Saturday 28 December 2013

Christmas Cookies and Icing


Christmas just isn't Christmas without tons if not hundreds of decorated sugar cookies. They are so delicious and go well with hot chocolate, cold milk, or just sneaking them by the handfuls in the kitchen to stuff in your face in your bedroom when nobodies looking. Yet I must confess... I SUCK at making sugar cookies. Horrible. My dough only turned out great once, then after that it was just all downhill. It was too soft, too hard, they burned too easily (or it was my fault i got distracted hehe) or something else went wrong. BUT I HAVE PREVAILED! thanks to Jessica @ The Novice Chef. Seriously, if you somehow managed to screw up your batch of cookies following this recipe, then by goodness you are SO much worse than me HAHA!

BUT, we all know that every sugar cookie isn't the same without that tasty sugar glace on top! The best one i've found (cause i've tried tons and tons) is this recipe from Cleverly Simple. You can even add a couple drops of liquid (not the gel kind) food coloring to make pretty colored sugar cookies. Now that you have the tools to do great baking, get out there and bake some cookies!!




Freebie Friday: New Years Eve Subway Art Printable

HORRAY! Christmas is finally over and with it now comes new years. It's the start of a whole new year, but it's a time to start fresh for everyone. Maybe there's something you've promised yourself you'll do in the new year whether it be taking a new perspective on life, to losing those 10lbs you gained stuffing your face with turkey, stuffing, and yummy desserts. On this day we celebrate our health, happiness, friends, family, and to just be appreciative to those around us and be thankful for who and what God has blessed us with. Yet this day is extra special for me, as it is.. MY BIRTHDAY! YAY! So every year I get to start each brand new year, a year older :) woohoo! This year i'll be 23. Incredible how time flies.

So here are 3 subway art printables I have put together for you to save onto your computer print off and hang somewhere in your home, office, or whatever you please. Happy New Years Everyone!




Monday 23 December 2013

Momma Monday: cold and flu remedies for kids


It's the same time of year for both my kids when they get sick and it's the same symptoms every time. The infamous runny nose with boogers dripping down there face, fevers, dry hacking coughs, congestion and overall just plain miserable. I've found some tried and true remedies that have surely helped my kids kick the cold and feel better in no time!

LEMON TEA WITH HONEY AND BROWNSUGAR
I find this is the best thing for a child with a sore throat from coughing constantly. The lemon tea cleanses their systems and the brown sugar and honey soothes their throat, plus it tastes really good :)

STEAMY SHOWERS AND BATHS
Tried and true. Steam and humidifiers are one of your greatest allies with a kid with a stuffy nose and a cough. Stick your kid in the bathroom and run the shower on hot for 5-10 minutes or until it gets steamy in there and let them just sit and relax in the room for a couple minutes or give them a nice warm bath with Epsom salts and bubbles. The steam opens up their airways and helps clean out the congestion. Same with a humidifier put one in there room at night so the air isn't so dry and helps to losen mucus stuck in their nasal passages.

LOTS OF FLUIDS!
keep your child hydrated as much as possible with water, watered down fruit juices or herbal teas that help flush out toxins and replenish the liquids they lose through sneezing and coughing.

TYLONEL AND COUGH MEDICINE
I usually only use these if I'm desperate. I used to use tylonel all the time with my little ones for teething, sickness, fevers, tummy aches, etc. it never really helped. Not to mention they come in a stupid little bottle with a dropper that's 8-10$ in most drugstores, it can be pretty pricey. I buy 0-9 years all-in-one sinus for kids and the 0-9 years day&night cough medicine for kids, it's 10$ for a big bottle at any drugstore and it lasts me forever. I give them 1-2 tsp every 4-6 hours. It helps relieve night time hacking coughs and just helps them sleep better which brings me to my next point...

SLEEP
And lots of it. If your child's older and has grown out of the napping stage, prop them on the couch with pillows, blankets, cartoons, and let them be a couch potato. My kids still nap during the day for 2-4 hours ( lucky me! ) and it does them good. Otherwise they get so frighten cranky and miserable being sick and tired that I want to pull my hair out haha :P 

I hope some of these ideas will help your kids feel better in no time because let's face it, nobody likes a sick child. 

Wednesday 11 December 2013

Weightloss Wednesday: Printable Workouts

I know im not the only one who has a hard time making it to the gym with two kids running around. I can barely get dinner on the table and the house cleaned in an orderly fashion, let alone get daily exercise. Things can get hectic around here and i love knowing that i can always find time to do a 40 minute workout in my living room while the kids are napping than to pack the kids up in the car, drop them off at daycare, go to the gym (if the gym doesn't have child services) do my workout, pick up the kids, drive back home, and then do everything else I have to do along with it. Below are circuit exercises that you can add weight to to increase resistance and get better results, and exercises that take 20 - 30 minutes to do and that's not asking a lot out of your day, and can be done in any room in your home!









A HUGE thank you to Caitlin @ Fit Fab Cities for these wonderful printables! They are only few of many on her blog and they all are amazing and can be down anywhere, anytime, and you can go crazy workout animal, or laid back and a little sweaty! Don't forget to drink plenty of water during your workout to replenish your reservoirs from the sweat you lose ;)

Monday 9 December 2013

Momma Monday: 10 Worst Dinners to Feed Your Kids



We've all done it. Lost track of time or don't have enough time to slave away at a hot stove for 2 hours and prepare a decent healthy meal to fill that rumbling in our children's bellies. We opt out for the quick fix of fast food, microwavable dinners, or hotdogs, hamburgers, pizza, and french fries. Little did we know that those foods can be so bad for our kids and have a huge helping hand in children obesity. Here are 10 foods we really should avoid feeding our children, and alternatives to still being able to enjoy them, just at a healthier level.

1. Fried Chicken
My kids love fried crispy chicken, and the dipping sauce that goes along with it. It's popular and they convince you as a parent that when its cooked at high heats its preventing oil being absorbed into the chicken. WRONG. Its absorbed into the breading and our kids still eat the skin. Avoid the deep-fried chicken and side gravy, go for the baked every time.

