

So the plan is this- as I have some pretty big changes coming up (more on that in a few days)...I'm gonna get back on track and stay on track. It's going to take determination (seeing the muffin top over my jeans yesterday pretty much cinched that one). It's going to take organization and stick-to-it-iveness. Meal planning, budget-sticking and not sitting on the bed watching marathons of Supernatural (yes, I've been mole-holing it for three weeks now!). It means limiting beers (already worked on that- but more could be done). It means having alternatives handy. It means getting my happy hiney back to the gym for more than the usage of their hydromassage beds and massage chairs. Ahem.

My goal is to fit into my clothes and look good in them. Not passable, not fine- but absolutely to rock it. This blog is my accountability partner too...so either bear with me or play along!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day, y'all!

Friday Happies!

Pineapples.

Hey y'all! What do you have planned for the weekend? I have a family reunion here and I'm going to take off a few days for myself to recover from the insanity of the past month as well. Yay! I most likely will be going to see this one afternoon to snort laugh by myself. Anyway, here's this week's list of funs, happies, pretties, interestings and what-nots to get you geared up for your weekend whatever you may have going on!

*Have you had fish grilled in pineapple bark? What the what?! It sounds amazing!

*Some guy took a picture of a woman nursing her infant at a restaurant (a total stranger mind you) and posted it to his Facebook, shaming her for feeding her kid in public. She wrote back.

*I love this summer time gift wrap! So cheeky!

*Now that is how I'd wear a one-piece swimsuit (add high wedge heels and dramatic hat and shades).

*I have to bring something to the family reunion this weekend that can get warm and not kill anyone. I'm thinking this. Any standby recipes you make for gatherings like that? I'd love to know!

*It has been said at times I have the sense of humor of a frat boy. National Lampoon's anything, 21 and Over- those are my movies I watch alone while I laugh like Beavis & Butthead. All of this is to say, THERE IS A NEW VACATION coming out!!!

*And the bluegrass side of Ed Helms (who happens to be in the new Vacation film). He's so talented!

*Molly Ringwald at 47. She's so cool!

*This was so sweet! A dad stops the father-daughter dance at his daughter's wedding to play catch with her. Ack! I ugly cried.

*The British Prince and Princess's debut photographs side by side.

*Fifteen words to eliminate from your vocabulary to sound smarter! Yeeeeah, I pretty much use them all...

*A sweet video of an expectant family and their dogs. Aw!

*For the new front porch (my house is yellow).

*Smart kid. He gets paid to wait in line at one of the most popular barbecue joints in Austin.

*This picnic blanket is awesome!

Have a wonderful weekend, y'all!

Feliz Cindo de Mayo!

Hello friends! I hope your weekend was superb! Mine was busy, but I thoroughly enjoyed my day off. I know it's Tuesday, but I didn't recap anything on Monday because I was too sleepy.

Anyway, I am hosting a manager's meeting at my (tiny) house tonight and since it happens to be Cinco de Mayo, I thought I'd bring some delightful, fresh Mexican flavors to the dinner. Here's a few of the things I'm going to make!

Pineapple Salsa. A perfect blend of sweet, tangy and a little spicy. Yum!

I'll also be making a version of these skewers with a dipping sauce (or two). The only things un-Paleo are the corn chips and sour cream. Both of which I could live without (though I probably won't!).

Alls I have to figure out now is a dessert...I think I'll do something simple like these sweet, pan-fried bananas (or plantains if I can find some decent ones at the grocery store).

I love Cinco de Mayo, though it isn't a drinking holiday for me like it is for most who celebrate it as a time of drink specials at bars. It's an eating holiday for me and I like to pay a little tribute to Mexico and it's vibrant culture in my own small ways. What will you be doing to celebrate? I'd love to know!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Happy May Day!

Great site for old photos of Florida.

I can't believe it's the first of May already (hope you remembered to say "Rabbit Rabbit"). April seemed like it flew by and also took forever. I'm happy to say though, that I welcome this new month and with it more fun experiments, maybe even a day trip to the beach if we're lucky too.

The hubs and I are spending a lot of time in the new house (the beach house as I've been referring to it) and trying to organize, tidy and all-round feather the nest. One thing I've learned so far, living in a tiny house- small refrigerators are the jam!

We bought a small fridge when we moved in partially because the landlord left us an enormous "normal house sized" fridge and it was just too huge for the space. But also, we had talked about getting a smaller fridge a few years ago because we were getting tired of losing food to the back "graveyard" of the fridge and wasting money on wasted food. So, we invested (a whopping $143) on an igloo (can't remember the exact cubic feet but something like 12-19) and we have loved it!

