The summer is always a great time in our family. I usually take a few days off work to spend with the kids, we go to the beach or take a trip to the countryside. We stay up much later than normal, watch a million movies, and eat a massive amount of popcorn.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end. Summer is a time for my kids to relax and play all they want. But now the kids have to get back to school. Before we jump back into the school, homework, and sleep routine, there are a few things I must check off my list.

✅Get our dinner times back on track

During the summer, dinner time was always varied - if we cooked, it could happen as late as 8 or 9pm! During the days we went hiking, we mostly never ate dinner, the crisps were enough. But now that they're getting back to school, it's time for a proper schedule.

Cooking every night is an extreme challenge, so I looked up "the most popular meal kits" and up popped HelloFresh! So I decided to give it a go. I went with the Family Plan for four people and four meals a week at only £3.25 per serving. Once I selected my plan, I picked our meals, which change weekly. Everything was delivered right to my doorstep with all the pre-measured ingredients I'd need for the meals. The recipe cards are super easy to follow and now my kids eat different yummy dinners every night.

We started with something everyone loved: the Sausage Meatball Spag with Tomato Sauce which was incredibly delicious - the kids loved it. Throughout the week, we kept experimenting with our dinners - getting more adventurous. The Cheesy Chipotle Bean Quesadillas with Avocado, Tomato and Rocket Salad took only 20 minutes to make and was something the kids wanted every week. We went all out on Friday and made the Thai-Style Beef with Peppers, Mangetout and Fluffy Rice. Though it took a little longer, it was by far the best dish.

Signing up for HelloFresh is the smartest thing I could have done. Now the kids know exactly when dinner will be on the table. It's easy, convenient and delicious - what more could I want? Plus, they are a sustainable company and are devoted to minimizing their carbon footprint. Although we can also skip, cancel or pause our HelloFresh subscription whenever I want, I doubt we'll be doing that.

HelloFresh
Dinnertime Made Easy
Check Out HelloFresh Now!

✅Clean out the kid's wardrobes

My kids grew so much over the summer that their jeans are far above their ankles. Usually, we go shopping for new uniforms, jeans, and jackets. But this year I wanted to do something different.

Before heading out shopping we went through their wardrobes and piled all the old clothes that no longer fit, that they no longer liked - and the mismatched socks! - on the bed. Then we packed five bulging bags and dropped them at the Goodwell. The next day we headed out and shopped our heads off. How wonderful to come home and put away their new clothes neatly in their wardrobes. Now the kids know exactly where everything is and they'll find precisely what they want and their clothes will actually fit.

✅Catch some me-time

After a long day's work, cooking dinner, helping the kids with their homework, the minute my head hits the pillow, I realize I have not had one minute to myself all day. This school year I'm determined to grab some me-time, even if it's only 30 minutes a night. I simply want to take a long bath, read a good book, or meditate and get my head right before I tuck in for the night.

A few weeks ago, I started in on this new routine and noticed that the HelloFresh meals really freed up my evenings. I managed to fit in some yoga and meditation! The first week I couldn't believe how much calmer it made me feel. I'm going to stick to it and up my me-time throughout the day.

Although the summer was fun, the last few weeks have been super productive. Thanks to the convenience of HelloFresh, I checked those three things off my list. It saves me so much time - I don't have to go to the grocery store or plan meals for the week. Just a few selective clicks and the HelloFresh box arrives on our doorstep every week. Goodbye to hour-long meal preps and hello to less food waste, and fewer dishes to wash up.

HelloFresh provides my family with a routine and now my kids have healthy, balanced dinners which are incredibly delicious. There are additional desserts and sides, which can be perfect for snack time. It's made my life so much easier. You should definitely give HelloFresh a try.

Update: The folks at HelloFresh are extending a special offer to our readers! Follow this link to get a discount off your first 4 deliveries!

I've been a parent for a while now, and I've discovered something - the older a kid gets, the pickier their appetite becomes. They've become so particular about what they'll eat, I was starting to go crazy. Coming up with a dinner for four, every night of the week that everyone likes makes family meals feel impossible.

Thankfully, I found EveryPlate. This meal kit service has taken the guesswork out of cooking… and saved my sanity, too.

For anyone who's thinking of giving EveryPlate a try, here are some things I've learned since our family signed on.

What's EveryPlate?

Tried, tasted, and trusted by a growing number of households across the country, EveryPlate's a meal kit subscription that delivers all the essentials for a home-cooked dinner.

You choose the meals you want for a week, and they send you a box with pre-portioned ingredients, quality produce, and simple 6-step recipe cards. So, you can make home-cooked meals easily and efficiently. Plan options include 3, 4, or 5, meals per week for 2 or 4 people, so there's really something for everyone.

And the taste? Truly yum.

EveryPlate
Dinnertime Made Easy
Ingredients & Recipe Cards Delivered To Your Door
Try EveryPlate For $1.79 A Meal Now!

How Much Variety Does Their Menu Have?

The weekly rotating menu includes flavorful and familiar favorites. The Crispy Caesar Chicken was a huge hit in our house. Their selections also include vegetarian fare like the Cheesy Gnocchi Bake.

