Livin' It Up... Beauty Hacks for Women

Easy Home Remedy For Teeth Whitening At Home:

Consult your dentist before trying this. 

Follow these steps to whiten teeth and save money by skipping those costly professional whitening treatments. You'll notice the difference after one use but make sure you don't do this more than once a week or else you risk wearing down your enamel making teeth more susceptibe to cavities. Once desired shade is reached cut back to once or twice a month.

The taste is a bit unpleasant but it's extremely effective. Hydrogen peroxide acts an an antibacterial mouth cleaner helping your gums. Baking soda is gritty helping with plaque and aids with fresh breath.

You'll need:

• 1 tsp hydrogen peroxide
• 1 tsp mouthwash
• 1 tsp baking soda
• one drop of toothpaste
• 1/2 tsp water

Here's whatcha do:

1. Floss. 
2. Mix hydrogen peroxide and mouthwash together. Swish in mouth for one minute, spit and rinse with water. 
3. Mix toothpaste, baking soda, and water in a cup. Mix until you get a paste. Use it to brush your teeth for 2-3 minutes, spit and rinse mouth with water. That's it!!!

This really works! I saw instant results and made sure to avoid coffee, tea, wine, and anything else that may stain my teeth. My teeth had that "fresh from the dentist" feel too. 

How To Get Rid Of Facial Hair With Turmeric:

I've been toying around with the idea of getting laser hair removal for years but cannot bring myself to schedule my first treatment because I've been told the procedure is painful and have seen some on the side effects firsthand. Being Italian, I cannot stand that my arms are hairier than most men. That is not sexy in the least bit.

Every woman wants flawless skin that is hair-free and smooth.

Thankfully you don't have to pay for these treatments. Turmeric has been used for years by women in India who are very brunette.

Turmeric causes hair to thin, tighten roots, and cause the hair to fall out.

Please note, turmeric will temporarily dye your skin yellow after use. Simply scrub your skin with a some baking soda and soap. A cotton ball soaked in milk helps as well.

Here's whatcha do:

1. Grab a bowl, 2 tbsp turmeric, and warm water. If the area is much larger, say for your arms vs. your face then you'll need more than 2 tbsp turmeric. 
2. Make a paste adding a couple drops of water until thick but spreadable consistency. Wear rubber gloves when applying the paste over the entire area where you want to remove hair from. Leave on for 20 minutes then rinse off with a cloth soaked in cold water.
3. For the face: apply paste daily until you rid unwanted hair. 

Reaction: This was an effin' mess and I did not see any difference. Going to be sticking to my plan of saving up for laser hair removal instead.

Fast Acting Pimple Clearing Tip:

WARNING: IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO IBUPROFEN DO NOT TRY THIS!!! USE COMMON SENSE... PLEASE. 

Nothing is more frustrating that going to bed with clear skin and waking up with a zit, especially when it's swollen and sore. How embarrassing!

Whatever you do keep your hands off. Growing up I refused to pick them after learning about acne scarring and not wanting craters on my face. 

In an effort to reduce breakouts make sure you wash your makeup brushes regularly, wash your pillowcases, and towels often since these objects are notorious for harboring bacteria. 

You'll need:

• Advil Liquid-Gels
• Push pin

Here's whatcha do:

1. Poke a hole in the top of the Advil.
2. Squeeze gel from the liquid-gel cap and apply to spot. It relieves pain and redness almost immediately. 

Side note, if you suffer from acne flare ups you may want to look into your diet. My face was breaking out worse than when I was a teenager and after following my first round of Whole30 my face cleared up and now I'm back to only getting one or two during that time of the month. I notice when I go off the diet my face will flare up with acne again and it will clear up again when I get back on board with a clean diet.

Sunless Tan Using Two Lotions Together:

I grew up in Las Vegas spending all of my Summer hours in the sun without sunscreen for the majority of my childhood and used tanning beds a handful of times. I had been scared straight in my later teen years reading magazines and hearing horror stories about the damaging effects from sun exposure. 

Sunscreen has become a part of my every day makeup routine and if I'm going to be out during the Summer months I make sure I apply a liberal amount of it and reapply as needed. I haven't had a tan like I use to get since my earlier teen years. I'm okay with it... kind of. I really miss the sun-kissed bronze color. 

When I'm wearing sundresses I do wish I had that beautiful bronzed skin and have tried to obtain it from a bottle instead. I still have yet to try an airbrushed tan because the thought of getting semi-naked in front of a stranger makes me nervous as hell.

In an attempt to get tanned since it's now skin showing season I tried the tutorial from What Meegan Makes by mixing two self-tanning lotions together.

You will need L'Oreal's Sublime Bronze Tinted Self Tanning Lotion in Medium Natural Tan and Banana Boat's Summer Color Sunless Tinted Lotion in Light/Medium. 

Make sure you exfoliate and shave clean skin first.

Apply a non-tanning lotion to hands, elbows, knees, and feet to prevent developing excess color in those drier areas. 

Use a nickel-size of each lotion mixing them together in your hand. Rub the lotion on your arms, legs, and chest area. Avoid knees, ankles, and elbows because the skin tends to be dry and scaly in these areas. 

I have never found a self-tanner that doesn't have a scent so no surprise here, there is a faint smell. Like the fragrance of coconuts and sunscreen, self tanner is a smell I associate with Summer and find it to be non-offensive. More power to those who take their skin's health seriously. 

