Archive for May 2022

Since completing my 20 day water fast, I have been sticking to a Keto diet and shopping only for Keto groceries. To me, Keto isn't really a diet to begin with but a lifestyle. I first tried Keto in 2019 and I lost over 20 lbs.

* This post may contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. See disclosure for more details.

* This post is not sponsored.

I looked great, I felt great, and it was a pivotal time for me in my weight loss journey because it made me realize how my body thrives. During my Keto journey, I tried various products that I loved that made doing Keto so much easier, and if you want to try them too, I have a special code you can use on Perfect Keto to get 20% off your next purchase.

"Perfect Keto 20% off code - SARAHLUCAS"

When first starting with my Keto diet, I really was all over the place. Even though I had researched Keto extensively, I had remembered everything I was able to eat so going grocery shopping was very frustrating. Almost everything that I touched had to be put back because it was too high in carbs. This led me to looking for Keto friendly products that offered me convenience and fulfilled my cravings.

The products highlighted in todays post aren't need to have a successful diet, but if you're starting out for the first time and you find yourself becoming frustrated as I was in the beginning, investing in quality Keto products will make all the different. This leads me to sharing with you all my favorite Exogenous Ketone Base by a company called Perfect Keto.

Perfect Keto Exogenous Ketone Base Powder

Perfect Keto is company that specializes in creating and selling Keto friendly supplements and food. I discovered them after thoroughly searching the web on my mission to find healthy Keto snacks and made my first purchase of their Chocolate Base powder as well as their Almond butter bars. I fell in love with both of these products and not only did they satisfy my cravings, but they also eased my symptoms of the Keto Flu due to the Chocolate Base itself having electrolytes inside of it.

Perfect Keto's Exogenous Ketone Base is formulated with ketones to help give your body a boost of Ketones. It's perfect for those just starting Keto, those who have had a heavy carb meal, or those just in need of a boost of mental clarity. I often used the base in the morning with two cups of Almond Milk before breakfast and I always felt I had more energy afterwards.

Perfect Keto Exogenous Ketone Base Powder

Scoop of Perfect Keto Base powder

The base powder is fairly strong to the average person who isn't use to consuming ketones, so it's advised to start out small before diving into a full scoop of powder. I can confirm this too since the first I used this, even half a scoop for me made my have to use the bathroom...if you know what I mean. So start out small and work your way up when you feel it's right for your body.

While I enjoy the flavor of the chocolate base, I do want to try the other flavors that Keto Perfect now has to offer; specifically their Strawberry Lemonade flavor and the Vanilla one. It's also worth mentioning that their bars are amazing as well - I know I sound like a fan girl - but they really are delicious. My personal favorites are the Almond Butter Brownie bars and their Cinnamon Roll bars.

There customer service is great too and they really go out of their way to help you have a great experience with their products. I once ordered a flavor that I wasn't really a fan of and left an honest review for it. About a day later, a representative reached out to me offering me to try a new product for free and it was super nice of them! I even ended up liking the other new flavor that I tried which is now the Cinnamon Roll bars.

Qtest Ketone Urine Test Strips

Since starting my Keto diet back up again, I also decided to buy some Ketone Strips. I came across some on Ebay and bought a small case of 100 strips; enough to hopefully last several months! I had never used Ketone strips before so I was excited to try them out so that I could get an idea of where my body was when it came to being in a state of ketosis.

The first time I tried the strips, I was in small state of ketosis; I had been doing keto for only two weeks so I assumed that it was taking more time to get further into ketosis. I then had the idea one morning of testing my ketone levels before and after taking the Perfect Keto (two hours afterwards to be exact) Base and I was shocked!

My ketone levels definitely rised drastically after two hours of taking the base powder and it was the first time since buying the ketone strips that I had ever seen myself that high in ketosis before. It really was inspiring to see but I decided to try it again for several days just to make sure that it in fact was from the base powder itself. Sure enough though, the same increase in ketones happened, so I was convinced that the Perfect Keto Base powder really works!