EveryPlate offers 14 new recipes a week, so you'll never have a bland and boring meal again. You are even 2 add on portions available to get extra meat, guaranteeing you're all set.

Is It Good Quality?

The ingredients are fresh, and they taste as good as they look. I'm not exaggerating when I say the whole family's been wiping up every last drop. It doesn't get any more satisfying than that.

How Long Do The Meals Take To Cook?

Not long at all. EveryPlate recipes have only 6 simple steps, which means minimal prep, minimal washing up, and maximum flavor. Streamlined steps and ingredients mean you'll have dinner on the table for 2 - 4 people in 30 minutes on average! It's the smartest way to cook from scratch.

How Much Does It Cost?

If you're worried that home meal delivery is beyond your budget, EveryPlate's just what you've been looking for. They keep costs low by delivering the precise amount of ingredients, so there's very little food waste and no-frills.

Plus, I've done some comparison shopping, and EveryPlate is by far the lowest costing meal kit service out there. Super easy, tasty dinners start from just $4.99 per plate even at full price.

Am I Locked Into A Subscription?

No. Simply sign up, customize your menu, skip, or cancel at any time. Never feel boxed in with EveryPlate.

Eating at home is a joy again, thanks to EveryPlate. The kids love to help in the kitchen and they love eating the meals even more! No more convenient-but-unhealthy takeout or microwave dinners. No more grocery store lines or last-minute ingredient scrambles.

EveryPlate has redefined the cooking process and turned dinnertime into valuable family time again.

Get Meals For Just $1.79 Plus 20% Off Your Next Two Weeks!

Am Ende jedes Jahres reflektiere ich gerne, um zu überlegen, welche neuen Gewohnheiten ich im neuen Jahr starten und etablieren möchte. Dieses Jahr war absolut verrückt und ich muss leider sagen, dass ich in ein ziemliches Loch gefallen bin die letzten Monate. Das neue Jahr will ich deshalb frisch starten und plane dafür bereits, welche positiven Gewohnheiten ich 2021 in mein Leben integrieren möchte, damit das neue Jahr auch wirklich besser wird.

Hier sind meine Top 3 Gewohnheiten fürs neue Jahr und mein Plan, wie ich diese umsetzen will:

Neue Gewohnheit #1: Abwechslungsreichere Gerichte kochen

Eine meiner liebsten Beschäftigungen ist es, neue Gerichte und Rezepte auszuprobieren. Da ich natürlich dieses Jahr nicht oft essen gehen konnte, landete ich leider deutlich zu oft bei Tiefkühlware und Take Away Essen. Wie man sich vorstellen kann, wurde das irgendwann ziemlich langweilig und gesund war diese Ernährung auch nicht gerade.

Ein Freund hat mir dann HelloFresh empfohlen, eine Kochbox, die jede Woche Rezepte und vorportionierte Zutaten direkt zu einem nach Hause liefert. Tatsächlich kann man jede Woche selbst die Gerichte aus einer großen Auswahl aussuchen, in der auch viel internationale Küche dabei ist. Es gibt indisch, thai, italienisch, spanisch, mexikanisch und noch viel mehr.

Das Chili con Carne mit Chorizo und Kichererbsen sah so lecker aus und es wurde versichert, dass man jederzeit pausieren oder kündigen kann. Also probierte ich es aus und bin im Nachhinein wirklich froh, es getan zu haben. Ich habe gesünder gekocht und dabei noch jede Woche internationale Gerichte ausprobiert! Mein Favorit bisher ist der gebratene Halloumi im Fladenbrot. Einfach nur mega lecker!

Neue Gewohnheit #2: Weniger Geld ausgeben

Obwohl ich dieses Jahr weder großartig ausgegangen noch gereist bin, habe ich trotzdem einiges an Geld ausgegeben, das meiste davon für Lieferdienste. Am Anfang erschien es mir noch praktisch, dass ich so seltener einkaufen muss, aber ich habe mich schnell daran gewöhnt und mein Konto hat ziemlich darunter gelitten.

Jetzt wo ich HelloFresh Boxen bekomme, spare ich einiges an Geld. Ich habe mich für den Fleisch & Gemüse Menüplan für 2 Personen mit 4 Mahlzeiten entschieden. Das kostet nur 6.25€ pro Portion (Die Hälfte von meinem Take Away Essen) und ich kann die Reste für das Mittagessen am nächsten Tag verwenden! Die Gerichte haben immer die perfekte Größe, ich muss so nie irgendwas wegschmeißen.

Neue Gewohnheit #3: In eine bessere wöchentliche Routine finden

Dieses Jahr war ich einfach nur faul. Nach ein paar Wochen Home Office stand ich immer später auf, habe viel weniger Sport gemacht und nur noch schlecht gegessen. Mittlerweile versuche ich wieder, rechtzeitig aufzustehen und vor der Arbeit eine Runde zu spazieren. So bekomme ich den Kopf frei und tue mir etwas Gutes.

