Freshen Your Home Up for Spring

With the nice weather finally starting to creep in, and dare I say it,  no more snow in the forecast; the end of March makes me want to dive right into spring cleaning and freshen up the house.  I guess its called spring cleaning for a reason, but being 5 months pregnant I definitely do not have that drive in me. Thankfully you can get that spring fresh feeling by changing up the decor slightly in your house, all conveniently located on wayfair.ca

Here’s a few ideas to get started;

Time to reflect: Hang a mirror across from a window to reflect natural light and make a room feel bigger.

Lighten up: If bold colours aren’t your cup of tea, neutrals like white or light gray can really make a space feel fresh and clean. This couch is perfect for that, and some throw pillows, or a pop of colour of a different table is also another way. A light-colored rug on top of an otherwise dark floor is a great accent. Or if you’re up for an easy DIY, save some cash by whitewashing an unfinished end table or some stools!

Embrace the colour of nature: Now is the perfect time to emulate blooming flowers by experimenting with small pops of color. Try sneaking in pinks, blues and greens by incorporating small pieces like bathmats, dinnerware or other decorative objects.

Get creative with planters: Try using a basket to house larger plants on the floor, or a terrarium to add a little green to a table. Don’t have a green thumb? There’s no shame in incorporating some artificial greenery. Plus, you’ll have it for next year!

Take a deep breath: If winter is all about the scent of sugar cookies and pine trees, spring is about floral and clean scents. Lavender and other floral scented-candles are always a good go-to, but scents like citrus or cotton can add that just-cleaned feeling to your home (with a lot less work).  

(this post is brought to you by Wayfair.ca)

Hello Again

I feel  like I've been out of the blogging game for so long, that I forget where to even begin.

What are people interested in reading about now?

What would drives you as a reader to keep checking back here?

Lifestyle?
Random Posts?
Fitness?
Hopefully not fashion tips.  As I'm rocking yoga pants and work out tanks for the majority of the days - so not fashion foward at all.


Anyways, while I get back into the swing of things, be patient, keep checking back.

Much Love,

Kendra

Isagenix Review

As some of you may know I  jumped on the Isagenix train for the past month, and as the month is coming to an end, I feel like its my turn to review it.

I did the 30 Day Weight Loss System

I'm sure the biggest question you have is..did it work?

And in short yes.

I went into it as a kickstart to help my start loosing weight in order for me to keep pushing myself to lose more and to finally get to that goal weight.  And it did exactly that.   I think the main thing if you decide to try this, is you have to know why. Its not going to be a miracle fast weight loss solution, as much as we all hope for that. As every mentor says, its not a fast fix, its a lifestyle change.

This brings me to my next point, and also the reason why I probably didn't lose as much as a lot of other people. It made me realize that we eat pretty damn healthy at our house. Sure we have our indulgences, as H makes me bake a blue cake every week, and I love my wine and craft beer, but other than that I don't eat that many simple carbs, I rarely use sugar (minus the blue cakes), I eat a lot of fruit and veggies, and my hubby is a hunter so we eat lots of lean meat. So my nutrition really wasn't an issue.

However, this has helped me be cautious of the fact that I need to eat every couple of hours and not forgetting (i.e- getting to busy with kids) to eat.

I also didn't work out as much as I probably should. I averaged 3-4 times a week, doing various home workouts like PIIT28 (blogilates), 21 Day Fix, 30 Day Shred.  But again,  this program has made a good dent in my weight loss journey that its making me want to workout more.

And finally the dreaded cleanse days...well those actually weren't as bad as I thought they would .  They left me cold, feeling great the next day, less bloated and kinda tired.

Will I continue it? Perhaps. Not in the strict sense that I was following it, as truthfully I miss eating real food for the majority of my meals. But I do think I will have my one shake a day and do the cleanse day once or twice a month. I may also have to order some ionix. it tastes like shit (there is no other way around this) - but I feel it helped give me some energy.

 While I did wish it worked a bit better, I also realize its not a fast fix, its a learning curve.


So my final tally:

Starting weight: 172lbs
Final Weight: 159lbs
Pounds lost; 13 lbs
Inches lost: 21.1 inches

Happiness Gained!

2017 In Review

Holy. It's been a while since I've been on here. Last I was still preggo with Sawyer. So I figured that a year in review would be ideal.

So,  the start of 2017 came and went.

Honestly, I can't remember much prior to June 13th.

Started and finished the basement!  Which made this house feel a bit more roomy and more like home.

Twelve:TwentyThree was extremely successful with me branching into the market realm.

