Christmas Movies

It's December! If you've known me for more than 10 minutes, then you're probably aware that December is my favorite month of the whole year. I've been listening to Christmas music since before Halloween, and my "Griswold Family Christmas" t-shirt has been in regular rotation since November 1st. I started putting up Christmas decorations about a month ago, and my copy of the Martha Stewart Holiday Cookie edition is sitting in it's binder with individual laminated sleeves. One of my favorite things to do over the Holidays is curl up on the couch with a glass of eggnog (sometimes spiked with a bit of Goldschlager) and watch a festive film. Here are some of my favorites: 

Elf: Kevin and I have an annual tradition of watching this movie while we decorate the Christmas tree. 

The Holiday: I have to confess, most people probably like the Jude Law/Cameron Diaz aspects of this movie the best, but I soooo prefer the delightful Kate Winslet/Jack Black storyline. Because really, after a certain point, Cameron Diaz being all "I-can't-cry" and Jude law being like "all I do is cry" gets old. Kate Winslet and Jack Black being hilarious in a Blockbuster? Pure gold.

The Family Stone: So many reasons why I love this movie #1: Diane Keaton's wardrobe. I want to wear everything she wore in that movie #2: Sarah Jessica Parker's character is an actual disaster in that movie, and I love it #3: Luke Wilson is delightful. Also, Rachel McAdams as the sarcastic sister is hilarious.

Christmas Vacation: My favorite part is when Chevy Chase completely loses it towards the end. I also love the Bullwinkle eggnog cups, and Cousin Eddie's green turtleneck. I have been wearing my "Griswold Family Christmas" t-shirt since before Halloween.

Little Women: It has to be the one with Winona Ryder in it. I love the book to pieces, and I love the movie. Spoiler alert: Beth dies, and I sit on the couch and cry every time, even though I know what's coming.

You've Got Mail: It has Christmas in it. It also has Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, so it is extra awesome.

A Christmas Carol: It has to be the Patrick Stewart one, though, because in addition to the awesome holiday-ness of Dickens, you get to marvel at the fact that Patrick Stewart never ages, and will probably look the same in 20 years as he does now.

The Santa Claus: Did you know that parts of the movie were shot in the town I grew up in? Fun fact. The bank my mom used to work at is in the movie. Plus, this one totally reminds me of my childhood.

It's A Wonderful Life: I shouldn't necessarily put this one on here yet....I haven't actually seen most of it, but I feel like I would love it. This is going to be on my must-watch list this year.

Polar Express: my Auntie Sheryl's favorite, and despite the fact that Tom Hanks is kind of creepy in CGI, I still like the movie.

What's your favorite?

Whole30 Progress: 100 Days

Guys. I'm pretty excited. Why? Because this past Monday marked 100 days since I started Whole30!

100 days. I still can't get over it.

Before I started, I knew I needed to make a change. I rarely stepped on the scale pre-Whole30, because I didn't like the numbers I was seeing. I had it in my head that "I weigh like 140 or something" so to step on the scale in August and see 167 was a hard pill to swallow. 167 (for me) was such an unacceptable number. Not because I felt society was pressuring me to be skinny, but because I knew I just didn't feel healthy. I felt tired and lethargic, and experienced numerous sugar highs and crashes throughout the day eating what I had convinced myself was a "pretty average diet".

This is me pre-Whole30.

100 days later. I can't believe how much better I feel. I am sleeping so much better. My killer night-time heartburn is gone. I have kicked those killer food cravings - the ones that said "oh c'mon, you'd give your left hand for a bowl of Kraft mac & cheese right now, just get some!". I'm down over 28 pounds. I still have about 5-10 pounds left until I hit my goal, but this experience has re-framed everything for me. I'm less focused on the number on the scale, and spending more time being so so thankful for everything that this experience has taught me so far. I'm healthier than ever, and I can't wait to see what the next 100 days bring! A lot of people will do a Whole30 for the traditional 30 days, and afterwards will revert (at least partially) to bad eating habits. I just can't imagine myself ever going back to how I ate before!

And in case you're wondering, here's a picture of me now: 

I'm off work today and about to head out to find a couple of pairs of new pants that fit. If you hear gleeful clapping from the fitting rooms at Old Navy, you'll know why!

