Good morning, everyone!
Have you ever had one of those days where everything feels off? I’m still feeling a little under the weather today, but much better than yesterday. My anxiety has gone down, my patience has grown, and my mind is a bit more level. I found myself searching for distractions yesterday instead of writing, and every time I’d write, I’d start backspacing. This went on for hours, and I’ve never felt like that before. I knew it was time to step back and give myself some time. I closed my computer, went to the gym with Kyle, came back and walked the dogs, had some tea, and fell asleep after catching up on our show. That was exactly what I needed to do. I feel like my brain has been so “on the blog” lately, and I need to be better about shutting off my computer and stepping away during the evenings now and then. My therapist has been encouraging me to take electronic-free days (a full 24 hours), and I may schedule one every week. I appreciated all of your comments you left on last night’s Instagram photo! I’m so lucky to have so many understanding readers.
With that being said, I’m excited to bring a new recap post to you!
After writing last week’s recap on Monday, I walked the dogs for a mile, and then rushed to my appointment at my favorite place, the mechanic. I have been putting off getting new tires for like a year, and it was finally time to get them replaced. Fortunately, the auto shop is right next to Starbucks, so I sat there and had tea for an hour while they changed my tires.
Monday’s breakfast: 1 scoop vanilla Orgain protein powder, one cup frozen strawberries, 1 tsp elderberry, 1 tbsp ground ginger, 3 tsps. maca powder, 1 tablespoon flaxseeds, 1 cup almond milk.
A couple of hours later I had a bowl of Cinnamon Oat Crunch Cherries with almond milk and blueberries. If you can get your hands on a box of these Cheerios, you’ll be amazed. They live up to the “crunch” and taste so good! It’s almost time for pumpkin spice Cheerios to make their way back to the shelves.
Link for my smoothie glass here.
On Monday night, we headed to the Pump House for dinner. Kyle’s mom and friend were still in town, so we decided to continue the birthday celebrations. I ordered the salmon with a sweet corn puree, summer squash, and green beans. They brought out a birthday card and dessert which was really nice. 
I headed to the airport with Kyle’s mom and his friend early Tuesday morning. I was so sad to see them leave! We had so much fun, and it meant so much to Kyle that they came down.
When I got home, I made a delicious espresso drink to sit down and decompress with before catching up on laundry, the blog, and taking a trip to the grocery store.
My drink had two shots of espresso, one tablespoon collagen, one cup of barista-style almond milk, half cup vanilla bean Koia protein shake, and a splash of nutmeg.
Around 2 pm, I got a text from Kyle’s friend saying his flight had been canceled due to storms. I went straight to the airport to pick him up, we headed to Target to get him some things because he had already checked his bags, and then stopped at the store to pick up some things to throw on the grill. 
I made my Uncle Rich’s cheddar teriyaki burgers. They are the most mouthwatering burgers you’ll ever have. I also threw on some turkey burgers for myself. I’ll have to share his recipe in a separate post. He made these for us while we visited him in Ohio fifteen years ago, and I’ll never forget the first bite. 
I had my leftover Chopt salad from the weekend with my turkey burger on the side. 
I dropped Kyle’s friend off at the airport for attempt number two early morning. It was successful this time!
I played tennis for an hour later in the morning. Before I headed there, I grabbed a quick snack-like breakfast. I had a coconut almond Koia shake, a carrot/apple/ginger veggie go, and a turkey stick. 
I was so hungry when I got home, so I had more leftover Chopt salad, avocados, and the turkey burgers on top, and then headed out to walk the dogs.
Later in the afternoon, I had a refreshing smoothie.
It had 1 scoop vanilla Orgain protein powder, one cup frozen raspberries, 1 tsp elderberry, 1 tbsp ground ginger, 3 tsps. maca powder, 1 tablespoon flaxseeds, 1 cup water.
It felt good to get back into my evening walking routine on Wednesday. I also watch the news with my headphones while walking at an incline while Kyle lifts weights. I’ll usually put it on a setting that changes incline from 1 to 6 during the hour. I’ll do five minutes at a 3.5 pace, three minutes at a 4.1 pace, and switch them up to keep my heart rate alternating between high and low.
Between my dog walks and the treadmill, I’m averaging about six miles a day. I love the way I feel after a walk, even if it’s for fifteen minutes. 
When I got home, I had spinach, arugula, sweet potatoes, and ground turkey mixed with honey mustard vinaigrette.
