Baby Shower Whole 30-Style

So – here I am — sailing along through my Whole 30 Challenge …currently on Day 20, and just knocking it out of the park! I am used to what I need to avoid, have a few staple go-to foods and snacks that I keep around (olives, hard-boiled eggs, celery with almond butter, and monkey salad), my sugar dragon is at bay, and have even started to find a few new recipes to switch things up a

My blueberry omelet yesterday – YUM!

bit. The Savory Blueberry Omelet from Stupid Easy Paleo is definitely a new keeper. I think I have had it for breakfast (and one day for lunch too) at least four days in a row! I am starting to experience the non-scale victories – my knees are no longer sore when I go down a flight of stairs, inflammation from a 3-year-old car injury seems to be going down, my mood is better, and I even want to exercise (thank you DownDog app, and Orthodox sister Sue for showing it to me)!!! I already know I want to extend my Whole 30 beyond the 30 days to 45 or 60 instead since Mackdaddy gave me that awful respiratory bug around Day 10 (yes – I have one of those female Rolodex memories that will hold onto everything for later ammunition when needed) 🙂 as I want to ensure that any of the cold medicines I took did not compromise my Whole 30 compliance (I did read labels, but I would rather be safe than assume they were compliant). I have even replaced my weekend glass of wine habit with kumbucha instead!

Then, enters (play ominous music) … my daughter’s BABY SHOWER!!!!

My Orthodox sister,  Sue, and I are throwing a shower for child #2, who is carrying my first grandchild (yes – I know — I am too young to be a Glam-ma, yet I will be honored to carry the title Tita [Lebanese for Grandmother] and spoil this little girl rotten!)! We are both working on the food, and Sue is planning the decorations/party favors and the games. That’s right – not only is Sue a whiz in the kitchen, able to make Baklava from memory in a single bound, but she has an eye for design and is a wicked party-gamer. I know, you are jealous (and you should be) – everyone needs a superhero friend/Orthodox sister like Sue (I think she hides her superhero cape in her car trunk).

In lieu of cards …

We started planning the shower long BEFORE I decided the date for the shower, but with that being said, the shower will actually take place on Day 27 of my Whole 30. :/ Since I truly want this to be the beginning of some serious lifestyle changes on my part, and I have never been one to shy away from a challenge, we are going into this party with a plan of attack. I don’t intend to force my newfound eating habits on everyone like some sort of Whole 30 Nazi, but with a few simple tweaks, we will easily have some healthy and painless Whole 30 fare to go with the totally indulgent non-compliant goodies:

Our menu plan:

With all of this yummy whole 30 compliant fare, the food portion of the shower should be a breeze, or at least that is the plan. Now – I already hear what you are thinking – “Why have a whole 30 and a regular ranch dip?” Well, ok  – I may not be a Whole 30 Nazi, but I just can’t help but want to perhaps entice a few willing Whole 30 converts!  😉

I will keep you posted next week on how well this Shower “game plan” worked, and how Sue’s party games turned out! Wish me luck …

Syrian Bread Crew 2016 (front: Sue [Orthodox Sister], James [child#4],
back: Me, Emily [child#1], Logan [child#2])