The Blessing of Letting Go of Perfection

April 10, 2021 Leave a Comment

Would it be faster to do it myself? Sure! Would it be done better? Absolutely. But what I would be doing is robbing my sweet baby of the blessing of serving and the joy that it brings her.
⠀⠀
My prayer as her mama is that I would always put her spiritual development over my own convenience. That I would let go of my pace and perfection and give her the space to learn. Kids will become what we foster in them! Teach them Responsibly. Teach them life skills. Teach them to serve, not because they are less than but because that is what we are called to do. Teach them Jesus 🤍

You Can’t Throw Stones While You Are Washing Feet

April 9, 2021 Leave a Comment

That will preach all day long. It’s so easy to get caught up in “throwing stones.” Justifying our sins and short-comings with the “at least I’m not as bad as she is” mindset. Comparing ourselves to others. Allowing jealousy and discontentment to settle into the achy places of our heart. Gossiping. And yes, even the things we think in the quiet places and may never say out loud.
⠀⠀
The Bible calls us to put our eyes on Jesus and Jesus only. Our main purpose for relationally interacting with others should be to love and serve so that they might meet Jesus through knowing us. When Jesus knew His crucifixion was coming, He wasn’t worried about enjoying the final moments. He chose to wash feet, one of the most basic and honestly nasty ways to serve others. A beautiful act of humility.
⠀⠀
I admit this is an area that I am working on in my own life, and Jesus is taking me on a journey with it. My prayer is that I would look at people and see the need for their feet to be washed. To seek practical ways to love and serve. Because if I am focusing on serving, I’m not focusing on judging.
⠀⠀
Tell me, is this an area of struggle for you too? I’d love to pray for you and your journey!
⠀⠀
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”- Mark 10:45

Why Your Dog Needs a Kong Box: A full review of the Kong dog subscription box.

April 7, 2021 Leave a Comment

I’ll be honest. As a practical, frugal mom, new toys for the dog have never been super high on my list. Our lab mix, Lexi, is a very aggressive chewer and pretty much destroys anything we get her within a matter of hours, so I stopped buying her things. Total waste of money, right? Her one toy that has lasted her for years was her Kong.

That thing has gotten so nasty that we actually had been keeping it put up so that the kids didn’t play with it, which left poor Lexi without much to do. I’ve looked into some of the other pet subscription boxes, but for the reasons mentioned above decided not to purchase them.

My friends at Kong Box reached out and asked if they could send Lex a box to check out and review, and of course I said yes! I knew we loved the brand, so I was curious what their version of a box looked like. I was super surprised when they asked questions about her habits and needs so that they could customize her box to fit her. Definitely not a “one size fits all” approach!

We have been having recurrent issues with her boredom chewing on things when we were not home (including my husband’s super important flash drive recently), so I was more than happy to tell them that was an issue! About a week later, our first box came in the mail. Check out our happy unboxing and a full Kong Box review below!

First off, I was super surprised at the sizeof the box, and how nicely packaged it was. Honestly, I am not sure what I was expecting. Maybe a Kong toy or two and a couple of treats to go with it.

The Kong Box was packaged every bit as nicely as any cute boutique order I have ever gotten. As a marketing and paper snob, this totally spoke to me.

Right inside the box, they include a cute little recipe card for a yum treat for your pup! A fun touch for sure.

If you have ever had a dog that owned a Kong, you know how nasty the inside of them gets when you fill them. I didn’t even know a Kong brush was a thing, but I was so excited to see that they included one! Now I can easily clean her toys and don’t have to feel as bad if the kids get ahold of one.

The first thing in the box was a brand new Kong Classic, and a tube of Kong Stuff’n! Then a cute little rope squeaky bear, a couple of different types of treats, and a bone.

7 full-sized products in total, and each one was specific to my dog’s size and habits.

After I took my pictures, I let that sweet girl up from the den and she sat so patiently waiting.

And then snuck around the front to beg. So funny how dogs just know things!

I mean. That face….

Once I gave her the “all clear,” she was so excited to check out her new Kongs!

I never buy her “stuffed” toys because literally, she always destroys them. This little guy has rope knots inside and is super durable. It’s so awesome how they picked toys based on my answers to her personality!

The Kong Stuff’n was a hit, too! Peanut butter is her absolute favorite (I didn’t even tell them that. Mind readers, I swear!)

When we are home, she is an angel. But even at 8 years old, if she knows we are gone, she gets anxious and goes into destruction mode. We are hoping that we can give her a stuffed Kong and it will keep her busy for a while! Thanks for the great idea, Kong Box!

It’s so cool how they packaged the products and the treats to go with them together! The bone by itself is super fun, but the little goodies to stick inside?! Major win.

She was so excited for her new stuff that she couldn’t decide which to play with.

Kong box was a huge hit, even with the kids! We had so much fun spoiling our Lexi girl and would 10 out of 10 recommend it to anyone! A brand you can trust, an awesome selection that is personalized to your pet, and a great price for a subscription box of this size!

Check out the full unboxing video below, and while you’re at it, follow me on YouTube! There you have it, a full review of the Kong Box dog subscription box!

KONG toys & treats you love, delivered monthly

Have a little pup lover?? Check out Addilyn’s 3rd Birthday Paw-ty!

Meal Plan Monday: April 5-11th!

April 6, 2021 Leave a Comment

Better late than never, right? I am suffering from Easter baking hangover this week, so you get Meal Plan Monday on a Tuesday! Super excited for these, and especially love that I can do an entire week of meal planning in about 5 minutes! (Read this post to change your life!). Ya’ll ready? Click the pink links for the recipe! Make sure you Pin this week’s meal plan, too, to share the love!

Monday: Chipotle Chicken and Rice Soup with Black Bean-Cilantro Rice and Tortilla Chips

I maybe get a little carried away with foods that have a Mexican flare. But you know? You like what you like, and I know what I like! This soup looked so delicious that I couldn’t pass it up!

