Savannah, GA: Day 3

Day Two was jam packed with events, but we knew we could get so much done in the time frame we had. Day three, however, was a rainy one. That did not deter us from still keeping to our plans of checking items off our list.

First stop was an Uber ride to brunch at B. Matthews Eatery. At the second floor bar, we both started off with a large cup of coffee. It was pouring out. It was our hope that by the end of our meal, the rain would slow down.  I ordered the quiche with fruit and was truly impressed with how filling this meal really was. My SO ordered their biscuits and gravy with sausage and ended up taking leftovers with us. The food was really impressive and we were sat immediately. We enjoyed our breakfast, refilled our coffee, and grabbed everything in to-go containers because our second, and last tour was to start at 11A.

While it rained most of our tour, this tour was really impressive. It was a bit of ghost tour debunking while giving us the history of Savannah. Most notably, our tour took us through Colonial Park Cemetery, one of the first cemeteries in Savannah as it was a burial place for Savannah folk who contracted Yellow Fever. It also laid to rest those who lost in the "duel battles". These duels were before courts and in the square if you had a disagreement, you would duel to the death. Those that lost ended up at the cemetery as well. While the cemetery was much larger, and poured into the streets, as the need for roads in Savannah grew, they paved over the bodies and placed a fence around the cemetery grounds. Thankfully, by the end of the tour, the rain had ceased. With an eerie calm over the city we returned to the Cemetery to peek at some of the other grave sites. While no one from the civil war was buried here, it was amazing to see so many old tombstones in one site.

We walked over to the Davenport House for a tour. Admission is $9/adult. Built in 1820, this home at one point was THE epitome of federal-style until the death of Isaiah Davenport. After his death, his wife converted the dwelling into a boarding house to be able to continue to afford to keep it. After it being sold and in disrepair, the historical society purchased the home and renovated it to its current standings that reflect what it was like during Mr. Davenport's time there. It was a beautiful home and the tour was really educational about the life of someone living in Savannah during this time frame.

We had made our way back on foot to the river walk to stroll but decided it might be time to stop and settle in a bit for a snack, since the weather was about to turn. I knew we had to visit Huey's on the River. I love New Orleans styled cuisine but what I love even more is beignets, thanks to Huey's. With a cup of chicory coffee, a la Cafe du Monde, it was the perfect treat to enjoy while the rain poured down. If there is one place I can recommend to beat out the rain, this would be it. I enjoyed every bite. We ordered a dozen but ended up taking just over half of them back to have for breakfast. If you see this place, stop in for a beignet! You will not be disappointed. We grabbed an Uber and headed back to our Airbnb to change, since we were completely soaked.

After the rain storm had finally passed, and we were changed, we went to The Paris Market & Brocante. I had read a lot about this place before coming to Savannah so I knew I had to go in. A true francophile who adored Paris, I wanted to compare it to visiting Paris. I ran in and ordered the lavender sweet tea (something that was recommended to me), but i did not realize how SWEET they like their tea so I went back and had them mix it with unsweet. It was so refreshing. If it is hot outside, this is a great place to go and get a drink to cool off. However, if you stay too long, you might not ever leave. This store is a mini mall. If you have someone on your gift list, chances are you might want to stop in here; they have something for everyone. This would be a perfect place to grab a souvenir from Savannah.

After enjoying a bit of retail therapy, it was time for happy hour. While I did have my heart set on eating at the famous Olde Pink House, we could not get reservations, nor did we really want to drop that much for dinner. So, instead we opted for cocktails at their bar/lounge around the side. While it's a smaller and less fancier vibe (no dress code), it was the perfect retreat for us to enjoy grade-A cocktails, like my "Olde Pink House Pink Lady Lemonade". It was truly a stellar stop.

After eating, we walked over to the Waving Girl statue along the riverwalk to get a glance at this famous monument. She was known as Florence Martus, and every day she would wave to ships as they entered port by waving her handkerchief, or at night by way of lantern. Because of doing this so much, she became world known for this kind act. After her death in 1943, the city built its first statue dedicated to a woman in honor of her kind gesture. After finally getting to see all the historical markers and statues along the riverwalk, we walked up quite the appetite.

And, it was a no brainer to stop into this famous little spot: Six Pence Pub. If you have ever seen the movie Something to Talk About, then you know this pub (Julia Roberts and Dennis Quaid in the film were seen arguing outside after she saw him in there with another woman). While I am happy to say there were zero lovers quarrels that we witnessed, the food was quite delicious. The pot roast with their house pinot noir is a typical special and quite delicious. Also, their open face roast beef pairs well with guinness if you were wondering.

