Tag: Food

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Adulting Health Healthy Living Mental Health

How Your Diet Can Help With Stress Management

We all get stressed sometimes and feel like our heads are about to explode. However, too much stress isn’t good for anyone, so how you handle it goes a long way to improving your mental health. Stress management is a powerful tool everyone can leverage. And it’s even more interesting to know that your diet can help with stress management.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Stress Management
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How does food influence stress levels?

Different foods reduce stress in different ways. While some foods decrease your adrenalin and cortisol (stress hormone) levels, others boost serotonin, your mood stabilizer.

What you eat affects the brain through a complex path. This path or connection is known as the gut brain axis, and it’s all about sending signals from the digestive tract to the brain. Some of these signals are neurotransmitters that control stress and anxiety.

Keeping your good gut microbiomes healthy and active will ensure they effectively transmit signals to the brain to produce serotonin. And what you eat plays a role in the health of your gut microbiome.

That’s why probiotic supplements are recommended for people with digestive tract disorders. Probiotics are live bacteria and yeast (good ones) that improve gut health.

So, apart from probiotic supplements, what other natural foods can help improve gut health and reduce stress?

6 Foods to Include in Your Stress Management Plan

Carbs

All carbs typically signal the brain to produce serotonin, the mood calming hormone. However, complex carbs are best for stress management as they take longer to digest. So, you’ll feel the soothing effects for longer.

Old-fashioned oatmeal and whole-grain bread are good complex carbs to try. While simple carbs are generally ill-advised for health, little of them can help spike up serotonin production. Just don’t make simple carbs your primary go-to, as they can make your blood sugar skyrocket quickly.

Fruits

Certain fruits help reduce stress, including:

  • Almonds
  • Oranges
  • Avocados

These fruits are very rich in vitamin C, which studies show helps curb the stress hormone cortisol. People who take vitamin C experience a sharp drop in cortisol and blood pressure.

Vegetables

Spinach and other crunchy raw vegetables like carrots are especially good in relieving stress. The raw vegetables are more about the crunchy chew, which releases a clenched jaw and helps ward off tension.

On the other hand, spinach increases your magnesium levels. How does this help? Magnesium deficiency triggers headaches and fatigue, aggravating your stress levels.

Fatty fish

The omega-3 fatty acid is a beneficial nutrient that can help healthy skin, hair, and mental health. It can also prevent surges of stress hormones and reduce symptoms of depression. Fatty fish like tina is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Milk

A glass of warm milk will do you a whole lot of good. Studies show that calcium, which is high in milk, can help in easing anxiety and mood swings associated with PMS.

Supplements

Understandably, you might not always have avocados or milk handy when you feel stressed. You can keep supplements that are good for stress management with you, so they’re always accessible.

Stress Management
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Diet and Stress Management

Your diet plays a role in your stress and anxiety levels, so be aware of what you eat. Try implementing some of the things mentioned above to improve your overall well-being.

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Health Healthy Living

3 Reasons Why You Struggle To Eat Healthy Food

Struggle To Eat Healthy Food

Many of us know that eating less processed food and more natural food is good for our health. Despite this, we continue to eat junk food. Why is it that we continue to struggle to eat healthy food? 

There are a few different reasons. Below are some of the common excuses and how you can convince yourself to stop using these excuses. 

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Struggle To Eat Healthy Food
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Reasons You Struggle To Eat Healthy Food

1. It Tastes Bland

Processed unhealthy foods are packed full of added salt, sugar, and fats. We get so used to these excess ingredients that natural foods can taste flavorless in comparison. This problem results in an apple tasting dull compared to a bag of candy.

Getting used to the taste of healthy foods requires reprogramming your brain to appreciate natural levels of sugar, salt, and fat. By starving yourself of candy and only eating fruit, you can eventually satisfy your sugar craving from fruit alone.

Alternatively, you can make healthier foods taste better by not just eating sole ingredients. Processed foods often contain a vast mix of ingredients which helps them to taste so good. By mixing lots of ingredients, you can recreate that explosion of flavors. Try to experiment with forms of seasoning beyond salt and sugar – oregano, cumin, nutmeg, cinnamon, chili powder, garlic, pepper, and rosemary will bring foods like vegetables alive. You can also try creating your sauces, or you could try mixing ingredients into soups, stews, curries, stir-fries, and omelets. 

2. It Takes too Much Time to Prepare

Another reason many of us struggle to eat healthily is that healthy meals typically take more time to prepare. It’s easier to shove something in the microwave for five minutes than it is to chop up vegetables and alternate between pots and pans.

