Lemon Pepper Arugula and Cashew Pesto
Yes, I am a total slacker. If any of you follow me on Instagram, you'll know I posted this pic…
Yes, I am a total slacker. If any of you follow me on Instagram, you'll know I posted this pic…
I must admit, this is only the beginning of my foray into beer cocktails. But this Orange Pale Ale Manhattan…
Do you feel like you've officially exhausted all your best Mother's Day gift ideas? I mean, she deserves the best, so…
You know those party appetizers that friends ask you to bring every. single. time? Well the Best Mini Crab Cake…
Are you needing some ideas to mix up your regular breakie menu? Or maybe BFD (breakfast for dinner) is getting…
Why would we want to make a DIY princess canopy bed? Well it all started last fall when we asked…
Welcome back to another edition of girl's hair tutorials than can be done in under 10 minutes. My sister in…
As a working mother who also travels every few weeks, it is a constant struggle and internal battle reassuring myself…
If you're anything like us when it comes to snacks, you're always looking for that magic combination of healthy and…
Let's talk about cheese for a minute. Let's talk about the fact that when my 6 year old daughter and…
It doesn't matter if you're a pro at doing hair (like my sister-in-law), or have minimal hair skills (like myself).…
If you're anything like me, when it comes to finding the best way to organize craft supplies, you kind of…
I originally made this Pomegranate Ginger Champagne for New Year's Eve this year, and made mocktail versions for the kids.…
Do you cringe whenever you see fresh ginger in a recipe (hopefully you didn't cringe when you saw this Garlic…
One of the most defining points in my life was when I got my first job in a restaurant at…
I cannot tell you how in LOVE I am with DIY yarn monsters. I had heard of them before, but…
Growing up in the south, sweet potato orange cups were a staple at our holiday meals. My step-mom is famous…
Alright ladies and gents, we have allowed our imaginations to carry us too far. Ask me how I know? I’ll…
Have you noticed how many foodies there are out there these days? Me, I'm a self-proclaimed "foodie". So I know…
For all you music lovers out there, these children's books written by musicians will put a song in your heart!…
Let's face it, finding a gift for the guy who has everything can be painfully difficult. In fact, I called…
How many times have you had a holiday party to go to, and you were in charge of bringing a…
You may have noticed that there's a major craze going on right now, and it's all about unicorns! Yep, we're…
Wanna know a secret? It only takes four ingredients and 10 minutes to make this incredibly easy chocolate chip cookie…
Ballerinas take their buns very seriously, and I don't mean their tushies! I know that without instructions from my in-laws,…
I have a couple of secrets to tell you. First of all, up until now I have never really been…
Whether you're a sports fanatic, or couldn't really care less, everybody loves a good game day football party. And while…
If you're looking for a really easy Halloween hairstyle, for any length hair, this is it. Bubble braids are so…
Every Summer our family packs up for a fun little cabin getaway with a small group of friends. While the…
No one wants to be the one that gets egged for handing out raisins on Halloween. But no one wants…
If your kids are anything like mine -- or even if your kids are nothing like mine! -- chances are…
(This post contains affiliate links.) Tell me if this scenario sounds familiar to you: You're sitting at the dinner table…
Nothing says "fall" like caramel apple. And nothing says "any time" like a martini. Combine the two and you have…
It’s almost that time of year again! That’s right, Halloween is coming! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! Honestly, who doesn’t…
This post originally appeared on Tatertots and Jello back in August. I was thrilled she wanted to share it with her…
Here's a fun little fact about yours truly... I used to be a sailor. Like a true, legit, swab the…
I want to thank Joanne from No Plate Like Home for making this delicious guest post. Check out her full bio…
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a HUGE Trader Joe's fan. It was so sad when I moved…
While I'm typically a fan of cheese fondue, these sweet fondue recipes are sure to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. (This…
Raise your hand if you would rather hit snooze one more time than wash your hair in the morning. Or…
Do you ever have those moments of epiphany where you see something on television, and you can't believe you haven't…
Did you know that National S'mores Day occurs every year on August 10th? I didn't either! As soon as I…
What is the first food that comes to mind when you think about camping? S'MORES! S'mores are such a camping…
