Celebrating Year 33 In The Florida Keys With A Little Birthday Bump: Isla Bella Beach Resort

My birthday is always right around Blaises winter conference for work. So every year we try to make a little trip out of it. This year, the conference was in Orlando and we didn’t make any concrete plans- but I had been dreaming about The Florida Keys for the past month. However, I was also suffering from crazy morning sickness and wasn’t sure how fun a road trip of that span would be. And Blaise was not overly enthusiastic about driving 4 hours in the opposite direction when there are plenty of nice beaches on our route home. So we did the ole “play it by ear” routine we so often do. 

The day we were leaving Orlando, I found a last minute deal at a beautiful beach resort in Marathon, FL. I just entered my second trimester, was feeling less nauseas and ready to brave the drive. Blaise was not convinced. But after presenting my case which included: a killer deal, photos of the resort, the weather app, my birthday wish and a pregnant wife’s plea. We headed south. 

We stayed at Isla Bella Beach Resort and barely left the grounds. It was everything I wanted- multiple pools, a sandy beach and 76 degrees in early February. It was perfect for a pregnant mama who gets tired at 6pm, a 2 year old who is obsessed with exploring the outdoors, and a husband who needed to be dazzled. (P.S. He was and the whole time told me how “worth it” it was.) 

Every morning when we woke up, I would ask Ella if she wanted to go to the pool or the beach. “Let’s go watch the sunset!” Same reply. Every morning. At 9am. Started each day by melting my heart. It wasn’t easy to explain to her that we would definitely watch the sunset… in 8 hours. But fortunately, she was quickly distracted by the birds and lizards. 

On my actual birthday, we relaxed by the beach, played in the pool, watched the sunset, ate Italian at the resort’s oceanfront restaurant, and ended the night cuddled up watching The Bachelor. Sidenote: my birthday is sometimes on Super Bowl Sunday or The State of The Union address - neither of these am I particularly excited about. But this year, THE BACHELOR aired a special extra episode on my birthday - and it was on a WEDNESDAY! This was the moment I truly knew this was going to be MY YEAR!!

I would 110% recommend The Florida Keys if you have been thinking about going- and the Isla Bella Beach Resort was a literal dream. Gonna be hard to top this birthday! 

Cheers to year 33!

I'm Wildly Productive When I Have An Eye Infection

Got some Vitamin D for the first time in 4 days! I misdiagnosed myself with pink eye early this week— but later figured out it was a stye! I’ve never had either so I didn’t know the difference. But IT WAS THE WORST. I’m not fully recovered but was developing a severe case of cabin fever. So today, I grabbed my biggest pair of sunglasses and took them off for no one. 

It turns out, I’m WILDLY productive when I have an eye infection. I guess that’s what happens when you don’t shower, workout, get dressed, clean, cook dinner, or venture outside for 4 days. Maybe a new tradition I should implement every few weeks- minus the eye situation. 

1. I released my Keto Shopping List! This is something I’ve been THINKING about for months. So many people ask me about my keto journey and what I eat so I was thrilled to finally share my grocery list with yall. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, you can get it here: KETO SHOPPING LIST.
   
   

2. I dropped my first YouTube video… LOOK OUT PewDiePie! (Just kidding, I only have 12 subscribers.) It’s another one of those things I’ve been thinking about but haven’t gotten around to. Thank God I had already done the actual video PRE stye-arrival. But I was able to edit and upload it while quarantined. My first upload is of me making the easiest keto recipe ever: Slow Cooker Chicken Fajita Soup. You can watch it here on MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
   
   And yes, 14 year old me would seriously FREAK OUT if you would subscribe to my channel. She would like literally die if I had more than 12 subscribers. I on the other hand, do not care. But I mean, click here if you wanna subscribe. It’s whatever though.
   

3. I figured out how to use Liketoknowit. Y’all, I’ve had this thing for a year and am just now using it. If you don’t know what it is, it’s an app where I can share what I’m wearing and if you like it, you can “Shop The Look”. Don’t get too excited though as my primary uniform is Target leggings and an over-sized sweatshirt. On the occasion that I do get dressed, like today, you can scroll to the bottom and I’ve linked my whole outfit.
   

4. I also started reading- okay listening (THANK YOU AUDIBLE) to Girl, Wash Your Face. I know I know, I’m about a year and a half behind trend- but you know my motto about reading good books, cleaning the kitchen, blogging about my life, and arriving literally anywhere at all…Better Late Than Never!

xo,
Christina

SHOP THE LOOK:

Bell-Sleeve Tee | Olive Green Jeggings | Leather Ankle Boots | Rose Gold Watch

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajita Soup - A Quick and Easy Keto Crockpot Recipe

Slow Cooker sounds more refined than Crockpot. So I put that in the title… but the truth is I say “Crockpot” all the time and say “Slow Cooker” zero of the time.

