September Favorites

September is the month my first child was born (a decade ago!), so it has a special place in my heart. I feel like I JUST ripped off August on my wall calendar, and here I am ripping off September.

I usually get into a fall mindset in September, but technically it’s still summer until the end of the month. This September definitely felt like summer, so I’m ready for some fall weather! How about you?

I have some fun shares for you this month, so I hope you enjoy!

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Favorite Products

Every month I share the latest and greats products I’ve found and loved that I think you will like, also. Here’s what I was loving this September!

ZYIA Activewear

Early this month I discovered a new activewear line, ZYIA Activewear. My first purchase was the Grey Camo Light n’ Tight Leggings and White Split Back Tank you see in the picture below, taken on a girls’ trip to Denver over Labor Day weekend.I LOVED the leggings so much (can you see the pockets?!) that I ordered another pair soon after, the striped ones you see in the pic below. I am kind of obsessed with stripes so I had to have these and they are perfect. The white bomber jacket here is also ZYIA. 

ZYIA products are Lululemon and Athleta quality at a lower price point. It didn’t take me long to realize that I needed to share this activewear line with you all, so I signed up to be a rep! Because this blog doesn’t take up too much of my time and I really have so much time to take on new ventures…. *Insert Sarcastic Voice*

Seriously, though, when I find product lines I love this much, I have to share! I’m doing a Launch Party on Facebook Monday, October 1st through Wednesday, October 3rd and you are all invited! **I’m going to be giving away $150 worth of FREE product plus more great discounts and prizes, so you definitely want to join during the Launch Party**

Click here to join my group on Facebook.

Type: A Deodorant

Admittedly, I have tried A LOT of natural deodorants. The list includes Tom’s, Primal Pit Paste, and most recently, Soapwalla. I was happy with Soapwalla until they were out of stock for a month. And then when they restocked, the product seemed different. It was not as smooth and it was difficult to apply. 

When Type: A reached out asking if I’d like to try their deodorant, I was ready to try something new. I’ve been loving Type: A!

The deodorant is aluminum and paraben-free. I’ve found it to be long-lasting and even works on non-shower days. Another big selling point is that it’s formulated to be non-irritating. I haven’t had issues with natural deodorant being irritating, but Tim has and I know many of you have. Try Type: A if other natural deodorants have been irritating!

My favorite part about Type: A is that even though it’s a cream, it comes in a tube that you apply like solid deodorants. I got used to applying with my fingers, but now that I don’t have to, I’m really happy! You can read more about Type: A here.

Favorite Books

I read two books this both, and I recommend them both to certain people. Not everyone will love this, but maybe you will.

I was Anastasia

If you like historical fiction, you’ll like this one. The story is told in dual narrative and it imagines what led up to the execution of Russia’s royal family in 1918, including the youngest daughter Anastasia, and another woman known as Anna Anderson, who threw herself off a bridge in Berlin in 1920, survived, and convinced many people that she was the surviving Romanov daughter. It’s told in chronological order from Anastasia’s perspective and reverse chronological order from Anna’s perspective. This makes it a bit hard to follow, yet interesting at the same time because you know you’re going to get some answers once the stories meet in the middle. 

I really enjoyed this one, and, again, I recommend this to anyone who likes historical fiction.

Finish

“Starting is the hardest part.”

“The secret to getting ahead is getting started.”

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.”

So many quotes about getting started. Like getting started is the hardest thing in the world. Except, in my mind, starting is the easy part. Starting is exciting. I can tell you about 15,000 things I’ve started in my lifetime and almost as many that I didn’t finish. Including putting away the laundry, cleaning out the garage, and at least three half-written books.

You, too? You’ll like this book. Jon Acuff is funny, down-to-earth, honest, and likable. His advice is solid, if not predictable. Nonetheless, I found this book motivating and helpful. I’ll let you know if I finish more than I start now that I’ve read it.

Favorite Moments

As I mentioned, September is Meghan’s birthday month. We celebrated with a small family party on her actual birthday. We let her choose a restaurant for dinner and she picked Brio. 

Then she chose to have a night at Great Wolf Lodge in lieu of a birthday party, which we did the day after her birthday. (Great Wolf Lodge is an indoor water park/hotel that is only 20 minutes from our house.) As you can see, she also requested a unicorn cake, which I tried my best to replicate after watching this Youtube video about 27 times. I was so surprised that it actually looked like a unicorn when I finished! Cake decorating is 100% NOT my thing, but the step-by-step video helped me along!

It was such a great weekend celebrating our girl.

Girls’ Weekend in Denver

I already mentioned this, too, but I can’t talk about my favorite moments from September and not mention my weekend away. 