It makes you think before spending money at the grocery store and it's so nice to have everything right where you can see it. So, so far so good. We'll see how I'm feeling when it's time for Thanksgiving leftovers (because my freezer is about the size of a laptop).

Also, so far the window unit air conditioner is doing its job really well. However, it hasn't gotten over 90 yet- so a plan is in effect for that situation when/if need be. Adjusting to not having a shower is...interesting. It hasn't really been an issue yet, but like I said- it also hasn't gotten above 90 degrees yet so we'll see!

I'm surprised to admit that I'm enjoying my postage stamp of a kitchen. It was a real worry of mine when we were in the middle of moving because cooking is my little sanctuary. But I'm happy to say it's been pretty nice. It slopes on one side so that's been kind of a silly "pretend we're just on a house boat" kind of thing.

I did make some delicious Paleo-ish turkey meatballs in an Asian broth/sauce with sesame seeds. I don't really have a recipe for you because I totally made it up as I went, but I'll try to get it written down for you this week.

Anyway! Happy beginning of May and I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

April Challenge Recap and Something New!

One of my favorite pictures I've ever taken. Morning sunrise walk at the lake. 

Well y'all, I did it. I happily skipped through four weeks of this Paleo experiment. This last week was a tough one due to the final stages of the move. However, though I imbibed more wine than usual and processed convenience foods did show up here and there, I'm happy to say I stayed about 60% Paleo (and that's low-balling it).

That being said, I chose not to weigh or measure myself this week. I decided that I was happy with the experiment regardless of this final week's results. I also decided this is something I'm going to stick with for a while. Staying 90% Paleo every day, with plenty of fun exceptions because life is meant to be lived. Oh! And I also got in 46 miles this month too. That's four miles shy of my goal, but I still think it's superb considering I only got in 18 miles in March! Snaps for me!

I enjoyed this challenge very much for several reasons. 1. It was something I wanted to do, not that I told myself I had to do. 2. It offered plenty of creative outlets to get the job done, so I didn't feel stuck. 3. It nourished me, both physically and mentally. I didn't feel restricted or bummed that I couldn't have this or that. I found that approaching changes of any kind (especially health-based ones) require a sense of kindness to oneself. An inner-shift in perspective that leans away from "I've been bad today" kinds of mentalities to "How can I nourish myself better?".

Keeping that in mind all month really did help. Did I eat sweet treats? Hell yeah. Did I eat all of them because I felt I "deserved" it. Nope. I deserved health and nutrition and gave myself that as often as I could. Could I have done better/made better choices? Absolutely! I'm not going to feel bad that I ate Rice Dream ice cream bites. I'm not going to feel bad that I had delicious fried chicken either. Or that that new wine I tried was deee-licious (though I admit that sticking to one glass is probably best for me- hello mid-30's wine headaches!).

All in all, I'm thrilled to keep this going for the month of May. Now that the hubs and I are finally moved in and getting organized, my kitchen is once again my sanctuary. I have scores of recipes I want to try and now I have the chance to do it. Yay!

I've also decided that I want to try a fun challenge every month. For May I want to commit to 5 minutes of arm exercises every day. I dream of having Angela Bassett arms, but I'm perfectly happy toning up my little spaghetti noodles for some confident sleevelessness.

May also ushers in my return to regular blog posts. It's been so weird not having this place to go to for random thoughts, philosophies and what-nots. So, you'll be hearing a lot more from me from now on.

Well, What do you think? Wanna try my May challenge with me? I'd love to know!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day, y'all!

Week 3 Update!

A picture I took in Apalachicola in August, 2014.

Hey y'all! I'm brighter eyed and bushy-tailed today than I was yesterday, wowsers! We are in the home stretch (no pun intended) of the moving game and I'm loving my new little house. We're trying to make it feel as much like a little beach cabin in The Keys as a little shotgun house from the 1940's in North Florida can feel. It's less than 800 square feet (but feels even smaller somehow). Ha!

Anyway, I wanted to give you guys an update on the progress I've made with my experiment with Paleo and getting into better shape physically and dietetically. Week three had its major challenges for various reasons. One, the moving. My stuff is everywhere and then some. Two, it was a really busy week at work and I got to help my mom with an art show (which was awesome, but busy). Three, going going going and not taking time to just be takes its toll on you. And it did for me last week. But, I digress.

Day 15: I did great all day, had dinner with a friend (which included some yummy potatoes, tofu and wine). I was also a cranky little B so apologies (again) friend for being such a party pooper!