Stay tuned for more fun Whole30 and Paleo stuff!

My Best Friend

It's almost the end of October, y'all. Can you believe it? I can't believe it. Christmas is going to be here before you know it, and I am CRAZY excited about it. I listened to my Diana Krall Christmas album on the way to work yesterday. I couldn't help myself. During "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" she changes up the lyrics to say "we'll frolic and play the Canadian way", and it makes me happy every time.

That makes it almost November, which makes it almost my third anniversary being married to Kevin. THAT is crazy. It's crazy because in some ways, I feel like we just met last week. On the other hand, sometimes I think back to before I met him, and it feels like a million years ago. 

I'll never forget our wedding. There was this moment during the ceremony when the whole "I now pronounce you husband and wife" part happened, and I was just so out-of-my-mind happy that I did this awkward hilarious little clap of glee. I sort of remember the audience getting a little chuckle out of it. I love that our sweet photographers captured the moment. I just love the look on Kevin's face. It's just this look of love mixed with "yep, she's clapping". The funny thing is, I never got over that feeling. Sometimes (all the time) I just look at him and sort of marvel at him. He's so smart, and so funny, and so kind. His heart is so big, his wit is so sharp, and I don't know what I ever did before I met him. When I was younger, I'd hear people describe their spouse as their best friend. I don't think I ever believed them. It just sounded so cheesy. I feel like it is true for us, though. He's far and above my very best friend in the whole world. I just relish every minute we have together. I love weekdays, when we get up way before the sun and go for a walk or a run at the park. I love the quiet talks we have in the morning. But even more than that, I hate when we have to be apart. I miss him during the day when we're both at work. I get super over-dramatic when he has to travel for work: "don't they know I need you every day?". He's not perfect, and I'm not either, but every day I am blessed just by being his wife. Most of the little laugh wrinkles I'm starting to get around my mouth are from him, and I couldn't be happier about it. 

Love you, Kev!

Paleo/Whole30 Mythbusters

Sometimes I get a crazy look or two when people find out that I eat Whole30/Paleo. I get some interesting questions, too. I thought it might be fun to clear up some of the myths surrounding Whole30/Paleo eating: 

"So...you can't eat anything good?"

Oh, SO not true! While Whole30 eliminates all grains, dairy, seeds, soy, etc., that still leaves plenty of really amazing things that I can eat. I honestly feel like the food we've been eating for the past couple of months has been a lot more interesting than what we ate before. Eating Whole30-compliant foods has certainly increased my love of cooking, and I feel like I have a whole new appreciation and passion for the fresh amazing ingredients that I've been incorporating into our meals lately. Tonight, for example, I brined some boneless skinless chicken breasts for a bit in a basic salt and spice brine. After a couple hours, I drained the chicken, dried it off, and grilled it after brushing it with a Moroccan spice blend that included cumin, cinnamon, and curry powder. We dipped the grilled and sliced chicken in an incredibly delicious middle-eastern-style dipping sauce of citrus juices fresh herbs, and spices. On the side was a quick salad of cucumber, snap peas, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lemon juice. It was arguably one of the best meals I've made in quite some time, it was so easy to put together, and I feel so good after eating it (which is something I can't say for the sluggish gross feeling I would get after a big bowl of spaghetti in my pre-Whole30 days). So in a way, if you think about it, all we eat is the good stuff!

"That sounds expensive"

Totally a fair assumption. Eating this way is more expensive. There's really no getting around that. There are ways to do it in a less expensive way (buy frozen veggies, tailor your meat choices to what is currently on special at the grocery store, etc.) but we don't find it prohibitively costly. One perk of eating this way is that we eat out significantly less than we used to. It's just easier for us to know what goes into our food that way, not to mention the fact that I love cooking this way! Before Whole30, I used to eat breakfast very seldom, eat lunch out just about every day, and eat dinner at home. Now, Kevin and I both eat breakfast from home, and eat home-cooked dinners. I always bring my lunch to work with me, and Kevin usually eats out at lunch time. We usually grocery shop once a week, and I find that we spend about $3.20 per meal, which in my books is super reasonable! And yes, while eating this way is arguably more expensive (I mean, a $1.29 box of pasta and a $3 jar of sauce can feed a lot of people on the cheap), we consider eating this way to be a significant investment in our health. 

