My midwives recently introduced me to Laborade and I’m so pumped to let y’all in on this secret. They advised me to make the concentrate ahead of birth! I’m so intrigued by this stuff. My husband and I tried it the night I prepared it, and it’s actually great! (I’ll have him replace the sugary electrolyte drinks for laborade when he’s doing tons of outdoor manual labor on our land from now on!)

This pasta dish is YUM and packed with my favorite veggies! I used produce that I picked up from my local farmer’s market and fresh cheese to make it extra special. It’s always gobbled up pretty quick in my house (even by my toddlers!)

If you’ve had a baby, maybe you’ve made padsicles! My friends and I get pregnant all together, it seems. Last pregnancy, we planned a padsicle making date and had a little assembly line going! We made so many and all took home a bag full each.

What’s a padsicle?

It’s basically a pad that turns into a medicated ice pack for “down there” to provide relief after delivery.

Okay.. I’ve never had a more requested recipe than the cinnamon roll hack I posted to my instagram! Let me tell you.. they’re insane. Like unreal. Extremely unhealthy, so don’t even hope. Ooey Gooey goodness.. and these hacks make every bite delicious. You know how everyone goes for the center cinnamon rolls and avoids the dry, bread-y outside parts? Yeah.. not with this hack. Every bite will taste like the center! That’s why I decided to name these “Middle Bite” Cinnamon Rolls.

Here’s your ultimate guide to back-to-school staples, the southern way!

Natchitoches, LA is the Christmas capital of the south and FILLED with charm. This quaint small town is a must visit for an old soul like myself.

There’s just something special about homemade spaghetti sauce. It IS different than jarred marinara & when I have the ingredients and the time, I love to treat my family to made-from-scratch spaghetti. My Nana taught me how to make this and told me that Papaw swears no one makes it the same!

If you think there isn’t bacon in this recipe.. then you thought wrong! Backyard BBQ, picnic, or any summertime gathering.. this potato salad needs to be THERE! So go ahead, sign up to bring it. Guests go nuts over it! I have yet to find one that even comes close.

I’ve pinpointed a few differences I’ve made with my second child that I believe made my experience EASIER, allowing me to be more present with my daughters (which resulted in me being a better Mama). These are in random order!

In my opinion, these green beans are better than Cracker Barrel’s.. & that says a LOT! I think I could just about make this my whole meal. I prepare these + some sort of potato as a side for meat all the time.

My whole family is spread across The South. We’ve lived or visited every corner! Which has given me a special appreciation for the unique culture. I love that each state has something different to offer! The Lone Star State is so different than the Low Country or the Cajun Bayou (translation: Texas, South Carolina & Louisiana) but they’re ALL Southern. 

I love this “creamy” spin on chili. I grab these ingredients the SECOND the temperatures drop. It’s super easy and delicious. This is also a great meal to feed to a large group! (I’m thinking.. Super Bowl party!)

Lemon Chicken Piccata is one of our family favorites! It’s awesome, because it can be guilt free! This is a dish that can be made light!

Wassail will always remind me of cozy, cold weather and good times with family in Tennessee. Every time I go to Tennessee I beg my Aunt Kim to make it for me! Apparently it’s an old recipe from the Tennessee mountains.

I get so excited when I walk into my Aunt Kim’s house and can instantly tell she made Wassail. People remember the smell of your home! Make sure it’s a good one. Having wassail ready to serve is my favorite way to fill my house with the coziest smell during the holidays. Plus, it’s delicious!

I can’t think of anything more classic and dainty to serve than a warm scone- with tea or coffee! My mother can whip these up like no one’s business.. and she does, often! This is our go to recipe any time we have girlfriends over. (but guys go crazy over them too) They display really beautifully and we always get complimented on how yummy they are!

Whether friends or family are coming over for a dinner, play date, to stay the night or even just to drop something off- here are the top 5 things I do in my home right before a guest arrives.

My mom taught me to have pride in my appearance, while not obsessing over it. (Let’s address this first- I don’t care if you look like Miss America if your heart isn’t beautiful too.. we could talk all day about this.)

This recipe is one of my absolute favorite dinner “go to’s” for fall & winter time! It’s delicious, but also really beautiful on a platter. I like to make it for just my family, or double the recipe and make two if we have several people visiting. Warning- you won’t have any leftovers!