Kitchen Update: Shiplap Backsplash!

The room with the most updates in the 5 years I have lived in our townhouse is BY FAR the kitchen. I can't stop changing it! The cabinets and backsplash were the first thing I changed after we were married in 2012 and I think I liked my impulsive, colorful choice, for maybe a year. We updated our stove in 2014, and then I repainted the cabinets to an off-white last year, 2016. And now, the most recent change was to rip down the tiny, multi-color, tile backsplash and replace it with the most simple, whitest of white shiplap. 

Below is a pretty good documentation of the progress!! Unfortunately I didn't take a straight on shot of the most recent version - and now I'm in GA and have to just use what I have from shooting last Sunday.

Paul and his dad completed the reno project while Roswelle and I were in GA for a weekend in February. I literally left the house with the old tile backsplash and came home to new wood shiplap - and I didn't have to see one speck of dust from the project (helped that Paul hired a cleaning lady after they completed). 

The overall cost was only $130 which included 3-4 2x6 wood planks, nails, and a thin backing between the insulation and the wood. When they tore down the tile backsplash, the drywall came with it. I painted the wood with white Benjamin Moore semi-gloss paint - which can be wiped clean easily.

I think some changes that may be ahead...because why stop now...new hardware? And the shade of the cabinets, in person, is just a smidgggeee cream. I've thought about painting them one more time, just one more coat of white. But then am I just making a mess? Paul jokes that our cabinets are like a box of chocolates...you never know what color you are gonna get :) 

Below are some pictures of different views of our kitchen. The wall gallery in the dining nook has two empty frames, waiting to be filled with pictures of baby girl #2 soon! The benches are from IKEA and i love them as we needed the extra storage. The table is something we made up, between ikea legs and a top we took off another table we had. I'd love a tulip table one day. Bar stools are from Home Goods and were so popular I'm sure you can still find something similar. And the butcher block island is a treasure we inherited from Paul's parents. Paul's mother fondly tells stories of Paul and his brother, Rob, playing/eating at the base of the island when they were little.

A few sources:

white frames / similar benche / table legs / table I want

The only appliance that is ever on our countertops is the kitchen-aid mixer, mostly because I like the way it looks. We store our ninja blender (even though we use it everyday) and cooking utensils in the cabinets below. It helps that our coffee maker and coffee mugs have their own station in between our kitchen and living room. It makes me feel really good to have clean, clutter free counters when I walk into our kitchen every morning. 

I styled the countertops with a teapot from Homegoods, a pitcher from Goodwill, and some marble cutting boards, one a gift and one from Target. The white tray for the lemons and sparkling water is from Ikea. I didn't buy anything to style the shoot, but instead went around my kitchen rearranging and repurposing. The styling process is so good for me, allowing me to be creative and is actually my favorite part of any blogpost. I encourage you to do the same in your home! 

Links for style items:

Cake stand / cork pitcher / similar pink pitcher / similar white tray / tea pot / marble cutting board

How cutting back on TV improved our routines

In January Paul and I cut cable TV. And it was really scary. As a stay at home mom, I considered TV my personal pal helping me make it through the day. Not so much for Roswelle to watch, but for background noise so I wouldn't lose my mind talking to myself and a toddler all day. 

We weened ourselves off television slowly. We cut cable, but kept Netflix, Amazon prime, and bought this antenna for only $19 (which are so sleek now!). I'm able to watch the Today Show in the mornings and we can watch the Bachelor if we feel like it on Monday nights. We also added the Sling TV app on our Roku, which allows me to watch Bravo and Paul to watch the NFL network - a win win for both of us. We plan to unsubscribe to Sling in the summer when we are home less, and then pick it back up in the winter months. 

The first month was tough - I found myself quite bored... However, slowly but surely I started realizing I didn't miss it as much...in fact TV started to not interest me! I started meal prepping and trying new recipes during Roswelle's nap instead of sitting on the couch. And recently I've been writing and creating more blog content, as well as moving the blog to a new website host! In the end, I'm feeling more fulfilled.