Of course, not every healthy meal has to be a mission to prepare. There are many fun, easy recipes out there that won’t feel like a chore. These options include recipes that you can cook in one pot or recipes that involve only a handful of ingredients.

Embracing shortcuts can often make preparing healthy meals easier and quicker. Shortcuts could include buying pre-chopped vegetables as part of kits or using tools like blenders and mandoline slicers to slice ingredients. You don’t have to cut ingredients manually.

3. It’s too Expensive

A lot of people refuse to eat healthy because eating healthy seems to be more expensive. In most cases, it isn’t more expensive – it all comes down to preparing meals in advance and being savvy with ingredients. By planning, you can make sure that no ingredients go to waste. You can use a bag of onions across multiple meals (instead of using one onion and then throwing away the rest because you don’t use them before they reach their sell-by date). Start creating meal plan diaries so that you know what you’re eating each day and so that you can make the most of ingredients.

Why You Struggle To Eat Healthy Food

It can be a struggle to switch to healthier options when you’re used to eating junk food. These tips can help you make the change, though, promoting health and wellness.

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Health Healthy Living How To Life

3 Smart Tips for Having a Joyful Relationship with Food

Relationship with Food

Throughout history, food has played a significant role in life. It is a vital source of sustenance and a way to celebrate and recognize the positive moments in our lives. Plus, food can help us to deal with the stressful and upsetting parts of life, too. Since it plays such an essential role in your life, you must learn to have a joyful relationship with food.

Today, a substantial number of people have an absent-minded relationship with our food. We eat whatever is near, often processed, without truly noticing what we’re doing. What’s more, for many of us, food is a source of pain and disappointment rather than positivity, and not just because eating the wrong stuff may prompt a visit to Pony Express Dental for cavity repair.

Here are a few things you can do that might help make food a more joyful part of your life.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Relationship with Food
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Have a Joyful Relationship with Food

1. Take the Time to Actively Experience a Sense of Gratitude for Your Food

There’s a difference between sitting down to enjoy a well-prepared meal that’s taken care to make versus a processed snack. One of the ways to develop a joyful relationship with food is to express gratitude for what you’re eating.

Whether or not this means sitting down to say grace in a religious context or simply pausing for a few moments to appreciate the meal before eating it (and maybe thanking the chef), gratitude can go a long way.

2. Aim to be More Mindful and Conscious with Regards to How you Relate to Your Food

You might develop dissatisfaction and cynicism about food due to an automatic and impulsive approach to eating. Rather than falling into this situation, look for ways to be more mindful of your relationship with food. Being more mindful might involve a more change in your style of eating, wherever possible. 

Specifically, eat your meals at set times and look for ways to make the cooking process more meaningful and fulfilling for you.

3. Look at Food as a Form of Artistic and Personal Expression

Food can be a form of self-expression rather than just being fuel for your body. Treating your food as a form of personal expression and getting into “the art of cooking” can help develop a meaningful relationship with food. Plus, it can open up new avenues as a result.

Not only can you stock up on cookbooks and begin to really delve into the practice of cooking creative meals, but you can experience a lot of satisfaction as a result. You might even experience a semi-meditative effect, with the act of cooking helping you to center yourself.

Tips for Having a Joyful Relationship with Food

Developing a joyful, healthy relationship with food can change your life. You’ll be happier, healthier, and more mindful of what you put into your body.

Do you have any other tips to better your relationship with food? Leave a comment and let us know!

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Health Healthy Living How To Life Meal Plan

5 Simple Changes you can Make in Your Life to Be Healthier

be healthier

If you want to be healthier or make some positive changes in your life, it is easy to do. It only requires you to make a few simple changes, and you’ll be glad you make the effort. By implementing these tips, you will find how to be healthier in your life.

Be Healthier
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How to Be Healthier

1. Fill 50% of Your Plate with Non-Starchy Vegetables

Vegetables are separated into two categories, including “starchy” and “non-starchy”. Starchy vegetables have more calories than their non-starchy alternatives. Non-starchy options include spinach and other dark-green vegetables, cauliflower, and carrots.

If you fill your plate with non-starchy vegetables, you will find that you have a good way to improve your diet. These are all low in calories, but they are packed with nutrients. On top of this, they are packed full of fiber and water.