Low Ketone levels in AM before Base Powder

High Ketone levels 2hrs after Base powder (taken at night)

Moderate Ketone levels next day before Base Powder

So, if you're looking for quality products that you can try to help you succeed with your Keto diet, I highly recommend trying Perfect Keto products. Being someone who has struggled with weight for majority of my life, finding a wholesome product that works and helps me feel great is worth it.

If you would like to try Perfect Keto's products, I am offering a special code where you'll get 20% off all products. Simply follow this link, choose your product of interest, and use the coupon code, "SARAHLUCAS."

For those new to the Keto diet, you can watch my YouTube video below that covers everything one should know about starting a Keto diet.

Until next time! xoxo - Sarah

When I first started doing Keto, grocery shopping used to be very stressful for me. Not only was I constantly having to look up which fruit and vegetables I was able to eat and couldn't, but when it came to packaged products it was pretty common for me to have to turn down everything I touched. I've learned that when it come to grocery shopping or even eating out, being aware of everything you eat is important if you wish to stay in a state of ketosis.

I do most of my grocery shopping at Aldi's; sometimes I go to Giant even if a product happens to be out of stock. I probably go grocery shopping every two weeks and spend anywhere from $150 to even $200 if we're splurging. Some say that Keto shopping is pricey and while it is, that's only true because you're buying more produce and less processed items like cookies or cereals.

Todays post, I thought I'd share what I typically buy at Aldi's to show how easy Keto shopping really is. Even if you're not doing Keto, shopping for wholesome and healthy food items is a great way to kickstart your health.

FRUIT & VEGETABLES

My first priority is buying fruits and vegetables. I also make my shopping list according to the layout of the store too which helps me shop faster since I know how much Dimitar enjoys grocery shopping (sarcasm). To make our shopping even faster though, I divide the shopping list in half so Dimitar can take care of everything on other side of the store. By the time we meet up in the middle, we're both almost finished.

Any kind of berries
Any kind of melons
Head of broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Asparagus
Salad mix
Spinach
Romain Lettuce (mostly for the piggies)
Lemon
Herbs
Mushrooms
Cucumbers
Carrots
Celery
Bell peppers
Cherry & Roma tomatoes
Onions
Fresh garlic
Zucchini
Spaghetti squash
Avacadoes
Jalapenos

BAKING

Baking while doing Keto requires some modifications but once you get the hang of it, it's a breeze. Fortunately, Aldi's has a really good selection of keto products which helps many who are doing Keto, shop stress-free. I also enjoy that I can do most of my keto shopping in one place which is super convenient. The only product I am not able to get from Aldi's when it comes to baking products are coconut flour and monkfruit sugar (I personally do not like the sugar-free sugar they sell) so I buy both of these products online.

Almond flour
Baking soda
Baking powder
Vanilla extract
Chopped pecans/walnuts
Dark chocolate bars (Aldi's dark chocolate isn't keto friendly but I like to have a piece every now and then)
Coconut flakes

SPICES / OILS / SAUCES

I don't normally stock up on spices because they last me a pretty long time but occasionally I grab a few items here and there. I also stay away from vegetable oil unless I'm frying but even then, I try not to use it so much since I break out with acne from it.

Garlic powder
Onion powder
Italian seasoning
Salt & pepper
Red pepper flakes
Olive oil
Coconut oil
Guacamole

DAIRY / MILK / CHEESE

I don't remember when, but I stopped drinking milk a long time ago. Now, I drink almond milk and I haven't looked back ever since. I do still enjoy eating yoghurt but I consider it a snack that I can only indulge in when I know my carb intake is very low; unless it's keto friendly yoghurt which I don't think Aldi's sells. As for cheese, I enjoy cheese in many dishes I make so it's quite a staple for me, especially when doing Keto.

Colby Jack shredded cheese
Shredded Mozzarella cheese
String cheese
White cheddar slices
Sour cream
Ricotta cheese
Heavy cream
Almond milk
Vanilla yoghurt
Cottage cheese (sometimes)
Tofu

MEATS

While I do enjoy mostly eating plant-based dishes, I decided this year that I was going to up my protein game by eating more chicken and fish. I've tried doing keto while being strictly vegetarian and it was hard finding ways to get protein into my diet which helped me feel more full after meals. I had turned to eating eggs so much that I quickly grew tired of them!

