Here's to the future

Wow. Over a year later. I used to be so good at writing here, but now I'm terrible. Priorities, peeps.

The past year has been a whirlwind. We traveled a lot in 2016, attempting to make Kauai our second home without success (Tyson's issues, not mine :)). Although my love for traveling has continued to grow, I can't help but feel like I'm trying to fill a void in my life. A few posts back I talked about my miscarriage and how it effected us as individuals. I've felt that hole inside ever since. 2 years, 3 months ago. I'd talked to my doctor in hopes of him giving me instructions of how to get pregnant. Nope. They don't do that. Not to mention it could get awkward. Instead he checked me out, said everything was normal and that we must be missing each other during that special time. I figured that was the case.

My traveling slowed down, and I was able to actually spend time with my husband. I tried to relax and not think about having a baby but every time my 'Aunt Flo' would visit, I found myself getting more discouraged and depressed. Meanwhile, amongst our struggles, friends and family would post of their happy news of a tiny family member coming soon in the upcoming months. I continued to feel joy and happiness for them, but that isn't to say the news didn't hurt.

Finally, I decided to call my doctor and get my hormones tested. Working three jobs can take a toll on the body and I knew I was more stressed than what I should be. I figured he would tell me I needed to eliminate some of the stress (annndddd you do that, how?) and put me on some type of medication to regulate my hormones. Last Friday, I called the doctor to make an appointment for a blood test. Upon explaining to the nurse what my circumstances were, she asked me to call back the next week when the doctor was in so she could ask what the proper procedure would be.  I called Ty, informing him what the nurse said and he made a suggestion.

Tyson recently informed his family of our situation. His mom suggested going to a 'witch doctor'. Sounds crazy, I GET IT. However, I had met with this family friend before to get a hydro-cleanse. Yes, I recommend it. The holistic healer had a test that could measure my body, the inconsistencies, toxin levels, impurities, and frequencies. (Did you know our bodies have frequencies? Yup, me neither.) So being the tree huggers we are, I agreed to see the witch doctor.

Fast forward to Wednesday (yesterday). I showed up to the office and she asked me a few basic questions. Then she pulled out two metal grips. She told me to hang on to them. I picked them up and instantly the computer started going crazy. The grips were reading the frequencies in my body, measuring deficiencies, picking up on bacterias, impurities and toxins within the body. She did this test three separate times. Each time was a new test with detailed results. I found out in 1 hour what most people don't found out for weeks. I saw what vitamins I was deficient in, which organs weren't functioning properly, bacterial infections, why my skin is breaking out, toxins sitting in my body, allergies, sensitivities, etc.

I thought I was relatively healthy. I go to the gym (mostly) on the regular, eat healthy (we eliminated grains, sugar, and processed foods three years ago), I don't drink or smoke. After seeing the results, I was completely shocked. As a result, the 'witch doctor' put me on a regimen that eliminates a lot of the foods I am sensitive or allergic to. She gave me some natural remedies to help with fertility. But most of all she gave me the peace in knowing I wasn't crazy. There is something wrong with my body.

I understand I sound completely nuts. Being a self-employed family, we don't make a lot and we're cheap. Therefore, we have to be frugal with our money. We tend to try a lot of home remedies, go chemical free, and go to the doctor in EMERGENCIES only. The witch doctor costs less than a doctor visit. She didn't have to take my blood or give me an MRI. She didn't use an ultrasound or an X-ray. She simply scanned me with the Asyra machine.

We're on a 5 week climb to change my body. I couldn't do this without my amazing husband. He drops anything to come help with whatever I need. His extensive knowledge on home remedies and holistic healing is insane. I will forever be grateful for the compassion and love he has for me and our little family. He is my better half. If you don't marry your best friend, you're missing out. Here's to hoping!

