Ocotea Quixos - To Help You Avoid the Holiday Candy Bowl

Ocotea Essential Oil is extracted from an evergreen tree (Ocotea Quixos) in Ecuador. Referred to as Ecuadorian cinnamon, the bark of this tree is used during cooking and food rituals.

Ocotea (pronounced: Ock-o-tay-a) has the highest level of alpha humulene of any Young Living essential oil, which is a compound that helps aid the body's natural response to irritation and injury.*

• Provides soothing comfort for aches
• Helps balance appetite
• Supports normal blood sugar levels
• Assists with curbing appetite and preventing binges
• Helps reduce inflammation
• Effective against bacteria and fungus for cleansing and purifying

How do I use it? Take it internally in a glass of water (mix in a breakfast smoothie!), or dilute with a carrier oil (like olive oil or coconut oil) and apply topically.

Ready to purchase?

To purchase you have 2 options:
Retail or Wholesale Distributor (think "VIP").Don't be frightened by the word "Distributor." Being a Distributor only means that you get a discounted wholesale price, and have the option to sell the product yourself, if you choose. To purchase wholesale as a Distributor you’ll need to make a purchase of a starter kit while you’re joining. No worries, there is absolutely no requirement to do anything ever again, other than log in and order products at your convenience, and only if you choose. It’s just like being a Young Living VIP!

Need more information?

1. Chemical composition and biological activities of Ishpingo essential oil, a traditional Ecuadorian spice from Ocotea quixos (Lam.) Kosterm. (Lauraceae) flower calices. Food Chemistry. http://www.academia.edu/3044948/Chemical_composition_and_biological_activities_of_Ishpingo_essential_oil_a_traditional_Ecuadorian_spice_from_Ocotea_quixos_Lam._Kosterm._Lauraceae_flower_calices
2. Antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities of essential oil from wildOcotea quixos (Lam.) Kosterm. (Lauraceae) calices from Amazonian Ecuador. Food Chemistry. 
   http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1043661806001721
3. Sacchetti, G., Guerrini, A., Noriega, P., Bianchi, A. and Bruni, R. (2006), Essential oil of wild Ocotea quixos (Lam.) Kosterm. (Lauraceae) leaves from Amazonian Ecuador. Flavour Fragr. J., 21: 674–676. doi: 10.1002/ffj.1648 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ffj.1648/abstract
4. Ballabeni, V., Tognolini, M, Giorgio, C., Bertoni, S., Bruni, R., Barocelli, E. (2009), Ocotea quixos Lam. essential oil: in vitro and in vivo investigation on its anti-inflammatory properties. 2010 Jun;81(4):289-95. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2009.10.002. Epub 2009 Oct 13.
   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19825398
5. The Power of Ecuador Ocotea and Dorado Azul Part 1.https://blog.youngliving.com/the-power-of-ecuador-ocotea-and-dorado-azul-part-1/#.VFD2cJRdV2k

Caution:  Possible skin sensitivity. Keep out of the reach of children.
If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition,
please consult a health care practitioner prior to use.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
The information contained on this page does not constitute advice. 

Whole30 Round 2 Day 1 (Day 31) and Action Plan

 Say what!? I thought Whole30 was only 30 days?

This post was originally titled "Whole 30 Day 31" but then I went out of town on Day 31 and jumped off the wagon into a box of handmade tourist-town fudge.

I still have such a long way to go to get back in shape, and to change my eating instincts. I'm still fantasizing about indulgences and I know I have not slayed that sugar dragon yet. A couple weeks ago, around day 30, I was feeling so so good, and was definitely leaning towards committing to a Whole100. That's 100 days of eating strict paleo clean Whole30.

But then I went out of town for a wedding. And I not only fell of the wagon, but I hurled myself off. Two weeks later and I feel physically and emotionally about it.

I am still wanting to do the Whole30 program for 100 days, but because of my 3 week (gasp) hiatus, I guess it will be more like Whole30 + Whole70?

If I do a Whole100, then Day 100 is on Sunday February 8th. 

