6 Ways to Get Out of a "Rut" & Embrace Your Inner Child [+ a DELICIOUS rainbow of Sparkling Mojito recipes]!

Ever felt like you were stuck in a rut?

Most of us can answer, "Of course...", because we've all been there, done that. It's like some days I just need a little pick me up - ya know, a little something to remind me what life is all about outside of just this sweet babe. We all have those days - the days when you just need to see something new and beautiful, when you just want to feel those warm fuzzies inside and you can't help but smile and well, luckily I think I've found the secret to that something we all are longing for. And really, it's so simple... you'll be like me and saying "duh" once you make this small adjustment.

To find that little spark in your life, sometimes all you need to do is be a kid again. Make life happier with just a pinch of COLOR, a sprinkle of Sparkling Ice, a touch of your favorite song from the 90s, maybe a piece of new jewelry, and just a little taste of new things. Seriously, think about it, who isn't happy when they reflect on their favorite parts of childhood?

I mean, just watching this kid smiling at her necklace, it's a good reminder that sparkles are fun for all ages - we both love to wear them... and well, I love them in Sparkling Ice form inside of my favorite adult drink.

It's totally okay and acceptable to embrace your inner child, at any age, and love on the things that used to make you happy as a kid. So today I'm sharing six ways you can get out of a rut and embrace your inner child!

1. Dance like no one is watching - That's right, I'm giving you FULL license to let lose and go all Footloose on your kitchen floor. Whether you're home alone or babysitting a house full of chitlens, turn on some good tunes and get down. I'm not even kidding when I say, this may be the secret to happiness - feeling the beat, smiling from ear to ear, singing along with the song, and getting your blood flowing while shaking your booty, there really isn't a better way to feel like a kid again than to physically let loose and act like a kid.

2. Style your hair differently - It's true, something as simple as swiping your bangs to the left instead of the right can totally change the way you feel about yourself and about life. If you're looking for something a bit more dramatic, grab some colorful hair dye and do something your inner 5 year old would love - add some pink low lights or get a little wild and dye your hair like a mermaid. Whatever you decide, I'm sure however you switch up your do will be perfect for you.

3. Clean - Speaking of things being perfect, sometimes being a kid again means taking the time to be an adult first. So before things get too crazy kiddy-like, maybe it would be a good idea to make sure your house feels all tidy and clean. I remember learning "everything has a place" as a kid and to this day, my heart feels a little happier when things are in their place and my house looks nice and tidy.

4. Treat yourself - Sometimes it's nice to have something new. It doesn't have to be anything big either, just like when you were a kid! Find a pair of socks that are your favorite color, spend a moment picking out a bouquet of flowers, or maybe even just grab a movie that you love to watch and spend the evening on the couch enjoying it. Spoil yourself with a small little "happy" and you won't be able to stop smiling.

5. Pay it forward - Remember that feeling of donating the change from the grocery store cashier to the Salvation Army guy ringing a bell? Those warm fuzzies you get from helping others may be favorite, I mean what better way to bring a smile to my own face than also helping bring a smile to someone else's face? You don't have to donate to a charity to pay it forward, although that's a nice way to do so, sometimes it's nice to pay for the guy behind you when in the drive thru or leave a gift card on a new mom's car when you see "Stork parking" at a shop. The possibilities of how you can spoil someone and make them smile are nearly endless, just spread joy and I guarantee you'll feel happy.

6. Try a New Recipe & Eat the Rainbow - While kids tend to be picky, your adult palette is probably longing for something new. Skip the mac & cheese and head to the grocery store, buy foods you've never tried before, in an assortment of colors. Head home and fix yourself a colorful, delicious meal and enjoy.

After you've had a rainbow meal, maybe it's time to drink the rainbow too? Today I'm sharing FOUR different easy to make Mojito recipes that will rock your world and totally make you feel happy as a clam.

For each of these delicious colorful cocktails you will need:

Sparkling Ice in a variety of flavors
Mint Leaves
1/4 tsp Key Lime Juice

1.5 oz Coconut Rum
1/4 Fresh Squeezed Lime

Ice

Cups
Muddler  (Confession: I used the bottom of a spoon, because YOLO.. and mama wanted a drink!)