It will leave a bronzed glowing finishing.

I do this routine twice a week after I shower using a gentle body wash and no loofah. Try Honest Shampoo and Body Wash. Make sure you wash your hands well after use. Once you start to notice the tan wearing off or getting splotchy, take a few days off from the lotion and loofah skin well to exfoliate before reapplying on a blank slate.

Also note, once applied steer clear of water for the next 4 hours. If it's raining outside make sure you grab an umbrella. I also suggest laying an old blanket underneath you while you sleep to avoid getting orange/brownish streaks on your sheets.

Don't forget to find a self tanner formulated for your face or make sure you color match foundation.

While all of these tips may seem a bit overwhelming they are much better than potential sun damage.

Pucker Up: 5 Tips For Kissable Lips:

Valentine's Day was just around the corner and a date with that special someone was on the horizon. Outfit was planned, hair visualized, and the dream night has been played over and over again in my head. 

You should feel on point and like a million bucks for your date night. Worrying about your makeup shouldn't be something you have to worry about. Make sure your lips stay colorful and kissable throughout the night with a perfect pout by following the steps below after you brush your teeth banishing bad breath:

Step 1: Exfoliate and Moisturize

You will need a lip scrub to exfoliate any dead skin and smooth out the surface of your lips. My current go-to has been Lush Cosmetics Mint Julips Lip Scrub. Keep your lips hydrated and smooth by applying a good lip balm every night before bed for one week leading up to that date. My absolute favorite is Blistex Complete Moisture Lip Balm. It's thick and feels like butter on my lips. I love it!!!

Step 2: Line

Add definition and shape with a lip liner that matches the hue of your lipstick. This helps to prevent lipstick from running outside the lines.

Step 3: Tint

Choose a tint that's a pretty close match to the color of your lipstick. The lip tint is used to create a "stain" so there will be some color on your lips even after the lipstick wears off. Which hopefully won't be after a couple sips of wine. 

Step 4: Apply Lipstick

Step 5: Seal

After lipstick is applied, hold a tissue over your lips and lightly dust translucent powder over the tissue. The powder falls through the tissue to set the lipstick the same way it does makeup to your face. 

Now seal the deal and kiss him already!!!

(On my lips: Lorac Alter Ego Lipstick in CEO and topped with Buxom's Full-On Lip Cream in Rose Julep)

Honey and Tea Tree Oil Face Peel:

Winter really takes a toll on my skin. It dries and cracks.

About once a week I like to treat myself to an at-home spa day pampering my body head to toe and a face mask is always a part of this routine. 

This DIY face peel from The Pretty Hippie will leave your skin feeling soft, smooth and clear. 

Tea tree oil smells awful to me but it's antiseptic powers to help heal skin from some ailments outweighs its pungent odor. 

Honey has anti-microbial properties and is a known antioxidant so it will keep your skin fresh and youthful looking. 

Milk is full of vitamins and fatty acids that do wonders for the face and body.

This homemade face mask (or peel, whatever you call it) will be better for your skin than any other chemical filled version you buy at the store. 

You'll need:

• 1 packet Unflavored Gelatin
• Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil 
• 1 tbsp Pure Raw Honey
• 1 tbsp Milk

Here's whatcha do:

Use a plastic container to mix the ingredients emptying the gelatin, 1 tbsp honey, 5 drops tea tree oil, and 1 tbsp milk. Use a fork to stir looking for a chunky/thick consistency. Microwave the mixture for 10 seconds only. Touch the mixture making sure it's not too hot to apply to your face. Quickly apply the cream all over your face avoiding your hairline and eyebrows because it does get sticky. Move fast because it will start to harden right away.

(Peeling off the mask hurt like hell in some spots because it was pulling out the peach fuzz.)

Now you wait letting the peel dry for 20-25 minutes.

During this time take a mediation break listening to soothing music and laying down with your eyes closed. 

Remove the mask peeling away from your face. It may hurt a little because it sucks the gunk out of your pores and there is a possibility of baby hair removal. After the mask is removed, cleanse your face. 

You can enjoy this mask once a week.

Reaction: Super easy to mix up and apply. Be extra careful when applying this avoiding eyebrows and hairline because it will pull out hair. Great for getting rid of that peach fuzz ladies. I am impressed with how smooth my skin is now. It is painful but so worth it. 

Make Your Own Makeup Remover With Just 3 Ingredients:

Makeup remover wipes are a necessity for my nighttime routine when getting ready for bed. I run out of eye makeup remover solution and wipes quickly since I wear makeup just about every day unless my face starts to break out and needs a breather. 

Finally decided to give the DIY tutorial a try from Hip2Save after claims of this really working and with having a child I had all of the ingredients already on hand, so why not?!!!

Almond oil is recommended over the other oils because it has a lot of Vitamin E and is not as greasy as the others.

You'll need:

• 2 oz water
• 7 drops almond oil, coconut oil, or olive oil
• 1/4 tsp tear free baby shampoo

Here's whatcha do:

Combine ingredients in a small bottle and shake well. Use makeup pads to remove makeup.

This stuff works and left my face feeling clean and fresh. I love love love this and no longer need to buy makeup remover wipes. 

