Easy Oven Baked Sheet Pan Eggs - Breakfast for the Whole Week!

So, it's basically a giant oven omelet that you can cut into squares and make breakfast sandwiches with, or eat all on it's own.

It's super simple, makes a ton, and bonus... you can say you totally "meal prep" #lifewin.

SHEET PAN OVEN EGGS

15 eggs

1/3 cup milk

Salt & Pepper

Cheese

Bacon

... really, just anything else you like. Veggies are great in this too. 

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

- Generously coat a sheet pan with nonstick spray.

- Mix all of your ingredients together.

- Pour them onto the sheet pan. 

- Bake for 18-25 minutes (they are done when the center no longer wiggles)

- Let cool.

- Cut into squares and package in individual portions for easy reheating.

ENJOY!

Hot Cheesy Bacon Jalapeño Dip & MORE - Simple Super Bowl Food!

🎤 When I dip, you dip, we dip!

I've spend most of my day in the kitchen with the bestie, cooking up my favorite party-time appetizers so you could get some yummy food ideas for your next get together, or to enjoy on the Super Bowl this coming Sunday!

Ooooooh myyyyyy goooosh you guys have to try this ASAP. It's like all of my favorite foods had a pool party and then dove into a sour cream, mayo and cream cheese mixture.

GET IN MY LIFE! 

After School Snack Ideas!

If you follow along on my Instagram stories, then you know I like to share my after school snack ideas almost everyday. I started doing this little series as a way to share yummy, quick snacks with other mommas out there who struggle with ideas on what to feed their "staaaarving" kiddos after a long day at school. And of course, they're obviously adult friendly too.

I also started a tradition a while back, where I greet each of my girls with the same saying (in a loud, cheesy, happy voice) as they walk through the door.
"Hey girl, heeeey!"😆

A little while ago I explained a bit more on Instagram why I think a good after school snack, having any sort of routine, and happily greeting your kids each day (if possible) is so important to me. I worked out of the house for a couple years and wasn't always able to be home for my girls, but now that I'm mostly working from home, I've been able to see the difference it can make.

FROM MY INSTAGRAM POST: 
"My kids' emotions are typically high after school. Do you have kids like this? I feel like there is a ton of overstimulation at school, and a LOT of being seen but not heard and obeying other people's standards. Hyper, tired, frustrated, ornery, chatty...whatever it may be, I've found that a simple big hug, telling them how much I missed them, and FOOD... of ANY kind, immediately can help my kids shift into a better frame of mind. 
It takes some effort on my part, but it's SO worth it. Less rummaging through my pantry, making messes, overeating... and theres something mentally that feels really good about hearing you were missed. 
I also don't push too many questions right away and allow them to completely check out for about an hour. iPad, phone, book, nap, tv, FaceTime with a friend...whatever. I try to remember how I felt when I was a kid, and I don't recall much, but I definitely remember always feeling tired and hungry - especially as a teenager. Sometimes my girls will talk my ears off, other times they disappear and decompress for the entire hour alone in their rooms. But I find, either way, allowing them to shake off the day however they need to, makes it way easier to get homework done and help later with chores." 

As you know, Instagram stories disappear after 24 hours, so I promised you guys who asked that I'd jot down my after school snack ideas in a post on the blog, so it's easier to reference!

Nothing is fancy, the snacks are made with normal ingredients (usually pretty healthy... sometimes not so much😬) and they're ALWAYS served on a paper plate - duh... easy clean up🙌.

Side Notes:
- My pictures are pretty crappy. Most are screenshots from my Insta-story sharing, but just like I tell my kids... "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit" 😝
- I make my girls a pretty good sized snack each day. They all eat lunch at school around 11ish, get home by 3:00 and then we don't have dinner until about 6ish.
- I'm well aware that these snacks aren't anything "that special" or out of the ordinary. But sometimes it's nice to get OTHER peoples ideas, to see what THEY love and feed their families. You know... it's like going to a friends house and rummaging through their pantry/fridge and being excited because they have totally different food than what you would typically buy. (Come on, you know what I'm talkin' about)

Okay, so here we go!
I'm going to post a few picture collages and then list under them, what each after school snack idea is!

