Strawberry Explosion French Toast Roll-Ups

Packed with not just one but two types of yogurt, these Strawberry Explosion French Toast Roll-Ups are sure to keep the kiddos fueled & focused right up until that lunch bell rings...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Dannon® Oikos® Greek Yogurt and Danimals® Kids Smoothies. The opinions and text are all mine.

Well, folks... it's that time of the year again! The kiddos are heading back to school soon or maybe have already started back like my youngest has this past week. And while there are definitely crazy busy school mornings where I end up sending my daughter out the door to catch the bus with a breakfast bar in hand, most mornings I try to whip up something that will keep her full & fueled until lunch time.

One of my favorite ways to do this is by incorporating calcium rich yogurt into her back to school breakfasts. Yogurt, especially Greek yogurt, is packed with protein that stays with my daughter right through until the lunch bell rings.

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. 

The Best Way to Book Your Favorite Attractions in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Looking to save time, money, & a little sanity when planning that Pigeon Forge, Tennessee family vacation? Then be sure to check out The Best Way to Book Your Favorite Pigeon Forge Attractions...

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

When you think back on some of your favorite family vacations & road trips, what is it about those particular trips that set them apart from the others? What made those vacations more memorable for you and your family? For myself & my kids, it is always about the experiences we had there- the things we did & saw, the one-of-a-kind attractions at that particular destination, and the memories we made while enjoying them all together. 

Obviously the getting there (road trip? plane ride? train ticket?) and booking a place to stay are also important when planning a memorable family vacation, but as soon as I have those two things squared away I start turning my attention to the must-do's & must-see's at that particular destination. That is where TripAdvisor's Things To Do tab comes in handy! :) 

Just last week my kids & I headed to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for a 3 day cabin getaway. A week or so before our trip date, I clicked on over to TripAdvisor to check out the reviews on some of the most popular attractions in the area & to book tickets for a couple of them in advance...

Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Banana Bread

Packed full of chunks of chocolate & crunchy peanuts, this Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Banana Bread is a chocolate & peanut butter lover's dream come true...

This post is sponsored by Walmart, Thyme & Table, and The Women's Blogger Network. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

I know when most people think of their "happy place" they usually think of a beach with a cocktail in hand. Or a secluded cabin in the mountains. And while I could definitely go for either one of those places right about now, my favorite happy place happens to be my kitchen.

It is the one room in my house where I can create. And cook. And bake. And tinker with new recipe creations while also whipping up the tried & true recipes that my family loves and asks for time & time again. The rest of my house can be an absolute chaotic mess, but as long as my kitchen is clean, & tidy, and stocked with all the pretty things then I am able to find my inner calm and breathe.

One way that I am keeping my happy place decked out in trendy, yet functional utensils, gadgets, & cutting boards is with the Thyme & Table kitchen line from my local Walmart. Thyme & Table is the newest line of stylish kitchen products from Core Home. For those of you who have been following along with me for a while now, you all already know of my love for Core Home. Their products have been a staple in my kitchen for the past four years now. :)

3 Easy Steps to a Crowd-Pleasing Homegating Platter

Whip up a snack platter that is sure to score a touchdown at your next game day get-together with these 3 Easy Steps to a Crowd-Pleasing Homegating Platter...

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Tyson Foods, Inc. All opinions are entirely my own.

When it comes to game day snacking & entertaining, I go for easy & fuss-free every single time. I never want to be the hostess that is stuck in the kitchen while everyone else is enjoying the big game. I mean, what fun is that anyways? ;)

One of my favorite homegating dishes to throw together for a football party is an easy, yet crowd-pleasing platter. A tasty snack platter almost always serves as the star & the centerpiece of my game day spread. Once I have the platter made & ready to go, I can easily build the snack table from there with all the goodies that my party guests bring.  

Building the perfect homegating snack platter doesn't have to be complicated or time consuming. In fact, you can whip up a platter that is sure to score a touchdown at your next game day get-together in just 3 easy steps...

