How to Save Money on Your Next Road Trip Before You Even Hit the Road

Expenses for family road trips can add up quick! Find out my #1 tip for How to Save Money on Your Next Road Trip Before You Even Hit the Road...

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

The end of the school year & the beginning of summertime always means one thing for my kids & I- it is the official start of road trip season in our home. Whether we are driving just an hour or two to spend the day hiking or embarking on a 6+ hour drive to a cabin in the Tennessee mountains, we are always game for a good family road trip. 

But when you factor in gas, stops for snacks, road tolls (ugh- am I right?), the expenses for those family road trips can start adding up pretty quick. That is why our local Kroger store has now become our first official stop on our road trips before we even hit the road. 

3 Simple Steps for Creating Summer "Me Time"

It is easy to create quality time for yourself with these 3 Simple Steps for Creating Summer "Me Time"...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of PEOPLE®, Real Simple®, and Southern Living®. The opinions and text are all mine.

While I definitely look forward to the kiddos' summer break each year, it also means that I have to be more creative with sneaking in little moments of "me time" each week. During the school year, I get at least 6 hours of full blown "me time" at least four days a week. But summers get trickier with my youngest being at home with me 24/7 every day but one day out of the week.

Giving up my "me time" during the summer months is definitely not an option. We all need to create a little time for ourselves each week to get re-centered, focused, & motivated. It's essential to my sanity and to my role as a mother, wife, homemaker, and full time food & travel blogger that also happens to work at home. It can be difficult to "get away" and recharge when you are always "clocked in" mentally. 

So how do I find quality "me time" during the non-stop busyness of the summer months? It doesn't have to be elaborate or time consuming or require hiring a sitter. I keep it easy with these 3 simple steps...

Sweet Bourbon Salmon with Caramelized Onion & Parmesan Mashed Potatoes

This flavorful & easy to make Sweet Bourbon Salmon with Caramelized Onion & Parmesan Mashed Potatoes makes the perfect dinner for two any night of the week...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Kroger. The opinions and text are all mine.

My 5 year old daughter and I are the only seafood lovers in the house. Which sadly means that I don't get to make seafood for dinner as often as I would like since half of my household won't eat it. However on evenings when my husband is working late & my son is over at his dad's, I like to treat my daughter & I to a special seafood dinner just for the two of us without a lot of prep and fuss. That is why I am loving the new Easy for You! Oven-Ready Seafood options at the seafood counter at my local Kroger! :)

Choose from seafood options such as shrimp, tilapia, & salmon, and choose your favorite seasoning and garnishes like Lemon Pepper, Asian BBQ, Nashville Hot, & more. Then watch as they prep, garnish, and then seal your seasoned seafood into an oven-ready bag right at the counter at no extra charge! The flavor possibilities are pretty much endless. My daughter & I opted for the wild caught sockeye salmon with Sweet Bourbon seasoning and a couple of pats of butter. I whipped up a side dish of homemade Caramelized Onion & Parmesan Mashed Potatoes to go with our super easy & flavorful salmon, and we were ready to dig into our seafood dinner for two in no time at all...

Creamy Mushroom & Lentil Soup

Packed full of fiber rich lentils & meaty mushrooms, this vegetarian and vegan friendly Creamy Mushroom & Lentil Soup is comforting and filling without the extra fat and calories...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Kroger. The opinions and text are all mine.

Just like many of you all may have also done, I made goals to eat healthier at the start of the new year. I have really been trying to make strides to rotate in at least two new healthy recipes into my meal plan each week to keep things fresh. 

And like many of you all, I often find my inspiration for new recipes to try from Pinterest. In fact, I created an entire board to dedicated to just Healthy & Tasty Recipes.

One of my favorite sites to browse for new recipes is Kroger's Inspired Gathering site. Recently, I was searching for some hearty and healthy soup recipes and came across the recipe for this Creamy Mushroom & Lentil Soup on their site. 

