Pumpkin in the Patch 2021

October 27, 2021

You know, like most other women, I love a good pumpkin patch. 


I actually think I love the photos with the kids in them more than Christmas photos. It's the colors, I adore fall colors. 



Elliot is increasingly harder to take photos of, he's hit that "on the move" age that isn't good for someone who doesn't shoot a moving object well.




Our friends and their little girl came with us this year, I loved trying to get shots of her. She just didn't love me trying to get shots lol! I got a lot of "what on earth are you doing" looks. 


But she's the only reason Elliot ever sat still, he wanted to take a picture with his "Mina" because he loves her so much. 






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Meal Planning Monday

October 25, 2021



Thursday | Chili Lime Shrimp Skillet  - serve over rice with salsa and avocado (and cheese if dairy doesn't bother you) 


Friday | Chicken and Dumplings 


Saturday | Eat Out 


Sunday | Mongolian Beef and Sesame Noodles  (with gluten free pasta) 


Monday | Chicken Piccata and Keto Spaghetti Squash Alfredo 


Tuesday | leftover 


Wednesday | Sam's Chick-fil-a knock off nuggets and fries (the kids fav and my fav on single mom night) 


Lunch - Taco Salad (low carb) and over Rice for (regular macro) 

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Talk Turkey to Me

October 23, 2021

 I know y'all have gotten your Amazon gift catalog in the mail at this point. 


Elliot keeps asking us to read him a book and hands us that Amazon catalog.




While the weather was great last weekend we headed to the zoo like half of Acadiana. 




Elliot started having a big fit and the turkeys became interested. Next thing I knew they were standing in front of him in what appeared to be having a little chat about his fit. Like taking turns squawking at him! 




Also, Jet Coffee is by far the best in town. 



Dill has been about as toddler behaving as Elliot is. He also figured out how to get on furniture, so that's a whole new battle. 


Someone also explain the conundrum to me of him wanting to be all in the kids business but wanting the kids to not be in his. They've got a love/hate relationship depending on which of the three isn't behaving. 



Last but not least - the house was painted last weekened! Shermin Williams Morning Fog is the color, now more yellow. Whoop! 

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Sharing is Caring

October 14, 2021

We've hit that time of year, sometimes you can go out and it's beautiful. Other's you'd swear we were all in mid August in such thick humidity that we are all doomed to a life of sweating constantly. 

Glistening might be a pretty word for it. 

But this far south... nothing glistens. It pours. 


Don't look too closely at the rosemary in the corner of the photo above... two straight weeks of rain nearly murdered the poor dear. Hopefully a cool snap (anything below 90) and a few dry days will do her some good. 


Now for the boys that are going to be the reason I have white hair by 40. 


In the photo they were sitting outside nicely, eating popsicles... at first glance. But as I opened the door to snap a pic of their sweet demeanor Harrison announced "Elliot is being so nice, he's sharing with our puppy!" 


Aww sweet, that dog really needed a Rocket Pop. And Elliot really needed some dog spit. 


I wish I had a photo or video of their antics last night, but Halloween really gets them going. Harrison was stomping around growling, pretending to be a werewolf while I was trying to dress them for bed. Elliot was happily causing mischief as usual and suddenly Harrison bit Elliot. (not hard, but it made his point playing) 


Elliot stood up from the floor, faces the window, and starts howling at the moon. 


You know, because his brother turned him into a werewolf and all. It's real. Seriously, it's just that no one believes Harrison (except Elliot, who really believes Harrison). 



In the name of Halloween/birthday decorating I broke down and ordered the wall bats that everyone has loved since last Halloween.


This weekend I need to finish up my décor and start filling balloons for his arch and take out (find) the birthday banner. 


My plan for this year was to really decorate for each holiday, but now that we are right back in the moving/selling phase for a hot second that is being postponed to next year. Rumor has it we are finally closing this month. 


The other thing keeping me back from holiday decorating is that I want to decorate the house. Painting begins this weekend, and hopefully we will also start to tackle the guest room painting as well. 


The current to list is a touch steep: 
gutters
a new fridge and microwave (ours was lost in the first buyer's contract and they fell through, leaving our microwave in Alabama) 
couch and chairs for the living room (still using the "we sold everything we own stand in furniture from the apartment that has been through too much) 
curtains
eventually painting and decorating our bedroom


But living room furniture is high on the list, that Facebook Marketplace couch went through two moves in the rain and is the strangest shade of tan yellow anyway. Then there's the chair I intended to recover and have lost the will to recover it. It is just going to go. 



Homecoming was last week. 

We were rolled.... 7 times. 

SEVEN. 

Jeremy tried to give them out pandemic toilet paper that is clearly regenerating in the closet, but they refused. They used the good stuff. 


I am never getting rid of these last few rolls of Scott. Note to self... never buy thin paper when you're desperate. Just buy a bidet. 
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Meal Planning Monday

October 11, 2021

It's been a minute since I shared meals.


Let's look at what we have been eating on this meal planning week. 



Thursday | Ate out (school fundraiser dinner) 


Friday | Rainbow Veggie Bowl (Lillie Eats and Tells Bulk Chicken, Grilled Veggies, Wild Rice Blue Cheese, Grape Tomatoes, Lime) 


Saturday | Gumbo Cook-Off 


Sunday | Half Baked Harvest Pineapple Chicken 


Monday | Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps 


Tuesday | Shrimp and Sausage Sheet Pan with Veggies 


Wednesday | Sam's Chick-fil-a knock off nuggets and fries (the kids fav and my fav on single mom night) 


Lunch - Egg Roll in a Bowl (Mon-Tues) and Bulk Chicken Recipe with Broccoli and Rice  (Wed-Sat) Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps 

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Faster Way to Fat Loss Update

October 7, 2021

 I thought I'd do an update of where I'm at with Faster Way, it's been a minute. 