The biggest change has been our new bedtime and morning routines. Now that Paul and I aren't endlessly searching for something on TV to watch at night...we pick up the house, prepare for the morning, and go to bed! We have been reading more and falling asleep by 9pm on a regular basis which means we have been getting up early in the morning, getting ahead of the day, before Roswelle wakes up. Paul goes to the gym in the mornings and comes home earlier to hang out at night, allowing us to have sitdown dinners as a family between 6/6:30 most nights. I have been waking up a good hour before Roswelle which allows me to drink my cup of coffee quietly, read a few blogs, and catch up on my to-do list for the day - even knocking some things off before 7am like ordering a wedding gift I've been putting off.

If you are considering cutting back on TV, this is me encouraging you!! At least try it, if you are miserable, then by all means add it back, but you'll never know what is waiting on the other side of the black mirror... haaaa. good ol' TV pun to end this post. 

Flower Arranging 101

To be honest, I'm a little intimidated to write this post! Similar to a recipe or "how-to" post, I can lay out as much detail as possible, but it will never be the same as doing it with you in person. To simplify things, this post focuses on two basic flower arrangements with some overall tips and tricks along the way.

Some overall points....

- Don't be afraid of the flower! Yes, flowers are delicate, and yes they will bruise/wilt, but they can handle you handling them. :) Make the flower stand the way you need it to by pushing, tugging and twisting the stem. 

- If you have been reading my blog or follow me on Instagram, it's clear I have a favorite color palette of white, blush, and a pop of blue/purple/gray. However, some of my favorite arrangements I have made are ones using "different" flowers. Always lean into your style/color palette, but don't be afraid to add something new that you have never used before. For this post I used dusty miller, seeded eucalyptus, peach/pink David Austin Juliette Roses, white & pink standard spray roses, light pink stock, lavender, carnations, and anemones. 

And now to the 101s...

Where to Purchase: 

Most wholesale flower shops only sell to licensed florists. If you don't have any connections in the floral industry, there's still hope! I buy from Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Costco, and Kroger (for my southern friends). They all have great selection of standard flowers such as hydrangeas, roses, seeded eucalyptus, and carnations. Carnations have gotten a bad rep as a flower to buy or give, but they are wonderful in arrangements. 

Prep, Clipping, & Preserving: 

As soon as you get home, you should clip the stems and place them in fresh cold water with flower food. This should be the first thing you do, even before you unload the cold groceries! Depending on when you want the flowers to open up will determine when you strip them of their greens and separate them. I purchased the flowers in this post on Tuesday morning, but didn't want to arrange them until Friday. I kept them in their packaging and in a cold dark room until Thursday night. The day before/or day of arranging is the best time to unwrap them, strip them of all leaves/thorns, and place them in a new container with fresh water w/ food. {as pictured below}

As I mentioned in an Instagram post, sometimes the flowers style themselves. Don't be afraid to let that happen and go with it! Both the picture above and below were taken after I had simply unwrapped, stripped the stems, and placed the flowers in a new container.

Large Arrangement: 

Begin with a shallow container with a wide opening. A trick of the trade is to create a weave over the top of the container with tape. I would suggest using clearer, thinner tape than what is pictured, but as you can see, any tape works. Try to cut the tape so that it barely wraps over the edge. You never want your "mechanics" to show in the flower arrangement. This includes oasis, wire, and floral tape.

Start adding the greenery around the outside edge and continue to work your way to the center. I inserted the stems at a very hard angle. Clip as much greenery/leaves/stems as needed to get the stem good and secure.

Small Arrangement:

This technique can be used for a bouquet or a small arrangement as pictured. The idea is to arrange the flowers in your hand and then place them in a container. Move the flowers around, add more, add less, this is all about how big you want the bundle to be. 

Once you have the flowers styled the way you want, measure the stems next to the container and cut. Tip: always cut a little long at first, and then little by little, continue to shorten the stems to get the correct height.

