Snow Days, Chopped Hair, Health Updates, and Mom Life
It’s been weeks since I last posted a recap blog, and I’m feeling the need for a big catch-up! Honestly, winter recaps aren’t as exciting for me. After the holidays, everything feels a little dull—no lush greenery, no fresh flowers from my garden, and no giant salads packed with farmers market produce. I tend to fall into a bit of a winter funk this time of year.
Luckily, Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and spring (here in the south) comes quickly after that. Even though we’ve had some warm days lately, I still crave that deep, summery greenery to feel happy and inspired.
This recap will be packed with all the things we’ve been up to—from the meals we’ve been eating and the recipes I’ve been testing (so many to blog about!) to our snow days, new toddler activities, and a few health updates.
Speaking of health, I just had a colonoscopy/endoscopy yesterday, so I’ll be sharing a bit about that experience as well. If any of you have one coming up, I hope my experience brings a little positivity and encouragement.
So buckle up, because this recap is going to be a long, slightly chaotic ride—but isn’t that how life is anyway?
One day, at the beginning of January, the entire town shut down for a snowstorm. And I know—you’re probably laughing at our “snowstorm” when you see the photo. Yes, that’s all we got! But to be fair, the roads were pretty icy, and here in South Carolina, we’re not exactly equipped to clear them. Plus, a lot of drivers aren’t seasoned for these conditions. Growing up in Iowa, school was never canceled unless it was really bad.
I was so excited for my son to see snow for the first time ever! I pulled out his snowsuit and even bought him some really cool Spider-Man snow boots—just in case we woke up to more than a dusting.
That evening, I made a huge batch of chili to enjoy for the week since the temps were going to be freezing. Nothing beats a cozy bowl of chili with sourdough bread on a snowy day!
Also, Tux and Leo were loving the cold weather and snow—they were in absolute heaven!
The next morning, the snow started melting, and everything turned to ice—but that didn’t stop us from heading out for a morning walk! He had so much fun jumping in icy mud puddles and soaking in the wintery scenery. And I have to say, our neighbor’s snowman had me laughing so hard—it was definitely a masterpiece! 😂
Snow boots or mud boots?
One of our favorite indoor activities lately has been these automatic car track sets. We have three of them, and we love combining them to make one huge track. It’s so fun because some of the cars are faster than others, and it turns into a race to save them from flying off the track or colliding! You can take the tracks apart and build different roadways, which my toddler loves. (Check out my Amazon shop for more toddler activity ideas!)
For dinner, we picked up some wings from Sprouts, but they were so bland—we had to add our own sauce to make them taste decent. It’s always sad when you’re craving something so bad, and they end up tasting bleh. I also made a delicious salad with lettuce, peppers, cheese, balsamic, olive oil, cucumbers, Arctic seasoning, and tomatoes. A much-needed upgrade from the wings! 😆
Of course, my toddler is in his chicken nugget era. The way he kicked his feet up and demanded more BBQ sauce… who does he think he is? 😂
My food choices have been all over the place lately. I had to pause the FODMAP diet for 40 days to prep for my colonoscopy/endoscopy (they don’t want you on any diet, supplements, or medications so they can get a full picture of everything). Sooo, I kind of just took advantage and ate whatever I wanted—healthy, unhealthy, all of it.
I’ve definitely been in my winter blah phase—eating whatever, walking less, and just feeling kind of unhealthy and sluggish all the time. But now that my procedure is over, I’m ready to get back on track with an actual meal plan and start feeling better again.
One breakfast I’ve been eating a lot lately is Greek yogurt with Orgain protein powder, blueberries, and granola. Simple, tasty, and keeps me full!
I’ve been on full Sunday mom duty during the Eagles games lately! My husband is a diehard Eagles fan, and since they keep winning, I’ve been keeping my toddler entertained during the whole game. My son isn’t at the age where he’ll sit through a game, so he’s all about getting my full attention to play with toys or run around outside. So, during the games, I end up taking him to the park, browsing the Target aisles, going on dinner dates, doing crafts—basically anything to keep him busy for four hours. I thought I’d have my Sundays back, but these Eagles just kept winning! Haha!