Use Cold Green Tea Bags To Reduce The Puffiness and Dark Circles Under Your Eyes:

(Me right after I woke up from six hours in bed and only two and a half hours of sleep. Sleepless night caused dark puffy under eye circles. Don't mind my eyebrows, I'm due maintenance. Lazy girl.)

I struggle to get eight hours of sleep a night, I'm in bed for eight to ten hours but I'm not getting good quality sleep or that's what my FitBit Charge is reporting and those occasional dark circle puffy bags under my eyes that show up as well to remind me.

It's not just sleep that causes these dark circles... stress, depression, age, nutrient deficiencies, and genetics can also be factors.

The antioxidants found in green tea can be highly beneficial to the delicate skin around the eyes helping to tighten the skin from the caffeine. They also contain antioxidants and tannins. Tannins are responsible for stimulating blood circulation and smoothing skin.

("If I knew you needed to be tea-bagged I could have helped." I was not amused since I already felt silly. Can I please get six minutes of peace and quiet to do this beauty shit alone?!) 

Make a cup of green tea using two tea bags. Once steeped, place the tea bags on a plate and place in the refrigerator until chilled, about ten minutes. Hold the chilled tea bags under eyes for 5-6 minutes.

(After...brighter under eyes. Yesss!)

I felt silly having the tea bags under my eyes with some liquid pouring down my cheeks and neck but I can say that I say a difference in the coloring of my under eyes. After the 6 minutes they were brighter. Yay!! for a 2-in-1 beauty hack, green tea is good to consumption and under eye circles.

Keep Your Hair Smelling Great Spraying Perfume Onto Your Hairbrush:

Every day for one week I would spray my perfume, Coach Love, onto my hairbrush and run it through my hair. This is perfume that I have received numerous compliments on every time I wear it. To really test out this beauty hack I didn't wear any extra perfume except what I sprayed on the hairbrush. Monday, nobody said a thing. Tuesday, nothing. Wednesday, nothing. Thursday, nothing.

Come Friday I finally had it with this hack but gave it another chance.

When I went into the office I kept playing with my hair and gave it a smell. A coworker finally spoke up.

Coworker: "Why do you keep smelling your hair?"
Me: "Because it smells good."
Coworker: "Come here and let me smell."

So I walked over and stooped down to them and they took a whiff.

Coworker: "It just smells like hair. What's it supposed to smell like?

Being that this was a male coworker I deemed this beauty hack to be a bust. 

Use Your Lash Curler To Line And Curl At The Same Time:

Our eyes are the windows to our soul so you want them looking your best. This is why eyelashes are the one feature you should never neglect.

Curling your lashes enhances your overall makeup look. Now you can kill two birds with one stone by lining your lids and curling your lashes. This technique creates a soft smudged look which is great for daytime.

If you are already a pro at putting on eyeliner than this may not do you any good but if you are unskilled continue reading.

You'll need your eyelash curler and soft eye pencil. My go-to eye pencil is L'Oreal's Voluminous Smoldering Eyeliner in Black.

Draw a line on the edge of your eyelash curler as thick as you desire. Make sure you get as close to your lashline as possible and press the base of the curler against your skin. Squeeze and release the handle a few times to make sure the liner smudges well into your lashline and to help curl your lashes.

If you miss any spots just fill it in with the eye pencil. This a good technique for a beginner to use the line as a guide.

Make Mascara Last Longer Using A Drop Or Two Of Visine:

Clumps in mascara happen. Just adding a drop or two of Visine into the tube is an easy fix.

(Check out those clump-free lashes!)

The mascara will apply like it's brand new.

Livin' It Up... Movie Night, The Help

I know, I know. I'm only 5 years behind in watching this movie and I have never read Kathryn Stockett's novel, The Help.

This film exposed the oppression of the female African American maids in the 1960s during the Civil Rights Movement deep in the Jim Crow South of Mississippi. An aspiring writer, Skeeter, played by Emma Stone, worked together with "the help" to share their stories of what it was like working with white families and their daily struggles. 

This movie is powerful. I even shed a few tears. 

Sadly, racism is still very strong and it can't be "helped" with stories alone. When will it ever get better and for us all to realize we're all just humans? Love your enemies. 

Love is not a color and character doesn't know a shade of skin. 

Aibileen, played by Viola Davis, shares a strong message that should serve as a reminder to ourselves and something we should be teaching our daughters, "You is kind. You is smart. You is important." 

... and lastly, Minny, played by Octavia Spencer, inspired me to polish my cooking skills and gave me reason to never trust another chocolate pie again. 

Livin' It Up... Couponing at Whole Foods

I caught a couple episodes the television show, Extreme Couponers, in awe of their passion and ability for saving hundreds of dollars at the grocery store. While I think it's a great idea to have a stockpile of supplies in case of emergency I do not agree with grabbing items that I have no intention of using... adult diapers and fifty boxes of cake mix. You will also not find me with a three ring binder or putting in countless hours towards couponing. I don't have the time or patience for that.

I am the first to admit that shopping at Whole Foods (a.k.a. "Whole Paycheck") is a luxury. I've become and turned Little Man into a food snob.

True story, we've been shopping at Whole Foods for a couple of years now making weekly grocery trips every Sunday. One weekend I was too exhausted to do much of anything and decided to run to our local grocery store, Kroger, to pick up items for Little Man's lunch. Every day that week he came home with food left in his lunch saying that it "just didn't taste right." He was with his dad the following weekend I went shopping and had no idea where the food came from. That week it was back to Whole Foods and his lunchbox returned home every day empty.