I usually end here, but because my mom had flower tape, I wrapped the stems to give the arrangement a more stability. 

This type of arrangement is great for a smaller space such as a gift/cake table or placed amongst a spread of food. This is the size I most commonly have around the house - including on my bedside table as a warm welcome to the day in the mornings!

Single Stem Arrangements:

The idea is so simple, yet it has a big impact. You can place them as a group on a table (use an odd number of vases). Also, place them in bathrooms or in small corners that needs a sweet touch. This is a great solution for left over flowers or flowers that were cut too short for another arrangement.

Gluten-Free/Lactose-Free, Homemade Mac-N-Cheese!

Last week, I was craving Mac & Cheese and headed to the grocery store with full intentions of buying a gluten-free/dairy-free boxed version. I looked at the back of the box to read the ingredients and immediately felt discouraged (many of the ingredients I could not pronounce). I decided I would make it myself, using items I felt comfortable with - the fewer ingredients on the list, the better. 

As someone trying to navigate a healthy diet while enjoying a normal lifestyle, I find balance really important. I don't want to be a slave to junk food, but I also don't want to be a slave to healthy/raw/organic/non-gmo/paleo food. When I dine out, I try to enjoy the experience while not worrying if my food was cooked in canola oil. When I'm home, I find joy out of cooking with healthy ingredients that I chose for myself and my family.  

This mac n'cheese recipe isn't paleo, or whole30, or even that healthy. But it's gluten free/soy free/lactose free and its DELICIOUS.  The recipe (which is at the end of the post) isn't perfect, I literally made it up and I'm not a trained chef so I encourage you to tweak it to your taste - more cheese, different brands, more toppings? Have fun with it!

So simple!

I've been preferring this New Barn brand of Almond milk because of the short list in the ingredient section. I would never drink a glass of it (not enough taste for me), but it's a great addition to smoothies/cooking/baking.

Grass-fed is best, and ghee is lactose free!

I chose jarlsberg cheese as it is naturally lactose free, as well as a grass-fed sharp, well-aged dubliner, the longer a cheese is aged, the longer the lactose has to break-down and become more tolerable (over 18 months). You could also use gruyere, almond ricotta, or a sharp cheddar.

Remember all that balance I was talking about? yeah...I added ketchup to my mac-n-cheese because, pregnancy.

Recipe //

1 1/2 cups brown rice pasta

1/2 cup Almond Milk

3/4 cup Jarlsberg

3/4 cup Cheddar

2 tbsp Ghee

Cook pasta according to the package. Combine cheese, milk, and ghee in sauce pan until melted completely, stirring often. Strain pasts and add to cheese sauce. Salt & Pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Newborn Portraits: Baby Cameron Michael

Baby Cameron Michael was born to my friends, Tara and Todd, on Thanksgiving Day last year. Their joy, pride, and love for Cameron, and each other, is infectious. He will be supported and cherished...and a Bruins hockey fan :) 

If you would like to contact me for a newborn photo shoot - email me at saralaurenw@gmail.com

Valentine's Prep for Yourself!

Over the weekend, we traveled to Paul's parents house to lock down some babysitting (so thankful GiGi & Pops are always willing to watch Roswelle) while Paul and I went out to dinner & a movie, for an early valentine's celebration.

This will be our 7th valentine's together, and while I'm not going to purchase a new dress or get a hair blowout for the date, I did want to do something special (and free) to make myself feel like I put in a little extra effort for my valentine. 

