News
August 2023 Desktop Freebie
I am so sorry it has been FOREVER since the last update but here is a new wallpaper for August!!
September 2022 Freebies!
New month, new season, new energy in the air!
Whether or not the place you live actually has season changes (we're dying over here in California), there's still something so invigorating about a new season.
What are you excited about for the month ahead, and what do you hope to accomplish?
The Good Mom
Is it just me or is there just so much pressure to be the perfect mom? Especially if you're a stay at home mom like me. However, I like to consider myself a "work at home" mom ... because I do still have a job that I do at home but also take care of my little one.
I just feel like nowadays it seems impossible to be a prefect mom. So much is required and expected of us. What happened to just playing and loving your child? When did it become a race for your child to be the first one to speak or talk in full sentences by the time they're two? I mean, my child is almost two and he hasn't even started talking. Some moms may look at me and think it's my fault and that I must have done something wrong. I know I haven't but at this point I am convinced that I am the problem. I am the "bad mom".
Oh how I wish that myself and every other mom out there would know that we are not bad moms. We are just doing our best and if our child doesn't say a word we want them to, that is okay! It will happen. I mean, it still hasn't happened for us yet but I know it will. I love that our son can't say ball but boy can he throw one!
Let's just face it .. .our child will never be good at everything ... nor should they be in my opinion. They may be the world's greatest talker and that is so wonderful ... or they may be able to pitch a perfect baseball but not say a word yet and that is okay too!
Give yourself (and your child) a break. You both are doing the best you can and that is enough. And believe me when I say that I am preaching this to myself as well. We all need to come together and support one another and not "mom shame" or tear each other down.
So if you or another mom today is struggling, let them know they are not alone and let's just come together and be a loving group of mothers.
Strong women life each other up, not down. ♥️
xoxo,
Toni
Super Easy S'more Sundaes
Over here in Southern California summer is in full swing already as temperatures are rising. But with the heat comes cool treats ... such as ice cream. And what is more summery than s'mores?! So the other day, the s'more cravings struck and I came up with this delightful creation.
Introducing the S'mores Sundae!
Here's what you'll need:
vanilla ice cream
graham crackers
chocolate syrup
4 marshmallows
Directions
1. Scoop three scoops of ice cream into a bowl.
2. Next, find a flame to roast your marshmallows (I just used my gas range). I like my marshmallows charred, but you do you and toast them to your liking.
3. Once the marshmallows are charred, add them to your bowl of ice cream.
4. Next, crush up some graham crackers and sprinkle it over everything. Then top it all off with a generous drizzle of chocolate syrup!
Serves 1-2 people (usually only 1 in our house).
Enjoy and stay cool this summer!
xoxo,Toni
Italian Sausage Spaghetti
In our household right now, we are in a state of budget emergency. We are a family of three and when it comes to groceries and eating out, the cheaper the better.
So with that in mind, I decided to make the easiest pasta dish ever. I mean, pasta is known for being budget friendly, right? But not only is it cheap, it only has THREE ingredients—so it's super fast and crazy easy to make. Plus, it makes leftovers, so we really get two dinners for the price of one and you can't beat that!
So here we go!
Here's what you'll need...
- 1 pound of mild ground Italian sausage - $2.99
- 1 package of dried spaghetti - $.99
- 32 ounces of any red pasta sauce, I used roasted garlic pasta sauce (I also like my pasta with ample sauce, so you can adjust this to your liking), $4.38
Meal total (well, really two meals): $8.36
Directions...
- Bring a pot of water to boiling and add the pasta. I never really time pasta but rather just keep tasting it every minute or so to see if it's done.
- While the pasta is cooking, add the Italian sausage to a pan and cook until completely done and there is no pink in the center.
- Once the pasta is done, drain the water and put the pasta back in the pot and add the cooked sausage and pasta sauce. Turn on the heat to low and basically just warm up the sauce.
- Next, serve it up because you're done!