It always surprises me too when our produce stays fresh for a couple weeks versus a couple of days. That to me is worth it and knowing that my son is getting good nutrition as well as avoiding pesticides and added hormones/antibiotics.

I'm drawn in by the store's cozy farmer's market feel and friendliness of the staff who eagerly help.

We spend a butt-ton of money on groceries, however, with little waste. Side note, I have a spreadsheet broke out into columns (veggies, fruits, protein, dairy, carbs, fats, spices, and beverages) and have all the items in the fridge, freezer, and pantry listed with expiration dates. If an item is set to go bad this month I highlight it so I can plan my meals around that item. That helps, but why not save more? Even if it's a buck or two that's still another buck or two I get to keep.

Here's where couponing comes in because now I believe that you can shop at Whole Foods affordably with a little bit of work, awareness, and know-how. This added work has not been a burden and grocery shopping is the one chore I absolutely love and look forward to.

("Loyal to my coupons not a brand.")

#1 ) Locate coupons:
No, you won't find coupons for probiotic raw coconut juice and other random shit but you will be able to locate coupons in your weekly circular for brands like Silk and Kashi. Whole Foods also lists their coupons on their website too and they FINALLY!! have an app for download.

#2) Take to Facebook:
"Like" the pages of brands you buy regularly. Periodically they post coupons and other offers. If you have time you can even drop an email requesting coupons. Not all will help out but some like to reward their consumers.

#3) Double up:
If you have a manufacturer's coupon and a store coupon use them together to save the most amount of money. You need to present coupons with the item rather than at the end.

#4) Bring your own bags:
Whole Foods will give you $0.05 per bag that you bring back to the store with you and you're helping to save the environment with less waste.

#5) Join their email club:
You will get a weekly newsletter with special offers, recipes, and events in your local area.

#6) Make a list and try to stick to it. Go meatless a couple times a week. 

#7) Don't forget Kid's Club:
If you have a little one in tow make sure you stop by their Kid's Club located by the entrance/exit where your child is allowed to grab one snack (usually a pick of fruit and a juice box or water). Little Man loves it and knows that he'll be rewarded with a "treat" for good behavior. He also likes that he gets to throw the peel of his banana or apple core in the compost bin.

Here are some other resources for couponing at Whole Foods and the legwork is done for you:

• The Krazy Coupon Lady for deals and how to stack coupons. 
• Whole Foods Sales and Coupons directly from their website per store location.
• Living Rich With Coupons for weekly deals. 
• Southern Savers for weekly deals. 
• Hip2Save for weekly deals.
• Couponaholic for coupons. 
• All Natural Savings for coupons.

(Grocery haul... there are items hidden)

I attempted the "$125- 14 Meals Whole Foods Challenge" which is intended to feed a family of four. I created a meal plan with intent of sticking to my Whole30 diet. The total spent on my grocery haul was $10 over budget and after the fact I realized that some of my "out of convenience" purchases could have been exchanged for the whole produce and do the cutting myself. However, I went to the store late in the evening and was not in the mood at that time to think about chopping produce at a later date.

Here's how my Whole Foods Challenge went and I only recorded the cost of what I spent to feed one person... a grown adult female.

Scroll to the bottom to see how I did. I broke out the cost of each meal/snack too.

Day 1:
Breakfast: Two eggs over easy with a chicken spinach sausage = $1.74

Snack: Fruit salad with strawberries, grapes, pineapple, raspberries, blueberries, clementine, and a banana = $6.14

Dinner: Tilapia Fish Taco Bowl (4 oz tilapia, red onion, 1/2 red bell pepper, 1/2 avocado, grape tomatoes, sautéed cabbage, and lime wedge) = $7.02

Day 1 Total = $14.90

Day 2:
Breakfast: Two egg scramble with two slices of bacon, sweet potato, and spinach = $2.54

Snack: Celery with 2 tbsp peanut butter (not pictured, lighting was terrible) = $1.44

Lunch: Spinach salad with grape tomatoes, red onion, zucchini, and Tessamae's ranch dressing = $2.49

Dinner: Leftover Tilapia Fish Taco Bowl (4 oz tilapia, red onion, 1/2 red bell pepper, 1/2 avocado, grape tomatoes, sautéed cabbage, and lime wedge) = $7.02

Day 2 Total = $13.49

Day 3:
Breakfast: Two hard boiled eggs with two slices of bacon, mashed sweet potato and side of strawberries = $3.63

Lunch: Our company is currently in the process of expanding our building to accommodate for growth and the general contractor surprised us with a Thanksgiving feast from Cracker Barrel. I stuck to my Whole30 diet and ended up not eating the sweet potatoes because they were disgusting, too sweet and definitely not diet compliant.

(Turkey, ham, and cranberry sauce were the best!!)

Snack: Fruit salad with strawberries, grapes, pineapple, raspberries, blueberries, clementine, and a banana = $6.14

Snack: Strawberry Banana Smoothie = $2.64

Dinner: Surprised with Five Guys after an exhausting day and no desire to cook or dirty anymore dishes. I had the Little Bacon Burger on a lettuce bun with onions, tomatoes, and pickle with a handful of fries. Annihilated this meal before getting a picture.

