Confession: I Take Photos of my Food a Lot

Vaughn and I have eaten a Keto style diet way of eating for two years tomorrow. We started Jan. 3, 2018, me weighing more than 50 pounds more than now, and he about 30.

Rita was the one with the idea. We are now closer friends than ever, although she lives in Washington these days.

Most of the pictures I take are so Rita will know I found something yummy for her to try. And she does the same. It's very motivating and keeps our meals and treats new.

Here are just some of the foods Vaughn and I made and consumed during the month of December.

Waffles with butter and homemade syrup Vaughn makes.

I request these often.

On New Year's Day, we had collard greens with bacon and onions,

pork tenderloin slices and cranberry sauce made with our sweetener.

We eat pizza made with fathead pizza dough quite regularly. 

The crust is made with mostly mozzarella cheese and cream cheese.

Vaughn and I went to a Brazilian Steakhouse in OKC.

The staff just kept coming with more MEATS to enjoy.

(It was like Heaven for Keto lovers...so many things to say YES to!)

This was from the salad bar at the Brazilian Steakhouse.

I assure you, several full sized pieces of bacon were devoured.

I take my lunch every day to school. Vaughn makes it most days.

(I know, he's amazing.)

And on this particular day, he got some extra points.

We took this tray of cheese and pepperoni to a church breakfast.

On New Year's Eve, we had these little snackies,

plus a pig in a blanket made with a hot link and Fathead pizza dough,

but it wasn't that pretty. Thus, no photo.

Pumpkin bars, that way we didn't miss out on all the pumpkin yumminess at the holidays.

Big Mac Salad is like eating a Big Mac, except no bun.

It's a favorite, and so easy!

We make the Thousand Island dressing homemade

with sugar free ketchup, mustard, pickles and our sweetener.

Creamed eggs: Simmer heavy cream in a small skillet,

then add onions, meat, etc...like an omelet...

then drop one or two eggs in it.

The eggs fry on top. Oh my.

A delicious cheesy soup we had a week or so ago.

Reminds me of Santa Fe soup.

Our Keto way of eating has been a wonderful way for us to get healthy. We feel GREAT!

We basically shop the outside aisles at the grocery store. Produce, meats, cheeses, dairy. Real food. Nothing processed. But as you can see, that doesn't mean we aren't eating really well.

Sunshine

Magnolia Jane McInnes Johnson: One cute one-year-old.

The theme of the party was Sunshine. Very appropriate, since this sweet little one makes you feel all sunny inside.

BrieAnn found some cute ideas online, then we combined our efforts to create a special, yellow, light-hearted Sunday afternoon birthday party.

My mom and I made cutesy banners with a discarded yellow chenille bedspread.

M is for Magnolia. And much-loved.

Brie made the prettiest cupcakes. It was hard to get this shot because Nolia wanted to try one....BAD.

These little doodads say: Magnolia Is One!

Duh. You knew the sunflower Fiesta would come to the show.

Mason jars and yellow daisies and balloons too.

 

 

Uh-oh. Instant sadness. We hope she forgets this part.

She didn't forget at the party, that's for sure. She had nothing to do with the cupcakes.

Big sister Cora sure did.

She had several. She especially loved the fluffy, yellow-sprinkled frosting.

She got gifts too. Not just packaging.

Love.

Showing off those new teeth. Three on bottom. In! Two teeth on top and one still playing peek-a-boo.

Finger foods: Nolia's favorites. Fruit, veggies, dips.

Fizzy Lemonade was a hit.

Oh, you want to know about Fizzy Lemonade. Take a gallon pitcher. Put in one package of Koolaid Lemonade, one large frozen lemonade, one cup sugar and one two-liter bottle of 7-Up. Fill the rest of the pitcher with water. Wonderful, fizzy, delicious lemonade. (Plan to drink all of it before the fizz dies. Then it's not so good. Perfect for parties.)

I got her the Happy Apple at a garage sale last week. She loves it.

Happy Birthday, Sunshine!

That Fiesta Love

I wrote back in February about my crush on Fiesta canisters.

Good news. They're HERE.

I found a scarlett one on super-sale in Iowa. Then my friends got me the turquoise beauty for an early birthday. And on Mother's Day, Vaughn got me two, another scarlett and the lovely lemongrass.

I plan to use three together and the other as a cookie jar.

My Fiesta love is BIG, People. It makes me happy just looking at it, but it's so easy to have and use too.

Mellow Yellow

This Fiesta scene is yellow and mellow.

But nothing about this day will be mellow. I mean, hello, it's Halloween party day at school.

Nothing mellow about attempting to contain 20 first graders, over-the-top excited about costumes and candy. All day long.

Tell me about your costume.

Oh, me?

Bob the Builder.