Simply Taralynn | Food & Lifestyle Blog https://simplytaralynn.com Food & Lifestyle Blog Thu, 15 Jun 2023 20:32:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://simplytaralynn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cropped-Blank-250-x-250-32x32.jpg Simply Taralynn | Food & Lifestyle Blog https://simplytaralynn.com 32 32 I Started a Business & Attended My First Farmer’s Market! https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/06/15/i-started-a-business-attended-my-first-farmers-market/ https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/06/15/i-started-a-business-attended-my-first-farmers-market/#comments Thu, 15 Jun 2023 20:23:17 +0000 https://simplytaralynn.com/?p=79974

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]]> I can’t believe I’m finally writing this post. I’ve somewhat kept you in the loop with my career shift (but still blogging when I can, don’t worry!), especially if you follow me on TikTok.

I am officially open for business, and my new company, Little Brittle™, has formally launched! I have been pouring all my time, heart, and focus into this, and I am so excited to be doing this finally! 

Over the past year, I have been working night and day in between being a full-time mom to create a brand, organize my new business, get insured, build a website, dive into marketing, become certified, get my license, and sign a lease for a commercial kitchen space. It has been more work than I expected, but it has finally paid off, and the fun part has started. As a mom, I do most of my work during the early mornings, nap time, and after bedtime. It’ll be easier once we dabble into daycare next year. 

For the past few years, I have been baking for locals on the side. I’ve made themed cakes, cookies, brittle, and sourdough loaves, and I do local cinnamon rolls almost every Sunday. It brought me so much joy that I decided to finally take the next step into doing this full-time. 

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I was incredibly nervous about this career shift, primarily afraid of what others would think, but that’s silly. I’m glad I decided to follow my dreams, and I don’t think I’ve been this happy in a long time. I felt like I was missing something, and I feel incredibly full right now. Before I started this blog, I made cupcakes and cakes for weddings in college. Some of you probably remember those days I used to share on Tumblr. The blogging world took off, and I had a shift in goals.

We just circled back to what I always wanted to do. I love to bake. I will jump to the occasion when anyone asks on our neighborhood forum for a dessert or for somone who can make something for an event. I bake like a maniac when family or friends visit, which I never get tired of doing. During the holidays, I made a dessert board for a client that had over 1000 items on it. I stayed up until 3 am completing it, and baking is the only thing I’ll willingly stay up for (aside from my child.) I’m just so passionate about it, and I would regret not following those dreams.
One day, I was sitting on the couch, and my husband said, “You know, you really should start your own company for your baking and brittle.” that’s how it started. The next day we started talking about names, a plan, the look, legalities, and our goals. About ten months later, here I am! 

I will sell my baked goods locally, offering baked goods for nationwide shipping, creating custom corporate boxes, and selling my brittle flavors online!  During the holidays, I will offer festive gift boxes filled with seasonal treats. I will try to do as many pop-ups and festivals as possible, too! If you are local, follow our social media to stay updated on when we are at a market (like this weekend!) I have spent the past months creating over 65 brittle flavors that I will rotate throughout the year! In the fall, I’ll launch all new seasonal flavors, which are so good! I can’t wait for you to try them. 

Now that I’m in a commercial kitchen space, I can produce higher volumes of brittle, sourdough cinnamon rolls and other baked goods. We are working right now on the logistics of shipping the cinnamon rolls, which will be amazing! 

My recap posts will be so much fun now that I can take you along on this new journey of mine as a mom and business owner! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments. I will check them this evening! 

Below, I’ll share some Little Brittle™ photos from the past months! 

Thank you all for the support over the past 14 years, I can’t wait to share this new chapter!
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I wake up on cinnamon roll mornings at 3 am. They need a double rise and so much time to prepare, which was no different on the morning of my first farmers market. I wanted the cinnamon rolls to be fresh as can be! I made all of my brittle bags and cookies the night before and woke up early to start the rolls. If you follow me on TikTok, I often share vlogs of the process. 

If you are a fan of peanut brittle or know a family member, that is, you’ll have to try mine! I spent countless hours perfecting the consistency, and after years of making it with my my mom, the recipe is finally in its perfection era.
starting a business, little brittle llc, little brittle peanut brittle, little brittle, taralynn, owner of little brittle, moms starting businesses, how to start a business, my first farmers market, farmers market fort mill South Carolina, working, bakery, peanut brittle company, brittle company, the best brittle ever, maple cinnamon pecan brittle, marketing, business branding, cottage, business aesthetic, South Carolina business, South Carolina farmers market, town of fort mill, fort mill south Carolina, sourdough cinnamon rolls, commercial kitchen, best brittle in South Carolina, starting a business as a mom  When I was trying to design the brand, I wanted something that felt cozy, classy, and inviting. I started drawing peanuts, and somehow I ended up sketching a cottage. And maybe if I have a brick-and-mortar one day, this cottage I drew for my logo will come to light! I love how my branding turned out, and I almost went the black-and-white or beige route, but I felt as if the color was needed. It just felt more like “me.” The market was a success. We sold a lot of brittle bags, sold entirely out of cinnamon rolls, and most of the cookies, and even made some online orders after it. I can’t wait to be back there this weekend with my cinnamon rolls and a new dessert menu! We will also have our classic peanut brittle and maple cinnamon pecan.
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It was cool having my son there and showing him that his mom set a goal and went after it. He is what motivates me to do it all. I’m sure his highlight of the farmer’s market was having Grandma feed him pancakes from the Flipped truck. They are some of the best!
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My favorite local coffee shop, Humble Cup Coffee Company, also attends the Fort Mill Farmer’s Market, which is fantastic when I need the mid-morning pick-me-up!
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Our sourdough cinnamon rolls were a hit! They sold out entirely, along with the Nutella cinnamon rolls. This weekend, I’ll have Father’s Day boxes for the rolls. I’ll also be selling on Sunday morning in my neighborhood, which is also super fun. Getting up at 3:00 am on the weekends is tough but worth it! After the coffee sets in, it’s relaxing since the house is so quiet and everyone is alseep. 
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I wanted to eat all of these cookies, and so did my little one.
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I also had classic almond sugar cookies with blue almond frosting, a lemon blueberry cookie with lemon meringue buttercream, oatmeal cream pies, and chocolate chip cookie sandwiches that almost sold completely out!  I made the cookies ginormous!   starting a business, little brittle llc, little brittle peanut brittle, little brittle, taralynn, owner of little brittle, moms starting businesses, how to start a business, my first farmers market, farmers market fort mill South Carolina, working, bakery, peanut brittle company, brittle company, the best brittle ever, maple cinnamon pecan brittle, marketing, business branding, cottage, business aesthetic, South Carolina business, South Carolina farmers market, town of fort mill, fort mill south Carolina, sourdough cinnamon rolls, commercial kitchen, best brittle in South Carolina, starting a business as a mom starting a business, little brittle llc, little brittle peanut brittle, little brittle, taralynn, owner of little brittle, moms starting businesses, how to start a business, my first farmers market, farmers market fort mill South Carolina, working, bakery, peanut brittle company, brittle company, the best brittle ever, maple cinnamon pecan brittle, marketing, business branding, cottage, business aesthetic, South Carolina business, South Carolina farmers market, town of fort mill, fort mill south Carolina, sourdough cinnamon rolls, commercial kitchen, best brittle in South Carolina, starting a business as a mom
I will offer local pick-up for these cinnamon rolls three days a week at my kitchen space and other pop-up locations. You can find out more about that on my website! Hopefully, soon, we’ll be shipping nationwide.
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The Nutella rolls are a game-changer!
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I will also be shipping Little Brittle™ chocolate chip cookies! This recipe has been in the works for almost seven months and is to die for!
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Coming up with the brittle flavor calendar was one of the most fun parts! Executing the recipes was the biggest challenge, but I cannot wait for you to try these new brittle flavors! We have Root Beer Float, Gingerbread, Pumpkin Spice Latte, Citrus Lavender, Mocha, Raspberry Cheesecake, and so many more on the lineup!
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We’ve also been shipping out corporate boxes, which has been incredible!
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Above is the caramel cashew, one of my favorite flavors!
 
  
 
Pistachio almond lovers!
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I can’t wait for you to experience Little Brittle™! I have so much more in the works, and the fun is just getting started.
 
I hope you all browse the website, and let me know what you think! xo

WWW.LITTLEBRITTLECO.COM

INSTAGRAM- @LITTLEBRITTLECANDY

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]]> Long time, no blog! It’s been a crazy few weeks. 

Life has been a whirlwind Between birthdays, visits from the fam, prepping for our upcoming family trip, starting a new business venture, and chasing after our energetic one-year-old. I promised myself I’d squeeze in some time to finally sit down and write this blog post while Bugs took his much-needed nap. I’ve had the layout ready to go for a good two weeks now, but every time I sit down to type, something pops up! I’ll be sharing EVERYTHING on that in early June! I am so excited, and it’s starting to really feel real now that just about everything is finalized. In the meantime, I wanted to share some snapshots from the past few weeks with you all.
Tux has still been enjoying his cozy days on the couch! He has a new stuffed animal he likes to take around the house with him. 
 
I’ve been trying to keep up with the Peloton and my walks as much as possible. It’s been tough with being busy and motherhood, but I’ve tried my best to fit in 15-20 minute rides on top of my daily walks. It’s crazy how much of an impact a 20-minute ride can have. I can burn more calories in 20 minutes of biking than in one hour of walking. 