Preparing for this cute cocktail is key - begin by adding the mint leaves, the lime juice, and the fresh squeezed lime into the cup together and muddle.

Next you'll add ice and Sparkling Ice, the part that gives this drink it's unique flavor! We went with a variety from Strawberry Kiwi to Black Raspberry and they all are delish!

Side note: I'll be honest and tell you, they are all so refreshing and delicious - it was hard to stop after one!

Following that you'll want to shake and/or mix it all together.

Finally, add a pretty little garnish and your all set!

That's it, now bottoms up and enjoy your cocktail! I guarantee you'll be smiling while sipping these and you'll definitely want another... and another. Luckily, you have 15 delicious Sparkling Ice flavors to choose from so you'll be able to truly taste the rainbow and smile. Life shouldn't be bland after all so Be Not Bland and give these tasty beverages a try!

Summer Fun with Mama Mocktails - 3 Delicious, Non-Alcoholic Party Drinks from Ocean Spray!

This post is sponsored by Ocean Spray, regardless all opinions expressed below are my own.

Summer is officially here... and you know what that means, backyard get togethers, little pool parties, and sunset shindigs will be on the agenda! While I'm looking forward to the fun, this year I'm rocking a new title and well, that's MOM! I'm so lucky that Delainey loves me so much... and it's pretty precious that it's her one and only word. It really does mean the world to me to hear her call for me.

While my new title this year is the sweetest, it also means that I'm not going to be participating in the adult beverages served at the previously mentioned events. I mean, maybe one here or there, but as a breastfeeding mama, I'm holding back on my alcohol intake and former party animal antics.

With that said, that doesn't make me a total party pooper either... or at least I don't think so. I love to go have fun with friends and family still... I just do it without adding alcohol - just like delicious Ocean Spray Mocktails!

What's that? You have a baby shower coming up and you can't figure out a fun drink to serve? I've got you covered!

Maybe you've been craving your favorite cocktail, but you're also expecting a baby in a month...? Here's a drink for you and it tastes so delicious - just like that drink you were craving!

That's right, you can have your "cocktail" and drink it too... without any alcohol, that is. Made with real fruit juice and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives?! Count me in... and I'm fairly certain Delainey is thinking the same thing.

Want to have fun in the sun this summer without involving alcohol? Check out these three delicious mocktails from Ocean Spray & find out all about the taste that takes you away - I mean, picture it, you're in paradise sipping on a delicious coconut full of Tropical Citrus Paradise. The sweet flavors washing over you as you feel the breeze and hear the waves crashing against the shore. Well, I mean, that's how I feel as I'm sipping on this deliciousness anyways.

If you're craving something a little less tropical, pair the Cranberry Sangria with a pinch of sparkling water for a taste you'll love! Also, you can add in some fruit and place the delicious mixture in pitcher for a gorgeous addition to your next get-together! This Sangria not only looks the part, it tastes equally as delicious as the adult variety and hey, you can share the fruit with your kiddos now too!

Lastly, check out the Cranberry Peach Bellini if you're looking for a sweet, sophisticated drink.It's the sweetest of the three and also my favorite. Imagine yourself in Italy, enjoying a gondola ride down the Grand Canal, sipping on one of these delicious beverages... or at your bestie's baby shower nursing your new baby. Wherever you drink this yummy mocktail, I'm sure you'll love the refreshing treat as much as I did.

So, if you're in the same boat as me and not exactly partying this summer but still wanting to be a part of the fun - check out the Ocean Spray Mocktails line! If you give them a try or have already tried them, I'd love to hear your thoughts on these creative blends in the comments below.

Lactation Cookies for Nursing Mamas: Help Increase Your Milk Supply While Breastfeeding with this COOKIE recipe!

If I'm going to be honest, I never thought I'd be so devoted to something like this... but I'm pretty passionate about nursing Delainey. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally on board with the "fed is best" movement - but for our family I believe breast is best (at least for now)! If you're a nursing mama, you know some days your baby cluster feeds enough that you feel you've run dry... while it's impossible to run out of milk if you're allowing your little one to nurse on demand, it is possible for you to do things to "up" your supply and hopefully help your milk become more established.

You can try all kinds of products, teas, tinctures, old wives tales, and more, but here's a little secret - you can eat cookies to help your supply! I've been experimenting with all kinds of items that are supposed to help and I stand behind this cookie recipe, I've noticed my supply seems to increase when I eat these... especially when I have a few a day!

That's right, I'm giving you a reason to eat a few cookies - every single day. That means you have the right to add cookies to your diet (in the plural form) whenever you want and the best part is that they will help you produce milk for your baby! What more could a new mama ask for? It's a bit like heaven, really - especially once you taste these little bits of gluten-free goodness.

Side Note: You can eat these "lactation" cookies whether you are breastfeeding a child or not, they are full of delicious and healthy ingredients for everyone... but these are especially beneficial if you're trying to up your milk supply!

For this recipe you will need:


Ingredients
1 cup butter (at room temperature)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons flax seed
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups gluten-free flour blend
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons brewer’s yeast (found at the health food store or amazon)
3 cup rolled oats
1 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3 tbsp chopped almonds


Directions

Start out by preheating the oven to 375. Now mix the flour, baking soda, brewer’s yeast and oats in a bowl and set aside while you cream together the butter and sugars. 

Now add the eggs, vanilla and flax to the butter and sugar mixture. Combining the ingredients thoroughly.

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing well after each addition, then stir in the chocolate chips and the dried cranberries.   

Now drop cookie dough onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees F. for 10 minutes.

Let these yummy little pockets of goodness cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes and then move to a cooling rack. 

Enjoy & Nurse, nurse, nurse!

What's in My Bag? - Mama Must-Haves in a Diaper Bag for a baby & a toddler! #GerberWinWin

It's funny how having a baby changes your view of everything... and after having my toddler niece visit this past week, I know things will just keep changing for the days, weeks, months, and years to come. From our plans for the future to the way we grocery shop, everything has already changed slightly.

We're so excited for our future with her in it and I will say spending the week with an infant and a visiting toddler was a possible peek at our future with Delainey and a sibling-to-come. While those days are obviously far off in the future, this week gave me an idea of what should be in my diaper bag when it's time.

Caring for two kiddos isn't an easy task, so kudos to those of you who are currently rocking two kids at the toddler and infant age and for those of you hoping to do the same (like me), I think this list will help you!

We'll start with the essentials, at least for my family - the FOOD.

For D, a bag of milk and a bottle will do. We personally use the twist system and it's super convenient. Sometimes we bring along a different bottle, just in case.

For my adorable little niece, I had to be sure to pack a snack she'll actually want to eat and something I can bring with us anywhere. That's why I opted to bring Gerber Lil' Beanies. With 2 grams of protein and 1 gram of fiber in every serving, I feel like I'm providing her a nutritious snack and it's a win-win for us both, since she actually enjoys eating them too! Whether I hand her the Original or the White Cheddar and Broccoli, we're both delighted when it's snack time.

Speaking of snacks, I'm certain to keep something adult-friendly in our diaper bag at all times too. Since hubs is GF, we packed some of our favorite GF Bites into the bag! Paired with a water bottle we can all share, we're all set for snack time and we'll have no hangry fits in the future.

Now that the food is addressed, let's get to the BASICS -

Packed with diapers for the little and an extra pair of underwear for the niece, the diapering kit is a must have for a diaper bag - of course!

Just in case mama needs to touch up her nails or the little one gets a snag in her dress that needs a trim, the Manicure kit comes in handy!

We pack the coconut oil because it's the ultimate cure for almost everything, makes an excellent lotion, is a great way to clean sticky messes, and more! We got this small sample size container from a health food store and it goes with us everywhere.

The Instax camera is another thing that goes with us everywhere, while we haven't snapped too many pictures yet - I love the idea of taking a picture and having it right at our finger tips! Playing with this handy camera and allowing my niece to take pictures with it is a ton of fun.

The hand sanitizer is a must have for mamas and toddlers, our hands get into some dirty situations and cleaning them up before touching a baby is a necessity!

