Watermelon Mojito Ice Pops

Inspired by a favorite summertime cocktail, these Watermelon Mojito Ice Pops will make the perfect adults-only poolside treat or a refreshing ending to a backyard BBQ...

Who says popsicles are just for the kiddos? ;) Not this mama! In fact, one of my favorite adults only treats to make during the hot summer months are boozy ice pops. It is so much fun to transform a favorite fruity cocktail into a frosty treat perfect for beating the heat with.

Some of you all may remember my Peach Shinesicles from a couple of summers ago. Those ice pops combined juicy peaches with my favorite peach flavored liqueur. These refreshing Watermelon Mojito Ice Pops happen to be inspired by one of my all-time favorite summertime cocktails- mojitos! 

I combined fresh watermelon with mint, tart lime, & rum to make these mojito inspired popsicles. They will make the perfect poolside treat or a refreshing ending to a backyard BBQ...

4 Fun Things to Do in Delaware County, Ohio for Animal & Nature Lovers

From kayaking to hands-on farms & nature preserves, Delaware County is definitely a must-visit in Ohio for animal & nature lovers...

This post was created in partnership with Destination Delaware County Ohio. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Located less than an hour north of Columbus is the quaint town of Delaware, Ohio. Having been a Columbus resident for almost 8 years, I must admit that Delaware County was not an area I explored much when I lived in the area. And boy, had I been missing out, you all!

From a growing local foods & brewery scene to a historic downtown filled with small town charm & plenty of shopping, the city of Delaware has grown quite a bit in the past decade. But perhaps what I was most impressed by was just how much there is to do in the county for outdoors & nature lovers like myself & my kiddos. From kayaking to hands-on farms & nature preserves, Delaware County is definitely a must-visit in Ohio for animal & nature lovers.

While we didn't get to explore everything that Delaware County had to offer in our 3 day stay, we did get to experience 4 of the best things to do in the area if you happen to be the outdoorsy type. Whether you & your family love animals, or are into gardening, or love to hike, this county in Ohio needs to be on your family travel list this summer...

Strawberry-White Beet Green Smoothie

Packed with vitamins, nutrients, & antioxidants, this thick & creamy Strawberry-White Beet Green Smoothie is the perfect way to get in those leafy greens...

This recipe first appeared on the Bridgeport Farmers Market Let's Get Fresh site.

I am on a mission once again this outdoor farmers market season to show you all how you can create a delicious recipe purchasing mostly locally grown & raised produce and meats at your local farmers market. I started this locally inspired recipe series in the summer of 2017, and I am thrilled to be continuing the series this year as well. Each month I will be sharing a recipe here to the blog inspired by and featuring some of my own personal favorite fresh & local finds from my local market. 

For the month of June, I am sharing the recipe for this vitamin & nutrient packed Strawberry-White Beet Green Smoothie. Since I started on my journey to a healthier lifestyle a few months ago, smoothies- especially green smoothies - have become an integral part of my diet. I start out most days with a creamy smoothie blended with lots of the good stuff- frozen fruit, leafy greens, green tea, & chia seeds. 

3 Easy Dessert "Pizza" Muffins

With 3 different topping combinations to choose from, these Easy Dessert "Pizza" Muffins are the perfect no-bake treat for summertime...

This post is sponsored by Thomas' English Muffins & Megaphone. All opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

Who else happens to be a fan of no-bake recipes for those hot summer days? When the temperatures rise & the humidity is on, the last thing I want to do is turn on my oven to whip up a sweet treat for myself & the kiddos. That's why when Thomas' English Muffins asked me to come up with a perfect for summertime recipe that went beyond the breakfast table, I knew I wanted to create a dessert recipe that was simple & easy and required no baking time whatsoever.

I stopped in at my local Walmart & picked up everything that I would need to make these Easy Dessert "Pizza" Muffins, including my favorite Thomas' Light Multigrain English Muffins. These dessert "pizzas" go from toaster to table in just 20 minutes! Plus with 3 varieties to choose from & make, there is sure to be a perfect dessert muffin for each member of your family.

Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt Bagels

You only need 2 ingredients & about 40 minutes to bake up a batch of these easy to make, protein-packed Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt Bagels...

This dairy packed recipe was created in partnership with the ADA Mideast. As always, all thoughts & opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

Since I have been on a kick lately to eat healthier, I have made it one of my goals to incorporate more low fat Greek yogurt into my cooking & baking. Not only it is one of my favorite ways to lighten up some of my go-to recipes, but Greek yogurt also happens to be high in protein (aka, keeps me feeling fuller for longer) & packs a nutritional punch with dairy's 9 essential nutrients. (CLICK HERE to check out some of the differences between Greek yogurt & regular yogurt.)

Since I love using Greek yogurt in my baking, I decided to give the latest foodie trend a go- making soft & fluffy bagels using only two ingredients, self-rising flour & protein-packed Greek yogurt! Yes, I was a little skeptical myself at first. But after baking up a batch of these Mixed Berry Greek Yogurt Bagels, I am definitely a believer now...

Spring Veggie "Pizza" Muffins

Topped with cream cheese & roasted seasonal vegetables, these easy to make Spring Veggie "Pizza" Muffins come together in just 30 minutes...

This post is sponsored by Thomas' English Muffins & Megaphone. All opinions expressed below are 100% my own.

Thomas' English Muffins have been a part of my family's breakfast table for years now. We serve them with butter alongside eggs and bacon. Sometimes I toast them up & serve them with various jams or jellies on the side. And we all know that Thomas English Muffins make the perfect base for a tasty egg & sausage breakfast sandwich. 

But have you ever thought beyond the breakfast table when it comes to your favorite variety of Thomas' English Muffins? ;)

Recently Thomas' English Muffins challenged me to head to my local Walmart, purchase my favorite variety of their English Muffins, & do just that- to create a couple of non-breakfast recipes perfect for spring & summertime. 

Since fresh spring veggies are in season now, I wanted to come with a quick & easy lunch recipe using the Light Multi-Grain English Muffins & my favorite spring vegetables. These Spring Veggie "Pizza" Muffins are loaded with lots of seasonal veggies & come together in just 30 minutes...

Blueberry Almond Chia Smoothie

Boasting both anti-inflammatory & healing properties, this thick & creamy Blueberry Almond Chia Smoothie is just what your body needs to recover after a good sweat session...

I was provided with a copy of The Protein Smoothie Bible for review. I was not compensated for this post in any other way. All opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own. This post may contain affiliate links. Purchasing through them helps support this website.

For the past few months, I have been making a conscious effort to get to the gym more, to get back into my yoga practice, & to really pay attention to just what it is that I am putting into my body. Call it a gradual epiphany of realizing that I really needed to focus a little more time on bettering myself & my health following my divorce. Once the dust had settled & my world had calmed down a little, I was finally able to get back to me.

And it isn't just about getting back to a healthier version of myself for me. It is also about becoming the best version of myself for both my son & my daughter. Sometimes having to start a new chapter in your life will inspire you to make the changes for the better that you have been putting off.

One of the first steps I took when I decided to take back charge of my health was to incorporate more healthy smoothies into my diet. Smoothies are a fantastic & easy way to pack in most of your daily requirements of fresh veggies & fruits. I usually start most of my mornings each week with a vitamin & protein packed green smoothie.