Caffeine Free{dom}

The past few months I have known I've needed to make a change.  I hardly had any energy, was having 5 migraines a week with only a few days of relief before the next one struck, frequent stomachaches, fatigue, moodiness, and many more symptoms that I'm still dealing with!  Slowly but surely things are improving and I'm working with a few doctors, started working out, and I'm cleaning up my diet.

One of the biggest and hardest changes I made was 100% cutting out caffeine.  I didn't feel I was dependent on caffeine but it turns out my body was craving it.  I would have Starbucks most days (either homemade or buying it; I'm saving money either way now) and also drink a can of Dr. Pepper most days!  I tried cutting down and was successful but would always go back to drinking one or two caffeinated drinks per day.  While drinking all of this caffeine I was taking a good amount of Advil and I was creating my own Excedrin Migraine {ibuprofen + caffeine}.  Because of the caffeine, your body can get dependent on the positive effects and cause rebound headaches/migraines.  This is what was happening to me and I didn't even realize it!

Images Courtesy of Google

So, on December 7th, I decided to not give in to the caffeine headache and officially went caffeine free and have not looked back!  December 7th, 8th, and 9th were excruciatingly painful and I was still feeling detoxing effects for the next few weeks, but it has been incredibly rewarding.  I can wake up {fairly} easily and can get through the day on my own. I don't rely on needing to stop at Starbucks when I'm out and about or worrying about having enough Dr. Pepper in the fridge during the week before the next grocery run!  Talk about saving money, too...that added $5 to every grocery run, every morning before school, or just being out and about on the weekend!

I was disappointed the first couple of weeks because my migraines weren't getting much better.  I was doing research online and found various results suggesting that caffeine can take as little as 1-2 weeks to leave your system and as long as up to a year {ain't nobody got time for that!  So with that news, I continued to stick with it, eat healthy {I hardly eat any chocolate as that has trace amounts of caffeine}, and continue walking for exercise especially when I did not have a migraine.

Images Courtesy of Google

Now that I am 84 days caffeine free (Hallelujah!) I can say that I am feeling some positive effects.  I still get migraines, but am working with a neurologist and endocrinologist (well, I am seeing an endocrinologist this week actually) to get the migraines even more in control.  The biggest changes I can see migraine wise are the lessening fear I have attached to the migraines.  If I don't have a Dr. Pepper available, I don't need to worry that a migraine will strike in the next 15 minutes.  Cutting out the caffeinated Starbucks and Dr. Pepper also means cutting out all of that sugar!  I'm sure I've replaced it with other sugars (such as Gatorade sugars) but there is SO much research out there about how bad soda is for you!  I am down to two migraines a week when they do come (so they don't last as long) and they come much less often.  The neurologist that I am working with also has given me a new daily medication to try, but my goal would be to not depend on any medication daily!

It is a truly a habit now and my body {at least I don't think...} doesn't crave caffeine.  There have been a few times I've craved something bubbly and in that case I have made sure to get caffeine free soda such as A&W rootbeer, sprite, or La Croix {yum, and p.s. for anyone who has had this, don't you feel fancy drinking it?!}.

Fancy Schmancy
Images Courtesy of Google
I hope this encourages you that you CAN be caffeine free and it is SO beneficial to you!  Comment below if you've tried going caffeine free, if you want to try, or if you are nervous to try it.  Let me know if you want to for health reasons or if you're interested in doing it for whole30, etc. :)  Can't wait to hear from you!

Zoodles for Dinner

Growing with popularity, using a spiralizer to make your veggies into pasta has become the newest way to create healthy, low carb pasta that tastes just as good and is just as filling!

I am not anti-carbs in ANY way, but if you're looking for a snack and don't want to blow half of your days carb serving suggestion on a snack of pasta, mac n cheese, or even crackers, this is perfect for you!

All you need is a spiralizer, which I got as a gift for Christmas, but can be purchased at Target, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc. for $10-$15.  

What you'll need:
1.  Zucchini, Squash, or even Carrots (haven't tried with carrots yet!)
2.  Olive Oil
3.  Avocado (for the sauce)
4.  Salt to taste
5.  Pepper to taste
6.  Skillet

Directions:
1.  Wash veggies
2.  Use the spiralizer (choose thick or thin) and twist the veggies until you have the desired amount of "pasta"
3.  Coat a medium sized skillet with olive oil (or whatever type of oil you would like; coconut, etc.)
4.  Cook veggie pasta on medium heat for about 8-10 minutes turning often
5.  Take veggie pasta off of heat


For the sauce you can either make it really simple or get out the blender and actually make the sauce.  I've done it both ways, and both are delicious!  Just mashing up an avocado is easy, and tastes so good.  The avocado sauce is so creamy and makes the dish taste like you ordered an expensive dish from a restaurant!  It just depends on what you are in the mood for and what you have the time for!

Easy way:
1.  Mash up an avocado and enjoy!  (I did the last night and it was easy and so delicious!)

Recipe for sauce:
1.  2 avocados in a blender (I used a Nutribullet)
2.  1/4 Cup olive oil
3.  Salt and Pepper to taste
4.  Blend in Nutribullet until smooth
5.  Spread over Zoodles and enjoy!

Spiralizer, Avocados, Zucchini noodles

Fancy Olive Oil we got as a Christmas Gift!  Finally had a chance to use it :) 

Comment below to let me know if you've tried this recipe or if you have any variations!

Enjoy!

Valentine's Crush Banner

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought I would post quite possibly the most simple decoration that would brighten up any apartment, home, classroom, bedroom, etc.  

We actually wrapped up our Christmas decorations before I headed back to school, which was a huge relief, but it has left our cute little townhouse feeling a bit empty lately.  I know this is not the first time a heart banner has ever been created, and there can be many spins on this, but I took this idea from the traditional flag banner that can be found all over Pinterest.

Materials:

-8 to 10 sheets of different colored paper

-Twine

-Hole Punch

As you can tell, hardly any supplies are needed!  I was going to go all out and purchase cute patterned paper, but in the true sense of being a thrifty wife, I used what we had around the house.  I even found some really cute Valentine's wrapping paper that I've had for years and cut out some hearts from this as well.

Directions:

-Draw between 20-50 (or more!) hearts at various sizes.

-Punch two holes in the top of each heart.

-String twine through the holes, making sure that the twine goes in the first hole, around the back, and up through the second hole (so the twine does not show on the front).

String up wherever you would like!  

Some variations on the craft:

-Cut out different sized circles, squares, triangle banners.

-Use patterned paper.

-Use felt material (or leftover fabric).

-Use black paper and write on the hearts/shapes.

Have fun creating some lovely decorations!



Heart Banner in my Classroom