It may seem silly but having lip gloss in your bag is a great way to make a mama feel cleaner and more presentable... and it's a great way to entertain an antsy toddler.

The activity cards aren't necessarily a must-have item but they are a ton of fun! You can use these handy cards to document the "big firsts" in your baby and toddler's life. From the first trip to an amusement park to a customizable "today" card, you can snap a photo of each event and share it.

A portable phone charger is something every mama needs in their bag in case of emergency. Your phone will never die randomly again with an on-the-go charger.

The little bottle holder device was gifted to us by a friend but a life saver when my arm gets a little tired. Place a bottle inside of it and rest it so baby has constant access to the bottle. I wouldn't suggest leaving babe alone with this, but it's great if your toddler is sitting in the back seat and wants to help you give baby a bottle.

Speaking of sitting in the backseat, babies and toddlers get bored on trips so be sure to pack toys for both of them. Rattles, magic coloring books, etc. Both kiddos will appreciate a little something to entertain them on car rides and waiting in lines.

The last "basic" item in my bag is my coupon holder. With coupons to some of our favorite places and a few vital documents inside, it's a lifesaver to have a small folder to place it all in. Saving money is important so stock up on coupons and place them in a small holder and fork 'em over when shopping, you won't regret it.

With FOOD & BASICS covered, let's talk about the COMFORT items in my bag:

A breastfeeding cover is a must for those of us that are nursing and want to do so comfortable and conveniently, anywhere. I use this baby at restaurants, while shopping, and at friend's houses. It's a huge comfort for her and makes me feel less exposed.

A burp cloth and or a bib is an obvious item to stash in a diaper bag! When dining with an infant, a good burping is always necessary post-meal. Bibs are great when baby tends to spit up or if baby has a drooly day.

I like to put an extra blanket and headband or two in my bag as well. You never know when you'll need a fresh blankie or accessories as a girl mom!

The last item and possibly one of the most important is the baby carrier! My little loves being snug and when hanging out with two littles, having one of them in a carrier is great.

So tell me, whether your a mama of two or hoping to maybe become one... What are your tips for taking care of two or more kiddos at a time?

The Perfect Fall Meal: Gluten Free Salisbury Steak & Idahoan #SignatureRussets Mashed Potatoes

I've partnered with Idahoan on this sponsored post and all opinions stated are my own.

You know, some days you just need a meal that feels hardy and "hits the spot". With today being the first day of fall, even though we are in warm Florida weather, I would say today was one of those days in my home. I was craving something different, something that just makes you feel like "home". 

I started brainstorming and realized that Salisbury Steak and Mashed Potatoes was just the right thing to make! This pairing is made up of the perfect comfort foods, the best way to start fall out on the right foot! Filling, flavorful, and a family favorite, what more could you ask for?  Do you want something savory and delicious for dinner tonight?

Making Salisbury steak is actually easier than you would imagine. Go ahead and get your apron and grab these items from the pantry to get started:

    1 tbsp olive oil    
1 white onion, finely chopped 

2 garlic cloves, minced     

5oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced    

For the Salisbury Steak:
1lb ground beef   

½ cup gluten-free breadcrumbs     

1 egg     

2 tbsp ketchup     

1 gluten free beef bouillon packet    

½ tsp Worcestershire sauce     

3 tsp dijon mustard

For the Gravy:
2 tbsp unsalted butter     

3 tbsp plain flour     

2 cups beef stock     

1 cup water     

2 tsp dijon mustard    

 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce     

Salt and pepper

Begin this recipe by heating the oil on medium, in a skillet. Add in the onion and garlic and cook for about 2 minutes - remove about half of the onions and place in a large bowl.

Now go ahead and add the mushrooms into the skillet and cook these for around 2 minutes as well, then place in a medium bowl on the side.

Next you'll want to add the Salisbury Steak ingredients in the large bowl and use your hands to mix all the ingredients until combined, not overdoing it. Divide into 5 patties or so.

