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My experience with loss
The following is based off of some stories that got deleted in August 2022, like 10 in a row within seconds of each other. Super frustrating when talking about a personal experience like this. I ended up deleting all of the stories then because they no longer made sense since tidbits here and there were missing.
First and foremost thank you to my trolls who screenshot, screen record, and document my every move. This video or blog post would not be possible without you. I’m sure I am taking up a lot of storage on your iPhones. Hopefully they come out with some extra gigabytes for you all soon <3
No but actually one of my followers sent me this from a hate page so thankful you can see some of my stories here if you missed them. In the beginning I was just talking about our new Night Cap product and how it is one of those products you just HAVE to trust me on!!! It is literally the best sleep product. I struggled for a long time with sleep products because I always wakeup the next day feeling like crap, so they are to worth it to me. I have brain fog, feel exhausted, and even get headaches. Night Cap was created to help you relax, turn off your mind, fall asleep, and STAY asleep, while also helping you feel rested and refreshed in the morning. No brain fog here! That was one of the most important things to me when this product was created. I’m so proud of this product and I hope you will give it a shot.
Next I was talking about Goddess, and a bit about my miscarriages. You can watch those stories below, and then I shared more on my miscarriages below. If you are struggling to get or stay pregnant my heart is with you. Whatever the reasoning may be I hope you trust God and listen to your body first and foremost.
stories that got deleted
Well, I never really planned to write a blog post on this or even get super into detail. I never shared when it happened publicly, let alone with anyone I knew besides my best friend Jayleigh, and of course John. I had 3 losses in a year prior to having Emmy. Totally unexplained. I did ALL the expensive testing you could do hoping something would come up and nothing ever did. I was young and truthfully not trying to conceive by any means. But after not getting pregnant for so long, off of birth control, and absolutely not being careful, we kinda just thought we couldn’t get pregnant. Maybe that’s naive to think or say but like I said, we were young.
But then in 2018 I missed my period and took a test. Positive. I freaked out and took another test, then another, all positive. I guess I was going to be a mom after all! A few weeks went by and I remember having a lash client on the table (throwback if you remember me doing eyelash extensions), I was cramping so bad. I kinda felt like I maybe just got my period so I got up and went to the bathroom. I was 100% sure I was having a miscarriage. I cancelled the rest of my clients and went to my doctor. We tested my Hcg levels and my doctor told me to come back in 48 hours and we can test them again. We can see if my pregnancy is continuing or not. That was the longest 48 hours of my life. But I knew the whole time that I lost our baby. In my eyes there was no positive outcome. It happened and I buried it and called it a day. Once again back to thinking I would never get to be a mom
Then the same thing happened a few months later. I did bloodwork, another loss. My doctor said if it happened one more time she would order all the testing to see what was going on. At this point being so young, it was weird to think about having a baby cause we weren’t really ready, but it was even more scary for us to think of the long road we may have ahead of us trying to conceive. At this point I didn't want to be on birth control and it was somewhat hard to track my periods. It happened again. I skipped all of the Hcg testing this time cause I knew what was happening. I just made a normal appointment to get all of my bloodwork done. Full panels, genetic testing, hormone testing, everything.
Thousands of dollars and weeks later I had absolutely nothing. I think for a lot of us that can be the hardest part. Nothing comes up. There’s no reason the doctor can give us why this isn’t happening for us. Maybe I’m just speaking for myself but I know others who feel that way too. You almost want an answer because it’s easier for them to say “this is the exact reason why” and then fix the issue. It’s easier to have a pinpointed reason than it is to have absolutely no reason at all. When you have nothing you feel helpless and you’re relying on a prayer.
During the next year I got healthier. I lost weight after gaining quite a bit of weight, I ate healthier, I reduced stress, I did what I could. My doctor told me if I get a positive pregnancy test to take baby aspirin every day. In April 2019 I did just that, and I have Emerson Grace to show for it. She is my rainbow baby. We’d never been so ready and simultaneously not ready in our lives. We had legitimately accepted we would not have children. We never spoke about it. It was like a hush hush unspoken thing between us. I felt shame like I could not provide the love of my life with a child, and was mad at myself because I had always wanted to be a mom. So I just buried it every day. I never brought it up. If I brought it up it could be real and could be true so it was easier to not talk about.
That was really such a strange out of body time of my life. It’s SO lonely. People talk about it a lot more now so you feel kind of less alone, but not really. It happens so fast and what are you supposed to say about it? And what are others supposed to you? All there really is to say is “i’m so sorry for your loss” and then there’s not much left. And I really feel that way. There’s nothing anyone could have said to soothe it or make it better so I just didn’t want to even go there. Even worse, if you’re in the public eye and you talk about it then you want attention, and if you don’t and then bring it up later you’re lying. So really you can’t win.
