Monday Meal Plan - 3/28

Hello everyone!  I hope you all had a great Easter weekend, we ended up having a low-key day at home, which was just what we needed!  Here's this week's meal plan for our family:

(Don't forget, in addition to this list, I also eat an early 'pre-breakfast' of Triple Zero Oikos yogurt and coffee with added collagen [favorite brand here].  I skip Sundays since we usually just eat yogurt in the morning, and leftovers later in the day.  All page numbers are from the new edition of the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook.)

Monday (3/28)
B: Scrambled Eggs, Sausage, and sliced tomatoes (S)
L: THM Chicken Spaghetti Squash Casserole (S)
D: Pearl's Chili (p.101), I make a 1/2 batch and use ground turkey (E)
Snacks: Pay-Off Day Candies (p. 381) (S), Apple with PB dip (GY, PB, and stevia) (CO)
Drinks: the 'Shrinker,' Iced (decaf) Mint Mocha {pour cup of coffee over ice, then blend (separately) almond milk, cocoa, 1/2 scoop protein powder, a dash of cream, stevia, and a few drops peppermint extract, add to glass, stir and enjoy!}

Tuesday (3/29)
B: THM Pancakes (p. 359) with SF syrup, strawberries, and bacon (CO)
L: Lemon Herb Drummies (p.51), baked sweet potatoes (CO)
D: (out - bringing dessert to small group)
Snacks: Peanut Butter Whip (S), veggies (carrots, snap peas, cucumbers) and hummus (E)
Drinks: GGMS made with La Croix, B.P. Chai Tea (S)

Wednesday (3/30)
B: Protein Shake made with frozen peaches, GY, stevia, protein powder, 1/4 c oats, and almond milk (E)
L: wrap made with turkey, LLC, and low-carb tortilla, leftover Pay-Off Day candies (S)
D: (out - bringing salad to small group)
Snacks: Apple and cheese (CO), popcorn and hot tea with collagen (E)
Drinks: Orange Vitamin Water Zero

Thursday (3/31)
B: Creamy Maple and 'Brown Sugar' Oatmeal (E)
L: Philly Cheesesteak in a bowl (S)
D: Tuna Quesadillas (with low-carb tortillas), sliced bell peppers (S)
Snacks: veggies and hummus (E), Butterfinger Bars (S)
Drinks: the 'Shrinker,' Iced (decaf) Mint Mocha {pour cup of coffee over ice, then blend (separately) almond milk, cocoa, 1/2 scoop protein powder, a dash of cream, stevia, and a few drops peppermint extract, add to glass, stir and enjoy!}

Friday (4/1)
B: Scrambled Eggs and bacon (S)
L: Butter Chicken, brown rice (CO)
D: THM microwave 'Pizza' (S)
Snacks: Apple Oat Cakes (E), Cheese Crackers (p. 449) with ranch dip (ranch mix and sour cream) (S)
Drinks: GGMS made with La Croix, B.P. Chai Tea (S)

Saturday (4/2)
B: leftover Apple Oat Cakes, GY with stevia and berries (E)
L: wrap made with turkey, LLC, and low-carb tortilla (FP)
D: (either out or leftover Butter Chicken (S))
Snacks: Apple and Cheese Crackers (CO), leftover Butterfinger Bars (S), popcorn and hot tea with collagen (E)
Drinks: Lemonade Vitamin Water Zero

I hope ya'll have a great week!

Hey guys!  I'm taking a break from the blog for this week due to some sickies in our house, but I'll be back next Monday with another Monday Meal Plan.  Until then, have a great week!

OOTD - Pantsless Wonder

Monday Meal Plan - 3/14

I keep glancing at the clock, and thinking it's earlier than it is, so you can blame Daylight Savings on this meal plan being late today.  (...and no, my procrastination has nothing to do with it!)  Of course,  I tend to put off grocery shopping as long as possible, too, since it's not my favorite thing to do, so that may have factored into my putting off my meal-planning-and-shopping-list-making as well.  I have found, though, if I can put off my grocery shopping until Tuesdays, I'm able to save our family a bit of money.  And yes, some of that money might end up being used to feed (ha ha) my thrift shopping habit!  The best money saving tip I've found is to peruse the meat section early in the mornings on Tuesdays... that's when a lot of items get marked down in our local store, and then I'll stock up on meats to stick in the freezer for the next week's meals.  This week, I'll be using up some chicken breasts and salmon that I snagged last week for a few dollars less than the original price.  Plus, I've been really craving sweets this week (more than normal, anyways), so expect to see a lot of on-plan desserts this time!