2. Hotdogs
Another love of my children. Probably primarily of the fact they can eat with there hands and not get into trouble :P But hot dogs have high levels of nitrates which is a preservative to help it not to go bad. All cured meats contain nitrates, so even if you feed them lunch meat, it could still be bad for them. Try meats that aren't precooked, and free of preservatives :)

3. Delivery Pizza
Probably one of the worst things you could eat. Full of fat, calories, and unless you get vegetables on it, you aren't getting any protein either. Make your own pizza. It's that simple. Use pita bread, make your own  Homemade Spinach Pizza Dough , or english muffins as the crust. Let your kids make their own masterpiece with a light sprinkle of cheese. This will cut calories and fat in less than half if you order in pizza. Try to even sneak vegetables into the mix like peppers, mushrooms, and tomatoes.

4. Fast Food
This is by far the most unhealthy choice for a meal. I know my kids see the golden arches of mcdonalds or the big KFC bucket and whine to have it for dinner. Almost every combo, even the kids meals unfortunately, are high in calories, fat, and sodium. You think oh, apple slices instead of fries? yah, healthy, but the dip is still loaded full of sugar. Opt out for making a slow cooker meal if you know or think your going to be running late from work. Prepare it the night before, turn the cooker on in the morning on low, and you'll have dinner prepared by the time you get home!

5. Grilled Cheese
This was my childhood favorite lunch, and has become my children's as well. Made with butter, bread, and processed cheese, yet you can make a healthy alternative believe it or not :) Use whole grain, brown, or rye bread. Instead of processed cheese, use unprocessed and also fill it with cold cuts or sliced chicken breast maybe some lettuce and tomato. And use only a light dab of butter along the outside of the bread. This will cut calories 1/4 of the way down, but it's still better light, than getting rid of your childs favorite meal if its all they'll eat some days.

6. Fettuccine Alfredo
I personally LOVE this dish, it's so delicious, yet wickedly unhealthy. The sauce is packed with fat with the cream, butter, and plenty of cheese that give it its flavor. Any creamy type of sauce is packed with fat and calories, opt out for a traditional hearty tomato sauce with whole wheat pasta instead to raise the fiber content. You can even sneak in vegetables try this Sneaky Spaghetti Sauce.

7. Fish Fingers
My kids hate fish, and I know it can be so so so hard to get children to eat fish. It's a strong flavor, and has a lot of different textures. But most fish fingers these day have little to no fish inside them and way too much breading. Try pan frying mild fish and lightly batter them if you need to. Also, try feeding them halibut. Its very mild and has the same type of texture as say tuna, or chicken.


8. Chicken Nuggets
I've never met a child that doesn't love chicken nuggets. Fun shapes, yummy dips, they can eat with their hands, and there just down right delicious. Nuggets are just made from the cut offs of chicken, not the actual meaty part. So your kids are really eating just the bones, organs, and fat off the chicken. That's actually really disgusting, if not revolting. I've opted out for making my own chicken strips/nuggets with fresh chicken breast, my own home made bread crumbs, and i bake them in the oven. They still come out crispy, tender, and at half the calories AND fat content, it's worth doing it yourself. But if you are out, and want to give them chicken nuggets, go for the chicken tenders. There from the breast meat, and all meat, and watch for the dipping sauces as they can still turn a healthy alternative, into a bad one.

9. Frozen Dinners
SUCH a great way to save time. Out of the freezer, into the microwave, 5 minutes later into the belly of our starving children. Yet did you know they contain double the amount of sodium children should be getting in one day? They should only have 1000-1500 mg a day. Instead of buying frozen dinners, make your own make-ahead-freezer meals :D they are a GODSEND in my household. I take it out in the afternoon, let it thaw, stick it in the oven for 30 - 40 minutes and I have a healthy and delicious home cooked meal without all the mess :)

10. Tuna Casserole
 I love tuna fish. It's a mild taste, and you can put it in any casserole, or dish to play it up. Unfortunately with the excess cheese and butter it becomes indulgent. But you can make it healthy. Make the sauce with skim milk and light cheese. Add in vegetables along with the tuna like broccoli and peppers.

There you have it. Alternatives to the fast food and quick picks to help your children grow up big and strong and healthy :)

Saturday 7 December 2013

Freebie Friday: Dear Santa Letter Printables!

I wish I had these printables when I was growing up to write my letters to Santa. There so cute, and probably makes your child more imaginative writing there wish list to Santa for what they want for Christmas, than a blank piece of lined paper :) I was supposed to post this yesterday but didn't get around to doing it until this morning as for some reason YET AGAIN it wouldn't let me save my file. I really hate computers sometimes.. So here they are, 3 free printables to use for your children as they write there letters to Santa <3

Just right click to save image as save as. ENJOY!


 ^ this is my favorite one, partially because its the best way to think of christmas gifts instead of always getting them toys, get them the 4 things, and 1 thing they'd really like, christmas shopping done simple!


Thursday 5 December 2013

Food Frenzy Thursday: Gingerbread Cake Recipe!

 GINGERBREAD CAKE

The holidays are vast approaching, if not are already here. Yet many of us are trying to be "smart" about what foods and desserts we may consume to not overdo it and opt out for the healthy option so we can still enjoy so many great foods and sweet yummy goodies without going overboard. I found this recipe online via healthy recipes blogs and is SO good. I made some the other day and it is super moist, so much flavor and made with a low-fat icing is just down right delicious!

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 1/2 cups white whole-wheat flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1//2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup reduced-fat milk
DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch square baking pan with baking spray.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon and cocoa powder.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together butter, molasses and sugar. Whisk in the eggs and the milk until combined. Gradually whisk wet mixture into flour mixture, whisking until well-combined and smooth.

4. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until top of cake is just firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes, depending on your oven. Mine was ready after 35 minutes. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack, about 30 minutes, then cut into squares and serve.

LOW-FAT ICING

 I also found another great post on making your own home-made low-fat icing and it's super easy to make, and tastes like your eating actual icing haha

First, Make your powdered sugar by taking 1 cup of sweetener such as xylitol or stevia or even splenda would probably work. Add 1 - 2 tbsp of cornstarch (to prevent clumping) and put it in a blender until its smooth and powdery.

