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  • Ditch The Toxins
  • The Non Toxic Family

Need Some Help Meal Planning? Here's One Of Mine!

8/30/2019

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Meal time is usually one of those times of day that most of us dread, and here's why--- We fail to plan, so therefore we plan to fail. We know it's coming but we just keep ignoring it. #guilty

I go in and out of seasons of hardcore meal planning and then letting it slide for a while. I'm older and wiser now,  and as much as I hate to admit it, I don't always follow my own advice (anyone else relate?)

So, I'm making it a point to hold myself accountable and do consistent meal planning! The day goes better when I know that I've got a plan and can pull from a list of meal that I know I have the ingredients for and can make quickly! 

There is less stress in my life when I do this---and stress can lead to other issues in my life, so whatever I can do to lessen it is good for me and everyone around me.

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Here is my plan for the next 6 days. There is always a day in there for leftovers so I just plan 6 meals.

Meal #1 Grilled burgers and toppings. I've got organic colby jack cheese slices, tomato, pickles, onion, lettuce, etc.. plus a big bag of Kettle Chips with Himalayan Salt and some raw veggies too.

Meal #2 Ranch Marinated Grilled Chicken w/ roasted red potatoes and broccoli Here's the recipe for the chicken.

Meal #3 Grilled Cheeseburger Salad (using leftover grilled burgers from Meal #1) This is a family fave! Iceberg lettuce is best for this meal, but use whatever you prefer! I have all the toppings and then we break up the grilled burgers after they are warmed in the oven and put on the salad. I'm making this burger sauce for the dressing.

Meal #4 Guacamole Chicken Melt I can't wait to try this one! This will be on our regular "Taco Tuesday" night. My family is skeptical about it but I really think they will like it! I'm bless that they will try anything! I'm using this recipe with one change, I'm cutting the chicken into strips before cooking them. Then laying them on a bed of Cauli-Rice and topping as the recipe calls for---I am looking forward to this meal!

Meal #5 Cauliflower Hamburger Helper 
This brings back memories---but I know now that Hamburger Helper is NOT good for me or my family.... 
So, when I found this on The Low Carb Life site, I was intrigued and decided to give it a try!

Meal #6 Hamburger (or Chicken) Bowl
This is one we have had before and really enjoy! It's so versatile! Here's the inspiration for it!
This led me to try other combos--they seem to be endless! I love the crunch of the cabbage, it makes a really good base for this meal. It's also so easy and quick

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I hope this helps you with your meal planning and/or gives you some inspiration! Having it all planned out means less on your mind, better food on your plate and faster trips to the store!

There are a lot of delicious looking recipes on the two websites I found these on, let me know if you find something else to try!  

xoxo
​Lori
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Seeking Health

8/28/2019

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I think a large majority of people are seeking better health, wouldn’t you agree?  Are you one of those people?  I know I was—and still am to some degree.  What is health?  How do you define it? 

I think of it as having energy, feeling good, having a good quality of life which means I can do the things I need to do and want to do with ease.   It also means having healthy relationships, having a good home environment and culture, personal relationship with God, close friends, doing things I find fun or interesting, learning, being emotionally healthy and having ways to deal with the stress, mental chaos and negative energy that I might encounter. I think it also means having financial stability as well.  Basically, I look to improve some key areas of my life: Spirituality, Relationships, Home Environment/Culture, Social Life, Emotional Health, Career/Work Environment, Finances, Education, Health/Food Choices/Cooking and Exercise. 

I didn’t always think this way.   Years ago, as a young mom of three children, I subconsciously accepted the fact that kids were sick a lot.  I cannot pinpoint a place in my life where that became a belief of mine—it just was what it was.  I had 1 girl and 2 boys at the time, all under age 10.  My oldest had somewhat “grown out of”** some of the things she often dealt with as a very young child, but with three kids under 10, there was a lot of sick days. 

**Why do we use the term “grown out of” when it comes to things like frequent illnesses???? Shouldn’t that just be reserved for clothes and shoes?  Illness means the immune system is fighting something, right???  I think we should be looking at that and why kids are so sick so often nowadays.**

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My youngest child at the time was ill a LOT.  We were in the doctor’s office probably 3-5 times a month.  It was ridiculous when I look back at it now.  I didn’t think much of it at the time.  Hindsight is always 2/020, right?  Constant ear infections, upper respiratory infections, fevers with no known cause, mysterious rashes, stomach pain, vomiting, difficulty falling asleep, and the list goes on.   His chart from his doctor is thicker than most adults!  I think it’s thicker than mine and I’ve had six kids—you know there’s a ton of paperwork that goes along with pregnancy and delivery! 

To say our quality of life, HIS quality of life was lacking is an understatement.   Those days are somewhat of a blur because I was constantly in survival mode.  (Too bad I had not yet found that I love espresso—maybe that would’ve helped me stay awake????)  Looking back, I’m really not sure how I survived—-but I certainly did not thrive.  Those years were hard and lonely. 
When you have a child who is sick so often, you miss out on life.  It was about to get worse too.

As my son developed, we noticed that he wasn’t talking, he was clumsy (lots of falls, bumps, bruises and even head wounds requiring stitches).  He lost coordination and stopped babbling so much.  We noticed he stopped displaying some skills that he once had and he didn’t respond to his name like he used to.  He seemed to not even notice we were there and was off in his own world.  Taking him out anywhere was nothing short of a nightmare.  He couldn’t handle Wal-Mart and from a young age he HATED his car seat.   So, outings were few and far between.  I had to start grocery shopping alone, at night.  I had always taken my first two babies with me, proudly, to the grocery store.  This child was having NONE of it.  It didn’t make sense to torture him, or myself by taking him with me.  I hated shopping at night,though.   I’d be so tired, literally exhausted by the time I got there that I just threw stuff in the cart without paying much attention to it.  It was just sort of automatic.  Nutrition was definitely NOT on my mind. 



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Eventually, my son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  I don’t know that I ever grieved that time in my life, or his.  It was such a time of transition and changes.  There were a lot of adjustments that had to be made whether I wanted to or not. I just did what needed to be done and never thought much about myself—-or what my other kids might be going through.  Therapy, doctor’s appointments, a developmental pre-school and lots and lots of research.  Late into the night I’d be on the computer looking up ways to help him learn, feel better (he just looked miserable most of the time and like he didn’t feel well—-if you’re a mom, you know that look your child has when they don’t feel good, right?), overcome challenges, sleep better, fall asleep, wake up (he was and still is VERY difficult to wake up) and how to “treat” him. What were all the options?  What new therapy was being used?  Where were the best therapists in town?  Who is the best doctor?  What can I do at home?  and on and on and on….. This went on for years.   Not kidding.  From the time he was three years old when we first suspected he was autistic until he was age 13 or so, I spent hours and hours each day researching.   Over a decade of my life and his looking for something to help him function the way God intended for him to function.  But primarily, I wanted him to feel better.  No one functions well when they don’t feel good and the once bright eyed boy that I had now had a dullness to his eyes that I didn’t like and I think I only noticed.  You can see it in pictures.  His eyes lost the brightness and spark, his skin became dull, he had dark circles under his eyes (I came to know that this meant he was dealing with a lot of allergies) his expression was droopy.  Basically, he looked how we all look when we are sick, only this was every day for years.  It didn't go away for a very long time.

