Living on Cloud Nine: January 2024

WHAT'S UP WEDNESDAY

Hi Loves! Last day of January! I’m super excited to join Shay and Sheaffer today for What’s up Wednesday.I actually had so much to share today, I had to cut some things out, LOL!

1: WHAT WE’RE EATING THIS MONTH: All the clean, healthy eating around here, but will be indulging this weekend. I shared with you on Monday HERE but I also feel tastes of Spring when I make this high protein smoothie.

Making these for Mr. Nine and I: Air Fryer Sirloin Steak Strips!!

AND My Favorite Soup this month. The Pasta Fagioli from Skinny Taste where I leave out the pasta, lol and add Italian Turkey sausage:

2. WHAT I’M REMINISCING ABOUT: Today, my Identical Twin 2nd Cousins turn 32!!! Seems like yesterday mom and I were holding them in our arms. Little did we know more identical twins would grace us later in life. AND Look at that big hair!!

3: WHAT IM LOVING: ANYTIME we can see the granddaughters! Not nearly enough. #loveourgranddaughters They turned 4 months old on Sunday. Growing onto their sweaters grammy got them.

And nature leaning towards Spring coming soon. I can't believe the swan is back this early and hanging our with the duck couple, lol.

4: WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO: Getting travel itineraries ready and outfits, lol Here is one cute lil Romper going with me. I'll wear with black hose and my INEZ Boots!

And trying a new skincare routine I LOVE!! Use code ANDREANINE20 to get 20% off everything on the site plus some of Oprah's favorite Things! LOVE all the products from Fount Society!

5: WHAT I’M DREADING: more of the sloppy gray part of the winter season. Icky!

6: WHAT I’M WORKING ON: Planning a Bridal Shower for the Bride To Be in the family and trying to find dresses for all the events! The WEDDING, the shower, the rehearsal, the luncheon and a Party....lots of fun shopping to do. And a note of frustration, why are all mother's dresses so matronly, I'm not even looking under that category, I'll just browse party and cocktail dresses, lol. Here is a sneak peek of the shower invites. Going to have it at the Cake Bake Shop down by Indy. It'll be beautiful!

7: WHAT I’M EXCITED ABOUT: Leaving on a Jet Plane tomorrow!

8: WHAT I’M WATCHING & READING:

Watching:

American Nightmare on Netflix was sooo good. Only 3 episodes and so bizarre.

And starting this tonight!

Reading:

The Housemaid. Get it HERE. Almost Done & 5 stars so far!

9: WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: Little Bit Country & a Little Bit Rock-n-Roll

10: WHAT I’M WEARING: Affordable Cuteness! The below set and faux fur are in major sale right now at Lulu's. They have great winter sale pieces.

Sweater Top HERE // Pants HERE // Earrings HERE // Shoes HERE

Coat HERE // Pants HERE // Belt HERE

French Girl Vibes again.

Sweater HERE // Pants HERE // Shoes HERE

And of course, all the Spanx and the pink cropped vest is oh so CUTE! LOVE each and every new piece I have gotten too!

Vest HERE // Top HERE // Leggings HERE // Shoes HERE

Top HERE // Pants HERE

Top is tunic length, it covers your butt!

ALL SPANX USE CODE: CLOUDNINEXSPANX

11: WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND: Stay Tuned, it won’t be in Indiana. Lol.

12: WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH: Birthdays for a few ladies in the fam. Another trip, this time to Florida with my Mama!

Here’s a photo of the last time we were in the sunshine state together. Her 70th birthday.

13: FAVORITE AMAZON FIND: Rug Grippers! Mr. Nine found THESE. The thin rug gripper mats underneath was just not working. Especially when our little Stella slides into the front door whenever a delivery man comes, and the rug flails all over the place. These Grippers have literally saved our rug life, lol, no more sliding. I love them so much they are now under every single rug!

Oh, and this New Rug is not from Amazon, but I love it and it's a great price. This is a 2'x5' size and in the kitchen.

Happy Wednesday and last Day of January!

LINKING-UP with Mix and Match Mama // Metamorphosis Monday // Thursday Fashion Files //

Love your Creativity // Hello Monday // Inspire Me Tuesday

Friday Favorites // Sundays on Silverado // Sheaffer Told Me Too

MY HEALTHY RECIPES ROUND UP

I’ve been on a roll, my friends! Finding all kinds of good recipes, and snacks that are low-calorie, high protein, and somewhat low carb (we need some carbs!!) These are 4 of the recipes I’ve shared on my Instagram lately. They are all very customizable. While they may seem like breakfast or a snack, when I am eating healthy, I eat these any time of day. I hope you make them and love them as much as I do! They have all been so yummy!

Trying to eat clean for the most part.

