Healthilicious: Salad Mix-Ins

Salad is probably the easiest "real food" meal to put together. Just pick your favorite lettuce, veggies, fruits, and nuts, add a protein, and you're good to go! It's also super easy to make one ahead of time and keep it fresh all week.

I tend to get stuck in a salad "rut"- always eating the same kind for weeks at a time. I'm kinda like that though- something is SO good and I just want to eat it all. the. time. I never want to step outside of the box because if I'm hungry, I want to know what I'm eating is going to be delicious! I'm the same way at restaurants- I rarely try something new and it drives my hubby crazy!

Anyway, in an effort to try different salad combinations, I've put together this great Salad Mix-In's printable. Download, print, and keep it with your recipe cards or your meal planning supplies to be inspired to step outside the box and try something new!

Clean Lean Mommy Machine: Salad Mix-ins

Here a couple of my favorite go-to combinations:

Taco salad: Romaine lettuce, chicken breast, green peppers, red onion, black beans, monterey jack cheese, and salsa. Topped with greek yogurt and a few crunched up tortilla chips.

Side salad: Romaine lettuce, baby spinach, shredded carrots, broccoli, red onion, and homemade ranch dressing.

What are your favorite salad combos?

Tip for Tuesday: Salad All Week

I love salad, but I absolutely despise the prep work. So, today I'm sharing how I prep once and have fresh salad for an entire week!

While I'm doing my weekly snack prep, I also prep a big bowl of salad. I throw together my favorite mix of veggies, fruits, and nuts in a large bowl. My Mommy Machine Secret is to throw a paper towel on top of the salad- this absorbs moisture and keeps the lettuce fresh and crisp. Without the paper towel the salad will start to wilt, so this is an important step. Cover with a lid or piece of foil and pop it in the refrigerator.

Now you have a fresh and crisp salad for the entire week!

Quick & Easy Dinner: Chicken Fajita Quesadillas

I love mexican-style food. Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, you name it, I love it. Don't even get me started on fresh salsa- I could go on for days.

The other day I had some friends over and decided at the last minute that I didn't want to just order pizza. With no time to run to the store, I had to make do with chicken, onion, bell pepper, cheddar, and tortillas. This was enough for me but would my guests be impressed? Sure enough, these Chicken Fajita Quesadillas were a hit with adults and kids alike!

This recipe is quick and easy to make!

You'll need:

3 chicken breasts, split in half

1 T butter

salt and pepper to taste

1 small onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, core/seeds removed & chopped

shredded cheddar cheese (amount varies depending on your love of cheese)

12 medium tortillas

Pre-heat a cast iron skillet (or heat a regular skillet) over medium heat.

While the skillet heats up, slice the chicken in half so that you are splitting the breast to be thinner. Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.

Once skillet is hot, drop in the tablespoon of butter and let melt and coat the skillet.

Place chicken in the skillet and cook until both sides are brown and the chicken is completely done (no pink on the inside).

While the chicken is cooking, chop up your onion and bell pepper.

Remove the fully cooked chicken from the skillet.

Drop the onion and bell pepper into the same skillet, reduce the heat slightly.

While the onion and pepper cook, shred the chicken.

Once the onions start to turn translucent, add the shredded chicken back in the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium-low.

Let this cook for another 5-10 minutes so the flavors can come together.

Shred your cheddar.

Assemble quesadillas:

In a separate, warm skillet...

...on one half of the tortilla...

...place a little bit of cheese, then chicken/onion/bell pepper, then more cheese, then fold in half.

Mommy machine secret- the cheese being on both sides helps the quesadilla stay closed.

Flip the folded tortilla over after 2 minutes (just enough time to melt the cheese), let it warm for 2 minutes again and your done!

Mmmmm... 

Serve with rice, beans, or chips and salsa.

Enjoy!

5 Tips for a Great Girl's Getaway

I love taking "girl's trips". They rejuvenate me. I have a couple of friends who I like to plan special trips with every so often. More than just a night out, we get away.

Spending time with my family is wonderful- I love them. But getting away, even for just a night, and spending time with my girls is so fun!

Jess, Lauren and I are getting away TOMORROW! As a little pre-girl's-weekend celebration, I thought I would share a few tips with you to make any girl's getaway as enjoyable as possible! You want to de-stress and unwind- here's 5 tips to help you plan.

