Among The Caffeine & Chaos

09/07/2024

🌱🌻🥒 Celebrating the first veggie harvest of the year! 🌿🍅

Feeling incredibly grateful as I collect plenty of herbs and witness the thriving of all my varieties of flowers. But today, it's all about my first veggie haul ever - cucumbers and Roma tomatoes. They're patiently sitting on the window sill, ripening, and it's a glorious sight! 🌿🍅

Not only that, today marks my and my fiance's third anniversary of being homeowners, and I couldn't think of a better gift from our home. It's amazing how a plan grew in my heart last summer, when I started working on our landscaping and exterior remodel projects. I immediately started planning and saving, determined to make this dream come true. My love for plants blossomed, and so did my green thumb. Now, my garden, yard, patios, and porches are filled with herbs, flowers, and veggies, creating my own little oasis. ☀️🌿

Being out in the sun, breathing in fresh air, grounding, and tending to my home and passion projects with music in the background has become my therapy. It's a feeling of pride I've never known before, except in being a mom. My garden may be small now, but with each season and year to come, I hope to see it and its fruits bloom, just as I am doing. 🌸🌿

Here's to giving back to and receiving from Mother Earth, one blessing at a time. 🌎✨

07/07/2024

01/04/2024

💐☀️Hello, April!☀️💐

May this new month of renewal bring you peace, joy, and be your fresh beginning.

15/03/2024

How else would one celebrate March 14th? Well, with all things Pi(e) and STL-themed (The 314) of course! For dinner tonight, I made a homemade chicken pot pie for my daughter and me, since we are not fans of Imo's pizza. My other half, who was born and raised in St. Louis, MO enjoyed that for dinner. For dessert, we had mini pies. I also got some of St. Louis' best snacks (if you know, you know) to complete the celebration. Happy Pi/STL Day!


Imo's Pizza Ted Drewes Inc. Gus' Pretzel Shop Fitz's

14/03/2024

You've got this, mama. 💜

(Twitter/Mommywifelife77)

14/03/2024

Happy Pi (3.14)Day! How are you celebrating? I'm making a homemade chicken pot pie for dinner and bought mini pies for dessert. Enjoy this fun holiday.

13/03/2024

Remember this note: "Have what you want - add what you need!" 👏

Tonight, Wednesday, March 13, I made some delicious Burger Bowls. It was the perfect way to use up the leftover potato wedges from Sunday's dinner. I reheated them in the air fryer and added them to the bowls.

Initially, I was planning to make the "Big Mac" dupe sauce from scratch, but I have been fighting off a virus for two weeks, and I decided to use a "cheat code!" 🤣

You can find the recipe for the seasonings I used on the hamburger meat in my social media posts, so check it out!

This dish is so easy to make, budget-friendly, and delicious. It was already one of my favorite meals, but the addition of the potato wedges made it even better.

13/03/2024

How I eliminate food waste, stay on budget, stay on track with my weight loss journey, and am not caught off guard with last minute to-dos as a busy, working Mama and the Chaos Coordinator (I mean Manager 😅) of our home: a schedule, a plan, and prep work. Meal Planning, calendars, and lists are my best friends. As Taylor Swift said, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Not every day is going to be perfect, but this sure helps alleviate stress.

13/01/2024

Checking off to-do lists and sticking to my 2024 Resolutions: decluttering my life and brain, organizing, adding time for "glimmers" into my schedule, and finding ways to de-stress. Currently working on my first big project of the year: scanning three households worth of family recipes into a shared recipe Google Drive folder for my Grandma, my Mom, and myself. Then, adding them into Ancestry when I am done. I then link these digitally saved recipes into my Samsung Food app for meal planning. Meal planning saves me so much time and money. As Taylor Swift says, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!" This project fulfills 5 categories important to me: organization, decluttering, planning, preserving Genealogy documents, and doing whatever I need to do to relieve stress. Doing so while staying inside from a weekend filled with "Arctic"temps here in the Midwest; and, listening to some great music. I may or may not have bought those Def Leppard tickets for this Summer. 😍😜 Like I said: self-care and glimmers are the forecast for 2024! A healthy, happy Mama leads to healthy, happy kids. How are you keeping your Resolutions and taking care of yourself thus far into the New Year? Drop your Resolution list, Self-Care goals, and organization tips below!⬇️

