About Me
This is me before our lifestyle change.
This is me now, a year and a half after our lifestyle change.
I am a full time teacher, wife, and mother to my two beautiful daughters. I am dedicated to a life of healthy living and teaching my children healthy living as well.
After having children and dealing with the stress of working full time, our family got into the routine of eating whatever was cheap, quick, and convenient. Unfortunately, over the years that really took a toll on our health. Facing a pre-diabetic condition, dangerously high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity we needed to change everything about the way we lived our lives.
We knew that making the changes would be difficult, but we wanted to make the changes immediately while our girls were still young enough that we could grow healthy habits with them. Through the journey, I have eliminated all of my medical issues and lost 155 pounds.
About six months into our lifestyle change, our youngest daughter was diagnosed with a gluten and milk allergy. This, once again, changed our eating habits for the better and we began a gluten/milk free journey. Although the rest of the family is not entirely gluten/milk free many of my recipes are. I try very hard to make sure that my daughter gets the same opportunity to enjoy her favorite foods.
All of the gluten/milk free recipes are ones that I make with my daughter specifically in mind so many of them are typical kid-friendly foods. She is a typical 7 year old picky eater. This recipe blog has a mix of recipes that have helped me on my journey to health and recipes that I make special for my daughters.
I hope you enjoy them as much as we have 🙂
Changing a Life 
Mar 04, 2013 @ 01:47:38
Kacina,
I am very proud of you for the healthy lifestyle changes you have made for both you and your family. And, along that path you’ve become a very good cook.
Mom
Mar 04, 2013 @ 02:48:56
Thanks, Mom! Love you 🙂
Jan 06, 2014 @ 12:31:38
I am excited to try some of these recipes!
Jan 28, 2014 @ 22:20:56
Thank you for your story and great recipes…I have lost 39 lbs and have more to go for the same health reasons. These ideas for food choices in place of old habits will help!
Jan 29, 2014 @ 07:41:55
Congratulations on your success! I hope you enjoy some of these recipes. Keep up the great work!!
Feb 23, 2014 @ 15:36:06
Do you have a cookbook of all your recipes? If so do you sale them? Thanks!!!
Feb 23, 2014 @ 22:17:06
Unfortunately, I do not have a cookbook. That could be a great project for me though! Thanks for the interest 🙂
Feb 24, 2014 @ 13:15:29
Thanks for getting back with me if you decide to make one let me know thanks again!
Aug 28, 2014 @ 12:44:12
Wow!! Congrats!! I am 79 and 1/2 pounds down in my lifestyle change. That is exactly what to call it not a diet that is way to restrictive. I love weight watchers and will be following your recipes. Thanks! and again WOW!!
Sep 15, 2014 @ 10:31:04
I’m on my first week of Weight Watchers and came across your site from Pinterest. Your success is so very inspiring! Congratulations…what you’ve done is TRULY amazing!!
Sep 17, 2014 @ 07:50:20
Kacina, first, congratulations on your success –you are such an inspiration! I love your recipes and the fact they are easy and many GF. Just wondering how you got started. Did you join WW? Exercise – with full time job and kids, what do you do?
Sep 17, 2014 @ 08:19:26
Thank you! Yes, I started by joining WW. It was a joint effort with my husband. We started exercising together. We would go to the gym when we could. When we couldn’t, we did stuff around the house (videos on demand, walk the neighborhood, etc). We started out by just walking only because that’s all our bodies could handle. I eventually worked up to running about 6 mi three-four days a week. Now to maintain we play on volleyball and softball leagues and still go to the gym in between. My husband and I both work full-time jobs and our girls are both in sports. It’s busy but we have to make the time to do it. Planning and prepping meals ahead of time was the biggest key for us.
Sep 17, 2014 @ 18:57:40
please make a cookbook with all these recipes and pictures. I can’t get enough of reading, making list for my next shopping trip. but make sure you let us know so we can buy the first ones off the press.
Sep 28, 2014 @ 15:29:17
Congratulations on your weight loss and healthy lifestyle. I, too, am on that journey, and am doing it with Weight Watchers. I’ve actually had a lot of fun working on different recipes and eating anything I love. I’ve tried Atkins, which I hated because of all the deprivation. I considered Paleo and have bought two books but find it difficult and expensive. I have quite a lot to lose (80 to 100) and am very concerned about the extra skin that will be left behind. I have a friend who had gastric-bypass and she has to much loose skin. It’s too much to even begin to remove and the cost would be astronomical. If you don’t mind, would you mind advising me on how not to have the loose skin. I see yours looks tight and “normal”. If you would rather not discuss this, I completely understand, or you could email me if you would prefer.
Awesome job and you are a great inspiration to us all!
Sep 28, 2014 @ 15:54:22
Thank you! I’m so happy to hear that you are making taking this journey too. I am happy to answer any questions. In regard to the skin concern; generally when people have loose skin from dramatic weight loss it’s because they have lost weight too quickly and instead of losing fat lbs they loose muscle lbs. This often happens when people try to do quick weight loss programs. It took me 1.5 to 2 years to lose what I did. In addition, as I lost the fat I replaced it with lean muscle by exercising regularly and eating clean foods. Hope that helps! It’s a slow process, but it’s well worth it.