XOXO
The Lands

Paleo Fruit Popsicles

Summer hit hard here in Utah. So hard, that I had a rough time adjusting without my daily popsicles. (Yes, I'm secretly 5.) Anyways, Tyson pulled this AMAZING recipe out of thin air (magician, I know) and it definitely hit the spot! Plus, it's made with REAL fruit, and I KNOW there isn't any added high fructose corn syrup, stevia, sugar, etc. 

6-8 servings

1 can full fat coconut milk (no sugar added)

1 cup berries (We used frozen, but fresh would probably be more flavorful)

1 ripe banana

Popsicle Molds 

Blend together. Disperse evenly into popsicle molds. Freeze for at least 5 hours or until completely frozen. 

If you have a real sweet tooth, you can add in 1 or 2 tablespoons of raw honey or organic maple syrup.

You better believe I will be eating these all summer long! 

Enjoy! 

XOXO

Kayla Itsines Update Week 19

With summer here, I've had little to no time to update my blog on our fitness journey. June came up quick and with so many activities and family events, the blog ended up going on the back burner for a while. BUT... I'm back :)

Here is my week 19 update!

I LOVE donuts. I got this sweet shirt for my birthday and I feel like it fits my personality great :)

(Don't mind the portable a/c unit. It's basically saving our lives this summer.)

I've been more than happy with my results from the BBG. Here's to 4 more weeks to complete 2.0!

Ultimate Taco Meat

Eating paleo can get BORING. So, my sweet husband does his best to switch things up, trying out new recipes to make sure I'm not eating the same stuff, day after day.


This recipe is out of the Frugal Paleo Cookbook we received for Christmas. (It's a good one to have on hand and can purchase it HERE)

The Ultimate Taco Meat 

Serves 2 - 4 (In our case, its more like two - we eat a lot)


INGREDIENTS:
2-3 TBSP bacon grease or coconut oil
1 cup diced onion
1 cup diced zucchini
1 cup chopped bell pepper
1/2 cup diced carrots
2 cups chopped kale
1 tsp sea salt
1 lb grass-fed ground beef
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 batch Taco Seasoning Blend (posted below)





{Preheat} large skillet to medium heat and melt your desired fat.

{Add} Onion, zucchini, bell pepper, carrots and kale to the hot pan along with the sea salt. Cook and stir until the veggies are almost tender - about 7-9 minutes. {Dump} par-cooked veggies into a large bowl and set aside.

{Return and add} additional tablespoon of fat to the pan if the other has dried out. When the pan is back up to medium heat, cook the ground beef, garlic and Taco Seasoning Blend until the beef is browned - approximately 10-12 minutes.

When the ground beef is nearly done, return the par-cooked veggies to the pan and continue to cook together for another 5 minutes or until the veggies are fully cooked.

{Serve} immediately, or pack away for up to 5 days.


Taco Seasoning Blend:

1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp chili powder

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well.


We've added our meat to salad or you can eat it alone. Either way, it's a great way to get your veggies and protein in a quick meal.

Ranch Dressing recipe can be found HERE

ENJOY!

Ranch Dressing

Life has definitely gotten the best of me this past few weeks and I'm just getting around to posting the Paleo Ranch Dressing recipe.

Ingredients:

1 cup Paleo Mayo (Find recipe here)
1 cup canned coconut milk (full fat)
1 TBSP dill weed (dried)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

*Side note on the coconut milk: canned coconut milk separates - with a hand blender, blend the contents of the canned coconut milk back together prior to adding

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix.

Ranch will last approximately 1.5 weeks in refrigerator

Kayla Itsines update - week 7

I cannot believe we just finished week 7 from the BBG! I know ya'll are wondering, and yes, my husband looks great in his bikini thanks to this. HAHA. JK.

Seriously, I have seen such a difference! I hate to admit it, but I think I'm actually addicted. I look forward to going to the gym, sweating, and getting that sense of satisfaction that I did something that day. I've seen a lot of lifting in my buttocks area, my quads are beginning to tone, and my abs... are even there when I eat ice cream for a cheat treat!