1. Pick a place that works for what you want. Every destination has a certain expectation associated with it. Before I had kids I wanted to meet my friends someplace with great shopping and a party night life. Now that I have kids, my idea of a getaway is slow-paced, relaxing, and with cheap happy hour options. :-) Whatever your group's expectation, make sure you select a destination that will be a good fit.

2. Pin it! Pinterest is a great tool to get everyone on the same page. You can create a board that everyone who is coming on the trip can pin to. On our last adventure, Jess, Lauren and I went to Kansas City, in preparation we pinned up a storm! Stores to shop, places to eat, clothes to wear, attractions that we didn't want to miss. It was so fun to see all of the things we could do that by the time we got there we were so excited- not just to see each other, but to go to the places we had pinned!

3. Find the good food! But find it before you go. Take time to figure out what restaurants will be close to where you are staying and playing. Pinterest, Yelp, and the city's chamber website can usually point you in the right direction when looking for local food that meets your taste bud's standards. Make sure you are taking into consideration how you will get around- if you are walking everywhere find places to eat nearby.

4. Plan one main event. Maybe you are looking forward to a spa day, shopping at a particular store, crafting, or a nice 5 course meal. Whatever it is, plan your "main event". By planning this one thing you can ensure that you are getting the most out of your getaway. Your friends might want to join you, but maybe they don't. It's ok to split up, especially if you have a large group. Maybe you have a spa day while your friends hit up the nearby mall- no big deal! Everyone should feel like they are getting the most out of their weekend. Plan it ahead of time so that no one's "main event" gets overlooked.

5. Don't over plan.  The whole idea of a getaway is that you get away. From stress, from responsibility (sort of), from schedules.  Another great thing about having a "girl's trip pin board" is that you don't have to have a schedule. For our trip to Kansas City, every morning we consulted our board and came up with a game plan for our day. Perfect use of a pin! This year we are getting together at the lake and the only "plans" we have are to be crafty (at least one craft each) and drink sangria. You can imagine what our pin board looks ;)

Bottom line: a getaway with the girls should be a good time. By putting in a little planning before you go, you can relax and enjoy the trip even more!

Where is your favorite place to getaway? We'd love to hear about it!

Frozen Passion Tea Lemonade

It's no secret I'm a Starbucks addict fan. I love an iced decaf non-fat caramel macchiato any time of the day or year, but I'm also kind of obsessed with passion tea lemonade. My BFF, Lauren, introduced it to me while we were on an girls weekend in Kansas City a couple years ago and I've loved it ever since!

When the hubs and I were in Ohio for our friends wedding a few months ago, we made frequent Starbucks trips. I picked up a box of their Iced Passion Tea Bags since the closest Starbucks to our home is 40 miles... and they don't have fun stuff like this. I've been making big pitchers of passion tea concentrate to use in lemonade, and the other day I had an epiphany- frozen passion tea lemonade!

The recipe is really versatile- use less lemonade for a stronger tea flavor, or less tea for a stronger lemonade flavor. More or less ice depending on how thick or slushy you want your drink. It's all up to you, really. It's hardly a recipe... more of an idea! ha ha!

It's simple and so refreshing in the summer heat. If you love passion tea lemonade, you'll love this! Cheers!

Frozen Passion Tea Lemonade

Ingredients

3/4 C. Passion tea concentrate (make as directed on your tea box, but it must be chilled)
1/2 C. Simply Lemonade
Sweetener (optional. I drink mine unsweetened, so start with a small amount and add more as needed.)
2 handfuls of ice

Directions

Add all ingredients to blender. Use the "ice" button your blender or choose the setting that works best with ice, and mix until it's a slushy consistency.

Enjoy!

This is not a sponsored post.

Tip For Tuesday: The Best Way to Reheat Pizza

Pizza is kind of a common meal around our house. I'd say we have it for dinner at least once a month, and maybe twice a month for lunch.

Sometimes I make our pizza from scratch (here's a great recipe for Chicken Broccoli Pizza from Jess) and sometimes I just order out.  Either way, I always make sure we have leftovers!

I'm not a cold pizza fan. I know, I know- cray-zay! For a while a lot of pizza went to waste in my house, because I used to hate reheating pizza- the microwave leaves the crust soggy and soggy crust is no bueno, other pans would get the crust crispy but the toppings would be cold. I got a cast iron skillet for Christmas and I now use it for everything, so why not reheat pizza in it, too?

