busy mom

Name: Cherry Pie Cinnamon Roll Bites
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 23 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 can of refrigerated cinnamon rolls; Cherry Pie Filling

Easy Memorial Day Cherry Pie Bites

May 22, 2020 by Rachel 35 Comments

When it came time for a Mother’s Day celebration I had ONE request — cherry pie! It turns out that bakeries are hard to come by when you’re in lockdown. We couldn’t find one anywhere! And I had very few items on-hand.

But I did have cinnamon rolls! Queue the cherry pie baking!

I remembered seeing somewhere that someone had made pies using a can of cinnamon rolls. I thought, sure, why not? It’s basically combining two of my favorite foods — pie and cinnamon rolls. What a delicious combination, right?!

Cinnamon rolls are just something we always have on hand with three kids under 7. They are our special ‘weekend breakfast’ treat. It’s easier than going out for donuts, and all three kids gobble them up! And these were no exception!

With all of the bakeries running a minimal staff this weekend, I figured this is another great opportunity to try this recipe! I tried ordering an apple pie from my favorite local bakery, but they were sold out of pre-orders. So Cherry Pie Cinnamon Roll Bites it is!

Check out the full recipe for all of the details.

Yield: 8

Cherry Pie Cinnamon Roll Bites

Quick + Easy Bite-Sized Cherry Pie

Prep Time 8 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 23 minutes

Ingredients

1 can of refrigerated cinnamon rolls
Cherry Pie Filling

Instructions

Spray a regular-sized muffin tin with your choice of oil (avocado, vegetable, coconut).
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Open can of refrigerated cinnamon roll dough. Take each individual roll, and flatten it out with the palm of your hand.
Press into muffin tin.
Add one tablespoon of cherry pie filling to each of the 8 cinnamon roll cups.
Bake for 15 minutes or until cooked through.
Once cool, drizzle icing from cinnamon rolls on top of cherry pies.
ENJOY!

And tell me — what’s your go-to “in a pinch” recipe?!

How To Save Money on Everyday Essentials

May 6, 2020 by Rachel 23 Comments

This post is sponsored by Optum Perks but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

It’s hard to believe that I have been “laid off” from my job for going on 7 weeks now. The job that, over the years, became my happy place — has been missing from my life for nearly two months. As things have changed rather dramatically for all of us, I’m finding new and inventive ways to pinch pennies.

Saving Money on Essentials Can Be Easy

I made a lot of changes in these last 7 weeks. Surprisingly, most of them were incredibly easy! Here’s what my family is doing to cut down on our every day expenses.

Shop at discount grocery retailers.

Going to the grocery store is unavoidable. For my family, we are making far fewer trips than before — but we’ve also made the decision to use grocers that offer off-brand or discounted groceries like ALDI and Save-a-Lot. We still are getting the same quality fresh foods, produce, and non-perishables, but we’re doing so at a much lower cost.

Cancelling Unnecessary Subscriptions.

There was a time when we had a cable TV subscription, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Honestly, we’ve never had that much time to watch TV. So we have trimmed up our TV subscription services by cancelling our live-television services and picking one of the online streaming services.

This can go for many types of subscriptions like a grocery delivery service, music streaming service, and even beauty boxes.

Using Optum Perks to Save on Prescription Refills.

Prescriptions are another ‘unavoidable’ cost, but there are brilliant ways of saving cash when it comes time to fill or refill! Savings reach up to 80% with no membership and no fees!+

Prescriptions saving is easy. You just search, find, and save without ever having to enter personal information or data in. Optum Perks can be used at over 64,000 pharmacies nationwide, including Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS. Once you find the prescription and pricing, you can decide if you’d like the free coupon to be delivered by text, email, or by printing it out.

These prescription coupons can be presented to your pharmacist whichever way is convenient for you. So whether you’re using the drive-thru or picking it up in-store, your pharmacy coupon will be honored. Truly. That’s it.

I’ve been really open about my struggles with mental health, particularly since having children. As many know, I’ve relied mostly on my Lexapro prescription for the last 5 years. Usually my refills cost upwards of $20. By using Optum Perks I’ve been able to fill it at the rate of $9.00! That’s an eleven dollar savings! While it may not seem like a lot, with a family of 5, every bit helps.

You can see for yourself by heading to Optum Perks today and finding out just how much you can be saving on the prescriptions you need for the whole family.

Putting Memberships on Hold.

If you look at the number of items that are auto-deducted from your account each month, what would you see? For me, it’s our family gym membership, zoo membership, and my auto-renew of my coffee card. While these memberships are handy and even affordable in times of employment, they can be detrimental to savings when going through financial hardship.