If you’re going through this just know that I have been there. A lot of us have been there and it actually is so common. So much of it has to do with us being exposed to crap toxins daily in our food, cosmetics and environment. It’s hard to avoid. Not to mention we are the generation of birth control which is a whole other topic. I will never get back on BC ever again cause it is not right for me and I encourage you to do your own research. I do not eat perfectly and I do still use products that are not considered “clean”. I have found it difficult to cut those things out of my life. I try to make conscious decisions and as you know I use Goddess, which I firmly believe contributes to me maintaining my body’s health and balance.
†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
House paint + most asked about decor
One of the reasons we fell in love with this house was the massive built ins in the living room. The color feels like home to me for some reason. It is the perfect grey with a touch of blue hint. It offers a cool neutral while still providing a level of warmth. It’s kind of hard to describe unless you see and feel it in person, but I get asked about the color more than anything else in our house, so I know that it is loved by all. The color is Benjamin Moore Silver Song. They used this color on all of the trim in our home too, and the kitchen walls and ceiling. I will say, we plan to paint or shiplap the ceiling just to provide more dimension, but the color is my favorite not matter what!
A few pieces on our book shelf I wanted to link, that I get asked about frequently, are below.
The wall colors of almost our entire house are PPG shark, which apparently is no longer made. We had to color match to repaint a few areas and th ecode they used is on the paint can photo below. The only room that is different is our bedroom, which is Benjamin Moore Conservative Grey. And all of the white trim in our home is Benjamin Moore White Dove.
I get asked about this gallery wall quite frequently. I just ordered the natural wood color as well. These frames are my favorite I have found and so easy to use. They come with a hanging blueprint as well to make it stress free for you. No measuring needed!
The couches are from a local store, and the rug is linked here. I had this rug in our bedroom at our old house and swapped it for the living room here because I felt like it really offered something bright for this space, while incorporating the grey from the bookcases. Still figuring out where I am adding my pop of color in this room, probably with couch pillows. These current ones are seasonal but very comfy, from Target!
I know I will get a couple questions about Emmy’s pink table. You are going to have to search your local Target in the summer for the table. It will be in seasonal and it comes in lots of colors. I think the chairs are $10 each and the table was $20. I am going to grab more of those chairs this year if I see them!
The bar stools in our kitchen are linked here, and the hanging pendant lights here. I also have a dupe of these lights here, and the long version we have hanging in our dining room, which you can slightly see in the photo above if you look through the doorway. In hindsight I probably would have bought the dupe because of the price difference, but I will say, the detail on the kitchen pendants is amazing and even the electrician said when he was hanging them that the light was extremely high quality like he doesn’t usually see.
Emmy’s kitchen helper is linked here. It comes in several colors and it has been a favorite addition to our home. Something so simple offers so much joy and really connects your toddler to you when yo are cooking, doing dishes, or even eating.
You can better see the long light here in the dining room, with my favorite piece of art in our home. Typically my mom doesn’t buy me art that I love, but she knocked it out of the park with this one. I love this buffalo painting so much. We get asked about our table and chairs quite a bit too, and the table is very old, but the chairs are regularly stocked in a few colors and everyone swoons over them. Our rug in here is a Ruggable rug and it’s great for the dining room because they are very thin. And lastly, our larger olive tree. I would get an olive tree in every room if it wasn’t overkill.
My bedroom is one of my favorite spaces in our house. It is so relaxing to me with the light neutral colors and the cozy chairs and bed. I feel like we have good texture in here, and styling a home is definitely all about texture. I am trying to incorporate that into other rooms throughout the house.
My toddler was nice enough to rub her watermelon onto one of my comfy white chairs, and I took this photo pre cleaning it off with a combination of my favorite spot cleaning spray and the best spot cleaning machine I have ever gotten my hands on.
Small olive tree plant on table
Blinds- these are the same brand in my entire house.
Table is from Laurie’s locally
Then we have the best of the best, THE MIRROR. The most splurgeworthy home piece that exists. Like the olive tree, I would put one of these in every room if I could. It comes in so many colors and sizes! I have the 7 foot gold
The paint color of our bathroom cabinets we just did is Benjamin Moore Feather Down, and the blue laundry room color is Benjamin Moore Mt. Ranier Grey. The bathroom is about to look a whole lot different with new countertops and sinks! I cant wait to see how that turns out. I will update photos when it is done, and add a better laundry room photo when it is not under construction as well!
I also get asked about the veery dark, emerald green toned grey we have in our office. It covers the walls and built ins. The color is from magnolia, and it is Duke Grey
Makeup routine favorites
My favorite makeup over the years that has been tried and true.
