Easy Creamy Chicken and Dumplings

During the winter, I’m always looking for quick and easy cozy recipes to keep us warm. Chicken and Dumplings is a family favorite and I have the perfect, EASY recipe that’s every bit of delicious + cozy and not at all healthy. Balance right?!

A few ingredients that you probably have on hand, a cooked rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, and a can of biscuits is all you need! So simple!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/4 cup butter

• 1 yellow onion, diced

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 12 oz chicken broth

• 4 cups heavy cream

• 10 oz steam in bag mixed veggies

• 2-3 cups chicken (cooked + shredded}

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 tsp pepper

• 1 tsp onion powder

• 1 can Pillsbury Grands Southern biscuits

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter.

2. Add diced onions and cook until translucent.

3. Add the flour to the pot and stir well.

4. Continue cooking until the flour just starts to turn golden brown.

5. Add the chicken broth to the pot and stir until mixed well.

6. Add heavy cream and continue stirring.

7. Bring the liquid to a boil.

8. While waiting for the liquid to come to a boil cut the Pillsbury biscuits into quarters. Flatten into “dumplings”

9. Steam your veggies according to the directions on the bag.

10. Once the liquid is boiling add veggies, shredded chicken, salt, pepper, and onion powder to pot. Stir well.

11. Add biscuit dumplings to pot and stir gently.

12. Cover and reduce heat to medium-low.

13. Continue cooking for 20 minutes while covered, stirring gently every 5 minutes.

14. After twenty minutes, check that dumplings are cooked through and stir well.

15. Serve warm.

16. ENJOY!

ONE CUP PEACH COBBLER

THIS IS SUMMER.

Fresh peaches baked into a sweet + simple base topped with a crunchy sugar crust. It doesn’t get better! Until you top it with creamy vanilla ice cream. Bonus points that it uses simple “one cup” ingredients that you probably have right in your pantry!

QUICK + EASY PEACH COBBLER

Print Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup self rising flour

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup milk

• 1 cup melted butter

• 1 cup (or more) fresh peaches

Directions:

Combine flour and sugar in a large bowl. Add milk and whisk until blended. Add melted butter and whisk. Pour batter into buttered baking dish and top with fresh fruit. Sprinkle a layer of sugar on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. (Oven times may vary)

Serve warm topped with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. ENJOY!

EASY CHICKEN POT PIE

There is nothing better than a warm, delicious, homemade Southern Chicken Pot Pie. It’s the perfect mix of hearty and healthy. Veggies, a warm flaky crust, and of course…chicken. As much as I would love to whip up my Maw Maw’s made from scratch recipe each time, I just don’t have enough hours in our busy schedule. So quick + easy wins!

This recipe is a regular in our weekly meal schedule. Start to finish…30 minutes tops! You can’t beat that!

EASY CHICKEN POT PIE

Ingredients:

1 bag frozen mixed veggies

1 can Cream of mushroom - or make your own with this recipe: Cream of Mushroom Soup I Recipe | Allrecipes

1/2 cup Milk

Salt and Pepper to taste

Rotisserie chicken (any flavor works)

Pie crust

Directions:

Mix veggies, cream of mushroom soup, and milk in a medium sized bowl. Add salt + pepper to your preference. Shred chicken and add to bowl. Mix well. Add mixture to pie dish and top with crust. Slit crust or cut out unnecessary heart shapes. Bake at 450 for approximately 15-20 minutes. (Oven temps can vary)

Let me know if you try it out!

ENJOY!

HOMEMADE PEANUT BUTTER PUMPKINS

I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for Reese’s. And there’s no denying that the Holiday pumpkins, trees, and eggs taste better than the original Peanut Butter Cups. It must be the chocolate to peanut butter ratio that makes them taste better.

But the reality is that those sweet treats are loaded with ingredients that just aren’t good for you. After a few Google searches and a couple of rounds of taste testing, I have the PERFECT recipe dupe! Bonus points that it contains NO refined sugar! All the Mommas rejoice!

