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MINI BITES: GLUTEN FREE EGG + CHEESE BREAD

By on April 17, 2019 in BREAKFAST CLUB, EAT, LITTLE BITES, LUNCHBOX BITES, recipe, Uncategorized

One of the perks of allllll the Spring rain this month has been all the time we’ve had to whip things up in the kitchen, including these Brazilian egg + cheese mini breads. They’re delicious, gluten free, full of healthy fats and protein, slightly crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside and perfect for anytime of day. Pair with sausage, salami, or sandwich meat and fruit during the morning or afternoon as a meal or snack, and with soup or chili in the evening for dinner.

Scroll down for the recipe… it won’t disappoint! And just as a heads up, these take about an hour and a half to mix up and bake.

BRAZILIAN EGG + CHEESE BREAD – makes about 60

You’ll Need:

  • 1 cup whole milk (or sub for other milk)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 4 cup tapioca flour
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 6 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup white cheddar cheese (or similar), grated
  • 1/2 cup parmesan (or other hard cheese), grated

Here’s How:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a medium sauce pan combine milk, water and oil and bring to a boil. Stir occasionally. Meanwhile, in a stand mixer, whisk flour and salt (or do by hand).
  3. Add liquid mixture to flour mixture and stir with a paddle attachment or spoon until well combined. Set aside to cool 5-10 minutes.
  4. Using the whisk attachment, add egg mixture in two separate batches and whisk for 5 minutes. You can also knead egg mixture into dough by hand for 5-10 minutes.
  5. Using a standard size cookie scoop or by hand (spray or coat lightly with oil), make dough balls (about 1-1/2 inch in size) and add to prepared baking sheet. Bake for 30-35 minutes (32 minutes worked perfect for us!). Balls should double in size and be golden on the outside. Let sit before eating so dough cooks a little more in the middle.
  6. Serve with a side of sausage or lunch meat or sliced avocado and fruit. Would taste so good dipped in marinara sauce too!

After the first batch was done baking, Poppy quickly went to work decorating them with our lunch picks which was all her idea and I think ended up looking so cute and festive! Might need to start paying her to be my assistant, lol. (lunch picks here, here + here… a good addition to Easter baskets!)

Same, Poppy, same…. snack time forever.

I’m usually a little intimidated by making bread but these are really so simple and worth the time spent scooping and baking. All of the kids (and Johan!) will eat them too which is always a bonus… no easy feat finding a snack that everyone agrees on!

xo, Rae

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THINGS WE LOVE: AN EASTER BASKET ROUND UP

By on April 16, 2019 in EASTER, FUN FINDS, KIDS, LITTLE CELEBRATIONS, spring, THINGS WE LOVE, Uncategorized

I love finding fun items to fill the kids’ Easter baskets with, but it can be soooo easy for things to get out of control, lol. There’s so much cute stuff out there and honestly, lots of things they could use now that it’s spring. So I always try to stick to a loose theme or two. This year I’m filling their baskets with activities and accessories for rainy spring days or baseball games… and of course pajamas. Always pajamas!


HERE’S WHAT’S IN THE GIRL’S BASKETS |

HERE’S WHAT’S IN THE BOY’S BASKETS |

Shared a sneak peak on Instagram Stories yesterday if you want to go check it out! And of course Ozzie and his girlfriend are getting Easter baskets too, but they’re much more present on social media than the other kids so I didn’t want to spoil anything…

A few things I’m filling their baskets with if you need any ideas for older teenagers | a couple WSU things (like these sunnies), this cute scrunchie, bibles from She Reads Truth and He Reads Truth, water bottles, ChatBooks and bathroom caddies for the dorms as their baskets! Ha!

Cannot wait to set everyone’s basket out on Easter morning! Also can’t wait for all the egg hunting, mimosa sipping and cinnamon roll eating.

xo, Rae

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WEEKLY MEAL PLAN, APRIL WK 3

By on April 14, 2019 in EAT, MEAL PLAN, Uncategorized

Currently trying to get out the door to a Mariner’s game with my crew on the last day of Spring Break but wanted to get this up for you guys first! Take a peek at what’s on our meal plan this week… So not ready for break to be over (why does it go so quick!?) buttttt, here’s to slowly getting back to a normal schedule and finishing up all the Easter prep!

