Sending our kids off to college is a bittersweet experience, isn't it? On one hand, we're beaming with pride and excitement for their new adventures. On the other hand, we can't help but feel a little nostalgic about the years that flew by so fast. But hey, chin up! We have a whole new chapter to embrace, and today, we're diving into the world of dorm essentials!

Are you tired of tossing and turning, desperately trying to catch some much-needed shut-eye? Well, you're not alone. I've been there, battling the sleepless nights and dragging myself through groggy mornings. But fear not, because today I want to share with you three tried-and-true tips that have helped me conquer the elusive land of dreams.

When I found out I was allergic to eggs I thought I’d never be able to eat another baked good. It was a sad, sad day. But thankfully, I was wrong. There are so many different egg substitutes for baking so whether you’re allergic, vegetarian, or avoiding eggs for any other reason, you’ll enjoy baked goods and the substitutes are so good, that you’ll never know they’re missing.

I love a good smoothie. And provided they are loaded with good-for-you ingredients, they are the perfect way to start your day. Today I’m sharing one of my favorites, the Cherry Berry Smoothie.

Ah, the Fab4 Smoothie…the perfect blend of protein, fiber, greens, and fat to support blood sugar balance, improve digestion, and decrease cravings. The Fab4 smoothie is the best way to break your fast and because the basic recipe is so simple, there are millions of different possible variations to suit every like. This is one of my favorites, the cookies & cream.

I need a little variety in my life. That means doing the same workouts day in and day out (at different intensities) just doesn’t cut it. I get bored. So to keep me engaged and coming back for more, I like to find new workouts. And YouTube is the perfect place to find them. Today I’m sharing my top three YouTube workouts.

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!

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!

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.

After making masks for the homeless and seniors in our community, we’ve decided to open our store so that if others need masks, they have another source. For every mask we sell, we will donate two (one to the shelter and another to the senior center).

So many of you have done my Sample Workout Week exercises and asked for more, so starting today I’ll be posting a weekly workout. Today’s workout focuses on the whole body, with extended time spent on legs, back, and arms.

When it’s cold and wet outside, there is nothing better than an amazing bowl of soup to warm your soul. Add in the viruses we can’t seem to get away from (hello flu and COVAD-19), there really isn’t a better time to enjoy a warm bowl of soup than right now. That’s why this week I’ve decided to forgo my weekly “this is what I’ll be eating” and instead I’m sharing different soup recipes for all lifestyles and flavor profiles.

I’ve been spending some time trying to understand how my body reacts to different foods and because my glucose levels have been slightly elevated, I’m trying a healthier carb diet this week to see how my body responds.

Tomorrow both kids start school and life becomes a bit more chaotic while we all settle into our new schedules. With both kids at the same school this year, and my daughter driving, our mornings just got a bit easier. Our afternoons? Not so much. With the start of school comes the start of fall sports and extracurriculars. So from football to soccer to theater and more, we’ll all be working through the new schedule and working out when/how homework gets done and what time we’ll have dinner (we eat dinner as a family every night). So with that in mind, dinner this week is incredibly easy. Nothing fancy. Nothing requiring significant prep, shopping, or new cooking methods. Because when life is busy, the last thing you need is a stressful dinner.

It’s the last week of summer vacation in our house and the kids are already gearing up for another great year. Two-a-day football practices, wrapping up that summer reading, math, and history, and getting those backpacks ready while enjoying time with friends is what this week is all about. Dinners this week are super simple, tried and true, crowd pleasers. So whether, like us, you’re expecting a few extra people for dinner as the kids soak up the final days or it’s a more intimate group, these recipes won’t steer you wrong.