Summer Picnics + GIVEAWAY!

A special thanks to PackIt for sponsoring today's conversation & giveaway!

We spent much of our vacation playing at the beach, making sand castles, taking in the beautiful sunshine, and having picnics.

We tried to make it a point of getting out and doing something fun every day (no matter how tired mommy was:D). I don't know why, but I always foolishly overestimate my level of stamina without my amazing husband around. Anyone else do this when they're flying solo?

Sunny California

I’m back with the first of our pictures from our grand California adventure (we’ll call it that because it was not restful enough to be called a vacation and it seems a much bigger deal than “trip” would imply) and I’m already trying to figure out the best way to print and frame all of these for our home (okay, maybe not all of them). 

We spent our first full day in San Diego, at a beach that promised beautiful sand + sand dollars + a fun amusement park nearby. It was a beautiful way to spend our first day in sunny California and we were in our own slice of paradise.

Here are a few pictures from our first beach day. 

Perfectly Soft Buttermilk Pancakes

Is there anything more beautiful than a giant stack of pancakes fresh off the griddle on a Saturday morning? Add a glass of milk, a healthy amount of agave syrup and you have the perfect way to start your weekend. Don't you agree?

Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa Tacos

 I am so ready for our summer vacation to begin! We are kicking off our summer early this year and visiting family in California next week. I can't wait to be enveloped in all that sunshine and warmth! It's going to be a blast! But since we are still super busy, I need to keep our meals simple and effortless. 

These slow cooker Barbacoa tacos are exactly what we need for these hectic days, plus everyone loves them! 

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day everyone! 

This Mother's day was incredibly peaceful and rejuvenating. Simply perfect.
Kyle and the girls made me breakfast in bed and pampered me with heartfelt letters. It was such a sweet gesture and It reminded me of how lucky I am to be their momma, and get to share my life with such loving, kind and selfless souls!

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies & Cookie Guide!

These cookies are ultra soft, thick, and have just the right amount of chocolate chips baked in to calm my cookie-loving-heart.  

Is there anything better than a fresh batch of soft chocolate chip cookies? 

I think not. 

And these chocolate chip cookies will take your life to the next level. 

Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad + Berry Vinaigrette Recipe

While it’s not quite summer yet, strawberries seem to be popping up in every store I go at the moment. So, I picked up a few cartons of these delicious strawberries today and couldn't wait to make my Strawberry avocado spinach salad.

2017 Rock N Roll Nashville Marathon Recap

Kyle and I headed out to Nashville Friday morning, thanks to his sweet parents flying in to town and watching our girlies (they are so amazing!). It was so much fun to explore Nashville with my sweetheart!

Lunch Date

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

Earlier in the week, Kyle and I put our phones away, got dressed up, and had a little lunch date. It was our first lunch date in who-knows how long and it was nice to just focus on each other, enjoy good food and share conversation that had nothing to do with little feet or little mouths. 

It was such a good reminder that time spent together doesn’t need to be elaborate for it to be enjoyable & a memorable experience. 

Kitchen Inspiration & Trends

My love affair with white kitchens began well before Kyle & I were even married (around twelve years ago). But it wasn't until we bought our first home (back in 2008), and I had a chance to design my white kitchen, that I truly fell in love with the bright & timeless white-kitchen design. 

3 Ways To Overcome Chronic Pain (& live life to the fullest)!

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

Little fact about me: I tore my ACL on my left leg at a volley camp my Sophomore year of high school (and never got it fixed). This past fall, I got a hip injury, from over-compensating from my first injury and was in excruciating pain (seriously, some days just getting up and walking was difficult). Every day I had to make a conscious effort to push past the pain, and overcome the aches associated with both of my injuries. 

In December, the pain became so intolerable that I started seeing a chiropractor three times a week. But, after a month of treatment and no real relief I decided to start looking elsewhere for a reprieve from my pain.

Since then, I've learned a few things that really helped relieve the pain and subsequently what aggravated my injuries. I'd love to share three things that made a difference for me in managing chronic pain.

4 Ways To Make Movie Night Extra Fun!

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

We love family movie nights over here. Not only is it a great time to come together, snuggle up with family and eat lots of treats but chances are you're probably saving a ton of money by opting to stay-in versus going to the theater. 

You might remember I recently switched over to the Walmart Family Mobile PLUS Plan & upgraded to the Samsung Galaxy On5 phone ($69), which aside from being incredibly affordable ($49.88) and giving our family a bucket of data, it also gives us a free VUDU movie per month (a value of $7, the same as a new release) that you can enjoy on your smart TV. So, we've been taking full advantage of that perk and maximizing our tax returns in the process by having super fun movie parties! 

Giving Back To The Place I Call HOME

 

Tips For The Best Movie Night Ever!

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

It's that time of year again, when your tax-returns are back and you want to stretch every single penny! Our latest adventure was made possible through our extra savings with Walmart Family Mobile. Keep reading to find out how you too can maximize your tax cash!  

The other night we decided to combine two of our girl's favorite activities into one event (camping & movie night), but instead of going to a campsite- we did it right in our own backyard. It turned out to be a huge success, so I wanted to share some of the highlights + a few tips to make your next movie night a hit!

Party Appetizer~ Chille Relleno Meatballs

This campaign has received compensation from Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #VidaAguacate #EchaleLoMejor #CollectiveBias

Lately, I have been brainstorming new & delicious recipes that I can make ahead of time and serve at gatherings in an effort to save me some time on the day of the party. One of my favorites I've made thus far is Chile relleno meatballs. It basically skips all the not-so-good parts of the traditional dish, while adding in some hidden nutrients (via Avocados From Mexico & Oats), all the while retaining all the wonderful flavors you've come to expect from Chiles Rellenos.

Workout Upgrades That Will Have You Feeling Fresh and Fabulous!

Shortly after writing my 2017 goals & growth post, I realized that I had set the bar really high for myself and was starting to have some self-doubt about my ability to follow through on those goals. Especially when it came to my most daunting goal: training for my first marathon. 

Grandma's Sugar Cookies & Giveaway!

A special thanks to Silpat & Le Creuset for sponsoring today's post & giveaway!

Do you have a go-to recipe that you always tend to gravitate towards? 

For me, that's: Grandma's Sugar Cookies recipe, because they're incredibly soft, fluffy and have just the right amount of sweetness. I just think every holiday needs a cookie like this in it's festivities!

Ps. For the Silpat & Le Creuset Giveaway just scroll to the bottom!

Spring Family Bucket List

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #2Good2Bear  #CollectiveBias

With the unseasonably warm winter we've been having lately, the kids and I have been spending lots of extra time outdoors, creating memories and having little adventures together. 

This past weekend we got a taste of spring, it was magical (with a high of seventy degrees) and it was so good for the soul. 

We just couldn't let the gorgeous weather pass by without

Hiking & Exploring Ohio!

Since we had an extra long weekend and the weather was near perfection (with a high of 68 degrees), we decided to take our babies on a little hike. We haven’t done this in Ohio as regularly as we use to (before having Madison) but it's a real favorite of ours. 

Looking through these pictures has me itching for spring and regular family hikes.

Side note: If you're in Ohio, the Hocking Hills State Park is  a really fun place to explore as a family. The views are stunning and they have a ton of outdoor activities available.

Here's a few things I want to remember:

Energy Gels For Runners

 A huge thanks to Huma Chia Energy Gels, for sponsoring this post and allowing me to test out their all-natural energy gels as I train for my marathon!

For many, finding the right energy gel to fuel their long runs is a common source of anxiety, especially leading up to a big race. I know that's been the case for me as I've been training for my first marathon. 

Down Memory Lane & Love Letter

Yesterday was a very memorable Valentine's day for me. I woke up and was greeted with two adoring faces (Mallorie's & Kyle's), along with breakfast, flowers and love letters. They had apparently woken up very early to prepare breakfast for me, I'm a very light sleeper so I was very surprised that I hadn't heard them tip-toeing around the house as they prepped everything.  

Friends Retreat

My Progress

 --Thank you Jenny Craig for sponsoring this post. -- Get serious about losing weight with Jenny Craig!
We had a few unexpected struggles this month, with three out of the five of us getting pneumonia & the flu. But, now that we're all better, I'm feeling extra grateful for the Jenny Craig program and that I never once had to worry about what I was going to eat (which was perfect, because I didn't have the energy to do more than pop something in the microwave or grab an Anytime bar).

So it’s been 4 weeks since I started the Jenny Craig program and it’s time to share my results! Here's my first post, in case you missed it. Drum roll, please....

20 Great Running Mantras!

"Running is so symbolic of life. You have to drive yourself to overcome the obstacles. You might feel that you can't. But then you find your inner strength and realize you're capable of so much more than you thought". - Arthur Black

Whether you're a beginner runner or training to be an elite runner, there is much to benefit from having a running mantra. Your mantra can be a simple word or a whole phrase, but when repeated: it aids in concentration, motivation, helps you overcome pain & subsequently improves performance. 

The Lipstick That Lasts All Day + Giveaway! (Closed)

If you've been looking for that something special for yourself to make your Valentine's Day outfit pop, boy did you come to the right place! Today I'm talking all about lips & a revolutionary product!

So, you're either super tired of hearing about these or your mind is about to get blown! I've only just started using LipSense this past week and I'm already obsessed with them (seriously you guys, this stuff's AH-mazing), and now I'm trying to figure out how I can get my hands on ALL.THEIR.COLORS.

Just scroll down to enter the LipSense Giveaway!