Goodbye 2021~ Welcome 2022

Well, it's time to say goodbye to 2021 and hello to 2022. It has been another crazy year for sure but, Praise the Lord we made it through! My family usually does our usual thing of taking down Christmas décor and eating Fondue throughout the day. This year will be a different one. This year we will snack on a Charcuterie platter and move into the new home we just bought. We closed on it a few days before Christmas. YAY!!! Don’t know if I’ll be blogging anytime soon because I’ll be very busy in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Much thanks to all who stopped by to read my blog all through this year. I’m so grateful for each of you. I hope you and your loved ones have a fun and safe New Year's Eve~Day. I pray your 2022 is filled with many reasons to give God thanks each day. With all that being said be blessed.

© 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.

From my family to yours…

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

November 2021 Weekly Meal Plans

Hi dear readers.  I mentioned last month that Fall is my favorite season. I love that it leads right on into one of my favorite holidays. I look forward to Thanksgiving and the start of the Christmas season right afterward. Can y’all believe my hubby won’t let us sing any Christmas tunes until Thanksgiving has come? LOL 😁

Well, I have some news. My husband has joined me on the OMAD (One Meal A Day) train. He got used to eating 2MAD (2 Meals A Day) and wanted to finish the rest of the year doing OMAD with me. We’re both losing more weight and feel great. I have had to go down in dress, shirt, and pants size again since April. Say what???

I bought some new cookbooks at the store to help with the way we eat now. Keto foods are very tasty and don't make us feel like we don't have a lot of food variety. In the pic, you see 4 of the 6 that I purchased. They were marked down to under $5-$10 each. I found these Keto cookbooks on sale and had to have them. They will come in handy for the upcoming holidays so we don’t eat anything that will cause us to jeopardize our weight loss progress. Well, let’s get on to the meals. Here is a quick view into next month’s menu plans:

Breakfast- for my son only
Boiled eggs with bacon or sausage links
Steel Cut Oats and boiled eggs
Homemade Mc Griddles (with eggs, cheese, and bacon, ham, or sausage patties)
Mini waffle breakfast sandwiches (with eggs, cheese, and ham or sausage patties)

Lunch-
Meatball Egg Drop Soup 
Pulled Pork BBQ Pizza
Spaghetti (w/Zoodles and homemade meat pasta sauce)
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole (Keto)

Dinner-
Meatloaf Stuffed Peppers(Keto)
Chuck Roast or Pork Chops
Seafood Chowder
Keto Pizza Casserole

***If you missed it, here is a look back at the monthly menu from November 2020. Looking back I notice how the way we eat has drastically changed.

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

The Simple Woman {Oct. 2021}

For Today: 10/5/21

_____________________________

Looking out my window

Leaves are starting to cover the ground. Outside there’s a slight breeze, we have scattered clouds, but it feels nice. Today’s high is 78 degrees.

I am thinking

About all the things we’re facing in these troubling times. My heart aches to see the division running rampant in the body of Christ over such things :(

I am thankful

To be able to enjoy another Fall season.

One of my favorite things

I love this picture of a tree in our town from a few years ago. It’s one of the many things I love about Autumn.

I am creating

A “TO DO LIST” of some things I want to work on around the house.

I am wearing

A rose print dress and flip-flops.

I am reading

Father God’s Holy Word. I’m participating in the Psalm 119 online ladies Bible Study.

I’m watching

I have been catching up on some Clutterbug YouTube videos.

I am hoping

By some miracle to not have to deal with suffering from bad allergy headaches this year. Haha…It’s okay to wish sometimes right?

I am learning

To be okay with a head full of gray hairs. It's like I see more gray patches every few months when I'm looking in the mirror. I know...maybe I'm getting wiser *wink *wink

In my kitchen

I have been making homemade mayo for a few years now. I like the taste much better than any I buy at the store. Maybe because I actually know what’s in it. Here’s a recipe I use:

1 Large whole Pasture-Raised egg ( or 2 Egg Yolks)

1 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard

1 Tbsp. White Wine Vinegar

2 tsp. Lemon Juice

1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

1/4 tsp. White Pepper

1 cup Avocado Oil (or any neutral tasting oil)

I use up to a quart-size wide mouth Mason jar to add everything but the oil. Then I take my handheld stick (Emersion) blender to blend everything in the jar. Last I slowly add the oil and pulse up and down to get it to a thicker consistency that resembles mayo. It lasts a few weeks in the fridge if I even have it that long. LOL

Post Script

  Last month I watched a week of "Get Organized HQ". I learned so much. While going through the website last week, I came across something interesting. I love this idea of organizing small things with photo boxes.

