Believe in the Magic Traci Diary

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  • Changing My Diet

    A week or so ago, I started to feel really bad.  Headaches and stomach aches plagued my world.  I was easily irritated by everyone and everything.

    After four completely miserable days, I finally figured out that I probably have a food sensitivity.  So I’m now trying to eat as little to no gluten after I ate a bunch of foods that contained gluten and I started feeling ill once again.

    Within 2 days of changing up my diet, I am already feeling so much better.   I’m craving fruits and veggies.  I’m wanting more water.

    Yes, I’m avoiding gluten as much as possible; however, I’m also rethinking my whole diet.  There are foods I have loved for a long while that are gluten-free so that helps.

    With this change, I’ve been reflecting on how I’ve not really loved bread.  I eat it, yes.  There can be several days that I don’t eat any bread.  Then I crave bread and over indulge on their deliciousness.

    For the past few years, I haven’t eaten Subways because the smell of the bread in the restaurants bothers me.

    I also have a love/ hate relationship with pasta.  Sometimes I want it especially mac and cheese.  Yum!  Sometimes I can go a while without eating pasta.  It all depends on my mood.

    Join me on my journey as I’m change my diet.  I need to keep myself accountable during this time period.

    I’m going to miss some of my favorites at different restaurants.  However, I’m planning to make some substitutions when I can so I can still enjoy those favorite flavors.

    It’s been 3 days since I started this change.  Here is what I’ve eaten during these three days.  Mind you I’m cutting out the majority of my caffeine intake and avoiding gluten as much as possible.  I’m still eating sugar because I feel as though I will fail if I get rid of everything.

    Tuesday –

    Breakfast – green smoothie – spinach, Greek yogurt, frozen mixed fruit, and oj, coffee with creamer

    Lunch – oatmeal with walnuts and freeze dried strawberries, unsweetened applesauce, water

    Dinner – McDonald’s bacon ranch salad minus chicken, small fries, ranch dressing, and Sprite

    Snack / Dessert – Blood orange, Garden of Eatin’ blue chips with apple salsa

    Wednesday –

    Breakfast – 2 Van’s cinnamon apple waffles with peanut butter, water, and Milky Way Frappe (Co-worker surprised me with it.), coffee with creamer

    Lunch – cheesy broccoli and rice, Garden of Eatin’ blue chips (not certified gluten free) with apple salsa, blood orange

    Dinner – beef strips cooked with oranges, Feta cheese, and olives, spiralized zucchini and radish salad with homemade mustard dressing

    Snack / Dessert – 2 sour gummy worms, piece of chocolate

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    Thursday –

    Breakfast – 2 pieces of Gluten free bread from Aldi with peanut butter, cheddar cheese stick, cup of mixed fruit, coffee with creamer, water

    Lunch – cheesy broccoli and rice, Garden of Eatin’ blue chips (not certified gluten free) with apple salsa, Greek yogurt parfait with Gluten free granola and freeze dried strawberries

    Dinner – turkey burger made with green chilis, lettuce, peppers, salsa, and shredded Mozarella cheese, homemade home fries, Sonic cherry limeade

    Snack / Dessert – Blood orange, piece of chocolate

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    Happy eating,
    Traci

  • What We Ate Series – Young’s Dairy (MLK Day)

    Today I’m going to feature a local restaurant instead of what we ate while on vacation.

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  • Forgotten Chicken

    I’ve made this dish twice.  The first time, we ate it but didn’t quite enjoy it.  After we had it the second time, the Wee One thanked me for cooking it.  The next day, he ran out to my car after I pulled up in the driveway after work.  He wanted to eat the left overs for dinner that night.

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  • Islands of Adventure – Part 1

    Join me on Saturdays to see photos from our Universal Studios/ Walt Disney Resort vacation during Thanksgiving.

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  • How a Coke Saved the Day

    I’m sitting here at the computer trying to write a blog post using one of the writing prompts that were provided.  My brain is blank.   (more…)

  • What We Ate in Universal Studios – Florida – Day 3

    I’ve shared what ate on Day 1 and Day 2 of our visit to Universal Studios in Florida.  This Wednesday, I’m going to share what we ate on the third day of our visit to Universal Studios.  We visited Islands of Adventure on that Tuesday.

    When we got to Islands of Adventure on that Tuesday morning, we darted over to the Hogsmeade area of the park.  We rode the rides and then ate at the Three Broomsticks for our breakfast.

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    Inside the Three Broomsticks.  When we were at the Leaky Cauldron the day before, we were given a flag with a number.  They sat us and brought us the food.  At the Three Broomsticks, we had to carry the food to our seats.  They had an outdoor seating area with a view of Hogswarts so we sat there instead of inside the restaurant.

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    I got the traditional English breakfast once again.  Hubby got his American breakfast and the boys got their pancake breakfast.   I didn’t take photos of their breakfasts since they were the same as the day before.

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    The Wee One decided to try pumpkin juice.  YUM!!

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    My hot Butterbeer – DELICIOUS!

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    The hamburger and fish sandwiches we got at the Comic Strip Cafe in the Toon Lagoon area of Islands of Adventure.  The Imaginative One had the hamburger and I had the fish sandwich.

