It’s all in your head.

The whole mentality of getting back into shape or getting fit for life is a day by day battle.

Eating healthy can be delicious but, some days it’s just easier to take the easier route. The healthier route always takes more time, more attention and work.

But, they say nothing good ever comes easy right?

I have to say that I am back on track and so far so good. To be quite frank, I’ve shied away from the scale this past week and I really don’t want to step on it until I feel a little more comfortable. I have my specialists appointment this coming week and I will find out if the clots are gone in my lungs and hopefully they are. Then I will be off this meds and hopefully (God willing) be given the green light to start living a more normal life again.

One thing that I have increased is my veggie intake which is always a struggle for me, I’m a creature of habit and I tend to fall into a pattern in my foods and I’m okay with it.

My tip of the week, add nuts to your diet. The best kind for you are the organic natural almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts or opt for a small handful of pistachios and sunflower seeds. About 1 oz. is a good serving and pair it with fruit and you have a great filling snack. If you can get the salt-free kind–even better.

Always remember to measure.

They pack a powerful punch with so many nutrients, good fats and fiber and keep you full longer.

So, how did you guys do this week?

I hope you all did fabulous, if not pick it back up and start again! If you are new to this hop, remember if it’s for ANYONE and EVERYONE looking to get fit or healthy.

Lose weight or gain.

Join us.

Make sure to visit Sober Julie this Monday for Motivated Mondays!

Now, Link Up!

Hello Fit & Firm Buddies!

So, I had another good week this week and saw another drop of 2 pounds.

I see a bit of a difference and in all honesty, the first thing you lose is water. Regardless, I’m glad that the number is going down!

While stepping on the scale, I noticed that I haven’t been measuring my progress with inch loss. This week, I’m going to take my first measurements and see how many inches I lose.

Measuring inches is so important to me because I am not really watching the number on the scale, more so I want to focus on how my clothes fit and how many inches I lose. I tend to gain muscle very quickly so that can play tricks on me on the scale.

I have a wedding gown to get into, that’s what I remind myself all the time!

Short term goal.

Long term goal is to continue to live a healthier life. 

But, to be quite honest, once you get the icky stuff out of your system, it’s much easier to get back to eating healthy. Cravings subside and you can stick to it. Sure, there are days when I crave something sweet but, there are plenty of healthy ways to satisfy that craving.

I also have to report that I’m slowly navigating my life with less to no Diet Pepsi. Today, I only had one and had water with 2 of my 3 meals and snacks!

*GASP*

This delicious recipe helped this week, I made in about half an hour. My Hanover’s Organic Trail Bars that had just the right amount of sweetness, tons of fiber, anti-oxidants and lots of potassium.

Check it out!

I hope you all have had a great week! If you had a rough week, just keep in mind that tomorrow is a new day and you can start fresh!

Don’t give up!

What better time then to start then now?

Grab Our Button!

Also, make sure to visit Sober Julie on Monday to report or share your progress or motivation for Motivated Mondays!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

So, it’s been a week since our first #FitNFirm post!

I hope you all had a great week! I sure did, I made it through a week of clean eating, lots of water and guess what?

I’ve cut out one less pop everyday. I was drinking about 2 with my main meals and sometimes I’d start my day off with one. I’ve substituted it with water and so far, so good. I thought I’d be moodier with cutting back but, it hasn’t been bad.

You know one of the things about changing your life to a cleaner way of eating is the misconceptions that all healthy food has to taste bad. The reality is, I still enjoy a burger and fries. French toast, grilled cheese and all healthy, low-cal and clean. Also, while watching my carb intake.

Baking. Grilling and making better choices.

You can enjoy good food and still be healthy.

This week, I worked hard, sat less and it paid off.

I’m happy to report that I am down 2.5 pounds!

I hope you guys had a great week!

If you are having a feening for French Fries, I’m going to share a recipe that is fairly easy and healthy too.