Now take that 1 cup of powdered sugar you made, add in 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract and 1 1/2 tbsp of milk and blend until smooth. Voila, low-fat low-sugar delicious icing you can now make for any cake you make. You can also add in some low-fat cream cheese for something different, or even some cocoa powder if you want a chocolatey frosting.

BON APPETITE!



Wednesday 27 November 2013

Weightloss Wednesday: Benefits of Water Fasting


There are more than a dozen people who are against fasting in general. It is a hugely debated discussion on many aspects and forum boards across the internet. That fasting is used as a "quick fix" and that the weight you may manage to lose will come back tenfold and you'll eventually just never keep it off. I'd like to give my own story on the matter.

I started my journey at 196lbs January of 2013. After the birth of my two girls I had put on 70lbs of baby weight. I worked out everyday, started cut back on sugary drinks/pop, sweets, and greasy food. Drinking manly water and getting 8 hours of sleep every night. In 3 months I lost 5lbs. A measly 5 friggen pounds. I felt like a beached whale, I hated going outside or to the beach. One day I looked in the mirror and just said, today's the day I stop being fat and unhealthy, and start living a better lifestyle, not just for myself, but for my family.

RULES OF WATER FASTING

  1. you pick a timeline weather it be 3 days, 7, 10, 14, there's some who do it for 30/40 day, there just crazy and wish I had the willpower they do haha
  2. 3 days prior to AND after your scheduled fast, try to consume mostly water, raw fruits/veggies, lots of protein. Skip this step and you'll regret it. Trust me, learned the first time..
  3. during your fast you are to only consume WATER. no pop/coffee/juice and NO FOOD! and if you 100% need to seriously eat something, your limited to an apple or a stick of celery (since it's mostly water and apples are full of antioxidants anyways)
  4. track your progress. easily said than done. measure yourself before you begin (neck, waist, chest, hips, thighs etc) and weigh yourself every morning as soon as you wake up every day of your fast.  
  5. avoid intense exercise during your fast. do light walking, or a light yoga class if you wish to exercise, don't over exert or over-do it or you could get really dizzy. 
  6. the most important rule, CONSULT YOUR DIETICIAN/NUTRITIONIST/DOCTOR first before beginning a fast like this. 
The point of a water fast is to cleanse and flush out the toxins trapped in your body. Yes, the liver and kidneys usually do this but this is how my nutritionist explained it.

Our body is constantly digesting food. The only break our bodies get is when we sleep, even then we`re still digesting food from dinner, or maybe even a late night snack. The reason we eat sometimes is to fuel our bodies, give us energy, but 85% of that energy goes towards the breakdown of food. Mind-blown. It makes SO much sense. Like why you feel so tired after a huge meal or wake up in the morning feeling like you got no sleep after eating a decadent and heavy dessert, because our body is still digesting, still breaking down whats left of last nights main course.

I have done 3 water fasts since March 2013. During my 3 days, I lost 2 1/2 lbs. My 7 day one I lost 5lbs. During my 10, I lost.. 15lbs! AND kept it off. I work out 3 times a week now, I eat healthier, I drink more water than I use to, I get my 8 hours EVERY night. I had so much energy during my fasts I felt like a whole new person. I've lost a total of 21lbs with water fasting, clean eating (85% of the time) and a slight change in my lifestyle.I feel more like myself, and to be able to fit better into clothes, to look into the mirror and be happier with who you are is just so invigorating.

If you've thought about water fasting seriously look into it, talk to your doctor, prepare yourself for it, STAY COMMITTED, and in due time you will see results, you will feel so much better and you will have that swift kick in the butt all of us really need sometimes :)

Friday 22 November 2013

Freebie Friday: Free Printable Gift Tags

So today was a pretty brutal day. I decided to make my own christmas gift tags to share with you all, and after 2 programs crashing on me, and my brushes not showing up and having to re-download ALL of them, I finally finished. YA'LL BETTER APPRECIATE THIS RIGHT NOW! haha now this is my first time doing something such as this, I do make a lot of subway art (which you will see much of next week!) and odd tidbits here and there but WOW was this every time consuming, especially when I didn't have a set design haha. Yet I do hope you enjoy and to use these printables just right-click the image and save as on your computer :) Good as Gold. Enjoy! 





Thursday 21 November 2013

Food Frenzy Thursday: Cajun Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo


I love pasta dishes. It's something that you can add personality and variety to and you can do practically anything with it. My favorite these days is Cajun Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. It's freaking delicious. I love it, my husband loves it, and my kids eat it by the handfuls which says something since they are such picky eaters, if you let them, they'd lick there plate clean :)

CAJUN CHICKEN FETTUCCINE ALFREDO

  
INGREDIENTS:
  • 4 small skinless boneless chicken breast
  • 1 1/2 tbsp cajun spice
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 tbsp EVOO
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 can evaporated milk
  • 1 1/2 cups grated italian cheeses (i buy the bagged stuff)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 lb cooked fettuccine
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper (or more to taste)

 METHOD:

CHICKEN

  1.  Pound each chicken breast flat with a flat meat mallet or rolling pin between sheets of plastic wrap or in a plastic bag. This is so the meat doesn't stick to the mallet or destroy your chicken. 
  2. Sprinkle with a heavy amount of cajun spice on both sides of the chicken breast pressing to make sure it sticks to the chicken
  3. Heat your butter and oil in a saucepan over medium heat until butter begins to brown and add your chicken. Brown your chicken on both sides (3 minutes). Turn down the burner to low and cook your chicken until its no longer pink on the inside. 
  4. Once your chickens done, take it out into another plate, slice against the grain, or even into chunks, and put it in the oven on warm so it doesn't get cold. Make sure you don't remove the juices from the pan though as that adds to your sauce. 

