I LOVE playing around with blender recipes. I never look at a recipe, just throw in what I have in the fridge and keep tasting it until I like it! HA 

I'm not kidding when I say this tastes like a vanilla milkshake! I LOVE milkshakes so this is heaven in a cup for me!

It's SO easy and takes literally 3 minutes to throw together!

Aaron and I hardly ever eat treats in the week ( we have cheat day on Saturdays! ) so this is definitely our TREAT in the week, if I'm craving something sweet!

If you have never heard of PB2 ^^ THIS is what it looks like! You can get it anywhere!

It is only 45 calories for 2 TBS, just 1.5 grams of fat and 5 grams of protein!

It gives you the "peanut butter taste" without the high fat and high calorie of actual peanut butter!

(( NOT saying peanut butter is bad! I LOVE peanut butter. This is a lower calorie, less fat option. ))

ALSO! WE get  THIS vanilla whey protein  at Costco and it is on sale right now for 8 dollars off a bag! It has 27 grams of protein a serving and It's our fav! I believe it's on sale until the end of the month! I went yesterday and STOCKED UP!
The cheapest way to buy protein is in bulk!
( I've also tried this shake with "half chocolate whey protein and half vanilla" and it tastes kind of like a Wendy's frosty! )

Happy Shake making and happy Friday friends! XO
P.S. I truly appreciate all feedback and comments! Means the world!

Okay guys, I'm not joking when I say this is honestly my lunch almost every single day.

I may or may not go through a WHOLE bag of Costco lettuce and spinach PER WEEK on my own.

HA Aaron does help me a little because I will do this salad often for us ( lunch or dinner ) and he loves it!

Blueberries were around 80 cents a pint at the grocery store yesterday so it's definitely the season to buy fruit! Long live this last month ( couple weeks ) of SUMMER!

A couple friends of mine got me into "counting my macros" a while back and I LOVE it.

I will go more into it as time goes on, but basically, you have a certain amount of Protein, Carbs, and Fat that you can eat per day that is dependent on YOUR own body and activity level.

Since I started counting macros, I have noticed results through muscle definition as well as in my energy levels! I also love that it's something you can maintain ( not some crazy off the wall diet that makes you cut out food groups! ) Anyways, I will go into more detail later but that's a quick explanation of it all!

My point in bringing up "macros" is that I will add different foods to this salad depending on what my body needs for the day.

For example, if I am "low on my fat intake", I will add extra avocado or some nuts to the salad.

If I'm low on carbs for the day, I will add extra fruit. 

If I need more protein, I will add some mozzarella cheese or extra meat. You see??

I will also include a couple of my favorite salad dressings to add to this salad!

Avocado is HUGE on this salad because you can add A LOT less dressing.

It's so much better for you to be getting the "GOOD FAT" that an avocado gives rather than the extra calories from dressings.

Please say you all love avocado! HA I don't think I go a day without it!

P.S. When I make this salad for dinner for Aaron I will triple his meat on top and add MORE of everything, to make it more filling and "man-ly-ish" HA

Here are my 3 favorite dressings on this salad!

I LOVE this Panera bread Poppyseed dressing ^^ ( found in the cold section at "Some" targets and some grocery stores! ) And yes they sell it in States that don't have the actual "Panera Bread" restaurant!

It's fat free and wonderful!

I also love this Marie's Raspberry vinaigrette ^^ ( 3g of fat per serving ) (( found in the COLD section at the grocery store ))

as well as (( not pictured )) -- Trader Joes Raspberry vinaigrette ( 2g of fat per serving )

Like I said, with the avocado on the salad, you don't need too much dressing, just enough to give a little flavor :)

Just a side note that some people believe ALL salads are healthy! --- YIKES!!

A salad can JUMP HIGH in calories and fat fast depending on how it's prepared and the dressing that is on it!

Always as for low fat dressing options at restaurants and ask for dressing to be put on the side and you will be just fine! :)
Happy Salad making friends!

Our favorite person turned THIRTY!!
Aaron was convinced he was going to celebrate being "29" for one more year and then just skip to 31 next year! HA
Why is there is something daunting about the number THIRTY!?


We celebrated hard by spending the weekend in San Antonio as a fam with my in-laws!
Roasted smores, tubbed around the lazy river, shopped a little, and ate at all our favorite kinds of restaurants - THE BEST.
Oh and golf for Aaron and his dad - because golf is one definite way to his heart.

Our hotel had a miniature little beach that the boys played on for a couple afternoons!
( we stayed at the Hyatt Hill Country and loved it! I loved the "southern feel" it had and the breakfast buffet in the morning is AMAZING! Oh and they have a basket of free apples by their check in desk and Aaron, Ryan and I ate like 2 apples a day HA! I'm not kidding when I say they are some of the best apples I've ever had! )


Luke LOVED the sand, ( unlike Ryan the first 3 years of Ryan's life HA ) However, the first time Luke sat in it he put a whole handful of sand into his mouth - I let it happen to see how he would react - needless to say, he didn't try it again! --- YUCK!
We are actually going on a tropical vacation with Aaron's parents in a few weeks so this got the boys ready for the real thing ;)


If ever in San Antonio, you have to eat at "DOUGH"
( I believe they are in Dallas also! ) Tastes just like ITALY! Seriously amazing.
And if you haven't already been able to tell - an Italian margarita pizza is the way to my heart!


Blurry phone picture - but a picture nonetheless ;)
Tex mex is our favorite food.
We rank all our Mexican restaurants on their fajitas ( and chips and salsa of course! )



Gosh, we are so grateful for this sweet husband and daddy.
We are truly the luckiest.
Happy birthday love! I love growing old with you.

My sis-in-law is having a baby BOY ( seriously guys, we will be in desperate need of some girls in my families household soon enough! HA my parents will have 3 grandSONS! But I'm so happy it's a boy so Ry and Luke can have a partner in crime semi-close in age! )
Even though she is having a boy I LOVE how gender neutral you can make this shower- it could go either way!

My mom is queen of party throwing. She sees an idea and seriously makes it come to life.
I love being with her for stuff like this because I literally take notes on everything she does! Hoping one day I can be just like her and carry on her talent! HA

My younger sister, Lauren, did all the calligraphy and signs.
I told her she needs to open up a business - SO CUTE!

I will let the pictures do the rest of the talking! This was so fun to put together!

My favorite ^^ These cupcakes tasted just like my wedding! My mamma and her baking skills!!
If you look closely we found little tiny "gold star sprinkles" for the top of the cupcakes! ^^
( We used a star stencil to trace and cut stars out of gold glitter paper for the cupcake toppers and then hot glued "twinkle twinkle" to each star and toothpick )

One of the highlights were these little pudding parfaits! ^^

We just used white chocolate pudding, graham cracker crumbs and a little cool whip for the top.

Top it all off with 1/4 of a vanilla wafer! SO easy and so yummy!

She's putting on the finishing touches ^^ :)

Target does it again! ^^ $4 banner! Rather than pay for a personalized banner on ETSY we found the banner at target and put our own letter stickers on!

The woman of the hour and 'Mamma to be' ^^ and seriously, she does not look like she is going to have a baby in 4 weeks!



She is due the middle of August but I will anxiously be counting down the days until September when I head back to Utah and hold this sweet newborn! Ahh I can't wait to spoil this babe!

Party Details :

Banner and lettering -- Target
Mini Chalk boards and large sign chalk board -- Hobby Lobby
Diaper cake ribbon and Glitter paper -- Hobby Lobby
Miniature parfait cups -- Zurchers
Plates and napkins and cupcake holders -- Zurchers