Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork BBQ & Sweet Potato Fries

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Snapple. The opinions and text are all mine. #TrueTeaTaste

May was an absolute crazy month...we moved, we went to Disney (again), we kicked off our wedding season, and we tried to get into a good rhythm of living in our new place, cooking more often, and enjoying the start of the summer season.  

Part of that rhythm has been learning to meal plan and utilize my favorite kitchen appliance...the slow cooker! I mean, what's better than throwing some stuff together in the morning and coming home to a delicious-smelling house and meal ready for eating?  

One of our favorite things to eat any time of year, but especially in the summer, is BBQ.  We love going to our local BBQ place and sitting out at a picnic table and enjoying some home-cooked sides, delicious pulled pork, and sweet tea.  So last week, I decided to take one of our favorite meals and replicate it at home.  I got a pork roast, pulled out the slow cooker, and came home to a yummy pulled pork BBQ.  One of our favorite sides is sweet potato fries, and we've been serving up this easy and healthy baked version with everything lately.  They've got a great salty-sweetness to them and they pair so well with just about everything.

This meal just screams summer and makes me think of all of the picnics and outdoor eating we'll be doing this season!  We got to try out Snapple® Straight Up™ Tea, which paired perfectly with this delicious summery meal!  It comes in multiple varieties (including black, green, and rooibos!) with three levels of sweetness (AJ loved the Sweet while I went with Sorta Sweet!) and is made with all-natural ingredients and no artificial anything, so it's a great compliment to any meal!  

Read on for recipes for both the pulled pork and sweet potato fries, and enjoy! 

SLOW-COOKER PULLED PORK BBQ

WHAT YOU NEED // 

3lb pork roast (shoulder roast preferred)

1/3c apple cider vinegar

1/2c packed brown sugar

1/2c ketchup

1/4c BBQ seasonings (look for a bbq seasoning package in your grocer's spice aisle!)

WHAT TO DO // 

Place your roast in your slow-cooker, trim off any large pieces of fat as much as possible.  

Mix vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, and seasonings in a bowl until combined.  Pour mixture over your roast.

Cook roast on low for 8hrs or high for 4hrs, until it easily pulls apart.  Using two forks, shred the roast and pull it apart to created a pulled pork BBQ.  Remove any pieces of fat as you shred.

Serve on toasted brioche buns!

BAKED SWEET POTATO FRIES

WHAT YOU NEED //

4-5 small-medium sweet potatoes

Olive oil

Salt

Pepper

Garlic

Preheat your oven to 425ºF.

Pierce sweet potatoes a few times with a knife or fork.  Microwave on high for 3 minutes, adding more time until sweet potatoes are slightly soft.  

Slice potatoes (we slice them into circles, but you can go for a more traditional "stick" fry shape as well) and place on a lightly greased baking sheet.  Try not to overlap them too much.

Drizzle with olive oil, and then sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic over them.

Bake for 20min, turning over halfway, or until they reach a desired crispness.  Serve and enjoy!

You can find Snapple® Straight Up™ Tea in your local Giant Food store.  It comes in multiple varieties (we tried the standard Unsweetened, Sorta Sweet, and Sweet varieties as well as the Sorta Sweet Honey Green Tea and Rooibos new varieties!)  Look for the awesome new packaging on your grocer's shelves and stock up for summer!  

What is your favorite summer dinner recipe?

Blackberry Punch

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BlackberryAffair #CollectiveBias

I first discovered Canada Dry® Blackberry Ginger Ale last spring and instantly fell in love. Ginger Ale easily tops the list of favorite bubbly drinks for me, and adding in that subtle blackberry flavor makes it even better.  

One of my favorite things to do when the weather gets warmer is to eat outdoors and have friends and family over to enjoy the weather and some grilled food! These types of gatherings tend to just pop up in my family...someone will decide in the afternoon to have everyone over for dinner, so it’s great to have a quick go-to beverage recipe up my sleeve to whip up at a moment’s notice.  

