Category: Uncategorized

Progress Recap: Days 17 thru 30 (24 miles)

  • Pounds lost to date (since 2/21/26):17.6
  • Pounds lost since previous update (3/8/2026): 8.4
  • Pounds left until 1st goal (235 lbs): 60.4

The little lady in that before & after picture posted above? She has changed me.

What will they look like soon?

There are many quotes about the inevitability of time passing, about how change is inescapable. I can’t help but look at how much Juno has grown over these many months (or look into a mirror!) and see a living testament to the relentless march of time. Regardless, Juno will always be that same sweet baby that I brought home in 2024, all mischievous smiles and boundless energy (just as I will always be that young girl with dark hair).

And while she may still have the same goofy smile and ceaseless enthusiasm, Juno has also grown into a beautiful companion. Both Juno and Willow (still a puppy!) have brought ceaseless joy and levity to my life.

Spring may have sprung, but the clouds bring winter back with them this week

In an attempt to return the favor and keep the girls happy, I spend a lot of time in my beloved outdoors. When not taking walks to improve my mobility or hitting the gym to increase my strength and endurance, I’m outside. I’m throwing frisbees, tossing Chuck-Its, or kicking the herding ball. Indoors, I’m chasing the little devils down to retrieve the sock that they stole from my bedroom laundry basket or playing tug with them on the floor. I’m golden from the sun, grateful to fall into an exhausted sleep each night, and I’m … happy.

Each day, I’m able to be more present for everyone in my life, especially the puppies. As such, I keep chugging along in my efforts towards better health, and I look forward to my own progress pictures one day. After all, time will pass either way so I may as well make changes for the better.

And the changes I’ve made these past two weeks since my previous update? I was able to knock off just over 8 pounds! That brings my total lost to 17.6 pounds with 60.4 to go until my first goal of 235 pounds. Not to mention the 24+ miles that I put in. This wagon continues to move forward, and I am doggedly determined not to fall off it.

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Small Batch Double Chocolate Muffins (Lower Calorie Version)

This is a lower calorie version of this original recipe. See notes below.

INGREDIENTS

  • 140 grams all purpose flour (or 140 grams of Kodiak Cakes Buttermilk protein pancake mix)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 40 g of sifted cocoa powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup sugar substitute (I use Splenda)
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce (I do not like Mott’s as it is too green apple-ish. Aldi has a great option!)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup almond milk (or other milk alternative)
  • 95 g chocolate chips, divided (I used 75g of chocolate chips and 20g of chocolate chunks)
  • 1/2 tbsp turbinado sugar, optional

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Place 6 liners in muffin tin, alternating cups to leave a cup between each muffin if possible.
  • In a large mixing bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, baking powder and baking soda.
  • Add salt, sugar substitute, unsweetened applesauce, vanilla, and almond milk (or other milk alternative) to dry ingredients and stir until combined. Try not to overmix.
  • Stir in 75g of chocolate chips.
  • Fill 6 lined muffin tins with mixture, overfilling to achieve a bakery-style muffin.
  • Dot top with remaining 20g of chocolate chips (I love using semi-sweet chocolate chunks on top).
  • Sprinkle turbinado sugar over muffins before placing in pre-heated oven. This is optional, but we enjoy the crunchy texture on top.
  • Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes until set.

NOTES

Depending on your texture preferences, you may enjoy these even more than the original recipe!

At only 213 calories per muffin, these definitely hit the spot when watching the blasted scale. If you want to save a few more calories, using Kodiak Cake mix instead of AP flour slightly lowers the calories to about 201 calories per muffin. It also provides some extra protein and gives the muffins a little more lift, so you feel like you are getting a much larger muffin. My kids prefer the Kodiak Cake version the most.

Calorie breakdown:

IngredientsCalories
140g AP flour510
1 tsp baking powder5
1/4 tsp baking soda0
40g sifted cocoa powder92
pinch of salt0
1/2 cup splenda3
1 cup unsweetened applesauce100
1 tsp vanilla extract0
1/2 cup almond milk21
75g chocolate chips410
20g chococolate chunks109
1/2 tbsp turbinado sugar30
Total:1280
Per muffin:213.3333333

Enjoy, kiddos! I love you so very much. Thank you for all the support you’ve been giving me lately as I strive towards better health. The greatest gift I’ve been given is watching you all grow into the beautiful adults that you are, and I want to make sure that I’m around for many years to come. You have so much living and growing ahead of you, and I can’t wait for all the memories we have yet to make together! I am so very proud of each and every one of you.

