My PB + J

banana & nutella cupcakes {recipe}

While we were in NYC my goal was to go on a cupcake tour. Well, that necessarily didn’t happen but we did manage to stumble upon Billy’s Bakery after our tapas dinner in Chelsea. The shop was so cute and the pastries that were offered were right up the line of what I would serve in my dream bakery. I wanted to order a few but I only ordered a banana cupcake with nutella buttercream. I have been thinking of that cupcake ever since and decided to whip up a dozen for our last minute Labor Day barbecue. I started off with this banana cake recipe. I ditched my go-to recipe because my original goal was to bake a cake but time got away from me. Plus, I love checking “to-bake” recipes off of my Pinterest board. The cake is to-die for, like seriously, to-die for. I wanted nutella buttercream to top the delicately moist cake but I wanted my version to taste more like nutella vs. Billy’s not-so-nutella. The recipe for my nutella buttercream is below. In the words of my two-year-old, “Seriously?!…So yummy!”

Nutella Buttercream
(recipe makes enough for one dozen cupcakes)

1 1/2 sticks butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup Nutella
1 pound powdered sugar
1/4 cup half & half (whipping cream or milk works as well)

Cream together the butter and nutella, slowly add in the powdered sugar. Once combined add the half & half. Beat the frosting for roughly five minutes. The frosting should be pale brown, light and airy. If the frosting is still too thick add in additional milk until you achieve the consistency you are looking for. Decorate how you desire.

it’s a weekly thang {weigh-in wednesday}

Hi, do you remember when I told you back in June that I was taking some time off of my weekly weigh-ins? Well, that happened and now I am back to share the final leg of my weight-loss journey. Since January 3rd I have lost a total of twenty-four pounds and enough inches that I’m embarrassed to even document them again. I maintained my current weight over the Summer but with the help of The Dailey Method I plan on reaching my year-end goal by Brayden’s first birthday next month. This means I have roughly nine pounds to lose to get to my pre-pregnancy weight with Payton. So doable and honestly it’s so close! Of course, there are additional goals but this last goal is for 2012. 
Back in June my six-week membership with The Dailey Method had expired and I had been yearning to get back into the studio. That was until last week when I began taking classes again and it felt amazing, who would’ve thought that a 45-minute express class would leave me feeling that sore! Over the next month I have been challenged to a 30-day challenge along with three other San Diego based mommy bloggers. Our challenge is to take a minimum of four classes per week – again, doable! It has left me re-energized about my health, my goals and my body. 

If you’re unfamiliar with The Dailey Method it is a one-hour full-body workout that combines ballet barre work, core conditioning, stretching, and orthopedic exercises. The workout effectively strengthens, tones, and lengthens muscles in the entire body while simultaneously increasing one’s mind-body awareness. You leave the studio feeling refreshed, challenged and stronger. It’s amazing how addictive it is even if my legs chatter like crazy and I can’t hold the positions longer than three seconds the results are still amazing and noticeable. The Dailey Method studios can be found all over: California, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Nevada and Utah. There are even studios in British Columbia and Paris! To find a location near you visit: thedaileymethod.com

For my 30-day challenge I will be sharing my weekly weigh-in’s once again. This time with…dun, dun, dun…PICTURES! eek! I want to crawl in a hole already but it’s to hold myself accountable. I can find a million things wrong with this week’s picture but be kind lovely readers. I am a mom of two, I’ve got saggy skin (well, saggy everything), I live in my yoga pants, I still look three months preggo and there are days where I don’t do my hair. I’ve got goals and a deadline fast approaching. Come along with me on my final month of my weight loss journey.  

current weight: 146  |   goal: 137 

Disclaimer: I received a one-month membership with childcare for review purposes. Regardless, I only recommend products/services that I would use and believe my readers would enjoy. 

chicken apple sausage gourmet pizza {hillshire farms sponsored post & giveaway}

My family loves Hillshire Farm products. I remember as a child my Dad making kielbasa with onions and barbeque sauce. I loved that dish so creating my own dishes using Hillshire Farm quality meat products for my family brings back so many memories while creating new ones.

While at BlogHer my first booth visit on the expo floor was to the Hillshire Farm booth. I quickly realized that I was able to create my own dish with their new gourmet creations fully cooked sausage. I can still taste that dish and have been dreaming about what I could make using the chicken apple with gouda sausage. I thought and thought and finally came up with a gourmet pizza using the chicken apple with gouda sausage as the star ingredient. The pizza was probably the best pizza I have ever tasted in terms of flavor combinations. Here’s what I did:

Start off with Hillshire Farm Gourmet Creations Chicken Apple with Gouda smoked sausage. 
Ingredients – walnuts, granny smith apple, caramelized red onion and sliced dates (not pictured) 

Slice the sausage and cook according to package directions.  

Your going to need pizza dough. Whether you make it or buy it, it’s up to you. I got mine from my old employer and fav pizza place. You can go to any pizza place and ask them to purchase a ball of dough, avoid chain pizza places because they will not. My dough gave me enough to make two mediums and one mini. 

Roll your dough out – make sure to let your dough rest before rolling out. Otherwise you might not get anywhere and you’ll be playing a fun tug-of-war game with the dough. 
Next, take a fork and poke holes all over the dough except for the crust area. This pizza is essentially sauce-less so drizzle some EVOO on the crust and spread it around. 
You have to have cheese for pizza, how much you use is up to you. I used mozzarella as the base and dollops of ricotta on the top. 

After you have the oil spread around, sprinkle the cheese. Have your kids help with this, it makes it more fun and they feel like they are helping. Next layer. the cooked sausage. 

