Keto & Low Carb Thanksgiving Sides


When you are on a ketogenic (low carb, high fat) diet it is super easy to plan the protein side of your meal. Since meat doesn't have carbs we have a huge variety to choose from. The tricky part comes with the sides. Every side I used to make before starting a ketogenic diet was full of starches and sugar. It was always mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rice, breads and macaroni and cheese.  To get around all of the carbs you have to be creative in the kitchen and substitute all of the starches and sugars with keto-friendly ingredients.

One of the most typical side dish at a Thanksgiving meal would be a bowl of mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes can easily be substituted for my Low Carb Sour Cream and Chive Mash. Instead of potatoes I use cauliflower. Click on the link to find out the secret to my smooth and fluffy mash that tastes better than mashed potatoes!


Macaroni and cheese is another staple side at Thanksgiving. Since pasta is not allowed on a low carb diet I substituted cauliflower again. With all of the butter, cream and cheese in my Low Carb Baked "Mac" n Cheese you will never miss out on the pasta.


Years ago I saw this deliciously creamy brussels sprouts recipe on a Food Network Thanksgiving special. Full of butter, cream and pancetta I knew it would be easy to modify. I "ketofied" the recipe with my Keto / Low Carb Creamy Pancetta Brussels Sprouts.


You have to have some kind of bready side to complete the meal. One of my favorite breads comes from my favorite Keto YouTuber Cooking Keto with Kristie. It has quickly became my go-to "bread" recipe because I always have the ingredients on hand and they are super easy to make. Keto Test Recipe: Low Carb Biscuits.


What Low Carb Sides do you like to make on Thanksgiving?


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Why I Drink Lots of Water on Keto

*I received the product below free for my review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be a good fit for my readers. All opinions are 100% my own.

Being on a ketogenic diet it is super important to drink lots of water. This is because "one molecule of glycogen usually attracts four molecules of water and as a result of it, when your body gets rid of glycogen, it also exerts water." (KetoDietApp.com). Every time I started a new diet I made it a habit to drink 8 glasses of water. Now that the I am on the ketogenic diet I know that I have to drink even more.


Drinking tons of water can get boring really fast. I am the type of person that needs my water to be super cold in order for me continue to drink throughout the day. I was always filling up my water bottle and leaving it out. As soon as the water was warm I would lose interest in drinking my water for the day. I would put it back in the fridge and then I'd forget about it all day. I would be stuck at the end of the day without getting my daily requirement in.


The answer to my water problems came when I got the Stainless Steel Tumbler by VALRO. It holds 30 ounces of water so all I have to do is fill it up 3 times to get 90 ounces of daily water in. The double wall vacuum insulation keeps my water super icy cold all day. I add some ice in the morning to make it even colder and the ice is still there when I empty it out to pop in the dishwasher at night.


I love the that Valro comes with a stainless steel straw, straw cleaning brush, and air tight splash proof sliding lid. The materials it is made from keeps bacteria at bay and is eco-friendly. The Valro can also be used for hot drinks like coffee and will keep it hot for up to 6 hours.

You can check it out on Amazon to get your own.

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Michael Todd Soniclear Elite Deluxe Review

*I received the product below free for my review. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be a good fit for my readers. All opinions are 100% my own.


Being in my mid 30's I didn't think I would have skin issues like I did when I was a teen. I know a lot of skin problems can be caused by a change in what you eat so being off and on again on the ketogenic diet hasn't helped.  I wanted something powerful to clear my skin up so I was super excited to try the Soniclear Elite by Michael Todd.

 The Elite edition gives you everything you need to have fresh, clean skin. With the Soniclear Elite you get the following:
  • Sonicare Elite Device
  • Antimicrobial Face Brush
  • Body Brush
  • Pedi Head
  • Charging Cradle and Charging Cord
  • Extension Handle
  • Shower Caddy
  • Travel Case
  • Sonic Infuser Head (free gift with purchase)
  • Lush Cashmere Face Brush (free gift with purchase)


When I first used the Sonicare Elite it felt really nice on my skin. The normal setting was the perfect speed to really clean my face. I love that the device beeps every 30 seconds to make sure you are moving around and getting every part of your face. After cleaning my face with the Soniclear Elite not only does my face feel super clean but it makes my face feel soft too. I feel like the brush gently removes the dead layers of skin. 

I love that the deluxe kit comes with an extension handle to really clean your whole body and not just your face. I have always had breakouts on my back so I love that the extension handle can really help clean my back without any help. 


I really appreciate that you get the Pedi Head and Sonic Infuser head because it gives you more use out of the device. The pedi head has helped take away the rough stops I got on my feet from wearing flip flops all summer long. I love using the sonic infuser on my skin when I apply my face serum. 

You can check out the Soniclear Elite that I got here: http://www.michaeltoddbeauty.com/soniclear-elite-deluxe/ 

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#LetsPowerTheirDreams with P&G at the Summer Olympics

This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/P&G.


