Hunters Of Happiness

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CambialoConQS  #CollectiveBias

In case you’re new around here, I’ll fill you in on a secret: our family loves adventure & oh yes the weekends. We spent almost every day of our summer going on family hikes, playing at parks, exploring nature, swimming, splashing in the creek and going to museums. In other words, getting our fill of untamed happiness. Family time is near and dear to our hearts. And when we have a time to all be together, like on the weekends, then we try to make the most of it and do something out of the ordinary and memorable.

Tennis Tips & Beauty Faves

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HealthySkinSolutions  #CollectiveBias

Hello friends! Today, I'd like to share with you some of my favorite tips for staying healthy on and off the tennis court. 

Some of you may already know that I've been playing tennis for over two decades and it still continues to be a passion in my life. But, now that I'm older, I realize how important what you do off the court can be for your overall tennis game & health. Keep reading to find out my top 5 tips for improving your game, as well as my secret for feeling young & healthy!

Wholesome Mexican Quinoa Salad

Hi friends! I hope you had an amazing weekend! We had a great one, but it flew by so quickly! 

I don't know about you, but anytime we return home from traveling, I always crave big wholesome salads! My body misses the non-stop veggie stream of nourishment it usually receives when I’m home and in control of my diet. So when we got back from our New York trip last week, the first thing I added to our meal plan was this big Mexican salad.

Stylish Must Haves *NYC Fashion Week Edition*

I can't believe it's already been over a week since we went on our couples getaway trip to New York City! We had an amazing time, and we loved getting to tour museums, go to the US Open, cycle through Central Park and attend a Broadway show! It really was a great adventure and we were so thankful that my mom was able to fly out from California to visit and watch our girls for us, while we went gallivanting around NYC!

Beauty Secrets & Confidence Booster

I'm excited to share my #EssentialUpgrade with you today, as part of a compensated collaboration with Dove and WeAllGrow. #DovePartner

 I was recently asked about my beauty routine, my beauty secrets and what I would absolutely never leave the house without. And the first thing that came to mind (if I could only choose one beauty product) was my Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant. I don't know about you, but antiperspirant is the first thing I think to put on when I wake up, and the only thing I'd never want to leave the house without.  But on that rare occasion I forget, I usually have an extra antiperspirant in my bag {please tell me I'm not alone in this}!

Hello Fresh Meals + Wood Kitchen Utensils DIY Tutorial

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HelloFreshPics #cbias #CollectiveBias

Let me just start off by saying, I love food. I love to cook it, bake it and well eat it of course. But ever since our kids turned 3 & 4 years old (basically when they got old enough to voice their opinion) my cooking changed for the worse (mainly it became less adventurous) and it has not been the same ever since. Recently we rebooted our dinner menu and tried out some new delicious recipes from HelloFresh and it has been marvelous! Keep reading to get all the fun details on that, plus a fun DIY tutorial to refresh your wood kitchen utensils & give your kitchen a bright and cheerful pick-me-up! 

Stinky Dance Shoes Solutions

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #StimulateTheSenses #CollectiveBias

Now that the girls are back in school, they are also starting up their after school activities, for us that means ballet class. They've been so excited for it & totally ready to go back! I loved seeing their enthusiasm as they got ready to head to their first day of class with their adorable little tutus & ballet slippers in place!

A Little Black & Florals

A special thanks to Kohls for sponsoring today's look!

Ultimate Backyard Playdate +Kid Friendly Snacks

Does your child have a million toys, and still gets bored? 

We have two very energetic girls in our home, who love to play {both indoors & outdoors}. But, like most kids their age, they quickly get tired of playing with the same old toys. Which can be particularly trying at times, but this summer I've decided just to make the best of it & help them re-discover their toys {while letting them use some of their excess energy}.

 I took matters into my own hands last week, by setting up a DIY backyard obstacle course, games and relay. Some of these took some time to setup, but for the most part they were all pretty easy to put together. The best part was that 90% of our backyard shenanigans was made with things we already owned and had lying around in our playroom {proving that you don't have to spend a lot of money to have a good time ;)}! 

Hello From NYC!

Hi Friends! I hope you're all having a great week so far! 

Yesterday, Kyle and I braved the nine hour drive from Cincinnati to New York City {thanks to my sweet mom flying into town earlier this week & agreeing to stay with the kiddos while we go gallivanting in NYC}. Right before we left though, I had a crazy urge to change all of our plans and make this a family road trip instead of a couples getaway. I was having some serious bouts of mommy-guilt about leaving them. But then Kyle reminded me of our plans and all the walking and sitting around we'd be doing {which they probably wouldn't enjoy too much}, they will all be okay for just a few days without mommy & daddy {or else that's what I keep telling myself:)}.

