Waste Nothing

In an attempt to better myself I have been working hard to clean up my diet.  If you are a long time reader, you know that I was a big clean eating advocate.  After all that is what the start of the blog was based on.  However, life happened!  Job changes, schedule changes, babies turning into teenagers…..all the things that make slipping into old, yucky habits resurface!

So I went back in my archives, re-read some books that I had from the start of my journey long ago, and made my plan to become a healthier version of me.  Let’s be honest it all has to start with a plan.  As the saying goes – “If you fail to plan, plan to fail”.  Part of the planning process is writing out a menu, deciding what snacks will be needed for the week, and making your grocery list.  Without that list anything and everything will end up in the cart!

Now to make life easier I try to stick with the same breakfast for several days.  This is so I can pre-cook it to save time in the mornings.  I also have to eat pretty early in order to make my 3 hour between meals work with my scheduled lunch break at school.  Having breakfast in the refrigerator is key to my 5:15 meal time!

 

One of my favorite go to breakfasts is the breakfast bowl.  No not the one you get a Waffle House with eggs, hash browns, cheese, etc.  A much healthier version.  The varieties for this is endless.  Choose a meat, choose a veggie, and put that on a bed of greens!  I tend to stick with ground sausage, but you can use links as well.  Eggs are also a great addition if you eat them.  Veggie options are endless, but I will tell you know that sweet potatoes are my favorite, and of course you can add any toppings/sauces that you wish.

For this week’s bowls broccoli is on the menu.  I purchased a couple heads of broccoli to roast for dinner one night, and in keeping with my simplifying life attitude you waste nothing.  What do I mean?  Do not throw those broccoli stalks away!  Oh no, those stalks are good and nutritious!    So use them in other dishes like sautés, soups, and slaws!

You will need to cut the ends off.  They are kind of like asparagus, the very end of the stalk is tough and nasty.  Slice the stalk at the point of tenderness – in other words do not force the cut.  If your knife doesn’t cut through easily, then cut that baby a little higher.  Once you get the ends off take a vegetable peeler and give them a once over…..then chop, steam, or process.  Also makes a great broccoli rice J

• Broccoli stalks (2)
• Turkey sausage (ground)
• Spinach & Arugula mix
• Ghee
• Salt
• Pepper

Once my stems were chopped I placed them in a pan with some ghee, salt, and pepper.  Gave them a little sauté, added my pre-cooked ground turkey sausage, then divided the mixture into separate bowl on top of a spinach and arugula mix (my fav).  When I wake up in the morning I pop the bowl in the microwave, which steams the greens, and breakfast is ready in 1.5 minutes.  You can’t get any easier than that!

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Fall has arrived,

But truth be told it will be gone soon.  For my long time readers you know in past posts I have often talked of how Louisiana basically has one season……HOT!

We will have a few weeks of actual fall like weather, it will turn hot again, and then we will have a very brief winter before it is…….you guessed it – hot again!

This very bipolar weather doesn’t really give this girl much of an opportunity to have a fall or winter wardrobe.  I basically concentrate more on lighter-outer layers as opposed to sweaters or thick outer wear.  Chances are I will be shedding those sleeves by noon, but my love for fashion makes me drool over the winter options my fellow bloggers and out of state friends/family get to wear.

So in honor of our two weeks of a breeze fall season I wanted to share a few of the pieces I have purchased recently, as well as some that I would LOVE to have if only it was practical for me!

 

  

    

  

I hope you like some of the pieces I have recently incorporated into my wardrobe, and that they could be an option for you in your fall season.  You can find all of the pieces (and many that are similar) at NORDSTROM!

Let’s talk skincare

If you are like me you have been using some type of skincare products for the past few 25 years.

I have to admit that my first introduction to skincare was not “love at first use”!  I loved my makeup from the time I was allowed to wear it, but having to wash my face at night with anything other than my bath soap was absurd!  Oh wait, then you also want me to wash it in the morning…..um, why?  Shouldn’t my face still be clean from the night before?

I have tried many – MANY – different products over the years.  Starting with basic face care products from trusty old Walmart, then on to direct sale companies like Aloette/Mary Kay, on to department store products, back to box store products, designer brand products, then dabbling into some DIY products, and back to my brand names because who has time to make stuff?…..and the cycle would just continue.  Never really truly finding anything that I absolutely loved and would stick with.  Trust me when I say this is probably one area that I have wasted the most money on!