Welcome back to another edition of awesome girls' hairstyles in under 10 minutes. This Criss Cross Twist do would be…
What is your favorite form of family exercise? For many people it is hiking. I would much rather go for…
Do you love jalapeño poppers, but notice that the heat level can be unpredictable? Especially if you've ever eaten poppers…
Making your own homemade yogurt is surprisingly easy, and quite delicious! Not only can you customize it with a ton…
Raise your hand if you loooove guacamole, but you're sometimes intimidated to make it at home? Even if you've made…
In our household, the silly kids jokes all started a few years ago with an episode of Word World my daughter…
I call these Double Decker Turkey Tacos an easy, upscale, homemade version of the Taco Bell Double Decker Taco. The…
Welcome to How to Do Patriotic Star Hair, the first of many tutorials in a new series, 10 Minute Hair…
Planning for camping can be overwhelming. I've given you tips on what you need to succeed with kids (How to…
Do you ever get stuck in a dinner rut? I know I do. All. The. Time. I love seeing what…
Do you ever feel like if something's "good enough", then it's not quite there yet? The whole concept of "good…
Well I'm home again for a couple of weeks, which is nice. And I actually have everything in this weekly…
Ever since we discovered the Trader Joe's frozen pizza crust, we've become pizza experimenting experts. This Prosciutto Zucchini Pizza is…
Full disclosure, or "straight talk" as my company would call it, I'm out of town again this week so we'll…
Did you know that most packaged fruit roll ups don't actually contain any fruit? Well, unless you count the concentrated…
Welcome to the 67th Weekly Meal Plan, to help provide you with some dinner inspiration. Here we are, another Memorial…
Raise your hand if you were guilty of giving your dad a spiffy new golf tie every year for Father's…
When it comes to sitting down and eating a nice family dinner at the table every night, do you feel…
Welcome to this week's dinner menu, intended to inspire you to eat a couple more meals at home. Our weekly…
Have you ever wondered what the most perfect, easy, refreshing afternoon cocktail is? Let me tell you, this Blood Orange…
We're going light and simple with this week's meal plan. Once again I'm out of town, so much of this…
Do you love throwing fabulous Pinterest-worthy parties for your kids? Or maybe you don't, but you still end up throwing…
I'm out of town for work pretty much the next two weeks straight. That means lots of frozen and pre-made…
There's something simple, flavorful, and fresh about these lettuce wraps. Even though there's bacon in them, they taste light and…
Do you ever look at other moms out there that appear to be doing it all, and wonder how they…
You guys, I'm really excited about this new Facebook group I just started to help you with your meal planning.…
Happy Earth Day everyone! Though hopefully you're nice to Mother Nature every day, not just one day out of the…
Do you ever feel like you could be doing a little more when it comes to thinking of our environment?…
I remember the first time my sister-in-law brought this buffalo chicken crack dip to a party. It may sound silly,…
If you're one of those lucky people that ends up getting a tax refund every year instead of owing money,…
This week we're going camping, hence the camping themed meal plan! These meals don't necessarily have to be made out…
Have you ever taken the kids to one of those mass chaos Easter egg hunts before? The ones where it’s…
If you ever feel stuck for dinner ideas, sometimes it helps to just step back from your "norm" and try…
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I love being a working mom outside the home. Having kids…
In the past I've had a bit of a love-hate relationship with beets. I never minded them growing up, but always…
Yes that's right. I said stinkiness. If you have babies or kids, fur or human, most likely you find yourself around some…
This week's meal plan is centered around homey deliciousness. Oh, and easy of course. Because, shocking news alert... it's a…
Warning, this Chocolate Chip Cookie Stout Ice Cream Float is not for the faint of heart. But if you like…
After I created this week's meal plan, I realized that Friday is St. Patrick's Day. So while you may not…
This light and refreshing Blueberry Lemon Vodka cocktail is for my friend who thought the Bourbon Manhattan Sour looked tasty,…
What exactly IS a Buddha Bowl you may ask? I had the same question a while ago when some friends…
Welcome to the deep, dark secrets of parenthood. Today I'm exposing myself to the world of judgers, and showing you…
This week's dinner plan is falling back on some classics. We'll eat a ton of something and then forget about it…