Sep 28, 2014 @ 17:17:15
Thank you for helping to understand, and to give me relief from the worry of unwanted extra skin. WW recommends taking in a couple of tsp of healthy oil daily. I imagine that’s to help with this problem. Did you do that?
Sep 28, 2014 @ 17:20:49
Yes, get a good quality, premium fish oil omega3. It has so many other benefits as well.
Sep 28, 2014 @ 17:23:37
Here is the link to what I take. You can order them from this site:
https://www.advocare.com/140945590/Store/ItemDetail.aspx?itemCode=W2002&id=ALL
Sep 28, 2014 @ 17:26:22
Thank you!
Oct 29, 2014 @ 15:36:37
That’s awesome! I am so glad I found your blog as my husband and I have to change our eating lifestyle and your recipes look awesome!
Nov 17, 2014 @ 14:00:40
Is there a way to follow your entries via email?
Barbara
Nov 18, 2014 @ 07:49:27
Welcome! Once you start following the blog, you will receive an email when a new recipe is posted.
Feb 03, 2015 @ 13:15:46
I just stumbled upon this website from Pinterest. Very proud of you and your family. Thank you for taking the time to share your recipes with us. Very glad I have found this website.
Feb 03, 2015 @ 15:26:08
Thank you! Enjoy!
Feb 04, 2015 @ 21:19:56
I have joined Weight Watchers and my long term goal is 130 off within a year. Today I reached my first short term goal and that was to have 8 to 10 pounds off the first month. I lost 9.2 lbs. in for weeks and couldn’t be happier, I realize I may not get 2 pounds a wk. off every time but really going to try hard. Are you on FB ? Can you please tell me if you had any surgery on tummy, arms, legs etc. because that is something I am concerned about the loose skin BUT I will not let the keep me from getting the weight off. Your pictures are awesome and your body shape that you started off with is alot like mine. I would appreciate your help and encouragement. So proud of you
Mar 10, 2015 @ 08:36:38
I saw your picture on Pinterest and was impressed with you losing the weight, I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes, sleep apnea, obesity and many more issues. I joined a program and lost 60 pounds and the doctor said I was no where near diabetes, but like anything else you just come away from it or like I did hit a plateau and just couldn’t lose anymore and started gaining a few pounds back on, but I like your recipes and would like to try some of them and try to get my husband on board. Thanks for posting them.
Oct 04, 2015 @ 09:32:42
The RSS link doesn’t seem to be working. I would love to sign up for your blog to be delivered into my email. Thank you!
Oct 08, 2015 @ 11:08:26
Thanks for sharing. Very encouraging
Oct 08, 2015 @ 13:30:18
I saw your picture on Pinterest and was very inspired by your weight loss. I doing weight watchers program online. I am loving your different recipes and can’t wait to try some. Thanks for sharing your story!!!
Oct 08, 2015 @ 20:19:33
Congratulations on your successes. I am considering starting WW on my own, just not sure where to start?
Oct 11, 2015 @ 00:54:25
Everyone who changes their eating habits starts somewhere. Where did you start? I feel overwhelmed when it comes to changing eating habits.
Oct 11, 2015 @ 08:45:06
You are right. It is very overwhelming to start. My biggest weakness was soda and fast food. I started by cutting that out completely. I had to start by planning ahead. I ate fast food because I was never prepared with meals at home. I began doing a 2 week meal plan that laid out lunches, dinners, and snacks. Then, I began to make healthier substitutions in my meals and different choices for my snacks. At the beginning, tracking what I ate was very helpful because it made me aware and kept me accountable for what I ate.
Oct 12, 2015 @ 01:17:22
Thanks for the advice, the two week planning process makes a great deal of sense. Your journey is very inspiring.
Oct 13, 2015 @ 10:55:49
Hello, you are incredible lady..Congratulations on your Success! I began WW last Aug.lost 15lbs within 2 mths., then started giving in to all my weaknesses. I have managed to keep off 12lbs, I start work at 415am till 1245pm..most of the time in bed around 10pm. How would you spread out 26pts? I have 4 cervical herniated discs ..besides walking anything else you would recommend? Sincerely Lisa Ortega
Nov 01, 2015 @ 22:11:37
Do you have nutritonal info for your recipes?
Nov 01, 2015 @ 22:20:58
Unfortunately, I do not.
Jan 11, 2016 @ 12:44:30
Did you have any plastic surgery? Extra skin? You’re amazing!
Jan 11, 2016 @ 12:57:15
Nope 🙂 I did not have any plastic surgery.
Jan 27, 2016 @ 23:31:40
How do you do what you do? I am very impressed, especially that you share all your advice and recipes. I have Lupus and must lose some weight. I am shooting for 75 lbs. You have lifted my depression. I can do this even at 68.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Apr 25, 2016 @ 13:51:16
I am unable to find your points for the recipes. Do you have them calculated? I was pointed to your sight from pinterest, stating that you had multiple WW recipes. Congratulations on your accomplishments!
Jun 14, 2016 @ 13:45:28
Wow, you look amazing! I had really never had a weight problem until the stress of my divorce 4 years ago, topped off with the choice to go back to school (at age 48!), and my latest physical last week wasn’t pretty. My late night dinners, eating cheap/processed foods have finally caught up with me. My numbers are terrible, and my blood pressure is high. My doctor is giving me 3 months to turn this around, or else it’s medication time for me. Glad I found your blog, you’re an inspiration! ❤