• If I do a Whole100, then Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years will have no dessert, no sugar, no wine, no EggNog!!, and no indulgent snacking all day. Con
• If I do a Whole100, then I get no birthday cake for my son's 3rd birthday. Con
• If I do a Whole100, then our upcoming trips will be that much more complicated foodwise: camping in Arkansas, visit with friends in Houston, two work trips. Con
• If I do a Whole100, then the positive habits I've learned so far will become more habitual and instinctual. Pro
• If I do a Whole100, that's 100 days of no sugar which sure as heck ought to change my taste buds for the better and lessen the cravings (and dependency), and love for sugar. Pro
• If I do a Whole100, and I lose a reasonable 10 pounds each month, that is only a third of what I need to lose. Which is 30% in the right direction. Pro
• If I do a Whole100, that's 100 days of regulating hormones, and detoxing years of processed foods, drive-thru fast foods, chemicals, toxins, and junk out of my system. Only 100 days. And I'm already a third of the way there. Pro

I could go on debating, but I think the answer is clear. For me, right now, this is something I need to do.

I think I just talked myself into it... Are you here to support me and cheer me on? Bueller? Anyone?

Based on my Lessons Learned, and known struggles, here is my

Whole30 Round 2 Action Plan:

1. Planning meals. I'm pretty good at this already, and just need to keep with it. I don't mean endless hours in the kitchen chopping veggies and prepping meals ahead of time (who really has time for that? Is that sustainable long term?). Planning meals to me means having the right food in the house.
2. Plan meals and snacks for times away from the house; work trips and vacations.
3. EAT breakfast! They say 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up. According to http://www.health-alternatives.com Vegetable Nutrition Chart, dried Spirulina (seaweed) has 64 grams of protein per cup! I need to know where I can get some of this! Ideas!?
4. A light early dinner will help promote the morning hunger.
5. No coffee at home. Drink tea and hot lemon water instead. I need to give my adrenals a break and regulate my cortisol levels, and save the caffeine for when it's truly needed (work trips).
6. Three (3!) colors at each meal = lots of veggies.
7. 8+ hours of sleep to reduce cortisol.
8. Water, Water, Water, Water, and more Water! It's a rare day when I drink more than 8oz of water.
9. Start exercising again.
10. What else am I forgetting?

What do you think? I completed 30 days in September, can I do 100 days of Whole30 clean eating with no dairy, no sugar, no soy, no legumes, and no grains of any kind?

September 2014 - Whole30 Day 30 - Results (Finally)!!!

Tuesday September 30, 2014

Whole30 Day 30!

Breakfast was an apple and plantain chips. Still not on plan according to the www.whole9.com program, or any program for that matter. I need to find a way to eat protein in the morning without gagging. 

I think part of my problem is that my hormones are still out of whack and not regulated. If I'm "healthy" i should be waking up famished, and that rarely happens.

Maybe I should try breakfast smoothies with protein powder? surely there's a protein powder on the market that is soy free, legume free, dairy free, sugar free, and of course, GRAIN free!?

Do you know of a protein powder that's even slightly compliant? 

Lunch and dinner will both be on the go today. Hopefully I can find a decent veggie salad at the airport?

I'm sorry, what? Oh, you wanted those results... ok. So I'm officially down 11.6 pounds and 2 inches. Exciting, but not exciting. I am grateful, really I am. But I also really thought I'd have more dramatic changes. From everything I've read online, a lot of people say the magic doesn't happen until Day 45 or Day 60, and I think this is proof that I need to keep going and not stop at 30 days.

What do you think? What are your day 30 results?

September 2014 - Whole30 - Lessons Learned, and Tools for Success

Here are my Whole30 Lessons Learned (and Personal Advice):