Hubby D’s Spicy Wedges:

Things You Will Need:

• 1 medium organic potato
• 1 teaspoon of organic olive oil or butter (I use olive oil always)
• Chili powder
• Pepper
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Parsley
• Chili peppers
• Paprika
• Oregano

Instructions:

• Watch your medium potato thoroughly and leave the peel on. Cut the potato in half, then cut the half into 4 or 5 pieces. You will end up with about 10 to 8 pieces.
• Rinse the wedges and drain throughly, add the teaspoon of organic olive oil and spice to taste.
• Take a pair of tongs and mix and toss the wedges until they are fully covered in the spices.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees and take a non-stick pan and place the wedges on one side and place in the center of the oven.
• Make sure to use tongs to turn the wedges and cook until desired.

I love mine well done and crispy as you can tell and I’ve dubbed them Hubby D’s wedges because he makes them for me pretty often once and they are delicious. Of course you can always make more for the kiddies, they love them as much as I do. Except I skip the spiciness.

Enjoy!

•  Serves 1.
• Calories: Approx. 170
• 1 starch/carb serving.
• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: 20-30 minutes

So, if you are feeling a burger and fries. Partner these wedges with a ground chicken burger or some mulitigrain breaded tilapia, like me!

If you are watching your carbs, be sure to eat light, get your protein and veggies in.

Good luck and hope you all have another fabulous week, how did you do?

Let me know!

Also, link up over at Sober Julie’s for Motivated Monday!

Til then, cheers m’deres and be sure to link up BELOW!

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3. Have fun. Ask questions or rant if you want to!
4. Support your fellow Fit & Firm buddies by visiting as many of them as you can!
5. Grab our button.
6. Use #FitNFirm for any fitness related tweets/pics/posts that you have to share to inspire your Fit & Firm Buddies!

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Are you feeling daring?

Ever wanted to try something new and exciting?

Well, I sure did.

Since my American neighbors will be celebrating Thanksgiving next week and I’ve much to be thankful for–I thought it the perfect opportunity or should I say–shoppertunity to come up with a Thanksgiving inspired cupcake recipe that will tantalize your taste buds!

I decided to make the recipe ALMOST organic and add in an explosive (not literally but, it’s delish) ingredient that you may not expect and replace the milk in my recipe. This lowers the calories, makes it light and moist and adds a punch of flavor that will send you over the edge.

If you haven’t guessed yet, it’s Clear American Water and in this case it’s Golden Peach!

I headed over to Walmart in Michigan to do some shopping with my family, I was looking for some alternatives to make a cupcake recipe lighter and less calorie dense and I had the opportunity to scope out Clear American Water for #CBias. It was so easy to find too and stood out among the rest because of it’s size and vibrant colors.

Now, for 68 cents you can’t go wrong, especially since I was planning to substitute it for the milk in my recipe. The bottle is fairly large and you really do get bang for your buck. For my frugal peeps, this is a great buy.

If you aren’t sure what Clear American Water is, it’s carbonated flavored water that has 0 calories, Caffeine Free and Sugar Free. It’s also Kosher and Sodium free and “Naturally” flavored.

You can “like” them on Facebook, here . As well as follow them on Twitter, here –for more information.

We don’t often buy flavored water in our household but, I rather buy it than give Gabs pop (or soda like my American friends say) on a regular basis. Milk and water are a staple in their diets so, in our house, Clear American is  a nice, occasional and refreshing treat! Hubby bought a Black Cherry and my eldest bought an extra Golden Peach and my youngest, Mimi, skipped it!

So are you ready for the recipe?

My Apple Caramel-Peach Explosion Cupcakes!

Directions:

Wash and peel about 2 of your favorite type of apples. Once peeled, cut them into quarters and then cut those quarters in half. I chose organic Gala Apples because I love how crispy and juicy they are. Some prefer to use a more tart apple in their recipes but, I like naturally sweet so I opt for this variety.

Get a measuring cup and measure about 1/2 cup of Clear American Water in Golden Peach. Add it to a cooking pot and add 2 TBSP of organic butter or margarine. Add the 1 TBSP of cinnamon and stir until it is melted. Once it is simmering, add the apple slices and switch your oven to low heat, cover and let simmer until apples are soft.

Add a TSP of organic brown sugar and stir into the Clear American-Golden Peach infused apple mix, shut off heat and cover. Once cooled, drain apples and collect the Golden Peach-infused mix into a measuring cup. Do NOT throw it out. Set apples aside to cool.

