Mom is gone, and it’s an all-guys week filled with board games and (simple) guy food!
Our Real Life
It’s been an unusual week for us in the Paleo Parents house. I am on a family trip with my dad and sisters to explore the town where my grandmother was born and extended family still lives. Then I’m hopping on a cruise down the Mediterranean to visit more of Italy, Turkey, and Greece. I left all my boys at home, where they are missing me, and Matt is feeling short handed!
The boys have been playing a lot of board games, and letting their imaginations run wild with putting on “plays” …which are always pretty hilarious and entertaining!
Matt and the boys also went to a Pentatonix concert (a family favorite!). Of course they all had a blast and it was a great activity to break up the days without mom.
Meanwhile, I’ve been having the time of my life exploring quaint towns, eating incredible food, and spending time with extended family! Enjoying a glass of wine in an adorable cafe, overlooking the Servian walls built in 390BC was unreal!
Also overwhelmingly wonderful was this gluten-free “kitchen sink” pizza, which we took back to my cousins house and enjoyed with prosciutto from a pig they raised, truffles their dogs dug up, and wine they grew and fermented… all on the same property my great-grandparents farmed before coming to the US. I can’t seem to find the words for how incredible this experience has been so far.
I’ll be sharing more stories and details from my trip when I get back, so stay tuned!
Short Cuts for Those of Us Short-Handed!
With Matt holding down the household for two weeks while Stacy is in the Mediterranean, he’s taking all the help he can get from Paleo “convenience” foods. Here’s what’s in his arsenal this week:
Pizza Dough Mix is almond-flour based and literally takes just a couple minutes to whip up and spread into a pan for homemade pizza with your favorite toppings! The boys love it, and homemade pizza always feels like a special treat. Find Simple Mills Pizza Dough Mix —> Here!
Pure Wraps are coconut-based wraps that are made from a few simple, clean, ingredients, are perfect for quick lunches. They do a great job of holding in a lot of sandwich fixings, and the boys can even take these out and make their own wraps for lunch! Find Pure Wraps —> Here!
Jackson’s Honest Sweet Potato Chips are made with only sweet potatoes, coconut oil and sea salt, and are a life saver for when we haven’t planned a lunch. Salty, crunchy and full of healthy ingredients, this is a great food to keep around for meals in a pinch! Find Jackson’s Honest Sweet Potato Chips —> Here!
We love board games for occupying busy minds and small hands… especially when there’s only one adult around to wrangle all the kids, while making dinner and taking care of the household at the same time!
Superfight is a game where you argue over ridiculous fights, and it is great for all levels and ages. The game is simple and we especially love that even our youngest can fully participate in this one! Everyone is dealt cards, which are used to create fights like this: A KINDERGARTEN CLASS THAT BREATHES FIRE AND IS WEARING JETPACKS vs. A PIRATE SWINGING A SHARK ON A CHAIN AND RIDING A SEGWAY. We love that the boys have to use their imagination and their reasoning skills. Plus it’s hilarious! Get Superfight —> Here!
Three Cheers for Master is a great for the boys because it is relatively fast. With about a 45-minute long play time, this is the perfect game to play while dinner is cooking, or after homework is finished and before bedtime. This one’s a lot of fun and always has us laughing. Find Three Cheers for Master —> Here!
Mom’s Away, Guys Paleo Eats! (Quick – Simple – Meat)
Garlic & Herb Perfect Pork Chops
Molasses Horseradish Mustard Ribs