My routine looks different each day based on how my skin is doing, what kind of coverage I’m seeking, where I’m going, and what the weather is like. There’s so many different product that I truly love and use consistently. I’m going to list those out here for you. Remember to try them on your own so you can find whats best for you, and don’t always rely on one product to get the job done!
My favorite brushes:
Foundation, cream blush, buffing-
Concealer brush
this is a smaller version of the above brush, and it is less dense, but I use it daily!
Foundation/primer/concealer favorites:
Medium Coverage
This foundation is one I only use when I have self tan on already covering some of my imperfections. I use shade 7 neutral with a tan. It is very lightweight and glowy. I still layer it with concealer and bronzer.
Matte Foundation
This is a full coverage foundation that is going to leave a powdered finish look. I love this for a hot sunny day where my face may already get oily and need powder. I use shade bare. I have a site wide discount code ALIGREEN that you can use to save!
Full Coverage Foundation
This one will leave you with a more natural skin finish. I use this if my skin is dry because I find that it offers the best coverage for dry skin areas. If I am tan I use shade rattan and and if I’m not tan I use shade cool bone. I also mix them if i need an in between shade.
SPF tinted moisturizer
I use this one when I am going out and need more of a “makeup” look with light/medium coverage. You can use it as a primer before your foundation if you want. I wear shade medium.
BEST FOR THE POOL/BEACH
Hands down by far no matter what kind of a look you are going for you NEED this for any pool or beach days. The protection is unmatched and the coverage will blend to any skin color. It is skincare based formula so it is not going to clog your pores or be bad for your skin in any way. You can stack your makeup on it however you want but START WITH THIS!!! If you don’t want the tinted version, the regular version is below. I cannot live without this stuff.
THE BEST-NON TINTED
Hands down by far the absolute best SPF for your skin on pool and beach days, or if you are having a run outside. This is skincare level SPF so it will not clog your pores or be bad for your skin!
FAVORITE PRIMER
This primer has been my favorite for the last few months. It really gives you such a nice canvas to work on. This is something you will apply prior to a full coverage foundation. The order should be SPF of your choice>primer>foundation. Use code ALIGREEN sitewide to save
Light Coverage Brightening Concealer
This has been a long time favorite of mine, but I did recently start using the shape tape creamy formula more often because this one is not as full coverage as that. I find this one better for just a light brightening under the eye.
Full Coverage Concealer
This has been my go to since having two under two. Nothing but this can cover the bags my eyes have! I use the creamy formula because the original one was just a little too cakey for me. This one nailed it, though! And bonus that is covers a pimple well too!
Liquid Blush For Everyone
I love this glowy liquid blush- it is the only shade I have found to be perfect for all skin tones. For a lighter look I wear this alone but on a heavier makeup day. I do top it with a powder blush.
Powders:
Favorite Powder Blush
This shade tops the above liquid perfectly, but also stands on it’s own well if you don’t want to use them together, and is another one that matches everyones skin. It’s called melba. It is one I have been using for 4 years now and I will never stop!
Peony Pink Spring/Summer Blush
I started trying this one recently- it’s actually a cream blush but you apply it like a powder. It is VERY pigmented so a little goes a long way, but it is long lasting and clean beauty. I love this for spring and summer.
Favorite Bronzer
This bronzer has been a long time favorite of mine. It is huge so it lasts forever, and the color is just perfect. I think it’s hard to find a bronzer that doesn’t make you orange, and this has been the best one for me! I use shade medium.
Bronze + Glow
This is a similar version of the above but a little bit more of a neutral shade. It comes with the glow side and I love this. I throw it in my purse for long days when I leave the house for touch ups. The glow is just right and now overwhelming.
Lippies:
Toasted Liner
This has been my recent favorite liner and I have been pairing it with sugar gloss below… the combination is UNMATCHED! It’s the perfect light nude pink combo. You can use code ALIGREEN to save.
Pinky Nude
This gloss is the best nude pink I have found. It’s not sticky and it wont disappear off your lips like a lot of glosses do. The shade is SUGAR. You can use code ALIGREEN to save.
A Different Kind of Lip
These are very unique and I love them. It’s almost like a gloss and a balm combined into one, but it offers a lot of color and hydration to your lips. My two favorite shades are Orchid and Coconut, but I actually own every single shade. I am always throwing these in my bag. They are not sticky and I highly suggest trying these because everyone I know is now hooked on them. Use them alone or with your favorite liner.
MY SUPPLEMENT ROUTINE
What supplements I take and how I stack them throughout the day
This is a long overdue post because I am constantly getting asked how I use each of the supplements I take, and most importantly WHEN! I want to do a little disclaimer here and preface that I am pretty familiar with supplements and my body. If you are just jumping into supplements for the first time, you might need to find the routine that works for you. Use this time to discover more about yourself and your body!
