Kylee's Korner

I am a former model and current mother who loves the beauty and fashion industry and seeks the best products and value to keep myself current. I blog to share my thoughts, expertise and research with those who follow me. Those who read my blog gain insight into fashion, save money and avoid frustrations on the products they purchase.

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Healthy Alternatives for Two of Your Favorite Holiday Treats

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Every year from October through December it’s a battle of wills between my hereditary sweet tooth (thanks mom) and all of the holiday treats floating around. And since I’m not one to punish my body by starving or denying it a little dessert every now and then, I’ve found a few hacks that deliver the yum while still being totally healthy!

If you’re looking to indulge this holiday season but still stay on track for your health goals, try these genius swaps.

Healthy Alternatives for Two of Your Favorite Holiday Treats

Eat this, not that…

Protein Peanut Butter Cups instead of Reeses

I’ve been notorious for raiding my kids’ trick-or-treat bag for all the Reeses cups. Those things are so good! But this year, because I’m cutting the processed sugar, I whipped up the most delicious copy-cat…protein peanut butter cups! They taste just like a Reeses, but they’re packed with protein and natural ingredients.

Check out this video for easy instructions and the exclusive Kylee’s Korner recipe below!

Kylee’s Korner Protein PB cups:

 (Makes 5-7)
  • 4 TBSP natural crunchy PB
  • 1/4 C (vanilla protein powder)
  • 4 TBSP Unsweeted Vanilla Almond Milk
  • 1/3 C 60% or 90% dark chocolate
  • 5-7 silicone cupcake cups
1. Combine all ingredients except dark chocolate in a bowl.
2. Melt Dark Chocolate according to package directions
3. Pour small amount of chocolate into bottom of each silicone cup, swirl around to coat the bottom.
4. Spoon PB mix into each chocolate coated cup, then top with the remaining chocolate.
5. Freeze for at least 15 minutes
6. Pop Out and Enjoy!

Eat this, not that…

Dark Chocolate Salted Protein Truffles instead of that box of chocolates

Every year a box of chocolates inevitably falls into my lap and is usually gone within a day. This year I found the most amazing swap that satisfies my chocolate craving without all the sugar and fat. So I’ll be freezing these dark chocolate truffles to keep on hand and re-gifting that box of chocolates!

Dark Chocolate Salted Protein Truffles:

 (Makes 15)
  • 3 TBSP Natural PB
  • 2 TBSP Unsweet Dark Cocoa Powder
  • 1 C Dry Rolled Oats
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Splash of Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
  • 2 TBSP hard coconut oil
  • 1/3 C Dark Chocolate Chips
  • 2 Scoops Vanilla Protein Powder ()
  • Drizzle or 2 of all natural Honey
1. Mix PB, Dark Cocoa Powder, Rolled Oats, Protein Powder, coconut oil, salt and splash of almond milk together in a bowl.
2. Drizzle honey to add some strength to help in combine. Add a little more almond milk if needed.
3. Mix in Dark Chocolate Chips
4. Roll into 15 small balls and enjoy! Freeze what you don’t eat and get one out any time you have a sweet attack!
As far as healthy holiday hacks go, protein powder can make some really delicious, guilt-free desserts. Try these healthy protein brownies for example.
The holidays don’t need to be a reason to stop your healthy habits. Before you hit a holiday party, drink a protein shake to avoid overeating. While you’re there, fill your plate first with veggies, fruit, and lean protein and save a bit of room for that sip of eggnog. Happy holidays!

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7 Yummy Water Infusions That Naturally Boost Energy

Today I was at the gym and in a slump. My energy level was nosediving fast. I don’t typically like taking energy supplements or drinks because I feel like I spike fast and then crash hard. Plus, they make me jittery. I prefer more natural energy boosts and these infused waters are amazing! They’re all made of wholesome fruits, vegetables, spices, and herbs that pack a real power punch. Take them in a shaker bottle to the gym, or mix one up at home when you need a little zap of energy.

7 Yummy Water Infusions That Naturally Boost Energy

1. Peaches and cinnamon

Peaches are not only refreshing and juicy, but they’re full of vitamin C and can help combat free radicals that cause cancer. Fill a mason jar, blender bottle, or one of these awesome infused water bottles (which I highly recommend) with cold water, ice, and sliced peaches. Add a little cinnamon for an energizing kick. Cinnamon is a powerful superfood with anti-inflammatory properties that can help you recover from your workouts easier.

2. Lemon, honey, and cayenne

If you’ve done a juice cleanse before, then you’ve probably had a shot of lemon water with cayenne. A lot of exercise gurus have touted this drink as detoxifying and metabolism boosting. It’s a powerful gulp of both spicy and sour; that’s why I like to add a tablespoon of honey as well.

