Welcome to the weekend, my friends! I’ve had a fun week in the sunshine while visiting friends in Utah. Shawn, Natalie, and I did an easy hike on Aspiration Trail one morning and snapped this photo at the top.

There are hundreds of rocks lining the path all the way up the hill and it was a great way to spend some time outdoors. If you’re visiting the St. George area, this walk/hike needs to be on your to-do list.

ON THE BLOG this week: Is there anything better than coming home to the smell of a meal that’s simmering in the crock-pot? Making corned beef and cabbage in the slow cooker is so easy it practically makes itself.

Lucky enough to have corned beef leftover? Crispy hot potatoes and cabbage are combined with bites of tender, salty, corned beef to create the corned beef and cabbage hash of your dreams.

My husband’s favorite soup takes all of the Reuben flavors you love and combines them in a steaming hot bowl of soup, perfect for these chilly nights. Don’t skip the rye bread for serving with the soup, it adds the perfect final touch.

For something a little different next time you’re making corned beef, baked corned beef with honey mustard glaze turns out moist and juicy with a sticky sweet glaze on top that no one can resist.

Tender, salty, corned beef, bite-size chunks of potatoes, and shredded green cabbage are combined in a savory broth to make this hearty corned beef soup. This meal never fails to make everyone in my family happy.

Chicken and vegetables simmer in a creamy filling underneath a flaky biscuit topping to make these individual chicken pot pies. Prefer a casserole? Just bake it that way instead. Whichever way you choose to make it, this dinner disappears fast.

Tired of making banana bread when those bananas on the counter have passed their prime? Banana pancakes with chocolate chips are a quick, easy breakfast that I’d happily eat for dessert as well.

Air fryer Brussels sprouts are the popcorn of the vegetable world. There is no way you can eat just one – they are such a great snack or side. I feel like brussels sprouts are finally getting the attention they have long deserved. Eat straight out of the air fryer or drizzled with a balsamic glaze, I could happily snack on these every day. 

What I’m CRAVING: These banana split freezer bites look like a lot of fun and they could al

Cheesy Bacon Ranch Corn Dip [+ Video]

This Bacon Ranch Corn Dip is out of this world addicting! Just wait until you bring it to the next BBQ or party and everyone’s begging for the recipe!

It is cheesy, creamy and crunchy all at the same time and it has bacon. Need I say more?! This dip only takes 15 minutes to prep and is perfect for feeding a hungry crowd!

How This Recipe Came to Be

A long time ago, years in fact, I had a really delicious corn dip at a bbq and it became quite embarrassing how much of it I ate. I couldn’t stop. Every bite only made me want more and more and all I could think was, I HAVE to have the recipe. Well, not everyone is into sharing their recipes, in fact some flat out refuse. It was a sad moment. And I totally forgot about it until now, and I had to recreate it! So bacon corn ranch dip is totally happening and it’s full of cheesy deliciousness.

What Do I Need for Corn Dip?

So let’s break it down, this cold corn dip involves ranch, bacon, and corn. In other words, it’s three safe foods for picky eaters. Is it just me or have you all noticed that even kids and adults who refuse to eat anything seem to be okay with these three foods?

Bacon is obvious, corn is so sweet and good — and even better if you grill it, but that’s not necessary— and ranch. I don’t know why ranch is a picky eater pleaser, but it does work! Here is a complete list of everything you will need:

• Corn – ideally you want fresh corn on the cob, but if it’s not corn season, then frozen corn works great
• Ranch Dressing – we prefer to make it from scratch or use a ranch packet rather than buying a bottle of ranch dressing
• Sour Cream – you can double the ranch dressing if you don’t have sour cream and want extra ranch flavor
• Shredded Cheese – we used cheddar and pepperjack for this recipe and you can use any combination of cheese you want
• Bell Peppers – you will chop these up and sauté them to soften them a little and add great grilled flavor
• Diced Green Chiles – drain them well, they add such great flavor and a little heat
• Green Onions – these add a beautiful pop of color and fresh flavor
• Bacon – cook your bacon ahead of time until it’s crispy and let it cool, head to our how to cook bacon post for all our tips and cooking the perfect bacon

The measurements for all the ingredients are listed in the recipe card at t

Address the stress of the week with these entertaining endeavours to help you soothe anxiety over the weekend

Sometimes, making it to Friday can feel like a real challenge, with anxiety and stress occupying our minds – bringing down our mood, and draining our resilience. When we do eventually get to the weekend, it can be easy to use it as a time to catch up on all the things we were too overwhelmed to do during the week and then, before we know it, it’s Monday, and the cycle starts all over again before we’ve had time to catch our breath.

So, if you’ve had a full-on week, your stress levels are peaking, and you’re struggling with anxiety, we’ve got some suggestions for ways you can make each weekend one dedicated to rest and rejuvenation.

Escape to a different world

When daily life gets too much, escape the toil with the power of stories. If you’re a reader, this may be the time to curl up with the book that’s been sitting in your to-read pile for a while. Or if films are more your thing, settle down with a warm drink and spend the next couple of hours in a whole new world.