Here is a list of the supplements I take daily (or almost daily):
MultiVitamin
Protein*
* This means I don’t necessarily consume this every single day, it just depends on what my routine looked like that day, since life varies!
To see the benefits of each supplement, just click the list above and it will take you directly to their
Let’s start with the morning. Every single morning I take my fat burner (instead of coffee). I use the regular fat burner and it gives me the morning energy I need as well as curbs my appetite to help me fast easily. I typically have my fasting schedule set to where I am fasting through the morning, and my first meal of the day tends to be late afternoon. This is not the same fasting schedule each day, and if there is a special date I have or a holiday this fasting schedule varies. I work my supplements with my fasting schedule (if you don’t fast you can work them into your eating schedule since a fasting and eating schedule are virtually the same thing, just opposites of each other.) If you want to know more about intermittent fasting let me know in the comments below and I can do a whole post about my journey I started back in 2017. We created an entire guide on fasting, so to jump right in just click here. I want to note that our fat burner does NOT break your fast. We actually specifically designed it so that you could use it to HELP you fast, not hurt your fast.
Moving on to the afternoon, which is when I typically have my first meal of the day. Some of these supplements need to be taken with a meal, so if you have your first meal as breakfast when you wakeup, just take yours with breakfast! I will be taking mine with my lunch. I take my Goddess and Multivitamin with my meal. And shortly afterwards I will have either a coffee with collagen in it, or strike pre-workout (neither of these ones need to be taken with a meal). If I am using my afternoon to workout I be sure to take my pre-workout to utilize all of the amazing benefits it has to help you have a great workout. It has such a clean feeling, which really is rare with pre workouts. If mom life or work is preventing me from getting that afternoon workout in, I will drink a coffee and add my collagen to it. I don’t always drink my collagen with coffee, but it is a quick easy way to get it in while you are enjoying an afternoon pick me up! As for multivitamins, I don’t have a specific one to recommend at this time because I grab whatever we have at the house or a random one at the store. I have been struggling to find one I am currently obsessed with since postpartum. I’ll be on the lookout!
I find that in the evening I usually want to have something other than water with dinner. This is the perfect time to enjoy a sweet iced tea- and by that I mean GREENS! I love my greens so much because it actually tastes delicious. I look forward to drinking it. You can drink this any time of the day, really, but I love to enjoy it with a meal. I also drink my non-stim most nights. You can drink this to curb any sweets cravings you might be having, and you can literally drink it right before bed it you want, because it’s not going to keep you up.
As for protein, I like to find one that tastes good to use as a sweets craving. I have several different proteins I love (including one that hasn’t hit the market yet 👀) But protein can be taken any time of day. It can be taken as a snack, dessert, meal replacement, etc. You just take it as needed! Some of my favorites listed below:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JHZNLR1?ref=exp_aligreen13_dp_vv_d
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096LBN13M?ref=exp_aligreen13_dp_vv_d
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006OC432E?ref=exp_aligreen13_dp_vv_d
If you’re not sure how to get your collagen in because you wouldn’t drink yours with coffee like I do, you can mix it into your greens, a smoothie, yogurt, oatmeal, your protein, really anything. It is unflavored (not flavorless you-might taste a slight protein like flavor) so you can add it to whatever. If I don’t have a coffee I still take mine daily. Typically right now I am mixing it into a yogurt on those days.
I know that some of you probably think it’s a lot of stuff to DRINK during the day. The way I look at it is that you need to get your liquids in anyways and stay hydrated. You should be drinking way more water than this throughout the day anyways, so at least add some enjoyable supps to the water! We do have a capsulated version of our fat burner, so you can always take that instead of the drink, although the flavors are incredible!!!
Another common question is if things can all be stacked. The answer is yes. As of right now all of our supplements are designed to be stacked. The only ones we are careful with are the regular fat burner and strike pre-workout (because they both contain a lot of caffeine). We suggest that you wait at least 4 hours between taking them, longer if you are not typically taking a lot of caffeine.
BAHAMAS
Travel to the Bahamas during COVID
The most asked about question of the month was about our Bahamas trip….
Let me start by saying that we have now been to Baha Mar 3 times. I love the Bahamas, and it really is such a close and easy trip. I know the thing everyone is most curious about is how it is with COVID, so let’s start there.
COVID
It’s fairly easy to travel to Nassau during COVID. I am not vaccinated so this is my experience as an unvaccinated traveler. One person we were with was vaccinated and she had to do most of the same things we did, aside from testing upon arrival day one.
You need to take a PCR test within 3 days of traveling. We took ours on a Monday, flew out on Wednesday. We did pay to do a private lab guaranteed 24 hour turnaround time and I recommend doing that especially because you never know how long the tests take when you do the free ones.
