"The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands". Prov.14:1 (NASB)

Wednesday, December 30

Weekly Meal Plans for January 2021

Hi everyone. Can you believe 2020 is coming to a close? Christmas has come and gone. Winter is here. It’s the end of December and we’re about to cross over into 2021. I have my menu plans ready. For the cold days ahead I have planned to keep us warm with plenty of soups, chili, and some comfort foods. Now on to the menu:

Breakfast-
1. Smoothie Packs- 2 different gallon size Ziploc bags (these will be consumed 2 times each week using Kefir or Greek Yogurt, protein powder, flax and/or chia seeds, and Date paste, and frozen fruit blend)
2. Apple Pie Baked Oatmeal (We will eat these 3 times during the week.)
3. Breakfast Skillet Hash (we will eat these 3 times during the week)
4. Brown Sugar Grits (served with a side Applewood smoked Ham. Will be eaten 3 times during the week.)
5. “Denver Omelet” Egg cups (will be served with some toast and jam. We will eat these 3 times during the week.)

Lunch-
1. Beef Stew (will be eaten 4 times during the week)
2. Ramen with Pork (will be eaten 4 times during the week)
3. Turkey Noodle Soup (will be eaten 4 times during the week)
4. Taco Soup (Will be eaten 4 times during the week).

Dinner-
1. Maple Mustard dump Chicken (served with Quinoa and steamed veggies. (will be eaten 4 times during the week.)
2. Chicken Fried Rice (will be eaten 4 times during the week)
3. Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya (served with brown rice and eaten 4 times during the week)
4. Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry (will be eaten 4 times during the week)

Snacks-
1. Fresh popped Popcorn  (to be eaten 2 times during a week each week)
2. Hard Boiled Eggs (to be eaten a few times a week each week)
3. Small glass of Protein shake (w/banana and ice cubes)
4. Quick “DIY” Flavored Yogurt (to be eaten 3 times a week each week)
5. Healthy Breakfast Cookies (eat 2 cookies a few times during a week)
6. Fresh fruit (Will be eaten a few times during the week.)
7. Flavored mini rice cakes (eat 1 or 2 times each week)
8. Small baked sweet potato (served with honey cinnamon butter and eaten 2 times during a week.)
9. Some type of sweet bread muffin (eat a muffin a few times each week)
10. Graham Crackers with Peanut Butter (to be eaten a few times during a week)

With all that being said I hope you have a safe New Year's Eve celebration. May God bless you and His peace sustain you in 2021.

© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Monday, December 7

My December 2020 Simple Woman Daybook

simple-woman-daybook-large

For Today: 12/7/20
_____________________________

Looking out my window
It is COLD outside. Burrrr…Our high for today is 41 degrees.

I am thinking
This has been a challenging year but Jesus is still King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I am thankful
That God woke me up this morning.

One of my favorite things
Enjoying the Christmas season with my family as well as my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I am creating
Treats for neighbors and friends as well as preparing Christmas cards to mail out this week.

I am wearing
A mocha-colored poncho, jeggings (jean), boots.

I am reading
Daily scriptures with my family for Advent. We also have a little treat to snack on when doing this.

I’ve been watching
Classic Christmas movies.

I am listening to
Our favorite Christmas hymns and songs.

I am hoping
COVID doesn’t put a damper on anyone’s Christmas season.

I am learning
To stay calm in the midst of any storm.

In my kitchen
From Thrive Market
Got this month’s Thrive Market order. YAY!

More Of Value

Post Script
Laura put together a really nice list of things she loves about her husband. In my bullet journal, I have been keeping a list of things I’m thankful for about my hubby each month.

Shared Quote
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”.
-1 Peter 5:6-7

A moment from my day
I just love Christmas trees with lights and shiny ornaments. My hubby, son, and I all worked hard to get this tree all dolled up. :-)

Closing Notes
This is my last Simple Woman Daybook post for 2020. Thank you to all who have stopped by to read and leave comments. I have enjoyed them all. I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas. Before you go don't forget to pop over and read other ladies' Simple Woman Journal posts. Just head on over to our host site to see more.
______________________________

© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Monday, November 30

Weekly Meal Plans for December 2020

Hi lovely readers. I hope those of you in the U.S.A. enjoyed your Thanksgiving. So not only is Thanksgiving a favorite holiday of mine, but Christmas time is another one of my favorites too. We proceeded with our long tradition of decorating our home all weekend after Thanksgiving Day. It feels so Merry and Bright around here :-)  We have enjoyed all kinds of hot teas throughout the Fall. Now it’s time to break out some hot cocoa. Well, are you ready for a list of home-cooked meals I have planned for the upcoming month? Let’s see what’s coming up on the menu.

