It’s been a LONG time coming, but now that our dream backyard is fully complete, we have been hosting some really fun parties! My husband loves to grill and so creating a beautiful and functional outdoor kitchen was something we’ve been wanting to do for way too long! RTA Outdoor Living is an amazing company and working with them was basically seamless! They partner you with a designer to help you create the perfect outdoor kitchen for your backyard. Our RTA designer came up with some ideas we hadn’t even thought of and was able to educate us on all the products they offer. The design tool is really fun to work with, and as you can see, the renderings were so spot on and really gave us an inside look into what the outdoor kitchen could be. We chose to go with the Coyote grill and the Solo pizza oven which has been a blast!

I’d have to say the best part about my husband being a master griller is I don’t have to cook in the kitchen! Kacy has gotten really creative with what he’s been grilling and I have to admit, I feel like I’m winning!! Again, because mama don’t have to cook!

Thank you, RTA from one happy family! Check them out Here!

The post RTA DREAM OUTDOOR KITCHEN! appeared first on Amy Davidson - Working Mom Blog.

I’m also trying to keep grocery store visits to a minimum, so I definitely stock up more than I used to. As a result, I’ve had to be strategic about organizing my fridge to make sure we eat everything we buy. Our Bosch refrigerator is a dream because it’s not only built for custom organization, it also ensures that our produce stays at its freshest with their new four-point FarmFresh System. For example, VitaFreshPro balances both temperature and humidity levels based on the setting I select. All I do is choose whether I’m storing fruits, veggies, meats, cheeses, etc., and the fridge does the rest of the work for me! The FreshProtect Filter absorbs natural ethylene from produce to slow down ripening, so I can buy more fresh produce and enjoy it for longer. And, MultiAirFlow + AirFresh Filter keep everything perfectly cool and smelling great all the time, so no more baking soda needed! I swear, I can have produce in what I now call “the freshness drawer” for over two weeks and it’s as if I bought it that same day. I bought an enormous bag of kale and it literally lasted almost two weeks. It was almost an experiment for me. I would eat a little bit of kale every couple of days, taste it for freshness, and it was always delicious! Truly magical and mom approved

Lennox and I have also really started enjoying cooking meals together. Whether it’s a simple PB&J for lunch or Taco Tuesday for dinner, he can easily access the produce drawer and help me pick ingredients for the meal we’ve chosen. He also takes the liberty of going to the drawer every time he wants some fruit!  Sneaky! He ends up asking, but it’s the perfect height for him to open and dig around, so ya can’t blame the kid! Something that has helped me get creative with meal planning is the Home Connect app, which is connected to our fridge and has plenty of recipes, plus cooking tips and tricks. I love using it for recipe inspiration so I’m not always cooking the exact same thing! I have to say, I’ve definitely added a few new recipes to my repertoire recently and it’s continuously growing!

As someone who loves to cook for and take care of my family, it’s comforting to know that my fridge is keeping everything at peak freshness and at the ready so we can whip up healthy and nutritious meals together at any moment. Here are a few of my favorite snapshots of us in the kitchen the past couple months!

The post I’ve cooked 3,981 meals in the past two months 🤪 appeared first on Amy Davidson - Working Mom Blog.

I’m new to the Whole30 journey, but I’m not new to Ball® jars! We’ve had them in our home for many, many years and I am so excited to be incorporating them into my new healthy eating journey in the new year. I’ve been scouring the internet for recipes and couldn’t believe all the information I found, not only about Whole30, but all the tips and tricks people are using to
incorporate their journeys with Ball® jars, as well. I’ve found so many beautiful colors of food- different rainbows of colors making up delicious meals. I’m inspired to say the least.

To start my journey, I decided to eat as clean and organic as possible. I eat meat, but I wanted to eliminate it for a few days and so my first mason jar salad is all veggies and full of flavor! I’ve learned that the key to making mason jar salads is all in how you layer them. You have to be strategic so your salad stays fresh and won’t get soggy. Start with the dressing on the bottom and then work your way to the top with the heaviest ingredients first, to the lighter ingredients which will be on the top. TIP- Greens always go on the top so they don’t get soggy! I used a Quart-sized Ball® jar for my salad but the smaller 4oz Ball jars work well when you’re not as hungry.

Layer one – your dressing.

Layer two – hearty veggies that can stand up to being “marinated” in the dressing, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, etc.

Layer three – protein, such as eggs, chicken, cheese, and nuts, etc.

Layer four – your lettuce.

**Then, pour the contents of the Ball® jar into a bowl, and you have a perfectly balanced (and most likely colorful) salad!

I have to admit my salad was pretty amazing! I started with a green goddess dressing, then layered organic heirloom baby tomatoes, broccoli, corn, kale and then topped it off with sunflower seeds. I ate the entire salad and then went back for seconds!! Eating all these organic vegetables is helping me feel good from inside and out.

I have discovered so many amazing recipes, not just salads. Another favorite so far is a simple fruit parfait. I started with coconut yogurt from Cocoyo Pure which is Whole30 compliant, (most yogurts are not), then added strawberries, bananas, blueberries, raspberries and sprinkled some almonds and pistachios on top. I put it in the small Ball® jar because goodness knows I ate every last bite and if it was in the large jar I would’ve had a crazy stomach ache LOL! This was the perfect portion for me to enjoy a sweet treat in the middle of the day and not feel guilty!  I’m so excited for my Whole30 journey and thrilled to share it with all of you. Here’s to a healthy, happy new year!

And, BONUS…you can “Spin to win” for some great prizes!!! You could win Ball products like (4oz jars with plastic lids, pour-and-measure storage cups), a Whole30 cookbook, a $25 Athleta gift card, or a $10 Visa cards to be used at retailers to pick up Ball products! Click HERE! And good luck! So excited to share my journey with you all!

Happy New Year!

xoxo

Amy

A yummy, dairy-free sweet treat for you below that I’m loving!

I used coconut yogurt from Cocoyo Pure, then added strawberries, bananas, blueberries, raspberries and sprinkled some almonds and pistachios on top.

The post My BALL JAR AND WHOLE 30 JOURNEY🍓🍑🍋🥒🍆🍉 appeared first on Amy Davidson - Working Mom Blog.

Our house had a big birthday this year and turned 15! I can’t believe we’ve actually been in our house for 15 years?! Our home has experienced so much joy, love, amazing and challenging experiences over the years, and has always been a sanctuary of comfort for us, no matter what was thrown our way. We decided it was time to give back to our home and gave it a major facelift! The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. One by one our appliances started to break down and replacing them became a necessity more than a luxury. That was the start of our kitchen renovation journey…

The post Baking cookies in our new Bosch oven! 🍪🍪🍪 appeared first on Amy Davidson - Working Mom Blog.

dress    heels    earrings 

I’m really excited about this striped handkerchief hem dress, can you tell?! It makes me want to twirl around. You know when you put something on and it just feels good? That’s what this dress does for me! It’s light and airy, perfect for those hot summer days and you can throw on a cute jacket at night and you’re all set for date night. Best part – it’s 25% off! You know I love sharing a good deal! Now, on to Blooming!

I was thrilled to attend the Bloom Summit event last weekend. It was extremely informational and I was introduced to so many brands I wasn’t aware of. When it comes to health prevention and forward thinking I’m in- hook, line and sinker! I wish there was more prevention within our health system, but that’s a whole blog in itself. I will say, doing what we can to stay healthy and fit should be at the top of our list. If anything seems out of the norm with your health – mind or body, please look into it as soon as possible! I truly believe that sort of thinking helps save lives. On that note… Lol!!

Staying active and physically fit has always been a priority for me but lately with time constraints (a two-year-old, family, work and sleep) you could say I’ve been slacking a bit! This event was just what I needed to reinvigorate my love for yoga and physical fitness, not to mention learning about beauty brands to help keep me healthy from the inside out. I’m so excited to start taking collagen! As I learn more about it I will definitely do a blog and share with you all. Something else I tried at the event was a B12 shot. I’m a chicken when it comes to needles, no idea how I had a baby so when they were doing B 12 shots and IVs, I started to sweat. When I saw the needle for the IV I was like, “no way!” But I put my big girl panties on and got the B12 shot in my bum. It barely hurt! I’m thinking now of incorporating B12 shots into my life. Seems like a pretty healthy pick-me-up!

It’s always a good excuse to get dressed up and see your girlfriends. I’d say that the Bloom Summit event was my perfect kind of Saturday.

dress    heels    earrings 

Ashley’s top     pants      chucks      sunnies

dress    heels    earrings 

dress    heels    earrings 

The post Ready to Bloom… 🌸🌸 appeared first on Amy Davidson - Working Mom Blog.