    The fish sandwich was too dry so I don’t recommend it.

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    Once we were done at Islands of Adventure, we went back to the resort so that the boys could swim.  The day was perfect for swimming.

    Hubby and I decided to get a grown up drink from Atomic Tonic.  We got a key lime frozen drink that was absolutely YUMMY!

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    The chocolate frog we got at Honeydukes.

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    The dinner we got at Bayliner Diner.  The Imaginative One got a hot dog, I think.  The Wee One got himself a kid’s cheese pizza.

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    I got th delicious Philly Cheese steak flat bread for my dinner.  It was so good.

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    We went to the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium after we were done with Islands of Adventure.  Hubby wanted some chocolate rocks from there.  I got myself a macaroon and a box of chocolates.

    I ate the pistachio macaroon for breakfast the next day.  Four of the chocolates were eaten when we got home from the trip.  I still have two more to indulge in.

     

    I hope you enjoyed what we ate while we were in Universal Studios.

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

  • Pressure Cooker Chicken Pot Pie

    Welcome to our Tuesday recipe of the week.  This week’s recipe if for pressure cooker chicken pot pie.

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  • Cabana Beach Bay Resort – Universal Studios, Florida – Part 3

    Join me on Saturdays to see photos from our Universal Studios/ Walt Disney Resort vacation during Thanksgiving.

    (more…)

  • A Perfect Snow Day

    My alarm jerks me out of sleep.

    Then the phone rings, the voice on the other line says “Due to the weather, there is going to be no school for ___ School District.”

    Image result for teacher snow day

    Since I’m now awake, I curl up on the couch under my comforter.  I either read a book, play on my phone, or try to catch up on my sleep.

    After a few hours, I’ll finally get up for the day.  When I look outside, I’ll be grateful I don’t have to go anywhere.

    I’ll then grab my DSL-R camera so I can take some photos of the beautiful snow.  I’ll either take photos from the front or back door so I do not have to get out of my pajama pants.

    Or if I feel up to it, I’ll get dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt.

     Okay let’s be honest, I won’t get out of my pajamas all day.  

    I’ll put on the coat and boots on over my pajamas so I can head outside to enjoy the silence of the snow falling and get photos of untouched snow. 

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     When I get back inside, the Wee One and the Imaginative One will be up for the day.
    Usually the Imaginative One does not want to go outside, however the Wee One will eventually want to go outside. 

    He’s going to spend an half and hour playing hide and seek game with our hats, gloves, and boots so he can head outside for five minutes of fun.

    During his five minutes of fun, he throws snowballs at the house or trudges through the snow.  Maybe he will sort of clean off my car.

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    This is the Imaginative One a few years ago

    Once he is inside, he will drag snow throughout the house.  Winter gear will be thrown throughout the living room, kitchen, and the hallway.

    Hubby and I will repeatedly remind him to clean up the wet floors.

    The boys will retreat to one of their bedrooms to play on their tablets.  Or they might play on the computer.  As long as their cabin fever does not cause them to become hyper or fight, I don’t mind them on the electronics.

    Since I’m home, I may make a special lunch or dinner.

    The rest of the day is rinse and repeat until it’s bedtime.

    If there is another snow day the next day, we might go crazy in the house.  One snow day allows the teachers to recharge our batteries.  Two or more snow days causes cabin fever.

    (Just so you know:   No schoolwork will be touched during my perfect snow day.)

    Have a magical day,
    Traci

    Mama’s Losin’ It

  • What We Ate in Universal Studios – Florida – Day 2

    In November, we traveled to Orlando, Florida.  We visited Universal Studios and the Walt Disney World resort.  I’m sharing what we ate at both places.  Please check out my travel page for the other What We Ate blog posts.

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    The Hot Butterbeer from the Leaky Cauldron

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    The boys’ pancake breakfasts.  The Wee One did not finish his plate so his 13 year old brother finished his plate for him.

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    My traditional British breakfast – I tried the blood pudding but did not like it.

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    Hubby’s traditional American breakfast

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    The Leaky Cauldron

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    We spent the day in Universal Studios.  I had heard about the huge pink doughnut that you could get in the Simpson’s area of Universal.

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    The doughnut

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    The doughnut

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    The doughnut was as big as his head.

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    The ice cream from Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlor – I got the apple flavor.

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    The Imaginative One got the chocolate swirl one.

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    We ended up at City Walk for lunch. We decided to go see Fantastical Beasts and Where to Find Them while in Universal Studios.  I got chips and queso from Moe’s.

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    Hubby and the Wee One shared Chinese from Panda Express.

    The Imaginative One had Burger King for his lunch.

    Once again, we had cereal, oatmeal, and Oatmeal Creme pies for breakfast.  I tried to make Taco Soup in the slow cooker for our dinner.  However when we got back to the room, the slow cooker was unplugged off.  So we did not have that for dinner.
    Hubby, the Wee One, and I shared a pizza for dinner.  I don’t know what the Imaginative One ate for dinner.

    Happy eating,
    Traci