Since moving into our new home… I got to say, one of our favorite things about the house, besides its amazing morning light and spacious kitchen, is the backyard.

 

I always dreamed of having a yard full of big tall trees, that provided shade but also beauty… and land enough for my boys to run and play without the worries of a street or enclosed tight yard. To add to the joy of this yard we have been blessed with, is the creek that runs through it.

 

I grew up playing in a creek behind my home as a child… and my brother and I loved it. We would play in it for hours, despite the poison ivy, snakes and other creatures lurking about. It was worth every risk to us :) – and I am thankful for parents who let us have fun with it despite those things.

Our days right now, are off the cuff. We aren’t schooling as of now, since we are so incredibly busy with this move and work… we are considering this our “early summer break,” ;-) and plan to start back sooner than later. 

I love our days at home…. just being who we are… and not worrying about getting dressed in “matching outfits” or “proper outfits” for that matter ;-) – I love being able to walk around in a loose cami with a bun in my hair and not a bit of make up on my face.

I love the freedom of being able to just get up and go without “proper plans”… and enjoy time together as a family… even if it is a trip to LOWES ;-) – despite where we go, we can make it an adventure for our boys. Thankful for the ability to enjoy…. even in the little things.

Every day is an adventure and with Quaker® Perfect Portions I know I am providing my family with the fuel they need for their epic adventures.

Share how you make everyday an adventure and see other storieson Everyday Health.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Quaker®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Don’t we all wish we had the fuel and energy of our children? 

I sure do.

There are many days I wake up completely exhausted. Wanting nothing more than to crawl back into bed. I think these cold mornings don’t help with that. 

Every day requires a lot of me. I obviously add to the task list some days… but most days, I just go, go go… because I have too.

From cooking 3 meals…. almost all of them from 100% scratch (because I truly desire to do it)…. you can imagine how long I am in the kitchen. Lets just say I look forward to moving and living in a house with a gigantic kitchen!

:) – To in-between schooling of my two oldest… yes in-between. Nothing is constant here right now, lots of doing it when we can routine… To prepping baby bottles, washing clothes (the never ending task and mountain), organizing my calendar with sessions, blog post and activities with the kids… to actually working outside of the home shooting portrait sessions for various clients. For all of this I need fuel.

The best fuel honestly I have found is to eat clean… and go to bed early!

On days I don’t have time to cook though, it is nice to have some alternative snack options and I got to admit, quaker granola bar’s are a favorite of ours. I could make a meal out of one, if I’m honest. :)

I never know what my days will have in store for me and my family, so keeping Quaker® Big Chewy Granola Bars on hand help make sure we have the fuel necessary to get the day. Now the Quaker® Big Chewy Granola Bars have chocolate drizzled on top and are 60% bigger (I got boys you know!) – perfect for my hungry family! 

Share what activities you need fuel for everyday and see other stories on Everyday Health. 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Quaker®. The opinions and text are all mine.

 

Around 12 years ago now, my husband and I began dating. He was the 1st boyfriend I ever had that resulted in my meeting “family” members :) – in other words our relationship was serious.

One of the first things we had to go through as a dating couple…. was a very serious surgery his dad had to have… he was early 60′s and he ended up having to have 5 bypasses done… and from what I remember, there were 6 total that needed to be done but one could not be done for some reason or another.

Heart disease was something prior to that event, I had never really been faced with. Thankfully, my husband’s dad is fine. He is in his 70′s now and doing fantastic. He is an active farmer and has lost a significant amount of weight. Thankful for his recovery going so well.

Heart disease runs on my husband’s side of the family…. and while I don’t know of any of it running on “my side” of the family… I think often about what I am feeding my family, because of what my children may inherit but also because of what my husband has more than likely inherited as well.

Heart disease is no joke… eating health and real food is important to keeping a healthy heart… as well as daily exercise.

Eating lean meats is big for us… Instead of hamburger we use lean turkey… instead of steaks, we use chicken. I very rarely buy red meat… and even growing up we didn’t eat it. In fact my mom is a vegetarian now and eats mostly beans and other substitutes for her protein. She’s one of the healthiest people I know. :)

That’s not to say red meat here and there would kill you :) – I think moderation is key. 

 

Follow the steps below and share how you care for your heart to participate in Campbell’s contest and you could win a $50,000 kitchen makeover.  Contest Rules  & Prize Page.

Step 1: Submit a photo below that shows how you care for your heart

Step 2: Fill out the information required including your name, email address and zip code.

Step 3: Write a short contest entry (up to 200 words) that corresponds with the photo and share how you care for your heart. Please be honest and sincere with all your thoughts and remember to tell us in 200 words or less.

Step 4: Confirm you’ve read the Official Rules.

Step 5: Log in through your Facebook account.

Step 6: Submit your contest entry.

You can share your contest entry on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and visit AddressYourHeart.com for recipes, tips, and downloadable coupons for heart-healthy products from Campbell.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of the Campbell Soup Company’s Address Your Heart initiative.  The opinions, text, and images are all mine.