Like I said, those years are somewhat of a blur.  Lots of therapy and doctor’s appointments so a lot of driving. The days were long, stressful and I mostly couldn’t wait until they were over. I was on automatic pilot mode.  When he started developmental pre-school, it was early mornings which were like WWIII.  I can only imagine what my stress levels were back then because I paid NO attention to my own health and had very little time to nurture my other children.  We tried pharmaceutical medicine—many times, many different kinds.  None of them worked long term, many never did anything and several caused side effects that were scary and/or possibly permanent.  What I would soon discover, is that meds were never the answer.  They don’t address the root of the problem which to be fair, at the time I didn’t know what the root was, but neither did all the doctors I took him too.  They were treating symptoms and came from the mindset that his issues were ONLY neurological.  Their explanation didn’t tell me why he was constantly ill, why his bowels didn’t move like they should, why he had so much trouble falling asleep, where the rashes came from and they certainly never tested him for food or environmental allergens.  Most of the time, bringing up his physical symptoms was attributed to him somehow causing them because of what they said was his neurological issues—basically, he was either faking or somehow causing his physical symptoms.   (Make sense to you????  It never did to me.  If my older son could have a physical illness that a doctor might say warranted treatment or testing, then so could his younger brother.  Having a neurological issue doesn’t prevent you from having physical issues/ailments.)

I’m not sure I could adequately describe my frustration level at this point.  By this time in my journey, he was about 7 years old and something had to give.  As he got older, his challenges and needs were taking over and having a huge impact on our family.  Everyone’s stress level was high.  There were monumental meltdowns, a short period of self abuse (he would hit himself or hit a part of his body on something—thankfully, this didn’t last long), the struggle to get him to sleep was nothing short of what it must be like to wrestle an alligator.  The physical, mental and emotional exhaustion was real and it was intense and it didn’t let up.  I’m sure my son was dealing with a lot of the same but he was, and still is to some degree, unable to tell me what he feels or how things effect him in an emotional sense.  There is a lot about him I don’t know, that I have to guess, or observe from his behavior and obvious changes.  
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He was around seven when I heard that removing gluten and casein from his diet might be helpful.  I talked to a lot of other moms who had done it, asked questions and did a lot of research. (Doctors weren’t educated on this and were less than encouraging.)  After a few months, I decided to give it a try.  We removed all gluten and casein from his diet (and ours) for two weeks.  I won’t say this was easy, but it was also not as difficult as I had anticipated.  I made a lot of the same type of meals we had always eaten, I just chose to remove the gluten or casein containing foods or opt for a replacement.   When the two weeks was up, I bought my son his favorite food;  A cheese pizza all to himself.   That’s a lot of gluten and casein in one meal.   I wanted to test and see if it made any difference for him. 

**I had noticed during the two week trial of being GFCF that there were some sleep improvements, positive behavioral changes and some increased focus in my son.

He scarfed down that pizza quickly!  We all enjoyed some pizza that night!  About 30 minutes later is when I noticed something and so did my husband.  My son became very uncoordinated, his speech changed and he was lacking the focus I’d seen the two weeks prior AND he was acting very silly—-almost “drunk-like”, as if he’d been given some alcohol.  I think shocked would be an understatement in describing my reaction to seeing him like this, honestly.  I didn’t think changing what he ate would make a difference.  I had just never equated food as having any effect on the body other than satisfying hunger.   That was the last time my son ever ate gluten.  For a long time he didn’t have dairy of any kind. 

I began looking really deep into foods, nutrition, how it effects the body, how to deal with it, the pros and cons of food allergy testing, rotation diets, elimination diets and what was IN our food available at the super market.  I became passionate about changing the way I ate and what I fed my family.  Food mattered more than I knew.  I learned how it might effect the body and the mind, what was in processed food products and how they were made, plus the difference between an allergy, sensitivity and intolerance to foods.  (I seriously wish they taught this in schools. It is SO important!)

I also started looking at ways to support our health naturally, instead of just waiting until we were sick to go to the doctor’s office.  That clearly wasn’t working!  A lot of changes were made over the next few years:  We ate more whole foods (fruits, veggies, meats, eggs, nuts, etc… ) and I used supplements and some herbals to keep us healthy.   Our trips to the doctor’s office started to drop as I was learning what the body needed to stay healthy and ways I could support the body during illness at home.  We went from making 3-5 trips to the doctor a month to just 1 or 2, then NONE.   The main reason for that was we DID NOT get sick like we used to.   Changes to what we ate and supporting the body resulted in less illness and ear infections stopped occurring as well. We just simply did not NEED to go to the doctor and now, I can say that the last time anyone in my family needed attention from a doctor for an illness has been over FIVE years ago.  We stay well and IF we do get ill, it’s much milder and short lived now.  Our body’s are stronger and more able to fight off the germs that cause sickness.  The resources the body needed in order to do this were always available, I just did not know about them.  


I found out, that what I didn't know was far more important to our health and well being than I could have ever imagined.  I was no longer blindly following the masses.  I was empowering myself to keep my family well.  

This is part one of a series on our family's Wellness Journey.  I hope you check back for the rest of the story in the coming weeks.  

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Weekly Meal Plan!

8/23/2019

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Hey!  It's me again!  I hope these weekly plans are helping you to eat healthier, feel less stressed and take control of your budget!  If you're like me, you might be struggling to find meals that taste good but don't take up a lot of time in the kitchen. Who wants to spend gobs of time in the kitchen??? NOT me!  But I do want to eat better and give nutrition to my cells---that's what helps my body RUN!  

I purposely look for meals that are quick, healthy and YUMMY!  I figure other moms are in the same boat, so why not share what I've found that my family loves???? #winwin 

I also like to use my Instant Pot as much as possible.  It is fast, it doesn't heat up the house and I can #setitandforgetit  #anotherwin 

*These recipes serve 4, unless otherwise indicated.  If you have a large family like mine, just double the amounts or you can do that and have #lunch the next day!

