Hey, y'all! 

Spring is officially here and you know what that means.. warmer weather, fresh air, and trips to the farmers market. Another thing about spring is the amazing combinations of fresh produce that seem to go hand and hand with these warmer months. Thus making salads a star through the spring and summer months!

Is there one food that you just love no matter the weather, or time of year? Yes? ok, then we are on the same page lol. For me it is Salad! I consider myself a salad connoisseur, I could eat a salad all day every day for every season. So, it's only right I shared some of the BEST salads for spring!

These salads  (as with most food) are great in appropriate portions as well as nutritious. So grab a notepad, pencil, marker..... crayon.... lol, whatever you write with, and start making that grocery to pick up some of these key ingredients to make the best salads you will ever eat!

(ps, this was originally written before many stores were limiting hours, produce, and availability due to Covid- 19. If reading this, please stay safe, indoors, wash your hands, and only shop if needed. You can always PIN this for later :D )

Now, let's jump right in with this list of the best salads for spring, starting with my personal favorite, the Berry Almond Chicken Salad!

Get this recipe from Joyful Homemaking

1. Berry, Almond Chicken Salad- This spring salad is my favorite for many reasons. I personally love the strawberry and Asiago cheese combo. It is something that you wouldn't think to put together. I first had a berry almond chicken salad at Wendy's a few years ago believe it or not lol. Once I had it, I immediately went to the store and grabbed all the ingredients to make this mouthwatering salad at home. This salad contains blueberries, strawberries, sliced almonds, Asiago cheese, grilled chicken, and raspberry vinaigrette atop a bed of spring mix. Truly one of the best springs salads ever. 

Cobb Salad from Food Network

2. Cobb Salad- Another favorite of mine is the Cobb Salad. I make this one regularly simply because it has ingredients we use almost daily. It is full of protein and is actually on the cheaper side for most salads. For a cob salad, grab some romaine lettuce, boil up some eggs, bacon bits( we use turkey bacon and make our own bacon bits), chicken, cheese, and tomatoes. Traditional Cobb salads also use avocado and blue cheese but we happily omit those ingredients. As a side note and fair warning... blue cheese and avocados are big no's for me! 

Chicken Waldorf Salad from Pioneer Woman

3. Waldorf Salad- The Waldorf salad is light, fresh, and crunchy.. the perfect combination for a spring salad! When I first had this salad I wasn't much of a fan. After a few more times here and there, I started to appreciate its uniqueness and combo of sweet and tart flavors. A Waldorf salad consists of apples, walnuts, chicken, celery (I am not a fan of celery lol), and green leaf lettuce. You can also add fresh fruits like dried cranberries, raisins, or pomegranate seeds.

Recipe from Downshiftology.com

4. Berry Spinach Salad- This simple salad can be enjoyed with or without meat. Spinach, strawberries, apples, and a light vinaigrette are all you need. If you do decide to add protein, chicken or chopped walnuts go perfectly.

Southwest Salad from McCormick

5. Southwest Salad- Another delicious salad in spring is southwest. Fresh tomatoes, romaine lettuce, onions, corn, black beans, and steak make this a huge crowd pleaser. I like to serve mine with avocado ranch or drizzle with regular ranch and BBQ sauce. 

Chef Salad from Sargento

6. Chef Salad- A chef salad is a pretty basic salad, but when you throw in a few extra items, it really takes it over the top. For my chef salad, I use turkey or chicken, cheddar cheese, bacon bits, boiled eggs, tomatoes, raisins, sunflower seeds, and crackers. Whenever we head to a salad bar, this is one of the first things on my plate!

Recipe from Dinnerthendessert.com

7. Chicken Salad- In my house, we go back and forth from tuna salad and chicken salad. Yes, I know these are technically not a salad, but they are delicious! Over the years I have become more and more fond of chicken salad. For one, it's easy to make and it's very inexpensive. Second, it is very fulfilling and nutritious. In my chicken salad, I use fresh chicken, boiled egg whites, mayo with olive oil ( so GOOD), yellow mustard, diced onions, and Best Maid pickles. I'll tell you like I tell everyone. Best Maid Pickles are THEE BEST! My husband likes to eat this chicken salad with crackers or bread. I personally love putting some on a leaf of romaine and eating it as a wrap!

Recipe from Betty Crocker

8. Steak Caesar Salad- Forget Chicken Caesar Salad. Steak Caesar Salad is king in my book! Especially when the steak is cooked to perfection. Add some salt and pepper with a squirt of lemon and you are ready to go. This is another go-to salad when we are dining out at places like Outback or Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen.

Recipe from Foodie Crush

9. Greek Salad- I have tried to make a Greek salad many times. Every time I do, something always ends up missing. So for this one, I ALWAYS enjoy this one outside of the home lol. Most Mediterranean/ Greek restaurants offer traditional Greek Salads which consist of greens, onions, olives, tomatoes, feta, and a cucumber dressing. My favorite place to grab a Mediterranean salad is Kebabs To Go. So if you are ever in the DFW area.. you must stop by!

