An Easter Without Candy :) {With Linky}

not my photo, image googled from around the web.

We are having an Easter without store bought candy. 

Kids get enough candy on Halloween to last them a lifetime, and then Christmas rolls around, and Valentine's Day, then Easter....

My question to you is....

Do your kids REALLY need all that candy?

The honest answer is NO.

So what do you do if you don't give your kids candy for Easter?

• Make dinner time special. Let the kids help plan a special Easter dinner.
• Fill their Easter baskets with toys or educational items or things they need ( or skip the basket all together).
• Have a coloring fest with your childen. Print out these pages here.
• If it is nice outside where you live, do an Easter egg hunt, but don't fill  with candy....fill the eggs with point values that they can redeem for little prizes ( stuffed animals, key chains, etc).
• Have them give back. Give away previous years Easter bunnies to a charity or family in need. Or shop for new ones the share with those in need. There are children who would love to have what your kids have, even just once in their lives.
• If you must have candy, make it at home .....without sugar. I will post a recipe on here this week for you and link it to this post.
• Hardboil and dye Easter eggs with your kids, pick natural dye options for an extra eco friendly Easter.

Mostly, make sure to spend quality time with your kids on Easter.

What are we doing for Baby A?

I am making her my special home made peanut butter cups that are 100% clean. She will only get 2 ( they are made in ice cube trays).

We are getting her a stuffed bunny. We also got her a toy that she really wants.

We skipped buying the extra basket ( it only goes in the trash any way). Try instead setting up a display table for your childrens Easter gifts, without the baskets.

We also printed out the free Easter Bunny letter. Please see this post for the link.

What are you doing for Easter?

How are you keeping your Easter healthy?

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

Are you a blogger who wrote a post on Easter without Candy?
Not a blogger, but saw an awesome candy free Easter post...Link up above~!

Happy Holidays!

not my photo, image googled from around the web.

I have been seeing a lot in social media ( facebook. twitter, etc), people saying " It's Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays!".

I disagree, to a point.

Here's why. 

To me, it is Merry Christmas, I say Merry Christmas to close friends and family who celebrate Christmas for the same reasons I do. However, it is not Merry Christmas to every one.
What about those who hold different beliefs?

It would be offensive (to some) to say "Merry Christmas" to a Latter Day Saint or a Jew, or some one of another religion that doesn't celebrate Christmas.

Not to mention, if it is some one I know I will not see during the holiday season, I like to say "Happy Holidays" for a couple of reasons. The first one being that it covers Christmas, and New Years. Secondly, I really do hope that all of their holidays are happy. 

It seems as though with some people " Happy Holidays" has gotten a bad rap. The truth is though, that "Happy Holidays" ( at least to me) is a warm, friendly, considerate way of wishing people a wonderful holiday season...including Christmas...if they celebrate it. 

Like I said some people celebrate different holidays, I wouldn't be offended, but it wouldn't make sense for some one I don't know to wish me a "Happy Hanukkah" or a "Happy Kwanzaa". So why would I wish a stranger a "Merry Christmas"?

What holidays do  you celebrate this season?

Or do you celebrate the holidays at all?

I would love to hear!

Be Happy Healthy and Strong...

and Have a Happy Holiday Season!

Lolli

(P)Interesting....Interesting Pinterest Picks!

(P)Interesting posts are posts that I am starting about what I liked on pinterest this week....interesting things on pinterest.

P...interesting.

Anyway, I hope you all like it.

 I will be posting these occasionally, just look for the (P)Interesting icon at the top of the post!

I started this because I have been seeing so many things on pinterest that I just had to share!

Enjoy!

This wreath is absolutely adorable, I think that it would be so fun to make.

Has anyone made one of these? Was it easy?

Source: landeeseelandeedo.com via Emilie on Pinterest

I love this room. Very simple and clean with all of the white and the angled ceiling.

I would choose different decor though as I don't like the rug in the picture.

Source: convoy.tumblr.com via Sandra on Pinterest

Yum! I never thought of stuffing an onion! Hubby and I eat stuffed peppers and stuffed eggplant, but not onion. I must make a healthy version of this. I love eating red and purple onions!