We were never really a "soccer family" until we registered my daughter into summer soccer a year ago. We did it to keep her healthy and active during the summer. She loved the sport so much that we quickly became that dedicated soccer family. We love watching my now four year old run around the field as she tries out for those goals. It is also super cute seeing a team of little preschoolers in their soccer uniforms.


Things are even more exciting for this soccer family with the start of the The Olympic Games. Now that my daughter is four she actually understands what The Olympic Games are. We looked at the women's soccer schedule and marked down all the days they are playing so we wouldn't miss the games. My daughter wants to be just like Alex Morgan from Team USA, so we are definitely cheering her on.


Did you know that you can support The Olympic Games by shopping for P&G brands at Walmart to support Team USA? My family is supporting Team USA when we purchased the Always® Infinity Pads and Tampax Pearl Regular Tampons. Always® and Tampax has always been my go-to brands during that time of month. It made it super easy for me to participate in the #LetsPowerTheirDreams campaign going on right now at Walmart.


Even though the Always® Infinity Pads are made of a really light material called FlexFoam™they are still super absorbent and that can absorb 10X its weight. This makes it comfortable for me when I am sitting at my daughter's soccer games in this Texas heat. I alternate that time of month with the Tampax Pearl Regular Tampons which stop leaks before they happen! I love that they give me protection for up to 8 hours. The BUILT-IN BACKUP™ Braid gives me extra piece of mind when I know I don't have a bathroom near to run to at the games.

Do you watch the Olympic Games? Which P&G products would you buy to help support Team USA? 


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How The Stork Is Helping Me TTC Baby #2

This is a sponsored conversation from Mums the Word Network and The Stork OTC. All opinions are my own.


If you have been reading my blog for a while you already know that we started the Journey for baby #2 a little over a year ago. We both went on a ketogenic weight loss journey in August to see if that would help our chances. In May we made a huge life change of moving from New York City to Texas so TTC took a place on the back burner for a couple of months. Now that we are settled and happy in Texas, TTC is fresh on our minds for baby #2.

Since I am in my late 30s and my husband is in his early 40s we are doing everything possible to give us the best chances to become pregnant as soon as possible.  I used The Stork OTC on the best day for me to conceive according to my basal temperatures and ovulation charts. We wanted to try everything possible before seeking help from a doctor so The Stork OTC was the perfect conception aid for us.


The Stork OTC is an at-home conception aid that helps couples conceive naturally without the help or expense of a doctor's visit. You can easily buy The Stork OTC over-the-counter at stores like CVS. The Stork OTC helps get the sperm exactly where it needs to be for the best chance of conception. The instructions are super easy to follow and the design of the conception aid really makes it goof-proof.


We used it a few days ago and it was really easy and comfortable to do. I love that after using it I could get up and do my normal household routine while waiting the 4 to 6 hours. I am really anxious and hopeful that I will see positive results in a couple of weeks.


Go to StorkOTC.com for more information and find out where you can purchase it for yourself. You can also buy 1, Get 1 50% off with code STORK50 at CVS.com for the months of July and August.

Join me on July 20 at 8pm EST for a Twitter Party using #successwithStorkOTC. Click to RSVP and join the party for a night of learning and prizes.


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Bacon Jewelry, Perfect for a Keto'er

One of my favorite things about living a ketogenic lifestyle is that I get to eat bacon and still lose weight. Since I am eating a high fat and low carb diet, bacon is one of the top foods to eat because it fits the macros of a ketogenic diet.

When my best friend and I were talking about my journey on the ketogenic diet she quickly told me that she could make me a custom beaded charm of bacon! Since bacon is basically the mascot of the ketogenic lifestyle I got super excited to proudly display my love for bacon.


My best friend Angela has been creating customized beaded jewelry for quite some time now. She takes the time to create exactly what you want by designing a chart and giving you different color options. After the design is approved she creates each design, one bead at a time using the best materials. She mostly uses delica seed beads, size 11, and Fireline 17lb pull thread. Swarovski Pearls and jewels are also used in some of her designs.




Alexiwing Designs accepts custom orders through Etsy, Instagram, and/or Facebook page. You can also email her at angela@alexiwing.com

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I #TriedImpressa, Now I Am Secure On-The-Go!


Things were so busy for me these past couple of months. We made a huge life change by moving from New York City to Texas. We decided to make the change for a better life when my husband had the chance to transfer at his job. It was a difficult decision but with a little over month into our move we feel like we have made the right decision.


Moving is difficult especially when you are moving cross country and you are moving with a child. I was so busy even a couple of months before we made the final decision to move. I felt like my tasks were non stop and I didn't even have time for my sporadic bladder leakage problem. As I have mentioned before,my body changed after becoming pregnant and having my daughter. I was dealing with bladder leakage in my early to mid 30s. This is something I would have never thought I would have to address that early in life. Before learning about the Impressa Bladder Supports I was using incontinence pads. While I had a good experience with the ones from Poise I still wanted something longer lasting and more permanent. While doing a thousand and one tasks I didn't have time so the Impressa Bladder Supports were the perfect solution.