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A trip to: Rocky Mountain National Park

Dates visited: October 2024



This was Juno’s introduction to travel at 3 months old! My girl loves traveling dirt roads with the boot window down and hanging out with her puppy cousins. Her first adventure was to Colorado where we visited Rocky Mountain National Park and the surrounding areas (including side quests to the Great Sand Dunes and Garden of the Gods) with my sister & her husband (this is their 4Runner and their sweet Poms) and my brother, Joe, who happens to be my regular traveling buddy.

For the duration of our trip, we enjoyed a small cabin in Grand Lake, CO which served as our base when visiting the Rocky Mountain National Park and surrounding areas. Juno loved her extended sleepover with her Pom cousins.

Cabin life in Colorado

We entered Rocky Mountain National Park via Hwy 34, and it wasn’t long before we fell in love with the beautiful landscapes. Though honestly? You can throw a dart on a map of Colorado, and you’d likely end up surrounded by gorgeous views. It is definitely one of my favorite states.

After passing through the park gates, we were immediately treated with Autumn meadows painted with the yellow leaves of Aspens who had valiantly held out until the very end of the season before putting on their golden show. I’d like to think they waited for us! And as we crept our way up the steep slopes, sunshine gave way to a dusting of snowflakes as we reached the peaks overlooking a glacial tundra. Pika were putting on an adorable show as they frantically darted in and out of the rocks below, a flurry of activity as they frantically gathered vegetation to add to their stores before winter officially arrived.

Every inch of Rocky Mountain National Park was beautiful, and Juno was very photogenic as we tasked her with sitting pretty at nearly every overlook. We were disappointed to learn that dogs are not allowed on trails, and though I understand the reasoning behind this decision, it is still disappointing that this is the rule for most areas of our National Parks.

This trip started a journey that was the catalyst that sealed the deal for me. It made me yearn to see all that our beautiful country as to offer. Especially in a time where there is so little else to be proud of as an American.

It made me realize that I was no longer content with simply waiting to die in my tiny corner of Mississippi. If I had unlimited resources, I’d be living in a van with my two puppies and traveling (between visiting my beloved kids!) like the nomad that my heart and soul tell me that I am. I’d probably force my brother along for the ride, but for now, I’m the one tagging along.

And I’m ever so grateful.

For more photos, check out my Gallery or head to my brother’s instagram: jhankinsmedia. He is a phenomenal photographer and loves shooting wildlife in our beautiful parks. He also takes amazing pics of my pups, Juno & Willow.

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A trip to: Grand Canyon & Sedona

Dates visited: December 2024

Camping onsite at Grand Canyon

As far as road trips go, my visit to the Grand Canyon was beyond memorable. This adventure was a spur of the moment trip that I took with my brother, Joe, who is probably my favorite person in the world outside of my kids. Actually, there’s no “probably” about it. It’s a sin to lie and all that.

Morning campsite visitor

My oldest son and his partner joined us on the trip. Him being able to join us was a “rare spawn” event, and it meant a lot to me to be able to have that time with him. His joining us was a crucial part of the plan: my son drove my brother & I (with Juno squished in there as well!) to go pick up his new truck in Texas. Once the new truck was picked up around Houston, we headed to Little Rock to pick up his new trailer. And from there? A convoy straight to the Grand Canyon!

On the way, we stopped and enjoyed one of the most memorable meals I’ve ever eaten: El Patio de Albuquerque’s adovada stuffed sopapillas. I still dream of this meal to this day. Juno was so well behaved on that patio. She is always the best girl.

Once at the Grand Canyon, we were able to stay onsite. It was winter, and a week before Christmas, so the campground was empty. And cold! And also around the time that “unidentified drones” were being reported across the country. We spent one night on the edge of the canyon, staring at the stars, freezing to the bone and scaring ourselves silly anytime we saw something suspect.

