a German on a Journey

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