Homemade Protein Bars

I love protein bars, especially when I’m on the go or in the afternoon with a cup of tea, I usually just have half a bar. Some of them are OK but some of them have some of the yucky stuff in them that I don’t like putting in my body. So, I decided to make my own and oh are they ever delicious! I did decide to cut these in half as well to keep down the calorie content and really, it’s the perfect serving. AND there is a typo on the recipe card below, it should be Coconut OIL like in the topping, not butter, LOL. I must've been dreaming about slathering on Cococnut Butter in the sunshine, LOL!

12 Servings. Nutrition: 125 Calories, 10 grams protein, 10 grams carbs

Greek Yogurt Cookie Dough Bowl

Holy moly is this ever delicious, tastes just like you’re eating a bowl of cookie dough! You could use some apple slices, or graham crackers to dip in it but I like just eating it with a spoon. You could also make it ahead of time and chill it, but I want to dig and right away, lol. I was very happy to find these HU Chocolate Chips, only four ingredients, no sugar added, all natural and none of the yucky stuff.

1 Serving. Nutrition: 330 Calories, 30 grams protein, 24 grams carbs

High Protein Banana Pancakes

I have my mama to think for this recipe. All she used was two eggs, a banana, and a little vanilla. I decided to make it high protein with a scoop of vanilla protein powder and oh my goodness talk about yummy. It makes a lot and that’s what’s really cool you can eat the entire batch and it’s only 210 calories. Then my mind was blown when I found out you can put all of this in a cookie sprayed glass bowl and microwave for 90 minutes for one big fluffy pancake bowl.

1 Serving. Nutrition: 210 Calories, 12 grams protein, 15 grams carbs

3 Ingredient Egg Bake

I have the amazing AMY from Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa to think for this recipe! She was spot on with how fluffy the cottage cheese makes this casserole! And three ingredients can you believe it? I did add salt, pepper, and some garlic powder. You could also put some additional shredded cheese on top if you wanted to, especially when you heat it up in the microwave but it’s so perfect just as it is! Listen to these nutritional details. You could make it be eight servings, but I want a little bit more than that especially for the protein so in six servings, it is only:

Nutrition: 90 Calories, 10 grams protein, 2 grams carbs

Orgain

The delicious protein powder I use:

Orgain Organic Protein made with Oatmilk

Happy Healthier Eating.

Happy easier Prepping/Cooking and Baking!

LINKING-UP with Metamorphosis Monday // Thursday Fashion Files //

Love your Creativity // Hello Monday // Inspire Me Tuesday

FRIDAY FAVORITES HASTA LA VISTA JANUARY

Happy Friday! Can you taste February? So close! We went from amazing fluffy snow on the ground that I was enjoying bundling up and walking in for a great workout to an ice storm, and so much rain it turned it all into a muddy mess. That is the part of January that I really dislike, when it gets icky. I love Winter but not the messy moody part, lol. We did get to see the twins Monday night but sorry I didn’t get a lot of photos. But I do have some sweet Friday Favorites.

1. Flowers

Speaking of bidding January goodbye and seeking Spring: Flowers!! It’s this time of year that I start bringing in fresh flowers to sit on the counter. Often, I opt for a big bouquet, but I just thought this little one was so sweet

and spring like.

2. Makeup Case

I have tons of makeup bags, but I was due for a really good one if you know what I mean. I feel like I’ve upgraded because this one is an actual zippered case, and it is a fraction of the designer one floating around. There are two sides. I have the smaller one and it’s perfect. It comes in four colors and it’s so nice and sturdy, I love that you can see through both sides and there’s really a little bit of room on the top that you could put things like wipes, or Kleenex, or make up remover, pads, etc.

Get one HERE

3. Outfits Lately

The minute I saw the Jeans in the first two photos in the Loft email, I knew I had to have them. So cute and well-made and perfect for Spring!

Jeans HERE // Sweater HERE // Sneakers HERE

Jeans HERE // Sweater HERE// Sneakers HERE

Sweatshirt HERE // Leggings HERE // Sneakers HERE

4. Sweet Fury Cuteness

BIG TEDDY BEAR

How cute is this Teddy Bear! I went crazy in Walmart when I saw all the plush stuffed animals, how big they were, and how reasonable they were for the size and quality! This particular bear is a beautiful apricot color and comes in several other colors. He is 36 inches tall and only $35. He looks like he would be about $200. He’s ready to have tea with the twins when they get big enough, lol!

STELLA MAE

This girl, I tell you what! She is just the sweetest, except when it comes to delivery drivers, she’s a mini Cujo behind the glass! This picture was so cute because she was guarding her beloved bully stick. She chooses on it for comfort and was waiting on her daddy to come home.

This picture is one of my favorites. I was down in

the floor exercising and she was helping mommy.

5. Misc.Fun

POST OF THE WEEK

Monday: Blank Page

The sweetness from Monday’s post was just so precious to my heart! I know you all are amazing people anyway, and even if we are just verbalizing to get our feelings out, the fact that so many of you understood and saw where I was coming from makes me know we are more alike in this world then different.

MEMES