Greetings! It's been way too long!
I just got back from a fun family vacation in Florida. We had the BEST time together! Much needed for all of us. I felt really good coming back from vacation & realized I kept up with my healthy habits while away. So difficult to do! This is honestly one of two times this has actually happened. Lol. Both in the last year. I wanted to share 5 easy habits that I've implemented into my healthy routine that have really helped my daily life. They're simple & can be really impactful.

​I know it's hard. Making food every day & night can be tiresome. BUT it doesn't have to be fancy, time consuming or special. Save special meals for 1-2 times per week when you have the energy to be creative. Eating at home 5-6 nights per week (& prioritizing lunch at home/packed) has really moved the needle on my family's overall health. I know what's going into the food we eat. I can control portions, ingredients & food quality. It also helps us appreciate being at home & spending time with one another. Mental health bonus points!

When we travel we always pack food for the plane, have a stash of our own snacks, ship bulky items (protein powder) & shop at local grocery stores for supplies.

- Browse my IG @jenkinshouseonthehill or HouseOnTheHill.co for lots of meal inspo.
- Search "easy meal ideas" or "easy healthy meals" on Pinterest, Instagram or YouTube. SO many ideas out there!
- Check out my month of meal ideas resource: Eat 6 Challenge

You most likely aren't adding the splurge or crave worthy foods on your list. Simply add the basics (eggs, fresh fruit, protein, greens...) & allow yourself 1-3 special items that weren't on the list. For example, I like to drink cold brew so I will grab a single serve one with oat milk or a fruity iced tea. Or if I need something sweet I will pick up a nice bar of chocolate. My husband likes to pick out a bag of chips that he hasn't tried & the kids will find their item as well. Allowing yourself to browse every single item in the store....results in lots of unnecessary  junk & money spent. Full up a majority of your cart around the perimeter of the store!

If you prefer online grocery shopping, follow the same concept. Make a list of items you need and type in the search bar for each one. The favorites or "buy again" tabs come in handy if you purchase routine items. Not physically being in the store & being unable to wander really helps me focus on the items I actually need. Much less impulse buying!

We all have those restaurants where we leave feeling very icky. I personally don't choose to visit those establishments anymore. OR I find something on the menu that isn't going to derail me. A delightful meal for me is never worth a regretful evening in the bathroom.  : ) Your gut will thank you later. 

At home I pay attention to products I buy or specific ingredients & how they make me feel. Certain ingredients (beans, dairy, garlic, soy) just don't agree with me personally so I watch my intake of them.

When I pay attention to what my body is telling me & make adjustments I feel so much better! I have never felt bad after eating a nourishing meal.....funny how that works.

Watch my latest vlog below: 3 Reasons Why I Drink a Smoothie Almost Every Day
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I focus on a small set of things to complete each morning & evening. There are small changes at times but it mostly stays the same. Having set tasks to complete for each routine helps me make the most of my time. It is so routine at this point that I feel off when I can't complete it! I definitely feel healthier & more mentally focused when I have these routines.

Morning: 6:15-7:15 am
- Coffee with collagen (My favorite collagen - use code JENKINS10 for 10% off)
- Glass of water
- Get ready & listen to a podcast/book/relaxing playlist
- Start a load of laundry or tidy kitchen
- Make a smoothie & take AM supplements
Ready to join the family to start their day!

Evening: 8:30-10:30 pm
- Catch up with Brandon & finish any clean-up
- Fill up a large water bottle & take PM supplements
- Pjs, dim lights & turn on diffuser
- Wash face, brush teeth, take out contacts
- Read or watch a show 

2021 MIGHT be similar to 2020. There I said it. 

It's time to accept a new sort-of normal. The security we once felt leaving our home just isn't there anymore. The people, places & activities we once took for granted are now cemented in our hearts. The pain & suffering that many people felt will not be forgotten. There is still the weight of the unknown. The questions. The anxiety. The hope.

It's time to start rebuilding.....to create something new.