The Impressa Bladder Supports are a removable product that is non-absorbent and stops bladder leaks before they even begin. The Bladder Supports are very similar to a tampon in look and application. The supports work by gently lifting and giving support to the urethra. By supporting the urethra it prevents those episodes of bladder leakage. I love that you can leave it in for 8 hours so you don't have to think about it and get things done. The bladder supports are soft and flexible so they are easy to use and comfortable for that amount of time.



The best way to get started with the Poise Impressa Bladder supports is to get a sizing kit that you can easily find in Walmart. By getting the kit you can find the size that is a perfect fit for you. You can save up to $4 at Walmart with their rollback price and by using the $2.00 off coupon found in an insert the newspaper.



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How Mancini is Keeping Me Organized and Stylish!




Like I said in my video, moving is a full time job! It's especially hard when you have to move from one state to another and you are flying. The first thing you have to do is figure out what you want to take with you and how you are going to take it with you. I was excited to see all of the different options that eBags offers on their website. By looking at the bags I got a sense of what bags I needed and where everything would fit.



One of my biggest concerns was having all of our important paperwork, money, credit cards, id cards and personal electronics all in one secure place. The Mancini Leather Briefcase and Wallet really fit the bill on what I was looking for. The wallet had tons of pockets, folds and zippers where I could fit all of our important stuff as a family of three. It is small enough to place anywhere I wanted like my purse but big enough to hold a lot of paperwork and cards. Also included with the wallet is RFID wave blocking technology so that you don't have to worry about your credit cards and identity being stolen. I am looking forward to having the Mancini Wallet help me get through security at the airport quicker, with everything in one place.



The Mancini Briefcase was the perfect bag for all of our personal electronics. In the many zippered pockets and compartments I was able to fit my Macbook Pro, my daughter's tablet and four smartphones. I was also able to keep all of my SD cards, flash drives and cords.


Not only is the Briefcase and Wallet perfect for our journey but they are also so beautifully made. I was impressed by the color, texture and feel. The Mancini company has been creating leather goods since 1989 and take the time and effort to make their products both stylish and functional.

Check out eBags to see all of the beautiful Mancini Products they offer.


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Update: We're Moving!




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How To Stay Healthy and Active On-The-Go

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SavvySnacking #CollectiveBias


I can not believe how fast eight months have flown by on this weight loss journey. I remember how hard it was when I first started and how I had to adjust to my new way of eating. I started with small changes and eight months in I am down 70 pounds! I feel so much healthier, happier and can do so much more.


Now that the weather is warmer and I want to go out more I am taking my healthy lifestyle on-the-go. It is so much easier to live a healthy lifestyle at home when you have access to healthy food and exercise equipment. These are the steps I am taking to continue my healthy lifestyle when I am out of my controlled environment. Download and print out my Healthy and Active On-The-Go guide to have the following tips right in your bag for easy access.


Stay Hydrated: I always carry my water bottle full of filtered water. I love taking my water bottle because it's 32 ounces so I know when I drink a whole one I just have to drink one more to get in at least 64 ounces of water.

Track Activity: I love wearing my fitness tracker because it motivates me to stay active. My tracker gives me reminders to walk around when I am sitting down for too long.

Food Log: Whenever I am out for a long time and have to eat out for a meal I try to plan ahead. I always have my go-to meals that I can quickly log into my smartphone.

Stay Active: I try to find ways to keep active and burn extra calories. I like to walk up and down the outside steps of my apartment a few times to warm up. I then take my walks and try to take routes that has hills. When I go to the park with my daughter I use parts of the park to strength train like doing tricep dips on benches.


On-The-Go Snacks: Since I am on a ketogenic diet it is sometimes hard to find foods to snack on at my local convenience store so I always bring my own. When I was at my local Walmart (check out the giveaway below to win a gift card). I forgot to get myself some snacks and was already walking to the checkout. I quickly scanned what was near me and noticed the Lorissa's Kitchen Protein Snacks. The Korean Barbecue grabbed my attention and I quickly looked at the back for the macros. I was happy to see that it was just 6g of carbs per serving. I looked for other flavors and picked up the Szechuan Peppercorn and Sweet Chili Pork.





Since starting this way of eating we have made the move to eating more grass fed beef and avoiding nitrates and things with MSG. I love that the Lorissa's Kitchen Beef and Pork Strips are made with simple ingredients and no preservatives. Since the strips have a higher moisture content they are really tender and delicious.


Enter the #SavvySnackingSweepstakes for your chance to win a $100 Walmart Gift Card.

How do you stay healthy and active on-the-go? 

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