This activity is so much fun to do. It’s one the entire family can make together. You really only need bubbles (or dishwashing liquid), paint and a straw! Milly and me did a whole batch of construction paper covered in bubble art and then I cut them in half and folded them to keep on hand when we send cards to family and friends. It really makes the most gorgeous watercolor looking art. For the full tutorial go here.
For the kiddos I love these firecracker hotdogs! Just wrap your favorite all beef, turkey or plant based hotdog in pizza dough! I sliced refrigerated pizza dough into 1" x 6" strips and just wrapped around my hotdogs. Bake at 350F for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Using a star cookie cutter cut a star out of cheese and thread the dog and star onto a bamboo skewer. Serve with mustard and any other fixings you like!
Firecracker Hot Dogs
By Brandi Milloy
Ingredients
1 container of refrigerated pizza dough
8 hot dogs
16 oz. block cheese
8 toothpicks
Directions
1. Slice dough into 1” strips and wrap around hotdogs in a spiral shape until you’ve reached the top. Repeat for each hotdog and place on baking sheet.
2. Bake in oven at 350F for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
3. Using a star cookie cutter, cut out cheese in shapes of stars.
4. Place one cheese star at the top of each hotdog using a toothpick. Serve with ketchup and mustard.
The 4th of July might look a little different this year but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun, create traditions and make memories your family will remember forever. In this week’s episode of MOMHOOD we rounded up some of our favorite ideas for this holiday. From decor to activities, food and DIY take a look below for some red, white and blue inspiration! And then tag me on IG @BrandiMilloy and @MOMHOODShow so I can see what you came up with!
DECOR
Decorate your front door with these Patriotic Wreath Ideas
ACTIVITIES
Decorate your bikes, strollers and wagons and make you own parade in your neighborhood
Grab all your old white t-shirts and do a Red, White and Blue Tie Dye Party (go to Orly’s YT Channel for major tie dye inspo & tutorial)
Have a backyard DIY Foam Machine Party
FOOD
Red, White & Blue Bruschetta
Make healthy red, white and blue popsicles with coconut water and berries
Triple Berry Red, White and Blue Pancakes with a sparkler candle on top
American Flag Taco Salad
Thank you to Sunkist for sponsoring this post
If you’re like me, all of us are trying to find new ways to keep our kids busy and entertained this summer. I came up with some fun and easy recipes you can do with your children that is sure to keep them engaged and interested (and maybe buy you at least 20 minutes of calm) in your home!
Orange Cream Popsicles
One of my favorite recipes to make with my children are my Orange Cream Popsicles. They’re fun and playful and also a healthy treat. I always allow my daughter, Milly to juice the oranges for the recipe. Anytime I’m baking or cooking with citrus she knows her job is to juice the fruit! Assigning her this simple task gives her a sense of purpose and ownership over the job!
Featuring the summer orange, Sunkist Valencia Oranges are loaded with powerful Vitamin C, antioxidants and are the perfect juicy balance of tart and sweet. These popsicles are so easy to make and full of Vitamin C, protein from whole milk Greek yogurt and free of processed or unnatural sugars.
You can make these pops with or without a popsicle mold and I even keep a slice of the fruit on top of the pops for an added treat at the end! With all of the Vitamin C these popsicles provide they are an immunity booster which is so vital now more than ever. I like to make a few batches with my daughter and keep them in the freezer for a healthy treat to cool off all summer long. You can find the full recipe at https://www.sunkist.com/recipes/orange-cream-popsicles/
Summer Cream Puffs
Mastering a new skill together is a lot of fun. My Summer Cream Puffs are a classic pastry but kind of a retro recipe many of us have probably never made at home before. It’s a unique method because instead of cutting out dough or shaping it in a pan like traditional breads and pastries you pipe out the dough onto a baking sheet.
These Cream Puffs feature a delicate pastry dough and Sunkist Valencia Orange Vitamin C packed cream filling. I love the Valencia Orange’s bold flavor. It’s the perfect balance of tart and sweet. Once you finish baking the cream puffs and allow them to cool, you pipe in the cream filling and enjoy!