Went camping with Hunter, and we realized that this was the first time we went when it was just the three of us. And also the last.

June 13th! The big day. An unexpected day.  Went to get an ultrasound as we knew Baby was breeched. So went in to determine when to set a C-Section date, just in case he didn't flip.  Turned out the little bugger kicked his way out of the amniotic sac and there was no fluid left. Enter having a baby today.  A month early.


Saywer Westin came into the world, kicking and barely screaming as we had to spend 2 weeks in NICU. The longest two weeks. Waiting day by day for the little guy to get stronger, hitting milestones like having the tube removed, moving to a cot, getting the green light for an overnight, to bringing him home! These 2 weeks were spent with a whole lot of emotions, me sitting there with 2 sons, but not being abel to see or hold either of them. Hunter was staying with grandparents.  It was such a  great day when we got to be home as a new unit of four!

Then reality hit in, and raising two kids under 2. Not as easy. I forgot how easy the newborn stage was and raising a toddler was the hard part.

Hunter turned 2 in September! I can't believe he is 2 already and starting to talk in sentences.

Went to Mexico for Christmas with the in laws! A great little break, where the  boys loved the sand and ocean. Also realized how difficult travelling with 2 kids is, and props to all those who do it on a regular occurrence.

Still getting used to small town living. Still getting used to having 2 kids.


Here's to 2018!

Dear Preggo Kendra the Second

Dear Preggo Momma:

Wow! 33 weeks with baby number 2! This time is different. Just read what you wrote to yourself when you were pregnant with Hunter. And remember how lucky you were. This time, well to be honest it hasn't been bad, harder than the first for sure. But when you actually sit down and compare, you've been lucky this round too, just bigger feeling. But lets start at the beginning.

After H turned 1, you and G decided that yup, maybe its time for another one. Then bam. It happened. A lot quicker than either of you guys were thinking. But here we are.

The 6 week and 12 week ultrasounds all came and went. Happy that the babe was growing healthy. With that the first trimester came to an end. This is the first time you actually threw up with a pregnancy -although only a couple times. And felt that hungover nausea feeling constantly.  Also combined with having the flu and colds (thanks winter!) made it feel real. And shitty at the same time.

With the second trimester you met a lot of back pain and hip problems. Massages and baths didn't always help and there were times you were stuck on the floor until you could muster enough energy to get up - although H thought this was fantastic.  The cravings, while nothing weird definitely hit. Baked goods and ice cream. And chocolate.

Then the 20 week ultrasound. The big gender reveal. A boy. Another one. To be honest, you weren't happy with this news.  You had your heart set on a little girl. Apparently gender disappointment is a thing too, you googled it, checked different forums, and realized (after a few tears) that another boy wouldn't be too bad. In fact it will be great to have that brotherly bond between H and little no name. Sure you still get a little sad that you won't get to have that mother-daughter relationship, but hell I can become a crazy mother in-law one day!

Now you are just under 2 months  away from giving birth. You pray its as easy as the first one...but have a feeling its going to be a complete 180. The back (and hip)  pain and exhaustion is definitely in the forefront. Sleeping is harder this round.  But the biggest difference between this pregnancy and the first one; the lack of time to relax. You have to chase a toddler around, bend down and lift him up constantly.  You also have the guilty SAHM feeling that you didn't have the first round. You feel that you should keep the house tidy and food all ready and cooked, when all you do is want to nap at the same time H is.  I know its all in the head and that G doesn't care, but ya...

This will most likely be the last time you are pregnant and you should revel in  it, but you are also so done with feeling like a mammoth and not being able to crawl on the floor and play with H.

 7 more weeks!

Love, Kendra

(now go put your feet up and have a fake beer!)

Organic Coffee Scrub

I've been feeling crafty these days and finally and since one of my boards is called  "for when I'm feeling crafty", I decided to cross one on my list.

I have always wanted to try my hand at making my own bath stuff, and this one seemed simple enough. Only 3 ingredients! Plus all the benefits of coconut oil are well a benefit.   Plus coffee is supposed to be good for cellulite, or so the rumours say, this seemed like the best bet.

Use this scrub in your morning shower and you will feel invigorated.  You will be left with super moisturized skin thanks to the oil and super soft skin thanks to the exfoliant power of the sugar and coffee.

So how to make it:

- Coconut Oil (1/4 cup)
- Brown Sugar (1/4 cup)
- Coffee (1/2 cup) --->I used fresh ground French Vanilla because I'm classy like that... Actually no, its the only non K-cup type we had

You mix them all together.