Run. Fuel. Repeat.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NourishWhatsNext #CollectiveBias

So, a few months back, I signed up to run a Ragnar-style race called Market to Market® Relay Ohio. Which covers 76 miles of scenic southwestern Ohio and follows the beautiful Little Miami Trail, as well as some back roads and urban trails. I've been so excited for this, and to cross off this huge goal off my list, it sounds like it's going to be an unforgettable day of running! 

With race-day speedily approaching, I guess it's only natural that health, fitness and endurance have all been at the forefront of my mind. I know how important it is to train, plan and nourish before a big race and how going with the wrong protein bar, gels, or breakfast can completely derail you! So, Today I'll be sharing some tips for making your next race day a success and sharing an awesome packing list.

Laundry Room Update & AirStone Accent Wall

Thanks to AirStone for sponsoring this project!  As always all opinions are my own.

Our laundry room is easily the highest traffic room in our home since it doubles as our mudroom. It's the first thing we see as we walk in from the garage & the last as we  get ready to leave, so, it's really important that it's clean, functional & if it's not too much to ask: pretty! Over the last couple of months we've made some DIY updates to our laundry room, namely: put in an AirStone accent wall, added tile flooring, made a laundry pedestal, painted the room and created extra storage via an Ikea shelving unit.

Favorite Things Friday

Simple Ceviche Tostadas Recipe

Our whole family loves seafood, I like to think they get their sophisticated taste in food from me! :) We particularly enjoy ceviche {especially with Bumble Bee's Solid White Albacore}. It's a Mexican classic, full of flavor and fresh ingredients. I love it because you can eat it alone, or on top of tostadas or with chips & guacamole {yum}! But the best part is it's a meal you can fix in ten minutes {perfect for when the kiddos get home from school}! 

A Couple Firsts, Prayer & Faith

So, school just went back into session for Mallorie it was her first day of second grade yesterday and boy was I nervous for her {mainly due to her switching to a new school & not being in the same class as her friends}! The whole morning was just an emotional roller-coaster for me. 

Chic Floral Baby Shower Inspo + Paper Flower Tutorial

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SuperAbsorbent #CollectiveBias

Looking for a chic & whimsical baby shower idea that is simple yet memorable? Well, you came to the right place! Today on the blog I'm sharing a little baby shower inspiration {basically what my dream baby shower would look like}, a fun DIY backdrop and a practical gift idea:).

Wardrobe Staples + JORD $75 E-Gift Giveaway!

This post was sponsored by JORD Wood Watches, but as always all opinions & spelling errors are mine alone:D!

 Kyle and I had a much needed date night last night at the Western & Southern Tennis Open. I opted for a comfy blouse, a stretchy pair of jeans and an adorable JORD wood watch for a casual chic look. Every year, we make it a point to sneak away and watch some tennis together {just the two of us}, and it's always so much fun! 

Keep reading to get the details on this JORD Wood Watch GIVEAWAY ! 

Simple Entertaining + Wholesome Snacks

 This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SpreadTheHeat #CollectiveBias

Looking for an easy entertaining appetizer or maybe a nice breakfast idea? I love these rainbow crispbreads because they looks impressive, tastes great and are surprisingly easy to make. When you spend your mornings chasing little ones you hardly have time to make a nice breakfast for yourself, but these only take a few minutes of prep and are an absolute breeze to make!

A Few Thoughts on Marriage

I shared a picture on Instagram yesterday of Kyle & I from our date night at the Western & Southern. It was such a welcomed treat to get out and spend some quality time together!

And late last night as everyone slept, I couldn't help but reflect on our journey of finding each other, our marriage and our family.

Organizing The Kitchen Corner Cabinet & DIY Lazy Susan Tutorial

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ScotchBriteSponges  #CollectiveBias

I don't know about you but my kitchen cabinetry can ALWAYS use a little cleaning and sprucing up! Especially our kitchen's corner cabinet. It's a tricky little space that always seems to collect random items {at least in our home}. I wanted to put an end to that and finally get it organized and make it functional. So, I made a few Lazy Susans, to give the cabinetry that much needed accessibility it was missing! 

Easy Mexican Tortellini

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BackToSchoolReady #CollectiveBias

With the busy back to school season in full swing, I have been testing out a few new recipes to help make the transition a little easier and more enjoyable. One of the recipes we have really enjoyed is this Mexican tortellini dish~It's a creamy, hearty meal  filled with lots of Mexican flavor.  

Perfect Chambray Dress

Head To Toe Neutral

Teeny Baby Problems + Solutions

You always hear how rough acclimating to your baby's first year of life can be and how you need to sleep whenever baby sleeps...

A Little More Function + A New Decor Store

 A special thanks to @AtHomeStores for sponsoring today's talk! 

#CollegeMoveIn #AtHomeStores 

With the girls going back to school in a few weeks, I thought I'd fine tune their bedroom problem areas {for them that's their desk & closet} and make them a little more functional. I'm hoping this will be the magic formula for helping them maintain a tidy bedroom {and keep me from nagging them  asking them about it}!