I love this little booger, literally. Lennox has been sick the past few days with a MASSIVE runny nose and cough. I hate it But I’m happy that he still smiles, runs all around and is eating… His food of choice? Pizza! So, I make him pizza. (I’m actually going to write a blog post about this super easy, throw a pizza together and be eating it in 15 minutes meal.) No lie! Keep an eye out Back to this little one. Len will be 2 years old in a few days and I’m kinda losing it, as you can tell by my going off on tangents to avoid the topic I’m trying to write about… I just feel so incredibly conflicted. Lennox is SO FUN! We literally talk all day long and laugh and give kisses. So why am I a bit melancholy? Geez, being a parent can be so confusing and challenging for me to navigate at times. But I remember to take one day at a time, try my damnedest to enjoy the moment and truly be grateful for the joy Lennox exudes and as a result I do too. This post was supposed to be about eating lunch and having laughs with this sweetheart, and it turned a little deeper. I guess I just had to vocalize what’s going on in this head of mine. I love hearing your stories here on the blog and on my social sites, so please continue to share! Any tips on managing a meltdown when your baby turns two are greatly appreciated!

1. tee (similar) 2.skinnies 3. shirt 4. minted art 5.sippy cup 6. highchair

1. tee (similar) 2.skinnies 3. shirt 4. minted art 5.sippy cup 6. highchair

The post A lady and the tramp moment… But with pizza and humans👶🏼👩🏼🍕 appeared first on Amy Davidson - Working Mom Blog.

I’ve been pretty good at following my New Year’s resolutions so far. I didn’t write them down this year, I just have a couple in mind that I want to focus on – eating healthier, more balanced and nutritious meals, trying to get outside more and run/hike/anything–  I have to admit I’ve been a little complacent these days and it’s driving me crazy!! If you read my blog frequently you know a big focus for me is a balanced lifestyle. The ever-growing question is how do I balance being a mom, auditioning, filming in another state or country? All while being present with my son, staying as healthy as possible and actually making time for physical fitness??? I’m still trying to figure this out.

The minute I got pregnant I completely changed my eating habits, which has been great. Lennox eats incredibly well; let’s just say that! I on the other hand, had been neglecting myself a little bit eating his leftovers for lunch or a protein bar, string cheese perhaps… Anyway, my point is I found a way for both of us to have a nutritious addition to our breakfast, lunch, snack or even dessert! The FAGE Total Split Cups strawberry flavor is the one Lennox and I have been enjoying lately. I started buying the FAGE Total 2% after my pediatrician said to move Lennox to 2% milk from whole milk. It’s what I eat, so it makes it easy to just grab a bunch and throw them in the cart at my grocery store. Because we are usually on the go, it’s so convenient to put a yogurt in my bag for Len to eat at our destination. When Lennox was first born I put probiotics in his milk, but now that he’s a little older, I love that I can give him this all-natural Greek strained yogurt which provides all of those healthy benefits AND is a delicious treat. FAGE Total Split Cups come in three fat varieties. Whether you choose whole milk, 2% or 0% fat is up to you and your preference- let me tell you, they’re all delicious. You can learn more about the FAGE Total Split Cups here to find out which variety is best for you. You can also find FAGE Total Split Cups at a store near you thru the store locator here. One of my favorite facts about this particular brand of yogurt is that the split cup 2% only has 11 g of sugar, it’s packed with 12 g of protein making it protein rich for my growing son and my exhausted body, and there’s only 120 calories in the strawberry 2% split cup yogurt. I want to try and stay away from giving Lennox sugar for as long as possible, and you can’t eliminate it completely, I know that, but it makes me feel better knowing there’s no artificial sugars in FAGE Total Split Cups. I’ve made it a dessert for Len instead of candy or ice cream, at least for now! Look, we’re all doing the best we can do, so why not makes things a little easier by having confidence that we’re feeding our families healthy and delicious options. I for one love this rich, creamy, all-natural yogurt and I know you will too. You know what they say, once you go FAGE….

The post A better Day with fage appeared first on Amy Davidson - Working Mom Blog.