I found all of my ingredients, including the coconut flour, at my local Target. Whole Foods also carries everything needed if you have one local to you. Snatch up this pumpkin cookie cutter from Amazon and you’re all set!

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Homemade Peanut Butter Pumpkins

Print Recipe

Prep time: 30 mins

Cook time: 2 hours 30 mins

Total time: 3 hours

Yields: 1 dozen

Author: Eryn McBride (Hello Eryn)

Recipe type: Candy, Dessert

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup all natural peanut butter

• 2 tablespoons honey

• ½ teaspoon vanilla

• pinch salt

• 2-4 tablespoons coconut flour

• 4 oz unsweetened, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate

• 1 teaspoon coconut oil

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small bowl, whisk peanut butter, honey, vanilla and salt until combined. Using a spatula, gradually mix in coconut flour. Continue adding coconut flour by the tablespoon until mixture forms a dough. Refrigerate dough until cool, at least 30 minutes.

2. Roll out dough with a rolling pin and use a small pumpkin cookie cutter to make the pumpkin shapes. Re-roll the dough as needed to make more pumpkins. Place the pumpkins on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet and freeze until firm, at least 1-2 hours.

3. Using the double boiler method, melt chocolate and coconut oil and mix well. Dip each peanut butter pumpkin into melted chocolate. Tap off any excess chocolate and place on parchment paper. Repeat until all pumpkins are covered in chocolate.

4. Freeze or refrigerate until chocolate is set. Trim off any excess chocolate and serve cool or at room temperature. Store in fridge.

ENJOY! And don’t forget to save this recipe for Christmas, Easter, and every holiday in between.

Paper Bat Halloween Decor

I know you’ve seen them! Swarms (or is it flocks?) of bats flooding people’s houses as we count down to Halloween. When I first saw them taking over Pinterest, I thought these sweet, adorable Mommas were cutting out bats one-by-one from sheets of construction paper. Then a friend tipped me off to Amazon where I found a pack (with sticky dots!) and had them delivered straight to my door. No cutting necessary. And they are reusable! If that isn’t a Mommas dream, what is?!

Grab your very own cutesy paper bats here! Prepare to wow your Momma friends! And share the love so they don’t sit for hours cutting out paper bats because NOBODY has time for that.

Raise Kind Humans | 10 Quotes about Kindness and Generosity

Can you think of a quality that carries more weight than kindness? I can’t! It’s perhaps one of the most powerful forces in the universe. When we think of kindness, it means more than just being nice. It’s about selflessness, understanding, compassion, love, and acceptance. As a Mother, I’ve made it one of my biggest priorities to instill kindness into my child. It starts in the home with us. Kind children become kind adults. And the cycle continues.

Outfit details:

Shirt

Dress

Shoes

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There are times when we fail and let anger get the best of us. After all, we are human. But it’s so important to remember each and everyday that kindness matters. For those days when you’re feeling a little sad, angry, or just down right grumpy, scan through some of my favorite kindness quotes that are sure to turn your mood around.

10 Quotes of Kindness and Generosity

1. “Every minute of every hour of every day, you are making the world — just as you are making yourself — and you might as well do it with generosity and kindness and style.” — Rebecca Solnit

2. “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” — Audrey Hepburn

3. “First and foremost, we need to be the adults we want our children to be. We should watch our own gossiping and anger. We should model the kindness we want to see.” — Brené Brown

4. “Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.” — Barbara De Angelis

5. “You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

6. “This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” — Dalai Lama

7. “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” — Princess Diana

8. “I’m a big believer in acts of kindness, no matter how small.” — Liam Neeson

9. “The best portion of a good man’s life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.” — William Wordsworth

10. “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” — William Arthur Ward

GARLIC BUTTER STEAK BITES + POTATOES

Steak bites and potatoes are such a simple combo that the entire family will love! Toss with fresh herbs and my (not so) secret Cajun sauce and you have a tender, melt in your mouth meal for any day of the week!