I wanted to give everyone an update on the challenge, but also to address a few questions I have received through txt and email.

The Kayla Itsines BBG is designed for anyone and everyone that is looking to improve their body, and athletic performance. However, when you begin the workout, your not going to be completing the entire workout three times over. The way the BBG is designed is like interval training. I'm sure you all have heard of HIIT *High Intensity Interval Training*. It's proven to be one of the most effective ways to lose weight AND tone the body without spending hours at the gym.

So, the BBG runs in intervals. 4 rounds, 7 minutes each, with 30 second breaks in-between each round, bringing your total workout to 30 minutes. During each round, there are 4 exercises with a limited number of times you do each exercise. Once you finish the specific number of each exercise, you move on to the next one.

As I mentioned above, everyone will be on different levels. Some people take the 7 minutes to go through one round one time, while others may be able to finish it one and a half times. The key here is to challenge and push yourself, but also focus on your form. Push yourself to your limits, but if you begin to feel faint or like throwing up, back off just a bit.

For example, one round may look similar to this: 24 walking lunges, 15 burpees, 15 tuck jumps, and 40 bicycles. Once you finished the 24 walking lunges (whether it takes you 1 minute, or 4) you just move on to the next one, the burpees. Once you reach the end of the line-up, simply start over until your timer goes off. Hopefully that makes sense.

Here are a few moves we shot while at the gym this morning just to make sure your doing the correct form.

Mountain Climbers: 

That counts as one. Try doing 25 in a row to engage those abs. 

 Elevated Sit Ups:

There's one. Try doing 15. 

Weighted bent-leg jackknifes:

15 reps

Leg lifts:

15 reps

I hope this clarifies a few things, and helps motive a few of you that don't have the Kayla workout right now. Use these 4 moves to create your own interval! 

Vanilla Bean Dream

It's no secret, we're LDS. That means we don't drink coffee or tea. One time, like 10 years ago, my cheer team was headed back from Nationals in California. While waiting in the airport, a few of us went wandering and found this amazingly tasty drink from Starbucks that doesn't have coffee. Now, I know a lot of people are thinking, how can you go to Starbucks and not get coffee? Did you read the first sentence? I'm Mormon! Anyways, I really just wanted a tasty drink and wasn't in the mood for fruity. So, I tried out the Vanilla Bean Frappuccino. Holy cow. That was the tastiest vanilla shake/malt/drink (because really, what is it?) I've ever tasted! So whenever we end up in an airport and I have an extra $10 to spend (which is never, I'm poor, remember?) I like to get the Vanilla Bean Creme Frap.

Fast forward a few years. And remember, now I'm paleo AND addicted to treats.

My husband walks upstairs with this vanilla drink thingy and naturally, I'm like, Hey, give me some of that. I take a sip and bam. Sorry charley, this is mine now! Needless to say he had to make another one for himself (poor guy). But anyways, my point is, he had pinpointed this frappuccino thing without me even telling him! Oh my heavenly goodness.

So, today as I was lashing a friend and fellow reader, I mentioned I would share this AMAZING recipe with you all.

Vanilla Bean Dream:

2 scoops Gnarly Vicious Vanilla protein
1 cup crushed ice
1 cup water
1/4 tsp cinnamon

(Adjust the ice and water ratio to make a thicker consistency)
More ice = thicker

Blend in compact blender and serve immediately.

Plus, it only has 2 grams of sugar in this baby vs the 57 in the starbucks version!

Terrible picture, but you get it, right?

XOXO

Snack Time!

It's no secret I'm a big fan of snacking. I can't go an hour without eating something, unless I'm working or sleeping. That being said, I decided to write down a few snacks I love that are not only satisfying, but they're also paleo approved.

Frozen Fruit and Coconut Milk

This is probably one of my all-time favorite snacks.