Day 3 Total = $12.41 (helps that two meals were provided today)

Day 4:
Breakfast: Frittata with chicken spinach sausage, bacon, spinach, and grape tomatoes with a Fuji apple on the side = $3.91

Lunch: Invited to a friend's house for Thanksgiving so I picked up a Venti Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks and enjoyed a plate of traditional Thanksgiving day eats... and no, my plate was not diet compliant.

Day 4 Total = $3.91 (A major holiday helps!!)

Day 5:
Breakfast: Two egg scramble with two slices of bacon, sweet potato, grape tomatoes, and spinach. = $3.36

Snack: An apple with peanut butter = $1.76

Snack: A cup of red grapes with 1/4 cup raw almonds = $2.36

Dinner: Movie and Pizza Hut night. The food was disappointing and not worth breaking my diet for. 

Day 5 Total = $7.48

Day 6: 

Breakfast: Hard boiled egg with a sweet potato and a cup of grapes = $2.13

Snack: Almonds = $1.12

Lunch: Chicken thigh with sautéed zucchini and yellow squash = $2.20

Dinner: Cocktails and dinner at Tommy Bahama's Restaurant in The Woodlands, Texas. Our best guy friend joined us and treated us to all the food and drinks we wanted. To drink I tried their Crazy Cuban (must get!) and next time would get the Key Lime Martini after trying a sip of my bestie's. For dinner we shared a bowl of Crab Bisque and Coconut Crusted Shrimp for an appetizer and to eat I had the Crab and Avocado Salad with a side of Plantain Chips with Black Bean and Corn Salsa. So good!

Day 6 Total = $5.45 

Day 7:

Woke up and was not hungry until after noon so I had a couple of snacks during the football games before getting up to make some chicken soup for dinner.

Snacks: Almonds, banana smeared with peanut butter, and a cup of grapes. = $3.78

Dinner: Chicken soup with the leftover chicken thighs, diced tomatoes, celery, seasonings, and low-sodium chicken broth = $1.56 per cup

Day 7 Total = $5.34

Day 8:

Made an orange infused water = $0.42

My boss gave me the day off for picking up a shift over the weekend so eating a non-breakfast item at home is completely okay in book. In the office I try to be "normal". Haha!!

Breakfast: Leftover Italian chicken soup adding sautéed zucchini and yellow squash = $2.72

Snack: A serving of green olives = $0.69

Lunch: Smoothie with 1/2 cup almond milk, a banana, 1 cup blueberries, 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1 tbsp chia seeds, and 1 scoop vanilla protein powder with a clementine and almonds on the side = $6.11

Snack: Almonds = $1.12

Day 8 Total = $11.06

8 Day Total = $74.04 

RESULTS:

The Whole Foods Challenge was to spend $125 on groceries for the week to feed a family of four with intent of making 14 meals. 

$125 on groceries

14 meals

4 people

= $2.23/meal

I was only doing this challenge for myself since Little Man was away with his dad over the Thanksgiving break.

$74.04 on groceries (spent $135 but only used the equivalent of $74.04)

23 meals (see note below about how I could have gone a day or two longer)

1 person

= $3.21/meal 

I could have gone longer than the 8 days noted but life got in the way and I ended up letting my meal planning fall by the wayside and dug into other foods in the house outside of what I had purchased for this challenge. Had I continued tracking my meals I think I would have beat this challenge. I'll need to give this another try and see how I do.  

Doin' Some Cookin'... Strawberry Banana Smoothie

This smoothie is made with a classic combo of strawberries and banana making for the perfect afternoon snack. But could obviously be made anytime of the day.

Smoothies are a great way to suck up vitamins and nutrients into your diet.

Knowing that tomorrow is Thanksgiving and having intentions of stuffing myself on all the yummy eats I knew my eating has to be on point. I've been good since Monday following the Whole30 diet and actually making it a point to workout too. Patting myself on the back.

After I sucked this down I ended up throwing on my workout clothes and heading to the gym. This smoothie provided the perfect energy boost to get me through my workout.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Adapted From: Ultimate Paleo Guide

Makes 1 Serving

Stars of the Show:

• 3/4 cup strawberries
• 1 banana
• 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• ice, to taste

And Action:

Pulse all ingredients in a blender until smooth. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Bacon Turkey Cheeseburger Meatloaf

Little Man can eat a cheeseburger for every meal if I'd let him. If I wasn't concerned about his health or having CPS called on me I may consider.

But, I'm not that mom.

(All I can think of when I see this photo is how perfect this meatloaf would be for a Halloween dinner party cause it looks like flesh and blood.)

It's no surprise he asked for a cheeseburger night for part of this weeks' menu. While browsing some of my favorite blogs I came across this recipe for a healthy Bacon Turkey Cheeseburger Meatloaf and knew I had to give this one a try.

This meatloaf did not disappoint. It has all of the flavors of a cheeseburger and even though it's made with ground turkey it is incredibly moist.

Little Man being a cheeseburger fanatic ate every bite of this and agreed it was make again worthy. It's an especially hearty meal when paired with mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli. We ate off of the leftovers for three days. So good!

