I write frequently about intuitive eating, eating disorders, dieting being the gateway “drug” to disordered eating and self love. I write it. I live it. I embody it. I am happy in my skin, in my clothes and in my life. I don’t own a scale. I don’t care what size jeans I wear. And I certainly am not looking at ways to lose weight, despite the media constantly pushing diets in my face.
So, what do you think happened when I lost weight?
It hurt. It confused. It triggered.
People mean well. I’m sure most people think it’s a compliment to say, “Wow, you’ve lost weight!” But, really? It’s a judgment. Especially if it comes with the attitude that the weight loss is a good thing. I mean, are you going to say in that same voice, “Wow, you’ve gained weight!”? Probably not. So, what makes us think it’s okay to comment on someone’s weight?
I’ve heard:
“You’re a lot smaller.” “You’ve lost so much weight!” “You’re skin and bones!” “You look like you’ve lost weight!” “You’re so skinny!”
And then I’ve said, “Unfortunately, yes, I have.”
Silence.
Ummm, unfortunately?
Yes.
When you walk in self love and you enter a time in your life filled with sadness, grief, anxiety, and illness and the weight falls off of you even though you’re trying to eat, it’s not a happy weight loss. It’s certainly not something to celebrate. And when someone says, “Wow, I wish I could get a bit of that so I can lose some weight”, I just cringe. You can have the weight loss, just give me back the joy, confidence, health and energy I used to have. It reminds me of when I started to speak up about my eating disorder and someone said, “I wish I could be anorexic for like a month just to lose some weight!” I didn’t laugh. It’s not funny.
I want to share what’s been going on with me. I really do. But I’m not ready. For now, I just want to say, other people’s weight is not our business.
Weight loss is not something to celebrate.
Weight gain is not something to mourn.
There is not a place where these comments are appropriate. The times I’ve felt comforted by weight-related comments are those of love, such as when a friend who knows my struggles said, “I’ve noticed you’ve lost weight. How are you feeling about that?”
Thank you. Thank you, friends, for knowing me so well. Thank you for knowing that how I feel about my weight loss is so much more important than how you feel about it. Thank you for not assuming this was desirable. Thank you for knowing my heart and asking how I was feeling. Thank you for caring about me, and not my size.
It’s tempting sometimes to throw planning to the wind and say, “I’ll figure it out later!” But, when 5 o’clock rolls around and you don’t know what you’re doing for dinner yet, it can get a little harried. That’s how I’m feeling this week, like meal planning is the least of my concerns and yet, I know it will become a big concern if I don’t do it! Hopefully, my meal plans will inspire your meal plans and we can all have easy, ready-to-eat meals in front of our family each evening! Have a great week! Monday: Almond flour crusted chicken fingers (individually wrapped Nature’s Promise chicken breasts are $8.99 a bag this week), cauliflower poppers and rice (new recipes!) Tuesday: Roast salmon, cooked kale, and quinoa Wednesday: Beef and cabbage in the Dutch oven (new recipe) Thursday: Gluten free mac n (goat) cheese (yogurt cheese for the family, just yogurt and spinach for me) Are you following me on Pinterest? Facebook? Please, do! I’ve had a giveaway running for awhile now, giving away a 5mL bottle of Young Living Citrus Fresh on my Facebook page. Check it out!
You know how to make pizza, right? You don’t need me to tell you how to make sauce, or shred cheese, or add the toppings you love! The key to a good pizza, though, is the crust!
I may be a little biased, but I love bread and all things bread-y, so I know a good pizza crust when I taste one. Domino’s gluten-free crust? Not so much. I need to bite IN to something, not ON to something… Sure, the gluten-y texture is always going to be missing but we can do better than cardboard! So far, this is my best crust ever!