The vitamin C and acidity in lemons turn toxins into digestible material that your body can flush. Cayenne pepper increases your body temperature and speeds up your metabolism, helping you get more out of your workouts. And in addition to a little sweetness (it really does help the medicine go down), honey can help heal wounds and ward off infection. For only three ingredients, that’s quite a natural power drink!

3. Grapefruit, lemon, and mint

There is nothing more refreshing and delicious than a juicy grapefruit, and infused in water, it’s delicious. Grapefruit is a natural energizer and can even aid in weight loss. It’s a win-win as this drink is both yummy and insanely healthy!

Add a few slices of grapefruit, lemon, and mint to a cup of ice cold water. The mint can reduce stress, freshen your breath, and improve your mental awareness and focus. Goodby sluggishness!

4. Goji berries and lime

Goji berries are little oblong red berries that grow in Chinese regions. They are extremely healthy. You can actually try growing your own goji berry tree at home. Goji berries have anti-aging properties, supports your immune system, and improves depression and anxiety. It’s not easy to find fresh goji berries, but you can get dried goji berries and goji berry powder on Amazon.

Try this yummy infused tea in the morning or pre-workout: add a handful of dried goji berries to hot water. Squeeze a half a lime and let the tea sit for five minutes. You can even eat the hydrated berries when you’re done.

5. Sliced oranges and pears

This drink can be warm or cold, but I prefer cold. In an infuser bottle or shaker bottle, add slices from one orange and one pear. Add ice, shake and drink. The citrus is energizing and oranges are famous for their vitamin C, along with protecting your skin. Pears help detox and fight off free radicals. This is a yummy alternative when plain water gets a bit boring.

 

6. Strawberries, basil, and cucumber

Strawberry water is a powerful, natural detox. Add sliced strawberries to a tall glass of ice water, slice up some cucumbers for freshness, and add a few basil leaves. Delicious and incredibly healthy!

Micronutrients from fresh sliced strawberries help flush toxins and improve your skin tone while boosting your metabolism. Did you know just one serving (8 strawberries) has more vitamin C than an orange? Adding cucumber slices to water delivers antioxidants, and lowers your blood pressure. Basil is an excellent source of vitamins A, K, and C, as well as calcium, and iron so you can pump more iron.

7. Pineapple wedges and coconut water

Make your own version of a Pina colada without all the sugar. Fill a glass with ice, coconut water, and pineapple wedges for a refreshing, delicious, energizing drink. Coconut water has amazing benefits including: antioxidants, supports heart health, and contains potassium and amino acids that can boost your workout or help you recover from prolonged exercise.

Pineapple is loaded with nutrients, including vitamin C and disease-fighting antioxidants. Eating pineapple may assist in weight loss and aid in digestion as well, so go ahead and nosh that pineapple when your drink’s done.

 

On average, you should be drinking 8-9 cups of water a day. When plain water gets a bit dull, re-energize with fruit infused water and get some great health boosts at the same time.

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5 Self-Care Secrets That Will Save You in the Trenches of Motherhood

The trenches of motherhood—I’m there. I understand sleepless nights when the baby is teething and crying all night long, and the second you finally get him to sleep, and crawl into your own bed, your toddler wakes up crying from a bad dream.

I get days when you don’t brush you teeth because quite frankly, there were a million other more pressing things, like changing a blowout diaper or passing out fishy crackers, and then vacuuming crushed fishy crackers from the carpet. Motherhood is hard and comes with very little recognition, but it is also amazing when your baby smiles, I mean really smiles at you for the first time because he knows you’re his mama.

When you’re in the trenches of motherhood, self-care is vital. It will save your sanity and give you the strength to mom on. If you’re not already making these self-care strategies part of your routine, now’s a perfect time to start.

5 Self-Care Secrets That Will Save You While in the Trenches of Motherhood

1. Proper Nutrition

Whatever you put inside your body directly affects the way you feel. Period. As tempting as it is to get a quick spike of energy from a candy bar or soda, you’re much better off sticking to proper nutrition and upping your water intake. Plenty of fruits and veggies will give you the natural vitamins and minerals your body needs to tackle each day. Nuts like cashews, raw almonds, and pistachios are a perfect snack and will give you a protein boost.

My favorite way to get a punch of nutrients and protein in one yummy snack is my famous green shake. I’ll have one for breakfast or lunch and stay full and energized for hours. Try this delicious shake to set your day off on the right foot

Famous Green Shake Recipe:

  • 12-14oz of water
  • 2 big handfuls of organic spinach
  • 3/4 C wild blueberries
  • 2 Tbsp chia seeds
  • 1 scoop
  • 1 scoop
  • Ice

I call it my “green shake” because of all the organic spinach in it, but the blueberries will actually turn the shake a brilliant shade of purple! Blend all the ingredients together in your blender and enjoy!  I blend mine up in a Blendtec.