Bacon Turkey Cheeseburger Meatloaf

Adapted From: Organize Yourself Skinny

Makes 6 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1/2 slice whole wheat bread
• 1 tbsp milk
• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 tsp hamburger seasoning
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 egg, slightly beaten
• 1/8 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tbsp mustard
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 6 slices bacon

And Action:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a small bowl mix together the ketchup and mustard. 

In a large bowl mix together the bread and milk mixing it together to create a paste. Add the ground turkey, seasonings, Parmesan cheese, egg, breadcrumbs, 1/2 of the ketchup mixture, and cheddar cheese. 

Mix until evenly distributed.

Spray a baking dish with cooking spray. Place the meat mixture in the middle and form a loaf. 

Spread the rest of the ketchup mixture on top and then lay the bacon over the loaf tucking it under the loaf if needed.

Place the meatloaf in the oven and bake for 55 minutes. 

Turn the oven on broil and broil 3-5 minutes or until the bacon is crispy. 

Remove from the oven and let sit 5 minutes before slicing. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Slow Cooker Italian Shredded Beef

Work nights are busy enough, but a work night coupled with Little Man's swim class and an additional chore added to the night such as laundry makes for a very exhausting day. The last thing I usually want to do is cook dinner which is a shame because I absolutely love cooking.

Slow cooker dinners are what this working mama needs.

(It was a stormy day and the lighting at dinner time was not the best. Photo does not do this justice.)

This recipe for Italian Shredded Beef is so simple because you just dump the ingredients, set the timer, and let it do it's thang while you do yours.

The meat comes out perfectly seasoned and so tender. I mean, melt-in-your-mouth tender.

If I wasn't attempting another round of Whole30 this shredded beef would have been served on a crusty roll as sandwiches with some provolone cheese.

Slow Cooker Italian Shredded Beef

Adapted From: Organize Yourself Skinny

Makes 8 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 2 1/2 lb chuck roast
• 1 packet Simply Organic Italian Dressing Mix
• 1/4 of a jar of sliced banana peppers with 1/8 cup of the juice
• 1/2 cup beef broth

And Action:

Place the chuck roast in the slow cooker. 

Sprinkle the Italian dressing over the meat. 

Pour the banana pepper juice and beef broth over the meat. Flip the roast a couple of times and then pour in the banana peppers. 

Cook on high for 5 hours or low for 8 hours. 

Using two forks shred the beef. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Pizza Casserole

My company was hosting their annual potluck of "homemade" dishes only this year.

Ugh! I don't mind picking something up from the store but cooking for the entire office. Hmm...

I get cooking anxiety when cooking for people for the first time. Hell, I have a hard enough time cooking for my biggest critic, Little Man. So I end up doing a run through of the recipe ahead of time to make sure it turns out okay.

The potluck was today and I made this recipe on Tuesday, however, while it was absolutely delicious it was incredibly heavy and didn't settle well on my stomach. I couldn't risk serving this gut bomb to my coworkers so I ended up opting out of the potluck.

Little Man loved everything about this dish and polished off his bowl of pasta for the two nights of leftovers. That is a win for me! He exclaimed, "It tastes like Papa Johns but with pasta!"

This was an incredibly easy dish to make on a busy work night and came together fairly quickly. You can customize the toppings to include your family's favorite pizza flavors. I'm thinking next time ham, pineapple, and red onions for a Hawaiian version. Yum.

Pizza Casserole

Adapted From: Taste of Home

Makes 12-14 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• 1 package (16 oz) of rigatoni
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 package of hot Italian sausage
• 1 package (8 oz) pepperoni, sliced
• shredded mozzarella cheese or pizza blend, to taste
• 2 cans (15 oz) pizza sauce
• 1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup

And Action:

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside. While the pasta cooks, brown the beef and Italian sausage. Drain the fat. 

Add the pasta to the meat mixture, add cheese, pizza sauce, mushroom soup, and pepperoni. Stir to combine. Heat over medium until sauce is heated through and cheese is melted. Enjoy!

Doin' Some Cookin'... Roasted Mushroom and Ground Beef Stroganoff

Beef stroganoff is a Russian dish made with sliced beef and a creamy sour cream sauce. Beef stroganoff is one of my favorite comfort foods. I absolutely love a giant bowl of this beefy pasta. The best part about this recipe is that there is only one pot and a baking sheet to clean up and the dinner dishes. Great dish to make on a busy work night. 

My mama would make what I considered to be a "gourmet" version when I was growing up using a more expensive cut of beef, a velvety sauce, and the mushrooms and onions were sautéed in olive oil and garlic. Perfection. 

She comes out to Texas for a weekend visit every one to two years and the last couple of visits it has been beef stroganoff I've requested. This last visit was no difference except this time I was the one making us dinner after seeing that my mama has aged in the last two years and isn't quite as healthy for slaving over the stove either. Because I was cooking and it was football Sunday I decided on something that wasn't too labor intensive. 

I've also been go, go, go every weekend. California, the cruise, and my mom's visit snuck up on me. I thought I had too more weeks. I'm really looking forward to a "relaxing" weekend. As a mom, y'all know what a relaxing weekend really means... I might be able to sneak in a short nap and one shower. Haha!!

Definitely not on my mama's level but a good substitute. By the way, this was my first time making beef stroganoff outside of a box of Hamburger Helper and I made enough to feed us for three days.

Next time I will add some onions to my mushroom roast and use classic egg noodles. 