We are in the phase of loving food one day and hating it the next. This is a fun game! I’ve learned that if I bake everything into a muffin, he’ll eat it. 
 One of my favorite parts of the day is our evening walk after bath time. I like to bring new sparkling water or kombucha to try while enjoying the stroll. I’m usually so exhausted by this time that I count the minutes until bedtime. This is when my brain turns to mush, and I start to wind down. I always tell myself I’ll finish my blogs or work once Bugs sleeps, but I almost always shower and go straight to bed. Trying to work, keep the house clean, feed myself and my family, and watch a one-year-old has been kicking my butt.
He’s at an age where it’s hard to keep him entertained for more than fifteen minutes. We hop from walks, the push car, walking around the garden, the swings, the water table, climbing up the stairs, his playpen, and whatever I can entertain him with. He isn’t the type of baby that wants to sit and watch a show. He’s now on the move! He wants to get into anything and everything, so I have to watch him like a hawk. I’m ordering the baby scenery table from Ikea this week, so if you have any fun ideas for a one-year-old and the sensory bins, let me know (anything he won’t put in his mouth!) 

A few weeks ago, I pulled together some DIY projects for his first birthday! 
 Flying!!! How is he so big already?

One project I finished last week was painting this dark blue entry table in a concrete color. I was never a fan of the blue, and even though I had 100 other things to do, I grabbed a paintbrush and started painting. It only took about an hour, which was good! I love that it isn’t such an eyesore when I’m standing in the kitchen anymore. 
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If you missed the birthday party photos, check out the blog here! It was a blast 🙂 

On Saturday morning, I prepared all my sourdough starters for Sunday morning’s cinnamon roll sale. 
strawberry festival fort mill South Carolina, fort mill strawberry festival, South Carolina blogger, fort mill mom, fort mill blogger, what to do in fort mill, the best of fort mill, family in fort mill, lifestyle blogger Before it got too hot out that Saturday, we headed down to Fort Mill’s Strawberry Festival with our family visiting from Jersey. strawberry festival fort mill South Carolina, fort mill strawberry festival, South Carolina blogger, fort mill mom, fort mill blogger, what to do in fort mill, the best of fort mill, family in fort mill, lifestyle blogger The most delicious strawberries! strawberry festival fort mill South Carolina, fort mill strawberry festival, South Carolina blogger, fort mill mom, fort mill blogger, what to do in fort mill, the best of fort mill, family in fort mill, lifestyle blogger Bug’s and I split a grilled chicken wrap from one of the food trucks! strawberry festival fort mill South Carolina, fort mill strawberry festival, South Carolina blogger, fort mill mom, fort mill blogger, what to do in fort mill, the best of fort mill, family in fort mill, lifestyle blogger And I came for the coffee! I grabbed an oat milk cold brew from Knowledge Perk. strawberry festival fort mill South Carolina, fort mill strawberry festival, South Carolina blogger, fort mill mom, fort mill blogger, what to do in fort mill, the best of fort mill, family in fort mill, lifestyle blogger My little strawberry!strawberry festival fort mill South Carolina, fort mill strawberry festival, South Carolina blogger, fort mill mom, fort mill blogger, what to do in fort mill, the best of fort mill, family in fort mill, lifestyle blogger My family!
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After cooling down at the house and hanging out, we headed to The Fish Market in Baxter Village for dinner. Bug’s and I split the salmon salad with cheesy risotto.


On Sunday morning, our family headed out to meet some of their friends, and I woke up at 3:30 am to get started on Sunday’s cinnamon rolls! They sold out in one minute and twenty seconds! It was so fun delivering them. I’ve been keeping up with all of my baking ventures on TikTok! so follow me over there if you don’t already. I’m @taralynntiktoks
After dropping off the rolls and cleaning up the kitchen, I headed out on a walk with bugs, and then we swung in the backyard for a bit before nap time.

During his nap, I rode the Peloton, had coffee while writing thank you notes from the party, and baked some chocolate chip cookies to go with the notes!
baby and mommy pool day, pool snacks, what to pack to the pool, summer fun, summer with toddler, mommy and me, pool time, south Carolina, summer fun, lifestyle bloggerWhen our family returned later that evening, we ate a great dinner at Naf Naf. They have the best salads, and Buggy loves the pita bread with chicken.
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Breakfast on his picnic table he got for his birthday 🙂
baby and mommy pool day, pool snacks, what to pack to the pool, summer fun, summer with toddler, mommy and me, pool time, south Carolina, summer fun, lifestyle blogger
It’s officially pool season here! It has been HOT, and I have a little swimmer here. He is obsessed with the pool, and I have a feeling we’ll be coming here all summer long. It’s great for keeping him entertained, and he sleeps like a rock on the nights we go. It’s nice that our neighborhood has a baby pool.
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I’ve been trying to make big meals in bulk for him and me, but I’m running out of ideas. Let me know what some good toddler foods are! He’s just decided he hates pasta, no more eggs, cheese is slimy, and vegetables are bland. I will attempt a veggie chicken nugget this evening, so I’ll keep you posted! baby and mommy pool day, pool snacks, what to pack to the pool, summer fun, summer with toddler, mommy and me, pool time, south Carolina, summer fun, lifestyle blogger
He eats better when we are not in the high chair. He thinks eating in the living room on his picnic table or on my lap is fun.
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He loves his pop-it books!! baby and mommy pool day, pool snacks, what to pack to the pool, summer fun, summer with toddler, mommy and me, pool time, south Carolina, summer fun, lifestyle bloggerAnother day, another afternoon pool sesh. One fantastic mom hack is to freeze sliced oranges before heading to the pool, and it keeps him busy for about twenty minutes on the pool chair. He is a big fan of oranges! baby and mommy pool day, pool snacks, what to pack to the pool, summer fun, summer with toddler, mommy and me, pool time, south Carolina, summer fun, lifestyle blogger
I brought a homemade multi-grain wrap with turkey, bacon, cheese, lettuce, peppers, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, avocado, and mayonnaise.

After I got Buggy out of the bath, I handed him off to Kyle to get my Peloton ride in. So far, I’ve been LOVING Bradley’s pop-punk classes. It brings me back to my high school days. Now that it’s getting super hot here in the mornings, I’ve pushed bedtime earlier; that way, he wakes up around 6:30 am so we can get in an hour’s walk with Leo before it gets too hot here. 
 
Grumples shined down to say hello on his two-year heavenly birthday. I can’t believe it’s been two years without him. I miss him every single day.
 
The morning stroll around the backyard is so peaceful. I can’t wait to see what it looks like in a few more years.
My garden beds are taking off!
 
My little helper.
We headed to Wilsons Garden Center to grab some carrot seeds, and he had so much fun watching the bees buzz around him.  Later that afternoon, we met with his best friend for a pool day. garbage truck The best time of the week, trash truck!!! We always have treats for our garbage, man! This time, we have him a bunch of peanut brittle 🙂  Blueberries from my garden!
you need this cinnamon churros
We skipped our evening walk to the pool and playground for fun.
kale ceasar salad
Once the Bug was asleep, I made a chicken and kale Caesar salad.
Betty buzz peas, garden growing,
One of my girlfriends and I sat on the porch to chat and enjoy a delicious Betty Buzz.
sourdough starter Another Saturday, another sourdough starter prep! fort mill farmers market We headed to the first Fort Mill Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning! We came rolling in style. fort mill farmers market But first? Iced Chai oat milk latte from Humble Cup! fort mill farmers market We tried the breakfast sandwich from Flipped, and it was probably one of the best things I’ve ever had. It had a fried egg, cheese, and bacon wrapped in a flapjack with maple syrup. It was unbelievable!! And the pancake was so fluffy and buttery, and I’ll never be able to eat a regular pancake again without comparing them.
little brittle peanut brittle little brittle, maple cinnamon pecan brittle On Saturday, I got to work on some brittle orders! I made my maple cinnamon pecan and peanut brittle!
little brittle sourdough cinnamon rolls
I was up at 3 am on Sunday to finish all of the Mother’s Day cinnamon rolls!

This is my happy place! This is precisely what I wanted to be doing on Mother’s Day! I love to bake 🙂

SO GOOD!!
 I sold out in 20 minutes! 🙂 

I had 30 boxes of cinnamon rolls to deliver! Again, if you want to see more about this process, follow me on TikTok!
 

I finished by 10 🙂

For dinner, we had chicken enchiladas!

And some very yummy chocolate chip cookies with the help of my Bug!

My morning cuddles! I love him so much!

A playdate with his best friend!

We’ve been utilizing this water table! I put some carrot seeds and zinnias in the ground while he played!

My mom started a few more tomato plants and eggplants for me to add to some empty spots in the garden. I need to get some peppers to replace the strawberry plants this week, and then I’ll be all set! I cannot wait to see this thing grow!
 

He already loves digging in the dirt and touching the leaves!
 
Since Kyle was out of town last week, I took over Tux’s morning walks!

I got a cute new crockpot for Mother’s Day! I made a delicious Tuscan chicken and potato soup with it, which was to die for!
 
We were wiping out more hours at the pool! And there is nothing better than ending the week with THE BEST PIZZA IN FORT MILL!! King of Fire is fantastic. We did a family walk down to the neighborhood clubhouse, picked up our pizza, and sat by the fire since it was chilly. 

I hope you all have the best weekend! I can’t wait to share more about all the fun life changes here! 