Once you’ve collected the Clear American Golden-Peach infused mix from the pot, add more Clear American water to make about 1/2 cup of mix, if needed. This is replacing the milk in the recipe and cutting calories too!

If you haven’t already, mix the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. The flour, baking powder, cinnamon and brown sugar. This is where you add the 3 egg whites and the Clear American Peach-infused mix and vanilla extract, blend until creamy.

Go back to the cooked apples you have set aside and dice them to your preferred size. Pick out your most Thanksgiving inspired baking cups and get ready to POUR!

Once you’ve evenly poured the batter into the baking cups, go back to the caramel you have set aside and spoon the caramel on top of the cupcakes. Place baking tray in the center of the middle tray in your oven for about 15 minutes. The time may vary depending on your oven, so until golden brown. Test if they are ready by poking them with a tooth pick. If it comes out clean, they are ready!

Top with your cream cheese frosting and decorate them with your favorite treats. I chose fall colored sprinkles for a very simple decor. I also left some cupcakes without frosting for a less sweet option.

Last Step: Enjoy!

Now, what’s Thanksgiving without a bit of sharing. My folks are having a small get together at their house tomorrow and they will be having these very cupcakes for their after dinner coffee and dessert. My kids loved the light flavor and my Hubby said that these are the best he’s tried so far. He much prefers the fruity cupcakes while I love my chocolate.

So, how’s that for daring?

You can substitute your eggs and milk with Clear American water in almost ANY baking recipe and they have so many flavors to choose from. From Key Lime, Black Cherry, Raspberry and even Pineapple Coconut. The possibilities are endless and if you are already having a treat, why not make it a bit lighter?

How do you make your recipes light?

I wanna know and before I go, Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends! Wishing you all the best!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias, which is a vendor for Cott Beverages Inc., the manufacturer of Clear American^® brand beverages. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are solely my own and have not in any way been influenced.

With the holiday season coming up, it’s often difficult to connect with loved ones. As a busy mom, we are always looking to save money and still stay true to ourselves while we are doing it.

I am a really picky eater.

That being said, I’m really picky when it comes to my fish and though I usually don’t opt for frozen food, when I cook the fish in my house–I choose High Liner’s Multigrain Tilapia which is my absolute favorite. I love the Lemon-crusted flavor and when I’m feeling a bit naughty, I get the pan-seared Lime Chili Tilapia.

When Hubby cooks fish, he cooks the fresh fish–annnd I just can’t deal with that.

They have all types of seafood for you to enjoy. From market cuts, skewers, Tilapia, Sole, Haddock, Cod and all made differently. Whether your family loves the battered kind, fish sticks, unbreaded or how I like it–lightly breaded with a multigrain crust.

So, I love me my High Liner Tilapia and I partner it with some organic brown rice or a baked potato and veggies and we are good to go! I’m getting my Omega-3′s and DHA on with High Liner fish.

If you aren’t familiar with them, check out their products–here. All which are available in Canada and the US.

Well, on top of offering a wide array of fish that can cater to any family or picky eater, High Liner is offering 40 GL2GO codes on specially marked packages and you can combine the minutes up to 200 free minutes.

What Does This Mean for Us Moms?

We can talk to our loved ones during the holidays on long-distance and we can do it for free! Which means that you can stay connected and not worry about how it will affect your pocket book.

GL2GO is a smart phone app that works with any service provider. GL2GO’s long distance rate is less than 2 cents a minute in Canada. You can redeem these codes over at http://40freeminutes.com/ and start talking immediately!

What’s better than getting your family’s favorites, saving money AND talking to your family? Especially over the holidays when you can’t always see everyone in your family due to the distance. It’d be great to talk to them and wish them a Merry Christmas or to simply  just catch up!

To get you ahead of the game, High Liner is providing 3 Coupons for High Liner products to one lucky Whispered Inspirations reader!

That’s approximately $40 worth of your favorite seafood AND you can also rack up those minutes with your free products!

All you have to do is visit High Liner and tell me which of their products you are going to try! This is open to CANADA only:

Read more »

My kids absolutely love good ole Mac and Cheese.

