a German on a Journey

I am now almost 5 months postpartum and still trying to figure this whole "mom-thing" out. Most people don't talk about how challenging it can be to juggle being a mother and partner AND to also still be your own person. My life has changed a lot and while I absolutely love my son and new family dynamic, I struggle with finding time and energy to dedicate to the things that made me "me" pre-baby. One of those things being: eating healthy and balanced meals. I was in, what I believe to have been, the best shape of my life pre-pregnancy, which was partially due to a complete lifestyle change a few years back. I adjusted my daily diet and followed a frequent yoga practice. Now, as I am caring for a baby, while also still breastfeeding, I find it rather difficult to revert back to all that. I know I need to give myself time and be kinder to myself, but easier said than done, am I right ladies?! So, the first step to a healthier "me" is to stick to fres...

It's hard to believe three months have gone by since our little Peanut was born! What a whirlwind! Motherhood is by far the hardest, but also most fulfilling job I ever had to take on. Between my body healing and having to get used to caring for a newborn, the first couple of weeks were extremely challenging. However, once we got into the swing of things, we decided to take on the challenge of traveling to Florida with the baby! I had pretty low expectations, but can happily report that it went better than I could have imagined! Not only was I able to enjoy the last week of my maternity leave under palm trees, but Jalen got to meet his family from Germany and from Fort Lauderdale for the first time. Win-win, if you ask me! While my last blog post was about traveling during pregnancy, my first post as a mommy is about traveling with an infant!  Plan ahead and research what you can bring on the flight. Most airlines allow you to check car seats & strollers at no extra co...

As I am writing this post, the 10 day countdown to my due date has officially begun. Although time seems to be standing still at this point, it really feels like only a few weeks ago that I was out of my first trimester and was able to really start enjoying my pregnancy. We are extremely anxious to meet our little munchkin and I feel like he will complete this family unit. JR and I have been together for 16 years and I am sure it will be an adjustment to share each other with another little human, but it feels so right to bring a combination of the two of us into this world. We booked our recent trip to Berlin a week before I found out I was pregnant, but I always knew that I wanted us to take a "Baby Moon" if I was lucky enough to conceive. I might have chosen more of a beachy get-away, but since the trip to see our family for Christmas was already booked, it was settled to babymoon in Germany! Following are some tips on how to prepare and enjoy your last vacation...

It's almost time for Christmas and we are getting ready to fly to Germany to visit my family. My favorite thing to do in Berlin, besides just spending time with everyone, is to visit Christmas Markets - or "Weihnachtsmarkt" in German. If you want a little taste of this wonderful German tradition, head to Asbury Park, NJ this weekend and check out two great spots that are adult and kid friendly! I went 2 Saturdays ago to meet one of my besties and it was the perfect way to get me into the holiday mood! First, check out the  Holiday Bazaar at the Convention Hall . While the larger market within the main part of the hall has ended, you can still visit the Last Minute Shoppers Bazaar located in the Arcade and listen to some live music while picking out gifts. The Convention Hall also features a yummy restaurant  and coffee shop. Bundle up and take a stroll down the boardwalk with a hot chocolate. I personally love the beach in the winter time! Afte...

As my second trimester is coming to an end soon, I wanted to open up and share some tips that have made the first couple months of pregnancy a little easier on me. Perhaps there are some soon-to-be-mommies out there who can find some comfort in knowing: "You are not alone"!!! Although I was over-the-moon excited about seeing those two pink lines on the stick, overwhelming emotions soon set in as my body started going through its changes.  Please remember that everyone's pregnancy is different and these are just things that helped me personally :) Give in to the fact that your clothes will start getting tight - I believe if you look good, you feel good, so wear clothes that fit and are comfortable. Although most maternity clothes are completely overpriced, you don't actually have to spend a fortune: Check if any of your mommy friends still have maternity clothes they are looking to get rid of. Utilize second hand sites like Thred Up or Poshmark. Most of the it...

It's been a while since our last vacation, so naturally, I am dreaming of another get-away! Our last trip was to visit my husband's family in Fort Lauderdale. During our stay there, we also rented a car and took a three hour drive down to Key West for a night. If you've never explored Florida's Southernmost point, I highly recommend visiting the Florida Keys. You can easily fly into Miami or Fort Lauderdale, rent a car, and drive south for a few days. It doesn't require a passport, yet it feels like you are in a different country!  Sunset Pier at the Ocean Key Resort and Spa Unfortunately, it was a bit overcast when we arrived, but what's a little rain when it is warm and you're surrounded by palm trees and smiling faces?! And there are tons of activities to do while taking shelter from an impromptu shower. See list at the end of the post! Lorelei Restaurant Cabana & Bar Since we drove down from Fort Lauderdale early in the morning, we...