]]> https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/05/19/farmers-market-strawberry-festival-and-mothers-day-lifestyle-blogger/feed/ 14 Visiting Dinosaurs, A Rainy Week, Baking, and Lunch Dates! https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/05/01/visiting-dinosaurs-a-rainy-week-baking-and-lunch-dates/ https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/05/01/visiting-dinosaurs-a-rainy-week-baking-and-lunch-dates/#comments Mon, 01 May 2023 19:21:00 +0000 https://simplytaralynn.com/?p=79481

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]]> Happy Monday! Today was one of those afternoons where I just couldn’t resist the temptation of a third cup of coffee. Usually, I’m pretty good at sticking to my two-cup limit, but today I needed that warm, comforting drink to help me power through the rest of the day.

I have 30 minutes before Bugs wakes up, which allows me to focus on this recap blog. Even though I should be preparing the house for our family’s visit this weekend, I work best under pressure and tend to procrastinate until the deadline.

A few Fridays ago, we met up with one of my good friends who has a boy around Bug’s age for an afternoon by the pool. Even though it’s chilly this week, I’m excited that our neighborhood pool has officially opened up. I look forward to early morning swims and coffee by the pool since Bugs loves the water. 
On Saturday morning, after our Costco run, we went to Sunflour Baking Co for lunch.
 I ordered an oat milk cappuccino and a blueberry muffin! 
Kyle and I split a club sandwich on multigrain bread and ordered a grilled cheese for Buggy.
 I still haven’t potted my plants this year or added much to the garden, but look at the roses! I’m taking a little break from adding flowers this year since I wanted to focus on my backyard vegetable garden, which is thriving!
 
Kyle’s mom got Bugs a water table for his birthday, and we put it in his playpen since we had days of rain, and it’s been a hit! I’m thinking we need one just for the playpen. 

On Saturday afternoon, I made a light version of banana cream pudding, which was so good. 

We had roasted vegetables, grilled chicken Caesar salad wraps, and blueberry mint Kombucha on Sunday night.
 
I bought these fun climbing shapes on Amazon! HE LOVES THEM, and swapping out the toys I keep in his playpen has been super helpful for keeping him entertained at home. 
 We went on a super long walk on Sunday evening!  We met up with Lulu and Sam on Monday morning for another long walk! It’s so nice to have a walking buddy a few days a week! It keeps me motivated to keep moving. 
We love the sprinkler!
 
I did four nights of Peloton last week. I’m hoping I can do that again this week. I did 20 min, 20 min, 20 min, and 30 min. I’m trying to ease back into it, but I have a tight hamstring right now. I’m trying my best to rest. I am excited to hop back on for tonight’s ride tho! Once Bugs gets out of the bath, Kyle takes him to play, and I get my workout in before we take a night walk. That has been the routine for the past few weeks. It changes based on his schedule. 

Sourdough French toast for breakfast!!
 
These popsicles have Stoneyfield smoothies, yogurt, and smashed bananas! They’re good! 

Bathtime is the best time!
 
These two are going to be trouble! They are so funny to watch when they play. 
 After doing a live class on Thursday, I headed to our Clubhouse to catch the food truck! I was so hungry and didn’t feel like cooking; so delicious Jamaican food it was!  The guys running this food truck were incredibly nice. I had rice, cabbage, stewed chicken, carrots, and the best french fries! It tasted so good!
  
On Saturday morning, I made snack cookies to take to the Jurassic Quest! They had bananas, peanut butter, cinnamon, and oats! 
 Before we left, I fed my sourdough starter to make the dough in the evening for Sunday cinnamon rolls.  Rainy day boys begging for some eggs! Oh, and you know they got them. Dinosaur, Jurassic Quest, Charlotte North Carolina, Charlotte Moms, motherhood, lifestyle blogger, Charlotte blogger, fort mill blogger, day in the life, weekend recap, weekly recap blog We headed out on Saturday morning to Jurassic Quest because we have a dino lover! 
Dinosaur, Jurassic Quest, Charlotte North Carolina, Charlotte Moms, motherhood, lifestyle blogger, Charlotte blogger, fort mill blogger, day in the life, weekend recap, weekly recap blog  Dinosaur, Jurassic Quest, Charlotte North Carolina, Charlotte Moms, motherhood, lifestyle blogger, Charlotte blogger, fort mill blogger, day in the life, weekend recap, weekly recap blog
He loved it and kept laughing at the scary dinos. I think he thinks they are dogs, which he also loves.

We grabbed lunch at Oh My Soul before heading home, and this spot is always delicious and adorable!
 
 
I had their oat milk lavender latte, which was amazing, the spring rolls, and a Buckeye brownie!
 
When I got home, I started the dough for the cinnamon rolls and the sourdough bread. I absolutely love baking and always have! If you’ve been around since 2010, you probably remember all of the baking I did when first starting a blog.

Recently, I decided to get certified and a business license to start making baked goods to sell since I love it so much. I spent weeks studying my courses and passed my exam. I found a commercial kitchen that I’ll be joining in June, and I’ll keep you all posted on all of the upcoming projects and the big one I’ve been working on since December! I’m just really excited to do something I’m passionate about! I’m selling my baked goods locally for all the sourdough lovers. This doesn’t mean I’ll stop blogging at all; just a fun addition to the blog! More about this later, I promise! 
 I pretty much eat this daily.  The peach roses! 
Cinnamon rolls require a few hours to rise, so I get up around 4:30 to roll them out, fill them, and let them rise. 

I made many sourdough cinnamon rolls, and they sold out in five minutes! 

 
 I need to film a video of all my climbing roses in the back, but these orange ones are more beautiful than they’ve ever been!  
After all the crazy baking on Sunday, I headed to Belmont for lunch with my good friend, Emily! She’s expecting in late summer, and I cannot wait! 
 
We had the yummiest lunch at the Everyday Market, and the quiche was to die for!

Little explorer!

He is a big fan of dogs, and he loved her little ones.
 SO CUTE!!! 
I ended Sunday with a long walk, sparkling water, and unhealthily scrolled through TikTok until I fell asleep. 🙂

I can’t believe my sweet boy turns one this week! I’ll share some photos from his little celebration this weekend in the next recap! xo 

Questions for you!

  1. How was your weekend?
  2. What is one goal you have for this month?
  3. Is it pool season where you live?

]]> https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/05/01/visiting-dinosaurs-a-rainy-week-baking-and-lunch-dates/feed/ 23 Farm Visits, Sunset Yoga, Lunch Dates, and Spring Gardening https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/03/31/farmvisits-lifestyleblog-yoga-fortmill/ https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/03/31/farmvisits-lifestyleblog-yoga-fortmill/#comments Fri, 31 Mar 2023 14:50:31 +0000 https://simplytaralynn.com/?p=78974

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]]> Good morning! Can you believe March is almost over? The time is going by way too fast, and I’m about to have a one-year-old soon! I cannot believe it. What they say about time is true, especially after becoming a parent. The days are not long enough! I have my sweet boy down for a nap, my coffee is nice and hot, and it’s the perfect time to fit in a recap blog to catch you all up on the past few weeks.

The sweet comments on my last recap blog meant so much to me! It’s so lovely to hop on here when I can, and I love that you guys have supported that. So many of my favorite bloggers have quit blogging recently, and started posting only to social media, and it makes me sad. I didn’t want to do the same, so I’m trying to keep up as much as possible.
 It was cold and rainy on St. Patrick’s Day. I picked up my mom early in the morning to grab a coffee and walk around the Bush N’ Vine farm before the weather got bad. Bugs is obsessed with chickens and any animal. He was making the funniest sounds trying to talk to the chickens.  If our HOA allowed it, I would totally get a chicken coop.
 
We also treated ourselves to a delicious green donut to celebrate the day. 
 We decided to stop and have lunch at the Garden Cafe before making it back before nap time. 

Bugs loves food, so it’s fun going places with him. He wants to eat anything and everything. I ordered chicken breast and cut it up for him, and he ate every bite. He also loved the mandarins. The other night, I made him a baby-friendly chicken salad with shredded chicken, chopped spinach, dillweed, lemon, black pepper, garlic, greek yogurt, tomatoes, and chopped onion. He was OBSESSED! I must try the same recipe using hardboiled eggs since he also loves those.
The Garden Cafe has the best coffee and dessert. I said no to the pie since Kyle wasn’t there to help me eat it, but I did not say no to their coffee! It was only my second cup for the day, and I needed it badly. 
 
Bugs decided he wasn’t going to nap that afternoon, so I put him in the skip hop during my 20-minute Peloton ride. He is obsessed with watching the petals and listening to music. He starts clapping and doing the squat baby dance. I usually have about 20 minutes until he’s over it, but it’s still enough time to fit in a great workout.

Later in the afternoon, I did some more seedlings with my leftover egg cartons. 
I made some delicious salads and mocktails on Friday night. I need to get that recipe up asap! There is nothing better than homemade restaurant-style ranch. 

We headed to the St. Patrick’s Day festival in Baxter Village on Saturday afternoon. It is a stunning time of year with all the blooming trees and warm weather! 
 I am just one big jungle gym to him. Does anyone else have a child who is always on the move and never stops wiggling?
I love him so much!
For dinner on Saturday night, I made a giant taco salad platter. It had all the best taco toppings (but I forgot the jalapenos) and a taco ranch. Let me know if you want me to post this recipe, too! I wish I had 1000+ hours in the day or the ability to stay up past 8 pm. 
Sometimes, I feel like making a cake. We enjoyed diving into this peachy pineberry almond buttercream cake. I’ll be sharing this recipe soon! It was so good. Cake is one of my favorite desserts. I’d choose it over anything! It was so pretty with the pineberries and peaches. I want to make it all summer long! 