Source: italianfoodforever.com via Lolli on Pinterest

These little planters are too cute! I could even see making silver or gold ones for the holiday season, or even shiny black ones. Bronze would be nice too. These copper planters have such a unique look!

These little planters are too cute! I could even see making silver or gold ones for the holiday season, or even shiny black ones. Bronze would be nice too. These copper planters have such a unique look!

Source: dimplesandtangles.blogspot.com via Lolli on Pinterest

This is just really fun! 

Source: pin4fun4019.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

I MUST make a dress like this for Baby A! It is the most  adorable pillow case dress I have  ever seen! New project!

Source: sugarpatchbaby.com via TJ on Pinterest

I hope you all enjoyed my first (P)Interesting post! What have you found on pinterest lately? Do you like any of these picks?
 Don't forget to follow me on pinterest. Click on the button in my blog side bar! 

 Be Happy Healthy & Strong, 
 Lolli

Lolli's Ramblings: 4th of July, juicing, and more!

I hope that you all had a wonderful 4th of July! 

We had a great holiday! We spent the entire day at the beach with Baby A! It was her first time seeing the water. A lake beach was a nice way to get her used to the water before we take her to the ocean. She loved the sand & especially loved splashing in the water! 

She didn't want to get out of the water.

We took all of our snacks with us (the snacks I made will be posted on the blog soon!) , we didn't need to worry about what to eat. There was plenty of food everywhere, but none of it was tempting. In fact, after seeing so much junk food, I discovered I am not even hungry for it anymore, it actually looked gross to me.

This was the swim suit Baby A wore:

We loved the ruffles!! 

Her swim diaper:

I wore a bandeau style bikini top and Hubby some black swim trunks.

It felt good to get outside and get some sun! The weather was absolutely beautiful & in the 90's.

After the beach we came home and had teriyaki stir fry for dinner, and some cucumber juice that I made with our Breville Juicer. The juicing is going well, we are still trying to find more recipes, but the juice that comes out of the Breville is fantastic.

We watched fireworks from our back porch and on tv, both Macy's and the Boston Pops. Since Baby A is only 7 months old I thought she might be startled by them, but she wasn't. She really enjoyed them! 

How was your 4th of July?

In addition I have joined Hubby in not drinking coffee. I do not see coffee as a bad thing, I actually think plain coffee has wonderful health benefits, however, I do find myself a bit of a coffee addict. So I have switched to green tea for the next few weeks to see how I feel. We already drink green tea in the evenings, so I figured why not drink it in the morning too?

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

Happy 4th of July~!

Have an amazing day!

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

Mother's Day!

Since I don't typically post on weekends, I decided to post about Mother's Day today.

This year is especially wonderful because it is my first Mother's Day as a mom!  Time has flown by so quickly and Baby A is growing before my eyes. I now realize how wonderful it is to be a mom, but also how much time, effort, planning, laughter, joy,  and tears all go into being a mom....and this is just the beginning!

Baby A is 24 weeks old ( can you believe she will be 6 months old soon!) and I am so lucky to be the mommy of such a beautiful, smart,  happy, and healthy little girl!

I can hardly remember this! It was 6 months ago!

Happy Mother's Day to me!

In addition I want to say Happy Mother's Day to my mom. She has had a long, hard, year full of change and uncertainty, but she has handled it like a champ! I am so happy that she lives closer to us know and that Baby A will get to spend more time with her.  She's a great mom!

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

My Mom & I

I would also love to say Happy Mother's Day to my mother in law who has welcomed me into my new family with open arms. She is fun, loving, and warm. Thank you.

Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful Grandmother's both of whom have had an amazing impact on my life growing up. I love you both !

And last but not least, Happy Mother's Day out there to all the mom's who strive to give their children the best life possible. Who love unconditionally, who are there for every tear & smile. 

Enjoy your day!

I know I am excited to spend time with my beautiful little family for my 1st Mother's Day!

Be Happy Healthy & Strong,

Lolli

Happy Easter!

