Christmas Eats!

My husband and I have been married for just over 14 years. This was our 15th Christmas together! From the very first year, we have made it tradition to be at home on Christmas day, and I make the big dinner for us, even when it was just for two! I always want my kids to have a calm(er) day at home on Christmas, without the hassle of travel on a holiday.

My goal this Christmas was to have healthier options than the traditional sugar- and sodium-packed rich foods I'm used to around the holiday time. I definitely feel that I accomplished this goal with a very simple menu!

We had:
Turkey (first time I have made one!!)
Sweet potato casserole
Green bean bacon bundles
Brussels sprouts
Cranberry sauce
Veggie tray
Plantain-chocolate cake
Dairy-free pumpkin pie

My plate!!

Turkey
I roasted the turkey, approx. 10 lbs, in the oven at 325 for about 4.5 hours. It was perfect! I stuffed a huge bunch of fresh rosemary in the cavity (because nothing says Christmas like your hand up a carcass!) and the flavor came through beautifully. I sprinkled salt and pepper on the outside and added about 6 cups of water so I could make broth later. After pulling all the meat off the bones, I dumped the bones and broth into my crockpot overnight for about 10 hours. I can't wait for some yummy soup with that stock!!

Sweet Potato Casserole
I baked 6 large sweet potatoes and peeled them after they were cooled. I did my prep work the day before, so I put the cooked potato in a container in the fridge. On Christmas, I mashed it with some butter (you could use ghee - butter does not give me any issues dairy-wise) and cinnamon, spread it in a buttered dish and sprinkled raw pecans on top. I baked it at 350 for about 40 minutes. The nuts came out delightfully toasty - I honestly did not miss the sugar in this dish at all!!

Sweet Potato Casserole and Cranberry Sauce

Green Bean Bacon Bundles
I prepped these the day before as well. Grab a handful of washed, snapped green beans and wrap with a piece of bacon. It's that simple! I usually cut the bacon in half, and that is just big enough to wrap around a small bundle. I baked them on a jelly roll pan at 425 for about 40 minutes, until the bacon is done. YUM. Even non-veggie-eaters gobble these up!

Brussels Sprouts
Wash and cut the stem off of Brussels sprouts, and remove the outer or any damaged leaves. I like to toss mine in olive oil or ghee and sprinkle with kosher or sea salt. Place on a jelly roll pan and roast at 425 until most outer leaves are browned. I usually stir a couple of times to get even coverage. I learned to make these when my husband issued me a challenge: he said he liked all veggies but Brussels sprouts. Well, now he loves them!! (He also issued the challenge with beets. That one was an utter failure, as it turns out I don't like beets, either!!) I have done this with frozen Brussels sprouts, and they are still delicious, but the texture is not as perfect as with fresh. But they work in a pinch!

Green Bean Bacon Bundles, Brussels sprouts and Veggie tray

Cranberry Sauce
I washed a bag of fresh cranberries and put in a sauce pan with the juice of two small oranges, 1 tbsp. sugar and a dash of cinnamon. Just simmer and stir until it's the consistency you prefer! I like my cranberry sauce TART. You can also add lemon or orange zest if you like! I would probably do two bags if I made it again, because it cooks down quite a lot!

Veggie Tray
My mom brought the veggies - celery, carrots, radishes and tomatoes. We always have celery and carrots in the fridge ready to eat, and this is a great snack when you're waiting for the meal to be ready. You can add a dip of your choice, but I love them just plain! A wonderful crunchy option on the plate!

Plantain-Chocolate Cake
A Facebook friend posted a link to this recipe (http://preparingitpaleo.com/2012/11/21/chocolate-cake/), and I just had to try it. It was so good!! My dad and daughter both had second helpings. My dad pronounced it "like fudge with frosting!" I used date puree instead of honey - pour about 1/3 c boiling water over 14 pitted dates and toss in the blender. That made enough for the cake and the frosting, which I made with the puree, coconut oil, chocolate chips, cocoa powder and cashew butter. It is definitely rich, but you will not miss the flour at all!!

It's as moist and rich as it looks!

Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie
This was my grand experiment. I just did a direct sub for the evaporated milk with unsweetened vanilla almond milk! A can is 12 oz, so that's how much almond milk I used. It DID take about 40 minutes longer to bake than the recipe on the back of the can of pumpkin stated, but the result was delicious and I, a pumpkin pie EXPERT, could not detect a difference in flavor or texture. Win!

I loved how this food tasted, and even better, I loved how great I felt after eating it. No slumpy sugar-rush or carb coma. It was just the food we've learned to love, holiday-style. Don't be afraid to tweak traditional menu items to something that is healthier! You probably won't miss the sugar and salt overload, and you might even learn to like it better this way!

Stay yummy!

Updated take on Whole 30

Wow, it took me a lot longer than I thought it would to get back to the keyboard! We had a couple of weeks of sniffly noses in this house...so glad that is over!

I mentioned on my original Whole 30 post that I would update with a new, improved take on my response. Well...here we go!

During the month of October, I did not notice any skin or digestive changes while eating dairy-, grain-, sugar- and legume-free. I thought that meant that I probably was not sensitive to any of those items. I tried reintroducing items gradually to notice if I saw a change.

First up: grains, specifically gluten. Gluten is of special consideration in this house due to a family history of Celiac Disease in my husband's family. I am happy to report that I still have exhibited no sign of sensitivity to grains, gluten-containing or not. But I DO feel better nourished when I stick to squash and sweet potato as my meal carbs instead of stuffing my face with half a  plate of rice. ;)

Next: dairy. I am a sad panda. Yogurt...is...gross. I worked so hard for many years to get to a point where I could tolerate/want to eat SOMETHING dairy, you  know...for the calcium. I finally started eating yogurt 4 years ago. And I eat a small amount of melted cheese on pizza or tacos. But after my dairy reintro day, I felt so disgusting. My skin and ears got itchy and my tummy was NOT happy. After my reintro days were over, I tried a bit just to see if it was true...and it was. The good news is that I can live quite easily without dairy! Butter does not seem to cause any issues for me, although I still do love to make ghee. But yogurt, ice cream, pudding, cheese, milk chocolate, milk with cookies...all of those are out! Not like some of those are good for me anyway, right? ;) Causing particular sensitivity is sweetened dairy. I've known for quite a while that a bowl of cereal made me feel gross. Even though I stuck to cereal with 10g or fewer of sugar per serving, that combination is no bueno for me. I've tried almond milk over cereal, and it's not bad. But it's just  not a food that I need in my every day life. It's not a "bad" snack...but there are so many better options that are healthier, cheaper and less processed! And cereal is in NO WAY ALLOWED as a "meal" in this house, especially at breakfast. It just doesn't last, folks!

I still exclude soy, and have for years, due to symptoms I notice when I eat soy - or, get this - use body products like shower gel or lotion with soy.

Peanut products don't cause an issue, either, but cashew, almond and hazelnut butter are soooooo much tastier to me now. I still love the changes in my diet that this eating plan caused. I really enjoyed trying new things and I LOVE that my family enjoys the nutritious food I cook for them! By watching carefully, I discovered my kids eat MORE FOOD when I cook Whole 30 style, than if I feed them past favorites like rice, white potato and pasta. It doesn't make sense in my head based on kid eating stereotypes, but I'll take it and run with it! Not a lot is more fun than watching your kids inhale Brussels sprouts and kale.

Well, I need to wrap this up and finish making my shopping list! Christmas is one week away and I need to buy groceries for a Christmas dinner Whole 30-ish! After the rich (read: canned and sugary) Thanksgiving dinner, we felt...kind of icky. Every year, we stay AT HOME on Christmas Day, and I make a big fancy dinner for just us...with china and candles! I've done it every Christmas we've been married - back to 1999! This year, I'm planning delicious dishes with squash, berries, turkey and something involving figs, dates and nuts. I can't wait to share the results soon!

Stay Fluffy!

Real Savings of Cloth Diapering

Everyone knows that one reason people use cloth diapers is the financial aspect - saving money! While it's true that using reusable, washable diapers can save money, especially if used for more than one child, I find that I can boost my savings significantly by making as many things as possible about my diapering system reusable. Enter cloth wipes!