1. It starts with food. It doesn't matter how much or how little you eat, or exercise, if you're eating highly processed and packaged foods full of sugar and chemicals, you're not learning anything or healing your body to its optimum. Seriously. 
2. It starts with food. Read the book!! Otherwise you don't understand the purpose of eliminating toxic and irritating foods known to cause reactions in our body. You're doing yourself a disservice by not reading this.
3. Don't give up. I've started Whole30 quite a few times, and usually around day 6 I'd give up or go out of town or get bored or not plan ahead or whatever. Something clicked this time and I had no desire to quit or give up. 
4. Restaurant eating is possible, but it may slow down the healing and detox process. Get to restaurants early and discuss with the waiters what's on the menu to find something compliant. Acknowledge that the smells and sights of the other's food will be enticing, but so not worth it.
5. Meals don't have to be expensive, complicated, or even recipes. Just grill some meat and veggies and make a salad. Done. Fast, clean, and so ridiculously easy that after a week or so you won't remember any other way of eating.
6. K.I.S.S. Keep it Simple Stupid. Just like above, you don't need recipes, sauces, or substitutions. If you're looking for ways to modify your previous addictions (fried chicken, ranch dressing, ketchup), then you're not healing, learning, or reprogramming your bad food habits. You're making it too difficult and setting yourself up for failure.
7. Don't rely on fruits and nuts. To some people these are triggers (food without breaks) and a temporary substitution for the bad stuff.
8. Leaky gut syndrome? Ever heard of it? Google it... I dare you. 
9. Find a group online for support. Or get a friend or family member to join you. Positive Support is priceless. I've been on a couple Facebook Whole30 groups for almost 2 years now. Most of the time I scroll through and don't get involved in the "Is this compliant" debates, but hearing about others successes and struggles has helped enormously. 
10. Avoid naysayers. This is your journey, not theirs. Don't listen to negativity or confusion, and don't worry about explaining the process to anyone.
11. Olive oil, sea salt, ghee, and guacamole. Yummy. Eat lots of it.
12. It's ok to judge other people's grocery carts. Silently and without them knowing, because we don't want to hurt their feelings. Resist the urge to remove their box of pasta or "tsk tsk" that cereal choice or package of cookies. Resist the urge to ambush them and talk about Whole30 as if you're the newest door-to-door salesman here to change their lives.
13. Trust in the process. 
14. Keep a log. All clean eating, diet, nutrition, weight loss, weight gain, disease managing program will tell you to log and monitor what you eat. This will help you pinpoint specific foods that cause reactions. Who knows, maybe for you it's bell peppers, and for your significant other, it's nothing at all...
15. Plan meals ahead of time and keep lots of appropriate and good food in the house. You'll spend more at the grocery store, but less at restaurants and drive-thru windows.
16. There are some pre-packaged foods on the market place that are compliant. My rule of thumb, if i can blur my eyes and still read the few ingredients, or if there are so few ingredients (ex: Ingredients: Apples, Citric Acid) that I can read the list in half a second, then it's probably compliant and ok. If not: if there are so many ingredients that I have to read and read and get out my reading glasses and ruler, then forget it, I put the item down and back away in a hurry. Seriously. I'm making my own recipes here, not eating recipes from a manufacturing plant!
17. Whole30 has published a few timelines on what to expect when you're expecting. These are guidelines only. Depending on how much weight you have to lose, how much exercising you do, or how many years of processed foods you need to clean out of your system, this timeline will change. I have yet to experience the coveted Tiger Blood, but I know I will one day.
18. Speaking of...Whole30 is apparently very similar to the online fertility diets; I haven't needed this, but I've heard stories of people getting pregnant unexpectedly after they cleaned out the chemicals... just sayin'
19. Resist the urge to shout from the rooftops and tell everyone you know and meet how you can solve their weight problems and ailments with Whole30. If they ask, tell them, otherwise, they need to find this in their own time.
20. There is no right time. If you're anything like me then there isn't a single span of 30 days, for the entire year, that doesn't include some kind of travel, trip, vacation, holiday, or other challenge. And anyway, clean eating isn't about finding the right time. The right time is now, which leads me to my next item:
21. Do the best you can. So what if you're not a #whole30purist stickler for the rules. Some of us live in the real world.
22. It's all mindset. Whole30 is a program and it's a tool. Some programs and tools are better suited to some than others. To begin your health journey, regardless of what tool you choose, you have to be in the right mindset. What do you want? Are you ready to make a change?
23. Don't weigh. Take measurements on day 1 and day 31. Take clear photos on both days in the same tight fitting clothes. Shoes tight? Take a photo of the shoes and your cankles. Take photos of your face. Remember, the scale may only go down 5 pounds, but you may go down multiple pant sizes. It's not about the number on the scale. It's about reducing toxic chronic inflammation.
24. Plan Do Check Act. The age old philosophy originating from Deming and used in Six Sigma and corporate programs around the world, and we can use it here too. Plan your meals and plan to succeed. Do the Program. Check yourself daily, hourly, weekly, whatever you need, to verify that you're complaint and heading in the right direction. And Act on whatever changes you need to make to ensure success (like eliminating nuts or other trigger SWYPO type foods).
25. Reintroduction. Trust this process. Who cares if you're craving wine or chocolate. Take a slow reintroduction process. This is a 10-14 day process. Everyone I've ever talked to (or read online) either learned valuable info from this process, or seriously regretted not doing it. Seriously. You've taken the time, struggled, and succeeded, in removing all the food groups known to cause reactions to our bodies, why dump them back in without finishing the process and learning a thing or two?
26. Do you have any of these ailments: "diabetes · high cholesterol · high blood pressure · obesity · acne · eczema · psoriasis · hives asthma · allergies · sinus infections · migraines · acid reflux · celiac disease · Crohn’s· IBS · bipolar disorder · depression · seasonal affective disorder · eating disorders · ADHD · endometriosis · PCOS · infertility · arthritis · Lyme disease · hypothyroidism · fibromyalgia"? If you answered yes, to any of these.. Do Whole30. You've got nothing to lose! Well, except for dairy, sugar, soy, grains, and legumes. For 30 days. But, you know what I mean.
    And just so I don't get sued... please note that I am not a doctor. You may need or want to check with your doctor before beginning any dietary changes.