What’s the secret to delicious and zesty Garlic Butter Steak Bites and Potatoes?

Ingredients:

• 1 TBSP olive oil

• 2 TBSP butter, divided

• 1-1.5 lb. Yukon gold potatoes, sliced into 1/2 inch cubes

• 3 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tsp Thyme, chopped

• 1 tsp Rosemary, chopped

• 1 tsp Oregano, chopped

• salt and pepper

• 1 1/4 pound sirloin steak* cut into 1 inch cubes

• 1 TBSP Cajun Power Worcestershire sauce

Directions:

• Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat.

• Add olive oil, 1 TBSP butter, potatoes, and seasonings.

• Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender.

• Remove potatoes from skillet and set aside.

• Generously season steak bites with salt and pepper.

• Turn heat to high and add 1 TBSP butter and seasoned steak bites.

• Sear steak for about 1 minute.

• Add Cajun Power Worcestershire sauce and continue to stir until steak is golden brown.

• Add potatoes to skillet and mix.

• Top with fresh herbs for serving.
  

PRINT THIS RECIPE

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Not a fan of sirloin steak? You can sub with tenderloin, New York strip, and chicken! Just remember to adjust your cooking times accordingly.

This meal is filling enough on its own but a simple side salad and buttered dinner rolls are great options on the side.

Okay…one more look at that perfect sear. CAN YOU EVEN?! YUM!!!

A FRESH START

I’m back!

After a two year hiatus, I’ve decided to dive back into the blogging world! When I initially started this blog I really had no set intentions. I shared my thoughts, updates on my family, and products that I loved, but this space didn’t have a set purpose. These last two years have been all but boring. (I’ll update on that down below.) I’ve learned a lot about who I am as an individual and what I want to achieve in life. I’ve also thought a lot about what I want this space to look like. Happy. Honest. Safe. Educational. Motivational. Inspirational. Those are just a few words that come to mind. I hope to share my heart and inspire you to do the same. I hope to make you feel safe and welcomed. I hope you find this space fun, joyful, and helpful.

A quick recap:

May 2, 2019 marked my last day working in the corporate world. After years of juggling multiple jobs and holding on tight to my entrepreneur dreams, I finally said goodbye to the life that I knew for so long. I’ll be honest and admit that almost two years later, I’m still not used to this work from home gig, but I sure am loving it!

The past two years brought a lot of loss into my life. The hardest and most important one was the loss of my sweet Mom on February 14, 2020 after a quick, but fierce battle with cancer. Her loss opened my eyes to so much about life and really made me reevaluate so much about who I am and how I want to move forward.

Unless you’ve been living off the grid, You know that we entered a global pandemic in March 2020. It’s been quite a year, to say the least. Masks, social distancing, hybrid learning, online grocery ordering, hoarding toilet paper. I still can’t wrap my head around it all.

What do people do during a pandemic? They raise backyard chickens! Duh! I’m officially a chicken lady, y’all! Things escalated quickly and honestly, I’m loving it!

What else do people do during a pandemic? They get puppies! Yep! We did that too! I’m sure you’ll see a lot of Charlie, our (not golden) golden doodle around here. He’s a real life teddy bear! So cute!

A few other happenings: I became a temporary homeschool teacher (bless you teachers), I hit my 6 year anniversary with Young Living, I reached my 12th official year of being a photographer, I learned that leggings are, in fact, real pants.

That’s a wrap! stick around for all the fun we’re about to have!

TEN!

Ten years. A decade. Double digits. They say it goes by fast but they couldn't have prepared me enough. 

To everyone else, today is just another day. It's the second week of Summer. The third day of the week. Half way to the weekend. 

For us, it's a BIG day. HUGE! 

Today, our baby turns 10! TEN! The big 1-0!

To say the last ten years have been the biggest blessing would be an understatement. I truly didn't know how much I needed Konner until I had him. Hell...I swore I didn't want kids.

BOY WAS I WRONG!