And now, they’re going to the Super Bowl! 🎉
I know I probably won’t get to enjoy much sourdough once I go back to a gluten-free lifestyle, but I’ll still keep making it for my husband and son since they absolutely love it! This one was a coconut cinnamon swirl sourdough bread, and it was amazing toasted with butter! So delicious—definitely a hit in our house.
It’s been beautiful outside lately! We’ve been spending most afternoons after school outside. We play in the backyard, digging in the dirt, playing with rocks, swinging, and then we make our way to the front yard where the full sun hits. We grab a container of chalk and hang out with the neighborhood kids, drawing on the driveway or rolling around on scooters. It’s the best!
Another thing my son likes to do is “autoshop” where I take his vehicles out and he pretends to work on them and clean them with his toolbox.
For dinner one night, I made a steak stir-fry with peppers, onions, broccoli, steak, and a classic stir-fry sauce. Oh, and I paired it with pepperjack jalapeño bread on the side. So good!
By the way, have you checked out the carrot cake bar recipe yet?
This playroom gets so much sun that it’s unbearable to be in there from 2 pm to 5 pm. It’s so bright we literally have to squint! I finally ordered custom blinds from Amazon, and I am so impressed with the quality. They’re blackout blinds, so when we close them, the room goes pitch black.
I’ve been debating what to do with this room.
Call me crazy, but I’m seriously considering painting both the room and shelves (keeping the wood and hardware) a beige/taupe color. The black feels a bit too harsh for the space, and it doesn’t quite work with the windows (which can’t be painted) or the ceiling/trim. What do you think? Should I just go for it and paint the built-ins and walls?
Sometimes he sleeps until 8, and other times, he decides he’s going to be Bob Ross at 5 am and start painting! My rule, though, is that if he wakes up before 6, he has to nap that day. So, when he got home from school, we had lunch, and then it was straight upstairs for his nap!
Doggy walk date:) I try to do most of my walks during school hours since my toddler is anti walk now.
Another day, another park!
Have you tried the 5-star chocolate chip banana bread recipeyet?
One of my favorite dinners to make is a sheet pan meal with roasted vegetables and red pepper chicken sausage. I toss peppers, onions, cauliflower, and sometimes Brussels sprouts with avocado oil, and then roast the chicken sausage on a separate pan since it cooks faster. I like to serve it with a little salad on the side, and shockingly, this chicken sausage is my picky toddler’s favorite meal. But don’t you dare put a vegetable on his plate… Luckily, he doesn’t know I sneak all the veggies into his morning smoothie!
Morning walking date to grab our favorite coffee from Naturally Sweet Cafe, the coffee truck parked in our neighborhood! I absolutely love the family who owns it, and everything they use is organic. Honestly, it’s some of the best coffee and matcha I’ve ever had. This time, I went for a golden milk latte with maple syrup, and wow, it was so delicious. I never miss a trip there when they’re in the neighborhood!
On Saturday, we went to our good friend’s little girl’s birthday party, and it was so cute!
That night, I met up with a friend at Southpark Mall for a shopping evening, followed by dinner at Reid’s. I forgot how good their food is! I had a salad with grilled chicken, roasted butternut squash, quinoa, and tomatoes, and now I’m craving that combo so much, I’m thinking of picking up ingredients to make my own at home. I’m really into butternut squash, quinoa, and salad right now, and I need some good meal ideas to keep on hand!
Oh, and I FINALLY tried the Dubai chocolate bar. IT WAS SO GOOD!!! I NEED to make my won version at home.
A cozy and slow Sunday morning wake-up.
