Hello November!!

We had a great weekend, and Halloween was a blast with the kids. Lucy didn't wear any of her 3 costumes, so I improvised and made an orange sweater into a pumpkin to wear with her pumpkin hat. Molly had a blast trick-or-treating and I was shocked at how bold she was acting at some houses (marching right up to the doorbell and yelling "trick or treat!" and then grabbing candy despite my urging to "just take one!"). The kids also loved greeting visitors to our house and giving out candy. It was a fun night. We started the next morning far too early for my liking, but I think we are back on track a bit today and feeling decently rested.






As I mentioned last week, I'm looking to November with hope and getting back on track with healthier eating (minus yesterday with the leftover candy) and strength training. I also want to devote a bit more time to blogging, and more time to things that will improve my general happiness. I'm going back to the basics with our meal prep and I'm going to hold off on trying too many new recipes this month. The internet is an amazing wealth of knowledge, but sometimes I find myself saving recipe after recipe and workout after workout to the point where I am overwhelmed with information. I'm taking a bit of a step back from browsing Pinterest and random blogs and hoping to connect with the things that really make me happy.

That being said, I love writing prompts. I've found some of the best on Kenzie's blog Hello Neverland and I use these in my personal journal. Although I don't find a lot of extra time to write these days (at the end of the day, reading seems to come more naturally to me than writing), I try to write a bit every week. I want to remember these days of our lives. I want to remember the kids chasing each other around the living room and Lucy tossing a book onto my lap before clambering up herself. I want to remember Molly's incessant questions about everything in her world and her matter-of-fact way of talking.

I'm going to follow along with some of NaBloPoMo this month, but I know that I can't commit to all of it. However, if a particular prompt really resonates with me, I'd like to write about my thoughts on it.

The prompt for today is: What was the one toy that a friend had that you wished you had when you were younger?

I know for awhile when we were younger, all 3 of us wished that we had a Nintendo. Our best friends had a Super Nintendo and our cousins had the original Nintendo. We played Duck Hunt and Super Mario with them sometimes. I can completely understand why we didn't have one, and it's the same reason why Molly and Lucy have limited screen time now. However, we missed out on a relatively significant part of 90's culture and I am now TERRIBLE at video games if we ever play them socially. My hand-eye coordination is absolutely awful and I can't drive in a straight course at all if we play Mario Kart with friends (so I usually just don't play, haha). There was also a time when we wanted some Power Wheels. Instead, we learned how to ride our bikes and biked all over the neighbourhood. I don't look back on my childhood with very much longing at all. We had everything we needed, and we had a lot of fun family memories and happy times. I do sometimes I could drive a Mario Kart now at the age of 30 though ;)

How was your Halloween? Are you looking forward to November??

I'm also over halfway through The Husband's Secret and dying to finish it because I'm sure the ending will be intense!! Then I can get right into my Reading Challenge!!!

Friday Favourites - what I'm loving this week

It's been a short week here (thank you, Thanksgiving!) but it still seems like it has been a long one! Haha. I am trying to keep a lot of balls up in the air right now, but this weekend will be a nice chance to catch up a bit. We're spending the night (with the kids) at a friend's house on Saturday which means wine and board games - can't complain about that!! Sunday will probably mostly be a cleaning day!!

I mentioned yesterday on Instagram that I currently seem to have 4 books on the go...I have one that I am losing interest in and another couple that will take me longer to read, but I am very much enjoying The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (longest title ever though, haha!). Megan at Semi-Charmed Kind of Life put up the topics for the Winter 2015 Reading Challenge and I think I'll participate for the first time! I am doing some major brainstorming for some of the categories...i.e. a fiction & non-fiction book about the same topic...hmmm....

Linking up with Amanda to share some of my favourite things this week:

Jamberry Nails

My friend Laura became a Jamberry consultant this year and I had originally only tried some nails for Canada Day. I hosted a party a few weeks ago and ordered some new nail wraps and I am LOVING these fall ones (as in, I might cry when they come off) ;) A few of my friends have asked if I am selling them now, which I'm not nor do I think I would ever be able to - it's just not really my thing - but I still love to wear them!! So easy to put on and last for 10-14 days!! 