#2024

Google Samsung Samsung Food Ancestry Betty Crocker Spotify Def Leppard Brother Crafts USA

01/01/2024

I can assure you that 2023 wasn't one for the books. But, I lived. I got up. Maybe I didn't thrive - but, I kept going through pain that I didn't think I'd survive (and, that really was just a non-stop ride from 2020 to current times.) Damn it, I was brave. I was strong. The kind of strong that one gets tired of being. I was broken, battered, bruised, and somehow grateful knowing I still have much. I haven't felt like me. I haven't recognized myself in a long time. But, maybe I was outgrowing her. Healing trauma. Tending to deep wounds. Coming out from under the current of raging waters. Trying to no longer be in a battle between drowning or treading. Finding the way to be floating. Perhaps I lost more than just pounds and many clothing sizes. Maybe I lost the weight of too many things that shouldn't have been my problem. Shed many boulders that weren't mine to carry - at least not alone. I'm not meant to be in the perpetual tale of Sisyphus. More than anything I failed. I broke. Oh, but boy did I ever learn. Learn about what its like to be akin to Icarus flying too close to the sun. I'm burned. I scarred. But, you'd see those were battle scars if you looked closely enough. I did the hard things. Said the things I never thought I could. Left people who were bad for my health in the past. Daily I face fears and anxieties that I never thought I'd have. My body and brain are exhausted from years of fight-or-flight. I feel like that might be a sum of my entire life. Even just being born so very prematurely, and being a fighter to survive then.... It.feels.the.same.now- A.Constant.fight.for.survival. Therefore, I feel my word for 2024 and the summarization of my vision board for this next stage is called: Phoenix. From these ashes I too shall rise. I can assure you there were also smiles and laughs that were also companions to the many tears and worries. Maybe my 2023 was about the Yin and Yang. Perhaps life was showing me about how one needs to balance both the light and the dark. I'm certain that kind of skill will be a lifelong struggle to attain. I watched my daughter grow. I watched a house become a home. I watched lines and gray hair show up on myself and the ones I love. I watched the sun rise full of hope, after nights full of neverending despair, and the sun set on things I never wanted to see end. I snuggled fur babies. I listened to music, which I know heals. I ate good meals. I also lived days full of boring routine. However, I also created special memories. I got to experience "bucket list" items and live out unfulfilled wishes and plans of loved ones whom tragically never got to do those things. I carried them in my heart and walked with their foot steps in mine. But, maybe that's the point, taking the path were my Ancestors lead, even if the path waivers. May they forever be my protectors. I hope 2024 is kind. I hope it is the breaking of a 5 year cycle. If not, this Phoenix is rising. I am ready for this ultimate reset: a new week, month, and year. Even if it isn't the ultimate fresh start - I know there are 365 new chapters to write. From surviving to rising. Icarus to Phoenix. Goodbye, 2023. Hello, 2024. May this 123123 day bless you all and I hope peace, joy, fulfillment, and love find you all in this new season.

03/12/2023

Thinking about that glow from last Christmas morning. Ready to start this year's Christmas magic and traditions for my baby girl. ❤️💚

How very blessed I am.

Happy December, everyone.

Let me know what your favorite Christmas traditions are. ⬇️

23/09/2023

🍁✨ New Blog Post Alert! 🍂✨

Fall has officially arrived, and it's time to usher in the cozy season with open arms. Join us on the blog as we explore the wonderful world of simmer pots—a delightful way to infuse your home with the scents of autumn while you tackle your Fall cleaning routine. 🍊🍂🍋

Read the full blog post here:

https://amongthecaffeinean.wixsite.com/amongthecaffeinechao/post/embracing-cozy-season-simmer-pot-recipes-for-fall-refreshment

You can pin this idea to your Pinterest board here:

https://pin.it/1rIJvcS

23/09/2023

🤟 Happy International Sign Language Day! 🌍🤗 Let's celebrate the beautiful language that bridges gaps and connects hearts around the world. Today, we honor the power of signs, gestures, and expressions that unite us all, transcending boundaries and fostering inclusivity. Whether through hands, smiles, or kind gestures, let's continue to communicate with love, understanding, and empathy. Together, we can make the world a more accessible and compassionate place for everyone. 🤟❤️

In my new blog post, I wrote about our family's profoundly moving experience with ASL this summer, and why I think talking about the importance of today matters. You can read it here:

https://amongthecaffeinean.wixsite.com/amongthecaffeinechao/post/celebrating-international-sign-language-day-bridging-the-gap-with-asl

23/09/2023

Hello, Autumn!