The first thing to note is that the dough will be fairly wet and sticky. I’m not a big rolling-pin person, so I use some kind of plastic wrap or parchment paper to ease my struggles. I also coat everything with olive oil, including my hands! You’ll end up with 2 pouches of wrapped dough waiting to rise. Like this:
The second thing to note is that I use a bread proofer (which my husband affectionately calls “the poofer”). I never needed one before I started making gluten-free breads, but I have had issues getting the dough to rise and ending up with harder breads. The proofer creates the warm, moist environment for the dough to thrive and rise in. It’s not necessary! Some people use a microwave (I don’t have one). Some use an oven that’s been warmed (this hasn’t worked for me). Give yourself a chance and try a few different methods and let me know what works for you. If you’re really interested in making gluten-free breads, try the proofer! You won’t be sorry! It folds up flat and can be stored anywhere. The affiliate link for the Broad & Taylor Folding Bread Proofer and Yogurt Maker is below:
Best Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Yields: 2 large pizza crusts Ingredients 3 3/4 c all-purpose GF flour ( the flour is HUGE; I only use Jules for baking bread) 2 tsp salt 1 c milk (I use coconut milk beverage) 1/2 c water 2 packages of yeast (not quick rise) 4 tsp sugar 4 large egg whites lightly beaten 6 TBSP olive oil (plus more for hands, rolling, etc) In a stand mixer, whisk the flour and salt together.
In a small saucepan, heat the milk and water over medium heat until the temperature is warm, but not hot. Then add the yeast and sugar.
To the mixing bowl with the flour, add the warmed liquid mixture, plus the egg whites and 4 TBSP of oil. Use the paddle attachment and beat on medium for 5 minutes. Add more oil if necessary, or flour. Remember, it should be sticky and wet.
Divide the dough in half (with oily hands) and place on 2 sections of plastic wrap. Loosely fold up the edges and place in your proofer until it doubles in size. I usually leave mine in for an hour or until I’m ready to bake.
Preheat your oven to 400*F.
I don’t have a pizza stone or baking peel, so I use 2 round cookie sheets with parchment paper on top. When you’re ready to bake, transfer the dough to the pans and using oily hands spread out the dough, as seen here:
Bake the crusts for 5-10 minutes, or until the underside is firm and crispy.
Add your toppings and brush the crusts edge with the remaining olive oil (this stops it from drying out).
Broil pizzas 5-10 minutes, until crust is golden and cheese is bubbling.
For the week of September 15, 2014. Here we go again, another week filled with times and dates and appointments and routines! Phew! I’m sure, as my kids get older, it will only feel more wild! Meal planning saves me every time, because I just glance at my list and know exactly what we’re having. No stress! Monday: Wild scallops (on sale at Martins), broccoli, quinoa Tuesday: Pot roast with beef broth and lots of vegetables Wednesday: Easy roast chicken with lots of vegetables and potatoes Thursday: Black bean tacos with lots of toppings
You know I love Young Living products and that their therapeutic grade essential oils are the only oils I use for myself and my family. (Read why, here!) I would be remiss, though, if I didn’t share the information I’ve acquired about the presence of gluten in several of the products Young Living offers. I’m not saying gluten makes these products ineffective. Surely, there are so many people with testimonials about the benefits of many Young Living products. This is not to devalue their experiences or yours, but to educate and inform for those, like me and my daughter, who cannot include gluten in any of our food, supplements or skin care products.
I originally signed up with Young Living to get their Tender Tush diaper rash cream for my youngest. It wasn’t much better than other creams, but essential oils mixed with coconut oil were definitely more effective. I didn’t think about it then, because honestly, it never crossed my mind that there could be gluten in a diaper rash cream. I know better now.
As I’ve been leading essential oils classes, I’ve included information about the Young Living supplements and skin care line. Because I want to provide as much real life information as possible, I started looking into some supplements to try myself so I could report back with results. My first purchase was going to be MultiGreens. I researched the ingredients and noticed Barley grass juice concentrate. My years of gluten research had alarm bells ringing in my head. I immediately wrote customer service. Here is their reply:
Hello Theresa,
Thank you for your email and for your patience in our reply to your inquiry. Multigreens are not Gluten free, I have also attached to this email a gluten content list.