These are great for a weekend brunch but would be perfect for a special occasion too. You can make a big batch of them and freeze too. Thaw on the counter for 30 minutes and you’re ready to serve! You can find the recipe here.
https://www.sunkist.com/recipes/orange-summer-cream-puffs/
I’d love to see if you make either of these recipes. Post your photos on Instagram and tag me @BrandiMilloy and use the hashtag #SunkistSummers and for these recipes and more head to Sunkist.com/recipes
I’m so glad my bestie Breelyn told me about her secret for keeping her floors clean and free of dust and dirt! The eufy robot vacuum cleaner is such a life saver especially with a baby and toddler running around this home. We have mostly hard wood floors with a big rug in the living room and some runners here and there and the eufy seamlessly goes from cleaning the carpet to the hardwood floors, will go under the couch, our stove and even grab crumbs and dirt along the floorboards of our kitchen. It gets it all! I was impressed after 5 minutes of using it! Takes minutes to set up and you can even put it on a timer to turn off and on. It self-charges so you can just keep it in an area in your home plugged in so it’s ready to go when you need it. I use it all the time. Totally worth the less than $200 price tag. I got it for $180 but right now it’s on sale for $160. It’s one of those things I tell everyone about and has saved me hours sweeping up after dinner and before we go to bed every night. With Sonny being the age he is now he puts everything in his mouth! I’m so glad I have that piece of mind with the eufy and know that it is picking up everything so I don’t have to worry about Sonny finding something random on the floor. The thing is so quiet too-probably as loud as a microwave when you have it on. There’s a filter in the back you pull out and tap into the trash can after every use and you’ll be surprised what it picks up! I can’t imagine how well this must work for pet owners. Do yourself a favor and stop sweeping and breaking your back holding the dust pan and little broom. This eufy does all of that but with a press of a button!
Feels like a whirlwind these last few months selling our bungalow, packing everything up, moving to a temporary home and then moving into our new home all during a pandemic! And even though it felt very quick and sudden it’s been in the works since last year. We decided to keep the news close to our chest with so many unknowns and different variables and quite honestly all of it was falling into place too well that I didn’t want to get my hopes up if something happened! I gave a quick sneak peek tour on my IGTV if you want to check it out here. I plan on doing a more in depth tour to talk about all the decisions we made, how we found the home and then worked with our builder, Chris of Style Q Construction to truly make it our dream home. But I thought I’d share some more photos here since so many of you support my blog and enjoy the space we’ve created here.
Thank you to Sunkist for sponsoring this post
I’ve always been a big Grapefruit person. I love the sweet tart flavor of it. I was part of the generation of kids who watched their parents dive into grapefruit for breakfast with a spoon. My dad loves them and since I wanted to be just like my dad growing up I grew to love them too.
Anytime I see grapefruit on a menu I have to get it. It’s such a unique citrus with so many character traits and can be used in a variety of ways. When I came up with this recipe I wanted to feature all the complexities of grapefruit. It’s sweet but tart, bold, juicy and has beautiful color. The Sunkist California Star Ruby Grapefruit is my favorite. I used rosemary as a way to bring some unexpected earthiness to this compote and then a little cayenne gives it a mild spice! I love to pour this compote over vanilla bean ice cream, pancakes or waffles. Grapefruit is an extraordinary healthy fruit. Packed with Vitamin C, antioxidants and a good source of Vitamin A and fiber, it’s one of those citrus I always have on hand. Head to Sunkist.com/recipes for the full recipe and watch my IGTV episode here.
Thank you to Sunkist for sponsoring this post
It’s no surprise I love breakfast. We eat it every morning and I’m not talking about some type of grab and go situation but a real warm meal together as a family. This is one of those recipes that will ensure everyone has a good day! It’s comforting, full of flavor and packed with Vitamin C from Sunkist lemons and zest so you are giving your body that much needed immunity boost and those added nutrients as well.
I love keeping lemons on hand to add to my meals. Sunkist lemons are a great way to add that tart, bold and fresh flavor to any dish. Anytime I make this recipe it still wows me that you’re able to transform a few pantry staples into a beautiful and delicious meal! If you’re looking for more breakfast recipes check out my Orange Cream Cheese Frosted Cinnamon Rolls and my Sunkist Cara Cara Creamsicle Dream Smoothie. You can find the full recipe here or by going to Sunkist.com/recipes.
Go to my IGTV channel to watch my Spring Edition of What I’m Crushing On here
Every month I’m brining you a run down of what I’m loving, using, gifting, talking about and crushing on! Let me know if you love any of these products too and be sure to follow me on Instagram @BrandiMilloy for more.
SPRING EDITION PRODUCTS
Taja Candle -these are 100% soy candles made here in the US. My absolute favorite scent is Do Not Disturb. It smells citrusy and inviting and really lux.
Spanx Leather Leggings -total must have for anyone! They suck and squeeze you in in all the right spots! I love how you can dress them up or down. Literally I wear them with kicks and a sweatshirt and still look put together.
Child Smoothie Cup -great for little hands for smoothies! Love the silicone straw and I have one for both Milly & Sonny.
Pixie Beauty Matte Lip -this Really Rose color is so good for any skin tone. It’s matte which is a little different for me but I’m really into it.