2. Use a Smaller Plate

Believe it or not, the size of your plate can affect the amount you eat. Scientists have found that those who eat from large bowls tend to eat 56% more food when compared to those who use smaller bowls. Eating from a smaller plate is a great way to trick your brain into eating less. Using this tip can be useful if you feel like your portions are far too big.

3. Swap Refined Carbs

Refined carbs, commonly referred to as empty carbs, are processed and stripped of all their nutrients. Empty carbs mean that they are adding more calories to your diet, but you aren’t getting any nutritional benefits from them.

Examples of refined carbs can include white bread, white rice, or even white flour. If you have a diet that is rich in refined carbs, then you may find that you are at risk of experiencing chronic diseases, including Type 2 diabetes. Choosing unprocessed carbs such as whole wheat flour or brown rice allows you to eat delicious, filling foods without empty calories.

4. Avoid Temptation

Sometimes, it is tempting to have a drink during the weekend or eat at a restaurant when you feel like you have nothing in the fridge. That being said, you should try to avoid this, if possible.

By eating well during the week and then failing during the weekend, it will affect you more than you initially realize. To get around this, it’s a good idea to invest in some zero percent alcohol, as well as making healthier versions of takeout meals you love at home.

5. Add Some Fruit

Fruit is a fantastic way for you to add some color to your plate and flavor to your oats in the morning. Fruit is loaded with vitamins and minerals, not to mention that it can help you get your five-a-day with ease, too. You can blend your fruit up into a smoothie, too, making it a healthy treat.

Be Healthier

Be Healthier

Improving your health doesn’t have to be hard. Use this simple tips to be healthier, and you will quickly notice the difference.

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Adulting Allergies Holiday How To Outside Fun Summer

5 Tips for Hosting a Successful Potluck at Home

5 Tips for Hosting a Successful Potluck at Home

Potlucks are a fun way to interact with your neighbors and create meaningful connections for future purposes. They’re also excellent for trying various tasty recipes without breaking the bank and give your kids the opportunity to bond with other kids. However, just like any other party, you need to carefully plan out the activities and prepare your home to avoid a stressful and disorganized event. If you’re looking to organize a potluck party soon, these tips will help you host a successful potluck at home.

potluck at home
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Tips for Hosting a Successful Potluck at Home

1. Prepare your space

As the potluck’s host, it’s vital to consider your setup options and space to determine how your planning and organization will be. Whether you decide to host it indoors or outdoors, you want your home to be presentable. For instance, you may want to declutter and clean your kitchen, bathrooms, dining area, and living room if you’re going to host indoors.

It will also be best to mow your lawn, clean your windows and fix any roof damage for a pleasing outdoor space if you want to host an outdoor potluck. Additionally, remember to provide adequate seating for your guests and tables to arrange the meals. 

2. Create a theme

While classic potlucks allow your guests to bring their favorite dishes, it’s possible to have duplicate meals. Not only will it make the event boring, but it might also cause food waste which isn’t a sustainable way to go. Therefore, it will be prudent to create a potluck theme to bring out your guests’ creative instincts and provide various delicious meals for the occasion.

You can choose themes such as family heritage or salad supper potlucks; the key is to let your imagination run free. You may also want to assign specific courses to your guests to ensure that you have a complete meal plan (appetizer, main dish, and dessert).

3. Don’t forget the drinks

Every party needs drinks, and potlucks are no exception. Drinks are a fun addition to your meals, and they keep you and your guests hydrated and happy. Fortunately, you can incorporate many drinks to make it more exciting for your guests.

While bringing in enough alcoholic drinks for the party, you may also want to include some non-alcoholic beverages for the kids and guests who don’t take alcohol. You can also create a champagne punch, a rhubarb lemonade slush, and fruit juices with a twist to tantalize your guests’ taste buds. 

4. Factor in dietary restrictions

It might be awkward for guests not to eat anything due to their special dietary needs. Not only will they feel uninvited, but they might also see you in a negative light.

For these reasons, it will be prudent to know of their dietary restrictions ahead of the event. It will also help to use fresh ingredients and provide recipe names and potential allergens that they contain. It allows the guests to know what foods to avoid. 

5. Prepare a playlist

Music creates a fun atmosphere for an event, and you should incorporate it into your party. You can choose songs that go along with your potluck theme or general songs that get everyone in a good mood. It’s best to prepare your playlist ahead of the party to allow for a smooth music flow. 

potluck at home

Hosting a Successful Potluck at Home

Potlucks are fun and relaxing, and you want to have fun while organizing yours. These tips will help you plan a successful potluck at home that your guests will remember for a long time.