{I pulled out a heart locket from my childhood, I believe my parents gave me this when I was 10 or 11. The sweet sentiment and obvious shape felt appropriate.}

{I typically only wear chapstick or an understated lip color, but for Valentine's I think pink or red is always a good choice}

{Tonight, while watching the Bachelor, give yourself a manicure or pedicure. Make use of the two hour long show and take your time applying a pink or red hue to your nails, giving them plenty of time to dry}

{I didn't wear this slip dress on Saturday night, it was just too cold here in Boston, but I plan to wear this combo in the future. Adding a lace camisole so that it slightly shows under any garment, even a sweater, adds a special element to the outfit}

 {I'm usually not a fan of fragrance on my skin, but Saturday night I added the smallest amount on my wrists. It made the pizza and a movie seem like a very fancy occasion. I was recently gifted Tory Burch Love Relentlessly and have really enjoyed the light scent.}

Whether you are celebrating with your partner, heading out for a "Galentine's" dinner, or staying in with your pets, doing a little something for self-care is never a bad choice. And of course, more ideas such as false lashes, a spray tan, fancy stilettos, or lingerie would be valuable additions for celebrating Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Styling Around the House

I love the color pink, always have and probably always will. So naturally, I really enjoy styling our home in the month of February. I have to demonstrate some restraint when it comes to adding the color in our house - I have yet to use a pink rug in our house, although I think they are fabulous!

This year I went up into Roswelle's room and grabbed a few pink things that would transition well throughout the main floor - a frame, a throw, and some of her books. I grabbed a few candles and bowls from the attic which gave me a good start for styling. The only purchase made this year was the wool garland from Target which I laid on our new storage bench as well as some roses with a pink hue. 

It really doesn't take much to make your house festive, I hope you feel inspired to give it a try! 

xoxo

Roswelle and I are going to make her Valentine's cards with some stickers (which I've used as a decorative confetti on the kitchen table this week), markers, and craft paper. I may even take a stab at making some paper garland for our mantel. 

Happy 1st Birthday, Teddy!!

My nephew, Teddy, turned 1 yesterday!! He was born on Super Bowl Sunday in 2016, but because of the leap year, turned one on Tuesday this year. I think it's pretty special he celebrated his 1st birthday, in Boston, on the day the New England patriots won their 5th Super Bowl win!

The party was clearly a Patriots themed party. Tacos, wings, deviled eggs, veggies platters, cookies & cake were served. I brought a few flower arrangements over as well, because even parties for little boys can use a pretty arrangement or two ;)

Go PATS & HBD Teddy!! We love you!

Things I'm Lovin' - Toddler

1.

Blabla Knitted Pillows

: I've been a fan of Blabla knitted dolls since Roswelle was born. As she grows older, I'm looking for ways to add fun, intriguing pieces to her space while keeping it classic and appealing. The knitted cacti pillows fit the bill! Would be adorable in any playroom, toddler's teepee, or bed.

2.

Brew & Serve Wooden Coffee Maker:

 Does your toddler watch you make your coffee every morning? Does he/she ever want to help? Well now he/she really can! Adding this play set to your morning routine will make for merrier mornings. You can enjoy your real coffee while your little makes you a variety of freshly brewed concoctions.

3.

Kid Apron Set by the loveliest:

 This is a great gift for a toddler who loves to spend time in the kitchen (and would be a great pairing with item #2 above). The loveliest company really is just that, offering adorable bedding, quilts, mobiles, and wearables. I'll be revisiting this site again, I'm sure!

4.

Kid Made Modern Paint & Brushes:

 5pm can be a tricky time in our house, too late to head out and still a good amount of time to kill before bed. Recently, I've been setting Roswelle up to paint at the kitchen table while I prepare dinner. My favorite paint for her little toddler hands is the Kid Made Modern wide mouth/tip proof set paired with short, sturdy wooden paint brushes. I can walk away from the table while she is exercising her creativity for at least 20 minutes. And because a spill is inevitable, even with the best supplies, the paint is washable.

5.

Ikea Doll House/Wall Shelf:

 I really could do a whole list of Ikea toys I'm lovin' - they have some great classic, wooden toys available. This doll house is great because it mounts to the wall and can develop into a book shelf as your toddler grows older. My sister-in-law put craft paper/wrapping paper to the back walls, making it an even more festive and stylish doll house!

6.