(Don't judge my photo, the struggle is real)

Frozen Fruit: Raspberries, Blueberries, Blackberries (Costco)
Canned Coconut Milk (Whole Foods)
Cinnamon

Simply pour the canned coconut milk over the frozen berries and top with cinnamon. We like to get our coconut milk from Whole Foods because they give you a discount if you buy by the case - which we always do. It's important you look at the ingredient list. This is primarily why we purchase the canned vs the bottles or jug milk, there isn't any added sugar. With all canned milks, you will want to make sure your refrigerate the remaining substance, and stir the liquid before use.

Homemade Ice Cream

We bought a Yonanas machine from Bed Bath and Beyond about 3 years ago and have loved using it! We like to make different flavor ice cream that we know is completely healthy, and what ingredients are used.

The main ingredient in the ice cream made with Yonanas is... bananas. It gives ice cream the creamy consistency, while added ingredients change the taste of the treat. We've tried a lot of different combinations, but as long as it will go in the processor, it will work fine.

Strawberry Banana Ice Cream: 2 servings
4 frozen, peeled bananas (peel before freezing)
8-10 Fresh Strawberries

Starting with bananas, alternate bananas and strawberries into the processor. Serve immediately.

Apples and Almond Butter

1 apple
Almond Butter (no added oils or ingredients)

Slice apple, spread almond butter on half of the apple (Duh).



There are also a few things I like to just snack on that are already made.


Dried Plantains (Harmons)

Chips and Salsa (Dried Plantains and Salsa, both from Harmons)

Raw Veggies and Ranch (homemade via mayo)

Celery and Almond Butter

Larabars

Bell Peppers

Greek Salad (Cucumber, Tomato, Kalamata Olives (Costco) and Feta Cheese (Costco))



Hopefully this will give you a few ideas and help with on-the-go snacks, cravings and things to eat between meals!


Ranch Recipe coming soon!


XOXO

Paleo Mayo (hey that almost rhymes)

Before I start, I just want to throw out a quick disclaimer. I've been posting a lot about our Paleo Lifestyle and I just wanted to say that this lifestyle does not work for everyone. Just like everyone else in the world, we have flaws, and we aren't perfect. We strive to do our best and to use the best products available. In no way do we claim any of these recipes or workouts to be our own and would like to fully credit the appropriate authors.

Paleo is something that works for us. We do not believe in evolution (even though The Primal Blueprint insists on it), rather we believe in Christ. We are two LDS people that like to improve our lives and treat our bodies as a temple, keeping it clean inside and out.

Thanks

Paleo Mayo

Eating paleo may seem like a bit of work. You have to prepare everything from scratch and nothing comes from a box or a carton. But, we've found it to be something that is doable, and is part of our lifestyle. We make the time to prepare the food, whether it be Mayonnaise, or a birthday cake, its all from scratch the Paleo way. 

Ingredients: 

2 Whole Eggs (Room temperature)

2 Tablespoons White Vinegar or Lemon Juice (1:1 mixture of the two works as well)

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 Teaspoon Mustard (Optional)

1 1/2 cup Light Olive oil 

1/4 Teaspoon Pepper (Optional)

First, combine eggs, vinegar/lemon juice, salt, mustard, and pepper in the mixing container. Gently pour olive oil over the top (this part is important). 

Next, insert the hand blender into the mixture, all the way to the bottom, trying to pin the egg yolks against the bottom. 

Turn the blender on, leaving it on the bottom. You will start to feel the egg yolks break up and essentially thicken the mixture, about 10 seconds. Then, slowly raise the hand blender towards the top and ensure the mixture is entirely blended. 

The End. 

Easy huh! There are other oils you can use such as: 

avocado oil

walnut oil

macadamia nut oil (For the rich :))

But, oils you would like to stay away from are: 

soybean oil

canola oil

vegetable oil 

corn oil 

peanut oil

sunflower oil

safflower oil

cottonseed oil

grapeseed oil

The above oils are not a part of the paleo diet and essentially bad for your health. It is essential you use LIGHT olive oil and not EVOO because EVOO is too strong and will taste... nasty. 