Here's what I do:
Preheat the skillet over low to medium-low heat {mommy machine secret: for thinker crust you want slightly lower heat, this way you don't burn the crust before the toppings get hot}.

Place the pizza in the skillet until the cheese on top gets hot and melty. Enjoy a nice crispy crust and perfectly warm toppings!

Clean & Lean: Sock-Folding Wall Sits

Summer is a time for bare feet, right? Not for my Little Man! He has a grass allergy that means he has to wear sock year round.

He doesn't seem to mind, and neither do I. To make the most of my time matching up pairs of socks, I incorporate some wall sits!

Wall sits bring out my competitive side. I love to set goals for myself so I always try to fold one more pair of socks before I have to stand up. My hamstrings hate me, but it's a good burn! These are also a great compliment to Laundry Plies, working different muscles but all in your legs.

Proper Form
Tummy Tight. Suck your belly button into your spine.
Place your back to the wall and bend your knees forming a 90 degree angle. Imagine you are sitting in a chair.
Hold this position for as long as you can stand it.

Clean & Lean
Place all of your mis-matched socks on your lap and match them up while you are "sitting". {See this tip to keep all your socks together.}
Having an activity to do helps distract you from all the muscle you are building.

Step It Up
Time is the biggest factor here.
Work your way up to 1, then 2 minutes.

Run out of socks to fold? Try to fold all of your laundry like this!

Want to be efficient and "lean" while you clean? Check out all of our Clean & Lean ideas!

The Energy Bus

When I had Little Man my life changed. All of a sudden I couldn't be selfish. I couldn't just think about me and my happiness, I had to think about my attitude and the choices I was making as they related to him and our family. Whoa! That's a lot of pressure!

I didn't want him to see me as a negative person, I started being much more intentional about my attitude. I wanted him to learn from my example to be able to turn a stressful, negative situation into a positive experience.

Negativity is something that I try to avoid. I can't be positive everyday all day, but I can choose to have a positive attitude more often than not. Positivity is a choice. Often, negativity is the easier choice- gossip, complaining, whining all come easy.  But choosing to smile, laugh, and encourage are choices that are well worth the effort!

The book, The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon is being passed around my office. It is all about positivity and the great impact it can have on your life and the people around you.  I love books like this!! It's not cheesy, it is positive.

There are a few take away messages I want to share with you all. I find these things help me to be a better mom and make my family a happier family. I love when an author can articulate something so simple in such a profound way.

Positivity is a choice. You are the only one who can choose how you react to situations

"no one can chose your attitude but you".

You choose for you and this has an impact on others.

"This one choice will determine if your life is a success story or one big soap opera."

Think about it, if your kid is throwing a fit and you yell and react in an angry, negative way does your child really stop throwing a fit or does it get worse? If you choose to listen to why your child is upset and then react calmly, your child will calm down faster too.

"it's how we choose to deal with the events in our life that means everything"

It is amazing how everything aligns and falls into place when you are looking at life in a positive way. There is a positive side to every event, every day, every story. Positivity makes everything more fun! I realize this sounds cheesy, but it's the truth!

"the closer you get to the truth, the simpler and more powerful the lessons become."

By choosing to be positive, you attract positive people, positive events, and more positive thoughts.  Even when something negative has got your down, think of 3 positive things (I'm happy to be alive, I love my kids, my family is the best thing that ever happened to me), smile, and watch your mood lift!

I hope you find that positive thoughts and positive energy come easy to you. It takes practice. But being positive makes life more fun and less stressful!

What is something positive in your life?

Here is a link to The Energy Bus on Amazon, this is not a sponsored post.

12 Ways to Use Greek Yogurt

I have a slight obsession with teal, chevron, old navy flip flops, Pioneer Woman, and greek yogurt. I seriously try to use greek yogurt in anything and everything I can. My poor husband has to listen to my latest substitution on almost a daily basis... but you know, he knew he was marrying a Health Educator, so he shouldn't be surprised. ;)

There are so many ways to use greek yogurt besides the obvious sour cream swap. If you aren't a greek yogurt fan, you can still get the benefits by using some of the ideas I'm about to share because the taste isn't noticeable in many of them!

In honor of my love of greek yogurt, I'm sharing my top 12 favorite ways to use it!

