A very easy, very yummy turkey burger that packs a flavorful punch. It's perfect for a weeknight meal or a weekend gathering.
Growing up, potatoes were a staple in our house. I can remember a giant 10-pound bag of Russet potatoes always in our pantry right next to the 10-pound bag of yellow onions. The potatoes were served up in various styles – mashed, baked, or pan-fried Continue Reading
I’ve been making Frittata for well over a decade by now and to this day find it to be one of my favorite foods to eat and even to make. I’ve made so many combinations of this dish but Frittata with Spinach, Zucchini, and Leeks Continue Reading
I don’t consider myself a trendsetter or even really trendy. However, I’m here to tell you that I was making my Simply Delicious Mashed Cauliflower before it was the trendy thing to do and well before it was the healthy, low-carb, Keto-friendly alternative to mashed Continue Reading
Herby Chicken, Orizo, and Vegetable Soup is the kind of meal that warms you through and through, makes you feel better when you’re not 100%, and puts a smile on your friend’s and family’s faces. This soup stems from the classic Chicken Noodle Soup my Continue Reading
As a resident of the South, when Fall comes around it’s still in the 80s and while my tan disappears, I still have to wear shorts and tank tops. However, there will be a few days with perfect fall moments – chilly mornings and cool Continue Reading
As first-time parents, there are so many questions and so much anticipation as you enter the third trimester of pregnancy. For us, the process of getting to the hospital and the actual stay at the hospital were top of mind. The 5-Time Saving, Pre-Birth Hospital Planning Tips detailed out here calmed our nerves pre-birth and made everything easier once we arrived at the hospital so we could focus on meeting sweet baby Hudson for the very first time.
Hospitals want you to feel comfortable and they offer tours to help you understand the get to know where you’ll be staying and what you can expect. It’s a fabulous (and free) service!
We scheduled a visit to the Women’s Center of our hospital, which is a campus-like facility. The tour talked us through where to register once we arrived, what we needed to bring with us, what a delivery room looked like as well as a recovery room. Additionally, they provided information on what to share with our visitors – where they could wait during labor and how to visit us in our room. This was much-needed information to pass along to family and friends! The whole tour took about an hour and helped us to wrap our heads around the experience. After the tour, I can recall a literal feeling of my nerves claiming down.
If you’re not already aware, I’m here to tell you that when you’re in labor and you arrive at the hospital you will not immediately be whisked off to your delivery room like in the movies. You still need to check in, fill out paperwork, and then are brought to your delivery room. However, you can pre-register with the hospital which means providing your insurance, personal, and medical history information upfront. You can also disclose what you will be arriving at the hospital for (i.e., labor and delivery) and the approximate date so the hospital is expecting you.
This process took me 15 minutes online and was very simple. I went into labor very early in the morning and upon arrival at the hospital (thanks to pre-registration) I was in a labor and delivery room getting hooked up to all the good stuff within 10 minutes.
Everything I read online when I googled, “what to pack in a hospital bag” was a combination of “the hospital will have everything you need” and “bring things that will make you comfortable.” I landed somewhere right in the middle. I kept our bag really organized by using packing cubes – one for me, one for the baby, one for my husband, and one for toiletries – and packed enough things for a 3-night stay (in case I had a c-section). I packed the bag by week 37 so everything would be ready to go should we go into labor early and kept it by the door to our bedroom.
Similar to the hospital pre-registration, you can also get everything pre-approved by your insurance. After all, you do know labor and delivery will happen at some point!
Using our online insurance services, I submitted my claim for labor and delivery at the start of my third trimester to give it plenty of time to process. During the review and ultimately claim approval process, I was able to communicate back and forth with insurance via text message and email until the claim was fully approved. Upon walking into the hospital, our claim for my delivery, even the worst-case scenario (a c-section) was pre-approved which meant that post-delivery and upon arriving home the hospital bills rolled in and I didn’t have to spend time answering a million questions or battling confusion over what was or wasn’t covered. Instead, I spent my days cuddling with Hudson, as it should be.
One thing (among many) that was a shock to me (and quite frankly still is) was the simple fact that immediately after having a baby (and I mean pretty immediately) you’re required to call your employer, insurance, and short-term disability provider to tell them that you indeed did have your baby so that your benefits kick in for both you and the baby, who will need insurance to see the pediatrician. Interesting, yes?
Please believe me when I say that after having a baby there is no way you’re going to be coherent enough to remember or search through email to find the contact info. I took the time to document these numbers, key personnel, and steps to follow including sign-in and passwords, and printed them out to include in our hospital bag. Having this printed out and highlighting exactly who I needed to call for what and for whom was perfect. It ended up taking me just a few minutes and was completely stress-free.
With absolute certainty, there will be multiple things to stress out about or that will cause you to stress from the time you get pregnant to the time you go into labor and finally get to meet the sweet face of your little one. The hospital stuff and your stay at the hospital don’t need to be added to that list! Take some time to do a little prep work and make things easier on yourself with these 5 Time Saving, Pre-Birth Hospital Planning Tips.
Dry and under-flavored turkey burgers are a thing of the past thanks to my recipe for Juicy Zucchini Turkey Burgers! The ripe, shredded zucchini adds extra moisture and helps to create a light and almost pillowy texture to these turkey burgers, seasoned simply with salt, Continue Reading
After 2.5 years of buying diapers and wiping up poop, we decided it was time to start potty training. And boy was I unprepared. Hudson had been communicating very clearly when he was going potty or pooping in his diaper and had been consistently using Continue Reading
According to research, at least 40% of what we do and how we do it every day is habitual, essentially on autopilot. That’s 40% of our energy, time, and resources on doing things without really thinking about what we’re doing or why we’re doing it.
Our daily habits define who we are!
