What Adalyn Eats in a Day
March 31, 2017

What Adalyn Eats in a Day

Adalyn, my daughter, just turned 2 1/2 years old. She has been a great eater since birth and I know that I am super lucky. We have never had to deal with her refusing to eat like I know that many parents have but of course, we have dealt with some of the typical toddler issues such as throwing food, saying that she is done eating and then asking for a snack 2 seconds later, saying she doesn't like a food that she really does, etc. I wanted to share a "day in the life" post for fun to share what Adalyn eats in a day. For each meal, I will share a few options of what she would eat since no two days are exactly the same. We try to feed her a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole-grains, protein and nutritious dairy products. We do allow treats but try to limit these.

Getting Ready for Spring- Baby and Toddler Edition
March 30, 2017

Getting Ready for Spring- Baby and Toddler Edition

With the change of season, it is time to put away the heavy coats, hats and gloves!! Time to put away the boots, heavy sweaters and zillions of layers. While it has been a mild winter here in Michigan compared to how it usually is, I am still beyond ready for spring! I get so excited to switch everything to lighter spring and summer clothes and items. There is less bulk and more super cute outfits and more!

How We Are Preparing for Baby #2
March 29, 2017

How We Are Preparing for Baby #2

Our second baby is due in just 12 days (when I am writing this) and  4 days by the time the post goes live. Wow! This pregnancy has gone so fast, it's crazy. Yet the last month has been super slow of course as I am more uncomfortable and anxious for baby's arrival. We have had to do more than I even expected to prepare for the arrival of baby #2 and I wanted to share some of these things with you today in case you are in the same position of having another baby and need some ideas of how to prepare.

How to Get Your Car Ready for a Family Road Trip
March 28, 2017

How to Get Your Car Ready for a Family Road Trip

Last summer, we took more trips than I have ever taken in my life. We were never home for more than a few weeks at a time and we got to explore the entire state of Michigan. It was amazing! Along the way, I learned a bunch of tips for packing for a trip to make your road trip more enjoyable. Trust me, traveling with a child can be crazy and anything to make it a little bit easier is so helpful.

5 Tips for Getting Back on Track
March 27, 2017

5 Tips for Getting Back on Track

Even as a dietitian, I have times where I get off track with healthy living. I eat poorly, don't drink enough water, miss sleep and skip exercise. Pretty quickly, I end up feeling poorly and then I know that it's time make some changes to get back on track. I am all about feeling my best and when I do not feel well, I put these changes in place to get back to feeling 100%.

Bringing Home Baby Product Guide 5
March 24, 2017

Bringing Home Baby Product Guide 5

1. Milk Snob Cover I kept seeing these Milk Snob covers all over the web and needed to have one! They have multiple uses including being a car seat cover, a grocery cart cover or a nursing cover. It is soft, stretchy and lightweight. It will be perfect for taking baby out in the summer. I chose this cute aspen pattern and love it! I am a big fan of the color grey. The reason that these first appealed to me is because I saw them recommended by another mom in my area and I loved the adorable patterns and how soft they looked. I especially love some of the floral patterns available. I can't wait to use this soon!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Baked Oatmeal
March 23, 2017

Peanut Butter and Jelly Baked Oatmeal

Peanut Butter and Jelly Baked Oatmeal is stuffed with a fresh strawberry jam layer, ready in just 30 minutes and is topped with drippy peanut butter and fresh fruit for a healthy and filling breakfast. If you mention peanut butter and jelly anything, I'm pretty much sold. If you look at my Pinterest, I have tons of peanut butter and jelly pins for bars, oatmeal, muffins, stuffed French toast, etc. I love it! Especially when the "jelly" is a freshly cooked fruit filling that tastes amazing.

Why Staying Hydrated is Important
March 22, 2017

Why Staying Hydrated is Important

As a dietitian, I know the importance of drinking water to stay hydrated. Sure, nutrition is what I spend most of my days talking about but hydration is also super important. When you are hydrated, you are more likely to feel your best. Even slight dehydration can affect your mood, making you feel more irritable. It can encourage you to overeat since you may confuse thirst with hunger. Also, you may feel more tired and low on energy due to dehydration. Here are some tips on why staying hydrated is important and tips to stay hydrated:

Sausage Apple Breakfast Strata
March 21, 2017

Sausage Apple Breakfast Strata

Sausage Apple Breakfast Strata is simple to make, full of flavor and nutritious with sautéed kale, onions, apples, whole-grain bread and eggs. Make ahead and eat during the week or serve to a crowd on the weekends! For the weekend or to make ahead for during the week, I love a hearty breakfast casserole. This one is loaded with flavor! The sautéed onions, apples and kale are so delicious that they could be their own side dish. Packing a breakfast dish full of eggs, whole-grain toast and milk provides protein to keep you full through the morning.

