election 2016

One Year Anniversary

Hey, Y’all. 🙂

It’s been a while again.

Hope your summer ended on a great note. 🙂

If you’re not following along on Insta we’re all safe and dry here from Hurricane Harvey.  We had about 14 inches of rain spread out over 4 days.  Friends and family weren’t so lucky. Please continue to keep Houston and the Texas coast in your thoughts and prayers now that the media attention has died down.

 

Reddit ftw today. #DACA

I mean seriously, y’all take a look around you today at the garbage in your lives who want innocent kids sent to places they’ve never even set foot in…and honestly how many of them are willing to take low paying jobs where they’d actually have to do something? Anything?

GT, doesn’t it seem like you could just roll this quote out every other day now?

Reminder this is my space. If you don’t like it here…don’t let the door hit ya…

Reminder 2:  if you’re disgusted today (and every day)…join us. A lot of people are already putting in the hard work RIGHT NOW. Funnel the anger you’re feeling today (and every day) into meaningful action. 🙂

Let’s see…since we last met I’m loving

Blackened salmon.

Blackened Cajun salmon.

Dump nachos with chichies.

Mug cakes and brownies.

ICE CREAM. 🙂 This is called Bubblegum Bliss and it’s from a book called The Keto Ice Cream Scoop by Carrie Brown.  It is so unbelievably good.  It totally got me thru all the hurricane nerves.

Yeah, Minnesota. Stay in your lane. 😉

SO…

A year ago today I quit sugar and all grains cold turkey. Technically the calendar date was Sept 6th but it was the day after Labor Day and today is the day after Labor Day so I’m calling it year one in the books. 🙂

Those first 2 weeks were pure hell. I seriously thought I was going to die. But then the magic kicked in and my head started to clear.  I spent the first 7 weeks doing pretty much hard-core keto. I lived on hamburger patties, cheese, chicken wings, blue cheese and mayonnaise.

I took the day off for my birthday in late October and then the next day went back to the way I was eating but removed diary.

I spent the next 60 days dairy free and edged more into paleo style eating.

And that’s when this whole thing got harder. Introducing more foods and allowing maple syrup and potatoes really set me back a little. I started jonesing for the next off day and inhaling every potato I ate.

I kept losing weight just fine but mentally I was out of it. I was just going thru the motions and counting down the days til my next off day.

In total from Sept 6, 2016 – April 16, 2017 I had 8 off plan days…on purpose. I planed for them.

On April 16, 2017 I went back to what I was doing in the beginning…Keto (25 net carbs or less) and haven’t looked back. I haven’t had one off plan lick, bite, taste, etc since then and don’t plan to anytime soon.

What changed?

Well I stopped making it harder than it needed to be. I like food. I like cheese. I like sweets. I like to cook.

And now I do. For me I think it’s far better to just go make me something safe and on plan (like a mug cake or brownie or ice cream) than to tough it out and then end up inhaling every real sugar sweet in sight on a planned off day.

Since I stopped making it hard…it’s easy. The other people in the house eat carbs all day long. I eat out with other people…and never flinch. It’s honestly just how I eat now. I don’t have to think about it anymore I just do it.  And that freedom feels amazing.

I’ve lost 73 (point 4) pounds but even more important than that my iron is up for the first time in YEARS. I have energy for the first time in YEARS.

It still hasn’t helped my lupus / inflammation pain as much as I’d hoped it would and I’m going thru some inflammation stuff right now (why I was getting the MRI the other day) but I’m hopeful that eventually I’ll get those benefits too.  Autoimmune stuff is just…hard. 🙁

So here’s the newest before / current pic. Left – shopping for fall 2016 Right – shopping for fall 2017. I didn’t buy the current dress because I don’t pay full price for anything. 😉  I’m having some issues with my vein surgery so that’s why I’m having to wear the black compression stocking again which totally sucks in this heat.

I’m still struggling to see the current me. I still see the left side me a lot of the time.

