#MomLife

Busy Family Tips for Reconnecting at Mealtime

November 3, 2021 by Rachel 11 Comments

As a mom, I feel like I’m always falling short. And I know I’m not alone. Most days at least one thing is falling through the cracks. I’m not going to lie — usually it’s folding laundry! But when it comes to parenting, the biggest thing I feel I was underprepared for, is just how many meals I’m responsible for making. Honest to goodness! It may seem silly, but the responsibility of feeding a whole family 3 meals (and several snacks) a day can be incredibly overwhelming. But, truly, it doesn’t need to be. I’m sharing my busy family tips for reconnecting at mealtime so that you can spend as much time as possible on the things that matter — your family!

Tip Number 1

Use Walmart Grocery Pickup. I know a lot of people have gotten on board with grocery pickup over the last 2 years. I, on the other hand, have always tried to save as much time as possible. Walmart Grocery Pickup has been an absolute lifesaver.

I can order everything we need online and I don’t have to unbuckle even one kid from the car seat. That’s the mom hack that everyone needs in their lives, y’all.

Tip Number 2

Make mealtime simple! As mothers, we may often feel pressured to be ‘the best’ all of the time. But, truly, those expectations are ridiculous. The best thing we can do as parents is to provide and be present for our kids. By making mealtime simple and utilizing Walmart for their grab and go fresh hot ribs, it’s the perfect on-the-go solution.

These delicious, already made, hot ribs are ready at the deli counter for your easiest, quick lunch or dinner options. And all you need to do is pair it with a couple of easy salads (potato and greens are our favorites). That way I can spend more time involved in those super special conversations with the kids.

Tip Number 3

Give them what they want. Okay, so hear me out on this one. But mealtime can go one of two ways. One — you can spend this time trying to convince your kids to eat. Or, two — you can give them the foods that they love and know that they are nourished, happy, and thriving.

I always go with number two. Forcing kids to eat is the absolute worst and you’ll spend the entire mealtime arguing instead of reconnecting.

Knowing that they are fed, happy, and healthy is really the ultimate goal. Take away the busy work by using Walmart for mealtime solutions. Here is the link to try it for yourself: http://bit.ly/2Zcb1qo

Tell me — what’s your favorite way to reconnect with your family during mealtime?

#ad These Hot Ribs from the @walmart deli are so quick and easy! #walmart Try them for yourself here: bit.ly/3vzvBNe

Homemade Strawberry Gummy Bears Recipe

August 1, 2021 by Rachel 10 Comments

How is back-to-school right around the corner?! I am honestly in disbelief that Summer is nearly over. And, this back-to-school season has me thinking all about meal and snack options. Having spent the last year and a half trying out new recipes and tricks to get my kids to eat has its advantages. But the ultimate recipe is here. These homemade strawberry gummy bears are perfect in every single way.

What you’ll need to make this delicious recipe

I’m not going to lie. When I first thought about making homemade gummy bears I thought, “that sounds impossible.” But, after the last year and a half, I’ve found that I can do so many hard things. And so can you! Truthfully, this recipe is way easier than you would think. I used to be super intimidated by any recipe that required gelatin, but it’s actually super easy to work with.

Here’s what you’ll need to make strawberry gummy bears:

2 cups of strawberries, diced (or really any fruit of choice)
2 .25 ounce boxes of unflavored gelatin
2 tablespoons of raw honey
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
a gummy bear mold

What if I don’t want to use gelatin?

I know not everyone is comfortable using gelatin. To be honest, I often substitute agar agar for gelatin in other recipes. Agar agar is the best 1 to 1 vegan option.

How to make Homemade Strawberry Gummy Bears

Homemade Strawberry Gummy Bears

Ingredients

2 cups of strawberries, diced (or really any fruit of choice)
2 .25 ounce boxes of unflavored gelatin
2 tablespoons of raw honey
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
Gummy bear mold

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

STEP 1 -

Place diced strawberries in blender with lemon juice, and honey. Blend to fully break down the strawberries. If fruit is full of seeds, run juice through a mesh strainer to catch the seeds. It’s much easier to fill the molds with no seeds.