If you have additional questions or concerns, or if we can assist you in any way, please feel free to contact us via telephone at 1-800-371-3515, fax at 866-203-5666, email at customerservice@youngliving.com, or our Live Help feature at www.youngliving.com.
If you are gluten intolerant, gluten sensitive, or allergic to gluten, like me, please read the following list carefully, to make sure you are not inadvertently putting gluten into your body and stimulating an immune response.
The essential oils themselves have NO gluten in them. However there are massage oils that do, as well as the V-6 oil used for capsules to swallow and diluting oils applied to the skin. The oils that contain gluten are:
Dragon Time Massage oil Ortho Ease Massage oil Ortho Sport Massage oil Relaxation Massage oil Sensation Massage oil V-6 Enhanced vegetable oil Cel-Lite Magic Massage oil (The gluten in these products is in the form of wheat germ oil.)
The following are supplements that contain gluten, including what form of gluten it is:
Allerzyme (Barley Sprout Powder) Balance Complete (Barley Grass Juice) Ecuadorian Dark Chocolessence (Contains quinoa, which may contain gluten-like proteins) Essentialzymes-4 (vendors have been unable to confirm gluten-free) ICP (oat bran) Juvapower (Barley Sprout Seed) Juvaspice (Barley Sprout Seed) Kidscent Mightyvites (Barley Grass) Multigreens (Barley Grass Concentrate) OmegaGize 3 (“none to our knowledge”) True Source (Barley Grass) Ultra Young + (“none to our knowledge”)
As I said before, the diaper rash cream came as a shock to me, but a LOT of Young Living personal care products contain gluten. They are listed below:
ART Creme Masque (Oat kernel extract) ART Day Activator (Tocopheryl acetate is sourced from wheat germ) ART Night Reconstructor (Tocopheryl acetate is sourced from wheat germ) ART Renewal Serum (Oat Protein) Bar Soaps (Oat kernel meal) Boswellia Wrinkle Cream (Barley Extract – Hordeum Distichon) Copaiba Vanilla Shampoo (“we cannot guarantee the reformulated hair care products as gluten free”) Copaiba Vanilla Conditioner (“we cannot guarantee the reformulated hair care products as gluten free”) Genesis Lotion (wheat germ oil) Kidscent Bath & Shower Gel (wheat germ oil) Kidscent Lotion (wheat germ oil) Kidscent Shampoo (wheat germ oil) Kidscent Tender Tush (wheat germ oil) Lavender Foaming Hand Soap (Hordiam Distichon) Lavender Lotion (Hordiam Distichon) Lavender Mint Shampoo (“we cannot guarantee the reformulated hair care products as gluten free”) Lavender Mint Conditioner (“we cannot guarantee the reformulated hair care products as gluten free”) Lavender Volume Conditioner (wheat germ oil, hydrolized wheat protein) Lavender Volume Shampoo (wheat germ oil) Orange Blossom Face Wash (Hydrolized wheat protein) Prenolone + Body Cream (wheat germ oil + hydrolized wheat protein) Protec (wheat germ oil) Regenolone Moisturizing Cream (wheat germ oil, hydrolized wheat protein) Rose Ointment (wheat germ oil) Sandalwood Moisture Cream (wheat germ oil, hydrolized wheat protein) Satin Facial Scrub (hydrolized wheat protein, hydrolized wheat starch, barley extract, Hordiam Distichon) Sensation Lotion (wheat germ oil) Wolfberry Eye Cream (hydrolized wheat germ oil, hydrolized wheat starch, barley extract, Hordiam Distichon)
Thieves products are beloved by many and thankfully there aren’t a lot that contain gluten. However, it should be noted that the Foaming Hand Soap contains Tocopheryl acetate from wheat germ oil. I plan on making my own foaming hand soap when my September order of Theives arrives. Keep looking for that post!