SAUCE

  1.  Add a little bit more olive oil if your pan looks dry. Re-heat your skillet and pour in the evaporated milk. Whisk until it starts to bubble around the outsides. 
  2. Add your pepper and salt, cheese, onion and garlic powder, and I like to add a little more Cajun spice to my sauce, just to make it have a bit of a bite to it :)
  3. Whisk until it's combined and add your cheese whisking. Simmer 5 minutes. 
  4. Taste your sauce and adjust seasonings to your preference.
  5. Toss your fettuccine noodles, pasta sauce, and chicken in a large serving bowl until well combined. Serve Immediately. 
I hope you all enjoy this recipe, and you can play around with it and add your own flare to it and just be creative :) happy eating!







Crafternoon Delight: DIY Baby Name Letters

Crafternoon Delight: DIY Baby Name Letters: these letters turned out really cute and weren't too hard to make! what you need: wooden letters fabric glue / hot glue gun ...

Wednesday 20 November 2013

Weight Loss Wednesday: Top 10 [FREE] Weightloss Sites/Apps to keep you on track


Yeah, we've all been there. Where you feel bloated, like a beached whale, or even small and insignificant like a skeleton wearing skin to keep warm. You want to shed those unsightly pounds, or bulk up and become superman. Weight loss & Weight gain can be super difficult for a lot of people, and sometimes we're jealous of those people and compare ourselves to them. Take my husband for instance. He's in the process of bulking up, but his metabolism is SO high that anything he eats basically disintegrates before it touches the sides of his esophagus, yet you'd think he'd be 1200 lbs by now by what he eats. In baffles me to no end knowing that he could eat a extra double big mac meal with a coke from McDonald's and he'll lose weight. If I ate that, I'd be wearing it for the next 3 months. Bummer.

So here's a few helpful weight loss apps and gadgets you can use on your PC & Phone to keep you motivated to help you reach your weight goal :)

1. Lose It!
You've suffered the health effects of obesity for far too long. Now it's time to just Lose It! With this streamlined app you'll set a goal and a daily calorie allotment to help you meet it. Simply log your food and exercise information each day and you'll uncover a breakdown of your daily nutrients — protein, fat, carbs, and more — along with what you're losing. Since dieting is more effective with support, Lose It! also enables you to add friends for motivation.
  • I use this app :) and LOVE IT!
2. My Fitness Pal
Easy to use calorie counter, customizable database of over 1.5 million foods, nutritional information, quick and easy food and exercise data entry [including free bar code scanner ;) ] AND also has a customizable list of over 350 exercises, trackable calories burned, and social media sharing + a community page of forums and Q&A.
  • I use this app too haha
3. Diet Point
Full of lists for every time of diet meal plan you could think like smoothies, flat belly, low-fat, low-carb, high protein, busy people, even your blood type. It also tells you how roughly how many lbs you could lose up to per month of being on the diet plan, and what you'll need to buy to actually stay on the plan. LOVE THIS APP!
  • yes, I use this app too.. it's pretty cool :)
4. Noom
 You get a weight loss "coach", an interactive and personalized weight loss plan, and provides you with daily tasks to earn Noom Points. Things like reading articles, walk a certain amount of steps, do a 20 minute exercise, eat more veggies etc. Has activity reminders, plus easy and convenient food and exercise logging. Every day you'll receive daily food and exercise tasks to keep your program fun and different.

5.  Gym Pact
This app is pretty cool, but for the VERY dedicated. It lets you make a pact with the apps community of users and If you keep up you can earn money, and if you don't then you owe money. It's almost impossible to cheat. The app uses GPS software to know if you're check-in at the gym is legit or if your actually at home being a couch potato. BUT no worries if you don't have a gym you can track through RunKeeper, and this app also lets you sync with the Jawbone UP wristband and you get a bonus workout if you complete your 10,000 steps per day by the end of the day. So put your money where your mouth is. I'd rather work out for 30 minutes a day than pay $5.00 :)

6. Fitness Buddy
Over 1700 exercises and over 1000 high-definition videos with detailed instructions, you may not need a personal trainer ever again. Exercises are divided into eight categories: core, lower body, chest, shoulders, back, arms, cardio, and stretches. You can quickly find your favorite workouts with a search function. Once you’ve found several exercises you like doing, you can create your own customized workout. The app also keeps track of your weight and measurements so you can see how much your body is changing.

7. Nike+ Running
The biggest name in sports brings you a running app that promises to get you moving. The app uses your phone’s GPS and accelerometer to record the distance, pace, and time of each run. It tells you when you’ve completed each mile, and you can sync your app with your Facebook account to get in-ear encouragement from friends monitoring your run. You can even join group runs, even if your friends are running somewhere else entirely, and you can group chat to motivate one another as you go along.
If you’re looking for new running routes, you can sync your account to the Nike+ website and find routes other Nike+ users run in your area.

8. Jefit
Strength-training stars, this one’s for you. Create a profile and enter your current stats: your weight and how much you can lift. Set a goal for yourself or pick a workout based on your fitness goal, such as “Building Your Beach Body.” The app selects a workout routine and tells you the number of sets, reps, and how much weight you should use. It also has a built in rest period. If you don’t understand an exercise, the app has detailed photos for each exercise in the workouts.

9. Daily Burn
You can get the feel of a fitness class with the convenience of a portable device with this app. DailyBurn shares a collection of workout videos right on your iPhone. It’s not just cardio; this app has workouts for strength, yoga, kickboxing, abs, mobility, core, metabolic conditioning, and stretching. You don’t need to be a top-notch athlete either. Beginners will find plenty of workouts suited to their fitness level, too.The app tracks and displays how many calories you’ve burned during your workout, and it can help you boost your performance and encourage you to push through the toughest parts of the workouts.
 
10. Jillian Michaels Slim-Down
Oh Jillian, the wonderful Jillian we've all come to love and hate for shredding our stomachs and toning our thighs. She's done it all now. This app is free to download, but to actually really fully use anything on it, you'll have to upgrade.
For free you get fat-burning exercises, step-by-step videos, calorie counter, and food and fitness journal, recipes, sample meal plans, sample fitness plans, bar code scanner, daily tips from Jillian, weight tracker [ iPhone only, sorry androids :( ]

If you subscribe [ $3.99/week, $15 a month ]

Walk & run tracker with voice messages from Jillian tracking your steps, distance, speed, and calories burned. Personalized fitness plan with custom exercises and workouts based on your body type and goals. Customized meal plans with recipes, 170 exercise all with easy to follow video instructions, 1000+ metabolism boosting recipes, Membership to Jillianmichaels.com where your app will completely sync with the website and you’ll get unlimited access to 100s more recipes, diet tips, exercise advice, workouts, fitness advice videos, custom meal plans, a meal planner, food journal, menu guides, calorie counter, interactive weight tracker, weight-loss buddies, wellness tools, etc.