I needed him. Probably more than he needed me. God knew just what he was doing and I thank him every single day for gifting me the most perfect human. 

And by perfect, I mean...as perfect as he can be. The hormones are kicking in. The attitude shows up daily. The girls are giving winks. And he will be taller than me by years end. We now have a pre teen. A cute, sweet, loving, kind pre teen. But a pre teen none the less. Life is about to get a lot more interesting. 

For now, I will focus on these past few years. The best years of my life. Being Konner's Mom is my greatest achievement. I am a PROUD Mom! Parenthood is the hardest job that ever existed but damn...it sure is rewarding! 

Did I mention that he is the perfect model? That seals the deal right there! PERFECT CHILD! 

Easy Poke Bowl Recipe

Poke (said POH-kay) means “to slice or cut” in Hawaiian and refers to chunks of raw, marinated fish — usually tuna — which is then tossed over rice and topped with vegetables and umami-packed sauces. It's basically a giant sushi roll...in a bowl. Easier to eat and loaded with the same delicious flavor!

Poke is a staple in Hawaii but it has recently made its way to the mainland and I couldn't be more excited! Poke restaurants are popping up everywhere lately, and for good reason! It's healthy, delicious and totally unique. I had my first Poke Bowl experience in New Orleans a few years back at Poke Loa and I've been hooked since! I'm also a huge fan of making quick and easy bowls at home!

Although tuna is my preferred fish of choice for Poke (and sushi), sushi grade tuna isn't widely available on a whim in my area. When I need a quick and healthy meal I have no issues with a simple steamed shrimp and crab salad bowl. Our local Whole Foods has both options fresh and readily available. I grab all of my ingredients at the grocery store and I've got an easy meal ready in minutes! Bonus points that it's filling and healthy!
 

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DIY POKE BOWL RECIPE

Poke restaurants are popping up everywhere lately, and for good reason! It's healthy, delicious and totally unique. Now, you can make your own DIY Poke Bowls right at home                             

Prep time: 20 min | Total time: 20 min         

 

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups Protein of choice (sashimi-grade tuna, salmon, shrimp) towel-dried and cubed
• 1 cup shredded crab meat
• 1 small cucumber, seeded and sliced
• 1 ripe mango, peeled and cubed
• 1 semi-ripe avocado, cubed
• 1/2 cup shelled Edamame
• 1/2 cup corn
• 1 TBSP sesame seeds
• 3 cups sushi rice 

SRIRACHA MAYO

• 3 TB regular mayo
• 1 TB Sriracha hot sauce

SESAME SOY SAUCE

• 3 TBSP Tamari soy sauce
• 1 tsp Asian rice wine vinegar
• 1 tsp Asian toasted sesame oil
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• ¼ tsp ginger powder (or 1 drop of Young Living Ginger Vitality essential oil)

 

DIRECTIONS:

• Cook rice according to package directions and let cool
• Dice and dry protein
• Shred crabmeat 
• Seed and slice cucumber
• Prepare toppings of choice accordingly

Prepare Srirachaya mayo sauce as follows...

• Stir together the mayo and Sriracha in a small bowl.
• Cover and chill until ready to use.

Prepare Sesame Soy Sauce as follows...

• In a bowl, hand-whisk together all Sauce ingredients.
• Stir diced protein into the sauce, coating well.
• Cover and keep chilled until ready to assemble bowls.

To assemble bowls...

• Divide cooked rice into 2 bowls.
• Distribute ingredients according to preference. I prefer to section mine off. You can mix everything together and then set on rice. Totally up to you!
• Sprinkle with garnishes as desired
• Drizzle with Sriracha Mayo.
• Serve immediately.

The options really are endless when it comes to this. I am always crunched for time so simple works best most days, but when I have the extra time, I would definitely search for more protein options and fun toppings! 

ENJOY! 

