Hello Monday & A Guest Post!

I am so excited about today's post because it is a guest post from one of my favorite bloggers, Heather from  Notes from the Nelsens.

Heather & I have been reading each others blogs for years.....Before she had kids & before Luke was even born.  

We are switching places today & sharing on each other's blogs.

I am so excited for you to get to know & love Heather like I have!

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Hey there! I'm Heather Nelsen, and I write a lifestyle, food and family blog over at Notes from the Nelsens.

I am so excited to be switching spaces with Mel today! If we didn't live across the country from each other, I am quite certain we'd be hang-out friends. :)

In the picture above you'll see my husband, Matt, who I swooped up in high school, our two kids, Ryan (2) and Natalie (9 months), who have made our lives so much richer, and our dog, Tally, who we refer to as the first born because we made the mistake of treating him like a child before we had real children. 😉

Travel, food, family, and faith are just a few of the things you'll find me writing about over at my space, so feel free to stop by, and say hello when you do!

You can also find me Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Bloglovin'.

Today, Mel and I wanted to share a few of our favorite and most popular recipes with you guys. Be sure to check out her post on my blog here!

recipe here

recipe here

recipe here

recipe here

recipe here

recipe here


I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving! I'm praying we all make the time to pause among the beautiful chaos and recognize the big and small things we have to be grateful for.

Thanks again for having me, Mel!
And don't forget to check out her guest post here!



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Thank you so much Heather for switching places today!
Those recipes look amazing....I can't wait to try the twice baked potatoes and the Gnocchi with cream sauce...YUM!
I love you & your sweet family and I agree...if we didn't live across the country from each other, we would totally be in real life friends :)

I also wanted to let you know that What's Up Wednesday will be THIS Wednesday 11/23


I know we normally do it the last Wednesday of the month, but because of the holidays, we are doing it a week early this month and next month (our December link up will be on 12/21)
As a reminder, here are the questions...feel free to answer all or some :)


Our bonus question for this month is:
What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

Some Fun News & Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffin Recipe!

I am sure most of you have heard of the Eighteen25 blog.

The Eighteen25 sisters are known for their super creative printables, crafts & recipes.

I have been reading their blog for years and love the ideas that they post.

They put together a creative team of 4 bloggers and I am so excited to be a part of it!

Ekkk!!! Can you believe it?!?!?

I will be guest posting on their blog a few times in the next couple months.

Today, I am over there sharing my Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffin Recipe! 

 Check out my post on their blog here!

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 Here is what you need:

  1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cups white sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup milk

1 Tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups shredded zucchini

1/2 cup of chocolate chips

Directions:

Use a cheese grater to shred your zucchini to make 2 cups of shredded zucchini

Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. 

Mix egg, oil, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract in another bowl.

 Stir into dry ingredients until just moistened. Fold in zucchini & chocolate chips.

(You can use either mini chocolate chips or regular chocolate chips)

I am a milk chocolate chip girl, but semi-sweet is fine also!

Using a spoon, fill muffin cups 2/3 full:

  Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes (until toothpick comes out clean)

 *Makes 12 regular sized muffins*

These muffins are perfect for either breakfast, lunch or an afternoon snack. 

I made a double batch of these last week for our family vacation to Lake Tahoe. 

My girls had them as a snack when they were hungry on our road trip and they also ate them at the pool and by the lake. 

They are easy to make & delicious! 

It is also a great way to sneak in some veggies if your kids happen to be picky eaters!

Enjoy!

Hope you enjoy these delicious muffins!

Get Your Pretty On!

Happy Tuesday! 

Today, I am guest posting at Get Your Pretty On!

 

Ali's blog is full of practical fashion ideas.

She started her blog as journey out of her yoga pants addicion.
(Can I get an Amen?)
She vowed to rebuild her wardrobe, fix up and look put together on a daily basis, even if she never left the house.  Ali says that feeling good isn’t shallow and being a mom shouldn’t mean losing yourself. Ali is married & a mom to 3 kids ages 16, 13 & 8.
  

I can TOTALLY relate to her blog since I am in the thick of having a newborn & being a mom of 3 kids. I was a total FRUMP a LUMP when I was on maternity leave.  I mean, yikes. It was scary.

I was slightly happy about going back to work when my maternity leave was over because it forced me to get ready each day & not be a lazy bum. Who's with me!?!?

Ali asked me to share How I Get My Pretty On.

As a working Mom of 3 kids, I have had to streamline this process.

Click HERE to read my post on Ali's blog that includes 5 of my tips for staying out of Frumpville!  

Pinterest Told me To

 A few weeks ago, I found the cutest blog called

Pinterest Told Me To

It is the greatest concept! 

Sheaffer started her blog because she was pinning tons of fun & funky outfits on Pinterest. She then realized she could piece together those outfits with clothes she already had in her closet!

I found her blog at just the right time.

It was right as I was going back to work after my Maternity Leave was ending.

I saw tons of cute outfits on Pinterest and was in need of some serious Retail Therapy.

Then I saw her blog and realized that I should "shop" my own closet and put together outfits that are Pinterest inspired and that are more outside the box that I would normally wear.

I could do this without buying anything new!

I was in the Frumpy Post-Partum stage where nothing fit quite right, but re-creating outfits with my own clothes (that I hadn't worn since I became pregnant) was a challenge I was ready for.

Sheaffer asked me to guest blog today and share some of my Pinterest Inspired Outfits.

Here is a sneak peek of some of my outfits....

Pinterest on the Left, Mel on the Right

 Mustard , Gray & Brown

I was being brave....instead of pairing this outfit with my gray boots or my gray ballet flats, I listened to Pinterest and wore brown boots with it. I would have never thought of pairing gray with brown, but it worked! I had all the items in my closet!
Gray Cardigan - Ann Taylor Loft
White Tank - NY & Co
Mustard Ruffle Scarf - The Pleated Poppy (Linking up with Lindsey!)
Skinny Jeans - Target
Brown Boots - Target

Next Outfit... Black Pants with Brown Boots

 I said I would NEVER do it. Mix Brown & Black. I saw this outfit & realized I had similar pieces in my closet and BAM! Black pants with Brown Boots. I'm a fan.
Cream Cardigan - Nordstrom
Tank Top - Target
Black Skinnies- Target
Brown Boots - Db Shoes

More Black & Brown

 Oh yes, I did. Black Dress (H&M 2 years ago) with a brown belt (Nordstrom, Brass Plum) & Brown Boots (Target)

In LOVE with this combo. Can't believe it took me so long to branch out.
My preconceived notions of Black & Brown are out the door!

Thank you, Pinterest!

I posted  a total of 10 Pinterest Inspired Outfits on her blog.
Check out my guest post HERE!
 
I know you will love Sheaffer & her blog.
You will be inspired to mix up your wardrobe, shop your own closet and put together combos you never thought you could pull off!