A little fact about me... I only like mushrooms when they are piping hot and I'm very particular about the way they are cooked and the kind of mushroom. I do not enjoy them reheated. 

As I mentioned, I've been so darn busy since August that home cooking has taken a back seat. I forgot how much I love being in the kitchen. It's my happy place. 

Roasted Mushroom and Ground Beef Stroganoff

Makes 8 Servings

Stars of the Show:

• olive oil
• package of sliced seasoned mushrooms
• salt and pepper, to taste
• onion powder, to taste
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 lb lean ground beef
• 6 cups low sodium beef broth
• 16 oz whole wheat rotini
• 2 cups sour cream

And Action:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Heat some olive oil over medium heat in a large pot. Add the ground beef, onion powder, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook until browned breaking up the beef as it cooks. 

Pour in the beef broth and the pasta. Bring to a light boil and then cover with a lid. Continue to cook and stir often for 17-20 minutes. 

While the pasta is cooking add the mushrooms to a baking sheet and toss with olive oil. Roast for 15 minutes until browned and set aside until pasta is done cooking. 

Remove the pot from the heat. If it looks like there is too much liquid drain some of it so the sauce it's too liquidy. Stir in the mushrooms and sour cream. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed. Enjoy!

Livin' It Up... 4 Day Western Caribbean Cruise to Cozumel for Sandra's Bachelorette Party

Day 1: Departing Galveston, September 29th, 2016

I had jitters about going on my first cruise because I was so afraid I was going to be sea sick the entire time after hearing horror stories from some of my family and friends. My nerves were a mess that morning as I packed last minute.

Arrived to Sandra's house around 10 a.m., loaded up her luggage and drove down to Galveston. We made it down to the terminal port parking and could see the massive cruise ship and that's when we squealed in delight and slapped high fives.

We did early boarding at made it through the security check in and boarding by 11:30 a.m. We carried our luggage on and so glad we did because our balcony room was ready for us when we got there and we had all of our belongings with us.

Our room had a balcony and was plenty big enough for the two of us girls. I couldn't have asked for a better roommate. We meshed so well for our first ever vacation together, let alone, first ever overnight experience. 4 and 1/2 days together and not one single bit of sass to each other.

Sandra is such a girly girl and had to touch up her nails first thing and the sight of my no polish fingers and toes made her cringe so we got matching manicures, pink polish with an accent nail using nail caviar. So classy looking and now I felt ready to show off my toes in my flip flops on the pool decks.

We ventured up to the Lido Deck to check out the food because we were hungry since we didn't eat breakfast that morning. We looked at the Italian food selection at the buffet and decided on making a salad to go with our burgers and fries we were going to pick up from Guy Fieri's burger joint. I topped my burger with mushrooms, onions, bacon, mayo, and ketchup and grabbed some of the sauces for my fries. Oh em gee!! This was such a burger. I highly recommend that you grab one everyday you are on the cruise and make sure you watch the time because they close at 6 p.m.

I was thirsty while sitting at the table and a cocktail server stopped by with a tray of their "cocktail of the day". We bought the drinks package which was 15 drinks a day for a set price, however, you weren't able to use it on the first day of the cruise. Thankfully, water, lemonade, and iced tea are available for free. Soda is included in another drink package called, "Bottomless Bubbles." I would recommend the Bottomless Bubbles over the alcoholic drinks package and if I ever do it again I wouldn't drink on the cruise or maybe it's just this ship but the drinks were way too sweet and the servers were not accommodating with adjusting the juice content. Very frustrating.

After we stuffed ourselves we went back to the room for a nap until we were woke up with the safety briefing and were forced to head to our Muster Stations. Once they released us we went back to our room for departure from the Port of Galveston. It was so cool watching the dolphins follow the ship from the balcony of our room. Yes, we missed the deck party and no, we didn't care.

(Sandra, the bride to be, asking me to be her Maid of Honor. The ring and this photo was a joke because I made her get down on one knee. Haha!!)

Around 5 p.m. every night we would go to our room and get ready for dinner on the Silver Deck. I cannot lie, I was not impressed by much on this cruise or the ship. Our servers were a bunch of effin' assholes who rolled their eyes anytime you'd ask for something after the order was taken and this guy Dejan acted as if he could get any woman on the boat to sleep with him. He was disgusting and pissed our entire table off from day one. Don't get me started on the food. Appetizers were one or two bites worth and the entrees reminded me of cafeteria food like you'd get from Luby's. So disappointing.

(Bride squad wore cat ears which got us a lot of attention on our way to dinner.)

After dinner we went back to the room to check out the schedule of events so we could plan our evening. We ended up watching the Welcome Aboard show which was so cheesy that we walked out, headed to the piano bar where we ran into a bachelor party and met the guys while they were sober (they progressive became the biggest douche bags as the days went on). The piano man had pads of paper to write down requests, however, he never played a single request and did the same set every night. On the final night his voice kept cracking like a boy going through puberty. After sitting through so many Elton John songs we finally had our fill and went to the Punchliner Comedy Club. This did not disappoint!! Spike Davis was nonstop laughs.

Every night we stopped at the Hot & Cool Nightclub to dance the night away and the Alchemy Bay for an off the menu item, Horchata. The music on night one was the best since it was rap and hip hop. The other nights were mostly country which I am not a fan of.