After dinner, we strolled back through Forsyth Park, as this would be our last night in Savannah. While the famous fountain typically gets all the attention, there are other unique items that make this park special. There is also a very large Confederate monument, as this was a city controlled by the confederacy. But a unique piece that was added to the park is a large Xylophone. It was fun to play but neither one of us know how to play one. Either way, it is a unique addition to the park.

After another full day, we got in bed to enjoy our last night in Savannah. We knew Day 4 would be a short one, so we wanted to make sure we could finish our stops before heading out back home.

Savannah, Georgia: Day 2

Day One was a busy day and we pretty much came back to our Airbnb and crashed. After a good night's sleep it was on to day two! Grabbing a granola bar and juice to go, we were on the road. We had a busy day ahead- we were hitting TWO big cities on our list: Isle of Hope and Tybee Island.

Since planning our trip to Savannah, there was one location I had been dying to see: Wormsloe Plantation. When we had visited Charleston, the lines were horrible to try to visit the plantations there so I was excited to be getting up early to stop by on our way to lunch. It was a perfect weather and only a 15-minute drive from where we were staying in Savannah to Isle of Hope. The mile-long drive takes you to the plantation site, the ruins of the Jones' tabby house, that was built in 1745 and is one of the oldest standing structures in Savannah! I loved every moment of it. Admission is $10/adult but well worth the price for the views, history and charm. 

Next, it was back in the car and onto Tybee Island. Tybee Island is where the locals go on vacation; it's their beach. And, it is beautiful. Our first stop was Tybee Island Social Club for lunch and it was incredible. I ordered their avocado tuna salad and fish tacos and yes, that is also the huge order of crab nachos we ate. It was amazing. The portions were huge and everything was filling. A must stop! The patio was a great spot and they have live music during the week. This is such a fun place that if we were staying in town, I would have gone back!

Our next stop was the Tybee Lighthouse. Dating back to 1736, this is Georgia's oldest and tallest lighthouse. Admission is $9/adult and they have parking (just do not get it confused with beach parking where you have to pay). This was a really great place to visit for the history alone, but walking to the top was an adventure on its own. They limit how many can climb/enter the lighthouse since there is not ample space at the top. The climb is not for the faint of heart and neither is the catwalk, as it has a slight slant and feels very wobbly. Take time to go into the cottage and listen to the video, it is quite informative. 

After a busy trek around Tybee Island, it was time to hop back in the car and head to Fort Pulaski.  Admission is $7/adult. I am not much on forts compared to my traveling companion, but Fort Pulaski had one of the best informational videos I have ever watched. It really was good. A lot of where Fort Pulaski stands now- including roadways, was completely under water. Even with restoration efforts (after a large section was completely destroyed), a lot of the damage is still visible, including one hole with a round still intact! 

With our history lesson behind us, it was time to head back to Savannah! We dropped our car off and head back into town via the FREE DoT Express Shuttle and to the river walk for dinner! We were dropped out front of the famous Savannah Cotton Exchange. Completed in 1887, it became a world leader in setting prices on cotton bales shipping around the globe. Locals coin it a "jewel in the crown of the City of Savannah" for it is one of those sites the city is known for. While you cannot tour it, it is a Masonic Lodge currently, it does open to the public for special events.

Back down to the riverwalk for dinner and since it was such a busy time of evening, we found Tubby's Seafood to be idea for outdoor sitting and shorter wait times. We ordered a burger and fries and salad. Portions were good but it was not anything too great food-wise. However, we were content people watching from their balcony and enjoyed the live music playing from the river walk. 

We finished dinner and started making our way back to the historic squares for an evening stroll for our ghost tour with Savannah Walks, which was by far one of the coolest thing we did and a group we would HIGHLY recommend. Call or Book Online ahead of time. You begin in Johnson Square and your tour guide tells you about the different murders, spooky tales and stories about the town. It was truly a fun experience as Savannah is truly a haunted city. One of the building you may have already passed was built on top of a gravesite. Savannah is booming with history and this particular tour group adds that history into each tale, which makes this fun experience one you take home a bit more history than you knew before. Tours are $20/adult and last 1.5 hours. Bring your walking shoes and a bottle of water. You are going to need them as the tour can be quite fast.

