Blueberry & Lemon Breakfast Quinoa Bowl {An easy on the go breakfast!}

Trying to get out of the house in the morning with a toddler can be a challenge. By the time I get Aiden ready some mornings, I have to grab my breakfast to go and run out the door. So when I found this recipe for a healthy breakfast that I could make and take, I had to try it and I'm so glad I did. Nuby's Insulated Stainless Steel Food Jar helps to keep my breakfast piping hot until I'm ready to eat it. It holds 15 ounces and has a folding spoon in the lid. Since it is stainless steel it keeps foods warm, but is cool to the touch. This has been a lifesaver for on the go breakfasts. I have also taken several of Aiden's meals in it when I pack meals for on the go. (Great for yogurt, cut up fruit, mac and cheese, cottage cheese, etc.)

Ingredients:
1 cup Quinoa (rinsed)
2 cups milk
1/2 cup lemon zest
3 Tablespoons Maple syrup
1 cup blueberries
2 tsp. flaxseed meal
1 pinch salt

Instructions:
1. Rinse quinoa in fine strainer with cold water until water runs clear
2. Heat milk i a saucepan over medium heat until warm
3. Stir quinoa and salt into the milk
4. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes (there should still be liquid in quinoa after allotted time so it is an oatmeal like consistency)
5. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in maple syrup, lemon zest.
6. Fold in blueberries and flaxseed meal and top with extra lemon zest
7. Serve warm

*I was given this product for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Magnolia Plantation

We wanted to visit a Southern plantation while we were on vacation in South Carolina so we chose to visit Magnolia Plantation. It is known as the last large-scale romantic garden. We started out going through their nature center, which Aiden loved and then we walked through the gardens on their self-guided tour. Despite it being hot and humid, the gardens were beautiful and full of history.

*Traveler tip-If you go, allow 45 minutes to walk through the gardens!

Up next...3 Stops to make while in Charleston!

31: My Birthday Wish

Today I am 31. Whoa.

Normally I make a big deal of my birthday. I make my birthday wish list weeks in advance and I like to plan all kinds of birthday fun. But this year is different and I'm not sure why. I still have some fun things planned, but I didn't make a wish list and when my husband asked what I wanted to do and who I wanted to invite. I said I wanted simple. Maybe I'm actually becoming a "grown up." Or maybe I am just learning new things about myself and my heart.

I've learned so much about myself in my 31 years, but lately God has been working on my heart and showing me that I have a long way to go before becoming the wife and mother I desire to be. But I'm thankful that as I learn and grow, those two precious faces up there in that picture will be with me.

I'm beyond grateful to be a wife to a supportive husband, a mom to the sweetest and smartest little dude, a granddaughter, daughter, niece and sister and a friend to some amazing, amazing people.

So my birthday wish this year is to live every day like the gift that it truly is and to have a desire to continue wanting to learn and grow so I can be the woman of God, wife and mother I'm created to be. So here's to year 31...

31 be kind to me. I'm not ready for wrinkles and I don't want any more gray hairs. Oh and the stretch marks could fade a little too. Thanks in advance.
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Because family selfies on the beach are way more fun...

The title of this post says it all. Family selfies on the beach are way more fun! 

See more of our beach pictures here.

3 Easy Toddler Popsicle Recipes

Thank goodness for summertime! My little guy loves being outside and it's always fun to take a break to cool off with a popsicle (especially for those teething kiddos, can I get an Amen?) Here are 3 tried and true kid approved popsicle "recipes" that you can whip up and throw in the freezer in less than 5 minutes!

1. Coconut Water + Fruit Popsicle: 

Ingredients: 1 small container of coconut water (I used Vita Coco) and chopped fruit. I used blueberries, strawberries and grapes. I also recommend using the Nuby Popsicle molds, but any popsicle mold will work!

Instructions: Chop up fruit into small pieces and put on the bottom of popsicle molds

Pour Coconut water on top until popsicle mold is filled.

Add handles of popsicles and put in freezer for 24 hours or until completely frozen.

2. Pouch Popsicles

Ingredients: Your child's favorite flavor of pouch. Aiden loves Ella's Kitchen pouches. We used the Apples and Strawberries  flavor to make ours.

Instructions: Open selected pouch, pour into popsicle molds and freeze. One pouch fits perfectly into the Nuby Popsicle molds with a sip or two to spare. These are almost too easy and are guaranteed to be a hit since you are using your child's favorite pouch flavors.

3. Mashed Fruit + Yogurt Popsicles

Ingredients: Your child's favorite mash-able fruits and 1/2 cup of plain yogurt (or more if using larger popsicle molds).

Instructions: See the recipe for my Toddler's favorite popsicle combination: Avocado + Banana Popsicles by clicking here and modify by substituting your child's favorite fruits!

Do you have any easy popsicle recipes that your kids enjoy?

Vacation is good for the soul {Seabrook Island}

We recently got back from our family vacation to Seabrook Island in South Carolina. We had the best time. I wish I could transport myself back in time to watch Aiden running up and down the beach with the biggest grin on his little face. (But that's what pictures and videos are for, right?)

I took hundreds of pictures so I'm going to break our vacation up into a few posts. This one...devoted completely to beach pictures and mostly baby beach pictures because as stated on Aiden's hat, I have the coolest kid ever.

Most of our days were spent packing for the beach, biking to the beach, walking the beach, building sandcastles and destroying them, eating lunch on the beach then playing in the water and searching for wild life, which we actually saw a ton of! (Horseshoe crabs, Blue Crabs, Hermit Crabs, Dolphins, Jellyfish, Sand dollars...)

Aiden was happy as a clam (see what I did there?) He ran up and down the beach and hardly sat still. He was in heaven! And Drew and I got our work outs in everyday trying to keep up! Thankfully we had a few extra sets of hands since my Mother in law and one of my sister in laws vacationed with us!

Kisses that involve licking are his new "thing." Haha.

I am already missing the beach like crazy!

More vacation posts to come...