Spring Cleaning+Flamingos+Toy Story, Oh MY || Guest Blogger Series

I'm excited to introduce to you our guest blogger for March, Kia!  I follow Kia on several different social media platforms & I always enjoy her posts about her life as a mom.  She has such a precious family to share with you!  Take it away, Kia...

Hi guys! 
I'm so excited to be sharing a little bit about my life as a wife, mother (maid, taxi.. you get the idea ;) My life is pretty fast paced. I have sports kids, you guys. Life is always BUSY! 

Well guys, my name is Kia! That's right, like the car. lol I'm 27, married to a welder, we live in Western NC with our 3 kiddos. Lexi will be 8 next month, My oldest son, Riley, is 6 and my youngest son Brantley, will be turning 4 next month!  I'm currently a stay at home mom until my youngest starts kindergarten. I'm clinging onto him for dear life!! 

(how stinkin' cute are they???)

So since it's March, this means time to start Spring Cleaning. The time of the year where I am excited, but dread. I enjoy decluttering and organization. With smaller kids, they tend to accumulate SO. MUCH. STUFF! I started the Kon Mari Method! Which means toss out anything that doesn't "spark joy". 

Next month, we have a busy schedule. 2 birthday parties to plan/have, baseball starting, Spring Break, Easter, you name it! Time to get to work! 

Ideas for their parties... Lexi will be having a cake with these flamingo candles on top. Her theme is a flamingo/luau! Perfect way to start Spring! 

 Brantley is OBSESSED with Toy Story you guys! He is so excited for his "dory-dory pardy" (I'm saying this in his voice as I type this out. So cute!) 

I'll save the rest of my ideas for April in case I'm needed again ;) Haha! thank you guys for listening to me ramble a bit. 

Thank you Cassidy for allowing me to be a guest for you. I enjoyed it. :) 

Some advice I would give to mommas?  Never criticize another mother for the way she parents. Parent the best way you think works and is right for you and your child. Every child is different, they each require their ability to learn different than any other. ❤️ 

How fun is she??  Love that advice, Kia!  God made us each different not only as a person, but as a mama, too!  And then, a flamingo party?  How a d o r a b l e.  We MUST see more pictures after she throws it, right?:)  Also, is it just me or does she need to share an in depth post on spring cleaning?  We just moved + I STILL haven't finished going through our things in the garage.  I'm a throw everything away kind of girl:)  Thank you so much for sharing a little of your life with us this month, Kia!  Some mail goodies will be on their way to you soon...

If you'd like to contribute to Peaches + Pearls as a guest blogger, I would love to hear from you.  I believe we can learn something from each lady that God places in our life & I'm excited to hear from each & every one of you (+ I believe other girls are, too!)  Shoot me an email at cassidypadams@hotmail.com if your interested & we will work together on a post.  

Happy Tuesday, girls!

<<Take me back!>>
February Guest Blogger - Whitney

Whole 30 Diary || Week Two

To begin, this week has been very crazy, very hectic, & very hard to get through.  Our whole hometown's hearts have been broken for families around the area.  It just shows that we never know what we will be faced with from one day to the next.  We can't plan for everything & God's grace & peace is available to us for a purpose.  

In reference to my "Whole 30" goals, its been really tough to juggle eating well when your mind is a million miles away from what you are going to eat for the day...but, though I starved most of the week, I made a decision to push through the best I could.  I didn't start this little journey for nothing & I'm one week closer to saying I did my best to complete the first month of the program. 

 "Making it through the week" involved very few pictures to share + no opportunities to meal prep or cook at home+ a lot of drive thru meals (especially for the first part of the week) that may not be a perfect or ideal match for the Whole 30 guidelines.  But, I did the best I could.

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs+black coffee

Lunch:  Grilled Chicken Salad (lettuce, grilled chicken marinated in italian dressing +soy sauce, walnuts, eggs)

Dinner: rotisserie chicken+ green beans

Snacks: raisins+bananas+black coffee+oranges

A very hard day.  Travel, travel, travel+church+visit+work+church and then find out absolutely devastating news.

