Joanna Anastasia

Lifestyle

Simple hack to serve kids more veggies and fruits in one serving

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After months of quarantine at home with kids I’m pretty much out of ideas for cooking healthy meals and preparing healthy snacks. And when our days all look the same it’s hard to find new special ways to motivate kids to eat their veggies more than ever, am I right? 

I’m sure we all feel the same now- we’re tired. We’re taking care of children during quarantine and we’re making sure they eat right and are stimulated and educated… it’s exhausting.

But just when I was ready to throw the towel and abandon the idea of feeding my kids anything other than carbs I remembered Evive Smoothies. Absolutely delicious and chocked full of nutrition in every cube! I think they’re absolutely amazing for breakfast as a simple smoothie bowl! Or for a midday snack in the form of a smoothie- and they are the only smoothies that are ready to use, without a blender needed!

I discovered them last year as my mom-on-the go breakfast idea. They’re unique on the market as they come in a form of cubes that are ready to be popped in a mason jar, covered with milk or water and ready to be enjoyed in no time . ( They will dissolve on their own within 10-15 min) . But if you want to have them ready within seconds,  you can also use a blender- I think they’re delicious either way!

My kids current obsession is Touk-Touk ( a sunny blend of tropical fruits, veggies and plant based proteins) that is also a flavour of a wonderful project in collaboration with the Breakfast Club of Canada.  During the first two weeks of June, they will be donating a percentage of all their sales of Touk-Touk flavour towards this amazing cause!

Now, if you enjoy cooking you can use the Evive smoothies in your meal prep! As a base for frozen treats or in pinterest-worthy smoothie bowls. But since I’m a mom like you (currently in quarantine mode without schools nor daycare) I simply make the most delicious smoothies for my kids! That they actually drink !

Here’s a couple of fun ideas that I tried with my kids and that ARE NOT COMPLICATED

( and that taste delicious with Touk-Touk) 

  • Mix the Evive smoothies with milk ( cow milk, nut milk, or oat milk)
  • Mix them with low sugar apple juice 
  • Add some apple sauce and water to your Evive smoothies cubes
  • Serve them in a bowl as a simple smoothie bowl with some cut fruits on the side
  • Mix the Evive smoothies with yogurt for extra creamy texture
  • Serve it in a bowl with low sugar cereal 
  • And if you’re feeling extra fancy you can get a coconut and serve your smoothie inside – your kids will think it’s the best treat ever!

Now that I’m making these smoothies once a day my kids are actually eating much more veggies and fruits in one serving ! And in my books, that’s the best mom hack ever!

Now, if you’re wondering where you can find them, you can either order online , or check your local ( Canadian) grocery store frozen aisle. And, their packaging is 100% recyclable, so there’s no harm for the planet!

I hope that you will find them as life saving as I did ( and as yummy as my kids think !)

Disclosure: this post was brought to you by Evive Smoothies. All opinions remain completely my own and are based on my own experience.

Valentines day tablescape

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Every year we do something fun with my girls for Valentine’s day- because why for many this is another made-up holiday, for me it’s a great opportunity to celebrate love and family in the midst of our cold canadian winter!

Now, if you prefer making gifts for your loved ones, or simply watch romantic movies and eat heart shaped cookies – you do you boo! I think all that really matters is to take this day as an opportunity to talk about why we love each other, what we appreciate about each other and how we should be grateful and appreciative of all the little things all year round.

However setting up a cute Valentines day table for breakfast or an afternoon tea is definitely something fun to do for/with kids! And for me, seeing my girls eyes getting big out of excitement when they see what I have prepared for them is what makes my heart full!

It doesn’t need to be expensive to be fun- here are my simple ideas for a Valentine’s day tablescape:

  • hand written paper table runner
  • paper heart hearts layered on the table
  • felt heart hearts spread around the table
  • heart shaped chocolates and cookies layered in a colorful mess
  • hot milk with marshmallow hearts
  • cake with marshmallow “cake toppers” ( store bought or baked- whatever works!)
  • valentines balloons
  • heart garland
  • ceramic lanterns
  • some fruits

And I found most of this set up in my local Dollar Store- it took me around 10 minutes to set it all up. And I had so much fun! Because celebrating doesn’t need to be over the top difficult to set up nor expensive!