Packed full of fiber rich lentils & meaty mushrooms, this vegetarian and vegan-friendly soup is comforting and filling without the extra fat and calories.

Peanut Butter Stuffed Crescent Rolls with Caramelized Bananas

Flaky crescent rolls are stuffed with creamy peanut butter, baked golden brown, & then topped with perfectly caramelized bananas in this decadent breakfast treat...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

Every once in a while when I am out & about traveling, I will order a dish at a restaurant or inn that is so delicious that I know I will have to find a way to recreate it as best I can as soon as I get home. The peanut butter stuffed croissant French toast I had at the Redbook Restaurant at Hillbrook Inn & Spa during our blogger retreat last month was one such dish. 

The chef stuffed a flaky croissant with natural peanut butter and then topped it with perfectly caramelized bananas, whipped cream, & fresh blueberries. (Wanna see a pic of it? ;) Then be sure to check out my review of our stay at the Hillbrook Inn for the Sip, Dine, & Shine 2016 blogger retreat.)

For my at-home version, I went simple & easy by using a roll of my favorite refrigerator crescent rolls. While not exactly a croissant, crescent rolls are light and flaky mimicking the texture of a fresh baked croissant. I stuffed each crescent roll with a dollop of natural peanut butter before baking them up golden brown and then topping them with ooey, gooey caramelized bananas...

Unicorn Yogurt Pops

These magical Unicorn Yogurt Pops are the perfect frosty & healthy treat for back to school...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Horizon, Silk, & So Delicious. The opinions and text are all mine.

We are in full-on back to school mode over here. My son starts his senior year of high school in less than a week, and my youngest will start her first day of Pre-K the week after. To say I have my hands full over here getting them both ready for the new school year would be an understatement. ;) 

The biggest challenge for me right now is making sure that they both get a healthy start to the year. It is trying to find that balance between making sure they have healthier, more real food snacks on hand to enjoy after school while still making sure that those same snacks are also fun for the kiddos. I think I successfully accomplished both of those goals with these magical Unicorn Yogurt Pops.

These frosty pops are a creamy blend of bananas, protein-packed Greek yogurt, and our favorite almondmilk. But what makes them magical for the kids are the swirls of bright colors and the fun star-shaped sprinkles... ;)

Sweet & Spicy BBQ Stuffed Jalapenos

Stuffed with a creamy cheese filling and topped with sweet pineapple, these Sweet & Spicy BBQ Stuffed Jalapenos are the perfect way to start your backyard barbecue...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

This recipe post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

Who else is excited that barbecue season has finally arrived? I have two reasons for my love of grilling season: 1) I adore barbecued food! and 2) My husband is the primary tender of our grill, so this lady gets the evening off from cooking when we decide to cook out. 






While I love a good rack of ribs or a juicy grilled steak, sometimes it's hard to wait that long for that delicious grilled flavor. That's why I like to have a couple of simple and quick summer barbecue finger food recipes on hand like these Sweet & Spicy BBQ Stuffed Jalapenos that I am sharing with you all today.






A few tips for these stuffed jalapenos ... Buy the straightest jalapenos that you can find! If your jalapeno pepper has a curve in it, it will not lay flat on the grill rack, and that cheesy goodness will spill out. Just remember- a flat pepper lies flat. 






The most time-consuming part of this recipe is the halving and seeding of the jalapenos, so if you're planning to whip these up for an evening barbecue, just cut and seed them a few hours before, cover, and refrigerate. Stuff them right before throwing them on the grill.

Berry Patriotic Poke Cake

Incorporating the flavors of black cherry, fresh raspberries and blueberries, this easy-to-make Berry Patriotic Poke Cake is the perfect addition to your summer celebration...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

This recipe post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

With Memorial Day weekend and long summer days quickly approaching, we all need easy, crowd-pleasing dessert recipes to have on hand for holiday get-togethers and backyard cookouts. 





