My Version of #MealPrep Monday: My Favorite Time-Saving Side Dish - Suddenly Grain Salad

I know I say this often, but we're pretty busy in our house. We don't really have time to think most days... I'm constantly working on a project or school work and hubby is either working or at school, most of the time. We love being able to unwind, relax, and have dinner on the nights that our schedules actually line up and we get a chance to just breathe. I'm sure you can relate...

Well, this week, we both are overwhelmed with awesome projects (that I can't wait to share), a busy work schedule, and a ton of homework so I decided while he was slaving away on editing a video for class that I would whip up a delicious lunch and surprise him. It's my wifely duty to make a meal every once in a while, right?

Luckily, this meal is so easy to make, he had no idea I even made lunch until it was done. I barely made a sound but came out with a plate that had him speechless when he realized what I'd been doing. I'll be honest and share that the plate looks and tastes so much more time-consuming than it actually was.

I made a mixture of some of our favorite foods, a veggie, some of our favorite chicken tenders prepared differently, and Suddenly Grain Salad.

Our veggies consisted of a delicious heaping side of brussel sprouts... I'll be honest and reveal that I just heated these up - they are from a local health food store and absolutely delicious!

The next item on the plate was the gluten-free chicken tenders. These little guys are one of our favorite foods and since I was trying to "elevate" the dish a little I drizzled some homemade apricot preserve to add a sweet component... I highly recommend you give this a try; so tasty and so, so easy to put together; plus, kids will love it!

The best item on the plate was definitely the colorful and delicious Suddenly Grain Salad though! It’s a flavorful mix of quinoa and wild rice with a tasty little mixture of nuts, all with a zesty dressing packet included. I made the Harvest grains this time which was infused with cranberries as well and it was delicious! I can't wait to try the Southwest and Tuscan varieties later this week!

Whether you are trying to wow your picky toddler with "tapas" or sneaking a quick meal into a busy day, I highly recommend you give this tasty (and easy to prep) meal idea a try! You can grab everything you'll need at the grocery store including Suddenly Grain Salad, but don't forget to print this coupon so you save some $$$ on the ingredients! Find Suddenly Grain Salad in a store near you! Which recipe will you try first, this delicious Southwest recipe or this savory Mediterranean recipe? Let me know in a comment below!

You're Invited: Caposaldo Wine Girl's Night Twitter Party

Who likes to party? I know I'm not the only one!

Love a delicious glass of wine after a long, hard day?

Love being pampered and enjoying a little girl talk in the process?

Today's discussion and the discussion on Wednesday are sponsored by One2One Network and Caposaldo Wines, regardless all opinions expressed  are my own.

Go ahead and grab your planner + pencil in GIRL's NIGHT IN
on Wednesday, September 16th at 9pm EST.
It's going to be so much fun!

Now that you've added the event to your calendar, I'm guessing you want all the details on this upcoming shindig - This fantastic little girl's night in is actually going to be a twitter party with Caposaldo Wines, Kendall Rayburn, and myself.

Don't forget to RSVP for the event so you have the chance to win 1 of 6 $50 gift cards or 1 of 4 of the Grand Prize Home Spa/ Girls Night Packages!

That means that you'll want to have a nice, adult-sized glass of Caposaldo wine ready for Wednesday evening (find a bottle in your area with their store locator) as well as your prettiest party dress or your comfiest night gown! Since Caposaldo is the benchmark of Italian wines and comes in all of your favorite varieties, I promise you won't be disappointed in the spirits and Kendall and I will supply all the girl talk fun - this is a twitter party you won't want to miss!

While we have a ton of fun planned, I suggest you add some throwback tunes, a comfy couch, and your favorite finger foods to the mix as well. I'll be honest and reveal that I'll definitely be sitting back on my couch listening to the Spice Girls in my comfiest night gown with all my favorite foods and, of course, a nice glass of the delicious bubbly Caposaldo Sweet Sparkling Peach!


I literally can't wait to share all the fun Kendall, Caposaldo, and I have been planning! It's going to be a blast! So I'll "see" you Wednesday, with my wine glass and my cell phone in hand!

When: 9/16/15 at 9pm EST
Where: Twitter under the #Caposaldo hashtag
Who: Kendall Rayburn, Caposaldo Wine, and Yours Truly
Prizes: 6 $50 Am Ex Gift Cards and 4 Grand Prize Home Spa / Girls Night Packages
Must be a US resident to win!

