Scattered Sundays
Hey, I need your help!
I mean, um, good morning.
You smarties have never failed me and I need you once again to find me a one-piece swimming suit. Please? I need your suggestions and recommendations!
I have worn a two-piece suit for pretty much forever. But Bennett is quite handsy and grabby and I’d love a suit with more material. Like an insurance policy before he shows the world my sad chest.
I hit up Target last week to try on suits and hilarity ensued. I’m 6 feet tall with a long torso and no boobs and all the suits were SO SHORT. It was pretty much like every Kardashian vacation photo you’ve ever seen.
But this wasn’t intentional and I wasn’t trying to get new Instagram followers (but hey, feel free to follow me anyway).
So, here is what I need. I need YOU to find ME a cute one-piece suit that is basically built for a really tall 12-year-old boy. Okay? Thanks!
We added two new members to the Cook family this week! I’m pleased to introduce you to Kylo Hen (black) and BB-Egg (white).
someone come pressure wash that shed for us, please.
They are far and away the stupidest chickens I have ever met. OMG, BB-Egg is straight-up DUMB. This chicken is hell-bent on killing herself and is a sneaky little featherhead. Every time she gets out it takes at least 15 minutes to round her up.
We’re contemplating canceling Troy’s gym membership and just having him chase this freaking chicken around the yard. Rocky-style!
Due to Troy’s allergies, we can’t raise our own chicks. Jack’s friend from school was giving away their family’s chickens due to constant predator loss. We got the two babies who are one month old. And so, so dumb. We’re incredibly grateful to add to our existing flock because our ladies are getting old and not laying as much.
As the Offspring would shout: “gotta keep em separated”.
Based on some requests, I have started the task of adding Weight Watchers points to some of my recipes. You can find what’s been done so far here. It’s going to be a looooooooong project, but eventually, I’ll get it completed.
I’m paying a virtual assistant to calculate all of them for me because I don’t have the time, patience, or knowledge to do it myself without stabbing someone.
I’m not advocating for or against Weight Watchers, but I know people want the information to make their own choices. That’s why I label my recipes with different eating styles (Whole30, paleo, vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free, etc.).
I won’t be adding a “Weight Watchers” label to the recipe name but will be including points in the body of the recipe card. If WW points are something that interests you, check the category page for updates as I make them!
We discovered a fun new snack this week – Avocado Crisps from Hippie Snacks. I bought them a few weeks ago on Thrive but we kind of forgot about them for a bit and didn’t open them.
They’re freaking delicious and are gluten, dairy-free, and vegan. They have a great zesty flavor and Bennett is kind of obsessed with having them in his preschool bento box.
This week on Instagram Stories, we asked to hear about your lamest Prime day purchases after I showed off this pack of instant ice packs I bought for the emergency kit in my car.
I had a great time reading everyone’s answers, but I think the two lamest (and therefore funniest) purchases were diapers and compression socks.
Remember last weekend when I asked for your fitness tracker recommendations because my four-year-old Fitbit was circling the drain? I needed your favorites because an Apple watch was so far out of my budget.
Well, Prime day come through and I got a series 3 Apple watch for $169 ($105 off). I used the birthday money that I have had since um, last October. 🙂 I’m pretty good at holding onto cash until I find just the perfect use for it.
I can guarantee I will only use 1% of this watch’s capabilities, but so far I like it. I can see the watch face when I’m outside, and Troy is thrilled with the emergency SOS button. Always the first responder that one.
I’m not a techy person and don’t care about flashy stuff, but I do like it when things work and serve a purpose.
It also seems to count my steps more accurately than my old Fit Bit, and I no longer have to wear it on my belt loop when I’m pushing a grocery cart. FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS.
I heard from a lot of you that you picked up the Mealthy CrispLid I talked about last week. It’s the lid that turns your pressure cooker into an air fryer. Apparently, they were sold out on Amazon after Prime day!
