Scattered Sundays
I sprained my butt muscle this week while walking up a super steep hill.
So, this is 37 I suppose.
Speaking of my aging body, I feel like I should be getting serious about some sort of facial night cream. Does anyone have any recommendations? I try to stick to clean health and beauty products and am ok paying a bit more for quality stuff. So, let the recommendations flow!
I’m not sure how YOU go to the library, but…
How are you all doing? Half the country has been polar vortexed and is just now thawing out. I have friends in some pretty cold places and they’re all officially over being freaking freezing.
“Seattle winter” (nighttime temps in the 20’s) is headed our way this week and I’m thankful for our woodstove for keeping our home warm and cozy. Anytime we don’t have a fire in the evening I realize how drafty our living room windows are. Even with curtains drawn, it’s still pretty chilly given the size and age of our windows.
We have to keep our curtains closed at night because if our neighbor’s seven idiot yappy dogs see us pass by our windows they will sit at the fence and bark their dumb faces off for an hour. They hold us hostage in our house because we can’t go to that side of the yard without being barked at. The neighbor on the other side has a yappy chihuahua and will yip when it sees us going out our front door.
I LOVE animals, but I am So.Sick.Of.Being.Barked.At
For Bennett’s birthday “my dad” (He can never figure out how to access the wish lists, so I have his Amazon log in) got him this little toddler alarm clock that lets him know when it is ok to wake up in the morning.
Preschool party. This was just snack. I DID bring cupcakes.
He will go through spurts where he gets up suuuuuuper early and cuts into my work time. And then he’ll do fine and sleep until 6:30 am ish for a few weeks at a time.
So far since getting this alarm clock, he has stayed in his bed until it tells him it is ok to wake up. I have to say he is a lot less grumpy in the morning as a result. And thus I am less stabby.
I switched over to a new email subscriber system this weekend. If you’re on my email list then there should have been no interruption in your service and this post should have plopped into your inbox just like normal. If you had any issues, received duplicate messages or anything, please shoot me an email and my tech team will get it sorted out.
And by “my tech team” I mean me crying in front of emailing marketing youtube videos and googling error codes.
Not on my email list yet? Sign up below and the fancy new system will send you a free ebook! Because you rule. And if you’re thinking that Whole30 meals are boring and tasteless AF, here is an Instagram message I got from long-time reader Amy who was doing a Whole30 this month:
“Your recipes are great. My husband has no clue he is eating so healthy (except for his nightly ice cream), he just likes the food”. Boom.
My friend Mary has had the most incredible journey you could imagine. She went through life-changing bariatric surgery in 2016 and within a year became a certified Spin instructor.
She has a true passion for changing the lives of others through group exercise, with a special mission toward helping children. Especially those kiddos with special needs and autism.
Her goal to open her own fitness studio has been realized today and she opened WOWfit this morning in Schwenksville PA. They offer Pound and HABIT classes and focus on fitness at all ages and stages.
And because I have a ton of dirt on her Mary loves me, she is offering any of my readers their first class free. Just mentioned Sustainable Cooks in the email when you book and boom, free class. I feel like if you put “Sarah is a skank” in the subject line she would love you forever.
I was driving home from an errand on Friday and something got into my head and wouldn’t leave. I felt so called by it that I had Siri do a voice memo while I was driving so that I wouldn’t forget it. Because that is my life these days and I sometimes feel like my brain is made of Swiss cheese.
I think the rise of social media has given us so many unrealistic expectations. Since some of our life is in the public eye, I do my best to show a “warts and all” total picture. But on the chance that someone isn’t paying attention and seeing that, I need to formally declare that 99% of the time I don’t have my shit together.
Like anyone with competing priorities, I fail at all of them each and every day. There is never a part of my life that is balanced (remember my Balance is Bullshit post?) or thriving at the same time as another part. If business stuff is going well, it is because I spent the day ignoring my kids. If my kids are happy, then I wasn’t productive and getting stuff done.