We are excited to be celebrating Baby A's 1st Easter this year! We already took her for pictures with the Easter bunny & have a nice day planned. 

We are also remembering and missing my father as Easter was one of his favorite holidays.

♥

Lolli

Happy Valentine's Day!

I want to wish all of my blog readers a Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day isn't just for lovers! It's for everyone! If you don't have a significant other, then spend the day with a family member or friend doing something you enjoy! If you are spending Valentine's Day on your own, then do something you love! Write a poem, paint a picture, go through picture albums & enjoy the memories, go for a run or get in a great workout! Whatever it is that you enjoy, do it. 

Most importantly, no one is alone on Valentine's Day, everyone is loved by someone :) 

Enjoy your day!

♥

Lolli

Valentine's Day (Pinterest)

I hope you enjoy these Valentine's pinterest finds! 

Happy Monday!

♥

Lolli

Source: Uploaded by user via Lolli on Pinterest

Source: lisastorms.typepad.com via Lolli on Pinterest

Source: vintagerosegarden.tumblr.com via Lolli on Pinterest

Source: cleanandscentsible.blogspot.com via Lolli on Pinterest

Source: marthastewart.com via Lolli on Pinterest

Source: naptimecrafting.blogspot.com via Lolli on Pinterest

Source: cfabbridesigns.com via Lolli on Pinterest

Happy New Year!

Have a Safe & Happy New Year!


♥
Lolli

Merry Christmas!

My favorite time of year.

Ahhh our first Christmas as a family of 3.

We are so blessed to have Baby A in our lives.

What a great feeling, so much love in our lives.

It's the Merriest Christmas.

I miss my Dad, but I know he is watching us from Heaven. 

Merry Christmas Dad, we love you, we miss you.

Is it your first Christmas as a parent?

Is it your first Christmas missing a loved one?

No matter what happens in life, we always have something to be grateful for....grateful for someone who touched our lives in the past, or grateful for a new life to bless our lives.

Maybe you have something else to be grateful for, either way, celebrate this season with love.

Merry Christmas Friends!

♥
Lolli

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Before you gorge yourself on the holiday feast.,
take a moment to be thankful.
Be thankful to whomever your God is.
Or if you don't believe, just take a moment to be grateful to be alive.

I will take a moment to thank God for everything good in my life. I am thankful for life itself. I am thankful to be a wife and mommy. I am thankful to have a roof over my head.

What are you thankful for?

Take a moment. 

Give thanks.

♥
Lolli

Don't forget to check out the Merry Fluffy Christmas event going on (December 1-5)!

Spreading the word for my blogger friends! There are several blogs involved in the event, so don't forget to check them all! 

Click the button below:

❤
Lolli

Baby A will be here soon!

I cannot believe that 39 weeks have flown by so quickly! Baby A will be here soon!

We finished our checklist and the nursery is ready! Complete with a really cool Dali Decal! 

Here's the decal we chose ( obviously personalized with Baby A's name instead of Grace):

We cannot wait for Baby A to be here. Just in time for the holiday season, what could make the season any brighter than becoming parents for the first time?!

What's new with you? Is there anything you are looking forward to this holiday season?

I love to hear from my readers.

❤

Lolli

Eat Out This Thanksgiving or Cook Leaner.

I saw this post today, and loved the list of reasons to eat out this Thanksgiving http://thestir.cafemom.com/food_party/128576/20_awesome_reasons_to_go.

Then I got to thinking of my own reasons of why I think eating out this Thanksgiving would be a good idea for some.

The problem with Thanksgiving for those who are health conscious is the exorbitant amount of calories, fat, and LEFTOVERS! In some households you could be eating leftovers from Thanksgiving for weeks. So instead of packing on the calories for one meal, some people end up packing on the unhealthy celebration calories for ....days to weeks. No good.

However, if one eats out and orders a meal, then enjoys that meal at a restaurant, there are no leftovers in the fridge staring them in the face for a while. In addition, it's a lot harder to way overstuff yourself on one plate, than it is to overstuff yourself on a whole spread of Thanksgiving dinner & dessert, where you keep going back for more.