Jetzt wo ich außerdem wieder selbst koche, habe ich viel mehr Energie. Ich freue mich jeden Abend nach der Arbeit auf meine HelloFresh Rezepte. Dadurch, dass die Zutaten vorportioniert und die Rezeptkarten super einfach zu verfolgen sind, bin ich meistens in rund 30 Minuten fertig mit kochen.

HelloFresh hat meinen Alltag wirklich verändert. Ich spare Geld, esse ausgewogener und internationaler. Jede Woche Lebensmittel direkt an meine Haustür zu bekommen, ist einfach praktisch und spart mir einige nervige Trips zum Supermarkt.

Ich bin wirklich jedes Mal stolz, wenn ich vor meinen selbstgekochten HelloFresh Gerichten sitze. HelloFresh hat mir auf jeden Fall geholfen, bessere Gewohnheiten zu formen, ich kann es nur empfehlen.

HelloFresh hat das Sonderangebot für Neukunden verlängert! Folge diesem Link für 55€ Rabatt auf deine Bestellung!

How is it that celebrities and influencers just happen to look camera-ready at all times? I always find myself mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, admiring these perfect looking women in their perfectly edited photos. When I decide to take a selfie, a lot of pre-planning goes into it - my makeup, my outfit, the lighting, the angle. Plus, I probably take like 100+ pictures to finally find the best one to post (yes, my camera roll is very embarrassing). I always wondered what I was missing from my life just to have that camera ready glow at all times.

By following these popular "Instagram models," I've learned that to keep themselves glowing, they've always got the latest and absolute best beauty and wellness products in their arsenal. Fans in the real world want to be just as in-the-know, but good taste doesn't necessarily come cheap, and luckily for us, these bloggers LOVE to let us in on their secret weapons. One of the most common ways they find the latest trends? FabFitFun. The subscription box everyone is talking about is filled with beauty, fitness, wellness, and home products sent to your doorstep every season. Each box contains 8-10 full-size products lauded by celebrities, influencers, and curated by beauty experts—so you know you're getting the most coveted products from around the world. Every FabFitFun box has well over $200 worth of must have goodies for only $49.99.

Some of my favorite FabFitFun products have been favorites for my favorite influencers (did I say favorite enough times?). I've highlighted the top 5 below, and instead of taking my word for it, check out what these babes had to say.

Jade Roller

Jade rollers are a super hot beauty item for their anti-inflammatory and luxurious, spa-like effects on puffy eyes. That's why The Bachelor star Ashley Iaconetti was so excited to get hers in a recent FabFitFun box. "Remember when I used to ice my face on Paradise?" she said. "Since then I've switched to using a jade roller, one of my favorite beauty tools, every morning to reduce puffiness." These jade rollers can cost upwards of $60-$100 by themselves, but they're just one of many potential surprises in a FabFitFun box.

ISH Cosmetics Lip Palette

Another Bachelor star, Lauren Bushnell, can't help but gush over her ISH Lip Palette, along with the rest of her FabFitFun box. "My favorite box to date contains some of my personal favorite brands like Free People and Rachel Pally." If you were to purchase the ISH palette by itself, it'd cost you $42, almost the cost of the entire FFF box.

The GLAMGLOW Mask

Lifestyle influencer and money guru Michelle Money called out this GLAMGLOW Bubblesheet mask as one of her favorite products in her box. "This is the perfect time to revamp your skincare routine in preparation for cooler weather, and all the full-size products in this season's FabFitFun box will make it so easy for you!". The Bubblesheet is a deep cleansing charcoal mask that shrinks and detoxifies pores and evens out skin tone. No wonder Money is such a huge fan!

Brooke Burke Full Body Sliders

Samantha Busch is a busy boss babe and wife of Nascar driver Kyle Busch. Busch herself has a passion for beauty, fashion, and fitness, so when she calls out a product for vamping up her life, you know it's the real deal. In her Winter Box, Busch loved the Brooke Burke Sliders. The sliders are two round discs used for toning, yoga, and other workout moves that make it easy to move around and provide more range of motion. "I customized my box (YES, you have that option!!), and I received the Brooke Burke Full Body Sliders that I am completely obsessed with, not to mention some of these products cost more than you pay for the box," Busch said.

BITE Lipstick

Raw food blogger Rawvana was excited to show off BITE Beauty's cruelty-free lipstick, especially because she's always on the hunt for natural, safe products. "This is a seasonal box that arrives at your door with amazing beauty, fitness, lifestyle, and fashion goodies. I loved all the cruelty-free beauty products like the @BiteBeauty lipstick." You could wind up paying $30 or more for just one of these beautiful lipsticks, but FabFitFun lets you rock the clean look as just one small part of many goodies.

How great are these products?! I had to stop myself at just 5; otherwise, the list could go on and on - other faves from previous boxes included a Vince Camuto tote, a BB Dakota poncho, and an Alfred French press. Incorporating all the products from FabFitFun into my daily life has definitely given me that camera-ready glow I've been searching for. From everyday beauties like us to ultra-popular IG influencers, there's one thing we can all agree on: FabFitFun is definitely worth it.

Update: FabFitFun is offering 40% OFF Winter Editor's Box! That's up to $429+ worth of products for just $29.99. New Members, Follow This Link To Snag A Box Before It's Sold Out!