35 Healthy Kid-Approved Snacks
November 30, 2016

35 Healthy Kid-Approved Snacks

Adalyn is a big snacker. She always has been. We are finally getting to the point where she can understand us saying, no snacks, dinner is in 20 minutes but man, she will ask us twenty times for a snack sometimes haha. As a dietitian and mom, I am always thinking about nutrition for my child. It is really important to me for her to eat an overall balanced and healthy diet with a variety of foods and nutrients.

How to Get Your Home Ready for Holiday Entertaining
November 30, 2016

How to Get Your Home Ready for Holiday Entertaining

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RollAwayLint #CollectiveBias   Troy and I love to entertain. We have hosted three out of the last four Christmas's for family, have had Adalyn's birthday parties, baptism, countless bonfires, birthday parties, etc. We try to keep our home tidy regularly but hello, we have a toddler who I will jokingly call a tornado.  Getting your home in guest-ready condition can take some work if your home is very messy or maybe you keep your house already in good condition. I want to share some of my tips of what I have learned over the last 5 years or so of entertaining and what has helped me not lose my mind when having 50+ people coming to your home.

The Ultimate Cheese Board
November 29, 2016

The Ultimate Cheese Board

The Ultimate Cheese Board is perfect for entertaining, takes 5 minutes to put together and is filled with your favorite cheeses, nuts, dried fruits, crackers, olives and more! The holiday season is full of so many parties and lots of cheer! I love it. This year, we are not having any huge parties like we usually have. We have hosted three out of the last four Christmas's for our families for about 50 people. This year, we are not hosting Christmas but may have some smaller gatherings at our home.

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
November 28, 2016

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars are simple to make, only require 6 ingredients, and are full of that salty-sweet flavor that everyone loves! I want to love baking. I really do. There is something about having to add just the right proportion of ingredients to a recipe (or it may not turn out right) that is hard for me. I am the kind of cook that adds a dash of this, a little of what I have on hand, plus a couple of extra ingredients for nutrition.

Digestive Sensitivities and the Low FODMAP Diet
November 27, 2016

Digestive Sensitivities and the Low FODMAP Diet

As a dietitian, I see people with all kinds of nutritional issues. I work primarily as a long term care/rehabilitation dietitian in a nursing home setting. I see patients from age 20 to age 105. I have been in the business for 6 years and have seen all kinds of digestive issues, diabetes, kidney failure, heart failure and much, much more.

Kale Salad with Lemon Yogurt Dressing
November 26, 2016

Kale Salad with Lemon Yogurt Dressing

Kale Salad with Lemon Yogurt Dressing takes 5 minutes to make and is packed with nutrients and flavor for the perfect side dish for any day! Top with your favorite protein for a complete meal. Thank you so much to my friends at ALDI for sponsoring this post! All opinions are my own. I recently wrote about my awesome trip to the ALDI headquarters and about how much I love ALDI. We got to try all different kinds of recipes at the event and today, I wanted to share one of the delicious recipes that we got to sample: kale salad with lemon yogurt dressing.

Products I've Been Loving in 2016 Part 31
November 25, 2016

Products I've Been Loving in 2016 Part 31

1. Umpqua Oats I eat oatmeal 4 days a week (each day that I work). I usually make my own mix but sometimes, I like a little variety. These oatmeal cups from Umpqua Oats are delicious. I prefer the unsweetened variety such as the blueberry apple. My husband is not the biggest breakfast eater but swims on Monday morning before work and needs a quick, filling breakfast. He has been enjoying these oatmeal cups from Umpqua Oats for breakfast. We like the fun variety of flavors.

It's a........ + Pregnancy Update
November 23, 2016

It's a........ + Pregnancy Update

I am about halfway along with this pregnancy and thought that I would share an update. Fortunately, it is going to be very boring. Overall, I feel really good so I do not have much to say. How far along am I? 21 weeks this past Monday Maternity clothes? Yes! I have been wearing maternity pants since about 10 weeks and wear a mix of regular longer tops and maternity tops.