(Don't forget, in addition to this list, I also eat an early 'pre-breakfast' of Triple Zero Oikos yogurt and coffee with added collagen [favorite brand here].  I skip Sundays since we usually just eat yogurt in the morning, and leftovers later in the day.  All page numbers are from the new edition of the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook.)

Monday (3/14)
B: THM Pancakes (p.259) with SF Syrup (E)
L: Taco Salad made with ground beef, lettuce, tomato, avocado, sour cream, and cheese (S)
D: Quinoa Chicken Nuggets (spray with coconut oil) with baked sweet potatoes (E/CO with oil)
Snacks: Pay Off Day Candies (p. 381) (S), Veggies (carrots, snap peas, cucumber) with Hummus (E)

Drinks: the 'Shrinker,' Iced (decaf) Mint Mocha {pour cup of coffee over ice, then blend (separately) almond milk, cocoa, 1/2 scoop protein powder, a dash of cream, stevia, and a few drops peppermint extract, add to glass, stir and enjoy!}

Tuesday (3/15)

B: Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, fresh strawberries (S)
L: Spinach Cream Cheese Stuffed Chicken, Green Beans with butter (S)

D: (out - bringing salad to small group)

Snacks: Apple Oat Cakes (E), Butterfinger Bars (S)

Drinks: GGMS made with pineapple strawberry La Croix, B.P. Chai Tea (S)

Wednesday (3/16)

B: Apple Oat Cakes, Smoothie made with GY, fresh strawberries, stevia (E)

L: wrap made with turkey, LLC, and low-carb tortilla (FP)

D: (out - bringing dessert to small group)
Snacks: leftover Pay Off Day Candies (S), apple and cheese (CO)

Drinks: Vitamin Water Zero, Wonderland Sip, iced (p. 405)

Thursday (3/17)

B: Chocolate Waffles (p. 265) with strawberry 'syrup' {frozen strawberries (thawed), a bit of water, stevia, and a few dashes of glucomannan blended together} (E)

L: One Pot Garlic Pasta (I add shredded rotisserie chicken and use Dreamfield's pasta), fresh veggies

D: (out - family birthday TBD: I'll order lettuce-wrapped burger or grilled chicken salad)

Snacks: Berry Crunch Bars (p. 392) (S), leftover Butterfinger Bars (S)
Drinks: the 'Shrinker,' Iced (decaf) Mint Mocha

Friday (3/18)

B: Scrambled Eggs and Bacon (S)

L: Big Salad w/veggies topped with Salmon sauteed in coconut oil (S)

D: leftover Chicken and Rice soup (frozen/thawed from two weeks ago - I just throw shredded rotisserie chicken, chopped celery, onion, and carrots, parsley, bay leaves, and garlic powder, salt, and pepper into some chicken broth in the crock pot and cook on low until all the flavors have blended... like 6 hours maybe?  then stir in some pre-cooked brown rice) (E)
Snacks: leftover Pay Off Day Candies (S), veggies and hummus (E)

Drinks: GGMS made with La Croix, B.P. Chai Tea (S)

Saturday (3/19)

B: Chocolate Overnight Oatmeal, Smoothie made with GY, fresh strawberries, stevia (E)

L: wrap made with turkey, LLC, and low-carb tortilla (FP)

D: Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Bowls (I'm using jarred spaghetti sauce) (CO)

Snacks: leftover Berry Crunch Bars (S), apple and cheese (CO)

Drinks: Vitamin Water Zero, Wonderland Sip, iced (p.405)

{If you're wondering, "hey, Grace, what's up with all those crazy abbreviations after your meals?" you can check out my first Monday Meal Plan for an explanation!}

Local Friday - Mill Street Market

Happy Friday!  This week, I'd like to introduce a new feature, Local Friday!  You can still expect to see Fair Trade Friday posts, since I love sharing companies that positively impact people in every part of the globe.  But I don't want to overlook the amazing people and companies here in my own community, so you can expect to see Local Friday popping up from time to time!

This week, I'm sharing an online interview with Tiffany Selvey.  She is a Master Gardener extraordinaire, and also blogs about organic gardening over at Songbird Gardens. She is also the Manager of the soon-to-open Mill Street Market, a brand new Farmer's Market opening up in our area!

Okay, obvious question first: when and where is Mill Street Market going to happen?

Our opening day is April 30 this year and we will run our summer market from April 30 through October 16. We will be open Saturdays from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, and beginning in June, we will have Tuesday evening markets from 5pm to 8pm.

