Ava:

"Mom! I'm hungry!" 

"Mom, can we have a snack?"

Charlotte:

"Snacky, Snacky!"

"My tummy is growling, can I have a...SNACK?"

Do your kids sound like mine? They are serial snackers and would prefer to snack all day instead of sitting for an actual meal. It drives me a bit looney. And, I get it, I like to snack too but I feel the snacking can get a bit out and hand at times and I'd rather fuel them with good, nutritious, and wholesome foods. So below I'm going to list a few of our "junk food" or "snack food" hacks and alternatives. And for the sake of full disclosure here there are times that junk foods sneak through, it's all about the balance right? ha ha! These are mostly healthy kid’s snack substitutions but they work well for the whole family and I threw in my favorite snack alternative at the end {the one I break out when my little dragons angels are in bed for the night}. 

1. Cheese Crackers

[ Homemade Cheese Crisps instead of Cheez Its ]

We were having dinner at a friends house one evening and they had these awesome cheese crisps sitting out on the table, they were homemade and delicious! The girls and Aaron went nuts over them. I asked her what her secret was and she shared her recipe with me. They are a great alternative to cheez its which my kids love, and not going to lie so, do I...

They. can. be. so. addicting. Am I right?! But, here's a healthier alternative to try:

Homemade Cheese Crisps 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line baking sheet with unbleached parchment paper. Add cheese slices leaving about 1/2 inch between. I slice down cheddar from our milk co-op. Bake them for 10-12 minutes or until browned. Using a paper towel, dab each cheese slice to absorb the oil. Leaving cheese on parchment paper, transfer to wire rack to cool. Will crisp once completely cool. Enjoy!

2. Snack Bars

[ Clif Kid Z Bars instead of Chewy Bars ]

These Clif Kid bars have almost zero cons, they taste great...I even like them better than the regular Clif bars. They are a filling snack option or when paired with fruit and milk can be a decent fast breakfast for on-the-go mornings. They come several different flavors; S’mores, Chocolate Chip, Iced Oatmeal Cookie, Iced Lemon Cookie and Chocolate Brownie (my girl's favorite). They are a tad pricey but I watch for sales at my local store and then grab a couple boxes but a better way to get a deal on these is to buy them in bulk. You can buy an 18 count box off of Amazon for around $11.11-$11.96. That makes the bars about .61-.66 cents per bar. They have 3g of fiber and I don't feel guilty handing these over to them. 

3. Popsicles

[ Homemade Ice Pops instead of Store Bought Popsicles ]

 I don't always make homemade popsicles for the girls, if I don't have the time I will buy the Outshine brand, they have a fruit and veggie kids line. Also, I'm obsessed with their watermelon pops that are new for the season. You can find my favorite pop maker's here and here, this is what I use when I whip up a batch of freezer pops. Below are also two recipes we like, one suitable for the family and one thats adult only! Did someone say, boozy pops!?

[For the family]

Watermelon Lime Pops

Ingredients:

1/2 cup coconut water

1/3 cup lime juice

3 tablespoons honey or agave 

4 cups cubed seedless watermelon

Directions:

Place coconut water, lime juice, and honey in a blender and mix to combine.

Place the watermelon into the syrup. Blend until smooth.

Carefully fill popsicle molds and insert sticks. Freeze until firm.

[For adults]

Champagne and Fruit Pops

Ingredients:

3/4 cup Barefoot Bubbly Berry Fusion

3/4 cup Barefoot Bubbly Extra Dry Champagne

8-10 oz of mixed berries, apples and pomegranate arils

Directions:

Fill half of popsicles wells half way up with Barefoot Bubbly Berry Fusion and the other popsicles wells half way up with Bubbly Extra Dry Champagne. Layer each well with a variety of fruit. Cover top of popsicle mold with foil. Create a hole in the center of each well just large enough to insert a popsicle stick; insert popsicle stick. Transfer to freezer and chill until frozen solid, about 2-4 hours (time may vary according to freezer type and how full it is).

4. Mac & Cheese

[ Butternut Squash Mac instead of Kraft ]

I grew up loving Kraft mac and cheese, and I won't lie I do make it occasionally for the girls if I'm in a rush or not feeling overly ambitious (I do throw in some peas to make myself feel better about serving it). A few months ago I found this recipe and alternative for a healthier mac and cheese, I made it and every single person in this house loved it! The secret weapon in this recipe? Butternut Squash! Try it, I promise you will not regret it. 

1 and ½ cups macaroni noodles, uncooked

3-4 cups cubed butternut squash, peeled and de-seeded

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

½ cup vegetable broth

¾ cup milk

1 and ¼ cup sharp cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper

1 teaspoon paprika

Optional: fresh parsley

Cook the macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.

Heat the butter in a skillet over medium low heat.