The Toronto Blue Jays
This team is really bringing Canada together! Being not even that close to Toronto, it is still crazy to see how their playoffs are sweeping the nation. Brian is a huge fan and he is so excited to be watching his team advance in the playoffs.

Kale Caesar Salad
I've been making a variation of this recipe for a couple of months now. Kale is delicious, but it can be a bit bitter and tough unless you "marinate" it a bit in olive oil and lemon juice. I basically shred/cut the kale into bite sized pieces, add the olive oil and lemon juice, let it sit for 5-10 mins after "massaging the kale", add parmesan and garlic powder and croutons if we have any, and BAM, delicious and healthy salad. We grew a ton of kale in the garden this year and this recipe really helped me to eat it all ;)

The Show Us Your Books Link up
So many great recommendations and a giveaway this month!

A Haircut
All through university, I had pretty short hair, but I've always had it shoulder length or longer since I met Brian. I finally went back to short this week after wearing ponytails daily for weeks and I'm loving it!!

Running & Yoga
I have a whole post on my thoughts about these two activities but I am really loving running and I am living for yoga these days. I'm taking a once/week class with Yogaheart and it is beginner level, but so informative and SO relaxing. I also discovered Erin Motz via Instagram this week and I am loving her philosophy towards yoga as well. I find even a few minutes a day really makes a difference to me.

This Tea
Gives you a chocolate fix without the sugar. Really yummy in the afternoon for a little pick me up :)

This Kid

We've had a few ups and downs behaviour wise this week, but she is such a sweet child and brings so much joy to our family. She loved the pie too ;)

And this one too :)

Poor quality photo but she loves to bring us our shoes so we can all go outside :)

Hope you all have a great weekend!!!

Fabulous Friday Favourites

Today is a good day. The sun in shining, it's warm but not too hot, and it feels like fall. I finished the Sea of Tranquility this morning on my way to work, and I loved it. It reminded me of how I finished when I finished reading Eleanor & Park. It was a good read. I am actually loving how many great books I have read this year thanks to being more interactive on Goodreads and listening to others' recommendations. I'll be posting my thoughts on the Literary Ladies Summer Reading Challenge on Monday :)

Here are some of my Friday Favourites for the week!!

FAVOURITE MUSIC:

I love this one for running...great beat!!!

z


FAVOURITE YOUTUBE VIDEO:



I can't wait to watch it this weekend, since I missed it the first time around on TV in June.

FAVOURITE LINKS AROUND THE WEB:
11 ways to love Goodreads even More
Listen to Your Kids <--- this has really stayed with me since I read it
This post from today on Gilbert Blythe vs. Mr. Darcy

FAVOURITE PHOTO OF THE GIRLS:

My tiny walking toddler machine

Because every 4 year old needs a huge pink unicorn to call their own

FAVOURITE RECIPE:

I made some cold brew coffee this week after spending $5 for a cup of it last week (just black - ridiculous!) Here's the recipe:

Cold Brew Coffee via Sage the Blog

FAVOURITE LOLs:

FAVOURITE INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE:

FAVOURITE QUOTE FROM A BOOK I READ RECENTLY:

From The Sea of Tranquility

Happy weekend, everyone!! xo

Dear Molly

Dear Molly,

My head knows you're turning 4 tomorrow, but my heart isn't ready for it. You have turned into a beautiful, interesting, curious and loving little girl in the past 4 years, and we are so proud of who you are becoming.

In the past year, you have changed in many ways. You learned so much at preschool, and you have also learned a lot about relationships while your sister is growing. You are learning how to do many things by yourself. You understand almost everything we talk to you about. You learned how to write some words, how to read some words, and a little bit about math. You are learning how to tell time, and what time means. You're learning so much about the world every day and you are keenly aware of your surroundings.

I try to take time each day to show you that you are so special to me. I know Lucy requires a lot of my attention because she is younger and less independent than you are, but you are our firstborn and we love you with all of our hearts. You're the person who made me into a mother, and I will always cherish the bond that we have.