You can find cloth wipes just about anywhere! Many people use baby washcloths, which are available at major retailers like Target and Wal-Mart (and some grocery stores); some cloth diaper companies manufacture cloth wipes; and of course, these items in a variety of fabrics are readily available from WorkAtHomeMommies on Etsy, eBay and many Facebook groups.

Some people use plain water to moisten their wipes if they have convenient access to a sink. Others place them in a wipe container (a warmer or just a plastic box) with solution poured over to mimic traditional disposable wipes. I prefer to have a spray bottle of solution at the change table, and I spray each wipe as I need it. I use Sheepish Grins Washy Wafers - I melt/dissolve two wafers in 2c of boiling water 1-2x a week.

 

Washy Wafers

 

 

 

 

The wipes basket. Must have been laundry day when I snapped this!

 



It's a very gentle formula and since I have started using cloth wipes instead of disposables, we have had ZERO rash issues! We used disposables initially, and even the "Sensitive Skin" ones left some kind of residue that contributed to a rash. Lil Dude's bottom has never looked so healthy and clear as when we use all cloth! I remember always having to slather ointment and cream on Chickadee when she was a baby. Oh how I wish I had started using soft cloth diapers with her!

Let's talk math. I spent about $60 on commercially made, thick wipes (I have some with velour/flannel, and some with a terry texture - about 40 wipes in all). There are cheaper options than that (you could even make your own from leftover receiving blankets or fabric scraps!) and obviously, more expensive options (but some bamboo blends CAN be used as boosters in the diaper in a pinch...versatility is always a win!). I buy the wipe solution tabs for $9.00, and that box lasts me for 6 months. So for the 2 years of cloth diapering we will do (I started when Lil Dude was 10 months...just guessing he'll be potty trained by 3?!), I will spend $36 on wipe solution tabs and the $60 on wipes...under $100!! What about disposable wipes? I usually bought the thickest sensitive ones ($$) and they ran about $0.02-0.03 per wipe. I have changed some "ten wipe wonder" diapers, so sometimes we went through them pretty fast!! (Another benefit of cloth wipes - just one does a great job, and the most I ever use is 3 for a really special diaper! ;) ) So let's figure an average of 20 wipes per day. 20 wipes at $0.025 = $0.50/day. $0.50 a day for two years is...$365. For WIPES THAT YOU THROW AWAY. Even if you only used 10 wipes a day, you'd still spend $182.50. And that is only for that child - if you cloth diaper subsequent children, you can reuse the cloth wipes and only have to purchase wipe solution! Once cloth diapering days are over, you have great household cloths or rags for small cleaning projects.

I use my diaper sprayer to clean off any solids off the wipes, then toss them right in the diaper pail. Which brings me to my next tidbit...cloth diapering pails are infinitely cuter (and more cost efficient) than any disposable diapering pail system. I used to hate the panic I had when I was out of bag inserts for the diaper pail for disposables. Not to mention the horrid "diaper sausages" (ick) that I bundled up more than once a week to stick in the trash. Dear future generations, I'm sorry for the poop I stuck in the landfill. It's so nice to have extra room in the trash can, along with not having big diaper boxes to get rid of!

I had, until just last week, been using hanging wetbags for dirty diaper storage. But AppleCheeks is coming out with their size 2 storage sac (biggest size) in the gorgeous, moody Steel Me. And I have to have it! I also picked up a sac in Coriander (minty green) during a Black Friday sale, so I went trash can shopping! I scored a metallic champagne pop-top can from Wal-Mart for under $10! The storage sacs retail new for about $25, but you can find them in EUC for $15 or less! (Guess what? Whether or not you cloth diaper, these sacs are perfect for travel laundry bags or wet swimwear storage. I'm so happy we've started becoming a household making an investment in reusable items.) Here's the result:

Don't you love the Winging It sticker?

 

 

 

 



 

So easy to use - pop the lid one-handed, toss diaper inside!

 

In my opinion, it's a lovely addition to our bedroom (where our changing area is)

 

 

 

It's easy to see how making the switch to cloth has helped realize significant household savings and the ease of not having to purchase and dispose of as many throw-away items. I take what steps I can along the way and am happy to see the results!

 

 

Stay Fluffy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Things

It's my favorite time of year! Family...food...chilly weather...warmth inside...glittering lights...thankfulness. The month between Thanksgiving and Christmas is filled with lots of fun, shopping, surprises and togetherness!