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Big Kid How To Meal Plan Our Family Parenting Recipe Teenager

6 Reasons Your Child Should Eat Tomatoes Every Day

tomatoes

Mmmmm tomatoes. One of my all time favorite foods. I can’t say the same for the rest of my family, however, but realistically, your child should eat tomatoes every day.

My little guy, Liam, is the only person in my house (other than myself) who likes tomatoes. And when I say he likes them, I mean he LIKES them. He eats them first every time I put them on his plate and then asks for more.

The rest of my kids (and even my husband) aren’t fans of tomatoes. They won’t touch them. It’s crazy to me because I eat them raw all the time.

I’ve been trying to push more tomatoes, though, because they are SO good for you. I’ll explain how I’ve been sneakily using more tomato later on in this post but first, I want to tell you WHY your child should eat tomatoes every day.

how to get your child to eat tomatoes

Why Your Child Should Eat Tomatoes Every Day

1. Helps prevent cancer

Tomatoes contain an antioxidant called lycopene, which has been proven to prevent cancer and slow down the growth of potentially cancerous cells. Higher amounts of lycopene are found in cooked tomatoes, so adding tomatoes to your baked dishes is even better.

2. Helps bone health

Two nutrients that are vital for maintaining and strengthening your bones are calcium and Vitamin K, both of which are found in tomatoes. In order for your child’s bones to repair themselves from minor injuries, they should be consuming a decent amount of those nutrients.

The antioxidants found in tomatoes also help promote the amount of calcium found in your body. Long term, the benefits of tomatoes can prevent osteoporosis and other bone diseases.

3. Good for heart health

It’s never too early to think about your child’s heart heath, and tomatoes can help with that. To prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other heart problems, Vitamin B and potassium are necessary. By making this a regular part of your child’s diet, you are setting them up for long-term heart health.

Teaching them to love tomatoes will also make them more likely to continue eating tomatoes when they are adults, further protecting their bodies from heart disease. A bonus, you and your spouse will also benefit from the Vitamin B and potassium.

4. Improves vision

Vitamin A, found in high amounts in tomatoes, is great for your eyesight. Not only can it improve your vision, but it also can prevent night blindness.

5. Prevents and fights against diabetes

If diabetes runs in your family, you should take extra precautions for your children. Tomatoes play an important role in preventing diabetes because it can help restore biochemicals that are off.

Additionally, the fiber found in tomatoes can make the symptoms of diabetes less severe. It has been found that fiber leads to a balancing of blood sugars, lipids, and insulin levels.

6. Good for mental health

The antioxidants in tomatoes can promote positive mental health. They can help decrease emotional stress and prevent neurodegenerative disease. With depression on the rise for children and teenagers, you should be especially receptive of anything that will help.

reasons your child should eat tomatoes

How to Get Your Child to Eat Tomatoes

Like I said before, only one of my kids actually enjoys eating tomatoes. Liam (my youngest) will munch on them all day if I’d let him (although with his eczema I definitely wouldn’t let him).

The others claim they don’t like tomatoes, so I have to sneak them into their diet in other ways. This is easier than it sounds and doesn’t involve a ton of prep work.

Some of the ways to get your child to eat tomatoes include:

  • Spaghetti sauce
  • Grilled cheese served with tomato soup for dipping
  • Raw tomatoes served with ranch
  • Add diced tomatoes to pasta dishes
  • Use tomato sauce as an ingredient in sauces or dips
  • Help your child grow a tomato plant. This is super easy, and they will be more likely to eat the tomatoes that they grew.
reasons your child should eat tomatoes

Final Thoughts On Reasons Your Child Should Eat Tomatoes

The reasons your child should eat tomatoes mainly revolve around health, but they are also an easy, quick, and healthy snack for when you are on the go, too. By teaching your child to love this food, you are protecting their health now and in the future. You’re also teaching them healthy eating habits and allowing them to take care of their own bodies as they get older.

What is your favorite way to incorporate tomatoes into your family’s diet? Do you ever have to sneak tomatoes into your child’s diet? Tell me about it in the comments!

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Allergies Our Family Parenting

Living With Allergies – Our Journey to the Diagnosis

When Liam was just a couple of months old, we knew something was wrong. It didn’t seem life-threatening, but it was stressful and sad that our baby had to go through the vomiting, breakouts, and upset tummy every single day. At first we never even considered that we might be dealing with allergies.