Feel the need to buy some Tools for Success?
These items are not necessary, but they sure are fun and helpful:

 This post contains Amazon affiliate links; For more information, read my Disclosure page.

Apple Slicer Because I’m lazy and prefer to eat my apples chopped up. And it's great for the kiddos too.	Potato (Cauliflower) ricer Because I like gadgets, and cauliflower rice is life changing!
Spiralizer Because, OMG These Noodles are Great!	Mandoline OK, I don’t have this YET. But I want one.
Indoor Grill Because some days it’s too hot (or cold or rainy) to grill outside.	Indoor Roaster To roast Turkeys and Chickens with less power than your oven, and free up your oven for other fun stuff. Great for Thanksgiving, Holiday’s and Family Gatherings

Tools to Pack Away or Donate:
Food Scale and Measuring cups. we're not weighing food, counting calories, or calculating points. We are just eating (3 square round hexagon meals).

And while you're at it, hide, donate, or pack away your body scale too. 

So there you have it. Thoughts? Do you have anything to add?

Weekend Family Getaway to Sedona Arizona - Day 2

Day 2 in Sedona. A nice  relaxing morning in our cabin, drinking coffee outside near the fountain.

Our first stop was to the Palatki Heritage Site to visit the Palatki Ruins and Petroglyphs. This was by far the highlight of our trip. Both the ruins and the Petroglyphs were short structured tours with a docent explaining the history and meaning of what we were seeing. I'm not sure that Grady got much out of the history lesson, but Gracie absorbed it all and was full of questions. Both kids enjoyed the scavenger hunt that we were given at the registration desk.

After visiting we headed back in to town for lunch and some Christmas and touristy shopping. We lucked into live music at the Tlaquepaque International Day of Peace which was perfect for the boys while the girls shopped for jewelry.

The next stop was an offroad jeep tour with "A Day in the West." Tim did his research for this activity by watching numerous youtube videos of all the companies, and comparing reviews and groupon deals. We were quite happy with this tour, and the driver. I've said this before, but I've become such a scaredy cat since I had a baby; heights, bumps, deep water, and fast speeds all terrify me. At times this ride was fast and steep, but we had seat belts and the kids whooped and hollered and had too much fun. Their ear to ear smiles made it all worth while.

The jeep tour picks you up and drops you off on the main downtown strip, which makes it easy for shopping and restaurants and minimal walking. Parking can be difficult with the traffic, but the jeep tour has a parking lot in the back if you ask. 

After dinner we headed back to Phoenix and to the airport for our flight home. Amazing 2 day kid friendly weekend adventure getaway for the family, and we will definitely be back for more!

Have you been to Sedona? What's your favorite thing to do with the kids?