I love making these little casual gatherings a little bit fancier just by serving something special and unique, so this Blackberry Punch is perfect (and impressive) for whipping up at any time, but it’s also a great addition to any bridal shower, birthday party, or even an impromptu girls’ day! In fact, my mom and I also served this punch at my brother and sister-in-law’s rehearsal dinner last year and it was a huge hit!  

WHAT YOU NEED //

+ Canada Dry® Blackberry Ginger Ale (12-pack or 2 liter)

+ Fresh blackberries

+ Cranberry-Lime seltzer

+ Fresh or frozen cranberries

+ Raspberry sherbet

+ Rosemary sprigs

To make this easy punch, simply combine the Canada Dry® Blackberry Ginger Ale (one can will make one 16-oz glass, or you could combine the entire 2 liter bottle with other ingredients in a punch bowl), 1/3c seltzer, and a generous scoop (one per glass) of the raspberry sherbet.  Be careful...the sherbet will cause the soda to foam and may overflow the glass, so add it slowly!  Top with a few blackberries and cranberries and a sprig or two of rosemary, and Voila!  You have a beautiful, unique drink that’s sure to wow your guests!

Doesn’t it look delicious?

I easily found Canada Dry® Blackberry Ginger Ale at my local Giant Food Store! It’s available in both a 12-pack of cans and 2 liter bottles, both perfect for making this delicious Blackberry Punch!  Made with real ginger, Canada Dry® Blackberry Ginger Ale is only available for a limited time between March-May 2016, so grab it and bring feel-good refreshment to your next gathering before it’s gone!

HAVE YOU TRIED CANADA DRY® BLACKBERRY GINGER ALE?  WOULD YOU SERVE THIS PUNCH AT YOUR NEXT GATHERING?

The Holiday Workout Playlist that You Don't Want to Miss

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RockTheHolidays #CollectiveBias

I'm a strict "no Christmas music before Thanksgiving," but once December hits, it's all Christmas, all the time!  In the car, at home, and even at the gym, if I can listen to holiday music, I listen to holiday music.  

That includes the music I listen to at the gym.  I always take my phone along with me when I work out, and right now, I'm totally rocking my holiday workout playlist, filled with super fun holiday pop and a cappella!  AJ and I just joined a gym near us (well, switched gyms), and it's been really fun to workout together.  Plus, with my upbeat holiday playlist, I'm totally set to hit the treadmill and enjoy the season while I workout!  

I love the holiday season.  Between the decor, the food, the events and the music, it's just such a happy time of year.  I recently got the opportunity to check out T-Mobile's Simple Choice™prepaid plan and the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime and it took my holiday season to the next level.  So often, I want to enjoy Christmas music while I'm on the go or at a place like the gym, but I'm worried about all of the data that streaming music is eating up.  But with the T-Mobile Simple Choice™prepaid plan, streaming music doesn't count agains your data usage, so you're able to stream unlimited quantities of music at high speed without any extra charges 

I also enjoyed streaming my playlist around the house and my office.  It's great for playing while AJ and I make dinner, for decorating the tree, or for checking off the many items on my to-do list to get ready for our Christmas Eve services!  The fact that I can stream my playlist all day every day without it affecting my dad is basically just the icing on the cake...total Music Freedom!

You can catch my upbeat holiday playlist on Spotify here:

Rock the Holidays this season with a T-Mobile Simple Choice™prepaid plan from Walmart!  While shopping for your next holiday occasion, make sure to stop by the wireless section to check out their amazing prices, the latest and greatest wireless devices, and the best plans!  Who knew that you could get all of the of premium brands and plans from the best carriers at Walmart?!  The T-Mobile Simple Choice™prepaid plan can help lower your monthly cost and give you great service with unlimited music streaming on your favorite apps like Spotify and Pandora, all for just $50 a month!

