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I consider myself a bonafide foodie. I love to try new recipes and new foods. I consider watching Top Chef or Masterchef the perfect night of TV. I LOVE to cook from scratch.  New gadgets? No problem… until the Instant Pot came along!

I never wanted to be a woman who was bothered by aging, but I am. I have been wanting to write about my issues with aging even before that day in November. I didn't because I didn't have a moral of the story yet.

When it comes to new house envy, I am the guiltiest. But it turns out the easiest way to stop comparing my house to those I see on TV … is to shut off the TV.

My girls know this is serious business. They’ve long abandoned any dreams of taking over the remote when “Mom is watching her house shows.” It’s gotten out of hand. So, too, have dreams and designs for my own home. It still has the same layout and many of the original features from when it was built in the late 1990s. Many days, instead of vacuuming or gardening, I waste time obsessing about updating the flooring in our living room, adding a French door to the master bedroom or pouring a concrete patio in the back yard. It sounds ridiculous when put into that perspective.

The love stories. They are everywhere. Blogs, youtube videos. The minivan gets some major love via social media. Maybe all those love stories built my expectations up too high. Letdown was inevitable. Don't get me wrong, I fully recognize the practicality of the van.  With four young kids it made total sense for us. The double stroller fits without issue, even on nights when we have to pack up the baseball equipment, cooler, and lawn chairs. This vehicle by far has more bells and whistles than any other we've ever had.  Leather interior, navigation, dvd player, and it rides incredibly smooth. But, I don't love it. In fact, when I drive my bare-bones, base model 10 year-old GMC Acadia, I savor it.

I refuse to use our oven on hot days. It seems counter-productive. This means our summer meal options are cold sandwiches, grilling, stove-top skillets, or something that hangs out in my crockpot all day.

Crispy. Salty. Great with dip. Pretty much, the perfect snack! In honor of this special day, here’s a list of my favorites and some dip recipes to enjoy with them!

We call it “Not your Grandma’s Chicken Salad” since we’re replacing the often-used mayo with savory avocado.

While this is not my own original idea, I wanted to share it because I think you should try it too - cooking “hard boiled” eggs in the oven instead of actually boiling them.

Ah, February. The month of love and hearts and chocolate and roses and … Whew! With all that plugged into one month, it’s easy to understand why February also is American Heart Month. To help celebrate, our team of Mealtime Mentors has rounded up some of our all-time favorite heart healthy recipes.