As I am trying to really live my best life now, and I am doing my best to be more conscious of what I put on and in my body, I knew that skincare was my top priority.  I didn’t want to keep using the same old products that are filled with chemicals just because some magazine/celebrity swears by them.  Let’s be honest, the products made your skin feel great right after use……but they never really made it feel great all the time!  Oh and let’s not forget the endless amount of break outs or skin reactions from using them!

I longed to find something effective, non-toxic, and that made my skin feel just as fabulous hours after using as it would as soon as it was rinsed off.  So I started my research, and that is when I came across the best skin care products I have used to date!

Tata Harper is a luxurious skin care line that uses non-toxic ingredients.  As a matter of fact, she owns the farm where most of their ingredients are grown, and all of her products are made in small batches at the farm in Vermont!  So not only natural and non-toxic, but they are also made in the USA!

Guys……I am so in love with these products!  They feel wonderful when you use them, have very pleasant smells, and make your skin look fabulous!  Honestly, for the first time in years I am starting to love my skin again.  I will actually go out in public without a full face of make-up now!

I am currently using the regenerating cleanser, concentrated brightening essence (I could bath in this stuff), rebuilding moisturizer, and the restorative eye cream.  These are the products that I use in my daily routine.  I have been using them for about 2.5 months now, and I still have half (or more) of the products left…..so they will last you for a while.  This is with twice daily use!

You can check them out at Amazon

You can also check the products out at Nordstrom

I really like to order from both of the above websites due to the additional perks and rewards program you get from the companies!

*p.s. It also helps that they are in such pretty bottles 😉

Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links.  The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.

A Life of Simplicity

I have been contemplating writing this post for so long now!  It is after all one of the things that made me want to get back into blogging in the first place.  With so much going through my thoughts, and going on with my life lately……I have just really been craving simplicity.

The realization that I am craving simplicity in my life didn’t happen overnight.  It has been and will continue being a process.  If you know me personally then you know that I live life at 100 mph. All. The. Time!  I have always been constantly doing something, going somewhere, making plans, etc.  I started 2017 off with the same mindset and habits.

Then I boarded a plane in July with my husband, and we spent a week on the island of Grand Cayman for our 10^th anniversary.  Life is different on an island.  It is simple.  Peaceful.

No one cares about busyness.  As a matter of fact the only thing you are required to do on the island is liming.  Which simply just means the art of doing nothing! Everything moves at a much slower pace. People aren’t in a huge rush to get somewhere, they take time to savor and enjoy life.   All the stress and anxiety from life at home just melts away.

I lay on the beach day after day listening to the peaceful sound of slow waves rolling in, enjoying time spent with my husband, and time spent with people we met at our resort.  It all began to wear on me, I was exhausted with life.  I was tired of being tired.  I wanted change……something has to change!  I longed to have that same simplicity in my day to day life.

Over the past several weeks I have been really looking at my life.  Everything from habits I have (good and bad), material things I have, what I put in my body, what I put on my body, and how I spend my time.  I started thinking of things that needed to change.

Designing a simple life means having fewer distractions in your life, so you can focus on what matters.  As I work to simplify my life, I want to be intentional about choices that I make.  I want to remove what I do not need in all areas – home, food, products, schedules, thoughts, etc. – and add things that are meaningful to me, loved, and valued.

I decided that I would chronicle my baby steps to simplicity here.  After all this will be a process, and all processes usually start with “why”?  So step one……..

What is my why?  To have a stress-free, meaningful life.  To live intentionally, to have peace, and to have more gratitude.

A slight hiatus!

Well hello my friends.  It appears that it has been a while since I have decided to post on this lovely little blog of mine. 

It is safe to say that things in my life have been a little crazy for the past year.  I have not only fallen out of blog land, but unfortunately I have fallen out of clean eating, good consistent work outs, and structure in my life.

Now do not get me wrong.  I haven’t completely lost all of my good habits, but I have slipped back in to many old ones.  I still “try” to eat healthy, work out, and have a chill life……but I also eat what I want when I want (which means that hearty breakfast/lunch was killed my mounds of afternoon chocolate), have slacked off to maybe 3 30-45 minute workouts a week (sometimes less), and have had tons of stress in my life! 

Now while I know that healthy eating habits and exercise will not make all of the life stressors go away, it does help with the symptoms my body is having due to said stress.  I have fallen out of grace in many ways.  So what has changed here recently that has me wanting to turn over a new leaf?  Well lots.  I will not bore you with all of the details but tight clothing, health issues, and the such are giving me a good wake up call! 

I made a decision this past week (after much reading/research) that I want to stick with.  I know the only way to do that is to have others support me, hold me accountable, and just give me encouragement/advice.  Of course I thought of my blog friends (yes I still read your blogs) that have always been there for me in the past.  I decided to get back to blogging for connection, accountability, and support.  I will chronicle my journey here once again so I can get back to my best self.  So here is to me “re” turning over a new leaf.  It will be a journey but hopefully a fun one!