2016 Holiday Gift Guide for Women
November 22, 2016

2016 Holiday Gift Guide for Women

The holidays are almost here! Are you going crazy trying to find the perfect gift for the lady in your life? I am here to help! I have personally tried all of these products myself and most of them, I've been using for years and absolutely love! Hope this gift guide helps give you lots of fun gift ideas. ***Keep reading for a HUGE giveaway from PACT, Nux, Nomad and Kuhn Rikon!!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Protein Fudge
November 21, 2016

Peanut Butter and Jelly Protein Fudge

Peanut Butter and Jelly Protein Fudge is rich and creamy, is no-bake, has 5 ingredients and is stored in your freezer for a healthier treat made with coconut oil and nut butter! I have been wanting to make homemade fudge for years now and finally got around to doing so. Well, I guess that I did attempt fudge one time and it was peppermint chocolate fudge and the recipe that I followed called for way too much peppermint extract and I had to throw the whole recipe away. That was a fail!

Teaching Love During the Holiday Season
November 18, 2016

Teaching Love During the Holiday Season

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. This post is sponsored by Huggies. All opinions are mine alone. #NoBabyUnhuggedCB #CollectiveBias This holiday season is going to be different than before. We have a lot of grief this holiday season with a close family member passing and it is hard to fully be in the holiday spirit. We do love Christmas though and I want to teach my daughter some wonderful traditions so there are certain things that we plan to do to prepare for the birth of Jesus and to get in the holiday spirit.

Apple Pecan Baked Oatmeal
November 17, 2016

Apple Pecan Baked Oatmeal

Apple Pecan Baked Oatmeal is easy to make, reheats well, and makes a delicious breakfast. It is filled with soft baked apples, crunchy pecans and warm cinnamon flavor! I love baked oatmeal! It is so easy to make, totally customizable depending on what flavor you like, and can be made ahead of time for easy breakfasts all week. Although baked oatmeal is, of course, similar to oatmeal, it seems so much different! It is not as gooey as oatmeal and is cut into pieces and topped with syrup or nut butter. It is perfect to serve at brunches and easy enough for the work week. I love it!

Cranberry Greek Yogurt Parfaits
November 17, 2016

Cranberry Greek Yogurt Parfaits

Cranberry Greek Yogurt Parfaits are full of flavor with fresh cranberry sauce, protein-packed Greek yogurt and crunchy granola for the perfect breakfast! I love all things cranberry! Most people just eat cranberries around the holidays (besides dried cranberries) but I eat fresh cranberries year round. Bags of fresh cranberries are inexpensive around the holidays and freeze so well so that you can eat them all year long. I will usually buy at least a few bags during this season so that I can make cranberry recipes all year long. I love the tart flavor of fresh cranberries!

Roasted Beets and Oranges with Baked Tilapia
November 15, 2016

Roasted Beets and Oranges with Baked Tilapia

Roasted Beet and Orange Salad with Tilapia is a perfect flavorful meal for a weeknight or to serve to guests. Loaded with flavor, this meal will be sure to delight your taste buds! I love the holiday season. Many years, I am so busy that fall and the holidays sneak up on me but this year was a lot calmer than the past couple. Two years ago, Adalyn was just a couple of months old. Last year, I was traveling a ton around the time for several blog trips I was invited to. This year, I have had time to really enjoy the season with my family which I absolutely love!

Loaded Chilaquiles
November 14, 2016

Loaded Chilaquiles

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. # VivaLaMorena #CollectiveBias Loaded chilaquiles make a delicious and easy breakfast with tons of flavor. Made with homemade tortilla chips, salsa verde, eggs, refried beans and your choice of fresh toppings such as avocado, jalapenos, green onions and tomatoes! Troy's family is Mexican and we always have some kind of Mexican food for Christmas. It is a big family tradition to spend a whole day making tamales. They are amazing and a once a year treat to look forward to. I helped make them for the first time last year and let's just say, I will leave it up to the experts from now on.

Must-Have Products Before Bringing Baby Home
November 11, 2016

Must-Have Products Before Bringing Baby Home

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BacktoBabyBasics  #CollectiveBias Looking through a baby registry list for what is recommended to buy before your baby is born can be absolutely confusing. Which products do I really need? Which brands are the best? How much of each item will I need? I know that I was confused when I was having Adalyn about which products were the best and what I really needed. I turned to asking other moms for advice and doing a ton of research. For the most part, I think we got it mostly right. A couple of things that I went way overboard on are wipes- I bought so many wipes that I honestly do not even need to buy any new wipes for our second baby due April 2017, 2 1/2 years after Adalyn was born!! I went crazy on wipes. Another thing is baby shampoo and wash. I bought so many bottles it is ridiculous! I don't know what I was thinking.