Breakfast-
1. Smoothie Packs- Each mixture is placed in 2 different gallon size Ziploc bags (these will be consumed 2 times each week using Kefir, protein powder, chia seeds, fresh Spinach, and frozen berry blend.)
2. Bowl of Oatmeal (We will eat these 3 times during the week.)
3. Hearty Breakfast Bowls (we will eat these 3 times during the week)
4. Portable Pancakes (will be served with applesauce and oven-baked sausage links, and eaten 3 times during the week.)
5. Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal (will be eaten 3 times during the week.)

Lunch-
1. Minestrone (will be eaten 4 times during the week)
2. Chicken Stew (served with a slice of crusty bread. Will be eaten 4 times during the week)
3. Oxtail Stew (served with rice and peas and will be eaten 4 times during the week)
4. Ramen Noodle Bowls (Will be eaten 3 times during holiday weeks.)

Dinner-
1. Chicken Curry (served with brown rice, chickpea Daal, and Naan. Will be eaten 4 times during the week.)
2. Baked Spaghetti Squash Casserole (will be served with roasted Brussel Sprouts. This will be eaten 4 times during the week)
3. Fish Fajitas Burrito Bowls (served with Quinoa, black beans, corn, cheese, and salsa on the side. This will be eaten a few times during the week.)
4. Pork Fried Rice (Will be eaten 3 times during holiday weeks.)

Snacks-
1. Fresh popped Popcorn  (to be eaten 2 times during a week each week)
2. Hard Boiled Eggs (to be eaten a few times a week each week)
3. Small glass of Protein shake (w/banana and ice cubes)
4. Quick “DIY” Flavored Yogurt (to be eaten 3 times a week each week)
5. Healthy Breakfast Cookies (eat 2 cookies a few times during a week)
6. Bento type snack Boxes (made with fruit, meat, cheese, and crackers. Will be eaten 2-3 times during the week.)
7. Flavored mini rice cakes (eat 1 or 2 times each week)
8. Small baked sweet potato (served with honey cinnamon butter and eaten 2 times during a week.)
9. Some type of sweet bread muffin (eat a muffin a few times each week)
10. Chia Pudding (small bowl---to be eaten 2 times during a week)


© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Sunday, November 22

Just popping in…

Hi everyone. I hope you are all safe and well. This year is just flying on by and boy what a year it's been. I just wanted to pop in to say yes, I'm still exercising and doing portion control. I'm so happy we have been getting our meats from the Butcher Box. It has really helped make meal planning easy for me. I normally get the same things each month. A few times I swapped out for something different if I needed something to go along with a holiday meal. With Winter arriving next month, I wanted to focus on things for soups, chili, and one-dish meals.

Below I have listed what I got in our box for this month.


This time around we have:

2 lbs. Ground Sirloin
2 lbs. Ground Pork
2.25 lbs. Bottom of Round Roast
2 lbs. Ground Sweet Italian Sausage
3 lbs. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
3 lbs. Bone-in Chicken Thighs

I also added on 2 lbs. Ground Turkey to this month's box.

We have been able to afford these monthly boxes by planning them into our budget and rarely buying meat at the grocery store. With that being said I hope you have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones.

© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Monday, November 2

My November 2020 Simple Woman Daybook

simple-woman-daybook-large
For Today: 11/2/20
_____________________________

Looking out my window
The leaves are covering the ground. It feels cold out there. Our high today was 53 degrees.

I am thinking
I'll be glad once we hear the outcome of our presidential election tomorrow. I’m just ready for this all to be over so we can move on.

I am thankful
For our health and strong immune systems.

One of my favorite things
Fall scented candles.

I am creating
A weekly layout in my planner.

I am wearing
A light gray jumpsuit.

I am reading
Articles on biblical womanhood.

I’m watching
Season 1 of the “Green Acres” T.V. show.

I am hoping
I find a good deal on some brown boots before it really starts to get cold.

I am learning
To relax and just enjoy the moment :-)

In my kitchen
I’ve got Thanksgiving on my mind.
I'm planning to make some Zucchini, Pumpkin, and Banana breads real soon.

Post Script
Here is an encouraging little read for you called "Why we must Live One Moment at a Time".

Shared Quote
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
-Ephesians 2:8-9

A moment from my day
I got a great deal on these Happy Planners. 
This will be my first time using a Happy Planner 
and I think I'm going to like it.

Closing Notes
Thank you for stopping by and I hope you get a chance to read other ladies Simple Woman Journal posts. Just head on over to our host site to see more.
______________________________


© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Tuesday, October 27

Weekly Meal Plans for November 2020

Hi everyone. So not only is Fall my favorite time of the year, but one of my favorite holidays will soon be here. I don’t know how Thanksgiving will look this year, but that doesn’t stop me from looking forward to it.  As the days get shorter and colder I just want to stay under a warm blanket and hibernate. Too bad I can’t do that all day cause I gots to keep the house in order. With that being said, are you ready for a list of home-cooked meals I have planned for the upcoming month? Please keep reading to see what’s on the menu.

