I don’t know what it is, but the last three Mondays have been dreary. The cold weather and cloudy skies make me want to curl up under my heated blanket and watch romcoms all day. I’m really looking forward to the warmer and greener days. I keep looking back at summer photos of my flowers, and I’m craving it so much. I’m excited to get back to planting, reading books on the porch, and enjoying backyard barbeques. I get into this strange winter funk during January and February. I’m trying to stay as busy as I can to prevent the winter blues. Does anyone else get like this late in the winter?
The good part is that I get to watch Bachelor after logging off here. Honestly, I did not think I would love this Matt guy as much as I do. I think he’s so genuine, and his laugh is contagious. I don’t have any favorite girls yet, but I usually start getting attached during the fourth or fifth episode! Last Monday was another gloomy one. After a morning project, I took Grumples out for a walk. Now that the construction is done on our street, I can finally walk them! Leo goes on my four to five-mile walks, but Grumples goes a mile around the block. We are actually going to be painting our porch concrete this weekend! It looks funny with the cement color, but we are thinking either sage green or beige. Eventually, we’d like to have someone install tile that looks like wood planks. The painting will be a quick fix for now! It’s officially week five of eating low carb. I love that it has forced me to cook more, eat completely different than I used to (I was eating a lot of frozen processed foods), and it’s opened up my eyes to how much-processed sugar I was eating on a daily basis. I never thought I’d be eating a low carb diet, but after my doctor told me to see how my body/hormones responded to it, I thought I’d give it a shot. It’s not that hard or as miserable as I thought it was going to be. Luckily there are a lot of products out there now that make it easier. And to be completely transparent, I’ve lost five pounds, I’m eating way more than I used to, and I think I’m going to stick to this for a while. I have fewer mood swings, I’m not as tired in the afternoon (could also be because I reduced my coffee to one cup a day for over a month), and I do not crave the sugary and high carb snacks anymore! I did at first, but that went away after a week.
After my long walks, I usually have two slices of low carb bread with avocado. I also have a protein shake about an hour afterward. I eat a ton of vegetables with a protein source for dinner now. I love the Siete taco seasoning! It goes perfectly with ground chicken, peppers, onions, cabbage, and thrown into a lettuce wrap. These are the types of dinners that take about 20-minutes to make, and they are perfect the next day for leftovers. One food that does get me through when I feel like I need chocolate is my almost no carb chocolate barks! You can find the recipe here. This time, I used peanuts and walnuts. 😋 I usually have these in the afternoon with a decaf coffee or after dinner. My camellias are still blooming! ♥️ I know this isn’t very pretty, but leftovers have been my favorite lunches lately. I always use Tessemaes dressing on top! The habanero ranch is so good. A delicious dinner we made recently was roasted red peppers with tessamae’s dressing, roasted balsamic brussels sprouts, onions, and kielbasa. Morning walks! 💜 Hardboiled eggs with everything but the bagel seasoning is my new favorite. I added a new plant to the family! 30-degree early morning five-mile walk with sweet Leo! I love that my neighbor and I hold each other accountable for our morning walks. My mom and I had such a fun day on Thursday while shopping for her mother of the bride dress. We started our morning at First Watch! I can’t believe how big their menu is. Dangerous, they are only a few miles from my house! I can’t wait to go back. I saved my first cup of coffee for breakfast. I ordered the egg white omelet with peppers, onions, tomatoes, spinach, kale, and bacon. 😋 A day after shopping! ♥️ I actually found my wedding shoes, so it was a win for me! They are everything I was looking for in a wedding shoe and from one of my favorite designers! 💜 And my mom actually found her dress! It looks so dang pretty on her, and I can’t wait to see her wear it this summer. It’s one of the dresses in the black and white photo. Such a fun day! I will share more wedding style blogs later this summer. I will be answering a few of your q&a questions on my Instagram later this evening!
I had some of you asking about this top! It’s this top from the LOFT!
I made a yummy chicken and veggie lettuce wrap for dinner on Thursday night. If you follow me on Instagram, I post a lot of the recipes as I go. This one had peppers, onions, bok choy, chicken, freshly squeezed orange, pepper, onion salt, soy sauce, sesame oil, and green onion on top. So tasty! Kyle and I went to our favorite spot, Killington’s, on Friday night for Caesar salads and chicken wings! 😋 They have one of the best caesar salads! I made French onion soup on Saturday night. Kyle was craving it, and then I started craving it! I will have to post this recipe soon! I finished it off in the oven with mozzarella and croutons. We had such a random dinner night. I made zucchini pizzas for my side, and Kyle had leftover Udi’s pizza. Oh, and Caesar salads!Random, but it worked. On Sunday, I spent the entire day filming recipe videos and working on old popular recipes that needed a makeover on the blog. I have the carbless chicken nuggets and peach frosé recipe coming up this week! 😁 Don’t forget to try out the new recipes I posted last week! Cinnamon rolls, the best blueberry muffins, and cranberry chocolate chip cookies!
