After a brief hiatus, my popular “What’s for Dinner Mom” series is back. As the kids head back (or off) to school and summer starts to wind down, many of us are looking for a bit of structure around mealtime and that means knowing what you’ll be having before the day begins. Weekly I like to share what we’ll be making for dinner in our house. Recipes are fresh, healthy, simple, to the point, and and don’t take serious prep work because let’s face it, none of us have the time.

I love a good book. I love a strong story where I feel connected with the characters and intrigued by the story. That’s why I generally stick with fiction reads but every now and then a business book or non-fiction creep in. My goal is to read two books each month and to wrap up this year having read at least twenty-five books. Aggressive goal? Maybe - but I’m committed to it!

Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. One of the most celebrated days in America, the Fourth celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And after the last 18 months we’ve all had, I think this year the celebrations will be bigger. Today I’m sharing my favorite recipes for a family and friends get-together. What’s on your menu?

When summer rolls around and nights are filled with dinner fresh from the BBQ, nothing compliments it quite like a potato salad. The coolness of the salad against the tang of the BBQ is just perfection. But all too often potato salads are loaded with unhealthy fats and heavy carbs, making potato salad something I’m not able to indulge in as often as I’d like. That is until I tried this healthier “potato” salad.

I’ve picked up some bad food habits this year and finally reached a point where the things I normally would do to reset weren’t working. I’d do great one day and then go back to bad habits the next. This yo-yo was constant and I began to feel off. Headaches and side pain were frequent, and I felt like I was in a mental fog a little more often than I’d like.

Welcome to my new weekly feature, Friday Favs. Each week I will be sharing key products, services, places, or causes that are near and dear to my heart. Each week I will focus on my favorites across wellness, lifestyle, workout, travel, and reading. Check out my favorites this week!

Are you an intermittent faster? If so, how you break your fast is as important as the fasting process itself. Today I’m sharing why and my three favorite ways to break my fast.

This week I’m sharing the workouts that I will be doing for the month of May. Every week I will be doing the same general workouts, designed to burn fat and build lean muscle. Since I’m not a trainer by profession, I’m sharing workouts that have been developed by others and are guaranteed to produce results. Join me!

Home workout equipment can be hit and miss so today I thought I’d share my top picks. These are the pieces I go to without fail and know they will help deliver the results I’m looking to achieve.

This week the weather is supposed to be amazing so I’m taking my workout outside. Everything noted below can be done inside or out, with equipment or items you have in your home. All workouts follow the FASTer Way format - HIIT, full-body, arms/shoulders/back/abs, and leg day. Enjoy!

This week’s menu is simple and focuses on the amazing flavors of winter. Yummy vegetables, a fantastic soup, and a comforting pasta dish make this weeks’ plan shine. And with the exception of the Bolognese ragu, everything is made in 30 minutes or less.

When things around me are crazy, I find solace in food. Cooking and baking takes my mind off of everything going on around me and I find comfort in tastes that I know and adore. I can control food when I can’t control everything going on around me. That’s why my menu this week is heavy on comfort food. I’ve taken recipes and made some changes to lighten them up, so they all fit within my macro goals.

I’m focused on nutrition this month so I’ll be sharing my weekly meal plans again. This is what I will be enjoying and what I’ll feed my family. Everything on this list can be adjusted to accommodate your likes. Don’t care for fish? Use chicken. Focus on lean proteins and healthy carbs.

A great salad sets the stage for your holiday dinner. You want something simple and festive, compliments the star of your holiday table, and won’t fill everyone up so much they don’t have room for the main course. The Pride of the Crown Salad is the perfect addition to any holiday menu.

Preparing Thanksgiving dinner can be stressful. And though you’re likely not having a crowd, it can still be a challenge. It doesn’t need to be. I’ve created a simple planner that notes everything you should consider so that you enjoy the holiday stress-free.

Looking for a quick appetizer that is guaranteed to be a hit with everyone? Look no further than the Brie & Cranberry Pull-Apart bread. I’ve been making variations of this for years and regardless of where it’s served (Thanksgiving, Christmas, backyard BBQ), everyone loves it. Plus, it’s super easy to make and budget-friendly!

With everyone staying a bit closer to home this year, experts predict that the Butterball Turkey Hotline will be busy this year. If this is your first-holiday attempt at a turkey, I’ve got you covered. My recipe is tried and true and delivers the juiciest, tender turkey. It doesn’t disappoint!

If you’ve been on Instagram lately, you’ve seen the Fab Four Smoothie (#Fab4Smoothie). And for good reason. Developed by Kelly Leveque, this smoothie is the perfect formula to help balance your blood sugar with enough protein, fat, and fiber to keep you full. It also supports your immune system to cleanse regularly, stay regular, avoid blood sugar spikes, and increase insulin sensitivity.

Working out has been a great way for me to focus on something other than work, everything going on in the world, and simply destress. So many of you feel the same way, so I thought I’d share my plan for the week. I follow the same order each week and rest on Sunday and Friday. All workouts can be done at home, with or without weights.

For a number of reasons, I don’t drink caffeine and miss having my cup of coffee as part of my morning ritual. Decaf tea and coffee are ok but I don’t love them so I’ve started drinking warm lemon cayenne water as a replacement. With anti-fungal, immune boosting, and detoxification properties, lemon cayenne water is a powerhouse drink and a great way to start your day.