2 years old

Never stop growing and learning. Your love of learning is going to take you so far in life, and I can't wait to see what this next year brings you.

Love, Mommy

6 months in

This week, my little munchkin celebrated her half-birthday!!!

Here are some of the things that Lucy loves these days:

*Her exersaucer
*Her jolly jumper
*Eating real food (We are doing Baby-led weaning, more on that in a minute)
*Not sleeping through the night (ha ha)
*Her big sister
*Her baby swing outside
*Reading stories
*Bath time
*Tickles and "flying"
*Music

She is 20 lbs, 74 cm and growing like a weed. She is wearing mostly 12 month clothes, or 6-12 month shirts. She is sitting up on her own, but falls over occasionally. I think she'll be crawling in the next month or two for sure. She has her two front teeth and I think she's working on some more of them :)

We started baby led weaning last Wednesday, and so far, Lucy has tried green beans, sweet potato fries, steamed carrots, cucumber, steamed broccoli, squash, potatoes, chicken, turkey burgers, roast beef, zucchini, oatmeal, banana and avocado. She loved the sweet potato and carrots and broccoli and loves most of the meat too. It is really entertaining to watch her feed herself, and I am loving this journey so far. Here she is eating a few of her first meals:

This whole gig as a mom of 2 is very tiring some days, especially because Brian has been working a lot and is often tired when we see him (understandably, but I am too). Molly is getting a lot better at playing independently, and her current favourite activity is drawing on a whiteboard. I'd say she easily does this for at least an hour or two every day. She also still loves to read, and she loves this board game which she got as a birthday present from Brian's aunt. (She even plays it with her puppy sometimes which leaves me free to do something else too!)

Molly's family :)

I am still working on my physical health, although I feel OK energy wise considering my sleep schedule. I am eating a "meal" about every 2-3 hours and Molly eats that way too (Lucy is just eating meals 2x/day and breastfeeding about 5 times a day and at night). I try to get exercise in 4 times per week, usually with Molly or going for a run when Brian gets home. I know it is going to take a serious commitment to lose the rest of the pregnancy weight, but I am hoping to feel less snug in my clothes come Christmas time. This week, we are having salads in a jar for lunch:

I also need to work a bit on my mental health in the sense that I need some time to relax each day. I find if I take 10 minutes to read before bed or do something for myself after the girls are in bed, I really feel a bit better about everything. Self-care is so important and it's something that us mommies tend to forget about sometimes!!! Brian got me a 10-class pass at our local gym to go to some classes too but I haven't had the opportunity yet. I need to get better about pumping for Lucy!

It goes without saying that I am desperately excited for a double date night with my sister and her husband this weekend and a girl's night supper next week. In need of some adult conversation ;)

Life Lately

Wearing Red in support of the fallen RCMP officers in Moncton last week

My two girls are both doing great. Molly is a wonderful child and I am feeling blessed to have this time with her at home at this age. However, she is also a very active child and she is curious which means that she is constantly chattering, singing and asking questions (this is NOT a bad thing but if I haven't had coffee yet and I was up all night, my patience can run thin ;)). Her favourite question is a variation of "what". For instance, if I tell Molly that we're going to a store, she will say "what kind of store?" or I tell her that we're going to play a game, she says "what kind of game?" or "what colour is it?" or something like that. It is hilarious and she gets so excited when we're going to Sobeys for groceries. Overall, she still desperately loves her little sister and she especially loves to make her smile. She also loves to comb her hair (gently) :). She started playing soccer this summer (See photo below) which has been great fun so far. I love watching the two of them together, and I am feeling so happy that our family has this beautiful additional member. 