Breakfast-
1. Smoothie Packs- Each mixture is placed in 2 different gallon size Ziploc bags (these will be consumed 2 times each week using Kefir, protein powder, chia seeds, fresh Spinach, and fruits like bananas, and frozen berry blend.)
2. Taco Scramble Breakfast Bowls (We will eat these 3 times during the week.)
3. Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins (we will eat these with Bacon and a boiled egg 3 times during the week)
4. Brown Sugar Grits Bowls (will be served with oven-baked sausage links and eaten 3 times during the week.)
5. Cheesesteak Scramble (will be served with oven-roasted sweet potatoes and eaten 3 times during the week.)

6. Breakfast Casserole (We will eat these 3 times during the week.)


Lunch-
1. Loaded Broccoli Potato Cheese Soup (will be eaten 4 times during the week)
2. Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup (served with a slice of crusty bread. Will be eaten 4 times during the week)
3. Pork Stew (with modifications and will be eaten 4 times during the week)
4. Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Bisque (served with chopped crab on top and a slice of crusty bread or Oyster crackers. Will be eaten 4 times during the week.)

5. Chili (served with crackers. Will be eaten  4 times during the week.)

Dinner-
1. Pepper Steak (served with brown rice and roasted Brussels Sprouts. (Will be eaten 4 times during the week.)
2. Indian Butter Chicken (will be served with Jasmine rice, Indian Dahl and Naan. This will be eaten 4 times during the week)
3. Apricot BBQ Chicken Thighs (served with Quinoa and Wild rice blend as well as steamed cabbage. This will be eaten 2 times during the week then replaced with Lemon Pesto Salmon Fillets and the same sides on the other days.)
4. Chicken Pad Thai (Will be eaten 4 times during the week)

5. Chili Lime Boneless Pork Chops (served with steamed California blend veggies, and Garlic Mushroom Quinoa. This will be eaten 2 times during the week then replaced with Chili Lime Salmon Fillets and same sides on the other days.)

Snacks-
1. Hummus and Pita Chips  (to be eaten 2-3 times during a week)
2. Granola Bars (to be eaten 2 times a week each week)
3. Small glass of Protein shake (w/banana and ice cubes)
4. Quick “DIY” Flavored Yogurt (to be eaten 2 times a week each week)
5. Healthy Breakfast Cookies (eat 2 cookies a few times during a week)
6. Bento type snack Boxes (made with fruit, meat, cheese, and crackers. Will be eaten 2-3 times during the week.)
7. Flavored mini rice cakes (eat 1-2 times each week)
8. Small baked sweet potato (served with honey cinnamon butter and eaten 2 times during a week.)
9. Some type of sweet bread muffin (eat a muffin a couple of days each week)
10. Chia Pudding (small bowl---to be eaten 2-3 times during a week)


© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Monday, October 5

My October 2020 Simple Woman Daybook


For Today: 10/5/20
______________________________


Looking out my window
Woke up to a chilly morning. Although it was a sunny day we had to wear jackets while out and about. Our high today is 66 degrees.

I am thinking
About what upcoming holidays are going to be like.

I am thankful
For chili, stews, chowder, and soups to warm our bellies on chilly or cold days.

One of my favorite things
Feeling the cool breeze coming through the windows during the Fall season :-)

I am creating
Printing out some pretty Fall pictures to put around the house.
I found some free online :-)

I am wearing
A mocha-colored poncho, black pants, and comfy caramel colored shoes.

I am reading
Traditional Cooking cookbooks.

I’m watching
Just watching various old movies with my family.

I am hoping
I can finish stocking up on essentials before cold weather sets in. Thanks to COVID-19 that seems to be what I mainly focus on when shopping these days.

I am learning
That portion control is the best way for ME to lose weight. This is actually something that doesn't "feel" like a diet. This is a lifestyle for me. I know that (unlike other trendy diet plans) I'll stick with this through the long haul.

In my kitchen
Making a BIG batch of Apple Butter. A large portion of it is going
in the freezer to use during the upcoming months.

Post Script
I was reading something very interesting the other day. It's called "Women and False Teachers: Why Men don't get it..." There was much to ponder. I invite you to check it out.

Shared Quote
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
-2 Timothy 1:7

A moment from my day
Glad I stocked up on loose-leaf herbal teas at the local Farmer's Market.
Now with cooler weather, I'll be drinking a cup of yummy hot tea daily.

