it's my girls' world

Monday, October 6, 2014

Everyday life- week 38 and 39

And it's Monday again... the week before a long weekend, so that should make it go faster right?!

As per the norm every couple weeks, I post my pictures from our everyday life. I know that I will look back at these days of my life when my kids were babies and think that these were the best (and sometimes trickiest) days of my life. So we're doing a picture a day for 2014.

Day #262

Because we do socks and sandals when it's neither fall nor summer. #babylogic #shedressedherself

Day #263

When you're cool the sun shines 24 hours a day....

Day #264

Friday = takeout and wine. This time it was sushi for dinner....

Day #265

We went to spend some time with sweet Raven and her family before they get their new addition.

Day #266

Horsing around, as per our usual playground behaviour

Day #267

People, I have no words. And I didn't do this...

Day #268

Sometimes-- just sometimes, sisters share.

Day #269

Spending time at Family Night for the girls' montessori.

Day #270

Cassia had one of her ballerina friends from Montessori come over and they had a little dance party. I couldn't get a shot of them but it was quite impressive to see all the musicality in these five years old.

Day #271

Right before bowling. Yes, I wore that to bowling. #fashionistasunite

Day #272

Our apple picking adventure

DAy #273

My friend Petal came over with her family and we brought our (dusty) swing our for her 2 month old cutie. Look who decided to horse around (and get stuck) in there.

Day #274

Leftover corn- soup.... best-thing-ever

Day #275

I have the same one of Cassia in my shoes.

Day #276

Someone is pondering the idea of lining up for a sticker in music class.

Linking up with Leann for Join the Gossip

and then Mama Mondays with Leslynn

and for the Grateful Heart with Ember Grey

Friday, October 3, 2014

Friday Favourites- Around the house

Happy Friday! Now onto business... and by business, I mean blogging #reallynotreally

This week, I'm just going to focus on a little this and that from around the house.

Anthro' love

I'm always on the lookout for new and eclectic pieces for around the house. Check out this butter dish I found at Anthropologie this Mother's Day when they had all their stuff discounted.

I simply love Anthro's household line. Over the summer I changed the drawer knobs in my walk-in and the space is so much prettier now. There are so many options to really change a space- and when they do their 15-20% off, it adds up for purchases like this.

And my morning does not begin without my tea in my Anthro ~~jug~~ mug. I gave these to family and teachers alike this year.

I also got this beautiful tea-pot. What? Doesn't your teapot match your butter dish? #crazyladystuff

Kitchen Aid for the win

This one's not so pretty... except for the cool buttery yellow... but doesn't a mini chopper make life so much easier.... Seriously, if you don't have one, spend the $20, you save so much time!

Get 'er done

I am in love with my Mom's calendar. I got a 17 month calendar at the beginning of the school year. I use Cozi, this online app but I'm very visual so having this calendar up in a main area in our family room makes for a very organised mama. Like when the girls bring home their monthly calendar, instantly, I can write the day and type of snack, their field trips, when they need to bring stuff in and then toss all those stray pieces of paper instantly. Everything goes in there, all the extra curricular stuff, our weekend activities, D's on call schedule etc. I love this one from B&N but there are so many others to choose from.

There's even a dry erase weekly board included where you can input your weekly plans- meals, activities etc.

Here it is in action

Which brings me to these lovely markers to colour coordinate my calendar's activities. Ok, I might be a little obsessed.

The Target ones were on sale for a quarter of the Sharpie's price and work equally well.

Favourite moment of the week.