Tuesday: Barbecue Cornbread Bake with Sweet Green Beans

I’m a sucker for cornbread, it’s true. Top it with Barbecue and cheese? SOLD!

Wednesday: Beef Nachos with Queso Sauce

Told you. Mexican food addict over here. Nachos and queso are life, and I am totally digging this one as a mid-week splurge!

Thursday: Steak Strips with Pepper-Jack Potatoes and Broccoli

Cleaning it up a little bit for Thursday. Those Pepper-Jack potatoes look so good!

Friday: Easy Stuffed Shells with a Quick Caesar Salad

Stuffed shells are a classic. I have been avoiding pasta dishes like this because I am a recovering spaghetti-every-week mom. But it’s time to do a little Italian and I know my fam will love this one!

Saturday: Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Chicken with Lemon-Butter Green Beans

Pimento cheese is my husband’s literal favorite. So naturally when I was scrolling the low-carb meal plan this week for something healthy and saw this, it was a quick add! Better for us, and something that I know he will love!

Sunday: Slow-Cooker Grillades with Cheddar Cauli-Grits

Another low-carb option for me! I may make some actual grits to use for the others, or I may not! What’s a mom to do? Usually my kids will eat what I put in front of them. Either way, this sounds so yum!

Sorry that was a quick, and late, meal plan this week! Like I said, crazy busy and I am still trying to get life back on track! And hey, if you haven’t tried eMeals yet, be sure and do the free trial! Totally worth it to see if this could work for your family, and make your life a little easier!

Grab more Meal Plans here:

Meal Plan Monday: March 29th-April 4th

March 29, 2021 Leave a Comment

It’s Meal Plan Monday! I missed last week because we had company in town, and I don’t know about you but I am always a little off-routine when I have company. I welcome the change, though! Now that it’s just us, back to Meal planning! You ready for a full week of recipes for an easy meal plan?!

This week I mixed in a family favorite recipe, but the bulk of the plan is…you guessed it! eMeals! I seriously love the ease of planning my whole week in minutes and my family loves the variety! (Read my full eMeals review HERE). Let’s get to it. Click the pink links for the recipe, as usual!

Monday: Mississippi Pot Roast

Mondays are hectic for me. I usually reserve them for my slow cooker meals (Mad shout out to my Ninja Foodi…my kitchen BFF!). Mississippi (you totally spelled that, didn’t you) Pot Roast is legitimately one of our favorite meals. It’s one of those things that we all thoroughly enjoy, so I try to rotate it into our plan once every few weeks. I base mine off of this recipe from Slow Cooker Foodiewith just a couple of tweaks to suit our preferences! I usually do a full stick of butter, and I don’t bother cutting it into cubes. I also do about 10-12 pepperoncini peppers to add a bit more boldness! I typically throw some baby carrots in the pot under my roast, and serve with a side of Bob Evans mashed potatoes. Total cheater, but they are quick and delicious!

Tuesday: Taco Biscuits

Quick, easy and kid friendly. This is my kind of recipe! Daddy will be busy all day on Tuesday, so I’m all for the idea of an easy dinner that the kids will actually eat. Plus, it’s one of my “carb days,” so I can enjoy it, too!

Wednesday: Bacon-Ranch Burgers with Honey-Mustard Broccoli Salad

Okay, just reading the name of that recipe made my mouth water! Delicious, low-carb (hey Gestational Diabetes friends!) and budget friendly. We love broccoli, and it is a great alternative to fries for the burger side!

Thursday: Loaded Potato Barbecue Pork Casserole with Roasted Carrots and Green Beans

I bought the Jack Daniels pulled pork from Walmart for this recipe just for the sake of ease! If you wanted to be fancy, you could totally make your own pulled pork. I ain’t got time for that this week, though.

Cooking tip: Roast the bacon in a Large Stone Bar Pan under broil until it reaches your desired crispness. Way less messy and tastes delicious! Not to mention, the Mix N Masher makes potatoes so much easier!

Friday: Sheet Pan Rosemary Chicken

This is another awesome (and easy) recipe for the Stone Bar Pan! Easy prep and tons of flavor. I am excited for this! I love sheet pan meals.

Saturday: Chicken Alfredo Pizza

Saturdays are the perfect day for a pizza day! This particular recipe is low-carb using cauliflower pizza crust, but you could really easily sub your favorite pizza crust in if that’s not your style! Homemade Alfredo sauce is so easy and adds the best flavor! (I’ll be using my favorite Pizza stone to get that delicious crisp crust!)

Sunday: Pork Tenderloin with Thyme Pan Sauce and Balsamic-Roasted Vegetables

A yummy, healthy Easter dinner! Delicious, fresh veggies and flavorful pork tenderloin. We love this combo!

I hope that full week of recipes helps you out a bit this week! Try something new, you may just be surprised!

Check out more Meal Plans Here:

Addilyn’s “Pawsome” Paw Patrol 3rd Birthday Party

March 25, 2021 Leave a Comment

Planning a party for a little Paw Patrol addict? Check out Addilyn’s “Pawsome” Paw Patrol 3rd Birthday Party! We had so much fun being extra for our girl, even if we couldn’t throw the big shindig that we typically would (See her Donut 1st Birthday & Tea for 2 parties).

In true “me” fashion, I had to do a balloon garland! What little kid isn’t filled with awe at these? They are a super cheap way to get a big statement! For the actual Paw Patrol balloons, I ordered this set from Amazon! Since I wanted far more than that kit came with, I also threw in a set of these paw print ones from Amazon. For the solid colored ones, I did the cheaper balloons from Walmart in various colors.

I needed to order more garland strip, and I found this set on Amazon while I was browsing. Having done three parties now where I blew the balloons up with my mouth (one of which I was 9 months pregnant for), I decided it was time to splurge and buy an electric balloon pump. You guys, best. decision. ever. Seriously, just go ahead and add it to your cart. Worth every cent and I am kicking myself for waiting so long to get one!

The little Skye and Everest balloons are reversible, and so cute!