Click here to RSVP!

We All Have That One Friend... #TryImpressa

We all have that one friend. No, I'm not talking about the one that makes snide remarks or the one that always tries to "one-up" you, nor am I talking about the gal that tries to be a little too hard to be your friend... All of those friends I'll write about at a later date, today... Well, today, I'm talking about that friend that occasionally has an accident when she's laughing a little too hard.

I remember the first time I met someone who couldn't "hold it". We were all giggling with our group of girlies, I thought people were joking with her when they said things like "don't laugh to hard"... I had no idea people actually had a problem with this. But they totally do and I can testify that "the struggle is real" for some.

Let's flash back to when I learned the truth:

We were sitting there, sophomores in high school, in the middle of the common area waiting for the buses to come so we could all go home. We all were joking around, someone said something funny, one friend laughed, then another, then another friend laughed so hard that the soda she had just sipped came out her nose. That's when she started laughing, then she couldn't stop. She laughed so hard and she had one of those laughs that make you laugh with her, so we all just couldn't stop laughing. I think it's one of the first times I finally felt like I belonged to a group at my new school, then it happened. Right there, in front of thousands (literally, I went to a big school) of people, she peed her pants. I felt a mixture of jubilee from all the laughter and an immediate sense of "OMFG, what do I do? How can I help?"

I'm not telling this story to embarrass her, that's the last thing I'd want to do. I'm telling this story because it happens to thirty-five million women in the world. So many experience SUI, which can be triggered by everyday occurrences like coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, or even exercise. I'm not judging anyone, just educating.

I really am writing this in hopes that the girl that I'm talking about happens to read my blog. I want her to know that she no longer has to worry about laughing too hard, she can Try Impressa.

Whether you have the same issue as her or you know someone that does, Impressa is a safe and effective way of dealing with it today and you can save $2 with this coupon!

Now that I've possibly humiliated a high school bestie, if she happens to read this. I'd love to know, have you ever laughed that hard? If not, tell me about a time you laughed so hard you cried or about a time you were so scared you thought you may wet yourself. This is a judgement free zone so feel free to share your stories!

[ad] Quick & Easy Avocado Ranch Flame Grilled Burger

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

I'll be honest, most days dinner is kind of a make-what-you-want event around here. I don't often have the time or patience to stand over a hot stove and cook a long involved meal. Like most people, I'm always on the go, working on school work, or crafting up something for the blog, so I don't often prepare fancy meals with all the fixings. I'm more of a quick & easy type of chef.

Actually, my hubby tends to be the better chef out of the two of us, but I've been working on my baking and cooking skills... mainly so I can share recipes with you, but also so we can eat and stuff. With him working full-time, interning, and in school most days we've had to adjust our schedules some which means I've had to step up my cooking game some nights.

While we've had a couple of mishaps, today I'm sharing one of our new favorite QUICK and super easy meals, this Avocado Ranch Burger is outta this world delicious with 2 Ball Park® Flame Grilled Patties, stacked on top of delicious gluten-free bread, a tomato, a few slices of onion, and a delicious Avocado Ranch sauce drizzle - what more could you ask for?

This flame-grilled Avocado Ranch burger is the one you've been dreaming of and you can make it in just a matter of minutes, with no grill required!

[ad] This quick and easy dinner is the perfect way to surprise your sweetie on a busy night! Get the recipe for this delicious flame-grilled Avocado Ranch burger over #ontheblog today! #yum #BPPatties #liveauthentic #thatsdarling #finditliveit #abmhappylife #foodie #thisgirlcancook #callmechef #wifeystatus

A video posted by Lauren Paints (@sunkissed_sweetheart) on Sep 10, 2015 at 12:49pm PDT

To prep this delicious and simple meal, simply stick two pieces of toast in the toaster and two Ball Park® Patties on a plate, heat in the microwave for about a minute (adjust time according to the package directions). Now it's time to prep your homemade sauce, it's so simple to make and absolutely the perfect creamy addition to your Ball Park® Patties!

Ingredients for the Avocado Ranch Sauce

1 avocado
1/2 tsp. hot sauce
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tbsp cup mayo
1 tbsp diced red onion, chopped
2 tbsp chopped cilantro, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped finely
1/2 tbsp white sugar
a pinch of salt & pepper

You'll begin by halving and pitting the avocado. Now, place the avocado, hot sauce, and lime juice in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth.