I’ve identified 5 simple must-do daily habits for myself that align with my goals and benefit my health and family.
Water is the first thing my body receives every morning. I fill up my favorite Yeti tumbler to the brim with room temperature water and drink it until it’s gone. This habit ensures my body starts off with hydration fueling it (and my brain) for the day ahead – work, play, scooter rides, a run – whatever that may be.
Our bodies were made to move and I make sure to get mine going for a minimum of 30 minutes per day. For me, this looks like a variety of things, but always being intentional. I typically find myself with a day of running, two to three days with a long walk, two days of HIIT workouts, and multiple days of Hudson play time at the park, pool, or trampoline gym. My body and mind crave this and I’m unwavering in making it happen!
I’m an early riser (typically up by 4 am) and the morning is also when my brain works its best. To support that, I need to allow my body plenty of time to refuel, so I ensure I’m in bed and asleep by 9 pm, daily. Making sure this happens involves shutting my laptop down by 8:30 pm at the latest and letting my mind relax.
On the weekends this daily habit sometimes extends to 9:30 pm or 10:00 pm, but only if I know I can sleep later in the morning. And heck, it is the weekend.
As an extroverted introvert, I need time by myself to re-charge. I can’t go-go-go without some alone time mixed in. I ensure that I carve out at least one hour for myself each day. Some days this gets combined with my exercise, such as walking the neighborhood with a podcast. On other days it’s brainstorming in the early morning with a cup of coffee. Other days, it’s literally cozying up on the couch and watching TV or napping (while Hudson naps, of course).
I rely on that hour of time to reset and ensure I get it each day.
I love my career and genuinely enjoy my work. It’s very easy for me to just keep working, especially since I work from home. Setting the Family Time Starts at 4 pm boundary has given me more structure to my day by identifying an endpoint, but it has also given me the permission to switch into family mode. I start making dinner at this time and anxiously wait for Hudson to get home from school.
This habit creates balance for me without making me feel like I’ve lost something or let either side of myself (professional vs. mom vs. wife) down.
Each of my daily habits serves my life and makes things easier for me so I have more time and energy to give to my priorities on a daily basis. Habits are unforgettable components of our lives, but using them to our advantage is where their power lies!
What simple, daily habits can you start today?
Do salads have a vibe? I think so. Some are elegant and perfect for the holidays or a dinner party. Others put out the casual, “I’m here for lunch” sort of mood. So what’s the vibe of a chopped vegetable salad? Party, party, party! Chopped Continue Reading
They say the best way to learn is to “dive right in.” Well, not if you don’t know how to swim. A daily routine is about learning to swim. A daily routine isn’t about being rigid and having no flexibility causing you to sink on Continue Reading
When I’ve run out of creative ideas for dinner (yes, it happens!), or I’m just really busy during the day and need something quick, Savory Weeknight Chicken is my Superhero. It cooks up in 10 minutes or less depending on the type of chicken you use, has a simple spice rub made up of pantry staples and is enjoyed by our whole family.
As I said, it’s my Superhero!
Savory Weeknight Chicken starts with a three-ingredient spice rub of garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika and is pan-seared for 3 – 5 minutes on each side until cooked to a perfect, golden brown. Served up with your favorite vegetable side dish, sliced on top of a salad, or maybe even with some quick-cooking rice, your family will have a yummy meal in no time and you’ll have a stress-free evening.
The best part about this recipe is that it’s easy and stress-free. To keep it that way, don’t worry too much about the chicken you use; whatever you have in the freezer or refrigerator will be great.
Here are some tips and cooking times by the type of chicken.
Chicken Breast Cutlets: This is my preferred cut of chicken for this dish simply because it’s quick-cooking (cutlets are a thinner cut of chicken) and I can fit all four cutlets in the same pan while pan-searing them. One cutlet also makes one serving size, so I don’t need to go through the process of slicing the chicken. These take 3 minutes per side to prepare and then dinner is on the table!
Chicken Breasts: Who doesn’t love a good chicken breast? Everyone loves chicken breasts. However, for Savory Weeknight Chicken, I’ve found that they take a little too long to cook and they add a step of needing to slice the chicken to put it on the plate. If you have chicken breasts in your freezer or refrigerator, still use them! Simply slice them in half to form chicken breast cutlets and away you go!
Chicken Thighs: I recommend only using boneless, skinless chicken thighs for Savory Weeknight Chicken. These are also quick cooking but will take up to 5 minutes per side as they are thicker in nature. If chicken thighs are your family’s preferred type of chicken, go for it!
To prepare Savory Weeknight Chicken, start by laying your chicken on a flat surface and pat it dry on both sides with a paper towel. Next, combine the spices in a small bowl and mix them together with your fingers. Season each piece of chicken on each side with the spice rub (liberally – use it all!), plus salt and pepper to your liking.
Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large non-stick or cast-iron skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Let the pan heat up for a minute or two, so the chicken will be added to a hot surface, creating an immediate sear.
Add each piece of chicken to the pan and do not move it once it’s in the pan. This will ensure it gets a beautiful golden-brown crust on the outside and will bring the spices to life adding so much flavor!
After 3 – 5 minutes, flip the chicken and repeat the process on the other side.
Once cooked, place the chicken on a plate to rest for 5 minutes covered with aluminum foil before serving.
Add one piece of chicken to each plate with your favorite side dish and that’s all there is to it!
Savory Weeknight Chicken is a go-to for our family and I think it will be for yours, too. Simple, easy, and delicious. What more could we want in a weeknight main course?
1 piece of chicken per person.
I don’t consider myself a trendsetter or even really trendy. However, I’m here to tell you that I was making my Simply Delicious Mashed Cauliflower before it was the trendy thing to do and well before it was the healthy, low-carb, Keto-friendly alternative to mashed Continue Reading