Super easy, right?! I would love to see your photos if you make this recipe! Tag me @typologiepaperco #typologiepaperco
xoxo,Toni
The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever
Once you try this recipe for chocolate chip cookies, you will never eat another cookie again ... jk ... who am I kidding ... I will eat just about any cookie out there. BUT, this one definitely takes the cake ... takes the cookie? Takes the cake of cookies? Whatever ... just make these. Like right now.
Okay, let's get started! Heres what you're going to need...
2 cups minus 2 tablespoons of cake flour1 2/3 cups bread flour
1 1/4 teaspoons of baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons of coarse salt
2 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 1/4 pounds of chocolate chunks
Coarse sea salt for garnishing (can be left out, if desired)
Now, let's put it all together...
1. Combine flours, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Whisk well and then set aside.
2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars until very light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in the vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Reduce the mixer speed to low; then add dry ingredients, and mix until just combined. Add the chocolate chips, and mix briefly to incorporate.
3. Press plastic wrap against the dough, and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. The dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.
4. When you’re ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F. Remove the bowl of dough from the refrigerator, and allow it to soften slightly. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat.
5. Using a standard-size ice cream scoop, scoop six mounds of dough onto the baking sheet, making sure to space them evenly. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt, and bake until golden brown but still soft, about 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then transfer the cookies onto the rack to cool a bit more.
And there you have it!
*This recipe was adapted from Homeyohmy.com, who adapted it from the famous Jacque Torres recipe. The image is also from Homeyohmy.com
Recipe: Fajita Chicken Salad
This salad has become one of my all time favs. I eat it pretty much once a week—and better yet, it is Tone It Up approved! Not to mention that my super picky husband likes it too ... which is always an added bonus.
Here's What You'll Need:
4 cups of chopped kale
I red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1/2 red onion, sliced
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 avocado
Olive Oil
1/2 cup of Green Goddess Dressing (I got mine from Trader Joes)
Here's How to Put It All Together:
1. Start cooking the chicken over medium high heat. Pour a little olive oil in the pan and cook the chicken.
2. Next, add the peppers and onions to the same pan and mix it all together. Allow the chicken and peppers to brown, so don't keep stirring but rather let it sit and cook. Once it has a little char on it, then stir it around and let it cook a bit more until the chicken is cooked all the way through.
3. Turn off the heat and let the chicken and peppers cool.
4. Next, make the salad. Add the kale to the bowl and drizzle with a tiny bit of oil and massage the kale with your hands for about 30 seconds. Next, cube up the avocado and add it to the kale.
5. Then add the chicken mixture and dressing and mix it all up. Split the salad between two plates and enjoy!
xoxo, Toni
Make sure to tag us when you make this #tiuapproved meal at #typologiepaperco
Confessions: My Experience with Postpartum Depression
I am about to share something that I have never told anyone (other than my husband). I didn't tell my parents. I never mentioned a word to my siblings. I didn't say anything to my closest friends or church pastor. Why? I was ashamed. I thought that having postpartum depression was wrong and especially a Christian, this was something I should not be experiencing.
I was ashamed. Broken. Scared.
I had just given birth to a beautiful baby boy. A healthy baby boy. I was in good health, he was in good health and we were doing great. But then a few months went by and I began to feel depressed. Something just snapped in me mentally. There were many days when I would literally just stay in my pajamas all day, laying in bed, watching TV numblessly, not even having the energy to take a shower. But I just told myself it was a phase. I just had a cold or something and it was okay to relax for a day or two.
Now, I am a Christian. I literally have the love of a Savior who is constantly lifting me up. So why was I so down? I kept telling myself that I had no excuse to be depressed. Because to me, depression was being selfish. I mean, my life was good. My baby boy was doing so well and growing. My husband was the greatest blessing from Heaven who was helping me beyond what he needed to. We had a roof over our head. My business was thriving. My husband just got a new, amazing job. I literally had nothing to complain about ... let alone be sad about. So, I denied the thought of depression.
