Archives for March 2021

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

Let’s be friends! Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest!

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.