I hope you all had an amazing weekend!
Questions for you!
- Do you ever get the winter blues?
- Are you going on morning walks?
- Have you been cooking more at home or less?
Sarah Cain says
I definitely get the winter blues! I added a vitamin d supplement and a sun lamp to my grey midwestern days and it has helped so much!
I’m trying to start getting back into morning walks but it’s so icky here that I haven’t yet.
I’ve been cooking way more lately! We live in a tiny town and our takeout options are so very limited; it’s just easier to cook so we get what we want.
Sometime last year I switched to eating a lower carb diet naturally when I realized that carbs later in the day made me feel sluggish and often upset my stomach. I think maybe it was the influx of extra veggies or the less startchy things in my diet, but I also lost weight almost without trying when I started. Hope it works out for you!
Taralynn says
I need to get this sunlamp everyone is talking about!
Yes, that is what carbs were doing to me. I was like WHY AM I ALWAYS SO TIRED and now I dont have that. I also think cutting caffeine helped.
xo thanks for the encouragement!
Erica T says
That french onion soup looks delish!!
Do you ever get the winter blues? YES. Winter starts in November here and lasts until April, we don’t really have Spring just straight into beautiful summers. We have to enjoy the snow or you’ll go crazy, lots of snow shoeing, lots of shoveling, and my fav is snowshoeing through the woods and having what we call a “boil up” which is a fire and tea/snacks cooked over it.
Are you going on morning walks? 530 am workouts before work, evening walks 🙂
Have you been cooking more at home or less? More at home for sure, just got at air fryer and loving it
Taralynn says
Thanks, Erica!
I need to put the recipe on my blog!
I think if we had snow here, winter would be more enjoyable. It’s just blah and ugly outside 😂
WOW! Good job!!!
Alice says
Hi!!! What low carb bread do you use?
Taralynn says
I’ve been toasting up Paleo thin slices!
Brit says
Ooh yes I agree you need to post the onion soup recipe! Perfect cosy food for winter.
Taralynn says
It’s so tasty! 😋
Anna says
I have winter blues too but I use daylight lamp in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon. Seems to be working.
Can’t wait until spring. We just got our first real snow, so it’s gonna be 3-4 months until spring.
Love your recaps.
I’m thinking also to try low carb diet for a bit, the same that too much carbs(white carbs) make me sluggish.
I go for atleast an hour walk every morning, I have two dogs so I kind of can’t skip it.
We cook a lot at home, occasionally go out to eat, we love both.
Hope you are having a great week ahead of you!
Taralynn says
I’ve always heard of that! This may be so silly, but wahts the difference between using that and sitting by the window? is it supposed to have extra benefits?
Yes, I think low carb is still so stastainable since you can still ahve 50-70g of carbs a day. I’m not doing Keto where it’s 20 grams. So if I want that birthday cake, I can have it! It makes me mindful of what I’m fueling my body with.
I love that you go out for your morning walks! Good job!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Hope you enjoyed your time with your Mum! My wedding is at the end of this year but I have yet to get started on any of the planning, haha! ❤️✨
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Taralynn says
I know it’s going to magical for you! I can’t wait to see your pictures.
Jenny says
Hi Taralynn!
1) I definitely get winter blues because it lasts so long up north. The cold keeps us inside a lot.
2) It’s so cold but I’ve been trying to keep up with daily indoor walks and workouts most days
*would LOVE to see more at home workouts posted like your vlogmas one to follow along with
3) We’ve been cooking at home nearly 100% because of the pandemic but we have plans to get out a few times monthly for takeout this winter to purposely treat ourselves to dining out again and support local businesses too.
Glad to see you are doing well– Never done low carb dairy-free but will be interested to see what other recipes you come up with as you go on this journey.
Jenny
Taralynn says
Hi, Jenny!
I always think it’s so cold down here but NOTHING compared to what you have up north.
Thanks for your sweet comments! xo have a great week!
Pamela says
Always nice to read your posts. You look fantastic and so happy. Have a super week!
1. I totally get the winter blues in January and February…I live in Wisconsin.
2. I don’t do outside walks, but go to the gym 2 times a day, 5-6 days a week.
3. I have been cooking more at home too. My boyfriend is training for the Army 10 miler and so I’ve been trying out high protein meals.
Taralynn says
Thank you, Pamela! ♥️
Oh girl, I have no right to complain when you’re in Wisconsin!
That is an awesome goal!
Cailey says
Where are your shoes from and top from in that picture by the NM sign?
