Beauty on a Budget

Hey Guys!

While I love my brand name makeup products, you can find a lot of amazing deals at your local pharmacy/grocery store. Yes that's right, at many grocery stores you can buy makeup as well. I am going to go through all of my beauty favs that are at an amazing price point.

Foundation: Maybelline New York Dream Matte Mousse
This was my holy grail foundation for my last year of high school and university. I loved this product. It blended easily, it was a great price and it didn't settle into my dry areas. Another thing I loved, was it matched my skin perfectly. I have been thinking about going back to it for an everyday foundation. I am sure you all are wondering why did I switch. I wanted something that lasted longer on my skin. Little did I know about primer's, and how much that helped. I switched over to a department store makeup, and it worked great without a primer and setting spray so I just stuck with it.

Mascara: L'oreal Paris Voluminous Mascara
I heard about this mascara from a youtuber, and she was raving about it. She said it worked better then any department store mascara that she used. I picked it up, and while it was pricier then my normal mascara, I forked out the cash. Let me tell you, I have tried other mascara's since, and I have not been satisfied. I love big lashes, and I get that effect in one coat. Of course I am crazy so I go in with two. I fell in love instantly, other mascaras don't give me the full effect, and I feel that I need a lot more coats with other brands.

Eyeshadow
Drugstore eyeshadows have really stepped up their game. I have tried many brands, but my favorite by far is Hard Candy. I discovered them about 2-3 years ago during the holidays. I was looking for new eye shadows. and I love neutrals, so I found a fun pallet. I love sparkle as well, I feel as though it really brightens up my eyes, and makes me look more awake. I am so satisfied with this brand. I have 2 pallets from them, and they are my go-to's . Their pigmentation is amazing, and they last the whole day. I have worn them in the heat, and it doesn't budge. They are an affordable brand, which I love, and I can do so many looks with their shadows.

Lipstick
L'oreal and Revlon are my favorite lipstick brands. I didn't care to much for L'oreal mostly because of the scent that their lipsticks have, but I decided to try their line that was inspired by celebrities. They have a line of neutrals and red's. I can't get enough of their neutral line. They have great staying power, I had my lipstick on today for 6 hours before I wiped it off. I love Revlon's version of Clinique chubby sticks. I only have one color but I am in love with it. It is so moisturizing, it feels like a lip balm. The only reason I have one color is because they are always sold out! They are always in demand and my store can't keep up with it.

Primer: Maybelline New York Age Perfecting Primer
This is my holy grail. It is a gel formula, and glides perfectly on your skin. I let it sit on my skin for a few minutes, and put my foundation on top. I love the staying power my foundation has after applying it. The price has gone up from what it use to be, but it is still very reasonably priced.

Nail Polish- Sally Hansen Insta-dri
I am obsessed with this product, and I recommend this to everyone. Whether you are a mom, on the go, or just to busy, this nail polish is perfect. They have a wide range of colors, and you can have your nails painted in minutes. I love that I don't have to sit around and waste my evening painting my nails, and their color payoff is amazing!

Wisdom Wednesday

I can't stress how important this is. I have a few single friends, and watching them waste time on guys who don't appreciate them, and just use them breaks my heart. I am so blessed to be with someone who appreciates me, and values me as a person. I see a lot of girls settling and lowering their standards, for no reason. I feel lucky to be with the person I am with. He appreciates all the small things I do for him, and our family. I am not saying our relationship is perfect, or trying to imply that it is at all, but everyday when we say our prayers, we thank God for each other and our family. We truly feel lucky to have found each other, and know what we have is special.

Banana Pudding Recipe

Hey Guys!

Here we go again, with another amazing recipe from my boyfriend. He introduced banana pudding to me, and to be honest, at first I was a bit hesitant. I am not the biggest banana fan, but I decided to give it a try. He got this recipe from his mother, who is an amazing cook and baker. This is amazing, anyone who comes over and tries it falls in love with it. I guarantee that you cant have just one bite!

Ingredients

Nilla Wafers (vanilla)
2 packs of instant banana pudding
whip cream
bananas

Steps

On the stovetop cook banana pudding according to directions
All this recipe is, is assembling, which makes it so easy.

Get a large container, and place wafers at the bottom.
 Cut bananas thinly, and place on top of the wafers.
Take pudding and spread on top
Cover with whip cream
 Repeat at least once
 My boyfriend usually does 2 layers, and sprinkles crumbled wafers on top.


49d15b20e25a80f7b1ec40a350a01bef92c5ccc5266df11996

Being a SAHM

Hey Guys!