"Don't you miss things like cookies and beer?"

The short answer? Yes and no. Sure, once in a while I could go for a nice frosty beer, but I usually just reach for a can of LaCroix coconut with a squeeze of fresh lime, and find myself equally satisfied. Will I ever eat a cookie again? Absolutely. But the funny thing is, the longer I eat this way, the more I realize that I never want to go back to the tired, moody, sugar-addicted overweight version of myself that I was before. I know now that I'm putting things into my body that it needs, and I'm seeing the benefits in so many ways. My skin is so healthy and clear that I pretty much just brush on a little mascara each morning before I walk out the door. I'm sleeping like a champion, and the energy I have when it comes time for our Couch to 5K training is incredible. Plus, I am almost 25 pounds lighter than when I started, and you can't argue with those numbers!

79 Days: What to do?

Well, kids, it's been 79 days since I started Whole30. Crazy huh? I can't believe how fast it went. I almost started this post by saying "I'm on day 79 of my Whole30!" but it didn't feel quite right for two reasons:

Reason #1: I haven't been 100% Whole30 compliant for all 76 days! Don't worry, though, I didn't lose my mind and tear into a bag of Doritos like a crazy spider-monkey. More on my wild party weekend later in this post...

Reason #2: Is it dumb to say that I'm on day 79 of a 30-day plan? I don't know...part of me is thinking about just saying "I eat Paleo", but I feel like Paleo can mean different things to different people. I like the structure of W30, I like how easy it is for me to know whether I can eat certain things or not. I feel like my experience has taught me that my body really does work better when I put the right things in it, and I am hesitant to ever go back to eating the way I was pre-W30. I really believe in the ideas behind Whole30. I know that while technically, there may be a way to make a pancake out of Whole30 compliant foods, but I know that mentally, that's not the best choice. There are things about Whole30, though, that I didn't really stick with, though. For example, Whole30 recommends staying off the scale, but I weighed myself consistently from the beginning, and I think that is a huge reason that I've lost so much weight, and a huge reason why I've been able to stick with it for so long. The other consideration I have in my mind is that I started out thinking that I would do this for 30 days. I quickly realized how much it was benefitting me, I decided for myself that I was going to do this for 120 days. Thinking back to the first few days of this process makes me laugh a little. Now that my body is used to eating clean, it's almost funny to think back to my pre-W30 days when I would sit at my desk at work stress-eating fistfuls of Cheez-its and wondering why my pants were so tight. I think I will obnoxiously continue to state that I am on day 76 of my Whole30, at least until I get to day 120!

Now, for more on my crazy party-girl weekend...

Kevin and I went to Savannah last weekend, and I knew while I was there, I would probably want a glass of wine. Or a beer. Or both. As it turned out, I was pretty 'good' while I was on vacation. Kevin and I spent our Honeymoon in Savannah, so part of our trip was spent visiting some of the places we loved when we were there the first time. We took a trip to Moon River Brewing Company, and tried some of their beers. Leave it to a Paleo/Whole30 girl to totally fall in love with a beer that is brewed with sweet potato, and is served out of a glass that is rimmed with pie spices and roasted pumpkin seeds. Kevin and I also ventured to a great little place less than a block from our B&B called Foxy Loxy where I boldly decided I was going to have cheese. "What's the worst that can happen? I'm on vacation!". Let's just say that digging into that creamy Brie, sultry goat cheese, and pungent blue cheese was a delicious departure from my regular eating habits, but the awful stomach cramps I ended up with later that night were less wonderful. Dairy and I don't get along, I realize that now.

Anyway, back from vacation now, loving the cooler fall weather, and while that sweet potato beer was delicious, I feel much better now that I'm back eating Whole30 compliant things!

Have a good weekend, everyone!

The Bigger Yes

I love this quote. I feel like it pretty well sums up so many things I've been reflecting on lately. Today marked exactly 60 days since I started Whole30, and I have to say I'm feeling pretty proud of myself! Part of me can't believe that it's only been 60 days, but at the same time I feel like I've been eating this way for a long time. 

