Rachel Loza @ itsahero.com

My kids call me the WORST MOM EVER when I refuse to buy $4 cake pops from Starbucks. I know I can't be the only one. But the super secret is -- I will sometimes KEEP a little Sbux pastry bag and sneak these homemade Copycat Starbucks Cake Pops in them for the kiddos. Shhh! Don't tell! And grab the recipe here -- https://itsahero.com/instant-pot-copycat-starbucks-cake-pops/ #copycatrecipe #starbucks

More childhood? Yes please! The kids and I headed to @AkronChildrens 3 new #Cleveland locations for an open house over the weekend. While we were there, they went through a Little White Coats ceremony where they learned about the importance of child well-visits, proper nutrition, and emotional health – and they practiced all they learned on their stuffies! This is just one small example of the love and care that goes into each visit to an Akron Children’s pediatric facility. I can speak from experience – a great doctor isn’t just clear cut answers; it’s truly the little things that make kids and families feel comfort through their kid-focused care. Akron Children’s new primary and specialty care Cleveland locations make it easier for families to find the high-quality care they need. Here are the services offered throughout the Cleveland area: • Pediatric Primary Care • Urgent Care • Cardiology • Neurology • Ear, Nose and Throat • Orthopedics • Outpatient Surgery • And more! Having Akron Children’s care nearby means that families can rest easy knowing that their children are in loving and capable hands. Visit akronchildrens.org/Cleveland for more information. #morechildhoodplease #akronchildrenspartner #sponsored #akronchildrens

I know I share a lot of chocolate-based recipes and foods, despite ME not loving chocolate. Because, well, my kids (and literally everyone else in the world) love chocolate. And I generally steer-clear of candy bars (besides Paydays, because those aren't chocolate-based). But I REALLY and TRULY love one chocolate-based candy bar -- TWIX! They combine my absolute favorite cookie -- shortbread! -- with creamy caramel, and just a teeny bit of chocolate to cover it for good measure. PERFECT. Absolutely PERFECT. The only thing better than a TWIX bar? A homemade Twix bar. Why? Two words: Homemade shortbread. That's the game-changer, friends. Head here for this EASY recipe -- https://itsahero.com/copycat-twix-candy-bar/ #copycatrecipe

I’m SO excited to announce that I’m partnering with @akronchildrens as they expand their 100% kid-focused care further into the Cleveland area. If you’ve been following over the last year, we’ve been at Akron Children’s quite a bit. I will forever be grateful (and continue to be grateful) for the love, care, and expertise they provide as we navigate this journey. Knowing we are in such caring and capable hands leaves us more time to enjoy all that childhood has to offer – like playgrounds.  With closer care locations, Akron Children’s is bringing more childhood to Cleveland! I hope you’ll join me for an open house event on Saturday, July 13th at their THREE new locations: ➡️ Pediatric Primary Care – 5800 Landerbrook Drive, Suite 250, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124.  ➡️ Primary, Specialty and Urgent Care, Beachwood - 3733 Park East Drive, Beachwood, 44122 ➡️Outpatient Surgery Center, Beachwood, 3755 Orange Place, Suite 102, Beachwood, 44122 Visit https://www.akronchildrens.org/pages/Pediatric-Care-in-the-Cleveland-Area.html for more information and locations. #akronchildrenspartner #sponsored #akronchildrens #morechildhoodplease #akronOH

Umm did you forget you were supposed to make a side for a picnic tomorrow?! ME TOO. But fear not! This Instant Pot Potato Salad will SAVE THE DAY! Seriously. You can throw it together in 20 minutes, which leaves plenty of time to spare. Get the recipe here - https://itsahero.com/instant-pot-potato-salad/ #instantPot #inmykitchen #eater #tasty #tastemade

Happy Tuesday, friends! 💛 Hope you're as happy as Mila at a playground.

Who needs a nostalgia throwback?! If you want to try your hand at THE most delicious copycat recipe, you MUST try these Copycat Hostess Cupcakes recipe. This from-scratch recipe is easy and delicious. Fluffy cupcakes, marshmallow creme filling, silky ganache, and that loop-de-loop frosting on top! Perfection! Head and see the recipe here -- https://itsahero.com/copycat-hostess-cupcakes-recipe/ #copycatrecipe

My last baby is another year older 😍😭 Mila had a heck of a 5th year. She's proven herself to be incredibly brave and resilient. She still loves dinosaurs, the movies Jurassic Park and Twister, McDonald's chicken nuggets, swinging on swings, and her Mama 🩷. Happy 6th birthday, my strong-willed angel babe! #hbd #happybirthday

I know I'm not the only one who only ever thinks to go to Chick-fil-A on Sundays.... This copycat Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich recipe is the perfect alternative for your Sunday cravings. Find the recipe here -- https://itsahero.com/copycat-chick-fil-a-chicken-sandwich-recipe/ #copycatrecipe #chickfila

My kids go through 2 pounds of strawberries every single day of the Summer. No joke. Sometimes I like to switch up HOW my kids consume all of these berries. And strawberry gummy bears are surprisingly simple to make! And REALLY delicious. You just need some strawberries, unflavored gelatin, some honey, lemon juice, and a fun bear mold (which I found on amazon).  Head here for this SUPER simple recipe! https://itsahero.com/strawberry-gummy-bears-recipe/ #strawberryseason #strawberries #inmykitchen #thatstasy #sotasty #tastemade #strawberrypicking

SUMMER! 🌞 Anyone have any MUST-DOS or summer bucket list items?! We're headed to the beach for a week, and otherwise, we're just hanging around our area and exploring. We're lucky to have about a million places to hike in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park! @cuyahogavalleynps Give me your bucket list items so we can add to ours! ⬇️

We're not even two weeks into Summer break and I'm already out of ideas for meals. I kid, mostly. But, honestly, some days it feels impossible to feed three kids, 3+ times a day. So some days you just have to wing it. Just throw it back to a recipe that you just KNOW is a hit with everyone.  And that's exactly what these air fryer bacon wrapped hot dogs do. They hit perfectly with EVERYONE. No matter what day it is, no matter what mood everyone is in -- just no matter what.  So the next time you're in a rut and need a fun, Summer meal for the whole family? Check this out -- https://itsahero.com/air-fryer-bacon-wrapped-hot-dogs/

NOW ➡️ THEN ❤️ There's been a LOT of growth with these three since last August. Well, not physically so much as mentally and emotionally. I'm so proud of each of them for all they have accomplished this past school year. And I'm desperately trying not to get too emotional about Ari moving on from elementary school and heading to the middle school next Fall. In the meantime, we're going to soak up this Summer. HAPPY SUMMER BREAK! 🎉

Real talk: I feel like I've BARELY cooked this whole school year. We've been so incredibly busy, running between one event and another; PLUS we have 'events' several times a week, where food is served/involved for us; ...and my kids are super picky.  But we're about a week out from the end of the school year and I LEGIT cannot wait to regularly cook family meals again. One of our go-to Summer meals are air fryer cheeseburgers. They SUPER easy, delicious, and something that every single kid will eat. If it's too hot to grill (or, heck, even cook on the stovetop), the air fryer saves the day!  Find the recipe here -- https://itsahero.com/air-fryer-hamburgers-recipe/