I’ve worked outside the home in corporate, non-profit, with kids, without kids, etc. Working from home has wonderful perks and I’m so grateful for what I do. But I have come to learn that it means there is no line between “work” and “home” for me. I’m always on, always here, and I can’t just turn it off like I have in the past.
All of this to say, I feel like we’re in a period in our lives where we’re churning. The kids are usually grumpy and fighting, I’m short-tempered, and even mild-mannered Troy is on edge. I’m not complaining, but I am sharing it with you so that reality is part of the internet.
And I’ll say that all of my friends are going through this right now too. It just seems to be this vortex of energy suck happening.
When you see a perfect home, perfect family, perfect everything on social media, just remember that is what they want you to see. It’s not real and thus you should never compare yourself to them or judge your worth by their standards.
If there is someone you follow online (even if it is me!) who makes you feel like shit about yourself then unfollow them. Don’t waste your energy on feeling badly about who you are – BECAUSE YOU’RE AWESOME!
As long as you get up every single day and try to improve on the day before, put that in your win column.
:gets off my soap box:
Found on my walk. I’ll never sleep again.
Comment/Review of the Week
This week’s review comes from Jen who made our Paleo Chicken Pot Pie Soup {Whole30, Paleo, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free}.
Oh my! This is a WINNER!!! My 2 year old polished off two bowls, and you know toddlers don’t lie! She even ate the veggies, when normally she is a broth-only kid (my immersion blender is LIFE when it comes to soups these days). Super easy to throw in the crockpot and the house smelled great. Definitely going in the rotation at our house.
Girl, yes, toddlers are picky AF! I’m happy to hear she ate it and gobbled it up.
On Sustainable Cooks This Week
Whole30 Bacon Brands {Sugar-Free Bacon, Paleo Bacon} – The most in-depth list of Whole30 Bacon Brands on the web! Find out ingredients, tasting notes, and where to buy Whole30 compliant brand bacon (sugar-free bacon and paleo bacon).
Dark Chocolate Truffles – Strawberry Truffles {Paleo, Dairy-Free, Vegan} – An easy and decadent melt in your mouth recipe for incredible homemade Dark Chocolate Truffles. These chocolate and strawberry truffles are a paleo, dairy-free and vegan wonder!
There is no greater way to disappoint your spouse than to suggest the two of you move into the bedroom to takes some photos…
Spicy Sweet Potato Fries {Whole30, Paleo, Vegan} – Learn the three secrets to make perfect crispy sweet fries every single time! These Baked Spicy Sweet Potato Fries are a healthy and delicious Whole30, paleo, or vegan side or snack.
And because it is always fun to see the “behind the scenes” aspect of things, I have to tell you about this little wire fries cage. I realized none of my props would work for the photo I had in mind, and Troy came up with the idea of using leftover hardware cloth from building the chicken coop and some zip ties.
Here is the backside you don’t see the photos.
The Five Most Popular Posts This Week
- Homemade Vicks Shower Soothers
- Instant Pot Sous Vide Egg Bites Recipe
- Paleo Chicken Pot Pie Soup
- Whole30 Bacon Brands
- Air Fryer French Fries
Hop in the DeLorean
Last year the top post from this week was: Welcome!!! (this was the first post after I launched the rebrand of the blog. New site, new name)
Meal Plan
Looking for someone to do the meal planning for you? I’m partnering with Real Plans to bring you personalized meal plans that fit all dietary needs. Try it yourself for free for 30 days!
I will say the meal plan I made for last week was a colossal failure due to lack of planning and forethought on my part. You’ll see some of the same dishes planned for last week as a result.
Monday:: Whole30 Potato Soup and salad
Tuesday:: Frittata with salad
Wednesday:: Paleo Roasted Chicken, salad, and Whole30 Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
Thursday:: Dairy-Free Tomato Soup and salad
Friday:: Popcorn, leftovers, and movie night.