One of my favorite desserts to make, especially during the summer months, is a good old-fashioned poke cake. Poke cakes are so easy to make, yet they are impressive and pretty. They also lend themselves well to all the sweet fruits of summer.





While I created this Berry Patriotic Poke Cake with Memorial Day weekend in mind, this is also the perfect dessert for a Fourth of July celebration. You just can't beat a light and fluffy white cake spiked with black cherry gelatin, then topped with creamy whipped topping and fresh raspberries and blueberries. 

You can have your red, white and blue, and eat it too!

Tapioca Stuffed Chai Spice Baked Apples

Tender baked apples are flavored with chai spices and filled with a creamy tapioca pudding in these Tapioca Stuffed Chai Spice Baked Apples...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

This recipe post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

Want to really impress mom this Mother's Day? Whip up a dessert that she's sure not to forget! What's more impressive than tender baked apples filled to the brim with creamy tapioca pudding? Not much, folks. ;)

I decided to take a classic apple dessert and give it a brand new twist for Mother's Day with these Tapioca Stuffed Chai Spice Baked Apples. Baked apples are typically stuffed with brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and nuts, then they're baked and simply served warm. 

But I changed it up with these baked apples by flavoring them with a blend of chai spices and filling them with the creamiest tapioca pudding. And just so you know, these baked apples are indeed mother-approved. I used my own mom as a taste tester, and she gave this dessert two thumbs up!

Antipasto Panzanella Salad

Two classic Italian salads are combined into one in this delicious Antipasto Panzanella Salad that's perfect for backyard BBQ's & potlucks...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

This recipe post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

Having grown up in an area with a strong Italian influence, Italian food has definitely become my love language. It means home to me. 

From antipasto salads topped with lots of hard meats like pepperoni and salami to traditional panzanella salads that make tasty use of day-old loaves of Italian bread, these dishes take me back to my childhood with just one bite. For this simple yet flavorful Antipasto Panzanella Salad, I combined my love of two favorite summertime Italian salads into one big, tasty feast.





There is so much flavor and freshness packed into this salad, folks! It lends itself perfectly to the fresh and ripe flavors of summer like garden fresh juicy tomatoes and crisp cucumbers. This Antipasto Panzanella Salad is the perfect starter or side dish for a summer get-together or barbecue, but it is definitely substantial enough to stand on its own as a light meal...

Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie

Creamy low-fat yogurt, sweet frozen strawberries, reduced-fat cream cheese and graham crackers are blended into this satisfying Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

This recipe post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

When I need to satisfy my sweet tooth without the guilt, I make a creamy smoothie inspired by one of my favorite desserts. Lately, my guilty pleasure has been a slice of cheesecake drenched in strawberry topping. The problem is, cheesecake isn't exactly good for you, or low in fat or calories. My solution? This lower guilt Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie that tastes just like the delicious sweet treat it's fashioned after!

Creamy low-fat yogurt, sweet frozen strawberries, reduced-fat cream cheese and graham crackers are blended into this satisfying smoothie. I added some chia seeds to sneak in a little nutrient-packed punch too. Trust me when I tell you all that it tastes just like a slice of cheesecake topped with strawberries. Who says you can't have your cheesecake and maintain that waistline too? ;)

Coffee Tenderloin Steaks with Scallop Tarragon Sauce

Juicy tenderloin steaks are marinated in a flavorful coffee marinade and then topped with a simple yet elegant scallop tarragon cream sauce...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

This recipe post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

Newsflash, folks- My husband and I are self-proclaimed homebodies when it comes to Valentine's Day. (I know, I know... I may have mentioned this little fact to you all about 100 times by now. ;) ) While I do love getting all dolled up for a fancy dinner out every once in while, I would much rather avoid the chaos and crowds on Valentine's Day and stay home with my sweetie. We always pick up a good bottle of wine, a movie and maybe some chocolates, and then together we whip up a splurge-worthy romantic dinner for two.

