Fighting Boredom with Healthy Food + Creative Living
As I live in Southern California, we won’t be getting a dusting of snow anytime soon (or ever), however, the weather has chilled and golden leaves are falling off trees. The time change has already left me a bit out of sorts, but the upside…
Spaghetti squash is delicious all by itself with a little olive oil and garlic salt, but fritters are another fun way to prepare it. These fritters may also be reheated and make a tasty savory fall appetizer during the winter months.
I found the most beautiful California grown turnips the other day at the store. I personally like turnip mash, but I decided to make my turnips family-friendly as I wanted these suckers consumed!
Turnips have a unique pungent taste that pairs well strong spices. I decided to bake these peeled and sliced ‘fries’ with spicy cayenne and warm flavorful nutmeg. It’s great by itself, or serve with a cooling cumin yogurt dip. (more…)
Once on a summer vacation to Oregon, I walked across a field with knee-high tall grass not realizing my bag was open. Somewhere along the path, my eyeglasses fell out and I spent the next several hours searching unsuccessfully.
When I was little, my Mom would serve us spaghetti and hand us a cylinder of powdered ‘parmesan’ or what we called ‘snow’ to sprinkle on top. It may as well have been snow because it was just as flavorless.
The moment the Christmas and New Year festivities are behind us, thoughts start turning to Spring. It is a time of renewal, and many of us will be thinking of finally getting started on that project we have been contemplating for years – my recent project of converting a garage to a games room is a perfect example. (more…)
The following is a sponsored post. Daylight savings time ends this Sunday, November 5th at 2 a.m. and I for one can’t wait for the extra hour of sleep! While I welcome the bonus snooze time in the morning, the early darkness often throws my schedule…
I put a lot of love and thought into my meal planning when I entertain. While I do ask my guests if they have any food allergies, sensitivities or preferences, sometimes I forget– or worse, my guests will not tell me about foods they just…
Kindness should be practiced every day, as it feels great to give! However, every November 13th is celebrated as World Kindness Day around the world! The World Kindness Day was introduced in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement. Although the theme of this day is to encourage random acts of kindness, sometimes being random is harder than it sounds. (more…)
I happened to find a huge stash of long purple Chinese Eggplants (California grown) at our local Korean market yesterday, so instantly I had a craving for warm, spicy eggplant over rice. Chinese eggplants are typically long, slender and very compact. If they have seeds,…
A new study—the first of its kind—explains how even moderate intake of fruit, vegetables and legumes may lower a person’s risk of heart disease and death. This is good news for those who think they can’t afford (or like) to get the recommended amount of…
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #RefreshinglyHonestSnacks #CollectiveBias
The school year is upon us, and if you’re like me, your calendar is already full for the foreseeable future. I find the best way to tackle calendar chaos is to be organized, so I’ve put together an Essential Things To Pack list for busy parents who spend hours a day running errands, working and shuttling kids around until dark.
We’ve all sat there at after-school practice, for hours, wondering if it’s possible for a stomach to eat itself because are SO hungry. We’ve also sat there thirsty and parched, wanting a beverage, but yet we didn’t come prepared and the local vendor only takes cash because his credit card machine is down. We have also had to run out to grown-up events after spending a hot day in the car feeling sweaty and stale.
My Essential Things To Pack kit for busy parents is achievable, well-tested and good for your body and soul. I’m also a full supporter of organic and natural products, so the Honest Tea® and Simple Truth® brands are often my go-to choices when I need products I like and trust.
A cloth bag with a handle. Do not put these items in a plastic or paper bag. You will forget what’s in the bag and somehow it will be left somewhere, or thrown away. At least that’s what I do! (yikes)
Hydration is key when running around town, and bringing your own beverages can save time and money. When given the choice, I prefer to buy organic, fair-trade products. Therefore, I choose to stock up on organic Honest Tea® beverages to add to my Essential Things To Pack kit. Honest Tea is real brewed with real ingredients, so it has an authentic tea taste. I also love that the Honest Tea® is just a tad sweet, so they are light and refreshing. Cool tidbit of info – September was National Organic Month! However, I try to celebrate Organic Month every month!
Ralphs has a great selection of flavorful Honest Tea® beverages, so I always stock up when I do my grocery shopping.
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” When I don’t pack a snack, I am left wishing I had one and then often grab something awful that will ruin my dinner, or make me feel terrible later. A solid choice for the Essential Things to Pack bag are snacks from the Simple Truth line of products available at Krogers/Ralphs. The Simple Truth Organic Trail Mix is a great option because it’s chock full of a variety of nuts and dried fruits.
I also love the Simple Truth Energy Bars because they have just the right amount of energy to get me through to dinner time and are great to have on hand for starving passengers as well! If bringing more than two, I recommend packing them all in a Tupperware container so they don’t get squished or lost in your bag.
Have you ever left the house in a light t-shirt when it’s in the 70’s and somehow find yourself, many hours later, in the dark for a school event or project, and realize the temperature has dropped 20 degrees? Have you then thought about putting your kid’s 5T toddler sweater on? Yes, I have.
Pack a sweatshirt or sweater that doesn’t wrinkle. Leave it in the bag, and ALWAYS restock if you take it out (and you will).
I use my credit card, debit card or digital payments everywhere. Many of my friends have snubbed cash by now as well. So who is the first one to be out of luck when technology goes down and it’s a Cash Only World? Pack a $20 bill. Forget it’s there. When you really need it, you will magically remember your super brainy hidden spot (which is a $20 in a plastic baggy, in your ‘Essential Things’ bag.
They are tiny, they are flat and SHOULD be everywhere, but yet when you have a blister, or your child just had a run-in with a cement sidewalk, band-aids are nowhere to be found. Pack your own big girl stash of band-aids. This means no cartoon characters, no shapes and only clear plastic strips. No more orangey brown tell-tale wound announcements. Just blend in your owie (from slicing apples too quickly this morning), and no one will notice.
Moms, go ahead and buy yourself some nicely fragranced face and body wipes. Baby wipes will get the job done, but having a natural citrus smelling wipe to clean your face, neck and anything else that feels sweaty before you dash off to the next event feels very grown-up. Citrus scent is also a natural stimulant, and at the end of the day, we need every extra ounce of energy to get to those late meetings, and celebrations.
Pack the wipes, band-aids, and cash in a plastic baggy. Not only will it keep these items organized and clean, but that plastic baggy just may come in handy as well!
At the end of the day, I leave my Essential Things bag by the front door. I can easily restock it the night before, and add any other items that I’ll need for the next day.
Meow! Where on earth do you go all day?
To learn more about Honest Tea® beverages and get some great recipe and project inspiration and tips, click here.