I spent Thursday afternoon getting ready for the trip. We planned to leave Thursday night, so I wanted to make sure everything was ready to go as soon as Kyle got home from work. I decided to make a protein shake for lunch to use up the spinach and arugula before heading out.
I made some travel-proof energy balls before we left. They are Kyle’s favorite, and he asked if I could make him some. These are great for traveling because you won’t have to deal with any melted chocolate or sticky fingers. You can keep them in your purse for quick energy. I like having one with my coffee before or after walking the dogs in the morning! They really did come in handy during our trip. If we’d get hungry while walking around, we’d have one. I usually wake up at 5:30, so they held me until breakfast was served at 8 am.
After dropping the dogs off with my parent’s Thursday evening, we headed out on our trip! I was in “go go go” mode all day, so I looked forward to sitting in the car with my cappuccino I made for the ride.
We ended up playing the Jeopardy app for an hour of the drive. It’s such a fun way to make the time fly by in the car. 
We got to the first hotel later in the evening. We picked up some dinner for Kyle at Zoe’s Kitchen, and I had the salad that I packed. I hate wasting produce in the fridge, so I made a salad to use it all up. A great money-saver! My salad had cucumber, sweet potatoes, pecans, tomatoes, peppers, arugula, ground turkey, and a side of herb goddess dressing.
I was up bright and early finishing up my meal-prep blog, but the video wouldn’t upload to YouTube. I had to go with plan B and post my apricot cranberry nut bar recipe instead.
I brought an apple cinnamon oatmeal from Gold Emblem Abound to have for breakfast. I absolutely LOVE these oatmeal cups. They have no added sugar, artificial flavors, or preservatives. If you’re going on a trip, I highly recommend these! You can get hot water from the hotel’s lobby, or pour water into the cup and microwave it in your room. 
We decided to check out Hilton Head and Bluffton before heading down to Savannah. 
I couldn’t wait to try out Delishee Yo! I made a list of some places that looked cool before heading down there. I’ll be checking out the rest of the places on our next trip down there.
All of the food is made from locally sourced, organic ingredients. The little cafe was adorable, and if you’re a plant lover, you would have been in heaven!
The staff was extremely nice and welcoming and just seemed so happy. 
Look how beautiful that acai bowl is 😍 
The bowl had acai, banana, almond milk, granola, agave, strawberries, blueberries, bee pollen, blackberries, kiwi, pineapple, dates, coconut, and granola. Each bite was heavenly! I bought a ginger lemon power shot to take with me. 
If you’re ever in Hilton Head, add this to your list!
We stopped at Corner Perk cafe before heading to Savannah.
I’m always hesitant to order drip coffee at a coffee shop in the afternoon because I’m not sure how long it’s been sitting there, or if I’ll even like the roast. This coffee shop had a brilliant way of solving that problem. You could choose your own roast, they’d grind your beans, and make a pour-over coffee. This was also a great way to try out a coffee before purchasing a roast. I wish all the coffee shops did this!
Of course, I went with the Sumatra! My favorite.☕️😍 In fact, I made it this morning. 
Bluffton was such an adorable town filled with historic spots. Next time I visit, I’m going to have breakfast at FARM! This place was right next to the coffee shop and it looked so good. 
We headed to our Bed & Breakfast in Savannah around 2 pm.
Kyle and I had the best weekend together and I can’t wait to share it all on the blog! ♥️ We spent a weekend in Savannah a couple years ago, and it was so nice to be back.
I was pretty sad to leave but excited to see my dogs!
We made it home around 2 pm on Sunday, picked up the dogs, and then headed to play tennis. We were ready to move our feet after sitting in the car for a long period of time. 
We played for a couple hours and then headed home to walk the dogs, shower off, and then meal prepped for his workweek.
I finally got my EverlyWell results back from my food sensitivity test. Here is what was listed on my highly reactive food chart. It’s interesting to see that the foods I eat daily like eggs, peanuts, chicken, almonds, bananas, and sesame were on the list! If you’re new to EverlyWell, check out my blog post on it!
- SHRIMP
- SCALLOPS
The boys were quick to wake up at 5:30 for their morning walk! ❤️
I hope you guys have an amazing week, and I’m so excited to share my next travel post from Savannah with you all!
Questions for you!
- Have you ever had a completely “off” day?
- Do you clean your entire house before leaving for a trip?
- Do you have a favorite family recipe that you’ve been making for years?
What a great week! 😀 Your salads always get me craving for some too! ❤️ I just hate that salad is so expensive here in Hong Kong! 🙁
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Thanks so much, Charmaine! Hope you’re having a lovely week.