This Valentine's Day, we've made plans for a surf & turf dinner-in. I know most people think of steak and a lobster tail or steak topped with a crab béarnaise sauce when they hear the words "surf & turf," but when I spied these perfectly bite-sized scallops at the seafood counter at my local Kroger, I knew I had to make them into the "surf" in our surf & turf dinner. We marinated these juicy tenderloin steaks in a flavorful coffee marinade and then topped them with a simple yet elegant Scallop Tarragon Cream Sauce. My husband grills the steaks while I whip up the sauce, and voila! — Valentine's Day dinner is served in no time at all.

Turkey Chili-Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Hearty baked potatoes are simply steamed in the microwave, & then topped with a homemade chili that's packed with turkey and beans in these Turkey Chili-Stuffed Baked Potatoes...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

This recipe post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

Some of my favorite healthy recipes are the ones you don't realize are healthy. They're so filling and flavorful, your taste buds and appetite totally believe they're splurging and enjoying a naughty meal. 





These Turkey Chili-Stuffed Baked Potatoes totally fall into this category, folks. Hearty baked potatoes are simply steamed in the microwave, then topped with a homemade chili that's packed with turkey and beans. Topping them with a sprinkle of shredded cheese and a dollop of low-fat plain yogurt takes these tasty stuffed baked potatoes over the top, without the guilt.

Shrimp & Asiago Cheese Dip

This bold & oh so cheesy Shrimp & Asiago Cheese Dip is served warm from the oven and is sure to become the star of your next holiday party or get-together...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

This recipe post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

We do a lot of entertaining around the holidays and New Year's, and we also attend quite a few holiday parties and get-togethers. I love having a handful of go-to appetizer recipes on hand that are easy to make and perfect for sharing. 








Although you can never go wrong with a classic platter of assorted cheeses, olives and crackers, what's a party without the dip? I always include a crowd-pleasing, tasty dip of some sort in just about every one of my holiday party menus -- the cheesier the better.








This Shrimp & Asiago Cheese Dip is a delicious twist on a classic spinach artichoke dip. The spinach is swapped out for tender shrimp, and the traditional, more mild Parmesan is replaced with flavorful and robust Asiago cheese. 

This bold, creamy and oh-so-cheesy dip is served warm from the oven and is sure to become the star of your next holiday party or get-together...

Cherry Allspice Glazed Slow Cooker Ham

This easy to make Cherry Allspice Glazed Slow Cooker Ham is slow cooked all day in a simple & flavorful glaze...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

This post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

When it comes to entertaining and hosting a crowd during the holiday season, my slow cooker becomes my best friend. I can start one dish in my trusty slow cooker while I work on other dishes on my stove top and in the oven. It's almost like having an extra set of hands in the kitchen. 









Often I make the main dish in my slow cooker like I did with this Cherry Allspice Glazed Slow Cooker Ham. The glaze itself comes together easily in just minutes, making the prep for this flavorful and juicy ham almost effortless...

Get Your Bathroom Thanksgiving Guest Ready in Just 10 Minutes!

Get your bathroom guest ready in just 10 minutes with my simple cleaning tips...

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

This post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

Every Thanksgiving for the past few years, I have been hosting my family's Thanksgiving dinner. Fall-time and cooking & baking happen to be a few of my favorite things, so hosting this family dinner each November is something I always start to look forward to as soon as the days start to become cooler and the leaves start to change and fall. Typically, I enlist the family in a big group house cleaning the day before Thanksgiving. We vacuum, dust, sweep & mop, and get the house sparkling and ready to host dinner guests. But the one room that never seems to stay clean- even a day later- is the bathroom. It is the one room in the house that gets used often and by everyone in the house. And then factor in that everyone uses that room to get showered and ready before dinner, and the bathroom ends up looking like it wasn't cleaned or straightened up at all the day before.