HOW DO YOU #ROCKTHEHOLIDAYS?  WHAT'S ON YOUR HOLIDAY PLAYLIST?

Perfect Holiday Eggnog Smoothie

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HolidayWithChobani #CollectiveBias

I know that I say this with every season, but I really can't believe that it's December!  With the holidays quickly approaching, there's the never-ending to-do lists, shopping and wrapping, and of course, hosting and attending lots of holiday parties!  One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the wealth of goodies to enjoy!  

One of the holiday things that I've never been able to fully enjoy (before now) was eggnog.  Any time I'd had it, it was just too sweet and too milky for my liking.  But I feel like eggnog is one of those timeless, classy holiday indulgences, and you just can't go through the season without having a glass or two.  So, I decided to take the classic flavors of eggnog and turn it into a smoothie...perfect for an after-dinner treat at your next holiday party or at a festive holiday brunch!  It's an easy alternative to the classic eggnog that your guests will definitely love.  

Made with Chobani® Greek Yogurt, this smoothie is low in fat and high in protein, making it a great choice for the base of this treat.  Chobani® is an awesome choice because it has some great benefits, including three types of probiotics, 40% less sugar than other yogurts, and no artificial sweeteners.  Check out this simple recipe and enjoy!

WHAT YOU NEED //

Key Ingredients:

+ 1/2c Chobani® Vanilla Greek Yogurt

+ 1c unsweetened vanilla almond milk

+ 1 banana, frozen

+ 1/4 c chopped pitted dates

Additional Ingredients:

+ 1/2 tsp cinnamon

+ 1/4 tsp nutmeg

+ 1/2 tsp almond extract

+ 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

+ whipped topping (optional)

Mix together all of the ingredients in a blender and serve topped with whipped topping and cinnamon!  It's that simple, and a great treat for after dinner or even for breakfast!

I found all of the ingredients I needed to make this tasty smoothie on a quick trip to my local Walmart!  It was easy to pick up everything I needed for this quick smoothie, perfect for any occasion!  And when you grab the 32oz container of Chobani® Greek Yogurt, you'll have plenty to whip up these smoothies for a big party, or to have a yummy breakfast parfait the next morning!  (That's what I did with mine!  Just layer some granola and berries in with the yogurt...yum!)

Check out more Chobani® recipes here, or connect with Chobani® on their Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest!

DO YOU LIKE EGGNOG?  WOULD YOU TRY THIS SMOOTHIE?  

Date Night Essentials

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BeHealthyForEveryPartofLife #CollectiveBias

As newlyweds, AJ and I like to try to go on dates once in a while.  We love exploring our town, trying out new restaurants, and we've recently gotten into the habit of going out once a week and just sit down to have dinner and really talk.

I love those little dates, because they give us a chance to really connect after a busy week.  I'm learning quickly in marriage that it really takes intentionality to make sure that your spouse feels cared for.  Life can get really busy, and so it's important to set aside time that's free of distraction to spend together and focus on one another. 

No matter where we spend our date nights, I try to never leave home without some basic essentials in my bag!  There's nothing worse than setting out on a date and getting derailed because of a minor ailment like a headache, or just being uncomfortable because you forgot something or you have an outfit mishap.  I put together a little Date Night Essentials kit with a bunch of products that are must-haves in my option so that date night never gets cut short!

Here's what's in my purse on any given date night:

Advil Tablet Vial // Advil is probably one of my most-important purse essentials for date night or any day of the week!  Use Advil tablets for headaches, minor arthritis and other joint pain, muscle aches and pains of the common cold.  Keep the convenient, purse-friendly Advil Tablet Vial in your bag for any little ache that threatens to cut date night short!

Nexium 24HR // Let's face it:  having heartburn is enough to ruin any evening out with your man.  Having Nexium 24HR in your bag can help give you heartburn protection.  (May take 1 to 4 days for full effect.  Use as directed.)