GrubMarket is determined that everyone has a healthy & happy New Year so they’ve partnered with Chef, Christine Daley to bring you nutritious and delicious Whole30 designed meals! Made with wholesome, organic, and farm-to-table ingredients, it’s like having your own private chef stock your fridge. Every week you’ll receive a variety of new and exciting seasonally-inspired meals ready to enjoy. Kick off your healthy new lifestyle, without the stress At $14.25 a meal, it’s a steal of a deal. Enjoy additional savings of $30 off when you buy a whole month in advance. Woot Woot. I’m finding that FarmBox Meals have been a great way for me to keep my resolution so far! Each week I receive a rotating seasonal menu of ready to eat meals cooked with farm-fresh Whole30 approved ingredients! Its freakin awesome

If you want to try out Whole30 designed meals from GrubMarket check it out HERE

Here’s to a happy and HEALTHY New Year! +=

This is Chako, one of the founders of Grub Market and truly an inspiration. The love she has for quality food- meats, fruits, vegetables is magical. I’ve learned more from Chako in one sitting than anything I’ve read about eating organic or clean foods. Farm to table is a wonderful way to support our local farmers and one of the healthiest ways to eat. The closer the food is to you, the fresher it will be. Looking forward to learning more and more from this amazing woman and her Grub Market partner, Kate Shaw. These women are unstoppable!

I’m obsessed with Lennox’s flannel shirt and FYI its on sale!! My fab dress is too!!

Plaid flannel long sleeve shirt • Gap • $14.99
Urban Outfitters UO Lady Lava Covered Button-Down Midi Dress • Urban Outfitters • $49.99

The post Grub Market Healthy New Year!!! appeared first on Amy Davidson - Working Mom Blog.

Lennox and I had a special day strolling around Hollywood yesterday. I had an appointment and he was able to come with me, and afterwards we were starving! I don’t normally run around town in heels and a dress– umm can we just talk about this dress for one moment?!! It’s so comfy and cute and flirty in this delicate way. I just love wearing it. It’s one of those dresses that is perfect on so many occasion. That being said, I’m more of a yoga pants and T-shirt kind of girl. But, if I have to wear a dress and heels, these wedges are at the top of my list along with this dress. Amen sista!

I try to incorporate Lennox into as much of my day as possible. I have chosen to raise my child instead of using a full time nanny, that is, when I’m not on a job or running around auditioning. I love doing all the things mommies do and would not trade this time with my son for anything. Our walks with the stroller and doggies are some of my most favorite moments I am ready to get back to work, don’t get me wrong, but this time is magical and I feel incredibly lucky. So – back to my point I go on so many tangents! I had an appointment and we were hungry so we grabbed a bite. Lennox usually behaves really well at a restaurant, if he’s tired or hungry he gets loud and throws a tantrum, but for the most part he loves to people watch and will occasionally eat the food I’ve put infront of him! LOL! Lennox is a great lunch date and a great all-around companion. We talk- or mainly I talk and he babbles. A ton! He’s starting to say many more words and it’s such a joy to watch this baby boy blossom into the mini human being he is turning into. I’m so incredibly grateful. It took us a while to get here, to get pregnant and have a baby, and now we’re at a place that seems to be getting easier, and I’m really, really enjoying myself! I have a feeling Lennox is as well. My hubby and I look at each other and have no idea how we created such a happy child, but we know one thing for sure, we say thank you every day and we don’t take anything for granted. 
So grateful,

Amy and Kacy

1. dress 2. backpack diaper bag 3. stroller 4. wedges  5. “mama” necklace 6. earrings

1. sippy cup 2. bulldog tee 3. camo shorts 4. vans hat 5. moccasins 6. stroller bag

1. dress 2. backpack diaper bag 3. stroller 4. wedges 5. “mama” necklace 6. earrings

1. sippy cup 2. bulldog tee 3. camo shorts 4. vans hat 5. moccasins 6. stroller bag

The post Yesterday’s lunch date appeared first on Amy Davidson - Working Mom Blog.

It’s Friday, I’m exhausted and it’s 4 o’clock somewhere… I may not drink rosé all day, but I’m definitely going to have a glass or two!  I just learned that people call wine mama juice and I literally laughed out loud! Look, mommin all day ain’t easy. Yes, my baby sleeps, but that doesn’t mean I go to sleep when he does. There is so much to do that I cannot get done during the day when Lennox is sleeping and when I finally have time to myself, I want to unwind!!! You too? Once the baby is asleep I finally have time to get everything done that I did not get done during the day. So… I’m going to have some rosé and I’m going to enjoy it!

Cheers to all you hard working mamas AND daddys out there! I tip my glass to you 

Xoxo

Amy and my glass of vino

1. rosé sweatshirt 2. jeans 3. wine glass 4. ring

5. earrings 6. nail polish 7. bag (similar)  8. sandals

My fave wine glass! And how FAB is this ring?!!

1. rosé sweatshirt 2. jeans 3. wine glass 4. ring

5. earrings 6. nail polish 7. bag (similar)  8. sandals

The post  Rosé ALL day! 🍷 appeared first on Amy Davidson - Working Mom Blog.