1. Add to smoothies 
2. Put on top of a baked potato, chili, or taco
3. Make these yummy key lime bars
4. Use on top of breakfast staples like pancakes or waffles
5. Combine with peanut butter for a sweet fruit dip
6. Make whipped greek yogurt cream
7. Use in banana sauce recipe (serve with fruit- yum!)
8. Make your kiddo this "No Junk Allowed" breakfast parfait
9. Mix with berry sauce and fresh fruit
10. Mix with lemon zest, pepper and salt for a pre-grill marinade on chicken.
11. Use in homemade ranch dressing
12. Sweeten and use on fruit pizza (ditch the cream cheese!).

Want to see even more ways to use greek yogurt? Check out our "Greek Yogurt Love" Pin Board!

Eating greek yogurt is so great for your health, but I know it can be hard to make the switch from regular yogurt. My Mommy Machine Secret is to mix half greek yogurt with half regular yogurt, and then cut back on the regular yogurt until you don't need it anymore. Baby steps! ;)

Tip for Tuesday: The Phantom Sock Solution

We love it when our readers share their genius tips with us, and this one was no exception!

You know how your washer and dryer seem to mysteriously eat your socks? Annmarie from momto8blog shared her super simple solution to this common problem: buy each family member a mesh lingerie bag. Keep dirty socks in the bag. Wash. Dry. No phantom socks.

Is your mind blown? That's what we thought.

Be sure to thank Annmarie for giving you an excuse to go to Target (like you really needed one anyway, right?),  and for her awesome solution to the oh-so-common phantom sock!

We would love you to share your favorite tip with us. We might just try it out and feature you and your idea on Tip for Tuesday! 

Secrets to Surviving Road Trips With Kids

I recently took a road trip with KC and the kids. We drove 10 hours.

t e n    h o u r s

It was actually enjoyable, to be honest. We are fortunate that our kids like don't mind being in the car, they don't get car sick, and they can fall asleep easily when they are tired.

Even taking all that into consideration, 10 hours (one way) is a long time! Here are some mommy machine secrets to keeping your sanity on a long drive:

1. Each kid gets to bring one bag-o-toys.
I have these great 31 square totes that have the kids names on them. My 4 year old gets to pick which toys he brings, I pick toys for my 2 year old (I pick from the stash of toys in her closet that she hasn't played with in a while).

*31 doesn't sell the exact cubes I have anymore, but here is something similar. Not a sponsored post/comment, just lettin' you know.

2. The DVD player is your best friend.
Each kiddo gets to bring 2 DVD's. We take turns picking the DVD they are watching. I usually start a movie when the kids are needing to take their nap and when they wake up from nap- this is when they are their grumpiest.

3. Snacks, snacks, snacks.
Nothing brings on whiny and cranky like low blood sugar, think of the Snickers commercials. The snacks aren't just for the kids, though. KC and I bring snacks along to avoid the "oh look, another Dairy Queen, let's stop" situations. You can pack a lot of the same snacks you make for the week, just make sure you keep ice in the cooler with "refrigerated items".

4. Plan fun stops and meal breaks.
I always check Google Maps & Yelp! before we hit the road. I look for fun rest stops with parks, restaurants that are family friendly and different than what we can find at home, and things that interest my kids. These distractions and opportunities to "stretch your legs" are great for kids and adults.

5. Stay organized.
Nothing is worse than trying to find the Goldfish while your 2 year old screams and cries or having to climb into the trunk to find someones favorite dinosaur. Keeping everything within reach and organized prevents melt-downs, for you and the kids :-) I keep all of our snacks, toys, drinks, diapers, wipes, DVD's, and anything else I may need nice and organized:

• The cold snacks go behind the driver's seat- easy access to the passenger and if you set your A/C to blow on the floor and up on the higher vents it will help to keep the cooler cold.
• The kid's toys ride in between their car seats.
• Other snacks as well as rest stop necessities (diapers and wipes) stay behind the passenger seat in the diaper bag.
• The DVD player rides on top of the center console.

I love road trips! With the right preparation, they can be so fun and they are a great way to spend quality time with your family.

What's your secret to road trip success? We'd love to hear it!

Friday Favorite: DIY Water Slide

Here in Oklahoma, it gets HOT in the summer. So hot it can be unbearable to be outside. We typically stay inside between 10ish-4ish. That doesn't mean we miss the heat though.

