Matcha Green Tea Smoothie
October 31, 2015

Matcha Green Tea Smoothie

I love smoothies because they taste great and are a good way to pack nutrients into your diet. You can fill them with fruit, vegetables, yogurt, protein and milk, among other ingredients. I had fun experimenting with this matcha green tea powder, which gives the smoothie a boost of flavor and nutrition.

KitchenIQ Kitchen Tool Party
October 30, 2015

KitchenIQ Kitchen Tool Party

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for KitchenIQ. I received promotional items to thank me for my participation. I love to cook and to experiment in the kitchen. What makes cooking easier and simpler is having the right tools on hand. I recently got to test out some Kitchen IQ products that were different than anything that I have and were useful in the kitchen.

5 Tips for Keeping Your Toddler's Teeth Healthy
October 29, 2015

5 Tips for Keeping Your Toddler's Teeth Healthy

This post is brought to you by  Orajel™ Kids . Thank you for helping to support the brands that make this blog possible! Adalyn just turned one and has 8 teeth (update- just in the last week since I wrote this post, she got 2 molars!!). She has been teething a lot lately so I know that more will be popping through the surface at any time. I want her to have strong and healthy teeth so I follow these tips.

Research Your Benefits During Open Enrollment with Aflac
October 28, 2015

Research Your Benefits During Open Enrollment with Aflac

This post is sponsored by Aflac. I was compensated for writing it, but all opinions are 100% mine. Do you know what Aflac is? I learned all about it at my last job where many of my co-workers used Aflac. They would talk about it often so I ended up researching it myself. Aflac is a company that gives you insurance for health care. You pay a certain amount of money into it from your paycheck and then if you have a health issue such as a hospital stay, you can get money back to help pay for your medical bills. Since health care is very expensive, this can be a great option.

Orange Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes
October 27, 2015

Orange Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes

Orange Glazed Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potatoes are a perfect mix of sweet and savory that would be a great healthier side dish for any holiday party! Aside from spending time with family, my favorite part of the holidays is the food. Rich, delicious homemade food that you look forward to all year round. In my family, we have certain foods that we make for each holiday that rarely varies. For Thanksgiving, we have turkey, homemade apple-celery stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet and sour green beans, a relish tray and more. For Christmas Eve, we have Polish food including kielbasa, sauerkraut, pierogi, compote (cooked dried fruit), etc.

The Story of How We Got Our Dogs
October 26, 2015

The Story of How We Got Our Dogs

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PedigreeGives #CollectiveBias Jaxen and Ava are my two mini dachshunds that I absolutely love. They pretty much get treated like people and are so spoiled (mostly with love and attention). Ava is 6 and Jaxen is 5. I have written about them before but I don't think that I have ever written about how we got them until now.

How to Celebrate Halloween for Dogs
October 26, 2015

How to Celebrate Halloween for Dogs

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BeyondSnacks #CollectiveBias You all know that Jaxen and Ava are my babies. I love them like I love Adalyn. Over the years, they have accumulated quite a few costumes. We love putting them in their costumes because they are just too cute!

Foods I've Tried Lately 3 + Giveaway
October 25, 2015

Foods I've Tried Lately 3 + Giveaway

1. Grounds and Hounds Coffee - You know I love drinking my coffee and I love dogs as well. This coffee company, Grounds and Hounds, combines the two. Twenty perfect of all Grounds and Hounds proceeds will be donated to no kill rescue organizations for dogs to provide safe-havens for them. I love this so much! Anytime I see anything sad about an animal, I am devastated and will think about it all day. Animals are so precious and innocent and I think it is awesome that this coffee company wants to help them.