Chicken Parmesan Pizza
March 20, 2017

Chicken Parmesan Pizza

Chicken Parmesan Pizza has all the flavor of your favorite chicken Parmesan on a thin, crispy pizza crust along with fresh basil, tomatoes and melted cheese. The best part: it is ready in just 15 minutes! Chicken Parmesan is a favorite dish in my family. Growing up, my dad always requested it for his birthday dinner and my husband loves it as well. Through the years, I created my own version that is one of my most popular recipes on my blog- 3 Ingredient Grilled Chicken Parmesan . It is so simple but so good!  Another super popular recipe on my site is my Chicken Parmesan Stuffed Spaghetti Squash . What I'm gathering from this is that you guys love chicken Parmesan like my family does! That is when I decided that why not try a chicken Parmesan pizza. It turned out so good and is super easy to make. 

Bringing Home Baby Product Guide 4
March 16, 2017

Bringing Home Baby Product Guide 4

1.  LoveCollections Etsy Shop I love these bow ties so much from the LoveCollections Etsy shop! I chose a bow tie for my husband, dog and son. I cannot wait for them to all match. I loved these red plaid bow ties which will especially be great around the holidays. I will definitely post a picture of Jaxen, Troy and the baby once they all wear their bow ties. So cute! They are nice quality and I love the idea that a grown man, dog and a baby can match. I have a little matching obsession.

The Best Products (and Places) of 2017 Part 7
March 15, 2017

The Best Products (and Places) of 2017 Part 7

1. Adventure Bay Family Water Park We just had the most fun time over at Adventure Bay water park in Windsor which is in Canada. I had never been before and was surprised how close it was to my home. Including the time it took to get over the border, it took us 25-30 minutes to get there. Since it is so close, I plan to go back a bunch. This indoor water park reminds me of other really nice water parks but it is closer to home and affordable to go. A day pass is $23.

Carrot Cake Banana Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting
March 14, 2017

Carrot Cake Banana Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting

Carrot Cake Banana Bread  with Cream Cheese Frosting  is a moist and healthy treat that tastes like cake made with whole-wheat flour and apple sauce. It is topped with cinnamon cream cheese Greek yogurt frosting- you won't be able to stop at one slice! When I first dreamed up this carrot cake banana bread, I had planned for it to have the texture of a bread. How it turned out is a like a delicious, dense carrot cake with a perfect frosting. I could not be happier with the results! It is a healthier carrot cake that is perfect for a celebration or is healthy enough for a breakfast.

Breakfast Pizza with Hash Brown Crust
March 13, 2017

Breakfast Pizza with Hash Brown Crust

Breakfast Pizza with Hash Brown Crust has a crispy, cheesy hash brown crust and is topped with , eggs, bacon,  melted cheddar cheese,  and sauteed mushrooms, asparagus and peppers!  Pizza for breakfast? Yes! Why not? I have had this delicious breakfast pizza on my "must make" recipe list for the longest time and finally got around to trying it out. I am so glad that I finally got the chance to make it. You could use a regular pizza crust, naan or flatbread if you want but I thought that it would be really fun making a crispy hash brown crust instead. ***Keep reading for a Visa gift card + Eggland's Best Eggs giveaway!

Bringing Home Baby Product Guide 3 + Giveaway
March 10, 2017

Bringing Home Baby Product Guide 3 + Giveaway

1. Paper Llamas Nursery Prints When I chose these prints from Paper Llamas, I had no idea how amazing they would look in person. They are so clear and beautiful and are my favorite item in my son's room right now. Each drawing is an original drawing from the seller- not clip art or stock images. They come printed on the the nicest canvas paper. I chose the baby animal prints and had the option to choose my favorite ones. I picked up some simple white frames for these so that the pictures really speak for themselves. I am so happy with these and would highly recommend them!

5 Things I Do Every Day to Be Healthy
March 09, 2017

5 Things I Do Every Day to Be Healthy

Feeling my best is so important to me and something that I talk about often in real life and here on the blog. Being healthy is not about weighing a certain number of pounds or necessarily reaching a particular health goal but is about feeling great. When I do not feel great, I have a hard time being the best person that I can be. My mood suffers, I do not accomplish a lot that day, etc. That is why I focus on doing these things each day to be my healthiest.

Healthy Shamrock Shake
March 08, 2017

Healthy Shamrock Shake

Healthy Shamrock Shake is a lighter take on your favorite St. Patrick's Day shake that takes 5 minutes to make and is perfect for dessert, a snack or breakfast. Although my family is not Irish, we have been celebrating St. Patrick's Day for as long as I can remember. The main reason is because we grew up having Irish Setter dogs. We would have an Irish meal and the dogs would dress up in Irish gear. Since I married Troy, we have another reason to celebrate. Troy is 1/4 Irish! His Mom's mom was Irish. Nationality is a big deal in my family because we enjoy celebrating different heritages. My mom loved making different ethnic meals each week and Irish is a fun one to celebrate.

Mini Bell Pepper Nachos
March 07, 2017

Mini Bell Pepper Nachos

Mini Bell Pepper Nachos are a healthier vegetarian version of your favorite appetizer, ready in just 15 minutes and are topped with cheddar cheese, tomatoes, green onions and more! I love making fun dinners on Fridays! During Lent, since I am Catholic, I have to make these dinners vegetarian. This is not an issue most of the time as we often eat meatless meals. Awhile ago, I put the idea for bell pepper nachos on my "must-make" recipe list and decided that now was the perfect time to try these out. My sister recently made bell pepper pizzas which is a really neat idea as well. Instead of a bread crust, you just use a bell pepper. For this recipe, I decided to use mini bell peppers since I thought that they would be easier to pickup than a large bell pepper.

Spicy Gazpacho Soup
March 06, 2017

Spicy Gazpacho Soup

Spicy Gazpacho Soup takes 10 minutes to make and is full of flavor with fresh jalapenos, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, bell peppers and basil for a light and fresh meal! I've always wanted to make gazpacho and finally got around to making it myself! My mom makes a great gazpacho in the summer and it was time that I made one myself. Though it is not quite summer, I am itching for lighter and fresh foods and am thrilled with this quick and easy spicy gazpacho soup. Since it is meat-free, this recipe would be perfect to eat on a Friday during Lent. We do not eat meat everyday but sometimes during Lent, it seems hard to skip meat on Fridays. Probably because we tend to go out to eat on some Fridays. One meat-free event that we enjoy going to is this awesome "fish fry" at a local Catholic church. It is not your typical fish fry and includes a couple of different main dishes, lasagna, several salads and side dishes and is a really nice event. I look forward to going a couple o

Bringing Home Baby Product Guide 2 + Giveaway
March 03, 2017

Bringing Home Baby Product Guide 2 + Giveaway

1. I See Me Personalized Books We loved the I See Me books when Adalyn was born for a super cute, personalized book that kids will grow to love. Kids love hearing their own name and Adalyn loves these books now. I chose the cutest book ever from I See Me that I am excited to introduce to my girl who is about to be a big sister called The Super Incredible Big Sister which is personalized with Adalyn's name. She is so, so excited to become a big sister and I know that she will love this book. **Keep reading for a Peanuts and Buttons giveaway!

The Best Products of 2017 Part 6
March 02, 2017

The Best Products of 2017 Part 6

This version is a little different than my usual "The Best Products of 2017" posts because all of the products are toddler oriented. They are loved by my daughter Adalyn. Enjoy! Apparently, Adalyn is shocked at how fun the Playfoam is! haha 1. Educational Insights Playfoam I can't even lie to you- I like this toy as much as Adalyn does! This Playfoam is so much fun and does not make a mess like other similar things do. It is kind of like play dough but different. It does not dry out or stick to anything which we love. I like that Adalyn can be creative with it, mix the different colors together and have fun!

Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwich
March 01, 2017

Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwich

Monte Cristo Waffle Sandwiches only have 5 ingredients and take just 10 minutes to make! The perfect blend of sweet and savory with melted Swiss cheese, raspberry jam, turkey and ham on crispy whole-grain waffles. I remember the first time that I ordered a Monte Cristo sandwich at a restaurant. It was at a bar/restaurant that we frequent and Troy and I were out with my parents. I believe it was even before Adalyn was born. We were celebrating something and when looking over the specials that the restaurant was having for the day, I spotted a Monte Cristo sandwich. It sounded so unique that I had to order it.