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7 Amazing Gluten-free Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

By My Well Balanced Life

July 14 is a day for pasta lovers to get excited about. It’s National Macaroni and Cheese Day. And we’ve found 7 of the most amazing gluten-free macaroni and cheese recipes that everyone will enjoy… even those who are gluten intolerant or have to eat dairy-free!         There was a time when…

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Amanda with cupcakes

I’m Amanda! I’m a Pilates & Barre Master Trainer, Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Managing Director with Beautycounter, recently retired military wife, and mother of two very energetic boys.

I’ve given up the unrealistic notion of being awesome at everything and embraced the idea of just keeping the important stuff well balanced.

My life is not nearly as cool as my Pinterest boards, you guys. But I do try to live a healthy life and make better choices for my family. If you have any interest in doing the same, please stick around! Read More…

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Whoops🤷🏻‍♀️ And yeah, a new look is c Whoops🤷🏻‍♀️ And yeah, a new look is coming, too! That was actually a planned thing, tho😉 #socialmediabreak #whoops #unplannedvacation
Everyone is loving the new Top Gun movie, and righ Everyone is loving the new Top Gun movie, and rightfully so. There is nothing cooler than the world of fighter jets raging in the skies… absolutely nothing. But so much of that life that doesn’t get shown in a Hollywood production. #memorialday is hard. It is sad and heavy … it brings on an onslaught of gut wrenching memories of events and people and moments that change a military community forever. Knowing that a jet has crashed but not knowing whose it was. Or if the pilot survived. Waiting with your heart in your throat. Waking up to news that your friend’s husband has died. Praying it’s a mistake, it has to be a mistake. Watching your husband fall to his knees at the news that his friend is gone. Crying out in despair. Driving like a bat out of hell over medians and around police barricades to get your friend to the hospital because her husband ejected from a jet. And these are just my experiences as one of the lucky ones. My husband flew fighter jets for the Air Force for over 20 years, and today we get to sit here together and raise a toast to our friends and families who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. The greatest admiration I have is for my friends who have grieved this loss and then picked up the pieces. Made really hard decisions. Raised their children. Given birth to babies with Air Force friends by their sides because husbands were gone. Lived through our worst nightmare and are still standing strong. Movies cannot accurately portray the unspoken understanding by all military members and families that we know what’s at stake. Military families fill out forms at every new assignment to explain their wishes of how they want things handled in the case of your worst nightmare happening. How do you want to be notified? Who do you want to show up at your door? Who do you want to take care of your children in the chaos? And then those forms are locked away somewhere in a commander’s desk where you pray they will never ever see the light of day. ⁣ ⁣ FREEDOM IS NOT FREE. ⁣ ⁣ The sacrifice for our freedom is mighty. The past few years have created such ugliness & division among us, & I believe we are better than this. I know we are.
Hear me out… May is stupid exhausting and would Hear me out… May is stupid exhausting and would be way better with presents. #maycember #betterwithpresents #canwebedonenow
Happy Mother’s Day! You know I think as we get Happy Mother’s Day! You know I think as we get older, we realize that every holiday or day of celebration can be really messy and sad for a lot of people. Whether it’s grief or longing or wishing for different circumstances … or joy or relief or hope … it’s all significant and worth acknowledging. I spent my day at the ballpark with my boys, enjoying a baseball win and some of the best brunch of my life! Of course, I haven’t had a working kitchen for months so it’s possible my standards have lowered🥴 Never would have thought this would be my life, but here we are. The grief and sadness we endure sure make the good stuff a whole lot sweeter❤️ #happymothersday #thisismylife #levelup #myboymomlife
It's true. Now don't get me wrong, hearing this w It's true. Now don't get me wrong, hearing this when I was going though secondary infertility and multiple miscarriage would have made me want to punch someone in the face. Because those years were ugly. Raw. Devastating. But even though I would balk at positive stories, I also held on to them tighter than I was willing to admit. If you are going through infertility battles right now, I get it. The anger, the frustration, the brokenness, the seeming betrayal of your body ... just wanting to shake your fist at God for the injustice of it all. But oftentimes it's those crawl-through-the-trenches seasons that not only bring us to our knees in front of the Lord, but transform us into people we never believed we could be. There is not enough space in the IG comment field to truly explain how much good has come from my infertility journey. But to sum it up, restored health, a greater purpose, a new profession, an unwaivering faith, a stronger marriage, and ultimately a family of four. A me that would have been unrecognizable during that time. Never in my wildest dreams would I have believed this would be my life. Those countless times of sobbing on the floor of my closet, begging the Lord to let me keep a pregnancy. Those forever days when the anxiety and fear felt inescapable. Those moments when I wondered if I would ever feel happy and whole again. And now I have this life filled with beauty that came because of those dark days. So if you see yourself in the first part of my story ...in the broken pieces ... I promise you that God is doing amazing work in you right now. And hope and restoration don't always come in the ways you want or desire, but they do come. They will❤️ #nationalinfertilityawarenessweek #infertilityjourney #infertilitywarrior
❤️SECONDARY INFERTILITY❤️ I had my first ❤️SECONDARY INFERTILITY❤️ I had my first baby when I was 29. He’s 17 now, which feels impossible. He was my first pregnancy, and it was very typical. Typical morning sickness, typical weight gain, typical healthy baby. And somewhere in my mind, even though I never said it out loud, I thought.... “WHEW. I’m not going to be one of those women who struggles with infertility and miscarriage.” Oh boy, little did I know. I mean, wow. So. Wrong. I have always counted myself incredibly blessed to have that first pregnancy that wasn’t crippled with fear and anxiety. Aside from the normal worries, I had that really positive experience to hold on to. He was a huge strength and support to me during my years of battling for another baby. He was who I came home to and squeezed after every miscarriage, every heartbreaking appointment, every D&C. He was my reminder that my body was capable of having a healthy baby, no matter what the doctors told me. He also put up with a mother who became wildly neurotic about his health and safety because he was most likely going to be my only shot at motherhood. Somehow, I didn’t ruin him during those years. He turned out pretty amazing. Bless those babies whose parents endure secondary infertility, because they see a side of that journey that no one else sees. And even if they’re too young to understand, they feel it. I remember once when I was sitting on the floor, crying my eyes out... this 3-year-old little boy sat snuggled up beside me, just patting my leg. And he said, “Mama, you’re going to be ok.” And I said, “Really? You really think so?” With all the confidence in the world, he said, “Yep. I just know it.” And he was right. I know this is something that is rarely talked about when it comes to secondary infertility. You don’t hear about the role those kids play in the journey or what they have to deal with. But I’m telling you — those kids deserve a medal. Extra gold stars for sure. And maybe free therapy for life. #secondaryinfertility #myinfertilitystory #firstbornson
Reasons my doctors gave me to explain my infertili Reasons my doctors gave me to explain my infertility issues: ➡️Old and damaged eggs ➡️Advanced maternal age ➡️Bad luck I experienced my 7 miscarriages from the ages of 32-36. Not exactly ancient. These were not based on medical testing, just their opinions. Because they were baffled. My testing came back “normal”. They told me that the more I kept trying, the more at risk I was for more miscarriages and having a baby with severe chromosomal abnormalities. I believed them for a long time because hey, they were doctors. They’re the experts. Let me be clear — I had some wonderful doctors during my years of secondary infertility and multiple miscarriage. They were kind and did their best to help me. But they didn’t know everything. Because they’re human. They did not have any explanation as to why I was able to have a healthy baby with my first pregnancy and then crash into this spiral of impaired reproductive health to include crippling anxiety, bouts of depression, terrible hormonal imbalances, and chronic pain. I stumbled around for so long trying to figure out how to bring my body back to a healthy and balanced place. Even if I couldn’t have another baby, I was desperate to restore my body and mind. I had to put those doctors’ words at the back of my mind when I started seeking healing through alternative and unconventional methods. ⭐️Holistic health practitioners ⭐️Mental and spiritual health counseling ⭐️Eating a real food diet and ditching gluten ⭐️Reducing exposure to endocrine disrupters and toxins There is zero guarantee that a person struggling with infertility will be able to give birth to a healthy baby. But there is hope to improve your health and give it the best fighting chance to heal. Not gonna lie, it was scary to go against the grain. The world doesn’t cheer you on for being the outlier… unless you find success. Then you are celebrated. You will always be your best advocate and it’s more than ok to keep researching and seeking out the best team of people to support you in your journey. Even if people think you’re crazy. I was crazy once, too❤️ #nationalinfertilityawarenessweek #fightforyourhealth #secondaryinfertility