Rocking Heidi braids a la What I Wore

Happy to be seeing the world from this angle :)

Lucy is a sweet baby who is already adored by all of our family and friends. She is still eating well and gaining weight - she is also over the 100th percentile for height (25 inches at 2 months) so she is mostly wearing 6-9 month clothing. She is starting to sleep for longer stretches at night most of the time, but some days she does not nap well. I find that the days where she naps for a 2-3 hour stretch are so much more relaxing because I can get cleaning done, or I can grab a quick shower with Molly right outside the door watching 3 wheels on the bus Youtube videos...or I can play outside with Molly ETC ETC. On some days, Lucy will only sleep for small snippets of time during the day and it is much more draining for me because I have to constantly console or feed her. However, overall, things are great and I can't complain because she is a very happy and content baby who is anxious to explore the world around her. She is fascinated by mobiles (we have one with bears that moves) and likes to play on her playmat or observe things overhead such as hanging toys or the ceiling fan. She is not fantastic at taking her bottle (expressed milk if I am away from her) but I hope she will get better at that. She also won't really take a soother yet, so we might just not bother with it. She is outgrowing her bassinet so we will be moving her into her crib in her own room in the next couple of weeks sometime (this kind of stresses me out but I know she will be fine and might even sleep better ;)).

Big smiles :)

2 months old May 31

The end of May until mid June is HUGE for celebrations in our family - Brian's dad has a birthday, then Brian's birthday June 5, our anniversary June 9, his brother's birthday June 14 and then Father's Day yesterday. I feel like I need a break from all the celebrating ;). Brian turned 30 this year which he was unhappy about (haha) but I think he is coping OK now. We went out for all-you-can-eat sushi for our anniversary while my mother in law watched the girls and it was great but we stuffed ourselves too much!!!

With the warmer weather, we are getting outside for walks a lot more frequently. I still usually walk with Lucy in the Ergo carrier and Molly in the stroller unless it is a shorter distance and Molly walks. I want to try Molly in the ergo on my back and Lucy in the stroller sometime because Lucy gets extremely warm in the Ergo and I can't really take her out if we reach a destination (i.e. playground) and she is asleep. Molly also really likes to "do exercises" with me in the mornings. I usually do 20 mins of HIIT with her and she is great - she loves to do jumping jacks and jogging in place and boxing moves etc. I also made her a set of "weights" last week with wooden sticks from the dollar store and pieces of a pool noodle:

I have been running a few times when Brian gets home from work at 3:30 before supper and that feels great, but I really need to get my fitness level back up. Now that I'm getting a bit more sleep some nights, I definitely feel like I can make this more of a priority.

Overall, when I get "free time" (such as right now), I have a list of 800 things that I want to get done (most of which involve organizing each room of our house now that I am in them all daily), but today I wanted to drop in here and blog a bit. Although I'm unsure where the blog is headed, I still want to record how things are going so that I can look back on it. I also want to get some of my planned posts up and write about some other interesting things happening these days :) I even have a fun recipe or two that I can share someday if I get the time.

So, in a nutshell, life is great here and I am very happy living it. I am also debating sharing my blog with our family and friends (most do not know about it at the moment), but I want to read through all of my old posts first. (Yes, I realize that anyone can find it at any time, but I doubt they would happen upon it unless directed to it!)

Until next time (whenever that is)...

Dropping in on a Friday again :)

Hi there!!

I have finally come to terms with the fact that I just won't be blogging regularly for a little while longer. I am still reading all of my favourite blogs and trying to comment when something resonates with me, but it has been hard to keep up. Shannon over at Life After "I Dew" wrote a post this week that really describes how I feel...basically when I have free time, blogging is not a priority. I am either doing a fun craft with Molly, cooking, cleaning or organizing our house, or sleeping (usually at about 8:30-9pm every night, HAHA). It might be better someday, but I'm not sure. I am trying to keep a personal journal going just so that I can remember these days and some of the things we have done.

Anyway, I do have some favourites to share this week to link up with Amanda at Meet at the Barre!! I love her Friday posts SO much...I always end up finding a good recipe and some good music and laugh at her funnies ;)

Favourite Pics of my Girls:

Big Sister/Little Sister :)

Favourite Recent Recipe:
Last weekend I made this delicious vegetarian chili (added lentils to make it thicker too) and this very yummy cornbread. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures, but we all enjoyed it and Brian doesn't typically like meatless chili so I was impressed!!!