What can I say about the Grand Canyon? It’s stunning. It’s an icon. It’s a testament to time and dogged determination. I have a great appreciation for the boundless number of years that it must have taken for the canyon to be carved so spectacularly by the steadfast river below. It is a leviathan, this geological marvel that dares you to look your own mortality in its face and cower before its longevity. The moving highlights of everchanging hue painting the canyon as the sun moved through the sky was breathtaking, and I wanted to plant my feet on the valley below and get lost in its timelessness. As such, I wish I had been in better health (and had more time) to be able to actually hike the canyon. Without the change of perspective that comes with marching into the belly of the beast, one is tempted to dismiss the Grand Canyon as “just a big hole in the ground”. Well, not me. But definitely someone in our traveling party that I shall not name, but I will forever side-eye. And it wasn’t Juno.

“Big hole in the ground” or not, I’m glad I got to see check this one off my bucket list. And I got to see it with my son.

Before heading home, we visited Sedona. We arrived late at night and left early the next morning, so I wasn’t able to get too many pictures, but the views were unforgettable. I definitely would love to revisit it one day and explore the area thoroughly.

Just not in December.

Above: Grand Canyon

Above: Sedona (Rancho Sedona RV Park)

Above: Sunset on the way to Sedona

For more photos, check out my Gallery or head to my brother’s instagram: jhankinsmedia. He is a phenomenal photographer and loves shooting wildlife in our beautiful parks. He also takes amazing pics of my pups, Juno & Willow.

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A trip to: Great Sand Dunes

Dates visited: October 2024 and May 2025

Northern Lights over the Dunes

Juno & I have had the pleasure to visit Great Sand Dunes National Park twice, and each visit has been remarkable! The first time I visited, I was lucky enough to see the Northern Lights over the dunes. It was such an awe-inspiring experience that left me sobbing with joy and wonder. We thought we had experienced all the dunes had to offer, but boy were we wrong.

The second visit, my son joined us and he had a blast hiking the dunes. While he spent his day battling the gusting sands, my brother and I enjoyed off-roading Medano Pass. We weren’t even aware that this was an option the first rushed visit, but it was one of the highlights of our trip and sparked my love of overlanding. It is a 22-mile road connecting Great Sand Dunes with the Wet Mountain Valley and Colorado State Highway 69 that is only open in the warmer months each year that features sand pits, rock crawls, and water crossings. There’s some backcountry camping available (21 FCFS sites), and I would love to go back and experience a night or two along the Pass.

Zapata Falls BLM Campground

We ended up staying at the Zapata Falls campground, a BLM primitive campground that offered sweet views of the dunes and the surrounding valley. It was only $11 a night (just vault toilets and fire rings) and honestly one of the best camping experiences to date. The sunset, the stars, the vast expansive views. Unforgettable. The rocky road to the campground ended in a trailhead to a waterfall (Zapata Falls) where my son and I saw a bear and her cub sitting atop the rocks above the falls entrance! It was absolutely magical.

Bear & cub above Zapata Falls

During our May trip, we were able to experience Medano Creek, a surge flow of melted snow meandering through the dune fields. There is a small outpost just before entering the park that rents out sand sleds, as well as a shop that rents them in nearby Alamosa.

While most people take a gander at the impressive dunes and call it a day, I definitely recommend exploring this park and its surrounding areas, especially the Medano Pass if you have a 4WD vehicle. Visiting the dunes beneath the Northern Lights and exploring the Medano Pass with my brother and Juno are both such cherished memories. I smile every time I think of my son’s joy and pride after he traversed the dunes solo. As such, the Great Sand Dunes National Park will always be one of my favorites for sentimental reasons. I’m grateful for having experienced everything it had to offer.

Sunset from Zapata Falls Campsite

For more photos, check out my Gallery or head to my brother’s instagram: jhankinsmedia. He is a phenomenal photographer and loves shooting wildlife in our beautiful parks. He also takes amazing pics of my pups, Juno & Willow.

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A trip to: Grand Teton & Yellowstone

Dates visited: October 2024 & July 2025

Juno & I have been to Yellowstone twice. Once with my brother, my sister & her husband, and their two dogs. It was originally a trip to just the Rocky Mountain National Park & surrounding areas with our new puppies (just months old!), but as the trip grew to a close, my brother and I were called to continue our trip to Grand Teton & Yellowstone. After all, we were so close! When would we ever get out that way again?