His pediatrician was no help at all. She kept brushing off our concerns by saying things like, “Oh it’s JUST eczema” or “His digestive system isn’t completely developed yet, just sit him up after feedings”. So… we continued trying to control his eczema (which itched so bad it would make him bleed) and kept sitting him up after feedings while he puked up EVERYTHING that he just ate.

I was in tears most days. My son, my BABY, had scabs and sores on his face around his mouth from scratching at the eczema on his face so much. I felt like I couldn’t even take him in public without people judging me as a mother. That’s selfish, I know. But if you could have seen some of the looks I’d get after people saw his face. It was terrible. I did everything his pediatrician recommended to keep it under control and when those methods didn’t work, I went to the internet for tips. Those didn’t work, either.

 

Would Formula Help?

Continuing my internet search, I was trying to figure out what was causing all of these problems. When I typed in the symptoms, I kept getting results that said Liam had allergies. I was breastfeeding and began thinking something in my milk was causing the reactions, but I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what the trigger was. We decided to put Liam on formula and stop giving breast milk altogether.

The formula didn’t help, either, though. So then I had the added guilt of no longer breastfeeding added to all my other mom-guilts.

 

6 Months

When the vomiting wouldn’t stop even after he was 6 months old (that is the magic age his pediatrician kept telling us), I couldn’t take it anymore. We switched pediatricians. The new pediatrician gave us some new ideas to try but, since he didn’t know much about Liam’s history except what we told him, he would have to monitor it before he could determine what the underlying cause was. Fair enough.

We started trying the new ideas for controlling everything and then just a couple weeks after switching to the new pediatrician, we felt like we were getting some answers. We actually saw a nutritionist at our local WIC office and she suggested that Liam may have a dairy allergy. All of his issues were signs of allergies and, more specifically, a dairy allergy or sensitivity. She wanted us to try changing his formula to one without dairy.

I immediately called his pediatrician who said that it was a great thing to try and that it was going to be his next suggestion anyway. We started the new formula that same day.

Liam stopped vomiting as often, and he did get some relief from his eczema. The problems never fully went away, though, but we were thankful for even a little relief.

 

Fast forward to April when Liam was 14 months old.

I made scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast and Liam was loving it. He had been eating eggs regularly for about two months and loved them. Well, as he was eating his scrambled eggs, I noticed he was itching around his mouth. We still struggled with eczema around his mouth so I immediately started stressing and saying, “stop itching buddy, you’re going to make yourself bleed”. I moved his hands away from his mouth a couple of times and then started cleaning up the kitchen. I looked over at Liam and his entire face was covered in hives. COVERED.

I grabbed the eggs from in front of him, picked him up, and started washing his hands and face. As soon as that was done, I called his pediatrician’s office and they said to give Benedryl and watchfor signs of an anaphylactic reaction. I was TERRIFIED. Nothing like this had ever happened before, and I had NO IDEA that he may be allergic to eggs.

With all of my research on allergies, eggs had never even seemed like a problem.

I wouldn’t let him sleep in his crib that day because I wanted to keep an eye on him nonstop. The next day we took him to the doctor and were told to try the “baked egg” challenge. This is where you feed the child something that has egg baked in it. So cake, brownies, something like that. We did, and he reacted again. The doctor said to stop eggs immediately and completely and referred us to an allergist.

The Diagnosis

We met with the allergist and Liam was tested for the big 6 allergies. Peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, shellfish, dairy, gluten. He only reacted to eggs during the test, and it was determined that he had a SEVERE EGG ALLERGY. We would need to carry an epi-pen at all times, as the allergist thought the allergy might become even worse.


The Struggle

Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep your child away from eggs? He eats anything and everything, so if someone leaves a snack cake around, Liam will eat it. He doesn’t understand allergies, so he doesn’t know any better. If he sees ranch on someone’s plate and he can reach it, guess who is eating the ranch? It is SO HARD. There are even some brands of granola bars that have eggs in them! Pesto? Nope. Donut Sundays were canceled in our house, and my older toddlers learned to ask, “does it have egg?” whenever someone tried to give Liam a snack. My big kids learned to read an ingredient label, and we all learned to not feed Liam anything that doesn’t have a label.

