Nicole

Meal Plan Monday (10/9/17-10/15/17)

Happy Monday, everyone! This week is starting off to a sunny start here in Dixie and as there’s no better way to start a week off than a well-thought-out meal plan I can’t wait to share with you all what we will be having this week!

This week we are using up pantry staples for the bulk of this week’s menu. This is done to keep costs on this menu plan low and to eat our stockpile down before buying new food. Please note, this menu is designed to feed our family of 4 for one week for under $40.00 each week.

As a family, we are also looking for more ways to incorporate health-conscious efforts into our diet. This includes Meatless Monday meals and more streamlined weeknight dinners. Meals which intentionally be turned into lunches during the week. All minimalist means to keep our food waste to a minimum as much as possible!

As well, please note that our menu is designed to feed our family of 4 for one week for under $40.00 each week.

Here’s what we will be having this week:

Monday
Breakfast: Pecan Cinnamon Muffins with almond milk and grapes.
Lunch: Olive spread, with crackers, grapes, and almond milk.
Snack: Strawberries and String Cheese.
Dinner: Vegan Singapore Stir Fry
Dessert: Strawberry, stevia, and almond milk smoothies.

Tuesday
Breakfast: Avocado, Banana, and Almond Milk Smoothies.
Lunch: Olive spread, with crackers, grapes, and almond milk.
Snack: Grapes and String Cheese.
Dinner: Taco Salad and Crystal Light.
Dessert: Strawberry, organic cocoa, and almond milk smoothies.

Wednesday
Breakfast: Pecan Cinnamon Muffins with almond milk and grapes.
Lunch: Grilled cheese sliders, grapes, and Crystal Light lemonade.
Snack: Strawberries and String Cheese.
Dinner: Instapot Chili with brown rice, corn on the cob, and Crystal Light.
Dessert: Strawberry, stevia, banana, and almond milk smoothies.

Thursday
Breakfast: Avocado, Banana, and Almond Milk Smoothies.
Lunch: Pumpkin Mac and Cheese, steamed broccoli, and Crystal Light.
Snack: Grapes and String Cheese.
Dinner: Lasagna Roll-Ups, green beans, and tomato and cucumber salad.
Dessert: Strawberry, organic cocoa, and almond milk smoothies.

Friday
Breakfast: Pecan Cinnamon Muffins with almond milk and grapes.
Lunch: Grilled cheese sliders with grapes and almond milk.
Snack: Strawberries and String Cheese.
Dinner: Crosant Veggie Pizza and crystal light.
Dessert: Strawberry, organic cocoa, and almond milk smoothies.

Saturday
Breakfast: Granola Cereal with Strawberries and Almond milk.
Lunch: Grilled cheese and almond milk.
Snacks: Strawberries and String Cheese.
Dinner: Chicken mole, served with steamed rice, corn, and Crystal Light.
Dessert: Strawberry, organic cocoa, and almond milk smoothies.

Sunday
Breakfast: Banana pancakes, strawberries, and almond milk.
Lunch: Grilled Spaghetti, green beans, and Crystal Light.
Snack: Strawberries and String Cheese.
Dinner: Grilled Spaghetti leftovers, green beans, and Crystal Light.
Dessert: Strawberry, organic cocoa, and almond milk smoothies.

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Welcome to this week’s Happiness is Homemade Linky Party #192!

Happy Fall and Happy Canadian Thanksgiving. Thought we would provide a few easy tips, tricks and recipes to create the perfect Thanksgiving. Plus bonus if you don’t celebrate until November these features should give you a headstart.

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Why I Use Jan Marini’s Papaya Line For My Adult Acne

Please note: I received products courtesy of Jan Marini Skin Research and BrandBacker.com to facilitate this post. All opinions and experience are my own. This blog’s full disclosure notice can be seen here. Thank you.

Acne. I’ve been plagued by this skin scourge for as long as I can remember. First as a teenager, with a family history of acne, and then as an adult with adult acne brought about by my hormone-based, PCOS symptoms. Which is why maintaining a proper skincare routine is so important to me.

But in having a great skincare routine one needs to buy the right products for their skin. Which has always been difficult for me as I have oily and combination skin, meaning my skin has been giving me a run for my money for as acne-prone skin pretty much since I can remember? So I’ve been very careful and diligent about taking care of my skin.

When I heard about Jan Marini’s papaya mask and cleanser, I was definitely curious. I’ve heard about the exfoliating and skin-brightening effects of papaya before but wasn’t sure what it could do for my adult acne, so I decided to try it out. Because as anyone with adult acne will tell you, it can be extremely frustrating finding products that actually work. so I was excited to see if the Clean Zyme and Skin Zyme would be my new skin-clearing routine blessing.

Why Papaya-based skin products may be able to help you:

Skincare products rich in non-GMO papaya extracts not only cleanse the skin but can also rejuvenate the skin by way of enzymes that exfoliate your skin while providing your face a glowing complexion.