Enter instagram. Now, instagram is quite possibly the worst thing ever for people who are feeling depressed. When I had my baby, naturally my friends stopped asking me to hang out. Now, I say naturally because I am assuming they thought I just transitioned straight into "mom mode" and I simply had no time to hang out. Which was kind of true for the most part ... but deep down I was craving friendship. I just wanted to feel included. So, as I was laying in bed in my day old pajamas, I would scroll through Instagram and literally start to cry. All I saw were my friends smiling as they took a selfie together and having the time of their lives. But how come I wasn't asked to join? Am I just not a friend to them anymore because I had a baby?
I just didn't understand.
But despite not knowing why no one would even invite me out to do something—literally anything—I knew what I had to do. So I opened up my Instagram app, went to the list of people that I follow and started to unfollow them. Yes, I felt bad and maybe this was too harsh, but honestly, it just hurt too much to see their photos and stories. They were still my friends but I just couldn't bear to see all of my closest friends having so much fun together—without me. In my honest opinion, this was kind of like taking a pill for me. This was the cure to my deepest hurt.
And by doing this, it lead to my breaking point and turnaround.
I remember so distinctly—like it was yesterday—a particular moment when I was taking a shower and just start to weep. I literally kneeled as the water was rushing down upon me, weeping. It came out of no where. I remember my husband coming in and just asking me what was wrong. I couldn't answer him. I couldn't give him a direct answer because I didn't even know why myself. He just embraced me in his arms as I continued to weep ... snot running down my nose and all. He just held me and I broke.
I finally came to the realization that I had postpartum depression.
And you know what, it was okay that I did. Even as a Christian, it was okay that I was depressed. Because God was doing such a pruning in my life and doing such a great work in the process. He just had to take me to this low part of my life to show me how much He is working. God even came to the point of taking away my only income. In a second, all that I worked for—or rather overworked for—was gone. Yes, it hurt and yes, there were more tears, but my eyes were opened to what He was wanting to show me.
I know some people think a pill is the only way to heal an issue, and everyone is different, but for me it wasn't a pill. It wasn't a pill or a drug or alcohol that got me through this extremely dark time in my life. It was God, and my amazing husband and family. It was reading the Word of God and praying. It was getting rid of the trash in my life and taking a daily shower. ;)
Now, to be honest, I have only been in recovery for about two months now. This wasn't something that lasted for a week and went away. This was months of hiding my depression ... perfecting that perfect smile and the ever-so-popular phrase "yes, life is so good and we are doing better than ever," which was just a blatant lie.
I don't know who will read this—if anyone at all—but if just one person is encouraged by this or just knowing that they are not alone in this journey, then perfect. That is all I want. Because you are not alone and God loves you so much. 🖤
So to those who made it through my entire post, thank you for reading. It honestly means the world to me that you did.
xoxo, Toni
Tone It Up Summer Series 2019
Who else is just beyond excited for this years Summer Series!!! This has come at the perfect time too because I need a little boost in my eating and workout habits. Let's just say I've been a bit lax lately ... so I am so excited to get started and get into shape. I still haven't reached my goal weight, but I am definitely going in the right direction.
If you haven't heard of Tone It Up, you can check them out here and checkout out the new series that started today ... it's never too late to join!
To Start off the 6 week series, here are my before photos and weight:
Weight: 145.6 pounds
I can't wait to kill it with all the other TIU girls and take my after photos and show you all! My overall goal is just to stick with healthy eating and possibly lose 10 or so pounds in the next six weeks.
Follow my journey on instagram @toneituptoni and let's keep each other accountable!
xoxo,
Toni
April Wallpaper
Can you believe it is April 1st already?! I am in complete shock!! Time keeps flying by so fast. I feel like January dragged on forever and now, all of a sudden, it's April!
So with a new month, comes a new freebie! Below are downloads for a desktop calendar and a phone calendar!
Desktop:
Phone:
Enjoy!!Toni Scott