Who says you can't eat healthy on a budget!?

I've done a video on this subject on the vlog and I'll link that here:

And btw....I say you CAN eat healthy on a budget!!!!! It just depends on what you're buying and putting in that cart....

Last night as I pushed my cart through the isles, knowing we have a whole house to restock eventually....Living with family members who are young and don't have the same things in their cabinets that I would (which hey! is not a bad thing, I've had fun experimenting ^__^). So there are a few things that I needed that would increase the bill. I had to buy olive oil, aminos (a questionable paleo item...but I'm going with it...I do way too much asian cooking not to having something soy sauce like), and I went ahead and bought a pre-mixed bag of bread mix. I am just not a big fan of the breads that I have found so far. They're not soft and often taste very bad. I've tried this brand's gluten free brownies and let me tell ya...They're pretty amazing!!!!

So bread pans and bread mix... I think it will be helpful if I could have an easy mix, and bake. It may even be slightly more cost effective. A frozen loaf of Rudi's bread found in the natural isle freezer section at Kroger is $5.87 and the bread mix by itself is $4.49. The ingredients that need thrown in it are things we usually keep around such as eggs, oil, water. They have several ways to use this as a pie crust, pizza crust. Really....I'm a huge fan of Pamela's.

I also got the two ingredients I didn't have on hand to make homemade organic ketchup!!!! My crazy obsession with organic ketchup is legendary. I usually go for Simple Truth Organic Ketchup. It's SO GOOD! But, I am always looking to make things more paleo, more from scratch with as little ingredients as possible. I'm looking forward to when we get back home and start a garden and I can grow my own tomatoes!

But, all in all (and I guess getting back to my point...), YOU CAN EAT HEALTHY ON A BUDGET! Krogers is great for coupons even on meat and produce! Look for ways to use cheaper ingredients to make the things you need. Eat closer to "in season" when certain veggies and fruits are in abundance and not having to be trucked in. Check out your local farmer's market. If you're like us and using SNAP or food stamps, use coupons and buy responsibly so that your balance lasts longer and you get those benefits such as not having to pay the tax. Every dollar helps. Just because you don't make a ton of money, have five people to feed, and times are uncertain, don't let it throw your budget in the garbage!

Paleo helps so much on our budget because we don't have to buy dairy, wheat bread, or I even realized also, sugar! With coupons, I saved 10% or $14.46! Even though it was only 4 days worth of food, I was really happy with what I accomplished and I know it'll go down the next time because I have some of my essentials in the pantry.

So check it out! And if you have a success and want to share it with me and the rest of the readers, leave a comment below! <3

Sending you lots of love and peace to you and your journey...

Ami M. Lee, The Crazy Paleo Hippie Gal

The Dreaded CRAVINGS!!!

Every lady that has ever been pregnant either loves cravings, or loves to hate cravings. Men, you guys get cravings too! I've even heard of sympathy cravings with husband's of pregnant women, but that's probably hearsay.

So what are cravings? Why do we have cravings? From my experience, and various sources it is the way our body let's us know our body needs something to function properly.

For instance, I know that I have been low iron for a very long time. Not enough to be medicated for anemia. However, my mother is anemic. I also monitor what I call, "The Doctor Oz Trick." If you gently pull your lower eyelid down to see the reddish colored part around the eye, it should be a rich pinkish red color. If the part closest to the eye is light pink to white, then it is a sign of low iron.

I have been this way for many years now, especially after I had my son. It makes sense that I have craved GREENS ever since! I couldn't live in a world without some greens. And I'm not picky about them either. LOL But, think about what greens are good for... These type of plants (leafy greens) are usually high in iron. It's often high on the list of recommendations for pregnant women including red meat, chicken, legumes...etc.

When we're dieting...people get really scared of cravings. Y'all know I have plenty of them! Every now and then I just need a brownie. Sometimes you have to stop....stay calm....and figure out what is in what you're craving.

Now...I know how hard it is to do to give in to cravings responsibly. Well, going paleo and finding out your gluten intolerant kind of helps. I know I'll get sick, have a headache, or sore throat if I have even miniscule amounts of gluten. That really deters me from straying. Sucks that it takes actual pain or illness to deter me from eating something, but that's how our bodies were originally designed.

So here's my two cents about cravings. Realize you have a craving. Identify what the benefits or basics of the craving is such as sweet, salty, or the benefits that could be in the food such as iron in leafy greens. Figure out how to responsibly satisfy what your body needs so that your body's cravings will subside.

One part of being gluten intolerant and possibly facing issues with celiac disease, the gluten breaks down the lining of the intestines making it difficult if not impossible for you to get the nutrients out of the food you're eating. Removing gluten is essential for my body so that I can actually pull out the nutrients my body is craving. Now, I know paleo and gluten free is not for everyone. I understand tough times guys...My house just was destroyed. All my healthy food in a fridge that was never found.