Once you have the base done add the remaining ingredients: caramelized onions, sliced apples, walnuts, dates and then creamy morsels of ricotta goodness. Bake at 450º for about 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly. 
voila! An amazing gourmet pizza in the comforts of your own home! 
Want to try this recipe out for yourself? Hillshire Farm is giving one MY PB+J reader three coupons valued at $17.97 to use on any product. Enter the rafflcopter form below to win! 

Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival #familyartsfestsd {san diego activity}


The Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival is right around the corner and this year it’s being held at the gorgeous NTC park in Liberty Station. We cannot wait to spend the day enjoying the music, crafts and memories that are in store for us. 

The important details:

Date: Saturday, September 22nd
Time:  11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location:  Liberty Station NTC Promenade, also know as the North Promenade
Admission:  $7 per person; children under the age of 1 are free; 
Family Pack of tickets: $20 for up to five family members total! The family pack can only be purchased the day of. 


Purchase tickets here. If you order your tickets in time you will be sent a wristband in the mail so that you can “waltz right in” to the event. How convenient! 

Here’s a glimpse of what the festival has to offer –  

Music – 
Families can look forward to hearing two sets of Hullabaloo, but that’s not all!  We will also be joined by Patty Hall, and The Hollow Trees.  Sets will go on throughout the festival. 

Food – 
Families can bring their own food this year, or enjoy food from one of four food trucks coming. Make sure to bring cash with you. I know I will make sure to have cash this time around – who can say no to a food truck?

Miho Gastro Truck (2)
Food Farm San Diego
Mr. Groggy’s


Children’s Literature Zone –
We’ve paired up with Yellow Book Road to create a relaxing escape where you can hear local San Diego authors read their own books!  Come hear books read by

Kathryn Cloward — Kathryn the Grape
Charles Johnson — Storyteller
Luciana Navarro Powell — My Dad is the Best Playground
Terry Kraszewski — Surf Angel
Joann Woolley — Sign4Baby (signing story time)
Darren Perman — Wookiwoo, I Love You
Jeff Garcia — Santa and the Molokai Mules


Yellow Book Road is also working on having a character come- more info on that coming soon!

Creativity Zone – 
Our friends at Art Soup, drop-in art studio in Encinitas, have signed on to provide a full day of art activities at the festival. They always come prepared with fun, creative activities and a great staff to make it fun and easy.

A special thanks to the Festival Sponsors:
Clif Kids, Urban Sitter, SoCal Kids San Diego, Andersen by Design, and Mon Petit Chateau 

You can enter to win a prize pack for the Hullabaloo Family Arts Festival on MY PB+J! 


One winner will receive:

  • one Family Pack of tickets, good for up to 5 people (children under 1 year are free)
  • A Clif Kid goodie bag
  • A free pass to Mon Petit Chateau, good for a one-day visit, up to three children (siblings only)
  • one $50 gift card to Renewal By Andersen Windows
  • 1 pass to Smart Kids Time, courtesy of SoCal Kids San Diego
  • 1 family pass to the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre, also courtesy of SoCal Kids San Diego
  • $20 of babysitting services from Urban Sitter!
Want to win this amazing prize pack? Here’s how:
Leave me a comment telling me what you’re looking forward to most about the festival… That’ it!  


Giveaway winners will collect their giveaway prize when admitted to the festival – you must be able to attend the festival on September 22nd to be eligible to win! Enter to win by commenting below. 



Disclaimer: I received a complimentary family four pack of tickets. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I personally use and believe will be good for my readers.

SD Mom’s Night Out One-Year Anniversary {san diego activity}


You’re Invited to Be Yourself!
As a mom we wear a lot of costumes; teacher, nurse, chef, maid – you name it! We spend most of our days dressing up in so many different costumes except for the one that matters most, ourselves! I love attending the SD Mom’s night out events because I can be myself and I get to mingle with women just like me and did I mention, uninterrupted? 
In celebration of the SD Mom’s Night Out One-Year Anniversary and Halloween, we invite you to enjoy a night out at Kin Spa at Manchester Grand Hyatt as your fabulous self.











1 Market Place  San Diego, CA 92101
When: Friday, October 26 from 7-10pm
Cost: $40 Presale, $50 at the door
*$35 for the first 35 people who register!


Our beneficiary for this event is Foundation for Women, a non-profit organization located in San Diego dedicated to eliminating global poverty through microcredit loans.



To support this organization, a portion of each ticket you purchase will go to Amanda Taylor, a local single mom who is a member of the Foundation for Women. We are also selling coffee (Foundation for Women’s Micro Loan Blend) made from Women Entrepreneurs. All coffee proceeds will support our beneficiary. *Coffee will be distributed at the event and can be purchased online.

Tickets Include:
      • A donation to Amanda Taylor – Foundation for Women
      • Complimentary parking or Valet for $10 at Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
      • Entrance to Kin Spa and pool deck at Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
      • 3 raffle tickets
      • Opportunity to win prizes from our amazing sponsors including the Grand Prize of (1) Night Stay at Manchester Grand Hyatt and spa treatment for (2) at Kin Spa
      • Free flowing wine throughout the evening
      • Light appetizer fare
      • Complimentary indoor/outdoor spa services from Kin Spa
      • Special discounted menu for spa services purchased at the event
      • Kin Spa Swag Bags for the first 200 guests
      • Special Swag Bags for the first 50 guests
      • Discounted room rates for guests who want to stay overnight
      • A fabulous night out as YOURSELF!
Event covered by: