Can I first give a huge birthday shout out to my mom? HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Along the way a few of you have given me the ultimate compliment by saying you think I’m a good mom (I’ll admit I go back and read those comments on repeat on my less than stellar mothering days), but really, you should see this lady. The best. Love you Momma!
Now to the weekend, which was quite typical in many ways. Outdoor projects, outdoor playing, indoor cleaning. Largely, the norm. However, a few weekend events shook things up for me. Like…
grocery shopping on a Friday! Hold onto your hats, we’re a wild bunch around here.
After fending off the sniffles as a family and not meal planning the week before, we were flat out of food by Friday. I took both girls shopping with a full list and things actually went fairly smoothly. A benefit to Friday shopping is that all items are still well-stocked and we end up eating in a lot more over the weekend too, like grilling buffalo chicken sandwiches on Saturday night.
Speaking of out of the norm, I got to enjoy a breakfast out SANS KIDS with a (new) friend, Hillary, the founder of Lumi Juice.
I got to learn about the differences between different juices on the market and high pressure processing, but I also just had a blast chatting with Hillary about life in general. She’s incredibly personable and smart and I really loved chatting with her. Plus she sent me home with some juices to try.
They’re delicious by the way. Just organic fruits and veggies. So fresh!
Also out of the ordinary for me…
Why yes, yes, getting dressed in general is a little outside of the norm, but I wore WHITE JEANS. I haven’t worn white jeans in years because my legs aren’t typically my favorite feature to highlight, but bootcamp is treating me right and I’m feeling pretty confident in this body of mine right now. Let’s ignore the fact that I wore white before Memorial Day (fashion friends, is that still a rule?) and ended up with a dirt stain on the knee… I wore white jeans and felt comfortable in them! Wheeeee!
Now more on the typical side of things, I did a little food prep on Sunday. A new kombucha batch, prepped some veggies and baked some sandwich rolls.
Recipe still in development, but the good thing about a bread fail is that even the bad batches still taste pretty great.
I switched things up by prepping some breakfast for the busy week ahead too. I made a batch of these whole wheat oatmeal pancakes to freeze.
Yes, the look lumpy, but they really surprised me- delicious! The girls gobbled them up and I only had 5 little pancakes left to freeze. I will definitely be making them again.
The weekend came to a close with an episode of Game of Thrones and digging into this easy dinner.
A friend gave me the idea and it’s so simple! Potatoes, carrots, red pepper, onion and sausage, all cut into bite-sized pieces and tossed with olive oil, 1-2 Tbsp of Italian seasoning and 4 minced garlic cloves with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Bake at 375 for about an hour- an hour and 15 minutes, mixing once or twice, and devour. It’s delicious!
For two hungry people, I usually use 2 large sweet potatoes, a russet potato, 2 red peppers, 1 large onion and a couple carrots with one large sausage.
Do you have a clothing item that you love but are sometimes intimidated to wear?
What is your favorite easy dinner to make?
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says
Love those white jeans girl!! I wish we had a bootcamp like that here in Lville! I’m going to have to try that easy dinner.. Looks amazing!
Marian says
Why are you putting Paleo in front of your recipes?
Sausage was not a food found in paleolithic times-and it is a processed food!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Happy birthday to your mama! And you can totally pull off the white jeans. I am rather self conscious about all my clothes lately. Mostly because I hardly ever shop anymore, and I don’t even know what the rules are. I am so out of the fashion loop!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul says
Girl you look good in those pants! Glad you enjoyed your weekend!
Marnie @ SuperSmartMama says
Every year, when spring rolls around, I tell myself THIS is the year I’m going to buy white jeans! And then I try on 100 pairs and can’t find one that suits me. Maybe this year will be the year.
Brynn says
Yes for white pants!! They are a staple item for me. One thing I get intimidated to wear are dresses. What if I have to bend down? Bend over? Sit on the ground? Too many possibilities to lose my dignity. Haha. So glad you are feeling better.
Monica says
Happy Birthday to your Mom! And, yes, you can definitely rock white jeans – it’s so awesome, isn’t it? Feeling comfortable in something you were iffy about before? 🙂
We make a variation of that last dinner all the time. It’s SO simple, and the toddler actually eats it! Ha!
Happy Monday!
Lindsey @ Simply Lindsey says
I love my Simplified Planner!
My fave easy dinner to make is what we call Midnight Pasta (because we made it one time at midnight haha). It’s basically pasta with olive oil, parm cheese, herbs, and red pepper flakes. Pair it with a side salad and you’re done! Super easy!
Jen says
Can I just say how much I love how “normal” you are? I love that you get white smudges on your jeans, and that you sometimes feel out of balance, and I also love how normal your recipes and the recipes you post are!