Now I hope I inspired you to throw a simple Valentine’s day celebration in your home too! Happy Valentine’s day everyone!

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Printable Christmas gift tags & wrapping paper set

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Christmas is only a month away and in my books it means that it’s about time to start the preparations! I know there’s still time for the cooking and baking, but when you’re an usually busy adult then during the holiday season ( full of activities, obligations, parties and extra magic- and much more parenting effort then usually!) then you’re basically on the edge of a breakdown! Unless of course your start early, get your gifts ahead of time, wrap them and tag them right away and hide away before the real holiday rush starts!

So this year I decided to make my own printable Christmas gift tags- and some wrapping paper that goes with it, in an effort to :

  • always be ready to wrap a gift ( just press print and voila)
  • be more eco friendly ( I already have lots of paper at home, and I don’t need to buy any new wrapping paper or tags!)

I couldn’t be happier with this little printable set I created- it’s cheerful, joyful and perfect to mix an match! I made two shapes of tags for you, 9 different designs of tags, and 4 different wrapping paper sheets!

I printed everything on regular paper, and I just love how it turned out! My girls where helping me cut out the gift tags, we have put on some holiday music and with the snow outside it felt like christmas is only days away!

Clearly I’m obsessed with red, white and blue this season- also, everything hand lettered and cute! I hope you’ll like my little wrapping set as much as me and my girls we love it!

You can get the PDF file HERE – simply download it, print at home, cut out the tags and get wrapping with the wrapping paper sheets!

And make sure to share with me how you wrapped your gifts with my set – just tag me on your Instagram photos ( @joanna.anastasia_ ) I can’t wait to see how you’ll be using them!

Easy crostini recipes with Olives from Spain

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It’s a no brainer why we all love end of summer so much – the days spent together adventuring outside in the fresh crisp air, the evenings of laughs and entertaining, and the easy on the go lifestyle – it all makes the end summer a season of memory making and endless fun!

And I think the quintessence of it all are easy and simple summer picnics! And by easy, I mean delicious no fuss bites that you can throw together in less than 10 minutes but that everyone will enjoy- including the kids!

So when we have meet my sister- in-law and her family on our annual family camping by the lake, it was the best end of summer picnic ever! Because if there’s one thing that says laidback days it’s camping by the lake! With kids playing and running around, gorgeous weather and all the catching up to be done. there’s no time for long and fussy food prep!

That’s when in hand comes Crostinis & Olives! I first discovered Crostinis on our honeymoon trip to Europe and I remember thinking how those mediterranean cultures know how to elevate a simple sandwich situation! And when you serve Olives From Spain on the side you have basically covered the healthy and yummy snacking in a breeze!

So here are my all time favourite summer Crostinis that you too can make in 10 minutes or less!

Ricotta, sundried tomatoes & Olives from Spain

  • Hojiblanca Olives From Spain
  • Fresh baguette 
  • Ricotta cheese 
  • Sun Dried tomatoes cut in stripes 

Simply spread the cheese on the baguette, top with sundried tomatoes and Olives From Spain and voila! 

Garlic crostini with fresh tomatoes, Olives from Spain & fig balsamic vinegar

  • Manzanilla Olives From Spain
  • Fresh baguette
  • Garlic olive oil
  • Heirloom tomatoes
  • Fig Balsamic Vinegar 

Top the baguette with a drop of garlic olive oil, add thick slices of heirloom tomatoes, and top with the Manzanilla Olives From Spain and a drop of the fig balsamic vinegar ! 

Goat cheese, pomegranate and Olives from Spain

  • Hojiblanca Olives From Spain
  • Fresh baguette
  • Goat cheese
  • Fresh pomegranate

Spread the goat cheese on the baguette, top with fresh pomegranate seeds and the Hojiblanca Olives from spain cut in rounds, and enjoy! 

