Ever since moving to Chicago 4 years ago, I have often found myself saying, "Why would I live anywhere else?" Then, winter hits. It's not so much the cold that kills me, (although it's not my favorite), it's more so being stuck in the house. Especially with a toddler. Now that I have a walking, talking "mini-me" running around, I've had to get creative in finding ways to keep us busy without breaking the bank and keeping us out in the cold. Here are 5 fool proof activities you can do ... [ Read More ]
Kid-Friendly Smoothie Bowls
Smoothie bowls have been dominating IG feeds all over for a while and with their beautiful colors and healthy benefits, who’s complaining? However, just like a lot of “health” food, unless you’re making it from scratch yourself, there can be a lot of hidden carbs and calories. Truth be told, I’ve been dying to make these at home with Elia. They’re interactive, delicious, and a great way for Elia to learn colors and foods. I took to the internet to get some inspiration and settled on a kid- ... [ Read More ]
5 Ways to Celebrate National Bagel Day
Let's face it, there are not many better holidays than National Bagel Day! It's one of my favorite days of the year and I'm always looking for fun ways to celebrate and make it even more fun. This year, Einstein Bros. Bagels is really amping up the celebration by offering lots of ways to get FREE bagels (more on that in a sec) and I've got a few ways up my sleeve to make this holiday even more exciting. Here are 5 ways YOU can celebrate National Bagel Day this year! Create the ULTIMATE Bagel ... [ Read More ]
I Worked Out for 7 Days and Here’s What Happened!
It should come as no surprise to you that I don't really love working out. For me, keeping my body healthy usually starts in the kitchen and I've rarely ever found myself excited to go to the gym. However, with age (and a baby) it becomes more and more difficult to keep those lbs off! I decided to challenge myself and see if working out consistently was all it’s cracked up to be. So, I worked out for 7 days to see if I could change my mentality and actually start to enjoy it. Here's my ... [ Read More ]
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: Jewelry
Valentine’s day is just a couple of weeks away, and if you’re anything like me, a little sparkle can go a long way. Last week, I popped into my favorite jewelry store, Michael Hill Jewelers, to take a peek at some of it's new collections and classic pieces so that I can be informed when I drop those (not so subtle) hints to my hubby. Honestly, it unleashed a monster inside of me. Avert your eyes if you don’t want to give or get the perfect jewelry for Valentine’s Day! Otherwise...get ready to ... [ Read More ]
Instagram vs. Reality
Let's face it. The "insta" from the word Instagram simply doesn't mean the same thing anymore. Once a platform to share special moments (in the moment), Instagram is now a place to come and view over-edited, false realities that frankly, make a lot of people feel bad about themselves. And guess what... I don't think it's going to change. This isn't your typical, "we all need to be more real with our posts" rant. I've tried that and it doesn't work. People are going to do what they're ... [ Read More ]
5 Tips you NEED to succeed with a Low Carb Lifestyle
I hate the word diet. I hate everything about it. It feels restrictive, it feels frustrating and I just don't like the idea of being so rigid. Truth be told, my weight was never a struggle for me until I had a baby. And yes, I know how blessed I am to be able to say that. As many of you know, after you have a baby your body changes and I have been struggling to lose the last bit. One diet I have been hearing about nonstop, from friends, the news, and even the IG world has been the Keto diet. ... [ Read More ]
Kid Friendly Recipe: Cheesy Tater Tot Casserole
Every winter, I find myself craving more comfort foods and the desire to make more crock pot meals. Something about eating a meal that's been slow cooked all day gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling. Since Elia is eating more food now (and constantly trying to help out with the cooking), I wanted to create a recipe that was easy for her to participate in AND covered in cheese so I know she'll eat it. That's how I came up with this cheesy tater tot casserole. With the recipe in mind, all I ... [ Read More ]
How a Spoon Sleep Mattress Saved my Marriage
Let me set the stage for you... It's 1am the night before Thanksgiving. My family and I have been traveling to Boston all day and dealing with flight delays. We finally arrive at my in-laws, spent an hour calming down our 1-year old to get her to go to sleep. We crawl into the full-sized, guest bed and immediately, I have my husbands elbow digging into my side. "Can you move over?", I say. "I'm hanging off the bed already!", he says. "Well then at least stop moving around so much!" I ... [ Read More ]
How TO: Get your Baby off a Bottle!
As Moms, we're always searching for the right answer. We are constantly looking for the dos and don’ts and putting pressure on milestones that are supposed to be happening. We're receiving lots of advice, sometimes solicited and other times not welcome. All that in mind, I’ve come to terms with one key thing. There are no rules. Everyone has their own way of parenting and every child has their own way of developing. During Elia's 12 month doctor appointment, I was told it was time for her ... [ Read More ]
