Discover Crispy, Nutty, Snacking This Summer + Enter To Win With The #NutThinsContest

This post was sponsored by Blue Diamond® Nut-Thins and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Does anyone else find they snack more, the more they have on their plate?

Their metaphorical plate that is.

I'm definitely a grazer who loves to snack while I do things. The more I do the more I like to have something small on hand to nibble as I progress.

Naturally this form of snacking can get dangerous quickly. If I ate a chocolate snack cake every-time I tackled a project things would get pretty sticky quick. Luckily I have a few snacking go-tos on hand at all times, to not only satisfy my need to nibble, but help keep me full, fueled, and focused.

Crackers, or chips, are a vice for many.

They are not only often salty and flavorful but offer a satisfying crunchy crisp texture that makes snacking fun.

Then you have those who love to have a serving or two of their favorite nuts, perhaps with some fresh fruit, or a little dairy. A particularly favorite snack of mine, but a serving of most nuts doesn't amount to much and is often gone before the snacking begins.

Enter Blue Diamond® Nut-Thins, the snack made with California rice flour and Blue Diamond® nuts. They're heart crackers with a satisfying crisp texture sturdy enough for toppings and dips. The original variety, and many favorite flavors, feature Blue Diamond® Almonds, though new varieties also feature ingredients such as pecans or honey for a shake up in flavor.

If you're wondering where this amazing pairing of nut and cracker has been all your life, then this is the perfect time to discover Blue Diamond® Nut-Thins at a retailer near you. First check out the product locator, then head into your local retailer and snap a selfie where you find Blue Diamond® Nut-Thins on the shelf.

A shelfie, if you will.

Sure, you'll want to commemorate this glorious occasion, the day you discovered the cracker to replace all crackers; but there's also a little something else in it for you too.

Right now your in store shelfie could win you one of $3000 in prizes when you snap a photo of yourself with Nut-Thins in store and head on over to the Nut-Thins 2 Win Scavenger Hunt and Sweepstakes page. For the chance to win a $1,000 gift card, just find Nut-Thins in any grocery store, take a selfie with the product on the shelf, and post it on your public Instagram or Twitter account using the hashtag #NutThinsContest, OR upload it to NutThins2win.com! No purchase necessary- No shelfie? No problem, you can still enter to win a select few smaller prizes, such as gift cards to amazing retailers like Ralphs, Vons, and Target when you enter to win at the Nut-Thins 2 Win micro-site.

While I was in store snapping my shelfie I made sure to stock up on some of our favorite Blue Diamond® Nut-Thins varieties so my pantry would be ready not just for summer snack-attacks, but those unexpected guests and last minute entertaining events that always seem to pop up during the warmer months. Blue Diamond® Nut-Thins are entirely wheat and gluten free with no artificial flavors making them the perfect crowd pleaser for all of my friends and family. The hardest decision is simply which boxes to put out and share; as I tend to want to hoard my favorite varieties for myself.

Speaking of favorite Blue Diamond® Nut-Thins in Honey Mustard and Cheddar Cheese offer a packed full of flavor experience that really shines on their own. Original Blue Diamond® Nut-Thins feature the light nutty flavor of rice and almonds that pairs perfectly with everything from dips such as hummus to spreadable cheese and kalamata olives. They're not salty or sweet, so they go great with fresh fruit too.

I've got to admit, I'm feeling a bit empowered to snack and entertain more this summer with Blue Diamond® Nut-Thins by my side, but I'm also feeling quite inspired by some of the recipes I've seen lately on their Instagram feed. Just check out this completely unique and refreshing take on Nutty Lemon Bars which uses Blue Diamond® Nut-Thins Hint of Sea Salt to bring a fun texture and flavor to a classic summertime baked treat. What do you imagine you could do when you entertain or snack with Blue Diamond® Nut-Thins? Make sure to enter the #NutThinsContest by July 29th, 2018 for your chance to win!

4 Ingredient Nutella Cookies- AKA: Instant Bliss

Momma Told Me: Less is more.

By now my regular readers know a few things about me. 1. I am personally on a mission to cut back on sugar and eat healthier in general. 2. I bake at least once a week in mass quantities for my bowling league. 3. When I don't have the time, and can't eat the sweets, I am always in need of quick and simple recipes to meet the demand of my league-mates. And that's precisely how this week's recipe was first made. In fact, this simple 4 (3 if you skip the nut garnish) ingredient recipe has been requested so much, I've made it twice since on request.