A Fresh Start + Val Marie Paper

I'm not a morning person. When I wake in the morning I walk around in a zombie like coma and go through the motions quietly and contently. Konner is the same. It's nice because we "get" each other. As we drive to school we jam a few jams, check out the scenery, and start our day with a smile. And coffee. I need my coffee. 

But today...today as we were listening to the radio trying to get our jam on, we were silent. Silent because we caught wind of the terrible news coming out of Las Vegas. I listened to the basics, answered a couple of Konner's questions and then changed stations. The next station was listing out the details of a local police officer that was fatally shot last night. Moving on to another station that was thankfully playing one of our favs, "Clocks" by Coldplay. 

When I arrived to work I pulled up the news on my computer. As I read more information about this tragedy, I got sad. And then angry. And then confused. What is going on?! What is happening to our world?! I looked to October for a fresh start. August and September brought on so much tragedy and heartache that I NEEDED a fresh start. I was couting on October. And then BAM. First day of the month...tragedy. 

But then...as I logged into my email I was reminded of what we need. What this world needs. What I need. Prayer. 

I struggle with this. I struggle with seeing the good when there is so much bad. I struggle with the why's. And the how's. I struggle with keeping the faith when evil is lurking so close. Too close. 

Every year I purchase a new prayer journal from Val Marie Paper. I absolutely love her journals. Do I still struggle with prayer? Yes! But I'm learning. I'm learning to be a prayer warrior. I'm learning to keep my Faith strong. I'm learning to set aside those 10-15 minutes a day even when the world is full of distractions and evil. I'm learning thanks to Val's amazing and simple journals. I want to use it daily. I need to use it daily. It gives me a safe place to write down my thoughts so that they don't overload my mind.  

In my email this morning was a reminder. A reminder that it's ok to be stuck. It's ok to struggle. It's ok to feel discouraged or confused. It's ok to feel a little disappointed in that lost connection. The connection between you and Him. It's ok to need a fresh start. But you have to START! Start now. Turn off the podcast. Close the book. Shut off the TV. Grab the closest paper to you and your favorite pen and begin. Begin with a prayer. 

If you need a little nudge or simple direction to get started, I highly recommend scooping up a Fresh Start Journal. This 31-day devotional on prayer was created to help you know more why to pray and help you create a consistent habit of it in your life.  It's a great way to get started and a great way to get a feel for how Val's journals work. And friends! Fresh Start is $5 off for OCTOBER! Use code FRESHSTARTOCT. Holla!

Another favorite of mine is the Kids Prayer Journal. I purchased one of these for Konner last year and it was a hit! Not only does it teach kids the beginning steps to becoming a prayer warrior, but it gives you a chance to sit with them and guide them through their Faith. What a special time! 

The Family Creed guide is another great addition that I can't wait to start. This guide helps us become more intentional about motherhood. This is something I need and want to do. Something I have to do. I'm tired of going through the motions. I'm ready to set goals for myself and my family to help us thrive and grow as a family. 

There's so many great options with a little something for everyone over at Val Marie Paper. I hope you find something that tugs at your heart. Take time to free your soul and focus on YOU! You deserve it! 

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**Contents of this post may contain affiliate links. I buy it, I love it, I share it, you buy it, you love it, we all win.**

Grace, not perfection : Chronicles of a bad Mom

Parenting is hard. So hard! I mean let's be real. Kids poop in their pants, cry when they're hungry, throw crap in your face, and vomit on your new Free People dress. And then...they need to learn how to read, ride a bike, and tie their own shoes. Not to mention...they want to attend birthday parties on Saturdays when you are just so.dang.tired. 

Then...you have to feed them organic free range breast fed sweater wearing chickens. I mean...what.in.the.world?! Crazy right? 

It's hard! The decisions. The responsibilities. THE OPINIONS!!! #somanyopinions

In this day and age we are expected to do it all with a smile on our face and a crown on our head while wearing red bottom heels. (What's up with those anyway?!) Make a mistake and you are doomed. Doomed by the stranger in the grocery store, doomed by the lady glaring at you in the ice cream shop, doomed by the gentleman playing on FB in Starbucks (You didn't think he was actually working on that computer did you?), doomed by the social media keyboard nazis. They're real y'all! And they're brutal! 