In order to make our time outside more enjoyable, we turn the hose on everything. The kids toys get hot in the afternoon so you have to hose them down. Even the giant water pillow gets hot hot hot so you've got to cool it down, too.

At some point I got tired of holding the hose, and the kids get burned out on the sprinkler (pun intended), so the hose, plus the slide and a few pieces of duct tape- we've got a DIY water slide!

Put this on the water pillow and you've got a whole splash pad! Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating, but the kids love it!

 It really is this easy, folks.

But it is also hours of fun!

Stay cool friends.

Healthilicious: Whipped Greek Yogurt Cream

It's safe to say that it's no secret that I have a sweet tooth. It's kind of ironic, really, considering I'm also kind of a health nerd. I'm also kind of obsessed with greek yogurt. So, sweet tooth + greek yogurt obsession= 0, right? Like, they cancel each other out. :)

The other day I was craving some berries & whipped cream, but was feeling guilty about the whipped cream part. I got the idea to create a whipped greek yogurt cream; I wasn't quite sure how it would work or if it would work at all, but I was going to give it a try.

My first try failed, but I gave it another go and whipped greek yogurt cream instantly became my new favorite way to use greek yogurt!

It's still light like whipped cream, but also a little creamy and tangy from the greek yogurt. It was the perfect thing to top my super sweet berries (and I bet it would be delish on top of homemade pancakes or waffles!) and I'm sure I'll be eating this for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack for the next week.

The best thing about this recipe is that you can adjust the sweetness. I knew my berries were super sweet, so I didn't make my cream as sweet as I normally would. My recipe reflects this, so you may need to add more sweetener to yours. You can also control the type of sweetener you use- I used a combination of pure maple syrup and granulated sugar. Any sweetener would work well here.

I wouldn't call this recipe "healthy", but it's definitely "healthier" because I subbed half of my regular whipped cream recipe with the whipped greek yogurt. With added protein, as well as live and active cultures from the yogurt we've definitely boosted the nutritional value of regular ol' whipped cream!

My daughter even loved it, so it's kid-approved!

Whipped Greek Yogurt Cream

Ingredients

3/4 c. heavy cream
3/4 c. plain non-fat greek yogurt (I'm partial to Chobani)
2-3 splashes pure maple syrup
2-3 tsp. pure granulated sugar
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract (optional)

Directions

Using the whisk attachment on a stand mixer, whisk the heavy cream and maple syrup together until it forms soft peaks (or stiff peaks if you prefer that consistency). If you don't have a stand mixer, an electric hand mixer works great too! 

Transfer the whipped cream to a medium sized bowl and set aside. 

Rinse out the mixing bowl, then add greek yogurt and sugar. Add vanilla extract if you're feeling fancy. Whip for approximately 2 minutes. Taste and add another teaspoon of sugar if need be. 

Add yogurt to whipped cream and fold gently until combined. Check sweetness level and add another splash of sweetener if needed. 

Store in airtight container for up to one week and enjoy! 

Tip for Tuesday: Perfectly Buttered Corn on the Cob

Don't ya just love corn on the cob?

I do! We get really great Bixby Sweet Corn in my neck of the woods and I could eat it every night if KC was ok with it. He's not as enthusiastic as I am.

Buttering and salt/peppering corn on the cob can be a pain- there is always one side that has too much pepper, or not enough butter... unacceptable.

Ready for your mind to be blown?

After boiling the corn, strain the corn and dump out the water. Place the corn back in the pan and place it back on the stove top- no heat needed. Put 1 tablespoon of butter per ear of corn in the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle in salt and pepper too. As the butter melts, use tongs to roll the corn around in the butter.

Voila! Perfectly buttered corn on the cob!

Bake Outside the Box: Savory and Scrumptious

Baking doesn't always mean sweet stuff.

Despite my long post last week, I don't always bake sweet things :)

I also like to bake something to go with our dinner. We always have one "starch" with dinner and mashed potatoes can get old fast. So, to mix it up a little, I try to have one dinner each week where I bake one of the below recipes.

I try to find things that are quick and easy- I don't like to spend a lot of time on dinner so these are good "go to" side dishes!

I have linked the recipes to their source, but these are also on the BOTB Pinterest Board!