I took my time relaxing, enjoying my coffee, catching up on a good show, finishing up laundry, and doing some grocery shopping. My son sletp in until 8:30, which was amazing! After doing breakfast, it was a solo morning since I was taking over later for the Eagles game. We had a little trade-off, and it’s honestly the best way to get some time to myself so I can catch up on things. It’s been tough lately with blogging because I feel like I have no time, and then by the end of the day, I just want to crawl into bed and sleep—which I do. I never deny my sleep to stay up and blog. Instead, I wake up at 3:30 am like a crazy person.
Talk about a girl dinner if I’ve ever seen one…
Toasted bread, fresh tomatoes, cucumber, mozzarella, Arctic seasoning, a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic, and a glass of bubbly kombucha! It’s simple, refreshing, and totally satisfying. Plus, it has all the flavors you want in a cozy, solo meal. Who says you need a big spread to feel like you’ve eaten something special? This is the ultimate light, delicious, and easy dinner!
There was no school on MLK Day, so I took the opportunity to head over to Hobby Lobby to restock our craft supplies. I love keeping the house filled with creative things to do, especially when the weather isn’t cooperating — it wasn’t going to get over 29 degrees that day! My son is hit or miss with crafts. He likes them, but doesn’t always love them, so I’m hoping one day he’ll really get into it. However, he’s always a fan of wood pieces and glue, so he was actually engaged with the project I came up with for the day! And if you’re not heading to Hobby Lobby for toys, science projects, and crafts, you’re seriously missing out! They have so much cool stuff to choose from.
I picked up a bunch of random little wood pieces and popsicle sticks from Hobby Lobby, then hotglued them together to create different-shaped flowers for our indoor flower garden. I even took some scrap pieces and made a cute caterpillar and bee to add to the fun! 
This project really got me excited for spring, and we ended up displaying it in the little loft room upstairs, where my son’s toys are. It’s actually so cute! I love the colors, and it brings a little burst of joy to the space. It’s a simple, cheerful reminder of warmer days ahead!
If you have a Paw Patrol-obsessed toddler like I do, Hobby Lobby has these super easy Paw Patrol puzzles that we’ve put together numerous times! My son absolutely loves them. They’re perfect for keeping him engaged, and I love how simple they are to put together, yet still fun enough to hold his attention. A total win for us!
After breakfast, a quick trip to Grandmas house for the morning!
Each week, I make about three loaves of sourdough bread, and it lasts us a good week and a half. My husband toasts it for breakfast and dinner, and pretty much has it with almost every meal on the weekends. He absolutely loves it! It’s so nice not to rely on store-bought bread anymore. There’s something so satisfying about making it fresh at home—it just tastes better fresh and has no unnecessary ingredients.
I slice it, let it cool, and store it in ziplock bags in the freezer.
I’ve been making the same smoothie every morning, and my son finishes the whole thing! I really think it’s been key in keeping him healthy this year, especially since he’s at part-time school during the week. It’s packed with banana, blueberries, strawberries, a whole orange, elderberry syrup, whole milk, spinach, and plant protein powder. Sometimes I add raspberries for a little extra tang. He LOVES it! He also has blueberry wholegrain waffles and chicken sausage with maple syrup on the side.
He’s always been a super god breakfast eater. The rest of his meals are just cheese and crackers and a yogurt pouch…We need to work on building his food up for other meals.
We got another snow day! Woo! This time we woke up to a little more dusting and had about thirty minutes of playtime before it quickly turned into icy slush.
I had a lovely mom date with one of my good friends on Saturday. We checked out a new spot in town, The Speckled Pear, and it did not disappoint! The atmosphere was so cozy, the food was unique and full of flavor, and it was such a treat to have a peaceful sit-down without any kids. When we’re together, we’re usually having conversations from across the room while chasing after toddlers, so this was a nice change of pace. Fort Mill definitely needed a spot like this, and I love that the menu is always changing. We had a really good experience, and I’m looking forward to going back. 
The star of the night was definitely the charcuterie board, especially that aged gouda—it was amazing! I highly recommend this spot for a date night or just a cozy place to get out of the house and enjoy some good food and great conversation. It was the perfect atmosphere for unwinding and indulging in some delicious bites.