After such a spooky event, it was time to head to one of the most famous sites in Savannah: Leopold's Ice Cream. Operating since 1919, Leopold's is considered one of the top 10 soda fountains in the US! The lines tend to be super long in the summer but well worth the wait. If you want a table, you will probably wait a bit longer to get spot. We recommend grabbing your frozen treat to go and sit at one of the many squares to enjoy it, like we did! We ordered mint chocolate chip and chocolate chewies and cream. A single scoop will set you back $4 but for double scoop, its only $5.50 so we recommend that option. And while they offer more than just ice cream, we suggest stopping in for the sweet treat.

We strolled all the way back to our Airbnb with our sweet treats. It was well worth the wait for the cool treat to help cool us off on our walk back. After a long day, we crashed, because Day 3 was right around the corner.

Recipe: Homemade Vegetable Minestrone Soup

I love soup, especially in the fall when the weather begins to turn. Serve me up a big bowl of comfort and cozy. This Minestrone soup is one of my favorites, and for good reason. It is easy to put together, takes little prep time and can also be made in the crock pot. Win-Win!

You will need:

• 1 Tbsp EVOO
• 1 cup celery, chopped
• 1 cup carrot, chopped
• 1 cup onion (small onion), chopped
• 1 cup potato, peeled and cubed
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1-28 oz can of diced tomatoes
• 6 cups of vegetable stock
• 1-15 oz can of cannellini beans
• 3 cups of spinach
• 2 cups of pasta
• 1 1/2 cups zucchini (about 2), diced 
• salt, to taste
• pepper, to taste

Preparation:

1. Combine EVOO, carrots, celery, onion, salt, pepper and potato in large pot on medium heat. Cook for about 3 minutes.
2. Add garlic, and stir an additional minute. 
3. Mix in diced tomatoes, vegetable stock and zucchini. Bring to a boil.
4. Once it is boiled, turn the heat down to a simmer, and allow to cook for 45 minutes, covered.
5. Add cannellini beans, spinach and pasta. Cover and simmer 10 minutes.
6. Allow to cool before serving. Enjoy!

I think this is perfect and since it makes so much, you have leftovers for a couple of days. While this is vegan, it is not intentionally; the recipe just works out that way. If you would like, you can add chopped chicken breast to this at the end. However, I think it is quite filling without it.

Savannah, Georgia: Day 1

This post has been a long time coming! We had planned a trip to Savannah, GA to get away for a couple of days. Typically, we try to plan at least two trips a year: a smaller one in the spring and a larger one in the fall. So, we knew this spring we wanted to visit Savannah. After going to Charleston last year, we were told that if we loved Charleston, than we would really love Savannah. And they were right!

Savannah, Georgia is beautiful. It is historic and charming, and with about half the cost of Charleston, South Carolina, a much more budget-friendly location for those looking for a getaway at a cheaper cost. As they say "Savannah is about 10 years behind Charleston". The big housing and commerce boom is still in its infant stages, which means you can enjoy visiting at a more affordable cost. From the abundance of hotels and AirBnB's available, there are many options for those looking at coming to visit.

One thing I personally suggest is trying to get your hands on a copy of the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Not only does the story take place in Savannah, but the movie was filmed in the city. So, if you want a sneak peek at the city, it is one of the best references you have. Besides, the story is true!

Savannah, GA is built on a grid-style system, much like Charleston. The focus was on the individual neighborhood square that united together. All 22 squares in Savannah were for public use. From festivals to joint neighborhood parties, they were created for markets, festivals and statues. Chippewah Square can be seen from the movie Forrest Gump. These 'green zones' are abundant in the city, they serve also as mini-parks for families to gather and enjoy the summer days outside on a park bench while children play. It was for social gatherings as well as to seek shade in the hot summer heat.

We opted for an Airbnb - close to Forsyth Park. It was perfect for us as we needed it mainly as a launching pad to where we were going to be visiting. While we didn't use our car much, we did take two side trips I will post about later that we left the city limits for. However, most time was spent in the city. Between the pedi cabs, Uber, bike rentals and bus system, we really never used our car.

Once we arrived, we quickly dropped off our bags and left on foot. Savannah is a walking city so wear comfortable shoes. It is also quite hot in the springtime- as we were there in May, it was quite humid so light layers are recommended. Our first stop was walking through Forsyth Park to see the fountain. This beautiful fountain is one the landmarks of the city and for good reason. It is enormous! This park is so full of life- from the children playing soccer to families sitting by the bench to enjoy the shade, it is a must stop on our list.

