Archives for September 2017

The Perfect Fall Bucket List

September 26, 2017

It’s no secret that I absolutely adore FALL. No matter what amazing things all the other seasons have to offer, none of them compare to the joys of Fall for me. Because I have spent a lot of time creating Fall traditions and making fun memories, I thought I would share my classic Fall bucket list with you! There’s something so special about creating bucket lists for seasons. It give you something to look forward to, goals to accomplish, and it creates a space for tons of new and fun memories! So let’s get right to it!…

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

September 25, 2017

I promised y’all about two hundred and sixty-seven more pumpkin recipes this Fall and I like to be a woman of my word… So I figured I better get right to it. There’s no better way to start a Monday than with cookies, and there’s no better way to experience this cooler weather than with all things pumpkin. These pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are just about the best thing for both.

I have been wanting to make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies for quite some time now, but I needed to wait for the rest of the world to decide it was officially pumpkin season. I was also working on a base for the cookie that was entirely grain free so it would be that much more healthy. Because healthier cookies means eating more cookies… and duh.

These chewy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are grain free, dairy free, refined sugar free, and entirely delicious. One nice thing about baking with pumpkin is that it often eliminates the need for oil. That’s a plus because it means less fat. So basically I’ll just eat pumpkin all Fall and get skinny… or something like that….

The 3 Biggest Challenges With Working From Home

September 21, 2017

This one is for all of my work-from-home friends, and especially for the ones with babies! While working from home is the ultimate dream for many people, there’s a challenging side that many people neglect to see. It definitely is my dream come true, but for me, working from home has taken a lot of discipline and a lot of effort. And again, while this post is geared towards other mamas, the challenges that come with working from home are certainly not exclusive to mamas.

For all of the work-from-home mamas out there, you know that babies can be entirely unpredictable at times. Even the most routined babies can be inconsistent, so it can create a great deal of challenges when working from home. But if we take a step back, and eliminate children from the picture, the challenges are present before we add the kiddos to the equation.

The nature of working from home is one in which there are numerous distractions as well as a lack of accountability in the midst of those distractions. Whether it’s the laundry, the dinner you needed to start an hour ago, the buzzing Facebook notifications, or even the ability to work in your jammies and be more relaxed, there are distractions everywhere….

How To Lose Weight In Three Simple Steps

September 18, 2017

Everybody wants to lose weight, right? Okay, maybe not everyone. But almost everyone. The problem is figuring out how to lose weight.

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. I promise. I know there are so many fad diets out there, so you might be skeptical. It seems like every week there’s a new product or plan that promises to get your body in shape in x-number of days. Some of them even promise to help you lose weight or get in shape with little to no effort. That sounds pretty awesome to me. I’d love to be model status without having to work for it. I’d love to not even think about how to lose weight.

But here’s the thing… it doesn’t actually work that way.

Most good things in life require some effort. That perfect body image is no exception….

Triple Berry Baked Oatmeal

September 17, 2017

I can’t think of a better way to start the week than with a good breakfast. I also can’t think of anything better than sharing. So today I am sharing a recipe from my very own ebook, 30 Clean Breakfasts! This triple berry baked oatmeal is one of my absolute favorites, so when I was deciding what to share, it was at the top of my list!

First of all, if you know me, you might know that I just absolutely love oats. Not only are they super warm and comforting, they are also packed full of nutrition. If you are looking for a clean and healthy carb to fuel your morning, turn to oats. They keep you full for a long time and have a great amount of protein for being a grain.

I have been playing with various takes on baked oatmeal for a few years now, and I can honestly say I love them all. Give me all the baked oatmeal. It’s like a healthy breakfast casserole dessert… sort of. But it’s baked oatmeal….

My Kid, My Rules: How I Embrace My Authority

September 12, 2017

If I have learned anything since becoming a mom, it is that there are million right ways to parent. And if I have learned anything else since becoming a mom, it is that most moms believe with confidence that their way is the number one right way. And since learning these things as a mom, I have had to learn what it looks like to embrace my authority as a parent. It is a process, and I am learning constantly, but I realize a little bit more every day that it comes down to this: my kid, my rules.

Now, before you think this is an entire post about not receiving advice from other mamas, don’t.

I actually think the strength and unity in motherhood is so powerful and such a beautiful thing. As I was visiting my family and community in California recently, I was blown away by the impact of being surrounded by other mamas in my stage of life and parenting. There has not been a single time since my baby was born that I felt so incredibly uplifted, understood, and empowered….

How I Embrace My Mom Body

September 6, 2017

Let’s talk about the whole “mom body” thing for a bit. It’s such a common thing these days to hear someone say “just embrace your mom bod.” I want to talk about what that really means to embrace my mom body, but first, I want to give you a little back story.

If you know me personally, you know that I have struggled a great deal with body image. I have done the diets, I have swung from one end of the spectrum to the other, and I have hated myself and my appearance no matter what end of the spectrum I was on. My journey towards true health and self love has been a long and sometimes complicated one, and I have had my fair share of “rebound” phases. In the diet world, those phases are the times in which I give up on one fad diet and go drastically searching for another. I did that so many times in the beginning of my journey, and it never brought any satisfaction. What I realized over time is that really becoming healthy takes a lifelong commitment, and it also requires adjusting not only my physical choices and food consumption, but also adjusting my thought processes and shifting my paradigm….

7 Easy Stay-At-Home Date Night Ideas

September 5, 2017

Alright, if you tuned in to my last marriage post, “Why I Date My Husband,” you were probably waiting for this post. I promised you easy and fun date night ideas for the times you can’t leave the house. Whether it’s because you don’t have childcare or because you don’t have money, I’ve got you covered. Over the last two years, my husband and I have had to get pretty darn creative with our date nights. Initially, our creativity was required due to our location and the lack of unique things to do. Our struggle now is more that we can’t leave our house because we don’t have childcare. And, like most of you, we don’t have a ton of extra money to spend on dates!

Because we have had to be so intentional, we have made a point to keep track of the creative date night ideas that were a true success so that we can pull those out of the hat again. I took a look at my list of about 30 random and fun ideas and I chose my top 7 to share with you! So here you go!…

Easy Steak Fajita Salad

September 4, 2017

It’s been way too long since I shared a salad recipe, y’all. It’s not because we haven’t been making salads. It’s because I am usually so dang hungry on salad night after working out that I just can’t take the time to create something new and photograph it! I always think I can do it, but my hunger is so much bigger than I realize. BUT- I finally found the time to prepare a new salad, test it out, take photos, and write about it- on a rest day. Because it seems like that’s the only time I can.

Since my husband and I both love any food that has any sort of Mexican flare, we decided to go with a fajita style salad. We are also super into peppers and onions, and were both craving those, so a fajita style salad seemed like just the right fit.

My husband and I are also steak lovers, but we try to avoid a ton of red meat in our diets. Now, don’t get me wrong. We do eat it from time to time, we just try to be super intentional about the quality of the meat, as well as how much and how often we have it. We don’t believe that all red meat is bad quality or bad for you, but we do believe it is important to be super picky about it….