M | chicken tortilla soup — easy to adjust for the crock pot too!

TU| BLTA sandwiches or this chopped salad version looks good too

W | takeout please!

TH | chicken tawook quinoa bowls calling my name

F | keeping friday night simple with raviolis and baked wild salmon

SA | pizza picnic since the sun is supposed to come out!

SU | easter dinner with the fam… not sure what’s on the menu yet

BREAKKIE | yogurt bowls with berries, bananas, granola or muesli, chia seeds, coconut flakes, mango, dark chocolate flakes (a few ideas!), bunny pancakes (for easter or any morning this week) + a bagel bar (checkout this spread!)

LUNCH | trying to double up with ingredients so bagels (for breakkie too), quesadillas (with the help of monday’s dinner) and cookie cutter sandwiches (using ingredients from tuesday’s dinner) it is!

SNACK | popcorn + protein shake, zbars + fruit, big batch chocolate chip cookies you can freeze!

Do you guys have any go to dishes for Easter Sunday brunch or dinner?! Please share!

xo, Rae

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SPRING REFRESH: 3 EASY WAYS TO SPRUCE UP YOUR WORKOUT ROUTINE

By on April 10, 2019 in HEALTH + FITNESS, LIFE, LIFE LATELY, MOM BOD, MOM HACKS, spring

I’m back with another “SPRING REFRESH” post, yay! You can find the last one here. Since the dust has settled from all the new years resolutions, we’ve (hopefully) made it through flu season, schedules are getting more structured (and full) and the sun is coming out to play (yay vitamin D!) I’ve been focusing more on my workout routine and found a few things that have really helped spruce things up… Here are 3 changes I’ve recently made that have helped me stay more consistent!

  1. SCHEDULE IT | my trick to getting just about anything done is to actually add it to my calendar + planner. When the kids were younger we had a pretty strict routine for our days and I could always count on a 30 minute block either before or after their afternoon nap where a ride in the jogging stroller (with their lunch or snack) was a good idea. After Johan got hired as a firefighter and now that we have older kids, our routine had become much less predictable and more busy so I literally have to block out a time on google calendar and in my daily planner to workout.
  2. FIND YOUR UNIFORM | the less I have to think about working out the more likely I am to do it. I’ve found stocking my closet with enough of my go-to workout gear has been a big help! Also putting it all in the same section of my closet (instead of spread out between bins, dressers and hangers) helps keep me in autopilot. My current uniform includes my favorite leggings, a cotton tee (or one of Johan’s), a sweatshirt and a hat to keep the rain off my face.
  3. SWITCH THINGS UP | sometimes I get into a rut simply because I’ve been doing the same workouts over and over again. I used to only go for runs so when we joined a gym after Griffin was born, I felt extra inspired. After using the Sweat app for the last couple years, adding running back into my routine felt so good (although a little slow at first, lol). One day, when everyone’s in school, I hope to sign up for workout classes. However, switching things up could mean anything from finding a workout partner to going for a hike on the weekends to deciding to train for a half marathon.
  4. TURN YOUR “I SHOULD” INTO “I MUST” | as I was thinking back on my workout journey and the seasons I was more consistent, it occurred to me that there was a time when working out was more a matter of survival (I HAD TO!) than an item on my to do list. I truly needed the endorphins and moment of self care… So as I’ve been working on getting more consistent I’ve tried to tap into that mindset of “have to” and it’s made a huge difference the last few weeks :) I know that’s not long but feels like a small victory over here and something worth sharing… mindset is so powerful!

Another question I get asked a lot that I thought would be good to answer in this post…

Q: When do you find time to workout?