Meanwhile, peel the butternut squash and remove the seeds. Cut into large chunks. (or buy pre-cut or frozen butternut squash)

Boil the squash until completely tender and then drain. Place the squash in the blender with the butter, lots of salt, pepper, broth, paprika, and milk.

Pulse until smooth.

Pour the sauce over the cooked noodles and add the cheese. Stir until melted.

Add more salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with parsley if desired.

5. Ice cream

[ Halo Top instead of Ben & Jerry's ]

I love ice cream, support those dairy farmers! (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) Ben & Jerry's has always been my favorite, from Phish Food to Strawberry Cheesecake but after seeing Halo Top and their cute little pint's in the grocery store freezer section (marketing is everything) I decided to give into the hype and try this low-calorie, high-protein "healthy" ice cream. The first one I bought was the Birthday Cake. I devoured it in minutes and was amazed at how much it tasted like traditional ice cream. Afterward, I decided to check up on the brand and see if it really is a healthy as the company claims and there really is no contest, this brand is currently blowing all of the other ice cream brands out of the water in almost every important nutritional category. Birthday Cake & Red velvet are my current favorites but I'm looking to try more of their flavors including the Oatmeal Cookie! 

Happy Friday!

xo- Tiffany

Well, it's Wednesday morning again...The weekend went way too fast as well as the first part of the week. Tomorrow is the last day of swim lessons for the girls and I'm actually really sad to see it end because they have enjoyed it so, so much. Ava was bumped up to level two after the first three days and Charlotte is finally going under water and completing her skills sets for level one. As I sit here I quickly close my eyes {for a nano second} while sipping on this 'cuppa' mint tea and start mentally preparing myself for the day, I usually wake up a tad more refreshed but I was up at 3 am this morning dealing with the aftermath of Naomi trying prunes for the first time {will I ever learn my lesson with babies trying that particular food? ha!} Ava usually keeps me stepping in the morning, constantly reminding me that we can't be late for lessons and she's in her suit about two hours before we even have the leave; I truly hope she acts the same way when it comes to kindergarten this fall. One of my favorite summer memories as a kid was going to morning swim lessons and then getting to go off the diving board at the end of the second week, needless to say, both of these girls are so excited to do that on Thursday. I told the girls I would make a special dessert to celebrate the end of swim lessons if they try and complete all of the skills needed for their level. Charlotte's last skill to complete is the task of 'diving for rings', fingers crossed that she finally tries it. The recipe I'm going to make is one that I've shared before on here but it's a favorite in our house, even my non-dessert loving husband will eat this {and go back for seconds}..

No-Bake Strawberry Icebox Cake

Ingredients:

Directions:

Happy FriYAY!
Today I'm sharing 'my' favorite summer essentials but since I have more than just 5 favorite summer items I'm going to be splitting this into two separtate posts. Next week I'll share my five other favorite summer essentials.

Enjoy!

[1.]

What can I say about these flip flops except they're, AMAZING? Seriously, after I tried these I threw away every single old navy flip that I had and never, ever looked back. They are comfortable enough that I can spend an entire day in them, like an entire day in them walking around a place like Disney World. That's a successful flip-flop, my friend. My favorite colors for this summer are the Rose Gold & Mint. 

[2.]

'Less is best' when it comes to my summer makeup routine but the one thing I can not leave the house without is some sort of under-eye correction. I mean, with three kids ages five and under it's not always easy to look naturally refreshed so mama usually needs some help. So until I find that rockstar eye cream that erases time and makes me look like I get a solid 9 hours of sleep a night dreaming of unicorns and puppies, I'll be using this. The BIG plus with this specific eye corrector compared to its competitors is the consistency isn't smooth, not cakey and it doesn't make me look like a feral raccoon.

[3.]

Ocean Salt from Lush
This is my all time favorite scrub! Head to toe, it will make you glow. Catchy right? I should have gone into jingles as a profession. But honestly, it smells like heaven which I imagine smells like, the beach. It brightens skin and leaves it feeling silky soft.

[4.]


Bikini Bag
This wet bag is the most adorable thing I've seen all summer. I've gotten so many compliments on it and it was perfect for our first week of swim classes since Charlotte hates to stay in her wet suit once she's out of the pool.

[5.]


AEO Tomgirl Short
These shorts are HOT this summer, the site has restocked them not once but twice this season because of their high demand.. and for this last restock they came back 'on sale' for less than $20. Seriously, go gobble up a pair before they are gone forever!


Tune in next friday for some more of 'my' favorites!

In a world where drive-thru hamburger joints and $1 pizza slices outnumber farmers markets and grocery stores, eating healthy can be a challenge. Even when you make up your mind to resist deep-fried temptation and go for a salad, you too often end up in sticker-shock. Trust me, I know how this goes — I’ve been that person in shock at checkout. A small bag of jerky shouldn’t cost 7 times the cost of french fries – and luckily I’ve discovered a new online marketplace that combats this trend. Thrive Market, a recently launched website, sells the wholesome, healthy food I love at wholesale prices everyone can afford.