STEP 2 -

Place juice in a saucepan over medium heat and add the gelatin. Continue to whisk the juice while bringing the juice to a slow boil. Once boiling, remove from heat.

STEP 3 -

Fill gummy bear molds with juice. The molds come with an eye dropper or I like to use a food squeeze bottle. Slowly fill each mold.

STEP 4 -

Place molds in the fridge for 20 minutes to solidify the gummies. While molds are cooling, keep the gummy mixture warm. If using a squeeze bottle, drop bottle in hot water, if using the dropper, place saucepan on warm.

STEP 5 -

To remove the gummies, pop them right out of the mold!

STEP 6 -

ENJOY!

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Investing in their future on 5/29 Day

May 25, 2021 by Rachel 18 Comments

If the last year and a half has taught us anything, it’s taught us that education and educators are a completely undervalued resource. In the last year, I went from being a preschool gymnastic instructor and heavily involved in our schools PTA; to being the sole educator for my children. And I’m not alone. As we approach the end of another school year, I want to reflect on how far we have come. But also, how we can look ahead by investing in their future on 529 Day (May 29!).

Education is multi-faceted

Education happens in so many ways. During this crazy time I’ve come to realize that our children are so resilient. Not only does their education come in so many forms, but they are able to learn even in the hardest of times. Playing outdoors, making kitchen science experiments, and even planting a garden are incredible ways of learning. My 8-year-old is even using digital ‘camps’ to learn new skills, like coding.

We’ve also gone way outside of the box by scheduling at-home animal visits! Regardless of how your children are learning, their education doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, many of those hands-on learning skills will be incredibly helpful in their higher education.

Two-Year, Four-Year, or technical school?

My kids are still relatively young. My 8-year-old still wants to code for a job. But my 5-year-old wants to be a princess. I know that as their schooling continues, they will develop new interests. And, whether they choose a 4-year, 2-year, or technical school, they will be set because we invested in Ohio’s 529 Plan for each of them.

A 529 Savings Plan is a lot like a 401k. It’s an easy, tax-friendly way to save for your children’s higher education. Ohio’s 529 Plan can be used across the country for 2-year and 4-year programs as well as technical schools. Fun fact: Ohio’s 529 Plans can be used to fund your education nationwide — not just in the state of Ohio. And withdrawals from your plan are tax free when used for eligible education expenses.

INVEST IN YOUR CHILD’S FUTURE WITH OHIO’S 529 PLAN on 529 Day

May 29th, or “529 Day,” is a day to highlight the importance of higher education. Regardless of your child’s age, opening an account with Ohio’s 529 Plan right now is the perfect way to invest in their future education. And there are so many reasons not to wait.

Using the College Saving Planner you can see how an investment of any amount today can truly help cover the cost of schooling later! Additionally, the Cost of Waiting Tool will help you figure out how much money you’ll need to save the longer you wait to start. So whether or not they still want to go into coding or become a lawyer, you’ll be in a much better financial position to help them succeed with higher education.

IT’S SO EASY TO GET STARTED

There are only a few things you truly need to start Ohio’s 529 plan.

Your ID, social security number, telephone number, address, your date of birth, and your mothers maiden name.
The telephone number, social security number, address, and date of birth of your successor (someone to take over the account should something happen to you).
And lastly, the date of birth, telephone number, address, and social security number of the person you’re saving for.

That’s it. Easy peasy, right? Exactly.

So why not take this change in season to reevaluate the future of your children’s education. Open an Ohio 529 Plan today!

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Food Safety Tips For All Cooks

May 20, 2021 by Rachel 16 Comments

When my husband and I started dating nearly 13 years ago, I was blown away by what a pro he was in the kitchen. I had spent many of my post-college years making easy meals from my freezer. Admittedly, it was well after we got married that I even decided to give cooking a shot. On my first go at trying a new recipe, I posted a photo to Instagram. Immediately I received a comment about cross-contamination. I had no idea the mistakes I was making. Even now, as a much better cook, I need to remember certain safety items, which is why I’ve decided to put together food safety tips for all cooks!