We like to use this little baby. It's only $35 and can be ordered HERE

Hope this information helps! I know its hard to make smaller things like this, but your body will thank you in the long run! 

XOXO

Helpful Hints for Going Paleo

I've had a lot of inquiries about what Ty and I's daily diet and workout look like. I can't believe February is halfway over. This is the first year I've actually stayed in shape instead of 'letting myself go' for the holidays. All I can say, is its been totally worth it!

Diet:

Andrea: 

Breakfast:

2- eggs, 2 pieces of bacon

Mid-morning snack (usually between clients):

Gnarly Protein

Lunch: Spinach Salad with tomatoes, kalamata olives, feta cheese, and cucumbers with balsamic dressing from Tessemae's or Caesar dressing from Steve's Paleo Goods 

Afternoon snack: Dried plantains and salsa - they taste just like chips, but they are actually healthy for you. (It's true)

Dinner: Burger and Veggies - we get the Normandy Style frozen veggies from Costco and eat them on the daily. It's a great price, and we don't have to purchase and cut those veggies all the time.

Late night snack: I REALLY like my Gnarly protein. So, I will usually have another serving of that, or, frozen mixed berries with canned coconut milk.


Tyson:

Breakfast: Tyson doesn't usually eat breakfast. He has never been a breakfast person. This is out of choice, and he's usually not hungry in the mornings. But if he is, he will eat 4-5 eggs with sautéed spinach.

Lunch: 5 eggs, sautéed spinach,

Mid-day snack: Usually leftover meat and veggies from the night before. This is anything from Chicken, Burgers, steak, shredded pork, salmon, etc.

Dinner: He tries to have a protein, whether it be steak, burger, chicken, and veggies as well as a starchy vegetable or fruit.

Bedtime Snack: This should actually be his second dinner. He usually eat tuna and homemade mayo, pickles, and an apple.

His main focus is that he eats a lot of vegetables and eats a lot of high-quality meat in order to get his protein.

Obviously, we eat dinner together. I wrote this out to give a few options for dinner. Thank heavens for my husband because he is the prime reason we have continued with the paleo lifestyle as long as we have. He LOVES to cook. So, I clean in return :)

WORKOUT SCHEDULE:

Because our bodies are different, our workout schedules vary, naturally. Obviously Ty is a total babe and has the body of a Greek God so he works out a little differently.

About a month ago, I approached Tyson about a new workout program. I was tired of the same routine, go to the gym, lift two muscle groups, and then go home. It was boring. I found the Kayla Itsines workout through my sister who is ALWAYS finding the new workout programs. She informed me of the program a few months back when I went to visit but she never made me fully aware of what it entailed. But, once I told Tyson about it, we were fully committed.

Here we are on week 5. I can't believe I've made it this far. I've seen a definite change in my body, feel stronger, and I am toning up in places I didn't think would ever tone. (someday maybe I will have the guts to post progress pictures) Ty agrees this is one of the most challenging workouts he's done in a while. You can try the KAYLA ITSINES MOVEMENT for 7 days for FREE!!!! Kayla is from Australia which means she is a shoe-in to be a total babe!

We try to do interval training which includes but is not limited to sprints, spin bike, walks on the beach in Kauai (that one was by far my fave), anything and everything that will get your heart pumping!

Every morning Tyson does intervals on the spin bike, 20 minutes total, changing up the speed and resistance during each minute. (I think this is one of the reasons he is such a babe but I just DON'T have the will or want to get up early in the morning, it's fine)

Here's the tricky part. I took pictures of our fridge and pantry to show you exactly what it looks like. I can tell you this. When something is in the house, you are tempted to eat it! I know, a lot of you have kids that enjoy fruit snacks, small chocolate treats, and processed stuff, but I can tell you, it is having a negative effect on them as well! So, if you want to take the Paleo Leap, do it now, and make sure the whole family is in on it.