Let's talk about one of my favorite baby items - cloth diapers. And my favorite brand - AppleCheeks! The first time I mentioned cloth diapering to a friend in person, I got a response along the lines of, "Why on earth are you doing that?!" with a puzzled "You must be crazy" facial expression. I explained that I needed a better leak solution and, of course, that they were cute. "Oh, right, cute. Well, that I *can* understand. They are cute!" A nod of approval. Cloth diapers are SO cute! And in the realm of cute, AppleCheeks and their fluffy ruffles can't be beat!

 Orange You Glad and St. Lucia - aren't they lovely together?

 Aw, how cute...my first stash shot! My, how you've grown!

 Forget-me-Not...sweet baby blue color

 Delicious after a bath. See the ruffles?!! Love.

 

 

 

These ruffles aren't just for looks, though...one reason that AppleCheeks are so effective against leaks is that there is elastic at the legs, back and on the FRONT. Many diapers don't have an elastic waist on the front. That tummy protection is vital, especially for my side/tummy sleeper. But the ruffles sure make diaper laundry my favorite kind of laundry!

 

 No clothesline, no problem!

 

 

 

But even then, with adorable ruffles, gorgeous colors, superior fit and awesome leak protection, AppleCheeks are something MORE than just cloth diapers. They are a fantastic company with a very personable and fun social media presence. The owners, Amy and Ilana, are quite approachable, caring and happy to interact with fans. They even agreed to answer a few questions I had to ask them about some of their favorite things!

 

 

What is your favourite AppleCheeks colour (or top 3, if it's too hard to pick just one!)

 

Amy: Too hard to pick one for sure.  My three are: Appletini, Steel Me and the next limited edition we are planning now - it is so hot!

Ilana: Steel Me, hands down!! 

 

I love that you are both so active on Facebook and Instagram. What is your favourite thing about the AC online community?

 

Amy: Everything; The feeling of community itself, the enthusiasm, the genuine love.

Ilana: That they are SO incredibly creative and supportive and just generally loving and warm. I'm worried sometimes about participating in conversation because I'm afraid that it will result in people not being totally open and honest because I'm there, but now I get that they realize I'm just one of them!

 

I think just about all AppleCheeks fans would love a peek into the office. What is your favourite thing about your job?

 

Amy: I wake up every morning and look forward to going to work.  I especially love working with Ilana.

Ilana: Our employees. We have the best staff EVER. And also, i love the fact that I can direct myself creatively and don't have to satisfy anyone else's vision except for Amy's. But 9 times out of ten we're on the same page anyways. And that other one time I manage to get my way anyways.

Even with a job you love, time away from it is a must! What is your favourite thing to do on Saturday or a day off?

 

Amy: My favourite thing to do is cheer my kids on in their sports, which include swimming, basketball, soccer, running, etc.

Ilana: I love to bring my kids to their various activities and just watch them enjoy themselves.  And I love Saturday nights when they are all in bed and my husband and I just get to hang together and watch violent superhero movies. Or Sherlock. Or Downton Abbey. But actually, we've seen them all so I need new show suggestions BADLY.

 

It's a giving time of year - what is your favourite gift ever from your kids?

 

Amy: The homemade cards from the kids are the best because they include sincere words of love and affection.

Ilana: Oooh, that's a tough one. Are you speaking esoterically? Because I suck at that stuff.

I've never been to Montreal. What is your favourite thing about your city?  

 

Amy: The many inexpensive ethnic restaurants.  My husband and I go on a date every second week or so and enjoy the many varied tastes of Montreal's interesting restaurants.

Ilana: Just one thing? I'd say the Anglophone mom community. It's because of them that I'm where I am today, both as a business owner and as a parent.

I know Canadians have already celebrated Thanksgiving, but this week starts the month I do the most baking and cooking - between US Thanksgiving and Christmas. What is your favourite holiday food?  

 

Amy: Turkey!  I love a good turkey.  We eat it all year round in my house.

Ilana: Well, I'm new to all this stuff as I didn't celebrate either until I met my husband. But I'm still SUPER impressed by people who can cook a turkey and not dry it out completely. 

