This Low Carb Mint Chocolate Chip Dip recipe is the perfect pairing to my sugar free graham crackers! They work together for a snack or treat to share!
Low Carb Mint Chocolate Chip Dip
I love mint chocolate chip anything. It is one of my favorite ice cream flavors. I was really wanting to create a dip that would go with my low carb Graham crackers that would be a good party food.
Who doesn’t love chocolate?
Put chocolate in it, and I’m sold.
Cream cheese? Oh yes, please!
Mint… ah, so refreshing.
This dip is so yummy, no one will realize they are eating a low carb food.read more
Valentine’s Day may be tomorrow, but you still have time to get your plans in order to make the day special for everyone with these whole food Valentine’s Day recipes. Here are some great recipes and ideas from all my wholefood friends across the web. Are you planning a special dinner? Maybe you need some tips for saving money this year? Do you want to bake something special for dessert? You will find everything you need right here for having the best Valentine’s Day yet. =&0=&
Valentine’s Date Ideas
Ah, the day of love is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with some enchanting date night ideas for Valentine’s Day? Whether you’re a long-time couple or just stepping into the realm of romance, make this day memorable by thinking beyond the conventional dinner-and-movie routine.
How about a cozy home-cooked dinner together, complete with your favorite dishes and a touch of candlelight? Or perhaps an evening under the stars with a blanket fort, stargazing, and sharing sweet nothings. For the adventurous souls, a themed at-home movie marathon or a virtual cooking class can add a delightful twist to your evening. And don’t forget the magic of a scenic outdoor walk, hand in hand, appreciating each other’s company. Whatever you choose, make it personal, make it intimate, and most importantly, make it a reflection of your unique love story.
Love is in the air, and what better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with a nourishing and delightful dinner that speaks to your heart – literally! Forget the clichés; this year, let’s make Valentine’s Day a celebration of health and happiness.
Picture this: a table adorned with vibrant, nutrient-rich dishes that not only please the palate but also contribute to your well-being. From a colorful and crisp salad to a lean protein main course, and perhaps a guilt-free dessert, let’s craft a Valentine’s Day dinner that not only honors your commitment to health but also indulges your taste buds in the most loving way possible. Get ready to savor the joy of a healthy and hearty Valentine’s Day feast with your special someone.
Love is sweet, and so should your Valentine’s Day treats be! This year, let’s celebrate the day of love with an extra dose of goodness by indulging in some healthy and heartwarming treats that are whole food based. From fruity delights to guilt-free chocolatey pleasures, we’ve got the perfect recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth without compromising on your commitment to health. Picture digging into a plate of delicious strawberry and dark chocolate skewers or savoring a decadent yet nutritious avocado chocolate mousse. Whether you’re planning a romantic evening for two or a self-love celebration, these healthy Valentine’s Day treats are here to add a dash of love to your day without the sugar overload. Get ready to treat yourself and your loved ones to these delightful, guilt-free bites that are as good for the soul as they are for the taste buds.
Here are 6 Ways to Save Money this Valentine’s Day without feeling like a cheapskate. Valentine’s Day is not one of my favorite holidays… but it is never a bad thing to recognize the ones you love and let them know in some special way. When you are trying to save money, sometimes you feel pressure to spend more than you really should. Remember that expensive gifts don’t equal more love. You will show love to your husband more by staying on budget than a fancy new watch.
6 Ways to Save Money on Valentine’s Day
1) Split baby sitting cost with other couples.
Hire 1-2 baby sitters to watch several kids at one house. Let them have a pizza and movie night while all the parents get to go out on date. Leave craft supplies for older kids to work on their own Valentine’s day cards to keep them busy.
2) Find free things to do in your town.
We have an art museum here in Richmond that is free every day to the public. It is romantic to walk around (and pretend like you are more cultured that you really are.) Most larger cites will have a website that list free ideas to do in town. One idea is to go to a local park and walk hand in hand depending on weather. Go to a nice shopping center and window shop.
This challenge won’t only affect your health, but will also affect your wallet.
Have I mentioned that I’m cheap?
One of the first reasons I started cooking when Adam and I got married was because we couldn’t afford to eat out. I was in school and we were both commuting an hour to work and school (in opposite directions). Talk about burning through some cash!
By eating at home and cooking from basic ingredients, we were able to save so much money and would usually be able to eat leftovers for a bonus meal.
Know what is in the food you are eating
Have your ever looked at the ingredient list in a chicken nugget? Sometimes it is hard to find the chicken?
As I became more and more aware of ingredients in processed take out and boxed foods, I began to cook more and more from scratch. This process didn’t happen over night.
This challenge is to first make the decision to cook at home.
Second, take a favorite meal that your family loves and turn it into a whole foods meal.
That way you know exactly what you are eating!
I am pretty much a self-taught cook. I’m no fancy chef. I started with simple Rachel Ray type 30 minute meals which helped me get more and more comfortable cooking.
I’ve learned a few tricks over the years and can throw a meal together without a recipe now. When I started cooking, I was slave to the written recipe.
Recipes don’t have to limit you, they can be a jumping off board.
Start with a meal you know and see how you can modify it to make it healthier!
Do you have a favorite meal that uses canned cream of soup? Have you looked at the ingredients? MSG is usually one of them… besides hydrogenated yuckiness.
For a family who loves brunch, but doesn’t love all the typical carbs in brunch recipes. Here are the Top 8 Sugar Free Pancake Recipes your whole family will love!