Once you have your test results, you will need to fill out a Bahamas Health Visa here. It will ask for your test results and passport info as well as all the details of your travel. You get approved fairly quickly (mine took about 5 hours) and then you pay the associated fee which is currently either $40 or $60 based on your length of stay. I already had a profile from last January, because I had to do all the same COVID protocols when I went last year as well, so you can reuse the same profile and it’s quick since all of your info is saved.
You will get a QR code which is your health visa, screenshot that, screenshot your negative COVID test, also print them out so you have physical copies just in case. You will need to upload your test and QR code for your airline to travel or present it at check in for your flight.
Upon arrival you do a day Rapid test and go straight to your room where you get your results in about 30 minutes then you are cleared to go enjoy yourself. The test is free and provided by the hotel. You need that QR code so they can upload your results to your Health Visa.
The following day (day 2) you need to do another rapid test. Same thing, free and bring your QR code. Make sure you also fill out your daily health survey. Those are sent via email and you must complete them every day. It asks if you feel sick. That’s it. takes 30 seconds.
If you are staying 5 nights, you need to do a day 5 test as well, we left on day 5 so we avoided that one, but last year we did the day 5 test cause we stayed a week. All the testing is extremely easy. You can pop in and test and go right back to the pool. They email you your results.
Before you leave back to the US you need another test. It has to be within 24 hours, we took ours at 5:30 Saturday night then flew on Sunday at 3:45. You will need to upload those test results to your airline and bring them with you to fly back in.
Baha Mar really makes it so easy to do. There was never a line to test and it took 5 minutes out of my day to do each test needed. It also just adds peace of mind that everyone around you is tested 24/7. If you do test positive their current policy is they will fly you back private med evac or you quarantine at the hotel free.
Now for the Resort.. I won’t lie, since COVID things aren’t as amazing as they were before as far as hospitality goes. I feel like that’s how it is EVERYWHERE though. They just lost a lot of their staff when they had closed down and now being fully reopened they are having staff shortages like everyone else plus training new people. I think every single meal we had, something was forgotten. It was always something I ordered (lol). But that’s okay we are going to give a pass! They are working on it! And the grounds make up for that. They are stunning and there is so much to do. It is great for a family or for a couple’s trip. You won’t be disappointed by the resort at all. One other thing we noticed was that the food prices have SKYROCKETTED. Be prepared for that. They were always expensive because Bahamas has a high tourist tax called a VAT plus Baha Mar has a service charge which is not a tip. So for every meal add about 30%, even coffee. And like I said, that doesn’t include a tip. Honorable mention restaurants are COSTA and MARCUS. Costa is Mexican food and the atmosphere is my favorite. It is surrounded by water with koi fish. Marcus was brand new and on the beach. It was beautiful. Get the Whole fried chicken!!! You can pass on Carna, overpriced and the food is meh. If you want cheap bites don’t forget they have a pizza place, sugar factory, and food trucks. I also love Cafe Madeline for breakfast and pastries. You can see all of the food options here.
Activities on the property: the infinity pool that is on the beach is Baha Beach Club. It’s roped off and you have to pay. I think chairs start at $75 and then they charge up to $1000 for cabanas on busy days. It’s secluded and not super busy since they manage entry and it is roped off. That is actually right inside of their new waterpark which was incredible. We spent so much time here. It is only open to resort guests so it’s not too busy. If you go before 11 there will be absolutely no lines at all. The other infinity pool you may have seen on my page in photos is the Nexus club. You have access to that if you stay in the Hyatt Reserve. There is honestly an endless amount of pools on the property. You’d have to stay for over a week to be able to enjoy them all. They are all different. Another favorite of mine is the pool that has a cave and a tank of turtles, fish, and sharks. Those same turtles and sharks you can do an experience with and go feed them. They have a whole array of wildlife on the property. They have flamingos and tortoises they walk a few times a week, and you can also do experiences with them. We did the flamingos when we took Emmy last year. It was awesome. They even had a bird aviary, which we didn’t make it to this time, but you can feed the birds and they will land on you. They’re all tiny tropical parrots. Another activity is the mini golf, don’t forget that it’s there cause it’s fun! But you have to know it’s there or you won’t find it. It’s by the tennis courts. Lastly (other than the ocean which you can obviously do many things to enjoy) is the casino. It’s so fun! There was a few fights when we were there this time which we had never seen in the past, so just a heads up. Be smart. Watch your drinks. Be with a group.
Off the property activities: The first time we wen to Bahamas we did the swimming pigs experience which was SO fun. We did a private flight there, but there’s also a boat ride. The private flight is kinda a sketchy plane but it will get you there quicker cause the boat is 2.5 hours there, then 2.5 hours back. Set it up through the hotel.