And why not?

Who can resist the buttery, creamy, cheesy taste smothered onto soft macaroni?

Did you know that Canadians eat the most Macaroni and Cheese than any other country in the world? (I learned that by visiting other awesome blogs earlier this summer via TGCBB!)

It’s true.

And my girls are no different.

I’m just not comfortable feeding my kids Mac and Cheese out of a box. I’m not against it and occasionally we do have it. Though we choose the vegetable Kraft Mac and Cheese! But, I prefer to make it myself and make it with fresh cheese so that they can have it more often.

Here’s my recipe for my Scrumptious Organic Mac N Cheese, you don’t have to make it organic if you don’t want to.

What You Will Need:

•  2 cups of organic whole wheat macaroni elbows.
• 2 cups of organic grated cheese. (I use a Cheddar Jack & a bit of Mozzarella)
• 2 tbsp of organic butter or margarine if you prefer. (Optional)
• 1/2 organic onion or chicken bouillon cube.
• 1/4 cup of organic sour cream. Or plain yogurt works too. (I prefer Organic Valley)
• 1 tsp. of fresh parsley.
• 2 tbsp. of organic bread crumbs.
• 1 pound of organic ground chicken. (Optional)
• 1/4 chopped onion. (Only if you choose to add meat)

Instructions:

• Bring a pot of water to a complete boil, fill it just enough to be able to add the noodles and to still have some breathing room up top. Add a pinch of salt if you so desire. I’m not a big salt user, so I skip it.

• Once the water has boiled, add in the 2 cups of whole wheat, organic macaroni or the desired amount. Cook pasta according to the package instructions (if applicable), boil to desired firmness. For a softer noodle, cook a little longer than the time recommended and for an al dente, pull it off a little earlier than the recommended time.

• Use a strainer or colander to rinse, drain and strain the macaroni.

• Add the organic butter or margarine to your cooked whole wheat pasta. Transfer the pasta back into the pot and stir until the butter has completely melted.

• Add the 1/4 of organic sour cream or organic plain yogurt to the buttered noodles.

• Add your cheese blend of cheddar jack and mozzarella to the buttered noodles. You can use any type of cheese depending if you want a milder taste or something a little more sharp. This is where you can tantalize your kids’ taste buds according to their palates.

• Add a 1/2 organic chicken bouillon cube to the noodles and stir until completely dissolved. If you are making more than 2 cups of noodles, add the whole cube.

• Stir cheese, chicken bouillon and sour cream into noodles until completely smooth and the cheese is thoroughly melted. Add fresh parsley, or salt and pepper to taste. Though I think it is pretty flavorful as it is! This is where you can add your browned, drained and seasoned organic ground chicken. Make sure it is crumbled, stir in and serve!

The recipe above is for a fun, quick and tasty meal! If you would like to make a perfect side dish or add a little more flair to the norm.

Try This:

• Transfer the ‘Scrumptious Organic Mac N’ Cheese’ from the pot into a baking dish. Add more organic cheese, organic bread crumbs and fresh parsley to taste. Place dish in the oven at 350 degrees, bake for 30 mins or until golden brown.

Serve and Enjoy!

Kid-Approved!

So, my girls get to enjoy a true Canadian classic and I can rest easy that I know what is going in my girl’s tummies. That makes me content and not only that but, it’s quite delish I might add.

What classic do you make at home from scratch rather than making from out of a box?

Let me know!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

-NPC

I’m Back!

I apologize for being a bit absent lately but, I’ve been on our summer vacation. We had quite the road trip at first and when we came back we jumped on a plane!

We went to catch the NKOTBSB in Cleveland, Ohio and then we drove through Ohio and Indiana and drove to Chicago. It was a good time and we are blessed to have come home with safety. It was a time of indulgence and relaxation, though I’m definitely feeling it now and because of it, I’ve started my detox!

LOL!

Well, the NKOTBSB were amazing and I’d have to say one of the best concerts so far and we had amazing seats. They were so close and they came out to the audience quite a few times! Jordan smiled and pointed at me and my sister TWICE. We were like 15 year old girls all over again.  I think I almost lost my voice!