Thinly sliced organic chicken breast
Salmon or Trout
Grass fed organic ground beef
Eggs
Shrimp

FROZEN GOODS

I personally love the convenience of having frozen items to turn to. After all, there are plenty of days where I really don't feel like cooking. Somedays though it's a hit of miss at Aldi's and one day they will have what I'm looking for and then the next time I go shopping, they will be completely out of stock. It's a bummer, but not the end of the world.

Frozen green beans
Frozen mixed vegetables
Frozen broccoli
Frozen asparagus
Frozen rice cauliflower

SNACKS

I say snacks but it really depends on what Aldi's has. Also, my idea of snacks may be different than yours if you aren't doing keto! While Aldi's has many keto products labeled keto friendly based off of net carbs - I rarely count net carbs as it's a great way to make sure I know what I'm eating. If you count net carbs though and it works for you, that's great, but I personally don't. I also munch on vegetables or fruit as snacks too or I bake them even.

Macadamia nuts
Mixed nuts w/ sea salt
Keto Coconut Clusters (New fav!)
Cheddar Cauliflower chips

And there you go - a easy Keto shopping list that you can use as a guide to help you shop Keto the next time you're in Aldi's. If you shop at Aldi's and have found items not mentions here, let me know in the comment section below! Also, if you would like a complete break down of everything I bought in my most recent shopping trip, you can watch my vlog below!

Until next time! xoxo - Sarah

I'm sure you've heard about it by now but for the past few weeks, the Johnny Depp trial against Amber Heard has been unfolding and it has really shed light on how men can experience domestic violence too in an intimate relationship. I am not familiar with such abuse myself, but I am familiar with being manipulated to a degree that caused me a great deal of stress. As the trial unfolds, I've spent hours watching it live on YouTube and found so many red flags that were hard to deny.

It's crazy how even Johnny Depp's trial against Amber Heard has polarized people. I have heard from many victims of some form of abuse how portrayed they feel to see someone of Amber Heard's status make such allegations because they see through her claims as being false with underlying intentions. Then there are those who tip toe around the psychology or facts altogether and take everything as face value. Regardless, it's always important to face the facts, not your own bias.

I personally believe both Jonny and Amber have their troubled pasts and naturally this bled into their relationship together. From my own experiences and knowledge, I side with Johnny just because of the alarming amount evidence and testimonies that has been provided to prove that he was a victim of domestic violence and Amber was the abuser; the audios of her admitting to such abuse are a prime example! There is still much of the trial left for it to come to a final decision, but either way, this trail will prove to many how serious domestic violence is, both to men and women, and we shouldn't take the matter lightly.

A portrait of Bella

As you all may have seen from either blog posts on here or from my vlogs on YouTube, I walk a dog named Bella. I've only known her for less than a year, and it was only a few days ago that I recieved a message from her owner that she passed away. It broke my heart because I had seen her only a day before that message, and I remember Bella being perky and fully of life.

My sadness hit me hard and naturally when ever this happens, I turn to art. Art has always been a therapy for me, a way to escape really, so I decided to draw a portrait of Bella. I've never drawn a dog portrait before, but I found myself tuning into Bella's kind soul and within 3 hours the portrait was done. I cried a little, thought about my own two piggies even and how they were getting older, and it all left me pretty emotional.

For my first dog portrait, I was really impressed with Bella's. I like to believe she was helping me draw because whenever I use to keep her company while her owners were out of town, I'd sit in the kitchen and draw while she napped near me. I enjoyed her company and she enjoyed mine and I could easily relate to her energy. I've never had a dog of my own before, but I would love to have a dog like Bella; loving, playful, youthful, and loyal. I've printed her portrait out and bought an envelope so that when I see her owners, I can give her the portrait and I know she will love it.

