BuzzFeed Clean Eating Challenge Week 1 - What I Ate

Hey friends! Happy Friday! As promised, I'm back to share more about what I ate on the BuzzFeed Clean Eating Challenge. The detail provided as a part of the challenge is extremely helpful. You are provided with not only a meal plan for two weeks, but you are also provided with a weekly grocery list, as well as the steps you need to prepare your meals for each week. As I mentioned in my post last week, I followed Week 1 fairly closely. I purchased most of the items on the grocery list provided by the BuzzFeed team. I really enjoyed each of the meals for week 1. I tried meals that I definitely would not have thought to prepare on my own. I also used ingredients that I don't typically use, which was such an interesting and enjoyable change. 

Based on what I learned from Week 1's meal plan, grocery list, and meal prep, I modified Week 2 quite a bit. I plan to talk about my reasons for doing so in an upcoming blog post. ; )  

So here's the nitty gritty! The do's and don'ts! What you really need to know! 

I know I have said it 100 times already...but I REALLY think this challenge was worth it! My daily diet still reflects many of the basics of the clean eating challenge. I have really been able to transform the way I eat, and I am very happy with the overall results. Next week sometime I plan to share the pros and cons of the 2 week challenge! 

Thank you to everyone who reached out to me last week! I really appreciate your kind comments, and I'm happy to hear that at least a few of you plan to try the challenge for yourself. I would LOVE to hear your thoughts after. Let's do this thing together!!!

Until Next Time,

<3 Keia

Life Lately...

I thought about titling this post a "Week in Review," but most of the photos I have to share are actually from two weeks ago. Darn shame, I know. BUT I still wanted to share them anyway. There are so many memories connected to photographs. I want to document as much of my little ole' life on this blog as possible, so here we go!

Oh my little brother. I love this kid, even though he drives me crazy 99% of the time. It's so funny I look more like our dad, but act a lot like our mom. My brother looks like our mom, but acts EXACTLY like our dad. He carries my dad's name, and my parents must have known what they were doing when they decided he would be a Jr. 

Ah! Couch chillin'. Can't beat it.

My first issue of Better Homes and Gardens came a couple of weeks ago!! I love a good magazine.

I hadn't purchased any Bath and Body Works candles in quite some time. Big R had to get a watch repaired at the mall, so I grabbed a couple while we were there. It's hard to pass them up when they are on sale 2/$22. 

These two are like best friends. Don't get me wrong, when it comes time to be serious Big R is the parent and Little R is the child, but when they are playing around they have a grand old time with each other. Here they were practicing football drills. Lol and smh. Love them!

There is a beautiful marina around the corner from our house. This picture does NOT even begin to depict the beauty and serenity of this lake. Big R and I like to sit out by the lake and enjoy coffee and bagels together. 

Now that the weather is warming up, AND I got on the scale the other day...
Can we please pause for the cause? Now, let me ask y'all...we're friends right?! I'm especially asking my friends who know me in real life. Why oh why didn't y'all tell me to back away from the table?! When I tell y'all the numbers that appeared on that scale!! No bueno! I will no longer be indulging in those bagels I just mentioned that's for sure. 
Anyway, I was trying to saying that since the weather is warming up and it wouldn't hurt for me to lose a few pounds, more like 15 pounds, we will be eating a lot more salads, and this is how Big R likes his salad. He likes all the ingredients pictured above, with grilled chicken on top!

It took me a good while to switch from regular yogurt to Greek yogurt, but now I wouldn't have it any other way. Right now I especially love vanilla Greek yogurt topped with fresh fruit. 

Nature. I think it's interesting how the sun created a line through this shot. I was literally sitting directly below the tree when I took this picture.

So I know I'm biased...but how cute is this kid? Even when he's pouting! LoL. He was upset because his tablet died. Life was hard for him in that moment. If you are curious, "Santa Claus" found those Sock Monkey headphones for him through a Living Social deal last year. 

I hope you all enjoy these posts as much as I do!

Until next time, 

<3 Keia