Fred & Friends Dinner Winner Plate:

 Does your toddler fight eating dinner? yeah, mine too... I saw this plate in February's issue of Real Simple magazine and think it's worth a shot. The idea is to put meat, vegetables, etc along the way with a treat (cheerios, blueberries, chocolate - whatever that looks like for you) at the Finish Line!

7.

Gap Moccasin Fringe Sneakers:

 Roswelle was gifted these at Christmas and my goodness she gets so many compliments on them! People have stopped me to ask me where they are from - Gap, y'all! And they are still available for purchase. With velcro fastens and minimal soles, it's a great everyday shoe for her.

8.

Usborne Book of Things to Spot:

 Roswelle LOVES search and find books, so when a couple girlfriends started selling Usborne books, I was excited to purchase the "things to spot" books. The pictures have so many details providing numerous ways to quiz her aka "which one has spots, which one is the smallest, can you count all the ants." It is her favorite book at the moment!

9.

Chasing Paper Removable Wallpaper:

 I do love decorating Roswelle's room in a particular way (light colors, clutter free, super girly)...but I do think a child's room should reflect their tastes. This removable wall paper is good quality and actually is easy to remove (so I've read from other bloggers). You can start, mess up, and restart - sounds good to me! I would love to do an accent wall in Roswelle's room and let her pick out the paper (and by pick out, I mean select from the options I give her...control freak momma here!)

Family Portraits: The Berglunds!

I took pictures of this sweet, loving family back in November, and while I delivered the photos to them well in time for their Christmas cards, I never blogged them! The Berglunds were all smiles, even on a quite chilly Fall day in Boston - we even took a break to warm back up in the car. :) Layla was a trooper and isn't she just adorable!? 

Have a great Friday and weekend, y'all!

Transitions in Toddlerville

***Thank y'all so much for all the love on Tuesday after we announced our news of baby on the way. It means so much to feel the love after sharing something we care so much about! 

Roswelle has been killing it in the toddler transition department, lately. She potty trained like a pro the first week of January and last week transitioned to her "big girl bed" without skipping a wink of sleep.  The last significant transition on the list is letting go of the beloved pacifier. She only has it while sleeping, but man does she covet that thing. I've received a lot of tips on how to convince her to let it go, but for now we are just going to take a breather on the transitions. 

One thing I have noticed is that with each positive development, other not-so-positive (but probably essential) developments, rear their heads. Almost simultaneously after moving to her toddler bed, she started saying "

but I don't want tooooooo

" or "

but I want it

!!!" in regards to anything and everything. This is all new and requires a lot of time-outs, unfortunately. There is always a ying to the yang I guess. Ahhh the joys of being THREE!

Anyways, back to the point of this post - Roswelle's new toddler bed! I saw this bed on another blog and immediately knew it was the one. I clicked on the source link and was shocked to be directed to Ikea!? While my mom was in town last week, we made the trek to Ikea - never go alone, y'all.

Since I know baby #2 is a girl, I'll be leaving the pink and lace curtains, as well as the chandeliers. Sources are at the end of the post. Have a great Thursday!

Bed

Pink Pom Quilt & Pillow

Curtains

Chandeliers are antique finds

Cubby Cube

A Joyful Announcement!

We have news to share, baby girl Lashway #2 is arriving in June! I've been wanting to write that sentence for so long and now that I have, I know that this baby has always been on her way, just in her own time. 

I wrote back in October about my IVF experience and

failed embryo transfer

. Right around that time we had a second transfer of a frozen embryo and this little baby continued to grow! We cut a cake (see picture below) this past Friday to reveal the gender, and it was so nice to be surrounded by my mom and Paul's family while face-timing each of my 3 brothers. I was so sure it was going to be a boy, as it's been a very different pregnancy from Roswelle, so much so that I wore blue! I'm so excited to continue this journey and I'm thankful for every moment, even the hard ones. 

A dream came true with this pregnancy, but I remember how that dream of a baby can be so hard to bear, as we tried month after month after month to get pregnant. 