2. Take Time To Exercise

If there is one thing you should never, ever stop doing, it’s exercise. No matter what type you prefer, make exercise a habit. Don’t use the “business” of motherhood as an excuse to skip a workout. Only you can make it happen. Moms who exercise regularly are happier (thank you endorphins!), healthier (exercise does wonders for your heart, brain, skin, bones, and muscles), and have more energy to help them get through the day.

Weight training is one of the most effective activities you can do to boost your metabolism, lose weight, and increase strength and muscle tone, especially as you age. After gaining over 50 pounds with my third baby, with the . It’s basically like having a personal trainer on your phone who walks you through a weight lifting routine each day. It’s great for people like me who don’t always know what to do when they get to the weight room.

One thing I love about Ladyboss is that everything is right on your phone. Daily gym workouts, resistance training to do at home if you can’t make it to the gym that day, meal suggestions, and grocery lists. Literally everything you need at your fingertips to live a healthy lifestyle.

Catch our body transformations in our weight loss Facebook group. (It’s private, but just request to join and we’ll let you in!)

3. Nourish Your Natural Beauty

There’s just something about pampering yourself that makes all of those dirty diapers and mommy-sacrifices worth it. One of the greatest things you can do for yourself and your skin is an at-home facial. Let’s face it, moms rarely have the time to go to the spa, but here are some things of the top self-care treatments you can do at home to feel papered and nourish your natural beauty:

  • Do an exfoliating mask. This Aztec mask is amazing. I rave about it all the time and with over 16,000 reviews, I’m not the only one.
  • Take care of your skin now. Start now with daily SPF, and anti-aging serums and moisturizers. The best thing I did in my late 20s was start a consistent skincare routine.
  • Give yourself an at-home manicure. My hair can be thrown in a top-bun and I can have zero makeup on, but if my nails are done, all is right in the world. Cute nails make you feel good and sometimes that small detail is a big deal. These new nail dashes are so much fun and so low-maintenance.

 

4. Feed Your Passion

When you become a mom, it’s easy to push aside passions you had before motherhood. Moms put everyone else first and tuck away those dreams they had of starting a business, running a marathon, or writing a novel. The result is that feeling that every mom has felt—that feeling of “losing yourself.”

One big secret that will save you while in the trenches of motherhood is to feed your passion. Moms who don’t end up feeling lost, unhappy, or like they’ve missed out on life. No matter what your passion is: running, reading, yoga, traveling, etc., create a space for it in your life.

5. Experience Daily Silence

Quiet moments are few and far between when you’re a mom. Even the bathroom isn’t a safe place! Kids will find you wherever you are and that’s why it’s important to not only carve out a little time for silence, but to also recognize and relish that silence when it happens.

Take a few minutes each day to be quiet—write in a journal, meditate, pray, or just take a drive alone. The silence can be therapeutic, even if it is fleeting. I like to find the cleanest room in my house (#momlife) and use a meditation app called “headspace” to bring focus and center myself while the baby naps or at the end of the day.

 

Mothers, your job is the most important in the world and your family depends on you to be healthy, happy, and strong. You are beautiful, you are amazing. You got this mama!

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My Goals for 2019 to Keep the Weight Off

Since we are still in the month of January, I’m making sure I stay focused on all the resolutions I have made for myself this year. For anyone who has been following me on social media, you know that 2018 was a big weight loss year goal for me after baby number three. I was so fortunate to have partnered with Ladyboss for my journey. Ladyboss is an app that provides you with healthy meal ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks six days a week! I love that this app gives you Saturday’s off, so you can have a cheat day. For me, being allowed to have whatever I want on Saturday’s helps keep my cravings in check and stay on track for the rest of the week. I never feel like I am depriving myself of anything which makes me less frustrated than previous diets I’ve tried. By following the Ladyboss meal plan and workouts, I’ve lost 26 pounds and kept the weight off this time! If this app sounds like something you’d like to try (what do you have to lose, besides unwanted weight), you can try it for free !

DAILY WORKOUTS, MEALS AND WEEKLY GROCERY LISTS

Even though I have had a lot of success in keeping the weight off this time, I am always trying to be mindful on what other tweaks I can make in my daily routines to live the healthiest life possible. For 2019 I have decided to try swapping out simple every day foods with healthier alternatives. My hope is this will help me maintain my current weight and continue to feel fabulous! Here are some things I am going to try swapping out when cooking.

