Sharing the books I read in August and if I’d recommend adding them to your collection!

Hi friends! I hope that you’re enjoying the day so far. The Pilot was off work, so he took the kids to school while I caught a barre class, we enjoyed a coffee date, and lunch together. It was a lovely treat in the middle of the week!

For today’s post, I wanted to share a recap of some of the books I’ve read recently. This post is a little belated because I kept thinking I’d finish Daughters of Rome but I couldn’t do it (more below). I’d love to hear about what you’ve been reading lately if you’ll share the goods in the comments section!

Untangled

A friend recommended this book to me, as we both have tween daughters and are heading into new territories when it comes to friendships, independence, all those teen-y things. This book was AMAZING. It’s all about helping your child navigate the seven stages of adulthood, including friendships, mood/attitudes, bullying, relationships (with others and with parents), and I found it be incredibly insightful and full of helpful tips. I highly recommend it if you have a tween or teen.

One of my favorite metaphors that the author gave was that our kids are swimming in a pool, and we’re the wall. They need to venture out and be able to swim and find independence, but sometimes, they may need to come back to the wall. Sometimes, they push off the wall, which can be painful, but we need to stay there for them. A kid with a wall is going to have an easier time navigating tough situations than if the wall wasn’t there. <3

Roasted sweet potatoes, crisp warm baby spinach, and spicy breakfast sausage are all topped with an egg in this Sweet Potato Hash with Eggs.

Sweet Potato Hash with Eggs

I prepared this recipe so many times over the course of my boys’ childhood. They always cleaned their plates when this was on the menu.

This breakfast hash first made its way to my table over 10 years ago. I can still remember the pride that my boys demonstrated when they figured out how to stack a little taste of everything onto their forks with each big bite.

They proudly informed us that doing so made the spinach taste so much better. I can empathize, as I well recall how much I disliked spinach as a child. I’m grateful my kids enjoy it most of the time now.

A spinach breakfast is a great way to get started on those leafy greens early. And, if you haven’t already been converted to the awesomeness that is eggs and spinach, I recommend trying my boys’ beloved Power Eggs too.

Sweet Potato and Spinach

With an egg on top, hash is one of my favorite meals for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I often make a double recipe just to have leftovers in the refrigerator.

I don’t think I’ve tried a single version of hash that I didn’t like. Sweet potato and spinach hash, crispy hash with bacon, potatoes, and vegetables, Read more

Sharing tips on how to get back in shape and start a fitness routine after taking a break after an extended time or injury.

Hi hi! How are you? I hope that you’re having a wonderful morning. Thank you to those of you who have entered the giveaway so far! Check out the post here. This morning, I’m taking a yoga class, and then meeting a friend for lunch in between podcast interviews.

Today, I wanted to share some strategies on how to get back in shape if you’ve taken some time off.

The truth is, sticking to a regular fitness plan can be quite a challenge. Life happens, and it’s not uncommon to find yourself taking a break from your fitness routine. Whether it’s due to a busy schedule, health issues, or just a lack of motivation, getting back in shape after a hiatus can feel like a daunting task. But the good news is, it’s never too late to restart your fitness journey, and I’m here to help you ease your way back into it.

How to Get Back In Shape

Find Your Motivation

The first step in your fitness comeback journey is finding your motivation. Ask yourself why you want to get back in shape. Is it to improve your health, regain confidence, or simply feel more energized? Knowing your ‘why’ can provide the drive you need to stay committed.Motivation often varies from person to person. Some might be inspired by a desire to shed a few pounds, while others want to increase their energy levels or reduce stress. Whatever your motivation, write it down and remind yourself of it daily. It’s your compass on this journey.

Create a Plan

Once you’ve found your motivation, it’s time to create a plan. Set clear fitness goals and establish a workout routine. Having a plan in place gives you a roadmap to follow, making it easier to stay on track.

When creating your plan, consider the following:

Goal Specificity:

Make your goals specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For example, instead of saying “I want to lose weight,” say “I aim to lose 10 pounds in three months.”

Balanced Workouts:

Include a mix of cardiovascular exercises, strength training, and flexibility work in your fitness routine. This balanced approach ensures you’re working on various aspects of your fitness.

Progress Tracking:

Keep a fitness journal or use a tracking app to record your workouts, nutrition, and progress. Tracking your achievements can be incredibly motivating.

This post is sponsored by my friends at NOW Foods. They’re one of my all-time favorite companies and I love their line of products, from sports supplements, to pantry essentials, beauty and skincare, and essential oils. Check it out here and use FITNESSISTA for 20% off! Also, check out the giveaway details below.

Hands in the air if you’re equally excited to be back in a routine, but also lamenting the end of summer. We are officially back in school, back to the dance-horses-homework extravaganza, and while I thrive on a schedule, things are busy, as I’m sure many of you can relate.

I’m here trying to make the week as streamlined as possible, and here are some of the things that have helped:

– Doing anything I can the night before. This means packing lunches, setting out uniforms (including hair accessories and shoes), packing snacks, and setting out water bottles to be filled. I also make a mental note of what the kids are having for breakfast, so I can make anything in advance.

– Start dinner in the afternoon. Many nights, Liv is finished with dance late, so I have dinner waiting for the crew when they’re done with their activities for the day. I’ve found that late afternoon, before school pickup, is the best chance to get some veggies chopped, and make anything I can before pickup.

– Snack prep! I try to make snack staples at the beginning of the week, so that the kids have lots of options.

Here are two favorites that they’re loving lately!

Lemon Blueberry Muffins and Chocolate Coconut Energy Bites

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

These lemon blueberry muffins have a bright and zesty flavor. P says they taste like pancake muffins! I also like that they’re not too sweet. You can absolutely increase the sweetness by adding more coconut sugar or maple syrup. Make a batch and freeze to have on hand for the week. I’ll heat them up and serve with pre-boiled eggs for a quick school morning breakfast.

Sliced fresh apples, with a drizzle of peanut butter and honey, topped with a handful of crunchy chocolate peanut butter granola add up to a plate of the best ever Apple Nachos.

Apple Nachos

For as long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed apples for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. What’s not to love about crunchy, sweet, tart apples? Paired with a crunchy peanut butter dip or this honey yogurt dip, they’re a snack everyone loves.

These apple nachos combine the freshness of sliced apples with savory sweet peanut butter and honey and the chewy crunch of granola. They’re satisfyingly filling for a simple meal or a hearty snack.

This time of year, my family can not get too many apples and Meijer consistently has the tastiest apples. I partnered with Meijer a few years ago to share this apple recipe with you and we’ve been making these apple nachos regularly ever since then.

There’s just no end to the sweet and savory ways you can eat apples: apple oatmeals, apple butter, baked apples, apple pancakes, dehydrated apple chips, applesauce, apple cakes, and apple pie bars.

Apple crisps, apple crisp ice cream, Read more