I was about to put A to sleep and she began to kiss me. We began to horse around, giggling hysterically and kissing until finally I put her in a crib. Right before she went to sleep, she told me- "Mommy, you so funny." No baby, you so funny!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Linking up with

Andrea for Friday Favourites

Jenny for Friday Favourites

Amy for Hey Friday

Amanda for Friday Favourites

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Picking some apples

This Saturday, my friend Jenn and her family accompanied our little family on an apple picking adventure to Brantview Farms. It's an apple farm about a half an hour away from us, with lots of apple trees where you can pick your own apples and some little activities for the kids as well. This is our second time there. We had so much fun last year, we hope to make it an annual tradition. Jenn and I planned this day more than a month ago but we could not have handpicked a nicer day..... such a warm summery day in the last weekend in September.

Here are a few pictures from our day.

The Witches of Eastwick--- and their little friend

I simply cannot believe how big A looks here.

My sweet friend Jenn and her family

Two little posers

Our little family

This was the first time I had heard of a corn pit. Just a big pit of corn kernels. The kids loved it..... the mamas--- not so much. In fact, A got a runny nose the day after and I have a very strong suspicion that it's from the pit. #mamaknowsbest

I wanted to douse her in sanitizer after this shot.

A had her face painted-- an apple of course!

And then it was on to apple picking. About 5 different varieties to choose from. I didn't take enough pictures as I was too busy with the apple picking and eating.... I even brought my own knife so everyone could get a taste but not bite into their own apple. #lessonslearnt

Look what we found?!

Our crew... except for D... The dog wasn't a part of our group but kind of took a fancy to us.

Posing with pumpkins

A cutie!

And another cutie!

Such a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.... and we have more than 10 pounds of apples home now!

Linking up with Annie and Nat for Thoughts on Thursday.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Making time for your health

Anyone who knows me knows that I strive for a healthy and fit life.... Strive is the key word here. It's hard at times since I love my carbs, sugar and wine but then again, I also love my fruits, veggies, lean protein and water.... but given the choice between a celery stick and a brownie- you know what I'm going to choose?! And it also doesn't help that if I look longingly at a piece of cake, I will gain a pound.

So because of that, I really carefully think out our week. It's a little more work but then we're organised and make healthier choices. I go with the 70-30 rule--- it should be 80-20 but I'm not there yet. I make smart, healthy choices through the week so I can indulge a bit a couple times throughout the weekend. Here are some of my favourite planning/eating tips: (nothing life altering but it's what works for us)

Plan meals at the beginning of the week so we can make a grocery list. I write a list and stick it on the fridge- Target notepad for the win!
Rotate through fruit and veggie choices so we don't get bored through the week.
Lots of water- I put a large jug out to finish through the day. I also use club soda for a little fizz!
Keep the junk out of the house as much as possible--- if it's there, we will eat it. This week, we have some brownies left over from the weekend. Guess what I'm having tonight?!
Try different, interesting ways of prepping veggies- pinterest, people!
I usually cut fruit up and leave it on the counter when I can... so that's what my peeps fill up on.
Smoothies are a great way to get lots of fruit and veggies in.
Experiment with different grains, veggies and proteins. That's how I began my love affair with quinoa!

And then there is exercise.... so important for overall health! I started exercise when I was in university and got more into it in my twenties. I'm a much happier (and healthier) person when I work out. I work out five days a week now, Monday to Friday- less than an hour and a half each time. I know that not everyone has that time but to me, it's important to squeeze in exercise. Here's are some of my exercising tips that have stuck with me through the years.... again, nothing ground breaking!

Make time for exercise, even if you only have 10-15 minutes- there are so many quick power workouts you can do.
I'm in a gym but when had C and went back to the corporate world, I got up very early in the morning and got a quick workout in. Sometimes it was 20 minutes, sometimes it was 45, sometimes (hardly ) 60. I used DVDs as my minutes were precious and I didn't want to spend the time going to a gym.
Both cardio and conditioning is important.
It's also important to mix it up a bit. You can definitely plateau-- which is happening to me right now, so I'm trialling another gym with lots of different classes.

For more health stuff, here's a post I did a while back.

We need to teach our kids good health, eating habits and proper fitness. To me, there's no better way to do this than by doing it ourselves.

Linking up today for