Shared Quote

“It is not the absence of sin, but the grieving over it which distinguishes the child of God from empty professors.”

~Arthur Pink

A moment from my day

Just a day of decluttering and keeping the home :-)

Closing Notes

  Thank you for stopping by to read my Simple Woman Daybook post. Do feel free to leave me a comment. I do read and respond to each one. Just know that I do block spammers and don’t allow disrespectful comments to go through. Before you go don't forget to visit and read other ladies' Simple Woman Journal posts that are linked up through our gracious host Peggie.

______________________________

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

October 2021 Weekly Meal Plans

Hi everyone.  I’m so happy it’s finally Fall!!! I always say it’s one of my favorite times of the year. I put up my Fall décor a week ago :-) What about you? Have you added a touch of Autumn to your home? I love the colors and smells of the season. It’s time to change up the menu plans too.

Things are still going well with doing OMAD (One Meal A Day) combined with Intermittent Fasting. If you didn’t already know, it means I fast for 23 hours and have a 1-hour eating window each day. It gets easier the longer you do it. This month I learned I need to be sure I’m getting in enough fat to stay satiated until my next feasting time.

I mentioned last month I may try some black coffee with no sugar or cream during my fasting window. I was brave enough to try it. I can tolerate a small cup with 2 drops of Stevia in it. I’ve gotten used to the taste but I won’t be giving up my sugar and cream during none fasting times :-) I can definitely see myself continuing OMAD all the way to the end of this year. Well, let’s get on to the meals.

Here is a quick rundown of next month’s menu plans:

Breakfast-
Granola and Honey Yogurt Parfaits, boiled egg, and bacon or ham slices
Steel Cut Oats and boiled eggs
Homemade Mc Griddles (with eggs, cheese, and bacon or sausage patties)
Waffle Breakfast sandwiches (with eggs, cheese, and ham or bacon)

Lunch-
Salmon Patties and Quinoa
Chicken BLT salad with Bacon Dressing
3 Meat Chili (with ground Beef, Lamb, and Pork)
Chicken Curry and Cilantro Lime Brown Rice

Dinner-
Instant Pot Rosemary Lamb or Lemon Dill Salmon
BBQ Chicken Quarters or Pork Chops
Beef Stew
Keto Taco Soup

***If you missed it, here is a look back at the monthly menu from October 2020.

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

September 2021 Weekly Meal Plans

Hi everyone.  I was sitting here thinking we’re 4 weeks away from it being Fall. YAY! It’s my favorite time of year. I’m not ready to start decorating or anything just yet. A week ago I did see a house or two around town with Fall décor outside. That’s way too early for me. I’m patient enough to make the most of the rest of Summer :-)

Things are going well with my OMAD (One Meal A Day) combined with Intermittent Fasting. I thought it was going to be tough fasting for 23 hours and having a 1-hour eating window each day. The first week my body was trying to figure out what was going on. After that, it wasn't as bad as I thought. If you have been wondering what I do if I get hungry while fasting, I do a couple of things.

I drink a glass of water with Apple Cider Vinegar and lemon juice once in the morning and again a few hours before I go to bed. It took time for me to get used to the very tangy taste. I started out using honey and cinnamon early on. Now a drop of Stevia is all I need. You also can have black coffee with no sugar or cream. I don’t love coffee that much to give up that sweet creamy taste that makes it pleasant for me. I may try to see if I can tolerate a small cup then maybe I'll add this from time to time. I also drink a few cups of unsweetened herbal tea (hot or cold), some sparkling water, and TONS of regular plain water. That and staying busy helps keep hunger at bay. If you are not sleeping, you want to do something to keep yourself distracted from thinking about food while you're fasting. I love how focused I am now during Bible Study while I fast.

I’m so shocked I’ve kept up my health goals for a full year, and now I’m on this new journey with fasting. It’s amazing what you can do when you just make a decision and just do it. There is definitely no going back to the way I was before. This is NOT a diet but a new lifestyle for me. As I stated last time my plan is to continue OMAD all the way to the end of this year. If I see good results, I’ll continue on through next summer. Well, let’s get on to the meals.

Here is a quick rundown of next month’s menu plans:

Breakfast-
Granola and Honey Yogurt Parfaits and sausage patties or links
Steel Cut Oats and boiled eggs
Pancakes (with Keto Maple Syrup) and Ham slices
Waffles and Bacon

Lunch-
Mediterranean Chicken Salad with homemade dressing
Bacon Cheeseburger bowls
Pesto Salmon Egg Muffins
Pork Cubed Steaks

Dinner-
Instant Pot Beef Chuck Roast
Honey Balsamic Chicken Thighs
Roasted Lemon Chicken
Keto Meatball Pizza Casserole

I forgot to mention that I changed to mostly sticking to a very low-carb green veggie for the sides we eat with our meals now. Things like Brussels Sprouts, Asparagus, green beans, zucchini, cabbage, and broccoli are all that I buy. I just keep rotating those amongst the weekly meals. I hope you have enjoyed hearing about my updates and getting an idea of what I eat along the way.