I have had to eat gluten because I had to, but for some reason I couldn't get back used to gluten. It's like when you go off gluten and find out your reactions and intolerance, there's no going back. It's been a few days back on the mostly paleo path (I see to be okay with dairy on occasion) and I'm feeling much better. I have more energy. I feel like getting up and actually doing things and my panic cravings when I'm extremely stressed are subsiding.

I hope this was helpful and that'll you'll do some self-reflection when you have a craving and figure out what your body is asking for. Understand that cravings are your body giving you hints to what will help you feel better. Any questions or need help? You're always welcome to leave me a comment!

Sending you all lots of love and peace to you and your journey!

-Ami M. Lee, Journey on the Final Coutndown

My Absence

Hey my blogging family peeps!

So it's been a few weeks since I've blogged. Why? Oh, a tornado kind of destroyed my computer...and my house....And everything I own.

We lived in Vilonia, AR and about 7:20ish on April 27th, 2014 a storm descended upon our town. An EF-4 tornado forever change my life.

I don't want to go on about it. I'm actually writing my story down in the hopes of publishing it so that others going through this same situation can have hope and to encourage others to have a safety plan.

Long story short? Never...

My family is safe. My husband was at work. I am still very sad about two of our neighbors passing trying to ride out the storm in their house.

Since that time we've seen some of the best people in the world and some of the worst. I like to try to stick to thinking about the best. I don't think many people understand much about literally losing every item from the carpet on the floor up. Not just it all being crushed...We haven't found big things such as appliances, walls, doors, windows, beds, mattresses.

Our immediate needs have been met and if you would like to donate or get updates we have a facebook page at: Lee Family Needs #PrayForVilonia

We're trying to raise money to have a house put out there. We love and appreciate all the love and support we've received. So many amazing volunteers, especially the night this happened.

Things will never be the same.

But we're still fighting....Down, but never defeated.

Wishing you all out there safety and love.

I know there have been many storms since and many reported tornadoes. Have a plan. That's honestly, what saved our lives.

Our House Was Lost in A Tornado

On April 27, 2014 a tornado warned storm produced an EF4 tornado that destroyed much of our town of Vilonia including our home.

You guys may know by now that I'm always looking for the positives. We have our lives. We have the beautiful generousity of others.

In this new adventure on the Journey on the Final Countdown I may be very absent for a while. Although, I am quite proud I still haven't broken 'A Year with No Soda' yet, even though I down right feel I deserve to.

So I sit, waiting to go out and see the progress on cleanup. I'll never look at my storm photography, or severe weather the same. My love and passion is still there, but I'm hoping in the future I can pay it forward and help others in our same situation.

I told my husband last night that I haven't really cried much, but I figure when everything is clean. When all of the houses and debris are gone, that will probably be my moment to truly morn and say that our lives are gone.

We have met some of the greatest people and some of the worst. But, the best outweight the worst by far. No amount of insurance could have saved our house or our neighbors lives.

If you would like to donate to help out my family please check out www.facebook.com/leefamilyneedsvilonia We appreciate prayers and positive thoughts are equally appreciated. Please remember that if you can't say anything nice, the best response is silence. All my love to those generous hearts out there.

-Ami M. Lee

Happy Little Accidents

So tonight y'all I attempted to make one of me and my kiddo's favorite Korean foods. Steam Dumplings! Oh so yummy! I learned the recipe from Maangchi on YouTube (You should go check her out! So awesome!) But, going paleo I can't use wheat based flour and I can't use soy sauce! How in the world can us Paleo folks go without Asian Cuisine!?!? Well, I don't know about you, but I cannot!

And quite frankly, we do have soy sauce but as I've mentioned I've been having terrible reactions to gluten since going gluten free! You know on those weak moments and you slip up and have a hand full of cookies...Yes, I regretted that the next morning with labor pains of a gluten baby!!!!

Well the dough made with Brown Rice Flour was a big ole flop!!!!!! AGGHHH!!!!!!

But, I can't just throw 3 cups of expensive flour in the trash y'all. We aren't made of money and the money tree died a few years ago. :)

So what did I do? I did dumplings a different way. I took the dough, as crumbly as it was...Got it as smooth as I could....rolled it out like play dough snakes. Sliced them on the diagonal, fried them in a pan, a splash of water, quick lid...2 minutes and BOOM! Fried/steamed dumplings....Throwing it in what was going to be the filling turning this happy little accident into a new creation!

Innovation! Creation! WOO! (I'm high on innovation! That's legal right???)

I will try later to come back and work some magic on figuring out what in the world I did. I'm sitting here with the finished product in my lap and it is yummy!!! Best of all, I won't regret it in the morning.