You can still get your own lid with free shipping through Mealthy directly! Use coupon code sustainablecooks5 for $5 off a purchase of $94.95 or more.
And for those of you who stocked up on pressure cookers, check out this post on 21 Easy Instant Pot Recipes For Beginners. It will walk you through how to get started, vocabulary, and walk you through everything you need to know to feel like an Instant Pot badass.
And as always, you’ll find alternative cooking methods in those recipes if you don’t have a pressure cooker.
Bennett’s first week of all-day preschool happened this week and it went well. He was there three days and other than some normal three-year-old bonkersness, he likes it.
Me: go get dressed for preschool camp, please.
Bennett: I ready mom.
What he does not like about preschool camp (in Bennett’s own words):
- one of the babies called me a baby
- a 4-year-old girl said I’m a baby who sleeps in a crib (he chose to sleep on a nap mat for two of the three days and a lot of the other kids don’t take naps)
- You didn’t bring a photo of me for my cubby and now I can’t tell you ANYTHING about my day because you didn’t bring in a photo. Why didn’t you bring a photo? You were supposed to bring a photo. I didn’t have a photo for my cubby. Where is my cubby photo? I need a photo for my cubby.
- we didn’t sleep in a tent or sleeping bags in the woods and we did NOT hunt or eat a bear. This is preschool CAMP mom! Why didn’t we hunt a bear?!
He’ll be going to the same school in fall so this is a great way to figure out all the kinks ahead of time. With him in school three days a week (ALLLLLLLLLLLLL day) and Jack at school, I’m pretty much buzzing with how much blog work I can get done during the week.
On Thursday I was away from the house all day and realized around 10 am that I forgot to put on my homemade deodorant (it really does work!) that morning. I found this brand on sale at the grocery store and liked how it smelled and that the ingredients weren’t funky.
I was stoked when I realized that night that it was a local company and they have an amazing charitable mission. Gotta love a pit stick that gives back.
This Thursday, Troy and I will celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary! We weren’t supposed to get married or even date (read the backstory here), but here we are all these years later!
Marriage is extremely hard and anyone who tells you otherwise is a damn liar. Things were incredibly challenging for us from 2010-2014 when there were constant layoffs, career changes, and being soooooo broke.
But we stuck with it, worked hard, and just never ever gave up. And this year we’ll celebrate with two little boys who fight all the time but love each other pretty fiercely.
What I’m Listening To This Week
I stumbled on The Clearing this week and it fits all my true crime preferences. It involves an investigator and the daughter of Edward Wayne Edwards as they “unravel the truth of her father’s life, and overturn a viral online narrative that had turned Edwards into a kind of serial killer caricature.”
Reader Spotlight of the Week
Justice left this five-star review of our Blended Iced Coffee (something I drink EVERY single morning):
I was hesitant about this because normally I hate collagen powder, but this was great! Tasted so good ???? Thanks for the recipe. Now I can use all the collagen powder that’s been pushed to the back of my pantry!
On Sustainable Cooks This Week
Freezing Peaches {How to Freeze Peaches} – Learn all the tips and tricks for Freezing Peaches to stock your freezer with the star of summer fruit. Freezing fresh peaches is so easy and can be done without sugar, which makes them great to use for cobblers, smoothies, or snacks.
Whole30 Pesto {Dairy-Free Basil Sauce} – A simple recipe for Whole30 Pesto made with garden-fresh basil. This homemade dairy-free pesto recipe is wonderful in so many different dishes like pasta, chicken, or vegetables. Made with or without pine nuts, you can customize this vegan basil sauce to fit your tastes and budget!
Canning Stewed Tomatoes {Canning Crushed Tomatoes} – Follow this step by step tutorial to learn how simple Canning Stewed Tomatoes can be. A key ingredient for so many comfort foods, canning crushed tomatoes is a recipe that can be pressure canned or done via water bath canning.
The Five Most Popular Posts This Week
I’m leaving the Mojito Mocktail and Trader Joe’s Shopping List off the top five again this week because frankly, we’re all sick of seeing them!