This is it. The last month of the year. The one year anniversary of when I started this blog (even…
This White Bean Sausage Chili was adapted from a recipe I found, on Pinterest of course. Everything I saw had…
This week's dinner plan is full of quick, easy, and (mostly) healthy meals. I'll let you in on a little…
The best part about being an imperfectionist is that I get to do things like mix bourbon, and a few…
Well, in the spirit of life being crazy... I realized TODAY that my daughter has to take her class Valentines…
Welcome back to this week's meal plan. We're here to help you get out of the dinner slump. I know…
If anyone has read this blog before, especially the Weekly Dinner Plans, you may already know I'm slightly obsessed with Trader…
Warning, I will be out of town pretty much the next two weeks straight, so much of my dinner plans…
When I stumbled across this article by Laurie Ayers who runs www.ThrivingCandleBusiness.com, I had to stop and see if it…
Here we are in January and I'm just now getting to November's income report. Can you say procrastination much? Or maybe…
Who doesn't love a good banana muffin? But then you add chocolate chips, and they are soooo much better. And…
Welcome back to a new year of dinner ideas and weekly meal plans. Check in every week to find 7…
Have you ever gone to a specialty pizza joint and wished you could eat there every day? Well once you…
This week's dinner menu is round 2 of the "Best of 2016". Last week we had some of the recipes that…
At first I thought hot cocoa bars were only something you saw on Pinterest. That real people in real life…
Every year our good friends throw the most amazing fondue party with multiple types of cheese and multiple types of…
One more week and you'll have a full year's worth of dinner menu ideas on here! I hope you've enjoyed…
I remember... Back when I had just the one child, the thought, effort, and vast amount of Pinteresting that took place when…
Have you ever felt a little twinge of guilt when you handed your kid a package of fruit snacks? I…
This is it! The week my kids (well the 5 year old at least) have been waiting for all year!…
Remember when your child started their first year of kindergarten? You're so idealistic about volunteering for this, and getting involved in…
What do you do when you have Fireball and eggnog left over from a party? Make Fireball Spiked Cinnamon Eggnog…
Who says that rum punch has to be reserved as a summer cocktail? I myself have never been one to…
Can you believe there are only 3 more weeks of 2016? I'm working on a new look for the Weekly…
If you're still stuck on what to get your peeps for Christmas this year, here's a gift guide that has…
Let me know if this sounds familiar... Before I made my list and went to the grocery store, I told/warned…
Well, I'm writing October's expense and income report on the last day of November, so I'm going with not quite behind…
This Mushroom and Thyme Bruschetta is another recipe that was a hit at our Wine and Cheese Party. As much as I…
Anyone else feel like they need to eat nothing but salad and veggies all week? Don't get me wrong, I…
This recipe for blue cheese and balsamic topped kettle chips may be the shortest post I ever write, but that's…
Warning, I'm about to tell a sappy story about why I love this week so much. I've always been a…
As I was trying to find something unique, delicious, and easy for this year's Wine and Cheese Party, I stumbled across…
There are few things in life that go better together than wine and cheese. And with so many different types of…
Are you ever just in the right place at the right time? That happened to me last week (luckily for…
It all started six years ago when I found out I was pregnant for the first time. Coming from the…
Once again, I'm out of town for some of the week. Then when I get back I get to go…
Now that it's November, I feel like I can officially start to think about Christmas shopping. In the past I've…
It has now been over a year since I decided to go the Baby Led Weaning (BLW) route with our…
I'm finally home all week this week, so fully intend to have most of what's on this week's dinner menu...…
Not much says fall like the smell of sage wafting out of your kitchen. Then mix it with butternut squash and pancetta,…
We've been able to breathe a little easier lately, but we also find ourselves falling back into the More You Make…
It was a sad day at the grocery store today. I had to buy tomatoes for the first time in…
I originally made these Red Velvet Peppermint Christmas Cookies to be a part of to be a part of Christmas…
Starting this week, I'm going to let you in on a little more of the imperfect reality that we live in here at…
Since this Garlic Chicken Sausage and Broccoli Alfredo is made with chicken sausage and broccoli, I consider this to be "health…