Tyson has become MR Chef Boyardee in the past year, cooking up all sorts of concoctions I thought I was going to hate. The trick to being paleo is tricking your stomach into thinking something healthy is actually something you want. Example: Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce with Zucchini noodles. Bam.

First things first.

CLEAN OUT YOUR FRIDGE:

As I mentioned before, if something is in your house, you WILL be tempted. Those late night cravings aren't going to cure themselves.

FILL IT WITH PALEO GOODS:

Fruits, Veggies, Meat. I can't tell you how many times I've said that. That's what we eat. (Careful on the fruit). Here is a list of things that are currently in our fridge/freezer.

Meat:

Chicken Breast
Ground Beef
Ground Pork
Steak
Bacon
Pork chops
Sausage
Pork Roast
Beef Roast
Eggs
Salmon
Shrimp

Veggies:

Cauliflower
Broccoli
Mushrooms
Cucumbers
Zucchini
Spinach
Tomatoes (I know they are a fruit but they don't have as much sugar)
Peppers
Pickles
Sweet Potatoes(Yams)
Onions
Carrots
Olives

Fruits:

Pineapple
Apples

Spices! Being paleo doesn't mean you have to eat bland and boring food. I've posted a picture below of all the spices we have acquired over the past year due to fun recipes that give the food a different flare.

We've also acquired quite a few cookbooks. We have some we favor more than others, but for the most part we use them all.

The Well Fed Series 

The Frugal Paleo Cookbook

Hopefully this is enough to get you all started and answer any questions that you may have. If not, just comment or send us an email. We'll post weekly recipes soon! 

XOXO

The Shark

Ah, Black Friday.

This is my favorite time of year. Thanksgiving with the family, Christmas lights and music, and of coarse, Black Friday shopping. I go every year. No, I don't have a long list of the hottest toys or electronics I am purchasing. Honestly, half the time I don't make a list. It's more of a selfish holiday. I try not to shop during the regular season when nothing is on sale. I save it all for when I can buy twice as much for a fraction of the price. Judge me. It's fine.

Anyways, about 3 weeks before Thanksgiving, I went to my sisters house and she had this very odd contraption looking vacuum. I turned it on, and instantly knew I had to have it. So, of coarse, after showing my husband all of the bells and whistles, it went on my Black Friday shopping list.

Enter The Shark Rotator

When Ty and I first got married, we remodeled a lot of our house. We installed new granite countertops in the kitchen, painted, tiled, and put in new carpet. After the carpet was installed, the carpet layer (sorry, I can't think of their job title) mentioned not to use a DYSON on my carpet. He said they are great for some types of carpet, but mine was a bit longer and the DYSON would shag it up and eventually ruin the carpet. Now, I'm not a carpet expert so I took his advice for what it was.

The vacuum we had prior was a great vacuum. We put it on our wedding registry, and some kind soul purchased it for us. But, I was a newlywed. I had never been in the position to purchase a new vacuum and had no idea what I was looking for. So, on Black Friday, I felt like a seasoned professional vacuumer that knew exactly what she was looking for in a new vacuum.

Back to Black Friday.

Target was our first stop (as well as the rest of the worlds). We wandered around the movie section, and up and down the aisles while psychotic teams with matching shirts pushed their carts into everyone, running frantically from all directions and throwing random items in their cart. I turned the corner, and there it was. It was like the heavens opened up and light was beaming down on this box with a shiny new toy tucked away inside. Tyson and I looked at it, but we didn't have a cart. You can maneuver a lot easier around people when you don't have a cart. Anyways, we wandered around the rest of the store and picked up a few toys for my nephews birthdays coming shortly after Christmas. I figured the vacuums would be gone by the time I got back to them, so I wasn't in any type of hurry. We finally finished our circle around the store and there they were... still there. I checked out the price tag... not bad... good price. Looked up the reviews... great. So, I snagged one.

