Make Everyday Awesome + The BEST [Gluten Free] Brownie Recipe EVER!

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

Lately I've been trying to focus on one simple goal, each and every day; that goal is to make everyday awesome. Whether I'm taking the time to shop for the nursery, cleaning up the garage, or spending the day with my family, I've been trying to find the positive in every situation and really embracing what life has to offer each day.

We all have the tools to make each day awesome, whether that means changing our mindset or just reminding ourselves to "be in the moment" and really enjoy what's happening--we're all capable of having awesome days everyday.

I can't be the only one that thinks an awesome day starts out with something delicious, though. Some days I want donuts, some days I want fruit, and today... Today, I wanted a gluten free brownie with sprinkles and a delicious cup of coffee and I made that happen so easily, I can't help but share the recipe and my secret ingredient with you!

These super moist and delicious brownies are the answer to your sweet tooth cravings and quiet possibly, the best brownies you've ever had. With a decadent caramel flavor from the International Delight Simply Pure Caramel Coffee Creamer and super rich, dark chocolate gooey melted chocolate chips, you'll be craving a brownie each and every morning... and how could you not have an awesome day after having a brownie for breakfast? I mean, really!

Plus, with International Delight Simply Pure, made with only five simple ingredients, you can enjoy a cup of coffee in a whole different way! I like to add vanilla on really awesome days, sometimes I mix things up and add hazelnut, and I fairly regularly add caramel, because it's absolutely delicious!

But let's talk about the super delicious, decadent gluten-free brownies I promised you. I know you're probably wondering, what do you need to make these brownies?

Brownie Ingredients:

6 tablespoons butter
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Egg, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup all-purpose, gluten-free flour
1/2 cup International Delight Simply Pure Coffee Creamer, I used the caramel flavor but any of the delicious options will be a great addition to your recipe!
3/4 cup dark chocolate chips

For the Frosting, you'll also want to have these items on hand:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon butter, softened
3 tablespoons International Delight Simply Pure Caramel Coffee Creamer
Colorful Sprinkles

You'll begin this recipe by preheating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease the pan.

Now melt the 6 tablespoons of butter in the microwave, it usually takes around 15 seconds for it to turn into a liquid.

Next you'll want to stir in the sugar and cocoa. Followed by adding in the egg and vanilla.

Mix well.

Now add the baking powder and baking soda and mix thoroughly.

The final three ingredients to add into the brownie batter are the most important.

Take the time to slowly add in flour, stir. Then add in Simply Pure Caramel Coffee Creamer in small amounts and stir, alternating pouring each item into the mix until both are completely added. Once it's all combined, add in the dark chocolate chips and mix well.

Now spread the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for around 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick (or a fork) comes out clean!

Once the brownies are cool to the touch, it's easy to whip together the frosting! You'll combine all of the frosting ingredients in a bowl, other than sprinkles. Mix the frosting well until it's the correct texture and spread over the top of the brownies.

Add a handful of sprinkles to the top of the delicious dessert and ENJOY!

It's that easy to make these colorful, delicious brownies... And I really want to know, how can you not have an awesome day starting it out with something like brownies and a nice cup of coffee with delicious, clean label creamer?

Tell me, how do you make sure everyday is awesome? Do you begin your day with some yoga or maybe you like to take your dog for a walk? I'd love to hear all about it in the comments below!

My First Mother's Day Gift Full of Must-Have Goodies from BabbleBoxx!

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of Single Edition Media.

I can't even believe it, this year I will technically be celebrating my first Mother's Day as a mama! Taking the time to think about this fact makes me not only overjoyed, but so thankful to be a mama myself and extra thankful for all the amazing mothers in my life! From my own mama, to my mother-in-law, to all the other new moms that I've befriended recently, I know so many amazing women who should be celebrated on this day... and everyday!

While this day is special for all mamas, I guess you could say this day will be super special for me. Celebrating my first Mother's Day as a mom is a milestone, of sorts. We spent years trying for our precious little bundle of joy, so every time I feel one of her precious little movements or find something perfectly pink for her I celebrate a little bit.

