Homemade Gummy Bears

My daughter has really been into baking because she loves science and she calls each recipe creation a science experiment. And she really isn't wrong. This homemade gummy bear recipe is such a fun one to re-create because it looks like you're creating science too. This is a super fun homeschool activity to teach your children the science of gelatin. When we homeschooled, the part I loved was teaching my children how what they were learning could be used in real life.


Homemade Gummy Bears


Gelatin is a mild-tasting protein derived from the collagen in animal tissue and it's the only protein with the power to thicken liquids. Easy to use, easy to find, and able to assume the flavor and color of whatever liquid it's dissolved in, gelatin is a versatile thickener for both sweet and savory cooking. There are also vegetarian substitutes for gelatin available that are made from carbohydrates.

Homemade Waffle Mix Recipe

Today is National Waffle Day! And to celebrate, here is a great and easy recipe to make waffle/pancake mix in bulk! Making pancakes in bulk and freezing them is one of my favorite homemade meal prep breakfast ideas for kids.


Homemade Waffle Mix Recipe



Making food from home is a great way to save money. And I have found that pre-making options ahead of time is a great way to save time as well. I love making breakfast for my family on the weekends and although homemade can be the way to go, it's so time consuming! PLUS pre-making the homemade mix makes breakfast for dinner nights run so much smoother too.

This is also a fun recipe to get the kids involved in the kitchen. And if they are a picky eaters then it can be a great tip to get them to try different foods.

Crockpot White Chicken Chili Recipe {Healthy Comfort Food}

 Since I have came across White Chicken Chili, my entire family has loved it! I have adapted it quite a bit though to make the process easier for me and have more flavor so I thought I would share my updates. This dish is a fairly low calorie dinner option that will leave you full and satisfied especially on those cold winter days. I personally love slow cooker meals because I just throw everything in the pot and then by the time dinner rolls around it's ready to go.


Crockpot White Chicken Chili Recipe {Slow Cooker Healthy Comfort Food} Freezer Meal


For the past two years, this recipe has tied for second in our HOA's annual Chili Cook Off. I might have won this past year if more people voted/participated. But I like to make this because I don't mind if there are leftovers (there never is). My entire family enjoys it and it's highly asked for!

This recipe also makes a great freezer meal! There is so much that if my husband doesn't want to take it as leftovers, I can throw it in a glass Tupperware container with the date in dry erase marker and have saved it for a later night when I didn't have time to prep anything.

Best Valentine Hot Chocolate Bomb Recipes

What are your plans this Valentine's Day? We are going to creative at home with some Hot Chocolate Bomb Recipes! They are so popular right now and they look fairly easy to try as well. 


Best Valentine Hot Chocolate Bomb Recipes


Gather all of your essentials to make Hot Chocolate Bombs:

And then check out these awesome Valentine Inspired Hot Chocolate Bomb Recipes to make your Valentine's Day at Home even more special! 

Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole {Easy Freezer Meal}

This was originally published on 5/10/13. This super easy, super cheesy chicken and rice casserole with veggies is everything that will make family dinner all you wanted and more. If you do freeze, make sure you thaw out before cooking. And add cheese later.


Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole {Easy Freezer Meal}




My sister-in-law had her baby on Friday and I have been trying to be a good Aunt and helping her where she needs it. My favorite things for people to come over and help with in those first few weeks were household chores and bringing food, especially since I was nursing. I understand that asking for help can be hard and sometimes people don't want to do your laundry or vacuum for you (even though that's what you need), so I suggest if they want to bring me food then they can. This is also a great meal if you want to prepare a bunch of food ahead of time for some reason.

Mexican Street Tacos with Enspice Seasonings & Spices

I received this product for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links. 

With the everything going on, most of you know that I have been trying to recreate my favorite restaurant recipes at home. The Mexican restaurant close to my house has the BEST street tacos. So I decided to try my hand at recreating them.





I was recently introduced to Enspice inc. which is a public benefit corporation on a mission to end childhood malnutrition by putting nutrients back where they belong, in food. They believe nutrients should come from their natural sources, not from a synthetic supplement. So, they put plant-based nutrients directly into tasty seasonings and spices. And they self-fund their foundation’s efforts to give children around the world the nutrition they need.

Homemade Chicken Nuggets {Frying Up Healthier with Hamilton Beach Air Fry Sure-Crisp Toaster Oven}


This year, many families are adjusting to new and different back to school schedules. Whether it's in the classroom or at home, so I know how important it is to make quick and convenient meals. I know I have been cooking SO MUCH this year and my grocery bill proves it. 




The Hamilton Beach Sure-Crisp™ Air Fry Toaster Oven will cook meals quickly and easily. Bake, air fry, broil, or toast in this versatile all-in-one toaster oven. The Sure-Crisp technology uses powerful, hot air to ensure food is browned and crisp every time. The large capacity toaster oven can fit up to 6 slices of bread or a 12" pizza. 