I love this particular recipe because there is no added sugar- your sugar content comes from your chocolate hazelnut spread, and you can eliminate most of the sugar by going for healthier Nutella copycat brands. I know, I know, but I love the taste of Nutella, Jenna. Trust me, the struggle is real- that thick, dark, hazelnut goodness gets me every time. Thankfully these cookies are not only easy to make, they're also very rich, you likely will find yourself satisfied after just 1 or 2. Even better, I make them bite-sized, so there's no mess of cookie crumbs when serving them on the go.

It couldn't be easier to toss some Nutella, egg, and flour into a mixer and whip up this dough. You'll notice the dough is initially very crumbly. I panicked at first, worrying it would never mold into solid cookie dough balls, but 15 minutes in the fridge proved me wrong.

The recipe calls for a tablespoon portioning system- I prefer to just pinch of chunks of dough and hand roll them. If you're not very good at 'eyeballing' your portions a melon ball scoop will give you the perfect portion, but some forming will still likely need to be done by hand given the dense yet crumbly nature of the dough.

Before you bake your balls of happiness you'll want to make a small well in the center with your thumb or the back of a spoon. Pipe your chocolate hazelnut spread directly into this well. Don't worry, it won't run during the baking process, you can 'pipe' quite high if you're feeling especially decadent. The original recipe calls for crushed hazelnuts to be sprinkled atop. I use slivered almonds because I typically have them in my pantry, and they're a bit more economical, with a very similar texture and flavor when prepared in such a small quantity.

Bake your cookies for not more than 10 minutes. They won't really 'spread' or rise. For the most part the way they go in is the way they come out, but with more of a fluffy 'baked' texture. Because these cookies are meant to be dense they will crack and fall apart if over-baked. I suggest doing a test batch to start, and removing at 8 minutes. Be sure to pull your cookies off of the hot surface and onto a cool one immediately upon removing from the oven, or the bottoms will continue to brown. The cookies are baked to perfection when the color and texture is even to the center when broken in half. Serve these bite sized cookies war for the biggest impact, or chilled with a shot of almond milk. Now, tell me, do you have a favorite recipe that's 5 ingredients or less? I love new kitchen hacks!

What Daughter Says: Whenever someone asks for this recipe I'm a bit embarrassed. It is so simple I don't think I can take any credit. However, simple certainly can be delicious!

4 Ingredient Nutella Cookies

***Click here for printable 4 Ingredient Nutella Cookies Recipe

The Masks We Wear- Featuring Imagine By Rubie's

Momma Told Me: Masks are an accessory, only you can define the person behind them.


With all of the Marvel and superhero hype over the past few years the topic of superheroes is constantly brought up in discussions with friends, as well as during the children's free play. Girl or boy, the kids in our group can't get enough of superheroes. But an interesting question was asked by the 8 year old, and promptly answered by the 5 year year old just the other day;

Daisy (8): "If superheroes are so awesome, why do they need a disguise to cover up who they really are?"

Lynnsey (5): "Because nobody would believe they had super powers if they didn't wear their uniforms!"

Of course any self respecting nerd knows that superheros commonly devise a uniform, or disguise, as a way to ultimately protect their identity from the villains who seek to harm them. More specifically, to protect the identity of those they love and care for most. But this did bring up an interesting theme for a conversation. Most modern day superheroes follow a universe story-line in which their identities are quite public. Sure, some people need their mask to function as part of a suit (Ant-Man, Iron Man, etc) but do superheroes need a uniform in order to be super?

The answer is, of course, no.

When I was a little girl Momma forbid masks in the house. While I suspect this was party due to a -minor- incident involving a Halloween mask, the upstairs hallway, and my father's lack of appropriate timing in something that was otherwise humorous (long story,) she maintained that "While you will wear many hats in your life, you need never wear a mask." It was her argument that I could be whatever I wanted, no matter what I wore. She was right, of course.

But are masks always used as a crutch, something to hide behind?

For a long time I struggled with this myself. As a blogger I find I am almost constantly wearing some form of mask- whether it's a touched up photo, or simply the best angle of my home on camera. My physical impression is loud, dramatic, and strong- but it's just the surface of what I have to offer, and what lies beneath. At the same time, the socially awkward, anxious, introvert that first put on this mask 5 years ago has found confidence and strengths behind it. Strengths I take with me when the mask is off. The person I am when the camera is away, when I'm 'on my own,' has tremendously benefited from the mask I wear.

Our masks in life are our accessories. They don't define our superpowers, and we are no less fantastic once we take them off. Okay, it would be a little strange watching a man in a button down and jeans fly through the sky to rescue a woman from a burning building- but that's only because we're conditioned to look for something flashy and different in the first place. Clark Kent doesn't become Superman, he is always Superman, uniform or not, his powers, his heart, his determination, don't go away. So, the next time in your life you feel as though you are naked, caught without a mask, remember it was you who conquered and overcame every single time before.