This delicious Apple Spice Sangria is very similar to the 4 Ingredient Cheater Sangria, in that it's ready to drink as soon…
We're going old school with the dinner menu meal planning this week. I busted out real live cookbooks for inspiration.…
Don't tell my mom, but these spicy sweet pickled carrots might be one of my favorite things (remind me to…
October 1st was National Black Dog Day... At least according to one Facebook post I saw, so it must be…
Do you remember the first time you tried a Bahn Mi sandwich? Have you ever had one? I honestly can't…
I absolutely love the savory saltiness of a good Shepherd's Pie. Then one day I was trying to think of…
This Easy Homemade Laundry Detergent post comes from Arden who blogs at Real Food Real Life as well as The Grandma Blog - A…
Every year, we want to plant carrots in our garden. Then every year, we have to figure out what to…
Don't be intimidated by all the seemingly long-titled dinner menu items this week. A lot of times those are actually…
This cheese ball pumpkin is probably the quickest, yet cutest, while tastiest appetizer you could show up with to any…
Okay, we've righted the ship a bit this month. It was a little scary there in July, but we managed to…
I grew up in the south, so you would think I had my own recipe for Shrimp and Grits all…
I'm hoping you all will try this Shrimp and Grits recipe at some point. If not this week, then soon!…
If you're anything like me, you're heart just starts fluttering at the first signs of fall. The weather is perfect,…
My husband and I have had a garden for about the last 10 years. The one consistent item we have…
This week is definitely not about reinventing the wheel. I was out of town much of last week so haven't…
Aaaah, is everyone starting to get back into the fall routine? For some reason right when life gets crazy, that's…
Years ago I made these turkey lettuce wraps - that I stole from my mom of course because many of my great…
One of my most favorite things about having a baby is picking out the nursery decor, aside from all those…
Are you about to send your kid to their first week back to school, while knee deep in tissues and…
Even though it's still summer temps outside, school starting makes it feel like fall is right around the corner. That…
Do you ever have some extra basil lying around, and wonder what you could do with it that would be…
We've got a little of a breakfast-y theme going on this week. Not quite sure how that happened, but it's…
Have you ever felt like your dresser was too cluttered? Or that your necklaces were more like one of those…
Mayday mayday mayday... the ship is going down quickly! Okay, it might not be that bad. But damn it sure…
I was quite pleasantly surprised when I threw this Roasted Corn and Avocado Salsa together for a party, and it…
I feel like I say this every week, but I'm kind of excited about the menu for this week. I…
I sometimes laugh at myself because all my favorite recipes seem to be cheesy, or creamy, or noodly of some…
You know how some weeks you're just really excited for everything you have planned? Well this week is like that…
You can use this same basic recipe with either russet potatoes, or sweet potatoes. A good basic rule of thumb…
I've gotta be honest with you. I don't have the time or energy to reinvent the wheel this week. So…
We've all been there. You stop by Target only needing a couple of essentials. But much like these handy tips…
I've put all the Weekly Dinner Menus in one convenient spot. Just go here and you can easily access 7 nights of dinner…
If you're looking for something different to serve at your next party. Or maybe you're sick of bringing fruit salad…
Okay, I have another confession to make. I have started seeing Target again. It's very casual, not nearly as serious as…
Tacos have to be one of the most versatile, delicious dishes, right up there with nachos. There are so many amazing variations.…
Last week was fun, with the new Delish recipes we tried. I also discovered this Uncured Bacon Jam from Trader Joe's that…
Do you ever wonder how to be more green in your daily life? Are you new to riding on the…
This week I tried to class it up a bit while still keeping it simple. As I mentioned last week,…
A caprese salad can take many forms, but the basic foundation is so quick and easy. We have some variation…
Warning, bring this cheater sangria to your next party, and you will from then on be required to bring it…
I love this dish because it combines the goodness of vegetables with the goodness of Alfredo sauce. And while I'm…
There are now 6 months worth of meal plans on here to help get you out of that dinner rut.…
Do you ever get sick of the sheer amount of STUFF your kids accumulate? And then birthday season rolls around,…