Fast forward a few hours. We get home and I CANNOT WAIT to get this dang box open. I dropped everything and quickly pulled the pieces out of the box. I set everything up, and turned that baby on. It was like heaven to my ears. Its quiet hum was like listening to a newborn baby. So cute.

Rewind to about an hour before having Thanksgiving dinner: I vacuumed my entire house as a pet peeve of mine is having a dirty house on a holiday. I don't know why. No one comes to our house (which I prefer), but it still has to look nice.

Back to Black Friday. OK. Time to take this baby out for a test drive. I quickly vacuumed the family room and about died when I saw how much dust and dirt was being picked up! I just vacuumed THAT DAY with my other one! I instantly fell in love with my new purchase and haven't looked back since! I feel like I am a relatively clean person, cleaning my house often - now that I have this heaven sent dirt picker upper, I don't have to worry about my house being full of dirt or dust, hair, or who knows what else (leave me alone, I have a dog. And a husband. 'nuff said). This vacuum is seriously amazing! AND I haven't even started on the attachments! The stair attachment actually SUCKS up everything on the stairs. The vacuum weighs virtually nothing, and with its lift away design, it makes going up and down a split level home that much easier! I can go from vacuuming the carpet right to the tile without having to adjust anything! Plus, mine came with a tile attachment that I can put on that actually sucks up any crumbs or dirt on your floor, while the back part dusts. WHAT!?

I can't tell you enough how much I love this new vacuum. If you're in the market for a new vacuum, give this one a try. It's definitely BOMBDOTCOM and LAND approved!

XOXO
Dre

Tex-Mex Hash Breakfast Casserole

Thanks to the ever so lovely Paleomg.com, we discovered this amazing recipe. Eating Paleo has gotten easier as the time passes, but sometimes, you still crave the foods you love. I absolutely love enchiladas, tortillas, burritos, basically anything mexican food. The problem with that is they are always made with flour tortillas, or corn tortillas, as well as beans and rice, and that just isn't in our eating guidelines.

Enter the Casserole.

This amazingness hit the spot. You can literally eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. In fact, the author of PALEOMG.COM suggests you eat it for breakfast. Personally, I like it warm and usually for dinner, but everyone is different.

Here is the recipe.

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

40 mins

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1lb Grass fed Ground Beef
• 2 sweet potatoes, shredded
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 6 eggs, whisked
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon bacon fat (or other fat)
• 1 (14oz) can of El Pato Enchilada Sauce or homemade
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon oregano
• salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Pull out a large skillet or oven proof cooking dish. (aka cast iron skillet, etc)
3. Place skillet over medium heat, add a tablespoon of fat then add your minced garlic and diced onion.
4. When onion just begins to soften, add your ground beef and use a spoon or spatula to break it up and combine with onion.
5. Now use your shredding attachment on your food processor to shred you sweet potatoes. If you don’t have a food processor, just use a grater then go to the store and buy a food processor for next time. Life will be better with one.
6. When your meat is almost cook through, add all your spices to the meat and onions and mix to combine the flavors.
7. Now pour your shredded sweet potatoes on top of the meat and pat down then add your enchilada sauce on top.
8. Cover and let simmer for around 8-10 minutes.
9. Once sweet potato begins to soften, remove from heat, add your whisked eggs and stir to combine it all together.
10. Place in oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until eggs are cooked through.
11. Let cool, this b*tch is gonna be hot!! The enjoy! For breakfast, lunch or dinner!!

This recipe is literally idiot proof. I can do it. So that's saying a lot. Anyways, give it a go and let me know what you think! Thanks again PALEOMG.com

Some of my favorite beauty finds

Before I went to esthetics school, I thought the products you could find at the drugstore or department store were the best out there. Fast forward a year, and after extensive product research and ingredient education, I came to my senses. So, I've compiled a few of my favorite beauty finds that have QUALITY products in them, and aren't extremely hard on your wallet. 