No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecakes
November 10, 2016

No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecakes

No-Bake Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes take 10 minutes to make and are much healthier than your typical cheesecake! Served in little jars, they are the perfect dessert for fall! Pretty much every year for my Dad's birthday in November, he requests a pumpkin cheesecake from my mom to make. We enjoy this dessert every year- it is a treat for us all! I love cheesecake anything and pumpkin in the fall is just perfect. I created these no-bake pumpkin cheesecakes for a delicious dessert that requires no oven and is healthier and lighter than normal.

My Trip to the ALDI Headquarters + Giveaway
November 09, 2016

My Trip to the ALDI Headquarters + Giveaway

Thank you so much to my friends at ALDI for the amazing trip to your headquarters and for sponsoring this post! Since I've talked about it probably twenty times on the blog before, you all know how much I love ALDI. I have been shopping at ALDI for at least 7 years and it is my favorite grocery store. I shop there at least weekly and it has saved me so much money. I used to coupon a ton which also saved money but it took so much time. I love being able to walk into ALDI and save money without coupons or having to wait for sales. When I got the email a couple of months ago inviting me to an ALDI press trip, you know I was so excited and immediately had to say yes. ALDI flew a bunch of dietitians and I out to Chicago to tour their store and sample a bunch of their products. After seeing some of the "inside information" about ALDI, I can tell you that I love it more than ever and will continue to do at least 70% of my shopping there. ***Keep reading for a $100 ALDI

 Roasted Root Vegetables with Spicy Balsamic Drizzle
November 08, 2016

Roasted Root Vegetables with Spicy Balsamic Drizzle

Roasted Root Vegetables with Spicy Balsamic Drizzle is flavorful and a simple side dish loaded with your favorite fall produce including sweet potatoes, parsnips, carrots, onions, pears and apples! Disclosure: I participated in the “#UseNectar” campaign as a member of the Healthy Aperture Blogger Network and was compensated for my time. I first learned about roasted root vegetables with fruit from a trip I went to with Michigan Apples. Since then, I have made this dish many times and most recently, perfected it when serving it to my family. We were up north and I brought all of the vegetables to make but didn't bring the spices and decided to rely on what my parent's had in their cupboards. I got a little creative and we were all pleased with the results.

Fall Cobb Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
November 07, 2016

Fall Cobb Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Fall Cobb Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette is loaded with roasted butternut squash, dried cherries, apples, pecans, bacon and cheddar for a delicious and hearty salad! This year, the apples on my dad's farm are doing awesome! They can be hit or miss depending on the weather each year. My dad works hard on trimming the trees, spraying them so that they are bug free and watering them often. It is always a blessing when the apples do well. We do not even know all the kinds of apples that grow on his farm in the thumb of Michigan. Some are on wild trees that have been there for forever and some are newer trees that my dad has planted himself. We have Granny smith apples, red delicious, yellow delicious and much, much more. I love the variety.

Products I've Been Loving in 2016 Part 30
November 04, 2016

Products I've Been Loving in 2016 Part 30

1. Pearl Izumi Running Shoes This is my husband's first pair of Pearl Izumi running shoes and he loves them. For me, it is my 4th pair! I am a huge fan of Pearl Izumi shoes because they are so, so comfortable and cushy. I am about 17 weeks pregnant (hi baby bump in the pictures!) and comfort is what I am all about! I wear these shoes all around for errands, walks and even to work.

31 Healthy Recipes to Make This Fall
November 03, 2016

31 Healthy Recipes to Make This Fall

Right when September hit, I got super excited for seasonal fall cooking. I wanted to round-up some of my favorite fall recipes that I have made multiple times that are perfect as the weather gets colder.

10 Must-Do Holiday Bucket List Items
November 02, 2016

10 Must-Do Holiday Bucket List Items

This post is sponsored by Carter’s. All thoughts and opinions are my own. For Halloween, it was so, so fun seeing Adalyn get excited for the holiday all month. She saw pumpkins around and shouted "HALLOWEEN!!". We read Halloween books, went to lots of fall events and of course, dressed up in many costumes. Now that Adalyn is a little over two, she is starting to understand the holidays a lot more than the last two Christmases and I am extremely excited to spend the holiday season with her and create tons of new traditions and celebrate the family traditions that we have done for many years as well. This is my must-do holiday bucket list for my family:

Testing Your Water at Home
November 01, 2016

Testing Your Water at Home

I drink a lot of water. Honestly, I probably drink about 10-16 cups of water a day. I love to stay hydrated and find that I seem to be thirstier than the average person so I end up drinking a lot of water over the course of a day. Since I also enjoy exercising, I know that that contributes to me needing more water.