I love the jarred stuff as much as the next person-I lived on it in college. BUT let me tell you about what happens when you slow cook onions until they melt and caramelize into sweet, savory bits of deliciousness. Add a few other ingredients and it’s a dip you’ll want to lather on everything. Scroll down for the recipe!

Caramelized Onion Dip

By Brandi Milloy

INGREDIENTS

• 2 medium size yellow onions or sweet onions like Vidalia, peeled & chopped

• 2 tbsp. salted butter

• 2 tsp. sugar

• 8 oz. sour cream

• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened

• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce or more to taste

TIP: You can add soy sauce to taste too, 1/2 tsp at a time!

Garnish with fresh parsley

INSTRUCTIONS

Peel the onions chop.

1. Heat the butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, sprinkle with sugar, and saute for 10-15 minutes, stirring every few minutes. Put heat on medium-low and cook about 30 minutes, until your onions are deep brown and caramelized. Add the cream cheese and sour cream and mix until combined. Add worcestershire and soy sauce if you’d like. Serve with ruffled potato chips or fresh bread and enjoy!

Thank you to Sunkist® Citrus for sponsoring this post.

This powerful cocktail is coming in hot! Packed with Vitamin C from the sweet Sunkist® Cara Cara Orange, reposado tequila, lime and topped with bubbles, it’s juicy, refreshing and PINK! Sunkist® Cara Cara Oranges are in season from December-May so grab a bag next time you’re at the market and enjoy the sweet flavor of this fruit!

Watch my latest IG reel to see how I make this margarita and cheers to cocktails that are delicious and packed with nutrients. Scroll down for the full recipe or you can also find it at Sunkist.com/recipes.

Fizzy Cara Cara Margarita

By Brandi Milloy

Ingredients

• ¼ cup sugar or salt

• Zest from 1 Sunkist® Cara Cara Orange

• 2 oz. Sunkist® Cara Cara Orange juice

• 1 oz. Sunkist® Lime juice

• 2 ½ oz. Reposado or Silver Tequila

• Ice 

• Sunkist® Cara Cara Orange Wedge for garnish

Directions

1. Mix sugar or salt with the zest from the Sunkist® Cara Cara Orange. Rim margarita glass with a wedge of orange and dipping lip into sugar or salt mixture.

2. Pour all of the ingredients into an ice filled shaker. Shake ingredients together and strain into glass. Garnish with Sunkist® Cara Cara Orange Wedge. Cheers!

Thank you to Sunkist® Citrus for sponsoring this post.

Sunkist Delite® mandarins are the perfect on-the-go snack in our house but these citrus snacks can also make the perfect ingredient for a delicious treat. This is such a simple recipe that is sweet, chewy and full of flavor that it will make it hard to just have one. To find the full rocky road fudge recipe head to Sunkist.com/Recipes or click here ! If you are looking for more sweet recipes with Sunkist® Citrus check out my Sunkist® Navel Orange Bread Pudding recipe here.

Thank you to Sunkist® Citrus for sponsoring this post.

I wasn’t even a bread pudding fan until I wrote this recipe. Most of them are too soggy or bready and unflavorful. This one is packed with delicious Sunkist® delite mandarin juice, almond extract and fluffy croissants. The sugar caramelizes into sticky sweet oblivion with a crispy crust and a soft interior. It is SO good! a Head to Sunkist.com/Recipes or here to get the full recipe!

Thank you to Sunkist® Citrus for sponsoring this post.

My winter citrus salad is full of flavor and so simple to make. With only a few ingredients, this is a tasty and nutritious recipe packed with vitamin C. I have paired this salad with one of my go to dressings. Not only does this salad feature Sunkist® Navel oranges and Sunkist Delite® Mandarins but it contains Sunkist® lemons. It’s a triple threat! Lemons are always in my pantry and are a great added source of nutrition. Head to Sunkist.com/Recipes or here to get the full  recipe!

Thank you to Sunkist® Citrus for sponsoring this post.

There are so many turkey recipes but no need to stress here. I have made a Sunkist Citrus compote butter that will make roasting your turkey this year easier then ever before. Mixed with herbs and zest from Sunkist® Navel orange and Sunkist® lemon it is packed with tons of vitamin C and gives this turkey a delicious citrus flavor with crispy skin! Head to Sunkist.com/Recipes or here to get the full  recipe! And then don’t forget to check out my winter citrus salad, bread pudding and rocky road fudge!