The next day was filled with crafts, Legos, and building a flower garden with this new kit he’s obsessed with. It’s been such a hit! You’ve probably seen how we draw ABCs using circles and different colors, especially with chalk. He’s totally obsessed and always asks for them. I really think it’s helped him master his ABCs. Since the weather was freezing outside, we brought the fun indoors—making some with crayons and taping them to the walls, along with other vehicle drawings. It’s a simple way to keep him engaged and learning! 
During one of the school days, I quickly baked a batch of lactation cookies for one of my good friends and shipped them to her since she just had her baby boy! I was so excited to send them her way. 🙂
After that, my mom and I picked up my son and went to Improper Pig for lunch, which was delicious! Then, I headed off to a skin appointment to have a few spots checked out. Always good to take care of things like that!
They ended up taking off a few suspicious moles for biopsies (so important to get your skin checked…& i’ll update later in this blog!)
Another football Sunday called for a trip to Bossy Beulah’s for dinner, and of course, we spent a few hours at the park afterward! It was the perfect way to enjoy the day.
Nothing my son loves more than a personalized charcuterie board for dinner! It’s the perfect way to get him excited about eating, and he loves picking out his favorite bites.
Talk about a crazy sourdough baking session!!
I went all out with sourdough pizza, blueberry cinnamon sourdough bread, jalapeño cheddar sourdough bread, and garlic knots! The kitchen was a whirlwind, but totally worth it. The garlic knots were a game-changer—so delicious and soft! I can’t wait to share the recipe on the blog soon. If you’re a fan of sourdough, you’re going to love these!
I dropped some sourdough pizza and sourdough knots off at one of my good friend’s/neighbors who also just had a baby. She has three boys under three! WILD. I love that all of my close friends are having baby boys. 
The weather whiplash is real! One day it’s snowing, and the next morning it’s 60 degrees. It’s like it can’t decide what it wants to do!
One breakfast recipe I’ve been making that my son loves is banana-egg pancakes with protein. He can’t get enough of these, and I love them because it’s the only way I can get him to eat eggs without him knowing! Simply mash up one banana, beat in two eggs, add one scoop of vanilla protein powder, and cook like regular pancakes on medium heat. I make them small to make flipping easier. They’re a hit!
Told you I’m on a sourdough kick…
I just finished recording a video for my “weekender loaf,” and I’ll have that up soon! If you’re on TikTok, make sure to follow me there—I tend to post more often there than on Instagram.
@taralynntiktoks
I can’t believe it’s been more than four Sundays since my last recap blog…
Another Sunday, another round of activities while the Eagles are on! We squeezed in a park date, a Target trip where we picked up some bowling pins and craft supplies, had dinner, followed by a bath, and managed to get bedtime in right at halftime!
If you’re wondering where I get these red pepper queso chicken sausages, they’re from Publix! We had them with cauliflower, peppers, and onions on Sunday night, and it was the perfect combo.
On Monday night, I made our favorite—cheddar jalapeño turkey burgers! I cooked them in the air fryer and wrapped them in romaine lettuce for a bun. They’re seriously so good, and I made a bunch to keep in the fridge for easy meal prep throughout the week!
I also made some energy balls, added coconut, and white chocolate chips. I used this recipe! My favorite protein is the Organic Vanilla Orgain. It just tastes the best.
My mom came over for a day date on Tuesday. We headed to Waxhaw for a long park date! They have one of the coolest new parks in their town, and my son LOVES it. I like that it’s safe, fenced in, and all turf. 
We went to Emmet’s Social Table for lunch, and they had a squirrel that came right up to you on the patio! He kept grabbing nuts from my hand and eating them. I’m obsessed with squirrels and can get lost in those squirrel videos on TikTok. I’ve even tried putting nuts by my fence hoping they’d come up, but it never worked—so THIS was a dream come true!
We grabbed an oat milk latte and a sourdough oatmeal cookie (which is the next recipe I want to try making!) and walked back to the car before heading home. After spending about two hours at the park, the 45-minute car ride back was nice and quiet with a little backseat napper.
