back to school.

Getting back into the swing of school usually means a new start for everyone.  It's always a good chance for me to get my family back into more healthy eating habits.  That means good snacks when the kids get home from school. 

I was online and found this awesome list of 25 healthy snacks for kids...and you!  Snacks are such a great way to keep your from feeling deprived, not having your sugar drop out the bottom, keeping up your energy, and helping you to refrain from overeating or eating things you'll regret.

I love to keep almonds, triscuits and cheese, or pistachios around the kitchen for a quick snack or pick me up.  I'll grab a little handful of almonds and get back to work or slice 3-4 skinny pieces of cheese and a triscuit for each, put them on a pretty plate, and sit and enjoy for a couple of minutes.  Depends on the morning.  In the afternoon when the kids are home from school and everyone is making a snack, I love to slice up some strawberries and put them in a cute little blue egg cup from Anthropologie with some vanilla yogurt (In think Dannon Light n'Fit is the best!).

I printed out this pdf from eatright.org that lists 25 Healthy Snacks for Kids and put it in my menu folder in my handy little organized junk drawer (check it out here).  Now my kids walk in the door from school, open the drawer pull out the list, pick the snack they want, have great joy in making their own snack creation (I'm not kidding about the joy),sit down, and devour their snack.  

Then it's on to homework...that's another story that's not going quite as smoothly as snack time yet...

I've put a little bit of the list below for you...you can get the rest of the list here. And I don't know about your kids but mine LOVE to dip anything...so the bonus dipping list is awesome!

25 Healthy Snacks for Kids

©2009 ADA. Reproduction of this fact sheet is permitted for educational purposes.

Reproduction for sales purposes is not authorized. This fact sheet expires 3/2011.

When a snack attack strikes, refuel with these nutrition-packed snacks.

1. Peel a banana and dip it in yogurt. Roll in crushed cereal and freeze.

2. Spread celery sticks with peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese. Top with raisins. Enjoy your “ants on a log.”

3. Stuff a whole-grain pita pocket with ricotta cheese and Granny Smith apple slices. Add a dash of cinnamon.

4. Mix together ready-to-eat cereal, dried fruit and nuts in a sandwich bag for an on-the-go snack.

5. Smear a scoop of frozen yogurt on two graham crackers and add sliced banana to make a yummy sandwich.

6. Top low-fat vanilla yogurt with crunchy granola and sprinkle with blueberries.

7. Microwave a small baked potato. Top with reduced-fat cheddar cheese and salsa.

8. Make snack kabobs. Put cubes of low-fat cheese and grapes on pretzel sticks.

9. Toast a whole grain waffle and top with low-fat yogurt and sliced peaches.

10. Spread peanut butter on apple slices.

11. Blend low-fat milk, frozen strawberries and a banana for thirty seconds for a delicious smoothie.

12. Make a mini-sandwich with tuna or egg salad on a dinner roll.

healthy. LIFE.

tell me.

We have a stellar line up of women for you (click on their links to check them out) over the next few months in the Women and Business series.  I want to know what it is you'd like to ask them.  What burning question(s) do you have for them about business or managing life, photography, and motherhood?  Post your questions in the comments or send me an email at davina at davinafear dot com and let me know what you are dying to ask.

September 3rd: Bambi Cantrell

September 10th:  Jaclyn Kaiser of The Image is Found

September 17th: Angela Anderson

September 24th: Susan Stripling

October 1st:  Carey Schumacher

October 8th:  Kara May

October 15th:  Nichole V

October 22nd:  Lori Nordstrom

October 29th:  Dawn Davis

November 5th:  Ulrica Wihlborg

November 12th:  Me Ra Koh

November 19th: Melanie Nashan

December 3rd:  Storey Wilkins

question. LIFE.

helpful hints for your next vacation.

 *warning: this post has too many pictures and most were taken with my point and shoot camera*

Just in case you didn't know a few things about how to have a family trip to Pawley's Island I thought I'd give you a couple of hints and tips. (if you missed my first vacation post...click here.)