Picture it...

You're in Target with your precious, sweet angel of a child. He sees the $3 Star Wars Lego set sitting in the "shit you don't need but usually buy anyway" section. You know what I'm talking about. It's the same spot in the checkout lane holding the Reese's and Funyuns that you grab while waiting for the woman in front of you to sort through her coupons. 

So...your kid sees this toy that he doesn't need. But he insists on having it. You tell him no. He whines. You tell him no again. He yells. You give him "the look" and threaten his life in the softest whisper. He SCREAMS. You ignore him. He's still yelling. You lose your shit. Fun times!

Then you look over your shoulder and the stranger behind you is glaring at you. They are giving you the look of death. Because you know...their kid is a perfect angel. Always. 

You get nervous. You forget to scan the cartwheel app. You can't find your red card. Disaster!

So you scurry out the door and your child is still screaming. You try to load the groceries into your car as fast as possible (so you can get home and lock yourself in the bathroom) all the while...another stranger is walking by you staring at you. The shame! 

So much judgment. 

Why...why are we so quick to judge? Why do we assume perfection? What happened to grace? 

Parenting is hard. I suck at it on a regular basis. Sometimes I feel like a bad Mom. But...I have to give myself grace. I have to realize that I am human. I have to realize that my child is not perfect. 

We, as parents, need to realize that we are doing the best we can. We all deserve a pat on the back. Go ahead. Do it. You deserve it!

 Even if you:

• Bought that Lego set after saying “no” 5 times

• Let your child eat a bag of chips for breakfast

• Skip bath time because he went swimming earlier that day

• Let your son pee next to the car in the parking lot because you didn't feel like walking inside

• Throw away toys while your child is at a sleepover

• Tell your child the ice cream man plays music when he’s out of ice cream

• Put super glue on a cut that might have needed stitches

• Told your child his friends birthday party was cancelled because you were too tired to bring him

• Sent your child to school in unwashed uniforms

• Tell them to go watch tv when they wake up before you on Saturday morning

• Play bumper carts in Target (TRY IT! SO FUN!)

We, as a society, need to realize that we have two choices when it comes to people, to see the good or see the bad. When you choose to see the good, you will live a life of compassion. People will see the good in you. This is how you live a peaceful life. 

So next time you see that Mom holding back all.the.cuss.words when her son throws a fit for an overpriced Lego set, give her a little grace. Lend her a hand, unload her groceries for her, and flash her a smile. She's doing the best she can! 

Inkwell Press Planner : Review + Coupon Code

I love planning, and "to do" lists, and schedules, and feeling like I have my life together, and getting ish done. You know...adult things. As a Mom, wife, business owner, and all around #bossbabe, it's important for me to keep my ducks in a row at all times.

Ok...so I don't always get things done, and I rarely have my shit together, but I like to pretend I'm a full functioning adult by owning a decent planner. Over the years I've tried so many planners that I even found a couple of brand new, unused 2015 planners hanging out in my home office the other day. The shame y'all! SHAME! Maybe I'm a planner addict? Or maybe I struggled to find a decent planner to help me take control of the chaos. Or maybe it's a combination of the two. That's a good possibility!

Really though...I've tried everything from the fancy Day Designer, to a personalized Erin Condren, to the new and seemingly popular (but way too time consuming) Passion Planner and even a simple Target planner this past year. Honestly, out of all of my previous options, the Target one was the best option for me. It was simple and to the point. Not too fancy and didn't require a ton of work on my end. I never really understood those planners that required you to do work before you can actually do work. You know...the ones that you have to fill in the dates, use fancy colored pens, and doodle your clients family in curved stick figure form next to their appointment date. Zero time for that. None. I like simplicity. 

