Paleo Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies!

I know it's not technically Fall yet, but it is to me. So it's time for pumpkin recipes here on Simply Joy! 

These cookies are great! Just don't eat five at 10pm like I did... 

Here is the recipe I followed. (The picture is of my cookies though) http://lexiscleankitchen.com/2013/08/29/chocolate-chip-pumpkin-cookies/

 

Paleo Pecan Pie Bars

Hey everyone! I made this pecan pie bars for my boyfriends (very late) birthday treat while he was here. They were so good I had to share them with you all! 

Here is the recipe I followed. http://www.paleogirlskitchen.com/2013/06/pecan-pie-bars.html

These are also great for breakfast with a cup of tea like I did here :)

 

Where did I go?

Hey guys! It's been a long time hasn't it? I'm sorry about that. I graduate in the fall so I've been focusing on school a lot more. I've also been keeping up with my youtube channel and reading as much as I can like always. What kind of posts o you want to see? Skincare? Health? Beauty? What is it that I write that you like best?

If it's beauty you like best I won't have those posts up as often because I've kind of slowed down trying new products.

Skincare and Health posts will be more often. I am always making new paleo/gluten free recipes and trying out things I see on Pinterest. With skincare I try lots of new things and natural skin remedies.

I just wanted you all to know why I haven't been posting. I hope to talk to you much more often now.

P.S How would you feel about little book reviews or book favorites?

21 Day Sugar Detox.

3rd times the charm right? I hope so. 
Here is my third attempt at a sugar detox. Once again I am still eating fruit since there isn't a lot of veggies I can eat due to digestive issues. 

Day 1:
I started eating a Kind fruit and nut bar, took two bites, looked and the ingredients and saw there was honey. So I gave it to mom. 

Day 2:
No sugar.

Day 3:
No sugar. Definitely feeling the sugar cravings though! Thankfully I have prunes which taste sweet to me and are amazing with almond milk!

Day 4:
No sugar.
When I wanted something sweet I made a green smoothie

Day 5:
No sugar!

Day 6:
No sugar once again.

Day 7:
No sugar! YAY! 

Day 8:
No sugar

Day 9:
No sugar

Day 10: 
No sugar

Day 11:
No sugar

Day 12:
No sugar

Day 13:
No sugar

Day 14:
No sugar

Day 15:
No sugar

Day 16:
No sugar.

UPDATE- So far my acne seems to be getting better and better. I am still getting some due to very sensitive skin that breaks out just by me touching my face or laying on the side of my face. So I'm still trying to get control of that. 
My stomach is perfectly fine if I stay away from all that I need to. Last night I had some squash with onions and had the worst indigestion I have ever had, no onions for me from now on.

Foods that are weird for me.
Here is a list of foods that I can't digest well. (thanks leaky gut (pretty sure I have that))

Banana (I can have a little, but very ripe and not too much)
Peppers
Onions
Squash (once again can have very little)
Broccoli
Cauliflower 
Sweet potatoes/any potatoes (can have very few sweet potatoes)
Corn

Day 17-
I'm not sure if I had sugar or not. We went to the Noodles & Company for our anniversary date (followed by going to see City of Bones) and I got the Pad Thai and I don't know if it had sugar or not.

Day 18 and 19 were again no sugar.
But day 20 and 21 I messed up and had a lot that had sugar :P So I'll have a extra 2 days sometime soon to make up for it. But since going off this I have been having a lot of sugar :P I need to do this again sometime! I am just so hardheaded. While on my detox I got really good at turning sugar down and even having to make different things for dinner than my family was having if it mad the smallest amount of sugar. I would do this again in a heartbeat!

♡ My Favorite Green Smoothie ♡

Here's my favorite green smoothie/juice! It doesn't taste very "green", which is the best part.

1 cup baby spinach (or 1/2 to 3/4 cup of baby kale, I like doing half and half.)
1 cup frozen peaches
3 ice cubes
1 and 1/2 cup orange juice
a splash of plain kefir
1 to 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Put it all in the blender and you have a green smoothie! 

 

Kohls Clothing Haul- For Graduation Pictures

Hey everyone, my mom was nice enough to get me a few clothing items from Kohls for taking my graduation pictures next month.

 

July Empties!

I know it's a little late but I've been pretty busy lately! Oh well, here is my July empties!

Unsweetened carob chips- These were okay with trail mix. Since I'm (kind of ) on a sugar detox I wanted something without sugar but these actually kind of have a salty taste. If anyone knows how I can get some unsweetened CHOCOLATE (cacao) chips please let me know.
Repurchase? Maybe.

Sunsweet Prunes- I love me some prunes! They are great for a sweet treat without added sugar! (and amazing with almond milk)
Repurchase? Always.

 Futurebiotics Enzymes- These are good for gut health.
Repurchase? I already have.

Natures Bounty
Melatonin- Good for if you need help sleeping.
Repurchase-If I needed it, which I haven't.

 Rainwater Botanicals Troubled Skin Serum- I love this stuff! It helps with my acne some and smells amazing and feels silky on your face.
Repurchase? Heck yes I would, and I plan on it!

Rainwater Botanicals Pimple Potion- A lovely spot treatment that is GENTLE! I really liked this.
Repurchase? Yes I would.

Maybelline Color Tattoo (bad to the bronze)- A nice cream eyeshadow for oily eyes.
Repurchase? No (not natural)

ELF Mineral Eye Primer- A fairly nice primer.
Repurchase? I would if I can't find a more natural one better.

Almay eyeshadows for brown eyes-
Repurchase? No, not natural and nothing special.

2 soap samples (from a farmers market)-
Full size? Probably not, but nice to try

 Burts Bees super shiny conditioner- Just a normal conditioner, nothing special.
Repurchase? Probably not.

Yes to Cucumbers "moisturizer" with SPF 30- This is NOT a moistueizer. It's thick and white, drying and pasty.
Repurchase? NO!

Pacifica blood orange soap- A very nice soap that smells very tropical and citrus-y. I loved it.
Repurchase? Probably.

Alba Pina Colada body