Tag Archives: coffee

Life + Family

7 Quick Breaks For Parents

It’s been a crazy year for those parents that have children and had to homeschool them.

There have been limitations on going outside of the house without a mask, most parks and restaurants are still closed. This makes it difficult to entertain kids, but it also makes it difficult for us to get some alone time ourselves.

Here are some ways you and your significant other can take a healthy needed break from the house, while practicing social distancing too.

1. Coffee Break

We were lucky to discover a drive thru Dunkin’ Donuts near us, and it seems Starbucks has some as well. This makes it convenient for you to safely grab a cup of joe, while in the safety of your car. Don’t forget to wear your mask in the drive thru as they are requiring it for yours and others safety.

2. Podcast Break

There are so many great new podcasts out there for whatever subject you are into nowadays. Sword and Stone is a great horror podcast that narrates real life scary stories, and you can do it either in the comfort of your car or on a daily walk. Sebastian Maniscalco has a show called the Pete & Sebastion Show that’s a podcast that was picked up by iHeart radio, however you can stream it on YouTube as well. I highly recommend it as comedy is the best form of medicine.

3. Lunch Break

Genghis Cohen is a lovely chinese restaurant nearby us in Los Angeles, and we went to pick up a wonton, shrimp, chicken, and vegetable soup that was delicious. I parked under a shaded tree nearby, put a few packets of soy sauce in it for flavor and enjoyed it in the comfort of my own car. Bon apetito!

4. Car Wash Break

Some hand wash car washes are now closed however there are few automated or laser car washes that are still open. Getting the car washed every week or every other week is great to keep your car clean, but also gives you that much needed break from the kids.

5. CVS Life Break

You can still browse for random products and food in CVS with a mask. Sometimes I will go on the non-peak times like 2pm or 10am, and just walk around and browse to see if there is anything I can buy that is not very costly but can help me relax. I’ve definitely bought Josh Cherry Wine, but also have gone for the facial masks that are super luxurious for when you get home. They also sell bath salts, nail files, tweezers and other fun stuff to keep your self refreshed and healthy during this time.

6. The Beach Break

Many public beaches are open now, and as long as you social distance you should be A-OK. We like to drive to those beaches that have paid parking just to remain safe and off the main roads. Don’t forget to bring the sand toys and beach toys, along with snacks and water. We drive thru McDonald’s and grab either breakfast sandwiches or Hamburger Happy Meals with Chocolate Milks and the kids are full and happy which prelongs the trip there. There are showers there as well so if the water is too cold to jump in, the outdoor showers are nice and warm. It’s refreshing. If you want to conquer this solo too, do it! It’s important to not feel guilty taking a break as the more relaxed and refreshed you are, the more your children will enjoy you too!

7. Massage Break

Some massage parlors are safe and open for business now. If you call around you’ll find a few nearby your house that are taking appointments. The one near us has special instructions, as they only allow 2 people in at a time however it is worth it.

What other ways are you taking a break?

Life + Family

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began , he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded t o fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous “yes.”

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things–your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions–and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else–the small stuff. “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

“Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first–the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”

Please share this with someone you care about.  
I JUST DID

Eat + Drink

Whole30 Meal Ideas

Hey all!  So excited to share some additional recipes with you that are Whole30 friendly today!

As a reminder, on the Whole30 diet, you CANNOT eat the following:

  • Dairy.  This means cheese, cow milk, cream, yogurt, half and half, butter.  Substitute these cravings with sugar free almond and coconut milk!
  • Grains.  No corn, wheat, rye, millet, buckwheat, rice, quinoa.  Substitute these cravings with potatoes, even yams, almond flour, coconut flour and more.
  • Alcohol.  No pops for you, you lush!
  • Legumes.  Lima beans, etc.  Replace with vegetables.
  • Added Sugar.  No sugar whatsoever, not even juice (only to cook with in moderation).
  • No junk food and anything with sulfites.

Some things I cooked over the last week or so include:

  • Eggs sunny side up, with Kale and Uncured Bacon

eggsbaconeggsba

  • Italian Chicken – garlic, olives, onions, kale, chicken, tomato sauce (no sugar added), tomato past, basil, oregano, garlic, black pepper, Himalayan saltplated italian chicitalianchic
  • Chicken Leg Roast – organic chicken legs, organic brussel sprouts, potatoes, carrots, whole garlic, olive oil, himalayan salt, combine all at 425 degrees F for an hour.

hickenroast

Extra tips to be successful on this diet:

  1. Try to get a friend, boyfriend, husband, family member to do it with you!  If someone you are living commits with you it makes it twice as fun and twice a party once you complete your first round!
  2. Remove any food non-compliant, or any temptations.  Unfortunately my kids birthdays were close together and then Thanksgiving happened during my first round, but no worries, I didn’t cheat.  I just made sure all candy and sweets were not in my view, some I completely removed, to make sure I could not just grab it and eat it.  I hid these main sugar sweets in my cabinets so that when the kids wanted them I would give them close the cabinets, out of sight out of mind.
  3. Drink tea and coffee as your dessert.  This sounds odd, but really helped me succeed in a big way!  I used the sugar free coconut almond milk and it was really delicious and heavy almost like a hot chocolate.
  4. Be prepared always with food!  There are both Larabars and Rxbars that are compliant with the Whole30.  I would buy these and keep in your purse, car or pocket, just in case you get hungry.  Fruit and veggies are also nice to have along with a water bottle filled with ice, lime, lemon, orange, cranberries, etc. as a treat for yourself.
  5. I weighed myself.  This is supposed to be a no no, however I wanted to see immediate results which I did.  I lost about 10 pounds in the first few weeks, and if you are addicted to carbs, sugar and dairy, which I was, you will probably be as successful as I was.

In closing, I have never found a diet more successful than this one.  There is really no measuring, tracking points, etc. which gets old and boring fast.  No frozen tasteless meals and your taste buds begin to enjoy fruits, meat, veggies again.  After your first round, you can try another round, but some people opt to do the Paleo diet which I have not tried and plan on continuing through the New Year.

HAPPY EATING, and enjoy your Sunday!