Cherry Yogurt Power Smoothie

I am honored to be a Stonyfield Ambassador and I thank them, and prAna for sponsoring today’s post.  

All opinions, as always, are my own.

This smooth and creamy smoothie is made with frozen sweet cherries and thick and tangy Greek yogurt. 

Full of antioxidants, protein, and fiber, it's a great way to start your day!

In this crazy busy world we live in, most people don't make time for themselves as often as they should. Myself included. I've been a single mom to my sons for the past 15 years and have raised them on my own. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade it for the world! But sometimes it can be exhausting. Working, take care of the kids, doing chores, etc. can be a lot to handle whether you're by yourself or have a partner to share in the everyday tasks. That's why it's so important to take time out for yourself every day. 

Sprouted Wheat Blueberry Yogurt Muffins

These healthy Sprouted Wheat Blueberry Yogurt Muffins are the perfect quick breakfast 
or snack and they’re ready to eat in just 30 minutes. What's not to love?

I am honored to be a Stonyfield Ambassador and I thank them for sponsoring today’s post.  All opinions, as always, are my own.

Friends, I've been craving muffins like crazy lately. I don't know why, but I've just really been in the mood for muffins morning, noon, and night. They are the perfect on-the-go breakfast or quick snack, and they even work as a healthy alternative to dessert. These Sprouted Wheat Blueberry Yogurt Muffins are my newest creation and I have to say, they are the best blueberry muffins I've ever made.

Almond Butter Harvest Mix Yogurt Bowl

This protein packed delicious yogurt bowl starts with creamy vanilla grassfed yogurt and is topped with almond 

butter, harvest trail mix, and bites of sweet and spicy crystallized ginger. It's the best way to start your day!

This post was created in partnership with Stonyfield and Woodstock Foods. 

All opinions, as always, are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

What's better than a bowl full of rich, creamy yogurt for breakfast in the morning? A bowl full of yogurt that's been topped with swirls of almond butter, a handful of harvest mix, and a sprinkling of crystallized ginger, that's what! I recently discovered my new favorite breakfast, folks. Yep, you guessed it. It's this yogurt bowl! Seriously, where has this been all my life?

I often eat yogurt for breakfast, most of the time topped with some crunchy granola. Recently though I got my hands on some new goodies from Woodstock Foods - their Organic Almond Butter and Hiker's Harvest Mix. Of course they are both amazing on their own, enjoying as a snack, but they are even more delicious when paired with the yogurt. The combination of flavors and textures is out of this world!

Fruit Swirled Yogurt Pops

Cool off this summer with these healthy and delicious Fruit Swirled Yogurt Pops! 

Made with fresh strawberries and cherries, they're bursting with flavor and so simple to make!

One of my favorite things about the warm weather is getting to eat lots of frozen treats. I pretty much eat ice cream all year round, but during the warmer months I love to make my own homemade ice cream and other goodies. These Fruit Swirled Yogurt Pops are one of newest creations! Made with just four ingredients, these yogurt pops are beautiful, delicious, AND healthy!

I created this yummy recipe in partnership with Produce for Kids for their 2016 Spring Campaign. I participated last year and really enjoyed promoting such a great cause. Produce for Kids teamed up with Meijer to bring Jump with Jill, a rock & roll nutrition show, to local schools. The campaign launched May 29 and runs through June 26. It will raise funds for Jump with Jill and offer Meijer shoppers healthy meal solutions, recipes and tips. Since 2013, Produce for Kids has donated $342,823 to Jump with Jill, and about 75 schools have been supported through the campaign since fall 2014! 

Creamy Tropical Yogurt Smoothie

Sipping on this delicious Creamy Tropical Yogurt Smoothie will have you daydreaming of 

being on the beach and dipping your toes in the water!

Spring is finally here - well, almost here, in Michigan - and I'm excited for warmer weather and lots of sunshine. Daydreaming of blue skies and flowers the other day, I decided to make some Creamy Tropical Yogurt Smoothies for me and the boys. Pineapple, mango and banana makes me think of being on a beach somewhere with my toes in the sand!

You know we eat a lot of yogurt around my house, so I was thrilled to try Stonyfield's two newest product lines - 100% Grassfed Yogurts and Whole Milk Organic Greek Yogurts. I can officially say that I am in love with both of these lines, and so is my family! 

Creamy Cilantro Yogurt Dressing

This Creamy Cilantro Yogurt Dressing is fresh and delicious and is perfect on your favorite salad, 
or as a dip for fresh veggies!

Can you believe the first month of 2016 is just about over? Where in the world did January go?! I swear the older I get, the faster time goes. And with teenagers at home, I don't like it one bit! I need to keep them small , ya' know what I mean? Anyway, I digress.

Remember how I told you at the beginning of the month that I was striving to be healthier this year? Well, I'm still working at that, little by little, and things are going well. I'm trying to squeeze a bit more exercise in, and I've been upping the fruit and veggie intake for the whole family. We eat salads with dinner several times a week, but I had always purchased store bought dressings, never made my own at home. Well, up until now.

PB & J Yogurt Smoothie

This simple smoothie recipe is healthy, creamy and delicious, and tastes just like my favorite 

childhood sandwich, a peanut butter and jelly!

