Hiiii!!! Hi, hi, hi. :)
Pardon my French, but does anyone else feel like the past two months have totally kicked their ass? Between doctors appointments, errands, school visits, extra curricular activities, snow days, early outs, appointments, and everything in between, I literally want to put my fingers in my ears, close my eyes, and LA-LA-LA my to-do list into oblivion. Oy! I don’t want to complain – more so commiserate with you. I know we’re all feeling the pressures of time and life right now. Cabin fever is not helping. Is it spring yet?
The GOOD news is that we have a new, part-time sitter starting this week. I’ve been working during naps and on the weekends since our last beloved sitter left us back in mid-August, so needless to say I am relieved and excited to sit down and GSD while listening to my guys run around downstairs. Lincoln loves babysitters (thanks, son,) so while I wish I could be a FTM all the time, I know it’s something they look forward to also.
All that said, for these reasons I’ve felt a bit disconnected from the blog over the past few months. Separately, I’ve been using Instagram stories more and more (though oddly not Instagram posts – I can never determine what’s Instagram post vs stories worthy #conceptsIstrugglewith) because it’s a quick and easy way to connect with you. So, if you ever want to see what’s going on in our day to day life, pop over for random thoughts, Costco finds, and plenty of Cameron shenanigans (Lincoln hates being recorded which I totally respect.)
Anyway, since we’re catching up, I thought I’d just do the damn thing and write an entire “Currently” post! Here’s what else is happening in the land of IGE…
Time and place: I’ve sat down to write this post approximately 4 times now, but currently it’s 10:36am and I’m standing at the kitchen counter. I’ve been trying to stand more then I sit lately. Yeah!
Anticipating: Super Bowl. The Super Bowl snuck up on me this year! We were hoping the Vikings would pull through (Ben literally fell off his chair after THAT CATCH during the divisional playoff game,) especially since the game will be in Minneapolis – alas, the Eagles had other plans. Anyway, I’m sharing an early Valentine’s Day recipe with you this Friday which means I won’t have time to sneak in a Super Bowl recipe roundup….so I’ll just do it here. :) Here are my top 10 gluten-free recipes to make for the game this Sunday:
- Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers
- Cheddar Brat Meatballs
- Best-Ever Southwestern Black Bean Dip
- Thai Sticky Chicken Fingers
- Bacon-Wrapped BBQ Shrimp
- Bacon and Goat Cheese Stuffed Sweet Pepper Poppers
- Signature Spicy, Smokey, Sweet Chili
- Warm Fig and Prosciutto Goat Cheese Dip
- Caesar Spinach and Artichoke Dip
- Fiesta Pork, Bean and Green Chili Chili
Loving: Tweezerman Brow Shaping Scissors and Brush. I bought this brow set a few weeks ago and it is wonderful. The scissors are super sharp and nicely angled (vs flat nail scissors) so they’re perfect for trimming a rogue eyebrow hair, or the whole dang thing. Super pleased with the quality.
Cleaning: e-cloth. I don’t know why but over the past six months I’ve become completely obsessed with having clean walls. No idea. First I was all over the warm water/vinegar + rag method, but now I’m loving e-cloths and water. These cloths are comparable to Norwex’s “just add water” cloths but are only $20 for 4. You can use them on almost any surface, including stainless steel, and they remove over 99% of all bacteria (plus crayon – ask me how I know) with just WATER. Love it! My walls and doors have never looked better.
Meh’ing: The Bachelor. I don’t want to sound horrible (says every horrible person before saying something horrible) because these are real people with real feelings, but….OVER IT! Are you with me? I was so annoyed when they announced Arie as the bachelor, which was totally out of left field in the first place, and it’s all just so…ew. While we’re on the subject though, Sienne for Bachelorette!
Baking: Zucchini Banana Bread Muffins. Have you tried this recipe yet? Feedback has been super so far, and if you don’t need to eat gluten-free, you can just swap the gluten-free flour for all-purpose. We’re making our next batch tomorrow.
Reading: The Invisible Workload that Drags Women Down. Part of the proverbial ass kicking I mentioned above… This article is worth a read for any woman in any stage of her life. “Today the amount of sheer hours that men and women spend in combined paid and unpaid work is pretty close to equal. But that doesn’t count the THINKING.” Good grief, the thinking.