Easy Chipotle Cream Sauce

This chipotle cream sauce is SOOOOO good, and super simple! My bestie introduced me to it a few months ago, and it's the yummiest compliment to any kind of Mexican food! I've had this chipotle cream sauce on chicken tacos, burrito bowls, taquitos, tostadas and even drizzle it over grilled meat, if I need a kick of flavor. 

The recipe is really simple. Everything just gets thrown in a blender (I used my magic bullet) together, you blend it up really well, and you're DONE! 

The Best, Easiest Pumpkin Muffins w/ Brown Sugar & Butter Crumble!

Oooooh baby, these pumpkin muffins with a brown sugar and butter crumble topping are SO GOOD, only really have 3 main ingredients and are super quick to make!

Booyah!

Scroll down to the bottom for the easy instructions and recipe! 😘

QUICK TIP:

 I HATE using cupcake liners for muffins, because I always feel like they stick no matter what I do. So I just sprayed (with PAM) my muffin tin, and then dropped a tiny bit of flour into each cup and jiggled it around over the sink to coat everything, so that the muffins would come out nice and perfect in the end🙌

Snicker, Caramel Apple & PB Bites "Salad" Recipe!

After I shared my beloved PB Bites for an after school snack on Instagram stories, I promised I'd show you how I used them in a recipe too... so here it is!

Snicker, Caramel Apple & PB Bites "Salad"😝

It's out of this world delicious, SUPER easy, and perfect for this time of year. The tartness from the Granny Smith apples, cool texture of the smooth pudding and salty/sweetness from all the candy?... PERFECTION. You've gotta try this one out. 

Coconut and Brown Butter Rice Crispy Treats + My New Favorite Cake Stand!

Uh... yeah, you read that right... and daaaaang, these babies are SO GOOD!

Softly chewy, (is that a thing? lol) laced in marshmallow gooeyness, with bits of sweet coconut throughout! You've gotta try these bad boys😛.
And let's just go ahead and take my word for it okay? Because taking a photo that captures the YUMMINESS of these amazing treats, was a joke 🙈

14 Tablespoons of butter - BROWNED. (this will give your treat a nutty, more delicious flavor!)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1.5 cups of sweetened, shredded coconut
2 16oz bags of mini marshmallows
8 cups of crispy cereal

Over medium/low heat brown the butter. It will smell nutty and wonderful once browned!

Take off the heat and add vanilla and coconut.

Then add all of your marshmallows and stir until everything is incorporated and becomes a smooth, white substance... with bits of yummy coconut, of course!

DIY Survivor Birthday Cake!

My best friends little boy had his 7th birthday recently. He's OBSESSED with the show Survivor, and watches religiously every Wednesday night with my girls. They talk about secret idols, hidden immunity tokens (?) and who's going to outsmart who when it comes to tribal councils. 

pssst: I'm sure I just said half, if not all of those things wrong because I'm a first time show watcher LOL... but you get the idea. 

Anyway, when it came around to what kind of cake his mom wanted to surprise him with, we both knew we had to attempted a "Survivor themed" one... and I have to say, we pulled it off pretty dang good!

Kathryn originally pulled a photo from Pinterest that she loved, and worked off of that for a guideline but couldn't find any link source or specific directions, so I thought I'd throw our version into the mix, and let you know how we did it! (and when I say WE, I mean Kathryn, because she was the mastermind behind about 99% of it! LOL)

Although, it was surprisingly simple and went really fast!

My Trader Joe's Favorites - What are Yours!?

Before you ask or think it, NO, this isn't sponsored and YES, I paid for everything myself. 😘 I just wanted to share some favorite food finds of mine!

It's no secret that tons of us are obsessed with Trader Joe's. How can you NOT love their gourmet (yet super affordable) frozen food selections and endless unique, AMAZINGLY delicious snacking options... not to mention their fresh produce, that I swear has the cutest packaging.