Whole30 Day 29 - Grumpy Case of the Mondays

Monday, Whole30 Day 29

I should be feeling great and excited, but today was a bad case of the Mondays. I was grumpy, depressed, short tempered, sluggish, and just not motivated.

Breakfast was an omelet with leftover pork and sun dried tomatoes. I ended up eating around the pork because it didn't taste good anyore.

Lunch was huge. Chopped cucumber and jicama, 3 applegate beef hotdogs with mustard, and then a couple baked new potatoes with ghee. I was hungry.

Dinner was a few slices of Costco beef with a tablespoon of guacamole and a smoothie (banana, blueberries, blackberries, grapes, jicama, and Knodsen's cranberry juice). 

And then I was up late packing for our next trip... :)

Weekend Family Getaway to Sedona Arizona - Day 1

Day 1 started out at 7am in Phoenix, after arriving at midnight. 

We had breakfast at Seed Café (read about the Sedona restaurants here) and headed straight to Montezuma Castle outside Sedona.

Montezuma Castle has a nice little hiking trail to see the cliff dwellings, and a small indoor museum with artifacts and historical information about the Sanaqua (pronounced Sanawa) people who lived here. Sanaqua means "without water" and I love that kids are learning these things.

Advice from a Cliff Dwelling 1. Find Your Niche 2. Be Constructive 3. Stick Together 4. Rise to the Occasion 5. Stay Close to the Earth 6. Build Upon Strong Foundations 7. Don't Go Down in Ruins

We spent a long time in their gift shop. I'm such a sucker for souvenirs.
After Montezuma Castle, we drove through Sedona, ate lunch, and stopped a couple hiking trails along the road. The main hike we did was the Cathedral Hike; The scenery was amazing. We hiked down to the river, and then turned and headed back. Poor Tim could have hiked this trail all day, but the kids (and ok, me too) were hot and hungry and ready for a little rest. 

Next stop, Chapel of the Holy Cross, built right into the rocks. This place was serene and beautiful, but the courtyard scared me. I'd say it's plenty safe, with a stone bench outlining the perimeter, but I'm already nervous of heights, and having a 2 year old running around, and climbing on the ledge just about did me in. If only I was less afraid of heights, and Grady was more afraid...

 

I love little touches like these signs.

"Please don't pick us [flowers], we're smiling at God."

 



 

"And He shall give his angels charge over you to keep you in all ways."

 

 

One thing I absolutely love about this vacation spot is the plethora of activities within short proximity to the downtown area with shopping and restaurants. This meant that we could hike, stop and let the kids rest in air conditioning (eat, drink, be merry), and then take off on another adventure. And we did very little driving in between.  

After dinner we headed to our hotel fairly early, so that we could relax and swim. Swimming is one of the best free vacation activities! We stayed at the Sedona Pines Resort in what was called a one bedroom cabin, but looked like a brand new manufactured home. So clean and so cute. We loved it. It almost felt like we could hitch it to the back of our car and take it home with us!
  The pool at the Sedona Pines Resort was huge, and mostly shallow which allowed for a lot of easy playing. And it was my first time in a salt water pool without chlorine; It felt good and clean. The best part of swimming were the bats. There were bats everywhere and 3 swarming around the top of the pool. At first Gracie was nervous, but then it was just too funny. Once or twice the bats dropped onto the surface of the pool to eat a June bug. It was so fast that if you were not watching them, you seriously would not have seen it happen.

We'll definitely be back to Sedona for more hiking, and maybe even camping.

What's your favorite trail in the Sedona area for family friendly hiking?

September 2014 - Whole30 Day 28

Sunday, Whole30 Day 28

Day 28! YAY! 

Breakfast was a fabulous smoothie for the family made with pumpkin, coconut milk, rooibos tea, cinnamon, ginger, mace, and cardamom, and bananas. That's probably a third of a banana each.

Lunch was an omelet with heirloom tomatoes, green chiles, and bell pepper; topped with guacamole.

The boys left to ride bikes in the afternoon while I worked on the computer. When they returned Grady and I shared an apple for a snack.

Dinner was simple baked chicken breast topped with sundried tomatoes, green chiles, and chopped tomatoes. The pan had a little ghee added to the bottom, and I sprinkled thyme, and a tiny bit of cumin over the top. We'll definitely make this again and I'll use more thyme next time.