Last year my friend Amy posted about her new inkWELL Press planner and I was intrigued. Unfortunately I had already committed to the simple Target planner and was determined to make it work for me. You know...that whole unopened planner thing that we talked about earlier?! I was determined not to let that happen again. So I stayed strong and waited until the 2017 release and snagged one for myself! 

One of my woe's about the planners I've used in the past is that there was too much going on. The Day Designer has hourly breakdowns for each day and while that seems like it would be beneficial to someone like me, it actually stressed me out. (Yes...I'm weird.) As a photographer and business owner, I also felt that so much was missing for badasses like myself. Let's be real...I work 7 days a week. I need a full planner day for weekends too. That's one of the things I love about the inkWELL Press planner! Not only does it have a full day for every day of the week (No divided weekends!) but it also has two different layout options, the Classic and the Flex. I chose the Flex so that I can divide each day by personal and business and have them side by side to compare. Total personal preference! Either option is great! 

The most important thing though...is the quality. Y'all! This planner is amazing! The quality is top notch with so many amazing details!

The paper quality is the best I've laid my hands on. It's thick, soft, and very durable. This is super important to me having been a victim of pen bleed. Ugh! The worst!

I'm also very impressed with the gold coil binding. Again...very durable. This is super important for someone like me who literally throws her planner in the car, on the floor, on the desk, and well...everywhere. Like I said...I'm not good at adulting. 

Quality aside, the layout and features on the inside are so perfect! Not only do I need organization to try and stay sane, but I also need a good kick in the pants from time to time. I am in love with the monthly and weekly "top priorities" sections as well as the yearly and monthly goal tracking sheets. This will help me tremendously with my Young Living team and business. #goalsongoalsongoals I especially love the daily habit tracker. Most people will probably use this for water intake, exercise, etc. but I'm thinking this would be a good place for me to track my coffee and chocolate intake. It's all about balance right?!

I especially love the extra "notes" pages at the end of each month. Maybe this will alleviate all of the sticky notes that I have covering my desk. And life. Let's be real. They're everywhere! Can we talk about that pocket in the back? You know what it's for? It's to hold extra goodies like...the planner sticker sets! Stickers! That match my planner! This is Heaven! Ok...back to adulting. 

This thing's a beauty guys! And it's super efficient. I definitely see myself ordering an Inkwell Planner every year. I mean...it matches all of my other super cute "let me try to be an adult" stationary and accessories from the Target dollar spot. So perfect! Can I get an AMEN?!?

I was so antsy to use it and now it's officially a part of the family. I penciled in my first newborn session for the new year! So fun!

If you're thinking about getting your own fancy schmancy inkWELL Press planner, you can use my affiliate link to get yourself $10 off! It's good for any purchase over $50, which means your new planner will only be $44! Say wha?!? Enter your email here and the coupon code will be sent straight to your inbox. And don't forget to grab your matching stickers. Because...we all need a little fun in our life! 

Starbucks Iced Coconut Milk Mocha Macchiato

So here's the thing...I'm a creature of habit. When I go to dinner with my family or a group of friends, I always order the same thing. Planning to take me to a new restaurant? I will stare at the menu FOR-E-VER and then order under pressure and more than likely regret my choice. I wear black and grey and maroon (when I'm feeling spontaneous) and black and army green and black and dark grey and black. I like to live on the wild side. Clearly. When I go to Starbucks (Starbs...if you're one of the cool kids) I always order the same thing. Grande Java Chip Frapp with coconut milk, no whip. It's my drink. It's my life line. It's what my barista starts making as soon as I walk through the door. 

That is...until June 11. It was a typical Monday. Boring as hell. If I had to guess, it was probably raining that day. #Louisiana

So I headed to Starbs to grab my usual. (This has recently become a daily thing. More on that later.) When I opened up the app to check my Gold card balance (Yes, the addiction is real) I am greeted with an announcement about a new drink. Normally I ignore those announcements because...yep...I'm a creature of habit. I don't venture out of my comfort zone. Ever. But I see it..it's sucking me in...the magic words "coconut milk". I love coconut milk! It's in MY drink. The one I get every.single.time. 