I used to tell my acupuncturist how difficult it was for me to picture my second baby on my chest. I wanted to see it happening so badly but the

fear of it not happening

was standing in the way, blocking my view. I would to tell Paul that if God would just tell me

WHEN

I was going to have a baby I would feel so much better. 

But that's not how things work, and I had to rely on my faith that He loves me and IS listening. I realized that God wants to hear our frustrations just as much as our joy, and so do others. If you are in a season of waiting or feel that your prayers have gone unanswered, I encourage you to share your struggle. This was difficult for me at first, but I'm so glad I shared my experience with IVF, as I found tremendous hope in the outpouring support from friends, family, and even random strangers. And if you are on the receiving end of someone sharing, I encourage you to just listen and not skip to the "let's see how we can fix this" step. 

I've learned, through a fair share of difficult times, that as much as the pain hurts, the relief can be just as powerful (in a good way). I often look back on the 18 months of trying and find myself thinking "it wasn't that hard, Lauren." But instead of brushing it off, I continue to revisit the experience, remind myself of the details, and continue to share more. It would have been so easy for me to just announce this pregnancy and move on from IVF, but I don't want to forget. Success stories need the starting point and the journey. 

My hope is that you find this inspiring and not just another story of a woman who's pregnant while you wait. I have felt your worry and doubt, and I have shed many tears and I'm here to say joy will come.  For me, it came when I let go, and shared my story. 

Thanks for the love and support, and I'm sure i'll need more of it as we have no idea what we are getting into with TWO. No more sleeping in until 7:30 I'm sure!

Below are some pictures from the reveal this past weekend. You can watch the video of us cutting the cake on Paul's instagram: 

@paul_lash

. 

My mom bought this frame for me, a reminder of what a miracle this baby is! The first picture is of her embryo state when we transferred her, the second is of when we first heard her heartbeat, and the last is of our latest ultrasound at 18wks!

I asked the ultrasound tech to write the gender in an enclosed envelope for us to take with us. I took the envelope straight to the baker at Sweet Life Bakery in Dorchester. It was so fun to find out with everyone; boy or girl, we have a BABY on the way!!!!

Things I'm Lovin' - Home

It's Tuesday! Which means another installment of Things I'm Lovin'. Today is all about the Home. Some items are primarily for decoration; however, most are things that have made my home life easier and more enjoyable.

1.

Oreck Steam Mop:

 All hail the STEAM MOP! A great alternative to the messy, dip & rinse yarn mop, or the questionable cleanliness of the swiffer wet-jet (which I have been using for years); the steam mop provides a deep down clean without the use of chemicals or detergents. After it's been used, simply pull off the cloth cover and toss in the washing machine. I use the mop all over the house - on the hardwood, the bathroom tile, and even the bathroom tub.

2.

Simple black frames:

 I'm partial to decorating with whites, grays, creams, and neutrals but I have been leaning into the idea of intentional dark colors to compliment all the lightness. I've found that the best way to add some much needed depth is through the clean lines of a simple, black frame. I'm planning to put 3 of these large square frames above our master bed. Now I just need to decide on what will go in them...

3.

Black & Decker Dust Buster: 

All I need to say is this dust buster

actually works

. It has a simple and sleek charging stand and is my go-to tool for the inevitable messes in the kitchen or after I blow dry my hair in the bathroom.

4.

Ceramic Match Holder:

 I don't own one personally, but I have gifted the ceramic match holder/striker after seeing it on multiple gift guides prior to Christmas. A great addition to any side table or bathroom vanity and removes the need for having matches next to the candle. If you order the match holder, don't forget to order "strike

anywhere

" matches off amazon.

5.

Dr. Bronner's Liquid Soap:

 I bought this for soap in the shower and after reading the back of the label listing all of the other uses, we have quickly started using it all over the house: Dish soap, tub/bathroom cleaning, and even a vegetable cleaner.

6.