Case in point: I just fixed up a batch of the Greek pasta salad last night, and just book marked that whole wheat pancake recipe. Sometimes I read other recipe/healthy living sites, and I’m like, really? You want me to eat raw kale salad and chia pudding for every single meal? I don’t know, I just love how the food you eat is healthy, but also doable, enjoyable, etc. I am doing the best I possibly can to teach my daughter that all foods are delicious, and that means everything from green smoothies to chocolate cake, you know? (Okay, she’s only 10.5 months, so no chocolate cake yet, but she did enjoy it when she was in the womb, ha!)
Sherry says
Thank you so much for the birthday wishes. You are a fabulous mom and look wonderful in those white jeans–even in March
Elizabeth Evans says
How do you reheat frozen pancakes? I can’t seem to get it right. If I use the microwave they’re soggy and if I use a toaster they’re crispy. Since I can’t reheat them correctly to the original form I just toss out the ones we don’t use.
Brittany Dixon says
I totally just toast them! Yes, this makes them a little crisiper, but we smear peanut butter on them and use them like glorified toast. 😉
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries says
Way to rock those white jeans!! And I’m pretty sure that “rule” about white before Memorial Day is long gone, so you’re totally good. 😉
I totally love that easy meal idea of roasted veggies + sausage! Sounds delicious and super simple – just the way I like it!
Heather says
I’m intimidated by heels. I used to wear them, but always tended to tower over people so I stopped wearing them and now I think if I wore them I’d topple over due to lack of balance. :p
My easy dinner go-to’s are generally making breakfast for dinner or some kind of easy pasta dish where I just throw a bunch of stuff together in a bowl with pasta and call it good.
Lisa says
Heather,
I love heels! I too tower over people, but its okay. I think its one of the major marks of being beautiful and confident. I say wear them.
Some day we won’t be able to and wish we did. 🙂
Lisa says
I hope you see this…
Your blog post last week about not living for your blog, but living for whats important to you inspired me so much. I am going to print it out and put it in my diary. I’ve realized that technology is interfering with what is in front of me right now. I also realized that I MUST Carpe Diem!
For over 15 years I have wanted to go to school and study Nutrition. I never could because my job interfered. I finally took the plunge, went part time at work and am studying full time to finish my degree. I want to read everything I can, study hard and research like crazy. I’ve been afforded the time to do something I love (like you have with raising your girls). Now, I must take full advantage of the opportunity I have been given, and build my life around it. I could go on and on, but just know your post awoke something in me, and I am very grateful!
Thanks for sharing from the heart
Lisa
Alexandria, VA
Sherri @Adventures of Love and Marriage says
I love the white jean look but I too shy away from lighter washed jeans. I also found a gorgeous pair of dark jeans with dark polka dots on my monthly fix this weekend with Stitch Fix but chickened out of getting them because I was afraid to “step out of the box.” Also, I am 5’2 and my legs definitely are more muscular so I try not to accentuate them.
My quick food fix is grilling salmon and topping it with guacamole. I grill the salmon with a grill pan inside (I am not an outdoor grill master) and throw the guac on top. Instant flavor explosion.
Amy @ Elephant Eats says
My husband introduced me to that sausage/pepper/potato roast because apparently his mom used to make it all the time. I don’t add onions, but I do recommend in the last 5 min to sprinkle on some shredded parmesan cheese. Perfection!
Lindsay says
That dinner sounds so good! What kind of sausage do you use?
Brittany Dixon says
I used spicy Italian sausage from Niman Ranch- delicious!
Lauren Brennan says
I would agree that my white skinnies are sometimes intimidating and totally depends on how I’m feeling that day! Also my black leggings can either make me feel awesome or like I need to go run a few miles.
I love any meal in a Crock Pot! And another favorite is chicken, black beans and salsa wrapped in foil and baked! Easy, and even easier cleanup!
Kris says
The no white before Memorial Day rule is very outdated. White jeans are shown prominently in fall/winter fashion magazines, worn with cream/ivory sweaters and tan/brown boots. I LOVE white jeans and would wear them year around, except here in Florida white shorts or jeans in the Winter scream tourist. Things I’m intimidated to wear — Chicos wear — colorful print tunic shirts and capri pants. Just say no.
Jessica @Myhealthypassion.com says
I totally added that roasted veggie and sausage meal to my meal planning this week! YUM!
Heather says
Happy Birthday to your mom!
What are your thoughts on kombucha and breastfeeding? I am so craving it and love how it makes me feel, but have seen a lot of mixed thoughts on drinking it while breastfeeding. Also, what about kombucha for toddlers?
amy says
Just made this recipe and it is so delicious and easy for a first time mama too! Thank you Brittany!
Kelsey says
Hi Brittany! I’m planning to make your paleo sausage bake for dinner tonight. I bought some chicken sausage (raw) from the deli at Sprouts yesterday and am wondering, do you slice it up raw and put it in the oven? Or do you cook it in a skillet first?
Thank you!
Brittany Dixon says
If you bought chicken sausage links, they should say “fully cooked” on the package. Just slice them and toss them with the veggies and roast all in one pan! Let me know what you think 🙂