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So, I guess you figured from the title that I jumped on the Whole30 train, which is one of my 101 in 1001 goals! Well, yesterday marked the halfway mark (15 days!), and I haven't cheated once. I am so proud of myself. I always thought I had no self-control, but that is one of the things I've learned over these past 15 days - I do! I do have self control, and it feels good to know that I can do what I set my mind to.

In this post, I wanted to share some things I've felt and thought over the past 15 days, as well as what I'm mostly living on right now.

I am exhausted, all the time. Is that normal? I will literally sleep for 12 hours and still be exhausted, then take a nap. What is life?

My blood sugar has dropped several times. I'm usually full of carbs - just overeating them - which gets my blood sugar all out of whack. So, I think that by doing the Whole30, I will be able to choose better portion sizes once the 30 days is up, and continue to bring my blood sugars down (but also hopefully keep them more stable).

I've surprisingly said no to a lot of things that were probably delicious: banana bread, chocolate cake, sandwiches, new Starbucks drinks that sound so wonderful. Within my first five days, I received a free deluxe chicken sandwich coupon from Chickfila, a $5 Zaxby's gift card, the banana bread, and I don't even know what else. Oddly, saying no hasn't really been difficult, but at the same time, I do miss my usual meals.

I'm living on a lot of homemade chicken salads with lettuce, black coffee, apples and almond butter, and Larabars. I'm really not wonderful at meal planning, but it hasn't been terrible. The worst thing is (of course) how expensive fresh produce and good meats are. I go frozen when I can (fish and veggies), but everything doesn't come frozen. I found some great all-natural angus beef hotdogs and I've been eating those a lot, dipped in mustard, or mixed in with potatoes, bell peppers and onions.

What's craziest to me is how much stuff has sugar in it. Basically all the bacon, all the lunch meats, chicken at Chickfila. Everything has sugar added to it and it's really blowing my mind. I pick up probably every single thing at the store to see what's on the ingredient list and, seriously, so much sugar.

Well, I'm more than halfway there and I know I will be able to get through these full 30 days. At the end of the 30 days (February 6), I'll share a full recap and some of my favorite recipes, so make sure to keep an eye out for that post around early February!

Have you tried to Whole30? How did it impact you?

First of all, how pretty is this cover? It's one of the reasons I picked the book. Also, there's just something about a story of struggle that I always enjoy reading, and that wasn't much different with this book. I did rate it 3 stars on Goodreads, but let me explain why.

I liked the story. I did. And I didn't hate the character of Charlie, which is unusual for me because I always tend to hate most of the characters in a book. I just didn't understand the timeline throughout the story. I think it perhaps wasn't even a year in length, which made the story seem unrealistic to me. I don't see people turning their lives around in such a short time. I mean, really, how often does someone finally have the last straw and do a one-eighty and not mess up again? I don't know actually, but I am sure it isn't often.

Anyways, this novel is about seventeen year old Charlotte "Charlie" Davis. She starts off in a rehab center and this novel follows her on her journey (for about a year, I'm thinking) after she leaves rehab. It's 100% a very emotional, heartbreaking book. There were parts that reminded me a lot of A Million Little Pieces (which is one of my favorite books in the world), especially in the beginning, and I was worried the writer was trying to mimic that writing style, but it lifted, and I was glad it did. I found the first part of the book (there are three parts) to be very boring, but pretty short "chapters," and there were some sections I wish were written in more detail. It took me most of a week to get through the first half of the book, and then I read the second half in one sitting.

After it was over, I just felt kind of "hmph." That's truly to best way to describe it. I felt like it wrapped up kind of quickly, the ending didn't feel realistic, and I want to know what happens next. I want to know more about Riley and Julie, Linus and Tanner, and Ellis, but mostly I want to know more about Mikey. I feel like he started as such an integral part of the book and we weren't really given enough depth into him. I guess I kind of feel that way with most of the characters except Charlie - we weren't given enough about any of them.

When I marked this read on Goodreads and it asked for my rating, I sat with my finger above my phone for several minutes. I wanted to give it four stars, but there was just something missing for me and I really felt I had to give it only three stars.

I think this book could be hit or miss, depending on what you usually enjoy reading, but I wouldn't tell you not to read it.