Next statement piece for this baker? The cake! I promised my baby girl an extra special Paw Patrol cake and that is just what I gave her! For the logo on the front of the cake, I ordered this cutter set from Etsy! It is really nice quality and I will be able to use it over and over again! Instead of fondant, I used my easy DIY Modeling chocolate. So much better and tastes just like a soft Tootsie Roll!

The cute little Pink Paw-ty sprinkles are from Amazon! They are literally perfect for a girly Paw Patrol theme! I stole the Skye figurine straight out of the playroom! She was exactly what the cake needed for the top.

The pink hearts are simple cake pop truffles. They are made using these molds from Amazon and filled with vanilla cake, dusted with edible glitter and sprinkled with the Pink Paw-ty sprinkles!

How cute is this little dog bowl filled with cheese balls?! It was probably one of Addie’s favorite decorations and was super cheap and easy to do.

“Pup-corn?” Yes, please! We love popcorn around here, and since this day was all about Addie, I had to make one of her favorite snacks! I make my popcorn fresh using my microwave popcorn popper so that it has no chemicals. Then, I just drizzled with pink chocolate and more of the Pink Paw-ty sprinkles!

Fetching sticks? Just simple pretzel rods! An easy snack food for kids (and grown ups!) that fits the theme perfectly.

Her cookies are my no-spread sugar cookies, with my royal icing on them! (pink links for recipes!) I kept it simple since it was just us and a few people we are close to and around often (thanks, COVID). The cute little shields are done using this cutter from Amazon. The dog bones are done using this one! I absolutely love Ann Clark cutters, and they are my brand of choice! They are high quality and so many options to choose from.

The Paw Patrol String Cheese from Walmart was a huge hit, too!

We may have only had two little kids here, but the Pin the Nose on Skye game was also a hit! Addie played it for a few days after, too.

We had a little Tattoo station which the kids loved! We let Addie pick out a tattoo for all of us (grown-ups included) and she had so much fun. They were from this little Party favor set which came with lots of fun stuff! I highly recommend!

After looking at tons of options, I found this adorable Paw Patrol 3rd birthday outfit on Etsy! She loved it, as you can see! The quality is nice and it shipped crazy fast, too.

The tutu fit perfectly, and the little headband was a nice touch!

Plus, I literally couldn’t have asked for a better price! Major win. If you are planning a party, go order one! This shop has tons of ages and themes, even stuff for boys. 10 out of 10 recommend!

That’s an excited little girl!

We had a special surprise for her, too!

A friend of mine owns Marshall and Chase suits (you can get these ones here: Marshall. Chase) and agreed to make an appearance Honestly? We thought this would make her life.

Turns out, she was not a fan.

Not even a little.

Like, sat in the corner and begged for them to go. Poor baby! Either way, it was a funny memory!

Not to worry, she still had the time of her life! Check out that joy!

It was the Paw Patrol Birthday Party of Addilyn’s dreams, and this mama was so happy to do it for her!

Check out a few of the Paw Patrol themed gifts that we gave her! All were huge hits!

Sweet Housewarming Cookies

March 23, 2021 Leave a Comment

These sweet housewarming sugar cookies were a commissioned gift for a friend of mine! After a lot of searching, her best friend had finally found the perfect home for her, and Allison wanted to make it a special weekend for her when she got to move in.

Clean, simple lines were the theme here, and I am totally loving the farmhouse vibe! These are my classic no spread sugar cookies decorated with my amazing (and easy) royal icing! The perfect base for this sweet set.

The house is just a basic house shape from this Wilton cookie cutter set. If you wanted a different shape, this set on Etsy is adorable, too!

The “welcome mat” is rectangle cookie cutter. I love this one from Ann Clark because it is so versatile and great quality! I achieve that brown color with Wilton gel food coloring, and the darker brown “texture” is sponged on with a paper towel using a mix of vodka and food coloring. (The vodka evaporates out and helps it to dry better).

Side note: these tipless icing bags are my favorite for details! They are the best for writing (cut at an angle) and are what I used to make the texture on the wreath.

That cute little wreath? It’s a simple Donut Cookie Cutter from Etsy (I ordered it for Addilyn’s Donut First Birthday and use it all the time)!

I knew I needed shiplap to complete the Farmhouse look! These are my favorite plaque cookie cutters with a simple white flood. I use Bakerpan food pens to add the lines, and then piped a key on! Gold Luster Dust mixed with vodka or Everclear makes the perfect paint for these!

We were so happy with the way that these came out, and the guest of honor absolutely loved them! These would be so perfect for a closing gift from a realtor to a client, a welcome gift for a new neighbor, or serve them up at a housewarming party!

I stumbled across this other cute house set on Etsy and it is just darling! If you try these, make sure you tag Kisses + Caffeine on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest!

The Best Nontraditional Baby Shower Gifts

March 19, 2021 Leave a Comment

Sure, all of the teeny socks, onesies and blankets are sweet. But every new mom eventually hits the limit of how many they need. Honestly, the “stuff” can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. The next baby shower you attend, grab the mom something nontraditional, but truly helpful! As someone who has had two babies in the last three years, I can attest that things that made life easier were sometimes the best gifts! A friend of mine hired a housekeeper to give me a deep clean right before I went into labor and that was invaluable to me!

I am dropping some of the best- and most helpful- ideas below! Click the pink links to check each out! If you need unique baby shower gifts, I have you covered.

1. Make Meal Time Easier with a Meal Kit!

Sometimes, cooking isn’t so bad but wrapping your mind around what to make and then getting to the store to buy the ingredients can be a struggle when you haven’t slept in a week. Send a kit from Blue Apron, PlateJoy, or HelloFresh to make things a bit more simple.

2. Give the Gift of Easy Meal Planning

Along those same lines, eMeals is the best meal service! Read my full review here, but I so wish I had had this as a brand new mom! Quick meal planning that can be sent directly for pickup. Yes, please!

