Lifestyle

Guess How Much I Love You

I don’t think I could adequately describe my love for this little one if I tried. I know I’m not the first Mom to think or say this about their child but it is so true. It’s an indescribable feeling. I know food is normally the star of the show in this little corner of the internet but sharing the everyday moments at this stage of life seemed necessary, since I don’t have the power to freeze time. An ordinary day of reading books, turned into one of my favorite captured moments to date.

Capri, I love you to the moon and back!

Foodie Birthday Giveaway Winner!

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Before we find out who won all of these goodies below, I want to thank each and every person for entering and following along on this journey. You have made it more fun than I ever imagined! So, thank you, thank you, thank you!

So who won ALL of this?

Vital Proteins Vanilla Collagennutpods Variety 3-PackBob’s Red Mill Organic Golden Flaxseed Meal

Stonyfield/ Bobs Red Mill Chia SeedVital Proteins Collagen Peptides, UnflavoredBobs Red Mill Flour Almond

Go here to find out! A huge thank you again to Vital Proteins, Stonyfield, Bob’s Red Mill, and nutpods for sponsoring this post! Happy Monday!

Twenty Eight

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Yesterday I turned 29. Eric surprised me and took some of the day off so we could spend it together. It was the best and just what I wanted. 🙂 For my favorites today, I thought it would be fun to look back on some of my very favorite (and very random) 😉 things from 28! Eric surprised me with a beach trip last year for my birthday. It was THE BEST!  I made crustless quiches on repeat…I started my 4th year of teaching with a super sweet class and resigned in August to be at home with Capri.We kept a little secret from everyone for awhile and then shared the exciting news via Christmas cards!I ate avocado toast like it was my job……and could barely drink coffee anymore. Pregnancy does straaaange things. I was gifted these earrings, which I wear all the time. We bought this rug, which I’m obsessed with. (And it’s on serious sale right now!) I really got into listening to podcasts.The day after Christmas we found out we were having a baby GIRL! We lived by this motto as we soaked in every moment. We took some time to get away…I was showered by the most generous friends and family a girl could ask for. We started (and finished) watching Parenthood. And I’m still mourning the fact that it’s over. I tried by hand at a lot of new recipes.I became a Mom. 🙂We went on date nights.I soaked up every snuggle…
…and took in every little feature…..and watched this little one grow with each passing day.We celebrated three years of marriage.
I ushered in fall with open arms..and these muffins.

28 was far too good to me in more ways than I could have ever imagined. God provided beyond belief and I am so thankful for this life. It was definitely one of my favorite years yet. Here’s to 29 and all it has in store!

Also don’t forget to enter this! Only a few days left. 🙂 Happy Friday!

Foodie Birthday Giveaway

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Happy Sunday AND happy giveaway week! I am so excited to team up with some of my very, very, very favorite companies to give you a HUGE bundle of delicious goodies for my birthday week as a thank you for all of your support of this blog! One winner will receive the following:
  1. A Vital Proteins Vanilla Collagen. I use it in SO many of my smoothies, like this one if you like blueberries or this one if you are more of an orange lover!
  2. A set of nutpods Variety 3-Pack. I use this in my coffee every morning now.
  3. Bob’s Red Mill Organic Golden Flaxseed Meal. What don’t I use this in? I add it to almost all of my smoothies, some of my homemade breads, and snacks!
  4. $25 worth of Stonyfield products of your choice! I use their yogurt in my pancake recipe. Yes, pancakes! Pumpkin Pancakes. Apple Cinnamon Pancakes (My favorite lately!). Bacon Chocolate Chip Pancakes.
  5. Bobs Red Mill Chia Seed. I use this in all my smoothies or on top of fruit.
  6. Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides, Unflavored. Search my blog and you will find this often. 😉
  7. Bobs Red Mill Flour Almond (not pictured). I solely use this as my main substitute for regular flour and LOVE it! Be sure to check my recipes though for the ratio difference. 

This is over a $200 value for one winner! This would be such a fun way to start incorporate some of these ingredients into the way you eat or give to a friend or family member for their birthday, Christmas, or just because!

Starting today (and all week long) you can enter as many ways in the rafflecopter below.

If you already do one of the steps, you can help yourself to a free entry by clicking on that item. Simply click below on each item that you completed. There are extra points if you follow me on Instagram, tag a friend (or 20!) on my giveaway post on Instagram, subscribe to my e-mail list, or leave a comment on here! The winner will be announced next Monday, October 22nd!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Thank you to Vital Proteins, Stonyfield, Bob’s Red Mill, and nutpods for sponsoring this post. U.S. and Canada residents only.*

Meal Planning 101

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I thought I haven’t shared how I meal plan on here before because honestly, it seemed way too basic and not really blog-worthy. But then I realized because it’s so basic, it makes it something I need to share. I also realized after I wrote half of this post that I gave you a quick overview here! But today I want to go a little deeper because I know a lot of people have a difficult time meal planning each and every week. I thought a refresh would be helpful for those of you in the throws of school, sports, work, whatever-season-you-may-be-in! (I hope?!) I plan on going into more detail in the future based on what you find the most useful. Comment, message me, or e-mail me with what helped you the most! Here we go…Each week, I think about what’s in season, what we are getting from our CSA, and I take a look at our calendar. On nights when Eric had softball games, I have plans, or something else is scheduled, I want a quick meal on those nights. My newest, “thing” is taking a look at the weather. Something i’ve definitely cringed at is having a comfy, hot soup on an unexpected 85 degree day. Or if I’m making my Autumn Roast on a 95 degree day, it’s definitely not as enjoyable as on a rainy 60 degree day.

I’ll make a list of about eight recipes I plan on making for the week. Then, I’ll glance at the list and see if any ingredients overlap, that way I won’t waste ingredients throughout the week. I also don’t like to make similar things back-to-back. (A quiche, frittatas, then eggs and bacon for dinner, etc.) We have our dinner leftovers for lunch the next day majority of the time. If dinner is something that we don’t have enough left over or takes forever to pack up for lunch, I like to make a big bowl of something to have on hand for lunches throughout the week. (Winter Couscous Salad) If we ever run low on leftovers for lunch, it’s nice to have something from breakfast (like a quiche) that we can use for a lunch as well! 🙂

Here’s an example of meal prep from a few weeks ago. It’s a great mix of veggies, fruit, protein, and healthy fats all throughout the week and each day!

Breakfasts:

Dinners:

  • Monday- Chocolate Chipotle Sweet Potato Chili
  • Tuesday- Cobb Salad (When I buy eggs, I can use them for the quiche and this salad. I use bacon here and for Saturday as well).
  • Wednesday- Veggie Detox Bowl (I’ll use kale here and for my Winter Couscous Salad. If I buy carrots in bulk, sometimes I’ll roast them and add them to the detox bowl, then I’ll use them in the roast below).
  • Thursday- Autumn Roast
  • Friday- Dinner out.
  • Saturday- Bacon Chocolate Chip Pancakes for breakfast (you can use chocolate chips here and for the snacks below), a salad for lunch, and eggs and bacon for dinner. I love breakfast for dinner!
  • Sunday-Free for all. 😉

Snacks:

All of these are more tips and tricks that I added from here, AND the app I use for my grocery list that is a GAME CHANGER! Be sure to check out. 🙂 Remember to take one thing at a time. It may take a little longer the first few times you plan but eventually you will be able to do this in no time! It doesn’t have to be fancy but it DOES have to be practical and work for you. These markers always make it more fun to write things down! xo

 

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