Easy Pizza Kabobs

Bite-sized pieces of crispy cheese & pepperoni pizza are skewered with your favorite pizza toppings in these Easy Pizza Kabobs... perfect for game day entertaining!

This post is sponsored by Red Baron Pizza and The Women's Blogger Network. As always, all opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

When it comes to game day entertaining, I like to keep things simple & fun. I start some chili or a dip in the slow cooker, throw together a cheese & meat board, & I usually try to come up with some kind of self-serve/DIY dish that my football party guests will love. 

Fun, self-serve game day recipes happen to be some of my favorites because it means very little prep work on my part and more time out of the kitchen & in front of the TV watching the game for me. ;)

This easy game day recipe I am sharing with you all today is a fun twist on one of everybody's favorite football foods- pizza! Bite-sized pieces of crispy cheese & pepperoni pizza are skewered with your favorite pizza toppings in these Easy Pizza Kabobs...

Cookies & Cream Banana Birthday Shake

Celebrate that special day minus the guilt with this festive & fun Cookies & Cream Banana Birthday Shake...

Sponsored post by Mirum. All opinions are my own.

Soooooo.... today is my birthday, you all. But it just isn't any ole birthday for me. It just so happens to be my 40th birthday. Yep, the BIG 4-0. I have to admit that it is kind of weird to be saying goodbye to my thirties and officially entering a brand new decade of my life. But I am also excited for what the next 10 years will bring. :)

I have spent the last few months of my 39th year of life making some healthier lifestyle changes. I get to the gym at least 3-4 times a week now. I do yoga at home at least twice a week. I try to give myself mental health breaks more often when I start to feel like my work to life balance is getting a little off kilter. And I have been trying to make healthier choices as far as my diet goes. But when you happen to have a mean sweet tooth like I do, then that last part can be a little tricky at times.

My ultimate guilty pleasure happens to be ice cream. Like I could eat ice cream every single day. And now that I have discovered Breyers delights, I actually can enjoy my favorite frozen treat minus the guilt more often... ;)

Chunky Monkey Snack Mix

This Chunky Monkey Snack Mix is a crunchy mix of whole wheat chocolate grahams, organic banana chips, & satisfying walnuts. It is sure to quickly become a lunchbox & after school snack favorite...

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

I think that the start of a new school year gives us all the chance to do a little reset. We switch from our laid back summertime mode into a more structured back to school routine. My family & I also start to focus on getting back to eating healthier. I mean, I have to keep the kiddos (& myself!) ready to go & fueled for each school day. 

To help make this reset back to healthier eating more fun & a whole lot easier, I have enlisted the help of some of our favorite brands from the Natural Foods Department at our local Kroger. On my last shopping trip to Kroger, I picked up a box of Horizon Chocolate Snack Grahams, a package of Simple Truth Organic Banana Chips, & a bag of Simple Truth Walnut Halves & Pieces to whip up this super easy to make & 100% kid approved Chunky Monkey Snack Mix...

5 Easy Ways to Bring the Comforts of Home to the Dorm Room

Make that college dorm feel more like home with these 5 Easy Ways to Bring the Comforts of Home to the Dorm Room...

This post was sponsored, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

We just moved my son into his dorm room for his freshman year of college this past weekend. (I am still trying to wrap my mind around that one, folks!) Even though his college is just an hour drive away, this is his first time being out of the house and out on his own. An hour is far enough away that he does need to live on campus, but close enough that he can drive home when he needs to (and we can drop in for weekend visits pretty often too ;) ). 

As we were out shopping for his dorm room & packing up totes to take with us on move-in day, I knew I wanted to make sure that he had some of the comforts of home with him over the next semester. As much as I know that he is excited for this new chapter in his life & the adventures that will surely come with it, I also know that he will get home sick every now & again. That is why I came up with this budget friendly checklist of 5 easy ways to bring the comforts of home to his dorm room...