I will say that I could tell this book took a lot of heart and soul from the author, Kathleen Glasgow, who in the acknowledgments admits to being a cutter, and that broke my heart for her. I think she is brave and beautiful for writing such a soul-bearing story. This book is a novel and not a memoir, but I know those feelings written within the pages took a lot of self-discovery and self-love and I 100% applaud Kathleen for her strength and graciousness.

What are some of your favorite books that talk about sensitive topics?

Valentine's Day can get a little hectic, and by hectic I mean sometimes two hour waits at restaurants (I'm not talking just fancy-schmancy here). Because of that, the hubby and I always make different plans. Maybe we'll go out on a date a few days before or after Valentine's Day, but for the night of, we always, always do something different, which generally includes an at-home date night.

We're generally a dinner and movie type of couple (especially when it comes to date night at the house!), so we're into streaming a movie online and preparing a dinner together. Keep reading for my recommendations on what to do to have an amazing date night without leaving the house, including a delicious recipe!

Outdoor Picnic
Whether you have a back deck or just a backyard, pile up some blankets and eat dinner outside under the starlight. After dinner, lay back and stargaze together. Don't forget the citronella candles!

Dinner & a Movie
Don't fancy yourself an al fresco dinner? Set up inside and get a movie going. You can cuddle on the couches, picnic on the floor, or even cozy up in bed with dinner. It's your date night - your rules!

Game Night 
Whether you're into video games or board games, get one going! And don't forget to fill up on dinner first.

Nerf War
Want a more active date night? Pull out the Nerf guns and go to town on each other! Once you're worn out, take dinner outside or pull up the couch.

Planning Night
Upcoming plans (wedding, big vacation, etc.)? Have dinner over a planning session - work on budget, itineraries, or more. Who said planning has to be boring?



Of course, you'll want a delicious homemade meal to accompany you during your at-home date night. Kroger has all the ingredients you need to make a wonderful protein-packed meal. Southwestern chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make pasta dish with just the right amount of oomph. I chose to go with Barilla ProteinPLUSⓇ penne, which is always great tasting, high quality, simple, and wholesome.

Oh, December. I thought I would get more books read in December, since I had an entire week off from work between Christmas and New Year's, but I did not. I struggled through several books, trying to finish up my 2016 Reading Challenge, which I was four books short of finishing. Boo. Anyways, here's what I got around to finishing up the year with, including some thoughts.

The Crow by James O'Barr: This was the first graphic novel I've read in a very long time and was sent to me by a wonderful friend to fulfill a prompt from the reading challenge I was completing. I wasn't totally sure what to expect from a graphic novel, but this exceeded my expectations. The novel was written and illustrated by O'Barr and it was really a terrific experience (because read doesn't cover how it was to actually read the book). The story is absolutely heartbreaking, while also being a little gorey. The 1994 film was based off from this graphic novel, and while I haven't yet watched it, I definitely intend to. If you're looking to read a graphic novel, I highly recommend this one.
Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling: see review here.
Wicked by Gregory Maguire: This book was not what I expected under any circumstance. For some reason, I expected to be more for children, but I would definitely say Wicked is a novel intended for adults. There is sexual references, gore, and a definite reference to political justice. I've never actually read the Wizard of Oz, but I've seen the movie. This novel makes me want to go back and read the original. I was so very impressed by this book and I look forward to reading the sequel.
Seriously Funny edited by Barbara Hamby and David Kirby: Boo, poetry. I also read this book for the reading challenge, and if it wasn't for the challenge, I would not have finished it. It's been on my bookshelf since college, when a professor gave it to me, but I never got around to really picking it up. I did not enjoy it. I've determined I don't enjoy poetry. Poetics just ruin it for me, because I need a story. And maybe there was so story there, but truly poetry makes me feel dumb, because I understood maybe 10 of the poems out of around 200 that were in the book. I probably won't read any more books of poetry any time soon.
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier: I didn't hate this book, but I definitely didn't love it. Although it was written in 1997, it felt old, like something I would have been required to read in high school lit class. The story is mostly told from the different sides of Ada and Inman, who are trying to make their lives work during the Civil War. I think maybe the period made it a little difficult for me, but it was probably more so the way the story was told. I did enjoy the story, but it just took me an entire week to get through the book because I struggled to get into it.



