Breakfast on the Go!!

So about a week ago I started back to work full-time. With three kids to worry about my mornings can get pretty hectic and I found myself heading to work hungry often having to grab something from Starbucks to keep my stomach from growling. (It's funny how a mom can make sure the kids are fed but neglects to feed herself). Spending money on food every morning is not very economical, for me anyway, so I had to figure out a way to make sure I had something to eat on my way out of the door in the morning.

I love to bake and try new recipes, so I decided I'd bake a bread Sunday night and would have that for my breakfast for the week (along with some Bolthouse Farms Mocha Cappuccino and fruit). I came across a blueberry lemon bread recipe on one of my favorite baking sites and figured I'd give it a try, cause I love me some blueberries :-) The bread came out great and pretty much lasted me all week (it's Thursday and I have one tiny slice left, although that might get eaten tonight). I can even slice and bag it the night before so all I have to do it grab it on the way out.. This worked really good this week and was much more cost effective than grabbing breakfast out, not to mention the bread was delicious and crazy moist. I wonder what flavor I'll bake for next week.. Stay tuned to find out ;-)

Blueberry Lemon Bread Recipe:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (outer yellow skin of the lemon)
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
2 large eggs, room temperaure
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk

Lemon Glaze:
2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Blueberry Lemon Bread/Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place the oven rack in the center of the oven. Butter (or spray with a non stick vegetable spray) the bottom and sides of a 9 inch loaf pan.

In a separate bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest. Remove 1 tablespoon of the flour mixture and toss with blueberries in a separate bowl (this will help prevent the blueberries from sinking to the bottom of the pan during baking but don’t be upset if they still sink, sometimes they’re just too heavy).

In another bowl beat the butter until softened (about 1 minute) with a hand mixer. Add the sugar and continue to beat until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla extract. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture (in three additions) and milk (in two additions) alternately, starting and ending with the flour. Mix only until combined. Gently fold in the blueberries.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 55 to 65 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Lemon Glaze: In a small microwaveable bowl, stir the sugar with the lemon juice. Place in the microwave for about 30 seconds or just until sugar has dissolved.

When the bread is done, pierce the top of the hot loaf with a fork or toothpick and then brush or spoon the hot lemon glaze on top. Cool the loaf in the pan for about 30 minutes then remove from pan and let cool completely.

Enjoy!!


Recipe from www.joyofbaking.com

Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life

Changing your thoughts can change your life.. I say it today, I've said it before, and I'll continue to say it because it's true. It took me some time to realize this for myself and since doing so and understanding the benefits I have to spread the word.

So many times people get stuck focusing on what they don't have and what's not right, leading them to feel depleted and depressed. Often times passing that energy on to any and everyone they encounter. Positive people cringe when they see them coming and negative people are seeking them to help fuel and continue their own negative behaviors. Yikes!

Even when some things aren't exactly how you'd like them to be, focus on the things that are, and know, there are always things that are right. The more you seek to find them, the more you will realize they are there! Appreciate the little things, and have gratitude in all things!! Your life will begin to feel different as you embrace the positive. You'll feel lighter, and happier, and you'll be more enjoyable to have around. I can guarantee it.

So truly believe tomorrow will be better (even when it was a great day), and be grateful for today (even when it's been a tough day) because even in adversity there is a lesson to be learned. Count your blessings and know that there are more to come. Smile, share, love, live, and most importantly be grateful, as gratitude is the best attitude. Change your thoughts and change your life, and if you don't believe me well.. I guess you just need to try it!!

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."
-- Oprah Winfrey

Starting Over and Wouldn't Change It For the World..

So, I wrote a guest post for The Young Mommy Life blog and I'm so excited!! Check it out HERE!! Hope you enjoy!!

Rediscover Your Happy..

Being a mom and a wife is an ongoing 24/7 non-stop job, which hardly allows for any real breaks. It's so easy to get caught up in maintaining everyone else that YOU get lost in the shuffle. You're cooking dinners, nursing babies, checking schoolwork, and often have let days go by without doing something you love to do, something that makes you happy. Some women get so caught up that they even forgo their dreams in lieu of their families and never really take the time out to discover their true passions or what makes them happy outside of their family life..