How to Create an Instagram-worthy Hummus & Veggie Board

Forget that boring store bought veggie tray! You can create an Instagram-worthy Hummus & Veggie Board in just 7 simple steps... 

This post was sponsored, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Have you ever been scrolling through your Instagram feed and just stopped & gawked when you saw a pic of a gorgeous veggie tray that someone had made for a summer party or backyard BBQ? Maybe you thought that person had to have a ton of extra time on their hands because most of us just pick up that pre-made (& not so Instagram-worthy) vegetable tray in the produce section of the grocery store. Maybe you even found yourself feeling a little bit intimidated and thought there was no way you would be able to pull something like that off yourself. 

But guess what? You can ditch that store bought veggie tray because putting together an Instagram-worthy veggie board is much easier than you may think! Especially when you have a little help from Sabra hummus and fresh, seasonal produce from your local Walmart! :)

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...

Banana Split Greek Yogurt Pancakes

These tasty & filling Banana Split Greek Yogurt Pancakes are chock full of low fat Greek yogurt & milk...

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

I am finding it hard to believe that it is that time of the year again- back to school! Backpacks have been picked out & purchased. The school supply list has been checked off. And we are starting to ease back into that school year routine. 

Another way I am getting ready for the start of the school year is to start compiling a rotation of healthy breakfast recipes with staying power. The easiest way to do that? Making sure that each of these recipes are packed with protein powered dairy like these Banana Split Greek Yogurt Pancakes I am sharing with you all today.

Not only are dairy foods a quick & budget friendly way to keep your kiddos fueled and ready to go throughout the day, but each serving also happens to contain 9 essential nutrients & 8 grams of high quality protein. 

Experts recommend that we get in at least 3 servings of low fat or fat-free dairy (think a glass of milk, a yogurt cup, a cheese stick, etc.) every day, but most of us need an extra serving each day to meet the daily nutritional recommendations. 

Easy Chicken Puttanesca Penne

You only need 30 minutes & 5 simple ingredients to whip up this family-pleasing Easy Chicken Puttanesca Sauce on a busy weeknight...

This recipe was created in partnership with Barilla, Walmart, & No Kid Hungry. All opinions & thoughts expressed below are 100% my own.

Is anyone else's head spinning from the fact that back to school is just a few short weeks away? And for some of you all, the first day of school has already come and gone! (<<My mind is still blown over that one.) 

While I am definitely looking forward to reclaiming my 6 hours of kid-free time on the weekdays, I am also a little sad that summer break is almost over. We had all these grand plans for this summer, but a few things (like that promised weekend camping trip in a tent) didn't get crossed off the family checklist this time around. That seems to happen just about every summer, right?

But now I am getting ready to switch gears from a summer break bucket list to all of those checklists that come with the beginning of a new school year. The school supply list, checking off all that required paperwork that has been signed in and turned in for kindergarten registration, shopping for the necessary back to school clothes, dorm room essentials, and last but certainly not least- weeknight meal planning. 

5 Essentials for Your Road Trip Survival Kit

Ensure the survival of everyone's sanity in the car on your next family road trip with these 5 Essentials for Your Road Trip Survival Kit...

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media.

We are gearing up for our last big family road trip of the summer & heading to the Midwest next week (Be sure to give me on a follow on Instagram to discover exactly where we will be traveling to & to follow along with our travel adventures!). Our hotel rooms are booked, the route to our destinations have been plugged into the GPS, our itineraries are just about finalized, & I am starting to throw together our road trip survival kit. And yes, I said survival. Because it is ALL about the survival of everyone's sanity when there is a restless 5 year old in the backseat. ;)

In addition to the usual road trip must-haves (think coloring books & crayons, snacks, water bottles, headphones for each member of the family, etc.), I will also be adding the 5 essentials listed below to my family's road trip survival kit...

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.