Fan art for State of Decay 2

With all of the art that I have been creating lately, I must have hit a art bug, because I found myself sketching a bit more. I have been playing a lot of State of Decay 2 and since it has become one of my favorite games to play now, I decided to make some fan art. I drew an original character, looking tired and worn out, who was completely decked out with weapons - ready for anything.

Near her, I decided to draw all of the enemies found in the game itself; ferral, juggernaut, zeds, screamer, and a bloater. I wasn't going to draw anything else because I wanted the focus to be on those two, but I really wanted to create a scene, so I decided to draw a background. I'm happy I did too because it fits really well with everything. I draw little shops in the background with a mountain in view and I think it really captured what I had envisioned.

The best part about this little sketch is that it made me realize how fun just sketching was. I don't have to worry about coloring or any of that - I can just sketch and still have fun. There is something so relaxing about sketching and the line work that makes a drawing look so put together. It's also a lot harder too though because you have to be mindful of shadows and depth so as I practice, hopefully I will get better.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's in the world

Mothers day also passed which took me by surprised. I have been so involved in recording videos for YouTube or the shock from Bella passing, or just about anything, that I completely forgot about Mother's Day. I only remembers when Dimitar came up with a bouquet of flowers to put near my mom's photo which made me tear up; he also gave me a bright pink rose too since I was a mama of two fat piggies. I ended up putting it with my mom's flowers which really went well together.

I spent that day thinking of my mom a lot. As you all know, she passed away two years ago and while the pain isn't as intense anymore, the absence of her will always bother me. I spent time being grateful for her love, for her looking over me and caring for the family, and wishing her happiness and joy. If it weren't for my own mother, I wouldn't be here today to do what I love, and for that I am eternally grateful.

So to all the mother's in the world, Happy Mother's Day. Thank you for your support, the immense love you give, the sacrifices you endure, the strength you radiate because it's this strength that balances the world and makes it a better place. The world really is a better place because of mothers. So thank you.

Snickers recovered from a cold

I haven't written about it, but Snickers fell sick some weeks ago. He had signs of a cold; runny nose, not eating much or popping, very weak and slept a lot. His brother also got sick but wasn't as bad as Snickers. So, as I do when one of them catches a cold, I pamper them.

Every morning, I would give Snickers a full tube of Critter Care - which is grounded up hay and other minerals - that one can use for tube feed animals that are sick or recovering. I Normally tube fed Snickers 2x a day, morning and night, and gave him doses of Vitamin C 3x a day. I also gave Twix extra Vitamin C too since he was showing mild symptoms.

I did this for about 4 days and by the 5th day, Snickers improved greatly so much. Twix also improved too! Snickers was eating fresh greens much faster, he started fighting with more whenever I tube fed him which was what he normally did when ever I tried to hold him. He also started moving around the cage more too with his brother who really missed interacting with him. I learned my lesson though which was to never skimp out of Vitamin C. Since I had been stressed out from so much happening lately, I forgot the most fundamental thing to give to my piggies - never again!

Aldi's Keto Clusters - AMAZING

On days where I go grocery shopping, it always fills me with joy. Going from an empty fridge to a fully stocked one - it's the best. As it turns out too, Aldi's had new items for sale and I discovered an amazing keto product that I encourage everyone to try. It's called Keto Coconut Clusters with dark chocolate and OMG are they insanely good. They're so good that Dimitar loved them even - and he hates dark chocolate!

One ounce of these clusters comes with 9grams of carbs or 4g of net carbs if you count that; even this is still good! The chocolate used in these clusters is 82% dark chocolate but you can hardly even tell because of the taste of the coconut flakes and salted seeds inside. I am not a fan of coconut, but these clusters really made my heart fill with joy. Dimitar and I have already ate most of them and plan on going back to Aldi's just to buy more.

Because of how simple the ingredients are too, I'm sure I could even make these at home. I just need dark chocolate, coconut flakes, pumpkins seeds, sunflower seeds, keto friendly sugar, coconut oil or butter, and then some quinoa. I'll definitely try to make these though because they really are amazing and I'm really happy Aldi's is selling them! It's definitely one of my new favorites!