Emergen-C // I always like to have some Emergen-C on me in the event that I feel something coming on.  I just feel good about having that little extra boost at my fingertips!  With over 20 varieties of vitamin supplement drink mixes, Emergen-C offers the formula, flavor, fix, and FUN you're looking for!

Lint Roller, Static Guard, & Stain Remover Pen // These are some of my biggest must-haves!  Having these practical items in your bag will ensure that you keep your date-night outfit looking picture perfect!

Deodorant // I can't tell you how many times I get so caught up in my morning routine that I almost forget to put on deodorant.  There's nothing worse than realizing that you left the house without smelling good, and keeping a small deodorant in your purse can come to the rescue in this sort of situation, or when you just need a quick refresh!

Nail File & Clear Polish // Keeping a nail file in your purse is a no-brainer...if you break or snag a nail, there's nothing worse than not having a way to fix it.  Having a nail file in your bag is a quick and easy fix in this situation!  Having a bottle of quick-dry clear nail polish is important because it not only can stop chipping, but it can also stop a run in your tights!

You can find all of these date-night purse essentials (and more) at Walmart!  One quick and easy shopping trip was all it took for me to put together the essential purse survival pack that's perfect for any and every date night!

WHAT ARE YOUR MUST-HAVES FOR DATE NIGHT?  WHAT DO YOU ALWAYS KEEP IN YOUR BAG?

Things My Dad Taught Me: Changing Your Oil Isn't That Hard!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DIYOilChange #CollectiveBias

My dad is an aircraft mechanic by trade, and that means that I've essentially never paid for car repairs.  He is the kind of guy who can fix anything and, well, he fixes everything.  He believes in taking care of things, and taking care of them well, and that means that our cars have always been on strict maintenance schedules.

Last year, when I bought the car I had had my heart set on for so long, a VW Jetta, it came with a pretty hefty oil change price tag.  Taking it somewhere to have my oil changed would mean shelling out over $80 for someone else to do what I knew I was capable of doing.  So I asked my dad one day to teach me how to change my oil, and he was happy to oblige.  (This is also the man who insisted I knew how to change my own tires, and I'm incredibly grateful for that, especially since I've had two nails in two different tires in the past 8 weeks!)

I'm pretty independent, and I pride myself in being able to take care of myself for the most part, so learning basic car maintenance has been a really empowering thing for me!  When AJ and I got a flat tire a few weeks ago, I was so proud that I knew exactly what to do!  (For the record, so did he, and he did 90% of the work....but I could have if I had needed to!)  While changing my own oil seems daunting, it is a skill that's good to have, especially in the event that I would ever be in a situation where it would be necessary.

As it turns out, changing your oil in your car on your own isn't rocket science.  Choosing the right oil takes a little bit of research (check your owner's manual for the specifics), some skill, and attention to safety.  AJ is a huge believer in using the best products to take care of your car so that it will run smoothly for a long time.  We chose Pennzoil's Platinum full synthetic motor oil for a few reasons.  It provides complete protection for your engine, and if you've ever owned a German car, you know that repairs aren't cheap, so it's important to us that we take good care of our VW!  We liked that Pennzoil Platinum helps keeps your pistons cleaner, delivers better fuel economy, helps protect from loss of power, and provides industry-leading protection from friction.  It's also backed by a warranty, which is important as well!

If you're changing your oil for the first time on your own, here are a few tips to help you get started:  

1 // Get guidance from a seasoned pro.  By "pro" I don't necessarily mean a mechanic, just someone who knows the ropes and can help guide you in the process!  Like I said, it does take some skill, so having someone around who knows what they're doing is helpful.

2 // Follow safety measures.  Wearing gloves and even goggles are great measures of protection for your skin while changing your oil.  Other basic safety measures that are important include putting something behind your tire to make sure it doesn't roll while you have your car jacked up!