I’d like to lose 30 more pounds (15 would put me a couple below ‘normal’ and then 15 for a buffer) but if I stay right here I’m just fine with that. I’m going to keep on keeping on and let the weight land where it lands. I don’t plan on restricting my food anymore than I am now so I’m sure things will slow down but I want this to be something I can easily maintain…so I’m not chasing a number or a size. If I get there great if not I’m so far better off now than I was on the left…I’m good. 🙂

Tomorrow is Mama and Papa B’s 48th anniversary.  I say this all the time but in the grand parental lottery we hit the super-duper power ball. 🙂  One number to the left or right on either side and…I shudder. We were so lucky to grow up in a home with two PEOPLE who are still head over heals in love with each other today. (Notice I said people there because…love is love, y’all.) More than anything I want to thank them for raising us in a home that taught us kindness, respect and empathy for those with less than us. Mama B’s a saint and Papa B is our comic relief.  I love you both more than words on this silly blog could ever express. 🙂

Ok that’s enough for today, y’all. 🙂

 

 

 

Cashew Blender Bread

Hey, y’all.  🙂

I meant for this post to go up on Valentine’s Day but somehow scheduled it for March 14th instead.

So happy belated V-Day.  🙂

Hope it was everything…every single one of you…wanted it to be.  🙂

I’ve been busy working on my business which picked up hugely 😉 this month.

Still eating super boring so I don’t have much to share on that front.

Over the weekend we met Sister B for lunch and I did have some delish dry rub ribs but forgot to take pics.

I’m also busy with the resistance project. So proud of the work we’re doing. 🙂

Ok, y’all if you’ve got a high power blender you’ve got to try this.

I had this recipe on hold for months because I was completely skeptical.  But it really does work.

I wasn’t willing to commit to a larger amount of cashews than this so I just made a small loaf pan and used these measurements:

5 oz cashew nuts soaked in cold water for about an hour

1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp cold water

1 egg

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup tapioca flour

Soak cashews for an hour. Drain and rinse.  Add nuts and water to high power blender and blend on high until completely smooth.  I had to use the tamper with mine to help get it going.  I blended for probably about 2 1/2 – 3 minutes on 10.

Once it’s completely smooth…and I do mean completely…add everything else and blend on high for about a minute.

Pour / spread in pan and bake at 325* for about 35 minutes. Cover with foil if it’s browning too quickly.  Then kick the temp up to 375* and cook 5 – 10 additional minutes uncovered til golden brown.

This was soft and bendy and delish. It didn’t taste like nuts at all. That’s just cooked down strawberries with a few drops of liquid splenda as a mock strawberry jelly.  My first PB&J in ages. 🙂

When I try this as a regular size loaf I’m going to triple the recipe.  I’m still kind of scared of trying a big loaf though because that’s a lot of nuts wasted if for some reason structurally is not strong enough to hold up to the weight of the amount of nuts needed to fill that large of a pan without sinking.

 🙂

Progress pic…

Taken last week.

Ok that’s all for now. Y’all have a great long weekend and I’ll see you soon.  🙂

 

 

 

Eating Evolved Chocolate

Hey, y’all. 🙂

Sorry it’s been a while.

January is a slow month for my business. I’ve been using the time to do taxes and restock so when it picks up this month I’ll be ready to go.

If I wasn’t getting a refund I would have seriously given some thought to not filing myself.  😉

Also I hadn’t written about this yet but after I’d made 100 out of 104 days of dairy free…I tried adding dairy back.  I ate if for a week and let’s just say that my body rebelled big time.

I’m back off of it now and feeling a lot better.

Because of that I haven’t done any kitchen experimenting since we last met.

Did make a pressure pot of short ribs yesterday. They were so good.  The gravy is the arrowroot thickened pan juices. This was also one of my higher carb days so yes, those are potatoes. 🙂

JKR…taking out the garbage one tweet at time. 🙂

Decided to try the Siete chips.  Right choice. 🙂 They are totally worth it. Totally. These are nacho flavor but they have no dairy at all. That’s a bowl of ‘Frito’ pie…subbing the grain free tortilla chips for the Fritos.  I don’t add the chips to the bowl all at once though I just do it a couple at a time so they don’t get too soggy.

So I ordered a sample box of Eating Evolved primal chocolate goods.

It comes boxed with a bow and they included two extra bars as a little gift.  If you like dark chocolate most of this stuff is pretty good.  Well, what I’ve tried of it anyway. I’ve tried the green bar (72% dark chocolate), the red bar (72% dark chocolate with almonds) and the banana cream cups. I don’t particularly enjoy dark chocolate but I’m trying. 🙂

The one thing I didn’t like AT ALL was the hot chocolate. I couldn’t get the taste out of my mouth for hours. It is super duper bitter and definitely not for someone who is just learning to like dark chocolate.

I’ll let y’all know what I think of the remaining items as I try them.  I only allow stuff like this a couple times a week though.

Thank you, Nordstrom. 🙂

We have to keep the pressure on these businesses, y’all. Let them know we won’t spend one cent in their stores if they support or give these monsters an outlet.   #GrabYourWallet

 More so than ever right now it’s up to each of us to be the good to counter all the hate and garbage. 🙂

 😉

 

Dear democrat senate and house members, over the last 6 years…every.single.day…the republican led senate acted out a ‘youtube-esque’ tutorial on government obstruction for y’all in living color. Take their blueprint and run, y’all. Obstruct this shit in every conceivable way (and some ways y’all don’t even know of yet).  Love and thanks, Texas Girl.  🙂

Also…if anybody in Texas wants to join us click that pic above and it should link to battle ground texas. 🙂

New current pic. Went shopping with Mama B and Sister B this past weekend. When I saw that seated picture I seriously asked them if I really look like that.  I struggle so much with seeing myself as I really am. In my mind I still look much larger and I’m still automatically drawn to tent like clothes. Automatically I pick up big baggy stuff.  Every time. Why is that?

I know part of it is style choice.  I love flowy / boho / hippy stuff but it’s really more that I just can’t see myself as anything other than huge.  It’s so annoying.  So if you see me in person and wonder why I’m wearing something 97 sizes too big…that’s why.  I’m working on it.  🙂

Anyway…that’s all for today.

Y’all have a great super bowl weekend and I’ll see you soon.  🙂

 

 

Hell Hath No Fury…

Love this lady and her sign so much.  🙂

CR, your Mom would have been so proud.  🙂

Hey, y’all.  Hope all’s well in your part of the world.  🙂

Today …more than ever I am so moved and inspired to action by my fellow feminist activists.

And so very proud of all the first timers who turned out to march in numbers never imagined. 🙂

Papa B told me today that in solidarity he’ll march beside me in the next one. 🙂

Papa B…the very best daughter dad around.  🙂

Let’s see…since we last met…

This is my new fav snack. A Siete coconut flour tortilla micro’d for about 45 seconds / side then slathered with mashed avo.  These tortilla’s make the best chalupa shells.  I swear they hold up even better than traditional corn shells.  I mean…I haven’t actually had them as a chalupa because of the whole no beans thing…but they hold up to wet avo exceptionally well so I have to think they’d hold up to beans too.

Picked up a bag of this Bob’s Red Mill Paleo flour to try.

Tried the pancake recipe on the bag. Made it into waffles.

They’re pretty good and reheated beautifully. Next time I’m going to use the flour in my favorite waffle recipe and see how it works with that. That’s sugar free syrup.

So awesome to see this glaring difference.  🙂

Hey, Cheeto Dust

Bless your delusional / narcissistic / ugly little heart.

We have eyes and can tell the difference between the size of your inauguration crowd and those of both Obama inaugs.

Let me break this down for ya.

See he’s an awesome, good, decent, inspiring human being.

And let’s be real…you’re most definitely not.

He can inspire bus load after bus load of people to trek across the county for just a glimpse.

You inspired the same trek but for oh so very different reasons.