I decided to write another personal post. I have gotten a lot of questions about why I chose to stay at home with my son. I didn't make this decision overnight, nor did I make it on the whim. I spent a lot of time thinking this over, and had a lot of discussions with my boyfriend.
When I had gotten pregnant, my boyfriend and I were in good financial position, so money wasn't an issue. I wanted to do what was best for my son. I was unemployed at the time, as I had recently been let go of my job, and didn't want to start a new job on the basis that I would be leaving soon.
I wanted to do what would be best for my son. I wanted to be available for my son at all times, and didn't want to miss out on his milestones. My parents didn't help out when it came to caring for him. In all honestly, they wanted to do it on their terms, which meant packing up a newborn and going over there, which isn't always practical. Also, they never offered to help out if I did return back to work. Either my boyfriend or I would need to have a flexible job. If we did decide to put my son in daycare, we would have to be able to pick him up by 6pm, which means we need to have a job that we can leave at any time. I don't drive, but my boyfriend does, so if I was the one to pick him up, public transit would be a hassle. We all know daycare is expensive, so I would need to find a job that would allow me to leave at a certain time everyday, and pay enough to cover daycare and bring home a substantial amount to make it worthwhile. This could be challenging.
I thank God, that it was feasible to stay at home with my son daily, because it made me the mother I am today. I never had help, and while I may have been tired, I was there for everything. My boyfriend worked odd hours, so some-days I would do it all by myself. I was the one who walked back and forth for hours trying to put him down, and balancing a new born, a dog and running a house. I feel more connected to my son because of that. There have been a lot of stories about daycare's abusing children, thank God I didn't put my son in one. I know those may be a few, but the chances of me putting my son in that danger is unfathomable. I worked with my son daily to get him at the level that he is at.As far as my child development, he is perfectly normal. He is more advanced with his gross/fine motor skills, he walked early, and is such a curious child. I loved rolling around with my son on the ground, and singing songs with him.
Looking back I don't know how I would have done it, if I was working. My son never napped in the daytime, then it switched to not sleeping at night. I don't know how I would have done it if I was a working mama. It allowed me to be flexible, and change my schedule to fit my sons needs. I didn't have to worry about going to bed on time, or how I would cope with 4 hours of sleep. What was more important, was that my boyfriend supported me. We both agreed it was best for our son to be with his mama. I am not saying that I would never go back to work, I already have plans to return when our son goes to school. I want to work from home, where I can make my own schedule and continue to be flexible, but fill my days with something productive.
I also loved being there for my boyfriend. I had worked before full time, and never saw my boyfriend. We were always on the go, and didnt see each other for about 4 days out of the week. I felt more connected to him, and felt apart of a family. I was able to connect to other mama's and even meet up with friends for my sanity. I loved friends coming over and spending time with Kayden. Even though I didnt breasatfeed for a long time, to have that luxury to do so in the privacy of my house was a plus. I also discovered blogging, which has turned into a passion of mine. I discovered other bloggers/youtubers and felt so connected with people across the world, who went through similar stuggles as me.

Being a stay at home mom isn't ideal for everyone, and I know it isn't feasible. For those who aren't able to do it, I feel for you, and I also commend you. You are strong women, stronger then I could ever be. Your plate will forever be stacked higher then mine, and I salute you.

Clinique Blended Face Powder

Hey Guys!

On my birthday, my dad had gotten me a clinique perfume, along came a gift with purchase. I love gift with purchases, it allows me to try products without buying them, and often gives me full sized seasonal lipsticks. One of the items was the blended face powder. I fell in love instantly! They did advise me that they are phasing out my color, so they recommended Stay Matte Universal Blotting Powder. I spoke to a beauty adviser and was told that it can be used as a setting powder as well, and recommended another product for the fall/winter months, when my skin is dry. If you can find your shade at the Clinique counter, I definitely suggest you buy it.

I love the Blended Face powder. I would apply it over my face after I was done with my makeup, and it was the finishing touch that I needed. It blended perfectly and made my face look airbrushed. I was always confident when I left the house, and I felt as though it completed my look. This is the first powder I have used on my face ( since I use a liquid foundation) and I don't feel the need to try another brand. It doesn't look cakey when I apply this, and I do use it heavily under my eyes to help set my concealer. It does keep everything in place, and I only need to reapply on my forehead and nose which tend to have some extra shine.

I would recommend this product to everyone. I have used this product in the fall/winter months as well, and I never had to reapply, probably because I don't have the excess oil. It makes your skin feel soft and silky.I personally love clinique, one of the main things I love is that their products are oil-free and are gentle on skin. I have never had any issues with their products, and I have tried foundations, lipsticks mascara's, perfume, eye shadows and face cleansers. I have never had a breakout and it has never irritated my skin. While I did get the recommendation to use another product during my dry months, I probably wouldn't have done that. I thought it worked the exact same, and gave me the same luxurious look without falling into my dry patches.

