5-Minute Basil Peachy Summer Salad
and my tips for traveling solo with a toddler!
Welcome back to Jazz Leaf Eats! A newsletter where we get a bit more personal and detail oriented about the behind the scenes of my life, running a business and being a mom to a toddler. I am so glad you’re here!
In this weeks piece, we will dive into…
I traveled with my 2 year old for the first time & how it went
How I overcame my anxiety of sticking to a routine with my toddler.
3 products I used for travel that made things way less stressful.
A better-for-you gatorade recipe you can make at home!
How to make middle eastern turkey burgers this summer!
Why I chose to get an in-home water filtration system.
5-Minute Basil Peachy Summer Salad (best easy salad recipe)
If you’re tired of Googling “healthy quick summer recipes” to only find complicated dishes you have NO time for, this is for you! Subscribe to unlock it all, no more summer meal time struggles!
What’s going on!
I traveled with Olive for the first time BY MYSELF last week! We went to Washington, DC!
To be fair, I was going to DC to spend time with my extended family, and my parents were also going to be there, so I knew I’d have extra hands. But still, I decided to do this all on my own!
I’m such a schedule person. At home, I love having a routine for Olive because it lets me know exactly when I can do little things for myself. But I also knew that traveling meant I’d have to be flexible, and honestly, that’s so out of my comfort zone.
I knew she wasn’t going to get a dedicated nap. I knew she wouldn’t have her blackout room or her noise machine. I knew I wouldn’t have all the little tools and tricks I rely on at home. And I knew the nights would be late.
I’m just sharing this because I’m so freaking proud of myself for doing it.
I wasn’t sure how she was going to adapt. One day she skipped her nap entirely. The next day, she just wanted to nap on me in be, so I laid down and checked emails while she slept on my chest. It was actually so special. Then the day after that, she napped in her stroller while we were out sightseeing.
Her normal bedtime at home is around 7:30 or 8 p.m. After a bath, we do our whole routine. But while we were on this trip? She was going to bed at 9:30 p.m. And we shared a bed, which I’ve never done before!
I'm telling you all of this because, as someone who thrives on routine, going off-schedule always gives me a little anxiety. But I did it. And I’m honestly so proud. I think I could handle it for three days max. After that, it’d probably be too much for me 😅
If you’ve got summer plans and you’re feeling unsure about traveling with a toddler, just imagine my voice in your head saying: you can totally do it!!
Things I bought for travel that were useful
Travel Vest - This was the absolute best purchase. Traveling alone, I had a huge suitcase, a stroller, a toddler and the thought of also bringing a carseat was like HELL NO to me. Absolutely not. So I started talking to my friends and found this amazing travel vest that is safe, effective and is smaller than a pair of jeans to pack! Boom. My answer. It was small enough to fit in a backpack, and we took it everywhere - from airport drives, sightseeing, lunches etc. It was hands down the best $ spent. Here’s my little munchkin wearing it. Very cool.
Travel Black Out Curtains - I swear by this. I have used these for years. It came recommended by my cousin and it’s a life saver. I have 2 pairs up in her room now, then I have one travel one that we take whenever we travel to our parents houses, to hotels or on vacation. It blacks out any room. It has suction cups so it’s easy to put up. If your kiddo is used to blacked out room, this is it!
Travel Night Light - We are hatch users at home, and I swear by it. But this portable light is so practical. It weighs like NOTHING, and it stuffs into a shoe so it’s easy to transport. It has different colored lights, and different settings. So when I put the red one on, Olive would immediately know it’s time to wind down. It also charges, so no batteries needed. 10/10 for the price!!
Have you used any of these? Or do you have any favs that you use when traveling? What are your musts?!
My newest recipes and blog posts!
Homemade Gatorade Dupe!!
Popular store-bought drinks like Gatorade may hydrate, but they come with baggage: Artificial colors and flavors, processed sugar or corn syrup, and preservatives and synthetic additives. That’s why I prefer this homemade version. it hydrates without compromise.
Healthy Greek Turkey Burger Recipe (with Tzatziki Sauce)
Being Middle Eastern, I’ve always been drawn to the bold, vibrant flavors of Mediterranean spices, which is why I had to include a few of my favorites (sumac, mint, and oregano) in these burgers. I love how the feta cheese and red onion add a light yet flavorful depth to the burgers. For this recipe, I prefer using lean ground turkey because it’s easy to cook with and packed with protein, but honestly, you can use any ground meat you like, ground beef, bison, chicken, or even plant-based options all work great.
Why do you need an in-home water filtration system?
An in-home water filtration system helps clean up your tap water by removing harmful substances like chlorine, lead, and pesticides, while keeping the good stuff (healthy minerals). If you want to just take 1 step right now, grab the under the sink reverse osmosis system! It will save you so much money on water bottles, the fridge or pitcher filter you have isn’t filtering all the bad stuff out.
Have you grabbed my cookbook yet?!
I just published my very first cookbook!
Between being a mom, running a business, and just trying to keep up with life, I needed meals that were quick and low stress. Inside, you’ll find over 100 recipes that come together in 30 minutes or less, with 10 ingredients or fewer. Nothing fancy, just approachable, feel-good meals you can throw together without overthinking it. If you’re busy, burnt out, or just looking to make cooking easier, this is for you. I have 2 options for you, a hardcover and an eBook for immediate download!
5-Minute Basil Peachy Summer Salad
Ingredients
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