***If you missed it, here is a look back at the monthly menu from September 2020.

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

The Simple Woman {August 2021}

For Today: 8/3/21

_____________________________

Looking out my window

It’s a nice day outside. Today’s high is 81 degrees. Looks like the rest of the week will be just as nice as today.

I am thinking

That I had intended to post this yesterday but I never got a chance to finish because other things kept getting in the way :(

I am thankful

For all the helpful info I have learned during my weight loss journey. Finally, I have something that works and I can turn it into a lifestyle going forward.

One of my favorite things

I’m in love with these Zevia zero-calorie drinks. They come in several different flavors and don’t have crappy artificial ingredients. Now when I want a soda fix, (which is not very often) I don’t have to feel guilty about it. YUM :)

I am creating

This Simple Woman Daybook post.

I am wearing

An Apricot dress and flip-flops.

I am reading

We’re still reading “Fault Lines” by Voddie Baucham Jr. If you haven’t read it yet, what are you waiting for? I guarantee you’ll learn a lot of things you didn’t know about all the current movements surrounding CRT.

I’m watching

I have been catching up on this year’s Open Hearts in a Closed World online conference. You can learn more and see all 5 OHCW videos here.

I am hoping

To find a good deal on an air fryer. My hubby wants us to get one, but man are they pricey!

I am learning

How to get better at cooking a juicy steak. For years I only knew how to cook well done (a.k.a dry steak). I’m now getting the hang of telling the difference between a medium and medium-well steak. YAY for progress!

In my kitchen

Nothing spectacular going on. I did go through all our cabinets and pantry to find all of the foods I needed to donate to our local pantry. We changed a lot in our diets before Spring so there were foods I needed to pass along. I ended up with 6 bags full. I love being able to bless others in need.

Post Script

  Last month I posted the final installment of my batch/bulk cooking series. Boy was it long overdue. Two years late! LOL.

Shared Quote

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

~Hebrews 12:1

A moment from my day

Today I’m focusing on updating plans for this month in my Happy Planners.

Closing Notes

I hope you enjoyed reading my Simple Woman Daybook post. Thank you for stopping by and feel free to leave me a comment. I do read and respond to each one. Just know that I do block spammers and don’t allow disrespectful comments to go through. Before you go don't forget to visit and read other ladies' Simple Woman Journal posts that are linked up through our gracious host Peggie.

______________________________

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

August 2021 Weekly Meal Plans

Hi everyone. Can you believe July will be over in a few days? When I started seeing parents over in the school section at Walmart a few weeks ago, I did a double-take. I had forgotten it was getting close to the time for school to begin again. My son graduated from homeschooling 3 years ago so the thought of getting ready for another school year was far from me. Don’t get me wrong I do miss being a homeschool mom. I cherished every moment of it. I was shocked how quick time passes where you don’t even think of things like that.

I feel like I’m getting healthier and stronger by the day. Exercise has become a regular habit, I don’t miss all those carbs and sugar I used to consume, and I’m seeing lots of changes in my body composition. Another benefit is from Intermittent Fasting. It's helping me get a great night's sleep and I feel the boost in my immune system. 

My 22 hour fast and 2-hour eating window went well. I am ready to start OMAD (One Meal A Day) next week. It will be tough fasting for 23 hours and having a 1-hour eating window each day. I've been preparing for this for months so I believe I'm ready to give it a go. My plan is to take this all the way to the end of this year. If I see good results, I’ll continue OMAD through next summer. Things are going well with eating Keto meals so I’m continuing to incorporate that as well. Let’s get on to the meals.

Here is next month’s short and simple menu:

Breakfast-
Smoothie (Keto friendly)
Breakfast Taco Bowls
3 meat Egg Scramble
Waffles (with Keto Maple Syrup) and Bacon
Chaffles (Keto) and sausage

Lunch-
Salmon and Sardine Salad
Chicken Egg Salad
Mediterranean Chicken Egg Muffins
Tuna “Melts” Muffins

Dinner-
Instant Pot Brisket
Keto Meatloaf
Pork Rind Crusted Tilapia
Keto Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

Weekly meal prep really helps keep me on track with sticking to my goal of eating healthy home-cooked meals. With the proper mix of healthy fats and protein, I can last for longer periods of time without snacking and constant eating throughout the day. I just eat my meal at my set time and be done with it.