The pups had their grooming appointment on Sunday, so we decided to walk the trail while they had their haircuts. We treated ourselves to warm soup and fresh pasta from Blend at the Riverwalk afterward. 

Sunday sourdough! Today, I have a whole wheat with nuts and seeds in the works for my dad. If it turns out delicious, I’ll post that recipe soon! But if you missed it, I finally have my sourdough bread recipe up! Seeing photos of your loaves and hearing your feedback made me so happy! 

I headed to a local coffee shop to finish the sourdough bread blog and complete a work project for a few hours. My mom has been so kind to come over a few hours a week to help watch Bugs while I do some work. 

My sweet neighbor gave Bugs this push car since her boys have grown out of it, and he is absolutely obsessed. It’s all he wants to do in the morning, day, and night. I push him around the backyard and down the sidewalk, and he loves it! 
 To make meals more manageable, I’ve been making food for him that we all eat. It’s too much to make separate meals, and it has me eating so much healthier. His favorite is no sodium organic tomato sauce, spaghetti squash, garlic powder, ground beef, zucchini, and a sprinkle of organic parmesan cheese. I made a giant batch for the family to eat for a few days. He gets SO MESSY since I let him eat with his fingers, but at least it’s before bathtime. 
 
One of his favorite breakfast foods is banana egg pancakes with oats, cinnamon, and peanut butter added. 
After a doctor’s appointment, my parents stopped by, and I made yummy steak salads. They had cast iron grilled steak, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, avocado, corn, everything but the bagel crackers, and creamy homemade ranch.
Tux is now a couch potato! I can’t believe he will jump up and cuddle so close. I never thought he’d get to this level! He keeps improving and improving!

I’m still on my Peloton kick! I’m entering week fifteen here soon and just as obsessed! I love hitting PRs and taking all the pop-punk classes available. A few mornings ago, I was so hungry after a ride that I had a plate of potatoes, apples, avocado, and a cheesy vegetable omelet. 

In the afternoon, when I get my crazy sweet tooth, I love having homemade healthy hot chocolate and rice cakes with peanut butter and honey. The hot chocolate has almond milk, cocoa powder, and honey.

Oats are another one of my favorite pre-workout or post-workout breakfasts. 

After doing dinner and bathtime with bugs, Kyle took over for bedtime so I could go to sunset yoga at the Greenway, and it was so beautiful and relaxing! 
I took my latest obsession, Hop Water, with me! This stuff is so good!!! The class was so relaxing, especially after being tackled all day by an eleven-month-old. 

After yoga, we did taco Tuesday at Taco Milino! 

Another rainy day called for yummy treats at The Goodlife Organic with my sweet boy! I had a kid’s smoothie and a breakfast bowl to share with him. He was also obsessed with the peanut butter energy ball. 
 
Book time before bed! He is in the opening and closing of the book phase right now. 

Homemade mini pancakes to put in the freezer for easy meals! These have whole wheat flour, eggs, cinnamon, almond milk, peanut butter, and banana. I microwave them for 20 seconds out of the freezer, and they are delicious! I usually serve them with fresh fruit and scrambled eggs. 

After an afternoon park date, we returned for some mommy and me lunch! We had eggs, black bean rice, and peaches! 

My tomatoes are ready for the transfer! 

Garden bug 🙂
We converted my office into a closet and changing room for bugs since it was easier to keep it all downstairs. This past weekend, I cleaned out the space and put everything back into his nursery. It feels so good to have my little office back! tulips, tulip garden, cottage garden, front yard flowers, plank cottage Enjoying the final day of my tulips! tulips, tulip garden, cottage garden, front yard flowers, plank cottage
Since the mornings have been nice lately, we’ve been taking early walks! I love catching the sunrise. 
 Of course, we must finish every walk with a cruise around the yard. When I stop, he starts turning the wheel and banging on the horn to get me to push him. It’s so funny.  So many tomato varieties! I cannot wait for the harvest this summer. 
Little beggar! 

I found some eggs in the tree next to my garden! They are so beautiful. We picked up Blend for dinner on Friday night to enjoy out on the patio. I bought a little folding chair for bugs, and it has a food tray. It’s super cute! I did the build-your-own salad with lettuce, chicken, cheese, onion, peppers, banana peppers, pesto, hummus, couscous, cucumber, mozzarella, and jalapeno ranch on the side. I am a dressing gal, but this salad had so much flavor I didn’t even need it. 

On Saturday, we headed to Flower Child for lunch. It was so good! I had the grilled chicken avocado caesar salad, and bugs had the kid’s plate with steak, mac and cheese, quinoa, and corn. He ate every single bite! We split the lemon pound cake muffin, and it was amazing! 

Sunday breakfast was blueberry oatmeal with peanut butter and cinnamon! I did my Peloton before catching up on some housework. 
Sunsets with my favorite 🙂 A few days ago, we headed to the gardens with my mom to walk around and have lunch by the pond. I am in love with Glencairn this time of year! We picked up the common market chicken salad and turkey sandwich with soup. We also had the oat milk lattes from Two Scoops for a much-needed pick-me-up. By the way, the Pineapple Spindrift was INCREDIBLE! 


My sweet boy! He loved watching the bees in the azalea bushes. He thought their buzzing sound was so funny.
    It’s crazy how fast life goes. I’ve been visiting this park for the past nine years, and now I’m visiting this park with my son. He makes it so much more special. 
 
Yesterday, I spent the afternoon putting my seedlings into the garden, and I cannot wait to see them grow!

I hope you all have the best weekend! I will try my best to sneak away and get some recipe blogs up soon!

Questions for you!

  1. Is there a place you have visited a lot in the past ten years?
  2. What are you most excited about for April?
  3. What is your favorite cake flavor?

]]> https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/03/31/farmvisits-lifestyleblog-yoga-fortmill/feed/ 18 The Best Sausage & Veggie Quiche Recipe with a Flaky Crust! https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/03/22/the-best-sausage-veggie-quiche-recipe-with-a-flaky-crust/ https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/03/22/the-best-sausage-veggie-quiche-recipe-with-a-flaky-crust/#comments Wed, 22 Mar 2023 14:50:58 +0000 https://simplytaralynn.com/?p=78909

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]]> This quiche is a simple and quick recipe. This quiche is loaded with healthy vegetables, a fluffy, creamy egg filling, and a golden flaky crust.

Quiche is one of the best recipes ever invented. It’s acceptable for breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner. You can customize it with any filler, and it’s the perfect mixture of protein, fats, and carbs. I have been on a quiche kick lately; even my son loves them! I usually make a quiche when I have extra items around my kitchen, and the standard omelet or scrambled eggs aren’t sufficient. Quiche is so filling and nutrient dense. sourdough quiche crust, flaky quiche crust, flaky breakfast pie, breakfast pie, the best quiche recipe, vegetable and sausage quiche, breakfast, lunch, dinner, healthy recipe, sausage quiche, arugula, eating fresh, homemade quiche, the best quiche, fitting in more vegetables, diet recipes, healthy and fresh, farm to table, healthy recipes, eggs
Although easy to make, they look so fancy!

When Kyle was out of town a few weeks ago, I had my mom over for the weekend. After a day of shopping around town and playing at the park with Bugs, we stopped at the grocery store so I could pick up kombucha and all the ingredients to make our quiche dinner. While at a market, we saw quiche offered in the display case. It is what inspired our dinner. Quiche is one of those meals that you can appreciate all year round. I love how fresh it is in the summer with produce, but it’s also a warm and comforting food on a cold day.

How to use up produce in the house

While preparing the vegetables, I was excited about this upcoming summer and all the fresh produce in my garden. I’ll be making a lot of veggie quiches with fresh peppers, tomatoes, arugula, spinach, and herbs. If only our neighborhood allowed a chicken coop…sourdough quiche crust, flaky quiche crust, flaky breakfast pie, breakfast pie, the best quiche recipe, vegetable and sausage quiche, breakfast, lunch, dinner, healthy recipe, sausage quiche, arugula, eating fresh, homemade quiche, the best quiche, fitting in more vegetables, diet recipes, healthy and fresh, farm to table, healthy recipes
The possibilities are endless when it comes to flavoring quiche. We have made spinach, feta, buffalo chicken, pizza, and bacon-flavored quiches. I’ve even made quiche a Christmas tradition to go with our cinnamon rolls in the morning. Every sugary cinnamon roll needs a savory protein-filled friend.

How can I use up my Sourdough Discard?

One of my favorite ways to use up sourdough discard is by making a quiche crust, pie crust, or pancakes! I also love making muffins and chocolate chip cookies and will share those recipes very soon. 

How to make Sourdough Quiche Crust

You do not have to add sourdough discard in this recipe if you do not have any. The sourdough discard gives this quiche crust a sour flavor, like making the crust with sour cream. I love the addition of sourdough discard in my quiche crust, and it’s the perfect way to use up the leftovers so they do not go to waste.
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For the crust, I added two tablespoons of sourdough discard. I wanted the crust to have a sourdough flavor, but you can make this recipe without it. Both ways turn out so delicious. I have been looking for ways to use up the discard, so it doesn’t go to waste, and this quiche recipe is one of my new favorites.

The quiche crust is so flaky and buttery that it melts in your mouth!

What ingredients to use for Quiche Crust?