While this product is a bit pricey, going for around $25, it is worth every penny. I am still on the sample size and I have had it for over 6 months. I admit, I don't use it everyday as I don't wear makeup everyday, but a little bit truly goes a long way.

Wisdom Wednesday

I can't even tell you how much this quote spoke to me. I am going to start a new thing on my page called wisdom Wednesday. I often see quotes/posts online that speak to me, and I want to share them to all of you. My boyfriend and I have been going through a tough time the past couple of months, and I have questioned things often. I often wondered if the decisions we made in our life were the right one's. I sit back and have seen people lie and cheat to take the easy road in life. People don't want to work hard anymore and don't want to appreciate the small and meaningful things in life, but rather con and cheat for material things. We all have chosen different paths in life, but at the end of the day I can lay my head down at night peacefully, knowing no one will come knocking on my door. 

Tartar Sauce Recipe

Hey Guys!

Like most recipes out there, I came across this recipe by chance. I thought we had tartar sauce to put on our tacos, and we didn't. I decided to head over to my favorite website, Pinterest, and find a tartar recipe asap. Thankfully I had all the components in the fridge. This recipe is so easy to do, and the best part, my boyfriend insisted that we never buy tartar sauce from the store anymore. I changed the recipe a little bit, but of course I will include the original recipe, so you can do what you please with it. This amount is perfect for 2 people

Ingredients
1/2 cup of mayonnaise
1/2 cup of pickles
1 tbsp parsley
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp onion finely chopped

Mix everything together

1 cup the amount of mayonnaise & pickles in half, and kept everything else the same. They recommended a full cup, but for 2 people, that would've been way to much, and it was my first time making it so i didn't know how good it was going to be. I love that I kept all the other components the same amoutn because it was the perfect balance in my opinion.

Here's the link to the original recipe
http://natashaskitchen.com/2012/02/04/tartar-sauce-recipe/

Balancing Everything

Hey Guys!

As Kayden's 2nd birthday is creeping up on me, I must admit, I did think I would have it all figured out by now. As kayden gets older, he becomes more of a handful, and as days go by I am forced to organize my life better.Having balance regardless of how many kids you have, is so important. It ensures you will be at your best, and it keeps you sane. I remember a year ago I tried to do everything and I felt like I was running around all day. As time when on I did a makeover of my life, so I am going to share my tips.

Lists
These are lifesavers! I make lists for everything, groceries I need to pick up, things I need to do in the day, and things I need to remember in general. I don't freak out if I don't get to something on the list, I just pick up where I left off the next day. I usually put things in the order that I would do/need them. That ensures the important things get crossed off, and the other things, can wait. I'm not going to lie, I forget things, and this started while I was pregnant and it has just continued on. I have a pad of paper, and a pen with it, and as I think of things, I jot it down quickly.

Find your thing
I remember reading when Kayden was 6 months how every mom has that one thing they need to do in order to stay sane. For some its drinking their coffee while its hot, for others its working out, some is watching their favorite show everyday. It's different for everyone, so find out what your must have thing is everyday, and ensure it gets done. For me, its having a peaceful shower. I love my showers, and I love taking my time and not feeling rushed. Granted I have gotten my shower time down to 15 minutes, so for 15 minutes a day I need to relax. I can tell you, when I do this, I am such a better mom. Take the time for yourself, if you can schedule it when your spouse is home, or if you can get a family member/friend to jump in that would help as well. I shower when Kayden is taking his morning nap, this way I know he will be down for awhile and I won't have any issues.

Cleaning Tip
I use to scramble around everyday, trying to make sure everything was in place. Now on each day of the week I focus on a different part of the house. For instance, on Mondays, its all about the bedrooms. I make sure the beds are perfect, the clothes are put away, I reorganize everything etc. I still clean the other parts of the house, but I don't pay as much attention to it, as I do the bedroom. It is almost superficial cleaning,or just a quick touch up for the rest of the house. The next day, I focus on another room. For me this works great. I spend about 20 minutes in that room, and really make it spotless, and to be honest, by the time it gets dirty again, 5 days have passed. Once a week we do laundry, and my boyfriend will help me with the vacuuming and all the other odds and ends. What's so cute, is Kayden is wanting to help out more, so he is learning about things going in their place, and putting things away, which is such a great help.