Then you put them into a pretty mason jar. 

(yields about 8 ounces.)

To Read Lists

https://www.stocksy.com/107709

I've fallen away from my love. Reading. Just lately I haven't been able to pick up a book and finish it. I read a few chapters and then forget about it. And not because they didn't hold my attention, because some definitely did. So I got to thinking on how I should get back to making time to read, and I believe that a good portion of back when I was doing more full time book blogging (through netgalley) is that I had lists upon lists of To Be Read Lists, To Be Reviewed Lists, etc. While this may make it sound more like a job - I feel like it actually made me want to read, to cross off those books.

So, I am going to try that again.  There isn't as much pressure to review them, just to enjoy them.  And while I know my time off to just sit and read is going to greatly lessen come July, I am only going to put 5 on my list.  All randomly just picked at random with me just looking over to my bookshelf. 

To Read:

1. Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

2 .Homegoing by Ya'a Gyasi

3. The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

4. Naked by David Sedaris

5.  Draongfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Baby Number 2!

There's been a reason why I've been silent on this blog. Baby Novo # 2 is coming!

We announced on New Years Eve the only way we knew how, with H!

Currently I am 15 weeks into this pregnancy, and I have to say its a lot different than the first one.  

Mainly, I was sick the first 3 months. Not really morning sickness related (although I did throw up a few times- which was a completely new experience for me), but with the flu and the cold. Back and forth. It was fun. (high dose of sarcasm there).

This pregnancy I have to say that I am not as overly cautious over what I eat. Sure I avoid the big no's, but when momma craves a hot dog she is having one.  I also haven't been as active - as this time around I am more exhausted than I remembered being with H.  I also guess its because I have an active toddler to chase after and entertain all day.

Super excited for this next journey. Also a little bit nervous.

RECIPE: Cinnamon Buns!

Who doesn't love cinnamon buns?

We were at the mall the other day and smelt that sweet sweet smell of Cinnzeo, and G and I were both like, yup before we leave we have to pick one up.

Until you have a toddler needing a nap ASAP.

We didn't realize we forgot this precious treat until we were at home, and as the closet mall is 45 minutes away from us, G was like - didn't you make some that tasted exactly like them a while ago. And I was like- Yes, yes I did.


 The recipe I used was from Jo's Cook

The Goods:

Dough

• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm milk
• ½ cup sugar
• ⅓ cup  softened butter
• 1 tsp  salt
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups  all purpose flour

Filling

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 tbsp cinnamon
• ⅓ cup softened butter

Cream cheese icing

• 6 tbsp butter
• 1½ cups icing sugar
• ¼ cup cream cheese
• ½ tsp  vanilla extract
• ⅛ tsp salt

The How To:

1. For the rolls, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk in a large bowl.
2. Add sugar, butter, salt, eggs, and flour to the bowl of a mixer and mix well.
3. Pour the milk/yeast mixture in the bowl and using the dough hook, mix well until well incorporated.
4. Place dough into an oiled bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size. - This is the part that takes FOREVER!
5. Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface, until it is approx 16 inches long by 12 inches wide. It should be approx ¼ inch thick.
6. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
7. To make filling, combine the butter or margarine, brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
8. Spread the mixture evenly over the surface of the dough. Alternatively you can spread the butter first on the dough and then the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture.
9. Working carefully, from the long edge, roll the dough down to the bottom edge. The roll should be about 18 inches in length. Cut the roll into 1½ inch slices. You might find it easier if you use a piece of floss vs a knife.
10. Place the cut rolls in the prepared pan. Cover them with a damp towel. Let them rise again for another 30 minutes until they double in size.
11. Bake for 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Cooking time can vary greatly! Mine took 24 minutes.
12. While the rolls are baking make the icing by mixing all ingredients and beat well with an electric mixer until fluffy.
13. When the rolls are done, spread generously with icing.

*Note - I didn't actually make this icing, because 1) I did not have  cream cheese other than the herb and garlic kind and 2) I was lazy. So I used store bought canned vanilla icing and it was just as delicious.

Top 5 Christmas Tunes

I don't like the traditional hymn type Christmas carols. But, I do like throwing these Christmas tunes up on the good ol' speakers every once in a while.

So let me introduce you to my 5 Favorite Christmas tunes:

Bandaid - Do They Know It's Christmas.

This is the newest compilation of this song, and as always features Bono.

Coldplay - Christmas Lights

Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You... a classic

Trans Siberian Orchestra - Carol of the Bells.

Wham - Last Christmas

What are your favourite Christmas Tunes?