it's my girls' world

Beauty Products are my jam! Love trying different makeup, products and techniques. Here are FIVE of my favourite that have become recent favourites.

Shea Moisture Cleansing Oil

 First off I love this company and their philosophy. Their products do not disappoint. My sister in law introduced me to their baby products (all natural but your baby smells like cake). I may or may not use their babywash still for my kids and sometimes for myself. Now I'm buying their adult products! This cleaning oil is great for the cooler months when the indoor heat dries out your face and you need a product to soothe and cleanse at the same time. I can't find it in Canada but I've bought a couple bottles at target to last through the winter.

 Clinique  Lash Building Primer

My eyelashes are skimpy little things and this helps build them up before my mascara. With a curler before, huge difference! I actually look like I have lashes.

Contouring Powder Kit

All the tweens, teens and twenty year olds (and Kim Kardashian) are doing it so I thought I'd give it a whirl. So far so good and I'm seeing subtle differences, though I do need to watch one of those Youtube Tutorials to give me the real DL.

Beauty Blender

Again, one of the last people to get one and I would just use it dry until Amanda said it was used wet as well. Everything beauty is blended so much better-- hehehe. 

Origins Moisture Mask

I used this last winter a couple times a week after reading about it on Biana's blog and will continue to do so! My skin gets very dry come winter time and this helps it so, so much.

You can read about my favourite makeup here and favourite skin care items here.

Oh and I'm not the only makeup junkie in this house. #moreismore


Happy weekending, lovelies!

Playing family catch up, here are three totally random things about each of us in this house of ours.

 C

1- C's violin teacher switched her from Suzuki to actually reading the music and it's like a lightbulb actually switched on in her little seven year old head. Girlfriend can actually play-- and some good notes too.... and practicing most evenings!

2 - One thing we have to work on though her perfectionism. She hates to lose at something or is scared to try new things for fear of not being good at it. As a result, she is not a fan of trying new sports, activities or playing board games. Girl is missing out on lots of fun! We're thinking we need to get a team sport in there soon.

3 -  Someone is starting to question Santa Claus and the logistics especially when there are naysayer friends around. I think I've managed to keep it at bay at least for this year. In any case, she's either asking for a metal slinky or pokeman cards so we can afford said presents even if Santa doesn't get them.

A

1 - We deliberately didn't do too much extra curricular with A as she was starting full time school but still decided to throw dance in there as she is a little obsessed with shaking her teeny hips. She is in love with her little dance class and teacher!

2 - Since she turned four I've started her on reading with the same book that C became a super star reader with at four. Slow and steady wins the race and she is slooooowly getting there with three and some four letter words! But she asks SO many questions-- like why is the cat fat or why does tom have to sit?

3-For some reason, girlfriend can't handle jeans. Actually, I totally get it. Just like her mama, she like leggings, dresses or more comfy pants!

D

1- D's new love is hummus. Seriously, I buy those individual containers at Costco and he has one almost every single day with some veggies. There could totally be worse things for him, I know.... like the Mr. Big bars he's also an affinity for!

2 -Just when I'm finished Friday Night Lights D has started watching it, either on the elliptical or some nights on the iPad. He's not as obsessed as I was but we often get into impassioned chats about Lyla, Tim and Jason Street. #teamtimla

3 - The girls and D usually do bed time and tuck in together. He might or might not fall asleep at the same time some nights and then be bright eyed and bushy tailed at 11 pm. When he's not home in time of course I do it... apparently I don't do it as well though as nicknames like poopsie and abutment are used. He is totally the more fun parent.

Me- 

-My back is a bit better (cue the slow clap). Taking it easy at the gym still but other than that, we are good to go :-)

- Downton Abbey Season 5 is almost done on Netflix! There will for sure be some withdrawal later. 

- Despite all the working out, I'm totally dominating the Halloween candy my kids got. It doesn't help that my neighbourhood gave out lots of full sized bars. Someone take them out of my house please!

That's all for now! Happy Thursday.

I'm a huge fan of regular turkey chili so when I saw white chili around the internet, I slow clapped in my head. And it did not disappoint- so, so yummy and not too bad for you too although yeah, technically mine wasn't totally white

1 lb ground turkey

 1/2 pack of taco seasoning 

1/2 cup diced cilantro 

1 tbsp of vegetable oil (I use coconut)

2 cans of white kidney, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup of diced white onion

3 chopped celery stalks

1/2 to 1 red pepper, chopped

6 mushrooms, chopped

1 tbsp of cumin

1 cup of sour cream

2 cans of green chilis (optional)

6 cups of chicken broth

1 cup of frozen corn

Garnish: green onion, cilantro, grated cheese, tortilla chips

1- As with all my meats, I wash them first with lime juice and then marinate with chopped cilantro and in this case, chopped onion and taco seasoning. (Optional but I do it- set aside meat for a couple hours or overnight)

2- With a pot on medium high heat, add oil. When the oil is hot, stir in the marinated meat. Let brown for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3-Reduce heat to medium. Add the rinsed beans, cumin, the green chilies if you are using them and chopped vegetables and let cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

4- Add the chicken broth and reduce heat to simmer for 20 minutes.

5- Mix in frozen corn and sour cream right before turning the heat off.

6- Serve warm with any fixings you want! I used some cilantro and green onions with a few tortilla chips on the side.

So technically, it's more cream than white but it was definitely one of the more delicious soups I've made. Very thick and creamy too. With the beans and turkey, it was quite filling! This time, I just used sour cream. Next time I'm going to try using some greek yogurt and sour cream mixed so that it will be just a bit healthier and maybe add a bit more veggies. 

Linking up with Beth and some other lovely ladies for Tuesday Talk

Happy Monday friends. Here are a few pictures from a mini-getaway I had with some friends last week. It's actually the first overnight girls' trip I've done since I've had kids. It was amazing, relaxing and so, so good for the soul.

On Thursday after drop off, we headed two hours north to The Blue Mountain Village, a quaint town about two hours north of us. First up, some coffee and a little custom furniture browsing.

 Where's a good selfie stick when you need one.

 Their mushroom pizza was SO good!

After check in we made a quick stop to the LCBO, because priorities.

We totally overshot in buying and took most of it home. Two people did need to carry our spoils up to the room just in case. #bettersafethansorry

A little chill time before dinner

Dinner at Twist Restaurant and Lounge

And lots of chats and laughs ensued until about 2 am that morning. 

Bright and early in the am, we checked out, grabbed some breakfast and then went to the Scandinave Spa.

Yeah, no spa breakfast here.

After our massages and some soup we headed back to the baths for more than an hour before heading to dinner. Greek Food and belly dancing for the win.

A little walk in the village and one last selfie and we headed home late Friday night. 

The rest of the weekend was pretty low key with errands, chores, inviting some neighbours for tea time and a little lunch and playtime with some friends and six little girls.

Linking up with   

the lovely Biana