What did you get around to reading in December?

When I read the description of Nick Cutter's Little Heaven, I knew I wanted to read it right away. Before reading the novel, I had never heard of Cutter and was surprised by the fabulous reviews he'd received from big-name authors like Stephen King. Little Heaven is the first book I've ever read electronically, so while that took a little getting adjusted to, I got through the book fairly quickly. I was immediately intrigued in the book from page one, and the reason I wasn't able to read it faster than I did is because the book had me pretty terrified throughout.
The novel is set in two time periods - the mid-60s, and 1980- and is divided into eight parts, plus an epilogue. Since the novel is divided into parts, it makes it easier to jump between the time periods. The book begins with Petty Shughrue being abducted by a monster of a sort in 1980. Her father, Micah, goes on a mission to get her back, along with the help from his friends (acquaintances?) Minny and Eb. Monny, Eb, and Micah had come across a religious compound, Little Heaven, in 1965, where terrible things happened while they were there. Micah's sure this is where the monster has taken Petty, so the three of them journey out to find her.
Most of the novel took place in the 1960s, with only short sections for the 1980 portions of the book. I was a little surprised by that. I thought there would be more focus on the 1980 journey, but I suppose it made sense because the 1980 segment takes place over a few days or weeks, while the 1960s portion is over a few years.
There were a few things within the book that bothered me, but nothing major. In fact, the only thing I can remember really sticking out is that within a chapter, there would be some jumping around from a scenario to a couple hours or so before, and that was a little confusing. I would have to go back and re-read a few pages thinking I missed something. But the story really makes up for any confusing details.
I was impressed with Cutter's detail, and this book seriously had me jumping at the tiniest noises or thinking I was seeing things out of the corner of my eye. Reminiscent of Stephen King, Cutter's Little Heaven was a great read, and I really enjoyed it.

Have you read anything by Nick Cutter? What were your thoughts?

I spent a lot of time in 2016 committed to the blog and consistency in posting. It was hard to choose only 16 favorites from the year, but here they are:

Travel:
A Day in Downtown Chattanooga
Camping at Unicoi State Park for My Birthday
A Trip to Asheville for Our One-Year Anniversary
Must-Dos in Asheville, North Carolina

Home Decor & DIY:
How to Use Pumpkins to Decorate the Home
DIY Cat Tee-Pee Bed
Thanksgiving Home Decor
I Bought a Couple of Pancreases

Marriage & Family:
An Homage to Momma
For Dads That Rock, We Salute You
Summer Date Night With Shake Shack and Ray LaMontagne
One Year of Marriage

Books & Movies:
Favorite Illustrations from Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone
Ten Reasons to Go See Fantastic Beasts

Style:
How to Style a Tank Top

Lifestyle:
101 in 1001


What were your favorite posts (throughout the world of bloglandia) from 2016? Link them below.

I am always looking for a way to be healthier, and I'm terrible at it. I overeat and I'm too lazy to exercise regularly. I was doing well until I started back in school (I know. Excuses, excuses.), and then I was just too exhausted to do anything before or after work and classes.


So, during the month of December, I participated in a teatox with SkinnyMint. I wasn't expecting a lot, to be honest. All I really did was drink some tea, and made no lifestyle changes, however when I took my after picture (see below), I was honestly surprised with the results I saw. Let's be honest, we all eat too much during the holidays, and that held true for me, too. Again, I didn't do any exercise or change my eating habits. I just drank a morning boost tea in the morning when I woke up, and a night cleanse every other night before bed. That's it! The tea tastes delicious (with a bit of a minty taste to it), and it can be drank iced or hot.



The teatox is meant to be completed over 28 days. The morning boost to be drank each morning before or with breakfast, and the night cleanse to be drank every other evening before bed. It's recommended that the night cleanse should not be completed for more than the 28-day period. Both the morning and night teas are all natural and should be used to help kickstart a healthy lifestyle.*

This is definitely something I would try again in the future. With a little diet and exercise next time, I think I could definitely jump start a healthier lifestyle, and SkinnyMint Teatox is just the start.


I know the change isn't anything dramatic, but it's definitely something. While I'm still a little chubby, I definitely felt less bloated throughout the 28 days, and I hope this helps me to kick off a more healthy lifestyle routine. SkinnyMint was such a great product to help me start off 2017 just right. I hope you will join me and SkinnyMint to help make 2017 your #BestYearEver!