You'll want to get cookin' now, add a splash of oil and heat over high heat, adding steaks in a timely manner. Cook one side of the patty for about 1 minute, then flip and cook for another minute (note: these will still be somewhat raw).

Take the skillet off the stove and transfer your steaks to a plate. Turn the heat down to a medium/low setting and return the skillet to the stovetop. Adding the butter, then adding the flour once the butter has melted - cooking the combination for around 30 seconds to a minute.

Mix in the remaining gravy ingredients until completely smooth, increasing the heat slightly, adding in the additional onions and mushrooms. Stir until smooth and then add the steaks and the juices from the plate as well.

Cook all together for 7 minutes, or until gravy is thickened and steaks are cooked through. During this time go ahead and start following the directions on the Idahoan potato packet.

Remove steaks and place on plate, taste gravy and add salt and pepper to taste. Serve steaks with gravy on top and Idahoan potatoes on the side!

While the Salisbury steak is a bit more involved to make, the mashed potatoes are easy-peasy thanks to Idahoan! The new Idahoan Signature Russets taste just like homemade mashed potatoes without all the added effort. With more than six pounds of premium Idahoan russet potatoes in each 16 oz pouch and a nice smooth taste with just a hint of butter and cream, these delicious potatoes taste just like the ol' family recipe you love to make and no one will know the wiser - unless you share your Idahoan secret!

So tell me, what are your favorite fall meals? Also, if you give this meal a try, be sure to let me know what you think of the deliciousness in the comments below!

Gluten Free Cinnamon Roll Muffins with Vanilla Iced Coffee Glaze!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.

During my pregnancy I've had all kinds of crazy cravings, from bacon and peanut butter donuts, to cheap noodles prepared with milk and hot sauce, to cheeseburgers for my first meal of the day... Our kitchen has produced some interesting dishes at odd times lately. Although I haven't had the stereotypical craving for pickles and ice cream, yet.

While my cravings have been a bit all over the place, this week things seem to have settled down a bit... I've been craving basic breakfast foods. I'm more than overjoyed to bite into a delicious cinnamon roll and sip on a glass of iced coffee. 

 
I'd be surprised if you don't agree, there's just something so special about a tasty pastry in the early AM - especially when it's homemade!

If you're a fellow breakfast time sweet treat lover you'll love these cinnamon roll muffins. They are the perfect mixture of cinnamon and sugar, sure to make your mouth water and combined with a Vanilla Iced Coffee infused glaze and served with a nice big ol' glass of International Delight Vanilla, Caramel Macchiato, or Mocha Iced Coffee, they are stellar!

Whether you're just wanting to treat yourself or you want to share something delicious with a few other people, I highly suggest you get in the kitchen in whip up a batch of these cinnamon roll muffins today... and don't forget to serve them with your favorite ID Iced Coffee!

For this recipe you will need:

Cinnamon Filling:
4 tablespoons vegetable shortening, melted and cooled
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
3 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Muffins:
2 cups gluten-free flour mix
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (unless your mix already includes xanthum gum)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs at room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup buttermilk

Sweet Icing Glaze:
3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon Vanilla International Delight Iced Coffee
1 teaspoon milk
crystallized sugar sprinkles (optional)

Directions

You'll want to begin preperation for this recipe by preheating your oven to 350°F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin, and set it aside.

Next you'll want to lace mix the filling ingredients in a small bowl and combine well. Set aside until needed.

Now you'll make the muffin mix. In a medium-size bowl, mix your flour blend, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda and salt and whisk to combine well. Set the dry ingredients aside.

In a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat your softened butter on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the sugar, then the eggs, then the vanilla, and beat on medium speed until mixed well.

Now slowly add in the dry ingredients, alternating with the buttermilk - I did this in three parts. (Note: The batter will be thick, but also fluffy - resembling pizza dough somewhat.)
 

This part is where your hands may get a little messy, place half of the muffin batter in the lined muffin tin, then add in a small bit of the filling. Swirl the filling around gently in the batter with a skewer, a toothpick, or the tongs of a fork. Now add more muffin batter and then top with the remaining filling and swirl again. Pat the top of each muffin until they are fairly flat.
 
Bake in the preheated oven for 17 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and allow to cool.