Of course, us modern day superheroes have to make due without all the glitz and glamor of custom outfits, cascading capes, and glittered masks. It's just not practical on a blogger's budget, you know? But you and your little ones can enjoy authentic DC licensed masks and costumes from Imagine by Rubies. No, this is not a sponsored mention, we just happened across 2 of their masks and have thoroughly enjoyed them. You'll find the My Super Best Friends (glitter) kid's mask and DC Batman mask made by Imagine by Rubie's seen above on Amazon and at a variety of toy retailers nationwide. Regardless, let's discuss what it means to be your own superhero and what types of masks we wear in the real world today!


What Daughter Says: Be your own superhero, no matter the uniform.

Add A Little Mystery To Your Glass, Try The Sparkling Ice Mystery Flavor + Enter To Win!

This post is sponsored by Sparkling ICE but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Sunshine. Blue Skies. Crashing Waves. Beach Curls. Tan Lines. Grand Adventures. Sno Cones. Unicorn Floaties. Instagram Sunsets. Satellite Radio. Road Trips. Fireworks. Lazy Mornings. Late Nights. First Kisses. A Little Mystery. A Whole Lot Of Flavor. Zero Calories. Effervescence.

These are all things that make Summers amazing.

And now you can enjoy many of them together with just one Sparkling Ahhhh! sip of an ICE cold, zero calorie, zero sugar, antioxidant and vitamin, flavor packed limited edition Mystery Flavor Sparkling Ice.

You may remember my fizziest secret from 2017, Sparkling Ice, the zero calorie flavored water beverage every fridge, party, and road trip needs to keep the flavor rocking and fizzing.

I don't just love Sparkling Ice for their 16, yes 16, fruit packed flavors that keep my fridge looking like a liquid rainbow fruit stand- I love it for everything it does and doesn't have. Zero Sugar. Zero Calories. Maximum sparkle in the form of fizzy carbonation. Natural flavors in simple and exotic fruit combinations from Ginger Lime and Pomegranate Blueberry to Peach Nectarine and Classic Lemonade. Flavors packed with vitamins and antioxidants so I can Sparkle day and night without a shimmer of guilt.

Sparkling Ice is anything but bland.

This isn't your grandmother's Tonic Water, this is full in in your face, taste bud dancing, lip fizzing flavor in a variety that never gets boring. It's the perfect Summer beverage for all of those cookouts and parties- just look for the sleek and trendy colorful bottles near the other sparkling drinks at a beverage aisle in a store near you. Because they are zero calorie and 100% flavor Sparkling Ice makes for great cocktail mixers, or simply combine your favorite flavors with one another for a fun Summer inspired mocktail.

Of course for those who truly want to inject some extra MYSTERY into their Summer, Sparkling Ice has released a truly mouth-watering, taste bud perplexing, fruity Mystery Flavor everyone will be reaching for.

What Is It?

Well I can't quite tell you- you'll just have to try it for yourself and guess for your chance at 1 of over 450 amazing prizes, thanks to a special #WhatTheFlavorSweeps running now through July 31st, 2018. Spot the limited edition Sparkling Ice Mystery Flavor on a shelf near you, try it, then enter your professional flavor guess once a day on the What The Flavor Sweepstakes landing page. Or, enter daily by sharing your guess directly to Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #WhatTheFlavorSweeps. There are a ton of amazing prizes to be won in weekly drawings, as well as an insane Grand Prize, so be sure to enter every single day!

Perhaps one of the best things about Sparkling Ice Mystery Flavor is the fun and mystery it instantly injects into any everyday event, or less than everyday gathering. Once I pulled a bottle out of the fridge and out onto the patio during last week's BBQ the family quickly began swarming to inspect the unusual bottle, sniff the contents like an Ice connoisseur, and nabbing stolen sips.

I'll admit, the Mystery flavor smells quite intoxicating on first sniff- it's a fruity scent that isn't all any one thing at a time. In one sniff I was reminded of Fruit Stripes bubblegum, while another had a very tropical island profile. Just when you think you've placed the flavor you take another sip and are entirely stumped again.

My best tip to solve this sippy Summer mystery?

Take a look at the Sparkling Ice website and all of the amazing fruity flavors in the 16 flavor Sparkling Ice water lineup. Many times I was sure I had nailed the flavor only to remember there was already a near identical flavor already in the lineup.

What could it be?

Keep your eyes peeled on the Sparkling Ice social channels for the big reveal August 1st, 2018!