Starting your day the right way is the key to feeling your best all day long! With these sugar free pancake recipes you can enjoy your favorite comforting breakfast food without the sugar or guilt!
ditch your sugar cravings
8 Sugar Free & Healthy Pancake recipes
Pancakes bring up so many warm and fuzzy feelings inside me. They just scream Saturday mornings with the family. Traditional pancake recipes are full of carbs and sugar (with fat too!). All these together do not help a mama stay healthy. read more
10 Tips for Going to Disney with Small Children and Saving Money
Disney is the most magical place! All that magic comes with a price.
You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy the perfect Disney Vacation with your family.
Here are my 10 Tips for Going to Disney with Small Children and Saving Money!
Lodging: We were so lucky to be able to stay at my parents 2 bedroom condo at Orlando Breeze Silverleaf Resort with a full kitchen for free! This really helped us lower our cost in many different ways.
First, we cooked breakfast in the condo each morning before heading into Disney. This saved us time and money! We also ate most lunches outside the park and dinner too.
Second, it was 2 bedrooms – This saved us some sanity by allowing Aidalyn to have her own bedroom, so we could stay up or wake up early without bothering her.
=&0=&: We decided to drive the 11 hour trip from Richmond to Orlando. It was really an easy drive. We woke up super early (4:30 am) and were on the road by 5. We made it to Orlando by dinner.
If we had flown we would have had to buy 3 tickets since Aidalyn is over 2 and also would have had to rent a car once we arrived in Orlando.
Tickets: We bought our tickets early on www.undercovertourist.com The prices of tickets just went up and we were able to purchase ours $30 cheaper each by buying early.
All children under 3 are free, so we purposely decided to go one month before Aidalyn’s 3rd birthday. This saved us over $200.
When to go: We decided to go the first week of November. This is historically a low season time and it was noticeable. The longest wait time for a ride was 15 minutes – I think for Buzz lightyear. Most times we waited less than 5 minutes for anything.
It was also during the Food and Wine festival at Epcot – which was certainly a highlight of the trip! The festival runs for 45 days through the end of September to the beginning of November.
Food: We decided to eat most of our meals outside of Disney. We ate breakfast in the condo and usually ate at a restaurant for lunch and dinner. Some days we only ate one main meal like a late lunch and then just snacks for dinner in the condo after we got in late from the park.
We also took snacks into Disney to cure any munchies. We brought protein bars, breakfast bars, Annie’s Bunnies, apples, fruit gummies, and pretzels. We also brought our own water bottles that we just refilled throughout the day at the park.
That is one nice thing that Disney doesn’t mind you bringing food or drinks into the park – and that definitely saves money!
Toys: Before we left, I purchased a few new small toys to give to Aidalyn each morning on our way to Disney so she would have something new and wouldn’t be tempted to shop in the stores (luckily these also kept her busy through any line waiting we had to do). I bought a few My Little Ponies on ebay and a few small princess figurines.
I also bought some light up toys for her to have once it got dark in the park. We all enjoyed the light up bracelets and necklaces. She had special light up rings and hair extensions.
Gear: We didn’t need to use it during our trip, but I packed a plastic rain cover for our double stroller. We brought hats and sunscreen for during the day and jackets for at night.
Annaleigh is almost 5 months old. We brought a carrier for her which ended up being almost as important as the stroller was! She would take naps in it while we rode rides or walked to the next land. I used a Baby Bjorn because it is easy to strap on and doesn’t take up much room.
Schedule: Our plan was to be at the park 30 minutes before it opened, then leave for a late lunch, catch a nap, then head back to the park for more fun in the evening (probably my favorite time). We stayed all day at Epcot the first day without leaving and surprisingly Aidalyn did great. The rest of the days, it was pretty obvious that she needed the nap – and we didn’t mind a break from the hottest part of the day either. We usually made it back to the park by 5 or 6 and were able to stay as late as we wanted.
We did one day at Epcot, 3 days at Magic Kingdom, and our final day at Hollywood Studios. It ended up working out well for us. Magic Kingdom was certainly our favorite, so we were glad we spent the most time there.
Since the crowds were lower, we didn’t have to use any fast passes during our trip. We did however, go straight for attractions that were popular first before a line developed. We did this for Enchanted Tales with Belle, Meeting the Princesses, and the Toy Story ride at Hollywood Studios.
We were able to also park so close to the park that we didn’t have to ride the tram (avoiding another wait line when ready to go). Every day we were able to get a great parking spot when we returned to.
Aidalyn’s favorite rides were the People mover in Tomorrow land, The carousel, and the Tea cups.
Costumes: The kids love to dress up at Disney. If you look to buy something there, the dresses will cost over $60… We were SO incredibly lucky to be able to borrow 2 dress up dresses for our trip, one Ariel and one Minnie Mouse. I did by a crown for Aidalyn on Amazon.
Apps: I used undercover tourist app on my iPhone to help with maps, scheduling attractions based on location or what has short or long lines, and managing parade times or shows. It is a great app! I would totally recommend having an app on your phone before going to Disney.
Disney is such a magical place to go for anyone – couples, singles, families, young or old. I can’t imagine anyone being there not having a great time. We honestly can’t wait to go back! I hope that this post helps you plan your trip to Disney with small children and makes it a great trip for you as well!
Have you gone to Disney or another Theme Park with kids? Do you have any Disney Tips to share?