Take time for yourself
When Kayden naps, I relax. I put my feet up, watch TV, check my social media and even nap sometimes. Since the weather is warmer, I love sitting out on the balcony. A lot of times parents think they can do everything during this time, and run around and finish things around the house. I need to recharge, and for me, this is the perfect time to do so. I cant tell you how refreshed and how much better I feel when Kayden wakes up, because once he is up, it is GO GO GO! I'm going to be really honest, I love napping during this time. As Kayden gets older I am going to ensure he has 'quiet time'. The house can get loud and hectic, so to wind down a little bit and slow the day down that would work great.

Favorite Fitness Youtuber

Hey Guys!

I'm sure you all watch youtube, and are addicted. One of the many things I love about youtube is how much you can learn from other people, and how you get introduced to people and ideas with a click of the button. I started watching makeup videos on youtube, and learned lots of tips and tricks, and slowly went to other topics. Now my videos consists of mommy videos, vlogs and fitness. One of my absolutely favorite fitness youtubers is Nikki Blackketter aka blondevsworld.
Besides the fact that she is gorgeous, she is a genuine and down to earth person. Her fitness journey is inspiring, and I felt like I could relate to her on many aspects. She has found what works for her, and has stuck to it. She has made going to the gym motivational. Working out is not just for guys anymore, nor is it solely for being skinny. She focuses on being fit and strong, which is my goal. When I was working out the at gym, and lifting weights consistently, I used a lot of her workouts and saw amazing results. Nikki helped introduce me to lifting weights, and made it so easy, and non-intimidating. She works out hard, and is focused on her goals. she knows what she wants in life, and surrounds herself with like minded people, which is what I have learned to do in my life.
What makes Nikki so relateable is her personal stories and struggles. While she may not divulge every detail about her life online, when she does give you tid bits about herself, it is like you are listening to a friend. She goes through things that we all have gone through, such as breakups, heartbreaks, rediscovering yourself, etc. This is what makes youtube so great, even though we are divided by a screen, those intimate moments can make you feel so connected.
One of the main things I love about her, she doesn't throw products in your face, and doesn't only care about the money. I have seen lots of youtubers ( and I'm sure you have as well), that will take on products because of the money, or try to shove a product down your throat in an effort to make money. I have gotten tons of meal ideas from her, and was able to incorprate small changes into my new lifestyle.
Nikki has given me such motivation to workout everyday, and let me say, the booty goals are there! She has helped me put things into perspective, and reminded me, regardless of the path I take in life, you may have to loose some people, in order to gain better people.
If you are starting a fitness journey, need motivation or new workout ideas, check  her out!

Simple Face Wipes

Hey Guys!

About a month ago my mom gave me a sample pack of simple face wipes. I had heard about this brand awhile ago, and always wanted to try it. I had tried some face wipes in the past and never fell in love with them. They always irritated my skin, I didn't like the smell and I just didn't feel the need to purchase them long term. In all honesty, I had always heard that baby wipes do the trick. After I had my son, I admit, I would steal his unused baby wipes and take off my makeup with that. I will admit, the simple face cleanser wipes, changed my life!

The wipes are thin, which threw me off in the beginning, because I didn't think they would hold up. Boy, was I wrong! They did amazing, it took off my makeup in minutes, and it got everything off the first time. I usually have to focus around my eyes once I get into the shower, to ensure I get all my eye makeup off, but this did the trick. My skin didn't feel dry afterwards, and I didn't find that it had a scent. It added moisture to my skin which is an added bonus. I do tend to wear a lot of eye makeup, and  this got everything off. I don't wear makeup daily, now that I am a mom, so on the odd time that I do, I always remove my makeup then jump into the shower. I found with these wipes, I could've wiped it off, and just relaxed and showered later. I don't feel the need to use a eye makeup remover and then go in with this product, which is something I love. I don't care for the greasy feeling I get when using an eye remover, which is one less product/step to do.

A pack of 25 goes for $8.27 which is about average.

What I are Wednesday (06/15/16/)

Hey Guys,

Welcome back to another what I ate Wednesday!

Breakfast (7:00am)
This morning I wasn't hungry, I was actually feeling nauseous, so I just made myself a cup of orange pekoe tea. I put in 2 tsp of sugar and a splash of milk.

Snack (9:30am)
For my morning snack I had a glass of water, a fiber 1 brownie and a bowl of watermelon. I have been trying to cut down on the amount of sweets I eat because I have seen the pounds come back on. I decided to pick up fiber 1 in some other flavors, and they are delicious. The brownie flavor satisfies my sweet craving and it tastes like a real brownie.

Lunch (noon)
For lunch I ate some pasta with some homemade sauce. It had sausage, onions and garlic. It was really basic, but delicious! Plus I grated some cheddar cheese to put on top! I also had two glasses of water.