Favourite New Music:
Coldplay's new album Ghost Stories...especially A Sky Full of Stars

Favourite Show that Molly has been watching:
The Hive, which is a British show on Netflix about a family of bees. Ahhh so cute!! See?

Favourite Show We've been Watching:
Still Homeland. We just finished Season 3 and Season 4 isn't out until October. What an amazing series!!! Now we're watching old episodes of House on Netflix :)

Favourite LOL this week:

Favourite new purchase:
We technically got them for free, but Brian and I both got new cell phones this week. Sony Xperia Z1s. They are awesome so far, but I'm still figuring it out a bit. They are similar to our Samsung phones since they are both Androids, but the Xperia has some pretty cool features.

Favourite recent read:
One More thing, by BJ Novak of the Office fame (Ryan on The Office). It's a collection of short stories - so I haven't finished it but I have gotten into some of the stories and it's very entertaining so far!

Favourite Mommy Lifehack:
In the mid-morning when Lucy is napping, Molly watches 4 2-minute clips on Youtube (Wheels on the Bus x2, Row Row Row your Boat and Hickory Dickory Dock [my fave]) and I get to shower with the door open 10 feet away. Works out great for both of us ;) Another great Mommy lifehack: Molly and I "work out" together - doing HIIT for 20 mins and some strength training. She loves to jump around to the music I put on! :)

Favourite Newly Discovered Blogs:
Kids Activities Blog - amazing resources for keeping kids entertained and educated!
Lindsay's List - some great posts about being a mother & fitting it all in!

Favourite recent life moments:
1) Brian is a diehard Habs fan so Molly has been wearing her Habs hairclips and t-shirt all this week to support his hockey team in the playoffs. She is obsessed.
2) Lucy is smiling these days! I love it!
3) Molly had a little bout of Hand Foot and Mouth disease and I caught it too but we are all seemingly on the mend now :)
4) My sister graduated from Med school yesterday and won an award! I'm so proud of her!!
5) And here's Molly's contribution to this post: aaaaaaa ("I push A!")

Check out all the other Friday Favourites here! BTW I love how I spell favourites the Canadian way for an American link up ;) Oh well!! Potato, potato! ;)

Hope all the Americans out there have a great long weekend...ours was last weekend but since I am home everyday and Brian has to go into work that day to meet a deadline, it was pretty normal around here for us ;)

5 on Good Friday!!!

I've missed 5 on Friday link ups lately, but today I'm back for it!! Although people probably won't really be reading blogs on the holiday, I still have some things to say, so why not post? I am also joining my fun blog buddy Amanda (Meet @ The Barre) for her first Friday Favourites link up today - so I'll be posting 5 of my favourites :) I have loved reading Amanda's Friday Favourites posts for months now, so I think her link up is a great idea!!! AND check out how cute the link up button is! :)

ONE - Favourite Funny

This picture basically sums up my life these days (and made me laugh out loud because it is SO true).

VIA

TWO - Favourite Festive (Easter) Recipe

Molly and I are making bird's nests with mini eggs this morning to bring to "Fish Cake Friday" which some of our friends host every Good Friday. Here's a link to the recipe we followed and a picture of our nests in the freezer setting right now:

THREE - Favourite post-baby purchase

Brian's parents bought us an Ergo baby carrier to use with Lucy. They had offered to buy it before she was born and we went and got it last week after I could try it out a bit in the store. We decided when I was pregnant that we weren't going to invest in a double stroller because we have a double jogging bike trailer/stroller to use when Lucy is a bit older. So for now, I will put Molly in her stroller and walk with Lucy in the carrier (and we'll see how this goes). We went for a short walk the other day to the playground and it was GREAT. The carrier is extremely comfortable, and Lucy slept all snuggled up the whole time. It really frees up my hands to help with Molly too. The only thing is that it kind of reminds me of being pregnant again with the belly ;)

I've also used it a bit around the house to cook breakfast etc. when Lucy is fussy and Molly needs to eat ASAP. Definitely a worthwhile purchase :)

Here's the one we got:

FOUR - Favourite TV lately

We are still pretty hooked on Homeland, although I haven't been able to stay up past about 8:30 lately to watch it with Brian. We finally caught up a bit last night because Lucy was feeding so I couldn't go to bed right after Molly (lol)....we just started Season 2. Honestly, the show just sucks you right in. I really like it.