Most memberships will allow a ‘hold’ or ‘break’ for anywhere from one to 6-months. And it’s usually as simple as giving them a call or shooting their customer service team an email.

These Adjustments Do Not Have To Be Permanent

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned in these last couple of months it’s that I am capable of much more than I previously thought I was. I’m the same girl who would grab coffee from Starbucks before work almost every day. But I don’t have to be. In fact, I’m amazed at how these small changes I’ve made in our spending have had such a tremendous impact on not only our pocketbooks, but our overall psychological well-being.

But knowing that at least some of what I’m doing right now is just temporary certainly helps. I may not stay away from my beloved coffee forever, but I can tell you that I will never go back to paying full-price for my prescriptions.

+Prices are subject to change over time

Tell me — what will you do with all of the money you save using Optum Perks?

5 Foods That Will Help You Sleep at Night

May 5, 2020 by Rachel 20 Comments

Sleep is essential for living a healthy life. Tossing and turning nonstop can lead to a variety of adverse health effects, such as an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure, among others. Sleeping disorders, such as insomnia and sleep apnea, along with lifestyles that limit the amount of sleep you get per night, can cause you to feel groggy and irritable. Luckily, food might be your answer to catching some shuteye and sleeping peacefully at night. If you’re suffering from sleep deprivation, try one of these five foods below to help you get the rest your body deserves.

PIN ME - 5 Foods To Help You Sleep At Night

Chocolate

What else is there to say? It’s sweet, delicious, and the best pick-me-up after a long day. While dark chocolate does contain caffeine, it also contains serotonin. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that’s responsible for helping you feel more relaxed and tired. If you’re counting sheep at night, try eating a chocolate sleep aid. Just make sure it’s dark chocolate and not milk chocolate! Milk chocolate doesn’t contain serotonin and can actually make you feel more awake.

Furthermore, dark chocolate has many attractive health benefits that make this the perfect treat to eat day and night. It is high in antioxidants, which aid in cognition and memory formation, and also help reduce the risk of heart disease! So eat the chocolate!

Chamomile

Herbal teas, such as chamomile, is a great drink to sip on before bedtime. Chamomile tea is proven to improve sleep quality. It contains apigenin, an antioxidant that is responsible for making you feel tired and can reduce insomnia. This study even found that those who drank chamomile tea before bedtime fell asleep 15 minutes faster than those who did not drink chamomile tea and reported fewer instances of waking up during the night.

Along with the ability to whisk you away and into a solemn slumber, chamomile offers many additional benefits, such as:

● Reduces symptoms of depression;

● Improves skin health;

● Boosts the immune system;

● and Reduces inflammation that leads to diseases like cancer and heart disease!

Turkey

The fourth Thursday in November is one of the best days of the year. Why? Because it’s Thanksgiving! This means endless mounds of food, desserts, drinks, and conversations with friends, family, and loved ones. As you may know, turkey is often the centerpiece of every Thanksgiving Day meal, which means you’ve probably experienced the after-effects of eating turkey.

Have you ever realized how tired you were after indulging in your Thanksgiving meal? Filled tummies with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans? That’s because turkey contains an amino acid called tryptophan, which causes the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin to increase in production. This increase in melatonin will make you feel more tired and will reduce the chances of you waking up in the middle of the night. So, before bed, try making turkey sandwiches or a turkey loaf for dinner!

Kiwi

One of nature’s greatest candies are kiwis. Kiwis are a delicious and nutritious fruit that are packed with healthy vitamins like vitamin C and vitamin K. Additionally, they’re a great food to have if you’re having trouble sleeping! Packed with serotonin (just like dark chocolate) they help regulate your sleep cycle. Kiwis are also full of antioxidants, such as carotenoids and Vitamin C, which help reduce inflammation and promote sleep.

Along with these sleep-aiding benefits, kiwis also:

● Improves digestion

● Lowers cholesterol

● Reduces inflammation

● Fights heart disease

● Clears out toxins

● Lowers blood pressure

Nuts

Tree nuts, such as walnuts and almonds, are also great foods to eat before bed to get some shuteye. Walnuts, in particular, are filled with the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin. Additionally, walnuts house healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids that convert to DHA, which aids in the production of the sleep-enhancing chemical serotonin. Along with that, walnuts provide over 19 vitamins and minerals, making them an extremely healthy nut to snack on.

Almonds, like walnuts, can also help you sleep at night. Almonds, too, are filled with melatonin, which will turn your brain’s lights off to help you drift away to dreamland, and provide 19 percent of your daily needs of magnesium, which is thought to improve sleep quality and reduce insomnia.