  • Eggs
  • Ice Water
  • All-Purpose Flour (works with a gluten-free 1:1 substitute)
  • Sea Salt
  • Unsalted Butter
  • Sourdough Discard (optional)

I used a non-stick tart/quiche pan with a removable bottom I purchased on Amazon. It helps you successfully take the quiche out of the pan to show off the beautiful crust on your quiche. sourdough quiche crust, flaky quiche crust, flaky breakfast pie, breakfast pie, the best quiche recipe, vegetable and sausage quiche, breakfast, lunch, dinner, healthy recipe, sausage quiche, arugula, eating fresh, homemade quiche, the best quiche, fitting in more vegetables, diet recipes, healthy and fresh, farm to table, healthy recipes
You can add any ingredients you want since the possibilities are endless! Here is a list of the ingredients I used for the quiche filling.

What ingredients go into a quiche?

  • Eggs
  • Arugula
  • Sausage
  • Tomatoes
  • Onions
  • Peppers
  • Onion Salt
  • Garlic Powder
  • Black Pepper
  • Dillweed
  • Chives
  • Cheese Blend
  • Cream

Sometimes, I add in a little maple syrup!
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Making the crust is the first step! Make sure to watch the video included in this blog post to see how I did it.

You can omit the crust entirely if you are not into a crust or follow a gluten-free diet.
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I love that you can make quiche fresh by using produce that is in season. 

What are some seasonal vegetables to add to quiche?

  • Zucchini
  • Squash
  • Cranberries
  • Butternut Squash
  • Peppers
  • Potatoes
  • Pumpkin
  • Avocado

I love adding in feta, goat cheese, mozzarella, cheddar, and swiss!
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After the crust is prepared, add the cooked sausage (or no sausage if you’re making it vegetarian), peppers, onions, arugula, and tomatoes. Whisk a dozen eggs with black pepper, onion salt, garlic powder, dillweed, and chives in a large mixing bowl!

More Healthy Recipes You May Like

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Pour the eggs into the crust, top with more tomatoes, and bake! I added the cheese on top during the final ten minutes of baking. If you have any egg filling left over, add them to a cupcake pan and make mini egg cups. The mini egg cups were perfect for quick breakfasts all week long.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Quick to make
  • The perfect way to use up all the extra produce in the refrigerator
  • You can freeze this quiche and eat it later.
  • It’s customizable, especially if you’re vegetarian.
  • It’s acceptable for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
  • It’s well-rounded when it comes to nutrients.

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Cheesy Sausage Vegetable Quiche with Flaky Crust (sourdough option)

This quiche is a simple and quick recipe. This quiche is loaded with healthy vegetables, a fluffy, creamy egg filling, and a golden flaky crust.
Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Main Course, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword quiche, breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner, vegetables, sourdough, sourdough discard, flaky quiche crust, simple recipe, vegetable recipes, eggs, breakfast ideas, healthy recipes, gluten-free option
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings 8
Author Taralynn McNitt

Equipment

  • 1 11 inch Quiche Pan

Ingredients

Flaky Quiche Crust

  • 1 Large Egg
  • 2 Tablespoons Ice Water
  • 1 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour sub gluten-free 1:1
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 3/4 Cup Unsalted Butter (sliced into cubes)
  • 2 Tbsps Sourdough Discard (optional) + 2 tbsps of flour

Cheesy Sausage Vegetable Quiche Filling

  • 1 Pound Cooked Pork Sausage
  • 2 Cups Arugula
  • 1 Large Bell Pepper (chopped) I used red & green
  • 1/2 Medium Red Onion (chopped)
  • 1 Cup Baby Tomatoes (Sliced)
  • 12 Large Eggs
  • 1/4 Cup Milk or Heavy Cream
  • 1/2 Tsp Black Pepper
  • 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 Tsp Onion Salt
  • 1/4 Tsp Dillweed
  • 1 Tsp Chives extra if using fresh
  • 3/4 Cup Shredded Cheese

Instructions

Flaky Quiche Crust

  • In a small bowl, whisk the egg and ice water together. Set aside.
  • Combine the flour, salt, and cubed butter in a larger mixing bowl. Use your hands to smash the butter into the flour combining the ingredients.
  • Once the butter and flour become a flaky mixture, mix in the egg bowl until you get a consistency of pie dough.
    If you add the sourdough, discard (+ extra flour), and do so during this step.
  • Roll the dough out on a floured surface.
    Line a quiche pan evenly with the rolled dough. You may have to piece a few spots together.
  • Cover and set in the freezer for fifteen minutes.

Cheesy Sausage Vegetable Quiche Filling

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Cook up the sausage, and chop the arugula, onions, peppers, and tomatoes.
  • Whisk the eggs with cream, garlic powder, black pepper, onion salt, dillweed, and chives.
  • Add the sausage, vegetables, and egg mixture to the quiche crust. You can fill it to the top. Save the leftovers for egg cups.
  • Bake for 20 minutes.
    Sprinkle the cheese over the top, and bake for an additional 10 minutes. The center of the quiche will be slightly bouncy without any liquid. That is how you know it's done!
  • Enjoy!
    Store in the freezer or refrigerator if not eating right away.

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I hope you enjoy this recipe, and I’d love to know what quiche flavor you’re thinking about making! 

Questions for you!

  1. Have you ever made a quiche?
  2. If you make sourdough recipes, what do you do with leftover sourdough discard?
  3. What flavor of quiche are you going to make?

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]]> https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/03/22/the-best-sausage-veggie-quiche-recipe-with-a-flaky-crust/feed/ 7 Catching up on Life, Garden Progress, & Fitness & Meals. https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/03/14/catching-up-on-life-garden-progress-fitness-meals/ https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/03/14/catching-up-on-life-garden-progress-fitness-meals/#comments Tue, 14 Mar 2023 11:00:53 +0000 https://simplytaralynn.com/?p=78630

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]]> Hi, there!

We just returned from a chilly walk. Bugs is napping, I have my coffee, and the fireplace is turned on. It’s the perfect opportunity to put my workout and chores on the back burner and sit down to catch you all up on life. These recaps are more of a monthly thing these days, but at least we’re doing them! I’ve been having so much fun cooking new things, baking sourdough bread, hitting fitness goals, organizing, and spending all the time I can with my son. In a month and a half, he’ll be one. This year has flown by quickly; every minute with him is important to me. Time truly is a thief.

The first year as a mom is so tough, but it’s extremely rewarding. Not only are you taking care of a little human, but you must also take care of yourself. Even though I love my blog, it hasn’t been my top priority, and I’ve learned to hop on here intuitively. Mental health is important to me, especially now that I have someone else to look out for. So if I have time to hang out with my family or do something for myself while he naps, I usually do that instead. The blogs will be more frequent here soon since I have many recipes, adventures, garden blogs, and fitness progress to write about. I appreciate everyone who has stuck around to read, even if it’s not as frequent.

The good thing is that these recaps will be a lot longer since I’m catching you up on multiple weeks! I can’t promise they’ll be in order, but I’ll try my best! Let’s get into it. protein oatmeal  During the colder February mornings, I had a lot of blueberry pie protein oatmeal.

It had oats, vanilla plant-based protein powder, cinnamon, water, almond milk, blueberries, banana, and peanut butter. It was the best mid-morning breakfast after spending time on the Peloton. (add me on Peleton! @hellotaralynn)
sourdough bread turkey meatloaf, dinner ideas
While my dad was over helping Kyle with the garden beds, I made a giant turkey meatloaf, roasted potatoes, and a tossed salad for the family.
pizza, oats, healthy low carb pizza
Pizza is one of my favorite foods. We’ve been making a healthier supreme pizza with oat and flax lavash bread. The pizza has sauce, mozzarella, sausage, ham, pepperoni, red onion, and bell peppers, and baked in the oven at 400 degrees for about ten minutes. I could eat this every single night! I always have mine with a side salad. I always look forward to having this for dinner, and it’s all I can think about when I’m on the Peloton in the evening. If I miss my morning workout or can’t fit a ride in during naps, I hop on around 5 pm when Kyle gets home.
fresh inflammation juice fresh inflammation juice
I’ve been trying to make more inflammatory relief juices. I make a big batch on Monday and drink it all week long. Since strengthening my leg muscles, I’ve had less inflammation and pain around my knees.

This juice has ginger, apple cider vinegar, celery, cucumber, pineapple, lemon, apple, turmeric, carrots, cayenne, and oranges. It’s really good!
coffee, coffee in the garden, spring gardening Every day we get closer and closer to garden season. I am eager to start planting, but I’m waiting until the end of March. I do have all of my seedlings ready to be transplanted.

I plan to put some spring bulbs into the ground this weekend. I want to add more dahlias around the backyard. I had to transplant my peonies this year, and I hope they do better in their new full sun spots. If you read my garden blog, you know what I’m talking about!
high protein high fat breakfast
One of my favorite breakfast combos has been this lazy plate of over-medium eggs, avocado, everything but the bagel seasoning, and maple syrup! I sometimes add a slice of toasted sourdough bread. Maple syrup makes everything taste better.
 I love throwing together random salads when trying to avoid a grocery trip. It will be so nice to go outside and pick lettuce from the garden when the produce in the refrigerator is low. This salad had turkey, tomatoes, avocado, provolone, pepperoni, romaine, and balsamic glaze on top.

My seedlings needed to be thinned, and I’m already so proud of these little babies from seeds. It’s so easy to purchase plants at the nursery, but it’s even more rewarding to do them yourself by seed.

