Whole30 Thoughts

Thirty days with no grains, no dairy, no sugar, no legumes, and no alcohol. *crying*

[no lattes or creamer in my coffee on my early work mornings was so, so hard. my students even noticed.. "Mrs. Knapp, where's your starbucks cups lately?" ha!]

I had a lot of grilled meat and veggies, lots of stir fry meals, + a lot of potatoes.

Here are some of my favorite recipes I made:

Zuppa Toscana Soup

*I only put half the coconut milk in because I don't like the coconut flavor that strong, and I added more garlic and substituted spinach for kale. Made this twice it was so good!

Chili Recipe

(substituted chopped bell peppers for corn/beans)

Cool Ranch Chicken Tacos

(ate over lettuce with a W30 approved ranch)

THIS STUFF. So good. I spread it on my burgers in place of ketchup, and also dipped my sweet potato fries + potato wedges in it. Tons of flavor, and a sauce that's actually W30 compliant. 

A few thoughts..

I got very tired of eggs + salads. I definitely got creative with my salads, but I'm still a bit over them for a little while. 

I ate a lot of soup, which I didn't mind at all because come September/October I feel like that's what we eat at least twice a week. I found that I really didn't mind thickening soup with coconut milk instead of milk, flour, cheeses, or creams.

I really missed having our regular taco + margarita nights with brice, and I didn't realize how much grains and cheese I ate until I couldn't have them anymore. The sugar wasn't as hard for me to give up as I thought it would. I've never been a huge dessert person anyway.

I've never been one with self control, especially when it comes to food, so doing a round of Whole 30 was really good for me. I felt really good, didn't feel bloated, and found a lot of new recipes I really liked, and some I didn't (I'm looking at you, yucky sweet potato breakfast mush). Overall I'd call it a success and I felt really good that I actually stuck with it, completed it, and formed some new health habits.

What I'm Reading | August + September

Despite their differences, sisters Vianne and Isabelle have always been close. Younger, bolder Isabelle lives in Paris while Vianne is content with life in the French countryside with her husband Antoine and their daughter. But when the Second World War strikes, Antoine is sent off to fight and Vianne finds herself isolated so Isabelle is sent by their father to help her. As the war progresses, the sisters' relationship and strength are tested. With life changing in unbelievably horrific ways, Vianne and Isabelle will find themselves facing frightening situations and responding in ways they never thought possible as bravery and resistance take different forms in each of their actions.

THIS BOOK. Truly, one of the best books I've read in a long time. I love historical fiction, especially when it's so well written. If you don't love historical fiction, read this book anyway. Kristin Hannah's novel tells a story of two women during the war that were resilient and were forced to make unimaginably tough decisions. I think I enjoyed it so much because I could see myself in both main characters, although they were so opposite. Vianne retreated to her comforts and didn't want to stir any pots around her, so she hid in the background to protect herself. All while Isabelle embraced her inner-rebel and fought back recklessly against what she knew was so clearly wrong around her, even if it means putting her life in utter danger. It's a story of bravery, strength, and finding life out of complete hopelessness. MUST read.

5/5 stars

Eve in Exile sets aside all stereotypes of mid-century housewives, of China-doll femininity, of Victorians fainting, of women not allowed to think for themselves or talk to the men about anything interesting or important. It dismisses the pencil-skirted and stiletto-heeled executives of TV, the outspoken feminists freed from all that hinders them, the brave career women in charge of their own destinies. Once those fictionalized stereotypes are out of the way—whether they're things that make you gag or things you think look pretty fun—Christians can focus on real women. What did God make real women for?

I just recently borrowed this critically relevant book from my librarian-saint Lindsay, and as I've just finished it I'm still processing. Rebekah Merkle presents a Christian perspective on feminism, while also giving readers a history of how today's culture of feminism evolved. The history was very fascinating, and her tone in the book is less than gentle. You can tell she's passionate on the subject and speaks her truth well. I can't say I agree with 100% of the things Merkle writes on the topic, but I can say I appreciate a Christian woman speaking so honestly and bluntly on the topic of true womanhood in Christ. We have true purpose--kingdom-purpose--and it needs to be discussed in the light of Jesus.

4/5 stars

In a windswept British seaside town, single mom Alice Lake finds a man sitting on the beach outside her house. He has no name, no jacket, and no idea how he got there. Against her better judgment, she invites him inside. Meanwhile, in a suburb of London, twenty-one-year-old Lily Monrose has only been married for three weeks. When her new husband fails to come home from work one night she is left stranded in a new country where she knows no one. Then the police tell her that her husband never existed. Twenty-three years earlier, Gray and Kirsty are teenagers on a summer holiday with their parents. Their annual trip to the quaint seaside town is passing by uneventfully, until an enigmatic young man starts paying extra attention to Kirsty. Something about him makes Gray uncomfortable—and it’s not just that he’s playing the role of protective older brother. Two decades of secrets, a missing husband, and a man with no memory are at the heart of this brilliant new novel.

I love a good mystery that captivates me and forces me to finish it in no time. This one is filled with plot twists and as soon as you think you've got it figured out a new moment leaves you back clueless. The characters in this book aren't the most likeable, and every character seems to have baggage and trauma following them. There are a few super dark and eery themes/moments in this novel, but I did still enjoy it as it kept me on the edge of my seat like a good mystery should. 

4/5 stars