Enjoy your favorite Sparkling Ice straight from the bottle poolside, with frozen fruit 'cubes,' in a fancy glass with a twisty straw, or really any way at all. There is no wrong way to Sparkle when you can have all the fruity flavor with zero calories. But, whatever you do- make sure you hunt down and pick up several bottles of the Mystery Flavor so you can play along and add a little extra mystery to your sip this Summer. What flavor would you love to sip when you try the limited edition Sparkling Ice Mystery Flavor?

Banana Split Strawberries Recipe

Momma Told Me: Taste the season.

When I was a young girl we'd overnight strawberries to my grandparents in Massachusetts. This might seem like a silly thing to do, but I've heard all too well the plight of over-priced, over-ripe, tiny strawberries on the East Coast. See, I grew up quite literally walking past the strawberry fields to school, and my little Southern California town is known as one of the strawberry capitals of the country. We even hold a massive strawberry festival each Spring. A life without fresh, ripe, dippable, bursting with flavor strawberries never occurred to me as I was painting my shirt, fingers, and face with strawberry juice as a child.

I've had many tell me that my local strawberries are some of the best they've ever had. I suppose I take it for granted when I can walk to a stand several blocks from my house and pick up a fresh (picked that morning) flat for just $6. And for those not savvy with the market lingo- a flat is many many baskets- 8, to be exact. Yes, I know, you probably pay $5-6 for a pint even in season, if you live in a cold climate state.

So what does all this have to do with anything? Am I just rubbing my beautiful berry fortune in your face? Well, yes, and no. Strawberries simply are a staple here for most of the year. We don't have groves of fresh peaches, and the corn is often lacking, but every Spring and Summer we feast on the most beautiful, delicious, berries. And, with an entire flat on the kitchen counter, I come up with a lot of creative ways to serve and enjoy them.

In the Summer anything frozen is a hit- But I try not to keep ice cream on hand- or it'll get eaten and,  nobody needs that temptation around. Needless to say, my favorite, banana splits, are reserved for ice cream parlors and special occasions. That's where the genius of these banana split strawberries come in- a healthier version of a classic treat in a single portion, bite sized package. They're especially great frozen and thawed at room temperature for 5 minutes, or served fresh at a Summer party.

So this recipe, needless to say, is insanely simple, requires no baking, and can be made in about 30 minutes with some ingredients most people have on hand already. Since I'm watching my sugar, I even found a delicious sugar free pudding mix to use as the base for my pineapple banana filling- and it chills to the most wonderful texture, thanks to the artificial sweeteners.

Of course anybody can core out strawberries and fill them with deliciousness- who am I to judge if you just straight up nozzle some whipped cream in the center and call it done? The sentiment is still there- banana splits IN strawberries. And these pack an adorable punch at that. But I do have to say, the creamy, fluffy, pudding filling is the perfect companion to the crunch of the chocolate dipped shell and the gooey chocolate fudge.

Most recipes that require coring use a melon baller. Well, I don't own one, and most berries are going to be too small for one. I actually used a sturdy teaspoon measuring spoon to carefully carve out the center of my berries. It worked perfectly!  You'll also want to cut just the tip of the strawberries off to help them stand after being dipped. Be careful though, these will be top heavy when filled- when in doubt, cut a little extra off. The filling is thick and shouldn't leak or run through.
Who doesn't love a chocolate dipped strawberry? Well, those who don't like strawberries I suppose- but then, you wouldn't be reading this, would you? Prepare your gorgeous strawberry split vessels by dipping them in a thinned chocolate solution. I like to use a little bit of coconut oil, rather than butter, to give my chocolate a quick melting, even consistency. The trick is to get the chocolate just thin enough to begin running down the sides when you place it on your resting tray.

A banana split isn't complete without all the trimmings, so you'll want to dip those chocolate dipped berries in some chopped nuts if you're a fan of the full split experience. Make sure you send your dipped, filled berries to the freezer for about 5 minutes to properly chill and set them before you move on the my favorite part- the hot fudge drizzle.

Hot fudge, sprinkles, and a cherry on top complete the split experience and make these quite literally a bite of banana split at your fingertips! Every time I see one of these beauties it makes me smile and reminds me of wonderful childhood memories scarfing down a sundae or split in my pajamas on a Friday night. Even better, I can enjoy 1 or 2 in a sitting without feeling all the guilt of a heavy ice cream treat!

So that's what I've been nomming on in my kitchen- Is there a seasonal fruit or veggie you have local that you just can't get enough of in the Summer?



What Daughter Says: Strawberries mean Summer in my little hometown- and it just wouldn't be Summer without them!

Banana Split Strawberries 

***Click here for a printable Banana Split Strawberries recipe