how to survive whole 30: recipes, pantry staples, & more!

I cannot begin to count all the questions I got when I was doing Whole 30.

 I gathered from most of the questions that most people are afraid they 1) won't have enough to eat and 2) will get bored of eating the "same thing".

So I have come up with How to Survive Whole30

1) MEAL PLAN: I don't think you can survive Whole30 without at least one of the cookbooks, if you have both then even better! Every Saturday or Sunday I would sit down with a template and a shopping list and make out our meals for the week, it takes about 30-40 minutes. So pour a cup of coffee, sit at your dining room table or on your couch, and start planning. Bonus points if your husband helps you. 

2) INCORPORATE SAUCES: You are absolutely going to get tired if you just eat ketchup with every meal. Adding different sauces to the same piece of chicken can make a world of a difference. If you don't want to make sauces there are plenty of brands that have Whole30 approved sauces, you just may spend a little more. We've done whole30 twice and the first round I bought all my sauces and the second time I made them all. I think the ones you make last longer and taste better. I also WILL NEVER BUY MAYONNAISE AGAIN. I found a fool proof recipe that is cheap and delicious. 

3) INVEST* IN AN IMMERSION BLENDER: Sure you can get by with a regular blender but for sauces you will want an immersion blender, it is the secret to making perfect dressings and sauces. I wouldn't go and spend $200 on a blender. I found this one on Amazon for only $30 and it works perfectly for me. If you want to take it a step further invest in a food processor, I recieved this one for a wedding gift and use it all the time. You will use both of these even when you aren't on Whole30. The immersion blender got me through days 11-15 with the dump ranch recipe.
Cue the song "I will survive"!!

4) HAVE BACK UP MEALS: While I am meal prepping for the week I make a "back up meal" that I put in the freezer. Once I made Shepherd's Pie as my "back up meal" and ended up having to use it when we were both just too tired and needed an off night. Having a back up meal is important when things might not go as planned in the meal category. 

5) MAKE IT PUBLIC: Post on whatever social media platform you use the most that you are doing whole 30. It makes it known to your friends and family and it gives you a responsibility to the 30 days. If you are doing it with someone else, even better. 

Here are a few of my favorite products that I cannot live without during the whole 30 or even off the Whole30.

This is fantastic with chicken and beef

1-2 tablespoons of Red curry paste

1 tsp of garlic

2 cans of coconut milk

and diced chicken or beef 

add to pot and bring to boil, make sure chicken or beef is cooked through and serve over cauliflower rice. 

Use this to add to mashed potatoes or use for creamer in coffee, such a versatile pantry staple!  

I used this in place of olive oil when cooking about half the time, I also add a teaspoon to my coffee every morning. 

This taste fantastic when using with eggs in the morning. 

During Whole30 you use a lot of garlic, this jar of minced garlic lasted me the entire time throughout the Whole30. This jar is absolutely a must so you aren't chopping garlic every night, unless you just love that. 

Below I have also added the Weekly Meal Planner template that I used as well, I found this one on Pinterest so if it is yours let me know! I have also added the link for the Whole30 grocery shopping list and common additives that I took with me every time I went shopping to help me when reading ingredients.

Whole30 Shopping List

Common Additives Cheat Sheet

(download and select fit to screen when printing)

and last but not least! 

Easy Ranch Recipe:

(I suggest using an immersion blender for this one)

Make sure all ingredients are room temperature

1 egg 

1 cup of light tasting olive oil 

(SO IMPORTANT, do not use regular olive oil or it will taste like garbage)

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of pepper

1 teaspoon of garlic powder

1 teaspoon of onion powder

1/2 cup of full fat coconut milk

1/2 cup of parsley, green onions, cilantro (whatever herbs you have on hand) I think the more the better with this recipe 

add all to a tall sided bowl or cup that immersion blender can fit into

okay this next part is very important, 

place the immersion blender at the bottom and turn it on & do not move it!

the ranch will begin to form and start floating to the top, once it begins to look like ranch slowly begin to pull the immersion blender up to the top and allow the rest of the ingredients to blend well. 