So when Babbleboxx sent over a box of goodies perfect for any new mom, you better believe I was doing a little happy dance and celebrating with my little gal once again! While I still have a little bit of time until my little darling makes her official appearance, I'm always excited to find new products or test out items that I've heard great things about and of course, I love sharing my experiences with you.

We'll start with a product that I've actually heard recommended by other mamas recently, Boudreaux's Butt Paste. This fast acting diaper rash cream is one of the best on the market, according to so many of my new mama friends and since they start healing on contact, I'm certain that this will be a go-to item in my little gal's life when the time comes! What's not to love about a diaper rash cream that touts that it's free of parabens, preservatives, dyes, talc, and phthalates. Plus, I love that the line comes in three different strength formulas to help protect against and improve diaper rash, including an All-Natural formula that I think will become a favorite in our home!

Another couple of products that I recognized immediately in the box were Gerber® Onesies® and a bib! You can never have enough of either, so I hear... So obviously I was overjoyed to find these super soft goodies in my box! With layering being one of my favorite ways to style any outfit, I can't wait to make my diva into a fashionista with the perfectly white onesies from Gerber. Ranging in size from newborn to 24 months, my little diva will definitely be rocking Gerber for the next few years! Want to add some stylish basics to your babes wardrobe? Click here to snag a few deals on Gerber Childrenswear!

One item I hadn't actually heard of yet, but was super excited to find in my box was the Sesame Street Naturals Tip, Tummy, and Toe 2-in-1. This easy to use tear-free cleanser is the perfect way to get little babe's involved in bath time and really loving getting fresh & clean! The gentle instant foam cleans and moisturizes delicate skin and hair, leaving your babe feeling soft and smooth. I can't wait to bathe my little babe in this terrific formula and with 98% of the ingredients being naturally derived, I don't have to stress about chemicals or toxins being a part of her bath time routine!

Now the last few items in the box are pretty much for mama, which was a nice surprise, especially when it involves photography related items! My Babbleboxx included a gorgeous yellow Fujifilm INSTAX Mini 70 camera, this little beauty will definitely be used to document my little boo's life so I guess it's kind of a gift to us both! Reminiscent of a camera that my parents used when I was little, this handy little gadget instantly pops out pictures and makes taking photos a breeze and the quality of the photographs is impeccable! While I won't be taking pictures of our babe for a little while, I'm thinking I may have to use the camera for some maternity photos and add in a few of the snaps to her baby book!

Another item in the box that made me smile was the Mustela Maternity Stretch Marks Prevention Cream. This specially formulated cream is made just for new and expecting mothers to help us promote elasticity and to provide comfort and suppleness to the skin, something my expanding belly definitely needs! The ingredients are of natural origin and are completely free of parabens, phthalates, and phenoxyethanol, which makes this product safe for mama & baby and completely okay to use while breastfeeding. While I already rock some tiger stripes, I'm doing everything I can to prevent future stretch marks, so you better believe I'm applying this cream twice a day and keeping my fingers crossed that I won't get any more!

The last item in the box is the perfect way to help beautify myself during this time in my life when I'm dealing with SO much that makes me feel a little rough around the edges; Arm & Hammer Truly Radiant Clean & Fresh Toothpaste is the perfect way to brighten my smile and even make it glow a little. With a fresh, new cleaning sensation, this powerful whitening toothpaste leaves my grin feeling fresh for a long while!

While I know there's a lot more that I'll need before my baby arrives, this Babbleboxx was a nice little surprise to receive in the mail and since it included so many amazing things I was able to check off a handful of items from my registry already!

5 Ways to Curb Cravings + Stay Fit While Expecting

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

It's easy to lose track of your fitness goals, especially whenever your rocking a baby bump; you're encouraged to "eat for two" by everyone around you and you sometimes crave foods that you know are sinfully bad for you... and well, I'm not saying you shouldn't indulge on occasion, but after a recent conversation with my doctor, I realized my nutrition and fitness while carrying around my little one is super important!