Add in the buttermilk, mayo, onion, cilantro, garlic, sugar, and salt & pepper. Blend until completely smooth, pulsing the ingredients until they are all thoroughly combined. Taste test & your set!

Once your sauce is finished, you'll apply a liberal amount to each piece of toast, placing the burger patties and toppings on the bread and then dinner is served! It's as easy as that to make an epic, unforgettable Avocado Ranch Burger... I won't tell anyone it's that easy to get such an impressive dinner on the table if you won't!

You can pick up everything you'll need for this super quick and easy dinner at Publix. I highly suggest you grab a few extra packs of the Ball Park® Flame Grilled Patties in one of the seven different varieties available! These Ball Park® Patties are the perfect way to treat yourself to a delicious meal without wasting any time! We grabbed a pack of the new Hickory Smoked Bacon & White Cheddar Chicken Patties and they are delicious!

While you can have dinner on the table in just minutes with Ball Park® Patties, you can enter this sweepstakes even quicker! Check out all the details and enter to win the Hall of Flame Sweepstakes today!

I'd love to know what you plan to do with all the extra time now that dinner won't take so long to prepare? Tell me how you'll spend your free time in the comments below!

The Best Healthy Snacks + a $25 CASH GC Giveaway!

Snacking healthy has become a huge priority for me since I began my weight loss journey, I don't want to deprive myself of food but I also don't want to over-eat or indulge in something that isn't nutritionally sound. While I love, love, love some chocolate bars and fruity candies, I'm learning to balance my sweet tooth with healthy foods and I've finally found some awesome, delicious, and fairly good-for-you snacks lately and I just have to gush about my favorites today!

With so many items on the shelves it was hard to decide what I really wanted to try; but I made some amazing choices, if I don't say so myself! Each and every one of these choices make the perfect snack any time of day and I'm certain that you'll be overjoyed if you decide to add these delicious treats into your meal plan! Plus, if you spend $20, Publix is hooking you up with $5 off - download the coupon NOW!

Fiber One Cookies - These little cookies are the perfect midnight snack or after-dinner dessert. With so much flavor and just the right portion size, I find myself grabbing the Oatmeal Raisin cookies at least once a day! Snacking on something with extra fiber, hello happy body & hello happy tummy!

Fruit Snacks - I'll always be a kid at heart... So fruit snacks will always be a favorite food of mine! I love the Despicable Me fruit snacks because the movie is adorable and the flavors are amazing... but the Mott's fruit snacks are equally as delicious! I always have fruit snacks in the house, just in case I need a little something sweet.

Quaker Chewy Dipps - I grabbed the dips in peanut butter and chocolate and I'm OBSESSED. If you love the peanut butter chocolate girl scout cookies then you'll love these. They are a little piece of heaven each time I have one and since they are fairly healthy, I have one almost every morning!

Yoplait Greek 100 Whips - If you love yogurt, then you'll love these whips! They are fluffy, delicious yogurt coming in at only 100 calories - what more could a girl watching her figure ask for? I love all of the flavor options but the blueberry comes highly recommended in my book!

Naked Juice Smoothies - If you follow the blog, you know I love smoothies (especially Naked Juice)... so it comes as no surprise that these are my favorite healthy snacks lists! In fruit and veggie infused flavors, you'll be able to get all kinds of added nutrition with these juices!

Water - Last but not least, water is the ultimate healthy snack! I make sure that I drink at least 70oz a day! No matter what your nutrition looks like, I've learned water is the most important part of my daily diet.

Which snack option is your favorite? Want some help paying for your groceries on your next trip? Enter to win a $25 gift card with the giveaway tools form below and you'll be able to stock up on all your favorites!

Entry-Form

Confidence Boosting Tips for Women: Feel like a Warrior Today! #IndependentU

Life is full of overcoming obstacles, for all of us... Whether I'm battling mosquitoes while working on a DIY project in my backyard or fighting for what I believe in by obtaining my college degree in public policy; I'm always choosing to fight the fight and persevering through the struggles. Some days my struggles are serious and other days I struggle to choose my wardrobe, it's all balance and learning how to deal with life, one day at a time while still looking at the big picture.