Last, but definitely not least, I finish my Clean Food Friday series with a real treat: 2 guilt-free & delicious Nice Cream recipes! First up: Very Berry Banana - this one is so refreshing and can be made with fresh or frozen berries. The consistency of the Nice Cream tends to be more like sorbet if you use frozen berries, though. I love playing around with toppings, too. I used little fruit cutters for the banana stars and dragon fruit flowers! The blackberries are starting to be in season right now, so I like to stock up on those. I also sprinkled some coconut flakes for some added tropical flavor! Bananas are a definite must-have for Nice Cream. I buy them in bulk and freeze them once they turn brown. Note: make sure to peel and slice the bananas before freezing them! I love stocking up on any seasonal fruit and freezing what I don't use. This way I can enjoy smoothies in the winter time, as well! I'm also sharing a recipe for Peanut Butter Chocolate...

Don't let the name fool you - these muffin-look-alikes actually have more of a raw cookie dough consistency and are addicting! A friend of mine sent me the original recipe and although I was hesitant to make treats out of CHICKPEAS, I was hooked as soon as I tasted the first batch. They are so fudgy, sweet, and filling that I usually go through a batch in a few days!  I have modified the recipe a little by adding plant based protein powder instead of honey & vanilla extract. It's hard to believe they are completely gluten-, grain-, and dairy-free.  You can modify the toppings to your liking, too. I used unsweetened coconut flakes and chopped walnuts. For my next batch I want to try some cocoa nibs! YUM! You could also drizzly them with some extra peanut butter. Are you hungry yet?! The recipe below yields about 10 "muffins". They stay fresh in the fridge for about 5 days. If you don't think you will finish them in 5 days, they are great for freezin...

Happy Friday! It's time for another clean-eating recipe that I often make. I like to meal prep at the beginning of the week by making several portions of vegetables, brown rice, quinoa, and some type of protein. "Meal-Prep" always sounded like such a daunting term and something only the organized moms or fitness connoisseurs took the time to do. But once I got over the actual term, I really found that it saves me so much time through out the week AND helps me save money, while eating healthy. Through out the week I just alternate between what I prepared so that I don't eat the same combinations every day. Since most of my veggies are roasted in the oven, I get this done fairly quickly!  Two items I always try to incorporate are chickpeas and sweet potatoes. They take on seasonings really well so that I can alternate between different flavor profiles. Also, they are packed with protein, fiber, and Vitamin A & C. I like cooking with colorful ingredients, so...

Full disclosure: I do not eat a strict Vegan or even Vegetarian diet, however, I try my best to make conscious food decisions and to also have fun with making my own meals, rather than buying processed food. What really changed the way I eat was a post from Cassey Ho, social media fitness entrepreneur and creator of the YouTube channel "Blogilates". She presents a free  28 Day Reset Challenge  which is a training program that teaches you how to eat real food and helps clean out your body from built up toxins. What attracted me to this was that it is not a diet, but a nutritional program that eliminates gluten, processed foods, dairy, and added sugars  to "help jump-start your metabolism while helping you discover which foods are causing bloating, inflammation, intolerance, and stubborn fat loss" (Cassey Ho). So in the spirit of eating healthier and being more conscious of ingredients, I want to share some recipes for the next few weeks. First up is this delicio...

It's been quite some time since my last post...I must admit my creative motivation has been lacking a bit, but after this past weekend, I feel refreshed! If you are looking to deepen your yoga practice beyond just postures, I highly recommend checking out  Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch  in the Catskills of New York. My girlfriend Amy, with whom I have been able to share my love for yoga, found  this unique retreat for us to attend over the Easter Holiday and it was an amazing experience.  As per  Yogapedia , an "ashram" is "the name traditionally given to a spiritual hermitage or a Hindu monastery. It can be used to describe the place where a spiritual or religious guru and their disciples live". I had never visited an ashram before, therefore I really didn't have any expectations, but after three days of full immersion into deeper spiritual living, I know I will be back sooner than later!  Swami Vishnudevananda founded the ranch in 197...