Day 16-18: I did great all day, though I wish I had prepared more meals for myself. I mostly snacked all day throughout the week. The difference being: WINE. Not much, but I had one to two glasses every night. Oh and a small portion of fried chicken because I'm a human being.

Day 19: Tornado watches and severe storms. We ordered a pizza and cinnamon sticks and it was magical. Though my tummy did not agree! However, instead of blowing the whole day like I did the first two weeks I planned a "fun day", I let myself have a little treat every night. I could have done less, but whatevs.

Day 20: I had one beer with dinner and the rest of the day was terrific and easy.

Day 21: I did terrific all day and evening and had a half a beer, but it tasted gross so I gave it to my husband in exchange for my big fluffy bed that was calling my name instead.

So what are the results?

I lost major inches this week! Mind you, I walked/jogged every day (even the days I was working the art show, I still got some miles in) and it rained all weekend too (still did it! Proud of myself for that).
I lost two inches off my belly and a quarter inch of my arms as well as a half inch from my legs. I gained a half a pound, but I'm not worried about that. Hormones, plus a little more wine than usual and a half pound gain is a fair price to pay.

I'm thrilled to be in the fourth week of the challenge.

My goals:
Walk/job 17 miles (that will put me at 50 miles for the month!!).
Get back to my nightly yoga (I did zero yoga this week and I can feel it. It's probably another reason I've been feeling like I need to sleep all the time).
Make at least two meals for us this week. I made this (with no coconut flour) last week because of chocolate cravings and they were better than delicious. YUM!

Any goals for yourself for this week, guys? I'd love to know! I truly hope you have a wonderful day!!

Checkin' in!

Early morning at the lake!

Hey y'all! How's your week going? Mine has been eventful (tummy bug- ew and still moving). Today's all about the updates, baby and here we go!

Day 8: I did pretty great considering it was my B's birthday and we all went out to dinner. I had a yummy salad with grilled chicken on top (though it had a marinated that I'm sure had sugar in it), everything else I did was on target!

Day 9: Sorta kinda did okay except I had the longest day at work (open to close) and resisted the first offering of a glass of wine. Upon the second offering, I gave in. I had two glasses of wine and ended up with the worst headache in the morning (aw, I'm growing up!). Still was totally worth it in the moment.

Day 10: I gave in a little for dinner. I did great up until the offer for homemade Chicken Parm came rolling in and it was lovely! I nixed the extra cheese and didn't eat the pasta (so I didn't go totally nuts). I even skipped dessert.

Day 11: Being so busy and exhausted this week prepping for inventory, I really didn't nourish myself very well. I packed healthy snacks, but failed to really make any quality meals the whole week. Therefore, by the end of a very busy day I was spent and basically just drank water and fell asleep.

Day 12: However...my non-Paleo day was so fun but I learned a lot. First things first, I had such an INSANE craving for chicken and waffles one may have thought I was knocked up (I'm not). So, I planned a brunch with friends and proceeded to devour said chicken and waffles and mimosas and it was all I could have asked for. The problem came when the hubs and I also went out to eat again and had a couple beers (again, amazing). By the end of the night however, my body was like "Um, excuse me...you done being an idiot yet? Nope? Let's see about this!"

Day 13: I get a stomach bug that I feel fairly confident in saying I would not have gotten it if the hubs and I had dialed it back a bit. We had eaten fried food, bread, dairy, sugar, and booze! I know the sudden influx of all that shocked my body and the bug that was going around work last week found me. Barf. Literally.

Day 14: I did well, though my appetite wasn't really back yet. I've been depending on my trail mix a lot (unsweetened coconut and unsweetened cranberries with almonds, pepitas and sunflower seeds) and carrots because that's kind of all I can keep down and it keeps my blood sugar more stable than other snacks seem to. However, I made the time to make sure meals are prepped in advance for next week so I can better nourish my body instead of just getting by (which is really what it felt like this week- surviving).

All in all, I lost an inch (accidentally wrote a pound! ACK! No thank you!) from my bust and no weight. That's okay though, last week's results were pretty damn amazing and I did get a little loosey goosey this week. I managed to walk 1.8 miles every day regardless of all incidences of which I am so incredibly proud, I can hardly stand it! An increase of over 4 miles from the week before!!

My daily yoga sessions (online) got a little derailed but I made it 4.5 days out of 7 and will exceed that heartily this week. Anyway, my measurements say I haven't budged an inch, but my workout pants and leggings kept falling down yesterday which makes me think my body is just lava-lamping. You know, moving the curves around to new places...I'm totally cool with that. I'm a sexy lava lamp lady!

