Free Lunch

"They" say there's no such thing as a free lunch but lucky for me, today there is! Ok, so here's the catch...I have been waiting since the beginning of the month for Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A, where you have to dress like, you guessed it, a cow in exchange for a free meal. I cannot say enough good about this place! Everyone is polite, helpful and they NEVER get our order wrong! It is always clean and some even have book corners for the kids and baskets of wipes, diapers and essentials for us moms and they all have play areas. The kids meals have a fruit option and always include a book from a new and fun book series (Little Critter is the latest) And if it takes some bribing to get your little ones to sit still like mine, you can always trade the book for an ice cream.

It is a bit pricier than some other fast food joints but worth every penny. So this week I rounded up our black shirts/pants, some construction paper, scissors, and tape in preparation for today! It was easy, fast and didn't cost me a dime to make! The best part is, the day isn't over so if you have a little time, whip up a costume and head on over for dinner. Here are the results of my hard work and the bounty we enjoyed to show for it! Oh, and just because I'm not pictured, don't think for a second I didn't dress up! I did. I rocked the SAME outfit they did :)
Check out www.chick-fil-a.com/Cows/Appreciation-Day/ for more info!

Sweats & Smoothies

Today is a day for hanging in the house, no make-up needed! I try and stay busy with the kids most days but there are some, like today, where we stay in and catch up on things. So happily, I throw on the sweats. They are the new black, right? I sure hope so! I've been rockin' them for months with a tank and sneakers hoping I look like I'm off to the gym instead of slouching around with my kiddos. So today I am staying in, doing laundry, making smoothies and staying comfortable doing it!
Here's my sure-to-please recipe when you need a pick-me-up, snack idea or even a new breakfast! The humble smoothie fits the bill! For picky children like mine, it's the perfect way to throw a little nutrition their way. Frozen fruit, water and yogurt are all it takes to whip up a batch of smoothies in no time. Watch your ingredients and be careful of adding too much sugar by way of yogurt and juice or else it might end up looking more like dessert and having your kids bouncing off the walls!

1 banana (I ALWAYS use a banana as it lends to a creamier texture)
2 cups various frozen fruit (purchase bags of pre-cut no sugar-added or buy whole and get chopping!)
2-3 ounces yogurt, any flavor
1 cup of water, more as needed
All fruits work well as long as they are frozen. I prefer using all frozen fruit so I don't have to add ice and end up with a watery, melty texture.
Blend away! Makes approximately 4, 1-cup servings.

What's Cookin??

I am forever rotating a handful of meals throughout the week, always trying to come up with something new, but EASY and FAST! Those words are imperative to the busy mommy. As much as I love cooking and baking and trying new things, time is not a luxury I often have. Food doesn't have to be gourmet and take hours to be delicious and healthy and it CAN be made in a hurry. So I'm going to share my recipes with you because if it's got my stamp of approval, you know it's simple. Tonight I fired up the grill and let it do the work. If you've never grilled, it's time you gave it a try. Ours is gas and took only a few minutes to pre-heat. I threw on chicken breasts and corn on the cob, tossed the potatoes in the microwave to pre-cook then finished them on the grill. It was delicious and quick and my hubby was impressed with my skills!

                                                                   Logan likes it!!

What to do when it's HOT?!?

Turn up the music and dance!! Today, being nearly 100° outside, there is just NO way I'm going to rely on my old standby activities! Walking to the library, park or even 7-11 for a Slurpee are out of the question when it's blazin' out. We got our sweet fix at Target this morning, courtesy of an Icee and have been enjoying a quiet day indoors when we (or should I say my bossy four-year-old) decided it was time for some tunes. She even decided that each new song required an outfit change..I dread going to her room later! So here she is, channeling Taylor Swift.

On these dog days of summer, I challenge you come up with some fun, low-key activities to enjoy indoors. Playing vet to sick stuffed animals, painting, making up stories complete with props and writing our own books are a few my kids and I enjoy. I am also getting together the fixin's for a mean BBQ tonight...What will you do??

Welcome!

Welcome to A Sweet Bite!

I’m a mom on a mission! What is it, you ask?? To keep my kids happy, healthy, entertained and to give them a loving Mommy who takes care of herself so she can take good care of them. Being a mom the past four years to two little ones has taught me many things, one of which is this- if I’m not happy, no one will be. Seriously. My best and most productive days are the ones where my kids play happily, I get my to-do list done, and we all have fun spending time together waiting for daddy to come home from work. Oh, and dinner on the table doesn’t hurt. This plan sounds simple enough, right? Wrong! Not with a two and four year old chasing one another around the house causing havoc and creating a trail wherever they go.

After a bit of brainstorming and trial and error, I like to think I’ve created a home for my family that is structured, fun and comforting. From keeping to a schedule (yes, a two-year-old can follow a simple routine!) to coming up with fun and new activities with my kids, I do my best to make our life a little more fun, educational and a little sweeter, one day at a time.

So come along with me on this journey of life and hopefully I can supply you with a daily dose of encouragement and innovation. From recipes and crafting ideas to organizational tools and tips to getting through those loooong days with little ones, I hope to inspire you one step, minute, and bite at a time!

-Emily