One of my friends from Noom used it and said it was fantastic, meanwhile if you subscribe to Lose it! for 1 year it's $35.00, and you get all that including too. Well it's all trial and error, so have fun eating healthy, burning fat, building muscle, and swimming in sweat, may you always reach your goals :D








Fashion Trend Tuesday: DIY Pore Strips!


Anyone with acne prone skin knows about pore strips, and most likely uses them religiously to get rid of those nasty gross gunky blackheads that litter our foreheads, noses, and chins. This can be slightly costly, especially if you use the top of the line ones because I tried some knock off brand and it didn't do anything. I used Biore and holy cow the crap that came out of my face was jaw dropping. They range in price from $8.99 - $15.00. Depends if you get face ones, nose ones, or the combo back which is usually $13.00. So I've researched DIY ones and have tried a couple, and they work just as good, if not BETTER than the store bought ones.

PORE STRIPS WITH GELATIN 

INGREDIENTS:
  • Disposable container like a plastic cup
  • Unflavored Gelatine ( I use knox)
  • Milk
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Popsicle stick or old makeup brush
METHOD:
  1. Measure out 1 tbsp of gelatin into your disposable container
  2. Add 1 - 2 tbsp of milk into the gelatin
  3. Mix until you get a chunky consistency, add more milk if you don't want it to be so chunky. 
  4. Microwave the gelatin for about 10-15 seconds it'll get smoother in the microwave. Give it a quick stir and slap it on your face IMMEDIATELY or it will harden really quick.
  5. Let it dry for about 15 minutes. You know your done when your face feels like it'll crack if you talk or make any facial expression haha
  6. Grab a corner and peel away, this is the fun and disgusting part
  7. Enjoy your clean skin! :)
*  Make sure you clean your face beforehand :)

Kudos to Petite Lefant for this awesome photo tutorial!

PORE STRIPS WITHOUT GELATIN

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • A microwave safe bowl
  • A old makeup brush
METHOD:
  1.  Add the honey and milk together in the bowl and mix well
  2.  Microwave mixture until it's lukewarm
  3.  Apply the mixture with the makeup brush to the desired are, apply quickly
  4. Wait 15 - 30 mins until the mix has dried
  5.  Peel the film off and apply moisturizer 
  6. Enjoy your clean skin! :)
Kudos to Shannon at luuux.com!

PORE STRIPS WITHOUT GELATIN 2

INGREDIENTS:
  • Elmers White School Glue
  • Gauze
  • Damp Cloth
METHOD:
  1. Wash your face
  2. Apply a thin layer of white glue to where you have blackheads (nose, chin, forehead, cheeks)
  3. Cut a piece of gauze large enough to cover the area on your face you put the glue
  4. Lay the gauze on the glue
  5. Allow the glue to dry completely before carefully lifting the gauze away from your skin. This will remove the glue and the unwanted blackheads and dead skin
  6. Enjoy your clean skin! :)
This tutorial can be viewed on Ehow.com

PORE STRIPS WITH KLEENEX & TISSUE PAPER

INGREDIENTS:
  • 1 Egg white, or egg whites in a carton
  • Tissue or Toilet Paper
  • Medium-sized Makeup Brush
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Fork or Whisk
METHOD:
  1. Seperate the egg whites into a small bowl.
  2. Beat the egg whites with a whisk or fork until they are frothy, this will help them stick to your face without sliding off.
  3. Using a makeup brush paint the whites directly onto your face, paying close attention to your blackhead prone areas (nose, chin)
  4. Once the first egg white layer is completely dry (20-30 minutes) tear small sections of tissue/toilet paper and "painting" them onto your face with the egg whites. Try to make sure all the peices of tissue touch so it'll form an easy-to-peel mask
  5. The mask is ready to come off when it's formed a hardened paper-mache like feel and is completely dry. Starting with the outer edges, carefully pull the mask off.
  6. Rinse your face with cold water to close pores and remove leftover tissue
  7. Enjoy your clean skin! :)
 Kudos to Kiley Bell from The Kit





SIDE NOTE
I've tried both the gelatin & the egg white and tissue paper method and they both worked great. The gelatin one though is by far THE BEST method to use if you have a lot of them and it really helps get rid of those stubborn little suckers that just won't budge!













Monday 18 November 2013

Momma Monday : 15 Tips For a Stay At Home Mom!


I can't even begin to imagine how many times when others ask what I do, and I reply "I'm a stay at home mom" how many looks I get, the "oh, that's... nice" comments. Well, sorry I don't have an out of home job, but I work 

7 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. 

Us SAHM's are taken for granted on a daily basis. The hard work we put into keeping a clean and respectable looking home, food on the table, running the errands our husbands may not be able to get to during the day, and teaching our kids right from wrong and helping them grow up into respectable young adults. 
Some days my husband may come home from work and the house is a complete and utter destruction zone, but our kids are clean, healthy, and fed and quiet in front of the TV for 10 minutes before they go nuts again, and I'm just soaking in the sweet sound of silence.