"And all at once, Summer collapsed into Fall." ~Oscar Wilde

Happy first day of Fall, y'all!

Let me know what your favorite Fall traditions are in the comments! ⬇️

23/09/2023

🎃👻 Spooktacular S'mores Recipe Alert! 👻🎃

As the leaves turn and the Halloween spirit creeps in, it's time to whip up some hauntingly delicious treats! 🍂🍫 Our latest blog post features the perfect recipe for Spooky S'mores that will cast a spell on your taste buds. 🕷️✨

Get ready to indulge in a spine-tingling, sweet adventure perfect for Halloween gatherings, cozy nights by the fire, or just satisfying your sweet tooth! 🎃🔥

Find the full recipe on our blog and make this season extra sweet:
https://amongthecaffeinean.wixsite.com/amongthecaffeinechao/post/satisfy-your-sweet-tooth-with-the-best-ever-spooky-s-mores-recipe

You can pin this recipe to your Pinterest board here:
https://pin.it/3G7lK4a

Share your Spooky S'mores creations with us and let's get into the Halloween spirit together! 📸👇 🕷️🍂

Keebler PEEPS

22/09/2023

🥗 Craving the iconic taste of a Big Mac without the guilt? Try our Big Mac Salad Bowl! Check out our latest blog post for the full recipe and enjoy the flavors you love in a healthier way. Say goodbye to the bun and hello to a delicious, low-carb twist on a classic favorite. 🍔🥒🧀

https://amongthecaffeinean.wixsite.com/amongthecaffeinechao/post/big-mac-bowl-the-ultimate-cheeseburger-in-para-diced-salad

You can pin this recipe to your Pinterest board here:
https://pin.it/44oX01U

Like and follow my social for more like this!

21/09/2023

You can also follow on Instagram to see more.

20/09/2023

My Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe is easy, budget-friendly, a great way to add extra protein into your day, and is low in Weight Watchers points.

What a perfect way to celebrate Pumpkin Spice season!

Find my recipe, the WW points, and the cost breakdown here. ⬇️

Let me know if you try my recipe. It's a staple for me all Fall long.

Like and follow my socials for more.

https://amongthecaffeinean.wixsite.com/amongthecaffeinechao/post/pumpkin-spice-everything-nice-with-a-side-of-protein-witch-please

You can pin this recipe to your Pinterest board here:

https://pin.it/3Q0bqHb



Walmart WW Premier Protein Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Keurig

20/09/2023

So divine! 😋

Find my recipe and cost break down here. ⬇️
https://amongthecaffeinean.wixsite.com/amongthecaffeinechao/post/do-it-yourself-chick-fil-a

You can save this to your Pinterest board here:
https://pin.it/7Krji0L

Like and follow my socials for more like this!

03/09/2023

Meanwhile, we're out here building, healing, raising a kiddo and lots of animals, finishing each other's sentences, and growing together. So close to 5 years. Thank you for being my forever concert date and leaving what doesn't serve us. *I do not own rights to the music.*

02/09/2023

Hello, September!
Please be nice.

01/09/2023

It's officially September 1st. If you see my home turning into a Fall/Halloween-filled oasis, whilst I don my best themed attire, enjoy delish apple/pumpkin filled noshes/beverages and every seasonal soup, trying to make the best of several bad situations/survive the last few years, and YOU don't like it - just remember it costs $0 to mind your own business. Especially since some of y'all "torture" us whom struggle broken-hearted through the Winter holidays with your Christmas love the day after Halloween. 😘 There's room for everyone here. As the Queen Kacey Musgraves once said, "So I'll just do me, and honey you can just do you." I tease - but, really, do what makes you happy. Life's too short to let others steal your joy. We look for the glimmers here! 🍎🎃🍁🍂