It’s a mystery!!

I am so thankful for all of the positive feedback I have been getting the past several days over my new position as an independent beauty consultant for Mary Kay. This company is so awesome!

We really are focused on enriching women's lives which I feel is so important. Not only does the company focus on uplifting women, but we also have……

The Mary Kay Foundation dedicated to ending women's cancers and domestic abuse Throughout her life, Mary Kay Ash showed others how to live and how to give. She gave hope to women who lacked opportunity, self-esteem and financial support. Now her legacy of love lives on through The Mary Kay Foundation, which she began in 1996. Make a tribute in honor of Mary Kay Ash today. Our mission is to eliminate cancers affecting women and to end the epidemic of violence against women. Our accomplishments are highlighted in our 2012 Year in Review. Help now … you can make a difference in the lives of women across the nation.

I have to admit that I was so inspired to join this company even more once I found out about the foundation. The mission above are two issues that are very important to me. I have several cancer survivors in my family, and working in the public schools I often see abuse of mothers which leads often to abuse/neglect of children. I have vowed to donate a portion of all my orders to the foundation in support.

So this week I am having a virtual mystery hostess party. I have participated in these types of parties before in the past, and I promise you they are always fun! It is hilarious how competitive some people can be.

The protocol is simple. For every 20$ spent your name will go into a drawing to be the mystery hostess. You can leave a comment below to let me know that your order has been placed. Want some extra entries? Get your friends/family on board. For every 20$ they purchase, their name will go into the drawing, but leave a comment below telling me you referred them and your name gets additional entry. Want more? For every 35$ you spend you get two entries. Oh and to sweeten the pot even more…..10% of proceeds will be donated to the organization/charity of choice.

The winning hostess will get a Mary Kay Satin Lips set which includes a lip mask for exfoliating and lip balm for moisturizing. This set is perfect for this time of year when our lips take so much abuse from cold temps, wind, and the drying effects of heaters. It is especially perfect for those of us that partipate in outdoor activities such as running! Drawing will be held Friday.

Follow the link below to my personal Mary Kay website

http://www.marykay.com/hgarner3

The catalog is available through the website. While you can order directly from my site, I am going to take all orders through email & PayPal. I am going this route so you will not have to pay shipping & handling, only tax. Oh and you will pay my tax rate which is 7%. You will email me your order, I will send you an invoice via paypal, and you will go through paypal to submit payment. If you do not have a paypal account you can send me an email, I will provide you with a phone number, and you can give me your information via phone.

Of course if you have any questions about certain products feel free to email, leave a message, or ask for phone info so we can talk about any products you are interested in. I fell in love with this skin care line (trust me I have tried them all), and I absolutely love the makeup. This is coming from a long standing MAC & makeup forever girl! The shadows are very compatible with the big brands…..not to mention a lot cheaper!

Thanks so much for your participation, and have a blast shopping! Happy entering 🙂

 

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Drum roll……

So I was thinking that I wouldn’t announce my newest news until next week; however, things have progressed more quickly than I expected.  So I decided to give you guys the news today.  After all it is Friday so great things are destined for today anyway 🙂

I now have a new and additional job as……………

A Mary Kay beauty consultant!

I am really excited about this new chapter of my life.  I have toyed around with the idea of become some type of independent sales consultant for a very long time now.  Just for the perks of a little extra money, but also just for the fun and products I could obtain as well.  I really do like the Mary Kay line, as you know I love makeup and all things girly, so after debating for about a week I decided why not go for it!

I can’t wait to see where this takes me in life.  It is such a great company that really focuses on building each other up, and supporting each other in all areas of life.  Not to mention it is a very Christian based company which is important to me as well.  So if any of you are interested in any of the products, or just would like a little  more information you can either comment below with your email address, or you can email me at helennaturally@gmail.com.  I will have a website and email specifically for my Mary Kay business that I can pass along to anyone interested! 

My new addiction….

Good morning to all of you!  I am sitting in disbelief this morn at the calendar, realizing that it is almost October!

Where has the year gone?  I can’t believe that we are already in the holiday season…….because yes, October starts that season!  It is literally one holiday after another for the next 5 months.  What does this mean?  Lots of food, family time, and fun…..uh the food is the problem here, lol!

   

BUT…….I have a new food addiction.  It is a good one to have, I promise!  I came home a couple of weeks (yes it has taken weeks to get this up) ago to a lovely little box just for me.  Might I mention with way more items in it than I expected!