I'm still feeling so motivated and happy and inspired that I can't wait to see next week's results!

I truly hope you have a wonderful day!!

200!!

Spring sunrise at the lake by my house.

Hey friends! Today is my 200th post on P&PPS! That's so bananas, because it feels like just yesterday I was writing the first, then the 100th! I'm so grateful to y'all out there who read this and have been hanging out with me on my pursuit of balance, peace and positivity! A big kiss on the forehead to all y'all!

Things have been pretty hectic on my end with a wedding, Easter, work stuff and moving into a new house. However, I'm here to post an update on the "Paleo" experiment (and apologize for no Friday post last week, after I teased it and everything! Mea culpa mea culpa!). I promise to have one whiz-bang doozy of a Friday Happies this week to make it up to ya.

To the update!

I thought last week was going to be more challenging than it was, I really did. The first three days were the easiest. The challenges came in trying to eat out or grabbing something quick from a store when my blood sugar plummeted while moving. I did okay, but it sure seems like EVERYTHING has added sugar in it these days. Geesh.

I made Pineapple Pulled Pork in the crock pot earlier in the week and it really was a lifesaver. The hubs ate it on bread and I devoured it as is for my lunches at work. I also made this Enchilada Stew which satiated both our appetites and was completely on track to boot! Daily smoothies and non-dairy, crustless mini quiches kept me going in the early parts of the day as did having an avocado or banana with honey for snacks in that weird between time before dinner. Carrots (being my favorite snack) and a Paleo'd version of these Pumpkin "Cookies" were my go-to for sweet treats, which surprisingly really did the trick!

The 4th was my cousin's wedding and I stayed true all day until the dinner reception in which there was nary a Paleo option to be found. It wasn't one of the days I had planned on loosening the reigns, but it was okay. Flexibility and a positive outlook are super important in a life change such as this. I had a champagne toast, a couple beers and a Southern-style dinner topped off with one bite of each wedding cake. All in all, not too bad (and zero guilt).

The 5th was Easter and was my total fun day. I stayed on point until I got to my Mom's (which was my plan), and the meal they had planned was like 80% on my track anyway (handy for me!), so other than deviled eggs, wine and dessert, that day was nailed and thoroughly enjoyed.

Then the 6th day came. I had no trouble with sugar or cold beer cravings until this day. I guess because the sugar was still in my system, my body went into HEROIN mode. The wigged out cells in my body kept telling my brain that I wanted- nay, NEEDED sugar when I really didn't. I found myself craving the weirdest, sugariest stuff that I haven't had in years! I didn't give in (though the cravings were intense, needless to say) because inside I knew it wasn't real. However, that really made me pay attention to the shock my body goes through whenever I eat/imbibe processed foods/sugars.

Yesterday was the 7th day and other than having had to fast for a blood test, my cravings were pretty much silent again. I did make the mistake of going to the grocery store hungry and without meaning too, my eyes grew wide at the sight of fried chicken; but I'm Southern. My eyes always do that because I was brought up right.

All of this is to say friends (and drum roll please)...I lost five and a half pounds in the first week, a half inch off my thighs and bum!!! Now, I'm no dummy. I've also been walking 20 minutes every morning and taking a 30-day yoga challenge every evening. But it's all added up to a pretty stupendous-feeling success!

I'm geared up for week number two! Care to join me?! I'd love to know!

I truly hope you have a wonderful day! Also, a HAPPY 54th BIRTHDAY to my B! I love you!

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!

Friday Happies!

Google.

Happy first day of Spring y'all! I hear there's a solar eclipse today too, wow! It may not feel like it everywhere you are, but Winter is officially over. I hate to see it go, but I'm excited for a bright, happy Spring!

What do y'all have in store for your weekend? I'm going to a little beach community with my mom to help her with her art show. I'm very excited and I hope we are so busy we can't stand it! I hope your week has not been too hectic, mine was...eventful (more on that later). In the meantime, here is this week's list of happies, pretties, funnies, interestings and what-nots to make you smile even if you have to work all weekend. Here we go!

*Here's what happened when a woman decided to live according to the Pinterest top pins page for a week. She got so over it so fast! Hilarious.

*I'm terrified of all stinging bugs. Though I love bees, I love them from a big ole distance if possible. Anyway, there has been a wasp hanging around my front door and back door and...I'm just irrationally scared of being stung. So here are two posts about whether to wasp or not to wasp.

*Another share from Yes & Yes, I just love her stuff. How to Celebrate Your Birthday (12 culturally different ways).