Dinner (5:00pm)
I haven't been hungry for an afternoon snack lately, so I have been going straight to dinner. Tonight we had perogies. I cut up some sausage and onions and added it to the pan, and I am telling you, it is the greatest thing I have ever done. I dipped them in sour cream and my life was made! I also had 2-3 glasses of water.

Snack (7:30pm)
I had a snack after my workout, and once again, it satisfied my sweet craving. I had another fiber 1 bar, and it was the cinnamon bun flavor. And yes, it tastes like a real cinnamon bun. I also had a cup of decaf green tea.

Fish Tacos

Hey Guys!

So Fish tacos was something that was introduced to me recently. My boyfriend isn't the biggest fish person, so this was a great way to incorporate this into our diet. It is such a simple recipe, and the only thing that takes long is frying the fish. We make this meal in about 30 minutes.

Ingredients
Corn tortillas
fish
coleslaw
lime juice
cilantro
tartar sauce

Steps
Take whichever fish you like, some recommend a sturdy fish, but I have had no issues with basa. We fry it by dipping it in milk then coating it with flour. How much you need is entirely up to you, we use about 1 pack.
Chop up the cilantro and set aside. Once again this is up to you how much you need. My boyfriend and I love cilantro, so the more the better.
We buy store bough coleslaw, so we just place that in the bowl.
I found a great tartar sauce recipe so I make that homemade, but its entirely fine to buy it.
One the fish is done frying set on a paper towel to drain the excess grease.
I assemble my tacos this way - warm corn tortilla, place fish on top and squeeze lime juice, top with coleslaw, drizzle tartar sauce and finish with cilantro. I love this!!! I go extra with the sauce and coleslaw. I can't get enough of these, and I easily eat 3. It is such a quick weeknight meal. Kayden loves fish, so this is great for him.

Arguing in front of kids

Hey Guys!

I have heard lots of claims by professionals about whether or not you should argue in front of your kids. I don't know if there is a right answer, but I will let you know what my boyfriend and I have decided to do.

I am sure there are times when you disagree with your spouse, and you just cant hold it in, and you cant wait to address the matter. My boyfriend and I will usually hold our tongues until later. Where we can fully dedicate our attention to each other, and really speak our mind without the interruption of a toddler, or without feeling like we need to hold our tongue. This is what my boyfriend and I do 98% of the time. I believe this is the most effective, it's not to hold our tongues in front of our son, so he believes we are perfect people who get along constantly. But its to prepare us for the future, where you have adult conversations in private, and don't burden children with these ideas. Children don't have the ability to remove themselves from the situation, which means they tend to believe they are the reason that you two are having problems/they could've done something to help resolve the issue.

Of course there are times when we will have disagreements in front of our son. And we do so in a respectful way, and that's what is important. Its not about yelling at each other, or screaming profanities. We keep our tone calm, and we address the issue swiftly and efficiently. These issues consist of minor things such as a tone that was used, or what the other believes should be done. It isn't a major issue. Our goal is rather to get into the habit of familiarizing Kayden with these disagreements to teach him what a healthy relationship is. We do not yell, and I can not stress that enough,. The reason I know this, is because when he has heard yelling from someone else he gets scared, he cries and yells, and doesn't know what to do. This reassures me that we haven't let our emotions get the best of us, and we continue to be a great example for him.

I do believe that children do need to see disagreements in a respectful healthy way. It's not about being right but rather acknowledging your faults and asking for forgiveness and being able to give it. Respect is the main thing throughout this whole process, regardless of what happens in the end.

Fitness on a Budget

Hey Guys!

We have all started something in life, and haven't followed through with it. One of the most common goals people break has to do with working out. I will admit, when I started working out, I didn't want to invest any money into it. What was the point? Who knew how long I would be on this health kick for anyways. As time went on, I realized this was something I was going to stick to, so I decided to invest in some budget friendly items.

1. Workout Clothes
We all know lululemon is a craze, but I don't have $100 to shell out on pants, Thankfully, there are other companies that are a lot more budget friendly. One of the first places I went to was Walmart. Honestly, their workout pants lasted me 3-4 years. I was in love with them, they fit snug, they were thin, but not to thin. It was a great way to introduce workout clothes for myself. Once I moved in with my boyfriend, I invested in some more pieces, and purchased some items from old navy. They have amazing shorts and pants. I will warn you though, they have a lining in their shorts that look like panty lines, which is the only downside of them. You can purchase items for under $20 and I purchased them 4 years ago, and they are still good.