I made some bread for my parents, cinnamon raisin, jalapeno cheddar, and plain! I do plan to share my recipe this week.
 My little easter bunny. I had to keep him in the basket because he kept crawling away. He is always on the move!  Starbucks and Target? Yes, please!
 
He also loves a Trader Joe’s trip, but who doesn’t? He is obsessed with the puffed peanut snacks. I always let him have a few for his afternoon snack. Trader Joe’s has amazing produce options for his meals. He loves anything right now! I’m sure that will change soon.

We had our dirt delivered! I have the sweetest husband and must give him all the credit on this one. I showed him what I wanted, and he built everything in two weeks. It was my birthday gift, and he totally knocked it out of the park on this one. We need to get the trellis arbors up!

I met up with a friend in Waxhaw for coffee and lunch. We started at Virtuoso for a sweet treat and a chai oat latte. I had the oatmeal cookie with my latte, which was so delicious.

We walked over to Emmet’s Social Table for lunch. The weather was stunning, and we asked if we could sit outside.

I had fish tacos, kale salad, and we split shoestring fries and brussels sprouts. The food was amazing! We also have a location here in Fort Mill.

We walked around the town, and then I returned home after a grocery trip.

I love my Saturday mornings because I try to do a long one-hour ride on the Peloton and make a delicious breakfast after my shower. Kyle watches Bugs, so it gives me time to do things for myself for a few hours.
 This pot was screaming my name when I saw it at Homegoods. I wish they had another one, but I’m looking for a matching one!  My sweet boy loves watching the sunrise!
I’ve been eating much healthier because I try to make everything my son can eat. He LOVES broccoli, salmon, and potatoes! I mash his foods up and make them without the seasoning.

This is what most of my Saturday mornings look like! I’ve been sticking to my workouts for the past twelve weeks and have lost ten pounds so far. I gained a lot during my pregnancy, and I felt terrible about myself postpartum because my body wasn’t “bouncing back,” so I’ve been working my butt off this past year, and I am feeling SO SO SO much better! I’m feeling stronger than before having a baby, and I’m so grateful to Peloton for giving me a new healthy lifestyle. Being healthy mentally and physically makes me a better mom.
 I saw these frozen yogurt bites on Tiktok and had to try them! frozen baby treats Bugs is obsessed! I only give him a few at a time, so they don’t melt. It gets messy, but it’s so worth it!
 
Pizza night and cuddles with Tux. It’s crazy that he’s now lying on our couch. His progress is rewarding, and I can’t wait to see what he does next! While Kyle was out of town a few weekends ago, I took him on his morning walks, and he did well with me!
flower garden, vegetable garden, veggies
Sunrises! Gosh, I can’t wait until these boxes are filled with produce! I’m constantly daydreaming!
Hiking with Leo and Bugs! We have managed to fit in our 3-mile walk each day. Kyle and I have also been walking after bathtime and before bedtime, which I think helps him wind down before bed.

Yummy turkey sandwiches for lunch with my sourdough bread! Kyle and I love splitting a sandwich and salad for weekend lunch. The sandwich has avocado, mayo, American cheese, bacon, turkey, bell pepper, tomatoes, lettuce, onion, cucumber, and black pepper.
I sent him down to his trip with a tray of copycat Crumbl cookies! The Fresh Cooky recipe is to die for!
 
Walk with Tux! He’s afraid of the stroller, so I have to wear Bugs when we go.
 All of the tulips are up in my yard! Bugs love them. He tries to rip the tops off of them! Just checking out the dirt! I bought him a garden toy set from Amazon for him to play with this summer.  We had to go check out the peach trees together while on a date with Grandma! It’s crazy that everything is green and in bloom. Some of our trees have all of their leaves on them already.

Lucky to be his mama!
 He LOVES watching the ducks!  We stopped for dinner at Ilios in Baxter village. Bugs had his yogurt, rice, and some chicken. He does well sitting in the highchair with his food.

My mom stayed with us while Kyle was out of town, and we headed out on morning walks and evening walks!
 The weather was perfect, so we decided to head to Waxhaw for the morning.  Before exploring the shops, we had matcha lattes and a fruit tart at Virtuoso Coffee shop.   
Little fingers always reaching!

And he’s always happy while swinging! We have one for him in the backyard now.
 When we got home, I made a delicious vegetable and sausage quiche with a sourdough crust. Let me know if you want this recipe! It was so easy to make and even better as leftovers.

After bathtime, we headed out on a night walk. He’s cruising along the furniture, so it’s time to babyproof everything! Morning walk with Tux! One of his favorite breakfasts is banana and egg pancakes. I cut them into tiny pieces for him to feed himself, and he loves them!

I spent all day Sunday cleaning the house! It felt good to get everything back in its place.
 My little Mozart!  He’s OBSESSED with the piano and has been since he was little. I hope he has an interest in playing one day. 
Sourdough Saturday!
 When it’s 85 degrees, we have a pool day!

Kombucha for me! I need to jump on the homemade kombucha train since I have it every day. I love it.
 I had a salad for dinner, and he had cottage cheese, avocado, and rotisserie chicken.  Breakfast before a trail walk! I love my sourdough bread toasted with butter, avocado, cottage cheese, egg, and everything but the bagel seasoning on top. 
We did coffee at Grapevine and a five-mile walk on the Riverwalk trail.
 More seedlings! I love reusing egg cartons for my seeds.
 My blueberry and raspberry bushes are starting to bud. I’m so happy about fresh blueberries this year. I’m nervous about planting these in the ground, but let me know if you have any experience with planting berries.

On Saturday, Kyle and I treated ourselves to Inizio pizza and salad. It’s one of my favorites.

While we were walking the neighborhood, one of our neighbors had the CUTEST set up to wish their pup a happy birthday. It had balloons and doggy party favors for all the dogs in the neighborhood. I need to do this too! It’s so cute, and I love when people love their dogs this much. Only a few more weeks of these tulips! After they all die, I’ll replace them with zinnias around the tree. 🙂 

Thanks for stopping by to read!

Questions for you!

  1. Do you have any Spring flowers coming up?
  2. Have you ever tried Crumbl cookies?
  3. What is your favorite way to move your body?

]]> https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/03/14/catching-up-on-life-garden-progress-fitness-meals/feed/ 52 Galentine’s Dinner, Indoor Seeds, Sunny Days, & Super Bowl https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/02/17/galentines-dinner-indoor-seeds-sunny-days-super-bowl/ https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/02/17/galentines-dinner-indoor-seeds-sunny-days-super-bowl/#comments Fri, 17 Feb 2023 15:29:45 +0000 https://simplytaralynn.com/?p=78361

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]]> Good morning, and happy February! 

It has felt like Spring here! Sunny weather puts me in the best mood, and I love getting outside to enjoy it. I spent all yesterday cleaning out the back garden beds and working on the vegetable garden project. We are finally digging up the area to add the rocks, stepping stones, and edging this weekend. I love seeing it all come together. We ordered stunning light stone pebbles that will arrive tomorrow, and I’m so excited. I can’t wait to share photos once it’s all finished.

I have still been on my Peloton kick, and each time I ride, I get better and better outputs or PR mileage. I’m so proud of myself for finally sticking with it. I know I’ve said this before, but having a good workout available in my home where I don’t have to go anywhere, makes it so much more realistic for me to stick to. I love the instructors, and since there are new classes each day, I feel like they talk to you about things in real time. I have caught the Peloton bug, and I’m already looking forward to my ride later. A few nights ago, I hit my first ten miles in 30 minutes, and my output was the highest for a 30-minute class! I don’t try to PR every time. Otherwise, I would burn myself out, but when it does happen, I get so excited.
I realized I didn’t take a lot of food pictures the past few weeks, but that is because most of my meals have consisted of eggs, avocado, toast, or whatever is easiest to make quickly. I need another trip to Trader Joe’s soon to step up my meal game. 

I finally tried the TikTok viral 2-ingredient bagels. I used all-purpose gluten-free flour with Greek yogurt (but also added baking powder & sea salt), and they were surprisingly good. You have to slice and toast them to get them to taste more like a bagel, but I was pleasantly surprised. I flavored a few with cinnamon sugar, everything but the bagel, and blueberry.

If you have a little crawler, I can’t recommend this crab toy enough! It plays a thrilling song while crawling fast everywhere, and Bugs is OBSESSED. He eventually does catch the crab, and he’ll hold it with one hand while its little legs are kicking around. It’s the funniest thing ever!
 I finally started doing some indoor seeds. There are a lot of seeds I’ll have to wait to plant into the beds directly or later in the season, but I got a headstart on a few. It’s wild to see them all sprouting up, and it will be so rewarding this summer, knowing most of my vegetables came from seeds. I bought so many varieties of tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce.  Good weather means walks to the park! This is his favorite thing to do, and mine!

My tulips and hyacinths are thriving with this weather! In a few weeks, they’ll be blooming!
 One thing I started doing was filling a bag with water and pees and taping it to the high chair. It keeps Bugs entertained for about thirty minutes, which gives me time to fold laundry or clean up the kitchen. He loves smashing the pees or pinching them to see if he can pick them up.

One of my good friends/neighbor has a little boy a few months younger than Bugs, and it’s so cute seeing them together. Crazy to think they’ll be running around this park later this year. Time is going by way too fast. 
 He’s in the I’m going to jump out of your arms, wiggle worm, what can I climb on, how can I flop myself stage. He’s so strong, and it makes me worried about when he can start walking. He loves the thrill. 