How long can you really let this go on before you find yourself regretful and continuously unhappy? So I challenge you to take 10 minutes out of your day to write down 50 things that you love and/or that make you happy. Don't over analyze it, just write. Are there any themes popping up or things you haven't done in awhile? Start to incorporate these things back into your life and even begin to ponder how you can turn them into your dream career.. It only takes a few minutes, but it's a great reminder and motivator. So what are you waiting for.. Grab a pen, start writing, and rediscover your happy!!

The Road to a Better Life

Reading blogs has become one of my favorite pastimes. I read some about cooking, some about being a mom, some about marriage, some about self improvement and some that cover all those topics and then some. They can really be a good source of info, entertainment, and support when you think you're the only one dealing with a particular situation. One of the first blogs that I began following on a regular basis was The Young Mommy Life (YML). I could totally relate to her topics of discussion. I was young, I was a mom and I was definitely trying to become my best self. The author of this blog is surely an inspiration to young moms and all moms, who are balancing relationships, motherhood, and a successful career.. Check her out when you can on facebook and at http://www.theyoungmommylife.com/


Scrolling through my fb feed the other morning I came across a link from YML titled "Stop Doing This for a Better Life" http://www.theyoungmommylife.com/2011/12/15/stop-doing-this-for-a-better-life/
The author made reference to another blog post titled "30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself"
http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/12/11/30-things-to-stop-doing-to-yourself/
where a blogging couple lists tips of behaviors to change when in the process of self transformation and becoming your best you. The YML author gives her top 5 from the list of 30, which I thought were totally on point. However, for me personally I take away a slightly different group. Here are my top 5 (reminders), what would yours be?


#4 Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.


#7 Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.


#8 Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.


#12 Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.


#14 Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.


These are really great reminders, check out all the links above for the full list when you can. I hope that you will benefit as well.. Changing your thinking will change your life.. Remember to live, love, and shine!!!

From boyish to stylish..

The first time I ever saw the green Hunter boots shown below I fell instantly in love.. Anything that slightly resembles a high-top Chuck Taylor converse is often my style.. This boot was beyond adorable, I loved the green and tan color combination and the height was perfect, this boot was just too cute to be a MEN'S boot, but it was. 


I've always loved men's clothes. Maybe that comes from growing up in a household with no sisters. I will wear a button down shirt and some jeans in a heartbeat, I'm just that kinda girl. I will find a way to feminize it with accessories, but I definitely have no problem wearing a relaxed look. When I was younger my friends would applaud (literally) when I wore skirts because it was a rare occurrence. 


Fast forward to this weekend when my hubby surprised me with the boots!! I'm so spoiled!! I love them even more when I'm wearing them. I'm mad that they're rain boots because now I want it to rain just so I can wear them :-) Of course now I need outfits to go with them so I decided to go to polyvore.com and piece so items together. The finished product is pictured below, what do you think? It works right? I just took these boots from boyish to stylish, now let's go shopping!! 

From boyish to stylish.. by roca-inspired featuring a gold cocktail ring

What a Difference TWO YEARS Makes..

Are you serious, two years have flown by and I haven't posted a thing. Well it be's like that sometimes. Life has changed quite a bit since the last time I posted.. I have relocated back to Atlanta and I am now the mother of THREE amazing kids. I'm no longer punching a clock, but instead am a full-time stay at home mom and I'm enjoying it. Life is good..

Having a young child with a crazy sleep pattern, I find myself up at all times of the night. Instead of staring at the wall when I'm feeding her at some ridiculous hour when everyone else is asleep, I've taken to reading all kinds of blogs, from food to parenting to fashion. There are really some great writers out there. Well needless to say, I've once again become inspired to try this thing out, to get back into writing here. I have no clue how this will go, I'm just gonna go with with. I invite you AGAIN to come along on this journey with me ;-) Let's live, love, shine, and write together!!