Basic Food Safety

Part of the reason I was always so nervous about cooking was because I didn’t trust myself cooking meat. Like many people, I was worried about undercooking it and getting food poisoning. So I would spend every night trying to figure out if my food was done enough before overcooking it.

Finally, after several years of ‘not getting it quite right,’ I started using a meat thermometer. It has been a lifesaver. I no longer question whether or not the chicken, beef, or pork is cooked safely. Because I know it is! I honestly wish I had started using a cooking thermometer sooner.

Giving Food Safety a Boost

Now, as a more experienced cook, I still struggle. But in different ways. One of my major issues when prepping a meal for my family is that I am distracted. Moreso, I know many moms are distracted during dinner prep. They’ll lose track in a recipe or forget if they added salt. But what if we forget about whether that cutting board would cross-contaminate?!

The new Dixie Ultra™ Cutting Boards available at Walmart (in the foil aisle) help reduce the spread of germs by mitigating that risk. Simply prep, cut & toss! Basically, just toss away the germs when you’re finished.

Make Food Safety for everyone

I grew up with a mom that made a homemade dinner 6 out of 7 nights a week. But, I admit — I wasn’t present much during dinner prep times. So, one of the ways I’m taking food safety seriously is by educating my children in the kitchen.

Teaching them to use a knife, cut veggies, and even grow their own food is important. But what good are these skills if they aren’t familiar with safe food handling? Getting them involved from a young age and talking about why we’re doing the things we are is educating in action.

Dixie Ultra™ Cutting Boards are especially perfect for Summer. When prepping for a cookout (like we recently did with extended family), they are my go-to. Dixie Ultra Cutting Boards helps eliminate the spread of germs between my sister’s fruit salad and prepping my pork recipe for the grill. That way, you’ll have a clean, fresh surface each time.

These tips are the easiest way to remove the worry of whether or not I could be creating a foodborne illness. Instead, I’m confident and able to stay focused on feeding the whole family.

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Perfectly Imperfect Hassle-free meal kits for busy moms

May 4, 2021 by Rachel 27 Comments

I used to think that babies made my life hectic. But, with the older my kids get, the more their schedules (and my own schedule) gets bogged down with commitments. Weeks will be go on where my meal-planning is spot-on; and, yet, others where our meals are in desperate need of help. Perfectly Imperfect hassle-free meal kit are the absolute saving grace — especially for busy moms.

What is Perfectly Imperfect

Perfectly Imperfect Produce boxes are a subscription-based produce boxes. Perfectly Imperfect takes produce that would otherwise be wasted (this is mostly due to superficial flaws), and make sure it isn’t. And, while these veggies may look “different,” they aren’t! Perfectly Imperfect Produce is still just as delicious and deserves to be used and enjoyed.

By eliminating food waste, we are helping to eliminate the 6 billion pounds of produce that is wasted due to ‘imperfections.’ And that’s a mission I can get behind!

Diced + Easy: Ready, Set, Cook!

As someone who has cooked her little tail off for the last 12 + months, I’m completely burned out. I’ve created and cooked dozens of new recipes. But, everyone needs a helping hand sometimes! Especially when that helping hand is delivered right to your door.

Luckily, time can now be saved with Perfectly Imperfect Produce Diced + Easy Meal Kits. Diced and easy kits can be customized to accommodate families of all sizes. Plus, these meal kits can be customized for the types of cuisine you and your family like!

This brand new meal kit is super exciting for a lot of reasons. First, everything is already sliced, diced, and ready to go. Second, all of these rescued meals are very ‘veggie forward.’ Meaning, they aren’t vegan necessarily. But, if you’re a flexitarian like me, these are perfect.

Our first box had everything prepped and ready for the week. Lunches, dinners, and healthy snacks were all ready. Nothing else required. Well, it was perfect!

Perfectly Imperfect Hassle-free meal kit recipe sneak peek

All of the food has been delicious, but the standout to me was the roasted cauliflower tacos. We make a lot of traditional tacos in our house. But veggie tacos weren’t something I had tried before.

