Baked Parsnip Fries

I had no clue what a parsnip was until I ventured into the land of homemade baby food making and started doing a little research. My son LOVED carrots (so much that he started turning orange) and I read that parsnips were very similar to carrots.

Basically a parsnip is the ugly cousin to a carrot. It has a weird root looking exterior and once cooked the parsnip has a sweet buttery and slightly spicy taste. The parsnip is also low in calories and high in fiber, which makes it the perfect substitute for potato french fries!

What you will need:

• 4- 5 parsnips
• 3 tbs of olive oil
• 1/2 tsp of sea salt
• 1/2 tsp of pepper
• 1/2 tsp of garlic powder

Directions:

1. Wash and peel the parsnips.
2. Cut them into french fry like slices. Try to make them all pretty similar in size so they bake evenly.
3. Place all the ingredients into a bowl and toss parsnip slices into mixture making sure to coat them all evenly.
4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (easy cleanup) and bake at 400 degrees for 3o minutes. Turn them once while baking. After 20 minutes check on them. A little crispy brown texture is what you are looking for. If they look done before the 30 minutes is up take them out.
5. Consume!

The sweet/slightly spicy taste of the parsnip really comes out when they are baked. If you like regular french fries I guarantee you will love these!

I will be making a giant batch of these for Super Bowl per my husband's request. The reason the bowl looks half empty is because by the time I actually got around to snapping a picture I had already consumed half of them. So yummy!

If you are a fan of parsnip fries you might also enjoy zucchini fries and cauliflower poppers.

Skin Care Tip of the Week * DIY Milk of Magnesia Mask*

This weeks skin care tip might seem a little strange but as strange as this may be...it works!

I recently heard about Milk of Magnesia as a topical mask from a fellow esthetician friend of mine. She has beautiful skin and told me she used it when pregnant to help reduce the extra oil and congestion she was having. I am having the same issues so I rushed to Target to pick up a little bottle. This has been a serious skin saver...not only on my face but I have been applying it on these annoying little bumps on my arms that I only get while pregnant and it has been drying and clearing them up!

What is Milk of Magnesia: It is a liquid saline laxative. When taken orally it works by drawing water out of the colon.

How it benefits oily skin: It works the same way as a clay mask and draws out excess oil of the skin. Milk of Magnesia is a little bit more gentle than clay and a great option if you are more on the sensitive side.

DIY Milk of Magnesium Mask:

1. Shake bottle before starting to make sure all of the active ingredients are mixed together.
   
2. Pour about 1 tbs of Milk of Magnesia into a small container.
3. Apply to face (chest or back) with a cotton pad or a facial brush.
   
4. Leave on for 20 minutes and remove using lukewarm water and a soft washcloth.
   
5. Make sure you follow up with a light moisturizer.

*This mask is only recommend for oily/acneic skin. Do not use if you have dry skin.

You can find Milk of Magnesia at your local drug store. I only recommend using the original non-flavored formula.

Depending on how oily your skin is you can do this 1-4 times per week.

Things that make me say yeay

I can not wait for spring! I have officially put away anything dark and gloomy. Hello bright and light shades.

The new issue of Martha Stewart magazine filled with fantastic Valentine's Day ideas.

Fresh baked kale chips. My favorite crunchy salty obsession. Recipe here.

Love this blush from Nars called Orgasm. It has the perfect amount of golden shimmer.

This picture cracks me up! I was trying to set up the shot for these pictures my husband took of my belly...and I needed him to stand there so I could check the lighting. I LOVE how I captured the perfect annoyed look! He might just kill me if he finds out I posted this but it was too funny not to share.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

On a side note: I have a fun new blog series that will be starting next week. I am SO excited to share it with you!

Big Changes

I have a confession to make. Before I was married and had kids I would always cringe a little whenever I heard a woman say their dream job was... "A stay at home Mom." That seemed so boring and uneventful to me.

I grew up in a family where both parents had very successful careers, which became their life. My Dad would be gone for weeks at a time on business trips and my Mom never knew when it was time to turn it off. Missing soccer games and important events because work was a priority became a normal for me.

My parents ended up getting divorced when I was 13 and I truly believe part of the reason was because they stopped making time for each other and their careers became more important. Everyone's parents were getting divorced so I convinced myself this was normal. I realize now how much it hurt me. I dealt with some pretty tough stuff while my family was being torn apart (things that I have never blogged about).

I made up my mind that marriage was a waste of time and people just stop liking each other after a while. My plan was to start a career and not even think about getting married or having kids until I was at least 30ish.

Things changed. I fell in love with a boy who I went to high school with and we got married at 21.

