Favorite things: Convenient, on-the-go snacks for kids.

We are seriously never home. With two kids and busy schedules, our kiddos are regularly eating in the car, or on-the-go. Since it's difficult to get my kids to stop and refuel, I'm always looking for energy-packed, dense snacks that are packed with healthy-calories, and easy to take on the road. Here are a few of my favorites for our toddler and kindergartner...

1. Bananas: Cheap, dense/filling, healthy, and no packaging or ice-packs necessary.

Make bananas FUN by dressing them up, or writing
a message on them for your kiddos!

2. Smoothies in The Original Squeeze: We are loving Chef Marshall O'Brien's Mood Boosting Smoothie, and Blueberry Smoothie with Flax Seed. I put the ingredients in our Magic Bullet, blend in the morning, and take them on-the-go in our Original Squeeze Pouches. While these snacks/meals need to be chilled if not consumed right away, they pack healthy calories/energy, and keep my kiddos fueled. I give our toddler smoothies in the Spill-Proof Spout, while our kindergartner stays mess-free with the Original Squeeze Pouch's Free-Flow Spout.

We love putting smoothies in our Original Squeeze Pouches!

3. CLIF Kid Zbar: My kids think these are a treat, as they come in a brownie, chocolate chip, and oatmeal icing flavors. These bars are made with whole grains, and are loaded with carbohydrates, making them a dense and filling snack. We buy these bars in bulk at Costco, which keeps them affordable.

4. Mini Babybel Cheese + Pistachio Nuts: Again, we buy these items in bulk at Costco, to keep them affordable.

Our toddler LOVES these calcium-packed cheese snacks!

5. Disposable Food Pouches: When it comes to a quick and convenient snack, our kindergartner is completely happy with the inexpensive/generic, organic applesauce pouches from Costco (Kirkland brand). But when I want to pack as much nutrition, healthy calories, and energy as possible in these convenient little pouches, the Plum Organics Grow Well DHA, Muscle, and Tummy pouches (90-100 calories per pouch), and the Beech Nut Breakfast-On-The-Go, and Banana, Blueberry, and Avocado pouches (80-90 calories per pouch) are my go-tos.

Mama saigh is going back to work.

I've been keeping my "big" news under wraps for a few weeks, but now, the cat is FINALLY outta the bag! Starting May 22nd, I'll be joining The Jason Show over at FOX 9, during their national test throughout the month of June. For six weeks, I'll be a full-time working mama, returning to my TV roots.

Am I excited?! Oh, HELLS yes!

After the birth of our first kiddo, I left my job at Twin Cities Live (KSTP) to be a stay-at-home mom. I worked at TCL ever since the show first went on the air in 2007, and it was the best job I've ever had. Leaving my family at TCL was one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make. However (at the time), it was the right decision for me, and (most importantly) my mental health (I suffered from postpartum depression after our first baby was born). Since then, I've always had a strong desire to return to my career in television.

Me, E-Ries, and Em, back in my TCL days. These two are still shining stars on the show!

For the last five-and-a-half years, I've been the stay-at-home mom for our two kiddos (Linna and Jameson). While it's been the most exhausting, challenging, and stressful job of my life, my decision to become a stay-at-home mom allowed for the opportunity to move our family to Singapore for three years (2012-2015)... And what an incredible experience that was for me, Papa Saigh, and Linna!

Me and Linna in Asia.

But now, five-and-a-half years, and two babies later, I am SO excited to have the opportunity to go back to the grown-up world that I've so desperately missed. And, for six weeks (this isn't forever... or is it...?!).

I seriously feel like I'm going on a six-week "vacation" (FYI, stay-at-home-mamas, you know it's time to go back to work, when you start to view work as a "vacation"). For YEARS, I've never been able to understand why some women are able (and WANT) to dive back into their careers, post-baby, while leaving their baby/kids in childcare.

Trust me when I say that "I GET IT" now.

A). Stay-at-home-mom life is a luxury (for those who want it), but it's NOT for everyone.
B). Kids are as*holes, exhausting, and COMPLETELY unreasonable.
C). Money is nice.
D). A job/career is an "escape" from the real-life known as children/family.

All of the above have me leaping toward this opportunity at The Jason Show.

My work-hours at FOX allow me to pick up our kindergartner every day after school, and spend my afternoons with both kiddos. While I'll have to be up and at the studio before the birds even start chirping, it's the perfect "trade-off" for me and my family. This opportunity couldn't have presented itself at a better time, and I am SO ready to dive right in.

Am I going to miss my kids?

Honestly?! No. (LOL - Don't judge me!).

While I'm sure part of me will miss my little monsters when I'm at work, you will find me skipping (proudly) out the door at 5:30 a.m. on Monday, May 22nd. I have been incredibly lucky to be a stay-at-home mom for the last five-and-a-half years, but there comes a time in every mom's life when she has to do what is right for her. My passion for telling stories and producing TV segments, has been calling out to me for a while now.

And this time, I'm answering.

This is going to be a HUGE transition and learning-opportunity for our family. While we have amazing care-givers for our kiddos while mama and papa are working, I'm sure both Papa Saigh and I are in for many major challenges.

We have NEVER experienced life as two, full-time working parents. While this is how the majority of households in America run, it's a brand new world for our family.

We're going to tackle it together.

I am so thankful to be a part of the incredibly talented team at The Jason Show (thanks, Jeff & Carl!), and even more thankful to my husband for supporting me in this adventure.

Stay tuned, because WHO KNOWS where this opportunity might lead...

Ticket giveaway: A year with frog and toad.

We're giving away 2 tickets to the Children's Theatre Company's performance of A Year with Frog and Toad! This show runs through June 18th, 2017. Here's how to enter for your chance to win...

1. Share our giveaway post on our Facebook page.

2. Comment on this blog post (below) with your first and last name, and city you currently reside in.

3. Comment on our giveaway post on our Instagram (@melissasaigh) page, tagging three friends who you think would like to see the show.

Complete all three to better your odds of winning! One person will be randomly selected to win two tickets to a performance of A Year with Frog and Toad at the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis. The tickets can be redeemed for any performance with available seating. Entries must be received/completed by 8 p.m. CST on May 9th, 2017. The winner will be announced on our Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as on this blog post. Good luck!