Have you teatoxed before or have you wanted to try a teatox? Let me know below!








*This is not an instant weight loss miracle.

I'm a cheapskate. If you know me, you know this. I hate to spend money, so even though I've wanted an area rug for years, I just cannot bring myself to spend hundreds of dollars on one. (Does anyone else have this issue?) So, I decided to make one myself, and honestly, I love the way it's turned out. Keep reading to find out how to make your own below.






Materials: Several small woven rugs (I chose three 3' x 5' rugs to make a 9' x 5' rug) Yarn in a color that coordinates with the main weaving of the rugs Crochet hook (helpful, but not entirely necessary) Scissors (to cut the yarn) Directions: 1. Unroll the rugs and lay them out side by side. The positioning will vary based on your rugs, however, the rugs I used I laid the sides together length-wise with tassels facing out.  2. Cut a piece of yarn that is the length of the rug, plus one foot (for good measure). 3. Using the crochet needle (or your fingers), thread the yarn through the first loops on the end of two side-by-side rugs. You'll want to pull the yarn all the way through, almost two the end, with about 3-4 inches left on the end. Tie this in a knot several times to secure.  4. Using the lengthier (threaded through) piece of yarn, thread this through the corresponding pieces on the side-by-side rugs until you've completely connected the rugs. 5. Loop the yarn through the last two loops several times, and then tie in a knot. Cut off any excess yarn. 6. Complete steps 2-5 with the additional rug(s) until the rug is the desired size. 7. Place your rug under your sofa, bed, or in the center of a room, and enjoy your new area rug!




Where do you plan to put your new area rug?

2016 was the year I got back into reading. Ironically, it was also the year I started my Master's program. I was worried I wouldn't get much reading done in the fall because of classes, and while my reading did decrease a bit, I was still able to get through a good bit of books during the second half of the year. I read a total of 64 books during 2016 (see my favorites here), and I've set a goal for myself to read 60 books in 2017. Since I'll be taking classes during Spring, Summer, and Fall of this year, I'm really hoping I'll be able to meet my goal, since it will definitely be a busy year for me.

Last year, I began the Popsugar Reading Challenge for 2016, which included 41 reading prompts, and I set my Goodreads Reading Challenge goal to 40 books. And while I met my Goodreads goal of 40 by reading 64 books, I didn't complete all my reading prompts for the Popsugar Reading Challenge. There were four prompts that I didn't meet, including the following:

-A book you haven't read since high school.
-A political memoir.
-A book at least 100 years older than you.
-A book that's more than 600 pages.

I intended to read the following books to fulfill those prompts.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Ungodly by Ted Dracos
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
East of Eden by John Steinbeck


I'm hoping to be more mindful of pairing my reading choices with my 2017 Popsugar Reading Challenge prompts this year. There are 52 this year (including 12 bonus selections), so if I read at least one book a week, I should be able to finish the challenge. I'm pretty pumped for this year, and while I didn't finish all my prompts in 2016, I'd say I did a-okay for it be my first year making reading a priority!

Did you work on a reading challenge last year? Do you plan to complete one in 2017? Give me the deets below!

Thursday, 12/22: A coworker brought in some donuts to work from a local donut shop, and jeez Louise. were they good. This one's a carrot cake (my favorite).

Friday, 12/23: Finished up some last minute gift wrapping before hoping over to my parents' house for Christmas festivities.

Saturday, 12/24: Merry Christmas Eve folks.

Sunday, 12/25: Hubby gifted me with the best presents ever! How awesome is he?

Wednesday, 12/28: Andre and I had dinner with my friend, Julie, and she gave me this awesome Marauders Map mug (it's bigger than my face!), and a sugar-free cookbook and a Fantastic Beasts calendar!

Thursday, 12/29: Just sharing some teatox bags during my last few days of my SkinnyMint teatox.

Friday, 12/30: More lounging. Just living the life here, y'all!

Saturday, 12/31: Happy New Year's Eve! Andre and I stopped by the local donut shop (where the carrot cake donut above came from) and got coffee and some donuts. I got the carrot cake again. It's just too good!

How was your last week of 2016?