We had scheduled our first stop to be at Electric Bikes of Savannah (we suggest checking Groupon as they always have deals). We rented two electric bikes to do a self-guided tour of the city to get our bearings where we would be the next few days. This is a great way to see the city without killing your feet! I was really happy we did this as our first day was the hottest. We biked the entire two hours we had rented and were quite happy the bikes were self-propelling at some junctions. However, word of caution, Savannah drivers expect you to know the laws of the road when maneuvering the squares, so bear that in mind.

Mid-way though our bike trip we stopped for a drink at Mirabelle Cafe, across from St. John's Cathedral. We sat outside on their patio enjoying iced coffee and admiring this beautiful structure. The cathedral was almost completely burned down in 1989, but was rebuilt. It is also one of the top 10 historical sites to visit in the US, so check it out. It is an active church, but you can take tours. They accept a $2 donation per adult. We opted to not take a tour since we already had two other tours lined up for the weekend.

After finishing our bike ride we ran over next door to the E. Shaver Bookstore to browse. This locally owned bookstore is one of the oldest in Savannah. They had a book signing going on while we were there. Next up, we stopped into one of the most famous chocolatiers: Chocolat by Adam Turoni. We stopped into the "Library" location. Let's just say by the end I wanted to be a book club member! With my mini- tin of treats in hand, I had my box of chocolates in Chippewa Square - just like Forrest Gump.

Next, it was time to head to the riverfront. River street is truly where Savannah started. The old warehouses and river stone streets was once a part of their bustling cotton industry and these historic buildings housed the cotton. With great views of the Savannah river and beyond, it is a mecca for tourist. If you head to the end you can see the statue of the Waving Girl. We hopped on over to Rocks on The River for happy hour to grab a drink and split a burger. After all the walking we had done, this was a welcomed treat.

We continued our stroll down the river front and sat for a bit before hearing about a massive cargo ship that would be coming through - one of the largest in the world. So, we knew we had to get a better look (and since we wanted a killer view of the river as well), we headed to our next stop: Top Deck! We  were so excited to get an amazing view of the Talmadge Memorial Bridge  and have such a perfect spot at sunset. While the food and drinks were less impressive, the view was the main reason we came and it did not disappoint. Another great option for sunset views, is to take the Savannah Belles Ferry round trip on the river. It is FREE and it will take you to the Convention center and back.

After dinner, we strolled up river street and back along Factor's Walk, a series of foot bridges connecting the city streets to the warehouses. Be mindful that cars still drive along river street and these side areas for parking so beware. The area is named for the factors (agents who dealt with sale of cotton on behalf of growers) who used these bridges. They can be quite steep and slippery, especially when it rains. Then it was time to head back to our Airbnb (which was about a 20 minute walk for us).

This ended day one of our trip. We were quite exhausted after waking up early that morning for the long drive but it was well worth it since we made it in time for lunch and strolling. Stay tuned for Day 2 and Day 3 next!

A Plastic-Free Home: Kitchen Phase 1

Tacking the kitchen to be completely Plastic-Free is not an overnight process. As much as I would like it to be, the kitchen has to be done in phases. As you read here, I tackled my first big project with my water drinking. I think it has been a success and I have adapted that really well into my routine.

Phase 1 starts with small changes. These are simple ones that can be beneficial and make a large impact without hurting your wallet. I choose to start with my cooking utensil drawer. I only had a few spatulas which needed to be removed - they had plastic in the ends- from my drawer. I was happy to see that I really did not have much to donate to friends. Most of my utensils are from the Target Threshold line and are either made with wood or metal. The meat tenderizer was my grandmothers. At least one drawer is completed. The second will be a bit tricky. I was happy to at least know all my silverware was metal and my organizer is made from bamboo. Win-Win.

Cleaning is another area where small improvements can make large impacts. I choose these wooden and metal cleaning brushes by Lola. When Target had the Caldrea line, I stocked up on these glass pump bottles (similar here and here). I now have one for my hand soap and one for my dish soap. When a brush simply will not cut it, I found these sponges that scrub like scour sponges (which work great on non-stick pans). Even when it came to my dishwasher (which I rarely use), I opted for a great rinse aid. Unfortunately, I have yet to find a plastic-free option for this or a homemade version that works well- but the search continues.

Overall cleaning the kitchen has changed as well. I have found a few ways to reduce the amount of paper towel usage I had been consuming. As much as I like my eco-towels, it was time for a change. I started making my own homemade cleaners, using bulk castile soap (my local grocery store has bulk cleaning items for purchase- just bring your own containers to fill) and water. To actually clean surfaces, I opted for these bar towels - old cotton shirts work really well too (just skip the fabric softener when washing)! After a few uses, they get tossed in the laundry. I have different looking hand towels I hang nearby to wipe hands dry. This has been a success and has dramatically reduced paper towel usage to a minimum.

