Oliver's 2nd Birthday Petting Zoo Party

All last week I was stressing and prepping for Oliver’s 2nd birthday party and it all came to fruition yesterday. It ended up being a beautiful day and even if there were a few hiccups, no one seemed to notice, and we all had a great day.
When I was trying to figure what I wanted to do for Oliver's party I knew it had to be something he would enjoy and since he is such an animal lover having a farm/ petting zoo party would be perfect for him.

I get such a thrill out of planning everything. For the food and games, I searched Pinterest for inspiration and found so many great ideas. Now it’s time for picture overload. I enjoy the planning that goes into the party but the best part is seeing everyone’s faces (especially the birthday boy) as they take it all in. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.

My friend, Amy, made this fantastic cake

I love little details... like the forks and knives wrapped to look like corn... 

... and place cards for food with a farm theme...

... there was the chicken coop, potato field, feed & seed, orchard, pig pen, and a watering hole

Favors for the guests included homemade candy apples...

... cheddar & caramel "corn-on-the-cob"

Oliver liked riding the pony...

...but not the tortoise

There was also a pig...

... rabbits, a sheep, and...

... a horse for the bigger kids

For games I had Feed the Pig & Feed the Cow bean bag toss...

... Tractor Races...

... and Pin the Tire on the Tractor

Apparently Oliver thought he was supposed to bite the candle out... don't worry I blew it out before he got too close

Party Ponies and Farm Friends provided the ponies and petting zoo animals. Brandie did a great job and I would definitely recommend them if you want to have ponies or a petting zoo at your next party.

I hope you enjoyed Oliver's party. I found so much inspiration online that I wanted to share how it turned out. This was definitely one for the books!

Best Ever Chicken Salad

While everyone else is obsessing over the Nordstrom anniversary sale I thought I'd go in a completely different direction and share a delicious recipe I made recently. Not that I don't love a good sale, but it seems like its the only thing being talked about and it's a bit overwhelming. So instead of sharing shopping lists, today I'm sharing one of my go to, super easy, and uber-delicious recipes.

I find that chicken salad is a quick entree that can be used to prepare several different meals. Eat it with crackers, pile it onto a salad, or make it into a sandwich or wrap. No matter which way you serve it this chicken salad is fantastic. I like to buy chicken breasts and either boil with spices or brine and bake them, or you can use leftover rotisserie chicken. It's so simple, you'll kick yourself for not making it before now.

Tarragon Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

3 cups cooked chicken breast, diced
1 1/2 cups olive oil mayo
1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped
1 1/2 tbsp dijon mustard
2 tsp dried tarragon
salt to taste

Mix together all ingredients. If you're using salted toasted pecans, mix all ingredients without adding any additional salt. Taste and add additional salt if needed. If you want to make it a little less fattening you can replace 1/2 cup of mayo with non-fat Greek yogurt. You can add more mayo and dijon if you want it creamier.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to let the flavors blend. Enjoy!

In the photo above I served the chicken salad on a Joseph's pita bread with chopped romaine, tomato, and onion with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. So good!

Oliver enjoyed helping mixing everything together, and enjoyed eating it even more. 

Clean Eating for Life

Last year I was three months postpartum and, like most women after having a baby, I was not happy with my body. I knew I wanted to get serious, so I started doing the 12 week Bikini Body Guide. It was a great workout program but I knew that if I really wanted to be serious about changing by body I had to also change my eating. I had always tried to be aware of what I was eating but I didn't understand the mechanics behind what I ate. I'd watch calories but not much else so my diet consisted of a lot of carbs (Special K bars, baked chips, cereal, etc.) which is NOT healthy. I'd have limited calories but I never got good results. I had no muscle tone and never really lost weight.

Buffalo Chicken on Sweet Corn Tostado- so good!