Thank you to Sunkist® Citrus for sponsoring this post.

It’s the 20th Anniversary of the film, Dr. Seuss' “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, and if you love this movie as much as I do, I have created some amazing Grinch-inspired recipes for your next Whoville feast with Sunkist® Citrus.  Start with a limited edition carton of Sunkist Navel oranges available at selected retailers. This carton is full of Sunkist® Navel oranges that will be used in all four recipes. Once you grab your Sunkist Citrus it is time to make these Whoville-themed recipes. Check out all the recipes here ! Once you have made your Whoville Feast recipes, you are ready to join in our feast Twitter Party. Mark your calendars for December 11th, 7pm est and don’t forget to use #SunkistGrinchmas to join in on the conversation!

Our 2020 Gift Guide for everyone on your list! We know sometimes finding the perfect gift can be a challenge so we are taking the stress out of shopping and sharing some favorite things that are sure to bring joy and happiness this season. From gifts we've received and love, recent discoveries and new finds ---You can listen to the latest episode of Momhood anywhere you listen to podcasts!

Product Links below-

BRANDI'S LIST:

The Happy Planner Guided Gratitude Journal https://rstyle.me/+reQka_rvhoyWjxotNgi-yQ

Ruby Crystal Exfoliator https://rstyle.me/+2E6Y0ftznBC2XRPFRlDG4g

Positive Parenting Courses https://courses.simplyonpurpose.org/4-parenting-principles-that-make-a-difference-in-a-day/kmtdh https://courses.simplyonpurpose.org/4-parenting-principles-that-make-a-difference-in-a-day-bonus/kmtdh https://courses.simplyonpurpose.org/parenting-audio-course-coaching-calls-bundle/kmtdh

Global Sisters Diversity Dolls https://rstyle.me/+2SaUNh7khewFsDZClEXNVQ

Projector https://rstyle.me/+Yoy4F4YROHEV01oSO4Gy0Q

Lipgloss Set https://www.beautycounter.com/megangilley

Pasta Maker https://rstyle.me/+Cwq4fuTj1xHsBafxczhrlA

Slippers https://rstyle.me/+9ZBrvZ4gQcsPL8mMGkDm0g

Luxury Candle https://bodewellliving.com

Diffuser & Essential Oils @SeaTheWellness

ORLY'S LIST: Bon Belli Trimester Boxes (code MOMHOOD15 -15% off) https://www.bonbelli.com

Hinged Vasehttps://www.burkedecor.com/products/set-of-10-hinged-flower-vases-design-by-tozai

Mike’s slim wallet -https://www.ridgewallet.com/collections/all-wallets

Robehttps://www.lunya.co/products/the-robe-1?variant=31349640724523&sscid=b1k4_h26zu&utm_campaign=affiliate&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_source=ShareASale

Target Robe -https://bit.ly/3kYdFFb

SHOPTAGR https://www.clkmg.com/shoptagr_inc/orlyshani11

DIY Tie Dye Hats https://amzn.to/3fIaalz

Brave&Love Collection - https://braveandlove.com

UGG slip on logo sandals -https://bit.ly/36Ds44s

Necklace detangler -https://www.etsy.com/listing/281211064/layered-necklace-detangler-multi-strand

DYPTIQUE EXFOLIATING SOAPhttps://bit.ly/3nBOLwK

Tapper Ear Buds Chains -https://www.gettapper.com

Brixton Hats Straw -https://bit.ly/3ncmsG7

I’m so excited to share Milly’s new room! I can’t believe our baby girl is old enough to have a big girl room. I wanted her space to be all about everything our little girl loves. She’s fearless, carefree, enjoys reading and I wanted her space to support that. I enlisted the help of Sophie Rankell to help design the space. She’s a Santa Barbara interior designer specializing in interiors with a coastal midcentury modern vibe. She’s been a friend for years and I was so excited to get her design help on this space. Sophie offers a wide variety of services (including virtual): from full service concept to completion to straight interior design to pulling together pieces in your home to make your space feel fresh and cohesive. She sourced items within my budget but also helped me design with what we already had. You can reach out to her via Instagram @SophieRankell.

This room has so many dreamy vibes, from the airy house bed to the muted rose and ocean blue colors to the cozy window seat and canopy reading corner. When you walk into her room it feels open and calming, playful and fun. But the first thing that commands your attention her bed. It really is the focal point of the room.