Yes! 100x to the having an off day.. even this morning I didn’t feel that great when I got up but after having coffee and getting to work I’m a bit better. You trip looked like a nice little getaway, I remember the other trip you did to Savannah and it looks like such a cute little place I can’t wait to make it south… well I guess East for me since I’m already in Southern California. I like to clean before I leave, my main thing I do is make sure the kitchen is spotless and I like to wash my bedding as well. Two things that I make that are family recipes are my grandmas’ french vinaigrette and my moms Philly cheese steak style meat loaf it’s for sure a guy pleaser! Also I just discovered at my local Sprouts they have a pumpkin spice Orgain protein powder! I bought it of course! Hope you have a great rest of the week and feel better!
Hi, Ashton!
Sometimes we just have to push through and try to make the best of those “off” days! Glad you’re feeling better!
Yes, Savannah is such a great spot. I love the south!
Something so comforting about coming home to a spotless house after a trip!
Yum! Sounds like some delicious recipes!!
Ohhhh I need to go into Sprouts! We just got one here in Charlotte 😊
Have a great week!
Omg I always ask for pour overs and they will do them, it just usually costs more!
And yes, I try to have my house clean ANYtime I leave but it’s a lot of work with a toddler haha 🙂
Yes! I have noticed more coffee shops are offering pour overs!
Lol, I bet that is hard for sure!
Hilton Head looks like a beautiful place to visit! Wow. That Farm place looks like something straight out of a mystery novel. You should definitely try that out next time and blog about it.
And the macro balls look amazing, I will have to prep those for my trip next month.
I deal with anxiety too and for me personally, watching the news can really make it worse. I am not trying to tell you how to live your life or anything, just trying to help 😉 You can take it or leave it.
1. Have you ever had a completely “off” day?
I still check my emails because that doesn’t stress me out, but I quit social media entirely and it is one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself.
2. Do you clean your entire house before leaving for a trip?
Nope, our house usually looks like a little worse for wear after leaving for a trip but I power clean when we get back 🙂
3. Do you have a favorite family recipe that you’ve been making for years?
Fried rice that incorporates fridge leftovers- SO tasty
I’m excited to go to FARM next time I’m there for sure!
Yes, they do come in handy and SO easy to make!
The news never gives me anxiety, I actually love it. I like knowing what’s happening in the world. My anxiety usually comes out of nowhere, and mostly revolves around self-esteem issues. But, I’m glad you found what gives you anxiety and cut it 😊 My dad DEFINITELY gets anxiety after watching the news lol so you’re right on that.
With my job, social media is important, but I agree that checking out of social media is great. My boyfriend doesn’t have it and he lives his life just fine 🙂
My closet usually looks like a storm lol But I’ve been trying to be better about it lately.
Ohhhhh yum!
I can’t wait to read the burger recipe, my family loves cheeseburgers! I am confused why you didn’t eat them if they are so great. Or did you make the same recipe but with turkey for you?
Hi, Sarah!
About a year ago, my doctor asked me to cut dairy and gluten from my diet as a more natural way of helping with endometriosis pain. I try to avoid it at all cost. It seems to be helping so far. The teriyaki burgers have cheddar and soy sauce. I made my turkey burgers with the same ingredients but without the cheddar and soy sauce so I could have them as well. The reason I used ground turkey instead of beef was that I needed to use up the ground turkey before it went bad since we were leaving for a trip.
Taralynn
I love the way that you always repurpose your leftovers. I feel like I waste so much food, and I really need to take a page from your book!
Thanks, Rachel! I LOVE leftovers because it means I don’t have to cook! lol
Why did you make turkey burgers in addition to the delicious looking teriyaki burgers?
Hi, Julie!
I try to avoid gluten and dairy as much as possible to help with my endometriosis. The teriyaki burgers have cheddar and soy sauce. I made my turkey burgers with the same ingredients but without the cheddar and soy sauce. I also wanted to make extra with the turkey I had leftover in the fridge before it went bad.
Taralynn
Hi Taralynn! I absolutely have off days. In fact, recently I was having a REALLY off day on the 4th of July. I decided to skip all the parties and cookouts and stay in my apartment wearing my pjs and not moving from the couch. It felt so weird, but I guess it’s what my body (and mind) needed. Before I leave for trips I like to clear out the fridge, do the dishes, and take the trash out. Aside from that, it usually looks like a bomb went off in my efforts to pack. I’m an overpacker for sure haha 🙂 I hope you have a great week! xo Kelsey
Hi, Kelsey!