My plan to be a career woman was still very important to me when we got married. After a lot of long talks I realized I wanted my marriage to be different from my parents. We decided the best decision for our family was my husband was going to be the main money maker and I would eventually stay at home with our kids.

I knew I wanted to do "something" but someday I would have to turn it off and be content with being a full time Mom. I became a licensed esthetician and I loved it! I landed a pretty awesome job when I first started out working with a team of Doctors. I have always been motivated by money and my job was commission based so I was definitely bringing home a nice chuck of change each month. I became obsessed with selling and up-selling and constantly wanted to make more money. Now there is nothing wrong with wanting to make money but when it starts to affect your marriage and take over your thoughts it's not good. I realized I was turning into what I had feared most.

I took a step back and decided to quit my job and open my own business out of my home. My income was nothing like it was before but it did not matter. I was doing what I loved and helping people achieve beautiful skin...there was no more pressure, it was great!

Fast forward a few years down the road. I found out we were expecting a baby! What was I going to do about my clients and business? I worked until the very end of my pregnancy and started right back up 4 weeks after having Max. My clients were so important to me (sound familiar?). What was I becoming? I was working until 7 or 8pm just so I could "accommodate" everyone's schedules.

Well the time has come where it's time to shut it off for now. I will continue to educate myself and keep my license up to date but taking clients will no longer be my priority. I am pregnant with baby #2 and the most important thing to me is my family.

This weekend I made the plunge and started letting clients know that I will be taking a few years off to "Be a Mom." It felt so liberating!

Being a full time Mom is the best most fulfilling job in the world and I would not have it any other way. My kids will only be little once and I never want to be too busy missing out on things that matter most. I believe in breaking the cycle and I think it has officially been broken.

Oh and one more thing...being a stay at home is anything BUT uneventful. I was way wrong about that one.

*image via

Skinny Pancakes

The last time I had real pancakes was when I was going to college and drinking a little more than I probably should have been. Pancakes (and bagels) were the perfect hangover cure back then. That was also during a time when I wasn't taking the best care of myself and unfortunately my diabetes took a little back seat.

I have decided that just because I can't eat carbs does not mean I need to sacrifice some of my favorite foods. HELLO pancakes and mashed potatoes.

These might just change your life...okay maybe not but they have definitely made my Saturday mornings just a little bit more exciting. I used this recipe as a guideline and made a few tiny tweaks along the way. The magic ingredient in these pancakes that makes them virtually carb free is almond meal/flour.

What you will need:

• 1 and 1/2 cups of almond meal
  
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup of water
• 2 tbs of cooking oil. I use walnut oil
  
• 1 tsp of stevia or sweetener
• 1 tsp of cinnamon (optional but I think it makes them taste delicious)

* you could also add a dash of vanilla for a little extra sweetness.

Directions:

1. Mix all the ingredients together.
2. Measure out 1/4 cup of batter and pour onto a a hot pan will a little butter or oil. Cook them as you would normally cook pancakes.
   
3. Flip them when you see a few bubbles on the top and the underside is light brown.
   

If you are a carb counter here is a little break down of how "skinny" these really are...Pancake mix or regular flour has about 24 grams of carbs for every 1/4 cup, almond flour has only 3 grams of carbs for every 1/4 cup. That is a HUGE difference.

These definitely have the taste of almonds, which I love. They are not as sweet as regular pancakes but you can add blueberries or bananas into the mix to spruce them up a bit! I also recommend topping each pancake with a little butter. I noticed this helps to soften them up and make them taste even more like the real deal. Not only are these delicious but they will not make a dent on your scale!

PLEASE leave a comment below if you try these. I would love to know what you think!

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Skin Care Tip of the Week *Skin care for under $10*

I have received a ton of e-mails asking if I can recommend skin care products that are reasonably priced but still do the trick. I decided the best way to address this question was in a post.

In my own business I use and sell a professional only line but I am all for sharing inexpensive products that work...all while saving you a few dollars along the way.

All of the products I have listed are under $10.

1. Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Pore Scrub- a wonderful exfoliator that is free of any harmful additives and it is safe to use everyday.

2. Neutrogena Naturals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover- a gentle cleanser that cleans the skin and removes makeup without stripping your skin of it's natural oils.

3. Baking Soda- a personal favorite of mine! Add a tiny bit to your favorite cleanser and you have a homemade facial scrub. See full instructions here.

4. Jojoba Oil- the perfect all natural facial moisturizer. Jojoba oil is super light weight and actually mimics your own skin's natural oil production. It can actually "trick" your skin into thinking it has produced enough oil, which can help balance oil production. A few drops is all your need. You can also add a few drops to your favorite conditioner if your hair is feeling dry and frazzled.