And if you wonder why I add Olives from spain to my Crostinis recipes, it’s because they are delicious, healthy – full of minerals, amino-acids antioxidants and fiber – and they help to digest better and improve one’s cardiovascular system! Also, my kids are obsessed with olives – so I add them everywhere I can! 

I hope you’ll enjoy these Crostinis on your next picnic with family just as we did! And remember- family picnics don’t need to be complicated- they just need to be fun!

Disclosure- this post was brought to you by Olives from Spain, all opinions remain exclusively my own. 

Dream & Create studio launch

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Last week we have finally thrown a launch party of our new studio- with balloons, pretzels, sparkling rose and all the confetti! If you haven’t heard about this project of mine yet, then let me introduce you to the Dream and Create Studio!

Welcome to our blogging dream coming true!

Ever since we have set up the space with my blogging bestie Maca we realized we don’t want to be the only one working there- we actually crave community!

Not to mention the fact that I have three little kids and I don’t wish to work out of home full time just yet- and my blogging bestie is traveling a lot! So why won’t share the space when we are not around?

And we also realized that we would love to see this space evolving in to a creative hub of sorts – where other bloggers could come and shoot their content, where fun workshops could take place and where creative ladies could work side by side.

So our launch party was a colorful way of saying welcome and hello!

The yummiest bites

I need to say a huge thank you to our catering partners, Brezel and Companie and Little Leah’s kitchen! Because an event with the best pretzels and the sweetest, loveliest cupcakes is instantly fabulous, am I right?

Also, my bestie Jordan from Korkscrewed has supplied us with the best local Sparkling Rose – that you must admit looked absolutely perfect in our studio sink!

Dream and Create Studio – next steps

My heart is so full – seeing all of our blogging friends and introducing the creative labor of love to them was definitely a day I won’t forget- now I just hope we will be able to work here among friends as we dreamed!

Stay tuned for the fall workshops , and to learn more about how we can work together there , follow us at the Dream and Create official Instagram account!

This will improve your kids health now

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You know you’re a mom when you worry about kids health more than you worry about your own wellbeing, am I right? Because let’s be honest, a kid that feels bad, doesn’t eat well and is in a bad mood will influence everyone at home- and make your mom heart ache. . So I think one of my biggest role as a mom is to prevent their health issues.

Now we all know that gut health is important- and how it affects our mood, skin, metabolism and immune system , right? 

But it’s not always easy to convince our kids to eat food that can help with gut health. Then there are the oh so important omega-3, that are essential to cognitive health and the maintenance of bones and teeth.

That’s why I was really excited when I discovered the Genuine Health-y Kids line made especially with the little ones in mind! From the amazing supplements to gut superfoods, they have our kids needs covered!

Disclosure; this post is brought to you by Genuine Health, all opinions remain exclusively my own.

I had the pleasure to try with my girls three new products, and I’m happy to say that they are easy to implement in our daily diet!

First up, the omega3 kids + D3- is our easy go to health fix- I keep it on hand, and my girls just see the bottle and ask me to have some (it’s so yummy!) It was made to deliver nutrients that are critical to your child’s development: the intake of EPA & DHA, Lutein and Vitamin D- all sustainable, pure and safe!

Then, the fermented organic gut superfoods+ kids in form of a powder, that you can mix with water for a super healthy shake that will boost your child’s nutritional intake, or add to your morning smoothie!

And lastly, we tried the advanced gut health probiotic kids with 5 billion CFU from 7 balanced strains specifically chosen to support their overall and gastrointestinal health. I was so happy to try this with my girls, as the tablets are chewable and finally it was a gut health product that they really liked! 

Taking care of our kids’ health is a huge responsibility, and I often feel overwhelmed, it’s good to know that these products are all natural so our kids can thrive and feel great!

Disclosure- this post was brought to you by Genuine Health, all opinions remain entirely my own.D

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