I can’t stop eating french macarons. It’s like a little miniature hug for my tongue. And the top of my list is is these Tiramisu Macarons. And that little crisp snap as the top pops apart? Best little moment of my tiny cookie hug. Seriously. What get’s better than that?! Well, I guess, what could …

I love my kids, but sometimes they are…well, kids. They make messes and tear things up and totally don’t understand “rules” some days. Other days, though, they’re like little magical unicorns of perfect-ness that I just want to snuggle and cuddle and call them George. But, any day, they are kids and I LOVE indulging …

Let me start by saying that I LOVE coming up with creative ways to get my kids to eat veggies. It’s like a diabolical plot to rule the world. Only, just my world. So, not super diabolical. Just a little diabolical. One of my favorite ways to trick them into eating veggies is these Magical …

There’s a new restaurant in town that just opened and, having sampled their amazing wares now, obviously, I’m reminded that not everyone knows what they need to know about eating ramen soup. So, here’s my non-nonsense tutorial for anyone who, well, doesn’t know. Ramen Soup is a two-fisted style of eating. Look, we evolved with …

You only get so many minutes sometimes to make a meal. I’ve decided to spend them very wisely and make this Insanely Easy Oyster Mushroom Ramen Soup that is divine. I hate when you have to rush out the door and you really don’t have time to cook. Makes me really sad on days like …

I’m going to be honest, there’s a bit of magic that happens somewhere between mixing broth, noodles and a handful of spices to make this amazing Tricked-Out Spicy Miso Beef Ramen Noodle Soup. Not kidding, I’m a little in love with making this Tricked-Out Spicy Beef Ramen Noodle Soup. But don’t be jealous. Just get …

We all know we’re having a big glass of Blue Bantha milk when we hit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney World, but what else are we going to gnosh on while we wait in line for the Millennium Falcon ride? Dude. So. Much. Awesome. I mean, I get it that the Blue Bantha Milk …

Using the word “obsessed” doesn’t come close to perfectly describing the love and undying devotion I have for these absolutely wonderful Strawberry Chocolate Macaron Cookies. I mean, who wouldn’t be obsessed with these Strawberry Chocolate Macaron Cookies? They’re crunchy, soft, filled with just a liiiiiitle bit of chocolate ganache (which I just love to say …

Looking for a way to add a little zip to your dip? Raspberry + Jalapeno = Delicious.  This mixture has a uniquely tangy and spicy flavor that just grows on you (be careful–this taste experience can be habit forming)! We use rasberry jalapeno dip as a salad dressing and as a dip for fresh veggies. In fact, …

First, let me be clear, this Game of Thrones Dog Bed is already on it’s way to my house. I don’t even watch Game of Thrones (see my reasoning here–but know it’s mostly because of the dogs), but I know that this is the cutest freaking thing. No really. EVER. Now, one might point out …

Take my nerd card now and shred it. I’m probably never going to see Game of Thrones. But the thing is, I know all the memes. And all the little jokes. I get that it’s a great show that LOADS of people love. Really, I get it. The problem is that it’s not on Netflix. …

I made a second batch of french macaron cookies after I finished the batch of Bubblegum Macarons earlier. And now I’m diving into these Cotton Candy Macarons with gusto. OY! It’s like the addiction of the tiny cookies! OH NO! Someone do a Will Smith movie about it. No, seriously, someone cover Will Smith in …

Dude. When I decided to go down the path of making French Macaron Cookies, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I feel like such a dummy because, seriously, I could have been making these MY WHOLE LIFE and they would have been amazing. Like little hugs for your tongue you can …

I’ve been excited to check out Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge since it was announced. See, I’m a die-hard Star Wars fan that admits that while I, II and III sucked, they would have been awesome if we hadn’t grown-up on the amazingness that was New Hope, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. And …

A couple of months ago, this ridiculous photo came out that has left me with a burr up my butt regarding the comments made about the actress, Brie Larson, that’s playing Captain Marvel in the movie Captain Marvel coming out next weekend. And I just can’t move past the trolls. For real. It’s like this …

The idea of bringing home a baby only like 24-48 hours after she’s introduced to the world made me panic for weeks before she was due. That’s just like 2 days (at most) of nurses helping me! Babies don’t come with a manual, but they really should. Since I’ve done this a couple of times …

Having a baby is such an exciting time–and you want to do EVERYTHING perfect…or at least I do…can’t really speak for you. So, before I do anything (and I mean ANYTHING–even clean house or treat allergies), I try to do some research. And since this is my second pregnancy, I’ve identified my favorite Pregnancy-Safe Essential …

Bonding with your newborn is so very important, but between breastfeeding, pumping, recovering from labor and real life (like doing the dishes), it can be hard to find time and energy to breathe, much less “bond”. I’m a huge proponent of structure in everyone’s life and all that, but you know, things get in the way. …