We tried and  really liked IP "Crack" Chicken.  Here's the recipe I used.  I served it with roasted broccoli.  My eleven year old daughter was cracking up at the name of this meal and when I got done adding all of my spices and powders... I had white powder all over my shirt.  That resulted in a lot of laughing and jokes!  I set my IP and walked away while it cooked to do other things until time to put the broccoli in the oven.  I roast mine at 400 degrees with a little oil, salt and pepper.  Since this meal had a LOT of flavor with the seasoning for the chicken, I just did something more neutral for the broccoli.  You can always change it up, but roasted broccoli is yummy and easy!
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Goulash is a family fave and is also pretty easy to make and comes together quickly, even on the stove.  Since we are gluten free and I also strive to be grain free, it's been harder to make  but I've come up with a solution: Zucchini.  I can either cut it up in chunks, or my family's preference is to make it into "zoodles" with a spiralizer.  Whichever you do, that's probably the hardest part of this whole dish!  

Cook 1 lb of grassfed ground beef
Season it with 2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1 tsp Salt (can add more to taste when serving)
1 tsp Pepper
2 tsp Smoke Paprika
1 TBS Worcestershire Sauce

Add 1 Yellow onion, chopped once the meat is almost done, just to soften the onion a bit.

Drain and add the Zucchini
Plus 2 large cans of Diced tomatoes
If you prefer smaller chunks, then give them a quick pulse in a food processor before adding 

Let simmer until the Zucchini is soft.  You are ready to serve.   Oh, remove the bay leaf before serving!  haha!



We also love Mexican spices and dishes!  I'm always looking for ways to add those flavors to my weekly meal plan.  Now, they are not authentic Mexican meals---If I could go and learn from someone, I'd totally do it!  I want the real deal but I often have to settle!  So this week, I'm trying a recipe for a Burrito Bowl.  I didn't find one that I just LOVED, so I'm making up my own!

You'll need to cook 1 lb of Grassfed Ground Beef (I get mine from Costco) and season it with 
2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
2 tsp Cumin
1 TBS Chili Spice blend

Once cooked, add 1 small chopped onion, cook until slightly soft.  Drain and set aside

You will need 3 Cups of cooked rice or Cauli-Rice as well.  (You can find my fool proof method for cooking rice in an Instant Pot here.)


For toppings, I like some diced yellow pepper, quartered grape tomatoes, avocado chunks, romain lettuce (finely chopped), some cheddar cheese and chopped cilantro!  You could do corn and black beans too!  If you want this as a meatless meal, omit the ground beef and use 2 cans of black beans, just cook and season the same)

Here's the special treat!  An Avocado Cilantro Sauce for the finishing touch!

1/2 Half of a ripe Avocado
2 TBS Yogurt or Sour Cream
1/2 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Pepper
1 tsp Honey or Agave 
A handful of chopped Cilantro
Water (to desired consistency)
1-2 tsp of Lime Juice (or you can use Apple Cider Vinegar and 2 drops of Lime Vitality Oil from Young Living)

MIx well in a food processor or Ninja Blender and pour over your Burrito bowls!!!
We put our rice, or Cauli-Rice in the bottom of our bowls, add the meat and other toppings then pour the sauce on!  YUM!!
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Cheeseburger Salad is on the plan this week!  I know it sounds weird, but don't knock it until you try it!  This is one my family's FAVORITE meals--hands down!  And I make a burger sauce to use as dressing.  Here's the recipe.   You can do this with just cooked ground beef, but grilling the burgers first is next level goodness!  

Next, I've got a treat for you this week!  My eleven year old daughter is a whiz at baking and makes us some yummy treats from time to time.  These Flourless Chocolate Chip Cookies were AMAZING! Here's the recipe:
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Preheat oven to 350
1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter (We use Costco's Organic Creamy P.B.)
1/2 C Sugar
1/2 C Brown Sugar or Coconut Sugar
1 room temp egg
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 pinch salt
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 TBS Almond Milk
1 Cup Chocolate Chips


Mix all the ingredients together except the chocolate chips.  Once everything is thoroughly blended, use a rubber spatula to fold in the chocolate chips.   Form the dough into 1 inch balls and place a cookie sheet.  Cook at 350 for 8-10 minutes.  You want the edges to be slightly brown but the middle a lighter color.  Let cool on pan for 2 minutes then move to a plate.  Enjoy!  These are so good!  

We are having a Pizza Night this week as one of our meals.   I do this from time to time just to give me a bit of a break.  I found some good Cauliflower crust pizzas at Costco and plenty of choices for my non gluten free family members as well. Those are in the oven now!  

​Happy, Healthy Eating!  xoxo Lori
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Words:  Important, or not?

8/21/2019

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Words spoken to us can hurt; Words can also feel good and lift our spirits and evoke good feelings about ourselves, our situation or circumstances. They can inspire us and encourage us to take a next step or step out in faith.  Words are truly powerful.  Which is what brought me to share my thoughts on my blog.  

As a Health Coach, I've become very aware of just how many aspects of our life effect our health. I began with a focus almost entirely on what we eat, but have come to learn it is so much more than what we consume to satisfy our hunger.   Our overall health is not just about our physical wellness or ability.  Our health is effected by the status of our Spirituality, Creativity, Finances, Career, Education, Physical Activity, Home Environment, Relationships, Social Life, Work Life, Work Environment and our society's overall culture too.  It's a lot!  Each of these things has an impact on our physical health along with what we actually eat.  IN fact, all of those things can influence WHAT we eat! 

Today's blog post is about words though.  Every day we speak to other people: Our co-workers, friends, spouses, children, clerks at grocery stores, through phone calls, email, text and private messages. 

*How often do we really think about the message we are sending to these people?

*How often are we polite, courteous and kind to the stranger at the store ringing up our purchase but we are the opposite to those at home?   

*Do we take some time to send something positive?

*Do we choose the better word or do we just generalize and assume they will get what we mean?
 
*Do we remind ourselves that the person on the receiving end our words is a human being just like us?  

I'm a Christian by choice, that's the word I'd use to describe my religious affiliation.  However, that doesn't describe my walk with Christ or what I personally believe about how I should conduct myself in this world.  BUT, a LOT of assumptions are made when I tell some people that I am a Christian.   I used to think that their assumptions were their problem, but I've had a change of heart on that.  I started paying attention and listening.   The details of some of their stories were different, but they had some common themes:  They had been hurt by "Christians" who were not walking in love and who had failed to LISTEN and understand that a person's experience is valid and has weight.  Instead of showing them how to walk out of it victorious, they shamed, blamed and chastised.  They criticized and were harsh.   These people who were hurt by others who call themselves Christians have justifiable reasons to be hurt.   Harsh words had been used against them when they were already hurting due to some extreme circumstances going on in their lives.  