At last, here are some tips and fun ideas for the super stay at home mom and how to keep your cool when you feel like your at the end of your rope :)


  • WAKE BEFORE THEY DO. Unless you have a newborn, then just pretend to be dead until they wake up for their morning feeding, you'd be crazy if you didn't haha. Even if it's 20 minutes before they usually get up, have a cup of coffee. Enjoy a nice hot shower and put on some makeup and do your hair. Or just sit still in silence and pray maybe today your kids might be quiet and not so rambunctious.
  • NEVER RUN OUT OF WIPES. I can't fathom this enough, or you will be SOL literally haha. The other day I did, and both my daughters decided to have a blowout. No explanation needed.
  • KEEP TRACK OF CLEANING SOLUTIONS. Like how you can get crayon off your wall with toothpaste and a scrub brush or pencil crayon and markers off your walls and floors with a simple spritz of AP cleaning solution and a sponge. You will need these for your little artists who can't just stick to paper. 
  • RECORD THEIR HEIGHT. It could be a chart you pin on the wall, a piece of trim on a door frame, or even a wall. My girls love this idea and love showing our family when they come to visit how much they've grown :)
  • READ TO THEM EVERY NIGHT. Even if it's the same book, over and over, this is how they learn new words and names for animals and objects in the books. Since I've been reading to my girls every night their vocabulary has increased amazingly, and pronunciation is even more fantastic.
  • PLAY OUTSIDE WITH THEM. Go to the park. A walk around the block. Go kick or throw a ball around. Play on some swings. Get them outside, they will be in better spirits and not so irritable being cooped up inside, and even sleep better. Even if it's raining bundle them up in some welly boots and a rain coat and go jump in some puddles!
  • TAKE SOME INTEREST. You HAVE to take some time during the day for yourself. Take up scrap booking, knitting, sewing, painting, writing, gardening, go to a book club or volunteer somewhere for an hour a day. It will save your sanity in good time.
  • TEACH THEM. Let them help you in the kitchen may it be making lunch, putting together a sandwich or help you bake a cake. Yeah, it may take less time if you get to do it, but think of how much fun they'll learn to do this on their own someday and it's a huge step in the direction of independence. 
  • SAY GOODNIGHT. My favorite part of my day. I put them into their beds at night with a warm bottle of milk, a story, and a comforting cuddle. CHERISH THIS MOMENT. For it will be gone quickly. They'll grow up and sooner or later won't need you to tuck them in, or read them a story or even sing to them. 
  • TRY TO SAY "NO" AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. Try to turn those no's into yes's like instead of "not today" say "maybe we'll go next week". Ever since I started doing more of this my children have become more understanding to the fact of if we don't get around to doing it right that second or that day, that we'll eventually get to it in the near future. 
  • STICK TO A SCHEDULE. It's super important to stay true to your schedule with waking up and going to bed, nap time, feeding times, bath time, etc. The more you can stick to your schedule the better of they'll be for consistency and not be so frustrated when something there used to isn't happening. 
  • KEEP UP ON HOUSEWORK. I know, it seems and endless task, and at most times impossible especially if you have little ones, just try and stay on top of it all. I used a Cleaning Schedule I found on pinterest. It's simple, easy, and covers the bare essentials to keeping a tidy(ish) house. Once you fall behind, it takes FOREVER to catch up to where you were haha and nobody wants that :)
  • DON'T OVER OBSESS ON MOM FORUMS. This was my biggest downfall when my daughters were younger. I spent my days reading posts on circle of moms, about infant health, what to do and what not to do, different ways to teach your children new things like walking, talking, and motor skills. Then you get sucked into the other momma drama from people who post about their husbands/wives cheating and leaving them to be a single parent, how will they make it on their own, or how somebody elses child is reaching milestones yours hasn't yet and have a huge age difference between them. Yes, it has been useful on numerous occasions, but it makes you second guess yourself as a parent when you are comparing your child's development to that of another. You are an amazing parent, and provide everything your child needs. They develop differently, and are capable of things beyond your understanding, wait till they surprise you :)
  • SPEND ALONG TIME WITH YOUR PARTNER. This is SO SO SO SOOO Important!! You need that time to yourselves to go to a movie, go out for dinner, to an old spot you used to hang out when you were young and in love. Alone time usually takes the backseat while your raising kids, so enjoy every opportunity, and time away from the kids at least once a week is good for your relationship. Not to long ago my husband and I went on our first night out in a year. A WHOLE YEAR. And by god did we ever need it. We both came home more relaxed, and enjoyed our evening tenfold. 
  • SHOW THEM LOVE. Everyday, let your family know how much you love and appreciate them. Let your husband know how important he is to you and that you really appreciate when he does something nice for you, or when your kids do small things for you even like picking up their toys or drawing you a picture to hang on the fridge. Hug them, give em smooches, and endless amounts of cuddles, show your affection for them and they'll give that love back :)

I can't stand it when people say, "You're JUST a Mom?" Yes, I am a mom (and a damn good one) ! That makes me and alarm clock, cook, maid, waitress, teacher, nurse, referee, handyman, security officer, photographer, counselor, chauffeur, event planner, hairdresser, personal assistant, ATM, AND I scare away the boogie man. I don't get paid holidays, sick pay, or days off. I work DAY&NIGHT. I am on call 24/7 for the rest of my life. That's just BEING A MOM!! I may not be anything to you, but I am everything to someone ! :)

Wednesday 13 November 2013

Weightloss Wednesday: Homemade Chocolate Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Protein Bars!

I love protein bars. There great for after workouts or even a great snack since they are VERY filling and you get all the great benefits from it. This recipe is low calorie, it's high in carbs, fiber, and protein :D and ultimately, YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY!! 

Let's Get Started!

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup of peanut butter (can be crunchy if preferred)
  • 1/2 cup of organic / pure honey
  • 1 cup (not scoops) of your favorite protein powder
  • 1 tsp of vanilla
  • 2 tsp of cinnamon (you can do 1 if you like, but i like the taste of pb & cinnamon)
  • 1/2 cup of chocolate chips
  • A foil lined 9x13" pan, or you can use a smaller one if you want your bars to be thicker
I prepped my pan before hand by just covering it in foil, I did this recipe once before, and without the foil, you basically get protein bar mini bites, in other words you basically just eat it out of the pan haha


 In a saucepan on medium heat melt your peanut butter and honey. Add your vanilla & cinnamon.

 While your peanut butter honey mixture is melting, melt your chocolate chips in either a microwavable safe bowl, or putting it in a bowl above a pot of boiling water and melt them that way, either way works fine.


 After about 5 minutes your peanut butter mixture should be smooth and creamy :) if you want your bars not to be so dense, you can add a little milk or water.