For our market days, we will have Mill Street and a portion of Johnson Avenue closed. Parking is available at the city administration building, on the street on Johnson Avenue and Spring Street, and behind First Security Bank. 

We are no strangers to Farmer's Markets in the Northwest Arkansas area, so what inspired you to start a new market?

Northwest Arkansas has some amazing, dynamic markets, but for new makers and growers, it's hard to get into those existing big markets. I wanted to create a new opportunity for those folks in Springdale, while offering the community a place to come and connect every week. 

I've seen you comment that you wanted to make this market more accessible to everyone, so what steps did you take to make Mill Street Market more easily navigated by those in wheelchairs or pushing strollers?

Originally, I was laid out booths on grassy areas as well as on the paved street, but I had a few conversations with folks who shared their experience with limited mobility. It's vital to me to make sure that everyone has access to fresh, local food and handmade crafts without the frustration of trying to navigate over curbs and grass. Hopefully, our current vendor map allows all our vendors to be accessible to everyone. We are challenged in our first year with limited space, but we are doing the best we can!

Will dogs be welcome too?

Absolutely! In my family, we are big animal lovers, and have a specific love for rescue animals. Not only is the family pet welcome, but each week we will have a local non-profit there and most weeks they will bring adoptable animals. We also have a handmade dog treat vendor. 

I'm looking forward to all the fresh produce that will be available, but that's not all that a Farmer's Market entails.  What other amenities and vendors besides produce will be available?

Certainly fresh produce is a big part of the market, but we will also have other types of fresh food, such as locally-grown grass-fed beef and pork, responsibly raised lamb meat, and aged cow cheese. We have products that are canned at the University of Arkansas food lab, such as barbecue sauce and jellies. We will have brewed coffee and coffee beans, cakes and pies, bread, Craft items available at the market include jewelry, birdhouses, and amazing natural personal care products.

And, naturally, we can't have a market without fresh flowers, so Woodbine Mead will be their with their beautiful blooms. 

Okay, so the market opens at the end of April.  Besides all the awesome things you just listed, what in-season fresh fruits and veggies should be at the top of my shopping list?

As the growing season progresses, we will see increasing amounts of fresh produce, but early in the season (April and May) we will have greens, like lettuce, chard, kale, collards. We should also have other yummy, cool season crops, such as radishes, snow peas and cabbage. 

You can learn more, or apply to be a vendor, at the Mill Street Market website:  http://www.millstmarket.com/

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If you're a local business, and would like to be featured on Local Friday, you can contact me via e-mail at lexiandbutton@gmail.com

Thrifted Pinterest - Finally

I scrolled through some of the blog's archives the other day, and realized how many sewing projects I used to do!  Then, Baby A came along, and while our family grew in love, he also cut down the amount of free time I have to sew.  I did finish one project recently, and as soon as outside temps got out of the super chilly, I grabbed the opportunity to wear it!  I finally got to re-create my own version of this pin:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/216806169536060257/

I had a skirt that I snagged at a clothing swap last year, that just needed the lining shortened.  One afternoon and multiple baby interruptions later, and this outfit was born:

OOTD - Picky

 I had a conversation recently with a friend (who also blogs over at Rehashion, you should check her out!), where I mentioned I don't like wearing certain items that I've made or refashioned, but I won't get rid of them either.  I put too much effort into assembling it to let it go!  But, the perfectionist in me also tends to focus on the flaws, even when they're so imperceptible that no one else will really notice.  (Wow, I kind of feel like there's a life lesson there.)  Her response?  Wear them anyways!  So, at her request, I'm wearing this leather sleeved blazer I fashioned over a year ago, and I'm going to try really hard not to stress that the arms aren't properly positioned in the shoulder area.  I guess that's progress...?

Monday Meal Plan - 3/7

It's Monday again!  Funny how that seems to happen week after week, huh?  I'm a little late on getting our family's meal plan together this week (I usually do it Sunday evenings), and I blame my husband.  I mean, he had the nerve to take me out to dinner last night!  I kid, I kid.  But really, we did get to go out on a much needed date night, and late birthday dinner for him, and it was great!  I did end up going off-plan, but when there's Coconut Crusted Shrimp with Pina Colada dipping sauce and Bourbon Caramel Pecan Sweet Potatoes on the menu, you can guarantee that it will end up in my belly!  The beauty of healthy eating, at least for me, is that the occasional 'cheat' meal doesn't have to derail me.  I just have to give myself some grace, wait three hours to finish digesting, and have a healthy meal the next time around.