*A very under-appreciated frozen vegetable, and some ways to turn it gourmet easily.

*I loved this!! What happens when you put your phone down for a week.

*My "personality vs. name" test was, let's say...close! For some they'd say "accurate" for those who know me better, they'd say "close by no cigar"...Names...and nicknames...http://www.first-names-meanings.com/names/name-LULU.html

*I just love this show! Here are the 31 best sight gags from The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. 

*Working mom sends a powerful message without really saying anything about it at all. Good for her!

Google.

*This woman traveled the country in an RV after cancer and losing her husband to help with her grief. Super interesting.

*Did y'all see those beautiful images of the Southern Lights in New Zealand?? Incredible!!
*Seven ways to minimize decision fatigue in your daily life. While you're at it...

*Why you should consider opting out.

*I've had a crush on Stanley Tucci for years, and apparently it is a "thing". So funny!!!

*Genes are crazy! Check out these parents (and some grandparents) and their kids looking pretty near identical!

*I've been working on a post with a similar theme for about a month now. I'll still totally check this book out though: That's Not English: Britishisms, Americanisms, and What Our English Says About Us. I love this kind of stuff!!

Have the most spectacular first weekend of Spring ever!!!

Thoughts on pulling the trigger...so to speak...

Kat's Daily Inspiration

Things I've been needing to make decisions about:

1. Finding a house.

2. My fitness & health.

3. Job/Career

Things I have been obsessing about or sabotaging:

1. Finding a house.

2. My fitness & health (beer...why you so yummy?)

3. Job/Career.

Coincidence? Methinks not. But, why oh why oh why oh?

Mostly because I'm overwhelmed with a smattering of fear. Partially because the last time I just went and did something about 2 of the 3 of those, it ended up being great for what we needed then but every attempt to progress afterward quickly felt like quicksand. As for fitness and health...I'm getting there and will not beat myself up about having a bit of a hitch in my giddy-up. I just need to light a fire, so to speak.

Decide.

So here's what I want and here's what I'm doing about it:

1. I want a house that fills our needs and doesn't break the bank. We are actively looking and (I'm) trying to convince the hubs that the right thing will feel right (as that tends to lead us to good things anyway). Instead of forcing something that is sort of right but mostly not.

2. Just doing it. Making the healthy snacks so I don't buy 37 peanut butter-filled chocolate bunnies. Doing the exercise because I want to feel good in pretty clothes this summer (and always). Going to bed early yadda yadda (and limiting the yummy beer too).

3. I want to do something for a career that I'm passionate about. Writing, creating, and helping people. I see it's possibility glimmering in the distance and I want to grab it and hold on to it forever. Also, I'm aware that bills need to be paid, and I'd prefer to do something in the meantime that isn't so hard on my body, emotions and psyche as my current gig. Is that asking too much? Anyway, I'm actively looking for something new. Also, I'm choosing to ignore the biased and unsolicited advice of a few close to me that prefer that I settle because it would directly affect their job if I left. I'm choosing also, to work more fervently on my personal passions. I need to and I've put them off for a long time.

Y'all, I am tired of feeling bogged down. Do you ever feel that way? I honestly believe that I could be living the life I want to live every day starting now. I just have to take it one day at a time and stop bitching about the things I want to change and just...pull the ever-lovin' trigger, you know?

What could you pull the trigger on in your life? I'd love to know!

I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Post-birthday care, cleanse and detoxification!

29 Dogs Who Made Huge Mistakes.

Now that the birthday festivities are over, I'm taking my last day off (for a while) to get organized for the week ahead. I was all over the place this weekend, not minding my budget as much as I should and indulging in all kinds of wonderful treats. Nothing too out there, no record-breaking in the booze department, no Nutella-slathered craziness. Just...more indulgence than usual. I don't feel (too) bad about it, I'm just glad I have a day to recover!

In that vein, here are some other "recovery" tips and what-nots to aid in getting one back on their feet after a weekend of debauchery and fun! Just because you fell so far off the wagon you can't see it down the road anymore, doesn't mean you can't dust yourself off and start taking good care of yourself again. Right?! Right!

*Morning Green Smoothie. I make a version of this at least once a day to get my fruits and veggies in one fell swoop. The key is to keep the ratio 2 fruits to 1 veggie so it tastes awesome and not salad-y. I'm about to go downstairs and whip one up for myself! I like it because even if you ate hot wings and pizza for three days (ahem), and you do this one thing- you feel awesome for it and it snowballs into overall better care for oneself.