I seriously whipped this up in 5 minutes of prep work. Everything but the avocado and lime were already diced and ready to go. And, oh my goodness, my family is obsessed with these now.

I’m sharing the recipe with you below so you can try it at home. But I encourage you to try a Diced + Easy meal kit of your own. Save on your first box by using code ITSAHERO20 .

Roasted Cauliflower Tacos

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

Cauliflower florets (12 ounces)
Garlic, 2 cloves
Red Onion, 8 ounces
Romaine Lettuce, chopped, 16 ounces
Radish, sliced, 8 ounces
Salt & Pepper to taste
Avocado, one whole
Lime, one whole
1 teaspoon of chili powder + 1 teaspoon of cumin
Vegetable oil, 3 ounces
Mexican cheese, 4 ounces
corn tortillas, 12

Instructions

INGREDIENTS -

ingredients

STEP 1 -

Preheat oven to 450 * F.

STEP 2 -

Place cauliflower, garlic, and red onion in a large bowl.

Whisk together oil and spice blend (cumin/chili powder). Drizzle over cauliflower and toss to combine. Season with salt and fresh black pepper.

STEP 3 -

Spread cauliflower out onto sheet pan and roast for 20-25 minutes.

STEP 4 -

Heat a large skillet and, in batches, heat corn tortillas until warmed through.

STEP 5 -

Top tortillas with roasted cauliflower mixture, and top with romaine, radish, avocado slices, Add lime and cheese garnish as desired.

STEP 6 -

ENJOY!

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31 Day Self Care Challenge

April 23, 2021 by Rachel 8 Comments

The past year has done a number on all of us. I know find myself riding a roller coaster. Some weeks I feel like I have it all under control; other weeks I am struggling in every way possible. Each day of this 31 Day Self Care Challenge I’ll give you a simple actionable task that you can do. Whether it’s starting your morning off on the right foot, or sneaking in a workout for the day, after 31 days you’ll be amazed at the difference in your mood.

Self Care Week ONE

Day 1

Wake up 30 minutes early and sit in silence or with your favorite podcast.

Day 2

Make a list of at least 5 things you’re grateful for.

Day 3

Do a brain dump on a pad of paper, a notepad in your phone, or even in a Google doc.

Day 4

Make your favorite recipe (or your favorite meal from a takeout restaurant!).

Day 5

Rewatch your favorite movie.

Day 6

Spend 15 minutes organizing any space in your home (I recommend going through the junk drawer!).

Day 7

Aim to drink at least 64 ounces of water today.

Self Care Week 2

Day 8

Unplug from social media for one full day.

Day 9

Learn a new skill.

Day 10

Create a vision board.

Day 11

Go through old photos.

Day 12

Pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read and get started.

Day 13

Try your hand at a new recipe.

Day 14

Write down a list of personal long-term goals.

Self Care WEEk 3

Day 15

Catch up with a friend or family member by phone.

Day 16

Learn a new skill.

Day 17

Bake your favorite dessert.

Day 18

Take a long, relaxing bath with a bath bomb.

Day 19

Move your body with a NEW workout!

Day 20

Binge watch your favorite (or new) TV show.

Self Care Week 4

Day 21

Treat yourself to ice cream.

Day 22

Take yourself out on a solo date.

Day 23

Break out the coloring books and take some time relaxing with some crayons (or colored pencils)!

Day 24

Take a nap — you deserve it!

Day 25

Go for a 20-minute walk by yourself today.

Day 26

Write a friend a letter and send it (yes — snail mail!).

Day 27

Dress up and take some selfies (even if you have nowhere to go!).

Day 28

Plan your dream vacation (even if it’s just a dream).

Self Care Final days

Day 29

Plan a night in for yourself.

Day 30

Make a new playlist.

Day 31

Do a digital cleanse by clearing out old files, upload photos to the cloud, and clear out your phone and laptop.

Self-care doesn’t always come easy for busy moms, but this challenge will allow you to find those pockets in your day to sneak in some time for yourself.