Along those lines, what is your favourite kitchen tool/item?  

 

Amy: I love a good cast iron skillet.  It is so good for so many things!

Ilana: My BLENDTEC!!
 

It's obvious from the fun reveal videos that you stay in touch with pop culture! What is your favourite book/movie genre?  

 

Amy: Right now I am reading Khaled Hosseini's third book and am loving it, just like his other two, The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.  They are heavy reads but enthralling.

Ilana: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, except I'm really struggling with the fifth book. 

I always love seeing your lovely faces in photos. What is your favourite makeup brand?

 

Amy: MAC for sure.  It is expensive but lasts a long time so I only buy one new MAC item every few months and build up my supply that way.

Ilana: Zorah! I should say Mac because the colours are amazing but I don't feel comfy wearing that stuff every day. But Zorah is completely natural and argan oil based and they have an AMAZING mascara.



 

 

Thanks, Amy and Ilana! That was fun! I hope everyone enjoyed reading about favorites. Feel free to share about YOUR favorites in the comments!

From the archives - Night Rocks (4/25/09)

Dear Chickadee,

I lift you up onto my chest after your last bedtime snack. Your tiny head nestles perfectly on my shoulder and your mouth opens as you pass out, gently breathing sweet milk breath onto my face. I gently rock us in the rocking chair. You are totally asleep.

I watch the clock, as I pick a time 15 minutes from now when I will lay you down in your little bed as you drift off to dreamland. I have to make sure you're really asleep - at least, that's what I tell myself. I really just soak up the minutes getting to hold you - an entire other human - when you are so small.

I think about the fact that you are not just a baby girl - that you are just the baby version of a little girl, and later, a bigger girl. I don't let myself think of you growing past that stage, because the time is already flying by. You will bring me weed flowers and I will put them in water in a vase for the rest of their interrupted brief life. You will run in with a skinned knee or elbow from a bicycle tumble. Mommy kisses will make it all better. And maybe some ice cream.

The minutes are going by so fast on the clock so I add 10 more to my deadline. I try to not stay up too late once you are asleep so I can take advantage of sleeping when you do. Soon you will be too big for the little bed at the foot of my bed and we will move you to your own room. While I will probably sleep better not listening to your little nighttime movements and noises, I will miss you. I will still run to you when you cry out, though.

And I will hold you and rock you whenever you need it.

Where's the Poop, Mommy?!

(Any HIMYM fans? I used to watch but simply don't have time for TV shows anymore. But the Where's the Poop query was funny whenever it surfaced.)

I have been using cloth diapers for just over a year now. Several things happened all around the same time that led to us making the switch from disposables:

• Leaks at night. We co-sleep. I was tired of wet sheets!
• Lil Dude pees way more than Chickadee ever did, and I hate the smell of disposable peed-in diapers! Yuck!
• I read an article about the explosion of a factory in Japan that makes the SAP (gel inside disposable diapers) and I was horrified at the loss of life and injury just so that my kid has a place to eliminate, that I spend tons of money on and then throw away.
• Target had Charlie Banana diapers as their Daily Deal at a price I couldn't pass up, especially considering the excellent resale value of cloth diapers. (Note: I took advantage of that resale value and have since converted my stash fully to AppleCheeks, my absolute favorite cloth diapers EVER!!!)

I took the plunge one morning, from my smartphone, by ordering 2 6 packs of CB diapers. Just to try them out. I couldn't wait until they arrived - my first fluff mail! I met the UPS driver just as I was heading out for an evening run. I excitedly prepped the inserts over the next few days, and then got them ready to put on. Lil Dude was so gracious as to christen one properly during a quiet Sunday afternoon - but I was so stoked to tackle a poopy cloth diaper with my diaper sprayer! I knew if I could handle the poop, I could cloth diaper. YOU CAN HANDLE THE POOP.

However...there are these handy dandy things called FLUSHABLE DIAPER LINERS. Yup. Lay them in the diaper, and then just plop them in the toilet. Very little, if any, spraying is needed!

I first tried some Charlie Banana bamboo flushable liners, since they were readily available at Target right before we were going out of town for a week, and I didn't think our host had a diaper sprayer. They worked...ok. They caught some of it. I wasn't totally thrilled with them and so once we got home, I didn't use liners because they just seemed to bunch up and were kind of messier to get off the diaper than they were worth!