Breakfast:   2 boiled eggs+black coffee

Lunch:  Southwest Salad from McDonalds as naked as you can make it (no dressing, cheese, tortillas, etc. +unsweet tea)

Dinner: strawberry+ice+walnuts+banana smoothie

Snacks: raisins+grilled chicken bites

Again, I couldn't eat much today.  A lot was going on + I was in no way thinking about food.  I just thought about my husband & very special families through out our community hurting.  I did have a bad headache at the end of this day & we picked Cade up at the airport late & then it was up early & back to NC the next morning for work & other things.  I do admit, right before we traveled to Tennessee-I had a strong craving for a vanilla milkshake after I ate my grilled chicken bites...dairy withdrawals, maybe?  I never had milk shakes on a regular basis before Whole 30!  Lol.  Very weird.

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs with strawberries+black coffee

Lunch:  Grilled Chicken Salad from Bojangles (as naked as I could make it-no cheese or dressing)+ unsweet tea

Dinner: Fajita mix at Mexican-very hard to avoid chips & cheese after not eating as much as I should have the previous days but I toughed it out).

Snacks: raisins+chewing gum (I shouldn't have)

I was starving & sleep deprived today.  No time for anything.  No ability to prep food, just survive.  I felt pretty bad, but made it through.  I did end up taking a piece of gum after a funeral after not eating or drinking enough.  I was at my whits end for thirst.  I have GOT to remember to stay hydrated.  I am not supposed to have gum on Whole 30.

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs+black coffee

Lunch:  veggie omelet +bacon @ Huddle House (I'm sure the food was cooked in something it shouldn't have been & the bacon probably wasn't nitrogen free-but like I said, doing the best I can to survive this week)

Dinner: Quarter Pounder Patty (I tried to make it as naked as I could-they put ketchup on it-tried to get it off the best I could)+unsweet tea

Snacks: smoothie (one banana, peaches, walnuts, water) & raisins!

I was very hungry this day.  So ready to get back home to be able to better prepare & cook meals that I'm allowed to have.  Especially to add a little variety!

Breakfast: (pre workout) banana+black coffee +2 boiled eggs

Lunch:  Grilled Chicken Salad from McDonalds (hadn't been to grocery store yet-again, as naked as can be...no dressing/tortillas/cheese)

Dinner: grilled chicken wrapped in bacon with salt/vinegar potatoes (this meal was a hit with the family...especially the potatoes...I highly recommend).

Snacks: raisins

I felt so much better today.  It was much easier with some time to plan+to get barre in.  But one thing I have learned, unexpected schedules & plans should not deter you from meeting a goal.  We are in control of what goes in our body.  It may not be the ideal meal or food on the plan...but you do the best you can.  I also got the chance (yes, 12 days in!  To finally do some "before measurements"-so they will def. be a little off b/c I can tell a difference already from when I first began)

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs+black coffee+ left over salt & vinegar potatoes

Lunch:  Old Faithful Peach smoothie (only different ingredient was almonds instead of walnuts)

Dinner: IHOP Build your own omelet with all veggies & bacon/sausage (this is probably not compliant-but it's a long story...I made the best choice I could here)

Snacks: raisins+almonds+coffee with steamed almond milk

Today was nice.  I know I'm getting boring with breakfast but it is the easiest when your running out the door for a morning workout.  I think boiled eggs & fruit will be a new staple in my life even after whole 30.  After my work out, I went to get a coffee.  The steamed frothy almond milk just makes me deal with no cream (my biggest challenge) for 13 days.  I ran out of walnuts so I switched to almonds this week.  They are a great snack & taste great in my smoothies as well...just like walnuts:)  I'm learning new healthy snacks along the way!  

