Sunday Smiles Popping In

Hello sweet friends, I hope this post finds you well. We are finally getting three days of reprieve from the two months of 110+ degree heat. Who knew 99 degrees could feel so cool? I want to say Thank You to the many kind friends who left encouraging comments and such thoughtful messages in regards to my last post. Here’s to Sunday Smiles Popping In.

Create A English Country Kitchen

Lately I have been loving English country kitchens. This post is full of inspiring images and ideas. 

A Charming Summer Cottage

Many bloggers have already switched over to fall content. (They must live in a cooler climate. Smile.) Despite the heat, I am still trying to enjoy summer. This lovely little cottage is worth a peek. 

 

Peach Guacamole

I have been eating this delicious dish (minus the jalapeno) at least three times a week. Sometimes mango is used instead of the peaches. It pairs well with chicken. 

The Easiest Styling Trick

In a recent post, Heather Bullard simplified the three things you need to achieve a gorgeous vignette every single time. 

Travel Dreams

I’ve added this wonderful post by Town and Country Living to my Travel Dreams board on Pinterest. Jennifer always shares the loveliest images and ideas that always leave me inspired. 

Sunday Smiles Popping In

August has not exactly gone as I planned. But as they say, when we make plans…

We got Sweet Guy moved back to college. 

I barely had time to wash the bedding  and the Fashionista/Pony the dachshund moved back in. This was absolutely necessary due to the extreme heat and her 100 year old apartment without central heat and air.

On August 1 I started a six week elimination diet. The first week I removed all gluten (wheat), dairy, red meat and sugar from my diet. I was really fun to be around that week. 

The second week I also then eliminated all legumes (beans), nuts, grains (rice, oats, corn, etc.) and COFFEE to the elimination diet already in place. This stage had me officially on what is known as the AIP (Auto Immune Protocol) diet. 

So what is left to eat? Fruits, vegetables, chicken, pork, several types of fish…and a host of other things.  

What’s Cookin’

I have relied heavily on two cookbooks I checked out from the local library.

FIX IT with Food by Michael Symon. 

Right now I can’t make all the recipes in the book (or I’ve been eliminating an ingredient to make it AIP compliable). But the 20 or so recipes that I have made so far have been delicious. I’ll definitely be buying this book. 

The second book is The Autoimmune Solution Cookbook by Amy Myers, MD. This books was fantastic in teaching how and why an AIP diet works to reverse the symptoms of those with various Auto Immune Disorders. My goal is to achieve remission from Lupus. 

I am so glad I read this book courtesy of my local library. It truly is such a good read. However, I am definitely a person who eats with their eyes and only about 15-20% of the recipes in this book have a photo. 

Downward Dog

I’m now going to yoga on Mondays and Wednesdays and Pilates on Fridays. This combined with a radical reduction of carbs has left me with a bit of a foggy brain.

The pantry/refrigerator/freezer was completely cleaned out. My kids won’t have to shop for a month. The recipes requiring fresh ingredients have resulted in having to go to grocery store more often. I try to combine it with my exercise outings.   

Given that I previously often ate like a teenager (fast, fried and processed foods) this has come as a jolt to my system. I’ve tried to listen more closely to my body and sit down (or even lay down) for 20 minutes when it tells me to. This usually happens around 2 or 3 pm. 

But as I lean into week 3 of this elimination diet something of a miracle has occurred. 

For the first time in over 10 years I am sleeping 6-7 hours straight. 

For YEARS I have suffered with tremendous insomnia. I would sleep for 3 hours and then be awake for 4 hours. Then, if I was lucky, I would maybe get 2 more hours of sleep.

Imagine experiencing this every single night for over 10 years. 

The sleep cycle is when your body repairs itself along with a host of other things. 

I am not surprised that my body has started to revolt.  

I’m still currently in constant pain. But I now have hope that if I can sleep, maybe, just maybe my body will be able to heal itself.

Less Of Me

As I bonus I have also lost 10 pounds. Mainly in my “wheat belly” area. 

So, I’ll be doing this another 2-3 weeks and then slowly, one week at a time, I will reintroduce foods such as rice, corn, etc. to see if there is any negative change. If so, I will know which foods I have an intolerance to. I’m keeping a food journal to help me with this. 

I’m going to continue to treat myself gently. My plan is still to return with a fall home tour on Tuesday, September 12th. 

I hope you also grant yourselves moments of bliss. 

Laura

In Case You Missed It

On Saturday I enjoyed raspberry “sorbet” with cacao nibs (recipe can be found on the Decor To Adore Instagram) and Small Spaces, Big Appeal by Fifi O’Neill. This gem of a book was a lovely giveaway gift from Town and Country Living. 

There have also been a few posting on the Laura Ingalls Gunn Instagram which features historic fashion. 

Some vintage fashion shenanigans are in the works. This crowning glory is greatly inspired by the Miranda sisters, Carmen and Aurora, who began a trend of tropical toppers in the 1940s.