Food & Dining

As I recounted in yesterday's post, at 8 weeks old we found out my son had a dairy allergy. Suddenly I had new dairy-free dietary restrictions in order to continue nursing him. Cooking all my meals at home and reading every label became the new normal. It was a struggle in the beginning to adapt, but once I adjusted I quickly saw the benefits. In an effort to make the transition a little easier for other moms who may be going through the same thing, I've compiled a list of my favorite dairy-free and soy-free* grocery items, restaurants, and information. Having to Cut the Cheese Part 2 {Guide to a Dairy-Free Diet} Grocery Shopping: I shopped around multiple stores to find foods I...

I was one of the lucky ones for whom breastfeeding happened pretty naturally with my son. My milk came in just fine, we had no problems with latching, and once I got past the initial raw-ness it was painless. My little man had a great appetite and was gaining weight, but he certainly wasn't a chunk either. I went back to work after 8 weeks of maternity leave and struggled with the breast pump, but I had committed to myself and my son to breastfeed as long as I could, so I pushed on. I had been back at work less than a week when I got a text from the family member caring for my son. It was of...

Moms near and far may have differences of opinion on many things. But there is one thing nearly all moms can agree on wholeheartedly....WINE! Mommy juice, adult drink, nectar of the gods...wine can help us make it through another day without losing the very few wits we have left (all in a responsible, safe way of course!) And what's better than a good bottle of wine at the end of a long day?? A decent bottle of cheap wine to end a long day! To save you some footwork, we joined forces to sample and rate a selection of cheap inexpensive wines. Never mind that we sampled out of paper cups, we believe you are sure to find your...

It’s the end of a long day. The husband worked a 12-hour shift. The kids and I had a playdate and a full homeschool day. Together we washed, dried, folded, and put away 4 loads of laundry. And now it’s dinner time. Together time. So we sit down to a delicious meal of liver and onions with a side of sautéed squash. WAIT! WHAT?! Yes, you read that right. My seven and four year old daughters will eat squash, and onions, and liver. How did this happen? Getting the kids to eat well and eat unusual foods didn’t happen overnight, and it was definitely a trial and error endeavor. We’ve had a lot of misses along the way. We STILL have a...

I've written here about mental health, racism and being mom to a special needs child so I figured it was time to lighten up a little and share some recipes with you. Sometimes after working 2 jobs, picking up the kiddo from school, and squeezing in a workout the last thing I want to do is stand at the stove for 30+ minutes whipping up a tasty and nutritious meal. Unfortunately, it seems like my family needs to eat, so I do it. I lean on my slow cooker every now and then and honestly those days are my favorite. There is something so rewarding and comforting about coming home after a long day and remembering that dinner is already cooked...