Week 2: Pumpkin Spice Protein Shake

I've grown tired of being fat, of not finding clothes I like in my size, and as such, I have changed a few ways of doing things, specifically the way I eat. I've begun making a protein shake for breakfast, for two reasons: 1) I'm super lazy when I wake up and generally have no interest in cooking food for breakfast and 2) I snack less throughout the day when I've had a protein shake first thing. Generally speaking, my favorite way to prepare one is with a scoop of my favorite protein mix (I'm currently using ProFit vanilla), some version of milk (I live with a disbeliever so this is standard cow's milk for me, but it would be almond milk if he was less stubborn), and then a healthy spoonful of peanut butter and a healthy spoonful of strawberry jelly, followed by ice and whatever liquid and/or powder supplements I like to add (this includes It Works Greens and often elderberry syrup concentrate, to boost my immunity). All this goes in a blender, and makes a yummy icy shake. But lately, with my pumpkin pie challenge, I'd been wondering what a pumpkin spice protein shake would taste like, so I went in search of some basic recipes and found this one from Love Grows Wild. I only altered it to be cow's milk, and then since I didn't have nutmeg to make my own pumpkin spice, it's missing that...and I added some stevia for sweetening. I usually use stevia for individual sweetenings because it doesn't raise my glycemic index as much as other alternatives.

It's pretty good. I think the nutmeg would have helped, and I think I personally overdid it on the cloves, but otherwise, with a slightly tweaked amount in my blender, I think it could be a welcome fall treat for breakfast, so long as I choose to do a protein shake for breakfast.

Out of 5 stars, I give this one a 3.5.

Basic White Girl

There's this stigma in society that "basic white girls" love pumpkin spice things, and while I think the whole stereotyping thing is a bit high school, I do happen to be a fan of pumpkin spiced things. So I thought, you know what....there's a LOT of pumpkin flavored things that like to appear on the market around October; maybe I should try them all and do a couple of reviews. Heck, why not add recipes? And so that's what I'm going to do. Every week through November I'm going to try a new pumpkin recipe, post it, and then share my thoughts on it. As I've just decided this, I don't have the ingredients to start this week, so I'll start by listing the things that you can just buy and eat/drink, such as pumpkin pie spice coffee creamer. But next week, let the baking extravaganza begin.

This week: Creamer, Cheerios, oatmeal.

International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice coffee creamer: As a SAHM with a fairly new baby and a super active 4 year old, I depend on coffee. Some days it's my reason for getting up, it's the blood that flows through my veins, it's the thing that keeps my head on my shoulders. And when fall comes around, warm drinks are even better....add in that pumpkin pie spice and you've made a very happy mommy. I'm a personal fan of International Delight because I like their variety of flavors, especially Irish Creme Cafe, Cinnabon, and White Chocolate Mocha during the rest of the year, but of course when fall and winter come, they come out with these other flavors that are just....amazing. No, I'm not being paid for this blog. ANYWAYS. It's got a warm, rich flavor without being overwhelming. There's also a sugar-free version for those who....like sugar free? I guess that's important to some people.

Pumpkin Spice Cheerios: Okay, I confess, I was a bit bemused when I saw these. It was a normal shopping trip and I was looking for off-brand Honey Nut Cheerios for my son when I saw this box, and decided I wanted to try them. I tried a bowl the next day. They do have an essence of pumpkin, but it definitely seems like they just took regular Cheerios and added on the pumpkin as an afterthought, instead of tampering with the original recipe. I'm sure there's some patent reason for that. They're alright; I always have Cheerios in any flavor with honey, and I tasted more honey than pumpkin. Nothing to write home about or spring for especially, not in my book.

Quaker Pumpkin Spice Instant Oatmeal: I don't actually have a microwave, so instant oatmeal is something of a oddness in my home. But I do know how to make it without a microwave, so when I saw this box I grabbed it. It's pretty good; not an overwhelming flavor, but pleasant nonetheless. I have to make 2 packets to make any appreciable amount for breakfast, and I prefer it with milk so I have to babysit my stove pretty closely, which can (and often does) get complicated when my son is on the run from the moment he wakes up. Still, that's my fault, not Quaker's, and all in all, I'd say it's pretty good stuff, if oatmeal is a thing you like for breakfast.

I'm POSITIVE there are more instant pumpkin flavored things out there, and if you have tried one and want to give a review in the comments, I say have at it. As a joke when I mentioned on Facebook that pumpkin spice coffee is my spirit animal (you know, if it was an animal), my pastor posted a picture of pumpkin spiced toilet paper, to which I replied that he pulled that out of his butt. Hahah, so funny. The only one of the above products that I say I can't live without is the creamer, and that is, apparently, because I'm a basic white girl. And yes, I wear fashion boots, leggings and a tunic. No scarves for me, though, so maybe I'm not a trendy basic white girl.

Makeover!

I'm coming to realize that, with life's twists and turns, this blog hasn't been a "homesteading" blog in a hot minute. We don't live in a self-sufficient home on the farm. We haven't given up that dream, but with a new baby came the need for a home and FAST, and so we bought a run-of-the-mill house, complete with bills. SO....it's time for blog makeover! The thing is, I'm most likely to blog what's on my mind, what I'm into, what my family is up to. I'm also trying to boot Facebook out as being such a prominent part of my life. It's not productive except for keeping up with family and friends, but it ends up being a mindless scroll and reload process. And yet I, and many others I know, can't stay off of it for long. So I'm making a conscious effort to restrict its grip on my life. I've also been reading some blogs such as Modern Mrs Darcy, and A Bowl Full of Lemons, and so I'm sort of...unsatisfied with the way all this is going.

Therefore, here's the update on this blog of mine: The name will stay the same, because my life is still one in a million, but what it promises to document will change. If, someday, we get back to our homesteading plan, I will document that, but for now comes the fun of getting to know J and E and their quirks, and goofy stories about Husband and myself, and our family adventures. And then, of course, when G is here, she'll be added into the adventures too. Books, organization, house-overhaul goals, all sorts of all things us. If you have any suggestions about things you'd like to see, I'd love to hear them!