Time for bed

If you’re struggling to sleep at night, try eating one of these five foods. However, if insomnia or other sleep disorders are keeping you up at night, it’s always recommended to see a doctor or specialist who can provide professional treatment.

Freshful Tips for Mom Life!

February 13, 2020 by Rachel 26 Comments

This post is sponsored by Gerber. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I found out I was pregnant with my first child nearly 8 years ago to this day. In that moment, I had a crystal clear version of the type of parent I would be.

My husband and I knew how we would parent. I was sure of how I would ‘make’ my children behave and I certainly knew what kind of disciplinary style I would use. I was dead set on breastfeeding and then making my own baby food with my top-of-the-market blender.

But then real-life happened. Parenting wasn’t as easy as it appeared to be. By some sort of miracle, I quickly understood that we are all just doing our best.

Making your life easier as a busy mom is crucial.

Accepting that certain concessions need to be made, as a mother, for the sake of you and your children, is crucial.

Real-Life Tips to Help You With Your Baby

I’m sharing some of my go-to tips and tricks for both new and seasoned moms.

Fed is Best

You’ve heard it over and over again — “Breast is best.” Heck, I heard it nonstop from doctors, nurses, and strangers, throughout each of my three pregnancies.

But the truth is, so much more than breastfeeding goes into breastfeeding. And it may just be that breastfeeding is testing your sanity. So don’t stress about something so trivial. Whether your child is breastfed, bottle-fed, or formula-fed, says nothing about you as a parent.

Babies Need Very Little

Based on ads and marketing, you would think you’re going to need to double the size of your house when welcoming in a new baby. That narrative is completely false.

Babies need so little. Know what they need? They need food (see above), love, diapers, and a safe space. Everything else is unnecessary.

Sure, other items can be helpful, but they really just take up space. I can count on two hands the amount of ‘bonus items’ that I used over and over again (even my first didn’t make it into his own crib or room for nearly a year).

Don’t stress if you don’t ‘have it all.’ Your baby will get everything they truly need.

Give yourself a break

This is something a new mom hears time and time again. And it’s easier said than done. But there are things that you can control and give yourself a little break.

First and foremost, you’re doing a good job. Sleep is minimal and the crying just won’t stop, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t doing a good job. Just survive this stage and know you’re a great parent.

Second, recognize now that everyone has been in this exact same position. Every one of us has felt like they are struggling to get by. Remember that every day for the rest of your parenting ‘career.’

Third, remove all expectations of what you expected to be like as a parent. Things are different now.

Perfect Moms Are Fake

Louder for the people in the back — Perfect moms are not real!

Sure, it would be awesome to have all of this time to make Pinterest-worthy pretty bento box lunches for our school-aged children and to puree our own baby food, but that’s just not realistic.

The reality is that our lives are much more chaotic. Stop focusing on the things you can do ‘from scratch,’ be it cookies for the preschool party, Valentine’s Day cards, and even baby food. These entrees are SO from Gerber are so convenient.

Look for trusted products like Gerber® Freshful Start™ to reduce the stress of mealtime

Mealtime equals chaos in my life. The school-aged kids are picky and the baby demands food now. Instead of making my own baby food, I looked to Gerber® Freshful Start™.

Gerber® Freshful Start™ offers high-quality, fresh tasting, cooked with love foods that are free of preservatives and GMOs! These always-organic baby and toddler foods are so fresh tasting they need to remain refrigerated.

This product line ranges from Homestyle Purees for the Sitter Stage to Veggie Entrees for toddlers. Both are prepared in minutes and make it easy for me when I’m dealing with the chaos of feeding a family of 5.

You can pick up the Gerber® Freshful Start™ line at your local Meijer store in the refrigerated section of the baby food aisle!

Because being the perfect mom is totally overrated. Be the mom that has happy, healthy, and well-fed children. Most of all remember this: We’re all just doing our best.

Amwell Urgent Care Services: Get Back to Your Routine Faster

December 4, 2019 by Rachel 36 Comments

Compensation was provided by Amwell via Momtrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Amwell or Momtrends.

Tis the season! Not just for the holidays, but for sickness, too! Between the inclement weather, work and life commitments, and just general busy-ness of the season, there is basically zero time to get to the doctor for an office visit.

Thanks to technology, we don’t have to worry about leaving the house for Urgent Care visits. Amwell offers online and mobile urgent care visits. They make it easy to be seen by doctors in just minutes to help combat illnesses like pink eye or the stomach flu.