Skin Owl Beauty Drops -these are so luxurious and great to use in place of a moisturizer. All of their products are 100% natural and clean (use code MOMHOOD for 15% off)
The Happy Planner Recipe Book -this is how you finally eternalize recipes for your family. You will have this forever, just keep in your kitchen and jot all those meaningful recipes and notes down!
Sketch Design -busy books will save you! This is such a great gift idea cause you can personalize it to your child’s name and interests. These are great for their fine motor skills and last forever!
Thank you to Sunkist Citrus for sponsoring this post.
People used to call me the dip queen cause anytime they would come over and wanted a snack, I’d whip up a full on appetizer, usually in the form of a dip. With little effort you can make one of my go to dips that is reminiscent of a party dip but healthier. It is full of flavor, creamy, herbaceous and has the brightness and tang of lemon. It uses the lemon juice and zest of one whole lemon and zero to little salt. If you’re looking to reduce your sodium intake without sacrificing flavor, add lemon to your meals. Lemons are available year round so they are a countertop staple in our house. We have a running joke around there that if something doesn’t taste right we say “did you add lemon?”. Lemons can completely transform a dish and take it from ok to AMAZING. The acid for me is like electricity through a dish. It’s just wonderful what the tart flavor can do. I always have lemons on hand because of this powerful property plus they are an excellent source of Vitamin C! You can get the full recipe for my Spicy Lemon Cheese Dip here at Sunkist.com/recipes or you can watch me make it on IGTV.
Most of the time when people ask me where I got something it’s usually on my Amazon store. From my new mama must haves to my favorite kitchen gadgets, I try to update lists for you all on there. If you haven’t taken a peak in a while, just go to https://www.amazon.com/shop/brandimilloy
Thank you to Sunkist® Citrus for sponsoring this post.
I keep seeing this #WhippedCoffee trend on social. It started on Tik Tok but it’s really all over. I needed to know what all the hype was about. I finally decided to try it and let me tell you-it’s not that good. Instant coffee? Really? Well instead of just judging it-haha, I decided to try to make my own version that actually tastes good. And, I wanted to give it some flavor. I went with orange + mocha. The flavor is elevated, luxurious and it’s a winning combination and works really well with the coffee. These Sunkist® Navel oranges are such a classic and the orange zest adds so much amazing flavor! Citrus is something I always have in my house because it is so versatile and fun to cook with, but also because it can last up to 4 weeks in the fridge. It can really transform a meal. I’d love to know if you try this recipe and let me know what you think! You can find the full recipe here or by going to Sunkist.com/recipes
Thank you to Sunkist for sponsoring this post
We just love making cinnamon rolls around here….and I’m not talking about the kind that take forever to make cause you have to let the dough rest and rise and all that fun stuff. Those are great but they take a while and you gotta have yeast on hand. When I’m craving cinnamon rolls I want them now, not later. This recipe features store bought cinnamon rolls in the tube but with a fresh, bright orange twist! I love keeping citrus on hand not only for flavor but for their nutritional benefit. Sunkist Cara Cara oranges offer the most vitamin C of the Sunkist citrus varieties, with 100% of the recommended daily intake in just one orange. If you’ve never had a Cara Cara you need to get them asap. They are juicy and sweet and their seedless interior has a rich pink hue. I love making fresh Cara Cara OJ. It’s delicious. Once you try a Cara Cara you won’t be able to stop thinking about them. They are so good. Anyway-back to the cinnamon rolls. So these semi-homemade rolls are slathered in a homemade Sunkist Cara Cara orange cream cheese frosting that is tart and sweet and full of that bright citrus flavor. The recipe makes plenty so you can frost the rolls twice! I like to frost them once right out of the oven and then again right before serving. Head to Sunkist.com/Recipes or here to get the full recipe!
Thank you to Sunkist for sponsoring this post
I had to include the word “dream” in the name of this recipe because it’s such a dream the way these flavors all work together. This smoothie is simple, straightforward and oh so satisfying! It kind of reminds me of those frothy orange drinks we all drank in in the 80’s we’d get from the mall food court except the homemade version tastes way better and I know exactly what’s going in there. Plus this one is actually good for you because I’m using Sunkist Cara Cara oranges. They’re considered the power orange because just one Cara Cara provides 100% of your daily Vitamin C intake. It’s a no brainer for me that these should be in your daily rotation to keep your immunity up! They’re also a good source of fiber and rich in folate and if you’re like me-you start looking for them around December (they are available December through May). Sunkist Cara Caras are extremely sweet, with a slightly lower acidity level than navel oranges, super juicy, seedless and have a beautiful rich pink hue to them. In this recipe I include that you could add honey to sweeten but it’s totally optional since the Cara Cara is already sweet.