Additionally, I have transitioned my dusting game. I have taken some old shirts that are worn beyond wear and cut them up and placed them in the larger of the two jars under my sink. They are easy to grab and yank out and dust. All I have to do is take the dirty ones and run them through the laundry and back in they go. Eventually, when they are done being used, they will be composted. Like the rinse aid for my dishwasher, I have not been able to replicate dishwasher soap effectively but I have found a decent alternative with Ecover. I placed them in the smaller jar for storage.

What do you think about going plastic-free? Are you able to make small changes to reduce your footprint? Do you use reusable water bottles when getting coffee or drinks out? Share your experiences.

Backpacking Shenandoah National Park

If you saw my last post here, you saw we backpacked in the backcountry if GWNF. After we left Hone Quarry, we make our way to Shenandoah National Park to the Front Royal entrance, about an hour away.

I love Shenandoah but unfortunately I have not had a lot of opportunities to spend a lot of time camping in the park so obviously I was ecstatic to be able to squeeze an overnight into our trip. Our first stop was at the Dickey Ridge Visitors Center to stretch before continuing onward, especially since we could hear if our campsite was open/available. Even if you make a reservation online, weather/conditions may change and your reservation might be cancelled so I find it is always best to stop in and find out any new information they have (most of the main gates into the park are close to a visitors center).

Our first stop along the way, was to hit a section of the AT, a hike on Pass Mountain Loop and through the tunnel to our camping site. We camped at Loft Mountain which I honestly think is one of the biggest campgrounds in the park, and one of the best. The sites are spacious and allow for group reservations, if needed. At $15 a site, it is a steal compared to other locations (ranging in $20+). I was happy since there were two trails nearby I wanted to hit: the waterfall hike as well as a section of the AT that I had not done yet. WARNING: Just like GWNF, Shenandoah National Park has wildlife, specifically black bears, which i have seen a lot in spring and fall (and even on this trip). Keep in mind to store food properly in bear-proof lockers or in your car. Be prepared. 

Once we got our site, next to group camping, we setup our tent, and made dinner. This particular site has a fire ring, but I only bought my JetBoil for cooking so that is what I used. Another backpacking meal was in order, and this time it was mac and cheese (I crave comfort food when camping so i grabbed a few microwavable singles and just transferred them to snack bags). Matt also thought it would be a great idea to sneak a few beers on our trip when he went for firewood, which let's be honest, i did not complain about. Our neighbors nearby were kind enough to share their s'mores with us so we had dessert taken care of!

Sleep was amazing but we woke up entirely too early. We wanted to hit Humpback Mountain (something we have not had the opportunity to do before due to high volumes of people). So, we woke up, packed up camp, grabbed our granola bars, and drove out of Shenandoah National Park- and into the Blue Ridge Parkway towards the parking area. We weren't the first to arrive but we still enjoyed the hike. After two nights of clouds and rain, the clear skies were a welcomed change. It was a steep hike, and apparently we took the long way up but I do recommend it. Bring lots of water and snacks (i really like RXBars- they have sweetness and still give you tons of energy), as this is a two hour hike and can be quite steep in some areas. The views are spectacular and can provide you with so many amazing photos. While the rock face is quite large, when there are crowds, it is oftentimes difficult to find a spot to sit, so if you see the parking lot full, pass on it.

I do hope you will take the time to enjoy both SNP and BRP. Both offer so many wonderful hikes, camp sites and spectacular views that you must see! It is worth the drive. If you end up doing one of the hikes or campsites mentioned above, let me know your experience.

Backpacking George Washington National Forest

Hiking GWNF was something I had somewhat planned on doing for some time. I knew I wanted to go and what I wanted to do but I really did not have an exact location in mind. After a lot of research, we decided on Hone Quarry Recreation Area. With ample parking and an abundance of hiking trails, we knew it would suit our needs best. We had planned on going there for just an overnight since we were limited on time and had another location in mind for our second night. We left immediately after work and took the 111 mile journey from Richmond to Ashby, VA. It was a long route but we made it with about an hour of daylight left. We decided to park at the campground, pay the $5 and begin our hike.