I spent two glorious nights at an AirBnB in Denver with these five ladies and it was amazing. We hiked, shopped, ate great food, drank, and danced.

All I can say is that if you can make a girls’ weekend happen, do it. It definitely will make you a better mom and wife when you return. It’s like magic.

Favorite Recipes

My two favorite recipes this month were both sweets! You won’t go wrong with either of these healthy desserts!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie (Vegan and Gluten Free)

Easy Chocolate Fudge (Vegan, Gluten Free, Low Carb, Keto)

Well, guys, that’s over 1,000 words that sum up my September! How was your September? Fill me in!

 

 

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Easy Chocolate Fudge Recipe (Vegan + Low Carb + Keto)

Simple Baked Pears with Maple Syrup

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie (Vegan and Gluten Free)

To Meghan on Her 10th Birthday

It doesn’t seem possible, but today I am the mom of a ten year old. Ten! I’ve been mom for a decade to this sweet, loving, smart, funny, and talented girl. Today’s post is for her, telling her all the things I want her to know on her 10th birthday.

 

My Dear Meghan Jane,

Last night when I kissed you goodnight and said I love you, you answered with “I think I love you more than you love me.”

Those words almost took my breath away, making my mom brain panic that my daughter would think such a thing. When I asked you why, your answer was simply, “…because I love you so much I don’t think it’s possible to love any more than that.”Oh, Meghan. If you only knew.

I pulled you close to me, happy you still let me hug you like that, and wished I could explain the love I have for you. I hope you could feel it radiating from me because I never want you to question it. I think we love each other the same, okay?I want you to know how lucky I feel to be your mom. God gave me the perfect daughter and I thank Him every single day.

No matter if I’m frustrated or impatient with you, my love is constant. Even when I have to ask you to do something more than once and I seem mad, my love never changes. Nothing you do can change my love for you. Please always know that.

You’re 10 today! I know how excited you are to be in double digits, but remember to never rush growing up. Enjoy and savor your childhood. You only get to do it once, after all.I know by now you’ve learned that life isn’t always easy. I warned you when you turned five that life gets more complicated as you get older. I hope you’ll realize that even when people are mean and life seems unfair, you always get to choose how you handle difficult situations.

People can be mean, but you can respond with kindness. Your heart is pure and you can choose to keep it that way even when those around you don’t seem to be acting with kindness. It’s a difficult thing to do, be sure of that.

But you, my darling, can do difficult things. That realization alone will get you far in life. I don’t know if I tell you this enough, but I’m so very proud of you. You work so hard at everything you do. Whether it’s school, or dance, or golf, you never give up. 

I hope you’ll follow your dreams. I have to warn you: there will be people who tell you they are unrealistic, impractical, or crazy.

You know what? They are your dreams and you can do whatever you set your mind to doing. Don’t let anyone discourage you.

Thank you for being you. You probably don’t realize this, but you make me strive to be a better person every day. Daddy, Luke, and I love you more than you’ll ever know.

Happy 10th birthday, baby girl.

Love,

Mommy  xoxo

 

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Are Canned Foods Nutritious? Recap of the Farm to Can Tour

Are canned foods nutritious? Last week I was able to spend a few days in Indianapolis, Indiana for a special bloggers’ event, Refreshingly Real Farm to Can Tour, where I was able to seek the answer to that question. I saw first hand the process of food going from the farm to the canned product you see at the grocery store. 

This post is sponsored by Refreshingly Real and the Can Manufacturers Institute. All opinions, as always, are my own. 

It was amazing to see this process and I learned more than ever; I’m excited to share the details with you!

Many people have preconceived notions about canned food, myself included. Getting a chance to see up close the care and love that goes into the canned food process and learn about the nutrition of canned food really opened my eyes.

Refreshingly Real Farm to Can Tour

We started out at Triple “S” Smith Farm where tomatoes are grown for Red Gold brand canned tomatoes. 

Scott Smith (right) and his wife, Terri are the owners of Triple “S” Smith Farm

This is a family farm and we got to meet the farmers directly. It was really great to talk to them and they were so open and honest, answering all of our many questions.

A few of the other bloggers and I had questions about chemical pesticides used since Triple “S” farm is not an organic farm. The farmers were open and transparent, telling us the ways they minimize pesticide use and how their testing shows no detectible amount of residue on the tomatoes. My concern was so apparent that they even took the time to bring the printed report to show me at lunch! I can’t speak to every non-organic farm, but I was pleasantly surprised with Triple “S” Smith Farm and how they seek to incorporate sustainable practices while maintaining an acceptable yield. 

