Guilt-Free Ice Cream Recipe

Wife of the Year Award should be headed my way this year.  Steve decided to try a new diet plan....and as a supportive wife, I decided to do it with him. It is the first time in our 15 year marriage that he has every tried any exercise and diet regime.  I, on the other hand, live constantly on different variations of plans, LOL.   Well, supporting Steve and his recent 22 pound vacancy has had it's positive benefits...I have also lost an additional 5 pounds.  

Of course, my role in the process is huge because, who do you think does all of the grocery shopping and cooking?  That's right.  Yours truly, the now 40-year-old domestic diva.  Using the website of the diet plan, I found this easy ice cream substitute that is based off of the protein powder:

The recipe:

• 2 frozen bananas
• 1 scoop of protein shake mix.  (We used the chocolate mint flavored mix from the same company. Read * note below)
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk or cashew mild (I used cocnut milk because its what we had.)
• 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

Add all ingredients to a blender and blend for 1-2 minutes.  Place mixture in freezer for one hour to set.  

* I can not promise the same great results with just any protein powder.  Since this recipe came from the company and works with it's same mix...that is the only perspective I can give you.  Obviously try your mix to see if it works.  But, note that the Isagenix mix per scoop is 12 grams of whey protein, 5 grams of sugars, and only 120 calories.  When we use it as a meal replacement shake, we do 2 scoops.

*If you have any questions about what Steve and I are doing, reach out to me and I can give you a quick summary.  I can also refer you to Steve's link for pricing details.

Glamping Harkers Island, NC

     Tucked away on North Carolina's coast line at the end of Highway 70 is the little known fishing community of Harkers Island.  Known for their Duck Decoy festival every December   https://decoyguild.com/decoyfestival/schedule/  today it was our Spring Break destination with the kids!  https://www.crystalcoastnc.org/region/harkers-island/play/

Where To Stay
     Harkers Island RV Resort - beautiful, but small.  Reserve your spot WELL in advance.  Most of the spots are rented out for the entire season leaving very few nightly rentals.  Get on their books 2-3 months before arrival.  We were able to secure a water front spot for $85 a night in April.  Inland spots go for $75 nightly.  Absolutely beautiful views of the water!!

        

     The bathhouse has only 2 rooms.  Each had a large private shower and toilet that was heated.  There was more water pressure in the sink than there was in the shower and the shower was a push button that has to be restarted.  Twice when I restarted it, I got cold water.  But the shower was the only downside to this community.  It had a great play ground for the kids complete with a Pirate Ship and a clean, small pool to cool off in.  http://www.harkersislandrvresort.com/

Where To Eat on Harkers
     There are very few places on this hide-away GEM.  Here are a few we were able to experience.
Fish Hook Restaurant, within walking distance to the RV Resort was a delicious, local joint.  Fresh fish catches were the special each day.  Kid items available were chicken fingers, grilled cheese, and hot dogs.  There is an ice cream shop right across the street!

Billy's Groceries:  apparently they grind their own beef.  If you are looking for groceries, make grilling at the campsite a meal!  We made the best hamburgers one night with fresh beef from Billy's.  It is located at the main turn into the RV Resort.

Mr. Big's Seafood.  https://www.facebook.com/MrBigSeafood/  This converted shed is easily missed as you drive down the main road, but ALL the locals recommend it.  Unfortunately, when we stopped by to pick up fresh fish to cook at the camper they did not have any available.  There had been bad storms the Friday before (Monday) and they were not unable to go out fishing.....that is HOW FRESH IT IS!  No frozen fish here.


What To Do On Harkers
     Core Sound Water Foul Museum is recommended by all.  Check their website.  When we visited it was still closed due to Hurricane Michael damage and had not reopened.  https://www.coresound.com/

     Island Express Ferry Service - A MUST!!!  located at the end of Harkers Island is ferry service to Shackleford Banks and Cape Lookout.  We went with the kids to Shackleford Banks and saw the wild horses.  This was my favorite activity during our entire trip, a once in a lifetime memory.  Pack chairs, bug spray, sunscreen, swim suits, towels, and picnic.  Only 2 items are allowed per person: so a chair and a beach bag.  Shackleford Banks is a completely barren barrier island where the horses run free. The ferry ride is only about 17 minutes.  There is no dock to arrive at, so wear waterproof shoes to disembark from the boat, walk through the water, onto the sand. The water is perfect and there is a small beach area all around the island. Hunt for HUGE shells!  Hike inland or rest on the sand.  Plan to stay about 2-3 hours.  https://www.islandexpressferryservices.com/

     Fish:  there is a great little beach area and the tip of the RV Resort.  It was a nightly walk with the kids to find shells, fly kites, or fish.