We’ve been eating this three-ingredient dessert almost every night. We add chocolate to peanuts and top them with sea salt! And we keep them in the freezer. It’s so good! 
 Early morning sourdough making! I do this a few times weekly, and it’s my absolute favorite. I love when the house smells like a bakery, and scoring the loaves is therapeutic. More park walks! It was 75 degrees a few days ago.  Leo loves joining us! He’s such a good boy. 
Because the weather has been so warm here, and I’ve been craving all the salads! 

I made my oatmeal cream pies with pink frosting and sprinkles for Valentine’s Day. 

The best sunsets. I love sitting outside after bathtime with kombucha and my family! 

And if you missed it, we now have a couch dog! Tux can’t wait to fly up onto the couch. It’s so cute watching him cuddle up, and it makes me so happy knowing he’s content and comfortable. It took a few times to teach him to get up there, but now he’s unstoppable. 
 
He has furry babysitters.
 Last Thursday, I went on a Galentine’s date night with some of my neighbors. Right now, I’m still in that awkward postpartum stage where nothing fits from pre-baby or after-baby. I throw on whatever I can find and pray it works, so please don’t judge my outfits for the next few months lol I refuse to buy clothing right now, and if I’m not going anywhere that requires pants, I’m in my leggings all day.

We headed uptown to La Belle Helene. I’ve been there for brunch before, but never dinner. I love the glamorous aesthetic of this restaurant, and it was the perfect place for a Galentine’s day dinner. 
I started the evening with a Supernova mocktail. It had house lemonade, butterfly pea tea, elderflower, and lavender. The cocktail version of this drink comes with gin. I was in love with the sour lemon and fruity flavors. I want to make this at home! 
For my hors d’oeuvres, I had the ratatouille (totally threw me off that it was cold, not sure I’m a fan) and the arugula salade, which was amazing! The salad had the most delicious champagne vinaigrette, local chevre, and radishes. It put me on an arugua kick this past week.  

We also split the Pommes Frites with garlic aioli. The frites went on the top five BEST FRIES I’ve ever had. You do not want to miss out on these.

For my entree, I ordered the boeuf bourguignon. I typically would go with a salmon, but when I saw it being delivered to another table, I just had to have it. It had braised short ribs (PERFECTLY cooked), red wine, pearl onions, mushrooms, and marble potatoes. 

The waitress convinced me to give the mushrooms a chance. I did, and still, absolutely despise them. I’m proud of myself for putting on my big girl pants and trying them, but they are still a NO; aside from the mushrooms, the meal was incredible!
 You don’t treat yourself to a meal like that and then skip out on dessert, especially at a French restaurant. I ordered the Creme Brulee Au Miel. It had a honey chantilly, honeycomb, raspberry, and vanilla bean. ummmmm AMAZING. YUM. 10/10! It was so light, refreshing, and not overly sweet. This was such an incredible meal and a wonderful experience.
In the morning, I needed to stop at Costco, but since we had some time to kill before it opened, Bugs and I headed to Humblecup for the most delicious oat milk cappucinno. 
 I love my little coffee date! It’s important to start them young. My little seedlings after four days. I am so so so excited. I’ll do an updated photo of them on Instagram today. They are THRIVING right now. I have them in our front music/reading room where the sun hits them. 

My little wiggle worm. I can’t wait until he’s at the age where he can get his little stationary bike and cycle next to me. 

Trader Joe’s salmon in the air fryer with baby potatoes! This is such a quick dinner, and I need to run to Trader Joe’s to go get more! 
The hyacinths are all up!

Same breakfast, different day.

Bugs is at the stage where he scream laughs, and it’s the best!

I made 500 + Valentine’s day brownies on Superbowl Sunday for Kyle’s work. I never want to look at a brownie ever again! lol But it was fun! 
That evening, we made Philly cheesesteaks and watched the game! It was a sad loss for the Eagles, but such a great season. I embarrassingly fell asleep on the couch ten minutes into the game. 

I do have to brag about these delicious pretzels my friend, Samantha, dropped up before the game. Those are some Auntie Anne level pretzels. 
I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE BLOOMING! I also have them all coming up in my larger garden bed. We have rain all day today, so they’ll love it. 

Healthy chocolate chip cookies! 

I feel like my rides during the evening are so much better, which makes no sense since I’m EXHAUSTED at the end of the day. Maybe it’s because my body has fuel in it, and I need a good release after momming all day long.
 The best post-ride treat! We have blossoms on the trees! I love that spring comes so early in the south. Valentine’s day loaves! I’m still absolutely obsessed with my bread-making. For Valentine’s Day, I made the most delicious arugula salad. I’m putting this recipe up this weekend! It’s so easy to make, and I cannot stop eating it. We also had chicken cordon bleu and roasted mini potatoes. We ended our Valentine’s Day with a chocolate caramel cheesecake. I’m not a big cheesecake gal, but this one was very good! Anything from the Publix Bakery is amazing. 

Questions for you!

  1. Do you celebrate Galentines Day each year?
  2. Are you getting spring temps?
  3. Have you ever tried a viral TikTok recipe?

]]> https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/02/17/galentines-dinner-indoor-seeds-sunny-days-super-bowl/feed/ 16 Double Chocolate Chip Marble Cookies | A Delicious Swirl! https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/02/07/double-chocolate-chip-marble-cookies-a-delicious-swirl/ https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/02/07/double-chocolate-chip-marble-cookies-a-delicious-swirl/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2023 11:11:16 +0000 https://simplytaralynn.com/?p=78254

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]]> I have a new favorite cookie recipe, and it’s these chocolate chip & double chocolate chip marble cookies! I can’t wait to make these for each holiday and customize them with colored chocolate chips. Since Valentine’s day is coming up, I made them with pink, white, and red chocolate chips. They are so cute, and the flavor is perfect!
marble cookies, double chocolate cookies, chocolate chip cookies, double chocolate chip marble cookies, valentine day, chocolate chip, the yummiest cookies, pink desserts, valentines day cookiesThese marble cookies are made with my FAVORITE chocolate chip cookie recipe and a double chocolate chip cookie recipe. Since you have to make two batches of cookies, you’ll get around 50 cookies with this recipe, which is perfect if you bring them to a party, work, or give them away. You can also store the cookie dough in the freezer if you do not want to use it all. 

Double Chocolate Chip Marble Cookies

Mable cookies are a delicious treat that everyone can enjoy! You get the best of both worlds.  
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I used the baking chips from Michaels, and they are so cute! I added extra white chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate chips to the mix. 
marble cookies, double chocolate cookies, chocolate chip cookies, double chocolate chip marble cookies, valentine day, chocolate chip, the yummiest cookies, pink desserts, valentines day cookies

marble cookies, double chocolate cookies, chocolate chip cookies, double chocolate chip marble cookies, valentine day, chocolate chip, the yummiest cookies, pink desserts, valentines day cookies
Print

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

Double chocolate chip cookies are perfect when craving a brownie flavor with a cookie texture. I love making these with white chocolate chips, too.
Course Dessert
Keyword cookies, double chocolate chip, white chocolate chip, dessert, marble cookies, delicious recipe, holiday, themed cookies
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 11 minutes
Servings 24 Cookies
Author Taralynn McNitt

Ingredients

  • 1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter
  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 1/2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar light
  • 1 Large Egg
  • 1 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
  • 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
  • 2/3 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Fine Sea Salt
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons Sunflower Oil Or vegetable oil, avocado oil, canola
  • 1 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 1 Cup White Chocolate Chips

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • In an electric mixer, beat the butter, sugar, and brown sugar together until fluffy. (Approximately 3-4 minutes.)
  • Reduce speed, and mix in the egg and vanilla.
  • Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt together.
  • Slowly mix the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients. Add in the sunflower oil gradually while mixing in the dry ingredients.
  • Fold in the chocolate chips.
  • Drop oversized tablespoon dough balls onto a non-stick baking sheet.
    Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. After taking them out of the oven, let them cook on the pan for twenty minutes before removing them.

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After making the double chocolate chip cookie recipe above and the chocolate chip recipe, place them into individual bowls. Scoop out the batter from each bowl until the cookie scoop is filled. Place the cookies on a sheet of parchment paper two inches apart, and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. 
marble cookies, double chocolate cookies, chocolate chip cookies, double chocolate chip marble cookies, valentine day, chocolate chip, the yummiest cookies, pink desserts, valentines day cookies marble cookies, double chocolate cookies, chocolate chip cookies, double chocolate chip marble cookies, valentine day, chocolate chip, the yummiest cookies, pink desserts, valentines day cookies
I shaped a few like hearts after they came out of the oven! I just did this by hand. I love that these cookies give you rich chocolate flavor, white chocolate chips, and semi-sweet chocolate chips. They are gooey in the middle and crispy around the edges. They have quickly become one of my favorite cookies! I plan to make a mint version for St Patrick’s day. If you do not have colorful baking chips, you can use white chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and holiday-themed sprinkles. 
- Valentine's Day - Chocolate Chip Cookies - Sweet Treats - Baked Goods - Love - Romance - Heart Shaped - Red and Pink - Decorated - Sugar Cookies - Chocolate Covered
I hope you enjoy this cookie recipe! ♥ I’ll be making them again this weekend, along with some delicious oatmeal cream pies! 

Questions for you!

  1. Are you team white chocolate chip or semi-sweet chocolate chip?
  2. Team brownie or team cookie?
  3. What kind of recipes do you want to see on the blog this spring?