*Drink too much? I'm adding this one early since Mardi Gras is in a week. Here's a super yummy "mocktail" to cleanse your liver. Take it easy on your livers (and kidneys), guys! Drink more water while you're at it, okay?!

*Ten easy yoga poses that promote detoxing and the cleansing of the body!

*Here's another easy one: Five Daily Detox Routines.

*I've heard several times that dry-brushing does more than make your skin pretty. It's also an important tool in cleansing your lymphatic system as well as your overall circulatory health and your body's ability to remove toxins. It's the cheapest and easiest thing on this list apart from just drinking water! Check out this information on it. I'm convinced and will be giving it a go today!

*Give reflexology a try. I've been interested in it for ages, but have never done it. After looking over these reflexology charts I had to laugh because two of my chronic areas of pain are correlated to places on my feet where I've broken bones that have never healed correctly. Regardless of whether you believe it works or not, give it a try. At least your tired feet will have a little massage by the end of it.

I hope you have a wonderful day!

New Orleans by proxy

Image.

Perhaps because I watched the final episode of Treme. Perhaps because I then watched Skeleton Key (a guilty pleasure favorite of mine)...but I have been missing New Orleans lately. I had planned to make a New Orleans-inspired or truly Southern meal every Sunday beginning a few weeks back. I thought it'd be nice to harken to where we are from every week (instead of just being focused on budget budget budget) but my work schedule changed and I generally got derailed. So, last night while the hubs was at school, I hunkered down and made well- the recipe is called "Gumbolaya". It is like a tremendously delicious Louisiana-inspired stew served over rice. I pulled out my grandmother's cast iron and baked cornbread and y'all!!!! It was all terribly terribly (damn) good!

Now before y'all say you don't like that kind of food, it wasn't spicy (unless you want it to be-which I do- but if you don't you can use regular sweet sausage instead of spicy). And because y'all know I can only follow a recipe for five minutes before doing my own thing, I added a lot more parsley, garlic and cilantro than told to (and no shrimp because of budgets, baby). I also added a whisper of sugar which made a big difference and kept everything from getting a too acidic. Also, don't skimp on the okra if you think you don't like it. It adds a irreplaceable earthiness to it and is a must, not a suggestion!

Well, without further ado, here is the yummiest recipe I've made in a minute!

Recipe here. But I have to admit (and one day I'll have the foresight to prove it to you) my version was prettier, though admittedly less Bon Appetit-y. 

Do y'all have any special weekly meal traditions in your house or with your family? The world (sadly) doesn't run the same way as it did for our grandparents but I always loved the idea of a weekly family meal involving ham, biscuits, fried chicken and green beans. You know- a Southern classic. That'll probably be happening sooner rather than later for my little family unit!

I'd love to hear what y'all do and are up to! I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Comfort food!

Even though the weather has gotten unseasonably warm for the moment, I am still in a super comforting soup mood. I've been trying some new recipes that are budget-friendly to get us through (and keep us on our debt paying and saving track).

A favorite at our house right now is the delicious Chicken, Lime & Avocado soup! It is so good, y'all! You have to try it! It's bright and fresh instead of tangy and spicy as it would suggest (and I used one jalapeño instead of two and was very careful not to get any membrane or seeds in there so it's not too spicy). It's so good and flavorful that next time I'm going to make it sans-broth and use it to stuff soft tacos! Yum!!!

Of course mine looked nothing like this pretty picture from the recipe page.

Another favorite is my Broccoli & Pea Coconut Milk Deliciousness Soup (better name and recipe for y'all to try coming soon!).

I hope y'all have a truly wonderful, comforting and cosy day!

Friday Happies!!

More on vintage Airstream trailers here.

Hey y'all! It's Friday! I'm working all weekend long but I hope you are free as a bird! Here's this week's list of pretties, funnies, happies and what-nots to bring a smile to your face and kick your weekend off right!

*A homeless man offered a stranded college student every last penny so she could get home safely in a taxi late at night. What she did for him in return is lovely!

*What a pretty and simple necklace. I'd love to give it as a gift to a girlfriend (and get one for myself while I'm at it!).

*Twin babies hold hands and talk to each other for the first time. So cute! I'm super fascinated by twins.

*Woah. IMPACT!

*I started this Plank Challenge last night in an attempt to whittle down the damage I've done to my tummy over the past two years. I thought it was going to be daunting, but it really isn't and I can feel it immediately (which in my head means I'll just wake up with six pack abs in a week). Whatever works, y'all!

*Okay, so I know this sounds all hippie-dippy & earth-muffiny but these cauliflower tortillas sound really delicious!