5. Tee Tree Oil- a great spot treatment for acne. It is even better when applied cold. For more info you can read this post.

6. Dr. Jart Pore Medic Pore Clear Mask- a single use mask that tightens pores and controls oil. I have used this and I love it!

7. Rosebud Salve- a must have! This is one of my favorite products. Great for keeping your lips moisturized and also a great treatment for dry cuticles.

Do you have any favorite inexpensive products that you use and love? Please share!

Sweet Broiled Oranges

Citrus flavored anything has always been my favorite. While I would love to snack on Sour Patch Kids all day...type 1 diabetes and pregnancy does not allow that. I love finding delicious ways to still incorporate one of my favorite flavors but without all that unnecessary added sugar.

What you will need:

• A large orange
• 1 tbs of coconut sugar or raw brown sugar
• 1 tsp of cinnamon
  

Directions:

1. Slice orange in half. Remove seeds.
2. Using a sharp knife detach the orange from the peel. Slice the orange into sections following the natural pattern of the orange. This will make it easy for bite size pieces
3. Turn your broiler on high.
4. Sprinkle mixture of sugar and cinnamon onto orange.
   
5. Place orange halves into an oven safe dish and broil for about 6 minutes or until the sugar is brown and bubbling.
6. Enjoy right away! This little treat is best when it's straight out of the oven.
   

I have been making this almost weekly and when that little voice says, "I NEED sugar now!"..this does the trick! It's delicious, makes my house smell like a candy shop and is SO easy to make.

On a side note: I caved and created a Facebook page for Delighted Momma. I still refuse to get a personal account but I think it's great for fun updates on the blog. You can find it here.

DIY Glitter Bracelet

In my opinion glitter and sprinkles (see my not so awesome sprinkle cake here) make everything a little bit more fun.

This might be the easiest diy that I have ever done and it literally took a whole five minutes (plus drying time).

What you will need:

• Paper plate
• Paint brush
  
• Old bracelets
• Glitter. I used Martha Stewart gold glitter (same glitter that was used here).
• Mod Podge
  

Paint a heavy coat of Mod Podge on your bracelet.

Sprinkle the glitter onto the bracelet. Place the plate below to catch the extra glitter. Make sure you really get each little spot. If you miss any spots you can go back after it has dried and do a touch up with a little more Mod Podge and glitter.

Let your bracelet dry and you're done!

19 week baby bump + Things that make me say hmm

Since I will be delivering at 39 weeks this week officially means that I am halfway there! I can not believe how fast it seems to be going this time around. I recently started feeling little kicks and punches and that is seriously the BEST feeling in the world.


In no particular order...Things that make me say hmm.

1. If I didn't know I would have guessed you were having twins! You are showing SO early!
NOPE just one baby thanks. Maybe he is giant who knows. On a serious note baby #2 is growing just fine.

2. Are you suuuure your due date is in June?
Yes I am due in JUNE..thank you for double checking though.

3. Sooo how much weight have you gained?
I don't mind sharing my weight gain number AFTER the baby has come and after I have lost it, but as of now I cant even squeeze my thighs into my "fat day" jeans so I will keep it to myself.

4. Should you be bouncing around like that on the elliptical with a baby in there?
Yes the baby likes it and so do I.

5. Why are you so hormonal?! When will I get my normal wife back?
Well DUH (sweet husband) it's because I am growing a child in the belly...and I am pretty sure your normal wife will return.

6. Are your boobs completely thrashed from nursing your first child?!
HAHA I really was asked this question! The answer is no..but thank God for a good push up bra!


Those are just a few :) Did I miss any? Has any one ever said something to you while you were pregnant that made you say, "Hmmm?"

Skin Care Tip of the Week *How to clean your makeup brushes*

When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes? If it has been over a month it's time to get washing! It's important to clean your brushes at least once a month.

Cleaning your makeup brushes regularly will extend the shelf life of your makeup and help prevent the spread of bacteria, which can cause nasty side effects such as eye infections, acne and skin irritation.

A super easy and effective way to clean your brushes is to use all natural or organic baby shampoo.

Directions:

1. Fill a small bowl with 1 cup of lukewarm water
2. Add 1 tsp of baby shampoo ( I use Burt's Bees Baby Bee Shampoo & Wash)
3. Swirl your brushes in the mixture and use your fingers to gently clean each brush
4. Rinse your brushes in lukewarm water to remove any soapy residue
5. Reshape your brushes and lay flat to dry

Another way to clean your brushes is to use a mixture of 1 tsp of baking soda and 1 cup lukewarm water. Do the same routine as above.