- Canning Peaches {Pin this recipe}
- Homemade Peach Ice Cream {Pin this recipe}
- Air Fryer Zucchini Chips {Pin this recipe}
- Refrigerator Dilly Beans {Pin this recipe}
- Blended Iced Coffee {Pin this recipe}
Meal Plan
If you’re looking for some help with meal planning, we highly recommend Momables! Momables emails you a weekly meal plan, shopping list and prep list for $10 a month. It rules.
Monday:: Picnicky foods. It’s going to be Seattle hot (84 degrees. And yes, I know it is hotter where YOU live.), and we’re going to hit up a park with a splash pad. I’m thinking veggies with Buffalo Hummus, sliced cheese, lunchmeat, pita chips, etc.
Tuesday:: This cold noodle salad (wow that is an OLD recipe!) and grilled veggies.
Wednesday:: Something with shredded chicken. We have a lot of chicken from our Butcher Box order and I plan to cook some in my Instant Pot. Maybe chicken salad with dill and greek yogurt (another old recipe. Look at those photos!).
Thursday:: Creamy Thai Chicken and rice (it’s from Momables) and grilled veggies.
Friday:: Popcorn, leftovers, and movie night
Saturday:: TBD
Sunday:: Family dinner
What are you having this week?
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Is that a super sized soda cup in the aisle in your wedding picture??? (on the left)- regardless congrats on your anniversary 🙂
Haha, yes! Everyone notices that McDonald’s cup ruining my photo. That’s my first-grade teacher and as far back as I can remember she had one of those with her.
A friend photoshopped it out for me but I don’t know where that digital file is anymore.
Oops, forgot to include the site.
https://esther-williams.com/product/clearance-40-to-75-off-bathing-beauty-bargains/
Good luck with the search.
Thank you Stephanie!!
I’ve heard nothing but good about land’s end. Someone i follow on twitter introduced me to this site, today. It’s not an iPad friendly site, but I can tell you they have $15 suits. My friend wore her one piece velvet sit for over two years and raved that it was comfortable, too. Love be the things I learn when you crowd source!
https://h2owear.com/
These are swimsuits made for water athletics such as water aerobics. I wear one and im pretty sure handsy Bennett wouldn’t be able to grab anything…
They aren’t cheap but last a long time!
No reward for me…i just like them for what they are….
Sweet, thank you! But Bennett says “challenge accepted”. 🙂
1. Try Lands End or website called Lime Ricki for swimsuits. Have had luck with both in the recent past.
2. Your thoughts on collagen powder? Is it working/doing something for you? Do I jump on that bandwagon?
3. Happy 15th! My hubs and I hit 17 years next month – two kids, 10 yr little lady and the 8 yr gentleman. Some days are the pits, and others a bowl of cherries!
1) I placed a big order thru Lands End yesterday to try one suits at home.
2) I can’t say it does much for me because I don’t have any ailments. I love how creamy it makes my iced coffee and keeps me fuller longer. But…every time I buy it at Costco, the cashier or someone in line swears it has helped their joint pain. A podcaster I listen to (who in no way profits from collagen sales) says it helps her with her colitis.
3) Thank you and congrats to you as well! Love the analogy.
Good luck on the swim suit saga! I feel you on that one!
Does having two kids count as “ailments” because I have those? I could go for feeling fuller longer though so I’ll give it a try. Any brand(s) you’d recommend?
I think it does count as an ailment! 🙂
I use Vital Proteins. You can get it almost anywhere, but the best price is at Costco. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K6JUG4K?ie=UTF8&tag=thisb02-20&camp=1789&linkCode=xm2&creativeASIN=B00K6JUG4K
Ditto on Land’s End. They are famous for offering multiple torso sizes in women’s one-piece suits.
Placed a big order yesterday during naptime. Hope one of them fits!