Can you believe it's Day 28?!

September 2014 - Whole30 Day 27

Saturday, September 27

Whole30 Day 27

I made a conscious effort today to stay compliant and true to the book, starting with eating a large breakfast. I chopped up a handful of broccoli, and mixed it in a bowl with leftover Kalua Pig and a couple spoonfuls of sun-dried tomatoes. Delicious! I'm pretty happy about the big bag of broccoli that we bought at Costco. We split the bag into 2 gallon size freezer bags and put one in the freezer. The one in the fridge has been so convenient to add handfuls of broccoli to this meal, and other meals like the salad a few days ago.

After breakfast we headed to the Dallas Arboretum to take a few pumpkin pictures, and get some sunshine and exercise. We did have a snack of dried apples and fruit leathers. And for lunch we grabbed Chik-fil-a nuggets (grilled for me) and regular unsweet iced tea.

Dinner was more cucumber slices and burgers. I added more chopped broccoli, more sun-dried tomatoes, Mrs Dash Table Blend, chopped onions, and garlic powder to the burgers. Pretty tasty! We also finally bought 2 bottles of Tessamae's dressings at Whole Foods and added a little to the plate for dipping.

 

After dinner I made smoothies as a weekend treat for the family. Pretty delicious: frozen bananas, pumpkin, coconut milk, crushed ice, and spices (ginger, mace, cinnamon). I think we'll make this for breakfast again tomorrow too.


Can you believe we made it 27 days already! YAY for clean eating and no chemicals, no sugar, and no toxins! How are you feeling on Day 27?
 
 
 

Whole 30 Day 26 and Exhausted

Friday, September 26, 2014
Whole30 Day 26 and TGIF!

Woke up feeling fine, but my energy depleted throughout the day, so much so that I crashed at 8.30pm at the same time as my kid.

I think these are the reasons:
1. Not drinking much water at all throughout the day.
2. I've barely had any food (breakfast or lunch) at all this week.
3. My body is still regulating and healing after years of fast food, restaurants, and drive-thru convenience foods.
4. Too many bananas and potatoes
5. Possibly fighting allergies/virus

So, root cause equals complacency?

It's time to regroup and start fresh. With only 3 more days left in this Whole30, I think it's fair to say that I'll be extending my Whole30 to a Whole45 or even a Whole60.

Here's one picture from today's meals. Leftover Kalua Pork and Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and sliced cucumbers and jicama.

How are you doing on Day 26?
 
 
 

September 2014 - Whole30 Day 25 - Exhausted and Not Hungry

Tuesday, Whole30 Day 25

I'm so tired and just not hungry. My body is playing tricks on me. I was starving by dinner, but then half way through I was stuffed.

Breakfast was the typical. Don't ask. [I promise] I will work on this...

Lunch was an apple and almonds.

Dinner was Nom Nom Paleo's Kalua Pig, super garlic skin-on mashed potatoes, and sautéed spinach.

This plate needs more color. Maybe some steamed baby carrots.

For the mashed potatoes,  I first baked them. After they cooled I gave them a rough chop and tossed them in the KitchenAid with some coconut milk and roasted garlic, olive oil, sea salt, and thyme. I was craving ghee to add but we're all out.

I definitely do not have excess energy today. I have focus and clarity, but physically I'm tired. In fact, I'm quite sleepy... That is all. night night.

 
How was your Day 25? Anyone else tired...?

Weekend Family Getaway to Sedona Arizona via Spirit Airlines

 This post contains Amazon affiliate links; For more information, read my Disclosure page.

 A couple weeks ago, Spirit Airlines posted their fall deals, and we took advantage. We've flown Spirit many times, and highly recommend them, especially for weekend getaways like this one. Let me begin by saying that Spirit doesn't know that I love them, or that I'm writing this, and is in no way compensating us for this review, or any part of this blog post.

With that said, we decided to take advantage of the great Spirit sale and fly to Phoenix from Dallas Fort Worth for a weekend getaway with the kids.

I've had friends and coworkers comment that we must be rolling in the dough if we can afford so many trips. We're not by any means. With the Spirit $9 Fare club we flew to Phoenix for $23 each way per person. That means it only cost $96 for the 4 of us to fly round trip!

