Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Before & After; Small Bathroom Upgrade...Big Difference.


Eventually we will be knocking out a closet on our main floor in order to expand our teeny tiny main bath, which also just so happens to be my least favourite room in our house.

Since that won't be happening for another five years or so, I made some small, inexpensive changes that will hopefully keep me from cringing every time I used the bathroom.

Here's how a small can of paint and some new hardware created a clean and slightly more modern space. Lime green 70's tiles are not easy to work with.

But for now here it is...

Soon we will be painting the walls a charcoal colour and adding a crisp white shower curtain and accents.




...next up... new floors.  Yuck.

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Thursday, February 14, 2013

One Year Ago... **sapfest alert**


One year ago, I was feeling what I imagined was the happiest I could ever possibly feel. I was getting used to my big belly and all the little ways C let me know she was happy in there too.  I was pretty high on life.

I was experiencing pregnancy for the first time while continuing to grow closer to the person I loved.  Little did I know that it was just the beginning and it was about to get hella better (again... who freakin says that?!... it's a slight addiction, and I already know I need to stop, so I'm not in denial, I'm past that step, but it's just hard to kick okay).  I always picture my heart dancing around, complete with finger dance moves, when I think about how I cashed in huge on this guy.

Life changed quickly. We landed our first home, I quit my job for a more important one, and we dove headfirst into parenthood.

If there's anything that can make you love someone more than becoming a Mom and Dad together, I have yet to experience it.  It's the best journey to take with the person you hope to spend the rest of your life with.  What an adventure it's been.

I mean, we knew we had love for eachother, but we had no idea that we would compliment each other as parents so perfectly, let alone refrain from killing each other during the tough times. I think we're doing alright.  :)

To the man who gave me the world, I love you for everything you are.


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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Makeup Must Haves

Clockwise from L to R

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion:
It's unlike any moisturizer I've ever tried, and I have ridiculously dry skin.  It's the perfect base under foundation.
Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream:
I use this stuff when I don't want full makeup.  It's light and has a built in moisturizer.  It's a little oily, which is perfect for dry skin, and I follow with a translucent powder for a matte look.
Mac Studio Fix Fluid: 
Recommended by my bestie.  This stuff makes your skin look flawless and hides fine lines.  It's worth spending a little extra on good foundation.
E.l.f Studio Blush:
A basic blush that lasts all day.
N.Y.C. Liquid Eyeliner:
Goes on smooth and stays on and at $3, it's a steal.
Maybelline Baby lips Lip Balm:
Silky deliciousness, 'nuff said.
Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer:
I bought this approximately 3 years ago and there's still lots left.  Yay for never-ending products.  This shit covers EVERYTHING.
Maybelline Lash Stilleto:
Holy long lashes... this mascara rocks.



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Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Weekly Roundup via the Camera Roll

We discovered our twin...
We woke up slowly...
We watched a storm brew...
and brew...
We did some shovelling...

and day drinking...
We had a girls night...
We got a little a lot silly...
We tried new things...
A pretty successful week if you ask me...
xo,  Kiara

Monday, February 11, 2013

Homemade Baby Food

I've had a few of you ask me how I prep and store C's baby food.  So here it is :)

First, I peel, core, and chop whatever I'm making that day.  I try to stick to one or two choices at a time, otherwise I find it way too time consuming.

Then, I use a steamer, followed by the BabyBullet (probably my most used baby shower gift).  

If I didn't already own a steamer, I would probably invest in something like the Beaba Babycook, which is an all in one steamer and blender.
Once, the veggies/ fruits are soft, I throw them in the baby bullet with a couple tablespoons of residual water from the steamer and blend away.  I add more or less water, depending on the density of the veggie/fruit.
I transfer the puree over to the silicone storage trays.  The BabyBullet came with one tray, and I purchased a second tray at Walmart.  This allows me to store large batches of food without having to wait for the food to freeze each time.
Once the cubes are frozen, I just pop them out and store them in Ziploc freezer bags in a tray in my freezer for easy access. 

I take out 3 days worth of whatever I'm feeding C and store the cubes in little containers in the fridge.

When I'm ready to feed her, I sit the container in a dish of boiling water to heat it up and it's go time.

