A picnic with a view, and a recipe of mussels for you
After sixteen years of marriage I still look forward to going on dates with Caleb. In fact, it's one of my favorite things to do.
As our kids have grown, our date nights have changed. When our kids were younger we'd either get a babysitter and head to our favorite restaurant or have a "date night in".
But now we can leave our kids alone in the morning, noon, or night. And for long periods of time, too. We don't have to escape to a restaurant because we aren't exhausted from the grind of raising small children. We have more energy to be more creative in our date nights.
Lately we’ve enjoyed driving to a scenic spot with our camp stove, setting up, and cooking a picnic for ourselves. We've decided to try to pair the food we eat with the location that we choose. Our first attempt was at South Carlsbad Beach where the parking lot backs up to the sand. We ate a picnic dinner overlooking the ocean at sunset.
We stopped at a local fish market and grabbed some fresh mussels on the way. Dinner was delicious, the view was spectacular, and we were able to linger longer than at a restaurant.
The peak season for mussels is from October to March, making this an excellent recipe the next time you have a date night in or want to try a scenic picnic yourself!
Here's the recipe.
Halloween tips from a seasoned mom
With the candy overload coming later this weekend, I'm sharing my go-tos for when you need extra digestive support for your family. It's incredible how well they work!
TummyGize
It may say “KidScents” on the label, but don’t let that fool you. Not only is this what my kids ask for, it is also one of my favorite oils to use when my stomach isn’t feeling the greatest. Since TummyGize is prediluted, I snap an aroma glide fitment roller (from Young Living) right on the top. To use in preparation for Halloween, roll on lower tummy and bottoms of feet twice a day.
MightyPro
Gut health plays a HUGE roll in overall health (your immune system starts in the gut) and all the sugar about to be inhaled leaves kids' immune systems under extra stress. MightyPro is a kids pro and prebiotic that tastes like a pixie stick. It's formulated to support gastrointestinal, digestive, and immune health. I appreciate that it’s packaged in easy, one-dose packets. My kids love the taste and ask for it on their own each day.
Essentialzymes-4
This supplement has saved us three times in the last month alone: taco night, after In-n-Out, and after my daughter ate dairy. For daily use, you can take it after your largest meal. If you are dealing with an upset stomach from overeating (or too much candy) take it right away! If you've never heard about enzymes before, this is a helpful read!
Snippet from my week
This was a more recent scenic picnic! We headed out to Anza-Borrego State Park and did some off-roading before finding a little spot nestled in the rocks to pull off and have our picnic dinner. It had been rainy all day, and we hoped that it would hold off long enough for a picnic (Narrator: It didn't) but it made for a great memory!
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