]]> https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/02/07/double-chocolate-chip-marble-cookies-a-delicious-swirl/feed/ 3 Meals This Week, Coffee Dates, Garden Boxes & Workouts! https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/01/19/meals-this-week-coffee-dates-garden-boxes-workouts/ https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/01/19/meals-this-week-coffee-dates-garden-boxes-workouts/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2023 20:20:35 +0000 https://simplytaralynn.com/?p=78004

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]]> Hi, I just put Bugs down for his afternoon nap and decided to hold off on laundry and start blogging instead. You never run out of tasks after becoming a mom, but sometimes, you have to walk by the laundry basket and say, “see ya later.” I have so much content to share, but finding time to sit down and write is challenging. I used to dedicate my morning time to blogging and coffee, but I decided to change my routine in 2023 and start focussing on my health, and now I workout or ride the Peloton early morning, take a shower and then go into mom-mode as soon as Bugs wakes up. I need to get better at finding time to write because I have so many exciting things coming up! 
My goal is to be active every day. Since joining the Peloton app, I’ve been able to bike, track walks, do yoga, and do strength training (which I need to be better about.) My cycling goal is three 30-minute, one 45-minute ride, and one 60-minute ride each week. I like saving the hour-long ride for Saturday mornings. After riding, I shower, have breakfast, and then Kyle and I go for a walk. I needed to jump on the fitness train now that I’m finally feeling 100 percent myself again after having a baby. I love feeling stronger and building back my muscles. 

Breakfast lately has consisted of toasted sourdough bread with butter, eggs, and fruit. 

I know it’s getting out of hand, but it’s been so therapeutic. 
My favorite little grocery shopping buddy. It’s much easier going to stores with him now that he can sit in the cart, and I don’t have to get a stroller set up. He thinks it’s fun. I bring a little cart cover and throw it in the wash after our store trip. 
 
  
Tux had a little playdate with Lulu ♥ She lives a few doors down, and they always stare at each other across the fences. Leo goes on walks with her, and now that she’s fixed, they can play together. Tux is getting his teeth cleaned and neutered tomorrow, and I’m so worried for him 🙁 I don’t want him to be scared, but I know it needs to be done to protect him from testicular cancer. 
 
After a long day of baking 150 cookies, I was ready to have a big glass of kombucha and my favorite pizza from Costco! The supreme Kirklands pizza is to die for! It took my top spot for frozen pizzas.
After my morning Peloton ride, I shower, make coffee, and head outside with the dogs if Bugs is still asleep. They love to wrestle around the yard while the sun rises. We’ve had some beautiful sunrises lately. 
  I’ve managed to stay on top of walks this month and have done a three to four-mile walk every day. Leo needs the long walks, or he gets naughty and tries to seek attention by eating toys and paper towels or barking outside. It has helped his energy and makes him feel more bonded with me. We had kept the dog’s routine the same as before we had a baby. And actually, they get even more walking time now. 

If you missed my blog on my go-to blueberry oats, check that one out! I love having them in the morning! 

Bugs LOVES to sit on the piano and bang the keys. I sit behind him to ensure he doesn’t fall, and he’ll hit the keys, laugh, and babble for a long time. I love it. 

Last Thursday, I met with some girlfriends at Poppyseed Kitchen for brunch. 

I ordered their chicken and avocado sandwich with their side veggie. The butternut squash was on top of whipped goat cheese, and I NEED to figure out how they whipped it because it was my favorite dish. I also had butternut squash soup on the side. I had their breakfast with Kyle a few weeks back, and we loved it. 
 I brought Bugs with me, and he loved sitting in the high chair drinking his coffee cup toy. He’s so fun to take places, and I’m lucky he’s a pretty content and happy baby!

After brunch, we headed out on a walk, I finished making some bread, and then, Bugs and I spent the afternoon outside with the dogs after his nap. It was so warm outside. 70’s in January is my kind of weather! 

He loves crawling everywhere, and even though the grass was wet and dirty, it was much safer than letting him crawl around our sharp furniture inside. 

Besties.

Bugs does this new thing with his hats on walks. He likes to pull them down and fling them off his head now. It’s hilarious, but luckily spring is almost here, and we can ditch the hats. I have to pick up his hat about 100 times while we walk. 
 I’m still on a Trader Joes’ dinner kick. I only buy three products to make this healthy and inexpensive dinner! I get their carrots, salmon, and brussels sprout kit. Dinner is ready in about thirty minutes! 
Coffee and morning walks are our favorite. 💜 

Here’s another one of my new favorite meals! I sauté the beef, veggies, and onion together to make the best tasting sesame teriyaki stir fry! It was so good. 
 Humble Cup just opened up in our town, and it is the CUTEST coffee shop, and the coffee is amazing. I have always been a fan of their coffee when I’d get it at the Fort Mill farmers market, and I’m so happy they have a storefront now. It’s adorable inside.  I had their oat milk cappuccino, and it was perfect. It was so smooth, and I’ll be returning for more! if you live near Fort Mill, definitely try Humble Cup out! You’ll love it. 
Another one of my favorite Trader Joe’s meals is buying their Asian Crunch salad, adding in rice crackers, avocado, chopped onion, and air fried salmon! 😋 

Another morning, another ride, and another cup of coffee with my favorite pups. The weather has been amazing here lately. I hope it stays this way because plants are coming up, trees are budding, and my tulips are busting through the mulch layer. 

Yummy sourdough avocado toast with eggs, blueberries, and coffee.
 
So…the garden project has begun! I cannot believe my cedar beds are built. Kyle did such a good job on them! Now, we will dig up the space in the backyard, lay down landscaping fabric, add the edging, put the stepping stones down and pebbles, line the garden beds, add dirt and the trellis, and get to planting! I’m looking forward to all the garden content this summer! 


Trader Joe’s pesto chicken with baby kale, parmesan, pepper, cream, and butter! This was so good on top of Caesar salad. 

Another day, another sourdough loaf. 
 After my rides, I get so hungry, so I will stick to more protein-based meals to help with recovery. I had a protein yogurt with blueberries and granola.  Coffee date at Humble Cup with my sweet little Bug!!! I keep buying him coffee toys because he’s obsessed with them. Or if I’m at a coffee shop, I ask for an extra cup because he loves to pretend he’s drinking coffee. He’ll even make the slurping and “ahh” sound after taking a sip.  I had way too much coffee before meeting the girls at Humble cup, so I tried out their Matcha with oat milk latte, and it was amazing! Trader Joes Asian crunch salad with chicken tenders. I’m on a Trader Joe’s kick lately! 

 My little coffee buddy is in the background. I bring his skip hop into the kitchen while we eat so he feels like he’s joining us for dinner. 

Jalapeño Pimento cheese loaf! 

A fun little Freedom Park walk and swing date ♥ 

I managed to finish right before he woke up! Thanks for stopping by to read today’s recap blog! 🙂

Questions for you!

  1. Have you changed your routine in 2023?
  2. What is your favorite item from Trader Joes’?
  3. What kind of gardening content would you like to see this spring/summer?

]]> https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/01/19/meals-this-week-coffee-dates-garden-boxes-workouts/feed/ 19 Blueberry Pie Oatmeal | Quick & Easy Healthy Breakfast https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/01/16/blueberry-pie-oatmeal-quick-easy-healthy-breakfast/ https://simplytaralynn.com/2023/01/16/blueberry-pie-oatmeal-quick-easy-healthy-breakfast/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2023 13:34:42 +0000 https://simplytaralynn.com/?p=77962

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]]> Blueberry Pie Oatmeal | Quick & Easy Recipe | Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free

Happy Monday! I’m saving the recap post for tomorrow, but I wanted to hop on here and share a breakfast recipe I’ve loved lately. I sometimes miss the Tumblr days when I just got on to share a picture whenever I felt like it. I guess I can do that with Instagram, but then I feel like I’m cheating on my true love, the blog. I need to get better at posting things when I want to and not worrying about having the time to make them perfect. blueberry pie oatmeal, gluten-free, vegan, dairy free, easy budget friendly breakfast, easy to make, breakfast idea, blueberry pie oatmeal, cinnamon oatmeal, breakfast ideas, quick breakfast
I’m officially on week three of the Peloton. Yes, I’ve had one for a few years but never used it. It was always my husband’s thing, but now that he hardly rides it, it’s my thing. I feel much stronger than I did when I first started, and seeing the progress has motivated me. I have been trying to get on in the mornings while my son is still asleep or during his afternoon nap if he wakes up earlier. 

After my morning rides, I love to hop in the shower and then have breakfast. I am always so hungry after working out.

WATCH VIDEO TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE THESE BLUEBERRY PIE OATS


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To make these oats, add 1/3 cup of oats, 1/2 cup of water, 1 cup of blueberries, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1 tsp of honey (or maple syrup), and microwave for a minute and a half. You can add coconut cream or almond milk to make it creamier. 
blueberry pie oatmeal, gluten-free, vegan, dairy free, easy budget friendly breakfast, easy to make, breakfast idea, blueberry pie oatmeal, cinnamon oatmeal, breakfast ideas, quick breakfastThese oats are a glow-up for regular boring oats and are much better than the sugary blueberry oats you get in the packet. You can even add protein powder if you want! I like adding vanilla Orgain plant-based protein powder. I plan to make peach pie oatmeal as soon as the peaches are back in the grocery stores! 

How do you like to eat your oatmeal? (Cookie form? me too 😆)

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