If you've never been, it's a MUST. I wouldn't say it's a store where you can do ALL of your shopping... because heaven knows Momma needs Costco's 'bulkness' and Walmart's prices to complete her life's list of necessities. But for GREAT deals on yummy specialty foods (without the "specialty" price) and the BEST selection of flowers, Trader Joe's is SO my jam!

My parents lived in California for a handful of years, and for a long time, it was the only place that I could snag Trader Joe's goodies. But now... they're in Utah! booooyah! (insert happy dance)

So... I figured that I would share my favorite things, because who isn't curious as to what people love from the same stores you shop at!

Am I right!? So here we go!

Pumpkin Butter:

Snag a loaf of super soft cinnamon burst bread from Great Harvest, slather this goodness on, and YUM! Ooo, and if you give your bread a coat of cream cheese before the pumpkin butter (?) Even better :) 

The Best & Softest Chocolate Chip (and whatever other ingredients you want) Cookie Base you will EVER Make!

Now THAT'S a title! lol.

After testing out and tweaking TONS of cookie recipes, I've FINALLY landed on one that is AWESOMELY soft, and incredibly yummy! Not too sweet, never crunchy, no waiting for dough to chill, or need for any special ingredients. PLUS, the best part, is that it's the perfect base for pretty much ANY add-ins you want! Chocolate chips of any kind (white, peanut butter, dark, milk) nuts, coconut, dried fruit, rolled in cinnamon and sugar. THIS BASE IS JUST SOOOO GOOD!

Got it? Have I used enough caps? Okay, good. Shutting up. 

Now scroll through some pics, and head to the bottom for all the instructions and recipe 😘

Beating the Heat - Iced Crio Bru to Go!

I've partnered with Huhtamaki Inc. for the Chinet® brand to create this post! Enjoy!

I've been embracing Summer this year, even though I tend not to be an "extreme heat" person. Oh, by the way... to me, extreme heat is ANYTHING over 89 degrees. lol

On the hottest days, I tend to loath going anywhere but the pool. Mostly because its the only appropriate place that you can be half naked, without getting strange or disapproving stares.

It's true... just trust me. Nobody wants to see ALLLL of that at Costco, no matter how great you think you look. 

So when I KNOW I have to go out and run errands in the heat, I prepare myself with one of my favorite, cold, energy-filled, Summery drinks. Iced Crio Bru!

Crio Bru is a coffee alternative, that I typically drink hot, but in the Summer time, it's AWESOME brewed and cold too! It's made from premium cocoa beans that are 100% natural, filled with antioxidants, minerals and theobromine (a natural energy stimulate, that unlike caffeine, doesn't make you jittery). It's low in calories, carbs, and has no fat, sugar, sodium or gluten... until I add it, of course. HA!

Because you can't get this drink at any coffee house (yet), I always make it at home, and prepare extra so I can keep it in the fridge.

Here's how I make it:

- French Press (or coffee maker)

- Boiling Water

- Crio Bru (there are lots of different varieties)

- Almond Milk

- Coconut Sugar

- Whipped Cream

- Ice

- Insulated Comfort Cup® by Chinet®

Crio Bru is a ground cocoa bean, so I just keep mine in an air tight container I picked up at Ikea.

I put two scoops (scooper comes with the Crio Bru) of grounds into my french press, enough boiling water to fill my press almost to the top, and then stir everything really well with a spoon. Then I place my lid press just gently onto the surface, to keep in the heat in, while it is brewing. Wait at least 10 minutes for everything to brew well, before pushing the press down to extract all the grounds. 

Salty, Sweet, Pink Chocolate Party Popcorn!

Buttery, salty popcorn - good

Pretzels - good

M&M's - good

Melted white chocolate - good

Put it all together and BOO-YA! The perfect pink party popcorn! 

It's pretty self explanatory, but here are some tips and pictures on how we put everything together. 

We air popped the mushroom kernel corn from Orson Gygi. It pops up bigger and fluffier in my opinion. But you can use ANY kind of popcorn, honestly.   

 Then we broke up pretzel sticks, added a little salt and drizzled melted butter over the top of everything.