The start of the trail is across from the restrooms/signage, so we had to trek up the main road to get to the trail we were going to take. The hiking trail was quite rough, and not well manicured, but we did not mind that as much. It was, however, quite steep and at some parts quite difficult to manage with a 25 pound Osprey pack (I carry the Aura AG 50) on my back. As it had been raining earlier, the trail was quite damp and muddy. We managed to get passed a lot of the switchbacks and made it to the first large clearing, where we knew we would be camping for the night.

We unloaded some of our gear, put up our tent, and I began grabbing the stuff for our dinner that evening. As GWNF is a no burn area, you have to bring your own burning system. I really like my JetBoil and it comes in handy. It is meant to cook for two people, so if you have any more than that, I recommend sizing up). I had made some pre-planned meals (rice sides are great- same with mac and cheese or noodle bowls work well too) and you can bring dried meats to add. Small snack sized bag meals are perfect. I began cooking our mushroom risotto and we enjoyed a little bit of sunset we saw through the clouds. After dinner, we cleaned up, ate our dessert (i brought some dessert packs) and we went to sleep.

The next morning was perfect! We were able to watch the clouds roll in over the valley and got a peek of sunrise. The weather was perfect: a slight chilly morning but not too cold we didn't need heavy layers. We woke up, had our breakfast with coffee and began packing up our campsite to head back to the car. Next stop: Shenandoah National Park.

While this has decent views at the site we chose, the views along the trail are limited and due to the trees, you really cannot see very much. Our spot had great views of the reservoir below and does have great views, but the hike did not. We still recommend this if you are new to backpacking as it will give you an idea of what true backcountry is like (and if you find it's not for you, you can easily camp at the campsite with bathrooms and showers). As our spot was quite spacious, you can easily have more than one tent, and if you prefer the hammock option, this is a great site for that as well. WARNING: This area is bear country and they do recommend storing your food. We sealed our bags well and kept our trash in sealed containers as well. Make sure you prepare accordingly. 

Whole 30 Week Two: Maneuvering through Cravings, Stress and Lack of Sleep.

Beginning of Week 2: Before thoughts.  So, I am a bit more optimistic about this week, especially considering last round my second week was hell by this point. My second round of Whole30 seems to be going a lot smoother. I did adapt a lot of new habits after the first round, but I noticed when my sugar cravings were getting a bit too insane, it was time to get back on track. So, here I am starting week 2. I really struggled last week with fitting in exercise into this new routine. It is something I always seem to struggle with. In order to form new habits, you have to make them a habit. You have to do them daily. And, if you start something, you have to keep going with it. I did not meet my goal on doing daily yoga, so I am confident I can improve and accomplish that goal this week. Also, I need to work on getting more rest. If you want to read up on Week 1, go here.

Day 8: Monday. I do not hate Monday's as much as I hate having to get up for work. It is my dream to have a shorter work week. Alas, that is not the current case. I was not dragging this morning but I was tired. I woke up in the middle of a dream, which always seems to make me feel extra sleepy. Anyway, It was a decent start to the day.  Breakfast was leftover zucchini and sweet potato latkes from yesterday with a fried egg. It was a filling breakfast and carried me to lunchtime. Lunch was sauteed zucchini, asparagus spears and chicken sausage. I think I may make a "zoodle" pasta for dinner this week with this sausage. That would be delicious. Dinner was really good. I made my chard wraps. They do take quite a bit of prep work, but the end result is so worth it. And, they are filling. I made enough for leftovers.

FitBit: Coming out the gate strong with 8 hours and 49 mins of sleep. I will say dog sitting has boosted my steps quite a bit. I did not meet my 10K step goal, but I did do 5,400 steps. It is a work in progress but my goal is to hit 10K steps this week. The good news is I made 11 flights of stairs, so that is an extra flight over my 10 floors goal. I am starting the week strong and I am confident I can increase my FitBit stats and that will be my goal this week.

Day 9: Tuesday. It has been a long day. I was really tired this morning but I did get more than enough rest. I woke up by did not immediately make breakfast - something I quite regret considering I was at my desk working and started getting a hunger headache. Breakfast was filling. I made a sweet potato breakfast sandwich- using sweet potato as my "bread", smashed avocado, a fried egg and Whole30 bacon. Lunch I was not really hungry, so I opted for a sunrise sunset smoothie (homemade, no sugar- like tropical smoothie) with mangoes, peaches, strawberries, pineapple, and fresh squeezed orange juice (made on the spot). I had a side of 3 mini date balls during my 3pm slump to keep more than just liquids in my system - and a boost of energy. Dinner was surprising delicious- as I was hesitant to see if it would really be successful. I used my chicken sausage a cooked that up well- once it was 3/4 of the way cooked, i removed it from the pan and cut into slices and placed back in the pan. I added onion, shallot, and zoodles (zucchini noodles) I had just spiraled into the pan with a little coconut oil, minced garlic, fine herbs, 1 tsp capers, and 1/2 cup of tomato sauce from the prior night. And, it was surprisingly really good. I really loved it and it cooked well. The zoodles really are quick to cook so it was a good idea to put them in the pan last with the flavoring of the sausage, they soaked up any seasoning I put in the pan. I will need to keep this recipe handy for a quick meal. Worst part was watching the world series and wanting to snack but resisting the urge to do so. That was tough. Otherwise, a good day.