Currently Johan and I have been getting up at 5am on mornings that he has to leave for shift, to go for a run in our neighborhood. Luckily no one has woken up while we’re gone, but thankful for teenagers in the house… (there’s a whole new level of parental freedom when you can leave for 30 minutes without hiring a sitter!!!!). It’s my favorite way to start the day but just to be clear, I might be a morning person, but have NEVER been a morning worker-outer person (I prefer coffee and quiet time, lol) so the first mile and a half feels like torture! On days Johan is home from the station, I’ll often go for a run around 7 without interrupting dinner or bedtime (yay daylight savings!) and then all other days I bring my yoga mat and weighted ball outside while the kids are playing either in our backyard, at the park or before a baseball game/practice and go through a circuit workout on the SWEAT app.

I really need to work on my flexibility, lol.

Also, there are few things more awkward than taking pictures while pretending to workout. We had planned on snapping a few candid shots while going for a hike with the kids earlier that morning , but it rained buckets so we stayed home. Later that day after Oz’s baseball game the rain stopped (finally) so we took advantage, grabbed my mat and camera from the car and snapped a few pics… Sometimes you just gotta go with it, ha!

Since I’m not a fitness blogger by any means I’m always pleasantly surprised by the reaction I get from posts like these BUT love the comments and convos that take place… a good reminder that we really are in this season of life together! So please share where you’re at, what’s working for you and what you might be struggling with below.

XOXO, Rae

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WEEKLY MEAL PLAN, APRIL WK 2

By on April 8, 2019 in EAT, MEAL PLAN, Uncategorized

The kids are on spring break this week so with the exception of baking with my helpers, my goal is to be in the kitchen as little as possible while still making sure everyone has plenty of healthy food to eat. I’m also guessing we’ll be handing out lots of extra snacks so stocked the pantry and fridge yesterday and plan on making lots of charcuterie platters (meat, cheese, crackers, fruit, veggies, dips and nuts).

Here’s what’s on the menu!

M | Mediterranean Orzo Salad (dice up rotisserie chicken and toss in)

TU | Cutie Platter Picnic (scroll to the end of the video for details… hoping the weather cooperates!)

W | Teriyaki Chicken Noodle Bowls

TH | Sheet Pan Steak + Veggies

F | Dinner Out

SA | Breakkie for Dinner (this Potato Avocado “Toast” — sub hash browns with cauliflower — with poached eggs looks so good!)

SU | Dinner Out

BREAKKIE | firehouse hash (Johan doesn’t have an exact recipe, but this one is similar if you add sausage and cilantro and skip the kale), peanut butter banana blender muffins, toast and hardboiled eggs… or just a good old fashioned continental breakfast set up!

LUNCH | leftovers (are going to be good this week), I could eat cali rolls and warm edamame (sprinkled with kosher salt) for all meals, easy quesadillas

SNACK |cutie platter, guac chips, apples + almond butter

Speaking of keeping the kitchen stocked… how do you guys schedule (or not schedule) your shopping trips?

I try to stock up on Mondays, including ingredients for 2 or 3 dinners and then go again on Thursday, but we always seem to make extra trips — wondering if I should just embrace that it’s part of life with kids or try to plan a little better, lol?

xo, Rae

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MY TOP 5 FAMILY FRIENDLY SPRING ACTIVITIES (+ a bonus)

By on April 3, 2019 in FAMILY, LIFE, LIFE LATELY, spring

Okay you guys, so I could probably come up with close to 100 fun things to do as a family in the spring butttt, sometimes long lists are more of a distraction than they are productive and since I’m trying to be more present + intentional (hey buzz words) as we get into a very busy spring, I thought I’d share a few low stress ideas to add to your calendar.