Then we melted white chocolate, just in the microwave, and poured it all over the pretzel and popcorn mixture.

Our Ugly, Favorite, Kid-Friendly Chocolate Protein Shake

Warning...

Guys, this isn't pretty okay.

 Does it taste good? Uh, YEAH! But freak, I just want to share a kid-friendly smoothie recipe that I've found works, and not stress over staging something with crazy props, besides a straw. 

So... here we go. 

This is my kids' favorite go-to smoothie this Summer. 

My best friend perfected it, and now I get to share it :)

What you'll need:
1 scoop of Chocolate Protein Powder
2 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa
Banana (however much you want)
A scoop of Peanut Butter (I use PB fit. It's less messy and a lot lower in sugar)
1-2 cups Almond Milk
1 heaping handful of Spinach
2 cups Ice

Throw it together in your blender, shake it all around... that's what it's all about! (hey!)
yes... I'm a nerd.

Ta-da! Healthy protein shake, WITH veggies that they won't even taste. BOOM!

If it's too "green" looking for your kids, do less spinach, or put it in a cup that they can't see through.
OR OR OR... call it "Hulk juice".
Kids will fall for anything, right? lol.

HAPPY SMOOTHIE MAKING!

Super Easy & Healthy, Colorful Quinoa Salad!

I've been killing myself at the gym these past couple of weeks. 

Like... I just tried to cross my ankles, while sitting here blogging, and I flinched because my legs are so sore from an intense weight lifting routine I did yesterday with my BF. lol

I'm SO an all or nothing person. Hence the reason I've totally fallen off the wagon and gained way too much weight back. I just wanted to enjoy ALL the bad foods these past few months - didn't want to leave any, one thing out of the crappy food feeding frenzy. 

ughhhhh... no good Shelley, no good.

So, in an effort to make up for a loaded handful of bad months, I'm trying to kick my butt back into gear, and eating healthier is the BIGGEST challenge for me. 

It takes SO MUCH time and effort and doesn't come naturally to me. I KNOW it was a habit a few years ago when I dropped a bunch of weight, but freak, I need to retrain myself!

So... I thought I'd share my new favorite side dish that my best friend Kathryn and I have tweaked and modified from a couple of other recipes. We call it, the Colorful Quinoa Salad.

It's packed full of yummy veggies, awesome flavor, and has a spicy kick to it too.

Easy Holiday Treat - Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bites

I couldn't help but share one of my most favorite, SUPER EASY holiday snacks again on the blog, because they're just DELISH!

About 3 years ago my friend Susan brought these scrumptious, super simple pretzel, chocolate, caramel treats to Jen's infamous yearly cookie exchange party... and it changed my life.

Okay that's a bit dramatic, but they have definitely become one of my most favorite treats due to the fact they they have both the salty AND sweet factor goin' on.

They are pretty much the quickest, most shareable holiday snack to make too... so that's a definite bonus. The only part that takes a while is the unwrapping of the Rolos candies, so I usually put my kiddos to work doing that part, and they love it!

Yummiest Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting!

It's cold outside today, so guess who's making cinnamon rolls!!!?

I had to revisit this recipe from our awesome friend Josh. He's such a good baker. You will LOVE his yummy version of cinnamon rolls, you gotta try them!

Our Favorite Pumpkin Crumble Dessert + The Pumpkin Patch!

Yum. Yes. Delish. Nom-Nom...!

But first... you have to look at some cute kid pics😁

Cinnamon Zucchini Cake & Crazy Berry Salad!

Why have I not SHARED how much I loved these two things this season!? 

Guys I totally forgot!

Well, it's not too late. Here it goes...

Crazy Berry Salad

Raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, cashews, almond butter and unsweetened coconut flakes! If those aren't ALL the good things, I don't know what is :) 

I've used bananas, cashew butter, and other types of nuts too! You can do anything, but don't forget this essential combo. It's the BEST breakfast or snack!

Cinnamon Zucchini Cake

I've been obsessed with using zucchini in recipes, and this was one of my favorites!