We found Purveyor 15 on etsy. Handcrafted in Ozark, Missouri they’re a family owned small business that makes gorgeous beds specializing in toddler beds. We went with a full size house bed for her room and we are so pleased with what we chose. If you’re interested in getting a  Purveyor 15 bed use the code BRANDI15 to get 15% off plus they already offer free shipping in the continental US!

There was a lot of back and forth between getting a twin versus a full. And ultimately the positives of getting a full (so we could lay with her when we read at night, it could act as a guest bed when needed, she could grow into it, etc.) outweighed getting a twin. I love the Montessori style and how it’s low but not on the floor. We tied crinkle curtains from World Market to the top post on each side to create a fun canopy. These come in several amazing muted colors but I loved how the white continued this feeling of light and bright. She can choose to leave it opened or closed and it’s just enough privacy so she feels like she’s in her own secret world. She loves to go to bed with her flashlight and a book. For a playful touch we added paper lanterns to the peaked post on the end. These are currently sold out on World Market but I love these too! You could also string pom poms across the frame! For her bedding, so many people recommend Beddy’s bedding but I wanted to repurpose what we already had so we used a white duvet, white sheets and a few fun pattered pillows for a pop of color. The large pillows have since moved to our bedroom because they were a bit large for her space and mostly ended up on the floor!

And while her house bed is the focal point, her rug is probably the anchor of the room. Sophie had originally chosen this rug which we adored because the blush and blue color palette was so spot on with other inspiration ideas we had for the room plus we both gravitate towards Persian style designs. However, when I went to the store I noticed this rug and something about it really pulled me in. I FaceTimed Sophie and she agreed we should get both and see how they work in the space. We ended up using the other rug in our loft playroom area and then kept this contemporary abstract circle jute one for Milly’s room. The photos really don’t do it justice! The colors are perfect and I love the texture of the soft jute and cotton combo.

I love these wooden name blocks Milly got from her best friend, Jack. You can find similar ones here. I think they are such great gift ideas and now that Milly is learning how to spell her name, they are great for practicing with her letters!

One of our favorite features of Milly’s room is her spacious window seat. I envision her spending hours in that spot reading, writing in a diary, playing with dolls, dreaming about all of the things her heart desires! Mr. A’s mama designed the cushion and it just fits perfectly! The throw pillows soften the space and add tons of texture against the large window.

Since Milly has plenty of closet space in her room, we opted to swap out her dresser and chose this media stand instead. It’s just enough drawers for her needs and the height is great for displaying her things: like her diffuser, narwhal coin bank,

We hung a few pieces of art that exude the carefree California vibes we wanted including a few prints from this collage set. The other art I got from a boutique in NYC when Milly was a baby but I’ll be sure to post the source here as soon as I figure it out!

The yarn wall hanging is from The Dancing Tapestry. This was in Milly’s nursery and ultimately it played a huge part in the vibe of the room. I love the rose gold sunset and the calming blue ocean. Alicia does incredible work and you can also work with her on special requests. I just adore everything she creates! You can follow her on Instagram @TheDancingTapestry.

How much do you love the wicker rattan rocker? It was mine when I was little! It’s from the 80’s and my parents kept it this entire time!

Staying in line with a space that is made for Milly and allows her to thrive…we hung this circle canopy in the corner. The gauzy sheer canopy is the perfect space to play with lovies, read books or relax. Can you tell we were all about soft texture in this space? We added tons of pillows to the floor and placed this seagrass basket nearby for toys. And since Milly’s closet has plenty of storage for her books, we moved her former bookshelf to her brother’s room and opted for a few display book shelves for the books she’s currently reading.

Milly is so pleased with the way the space turned out and I am too. The design is so versatile and can easily be changed depending on what she’s into, but I have a feeling she’ll be enjoying it for years to come! If you have questions about any other products featured, let me know by commenting on my latest post on instagram @BrandiMilloy

This is going to be the only pumpkin bread recipe you need. It’s packed with pumpkin flavor and has the most amazing gooey, soft, moist thing happening that you are gonna want to just keep this recipe handy. It’s one of those recipes you wanna double or quadruple and make a few loaves for family, friends and neighbors. Makes me so happy thinking of all of you showing your care by making food for others.

The secret ingredient is two things: making sure there is plenty of pumpkin (we use a whole can of pumpkin here) and fresh squeezed orange juice. It’s not overpowering and still lets the pumpkin flavors shine. If you are into the idea of a pumpkin and orange flavor combo, add the zest of one orange and you’ll get it.