Cheese Biscuits (shown in picture above)
Homestyle Biscuits
Special Occasion Rosemary Olive Oil Bread *slightly more work, but worth it!
Cheesy Garlic and Herb Breadsticks
Bake Your Own Chips *might not be traditional "baking" but you have to prep and bake them in the oven ;)
Sweet Corn Bread *great with BBQ
Basic Buttermilk Corn Bread *awesome with beans or chili

Sometimes when baking, you may not have the exact ingredients on hand. Here are some substitutions you can make:
Buttermilk= 1 cup whole milk + 1 tbs vinegar
Self Rising Flour= 3/4 cup ap flour + 1/4 tsp salt + 1 tsp baking powder
Shortening= equal amount of butter

Now that I have caught you all up on my favorite things to bake, I will be sharing new baking recipes from time to time. Feel free to share your favorite thing to bake- I'd love to try it!

More BOTB: breakfast, sweet treats, bread.

Friday Favorite: Giant Water Pillow

I'm sure you all have seen this idea on Pinterest. My kids love the giant water pillow! I love it too :)

Since we have done this a few times now, I thought I'd share some tips and tricks to making the most of your $15 investment. If done right, this can provide you with weeks of fun!

First, make sure your plastic sheeting is more than 3 MIL. I'm using 3.5 MIL. Any duck tape will do.

I also get a very large piece of plastic. This way there is plenty of room for both kids- and me! {you'll see}

Unfold your plastic. Then fold it in half. {like a "hamburger" not a "hot dog"} I use a couple of the kids toys to anchor the plastic down. It doesn't have to be super neat, but it does help especially if there is any wind.

Now, I tear off small pieces of tape and use them to keep the plastic's edges together. Every 6-8 inches, put a tab of tape. Make sure to keep the edges even.

Once you've tabbed one side, tear off pieces of duck tape. Try to make the tape pieces 6-8 inches long- you want it to be manageable and not fold over on itself. Place the tape in the top side of the plastic allowing half of the width of tape to hang over the edge. Then, making sure the edges of plastic are even, fold the tape over and press to seal. Like so:

Keep doing this along all 3 open sides {since you folded the plastic in half, one side is sealed already! yay!} If you crease the tape, like the picture above, place more duck tape over the creases. This is where water will leak, so you want to make sure you correct it now!

 Make sure to add extra tape on the corners to really seal them up!

After the sides are all sealed {and I realize I haven't left an opening for the hose- stay with me}, lay the plastic out on a flat section of the yard and anchor it down so it is nice and smooth.

Using scissors, cut a small opening in one of the corners, preferably the corner that is on the "highest ground". Stick the hose in and keep threading the hose into the water pillow. You will want the end of the hose to be in the middle of the water pillow for even filling.

It will take a while to fill... so go inside and get on swim suits and sunscreen or something :-) Try to keep the kids off of the water pillow as it is filling.

You might have to prop the hose up to keep the water from spilling out of the opening as it is filling up.

If your yard is like mine, with no flat spots, then use toys or even the fence to help keep the water pillow from rolling. 

Once the water pillow is full, remove the hose and seal up the hole with more duck tape.

As you are playing, look for leaks and use more duck tape to seal them up.

This is my preferred arrangement. I like to lay out while the kids are on the other end. It kind of feels like you are floating :-)

This isn't a permanent play place. It will lose water- you can refill it. It will stretch and tear- you can repair it. Once it has been worn out, just throw it away!

My last recommendation is actually from KC, move the water pillow around so you don't kill the patch of grass underneath it ;-)

Have fun and relax while the kids play! I will have one last tip for you next Friday to really upgrade this Friday Favorite experience... stay tuned!

Summer Sanity Savers #1

School's out and summer is here, well, sorta. It's been unseasonably chilly here in Minnesota, so we're just now getting our first taste of warm weather. We are, however, trying to adjust to the new summer schedule... or lack thereof.

Speedy's teachers have stressed the importance of keeping a pretty regular schedule during the summer in order to keep him calmer and happier. Most kids thrive on routine, and that's especially true with kiddos with Autism. So, in an attempt to keep my sanity and keep him and his sister busy and happy this summer, I came up with a daily schedule that we could stick to most days of the week. It includes the basics- snacks, meals, outside time, planned activities, and free time.