You’re an ugly / narcissistic / sociopathic / hot mess…but ya know what?

You’re the leader of this country now.

I know. Those of us with basic human decency running thru our veins can’t believe it either.

But sadly you are.

That means it’s time for you to shut up.

Stop pitching whiny little titty baby fits with the media and twitter (I figure you’ll appreciate the use of the word tit there)…and get to work.

I know you’ve never really worked an honest day in your life and this is a pretty much thankless job but it’s yours now so shut up and get on with it.

And trust me, the amount of anger that’s raining down on you from all over this great land / world is only going to grow over the next 1457 days. Get used to it. You can check in here weekly if you need a condensed version as I’ll continue to let you know just what a complete and total sh-t show you are / your admin is.

Love (no not really…nothing but utter disgust sent your way), Texas Girl.

Y’all have a great week and I’ll see you soon.  🙂

 

 

 

 

Cappello’s Gluten Free Grain Free Pasta

Hey, y’all. 🙂

How are things in your corner of the world?

Things are good here.

Took a little trip down to the homeland to take care of some financial stuff.  (The Homeland is what I call the formerly little town I grew up in.)

It’s on the super humid gulf coast so of course my naturally curly hair responded accordingly.  😉

 (source)

So I’m wondering…do we get to personally name those cowards Ryan and McConnell in our suits when we lose our health coverage due to our pre-existing conditions?  Oh please please say we do.  😉

Ok before I get started with the main topic of this post…a quick note. 

From day 100 on…about 85% of the time I eat super low carb. The rest of the time I allow higher days…usually around 50 and under…made up of all grain free / dairy free / sugar free stuff.  It makes this livable for me.  I want this to be something I can stick with for as long as possible. So while most of my meals look more like this…

…super low carb but also super boring.  I don’t post those here because… well they’re boring…and nobody wants to see my hamburger / bacon / mayo plate over and over and over again.  🙂  That’s sugar-free ketchup.

The higher carb stuff I do write about happens once or twice a week…and IS blog worthy / interesting.  🙂

This might be the most interesting yet.

Look what came last week. Cappello’s grain free / gluten free pasta.  It was super warm last week and it showed up in perfect condition.  One thing of dry ice had melted but the other two…two big blocks…were still frozen solid.  A++++, Cappello’s.  🙂

Always. 🙂

I ordered a mix pack of fettuccine, gnocchi and lasagna sheets.

Portioned out individual servings and vacuum sealed them.

Bought a block of my beloved dairy free cheese Follow Your Heart in Mozz flavor to try.  Another win.  🙂

Made that dough I keep raving about into a loaf.

 

Homemade dairy free ranch on top.

Y’all this stuff is legit. This is the best gluten free pasta I’ve ever had.  That whole plate had about 20 carbs (there’s only 1 oz of pasta here so 9 carbs).

When I portioned out the fettuccine I did it in 2 oz portions and had 1 oz left over.  I stuck it back in the icebox and then a few days later made it up with some ghee / bacon and mozz.  Kinda a Texan Carbonara.  So good.

It’s very expensive but if you’re like me and the only one eating it you can easily get 4 – 6 meals out of each box (if you do 2 oz servings).  Or make it a special meal every now and then if you’re feeding the whole fam.

The Women’s March is this weekend. Just a reminder if you can’t make it to D.C. there are sister marches all over the country. 🙂

You can find links to each city here:

https://www.womensmarch.com/sisters

The Houston march is going to be downtown at city hall.

The Austin march is going to be downtown at the state capital.

They’re being held in a bunch of other Texas cities too but I don’t know the exact locations of those so check out the link above.

Amen, Mrs. Scott King.  Amen.  🙂

Ok that’s all for today. Thanks so much for stopping by. Y’all have a great week and I’ll see you soon.  🙂

 

(I couldn’t find a version of this song without the picture of the domestic abuser duck dynasty piece of human garbage…so if you’re a decent human being who finds him repulsive on a 100 different levels…just listen to the music.)  🙂