Spirit has what they call a Bare Fare, which essentially means you're not getting any free peanuts or sodas. You can read more about this here on their Spirit 101 website. You also only get 1 smallish free carry-on bag and pay for another carry-on bag and checked bags. This is only a big deal if you're traveling for a long period of time, and even so, the checked bags rates combined with the base fare is still cheaper than many airlines.

Spirit says their seats are smaller due to an extra row, but I haven't noticed the difference.

For carry-on bags we bought the kids High Sierra XBT Wheeled Backpack, Carmine/Red Line/Black, which the kids LOVE. The bags hold all their clothes, have a pocket for books or toys, have a spot to tuck away the shoulder straps, and very smooth wheels. I love the bags because they are roomy, and yet count as a free personal item on the airplane. Even Grady who at 2.5 years old had no trouble wheeling through the airport on his own. And be careful if you try to do it for him, "That's MINE! I can do it by MYSELF!"

For this weekend getaway, we had an 11pm CST departure flight on Friday night, that arrived in Phoenix at 2.5 hours later. The kids wore their jammies, so they only had to pack 2 outfits: one for Saturday, one for Sunday, plus a bathing suit.

Tim and I put our 2 outfits with the kids clothes in their backpacks, and carried a few extra essentials (like snacks, diaper wipes, pull-ups, snake bite kit for the Arizona desert hikes) in the diaper bag and Tim's Camelbak (Camelbak Products Men's Rim Runner 22 Hydration Pack, Charcoal/Chili Pepper, 100-Ounce).

So that's how we flew for only $96. We still had a rental car, airport parking, 2 nights hotel and restaurant meals for 2 days. We utilize a lot of coupons, online deals, and reward points, to get the best possible deals. We don't have, or spend, a lot of money.

When it comes right down to it, these trips and experiences are the best gifts we can give our kids, and that makes it worth the money. Grady will be 3 in November, and Gracie is 8.5, and both kids know how to travel.


Now the real question, and debate of the day is... where are going to fly next?

September 2014 - Whole30 Day 24 - The Dream Is Free

Wednesday, Whole30 Day 24


My pants are not the slightest bit looser. But my rib cage, under my bra band is 3" smaller, so yay for skinnier areas (that no one sees... ?)!

OK, it's a process right? I'll get there... I'm sure the scale is lower too. First my body has to remove excess water and bloat (in my fingers, toes, neck, and ankles), and then perhaps in my belly. 

In all seriousness though, I've eaten out at restaurants, A LOT, this month, and a lot the past few days. That fact coupled with not eating breakfast like I should, and all my excess weight, means it's probably going to be a while for me to see significant differences.

The important thing is my new relationship with food. My decreasing dependency and craving for sugar and easy processed foods. I have a long way to go, but the ball is rolling steadily, and I am definitely happy.

I took this picture hiking in Sedona Arizona this past weekend, and used the new Studio app and Whole30 remix package to add the text. Love it!

Isn't this quote great? And applicable not only to physical prowess, or clean eating, or increased health, but also to career aspirations, personal projects, and pretty much ALL goals.

OK so back to food and what I ate on Whole30 Day 24...

Breakfast was bad again; A banana and almonds with a coffee (coconut milk, date, and cinnamon). While driving to the office. It's going to take me a long time to get into the habit and desire to eat breakfast. But hey, if that turns out to be the biggest hurdle (as opposed to candy corn and bowls of Halloween candy), I will take it!

Lunch was a big boring salad at Cheddars. I ordered the grilled chicken pecan salad sans cheese and pecans. No dressing, just olive oil and vinegar. Even after a discussion with the waitress about no sugar, no dairy, no grains, she still brought the typical warm croissant topped with sugar/butter. Ugh. It smelled sooo good. 

Dinner was grilled steaks. I was so not hungry at all, but Tim still fixed my plate with a scrambled egg, a couple pieces of broccoli and sliced tomato, and I added a 1/4 cup of guacamole. I ended up eating 2 full pieces of steak!

And the crockpot is running with Nom Nom Paleo's Kalua Pig for tomorrow's dinner... 

Are you struggling with anything on Day 24?