Caramel Apple Pumpkin Parfaits
October 23, 2015

Caramel Apple Pumpkin Parfaits

This delicious caramel apple pumpkin parfait is easy to make and full of fall flavors! Filled with fresh apples, pecans, pumpkin yogurt, granola and caramel sauce. Kroger used to be a store that I thought didn't carry enough healthy foods and I thought it was too expensive. Over the last 3 years, my thoughts have really changed and I love shopping at Kroger. I am lucky enough to have one within a mile of my home so we often walk there if we need groceries with the stroller and just load up the bottom with our purchases. Kroger has an especially awesome natural foods section. Every time I go there, there are more and more brands being featured- many of the awesome smaller companies that I have tried for blog reviews. I get excited to see all of the fun and healthy products that they carry. My Kroger is a smaller store and doesn't have too huge of a natural foods section but it is big enough. The Kroger by my work (also less than a mile!) has a larger natural f

Nature's Truth Honestly Good Challenge
October 22, 2015

Nature's Truth Honestly Good Challenge

Nature's Truth Vitamin Reviews including fish oil, biotin and melatonin. Nature's Truth Vitamin Reviews As I announced recently, I am now am ambassador for Nature’s Truth ® , a company that sells different kinds of supplements. I take a daily multivitamin and fish oil and sometimes take probiotics. I mainly try to get my nutrition through food, but to make sure that I am getting all of my nutrients, I also take a couple of supplements. Buy Nature's Truth vitamins

6 Tips for Vision and Eye Health
October 21, 2015

6 Tips for Vision and Eye Health

I love to talk about health on the blog in all forms. Nutrition, fitness, mental well-being, getting enough sleep, oral health and now- eye health. I personally am not the person to share eye advice so I am turning to the experts.  My dad is an optometrist (AKA eye doctor) and my brother is in his third year of optometry school. My dad has been an optometrist for over 25 years and won optometrist of the year the first year that the award was given several years ago, so he knows what he's talking about (little brag from a proud daughter)! Along with some insight from my dad and brother, I have some tips from the American Optometric Association on contact lens wear and care.

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Greek Yogurt
October 20, 2015

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Greek Yogurt

I love my Greek yogurt. If it was not so costly, I would eat it at least twice per day. I love many of the flavors on the market but they often have a lot of sugar. I love Greek yogurt because it is so rich, creamy and satisfying. Everybody loves cookie dough so I decided to create this cookie dough protein Greek yogurt. If you need a boost of protein, this is the perfect breakfast/snack/dessert for you. Greek yogurt is already rich in protein and with the addition of protein powder, it is very high in protein. This would be great for people who do extreme workouts that require extra protein or for vegetarians that need a boost of protein.

5 Tips to Stay Active this Fall
October 19, 2015

5 Tips to Stay Active this Fall

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.  #ByeByeBlisters   #CollectiveBias I love the fall. Summer is still my favorite season but there are many wonderful things about fall. Not sweating to death at night but having a cozy nights sleep. Picking fresh apples and pears. Roasting squash and all things seasonal. Eating doughnuts and drinking hot cider. As the weather cools down, it is easy to stay inside curled up on the couch instead of staying active. I feel my best when I am active though so there are a few things that I do to make sure that I continue moving my body, even though I may be shivering.

Foods I've Tried Lately 2 + Giveaway
October 18, 2015

Foods I've Tried Lately 2 + Giveaway

 1. Alouette Le Bon Dip - This Alouette dip came at the perfect time when I was having my family over for dinner. I knew that this would make the perfect snack along with a tray of veggies and crackers for dipping. Le Bon dip is made of cheese and chunky vegetables. It has a similar flavor and consistency of vegetable dip but better. I loved the fire roasted vegetable flavor which had chunks of roasted veggies. It was great to eat with the vegetables and crackers.

The Farm in the Fall
October 16, 2015

The Farm in the Fall

You all know that I love my parent's farm and love taking zillions of pictures there! We recently had a great weekend up there and I wanted to share some pictures with you of what the farm looks like in the fall. The leaves changing colors is late in Michigan so the leaves haven't changed in these pictures yet.