I'm still in the program, I don't know if I've lost more weight or inches... I have weighed or measured. Honestly, that's the freedom I've found in this program, I don't feel the need to see a number. 




Not on a scale. 

Not on a tape measure. 


All I care about is that my clothing fits. 


And everything is fitting really well. I recently ordered some new jeans (if you follow me on IG you'll see me joking about what Old Navy deems as jeans these days) and actually went down a size totally expecting them to not come past my thighs... y'all they fit. 


So fine, I'm doing the program and working out to a T right? You might be thinking that. 


Actually, I give myself some flexibility and grace. For starters I love food, cooking, trying new places. I can't live my life in the restricted bubble I was once in during my Paleo days. I need to eat a donut with the kids, try a new ice cream place, or just order what looks fun on a menu. 


One meal won't kill me. 


I generally avoid gluten, I say that having made a big pan of lasagna this weekend and some Pioneer Woman bread. (I need to post that lasagna recipe soon) Most of my meals don't involve gluten, the weekend gets gluten... and chicken nugget Wednesday. 


We've had a long standing Chicken Nugget French Fry Wednesday and I diligently work it into my macros. The kids would be so disappointed if it went away, so I make it work. No it's not some pretty veggie filled meal, but it's a tradition that the kids look forward to. 


Now for dairy... I don't cut it. 


Having done Whole30 in the past and years in Paleo, I know what bothers me. Certain types of dairy bother and and I limit those. But to X dairy totally... it would never fly. Dairy is right next to peanut butter in our house, if you have an allergy to it we might accidently kill you. There's that much hanging around. 


I don't do a ton of supplements. I put collagen peptides in my coffee every morning, half for the collagen benefits and half for the protein. In your mid 30s and on you need to do whatever you can to get as much collagen and protein as you can. I also keep a tub of protein powder around for when I need to make my favorite protein macro bar or if I am just really struggling with protein that day. 


I also take a multivitamin and zinc daily. But that's it. I really love ashwagandha but haven't taken it in awhile. 


If you're now thinking, okay, so you can be a touch flexible with food and keep it in your macors... let me tell you something else. This summer has been a doosie, getting back to our "adult hometown" has been a doosie, and worst of all my allerigies are back in full swing and that doesn't encourage me either. I've missed a few workouts here and there... but the beauty of Faster Way is that I can jump right back in, and having kept up my macros I don't have far to go to be back to normal. 


All missing a workout here or there, or a week if I'm sick, has done to me is caused some sore muscles. Let me assure you, those Faster Way ladies will whoop your butt in 30 minute in the best way possible. 


One more aside before I log off, this company is essentially the Chick-Fil-A of the workout industry. How you say? Well the founder Amanda Tress is a Christian (that's not why I joined) and they're even helping fund a church plant in Tampa. On top of that the company frequently donates to St. Jude and our yearly 5K is for St. Jude as well. Both of which are so refreshing to me, a fitness company that isn't just wanting you're cold hard cash, they are so community driven it just makes me giddy. 

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October Simply Earth Recipe Box || Immunity Support

October 1, 2021

 Considering the stomach bug that seems to be ravaging kids across the parish... this box is well timed. 


The theme for the October Simply Earth Recipe Box is Immunity Support. 


Don't forget how much value you get in this box! You pay $39 for a box of essential oils and accoutrement worth $126.32. If you bought these products elsewhere you'd be paying big bucks. 



I seriously look forward to the recipes every month, it gives me something creative and fun that is just for me. (but it often benefits the entire family) 


You also get access to the Essential Oil Hero course when you purchase, it teaches you how to use the oils in different ways with confidence and clarity. 



Oils Included:: 

Digest (Blend) - supports digestion + its Kid Safe for ages 10 and up

Cajeput - supports respiration + it is also Kid Safe for ages 10 and up

Fir Needle - calms and soothes + this is Kid Safe for ages 2 and up

Eucalyptus - stimulates and energizes + it is Pregnancy Safe and Kid Safe for ages 10 and up



Extras Included:: 

Menthol Crystals - derived from the peppermint plant

Serum Bottle

Cleaning Tablet


Can I just take a second to point out how adorable the serum bottle is?! It's so stinking pretty. 




Now for the recipes::

There were a few new-to-me oils this month, and some ingredients. I was shocked at how amazing the Digest Blend smelled, I really expected something more medical spelling. Cajeput is another totoally new to me blend, it has a very camphor smell. Which is great for the cold season. 

The recipes included this month are: 

Stomach Soother Roll-On

Clear the Air Diffuser Blend

Cooling Massage Oil

Menthol Shower Steamers

Menthol Chest Rub

Multipurpose Cleaning Spray


How pretty are the colors of the stickers this month?


This month's box has changed how I use essential oils by introducing me to new and hard to find ingredients. Seriously, who has heard of cajuput or every purchased menthol crystals! That's why I honestly love Simply Earth, it's a monthly education and some snail mail with wonderful products to try. 


As always, Simply Earth donates 13% to end Human Trafficking. This month 13% of profits are going to the organization Dton Naam Ministries, located in Thailand. This ministry focuses on helping boys and men leave prostitution and rebuild their lives through education, counseling, skills training, and healthcare. 


Head over to Simply Earth to order your JULY box and use the code LABRIDEFREE to get a $40 giftcard towards your next order when you get your Bonus Box! 


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