Closing Notes
Thank you for stopping by and I hope you get a chance to read other ladies Simple Woman Journal posts. Just head on over to our host site to see more.
______________________________


© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Thursday, October 1

Weekly Meal Plans for October 2020

Fall is finally here my friends. It’s my favorite time of the year. Time to break out the chili, stews, and chowders. Happy Fall y'all! Let me share what I have planned for the month as we begin to see the end of warm temps and the start of cooler days. Here is what’s on the menu:

Breakfast-
1. Smoothie Packs- Each mixture is placed in 3 different gallon size Ziploc bags (these will be consumed 2-3 times each week using Kefir, protein powder, flax and/or chia seeds, fresh Spinach, and fruits like bananas, strawberries, blueberries, frozen berry blend (or whatever is on sale during the month).
2. Peanut Butter Brownie Baked Oatmeal (We will eat these 2-3 times during the week.)
3. Maple-Pecan Oatmeal with Cinnamon Apple Bowls (we will eat these 2-3 times during the week)
4. Cheesy Grits Bowls (served with smoked sausage with gouda cheese, and a  fried egg on top. Will be eaten 2-3 times during the week.)
5. Bacon, Cheese, and Spinach Egg cups (will be served with Protein Pancakes, and mandarin oranges. We will eat these 2-3 times during the week.)


Lunch-
1. Italian “Sub” Salad with a homemade Vinaigrette salad dressing (will be eaten 4 times during the week)
2. Club “Sandwich” Salad with Lori’s homemade salad dressing (This will be eaten 4 times during the week)
3. BBQ Pulled Chicken Cobb Salad with Ranch salad dressing (will be eaten 4 times during the week)
4. Seafood Bisque (served with drop biscuits or Oyster crackers. Will be eaten 4 times during the week).

Dinner-
1. BBQ Pulled Pork Dinner served with Baked Beans, and Corn. (will be eaten 4 times during the week.)
2. Yogurt Chicken (will be served with a blend of Quinoa and wild rice, and steamed California blend veggies. This will be eaten 4-5 times during the week)
3. Korean Beef and Pork (served with brown rice as well as steamed green beans and carrots. This beef and pork mix will be eaten 2 times during the week then replaced with Korean BBQ Chicken Thighs on the other days)
4. Spaghetti (served with a cornbread muffin, steamed green beans, and will be eaten 4 times during the week)


Snacks-
1. Deli meat and cheese rolls with crackers, a boiled egg, and 1/2 an apple,  (to be eaten 2-3 times during a week)
2. Homemade Trail Mix (to be eaten 2 times a week each week)
3. Small Antipasto Plate (w/Artichokes, green or black olives, salami, and mozzarella cheese cubes)
4. Quick “DIY” Flavored Yogurt (to be eaten 2 times a week each week)
5. A piece of Fresh Fruit (to be eaten 2-3 times during a week)
6. Homemade Energy (Bites) Balls (Only 2-3 balls will be eaten 2 times during a week)
7. Fresh popped Popcorn (eat once each week)
8. Small baked sweet potato (served with honey cinnamon butter and eaten 2 times during a week.)
9. Tuna salad (served with crackers and eaten a few times during the week. Make a batch every other week)
10. Chia Pudding (small bowl---to be eaten 2-3 times during a week)


© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Wednesday, September 23

Wordless Wednesday~ 9/23/20

It’s such a blessing to be given LOTS of turnip greens for FREE.

I blanched, rinsed with cold water, and
froze these in 2 gallon sized Ziploc bags.


© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Tuesday, September 8

My September 2020 Daybook

For Today: 9/8/20
______________________________


Looking out my window
It's a nice sunny day and our high for today is 89 degrees.

I am thinking
Despite the way this year has been, I’m glad Fall is almost here. It’s my all-time favorite season.

I am thankful
I had a relaxing Labor Day with my family yesterday.

One of my favorite things
Pulling out our Fall décor to see what I have to decorate our home. I plan to get started this weekend if nothing else comes up.

I am creating
A surprise for my hubby :-)

I am wearing
A black blouse, gray pants, and brown flats.

I am reading
Catching up on some blog posts from other blogs I like to visit.

I’m watching
Meal Prep videos on YouTube.

I am hoping
To find some good buys at the Farmer’s Market. Ours will end (for the year) the last Saturday of this month. That’s a couple of weeks earlier than usual.

I am learning
How to slow down and listen to my body when it’s in need of rest. It seems I get more tired these days.

In my kitchen
We drink plenty of plain ole water throughout the day. At dinner, we treat ourselves to some flavored water with our meal. I love making flavor combos with the Mio and True Lemon/Lime.



Here are some of our favorites using an 8 oz. glass of water:
1 True Lemon (packet) with 2 squirts of Mio Strawberry Watermelon,
1 True Lemon with 2 squirts of Mio Blueberry Lemonade,
1 True Lime with 2 squirts of Mio Cherry Blackberry, and
1 True Lime with 2 squirts of Mio Lemonade.

Post Script
It is sad how hard it is to find older godly women in the church who take the time to teach and train younger women biblically on how to be a godly wife and helpmeet to their husbands. The church is badly suffering from not having enough real Titus 2 women. I can see the devastating effects this has had on my generation as well as those in generations after me. The generation of women before us (and many others before them) dropped the ball and now families are suffering in a worst way than ever. In this day and age, it’s really hard to find older women at church who are committed to living out their biblical calling so that there is hope for the younger women coming along the path.