Next add your protein powder. I used body fortress chocolate peanut butter protein powder. You can get a huge container of this at walmart for $15.00! That's cheaper than what I used to buy at canex and it was $35.00! BONUS!


Combine this together with your peanut butter mixture until its good and mixed.


Next add your 1 cup of oats and combine it as well as you can. It will be thick, and feel like your stirring cement, but think of how amazing these will taste when your done! You get an arm workout while making workout food, win-win!


Apparently I skipped the step of taking a picture of pressing it into your pan.. OH WELL! Press your mixture into your pan trying to get it as evenly as you can and then cover your mixture with your melted chocolate. You can either cover it completely, or go for the drizzle. I went all out and covered every inch with chocolate. SO GOOD!


Either let it sit out on the counter for 40 minutes to make sure it all sets properly. I opted out and shoved it in my freezer for half an hour. Wow. Also skipped another photo step.. Cut into your preference size of bar. I did 16, but you can also do 24 they'll just be smaller bite sized ones :)


MMMMM Don't they look delicious?! Apparently I didn't leave them long enough so my bottom was still a bit sticky but my top was rock solid. I turned them upside down so they wouldn't stick to each other when I put them back in the fridge.


Chow down and Enjoy! These are quite delicious I might add again. They can be pretty decadent too depending on what type of chocolate you used, in that case.. they go amazing with a cold glass of milk :D  


NUTRITION FACTS

CALORIES: 171 PER ONE BAR
FAT: 9.5 GRAMS
FIBER: 1.7 GRAMS
PROTEIN 6.2 GRAMS

Tuesday 12 November 2013

HOW TO: Get Crayon Off A Painted Wall



It was that time of the day where my kids get a little rambunctious before lunch time and are fighting with each other, throwing toys, and causing havoc in the living room, not even paying attention to the cartoons on TV either. Out come the coloring books and crayons. They seem to always make for good quiet time and they both enjoy sitting on the floor or at our coffee table and doodling away :) I had to buy those crayola twist crayons as they both love to eat the tips of markers, eat whole crayons so there poop is multicolored for days, and chew the ends off of colored pencils.

I leave them to their business while I go prep lunch, and when I come back my wall had been destroyed with doodles. Then your thinking. Crap. Crayon is NOT the easiest to get off walls. I've gotten pencil off my walls with a little all purpose cleaner and a sponge. Marker basically the same deal. Crayon. WHOLE different story...

I tried all purpose cleaner and a sponge. A soft bristle brush and some powder cleaner. Baking soda. Vinegar. You name it, I tried it and nothing budged. I was getting flustered when I came across an odd idea.

Toothpaste, like crest but not gel, just the regular white paste, and a toothbrush or bristled scrub brush. Within 5 minutes of small circle motions, EVERYTHING was gone, not a mark was left on my wall. AND my wall looked 10x cleaner as well. I am so surprised I really wish I took a before and after picture, If i had known the difference would be incredible. So next time you get crayon markings on your wall, or any kind of scuff mark I'm thinking at this point, USE TOOTHPASTE! You won't be disappointed, guaranteed!

Tuesday 1 October 2013

Monthly Roundup : All Things Autumn!



I can't express how much I severely love AUTUMN!! Who wouldn't though?! It's a great time of year. It's always nice outside, not too hot, not too cold, which calls for a severity of types of scarves and boots, and leggings! Also, the amount of colorful beautiful foliage is just so pretty to look at, I LOVE IT! That's why I decided to do my TOP 25 Favorite Autumn Crafts, DIYS&Inspiration, Makeup & Fashion Tutorials & Idea's I could possible find, good thing my bookmarks toolbar has never let me down :D

AUTUMN CRAFTS
1. Twig Caramel Apples
2. Pumpkin Pincushions
3. Acorn Owls
4. How To Make An Autumn Wreath
5.Monogrammed Nail head Pumpkin

AUTUMN DIYS
6. Copycat Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
7. Pumpkin Pie Potpourri
8. Potato Stamps
9. Felt Napkin Rings
10. Candy Corn Themed Chocolate Covered Pretzels

MAKEUP
11. Autumn Leaves Inspired Eyeshadow : Make-up Geek
12. Kelly Rowland "kisses down low" music video makeup look
13. Simple Autumn Makeup Look with Green, Orange, Gold.
14. Dark Maroon and Gold Autumn Smokey Eye
15. Tangerine Bright Colorful Makeup

FASHION
16. Chambray & Citron Outfit
17. Fall Stripes & Orange Accent Outfit
18. Casual & Simplistic Fall Outfit
19. Bella Warm Fall Outfit
20. Dressed up Fall Outfit

DECOR
21. Autumn Candle Centerpiece
22. Autumn Mantel Decor
23. Autumn Front Porch Decor
24. Owl Wreath
25. Monogram Fall Wreath

Momma Monday: Potty Training In THREE Days! (18month+)



It's come to that stage. We've gone through all the major hurdles of teaching our kids many things such as how to fall asleep and stay asleep by themselves, no more rocking them to sleep until your arms fall off or you end up nodding off. How to use a utensil instead of their hands (even though this isn't a guarantee) to eat their food, and how to walk, run, and jump, and just be a crazy little toddler. But then, you are faced with.. DUN DUN DUNNNNN - Potty training.

I'm already dreading over this subject, as my 24 month old little girl, has become obsessed with the potty. I haven't started her yet, I just wanted to see if she would be comfortable sitting on the potty and every now and again I'd sit her on it for 5 minutes. Less to be said, the other night it took me almost 5 minutes to pry her little fingers off of the seat she just wanted to be on the potty that bad. So next week I'm starting the whole potty training ordeal. Woo-hoo..

I didn't even know where to start, or how to start, or even what I was supposed to be doing, usually everything your child does comes with a book or a manual, but potty training, that's a whole different question. My sister-in-law had a horrible time potty training her little girls who are now 5&3 1/2, yes they are potty trained and know how to go by themselves, flush, and wash their hands after, but it took her MONTHS and i mean like 6 - 9 months of trying to get them to go on the potty and not her living room carpet.