2. Gym Membership
I have never invested in a gym. It has nothing to do with the price, but more along the lines of what is convenient for myself. I have a gym in my apartment, which has basic equipment. If you have access to a gym like that, I do recommend using that gym if it meets your needs, keep in mind it is basic, and usually small. For me I would go during times that it wasn't busy, but as life progressed I wasn't always able to have that luxury. I do at home workouts, which is free! I have a place in my home where I have tons of space, I get my privacy and I can choose my own music/shows to watch. There are a lot of gyms that are available that offer reasonable memberships. If you are just starting out, I would recommend going to a gym that isn't to expensive, that way you aren't investing to much money or wasting a lot of money if you don't end up sticking with it.

3. Gym Equipment
When I was living with my parents they had a treadmill, and a few weights. Honestly that is all I needed. I would do cardio, work some weights into there, and did a lot of strength buiilding workouts. It worked well for me. I personally do not beleive that you need a lot of machines if you are doing a basic workout. But if you are to invest in something, I would suggest weights or a kettlebell. There is so much you can do with this one piece of equipment, and I honestly beleive, that weight training can do a lot for your body 

4. Pinterest
 This has been a life saver for me. I love Pinterest when it comes to at home workouts. You can find exercises for every body part, with different intensitys. One of the things I also love, is the fact that you can pick from one's that use equipment or without. Pinterest has completely changed the way I workout, and yes, you do see results! I was shocked to see how easy it was. This is such a great option if you can't afford a gym or if you don't have the time to go to one. I have also heard that youtube has great videos online, but I haven't checked those out for myself.

5. My Fitness Pal
This app is amazing!! I have used this many times in my life. It is free, and you can get it on any device, apple, android and blackberry. You record what you ate, how much water you drank and the exercise you did that day. Upon starting you do put in your height, wight, gender etc. They will give you a reccomendation on how many calories you should consume based on what your goal is, but you can alter it yourself. It is a good way to monitor what youhave been eating as well as educating yourself about your food choices. A few years ago, it really helped me take ownership of the 'bad' food choices I was making.


 

My Sunscreen Journey

Hey Guys!

With summer here next week, I decided to write about my sunscreen journey, which has been something recent. When I was in high school, I loved tanning, everyday in the summer i would sit outside for at least 30 minutes, and since I tan easily, that was more then enough. It wasn't until I was done university, that I noticed something change. Every evening I would scratch my arms like crazy, to the point where I would get a rash or even bleed! It was to much, I finally told my dad something was up, and we need to figure out what it is ASAP. It was then that I found out I had a sun allergy, which was shocking. I was given allergy medicine, and told to wear sunscreen daily!
I found it strange, that after all these years this was happening. I decided to give it a try, and see what happens. Let me tell you, I have never felt happier and more relieved in my life! I am back to enjoying the sun. This has taught me many things. You shouldn't assume that because you are a certain skin color that you are free from this. I always thought because I have olive skin, I wouldn't have to worry about the sun, I wouldn't get sun burnt and my skin is use to it. But that is so wrong. Regardless of what your skin color is, you always need to wear sunscreen, I unfortunately learned the hard way. Now I make sure that Kayden always has his sunscreen on when he goes out, along with at least a hat/sunglasses.
I love wearing sunscreen that is at least 60 spf on it. I always feel like this is the minimum protection that you need. This is perfect for when you are sitting on the balcony/backyard, taking the dog out, or even just spending casual time outside. The only time I pack my sunscreen is if I know I am going to be out for the day, and I know I am going to need to reapply it.
I also didn't realize until later on, that when you tan, it's your skin burning.You need to be cautious of that. What ever you can do to prevent that, you should.

Tip for Protecting your skin:
Wear Sunscreen
Try to wear full sleeves (if you can)
Sit in the shade/under an umbrella
Don't go outside during peak times
Wear a hat/sunglasses

What I ate Wednesday (06/08/16)

Hey Guys!

Welcome back to another what I ate Wednesday. Today, unlike other days, I ate very little, and it was nothing impressive. I have been going through a lot of stress,and a lot of family related things, which is probably contributing to my low-eating.

Breakfast (9:00am)
For breakfast I ate froot loops, to be honest it was a last minute decision. I didn't eat when I got up today because I wasn't hungry, so I just had a cup of coffee. After I took my shower I was starving! Before we headed off to the park, I grabbed a quick bowl of cereal.

Snack (10:30)
 When we got back from the park, I was starving. So I had 3 dates, a fiber 1 lemon bar and a glass of water.

 

Lunch (noon)
For lunch I had leftovers from the night before. I made sweet and sour meatballs over some rice. It isn't my favorite thing inthe world, but I didn't have much in the fridge to work with.