Which brings me to this question:  As Christians, do words REALLY matter?  Or is it only the exhortations, encouragement and compliments that people should listen to and not the insults, negative words, harsh, critical words of cruelty and judgement?  Is it not hypocritical to preach "Don't be offended so easily" while not minding our own words to others?  and I include other Christians in this as well, we should definitely watch how we speak to our brothers and sisters in Christ.   Are we not to speak to everyone in love?  (Sometimes love can be firm while still being kind.   Love doesn't mean being a pushover and "sweet").  

I've heard the double speak myself.   People can be so rude, insensitive, sarcastic and even cruel in one breath, tell the person not to be "so sensitive" (which is really gas-lighting) and then in the next tell them how wonderful they are for something else!?!  Confused????? You'd have every right to be.  It IS confusing.  Which words matter more?????  The compliments or the criticism that was spoken harshly and without love????  I don't think it's fair, right or Christ-like to tell someone to ignore some words but not others.   ALL words matter according to the Bible.
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The Bible warns about our words.  Many times.  Jesus spoke this about our words in Matthew 12: 35-37:

"The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

*Underscore added by me
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That sends a pretty strong message, in my opinion.  It puts a whole new spin on using jokes, teasing, sarcasm and the like, don't you think????  Wouldn't those be "careless words"????
Is it loving, kind or Christ-like to use sarcasm against another person?  Are Christians trying to justify their words by telling the other person to not "be so sensitive" and "don't be so easily offended"???  Are they just chalking it up to the other person's own hurt????  But don't we often speak out of our hurt?  So aren't your words coming from your hurt? You can't have it both ways.

The Bible has more to say on the topic of words and how we use them.  I like this scripture out of Proverbs 18:19:

"A brother who has been insulted is harder to win back than a walled city, and arguments separate people like the barred gates of a palace. "

Hmmmm, a "brother who has been insulted"--- but we teach "Don't live life by your feelings" and that "You choose how you feel about what is said to you".  I am not a Bible scholar by any means, but I do have a better understanding of God's heart than I used to, so I take this to mean that we can't just reduce what we say to meaningless, mindless ramblings and think we will get away with it.  If the positive words we speak matter then so do the negative ones and we ARE responsible for what we say it is not just on the other person to not be offended.  We are also NOT to cause another to stumble.  I think if Christians focused MORE on not causing others to stumble, they'd walk more in love and less in self-righteousness. This scripture tells ME, that it is possible to insult someone and it be my fault and my responsibility to repair the relationship and it's not just about the other person choosing to not be offended or hurt.  If our compliments can give life, then our insults can steal it.  

"What you say can mean life or death. Those who speak with care will be rewarded." (Prov. 18:21)

Maybe if we , as individuals and Christians, decided to be more cautious about what we say v. putting all the responsibility on the other person to just be OK with it, we'd be better off?? And we'd be walking in love and paying attention to scriptures??? How is it ok to be so cavalier with our own words (when the Bible clearly says that we should not be) and expect no one to ever be hurt, insulted or offended???  

"People will be rewarded for what they say; they will be rewarded for how they speak." (Prov. 18:20)

Are your words worthy of a reward?  Or are you careless and thoughtless with them, choosing to generalize, speak condescendingly, insult through sarcasm, talk over, interrupt, be rude or harsh?  Do you dismiss the experiences of others?  Do you listen to react, respond or learn?  As a Christian, it is our responsibility to pay attention to how we interact with others, not focus on their responses and reactions,  then call them out for it because we chose to be a jerk.  

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"Our words to others WILL evoke an emotional response and the only thing we accomplish when we preach AT others, fellow Christians included, that we should not "live by our feelings" and "you're too sensitive" or "don't be so easily offended" is that we come off sounding like a hypocrite and a very cold, apathetic, insensitive, self righteous, religious person who talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk.  It is LITERALLY your example and how you treat others that either draws them to Christ or turns them away.  You can't be the salt of the earth and the light unto all men if you're too busy treating them like they are the ones who need to behave better and your behavior doesn't matter.   Aren't YOU the saved one, the transformed one, the one who is to be different and set apart from the world????? 

I'm here to tell you---YOUR words can literally defeat someone.  Even if you are saved, you can be used to steal another piece of someone's purpose and self-worth.   LIFE and DEATH is in the word.  So, you can grump around all you want, harumph and mumble till the cows come home, BUT either the Bible is TRUE--or it isn't.  You can't pick and choose what parts are meaningful and then skip others.   You can't pick and choose which words are powerful and which aren't; They all carry weight.   Why else would scripture tell us that words can be life or death even exist????  Why are we told to SPEAK LIFE over others?

Colossians 4:6 
"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

James 1:19 
"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;"  (It seems many want to skip the first two and just focus on the "slow to anger" part especially when THEY are the ones that are the target of anger because they were slow to hear and quick to speak!!!)

Isaiah 55:11 
"
So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." (So, here's the thing, BE CAREFUL the words you send out because if you speak death to someone, that is the PURPOSE it will achieve)

James 1:26 "
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless." (Yeah, so all of those sarcastic remarks, etc.. that's an unbridled tongue, bro!)

So, before anyone calls me out---I'm not here to act like I've got it all figured out and nary a harsh word is ever spoken by me--that would not be the truth.  However, I'm more aware of the weight my words carry and I do try to be more careful and selective of the words I use.  There are some individuals who will be hell-bent on misunderstanding, mis-interpreting, making assumptions, drawing their own conclusions and taking things the wrong way.  Those are people who are hurting though and need to do some deep inner work on themselves.  The thing is, this is what I'm learning:  IF I slow down and LISTEN to them, then when I respond I can measure my words accordingly and respond in a way that is helpful and life-giving.  Isn't that what we should be doing???  Yes, I still mess up and my frustration will get the better of me but it happens less often.  I will never attain perfection--neither will you.  But we can do better and awareness is half the battle to improve ourselves, walk in love and work towards spiritual and emotional maturity.  Put the expectation of better and more right behavior on YOURSELF, where it belongs, not on the other person.  


xoxo 
​Lori


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What's in My Meal Plan?

8/16/2019

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This week I'm adding in a couple of family favorites but presenting them in a different, fun way! I've also got a new recipe I can't wait to try! I find that taking something my fam loves and "dressing" it up or changing up the presentation makes it feel new and special--plus it's usually a meal I can almost make blindfolded!  LOL

I'm making a Layered Southwest Salad (which is really just a fancy word for Taco Salad but it will sound exciting to the family!)  You can do chicken or beef, just beans, and any other toppings you want; Pick your favorites! We like tomato, sour cream, avocado, bell pepper, cilantro and cheese on top of ours.  I have used Romaine lettuce but Iceberg gives it such a refreshing CRUNCH!  
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Layer it in a large clear glass bowl so it makes a nice presentation (for my family, I'll make two large bowls!)  Then dig in!  