I want to provide my baby with the best of the best whenever carrying her around inside the bump, just like I plan on doing once she's made it into the world, so I'm making healthier choices when it comes to snacking. If you're in the same boat as I am, or just looking for wholesome snack options to add into your daily routine, here's 5 delicious ways you can curb your cravings and still get plenty of nutrients in your system.

1. With sweets on my mind nearly all the time, fighting off sugar cravings is my number one goal. Instead of reaching for a slice of cake or choosing to eat a pound of chocolate, I've been trying to eat more fruits to provide myself and the baby with vital nutrients while still giving us both the sugar rush we want!

2. With sweet cravings comes the desire for something savory as well and that's where Planters peanuts come into the picture. Every one ounce serving of dry roasted or oil roasted peanuts delivers 7 grams of protein and 6 essential nutrients to my system. Can you say delicious and nutritious?

3. As you can probably guess, my next craving tends to be for spicy foods! I used to want chicken wings smothered in hot sauce, but as we all know, those aren't the healthiest food to be snacking on... so I've started reaching for Planters Chili Lime Peanuts. With a true KICK in the first crunch and a gentle lime taste, these are my absolute favorite snack at the moment! Plus, peanuts contain "good" fat, which help keep blood vessels supple and cholesterol lower.

4. Another craving I've been having often is delicious cheesy pizza. While I don't always ignore this craving, I have gotten better about choosing healthier foods in it's place. I suggest grabbing for a dairy based treat when you're craving something like pizza, I personally snack on a yogurt and while that doesn't provide the exact same flavor satisfaction, it's still a tasty way to provide the baby and myself with the calcium we need!

5. The last craving on my list that I've really had to try ignore is soda (and sometimes even coffee)! With the extra little zing of caffeine, it's a hard to tell myself no on tired days... so instead of reaching for a sugary, over-caffeinated beverage I tend to make myself a glass of tea! It satisfies my craving for caffeine without overindulging!

I'm not an expert on nutrition by any means, but so far my little tricks to curb cravings seem to have helped me so I hope they can help you as well!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Planters . The opinions and text are all mine.

My Cinco de Mayo Fiesta with Keurig® KOLD!

Big thanks to Keurig for sending over this gorgeous Keurig® KOLD^TM drinkmaker, so that I could share my Cinco de Mayo plans with you...

Regardless, all opinions expressed below are completely my own!

With summer right around the corner, it's finally time to celebrate one of my favorite holidays - Cinco de Mayo! Can I get a show of hands, who else is ready for a little fiesta?! I know I am!

I mean... Who doesn't love a bowl of guacamole, chips & salsa, some traditional Mexican tacos, churros, and of course, a margarita?

While I'll be sipping a mocktail this year, I'll spend the holiday serving up delicious Rita’s & Tina’s Margaritas to my friends, made with my new Keurig® KOLD^TM! It's the easiest, coolest way to serve up some of our favorite fresh-made delights in seconds! The best part is beverages are delivered perfectly chilled at 39 degrees Fahrenheit, so you better believe my new Keurig® KOLD^TM will be the most refreshing way to indulge all summer long!

You may be asking yourself... Why do I love celebrating Cindo de Mayo so much? Welp, I guess I should admit I am an avid Mexican food fan, so celebrating Mexico is just another reason to embrace the culture and all of it's amazing-ness. Plus, I have the chance to make my friends and family some delicious food and beverages... it's a win-win for everyone, in my book!

This year celebrating with a little pool party only seems logical... I guess celebrating every year with a pool party may even become our new tradition! You can't go wrong with a little bit of splashing, some amazing Mexican food, and a whole bunch of delicious drinks made with the push of a button on my Keurig® KOLD^TM, I'm sure everyone will have a great time including myself!

If you're interested in finding out more about the Keurig® KOLD^TM  and how it can make your summer more flavorful and fun, be sure to click on over for all the details on this handy-dandy little drinkmaker!