Taralynn says
Just linked in the blog post 😊
Maria says
I’m so glad things are working out for you with the low carb! I’ve been low carb for three years — but really became more keto in the last six months when I noticed lingering sugar cravings, struggles with emotional eating, and digestion issues. I also was diagnosed with endometriosis too along with PMDD. I do have days where I go “off” and – say – eat a bit more fruit before a workout. but it’s all good! I try to be flexible. I cut out sugar, too. My mood swings were terrible! Low carb/keto has helped me conquer a 9-year food addiction/binge eating disorder, so I’m grateful for the lifestyle. I know everyone’s different, though, and what works for me may not be best for someone else. I’m also trying to walk more, too! It helps me sort out my problems!
Taralynn says
Thank you, Maria!
I appreciate you sharing that with me, and i can relate so much!
Ashley says
Loved this recap, friend! So happy that your momma found her dress, and you found your shoes! 🙂
I sadly do get the Winter blues. I can tell since it’s been very gloomy here in Ohio as of late. I thrive on sunshine and warmth, but I’m finding new ways to make things feel brighter while indoors!
Make Life Marvelous
Taralynn says
Thanks, Ashley! ♥️
I’m hoping you get some sunshine in Ohio soon! That midwest snow and cold is brutal.
Have a great week!
Chandler says
Hi Taralynn! You’re inspiring me to organize my house & cook more with all these posts 🙂 over the last few months I got into a cooking rut where nothing sounded good & I didn’t feel like cooking, but I think I’m coming out of it now! You’re also making me think of getting out of Minnesota & moving somewhere warmer & less snowy! It would be hard to leave family, but I would love to move south! When I feel the winter blues coming on, I try to get out & enjoy it if I can by skating, skiing, playing in the snow, etc. It really helps! I know you don’t have snow, but I love how you’re walking trails. Hopefully that will make a difference for you 🙂 Our biggest life change recently is that we got a puppy! She’s a black lab named Daisy & she is the sweetest & cuddliest! It’s been quite the transition, but we couldn’t love her more. I have pics of her on my Instagram if you want to see her 🙂 I also wanted to thank you for always being so authentic & genuine. Your blog is a real bright spot which is so encouraging with all the negativity out there. Hope you’re having a lovely week!
Taralynn says
Love hearing that!!!
Ohhh girl I say move!!! Of course that snow is nice in december but there’s nothing better than warm sunny days. Today will be 57!
Ugh the puppy cuddles are so perfect and a great winter destraction. How fun!!! I’m giong to go stalk those puppy picks!!!
Thank you for the sweet words. Definitely needed that today!
MaineMommie says
Yes of the seasonal affective disorder, New Englander so I make sure I get outside as much as possible and have a lamp.
Afternoon walks for the warmest temps.
Cooking at home way more.
thought this might make you laugh, the first recipe on your site I made was, Honey Blueberry Avocado Chocolate Chip Almond Butter Dessert. I still eat it! Oldie but goodie!!
Taralynn says
I bet it’s so much worse in the cold up there!
OMG that is such an oldie!!!!
Hannah says
I definitely have the winter blues right now; once Christmas ended all I could think about is the world turning green again!
If I didn’t have to be at work by 7am I would definitely go on morning walks. Unfortunately most of my exercise is after work at the gym since it’s so frigid and dark out.
I’ve been trying to cook more at home, but like you it’s a lot of frozen prepped foods. I would love to use more fresh foods!
Love your weekly recaps and looking forward to a french onion soup recipe!
Taralynn says
Oh same, girl!
♥️ thanks for stopping by! I’ll get that soup up soon!
Valerie says
It’s definitely lack of sun. A solid Vitamin D-3 supplement will help you a lot. Have you ever been tested for your Vitamin D levels? To see if your deficient? I did years ago and it was so low I had to take 5,000 IU prescription for a week or two. Anyway your not alone.
Your dogs are so adorable, especially that pic of Leo looking up at the sky on his morning walk.
Thank you for sharing these posts and dinner ideas 🙂
Taralynn says
Hi, Valerie!
I get sun daily on my walks and sit by the window in my office. I also take Vitamin D every day 😊 I just get this way because I crave warm weather, and all the summer activities.
I happen to agree with you lol but doesn’t everyone think that about their pets? 😉
Eileen says
I’ve actually gone low carb too! My reasoning is actually because of my teeth 😬 it’s crazy how carbs break down into sugar and effect so many things in your body. My dentist made the suggestion because I don’t keep candy or sweets around but I get so many cavities. He said it could be linked to my carb intake! Who would have known!
Taralynn says
Hi, Eileen!
Wow, I never even thought of that! 😮 I have such senstive teeth so it’s good to hear that this could help!