Shared Quote
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
~Philippians 4:6-7

A moment from my day



I spent the morning at the dentist with my son. Later after I came back home, I got in some exercise. Following that, I had a hair spa day (giving my hair some needed TLC).


Closing Notes
Thank you for stopping by and I hope you get a chance to read other ladies Simple Woman Journal posts. Just head on over to our host site to see more.
______________________________

© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Tuesday, September 1

Weekly Meal Plans for September 2020

Hello lovely readers. Last month I shared my weekly meal plans. I have found it’s helpful for me to have our meals documented for future reference. This is a new lifestyle for me and my family to stay on track with eating healthy. Each weekend I cook up all of our meals for the week and prepare the snacks that I planned to have. We eat 6 small (portion size) meals a day consisting of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and 3 little snacks in between. We also drink plenty of water throughout the day.


Let me share what I have planned for the month of September. Here is the menu:

Breakfast-
1. Smoothie Packs- Each mixture is placed in 3 different gallon size Ziploc bags (these will be consumed 3 times each week using Kefir, protein powder, flax and/or chia seeds, fresh Spinach, and fruits like bananas, strawberries, berry blend, mango, and papaya (or whatever is on sale during the month).

2. Banana French Toast sticks (served with Maple Syrup, Canadian Bacon, and fresh fruit. We will eat these twice during the week.)

3. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Oatmeal Bowls (we will eat these twice during the week)

4. Sausage and Roasted Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowls (served with scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, salsa, as well as fresh Mandarin oranges. Will be eaten twice a week.)

5. Spinach and Mushroom Egg cups (We will eat these twice during the week served with a sausage, roasted Brussel Sprouts, and Sweet Potato mix)

Lunch-
1. Chef Salad with a homemade Balsamic or Red Wine Vinaigrette salad dressing (will be eaten 4 times during the week)

2. Steak Cobb Salad with dressing with Lori’s homemade salad dressing (This will be eaten 2 times during the week and replacing steak with wild-caught Salmon on the other 2 days)

3. “Big Mac” Salad with homemade sauce/dressing (will be eaten 4 times during the week)

4. BBQ Pulled Pork Cobb with Ranch salad dressing (will be eaten 4 times during the week)


Dinner-
1. Healthy Chicken Fajita Bowls served with Black Beans, Cilantro Lime Brown Rice, and Pico de Gallo (will be eaten 3 times during the week then replace chicken with Steak Fajitas on the other 2 days)

2. Salsa Chicken Bowls (will be served with rice and eaten 5 times during the week)

3. Citrus Marinated Alaskan Cod (served with rice pilaf, roasted Brussel Sprouts and carrots. Will be eaten 2 times during the week then replace Cod with Southwestern seasoned Pork Chops on the other 2 days)

4. BBQ seasoned boneless Pork Chops (Grilled and served with Roasted Baby Carrots, Pea Mash, and Wild Rice w/Quinoa mix. Chops will be eaten 2 times during the week then replaced with baked Balsamic BBQ Chicken Thighs on the other days)

Snacks-
1. Classic Snack Box: grapes, pretzel thins, deli meat, and cheese cubes (to be eaten 2 times during a week)

2. Homemade Trail Mix (to be eaten 2 times a week each week)

3. Sweet Classic Snack Box: apple slices, peanut butter yogurt dip, pretzels, and deli meat (to be eaten 2 times every other week)

4. Quick “DIY” Flavored Yogurt (to be eaten 2 times a week each week)

5. A piece of Fresh Fruit (to be eaten 2-3 times during a week)

6. Homemade Energy (Bites) Balls (Only 2-3 balls will be eaten 2 times during a week)

7. Fresh popped Popcorn (eat once each week)

8. Chickpea or Black Bean Hummus (served with pita chips and eaten 2 times during a week. Will try a different flavor combo each week)

9. Chicken salad (served with crackers and eaten a few times during the week. Make a batch every other week)

10. Chia Pudding (small bowl---to be eaten 2-3 times during a week)


© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Wednesday, August 26

Wordless Wednesday~ 8/26/20


Unboxing my August Butcher Box

After removing the Dry Ice
this is what's inside the insulated box

What did we get? Our box included:

Two 10 oz. Ribeye Steaks
Two racks of Baby Back Ribs
2 lbs. Alaskan Cod
3 lbs. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
3 lbs. Bone-in Chicken Thighs

Note: I also had the (2) 1 lb. packs of Ground Sirloin leftover from our last order. I added them to the picture above so you can see them.


© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Monday, August 3

My August 2020 Simple Woman Daybook

For Today: 8/3/20
_____________________________


Looking out my window
It started out sunny with clouds and then a little rain shower hit us.
Our high for today is 87 degrees.

I am thinking
I can remember back in the day a trip to Walmart didn’t feel like you just shopped at the Mall. Now we have all these Super Walmarts. If you’re not careful you can spend up a whole paycheck in there.