OTHER THINGS TO DO
     Historic Beaufort, NC and Morehead City, NC are just steps away!!!!   https://www.crystalcoastnc.org/   Fort Macon...The Aquarium...just to name a few things that we ran out of time to do.

Beaufort,NC
     We spent a day exploring Historic Beaufort, NC with the kids and here is what we enjoyed!
The NC Maritime Museum is a FREE museum with a scavenger hunt for the kids!  Lots of great pirate artifacts for your younger explores to see!  https://ncmaritimemuseumbeaufort.com/
Black Sheep Restaurant.  We enjoyed the best shrimp pizza from a wood burning stove.  I recommend the Grapefruit Margarita!  There is mac and cheese and a grilled cheese sandwich on the menu for the kids.  https://blacksheepbeaufort.com/

Kitty Hawk Kites - when in Rome...you have to pick up a well made kite from Kitty Hawk Kites located downtown.  I let both Rex and Camilla pick out a new souvenir to take home from our trip.
Beaufort Ghost Walk.  I enjoyed it.  It is about 1.5 hours of walking with a real pirate telling ghost stories.  Wear good shoes, pack a stroller if necessary, maybe snacks for the kids.  Rex and Camilla did great.  It was Steve (the 46 year-old kid) that had to be pushed, LOL!  https://pctourco.com/beaufort-ghost-walk/

The Rum Bar at Still-water Front Street Grill was a great end to our long Pirate Walk.  We ended our night perfectly with calamari and their signature drink: Painkiller!  Amazing!!  Or either I was just tired from walking.  We let the kids share a chocolate tort for dessert to end the night.  https://frontstreetgrillatstillwater.com/the-rhum-bar/

What is the difference between a Serum and a Moisturizer?

What is the difference between a serum and a moisturizer?

Serums are light, fast-absorbing liquids used in addition to creams or lotions. The biggest difference between a serum and a cream or lotion is what the formula doesn’t include. Serums leave out occlusive, or moisturizing ingredients. Most serums are water-based, eliminating oils all together, and work better for oily skin.

The best part of a serum is that most of the fluid is eliminated, so what you are left with is a high concentration of active ingredients. Because active ingredients are more expensive than thickeners, they are also more costly. But when applied properly, a 1 ounce container of serum should last months. Those few drops are super efficient. Serum‘s are made of very small molecules so the skin absorbs them quickly and deeply. Therefore, serum’s are the best transportation for treating a concern: aging, brightness, sunspots, scares,...

Moisturizers are great for locking in water. Serums are a bad match for people with chronic skin conditions like eczema or rosacea, which can weaken the skin barrier. For these people, serum’s may penetrate too quickly. Others need hydration that a rich day or night cream provides. Mature or dry skin cannot get away with using only a serum. I recommend layering a serum under your moisturizer.

How to apply serum:
1. After cleansing your face, apply a pea-sized amount of serum, patting it evenly over your skin.
2. Allow 15 to 30 seconds for serum to soak into the skin. Then apply moisturizer.

You are never too old to start....

     At age 5, Dave's father died.  He had to raise and care for his younger siblings while his mother worked all day at a tomato canning facility.  At age 16 he dropped out of the 7th grade.  At age 17 he had already lost four jobs.  At age 18 he got married.  He falsified documents and joined the army.  In one year he was discharged.  At age 20 his wife left him and took their baby.  He became a cook at a small cafe and convinced his wife to return home.  In 1920, he founded a ferry boat company.  He cashed this business in to start a lamp manufacturing company.  It also failed.  At age 40 he was selling chicken out of a service station.  But, when World War 2 started this business also closed.  His recipe for chicken was rejected 1,009 times.  At age 65, he was finally able to franchise his chicken recipe and he worked until his death at age 90.  We know him today as Colonel Sanders.

     You are never too old to settle or too old to try something new!!

"I made a resolve then that I was going to amount to something if I could. And no hours, nor amount of labor, nor amount of money would deter me from giving the best there was in me," Colonel Sanders. "One has to remember that every failure can be a stepping stone to something better."