*12 things you didn't know about Airstream trailers! I have a soft spot for these silver bullets.

*Ruh-Roh!! A new British murder mystery to get hooked on! Grantchester!

*Trying to eat a bit healthier for the new year? Here are 8 inspiring ways to remove starch from your diet by replacing it with one vegetable!

*I'm originally from Nashville and I'm basically obsessed with Lonny; so a home tour by Lonny of a Nashville home? Right up my alley!! And it's completely cute!

*Dang y'all! Grilled Peach Slaw! Go on, now! That sounds sooooo good!!!

*These would be perfect for work (and life) this spring and summer!

*This both inspired me and cracked me up. The Illustrated Guide to Becoming One with the Universe.

*Oooooooh!!!!! The Hidden Caribbean! Meet you there! I'll be the one with the sunscreen and shot glasses!

*Hahahaha! Meet the Flockers and the Quackers! I just love this site, Fresh Eggs Daily!

Have a truly wonderful weekend, friends!! I hope you enjoyed this 150th post of P&PPS!

Comfort

When it's cold like it has been lately, I can think of nothing but warm soup and pajamas. No surprise, I've mentioned it at least a dozen times already. Last night I made some yummy comfort food and I thought I'd share it with you. It's healthy and warms you up like nothing else.

My mama called it Ten Can (or Tin Can) soup, but it's also known as "hillbilly soup". I'm not as fond of that name, I'll stick with Ten Can thank you!

Ingredients:
Ground turkey
1/2 onion
1 zuchinni diced
1 large can of diced tomatoes with the juice (I"m starting to get really sketch about tomatoes in tin cans, so fresh works too!)
1 small can of tomato sauce
1/2 bag frozen peas
1 can whole kernel corn (frozen works fine too!)
garlic (to your liking- I'm a garlic fiend)
ditalini pasta (looks like diced macaroni)
S&P
tablespoon basil
olive oil
chicken stock (4 cups)

Directions:
Sautee the turkey and set aside. I like to make this using one pot so I have less to clean. If you do that, set the turkey aside on a plate until the veggies have sauteed (1 pot and 1 dish compared to the usual wreck). Sautee the onions and zucchini until onions become translucent. Add tomatoes, corn, peas, stock and seasonings. Add the pasta. Cover and let it simmer for about 15 minutes then stir in the turkey. Simmer for another 10-15 minutes on med-low or until the pasta is done. Boom. Done.

It's so good and makes a ton so you can feed a hungry army or pre-pack your week's worth of lunches.

Give it a try, and let me know how it works for you! Have a truly wonderful day!

Comfort Food Recipe

Another great cauliflower recipe here!

Happy Tuesday, y'all! Lately I've been craving my comfort food fave, Roasted Cauliflower & Garlic Soup. I've made it twice already. I know, I know. Cauliflower is the stepchild of vegetables. I actually disliked it immensely until I sort of stumbled upon making this recipe last year. Now I think I've mastered it.

 It's three of my favorite things: 1) Cheap: $7 to feed two for two days. 2) Easy: it's three steps: chop, roast, puree. 3) It's CRAZY delicious and creamy! Okay it's also healthy (something like 65 calories a cup).

I'm going to share it with you (you are special because I don't usually share my recipes without changing an ingredient or two so yours is never as good as mine). Ahem, this is the real recipe- I swear.

Ingredients:

1 head of cauliflower
1 onion (I prefer Vidalia)
3 cloves of garlic
S&P to taste
olive oil
1 carton of chicken broth

Directions:

Chop the cauliflower and onion. Place in casserole dish or roasting pan. Toss in peeled garlic cloves. Drizzle with olive oil. Salt and pepper generously. Roast at 350 for 45 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Remove from oven and let it cool. Once cool, puree it with the chicken broth. Seriously- that's it. It's superb and SO bloody easy. It's a major crowd pleaser too. It's my super-easy "last minute company" go-to!

Do you think you will give it a try? It took me 30 years before I fell in love with cauliflower and I'm so glad I did.

 If you want some different options for it, it's great with a sprinkle chili flakes. In the depths of winter I usually make it with half & half instead of stock. Crumble goat cheese (or cheddar), green onions and bacon on top. Crazy (more fattening) comfort food, big time!

I hope you love it and I hope you have a truly wonderful day!

Little Victories!

Hey y'all, I hope you had a great weekend. I worked most of it but still managed to squeeze in some major fun on Sunday. Now it's Monday and around here on Mondays I share a few little victories in the hopes that you will recognize (and maybe share) the small progresses you've made. Acknowledging the progresses makes the goal more attainable (at least it feels it does!). So, without further ado, here we go!