I am not a cool person. Never have been. I sat with the misfits at lunch in high school and even played make-believe in the playground rather than cheerleader when I was in grade school. I’m a nerd, straight-up, and I’ve been happy with that most of my life. But things have changed–I have kids now. …

Let me be very honest, just about the first time I’d ever held a baby–a real infant, was when my first daughter was born. They thrust this tiny crying, red, wrinkly, adorable, little, swaddled package at me and I thought, “Oh no!” Well, I thought something very much along those lines. I was so panicked beforehand …

Your first baby will always be your first baby. You spoil them rotten, you love on them constantly. And if you’re me, you even let them sleep in the bed with you because you’re just too heartbroken to listen to them cry themselves to sleep that first time. But when my toddler is jealous of …

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Huggies for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. Being a new mom really wrecks your brain. Every time I leave the store lately, I’m forgetting something (today, it was diapers! eek!). No matter that I made a list before I left the house or …

When you’ve had a baby, a lot has changed. I mean, you’ve been off work for 3, 4 or even 6 weeks (LOVE the 6-weeks off!) and, hopefully, you didn’t even have to wear make-up once during that entire mini-baby-cation. But, chances are, you need to Refresh Your Look to Go Back to Work After Baby. …

I love taking old, unusable items and giving them a new life. It’s all part of being green and helping keep things out of the landfill that don’t really need to be there. Today, I decided to Turn an Old Shirt into a Toddler Skirt as a fun upcycling project. Now, for those of you who …

While I love the whole baby-as-a-veggie or fairy or whatever, that’s just not my style. I mean, if a onesie is cheeky and makes some smart remark about the pending bad behavior of my infant, I’m much more likely to pull it out of the pile of onsies–ignoring dozens of cute flowered ones. So, I …

Having a baby is a truly traumatic event. Not only does your life change over night with the whole addition of a new life in your life, but your body has just undergone a massive change. If you’re anything like me, you just want everything to be perfect–including the ability to run a marathon, if …

I don’t have many scary things that happen in my life–I’m like the most vanilla person ever. Excitement for me is just fun stuff, never frightening. Until I was on the verge of bringing a baby into the world. My entire pregnancy experience (both times) was a horrible roller coaster. But the worst, the climax …

I don’t really go-in for gender reveal parties. For me, what seems to work best is the “surprise the special people in your life over dinner” gender-revealing method. This works for spouses, grandmas and grandpas, best friends or pretty much anyone. No matter who it is, Celebrating a Gender Reveal Over Dinner is so easy–no …

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Simply Potatoes for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. I like to cook for my family, but not because I just enjoy toiling for an hour over difficult-to-prepare meals. No, like most moms, I like to cook so we can enjoy a meal together, …

Getting kids curious about the foods they eat and how they are prepared is so important for building good eating habits. The easiest way to teach kiddos about gluten free foods or other types of ingredients is to let them experiment. So, we experimented and came up with this awesome recipe for Gluten Free Chili-Mac …

Like any new mom, I had no idea what I was really getting into when I had my first baby. I seriously thought the hard part would be all the diaper changes. Right. There’s too much I’ve Learned as a Toddler’s Mom to even cram in a lifetime. But somehow, its happening! Eep! The best part …

There are few things I’ve heard more in the last year of being my baby’s mommy than “don’t spoil the baby.” I’m not sure I really understand the statement. If there’s anything I can say about the last year, it’s that I spoiled my baby and I’m proud of it. When my first baby came …

There’s a lot of “firsts” when it comes to having a baby. And a TON of those firsts are scary. But if you’re prepared, it can make it a little less stressful for you and for baby. One “first” I’m totally prepared for with the newest addition (coming this April!) is Baby’s First Fever. I …

This year, I turn 35 and I’ll be adding kiddo #3 to the brood. But I don’t FEEL 35 and there’s no way I want to look older than I feel just because there’s a little stress in my life! I’m busting out of the aging-trap with these 10 Ways to NOT Look 35 and Mommy-Stressed. …

Sometimes, raising a tween boy is ridiculously hard. Lately, I’m feeling like he and I are stuck in the middle together between so many polar-opposites that we might never find our way out! No one said that things with my son would be easy, but they NEVER EVER told me how hard it might . …

I was gazing distractedly at my super-complicated, definitely over-done budget and finally threw my hands up in the air! I don’t need ninety-four different ways to look at it…I just need to set up a budget and stick to it. That’s why I put together this Free Printable Quick Monthly Budget Planner…with some monsters, for …

Here’s the thing. It’s not that tweens (boys in particular) don’t want to talk. They just don’t know how. Their brains are still developing and they just need to be taught how to open-up. To get you thinking, here’s 10 ways to Talk with a Tween Boy that will TOTALLY work, if you give them …

I’m totally into exotic meals right now…I’m craving a vacation and since the budget doesn’t allow, I guess I’m making-up for it by coming-up with exotic dinners from far away places. It’s kind of a fun game and to keep the charade up, I made some Free Printable Vintage Postcard Recipe Cards. I’m totally in …