When we go to restaurants we have to ask the server to put in an allergy alert and make sure his food is cooked separately. We have to wipe down high chairs and tables with disinfectant cleaner, even if they already appear clean. Sylas (he’s 4 Y/O) always says to our servers when we order Liam’s food “Make sure it doesn’t have egg, please. He’s allergic”. And even when he says this when I am ordering a hotdog for Liam, or a plate of fruit, I don’t correct him and tell him that it’s not necessary to ask, because you never know when it WILL be necessary for this additional reminder.

Re-creating our favorite recipes to be egg-free has been tricky, as well. Fried chicken? We have to dredge it in buttermilk now. Fettucini Alfredo? That’s just a nope because I don’t like the cauliflower version. Chicken fried rice? We haven’t had it since we found out about the allergy.

 

The Scare

It is terrifying that my son may mistakenly be exposed to something that can cause him to stop breathing. With allergies, our lives instantly became a little more meticulous and careful. Our awareness of ingredients and “safe foods” became an obsession.

Liam still wants to eat eggs. If he sees someone eating one he’ll yell “want egg!” over and over again until the egg is out of his sight. He hasn’t yet learned what it could do to him. He just knows that he isn’t getting what someone else is having. I’m afraid to leave him with a babysitter due to this. I also have to ask, “Do you know how to administer an epi-pen?” to every single person I leave him with. And then I’m still not comfortable.

This is what life with an allergy kid looks like. It is scary, and please don’t mind when I am overly obsessive about anything my child touches. Don’t take offense if you see me wiping down chairs and tables are your house. I just never know when that surface had been touched by something with egg.

 

Need Some Tips for Cooking with Allergies?

If you are familiar with food allergies, you understand what we are going through. I am going to start posting allergy-friendly versions of favorite foods, so keep an eye out for that!

Do you know an allergy kid or does your child have allergies? Is there a recipe you would like that is allergy-friendly? Let me know in the comments!

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Family Activities Marriage Our Family

South Haven, Michigan – Things to Do

Things to do

If you follow me on Twitter you already know that my husband and I took a trip to South Haven, Michigan this past weekend. It is my favorite place on earth and as soon as my blog makes me rich (hey, I can dream, right?) I’ll be buying a beautiful home there.

I really do love everything about South Haven. The views of Lake Michigan, the clean beaches, the cute little shops in town, the food (oh, the food!!!!), the activities, and the people. The best part is the Lake Michigan sunsets, though. NOTHING in this world beats a Lake Michigan sunset.

South Haven Sunset
Even cloudy, it is still beautiful

People from all over the country visit South Haven. While we were there we met someone from Alaska and another person from Texas. We are lucky that it is less than a 2-hour drive from us, but if you are farther away than us, I promise you it is worth the trip.

We have begun to compile a list of places in South Haven we love and will return to as often as possible, and also a list of places that we weren’t so fond of. I’m happy to say that the “love” list is much, much longer than the other list.

So, if you are visiting South Haven in the future or even if you are just curious about Michigan’s little gem, this post is for you.

***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Things to do

Things to do in South Haven, Michigan

  • Watch a sunset over Lake Michigan. I mentioned before that there is NOTHING like a Lake Michigan sunset so, of course, this is at the top of my list. We sit above the beach on a waterproof beach blanket and watch the sunset over the lighthouse. It is so beautiful and so peaceful.South Haven, Michigan
    IMG_7879
  • Swim and hang out at the beach. This should go without saying when you visit a lake town. Get your floaties and boogie boards and head in. Don’t forget to bring a beach chair with you!

  • Try a new restaurant. Every time we go to South Haven we try at least one restaurant that we haven’t tried before. Our favorites are Clementines (for dinner), 3 Blondes Brewing (lunch and drinks), Black River Tavern (dinner and drinks), Golden Brown Bakery (breakfast and coffee), and Chomps Gourmet Hotdogs (lunch).

    We also tried Captain Lou’s, the Idler Riverboat, and Captain Nemo’s (yummy breakfast). Captain Lou’s is is right on the Black River and we got to watch a drawbridge lift up for boats to go through while sitting on their deck. We also tried Venezia Pizza but will probably try Brix Oven next time we go instead. We also want to try Maria’s next time, which is an Italian restaurant that we’ve heard a lot about.

    Clementines South Haven
    Clementines

    Black River Tavern. South Haven, MIBlack River Tavern

  • Go on a boat tour. There are a couple of different options for this. Right on Water St. there is a marina on the black river where they offer boat tours. You can do a daytime one or for $10 more per person, you can do a sunset tour. There is also the Michigan Maritime Museum which offers tours on a “pirate ship”.
  • Wine tasting. There were a couple of wineries I wanted to try but we chose 12 Corners this time. We loved it! My husband usually doesn’t like wine, and he says everything tastes like MD20-20 or something BUT he actually found a couple he liked at 12 Corners!