The next day, we spent almost the entire day outside—doing chalk, scootering, hanging out with neighbors in the yard, playing with play-doh on the porch, tackling little science projects from Hobby Lobby, digging in the dirt, and just getting completely worn out! These are the days when he sleeps like a rock at night. I make sure to get this kid outside whenever possible, and he absolutely loves it. I’ll be blogging all of our outdoor summer activities this year. Last year, I didn’t get to do as much since I was still working on the bakery, but now that I’m full-time mom/blogger, I’ll be able to share so many more ideas for 3-year-olds. I can’t believe he’ll be turning three in just a few months!
Best leftovers for dinner!
Little beggar Tux!
My birthday was last Friday!
I spent the day picking out dahlias online (my absolute favorite), and then Kyle took me to Costco to pick out even more. I had such great luck with their dahlias last year, so I had to grab more varieties this time. I was a little bummed they didn’t have their ranunculus yet, but I did manage to plant a few already. I’ll definitely buy more online soon though.
I ended up buying so many dahlias from small farms across the USA this year, and I can’t wait to share all the updates as I plant them and watch them grow! It’s going to be such a fun gardening season!
After our Costco run, we had a dinner date at Burtons. It had been a while since we ate there, but I remembered how good the food was—and it was even better than I remembered this time! I had their super salad bowl with steak, and OH MY GOSH, it was so good! We also ordered their General Tso cauliflower wings, and they were to die for. Honestly, the food was a 10/10, and it was the best birthday dinner I could’ve asked for. It felt like a perfect way to celebrate!
My mom and son made little birthday crafts and got a cake while I was gone. It was such a cute surprise! He sang “Happy Birthday” to me for the next 24 hours, and it totally made my heart melt. Such a sweet, thoughtful gesture, and it made the day even more special!
Saturday morning, we headed to Riverwalk for a nature trail walk. 
I worked on some more sourdough (for the blog post!) that afternoon.
That afternoon, I headed to Sprouts to pick up some things for the colonoscopy/endoscopy prep. I was going to go 40 hours without eating, and I thought it was going to be so hard, so I went a bit overboard on items to drink during the prep. Honestly, I ended up really loving the iced tea, mango jello (skipped the raspberry one because of the beet juice and the worry about staining), iced coffee, Hint water, coconut water, and broth. It wasn’t as bad as I expected (well the not eating…)
I spent Sunday afternoon doing some serious garden prep, and my son absolutely LOVES helping me dig and prune, so it’s never hard to get him involved. We spent about four hours outside, removing old leaves and mulch to get ready for new mulch, plants, and fresh dirt. It was a productive afternoon, and he was such a great little helper! I also squeezed in some seed planning—can’t wait to see what grows this year!
The last thing I was able to eat was an omelet for lunch, and chicken and rice before 5 pm on Monday. 
After school chalk session with his little neighbor friends.
The house smelled so good of bread! 
It’s so cozy up here in the mornings with my coffee, laptop, and the dogs hanging out with me. I woke up a bit later on Tuesday since I couldn’t eat, and I usually enjoy my morning cream and coffee with a waffle or muffin. But this time, I had to settle for black coffee. It wasn’t as bad as I expected, but I figured it was better to sleep in a little longer so I wouldn’t be awake for hours thinking about how hungry I was! I’m not one of those ‘I’m never hungry in the morning” types of people. I LOVE my breakfasts. 
I made my son his smoothie, and then my mom came over to hang out with us! She was going to take me to my procedure in the morning, and my husband took our son to school. It was nice having her around for some extra support before the day started!
Shockingly, I wasn’t very hungry throughout the day with all the water I had to drink. The broth was actually gross, and I hated it! 😂
My favorite drink was definitely the Just Ice Tea with peach! I wanted more bottles and sipped on it all day. It paired so well with the mango jello, which turned out to be surprisingly filling thanks to its high protein content.