This is a recipe my family loves to make together because it kicks off the start of baking season in our home! Can’t wait to share many more recipes with you. I’d love to see your photos of your bread, tag me on instagram @BrandiMilloy and then scroll down for the recipe.

Happy baking friends!

Gooey Pumpkiny Pumpkin Bread Recipe

by Brandi Milloy

Ingredients

• 2 large eggs, room temperature

• 3/4 cup cane sugar

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin puree

• 1/2 cup butter, melted

• 1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange or mandarin juice

• 1 and 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 tsp. baking soda

• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon

• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

• 3/4 tsp. salt

• 2/3 cup chocolate chips (or half chips, half chopped chocolate)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Spray a 9 x 5” inch pan with non-stick spray and set aside.

2. Into a large bowl, mix the eggs together with the sugars, pumpkin, butter and orange juice.

3. Into another bowl mix the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined. Fold in the chocolate.

5. Pour the batter into the baking pan and bake for 45 minutes.

6. After 45 minutes, cover pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper to prevent the top for getting too brown and continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes. The bread is done with an inserted toothpick comes out mostly dry.

7. Allow your bread to cool before slicing. Give it 10 minutes and it will still be warm in the center and just right. Enjoy!

Like many of you I’m running out of activities and ideas for my kiddos and desperately need them to independently play more and more. I try and rotate toys and books but also layer in fun homemade sensory activities every week or so. This one is super easy to do and most likely everyone reading this has the ingredients in their pantry right now. My kiddos love playing at the beach and at our last home Mr. A had made a sand box that Milly used daily. Until we decide if we are going to build a sandbox again or possibly a swing set playhouse with one built in, making some homemade moon sand is about as close to a sand box as it gets. This stuff is soft and comes together like damp sand so it’s fun to build and play with. I add a little essential oils to the mix to make it even more sensory with calming oils like lemongrass and lavender. If you have a shallow plastic bin or an activity table like this one I’d double the recipe but I like putting it in a tray and letting Milly play with it at her outdoor table. If you play with it inside I’d suggest putting an outdoor blanket or shower curtain or mat down underneath it to make clean up a breeze. I’d love to know if you make this moon sand for you kids and see the pics. If you make this recipe post it on social and tag me on instagram @BrandiMilloy!

Homemade Moon Sand

by Brandi Milloy

Ingredients

• 8 cups flour

• 1 cup vegetable oil

• 8 drops essential oils

Directions

1. Mix ingredients together until combined. Pour into tray and add scoops, shovels, wooden & plastic toys and let your children explore!

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)

• Make a Footprint American Flag Craft

• Have a backyard DIY Foam Machine Party

FOOD

• Red, White & Blue Bruschetta

• Firecracker Hot Dogs

• Grill Packs

• 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.

Dudeee when’s the last time you had a marshmallow cereal treat and I’m not talking about a Rice Krispie treat you picked up at the gas station as an impulse buy. I’m taking about the homemade kind where you melt butter down, add marshmallows and cereal and then try not to eat it all off the spatula before you press it into a pan?

Well these marshmallow cereal treats are nothing like either of those. They are made with brown butter which makes them have this nutty, salty flavor going on. I also use equal parts marshmallow to cereal cause the OG recipe just skimps on the good stuff and they dry out too easily and then I’m switching things up and using some tropical sugary marshmallowy filled cereal because #quarantinelife am I right?

This recipe is super easy to make and I did it in less than 15 minutes with Milly helping. I will say that I prefer the Lucky Charms cereal bar over the straight Trix. If I had some rice cereal I would have done half rice cereal and half of the Trix to make it the perfect balance but beware the Trix bars are super sweet but you’ll be fine.

If all these cereals are overwhelming you then move right along OR just follow my recipe and swap these cereals for some rice cereal-just don’t forget to brown the butter and add equal parts marshmallow! Scroll down for the recipe below and then post your pics on IG and tag me @BrandiMilloy

Colorful Marshmallow Cereal Treats

by Brandi Milloy

makes 8 2x2 squares

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp. butter

• 3 cups cereal of your choice

• 3 cups mini marshmallows

Directions

1. Melt butter in a pot on a medium low heat until butter starts to foam and get brown. Sprinkle a bit of salt if you’re feeling fancy. Add marshmallows and lower heat and mix. Once marshmallows have melted, remove from heat and add cereal. Press mixture into a parchment lined loaf pan. Once cooled, remove from pan and cut into 8 squares and enjoy!