We all are fighting our own battles within ourselves and against the world, there should be no reason to fight being a woman during that time of the month while also dealing with the day-to-day "battles". That's why I grab U by Kotex products when I'm at Walmart. I rely on their products to help me feel more comfortable and protected when I'm out choosing which battles are worth fighting. Plus, I'm in love with the adorable additions in their bonus packs (stocked full of extra product as well), who doesn't love a "little happy" included with a brand they already love? Talk about an instant confidence booster!

Big Thanks to The Acorn Influence Team & U by Kotex for sponsoring today's discussion.

I have a few other confidence boosting tips that I think could really help the other woman-warriors out there, but beware: you'll be ready to take anything on with these tips!

The first thing I suggest: Prep for the battle, the conversation, the meeting, the photoshoot, or whatever event it is you aren't exactly the most comfortable with by jamming out to your favorite song. You know the song, the one that you can't help but sing along to, the one that makes you dance in your seat while you are driving. Put that song on repeat while driving to the destination, maybe even have it playing in a pair of headphones as you walk into your meeting; you'll love the feeling your favorite song can give you, especially when your nerves are shot... it's like an instant boost of confidence to dance and sing along with your jam.

If you have more time than a few minutes before the occasion, I suggest you meditate! You should start the week before, but even if it's just the day before or the day of it wouldn't hurt to meditate a bit. I know some of you may think meditation is kooky, but it's grounding and helps to center your mind and your body; allowing you to be you without your nerves and anxiety getting involved. Meditate on a phrase that brings you confidence like "I am capable and confident" or just allow your thoughts to be completely blank and focus on the calm; regardless of how you meditate, the quiet time alone will surely help you feel better about the upcoming situation.

Another great way to be sure you are ready for the big day, is to buy something new! Buying a new blouse, dress, or a fancy pair of flats could help boost your confidence a bit, we all love knowing we look good and when you have something adorable and fancy that you just bought, you know you feel awesome! I love shopping a clearance rack for a new dress before I head out of town, there's just something about a new piece of clothing and receiving a compliment the first time you wear something... It's not that you should gain self-worth from products, but sometimes it feels nice to add something beautiful to our wardrobe!

Lastly, be true to you and embrace who you are. I know this one should be the only confidence boosting tip, but the other few I shared are good reminders and helpful ways to remember that you are awesome! Know that you are so unbelievably, awesomely, amazingly you and as long as you love who you are, then confidence will just naturally exude from you. Learning to love yourself is the true way to feel confident everyday, but learning to love yourself is a process so take these tips I've shared and get started!

Also, I'd love to hear if you have any self confidence boosting tips in the comments below!

Celebrate Carter's 150th Birthday + Enter to Win a $150 Gift Card! #HappyBirthdayCarters

I participated in a Blog Blast Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Carter’s. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

I've always loved celebrating birthdays! Whether I'm celebrating my own hatch date or the birth date of my friends and family, I'm always willing to party and love finding the perfect gift to give the birthday girl or boy!

When it comes to my nieces and nephews, I love celebrating them with a new toy and some adorable outfits from Carter's! It's a brand that I trust to produce adorable, high-quality clothes for my favorite little guys and gals, so when I heard they were celebrating their 150th "birthday" this year I wanted to spread the word!

To celebrate, Carter’s is hosting a 150th Birthday Sweepstakes, where 150 winners will be selected to win two (2) $150 Carter’s Gift Cards. Want to know how you can get your hands on one of those awesome gift cards?

Step 1: Follow the Carter’s Brand on Instagram & Twitter!





Step 2: Post photos or videos of your “favorite happy moment” with #HappyBirthdayCarters AND #CartersSweepstakes to Instagram and Twitter

Or   

You can also enter within the tool below!

Carter's 150th Birthday Sweepstakes

Ohh, just in case you need another reason to love Carter's, I'll just leave this here... As part of the Birthday celebration, Carter’s not only wants to thank their loyal customers, but it also wants to pay it forward to those who would otherwise not have a birthday party! During this year, the Carter’s Charitable Foundation will sponsor 150 parties for homeless children. A total of 750 birthdays will be celebrated with over 9,000 children in 20 shelters across the country.

Now that you have your name in the mix to win the big prize, it's time to pick out a few new pieces of clothing for the little tikes in the family... What will you buy first if you are one of the lucky winners? I'd love to hear which Carter's pieces would work for your little dude or diva in the comments below!