Riverside Park Campground

The answer to question was “a year later”, when Yellowstone was the terminus for a huge loop trip that first stopped in Moab for some off-roading with the same crew from my first trip and then went west to Yosemite before hitting the PNW and scooting over to Glacier National Park. This was a month-long endeavor, and Juno thrived as our traveling companion. She is an adventure dog, through and through! My youngest two children flew into Jackson, WY to explore Grand Teton & Yellowstone with us for that second visit.

As we awaited the arrival of my kiddos, we spent about a week on the other side of the Grand Teton mountains in Idaho at Riverside Park Campground. It was a great jumping point to explore the area and challenged the Great Sand Dunes for the most stars I’ve ever seen at night. There are plenty of gravel roads to explore, both along the Snake River in Idaho, as well as the mighty Grand Tetons.

Is it even a road trip if you don’t grab a coke & some peanuts and kick up some dust?

Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park and its surrounding area stole a piece of my heart, and I don’t think I will escape this mortal coil without forever hearing their call to return.

Yes, if I have my say, return I will.

My physical health kept me from fully exploring both Grand Teton and Yellowstone (I’m working on it!). Naturally, I’d love to go back and have an opportunity to explore some of the more challenging hikes and trails. But a third visit? That just seems greedy and there’s so many more parks to explore! That being said, the minions’ flight into Jackson, WY was delayed a day, so their trip was cut short. They deserve a redo!

View from near Driggs, ID

If I do manage to get back to Yellowstone one day, I would likely set up base camp in one of the many boondocking spots between Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Grassy Lake Rd was an amazing option, and we spent a whole day exploring this gravel road that connects to Idaho, giving you amazing views of the neglected backside of the Grand Teton mountain range. Otherwise, I would either tent camp or car camp Mammoth campground. Mammoth campground is where we car-camped the first trip; Fishing Bridge RV Park (hard campers required due to bear activity) is where we camped the second trip in my brother’s trailer. I was very disappointed in the size of the individual campgrounds in Fishing Bridge. It felt more like sleeping in a parking lot (obviously) than camping. A trip to Yellowstone deserves more than that.

For the longest time, Yellowstone (and Grand Teton, which I view as a package deal) was my absolute favorite National Park. While many flock to Yellowstone for the geothermal landscapes, I prefer the waterfalls and various rock formations, not to mention the wildlife. I’ve seen bears, wolves, elk, and moose (and various other birds and mammals) at Yellowstone. Honestly, seeing a grizzly mom with her three cubs crossing the road was something of a spiritual experience that left me sobbing. And that’s the beauty of this park; it is a vast span of beauty and wonder that houses so many stunning geological marvels and ecosystems. They ebb and flow into each other, leaving you breathless from one view to another.

.

Yellowstone

For more photos, check out my Gallery or head to my brother’s instagram: jhankinsmedia. He is a phenomenal photographer and loves shooting wildlife in our beautiful parks. He also takes amazing pics of my pups, Juno & Willow.

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Waitress’s In-the-Dark Dark Chocolate Pie

Original recipe: Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Pie — The BEST Chocolate Pie Ever!!

INGREDIENTS

Crust:

  • 1 package (about 36) whole Oreos
  • 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter (*will need additional butter for the filling)

Caramel filling:

  • 1 stick (8 tablespoons) butter
  • 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream (*will need additional cream for ganache)

Ganache topping:

  • 1 cup of heavy whipping cream
  • 1 (12 oz) bag dark chocolate chips
  • Flaky salt like kosher salt or fleur de sel

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Finely crush the Oreos with a food processor or blender. Stir crumbs together with 8 tablespoons melted butter until well combined. Press into the bottom and sides of a pie pan. Freeze crust for 10 minutes until set.
  • Combine remaining 8 tablespoons butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until mixture begins to bubble. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Slowly whisk in 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream until smooth. Cool caramel about 15 minutes. Pour the caramel over the Oreo crust, then return to freezer for about 30-45 minutes until just chilled and set. (You don’t want the caramel to fully freeze.)
  • Place chocolate chips in a glass bowl. In a saucepan, bring 1 cup heavy whipping cream to a simmer over medium-high heat. Pour the cream over the chocolate chips and let sit for 5 minutes, then whisk until completely smooth. Pour the chocolate over the caramel and freeze for a final 30 minutes, until just chilled and set. OR refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve. Before serving, sprinkle the top with a flaky sea salt like kosher salt or Fleur De Sel.