Layered Southwest Salad:
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Ingredients: (4 servings)
1 lb cooked, Grassfed ground beef                       1 C Cherry tomatoes, halved
Salt and Pepper to taste                                        2 Avocados, sliced
1 1/2 TBSP Chili powder                                          2 Bell peppers, diced (I usually use yellow 
1 tsp Onion Powder                                                  for the sweetness and pop of color)
1 tsp Garlic                                                                1 bunch Fresh Cilantro, chopped
2 tsp Cumin                                                             Cheddar Cheese or Queso Fresco
                                                                                    2 heads, Romaine lettuce or Iceberg, chopped

*Refried beans, black beans or corn can also be added if you like. 
Cook the ground beef and season with the spices above, then layer it up!  Olé!
 
*Having guests?  Layer the ingredients in large glass Mason jars!  They can eat standing up, in the living room or around the table!  The glass jars make it portable and provide for portion control too.  

**Kids need more veggies?  Taco meat is a great way to hide some nutritious veggies.  If you have a food processor you can use it to chop up kale, spinach, chard or some other veggie that your kids turn their nose up at and hide it in the taco mea (works for spaghetti sauce too).  It's chopped so fine that it just looks like dried herbs.  

Pork & Veggie "Lo Mein", Serves 4
I love pasta but I'm gluten and grain free so having my favorite pasta dishes are a thing of the past.  While I miss it, my health is far more important!  So, one of my favorite substitutes is Zoodles--or Zucchini noodles.  You need a spiralizer to make them or an attachment for a Kitchen Aid Mixer.  You can also do ribbons by using a carrot peeler.  They are delicious and easily absorb the flavor of the seasonings you use.   Since one of my favorites is Asian inspired dishes that use noodles, I am making some Zoodles this week for "Lo Mein".  YUM!

Here's what you'll need:
1 pound Ground pork, cooked                                                       1/2 tsp Ginger
2 medium Zucchini, spiralized or ribboned                             Salt & Pepper to taste
1 medium yellow onion, or you can use green onions           Coconut Aminos (Soy sauce is fine
1 large, Red bell pepper                                                                   if you prefer, but we are Soy free)
1 Cup Frozen peas                                                                             2 tsp Garlic
1/2 TBSP Xanthum Gum or other thickener                                                                                                      Sesame Oil 


Cook the ground pork with the ginger, salt, pepper and garlic

Once done, add the Xanthum Gum or other thickener.  Stir to combine.  

Add Coconut aminos and a "dash" of Sesame oil to make a sauce.  Stir to combine. 

Add the Zoodles, turn off the heat, cover to let the Zoodles steam cook.  Takes 3-5 minutes, approximately.  Once the Zoodles are done, stir to mix it all together and serve!  You can add more coconut aminos if needed.  Another way to thin out the sauce, if needed, is to ad some water or chicken broth.  I usually have bone broth on hand for dishes like this as well. 
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Kids love meatballs (Let's be honest, adults do too!) I'm making some this week and serving over rice (Cauli-Rice for me) along with some green beans.   Meatballs are super easy now that I can make them in my Instant Pot!  They cook fast and are so flavorful!

Here's what you need for the meatballs:

  • 1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
  • 4 green onions chopped
  • 1/2 cup Ground Flaxseed
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp Sriracha Sauce
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

    Mix together and form into 1 inch meatballs.  As you make them, place them in a large bowl. 

    Make the glaze for the meatballs:
  • 1/2 cup apricot jam
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp Sriracha Sauce
  • ​Mix together and pour over the meatballs, gently toss to cover them well. 

    Now, if you don't have an Instant Pot, you will need to place them on a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 Minutes.  
    If you have an Instant Pot, place the wire rack in the bottom and add just enough water to completely cover the bottom of the pot insert.  Stack the meatballs on top of the wire rack.  Secure the rubber ring seal in the lid, twist on the lid and make sure to secure the vent release.  Set your IP on the "rice" setting and that's it.  

    While the meatballs are cooking you can make the Rice or Cauli-Rice, which if you have an additional Instant Pot, it's wonderful for making perfect Rice every time!  Cauli-Rice can be heated quickly in a hot skillet. 

    You will need 3 cups of cooked Rice or Cauli-Rice. 

    I'm serving this with green beans.  My favorite way to prepare them is in a hot skillet with some butter, a bit of avocado oil, salt and pepper. It's fast and tasty!  Just make sure your skillet is good and hot!  Give them a bit of a sear, then turn the heat down, add about 1/4 cup water and cover.  The steam will cook them through!  


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Salsa Chicken is on the plan this week as well! This is so easy and fast!  I use my two Instant Pots to make this meal and I can set it and forget it!  You can find the recipe I use here  I do add onion, garlic, a bit of salt and pepper to the Salsa and chicken. We serve with Rice (Cauli-Rice for me) and top with Avocado, Sour Cream and Queso Fresco!  SO good!

I'm trying a new recipe with the fam-bam this week;  Chicken Adobo and I'm using this recipe found here  We love to try new flavors and combinations of spices so I'm anxious to see if they like this one!  I do plan on using Chicken Breasts but also some chicken legs for my younger kids who love them.  It is shown served with white rice, but I may do Cauli-Rice for the whole family on this one.  

I hope this is helpful and inspirational for you!  Happy, healthy eating!  xoxo Lori
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This Week's Meal Plan!

8/8/2019

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​Hey, it's meal plan sharing time! So, it's HOT again---as if summer were supposed to be anything else, right? But that has me NOT wanting to do a lot of actual cooking as it heats up the house--and ME! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

So, I've planned a lot of Salads for this upcoming week! Don't worry, there is a variety of ingredients to keep it from being boring and repetitive! I've also planned them BIG for my family so we have some leftovers all week!  Yay!  Less cooking means less work, less clean up and less time!  I've adjusted the amounts for smaller families, most of these will get you 4-6 servings.  They also double as lunches for school or work too.  

First up, I've got a Rainbow Chopped Salad with with Grilled (or cubed chicken) This recipe will make approximately 4 servings
You will need the following:

4 Cups Purple Cabbage, chopped
2 Yellow bell peppers, chopped
2 Cups Matchstick Carrots
1 1/2 Cups Cherry Tomatoes, quartered
1 Cup, Cucumber, medium sliced, then quartered
4-6 Chicken Breasts, depending on size, Grilled, pan fried or oven baked 

The Dressing:

2/3 C Tahini
2 1/2 Lemons, juiced
3/4 tsp Sea Salt
2 TBS Water

Mix together, adding water to get a creamy consistency.  Pour over and enjoy!  This is super yummy and filling!  

***TIP:  Make Salad Jars for work, school lunch or to grab quickly during the day for a healthy lunch at home.  After making the dressing, distribute between 4 glass jars.  You want the dressing on the bottom first.  Then add the chicken, then the cabbage and veggies mix.  When you're ready to eat, just shake the jar to get dressing all over each bite!  Leave room at the top of jar for shaking!  