The Animal Scent Ointment also contains wheat germ oil.
FAQ
Can you have a copy of this chart and e-mail? Most certainly! Use the “Contact Me” box on the homepage and I will get it right over to you.
Do I feel differently about Young Living now? I’m a little disappointed, but if I’ve learned anything from this process, it is ASK! Always ask. Don’t assume that because a company has high standards and superb products, that they’re allergen free.
Am I frustrated by the use of gluten in Young Living products? Yes, I am. I feel like I won’t get to try some of these products that people have experienced great results with. That said, thankfully their oils are gluten free and that’s what really matters.
Should Young Living change their product formulations? I wish! I wish Young Living would recognize that we are a society overburdened with gluten and that so many people are sensitive and allergic. I wish they’d consider that and produce a reformulation that included products without gluten. I also wish I knew how to get that ball rolling…
Should we avoid these products? You should avoid the products mentioned above if you are sensitive to gluten. Even rubbing products containing gluten on your skin can cause an immune reaction and we wouldn’t want that! I won’t ever get to try the MultiGreens, but perhaps I’ll find a blend I like for myself elsewhere and supplement with additional oils, separately.
Is Young Living still the best company for oils? I say yes. I say this is the only company that follows their oils from the very seed planted in the ground to the harvesting of the plant, from the rendering of the oil to the seal on the bottle. I think for me, the disappointment and “a-ha” moment came when I realized that just because they make awesome, pure, therapeutic grade oils, does not mean that they are a supplement company or can produce a product for personal care better than I could at home. It’s so easy to fall in love with a company and surrender to them, believing they are the only company for you, without double-checking the things you would anywhere else… That being said, my supplements will continue to come from Designs for Health and Apex Energetics, because these companies are GMP (Good Manufacturing Processes) Certified and I know every ingredient that goes into their products. Also, they never include gluten or dairy, corn or soy in their products, and I personally, need that validation.
Remember, for oils, Young Living is the only way to go, in my opinion. For other products, I may recommend heading elsewhere…
To sign up with Young Living, go here and enter 1414775 as the Enroller ID and Sponsor ID. Choose the Premium Starter Kit in order to get the most for your money and start enjoying your oils today!
Please, follow me on Facebook and Pinterest. Comment below if you have something to add. Contribute to Facebook conversations or check out my Pins. I look forward to hearing what you have to say!
You know I love Young Living products and that their therapeutic grade essential oils are the only oils I use for myself and my family. (Read why, here!) I would be remiss, though, if I didn’t share the information I’ve acquired about the presence of gluten in several of the products Young Living offers. I’m not saying gluten makes these products ineffective. Surely, there are so many people with testimonials about the benefits of many Young Living products. This is not to devalue their experiences or yours, but to educate and inform for those, like me and my daughter, who cannot include gluten in any of our food, supplements or skin care products.
I originally signed up with Young Living to get their Tender Tush diaper rash cream for my youngest. It wasn’t much better than other creams, but essential oils mixed with coconut oil were definitely more effective. I didn’t think about it then, because honestly, it never crossed my mind that there could be gluten in a diaper rash cream. I know better now.
As I’ve been leading essential oils classes, I’ve included information about the Young Living supplements and skin care line. Because I want to provide as much real life information as possible, I started looking into some supplements to try myself so I could report back with results. My first purchase was going to be MultiGreens. I researched the ingredients and noticed Barley grass juice concentrate. My years of gluten research had alarm bells ringing in my head. I immediately wrote customer service. Here is their reply:
Hello Theresa,
Thank you for your email and for your patience in our reply to your inquiry. Multigreens are not Gluten free, I have also attached to this email a gluten content list.
If you have additional questions or concerns, or if we can assist you in any way, please feel free to contact us via telephone at 1-800-371-3515, fax at 866-203-5666, email a customerservice@youngliving.com, or our Live Help feature at www.youngliving.com.