I truly believe life is what you make it & I intend to squeeze what I can out of it!!

In the past year I have . . . 
. . . deepened the unbreakable bond with my family members
. . . spent countless hours outdoors
. . . soaked up smiles, tears, laughter & air hugs
. . . improved my daily health 
. . . appreciated what surrounds me each & every day
. . . connected with new & old friends in ways I never thought possible
  & most importantly learned to really listen to myself

For me this means. . .  thinking / imagining how I want my day to go.
What are the things I want to remember to do each day?
What intentions do I have for each part of my day?
How does this relate to my relationships with others around me?

I came up with an easy way to keep these thoughts in the forefront. Being a visual person I knew I needed something I could SEE daily. Growing up I remember my grandmother taping important quotes, articles or notes all around the house. Each time I found one, I would read it to myself & imagined what she wanted out of it's daily reminder. 

The printable below is how I intend to make myself remember my intentions. I filled in my top 3 intentions for several spaces in my life: bathroom (morning/evening routine), kitchen (where most family time is spent) & my desk at work. The example below (on right) is for my desk. Simple reminders for the best version of myself. 

If this is something you're interested in trying for yourself I have included a free download below!
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Codeage discount code below!

Roll out of bed.
Eyes halfway open.
Find slippers.
Wearily walk into kitchen. Still dark.
Gather coffee essentials. Pour. Froth. AHHHH.
Now I'm awake!

My silent morning coffee routine is something that I look forward to each morning. Over the last few years I have determined what flavors I enjoy & have perfected my blend. Nothing more adult than that!

At the beginning of the year I began adding collagen to my beloved coffee. I wanted to improve the look of my skin & add some protein to my morning routine. I had a few lines forming on my forehead & a dullness that wouldn't improve with skin care. I naturally bought whatever collagen I had heard the most about. It was easy to find & others seemed to approve of it!

The taste was something I had to get used to. A strange bitter aftertaste always followed with this new routine. I also had trouble mixing it without clumps. . . .YUCK. I was not happy to have my perfected cup of coffee RUINED! The results were satisfactory, so I continued to add it into my coffee. My skin improved & looked healthier as a result.

About two months ago I was introduced to Codeage. A California based company, dedicated to creating modern nutritional solutions. I was extremely interested in Codeage after learning about the inspiration behind their products. The company's creation was inspired by the founder's brother, who is a stage 4 Glioblastoma cancer survivor (you can watch an interview with him HERE if you want to know more). He ultimately used nutrition to aid in his treatment & recovery. All of their products are made in the U.S.A. without fillers or chemicals. Clean products sign me up!!
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I was drawn to their "Multi Collagen Protein Powder" because (I needed an upgrade) it includes 5 types of collagen from grass-fed bovine, wild caught fish, organic chicken & egg shell membranes. Most collagen only contains one source. I liked the idea of drawing from other sources of collagen & was open to a change in my current bitter routine. In September, I began adding the Multi Collagen into my daily routine. I immediately noticed a difference in the taste. NO AFTERTASTE. I was shocked at this revelation! 

Results within the first week or two:
- Skin glow: dullness resided
- Firmer skin
- Lip plumpness: no filler needed!
- Stronger healthier looking nails: no white spots or ridges
- Healthier hair: less breakage & more shine

Needless to say I won't be trading in my collagen for any other brand again. I am hooked on the results that Codeage has given me. I love the added bonus of 9g of protein to get me to my later breakfast! I am using my discount code & already repurchasing!

Do you ever just wake up & think to yourself, "I'm getting old....everything hurts, I'm tired & I want to go back to sleep!" ?

When I was pregnant with our second child, I would often wake up thinking those exact thoughts. I was so run down, had no energy & was always tired. Being pregnant, I didn't think much of it. Fast forward almost two years later. . . I often find myself saying the same thing!
For a self-proclaimed "healthy" eater & active mom of two, I should feel better on a daily basis.