Okay now let’s talk about the hotels themselves. There are three on the property. I have only ever stayed at the Hyatt. It is the cheapest (except the Reserve which is a more expensive part). It is not like your typical Hyatt- it is VERY nice. The basic level rooms are gorgeous. John wants to try the Rosewood next time just to experience it, but I seriously could stay at the basic Hyatt rooms every time and that would be fine with me - and I am boujee about hotels so I promise that’s saying a lot. To me, the Rosewood and the SLS don’t offer anything more, and the rooms are not much different The style is just different. That’s really all you are paying for because the restaurants are all the same. You will use the Hyatt property the most on your stay even if you stay at Rosewood or SLS cause the Hyatt has all of the main stuff within it. I would save your money.
For bigger rooms or a more luxe experience there is The Reserve within the Hyatt. We stayed here the last two times in two different kinds of rooms because last year we had Emmy and our nanny with us, and this year we brought some friends with us so we shared a two bedroom villa. The reserve is cool cause you get access to the Nexus Club and you get 24/7 butler service, but to be honest I didn’t even know what to use the butler for and only had him bring Starbucks to us once and he changed one reservation once. It’s nice that you can text someone if you have a question at any time. I like the regular Hyatt rooms the best still as far as the style goes.
If you have any other specific questions you can ask in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer!
Thanksgiving Menu & Recipes
What’s on the menu at the James house and all of the recipes I use.
MENU
Charcuterie Board
Mac n Cheese
Mashed Potatoes
Peas n Corn
Sweet Potato Casserole
Cranberry Sauce
Rolls
Cornbread Stuffing
Turkey
Gravy
Peanut Butter Pie
It’s good to note that I definitely don’t make everything from scratch. I believe some things, if you find the right ones, are perfectly fine from a box. I also believe in prepping the day before. I’d rather pop everything in the oven and let it be while I enjoy time with family and friends.
Charcuterie Board
This is one of my favorites. If you have extra table space somewhere, make it an entire spread. Get some brown paper, (easily found on amazon here) and spread it across the table. Add assortments of cheese, meat, nuts, spread, crackers, fruits, veggies- ANYTHING. The best part about a charcuterie board is you can completely make it your own. I’m not going to give you step by step directions for this. But I do have a couple tips.
1. Use different levels. stack cutting boards and bowls around your whole spread to give it a less flat look.
2. Add in decorative pieces- a pumpkin, an apple, a turkey trinket- it makes a difference!
3. Pinterest inspo. If you are feeling lost, thats my go to!
What’s nice is you don’t really have to think about another appetizer outside of this because people will be grazing on it the whole time.
Turkey
I tried to find the exact recipe I used last year but did not have any luck. This recipe is just about the same so I am going to trust my gut here.
Ingredients:
Turkey of your choice
1 chopped onion
1 stalk of chopped celery
3 chopped carrots
half stick of butter
6 sprigs of rosemary
1 bunch chopped sage
paprika
salt and pepper
Directions:
Make sure your turkey is defrosted and preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Remove the neck and gobbler of the turkey (do with it what you please, mine is going straight in the trash)
Dry the turkey with paper towels on the inside and the outside.
Season entire outside and inside of turkey with salt, paprika and pepper. Rub it in good with your hands.
Place a few of the chopped vegetables inside the turkey, and the rest around the outside.
Fold the wing tips under the turkey if this is not already done.
Use a small saucepan to melt the butter. Add in the chopped sage and 4 sprigs of rosemary. Cook for about 2 minutes.
Use a brush and rub the butter mixture all over the turkey. Be generous.
Stuff the remaining two sprigs of rosemary inside of the turkey. Your house is going to definitely smell like rosemary from this.
Cook turkey to the internal temp of 170 degrees. It’s about 15-20 minutes per pound. for a 12 pound turkey I am going to cook mine for about 3.5 hours.
Mac n Cheese
prep the night before
Ingredients:
1 box small elbow noodles
1.5 cups of heavy cream
.5 cup of milk
1.5 sticks of unsalted butter
2 cups of velveeta cheese
2 cups of white cheddar cheese
.5 cup of gruyere cheese
.5 cup parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon of pepper
pinch of salt
.5 teaspoon mustard powder
.5 teaspoon nutmeg
2 cups of breadcrumbs
Directions:
Make sure all of your cheeses are grated. The velvet can just be cut into small slices or cubes.
Boil water and cook macaroni. Drain and set aside.
In a saucepan, add the milk, cream and 1 stick of butter (the other half stick will be used later). Heat until combined. Add in the velveeta. On low heat let this melt together. Add in pepper, nutmeg, and mustard powder.