Later that night we ended up back in the room before bed and ordered room service. Because dinners were also disappointing I ended up ordering a room service tuna sandwich with chips every day. It was so good or it was just okay but I was hungry and it was a simple pleasure.

Day 2: Fun Day at Sea, September 30th, 2016

After breakfast we went back to the room and put on our swimsuits to lounge out by the pool. I was such an idiot forgetting to put on sunscreen and falling asleep in the sun. Here it is a week later and I am still suffering from the sunburn. My skin is peeling and the new layer is very tender and raw. Ouch! Do not forget to slather on sunscreen. Having the burn ruined my ability to enjoy the pool deck and being in direct sun the rest of my trip. Thankfully the ship has shops and I was able to pick up some aloe vera burn gel and sunscreen, a little too late though.

(Lido deck)

We checked out the casino and ended up getting $10 worth of quarters to play a machine that you put a quarter in and hopefully more quarters would dump. Nothing like a Vegas casino and I so badly wish they had penny slots. We stopped using our own money when we realized that people kept leaving quarters behind. I don't see how anyone makes any money on this machine.

Tonight was Captain's dinner so we got to dress up and meet him. As we were walking around they had numerous portrait backdrops and we did a couple of them. These were my faves and worth the purchase.

(Bride and her squad... Me, An, and Kimberly)

(At the piano bar with Kim and Sandra)

Day 3: Cozumel, Mexico, October 1st, 2016

Woke up early this morning from the excitement of knowing we'd be making it into Cozumel shortly. I called room service to bring some coffee and Froot Loops and sat on the balcony to enjoy the sunrise. The colors were so beautiful in the sky.

We docked in Cozumel and made our way off the boat and to our designated waiting area for the excursion.

(Our view at La Casa En La Playa)

As my gift to the bride to be I booked us a day at La Casa En La Playa which translates to The House On The Beach. It is a 15 minute ride from where the cruise docks in Puerta Maya. This excursion is limited to just 16 people and everyone is treated like VIP with a private chef and bartender. We even snorkeled at the small reef nearby which was my first time ever and I loved it! The water was crystal clear and we saw so many fish and starfish.

Lunch was chile rellenos and we ate our weight in guacamole and chips washing it down with pina coladas. So damn good! It rained numerous times and it was cold rain too which had us running into the house for shelter. Thank goodness for this excursion. The house was so cozy and the patio was covered so we could still sit out and listen to the ocean waves.

(Wet from the rain and not from the ocean water. Boo!)

I booked a massage on the beach and that was so relaxing except when she would rub my sunburn. Ouch!!! I wish we had more time here because the water was stunning and duh! who wouldn't want more time. After the rain passed we spent the remainder of our time under the shade of the palm trees.

The excursion guides put us back in Cozumel for shopping about one hour prior to departure so Sandra and I checked out all of the local shops and vendors. I picked up a couple souvenirs and even got to negotiate on a piece of artwork, custom painted mini wooden surfboard for $35 and got it for $21. The man could see how much I loved it.

Once we made it through the line to get back on the ship we went up to the room for some room service and sat out on the balcony to have some coffee and a nap before dinner.

(Sunset)

Day 4: Fun Day at Sea, October 2nd, 2016

We headed up to the Lido deck to check out Fish N' Chips and grabbed some ceviche, tuna with watermelon (oh my! so good!!), fried oysters, and fried fish with fries.

(Wore my tee before changing into my jersey that night for the Steelers game)

Today was a football game day and that did not stop me from lounging around watching the games all day. I said goodbye to the bride to be after breakfast and didn't meet back up with her until after the Steelers game. I definitely recommend the Skybox Sports Bar, however, get there early if this is where you want to watch the game because it fills up quickly and people cram in. To all the ladies, this is the spot to find some men on the cruise. Ha!

Day 5: Arrival to Galveston, October 3rd, 2016

(Cruising back into Galveston)

We were packed the night before and out of our room by 7:30 a.m. for departure. We had no idea what to expect and thought it was a first come first off the ship basis. We were wrong. So wrong. We didn't eat breakfast at the dining room since we were still full from dinner when we woke up and ended up regretting that decision once we learned that they were randomly calling deck numbers and each one took 30 minutes to an hour before the next one was called. We did not get off the boat until 11 a.m.

Going through customs was a hilarious experience.

Customs Agent: "...and we are?"
Me: "American??"
Sandra who is Mexican: Laughing her ass off.
Customs Agent: "Sisters? Family?"
😂😂😂 "Sounds suspicious."
Customs Agent: "... medication?"
Me: "Oh!! Birth control!!
Customs Agent: "That you purchased??"
Me: 😂😂We're not pregnant! No stowaway."
Customs Agent: "Congrats!!"

Because we were so hungry and a coworker of mine made a breakfast suggestion we decided to give it a try and had lunch at the Sunflower Bakery. This is a must try! I had the jumbo lump crab and eggs with a glass of orange juice. Incredible and will definitely come back.

My takeaway and future cruise travel tips for Carnival Liberty:

• Must eat at Guy Fieri's Burger Joint, Fish and Chips, Brunch, Room Service 
• Don't miss the Punchliner Comedy Club and Couples Wedding Show 
• Go to the Skybox Sports Bar
• One thing I regret was not trying a Bloody Mary or the Steakhouse. So if you have a cocktail or go to the steakhouse please tell me how it is.