substitutions

I don't think I could be any more excited for Thanksgiving this year.  As I mentioned in yesterday's post, I have sooooooo much to be thankful for! To prepare for the upcoming holidays, I'm in full swing creating an entire healthified Thanksgiving menu!! Next week will officially be "Thanksgiving week" on the blog so that you have plenty of time to prepare for the actual holiday! ... Read more » about Healthified Thanksgiving Recipes - coming right up!

I don't know about you, but I am super tired from staying up so late watching the election results on the edge of my seat!! What I think is most interesting is how divided America really is. Half of us are ecstatic after last night's events; half of us are extremely disappointed. Regardless of which side you were on though, I think we all need to choose joy. Yes, the last four years were hard. Yes, we don't know how the next four will treat us. But I do know we all have a LOT we can be thankful for. ... Read more » about Choose Joy + {Tuscan Apple Cake}

This weekend we went up to the mountains...again ...searching for our future home.  Though a bit impatient and frustrated we're not finding what we want, it isn't a bad place to be spending every weekend :)  We stopped by the river to check out the trout and Babycakes wanted to feed them some Cheerios.  Surprisingly they actually rose to the top of the water to eat them!! Evidently these fish are desperate.  Besides having a blast, we captured this wonderful moment with a pair of amazing smiles. ... Read more » about Trout Food + {Honey Almond Sweet Potato "Fettucini"}

Let me just tell you, I have been (and am still) on a roller coaster ride of emotions with this whole house-selling/buying process.  You know I was super excited about my mountain dream home, until it turned into a nightmare.  Well, I've been excited about probably 4 other possibilities since then only to have my hopes smashed...again and again - noisy neighbors, too expensive afterall, another better offer, permitting issues... ... Read more » about Roller Coaster + {Slow Cooker White Sauce Lasagna}

Would you believe me if I told you it snowed inches upon inches last night in Denver and that Babycakes and I went sledding this morning?! Some of you probably woke up to nice 80 degree weather. Us, not so much. But, it was the first ever workday snow that I didn't have to commute in, and let me tell you...it was soooooooooo nice to be able to stay in, look at the pretty snow, enjoy some warm maple oatmeal, and think about sledding once the sun warmed things up a bit!  I pulled Babyckes around the field by our house. She had a blast, and I blasted some calories!!! ... Read more » about First Snow + {Honey Mustard Kale Chips}

Remember how I said I wasn't in my groove? How I wasn't inspired to cook healthy meals let alone eat them?  How with all the moving preparation and packing and shock of my mountain dream home turning into a nightmare that I'd just been stuffing my face with peanut butter and honey sandwiches?  Well that all changed yesterday when I was perusing some of my favorite blogs and came across that bit of encouragement and rejuvination that I needed.  Katie from Yes, I Want Cake shared her recent inspiration ... Read more » about Inspiration + {Cheesy Sweet Potato "Fettuccini"}

Since losing over 50 pounds in the last year, my wardrobe has shrunk - both figuratively and literally!  It made getting the house ready to sell pretty easy: the walk-in closet was mostly empty.  But I really need some new items, desperately.  Since my mom was here to help me pack, she also took me (and Babycakes) shopping. Don't you just LOVE moms?!?!?!?  We found some really beautiful new sweaters with big cowl necks in deep fall colors, like burnt orange and ocean blue, amongst other things.   ... Read more » about Fall Fashion + {Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chowder}

As you probably know, I try to limit my own sugar intake as well as Babycakes'.  I don't want to be "one of those moms" whose kid goes crazy the minute they leave the house because they've been so deprived at home.  But, I also don't feel the need to feed her dessert or soda or even fruit juice every day.  She gets an occasional bite of daddy's cookie, or a lick of poppa's ice cream bar, or <gasp> a sip of poppa's soda.  Notice it's all the men in her life that feed her the bad stuff?! ... Read more » about Healthy {Strawberry Soda} - HLTT9

First of all, let me preface this with: I am NOT a vegetarian.  I am dabbling with vegetarianism. There’s a huge difference!  I am not doing this for emotional reasons or based on a belief system about why the animal / meat industry is bad. I am doing this for health reasons…and because my doctor suggested it. ... Read more » about Dabbling with Vegetarianism

If you missed yesterday's post, I explained why I've recently been a lot quieter, posted a lot less updates on Facebook, and have felt like a cross between Superwoman and a psychotic. We are planning a big move to the mountains.  The official photographer is coming Thursday, which means everything has to be perfect by then.  Our realtor paid me the ultimate compliment by telling me she would not be sending her stager to my house. ... Read more » about Staging Tips + {Slow Cooker Chicken Chili}