Weekly Menu

Happy Friday!

I can't believe summer is over...but I am ready for chili recipes and cozy sweaters!

Click here for a downloadable printable of this week's menu!

Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken from Skinny Ms.
Drunken Noodles from Pickled Plum
Chicken Broccoli Pasta Salad from Belly Full

Housewife Life: Baby Foot

A few weeks ago, I was watching some Insta-stories and Landyn from Living with Landyn was talking about Baby Foot. As someone whose feet are always dry, cracked, and generally gross, I was intrigued. Since her dermatologist suggested it or gave her the ok to try it (I'm not sure which), I decided to give it a go. What could it hurt?

So, two weeks ago, I soaked my feet for 15 minutes and put the booties on and settled down for a little over two hours to let the booties do their magic.

Days 1-5
My feet were super dry, but absolutely no flaking and I was certain it wasn't going to work for me. I was really sad!

Day 7
I took a bath and whoa. My feet basically started peeling off. It was too gross to photograph, but it lasted until Day 12.

Day 12-15
Most of the peeling had completed. My feet aren't model perfect, but I had pretty low expectations, so I am going to say that I am amazed at how well the product worked. At this point, the sides of my feet and my toes were still flaking, but I just gave them a good soak and scrub with a wash rag to aid the flaking.

Day 16
After some lotion, my feet looked great!!! I have never felt so confident about my feet!

The Take-Away
This product has changed my life. I will absolutely be using it again. I will say that the box warns that it won't completely work on very callused feet, and I agree because I still have a couple of trouble spots, but I hope that with a second use in a couple of months I will be passed the worst of my cracked heels phase!

Have you tried Baby Foot? Are you skeptical about it like I was? Share below!

Update: Flourish August 2018 8-30

August has been a fantastic month!!!

A bathroom remodel, two trips, all of the memories. It has been amazing! 

Here is where I am on my 18 for 2018...

In Progress
1. Write Daily
2. Learn German
3. Use a Daily Gratitude Journal
4. Use a Daily One-Sentence Journal
5. Make a go of my blog
7. Daily Devotional
8. Read 60 Books (I just finished number 34)
12. Send regular updates to family and friends
15. Work out 2-3 times a week
16. Remodel Bathroom (Due to my travel schedule, the bathroom is still in progress. We just need to paint, do some finishing work and put up the finishing touches like hooks and the towel ring.)

Updated
10. Adopt. We have decided to start by fostering and submitted an inquiry to the state.

Complete
6. Become a Travel Agent!
9. Buy a Shed!
11. Create my perfect planner!

13. Travel to a New Place!

14. Complete 2 Whole30s/100 Days to Destin!

Still to come...
17. New Bedroom Carpeting
18. New Kitchen Flooring

In Progress
3. Do Something New Every Month
5. Purge and Organize Entire House
7. Meditate Daily
14. Celebrate Small Holidays
16. Be Better at Sending Birthday Cards
17. File Monthly
18. Wash Car
22. Go to the Zoo Monthly
23. Gallery Wall in Hallway (Almost Complete)
24. Mask Thursdays
25. Go to 4 Major Concerts/Plays and 2 Community Plays
28. Text a friend everyday
29. Maintain Whole30 Lifestyle
31. Take More Baths
32. Weekly Power Hours
33. Organize Recipes
34. Digital Declutter
36. Visit Florence Three Times

Complete
1. Buy a Purse
6. Have Septic Take Serviced
8. Have Dryer Vent Cleaned
9. New Living Room Curtains
12. Take Chris to visit Owen
15. Update Dish Rags
20. New Mattresses
26. Go to a Dermatologist

Still to Come
2. Remodel Office
4. Volunteer Twice a Month
10 Girl's Weekend with E
11. Girls Weekend with T & G
13. Decorate Front Area
19. Update Bath Mats
21. Go to Frist 6 Times
27. Colonoscopy (Scheduled!!!)
30. Get more Involved at Women's Club
35. Plan a Weekend Getaway with Chris 

What will September bring?

We will be finishing the bathroom and gallery wall, I will be traveling to Akron with my mother-in-law and I will be working on growing my travel agent business.

How is your year going? Have you made any changes to make your life easier or better? Share below!

Kitchen Tip: Try a Potato Ricer

I love real mashed potatoes, but I hate, hate, HATE lumps in my mashed potatoes. Then, a few months ago, I learned about a potato ricer!