I finally got the courage to chop off six inches of my hair before hopping into the shower! After already cutting four off since my trip to Italy, I decided it was time. Honestly, I love it, and I’m even thinking about going shorter next time! It’s so much easier to maintain. I get so tempted with having hair scissors in my bathroom.
For the Super Bowl, I painted a food tray for the EAGLES! I wanted to make a fun charcuterie board for the blog. We don’t do Philly cheesesteaks on game day in this house—every time I’ve made them, the Eagles lose! So, we’re sticking to anything but that this year.
How funny is this shirt and bracelet my best friend got me for my birthday? I LOVE JOE BURROW!! (But not a Bengals fan, lol).
Also, this iced coffee was amazing! I wish this company offered their roasted beans—such a delicious blend!
Toddler dinner…
At 6 pm, it was time to head upstairs and drink the prep. I was nervous because I’m not a fan of water. I had to get down 16 ounces of prep followed by another 40 ounces of water in a two hour window.
I’d heard the prep was gross, and I thought maybe I could just chug it. Spoiler alert: you can’t. If you try, you’ll end up throwing up. It tastes like a thick, sour, sweet, syrupy poison—almost like Windex mixed with lemon corn syrup. It took me a solid hour and a half to get it all down. I had to take zofran in the middle of it because if I threw it up, I’d have to start the whole prep process over again on a different day, and I definitely wasn’t going 24 hours without eating for nothing!
Once I managed to get that down, I was able to power through 55 ounces of water. The more water you drink, the better the prep works.
Pro tip: Mix the solution with water. It’s much easier to swallow and not as thick and sweet. I tried mixing it with Propel in the first round, and it was awful—so much sweeter and thicker. Do yourself a favor and skip that!
The prep started working around 10 pm and slowed down by bedtime, so I was able to get some sleep before having to wake up at 3 am for round two. Yep, you have to wake up at 3 am (my procedure was at 8 am) and drink another 16-ounce bottle of prep followed by 40 more ounces of water.
By this point, I was exhausted, but at least I knew the anesthesia would give me a good nap when I got there. The second round of prep I mixed with water (still gross, but so much better than mixing it with something sweet). I took more zofran, which helped. If you have one of these coming up, definitely ask your doctor for zofran.
Since you’re fasting, there’s no stomach pain or cramps, which is nice. It’s actually pretty simple and painless—except for drinking the prep. I thought people were exaggerating, but nope—it’s as gross as everyone says, so just brace yourself!
I had such a strange experience at the hospital where I had my procedure. Everyone was so nice—every nurse, tech, and doctor—honestly, I thought I was in a dream! I just wanted to be friends with everyone there. They made what could have been a scary experience feel incredibly comfortable, and I just felt so calm and well taken care of. If you’re in Charlotte and need a good doctor, feel free to message me on Instagram or leave a comment, and I’ll let you know where you should go!
I was in at 7 am and out by 8:45 am. Everything went smoothly, and I should get the biopsy results back in about a week or so.
Skin Cancer:
It’s been about ten days since I had a biopsy on a mole on my arm. It started out as a small, flat spot that eventually turned black and developed a ring of brown spots around it over the course of a few months. It looked so strange to me, and I wish I had taken a photo to share, but I’ll be sure to ask my doctor for one when I see her next. It was in an area that’s always exposed to the sun, and I wasn’t comfortable with how it was changing. Neither was my doctor, so she decided to send it in for a biopsy.
I got a call yesterday afternoon confirming that the mole was cancerous, melanoma. I’ll be going in on the 20th for a full-body exam to remove anymore suspicious spots, and to have that mole area of my arm surgically removed to make sure we get it all. Please, let this be a reminder for you to get your skin checked. If you see me this summer in long sleeves, sunscreen, and wide hats, just know it’s because I’m not taking any more chances. PLEASE go get your skin checked. I never thought I’d have skin cancer, but it can happen to anyone.
If anyone has experience with melanoma and wants to share, please feel free to leave a comment. I’d love to hear anything to help me feel more at ease. 