So when you feel like you made a big boo boo and are about to trash supper...Kick down the sides of the box and venture out. See what you can do!

Hope you are all having a wonderful evening!

Happy cooking and bon appetite!

-Ami M. Lee

New Vlog up!

So here it is...How it's really been going. Hand movements, funny faces, rambling, and TMI. You can watch above or head over to youtube.com/finalcountdownvlog and while you're there don't forget to click that like and subscribe button. It makes me very happy!!!

Happy, happy, happy!!!

-Ami M. Lee

Transitioning to Paleo....How I feel When I Don't Eat Clean...

So we're still in that transitioning phase of the paleo lifestyle. My husband is having a difficult time giving up his chocolate milk. I am definitely having sugar withdraw. Luckily, kids are doing great!

I'm tippy typing away here while making breakfast for lunch....Sneezing my head off! WOO!

Sunday was Easter. We don't necessarily "celebrate" Easter, but we did go over to Mamaw's house (mom in-law) to eat and hide Easter eggs with our four (3 kiddos and 1 niece-ee-poo). She even warned me that all diets were supposed to be left behind. Of course, me and my big fat mouth blurted out...Well I might get sick if I over do it.

I talked at length with my husband last night. I hate being so high maintenance and I'm always worried that someone will be offended or take it personal that I don't want to eat whatever they choose to make. I LOVE eating! I love cooking and I love good food! The problem is the next day where I lose all my energy, I can't concentrate, I have awful experiences in the bathroom, and a low-grade headache/migraine making me nauseous all day long.

It hasn't helped that I've realized I'm not only allergic to paprika and shellfish, but I'm also allergic to ham. I haven't had a food allergy in my life! Paprika hasn't been a big deal and I found that out in about 8th grade. Easy to keep away from most of the time, especially if you cook your own food and don't buy it. I just recently found my shellfish allergy while on vacation, and I realized I had the same reaction (if not worse) last year when I ate ham. I confirmed with my mom in-law that it was even a different brand of ham.

I have also come to the possible conclusion that dairy doesn't so much affect me as much as gluten does! Cutting out gluten in the majority of our diet, now every time I have a gluten-ous product I get very sick. I cramp and feel like getting sick.

It's one of those things that I want to be okay with. If I get sick every time I eat something with gluten and I get sick...I'll train my mind pretty quick...If you eat THAT *insert gluten laden product* you're going to get sick. And not just sick...You'll be in pain. The pain so bad you compared it to labor pains! However, that's pretty extreme. I'm okay with it guys. But, I think it's almost helped identify why I may have kept this weight on no matter what I've done. If I have a gluten sensitivity and didn't know it, I could just keep on that weight.

Have I noticed a difference yet? Not really...to be completely honest. Then again....you know what happens to us women (sorry TMI!) and we won't be able to tell if we lost a single ounce for a while. I do feel like my collar bone is more pronounced. Me and my body, any time I have lost weight, the first place it usually "shows" is my collar bones and my face.

I have started having allergy issues. Tea and honey and LOTS of water have become my drink of choice. I find it difficult to have long conversations. My body is going through some wacko change. I'm wondering if it's the change in my eating. But, I guess I have to go through hell to get to heaven right?

It's weird to be okay with being in a lot of pain...having such strong withdraw. The panic attacks over food. It's just what I have to go through. It's what I went through with sodas! 107 days I began a very tough journey! I am so proud of that number! Over 100 days without soda or energy drinks!

I feel the same way going off of gluten. Again, dairy (very surprisingly) hasn't been an issue. Now, I am still working on getting rid of our cheese. But, I kind of mix the mostly lactose free cheese (we'll switch to fully gluten free soon, it's just $4.50 for a tiny little chunk!) with the regular cheese. Mark seems to be doing much better. He's my lactose intolerant baby. Trust me, you can tell when he's had cheese or milk. He actually got pretty sick the day after Easter, but has already rebounded.

And...I guess I'm rambling aren't I? Just a lot of things on my mind today. I never thought in my wildest dreams I could realistically have such a big dietary change and be okay with it. I don't feel deprived. I eat. I eat well. My kids eat well and I don't have to be a short order cook to feed them! I'm getting more excited to "Paleo-fy" more meals and foods we like. It doesn't always work but we're figuring it out. Chicken strips and orange fries have been a hit! Kids did great on cheeseburger night with gluten free bread and veggie cheese. Although tonight...I'm not sure what we'll do. I'm thinking baked chicken with lemon, basil potatoes, green beans, and leeks! (I LOVE LEEKS!)

So I hope y'all are having a great day. Again, sorry for the long ramble. I just felt like letting it all out! It's good for the mind and soul. <3

Lots of love and peace to you,

Ami M. Lee