Recipe from Hungry Enough to Eat Six

10. Fruit Salad- Nothing says spring like a fresh fruit salad. My personal favorite is strawberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, and blueberries with a little honey drizzle or a dollop of Greek Yogurt. Talk about dessert/snack/salad all in one lol


There are so many ways to make a salad great... these are some of my personal faves that are perfect for Spring! What is your favorite? Have you tried these? Let me know in the comments below!

Do you have any special traditions that you do on your child's birthday? Let me know in the comments!

Happy January :)! Can you believe a new year  decade has finally arrived? It still feels surreal. One minute we are feeling old because we realized it's been a decade since we graduated high school.. then the next minute you realize your kids are in middle school and you are starting to think about college!

Last year, I shared some simple and fun mother daughter bonding ideas. You can check them out  HERE!Y'all seemed to love it as it gained a lot of page views and shares. Thank you so much for that! I love spending time with my girls and I loved that I was able to share some of those ideas with you.

This time, I wanted to share something similar but for moms of boys! My son and I probably have the most affectionate relationship out of all my kids. He loves to shower me with hugs and cuddles which I love! But he is about to turn 9 and while I love his hugs and cuddles, he is about to grow out of that phase. So, in order to keep that special bond that we have, I started thinking long and hard about some awesome mother son date night ideas that we could start implementing this year!

Mother Son Date Night Ideas:

1. Dinner- The most obvious mother son date night idea is to actually go on a "date". Taking your son on a dinner date really gives y'all some wiggle room when it comes to where/how much/ how fancy. Plus, it will give him the chance to freshen up those chivalrous skills like opening doors, pulling out chairs etc. A mother son date night dinner is a great starting point.

2. Museum- A lot of museums are free and open all year round. The paintings, sculptures and special exhibits are tools to start new conversations. A mother son date to the museum will give you both the chance to talk and learn more about each other through prompting questions. 

3. Hiking- My son loves to be outside (as long as it's not too hot lol). Going on a hike is a great mother son date because you can bot explore the world around you. It will also give you both the opportunity to encourage one another to face a new fear or challenge.

4. Trampoline Parks- Trampoline parks are basically the safest way to bounce on a trampoline lol. Places like Sky Zone, Jump Street and Urban Air have deals, events and multiple locations.  Having a mother son date night at a trampoline park is a great idea because you can both burn off some energy, spend time playing together show off those hidden talents. I had no idea my son could flip until he showed me at Sky Zone. I was so proud of him!

5. Bike Riding- Bike riding is another mother son date idea that gives you some wiggle room. If you own your own, it costs nothing. If you don't have one, many cities offer public ones to rent for a small hourly price. You can ride around the lake, downtown, the woods, your neighborhood... anywhere! The possibilities are endless. 

6. Have a Movie Night- Have dad or another relative take the girls (if you have them) out for their own bonding moment and stay in with your son. Gather a few movies, popcorn, snacks, and drinks to create your own movie theater experience indoors! Some people feel like movies are opportunities to ignore each other, I think they are moments you get to experience with your child. 

7. Catch a Game- My son loves football, especially the Cowboys and Raven (his name is Baltimore). I have always wanted to have a mother son date night at game. Tickets are super expensive ( at least for the Cowboys) so this will probably take some planning and budgeting if you don't have to extra funds to drop on a dime. 

8. Mini Golf- Playing mini golf is another fun mother son date night idea. This is also another fairly cheap option but it can be so much fun!

9. Build a Fort- Who doesn't love building a fort?! This isn't really a date but it is a great mother son bonding opportunity. Get lost in an imaginative world when you build a fort, plus it doesn't cost anything and you don't even have to get dressed up! 

10. Laser Tag- Head over to your local arcade and game center for a fun game of laser tag! This mother son date night idea is great for you and your son, no matter the age.

11.Go Bowling- Bowling is another fun mother son date night idea that is great for your son no matter what age they are. 

12. A Visit to the Library- Spend some time reading and browsing for new books that you can read together and discuss or to start a new bed time routine.

13. Have a Picnic- Grab all your favorite foods and enjoy a nice picnic in your local park! Want to spend time together before? Pick out a menu and shop for all the goodies you both want to have on your picnic!

14. Play Video Games- If your son is like mine then this would probably be the best date ever lol. Plug up the console and start gaming! You could play against each other, others, create challenges and of course see who will be number one! Another thing you could do to make your gaming date special is to buy him a first place trophy/medal and make it a monthly competition to see who gets it.

15. Cook a Special Meal- If your child is older or if you feel comfortable letting him in the kitchen with you, plan and make a special dinner just for you two( or more). Cooking brings people together and this date night idea is sure to teach him a new skill and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Mother son date nights are something that I will be implementing regularly this year and the options are not limited to this list! 

Did I miss any? What are some fun mother son date night ideas that you have or have done? Let me know in the comments below!