 

Clark from Quest Nutrition was so kind to send me a box of there goodies to try out.  I was like a kid on Christmas morning when I opened that box up……practicing for this holiday season you see….with so many goodies to try in one box, I couldn’t decide which one to go with first!  Oh and the kid in me of course came out and wanted to try them all at once.

 

But I was able to control myself a little.  I picked up one bar, tore into that package, and just chomped a big chunk out of it.  I was in love at first bite!  From that moment on I would enjoy one of my lovely little bars each afternoon before my workout time. 

They are perfect for on the go.  The protein will keep you full for hours!  I would eat one around 3:00 (about an hour before my workout), and when our usual dinner time at 6:00 rolled around I still felt full!  Makes for a really great breakfast with your coffee on those mornings that you are running out the door…..and the list of flavors they offer is amazing!

• vanilla almond crunch
• chocolate peanut butter
• apple pie
• cinnamon roll
• chocolate brownie
• strawberry cheesecake
• mixed berry bliss
• coconut cashew
• peanut butter supreme
• lemon cream pie
• peanut butter & jelly
• banana nut muffin
• chocolate chip cookie dough

Not a shabby list if I say so myself!  All of the flavors were so yummy.  I seriously didn’t have one bar that I disliked.  Now I have to be honest and say that some I totally loved over the others, but I would gladly purchase any of the flavors they have.  My favorite was absolutely the coconut cashew & chocolate chip cookie dough.  You guys know this girl loves some coconut and chocolate chip cookies!

They also sent me some of their peanut butter cups from the cravings line, as well as the pasta to try.  I have to honestly say that I prefer a bar over the cups any day.  I haven’t had the opportunity to try the pasta yet.  We haven’t had any pasta in our dinners lately, but as soon as I try it I will let you guys know what I think about it!

So thanks Clark for the bars, I have really enjoyed all of them, and I look forward to future variations 🙂

Survey….

So I am on a quest to plan a spectacular 40th birthday party for the hubster.  I love planning and hosting parties; however, this one is so difficult for me!

It is not that he is a hard man to please with ridiculous expectations.  It is just that I want it to be fabulous!  He has several interests for themes, and I just can’t decide on what to do…….

Here is  a little background.  He is very much the outdoors type.  He loves fishing and hunting deer, of course football, nascar, and he loves his beer.  So here are some of the ideas floating around….

A beer tasting celebration

A 1940’s theme since he is 40

A rustic outdoors birthday party

A tigers football party

So let me also take the time to tell you now that the weekend that the hubster’s party is scheduled for is the LSU vs. Alabama game.  Which is a big deal to us since that is our number one rival.  I can’t plan for another weekend due to his work schedule, so…..I am not sure what to do??

Now your job is to weigh in on this dilemma and tell me what theme you think is the best for a 40th birthday bash!!

Football is BACK!!

I just thought I would shout that out just in case any one missed the opening weekend, lol!

     

As many of you know the hubster and I participated in our beloved Saints team’s back to football 5k Saturday morn.  It was an exciting event, and I was so happy to have such a big/important race for our first one together.  The race was sponsored by the Gleason foundation.  If any of you are die hard football fans you know that Steve Gleason was a Saint’s player that was diagnosed with ALS a few years ago.  He was best known for his game winning block of a punt at the end of our first game back in the dome after hurricane Katrina!

We woke up super early Saturday morning to make our way into the city for the race.  The course started in Champion’s Square, ran through the French Quarter, and ended on the fifty yard line of the Super Dome. 

We were a hot and sweaty mess afterwards, lol!  It is still well into the 90’s in Louisiana after all.  Which I could totally tell during my run.  Between the heat, humidity, and street conditions (if you have ever been in New Orleans you will understand) I didn’t finish as well as I would have like, but I am still pleased with the results.  I had to stop and walk several times for the above reasons affecting my breathing, feet, and ankles.  My finishing time was 34:10, and the hubster’s was 24:42!  I was very jealous excited for him. 

He has only been running for about three months now, since I asked him to participate in the race with me, and when we started he could barely make it the two miles with me that I normally run around our university’s campus.  As you can tell by now he leaves me in the dust, lol!  I was very happy for him 🙂

Nothing in New Orleans is complete without a tailgate party!  We stayed in Champion’s Square for several hours after the race to enjoy some beer, food, and music.  Of course we knew this would be going on so we were smart enough to reserve a hotel room for the night and just enjoy our time together.  We ate lots of yummy food, drank a little too much beer, and just had a blast New Orleans style!  Here is to football season 🙂