FIVE - Favourite spring music

Molly and I (and Lucy) have been listening to music to make the days inside go by a bit faster. I will probably bring music out to the backyard when we start venturing out there more too. Often, I am a bit stuck listening to toddler music but here are a couple of songs that make me happy:


 

Happy Easter, everyone!!! We can't wait for this weekend. The Fish Cake Friday event tonight will be a great chance to see a lot of our friends, then we are having Easter dinner (turkey) with Brian's family tomorrow, and egg hunting with Molly on Sunday! Brian had to go into work today, so he is taking Monday off and I am looking forward to having a NAP! lol :)

xoxo

Humpday Confessions: New Baby edition

I've meant to join this link up with fellow Canadian (and awesome blogger) Kathy at Vodka and Soda for ages now, and it seems like today is finally the day for me!! Lucy is napping and Molly is enthralled with Sesame Street, so it's my blogging time for the day!! :)

I have a few recent confessions most of which are related to having a new baby in the family ;)

---> First of all...I confess that at least 2 days in the last week I have forgotten to brush my teeth until supper time. One day I even flossed and then got distracted by a crying baby and forgot to brush until hours later. I know this is totally disgusting, but mornings are insane around here getting two kiddies fed ASAP. I plan to FIX this by putting a toothbrush for myself in our downstairs bathroom so I don't have to make the extra trip upstairs! I have a similar problem with showers but I've been having them at night when Brian is home.

---> I'm excited that Molly is finally watching a show besides Team Umizoomi which drives me crazy. Sesame Street is waaaay better so hopefully I can get her into it and we will at least have some choices. She gets 1hr of TV a day (and some days none)...so it'd be nice to change it up a bit :) She still asks to watch Frozen almost every day but we have mostly diffused that.

---> When I was pregnant, I had moments when I worried about bonding with Baby # 2, but she is such a good baby, so happy, and so beautiful that I have not found myself having too many of those issues. Baby needs are also so basic in many ways. Feed them, hug them/hold them, let them sleep and change them and they are happy (or at least she is!) I love her soooooo much...I mean, look, what's not to love?

---> I am tempted to read the Harry Potter books again even though I've already done so in late 2013/2014...hmm. I am thinking I really need to re-read the Hunger Games too because I don't remember Mockingjay very well and I want to read it again before the movie comes out in November!

---> I am not a fan of my current post-baby body and I can't wait to get back at seriously working on it. I am doing what I can right now, which is eating healthy and walking/light activity but after my 6 week postnatal app't I will get back into running and HIIT/strength training and I can't wait. More on that later :)

---> I look at the clock about 800 times a day and count down the minutes until Brian comes home. If/when he texts me saying he might be late, my heart sinks a little bit.

---> I thought it would take awhile before I got thrown up on and pooped on again, but yesterday both happened, and then Molly also peed on the carpet. Kids are so fun ;)

---> I think I've had more cravings in the past 2 weeks than my whole pregnancy, but I've tried not to give into them. 

---> Yesterday we went for a walk to the playground and I felt great for the rest of the day. The fresh air and getting out of the house was amaaaaaazing. Today, it's pouring rain so we're kinda stuck inside...but maybe we'll get out again tomorrow.

---> I felt completely liberated when I got to go to the grocery store by myself for a half hour tonight...and then I came home and found 2 girls asleep on top of Brian (at 6:30 pm which is not a good "nap time" for Molly who goes to bed at 8). I laughed my head off and took a picture which I promised not to post (but believe me, it was hilarious).

---> and now someone is asking me to change Sesame Street to Team Umizoomi. Sigh. haha.

(Also - I wrote this post hours ago and am just getting around to publishing now after my shower ;)).

These confessions might seem a bit lame but they've been on my mind lately ;) Thanks for the entertaining link-up every week, Kathy!!!