This recipe is full of flavor, extremely easy, while also looking kind of fancy. The toughest part is taking the time…
I don't think I ask this enough, but I would love your feedback on our Weekly Dinner Menus. Have you…
Well, I was worried about this when we did such a good job with our expenses in April. And I…
This is one of those recipes I always forget how easy and delicious it is. Then every time we have…
Do you ever feel stuck in a rut with what to serve for dinner? It feels like I'll serve the…
This is the perfect marinade for beef, pork, chicken, shrimp... pretty much anything you want to grill. It all started…
Once again, I will be out of town for a few days this week so needed some easy meals for…
Warning, this does not fall into the healthy eating category. I tried to convince myself because it had sweet potato…
If you had told me 10 years ago that I would care so much about the nuances of children's extracurricular activities,…
Are you looking for a little something different for dinner tonight? Sometimes combining the simplest of ingredients creates some of…
You know how some weeks you feel like you just nailed dinner every single night? I feel like this is…
Are you always the one that ends up bringing a side salad to the bbq? Or are your parties lacking in…
We love making a more traditional ceviche in which the white fish essentially "cooks" in the acid of some lime…
We're going all Pinterest for this week's dinner menu. Sometimes I get stuck in a rut, making the same things…
In my thirty-something years on this planet, I have discovered a few things that make life a little easier and…
If you've ever wanted to try making your own DIY lip balm at home, this is the recipe for you! Not…
We don't always cook with healthy noodles... but when we do, we're sure to use lots of cheese to make…
I'm headed out of town again for a couple of days this week, so I'm going to make the Whole…
If you've spent any time in the Budgeting section of my blog, you may be wondering how in the world someone like me…
We had a lot of overtime in our house last week. My husband's been working late, which means I stop…
I have always loved artichokes, but until I started cooking them myself I had no idea how finicky they could…
Last month I announced the lofty goal of taking a break from my good friend Target. I'm proud to report…
The first menu item this week is going to be a total experiment. I saw a red wine spaghetti on…
You never want to admit you've become that person. And before you become that person you never think it will happen to you.…
Every January I start to peruse Pinterest for brilliant birthday party ideas for my daughter's April birthday. No, that's not…
There's a secret to this recipe that gives it a great flavor, and even gets the couscous doubters to enjoy…
I have a confession to make. We don't always stick to our meal plans 100%... hence that whole "imperfection" thing.…
When I launched this blog in January of 2016, I had no idea what I was about to enter into.…
I almost feel guilty calling this a recipe. When I make this, almost everything is already chopped and ready to go except…
As usual, everything this week is fairly uninvolved, quick, and easy to make. So much in fact that the baked…
This vegetarian chili is super hearty and filling, and the chipotles add a great smoky flavor. You can adjust how…
My husband definitely has the sweet tooth in the family. Sometimes after dinner he'll just be craving some cookies, so…
We all want to create a better world for future generations, but if something seems too difficult or overwhelming, sometimes…
This weekend I'm going to cook off a couple pounds of chicken in the crockpot to have ready to use…
Every parent, sitter, and caregiver of littles has been there. It only happens a couple times a day outside of…
I love putting unique toppings on my pizza, so much so that my husband rarely wants to eat them. Which…
We have to talk. It's not you, it's me. We've had a good run, but it's time to take a…
Whenever we are getting ready for a camping trip, I start looking for yummy, easy meals to serve. We have…
This week I'm keeping it really simple. I'm not going to lie and say if I can make all this…
I love using this as a side dish to seafood. It goes great with grilled salmon and asparagus, or even…
Today's post is a Flash Fiction written by good friend and amazing author, Phillip Sagardoy. He is a Marine Corps…
The majority if this week's dinner menu comes to you courtesy of my Mom. Yes, the grandparents are coming camping…
I want to start by saying, though I love my kids more than life itself, that I would have a…
We've all heard of the dangers of plastic, and maybe feel a little twinge of guilt every time we give…
\I know, it sounds weird. But there's something really delicious about bread crumbs in pasta. I love the texture it…