Keto friendly snack

So delicious!

Well, this competes what I have been up to lately. I hope you're enjoy yourself, and the weather too if you're on the east coast. I am hoping to have a vlog up soon so stay tuned for that on my YouTube channel!

Until next time! xoxo - Sarah

After my water fast ended, I knew right away that I was going to start a Keto diet. I've done Keto before two years ago and it really has been the only "diet" that has left me feeling amazing. A week before my water fast was up, I had plenty of time on my hand's to prepare Keto recipes that I wanted to enjoy or at least try out. Introducing to you the really addicting - you can't tell it's keto - cheese biscuits!

* This post may contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. See disclosure for more details.

* This post is not sponsored.

I discovered these biscuits on a blog called It's A Big Mans World and Arman, the owner, has so many wonderful recipes whether you're doing Keto or not. I'd highly recommend you check his blog out if you're in need of wholesome recipes! Also, these biscuits may be Keto, but they're so delicious that even my boyfriend loved them - and he isn't even doing Keto! The flavors in these biscuits truly come together and create a buttery, cheesy, biscuit that will satisfy anyone's cravings! Plus, they're so easy to make.

The main ingredient you will need to make these delicious biscuits is super-fine almond flour - everything else you will most likely already have in your pantry. Since I make these biscuits literally when I am almost out, I go through almond flour all the time! Because of this, I normally buy my almond flour either from Walmart or Bj's since they always have great prices for a 2 lbs bag. Since this recipe takes 1 1/2 cups of flour, it's worth stocking up!

It's important to use super-fine almond flour too because anything else will completely change the texture of your biscuits. Of course, if you like to experiment, you're welcome to try other flours, but personally, super-fine almond flour has been a win-win for me!

Bj's Almond Flour

The first step when making these biscuits is to leave out two eggs so that they become room temperature. If you don't have time for this, you can either put them in a bowl of warm water for 5-10 minutes, or just use cold eggs. I have made this recipe with cold eggs before and it actually helps these biscuits maintain their shape while baking in the oven so no worries if you wish to go that route.

Next, you'll want to mix all of your dry ingredients together; flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add in chopped cold butter and mix with a fork until the mixture resembles crumbs. This process normally takes a few minutes so it's worth it to make sure there are no big clumps of butter sticking out - although a buttery biscuit isn't necessarily a bad thing!

Once your butter is evenly mixed in, you can then add in your wet ingredients; eggs, milk, and cheese. I really enjoy using Colby Jack Cheese because of the flavor but you can use whatever cheese you like; I have personally tried mozzarella and even parmesan cheese, so get creative. Mix your batter until the eggs are incorporated - your mixture should be thick.

I have been curious to add other ingredients into this recipe; like finely chopped broccoli since I love how it tastes with cheese. I may just end up trying that the next time I bake these, but it just goes to show you how versatile these biscuits really are! One recipe with so many different variations - my kind of recipe!

Since I like biscuits to all have a uniform shape, I use a 1/4 measuring cup to scoop out my mixture. Before I scoop the mixture up though, I wet the inside of the cup with water - shake out the excess water - and then scoop out mixture. This helps the mixture slide out easier when adding it onto your baking sheet which will make your life a bit easier when you're hungry for some biscuits!

I don't pat these biscuits down either, I leave them at their current height and if they seem too flat, I'll plump them up with a spoon. If you find that your biscuits are too flat or spread too much, you can pop them in the fridge for 10 minutes or more to help firm up the butter. It also helps to measure out your ingredients exactly! I once added too much baking soda by accident which gave me weird tasting biscuits and flat ones at that - I still ate them of course...

And there you go - buttery, cheesy, biscuits that will satisfy your cravings no matter what diet you have! They're one of my favorite recipes of all that I have right now and I'm so excited to try more. Personally, when I find great Keto recipes that help me enjoy my meals a bit more, it's a great feeling and helps me stick with eating healthy and clean.

So if you try these biscuits out, let me know what your thoughts are and if you're addicted to them too like I am!

Until next time! xoxo - Sarah

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