I am thankful
There was toilet paper and paper towels at the store because we were running low.

One of my favorite things
      Discovering new things to do to enhance my homemaking skills.

I am creating
A list of items we need to stock up on before Fall gets here.

I am wearing
A navy blue T-shirt, grey capris, and brown flip flops.

I am reading
Nothing at the moment.

I’m watching
The answer to the question “Should we (the church) defy government” on Youtube.

I’m listening to
The sound of the fan blowing in the background.

I am hoping
Things don’t get worst with the protesting and other stuff going on in our world. It’s heartbreaking to see and hear how some people have chosen to behave.

I am learning
That it doesn’t take much to get me full at mealtimes these days. Now that I eat my meals portion size, I get full very quickly if I try to overeat.

In my kitchen

I finally got around to using my Instant ACE Blender to make some oat milk. This is the 2nd time I’ve made a batch.

Something of Value
I was glad to be able to watch the Open Hearts in a Closed World Online Women’s Conference when it was convenient for me. I encourage you to check out the videos because I know they will bless you.

Post Script
I love visiting Just a Little Southern Hospitality. She shares pics of her tablescapes and tea sets. While there you may find some yummy looking recipes.

Shared Quote
"Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face." 
-Ronald Reagan

A moment from my day

We have been trying out another type of milk. It’s a bit pricey, but we can taste the difference. I have peace of mind knowing we’re drinking to our health.

Closing Notes
Thank you for stopping by and I hope you get a chance to read other ladies Simple Woman Journal posts. Just head on over to our host site to see more.
______________________________

© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Sunday, August 2

Weekly Meal Plans for August 2020


Last month I shared that my family and I are taking better care of our health. Each weekend I have been meal prepping for the week. This is where I cook up all of our meals and prepare the snacks that we will consume during the week. We eat 6 small meals a day. That includes a portioned sized breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We also have 3 little snacks each day and drink plenty of water. I love using the color-coded portion cups for my meal boxes. We start each morning by drinking an 8 oz.  glass of warm water that has apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and a few drops of Stevia. We don’t eat anything for 30 minutes. I usually get my exercise in during that time. I’m so thankful my family is joining me in this during the past few months. It makes things much easier and we have all shed some pounds.


Let me share what I have planned for the month of August. Here is what’s planned on the menu:

Breakfast-
1. Smoothie Packs- I use gallon size Ziploc bags to hold each mixture (these will be consumed 3 times each week using Kefir, protein powder, flax and/or chia seeds, Dates, fresh Kale/Spinach, and fruits like bananas, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples, and peaches (or whatever is on sale).

2. Grits BF Bowls (we will eat these twice during the week using fried eggs, cooked bacon, sautéed spinach, green onions, and cheddar cheese.)

3. Chunky Monkey Baked Oatmeal (we will eat these twice during the week with a piece of fresh fruit)

4. Gluten-Free Breakfast Casserole (to be eating twice a week using eggs, milk, cooked sausage/bacon, onion, bell pepper, and cheddar cheese. It will be served with Mandarin oranges.)

5. Canadian Bacon Egg cups (These will be baked in the oven. We will eat these twice during the week served with roasted cherry tomatoes, and protein pancakes with Maple syrup)

Lunch-
1. BLT Salad with  Lori’s homemade salad dressing (will be eaten 4 times during the week)

2. 7 Layer Salad (Sub mayo-based dressing with Lori's dressing. This will be eaten 5 times during the week)

3. Club “Sandwich” Salad with Lori’s homemade salad dressing (will be eaten 4 times during the week)

4. Chicken Cobb Salad Lori’s homemade salad dressing (will be eaten 2 times during the week then replace chicken with Salmon the other 2 days)

Dinner-
1. Kielbasa or Brat Kabobs (With pineapples, red onions, and bell peppers served with brown rice. This will be eaten 4-5 times during the week.)

2. Hibachi Chicken with rice and veggies (will be eaten 2 times during the week then replace chicken with Steak on the other 2 days)

3. Egg Roll Bowls served over Quinoa or brown rice (will be eaten 4-5 times during the week)

4. Ginger Garlic boneless Pork Chops (Grilled and served with sweet potato rounds, and sautéed veggies. Will be eaten 2 times during the week)
Lemon and Dill Sockeye Salmon (Baked and served with wild rice and sautéed veggies. Will be eaten 2 times during the week.)

Snacks-
1. Classic Snack Box: grapes, pretzel thins, deli meat, and cheese cubes (to be eaten 2 times during a week)

2. Homemade Trail Mix (to be eaten 2 times a week each week)

3. Sweet Classic Snack Box: apple slices, peanut butter yogurt dip, pretzels, and deli meat (to be eaten 2 times during a week)

4. Homemade Protein Bars (to be eaten 2 times a week every other week)

5. Veggie Snack Box: Baby carrots, Bell Pepper strips, grape tomatoes, boiled egg, and Ranch Dressing (to be eaten 2 times during a week)

6. Homemade Energy (Bites) Balls (I'll only have 2 at a time. These are to be eaten 2 times during a week)

7. Fresh popped Popcorn (eat once each week)

8. Crispy oven-baked Chickpeas (try a different savory flavor each week)

9. Hot Black Bean Dip with tortilla chips (to be eaten 2 times during a week)

10. Chia Pudding (small bowl) or Fresh Fruit (to be eaten 2-3 times during a week)


© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Thursday, July 23

Adjusting to a “New Normal”

Hi everyone! I just wanted to pop in here and give an update on what I’m doing lately. My family and I are doing the best we can to deal with the changes this COVID- 19 situation has brought about. I often tell my hubby that I believe we’ll see more changes in our world that will be a permanent part of life even after this pandemic has passed. Many places of business have had to find new ways of doing things in order to keep their doors open.

The biggest change in my family’s life is having to find new ways to shop. I’m thankful we made it through the days where the shelves were bare and it was hard to find normal household staples. Sure staying home when things were shut down caused an interruption in our day to day lives. I see it as a blessing because it allowed us more family time. Some people don’t like being at home or around their family that much, but I’ve learned through the years to cherish these moments.

I’m going to put myself out there by sharing that I’m not a mask wearer. No, I do not wear a mask when I leave the house. I only wear one where it is mandatory to do so (like when going to the doctor or church). Just like people have different opinions and convictions when it comes to getting the flu shot (I’m one of those people who don’t get them) it’s the same for me on this matter. I respect others whose opinions are different from mine and choose not to engage in heated conversations about it.

Here’s something that bothers me…I don’t enjoy going shopping, out to eat, to places, or just running errands and seeing everyone’s face covered. I get sad and just want to hurry up and go home. My family and I have found peaceful ways to deal with all this. Instead of eating out we just order online and do curbside pickup. I don’t understand why people wear a mask to go out to eat and then have to take it off to eat their meal. Where’s the protection in that? We also use hand sanitizer after each place we leave and aren’t quick to use public bathrooms anywhere. We do everything we can to wait until we get home.


With many places now demanding people wear masks, we’ve limited the places we go and just take advantage of the store option of ordering things online and waiting outside for pickup. I’m used to the option of ordering online and schedule pick up at Sam’s Club. Now I’ve started using the Kroger order online and pickup. It’s okay for now and I like that there was no temptation for me to impulse buy. I purchased what I needed and moved on. I guess the only drawback was missing out on those marked down sticker deals you have to be in the store to see. I wish that Aldi in our area offered their curbside pickup. I’ll be patient for now.

Here are some other things (besides Amazon) that I’ve been trying out---


Thrive Market: We have ordered from them two times now. I LOVE using the Ghee spray oil when I cook.


Butcher Box: For under $160 we have enough meat to last us 2.5 weeks. It’s plenty for my new weekly meal preps. Our box included:

Two 1 lb. packs of Ground Sirloin
Two 10 oz. New York Strip Steaks
3.5 lbs. Boneless Pork Butt
2 lbs. Alaskan Sockeye Salmon
3 lbs. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
3 lbs. Bone-in Chicken Thighs

Well, I better go for now. I pray that you stay safe and be well.

© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Monday, July 6

My July 2020 Simple Woman Daybook

For Today: 7/6/20
_____________________________


Looking out my window
Woke up to it being a little cloudy outside. It rained overnight.
Our high for today is 91 degrees.

I am thinking
about how it has been 2 years since I started participating in TSW Daybook.

I am thankful
My son loves working at his job, and that my hubby provides well for his family. It’s also a blessing I got to see another birthday. I turned 44 on the 3rd.

One of my favorite things
     Watching fireworks with family on the 4th of July. I don't like hearing them all night when we're trying to get some sleep :(

I am creating
Nothing at the moment. Just writing this post.

I am wearing
A striped blue and white dress with flip flops.

I am reading
Lots of cookbooks for healthy recipes.

I’m watching
Nothing in particular.

I’m listening to
The sound of the fan in the background.

I am hoping
We don't have a scorching hot summer. I like getting some sun but I don't enjoy the humidity. That's one reason why Fall is my favorite season.

I am learning
To be more disciplined with my food consumption.

In my kitchen
Meal Prep Containers

I have been prepping all of our meals for the week. I wrote about that in my post yesterday. We went out to eat for my birthday. I couldn’t believe that I hardly could eat my meal. I ended up bringing the majority of it home with me. That’s a good sign that I’m on the right track.

Post Script
I'm interested in the Open Hearts in a Closed World online conference. Sounds like it's going to be a good one.

Shared Quote
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
-2 Chronicles 7:14

A moment from my day

Getting in some exercise. I bought some needed items recently. This is what I purchased. I need to get a different ball because this one doesn't work for me. Also, I hate the design on that mat so I'm altering it a bit.