I just know you and your family are going to love this smoothie. GO watch my latest IGTV to see me make it with Sonny! The recipe is so simple, the flavor is straightforward- creamy, luscious, packed full of Vitamin C and feels like such a treat! Be sure to watch my latest appearance on KTLA where I featured my Sunkist Cara Cara Creamsicle Dream Smoothie as a healthy and easy activity to make with your children. And don’t forget to post your photos on instagram and tag me @BrandiMilloy and @SunkistCitrus
Sunkist Cara Cara Creamsicle Dream Smoothie Recipe
by Brandi Milloy
Serves 2
Ingredients
Juice of 2 Sunkist Cara Cara Oranges
1/2 cup whole milk vanilla yogurt
1.5 cups ice
1 tbsp. honey or sugar to sweeten
Directions
Add all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into 2 glasses to serve and enjoy!
Brandon Kidd Photography
I love Arnold Palmers. It’s pretty much my go to every time I eat out unless it’s late and I’m worried about the caffeine (then it’s sparkling water extra ice with lime please). Anyway—I love when I go to restaurants and order an Arnold Palmer and they say that their Arnold Palmer is different. I’m always down. “It’s made with strawberry lemonade” or “we have it but we make it with peach tea, is that OK?” Ummm yes to all of the above. I love it all. It’s the perfect mix of sweet from the lemonade and the bite from the tea.
This recipe was kind of an accident one afternoon when I was craving an Arnold Palmer and instead of grabbing a lemon from my fruit bowl, I grabbed a few blood oranges and Cara Cara’s. The result was glorious! Citrusy, juicy, sweet tea (but not too sweet cause it doesn’t need it). You’ve gotta try this and might as well make a big batch to share with guests. Tastes even better with a slice of blood orange as garnish. It really hits all the sense, ya know? Cheers!
Brandon Kidd Photography
Blood Orange & Cara Cara Iced Tea
by Brandi Milloy
Serves 4
Ingredients
6 cups water
2 Sunkist Cara Cara Oranges
2 Sunkist Blood Oranges
4 black tea bags
1/4 cup organic honey or agave
Directions
1. Into a large pot, heat 3 cups of water just until boiling. Remove from heat.
2. Peel rind off oranges and place in pot. Add tea bags to steep for 5 minutes. Stir in honey.
3. Juice oranges and pour juice into pot and stir.
4. Into a large pitcher, pour 3 cups of cold water. Place strainer over pitcher and add tea and juice mixture. Serve with ice and slices of orange.
Brandon Kidd Photo
This post isn’t about my favorite brownie or chocolate chip cookie dough recipe. You can use whatever recipe you want for those OR go ahead and get a box or brownie mix and a log of cookie dough from the store.
The key here is to make sure you don’t over bake your bars. In fact, slightly more than half baked is more like it. Just pour your brownie dough into a prepped 8 x 8 pan and then drop your cookie dough on top until the brownie batter is covered. Bake at 350F for about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. What makes these bars over the top delicious is the buttery cream cheese frosting and my favorite sprinkles. Just slather the frosting all over the bars and cut into squares. Add sprinkles and you’re everyone’s best friend. The end.
Brandon Kidd Photo
Cream Cheese Frosting
by Brandi Milloy
Ingredients
4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
1 3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
tiny pinch of salt
Directions
Mix cream cheese and butter together until combined. Add powdered sugar, vanilla and salt and mix until smooth.
Enjoy by the spoonful if you please
Brandon Kidd Photo
Brandon Kidd Photo
Brandon Kidd Photography
A few weeks ago I had Ruby chocolate for the first time and was totally blown away by the flavor. It pairs so nicely with Sunkist blood oranges! You can watch the video of me trying this custom chocolate bar made by @ChefSally here. It inspired me to make a smaller version using my favorite gem mold.
I love how these ruby chocolates feel like they are SO much more elevated and custom than they are! This is an easy recipe to get you started if you’re interested in making custom chocolates. You can find the full recipe on the Sunkist Citrus website. Be sure to tag me when you post yours!
Brandon Kidd Photography
Brandon Kidd Photography
Brandon Kidd Photography
📣 Welcome to MOMHOOD!!! Thrilled to announce our new podcast @momhoodshow that I developed with the insanely smart & talented @orlyshani. We are on a mission to change the conversation about what it means to be a Mom and I’m telling you-this podcast is going to change lives. We have amazing guests who have incredible stories and are brilliant, fascinating and provide so much value to our conversations.. I hope you’ll take a listen, subscribe and even give us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ratting and write a review. I’m always forever grateful for your support. You can find us on instagram @MOMHOODSHOW and on Facebook by searching MOMHOOD.