NOTES

I first tasted this delectable pie at a national tour of the Broadway musical Waitress in St. Louis. They were selling small jars of various pies prior to the show. The layers of caramel and ganache with a hint of salt made my toes curl. It has been a family favorite for special events ever since!

Feel free to bypass a step and buy a store-bought chocolate crust, if needed. However, you will really be missing out as the homemade Oreo crust really adds heft and structure to this amazing pie.

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Pecan Pie Bars

Original recipe: Pecan Pie Bars Recipe – Preppy Kitchen

INGREDIENTS

Crust:

  • 2½ cups all-purpose flour (300g)
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar (150g)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 12 tablespoons of butter (170 g), browned

Filling

  • 4 large eggs
  • 1½ cups dark or light corn syrup (360mL)
  • ⅔ cup packed brown sugar (140g)
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup all-purpose flour (40g)
  • 2 cups pecans roughly chopped (240g)

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  • Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray then line it with parchment paper or foil.
  • Brown the butter for your crust.
  • In a large bowl, whisk to combine the flour, sugar and salt. Drizzle in the browned butter and stir together with a fork. Use clean hands to mix and knead the dough together (it will be crumbly) then place it in the prepared baking dish. Press it into a thin, even layer.
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the edges turn lightly golden.
  • While the shortbread crust bakes, in a large bowl, whisk to combine the eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, vanilla and salt until smooth. Sift in the ⅓ cup flour and whisk to combine. Add the chopped pecans and mix once more.
  • When the crust comes out of the oven, pour the pecan pie topping over it and smooth out any piles of pecans. Return it to the oven for about 30 minutes or until the topping is puffed and dry.
  • Allow to cool completely and then chill slightly before cutting, in order to get nice clean pieces.

NOTES

This is it. The best of the best. Move over pecan pie, this is the one thing that my kids have decided they must have every Thanksgiving and Christmas. The rich shortbread crust and the luscious filling are absolutely to die for!

Please check out the original recipe linked above. For a step-by-step walk through, check out the embedded video below.

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Zach’s Favorite Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 3/4 cups (248g) all-purpose flour, scoop and level to measure
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 12 Tbsp (170g) unsalted butter, melted, divided
  • 3/4 cup (150g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup (70g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (170g) semi-sweet chocolate chips (or mix-ins of your choice – see notes)
  • Maldon sea salt flakes to sprinkle on top, if desired

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Place butter into cast iron skillet and put into oven as it preheats. Once melted, leave about 1 tbsp of butter in pan and put the remaining melted butter into a large mixing bowl. Allow the melted butter to cool down a little bit before slightly adding additional ingredients.
  • Once cooled, add the following to the bowl with the melted butter: brown sugar, granulated sugar, and salt.
  • Add egg, egg yolk and vanilla and stir until combined.
  • Sift in flour and baking soda, then stir until combined.
  • Mix in chocolate chips.
  • Scoop dough out into prepared skillet and spread into an even layer.
  • Sprinkle with Maldon flaked sea salt, if desired.
  • Bake in preheated oven until cook appears slightly under-baked in center, it will continue to cook from the residual heat of the pan for a few minutes once removed from the oven, about 18 to 20 minutes.
  • Spoon out and serve warm with vanilla ice cream if desired or let cool at least 30 minutes to cut into slices.

NOTES

The above recipe is a template. Feel free to add in any number of mix-ins. One of our favorites is the addition of marshmallows (that have been halved and pressed into dough), white chocolate chips, and graham cracker pieces. I like to press in additional chocolate chips on top for decoration purposes. Not to mention topping with flaked sea salt!

Enjoy!

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Countdown to Christmas: 25 Days of Baking Traditions

When my children were growing up, Christmas was always the time of year that my love language of baking went into overdrive! I miss the days of multiple Christmas trees and outdoor decorations, but one of the things I refuse to give up as my children get older is showering them with baked goods during the holidays. For me, straight from my kitchen is straight from my heart!

And this year? Well, it was time to document family favorites so that my children can start their own traditions with their own families when the time comes.

♫ It’s tiiiIIIiiiime! ♫

Hopefully you can bring a little bit of childhood nostalgia into your own home this holiday season and for many years to come.

Merry Christmas, kiddos! I love you so much.

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