This is a quick and easy recipe that is great for anyone but especially busy moms. The number one message I get on instagram is “I wish I could do Keto, but I don’t have time to cook two meals— one for me and one for my husband and kids.” I’m like, wait… what? Y’all think I’m over here making separate meals for everyone? Noooo- just make a really good keto meal! And they can add tortilla chips, or bread, or skittles or whatever.

EVERYONE loves this recipe, whether they are doing keto or not. We used to eat this all the time before I even discovered keto— we just ate it with an entire bag of chips! Haha

You can eat it straight out of the slow cooker and it’s delicious and dairy free. But we are big fans of cheese so we like to add cheese, sour cream, avocado & cilantro to ours.

Here is a little 5 minute video of me making it. And of course, Ella Jean makes a cameo appearance in her diaper. She perfectly recreates what I go through every time I try to make dinner... she cries at my feet until I pick her up. lol So, enjoy:) This is real life folks!

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajita Soup- Keto Friendly

**Christina Forêt

• prep time: 5 minutes
• cook time: 6 hours
• total time: 6 hours and 5 minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• Chicken Thighs
• Bell Peppers (3)
• Taco Seasoning
• Salsa
• Bone Broth

Optional Toppings:

• Sour Cream
• Cheese
• Avocado
• Cilantro

Instructions:

1. Slice Pepper.
2. Place everything in Slow Cooker
3. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

Download My FREE Keto Shopping List

Have you ever squeezed lemon juice and cayenne pepper into your water and called it DINNER? Or gotten really cleaver and made an at-home body wrap with saran wrap? Whispered a sweet “Thank You” to Jesus when you found Garcinia Cambodia tablets on the random health food shelf at T.J. Maxx?

If so, then SAME. I’ve tried a LOT of fad diets and spent way too much money on a juicer that hasn’t seen a stalk of celery in over 4 years. 

BUT- I finally found something that works for me. I’ve lost over 50 pounds doing keto! 

I’m not an expert- and I will never pretend to be. Definitely not a nutritionist or a health coach. 

I’m just a mama who found something that works for her and I’m happy to share it with anyone who is curious. I’m starting by giving you my Keto Shopping List— this is exactly what I buy at the grocery store!

Good Luck & Happy Grocery Shopping!

xo, 
Christina

Autumn Gathering in Greenville, South Carolina

If you know me at all, you know I love bringing people together, hosting events, and most of all- a really good cheese board! This weekend, we had an Autumn Gathering at my place. 🍂 Everyone who watched my stories responded with “So, did you eat the pie!?!” 🥧 LOL The answer is no. I stayed keto(ISH) and ate mostly cheese, nuts, and berries- although I did have a “taste” of the cinnamon bun dip that turned into 2 or 3 tastes :) Our goal is to do these gatherings once a month. If you live in or around Greenville and wanna come, send me your email via the contact page and I’ll be sure to send you an invite to the next one! ❤️

Celebrating Our 5 Year Anniversary: Our Favorite Spots in Dallas, Texas

Thankful for this fun and much needed anniversary trip! We chose Dallas because Ella could spend the day with her grandparents and stay the night with us. That way we were able to lounge by the pool, have uninterrupted conversations, go to fancy restaurants and explore the city. But still pick Ella up in the evenings so we avoided any type of separation anxiety…. and I’m 100% talking about me. Im sure Ella would’ve been fine. 😆

It’s so crazy to think that 5 and a half years ago, I was alone in Nashville and secretly signed up on eHarmony. I wasn’t very hopeful but had zero relationship leads so was down to give the internet a go. And now, I am celebrating 5 Years of marriage to my BABE of a husband!! (Your 👏 girl 👏 does 👏 not 👏 settle.) I might have had to wait a little while, I might have picked up a few jokers along the way, I might have had to humble myself and let the World Wide Web work it’s magic. But I got EVERYTHING I wanted in a man, husband, partner, and father to our daughter.

Everyone’s love story looks different... BUT if you are still waiting on yours, sign up for eharmony! *This is not an ad... but one time, we were! 🤣

Some of my favorite spots we went in Dallas:

The Joule Hotel - this is where we stayed. Right downtown, top notch service, and a rooftop pool, what more could you want?
Haywire - technically in Plano, we actually go here every time we’re in Dallas, amazing food and ambiance.
Dallas World Aquarium - I act like we go to aquariums for Ella… but really, this was for me.
Over Easy - we are brunch people. Love breakfast but never make it to a restaurant while they are still serving it. So, anywhere that serves breakfast until 4pm is at the top of our list.
Sundance Square- downtown Fort Worth, walk, shop, eat!
Rosewood Mansion Restaurant- fancy dinner, excellent service,
The Statler Dallas Hotel- I’m all about those rooftop pools so we had to spend some time here as well.

Stuffed Sweet Peppers Recipe - Keto Friendly

These Stuffed Sweet Pepper Poppers are my go-to appetizer for any holiday, party, game day, family event or just a slow Saturday afternoon when I am craving a fancy snack. I like them because there is no need to explain to anyone that they are “keto”. 