While the cupcakes are cooling, it's time to make the sweet icing glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and salt. Add the melted butter and 1 teaspoon of the Iced Coffee, mix to combine well. Now slowly add more milk by the 1/4 teaspoon measurement and mix well until you have a thick, but slowly pourable, glaze.

Here's the most delicious part, pour a bit of glaze over each cooled muffin, and topped with crystallized sugar sprinkles if you would like!

Enjoy!

Get ready to share this recipe with all of your friends, it's bound to be a hit! Plus, you'll probably be asked where you acquired your barista skills with the delicious International Delight Iced Coffee blends being paired with your delicious treats... the best part is, those are the easiest part of breakfast to serve! Just pour and enjoy!

So tell me, what breakfast foods do you enjoy the most? Are you the type to indulge in brunch as well? Do you like breakfast for dinner? I can't wait to hear all about your love for breakfast foods in the comments below... and if you love International Delight as much as I do, be sure to sign up for their newsletter here!

7 Delicious and Unique Summertime Lemonade Recipes

It's officially July and that means the heat of summer is real, at almost 30 weeks pregnant I can tell you right now - it's friggin' hot, all day long.

While I love a good beach day and spending time by the pool, those luxuries sadly aren't part of my daily life lately. One thing that I have been partaking in to try and cool off is a nice big glass of lemonade. From berry and vanilla infused lemonade to a mojito-ish mint lemonade, I've found a variety of different ways to make one of my favorite drinks and luckily, these refreshing beverages have been helping me stay cool.

Are you looking for a few new ways to mix up some lemonade? Here's 7 different, delicious recipes to inspire you, because when life gives you hot, hot heat and lemons - you make homemade lemonade, right?

1. Watermelon Raspberry Lemonade - If you're all about summertime, you'll be all about this lemonade blend from Gourmande in the Kitchen! Made with some of the best classic summertime flavors, this coconut water based lemonade is so refreshing it's a recipe inspired by perfection.

2. Vanilla Berry Lemonade - This heavenly smooth lemonade from Baked Bree is a great mixture of everything I love as of lately. Vanillas and berries combine perfectly with lemonade making for sweet and not-so-tart lemonade, the best way to still enjoy summer while embracing sweets!

3. Blueberry Lemonade - This super simple recipe from Damn Delicious is, well, damn delicious! It's easy to make and so flavorful, the perfect combination.

4. Mint Lemonade - This recipe satisfies my sinful craving for mojitos without involving any adult beverages. It's the perfect mixture of mint and lemonade and so refreshing on a hot summer day, if you're a non-drinker like myself this summer but you're craving something that reminds you of your favorite adult beverages, I highly recommend this recipe from Martha Stewart.

5. Carrot Lemonade - This funky blend from Better Homes & Gardens is the perfect way to sneak some veggies into your diet and still feel refreshed. Packed full of Vitamin A and bright, brilliant orange shade, this lemonade is the perfect way to celebrate a sunny day this summer!

6. Lavender Lemonade - This violet lemonade from Eat Yourself Skinny is not only beautiful and delicious, it also is said to help ease anxiety! Made with lavender as an ingredient, you're bound to be relaxed while sipping on an ice cold glass of this concoction!

7. Fresh Peach Lemonade - If you're looking for a unique twist on lemonade then you'll love this peachy recipe from Taste of Home. It's sweet and a delicious southern twist, perfect for sipping while watching fireworks with your family.

So tell me, which lemonade recipe will you be trying first?

Simplify Your Life with The Ultimate BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe, One Awesome Kitchen Cleaning Hack, & a DIY project!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ScrubDishCloth #CollectiveBias

I'll be as up front as I can possibly be with you, lately I just haven't been feeling the whole homemaker thing. Growing a tiny human is exhausting and preparing our house for her arrival has caused me to feel even more tired the past few weeks, so when it comes time to clean & organize the rest of our house and make dinner, I like to make things as easy as humanly possible. Today I want to make your life a little easier, while I don't consider myself Suzy Homemaker I suppose you could say I'm sharing a couple of "kitchen hacks" that will hopefully make your life feel a bit less stressful.

