Multipurpose Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce (That everyone needs in their arsenal)

I strongly believe that everyone needs a kick-butt spaghetti sauce recipe in their cooking arsenal. I can distinctly remember my aunt’s sauce simmering on the stove whenever my family would arrive in town to stay with her as a kid. Clutch move, as we all got hungry at different times and that sauce just bubbled away until we were ready to eat.  My olde[...]

Saturday Morning Full Body Workout

Posted In: Fitness
Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I had the chance to participate in one of my favorite weekends of the year at REINS. (For those of you that don't know, REINS is the non-profit therapeutic horseback riding program where I work.) We put on our annual "Fun Day Horse Show" where our students had the opportunity to show off everything that t[...]

Coconut Crusted Shrimp

Posted In: Recipes | Seafood
In case you haven't noticed, I am big on quick, easy, and simple weeknight meals. As much as I love cooking, after a full day of work I usually just don't have a whole lot of energy left to spend in the kitchen! There is a time and place for creativity, effort, and lengthy ingredient lists, but that is not after a long day at work! The good news is that GRE[...]

Our Kitchen Makeover

Posted In: Lifestyle
Last spring, Travis and I bought our first house. We were so excited, and so naive. Turns out home ownership is no joke, but so far so good. While we were looking, Travis was VERY particular about the integrity of the home (you know, structural stuff, roofing, plumbing, electrical...boooring.) My focus was on the potential for a beautiful kitchen, of cour[...]

Weeknight Chicken Piccata

Posted In: Chicken & Turkey | Recipes
Buttery chicken simmers in a delicious lemon caper sauce that will rock your world! This recipe can be Whole 30 and Paleo compliant, while tasting like you are dining at a fancy Italian restaurant. I think the world could always use more chicken recipes. I tend to get in a little bit of a rut with chicken and have a hard time coming up with different[...]

Tips for Successful Meal Planning

Posted In: Lifestyle
I think that Mondays really set the tone for the rest of the week. I am definitely more relaxed on the weekend in terms of food choices, and if I let it carry over to Monday, it seems to snowball throughout the whole week. So, I do my best to clean up my diet and get a healthy start. I love the motto "Never miss a Monday" when it comes to working out. T[...]

Our Weekend in Snapshots

Posted In: Lifestyle | Travel
Happy Monday! I am that obnoxious type of person that actually quite likes Mondays. It might have something to do with the fact that I am off work, but just I'll roll with it. As I mentioned Friday, we had Travis's Mom, Dad, and niece and nephew in town for the weekend. They were very busy and I think they had a blast! Here's Our Weekend in Snapshots! Th[...]

Perfect Paleo Banana Bread

Posted In: Recipes | Sweets/Desserts
We have kids in our house! Human kids, not just the K-9 type. Travis's niece and nephew are visiting from Tucson for the weekend, along with his parents. We have been looking forward to seeing them, and since feeding people is my love language, I have been brainstorming kid-friendly meal ideas. On the menu is: Taco night, make your own pizza night, as well a[...]

6 Tips to Help You Stick to a Workout Routine

Posted In: Fitness | Lifestyle
Exercise is a huge part of my life. For me, working out is an essential part of a cycle that leads to greater health and overall happiness ---> I eat foods that nourish my body so that I can be stronger in my workouts...I am able to "hang" during the toughest of workouts because those foods fuel my body. I am a better, stronger person both mentally and ph[...]

Chocolate Chip Date and Nut Bites

Posted In: Recipes | Sweets/Desserts
Chocolate Chip Date and Nut Bites contain only 4 ingredients, making them a quick, easy, and yummy snack or treat! A good friend of ours is just about ready to pop with her second child. She informed me that, apparently, eating 6 dates a day during the end of your pregnancy will lead to an smoother and faster labor. I am all for natural remedies and w[...]