As papaya is also loaded with vitamin A, more specifically, the enzyme papain, which acts to break down inactive proteins in the skin. This enzyme also helps to eliminate dead skin cells, can help repair cuts and abrasions, smoothing aging skin, and can help plump skin cells. A tall order from a simple fruit!

About the products:

It was no surprise that I was impressed to learn that Jan Marini Skin Research, or JMSR, the makers of the Clean Zyme and Skin Zyme, is one of the most respected brands in modern professional skin care hosts a line of papaya-based skincare products

Utilizing the knowledge of leading physicians and research scientists to develop cutting-edge solutions to today’s most common skin concerns. Including adult acne. JMSR has introduced a host of technological firsts and has been mentioned in numerous independent peer-reviewed studies.

The products I tried, both the Clean Zyme cleanser and Skin Zyme mask, are home care exfoliation products that help to gently remove dead skin cells on your face without irritating sensitive skin. Both products can be used throughout the day as part of your working skincare routine at home to help to even skin tone, minimize pores, and to give you a polished glow!

How I use it:

Each night before I apply the Skin Zyme Papaya Mask, I wash my face with the Clean Zyme Papaya Cleanser. During which, I like to give my face a little bit of a message with the cleanser before washing it off with warm water. Next, I apply the mask. It’s worth noting that the first time I used it there was a slight tingle throughout my face. Totally non-painful, but I could definitely feel a tingle. The instructions say you can leave the mask on for up to 20 minutes, but I like to leave it on for about 10 minutes total.

After 10 minutes I washed the mask off with a small dollop of the Clean Zyme Papaya Cleaner, patted my face dry, and applied my regular DIY moisturizer to my face before heading off to bed. The mask washed off cleanly and I enjoyed using it.

Something else worth noting, the scent. I really enjoyed the scent of this mask. It smells quite sweet and citrusy. I also love that immediately afterward my skin appeared super duper clean and fresh, without feeling dried out or irritated.clean but doesn’t feel dried out at all.

My results:

As you can see from the resulting photos, my skin appears brighter, clearer, and more even in tone. So I’m giving both the Clean Zyme cleanser and Skin Zyme mask a big thumbs up!

If you have acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, or uneven skin texture, then I would highly recommend giving both the Clean Zyme cleanser and Skin Zyme mask a try. After just one use I noticed that my skin felt incredibly smooth and in the morning my skin looked unbelievable even in tone!

I also believe that the Clean Zyme cleanser and Skin Zyme mask helped to make my foundation and makeup apply more evenly as the texture of my skin looks smoother. The more I use these products the better I believe my skin looks! I really feel that these two products together can help me feel more confident about my skin. Even with having adult hormone-induced acne!

Final Thoughts:

I also find that keeping your daily routine consistent and minimal is incredibly important and that a good face mask can make a world of difference. And that the Jan Marini Skin Research Clean Zyme cleanser and Skin Zyme mask have been intricate parts of my skincare routine at home this past month and will continue to be so in the future.

Friends, I encourage you to check out JMSR products for yourself at home this fall season. Now I have to ask, what products do you use at home to handle your own adult acne symptoms? And do you use papaya-based skincare products as part of your daily skincare maintenance routine at home? If so, I’d love to hear about them below!

Connect with Jan Marini Skin Research:

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Kroger: Save $1.00 on any 2 Scotch-Brite Scrub Dots Sponges!

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PowerOfDots #CollectiveBias

Experience the Power of Dots! The new Scotch-Brite™ Brand Scrub Dots sponges feature Scrubbing Dots technology that will help you clean away kitchen messes as they scrub fast and rinse clean. The new Scrub Dots sponges will tackle kitchen messes without trapping food.

Heavy-Duty Scrub Dots sponges (green) will help eliminate those baked on messes and the Non-Scratch Scrub Dots sponges (blue) will safely clean all cookware without scratching. Use the right tools for each surface and cleaning your home will be easier and faster!

Visit your local Kroger and save $1 on Scotch-Brite Scrub Dots Sponges!

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Meal Plan Monday (10/2/17-10/8/17)

Happy Monday, everyone! This week is starting off to a sunny, humid, and unseasonably warm end-of-summer start here in Dixie and as there’s no better way to start a week off than a well-thought-out meal plan I can’t wait to share with you all what we will be having this week!

This week’s menu will again reflect a little bit of a change. For the past six months, we have made a point of eating our freezers down to zero. Now we will be switching gears and making a priority out of eating down our home pantry stockpile. So this week’s menu, in lieu of making individual meals, we are using up pantry staples for the bulk of this week’s menu. This is done to keep costs on this menu plan low and to eat our stockpile down before buying new food. Please note, this menu is designed to feed our family of 4 for one week for under $40.00 each week.

As well, please note that our menu is designed to feed our family of 4 for one week for under $40.00 each week.

Here’s what we will be having this week:

Monday
Breakfast: Pecan Cinnamon Muffins with almond milk and grapes.
Lunch: Olive spread, with crackers, grapes, and almond milk.
Snack: Strawberries and String Cheese.
Dinner: Vegan Chili, served with white rice and cilantro salad.
Dessert: Strawberry, stevia, and almond milk smoothies.