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(Greek Style Chicken Salad is on the menu too!  I love the seasonings in this one!  YUM!  
This recipe will serve 4 and takes about 45 minutes to make!!  How's that for fast, easy and yummy!

You can purchase already blended Greek seasoning or use the following and make up your own:
Salt, Garlic Powder, Basil, Greek Oregano, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Parsley, Rosemary, Dill Weed, Marjoram, Thyme and Nutmeg.  You need 2 TBSP of a Greek seasoning mix for your chicken. (I use my Young Living Vitality oils when I make this up and it is so dang good! Like serious FLAVOR!!)

Add your Greek seasoning to 1/3 Cup olive oil and the juice of one lemon.  Whisk to combine it all then cover the chicken in this mixture for at least 30 minutes, but I really like to do overnight so that the flavors really permeate the meat.  You can use a shallow dish, a bowl or a plastic storage type bag. 

While your chicken marinates for 30 minutes, or the next day if you marinate overnight, you can cut up the veggies you need for the salad.   You need the following:

1 large Cucumber, largely diced (medium, bite size chunks)
1/4 Cup chopped Red Onion
3 Cups Cherry tomatoes, halved
1 Cup Pitted Kalamata Olive (we omit these for those who don't like them) I'm not normally a fan of olives but I chop these up pretty fine and don't notice them much.  They do add a nice flavor that I think really gives it that Greek feeling!

Combine all your veggies in a large bowl, add salt and pepper to taste along with 3 TBSP of Balsamic Vinegar and 1/3 Cup Olive Oil.  Using a rubber spatula, mix to coat the veggies in the vinegar, salt and pepper.  Let that sit so all the flavors can "marry" and cook your chicken!  

You can grill your chicken outside or cook it in a very hot, cast iron skillet to get some amazing flavor and a little "char" on your meat!  Once it's done, slice and serve with your veggies!  So easy and delicious!  

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Black Bean, Ground Beef and Tomato Salad w/ a Creamy Cilantro Dressing is coming up as well! This takes about 30 minutes to put together, if you prefer, leave out the ground beef and you've got a meal in about 15 minutes!  You will get about 4 servings.  If you want no carbs, then omit the beans.  You could add some yellow bell pepper to this instead. 

You will need 2 heads of chopped Romaine lettuce in a large bowl.  Once you have that, set it aside.  

You will also need:
1 can of Black beans
1 Cup Cherry tomatoes
2 Avocado (diced small)
1 lb of Ground beef, grass fed preferably, cooked and drained (I season lightly with salt, pepper, and some child spice blend)

For the dressing, you need to add the following to a blender to mix together thoroughly

1/3 C Plain Greek Yogurt
1/2 Cup Cilantro, roughly chopped
1 Stalk Green onion, roughly chopped
1 Clove Garlic, minced
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1 1/2 tsp Maple Syrup (or you can use an alternative sweetener for those desiring fewer carbs)
1 Lime, squeeze to add juice to mixture

Blend until smooth.  You can add water to get the consistency you want and also add more salt or lime juice as needed. 

Once your meat is done and you've made the dressing and assembled all the ingredients you are ready to eat!  Layer Romain lettuce on a plate, or in a bowl, top with a row of avocado, black beans, tomato and group beef---then drizzle some of that delicious dressing over it!  Time to dig in!  This is a great alternative to Tacos on Tuesday or just anytime you want to throw something together fast!  I will sometimes keep some cooked ground beef in the fridge just for this salad.  It makes assembly a snap!  Perfect for a busy night's dinner or fast lunch!
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You will love this next one!  It is hearty and filling!  Roasted Potato Egg and Bacon Salad!
I love potato salad and this is a way to "dress it up" and make it a meal!  When I make potato salad, I have found that I prefer to roast my potatoes and get them a bit crispy.  It add so much flavor and texture to an old favorite.  You can totally change up the flavors every time you make it too!  For this recipe. I'm going to use small red potatoes or small golden potatoes, you can also cut up russets into bite size chunks.  You will need to lightly coat them with some avocado oil and season with salt and pepper, then roast in the oven at 400 until slightly brown and crispy on the outside; Once done, set aside to cool.  You need about 2-3 pounds of potatoes and you'll easily get 6 servings from this but potato salad tastes even better as leftovers!

While your potatoes are roasting, cook your bacon too! Saves time and mess! We like lots of bacon, so I cook 2 packages of it! 

So, while you have both of those in the oven you can get the rest ready and it's super easy! You need:
3 boiled eggs, separate your cooked egg whites and cooked yolk when done and cooled. Chop your egg whites
2 stalks green onion, green part only, chopped
3/4 Cup chopped Parsley

For your dressing combine the following in a blender or use an immersion blender

1/2 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar
2 tsp Mustard
3 cooked egg yolks
3/4 tsp Sea Salt

Whisk it all together and set aside. 

Once the potatoes and bacon are done and cooled you are ready to assemble!
Combine those two in a large bowl along with the chopped egg whites, parsley and green onion.  Pour your dressing over and stir gently to combine.  Taste to see if it needs more salt and add some pepper if you like.   You are ready to serve!

I hope you have a wonderful week and enjoy these recipes!  

Blessings, 

Lori
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The Shame Pit

8/6/2019

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"Shame will drive you out of the presence of God" Steven Furtick

As I walk through my own battle against shame, I've discovered that the root of most of it is coming from things in my life--situations, experiences, circumstances--that were beyond my control.  Now, I'm not saying that I don't feel some sense of shame, guilt or regret for some of my own actions---but it's different.  I have found it easier to forgive myself, get over those things and move on than from the things others have shamed me for in my life.  I'm not sure why that is, just yet, but I suspect it has something to do with everyone's desire to fit in and that's why the things that other people find "wrong" with us are so damaging.  

So, for example, the first time I remember feeling intense shame in my life was around the age of 12 or 13 and my grandmother had passed away. I was devastated. She was "my person", if you know what I mean. At age 12, almost 13, I had no clue how to process all of these hard emotions. I was grief-stricken. Her loss in my life, and to our family, was astronomical. To me, it was natural to cry and express those emotions.

My stepmother felt differently, and told me that I was "upsetting everyone and if I didn't stop crying, she would not let me go to the funeral".

The fear of not being able to go made me stuff down all of those feelings but it also did something else---it made me feel ashamed of my grief, sadness and this huge sense of loneliness over the loss of my grandmother. Suddenly, it felt "wrong" to cry and I felt as if something were wrong with me.