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Nutrisystem for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. I have little or no patience when it comes to losing weight and being healthier. It can be like the worst thing EVER if it’s a drag. But I’m not messing around this year with un-fun, …

I’m a huge fan of the Frosty. There’s nothing like it I’ve ever found–not quite a shake and not quite a drink…it’s unique and awesome. But I’m horribly allergic to dairy…it’s a massive tragedy. Plus, to compound my conundrum, I’m pregnant and craving a Frosty like nobody’s business. Enter the Allergy-Friendly Mock Frosty…oh, thank goodness! …

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #OREOCookieBalls #CollectiveBias We’re getting ready for the Big Game (even though our favorite team lost out on the second round of elimination) and I’ve decided, for a delicious treat, we’re going to have Spicy Pepper OREO Cookie Balls! We …

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Wrigley Jr. Company for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. The hardest thing for me about the idea of losing weight is the idea of it being “tough” or “hard”. It totally doesn’t have to be–that’s why I’ve decided to Make Losing Weight Fun! …

I love a good pancake, but it’s all early in the morning, when we’re supposed to be lazy and having fun! So, I’ve broken the recipe down over the years to be just 2 simple ingredients, so I can have more fun decorating with my kiddo. Onward with the 2-Ingredient Pancakes… Because I was SOOOO …

This post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are that of Totally the Bomb. #GoldfishMix #CollectiveBias Since school has started back after the holidays, I’m in need of some fun, easy snacks. And my daughter came up with a fantastic snack idea that’s both easy, nutritious, and fun–Goldfish cracker Pizza! It’s such …

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DropShopAndOil #CollectiveBias I feel like a multitasking Maven today. For reals. Normally, I’m so easily derailed it’s not even funny. But today–in 30-Minutes, I was able to accomplish 15-Super Critical Tasks! It was a Multitasking Marathon! There I was, trying …

Kids really enjoy the idea of the New Year. And it’s also a great way to celebrate the ending of one thing and the beginning of a new. (Which is why we love this free new year printable.) It’s also a great way to get little kids thinking (and talking) about their past year, as …

My son’s violence was ruling our lives. We’d beg him to stop, asking him what he needed so we could help him…nothing worked. But recently, in a family therapy session, he said something that made me ask the question: Is My Son’s Violence Just a Cry for Help?! My son left us with little choice. …

When Disney Planes approached me and asked if I could put together a tutorial for a plane-themed holiday activity for my kiddo, I couldn’t resist the idea! So, I put an idea in action and built a DIY Cardboard Box Bi-Plane {from 1 Box}! Special thanks for sponsoring this post goes to: #PlanesToTheRescue and #CollectiveBias! I …

Every time I got the cell phone bill, I was cringing–or those stupid texts saying “such-and-such number has gone over the data limit”. I mean, really, how many times did I yell at my kid for going over her limit?! No more, I say! No more! Now, I’m Keeping the Kid’s Phone Costs Low with …

There’s nothing more frustrating and simply daunting than the idea that you might not be able to conceive as easily as your mom or friends or cousins, or whomever…You feel left out and kind of like a giant failure. I know, I’ve totally been there, got the tattoo and moved on with my life. But …

I love the holidays…all the fabulous holiday recipes that only get used once a year…But this is totally my favorite. Unique, easy, and crazy-good, I love this In-the-Peel Banana Split Holiday Recipe. Special thanks goes to #HolidayMadeSimple and #CollectiveBias for sponsoring this post. This is a pretty simple recipe (hence me calling it “easy”). I like to …

So, my tween may not enjoy an opera and a fine steak-dinner–he’s still too young for that. And he’s not really into spending days on end during a school break just watching movies while I make ham sandwiches for lunch–he’s too old for that. Tweens are in that funky between-state where nothing quite fits for …

I had no idea how crazy-messy my life had gotten. Like really, why did I have like fifteen cords running around my desk and three sets of speakers in my office and kitchen?  Every evening, that would stress me out…Not to even mention the fifty-four times I had to holler for my daughter to come to dinner! …

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bosch for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. Regardless of the fact that I’m soooo not a construction professional, somehow I always find myself doing some crazy home improvement project. Last month it was tiling the living room, this week its The Pallet Wall…A …

There’s nothing I hate worse than sneezing. (Ok, I’ll be honest, that annoying noise that Jim Carey makes in Dumb and Dumber is worse than sneezing…sorry–but it’s the only thing!) And, for whatever reason, every change of the season, I get all sniffly, snuffly and sneezy. It’s horrible. Except when I’m preggers–then it’s horrible to …

Let’s be honest, here. I’m new to this whole being a baby-momma and I had a preconceived notion (gasp!) about how I would be as a parent to my precious bundle of joy. It seems though I was wrong on every count of these Things I Swore I’d Never Do With My Baby. Yeah, I …