Pumpkin Cinnamon Apple Zucchini Bread

I had an unexpected day off from work yesterday, which didn't necessarily mean I had the day off, but I had to compromise. Franco was not feeling well so I had to pick him up from school early, but he magically felt better as soon as we came home. Working from home was not going to be an option for me this time. We got a nice long walk in especially since the humidity broke and it was so nice to be outside. The cool breeze had me thinking Fall and with only two days away from September I can barely take it anymore-I need pumpkins!
I thought I could make it until September 1st, but no I had to do it. I had to bake the most 'Fallest' thing I could think of.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Apple Zucchini Bread.

Yes I had all these ingredients laying around and yes my house smelled absolutely amazing. The sweet aromas just melted every away every stress I was feeling at the moment and I was finally able to let the breeze fly through the house with wide open windows. At this moment Fall was finally in the air at the Robins Nest!

Franco woke up from his nap all refreshed and we enjoyed our delicious snack together.

Pumpkin Cinnamon Apple Zucchini Bread

Recipe type: BakingPrep time:  10 minsCook time:  45 minsTotal time:  55 minsServes: 12 

Ingredients

·         2 eggs
·         2 egg whites
·         ¼ cup sugar
·         ¾ cup canned pumpkin pie
·         ⅓ cup unsweetened apple sauce
·         1 zucchini, peeled and shredded
·         1.5 cup flour
·         1 tsp baking powder
·         1 tsp baking soda
·         2 tsp cinnamon
·         1 tsp vanilla
 

Instructions

1.     Preheat oven to 350F and spray baking pan with cooking spray.
2.     In a bowl using an electric mixer beat together your eggs and egg whites, add in sugar and mix well.
3.     Beat in pumpkin, apple sauce, shredded zucchini and vanilla.
4.     Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Mix well.
5.     Scoop batter into baking pan.
6.     Bake in oven for approx. 45 minutes, let cool and serve.

This recipe is easy and keeps your house smelling great for the rest of the day! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

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Crush an Anxiety Attack in Five Minutes

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Anxiety is nasty. 

It is an unpleasant feeling, and it holds us back from doing things that we love. That doesn’t mean we are doomed. There are many ways to help reduce anxiety— it all depends on what fits our lifestyle. 

And although anxiety may seem inevitable, we can certainly maintain it. 

Here is a quick five minute ritual to help collect your thoughts and get your breathing under control. This has helped me in times of chaos with limited resources.

1. Find a quiet place with low light. Turn your phone on silent and put it away out of your sight.
2. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing— breathe in for 4 seconds hold it for 7 seconds and exhale for 7 seconds. 

3. Put your hand on your abdomen, feel your belly filling up with air and emptying when you exhale.
4. Tell yourself that this moment will not last and everything will go back to normal shortly.
5. Say out loud: “This wave will pass, I will breathe again”.

Repeat for five minutes.

I hope this exercise helps you during a panic/anxiety attack or even before an exam or presentation. It is even helpful if you include it in your daily routine to manage your breathing. 

Keep calm and breathe on!

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Biggie Birthday

Franco is coming up on two and a half years old and I cannot believe I have not shown you pictures from when we had his second birthday! I’ve been meaning to post about it but time sure has slipped away.

I figured this would be my last year of being able to pick the theme for him. Next year I am sure he is going to want to decide what he wants (dinosaurs, trucks, Minions, maybe all three?!) but for now, this mama bird chose one of her favorite things- the Notorious B.I.G.! 

We didn’t go all out and have a huge party, but we decided to have a few friends over for cupcakes and it gave me the opportunity to do what I love, decorate! 

A huge shout out to my good friend for making these cupcakes, the toppers were a hit!

It is not a party without a custom Snapchat filter!

The the next day, our morning consisted of breakfast and some light reading from The Little Homie

I cannot wait to see what next year brings! 

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Sugar Smart Box Review

Summer sure has been flying by especially with a toddler! Here at the Robins Nest we all have something planned each weekend and I love it!. Yes we are always busy but when I look back on this summer I am going to have so many memories it just makes my heart so full!

Busy weekends going on mini vacations or day trips to the lake had me worried that I would be eating junk this summer, but I made a promise to myself this late spring to stay healthy and walk everyday and it sure has paid off. This Mama bird has successfully lost 20 pounds! Now it has not been easy, but it sure has been making my summer days a lot more energized and fun. Being able to chase Franco around Sesame Place last weekend was a lot easier than it would have a few months ago that's for sure!

When trying to eat healthy, finding snacks can be hard but I came across Sugar Smart Box  at the perfect time. Sugar Smart Box is a subscription box that provides unique and artisan snacks that are low in sugar and low carb. You receive 7 full size snacks and they all have less than 5 grams of sugar per serving.