Crazy how we can fall into those “off” days, but I think it’s important. We have to learn how to just slow down, find patience, and be alone for a bit. I always clear the fridge too and take out the trash! Ohhhh, girl, I’m an over-packer too!! I brought some cute closet to Savnahha, took one step into the heat and pretty much wore t-shirts and shorts the entire trip! lol
XO
First of all, kudos to you for mentioning you see a therapist. I personally think everyone should see a therapist haha. Second of all, ummm girl what will you have left to eat with those results from EverlyWell??
1. Um yes- days where i just need a day off of work or i go in and just can’t do anything.
2. 100% yes- or at least I like to.
3. Unfortunately no. My dad is an AMAZING cook (he’s the cook of the family) but he never follows a recipe so he can’t tell you how to recreate something.
Hi, Emiliy!
I don’t ever cry, but when I step foot into the therapist’s office, I lose it lol I think it helps me stop masking my feelings and I always feel better after getting an outside perspective on my thoughts/feelings. It is really important for mental health and I’d recommend it to anyone.
1. Glad I’m not the only one who feel like this.
2. Always nice to come home to a clean house!
3. Sounds like my dad! haha
My doctor told me to avoid gluten and dairy for my menstrual cramps. I saw you mention it here and was wondering if it’s helped.
Hi, Lacie!
It’s been about a year since cutting dairy and gluten completely. I don’t like mentioning it too much on the blog because I don’t want people to be influenced to cut it out without talking to their doctors. I don’t cut it out for diet purposes, but for endometriosis solely. I still experience a lot of pain, but it has eased up a bit. Some months are better than others for sure. I would suggest trying it out if your doctor recommended it. All of our bodies are different so whats best for me may not be best for you. 💜
Hi Taralynn! Question… I’ve been noticing you’re adding Maca powder to your smoothies. Curious what you know about it? I’ve been looking into it for a few different reasons:). Thank you!
Hi, Andrea!
Maca is one of the best superfoods. It helps with balancing hormones, stimulates the hypothalamus and pituitary glands, boosts energy, helps with reducing anxiety, and my doctor recommended it for possibly helping with my endometriosis pain as a natural relief.
Taralynn
Thank you so much! Love the real world advice… excited to give it a try!
👍
Why do you see a therapist?
Hi, Quinn
I think seeing a therapist is important for my mental health, and talking to a professional that can help me cope with certain things/situations helps me with my anxiety and everyday life. Just like eating healthy and exercising is good for health, so is seeking help when you need a little 😊
Looks like a fun weekend trip! Did you still plan on doing a blog post about the big moving in together situation? Tips/advice etc. Would be a fun post but obviously a little personal too, so I get it if you don’t end up sharing.
Thanks! Maybe a little further down the road for sure! I just have a lot of other posts planned for right now. We have only been living together for three months, so I wouldn’t be able to give the best advice just yet lol
Has it really been 3 months since the 4th of July? Man summer is flying by!
why are people so mean to you
It’s easy to hide behind a computer screen and say anything you want.
You originally said he moved in over 4th of July weekend so that’s less than 2 months ago…
He officially moved his stuff in over the 4th of July but had been living here.
Your blog is my favorite!
Awwww thank you, Mara!
Such a great post girl! I know how you feel about those “off” days .. I have them often .. I am not a fan! You seem to have handled yours well. It’s always good when you handle it good and try to turn it around! Also I love to have a clean house before a trip.. coming home to it is just so welcoming! <3 Have a great rest of your week.
XO, Katie | http://www.meshkomoments.com
Hi, Katie!
Thanks so much 😊
I agree it’s important to recognize when it’s happening and try to take control of it! I think we all have “those” days.
Nothing better than coming home to a clean house!
I always clean my whole house before leaving. I love coming home to a clean house. What is your plan for cutting out some of the foods that were on the list. It seems like a large list to eliminate all of them would be overwhelming I would think.
I don’t think I’m going to be cutting them. I already cut gluten and dairy out of my diet. I may try to avoid those certain foods while traveling, or on certain days, but I don’t think I can cut them. That is A LOT of foods I eat daily. I’d rather be bloated lol
Have you tried gelatin in your smoothies or coffees before? What do you think of that compared to collagen?
I haven’t. Just collagen.
What do you typically get at Chopt? I don’t have one nearby, but your salads look good and I want to make them at home.
I usually just make my own when I’m there!
I add kale, arugula, edamame, craisins, eggs, avocado, chicken, butternut squash, quinoa, chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumber, and hot honey vinaigrette.