Although, making your own baby food is quite a bit more work than buying pre made stuff, I really like knowing that C is getting fresh food without any weird extras.  We also recently had a huge recall on Gerber Banana's since they found traces of glass in their product.  Way to lose my trust.
However, I always keep a couple of containers of pre made food on hand, just in case we run out of ours, or if we have to rush out somewhere.  I like the convenience of having them just in case.  I also, always buy pre made prunes because I have yet to try to make them myself yet, and to be honest, prunes creep me out.  Same goes with cereals and oatmeal.
C is also a Puff addict.  She loves being able to feed herself, and after a little practise she's getting pretty good at it.  We haven't had any choking incidences yet, but I'm always extra cautious when she's eating them.  Farleys Biscuits are just messy and fun.  They come apart in large chunks, so expect to have to dig them out once in a while.
Make shift prep station...nothing fancy here.

Foods C eats regularly:

Carrots
Sweet potato
Green Beans
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Butternut squash
Peas
Bananas
Apples
Pears
Cantaloupe

Oatmeal












Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Hi Ho Hi Ho... F*%k Work.

Sorry 'bout that outburst of profanity... 

I'm actually sorta excited to get out of the house for once.  Next week, I will force myself back into the working world and have my go at contributing to society again.  I'd rather still hire a nanny and just spend my days at the mall or Michaels, but let's be real, we're not anywhere close to being able to afford that.  So instead I'll do something almost as fulfilling as shopping for 40 hours a week (okay not really...) but here goes!

Being a SAHM is pretty sweet.  You don't really ever have to get dressed, or shower.  You have endless cups of coffee, or if you're having a rip-out-your-hair kind of day, wine at your disposal.  You have the entire day to do whatever you choose, with ALOT of input from your new baby bff.  And you don't have to leave the house when it's shitty out (as long as you don't forget to stock up on diapers...which i'm famous for, in which case you lug your pissed off, teething kid out in the snow and off to walmart, but of course you stop for wine on the way home, because Walmart is stressful.) See what I mean... living the life right here.

She's really impressed with how we spend our days.
Note: bed partially made...win!
Third cup today... maybe have some water.

On the complete other end of the are-you-jealous-of-my-job-yet spectrum, being a SAHM can get lonely, boring, and exhausting trying to come up with new things to do and teach every ten minutes because babies attention spans are like whaaat.  
Also, you really have no excuse as to why you didn't make the bed or fold the load of laundry that's been wrinkling up in the middle of the living room for the past 48 plus hours.  Especially when you had time to paint your nails and write a blog post on what you'd like for Christmas if you were rich.  You also should probably consider making something healthy for dinner that doesn't involve everything bagels.

Momma, please don't go to work.  :(

Entering back into the work force should be pretty interesting, as all of the things I complain about while being a SAHM, will pretty much be the things I'll be dealing with for 9 hours a day while teaching preschool kids.  So yay! let's do this thing.  

On the plus side, I get a complimentary YMCA membership, so I'm super excited to get back to the gym and work on my fitness... I hope you can sense my extreme sarcasm.  If anything, maybe teaching 10-20 snotty nosed kids, whom I'm not forced to love because they look exactly like my hubs, will stave off baby fever for another year or two.

Here goes...

Friday, February 1, 2013

Baby R is 8 Months Old!

 Sweet girl, you are 35 weeks old today.  Time has flown by at lighting speed and I need it to slowwww down right meow.

 
Today, I went back to work after 8 months of cuddling and loving you.  I was planning on taking your first year of life off so that I could soak in every ounce of your innocence, but the time has come.  I pretty much spent the entire day sulking.  If it were up to me, I would stay at home and spend our days making music, playing tickle monster, and singing silly songs.  But right now I feel an even bigger pull to make something of myself that you will be proud of some day.

     I hope you know how proud we are of you.  You're such a little girl now, and you are so so smart.  We have this unreal connection and it totally rocks.  You crawl and you're getting faster and faster every day.  You pull yourself to standing any chance you get and you have no fear of falling.  I was sure you said Dada a few times the other day.  Maybe I imagined it because you haven't said it since, and we both know your first word will be Momma anyway.

   Some other things about the 8 month old you:

You weigh 21 lbs
You wear size 4 diapers and size 12 month clothing
Your favourite foods are broccoli and pears

Please excuse my morning face and C's scientist hair do.
This girl gives the best kisses.



Your Daddy and I love you so much.