I had to figure why. That's when I discovered macros through a friend and the Clean Simple Eats recipe guide. If you want to gain muscle, which burns fat, you have feed your body the right fuel. You need protein to build muscle and new cells, carbohydrates to give you energy and protect your muscles, and fat to store energy to allow your body proper growth, development, and function. These are the building blocks that make up a macrobiotic diet. You should take in a healthy balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats for every meal. This proper balance helps your body to function at peak performance. With the Clean Simple Eats meal plan they give you the recipes for every meal with all the macros already calculated. Simply put, it is awesome. I know that by following their guide I am getting a balanced, healthy meal that is satisfying and delicious. There are meal plans for every season with recipes featuring fruits and veggies in season for that time of year. The meal plans are 40-day guide with recipes for every meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) along with snack recipes. The macronutrients are balanced at carbohydrates 40%, and a 30/30 split for fats and protein. The work is all done. Drink lots of water, no soda, and no alcohol. Plus you get one cheat meal per week.

Turkey Penne Marinara- the kids love this one

When I started last year my goal was to build muscle and lose 10 pounds within 40 days. I ended up losing 13 pounds, along with building muscle. I wish I knew how much fat I lost especially since I know I put on muscle and still lost 13 pounds. Like I said before, I worked out but the meal plan, I believe, is what took my weigh loss to the next level. Everyone took notice and commented on the change which is always so rewarding. But all good things must come to an end... and I was weak and let myself fall back into some bad habits in the fall. I gain 5 pounds back and lost some muscle tone because I stopped going to gym as religiously as I had been😞

Aloha Chicken Kebobs

That being said, 2 weeks ago I started back with the new winter meal plan, so for the next 40 days I'm cooking these mouthwatering meals and hitting the gym.

Rotisserie Chicken Tacos- tacos are always a hit

If you feel like you've hit a plateau in your weight loss, I encourage you to give these meal plans a try along with weekly exercise. Also, every season when a new meal plan comes out they have a discount and you can get the plan for only $35! You also get entered into the CSE 40-day Challenge where you take your before and after pics, and the top 3 people change the most win cash prizes. The meal plans also include Crossfit style workout suggestions. Plus there is a Facebook page where you can ask questions, get encouragement, and share your thoughts throughout the challenge. I started last year with the spring plan and have bought every plan since and have yet to be disappointed.

Sweet Potato Pie- my husband and 1 year old loved this one

I plan on sharing my results when the 40 days are up. I want to maintain this clean eating plan and turn this way of eating and working out, into a lifestyle. As you can tell, I am passionate able these delicious meals and just had to share it with you. Give it a try, commit yourself to the plan, put in the work, and, I promise, you will not be disappointed.

Breakfast Smoothie

• 1 cup cashew milk
• 1 cup frozen fruit (I used mixed berries for this one)
• 8 to 10 ice cubes
• 1 tbsp almond butter
• 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
• 1/2 tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 tsp stevia in the raw

Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy!

Aww... Honey, Honey

You know how certain things remind you of a particular moment and memories from your past. Honey holds a special memory in mine.
Growing up my grandfather had a small farm where he and my grandma grew vegetables for themselves, friends, and family. In turn, he also had bees to pollenate the garden. He had several hives and at the end of each summer he'd harvest the honey they produced and it was delicious! We'd have quart jars of honey fresh from the hives which we'd slather on toast or stir into hot tea. My grandparents has passed but I remember times in the garden and at their home so fondly. I still love my hot tea with honey and while I was on the subject, also share some of my favorite honey products.

1. Laura Mercier Creme Brûlée Honey Bath -Drizzle a little into your bath to give it a sweet scent and leaves your skin fresh and supple.
2. Savannah Bee Beeswax Hand Cream- A rich, thick hand cream you won't leave home without. Perfect for winter when my hands are consistently dry.
3. Deep Steep Fresh Honey Hand Wash- I love the way my hands smell after using this hand soap. Just like fresh honey; pleasant but not overwhelming. You'll keep wondering what that lovely smell is until you realize it's you. 
4. Nature Nate's Organic Honey- A delicious raw honey that is very versatile, great for cooking, and in hot tea. This is a wonderful honey to buy in bulk. When substituting honey for sugar, this is my go-to. 
5. Savannah Bee Winter White- This whipped honey is my all time FAVORITE. I have a jar that is mine and rarely share. It's wonderful on butter toast or by the spoonful. 
6. Manuka Doctor Apinourish Rejuvenating Face Mask- A nourishing face mask made with bee venom and honey to leave your skin feeling firm and rejuvenated. 