I’ve been using mobile doctors for the last couple of years. Sure, we see our primary care doctor and pediatrician regularly. However, sometimes it just isn’t possible. Last week I was suffering from a headache that I just couldn’t get rid of. At first I thought it was just a headache, but when the pain moved to my jaw, I knew I needed to act.

I took a break while I was at work and I downloaded the Amwell app on my phone. Within minutes, I was connected with a board certified physician. She helped determine that, yes, it was likely an infection. An antibiotic prescription was called into my pharmacy and I was good to go.

That was it.

Why use Amwell for Urgent Care Services?

An urgent care visit can be expensive. And, unfortunately, most Urgent Care clinics are not open 24/7. Amwell is available day or night, at home or on the go.

What can I be seen for?

You can be seen for things like Fevers, Colds & Flu, Allergies, Sinus Infections, Stomach Bugs, UTIs, Rashes, Pink Eye, and more. They will not see you for an emergent situation (seizures, chest pain, broken bones, etc).

What can I expect during an Amwell telehealth visit?

You’ll need to create an account and enter in some of your personal information like insurance and health history. You can do this on either your phone or computer.

Then you can browse available doctors, review their credentials, and choose your preferred pharmacy.

Next, your video visit will start. The doctor will review your symptoms and assess your condition and set into motion next steps.

Complimentary Care

It’s still important to establish care with a regularly visited physician. Amwell is great for Urgent Care situations, but they are not a replacement for in-person care nor are they emergency care doctors.

Save on Urgent Care

The cost of an Amwell visit is $69, but if you click here and use the code itsahero you’ll receive 50% off!

Getting sick care shouldn’t be stressful. Don’t let it slow you down. Use Amwell to get your health back on track while you stay focused on everything else.

The Kimpton Schofield Hotel Cleveland + Jeni’s Ice Cream // A Match Made In Staycation Heaven

July 22, 2019 by Rachel 13 Comments

I’ve been dreaming of one thing for the last 7 years. And last night that dream became a reality. I had my first every staycation, completely alone!

Sunday afternoon I headed up to Downtown Cleveland to stay at the Kimpton Schofield Hotel to celebrate two things — freedom and National Ice Cream Day!

The Kimpton Schofield Hotel, located directly in the heart of the action on Euclide Avenue, just launched a partnership with local (and now national!) ice cream icon, Jeni’s Ice Cream! And personally, I am HERE FOR IT.

My Mom-Staycation began the moment valet took my keys. At that moment “mom” was off the clock! Moments after unpacking in my room, room service arrived with two pints of Jeni’s Ice Cream and an ice-cold bottle of Prosecco.

A few sips of prosecco and a few spoonfuls of Jeni’s Honey Vanilla Bean were just the welcome I needed. I breathed a collective sigh of relief from all of the motherhood stressors of the last 7 years. It’s amazing how taking time for self-care can change your entire mood, am I right?!

After enjoying my welcome amenities, I stood in awe of the city views from my room windows. Across the street was the iconic Downtown Heinen’s, located in the historic Cleveland Trust Rotunda Building. It was breathtaking to see my favorite city from this angle.

Later, I dined at the incredible on-site restaurant, Parkers Downtown. Yes, I had a solo reservation; and, no, I had no qualms about it.

To start, I ordered a glass of their dryest red. To some, dining alone (or, heck!, even having a glass of wine alone) in a restaurant would be intimidating. But for the first time in a while, I was able to enjoy my dining experience. No kids, no extra chatter, just quiet.

Everything on the menu sounded incredible and I definitely ordered more than I could possibly eat by myself! I ordered the artisan cheese board, loaded fries (with goat cheese and bacon), and the Korean Fried Chicken Sandwith (with kimchi and aioli on a brioche bun). Y’all! It was INCREDIBLE. All of it! I tried my best to dine as slowly as possible (a small luxury for those of us with kids), but I am guessing I only lasted about 20 minutes before throwing in the towel and bringing the rest back to my room as leftovers.

Nonetheless, my experience was perfection. The service was so thoughtful, the meal was beyond delicious, and everything was overall exceptional. I look forward to trying out their brunch and happy hour in the future.

My post-dinner excursion included a walk down Euclid Avenue and a loop down East 4th before heading back to my room to revisit those Jeni’s Ice Cream pints! Honestly, as nice as it was to be ‘away’ from everyone and everything, my room at the Kimpton Schofield was so relaxing and inviting with its cozy bed and original artwork, I didn’t want to leave!

SO many thanks to the Kimpton Schofield team for hosting me for an amazing staycation!