Saturday:: More leftovers
Sunday:: Family dinner
What We Bought This Week
No one took a single photo this week. Blah. But it was a more of a clean out the fridge/freezer/pantry week anyway so nothing too exciting.
I know a lot of you have heard me talk about Butcher Box before and right now they’re offering two filet mignons, free bacon and $10 off your first order for all new customers! If you’re interested in snagging this deal for yourself, click here to make sure you get all the freeeeeeebies!
What are you having this week?
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I can’t believe it’s been a year already! So proud of you and I really look up to you.
It seems like yesterday and 10 years ago at the same time!
I know the owner of this Etsy shop and use her hair mask and eyelash serum: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SoaprisinglycleanUS
My hair is softer now (my hair stylist even noticed) and my eyelashes are longer. I turned forty and my eyelashes disappeared. 🙁 This serum is helping them come back.
She makes face creams as well including a wrinkle cream. They might not be in her Etsy store right now, but contact her and she can make it for you. She does custom orders.
Thank you!!
Hi Sarah
Love every. single. post. you. write.
You make me smile/laugh/agree/think.
Love your reality.
Love your recipes.
Barking dogs drive me nuts.
Joy
You’re so sweet Joy! Let’s drink some tea and hate on the yappy dogs together.
If you’re looking for something that works and is easily found…
Weleda skin food–I use this all over but I’ve heard people rave about using it as a night face mask (whole foods sometimes has great sales on it)
I feel like I have tried that at some point but my skin broke out. But it was years ago and maybe my skin is different now?
Send the photo of the rotting, painted over pumpkins to Stephen King. He can use it for inspiration.
I say go EVERYWHERE you can as Spiderman. If I could wear a princess outfit and tiara every day, I would. I like your fries container. Put a bottom on it and it’s actually usable. We won’t order fries at 5 Guys burgers because they put their fries in a paper bag = steamed, soggy fries! I contacted your friend, Mary. She agrees that you are a skank, so it must be true. FYI, if I go to the link that says this post was on Sustainable Cooks, I get the whole post, but if I go to the link at the end of the intro post, it takes me to an oops, we don’t know where you want to go type message. So you’re half way there, and people CAN get to you. How long have those untrained dogs lived next door?
His tweets have been interesting lately, so I’d love to see my creepy pumpkin included!
Mary very much does think I am a skank. HA!
Can you walk me through the post thing more? Do you mean in the email?
The dogs have been there/accumulated for a few years. They keep adding them every 6 months or so. Beyond frustrating.
Ding dong, I’m wrong. At the end of this opening email it says “So.Sick.Of.Being.Barked.At (…more)” – so instead of clicking on MORE, I clicked on the “So.Sick….” part (it all looked like one part to me) and I came up with a message: “Hmm. We’re having trouble finding that site.
We can’t connect to the server at so.sick.of.being.barked.at.
If that address is correct, here are three other things you can try:
etc….” After you asked your question, I went back and looked more closely at what might have been the problem, and figured it out. Head bonk for me. (See my two adult children laughing their butts off and pointing at me?)
Oh phew because I’m not sure how to fix the error you mentioned before. HA!
I started going to my first bible study so I’ve been feeling a little more at piece (except for not studying and just absorbing everyone else’s insights) but I agree with the on edge stuff. It just feels like we have so much coming up and we’re racing to get there without taking some time today. But taking time today makes you feel guilty for not doing the rest of the stuff you’re supposed to be doing. My hubby and I are going on a trip away from the kids for 9 days at the end of the month but I feel this great anxiety about it. We’ll have fun but it means spending quiet time with my husband (what are we going to do?), and my mom is acting like she didn’t already raise two kids, and the mom guilt is huge! We planned it over Mardi Gras so that the kids have lots to do while were gone and don’t miss us so much hopefully. I’m on edge.
I feel like we’re both saying we never get caught up. Ever. And that is exhausting and frustrating.
Man, I hope the trip goes well and you’re able to enjoy yourself!