I left with a deeper understanding of how, if all farms were organic, there wouldn’t be enough food to feed the people in our country. Non-organic farms are necessary and in this case they really do care about the safety of the food they are growing as well as the environment.

It’s really important and helpful to get to know the farms and farmers behind your food. I probably would not have considered buying most conventional tomatoes before this trip, but after listening to Scott and his wife, I feel confident in the safety of the canned tomatoes that come from this farm.

Our next stop was just down the road, the Red Gold processing plant. This is where the tomatoes are delivered and processed into cans. Our bus was directly behind a truck-load of tomatoes so we really did get to witness the journey the tomatoes take from the farm to the can!

Do you know how long this process takes? From the time the food is harvested, sent to the canning facility (usually within a few miles), inspected, placed into a can, and labeled is four hours. You read that correctly. It takes just four hours for the food to get from the farm to the can! 

Unless you are buying all of your produce directly from the farmer’s market all year long, it’s most likely the canned food has retained more nutrients than the fresh produce you buy at the supermarket since it’s canned so quickly after harvest. Much of the fresh produce you buy travels a longer distance and isn’t as fresh.

Being on the farm was enlightening, but being at the processing plant was awesome. All of the canned tomatoes for the entire year are processed during tomato season, so the sheer volume of tomatoes and cans was astounding. 

Even though the amount of tomatoes going through this plant daily was insane, the Red Gold workers sorted through every tomato for quality assurance.

They looked for bruising, size, and color. See those ends? They were actually cutting off the ends to ensure the insides are the correct color!

Can you believe that number?! They don’t let a tomato get overlooked. Look at how perfect the peeled, whole tomatoes look before being canned!

During this tour I gained a new level of appreciation for our food system. Sure, I can grow, harvest, and can my own food at home, but I much prefer to buy it from the grocery store! The processing plant was efficient and set up for premium safety.

My respect and admiration of canned food grew as a result of what I learned during the Farm to Can Tour. I’ve mentioned a few things, but here are the highlights that I learned specifically about the nutrition of canned foods:

Are Canned Foods Nutritious?

• In general, foods are harvested, sent to a canning facility, inspected, and processed into cans in about 4 hours.
• Canned foods are packed at the peak of harvest, which maximizes nutrition and flavor.
• The nutrition of some foods are enhanced by the canning process. For example, canned pumpkin is shown to have 540% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A, while fresh pumpkin has only 26%. Canned tomatoes also contain significantly higher amounts of lycopene than fresh tomatoes.
• Canned foods can help you eat a bigger variety of fruits and vegetables year round, even when those foods are not in season.
• Studies have shown that those who incorporate canned foods into their diet eat a larger number of fruits and vegetables daily.
• 90% of all canned foods now use non-BPA liners.

I already have a good number of recipes that utilize canned goods on my site, but you can bet you’ll see more in the future! I already knew that canned food was convenient, but knowing the nutritional value is so strong makes me excited to incorporate them into my recipes even more.

Check out some easy and healthy recipes with canned goods below.

Easy and Healthy Recipes with Canned Food

25-Minute Butternut Squash and Black Bean Enchiladas

Reader comment about these Butternut Squash and Black Bean Enchiladas:

Made this last night and my hubby said they are the best enchiladas he’s ever had! So easy to make and super flavorful. This will be in our regular rotation.

Delicious Salmon Cakes Recipe

Reader comment about these Salmon Cakes:

I made these two nights ago for dinner, and hands down the best salmon cakes we’ve ever had! This is our new go to recipe for salmon cakes, absolutely delicious! Thanks for a great recipe!

White Bean Salad Recipe

Reader comment about this White Bean Salad recipe:

Made this for a baby shower and it was a HIT!!! The ladies had 2 servings each and all asked for the recipe. Yumm!

Whole Wheat Penne with Mushrooms, Spinach, and Tomatoes 

Reader comment about this pasta dish:

Hi! I absolutely love this recipe. I’ve made it multiple times now.

Banana Chocolate Chip Blondies (with Chickpeas) 

Reader comment about these blondies:

I liked these way more than I expected! I had seen dessert recipes using beans before and wasn’t sold so I don’t know what persuaded me to try this recipe but I’m glad I did. They tasted nothing like beans and the texture was gooey and soft, not rubbery like other banana/oat recipes I’ve made before. My 5 and almost 2 year old liked them and so did my extremely picky husband. I did not tell them there were beans in these and they never knew!

I hope you are as motivated and excited to get cooking with canned food as I am. I’m so grateful that Refreshingly Real hosted the Farm to Can Tour and helped broaden my knowledge of canned food. I am now able answer the question, Are canned foods nutritious?, with a confident YES.