Shame set in. I think from that moment forward, I always carried that with me and I held back when something made me sad, happy, excited, shocked, loved, etc....
I started losing confidence in myself. It didn't happen all at once. This was an event in my life that was a catalyst for a decades long cascade into deep shame and most of it came from being the target of someone else's actions--meaning what they did was in no way my fault and it wasn't truly about me either.

This led me to fight battles that were not mine to fight. I may have to face it, but I don't have to fight it. I have one who will fight for me.

It also did something else--it began the process inside me that has caused me to shrink back from what God had made me to be. I started hiding parts of myself that He placed in me and meant for me to share. It started to cause me to be unwilling to be vulnerable anymore. This didn't happen all at once--I'm now 49 and I'm just now realizing all of this so, it was definitely a long process and series of events in my life that just built this, layer by layer, in my mind.

I could name all of the different events in my life that brought about another layer of shame; Things like being told, again by my stepmother, that "You have to be smart to be a nurse."  When I shared I wanted to go to college to be a nurse.   She also said that with a loud laugh.  

There were other instances with this person in my life, too many to name.  Each event just added more doubt, more shame and damaged my sense of self.  Despite all of that coming from one person,  I managed to do OK.  But as I look back, I realize that I never really LIVED.  I did what others expected of me and just tried to live as un-noticed as possible.  Sounds kind of boring, right?  It was. 

Around age 24, my father and stepmother were no longer a part of my life.  That was their choice, not mine.  My stepmother gave my father an ultimatum:  "It's either her or me." and he chose to remove me from his life.   The fact that it was over lies, half truth, jealousy and just pure spite is irrelevant at this point---the woman he married was a very flawed, damaged and hurting individual.  I've learned that her attitude and treatment of me was about her own pain.  

And that is basically the lesson I've learned and am reminding myself of daily.  MOST of the time, the way people treat you, if they dislike you, criticize you, laugh at you, insult you, attack you---it is about THEM, not you.  

Another event in my life that I've come to realize added more shame to my spirit came from two people who had never met me at the time that they made some really broad assumptions about me, jumped to some ridiculous conclusions and came to some absurd snap judgements about me and my character based on absolutely no personal experience with me whatsoever.  I am not even joking here.  They had never met me.  I do not exaggerate.   All they knew was my name, I had a child and was a single mom at the time and also managed a hair salon (which meant I was also a hair stylist).   Suddenly, that told them everything they needed to know and they decided I "must be a mess".   They knew 5 facts about me but did not know ME yet they decided that told them enough to reject me.  

At the time, I didn't get angry.  I didn't react much at all.  Somewhere, in the back of my mind a lie began though.  The lie was this "There must be something wrong with you, Lori, if people who have never met you think that you something is not right about you.   You must be defective or a mistake if they can tell how "bad" you are without ever talking to you.  You deserve their rejection."

That's how shame starts.  It's the idea that you ARE bad, that something is wrong with you, that you are a mistake, defective, a reject.  As Brené Brown says, it's the intensely painful feeling that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging and boy did I feel unworthy and as if I didn't belong ANYWHERE. The thing is, I hadn't done anything to deserve this judgement from them--but the devil used it to convince me that I was a mistake.  This added another layer of shame and at this point, it deepened and grew more roots.  

I can only talk about this all now, in this way, because of the journey of self awareness and discovery that I've been on for the last several months.   I can put all of this in perspective now. I could not have done that a year ago. 

All of these events, with my stepmother and these other individuals set me up for the biggest blow to my spirit that was to come--the one that put me deep into the Shame Pit for 18 years and if I'm going to be honest, I'm still climbing out of it but I can see the light at the top for the first time in a long time.  But once again, this descent into the Shame Pit was due to the actions of another person, not myself or anything I had done.  Sharing the details of this time in my life is not something I'm quite ready to do just yet.   It was a deeply personal betrayal of trust, love and commitment.  It pulled the rug right out from under me and I didn't catch my footing again for many, many years.  

This specific event sort of "sealed the deal" in a way.  I'm not saying the effect was permanent,  but what it did was to sort of complete the attack on my self-esteem, self-confidence, sense of worthiness and value, convinced me I had no purpose in life other than to just exist and take up space.  It was incredibly lonely and depressing.  At one point, I fought off thoughts of suicide.  I was desperate for a way out of the intense pain I was in.   

And all of this was the result of someone else's actions that were a result of THEIR pain and hurt---I was just in the crossfire.  How often do we find ourselves in the crossfire of someone else's battle?  They are hurting, shooting arrows as this pain, hurt and trauma--which most of the time is caused by someone else who is in pain and their pain was caused by yet another person in pain---do you see the pattern here?  

How do we stop it?  First, you have to understand the cause and nature of the battle that is before you.  For me, these were NOT my battles.   I didn't start it.  How's the song from Billy Joel go... "We didn't start the fire.. It was always burning... Since the world's been turning...."  We aren't fighting world battles but these are spiritual battles that have been around since the beginning of time and you can try to fight it, but it's not yours to fight.  

Don't fight the battle you didn't start.  You will lose.   It will begin to consume you and you will lose yourself in the fight.  You will become a hurting person who hurts others and become part of the shame cycle.   

Stop fighting someone else's battle.  Instead, turn your focus to God and His promises--remind yourself what He says about you:

You are alive with Christ   (Eph. 2:5)
You are a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17)
You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:21)
Greater is He that is in you than He who is in the world (1 John 4:4)
It is not I who live, But Christ lives in me (Gal. 2:20)
You are greatly loved by God. (Rom. 1:7, Eph. 2:4, Col. 3:12)
You can do all things through Christ.  (Phil. 4:13)
You are God's workmanship, created in Christ for good works. (Eph. 2:10)
You are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you.  (Rom. 8:37)
*(List taken from UNashamed by Christine Caine)

You are a treasure. 
You are God's friend. 
You are God's son/daughter. 
God loves YOU.  

Let God fight those battles.  They are His.  If the battle is too big---it doesn't belong to you.  

Share your shame with someone who deserves to hear your story.  Your story won't be for everyone, but as Brené Brown says in her book, Daring Greatly:  Shame can't exist with empathy.   Shame derives its power from being unspeakable.   You need to name it and speak it---that will cut it off at its knees.  (paraphrased) 

Choose who you share your story with wisely.  Not everyone is meant to hear it.  You need those really close 1-2 friends who will sit with you, listen and relate.  This person will empathize with you and love you through the process of letting go of shame. 


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Weekly Meal Planning Recipes!

8/2/2019

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It is well known, and often suggested, that meal planning will help you stay on track budget wise AND health wise.  It can seem like a daunting task and to be honest, at first, it is.  There is a lot to sift through and it can also be a lot of trial and error.   However, it is very much worth the effort!  Your health is worth it and it is so satisfying to be telling your money where to go rather than being held hostage by the almighty dollar--always trying to make more which just leads to stress and more stress!  