***If you missed it, here is a look back at the monthly menu from August 2020. Here is a helpful video of the advantages (benefits) of Intermittent Fasting:

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

Batch {Bulk} Cooking with Beef Brisket and Chuck Roast

Hi everyone! It has been a while since I shared my batch cooking sessions on here. A few weeks ago I happened to be looking through some old posts and noticed I had intended to share this last post to complete the batch/bulk cooking series. In fact, it has been two years since I’ve had it in draft mode. Yes, you read that right. TWO YEARS! I don’t know why (other than life happens) I waited this long to finish it up 😕.

Today I’m sharing different uses for leftovers from a cooked Beef brisket or a Chuck roast. Last month I got both of these meats on sale at Kroger. I believe the brisket was around 5 lbs. and the roast was over 4 lbs. After cooking whole cuts of meat like this (slow cooker or instant pot), I do all I can to get the most out of it. For dinner we are sure to enjoy slices of the meat then I make plans for the rest. Below I’m sharing some ideas for the leftover meat.

Here are some things to make with leftover Beef Brisket:

* Add veggies and beef broth to make Soup or Stew

* Shred the meat to make French Dip Sandwiches

* Add BBQ sauce to make Pulled Beef sandwiches

* Chop meat to use on a BBQ Pizza

* Make Beef Fajitas or Enchiladas

* Make Beef Taquitos

* Make Beef Nachos

* Make Tacos or Burritos/Wraps

* Make Quesadillas, Chimichangas, or Empanadas (hand pies)

* Chop meat to add to chili (this would make a great ALL meat chili)

* Make “Patty Melts” Sandwiches

* Use to make quick "Philly Cheesesteak" sandwiches

* Make beef Stuffed Potatoes

* Make a Breakfast Hash

* Make a quick Beef Stroganoff

* Use to make Shepherd's Pie

* Use in a quick "Pepper steak" with rice

* Make Beef and Broccoli Stir-fry

Here are some things to make with leftover Chuck Roast:

* Can try several of the suggestions above as well as…

* Use the meat and veggies with broth to make a quick soup or stew

* Make a pot roast

* Use the meat for making Beef Pot Pie

* Use in making a Shepherd's Pie

These are just examples of the many things you can do. If any other things come to mind, I may come back to add to this list later. I hope I have helped you think of other ways to use up a cooked brisket or chuck roast besides having 3-4 days of reheating the same old leftovers. What can you think of that I haven’t added to the lists? Please feel free to let me know in the comments below. If you missed my other bulk cooking sessions, click on the links below to check those out.

More Batch/Bulk Cooking:

Cooked Ground Beef

Cooked Taco Meat

Cooked Chicken or Whole Fryer

Chicken Scraps

Chili or White Chicken Chili

Rice or Cooked Pasta

Pasta meat sauce

Cooked Sweet Potatoes

Cooked Pumpkin and Butternut Squash

Cooked Beans and more Beans

Boiled Eggs

Pork Loin

Cooked Pork Butt

Cooked Ham

Bell Peppers and Onions

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. All Rights Reserved. All personal photos, text, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of the blog author.

Blocking the truth NEVER helps :(

We live in sad times as this world grows darker and darker. Our only hope is in God our Heavenly Father. Blocking the truth from being said (shared) NEVER helped anyone. That will never change no matter what people in the world think/feel about it. I'm comforted in the fact our Heavenly Father gets the final say about EVERYTHING.

© 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.

July 2021 Weekly Meal Plans

Hi everyone. How has your summer been going so far? We have had a mixture of rain and sunny days. When we went to the Farmer’s Market on Saturday, it was hot out there. I was glad to get in some good vitamin D and light exercise from walking up and down a hill. Whew! I’m glad I exercise 5 days a week. It really helped me push harder to get up that hill 😁.

My 45th birthday is coming up in a few days (July 3rd). I won’t be having cake but I may get a taste of ice cream somewhere on that day. This will be my only sweet treat. July 4th will be different this year since I’ll be sticking to somewhat Keto when I eat. No buns for my burger or hotdog, no potato salad, no corn on the cobb, or baked beans for me. I’ll still enjoy myself but I’ll work hard to not get off track.

Doing the 20/4 IF method went well. I ended up pushing my eating window to only 2 hours a day. So I fast 22 hours and have 2 hours to eat my meal for the day. The only thing I struggle with is wanting to eat all my food before my eating window closes. It’s crazy because I’m hungry an hour before it’s time for me to eat, then when I eat I get full too quickly. I struggle to finish so that I’ve had an adequate amount to fill me up to sustain me until my next eating window opens. I’m thinking in August I’ll move to the next level (OMAD) and see how that goes. Even though I cook meals for my family, I don’t do the normal breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I pick and chose from what’s prepared and eat whatever I feel like during my eating window.