3 // Consult the manual.  Make sure you check your owner's manual so that you get the right weight and grade for your vehicle.

4 // Keep it clean.  Changing your oil can be messy, so make sure you have paper towels or rags, a funnel, and maybe even an owl tarp or towel on hand in case of any spills!

5 // Don't skimp!  There are a lot of options out there for choosing your oil, but only top-of-the-line brands are worth it.  Remember that your engine will run so much better with better oil.  Go with Pennzoil Platinum for optimum engine protection and performance!

We were able to easily find the grade of oil we needed for our car at our local Walmart.  Look for the Pennzoil bottle and take advantage of Walmart's wide selection!

And for more info about changing your own oil, check out these 5 oil change tips!  

HAVE YOU EVER CHANGED YOUR OWN OIL?  WOULD YOU CONSIDER USING PENNZOIL PLATINUM FOR YOUR NEXT OIL CHANGE?

New Barber Foods Chicken Cordon Bleu with Roasted Red-Skin Potatoes

 This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SimplySpecialMeals #CollectiveBias

We're a month into newlywed life, and I don't know where September went, but I do know that this wife stuff is tricky business.  Especially when it comes to the feeding-my-husband thing.  I'm still working on adjusting to married life and cutting out some of the business, and so sometimes, I maybe forget that dinner is something that we should be eating.  Oops!

So as I've been figuring out how to be a good wife who doesn't forget to put dinner on the table, I've discovered a few go-to meals that AJ and I love!  One of those is Chicken Cordon Bleu and my mom's roasted red-skin potatoes.  

Barber Foods' Chicken Cordon Bleu has been a staple in AJ's house for a long time, and so it's kind of a no-brainer dinner because I know he already likes it.  We found these chicken breasts in three varieties (Cordon Bleu, Broccoli Cheese, and Chicken Kiev) in our grocery store's freezer section, and the new and improved Barber packaging was easy to find!  I had never had these chicken breasts before, but AJ commented on the new recipe, saying that he enjoyed the crispier breading and ruler flavors of the chicken!  

These chicken breasts took about 33 minutes in the oven to cook, which was the perfect amount of time to get a side dish together to go along with them.  We simply took them out of the packaging and placed them on a baking tray and then put them into the pre-heated oven, following the instructions on the box.  When our timer went off, we checked that the chicken was heated to 165ºF and then pulled them out to let them sit for a few minutes.  Plate them up with some of your potatoes, and wha-la...happy husband!  (I loved how Barber made me look really good as a wife!)  These chicken breasts were really the highlight of our meal, and I ended up making them a few nights later again!

Roasted Red-Skin Potatoes // 

These potatoes are an incredibly easy (and delicious) side-dish, and pair well with so many main courses!  They've been a staple in our family's kitchen for a long time, and are definitely going to be a staple for AJ & I!

WHAT YOU NEED // 

A few red-skinned potatoes (I use 4-5 small ones for AJ & I)

Olive Oil

Parsley

Salt

Pepper

Garlic Powder

Wash your potatoes and then stab them a few times with a fork or a knife.  Pop them in the microwave and hit the baked potato button, if your microwave has one.  If not, start by putting them on for 4-5 minutes, then check them and add time as necessary.  Once your potatoes are soft (like a baked potato), remove them from the microwave and slice them.  Put the slices into a baking dish, drizzle with olive oil, parsley, salt, pepper, and garlic (all to taste), and then put in the oven at 350ºF for about 20 minutes, or until a bit crispy on top!  

I found Barber Stuffed Chicken Breasts in our grocery store's freezer section...look for the new, eye-catching box and enjoy Barber's new recipe!  You can grab this coupon to save $1.00 off of your next purchase of Barber's Original Stuffed Chicken Breasts!  Check out Barber's Facebook, Twitter, & Pinterest for more recipe inspiration!

WHAT SIDE DISH WOULD YOU PAIR WITH BARBER STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS?