Category: Uncategorized

  • A SNACK THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR SNACKING

    When it comes to snacking this house seems to have the word down pat. My two dudes can’t seem to get enough snacks. In fact I feel like they snack more often than eating actual meals. Tell me I am not alone on that one!? I’m sure they’ve learned some of these behaviors from me too. I love morning snacks, afternoon snacks and snacks after the gym. Michael is a snacker too.

    When I realized this is what was legit happening everyday I decided I really needed to spend some time focused on what it was I was giving my family for their ‘snacks” or full meals as enough snacks seem to add up to that in our world. Clearly fruits and veggies are on my list. I was hunting for some additional snacks I could carry with me on the go, keep us full and provide the nutritional value that we all need. That’s when I found Planetarians Sunflower chips https://www.planetarians.com/ which have 11g fiber per serving. ? Yep, you read that right. Did you know the FDA recommends eating at least 28g fiber a day. This is a dream come true!

    So of course my first thought was are these really going to taste any good? Or are we going to be stuck with that chalky after taste? While Planetarians do have a unique taste to them they definitely don’t give you that chalky after taste since all the protein comes from the sunflower meal. The flavored Planetarians BBQ, Chili lime or Sour Cream and Onion have been our go to.

    For all my friends looking for a good go-to healthy snack these are it for you. All Natural, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Lactose Free and Whole 30 approved. Check them out, join the Planetarians movement too and get Fiber back into your diet.

    much love,

    danielle

    xoxo

  • THE BEST KEPT SECRET TO BETTER PARENTING

    I’m not sure why people don’t talk about this more. But there is one thing I can definitely tell you that I’ve learned along the way as a parent…sleep is important. Sleep is so important that we don’t function well without it. And finding ways to make sleep happen in your crazy life is essential. That’s why I was beyond excited to partner with Tomorrow Sleep and their ridiculously rad sleep tracker system. Hello, it’s like a parents perfect match.

    So it’s been a minute since we’ve talked about the boys bedroom. I’ve had many of you ask us how transitioning from a crib to a toddler bed went and then what we were going to do for our next step once we felt like Ziggy wasn’t working out with his toddler bed. I figured why not address all those things right here.

    Let’s start at the beginning. We transferred Ziggy out of his crib at 18 months. Yes you read that right. Both our boys figured out early how to use their upper body strength to lift their bodies out of their beds. And no matter how many times we tried to convince them to stay inside their cribs that just wasn’t happening. Our top priority was and always will be safety. Knowing that Ziggy could literally tumble out of his crib at any moment just didn’t settle right with us. It was clear that it was time to change his crib into the toddler bed. With this change came a new experience for Ziggy. The freedom of being able to get in and out of bed on his own ????.

    Before we chat about Ziggy’s experience let me fill you in with how Enzo was when we made the switch.  I vividly remember Enzo getting in and out of bed over and over and over again. No sooner than we put him down he was climbing out of bed, opening the door and coming to find us. We spent what felt like endless hours working towards a smooth bedtime routine again for Zo. With Enzo we stayed in the room with him. Laid down in the bed and left after he fell asleep. This took time and persistence but gradually Enzo was able to put himself to sleep. We can now put him down after books and walk out of the room and he will fall asleep all on his own.

    Ziggy was a completely different story and no it’s not because we became better at parenting ????although we’d like to think that…different child different experience! We also now have doors that Ziggy cannot open and it has been a game changer. The fact that Ziggy cannot open the door he has taught himself on his own to put himself down when it’s time for bed. Although he still gets up we give him a few minutes to let him settle himself down before going up to check on him and remind him that it’s bedtime.

    A few months ago Ziggy decided that he no longer wanted to sleep inside his toddler bed. In fact he would throw full out fits whenever we put him in it. Lucky for Ziggy he shares a room with Enzo and Enzo was willing to let him hop into bed with him. Michael and I knew it was time for another change in our life. Zig was ready for a big boy bed. When we made the change for Enzo   we decided to upgrade Zo to a queen size bed. I know I’ve heard from several people who feel this was ridiculous or a completely unnecessary move on our part, as he’s so young and doesn’t need a bed that large. I can completely understand why people feel that way, but Michael and I have really thought this process out and of course I’ll share why we now have two queen size beds for both boys.

    The most logical answer for us is why buy more beds than necessary. As our boys grow these beds will continue to work for them and our family! We love that we can jump into the bed with them for nightly books, and in the case that someone needs us to sleep with them or help out falling asleep, we fit comfortably in them too! Our motto in this house is a parent who sleeps better is better.