It's National Infertility Awareness Week. And for It's National Infertility Awareness Week. And for those us of who have been up close and personal with infertility, we are all too aware of this battle. TBH, it’s hard for me to really remember the days when we were just a family of three, when we were deep in the middle of what felt like constant miscarriages. I was recently visiting with a sweet and dear friend who is in the midst of IVF after 3 miscarriages. We toasted to the sucky club we are a part of forever, one where you get to a point that you cuss a positive pregnancy test because you just "don't have time for another miscarriage." If you get this, if you're deep in that battle that just really blows, know you're not alone. I see you. My family pictures can look like a fairytale, but I assure you that there were countless sobfests on the floor of my closet. But there were also lots of moments of joy, even before we got that rainbow baby in the second picture. And sometimes the most helpful thing is knowing a real life person who just gets it. Hang in there💖 #miscarriageawareness #infertility #iseeyou
🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️ There is no point to this post. I just hate mine so much. I despise it. It’s the worst. Don’t ever get one. It stinks and you can’t keep it from stinking. They tell you to leave the door open but that doesn’t work AND it drives me crazy because I’m Type A and it should be closed. Ok I’m done. #momlife #frontloader #theworst
When was the last time you went on a bike ride jus When was the last time you went on a bike ride just for fun? Or went roller skating? Or moved just for fun? Not because you needed to get your cardio in. Not because you wanted to burn off something you ate and feel guilty about. Just movement for the sake of having fun, breathing in some fresh air, enjoying the scenery. Don't forget that this kind of "exercise" can sometimes do more for your health and well being than a hard core sweat session. Doing something that brings you joy and lights you up has the power to stimulate those feel good endorphins, relieve stress, improve your mood, and create positivity and optimism. You just can’t beat that rush. And a pretty bike with a basket of beautiful flowers doesn't hurt😉🌺 What’s your favorite form of FUN exercise? #healthymovement #enjoytheride #stopandsmelltheflowers
Oh, Cilantro💚 You either love it or think it t Oh, Cilantro💚 You either love it or think it tastes like soap. Which one are you? I personally LOVE cilantro. Like can't get enough of it. I'm the lady at Chipotle who asks for a big handful of it, and they usually have to go to the back to get it. But it's not just the taste that appeals to me -- cilantro has a lot of health benefits. 💚Boosts the immune system. 💚Calms anxiety. 💚Kills bacteria. 💚Smoothes digestion. 💚Helps the body to detox heavy metals. The last one is my favorite, as I'm always looking for ways to incorporate detoxification into daily life. Detox is a natural process that the body knows how to do! And when we give it extra help, we do a better job of it. So throw it on top of a salad, top your tacos with it, sprinkle some on your soup, or throw a bit into your smoothie. And if it tastes like you just squirted dish soap in your mouth, well then YUCK. Find another way to help with detoxification. I'm not a fan of forcing down "superfoods" if you think they're gross. Nature provides us with so many options, so find the one that works for you. And if you are one of the people who thinks cilantro taste like soap, it could be because you’re genetically made up to detect a certain chemical. And that chemical is in both cilantro and soap. So you’re not crazy😉 #cilantro #dailydetox #healthyhabits
If you know someone who has an online business/blo If you know someone who has an online business/blog/website/professional presence, just know that the amount of behind the scenes work that takes place to operate said business is absolutely mind boggling. It’s uncomfortable and you always feel like you’re behind the curve. I don’t think it’s physically possible to stay on top of all the things to make them successful and profitable. So before you rush to judge or criticize or assume or dismiss, keep in mind that most of us feel dumb and awkward most of the time and we’re just trying our best to keep up. And to do the work we feel incredibly passionate about. Knowing that we are helping people in some way is what keeps us pushing forward. We are our own worst critics. So every kind word and measure of support you offer your friends, family, and random people on the internet goes a long way. Pic taken in my car while giving myself a pep talk to not be awkward and weird during a photoshoot for my new website rebrand. It never ends, y’all. Be kind💜 #entreprenuerlifestyle #onlinebiz #doingourbest #bekindalways
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