Sometimes it’s polite to give a fair warning when you bring a keto appetizer to a party — “Okay, so I know this looks like a tater tot- but it’s actually cauliflower- SURPRISE! It’s really good though, I promise…”

These are just a regular ole delicious appetizer that happens to be keto-friendly. My 18 month old, Ella Jean, loves them. My dad who is a self-proclaimed food critic and thinks “keto” is code for “taste like cardboard” makes a special request that I make these anytime we have a family dinner. My husband has eaten this as his entire meal before. These are a crowd pleaser for sure. Every time I make them, I get asked for the recipe. So, here it is! 

A few things to note:

Always check the ingredients when buying food- including meats. Hidden sugars are everywhere. I can usually find at least one brand at most grocery stores that has “NO SUGAR ADDED” bacon.

I like to cook the bacon in the oven while I’m preparing the peppers. It cooks it evenly and crispy without smoking up the whole house. 

Instead of pepper jack cheese, you can use cheddar cheese to sprinkle over the top. I’ve tried and like both! But the pepper jack gives it a nice little kick.

Stuffed Sweet Pepper Poppers Recipe - Keto Friendly

Christina Foret | May 14, 2019

• prep time: 15 minutes
• cook time: 15 minutes
• total time: 30 minutes

Servings: 10

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of mini sweet peppers
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• garlic salt
• 1 cup of shredded pepper jack cheese (or cheddar)
• 5 slices of sugar free bacon, cooked and chopped

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchement paper.
2. Slice pepppers long ways (try not to cut off the green stem...they're so cute!) Remove the seeds.
3. Fill with cream cheese.
4. Sprinkle with garlic salt.
5. Chop bacon and place inside sweet peppers over the top of the cream cheese.
6. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
7. Bake 15-20 minutes.

My Weight Loss Transformation with Keto - Before and After Photos

Mid-last year, I made a decision to stop eating sugar and processed foods. January of this year, I made a decision to start counting my macros. And a few weeks ago, I made a decision to get back into the gym! I am finally back down to my wedding weight - a goal that seemed impossible after having Ella. (Did I tell you I gained 40 pounds when I was pregnant!?! That’s on top of the extra 15 I already put on before even getting pregnant.) This past year has been a lot of tiny decisions- making myself eggs when donuts are on the counter, skipping dessert even when someone else is paying (LOL) - and doing my best not to fall face first into a basket of dinner rolls at every family gathering. None of these decisions seemed to make a difference in the moment- but I kept making them. And a year later, I can see them and I am proud of them. I am healthier and stronger than I have ever been and have more energy than I have in a long time. I’m not finished- but want to remember and celebrate this milestone. If you want something, the first step is to MAKE A DECISION. And then keep making it.

(I’m also happier about it than I look in this pic... I’m still mastering the art of the mirror selfie. Here are some embarrassing before and after pics! Photos are all about 10 months apart.)

Wrightsville Beach - Annex Coffee

Moorten Botanical Garden, Palm Springs CA

Moorten Botanical Gaden aka my dream world! Angela and I swung by here on our way to the Palm Springs airport. It was the perfect way to end our 9 day trip out west. 

It was a self guided tour so we took it slow and easy, roaming around giant cacti and exploring "The World's First Cactarium". Twice. 

The owner was a cute old man and he was so friendly. We bought a few succulents and I asked if he had "the kind of aloe you can rub on your cuts and stuff". He said "One minute- I'll be right back". We watched him go over to this giant aloe plant and cut off a sprig for me. He came back with a smile on his face and gave it me for free. That tiny little sprig has grown into a beautiful aloe plant that sits by the window in my kitchen. 

Salvation Mountain, California

Leonard Knight, the artist spent 30 years building the colorful mountain out of local adobe clay and donated paint. 

Imagine believing something so much- in this case, that God is Love, that you go into the middle of the desert and build a 50 foot 3 story mountain. What a creative and passionate spirit. 

Here is a paragraph from the official website: 

 "Salvation Mountain is Leonard's tribute to God and his gift to the world with its simple yet powerful message: "God Is Love." Leonard's passion has lovingly created this brilliant "outsider art " masterpiece resplendent with not only biblical and religious scripture such as the Lord's Prayer, John 3:16, and the Sinner's Prayer, but also including flowers, trees, waterfalls, suns, bluebirds, and many other fascinating and colorful objects. Salvation Mountain must be seen to be fully appreciated as those who have made the journey will attest. Its 50 foot height and 150 foot breadth is made totally of local adobe clay and donated paint and is truly unique in the United States and probably the world. From its Sea of Galilee at the bottom, to the big red heart in the middle, to the cross at the very top, the reoccurring theme of "Love" is everywhere at Salvation Mountain."

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

SUNdays coffee and watching the surfers. It's 45 degrees outside but I don't mind. 

Arches National Park, Utah

Colorado Springs + Garden of The Gods

Joshua Tree National Park

Seven Magic Mountains, Las Vegas, Nevada

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

For my birthday this year, all I wanted was to be near the water. 

Christmas Eve 2017