So remember in order to keep your skin clear and free from unnecessary irritation clean your brushes monthly.

Things that make me say yeay

Finding the perfect striped cardigan in the men's section at Old Navy. It's so cozy and long enough to cover my not so tiny butt in leggings.

Our Sunday morning tradition...Starbucks and a walk around the lake (this is the lake where my stroller, iPhone and car keys fell in not too long ago)

Hanging up the first outfit purchased for baby #2

2 baby Fuji apples on our tree that have been hangin on for dear life...I decided to eat them. They were very...sour. Max liked them though.

When I am not pregnant yoga sounds about as much fun to me as sitting in an hour of traffic with nothing on the radio except endless commercials from Lap Band...but pregnancy and yoga is a completely different ballgame! I have been going a few times a week and I love it.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! I am headed to our 18 week ultrasound today to make sure baby #2 is growing properly.

DIY Candy Heart Bracelet

Image via

Candy hearts were my ultimate favorite thing to receive on Valentine's Day when I was a kid. I remember coming home from school and dumping all my candy on the floor as I searched for those first. There is something so nostalgic about candy hearts that I will always love.

SO obviously this DIY was inspired by one of my favorite childhood candies...and of course it involves polymer clay...duh ;)


What you will need:

• A roller. A large marker will also work
• 4 different colors for your heart candy beads.
• Small heart cutout (purchased at Michaels)
• Toothpick
• Cord for bracelet

Use the roller and roll out a semi thick flat piece of clay. Take the heart stencil and stamp out a heart. T0 get the piece of clay out of the stencil use the eraser of a pencil to gently press it out. Do this same process for each color.

Gently poke a hole in the heart. Tip: if you want to avoid fingerprints use a latex glove.

Place your hearts on a baking sheet and bake according to clay directions.

Attach beads on the cord and you're done! I used a magnetic closure for the back.

And because everything is more fun when its stacked...

I would love to see your version if you make this!

Baked Cauliflower Poppers

When I think of a crunchy salty snack... chips, french fries and carb loaded goodies (everything I have been craving this pregnancy but resisting) come to mind. I recently heard about cauliflower poppers and I knew I had to try them.

I have said before that I am not a big fan of raw cauliflower (yucky) but after I made skinny mashed potatoes using cauliflower I knew it was my new favorite lo-carb substitute.

What you will need:

• 2 heads of cauliflower
• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
2. Wash and clean the cauliflower. Cut off and discard the stem. Cut the cauliflower up into small pieces.
3. In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, salt and pepper. Add the cauliflower pieces and thoroughly coat each piece.
4. Place cauliflower pieces onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for one hour and turn 3 times during cooking until each piece has a nice brown coloring. The browner they are the better.
5. Remove from oven and enjoy!

I made these on Sunday and my husband loved them! He said they tasted like french fries (I agree). The great part is that you can happily eat the entire batch and not feel guilty at all.

Skin Care Tip of the Week *3 foods that may be causing skin problems*

Every esthetician has their own opinion about whether or not food causes acne. While I do not believe that eating a piece of chocolate will cause you to break out into a pimply mess, I do believe that everything you eat impacts your skin one way or another. Eating too much of a certain food can cause blockage in your digestive tract as well as other internal issues and this in turn can cause you to break out.

I am not suggesting you stop eating or drinking these foods altogether (I LOVE a good milk latte) I am just saying if you are having trouble with your skin you may want to think about cutting back on these.

3 foods that may be causing skin problems

Peanuts- Peanuts are actually legumes (a plant that bares its fruit in a pod) not a nut. Unfortunately peanuts are very prone to mold and fungi and that is why so many people have allergic reactions to them. I also personally notice every time I indulge in one too many peanuts I break out like clockwork. Even though peanut butter is SO good a better choice for your body and your skin is almond butter.

Cows Milk- Milk is a mucus forming food that overtime can build up along the walls of your intestines. This can make you tired, cause acne and other non beautifying things that you most likely want to avoid. A better choice for everyday consumption is almond milk (my favorite), coconut milk and hemp milk.

Processed Foods- I am sure you are aware that most chips and processed foods are not healthy for you. The reason for this is because they are loaded with chemicals that give them that cheesy or artificial flavor and bright coloring. Your body is not meant to consume mass amounts of these foods and when you do your digestive tract has to work extra hard just to digest them. This in turn can cause your skin to show signs of distress, aging and acne.


If you would like to learn more about beautifying foods and foods you should avoid for better health and skin I highly suggest The Beauty Detox Solution.