*I skipped the booze. Not entirely, but I made an effort to resist triggers. I threw back some brewskis with the fam at Irish music night, and had deeeeeelcious wine at my anniversary dinner, however- I avoided my triggers the rest of the week (and when you're paying attention to calories...wowsa- that really adds up).

*Two smoothies a day. Keeping it up, trying to slim down a bit for our big trip to Atlanta next weekend to see John Prine. I'm so excited! Anyway, the point is, I'm making two delicious fruit & veg smoothies so I don't eat peanut butter and chocolate chips or a can of carrots for dinner as has been known to happen. Ahem.

*I've made a point to dance at a high intensity for 5-10 minutes every day. So far I'm four days in. I can really feel a difference and I'm just putting on catchy songs and dancing like a muppet in my kitchen. I look like a crazy person but it's so much fun (and a great workout)! Yes, I am a nerd. And the song above is one of my favorites, it's something about the drums.

Animal!

What are some of your successes? I'd love to know! Every little thing does add up and can make a huge difference and/or impact on your life.

I truly hope you have a wonderful day!

Tuesday Cozies!

Y'all may have realized Fall is my favorite time of year. It makes me so happy, and one of my favorite things to do once it starts getting cooler out is make ultimate comfort food dishes. So, I thought it'd be fun to share some with y'all today to get you in the mood too (if you aren't already!).

*Dude. Cheesy Pumpkin Orzo. It's so good! I made it for my Fall party last year. It's delicious and makes a ton!

*Roast Chestnut, Parnsip, Apple & Goat Cheese Soup. I cannot wait to try this! It has all my favorites! I want to be snuggling up to watch Hocus Pocus or Nightmare Before Christmas and an Abita Oktoberfest beer when I have this!

*Oh my goodness. Spicy Cream of Pumpkin Soup with Crispy Prosciutto. Yep. Heaven.

*Autumn Couscous Salad. Light and yummy!

*Holay molay! Almond Cranberry Squash Bake. What a perfect middle of the week, "I don't feel like cooking" meal. I'd probably toss some bacon crumbled on top or something for a little extra protein.

*Autumn Lasagna. This sounds incredible and I can't wait to try it. Turkey, sage, garlic, butternut squash, mozzarella! Dear diary...

*I think y'all may have deduced I'm a Southern gal, and down here we have pecans coming out the wazoo most of the time. So, my last little addition to this roster of awesomeness, is Candied Pecans. They're like crack. I'm not allowed near an open container for I will eat them all. I like to add a little cayenne to mine. Meowr!

A Little Yummy Goodness!

My little lunch spot at The Paisley Cafe. Best butternut squash soup!

How is this week going by so quickly, y'all?! I can't believe its already Thursday! I've been working hard all week, but had an awesome day off on Tuesday. I treated myself to a lovely lunch at my favorite little spot in town with a good book and a glass of prosecco.

Well, I mentioned earlier in the week that I was trying some new smoothies this week to get some extra nutrients and a good breakfast in my tummy before I leave for work. I've been experimenting with a few recipes so I thought I'd share some of them with you!

*Sweet Greens. I make my own version of this that is very similar. I sub peaches for pear, it's just a taste preference. But man oh man! This is so good and its the best breakfast on the go. I added flax seed too and am making this a daily thing. It's just a great!

*These awesome raspberry and peach smoothies. Again, I tweak this a little for my own tastes. I mix the two together and use almond milk instead of greek yogurt (and those flax seeds are ever present). But, this is such a nice, refreshing drink. It makes a great breakfast, but I find it really fits my 3:00 pm "I'm now completely worthless to the world" energy slump quite nicely.

*This clean-eating Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal Smoothie sounds so incredible. It's healthy and yet it seems so decadent and desserty! I plan on making this as a part of my weekend "treat yo'self" awesomeness.

*This Blackberry Cherry Smoothie is perfection. I sub almond milk (der- I'm not buying thirty types of dairy to make smoothies, sorry) for coconut milk. But LAWD, it is good!!!!!

*This Hidden Veggie Breakfast Smoothie. I think you could sneak some beets in there too. I'm not the hugest beet fan in the world but they are so good for you, I have to figure out a way to trick even myself.

Do you have a go-to smoothie or healthy breakfast on the go recipe you could share? I'm always looking for new ways to be healthy while maintaining my natural ineptitude for getting out the door on time in the mornings.

I hope you take some time to try some of these. They really are delicious and it is always good to do something positive for your body.

I hope y'all have a truly wonderful day!!