Here’s our TOP 5 (but actually 6) FAMILY FRIENDLY SPRING ACTIVITIES:

  1. the batting cages and putt-putt — and for kids too young to swing a club or bat, there are usually lots of things to climb on, golf balls to hold onto and holes to hide things in… also be sure to ask for a tee if needed in the batting cages!
  2. the zoo or wildlife reserve — or save money and opt for a nature walk and scavenger hunt.
  3. exploring new parks or beaches + bringing a grocery store picnic — bonus if there’s a place to play soccer, run around, fly kites or ride scooters! This is a fun one to do after church on sundays… throw all the scooters, blankets and balls in the car, head to church, stop at the store, then drive long enough for little ones to take a quick nap before hopping out to play!
  4. a staycation — we aren’t usually able to travel much during the spring but a close to home road trip or overnight at a hotel feels extra special… still trying to finalize plans for spring break next week and am tempted to head to Seabrook again this year.
  5. any spring sporting event — we love going to Mariner’s games but sometimes a minor league game with grass seating, picnic tables and a less crowded kid zone is more relaxing and fun for us parents!
  6. BBQ’s +/or happy hour with friends at home — could become a weekend tradition to host or help plan! Since spring weather is often unpredictable having a backup plan

Just signed up for a family fun run and am hoping it will become a new spring favorite. Also wish “family bike ride” made the cut, but we haven’t had a successful bike ride since before Tilly was born, lol. We’re basically chaos on wheels.

Checked batting cages off our spring activity list Sunday night though… a few pics below!

After sitting through a dozen baseball games and practices for the older boys the past few weeks, I thought the rest of the fam deserved a chance to get some ‘at bats’ and even though they all thought I was crazy and gave me a million reasons why we shouldn’t go, I persisted and eventually got everyone in the car, ha! We ended up hitting until dark and then going out to pizza. It was a school night so you know everyone was having so much fun!

Ozzie and his smart, sweet and incredibly patient gf (you kinda have to be to hang with us!). She’s the youngest of 3 so I’m sure tagging along with Oz as the oldest of 5 has been an adjustment for her. However, she plays it off well and will do fun things for and with the kids… we love having her along for adventures!

Poppy had no interest in getting in the cage while the pitching machine was on but loved hitting off the tee! Thankful that the owner brought it over to us… We’ve been coming here for years and never thought to ask about a tee for younger kids!

Do you have any spring plans you’re excited for! What are your favorite things to do as a family once the weather warms up!?

xo, Rae


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SPRING REFRESH: 4 EASY WAYS TO CUT BACK ON PLASTIC

By on April 1, 2019 in EAT, HOME, HOME SWEET HOME

Today we’re starting a new series that puts a spin on the usual “SPRING CLEANING” topic. Instead of focusing on cleaning up living spaces I thought it would be a welcome change to talk about small ways to hit refresh on everyday habits starting with 4 simple ways to cut back on plastic use at home. Keep in mind that this is less about being perfect or making drastic changes that are too hard to sustain, and more about making small changes that will eventually gain momentum and make a big difference.

Some of you are wayyyyyy ahead of me with these environmentally friendly habits (don’t judge, ha!) and I would love for you to chime-in, in the comments with other ideas!

Here are the 4 easy, quick and do-able ways we’re cutting back on plastic use in our home:

This adorable beeswax wrap is organic, sustainable and a great alternative to plastic wrap and even plastic bags — use to cover food before putting in the fridge or wrap up a sandwich or other snacks when you’re on the go.

Buy reusable grocery bags that are easy to store and manage so you’ll actually use them! Or is it just me that gets annoyed with floppy bags that slide around in the back of my car so they end up getting stored in the pantry and are inevitably forgotten 75% of the time? Instead of constantly feeling guilty when I make it to the checkout line and realize I’ll be choosing between paper or plastic, I finally purchased these grocery totes that I love! They are so much sturdier, fit a lot (although not as much as they look on amazon) and will even stay open which makes it so easy to store in the trunk, use for other things and unload once we’re home.


If you’re shopping with kids in-tow then lugging around reusable produce bags is probably low on the priority list, but it does get easier as the kids get older and once you have one or more that’s around school age, it can be fun to put them in charge of carrying bags and also filling them with whatever’s on your shopping list! Love this set of produce bags, but there are lots to choose from or you can DIY!

Also, for anyone that buys bulk, how do you get everything through the checkout line and home without using plastic bags?