Ok, this thing is amazing. You cook your potatoes, push them through the ricer and then use the hand mixer to add your ingredients of choice (we use chicken stock because I try to eat dairy free). The potato ricer makes the potatoes smooth and fluffy. It was a revelation!

Have you used a potato ricer? Share in the comments below!

Motivational Monday: There is Good in Every Day

I get it. There are days that just are not good. In fact, they kind of blow.

But those kind of days are the days that make every other day seem just a little bit better...and they tend to make for the best stories...

Can you remember a bad day from a while ago?

Here is one of mine...

I was pretty new to my job and I had this big big day. I was the person that organized the conference spaces we rented out and we had rented them all out. Every last one. We had about 250 extra people in our building with all kinds of catering orders.

I woke up with a migraine, but took some of my expensive medicine and thought "If I can make it past lunch, I can probably either squeeze in a nap during my lunch break or I can go home". Let me just spoil this story now and say there was no lunch break and I worked about ten hours instead of the six or seven I had scheduled.

So, we started the day. And everything that could go wrong did and everything that could get complicated did.

Our receptionist was amazing at triage with my clients, but most things she couldn't handle for them and she would send me. At one point that day, she had a list so long that she called my boss to jump in and then my boss had to call another one of her employees in.

We kind of collided in the hall at one point working on the same problem and then just worked as a team from that point forward.

I remember getting called to reception because one of the groups needed a space for a makeup artist. It was a group of accountants. I was sure I was being Punk'd.

By the end of the day, all three of us were slouched in the lobby chairs (that had been pushed aside for an unscheduled photo shoot), utterly exhausted, my head still throbbing and we all started laughing. It had been such a bad day that it moved on to ridiculous.

When I look back at that day, I remember the end of it. Because even though the nine hours that led up to that moment blew, that moment made up for it and still does.

Just because a day is bad, doesn't mean there isn't something good in that day. You may have to really look hard for that something good, but it is there...I promise.

Tell me about one of your bad days! What was the good in that day?

Weekly Menu

Happy Friday!

I hope those of you who are getting back into the swing of the school year are doing well and those of you who are getting ready are getting some extra fun in before school starts!

Click here for a downloadable printable of this week's menu.

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken from Real Food Dieticians
Tomato Basil Turkey Meatloaf from Little Bits of
Chicken Broccoli Pasta Salad from Belly Full

Motivational Monday: Just Focus on the 24 hours ahead of you

Let me know if you can relate to this.

When I think about a big goal...for example, my biggest goal is to lose weight (a lot of weight)...I get overwhelmed and discouraged because it will take just about forever to reach that goal. Sometimes, I get so discouraged, I set myself back.

This year, when I set up my goals for 18 for 2018, I was able to take those goals and break them down. I had a year to accomplish all of these things.

Even though I didn't include "lose weight", I did include some goals about changing my eating style and adding regular workouts to my week. With those goals, I worked up to achieving them. Every day, when I am looking at these goals in my planner, I focus just on what I can do that day. I can walk or go to the gym. I can avoid foods that make me feel droopy. I can get through the day. And tomorrow is another day. I can focus on tomorrow when tomorrow arrives.

We are just about 2/3s of the way through the year and I never imagined I could have gotten to where I am today when I started this project. By focusing on each day as it comes, I am making great strides in my life and you can too!

Are you working toward a goal? Or are you paralyzed by what it takes to accomplish those goals? Share below, let's chat!

Weekly Menu

Happy Friday!

Have a good week!

Click here for a downloadable printable of this week's menu.

Slow Cooker Beef Tips and Rice from Southern Bite

One Pot Creamy Ziti with Andouille Sausage and Mushrooms from Diethood

BBQ Chicken Tostadas from Cupcakes and Kale Chips

Sheet Pan Kielbasa and Veggies

This is my favorite recipe! It is one of those dishes you can throw together with little planning and even littler time...don't grammar police that.

In the recipe I will be sharing below, I am going to share my favorite way to make this dish, but you can make it with any variety of kielbasa and any veggies you have on hand that need to be used.

First, you slice up the kielbasa and add it to an aluminum foil covered baking sheet.

Then, you prepare the veggies and add them to the baking sheet.

Third, you coat everything in the oil of your choice. Season to taste.

Finally, you bake it in the oven for 18-22 minutes at 425 degrees.

And ta-da!  So good!

Recipe:

1 polska kielbasa, sliced
8 oz broccoli florets
3/4 lb baby carrots
1 pint of baby bella mushrooms, washed and dried
1-2 handfuls of frozen shredded hashbrowns

Mix everything on a sheet pan, coat with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper and Italian seasoning.

Bake at 425 for 18-22 minutes until vegetables are cooked to desired texture.

Road Trip Fun & Games

Summer vacations often mean road trips. Without some planning, road trips can be stressful, but with a little planning, road trips can be the best part of a trip!

I remember when we were younger, my parents took us on a trip to Grandma's house in the pickup truck and we took the highway instead of the interstate.

As we were driving along, the seat belts in the backseat would pull in a click as we went over the bumps. My brother and I were complaining and my parents kept saying "Push it in and pull it out". After we complained about it probably about 30 times, my little brother announced he had a wedgie and my dad, frustrated by our seat belt complaints, grouchily said "Well, push it in and pull it back out!"

We all just stared at him and started laughing. We talk about that to this day, like 20 years later.

So, how can you make road trips fun?

Games and Snacks!

Some of my favorites are...

1. I Spy!

This is a game best played on a highway, not an interstate, where you describe something you see by color or shape and the other people in the car have to guess what it is.

2. Red Car!

In this game, you count red cars. Everyone can count a red car, but if you pass a church, it clears out the count on the side of the car the church was on. So, if you pass a church on the right, everyone on the passenger side loses all of their cars.

3. The License Plate Game

You get a list of states and cross off the ones that you see while you are driving. Highest count wins!

4. Spot the Car

You get a list of car models and you cross off the ones that you see. Highest count wins!

5. I'm Going on a Picnic

In this game, the first person says "I'm Going on a Picnic and I'm bringing a __________ (something that starts with an A)". The second person says "I'm Going on a Picnic and and bringing a (what the first person said for A) and a _____________________ (something that starts with B)." Then, you continue through the alphabet.

When someone forgets the list, they are out. The games ends when you get to Z or when all but one person is out.

And those are my 5 favorite mostly prop-less car games!

Have fun road tripping!

Click here for a link to a page with the License Plate Game and the Spot the Car Game.

Motivational Monday: Don't compare your life to others

We live in a world of highlight reels. From Instagram to Facebook, people tend to share their best moments. Good hair, good makeup, good memories. So, it is easy to think that your life doesn't compare to other people's lives.

It is important to remember that people don't necessarily share their worst moments, worst hair, worst makeup, deepest struggles. Think about your Instagram feed...do you easily share yourself without a filter makeup free? I absolutely don't.

Think about someone's feed that made you feel less than recently. Behind that pretty smile and good hair may be a failing marriage, a sick parent, a waffling career, or worse. You don't know their full story, but you do know yours.

And your story is something to celebrate! If you are in a rough patch, that rough patch is going to make the next time life feels easier feel even better. Each rough patch builds character and strength and brings on even brighter light when things even out.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that life is a series of highs and lows. Each high seems higher because of the low I have climbed out of to get there.

So please don't compare your life to others. You will get your time to shine.

Are you having a rough patch? Are you going through an easy time? Share some of your story below. I would love to start a conversation with you.

Weekly Menu

Happy Friday Everyone!

I hope you have a fantastic weekend...here is another dose of weekly menu for you.

Click here for a downloadable printable of this week's menu.

Italian Paleo Chicken Fingers from Tastes of Lizzy T
Slow Cooker Beef Teriyaki from Evolving Table
Sheet Pan Chicken Shawarma from Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen

Housewife Life: I busted my knee

 

Do you ever have so much going on that you know you need to slow down but don't and then God or Fate or whatever higher power you believe in steps in and makes you to slow your roll?

That happened Tuesday night. I was taking a bath because I needed some quiet time, but I wasn't just getting quiet time. I was checking things off my list.

Take a bath...check!

Face mask...check!

Soak feet...check!

Then, getting out of the tub, I fell in a way that should have majorly injured me, but my guardian angel was apparently doing overtime and kept me from hitting my head, breaking a bone or tearing a ligament.

I'm just bruised. However, as I was falling I heard a pop in my knee and then when I woke up at 2:42 AM and was so incredibly uncomfortable that I couldn't fall asleep, I woke Chris up to take me to the emergency room.

After a quick exam and set of X-Rays, the doctor told me it was just bruised and to rest, elevate it, ice it and take some ibuprofen to reduce swelling.

So what does that mean? I need to slow it down. I rested all day yesterday and I have rested 50% of the time so far today. And I hate it! I have so much I need to do and so much I want to do, but I have a vacation coming up and I don't want to jeopardize the vacation in any way.

Bathroom update:
They demoed the bathroom yesterday and the plumber is coming today to do some of the plumbing things that need to happen before they can move forward.

Life update:
I am heading to my hometown early tomorrow morning because my parent's neighbor passed away. Julie has been my parents neighbor since we moved into that house right after I was born. She was my "stand-in" grandma for grandparents day when I was young. She has always been a fixture in my hometown world and she will be greatly missed.

Then, Saturday, we are going to visit Chris's uncle who has been going through cancer treatments for almost a year. We are going to spend the day with them and come back to Nashville that evening.

Vacation is imminent. Which means I have a bunch of stuff to accomplish. I like a clean house and an empty hamper before we leave, but some of that will have to be compromised due to the knee injury and the bathroom renovation. I'm learning to live with that.

Have a good week everyone! Stay tuned for a weekly menu tomorrow. Share what is going on in your life below!

Kitchen Tip: Try a Power Hour

The list never ends. I know. There is always something to do in the kitchen. Unload the dishwasher. Put away the dishes. Clean the fridge. Sweep. Mop. Dust. Prep fruits and veggies. The list seems to grow every minute.

Here is something I do to keep my kitchen under control. I schedule a power hour. A power hour is an uninterrupted sixty minutes where you turn on music or podcasts or an audio book and just get the work done. You set a timer and at the end of the hour, you are done.

Why does this work? You make it like a game and challenge yourself to get your entire list done. Sometimes you can even get bonus items done. At the end of the hour, you treat yourself to your beverage of choice and a few minutes scrolling through Instagram or your social media of choice.

Thank you to Gretchen Rubin and YouTube's StyleMomXO for the idea to add the Power Hour to my routine!

Have you tried a Power Hour? Did you like it?  Comment Below!

Going to the Beach: Grocery Shopping Tips

For the first time beach vacationer, the biggest surprise might be that on Saturday and Sunday, the grocery stores resemble the kind of stores that are on the news on Black Friday. There are SO MANY PEOPLE in a grocery store that is foreign to them. Lines are long, aisles are crowded, it is rough.

Over the years we have tried several strategies that have varying levels of success that I want to share with you.

Strategy #1:
Shop immediately.
Unload car as soon as you can possibly check in and go to the grocery store with everyone and give each person a small list broken up by sections.

Pros: You only have to navigate one section of the store. It cuts the time in the store down.
Cons: You bring a lot of people into the store. The person who made the list is needed to answer questions. Impossible to do with children.

Strategy #2:
Wait until after dinner to shop.
Unload the car. Unpack. Settle in. Visit the beach. Have dinner. Then shop.

Pros: The store is much quieter. You get to have some fun before going to the store.
Cons: You probably won't get everything on your list.

Strategy #3:
Bring what you need for the first couple of days with you.
Shop at home in your own grocery store and bring it with you.

Pros: You won't have to go to the grocery store immediately. The stores are less crowded on Monday and Tuesday.
Cons: You will have to haul a lot of food with you which could take up valuable cargo space.

Strategy #4:
Use a grocery pick up or delivery service.
Order online and skip the hassle of going into a store.

Pros: Grocery shopping will take less than 30 minutes. You won't actually have to go into a store.
Cons: This may not be available everywhere. It takes some extra pre-planning.

How do you grocery shop when you go on a beach vacation? Do you cook a lot on a beach vacation? Share below!

Motivational Monday: Celebrate Every Tiny Victory

Four years ago, I accomplished something I never thought I could. I climbed to the top of a lighthouse.

There were two things I had to conquer to do that. First, I am not what you would call "fit". The climb was difficult for me physically. Second, I'm actually terrified of climbing heights. Heights don't bother me. Give me an elevator to the top of a 100 story building...I would love that. Its the actual climbing because, well, I'm kind of klutzy. Stairs freak me out.

So as I was climbing to the top of that lighthouse, there was a landing every 13 steps.

And I hugged the wall at every landing because I was safe for a minute.

But I also celebrated.

I was 13 steps closer to the top, so I looked down to see the spiral I had climbed. I looked out the window to see how far off the ground I was. Then I took a deep breath and kept going.

This year, I have come to view that climb as a metaphor for life. Every landing is a victory. Even though the ultimate goal is several landings away, you have to take the time to celebrate every victory along the way...no matter how small.

Are you working toward a big goal in your life? Are you taking the time to celebrate every victory? Share below!

Weekly Menu

Click here for a downloadable printable of this week's menu.

One Sheet Pan Lemon Basil Chicken from Wholesomelicious
Sloppy Joes from Physical Kitchness
Crockpot Pork Roast from Skinnytaste
Whole30 Shrimp and Grits from 40 Aprons

Housewife Life: We're remodeling...

I thrive on order. I like to plan. I like my house to stay tidy. I like quiet. I like my alone time. I like my routine.

That being said, while I need things to be orderly, I am more laid-back than the first paragraph would suggest. For me, planning is a way to handle the little things life throws at you. I have established a routine that makes it possible for me to be ready for anything at the drop of a hat. 

For example, in February, when my grandmother became ill, I was able to pack suitcases and leave for 10 days without worrying that I had left a dirty house, a mountain of laundry and unpaid bills. To make things even more complicated, my husband remained home and had to pack a suitcase to follow me up to Cincinnati and continue on a business trip from Cincinnati.

So, while I love order, I remain flexible.

In just a few weeks, we embark on our biennial beach trip, which kicks off three weeks of traveling for me. I will have a few pit stops at home along the way, but I won't have much time between trips to do much more than laundry and making sure things are in working order here and at my mother-in-laws.

To make my life even more complicated, stressful and decision fatigued, I just signed with a contractor to remodel one of our master bathrooms.

So, to follow along with me and my craziness, follow me on Instagram at @adventureswithjennie to see my choices, the progress and check on my sanity.


Have you ever remodeled a bathroom? Do you have any tips for me? Share in the comments below.

Update: Flourish July 2018

July July July

It was a good month. I got lots done, my house is clean, and I am finally living my best life.

So here are my updates!

In Progress
1. Write Daily
2. Learn German
3. Use a Daily Gratitude Journal
4. Use a Daily One-Sentence Journal
5. Make a go of my blog
7. Daily Devotional
8. Read 60 Books (I just finished number 34)
12. Send regular updates to family and friends
15. Work out 2-3 times a week
16. Remodel Bathroom (We just agreed to a quote and are waiting on a start date!)

Updated
10. Adopt. We have decided to start by fostering and submitted an inquiry to the state.
14. Complete 2 Whole 30s. I converted to 100 Days to Destin, which is going very, very well.

Complete
6. Become a Travel Agent!
9. Buy a Shed!
11. Create my perfect planner!

Still to come...
13. Travel to a New Place (August)
17. New Bedroom Carpeting
18. New Kitchen Flooring

In Progress
3. Do Something New Every Month
5. Purge and Organize Entire House
7. Meditate Daily
14. Celebrate Small Holidays
16. Be Better at Sending Birthday Cards
17. File Monthly
18. Wash Car
22. Go to the Zoo Monthly
23. Gallery Wall in Hallway (Almost Complete)
24. Mask Thursdays
25. Go to 4 Major Concerts/Plays and 2 Community Plays
28. Text a friend everyday
29. Maintain Whole30 Lifestyle
31. Take More Baths
32. Weekly Power Hours
33. Organize Recipes
34. Digital Declutter
36. Visit Florence Three Times

Updated


Complete
1. Buy a Purse
6. Have Septic Take Serviced
8. Have Dryer Vent Cleaned
9. New Living Room Curtains
12. Take Chris to visit Owen
15. Update Dish Rags
20. New Mattresses
26. Go to a Dermatologist

Still to Come
2. Remodel Office
4. Volunteer Twice a Month
10 Girl's Weekend with E
11. Girls Weekend with T & G
13. Decorate Front Area
19. Update Bath Mats
21. Go to Frist 6 Times
27. Colonoscopy
30. Get more Involved at Women's Club
35. Plan a Weekend Getaway with Chris

And that is it...How was your July? What is your biggest goal for August?