    It’s right on Pheonix St. and they have a large wine list. The price was $10 for 5 tastes and we got to take the cute stemless wine glasses with us. We also left with a bottle of Beach Cottage Red. Yummmm.

    I’ve been reading about their monthly Wine Club and I’m really thinking about joining… they ship!! I would probably make the trip every 3 months and pick the wine up but they have a bi-monthly shipping option.

  • Beer tasting. So there are quite a few breweries in the South Haven area but we chose 3 Blonds Brewing. I read about them online and had to try it out.

    I normally am not a beer person but I couldn’t pass up on a beer tasting date with my husband. I tasted 3 beers that I LOVED, 1 that I really liked, and the others were IPA’s and apparently, I’m just not a fan (hubby is so disappointed in me). For you IPA lovers, my husband said the IPAs at 3BB are amazing!
    Three Blondes BrewingThree Blondes BrewingHubby @ Three Blondes Brewing

  • Paddleboard or canoe! You can rent these right on South Beach so it’s super easy and convenient.
  • Go shopping. There are SO many cute little shops on Pheonix St. and Quaker St. We always get souvenirs here and quite a few of our favorite restaurants are on the same street.
    South Haven, MI
  • Kal-Haven Hiking Trail. This is a trail that runs from South Haven all the way to Kalamazoo. You can bike or hike. There are so many beautiful stops along the way. I have never completed the trail because I am way too out of shape to hike 32 miles in one direction, but the South Haven part is beautiful.
  • Icecream. Buy your ice cream at South Beach (I recommend the Mackinac Island flavor) and then…
    Ice cream, South Haven
  • Walk to the South Beach Lighthouse. This is our tradition… on our first day, before we even check-in at the place we’re staying, we buy ice cream on South Beach and then walk to the lighthouse while we eat it. It’s so fun and the perfect way to get into relaxation/vacation mode.
    South Haven LighhouseIMG_7747
  • Go see a comedy show or a live band at the Black River Tavern. They have them on Saturday nights and they also have amazing drinks and appetizers. It was the best date night. We had the BEST time ever, laughed so much, and sang along with the band’s songs. Take me back!!

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    I call this look “beach and booze”

    Things To Do In

You guys, seriously. Please take me back. Our 3 night, 4-day mini-vacation was AMAZING and MUCH needed. We only get away together once a year and while we thought about other places for this past trip (New York City), we couldn’t imagine spending our anniversary trip in any place but South Haven.

Have you ever been to South Haven, Michigan? If so, tell me about your favorite part! If you haven’t been, tell me what you would want to experience the most if you were able to visit. I’d love to hear about it!

**Click here to read about our wedding in South Haven

Categories
Holiday Recipe

7+ 4th of July Barbeque Ideas For Your Family Friendly Festive Celebrations

How many of you will be barbequing for the 4th of July or at least attending a barbeque? If you’re a guest to a 4th of July barbeque, you can’t show up empty-handed and if you’re hosting a barbeque, you have to provide lots of yummy food.

If you’re like us, you’ll be doing both. On the actual 4th of July we’ll be having a barbeque at home, but the weekend after the 4th of July, my extended family has a HUGE party to celebrate. I’ve been compiling recipes and ideas to make it the best 4th of July yet.

Before you get cooking on any of these, however, make sure that you have everything you need to really host the perfect BBQ! That means getting your grill out nice and early to make sure it’s in good condition, calling the Ashland propane delivery service if you are out of gas, cleaning the BBQ so it’s ready for these delicious meals, and making sure you have enough yard furniture to host everyone. As long as you have all that in place, you can start prepping for these amazing meals!

4th of July barbecue 1. Hotdog Bar and Festive Printables

Jamielyn at I Heart Naptime went above and beyond with this one!! Not only did she give an AMAZING idea for the hot dog topping bar, but she also created some super cute, festive printables.

4th of July barbecue 2. BBQ Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites

Just looking at these BBQ Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites is making my mouth water. They seem pretty easy to prepare and cook, too. Kristyn at Lil Luna nailed it here! I’m sure if you brought these as a passing dish to a barbeque, you would be the favorite guest. 😉

3. Easy Festive Twizzlers

These were shared on Room to Inspire back in 2011 but they are still so cute!! Super simple to throw together, too. The kids at the barbeque will love them and I know quite a few adults who would enjoy them, too.