I love these straws for the colors (easier to keep track of who’s drink is who’s) and you can see inside them to make sure they’re cleaned well — unlike metal straws which I know are great but the unknown scares me a bit, lol. The smoothie size straws (pictured) are a little extra so if you have younger ones I’d suggest the skinnier version. Bonus, you can cut the silicone to fit whatever your go-to cup is! I also bought these glass straws for Johan and me… we fancy :)

Ahhhhh, these kids! I’d do anything to make this world a better place for them and always want to be a good example too.

I’ll share all the products on instagram stories later today if you want to see them IRL. We also DIY-ed a starbucks pink drink to highlight the reusable straws that I’ll share too!

Now, I’d love to know what else you would add to the list? What small-ish environmentally friendly change should we make next?

xo, Rae

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MINI MAKERS: NON-STICKY SLIME RECIPE (FOR EASTER!)

By on March 29, 2019 in EASTER, KIDS, MINI MAKERS, Uncategorized

Wether you live in a home with pro slime makers or you’re a pro at dodging the slime making requests, we think that there’s no time like this weekend to make some, package it up in easter eggs and share with friends! Bonus that our slime recipe is, while still pretty messy to make, less likely to get stuck in anyone’s hair or outfit. So far it’s also washed off of a couple of our throw pillows. If you’ve ever let your kids play with slime for more than 10 minutes, you know that’s not normally the case.

The recipe is below but you can also head to IGTV to see Matilda in her element as she shares her favorite slime concoction. The video was a last minute decision (around 2pm yesterday) inspired by the girls so the production quality isn’t the best and Johan deserves all the credit for piecing it together so quickly! Also, please try to ignore the fact that I make myself (and no one else) crack up 2 or 3 times during the 4 minute video — a quality I inherited from my mama :) ha!

HOW TO MAKE BUTTER SLIME FILLED EASTER EGGS

You’ll Need:

  • plastic easter eggs (if they have air holes, cover with tape)
  • 2 cups white elmer’s glue (or other brand)
  • 1 heaping cup of foam shaving cream
  • 1 teaspoon baby oil
  • 2 tablespoons borax stirred into 3/4 cup warm water
  • 1 tablespoon of lotion
  • 1/2 to 1 cup of model magic
  • optional: food coloring drops of essential oil, mini foam balls, glitter, etc.

Here’s How:

  1. In a large bowl, combine glue and shaving cream. Add 1-4 drops of food coloring as desired and stir.
  2. Add baby oil and stir.
  3. Add 2 teaspoons of borax and stir… it should be getting “gloopy” as you mix. Continue to add borax water 1 teaspoon at a time until you get a slime consistency. Stir in foam balls, glitter and essential oils if desired. (see IGTV video for reference)
  4. Knead in the model magic with your hands.
  5. Finally, add lotion and play with slime until fully mixed in.
  6. Fill plastic eggs with butter slime and hand out to friends!!!

S.L.A.T.T — slime love all the time.

Which, according to urban dictionary, is a gang term. I’m guessing the leader is a 10 year old girl.

Happy weekend!

xo, Rae

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SPRING WARDROBE WISHLIST

By on March 27, 2019 in spring, THINGS WE LOVE, Uncategorized, WEAR

We’ve been enjoying spring and all that comes with it… including the change in wardrobe! Even though the weather can be unpredictable and isn’t often warm around here, it’s been fun finding ways to incorporate spring-ish items into outfits. After cleaning out my closet and getting a good idea of what holes could be filled, I spent sometime adding things to my online shopping carts (where most of it will stay, lol) and turned them into outfit options below. Take a peek and let me know which combo is your favorite!

outfit no. 1 | cardigan, crisscross slides, wide leg pants (but I love these and these too!)

outfit no. 2 | levis (under $100), peasant top, chore coat

outfit no. 3 | utility shirt (doubles as a coat), woven slingback, wrap dress

outfit no. 4 | sweatshirt, midi skirt, high-tops

outfit no. 5 | striped tee, crisscross slides, slipdress

outfit no. 6 | carpenter jeans (also under $100), striped silk top (need to find one that’s machine washable), sandals

I was kinda surprised by the lack of pastels, but really love that most of these items will also work through summer and into the fall.