Don’t let anyone tell you that 84 degree heat isn’t miserable! The a.c. in out rental doesn’t work and the landlords/property management are horrible so we are dealing with lots of fans in windows. It’s been in the upper 80s and 90s here for weeks now and is pretty consistently 84-86 degrees on the house. It sucks! We do have a window air unit in the bedroom so it’s at least cool when we sleep. A huge storm just moved through today and it’s finally down to 81 in here but we are getting a lot of cooler wind coming in from outside so it’s much more bearable at the moment.
Also, congrats on 15 years! That’s quite an accomplishment.
My “it’s a comfortable temperature” ceiling is 80 degrees. After that I’m super whiny. I’m so sorry to hear about your loss of ac during the summer. Hoping the landlords or management come to their senses soon. And/or can you move?
Thank you! We’ll celebrate by trying not to choke out the kids. 🙂
Haha 80 degrees is my top out point as well! The ac actually broke last summer so I doubt they are getting around to it anytime soon. And as far as moving goes, I would love to but this is the cheapest place that we have found in a decent-ish neighborhood. Rents are going up like crazy around here with many being as much as a mortgage payment, which we can’t afford right now. And we aren’t in a position to buy yet 🙁
I would look in your lease and see what their requirements are. Often, a simple email copying a friend (who you call your lawyer) does wonders in moving things forward.
Sorry, I can’t give you any suggestions for a swim suit. I have been wearing the same tankini top for about 12 years now (I’ve replaced the bottoms though. Those wear out a lot faster!), and have NO intention of replacing it. I STILL love it.
What does Bennetts shirt say? ‘Pretty fly for a small(?) guy”? (Our wifi name is ‘pretty fly for a wi-fi’! great minds…)
Did you let him go like that? I always love it when I see parents at the grocery store or somewhere who have allowed their child to wear a ‘costume’. It makes my heart happy. I saw a child once in a full-on Hulk costume -giant gloves and all. <3 And another kid came to school for at least a week in a Ghostbuster suit.
I hope you remember Bennett's photo this week. Maybe one of him and a bear, since he doesn't seem to be hunting them?
I have no meal plan for this week other than work on eating stuff in the freezer. There is lots of forgotten stuff in there. I did a little during the challenge, but then went away for two weeks. I've put a tiny den't in it since returning five days ago. We have a mountain of overripe bananas in there. We love banana bread, but you can only eat so much of that…. And it is too hot to bake right now anyway.
Happy anniversary!
So funny how quickly the bikini bottoms wear out! I was on Lands End yesterday and only the tops were on sale. I couldn’t figure out what happened to the bottoms, but I bet people bought them all!
Yep, Pretty Fly for a Small Guy. Love the wi-fi name; so creative! Someone in our neighborhood named theirs “DEA Surveillance van” and another has “It-burns-when-IP”. 🙂
What about banana pancakes? https://www.sustainablecooks.com/banana-chocolate-chip-pancakes/
We used to have a neighbour with wifi called “Bill Wi the science Fi” which made me laugh. My cousin’s wifi is ‘FBI surveillance van’ (her hubby is a cop). We recently learned that a friend of ours had the same idea as us. I had a serious blonde moment when I saw that because all I could think was ‘how is our wifi here??????’ hahahahahaha I think ‘it burns when IP’ wins though!
Banana pancakes is a great idea. Think they would work with peanut butter instead of almond? Should I just omit the almond extract? I feel like PB would overpower the flavour and I’d just waste it. What do you think?
Good luck on your bathing suit quest.
Oh, and yes, I let him wear his Spiderman mask to school. He chose to take it off when he got there though.
Love those wi-fi names! People are so clever.
Peanut butter would be great and delicious. I love almond extract because I think it enhances natural sweetness. I don’t find the flavor too “almondy”.
I doubt that there is such a thing as “too almondy” I just don’t HAVE almond butter and DO have PB on hand.
…not that I have gotten around to making any….. no motivation for anything these days.
It makes me happy that you allowed Bennett to wear his mask. 🙂
I also forgot to mention that I think the chicken names are amazing.