Those Cheddar Terriyaki burgers look incredible!! I am wanting to play around with new things, so I will have to try! 😀
Yes, they are so good!
I love little road trips! The towns you stop at are always so cute and I’ve become obsessed with small, locally owned coffee and food places and you guys find the best ones.
I’ve definitely had off days just like that and I’ve slowly learned to give myself and break and be OKAY with it, rather than feeling super guilty for not working nonstop.
YES. We love coming home to a clean house, clean sheets, and no laundry in the hampers. The last thing you want to do after a relaxing trip is chores!
One of my all time favorite recipes is these little puff pockets filled with ‘meat’ and cabbage topped with creamy dijon sauce that my mom invented. Her version has meat and dairy, but I figured out how to modify so it’s completely vegan and it’s JUST as delicious! Literally every time I’m watching a baking show and they say ‘this is my grandmas recipe’, I KNOW it’s going to be good haha.
Can’t wait to see a recap on your trip!
Hi, Susie!
I try to do some research to find the best places before going on a trip! I hate when we’re really hungry and can’t decide where to go lol I love finding the cutest coffee shops too!
Yes, that is exactly what I need to do.
Lol you just nailed my exact pre-trip house routine!
ohhhhh my that sounds amazing!!!!
I saw you and Kyle in Savannah!
Unfortunately, I was too afraid to say hello because you were having dinner, but maybe next time you can do a meetup?
Hi, Chloe!
Awww you could have totally said hello! 💜
Do you live in Savannah? Maybe I’ll do one next time! ox
I’m so excited for your post about Savannah!
Thanks, Leighton!
Hey Taralynn! I noticed in some of your comment responses that your doctor recommended you go gluten free for endo. Not sure if you’re supposed to avoid cross-contamination issues with your diet as those of us with Celiac Disease need to, but just wanted to let you know that Cheerios have some major cross-contamination issues so you may want to steer clear (Canada just made them remove their gluten-free label). Again, not sure how the reactions work with endo and if you would react/have worse symptoms if you were getting tiny traces of gluten in your diet. But just wanted to let you know in case you were having nagging issues and didn’t know why, has happened to me more than my fair share. 🙂
Hi, Denise!
I’ve often wondered the same thing when it comes to cross contamination products when it comes to endo. I don’t get the gut-wrenching pain when I consume gluten (just very bloated) but I’ve wondered the same. I may chat with my doctor about it during my next appointment. Having celiac, the contamination can be dangerous, so I haven’t paid too much attention to it.
Thanks for the heads up! I was wondering why they didn’t have “Gluten-free” on the box when they didn’t use any products containing gluten in them. Now it makes sense!
Hi Taralynn
I recently just found your blog and I absolutely love it! I feel like you go to so many cute places which is something I love to do as well! I look forward to reading more of you blogs!
Hi, Kendra!
Thank you so much and welcome to my blog! So glad you found your way here! ❤️
Could you recommend another protein with lower carbs than orgain?
I also like Whole Food’s plant-based vanilla protein! It only has 3g carbs a serving.
I do have those off days every once in awhile! Usually, I like to just take the day off from work & have a “mental health day” relaxing & restoring energy. Days like that are essential to not getting burnt out!
Yes! I hate returning to a messy house. You already have stuff to put away when you return, no need for extra messes!
I do have one family recipe, it’s actually called “Chocolate Surprise”. It’s breakfast, and the surprise is that there’s no chocolate, lol! It’s basically a big scramble, everything you’d put into an omelet, but all scrambled up with some garlic salt & pepper. It’s delicious!
Yes, you’re so right about that! So important.
Ahhh that’s how I feel too! I don’t like being overwhelmed.
YUM!!! So funny that it’s called a chocolate surprise.
My husband and I tried out FARM in Bluffton a couple of weeks ago. It was super delicious and all the ingredients were fresh. Definitely make a reservation if going on a weekend…it filled up quick and it’s not a big space!
Love hearing that! I can’t wait to try it when we go back!
Hi Taralynn,
Have you ever tried using Tamari – it is a gluten free soy sauce. You could also try coconut aminos – they are paleo compliant and gluten free. I struggle with food sensitivities but have found both these product are ok for me to use!
Now and then I’ll use it! 🙂 I actually just bought some at the store today!
I use those Nuun tablets too💧great clean electrolyte replacement option. I first heard of them via Tracey Anderson 👍
Yes! They aren’t my favorite “Taste” but do wonders!