Living Simply, Simply Living

Last week meandered along at a slow pace. Four kids spent the week at singing school in Alabama, so just my husband and our two youngest girls were home. Literally. Because of an extended auto repair, my husband drove my van to work all week and the little gals and I were on what I termed house arrest.

I didn’t label it that because of my good attitude. We moped about lost opportunities for a couple of days: a trip to the summer kids’ movies; shopping at Five Below with one daughter’s birthday money; bike riding on the greenway.

Surely we would have hit Sonic for Happy Hour at least once.

But our days found a rhythm and a simplicity absent in our normal race. I sliced a lime into wedges at the beginning of the week and each morning I dropped one in the bottom of my green bottle; filled it with ice and water; and added a sprig of the fresh spearmint we planted a few summers ago.

We gathered bouquets of gardenia and hydrangea blossoms from our yard. We ate simply since fast food wasn’t an option and we couldn’t run to the grocery store on a whim.

I wrote more. Trying to write when you aren’t trying to live is never an easy proposition, and this simple living began to sink into my bones.

Less Stress with Lactaid

During a week with less demands on my time and attention, I stopped and thought about how I live: How much is hit or miss and how much is intentional? One of the most purposeful and beneficial changes I’ve made this year is using Lactaid products.

I self-diagnosed my lactose sensitivity in February, and initially Lactaid complicated things a bit: after all, I had to remember to buy and take it. It doesn’t take long, however, to recognize the way I used to feel after eating certain foods on the times when I forget it. I don’t usually make the same mistake twice.

I’m just thankful this problem has a fix. 

I carry Lactaid caplets in my purse and drink and cook with the milk at home. It simplifies my life. Peanut Butter Crunch for breakfast? Okay. (Doesn’t everyone have a Cap’n Crunch tee?) Starbucks powdered cocoa in hot milk? No problem. Malts? Honey mustard dressing? Sour cream? Check.

It’s life-changing.

Lactaid’s website contains lots of recipes that use Lactaid milk. Print the recipe for Chicken with Lactose Free Creamy Mushroom Sauce and see Lactaid spokeswoman Melissa D’Arabian cook it live on the Today Show here.

I take a favorite family recipe that’s loaded with dairy and modify it so that it’s easier for me to digest. No one else realizes I’ve changed it.

Disclosure: I will be compensated for my participation in this program.