3. Get that Woman a Roomba!

Seriously, as a new mom with a toddler and pets, this is a big deal! The dirty floor triggered my postpartum anxiety and depression very badly. I was embarrassed by how quickly it would get gross, and once the baby started crawling the pet hair drove me insane. My husband let me treat myself for my birthday (We got this model) and it has helped SO much! I run it every single day, and will eventually have one for each floor of our house. We moms are busy enough, and I am all for taking things off of our plates! Working smarter, not harder and automating the things we can.

The Roomba brand is amazing, but here are a few others that are great too, if you are on a budget:

Shark Robot Vacuums
The GOOVI!
eufy by Anker (another model HERE)
MOOSOO
Kyvol Cybovac E20
Shark ION
Self-Emptying Shark IQ (yes, I said self-emptying. WIN!)
The RoboRock (These are AWESOME!)
yeedi k600
Coredy R580
Roborock S4 Max

They even make some that can mop as well- like this one by Roborock. What a time to be alive!

4. A Cordless Stick Vacuum

Okay, maybe a robot vacuum isn’t something you (or she) is interested in. Or maybe those are a bit out of your budget. Making the switch to a lightweight, cordless stick vacuum was one of the best decisions I have made! I always hated vacuuming because of the bulky upright and the tangled cord. We got THIS stick vacuum when my youngest was a couple of months old and it is one of my favorite Amazon purchases ever! (and I buy a lot of things on Amazon). It is lightweight enough that I can vacuum whatever I need to while holding the baby in my other arm. Plus it has stair attachments, is great for the couch, getting cobwebs, you can Clean baseboards with it, and I have even been known to use it to vacuum junk out of my gas stovetop. As a new mom, this would have made me so happy! And honestly made those end-of-pregnancy chores so much easier. Way better than another pack of onesies!

5. A Fire Tablet

Fire tablets have come a long way! They are no longer just for reading, but can stream shows, play music and more! This would be fantastic to have during labor to help pass the time, but even moreso for those long, sleepless nights and nursing sessions! When I had my first, I binge watched so many TV shows while trapped on the couch. This is a great gift, and there are model options for every budget. (Want to splurge? Do an iPad!)

6. Send a shipment from Thrive Market.

As a new nursing mom, I am always really cautious about the foods I am eating. Thrive Market is an organic grocery market and they offer tons of snacks that are great for lactation! Send the momma a box of snacks (breastfeeding makes me hangry), cleaning products and more!

7. Stock them up on cleaning supplies with a shipment (or auto ships!) from Grove Co.

We use Grove and have for years now. It is so nice to take one thing off of my “need to remember” grocery list. Grove brings the cleaning supplies right to their door, and like I said I am all for helping moms automate whatever we can! Plus, in our weird COVID-19 pandemic world, I have been able to find some of my favorite products on Grove even when I can’t in the store. Read my full review on Grove here! May not be as “cute” as those little booties you have in your cart (that baby can’t even walk…back away!), but it will tickle the new mom to open a box of necessities so that she doesn’t have to worry about having what she needs on hand!

8. Schedule them a Walmart Grocery pickup!

If you have not done a Walmart Grocery Pickup yet, you are missing out! Fill your cart online, and when you are done simply check out and send it to your store! Park, tell them you are there and they will load up for you. This is an easy way to love on a new family. Dragging a newborn into the store can be daunting, especially with the current pandemic. It is so much easier for mom (or daddy) to do a pickup. This is also a great way for family to bless the new parents from afar, as you can choose any Walmart that offers pickup! Stock them with diapers, wipes, food and more! (You could totally plan a few meals for them in eMeals, send it to their Walmart and share the recipes!). Prefer stores like Aldi or FoodLion? Do an Instacart pickup, instead!

A Walmart Gift Card is also a great blessing. There are so many expenses to having a new baby and having something to help cover those random little needs is so nice.

9. Gift Cards!

I know, so many people don’t like to give them. But seriously gift cards can be such an exciting blessing when you are expecting or have a new baby. Keep them practical with things like a Visa card or do something fun like a restaurant (or Door Dash) or movie theater for a much needed date night!

10. A Quick Cooker!

I personally love the Pampered Chef one for its quality (plus you can host a party or do a registry and get one for free). An InstantPot would work as well! Or go big and get the a Ninja Foodi so that she can air fry, slow cook, pressure cook and more all in one. I am obsessed with my Foodi and use it almost every day!

Bottom line, help make meals quick and easy! Tools for “set and forget” meals are the best and any new mama would be thrilled with one of these!

11. A Deep Freezer stocked with meals!

This is one of the most brilliant things I have ever heard of! Heck, you could even make this an entire shower idea, especially for non-first-time parents. Have everyone chip in a little toward the freezer and then contribute a meal to fill it. Drop it off to the family and they are ready to go! Bonus points for the fact that as they eat the meals, mama can store her breastmilk stash in it if she is pumping!

12. A Good Devotional

As a new mom, a lot of time is spent sitting and holding or feeding a baby. Most of the time, I passed scrolling social media or watching shows, but I made sure that I also filled my own cup and it was so good for my spiritual health. Embraced by Lysa TerKeurst is one of my all-time favorites and perfect for a mama heart. The Daily Grace Co. also has tons of great studies, journals, devotionals and more. Their company is amazing! Look at this beautiful Hymns for a Mother’s Heart devotional!

13. A Beautiful Canvas Photo Print

This one is so special! If the family had maternity or newborn photos done, gift them a beautiful print to hang on their wall! CanvasPeople does amazing quality work, and you can usually get a FREE 11×14! Just pay shipping, which is an amazing deal. Less than $20, shipped!

Services like EZ Print and Snapfish also offer great photo gift options!

14. A Change of Scenery

Cabin fever is a very real thing when you have a baby at home! Or maybe you want to gift the couple a “Babymoon” getaway! VRBO has great options for any style- be it a hotel, condo or full home. You can travel just about anywhere! This is fun and special, you could even have multiple family members or friends chip in. Trip.com is also great, especially if you are needing more than just sleeping accommodations!

Don’t overwhelm the new parents with 100 things they don’t truly “need.” Take a page from my book and grab them one of these 14 ideas that will knock their socks off!

Meal Plan Monday: March 15th-21st

March 15, 2021 Leave a Comment

It’s Meal Plan Monday, and I am loving this week’s lineup! I am trying out a new concept I’ve been researching on metabolic confusion and rotating days of higher-carb meals and low carb. I sat down yesterday and mapped out which days need to be which as I planned this week, and then browsed the various plans depending on the day. For the Low-carb days, I chose from the diabetic or quick and healthy lists. Really cool feature? You can see nutrition info for each recipe as you are planning! For my normal days, I opted for family-friendly dishes!

If you haven’t gotten hooked on eMeals yet, go read this post now! As usual, click the pink links (or the photos) for the individual recipe!

Monday: Smothered Tomato-Pesto Chicken with Citrus Spinach Salad

Low-carb dish right here, and it looks so good! Fresh mozzarella is my absolute favorite, so I was sold immediately on this one. Served with a unique salad for a fresh side option, it’s a healthy win!

Cooking tip: These enameled cast iron skillets are awesome for quick cleanup! They go right into the dishwasher!

Tuesday: Ranch Chicken Enchiladas

If the words ranch, chicken and enchilada didn’t sell you on this one, we can’t be friends. Okay we can, but seriously. My mouth is watering and I am counting down for tomorrow’s dinner! It looks so good!

I may try doing the chicken in my Ninja Foodi to speed up the process. It’s Addie’s birthday, and I want to spend as much time as possible with her!

Wednesday: Mushroom and Swiss Chicken with Fruit and Nut Arugula Salad

Low carb day again, but this looks so delish that I don’t think I’ll be missing them! Cheesy smothered chicken and a flavorful side salad that I think the whole family will love!

Rather than pound the chicken, I use my Close n Cut to easily halve the chicken breasts! It makes it so easy and they cook much faster.

Thursday: White Chicken Skillet Lasagna with Roasted Asparagus

I mean if you are going to have carbs, this is the way to do it! Yum! Add that cast iron flavor for an easy weeknight crowd pleaser!

Friday: Sheet Pan Fajitas

I’m planning to eat mine in lettuce leaves as the recipe suggest for a low-carb option. I’ll serve warm tortillas (mad props to a good tortilla warmer!) for my family. I love meal recipes like this where I can modify for my needs and still get them to eat.

Cooking tip: Use a Stone Bar Pan to keep the food hot! Check out this awesome tutorial for how to easily cut an avocado, too!

Saturday: Tomato Gravy Mozzarella Burgers with Herbed Spaghetti Squash

My in-laws are coming Saturday, so. I wanted something that was easy but delicious! This just sounds fantastic, and I can serve with regular pasta for them, spaghetti squash for me! (Read my tutorial for how to cook a spaghetti squash here)

Sunday: Sheet Pan Rosemary Chicken

Look at all that flavor! I use chicken breasts instead of thighs, but otherwise plan to make this one just as it is!

Cooking tip: Use the Rapid Prep Mandoline to cut up veggies quickly, and keep your fingers safe!

Another week of meals in the books! I love that it only takes me about 15 minutes to meal plan and grocery shop from my phone!

Love Avocados? You Need This Tool!

March 13, 2021 Leave a Comment

Avocados are just not my particular cup of tea. I am trying so hard to learn to like them, but I am not there yet. That being said, my husband loves them and my toddler loves guacamole! Since we started using eMeals religiously (read my review here), I find myself cutting them up a couple of times a week.

It’s a running joke in my family that I can’t be trusted with a good knife. I am known for accidentally cutting myself (pretty badly a few times), and trying to pit and cut an avocado has landed me in bandaids a few times.

When Pampered Chef (devoted rep over here!) announced this handy little Avocado tool as part of their Spring lineup, I knew it was a need! I’m going to show you how it works, and when I am all done, you can head on over here and grab yourself one…because you’re going to need it, too!

First, you use the knife end to cut through the skin. Press until you feel it hit the pit, and then simply rotate the fruit to slice all the way around!

Once you finish cutting, give the halves a little twist!

The halves easily pull apart from there.

Now, for the part that sold me. Getting the dad gum pit out of the avocado! Prying that stinking thing out has landed me a few hand-stabs over the last couple of months alone. No more with this little guy!

The pitter end has prongs that grab the pit. Lay it down, place the pitter on top and gently “hammer” it onto the pit. Give it a little twist and the pit pops right out with almost no effort on your part!

It really is that easy! Use the knife end to cut the avocado if you desire,, while still in the skin.

Gently separate from the skin and remove!

Game changer, like I said!

If you like guacamole, this mix is amazing! Simply mash your avocado and add 1TBSP per fruit. Mix it well and it tastes just like a restaurant! My Guac lovers raved over it!

Save a little money and grab this awesome Guacamole kit, too! The Cool & Serve bowl will keep you chilling for up to 6 hours.

Easy Homemade Whipped Cream

March 12, 2021 Leave a Comment

I am a huge whipped cream person! It is perfectly light and fluffy, and not super bad for you in the grand scheme of things. Whether it is on pie, pancakes, ice cream or heck…even just by itself, whipped cream can add the perfect touch! I discovered a few years ago how to make my own, and it is a game changer, guys. Much easier than you might think, no chemicals and great taste! You can even color or flavor it.

I decided on Lilliana’s first birthday to start a new birthday tradition for my girls- unicorn pancakes and mama’s homemade whipped cream! And of course, all the sprinkles and a candle! Since I was making it anyway, I decided to do a little tutorial for you guys!

You only need 3 ingredients- 4 if you are coloring your whipped cream. Heavy whipping cream, vanilla and powdered sugar.

Before getting started, you will want to chill your mixing bowl in the freezer for at least a half hour. A metal bowl works best but if you are using a hand mixer, glass is fine too. The key is a very cold bowl.

Add a cup of heavy cream to your mixing bowl.

Add a tsp of Vanilla and 1/4 cup of powdered sugar.

Turn the mixer on low and mix just until the sugar is incorporated.

Crank that baby up to high and whip, whip, whip! You want stiff peaks to form, meaning you can lift the whisk out and the cream doesn’t fall over. With a super cold bowl, I can usually achieve this in 4-5 minutes. Be careful not to over-whip or you will wind up with butter! If you are adding any food coloring, do so during this step!

That really is all there is to it you guys! If you don’t have a mixer (Or just want easier clean up), the Pampered Chef Whipped Cream Maker is awesome, too! Get one HERE.

Use it all right away or it will store in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days!

I use a piping bag and Wilton 1M star tip to pipe mine onto desserts (or in this case, pancakes!). It tastes just like a crepe!

As you can see, my girlies love it! I pray that they look back on their childhood and see the special. That they always know just how much their mama loves them and tried so hard to make every moment a memory.

I hope that you and your family can enjoy this simple, but special, treat as well!

Here’s that Unicorn Pancake Mix!

Crazy Easy Homemade Whipped Cream

Make deicious, from-scratch whipped cream that will elevate your desserts (and breakfasts) to the next level. It is way easier than you think!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Keyword: dessert, whipped cream

Servings:

Cost: $5

Equipment

Mixer with whisk attachment
Cold bowl (metal is best)

Ingredients

1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract (you can play with flavors here if you want!)
Optional food coloring

Instructions

Chill your bowl in the freezer for at least a half an hour prior to making this recipe!
Add all ingredients to the bowl of your mixer.
Mix on low with whisk attachment, until powdered sugar is just incorporated. Add food coloring here if desired.
Turn the mixer up to high and whip until stiff peaks form, about 4-5 minutes.
Pipe or spread onto pancakes, crepes, pie..whatever dessert you want!

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

The Sweetest Llama Cake!

March 11, 2021 Leave a Comment

Not much to say here, friends! I just wanted to show you this adorable little llama cake that I made for a friend this week! The flowers and hair done with my signature buttercream icing. I used a Wilton 1M star tip to pipe them on.

The ears, sunglasses and nose are done with my easy (and SO yum) Modeling Chocolate! I can’t even stand how cute she is and her 3 year old loved her!

If you stumbled here from Pinterest because you are planning a Llama party, check out these cute party supplies and let me make it easy for you!

This precious Llama party kit is everything you need! One stop shop for a busy mom!

It you just need the paper products, this little set is so sweet!

I’m a sucker for a Balloon Garland. As a kid, what could possibly be more fun?! This Llama garland set is so adorable! If you have never done a balloon garland, check out my tutorial over here. So easy and a huge statement piece for any party!

Of course, if your Llama is going to wear cute sunglasses, your kiddo needs some, too! These ones are super cute and match perfectly.

I’m a sucker for cacti, too. This little garland is the perfect addition to any llama party!

Llama balloons! Such a fun addition to any party and these would look great with the balloon garland above! My kids adore mylar balloons and the added perk is that they can enjoy them for weeks after the party!

What’s a birthday without the perfect tee?? Check out some of these cute picks on Etsy!

This one matches the cake perfectly!

The perfect llama first birthday tee!

Tees for the whole family?! YES! So cute! Grab this set here!

Etsy is a goldmine for llama party stuff! Check it out!

Well, I came here to show you a cake and instead I planned a party for you. Oops! I hope this helped. Now I’m off to figure out a reason to have one myself…

Lilliana’s “One of a Kind” Boho Rainbow First Birthday Party (Pandemic Style!)

March 10, 2021 Leave a Comment

Somehow, my sweet baby girl is already one. (Read her birth story here). What a weird year it has been in the world! One thing that I know for sure is that this little girl has been our sun spot through it all. Getting to know her has been evidence of God’s faithfulness and promise through our darkest times. So when I was thinking about her first birthday “theme,” all I could think was that we had to do rainbows!

Because COVID-19 is still a concern, I knew we couldn’t do the over the top parties like I usually do (See Addie’s Donut first birthday and Tea for Two parties). We don’t have any family local to us here in North Carolina, but my parents were planning to come for a visit to celebrate. They were the only ones that could be here this particular weekend, and in the interest of safety we opted to keep it to just us. But my mama heart was so sad that my baby wouldn’t be getting the big shindig that she deserved. I decided that crowd or not, we were going to be a little extra! And that is just what I did.

I wanted all of our family that could not make it to feel included in her day. They all had sent gifts, so I thought why not do a Zoom party so they could join the fun?! I used Watercolor Paper and Pens to create simple invites. I made little yarn and wood bead tassels for filler and included a set of my custom sugar cookies in each box (these boxes are the BEST for shipping fragile baked goods!). Such a cute but simple way to do a virtual party!

For decor, I didn’t need a ton because we were just decorating a little corner set up that we could aim the camera at, but I still wanted it to be cute. I made more yarn and wood bead tassels and make a little wall hanging.

You all know my love for baking, and I am always a little over the top when it comes to my kids. Since we were keeping things small, I decided that the sweets would be the centerpiece of the decor!

I hung this beautiful macrame wall hanging as the backdrop for the party set up. The rope plant basket was a Walmart find! (Grab one here) I already had the little boxwood plant, but you could get the same look with this! The little plant stand was a Target Dollar Spot find and the fern was a Walmart find (grab it here). The bead garland was made in minutes using this kit. Bonus points? My almost-3-year-old helped string them and it was a fine motor skill activity for her. Mom win!

I have been dying to try piping macrame on a cake, and my baby girl’s birthday was just the excuse I needed! It was really time consuming, but worth it for the look. I use buttercream exclusively and this is all done by hand.

The rainbow topper is this one from Amazon. I honestly bought it to hang up, but decided it would be perfect on the cake since that was the centerpiece for the party. The Happy Birthday topper and the One both came from Target.