Honey is better for you as a sweeter than sugar. Although it has more calories than sugar, we tend to use less of it than sugar. It has a lower glycemic index, which means it's absorbed slower into the bloodstream and a more gradual and healthier digestive process. Which mean is has less of a sugar rush on my 4 year old who loves sweets. Since sugar is heated and manufactured it loses any nutritional value and is considered empty calories. Whereas raw honey retains nutrients and enzymes along with having certain antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. I recommend choosing raw honey over processed if you have the option since it retains more enzymes, antioxidants, and flavor. 

I feel like honey is old-fashioned but with healthy and clean eating being all the rage, it is definitely making a comeback. I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't in a while. Enjoy!

Holiday Treats

It's finally started to feel like winter here in the South and with that I have been in the mood to do some holiday baking. My husband has a salt-tooth and one of his favorite treats are these crispy cheese wafers. I love them too but they are not so nice for your waistline since they are full of butter, cheese, and secret ingredient that gives them to perfect crunch. Yum yum eat'm up. 

When I want to make something so bad it's good, I either make a small amount or share them. The recipe for these makes 5 to 6 dozen so I decided I would make the whole batch and give them to the neighbors as a Christmas treat. 

Crispy Cheese Wafers

Ingredients:

4 cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup salted butter, softened

1/2 teaspoon pink Himalayan salt

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper, depending on how spicy you like them

2 cups Rice Krispies

Preheat oven to 350. Mix flour, salt, and ground red pepper then add softened butter and cheese. Beat on low/medium using stand mixer until it forms a ball. Gently stir/beat in the cereal until just mixed. Form into small balls, about 1" in diameter, place onto a parchment lined baking sheet. Press each ball with a fork dipped in flour. Bake for 25 to 28 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool or enjoy warm. They won't last long because they are fan-freak'n-tastic. 

Recipe based on this one from MyRecipes.

Emmett helped me package and deliver these lovelies to the neighbors. He's such a sweetie.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a very Merry Christmas!

Getting to know me

What should a first post be?

Well I thought I'd share a little about what I love in order to give you an idea of who I am.

{FAMILY} My world revolves around my boys. Everything I do is done to bring them happiness. My husband and two boys are the lights in my life.

My boys, Emmett and Oliver, are the sweetest, kindest souls you will ever meet and I am so proud to be their mama. My husband and best friend, Pierce, is thoughtful and generous. My boys are very lucky in the dad department.

{EATING & ENTERTAINING} I love food. I love cooking it, sharing it, and eating it. I find preparing a meal to be cathartic and sharing that meal to be rewarding. I try to eat healthy 75% of the time but definitely appreciate and partake in deliciously unhealthy morsels as well. I'm a huge fan of Pinterest and love a good themed party or craft project.

{FASHION} My fashion mantra would have to be cute, quality, and budget friendly. I love to shop and be on trend but I also love a great deal. When the stars align and I find an item that meets all three, I am in shopping heaven!

{HOME, HOBBIES & HEALTH} My home is a work in progress. I have small projects as well as big plans that I hope to share as I work to make my house feel more like my home. 

As I said earlier, I find a lot of inspiration on Pinterest so you're likely to see some home, diy, and craft projects on here as well.

When it comes to health and fitness, I have dreams of grandeur but bringing those goals to fruition while trying to juggle family, work, and home life can be a struggle. I hope to share what I find works for me because eating well and being active are very important to me. 

Why as I doing this? Because I want to share the things in my life which bring me joy. I am all about happiness and lifting up one another.