In a large bowl, pour cheese mix over the pasta and combine. Add in the remaining cheese- reserving 1 cup of white cheddar for the top
Pour pasta into a large baking dish and cover with foil overnight (or if you are making it same day you may skip this step)
Allow half stick of butter to thaw so it is soft.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Remove pasta from the fridge and cover with the remaining cheddar.
Mix butter and breadcrumbs in a bowl, then sprinkle over the top of the dish.
Cook for about 20-30 minutes depending on how golden you want your “crust” to be.
Sweet Potato Casserole
prep the night before
Ingredients:
3 large cans of yams (29 oz)
1/4 cup of half n half
2 tablespoons of butter
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
Plus this for the topping:
1/4 cup of brown sugar
half cup of flour
half stick of softened butter
half cup of chopped pecans (optional)
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 bag mini marshmallows
Directions:
Drain yams.
Place yams in a pot with butter, milk, and brown sugar. Mash or use a hand mixer to get a smooth consistency. Add in cinnamon.
Add the mixture to a greased dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight. ( or move to next step)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place sweet potato dish in oven and prepare the topping.
Combine the brown sugar, softened butter, flour and cinnamon in a bowl. If you are using pecans add these at the end.
Layer the sweet potatoes with the brown sugar mixture and then marshmallows on top ( or do a few layers!). Cook until marshmallows are golden or to your preference (8+ minutes).
Cranberry Sauce
prepare the night before in entirety
This cranberry sauce is made with strawberries which add a sweetness to the usual bitter taste that you may be familiar with. I love this because it is easy to throw together and adds a fancy twist to what guests might be expecting!
Ingredients:
1 bag of frozen strawberries
1 bag fresh cranberries
1/3 cup of honey
1 pack of strawberry jello
water
Cool Whip (optional)
Slivered or sliced almonds (optional)
Directions:
Thaw the strawberries in a bag (this can be done under hot water to speed up the process if necessary. *Note that you can freeze fresh strawberries overnight for this or use pre packaged frozen strawberries.
Drain the liquid from the strawberries into a measuring cup. Add water until you hit 1 cup.
Pour liquid into a saucepan. Boil. Add cranberries, then boil until they “pop”.
Add strawberries. Boil. Reduce for 5-10 minutes- until thick.
Make the jello pack.
Spoon the mixture into the jello.
Chill. *Note: I like to prepare this dish the night before so that it chills and also is something I don’t need to worry about while cooking the other dishes.
You can add a layer of cool whip on the top and top with almonds, or another nut of your choice if you’d like. Some also add the nuts into the mixture before chilling.
Mashed Potatoes
Ingredients:
10 potatoes- peeled (golden or Idaho- whatever your preference)
half stick of butter
1 cup of whole milk
1 dollop of sour cream
salt and pepper
Directions:
This year I am using my instapot to soften my potatoes because of how quick it is! If you don’t have one, boil your potatoes for about 20 minutes until they are soft.
In a large electric mixer, put your potatoes, butter, and dollop of cream cheese in. Mix. Slowly pour in the milk until the right consistency is met. You may use all of the milk you may not.
Season with salt and pepper as needed. We go heavy on the pepper and light on the salt in our house.
Peas n Corn
Ingredients:
1 bag frozen corn
1 bag frozen peas
4 Garlic cloves
Olive oil
Cayenne Pepper
Salt and Pepper
Directions:
In a large pan, pour the pea and corn bags and drizzle with olive oil. Warm on low heat stirring occasionally.
Chop garlic (you don’t have to be too particular, just cut it up into small slices.) Add it into the pan and continue to stir.
season with cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper based on how spicy you want the dish to be. Don’t scare guests, a little cayenne goes a long way.
Rolls, gravy & Cornbread Stuffing
store bought
I personally don’t love stuffing, but found Trader Joe’s cornbread stuffing last year and it is AMAZING! I now eat stuffing. This is a quick and easy recipe, just follow the back of the box.
For rolls, we use Sister Schubert’s rolls that come in the tin from the freezer section. When you take them out of the over top them off with some butter so it melts before serving.
I never enjoyed making gravy. This is another Trader Joe’s find. It comes in a broth box. I just heat it over a stove and taste it, if i ever feel like it needs seasoned then I add a little extra seasoning to taste.
Peanut Butter Pie
prepare the night before in entirety
I can't remember a holiday spent with my family that this pie wasn't around. It comes from my Aunt's kitchen, and we all literally fight over the leftovers. It's perfect for the Reese's lovers out there, and super easy to make!