I'm excited to be sharing my ultimate BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich recipe, it's so easy to make but we all know that BBQ gets a little messy. For that reason, I think it's important that I share how easy keeping your kitchen spic & span can be with the new Scotch-Brite® Scrubbing Dish Cloths. Lastly, I want to share a recent DIY project and how I'm keeping my kitchen a tiny bit more organized and adorable.

We'll go ahead and address how clean my kitchen looks... While I wish I could take all of the credit, it's really thanks to Scotch-Brite Scrubbing Dish Cloths! Their scrubbing power makes cleaning easy, so I suppose you could say these convenient little dish cloths are practically an all-in-one kitchen tool. While I'm used to cleaning up our kitchen with a standard dish cloth, these beauties have totally made the task a heck of a lot easier!

Now I know what you're thinking, "How do the Scotch-Brite Scrubbing Dish Cloths make cleaning easier?" It's simple, the premium, textured dish cloth features two super helpful sides, with scrubbing technology on one side (similar to Scotch-Brite sponges but even more amazing) capable of cleaning up even the most stuck on messes (like BBQ sauce simmered in a pan for hours). While the other side provides the versatility of a dish cloth and is absolutely perfect for wiping down the dirtiest of surfaces!

The best part is these wonderful little kitchen savers won't scratch any surface, no matter how hard you scrub and they are fully washable and reusable so you get the most out of each and every dish cloth!

Do you want to take your dish cloth game to the next level with these super-charged Scotch-Brite Scrubbing Dish Cloths? They come in 2-packs and a variety of colors including the beautiful mint and gray shades I chose, as well as coral and navy and are available at everyone's favorite retailer - Target for only $4.99! Plus, NOW through July 2nd you can save on these little beauties with this Cartwheel offer!

Now that we've gotten the cleaning fun out of the way, I think I need to share with you how I made the adorable utensils that helped me whip together my messy yet delicious BBQ recipe! I obviously used colors inspired by my new dish towels and since these beauties are so easy to make, I knew I had to share a DIY tutorial on how you can make them yourself!

Treat Yourself to a Summertime Fruit Pizza Fresh From Florida!

This post was sponsored by Fresh From Florida as part of Influencer Activation for Influence Central.

I talk about this often, but living in Florida certainly has its benefits and as I recently discussed, the fresh produce is one of many reasons I love where I live. We always have the best farmers markets and the produce from the store tastes like it was brought straight to my home by the farmer.

I'll be honest and share, this summer I've been indulging a bit in some delicious pregnancy cravings! I still hate pickles so I won't be sharing any funky pickles and ice cream recipe... and I guess you could say I'm kind of lucky because my cravings mainly involve fresh fruit. It's nice to be able to indulge myself without having to worry about calories or sugar content and because it tastes so refreshing with each and every bite! The best part is it's all grown locally... From watermelon to blueberries, I love that I'm able to snack on some of my favorite fruits while also giving back to this gorgeous state I live in.

If you love Florida and fruit as much as I do, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to try out the recipe I'm sharing today! With just the right amount of sweetness topped with a surprising twist of mint oil and a balsamic vinaigrette reduction, this fruit inspired "pizza" is the most refreshing treat ever! The best part about this super delicious treat... it's actually pretty easy to whip together!

What do you need to make this simple fruit pizza? A Fresh from Florida watermelon with a handful of Fresh from Florida blueberries I added to the recipe just for kicks, as well as deliciously fresh feta cheese, mint, parsley, olive oil, sea salt, balsamic vinaigrette, and Florida Cane Sugar!

You can get the full recipe here but be warned, it's addicting and you'll absolutely be asked to make it again if you plan to share it with anyone else.

So if you're hosting a barbecue soon or maybe even planning a fun little get-together, this simple "fruit pizza" is the best way to keep your guests and yourself happy and feeling refreshed whenever snack time rolls around!

Have you ever made a fruit pizza? Tell me all about your experience but keep in mind, this healthy & simple treat is one you should definitely pin and try later! Plus, ALL of the delicious recipes from the Fresh From Florida website are worth checking out!