The company’s merchandising team works directly with brands to purchase natural, healthy foods and products at wholesale prices. These prices are typically 25 to 50 percent lower than what the same products sell for in brick and mortar stores, and even traditional online retailers. I know I’ve found some amazing deals on Thrive Market — like this Nutiva coconut oil that I saved more than $6 on! Instead of adding on the typical retail markup, Thrive Marketpasses the savings on to their customers. All of the products Thrive Market offers are sold at true wholesale prices. They’re really looking out for the average shopper! 

These products aren’t subpar or knockoff brands, either — Thrive Market carries many of the same brands I shop for at the natural foods store in my neighborhood. You can find products to fit your needs on the site and they have a robust Paleo and grain-free section, to boot.The site includes the option to “shop by” specific dietary needs and certifications. You can filter the catalog by values including certified organic, hypoallergenic, raw and many more. Thrive Market offers something for anyone and everyone who want to eat healthier and live well.Thrive has a really nice, curated mix of products to choose from that are the best-in-class of organic, vegan, raw, paleo and gluten free. However you like to shop, you can find exactly what you’re looking for.

Like Costco or other warehouse clubs, Thrive Market is membership based.  Thrive members purchase a membership for $59.95 per year. That’s just $5 per month, if you break it down. With a Thrive Market membership comes access to more than 3,000 of the top organic, healthy products. You can simply browse the website, fill your cart with whatever products you like, and have your order shipped directly to your home.If the membership fee seems like a big commitment, never fear: Everyone can try out Thrive Market with a free one-month trial before you start paying the annual fee. This membership model is a key part of the business model. 

There’s strength in numbers — in other words, Thrive Market’s buying power, and the ability to get great deals, increases as membership increases.But your Thrive Market membership fee has an even more important function. For every paying member who joins, Thrive Market will donate one free membership to a family in need. This social mission fits into Thrive Market’s larger goal — making healthy food accessible for everyone.

Low-income families are most likely to eat unhealthy diets and suffer the longterm health consequences of those choices. Thrive Market is on a mission to make access to healthier choices  easier — especially for those that have very little discretionary income, and are often forced to buy the cheapest food that isn’t always the most nutritious. I would much rather support a socially conscious company than an enormous corporation.

Not convinced yet? Just check out the Thrive Market website. You’ll be amazed at how quickly the savings add up — I know I was! Join the Thrive Market community, and you will be back on track to meet your healthy goals in no time!

xo- Tiffany

Oh, sweet Charlotte, my second born baby girl, my soul sister and moon child. 

 She has a heart of gold; which she gets from her dad of that I'm sure. She's shy, sweet, easily hurt but very quick to forgive. If you get her giggling she has this belly laugh that resonates throughout her entire body, it's intoxicating; in fact, I wish I could bottle it the sound and keep it forever. She's overprotective of all us all, especially her sisters. She's my animal lover and most likely a future cat lady. She's a true moon child, little crazy and emotional. She's super intuitive and has an uncanny ability to sense the feelings of those around her. She does not like nicknames; at all, she is Charlotte and nothing else. She prefers the comforts of home and there is nothing that, popcorn, a quick hug, or a Cinderella band-aid can't cure.

Watermelon Mojito Fruit Salad

4 cups chopped watermelon

1lb strawberries, chopped

6oz raspberries

6oz blueberries

1/4 cup packed mint, chopped 

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

3 Tablespoons powdered sugar

Add watermelon, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and mint in a large bowl. Stir together lime juice and powdered sugar in a small bowl then pour over fruit and berries. Gently toss with a spatula then let sit in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow the natural juices in the fruit to start coming out.

[adapted from Iowa Girl eats]

Secondly, I love angel food cake! It's so light and fluffy. I pinned a recipe so I can try and make it myself but for the time being I've been just picking one up from our local bakery when I need it. This recipe is also bright and full of flavor and you can turn it into a Fourth of July dessert by adding red and blue berries. I had strawberries and blueberries on hand and a couple frozen local black raspberries from two weeks ago. Everyone went nuts over this cake! 

Angel Lush with Pineapple Whip & Berries

1- 20 oz can Crushed Pineapple, undrained

1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) instant vanilla pudding

1 cup thawed whipped topping

1 round angel food cake, cut into 3 layers

 as desired seasonal berries

Mix pineapple and dry pudding mix in medium bowl. 

Gently stir in whipped topping.

Stack cake layers on plate, spreading pudding mixture between layers and on top of cake.

Refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to serve. 

Garnish with your favorite seasonal berries.

[adapted from Dole]

Have a happy, safe & delicious 4th of July everyone!