Normally I am not a fan of eating out, but I feel that for special occasions it can be good in some ways. Not to mention it saves on having to wash dishes.

I also think that there can be a better, healthier way to eat at home this Thanksgiving.

Some things that I think would help:

• If going to a friend or family member's home for Thanksgiving, bring a healthy side dish (salad, fruit, etc)
• When baking dessert, substitute Stevia or honey instead of regular sugar.
• Skip dishes with heavy creams and lots of cheeses.
• Try this recipe for stuffing this year: http://glutenfreecooking.about.com/od/sidedishes/r/Meliss-A-Savory-Gluten-Free-Grain-Free-Stuffing-Recipe.htm Even if you aren't gluten free, I think that a grain free stuffing could help everyone's waistlines this year.
• Try using Olive Oil or Coconut Oil to baste your turkey this year (skip the butter!)
• Follow the 80/20 rule- 80% of your plate should be vegetables & 20% protein (turkey).
• Have the pumpkin pie, but keep it to one slice. Go easy on the whipped cream! (or better yet skip it!)...if you are gluten free (like me) make your own gluten free pumpkin pie :)  http://glutenfreegirl.com/who-needs-gluten-when-there-is-pumpkin-pie-like-this/ (I personally would substitute the sugar)
• Keep body refreshed and calories lower by drinking lots of water and skipping the sugary sodas & holiday drinks.

These are just a few ideas for enjoying the holiday while keeping your body healthy.

Do you have any healthy holiday tips to share?

A reminder: Thanksgiving is about giving thanks :) Don't forget to be thankful for the food you have to eat. Not everyone is as fortunate to have so many food choices available.

♥

Lolli

*These are all personal opinions of the blogger from personal life experience and is not intended as advice of any kind.*

Gluten Free Halloween!

Here are a few Halloween treat ideas for the kids with gluten allergies!

Gluten Free Jelly Beans!

These make a great alternative to traditional peanut butter cups! The dark chocolate are gluten free/dairy free, the milk chocolate contain dairy.

Enjoy Life Chocolate Bars are Gluten Free/Dairy Free/ Nut Free/ Soy Free...and yummy!

According to the Smarties website, they are gluten free!

Gluten Free Gummy Bears!

Gluten Free Lollipops.

If your child has Celiac, he or she may not be able to eat the candy they gathered while trick-or-treating, but you can have some yummy treats for them at home! 

❤

Lolli

Weekend Ramblings.... Halloween.

Before I get started, I am not trying to pick on anyone or judge anyone with this post. These are my own personal opinions about Halloween and how people celebrate or don't celebrate it.

I think that way too many people take Halloween too seriously. You have the people on one side of the fence who consider it a completely evil holiday & avoid it like the plague. I might refer to these people as "Halloween Avoiders".

Then you have the people who are all into the gore and violence of Halloween, that go to the extreme of grossing people out, and ruin the experience for people who aren't fond of gore. In my opinion, Halloween shouldn't be gory either. I call these people the "Halloween Crazies".

I am not picking on either group of people. However, I believe that Halloween isn't anything like what either the "Avoiders" or the "Crazies" make it out to be.

There is a fun, happy, light hearted side of Halloween. The celebration of fall time. The kid-friendly side of Halloween. The side of Halloween I look forward to celebrating with my daughter.

I love the costumes....nothing is cuter than a little Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, or a Pokemon character at your front door, asking for candy. Better still, the Halloween parties with bobbing for apples, jack-o-lantern contests, adorable costumes [again, so fun!]. Not to mention all the fun decorations like scarecrows and pumpkins!

I even look forward to some fun halloween movies, like "Casper the Friendly Ghost", "Ghostbusters", "The Corpse Bride", and "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown", and even  "Monster House"!

There are so many ways to have fun with a holiday, that in many ways, can make us all feel like kids again.

We celebrate Santa and the Easter Bunny, even though the holidays were "founded on religious tradition"...so why not have fun with Halloween too?



Do you celebrate Halloween? What is your favorite part?

As always there needs to be balance in life.....

Have fun, and be safe this Halloween! 

❤

Lolli