5 Dinners and Thanksgiving Heroes

Easy Baked Gnocchi - Full of protein and veggies, this comforting one-pan meal is the perfect solution for a busy weeknight. It works with any type of ground meat and I know my kids will be coming back for more.

Whole30 Chicken and Sausage Gumbo - This classic recipe is one I hadn’t made in a while, but it’s still as good as ever. It’s perfect for a cool fall evening with minimal ingredients, maximum comfort, and something everyone at the table will enjoy.

Salmon BLT Salad with Chive Ranch Dressing - I had the most incredible salmon cobb salad last weekend in Charlotte at Sixty Vines and I can’t stop thinking about it. After much research, I think this recipe comes closest to it with the dressing included! I’m excited to try and remake it at home.

Chicken Parmesan - This is pretty close to what I make (I don’t follow a recipe) with a few small tweaks. I coat mine in gluten-free baking flour before dipping in egg, then use a mix of grated parm, panko and Italian breadcrumbs for extra crunch. Serve it up with spaghetti for the coziest meal that my kids always devour!

Teriyaki Meatballs - As the holidays approach, I’m excited to share a few versatile recipes that work perfectly as both appetizers and main dishes. Serve them with toothpicks for a quick, crowd-pleasing bite, or pair them with rice and roasted veggies for a wholesome weeknight family dinner.

The Sephora sale is on, and it’s the perfect time to restock your favorites or try something new! Over the past year, I’ve done a ton of research on makeup (it’s something I’ve really wanted to get better at) and I’ve rounded up my top picks. These are my everyday go-tos that help me get ready in just five minutes (even with two kids tugging at my legs!).

I love that it has a 10-minute self timer so I just put on this red-light skin therapy mask before bed to wind down and then it let’s me know when I’m done. Being proactive with anti-aging heavy hitters! Use code ANNWOO for a discount!

While this skin tint isn’t part of the Sephora sale, you must add this to your skincare/makeup routine! Creamy texture with medium to full coverage that has replaced my foundation and goes on perfectly.

I’m very hesitant to try new hair products because I’ve been on a journey with my hair but this hair styling oil won Allure’s best of beauty award and only has clean ingredients so I had to try. YALL I’M SO GLAD I DID. I got so many compliments on how it looked and I love how it smells. Goodbye frizz!

How cute are these earrings and necklace?! Can’t wait to show you all of my new pieces for the holidays but these have been my everyday go-tos for workwear.

Age: 43

Kids: 3 year old and 14 month old

Job: Senior Marketing Director

Household Income: $500-600K

Own or rent: Own condo - $6k (mortgage + HOAs) a month

Childcare or daycare expense: $4500/month for nanny for 14 month old, $3700 for daycare/preschool for 3.5 year old= $8200!!

Recent purchase you regret: itchy sezane sweater $170

Splurge and don’t regret: 2x month house cleaning $350/month

Best “mom sanity” splurge: Personal trainer $160/hour 1 time a week & mani/pedi $75 a month

Weekly “kid stuff” spend: $150

Weekly spend on groceries: $350

Most spent on a kid party: Usually $300-400, but for my son’s 1 year old birthday it was $1000 (last kid so we went big)!

Purchase that you don’t tell your partner about: All of my Shopbop orders, usually $500-600 every quarter

Saving for your kids college tuitions: Yes

Managing family budget: We both put the max into 401k (based on company matches & limits), and then set aside 10% a month for savings towards a larger home.

Great ways to save money on kid-related expenses: We are looking forward to public school to save in a couple years.

Money advice for other moms: Build your case and ask for the raise.

Finish the sentence: “In this economy, I still somehow _______.” Prioritize good whole food and my weekly personal trainer - wellness is a priority even with limited time as a working mom with two littles!