I set aside a time in the morning and a time after "quiet time" for activities I have planned- usually one outdoor and one indoor and they are relatively simple. A wagon ride in the morning before it gets too hot and a sensory bin in the afternoon after quiet time. I also try to plan a couple play dates during the month to keep the kids social.

Weekends aren't planned, but we usually have something going on with friends or family.

I know it sounds a little tedious to actually plan and schedule every day of the summer, but it really isn't that bad. It keeps the kids busy, they get to try new activities, and I keep my sanity. At least that's the hope. I use my Summer Sanity Saver Pinterest board to find new and fun ideas, too!

Here are my recent summer sanity savers. Pretty much everything came from the Dollar Tree and has been a big hit with the kids! I think I spent about $10.00 and it's provided us an entire month of fun so far!

Things I purchased:

• 2 bags of dry pinto beans
• Set of toy gardening toys
• Set of plastic cups
• Polka dot paint roller
• Various bags of plastic animals
• Glitter glue
• Marbles
• Mesh strainer

Take a peek at a couple activities we've done using these items...

I hid marbles(they're hiding in the picture above) in play-doh (we already had some). 

The kids loved trying to find all the marbles and it was great for fine motor skills.

One of many sensory bins. Just beans and creatures. Add scoops and cups for more fun! 

Stay tuned for more summer sanity savers!

Tip for Tuesday: Lazy Cookie Bars

Last night I was craving cookies, but I was feeling less than motivated to spend so much of my time dealing with making them.

I got the clever idea that I could make the cookies into bars- which would cut down on time, and, not to mention, work!

Next time you're feeling "less than motivated", but want to satisfy your cookie craving, put your cookie dough into a 9x13 pan and stick it in the oven for about 20 minutes (recipes may vary, so just check in on them every now and then).

This should work with most cookie recipes. I think the only ones it may not work with are the super chewy/flat kind of cookies- although, if you like your cookies that way, this would probably work. I'm kind of a puffy, fluffy, thicker cookie kind of girl.

And yes, there are a few small pieces missing out of the pan. Self-control was non-existant after these came out of the oven.

Bake Outside the Box: Sweet Treats

Helloooooooo, sweet tooth!!

I have a crazy sweet tooth.

Candy- I can take it or leave it. But put a jar of cookies on my kitchen counter and I lose self-control.

Chocolate is my weakness. I love chocolate anything. Well, not coconut. Chocolate can't save coconut.

I believe that baking from scratch and understanding what ingredients are going into your food can make a difference in your thought processes. It can help you to be more intentional about how much and how often you eat the things you love {like cookies and brownies}. This makes a difference in your health!

I have shared my favorite healthy oatmeal cookie recipe already, but I don't always make these healthier substitutions. If I am making dessert for a family dinner, or if we are celebrating something, I will go all in- but I also know that I will be sharing these desserts. That makes a big difference in the number of calories that are left to sit in front of my face.

Freezing cookies and brownies is one of my favorite Mommy Machine Secrets.  These things freeze really well and then they are out of sight, out of mind. I have also found that, in the summer, a frozen chocolate chip cookie is the perfect treat!

Recently, I was given the gift of an ice cream maker! Even more homemade goodness to add to my lists.

I find comfort in baking. It makes me happy. Biologically speaking, the sugar adds to that happiness {it releases endorphins to the brain that make us feel happy}. But there is also comfort and happiness in being able to share the love. My Little Man loves to help me bake, that's great bonding time!

Check out the BOTB Pinterest Board for my favorite go-to recipes to satisfy my sweet tooth. I make one of these every week- 3 out of 4 weeks I make healthy substitutions with whole wheat flour, egg beaters and applesauce instead of half of the butter.

One week each month I "bake to share"! If we aren't having a big family dinner then I take some to work with me.

As a bonus, I'm also sharing my Healthilicious Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe! Enjoy!!

Ingredients
1/2 c. margarine or butter
1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs or egg beater equivalent
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1 c. whole wheat flour
2 c. all purpose flour
1-1/2 c. chocolate chips

Directions
Mix the margarine or butter, applesauce and sugar until well combined. Add eggs and vanilla then mix well.

Mix in flours and baking soda until combined. Add chocolate chips and stir until evenly distributed.

Use a small scoop to drop dough onto a baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.
*To freeze: allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Place in a large freezer safe plastic bag, seal, and freeze.

To see more BOTB posts click here and here.