If you are gluten intolerant, gluten sensitive, or allergic to gluten, like me, please read the following list carefully, to make sure you are not inadvertently putting gluten into your body and stimulating an immune response.
The essential oils themselves have NO gluten in them. However there are massage oils that do, as well as the V-6 oil used for capsules to swallow and diluting oils applied to the skin. The oils that contain gluten are:
Dragon Time Massage oil Ortho Ease Massage oil Ortho Sport Massage oil Relaxation Massage oil Sensation Massage oil V-6 Enhanced vegetable oil Cel-Lite Magic Massage oil (The gluten in these products is in the form of wheat germ oil.)
The following are supplements that contain gluten, including what form of gluten it is:
Allerzyme (Barley Sprout Powder) Balance Complete (Barley Grass Juice) Ecuadorian Dark Chocolessence (Contains quinoa, which may contain gluten-like proteins) Essentialzymes-4 (vendors have been unable to confirm gluten-free) ICP (oat bran) Juvapower (Barley Sprout Seed) Juvaspice (Barley Sprout Seed) Kidscent Mightyvites (Barley Grass) Multigreens (Barley Grass Concentrate) OmegaGize 3 (“none to our knowledge”) True Source (Barley Grass) Ultra Young + (“none to our knowledge”)
As I said before, the diaper rash cream came as a shock to me, but a LOT of Young Living personal care products contain gluten. They are listed below:
ART Creme Masque (Oat kernel extract) ART Day Activator (Tocopheryl acetate is sourced from wheat germ) ART Night Reconstructor (Tocopheryl acetate is sourced from wheat germ) ART Renewal Serum (Oat Protein) Bar Soaps (Oat kernel meal) Boswellia Wrinkle Cream (Barley Extract – Hordeum Distichon) Copaiba Vanilla Shampoo (“we cannot guarantee the reformulated hair care products as gluten free”) Copaiba Vanilla Conditioner (“we cannot guarantee the reformulated hair care products as gluten free”) Genesis Lotion (wheat germ oil) Kidscent Bath & Shower Gel (wheat germ oil) Kidscent Lotion (wheat germ oil) Kidscent Shampoo (wheat germ oil) Kidscent Tender Tush (wheat germ oil) Lavender Foaming Hand Soap (Hordiam Distichon) Lavender Lotion (Hordiam Distichon) Lavender Mint Shampoo (“we cannot guarantee the reformulated hair care products as gluten free”) Lavender Mint Conditioner (“we cannot guarantee the reformulated hair care products as gluten free”) Lavender Volume Conditioner (wheat germ oil, hydrolized wheat protein) Lavender Volume Shampoo (wheat germ oil) Orange Blossom Face Wash (Hydrolized wheat protein) Prenolone + Body Cream (wheat germ oil + hydrolized wheat protein) Protec (wheat germ oil) Regenolone Moisturizing Cream (wheat germ oil, hydrolized wheat protein) Rose Ointment (wheat germ oil) Sandalwood Moisture Cream (wheat germ oil, hydrolized wheat protein) Satin Facial Scrub (hydrolized wheat protein, hydrolized wheat starch, barley extract, Hordiam Distichon) Sensation Lotion (wheat germ oil) Wolfberry Eye Cream (hydrolized wheat germ oil, hydrolized wheat starch, barley extract, Hordiam Distichon)
Thieves products are beloved by many and thankfully there aren’t a lot that contain gluten. However, it should be noted that the Foaming Hand Soap contains Tocopheryl acetate from wheat germ oil. I plan on making my own foaming hand soap when my September order of Theives arrives. Keep looking for that post!
The Animal Scent Ointment also contains wheat germ oil.
FAQ
Can you have a copy of this chart and e-mail?
Most certainly! Use the “Contact Me”box up top and I will get it right over to you.
Do I feel differently about Young Living now?
I’m a little disappointed, but if I’ve learned anything from this process, it is ASK! Always ask. Don’t assume that because a company has high standards and superb products, that they’re allergen free.