I click on the details of this new drink and it sounds amazing. Coconut milk, white chocolate mocha, espresso, caramel drizzle, mocha swirl. HEAVEN! So against my own will...I decide to order it. I almost chickened out when my barista asked "The usual?" but I remained strong and uttered the words...

"Nope! I'm going to try something new today!"

GASP!!!

I'm pretty sure her jaw hit the floor. But she flashed me her usual smile and made my drink. My new favorite drink. Yep. I said it. I have a new favorite.  I am now the proud coffee addict that orders the drink with the most complicated name on the menu. And to make it even more complicated, I add extra white mocha. #YOLO

There it is! My new best friend! We have a bond like no other. You know what makes that bond even stronger? TARGET!

ICMM + Target = Heaven on Earth. I'm pretty sure I heard angels singing next to the mustard.

So about that addiction. Well...it's real. Starbs used to be my Friday treat. I headed there after a long week of work to reward myself for staying sane. Then life got stressful and I slipped a couple of drinks in during the week. Then life got hectic and I headed there almost every afternoon. Then I got an email from Starbucks inviting me to "compete" in a challenge. I'm pretty competitive so I accepted with open arms. So this week, against my will, I HAVE to go to Starbucks everyday before noon to earn 80 Bonus Stars. I mean...what else is a girl supposed to do?

See that sweet smiling barista? She spells my name correctly AND draws cute pictures on my cups. Oh...and did I mention that they have potato chip chocolate? It really is heaven. 

Did I mention that I love Starbucks?

Jimmy the cat

These last couple of months have been hella busy on our end. My family thrives on routine so the summer months kick our butt until we are begging for school to start back up. Then school starts and we are crying because...homework. And OMG! As I'm typing this I'm realizing that school starts in less than a month. Insert panic mode. 

But enough about that...we got a cat! (Just call me Dr. Seuss)

Jimmy the cat graced us with his presence for Konner's birthday back in the beginning of June. I never thought I would be a cat person but he has stolen my heart. Even when he's an ass hole and bites my ear in the middle of the night. 

I thought long and hard about adding ANOTHER animal to our already too small house, but I just couldn't say no when I saw his cute little face on my friends Facebook. She found him at her complex and was highly allergic so he needed a home. Now he's a member of our family and he fits right in with the craziness. He was super shy and a little hesitant the day we brought him home, but after a few days he fell right into place. 

As every photographer would (and should) I documented his arrival with a newborn session. I'm definitely thinking #kittenwhisperer should be added to my resume. 

Find me on Insta to follow Jimmy and his shenanigans! @eryn.mcbride 

Hello there!

Hey! Bonjour! Hola! Helloooooo! Welcome to "Hello Eryn", my latest venture. Because you know...I have so much extra time on my hands these days. 

First things first...I feel I owe a lot of you an explanation. If we are "friends" on FB, you may have freaked out and got a little too excited thinking I was pregnant when I shared my "Coming Soon" announcement for "Hello Eryn".  I'm sorry to disappoint the masses, but I'm not. And don't plan to be. Unless you can promise me that my next child will be just as cool as my first. And you can't promise me that so yeah...stop the madness!

So here's what's really going down...

I've come to the realization that my life is the absolute most exciting thing in the world and it needs to be documented. I'm pretty much a big deal, if you didn't know that already. 

Ok. Not really. Or not at all. Basically, I decided to create a place, a space, for me to document the happenings in my life. The good, the bad, the happy, the sad. Between my family, my travels, my love for oils, and my photography, I felt that it would be fun to share with all of my peeps and keep a "journal", so to speak, to look back on. I currently have a separate site and blog for both my photography and my essential oil goodness (you will hear a lot about those here) but I needed a landing place. A place to combine all of my ventures. A place to let it all out and share the goodness. 

So here we are! 

A few photos of my family. We're silly, and cute, and fun, and happy. Most days. 

xoxo - Eryn