October 22, 2012
Chocolate Pie Day
I was recently given a chance to review Gay Lea Foods Real Whipped Cream with half the fat through the Divine.ca Review squad. It is still made with real cream but half the fat then the regular whipped cream.I decided to turn this into a great opportunity to have a baking day, who doesn’t love baking days?!.
My eldest son loves to bake and to be involved in the kitchen (the youngest just loves to watch and beg for food!!). I let him chose the ingredients for our pies and he decided he wanted to make a chocolate and banana pie (I can not complain – anything with chocolate is great!!).
I prepared the chocolate filling on the stove for him and once it was done we transferred it over to a ready made pie shell (love the ready made pie shells – allowed me to just focus on having fun with my boys). Once it was chilled enough (roughly four hours later) the real fun began.
My eldest put our whipped cream topping on and he loved being able to make designs on the pie. A lot of the whipped cream ended up in the mouth of my youngest (was he ever in his glory!!). Once the pie was fully ‘decorated’ with whipped cream, they enjoyed the rest with the left over bananas and strawberries that were in the fridge.
The whipped cream was delicious. It tasted so similar to the regular whipped cream that even my picky husband could not even tell it was half the fat.
Here is our final product:
October 22, 2012
Date Night!
My husband and I went out on our first date night in over two years! I shudder at the fact that it has been two years since we have last gone on an ‘offical’ kid free date but it was a long time coming and greatly needed.
I have to admit I had some pretty serious jitters getting ready to go out. Odd thing to have had happen! It was the first time I was leaving my fifteen month alone at night and on the weekend. On top of that, I was nervous of what I was going to talk about with my hubby (weird isn’t it – we spend every day together talking about the kids, what we need to get done but never really talk about us and how we’re feeling with all the spiralling changes and challenges).
It turned out to be a great night! We headed out to Montana’s and enjoyed a delicious dinner of ribs. Our conversation strayed occasionally back to our kids but I found out so much about him and how he has been feeling since I have gone back to work and vice versa. I really feel like it helped our relationship as husband and wife. We made a promise that we would no longer let it get to years before we go out on a date again. We have actually set our next date night for next month! Any one have some tips, exciting places to go or fun ideas for dates?
October 19, 2012
Mela-D Serum Review
I recently won a bottle of Mela-D Serum from La Roche-Posay from their Twitter giveaway. I was super excited to try it out! Having just had my youngest son about a year ago and the various hormonal changes that go along with that as well as PCOS, my skin has suffered greatly in certain areas. I have developed darker spots along my jaw line and cheeks which I try to cover up as much as possible.
Before I began to use the product I looked up some info on it. Mela-D serum is hydroquinone free! Which is great as it has been banned in many countries as it can not be ruled out as a possible carcinogen. What it does contain is: Kojic acid, Glycolic acid and Thermal dermobiotic (info from the La Roche-Posay website). Kojic acid is derived from fungi and helps in reducing the look of dark spots. Glycolic acid is an exfoliating agent helping to remove the dark skin cells.
When I received the serum it also came with a dropper (I have never used a serum before so this was all new and pretty cool to me!). I test tried it over a period of two days on the skin around my elbow as I have olive skin that is pretty sensitive and tends to react easily. I had no reaction so was excited to try it out on my jaw line and cheeks. I found the serum itself to be non oily and thick enough that you can put a small amount on your fingertip and it will not roll off. It has a mild to moderate strength smell that is not unpleasant. It did not irritate or make my skin tingle when I put it on. The product comes with instructions to use at night, after cleansing and moisturising your face.
I used the serum for just over two weeks (I am still currently using it) and have noticed a slight improvement of the uneven skin tone and darker spots around my jaw and cheek areas. I am going to continue to use it for an additional three months as I am impressed with the slight improvements that have occurred and would like to continue to see these improvements! I would recommend this product to anyone with mild to moderate uneven skin tone and dark spots (as that is how my skin is currently) and also to olive toned and sensitive skin individuals (as with all new products test try on a patch area away from you face!). And as the product recommends always use sunscreen during the day as your skin can become sensitive during usage.
October 18, 2012
Healthy Goals Update
Well we had good intentions, we really did! Or well this Mommy did!! We lacked in some areas but did really well in others.
For our nutrition goals I am pretty pleased with how far my children (and hubby dearest!) have come. I now put many different types of vegetables in every meal I prepare and there is no fuss (a bit from my eldest but trust me he has come along way!). All meat that I have purchased in the past month has had the Canadian guarantee on it! It was not that much more expensive (I think that was what had always stopped me prior to this, I had this notion that it would cost that much more then the packaged meat that did not have the Canadian seal on it). I also tried many new cuts of meat and a greater variety (turkey, veal, lamb and ox tail!). I swapped in some turkey mince into my meals that used to be solely mince beef and my boys did not notice the difference! We never actually tried quinoa – my boys just refused it and so did my husband. But c’est la vie!
Our physical activity goals I was super impressed with! We got out of the house for 45 minutes a day, be it either walking or playing at the park. It was such a great bonding opportunity with my children as I have been missing them greatly since I have gone back to work. I think we all needed this part more than anything else.
My own personal goals were left in the dust. I made it to the gym maybe three times in the whole month which led me to re-evaluate the whole gym membership idea – it is costing me way too much a month not to go! I have been trying to find a way to make my personal and work life balance but finding it way too hard! I have tried every organizational tip and strategy and can not find one that works!! Any tips are appreciated 🙂 I have two calendars, my Blackberry and a to-do book but still feel like I am spiralling (I have even managed to give myself stress induced acid build up in my stomach and a good warning from the doctor that I need to try to de-stress unless I want to make it worse and be off for more days from work)
Overall, I am pretty happy and plan to continue to implement all of the changes we have made so far into our daily routines – my personal goals will have to come with time I think.
October 14, 2012
You Should Be a Power Ranger Mom..
My eldest son and I were sitting around last night chatting about life and what he wants to be when he grows up (pretty intense for an eight year old!!). He started to ask me about what I had wanted to be when I was little so I told him about my passion for art and how I had wanted to be an interior designer and then a chiropractor. And how hard it was to make a choice but now I get to be the best mommy in the world to him and his brother. I think he could tell I was a bit sad so he goes on to tell me that he thinks I would make the worlds greatest Power Ranger when I grow up! I laughed so hard I can not even begin to explain! Apparently I have some growing up to do according to my eight year old 🙂 I don’t mind the Power Ranger job, they rocked! As long as I get to be the Pink Ranger 🙂