When deciding on how to pass your time, it might be worth considering exactly what you need from this activity. Are you looking for a good laugh? An inspirational message? A drop of nostalgia? Or total escapism into a fantasy world?

Whatever you go for, bring some mindfulness into it. If you notice that your attention is starting to wander, prompting that anxiety to creep back in, try to recognise those thoughts, let them go, and bring your focus back to the film or book you’re absorbing.

Go somewhere new

You won’t need your passport for this one, because even a trip half an hour down the road will do. Stuck in our routines, we can end up going between the same places again and again. Going off and discovering somewhere new breaks those daily patterns that can, sometimes, bring us so much anxiety.

What’s more, we also get that sense of adventure and discovery, something that we adults tend to do less of as we settle down. If you’re near the coast, finding a new seaside spot has the added benefit of ‘blue therapy’ – which refers to the soothing feeling we feel when next to large bodies of water. But those of us who are landlocked still have so much to gain from natural spaces such as forests and dales. Or, visit the next town over. Trawl for treasures in charity shops, find yourself a warm, cosy coffee shop, and there are always unexpected, quirky delights to be found in local museums.

Learn some new self-care skills

Self-care is something that is spoken about a lot in health and wellness communities. And you might have a good idea of the basics (making nourishing food, taking a relaxing bath, journaling), but now might be a good time to learn some new techniques like self-massage, ‘morning pages’, relaxing yoga routines, or even birdwatching.

Prioritise and delegate household chores

Sadly, as much as we might wish it, household chores don’t halt when we need a break. But if you do need to get things done this weekend, see whether you can shake things up.

Firstly, have a stern look at your to-do list. You might a

Hey hey! How are you? Happy Friday! I’m so glad the weekend is here. I’m looking forward to a yoga class with a friend, a mom-daughter date with Liv, Super Bowl fun (not the game, but the snacks and company), and getting caught up around the house. Another something kind of exciting: I’m teaching a strength and conditioning class at the dance studio for the kids this weekend. I’m nervous about it (tough crowd lol), but I’m really looking forward to sharing some tools and strategies that can help support their flexibility and tumbling. I hope it goes well and that they enjoy it!

This past weekend, we had a family staycation in Phoenix for an Air Force awards banquet. I flew from Santa Barbara into Phoenix, did my makeup in the ladies’ room at the airport while I waited for the crew, they swooped me,  and we headed straight to the event. One of our beloved babysitters lives in Phoenix, so she was able to hang out with the girls in our hotel room (they ordered room service and played games) while we were at the ceremony.

2 more years of getting to see this guy in his mess dress uniform so I better live it up. 😉

(My dress is here)

A few friends have asked about the Pilot’s work situation! The Pilot is finishing his Air Force retirement right now and is commander of one of the squadrons. He’s still employed commercially and will head back to the airlines after retirement.

The event was one of the best Air Force events I’ve attended. They had live music and dancing during the ceremony – ballet, modern, and lyrical performances to a variety of music styles. It included the traditional and more somber aspects of formal military events (presentation of the colors, National Anthem, ceremony for fallen soldiers and POWs, in addition to the awards and recognition), and the live performances were such a thoughtful way to make the event even more engaging and enjoyable.

We stayed at the Wigwam Resort, which was where the banquet was held, and the kids were obsessed with it. We definitely need to to back and bring our swimsuits for the water slides! We had breakfast at the hotel before hiking Camelback.

(I had the overnight oats, eggs, and an orange juice, and the Pilot and I split an acai bowl because we both wanted to try it)

The kids said we couldn’t go to Phoenix without hiking Camelback, so of course we had to take them. I love

Ready to let love in? From tracks that capture everyday moments to proud declarations, we’ve rounded up 10 of the best love songs that really get relationships right

Ah, the classic love song. There’s something irresistible about cranking up the volume on a track that tells the story of one the most intense feelings we can have. From belters to laments, these tunes have the ability to tap into the highs and lows of our love lives – being there for us when we need them the most.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of being seen by a song – or of sitting back and taking in the lyrics as each one hits the nail on the head. It’s a cathartic experience, reminding us that we’re not alone, whether that be in our happiest moments or through challenging times. So, here, we’re giving you a leg-up for finding your perfect match, with 10 songs that get relationships right.

1. ‘All I Want is You’, Barry Louis Polisar

Sometimes, love and relationships can feel vast and complex – and, sometimes, they're simple. A foot-tapping track that had its time to shine in the iconic opening of the film Juno, ‘All I Want is You’ breaks those big feelings down to celebrate the simplicity of love, and the ways that we go together with our perfect match.

2. ‘Bless the Telephone’, Labi Siffre

This one is for all the long-distance lovers out there. With its simple, yet passionate, guitar lines, ‘Bless the Telephone’ traces a phone conversation between two people, thankful for these small moments of connection that can mean so much.

3. ‘You’ve Got the Love’, Florence + The Machine

A song that has become iconic since its release (no doubt helped by the fact that President Obama included it on his 2012 official Spotify campaign playlist), ‘You’ve Got the Love’ channels the euphoria that can come with good love. So, put your hands in the air, because this love will see you through!