Best Shaving Cream: 

Ever since I was born, I've looked like a monkey. Over-share, I know. BUT, my parents and older siblings have told me numerous times how hairy I was as a newborn. Lucky for me, this is still the case. When I shave my legs, it wouldn't matter what shaving cream I would use, I would get red, scratchy razor burn all over my legs, not to mention my hair would be growing back before I got out of the shower. The feeling of getting into bed and having Ty touch my legs after shaving was embarrassing. I'm pretty sure he thought he was touching a cactus. So not sexy. 

So, when my good friend Cassidy came over for a Pure Romance party and introduced me to this shaving conditioner, I figured I would give it a try. 

BEST SHOWER BUDDY EVER! Coochy is a conditioner, not a cream, that soaks into your pores, softening the hair and allowing your skin to be conditioned and moisturized. After shaving, I can tell you, my legs are soft, like silky smooth, baby bum, satin sheets soft! Plus, they last for at least 2 days. Now, that may not say a lot to some of you, but for someone that has a mm of growth by the time I finish shaving with any other cream, that is huge! You can purchase COOCHY here. It's only $19 and it lasts up to 6 months! 

Best face wash: 

I've written on my other blog how much I love the organic skin care company, Eminence. They truly are amazing. Based out of Hungary, their products are completely organic, and by far the products I've seen make the biggest difference on me. 

The Stone Crop Gel Wash is the most incredible face wash! If you are unsure of what type of skin conditions and skin type you have, this is a safe cleanser to go with. Although, I do recommend seeing an Esthetician to help you determine those factors to suit your skin care needs the best. 

Stone Crop is an incredible ingredient that helps with skin pigmentation, and is light enough for breakouts! This product will not clog your pores, and is safe to use both morning and night. To purchase, go to the Eminence website and enter your information to find a spa near you. 

Best Facial Exfoliator:

Besides the fact that this exfoliant is on Eminence's best seller list, The Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant is by far my favorite exfoliant because it has lactic acid in it, which means it is lightening pigmentation along with sluffing off dead skin cells that are clogging pores. It also contains strawberries, which is a cleanser and contains salicylic acid which will gently exfoliate to remove impurities in the skin. 

Best eye cream: 

I was born with, and continue to have, dark circles under my eyes. I drink a lot of water, have changed my diet, and changed my skin care, but nothing has helped my dark circles. Except for this. I went to the esthetics show in Vegas and was able to try a few products Eminence has available. The Eminence rep RAVED about the Wild Plum Eye Cream. I've tried other eye creams, but because I often have eyelash extensions, finding a cream that is not oily and won't pull my lashes off is often one of my struggles. 

I've been using this eye cream for almost 2 months and my eyes have seen a complete difference. Not only do I not have dark circles underneath, but my skin under my eyes, the thinnest skin, is soft, and hydrated. 

Plus, because its Eminence, its a beneficial product with active, pure ingredients! Wild Plum juice brightens your skin, and soothes irritations, while Grape Oil delivers hydration.

Best sunscreen: 

I don't care what your age is, everyone needs to be using a high quality sunscreen. Like other skin care products, if you can get it at the grocery store or a local department store, it is mass produced and doesn't have the most active and beneficial ingredients. This is the sunscreen I often use on my clients after they receive a chemical peel, but I personally use it daily. It's a medical grade sunscreen, that has Titanium Dioxide and Octinoxate which are chemical UV blockers. 

This sunscreen is only available to professionals, but if you would like to purchase, you can find a skin care professional that carries this product, by clicking here.

Best Self Tanner: 

Finding a self tanner that doesn't turn your skin orange seems to be a challenge. I see brides and high school girls going to the dance struggle with the orange tint they have semi-permanantely stuck to their skin. NOT ANYMORE!!! This is by far the best tanning product I've used. St Tropez foaming mousse gives you a beautiful tropical tan year round. Plus, its cheaper than going to a tanning salon, longer lasting, and it doesn't cause cancer! 

You can purchase St Tropez at Sephora, or to order online, click here. But, don't forget, you also need the mitt to get a nice, even tan.