The funny thing is, there's a small part of me that thinks "you won't eat this way, this restrictively, forever". The hard thing is, though, that I'm a little afraid to incorporate non-compliant foods back into my diet, even for a limited amount of time. Christmas will come, and I will probably enjoy a frosty mug of eggnog with a little Goldschlager in it (although by then, I will have gone about 120 days without any dairy or alcohol, so it might do a bit of a number on my stomach). Right now, though, the idea of an adult beverage doesn't tempt me at all. I will probably be baking up a storm in December, the way I usually do. I'll probably enjoy a piece of home-made hazelnut biscotti with a cup of coffee, or maybe a Mexican hot chocolate cookie with a cup of tea, and there's nothing wrong with that. The interesting thing is that every single one of the last 60 days has been made up of me making good choices for what I put in my body. It's been making choices to push my body to do new and great things (5k here I come!). It's been about me proving to myself that I am stronger than any of my excuses, and that I have the discipline to know the difference between what I want in the moment, and what I want most. 

Thai Shrimp Coconut Soup

I'm ready for fall to be here. Don't be deceived - just because they've gone all Pumpkin Spice at Starbucks doesn't make it fall. I'm ready for it, though. I'm ready for leggings, sweater dresses, cozy scarves, boots, spiced tea, and fall leaves. I'm ready for Thanksgiving to be here. I'm ready to go pick a Christmas tree and watch Elf. I'm ready to curl up on the couch on chilly Saturday afternoons wrapped up in my favorite blanket while watching Cameron Diaz fall in love with Jude Law in The Holiday and eating bowlfuls of hot soup. 

I've been getting impatient, though. It's still getting above 80 degrees almost every day, but I couldn't resist making up a batch of hot spicy soup for dinner tonight. I love Thai food, and I can't wait to make spicy, delicious variations on this soup all winter. Want the recipe? Of course you do!

Spicy Thai Shrimp Coconut Soup

adapted from stupideasypaleo.com

You will need:

- 2 cups chicken broth

- 14 ounce can of full-fat unsweetened coconut milk

- 1 inch piece of ginger 

- 1 tablespoon minced garlic

- 2 tablespoons Paleo-friendly fish sauce (Red Boat is my favorite)

- juice from two limes

- 2 to 3 tablespoons Sriracha sauce (omit if you can't handle the heat...)

- 3 cups sliced mushrooms

- 1 pound peeled and de-veined shrimp

- 2 scallions, chopped

- 1/4 cup cilantro

- one carrot, chopped up fine (I used my Kuhn Rikon peeler to make pretty carrot matchsticks, but you can just mince it as well!)

Start by pouring the chicken broth and coconut milk in a heavy pot or dutch oven. Whisk the liquids together, and slice the ginger into a few pieces (you'll be picking it out before serving, so don't slice it too small!). Add the minced garlic, and turn the heat on medium high, and let the mixture come to a gentle boil while you prep the rest of your ingredients. I have to say, I've never cooked with coconut milk before, but it looked so creamy and velvety that I'm almost considering using it in my morning coffee....I feel like it would be deliciously creamy, especially if I added a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg!

Chop your mushrooms. Doesn't need to be super precise. It's just soup! Unless you're making the soup for the Queen or something. In that case, please take the time to chop your mushrooms delicately and precisely, instead of just chopping them up haphazardly. I was dancing around to this song while I was chopping, so I can't be held responsible for my uneven mushrooms. I've decided that cooking is more fun if you're listening to good stuff on Spotify (tonight was a mixture of Paramore with some old-school Will Smith, Destiny's Child, Spice Girls, Counting Crows, and Smashmouth...I was re-living my youth)

Add in your Sriracha, lime juice, and fish sauce. Add a little extra Sriracha if you like it spicy!

Add in your peeled and de-veined shrimp. Keep an eye on them - you'll want to make sure they're opaque before serving. 

Smells heavenly, but let's be honest, it looks sort of....gray. Time to add some color!

Add in your chopped scallions. They add a little flavor, and a little color!

Throw in your cilantro!

Toss in your carrots...

Once everything is cooked and smelling incredible, fish out those ginger pieces, and fill up your favorite bowl, grab a spoon, and dig in!  The best part? It's completely and totally Whole30 friendly! The second best part? It only took me about 20 minutes to throw together. Rachel Ray can keep her 30 minute meals, I'm a busy girl!

Enjoy!