Of course, that doesn't always happen, like this morning.  I have a tendency to stress eat (it's called comfort food for a reason), and so after a whirlwind of errands and cranky kids, I did break down and have some danishes for breakfast. instead of what I had planned.  Once again, I need a little grace!  (And also, maybe a bit of preparation, like sticking some of these danishes in the freezer for 'emergencies!')  We've got doctor's appointments and other errands all this week, so expect to see a lot of leftovers in the meal plan this week!  All in all, all the extra work to take care of my family is totally worth it.  I mean, who wouldn't want to love these little faces?

Monday (3/7)
B: {went off plan, was supposed to be THM Pancakes (p. 259) and Sausage patties (S)}
L: Baked Pork Chops, Easy Cheesy Brown Rice, steamed broccoli with butter (CO)
D: Tuna Melts (Tuna, mayo, tomato slices, and cheese broiled on whole wheat bread; mine's on 1/2 a Joseph's Lavash bread), side salad with Ranch (S)
Snacks: Chocolate 'Cheesecake' (a few ounces cream cheese blended with cocoa, stevia, and a dash of almond milk)(S), Veggies (cucumber, carrots, snap peas) and hummus (E)
Drinks: GGMS made with orange La Croix and dash of vanilla, B.P. Chai Tea (S)

Tuesday (3/8)
B: Microwave Omelette {I make mine with ham, tomatoes, and cheese} (S)
L: leftover pork chops, rice, and broccoli (CO)
D: (out - bringing dessert to small group)
Snacks: Apple and PB dip (GY, PB, and stevia), Cottage Berry Whip
Drinks: the 'Shrinker,'  Iced (decaf) Mint Mocha {pour cup of coffee over ice, then blend (separately) almond milk, cocoa, 1/2 scoop protein powder, a dash of cream, stevia, and a few drops peppermint extract, add to glass, stir and enjoy!

Wednesday (3/9)
B: Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie (swap agave for stevia, add protein powder) (S)
L: wrap made with turkey, LLC, and low-carb tortilla (FP)
D: (out - bringing salad to small group)
Snacks: Apple and cheese slices (CO), microwave popcorn and hot tea with collagen (E)
Drinks: Vitamin Water Zero, B.P. Chai Tea (S)

Thursday (3/10)
B: Scrambled eggs and Sausage patties (S)
L: Shrimp Scampi (I'll use Dreamfield's Angel Hair pasta), side salad with ranch (S)
D: Potsticker Patties (p. 175) (S)
Snacks: Pay Off Day Candies (p. 381) (S), Berry Crunch Bars (p. 392) (S)
Drinks: Wonderland Sip, iced (p. 405), GGMS made with True Lime

Friday (3/11)
B: Chocolate Waffles (p. 265), with strawberry syrup {frozen strawberries (thawed), a bit of water, stevia, and a few dashes of glucomannan blended together} (E)
L: Crockpot Chicken Bacon Chowder (S)
D: leftover Potsticker Patties (S)
Snacks: Blueberry Muffin in a Mug (S), leftover Berry Crunch Bars (S)
Drinks: the 'Shrinker,' Iced (decaf) Mint Mocha

Saturday (3/12)
B: leftover Berry Crunch Bars (S)
L: wrap made with turkey, LLC, and low-carb tortilla (FP)
D: leftover Chowder (S)
Snacks: Pay Off day Candies (S), Apple and cheese slices (CO)
Drinks: Vitamin Water Zero, B.P. Chai Tea (S)

Have questions about my crazy abbreviations?  Want to know more about Trim Healthy Mama?  Check out my first meal plan, or the THM website for more information!

Introducing.... Real Life Thrifted Pinterest!

Something you should know about me: I love, love, LOVE thrift shopping!  There's just something about sifting through the racks of clothes, my hands skimming over the various fabrics as I look for patterns that catch my eye, that makes it my number one favorite hobby.  It's like a treasure hunt!  The thing about thrifting, though, is that I can't always take everything with me.  No matter how badly I'd love to bring home a vintage Pendleton suit at a steep discount, with it's decorative gold buttons and Virgin Wool construction, I really have no reason to have one in my closet.

Until now!

http://www.ebay.com/usr/livingwithaholts

OOTD - SCORE!

Okay, I'm experiencing a bit of weather whiplash.  It was 70 and sunny on the last day of February, while the first day of March started out cold and rainy. Now it's 50 degrees and sunny!  It makes me glad to have layering pieces in my closet that can adapt to the changing weather, like this purple trench with a zip-out lining that I scored at the thrift store for (wait for it.......) ONE DOLLAR!  I'm just a bit excited, can you tell?