After seeing several people discuss the AppleCheeks flushable liners on AppleCheeks Anonymous (yes, we have a group...no, we do not help end addiction to these diapers! We enable.) on Facebook, I decided to give liners another try. AppleCheeks recently changed their fleece to one that stays gorgeous, fluffy, white and non-pilly! Yippee! However, the consistency of the poop in this house seems to stick worse to it. Booooo. So I need a solution other than spraying it!!

Here is a comparison of the two liners: CB is on the top, AC is on the bottom:

As you can see, the CB is a bit longer and narrower than the AC one. Also, I'm not sure if it is very visible in this, but the "grain" of the material runs side to side in the CB, and lengthwise in the AC one. The AC one is perfectly adequate in size to cover the area of a diaper in question for the task at hand! The CB liners are a bit silkier than the AC ones, but also flimsier. I believe that those three differences - difference in relative shape, grain direction, and thickness/texture - lead to their difference in use! The CB ones just bunched up and didn't stay flat in the diaper, leading to only partial success. In the times I have used the AC liners, however, they have performed their duty quite well and provided coverage for at least 95% of the substance in question!! Which is...poop. I'm sorry. I'm trying to be all professional and delicate, and not talk about potty things, but, well, that's what I'm talking about, isn't it?!

Here are the liners inside a Size 2 AppleCheeks: (CB in Emerald City [Green], AC in Steel Me [Grey]).

 

You can really see how the AC liner provides wider coverage across the diaper. It doesn't need to go the full length to work very well! Remember, AppleCheeks come in 2 sizes, and these liners can fit in either size. Here it is in a Size 1 cover, folded in half!! If you were really bored, I suppose you could cut the liners in half if you mainly used Size 1. ;) 2x the liners! It provides approximately the same relative coverage to a liner in a Size 2!

 

 

 

I'm so glad the online AppleCheeks community convinced me to try the liners! They come in a roll of 100 and are packaged simply in a plastic bag. One thing I love about AppleCheeks is the minimal packaging! Starter diaper kits come packaged in a wetbag - how handy is that?! The Charlie Banana liners are in a paper box that is kind of bulky for the product.

 

Now then...are you ready for the best part?!! Charlie Banana liners cost $10.99 for 100. AppleCheeks liners cost only $7.95 for 100!! Have I convinced you yet?! They are available at many retailers! Some even have free shipping, but I'm sure you can find enough other cute stuff to bring an order up to a shipping minimum if needed - I usually do! ;)

 

Thanks for reading!

 

 

Stay fluffy!

 

 



From the archives - Sleep When Your Baby Sleeps (9/17/09)

People always tell you that - sleep when your baby sleeps. I don't know about you, but I used to think it was just for those first few weeks, when you are stumbling about unaware of what time a day it is, or even WHAT day it is.

But 6 months later, it still holds true. I get the best sleep when I sleep when my baby sleeps.

 Chickadee really didn't improve on her crib sleeping habits. I was pretty tired of shuffling to the nursery 2-3 times a night, so I brought her to my bed. I resisted that for a long time despite wisdom of older mothers telling me to do it. I was worried about the battle later to get her to her own bed, my mind filled with images of a whiny 5 year old clinging to me, begging me to not leave her in her own room. But...who knows if that will happen. All I know is that I get sleep now. And it is grand.

 Chickadee has also entered a clingy phase of life. So her attachment to Mommy (and can you blame her? The little tiny thing lived inside my tummy for longer than she's been on the outside of it) + sleeping in the big bed (for night and most naps) = I am holding or actively caring for her upwards of 22-23 hours a day. I usually get a shower later in the day, when Mr. FR finishes work, or in a brief break when she will take a very short nap in her crib. It's ok, since I shower fast.

It's amazing how non-stressed it makes me, though. I don't dread bedtime - I used to start the night with optimism, but it was dashed completely by the 2nd trip to the nursery. I go to bed LOTS earlier, which is better for me. I get to watch my little sweet thing drift off to sleep right next to me. I get to watch her wake up - so sweet - her long dark lashes against her chubby little soft cheeks. Watching her expressions is like watching time-lapse photography of clouds in the sky - all sorts of emotions flicker across her face, wrinkling her brow and changing her breathing. My favorite, of course, are little lingering smiles. Those few minutes make the whole experience worthwhile.