Chowing: Eggs and toast. I’ve found myself in a bit of breakfast rut lately that I have no intention of getting out of. It’s far too easy and delicious! Fry up 2 eggs while toasting 2 pieces of bread then butter the toast and top with the eggs plus coarse seasoning salt (love this homemade steak seasoning blend.) Add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to the hot skillet then tear in baby spinach plus a sprinkling of seasoning, and then saute until wilted, 30 seconds. DEVOUR. This breakfast couldn’t be easier, takes 5 minutes to make, and keeps me plenty full until lunchtime.
Trying: Annie’s No Sugar Added Whole Milk Yogurt Pouches. I was so excited to see this new to me product at the grocery store the other day. I think I whispered an audible “YESSS!!!” in front of the refrigerator case. Yogurt is a staple for Cameron in the mornings but even a little bit of added sugar in his little baby yogurt cups is irritating. These yogurt pouches contain ZERO added sugar and taste great – very mildly sweet. Sure, I could make the blend myself but the convenience of purchasing a pouch sometimes wins out. Plus my Blendtec started smoking the other day, soooo…
Seeking: Paleo recipes. Ever since reading that those who follow a gluten-free diet (aka myself, and therefore my family when we’re at home) ingest potentially harmful amounts of arsenic from increased consumption of rice, I’ve been hyper aware of how much of it is in our diets. Not because we eat a ton of rice at home – maybe once or twice a week – but because rice is in sooo many packaged gluten-free products. Pasta, bread, flour blends, pizza crust, crackers – I mean, it feels like you can’t get away from the stuff. We swap in cauliflower rice occasionally but I’m looking for other grain free solutions including paleo recipes. I asked my Instagram followers for suggestions this weekend and there were SO many great ones. I filled up this week’s menu in about 5 minutes with recipes from Paleomg, Wholesomelicious, and The Defined Dish. Care to share your faves too?
Trying: Beautycounter. I finally tried Beautycounter and, drumroll please…the jury’s still out! I have uneven skin tone, sun damage, and melasma (from my pregnancies,) that I’ve been trying to clear up for almost four years now and have a literal skin cream graveyard in my bathroom with dozens of products that have made ZERO difference in my skin tone. I keep hearing about the wonders of Beautycounter, and really do care about the quality of ingredients that go onto my skin, so decided to give it a go. I started with their Brightening collection, with a few other products sprinkled in, and want to use everything up before deciding if they “work” or not. I’ll be sure to give you a full update at the end. I personally have been curious for a long long time as to whether or not their formulas worked and if price tag was worth it. That said, stay tuned.
Craving: Kimchi Fried Rice. Ben smoked ribs a few weeks ago and we chopped some of the leftovers up to use in this recipe for Kimchi Fried Rice. Holy moly – so delicious! Kimchi is just pickled vegetables and the sourness with the salty ribs and tamari was perfeeection. Highly recommend.
Watching: Godless. Ben and I recently wrapped up the Netflix original Godless. Woah – what a doozie! The story is set in the wild west (New Mexico and Colorado) in the late 1800s – a time period and location that I am fascinated with – and was so, so good. Very gory and gritty, but binge-worthy too. What Netflix series are you watching right now? Switching gears to HBO – who else is FREAKING OUT that Big Little Lies is coming back for season 2??
Cooking: with American Heart Association. Speaking of paleo recipes, I’ll be cooking a heart healthy dish, which happens to be grain free, this Thursday evening, February 2nd, on Instagram stories to celebrate Heart Month with the American Heart Association! I remember learning several years ago that heart disease is the #1 killer of Americans which is INSANE to me. The good news is that 80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable! We’ve been cooking heart smart(er) since Ben had his health scare a few years ago (which, granted, was an electrical issue versus a heart disease issue – still cooking to achieve an all around healthy heart for him though,) so this topic hits home for me. Tune in Thursday evening for the cooking session or catch the stories for up to 24 hours afterwards. I’ll also be sharing details on how to win an American Heart Association cookbook!
Ok guys – I’ve word vomited enough for one day. Pick a “Currently” category and fill me in with what’s going on with you! :)
I didn’t read ALL the comments so maybe someone already said this, but maybe try The Bachelor Winter Games. It is SO much more entertaining than this season’s Bachelor. Many fun personalities, including Luke (from JoJo’s season of the Bachelor), Ashley I. from the Chris Soules season, Claire from the Juan Pablo fiasco season, etc. I really enjoyed Aerie on Emily’s season, but not so much now! I truly am baffled as to why he was picked….
Oh, also, on the skin products. Again, maybe somebody said this…. I highly recommend seeing a dermatologist. (But, you probably want to check on insurance coverage.) Prescription products and professional treatments (microdermabrasion, etc) WILL make a difference.