{7QT} IT'S ALIVE! (and other stuff!)

(1)

I guess blogging about my lack of energy motivated my tired body to get it together, because I popped out of bed this morning like someone had wound me up and my spring finally released!  I got everybody dressed, put makeup on (I even did the winged eyeliner thing.  Yeah, whoa.), and got us all out of the house on time for preschool.  Score one for the Mominator.

So, if you're doing Whole30 and have reached that second week slump, hang in there!  Day 12 could be a much better day. :)

Photographic evidence that I don't feel/look like death-warmed-up today!

(2)

I've never been a big "smoothie drinker", especially those green ones with all the vegetation in them.  I've always maintained that I'd rather eat lawn clippings mixed with water than chug some kinda swampy drank.  What was I thinking??  Thanks to cutting out all the sugar and artificial sweeteners during this Whole30, I can actually taste the natural sweetness from the fruit.  In fact, I can't taste the green stuff at all.  If it weren't for the color, you wouldn't even know that rabbit food was in there.  Here are my favorite combos so far:

- Banana, frozen pineapple, mango, and peaches, spinach & kale blend w/coconut or almond milk

- Banana, frozen strawberries and cherries, spinach & kale blend w/coconut or almond milk

The banana is the key, ya'll.  It makes it creamy (no yogurt on Whole30) and gives it a mellow sweetness.  Deeeelish!

(3)

I complain a lot about the weather down here in the South, but then mid-November rolls around and I'm all, "Oh, yeaaaahhh.  This.  This is awesome."  When the forecast calls for snow in our home state, we're down here hitting up parks and soaking up the sun in glorious high-50's and 60-degree temps.  We met up with some good friends and had a little picnic today after the girls left their Parent's Morning Out program.  Such a lovely day for it! 

Beautiful weather, totally silly kids.

(4)

I am super stoked about this new cookbook!  I've been following Wellness Mama's blog for awhile, and a friend of mine reminded me on Facebook that she had a new cookbook out, so I hopped over to Amazon and here it is! (Isn't Prime amazing?) I can't wait to try out some of these recipes on the family - hooray for new healthy-living resources!

(5)

Ya'll, I have a confession.  I was totally listening to a Christmas album last night.  I downloaded Idina Menzel's new Holiday Wishes, and man... it's good.  I tried to skip around the more traditional religious songs, so they aren't ruined for me when the time comes to really celebrate Our Lord's birth.   She has some really catchy secular songs on there, and gosh - what a voice.  I also threw some Harry Connick, Jr., Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand on my Amazon Playlist while I was at it.  What are some of your favorite Christmas albums to listen to this time of year?  

(6)

We're taking the girls to the North Florida Fair tomorrow.  Despite Daniel's insistence that the fair is full of weird carnies and rides that are about to break and kill us all at any minute, we're going.  The forecast is 61 and sunny, and I can't wait!  Think they have Whole30 compliant food at the fair?  I'm gonna guess no... (Shoves fistfuls of Larabars into her purse.)

(7)

Thanksgiving is coming!  I've been a little worried how this holiday was going to play out, since it's right at the tail end of our Whole30.  We aren't visiting family this year, so the fact that it will just be our little family will make it easier to stick to our guns.  I plan on making some mashed cauliflower, roasted veggies, and roasted turkey breast.  Do you have any ideas or suggestions?  Maybe something that I could pretend is a dessert? (Waaaahh, no pie!) Come at me with them, people!  I really don't want this Thanksgiving to go down in history as "That One When Mom Made Us Eat All That Gross Food Because Of That Weird Whole30".  Amiright?

Linking up with Kelly over at This Ain't the Lyceum for this week's Seven Quick Takes!  

Head over there for more fun QT's. :)

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