I spent most of the day relaxing and catching up on sleep. Huge thanks to my mom for stepping in to help with my son!
For dinner, I whipped up a “girl dinner”—sourdough bread with guacamole, eggs, burrata drizzled with balsamic glaze, Arctic seasoning, and a little olive oil. It was absolutely delicious!
General Mills always sends me the sweetest packages, and my dogs love it when Blue is in the box with treats for them!
I hope you all enjoyed this super duper long recap blog and I’m so sorry it took forever for me to get up! I’ve had a lot going on, but I’m looking forward to warmer and happier days ahead!
Questions for you!
- Have you ever had a colonoscopy/endoscopy?
- How often do you have your skin checked?
- Are you so ready for spring?
Hi Taralynn,
Just wanted to share my experience with melanoma to hopefully make you feel better. When I was in my early twenties, I had a mark on my lower cheek that begin to look weird – it turned black and was jagged around the edges, so my dad encouraged me to get it checked out. I’m so glad that he did because it was melanoma. I met with a plastic surgeon and I got a large amount of my cheek cut out around the mark so that they could make sure that they removed all the cancer, and thankfully, that one procedure got it all. I have a scar on my face, but it’s healed so nicely, people don’t even notice it anymore unless I point it out. Cancer is never fun, but if you have to have one, skin cancer is a better one to have because it’s pretty easy to catch and pretty easy to take care of. Good luck with your procedure and I hope that it goes well!
Thank you so much for that! I’m so glad your dad had you get checked!!
Next time you have to have a colonoscopy, ask for the pill prep. It’s more expensive, like $50, but you don’t have to drink that awful liquid prep. You can take the pills with water. Also, start your prep sooner so you don’t have to wake up in the middle of the night for round 2. I have to have them every 3 years and I try to make it easy as possible.
I didn’t find out about the pills until I was mid prep lol but next time ill definitely be asking for those!
Enjoyed reading your recap! Happy belated birthday! And I’m glad you got the colonoscopy over with. I’ve never had one but have always thought they seem awful. Glad you got the mole checked and are getting a full body scan too. I just got checked in December and had a biopsy too. I have to go back next month for monitoring and need to be better about going yearly. Loved all your sourdough recipes! I tried your pizza dough recently and loved it! Can’t wait to try more!
Thanks, Jenna!
I thought the colonoscopy would be awful and put it off for a year, but its funny how easy it was.
Glad you go in for your regular checks! so so so important!!
Tara!!! it sounds like you’ve been making the best of winter. how scary about the mole!! praying all goes well with the upcoming appointments/surgery 🙏🏼💕 I am cheering you on!!
Thank you, Jennifer!
So sorry about the skin cancer! I was 27 when i had a suspicious spot on my ear removed (couldn’t even see it, but I go in for regular skin checks). It turned out to be basal/squamous carcinoma. I’m lucky i was going in for annual checks because i wouldn’t have seen it where it was. It stinks having a chunk of my ear removed, but it does heal! And I’ve also never been in a tanning bed in my life…..
It’s crazy! I’ve never been like that either, but I know I had my fair share of being out in the sun on walks/runs/gardening/even exploring on trips. So we have to be extra careful this summer!
I’m glad you had that spot checked!!
I had melanoma on 2 separate moles, when I was 35. Luckily stage 1, so all I needed to do was have it all removed. I miss getting super tan now that I use sunscreen, wear sleeves, stay in shade, etc. but it means you will get less wrinkles someday! 🙂
Hey, i’m all for less wrinkles!
Thank you for sharing that with me! so glad you’re ok now.
Hi Taralynn!
I am so sorry to hear your story about the skin cancer. You are completely right, we have to check our skin regularly. I also went to a doctor few months ago to check some moles and they turned out not dangerous. Doing regular checks is a must, especially now when the clime is changing and we are more exposed. I also hope you will recover soon from your stomach issues.
I really enjoy your recap posts, so even if it was a longer one, I read it all 🙂 Also, I can´t wait for the spring, January was very very long for me, I thought it would never end.