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Happiness is Homemade Linky Party 191!

Welcome back to the Happiness is Homemade Link Party 191

THIS WEEK’S FEATURES

Some fall DIY and something a little sweet is our features for this week. Our first feature is this super awesome fall DIY project from Live Craft Love. This easy project can add great style to any fall decor.

I have a weakness for painting pumpkins and so does Brandy at Gluesticks. See how to make pumpkins any color you desire.

Pumpkins can be embellished in so many ways. Chas’ Crazy Creations shows you how to give some sparkle and pizzaz (actually glitter) to plain glass jars.

ALl this DIY has given us an appetite, so head over to Bird’s Party for these delicious and really cute Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes.

MEET YOUR HOSTS

Follow our Pinterest board! All of the features are pinned on the Happiness is Homemade Board!

To visit the other blogs in our party, just click on the host’s picture!

HIH Party Rules:

The rules are really simple! Make sure you visit a few other blogs and make some new friends along the way. Feel free to link up your favorite recipes, crafts or your latest DIY project. We want you you share it all! As always, please make sure to follow your hosts and co-hosts!! Link up your posts, make some friends, and earn the chance to be featured at Happiness Is Homemade Link Party! We will feature the favorite posts each week!
Disclaimer: Adding your link to this link party gives permission to all 12 Hosts, along with any co-hosts, guest hosts, and participants of Happiness Is Homemade, to share your posts and pictures via social media and as features, roundups, etc. with an explicit link back to your original source. Therefore, linking up you agree to allow us to use your images on each of our blogs in features relating to Happiness is Homemade Link Party.

An InLinkz Link-up

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September 2017 Favorites

It’s hard to believe fall is officially here! Despite the temperatures here in Dixie still being in the upper 80’s, I’m ready to go all in for the new season ahead! Despite the change in season, this month has been a particularly productive month for me. Lots of posts written. Lots of loose ends tied up. Lots of connections made. Needless to say, I’ve been making moves.

Despite all that’s gone on it wouldn’t be a proper end of the month without sharing what I’ve been loving around my home this September! So, here are the 5 things I have been loving this September:

My new slow cooker: I have always loved my slow cookers. Let’s be honest, what would fall and winter be without the down-home comfort food that only a slow cooker can provide? Whether it’s chili, soup, or stew there are so many great recipes made from real ingredients. You may also not be surprised that despite being a minimalist I actually own three slow cookers. I use them all the times. Especially to create make-ahead freezer meals and DIY yogurt.

This past week one of my old school crock-pot brand cookers bid our home farewell. While at my local Walmart I stumbled upon the new line of Pioneer Woman slow cookers from Hamilton Beach.

Folks, this slow cooker has worked really well for me. This unit heats quickly, cooks meals evenly, and the Country Garden pattern is too cute! My favorite feature? The lid clips. No more accidental sloshing sauce all over your car when you’re carting something to a potluck, chili cook-off, or friend’s house! If you’re in the market, this one is awesome.

Gilmore girls: It’s very important to me that if you haven’t seen this series, you make time to. I always make an annual pilgrimage through Stars Hollow each fall. It’s one of the most beautiful, charming, funny shows of ever. Plus, there’s, like, coffee consumed in the show. And cute dresses. And an amazing cast. Are you watching it yet? Start!

iPeak Sunrise Alarm Clock: I have a lot of trouble sleeping at night. Especially during the dark fall and winter mornings leave me without my natural early jolt of a light to start my new day! The iPeak sunrise alarm clock has a feature that mimics the suns natural sunrise each morning.

Within an hour of your desired time to get up each day, the clock will start to gently emanate light. It’s helped me to wake up each day without feeling groggy from oversleeping! There’s also a nightly function that will remind you it’s time to start winding down for bed with its sunset setting. I love this clock and cannot recommend it enough!

Kiva.org: As I long mentioned here on the blog, one of my favorite ways to spend my discretionary funds each month is my reinvesting in the lives of women around the world. Kiva.org, a non-profit charity grants women, and men, in developing nations start-up grants to bring themselves and their communities out of abstract poverty by becoming motivated business owners in their own right.

Each year to commemorate the date my Uncle Danny passed away in what was the largest LGBT hate crime in US history (until the Pulse Massacre of 2016), I give to Kiva.org. I believe it helps bring the gift of life, and love, to those who most in need the world over.

While dreams are universal, opportunities for social and wealth-building are often not. Especially for persons of color, indigenous populations, and for women and mothers the world over. Sometimes we all need a hand-up in life. Kiva.org is a way people can get that help. I encourage you to check them out today!

Keith Mansfield Radio: Lately I’ve really been loving the jazzy pop tunes of Keith Mansfield. A particular favorite? His 1968 hit, Funky Fanfare. His music is the perfect soundtrack to cleaning the house, working on fall DIY’s, or enjoying a fun date-night-in at home! Check him out on Pandora Radio today!

So, friends, those are the 5 things I have been loving this September. Now, I have to ask, what have you been loving in your own lives at home? I’d love to hear about it below!

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