In order to have LESS stress and chaos in our lives, we might have to put up with a temporary increase while we get things more organized and regain some control.   So, roll up those sleeves, my friends and make your health, your budget and your time a priority!  Once you get this going, it becomes a lot easier AND you end up with more time for other things, dinner time is less stressful and your health improves which means you, and your whole family, feel better!

Here is what we are having this week:

*Some of these are recipes I've pulled from other sites and some are classic favorites of my family.  I'll link recipes I've gotten from other sites and for my own ideas, I'll list out the ingredients I purchased.  I feed eight every week so adjust your amounts accordingly.  If a linked recipes has fewer servings listed, I just adjust my amounts.  

**I also don't assign my meals to certain days of the week.  I make a plan for a week and then buy the ingredients, knowing that I have everything I need on hand to make those 6 meals during the week.  I only plan 6 meals because we always have 1-2 leftover nights.  This is another budget saver because that means most of my leftovers get eaten instead of thrown out.  I'm finding that my consistency in doing this pays off, because I often have more meals planned that I need, so I just carry it over to the next week.  By not assigning them a specific night, this allows me to be flexible, if we have a busier day than normal, I can choose one of the really super easy meals to fix that night or if I'm going to be gone I can make sure that it's something easy my kids can make or I can prepare ahead of time.  My stress and frustration with meals times has drastically reduced by being intentional with meal planning.  

***You will find that my meals are chosen because they are gluten free and low grains.  I have food allergies/sensitivities as do most of my kids.  So, while we don't live a strictly Keto lifestyle, I find a lot of meal ideas and inspiration from those types of sites featuring meals for that lifestyle.  I will sometimes sub Cauli-Rice for Rice, or add potatoes, maybe use a GF Pasta in a meal.  You can adjust accordingly.  


MEAL #1 Low-Carb BBQ Meatballs  from That Low Carb Life and buttered Mashed Cauliflower 

I'm really looking forward to this meal!  I will most likely cook these in my Instant Pot along with the Mashed Cauliflower which will make this meal super quick, easy and less mess to clean up too!

For the buttered mashed cauliflower, you want to steam it first, drain off any excess water, place back in your pot, mashed it, adding butter, salt, pepper and heavy cream.  It is SO good!  

MEAL #2  Egg Roll In a Bowl  from Whole New Mom 

This is something I've made before, but I've not used this recipe before and it sounds delicious!  I love to use "bowl" recipes because they are not only quick, easy and cheap but they are packed full of veggies and are filling! These take about 30 minutes to make--seriously, you won't regret trying this!

MEAL #3 Loaded Cauliflower from Low Carb Maven (I'm adding some shredded chick to this too! I'll cook and cut up 4 Organic Frozen Chicken Breast from Costco after thawing.)  A bag is only $17.99 and I can get 2 meals from it or one large meal!

I look for family pleasing casseroles, one dish meals when I'm searching for things to try.  One because they are easy and I can usually modify easily to suit my family's health and allergies.  Two, because they are less costly, usually, and also less stressful to make.  I want to eat healthy but I'm not into spending hours and hours in my kitchen.  I reserve that for special occasions like Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc.. 

MEAL #4 Low Carb/Keto Beef Stroganoff from Head Bangers Kitchen (don't you love the name of this site?!?)

I chose this one because I loved the combination of seasonings.  I will use ground beef to make this meal a bit cheaper for my family  and offer the option of GF pasta and also have some Zucchini Noodles, or Zoodles, as well to serve this with when we have it this coming week.  Stroganoff is a family fave--yummy comfort food--and it can be thrown together pretty easily if you use ground beef instead of steak or another cut of meat.  I'll probably try it sometime exactly as described but for a week night meal, I want quick and easy!

MEAL #5  Salsa Chicken (with Cauli-Rice or White Rice) from My Natural Family 

This is so easy!  I will use the Organic Salsa from Costco--you get two BIG jars for less than $8!!! I also made this in my Instant Pot.  I set it and forget it!  I added the jar of Salsa, some salt, pepper, chili blend spice, a large can of green chilies and a can of coconut milk (also from Costco!) It helps beef up the flavor and keep the chicken nice and moist plus you get a fantastic "broth" to pour over that rice or Cauli-Rice!  YUM!!!!  

MEAL #6 BLT Avocado Salad from Simple Living Wellness! 

I LOVE BLT's! and I love Avocadoes!  I decided to combine some of my favorites into a very delicious and easy to make meal!  You have to make this one with Iceberg Lettuce so you get that CRUNCH!  I do get organic because lettuce is heavily sprayed with pesticides--YUCK!!  My tomatoes come from Cecil Farms which a local CSA.  Check them out and if you're local and want to sign up, use this link (affiliate link).  They deliver!  The quality is excellent and it's all so delicious!  

Now, back to the salad!  You need about 2-3# of good, quality, thick bacon for this meal--choose one free of nitrites and nitrates.  You can learn some other ingredients to avoid in food here.  You will also need 6 cage free eggs, 4-6 avocados depending on size, onion and your favorite dressing!

Cook your bacon and let it cool. Cook your eggs and let them cool.  While both of these are cooling, chop up your lettuce, slice and dice those tomatoes, get your avocados ready!  Once the eggs and bacon are cool you're ready to go!  I put my chopped lettuce in a big bowl for each person to add to their plate or bowl. Then they get to add all the yummy toppings!  Chopped bacon, sliced hard boiled egg, tomatoes, avocado, onion and their favorite dressing. 

This salad is so filling AND it comes together very quickly and easily too!  I cook my eggs in my Instant Pot (you can find a post on my IG here on how to do this in FOUR minutes!) I cook my bacon in the oven--so much easier and less messy!  

It's a perfect meal on a hot summer night!  

I hope this helps you to organize meal time more effectively!  Come back and tell me what you loved!  
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xoxo 
Lori

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Produce:  What's in Season?

8/1/2019

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If you're wanting to eat more fresh produce and mind the budget then knowing what's in season right now can save you some bucks at the check out.  We are so used to having everything available that we have forgotten that just like flowers, fruits and veggies have a time they grow best and it varies with each type of produce.  Here's a list of what's fresh and in season right now:

Avocadoes
Beets
Bell Peppers
Corn
Cucumber
Eggplant
Garlic
Green beans
Jalapēno Peppers
Lettuce
Mushroom 
Peaches
Summer Squash 
Tomatoes

Lower prices are seen on the items that are in season v. those that are not.  Generally speaking, these items should be less expensive but your location may predict prices as well.  Check your local ads for the best prices and whenever possible, buy organic to reduce your exposure to pesticides. 

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    Lori Culbertson is a wife, mother of 6 and Certified Health Coach in Southern Indiana.  

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