What’s a first birthday without a loaded smash cake?! The ruffles and cloud on this provided plenty of opportunity for mess!

I created her custom sugar cookies using my No-Spread cookie dough and royal icing recipes. I used an Egg cookie cutter (with the bottom cut) for the rainbows. The banner is a cute Etsy find (grab it here) from Addie’s first birthday. I use it all the time! The 1 is an Ann Clark favorite! And the plaque comes from this set on Amazon. Just in case you want to make your own batch!

The high chair banner was another DIY! I bought ribbons from Michaels and tied them around a piece of twine. I used the same watercolor paper for the flags. I used my Cricut to cut the flags and the “o” and “e.” (If you are even a little bit of a crafty mama, you need a Cricut! I save so much money making things myself vs buying off of Etsy). The rainbow “n” was done using watercolor brush pens! It takes a little practice but is definitely not crazy hard!

That Fiddle leaf fig is my pride and joy, by the way! I have been able to keep that little guy alive almost a year now! What’s even more fun?? He came from Amazon! Yep! You can buy live plants and have them shipped right to your house. What a time to be alive! This is the exact one we have and I am very happy with it! Here is the plant basket, too! It was the perfect addition to our boho party!

Baby girl just ate up the attention and loved seeing her aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents on Zoom! We hooked the laptop up to the TV so that she could see everyone’s faces better.

And oh my gosh how SWEET is this little blush “one” outfit?! It was so soft and fit her perfectly! Her necklace is the Rose and Amber teething necklace from Baltic Essentials. Not only is it beautiful, but I cannot sing its praises enough! I was always a skeptic on the teething necklaces, but it has helped her tremendously and I am officially believer! Baltic Essentials is a great, trustworthy brand with very well made pieces.

My little sweet pea lived her best life, and I pray that she looks back on this someday and sees just how much her family (and her mama!) love her!

Seriously adore my crew!

And a few cookie close-ups!

Pin these mood boards for your own Boho Rainbow party!

Meal Plan Monday: March 8th-14th

March 8, 2021 Leave a Comment

I had major mom brain and published my Tater tot casserole recipe last Monday, so I skipped Meal Plan Monday last week! I definitely missed sharing with you guys. I made up for it by giving you a detailed review of eMeals though, and it’s a must-read! I can’t wait to share this week’s lineup with you!

We are trying to work a little more healthy meals into our rotation, so I picked a bit more from the low-carb and diabetic friendly menus this week. We will see how it goes with the toddler, but I think these all sounded delicious! As usual, only took about 5 minutes to meal plan and another 10 minutes to shop with Walmart pickup! I did it at the park while my kiddos played.

As always, click the pink links for the recipe!

Monday: Loaded Bell Pepper Nachos

I actually LOVE bell pepper nachos! All of the yummy nacho toppings, but a low carb twist using the peppers for the crunch. This one is totally Gestational Diabetes friendly, too! I couldn’t wait to do this one later in the week, so we are crushing them tonight!

Tuesday: Mango-Pineapple Chicken Tacos; Yellow Rice with Avocado, Corn, and Tomatoes

It’s Taco Tuesday! These sounded like such deliciously fun twist on the traditional taco. Plus they are a slow cooker meal, and Tuesdays are my day when I have the girls pretty much entirely by myself, so I love keeping Tuesdays simple!

Wednesday: Pepper-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Greek Cucumber Salad

Honestly, the side dish sold me on this one! It looks so incredibly fresh and delicious! For some reason, my two year old loves pork, too. I am hoping this will be a big hit!

Thursday: Philly Cheesesteak Skillet

A low-carb twist on the Philly cheesesteak! Plus I love the flavor that Cast Iron brings!

Cooking tip: Grab yourself a Scoop Loop to seed all of those peppers! It takes about 30 seconds and saves so much mess.

Friday: Mediterranean Chicken

All of the flavors in this dish sound so good! Plus, it is a quick and easy meal, so more family time after dinner. Win, win for this mama!

Cooking tip: A good non-stick skillet is a game changer for recipes like this!

Saturday: Egg Roll in a Bowl

Friends have been raving about this one, so I figured it was time to give it a try!

Cooking tip: The Mix N Chop makes browning beef so much easier!

Sunday: Sweet-and-Sour Pork

Sweet and sour anything is my favorite Chinese food! I saw this one and it was a quick add! I’ll likely make regular rice for the family and the cauliflower rice for me.

That is it! Easy, healthy and quick!

Never Waste Bread Again: A Super Simple Mom Hack

March 5, 2021 Leave a Comment

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like every time I purchase a loaf of bread, I throw half of it away. We just don’t eat enough sandwiches to finish off the whole loaf before it goes stale, and the waste kills me. I try to be fancy and make French toast with it, but all to often I just forget and chuck it in the trash a few days later.

After hosting a Pampered Chef party (and subsequently deciding to share my passion for an easier life in the kitchen by joining up), I fell in love with this handy tool: the Cut N Seal. My kiddos love PBJ, and recently decided that crust was not their thing. I used this to make them sandwiches a few times and then it hit me.

Why not, when a loaf of bread is getting closer to its shelf-life end, make a bunch of uncrustables and pop them into the freezer? (Or you could just do this the day you buy the loaf if you know that is all you will use it for). An easy way to use up a loaf of bread, and they will last in there for a couple of months. My girls request them daily, and Addie even prefers to eat it still semi-frozen. She calls it PBJ ice cream. Mom win!

You can fill these sandwiches with so much more than just PBJ! Make ham and cheese, pimento cheese, chicken salad…endless options! For the sake of this little tutorial, we will go with Peanut butter and strawberry jelly. Simply swap out your fillings to suit you!

Make your sandwich how you usually would, and then use the Cut N Seal to remove the crust. I do this in an assembly line fashion, making 4-5 sandwiches at a time. The serrated edges crimp perfectly!