King-Sized Throw:

 Believe it or not, throws are hard to find in king-size, or even queen size for that matter. That's why so often you will see them draped over the corners of larger beds in pictures. The king blanket I've linked isn't necessarily a throw, but it comes in a great pattern, multiple colors and is thin enough to be casually placed at the end of a bed. My mom also has a great tip - a twin sized quilt is the perfect size for the end of a King bed.

7.

Rifle Paper Wall Calendar: 

My favorite way to kick off the new year is with a Rifle Paper Calendar! The notable artwork each month is both uplifting and fitting to the mood I feel with each month's weather and festivities.

8.

Marble Oval Cutting Board:

 I've used this board over and over again. Photographing food; a tray for flower, matches, and a candle; a pretty addition to any bathroom vanity; or even for its intended use as a cheese tray or hummus platter.

9.

Everyday Co Linen Dinner Napkins: 

A local company born in Boston, the linen napkins are meant for everyday use in replace of paper napkins. Many of us save such a napkin for special occasions or dinners, but wouldn't it be nice to treat every meal, every day, as such? I have yet to buy myself a set, it's on my list, but have gifted the dinner napkins three times!

10.

Bonavita Coffee Maker:

  My favorite coffee maker. I prefer this sleeker look to some of the other bulkier options out there. It's also available in white!

11.

Bodum Milk Frother:

 Not something I use every day, but you could! It always fun to have something extra special when having girlfriends or family over to the house. I was gifted this milk frother by my sister-in-law; it adds a bit of elegance to my coffee bar and is a fun addition to offer with coffee!

12.

African Market Basket:

 Baskets have become something I use everyday - a place for fruit & vegetables, on the stairs for odds and ends, holding towels in the linen closet, or a place to gather throw blankets in the living room. A basket makes any collection of clutter look intentional, even stylish! This specific type of basket, an African Market Basket, with a giving bowl and a leather bound handle, is something I'm currently seeking. I've been seeing them pop up all over blogs and even spotted one in this month's Real Simple Magazine.  

I've loved putting these lists together so much that I'm currently planning to write a 4th installment: Things I'm Lovin' - Toddler Life!

Things I'm Lovin' - Food Edition

Before I throw a "you should eat this!" food list at you, I feel like I should explain where my interest in food comes from as of late. It really stems from two places...

Reason 1) Six months ago, over the summer, I went through IVF as many of you know. I decided almost on a whim (with the encouragement of a few) to eliminate Gluten and Dairy from my diet. I wanted to feel my best going through something that can be quite intense on a body. I continued my new way of eating well after IVF and our transfers only because I found it provided significant results: better mood, healthier system, and a feeling of self-control, all with little effort on my part. I was surprised that

cutting out

something made me feel significantly better rather than trying to

add in more

(greens, exercise, meds). 

Over the Holidays, I was very lax on what I ate and how much Gluten/Dairy came across my plate. I noticed the effects almost overnight. My skin began to break out, I felt bloated - not that I had necessarily gained any weight - but my joints felt achy in the morning, and I knew there was a better way for me to eat.

On yet another whim, I decided on December 31st that I would start #whole30 on January 2nd. I saw a few food bloggers posting about it and decided I would give it a try. For the first 4-5 days I only ate vegetables, meat, and a few nuts. I cut out fruit, rice, quinoa, peanut butter, dark chocolate...all things I would normally eat. The first week was rough - I had a temper and felt sad/whiny. BUT by Saturday the 7th, I felt strong and compelled to keep going the entire30 days! I have now added a limited amount of fruit (mostly berries) back into my diet but that's really the only change from the first week.

The #whole30 challenge has encouraged me to try new recipes with new ingredients which I have found very exciting and motivating. There was no way I was going to last on chicken, broccoli, and sweet potatoes for dinner for 30 days.

Reason 2) The new recipes/new ingredients mentioned above leads me to the second reason for the list...

