I don’t know about you but I am a coffee lover. On a day to day basis I drink it black, but once a week I like to treat myself to my favorite Starbucks drink, a skinny vanilla latte. Once I realized I was paying $6 + dollars on a 3 ingredient drink, I knew making them at home was a much better option.

A basic vanilla latte includes espresso, steamed milk, and vanilla syrup. To make it “skinny” or lighter in calories you just substitute the milk to your preference and use sugar free vanilla. It is seriously SO easy, and just as tasty from home!

You will need the following to create your own…

Step One: Brew your espresso (can do 1-2 pods) and froth your milk (run it twice for thicker milk)

Step Two: Add 1-2 tablespoons (depending how sweet you like it) of sugar free vanilla syrup

Step Three: Add the milk and gently stir …ENJOY!

Seriously, the easiest thing ever! What are some of your favorite coffee recipes?

At Home Skinny Vanilla Latte

Over the past decade I have tried to find the balance with my nutrition. Sadly, it has taken years to reach a healthy mindset and relationship with food. I have thrown out the “all or nothing” approach and have shifted my entire outlook.  Although it has been a work in progress, I can happily say I am entering my thirties with a good grasp on the whole “balance” thing.

Becoming pregnant forced me to approach nutrition in a whole new way. I was no longer eating to hit a specific goal I created for myself. I was solely eating to provide my son the best nutrients I could give him to grow and develop. I started thinking about how my body could use different foods/nutrients and what benefit they had for my well-being and internal health. That season was a complete game changer for me, and I learned a lot along the way.

I thought I would share some quick tips that have really helped me get to my happy place. If you have anything that works for you, I would love to know!

1. Have a plan
2. Don’t place restrictions on yourself (unless there is a health need/doctor recommendation)
3. Portion your meals & be aware of what you are consuming
4. Eat nutrition dense foods
5. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
6. Only keep what you want in the house
7. Have food prepped & ready for easy access (and to prevent mindless eating)
8. Don’t obsess and give yourself grace
9. Stick to basics
10. Take care and honor your body…give it what it craves and needs to work easily & efficiently

 

Here is a snapshot of what our eating looks like. We love any and all food in our house!

As a new mom, I initially struggled with finding things to do with our little that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. Since our son wasn’t in a daycare setting, I wanted him to get the social interaction with others his age and get out of the house. I have quickly realized there are SO many things to take advantage of with little ones that I wish I would have known about sooner!

FREE Activities

• Library Classes (can attend multiple days and locations)
• Indoor/Outdoor Play Place (churches/gyms)
• Parks
• Splash Pads
• Community Pool
• Arts & Crafts/Workshops (Home Depot, Local Businesses)
• Church Nursery
• Bible Study Childcare
• Restaurant Play Place
• Mom Groups
• Play Dates
• TRIAL classes for swim, gymnastics, etc

Additional Activities ($$)

• Parent & Child Swim Lessons
• Parent & Child Gymnastic Class
• Music & Movement Class
• Zoo, Aquarium, Children Museums/Theaters, Arboretums, Water Park, Etc….
• Michaels Craft Store Classes
• Trampoline Parks
• Indoor Play Places (Playstreet, Luv2Play, Legoland, Etc..)
• Mother’s Morning Out
• Gym Kid’s Club

What are some of your favorite things to do with your little one? I would love to know!