I'm Addicted After Just One Fix: My First Stitch Fix

I was not compensated by Stitch Fix to talk about my experience, although you should be advised: if you order a box with one of the links in my post below you may or may not be contributing to my future Stitch Fix habits.

I did it, I finally trusted my instinct and took the plunge, I signed up for my first fix and I'm addicted. I'm officially part of the Stitch Fix family and I'm in love with everything I received in my first box. So in love, I'm contemplating keeping every single piece - especially because I'll get a discount if I buy all 5.

So let's start with why I decided to sign up... This may be surprising, but I hardly ever get dressed to go to "work". I lounge around in my pajamas a majority of the time since my work commute constitutes a long walk from my bed to my office chair and well, I'm done with that behavior starting this month. I'm committing to exercising my wardrobe for the rest of the year, I've let too many beautiful pieces of clothing sit in my closet while I rock yoga pants all day long; I'm protesting my own fashion sense and I've decided this has to stop!

I don't know about you, but a really fabulous outfit can make me feel more confident. I usually dress up or buy something new when we have some place to go but now I want to commit to getting gussied up every day, because I want to feel great for no reason sometimes too.

The way I think about it is, even if I'm just lounging and typing a post up, I might as well feel fabulous while doing it. I've been stocking up my wardrobe for a while now, it's about time I wear some of these pieces... But as I was going to get dressed, I noticed I've blossomed some, I think my fashion sense has grown and I really want pieces that will tie together my wardrobe now. I am seeking pieces that make me feel current and cute and that show off my body in a flattering way. Luckily, my fix was full of 5 pieces of wardrobe-building heaven and that's why I'm sharing my experience here with you today, you need this little slice of heaven to arrive at your doorstep (SCHEDULE YOUR 1st FIX, you won't regret it).

Alright, here's the good stuff... I was sent 4 clothing items and 1 accessory. 1 dress, 2 tops, 1 pair of jeans, and 1 necklace; it's all beautiful.

The Sonja Boyfriend Jeans were the first item I tried on and they are so comfy, but I'll be honest and share that they were a bit snug on me. On average I'm a size 6, most of the time, but these size 29 (which is basically an 8) seemed a bit too tight for my liking. Other than the fact that they made me feel a bit chunky, I am bloated so it could just be the wrong timing for jeans... I even contemplated keeping them so I can have "goal" jeans for the fall but I decided to hold out for another pair of awesome pants in my next fix, hopefully anyways... :)

The next item I tried on was the grey and black Corinna Striped Dolman Top. It's pretty much the most comfortable item I (now) own, offering the soft comfort of pajamas but a cute and chic look - I'm totally a fan! I paired this with some leggings and heels just to try it on but I plan to rock in a number of different ways.

The Colibri Solid Tab Sleeve Blouse was my least favorite thing when I peeked into the box. I was actually a little disappointed in the color but when I put it on, I was so mistaken. THIS shirt is proof that I should have a stylist like mine to help me find my fashion sense again. I would have thought this color would clash with my skin tone and my hair but it made me feel so gorgeous.

I even told my husband I felt like I look pretty in this. I'm still debating on whether or not I want to keep it though, simply because I'm not so sure about the cut of the shirt still, the neckline isn't my favorite because I've been told it makes me appear like I have no neck; regardless of the cut of the shirt, the color is a new favorite that I would not have tried without this Fix! What do you think? I have a day to decide whether this top should be mine or not!

The Winona Crystal Medallion Necklace is the beautiful piece of gold jewelry I'm rocking with the Colibiri blouse and the dress below. It's a gorgeous sunburst statement necklace and something I'm debating with myself about keeping. It's such a gorgeous design but I feel like I have too many statement necklaces and not enough statements to make, know what I mean? What is your opinion on the necklace how does it look?

Lastly, the Florence Colorblocked Dress is something I definitely would pick for myself... I actually own something similar in pink, white, and navy so when I saw this... I knew I wanted to keep it. I love the way the dress hugs my curves in the right places and paired with an awesome, funky pair of wedges, I feel like I'm a goddess in this flowy number. Again, since I own something similar in another color, what are your opinions on this dress? I'd love to hear what you think!

So, my first was addicting and I'm officially a fan of Stitch Fix. Want to join me on this shopping with a stylist journey? Sign up for your first fix! But before you go sign up, help me decide... In your opinion, which pieces are the most flattering? I'd love to hear what you would keep and what you would send back in the comments below!