I have such a sweet tooth so I went directly for cookies and cakes. My husband beat me to the jerky and pistachios but we could not believe how good everything was. These snacks are great for on the go and obviously great for the whole family. It came during the perfect time because we were heading on a mini road trip to Pennsylvania and it was the best go to snacks in the car. Franco chugged the Cucumber Mint flavored water!

Subscription box consisted of snacks from Eat Me Guilt Free, Just the Cheese, Flow Alkaline Spring Water, EPIC Provisions, Good Dee's Low Carb Mix's Eat Fat Snax and Gilded Nut

Sugar Smart Box offers two subscription options for you:
For $29.95 the Sugar Smart Mini Box gives you 5-7 low sugar, low carb snacks each month plus exclusive coupon codes.
For $39.95 the Sugar Smart Box Subscription give you 8+ snacks each month and access to a Registered dietitian led Facebook group.

If I got your full attention now, be sure to check out Sugar Smart Box and use code SMARTFRIEND15 for 15% off your first box!

Now get snacking and tell me what you think, enjoy!

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Girls Weekend Getaway

Hello there! my goodness, where has the time gone? Summer is in full effect over at the Robins Nest and I wanted to stop by to not only say hello, but I had to share with you with the girls weekend I had with my friends.

This Mama Bird needed a break and this little weekend get away was perfect! Over the past few years AirBnB has become my best friend this year it has not let me down. We stayed at a renovated 150 year old, Dutch built post and beam building in the Adirondacks located on 60 acres of beautiful land.

Our weekend included ALOT OF relaxing by the pool, but we also got to hike on of the trails near by, eat, drink, play board games, pamper ourselves s and go to brunch. It was a jammed packed weekend but exactly what we all needed. 

The Adirondacks sure are a beautiful place, I am always in a New York state of mind. 

I finally got to try The Impossible Burger! A delicious alternative to meat and is known at the ‘meatless bleeding burger’.

These shooters are called the ‘Brunchkin’ 

Jameson and Butterscotch Schnapps, Orange juice, and last a yummy piece of Bacon!

Check out these awesome swag bags that were made for our Girls Weekend!

This giant pool was gloorrrioousss!

Although, our girls weekend was amazing and well deserved, this mama bird miss her baby bird and could not wait to see him! He gave me so many kisses when I came home and I devoured every one!

He missed me so much he even helped me unpack 😉. 

Hope you are all enjoying your summer! 

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JORD Wood Style Watch for my Lumber Jack Valentine

I never know what to get my husband for Valentine's Day. We don't always do gifts, but this year I found the perfect gift for him. When I saw JORD watches I knew hubby had to have one. I am terrible because I couldn't wait until Valentine's Day to give it to him. The wood style watch is what caught my eye. My husband has been into target shooting and hunting outside so I thought the wood band would be perfect for his masculine style. (Mostly because of his Lumber Jack beard!) The sleek and cozy style is perfect for my husband, especially since he is so picky with watches. The wood style watch is so light he does not even know it is on! He is able to carry and hold his rifle comfortably and still be on time for our Valentine's day dinner ;-)

Gifts are not a big deal between my husband and I, but when thought and effort is put into something, it is so appreciated. I strive to make my husband happy and have a healthy loving relationship. Ever since we had our son almost two years ago, we lost touch of our close marriage. I never want to lose that and simple gifts are reminders of that. Seeing my husband's eyes light up and the surprise look on his face fully did it for me. He is such a an amazing father, husband and best friend and he needs to know that. He does so much for me and supports me, I must do the same in return.

What are you getting your loved one for Valentine's Day? If you are still not sure be sure to join my giveaway. I have teamed up with JORD Watches to give one lucky winner $100 off one of their gorgeous Wood Style Watches.

Also, just for entering you will receive 10% off any purchase you make. Follow the link below:

JORD Watch Giveaway!

The Giveaway ends on February 11, 2018 and the 10% code is good until February 25, 2018.

Good luck and Happy Valentine's Day!

Check out their watches!

Wood Style Watch my Hubby is wearing

JORD Watches

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Goat Yoga

What is your ideal way to relax? Mine is enjoying a crisp breeze outside while making out with adorable animals. I also like to throw in some yoga poses and breathing techniques 😏.

When I first found out about Goat Yoga, I couldn't believe this was a real thing, it was all of my favorite things in one! As soon as I saw that there were classes in my area I signed up right away. Dan and Franco tagged along with me to watch the shenanigans. It ended up being a super fun family day! Franco loved petting and feeding all the animals on the farm and watching his mama do some yoga!