Lay out a sheet of cling wrap. I personally LOVE the Great Value brand with the slide cutter. It is so much easier than fooling with the serrated edges or cutting it yourself. Place your sandwich in the middle.

Wrap it very tightly, being sure there isn’t a lot of air or they will freezer burn quickly.

Repeat until you are out of bread!

Label a freezer bag with the contents and date that you made them. I do this for an added layer of protection.

Pop that baby in the freezer and you are set! Make busy mornings packing lunch so much easier with this grab and go option, and keep a variety made if your kid gets bored easily! They thaw out pretty quickly, but like I said…my kid likes to eat it still frozen!

Throw the supplies on your next Grocery Pickup and give it a try! And if you need a Cut N Seal, you can grab one HERE!

Want to Shake Up Your Dull Meal Plan? Read this!

March 3, 2021 Leave a Comment

As a mom with 2 under 2, earlier this year I found myself hitting a wall (more like banging my head on it). I would go to one of two extremes. Either we would eat the same things every single week on rotation; pizza, spaghetti, a pork roast, sloppy joes, tacos and maybe a night or two of takeout. Or I would get fancy and waste hours scouring Pinterest, pinning things to a “This Week’s Meals” board, making lists, inevitably forgetting to pin one of the recipes that I bought ingredients for. And then there was the process of shopping itself, only to be so worn out from shopping that I would grab takeout on the way home from the store. Variety was fun, but SO. MUCH. WORK. Most of the time, I tended toward the former.

I know you can probably relate. We were so bored, and our diet was not great because I just couldn’t come up with more creative ways to work extra veggies in. Not to mention I had the mindset that variety = expense. Let me go ahead and rock your world, friend!

Introducing your new bestie, eMeals! Check out my full review on why you need this below.

I am not kidding you one bit when I say that this discovery was a life-changing one for me! I know that sounds dramatic, but it is so true. Their plan is not expensive at all, but the price is far more than offset by the precious time that I have gotten back with my family.

All that you do is log in, choose how many servings you need (this is something you set up on your account as a default) and then decide which meal plans you want to browse each week. You can even switch between a few! I frequent the Budget Friendly, Kid Friendly, Slow Cooker, 30 minute and Quick and Healthy myself! But they have so many options! This would have been so nice during my time with Gestational Diabetes, because they even have Keto and Diabetic plans. Then you add meals to your menu and the app automatically compiles your grocery list for you, adding up ingredients into one convenient checklist! You can then shop right within the app.

You can see a screen recorded video of me using the platform HERE.

If you are an in-person kind of shopper, the list populates as a checklist that you can cross off.

My favorite feature, though, is the integration! I personally use Walmart Grocery Pickup because that is what we have in our tiny town and it is literally 5 minutes from my house. If you prefer Aldi or Foodlion (or all sorts of other stores!) you can integrate with Instacart! Other companies they work with are Shipt, AmazonFresh, Kroger, HEB and more!

So after I spend about 5 minutes picking out our menu for the week, I will click the shop now button and fill my cart right in the app. Choose your brands, tweak quantities or skip things you already have on hand. It takes me about 10 more minutes to shop and then I simply schedule it for pickup! If I am lucky, I even catch it on a day when I can send my husband. Major win! From start to finish I spend about 15-20 minutes doing our meal planning and grocery shopping for the full week.

Not only will it make your life easier, but it will make your life so much better! We have been using eMeals for about 3 months now, and I honestly have yet to repeat a recipe. Yep, you read that right. A different meal every night for 3 months (except for the occasional pizza or takeout night). My family is really enjoying the variety, and we honestly haven’t had a meal we did not like yet! The kids love it, the husband loves it and of course it makes me happy when everyone eats the meal I have worked to make.

By working in more of the healthy options, I have been able to make dinner better for us too! You can see a few of our favorites so far over in my Meal Plan Monday section:

Seriously. If you are not convinced by now, message me and I will rave a little bit more! Otherwise, go ahead and do yourself a favor and do the free trial. If you aren’t slam impressed after the 2 weeks…well then we can’t be friends. I kid, I kid. But I would be so shocked! I really hope that this makes your life so much easier, because mama that is why I am here sharing my life with ya’ll! Meal time should be fun, not stressful.

Super Easy Tater Tot Casserole

February 28, 2021 Leave a Comment

We all need a few of those easy recipes that we stick in our back pocket for last minute weeknight meals. If you have room for one more, this is it! Keep the few things that you need on hand and you’ll be all set for those days when you just don’t feel like making anything fancy. This is also a crowd-pleaser weekend breakfast!

You will need a bag of frozen tater tots, 2 cups of Colby Jack cheese, minced garlic, a pound of sausage, milk, eggs and salt & pepper to taste.

Preheat your oven to 425° and brown your sausage in a **cast iron skille**t. Mine is a 12”. (The **Mix-N-Chop** is fantastic for browning meat! I am a PC consultant 😉 but used it even when I wasn’t).

While that is browning, go ahead and whisk your eggs in a mixing bowl (**LOVE my classic batter bowl**).

Add Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.

Add 1/2 tsp of ground mustard. This is the secret ingredient that gives it just a hint of tang!

When the sausage is cooked through, add 2 tsp of minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 3 minutes, stirring constantly. These **adjustable measuring spoons** are my jam, by the way! Less drawer clutter is a big win in my small kitchen.

Turn off the heat and stir in the frozen tots and cheese. You could use the Crispy Crowns or the larger tots, either is fine.

Pour the egg mixture evenly over it all.

Pop in the oven and bake for about an hour, until the eggs are set and the top is golden brown and crispy! If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, you could do this in a regular skillet and transfer to a **baking dish**. I personally love the flavor and crisp that cast iron gives! And the fact that it goes from stovetop to oven. The **RockCrock dutch oven** would also be perfect for this meal, and that bad boy goes right into the dishwasher when you’re done!

You could easily change up the meat or add onions and peppers for a little flair! This one is so easy, comes together in minutes and is a family favorite!