#1-Get ice cream every day.  Bruster's will give you heaping ice cream cones that will make your eyes pop out of your head when they hand them to you.  You'll wonder who they think is planning to eat this one ice cream cone?  You and everyone that lives in Texas?  Of course, my kids loved that they got to down that much ice cream. 

#2-If you go to Bruster's...you must try the peanut butter explosion ice cream.  It's making my mouth water just thinking about it.

#3-If you don't get peanut butter explosion...you have to have cotton candy explosion.  It has pop rocks.  Gracie and Emma got it every time.

#4-Make sure to measure yourself 10 times while you're there to make sure you are too BIG to get the baby ice cream cone.

#5-When you go crabbing...make sure to go at low tide.  You will actually see crabs.

#6-When you put the chicken leg bait in your net...tie it on...or the crab will take off with it and laugh at you when you lift up your net.

#7-Let your kids put the nasty chicken leg in the net.

#8-Big brothers are an excellent way to get out of walking...anywhere.

#9-A new hat makes for a great souvenir, especially if you look like an awesome cowgirl in it.

#10-Digging is mandatory on the beach.  It's possible that you could dig all the way to water...or buried treasure...never give up.  Just keep digging.  Get the big shovels.  Not those whimpy beach shovels.  Put your heart into it.  Be serious.

#11-It is impossible to collect enough seashells.  Each and every one is so completely beautiful.  It doesn't matter if they are broken or not.  They are all, every one, wonderfully wonderful.

#12-You can be the youngest child in the family and be the very first, brave soul to try boogie boarding.  And then love it so much that your entire swimsuit fills up with sand.

#13-Your swimsuit will fill up with sand...especially if you're a girl.  Good luck getting it out.

#14-Pizza Grill-a has excellent pizza and corndogs...and stuffed Gorilla's that will stare at you while you eat.

#15-Riding bikes around the island is super fun...even if you almost have a heart attack...or three...or four... when your child rides their bike out in front of oncoming traffic (yes, that means multiple cars...multiple times).

#16-Jumping on beds is good stress relief.

#17-Eating cold breakfast cereal at a beachside condo tastes better than it does at your own house.

#18-A joke book from the 1950s can keep kids entertained for hours.

#19-You can go out on a deep sea fishing boat.  We saw the ads.  We're going next time.

#20-It will never be a long enough trip.  Kids will be sad when it's time to leave.

good. LIFE.

hot mom and dad.

I had so much fun photographing Michelle and Dewayne at Love Affair.  They are living proof that moms and dads can be flirty, fun, and sexy together. 

One of the things I love about Michelle and Dewayne is that there years together have given them a sweet comfortable and relaxed feeling with one another...and even though they have 3 kids they're still keeping that fire lit between them.  They love dancing and a couple of times Dwayne pulled out the tunes on his phone to give them a little mood music...

They also know how to weather troubles together...during our shoot I thought Michelle was going to have a trip to the hospital after turning her ankle but she brushed it off and just turned up the good vibes even more.  Michelle and Dewayne were so awesome during the whole session and I'm so grateful for the time I got to spend working with them.  Thanks so much to both of you!!

love. LIFE.

100 ideas.

Below are 10 of the 100 healthy ideas listed on the AccentHealth website that they posted to celebrate their 100th show. Check them out! There are some fun and easy tips that will help you get moving a little more often.

Don't forget about the challenge this month! Be the one to post the most days of getting a good night's sleep this month and you'll win!  To see more about this contest click here.

Set a goal of trying one new fruit or vegetable every week

Keep a bowl of fruit on your desk at work

Switch from ice cream to frozen yogurt

Substitute sweet potatoes for regular baked potatoes or fries. You'll get more Vitamin A.

Get more fiber. Add canned beans or a handful of nuts to your salad.

Take the stairs, not the elevator.

Don't e-mail your office mate. Walk down the hall and deliver the message personally.

Get a dog. Commit to walking 10 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes at night.

Buy a soccer ball. Kick it with your kids or a neighbor.

Buy shoes at the end of the day when your feet are more swollen from use.

To see the other 90 tips...click here.

fit. LIFE.