I am so excited for this because a few years ago my husband got rid of our air fryer because he said we never used it (which was true at the time), but now we cook at home so much more and it will be so nice to have the opportunity to fry different foods in a healthy way. But I love that it isn't just an air fryer, I love that it is a multi-purpose machine. We decided to make some homemade chicken nuggets because I think these will be a great meal-prep freezer item for my family.

Homemade Air Fry Chicken Nugget Recipe

Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

This recipe was originally published December 2, 2012! WOW! So much has changed since then for us. We have another child for one, and a lot has changed diet wise. I thought I would update it for a few reasons. You could make this slow cooker recipe in a crockpot or instant pot (which wasn't a thing in 2012). The original recipe called for Velveeta cheese and I thought I would share how to make that homemade. With the current climate and so many making recipes at home with canned goods, I thought I would share a better for you recipe made with items from your pantry instead of fresh from a fridge. 


The original version of this recipe was created to trick my daughter into eating her veggies by adding purees into it which you could still totally do, but I have found that you can do this with almost ANY recipe really. Making the cheese sauce for this homemade is better for you because it has less preservatives. If you want to make it easier, then you can definitely buy Velveeta block cheese and call it a day. You could also make this keto friendly and omit the spaghetti noodles, then just top it on zoodles. Yum!

Camping Recipes You Should Try

If you are looking for something fun to do with the family this summer that is closer to home, a camping trip is the perfect holiday idea on a budget.

With the current state of the world we have been left uncertain, and overseas travel is unlikely to be safe for a long time. If you do want to take your family somewhere this summer, a camping trip close to home is a great idea and will allow you to stay away from people and enjoy some quality time with the ones you love.




Grab yourself some 3 room tents for families, pots and pans and plenty of board games, and let’s take a look at some of the easy family meals you can create during the perfect camping trip!

Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Recipe {Easy and Freezer Friendly}

Who doesn't need some homemade Mexican food in their life right now?! This Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Recipe is not only super easy to make and freezer friendly, but a HIT with my family!


Homemade Mexican Enchiladas Recipe


This post was originally published on 3/5/13. I thought I would update it. This was originally for a review of MexAmerica tortillas, they had let me try out a variety of their tortillas. Their website is down and I haven't seen any current updates on their social media, so I thought I would re-do this post for y'all. My husband loves these enchiladas and they are so super easy. PLUS they are a hit with the kiddos too! You are definitely going to want to pin and re-pin again! :D

Low Carb Lasagna Recipe {Freezer Friendly & Perfect for St. Patrick's Day}

This Low Carb Lasagna Recipe was a hit with the entire family, easy to make, and keto friendly. It was sneakily green, perfect for St. Patrick's Day, and a great way to sneak in those veggies to picky eaters.




We have been focusing on a low carb diet for a while now. When we re-focused our nutrition and really start losing weight, cutting out carbs is the way we have done it. If you have asked us what our diet looks like and I don't really give you an answer, it's because no we don't do keto, yes we do low carb, but we still eat carbs because we need them with the amount that we work out. The dinners I make are almost always low carb.

So why do I say this is perfect for St. Patrick's Day?

Meal Prep Ideas to Help You Stay on Track

It's February, are you still focused on your New Year Resolutions? That's why I personally like making goals for myself. I feel like with a resolution, you fall of the wagon and don't see the point to get back on, but with goals, you keep trying the next day even if you lost focus for a day or two. And what has helped me in my weight loss journey is even if I had a bad day or even a week, is that I jumped back on the wagon and tried again. Just keep trying.




For me, I had to focus on getting my nutrition right first. It took a lot of trial and error, but I finally figured out the main goal each day is planning ahead. We don't eat out like we use to at all and when we do go out to eat, we make better food choices for sure, if that means completely re-making a meal then that is what I do. I also believe meal prepping is more budget friendly as well. My husband use to say he hated left overs, but he basically didn't like having something for dinner and then having it for lunch the next day. But I had to change his mindset about his lunches so he could realize how much money we were wasting by eating out everyday. So sometimes I cook a dinner like I normally would and then make enough extras for him to have at least 3 to 4 days of lunches. That way he can switch it up if we do have leftovers for him to take.

The Best Guacamole Recipe Ever

My husband makes this for so many events and we get asked all the time for the recipe so I thought I would share it here so I could give a quick link to people. He looked up a recipe years ago to use up some ripe avocados, but he has changed it to perfection. We get complimented everywhere we go and since we have starting to eat healthy, it is our go to dish to bring so we know we will have something to eat wherever we go. Compliment it with a veggie tray and boom! Satisfying, delicious, and good for you party food too.


Easy Caprese Salad Bites Appetizer Recipe

This post is a sponsored conversation brought to you by Flavor Your Life campaign and Moms Meet. All opinions are my own.


It's the most wonderful time of the year.... when you have to bring an appetizer or side dish to an umpteenth event. I have a super easy one for you that will really up the wow factor. You can organize it into a wreath if you have the right dish wear and then you'll be extra fancy.




If you are like me and looking for a super easy yet fancy looking recipe, here is how you make these yummy Easy Caprese Salad Bites Appetizer.