Vegetarian Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup
October 15, 2015

Vegetarian Stuffed Bell Pepper Soup

If you love stuffed bell peppers, you will love this soup! This one is healthier with vegetarian meat, whole-grain brown rice and no-salt added tomatoes. Perfect for a cold day! Growing up, my mom made stuffed bell peppers every so often and for some reason, I never liked them. I've never been a fan of thoroughly cooked peppers (although I love them lightly cooked). Around my due date with my daughter last year, my mom made a homemade stuffed bell pepper soup that was awesome. I couldn't stop eating it.

The Vitamin Shoppe: Protein Pantry
October 14, 2015

The Vitamin Shoppe: Protein Pantry

I am the biggest fan of nut butters. I do not think that a day ever goes by where I don't have some type of nut butter. Peanut, almond, cashew, sunflower seed- I don't discriminate. I was recently send an awesome package from the Vitamin Shoppe which was filled with nut butters and high protein foods. When I opened my package, I literally squealed! I was so excited for all of the goodies that I got to try.

Vegetable Black Bean Tortilla Stack
October 13, 2015

Vegetable Black Bean Tortilla Stack

 I am so excited to share this recipe with you today! I had to make a recipe using tortillas and came up with this recipe that turned out better than ever even expected. Layers of toasted tortillas, black beans, sautéed vegetables, salsa and cheddar cheese-yum! My whole family tried this recipe and they all enjoyed it. Funny enough, my parents just happened to stop by when we were eating so I let them try it and they both liked it. Then, I went for a walk with my sister and she had not eaten yet so I gave her the rest. My husband could not stop raving about how good it was. He thinks it would make a great appetizer as well as a main meal. I like it because it is healthy and tastes great. The beans contain protein and fiber. The vegetables have vitamins, minerals and fiber. The cheese provides calcium and protein.

Apple Cinnamon Energy Bites
October 12, 2015

Apple Cinnamon Energy Bites

These Apple Cinnamon Energy Bites are filling, tasty and high in protein and fiber to keep you full. I recently received Robert Brace's new D28 for Life fitness program which I have been using. Robert was a professional ballet dancer who overcame a life-changing injury and then excelled in ballet. He then became a life coach and began training celebrities, coaches and everyday clients. His motto is "failure is not an option". I love that!

Foods I've Tried Lately Review
October 10, 2015

Foods I've Tried Lately Review

 1. Celestial Seasonings Tea - Easily one of my favorite brands of tea because they have so many different flavors that are decaf! I usually want to drink tea in the evening when it is too late for caffeine so I love that Celestial Seasonings has lots of great options that are caffeine-free. I love the candy cane lane and always stock up around the holidays. New favorites include the acai mango zinger and mandarin orange spice which are both full of flavor. This brand is inexpensive and can be found at most stores that sell tea. I love it! Buy it here .  2. Comfort VoxBox - I love signing up to receive different VoxBox's because they come with so many different cool items that are usually new on the market. I get plenty of fiber from whole-grains, beans and produce but for those who do not, these Fiber Choice gummies are awesome. I liked the firm consistency and flavors that tasted just like candy. The Fisher Nut Exactly snacks are great. They are almond and popc

Milk Means More Blogger Tour
October 09, 2015

Milk Means More Blogger Tour

Earlier in September, I was invited on a blogger tour with Milk Means More and the United Dairy Institute of Michigan. It was a great trip and I learned a lot. The trip took place in Kalamazoo which was great because that is where I went to college so I was familiar with it. The trip started out on Wednesday morning as I drove over to Kalamazoo with some local Southeast Michigan bloggers Lori , Kristy and Katie . It was great getting to know them and chatting all things blogging. We met up at the Radisson Hotel which is where we stayed for the night and had lunch at one of my favorite restaurants- Old Burdick's. If you are in Kalamazoo, try this restaurant. I had an awesome cherry salad with grilled chicken.