Ingredients:
1 Oreo Pie Crust (MUST be oreo, not chocolate.)
1 8 oz. package of cream cheese
1 Cup of creamy peanut butter
1 cup of sugar
1 tablespoon of butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 pint heavy whipping cream
** You need an electric mixer for this
Directions:
Whip the heavy cream until peaks form. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients. Spoon in the cream until well blended. Spoon the mixture into the pie crust and refrigerate. Once the pie is dense, cover with Reese's cups. Enjoy!
Chicken Wing Dip Recipe
This recipe is intended for a large group. If you have just a couple people I recommend halfing it (although I would literally consume the whole dish myself- just being honest).
Ingredients:
15 oz. canned chicken breast (can do fresh, but canned is honestly better. I get organic.)
1 cup of wing sauce or Frank’s Hot Sauce
2 bags sharp cheddar cheese
2 packages of cream cheese - 8 oz. each
1 cup blue cheese dressing (Rudy’s blue cheese if you can find it but you probably can’t unless you are in WNY)
half cup blue cheese crumbles
tortilla chips
Directions:
Put everything in an electric mixer excluding tortilla chips and 1 bag of cheddar cheese.
Spread the dip across a large glass dish - or two mini dishes depending on how you want to serve.
Top with remaining cheddar cheese.
Bake fro 20 minutes at 350 degrees in the oven.
Serve with tortilla chips - some also like to add in celery and carrots for dipping!
Coconut Chicken Soup
I make this soup almost every single week, and almost every single week I forget to post my recipe for it:) It's so easy and I always have these ingredients in the house. This soup also cures sickness so fast! The recipe is very basic and I do not use measurements, so add as much or as little as you'd like of each ingredient!
- 1 can of fat free organic coconut milk
- 1.5 containers of chicken broth
-fresh carrots
-frozen corn bag
-frozen peas bag
-salt & pepper for taste
-Parsley
-Noodles (I like the small round acini di pepe noodles - John prefers to add jasmine rice)
- Shredded Chicken
Add all ingredients (except noodles) to pot and cook on medium low for about 20 minutes. Cooke your noodles separately, or throw them right in the soup to cook until tender.
Enjoy:)
Peanut Butter Pie Recipe
I can't remember a holiday spent with my family that this pie wasn't around. It comes from my Aunt's kitchen, and we all literally fight over the leftovers. It's perfect for the reese's lovers out there, and super easy to make!
Ingredients:
-1 Oreo Pie Crust (MUST be oreo, not chocolate.)
-1 8 oz. package of cream cheese
-1 Cup of creamy peanut butter
-1 cup of sugar
-1 tablespoon of butter
-1 teaspoon vanilla
-1 pint heavy whipping cream
** You need an electric mixer for this
Whip the heavy cream until peaks form. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients. Spoon in the cream until well blended. Spoon the mixture into the pie crust and refrigerate. Once the pie is dense, cover with Reese's cups. Enjoy!
Chicken Pot Pie Recipe
With cold nights approaching us the best meals are those that warm our bellies. They are the ones that we can whip up and not worry about for a while, while we spend time watching movies with loved ones. One of my favorite recipes to cook is Chicken Pot Pie. It is so easy and so delicious.
Ingredients:
1 box of pie crust
2 large chicken breasts
1/3 cup of chopped onion
1.5 cups mixed frozen veggies (carrots, peas, corn, green beans) - or use fresh!
5 tbsp butter
1/3 cup flour
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup milk
salt/pepper for taste
Building Your Pie:
-Heat oven to 425°F.
-Thaw veggies
-Boil chicken in about 2 inches of water. Cover the pan. Once the chicken is cooked pull it out and shred it. You can use a mixer to do this, or two forks. Do not overcook the chicken or it will be tough.
-Once shredded, add a generous amount of salt and pepper for taste. mix around the chicken.
-Place pie crusts in glass or foil pan, I like to cook it in a glass pan for more stability.
- Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion. cook until tender (they should begin to look translucent, about 2 minutes). Stir in flour until well blended. Gradually stir in broth, then milk, cooking and stirring until bubbly and thickened. While the sauce thickens add salt/pepper. A few sprinkles of each.
-When the sauce is thick, add in your mixed veggies and chicken. Stir on low heat for about 2 minutes.
-Spoon mixture into your pie crust, then cover it with the top crust. Cut small slits across the top of the crust.
-Cover the entire circumference of the pie crust with foil. ONLY ON THE EDGES. This will prevent the edges from burning since they cook quickest.
-Bake 30-40 minutes. Your pie should be golden brown. 10 minutes before taking the pie out, check the edges of the pie to make sure the crust is the same color as the rest of the pie, if it's too light, remove the foil.
-Let pie cool for at least 5 minutes before serving, Allow the pie to sit longer, or even overnight if you would like the gravy to be very thick.
This recipe tastes great the day after, so feel free to chill overnight and serve the following day.