Chicago was absolutely amazing! We had some Chicago-style pizza at Giordano’s and we went to the Sears Tower and just took in the city! On the way home we spent the night in Kalamazoo. It was lots of driving and we changed trucks twice because we lost our keys! I even forgot my iPad in the Cleveland truck but, thankfully–it has returned to me!

It was really funny but, it was a great road trip with my besties!

We came back and finished packing and then we were headed to Orlando, Florida! It was a great and relaxing trip– though, it can get tiring. If that makes sense. Just because of the heat and the walking but, the kids were troopers and they loved every minute of it! We stayed in a Disney resort for the whole week. It was beautiful and walking distance to Epcot and Hollywood Studios! Definitely worth the money! But, if you want to opt out of this pricier option, you can always stay outside of the parks.

Here is our journey and I will most definitely have some tips for those of you who are Disney bound. I learned a lot of tricks along the way and to truly enjoy the magic of this place, you have to take it all in as it comes!

We spent our first day in Florida at Daytona Beach, boy, is it ever beautiful. Our beaches here aren’t even swimmable because of contamination. It was refreshing to actually enjoy a beach. We headed back and we met up with my cousin and had Pollo Campero! I haven’t seen my cousin in years and it was amazing getting to see her and meeting her Princess and Hubby! On our second last day, we met up with my beautiful Aunts and my Uncle and cousin. I am so blessed for such a great family!

We spent the week at all the parks, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. We visited Downtown Disney quite a lot too! There is so much to do and though you may have a lot of days at the park, traveling with little ones in the Florida heat, you can’t make use of the whole day. You have to really plan out your day and stick to it! We did almost everything at the parks and rode all the big rides at the park.

Mimi absolutely adored the 3D shows and there was a Michael Jackson one too! I died!

Gabriella was tall enough to go on the Tower of Terror, Space Mountain and the Test Track to name a few.

It was great!

All in all, it was a great trip! I promised my family that I’d post all the pics (hundreds, OY), so if you’re curious and have me on FB, take a peek! I have to thank Hubby for everything and for my sister, little girls and family who made it all so very special. It is truly a special place, the look in Gabriella’s eyes alone was the best part. Though I have to say Magic Kingdom was my absolute favorite, the fireworks were spectacular, the projection presentation on Cinderella’s castle was surreal and meeting all the Disney Characters and Princesses was awesomesauce.

I felt like a kid again.

We will be making it back soon for Mimi too so that she can remember the trip. If you are going to Disney soon, look forward to my tips coming soon! One of the best things to enjoy the parks and your time to the fullest is PREPARATION!

I’ll leave you with a few more shots and if you’ve gone to Disney, what are your favorite memories? Let me know!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

-NPC

Our health and that of our children is priority for most of us.

Fruits and veggies are an essential part of a well-rounded diet. In all honesty, it’s hard for me to get my veggies in but, when I do, I choose to buy organic. Especially for my girls. Though pricey at times, I think that the benefits far outweigh the cost. If you are looking to go organic for your family, here are a few tips of what to look out for and what to steer clear from.

Ever heard of “dirty” foods or foods more popularly known as “The Dirty Dozen”? You can find them in a list compiled of the dirtiest fruits and vegetables on the market to avoid. You know that the list contains big offenders, some may be a surprise too. If you don’t know about the list, this is the list compiled from 2010′s crop.

It is estimated that you can avoid 80% of pesticides if you choose to go organic. Unfortunately, with all the chemicals companies are using on our produce, it’s getting more and more difficult to wash them off when they reach our kitchen. When crops are certified organic, this prohibits the company of pesticide use in their crops. Though it can be argued that the prohibitions can be a bit lax. This year, celery, spinach and blueberries have made the top of the list as the biggest offenders.

According to the Environmental Working Group, the following fruits and veggies are on the “Most Wanted” list to avoid:

1. Celery- Since celery has no skin or layers, it is hard to wash off any residue. Approximately 64 pesticides are found in it and almost 100% of the time they are present. This is definitely one to buy organic, especially when you are feeding your little ones finger foods. Safer alternatives are broccoli or onions!

