Tuesday, July 08, 2014

Patio Redo, Gluten-free Hamburger Buns, and Keeping the Weight Off!

We moved in our house about two and half years ago.  We had to do some necessary expensive repairs, so money has been really tight and our back patio has suffered.  Until last week it was a dumping ground for rotten porch rockers, a green machine with a flat tire, and an old broken down tricycle.  In other words, it was a redneck storage area and we didn't spend any time out there.


We really wanted to get high quality patio furniture that would withstand the blistering Texas sun and intense summer rainstorms.  Then we came to our senses and decided that cheap porch furniture was better than no furniture, and we spend a few hours and not much money at Lowe's and we now have a new outside entertainment room.  As long as we have mosquito protection it is an ideal place to relax outdoors.

Today it looks pretty awful since a  huge storm with hail and intense lightening blew in last evening and a tornado apparently hovered over our neighborhood.  We were out walking with the boys and had to seek shelter under a neighbor's carport.  They weren't home and we only had roof protection, so during the high winds my husband and I were lying on top of the boys to keep them from potentially flying away and protected from flying branches.  SCARY!

Thank goodness our house was fine.  This morning I told the boys that I would buy them a Lego set if they cleaned up all of the branches in the yard.  We have an acre and it is a complete mess, but luckily they love Legos and they ran out there before I was finished with my sentence and are busy dragging everything to the burning pile.  I heart Legos.  ;-)



We have been gluten-free and primal for quite some time, and one of the things we have really missed are hamburger buns.  I hate the gluten-free ones in the freezer section of the grocery store, they are so dry and tasteless.  So my dear husband decided to conquer the hamburger bun with a new recipe I found at the Gluten-Free Homemaker.

He followed the recipe exactly other than adding some sesame seeds on top (warning, the dough was incredibly sticky) and put them in a muffin-top pan and a short time later we ate the BEST hamburger buns of our life.  They were even better than normal wheat buns!


These buns were soft, delicious, and held up to the sodden demands of guacamole and ketchup.  I am in love with these buns!

Talking about muffin-tops, we are still living a primal lifestyle and I now weigh around 126 (I was 146 a few months ago before doing the Whole 30).  My weight is stable, my belly fat is pretty much nonexistent, I feel great, and I get to eat delicious food!  I also walk at least 2 miles daily and sometimes try to get a bit of weight training.  I haven't been this slim since college and it feels really good.

Do you want to download my favorite CoffeeShop PSE/Photoshop Actions and Lightroom Presets or Design Elements in one convenient zipped file AND help support this blog? Just click here for my action pack or here for a download of some of my most popular design elements, storyboards, and textures.

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2 comments:

  1. I left a comment before to thank you for educating me about the Whole30. You inspired me to give it a try and I have completed two cycles since February and have lost over 20 pounds and feel better than I have in a long time. So thanks again. Not only for your great Photoshop and web design assistance but also for your health and well being advise. That's quite a combination. BTW, those hamburger buns look wonderful. I will have to give them a try.

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  2. Hi, love your new backyard! Check this out. My hubby bought me one and now I'm willing (when it's not scorching) to go outside and not be eaten alive by mosquitoes! And it was only $30!

    http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/jobar-umbrella-table-screens-in-black/125920?Keyword=patio+umbrella

    Thanks for the actions that you share with us. I haven't gotten far enough along with my Photoshop to even try one (or know WHERE I would use one!)

    Patti in Dallas

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Rita