Am I frustrated by the use of gluten in Young Living products?
Yes, I am. I feel like I won’t get to try some of these products that people have experienced great results with. That said, thankfully their oils are gluten free and that’s what really matters.
Should Young Living change their product formulations?
I wish! I wish Young Living would recognize that we are a society overburdened with gluten and that so many people are sensitive and allergic. I wish they’d consider that and produce a reformulation that included products without gluten. I also wish I knew how to get that ball rolling…
Should we avoid these products?
You should avoid the products mentioned above if you are sensitive to gluten. Even rubbing products containing gluten on your skin can cause an immune reaction and we wouldn’t want that! I won’t ever get to try the MultiGreens, but perhaps I’ll find a blend I like for myself elsewhere and supplement with additional oils, separately.
Is Young Living still the best company for oils?
I say yes. I say this is the only company that follows their oils from the very seed planted in the ground to the harvesting of the plant, from the rendering of the oil to the seal on the bottle. I think for me, the disappointment and “a-ha” moment came when I realized that just because they make awesome, pure, therapeutic grade oils, does not mean that they are a supplement company or can produce a product for personal care better than I could at home. It’s so easy to fall in love with a company and surrender to them, believing they are the only company for you, without double-checking the things you would anywhere else…
That being said, my supplements will continue to come from Designs for Health and Apex Energetics, because these companies are GMP (Good Manufacturing Processes) Certified and I know every ingredient that goes into their products. Also, they never include gluten or dairy, corn or soy in their products, and I personally, need that validation.
Remember, for oils, Young Living is the only way to go, in my opinion. For other products, I may recommend heading elsewhere…
To sign up with Young Living, go here and enter 1414775 as the Enroller ID and Sponsor ID. Choose the Premium Starter Kit in order to get the most for your money and start enjoying your oils today!
Please, follow me on Facebook and Pinterest. Comment below if you have something to add. Contribute to Facebook conversations or check out my Pins. I look forward to hearing what you have to say!
For the week of August 25, 2014. Another busy week in our home, with my parents coming to visit and my oldest turning FOUR!!! Her birthday party is this weekend too, with even more family arriving. It’s going to be a busy and fun time, which is more the reason to have a fool-proof meal plan in place so everyone is well fed and energized! Monday: Tilapia (#9), rice, broccoli Tuesday: BBQ chicken (baked), mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts Wednesday: Southwestern ground beef casserole with peppers and spinach Thursday: Vegetarian enchiladas using my favorite homemade sauce, black beans, spinach and goat cheese
One of the reasons I decided to purchase Young Living oils is the blend they sell called Thieves. This blend has been touted for so many health benefits, it’s pretty amazing. I wanted it to add to my mop and household cleaner and I’ve loved its smell ever since I used it. When I had my horrible cough this past winter, inhaling Thieves would stop it and bring me instant relief. I’ve placed Thieves on sores or painful areas in my mouth and had them numb completely. When the numbing sensation wore off, the pain was gone. I’ve also used Thieves to make an “antibacterial spray” for traveling, to spray down areas and even to spray on our necks to protect us from germs. More recently, I’ve made a Thieves throat spray (containing Thieves, peppermint and water) to spray on my aching throat. It numbs it instantly and provides incredible relief. I also know that the oils are killing bacteria at the same time.
Thieves is named after men who were able to pillage areas of Europe while a plague was killing people. In exchange for a lesser sentence, they told the king their secret: As spice dealers trapped in Europe because the ports were closed, they knew exactly which spices to use to protect themselves from getting sick. They ran out of money and resorted to stealing. They were protected by the herbs and spices they put on their bodies. Depending on the company, Thieves oil blends may contain different oils. The oils contained in Young Living’s Thieves blend are: clove, lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus radiata, and rosemary. Each one of these oils has incredible health benefits and combined they make a powerful blend to protect and heal our bodies. One study in 2006 addressed cinnamon oil specifically and declared it to have the most potential bactericidal properties. Oils that also performed well in this study were: clove, lemon and rosemary oils. Interestingly enough, these are all oils contained in the Thieves blend. Another study in 2009 proved the best four oils for medicinal purposes: cinnamon, lemongrass, lemon and thyme. Clove and eucalyptus weren’t far behind, showing “considerable efficacy”. The researchers used these oils successfully to kill three Candida strains, four Streptococcus strains, and six Staphylococcus strains, including MRSA.
