Simply Happenstance, Author at Simply Happenstance

10 Tips For Keeping Your Kids Safe

March 6, 2014

:: 10 Tips For Keeping Your Kids Safe::

Knowledge can be powerful and yet it can be scary. This topic is not our usual fluffy recipe of simple goodness, but it’s a topic we as parents can work harder at achieving. These 10 Tips For Keeping Your Kids Safe, is something you can practice and address to your family in your daily routine.

I recently attended a parenting safety night at my son’s school. The Joyful Child Foundation spoke to parents about teaching our children to be brave and be safe. To be honest with you, I was nervous to attend the engagement, as I knew the premise and who the speaker was. Erin Runnion, the mother of Samantha Runnion and Founding Director of The Joyful Child, was the guest speaker. Samantha was the victim of a terrible kidnapping that took place in Orange County in 2002. The Joyful Child Foundation was established in loving memory of her and their mission is to help to prevent child sexual abuse and abduction. I hope that this safety information will create some additional awareness for your children as well as your community. [Read more…]

Banana Almond Smoothie with Chia Seeds

March 4, 2014

:: Banana Almond Smoothie with Chia Seeds ::

{dairy-free + gluten-free}

Chia Seeds…. are you adding them into your smoothies, oatmeal, cereal, and baking recipes? If not… you may want to! These tiny little seeds are packed full of nutrition! I have to admit, I didn’t begin using them until recently, but now that I have… I have been sprinkling them into everything, and can’t imagine a smoothie without them! They don’t have a taste, but they do gel up, a bit like tapioca. They thicken smoothies and puddings nicely, if you allow them to soak for a while. 1 serving of Chia Seeds {1 tablespoon}, contains 6 grams of Fiber, 2.9 grams of Omega 3, and 3 grams of protein! Amazing, right?! Here are some more fantastic facts about Chia Seeds… making them incredibly enticing!

Chia Seeds are gluten-free
They contain 20% of your Omega 3’s, making them heart healthy and a great brain food
They are quite high in Fiber, aiding in digestion
Chia Seeds are made up of 20% Protein
They are very high in Antioxidants
Chia Seeds help to balance your blood sugar levels {making them especially great for Diabetics}
They can be used as an egg replacement in baking recipes [Read more…]

Weekend Lovelies {favorite things}

March 1, 2014

:: Weekend Lovelies {favorite things} ::

Welcome to this lovely, yet rainy edition of Weekend Lovelies {favorite things}! Sara and I have been waiting for the rain. Yes I know, we often brag via Instagram about our lovely weather, but California is in dire need of rain or else those pretty pictures are going look barren and dry. Speaking of pretty pictures, as a family we were able to get out of our usual 5-mile radius and return to our beloved Long Beach. Mason requested a visit to The Queen Mary as his incentive reward for filling up his star chart.

Sara and I met in college and lived in Long Beach up until we both got married. It’s an amazing and beautiful city. It’s full of off the beaten path shops, restaurants, and gorgeous art deco buildings. Perhaps you aren’t familiar with Long Beach, or maybe you have passed it by {maybe you’ve heard about it through Snoop {now Snoop Lion}… living in the LBC!}, I highly recommend putting it on your radar and paying this gorgeous city a little visit. Better yet, email Sara and I, and we would be happy to be your tour guides {wink}! We are also toying with the idea of letting you in on some of our favorite places to go, and fun things to do, while visiting California… maybe through our Instagram feed? By the way, have you had a chance to check us out over there? It’s the perfect way to get a sneak peak of our recipes on the blog and some of our moments with family and friends. Go and check us out, and share with us some of your favorite IG feeds!

So… this weekend, Sara and I have a fun list of favorites for you to enjoy! If you are a blogger or have an Etsy shop, we’d be thrilled if you’d link-up to our favorite things! Enjoy the weekend, friends… and feel free to say “hello” by leaving a comment below! {xo} [Read more…]

Healthy Quinoa Salad

February 27, 2014

:: Healthy Quinoa Salad ::

I’m sure by now, most of you have tried quinoa {pronounced KEEN-wah}. This superfood {which was discovered by the Incas, three to four thousand years ago} is one of my personal favorites! Although it is usually thought of as a whole grain, it is actually a seed. It takes less time to cook than whole grains, and tastes amazing on its own! It is a wheat-free, gluten-free, and cholesterol-free food, making it the perfect side dish or main course for vegetarians, vegans, and others with special dietary concerns. Here are some interesting healthy facts about quinoa:

It is a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids.
It contains almost twice as much fiber as most other grains. Fiber helps prevent heart disease by reducing high blood pressure and diabetes. It also lowers cholesterol and glucose levels.
Quinoa contains lysine, which is essential to tissue growth and repair.
It is rich in magnesium, which helps to relax blood vessels and alleviate migraines. Additionally magnesium helps detoxify the body, provides energy, and helps with the formation of healthy bones and teeth.
The gluten-free super seed is a good source of riboflavin {B2}, which is known to improve energy metabolism within the brain and muscle cells.
Quinoa is rich in manganese {an antioxidant}. Manganese helps prevent damage of mitochondria during energy production and protects red blood cells from injury by free radicals. [Read more…]

Malted Caramel Chocolate Shake

February 25, 2014

:: Malted Caramel Chocolate Shake ::

My milkshake brings all the kids to door {that’s right you know the Missy Elliott Milkshake tune}….hum along and you will get the picture! This Malted Caramel Chocolate Shake is pretty tasty and a fun family treat, made even better with the addition of Chocolate Scottie Dogs from Walkers Shortbread. I made this fun shake as an ode to a Valentine’s shake that we missed having. I promised the kids a fun homemade treat for Valentine’s, but as a family we went away for a couple nights {a fun mini trip, while we were doing a little work around the house}, so I wasn’t able to fully get into the Valentine’s Day spirit with our usual dine in tradition. This shake would have been the dessert I would have enjoyed with my sweethearts.

Aren’t these the cutest little cookies you have ever seen? Sara and I love that Walkers Shortbread made a special cookie that gives proceeds back to the ASPCA. I thought these buttery chocolate chip infused Scottie Dogs would be the perfect ingredient to my milkshake, or should I call it malt? Oh my if I was working at Ruby’s, I might be corrected, as I combined my family’s favorite flavors of; malted vanilla ice cream, caramel, milk, and these little cookie gems. Homemade ice cream or store bought…you pick because this Malted Caramel Chocolate Shake is tastalicious! [Read more…]

Weekend Lovelies {favorite things}

February 22, 2014

:: Weekend Lovelies {favorite things} ::

Happy weekend! Hope you all have had a wonderful, healthy week! The days sure are flying by, aren’t they? Doing this {favorite things} post weekly, always serves as a powerful reminder of how quickly the week drifts by. One of my personal {ongoing} goals is to be more present… focusing not only on the joyful moments, but the mundane everyday kind, as well. Those less exciting moments seem to float by… unnoticed at times. We lose awareness of them, as we go about our day, moving from one activity {or obligation} to the next.

Driving down the mountain earlier this week, I experienced one of those moments. Husby was at the wheel, maneuvering confidently around each curve, while I was my normal self {anxiety stricken, fearing death with each bend, and queasy from carsickness}. All of the sudden, I stopped my train of thought and instead, focused on the beauty all around me… the low clouds, blue sky, and the stunning mountain side. It was a good reminder to find joy in the journey. It isn’t always an easy road {this life we live}… but we can always find beauty and reasons to be joyful if we change our perspective, attempt to be more present, and come from a place of thankfulness. I truly hope that you are finding joy in your life journey… [Read more…]

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