2. Strawberries- 59 pesticides have been found in strawberries. Especially when they are out of season, this means that they have to be imported. Which means governments that have less stringent rules about pesticide use are importing their pesticide-filled berries to your supermarket. If you can’t get them organic, you’re better off getting kiwis! I sometimes, if not always, opt for getting frozen strawberries. They are frozen at their peak thus containing more nutrients and less pesticides have been found in the frozen form.

3. Apples- Apples have always made the list. The problem with this fruit is that apart from being found in the actual fruit, traces have been found in apple juice and apple sauce. All which you should buy organic if you can. Apples have about 42 pesticides and some recommend peeling the apple to avoid chemical residue. Though keep in mind that if you do, you are also peeling away a lot of nutrients. Safer alternatives include bananas or watermelon!

4. Peaches- About 62 pesticides have been found in peaches. Surprisingly, less pesticides have been found in canned peaches. Though I avoid canned foods like the plague due to BPA linings. But, that is another story in itself.  Better to steer clear from peaches if they aren’t organic or opt for watermelon, oranges or tangerines.

5. Spinach- New on the list for 2010 crop, it’s actually one of the most contaminated leafy green veggies on the market. Which is unfortunate because it is one of the most nutrient rich veggies too. Again, the canned version has less traces of pesticides in comparison to the fresh version which carries over 48 pesticides.

6. Nectarines- If you can’t find organic nectarines, opt for pineapple, mango or papayas. You’ll be skipping 33 pesticides while you’re at it. Unfortunately, importing makes this tree fruit one of the highest contaminated.

7. Grapes- Imported ones in fact, have about 34 different pesticides. So, it is better to buy these local. There are many local vineyards you can visit. Even if you peel them, it doesn’t do much considering the skin is so thin. Traces have been found in wine as well, so if you can’t find them organic–get it! Also, try raspberries or kiwis as a safer alternative.

8. Potatoes- This is one of the most widely used veggies. Which isn’t a surprise considering it’s versatility. Non-organic potatoes have about 37 pesticides, which is definitely something to avoid. Better finger foods for you and your little one? Baked sweet potato fries!

9. Blueberries- They are a new offender on the list but, are the most contaminated berry. With about 52 pesticides, it’s better to top your oatmeal with bananas. Especially if you can’t find organic. Frozen blueberries have smaller traces of contamination, though organic blueberries would be best due to their antioxidants. My kids love these and eat them as a snack all the time, so organic all the way!

10. Sweet Bell Peppers- 49 different pesticides have been found in all colors of bell peppers, this is a regular on the list and if you can’t buy organic, skip it! Better alternatives are cabbage and green peas!

11. Lettuce- Though having an asparagus salad isn’t very appetizing to most, it’s a better alternative considering that non-organic lettuce carries 51 pesticides. This is another regular on the list, buy organic if you can or stock up on asparagus!

12. Kale- This is known as a super food, rarely has pests or disease– yet it’s scored very high in the last 2 years. If you can’t find organic- opt for cabbage, asparagus and dandelion greens! Another contender to kale is collard greens that carry about 46 pesticides! Opt for Brussels sprouts instead!

Now that we know which foods to look out for, here are some fruits and veggies that are on the EWG’s safe list!

(In which, you can also buy organic.)

• Watermelon
• Sweet Potatoes
• Sweet Peas
• Pineapples
• Onions
• Sweet Corn
• Mushrooms
• Avocados
• Asparagus
• Kiwi Fruit
• Cabbage
• Mangoes
• Domestic Cantaloupe
• Eggplant

So, get your fruit and veggie on!

Summer is pretty much here and it’s a perfect time to take advantage of your local produce. Or a great time to take a day trip to a local orchard and farm to get your favorites! Also, during the spring and summer months, your local Farmer’s Market should be up and running! Notice the key word is local? Not only are you avoiding unnecessary pesticides but, you are helping your local economy and farmers and you are reducing fossil fuel consumption. Know what’s in your food and what you are consuming, it’s an important part of your health!

Do you guys take advantage of your local produce? Do you buy organic or do you think it’s too much of a cost issue to do so? Let me know!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

-NPC

Snowpocalypse. Snowmageddon.