Sending you big hugs and Happy Birthday!
The Bob Ross comment had me rolling lol! I am loving the shorter hair! I hope you get some answers from your procedure soon. I’ve had both a colonoscopy and endoscopy (a couple of times each) and the most recent confirmed my celiac diagnosis. You’re totally right, the prep is the worst part! I am hoping for good news for you! As for skin cancer, that is SO scary but so amazing that you realized something wasn’t quite right and got it checked out immediately. I do annual skin checks now that I am in my 30s but wish I had started sooner with protecting my skin better. As a teenager I worked at a tanning salon which mean free tanning and holy moly, if I could go back in time and never do that again, I would in a heartbeat!
I hope you have a nice birthday 🙂 I always love your recaps and I cannot wait for spring! You inspired me with my garden this year. I have a few raised beds and the pests really destroy my vegetables since I grow organically. This year I am transitioning to mostly herbs and flowers! Can’t wait for the links to your flower recommendations.
Have a great weekend and sending good thoughts & health your way!
xo Kelsey
Well as far as melanoma, there have been two family members of mine who had it. My great grandmother died after having a melanoma removed from her forehead. I’m 66, so you can imagine how long ago that was. They never told her it was cancer.
Then my grandmother had skin cancer on her face and lips in the 1970s. She had to be treated a couple of times, but had no issues after that. You couldn’t even tell she had ever had any cancer on her face!
When do you get your colonoscopy test results? I was diagnosed with Celiac disease last year. My doctor and I opted not to do any invasive tests because my blood test results were so strong AND my sister, two cousins, and an uncle have all been diagnosed with Celiac. It affects the maternal side of the family. We figured it’s pretty obvious and if my symptoms disappeared after going gluten-free, it would be confirmation. It took a few weeks of eating gluten-free, but my symptoms are GONE now.
Hopefully there is no need for a colonoscopy again any time soon. BUT, ask for the (prep) pills. My Dr. asked if I preferred the liquid or the pills. Worked the same. There are a lot and you need to drink a bunch of water, but you don’t have to deal with the icky tasting prep. I believe they were approved for colonoscopy back in 2021.
I’ve had 2x squamous cell skin cancer removed, and now I go in every 6 months. Are they having you come in more frequently now?
haircut looks great! hope your biopsy and appointment went well last week. Is Little Brittle coming back? I saw you took time off for the holidays.
Hi, Megan!
Thank you 🙂
No plans right now as I’m trying to be as present as I can as a mom, and putting my health first. I’ve written about it in many recaps, but Little Brittle had me up sometimes 48 hours straight, and with it being so busy, I felt as if I couldn’t spend my time with my son and knowing how fast time goes with him being so little, I couldn’t bring myself to spend that time away from him. Every weekend working markets were weekends when I couldn’t be with my family. It was also very hard to keep up with my health on a bit of a decline, so I needed to put my health and family first, and when I feel ready in life to start back up again, I will! 🙂
totally get it! I tried searching your recaps to see if I missed anything before I asked but must have missed it anyway. Take care of yourself first!
Thank you 🙂
Hi Taralynn,
Wow…what an update! Skin cancer can certainly be scary. Last year, my mom, her brother, and their mother were ALL diagnosed with skin cancer (one was melanoma too) and fortunately all three of them had a very easy time with their respective treatments.
1. Have you ever had a colonoscopy/endoscopy?
yes, a few months after my 2nd was born. I thought the magnesium citrate drink was SO gross, but fortunately it was a very easy prep for me and I never needed to take my zofran. I have a prescription for it normally because I suffer from abdominal migraines, so i definitely kept it close by…just in case!
2. How often do you have your skin checked?
after my family got their diagnoses, I scheduled a check in May of last year. I had one suspicious mole removed, but it ended up being nothing. I plan to have another skin check before summer starts again this May/June. and this will be an annual thing for me.
3. Are you so ready for spring?
omg yesssssssssss