I was a little skeptical at first until i found this Potty Training In Three Days (18months+) IT HAS HELPED ME SO MUCHHH! I now actually feel super comfortable and determined to do this now and take the big leap out of diapers into underwear! Yes, they will have accidents and from time to time they could go into regression, but all in all, consistency is key and I know that if my daughter is already comfortable running naked around the house (for some reason my children hate clothes...) and sitting on the potty, then I'm golden! Seriously though, check out the link above, it'll reassure you that you and your child can do this! :D

On another note, she also writes about how to potty train through the night, and tips to make it work :)

Tuesday 17 September 2013

The BEST No Bake Cherry Cheesecake


Cherry cheesecake has to be my most favorite of desserts. It's yummy, creamy, and there are so many variations of the cheesecake itself that the possibilities are infinite, literally. I actually used to HATE cheesecake, i did not like the amount of cream cheese flavor you could taste in them, but after the 5th or 6th slice, it starts to grow on you (in more ways than one) Now, I make a cheesecake probably once a month, just to satisfy my huge sugar cravings. 

INGREDIENTS

CRUST
  •  1 1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
  •  1/4 cup softened butter or marg
  •  1/4 cup sugar
FILLING
  •  1 package cream cheese (slightly softened)
  •  1 cup icing sugar
  •  1 cup whipping cream (whipped)
  •  1 tsp vanilla
  •  1 can cherry pie filling

STEP 1
Mix together graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar in a bowl until well combined and crumbly. Press into a pie plate. 
* I like to put mine in the fridge while I do the filling as it helps it to harden faster and doesn't break apart when you spread the filling around afterwards

 STEP 2
Cut the cream cheese into chunks, add the icing sugar and vanilla and mix until smooth and spreadable. 

 STEP 3
Whip the cream and then whisk that into your cream cheese mixture until smooth

STEP 4
Spread your cream cheese mixture over the crust as evenly as you can. Refrigerate about 2 - 3 hours giving it time to set and firm up.

STEP 5 
Spread your cherry pie filling over the top, refrigerate and enjoy later, or serve immediately.

Have fun stuffing your faces! :D Not to long ago I made one of these for my hubby who came home from course, as he has a hardcore sweet tooth and just loves cheesecake as much as i do, he ended up having maybe 2-3 pieces and i ended up eating the last 3/4 of it and believe it or not, LOST 3lbs. I was like, HA no way, I should eat cheesecake all the time!

Sunday 8 September 2013

WEEKLY ROUNDUP: TOP 5 DIY MASON JAR CRAFTS!

STAINED MASON JARS










 






DIY: Melted Crayon Art

This is my favorite art craft I've ever stumbled upon. You've probably seem numerous amounts of these babies on Pinterest & Etsy & Tumblr, and everywhere else. They are gorgeous, so much fun, easy to do, and the variations are infinite. I've heard of a few ways of doing these but my most favorite are with a blowdryer, and a glue gun. Yes a glue gun. I can't warrant that your glue gun would even survive after shoving crayons through it, but it's quicker and you can have more fun with it, so I will be showing you both ways to do this :)

MATERIALS
  • pack of crayons (ANY size you want) you could even go big and do the 94 pack
  • blow dryer
  • canvas (any size will do really but the best is to use a 16x13 pre-painted canvas, you can get them at any dollar tree store for 1-2$, so grab a handful 
  • a hot glue gun, and newspaper, LOTS of newspaper as it will probably get a bit if not VERY messy at times
STEP 1 - Sort Your Crayons


Sort out your crayons depending on what you want. The rainbow is a very popular and most easiest design, just place the crayons in the order of the rainbow. You can go darkest to lightest, or lightest to darkest, or others use different shades of the same color.

STEP 2 - Glue your crayons to your canvas

 making rainbow melted crayon art

Take a crayon on at a time and glue them onto the canvas, tips facing down. Put the crayons above the canvas first though to make sure you have enough to fit across the top of the canvas before gluing as once they are stuck on, trust me, they won't be coming off easily haha.



This should be what it looks like with the crayons glued onto the canvas. Now for the fun part

STEP 3 - Melt your crayons
This is the most time consuming step, as it can take anywhere from 5 - 8 minutes to actually melt each small section of crayon. Make sure your canvas is propped up against something like a wall, so the crayon will drip down the canvas, and double make sure your work surface is protected accordingly. Work in small sections and hold the blow dryer about 12" away from the canvas. It'll take a couple minutes for the crayons to actually start melting.



I've also heard of people using a heat gun as it produces a hotter air and it doesn't splatter it as much as using a hair dryer does.

STEP 4: Let It Dry




Once you've finished (should take around 45 minutes - 60 minutes depending on the size of your canvas and your particular design you've chosen. Let it dry 100% and then scrape off the excess dried crayon on the bottom of the canvas.

VOILA! your project is complete, and you can hang it in any room of the house as it is a great focal point and gives you an opportunity to boost about how you did it yourself :D

Tips & Tricks For Making The Best Of Your Melted Crayon Art Experiance

TIP #1 : Acquire a decent amount of crayons. Nothings more annoying then buying a 64 pack of crayons, getting home, realizing your short crayons, and have to go back and pick up another. BULK UP!

TIP #2: Remove all the dark dingy colors (unless they are incorporated into your design). So take out all the blacks & browns & grays, and go for happier colors like bright purple, green, and yellow :)

TIP #3: The rainbow layout is the best, and most fun as you can do the ROYGBIV layout, or use all of the same color but different shades. 
TIP #4: Using the lower heat setting on your hair dryer is the best approach as using the highest heat setting can cause more splattering of the wax than you really wanted to. Try not to wave your hair dryer back and forth as this will cause more splattering and direct your wax everywhere you don't want it to go. Also doing this outside is a great idea too cause then you can get wax everywhere and nobody cares :D

TIP #5: When the wax starts to drip down and you remove the heat from it, the crayon does trail down quickly, and if you don't like how they are thin then you can go over the crayon and melt it again for a more three dimensional look and keep doing this till your satisfied :)

Melted Crayon Inspiration!