Since I am usually very busy in the kitchen most of Thanksgiving morning, I have come up with a super quick and easy last minute cleaning routine that will have your bathroom guest ready in just 10 minutes. It is so simple to do that you could certainly delegate it off to one of the older kiddos or the husband. ;) This is also a great little cleaning routine to have on hand when unexpected guests stop by...

Trick or Treat Pumpkin Pie Dip

Your favorite candies from the kids' trick or treat bags come together with a favorite fall dessert in this creamy Trick or Treat Pumpkin Pie Dip...

This recipe post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

Each fall around Halloween, my parents have hosted a costume party for the family. This Halloween tradition actually started with my grandparents when I was kid. They would decorate their garage like a haunted house and everyone in the family would show up dressed up in their Halloween costumes and with a fun treat in hand. 

We always did it potluck style, and there were also lots of games for the kids to play and a costume contest for all in attendance. This is a tradition that my parents decided to take over some years back, and now we have a family style Halloween celebration each October in my my parents' garage. 

Every single year, I try to bring a different sweet treat to the party.  This year I am bringing this creamy and fun Trick or Treat Pumpkin Pie Dip. I combined some of our favorite candies from the kids' trick or treat bags with one of my favorite fall desserts- pumpkin pie. :) 

You just really cannot go wrong with this easy to make dessert dip for a fall family get-together, an office or school party, or just because you end up having more Halloween candy than you know what to do with... 

S'mores Chia Pudding

Inspired by a campfire classic, this easy to make S'mores Chia Pudding is the perfect back to school snack. This conversation is sponsored by WhiteWave Foods. The opinions and text are all mine.

With the start of another school year also comes the start of another cross country season for my son. And with after school practices every afternoon and meets just about every week, I am always trying to find quick, satisfying, and energy packed snacks for my son to fuel his practices and race days and to hold him over after practice until dinner time. Being a teenager, he would rather be eating potato chips washed down by a few chugs of a sugary soft drink. ;) Determined to come up with a few snack choice compromises that we could both love, I headed to my local Kroger to shop their Natural Foods Department...

Frozen Berry Sangria Floats

These Frozen Berry Sangria Floats only get better as they thaw, making them the perfect cocktail for those warm end-of-summer days and nights...

Summer might be winding down for most of us (hello, my oldest starts back to school today), but I am not giving up the outdoor entertaining just yet. The days are still warm and the evenings long, so we are going to sit back and soak up these last few weekends of summer before it becomes football & pumpkin everything. ;) 

For my summertime entertaining, I love coming up with easy, fuss-free, and crowd pleasing recipes and cocktails that will leave me raising a glass with my friends and family on a summer evening instead of in the kitchen handing out yet another glass to one of my guests. These fruity and frosty Frozen Berry Sangria Floats definitely fit that bill...

3 Ingredient PB&J Ice Cream Sandwiches

You all are going to love this recipe for 3 Ingredient PB&J Ice Cream Sandwiches- a kid approved & easy to make frozen summer treat! 

This recipe post first appeared on the Kroger Inspired Gathering site.

This content was created in partnership with Kroger Family Stores using free products provided by Kroger.

Summer is in full swing around here (I am not admitting that back to school is getting closer just yet, folks), and I am always trying to come up with fun and often times tasty ways for the kiddos and I to stay cool.  Whether it is running through the sprinkler, heading to the local pool, or making a simple and frosty frozen treat like these 3 Ingredient PB & J Ice Cream Sandwiches. 

Seriously, folks. These ice cream sandwiches are so easy to make and quick that you can even get those "bored" kids of yours in on the ice cream sandwich making fun! :) The method for making these is pretty much assembly line anyways, so you can assign one tasty task to each member of the family (just leave any cutting to the adults). 

Everyone is doing something. Everyone is having fun. And these ice cream sandwiches come together even quicker when everyone is in on the delicious action of making these...