We started making our own croutons when I got sick of throwing away stale bread we never finished. Once we…
This is one of those meals I thought I was being all creative when I made it one evening for…
It seems like we've been eating a lot of pork lately. I think that's because it seems to be the…
Figuring out how to camp with babies and kids can certainly seem daunting at first. It doesn't matter if you're…
I've only recently discovered that American Chop Suey is actually an East Coast thing. The first time I made it…
I have to give 100% of the credit to my daughter for inventing the PizzaDilla. At least in our household,…
This amazingly easy coleslaw recipe is our go-to when it comes to any meal requiring coleslaw. Add some fresh lime,…
I have somehow ended up with an insane amount of tortillas in my fridge, so this week I'm attempting to…
You see all kinds of tips these days on how to stay within your grocery budget when going to the store.…
You know the feeling, when you can tell you have a little cold creeping up on you? I personally don't…
If you are expecting to pick up a serious yoga regimen from this post, you may be disappointed. If you…
I'm such a sucker for "themed" food. St. Patrick's Day isn't exactly the lightest of fares, but it sure is…
Have you ever heard of a Frito Pie, or sometimes called a walking taco? It brings me back to my childhood…
My mom over at Real Food Real Life made these avocado hummus chicken wraps for us last year on a camping trip,…
Well I was hoping that with February being a short month, that our expenses would look better with fewer days to…
This week we're trying two of Arden's recipes from Real Food Real Life, they never disappoint. If you're following last week's progress…
Nursing can be the most amazing, bonding experience. It can also be the most frustrating, painful experience. I could make…
Nursing is one of the most controversial decisions you can make as a new parent. The research alone can consume…
I first made this one night when it seemed like we had nothing to eat but scraps of food here…
Here is another amazing recipe from Arden at Real Food Real Life. You'll never know you're eating cauliflower instead of rice: I've…
I'll be out of town for work the second half of next week, so I tried to plan some easier…
Have you ever seen "white whole wheat" in the store and wondered how it was possible? Or are you just…
Every one's heard of the mid-life crisis. If you had a rough patch at all in your twenties, you undoubtedly…
I've had some readers comment that we eat kind of fancy for two working parents that have two kids and don't…
Need to add a new condiment to your repertoire? This sauce is so fresh and versatile, as well as ridiculously…
Every November and December I freak out about how much money seems to be, just... vanishing. Though we don't do…
You know the saying "You have to spend money to make money"? I think it mostly pertains to business and…
If you're anything like us, your first baby was furry and four legged, and not the two legged terrors that…
Last week's menu is a prime example of why I'm an advocate for Baby Led Weaning. After I was recently touting my…
Do you ever get a little twinge of guilt every time you buy yet another plastic kids plate or bowl.…
People are always asking what my secret is to making a delicious homemade Bloody Mary. While there is no "real"…
My husband and I have had a long, twisty relationship with finances. We've gone from not really ever thinking about…
I hope you are using these weekly menus as GUIDES to help you plan your dinners. Much of it is up for…
The key to making amazing nachos is not what you would expect, the secret is... less is more. I learned…
Do you ever feel bad about how many ziploc bags you throw away? These homemade snack bags are the perfect…
If you used last week's menu, and only have two adult eaters and two kiddos, you may have had a…
Just when you feel like you've finally gotten rid of the holiday treats lingering around your house, Valentine's Day shows…
Some of these may seem obvious, but they did not occur to me before a friend told me... and frankly…
If you're anything like me, you will do a LOT of research before going the Baby Led Weaning (BLW) route. When…
This is one of many questions I ask myself as I head off to work every morning. I thought it…
I tried something a bit different this time... instead of designating a menu item to a day of the week,…
This week we're finally starting to get back into the swing of things. Not that I'm going crazy with the…
I had such idealistic visions of making all my baby food from scratch, using only the best organic ingredients for…
Ah, the first week of the year. I'm so glad our family makes no pretense of changing our habits for…
Why is it that we can only barely manage to get by on our salary no matter what it is?…