I have felt run down for TOO long . . . not to mention the handful of other issues I have dealt with since my twenties: year-long allergies, asthma, eczema, dry/itchy eyes, & digestive problems. Having our second child only exacerbated these issues, some became unmanageable. The new stress of managing two willful children, along with the anxiety that is 2020, sent my small issues to the front lines. My husband and I would often chat about this. He too experienced his own health issues for many years that over time became worse.

This can't be life as a "healthy" 31 year old. . .

So, this summer we set out to really pay attention to our health, get rid of any bad habits quarantine had promoted & get serious about what we could do.

We weren't sure where to begin so we started with the typical . . . healthier choices at meals, less snacking & more frequent workouts. I cooked at home A LOT! Which did seem to help our weight a bit. The daily health issues that we faced didn't seem to budge, maybe we needed to be more strict? 

Frustration set in. . .

By mere happenstance, my husband and I were talking with my brother who had recently taken the Wheat Zoomer test. A blood test, that measures antibodies to wheat peptides (gluten & non-gluten components) along with the antibodies that test for gut permeability (leaky gut). His results piqued my interest & prompted us to order the test for ourselves. We were able to use my future sister-in-law for our Wheat Zoomer test & consultation, who works in a Functional Medicine Clinic. *Note: such blood tests need to be run through licensed health care providers & cannot be ordered by individuals. Talk to your healthcare provider if it is something you are interested in.

Fast forward to the test results:
Both my husband & I . . .
- are highly sensitive to gluten
- experience "leaky gut syndrome"
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Based on the Wheat Zoomer test results, we should adopt a gluten free diet to reduce inflammation, heal the gut lining & promote overall immunity. So gluten free it is!

My dreams of visiting Italy & eating pasta everyday just died. Ha! 

In all honesty, this is just the first step in our journey to a healthier/longer life. I know that this will not be the answer to every ailment that comes along, BUT, I think it could truly benefit our future health & daily lives. Time will tell for this one! We are already to week two & seeing some great results! I will do an updated post on this topic in a few months.

You will begin to see food content that is centered around a gluten free diet. Let's all remember most fresh ingredients don't contain gluten! Recipes will not feature wheat or non-gluten free elements. Most ingredients in my recipes can be easily substituted already to meet your specific needs.
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House On The Hill will remain focused on stylish living, balanced eating & healthy lifestyle choices! Gluten free or not, there will be something for everyone!

​Instagram Accounts:
I have followed these accounts for several years, they are that good! They typically feature healthy food that is gluten free or super easy to adapt!
@EatingBirdFood
@RachaelsGoodEats
​@GlutenFree.FollowMe
@HealthyLittlePeach
@twist_of_lemons
@TheRealFoodrds
@RadiateWithRachel

Who else finds themselves with a produce overload sometimes?!
The summer tomatoes seem to multiply!! Combined with my tendency to over order on grocery pick up . . . I always seem to miss the weight of items & order waaaaay too much!! 

This recipe grew from a need to rid my counters of produce. In my mind, there is nothing better than homemade sauce. Tomato sauce is one of my favorites to make at home. This time I wanted a slightly different flavor profile with some added veggies for the kids!

This sauce has it all . . .
- smoky/roasted undertones
- creaminess without cream
- chunky rustic texture
- versatility: could be used in so many ways! 

Check out the recipe below!

I paired this sauce with my favorite meatball recipe for a hearty dinner!

Basic Meatball Recipe:

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup Nut Crumbs (GF, Italian style)  or  1/2 cup panko
• 1/2 cup grated cheese
• 1/2 teas. each garlic powder & sea salt

*1 grated zucchini (pat dry), optional addition to meat mixture
400 degrees for 20ish minutes.

This sauce will have you coming back all fall & winter long! Warm & cozy!! Prep a double batch & store some in the freezer for easy weeknight solutions. You could even make it into a soup by adding additional chicken or vegetable broth & a touch of your favorite milk. YUM!