4. American Flag Fruit Tray

I love how cute this fruit platter is that was shared on Passion For Savings. It’s so simple, practical, and obviously delicious. I’ve seen other versions of this “flag” platter with white cheese instead of white chocolate covered pretzels and other red fruit (watermelon, raspberries, etc.) instead of strawberries. It’s another easy passing dish that people will love.

4th of July barbecue 5. American Flag Veggie Tray

Another platter of food created to look similar to the American flag. You can’t forget the veggies at a barbeque! Amy at Living Locurto created this one, and it is so cute! If you go to her post, she has included a recipe for the dill dip that she used. Sounds so good and I am DEFINITELY taking this as a passing dish this 4th of July.

6. Loaded Baked Potato Salad

How good does this potato salad look?! Denay at Confetti and Bliss shared the recipe for this Loaded Baked Potato Salad on her blog and I can’t wait to try it! I don’t think I have ever tried a BAKED potato salad, so I’m curious about the difference. I might not even wait until the 4th of July to make it. Yummmm.

7. Baked Beans

These baked beans from Taste of Home look sooo good! The recipe calls for ground beef and I can’t remember ever having baked beans with ground beef in it, but I’m willing to give it a shot! The reviews on this are good so I can’t wait!

Other 4th of July Barbeque Ideas

Some other yummy ideas for a 4th of July barbeque are hamburgers (you could even do a hamburger bar similar to the hotdog bar I shared above), corn on the cob, steaks, bell peppers and dip, grilled Brussel sprouts, bean dip and tortilla chips, or you could make a yummy alcoholic (or non-alcoholic but why?) drink to share.

The big party my extended family throws has hundreds of people attend so my brothers and my dad roast a pig … they have to start it the day before the party and cook it forever. I’m not sure how long, at least 24 hours I think. Then they make it into pulled pork. People LOVE it. They also grill hotdogs for the ones who don’t like pulled pork, and of course, there are TONS of sides.

I hope some of these ideas help with your planning! Which one is your favorite? Do you have a favorite barbeque dish that I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments! 🙂

4th of July barbecue

Categories
Big kid fun Family Activities Teenager Toddler and Preschool Age Fun

How to Host the Perfect Sleepover & Movie Night

Nevaeh wanted to have a sleepover for her 14th birthday and we decided to do homemade pizzas, a bonfire, and a movie night.

The first step was to figure out what to have for dinner and what snacks to have.

We decided on homemade pizzas so the girls could choose their own toppings and have as much (or as little) cheese and sauce as they wanted. This option was definitely a hit. They loved making them and everyone thought the pizzas were delicious. Even my toddlers had fun making their own pizzas! It was fun for all of us and that’s always a plus.

We used Jiffy pizza crust mix. It was super inexpensive and soo delicious. It was actually really sticky when I was trying to flatten it out so I was worried it wouldn’t work well but it did! It turned out perfectly. It doesn’t make enough dough for one “large” pizza, but two girls were able to share one. We used Meijer pizza sauce, pepperoni, Tennessee Pride sausage, yellow pepper, and mozzarella cheese. You can buy whatever toppings your family wants. We decided bacon and banana pepper would have been a good addition so we’ll be getting those next time.

After dinner we went outside for a bon fire and s’mores. Again, everyone had fun and loves s’mores so it was another one that even the littles enjoyed.

 

The girls played in the yard for a while when the s’mores were gone and while they played and Chris put the fire out, I started preparing the movie snacks!

We did popcorn with mix-ins and that was so much fun. I prefer my popcorn plain but the kids loved adding yummy stuff to theirs.

We did cheerios, mini marshmallows, pretzels, mnm’s, and a couple popcorn seasonings (nacho cheddar and caramel corn). Everyone got their own bowl of popcorn and then added stuff in. You could do other things like chocolate chips, gummy bears, golden grahams, or any other treat.

We also put candy and drinks in small bins for each girl. The girls chose to put a napkin in one side of their bin and just put their popcorn in there (and hot Cheetos once the popcorn was gone).

After one movie the girls went out to the backyard and played hide and seek (it’s so dark out there!). Then they played some games and watched more movies. They all said they had so much fun, so I’d it was a success. 😉

 

Do you have any popcorn mix-ins you prefer that I didn’t include? Pizza toppings? Movie night snacks? Drop a comment and tell me about it! 🙂