Snacking on Plan with FITCRUNCH + Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Nugget Recipe

I received this product for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

I have some amazing news that I haven't shared anywhere else yet, but I am very proud of it. I have officially lost 50 pounds and am at my lowest weight I have been before I got pregnant with my son (probably my daughter too, but I didn't weigh myself then). I wish I had kept better track of this journey because it has been a long one. Figuring out what works for my body. Understanding that nutrition is number one and strength is more important than cardio. It has been a learning curve for sure.


I am a firm believer in making food choices that are smart. Snacking is the number one issue concerning people who are trying to lose weight. And they always want to know how to stop it. And I say, why? Just be smart about your snacking choices. I was recently sent some FITCRUNCH Cheddar Cheese High Protein Puffs to try out with my family.

Guilt Free Almond Energy Bites with Once Again Amore Almond Spread

I received this product for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

I love when I get the opportunity to work with my favorite brands over and over again. As some of you may know, I have been on a weight loss journey for a while now and trying to find the right balance of working out and nutrition that works for me and my family.




For Valentine's Day, I made some chocolate covered strawberries with Once Again Amore Almond Spread. I love to have date nights at home. My husband and I don't eat out much anymore since we never know what to get when we go out plus we are trying to save money to pay off debt. So with that said, date nights at home are key. But honestly my new FAVORITE thing that I have made with Once Again Amore Almond Spread is these No Guilt Hazelnut Energy Bites!

Homemade Meal Prepping Breakfast Ideas for Kids

I have been trying to find ways to save more money recently. My husband and I are focusing on paying off debt this year, so finding ways to cut back just goes hand in hand. One thing I have noticed since I have stopped extreme couponing, is that our grocery bill has gone way up. And this is simply because I have been purchasing convenience items. I prefer for my kids to have a hot breakfast. When they have a breakfast that is jam packed with sugar, they seem to get hungry a few minutes later. I started meal prepping my husband breakfast and lunches which got me thinking, I could make the same convenience items that I have been purchasing in store and save a bundle plus they will probably be better for them since they aren't overly saturated with preservatives.

meal prep breakfast ideas

I am a stay-at-home mom and the argument has always been, "well you have so much time on your hands that's why this is easier for you". This was the same thing I heard when I was couponing. Like anything else you want to do whether it's start going to the gym, craft, pick up a new hobby, etc., you have to make the time if you want it to work. I meal prep on Sundays because besides going to church in the morning, we don't have much else going on that day. Some people like to "relax" and watch TV, well bring the TV in the kitchen and watch your shows while you meal prep. I promise you can find the time if you want to make this work.

So now on to a few things that we have been making for the kid's breakfasts.

Easy Keto Coffee Smoothie Recipe

If you are looking for a keto friendly protein powder then you are in luck! Coffee is mom life fuel. We all know caffeine is great in the morning to get us started and be productive, but...Did you know caffeine also helps you to lose weight?

keto coffee protein shake smoothie recipe

This is because caffeine can speed up your metabolism, which makes you burn fat without exercising, nor doing anything in particular. You do know that protein is the best macronutrient to lose weight, right?  And because keto is so popular right now, I know many people out there are looking for a keto friendly alternative to their favorite protein powders. I personally like protein shakes because they are convenient on-the-go options whether after a work out or a quick breakfast.

Easy Keto Coffee Protein Shake Smoothie Recipe

Low Carb Lasagna Broccoli Sausage Bake Recipe - Easy and Family Dinner Approved

I created this easy keto lasagna broccoli bake recipe so my family could have a delicious meal time without too much fuss. My husband has been focusing on the low carb diet called ketogenic for over two years now and within the past year his family has started living this lifestyle as well. My mother-in-law is at her goal weight after years of not being able to lose any weight. She also did intermittent fasting.

Low Carb Lasagna Broccoli Sausage Bake Recipe


What I love about this meal is that you can prep it ahead of time for an easy pop in the oven family dinner idea. I also love that there are left overs to make for easy meal prep. It also re-heats really well. The funny thing about how I came up with this recipe is, my husband bought a bunch of sausage brats on sale and we froze them. I saw them in the freezer after not being able to find any chicken and thought, "I bet I could throw something together with those". I searched a few recipes on Pinterest, but didn't see exactly what I was looking for based on what we had on hand. So this easy family recipe was created! And I wanted to share because it was definitely a crowd pleaser!

20 Keto Approved Side Dishes To Complete Family Dinner Time

My husband and I have been trying to lose weight for over a year. We have been stuck in a rut and decided that we needed to do an overhaul on our diets. My in-laws have had a lot of luck recently with the ketogenic diet and although my husband and I have been considering for a while, we never made the plunge. That was until we watched "The Magic Pill" on Netflix. This documentary was really an eye opener for us and made us want to recommit to our health. Check out this Keto Macro Calculator to help you with your ketosis, weightloss needs.



Being a busy family of four, we like meals that are easy to make and if we can make them ahead of time? Even better. Here are some Keto Approved Side Dishes to complete family dinner time. If you are new to keto, I recommend checking out this Keto Shopping List for Beginners. If you are unfamiliar with something on the list, let me know in the comments below and I'll explain why you need it.