Dinner(5:00pm)
For dinner I tried something new, since I had a lot of rice. Fried rice balls with some marinara sauce.

As I said, my food today wasn't the best, I am feeling under the weather as well, so that didn't add anything to how I was feeling.

Meat Pasta Sauce

Hey Guys!

When I moved in with my boyfriend, I was blessed that he was able to cook. We had such an odd schedule, that at the beginning he was the one doing all the cooking. I would come home about 30-45 min after him, which meant dinner was made by him.

One of his specialties was his pasta sauce. It is meaty, but also has a lot of vegetables which is appealing to everyone. Now we make this together, which is such a great bonding experience.

Ingredients
4 Peppers ( yellow, red and orange)
1 Onion
5 Cloves of Garlic
Tomatoes(optional)
2 cans Tomatoe Paste (156 ml)
Pasta Sauce
Meat (turkey/beef) 1 lb
Sausage

Place the ground meat in the pan, once it is browned, or nearly browned add in the sausage. We take the sausage out of the casing and grind it up. We recently saw chopped up spicy sausage in the deli section of our grocery store, it is near the pepperoni, you can always use that as an alternative.
Chop up the peppers, onion, garlic and tomatoes. The tomatoes are optional and we only add those in, if we have them in the fridge. In a separate pan, put in the vegetables and cook on medium heat
While the vegetables are cooking, drain the fat from the meat and set aside
My boyfriend likes to add seasoning to the vegetables, which is optional as well, he adds some parsley, oregano and salt and pepper
Once the vegetables are cooked through, add the meat, pasta sauce, tomato sauce and tomato paste, cook on low for about 30min-60min
Once the sauce is simmering start on the noodles. By the time the noodles are done, so is the sauce!

This is a family favorite. I am not much of a meat eater, and one of the things I love is how packed it is with vegetables. You can always add whichever vegetables are appealing to you. Another great thing about this, is Kayden loves it! It is a great way for Kayden to eat some vegetables, I always give him a small amount of pasta and lots of sauce!

Happy Cooking! 

Sleep Regression Frustrations

Hey Guys!

So about a month or two ago, we officially completed our 18 month sleep regression. It was the most exhausting and frustrating thing we had gone through with Kayden. It is true what you read online, it is the toughest sleep regression you will go through.
Kayden had sleep regressed in the past, around the time he started teething was the first time. I vowed the next time it happens again, I will be strong and firm. that didn't happen. The last sleep regression I was home by myself, since my boyfriend worked till 9pm, which meant I spent hours trying to get him to sleep, only for him to wake up an hour later. This time I was lucky enough that my boyfriend was coming home earlier.
Part of why the 18th month sleep regression is so difficult is because they are aware of more things and are able to do more. They can stand, play, roll over, walk etc. Claims have also been made that separation anxiety can kick in again (which is what happened).
Kayden would scream if either of us left the room, and he would cry for hours. I remember it being 2 hours and he would just cry and cry and cry. We would stay up till all hours of the night and tried every single thing I read online. We would give him a snack then try putting him back down, letting him play, keeping him in his room etc. Nothing seemed to work. I finally just gave up, and spent a week or so waking up with him, which meant he started off his morning at 3am! Yes you heard me, some nights I wouldn't go to bed till 6am! I was exhausted, I felt like I had a newborn all over again. I would give Kayden his breakfast, and then let him play. He didn't even make it to snack time, so I would read him a story and he would fall asleep. There were nights I would cry to myself, and wondering why my family wouldn't help out. I can tell you all this, once you come out of it, you feel so much stronger as a parent. We got those odd nights, where he would sleep through the night, but for about 6 weeks our household was miserable.
This is when my solution came in: Regardless of what time Kayden decided to go to bed, I was going to stick to a firm wake-up time. I didn't care how tired I was, or what happened the night before, Kayden was going to have to learn to adjust. There were nights when he got 4 hours of sleep, but at nap-time he knocked out cold. It was tough for a week, at the most, but his body adjusted. This was a lifesaver for us! Kayden only got one nap a day, and what he decided to do with this time, was entirely up to him. I know this may sound harsh, but keep in mind we tried everything for 6 weeks.
Today Kayden gets  bath at 5:45pm, and his bedtime story is at 6:45pm. He wakes up at 6:45am and is down for a nap around 10am. He is so well behaved and we rarely have problems at night. There is the odd time that he wakes up, but it is only if his room is cold or he had a nightmare. It takes a few minutes for him to go back to bed, and he honestly just wants to be comforted. He now knows that he is not getting out of bed, and expects us to soothe him and put him back down. When I saw soothe him, it is not rocking him back to sleep. Soothing for us is reaffirming that we are here, it is night time and we love him. He tell him to lay down and say "night night" sometimes we pat his back for a minute or so and he falls back asleep.
Looking back I do wish that I had done this earlier. But I do believe I had to go through my frustration, and sleep deprivation to come to this point. All baby's are going to go through a sleep deprivation, but it is how you deal with it, is what matters. What has worked in previous regressions isn't necessarily going to work on the next one, which is what to keep in mind. If you have friends/family that have gone through this previously, you can always consult them. Unfortunately my family close by isn't hands on, and don't really help out with him, which is why I resorted to the internet. But what is important, is to always listen to your heart. You know what is right for your child, and what will work when. Regardless of what anyone says, you know your child better then anyone.

