Lemon Blueberry Streusel Muffins

Lemon Blueberry Streusel Muffins {The Mommy Games}

I sort of can’t believe this is my first sweet breakfast recipe that I’ve shared here. See, I love muffins and pastries, but since we have incredible bakeries (Magnolia, Boulud, Bouchon) a stone’s throw away, I generally just pick something up on my way out. NYC is a dangerous place to live like that. I can’t walk a block without passing multiple temptations, and given that I have about zero self control in that department, I almost always give in. But alas, the smell of freshly baked muffins lofting out of the oven is enough to have me shunning all my favorite treats. If only a candle could accomplish what a little baked good can.

When I saw piles of gorgeous blueberries (on sale at Whole Foods!), I just knew that muffins had to happen. And there is no better muffin than one with a serious crumb topping. It’s rather essential in my book. The streusel needs to hold together but not be overly crunchy. Just enough to add some texture and a little more sweetness. I also love the brightness the lemon gives these as well. It’s subtle, but takes an ordinary muffin to the next level. Make a batch and freeze any leftovers, making for quick and yummy weekday grabs. These are by far the tastiest muffins that have ever come out of my kitchen, and I know you and your family will love them.

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{Blogiversary!} $100 Sephora Gift Card Giveaway *Ended*

I am SO excited to be celebrating my blog’s very first blogiversary! Admittedly, it’s a little belated, but better late than never. I feel so blessed to have spent the last year making new friends and sharing with all of you. I wanted to pass along the love that so many of you have shown me, and who doesn’t love adding a little pretty to their lives, not to mention doing a little shopping (for free!). Walking out of Sephora with a bag full of new, girly, fun make-up always puts a smile on my face and I hope it will one of yours as well.

$100 Sephora Giveaway by The Mommy Games

 

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Mommy Happy Hour

Mommy Happy Hour

Don’t mind me, I’m just over here perched up on top of our AC unit with a big glass of sweet tea trying desperately not to turn into a puddle. I feel as if I spent this whole week either sweating or showering to remedy the sweating. NYC Marathon training also officially kicked off this week, so long runs on the surface of the sun were interesting to say the least. No true complaints, since I would take this any day over winter, but yep, the indoors have been looking mighty fine the past few days. Luckily, Brandon is still in summer camp for a few hours each morning, so we don’t have to brave the playground so much. The kid comes home so happily tired that I have to physically wake him up after a 2 hour nap, since he would gladly sleep the afternoon away. Summer camp – best decision ever!

So grab a cold drink (a tipsy one is always encouraged) and let’s do this:

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Hot Mama Maternity Workout Wear

I am SO excited about today’s post! My beautiful friend Raven is visiting from her incredible blog, Cheers to New Beginnings!, to talk to us about what she is loving in the world of maternity workout clothes. I love living vicariously through this girl and the amazing adventures her and her husband have been on while living abroad. I can’t wait to hear all about her newest adventure – motherhood! Thanks so much, Raven, for visiting and giving all those pregnant mamas out there some amazing options! — Ashley

Let me begin by thanking the lovely and talented author of The Mommy Games for asking me to write this guest post.  I’m honored and delighted.  I write a blog myself, though quite different from The Mommy Games.  My husband, Jon, and I are currently American expats living in Brussels, Belgium, and I started my blog in 2010 to document our lives and experiences as expats.  Though mostly travel related, of late, the blog has been dotted with a few momma-to-be posts as Jon and I eagerly anticipate the arrival of our first bundle of joy in a few short weeks (August 2nd). Pregnancy definitely has its challenges, and one that tends to present itself most every day is clothing.  Looking presentable, and shall I even say cute – while avoiding looking frumpy and whale-like – on a “reasonable” budget can be mentally daunting.

As a former college athlete and regular at the local gym, I have done my best to maintain some level of fitness throughout my pregnancy through a variety of activities.  The hardest question at times, though, was what to wear!  As the running tights and spinning shorts became uncomfortably tight and the tank tops a bit too short, I turned to the following items, which have been a mainstay in my wardrobe of late:

Hot Mama Maternity Workout Wear

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Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs. Sticky, Saucy, and Fall-off-the-bone Delicious! {The Mommy Games}

Remember how I told you a few weeks ago {here} that I was on a quest to find summer appropriate slow cooker meals? Well, this here is a doozy. Barbecue ribs are like summer on a plate, and these are some of the best I’ve ever had. Since they are cooked low and slow in the crock pot, they are fall of the bone tender, with the added bonus of a crispy, sauce lacquered top since they are finished in the oven. Lick-your-fingers delicious. There is hardly any hands on time with getting them started, and then just a little basting & simmering once they are in the oven. Combined with fresh cut watermelon and buttered corn, this made for a quintessential summertime meal. And it didn’t last long. Both my kiddos and husband devoured these ribs, and had sauce covered faces to show for it. Definitely put these on your list to make!

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Mommy Happy Hour

Mommy Happy Hour

Happy Friday! Has this week flown by for anyone else? Summer is practically halfway over and I feel like it just got started! We had a great time in Georgia last week, but are happy to be back home. I know most people exit the city in the summer, but I actually love NYC this time of year. It almost feels like you have the whole city to yourself (not to mention, coveted reservations are way easier to come by!). So let’s jump right into things:

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Rylan 16 Month Summary

Rylan 16 Month SummaryRylan has grown by leaps and bounds since his last update at 14 months. He is now walking all over the place, and wants to climb on everything. This is a kid on the move. He’s also a walking disaster. Seriously, he gets so excited that he tries to run and ends up smack on the floor (or into a wall!). Thankfully, he’s tough and has recovered quickly from some pretty nasty spills, but it would be nice to make it through a day without a new bruise or bump. Oh, the life of a little brother who wants to keep up with the big kids.

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Savory Apricot Coeur a la Creme

Savory Apricot Coeur a la creme by The Mommy Games

Happy Tuesday! We are finally home and just now getting back into the swing of things after being gone all last week. It’s so hard coming out of vacation mode! I’ve been doing minimal cooking, and am pretty sure our suitcases might not get unpacked for a few more days. With this heat, I’m not super excited about turning on the oven either, which is why I’m sharing this delicious, no-bake appetizer option. When I was making this dish the other day, I remembered I had a jar of apricot jam in the pantry (leftover from these apricot almond crumb bars). I’m on a huge apricot kick right now, so it was the obvious choice. The sweetness of the jam was the perfect compliment to the tang of the cream cheese in this spread. This did not last long. In fact, everyone filled up on so much of this that they could hardly eat dinner. This has become one of my staple appetizer options since it’s super easy to put together, and is a real crowd pleaser. You could change it up with whatever jam sounds good to you, or even do a spicy chutney if that’s more your speed. Also, if you don’t have a cheesecloth, you could use a few sheets of paper towel instead. It won’t be as pretty (as you can tell from the unevenness in the picture), but works in a pinch.

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