Now that the kids are back in school, I'm back to planning quick and easy breakfasts for them during the week. The biggest problem I have is that my kids aren't hungry first thing in the morning. They don't feel like eating until mid-morning and, in fact, on the weekends we probably don't have breakfast until 10:30 or 11:00. This presents a problem when I'm pushing for them to eat at 7:00 am!

Lucky for me, I found a way around this issue. I get them to drink their breakfast! I've been making smoothies for a long time, so I decided to create some fun versions for quick breakfasts. This PB & J Yogurt Smoothie is definitely a favorite, and currently the most requested in our house every week.

Maple & Walnut Yogurt Muffins

These tender and delicious muffins are filled with nutrients and protein and make a great portable breakfast 

or perfect midday or post-workout snack!

My youngest son has been playing sports pretty much all summer. First it was summer basketball in June. The rest of the summer has been dedicated to football. Football camp. Football workouts. Weightlifting. Football scrimmages. Seems like we eat, breathe and sleep football. Now don't get me wrong, I am a total sports mom, but it's nice to have the occasional day or two off!

Evan and I after one of his games last season!

Sweet Cherry Yogurt Pops

Fresh, sweet cherries and creamy yogurt are all you need to make one healthy and 

delicious frozen treat that the whole family will love!

Did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month? Break out those ice cream makers my friends, and let's get going! I remember my aunt and uncle having one of those old fashioned giant hand crank machines, the ones that you put the ice and salt in. You'd have to sit there and crank and crank and turn and turn for what seemed like hours to make that ice cream! But in the end it was so worth it to get that fresh, homemade deliciousness. I absolutely loved it and it was a highlight of many childhood summers.

Fast forward many years (many, MANY years), and now I have a fancy ice cream maker that does all the turning for me. No ice needed. No hand cranking. I kind of miss that old machine, but on the other hand it's way easier doing it this way and much quicker! I make my own ice cream quite often during the summer, but I also love making other frozen treats, like frozen yogurt and popsicles. I have a few different popsicle molds and love trying different combinations from sweet to fruity to chocolaty and even sometimes spicy. This week I took some delicious, fresh sweet cherries and combined them with thick and creamy Greek yogurt and got the best ever Sweet Cherry Yogurt Pops.

Iced Almond-Lemon Loaf Cake

This luscious cake is tender and lemony, and has an extra citrus kick from the 

sweet lemon icing that's drizzled over the top. 

I'm a huge yogurt lover. Even as a child I can remember getting yogurt cups at the store with my mom. Strawberry and blueberry were always my favorite. Of course nowadays my taste has expanded and I love much more than just those two flavors.

Not only do I eat yogurt for breakfast and as a snack, but I love to cook and bake with it as well. If you've been reading my blog long, then you know this all to well. From Mini Banana Cream Parfaits to Cardamom Pecan Pound Cake to Blackberry Frozen Yogurt, I use yogurt in many ways.

Stonyfield OP Organic Protein Smoothies #StonyfieldBlogger

As a busy mom with two very active teenage sons, some mornings are very crunched for time. I typically make sure they are taken care of first, then worry about myself. That being said, I don't always have time for breakfast. I know, I know...it's the most important meal of the day! But with crazy schedules, and the fact that I'm not very hungry in the morning, I need something for my first meal of the day that's healthy and nutritious, gives me energy, but isn't heavy.

That's where the the new Stonyfield OP Organic Protein Smoothies come in. These smoothies are thick and creamy, satisfying, and give me the boost I need in the morning. Since I'm not really hungry until late morning, these smoothies are perfect for my tummy. I'm drinking my meal instead of eating it!

Mini Banana Cream Parfaits

This simple dessert takes less than five minutes to make and is delicious, healthy, and beautiful!

I'm a huge fan of dessert. That's pretty obvious though, huh? The kids and I have dessert after dinner just about every night. Even if it's just a piece of chocolate, it's something.

I bake quite a bit (another obvious statement), so we usually have something in the house at all times. Could be cookies, lots of time it's brownies, or maybe even a cake. But there are plenty of times when it's nice to have a quick dessert. Something easy to put together that doesn't require baking. Something that can be thrown together when someone unexpectedly shows up on your doorstep for a visit. These parfaits are the answer.

Strawberry Yogurt Cupcakes with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

These strawberry yogurt cupcakes are tender, moist, and delicious. Topped with a decadent strawberry cream cheese frosting, it's hard to eat just one!

As much as I love all things chocolate, sometimes it's nice to make a different type of dessert. Something with vanilla, maybe something nutty, or even a fruity dessert. I tend to make a lot of brownies and cakes, so it's good to break away from the usual. 

That's where these delicious Strawberry Yogurt Cupcakes with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting come in. A little bit decadent and naughty, but also somewhat healthy and nice. It's a two-for-one kinda deal.

Easy Strawberry Frozen Yogurt {Frozen Month}

Since August is frozen month for my Blogger Food Challenge group I've really upped my game in the frozen department. From creating new ice cream recipes to frozen pies, I've had a blast!

This strawberry frozen yogurt is super simple to make, plus it's amazingly delicious. My son and I were taste testing the strawberry mixture before it was turned frozen and I swear we could have drank the whole bowl!! LOL