As I mentioned in my New Year's resolution post, I'm trying to cut out impulse purchases. SO instead of browsing around Target or T.J. Maxx, I have started browsing Whole Food aisles, looking for random ingredients like macadamia nut oil, chile chipotle peppers, and nutritional yeast. I'm filling my urge to "shop" while making healthier food for Paul, myself, and Roswelle - a win, win or sorts (gotta start somewhere)!

One could argue I'm probably spending the same amount of money in the end (esp at Whole Foods) but Paul and I have made the collective decision to never make financial cuts when it comes to the food we eat. Buying healthy, sustainable, life-giving food will improve our life quality...

eek, I'm starting to sound like one of those annoying podcast people...

I think it's time to get to the food list!

I have a mediocre surface level understanding of the significant health benefits of the food listed below. I encourage y'all to do some of your own reading if any of these items seem particularly interesting to you!

Clockwise-ish from top left:

1) Macadamia Nuts/ Macadamia Nut Oil - The Macadamia nut has the highest level of Omega 3's, which many nutritionist are saying we don't get enough of in our diet. We get plenty of Omega 6's however, maybe too much. I've recently limited my intake of walnuts, pecans (which are high in O-6's) and significantly increased consumption of fish, raw macadamia nuts, and macadamia nut oil (I suggest replacing any recipe calling for vegetable/canola oil with macadamia, avocado, or coconut oil).

2) Ginger - Another immune booster and anti-inflammatory agent, I pop a knob of ginger in my shake every morning.

3)Pasture-raised eggs - There always seems to the next best thing with food, and for us, it's pasture-raised eggs.  Organic eggs are great, but the chickens are often kept in confinement. Pasture raised eggs are from you guessed it, pasture raised (roaming) chicken. Doesn't that just seem better? 

4) Sardines - Speaking of Omega 3's, I have a personal goal to eat sardines once or twice a month. It can be difficult to stomach for some, but I've find them very manageable when on a seed cracker with a little goat cheese. A dairy cheat for me, but I consider it worth while to get the nutritional value of sardines into my diet. Sardines are also high in calcium which can be difficult to come by when eating dairy free!

5) Taza's 80% Dark Chocolate - Just enough sweetness and high in antioxidants, but it's also bitter enough to keep me from eating the whole bar. Also Taza's chocolate is made locally here in Boston and it has a distinct texture that I really like!

6) Green Juice w/ low sugar - I read an article in W magazine interviewing the nutritionist to Gwyneth Paltrow, Frank Lipman. He says that green juices, if you are going drink them, should only have 5grams of sugar or less per bottle. I have found this extremely difficult to manage, as an apple which is commonly found in green juices, has 19g of sugar on it's own! However I have found 2 that get close enough -- Evolution: Sweet Greens with 10g of sugar & Suja: Uber Greens with only 6g of sugar per bottle!

7) RAW nuts - Go RAW y'all. Skip the roasted almond butter, peanuts, or cashews and grab the raw version instead. This will ensure you are getting the most nutritional value out of your nuts or nut butter. 

8) Tumeric - The super spice/seasoning of 2017. The health benefits and healing powers of this little plant go on and on and have been on several health food lists lately. I've even seen a coffee shop offer a tumeric latte!

9) Nutritional Yeast - I just used this for the first time last week. Some things just seem too good to be good for you...and this was one of them for me. A golden flaky powder that is supposed to taste cheesy when cooked? How can this be good for me? But the flakes are high in B vitamins, notably B12, and considered to be an antiviral, antibacterial immune booster. My favorite way to use it is over steamed broccoli or meat sauce/spaghetti. Many friends use it on popcorn as well! The Bob's Red Mill brand carries it and can be found in most grocery stores.

10) Home-made Bone Broth - Our grandmother and great grandmother will roll their eyes at us for making this a "super-food" or "super-fad" because they have been making it for generations. Either way, this is something I suggest adding to your rotation of cooking. The collagen/gelatin extracted from the bones is extremely restorative - even wrinkle resistant!

Next Tuesday, Things I'm Lovin' - Home Edition will be up!