Remember room temperature ingredients are key too! 

tip: place the egg in lukewarm water to get it to come to room temp faster. 

I think that is it for now!
If you have any questions or want to share any more recipes with me, don't hesitate to ask or do so!

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Beauty Counter: what takes 26 seconds?

I met Rachel, a long time childhood friend, in the Target parking lot with her little girl. They were both dressed like they had just stepped out of a J.Crew or Anthropologie magazine, but that's another post. 

(I pray I always look cute when I have a toddler) 

She gave me a bag of goodies from Beauty Counter. 

If you've been living under a rock Beauty Counter is a fantastic skin care and makeup line that uses NO PARABENS, SULFATES, SYNTHETIC FLAVORS OR FRAGRANCES, along with a lot of other things I cannot pronounce. Click here to see the Never List, it's actually really interesting.

Once I read somewhere once that it takes 26 seconds for a product to sink into your skin. I hope you know and trust what you are putting on your skin. 

You only have one body, you should probably take really good care of it. 

 Keep this mist in your purse when for when you need a refresher on your face, it's perfect for hot summer days and dry winter mornings. I love this product, the smell if like you're putting your face in a bouquet of fresh roses. 

I tried Beauty Counter for a week and this is what I loved: 

The Smell: I wish computers had scratch and sniff because all the products I tried has an amazing fresh clean scent. Nothing was ever to heavy.

A Little Goes a Long Way: I can see these products lasting me a really long time especially the EXFOLIATER, they are excellent quality and that makes the product last. 

My Face: After using these for a week I began to see results, the redness went down on my cheeks and my skin was visibly softer. 

If you are interested in trying out Beauty Counter I suggest you talk to Rachel, she is super friendly and will talk to you about what your skin needs are. If you want to shop around and check out all their products click here. 

I did receive products for this post but all opinions are 100% my own. Photos by Charity Ponter.

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Stitch Fix Unboxing

Bottoms Edit: This is a quick post about pants. I asked my stylist at Stitch Fix to send me all bottoms so I could update my closet a little bit. 

Returned: 

these were a little bit too tight, I love the color but ultimately couldn't keep them. 

Keep: 

these are the. comfiest. joggers. ever. As soon as I put them on I knew I had to keep them. 

Keep: 

this skirt is perfect style and color for what I am looking for. It's a perfect addition to my closet. 

Returned:

these would have been perfect if it weren't for the hole. I am currently not looking for jeans with a hole in them, but they fit great! 

Returned: 

The color on these pants didn't really match my style, otherwise I liked the fit and style. 

I love getting my Stitch Fix boxes, if you wanna try it out I suggest you go on Pinterest and pin a bunch of items that you love and then link it to your Stitch Fix style profile. This is the best way to get the most out of your box! 

Click below to get started! 

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currently

Reading: I am still reading She Reads Truth every night before I go to bed. I love reading it and journaling my prayers a little bit before bed. If you're like me and get distracted every time you sit down to pray or close your eyes, journaling has helped me a ton. I find once I start my prayers can thanksfuls just start to come out and I am able to intentionally pray. 

Eating: We are on DAY 20 of Whole 30! It's no dairy, added sugar, bread, grains, legumes, and alcohol. We did this last year and it hasn't been as hard this year. I am putting together a post on How to Survive Whole 30 soon! 

Watching: I just finished The Crown on Netflix and it was amazing. I think I want to watch it again! I love shows set in that time. Downton Abby is another favorite. 

Planning: Taylor starts graduate school soon, so we are trying to find a place to go on a weekend getaway to relax. Maybe Nashville or the Gulf? Anyone have any ideas?!
Loving: Everything about February! It's actually cold here in Alabama.

I hope you have a great weekend! We are going shopping for new pillows, ahhh married life. 

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