There is much less crying in the house - no sad baby crying out for me in the middle of the night or the morning. She sometimes protests if I put her down to go do something for a few minutes, but today was better. I don't know what her little baby needs are, but I try to meet them. She is happy when she goes to sleep and happy when she wakes up. That's a good thing in my book.

[Current update: I'm happy to report that Chickadee left my bed when Lil Dude was born to sleep in a toddler bed in our room. And just weeks after that, at age 3, she decided she wanted to sleep in her own room, where she has been happy ever since!]

Fluffy Does Whole30

[UPDATE 11-19-2013: I am going to post an updated review soon, based on my impressions AFTER completing my 30 days and reintroing some of the food groups. It really did change my life!!]

Today is Day 30 of my first time doing a Whole30 eating plan (Whole9Life). I am happy to report I stuck with the program and did not "cheat" or eat off plan once for the whole 30 days! It was not easy some days, for various reasons, but I took it one meal, one day at a time.

I did not set out to do this eating plan to lose weight, although I know I have lost some. I will weigh myself tomorrow morning for an official count. No matter what the scale says, though, I look different. People have really commented within the last week that they can tell I've lost weight. This is absolutely the smallest I have ever been as an adult - even smaller than as a newlywed 20 year old!

I follow some people on Instagram who have followed this plan, and at first I was intimidated by the idea, but the food photos looked so yummy! I was intrigued, so I did a bit of research. No dairy, grains, sugar or legumes for 30 days?! We do eat some gluten-free meals by default sometimes...but I often serve rice, oatmeal, quinoa or cornbread. Like most moms of little kids, sandwiches are default lunches on busy days. I did a one day trial the day before my first 10k just to see if I could do it. I do admit I put sugar, but no milk, in my coffee that day. I survived the day, so I decided to do it! Then the next day I decided not to do it. Then later that day I decided...what do I have to lose? The NEXT day (Monday) I headed to the store with the very straightforward and simple shopping guide from the Whole9 website. Let me just say that the former graphic designer in me really appreciates the fact all of the materials are simple, easy to read, printable in ONE PAGE, and have all the information you need to just jump right in to the program. Don't overthink it. Just do it!

It was definitely a different store trip than usual. I think 3/4 of my cart had FRESH items in it. I thought we had eliminated most processed food from our diet...but this plan taught me otherwise! I had to totally revamp my kitchen counter storage. Instead of a basket of granola and cereal bars, I have a basket of squash, root veggies and onions. Tada! Fall decorations - DONE.

The next day - Tuesday, October 1 - was the first day!! We ate eggs every single day for breakfast for an entire 30 days. Good thing I love eggs! I really enjoyed making lots of squash, even if I did discover that my husband had maxed out his appreciation for spaghetti squash growing up. Oops! He does love butternut squash, though. We also had acorn and kuri. Kuri was not my favorite, but I tossed the remains into some chili another day. ;) Squash is best, to me, cubed and roasted. We love the taste and texture best that way. It's also pretty good halved or quartered and roasted, for a creamier taste and texture.

Fortunately, my kids love protein. I put my crockpot to good use about 4-5x a week. Pork, chicken, beef, chili, soup...we ate it all! I also really like that we did not waste any food or leftovers. Every scrap got eaten! I couldn't believe it some weeks when I didn't even have room in the fridge for all the food...and five days later, there were empty shelves! I wish I had weighed and measured the kids because I am sure they have both grown this month. Nutritionally dense food for the win!!

Why did I do this program? I really wanted to see if I could clear up some redness and breakouts on my face that I believe are due to rosacea. Some of the online forums indicated people had seen positive results when limiting dairy and sugar, and for some people, grains. This plan seemed the least gimmicky and easiest to implement out of all the similar eating plans.