Broccoli Bacon Mac and Cheese
October 08, 2015

Broccoli Bacon Mac and Cheese

Once the weather cools down (and let's be honest, year round), I love to eat macaroni and cheese. I recently learned how to make it really good. My mac and cheese before my Spicy Garden Mac and Cheese  was just okay but since I learned how to make it right, I can't stop making it. I heart mac and cheese. Now that my daughter is old enough to feed herself, she loves macaroni and cheese as well. We put it on her tray and she gobbles it up. I make it healthier by using whole-wheat noodles, whole-wheat flour, skim milk, broccoli and cauliflower. Instead of regular bacon, I use turkey bacon.

Homemade Parmesan Vinaigrette
October 07, 2015

Homemade Parmesan Vinaigrette

This homemade parmesan vinaigrette will give housemade Italian dressings at restaurants a run for their money. It is full of flavor and is healthier than store bought dressings!  Overall, I like most foods.  However, when it comes to salad dressings, I am very particular. I don't care for most store bought varieties. The flavor is just yucky to me, it has too much fat, too much sodium or uses too many funky ingredients. My husband and I prefer homemade dressings so much more, yet I rarely make them.

How to Do Your Own Oil Change
October 06, 2015

How to Do Your Own Oil Change

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DIYOilChange   #CollectiveBias As many of you know, my husband is a teacher. However, that has not always been his job. Troy started out his career in the automotive industry. He worked at different jobs such as a car dealership, changing tires and oil and at AutoZone for about 10 years. I swear, you could ask him any question about a car and he would know the answer. A car can drive by really quick, I will say what car is that and he almost always knows the make and year of the car. Crazy!

Slow Cooker Peach French Toast Casserole
October 05, 2015

Slow Cooker Peach French Toast Casserole

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and I love to have a filling and delicious meal to start my day. The problem is that I often don't have the time or the energy to make a fancy breakfast. This crockpot peach French toast bake can be made the night before. 

Products I've Been Loving Lately Giveaway
October 03, 2015

Products I've Been Loving Lately Giveaway

1. Pop Art Popcorn - When it comes to snacks, the more unique, the better to me. I was recently sent some samples of Pop Art popcorn to try and loved the unique flavors. Some of them include Thai coconut curry, rosemary truffle, nori sesame, white cheddar jalapeno and white pepper parmesan. I served the white pepper parmesan for my daughter's birthday party and several people told me that it was really good.  I liked the white cheddar jalapeno a lot too. My dad likes both of those flavors but refused to try the others- lol. The rosemary truffle is delicious if you are a fan of truffles. These would be great to serve at a party for guests to try the different varieties. Buy it here .  2. iLeesh Pillow - Okay, this product is perfect for my dachshund obsessed self. Longtime readers know that I am a little crazy about dachshunds so this pillow from iLeesh is perfect. It looks just like a real dachshund. In fact, Jaxen is totally scared of it. If I bring the pillow by h

My Top 5 Favorite Fall Memories
October 02, 2015

My Top 5 Favorite Fall Memories

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.  #GladeForFall    #CollectiveBias I love the Fall! There are so many fun things to do this time of year. The weather is getting cooler (which I do not love), you can wear cute fall boots, sweaters and scarves and of course, there is apple cider and fresh doughnuts available. I love thinking back about different memories in my life and here are some of my favorite fall memories of all time.

Apple Cinnamon Dutch Baby
October 01, 2015

Apple Cinnamon Dutch Baby

There is a restaurant nearby my home that makes some awesome and unique breakfasts. A couple of those items are Dutch babies. These puffy pancakes are awesome and I always wanted to make one myself. You can make them sweet or savory and they can include all different types of add-ins. For example, some include vegetables like a frittata and some are topped with fruit such as strawberries and bananas. In mine, I used apples and cinnamon. After pinning Dutch baby recipes for awhile, I finally decided to create my own. This one is perfect for the fall with the addition of the apples. Feel free to use whatever kind of apple you like best.