  • Instead of sour cream, try using plain Greek yogurt. I haven’t been able to tell a difference in taste and it cuts back on some of the unnecessary calories.
  • Try using Classic Yellow Mustard instead of Mayonnaise. Mustard has ZERO calories!
  • When making a sandwich or burger, try eating it without the bun or bread. Or, try an open-faced sandwich and only use one piece of bread instead of two.
  • If you are grabbing peanut butter, try an all-natural one that only has peanuts listed in the ingredients. This will help cut down on a lot of sugar and it still tastes delicious.
  • Craving pasta? Go for whole wheat pasta or try using a spiralizer to create pasta from veggies!
  • Where are my ladies who love sweets like me? is an amazing product to have on hand for dessert making! I’ve used this product to make healthy Reese’s shakes and cake balls! This powder was created with ladies in mind and was specially formulated to taste just like cake. It has been a total game changer for me! I have a hard time giving up sweets and with this protein powder, I don’t have to. It is truly delicious!

I am also including some links below to some FREE resources that I have come across that provide more healthy swaps and recipes. Also, if you haven’t already, please join me in Kylee’s Korner Weight Loss group on Facebook.  It is a group I created to help us ladies support one another in achieving our goals and being the best versions of ourselves we can be. Let’s do this ladies!

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The Best Stocking Stuffers On Amazon

Christmas is officially less than a month away! Who else can’t believe it? I have been trying to buy toys and presents for my family as I see things when we are out, especially if they are on a good sale. I feel like my children are usually easy to buy for- they basically want every toy that they see on tv! However, sometimes I struggle on getting creative with the rest of my family, especially with stocking stuffers! I promised myself I wouldn’t procrastinate this year on trying to find some cool and unique gifts for their stockings. Anyone who has been following me knows my love for Amazon. So, of course I have resorted to them to help me find the best and most affordable gifts this year. Check out some of my favorite things that I have gotten so far for the adult guys, gals and tweens in my life. I’d recommend ordering sooner than later so you will have plenty of time to have everything shipped to you. Amazon makes my life so much easier this way- no lines or traffic to deal with! Happy shopping!

 

For the Tweens:

Nail Polish Set of 12

My nieces are starting to get into all the girly goodies, so they love to do their nails. I love all the bright and fun colors this kit has to offer. You can’t beat the price either for 12 different nail polishes!

Sneaker Ball Deodorizers

I know a lot of kids are into so many different activities and have their own sports bags to keep all their gear in. I also know those bags can get smelly after lots of use. I love throwing in one of these cute deodorizer balls to help with that sweaty smell!

Colorful and Fun Socks

Who doesn’t love fun and colorful socks? These are so vibrant and fun for any age and the price is amazing! They also get awesome reviews.

Skeleton Gloves

These skeleton gloves are awesome for the young men in your life. They are fun, casual and will help keep them warm during those cold winter months.

 

For the Gals:

Fashion Reading Glasses

My mom and mother in law are always looking around the house for their readers. I got them each a pack of these last year and they absolutely love them. They can leave a pair on each floor of their house, in their car and in their purse. Plus, they are adorable, a great price and get amazing reviews!

Wallet Purse For Your Phone

I love these small cell phone wallets. You can carry them as a clutch, wallet or crossbody. Plus, they come in a ton of different colors and have slots for your license and credit cards. This is perfect when you want to run a few errands without being weighed down by a big handbag.

Chapstick Holder

These Chapstick key chain holders are so adorable. I am constantly digging for my Chapstick in my purse, but these make it so quick and easy to find. They come as a pair, so you can share one with a friend or give as two separate gifts!

Bath Bombs

I am obsessed with bath bombs. You can get them for any lady or girl who likes to take relaxing bubble baths. These are a best seller on amazon. The price is great, and the packaging is so pretty and feminine.

 

For the Guys:

Leather Wallet

My husband always likes to have a fresh-looking wallet. It can get overwhelming trying to find the perfect one because there are so many to choose from. I found this one last year and he loved it! There are several different colors to choose from and it gets amazing reviews!

Cigar Cutter

If you have a guy in your life who likes to enjoy an occasional cigar, this is a great cigar cutter. It’s stainless steel, has amazing reviews and is under $10 with free shipping!

Tabasco Sauce Keychain

Do you know a guy who likes everything they eat to be hot and spicy? This tabasco sauce comes in a small bottle on a keychain! It’s prefect for your man to always have access to making his food delicious!

Heat Resistant Gloves

These gloves can come in handy for so many things. They are heat and fire resistant so are perfect for grilling, bonfires and fire building. They are under $17 and have free shipping!