Here is next month’s menu, short and simple.

Breakfast-
Smoothie (Keto friendly)
Bacon Deviled Eggs
Beef and egg scramble
Breakfast Pizza (crustless)

Lunch-
Keto Sardine Patties
Chicken Salad
Shrimp Scampi over Zoodles
Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breasts

Dinner-
Instant Pot Chuck roast 
BBQ Chicken Thighs
Rosemary Lamb
Keto Meatloaf muffins

Hope everyone in the U.S. enjoys their 4th of July. Most of all remember to be safe out there.

***If you missed it, here is a look back at the monthly menu from July 2020.

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

The Simple Woman {June 2021}

For Today: 6/7/21

_____________________________

Looking out my window

It’s a nice day outside. Today’s high is 82 degrees. We had rain all weekend and supposed to have rain all this week.

I am thinking

About my 45th birthday coming up next month.

I am thankful

To be the keeper of our home. I love making our home a haven for my family to be able to relax and enjoy themselves.

One of my favorite things

I love a good cup of Cappuccino over drinking coffee. I so love that creamy feel. But, when I do drink coffee, I love the Hazelnut flavor most. YUM :)

I am creating

Nothing at the moment.

I am wearing

A yellow blouse and white capris.

I am reading

I have been reading “Fault Lines” by Voddie Baucham Jr. with my hubby. It's a great read and very eye-opening, to say the least. We are learning a lot.

I’m watching

My hubby has been binge-watching Leverage episodes. I sit in on some episodes when I get a chance. His favorite character is Hardison. Hubby is in IT...need I explain more ;)

I am hoping

To get to the Farmer’s Market every other weekend for the next 5 months.

I am learning

I learned so much in the online ladies' Bible study of the book of Ruth. It seems strange that 8 weeks have already come and gone.

In my kitchen

I’m still trying out new Keto meals in my weekly meal preps. I/we have been enjoying them so far. This one is a picture of Keto Lasagna Stuffed Peppers.

Post Script

  Last week I posted a year update of my health/fitness journey. If you haven’t checked it out, I hope you get a chance to read it and see how things are going.

Shared Quote

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

~Romans 5:8

A moment from my day

Today's hair spa day so I'm giving my head of curls some TLC!

Closing Notes

I hope you enjoyed reading my Simple Woman Daybook post. Thank you for stopping by and feel free to leave me a comment. I do read and respond to each one. Just know that I do block spammers and don’t allow disrespectful comments to go through. Before you go don't forget to visit and read other ladies Simple Woman Journal posts that are linked up through our gracious host Peggie.

______________________________

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

June 2021 Weekly Meal Plans

Hi everyone. Today we celebrated Memorial Day here in the United States. I hope all who took part had a blessed one. We’re having lots of nice weather most days. In a few weeks, we’ll say goodbye to Spring and hello to Summer.

Things are going well with my health and fitness. I’m so glad I added Intermittent Fasting (IF) to my weekly health regimen. Next month will be a year since I started this new lifestyle. Be sure to stay tuned. My next post will be me sharing photos and thoughts on my progress.

I did start doing the 20/4 IF method. I only eat 2 meals a day. This is known in the fasting and fitness world as 2MAD. If you noticed, I have incorporated a lot of Keto meals into my meal plans the last few months. It has really helped me get past a weight loss plateau. It also helped me get fat adapted so that I’m able to go longer periods of time without getting hungry. I’ll talk about all that in my next post. A lot is changing in the way we eat so I’m just going to make the upcoming menu short and simple.

Breakfast-
Smoothie Packs- (Still having these once or twice a week)
Scotch Eggs (without the bread crumbs)
Keto Chorizo Quiche
Sausage Egg Muffins
Breakfast Deviled Eggs with Liver Pate

Lunch-
Keto Salmon Patties
Chicken Salad
Keto Lasagna Stuffed Peppers
Keto Taco Pie (with salsa and sour cream)

Dinner-
Carnitas (with Cojita cheese, salsa, and sour cream)
Brisket
Rosemary Lamb
Baked Chicken

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

Almost Wordless Wednesday~ 5/12/20

My Mother's Day gifts

What's in the picture?

Fresh cut roses from someone’s garden

Gray Fashion Tote/Handbag (4 piece) set

Engraved Walnut Chopping Block

3 Renpure Body Washes

Love & Nature Body Mists: “hey, sugar” and “sugar magnolia”

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

May 2021 Weekly Meal Plans

Hi everyone. Seems like April just came and flew by with the blink of an eye. We have had some really nice weather outside of some rainy days. Things are going well on the Homefront as well as with meal planning and my health goals.

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you’ll know that I mentioned I added Intermittent Fasting (IF) to my weekly health regimen. It has made a huge difference and wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be in the beginning. My hubby has been watching my progress and has been a great encouragement. He has now decided to start his own IF regimen by first cutting out the daily snacking like I did back in January.

I successfully did the 18/6 method all this month (daily fast for 18 hours and eat within a 6-hour window). I’ve noticed a big (but beneficial) change in my appetite. I have way more control and I have decided to start doing the 20/4 method. I know it seems like I’ve been making lots of adjustments lately. All of these changes are leading up to a bigger goal I have, but I will talk about that later on. What all that being said, let's move on and see what’s on the menu:

Breakfast-
Smoothie Packs- still having these twice a week but only using berries with some protein powder.

* List of other breakfast meals that will be eaten 3 times during each week.
Week 1: Brussels Sprouts Hash (served with a piece of fresh fruit)
Week 2: Keto Omelet Chaffles (will serve with salsa and fresh fruit)
Week 3: Bacon and Egg cups (served with some Applesauce)
Week 4: Breakfast Deviled Eggs (served with homemade sausage)

* List of lunch meals that will be eaten 5 times during each week.
Lunch-
Week 1: Keto Cincinnati Chili (will serve over Zoodles)
Week 2: Keto Chicken, Spinach, and Artichoke Casserole with Keto Cheddar biscuits
Week 3: Hibachi Steak and fried rice 
Week 4: Keto Lasagna

* List of dinner meals that will be eaten 4 times during each week.
Dinner-
1. Nicoise Salad (will be served with tuna and/or crabmeat)
2. Nicoise Salad (will be served with baked dill salmon)
3. Nicoise Salad (will be served with chicken)
4. Nicoise Salad (will be served with tuna and/or boneless salmon)

* Snacks- No longer prepping these. My son is the only one here who has snacks whenever he feels the need to. He just buys/chooses his own snacks.

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

The Simple Woman {April 2021}

For Today: 4/5/21

_____________________________

Looking out my window

It’s a pretty day outside. Today’s high is 77 degrees. According to our local forecast, it looks like it will be a pretty week.

I am thinking

How I had mentioned last time that I should start a Tip Tuesday to share things I've learned about meal prepping. I haven’t gotten around to that yet, but it’s still in the back of my mind.

I am thankful

To have celebrated our Lord and Savior’s Resurrection yesterday :-) I know it was a much better one for many when looking back at how COVID affected everything last year.

One of my favorite things

  The smell of Lemon and Lavender Essential oils when blended together.

I am creating

Just rearranging some sections in my Happy Planners.

I am wearing

A pink shirt with maroon pants and comfy house shoes.

I am reading/listening to

I have been learning so much about Intermittent Fasting on YouTube. Some of my favorite speakers on the topic are Dr. Eric Berg, Dr. Jason Fung, and Dr. Sten Ekberg.

I’m watching

Recently I watched Voddie B. speak about Biblical Justice vs. Social Justice. It was worth the watch with all that’s going on in our world these days.

I am hoping

Dollar Tree gets more supplies in the store. The shelves are not as stocked as they used to be before COVID.

I am learning

To really enjoy the colors of Spring. Especially flowers and pastel colors.

In my kitchen

I have been trying out some Keto meals in my weekly meal preps. I have been enjoying them so far. This one is a picture of two different types of Nicoise salads we are enjoying.

More Of Value

  It is important that every believer understands Racial Reconciliation through God’s Word. The world around us wants everyone to view it one way, but God’s way is best.

Post Script

My hubby has been talking about CRT lately. I didn’t know what that was until I saw Michelle Lesley sharing the 6 part Critical Race Theory series on her blog.

Shared Quote

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

~Romans 1:16-17

A moment from my day

Enjoying some leftover Easter Dinner. We had:

Ham (with pineapple)

Chicken, Spinach, and Artichoke casserole

Green beans (with red onion and bacon)

Skillet Corn (I had none on my plate)

Keto Cheesy Garlic Biscuits

Lemon Cookies and Brownies

Closing Notes

I didn’t do a Simple Woman Daybook post last month because I’m doing one every other month for now. Thank you to all who stop by to read and leave comments. I really appreciate you. Before you go don't forget to visit and read other ladies Simple Woman Journal posts that are linked up through our gracious host Peggie.

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© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

What does Your heart say?

Hello everyone. April the 1st is here. I have no April fools pranks for anyone today. Haven’t practiced that in years since being convicted not to after getting saved. I wanted to share something I was reading today.

Psalms 14:1-6 (NKJV)

¹ The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.

² The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
³ They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.

⁴ Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call on the LORD?
⁵ There they are in great fear,
For God is with the generation of the righteous.
⁶ You shame the counsel of the poor,
But the LORD is his refuge.

When reading these verses I am reminded to examine my heart (daily) to see if my thinking and actions are displaying “There is no God”. Many professing Christians and all non-believers fit right into this scripture. Not only do non-believers say/believe in their hearts “there is no God”, but many who say they are of the faith show through their actions “there is no God”. Dare I say many of them are showing what’s really going on in their hearts as well.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be the “fool” that these verses are describing. As Resurrection Day (Easter) approaches, my prayer is that more eyes be opened to the truth and knowledge of who our true Heavenly Father is and what His Son, Jesus did for us on the cross. Praise God for the death, burial, and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen!

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

April 2021 Weekly Meal Plans

Hi everyone. Spring is finally here and I hope we continue to see nice weather like we have the last few weeks. It’s time for a menu change so you'll see fewer soups on the menu in the coming months to accommodate the changing weather. I can eat soup year-round, but no one else in my house feels the same way 😀

I mentioned last month how I’ve added Intermittent Fasting (IF) to my weekly health regimen. I am happy with the progress in the way I eat. Sometime this year I plan to share photos to show my weight when I started last summer and my weight loss to date.

Since I did so well with the IF 16/8 method, (daily fast for 16 hours and eat within an 8-hour window) last week I started the 18/6 method. It’s interesting how I'm learning a lot about myself and how my body reacts. Now let's move on and see what’s on the menu:

Breakfast-
Smoothie Packs- continue having these twice a week using 2 different gallon size Ziploc bags to keep added fruit portions frozen in the freezer.

* This next list of breakfast meals will be eaten 3 times during each week.
Week 1: Steel Cut Oats (Topped with banana slices, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and Chia seeds)
Week 2: Keto Crustless Ham Quiche (I used Asparagus served with roasted sweet potatoes, and fruit)
Week 3: Breakfast Taquitos (served with some Applesauce)
Week 4: Steak and Egg Scramble (served over roasted sweet potatoes)

* This list of lunch meals will be eaten 5 times during each week.
Lunch-
Week 1: Supreme Pizza Soup (will be eaten with some Garlic flavored Croutons)
Week 2: Ramen Noodle Bowls (will add homemade broth, cooked chicken, and veggies to this)
Week 3: Zuppa Toscana (Olive Garden copycat. Will serve with crusty bread)
Week 4: Keto Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Peppers

* This list of dinner meals will be eaten 4 times during each week.
Dinner-
1. Teriyaki Salmon (will be served twice this week then Asian Pork chops on the other days.) This will be served with Wild Rice and roasted veggies (Carrots, Zucchini, and Sweet Potatoes)
2. Pepper Steak/ Chicken Pepper Steak (Will serve the beef a few days and the chicken on the other days. Will be eaten with brown rice, and roasted veggies: carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, and onions.)
3. Pizza Pasta: Supreme (Will be eaten with a side salad)
4. Nicoise Salad (will be served with tuna and/or boneless salmon)

* This next list is snacks for hubby and son.
Snacks-
1. Chai Pudding
2. Tuna Salad (serve on crackers or made into half sandwiches)
3. Tortilla chips and Salsa
4. Quick “DIY” Flavored Yogurt
5. Homemade Trail Mix
6. Granola Bars
7. Fresh fruit
8. Graham Crackers with Peanut Butter and mini chocolate chips

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

March 2021 Weekly Meal Plans

Hi everyone. Last week was one COLD week for many of us. That Arctic Blast brought in a lot of ice, snow, and very low temps. My son didn’t get to work all week and my hubby ended up working several days from home. It’s hard to believe that in a few weeks Daylight Savings time will begin, and Spring will be here. Soon you will see how my menu plans will start to change. But for now, I’m squeezing in a few more soups and other foods to keep us warm.

I mentioned last month things are still going great with doing portion control.  I also started drinking a whole GALLON of water daily.  I’m still keeping it up and I feel great. I also shared that I have other plans which I’ll share a little about that. I have now added Intermittent Fasting (IF) to my weekly health regimen. This is another reason I have not been snacking in between my meals. I’m not where I want to be with it yet, but I have made some progress.

So here’s the quick rundown: I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I usually eat after 11:30 AM each morning (late breakfast). I TRY to eat my last meal of the day (dinner) no later than 7:30 PM. Sometimes it’s closer to 8:00 PM if it’s been a busy day. I don’t eat again for another 14 hours because that’s my fasting time. The fast is broken once I eat again sometime the next day. I’m working my way up to the IF 16/8 ratio (fast for 16 hours and eat only within an 8-hour window daily). I'm taking baby steps to get there. With that being said let's see what’s on to the menu:

Breakfast-
Smoothie Packs- continue having these twice a week using 2 different gallon size Ziploc bags to keep added fruit portions frozen in the freezer.

* This next list of meals will be eaten 3 times during each week.
Week 1: Steel Cut Oats (Topped with banana slices, strawberry jam, and Chia seeds)
Week 2: Keto Ham and Cheese Biscuits (served with a boiled egg and applesauce)
Week 3: Breakfast Taquitos (served with some Applesauce)
Week 4: Honey Nut Almond Grits (Topped with Almond slices and drizzled with honey)

* This list of lunch meals will be eaten 5 times during each week.
Lunch-
Week 1: Chicken Pot Pie Soup (will be eaten with some crusty bread)
Week 2: Greens and Beans (will add Italian Sausage to this)
Week 3: Bacon Cheeseburger Soup 
Week 4: Lentil and Italian Sausage Soup (I made several modifications)

* This list of dinner meals will be eaten 4 times during each week.
Dinner-
1. Chili (will be served with tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, and salsa)
2. Maple Mustard Marinated Chicken (Will be eaten with Quinoa and Wild rice blend, and roasted veggies: carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, and tomatoes)
3. Heinz 57 Chicken (Will be eaten with brown rice, as well as roasted carrots, and Brussels Sprouts)
4. Hamburger Steaks (will be served with brown rice, and steamed green beans)

* This next list is for hubby and son only since I no longer need to snack.
Snacks-
1. Chai Pudding
2. Hard-Boiled Eggs
3. Loaded Hummus (with chopped olives, artichokes, and roasted red peppers) and pretzel slims
4. Quick “DIY” Flavored Yogurt
5. Homemade Trail Mix
6. Granola Bars
7. Fresh fruit
8. Graham Crackers with Peanut Butter and mini chocolate chips

© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.

Yes you are loved...

God's love for us is the best there is. He sacrificed His Son even when we didn't deserve it.

John 3:16- 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

© 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.

The Simple Woman {Feb. 2021}

For Today: 2/1/21

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Looking out my window

It is cloudy and COLD outside. Our high for today is 37 degrees. We got a little rain yesterday with some light snowfall last night.

I am thinking

That maybe I should start a Tip Tuesday to share things I've learned to help me when doing meal prepping and such.

I am thankful

Hubby and I celebrated 25 years of marriage yesterday :-)

One of my favorite things

  Doing special things for my family for Valentine’s Day. It will be here in a few weeks y’all.

I am creating

Doing some reorganizing around the home.

I am wearing

A floral blouse with maroon pants and comfy house shoes.

I am reading/listening to

I have been listening to the Bible being read while I follow along with the words on the screen/tv. To do this I’m using KJV Complete Bible on DVD.

I’m watching

Magnum P.I. on the T.V.

I am hoping

I find a good deal on a cover for my classic sized Happy Planner. Last month I got a great deal on this Gold mini cover. It was on sale for over 70% off!

I am learning

I’m a true type Bee Clutterbug. I’ll share more on that in a moment :-)

In my kitchen

Butternut Squash Soup

I have FINALLY used my Instant ACE to make soup. I made this delicious Butternut Squash soup you see above. It was so CREAMY. I have never been able to get my soups that creamy. To make it even better I added some sour cream and cooked bacon on top. I have also made (different day) some Tomato Basil soup to eat with grilled cheese sandwiches on sourdough bread. Can you say YUM!?

More Of Value

For the past few years, I’ve noticed more women getting into the habit of having a “Word of the Year”. I would try to find out what it was all about and I kept feeling like something was odd about it. I’m glad I didn’t jump on the bandwagon because here is why.

Post Script

I’m taking a mini-course to learn about my clutterbug type. I want to get better at keeping things better organized around the home. I do have some type of workable system in some areas, but I need help with other out of control areas. There are times I get lazy and let stuff pile up. If you want to learn more about your organization style aka Clutterbug type, check out the free Clutterbug Quiz to see what your type is.

Shared Quote

“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom”.

-Psalms 90:12

A moment from my day

Putting up Valentine's Day decor around the home

Closing Notes

I didn’t do a Simple Woman Daybook post last month because I was so busy. I think I’ll shoot for doing one every other month for now. Thank you to all who stop by to read and especially to those who leave comments. I really appreciate them. Before you go don't forget to pop over and read other ladies Simple Woman Journal posts that are linked at our host site.

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© My Life 0utside The Box 2021. 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.