    Sleep is important. That’s why picking the right mattress for Ziggy was essential. After doing research, on Michael’s end, we landed with a Tomorrow Sleep Mattress and we have been beyond impressed. The memory foam hybrid mattress is so on point. I’m not going to lie I have fallen asleep in the bed several times already. Plus nap time has become so smooth again ???? Even Enzo is wanting to snuggle up in Ziggy’s bed for story time. Plus we went with two of Tomorrow Sleep Pillows which both Michael and I love. Pillows are so worth the investment in my opinion, I mean you sleep on them every single night!

    Michael and I have also been using the Tomorrow Sleeptracker® Monitor on our own bed. You guys this concept is so rad! Once set up, which is so easy to do, you literally get daily reports of your sleep cycle. Plus they give you added tips to help get additional hours of zzz’s, which any parent knows is oh so precious. The system allows you to set a timer to wake you up at the perfect moment. Plus you don’t have to wear anything at all for your sleep to be tracked! Now that is what I am talking about.

    So if you’re looking to add a mattress to your home, go on and use the code FOODIE100 to get $100 code off any $500 order (expires 12/31/17).

    Happy sleeping!

    much love,

    danielle

    xoxo

  • PUMPKIN BREAD AND CUPCAKE RECIPES

    Ok I know this is a little late. But you guys this so freakin’ good I couldn’t wait till next year to post another pumpkin recipe. I’ve been messing around in the kitchen trying to figure out the right amounts of olive oil and protein to keep the bread or cupcakes moist and flavorful! Plus I know most of us have pumpkin in our house right now, so go on and make this for the morning. You can thank me later. Use up that left over candy from Halloween and make these adorable turkey cupcakes that you little ones can totally help make, and you can give away at your Thanksgiving celebration.

    The secret to moist goodness in baking pumpkin bread is the olive oil. You really do need this much oil…without it the bread just doesn’t have the same consistency and you will be sadly disappointed. But the bonus to this recipe is the vanilla protein I added to help keep you full with this morning snack.

    Pumpkin Bread

    • 1 1/2 cups flour
    • 3/4 cups vanilla protein (we use 1st Phorm Phormula-1 – it’s Michael’s go-to)
    • 1/2 cups raw sugar
    • 2 tsp baking powder
    • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • 1/2 tsp Himalayan sea salt
    • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
    • 2 tsp pumpkin spice
    • 15 oz can pumpkin
    • 4 eggs
    • 1 cup olive oil
    • 1/4 cup chocolate chips (if wanted)
    1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

    2. In a large bowl mix together 1 1/2 cups of flour, 3/4 cups of vanilla protein, 1/2 cups of raw sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp sea salt, 1/4 tsp ground cloves and 2 tsp pumpkin spice. Then set the bowl aside.
    3. In a medium bowl whisk together 1 can of pumpkin, 4 eggs and 1 cup of olive oil till fully combined.
    4. Add wet mixture to the dry bowl until completely blended.
    5. If making pumpkin bread use a 15×10 baking baking pan and spray with nonstick cooking spray. If making muffins or cupcakes spray tins or line!
    6. For the pumpkin bread we made it half plain/ half chocolate chip! Simply sprinkle 1/4 cup of chocolate chips on the top of half.
    7. Bake 25 to 30 minutes.

    Turkey Cupcakes

    • KitKat
    • M&Ms (yellow, red and orange)
    • Reeses Pieces Peanut Butter cups
    • Twizzlers
    • Sugar Candy Eyes
    • Orange frosting (I used one out of a tube!)
    1. You need 3 Kit Kat pieces, 3 red M&Ms, 3 yellow M&Ms, and 3 orange M&Ms per cupcake.
    2. With a toothpick use frosting as glue to create tail feathers for your turkeys. I used one yellow, red and orange M&M per feather.
    3. To make the head use 1 Reeses Pieces Peanut Butter cup again with a tooth pick and using the frosting as glue, glue on two eyes.
    4. The gizzards are made from Twizzlers. We simply cut them apart until we felt like they looked similar to a gizzard.
    5. Once the eyes are glued, dab the orange frosting to create a beak.
    6. Now add frosting with a toothpick to the gizzard and stick to the peanut butter cup.
    7. Place tail feathers and the turkey faces on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer to help the frosting dry and stick together.
    8. Once the cupcakes are done let them cool completely before you frost. I like to use a frosting bag to provide more frosting for the tail feathers and the face to stick to.
    9. Stick 3 tail feathers into each turkey. Make sure to stick them in far enough that they don’t fall over.
    10. Place the face in front into the frosting.
    11. Refrigerate until you are ready to eat!