I did not see the results I was hoping for. I still have some redness and new breakouts on a near-daily basis. So that was disappointing. My facial breakouts always flare and wane, but they were especially bad after I ran outside in the heat this summer (exercise, sweat/heat and sun ALL irritate rosacea!!) I realized after I did not see results after the first week - when most people saw their skin improve - that I would probably not. Then I started delving into the forums on the Whole9 website. All these people were talking about improved energy, better sleep, better skin, better digestion, and a resolve to never go back to dairy/grains/whatever was irritating them before. I have seen...none of those results. It's a bit of a bummer. I must disclose the fact that my 20 month old is still breastfeeding and wakes a few times at night...so that COULD explain the lack of sleep. ;)

However, I started seeing a common theme in many of the posts of people who felt remarkable in week 2 or 3...they previously consumed alcohol in some capacity, but many of them did so in large (to me) quantities - 1/2-1 bottle of wine a night, several beers over a weekend. Well...of COURSE they are sleeping better, have more energy, less bloat, fewer skin breakouts, etc! I don't drink. At all. So it makes sense that if there is something common that a lot of people react to, I will not see those results if it was not present in my previous diet.

I also believe after completing this plan that I am not sensitive to dairy or grains. I have had NO change in my digestion. I was not unhappy before, or expecting to see a dramatic difference. I am processing at the same rate as before with similar results. Do you like how I just talked about my bathroom habits in the most generic terms possible? Don't worry, I'll save the gory details for my upcoming cloth diapers posts. ;) The real test will be when I reintroduce those items. I'm not going to go full tilt tomorrow morning (so I say now...) but want to take it easy and not shock my system should it react.

The hardest part for me was not resisting forbidden food - it was food prep. With the exception of 3 meals eaten out with friends (where I had a salad and took my own protein and olives to add), I cooked every.single.meal.from.scratch. I have slaved over my stove more than 80 times in October. I am really happy I have more than one skillet that can go in the dishwasher! And I have a new, deeper love for my jelly roll pans as roasting dishes. I had a hard time staying not hungry for the first two weeks, as I really tried to not snack, and to follow the meal guides when eating. I finally realized I needed to add an extra meal (usually a mini one) as a breastfeeding mommy, and to eat a sweet potato every day. And fat. Mmmm avocado, olives and coconut...staples for me now!

I would encourage anyone to try this plan. It is finite and it is highly doable. We have discovered some new favorite foods! My daughter has eaten way more green stuff in the last month than in the rest of her life added up, I think! She requests menus made of the food we have been eating! Her requests for desserts or sweets decreased noticeably. It is a plain fact that there is Celiac Disease in my husband's family history, and someone in my household could have it and show symptoms one day. I am happy to know some great recipes to have on hand for a day when we all might go gluten- or grain-free. Plus, if either child (or my husband) have CD, a plan like this would limit further digestive damage.

I would be happy to answer any questions you might have! I will try to share some of my favorite combinations in another post! Stay tuned!

Until next time,
Fluffy

Howdy!

Hello, blogging world! I have missed you. I'm new to Blogger but not new to blogging. I wrote a lot more before kids. It's time to get back to it!

About me: I'm a stay at home mommy to two kids - Chickadee, age 4, and Dude, age 1. I was formerly what might be considered fluffy (a bit...soft) but I shed weight after having Dude - without too much effort - other than eating less processed food and running a few times a week. Fluffy also refers to my year-long love of cloth diapers. Don't judge - I'll explain it all in an upcoming post. I'll tell you all about the biggest question - POOP. (sorry. It is a mommy blog, after all!)

I love to cook and am about to wrap up my first Whole 30 eating challenge. I also love to bake and was afraid my oven would miss me this month when I wasn't doing any baking. Little did I know I would be roasting veggies on a daily basis! I'll share some of my favorite recipe creations soon!

I'm a former band nerd turned current band nerd. That's right, after 16 years, I dragged the flute out of the closet and joined a community band. It is satisfying in a way I had no idea it could be. I had a rough transition to mommyhood, but I feel like I am finally getting to a point where I can have activities I enjoy that I can share with my family, but are largely for fulfilling something within myself (running and music).

I'll be bringing back some of my favorite old posts from my previous blog. I wish I had a way to import all the old entries, but I don't think there is. So you'll have to be content with pick and choose entries every so often.

Well, that's my first post on this new home! I can't wait to get some of the words floating around in my brain down on the screen soon.

Until then,
Fluffy