We went to 4 J's Farm in Averill Park, NY and the event was hosted by Barefoot Space.

The goats were so friendly!

They would climb right up on you, it was the most fun and laid back yoga class I ever did!

Franco had a blast and we also won some awesome raffles! I love 4 J's farm's mission to raise animal awareness in therapy and rescue.We will definitely be returning and continue to support a local farm!

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5 Things to Watch or Read if you are a Mom

There is no better feeling than when your life is explained in a nutshell by something else. Ever since I became a mom 16 months ago, social media sure has helped get through some rough patches by relating to other moms. Between blog posts, Instagram accounts and overflowing memes I knew I was not alone, but when I had the chance for some down time I discovered some awesome shows, movies and books that I totally related to especially as a first time mom.

 1. Bad Moms

I loved this movie so much I watched it 3 times in one week! It is about an overworked and

over committed mother who finds friends that feel the same way. They liberate themselves by going on a carefree binge of long term freedom. The laughter that came out of me provided enough medicine to get me through any mom blues moment. Not only did I feel like this movie was Mean Girls in their 30’s, but it was another female driven movie that proves all mothers are not perfect and their lives are not as glamorous as it seems.

 2. Mother Up!

I found this Hulu original show recently and it is an easy to follow animated series with the perfect amount of adult humor. It is about a famous music exec that has quit her job and move to the suburbs to become a stay at home mom. She quickly realizes that motherhood is nothing like running the music industry, it is a lot harder. I definitely do not think this show is for the easily offended, but if you enjoy shows like Family Guy this one is for you!

 3. Neighbors

I never thought I would be that person who would knock on my younger neighbor’s door and tell them to “keep it down” because they were being too loud and having a good time. This movie is a must see for any new parent that kind misses their partying days. The movie is about first time parents living in quiet neighborhood with their newborn, and a fraternity move into the house next door. The way this situation is handled is hilarious and I totally get the immaturity that comes along with it.

 4. Boss Baby

This movie is great for the whole family. It is about the how the big brother adjusted to his new baby brother, and why it can be wonderful to have a sibling as a friend. This movie I found quite funny because my husband and I always joke that we are not having any more children and our son’s only siblings will be puppies. If you see the movie, you will understand why we think this is funny.

 5. Confessions of a Domestic Failure by Bunmi Laditan

I think every new mom should read this book! It is funny but also gives a realistic look into motherhood. It is about career girl turned stay-at-home mom who's trying to navigate the world of Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram mommies but failing miserably. The story is refreshingly honest and although it is fiction, it mirrors the crazy expectations of motherhood and how we all try to be that "perfect mom".

 If you have other suggestions I would love to know! Enjoy.

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Someone's Trash is Another's Treasure

I am huge with owning secondhand things, our  home is mostly has secondhand goods and I think it gives our house a lot of character. When I found out I was pregnant with Franco, Dan and I bought a lot of second hand clothes and furniture which saved us a lot of money. I go to a lot of consignment and thrift shops for my clothes and honestly, no one would ever be able to tell that my style is not brand new! I have recently put together a clothes swap with my local mom's group and it was such a hit. It was adult and children clothes so we all benefited from this.

This past weekend I attended another clothes swap and it was a success. With just a few garments, I am able to mix and match many different outfits.
Also check out these boots!! Do you just love these!?

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Saturday morning my husband came home from estate sailing with his dad who is visiting and they found some great deals! We were in need of a new mirror and Dan found this guy for only $4. I swear he is the best with finding what we need an unbelievable price. He basically taught me everything I should know about thrift shopping.😉 That scale too, I am still deciding where to put it in the house!

Later on that day we were all taking a walk to dinner and saw that a house down the road was getting rid of a bunch of stuff. Check out what I scored below!
I couldn't believe that this was all going to go in the garbage. Okay I am going to admit, this picture is kind of creepy but I had to have it, I think it goes well with the lamp  that was included with our find!

I love milk glass, but I have a friend who loves them more. So these will be going to my friend who will continue giving these guys a good home!

These salad and fruit bowls were so hard to pass up. I had to have them all, they will get put to good use I swear!

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After that huge haul I thought our hunt was complete. That Sunday on our way blueberry and lavender picking, we came across an antique shop. Once again Dan found a great addition to our house...

With a toddler running around in our home, it has been a little difficult to decorate the way we want to, so when we find something like this, we get very excited. 

All of this for under $10, I think we did pretty well this weekend. Who knows what this coming weekend will bring! Do you enjoy thrift shopping at all? What were some of your lucky finds?

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