    ***Remember these cupcakes must be refrigerated due to the cream cheese frosting!***

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 1 package of 8 oz cream cheese
    • 5 cups confectionary sugar
    • 1/2 stick butter | softened
    • 1 tsp almond extract
    1. In mixer bowl with the paddle attachment mix 1 8 oz package of cream cheese, 1/2 stick of softened butter & 1 tsp almond extract.
    2. Add confectionary sugar with mixer on low. Add 1-2 cups at a time.
    3. Stop frequently to scrape the sides.

    enjoy

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo

  • 5 WAYS TO WIN WITH YOUR TODDLER

    5 WAYS TO WIN WITH YOUR TODDLER

    Yup, I really just say it. And I would be lying if I didn’t confess that this takes a lot of practice and patience to win. Always. But the more you adjust your behavior the easier it gets. And you guys this all starts with letting your toddler feel like they are in control. The key word being FEEL. The best way to do this is through choices.

    We’ve all been there. Your toddler wants to do one thing and you want them to do another.  There’s a huge meltdown and you’re left in a hot mess trying to console the unconsolable child by your side. It all starts with choices. But when I say choices I mean choices that you, as in mama or dada, want to happen. Creating choices can be tricky. Here are a few tips that I find helpful in preventing meltdowns. And in my opinion, come out as a winner!

    How to Create Choices for Kids

    • Only give 2 choices
    • You must be able to follow through on the choices provided
    • Repeat the choices several times
    • If your child is unable to pick a choice, restate with “looks like, you’re choosing (xyz)”, stating the choice you want them to do

    Wondering what this might look like?  Let me give you a few examples I use in our home!

    Clothing

    Laying out two choices and allowing them to decide on a top or shoes. Only doing one thing at a time. ”Do you want to wear the shirt that is red or the shirt that is blue?”

    Food

    Pointing to drink options. ”Would you like milk or water?”

    Nap Time

    Showing the choices. ”Books or bed? Books or bed?”

    Play Time

    When your little one is doing something you don’t want them to do. Let’s use the example of wandering off. ”You can either stay by mama or mama is going to carry you”.

    Personally, I think the most important part of providing choices to your child is having realistic choices. Ones you can actually follow through with. I also don’t feel every situation allows for choices. So pick and choose when you use them. However, the more a child feels they have a choice as to how their day is going, the smoother it seems to run!

    What are your thoughts on giving choices?  I’d love to hear from you.

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo

  • 5 KID-FRIENDLY THANKSGIVING TABLE SETTING TIPS

    If there’s one thing I love almost as much as food it’s decorating! Holiday decorating makes my heart skip a beat. Since having kids setting tables for the holiday has changed just a little, which is a great challenge for me. I want to make sure to keep the table aesthetically pleasing for everyone but additional fun for the kids. We don’t want to make “don’t touch” table settings when  kids are involved. Here are a few tips I keep in mind when setting the table for the holiday.

    1. Make sure you’ve got kids plates that are just right for the age of your kids.
    2. Always have soft decor right in front of the kids. My go to is felt pieces.
    3. Be open to letting your kids explore the table. A hands-on table allows for some interesting conversations and even longer time at the table.
    4. Don’t be afraid to add layers to your decorating. But make sure to leave space for the actual food! Or at least be able to move the decor around easily for food!
    5. Do what makes you happy. Thats what I love about decorating. There really are no true rules.

    enjoy

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo

  • MAPLE ORANGE CRANBERRY SAUCE

    I’ve been trying several cranberry sauce recipes lately to find the perfect balance of tart and sweet. To be honest I can’t stand when the sauce is so sweet…it’s just too much! And with this recipe I absolutely love how the maple syrup and orange zest balance each other out!

    maple orange cranberry sauce recipe

    INGREDIENTS

    • 12 oz cranberries
    • 2 tbsp maple syrup
    • 1/4 cup water
    • 1/4 cup orange juice
    • Orange zest

    DIRECTIONS

    1. In a sauce pan add all ingredients.
    2. Over medium high heat bring to a boil then reduce and stir for about 10 minutes.
    3. Refrigerate until ready to eat!

    enjoy!

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo

    ***Added bonus – these can be made ahead of time!

    maple orange cranberry sauce recipe

    maple orange cranberry sauce recipe

  • PECAN SWEET POTATO MASH

    Sweet potatoes are a go to favorite when it comes to pretty much any gathering for me! But what I love about this recipe is that it’s got just the right amount of sweetness, cinnamon and crunch thanks to the pecans, letting the sweet potatoes natural flavor shine! And you guys it’s seriously so easy to make! Just look below!

    pecan sweet potato mash recipe

    INGREDIENTS

    • 2 lbs sweet potatoes
    • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
    • 1 tbsp brown sugar
    • 1 tsp cinnamon

    DIRECTIONS

    1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
    2. With a fork, poke holes in the sweet potatoes and bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until potatoes are soft.
    3. Spray pie dish with non-stick spray.
    4. While potatoes bake in a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup of chopped pecans with 1 tbsp brown sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon. Set aside for use later.
    5. Once potatoes are done, take potatoes out of oven and let cool.
    6. Cut and scoop the inside of the potatoes into the dish and mash the potatoes.
    7. Top sweet potatoes with pecan mixture.
    8. Bake for 40-45 minutes.

    enjoy!