Fiber One Bars

Hey Guys!

I love fiber! it's no secret that I believe you can never have enough, probably because I don't often feel as though I have cleared my system. It wasn't until recently that I have discovered Fiber one bars. I would often go to the grocery store and see them on sale/on display. I was always curious about them but never thought to try it, mostly because I was afraid of wasting my money. One day I decided to read the reviews online and it sold me. I went to the store and picked up TWO boxes. I got lemon flavor and strawberry crumble. My boyfriend and I fell in love!

The flavor is spot on! It is delicious and doesn't taste healthy. I feel as though I am eating a pastry, without the guilt of all the calories. I am so excited to try the other flavors. There is 5g of fiber in each bar, the only downside would be the sugar. It can run a bit high, but I don't eat a lot of sugar in the day so for me it isn't a big concern. I eat these bars as part of my morning snack and as an after workout snack.

I have noticed me being more regular and I have become less bloated. I have seen a few people complain about being in pain after eating these bars due to gas/constipation. Keep in mind that you do need to drink lots of water when you increase your fiber. You may have to run to the bathroom or notice an increase in gas, this is normal. I would reccomend going out later in the day if you are just starting on these bars.

I would recommend these bars to anyone who is trying to incorporate more fiber in their diet or just trying to get healthy. A pack of 5 goes for about $3 where I live, but I go to Costco and pick up a box of 24 for under $9.

Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser Hair Mask

Hey Guys,

with summer just around the corner I need to revisit my hair care routine. I discovered this hair mask  about 3 years ago when I was pregnant with Kayden. I have thick hair to begin with, but add in a pregnancy and my hair was out of control. My hair gets frizzy and damages a lot easier during the summer months. I had heard great things about this product and decided to try it out for myself:




It's Claims
 works in 2 ways to build stronger and healthier hair
Protects from future damage
90% hair strenght reconstructed from root to tip
2x damage resistence

My Review
I love this product. Let's start off with the fact that this product is so reasonably priced. You can get it for around $6, depending where you go, and it lasts a long time. It took me way into the fall months. I used this once a week, and I could have used it more often if I needed to. My hair felt so soft and silky, and it smelled amazing! You noticed results after one use, and it was something I looked forward to using every week. I would apply this towards the end of my shower, and leave it in for a few minutes. I would tie my hair up in a messy bun after apply it, and finish up my shower. As I was rinsing it out, I could tell it worked. Whenever I used this product I didn't feel the need for a serum as it took the frizz way down. I don't normally blow dry my hair, so even after air drying my hair looked amazing. My boyfriend noticed how much smoother my hair looked, and as usual that confirmed my beliefs that this hair mask was AMAZING!

What I ate Wednesday(06/01/2016)

Hey guys!

Welcome to another what I ate Wednesday

Breakfast 
I had my coffee this morning with cinnabon creamer. I wasn't planning on having breakfast but around 9am I was starving. I decided to make 2 fried eggs on 1 slice of villagio toast ( which I Forgot to take a picture of)

Snack
For my snack I had a fibre 1 bar, which I have been obsessed with lately. They are so yummy, and they don't taste healthy at all. I had the Lemon flavor.

Lunch
I swear I have this every week, but I can't help it, my boyfriend is obsessed with homemade chinese food. I had leftover fried rice, and cajun french fries. I know this sounds like an odd combo, but I had a tiny amount of both. My boyfriend went to five guys lastnight, because I was at my parents' house, and he brought some home, and I have been dreaming about it.

 Snack
 For my afternoon snack I had a banana. Kayden was throwing a hissy fit all afternoon, since he got no sleep last night. I thought he was hungry, and gave him a banana, but he didn't want it. Like every other mom, I ate it.

 Dinner
 For dinner we had my boyfriend's delicious shepherd's pie!

Snack
 I did a short workout today, so I wasn't to hungry. As usual I had green tea and 2 dates.