FitBit: I had a good night's rest. I slept for 8 hrs and 11 mins. Not too shabby. I will need to work on my sleep this week, however, to ensure I am getting adequate rest. I did make over my flight of stairs goal again. I made 14 floors, and I am happy about that. Unfortunately, I still did not make my 10K step goal - I only managed to make 5,100 steps total. I really need to work on reaching that goal. Overall, I feel pretty good. I have not been able to go to the gym but I am hopeful to get back into the swing of that soon. I will say walking the dog does help increase my steps, so dog sitting has a ton of additional perks, health-wise.

Day 10: Wednesday. What an overwhelming day. I was super busy with work but between dog watching and visiting a friend in the hospital, it was a long day. Breakfast was a friend egg, whole30 bacon and sweet potato hash. I woke up early but still was not in the mood to really knock out a large impressive breakfast. This kept me quite full until lunchtime. Lunch was my detox soup again, this time with bone broth. I added rainbow chard stalks leftover from two nights ago, mushrooms, purple onion, spinach, carrots and sweet potato. I needed a smidge more of salt but the fine herbs and garlic were a good addition to the soup, especially on such a cold day. Dinner was on the go since I was visiting my friend in the hospital. For Dinner, I went to Five Guys and had a bacon burger with grilled mushrooms, grilled onion, green pepper and had it lettuce-wrapped. It was really filling. I had also ordered a regular french fry but only had a few since I was so full. They wrap the burgers with a lot of lettuce, and that fills me quickly.

FitBit: I did not sleep as well as I had hoped last night - mostly because I woke up this morning with a very unhappy stomach. I only had 7 hrs and 3 mins of sleep. To make up for it, I decided that I would go to bed early to make up for it. I hit over my 10 flights of stairs goal - I hit 18 flights of stairs! VICTORY! I almost hit my 10K step goal - I made it to 7,700 steps for the day. The sweet dog I dog watched for the week went back home, but I can attest that having a pet does increase your activity so I recommend getting a dog for the many health benefits if you can manage to give one a good home.

Day 11: Thursday. I always feel Thursday is like a second Monday. It seems to almost be the weekend but you wake up and realize the week just seems to drag a bit more than normal. Breakfast was baked apples. By the time lunch came around, I almost missed it. Lunch was my zucchini latkes and bacon. By dinner time, I was getting hungry for eggs. Dinner was eggs, bacon and sweet potato hash.

FitBit: Well, I did not make my sleep goal; I was close with 7 hours and 26 mins of sleep. I seem to struggle with going to sleep. I will say the last time I did Whole30, it gave me a ton of energy. I need to find an outlet to release this energy so I am exhausted by evening. Hot yoga might be on the menu. I was in an overall ho-hum mood, so I did not get to do my yoga or my gym time. I did get 3,600 steps but nothing close to where I want to be. However, the good news is I did crush my stairs goal: I did 12 floors. At least I am keeping myself on my toes as far as running up and down the stairs.

Day 12: Friday. It was a long and busy day at work but through it all, I managed to make time to make some pretty decent meals. Breakfast was sausage, sweet potato has and two strips of bacon. Lunch was asparagus, sauteed spinach and bacon. Since I was running low on groceries, it was time to head back to the grocery store. Luckily, they had organic roasters available. For Dinner, I had two of the chicken legs and saved the rest for the upcoming week meals.

FitBit: So another night of low sleep; this time I managed 7 hours and 36 minutes but I really need to work on going to sleep earlier. I am hoping to improve on this. I did not meet my stairs goal: I only made 7 flights of stairs. With this particular day, work kept me at my desk with very little time to get up and actually move. I need to balance heavy report days with a minute break to climb the stairs or just get up and move around. I think I will have that as a goal for next week. I will say I have missed dog walking, since that also helped my step goal. I only made 3,700 steps so I am really trying to increase that number. I need to work on achieving that goal.