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo

    pecan sweet potato mash recipe

    pecan sweet potato mash recipe

  • HIS & HERS THANKSGIVING DAY COCKTAILS

    Doesn’t everyone want a fun cocktail to pair with a gathering?!? I love having a signature cocktail to go with the any special day, so I created these super tasty his & hers drinks that reflect what Michael and I like. The cranberry simple syrup is a crowd favorite over here for lots of fun cocktails!

    his and hers thanksgiving cocktails recipe

    INGREDIENTS

    Cranberry Bourbon Sipper

    • 1 tbsp cranberry simple syrup
    • 2 oz Bourbon
    • Orange peel

    Cranberry Wine Refresher

    • 1 tbsp cranberry simple syrup
    • 5 oz Prosecco
    • Rosemary Sprig

    Cranberry Simple Syrup

    • 1 1/2 cups cranberries
    • 1 cup water
    • 1/2 cup sugar

    DIRECTIONS

    1. In a pan add all simple syrup ingredients.
    2. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for about 7 to 10 minutes to let the cranberries breakdown.
    3. With a strainer, strain the cranberries to leave only liquid.
    4. Mix together bourbon cocktail and serve with an orange peel.
    5. For the wine cocktail, add simple syrup and top with Prosecco and serve with Rosemary!

    his and hers thanksgiving cocktails recipe

    enjoy!

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo

    his and hers thanksgiving cocktails recipe

  • THE PRETTIEST HARVEST SALAD EVER

    And it’s the tastiest, too! I love salads, especially when someone else is making it for me! There is just something about not making my own salad that makes it taste so much better. But let me tell you guys this one tastes good no matter who makes it and you can’t screw it up! We will be using this for our Thanksgiving feast but It’s quickly becoming a go to favorite for lunch around here. I like to make the dressing and use only what I see fit for the salad amount. With this one I used about 2 tbsp of dressing, leaving plenty of leftover dressing for later use!

    INGREDIENTS

    Salad

    • 10-13 oz Spinach
    • 2 pears | thinly sliced
    • 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
    • 4 oz triple brie | diced
    • 1/2 cup pecans

    Dressing

    • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
    • 1 tsp olive oil
    • 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
    • 1/2 tsp dijon mustard

    DIRECTIONS

    1. In a small bowl, combine and whisk together all dressing ingredients. Set aside for use just before serving.
    2. In a large salad bowl add spinach. Top with pears, pomegranate seeds, brie and pecans. Feel free to layer ingredients as desired!

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo

    ***Added bonus – these can be made ahead of time!

    healthy holiday harvest salad

    healthy holiday harvest salad

    healthy holiday harvest salad

  • CRANBERRY BRUSSELS SPROUTS

    This one is just too pretty not to make. Plus we all know Thanksgiving can use some extra green! I like to cut the brussels sprouts in half to make it easier for people to eat. Plus, I can get my boys to put a few on their plate. If I get lucky they might even try them too! I think the key here is to let them soak in water for at least 30 minutes after cutting to help all the juices soak in!

    healthy cranberry brussels sprouts recipe

    INGREDIENTS

    • 1 lb brussels spouts | cut in half
    • 2 tbsp maple syrup
    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
    • 1/4 tsp dijon mustard
    • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
    • salt & pepper to taste

    DIRECTIONS

    1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
    2. Cut brussels spouts in half and soak for at least 30 minutes.
    3. In a small bowl combine 2 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar and 1/4 tsp dijon mustard and whisk.
    4. Spray baking dish and drain brussels sprouts water. Add brussels sprouts to the dish.
    5. Pour liquid mixture over brussels sprouts, season with salt and pepper and top with 1/4 cup of dried cranberries.
    6. Bake for 40-45 minutes.

    ***Added bonus – these can be made ahead of time and baked when ready to eat. I like to leave them out 30 to 45 minutes prior to baking to get them back to room temperature.

    enjoy!

    much love-

    danielle

    xoxo

    healthy cranberry brussels sprouts recipe

    healthy cranberry brussels sprouts recipe

    healthy cranberry brussels sprouts recipe