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs+black coffee+banana

Lunch:  Left over chicken with bacon+salt & vinegar Potatoes potatoes

Dinner: meatloaf (this recipe except I added green peppers & used real tomatoes instead of any sauce & didn't use any grains or almond flour) with salt & vinegar potatoes (yes, again:/-we're trying to use the food we have & avoid going to the store!)

Snacks: raisins+almonds+peach smoothie (peaches, banana, almonds, water)

Today, I feel like I ate a lot.  I was pretty hungry all day but when I did eat...the food I ate satisfied me...
Maybe it was my morning kick booty barre session!😁

I'll be honest with you guys, I almost hesitated to post this week b/c I know we've ate out a lot this week & these food choices aren't perfectly "whole 30."  I still can share with you that I can tell a big difference in my body a l r e a d y as well as with how I feel that something is working with the food choices I am making.  Even when I am working out, every day I find that I am improving in my endurance & ability to do the workout full out instead of opting to take the beginner modifications.  Talk about the motivation I need to get through the remainder of my 30 days!  I'm still motivated to see more change in my body & though I'm not doing it perfectly, I'm learning along the way for when I decide to do it again!

Plus...I have to add... reading & researching the Whole 30 "can & can'ts" stresses me out!  Anybody else been/are in that boat, too?  One source said you can have this, the other says you can't.  

Geez L o u i s e.

Any other Whole 30ers out there?

How do you handle crazy weeks & eating out?

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H54F || Storms + Sunshine

It's hard to feel light-hearted enough to write a post full of my favorite parts of the week when so many people I know are hurting.  Many are going through some of the greatest trials of their lives.  And if we aren't going through a storm, we can stand sure that one is coming.  You guys, sometimes life seems to do a good job of showing up & reminding us... 

"Look.  You're n o t in control.  This earth is n o t you're home.  Quit settling down & getting comfortable here.  Look up.  For it is GOD who is our hope.  It is heaven that is our home.  Life on this earth is just a vapor.  Remember that in times of trouble AND in times of joy.  Get ready for eternity."

I like to keep things uplifting & positive here, but sometimes, you have to acknowledge those times in life that are hard.  I have to be real.  Those times that hurt.  My sweet co-worker (& a lady whom I consider a friend & an absolute role model) said something I'll never forget this week: "I'd rather suffer on earth, than in eternity."  How true those words are.  True wisdom from a true lady & woman of faith.  I find myself just like a sponge when I am around ladies older (by no means old whether they're 30 or 90!) than myself.  God always seems to speak to me if I just listen.

Alright.  

Now, I'm going to give it my best effort to share some sweet things about my week.  Some are completely insignificant & silly, especially with all that other people have been through this week, but even those little things about our week can brighten a day...

one. daddy's home

despite the circumstances, I always love having my mr. at home.  

he is the sweetest guy I know & always brings smiles to my day.

two.  ferocious salt & pepper

in a house of boys, it just added character.  And they were like, 2 bucks.

three. birthday planning

I am so thankful to be planning a FOURTH birthday party for our big boy.  I can't believe my eyes at the whole "number 4 thing."  But oh, the fun we are going to have celebrating him:)

four.  st patty's day is near

we are adding little touches of green amidst the little traces of easter around our house.  nothing much-just little touches.  I'm getting in the spring spirit with all our warm weather.  I think my hopes of snow are growing slim!

five.  these coffee cups.   

I just need them in my life:)  I totally don't n e e d anymore...  I just love collecting coffee cups😜  It's like you get to choose who or where you want to have your morning coffee when you pick a mug for the morning.  I just love the bieb's too much, you guys.  

bieb || jojo

I hope all of you have a beautiful week.  Storms come, & storms go...but one thing is certain-the sun a l w a y s shines again.  In fact, just Wednesday school was released early for severe storms.  But as I type, I'm staring outside my window at a gorgeous day with the warm glow of the sun & blue sky.  (And with a precious little sidekick to the right).

Linking up with the ladies of High Five for Friday.

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