Closing Notes
Thank you for stopping by and I hope you get a chance to read other ladies Simple Woman Journal posts. Just head on over to our host site to see more.
______________________________


© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Sunday, July 5

What I've been up to...

I know I haven't been posting much these days. Lots of stuff going on but mainly I have been making some changes for my health. Last month I started back regularly exercising. I also bought some meal prep boxes to help me stick to eating the right portion sizes. My family decided to try this with me for support.


Each weekend I cook up all of our meals and prepare our snacks for the week. We eat 6 small meals a day. We have breakfast, lunch, dinner, 3 snacks, and drink plenty of water. I learned from others who do this that it’s best to limit the number of ingredients, prepare meals that you can use the same types of foods, and stick with eating the same meals each day for that week. This has tremendously helped me not get overwhelmed with all the food that needs to be prepared for a given week. It just means that I cook up enough of the same breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc. to eat for 4-5 days straight. I change up the menu each week so we have something totally different from the previous week. No one in our house has complained about eating the same thing every day (5 days only) so it’s working so far.

Here is what I have planned for this month:

Breakfast-
1. Smoothie Packs- (these will be consumed 3 times each week using Kefir, protein powder, flax and/or chia seeds and fruits like bananas, strawberries, and blueberries (or whatever is on sale and in season. Some days will include Dates, Kale, or Spinach too)

2. Hearty BF Bowls (we will eat these twice during the week using scrambled eggs, roasted sweet potatoes with diced peppers and onions, cooked ground sausage, cheddar cheese, and salsa.)

3. BF Bowls (we will eat these twice during the week using scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese, sautéed spinach, oven-roasted sweet potato rounds with everything bagel seasoning, and oven-baked bacon.)

4. Apple Cinnamon Quinoa BF Bowls (to be eating twice a week using cooked Quinoa, skillet cooked cinnamon apples, chopped pecans, and a Maple cinnamon yogurt topping.)

5. Hearty BF Bowls (we will eat these twice during the week using scrambled eggs, roasted red and sweet potatoes, cooked ground sausage, cheddar cheese, and top with salsa as well as chopped green onions)

Lunch-
1. Korean Beef Bowls with sautéed spinach (to be eaten 3 times during the week with brown rice)

Pesto Chicken (to be eaten 2 times during the week with roasted Brussels Sprouts and baby carrots.)

2. Chicken Teriyaki Bowls with brown rice, sautéed zucchini, mushrooms, and red bell pepper. (to be eaten 5 times during the week)

3. Chef Salad with Lori Alexander’s homemade salad dressing (to be eaten 4 times during the week)

4. “Big Mac” Salad with homemade sauce (to be eaten 4 times during the week)

Dinner-
1. Taco Pasta Salad (to be eaten 3 times during the week)

BBQ Pulled Pork, rice pilaf, and green beans (to be eaten 2 times during the week)

2. Baked Pork Chops, Quinoa Pilaf, and oven-roasted veggies (to be eaten 3 times during the week)

Baked Tilapia, Quinoa Pilaf, and Pea Mash (to be eaten 2 times during the week)

3. Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs served over coconut rice (to be eaten 3 times during the week. These are made with chicken cubes, bell peppers, red onions, pineapples, and Hawaiian BBQ sauce.)

Hawaiian Ham Kabobs served over coconut rice (to be eaten 2 times during the week)

4. Asian Garlic Steak Kabobs served over Instant Pot fried rice (to be eaten 2 times during the week)

Bang Bang Chicken Kabobs served over Instant Pot fried rice (to be eaten 3 times during the week)

Snacks-
1. Classic Snack Box: grapes, pretzels, deli meat, and cheese cubes (to be eaten 2 times during a week)

2. Homemade Trail Mix (to be eaten 2 times a week each week)

3. Sweet Classic Snack Box: apple slices, peanut butter yogurt dip, pretzels, and deli meat (to be eaten 2 times during a week)

4. Homemade Protein Bars (to be eaten 2 times a week every other week)

5. Mediterranean Snack Box: Artichokes, grape tomatoes, Kalamata Olives, Salami, and Monterey Jack cheese cubes (to be eaten 2 times during a week)

6. Homemade Energy (Bites) Balls (I'll only have 2 at a time. These are to be eaten 2 times a week every other week)

7. Veggie Snack Box: Baby carrots, celery sticks, snap peas, grape tomatoes, boiled egg, and Homemade Hummus (to be eaten 2 times during a week)

8. Meat and Pickle rolls (with cream cheese), cherry tomatoes, and wheat thin crackers (to be eaten 2 times during a week)

9. Black Bean Dip with tortilla chips (to be eaten 2 times during a week)

10. Chia Pudding (small bowl) or Fresh Fruit (to be eaten 2-3 times during a week)

Bonus---Fat Bombs (eat no more than 2 a day)

© My Life 0utside The Box 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photos, text, personal videos, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

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