The end of days.

That’s what our little city of Windsor was prophesied to have to fight against last week. At least that’s what the weather man said.

Either way, the schools FINALLY issued an official SNOW DAY because come hell or high water (I guess that was kinda coming) they never do!

We decided to enjoy the day by staying in our jammies and treating ourselves to a Spa/Tea Party. We gave each other facials and used my favorite recipe for an organic oatmeal mask. This mask helps treat your dry, winter-battered skin, you can make it yourself by following the recipe, here.  After our facials we topped it off with some delightful French Vanilla steamed milk.

This is the concoction that made our snow day a relaxing one at home.

My Peanut preparing for her facial!

In between the process, showing off her VIP water. LOL. She makes me laugh.

Her tea party she set up with a treat.

We Decided to See What We Were Up Against!

Though we didn’t get the 31 cm of snow that was predicted, we did end up getting about 17 cm and this week we got about 10cm more. So, yes, perhaps Snowmaggedon didn’t rear it’s ugly head but, we have had much more snow this year to play in. And that’s exactly what we did the day following the Snowpocalypse.

It was tons of fun!

Here we are in the "beds" Gabs dug out for us & I'm tweeting while laying in it. OH LAWD. We made a huge fort but, I had put away the camera! I'll take pics later!

Did you take heed of the impending doom of Snowmaggedon and rush out to get supplies, did you think it was a bunch of mumbo jumbo? Personally, I think any snow on the ground is something to take precaution in, especially with precious cargo but, how did you spend your snow day?

Let me know!

I’m joining the fun for Wordless/Wordful Wednesday over at Live and Love Out Loud,  Bringing Moms Together and Parenting by Dummies. Be sure to stop by and check them out!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

-NPC

My Royal Princess & Kitty Cat

This Halloweekend truly was a busy one, a good kind of busy though. Gabriella decided to be a Princess and we dressed Mimi up as a Kitty cat. We took them to Science City. I had no idea it existed, I guess it’s a small building where they have educational fun for kids. First time going and Gabs enjoyed it. Plus the girls both wore their costumes.

It was very cute.

Gabriella was super stoked that she was allowed to wear make-up and of course she wanted to take pictures and I allowed my inner Mamarazzi to come out. We visited my parents before we headed out to go trick-or-treating and they melted of course!

Here’s some pics taken at  her Abuelitos house!

We set out like we usually do and stuck around our neighborhood by foot. It was very chilly and Gabs wore ear muffs, a few layers and a petticoat. Mimi stayed with her grandparents because it was too cold to bring out such a little Jelly Bean, next year she can go! Gabs was super excited the whole time and full of energy, she made me laugh by cracking so many jokes! She got so many compliments for her costume and tiara and it made her smile. Makes me so happy to see her beaming! Now, I don’t know whether to take it as an insult or compliment but a lady stopped me and said, “Your sister looks absolutely beautiful in her costume!” I just smiled and said “Thank-you!”

I guess I must look young but, I stick to my guns that it’s just my height! :P

It was funny.

After Gabby was tired we decided to head home but, we had to stop and get her a hot cocoa! Unfortunately, they were out and a chocolate milk would have to suffice. I know that the last thing she needed was any more sugar but, it’s Halloween! I bent the rules a wee bit! We stopped by Gabs’ Abuelitos house to pick up Mimi and to show off the stash and share the wealth of course!

Here she is!

I think I have my work cut out for me to sort through all these candies!

I also have to commend to whomever gave out the Halloween themed pencils and erasers (she got quite a few and was stoked about it, she loves them), even if this one in the picture ended up in the stash! A little girl can never have enough pencils and hey, it’s green! What is it you say? It’s a donated pencil I guess? It’s used and a found a new home! LOL!

Well, we have been blessed to have another safe and very Happy Halloween and my family and I can only extend my best wishes to you all! I hope your kids and all you parents alike don’t end up with tummy aches from all the goodies. I hope you make good choices for your chillums ( I know you all do) and hope you all fully enjoyed this festive day! Can’t wait to see all your pics!

Til then, cheers m’deres!

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