Day 13: Saturday. This was especially a tough day. I had gone to a college football game. I made sure beforehand I grabbed a big meal. However, it was rough during the game to not cave in and grab a hotdog or burgers. There was a lot of temptation but I survived. Breakfast was a big bowl of fruit and a granola bar. I grabbed a second granola bar since I knew I could not eat anything at the game. Lunch became my second granola bar and a bottle of water at the game. Finally, Dinner at home was sausage and sweet potato.

FitBit: Considering I got up somewhat early (I normally prefer to sleep in at least an hour on the weekend), I still managed to surpass my sleep goal. I got 8 hours and 35 mins of rest. I still think I need to catch more sleep during the week, but I am happy to have met my goal. Since I was busy between the football game, and all my errands, I surpassed my flights of stairs goal by leaps and bounds. I hit 32 flight of stairs and it felt great. Goal Accomplished. On top of that, I surpassed my steps from the last two days, but not my overall goal of 10,000 steps. I walked a total of 9,400 steps. I was close but just a bit shy.

Day 14: Sunday. I woke up and slept past breakfast. I needed the rest, considering the last few days I did not get enough rest. It was well worth it. Breakfast/Lunch was a banana and mixed nuts. I knew I would be busy running errands, so I needed just enough to fuel my morning. I did grab an iced coffee (our local coffee shop had unsweetened almond milk) so I took advantage since it was so warm outside. After all my errands, it was Dinner time - I made balsamic glazed chicken and had my roasted butternut squash on the side. I decided to make ice cream (not pictured) using nut butter, frozen banana and cacao powder and it went rather well. I was impressed. Just a few minutes in the food processor and BOOM, dessert!

FitBit: 8 hours and 48 glorious minutes of sleep. And, it felt great. I always love my sundays. I feel I get a lot of sleep and overall, I am in a better mood. Sunday is always "my day" so I lavish in my alone time. I felt really great to be on a somewhat streak with my flights of stairs goal as I again surpassed my 10 flight goal with 39 flights of stairs. Walking the neighborhood seems to help that meet that goal. This was a good day for crushing goals, as I walked 19,684 steps. That is far surpassed my 10,000 step goal so I feel really good about beating my goal.

End of Week 2: After thoughts. I feel good about my overall goals this week. I did a total of 54,563 steps, which is an improvement over the previous week. I need to work on that goal next week and see if I can help increase that overall number. My sleep is an average of 8 hours in total. I had three nights where I fell short but made up for it on other nights. Mid-week was the struggle. I need to figure out what correlates to my issues with sleep. On top of that, I walked a total of 133 flights of stairs, which is really impressive - especially considering there was only one day I did not meet my goal. I

I really did not have a lot of triggers or moments of weakness for the 'no' foods, which is very wonderful. I did struggle mostly in my outings, like the football game saturday. Those moments when you are out and cannot really control what is on the menu, and temptation is greatest, it can be a struggle. What helps me is drinking a lot more water and bringing snacks I can have. Otherwise, I will eat a large meal beforehand to help curb those moments where I know I will be weak. Also, I think meal planning and prep on Sunday nights has been the most beneficial to my success during the week. It give me options to choose from and therefore I do not feel like I am struggling to figure out what to eat.

Recipe: Homemade Pasta Sauce

I love fresh pasta sauce. I find it tastes so much better than the store bought. So, after spending a weekend with an Italian family, it was a no brainer to get their 'recipe' and make my own. After all, they know their sauces! I found this sauce can be made in advance and can be paired with many dishes, not just the ravioli I used it for. And, I love that by making so much, you can really make multiple meals with it. It can go far.

Here is what you will need:

• 2 TBSP EVOO
• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 1-28 oz can of peeled plum tomatoes
• 1 pkg of small tomatoes, chopped
• 1 Tsp Oregano
• Pinch of Red Pepper Flakes
• 2 Bay Leaves

How-To:

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown garlic in EVOO. 
2. Add chopped tomatoes and allow tomatoes to break down - after about 5-10 minutes, the mixture should begin to thicken. Once thickened, add bay leaves and red pepper flakes. Cook an additional two minutes.
3. Add the entire can of tomatoes to the mixture, along with salt and pepper to taste, and allow tomatoes to break down. Using your spatula, begin to "chop" the tomatoes as they begin to cook down, continually stirring the mixture until tomatoes are broken down and sauce beings to thicken, about 20 minutes.
4. Allow sauce to cool. Remove bay leaves and store in sterilized mason jars or serve with pasta (I used ravioli).