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20 Apple Recipes You Need to Make This Fall

These 20 apple recipes are perfect for fall! Find your favorite healthy apple recipes in this list. 

20 Healthy Apple Recipes You Need to Make This Fall

It’s that time of year. If you’re lucky enough to have an apple tree in your yard, you might have an abundance of apples, ripe for the picking. If not, you can do like we do and round up the fam and head to a local orchard.

Once you get home with all your freshly-picked apples, you’ll need some recipes, right? Well, I’ve got you covered! These are my favorite apple recipes that I love making every years when the air turns crisp, leaves start to change, and you start reaching for your sweaters instead of t-shirts.

Apple Recipes You Need to Make This Fall 

Simple Baked Apples

These Simple Baked Apples are one of the most popular recipes on my blog. They are simple to make (hence the name!), have no added sugar, and make a perfect side dish that goes with most dinners. The kids LOVE these!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Almonds

Adding sweet apples with brussels sprouts and roasted them together is a beautiful thing! With a little crunch from the almonds, this recipe for Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Apples and Almonds is a winner.

Simple Yogurt Peanut Butter Apple Dip

Maybe you don’t want to make something with your apples, but want a tasty and healthy DIP? Oh, yeah! This Yogurt Peanut Butter Apple Dip is just what you need!

15 Minute Flourless Apple Peanut Butter Blender Muffins

These Apple Peanut Butter Blender Muffins are quick, easy, and make the best little snack or breakfast! They are a great gluten-free muffin that everyone loves.

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Ooey, gooey, baked oatmeal!! This Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal is the perfect cozy breakfast for fall mornings.

Butternut Squash Apple Soup

One of my favorite parts about fall is the soup! This Butternut Squash Apple Soup is one of my very favorites that might become a family favorite for your family.

Vegan Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars

These Vegan Salted Caramel Apple Pie Bars are an absolute favorite dessert! They are an indulgence, but with much less sugar than typical desserts.

The Ultimate Whole Wheat Apple Pancakes

Forget everything you think you know about whole wheat pancakes. These Whole Wheat Apple Pancakes are SO light and fluffy you’ll never believe they are made with whole grains. I could not love these more.

Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins

Despite this old, ridiculous picture, these Apple Cinnamon Crumb Muffins are amazingly good. And they are made with whole grains and no refined sugar!

Warm Quinoa Salad with Apples and Kale

This quinoa bowl (or “warm quinoa salad” as I called it in 2012) is still a regular lunch around here. So much goodness in one bowl and it’s filling and satisfying.

Apple Cheddar Frittata 

Another old picture, but this Apple Cheddar Frittata is such a fun, unique way to enjoy eggs for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Apples and cheese are a classic combination that works so well here.

Instant Pot Applesauce

This Instant Pot Applesauce is my most recent of apple recipes and it’s a good one! SO easy and delicious, I can’t think of a reason why you shouldn’t make your own homemade applesauce.

Vegan Caramel Apple Dip

This Vegan Caramel Apple Dip will blow. your. mind. Just TWO ingredients and the flavor is absolutely incredible. Fair warning: this stuff is addicting.

Apple Peanut Butter Snack Bars

For all the snack monsters in your life, these Apple Peanut Butter Snack Bars hit the mark. They are gluten-free, dairy-free, and satisfy that sweet tooth, also.

Apple Chutney Stuffed Roasted Portobello Mushrooms

This Apple Chutney Stuffed Roasted Portobello Mushroom is such a tasty vegan and gluten free main course. I couldn’t let my list of apple recipes be without this gem!

Chocolate Covered Apple Turkey Pops

When Thanksgiving rolls around, don’t forget about these Chocolate Covered Apple Turkey Pops. They are adorable, make a healthy treat, and the kids love helping make them!

Apple Cheddar Tuna Patties

Switch up the way you use your canned tuna! These Apple Cheddar Tuna Patties make a easy and healthy low-key dinner!

Hot Mulled Apple Cider in the Crock-Pot

This recipe for Mulled Apple Cider uses apple cider, not whole apples, but I had to include it here because it’s a fall must-make. It’s perfect for a crowd and easy to make in your slow cooker!

Applesauce Breakfast Cookies

When you make your homemade applesauce, you can use some of it to make these Applesauce Breakfast Cookies! These are healthy and nourishing, and are great for breakfast or a snack!

Spiced Apple Cider Baked Donuts

These another one of my apple recipes that uses apple cider instead of whole apples. You won’t be able to resist these healthy baked donuts! They are a fall favorite and you really need to try them!

Are you as excited as I am to dig into all of these apple recipes? Tell me–which one will you make first?!

 

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