Being able to use thieves to kill serious bacterial strains in our bodies is absolutely incredible. Using it your home can also have a two-fold benefit, though. For one, using antibacterial soaps and cleaners throughout your home is dangerous and can increase antibiotic resistant bacteria (that means when you need the antibiotics, they don’t work). Using a product like Thieves in your home stops these harmful antibacterial agents from robbing you of good bacteria and increases the likelihood that antibiotic resistant bacteria will not be a threat to your health! The New York Times spoke to this exact subject in 2007, stating that cinnamon oil, in particular, has antimicrobial properties, perfect for household cleaning and hand washing. This is a great replacement for those antibacterial products that have become so prevalent. You can easily purchase Young Living Thieves products from hand wash to household cleaners, lozenges to dental floss. You can also make your own, like I do. Foaming hand wash, mop solution, cleaning spray, and lozenges are all easy to make at home. It’s so worth it! Ready to try it?
Go here and, if need be, enter the Sponsor ID and Enroller ID 1414775. Enter your personal information, select Wholesale (it will save you 24% off the retail price), and choose the Premium Starter Kit. You can bypass the Essential Rewards Kits (they’re optional) and you’ll be well on your way to experiencing all these benefits and more! (If you do decide to do Essential Rewards, you can sign up at any time, spend $50 a month and save on shipping while gradually building your medicine cabinet arsenal for every ailment imaginable).
Read more about why we use ONLY Young Living in our home here.
The Essential Oils Pocket Reference is just that: Essential. If you sign up through me with the purchase of the Premium Starter Kit, I will send you this book as a Welcome Gift. You may also purchase it through this (affiliate) link below:
As I post this, I am on vacation with my wonderful friends, the first mom friends I made when I moved to Virginia and had my first baby! This reunion has been in the works since January. One mom with 2 toddlers from Alabama. Me, with 2 toddlers from Virginia. And meeting up with our dear friend and her toddler, in Texas! Phew! Before we embarked on this trip, they asked me to do a meal plan for our visit. It was the least I could do! We went through my blog and picked out some of our favorite recipes. I threw them on a spreadsheet, separated out the ingredients, and made a shopping list. Here’s what we will be enjoying this week: Night 1: Fish tacos with lots of toppings and steamed vegetables Night 2: Chicken tikka masala with rice and cauliflower pilaf Night 3: Beef stroganoff with spinach (slow-cooker) Night 4: Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches (GF bread & goat cheese) Night 5: Spaghetti and meatballs with spinach Most of these can be made pretty quickly in the evening after nap time and I’m looking forward to cooking them with my “sisters”. Are you following me on Pinterest? Facebook?
While August seems like it should still be “summerish”, it’s also filled with back-to-school energy, our oldest daughter’s 4th birthday, vacation and visitors. A lot to plan and prepare for! For this week, we’re trying to keep things simple as I prepare for my first solo trip with both toddlers on an airplane! Any tips are appreciated! Because we are leaving Friday, I have only meal-planned through Wednesday night. Thursday will have to be take-out dinner so I can pack and clean and gather my thoughts! Monday: Tilapia (#9), rice and green beans Tuesday: Baked Chicken Drumsticks (on sale at Martin’s) – new recipe to us – served with salads and quinoa Wednesday: Meatloaf in muffin tins (new recipe), mashed potatoes and roasted cauliflower Are you following me on Pinterest? Facebook?