Would you guys like to see my spring picks for the kids or husband?

xo, Rae

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READY TO WEEKEND + COMFORT ZONES

By on March 22, 2019 in FAMILY, LIFE, LIFE LATELY, PARENTING

It’s FRIDAY (woot!) and to top it off the sun’s out and a couple of the kids don’t have school so we are feeling ready to start the weekend! If you keep up with my Instagram Stories, you probably saw that Ozzie was accepted to WSU this week which had me feeling allll the feelings (it’s where I attended school when he was a babe!) and getting very nostalgic. Johan and I have been chatting a lot about our own adolescents and college years and I was surprised to learn a couple new things about him and vice versa– even after all these years, lol!

During one of our convos something came up that I had almost forgotten about and I thought it would fun to chat about it with you…

When I was a Senior in High School, I took an acting class — something that as more of an athlete and super shy kid was very out of character for me. Of course, I wasn’t all that good even after 6 months of consistent practice and training, but it was SO GOOD FOR ME. Maybe one of the best things I’ve ever done simply because it got me out of my comfort zone and introduced me to people I wouldn’t have known otherwise.

There’s my random fact for the day :)

Can you think of a situation that was totally outside of your comfort zone but you said “yes” anyways? Or fun facts or talents that most people don’t know about you? Please share!?

xo, Rae

PS – a million thank you’s to everyone for their DM’s and messages about Ozzie’s college news… we are so proud of him and so thankful for all the support!

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MOM + MINI: HOW TO WEAR TIE DYE WITHOUT FEELING LIKE YOU’RE AT CAMP

By on March 20, 2019 in MOM + MINI, OOTW, WEAR

You guys, tie-dye is back in a big way lately and even though I’m always a fan (forever a hippie, beach bum + camp kid at heart) I’m even more in love with how the carefree print has gotten a more grown-up (think skirts and silk tops) and practical (lots of color options!) update that makes it easier to add to your everyday wardrobe.

The tricky things about trends is that sometimes they stick around and become staples and other times they’re “so last month” the day after you decide to hop on the bandwagon (wah-wah) — so it can be tricky to decide what to invest in and what to pass on. Since I already have a tie-dye shirt dress from Sonnet James (I think she has a new one coming out this spring/summer) I was planning on the latter, but then I stumbled upon this t-shirt from Zara and, considering how often I wear t-shirts, decided it was meant to be.

Sharing a few ways to style the colorful swirly pattern from your youth over on IGTV but also took some snaps of my favorite look to share below and included all the links!

OUTFIT No. 1 (pictured) | tie dye tee from zara, dot pants from madewell (I sized down one), sneakers are reebok, denim jacket is old from J.Crew (similar), purse is from Target

OUTFIT No. 2 (in video) |tie dye tee from zara, agolde jeans from shopbop, slingback shoes from everyone, duster cardigan is old from nordstrom

OUTFIT No. 3 (in video)| tie dye tee from zara, leggings are from Lulu Lemon, sweatshirt is topshop from nordstrom

During my search for tie-dye I found some cute socks for Griff (who also happens to be a fan of the print)…

GRIFFIN’S OUTFIT DETAILS | pants, sweatshirt, socks and sneakers all from J.Crew (always stock up when they have a 40% off sale!)

See the top pic? When he was done leaning on me he said, “mom! lean on my back now!” and then couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t working, lol. Definitely one of those “you had to be there” moments, but too funny not to write down here.

Here’s my closing argument… If you like to have fun, then wear tie-dye. Ha ha! JK, I know it’s not for everyone, but you can buy it for your kids because living vicariously through them (in a healthy way of course) is one of the best parts about being a parent!

If you haven’t already, go take a look at my IGTV video and let me know what you think!? Make sure you watch to the end to see how we embarrass Tilly :)

xo, Rae

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